https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one daily 0.75 2025-12-12 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/10 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010739303-9P5XQZHD0XCBTICZ7LH1/youtube.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010977711-A5WYQE6XQ269QGMF9IA5/cover+photo.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll Tim Carroll and me after recording our interview at the 2019 National Card Convention in Chicago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012758224-C1JM64MVIZSWOFGGYVIX/00.+nsta+conference+in+Nola.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - NSTA 2009 Tim and his wife went to New Orleans in March of 2009 to attend (and present at) the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012545115-B4L8G6Y19QAI5MGH8CZZ/01.+T206+Wagner.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Honus Wagner This is the Holy Grail of all trading cards. It features one of baseball's greatest players, and, more than 100 years after its release, it remains the symbol of trading card collecting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012988400-VBGOX4685YOEQTZIB030/03.+2019+Wagner.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s 2019 Wagner Tim’s updated version of one of his very first concept pieces. Completed in 2019, ten years after he finished the first one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013024522-8BOX3N7TUS1E3ERZNWDV/05.+1952+mantle+revisited.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle The second of three cards Tim has revisited, this version of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card was made from nearly 1,600 cut baseball cards (including roughly 200 Orel Hershiser cards from the 1989 Topps set). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013060100-1YJ0YH3HTWGAXGI9RK7S/06.+concept+griffey.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Concept Griffey This was Tim’s original attempt at one of the most iconic cards in the hobby: the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card. Ken actually signed this piece! Tim completed this piece in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013085806-AZQ8T1RD143ERXK5VGWZ/07.+1989+griffey+revisited.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Griffey, Revisited There are a few cards in the hobby that are iconic, in every sense of the word. The 1989 Griffey Rookie is absolutely one of them. Tim completed this piece in 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013117366-V3D03YCQ0DDPNAZUJUKC/08.+road+map.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Road Map You can see Tim’s crude drawing and shading still exposed at the base of this Mike Trout piece as he works on it at the 2019 National in Chicago. The cut pieces he expects to need to use for the piece are ready to go for him, separated by color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013147078-STTFNMNISME9JEV39UAS/09.+Grid+Approach.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Grid Approach Thanks to his background in math, Tim takes the proper dimensions of each card and simply scales them up to the size of the piece he’s working on. Having a visual reference of the original card he’s recreating, along with his road map, enable him to create his mosaics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013188558-JLGWUYPG0RPOV5TGPEI9/10.+anson.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N162 Cap Anson This recreation of the 1888 Goodwin Champions Cap Anson shows the beauty of the card, especially in the background colors and design. You can read about Tim’s thoughts and process behind working on this card HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013241664-IR7ER5SGD5AZZ5OK3EPH/11.+kelly.jpeg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N162 King Kelly Another example from the 1888 Goodwin Champions set, this recreation of the King Kelly card actually ended up in the same collection as the Anson shown above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013265118-8IAMX5RT67MY3O1N1R27/12.+goudey+ruth.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Completed by Tim in 2015, this recreation of the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth ended up being 20” x 26.5” and was made from cut junk 80s and 90s cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013286907-BTC74ZHVN25X59PUPVIL/13.+gretzky.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Tim finished his recreation of the key rookie card of hockey’s greatest player in 2018. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013310980-C49DPWILMQ8GSUZCGY6E/14.+jordan.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan This is the most recognizable basketball card and the most important modern card from any sport in the entire hobby. Tim somehow managed to make it better than it already is. And it was already perfect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013334322-RYPXR2JLPJTIRIG7S6LR/15.+pattee.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Harry Pattee Pattee only collected 57 total hits in his 80 career games, but my god did he luck out with this beauty of a baseball card from one of the most iconic sets in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013363031-OSDPDTXRKUKDZT95W57A/16.+bat+off+shoulder.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Ty Cobb There are four different Ty Cobb examples in the T206 set. This version, which has become known as the “Bat Off Shoulder” Cobb, is probably the most visually stunning card of “The Georgia Peach” of the group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013432703-UYBDJKTGVY5BYH9IH6HU/17.+schmidt+rookie.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt Schmidt’s Rookie Card may be more valuable… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013460506-RG7TNG6E8TNJRIBCRJH6/18.+1975+schmidt.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1975 Topps Mike Schmidt …but the 1975 Schmidt is the nicer art piece. I mean, just look at this beauty! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013483140-WHLSONGOYUJ4A9ITYL41/19.+bionic+bo.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1991 Fleer Pro-Vision Bo Jackson This is how many kids saw Bo Jackson in the early 90s: part man, part machine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013504170-T4X08UJJI5Y9ZOVXPTJC/20.+olerud.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1990 Upper Deck John Olerud Everybody has to have a favorite player. And for one John Olerud fan, this commissioned piece from Tim was the perfect gift. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013524722-P71LESZ68ZAC3JSVKUZU/21.+mookie.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Mookie Wilson Some of Tim’s personal favorite completed pieces aren’t of high value cards. This 1987 Topps Mookie Wilson, for instance, had huge sentimental value for one collector, which made it extremely satisfying for Tim to finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013549872-AJC49XGPR5STLTMTMKUX/22.+garage.JPG Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s Garage Tim set up his studio in his garage, which is decorated with some of his unsold pieces and personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013574558-FYJ74Z6R62O0WATEM2CP/23.+62+topps+mantle.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1962 Topps Mickey Mantle The 1962 Topps Mantle may not have anywhere near the financial value of the 1952 Topps Mantle, but sometimes the sentimental value of a card is more important than how much it is worth monetarily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013607328-D77CYBRRDKAAWB8SP78W/24.+88+score.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1988 Score Gregg Jefferies The cards from the 1988 Score set may not be very valuable today, but until his dad snuck a ‘62 Mantle into his stack, this Gregg Jefferies card was the best in Tim’s collection. The huge borders with various colors from the ‘88 Score set have ended up coming in handy for Tim many times over the years. And peep the beautiful Mets tops that were worn this year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013787608-21HX9GNLNVBGLBIB59L2/25.+donnie+moore.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Donnie Moore Donnie Moore went 43-40 with 89 saves and a 3.67 ERA in his 13-year career. But Tim will always remember him because his ‘87 Topps card has lots of green, lots of blue, and lots of wood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013812617-DX73ADRRJQULAE6WHS8Z/26.+eddie+milner.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Eddie Milner A 9-year career that only saw him hit .253 with 42 career home runs, Eddie Milner has largely been forgotten. But his ‘87 Topps card has tons of green in it, so Tim uses it whenever he can find one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013838300-JXXF92A08RYHYGV8QZT0/27.+bryan+clutterbuck.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Bryan Clutterbuck When you’re looking at cards through Tim’s eyes, you start to see them differently. You notice all of the blue in this card that can be useful to you, and you might overlook Bryan Clutterbuck’s 2-6 record with a 4.21 ERA in 34 career games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013904549-4RJ5UPPMBOFUQG33CK6G/tools+of+the+trade.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tools of the Trade You’ve heard of working your fingers to the bone. But Tim works his scissors to the… I don’t know… to the metal part underneath the comfortable rubber grip things? Not quite as catchy, but imagine how many hours of work it must take to do that! And he’s done it multiple times. Wescott, the brand of scissors Tim prefers, even claims on their site that “This will be the last scissor you will ever need.” Hah! Clearly, they’ve never met Tim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013868152-RIHEL21AHNKNXDN6EYQD/28.+mathewson.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Christy Mathewson The T206 set actually has three different Christy Mathewson cards, with this one commonly referred to as the Mathewson “Portrait” card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013937021-85LH8T1HB445S2NIH2D0/29.+n172+anson.png Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N172 Cap Anson There were two different Anson cards in the N172 set, which is perhaps the most important 19th Century set in existence. The cards were packed in Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarette packs, which is why the set is commonly referred to as the “Old Judge” set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013968406-IUEZAY1NCECOTE8BIDX7/30.+weston.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T218 Edward Payson Weston According to the back of this exquisite example from the T218 Champions set of 1910, “Edward Payson Weston is probably the greatest pedestrian that ever lived.” His greatest achievement was when he walked from Los Angeles to New York City (a distance of 3,600 miles) in 78 days at age 71. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013997112-R3U5HBJN175USB3NX7WD/31.+Mayumi+Seto.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Mayumi Seto Seto is the artist behind the Topps Living sets. Originally from Kyoto, Japan, she has been creating art since she was 9 years old and has sketched everything from landscapes to Dragon Ball Z characters, in addition to baseball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014023446-KKMNU78JKWEOW1Y1RKJG/32.+progress.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Inspiration Tim used Seto’s Topps Living Mike Trout card as inspiration for one of his pieces. Here is when Tim was just getting started on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014052688-87LA5WT1TZBWR7KP3CGS/33.+more+progress.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Starting to Come Together After finishing the bottom section with his name, position, and the Angels logo, and laying down the base of the batting helmet, Tim’s Mike Trout card started to take shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014081429-28JMRBWVE776QYKRBQJY/34.+working.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Nearing Completion Tim worked on the piece at the 2019 National in Chicago, and while it looked close to finished to the untrained eye, Tim still had hours of work left to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014112317-6098CK6SBTY3EKKX9FHK/35.+finished+trout.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Finished Piece Here is Tim’s finished piece, based on the Mike Trout entry in the Topps Living Set. The premise behind the Living Set program is that it’s a trading card set that starts with Card #1, but does not have a final card. It’s not tied to any specific season or era... but lives on year after year. It’s the first cross-generational product that can be collected and traded for years to come. Topps only issues one card per player, unless that player changes teams. Three new players are offered every week and are only available for purchase for one week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014137108-9K627VUGZUIU7IL6PJE1/36.+koufax.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Tim’s Sandy Koufax piece based on his 1955 rookie card was pre-approved to be permanently displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014164332-YMHTOJ27G3EBWTKO3228/37.+shoebox+treasures.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Shoebox Treasures “We decided to have a wall displaying a variety of art that has been inspired by and/or created from baseball cards,” said Hall of Fame Assistant Curator Gabrielle Augustine. “Besides the fact that it’s really cool and that I think our visitors will love it, this piece shows that baseball cards have transcended beyond the card collecting world... It shows that baseball cards can be both the medium and the inspiration behind amazing art.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014190884-Z3YLZ0PQV8WJL5OSCBGZ/38.+starry+night.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Starry Night” According to Tim, this is what happens when the baseball card artist meets a client that also loves Van Gogh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014225647-UOWNN6RUWINUO95I39RC/39.+chuck+close.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Chuck Close Tim definitely drew inspiration from Chuck Close’s method of scaling small pictures up to huge pieces by using a grid system. Close is seen here working on “Robert/104,072” some time in either 1973 or 1974. The piece, which measured in at 108” x 84” in its final form, was made with acrylic, ink, and pencil on a gessoed canvas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014252598-3MZ40W5FDBEFAKL5DGTN/40.+satchel.JPG Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1953 Topps Satchel Paige Tim’s recreation of this classic 1953 Topps card of Satchel Paige is perfect down to every last detail; including the fact that Topps misspelled Satchel’s name on the card! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014338857-I45WRVT5RSS96V0HWGLM/41.+sky.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Satchel’s Sky Tim knew that to get the blue for the sky, and to get the white for the border, he could use the backs of old baseball cards which often times used light blue or white backgrounds behind the statistics to make them easier to read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014380367-ABI5YBXKCLYK6DQEUMCE/42.+faces.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Faces in the Crowd Tim cut up hundreds of cards to find faces that had the right tones to create Satchel’s face for his recreation of 1953 Topps card #220. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014415912-A828EAXAJ24L9TD9W2HQ/44.+Splinter.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Splendid Splinter” Tim made this Ted Williams piece out of 1,941 toothpicks, a nod to his incredible 1941 season. It hangs in the Ted Williams Museum & Hitters Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014443458-T1TEZYIWUGD1COLSYZQI/45.+Toothpick+Ted.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Toothpick Ted” Another Ted Williams piece made of toothpicks, a play on Ted’s nickname “The Splendid Splinter.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014473788-NBZB8AT9CKX64RO90PN5/46.+big+hurt.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Big Hurt” Tim made this Frank Thomas piece out of band-aids and framed it with Ace bandages as an homage to Frank’s nickname, “The Big Hurt.” Tim is what you could call a “mixed media artist” apparently! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014503152-0CK9QQ4NGQU8707IFHES/47.+sweetness.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Sweetness” Tim made this Walter Payton piece out of Sweet’N Low, Equal, and sugar packets to play off of Walter’s famous nickname, “Sweetness.” The finished piece was 30” wide by 40" tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014531571-ZKYPFRZ1HXV01TU6BAI4/48.+mariano.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Mariano Rivera Since Mariano was so well known for breaking batters’ bats during his career, and since he faced the Red Sox more than anyone, Tim found it fitting to use pieces from a broken Dustin Pedroia bat to create this piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014559148-ACEKMENXDXEVRXJNWZ79/49.+bo.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Shattered Bats Tim made this 40” x 30” piece out of a shattered Bo Jackson bat. It is based on a photo which appeared on the cover of a Beckett Magazine in June of 1990. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014589829-N5NJ060V85PK2UCYEZAP/50.+bo.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Cut Cards The same photo also appeared on 1990 Score card #697, which gave Tim license to recreate his own version out of cut cards. The finished piece was 28.5” wide by 20.5” tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014620906-V7MKH3ZMAVVVB2MB0DH0/51.+score+detail.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Details Finding only black and white cards can sometimes prove to be a struggle. For the border, Tim used a bunch of old checklist cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615015960076-GDZ6J5L86Y2CQCIK557M/53.+mason.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s Son, Mason Tim made this piece in late 2017 of his then-10-year-old son, Mason out of cut baseball cards. The finished product was about 3 feet by 3 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615015984946-V6ZUT8G89TXXHNK0D8LN/54.+Game+Called+Because+of+Rain.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Game Called Because of Rain” This piece, based on the famous Norman Rockwell painting, took Tim over 300 hours to complete. He finally finished on March 1, 2019 after using more than 4,000 baseball cards to achieve the 34.5” x 37” finished product. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016010259-BKCPP076CFLXCFL5H5TC/56.+SMR+magazine.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - SMR Magazine Tim was featured in an article in the September, 2019 issue of PSA’s Sports Market Report magazine. You can read the article, subtitled “Turning Sports Cards Into Modern Art” HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016078213-U5O1FHXAXN8H9B4F5GQ1/57.+follow+tim.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Follow Tim Online Website Email Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016108326-DHG8OCTIJ9W6ZDVUWX0S/Jack+Johnson.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T218 Champions Card Set The Jack Johnson card is easily the most famous card from this incredibly unique, diverse set from circa 1910, which gives an interesting insight into the state of sports in America at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016137197-YPRV2DM0QGOSGBIABIC4/Edward+Payson+Weston.jpg Season 1 - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Edward Payson Weston Weston was a notable pedestrian, who was largely responsible for the rise in popularity of the sport in the 1860s and 1870s, though the most famous of his feats were his cross-country treks in 1909 and 1910. A Man In A Hurry Walk of Ages https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/09 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005970629-C08BQLZ0KLKKWIZL65Q4/youtube.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006105526-4AI6SLKCMYQ7Y8N8M43H/cover+photo.JPG Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown Warren Brown and me after recording our interview at the Mercantile Library in Cincinnati https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006934723-V8NGHM88F1KTBLMRNADV/00+-+mercantile+library.JPG Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown The Mercantile Library in Cincinnati. Founded in 1835, it has been at its present site since 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006974421-73ZQE19PQJF6CMJLSNM2/01.+Pete+Rose+and+Joe+DiMaggio.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose in Vietnam During the Vietnam War, it was somewhat common for pro athletes to join the Reserves to avoid the draft. Pete did so in 1963, after his rookie season with the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007026176-H3XA1AISAUU6IDO1S36N/02.+USO+Tour.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete and Joe DiMaggio USO Tour The State Department wanted Rose to go on a USO tour to help boost troop morale. To help persuade Pete, they told him, “Well, Joe DiMaggio's going.” Pete asked "Do I get to meet Joe?” “You get to live with him for 23 days,” came the response. “If it's good enough for Joe DiMaggio, it's got to be good enough for me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007091377-J2WNIBVPMXUW4W5FYRTX/03+-+Charlene+R+Brown%2C+RN+at+USPH.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Charlene R. Brown Warren’s mom was an RN at USPH. A chance encounter with Pete Rose led to the best job her son could ever dream of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007212660-EFS68SRA6Y17L0P7K18Y/04+-+Bernie+Stowe.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Bernie Stowe As a former Reds bat boy who worked himself all the way up to being the team’s equipment manager, Bernie Stowe knew exactly what he was offering Warren during their interview together in July of 1969: - Hard Work - Long Hours - Virtually No Pay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007234690-QXFCKYH476OQAPJXXRIF/05+-+Jim+Maloney.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Warren’s First Game The first game Warren attended was on August 13, 1963, when the Reds’ Jim Maloney bested Juan Marichal and the Giants with a 2-hit shutout, making him 18-4 on the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007287222-9B8U5URNR9F1WH5V4JBW/06+-+working+before+the+game.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Working Before The Game Many people think being a bat boy is just sitting on a stool near the on-deck circle and bringing the umpire new baseballs every few pitches. But it’s hours and hours of long, hard work. Here is Warren pulling a cart before a game in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007311943-AOFSKDV2U3UEYG86L3G2/07+-+Putting+uniforms+in+the+lockers.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Putting the Uniforms in the Lockers Bat boys and equipment managers have to arrive before any players so they can prepare their lockers for the day’s game, and be ready to help with whatever may be needed. Here is Bernie Stowe doing just that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007346553-Y2SPWMH707LFJ682M3TI/08+-+glamorous+drudgery+and+hard+work.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Glamorous Drudgery and Hard Work An article which appeared in a local newspaper captured the essence of what being a bat boy is truly all about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007370125-QFQW23TF72FK9HKEEUJN/09+-+reds+clubhouse+at+crosley+field.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Crosley Field Clubhouse This Life Magazine photo shows how different Major League locker rooms used to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007392733-S7LZR65S9RP96X568KXM/10+-+reds+clubhouse+riverfront+stadium.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Riverfront Stadium Clubhouse The Reds made the locker room in Riverfront Stadium much more luxurious. Much more space, wider lockers, and carpeted floors! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007414136-A2KCP8WW4KPEWCOXDS6A/11+-+sparky+anderson.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Sparky Anderson Sparky was introduced as the Reds’ new Manager before the 1970 season. He would manage the team through the 1978 season, winning four pennants and two World Series titles with the club. SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007438953-QL5I8GNNMOJUG2ZPHDSA/12+-+1970+reds.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 Reds Sparky’s first year with the team was also Warren’s first year with the team. The Reds got off to a 70-30 start in their first 100 games, but were decimated by injuries by the time the World Series rolled around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007462117-3HGSRXJDT6V8P8ZUHVZB/13+-+airplane+trip+to+baltimore+for+1970+world+series.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - First Plane Ride Warren’s first time on an airplane was when he traveled with the team on Ozark Air Lines to Baltimore for the 1970 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007483826-M0LCSKMTF64TJYGF1VWD/14+-+houston+astrodome+1.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Houston Astrodome Warren also traveled with the team during their 1972 road trip to Houston, where he got to see the Astrodome. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” featured the “Astrolite,” a four-story high scoreboard comprised of thousands of light bulbs. It was the world’s first animated scoreboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007509795-M7PWKWEF7Y9L3NJ6EWT0/15+-+houston+astrodome+2.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Roof at the Astrodome The dome's ceiling originally contained thousands of semitransparent panes made of Lucite. Players complained that glare from the panes made it hard for them to track fly balls. Two sections of the roof were painted white, but within a few months, the field’s natural grass died from lack of sunlight. The solution? A new, synthetic turf called “ChemGrass,” which came to be known as “Astroturf.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007534438-8T1BE9T844850FXKDBRT/16+-+bat+boys.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Relationships The work was hard, sure, but the relationships Warren developed made everything worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007558449-WVTRRKQCZQ5AAOAZY87D/17+-+1970+all+star+game.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 All-Star Game The MLB All-Star Game was held at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium on July 14, 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007630146-DBOQM0DMC24P3KOITC8E/18+-+president+nixon.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - First Pitch President Nixon, seen here with the First Lady and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, threw out the first pitch at the 1970 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007654816-D3HXN1GNZDIU071RWJSA/19+-+clemente.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Roberto Clemente Seen here, batting during the 1970 All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium, Roberto Clemente was Warren’s favorite non-Reds player. In 11 All-Star appearances, Clemente went 10-31 (.323) with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007676414-J41J6H6ECF78O44I4IAE/20+-+rose+fosse.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose and Ray Fosse Rose bowled over Fosse to score the winning run in extra innings. Fosse was never the same. Fosse’s SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007921732-GLL5Z3DLN5FGO02DEHQU/21+-+Bowie+Kuhn+holding+the+All+Star+bats.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Commemorative All-Star Game Bats Commissioner Bowie Kuhn inspecting the commemorative bats that would be given to each of the participants of the 1970 All-Star Game. Willie Mays gave one of his to Warren. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007946093-L7K9UNNOUWDIMECZR5DR/22+-+1970+world+series.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 World Series The first World Series ever played on Astroturf, the 1970 edition pitted the American League’s Baltimore Orioles against the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007969216-94UUQG1B34ZDCPJT5Z75/23+-+riverfront.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Riverfront Stadium After over two years of construction, the Reds played their first game at Riverfront Stadium on June 30, 1970. Its circular shape trapped heat inside, where it baked the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007989646-VMNPRMRWP0PPXGDD1B81/24+-+jackson+5.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Jackson 5 Before Game 1 of the 1970 World Series, the Jackson 5 sang the National Anthem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008013689-5KH9OC16FCEP6CES8G9A/25+-+Sparky+with+coaching+staff.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Reds Coaching Staff George Scherger and Alex Grammas were among the coaches Warren bonded with during his time with the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008220890-OEY006OM3JVP4PW8N7CZ/26+-+close+up.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Winning Streak Warren was the bat boy on the field from April 28 to May 5, 1970. The Reds won 8 consecutive games during that stretch, and Warren was immediately thought of as the team’s “good luck charm.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008245667-4CQP7ONU6WAWNJM61TTF/27+-+pete+rose.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose After every at-bat, Pete would come back to the dugout and inspect his bat to see exactly how and where the ball left its mark. After analyzing the contact to be able to make adjustments for his next AB, Pete would wipe the scuff marks clean with rubbing alcohol so he could start fresh, and easily see the next ball’s mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008266799-M4L448U6XI6SUKMI0ZNJ/28+-+Ted+Kluszewski+getting+interviewed+during+a+rain+delay.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ted Kluszewski “Klu” played for the Reds from 1947-1957, but returned to the organization after retirement where he served as their Batting Coach for nine seasons in the 1970s. SABR Bio by Paul Ladewski https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008290305-5OOMTRTOKTADRSEGEPSP/29+-+brooks+robinson.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Human Vacuum Cleaner Brooks Robinson stole the show (and a bunch of hits from the Reds) during the 1970 World Series. This masterpiece, robbing Lee May of a hit during Game 1, is one of the most memorable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008315126-OT16EPEVXU1WVBBQDOXU/30+-+working+before+the+game.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Bernie Stowe’s Advice “Everybody is going to be your friend now. You have to learn how to say no.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008341355-IC6XDDPS9K3IL4B2AVUH/31+-+1971+Reds.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1971 Reds Warren’s first full year on the field wasn’t a great one for the team. The 1971 Reds were No-Hit twice: once by Ken Holtzman of the Cubs, and another time later that month by Rick Wise of the Phillies, who also hit two home runs that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008376146-RRZ7HZSHSS3JVBBM2N81/32+-+1972+Reds.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 Reds After enduring injuries the year before, and the new season being shortened due to the first strike in MLB history, the 1972 Reds were itching to get back on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008403577-1YZMQNX96NEPKJ7QY8SW/33+-+close+up.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 NLCS Johnny Bench came up with the biggest home run in Reds’ history when he tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning of the decisive 5th Game of the 1972 NLCS against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That is Warren with his (BB) back to us in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008427931-E1DBJ7O6412IYG15K6G3/34+-+joe+morgan+and+pete+rose+in+the+clubhouse+at+riverfront.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Genius of Bob Howsam Not only did Reds GM Bob Howsam have the foresight to make the trade for Joe Morgan, he knew to put his locker next to Pete Rose to keep him accountable and motivated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008452254-4EL2YG2SZ8F3PMDXCT3P/35+-+hairs+vs+squares.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Hairs vs. Squares Ed Gruver’s 2016 book remembers the 1972 World Series just as much for the aesthetics as for the athletics. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008476456-KXNCK983LO0Z0MNFSI96/36+-+1970+World+Series+check.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 World Series Share Players Rep Woody Woodward informed Warren that he would be receiving a share of the 1970 World Series pot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008503231-IIIK996R4JAERSREO8C4/37+-+1972+World+Series+check.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 World Series Share In 1972, the Players Rep was Darrel Chaney. He told Warren the same thing Woody had in 1970. Warren used that money to pay for college. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008526001-8O3RZ73AQWQZ6PG0HX15/38+-+traveling+during+the+1972+world+series.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Traveling to the 1972 World Series Warren got to travel with the team to Oakland for the road games during the 1972 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008554790-TVTFFP006BL5XBPIT0L8/39+-+1972+World+Series.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum The Oakland Coliseum opened in 1966 after nearly two and a half years of construction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008933678-FLJ00EP7CM88GY26FTCI/40+-+Oakland-Alameda+County+Coliseum+1.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - In The Dugout Not many people in the history of the planet can say they were in the dugout during two separate World Series. Warren Brown is one of them. Here he is in Oakland in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008962550-ZEQOBVRP5YFYMAG4H91S/41+-+more+rain.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Heavy Storms Rain pushed back Game 3 in Oakland from October 17 to October 18, but that didn’t deter the Reds from winning. Coming to Oakland after losing the first two games at home, Game 3 was a must-win for the Reds. They won. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009133490-2L75FZ2B044IVUGQN800/42+-+ticket+office.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - That’s the Ticket! Warren was hired to work in the ticket office for the Reds in January of 1977. He worked there until May of 1979. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009169668-15UA6GQNULKWI5S41KSZ/43+-+marsha+in+the+ticket+office.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Admit One While working in the ticket office, Warren met a coworker named Marsha Beal. They would eventually get married. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009215665-6RTOPP7YOOG8K9CK25CL/44+-+marsha+becomes+scoreboard+operator.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Scoreboard Operator After working in the ticket office, Marsha was the Scoreboard Operator for the Reds from 1978 to 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009245289-7O60X21V9600AAC46E7N/45+-+a+family+affair.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - A Family Affair Not only did Warren and his wife, Marsha, both work for the Reds organization, their son Kyle worked in Stadium Operations in 2002, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009272162-LK0WEW1H4J0UTKU4JQEF/46+-+paul+derringer.jpeg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Paul Derringer Derringer pitched for the Reds from 1933 until 1942. He was a 6-time All-Star with the team, averaging 17 wins per season. He finished top-10 in MVP voting three times, led the league in starts three times, in winning percentage once (1939 when he went 25-7) and helped the Reds win the 1940 World Series. SABR Bio by Ralph Berger https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009297970-9F1ZJZXR6D7ELTPPARFF/47+-+Marsha%27s+Aunt+Iona+Whitely+and+her+Mom+Elizabeth+Ann+Beal.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Marsha’s Family Marsha's Aunt Iona Whitely and her Mom Elizabeth Ann Beal were first cousins with Paul Derringer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009326309-O15UKEQQ6NFFDTG6XBI9/48+-+with+pete+rose.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - A Special Bond Warren and Pete Rose have been close for 50 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009357491-6W4RBVWJ1WFILW4I4E6X/49+-+carlton+fisk+1975.JPG Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1975 World Series Carlton Fisk’s iconic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series gave the Red Sox one more breath. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Big Red Machine, who won Game 7 and the championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009385316-EJRGKZLWPULV13XDCU36/50+-+with+Pete+and+Hit+%231922.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete and Warren Warren with 1975 World Series MVP Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009412505-BJ2OS8B3LC9JLYQC607D/51+-+1976+Reds.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1976 Reds By beating the Yankees in the 1976 World Series, the Reds became the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 1921-22 Giants. This painting by artist Graig Kreindler depicts the famous team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009482173-X7SW74IZ4ZJT0Y0F68UV/52+-+The+Great+Eight.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Great Eight The starting lineup of Bench, Rose, Morgan, Pérez, Concepción, Foster, Griffey, and Gerónimo played 88 games together during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. They went 69-19 in those games, good for a .784 winning percentage. At that pace over 162 games, they would have won 127 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009544857-RF9MZL4BZCT8BIYA2GRA/53+-+with+pete+rose.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose’s Season Goals 200 hits, 100 walks, 100 runs He never reached all three in the same season, but he had 200 hits and 100 runs in the same season five times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009573617-UH3W517XRO8EVKR4FYBX/54+-+Pete+Rose+alone+in+the+locker+room.