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….
1964: Baseball’s Version of “Musical Chairs!” Johnny Keane Gets Yogi’s Job!
As we get closer to the start of the 2024 World Series, this is a good time to start my annual tour through memorable World Series incidents Today we’ll take a look back at the aftermath of the 1964 World Series….
Let’s Revist the 1960 World Series!
Today Vince Jankoski takes us on a revisit to the 1960 World Series. Vince takes a deep dive into some of the more subtle reasons the Yankees lost the 1960 World Series to the Pirates despite besting them in virtually every offensive and pitching category…
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: Luis Arroyo
On September 9, 1961, the New York Yankees celebrated Whitey Ford Day at Yankee Stadium. Ford was in the midst of his greatest season, the only season in which he would win a Cy Young Award. Ford was in the process of being showered with gifts when a car drove up with a giant Life Saver candy package in the rear seat. As the car came to a halt, the lid on the Life Saver popped open and relief pitcher Luis Arroyo emerged…
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….
BOB KUZAVA – WAS CASEY STENGEL A GENIUS…OR JUST PLAIN LUCKY?
Today Vince Jankoski returns with an interesting essay addressing the age-old baseball question of whether Casey Stengel was a genius – as many baseball fans think – or just lucky. His decisions in the seventh game of the 1952 World Series will leave you scratching your head…and with good reason!…
The Day Yogi Berra Had A Real-Life “Deja Vu Moment!”
“It was déjà vu all over again!” -Famous quote attributed to Yogi Berra
It happened on September 28, 1951…
Yankee Stadium. Yankees vs. Red Sox. First game of a doubleheader. Two outs, top of the ninth, Yankees ahead 8-0. If they can sweep the twinbill, they win their third pennant in a row…
Twenty-One-Year-Old Joe DiMaggio Makes His First Appearance in a Yankee Uniform on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1936!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
“When I sat at a table with Joe and other people…all the men were always looking at Joe instead of me!!” – Marilyn Monroe, speaking of husband Joe DiMaggio….
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Wit and Wisdom – and Luck! – of Yogi Berra
There are certain players you can never quite get enough of. For me, the list includes Willie Mays, certainly the great Bambino Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Roberto Clemente, and, most definitely, the player born Lorenzo Pietro Berra, known to us as Yogi Berra…
Deep Dive Into the Question: “Was Kansas City Really a ‘Farm Team’ For the Yankees?”
Today, we welcome guest contributor Vince Jankoski, who takes an in-depth look at trades between the Kansas City Athletics and the Yankees in the 1950s and early 1960s, dispelling the myth that the A’s were a “farm team” for the Yankees…
Great New Yogi Berra Documentary: “It Ain’t Over”
If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve got to find the time to watch the new Yogi Berra documentary, which I viewed last night. Aptly titled, It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over, I found it to be an outstanding production and gives equal coverage to both Yogi’s baseball career and his personal life…
“Babe Ruth Day” at Yankee Stadium, June 13, 1948 and the Twenty-Five Year Reunion of the 1923 Yankees!
This photo was taken 75 years ago yesterday, June 13, 1948, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of Yankee Stadium, which, of course, later became known as “the House That Ruth Built.”…
The Joe McCarthy Era Begins in New York!
Ninety-two years ago this month, on April 13, 1931, Joe McCarthy made his debut as Yankee manager, beating the Red Sox at Yankee stadium, 6-3. That was the beginning of one of the most successful runs in baseball history. In 16 seasons at the Yankee helm, all he did is go 1460-867 (.627) with eight pennants and seven World Series championships…
One-Hundredth Anniversary of Yankee Stadium!
Thanks to Michael Keedy for reminding me that today is the one hundredth anniversary (April 18, 1923) of the first game played at Yankee Stadium, the scene of so many great days in baseball history…
Joe Pepitone, Rest In Peace
There may have been more troubled souls in baseball’s long history than Joe Pepitone, but you’d be hard-pressed to name one…
Today Is the Sixty-Eighth Anniversay of Joe DiMaggio’s Election to the Hall of Fame!
“When I sat at a table with Joe and other people…all the men were always looking at Joe instead of me!!” – Marilyn Monroe, speaking of her husband Joe DiMaggio….
Frank Chance Takes the Yankees’ Managerial Helm, January 8, 1913
“There is one thing I will never believe, and that is that the Sox are better than the Cubs” -Frank Chance, after the Cubs lost to the “HItless Wonder” White Sox in the 1906 World Series…
Michael Keedy’s Top-Ten Greatest World Series Catches, No. 6: Mickey Mantle, 1956
Anybody who followed big-league baseball in the 1950s and ’60s remembers Mickey Mantle, who had to be God’s gift to the sport…
Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: “Did He or Didn’t He?”
The story goes that Ruth pointed to the center-field bleachers during the at-bat. But did he?…
Michael Keedy’s New Series: The Top-TenGreatest World Series Catches Of All Time! No. Ten: Bobby Richardson, 1962
The Pittsburgh Pirates, outscored in the 1960 Series by more than double, had Lady Luck to thank for their world championship season…
SAILING THROUGH THE DECADES WITH THE YANKEE CLIPPER-PART 1
On Baseball History Comes Alive, we can never get enough of superstars like the great Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio…
June 3, 1932: A Truly Memorable Day In Baseball History With Three Historic Events!
I wonder if there’s ever been a day quite like June 3, 1932 when not one…not two…but three historic events occurred – two within the same game!…
Billy Martin: World Series Wonderkid
Today, Steve Falco returns with an interesting account of the career of Billy Martin…
Lou Gehrig’s Consecutive Game Streak Comes to An End!
Eighty-three years ago yesterday, April 30, 1939, was a memorable day in baseball history. On that day, the consecutive game streak of the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig, finally came to an end…
1964: Baseball’s Version of “Musical Chairs!” Johnny Keane Gets Yogi’s Job!
“I managed good but boy did they play bad.” –Johnny Keane, commenting on his lack of success as Yankees’ manager…
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…
New Blog Topic: Big Dave Battles Donnie Baseball for the 1984 Batting Title
“If I were sitting down with George Steinbrenner and, based on what Dave Winfield got paid for his statistics, I’d have to say, ‘George, you and I are about to become partners!'” – Joe DiMaggio…
A MEMORABLE DAY AT YANKEE STADIUM
Bill Schaefer returns today with personal remenensences about a game he attended with his dad at Yankee stadium way back in 1946…
Yogi Berra: Baseball’s Original Mr. Clutch
We’ve all heard that Yogi Berra was a “clutch hitter,” but what exactly does that mean? Is there a way to quantify it?…
Sammy Byrd, The Greatest Baseball Golfer Ever!
Here we are in the heart of winter caught that “no man’s land” between the end of the World Series and the start of spring training…
The Yankees’ Slugging Sparkplug: Roger Maris
Earlier this month many of us were once again disappointed that Roger Maris failed to make it into the Hall of Fame…
“It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over!” The Fourteen-Year Feud Between Yogi Berra and George Steinbrenner Finally Comes to An End
“It’s over…fourteen years is long enough. I forgive you, George.” -Yogi Berra to George Steinbrenner
The 1962 World Series (Part Three)
Today, in Part Three, I’ll provide some details about the 1962 World Series which also had a dramatic ending. This time it didn’t end in the Giants’ favor.
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…
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