“There wasn’t any position he couldn’t really play. He was something to behold, on the mound or in the field.” -Monte Irvin, speaking of Leon day
A Look Back at the Career of the Great “Double X,” Jimmie Foxx!
“How in the hell do you manage to hit all those home runs with those scrawny arms?” –Jimmie Foxx to his young teammate, Ted Williams…
Forty-Year-Old Warren Spahn Throws a No-Hitter!
It happened exactly 59 years ago yesterday, April 28, 1961. Warren Spahn, just five days past his 40th birthday, becomes the second-oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter…
Let’s Remember Elston Howard and the Yankees’ Historic Day, April 14, 1955
“A man of great gentleness and dignity, one of the truly great Yankees.” –Inscription on Elston Howard’s Monument Park plaque…
Tribute to Baseball’s “Toy Cannon,” Jim Wynn
“Jimmy’s success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings. After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston…”
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars! Jim “Junior” Gilliam
While not a Hall-of-Famer, Gilliam was a clutch performer who had a fine career. It included membership, as either a player or coach, on ten Dodger pennant winners and four World Series championships…
From the Lighter Side: The Marriage of Lefty Gomez and Actress June O’Dea
It’s been a long while since I featured ballplayers and their wives, so now’s a good time to shine our baseball spotlight on Hall-of-Famer, Lefty Gomez and his marriage to the beautiful actress, June O’Dea…
Let’s Recall Don Larsen’s “Perfect Game” Opponent, Sal “The Barber” Maglie
(Written at the time of the passing of Don Larsen in January 2020) With the passing of Don Larsen this week, the focus of the baseball world has understandably been on the Perfect Game gem he tossed for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!”: Phil Cavarretta!
I think there’s a real good chance the former 1930s-’40’s baseball star Phil Cavarretta saw the classic 1992 movie A Few Good Men sometime during his long life…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars”: Willie Kamm, Plus, “More Fun with Triple Plays!”
“There is the best third-base prospect I’ve seen since my days with the old Baltimore Orioles.” –White Sox manager Kid Gleason, speaking of Willie Kamm…
HOFer Max Carey: One Of The Greatest Base Stealers Ever!
“Stealing bases is the art of picking up little things – things like a spitball pitcher who never threw to first if he was going to throw a spitter to the plate.” – Max Carey
The Indians’ Hal Trosky: The Best Player Who Was Never An All-Star!
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time! I think we can all feel for Hal Trotsky. If your All-Star competition at first base was Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg, your chances of making the All-Star team would probably not be very good!
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Dolph Camilli
“Dolph Camilli was a quiet, gentle man but he was as strong as an ox. Nobody knew how well Dolph could fight because, quite frankly, nobody had ever wanted to find out” –Dodger Manager Leo Durocher…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Ossie Bluege, “The Brooks Robinson of the 1920s and ‘30s!”
“Brooks Robinson was the 1960s and ‘70s version of Ossie Bluege!”…
“Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” Let’s Highlight the Career of Wes Ferrell
I love going through the 1930’s looking for stars who’ve been largely forgotten over the passage of time. And believe me, there’s plenty of them!…
The 1912 World Series: Fred Snodgrass and the “$30,000 Muff!”
“I never lost that World Series. I never took the blame for losing any World Series.” –Fred Snodgrass…
Let’s Remember the Dean Brothers: Dizzy and Daffy!
“Gee, Paul”, if I’d a-known you was gonna throw a no-hitter, I’d a-throw’ed one too!” -Dizzy Dean, after his brother threw a no-hitter in the nightcap of a double-header…
The Wit and Wisdom (and Luck!) of Yogi Berra
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump. I just ain’t hitting.” – Yogi Berra
Let’s Remember Pumpsie Green: Baseball’s Reluctant Pioneer
An obituary notice last month in the national newspapers got very little attention, except maybe from a few die-hard baseball history fans…
Happy 80th Birthday, Yaz!
