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!”…