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…
Tribute to Casey Stengel!
“He could fool you. When Casey wanted to make sense he could. But he usually preferred to make you laugh.” — Yogi Berra, speaking of Casey Stengel…
My Viewing of “The Pride of the Yankees”!
Since I’m homebound like just about everybody else, I thought this would be a good time to catch up on a few things on my “to do” list. One item high on the list was my intention to finally watch The Pride of the Yankees…
Oh Boy! Do I Have a Film Clip For You! It’s Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, 1931!
Do you have 15 minutes to spare? I know you love baseball history, so do yourself a big favor and travel back in a virtual time machine to 1931 to see this incredible footage, filmed with an early Movietone Sound camera…
Opening Day, 1946: The Boston Braves Give New Meaning to “The Wearin’ o’ the Green!”
You’d think an Opening Day win for the 1946 Boston Braves would be a cause for celebration and renewed optimism…
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…
Glenn Beckert, RIP
“Glenn Beckert was a wonderful person who also happened to be an excellent ballplayer.” –Statement from the Chicago Cubs upon the passing of Glenn Beckert…
Who Was The Greatest Hitter Of All Time? Cast Your Vote!
As we ponder our existence in a world without baseball, I thought it might be fun to pass some time debating something real basic: Who was the greatest hitter of all-time?…
Al Kaline, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to lean this week of the passing of “Mr. Tiger,” Al Kaline. Al died at his home in Bloomfield, Michigan age 85…
Dodgertown Opens March 31, 1948!
“It was like walking on hallowed ground.” -Reid Wilkinson, a senior at Norfolk Collegiate School in Virginia, who played ball in Dodgertown…
Time For a Quiz! Who Was the Worst Hitter In Major League History?
We need to lighten up the mood a bit! With things being a bit grim these days for all of us (especially baseball fans), we need to have a little fun…
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…”
Were the 1953 St. Louis Browns Almost the Milwaukee Brewers??
In March 1953, only weeks before the season’s opening, Boston Braves owner Lou Perini revealed that the team would be transferred to Milwaukee…
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…
Boston Red Sox Clubhouse, Vintage 1928!
Here’s a photo from the Boston Red Sox clubhouse in Fenway Park vintage 1928. Check out all the details of what a clubhouse from years ago actually looked like…
RIP Johnny Antonelli
The baseball world said a sad good-bye this week to a fine pitcher, Johnny Antonelli, who passed away on February 28 at age 89…
Spring Training, 1912 Style in Marlin, Texas!
With spring training finally starting to heat up, here’s a neat photo from the Giants spring training camp in 1912…
Guest Post: Spring Training at Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Recent Posts Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right […]
Cubs Spring Training on Catalina Island!
How many baseball fans are aware that for 30 years the Cubs held Spring training on their own private paradise?…
Norman Rockwell and Baseball, Part Three: “The Rookie”
Today, I’ll continue with my series of great Norman Rockwell paintings showing scenes from baseball. The Rookie, shown above, appeared on the March 2, 1957 cover of the Saturday Evening Post magazine…
1927 Yankees: Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida
Recent Posts Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right […]
Spring Training, Part I: Let’s Play Ball!
If this photo won’t put you in the mood for baseball, nothing will!…
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…
Norman Rockwell and Baseball, Part Two: The Three Umpires
The best known of Norman Rockwell’s baseball-themed paintings is probably his 1948, The Three Umpires, which appeared on the April 23, 1949 cover of The Saturday Evening Post…
Our Annual Birthday Tribute to “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron
We can’t let the day go by without our annual birthday salute to the great Hank Aaron. He was born 86 years ago today…
Back Into the Dead Ball Era We Go! The 1901 Pittsburg Pirates!
Thanks to our crack baseball researcher, Don Stokes, for uncovering this neat pic of the 1901 National League champion Pittsburg Pirates (without the “h”!)…
The Iconic Norman Rockwell Painting: “The Dugout”!
In a recent photo of the Cubs at spring training, one of our readers noted that the Cub players in the bullpen wore uniforms similar to the Cub batboy in the iconic Norman Rockwell painting, “The Dugout.”…
Baseball History Comes Alive! Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary…Thank You!
This week marks the fourth anniversary of Baseball History Comes Alive! I’d like to thank all our loyal followers, especially those who have been with me from the beginning…
Is It Time To Reevaluate Hall-of-Fame Selection Qualifications?
We always welcome guest posts from our readers, and today we feature the first from Michael Keedy. He has an interesting take on the Hall-of-Fame selection qualifications.
The Three Alou Brothers Make History: All Three In The Same Outfield!
The 2019 baseball season saw the 57th anniversary of something unique in baseball history: The three Alou brothers, Felipe, Matty, and Jesus, all played together in the same outfield for the Giants.
Incredible Home Runs That Actually “Broke the Bat!”
Today we welcome a guest post from Mike Epson. Mike has chosen an interesting topic, broken-bat home runs. It’s a bit different for us at Baseball History Comes Alive!, but it’s well worth reading…
Baseball Rocked Again! Let’s Revisit Cheating at the Baker Bowl, 1900!
As someone who has written extensively about the Black Sox scandal, I never thought I’d see a cheating scandal that had the potential to rock the game to its core again, as occurred in 1919. But I think it may have happened.
Twenty-Five Year Reunion of the 1923 World Series Champion Yankees!
I admit it…I’m a sucker for Old-Timers photos! And here’s a real good one.
Babe Ruth’s “Improbable” Combined No-hitter!
There are 11 combined on-hitters in major league history, and I’m willing to bet you this weird one, involving George Herman “Babe” Ruth in 1917, is unique. Read on to see the details…
Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Incredible Three-Year Span, 1911-13!
“You know, he was such a remarkable hitter, it was almost impossible for him to swing without meeting the solidly.” -1919 White Sox pitcher, Dickie Kerr, speaking of teammate, Joe Jackson.
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…
The Baseball World Says a Sad Good-Bye to Don Larsen
Don Larsen passed away yesterday at the age of 90. In tribute we’re posting an old piece by Gary accompanied by the artwork of our friend Graig Kreindler…
Let’s Remember Hank Greenberg!
Thanks to our resident baseball artist, Don Stokes, for reminding us that January 1 is the birthday anniversary of Hank Greenberg…
Baseball’s Darkest Day: The Tragic Death of Ray Chapman
It happened ninety-nine years ago. August 16, 1920 was a dark, overcast day. The Yankees were playing the Indians at the Polo Grounds. It was an important game as both teams were in the pennant race…
Merry Christmas From All Of Us At Old-Time Baseball Photos!
Ron and I would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays! And to all our Jewish friends, a blessed Hanukkah season…