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - An Enduring Memory Warren walked into the Reds’ locker room on Opening Day of 1970, and sitting there alone, before anyone else had even gotten to the park, was Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009605489-G5HDZ266ZVTTPWUOTY5N/55+-+best+seat+in+the+house.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Perks of the Job At the time, Warren thought the best thing about being bat boy was having the best seat in the house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009633539-B6FG48B8HI9XBWMFDANX/56+-+Sparky+and+Warren+Brown.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Warren and Sparky But over the years, he realized the best perk was actually the relationships he formed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009664831-3KT8TTL74XBD11OSX12M/57+-+joe+morgan%2C+warren+brown%2C+and+pete+rose.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Joe Morgan, Warren, and Pete Rose Sharing a locker room with someone bonds you with that person for life. Warren is living proof of that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009698662-97A71PYUGMEYK6JMW2I1/58+-+with+Jim+Maloney.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Jim Maloney and Warren Warren got to catch his favorite pitcher of all time, Jim Maloney, when Maloney was rehabbing an injury. As if Warren didn’t already have enough “once in a lifetime” moments… SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009751989-KVDIPED8WWTVXU7IMOZC/59+-+clemente%27s+last+game.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Clemente’s Last Game Warren saw Roberto’s final game, the decisive Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS. Clemente died in a plane crash less than 3 months later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009858643-QK0TYS2GCRO4Y9XG1AX2/60+-+Jackie+Robinson+throwing+out+the+first+pitch+to+Johnny+Bench+-+1972+WS+Game+2.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 World Series Game 2 Jackie Robinson threw out the first pitch before the game. He passed away 9 days later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009894879-L61UIJ9B650DI5AJGDS7/61+-+big+red+machine.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Big Red Machine The National League’s team of the 70s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009926894-JPI559ZJ2LO2OCE0RBA2/62+-+a+win+in+the+1972+World+Series.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - World Series The Reds celebrate after winning a road game in Oakland during the 1972 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009958095-3A9QQQ10W7RJT5PC9WQ1/63+-+johnny+bench.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Johnny Bench Rookie of the Year. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 2 time MVP. 10 time Gold Glove Award winner. 14 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Mark Armour https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009988328-TTLA0056X1IVC3HBZ3SY/64+-+pete+rose.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose Rookie of the Year. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time Gold Glove Award winner. 3 time batting champion. 3 time World Series champion. 17 time All-Star. Baseball’s all-time career leader in hits, at-bats, plate appearances, and games played. “Charlie Hustle.” SABR Bio by Andy Sturgill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010020817-Y5WOEUG3S8GPPMVK0T9F/65+-+joe+morgan.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Joe Morgan 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year. 2 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time Gold Glove Award winner. 10 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010052932-5R4LJL08WEDGX5JK2C6W/66+-+tony+p%C3%A9rez.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Tony Pérez 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 7 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Phil Cola https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010083409-P00TJV4ULCMGSTHUUHCX/67+-+george+foster.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - George Foster 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time All-Star. Led the league in Runs, Home Runs, RBI, Slugging Percentage, OPS, and Total Bases in his 1977 MVP season. SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010125231-4JNI8FTDHBGRFAVS8UYE/68+-+sparky+anderson.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Sparky Anderson 2 time Manager of the Year. 5 time Pennant winner. 3 time World Series champion. Hall of Fame. SABR article by Steve Ames https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010156745-N8NG0QI7XIPZEP0E8FOE/69+-+marge+schott.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Marge Schott Marge Schott was the first woman to own and operate a major league team, but she was forced out of baseball because she embarrassed fellow owners with her use of offensive racial and ethnic slurs. SABR Bio by Warren Corbett https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010183917-TCY4XFMEP7G5AS3EWV8Z/70+-+ken+griffey.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ken Griffey Before there was Junior, and he needed to add the Senior, there was just Ken Griffey. 1 time All-Star game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 3 time All-Star. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010220913-ZH1OBLITTFLFDAQ7ZII3/71+-+ken+griffey+jr.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ken Griffey, Jr. Ken Griffey, Jr. slides into third during the Reds' Father and Son Game with his dad, Ken Griffey, Sr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010270753-EDJG5AC2N00XK8RD67HP/72+-+marichal+spahn.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - July 2, 1963 Juan Marichal bested Warren Spahn in one of the great pitching duels of all time. Marichal’s pitching line: 16 innings, 8 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts. Spahn’s line: 15 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010311111-N6NEXWWXLMV20HF3G13H/73+-+reds+throwbacks.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Reds Throwback Uniforms To help celebrate their 150th year as a baseball team in 2019, the Reds wore a number of throwback uniforms throughout the course of the season. Here is a breakdown of what they wore, thanks to Chris Creamer and sportslogos.net. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010343470-KDQXZZ232K9KH0HWZSOI/74+-+powel+crosley.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Powel Crosley, Jr. An endlessly interesting man, Crosley was an inventor, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, and his companies manufactured everything from automobiles to radios, and operated WLW radio station. He became one of the most innovative owners in the history of baseball, installing lights so the Reds could play the first night games in MLB history, and broadcasting their games on the radio. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010376539-BW86P3INNHUHWL5JWPWB/75+-+big+red+machine+pitching+staff.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Unsung Heroes The pitching staff of the Big Red Machine may not get a ton of recognition, but they were serviceable enough to help the team win four pennants and two World Series championships from 1970 to 1976. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010405975-Z9E0W1A6DG0MFE020ECA/76+-+warren.png Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Stay In Touch With Warren email Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010447385-MLXAA6XN3WTM6X4YYC0Y/77+-+Hotel+Sinton.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - Hotel Sinton The Chicago White Sox stayed at Hotel Sinton in Cincinnati while they were on the road during the 1919 World Series. The Sinton stood at the southeast corner of 4th and Vine from 1907 to 1968. It was in this hotel where the players finally agreed to actually go through with their plan to throw the World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010475909-QIMALW53G0LORET4IMZ0/78+-+Frank+Mills+Andrews.jpg Season 1 - 0109 - Warren Brown - F.M. Andrews Frank Mills Andrews was one of the top architects of his day. His works include the State Capitol Buildings in both Frankfurt, Kentucky and Helena, Montana, as well as the Hotel McAlpin in New York, which was the tallest hotel in the world upon its completion. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/08 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002688719-RO1DYAQK88SDLVOJ90RP/youtube.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002807776-JQ6LE1KM74IFD369RX1C/cover+photo.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown Andy Brown and me after recording our interview in my old living room in Skokie, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002879583-RJ9I167L8B20PCG1GFC4/02.+andy+in+front+of+the+fod+house.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy at the Field of Dreams Imagine my surprise when I finished recording the interview with Craig Purcell at the Field of Dreams Movie Site, to turn around and see Andy Brown painting the landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002906440-9Z96BON0N08KKSN0EZM7/03.+andy+painting+at+FOD.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - An Artist’s View Andy painting one of the multiple pieces he ended up completing at the Field of Dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002934865-0161KM8T841S25IPSEFD/04.+andy%27s+finished+Field+of+Dreams.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Finished Piece From the photo above, here is the final version. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002954999-56QRW3VBPSCUFQDSU5H3/05.+Target+Field.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Target Field The home of the Twins was Andy’s 14th MLB ballpark out of 30. He painted it on August 19, 2019. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002980446-WH8HP8C010711JRQB4HU/06.+If+You+Build+It.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Dwier Brown Dwier Brown’s 2014 book If You Build It... is a funny and moving memoir about Fathers, Fate and Field of Dreams. The podcast Andy listened to on his drive to the Field of Dreams, which featured an interview with Dwier Brown, was an episode of The Moonlight Graham Show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003041810-Z51A0IVX5PBBAR1TI4S2/07.+the+entrance.JPG Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown The entrance to the Field of Dreams Movie Site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003066286-UE8HYK62S1KFQK499KO9/08.+Andy+with+the+Ghost+Players.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy with the Ghost Players Andy just happened to catch the Ghost Players during their last performance of the 2019 season when he visited the Field of Dreams on Sunday, August 18. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003084246-6ETXCQ25NTI9FIR6YS9V/09.+albuquerque.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Albuquerque Isotopes Andy visited Albuquerque to watch the Isotopes play the Salt Lake Bees on July 28, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003103462-IPVUW9L6J888DGYR0S78/10.+Daegu+Samsung+Lions+Park.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Daegu Samsung Lions Park Andy painting Daegu Samsung Lions Park, home of the Samsung Lions of the KBO. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003127788-9OPD9YAY3LYK3VELBQ25/11.+sketchbook.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Sketching Andy may not always have his paints, brushes, and canvas with him, but he’s always got his sketchbook so he can capture the people and places he comes across at a moment’s notice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003149860-YEJB5FF6PPFTVZGELDGK/12.+Jamsil+Stadium.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Jamsil Stadium Andy’s painting of Jamsil Stadium, the home of the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. It is one of the many paintings Andy has done of the home ballparks from teams in the KBO. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003174156-0AJZQSGHJN3Q6ZGEON5X/13.+Koshien.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Koshien Stadium Andy’s painting of Koshien Stadium near Kobe, in Japan. It is the home of the Hanshin Tigers of the Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB), which is the highest level of baseball in Japan. It is one of the many paintings Andy has done of the home ballparks from teams in the NPB. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003195013-SWJOJMZ4MQWSQRCM4145/14.+Scoreboard+at+Koshien.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Scoreboard at Koshien Koshien Stadium was built to host Japan’s national high school baseball tournaments. It opened in August of 1924 with a capacity of 55,000 seats, making it the largest stadium in Asia at the time. When Babe Ruth brought the “All Americans” on a 12 city barnstorming tour of Japan in late 1934, the team played at Koshien. Jimmie Foxx and his wife filmed much of that tour. Moe Berg filmed some of it, too. Buy Andy’s painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003219980-2MCK416DC1XQ61MKMJMB/17.+president+race.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Presidents Race at Nationals Park The Presidents Race has happened in the middle of the fourth inning of every Nationals home game since 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003317010-MESLWE7956H4BM8LC0RA/18.+dog+day.PNG Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Dog Day at Comiskey Park Twice a year, White Sox fans get to walk their dogs around the warning track at Comiskey Park and sit with them in the outfield in designated sections with all of the other dogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003365442-7Q6GSRZXWIPAF4PXR568/19.+Gocheok+Sky+Dome.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - 2017 World Baseball Classic The Gocheok Sky Dome is the home ballpark of KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, but in 2017 it hosted games during the World Baseball Classic. Andy has painted Gocheok many times, but you can buy this specific piece HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003387654-VFBZBVFXAMYMOEDNKQHB/20.+Tokyo+Dome.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Tokyo Dome While living in Korea, Andy often visited Japan to draw and paint its baseball culture. This piece is from his first visit to the home ballpark of NPB’s Yomiuri Giants in 2015. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003410760-D97Y3UV3CRZUO28Y1E2G/21.+Stretched+Canvases.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Stretching His Canvases An important step in the painting process is stretching your canvas before starting. Most all oil and acrylic paints are somewhat rigid when dry. So, you could paint on un-stretched canvas, but the paint would most likely crack or flake off when the canvas folds, waves, or buckles. Stretching your canvas gives it dimensional stability. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003435853-N4XW7YRZGCUOXTVZRBDY/22.+Paints.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Paints Not all of Andy’s works are paintings, but when they are, he prefers to use oil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003460453-GHOG846OCGTERKB1FQ3E/23.+Smock.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Getting Dirty When you work with the materials and speed with which Andy does, you’re inevitably going to create a mess. You could either ruin your clothes every time, or invest in a smock/apron to mitigate your dry cleaning bills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004046991-8UEKJ72XIPL1UQRFXQ1F/24.+Wrigley+Marquee.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Marquee at Wrigley Field Want to hear more about the iconic features found at Wrigley Field? Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Brian Bernardoni, the official historian of Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004115856-PM23VCZRSEY1GME44LYF/25.+Wrigley+drawing.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Minimalist Style Another one of Andy’s Wrigley pieces. So simple, yet still unmistakably Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004139965-YSUZ3L7AXLFSF1XNM343/26.+Trip+Route.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Stadiums Are Not The Journey It can be hard to spend time alone with your thoughts on a long road trip. And I think this definitely qualifies as a long road trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004163865-XM0WMAAVZXFC3JY16KN9/27.+Stars+and+Stripes.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Essence of America It was very interesting to hear how a foreigner perceives America, and what American values truly are. Buy this painting HERE These next two links contain graphic descriptions of unthinkable violence. It’s okay not to click them: Read about the Walmart shooting HERE Read about the Dayton shooting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004186815-VYE15OOVWD41R955VS9G/28.+with+Joey.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball Brings People Together Like it has for Andy and his friend, Joey Mellows, who have been traveling the world going to baseball games together for years. Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Joey, who you may know as @BaseballBrit on twitter, HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004212247-FV3RU6V48G7NWFHEUSQC/29.+andy+batting.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy At The Bat Andy spoke of the cultural heritage and legacy of the movie Field of Dreams, which he got to experience firsthand in Dyersville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004237009-CYPYKRLYU5HGB6JN4Z7D/30.+busan.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Busan, South Korea Sajik Stadium, which is know as a mecca of Korean baseball, is home of the Lotte Giants of the KBO. Andy has painted it many times, but you can buy this painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004262458-8CZEKRAAO129P8PLR17N/31.+simplicity.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball Has A Simplicity To It But yet, it is still so complex. Take this piece Andy created in St. Louis. Just a few simple lines. No colors. No logos. No players. And yet any baseball fan could tell you exactly what it is depicting. It’s a great metaphor for the game, itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004315984-T8V2FR0Y1N5XW745Q705/32.+no+bad+seats.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - There Are No Bad Seats… … just different perspectives. Which is a very health attitude to have in baseball, and in life. Andy put that philosophy to good use in Kansas City on August 13, 2019 when he made this painting, which you can buy HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004339228-EU8HQBUL8BWM2FXCYRVZ/33.+mets.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - New York Mets The 2018 Mets led the league in potential. They finished the season 4th in their division. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004366020-GOKLY65LA9PUV8F9CSEI/34.+young+andy.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Young Andy Andy graduated from Loughborough University in Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England with a degree in Painting in 2002. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004389606-UD2ZRUEHN6NNRJTE0ZNY/35.+The+Mansard+Roof%2C+1923.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Mansard Roof This painting by Edward Hopper was completed in 1923. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004412923-WVEAKFJNI9TY36Y9UXRP/36.+Lincoln+For+The+Defense.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Lincoln For The Defense This painting by Norman Rockwell was completed in 1961 for a Saturday Evening Post story of almost the same title by Elisa Bialk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004469680-R3EKPKAMDI28I7935L0T/38.+panoramic+views.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown Painting panoramic views of the stadiums allows Andy to play with perspective, while getting everything on the canvas he’s trying to portray. Take this example of CC Sabathia’s sendoff from Yankee Stadium. You can buy Andy’s original painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004601617-LS8650TNPGLNYG9650VF/39.+capturing+energy.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Capturing Energy Sticking with the CC Sabathia theme, Andy’s broad brush strokes give the illusion of movement in many of his pieces. Couple that with the multiple overlaid images, and this piece really does a great job of capturing energy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004629645-DKXMK981KQBXLBEVHN15/40.+Tin+Type.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Tintype A tintype is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004658855-LJXSTJQTEUHOP28EQ9VB/41.+Tin+Type+of+Jamsil+Stadium.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy’s Tintype This image of Jamsil Stadium was made using the Collodion Wet Plate process, invented in 1851. Andy developed it in a cardboard box on the passenger seat of his car in 2017. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004747287-S8VAY4R0APFODDR18O5N/42.+Pinhole+Camera.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Pinhole Camera A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens but with a tiny aperture (the so-called pinhole) – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known as the camera obscura effect. Andy has been using them for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004774647-WIBSM2V5CI2CCD966STD/43.+Pinhole+photo+of+Jamsil.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy’s Image This photo of Jamsil Stadium was made using a box for holding bacteria for the intestine. The exposure time was 90 minutes. Notice how the movements of the players are captured! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004798888-HLZ36AWQF04SGFYLH0TO/44.+gaming+lounge.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Gaming at the Game From August 19th to August 21st, 2019, X Rocker and E-Squared partnered up with the Minnesota Twins to bring fans at Target Field the first ever gaming lounge inside of a baseball stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004828631-Z67XTN9HQ07JBI154ZT9/45.+wrigley+painting.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Scoreboard at Wrigley Andy painted Wrigley on August 22, 2019. He was enamored with the iconic scoreboard in center field, and made it a focal point of his piece. Buy the painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004853845-C4PSI0SP6A61J0SGCHQY/46.+Wrigley.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Ivy Another iconic part of the Wrigley aesthetic is the ivy, which was installed in 1937. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004882407-8Y4W4WYC3RWH689LUNNC/47.+Steamboat.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Steamboat in Cincinnati When Andy visited the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, the giant steamboat in center field caught his eye, and made it onto his canvas. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004908701-VWH9AFA358T5LU78G51I/48.+Minnie+and+Paul.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Minnie & Paul The old school Minnesota Twins logo of two fellas shaking hands across a river was created in 1961 by St. Paul illustrator Ray Barton, who was paid $15 to create the design. Now, it’s a 46-foot high neon sign in Target Field that lights up whenever a Twins player hits a home run. Which, in 2019, happened a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004941252-DWFYLVB70MGK7PBI2J20/49.+arlington.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Ballpark in Arlington The Rangers chose to build a retro-style ballpark which incorporated many features of baseball's Jewel Box parks, including a roofed home run porch in right field, reminiscent of Tiger Stadium. Buy Andy’s work HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004967676-ZEPA7J12XPNTDRSJXRA1/50.+houston.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Train in Houston When Andy visited Houston on August 3, 2019, he thought he was going to see the train 90 feet above the field that was installed in 2000. He did, but he also saw the Astros throw a combined no-hitter against Seattle. Buy this piece HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004996878-61AMMLSHLBRPE7CJ1R51/51.+Ichiro.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Ichiro’s Last Game Ichiro played the final MLB game of his career at the Tokyo Dome on March 21, 2019 as the Mariners faced the A’s in Japan. Buy Andy’s painting of Ichiro HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005021886-GWZL8LX8NLW3Q1RH2025/52.+Lou+Gehrig.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Lou Gehrig No one thought his consecutive games streak would ever be broken. Then Cal Ripken, Jr. came along. Buy Andy’s painting of Gehrig HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005050172-J4DMZ7P1OHGI5SDLH8G7/53.+hand+of+god.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - “Hand of God” Diego Maradona’s controversial goal in the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal in Mexico gave Argentina a 2-1 win over England. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005080193-0PMGVXP29ULTGKEAK4JI/54.+god+save+the+queen.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - God Save The Queen Andy created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II out of 1,000 used and unused tea bags which gained him international publicity, including a Trivial Pursuit question about his piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005109868-VYQWSEZJJH8VHDZ3O6HI/55.+paintings+on+the+ground.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - A Mini Art Exhibition When Andy stayed at my house, he was able to lay out all of the paintings he had with him at that point, and look at them all together for the first time. It was really cool to be there with him while he experienced that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005137081-F0RS8CFEDO92JF5VOUE6/56.+podcast.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - In My Living Room Andy was the first guest of the podcast to record their interview in my house with me. For every interview before that, I traveled to the subject. It was a neat change of pace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005172573-CAEVQPAGBTWHUDYAY8O4/57.+andy+at+the+field+of+dreams.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - If You Build It… Andy at the Field of Dreams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005200969-QWCIZ29B3DR7MN6CERM6/58.+Field+of+Dreams+easel.png Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - …He Will Come And Paint It Andy set up in a couple different spots at the Field of Dreams to get multiple perspectives and vantage points. This one allowed him to capture the field and the home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005226199-9NJ6CKSJPCIWJJPBYPK3/59.+Field+of+Dreams+home.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Field of Dreams (Home) Painted late in the evening of August 21, 2019. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005284337-K0PPSAP8TH5BLXBGZYDP/61.+Ghost+Players.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Ghost Players Artwork inspired by Andy’s trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005252929-UJ74MXC662U4EYIZXNUT/60.+Do+You+Want+To+Play+Catch.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Do You Want To Play Catch? II Artwork inspired by Andy’s trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005311550-G9S4E2XTDDL53LVLAYCP/62.+cooperstown.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy In Cooperstown Shoeless Joe may not have made it there, but Andy did. Here he is displaying his work during an exhibition at the end of his trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005336400-SANU72BHR5BT5OY4F9PR/63.+MLB+london+in+action.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Follow Andy Online Twitter Website Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005360810-28B3JREKZ06AOBA3YIJH/64.+keith+arnatt.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Keith Arnatt Not just an artist. A real artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005389835-3ASG5H4EUP6LFDGZWLQM/65.+Andy+and+I+at+Joe%27s.JPG Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Me and Andy at Joe’s in Dyersville We were both exhausted, but we still enjoyed our time (and our food) at the appropriately-named Joe’s 2nd Street Diner in Dyersville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005416211-B9STB53TB76FTRV0KA9N/66.+Meeting+at+Yakzies.JPG Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Meeting at Yak-Zies Andy, Me, and Joey Mellows meeting for a drink at Yak-Zies in Wrigleyville. I was bartending, they were being tended to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005447008-RFXT52OWC37KFC5K0N1L/67.+Andy+and+Joey.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Joey and Andy Just a couple of chaps, dressed up like ballplayers from the early 1900s, in the middle of the night, in some stranger’s living room, 4,000 miles from home. And they couldn’t possibly be happier about it. Baseball really is magic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005508209-LW6Q131JLOG0NEMM7XWG/68.+Twitter+banner.JPG Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown The header on the @shoelesspodcast twitter profile is Andy’s painting of me interviewing Joey Mellows for his episode of My Baseball History. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005478717-LE806178IYR42EF121LE/69.+doubleday.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Doubleday Field Named for Abner Doubleday and located two blocks from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney’s farm. Andy was there in October of 2019. You can buy his painting of the field HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005551969-S00Z1KROS0IL7IYMF1WW/70.+john+thorn.jpg Season 1 - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball in the Garden of Eden Major League Baseball Official Historian John Thorn’s 2011 book draws on original research to tell how the game evolved from other bat-and-ball games and gradually supplanted them, how the New York game came to dominate other variants, and how gambling and secret professionalism promoted and plagued the game. Buy it HERE https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/07 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998753733-P0TPF5NNRN4132SAE669/youtube.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998882941-TMIK2ACZ7Z8CTT3B06TG/cover+photo.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows Me and Joey Mellows after recording our interview in my old living room in Skokie, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998941067-F3AH7LXUUNDC2C6G5CUJ/01.+tulane.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Tulane University On September 21, 2019, Joey spun a wheel to help him randomly select an American college football team to support for the rest of his life. It landed on Tulane, and Joey has been an ardent supporter since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999075036-I8QTH2EOP2A9VLSC2PT5/02.+joey+drinking+tea.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Morning Routine Joey starts every day he can by boiling a kettle of water to make some Yorkshire tea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999105112-W0S989A0F8UALWB7SQU5/03.+his+dog.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey’s Dog An American Cocker Spaniel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999130367-5O1JEY09RDFVWAUBFMAB/04.+time+zone+map.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Time Difference Joey initially became a baseball fan because of the fact that he couldn’t watch the soccer games he wanted to while in Seoul, Korea, thanks to a 9 hour time difference from England. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999158337-AK58DCBD2N0T5UVRMEJT/05.+joey+as+a+teacher.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Young Joe Got the block on smash. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999180970-PDN1VIRBJ9EYQFX27SGE/06.+joey+and+his+parents.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey and His Parents Joey’s first baseball game was a contest between the Chiba Lotte Marines and the ORIX Buffaloes at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan in April of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999204297-82QWJEW8JQEORBG9TFQB/07.+baseball+cards.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Korean Baseball Cards One of the first ways Joey started to learn about baseball and its statistics was by having his students translate the backs of Korean Baseball cards for him https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999227937-QO8H249WY9444GTGTKD9/08.+Shin+Soo+Choo.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey’s First MLB Game June 27, 2016 at Yankee Stadium, hoping to see his favorite player, Shin-Soo Choo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999260258-TO7P3RRQWTUXAATIM9XV/09.+2016+euros.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2016 European Championships Iceland stunned a poor England side at the Stade de Nice, coming from behind to win, 2-1, and reach the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999292107-DVECGW5S1DSIW2S0XCS9/10.+Ken+Burns+baseball.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Ken Burns Ken’s Baseball documentary is legendary, and has definitely helped teach people about the game by telling little-known or long-forgotten stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999339340-WKWK7YQC2DA6UXWHD9FR/11.+billy+martin.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Billy Martin After his incredible playing days, Billy Martin became a manager who had an incredibly wild career. From being fired by the Yankees numerous times, to managing during 10-cent Beer Night, he lived through a lot of chaos. SABR Bio by Jimmy Keenan and Frank Russo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999363843-BW9AIHDFLISZDOFO9CFN/12.+2016+all+star+game.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2016 MLB All-Star Game The 2016 All-Star Game was played in San Diego on July 12. The American League won 4-2, thanks to a home run by MVP Eric Hosmer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999387851-MDX3ZKJKFL8REA8FUGSX/13.+wild+and+outside.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Wild and Outside Stefan Fatsis’ 1996 book details how a renegade minor league revived the spirit of baseball in America’s heartland. Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999409361-WMFTZ0M7P7K59KZX209W/14.+independent+league.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Independent League Something Joey loves doing is making maps. Here is his map of all of the Independent League baseball teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999441307-U1X9AR344WGKB11VDBFA/15.+field+of+dreams.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Field of Dreams A magical place. Joey can attest. Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Field of Dreams Movie Site tour guide Craig Purcell HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999534057-H4YIRP4LKQB1GAR55C5A/16.+joey+and+andy.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey and Andy Brown Great friends and great travel partners, Joey and Andy have seen a ton of baseball games together. We’ll hear Andy’s story in a later episode of My Baseball History. Joey’s twitter account started mostly as a joke, but has turned into a unique global platform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999590039-PTOHVKWNJEUPH5U9XV4F/17.+bullpenning.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Bullpenning The 2018 Tampa Bay Rays were supposed to be one of the worst teams in baseball. By creating a brand new strategy for starting pitching, they surprised the league and sparked a new conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999609624-0OLND5OFN6GU4NXICZMS/18.+wins.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Wins One of the oldest statistics in the record books is one that has recently come under some scrutiny: Pitcher’s Wins. As sabremetricians rethink the way statistics are valued, the emphasis has shifted away from traditional statistics in many cases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999646437-1FYTB7TBGV1SL8CPQI2M/19.+war.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - WAR Wins Above Replacement, commonly abbreviated to WAR, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999669150-KJ1W590GTR4CYERJKKWO/20.+dictaphone.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Dictaphone Joey was talking about using a modern, digital recorder, but Dictaphone was a company started in 1907 which produced recording devices that eventually became synonymous with the company’s name (like Xerox, or Kleenex). As the name implies, the Dictaphone is a dictation machine which works like a tape recorder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999692470-OBRNTTHW29VG85P4B6EN/22a.+blackouts.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 1. Make The Game More Accessible Ending local TV blackouts (some of which aren’t very “local”) would be a good start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999779393-OI8EZG0XZ5BVMW8IDB5G/22b.+fun.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2. Make The Game Look More Fun Allowing emotion and celebrations would attract a younger generation of fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999807438-GG2ETVQL1BUCV5YBL0JN/22c.+prices.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 3. Make The Game More Affordable Having to pay $30 to park, $85 for each ticket, and $20 for a beer isn’t sustainable for most families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999863102-TJ44Q6E6LOJ661LOOCER/23.+elvis+night.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Elvis Night The Chicago White Sox run many promotions and special events at the stadium, one of which being Elvis Night, a fan favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999888009-8OOIFZD8VMUVQC9QO0O6/24.+joey+at+a+white+sox+game.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey on the South Side The White Sox gave Joey a warm welcome when he was in town to catch a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999912631-O93674CPOMUW7HDMTBH6/25.+fenway+culture.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - The Culture at Fenway It hasn’t always been one of inclusion and acceptance, something that the Red Sox, themselves, have recently been forced to address. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999946860-DKT8NU2A8GXME53VB8LS/26.+polanco+hits+for+cycle.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Polanco Hits For The Cycle On April 5, 2019, the Twins’ Jorge Polanco hit for the cycle against the Phillies. It was the earliest cycle, by date, in MLB history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999972714-3ZVI42UA1BQ8V36PY2O8/27.