With today’s post, Paul Doyle helps us celebrate the birthday of one of the all-time greats, who just happens to be his favorite player, Carl Yastrzemski…
Stan Musial Strikes Out Three Times!
Here’s something to really think about. It should wake up anyone who doesn’t think the game has changed drastically over the years…
Focus on the 1919 Black Sox: Manager Kid Gleason
As the 100th anniversary of the 1919 World Series approaches, we’ll continue our in-depth look at the players and events surrounding baseball’s darkest hour. Today, we examine the career of White Sox manager, William “Kid” Gleason.
Focus on the “Eight Men Out,” Part Eight: Fred McMullin
Today we turn our attention to the eighth and perhaps the most obscure of the “Eight Men Out,” Fred McMullin. He’s not better known because he was a utility player in 1919 with only two at-bats in the infamous World Series, going 1-2 with a single.
Focus on “The Eight Men Out,” Part Seven: Claude “Lefty” Williams
There are many tragic stories associated with the Black Sox scandal that rocked the baseball world in 1919, but none more so than the story of Claude “Lefty” Williams.
Spotlight on the “Eight Men Out,” Part Five: Swede Risberg
“The Swede is a hard guy.” –Shoeless Joe Jackson
Spotlight On The “Eight Men Out,” Part Two: Buck Weaver!
With the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Black Sox scandal fast approaching, I’ll continue with a look at the “Eight Men Out,” turning the spotlight today on George “Buck” Weaver.
Let’s Turn the Spotlight on the “Eight Men Out”: Ringleader “Chick” Gandil
“We could never pull it off,” Chick Gandil said to gambler Sport Sullivan when asked about a conspiracy to throw the 1919 World Series. “Don’t be silly,” Sullivan replied, “It’s been pulled before and it can be again.”
Rogers Hornsby Traded Again!
“Nobody liked our manager Rogers Hornsby. There was a real pr**k. Except for his racing forms, there was no newspapers, no movies, no beer, nothing. Women and horses, that was his downfall.” – St. Louis Browns pitcher Les Tietje
The Baseball World Mourns the Sudden Passing of Gil Hodges
Today is the anniversary of a sad day in baseball history. Forty-seven years ago today, Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, Gil Hodges collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack
THERE ARE ERRORS…AND THEN THERE ARE ERRORS!! Hank Gowdy and the 1924 World Series
“The mask held me like a bear claw,” –Hank Gowdy, recalling his unfortunate incident in the 1924 World Series which led to Washington’s winning run.
Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades – The Dodgers Steal Billy Herman From the Cubs…and Win the 1941 Pennant!
“I was able to tell Dodger GM Larry MacPhail we had a hell of a ball club there. But we could win the whole thing with one other player.” “And who was that?” MacPhail wanted to know. “Billy Herman,” I said in no uncertain terms…
Here’s One for Our Many Dead Ball Era Fans: Let’s Turn the Spotlight on Baseball “Lifer,” Pat Moran!
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Tribute To Ernie Banks (January 31, 1931- January 23, 2015)
Ernie Banks, RIP It’s a sad, sad day on the north side of Chicago. Ernie Banks is gone…
Happy Birthday to “Mr. Baseball,” Bob Uecker!
Yesterday, January 26, 1934, was the 85th birthday of Bob Uecker. Bob may very well be the funniest man to ever laced up cleats. He’s one of those guys that no matter what he says, it just cracks you up…
Frank Chance Takes the Yankees’ Managerial Helm, January 8, 1913
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Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: “Arky” Vaughan
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A Trade of the “Babes”: Babe Dahlgren for Babe Phelps! Sub title: “The Yankees Won the Game That Day, But Nobody Cheered…”
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Follow-up To My Article On Frankie Crosetti! More Great Stuff From Frank Wanner!
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We’re Contacted by Friend of Yankee Shortstop, Frank Crosetti!
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More Fun With Baseball Nicknames! “Pickles” Dillhoefer!
Some of you will remember my post from the other day about the trade of the Phillies’ great pitcher, Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander to the Cubs on December 11, 1917. I called it one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.