I think we’re all aware of what a great player Carl Yastrzemski was, and we’re aware of his heroic role in the Red Sox’ 1967 pennant drive and subsequent World Series championship. But when you read about all the specifics – as recounted for us today by Vince Jankoski – you’ll undoubtedly be as surprised as I was at just how spectacular his role was…
Another Edition of “Overlooked for the Hall of Fame”: Rocky Colavito
As I watched Detroit and Cleveland play their recent playoff series, I found myself thinking about a great player who starred for both these teams in days gone by. I was thinking, of course, of Rocky Colavito…
Pete Rose, RIP
The entire baseball world was deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of Pete Rose. Those of us who saw Pete Rose play regularly will never forget the fire he brought to the game. Love him or hate him, there’s no disagreement he was a great ballplayer – one of the best ever…
Let’s Remember the Dean Brothers On Their Great Day: Dizzy and Daffy!
Ninety years ago today, September 21, 1934, was a memorable day in baseball history. It was also a memorable day for the Dean family. In the second game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field, 22-year-old Cardinal rookie pitcher Paul “Daffy” Dean became the fifth rookie to throw a no-hitter, beating the Dodgers, 3-0…
Let’s File This One Under: “My, How The Game of Baseball Has Changed!”
One hundred years ago yesterday, on September 6, 1924, something very unusual occurred. St. Louis Browns right-hander Urban Shocker started and completed both ends of a doubleheader against the White Sox at Comiskey Park…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Johnny Blanchard
A few years ago, I wrote an essay about backup catchers, an important team position that is often overlooked. Today Vince Jankoski sets the record straight with an interesting essay detailing the exploits of the Yankees’ backup catcher in 1961, Johnny Blanchard….
HOFer Max Carey Gets Two Hits in One Inning – Twice in the Same Game!
There was a memorable game played at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis between the Cardinals and the Pirates, 99 years ago yesterday, June 22, 1925. In that game, future Hall of Famer Max Carey got two hits in the first inning and then again got two hits in the eighth innings,..
Tribute to Willie Mays (1931-2024), RIP
“What can I say about Willie Mays after I say he’s the greatest player any of us has ever seen?…If he could cook, I’d marry him!” –Leo Durocher, speaking of Willie Mays…
Tribute to Lefty O’Doul: What His Career Could Have Been
Today, we welcome back Mark Kolier with an interesting essay on a great hitter who has been overlooked for the Hall of Fame, Lefty O’Doul. Lefty was also one of baseball’s greatest ambassadors who played a vital role in establishing baseball in Japan…
Red Ames: “The Harvey Haddix of the Deadball Era”
If Harvey Haddix were alive today, he could take some solace in the fact the he’s not alone on baseball’s all-time list of “hard-luck” pitchers. He’d be pleased to know that Deadball Era pitcher Red Ames is right there with him!…
Let’s Get Dick Allen Into the Hall of Fame!
“Dick Allen hits the ball harder than any player I’ve ever seen!” –Willie Mays. Now that’s quite a quote!…
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…
Player Spotlight: The Senators’ Tom Cheney – The Real Strikeout King!
Today Vince Jankoski returns with an interesting essay setting the record straight on who actually is the record holder for strikeouts in a major league game. It’s not someone I ever would have guessed!…
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…
Vern Stephens: The Most Ignored Great Shortstop
When my son Gordon and I began our Almost Cooperstown podcast nearly four years ago, we set out to put nine players in the Hall of Fame who had not been elected. This was in our very first episode, and Gordon put out Vern Stephens, a player with whom I was completely unfamiliar…
Joe McCarthy’s Boston Years, 1948-1950
Forty-six years ago today, January 13, 1978, Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy passed away in a Buffalo hospital at age 90. We’re all familiar with Joe McCarthy’s success as the winningest manager in Yankee history from 1931-1946…
We Know Andre Dawson Was A Great Player, But Did You Know That…
“I always thought that Andre was a renaissance man, but this is taking it to a different level!” – Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson
Yankee Johnny Murphy Was A Pretty Good Pitcher, But Did You Know That…
As I’ve said many times, whenever you look closely into a major leaguer’s career, you’ll invariably discover something interesting and/or unusual — something more other than just the bare statistical information found on the Baseball Reference website…
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…
SLUGGER TURNED MALAPROP MAESTRO: RALPH KINER
Today Bill Schaefer returns with a long-overdue tribute to slugger Ralph Kiner. If you ever had any doubts that Kiner is a legitimate Hall of Famer, as I once did, I think you’ll be in for a surprise…
Let’s Remember Baseball’s Rodney Dangerfield: Knuckleballer Wilbur Wood!