+london+series.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - London Series The Yankees and Red Sox played the first ever MLB game in Europe on June 29, 2019. Neither team’s starting pitcher made it out of the 1st inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000002147-IP95SL03LOUKRKFOEAVX/28.+old+uniforms.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Old Uniforms Joey couldn’t even understand playing baseball wearing pants. When I told him they used to play in these old wool/flannel uniforms, his head almost exploded. Though he admitted they looked great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000046213-ELFY9IEVVZ9KR3YPON57/29.+ichiro%27s+last+game.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Ichiro’s Last Game On March 21, 2019 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, Ichiro played the final MLB game of his illustrious career. Word broke during the game that it would be Ichiro’s last. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000075983-5MKPYCZN3CT4XG1878EK/30.+joey+scores+a+game.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Scoring A Game There are a million and one ways to score a baseball game. This is how Joey does it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001525275-YUW0P4BHEUDOB37JQB6T/31.+braves+game.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey In Atlanta Where he learned how much pressure is truly involved in picking which hat the ball is under on the jumbotron. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001563949-TV0ZVS9PH6ZLGI4MTGT4/32.+green+monster+seats.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Green Monster Seats During the 2002-03 off-season, the Red Sox constructed a new seating section atop the wall to accommodate 274 fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001599342-5VYUR9X2YVNU8K654M30/33.+mile++high+seats.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mile High Seats While most of the seats in Coors Field are dark green, the seats in the 20th row of the upper deck are purple to mark the elevation of one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001626930-NB43DS31QOMNUGUO2XSY/34.+with+rafael+palmeiro.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Rafael Palmeiro Despite the fact that Palmeiro is one of only six players in MLB history with 500 Home Runs and 3,000 Hits, he has not been voted into the Hall of Fame. Perhaps if he regrew his famous mustache, he could curry some favor among the voters… (The other five members of the 500/3,000 club are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001651172-O54WAFA7X96KP8I2DCNT/35.+mick+mellows.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mick Mellows Joey’s dad, Mick, was a professional soccer player from 1965-1982. He made 15 international appearances for the English national amateur team, including the 1969 FA Amateur Cup final. He won “Player of the Year” of 1975 while playing for Portsmouth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001686704-2WB6HAGWQNGYPWLWS3Q2/37.+shoeless+joe.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Shoeless Joe Jackson After spending some time at my house, learning all about Shoeless Joe and reading up about some of his statistics, Joey is convinced he belongs in the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001731759-GSVNT1L2GT12TXD6X9TV/38.+jeff+passan%27s+tweet.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Sexual.. I mean… Performance Enhancing Drugs This tweet from Jeff Passan uncovered a pretty wild story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001757108-W1PY8CDSY8IFD7J354X6/39.+with+Jeff+Passan.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey with Jeff Passan Joey has gotten some incredible access, along with international media coverage, during his trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001940401-9YLMWAKV6JFDPIWYTKF3/40.+mike+trout+wRC%2B.jpeg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - wRC+ wRC+ takes the statistic Runs Created and adjusts that number to account for important external factors - like ballpark or era. It's adjusted, so a wRC+ of 100 is league average, and 150 would be 50 percent above league average. Mike Trout is even better than that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001967313-FL7X9Q6VUB45O7ETMVE4/41.+OPS.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - OPS On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging average. The ability of a player both to get on base and to hit for power, two important offensive skills, are represented. Babe Ruth is 1st (1.1636), Mike Trout is 8th (0.9999), and Shoeless Joe Jackson is 28th (.9401) on the all time list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001995607-34CWTRPHL8DC92UTTINI/42.+FIP.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - FIP Fielding Independent Pitching - or FIP - measures the events that are directly under a pitcher's control: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. It is a "rate" statistic, that resembles how many runs a pitcher might give up per nine innings, given these peripherals. There are some very familiar names on the list of best single-season FIP performances ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002021117-GD0JG7ICDWKD0KTWHICC/45.+joey%27s+favorite+seats+in+jamsil+stadium.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Jamsil Stadium Joey’s favorite place in the world to watch a baseball game is high in left field at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002152622-3CIXENB6V003G5JXY1HQ/46.+six+grandfathers.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mount Rushmore Before becoming what we know today, Mount Rushmore was actually a sacred Lakota Sioux site known as "The Six Grandfathers." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002179219-24S3GW4G330NARXHUGPH/47a.+Lorenzo+Cain.png Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Lorenzo Cain Cain was a Royal from 2011-2017, helping them make the World Series in 2014 and 2015. He was an All-Star in 2015, the year the Royals won the title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002204879-0C880XUOEIV531UA0NLW/47b.+Whit+Merrifield.jpeg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Whit Merrifield Merrifield has been a Royal since 2016. He has a .296 lifetime batting average, and was an All-Star in 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002287192-EVJJZZHWP5MMAQCWC1M8/47c.+Adalberto+Mondesi.jpeg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Adalberto Mondesi Mondesi has been a Royal since 2016. He led the Major Leagues with 10 triples in 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002309872-UZKOOFXO7KTGXU6A5EV5/47d.+Alex+Gordon.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Alex Gordon Gordon has been a Royal since 2007. He is a 3-time All-Star, a 7-time Gold Glove winner, and helped lead the Royals to the 2014 and 2015 World Series, winning it in 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002335770-1DJXCPIPHWM6SYH2HOYU/48.+joey+with+shin+soo+choo.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey with Shin-Soo Choo It’s not every day you get to meet your idol. But it was this day for Joey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002362571-VXUQ9SCHX43ME39WFR2S/49.+Paul+Hollywood.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Paul Hollywood Another Brit who loves going on road trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002389266-TC4OYRM69AJ817KQZYUC/50.+joey.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Follow Joey Twitter Instagram Facebook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002426516-HCT0T9T6CJG0K0E4C4RI/51.+bat+flips+and+nerds.jpg Season 1 - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Bat Flips & Nerds Twitter Website https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/06 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982677937-9X0EKYRJLYG4R3Y215LX/youtube.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930874590-KF06572TB2895OAIUJ0J/cover+photo.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Me and Brian Bernardoni (showing off his 2016 World Series ring) standing in front of an original newspaper from his personal collection which documents the opening of Weeghman Park in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931001877-8SSGC4JRG6ULFLIUHTKG/01.+1977+cubs+team.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1977 Cubs The 1977 Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81–81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931023815-0B5Z5DJ0N5GJ7GOCQM4B/02.+brickhouses+with+gerald+ford.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Jack and Pat Brickhouse Pictured here, with President Gerald Ford (center), Jack and Pat Brickhouse played a huge role in Brian’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931045421-62DBVCB5RWF7R4ADO1FM/03.+dave+kingman+7up+poster.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Dave Kingman Brian’s “Number 10” was Dave Kingman, who hit 442 home runs over the course of his 16-year career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931072242-1N21IAONIA12WJK037PI/04.+cubs+on+wgn.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Cubs on WGN In April of 1948, WGN broadcast their first Cubs baseball game. The relationship lasted 72 years, and was a major factor in the Cubs’ popularity nationwide, despite being a losing team for much of that stretch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931099211-KKAZBB1JVNTVU9ORDOSU/06.+dave+kingman+day.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Dave Kingman Day The Cubs made August 7, 1980 Dave Kingman Day at Wrigley Field. The problem was, Kingman was on the DL and decided he’d rather spend the day on a boat than being honored at the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931203149-4IWMI5IP4UE1NQQOBFXP/07.+Section+420+seats.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Section 420 Upper deck, first base side. Brian’s favorite view in the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931227532-JB54MAEDITG1EJGVJOTM/08.+ballpark+waking+up.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Wrigley Waking Up Brian posts pictures of the ballpark when he gets there, while it is still relatively empty, and they’re some of my favorite posts by anyone I follow. This is one such photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931252076-7J8UCTUSQI9OO6Y6ES3L/09.+bartman+game.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 2003 NLCS Game 6 There are some instances when the air gets heavy inside Wrigley Field. Like the one pictured here, which happened October 14, 2003. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931275221-XTF0EXCGT32W8ZPBPB5L/10.+Babe+Ruth%27s+called+shot.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1932 World Series Game 3 Did Babe Ruth really “call his shot”? There have been a number of conflicting stories over the years about one of baseball’s most famous moments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931376072-PEPS0F9J4714L2U7XCN4/11.+Billy+Jurges.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Billy Jurges Billy was shot by Violet Popovich at the Hotel Carlos in 1932. Violet said she loved “Bill Jurges for himself - and not for his place in the public eye or his popularity.” Love hurts, apparently. SABR Bio by Paul Geisler Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931401560-E80YDOH3M5WRJ6VPGB4Q/12.+Mark+Koenig.jpeg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Mark Koenig A former teammate on the Yankees of Babe Ruth, Koenig replaced the injured Jurges on the Cubs roster. SABR Bio by Daniel Shirley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931425239-RTX16RYX4CNQ46K24ZFJ/13.+Charlie+Root.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charlie Root Perhaps unfairly, Charlie Root’s name and legacy are indelibly intertwined with one of baseball’s most enduring and intriguing legends. SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931453393-C0QXX7KZY6VYRO9YAX6O/14.+Wrigley+Field+shirts.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Fans of Wrigley Field, Itself Not too many stadiums across the globe have their own fan base, or a profitable line of merchandise specifically referencing the building, and not the team which plays there. Wrigley Field has both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931477901-FLE2GXSAI4MG6SK6FUWC/15.+Ed+Hartig.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ed Hartig Official Cubs Historian Ed Hartig holds up the famed W Flag in honor of a Cubs victory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931503528-AS2J45P753520TZHXYWZ/16.+1942+program.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The War Kept Wrigley Without Lights In 1942, P.K. Wrigley had Wrigley Field wired for lights. The materials were delivered, and the lights were ready to be installed. But Wrigley felt those materials could better serve the nation by being donated to the war effort, so he scrapped the plans for night games and gave the 165 tons of steel to Great Lakes Naval Base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931524927-OCL06CASE08GUZ9HKA4J/17.+Charles+Weeghman.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charles Weeghman The December 30, 1915, Sporting News said of Weeghman, “He is a man who has made himself, having started as a waiter in a restaurant, and now he owns a dozen or so of his own.” Weeghman parlayed his fortune into the ownership of the Federal League’s Chi-Feds, and in 1914 he built Weeghman Park on the corner of Clark and Addison streets for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931597698-T0QALNS1B3H0QJ67QE28/18.+West+Side+Grounds.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Chicago’s West Side Grounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931616417-BCZHSSF3K0IV773Z69ZG/19.+Federal+League+Park.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Chicago’s Federal League Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931571037-2LCHWWANVOEEPSF0UE7N/20.+Chicago+Federals.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Chi-Feds Chicago’s Federal League Team was known as the Chi-Feds in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931634134-P0HMIKH9QVWTL7W6DLV7/21.+Chicago+Whales.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Chicago Whales In 1915, the team was re-named the Whales after a public name-the-team contest whose results, in typical Chicago political fashion, were maybe kinda sorta absolutely rigged. The team went on to win the Federal League Championship with an 86-66 record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931660827-Y1MC9A3T5QWTJOJDFJ8U/22.+Kenesaw+Mountain+Landis.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis While many baseball fans are generally aware that Landis heard a case involving Major League Baseball prior to becoming the game’s first commissioner, relatively little was known about the lawsuit - until recently. The lawsuit involved allegations by the Federal League which contended that the two major leagues (the American League and the National League) had illegally monopolized the baseball industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931682928-L9P9DSZ49R6NJ1UVMKIM/23.+Taft+sells+the+team.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charles P. Taft Sells The Team On January 20, 1916, Charles Weeghman and his associates turned over $500,000 to Charles P. Taft in exchange for ownership of the Chicago Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931705565-IDEEPY7R60VAVFDJ82LE/24.+Taft+throws+out+first+pitch.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - William Howard Taft Throws Out The First Pitch William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, threw out the first first ball on April 14, 1910, from a box seat before the then-Washington Nationals played the Philadelphia Athletics. He was the first President to ever throw out a first pitch, but nearly every one since has followed in his footsteps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931730846-ENSDTNCY0JK3YOLO8EPO/25.+Jimmy+Carter.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Jimmy Carter President Carter loved playing softball so much that he actually had a field installed on the White House grounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931757621-WPRGUUOX6T2NNYDVFWOH/26.+opening+day+1916.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Cubs Opening Day, 1916 While Weeghman Park had been around for a couple years, April 20, 1916 was the first time the Cubs played a game there. They’ve played (almost all of) their home games at that location ever since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931782750-K71JVHQANH1X0F2BX9HY/27.+Marquee+in+1935.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Marquee A very early iteration of the famous marquee promotes the 1935 World Series between the Cubs and the Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931811242-8TNP5EHQX5RSNH22VR2W/27.+marquee+in+1945+i+think.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Minor Changes By 1945, the marquee had already seen some changes to its look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931849148-FY4VHGEVWPMB9OEOB3M3/28.+Scoreboard+being+built.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Building The Scoreboard Another iconic part of the Wrigley aesthetic is the scoreboard, which was installed in 1937. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931874641-W6Y5GPP0285863N8YBKN/29.+Scoreboard.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Scoreboard It’s rare to see a picture of the scoreboard this early, or from this angle, but here it is in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931904459-B5R3FYZGLG9DSYFGVWMR/30.+Inside+The+Scoreboard.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Inside the Scoreboard It’s not a very luxurious space, but man, is it awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931931244-VRSJ8T2GT9MLCKBETWJP/31.+Brian+in+the+Scoreboard.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian in the Scoreboard Sometimes if you know a guy, you get access to things, places, or people someone else might not otherwise get. Brian not only knows a guy; sometimes he IS the guy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931953231-FBPUW9BCLR9BLI99Y16Z/32.+View+from+Inside+the+Scoreboard.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - View From the Scoreboard Bring your binoculars, because it’s a long shot from home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931978382-OSDXT6ZDFCEGL80FGHTK/33.+Sam+Snead.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Sam Snead The only person to ever hit the scoreboard with a struck ball from home plate was the original Slammin’ Sammy, who did so with a golf ball during a Father’s Day exhibition in 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932003435-LUKT4HT2TZMTTSNAR5SQ/34.+Clock+installed.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Clock The clock above the scoreboard wasn’t installed until 1941. It originally had a white face, but has since been painted green to match the scoreboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932027779-EKORN0AMHJX1L8AMWEL5/35.+bleacher+walls.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Bleacher Walls Notice how there are no baskets hanging over the playing field from the top of the bleacher wall in this photo. Notice how the top of the wall is flat, instead of pointed, like it is today. Both of those features were changed to prevent the “Bum Races” (depicted here), and kept drunk Cubs fans from falling 12’ onto the unforgiving crushed brick of the warning track on the field of play. So, no, the baskets weren’t installed to help Ernie Banks get to 500 home runs. They were installed to catch drunks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932056417-42YNJ4GVPXKIY7RI9TOP/36.+building+the+bleachers.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Bleachers Originally built in 1937, the bleachers are home to Wrigley Field’s “Bleacher Bums.” Playful chants during the game of “Left Field Sucks!” and “Right Field Sucks!” make the bleachers an endearing place for a child to take in a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932085010-N817URNQJZ6DPGN6D7WX/37.+installing+the+ivy+in+1937.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Installing the Ivy Once the permanent bleacher walls were installed in 1937, it made it possible for the ivy to be installed later that same year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932108367-5AQQOH4BH9MCMYKGL53E/38.+AAGPBL+All+Star+Game.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1943 AAGPBL All-Star Game The first night game to be held at Wrigley wasn’t 8/8/88, and it wasn’t 8/9/88 either. It was 7/1/43, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played their All-Star Game under temporary, portable lights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932136910-L7U2OQ8XL0YG3ITI30ZT/39.+Lamotta+knocks+out+Satterfield.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - September 12, 1946 Jake LaMotta knocks out Bob Satterfield under temporary portable lights at Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932168695-XSFCE0DELJGHQ5ANTIN2/40.+harlem+globetrotters.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - August 21, 1954 14,000 fans showed up to see the Harlem Globetrotters beat George Mikan’s US All-Stars under the lights at Wrigley. The court was set up between the pitcher’s mound and second base, with temporary lights surrounding the court only, so the fans in the bleachers were sitting in the dark watching the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932198035-LGB2JBRYXLXWA5ZS2UA0/41.+harry+caray+7th+inning+stretch.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The 7th Inning Stretch Harry Caray actually made singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th Inning Stretch famous over on the South Side, when he would do it as the White Sox broadcaster along with organist Nancy Faust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932261208-Z0BZ5Z4HZGVEGKSM33A4/42.+cubs+uniform+history.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni The Cubs’ uniform progression over time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932229238-8Y8Q3202N6GZXGRASUOF/43.+me+at+353.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 353’ To Right Every good Cubs fan knows the dimensions by heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932283866-SYSAMKKXMO1UZCU9WIK6/44.+International+Softball+tournament.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1933 International Softball Tournament Held during the Century of Progress, it was the first international tournament of its kind, and was the seed that grew into the idea for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932308169-R5C68DMVF72HQ1MHSQ5U/45.+soccer.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Soccer at Wrigley Wrigley Field is, and always has been, a multi-sport facility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932336063-0FGC7P1LE3GRQJ17VWGF/46.+Wrestling.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Wrestling at Wrigley On more than just one occasion, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932366711-ZX7X722RNM8QUES7PZ7P/47.+ski+jumping+contest.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ski Jumping at Wrigley I swear I didn’t photoshop this picture, and that it actually happened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932393701-P1X3FU2H81MQ9R98SNQD/48.+hockey.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Hockey at Wrigley The Winter Classic has been held at Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932421149-X0OXIOZF1ME107BFQLDY/49.+political+rally.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Political Rallies at Wrigley Click THIS LINK for a truly insane list of many of the wild non-baseball events that have happened in Wrigley’s history. From a rodeo to a car dealership, and everything in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932450814-PZ28CBT7DNXHXBA4ZEGB/50.+rock+concerts.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Concerts at Wrigley Here is Ernie Banks up on stage with Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam’s 2013 concert at Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932477157-F2XLEK1PZR4RT09D3ZBS/51.+Gale+Sayers.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Football at Wrigley The Bears actually played their home games at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970, meaning Gale Sayers’ famed 6-TD performance (pictured here) happened at Wrigley, not at Soldier Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932520435-R8T79LR2KQ325TFY3FKV/52.+car+racing+at+soldier+field.png Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Auto Racing at Soldier Field The past was weird. And like, trust me, I fully understand that the present is weird, too. But, man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932550093-WEDNZEO3Y92NQABRD7HT/53.+Ernie+and+the+Bernardonis.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ernie and the Bernardois I bet if you asked Brian, he would play in a band with this name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932593487-MPLXTPF0TNW6QVQR6SU2/54.+Rapoport+book.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Let’s Play Two Ron Rapoport’s book about Ernie Banks Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932619362-E03IVIEOLI4VU1Z057MA/55.+Brian+and+his+oldest+daughter.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian and his Daughter Standing near the same spot where she took her first steps, which is roughly where Brian’s grandmother played softball during the 1933 International Softball Tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932661445-4IXTQY2JJBQUV4XZ2VBM/56.+Brian%27s+wedding.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s Wedding Also at Wrigley. It’s almost like this place is kind of important to him, or something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932687487-1RP7IVDMHHL2P8QXO9UD/57.+Brian%27s+corner+at+Yak-Zies.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s Corner at Yak-Zies Where Brian and I first met while I was a bartender at the Wrigleyville location of Yak-Zies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932718692-CH9H89Q8TKES7RRDSBKC/58.+Me+and+the+Cubs+security+guards.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - My Cubs Security Guard Friends My favorite regulars were always the Cubs security guards who would come in after nearly every game for a quick drink or twelve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932752825-S8QVBRIWWT0NRS5IJDS1/59.+me+and+bill.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - When You’re Here, You’re Family Wait. Is that Olive Garden’s slogan? I don’t care, it fits here, too. These guys truly did become family to me over the years, and they’re what I miss most about being in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932781345-3YD2S1SXQUWVXTVPTFQ6/60.+brian%27s+ring.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s World Series Ring There aren’t too many people who have an official World Series ring from the Chicago Cubs. Brian is one of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932810154-L3G0FOIF3HF082RCXOSK/61.+Brian+and+Tom+Ricketts+9-20-2017.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian Getting His Ring Tom Ricketts, himself, presented Brian with his World Series ring. Can you even imagine? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932838453-43ZK2FQK4GBS5KNXZSZL/62.+West+Side+Grounds+plaque.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - West Side Grounds Plaque Along with Mike Reischl, Brian was instrumental in getting a plaque put in place at the location of the West Side Grounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932863988-BXGB4ZIS0MDLJLG7Q2GG/63.+Brian+at+Wrigley.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Oldest Ballparks in America Wrigley is the second oldest Major League ballpark still in existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932893991-IKHOGCOVGWVH1C9BGNYO/64.+Marcus+Aurelius.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Marcus Aurelius Brian named his company, Aurelius Public Affairs, after Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932919051-2FT3YUKMB6WT65W3ZNO9/65.+Svengoolie.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Svengoolie The character, portrayed by Rich Koz, is the host of a long-running local program in the Chicagoland area, and in recent years has expanded nationally. The show features low-budget and classic horror and sci-fi movies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932952226-YLMPFO1Y6DNWW0MXJXCG/66.+Cap+Anson.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Cap Anson While Cap Anson may have been a brutal racist who singlehandedly instituted the color barrier into Major League baseball, this card from the 1888 Goodwin Champions N162 set may be one of the most beautiful baseball cards ever made. He was still a racist, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614933034207-73MPDUTNVZ56KMUVONOO/67.+old+chicago+newspapers.jpg Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni A timeline of defunct Chicago newspapers. And, hoo boy, are there a lot of them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614933008245-BLOCB4I7XBTPGTVOUEDL/68.+Brian%27s+twitter.JPG Season 1 - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Follow Brian Online Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/05 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982531325-IT2GET7Y35VVR1E3CKEX/craig+purcell.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928188517-GOJJIGVEDIR0XR01KQM5/cover+photo.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell Me and Craig Purcell after recording our interview at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928541812-0HQ90K6FL9B8CALY5RXK/IMG_5625.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Location Map This photo of a very early brochure, which includes a map of where the Field of Dreams Movie Site could be found, is courtesy of Matt Rumpfeldt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928574893-PYKGJ314GIXHDIFMWJ2C/IMG_5626.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Early Literature The back of the brochure describes a bit about the process to build the field, and what very little merchandise was available for sale shortly after the film’s release. Photo courtesy of Matt Rumpfeldt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928615327-EOHZ9CX1FP30JBRP1SFO/01.+1969+Cubs.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The 1969 Cubs With a roster featuring five All Stars, four future Hall of Fame players, and a Hall of Fame manager, the 1969 Chicago Cubs were in first place for 155 days of the season until they famously collapsed in mid-September, losing 17 of their final 25 games to finish in second. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928642821-704MRMCYW8XVZHWV2KJ8/02.+The+Sandlot.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Sandlot Remember, kid: heroes get remembered, but legends never die. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928667522-180U30E3Q4W5TKY1PN6A/03.+Ertl+Toy+Company.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ertl Company Founded in 1945, the Ertl Company is based in Dyersville, Iowa, and is most known for its die-cast metal replicas of farm equipment and vehicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928691373-K31ULZZB6I6FU1T3TNDF/04.+Dyersville+Commercial.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Dyersville Commercial Proudly serving the area since 1873, the Dyersville Commercial is the official newspaper for the cities of Dyersville, Farley, Earlville, Holy Cross, New Vienna, Luxemburg, and Worthington, along with Dubuque County, Delaware County, and the Western Dubuque County Community School District. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928743062-92QVPCDA852BQHO2GVR6/05.+Filming.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Filming Field of Dreams Some behind the scenes images of the filming of the movie shed some interesting light on the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928785239-W7EQ1WOTKL6ZQXUJ6UHG/06.+F.I.S.T..jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - F.I.S.T. This 1978 film starring Sylvester Stallone was filmed in Dubuque from May through June of 1977. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928808239-MU9HF9ERPRW9LD2CYHJR/07.+Shoeless+Joe.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Shoeless Joe This novel by W. P. Kinsella about a struggling Iowa farmer who hears a voice telling him to build a baseball diamond in the middle of his corn field, was adapted for film as Field of Dreams – a critically acclaimed blockbuster that made the already beloved novel a sensation. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928832654-0BCCB4ZXTZFQNNUT4J0C/08.+Wedding.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Wedding of Your Dreams Want to Get Married and/or have your reception at the Field of Dreams Movie Site? Now you can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928855605-O2XFCL94I6SQV5WK6LP1/09.+denise+stillman.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Denise Stillman After a family trip to the Field of Dreams Movie Site, Denise and her husband learned it was for sale. She founded Go the Distance Baseball, and with the help of investors including baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, purchased the site in December 2012. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928880580-4HV8KRYYIEITWGM6L4XF/10.+Craig+in+uniform.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Craig in Uniform When he suggested that tour guides wear the authentic wool uniforms, Craig was thinking of how much it would add to the aesthetic. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t considering the summer heat and humidity of the Midwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928960429-CQOVLMHN4CGFPFS3X302/Harvey+on+TV.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Harvey The movie playing on the TV in the kitchen during Field of Dreams (and during tours of the house, today) is the 1950 film Harvey, featuring Jimmy Stewart. The story is about a man whose best friend is a pooka named Harvey - in the form of a 6’3.5” invisible rabbit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928998023-9GP4B8E8GV4H9VM49IBW/12.+Phil+Alden+Robinson+discusses+a+scene+with+Burt+Lancaster+on+the+set.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Burt Lancaster The Oscar-winning actor was 74 years old during the filming of Field of Dreams, which was his last film to appear in theaters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928923837-L5YS5B0B8KWWLT7G6QR8/11.+Ray+Liotta.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Though Ray Liotta has been told that Field of Dreams is a great movie, he has yet to see it for himself. Liotta's mother was ill while they were filming the movie, which he mentally associates with the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929028025-U0GI64K4JCFBI0143A7M/12.5+if+you+build+it.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - If You Build It… He will come. I promise you. That’s the line. He will. Not they will. He will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929175497-EJLKIXREOHNRUB8JB1P8/14.5.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell This is a photograph of the farmhouse and property as it was presented to Universal Studios during the selection process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929224549-4ABWTU7GJZVYBDL6TG6J/movie+crew.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Crew Photo Back when the film was still using the working title Shoeless Joe, before being changed to Field of Dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929200173-BKVXUEB7TL8VYJS2X7MS/13.+Sue+Riedel.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Sue Riedel A member of the Iowa Film Board, Sue drove around the state to take pictures of local farms looking for sites which met Universal Studios’ qualifications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929265097-YLXRFQK6EYPT1NUW3S48/15.+Power+Lines.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell The utility lines above the field ran along the original property lines between the Ameskamp land and Lansing land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929290456-DYDFEYQGT5HH8R87YAHK/16.+Al+and+Rita+Ameskamp.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Al and Rita Ameskamp The Ameskamp family gave up some corn from their farm land to allow the field to be built for the filming of the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929999168-E5CFM7II6GGR7C0I0RBI/17.+Don+Lansing.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Don Lansing Don Lansing owned the rest of the property, as well as the farm house used during the filming of the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930032736-MT3SDYA4CQ9J5TTTXZ9S/18.+whole+property.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Is This Heaven? It’s Iowa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930055040-B24RFH0S2W06PVX62W1N/19.+future+plans.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Concept Go the Distance Baseball bought 193 acres, including the movie site and land around it, for $3.4 million in December 2012, pledging to build All-Star Ballpark Heaven with 24 fields and an 88,000-square-foot indoor facility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930076607-3WRO9309EUXROLXM23SJ/20.+future+planss.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Temporary Stadium? This won't be the first time that MLB has built a temporary stadium for just one game. In 2016, a 12,500-seat stadium was erected at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930104537-2OXS1PQ0HRFYRNPZ1P7S/21.+1906+Dubuque+County+land+map.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Property Lines This 1906 Dubuque County land map shows the property lines of the original Lansing parcels of land, which are outlined in black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930132054-TYEY22Q7VJVS4ARNQ5DC/22.+If+You+Build+It.png Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - If You Build It… Dwier Brown’s 2014 book If You Build It... is a funny and moving memoir about Fathers, Fate and Field of Dreams. Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930164324-8PDDCFWIZ2CGXQFOOKA6/23.+Terence+Mann.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Interviews About Moonlight Graham The scene toward the end of Field of Dreams where Terence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) interviews the old men at the bar about Archibald “Moonlight” Graham was not scripted. Those were Doc’s real life friends, telling real stories about him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930191170-V90CZMYF4LAGHC16TXI3/24.