With this being Veteran’s Weekend, I’d like to repost an essay I wrote seven years ago about a ball player who was severely wounded in WWII. In spite of these debilitating injuries which left him in constant pain for the rest of his life, he overcame incredible odds to fulfill his dream of being a major league pitcher. Lou Brissie may not be a household name, but I hope you’ll take a minute or two to read his remarkable story…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” Phil Cavarretta
“You can’t handle the truth!” I think there’s a real good chance the former 1930s-’40s baseball star Phil Cavarretta saw the classic 1992 movie A Few Good Men sometime during his long life. If so, we can be fairly certain he felt a sense of vindication as he heard the famous line.…
We Made It!! Happy Opening Day!!
“You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid.” –Joe DiMaggio
Field of Schemes by J.B. Manheim, reviewed by Gary Livacari
The author is to be commended for penning a interesting tale that effortlessly blends fact with fiction along with ample doses of baseball history, American history, and politics…
Tito Francona’s 1961 Home Run Gives New Meaning to the Term: “Dead Ball” Era!
Whenever you look past the surface and go deeper into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll invariably find some little tidbit of information that’s interesting or unusual. Such was the case when I was investigating the career of Tito Francona…
Let’s Recall Baseball’s Highly Successful 1934 Barnstorming Tour to Japan!
Amidst all the hoopla and hype of the Cubs and Dodgers opening the 2025 baseball season in Japan – with superstar Shohei Ohtani as the biggest attraction – it might be fun to recall an earlier trip to Japan: the highly successful 1934 barnstorming tour…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Mark Belanger
I always enjoy shining our baseball spotlight on forgotten stars – those who played just under the radar of their generation’s greats. And so today we welcome an interesting essay from Vince Jankoski about Orioles’ outstanding shortstop, Mark Belanger.
HOFer Freddie Lindstrom Ignored the “Pebbles of Defeat” – Somehow He Made It Into Cooperstown!
Today we welcome back Mark Kolier with an interesting essay on a topic we baseball history nerds never tire of discussing: Who belongs in the Hall of Fame and who doesn’t?…
Congrats to Vince Jankoski! Boomer Ball Now Available on Amazon!
I couldn’t be prouder of our contributor Vince Jankoski. His first book, Boomer Ball: A Baby Boomer Reflects on the Game He Loves, is now available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats…
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, Santa Catalina Island? “The Isle with a Smile” was located in the Pacific Ocean, 25 miles off the coast of Los Angeles…
Spring Training, 1912 Style in Marlin, Texas!
With spring training finally starting to heat up this year, here’s one of my favorites: a neat photo, originally found by my Old-Time Baseball Photos partner, Ron Bolton, from the 1912 Giants spring training camp in Marlin, Texas…
Joe Black: Long Memories of a Short Career, Part Two
Today we continue with Part Two of Brooklyn Dodger fan Bill Gralnick’s interesting guest essay on Dodger Joe Black. In Part Two, Bill describes Joe’s remarkable performance in the 1952 World Series, in which Manger Charlie Dressen slated him to start three games, as he became the first African-American to win a World Series game…
Robotic Umpires?? What Next!
Vince Jankoski returns today with a slightly tongue-in-cheek essay about what changes are in store for us next in the game we all love. Robotic umpires might just be a “bridge too far”!…
Joe Black: Long Memories of a Short Career
Today we welcome longtime Brooklyn Dodger fan Bill Gralnick with his first guest post. Bill writes a monthly column for the Brooklyn Eagle, where this essay about Dodger pitcher Joe Black first appeared. I think you’ll find interesting what Bill tells us about a fine pitcher who was the 1952 Rookie of the Year and the first African-American to win a World Series game…
Spring Training Is Upon Us! Let’s Play Ball!
The snow is deep in Chicago. The air is cold. The Super Bowl is over. And now the players have all packed their bags and headed south for warmer climes! That wonderful phrase we all love to hear, “Pitchers and Catchers Report,” is now a reality. Spring games start this week…
The Cubs’ “College Of Coaches” Mercifully Ends 62 Years Ago Today!
As a longtime Cub fan, I painfully remember P.K. Wrigley’s hare-brained scheme that had only one lasting result: It made the Cubs the laughingstock of the baseball world. It was an idea so far-fetched, it’s never been tried before or since in the entire 149-year history of baseball…
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“Tinker to Evers to Chance”- But What About Harry Steinfeldt??
Whenever I think about the Cubs’ fabled Cubs’ infield of “Tinker to Evers to Chance,” I also wonder about third baseman, Harry Steinfeldt, who became, in my opinion, baseball’s version of “odd man out”…
The Tragic Story of the Cardinals’ Rookie, Charlie Peete
If I told you that a player named Charlie Peete had an unremarkable, 23-game career with the Cardinals in which he hit just .192 with no home runs and no RBIs, you’d probably be wondering why I’m featuring him today…
Salute to the Negro Leagues: Leon Day, One of the Best Ever!
“He threw as hard and was as competitive as Bob Gibson. When he pitched against Satchel Paige, Satchel didn’t have an edge. You thought Don Newcombe could pitch? You should have seen Day. He was the most complete ballplayer I’ve ever seen. -Monte Irvin…
Teenage Talent: Tommy Brown, Holder of Some Unusual Major League Records!