“Who did you say? Wilbur Wood? Yeah, I vaguely remember him. Wasn’t he one of those trick pitch knuckleballers?…
Rogers Hornsby Traded Again!
“Nobody liked our manager Rogers Hornsby. There was a real pr**k. Except for his racing forms, there was no newspapers, no movies, no beer, nothing. Women and horses, that was his downfall.” – St. Louis Browns pitcher Les Tietje…
Michael Keedy’s Mystery Player Number Six: Back Into the Dead Ball Era We Go!
Today Michael Keedy takes us back into my favorite era, the Dead Ball Era, with his excellent essay featuring Mystery Player Number Six. As usual, the “Mystery” won’t be too hard to solve for all our many astute baseball history aficionados…but I think you’ll have some fun with it anyway…and you’ll learn a lot about this often-overlooked, outstanding player to boot!…
Let’s Remember the Great Lefty, Warren Spahn, born 102 Years Ago Today!
With today being the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Warren Sphan (April 23, 1921), I thought it would be a good occasion to turn our baseball spotlight on the great left-hander…
We’re Contacted By Son of Former 1930s Cub Star, Stan Hack!
As I’ve mentioned many times, we always love it when we’re contacted by a relative of a former major leaguer. It makes no difference if the player was a star or a sub…
The Sad Demise of Hack Wilson
“Hung over, yes, many times…drunk, no.” -Hack Wilson’s response when asked if he ever played drunk…
We’re Contacted By Son of Legendary Pirates’ Manager, Danny Murtaugh!
“Managing a ball club is like getting malaria. Once you’re bitten by the bug, it’s difficult to get it out of your bloodstream!” –Danny Murtaugh…
Baseball’s Other “Babe,” Babe Herman: The Only Major Leaguer To Double Into a Double Play!
I was recently reading about baseball oddities (including “The Most Unusual Home Run Ever!”) and it got me to thinking about some other unusual occurrences on the baseball diamond…
Another Edition of: “From the Lighter Side!” Pepper Martin and his “Mudcat Band”
“Pepper Martin’s performance in the 1931 World Series was the greatest individual performance in the history of the World Series.” –John McGraw…
Let’s Recall A Relic From A By-Gone Era: the Team Pinch Hitter
In perusing the National Pastime This Day in Baseball History website recently, I came across this interesting tidbit involving the great pinch-hitter Smoky Burgess…
The Original Mr. Cub: “Jolly Cholly” Grimm
Today we welcome back to the fold Michael Keedy with an interesting essay covering the long career of Charlie Grimm, calling him the original “Mr. Cub.”…
The Most Lopsided Trades in Baseball History: “Lefty” O’Doul for Freddy Leach!
Ninety-four years ago this Fall, the Giants traded Lefty O’Doul to the Phillies for the aforementioned Freddy Leach…
Let’s Remember Baseball Lifer Don Zimmer and His 66 Years in the Game!
As I was watching the Yankees and Red Sox in their wild-card game last night, I have to admit that my baseball history antenna was real active…
THE TRAGIC STORY OF BASEBALL’S UNFORTUNATE HALL-OF-FAMER, ERNIE LOMBARDI
“Lombardi was so slow he ran like he was carrying a piano—and the tuner”-Anonymous teammate…
“DiMaggio” Stars In the 1943 All-Star Game!
“DiMaggio” Stars In the 1943 All-Star Game, and no…I’m not talking about Joe!…
Another Edition Of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!”: Wes Ferrell
I love going through the 1930s-’40s looking for stars who’ve been largely forgotten over the passage of time. And believe me, there’s plenty of them!…
Casey Stengel’s Often Overlooked Playing Career!
“Sure I played, did you think I was born at the age of 70 sitting in a dugout trying to manage guys like you?” – Casey Stengel
EDDIE STANKY: “THE BRAT”!
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting essay detailing the career of The Brat, Eddie Stanky
JIM “MUDCAT” GRANT AND A CERTAIN ”MISTER X”
I’ve learned over the years that whenever I write an essay for my website, Baseball History Comes Alive, it goes out to a wide audience. I never know exactly who it might reach or how it might affect someone…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part One
“Strength to overcome adversity…that is the enduring legacy of Fred Merkle’s life.’”…