+Corn.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Corn The filming schedule for Field of Dreams was based on the height of the corn. It had to be Kevin Costner's height (he's listed at 6'1") or taller when the voice first spoke to him. With a thumbs up from the state of Iowa, filmmakers dammed a nearby creek to make sure the corn had enough water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930217552-67VSAOCHGLHQXRBMLHK0/25.+ghost+players.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ghost Players What began as a team of four in Dyersville in the fall of 1990 grew to a full entourage of 30 individuals known as the Ghost Players. They tour the world, in uniform, bringing the joy of baseball and the Field of Dreams to millions of people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930238945-CUO85I4UT0YFO0XO6ESM/26.+Ray+Liotta+batting.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Switched Hitter “For a month, I was batting left-handed and throwing right-handed. So one day the director came down to see how I was doing and I could see them mumbling… and they said, ‘Do you mind, it doesn’t matter if it is historically accurate.’ So they made me go right-handed.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930278574-CELY9HOGRRH72OJCVLCA/27.+Lemon+Peel+Baseballs.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Lemon Peel Base Balls This 4-piece hand stitched leather skinned baseball was one of the first style baseballs used. Dark leather was used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. Buy a replica HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930314443-W7XBSLDEE0WR7L7KMQJ6/28.+Take+Me+Out+To+The+Ballgame.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” The song’s little-known verses tell a deeper story about a woman and her desire to be part of the rooting crowd. Her name was Katie Casey, and in 1908 she was affirmably baseball’s biggest fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930353763-8NIEWX82YHRPHAHT9J92/29.+Cole+Hamels+No+Hitter.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - July 25, 2015 Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930381086-9GNZ13ZRNQIAW9IH7WGT/30.+First+Game.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - July 25, 1995 20 years earlier to the day, Craig and his daughter attended their first game together: a 6-5 Cubs victory over the Montréal Expos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930406065-PZXN9R58ZJ0H8R1I5SUN/31.+Wheat+Penny.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Wheat Pennies The Wheat Penny is a staple in American society and has endured all steps of American 20th-century growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930430521-RDD2RVMFBA8HU98W7EAU/32.+me+playing+as+a+kid.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Playing at the Field of Dreams My mom got this eerie double-exposure photograph of me playing at the Field of Dreams as a child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930459870-4X4UHBW0YHTBTS0KZXTI/33.+Craig%27s+other+work.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Craig’s Other Work Dyersville Commercial Cascade Pioneer Manchester Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930490575-HJ090HHUSXLLGHH2MK5W/34.+Red+Faber.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Red Faber Could Red Have Kept The Black Sox White? by Craig Purcell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930521220-8WDQQN5XPUO794LD64AU/35.+website.JPG Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Field of Dreams Movie Site Visit their website HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930552443-BUWJRWZTUX5N1AB2SH50/36.+social+media.jpg Season 1 - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Field of Dreams Movie Site on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/04 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982379341-RM67Y4ZI9HIJVIOVS4PS/phil+s+dixon.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924303033-4AI5FNWF3BNX5F6OH6L4/cover+photo.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon Phil S. Dixon, John Donaldson historian Pete Gorton, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924937455-WHY403SBL6RJMGCC9SR1/01.+Eddie+Dwight.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Eddie Dwight Eddie Dwight played professional baseball from 1925-1937, including two stints with the Kansas City Monarchs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924961567-HKL1J3S3ZGFVTGPVTLTQ/02.+nlbm+incorporation.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - September 28, 1990 The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum files for incorporation. Signing the incorporation papers (L to R): Alfred “Slick” Surratt (board member), Larry Lester (treasurer), and John “Buck” O’Neil (chairman of the board) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924988922-GDHYZC6Z8IX27DH15W5V/03.+carroll+ray+mothell.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Carroll Ray Mothell A 15-year veteran of the Negro Leagues, Mothell was known for his versatility. He could play every position, and it was said you could use him “most any place, any time.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925011651-X0GLN9M7A361FQZINU57/04.+Kansas+City+Call.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Kansas City Call The Call is an African-American weekly newspaper founded in 1919 by Chester A. Franklin. It serves the black community of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925036194-MQ5HDZGIER5LJ75O7DA8/05.+kevin+harlan.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Kevin Harlan Kevin graduated from the University of Kansas in 1982 before becoming a voice regularly heard in households nationwide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925062227-N4XILZSPVC58VTLXUPQ0/06.+buck+oneil.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Buck O’Neil Buck O’Neil was a first baseman and manager in the Negro American League, mostly with the Kansas City Monarchs. After his playing days, he worked as a scout, and eventually became the first African American coach in Major League Baseball history. SABR Bio by Bob LeMoine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925090854-7GWEDKR0LNMP7P1U43E1/07.+jesse+williams.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jesse Williams Jesse was a shortstop from 1939-1954, mainly with the Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis Clowns, and in Cuba and Mexico. He was a member of the 1939, 1941, and 1942 Negro League champion Monarchs teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925119414-4HS40JHXWQDJU2JEBSX3/08.+doolittle+young.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Maurice “Doolittle” Young Maurice was a pitcher for the 1927 Kansas City Monarchs. For the year 1927, Maurice pitched while his brother, Tom, did the catching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925145396-JTJOQKS0ZVV0ZKXF9SML/09.+horace+peterson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Horace Peterson Horace Michael “Pete” Peterson, III was a historian who captured the oral histories that helped shaped the Midwest. He founded the Black Archives of Mid-America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925204954-MSN6H80GMLQK2N4E4DV1/11.+charles+a+hazley.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Charles A. Hazley Hazley served on the Kansas City Council from 1971 to 1991. But he was also known for his fierce advocacy for inner-city residents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925166263-OQ1EFXNSRIEBIOVWEWIB/10.+emanuel+cleaver+ii.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Emanuel Cleaver II Emanuel Cleaver II is a United Methodist pastor and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Cleaver represents Missouri's 5th congressional district, elected in 2005. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925462119-6KSMRJKCF7AOZIKG6RSX/12.+ultimate+kansas+city+trivia+quiz+book.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Ultimate Kansas City Baseball Trivia Quiz Book Written by Phil S. Dixon and released in 1992 Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925517404-JVAKMQWCZ1TVMOWEQEFY/13.+nlbm.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum The timeline that guides you through the first few exhibits at the NLBM is truly powerful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925595416-LN8KFJ9389ORD8U9NQU5/14.+stokely+carmichael.jpeg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Stokely Carmichael Stokely Carmichael was a prominent organizer in the civil rights movement in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925617542-063Q4Q3UJR5OZ1KL7COG/15.+ralph+abernathy.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Ralph Abernathy Ralph Abernathy (center, smiling) on a march during the Civil Rights movement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925640509-DK0UJKKA7R28GOE3AUIX/16.+elisha+scott.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Elisha Scott, Sr. Elisha Scott, Sr. argued many civil rights and school segregation cases throughout Kansas and the Midwest. He gained a reputation in Kansas as taking the most impossible cases, and winning them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925667769-TLOUIPXEDEMQCDHVPEJ7/17.+gilkerson+union+giants.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Robert Gilkerson Owned and operated by Robert Gilkerson, the Lost Island Giants were a predecessor to Gilkerson’s Union Giants, a team that would be a staple of the Midwestern barnstorming circuit well into the 1930s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925693922-99Y0VE81R2XKIIB5OP0T/18.+wayne+terwilliger.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Wayne Terwilliger Wayne Terwilliger spent more than 60 years in a baseball uniform, either as a player, coach, or manager. He is the only person other than Connie Mack to have managed a team after his 80th birthday. SABR Bio by C. Paul Rogers III https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925719866-934JXTVU8J3RKW1QGWSR/19.+elrod+hendricks.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Elrod Hendricks Elrod Hendricks spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles teams that won three consecutive pennants from 1969-1971, including the 1970 World Series. SABR Bio by Rory Costello https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925740817-1T1WWQ0SWRN3YJZFLL03/20.+frank+robinson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Frank Robinson The only player in MLB history to win the MVP Award in both the American League and National League. Robinson also went on to become the first African American manager in MLB history. SABR Bio by Maxwell Kates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925794214-1XT2J24S957KB1N2C4WG/21.+rube+foster.jpeg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Rube Foster Known as the “Father of Negro League Baseball,” Foster developed some of the greatest athletes in the history of the game. In the 1905 season, Foster won 51 games as a pitcher, including a stretch of 44 consecutive victories. SABR Bio by Tim Odzer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925818022-2A3VJHK0Q12L67JT6FQF/22.+ernie+banks.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Ernie Banks Before he went on to hit 512 home runs in the Major Leagues, Ernie Banks played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925849231-USR2I7768XTHFV3IQKU1/23.+hank+aaron.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Hank Aaron Before he went on to hit 755 home runs in the Major Leagues, Hank Aaron played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro Leagues. SABR Bio by Bill Johnson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925874538-3BH191VGZIJPSGV7ZSJN/24.+satchel+paige+tombstone.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel Paige’s Tombstone A legend in life. An immortal in death. See the other side HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925920878-T8CFMVPXBSHPC14MC7EA/25.+larry+fritsch+jackie+robinson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Larry Fritsch Card Set This set, produced in 1986, featured 119 cards of Negro League Baseball Stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925952548-S4SHYRZK7YAB1D2HBMLC/26.+1993+ted+williams+jud+wilson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jud Wilson The Jud Wilson card from the Ted Williams baseball card set which Phil S. Dixon compiled. SABR Bio by Joseph Gerard Other players Phil mentioned, who were part of this set: - Buck O’Neil - Josh Gibson - Webster McDonald - Vic Harris - Toni Stone - Ted Radcliffe - Leon Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926019066-AUD01O6CWQLETKRROMCL/27.+cool+papa+bell.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dixon’s Negro League Greats This card of Cool Papa Bell is one of 45 cards in the set put out by Phil S. Dixon in 1987. The set broke historical ground by becoming the first U.S. baseball card set produced by an African-American. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926058721-AV9BRU33BLKXL1YE9DR2/28.+dink+mothell.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Carroll Ray “Dink” Mothell Phil mentioned him earlier in the interview, too, but this is the card of Mothell that Phil put in his 1987 card set. In 1927, Mothell was selected as the Negro National League’s most outstanding second baseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926132423-K3NYOLH45VUFAN51V18G/29.+1924+negro+league+world+series+panoramic.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon 1924 Negro League World Series panoramic photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926192210-0OE5PXS5GK536095750Y/30.+negro+baseball+leagues+photographic+history.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Negro Baseball Leagues: A Photographic History This book earned Phil the 1992 Casey Award for the year’s best baseball book. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926216546-MBEBU5RKNBL9RORLD5ST/31.+chet+brewer.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Chet Brewer In 1929, Chet Brewer pitched 31 consecutive scoreless innings. He won 30 games in 1930, then in 1931 defeated a Major League All-Star team of Joe Kuhel and brothers Lloyd and Paul Waner. He threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Lakes team in 1931, won 34 games in 1933, and 33 more in 1934. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926249802-V2AUQ3ONV9ZF0TFDUPP3/32.+1926+chicago+american+giants.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1926 Chicago American Giants Road Uniform This is a replica of the uniform William “Steel Arm” Tyler wore as a member of the 1926 Chicago American Giants. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926294561-H4WKCFDEQU8L7Q0LLNAP/33.+jack+matchett.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Clarence “Jack” Matchett Seen here reclining on the ground near his teammates, Jack Matchett was a pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1940s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926319742-SNV2W8BF9UT9IIF6Z9B7/34.+Jay+McShann.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jay McShann Jay McShann was a jazz pianist and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster, and Walter Brown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926386900-STJIUZCLG3M3YE4C2XYH/35.+newt+joseph.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Newt Joseph Walter Lee “Newt” Joseph was the starting third baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs and hit the first home run of the 1924 Negro World Series. He hit for the cycle on Christmas Eve during the 1928 Cuban Winter League season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926420673-KTUBMDPSSO25DZXRZTPR/36.+1946+monarchs+team+signed+baseball.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1946 KC Monarchs Team Signed Ball See the other panels HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926458412-U39JOB51DEPW6366THNQ/37.+hank+aaron+rookies.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Hank Aaron Rookie Card While the prices of Hank’s 1954 Topps rookie card have steadily climbed over the years, the prices that high-end graded copies realize pale in comparison to that of a Mickey Mantle rookie card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926615232-4JHJJJ6N2HBFIH99ECT9/38.+verdell+mathis.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Verdell Mathis Verdell Mathis was one of the great left-handed pitchers of the 1940s, but since he played for the Memphis Red Sox, he never got the credit he deserved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926646376-5IA7QI3C4ZS41FNIMNA7/39.+floyd+boldridge.jpeg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Floyd Boldridge Floyd Boldridge was born in 1898 in Lexington, Missouri. He was the owner and an employee of the GEM barbershop located at 111 South 11 Street in the Courthouse Square well into his 80s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926720731-3ZBRQ872UFXA7VTK14BH/40.+dave+malarcher.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dave Malarcher David "Gentleman Dave" Julius Malarcher - who died in Chicago in 1982 at the age of 81 - was a sort of Renaissance man in the annals of Negro League baseball. He was a college graduate, a World War I veteran, a scholar, a poet, an activist, a slick-fielding third baseman, and a championship-winning manager. Hear him speak HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926746332-2O093Z8KP59SDK8KL1XL/41.+only+the+ball+was+white.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Only The Ball Was White Robert W. Peterson’s 1992 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926778561-AMVOO89P6TN549YO6MZ9/42.+1931+homestead+grays.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1931 Homestead Grays Phil S. Dixon’s 2009 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926836728-BS917XHSPEWP0JWFQ7CM/43.+satchel+paige.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel Paige Paige pitched whenever he could. Wherever he could. For whoever he could. He was in no way a common man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926866501-GUJMNQWUULY82PVHUHWZ/44.+dizzy+and+daffy.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Dizzy And Daffy Dean Barnstorming Tour Phil S. Dixon’s 2019 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926902875-TQD05EKL1YOQYXOJ1Y6I/45.+dizzy+and+daffy.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Brothers Dean Dizzy Dean and Daffy Dean were at the top of the pitching world in 1934. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926952466-JK6VVTYYNCDD5CM4RSXN/46.+rube+foster.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Andrew “Rube” Foster: A Harvest On Freedom’s Fields Phil S. Dixon’s 2009 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926983269-SFTE3PTQQV00G219ZO6C/47.+dizzy+and+satchel.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dizzy and Satch Satchel Paige became the first black player to play at Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927011435-2Y3FGYCQB3CFZZTA9EAT/48.+frank+duncan.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Frank Duncan Frank “Dunk” Duncan was a member of the 1923, ‘24, ‘25, and ‘29 Kansas City Monarchs pennant-winning teams. He possessed one of the most accurate throwing arms in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927041191-TCTCOLUEIBZ6DDT787AR/49.+satchel.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel: The Life And Times of an American Legend Larry Tye’s 2010 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927069563-QC9QA8S84W3I4P68X6D4/50.+lou+johnson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Lou Johnson When the Kansas City A's began play in 1955, the Monarchs found themselves paying increasingly exorbitant rent and fees for use of Municipal Stadium. As a result, the team played most of its games on the road that year, and began selling its players to other clubs, both in the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927106298-S7UF1Q9749OMOYJ499J0/51.+1934+kansas+city+monarchs.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1934 Kansas City Monarchs This team barnstormed all over the country, and played the Belleville, Illinois Stags a number of times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927131743-IFAKAK9015K9IPDG5LDK/52.+1935+claybrook+tigers.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1935 Claybrook Tigers Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe would join the Claybrook Tigers in 1936, acting as a player/manager for the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927154196-7GHBDPJP9OSRMV9LN5GL/53.+house+of+david+winnipeg.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Barnstorming in Canada This advertisement from the Winnipeg Tribune on June 6, 1935 promotes a game between the Kansas City Monarchs and the House of David. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927179956-WZS9K9K0T5BT3W8FJ4U2/54.+RBI.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Founded in 1989, RBI’s goal is to provide young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927208632-7UECF66CS5P8S6ORZ7LQ/55.+john+mitchell.png Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - John Mitchell In 1971, John Mitchell became the first black player in the history of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927236389-0PVL14EBQPY16WN248AO/56.+darrell+stuckey.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Darrell Stuckey Stuckey was drafted by the Chargers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014, and was a team captain for four years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927261860-AG823HIHCGZQWM9DKL9R/57.+buck.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Buck O’Neil at the NLBM Buck O’Neil played a huge role in the founding of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Listen to him talk HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927290254-E36Q7QV1DIF9RXYHMN1D/58.+john+donaldson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - John Donaldson Pete Gorton has been carrying the torch for John Donaldson and his legacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927316989-5OEPGUX28BBN9QEZ5EQQ/59.+home+run+johnson.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Grant “Home Run” Johnson Johnson earned his nickname by hitting 60 home runs in 1894. He played professionally for 30 years, until he was 51 years old. He played with lesser teams until 1932, when he finally retired at age 58. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927348276-H9F2GNAXYNIJ37F8EOVI/60.+bill+monroe.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Bill Monroe Monroe played for 19 years before dying prematurely of tuberculosis at the age of 38. In his obituary, it was reported that Hall of Fame manager John McGraw had once said "Monroe was the greatest infielder he had ever seen." SABR Bio by Phil Williams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927375277-W72WR22WNCXSTC6RK4OR/61.+phil+at+the+NLBM.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Follow Phil Online Twitter Facebook NLBAlive.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927409755-0KHWJ46Y8C5XKFHSW959/62.+shoeless+joe.jpg Season 1 - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Shoeless Joe at the Shipyards Delaware River Shipbuilding League Shoeless Joe A Draft Dodger? https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/03 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982249279-HBML3BHP34YPC2Y9YZ4V/graig+kreindler.png Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922308646-KRC1JOIRKJ2QP4VV9X8Q/cover+photo.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler Me and Graig Kreindler at the opening reception of the Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit featuring his artwork at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922445508-SKUWK6QGQIWBJ95CP2KL/01.+1951+Bowman+Mickey+Mantle.png Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle This card features the illustration style which Graig mentions was common in the late-40s and early-50s style baseball card sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922474422-7LWUHO34DIF6K2WSUBCE/02.+Original+photo.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Original Photograph The original photograph upon which the illustration for the above card was based was almost certainly shot by New York Yankees team photographer Bob Olen in early 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922501449-HN1BRNT7BXV7Q1EGPB6E/03.+Mickey+Mantle+2002.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Graig’s Painting For His Dad Completed in 2002, this was the first painting Graig did of a baseball scene. Mickey Mantle at the plate during the 1952 World Series at Ebbets Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922526675-5LR4E0VLRWI50N7H0PMG/04.+Honus+Wagner+at+West+Side+Park+in+1909.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Caracoling Elephant This painting features Honus Wagner at Chicago’s West Side Park in 1909. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922555287-4UY7TB16AQPRZMON7LYO/05.+Carl+Hubbell+in+1937.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Hubbell Blanks Bees This painting features Carl Hubbell pitching for the New York Giants in 1937, wearing their short-lived baby blue-trimmed uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922578350-XG8GLHKXWB0F7XWFROO5/06.+Banjo%2C+Batboy+Eddie+Bennett%2C+1921+%282010%29.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Banjo This painting features Yankees bat boy Eddie Bennett in 1921. SABR Bio by Peter Morris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922605887-4BK9JSN8GVL9TV5ZYWML/07.+The+Dugout.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Dugout This painting by Norman Rockwell is one of the most iconic paintings in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922634709-12OI9SY0UPA0M2IBQRTB/08.+The+Only+Patient+The+Doctor+Says+No+To.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Only Patient The Doctor Says “No” To This painting by Dean Cornwell was produced for a magazine advertisement in 1944. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922662198-W7BA9VH5GON65KEEMGT3/09.+The+Nation+Makers.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Nation Makers This painting by Howard Pyle was completed in 1902. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922684717-ELGRYUKMJDYRL1H5EMS9/10.+On+His+Holidays.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - On His Holidays, Norway This painting by John Singer Sargent was completed in 1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922711138-6C1QLUIHPWPOEVKDQDLL/11.+Summer+Entertainment.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Sommarnöje This painting by Anders Zorn, whose title roughly translates to “Summer Fun” or “Summer Entertainment” was completed in 1886. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922733654-P7M5N2WC4I33GG3NP5YW/12.+The+Second+of+May+in+Madrid.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The 2nd of May in Madrid This painting by Joaquín Sorolla was completed in 1884, and depicts the death of Pedro Velarde y Santillán during the defense of the Monteleon Artillery Barracks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922760038-2U5I9SSTQ7Z60ZM82CZL/13.+The+Elders+by+Peter+Fiore.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Elders This painting by Peter Fiore is an example of his use of light and shadows in landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922781278-Y2S4IJ0V4TU0N6YR3X2I/14.+Charles+Conlon+-+1913.jpeg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Charles Conlon Of the many truly iconic photos taken of Shoeless Joe Jackson over the years, this image by Charles Conlon in 1913 may be the most famous of them all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922812665-4AUE8160BXGFHL6BXVMX/george+burke+photo+of+ray+chapman.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - George Burke While most of Burke’s photos are from the 1930s, this photo of Ray Chapman was taken in 1920, or possibly even earlier. Chapman’s sad tale is told in the incredible book by Mike Sowell, The Pitch That Killed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922839296-28YU9QR3SA3RBSNX61PC/16.+George+Grantham+Bain+-+1917+WS+team.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - George Grantham Bain Not only was he an incredible photographer, he also founded the first news photograph service, Bain News, in 1898. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922861992-722FV4DIWL3RTVFG44QZ/17.+Paul+Thompson+-+1917.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Paul Thompson This shot of Joe Jackson can easily be dated to the 1917 World Series, thanks to the unique uniforms the team only wore for those games. Thompson was a prolific photographer, capturing images of the greats of the game in the early part of the 20th century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922884775-Q0FNI4AC30O8JS1JS2GF/18.+Honus+Wagner+1903.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Honus Wagner, 1903 Taken by an unnamed photographer from the Chicago Daily News, and now a part of the Chicago History Museum collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922912340-YYKDE5QU1RGF8D5RDA0X/19.+Nap+Lajoie+1903.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Napoleon Lajoie, 1903 Taken by an unnamed photographer from the Chicago Daily News, and now a part of the Chicago History Museum collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922935623-03FE8U07URYTT7P26U8H/20.+Christy+Mathewson%2C+1900+-+color+study.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Color Study, Christy Mathewson, 1900 As you can see, the level of detail here isn’t quite as great as it is in the fully realized painting. The purpose of the color study is to get the colors right, not to create a perfect image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922965258-GG7149GFIKKMHZ87JYF1/21.+Christy+Mathewson%2C+1900+-+fully+realized.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Mathews This painting features a young Christy Mathewson as a member of the Norfolk Phenoms of the Virginia League in 1910. SABR Bio by Eddie Frierson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922992409-1B8DXUJYN8GETQUOB6SC/22.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1917+-+color+study.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Color Study, Joe Jackson, 1917 You can see the premise of the painting that is about to be created, but the scope is smaller, the details aren’t as sharp, and the painting itself is 5” x 7”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923022036-HX1KHJGL4M5LN6EU0DNL/23.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1917+-+%27Series+Bound%27.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Series Bound This painting, whose fully realized form was 20” x 16”, shows the wider perspective of the scene touched upon in the color study. Joe Jackson overlooks the field from the dugout as his team prepares to advance to the 1917 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923046046-F3XR7UAF2VD7N9XD9HYI/24.+John+Thorn.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - John Thorn John Thorn has been the Official Historian of Major League Baseball since March 1, 2011. Wikipedia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923072376-R6AKOB6PQ09ERT49LKEM/25.+Red+Barber+with+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Red Barber with Jackie Robinson Red Barber was one of the great baseball announcers of all time, calling play-by-play from 1934 to 1966. Red Barber on Jackie Robinson SABR Bio by Warren Corbett https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923095774-CLJGBX7R1R6JCGJJME0L/26.+Navin%27s+Nominal+Star.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Navin’s Nominal Star This painting features Ty Cobb at bat in 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923121450-X2MV408F8J8SRJ661CA6/27.+A+Terrible+Beauty.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - A Terrible Beauty Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923152929-1W1GAO9JUVKX5JJXYCOB/28.+Cap+Anson+color+study.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Cap Anson, 1875 This color study features Cap Anson on the Philadelphia Athletics in 1875. SABR Bio by David Fleitz https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923185058-WIZB43IQSSS5HKBLRKQO/29.+Shot+Heard+Round+The+World.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Shot Heard ‘Round The World Bobby Thomson’s game-winning home run off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds in New York City on October 3, 1951, to win the National League pennant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923209152-C96KWRCZX8AXWYN42WWZ/30.+Brooklyn+trolleys.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Brooklyn Trolleys These trolleys were part of the public transit system that ran throughout Brooklyn, including near Ebbets Field. Pedestrians had to stay out of their way, leading to the nickname Trolley Dodgers, which was later just shortened to Dodgers, how the baseball team was named. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923238321-VRU9RET0CLZAHLU8NGTE/31.+Jeter.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Derek Jeter, 2000 This painting features Derek Jeter in the year 2000, playing for what would be his fourth ring at the time. SABR Bio by Alan Cohen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923265299-ADM0J6QPUI4DEZLIG487/32.+Same+moment%2C+multiple+angles.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Same Moment, Different Painting When you have a self-imposed rule of never painting the same image twice, there are some creative workarounds you can employ… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923295188-Y2BUU1L441BQ0VATYNS4/33.+The+Luckiest+Man.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Luckiest Man This painting shows a different angle of Lou Gehrig giving his famous speech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923319625-0QTP9W2IZSPXXYI0TX4X/34.+Gehrig%27s+Farewell.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Gehrig’s Farewell This painting shows another slightly different angle of the same moment, one of the most iconic moments in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923348062-A016B27JWIX3LVWISFQL/35.+Gehrig+Fights+Back+Tears.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Gehrig Fights Back Tears This painting shows a close up of a dramatic moment in Lou’s impromptu speech on July 4, 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923374818-GOR3VA46Z3CWY8NUO058/36.+Ty+Cobb+slides+into+3rd.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Ford’s Effort For Naught This painting shows Ty Cobb sliding into third base on July 23, 1910 vs. the New York Highlanders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923402142-5Y8XLUAUGGC6HWM2YCB6/37.+Charles+Conlon+photo.jpeg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Charles Conlon Original Photo Possibly the most famous baseball photograph ever taken, Conlon wasn’t even sure if he got it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923429414-WMTPDCL5M9NB1MMFXA9G/38.+Puig+fight.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - April 7, 2019 In the Reds’ ninth game of the year, Yasiel Puig was already making art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923455655-E3N49E5Q68SXH8VV46WE/39.+Puig+trade+deadline+fight.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - July 31, 2019 Yasiel Puig, getting in a fight for a team on which he was no longer a member, after being traded mid-game on the trade deadline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923478073-FP922SR3QP7ZBAIH9SPF/40.+Robin+and+Nolan.png Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura On August 4, 1993, Robin Ventura became the first player in Major League history to get six hits off of Nolan Ryan in a single inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923511172-UAW1SJK6V6QZVN8RVETQ/41.+Babe+on+the+Red+Sox.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe on the Red Sox This painting shows a young Babe Ruth at his first spring training with the Red Sox in 1915. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923532625-DK3U4PDHRL8BBA234MQM/42.+Babe+as+a+skinny+Yankee.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Skinny Yankee This painting shows Babe in 1921, selecting his bat of choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923556733-AWHCLXSKTWUURYVPXCIG/43.+Babe+as+a+fat+Yankee.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Fat Yankee This painting shows Babe Ruth before the first game of the 1932 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923581060-8H4PXJN4DJVELUHJQICG/44.+Babe+Ruth+as+a+Boston+Brave+-+1935-04-23.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Brave This painting shows Babe Ruth as a member of the Boston Braves on April 23, 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923607145-5TQZEK64G7R9E5700B4I/45.+Babe+as+an+old+man.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as an Old Man This painting shows Babe Ruth giving his famous speech at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 1947. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923708336-TC3SRU71ZSSRQ23UVZLS/46.+That+Man+Mantle.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - That Man Mantle This painting of Mickey in 1951 is the largest Graig has done, to date. It measures in at 62” wide and 86” tall, which means it’s basically life-sized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923739316-LCVNFEDW0QK37DHUCLJK/47.+DiMaggio.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Crowd, DiMaggio Stays Hot This painting shows Joe DiMaggio’s famous follow through as he extends his hitting streak during the summer of 1941. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923762083-70CQUXV5UM85NSSJLH4X/48.+Bill+Foster+mallorquina.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Bill Foster The 1927-28 mallorquina Cuban baseball card featuring the legendary Bill Foster. SABR Bio by Thomas Kern https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923793004-B0JZZSX5J68W1K0M1F4P/49.+Bill+Foster+painting.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Graig’s Painting This painting features Bill Foster with the Cuba Baseball Club from the 1927-28 Cuban Winter League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923826341-4KDYQS0SOY705NI7AY2P/50.+Johnny+Vander+Meer%2C+1938.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Dutch Master This painting shows Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer sitting in the dugout in 1938. SABR Bio by James W. Johnson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923920298-X2PN7RXZHPFE8XHUEPUN/51.+Babe+Ruth+card.png Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Topps 150 Years of Baseball set Graig’s painting of Babe Ruth, immortalized forever on a Topps baseball card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923990578-KWAE71LUL2W76PL5QJOX/52.