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?…
MAJOR LEAGUE VETERANS – KOREAN WAR CHAPTER
Today Vince Janoski turns his “what if” spotlight on major league baseball and the Korean War. He highlights a few baseball stars, among the many who served their country during this conflict…
More Fun With Triple Plays…Especially Unassisted Triple Plays!
In reading the National Pastime This Day in Baseball History website, I discovered that yesterday was the twentieth anniversary of the twelfth unassisted triple play in major league history, pulled off by the Braves’ Rafael Furcal on August 10, 2003…
World War II and Major League Baseball
We welcome back Vince Jankoski will another of his specialties: “What ifs?” Today he tackles “what if” WW II hadn’t rudely intruded on the careers of many of baseball’s biggest stars…
Beautiful Color Restoration of the Addie Joss Benefit Game by Chris Whitehouse
Addie Joss was a much-beloved ace starting pitcher for the Cleveland Naps whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 31…
My Review of “Sugarball, A Novel of Negro League Baseball,” by R. Lee Procter
It’s not often that we baseball history buffs venture into the realm of historically-based novels. It’s also not often that we encounter one such book from this genre that happens to be right up our alley…
Check Out this Beautiful Restoration of the Homestead Grays Team Photo!
Chris Whitehouse does some amazing work, as you can see from this beautiful color restoration of the 1939 Homestead Grays. Chris was kind enough to allow me to post it today on my Baseball History Comes Alive website…
Babe’s Best Year Ever, 1923!
Steve Falco returns today with an interesting account of what was arguably the Bambino’s best season, 1923. We hear a lot about his 1927 season, but this one is often overlooked…
The Case For Eddie Mathews
Vince Jankosi is back today, this time making the case that Eddie Mathews is the best pre-Mike Schmidt third baseman. As usual, Vince has done his homework and makes a very strong case. See if you agree…
The Greatest Games I’ve Ever Seen
Today Mark Kolier returns with the kind of essay I enjoy the most: personal reflections on the game of baseball from years gone by…
Wes Ferrell: The 1930s Version of Ohtani!
Wes Ferrel may very well be one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame. As you will see, he was an outstanding pitcher and one of the best-hitting pitchers in major league history…
Who Was the Better Third Baseman, Brooks or Clete?
Today we welcome back Vince Jankoski with another thought-provoking essay, asking the question: Who was a better fielder, Brooks Robinson or Clete Boyer?…
Book Review: Some Catch – Thirty Gems Capturing the Humor and Drama of the Game
I’m very happy to report that contributor Bill Schaefer’s first book, Some Catch: Thirty Gems Capturing the Humor and Drama of the Game, is now available on Amazon in both paperback and ebook versions…
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…
Refreshing Chatter: Recalling Baseball From the Back Yard to the Men’s Senior League
Today, we have something a bit different. We welcome back contributor Mark Kolier with an interesting essay reflecting back on what baseball meant to him in different stages of his life: From playing wiffle ball in the backyard, to coaching his son’s Little League team, to playing on a Men’s Senior League team against “real” players…
Part Two: Was Kansas City Really a “Farm Team” for the Yankees?
Those of you who read Part One of this two-part series will recall that Vince Jankoski is doing a “deep dive’ into the trades between the Athletics and Yankees from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Vince is making the case that K.C. serving as the Yankees’ “farm team” is a myth…