Seventy-five years ago, December 2, 1948, Stan Musial was named the National League MVP. “Stan the Man” led the league in hitting with a .376 batting average and 131 RBIs, but just missed the Triple Crown by one home run. So let’s take a moment to pay tribute to the memory of one of the true greats in baseball history…
A Historical Look at Umpire Signals and Deaf MLB Players, Part Two
Today we continue with Part Two of Thomas Marshall’s series on deaf players and the development of umpire hand signals. As I mentioned, Part One got a real nice reception from the readers, and I know you’ll enjoy Part Two too. So we’ll pick up where Tom left off…
Such A Deal! Free “Baseball History Comes Alive” Bookmarks!
To celebrate the success (hopefully!) of my new book, “Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe,” I’ve had some custom-made book marks made up. I actually designed these myself, and I have to admit they came out pretty nice. I’m making them available FREE OF CHARGE…
My Review of “Days of Reckoning,” by Author Ron Waldo
Those of us who have read Author Ron Waldo’s previous books know him to be a skilled writer and accomplished baseball historian. With the publication of his latest book, “Days of Reckoning: Players Punching Their Ticket Out of Pittsburgh During the Barney Dreyfus Era,” he now emerges as a top-notch baseball researcher…
Frank Howard, RIP
We’d be remiss in our duties here on Baseball History Comes Alive if we didn’t take notice of the recent passing of the fine ball player Frank Howard in Aldie, Virginia at age 87…
Happy Thanksgiving From Baseball History Comes Alive!
The great American family tradition of “Turkey Day” falls in that “no man’s land” between the last pitch of the World Series and the first pitch of spring training. It’s not exactly our favorite time of the year. But somehow, we manage to make it through year after year…
A Historical Look at Umpire Signals and Deaf MLB Players
After each play, we look to the umpire’s signal to learn the call. Ever wonder how and why those signals got started?…
The Confusing History of Baseball In Washington, D.C!
There’s understandably a lot of confusion about major league baseball in Washington, D.C. Which franchise version are we in now? The second? The third? Were they originally called the Senators or the Nationals? And ust how do the Twins, Rangers, and Expos fit in?…
Another First for Jackie Robinson!
“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.” -Jackie Robinson…
“The Little Professor” Gives One Of Our Readers a Real Treasure: An Autographed Ball!
Today we welcome Thomas Healy with a nice little essay about a day he never forgot and a gift he will always treasure: An autographed ball from the “Little Professor,” Dom DiMaggio…
A Genuine American War Hero: All-Star Pitcher Lou Brissie
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…
Book Review: Bright Lights Black Stars
“I owe more to Canadians than they’ll ever know. In my baseball career they were the first to make me feel my natural self… “ -Jackie Robinson
IS The100-YEAR PARTNERSHIP OF AM RADIO AND BASEBALL FACING THE SAME FATE AS THE WOOLLY MAMMATH AND THE DODO?
For the over 50 million people in this country who have reached 65 and beyond, the memories of baseball on AM radio is something we will always remember fondly…
Let’s Recall the 1911 World Series and Frank “Home Run” Baker!
The 2023 World Series is in the record books and so we extend a heartfelt congratulations to the Texas Rangers on an exciting win, the first World Series championship in their history…
WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR THE YANKEES TO MAKE YOGI BERRA THEIR REGULAR CATCHER?
Vince Jankoski returns today with an interesting essay detailing Yogi Berra’s path to becoming the Yankees’ regular catcher. It wasn’t as clear-cut as you might think, as Vince makes clear…
My New Book: “Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe!” One hundred and ten baseball profiles of ball players NOT named Babe Ruth!
Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe is a collection of essays I’ve written over the years and all have been published here on the Baseball History Comes Alive website…
The Classic 1960 World Series
Now that we’re in full “World Series mode,” I’ll continue featuring some of the more memorable Fall Classics. It’s been a while since I talked about the 1960 World Series, today we’ll revisit one of the most memorable of all — that is, if you’re a Pirates fan! — which included probably the most dramatic walk-off home runs in baseball history…
Memorable World Series Moments: 1917 World Series White Sox vs. Giants
Heine Zimmerman Chases Speedy Eddie Collins Across Home Plate!…
In-game interviews aren’t worth it!