As I’ve said many times, any player who makes it to the major leagues is special in our eyes – sub or star, it makes no difference – and I’m always glad to shine our baseball spotlight on little-known players for a brief moment or two. I’ve also said that whenever you look deeply into the career of any major leaguer, you’ll always find something of interest. Today, Vince Jankoski proves my point. He’s written an interesting essay on a player I had never heard of: World War II teenager Tommy Brown.
White Sox and Giants Play Baseball…in Egypt, 1914!
One hundred eleven years ago today, February 1, 1914, tour members of the White Sox and the Giants played to a 3-3 tie in the first-ever baseball game in the deserts of Egypt. The contest was part of a 56-game world “Tour to End All Tours!”…
Warren Spahn Elected to the Hall of Fame!
Fifty-two years ago this week, January 24, 1973, Warren Spahn became only the sixth player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility…
Annual Tribute To Ernie Banks (January 31, 1931-January 23, 2015)
Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the death of the great Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks, who happens to be my favorite player from my youth. I’d like to re-post my tribute to Ernie which I wrote at the time of his death…
Jeff Torborg, RIP
“I’ve always enjoyed the thinking side, the mechanical side of the game. I’ve always gotten a thrill from doing something that doesn’t show up in the box score… -Jeff Torborg…
Hank Greenberg Sent Packing From Detroit…But What Was His “Crime”?
You’re probably wondering why I chose a pic of the Tigers’ great Hall of Fame slugger Hank Greenberg in a Pirates’ uniform for the featured photo. Read on to find out why!…
Bob Uecker, RIP
The entire baseball world was saddened to learn that, “Mr. Baseball,” Bob Uecker had passed away today, January 16, 2025…
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe “Tie the Knot!”
“Whenever I sat at a table with Joe and other people…all the men were always looking at Joe instead of me!!” – Marilyn Monroe, speaking of her husband Joe DiMaggio…
The Designated Hitter Is Born, January 11, 1973!
“The pitcher who can’t get in there in the pinch and win his own game with a healthy wallop, isn’t more than half earning his salary in my way of thinking.” -Babe Ruth. And who am I to argue with the Babe!…
Frank Lary, the Yankee Killer From Dixie
Our “senior” readers will remember Frank Lary, the Tigers fine pitcher who was known as the “Yankee Killer.” Today Vince Jankoski returns with a deep dive into his career and tries to analyze how the Alabama native had such success against the dreaded Yankees…
Rudy York, the 1930-40s Version of Kyle Schwarber!
With one-eighth Cherokee ancestry and a severe liability with the glove, Rudy York was once described, in those pre-PC days of the 1930s, as: “Part Indian and part first baseman.”…
“Curse of the Bambino” Started 105 Years Ago This Week!
Baseball players are a superstitious lot by nature; and so when something like a trade goes south, it can have lasting effects as it becomes firmly embedded into the team’s baseball lore…
Merry Christmas To All! Was Willie Mays the Inspiration for the Charlie Brown Christmas Special?
Over the past few years, I always try to find a connection between holidayS and baseball. So as we celebrate Christmas today, whoever thought I’d be able to find a connection between the perennial TV favorite, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special and baseball! But I did!…
Dick Williams Out as Manager of the Oakland A’s December 1973!
Those of us old enough to remember the Oakland A’s of the early 1970s can readily recall how good those teams were, winning three successive pennants and World Series championships (1972-1974). The roster of talent assembled over those years is truly staggering…
Our (Very Little!) Contribution to Baseball History: A Discovery in Two 1908 Cubs Team Photos!
Recently, Tom Ford and I worked on the player identifications in two team photos of the 1908 World Series champion Cubs. Over the course of our investigations, we made a discovery which I think has a bit of historical significance…
A Deep Dive Into the Career of Sandy Koufax (Warning: This essay comes from the sacrilege department. You may not like what you read!)
Vince Jankowski’s not afraid to tackle controversial subjects…and with today’s essay, “A Deep Dive Into the Career of Sandy Koufax,” it’s like controversy on steroids!…
Rocky Colavito, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn of the passing of Rocky Colavito. Rocky passed away on December 10 at his home in Burnsville, Pennsylvania surrounded by family members…
Beltin’ Bill Melton, RIP
The excitement White Sox fans felt after hearing that Dick Allen was selected for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame was somewhat diminished by the sad news that beloved icon Bill Melton had pased away just three days previously…
Why Is Miller Huggins in This 1903 Reds Team Photo (Since He Didn’t Join the team until 1904)?
While waiting for the Classic Era committee to announce their decision on Hall of Fame selections this week, I’ve been working on the player identification for this 1903 Reds team photo…
Wow! Dick Allen Elected to the Hall of Fame!
The announcement has been made! After two near misses by one vote each of the last two times he was on the ballot, Dick Allen is in!…
Yankees Trade Roger Maris to the Cardinals, 1966!
Fifty-eight years ago today, December 8, 1966, a trade was made between the Yankees and the Cardinals. I think it’s fair to say the Redbirds got the better end of this deal!…
Hall of Fame Classic Era Committee Meets on December 8. I’m Pulling for Dick Allen…and Ken Boyer!
The Classic Era Committee meets one week from today to make selections for the Hall of Fame. Among the eight outstanding candidates are Dick Allen and Ken Boyer…