+Black+Baseball+In+Living+Color.JPG Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler Graig in front of some of the 228 paintings he completed for the Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923950448-6ATFRMGU2ZFGFWMPPQPK/53.+Bob+Feller%2C+1940+Opening+Day+No+Hitter.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Heater Makes History This painting shows Bob Feller, “The Heater From Van Meter”, during his Opening Day no-hitter in 1940 against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924018536-K8UDR9IBG1SCV697ZSWU/54.+Bob+Feller+and+Graig%2C+2009+National+Card+Convention.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Meeting a Hero Graig had a chance to show Bob Feller his painting of his incredible feat at the 2009 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924044797-BNVAQ70ORNZE0UXURD7K/55.+Bob+Feller+looking+at+his+painting.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Masters of Their Craft SABR Bio by C. Paul Rogers III Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924071954-CXJS6AV01HICHYU74033/56.+Graig+Nettles.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Namesake The Graig Nettles picture Graig Kreindler drew as a child, which Nettles eventually saw in person and signed. SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924100244-L2DAXH8QK6M8W2Z4NL8K/57.+Geeks+Guide.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - A Talented Family The Geek’s Guide To Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924165286-ROXY3CJMWDG76JLR62VD/59.+Mariano+Rivera.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Enter Sandman This painting (I swear, it’s a painting) shows Mariano Rivera exiting the bullpen en route to the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium in 2004. SABR Bio by Alan Cohen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924129691-9M9UXNZULU1RDTCHP6MO/58.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1911+-+%27A+New+Home%27.jpg Season 1 - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Follow Graig Online Website Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/02 monthly 0.5 2024-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982053911-KN7WCH051HYU2CV53GL0/mike+miller.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba6eb059-3d0f-4f21-ae3f-41c579ff744b/20+-+Mike+Miller.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller Me and Mike Miller after recording our interview in the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921051280-G0OKSJQNA6WPYIKRQY25/01+-+woodside+mill.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Woodside Mill At one point, the largest cotton mill in the world. This vintage postcard shows the trolley system which ran in front of the mill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921084134-IA6SF0GMVFVUBS5CJ6WX/02+-+plea+for+factory+people.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Plea For Factory People This poem was very popular from about 1899 to 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921109043-PTAOJIYX7DXND4VAML44/03+-+textile+league.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Tom Perry’s Book Click THIS LINK to go to Amazon and see if any copies are currently available https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921188020-ILIVNHIVHWM7MPSZFJGO/04+-+1903+brandon+mill+team.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1903 Brandon Mill Team Joe is standing in the back row. Can you pick him out of the lineup? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921213930-EO2SKV86ABHZY5DA0T6Q/05+-+1907+Victor+Mill+team+photo.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1907 Victor Mill Team Joe is standing in the back row, second from the left https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921236022-X3V810KCZVL6LA134LKQ/06+-+champ+osteen.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Champ Osteen SABR Biography Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921265667-NIX7VPQ3QR99DVQIVTED/07+-+giving+some+pointers.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Giving Some Pointers Joe attending a game at Brandon in the 1940s. Joe Anders listens intently as his hometown hero, Joe Jackson, shares some valuable insight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921299657-90ZQ27QOHII733EJSVKZ/08+-+1908+greenville+spinners.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1908 Greenville Spinners Joe is standing, fifth from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921334425-RCUWMO9NPF7JP9UWBBLL/09+-+hyder+barr.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Hyder Barr This photo is zoomed in from the full 1908 Greenville Spinners team photo. Hyder Barr is on the left, Shoeless Joe is on the right. Baseball History Daily Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921365811-DMSNEO2212PQ8AHKFM09/10+-+Joe+and+Katie%27s+grave.JPG Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Katie Jackson’s Gravesite The Jacksons are buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921395123-5AEJW8FDDJCYG70YUIGE/11+-+world+war+i+draft+card.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - WWI Draft Card This draft card, filled out in 1918, lists Joe’s birth year as 1887. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921419113-3EAXSNHRMXP3PJMQQ2OU/12+-+wedding.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Katie’s Wedding on July 19, 1908 “The popular center fielder of the local team made the greatest home run of his career on Sunday. The home run was made on Cupid’s diamond and the victory was a fair young lady. On Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock Joe was married to Miss Kate Wynn.” In his 1949 interview with Furman Bisher for Sport Magazine, Joe said he was 19 when he got married, which would make his birth year 1889. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921443411-Q4NSYYF1DRWKET7B4R4V/13+-+hugh+fullerton.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Hugh Fullerton Chicagology article Jacob Pomrenke article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921465938-Q1M9BVG0SU6RW0K4ODSP/14+-+summer+of+1949.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - “Shoeless” No More Joe loved dressing nicely and driving nice cars, which he kept in immaculate condition, to combat the connotation of his nickname, which he never really loved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921493115-90AG10M5U4R9Q2T8Y0QF/15+-+joe+and+babe.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Babe Ruth and Joe “I copied my swing after Joe Jackson’s,” Babe Ruth told sports writer Grantland Rice in 1919. “His is the perfectest.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921517646-67YIJ3EFK2RII942YC1Q/16+-+stance.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Babe Copied Joe’s Swing And to be able to properly do that, he had to copy his stance, too. Here’s a visual representation of where Joe stood in the box, and how he would use his front foot to stride during his swing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921546467-CTXDHX4XNKNWVZMCNZN1/17+-+telephone+poll+-+1911-03-07.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - A Young Telephone Pole From a newspaper article published March 7, 1911 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921574769-0L47VVW2VJ1QG6U8LIVU/18+-+mike%27s+book.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Mike Miller’s Book Click THIS LINK to view the free digital version, hosted on the Greenville Public Library website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921626534-YQP8INMAXTVZWKNHK9BK/19+-+landis.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Kenesaw Mountain Landis The bane of any Joe Jackson fan’s existence. Wikipedia Baseball Hall of Fame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921653645-YR4OAGA1FDXRJ5VW5Z82/20+-+joe+hits+cow.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe Hits A Cow From The Missoulian on March 28, 1914 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921680058-GUT96NQ7O6H43YHFH3Z2/21+-+vaudeville.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Ty Cobb’s Vaudeville Act “Just before the curtain was hoisted on the first night,” Sporting Life reported, “Joe got to thinking of old Greenville, South Carolina, where everybody knows him, and he decided to go there instead of upon the stage.” Read the full story HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921727584-25ZVHA79X8U140P5I9Z4/22+-+baseball+girls.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe Jackson’s Baseball Girls Joe took his Vaudeville show on the road to make some extra money during the winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921758063-19MOVN9C2QLCVSMFM828/23+-+katie.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Katie Jackson Joe’s wife, Katie Wynn Jackson, was instrumental in the success of their many businesses. Here she is behind the counter at the liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921783512-GMT25FO2AL36OO4CIIGI/24+-+joes+big+hit+1909-03-30.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe’s Big Hit From The Courier-Journal in Louisville on March 30, 1909 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921814741-SVT52J2SM1LIFE7M3JX2/25+-+virginia+colored+team.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - July 2, 1922 This broadside is promoting the Westwood Baseball Club of Hackensack, New Jersey facing off against the Virginia Colored Giants. It is the only known piece connecting Shoeless Joe Jackson to Negro League Baseball. See what it sold for HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921842287-5EE3URXD1E9QU9YC9FNZ/26+-+1922+broadside+front.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Circa 1922 Handout Passed out by Joe’s agent at the time, Ed “Square Deal” Phelan. See what it sold for HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921870173-LKDZ9E7G510VLSRAH0K1/27+-+joe+in+1932.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe in 1932 This picture shows Joe, playing for the Greenville Spinners at the time, hitting one out of the park against the Gaffney, SC team during the fifth inning of one game that summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921893140-6YQC4BIG38RA2CXF6D2B/28+-+mont+tennes.JPG Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Mont Tennes The Chicago Crime Scenes Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921926243-4Q47OZ1E4Y9JZYP0KLXS/29+-+Harlan+team+photo.jpg Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1918 in Wilmington, Delaware Behind The Bag The Delaware River Shipbuilding League, 1918 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921959182-ELTKPXN9MJGVLDC2PQBK/30+-+landis+court+room.png Season 1 - 0102 - Mike Miller - Landis and the Black Sox SABR Article by William F. Lamb https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-one/01 monthly 0.5 2024-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c4856b3-8f80-41e4-9704-eb3d8822a3a6/updated+youtube.png Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d730191a-a643-4daa-8bac-85c73d082c27/IMG_0124.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach Dan Wallach, Host https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918345567-HO3Z27841ZR5MAF9UIPU/01+-+hall+of+fame.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - 12 Years Old Here I am standing in front of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s shoes at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918387127-WBNIF0C57G0QBCY3U4BW/02+-+Dan+Wallach.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Slightly Older Waiting for my turn at bat during one of the Vintage Base Ball games against the Ty Cobb Museum, at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville. That’s my mom, Lori, in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918438437-CMAMSUIXPL9H9RP89C09/03+-+swoboda.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Miracle Mets Ron Swoboda of the Mets making “The Catch” during the 1969 World Series https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918463395-94VT0QPO2MW27LOKHPEY/04+-+white+sox.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Chicago White Sox I grew up during an exciting time to be a White Sox fan: the early- and mid-90s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918493883-UL7MK868I93YGBLVG4CG/05+-+boston.jpeg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Freedom Trail What good is going on a trip if you don’t write a detailed report on it after you come home? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918520245-CI91LO2F7CAQ89GFZXBI/06+-+rizzo.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Greenville Drive Anthony Rizzo suited up for the Drive during the 2009 season. He went on to be pretty good at baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918548177-L27JQA2QS5KWZP1M93FP/07+-+2009+vintage+games.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - 2009 Vintage Base Ball Games The original Shoeless Joes team from the Inaugural Vintage Base Ball game vs. the Ty Cobb Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918608771-5WRR3D4OZO1S8FMXECQ1/09+-+allison+and+mike+miller.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Allison Jackson & Mike Miller You can read Mike’s incredible research book by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918640173-1H0TOFXULE7I7G62140H/10+-+tom+perry.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Tom Perry The Textile League expert, fittingly with Brandon Mill behind him. Check out his book on the Textile League HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918672962-N76W68EVLWGTV0FKV7J6/11+-+lifelong+friends.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Lifelong Friends Me, “Judge” Rex Darnell, and Allison Jackson at one of the Vintage Base Ball games at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville, SC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918694865-GXFDLTBN4MF03OR9R9XX/12+-+moving+joe%27s+house.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Moving Joe’s House Richard Davis (seen here in the light blue polo) was the driving force behind the home’s move across Greenville in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918719300-T83CRQOFVR37SBSJKKYH/13+-+the+yak-zies+crew.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - The Yak-Zies Crew I spent five years working here. Best wings in Chicago, without exaggeration. Tell them I sent you if you’re ever in Wrigleyville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918749686-JX1UAX7DO85E7AM2ONML/14+-+pelzer.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Ball Field At Pelzer Mill I believe this is likely the first actual ball field where Joe Jackson ever played. I have a jar of dirt from here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918791278-BU36U7QVNNMHJ7Q8A3AD/15+-+business+card.jpeg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Joe’s Liquor Store This is the business card that was in Joe’s wallet on the day he died. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918953329-0TGALBMZI1YCRVLFYR2T/16+-+behind+the+counter.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Behind The Counter Joe behind the counter at his liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615156345352-IOTA2G3YD09NFRVOWIRD/Ryan+slugging+percentage.jpg Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Ryan Starinsky Ryan made the opening theme song, and the acoustic version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” for the show. Check out his band The Sidekicks Check out his band Slugging Percentage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614919010276-ZF775053FZ32F1NDYP4B/18+-+randy+moore.JPG Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Randy Moore Randy is in a band called Get Married. He took their song “Kingpin” and made a baseball organ version for the show. Check out his band Get Married Check out his band Moore Family Band https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614919205916-YTXL0E7Q75ALAYBOK7C6/19+-+artwork.png Season 1 - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Gary Cieradkowski Gary made the artwork for the podcast, and knocked it out of the park. Check out his website HERE https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two daily 0.75 2025-12-12 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/08 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623251175439-QNT2BL25L0OOGNINACGV/youtube.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623251508820-ZNQ44ZXQBPVLR9AF2MFK/IMG_2901.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier Josée Tellier and I at Graig Kreindler’s art exhibit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253192644-6HSZ4CL96MT6VP9INWIN/01+-+HOF+Replicas.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - HOF Replicas Website Facebook Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253505173-F5XGCZXVLZ6HLGNDHXLO/02+-+wolfpackl.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Wolfpack Josée Tellier, Graig Kreindler, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri on February 13, 2020. 100 years to the day after Rube Foster founding the Negro National League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253597257-84MGZH2TTBXF76PXJNHY/03+-+graig.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Graig Kreindler stands proudly in front of his Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253903097-ETWI98ATD69BJDALD44H/04+-+Gates.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Gates When you’re in Kansas City, you have to get barbecue. You can’t go wrong at Gates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254095096-SQL89LYMT4TPVLH7QI5Z/05+-+Buck+O%27Neil+murals.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out These huge murals by Alexander Austin grace the walls of the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center, which is the former Paseo YMCA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254334390-9183ATGTH48Q2HE6Y6M5/06+-+Josee.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - For Scale These murals are so huge and incredible. Here is Josée standing next to Jackie Robinson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254614329-W4PED7J566C3H4HQGZ5F/07+-+Winstead%27s.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Winstead’s I don’t know what compelled me to order a banana milkshake, but I had trust in this old school diner. Thankfully, that proved to be an incredible decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254745226-3ZFPAZUEYXSX4SEUX75Z/08+-+Maurice+Richard.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Maurice Richard “Rocket” Richard played 18 seasons in the for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in 1944–45, and the first to reach 500 career goals. He retired in 1960 as the NHL's all-time leader in goals with 544. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256712129-UEH3HLUT4JW5PXR9CAP4/09+-+Happy+Birthday+Andre.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andre Dawson Josée’s favorite player of all time, Andre Dawson had a Hall Of Fame career which took off in Montréal as a member of the Expos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255386294-622T9I0DLLE4Y0SEW8OF/10+-+Gary+Carter.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Gary Carter Josée posted the first card of her 50 Expos project on January 5, 2019. Beloved former Expos player Gary Carter brought her some incredible attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255480964-JA7SVSUZ2L09LXJ65WAK/11+-+Rusty+Staub.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Rusty Staub Could you imagine running in to your favorite player, asking him to come to your wedding, and they actually show up?! That’s what Rusty Staub did for one lucky fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255740180-GX8PW2AB3QEIBGJI173O/12+-+City+of+Murals.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - City of Murals There are murals all over Montréal, many of which are dedicated to former Royal Jackie Robinson, who played minor league ball in the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256018369-21Q7KE4BEAZQJPYU4QRD/13+-+Graig.JPG Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Graig Kreindler A truly incredible artist. An even better human being. A friend for life. Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256542479-CUEC5R44W49SEBYN3XN4/14+-+Moises+Alou.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Card Template Somehow modern and classic at the same time, Josée’s card design is beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256903431-JV69DJKX2WJCTLPJN97W/15+-+Bobbleheads.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Bobbleheads Josée has tried to acquire every Expos bobblehead she can find. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256751729-AO6FVFPC0GA4VSQNHBY7/15+-+Andre+Dawson.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andre I’ve always loved Andre’s signature, even if it looks a little more like Clyde than Andre. There’s just something so beautiful about it. It fits perfectly on this card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257008548-48LM7Z6AG15M1SFWT6AJ/17+-+Bill+Lee.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Spaceman” Bill Lee One of the game’s most colorful figures, Bill Lee is remembered just as much for his entertainment as he is for his pitching performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257824091-VFBPRVPILO04Y5K2IMXV/18+-+Aurelie+book.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Le journal d'Aurélie Laflamme Josée is the illustrator of a popular book series, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257945111-G4H7SXU2T9VFFQS8P8D1/19+-+Perry+Giannias.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Perry Giannias Perry Giannias first fell in love with the Expos when his Greek immigrant parents started taking him to games in the 1970s. Today, he has the world's largest private collection of Expos' memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623258095004-WCKEAKE1RP2BXA2CWFS1/20+-+Tim+Raines.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Raines If it weren’t for playing at the same time as Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines (who is also in the Hall of Fame) would have his name mentioned much more often in discussions as the best leadoff hitter and base stealer of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623258817485-J9I27TSHQXB59GXK7HX1/21+-+Kadir+Nelson.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Safe At Home” This incredible piece by artist Kadir Nelson is part of a collection of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City's Jackie Robinson is depicted sliding under the tag of Cleveland's Quincy Troupee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623259948824-N06MTLLC0RDQLYOZH3V8/22+-+graig.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out As an artist, it would be pretty hard NOT to be jealous of Graig Kreindler’s talent. I mean, look at these! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260022485-X5B7H8MMH6WZPDL6EIIQ/23+-+superhero.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Superhero He may not have actually been one, but he sure looked like one and played like one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260209784-2F3QXRB0NXC7J2D3447J/24+-+First+game+ticket.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - First Game Josée carries the ticket stub from her first ever Expos game with her wherever she goes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260329661-V8VE2IVC9M97QXUWEHA4/25+-+1994+champs.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1994 World Champions? Many Expos fans, including Josée, think they would have been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260494599-MFOKMFIJ8O7GHY4I2BUI/26+-+robbed.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Robbed? Many Expos fans, including Josée, still remember the exact date the 1994 season was cancelled, and the Expos’ record at the time. They were on pace for 105 regular season wins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260741545-5IR9LF8VPZU6W62AGYHG/27+-+white+sox.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1994 White Sox Yeah, the Expos were good in 1994, but I have a feeling this guy would have done all he could to prevent them from winning the World Series had it been played in 1994. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260948269-FKRGGHEW06RH4E1RTFZO/28+-+Larry+Walker.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Larry Walker Larry Walker was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261053380-G868MMY1BJI3B6V3LHQV/29+-+Darrin+Fletcher.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Darrin Fletcher Fletcher helped guide the 1994 Expos pitching staff to lead the league in winning percentage and ERA, and tied for the league lead in shutouts with 8. But many Expos fans don’t have such fond memories of him for how the 1994 strike went down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261453055-BYNFUVG2T9GFH1V4VAMF/30+-+Pedro+Martinez.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Pedro Martinez If Josée could have kept one Expos player from leaving, forcing him to stay in Montréal and play his whole career for her favorite team, she’d have liked for Pedro Martinez to have stayed. Imagine if that dominant run had happened in Canada, instead of in Boston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261484606-SRW4DXW78F2V2W563KM6/31+-+Vlad+Guerrero.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Vladimir Guerrero The Expos have lost a number of perennial All-Stars, and even some Hall of Famers. Vladimir Guerrero is another player who left Montréal before his career was over, becoming a superstar for another team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261889434-YXZKB0CRO4TOZDJLSJ3Q/32+-+Tom+Brady.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tom Brady Drafted by the Expos, Tom Brady has gone on to be a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer. In the NFL, that is. Could he have had the same Hall of Fame career if he had stuck with baseball? Former Expos General Manager Kevin Malone certainly thinks so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262500053-IODCPMIIDKLB6WWP449V/33+-+film.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Film Adaptation The book series for which Josée is the illustrator has sold more than 2.2 million copies, and has been adapted into multiple film releases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262866860-RR6HSAEAUJFN9C1B2UEX/34+-+nlbm+uniforms.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Ever since she was a little kid, Josée has been obsessed with uniforms. This display at the NLBM really caught her eye. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262928935-1VGU20UMET4E8F5T4N41/35+-+Expos+Cake.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Expos Everything! Even when making desserts, the Expos are never far from Josée’s mind. She is always doing whatever she can to love and support the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262973013-58UNNLHC1KU4JRH85L5Z/36+-+Expos+Cowboy+hat.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Cowboy Hat Do you have a cowboy hat of YOUR favorite team? No. Of course you don’t. But Josée does. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263101453-H8MHGWMUBX78KH49Q3EH/37+-+Field+Of+Dreams.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Field of Dreams A magical place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263798463-FEUQBKT5QLTXIVYA50KA/38+-+Youppi+stuffed+animal.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Always Positive Sometimes it’s hard to be positive online, but Josée does her best to always be a good influence on and role model for her young fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263944486-B6PQEUQ8TWTU92H19W8V/39+-+Jeff+Reardon.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Jeff Reardon Not only was Jeff Reardon a pretty great pitcher for the Expos, but his beard was mostly all one color, which Josée appreciated as she illustrated his card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264122937-DU78Y7XOAG6MM97B4L27/41+-+Blues+Sister.JPG Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Blues Brothers The simple purchase of a novelty coffee mug led to one of the best days of Josée’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264184488-JLGMO6T5MWMDBUPJBT91/40+-+Blues+Brothers.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Blues Sister “Absolute perfection” is how Josée described the Bluesmobile she got to ride around in when she visited Chicago. “We had a ton of fun. We went to Joliet prison.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264646536-J58BFA4L4E9GP4OMTHQH/42+-+elvis.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Elvis Josée is passionate about a lot of things, but her love for Elvis gets her … All Shook Up … I’m sorry I’ll show myself out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264926166-B1E1U2Y79WDM55NUH0GO/43+-+Mickey.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Mickey Mantle If Josée could play catch with one person from baseball history, it would be with Mickey Mantle. Here is one of Graig Kreindler’s many paintings of America’s hero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265023149-FBYD11R6NF62ROBRYKK3/44+-+Wrigley+Field.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Wrigley Field Josée’s favorite baseball stadium of all time is Wrigley, especially as someone who prefers the vintage stadiums to those with all of the modern amenities. Of course, when she was there, she rocked her Andre Dawson Expos jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265277262-ZEMVLQ7IZ6JOWNH45DR7/45+-+prized+possession.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Prized Possession A simple gift from her mother stays with Josée at all times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265333841-NZEC7OYEJL7W0MOSU6DF/46+-+Jacques+Doucet.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Jacques Doucet Jacques Doucet was the man who created much of the French terminology used during baseball broadcasts. He was the voice of the Expos, and is Josée’s favorite broadcaster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265551330-J4FFV6Q0BLV0N8SW2O96/47+-+Felipe+Alou.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Felipe Alou Briefly an Expos player and then later their manager, Felipe Alou had some great years in Montréal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265775902-Y5MEEQ1YM9T8ES5MCQMK/48+-+Youppi%21.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Youppi! In one of the most famous mascot moments in the history of sports, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had Youppi! ejected from a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265801347-OKVC4HIK8IY77QO5EB4T/49+-+Youppi+Costume.JPG Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Josée LOVES Youppi! Like… a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265824963-BOHZSS0U5235BSU6ZL2T/50+-+Youpie.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Josée’s Philosophy “When you’re positive and have fun ideas, it attracts other fun people.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266078500-AC84BQT1WKUWUZ2ME21M/51+-+Charles+Bronfman.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Charles Bronfman The original owner of the Expos, his son is now heading the effort to bring a team back to Montréal. Even if it’s only for part of a season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266425107-CSTYHFQ26LNMPOZTLQVR/52+-+josee.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Follow Josée Online Facebook Twitter Instagram Etsy Website Behance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266632587-FU72LBM3BJFUQJRV36P1/53+-+header.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266854987-1UVULYUKR3VFO8CUDLJV/54+-+field+of+dreams.JPG Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Field of Dreams One of our many trips to Dyersville, Iowa during my childhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623267164993-VKS2UFIE3K9592LPO8J3/55+-+Bryant+Reeves.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Finding Big Country” Documentarian Kat Jayme’s film about her search for former Grizzlies center Bryant “Big Country” Reeves showed what it was like for another Canadian fan who lost her favorite team to relocation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623267505005-S8RNIN2YBVZPYLOZCFWG/56+-+goodwin.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Doris Kearns Goodwin If you haven’t read this book before, do yourself a favor and read it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271350027-LCRDADL3KAB8BML16J6T/57+-+Willie+Mays.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Cards by Josée In the past year, Josée’s feelings toward cards have shifted as she has learned more about the hobby and studied the beauty in the design of vintage card sets. Now, she is making her own cards in limited quantities. You can buy them (and her other artwork) HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268085337-T8I27CP6PH3GQPYU83KU/58+-+cover+photo.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Graig Kreindler Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 3) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268222380-Q72ITBKIC43DSC7DO78K/59+-+cover+photo+1.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andy Brown Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 8) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268362761-SMYIXQT3YNPVEXKGAFHB/60+-+tim.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Carroll Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 10) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623269695464-OFRIHHEAA08YMF23NJDN/61+-+San+Diego+Chicken.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - The San Diego Chicken One of the most famous mascots in the history of sports, the man inside the costume became a kind of celebrity in his own right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623269995392-QC6CJR8T4I4Y5J22WOAH/62+-+bulls+mascot.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Chicago Bulls Mascots For years, Benny The Bull (left) was a big, red, fluffy mascot. In the mid-90s, during the Bulls’ second 3-peat, they added another, more athletic mascot named Da Bull. Eventually, the two merged, and the current version of Benny is slimmed down, very athletic, and entertaining. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623270151952-JBKW1WRDZ237G4O9AK4M/63+-+Jackie%27s+birthday.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Montréal Royals Jackie Robinson played his minor league ball in Canada. Branch Rickey knew that the Dodgers would often times put their best prospects up in Montréal, because it was something he had done as the GM of the club. When he later became the GM of the Pirates, some speculate that Rickey knew to look at the talent stashed away in Canada, and that’s how Roberto Clemente ended up in Pittsburgh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623270782376-R2GOG5FH6PNBOFMZRAAF/64+-+Wallach+lineup+card.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Wallach No, I’m not related to him. But if you are, help me get him on the podcast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271439199-ICZTD71ZSPPRZNQRKKRX/65+-+Yogi.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Yogi Berra The winner of this episode’s trivia contest will win this Yogi Berra card by Josée, signed and numbered out of 50 by the artist, herself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271676299-8BBY7Y35PVYD95E8OQSM/66+-+Andre+Rookie.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1977 NL Rookie Of The Year Andre Dawson shows media his already-crowded trophy room at home in Miami. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272448188-4WJYZJ6KHT6M5ARWL23Q/67+-+blank+contract.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Blank Contract” After owners colluded in the offseason before 1987, Andre Dawson found himself without a team. In a wild move, he offered the Cubs a “blank contract,” saying they could decide how much he was worth. It, uhh… worked out pretty well for both sides. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272768029-86VPZA3N92UDTU7Q0Y1O/68+-+Expos+turf.jpg Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Olympic Stadium Turf A decade of playing on this thin layer of carpet over a field of concrete in Montréal ruined Dawson’s knees. He had 12 knee surgeries in his career, and somehow he still wound up with 400 home runs and 300 steals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272917578-XU4YR5ISADM0GJS1F8J4/69+-+andre+dawson.png Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Hall of Fame Inducted in 2010, Dawson is absolutely deserving of having a plaque in Cooperstown. Whatever hat he’s wearing on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623273053959-PTB9JJ3IUTKJ5NATNDQK/70+-+sjjm.JPG Season 2 - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum & Baseball Library Become a member: JOIN HERE Follow us online: Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/07 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832138181-MN7BURTSSPL20G58RGR7/youtube.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832206735-UJNE0YO6KE7TG9JTUO2M/cover+photo.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis Richard Davis and me (and Wade) after recording our interview in the Boggs Tavern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832768801-AMVW2G8T5CPT2D99FH1K/01+-+ManCave.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - ManCave Pictures Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832921479-RWHMLY6RBJS3W2ZKSJKC/02+-+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Part of Richard’s award-winning Wade Boggs collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833150098-AJ6ODQH9SAG1E7KYZC2L/03+-+Man+Cave+Of+The+Year.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 2020 Man Cave Of The Year Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833385784-NT1A095XRLX7IIVOASK1/04+-+Man+Cave+Of+The+Year+trophy.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Trophy Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833924834-UTTGIEZQ2LN0CE6N8LT6/05+-+1983+Donruss+rookie.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1983 Donruss Rookie Card Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620834320157-URVA0S56EG4ATMUG87KD/06+-+The+Hot+Corner.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Hot Corner Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835054198-5LN8Y4SUVW2PNA10U949/07+-+1986+World+Series.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1986 World Series Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835515157-HFE0PYF4EJKY52G1HWG3/08+-+Comiskey+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Comiskey Park Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835998221-EDB4X173P526SIK8QV0A/09+-+great+defense.