An obituary notice last month in the national newspapers got very little attention, except maybe from a few die-hard baseball history fans…
Jackie Mitchell Strikes Out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig!
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball. Of course, they will never make good. Why? Because they are too delicate, that’s why. It would kill them to play ball every day.” –Babe Ruth, after being struck out by Jackie Mitchell…
Baseball and the Civil War
Thanks to our loyal reader, John Quinlan, for sending me this great lithograph from the American Battelfield Trust web site. It depicts Union prisoners held at Camp Salisbury, North Carolina playing a game that we can recognize as an early form of baseball…
Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe: A Great Ballplayer NOT in the Hall of Fame
As you read about the career of Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, try to think of any other ballplayer who excelled as both a hitter and as a pitcher over as many years a “Double Duty” did. OK…I’ll give you Babe Ruth, but that’s about it!…
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…
What’s Unique About this 1929 Cubs’ Team Photo??
Check out this neat photo of the 1929 National League pennant-winning Cubs. There’s a lot of familiar names in there…
Baseball’s Darkest Day: The Tragic Death of Ray Chapman
It happened ninety-nine years ago today. 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…
Cast Your Ballot: “Who Else For the Hall of Fame??”
Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right side-bar) As […]
The Great Hall of Fame Induction Class of 1953!
“Connie Mack was the greatest man I ever met in my life.” -Al Simmons speaking of his manager at the 1953 Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony…
Two All-Star Games in 1959!
Our “senior” readers will remember that for a while the major leagues came up with the bright idea of having two All-Star games…
Fun With Baseball Ejections!
In writing about Stan Musial the other day, someone mentioned that – not surprising – Stan had never been ejected from a game over his 22-year career. This little tidbit of information got my wheels spinning; and so I thought it would be fun to delve a little further into a topic that is almost always overlooked: baseball ejections.
We’re Contacted by a Donora, PA Neighbor of Stan Musial!
Exactly one year ago, I wrote a post about Stan Musial and his great career. It turned out that one of our Old-Time Baseball Photos readers, Don Ostapowicz, read the posts and mentioned to me that his family had been neighbors of the Musial’s in Donora, Pennsylvania…
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…
Another Edition Of Baseball Oddities: Whitey Herzog’s Unusual Triple Play!
Here’s something that caught my eye that happened on this date in 1960, 59 years ago…
Another Look at the Black Sox Scandal: Other Notable Reds Players
As I near the end of my essays on the 1919 World Series, I’d like to say a few words about some of the other players on the two teams besides the “Eight Men Out.”
Ernie Broglio, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn of the passing of pitcher Ernie Broglio on July 16th, aged 83…
Joe DiMaggio’s 56-Game Streak Comes To An End 78 Years Ago: July 17,1941!
“…It’s over thirty years later and this guy comes up to me and says he was that cab driver who drove me to the park on July 17, 1941. He apologized for telling me in the cab ride that he thought the streak would end that day if I didn’t get a hit the first time up…
Another Look at the Black Sox Scandal: Other Notable White Sox and Reds Players
As I near the end of my series of essays on the 1919 World Series, I’d like to say a few words about some of the other players on the two teams besides the “Eight Men Out.”
Another Look at the 1919 World Series: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Part Three: “Joe and the Tainted $5,000”
“There are things in this world to be regarded above money – keeping faith in your friends, for instance. All of which goes to show that you don’t have to know how to read and write to be a man of principle and conscience.” –Joe Jackson
Baseball’s Gettysburg Address: The Lou Gehrig “Luckiest Man” Speech, July 4, 1939
Amidst all the Fourth of July celebrations today, all baseball history fans (like us!) should take a few minutes to reflect upon the anniversary of one of the most memorable – yet saddest – days in baseball history. ..
Another Look At The 1919 World Series, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Part Two: Joe’s Play in the Field And At-Bat
“You know, he was such a remarkable hitter it was almost impossible for him to swing without meeting the ball solidly.” Teammate Dickie Kerr, speaking of Joe Jackson
Another Look At The 1919 Black Sox Scandal: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Part One – Did Joe Confess?
“The Supreme Being – not Judge Landis – will be my judge. The Good Lord knows I’m innocent of any wrongdoing.” – Joe Jackson
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.
Technical Problem on Baseball History Comes Alive Web page
To all our Baseball History Comes Alive subscribers: Due to a technical glitch with the […]
Another Look at the 1919 World Series: The Cincinnati Reds
Subscribe to Old Baseball Photos and Essays for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right side-bar) […]
Happy Fathers Day from Old Time Baseball Photos!
All of us here at Old Time Baseball Photos want to wish all the fathers out there a very Happy Fathers Day!
Another In the Series: Baseball’s Forgotten Stars! St. Louis Browns’ Ken Williams
Many thanks to one of our loyal readers, Victoria Martin, for sending me the great book, St. Louis Browns, the Story of a Beloved Team, published by the St. Louis Brown’s Historical Society. Vicki is a devoted member of this venerable group and ably serves as it’s “societal secretary.”
Baseball Oddities: Career Home Run Record holders!
Here’s a real baseball oddity that I’ll bet you never thought about: Since 1895, 124 years ago, there have been only four players to hold the career home run record!
Another Look at the Black Sox Scandal: Eddie Cicotte’s Performance in Game One
Today, we’ll take a look at Eddie Cicotte’s performance in Game One, which, I’ve found, raises some interesting questions.
Another Look at the Black Sox Scandal: Sportswriter Hugh Fullerton’s “Seven Suspicious Plays”
Those of you who read my last post on the 1919 Black Sox scandal, “Is It Time To Take Another Look?” will remember I tried to offer up some “food for thought” in that post…
Another Look At the 1919 World Series: The Eye-Witness Accounts
Subscribe to Old Baseball Photos and Essays for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right side-bar) […]
Follow up To My Tribute to Bill Buckner
Before we say a final farewell to Bill Buckner, I’d like to do mention a few more of his accomplishments, which were pointed out to me in today’s Chicago Sun-Times by sportswriter, Gordon Whittenmeyer.
Bill Buckner, RIP
“The dreams are that you’re gonna have a great series and win. The nightmares are that you’re gonna let the winning run score on a ground ball through your legs. Those things happen, you know. I think a lot of it is just fate.” -Bill Buckner, 19 days before Game Six of the 1986 World Series.
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 Six: “Shoeless” Joe Jackson
There’s probably no topic that’s more emotionally charged when discussing the Black Sox scandal than Joe Jackson’s guilt or innocence. It’s still hotly debated almost 100 years later.
The Sad Saga of Babe Ruth and the “Baby Ruth” Candy Bar
“Well, I ain’t eatin’ your damned candy bar anymore!” —Babe Ruth, 1927
…And after you read the story, who could blame him?
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 Four: Oscar “Happy” Felsch
I’m continuing with my series on the eight ball players banned for life from baseball by Commissioner Landis in the wake of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Today we turn our attention to the White Sox’ star center fielder, Oscar “Happy” Felsch.