“There are two times in my life the hair on my arms has stood up: The first time I saw the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the second time, I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball. -Dodger scout Al Campanis…
Congrats to the Dodgers! Now Let’s Recall the Classic 1955 Dodger-Yankee World Series!
With the exciting conclusion of the 2024 World Series last night – and congrats to the Dodgers! – I thought the time was right to recall one of the best WS ever – from the Dodgers’ perspective!: the 1955 Fall Classic….
A Memorable Baseball Brawl: Carl Furillo Gets 50-Year Old Leo Durocher in a Chokehold!
“Durocher was a dirty manager. He was a dirty player… I hated his guts.” –Carl Furillo…
Tribute to Carl Erskine, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn this past Tuesday, April 16, of the passing of Carl Erskine, age 97, the last surviving member of the Dodgers’ Boys of Summer Brooklyn teams…
Let’s Remember Gil Hodges on the One Hundredth Anniversary of His Birth!
Let’s take a moment to remember this fine ball player on the one-hundredth anniversary of his birth this week, April 4, 1924, with a few words about his outstanding career…
Dodgertown Opens March 23, 1951!
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The Shot BEFORE the Shot Heard ‘Round the World!
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting account of a tragic incident that occurred at the Polo grounds on July Fourth, 1950. This is something I had never heard of before. Many years later, it’s still painful to read about what happened to a fan casually sitting in the stands and enjoying a ball game…
“42” MOVIE REVIEW
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting “review of a review.” Bill analyzes Boston Globe sportswriter Bob Ryan’s “take” of the movie “42,” written in 2013. Bill then adds his own comments as he goes along. Read Bill’s essay, and see if you agree with Bob Ryan and/or Bill Schaefer!…
Don Newcombe Retires, January 19, 1961
This past Friday, January 19, 2024 was the sixty-first anniversary of Don Newcombe’s release from the Indians, bringing to a close his remarkable twelve-year major league career…
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…
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…
Joe “Ducky” Medwick Beaned and Nearly Killed, June 18, 1940
“When he dies, half the National League will go to his wake just to make sure that S-O-B is dead.” –Unknown former teammate, speaking of Joe Medwick…
On Being Obsessed with the Brooklyn Dodgers!
I’ve got a real treat for everyone today. Michael Tymn returns and shares with us reminisces from his early years as a Dodger fan in the late 1940s, seventy-five years ago….
THE SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD (THAT ALMOST WASN’T)
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting account of the 1951 game between the Dodgers and Phillies that necessitated the three-game playoff series between the Dodgers and Giants…
Michael Keedy’s Top Ten Greatest World Series Catches, Number One: Sandy Amoros and the 1955 World Series!
We’ve finally reached the culmination of Michael Keedy’s Top Ten Greatest World Series Catches…
Do You Have A Funny Caption For This Photo?
I thought it might be fun to start a new ongoing series that I’m calling: “Do You Have A Caption For This Photo?” I’ll be asking you guys for help. If you stumble on to a baseball photo that we could have some fun with coming up with a humorous caption, please send the photo to me at: Livac2@aol.com…
Let’s Recall the Classic 1955 World Series!
“The Yankee Stadium clock reads 3:45 on Tuesday, October 4, 1955, freezing for all time the greatest single moment in Brooklyn Dodger history.”…
Giants’ Manager Bill Terry Learns A Lesson – the Hard Way!
You’ve heard the old saying: “Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman”? Well, it applies in spades to scorned baseball fans!…
Let’s Remember Two Baseball Immortals: Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson!
“Ethnic prejudice has no place in sports, and baseball must recognize that truth if it is to maintain stature as a national game.” -Branch Rickey…
Tribute to Vin Scully, RIP August 2, 2022
Today, the entire baseball world is saddened to learn that legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully passed away yesterday at age 94 at his home in Hidden Hills, Califormia…
“Out! By a Country Mile!” Campy Sends Billy Martin Airborne!
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Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: “Pistol” Pete Reiser
He was known as Pistol Pete to friends and family after the cowboy movie hero, “Two-Gun Pete.”…
Talk About Obscure! Casey Sengel’s 1939 Boston Bees!
Not as well known is that Casey Stengel’s earlier career as a manager wasn’t always so successful. As a matter of fact, it was downright dismal…
We’re Contacted by Acquaintance of Brooklyn Dodger Great, Preacher Roe, Part Two
“Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you!” –Preacher Roe, commenting after once being taken out of a game in the second inning…
We’re Contacted By An Acquaintance of Brooklyn Dodger Great, Preacher Roe! (Part One)
“The Preach was a master of his craft. He was a smart control pitcher with a phenomenal sense of timing.” -Teammate Carl Erskine…
Tommy Lasorda’s “Wild” First Major League Inning (And I Do Mean Wild!)
“I bleed Dodger Blue…and when I die I’m going to the Big Dodger in the sky!” –Tommy Lasorda…
It Happened! Thank you for your support! Gil’s In!
I’m sure by now you are all aware that, yes, indeed, Gil Hodges will now have a well-deserved spot Cooperstown!…
New Blog Topic: Update For All Of You Who Signed the Gil Hodges Petition!
If you’re one of the nearly 800 readers who have signed the petition thus far in support of Gil Hodges’ enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, you’ll be interested in hearing this bit of news…
Last Chance To Sign Petition In Support of Gil Hodges for the Hall of Fame!
“Gil Hodges was a great player but an even greater man.” – Duke Snider…
EDDIE STANKY: “THE BRAT”!
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting essay detailing the career of The Brat, Eddie Stanky
Baseball “Babes,” Part Six: Ballplayer-Turned-Umpire, Babe Pinelli!
“Kill the SOB, Carl! Kill ’em!”- Umpire Babe Pinelli to Carl Furillo, who had Dodger manager Leo Durocher in a chokehold during an on-field melee in 1953…
We’re Contacted By “Acquaintance” of 1930s-40s Star Dolph Camilli!
“Dolph Camilli was a quiet, gentle man but he was as strong as an ox. Nobody knew how well Dolph could fight because, quite frankly, nobody had ever wanted to find out”…
Baseball “Babes,” Part Five! A Trade of the “Babes”: Babe Dahlgren for Babe Phelps!
In recent days, I’ve written about Babe Ruth, Babe Dahlgren, Babe Herman, and Babe Adams. I thought I’d go for a “clean sweep” with a few words about another “Babe,” Babe Phelps…
Another Baseball “Babe”: Babe Herman!
Dubbed “The Headless Horseman of Ebbets Field” by Dazzy Vance for his various base running misadventures, Herman was one of the great power hitters of the 1930s..
Baseball’s Version of “The Thrill of Victory…and The Agony of Defeat!” Part Two
Here’s the “flipside” to one of the most memorable days in baseball history: Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” at the Polo Grounds in 1951…
Ballplayers and Their Children, Part I
Today, I’m reintroducing a series I started a few years ago, which at the time I called Ballplayers and their Children.
Tommy Lasorda, RIP
“I bleed Dodger Blue…and when I die I’m going to the Big Dodger in the sky!” –Tommy Lasorda…
Another in the Series: Baseball’s Characters and Eccentrics – The Brooklyn “Sym-Phony” Band!
“Sometimes the band sounds like a herd of elephants with whooping cough,” -Murray Schumach. New York Times, 1947…
SNAP SHOTS FROM A GIANTS FAN, THROUGH A SURREAL SEASON
Time To Put Your Thinking Caps On! Here’s a picture of Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave with a bunch of players in Red Sox uniforms. It’s from the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones collection…
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…