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Great Defense Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836228551-HLOB8BJJJSA8ES112K3B/10+-+May+1986+Beckett.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - May 1986 Beckett Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836333401-IXYQKRCBWGMCNGV3I6ET/11+-+Jan+1987+Beckett.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Jan / Feb 1987 Beckett Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836561590-FL2SSCJARFU1RN6XZBW3/12+-+all+in.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - All In From Day One Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836712434-K4O5V020OZH4ISQ0EERZ/13+-+game+used+yankees+jersey.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Game Used Yankees Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836928685-2V7MUVXI9Z558533340Q/14+-+case.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - A Decades-long Pursuit Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837220661-W8855251YK026OO5W42Q/15+-+drawing.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Fans Helping Richard Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837402847-AURYB38J0SSA0F2EJR6X/16+-+batting+tee.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Obscure Items Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837592810-VAJ1R6UJL1MQDTU33NNG/17+-+family+guy.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Maintaining His Own Identity Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837760363-FPON14SN2EAVXIHXZD8N/18+-+slides.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Slides Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837894816-TQJF7I2LB26BHRLB62AD/19+-+boston+cleats.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Connections Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838088372-7FIZGII9J9H97UON0NQM/20+-+My+Biggest+Fan.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1998 Game Worn Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838146934-78SJ7JXSSWCVS73I6XMB/21+-+Inscription.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade’s Biggest Fan Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838273252-UUJAW90SXSVEGITJA8U2/22+-+Red+Sox+Shower+shoes.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Red Sox Shower Shoes Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838546008-K1XD1SRBGR3ITUKNA5GC/23+-+Red+Sox+jersey.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1985 Game Worn Red Sox Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838628026-4UEMEF6UZIWWPB0M01KJ/24+-+signed.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Autographed Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838881686-NEYJ6SF44AG4C0FGG1XR/25+-+cards.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Cards Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839027616-VI6PS9Y62JY6N84UZGTC/26+-+Rookie+cards.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Rookie Cards Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839320002-WK6I27VMAA7PSD5TXXS9/27+-+1984+Topps.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1984 Topps Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839649783-ZCVZ7P6H3JROCBFWA49P/28+-+1987+Topps+All+Star.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1987 Topps All-Star Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620840206071-F9P8HOF6PSYELBB068IR/29+-+cards.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Hobbby Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620840471516-3Y8AICFK61BSGWOTV1UI/30+-+1941+Ted+Williams+Play+Ball.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620841237034-VCHL0B42CC62BWR2M5GY/31+-+1985+Red+Sox+jersey.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1985 Red Sox Gamer Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620841452980-82STXVKDU4QKL54MKFSH/32+-+Ray+Chapman%2C+Rabbit+Maranville%2C+Ty+Cobb%2C+and+Joe.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Tim Murnane Benefit Game Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842001254-EI9PWOWDP8DZYSWV2YNV/33+-+Hit+number+2988.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Hit #2,988 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842111870-5S7XP8Y744W7LFWY3EUT/34+-+jersey+retirement+ceremony.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 5/26/16 Red Sox Jersey Retirement Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842393587-O25CFP5VLWLHGSZAVDS5/35+-+B349.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Louisville Slugger B349 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842957725-VSC1CUHGN1YWIBUOL8YD/36+-+early+programs.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Early Wade Boggs Minor League Programs Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843099604-299HIOGADS2TVMMOHFUA/37+-+pay+stub.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Minor League Pay Stub Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843418525-1KD6VM96FQL4GM7N2PBC/38+-+game+used+glove.jpeg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Game Used Glove Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843655560-MQFENPTYBMM33QFPRLN5/39+-+first+baseman%27s+glove.jpeg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1982 First Baseman’s Glove Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843957239-0VHQ7PK5O8WZGPL92GKP/40+-+business+card.jpeg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Joe Jackson’s Liquor Store Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844099333-Q7A054S6HHHNARXJGAGK/41+-+big+bobblehead.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Big Bobblehead Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844189923-BAXS0WXG8X7XB2VY9K77/42+-+Stairwell.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Stairway To Heaven Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844376098-S3KS0UCR6EOSFJZY9CG5/43+-+other+shower+shoes.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Other Pair Of Shower Shoes Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844672129-YG33BJFF12UZ8K699Q9K/44+-+twitter.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - @Boggs328 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620845546160-397S6Y6KC6SL28DB59S9/45+-+first+meeting.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - First Meeting Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620845702056-3NTBVCZXOD99YSCNXDEW/46+-+license+plate.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Richard’s License Plate Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847472238-U1NWXKJ2N3YBDJM9Z4HB/47+-+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Boggs Tavern Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620846126803-0CH1BNHXHHRPEOYB2VI4/48+-+Boggs+Trust.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Boggs Trust Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847253948-W4P4890EVIVOS60BSCQR/49+-+crazy+collection.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Rare Air Only a handful of people in the world know what it’s like to have a collection like Richard’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847321834-KHVW5VH6WWBNICHFGSMY/50+-+star+wars.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Other Collections Richard also collects Star Wars memorabilia and merchandise, which gives him a mental break from All Boggs, All The Time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847747802-3CFGFA1LPH32SDSENG2L/51+-+gehrig.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 200 Hits, 100 Walks In A Season It’s only happened 25 times in history. Only 12 players have ever done it. Lou Gehrig - 7 times Wade Boggs - 4 times (all consecutively) Babe Ruth - 3 times Stan Musial - 2 times Todd Helton - 2 times Ty Cobb (1915), Woody English (1930), Hack Wilson (1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932), Hank Greenberg (1937), John Olerud (1993), and Bernie Williams (1999) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620848695313-TL68VEZ24O4MENO7E2ZN/52+-+for+rich.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Specifically For Richard This is one of the pieces Wade has given Richard from his own personal collection. It’s a game worn jersey from a Celebrity All-Star Game, signed and inscribed, and delivered in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620848808325-OI7W3P3FUSMF3M1ZIKE0/53+-+inscription.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Inscription To Richard My #1 Collector Wade Boggs HOF 05 Wade knows. Now you know, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850235973-ZFTG6UJXYLRCE0WE4MRB/54+-+Horseback.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade Boggs Takes A Ride After the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, helping Wade capture the first championship of his career, Wade Boggs hopped on the back of a police horse and took a victory lap around Yankee Stadium to celebrate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850485649-N7YWS5PQSOJ3WFP1ZUTW/55+-+3000th+hit.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade ‘s 3,000th Hit Wade Boggs became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run as his 3,000th career hit. Two players (Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) have done it since, but Wade was the first. As he crossed home after his trot around the bases, Wade bent down and kissed the plate. An iconic moment in his career, and in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850876653-G2QJF7CDH3ME7B3DPNIV/56+-+Silver+Slugger.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Silver Slugger Award The Silver Slugger Award is decided by coaches and managers who vote for the players at each defensive position they'd most like to have on their team - based solely on their performance at the plate. Wade has 8 of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851314670-HASRQF4AKKDYREH2OSHH/57+-+Don+Mattingly.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Don Mattingly 1980s American League baseball was Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly (who Richard thinks belongs in the Hall of Fame). Here, Ted Williams gives Mattingly help with his batting stance during a 1986 dinner as Wade Boggs looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851603781-GCVMIXKIH2TARZTJSF00/58+-+Rich%27s+collection.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Richard stands proudly in his basement, showing off his unparalleled collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851687941-ATXB6Q7IOUKRBZQ4KDJP/59+-+Rich+at+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Follow Richard on Social Media Personal Twitter Boggs Collection Twitter Boggs Collection Facebook Personal Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852504604-RC937BJS4DNJ90WKQVZU/60+-+my+first+MJ+jersey.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - My First MJ Jersey As you can see in the reflection, there have since been a few more added to the collection… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852571775-6QF21MB0AQHF5GRSF1BI/61+-+coke+room.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out My mom’s Coca-Cola collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852811386-U69GMEIN52VG3ALCA7F9/62+-+coke+tray.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1923 Coke Tray These vintage trays are some of the old, special items my mom likes to collect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852924971-OJ34B01MHS58BBSCJR3G/63+-+mj+rookie.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card The most famous (and most expensive) card in the basketball hobby, this Michael Jordan rookie card is something I had been after for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853377603-MA9M0CT80ZZ8193V2Z2X/64+-+trio.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - My Alkaline Trio Collection Or… parts of it. There’s a lot of stuff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853667549-570XYECPM7BNRCOEHL4Q/65+-+old+coke+bottles.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out The evolution of Coca-Cola bottle designs over the years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853875656-SO4QO81JW1FJZ5NZTHX3/66+-+specific+pieces.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Accumulation vs. Collection Every piece in Richard’s collection has a specific purpose, story, and meaning. It’s placement within the display is carefully thought out. It may not always have a huge monetary value (though many pieces do), but every piece has sentimental value of some kind. That’s the difference between someone who has a bunch of stuff, and someone who has a curated collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620854413349-TJ20JW2H9XBBU9X05PHB/67+-+meeting+your+hero.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Meeting Your Hero Sometimes it goes really well, like it luckily did for Richard when he met Wade Boggs. Not everyone who meets their hero ends up being that lucky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620858780570-UILKRADHL0VHAO1N2MYA/68+-+Alkaline+Trio+7-3-08.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Alkaline Trio I’ve never met Michael Jordan, but I have been lucky enough to meet and hang out with Alkaline Trio on a number of occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620859007492-PK2DLGYMNJL2OD27PU9V/69+-+gogo+rings.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Go-Go Rings This was a new one to me, but apparently, these were a thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860084494-HA1OWZE4IQRT1ZDUPRBK/70+-+Thurman+Munson.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Thurman Munson Catchers have a different view of the field than anyone else playing. Thurman Munson was one of the best to ever do it. Unfortunately, his career and life were cut short. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860377481-JZU2K433I89V5R1QDFPY/71+-+A.J.+Pierzynski.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - A.J. Pierzynski Always in the middle of the action, whether it was good, bad, or ugly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862006903-3N245DP8N4R8K08N29UR/72+-+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee Wade was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, receiving 91.9% of the vote in his first year of eligibility. This framed jersey commemorating the induction class of 2005, which also included Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, is in the Boggs Tavern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862058869-0XZKP2O08MUMXKJEXR30/73+-+Red+Sox+Jersey+Retirement.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Red Sox Jersey Jersey Retirement In an emotional ceremony in 2016, the Boston Red Sox retired Wade’s number 26. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862584775-WRO5K5NHEHPJUUY3TIEW/74+-+Chicken+Man.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Chicken Man Wade’s consistent pre-game meal spawned a unique nickname, given to him by teammate Jim Rice. Daniel Jacob Horine immortalized the moniker in this art print, released in 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620861215387-PYOHNXWVATKGMJNXNCPP/72+-+box+score.png Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Check out the box score and the story of the longest game ever played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860883469-YUF93A9RRMOOJ3DFNVFE/72+-+33+inning+game.jpg Season 2 - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Longest Game Ever Richard actually has the audio tapes from the 33-inning game the Pawtucket Red Sox played against the Rochester Red Wings in 1981. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/06 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618384661553-SEZ4YYJ2S02MH7EA6ZP4/youtube.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618384710524-9790P1BQVXJAISR4IJTV/cover+photo+closer.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber Me and Perry Barber after recording our interview in Port St. Lucie, Florida https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618385218194-58UNO5XKS72Q5ABENBZW/IMG_7413.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - HOF Replicas Website Facebook Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389116076-74SX68N5B80AQN6DQ29J/02+-+Perry+with+Brian+Kenny.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - With Brian Kenny Perry Barber’s broadcast partner for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York Penn League went on to have a very successful career, appearing on ESPN and MLB Network for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618385619617-12C2WYKY5SALYLK8B2JX/02+-+Rule+2.00.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Rule 2.00 Perry’s favorite rule in baseball’s rule book, which was added in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389364588-UAKH6TM308PIGQ4MVNSG/04+-+1963+with+mom+and+sister.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Twins With Their Mom Photo from 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389479623-4QIFY6572BM6SIP2J90W/05+-+International+Debutante+Ball%2C+1972.+Their+mother%2C+Jaqueline%2C+designed+the+dresses+they+wore..jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - International Debutante Ball, 1972 Warren and Perry’s mother, Jaqueline, designed the dresses they wore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389656795-0VME6LM575Y1JKVGFVCM/06+-+Guitar.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Singer/Songwriter Perry has been writing songs and performing for decades, having opened for acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Hall & Oates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389896991-RLFGRPXL91ON7047DLOT/07+-+catch+a+rising+star.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Catch A Rising Star Richard Belzer, Pat Benatar, David Brenner at the famous New York comedy club https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618390239683-J5KTMF0IWL45FOQG1TQN/08+-+Ria+Cortesio.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ria Cortesio On March 29, 2007, Ria Cortesio became the first woman since Pam Postema in 1989 to work a Major league exhibition game. After being denied promotion for many years, she was released by Minor League Baseball on October 30, 2007. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618390530248-UJZBGAMUYMUBGRRF68RC/09+-+Jim+Evans.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Jim Evans Academy For Professional Umpiring For 22 years, the Evans Academy was one of an elite few schools authorized to send top umpire student graduates to MiLB's Professional Baseball Umpire Corp for evaluation and potential placement in the minor leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391018203-OW1CFUAR75Y05902EM8F/10+-+Ed+Montague.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - “The Umpire Stands Alone” Ed Montague worked in the National League in 1974 and from 1976 to 1999, and officiated throughout both leagues between 2000 and 2009. The most senior active umpire in the major leagues at the time of his retirement, his 4,369 total games ranked eighth in major league history when he retired. He is one of only three umpires to serve as crew chief for the World Series four times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391509103-23BG2B8X0TZ0VVWCQM6V/11+-+Perry%27s+Mom.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Perry’s Mom A strong, determined woman who was a great role model. It was after her suggestion when Perry decided to become an umpire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391668567-KEN7LM20SEFECRHW2RDM/12+-+Focusing.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - An Umpire’s Job To ensure that everybody at the baseball game has a safe place in which to enjoy it, either as a spectator or a participant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391908844-9VLYMNOQMII4Y0PYTZBV/13+-+1990-03-25+justifying+a+phantom+tag+call+to+some+Yankees.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ejections Believe it or not, most umpires aren’t looking to eject anyone. They aim to resolve all arguments amicably, so everyone can continue participating in the game (and so they don’t have to relive the incident after the game when they’re filling out the mandatory ejection reports). Here is Perry justifying a phantom tag call to some Yankees during a game on *March 25, 1990. *No one needed to be ejected, thanks to Perry’s handling of the situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392183056-82V3W9LFL03QXAV6S4YF/14+-+1983+portrait.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Umpire Stands Alone This time, it’s not a song title. Perry had to umpire Little League games by herself when she first started in 1981, because the other umpires in the league didn’t want to be partnered with a woman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392294216-GB5BR20VT5CFZQLVMEBS/1982+at+umpire+school%2C+the+Barber+twins+Perry+%28left%29+and+Warren+with+umps+Randy+Marsh+%28left%29+and+Harry+Wendelstedt..jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - At Umpire School in 1982 The Barber twins Perry (left) and Warren with umps Randy Marsh (left) and Harry Wendelstedt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392524104-U8TIDPF4R9VVWDWHWHOX/16+-+Harry+Wendelstedt+Umpire+School+graduating+class+of+1983.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School Graduating class of 1983, including Perry Barber. Can you find her? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618416683675-NVAMVO38Y8H0GKB9H8B1/Positioning+is+Everything.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Positioning is Everything In perfect position to make the call, Perry sees the play with clarity, and has the ability to instantly translate what she sees into physical motion to confidently transmit the call. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618417563882-KSG6TUNF4W1SJW8R19WL/18+-+Cape+Cod+League.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Taking Charge Perry makes the call, much to the batter’s dismay, during a Cape Cod League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618417854099-3YD4GF2GU6OMAPK7CNLL/19+-+Left+to+right%3B+Laurie+Osburn+Adkins%2C++Jennifer+Hughes%2C+Perry+Barber%2C+Elizabeth+Osder%2C+Kathleen+Deutsch+Morrison%2C+Janet+L+Thomas.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - More Women In The Field Left to right: Laurie Osburn Adkins, Jennifer Hughes, Perry Barber, Elizabeth Osder, Kathleen Deutsch Morrison, Janet L Thomas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618418151599-ONMQAMY66DLAD4CDIZ2Z/20+-+Wendelstedt+Umpire+School.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Wendelstedt Umpire School Wendelstedt Umpire School is the only independently run professional umpire training program recognized by the minor leagues and major leagues. Harry Wendelstedt was the chief instructor from 1977 until 2012, when his son, Hunter, took control. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618418616271-ZW0Q8EBJL1UEFPWA3OND/21+-+Women+in+Baseball.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women In Baseball The history of women playing the game of baseball dates back to at least the 1860s, when Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. fielded a team. In Philadelphia, a team of African-American women formed a baseball squad called the Dolly Vardens in May of 1883. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419067516-1JSG29MPWZ3267VA9AZS/22+-+Instant+Replay.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Instant Replay MLB was the last of the four major North American professional sports leagues to implement an instant replay review system when it did so for the 2008 season. More than a decade later, and it seems as if they still haven’t gotten it right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419291483-ET56YGZQWW7UNZCUEG40/23+-+ford+frick.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ford Frick While Ford Frick was NL president, he had a major role in the establishment of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a museum that honors the best players in baseball history. While commissioner, he sent notice that women are not to play on major league teams, stating his 'purpose was to prevent teams from using women players as a publicity stunt.' The result of this banning has kept highly skilled women, especially fastball pitchers, from playing in the minors or major leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419725062-PZUZIGS352ZXBLSTFOTS/24+-+Eleanor+Engle.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Eleanor Engle Eleanor Engle reacts to an Associated Press story that reported she was ruled out of organized baseball in June of 1952. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420331487-KFBS4F0N2EASVGO8ZH89/25+-+Galvin.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Maureen Galvin On August 23, 1960, Maureen Galvin was all set to become the first female umpire to work a game behind the plate in professional baseball history in the second game of an Eastern League doubleheader between Allentown and Binghamton. However, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, saying the game is "too important" to both teams' playoff chances, overruled Eastern League president Tommy Richardson, and orders Galvin to be replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420673486-NQ1860MH3WEL6UKGUHIL/26+-+Carey+Schueler.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Carey A. Schueler Daughter of then White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, Carey was the first woman ever drafted by a MLB team when the White Sox picked the 18-year-old left-handed pitcher in the 43rd round (1,208th pick overall) of the 1993 MLB draft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420951052-2TFUY62K4TC4JMINEWJH/27+-+University+of+Bridgeport+at+Columbia+contest+with+base+partner%2C+Atlantic+League+compadre+Joe+Bottita.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women Make Great Partners Here is Perry with base partner and Atlantic League compadre Joe Bottita at a game at the University of Bridgeport at Columbia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421076234-CVSDFXBH0A7HM7VB6PQB/28+-+Amanda+Clement.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Amanda Clement Amanda E. Clement was the first woman paid to umpire a baseball game, and may have also been the first woman to referee a high school basketball. Accompanying her brother to his games, Amanda often found herself umpiring the sandlot games, since girls did not play baseball with any regularity. However, when the boys asked her to fill in, she occasionally played a little first base, which helped her learn the game. Amanda has been recognized in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N. Y., as well as the Women's Sports Hall of Fame and the Women's Sports Foundation in San Francisco. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421451761-8XD424WM1TGA987BOO2B/29+-+Effa+Manley.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Effa Manley The Hall of Fame has only ever made one plaque with a woman’s face on it. Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues with her husband Abe from 1935 to 1948. Throughout that time, Effa served as the team's business manager and fulfilled many of her husband's duties as treasurer of the Negro National League. Effa was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421708850-QCEZRN3OM1G3F3E4IF8X/30+-+Maud+Nelson.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Maud Nelson Maud Nelson (born Clementina Brida on November 17, 1881) was an early professional woman baseball pitcher, scout, manager, and team owner. She began pitching professionally at the age of 16, as a starting pitcher for the Boston Bloomer Girls. She played for several professional baseball teams, including the American Athletic Girls and the Cherokee Indian Base Ball Club. In addition to her starting pitching duties, she often played third base in the later innings of a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618422045394-05AEUH1T1U5UUY25G4FH/31+-+Bernice+Gera.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Bernice Gera On June 24, 1972, Bernice Gera became the first woman to umpire in a professional game. Gera worked the first game of a New York-Pennsylvania League doubleheader between the Auburn Phillies and Geneva Rangers. Gera encountered a series of disputes in the game and would never umpire again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618422351620-8WDQWDLE1REL3C9RWIE9/32+-+Pam+Postema.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Pam Postema Pam Postema was the first female baseball umpire to ever officiate a Major League Baseball spring training game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2000. She also wrote an appropriately-titled book, which you can buy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424114805-IKGA09J8Q0UUD0UOF573/33+-+Theresa+Fairlady.jpeg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Theresa Fairlady In the spring of 1989, Theresa graduated fifth in a class of 180 from Harry Wendelstedt’s umpiring school. Wendelestedt said Fairlady was “the best female candidate I’ve ever had.” During her three years in organized baseball from 1989 to 1991, Fairlady faced her share of difficulties because of archaic attitudes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424271132-EVPPC6ORG5WL2W59ZIES/34+-+David+Wright+hitting+a+home+run+with+Perry+behind+the+plate.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Meet The Mets David Wright blasts a home run with Perry behind the plate at a Mets Spring Training game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424415960-CRUE9BOS83PYJYALU7ZP/35+-+Behind+the+plate.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - All Levels Perry has umpired at basically every level of baseball imaginable. Here she is behind the plate at a youth league game, while Denae Benites bats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424865724-K58VG91CH2VGWM8HCL5Z/36+-+Moriarty.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - George Moriarty In a famed incident that almost cost him his umpiring career, George Moriarty fought four members of the Chicago White Sox simultaneously on Memorial Day of 1932. Moriarty called a pitch by White Sox hurler Milt Gaston ball three instead of strike three. Gaston gave up a game-tying triple on the next pitch, eventually losing the game. When the Sox heckled Moriarty as he walked off the field, he shouted back: “I’ll fight the whole White Sox team!” The 47-year-old ump was promptly attacked by four White Sox, some scarcely half his age: Gaston, Charlie Berry, Frank Grube, and player-manager Lew Fonseca. Moriarty sustained cuts, bruises, and a broken hand, but fought them to a draw. “Mr. Moriarty must be slipping,” one columnist quipped. “I can remember when he used to take on whole ball clubs as a warmup.” Gaston was suspended for ten days by AL president Will Harridge, the other three players were fined, and Moriarty was given a public reprimand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425131891-K23C5ESQIPFGNCXR7HYP/37+-+Perry+with+the+2018+Women%27s+Baseball+World+Cup+trophy.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women’s Baseball World Cup Perry with the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup trophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425202255-3UJ9BV78SH9GH2OSK0OH/38+-+Working+through+injuries%2C+with+Lee+Champagne.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Working Through Injuries Perry has had fingers on both hands broken, her ankle drilled with a foul ball, and myriad other injuries. That doesn’t keep her from working, though, as you can see here, with Lee Champagne. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425409190-ICOFN21XV2Q9KO0AN6GE/39+-+Photo+by+Mets+Fantasy+Camp+photographer+Bob+Dobens.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Beautiful Choreography Umpires have rotations, too, just as players do for certain plays. Here, Perry is captured while “on vacation” at third base by Mets Fantasy Camp photographer Bob Dobens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425573854-VG41PFFCE1ZQHVZ98UHC/40+-+Perry.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Just Happy To Be There Perry used to prefer being behind home plate to call games, but as her career has progressed, she finds herself content anywhere on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426014578-7EPIIJHMWQ8AHV9YS9NX/41+-+whacker.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Whackers On close plays at a base, umpires have to watch for the runner's foot touching the bag and the ball hitting the glove — two different views — while listening for each. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426493306-11WPXB8N382D49Z1S5R3/42+-+2013-02-22+Calling+the+pitches+at+Tradition+Field+in+Port+St.+Lucie%2C+Florida.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Steady Behind Home Plate Calling the pitches at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida on February 22, 2013. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426776167-JAEEGAZ8MPS795DF2E3W/43+-+sparky+lyle.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Sparky Lyle Sparky Lyle was a relief pitcher for sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977. From 1998–2012, Lyle served as manager of the Somerset Patriots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427023328-XM96IZK97BQJ146BXRHI/44+-+2013-02-02.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Been There, Done That Perry isn’t nearly as bothered by the challenges faced by umpires (specifically as a woman) at this point in her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427183330-W3YDL42T66YKKVANT4FP/45+-+umpire.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Just An Umpire Not a “female umpire”. Just an umpire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427278041-DWINNYIWDV62V8808J4T/46+-+Baseball+is+exhausting.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Extra Inning Games 9 innings are hard enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427469957-V06JEFATIJ6XTU64LIRR/47+-+Willie+Randolph+listens+to+home+plate+umpire+Perry+Barber.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - History Is Made On February 26, 2008, Perry assembled the umpire crew for an exhibition game between the New York Mets and the University of Michigan. She called in Ila Valcarcel, Mona Osborne and Theresa Cox Fairlady. Together, the four of them became the first all-female crew to umpire a game featuring a major league team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618428252715-L2697WHD3OAHOLXEEJ95/48+-+WBSC.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Great Partner Not every great umpire is a great partner. Take a look at this picture and see if you can guess how Perry’s colleagues feel about her ability as a partner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618428546142-7IWC12TE37MRIZ7VTPEX/49+-+Natalie+Sago+and+Jenna+Schroeder.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Female NBA Refs The NBA welcomed its first female referees in 1997, with Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner joining the ranks. On January 18, 2021, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made NBA history as the first female referees to work on the same court. Prior to that historic game, Sago had officiated 63 games in two NBA seasons, as well as four seasons in the NBA G League, and three seasons in the WNBA. She also worked the NBA G League International Challenge at NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles. Schroeder, who started on staff in the 2019-20 season, had previously refereed 27 regular season NBA games, as well as three seasons in the NBA G League, and two seasons in the WNBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618429074412-KEH4AFREMY922IMP73S4/50+-+March+1996+with+Arthur+Richman%2C+who+hired+me+to+umpire+Mets+and+Yankees+intrasquads+in+an+era+when+women+umpires+were+regarded+mostly+as+a+bad+joke.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Arthur Richman Perry with her friend, Arthur Richman, in March of 1996. “[He] hired me to umpire Mets and Yankees intrasquads in an era when women umpires were regarded mostly as a bad joke.” That connection led to years of work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618429382546-I399XPF4PUCQ67W8ZB4M/51+-+JWBL.jpeg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - JWBL The Japan Women’s Baseball League is a professional women’s baseball league which was started in Japan in 2009. It’s tiny ― four teams in all ― but it exists. And it goes a long way toward explaining why, on the women’s side, America’s pastime is dominated by Japan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618430139834-I6JX8QAXSWFXO0H9RYDQ/52+-+women%27s+apparel.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women As Revenue Streams A recent multi-country study found that 66% of people were interested in at least one women’s sport, and among sports fans (of whom 49% are female), that figure rises to 84%. But putting that aside, MLB should focus on attracting and including women to follow THEIR sport, because their buying power is equal to that of men. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618430886606-E19POLE23Q190JS2WJ48/53+-+manfred.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Rob Manfred Does the commissioner hate baseball? The answer is irrelevant. The fact that we even need to ask the question is what matters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618432063521-FR6VF3HA1U3A6RDXUWVX/55+-+John+McSherry.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - John McSherry A respected arbiter, John McSherry was one of several umpires who were noticeably overweight. McSherry was officially listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 328 pounds. He died from cardiac arrest, which occurred behind home plate during the opening game of the 1996 Major League Baseball season in Cincinnati on April 1, 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618432963924-N6DJMPCWL99IAWTDHDDP/56+-+Perry+with+Kim+Ng+and+Jennifer+Madison+of+the+APBPA.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - APBPA Perry with Kim Ng and Jennifer Madison of the APBPA. The Association of Professional Ball Players was formed in Los Angeles in 1924 when twelve former players gathered and determined there was a need to assist the less fortunate members of the baseball profession. Since then, the Association has grown to over 101,500+ current members. Follow them on twitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618433230584-CB3MUPQ2JWHI03O03IP4/57+-+2012+at+PSL.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - That Look Umpiring is not a job of just abject drudgery and bleakness, even if that’s how it may appear to an outsider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618433469727-J212MDD053S018VJOE72/58+-+At+Fenway+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Part Of The Game It’s all worth it for moments like this. Perry umpiring at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618434228595-0YXSKK8L233ODHQQC79R/59+-+Robot+Umpire.