I agree with Mark Kolier. I find in-game interviews with players to be distracting, and, well, annoying. How about you?…
Bobby Thomson’s Doubleplay Saved His “Shot” Legacy
Bill reminds us today of a fantastic twin killing initiated by Bobby Thomson in the final series of the 1951 pennant race that may very well have changed the course of baseball history…
My Review of: This Never Happened, The Mystery Behind the Death of Christy Mathewson
The historical setting is 1918 during the Great War. Baseball was under intense pressure to show its support for the war effort…
Forgotten Stars: Let’s Remember Cecil Travis
We welcome back Michael Keedy today with an interesting essay featured a ball player who I have to admit has flown completely under my radar, Cecil Travis…
Vince Jankoski’s Deep Dive Into Double Plays, Part Four
As promised, Vince Jankoski returns today with the conclusion to his four-part series on Double Plays. As always, Vince has done his homework. I never realized one could get that deep into DPs, but Vince has done just that…
Let’s Revisit the 1941 World Series…and the Mickey Owen Passed Ball!
“That was a tough break for Mickey to get. I bet he feels like a nickel’s worth of dog meat!” –Yankee Tommy Henrich, the beneficiary of Mickey Owen’s passed ball…
Gee, Thanks Brooks!
Before we say our final goodbye to the great Brooks Robinson, who passed away last Tuesday at age 86, I thought it would be fitting to take a look at Norman Rockwell’s wonderful 1971 painting of Brooks signing an autograph for a young baseball fan…
Vince Jankoski’s Deep Dive Into Double Plays, Part Three
Today, Vince Jankoski continues his “deep dive” into double plays. In Part Three of this series, he uncovers players who he calls “Double Play Superstars.”…
We Say A Sad Farewell to “Mr. Oriole,” Brooks Robinson
“Never has a player meant more to a franchise and more to a city than Brooks has meant to the Orioles and the city of Baltimore.” -Oriole historian Ted Patterson…
We’re Contacted by Daughter of All-Star Catcher and Baseball Lifer, Birdie Tebbetts!
I recently had an interesting email exchange with Sue Tebbetts Mitchell, the daughter of baseball lifer, Birdie Tebbetts. I’m sure many of our “senior” readers will remember Birdie very well…
We’re Contacted By Descendant of Former Major League Umpire, Jim Johnstone!
As I’ve mentioned many times, we always love it when we’re contacted by a relative of a former player. But it’s not often that we’re contacted by a descendant of a former major league umpire!…
The Call From Hell!
Last week, Bill Schaefer described for us what was “Maybe the Best Play Ever.” Today he follows up with the other end of the spectrum: “The Call From Hell.” It’s hard to argue with Bill’s assessment in either case!…
Baseball’s Version of: “The Thrill of Victory”…and “The Agony of Defeat!”
As October baseball gets closer, it might be a good time to reflect on what I call baseball’s version of “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat…
Vince Jankoski Takes A Very Deep Dive Into Double Plays! Part Two
We continue with Vince Jankoski’s extensive look into double plays and how they affect a team’s standings. Today, Vince examines teams that he calls “double-play machines,” and again looks for correlations…
“Maybe the Best Play Ever!”
We welcome back Bill Schaefer with the first of a two-part series. Today’s essay describes possibly the “Greatest Play Ever.” It involves a never-duplicated unassisted triple play by an outfielder!…
Norman Rockwell and Baseball, Part II: “The Dugout”
Three weeks ago, I posted an essay featuring Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting, “The Three Umpires.” Today, I’ll repost an essay I wrote four years ago about another classic Rockwell baseball painting and a companion to the “Three Umpires”: “The Dugout.”…
Mark Kolier Recalls “The Greatest Baseball Game I Was Ever a Part Of”
Mark Kolier returns today with another of his interesting personal reflections on the game we all love. This gives us the opportunity to take “time out” from our normal Baseball History Comes Alive fare with some fun, light reading…
Vince Jankoski Takes A Very Deep Dive Into Double Plays!
Today we present something new: The first of Vince’s four-part series on, yes…double plays…and how does the number of them over the course of a season affect the team’s standings?
Dom DiMaggio, “The Little Professor”
“In his post-baseball life, he was one of the most successful players of his generation.”…
Fun With “Erased” No-Hitters!
Wow…you learn sometime new about this game every day! Here’s something I was previously unaware of: Erased No-Hitters!…
Did Ted Williams Ever Pitch in a Major League Game? You Bet He Did!!
As strange to us as it seems, yes, the great Ted Williams once pitched in a major league game….
What Inspired the Famous Norman Rockwell Painting, “The Three Umpires”?
I’ve posted the iconic Norman Rockwell painting The Three Umpires before, but I never knew what rainy-day incident served as the inspiration for the painting. Was it based on something historic? Or did Rockwell just make it all up?…