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - “Robot” Umpires The Atlantic League, an independent circuit with seven teams on the East Coast and one in Texas, became the first American professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes. Though it wasn’t without its glitches… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618434803877-LWGG0F24DC90D3NBTRSC/54+-+in+the+umpires%E2%80%99+dressing+room+at+Richmond+County+Stadium+where+the+Staten+Island+Yankees+play.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Plate Shoes And other proper equipment are essential to protect yourself as an umpire, especially behind the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435006354-848XOBPSJOYJOLEJZNS8/60+-+1996+at+Legends+Stadium+in+Tampa%2C+Cincinnati+Reds+at+Yankees.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Show While Perry never made it to umpire a regular season MLB game, she has umpired many spring training games, like this one between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees at Legends Stadium in Tampa in 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435193630-3QSRNACZPC8KQ212KN2V/61+-+Atlantic+League.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - A World of Baseball There is so much more to the sport of baseball than just Major League Baseball. Here, Perry is preparing to umpire a game between two teams in the Atlantic League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435550374-SMNUZACH05LZNRY8DWPN/62+-+umpire+training+with+Ed+Montague%2C+Justine+Siegal%2C+Emma+Charlesworth-Seiler%2C+Jorge+Bauza%2C+and+Perry+Barber.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - The First Female MLB Ump? Many people think it will either be Emma Charlesworth-Seiler (pictured here, third from left), or Jen Pawol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435809371-8B8DKTCHOBLNP2P3S0AA/63+-+With+Justine+Siegal+at+the+Fourth+Annual+Justine+Siegal%27s+Girls+Baseball+Academy%2C+which+took+place+at+the+old+Dodgertown+complex+in+Vero+Beach%2C+Florida..jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Baseball For All Perry (right) with Justine Siegal at the Fourth Annual Justine Siegal's Girls Baseball Academy, which took place at the old Dodgertown complex in Vero Beach, Florida. Check out Baseball For All’s website HERE and follow them on twitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618436016250-TUL25L2YGWVYIK8T2EG0/64+-+Perry+with+Maybelle+Blair.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - International Women’s Baseball Center The IWBC’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote all aspects of women's baseball, both on and off the field. Check out their website HERE Follow them on twitter. Here, Perry sits with Maybelle Blair, former player in the AAGPBL with the Rockford Peaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618436432604-D9DANWRGQPAO2YHFBXB2/65+-+with+Tom+Seaver+at+Mets+Fantasy+Camp%2C+Port+St.+Lucie%2C+1990.jpeg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Follow Perry Online Here is Perry with Tom Seaver at Mets Fantasy Camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1990. If you want to get this close to Perry one day, start by following her online: Twitter Facebook Blog Interview With A Female Umpire That’s Why The Lady Is An Ump https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618447000418-JKV2W8X4HT0GOR7DP007/Twins+Warren+%28far+left%29+and+Perry+with+brother+Rocky+and+Sammy+Davis+Jr.+at+the+fabled+Copacabana+nightclub.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Destined For Stardom Perry ended up in showbiz for a while on her own, but she spent time around stars growing up, too. Here she is with her twin sister, Warren (far left), her brother Rocky, and Sammy Davis Jr. at the fabled Copacabana nightclub. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618446653198-CHOJ1ZG6CRK7BJ38SGI7/With+fellow+Jeopardy+champion%2C+researcher+Gabriel+Schechter+%28left%29+and+Tim+Wiles.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Jeopardy! Champion Perry with fellow Jeopardy! champion, researcher Gabriel Schechter (left) and Tim Wiles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618446745383-6SC7GKQDNVWWL6KF78Q9/Sharing+a+soda+in+1963.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Growing Up In The 1960s Perry and her twin sister share a soda in 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618447901852-M8GOLB6ZTI424BD66BIN/68+-+joe+west.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Joe West As seems to always be the case, Joe West was back in the news the opening week of the 2021 MLB season. This is nothing new for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618448900734-SZMAR6M8VE619YCYZY8X/70+-+Ila+Borders.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ila Borders Ila Borders was the first woman… Ever awarded a collegiate baseball scholarship. To pitch in a minor league game, for the 1997 St. Paul Saints To win a professional game, for the Duluth-Superior Dukes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618450162708-ZYYVT6X1K0BOT9LMUMK5/71+-+Billy+Evans.jpg Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Billy Evans The youngest umpire in MLB history, Evans officiated six World Series during his career. After his retirement from umpiring, Evans was named the first GM in baseball history, when the Cleveland Indians hired him to the role in 1927. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618450317191-FFKP253XYY7ANRJNK19X/72+-+Kim+Ng.png Season 2 - 0206 - Perry Barber - Kim Ng After more than 30 years in baseball, Kim Ng was finally hired as a GM on November 13, 2020 by the Miami Marlins. Not only is she the first female GM in MLB history, she is the first female GM in any major North American men’s professional sports league. A true trailblazer, and hopefully the first of many hires that look like her. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/05 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac21314b-bf80-484a-a896-427c33a35042/new+youtube.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615101234750-4JA7987RS9HRUZZ8OA5G/cover+photo.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson and me after recording our interview at his home in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615355737609-J23UGONDSZNV58PD85VV/01+-+ManCave+Pictures.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - ManCave Pictures Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356238663-CFF1LBJ9JQK8NAOTCTTQ/02+-+TBRS+-+With+sisters+Inez+and+Ann.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and His Sisters Inez on the left, Ann on the right, growing up in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356505156-GS2LV3KLJMPP0JDI6H83/03+-+Stan+Musial.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Stan The Man Musial’s beautifully legible autograph made quite an impression upon a young Bobby Richardson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357125194-FM5T5WH1REGW2MTBL6LK/04+-+TBRS+-+Sumter+American+Legion+team+%28Bobby+is+front+row%2C+4th+from+left%29.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - American Legion The Sumter, South Carolina American Legion team. Bobby is in the front row, 4th from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356577403-QWO8Y5KVA8MA8W8MO2KM/04+-+IP+-+American+Legion+ball.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Young Bobby Bobby showing off his fundamentals, already ingrained in him at the age of 14. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356818536-R4CI6X2UWF0624EBHHCA/05+-+Pride+of+the+Yankees.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Pride of the Yankees Gary Cooper starred as Lou Gehrig in this early biopic about the sad ending to one of baseball’s great careers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357524235-RVBV9FT3J4OQ4TSTAU32/07+-+Spud+Chandler.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Spud Chandler A former Yankee, himself, Spud Chandler was the scout who discovered Bobby Richardson for New York and pushed for the club to sign him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357259587-KM56WMT5M6G7DI0IV22B/07+-+TBRS+-+Proud+parents.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Proud Parents Bobby’s parents couldn’t have been more proud of their son when he signed with the Yankees the day he graduated from high school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358017849-4J18O2JW5IKJ9BLYCF83/08+-+Mickey+Owen.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Norfolk Tars Bobby played for Manager Mickey Owen (left) during the 1953 season as a member of the Norfolk Tars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358336746-NC4GEWMI4XDJIKD32XBA/10+-+Olean.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The 1953 Olean Yankees. Bobby is in the middle row, second from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358665421-2PYV7ZHH2DCN4FTOB020/11+-+Crosetti.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Frankie Crosetti An act of kindness from Yankees coach Frank Crosetti, a former player in his own right, helped ease the nerves during Bobby’s first ever workout at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358867443-HNIEUFID1Y8EHEQ8KVRZ/12+-+Mickey+showing+Bobby+the+ropes.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Simple Gesture Mickey Mantle went out of his way to make Bobby feel welcomed when he was called up to the big leagues. That began a friendship that would last the rest of their lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358963837-PP8A3WEM7QBLFY49WV7L/13+-+Newlyweds.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Newlyweds Bobby and Betsy were married in June of 1956, during the minor league season, much to the chagrin of Bob Howsam, the owner of the Denver Bears, for whom Bobby was playing at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615359854566-K1A1X8L28G5JPUX8ZKRV/14+-+Ralph+Houk.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ralph Houk Bobby’s favorite manager during his career, Ralph Houk managed Bobby in Denver, then later on for the Yankees. Houk eventually became the GM of the Yankees while Bobby was still playing. They rose through the ranks with each other, and were lifelong friends, with Bobby speaking at Ralph’s funeral at the request of Ralph’s child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615359539718-RRDQU0P12Q1L92FOIZY2/14+-+Gil+McDougald.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Gil McDougald Bobby was called up to the majors after Gil McDougald was hit by a line drive off the bat of teammate Bob Cerv during batting practice in 1955. Ironically, it would be a line drive off of McDougald’s bat that hit Herb Score in the head which would eventually lead to the downfall of his own career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615360235377-3OSFRREEXB83OSRPX6OI/16+-+joe+and+mickey.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle One of these men was not thrilled about having to take this photo. Can you guess which one? Trick question! Neither of them liked this. Joe hated the fact that Mickey was supposed to “replace” him, fearful that his legacy would not be remembered. Mickey hated the fact that Joe was so cold to him as he was coming up. All he wanted was Joe’s respect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361140632-AF0T9T9H0HA0JVM2BB31/17+-+kubek.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - “The Milkshake Twins” The Yankees were lucky to have such a steady double play combination for nearly a decade straight. Tony Kubek at Short, and Bobby Richardson at Second. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361164717-EO3EM18DACMI8G5QPOJY/18+-+boyer.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Clete Boyer The only reason Clete Boyer doesn’t have a trophy case full of Gold Glove Awards is because he played during the same time as Brooks Robinson, but Boyer was an absolute superstar defensively at the hot corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361332802-XFXJNDNOL16YWOZNRDZN/19+-+IP+-+Frank+Robinson+spikes.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Frank Robinson Only twice did Bobby Richardson miss double plays because of being hit by the runner. Both times, coincidentally, were when Frank Robinson came in with a hard slide. This instance, pictured here, ended with Bobby receiving 5 stitches when Frank slid into Bobby’s ankle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361643820-XRNS1S3YQVJIUFWBSOZG/20+-+Skowron.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Moose Skowron Bill “Moose” Skowron promised Bobby $500 at the beginning of each season they played together if Bobby would catch all of the popups hit to the right side of the infield during the year. Bobby held up his end of the bargain. Moose owes him $3,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362131004-CUTX7V4M4CLMGWP1UN4X/21+-+O%27Dell.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Billy O’Dell Brooks Robinson (left) and Billy O’Dell did what they could to help Bobby get his average up to .300 on the last day of the 1959 season. O’Dell was from the upstate of South Carolina, went to Clemson, and was quail hunting buddies with Bobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362382004-ROUSTZH1S842RZA4DOAC/22+-+1960+World+Series.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1960 World Series Bobby set the all-time World Series record with 12 RBI during the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362440632-KNP3TQXOCGM72DGLQM33/23+-+6+RBI+in+a+World+Series+game.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Game 3 In the third game, alone, Bobby had 6 RBI, which is still the most RBI by one player in a single game in World Series history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362533172-M529S4LOOBCZLXIXF6UC/24+-+1960+World+Series+Game+3+celebration+with+Mikey+and+Whitey.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Celebrating a Record Mickey Mantle, Bobby Richardson, and Whitey Ford celebrate Bobby’s record-setting performance after Game 3. Luckily, Casey Stengel didn’t say “Hold that gun!” as Bobby walked up to the plate with the bases loaded in the 1st inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615363137148-2PO2BDTY8H9UCIMXQAIC/25+-+Maris+60.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Roger Maris Bobby Richardson and Elston Howard greet Roger Maris at home plate after Roger hit his 60th home run of the 1961 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362974243-QFWCIHEQUPUFLY7FF9CL/25+-+Maris.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615364093233-K46Y2WA6HN0RY7D9X4R1/27+-+61.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 61* Barry Pepper as Roger Maris in Billy Crystal’s movie 61* https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615364697240-QR98VU8WEA9GRMXDVWM2/28+-+TBRS+-+Admiring+Mickey%27s+1962+MVP+Award.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1962 MVP Race Mickey Mantle won the MVP Award after the 1962 season, but even he said that Bobby Richardson deserved to win it. Here is Bobby (left) and Tony Kubek (right) admiring the award with Mickey in the locker room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615365092924-MJP09K0AKBYOO6TI35GX/29+-+No+Hat+for+Celebration.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Yankees celebrate after Bobby’s Series-clinching catch to win Game 7 of the 1962 World Series. Notice Bobby (center, in back) without his hat on, and the umpire (right) with it in his hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366362685-5XDC0KJ3U5YAZLDI6N93/30+-+Gibson.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1964 World Series Bob Gibson dominated everyone in the Yankees lineup during the 1964 World Series, except Bobby Richardson. Bobby went 7-14 against Gibson in the series, and collected 13 hits overall against St. Louis. It is still the most hits by one player in a single World Series in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366616930-W3TE1V7G4SRDYAC1W6O6/31+-+Koufax.jpeg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Sandy Koufax Bobby says Sandy Koufax was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. His results from Game 1 of the 1963 World Series seem to back up that assertion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366980789-9LYDIW8JBVQREVQX2DXY/32+-+bob+sheppard.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - “The Voice of God” Bob Sheppard’s announcing became part of the unique atmosphere at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615367133288-E3XL0RY0FX1HPTS93FSB/33+-+Toby+Wright+1965.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Organ After seeing the success the Mets had earlier in the season by adding an organ to their in-game experience at Shea, the Yankees decided to add one themselves later in 1965. Toby Wright was the original organist for the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615367697246-O6PKPUNUHETXTIO2QILO/34+-+Old+Timers+Day.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Old Timers Games Tris Speaker (left) and Ty Cobb at an Old Timers Game at Yankee Stadium in the 1950s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368139714-YFW39BRDWAT0DEI3K00X/35+-+astrodome.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - April 9, 1965 Mickey Mantle hits the first indoor home run in the history of the world during the first ever exhibition game at the Astrodome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368564990-3IWMU94YX8NBERI8XP6A/36+-+bouton.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ball Four Despite its controversy at the time, with baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn's attempts to discredit it and label it as detrimental to the sport, Jim Bouton’s Ball Four is considered to be one of the most important sports books ever written https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368839733-WDM7OAFP8FYPB1WC83SJ/37+-+Mazeroski+walkoff.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Mazeroski’s Walk-off A rarely-seen photo of the aftermath of Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run which ended the 1960 World Series, you can see Yankees Pitcher Ralph Terry (#23) and Bobby Richardson (foreground) literally walking off the field in defeat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369105862-TRJTS864E7DC5QX2QP4M/38+-+Maris%27+61st.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Maris’ 61st October 1st, 1961. The final game of the regular season. Maris breaks the Babe’s single-season record with his 61st home run of the year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615365664600-0PB8UQBI8G253V89X2M6/99+-+Roger+Maris+curtain+call+upper+deck.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Curtain Call Even though Roger didn’t want to, Bobby and some of the other Yankees pushed Maris out to take a curtain call for the fans after he hit his record-breaking 61st home run in the 1961 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369277585-JBB0RW125KEM54U7S2UL/40+-+sports+illustrated+shoot.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Early Retirement When Sports Illustrated heard that Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek were planning to retire together, they sent a photographer to get some shots for the article. This photo still proudly hangs in Bobby’s home today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369455598-F42S4JF9TUZKZFC0KLGM/41+-+Family.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Growing Family Bobby and Betsy had a growing family, which was reason enough for him to want to retire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369571739-JVHOXMTEUTNLXKZYJPHS/42+-+gold+glove.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Gold Glove Bobby won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards, one each from 1961-1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369713426-F3XN14LAUNS867H1JV0G/43+-+IP+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson Day at Yankee Stadium, September 17, 1966 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369817752-L915EZ9YDMLXD2KM95JJ/44+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby Richardson Day Some of the items given out at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 1966, in celebration of Bobby Richardson Day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369921256-ZUHI9VPT0RMPCMWE0VZN/45+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Media Coverage Bobby and his family were featured in a newspaper article the following day, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370044011-NFF1FOPPLZPJS3230TOP/46+-+Old+Timers+Day+with+Yogi.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Old Timers Day Another great day with his teammate and lifelong friend, Yogi Berra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370155754-3WLTFH3WMHZOIUP1GONQ/47+-+Bobby+at+USC.jpeg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Coaching at USC After Paul Dietzel courted him for years, Bobby finally became the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370591174-26CN45HJZEMUODC04C15/48+-+earl+bass.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Earl Bass Earl Bass went 34-3 for the Gamecocks from 1972-75, going 12-1 in 1974 and 17-1 in 1975, earning first team All-American honors in each season. He still holds USC records for career ERA at 1.34, shutouts (10) and strikeouts (392). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370711448-0YIIUBLW8QEEX6S2L4O3/49+-+RM+-+1963+Yankees.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Not Just Teammates Bobby and his teammates shared lifelong friendships that carried well beyond the field of play. They might have all been different, but they were a team. Here are some of the 1963 Yankees: (top row, left to right) Elston Howard, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Tony Kubek (bottom row, left to right) Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371073440-7YA322YGQ8YXUSUSHOA0/50+-+houk+cigar.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ralph Houk Houk was Bobby’s favorite manager. “A player’s manager.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371225013-0TL42VRKQ759185EU1T6/51+-+stengel.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Casey Stengel Casey Stengel is one of baseball’s most interesting characters. His personality, and managerial style, definitely rubbed some people the wrong way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371643578-5378JFKXSC8HVAJXMPZX/52+-+bill+dickey.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bill Dickey With a .313 lifetime batting average, nearly 2,000 career hits, and more than 200 career home runs as a Catcher for the Yankees, Bill Dickey knew a thing or two about hitting, and about what you should be looking for from a pitcher when you’re in the batter’s box. His guidance helped Bobby Richardson have one of the best years of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370327674-DLMYS9A89SP4K3HU3DQO/48+-+hank+small.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Hank Small Bobby says one of his players, Hank Small, is the best collegiate baseball player he’d ever seen. “He reminded me so much of Mickey Mantle. He had the power. He could run. The only difference was Mantle was a switch-hitter. But Hank didn’t need to be (a switch-hitter) because he could hit to all fields.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372371319-B15XAECIJ4ZGWLLQI782/54+-+yankee+stadium.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Original Yankee Stadium was a place unlike any other. 1923-2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372425336-RXTGVA3ES288H7XZHSL5/55+-+TBRS+-+Lou+Gehrig+Memorial+Award.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Bobby accepts the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372505117-GXF8ZLI6JVVWRD3E869I/56+-+TBRS+-+With+his+equipment.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - #1 Bobby wore the number 1 for the majority of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372838528-XN9H0CZAEAO5LKQOZF6R/57+-+billy+martin.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Unceremonious Exits A number of Yankee greats have left the team (or been forced to leave) on less-than-good terms. Yogi Berra, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Dick Howser, Bill Virdon, Billy Martin, Stump Merrill, Billy Martin, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Gene Michael… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373361424-1NY6B253S895T3M7O922/58+-+bob+costas.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bob Costas Watch his full eulogy at Mickey’s funeral HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373450074-HCW2GX4JJNB3LZT0DW0K/59+-+bobby+at+mickey%27s+funeral.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby’s Eulogy for Mickey Watch the full video HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373519189-R8KJGPFRMLUNFLUZ3I0Z/60+-+god%27s+hall+of+fame.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - God’s Hall of Fame One of Bobby’s favorite poems, he has recited it multiple times over the course of his life and career. One of the most famous recitals came at Mickey’s funeral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373618966-IYOYE02YR7CDD5WKTTKA/61+-+a+gift+from+the+mantles.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Gift From The Mantles Given to Bobby after Mickey’s funeral https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373664778-SV1TFNH02L17MF3H65N9/62+-+mantles.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Presented To Bobby Richardson You Enriched Dad’s Life And Soul With Your Presence Those Last Days. With God’s Love And Eternal Light, We Thank You. THE MICKEY MANTLE FAMILY 1931 - 1995 Teammate In The True Sense https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373907498-KVJ90N5EYHQ9A6MS5HBG/63+-+kaline.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Al Kaline One of Bobby’s most respected opponents, here is 20-year-old Detroit Tigers Outfielder Al Kaline before a 1955 game at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374031687-KXZG5N70SD8BTEODNPYV/64+-+1963+Dream+Team.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1963 Dream Team The best players at each position in all of Major League Baseball, Bobby made the cut in 1963. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374153856-XS6YS9ZY1R2642H32S6A/65+-+Ted+Williams+hitting+instructor.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ted Williams Bo Sox asked Ted Williams NOT to give Richardson any more hitting tips before a Red Sox - Yankees game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374341372-848M2O6Y15X723F2DUAT/66+-+Dreamy+at+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Enjoying It Tremendously While there were certainly some struggles, Bobby is still incredibly grateful for his career and all of the opportunities it brought him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374497542-K9HOFIV8FPPHZVK9SC5N/67+-+Fellowship+of+Christian+Athletes.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Public Speaking Bobby has been lucky enough to speak all over the country, and all over the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374815986-PZNK1E3MJRZPTYR4VJXS/68+-+Mickey+at+USC.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Mickey at USC Bobby (left) welcomed his old friends, Whitey Ford (second from left) and Mickey Mantle (third from left) to South Carolina to speak with the team when he was head baseball coach at USC. Whitey gave some pitching tips, and Mickey gave some batting instruction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375050552-E2ED59ZMDD48Y45I252Q/69+-+Bobby+fields+a+double+play.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Turning Two Jerry Coleman taught Bobby how to turn the double play at second base. Bobby then became one of the best double play men in the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375175243-INRMO4HL639J939K18P2/70+-+IP+-+With+his+dad.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and His Dad Due to poor health in his later years, Mr. Richardson only saw Bobby play one game in person in Bobby’s career. While Bobby normally played Second Base, the one game his dad saw was one where Bobby played Third Base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375401006-YI2G6HDTANK2AIWQ5VEK/71+-+Bobby+and+Betsy.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and Betsy If you want to reach out to Bobby, you can email him at bobby.betsy@gmail.com He also did give his phone number out, but I edited that out. You’re going to have to work for that one! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375532182-DNMYATG74C3ZG0KE9OJF/73+-+Sports+Complex+-+01.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson Baseball Complex in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375595502-KNO1QTTZIXD7YVN2VLQA/74+-+Sports+Complex+-+02.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Great Honor This plaque greets every visitor to the Bobby Richardson Baseball Complex immediately upon their entry https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375669756-8MDB5CWFVR1SE6LUKGB5/75+-+Sports+Complex+-+03.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Close Up Bobby may not like the hair, but the plaque is great, and an amazing tribute to Sumter’s favorite son. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375734445-3CX352EMC7AETWO1ICGK/76+-+Sports+Complex+-+04.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - In Bobby’s Own Hand This saying is etched in the concrete at the foot of the base which holds the plaque shown above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375879820-66BZDXFEPS2DGHWDKSLG/77+-+The+Richardsons.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Richardsons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375932540-MK1BZPBX86SFYSB1VI9U/78+-+Bobby+at+the+SJJM.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - At The SJJM Bob Bolin (left) and Bobby Richardson tour the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library in Greenville, South Carolina at its grand opening on June 21, 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376334238-4LOHDGTV4N4CRRFUK5UW/79+-+yankee+stadium.JPG Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Summer of 2005 After finally getting the right tickets, we made our way inside to see Derek Jeter and the Yankees take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. What a day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376582342-SFGA0KXZ3155W1PU84P7/80+-+bob+cerv.jpeg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Deep Bond Roger Maris and Bob Cerv were not only teammates, they were friends and roommates. Here they are in the summer of 1960, each celebrating the recent births of their children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376726645-MVRXH3BQJNR9UZN7H257/81+-+Posed.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Kid, I Lived It He was there. I’m jealous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377148496-8HUEDPDY71V79MJYAGTF/82+-+beautiful+signature.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Beautiful Signature Bobby’s autograph is wonderfully legible, all thanks to an interaction he had with Stan Musial when he was 12 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377375547-F1LBXNRBBU4614GWXHGH/83+-+TBRS+-+Turning+two.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Evading Danger After being spiked once or twice, you learn to get out of the way of the runner who’s barreling down on you, trying to break up the double play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377631301-XV08NE0NVIUY7L3SR1D8/84+-+peanuts.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Peanuts cartoons following the 1962 World Series https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378490934-H08UQC6I8R5P5HQTQYJU/85+-+1966+Christmas+Card+-+Christie%2C+Jeannie%2C+Ron%2C+Robby.png Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - What He Did, Not Who He Is Bobby’s playing career is just a small part of his life, which has helped keep him grounded all these years. Here is the Richardsons’ 1966 Christmas card with their children (left to right) Christie, Jeannie, Ron, and Robby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378672764-3GYF0OFMB1YG4QB1KXWS/86+-+4+bats.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Pretty Good Bobby might not think of himself as a superstar, or someone worth writing to all these years later. But I’ve got news for you, Mr. Richardson… you were, and you are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378930544-BJ64DPOXC4RCS4NH4NA4/87+-+showing+me+around.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Showing Me Around Bobby was incredibly generous, inviting me into his home and showing me all of his memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615379007331-8P9PIAEZJXQ8YVSPKNF7/88+-+reminiscing.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Reminiscing Going through a scrapbook of photos from Bobby Richardson Day, remembering the incredible honor it was to have that day at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615379930456-04VEQQSKU5JF3QN1KNVV/89+-+the+bobby+richardson+story.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Bobby Richardson Story Published in 1965, this book is a first-person autobiography that tells Bobby’s story in life and in baseball, up to that point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380192842-ZBVQP8E2O904HZM94BGM/90+-+Impact+Player.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Impact Player Published in 2012, in this book, Bobby shares his life story, including never-before-told tales from the Yankee clubhouse during the historic 1955-1965 pennant runs and World Series appearances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380533235-Z7GYWDCXJZ5BJY0CT9UI/91+-+1960+World+Series+Grand+Slam.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby’s Grand Slam In the 1st Inning of Game 3 in the 1960 World Series, Bobby Richardson shocked the world. And himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380689420-HFOFGAOS9RK4DOT7GHYV/92+-+Bobby%27s+Grand+Slam.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The flight of Bobby’s grand slam, and all of the players on the field at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380632583-YAPAT4O81R8D4S1KLAK2/93+-+Crossing+Home.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Good Start Pretty nice to have a grand slam on the board after one inning in a World Series game. Bobby finished the game with 6 RBI, a World Series record which still stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380916681-MDCGMLMG9MW1YVUENDCM/94+-+Game+4+1958+World+Series+-+Schoendienst+triple.jpg Season 2 - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1958 World Series Game 4 Check out the box score from this game, which was the only game Bobby’s dad ever saw him play in person. Here, Red Schoendienst slides into Third Base (being covered by Bobby Richardson) after a triple. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/04 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089326992-4HTDFODPTWAHIT27HAXW/youtube.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089503951-KENATNLKHBM85H9YJ9DI/cover+photo.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Me and Alex Cheremeteff after recording our interview in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089849563-EDSXQVI2R3E772YZOSHE/01.+Phillies.jpeg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Childhood Heroes Alex was a Phillies fan growing up. His favorite players were Mike Schmidt, Garry Maddox, and Bob Boone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089873839-78F4FNPNQJ6Q1HABSUJE/02.+Cal+Ripken.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Rochester Red Wings Alex remembers seeing many future Major League stars when he used to go to Rochester Red Wings games. Some notable players were Cal Ripken, Jr., Steve Finley, and Brady Anderson. Opposing teams’ came through town, as well, and many of their players were also on their way to the bigs. Some of those who stuck out in Alex’s memory include Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, and Jim Thome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089908151-06JXF10TGVUVF0O35I5N/03.+Total+Baseball.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Total Baseball Total Baseball is a baseball encyclopedia first compiled by John Thorn and Pete Palmer in 1989. The encyclopedia contains seasonal and career statistics in numerous categories for every Major League player, as well as historical, opinion, and year-by-year essays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089946457-X21VUDV9EYI30I7HI03Q/04.+The+Glory+Of+Their+Times.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The Glory Of Their Times The Glory of Their Times: The Story of Baseball Told By the Men Who Played It was written by Lawrence Ritter. Ritter was inspired by the death of Ty Cobb to preserve the oral histories of ballplayers, so, as a university professor, he used his summers to interview players from the turn of the century. The audio recordings can be found online through the Library of Congress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089969685-DUXVFO35ZKRSA888UUP2/05.+Conlon.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Charles Conlon Baseball's Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon by Neal and Constance McCabe is an examination of the remarkable legacy of Charles M. Conlon who took thousands of photographs of the baseball heroes of his day, from 1904 to 1942. His work captures the drama, power and human emotion of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089993066-5UQU6JCO8VLVGM966UUR/06.+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Giamatti Research Center The library is the foremost repository of baseball information, in all formats, in the world. Founded in 1939 along with the Hall of Fame itself, the library is a specialized research facility whose collections and services are available to all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090040566-WNH9LEI39NJLIUA3J3UR/07.+Cobb+slides.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Ty Cobb and Frank Baker This photo by William Kuenzel prevented Ty Cobb's suspension for life from baseball on charges that he intentionally spiked the arm of Home Run Baker. The photo proved that Cobb threw his body to the inside trying to evade Baker’s tag at third base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090062424-QMPP5H60IU7FAZRBKHDF/08.+1909-08-24+Connie+Mack+on+Ty+Cobb+after+the+game.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack’s Quote Philadelphia’s manager did not take too kindly to Ty Cobb spiking his third baseman, calling him, among other things, a "pinhead" and "malefactor." Cobb replied, "If the man with the ball is in the way, he is apt to get hurt." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090085037-FJV0WW9H8G8CB78FU0MP/09.+floral+horseshoe.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Wild Bill Donovan 9-30-1907: Detroit Tigers RHP Bill Donovan (center) poses in front of a floral horseshoe presented by his Philadelphia friends prior to a scheduled double-header at Columbia Park. A 20-year old Ty Cobb would belt a game-tying 9th inning HR. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090147185-2JW6MQ1RB55D3WOMJH1J/10.+1907-10-01+Philadelphia+Inquirer.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Cartoon drawing by Jim Nasium, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 1907 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090107274-WMFILWVYYB5MUV7RCAR3/11.+1901-01-24+Connie+Mack%27s+hiring.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack is Hired The Philadelphia Inquirer announces the hiring of Connie Mack as manager of the brand new Philadelphia Athletics of the American League on January 24, 1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090174746-58AQSILB2RB6YGXG7RUX/12.+1902+Athletics+-+White+Elephant.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - White Elephant The Athletics have John McGraw to thank for their mascot, the White Elephant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090194613-W5YJPDDV3NC67VPQTTO9/13.+1903+Athletics+scorebook+-+reverse.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Merchandising the White Elephant The defending American League Champions incorporated the famous "white elephant" for the first time in 1903, using the image on pennants, banners, and even this 1903 Philadelphia Athletics score book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090218666-UENTPUL0NPKWHZ01VPNI/14.+1902-09-29+Championship+Parade.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Championship Parade September 29, 1902: Scene along North Broad Street as the City of Philadelphia honored the American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics. "It was a great night for Connie Mack and his victorious team... And the White Elephant!" - The Philadelphia Inquirer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090241477-ZUGJ5EB9W2O9UIBL36NW/15.+1903-07-09+Rube+Waddell+leaves+the+team+cartoon.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Rube Waddell Leaves The Team July 9, 1903: The mystifying Rube Waddellpacks up his belongings and informs Connie Mack that he is on the first train to California. Later that afternoon, he surfaces in Camden, New Jersey where he plays CF with a team of collegians from Atlantic City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090346647-L9X6W7SO5H60VQJZ7KWA/16.+Ossie.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Ossee Schreckengost If ever there were a battery that was bound together in life and in death, it was probably pitcher Rube Waddell and catcher Ossee Schreckengost. Waddell's unpredictable and bizarre nature famously led to Ossee insisting on a "no crackers in bed" clause added to Waddell's contract. Schreckengost played without shin guards, and was one of the last major league catchers to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090408404-7WIVCSOW9LADZJ7OB7B6/17.+1905-10+Columbia+Park+in+Philadelphia.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1905 Philadelphia Athletics A pin featuring the 1905 American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics. The 19 players pictured are the only players Connie Mack used the entire season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090434962-GKTUQY9A7BU2SVJ41GEC/18.+1908-07-30+Connie+Mack+purchases+Joe+Jackson+for+%241%2C000.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1908 Philadelphia Athletics 1908 Philadelphia Athletics team photo featuring a 21-year old rookie named Shoeless Joe Jackson, pictured in the lower right corner. Connie Mack purchased Joe for $1,000 on July 30, 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090457745-3BPO069Q2S5L91QBF4M2/19.+joe+in+savannah.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shoeless Joe in Savannah Joe Jackson warming up with the Savannah Indians of the South Atlantic League in 1909. He hit .358 in 118 games before be recalled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090482050-1OV1QR7AAQNLLCHEJJC7/20.+Columbia+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Columbia Park Umpires and members of the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants meet at home plate during a 1905 World Series game at Columbia Park in Philadelphia's Brewerytown neighborhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090502111-C9CKHNP54JK07FLA7HJ3/21.+1909+-+corner+of+21st+Street+%26+Lehigh+Avenue.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park The beautiful edifice at the corner of 21st Street & Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia, 1909. Shibe Park's construction had just been completed, and was a marvel of architecture at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090525953-SAWRG7XRYRIOVM7PRSJP/22.+1909-04-12+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Opening Day at Shibe April 12, 1909: Resplendent in their brand new uniforms and sweaters, the Athletics line up in their dugout prior to the inaugural game at their sumptuous new palace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090547103-ER9SUUNWA9OYJ8BORQWH/23.+1910-06-30+Doc+Powers+Day+image.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Doc Powers Doc Powers was Eddie Plank's personal catcher and one of Connie Mack's favorite players. After he passed away, the Athletics honored him in multiple ways. Ultimately, “Doc Powers Day” was organized by the American League and hosted by the A’s to raise funds for his widow and children, an extraordinary effort for its time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090570183-JCF1F2WCH1PCK2F4WZD4/24.+%24100%2C000+infield.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - $100,000 Infield "ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THE HOOF" 1B Stuffy McInnis, 2B Eddie Collins, SS Jack Barry, and 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker pictured here in 1913. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090594089-Q4QUL4N7FABSMWL7WPEC/25.+harry+davis.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Harry Davis The 1910 season was Harry Davis' final season as a major league regular. He was team captain and performed all of Connie Mack's on-field duties, including taking out the lineup card, going over the pregame ground rules, and pitching changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090615672-YRSWGKL69D2XRO4MUML5/26.+Jack+Coombs.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1910 Athletics (Left to Right) 1B Harry Davis, RHP Jack Coombs, and LHP Eddie Plank take a breather during spring training in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910. 7 months later, they would capture their first World Series. Coombs tossed 13 shutouts that season, an AL record to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090667280-213UY8Y3Y2QNC4NGLIXM/27.+1910+Athletics+team+photo.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Start of a Dynasty The 1910 Philadelphia Athletics finished the season 102-48 and rolled to a World Series title over the Chicago Cubs. Connie Mack used just TWO pitchers during the entire World Series - Chief Bender and Jack Coombs, who pitched all 45.2 innings over 5 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090695839-O1UV6H5NWGMD1HQZU1ZN/28.+1913-10-08+watered+down+infield+during+world+series.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Competitive Drive The New York Giants led the NL with 296 stolen bases in 1913. Note the excessive amount of moisture around the first base bag in this photo. It was ordered by Connie Mack to slow down the Giants' running game. It worked; the Giants stole just two bases in two games at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090724660-B8NA09WQC3ILPRQQDDGR/29.+Connie+Mack.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1913 World Series Prior to Game 3 of the 1913 World Series, Connie Mack tried to make his way to the field when he was stopped by an NYPD officer. Mack: "I want to get to the visitors' bench." Officer: "Do you belong to the club?" Mack: "No, you blockhead. The club belongs to me." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090829298-VIPS9QYH34AI4D4F8EZ0/30.+1909-04-21+at+Huntington+Ave+Grounds+in+Boston.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Resplendent in their new uniforms and sweaters, the 1909 Athletics line up for a photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090750185-HU1RTUGREBIAHK5YI88Y/31.+1909-1912+Sweater+-+seen+here+on+Chief+Bender.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Single Elephant Sweater Proudly worn here by Chief Bender. After seeing this close up photo of the elephant silhouette, Alex was able to make his own version. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090856980-8NSPH6B6HRSGDZNWKURO/32.+Alex%27s+sweater.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Alex’s Sweater Alex found a clearance sale, shawl collar sweater with brown buttons. He swapped the brown buttons for white ones, made a cardboard elephant template based on the 1909-12 sweater shown above, got some premium white felt, a good pair of titanium scissors, and voila! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090887162-WUVRUJQYZ005QPUDZ7SK/33.+Eddie+Collins.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Eddie Collins Eddie Collins receives a Chalmers automobile for winning the AL MVP award. He is presented with his prize prior to Game 1 of World Series at Shibe Park on October 9, 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090908779-6LYOOJM85PZ0ETZ88R1G/34.+1914+Athletics+-+AL+Pennant+winners.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1914 Athletics Following their stunning collapse in the World Series, and attendance dropping from 2nd to 5th, Connie Mack took action. After the season, gone were Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, & Chief Bender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090933929-ENALF8GXAVOW2TK41ZC0/35.+1949+-+Connie+Mack+in+his+office+1.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie’s Office A fierce negotiator, the walkway leading up to Mack’s office was dubbed “The Bridge of Tears” by his players. Here he is in 1949, at the age of 87. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090956829-IMUSQUIR7AF7L422YG4D/36.+1911+-+Frank+Baker+at+Bennett+Park+in+Detroit.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Frank “Home Run” Baker "Home Run" Baker at Comiskey Park in 1913. Baker’s stats that year were unbelievable: .337/.413/.493, 167 OPS+, 12 HR, 117 RBI, 116 R, 34 SB, 34 2B, 9 3B. He also batted .450, with one HR and 7 RBI in the World Series - leading the A's to their 3rd title in 4 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090998764-BGRV832IVDL7ZFI969SS/38.+Jimmie+Foxx+as+a+catcher.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Jimmie Foxx Jimmie Foxx was a 16-year old catcher with the Easton (Maryland) Farmers (Eastern Shore League) in 1924. In 76 games with Easton, Foxx hit .296, slugged .469, and knocked 10 home runs. After Miller Huggins passed on him, Connie Mack purchased him for $2,000 on July 30 based on the recommendation of Easton's manager: Frank “Home Run” Baker. With the emergence of Mickey Cochrane as a catcher, Mack moved Foxx to first base, a move that would lead to the HOF for both players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615091029227-1I2TKFFNUBV9BM2SVIOS/39.+bishop.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Max “Camera Eye” Bishop Max Bishop at Comiskey Park in 1925. "Camera Eye" was the leadoff hitter for Connie Mack's second dynasty. In 12 seasons, he had a .423 OBP, 966 Runs, and 1,156 BB. He had 8 consecutive seasons of 100+ BB, and 7 consecutive seasons of 80+ Runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615091055103-LD8DMKRW0F7IWN8KG2VH/37.+1929+AL+Champions.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1929 Athletics Alex thinks the 1929 Athletics may be the best team of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094388233-FUA46DBZZ7G47KXZF19I/40.+1929-10-12.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1929 World Series Game 4 Thousands of Philadelphians pack the rooftops along 20th Street on October 12, 1929 to watch Game 4 of the World Series. Trailing the Cubs 8-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Athletics mounted a historic comeback to ultimately win 10-8. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094423636-FD0AO28RJQJ5GQ17TCA3/41.+Ehmke.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Howard Ehmke Howard Ehmke is on the mound for Game 1 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on October 8, 1929. He struck out a then-World Series record 13 batters that day, as the A’s won 3-1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094448372-MUGX3MKX3P3BR15WJBB3/42.+1931+Athletics.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1931 Athletics They were a Game 7 loss away from being the first team to ever win 3 straight World Series. They went 107-45 (.704, including 60-15 at home), and scored 5.6 runs per game. They had FIVE Hall of Famers on their roster, six if you count Connie Mack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094473996-N0HLQK151UDL5VGCDRLB/43.+spite+fence.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The “Spite Fence” Rooftop owners in the neighborhood started constructing proper bleachers to sell tickets and capitalize on the success of the Athletics in the late 1920s and early 1930s. To prevent the neighborhood from profiting off of their product, John Shibe and the Athletics built the "Spite Fence" along the right field wall in 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094499561-TT797U48C1Q4RTITE0JL/44.+1934-03-14+at+spring+training+in+Fort+Myers%2C+Florida.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Triple Crown Foxx After making only $16,000 for winning the Triple Crown in 1933, Jimmie Foxx wanted $25,000 for 1934. Connie Mack's initial counter offer to that suggestion was $11,000. Mack then offered a compromise of $15,000 (plus attendance bonuses) for the '34 season. Foxx refused and held out. On March 9, 1934, Foxx signed for $20,000 - a $4,000 raise from the year before. Here, they sit next to each other during 1934 Spring Training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094528344-XVI46W48FU2U1BBMFDO3/45.+lights.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Night Baseball Despite objections from neighbors, the A's installed 8 light towers in 1939. The "spite fence" ended the goodwill the Athletics had with their neighbors. The light towers and penny-pinching ways essentially spelled the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094551784-4O11C61CIAH5YNAHL0NK/46.+Lena+Blackburne.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Lena Blackburne Connie Mack's long time coach was the founder and purveyor of "Lena Blackburne Original Baseball Rubbing Mud." The mud has been used for generations to remove the glossy sheen from brand new baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094578083-I8PBLCYCFAK8JNK227EG/47.+Matt+Kilroy.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Matt Kilroy Matt Kilroy, a native Philadelphian, was Connie Mack's unofficial pitching coach during the A's early years. His specialty was teaching how to hold runners at first base. In 1901, at Mack's behest, he took Eddie Plank under his wing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094649159-3MNNR53FK6SI5MO1GL85/48.+shibe.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff On August 20, 1971, two boys set fire to Shibe Park. The resulting 5-alarm fire gutted the entire upper deck. This was the gruesome result. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094624453-VGJB0Y4L8SRI1QRWN8OI/49.+shibe+detail.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park in 1973 Even after it had been gutted by fire and abandoned, Shibe Park still maintained its grandeur. There will never be another ballpark like it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094678844-DV4KMIIODBOEO3KI622C/50.+1925+-+Connie+Mack+at+Comiskey+Park.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack Despite his flaws, Alex still thinks Connie Mack is “The Father of Modern Baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094735537-S7Q0H23LYW4PYDMTIALH/51.+1939-09-10+battle+of+the+dynasties+old+timers+day.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff The 1910-1914 Athletics & 1929-1931 Athletics pose with their manager, Connie Mack, in front of 23,235 fans on September 10, 1939 at Shibe Park. Dynasty #1 defeated Dynasty #2, 6-4 in 2.5 innings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094706956-D7YEVZEXUHHPX5S33XDY/52.+scoreboard.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Scoreboard A view inside the manually-operated scoreboard at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094758481-OVHDBBXOF7TA6HS78JTA/53.+white+elephant.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Alex’s Website WhiteElephantBaseball.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094786879-QZ5U3LRFZOEAIONF9IMM/54.+Giants.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Philadelphia Giants The Philadelphia Giants were an Independent team who won 5 titles in 6 years from 1904-09. The great Rube Foster (back row, 2nd from L) won 20 games for the 1904 team, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094822305-AQXISMPQ4HC1AVWRQ6MV/55.+Allen.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Dick Allen The great Dick Allen (15) waits on-deck during a game at Connie Mack Stadium on June 26, 1966. Connie Mack Stadium had previously been known as Shibe Park, but was renamed in Febraury of 1953. Notice the “Spite Fence” in right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094850545-9AMIJT58RHW1MH83PULX/56.+babe+ascension.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Babe In Philly Babe Ruth LOVED playing in Philadelphia. In fact, he loved it so much that one time he played an exhibition game after the Yankees had played the Athletics earlier in the day, because the game was going to raise money for a church to build a baseball field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094877427-54A7WZQ6U75XGIKTOA9S/57.+Lou+Gehrig%2C+Jimmie+Foxx%2C+Babe+Ruth+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Babe at Shibe When I said Babe Ruth loved playing in Philadelphia, I wasn’t joking. Alex compiled Babe’s career stats at Shibe Park. Check this out: 171 career games / .357 / .472 / .753 / 1.225 OPS / 68 HR / 175 RBI / 164 R / 220 H / 132 BB / 464 TB https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094904874-3SDHQA9N0VGWXDGZ1NRN/58.+alex.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Follow Alex Online Website Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094933595-V7TSUVFNQNITIHLQCTGK/59.+1931-03+Jimmie+Foxx+at+spring+training+in+Fort+Myers%2C+Florida.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Double X Jimmie Foxx is one of Alex’s favorite players of all time. Here he is at spring training in Fort Myers, Florida during March of 1931. The 23-year old had a solid season that year (.291/.380/.567, 30 HR, 120 RBI) helping the Philadelphia Athletics to their third consecutive American League pennant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094960838-70NCQ6U9WPURZ42CDKR6/60.+1933-04-01+Mickey+Cochrane+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Mickey Cochrane In one of the most famous baseball photos of all time, Phillies 3B Pinky Whitney is tagged by Athletics C Mickey Cochrane while trying to score in the top of the 4th inning during the annual "City Series" exhibition on April 1, 1933 at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094987973-I0A7AXTC0DLNLRLTJYP9/61.+alexander.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Grover Cleveland Alexander Sgt. Grover Cleveland Alexander of the 342nd Field Artillery, 89th Division, departs New York on June 28, 1918. He spent seven weeks in the trenches, and was never the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095013541-006PJ1RGR9SBYO3V1JP8/62.+jimmie+and+ted.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Jimmie and Ted When the Red Sox acquired Jimmie Foxx on December 10, 1935, he was 2nd on the all time home run list with 302. He would hit another 222 in his 7 seasons in Boston, teaming with Ted Williams from 1939-1942. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095078517-NO7H9LXZDYTD6X88B7KP/65.5+mom.JPEG Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - My Mom and I Here we are, masked up, standing at the site where Shibe Park once stood. Photo by the incredibly talented Ryan Lawrence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095112396-MBPNZUJA3J0J4V3ACBO2/64.+Shibe+sign.JPEG Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The Sign at Shibe Park Some baseball once happened there, apparently. At least, according to the sign. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095143300-UHIE9P9WUZ1SMEPW9OD1/66.+Shibe+row+homes.JPEG Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park’s Row Homes Today While the ballpark is no longer there, the homes that once saw hundreds and thousands of fans sitting atop them remain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095170838-1KHF9472TG66F5BCT9X8/65.+Cobb+Conlon.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Conlon’s Cobb Ty Cobb’s fierce slide at the end of a steal of third base in 1910 is considered Charles M. Conlon’s most famous image. It was a different slide than the Frank Baker incident Alex and I discussed during this interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095220213-JTHVWITW1PQBH6CG9PZK/07.+Cobb+slides.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Kuenzel’s Cobb Here, again, is William Kuenzel’s photo of Cobb sliding into third base. This photo exonerated Cobb, who was clearly avoiding Frank Baker when you see the action from this angle. The Tigers and Athletics were fierce rivals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095250876-CC2AVOQW6DFELM25BGB7/67.+Mack.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Mack, The Player Connie Mack’s 65 years in baseball began as a catcher with the Washington Nationals in 1886. Throughout his playing career, he survived more on guile than raw ability. He led the league in 1890 by being hit by 20 pitches while batting. Mack was one of the first catchers to play directly behind home plate instead of setting up by the backstop. He was also famous for his abilities to fake the sound of a foul tip with his mouth and “tip” opposing players’ bats during their swings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095044505-HTWPO22HDPB72DVD90AJ/63.+dirt.JPEG Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Preserving History A very fancy way of saying “collecting dirt” from where the outfield would have been at the site of Shibe Park. As an Athletic in 1909, and as a visitor until 1920, Joe Jackson surely stood in this exact spot at some point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095287193-HPE40VFPFHJ53S9Y8UUX/68.+row+homes+near+Columbia+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Columbia Park’s Row Homes Today Imagine all of the great players and great games at Columbia Park that were viewed from these very rooftops… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095372869-H3LE4VB10MSV4YCAHO7P/70.+foxx.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Manager Foxx By all accounts, Jimmie Foxx’s time as manager of the 1952 Ft. Wayne Daisies of the AAGPBL was an enjoyable one. With daughter Nanci helping out as a batgirl, the team went 67-42 and made the playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095421429-UGVNALDX9OWKUPOZ7OA4/71.+windows.JPEG Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - A Window To The Past In 1991 Deliverance Evangelistic Church built a church on the site where Shibe Park once stood. The arches in the windows were meant to pay homage to the great stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095606022-JZO9DROVHYMQ9USZ3186/69.+1910+World+Series+-+fans+watching+from+across+the+street.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1910 World Series Thousands of fans who couldn’t fit inside Shibe Park were still able to watch the games by sitting on top of the roofs across the street. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095635921-PZK749XFHQB4GPBP80DB/72.+relocation.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff From 1903 to 1953, the league featured all the same clubs without change. In the early 50s, however, three different two-team cities lost the weaker of their clubs, as the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Athletics, and St. Louis Browns moved to towns without franchises. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095559042-F5HNIWTMUARV8506SRQI/73.+Joe%27s.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop Founded in 1949 in Northeast Philadelphia, it was only fitting that we got cheesesteaks from a place named Joe’s while we were in town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095822643-T08B675WE32HNEWT53UU/74.+Elysian+Fields.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club chose Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ as their practice site, and began intrasquad play October 6 1845, playing 15 such practice matches before the end of the year. On June 19, 1846, they played their first game against another club, hosting the New York Baseball Club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095789128-YJ3HFH6K9K0ILQ4Z4G2Y/75.+Buckminster.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Hotel Buckminster On September 19, 1919, bookmaker and gambler Joseph "Sport" Sullivan went to the Hotel Buckminster room of Arnold "Chick" Gandil, first baseman for the Chicago White Sox. It was there where they conspired to fix the 1919 World Series, which was to take place thirteen days later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095866700-Q4SDBF554VOIH8BMDTK1/76.+Room+615.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Room 615 Little is known about the meeting or the exact room where it took place. The speculation over the years is that the meeting took place in Room 615, where Sullivan would have been able to sit and look out the window, over what is now the Massachusetts Turnpike, and watch his accessories play at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095905945-WXSJRBTQT08I6DTQQJLZ/77.+kuklick.png Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - To Every Thing A Season "[Kuklick] shows what a ballpark can mean to a neighborhood: 'Shibe Park was a place where uncommon deeds gave people a sense of commonality. In this, its special beauty, the game at Shibe Park rose above the flaws of its businessmen, its players, and its fans.'" ― Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095933768-8YCVHZ23GLSX1S58WMHL/78.+Duncan+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Duncan Park Duncan Park is the oldest ballpark in South Carolina, and one of the oldest wooden grandstand baseball stadiums in the nation. It also happened to receive 582 original wooden seats from Shibe Park. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/03 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085074422-9LB6BNXT2Y4QVNVXX9GW/youtube.png Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085168359-B2YKD4IBL5T3TYORI7G7/cover.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne Shawn Herne, Babe Ruth, and I after recording our interview at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085380895-2QNR7NCDI90RFTI6N8RG/01.+babe+ruth+birthplace.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum 216 Emory Street Baltimore, Maryland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085402279-ODTIHLVCRD7TEBEMEKLH/02.+mike+gibbons.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Executive Directors Mike Gibbons (left) and Shawn Herne shake hands as Mike passes the baton after 35 years on to his successor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085423100-WKXMYQAGZEBNNI58HDD1/03.+b%26o+railroad+museum.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - B&O Railroad Museum Originally named the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum when it opened on July 4, 1953, it has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world, and has the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the U.S. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085451234-2K49XTQE9HAOARDJ7GM9/04.+camden+yards.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Oriole Park at Camden Yards The famous warehouse beyond the right field fence has become nearly as iconic as the stadium itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085509275-8MWR5TFM6C20K3QGR8H7/05.+bj+surhoff.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - B.J. Surhoff Surhoff played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, and was a member of the Orioles from 1996-2000, where he earned his only All-Star selection in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085561302-M5AR9NMMRFR8XO1SGFZA/06.+the+room+he+was+born+in.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne Babe Ruth was born in this room in his maternal grandparents’ home in Baltimore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085531779-UCGZ9E09SPA795DKBRK6/07.+babe%27s+birth+certificate.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Birth Certificate Babe was born February 6, 1895. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085584904-COMCL47YAXZ95CFOKCW6/08.+babe+and+his+dad+at+their+bar.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - George Senior’s Saloon Located at 38 South Eutaw Street in Baltimore, this was actually where George Senior died while attempting to break up a bar brawl. This photo shows a happier time, with the Babe behind the bar in the center of the frame, and his father in the foreground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085637052-UNGRH8ZKXN5RAOHGJ085/09.+st+mary%27s.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys Babe was sent here when his parents couldn’t handle the responsibility of raising children while working. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085609921-CXDBHG3APRDVFCSGPP6C/10.+brother+matthias.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Brother Matthias Brother Matthias was born Martin Leo Boutilier in 1872. He moved to the United States, became an Xaverian priest, and adopted the name Matthias. At 6’ 6” and 250 pounds, he cut an imposing figure as Prefect of Discipline and Assistant Athletic Director. Throughout his life, Babe Ruth spoke of Brother Mathias in terms of veneration and gratitude. He taught Ruth more important lessons than just baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085663746-MNLO4PXSSQHYKP3B6ROB/11.+brother+gilbert.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Brother Gilbert Philip F. Cairnes became known as Brother Gilbert when he became an Xaverian brother. He is generally credited with steering the Babe to his first professional contract. The book shown contains the heretofore unpublished memoirs of Brother Gilbert, and has a number of previously unpublished photos from the Xaverian Order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085690773-R773ZJTET8LRVR0TCWCS/12.+st+marys+baseball.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - St. Mary’s Industrial School Baseball Team Photo 1914 Babe is in the center in the top row. Image courtesy of Huggins and Scott Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085710361-MHBUD4BLLUZBRATHEZMY/13.+jack+dunn.png Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Jack Dunn During his seven-year career as a big league journeyman, Jack Dunn gained a reputation for his versatility in being able to play several different positions in the field, but just as notable was his astute understanding of the game and his knack for developing young players. SABR Bio by Jimmy Keenan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085737881-2OSBQ2XDJ1AU01OJ35VT/14.+babe+statue.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Statue Standing tall at the entrance of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085760576-IF7B4DBZ3LRTGFSA9UHI/15.+March+7%2C+1914.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - March 7, 1914 Babe Ruth begins his career with the Baltimore Orioles by hitting a home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085785330-1WO7R2UD15F2IOK33MZ5/16.+providence.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe in Providence “Babe Ruth appears to have gotten in on the ground floor with the fans as a result of his baffling southpaw brand of pitching and his ability to give the horse-hide vigorous punishment with the wagon tongue,” wrote the Providence Journal. Behind Ruth’s efforts, the Providence Grays would go on to beat out Rochester for the 1914 International League title after which Ruth would return to Boston to begin his storied Major League career in earnest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085804746-NS1BB1TTUCW8IZVFC28X/17.+boston.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Boston Red Sox Babe was a centerpiece on two World Series-winning Boston teams in 1916 and 1918. He threw the longest complete game, 14 innings, in the 1916 series against the former-Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers). While pitching for the Red Sox, Babe had a 2.19 ERA, 125 ERA+, 2.76 FIP, and won 89 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085830806-F50P41K9B79BPKFISXD9/18.+helen.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Helen Woodford Babe Ruth wed quiet Boston waitress Helen Woodford in a small ceremony at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Ellicott City on October 17, 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085852942-VUI2E9MX11XUA81Q51WG/19.+Babe%27s+parents.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Parents Katherine Schamberger and George Herman Ruth Sr., were both of German ancestry. According to the 1880 census, both of Babe’s parents were born in Maryland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085880021-QF78LXF7D9TJ763V58P8/20.+babe+ruths+boys+band.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Boys Band Ruth helped the school raise money after a fire through a tour by the St. Mary’s Industrial School Band. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085903461-22ACMKBIYVIGKJAIY0R6/21.+hospital.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Johnny Dale Sylvester Little Johnny Sylvester, hospitalized after being kicked by a horse, got an autographed ball from the Babe in the middle of the 1926 World Series. The ball’s message, “I’ll knock a homer for you in Wednesday’s game,” became legendary when Ruth kept his word — and hit three home runs that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085928086-9FE94KNCKVFIL5IA71OX/22.+christy+walsh.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Christy Walsh Walter “Christy” Walsh is considered to be the first baseball sports agent, having served that role for many of the game’s great players included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, John McGraw, Walter Johnson, and Lou Gehrig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085968450-OP325CQG6Y2VKRGFUL8B/23a.+underwear.gif Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth Underwear Ruth would endorse just about anything. Babe Ruth Underwear was endorsed by the Yankees slugger in 1926 to start production in 1927. Some of the larger boxes also came with a premium 14" baseball bat with the imprint BABE RUTH ATHLETIC UNDERWEAR. The white undergarment came in different styles. Some came as a two piece, and a button down sleeveless body suit with short leggings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085991315-ODC4HMD9BY32ATO8JVLP/24.+Claire.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Claire Ruth Claire Merritt Hodgson Ruth was born Clara Mae Merritt on September 11, 1897 in Athens, Georgia. Claire's first husband, Frank Hodgson, died February 16, 1921, leaving her with a daughter, Julia. Claire and Babe met in 1923, and were married from 1929 until Babe’s death in 1948. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086014052-K3T0E0D3XPNT8E1AC5QK/25.+babe+and+kids.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe With Kids Babe loved spending time with kids, whether it was signing baseballs for them, playing with them, or just visiting them in the hospital to brighten their spirits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086037064-BKLUR0T1D3TYHEKQU4C0/26.+ascension.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - September 4, 1923 The pastor at Today Ascension of Our Lord in Philadelphia was concerned that neighborhood children didn’t have enough wholesome pastimes, so he had a baseball field built. Despite Ascension’s crowded school and packed Sunday Masses, he couldn’t find the money to repay the construction loan, so he asked Babe to play in a charity baseball game to raise money after the Yankees/Athletics game that day. Babe agreed, and 10,000 people paid to watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086287449-1XDEPATG1P426UYU6RZZ/27.+genuine+smile.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Genuine Smile Beside the fact that he was the most transcendent athlete in the history of American sports, Babe was known for being great with his younger fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086322908-ZK0QYY0NP2JMU48MBFX0/28.+pr+smile.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - PR Smile Babe’s PR smile is noticeably different than his genuine smile, which he always had on around children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086345599-AJ75KNEDOHM671APWFMW/29.+bellyache.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Bellyache Heard ‘Round The World When Babe arrived in St. Petersburg for spring training in 1925 he was not only overweight, but ill. This wasn’t that unusual — the spring “flu” was an annual thing for Babe. He wound up spending 7 weeks in the hospital. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086371084-JRQOJMKJDIVVM1BG5VQH/30.+dorothy.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Dorothy The mystery behind the 16-month-old Dorothy was never fully resolved. Was she Helen's biological daughter? Was she adopted? Was she Ruth's daughter by another woman? All of these possibilities have been forwarded by reporters and historians over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086392342-JWQ47P84KV9OKX9Q0B6N/31.+helen.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Helen’s Death On Jan. 11, 1929, Babe’s wife, Helen, was killed in a house fire in Watertown, Massachusetts. Helen lived in the house with a dentist, Edward H. Kinder. Helen and Babe were separated, but not divorced. Neighbors knew Helen as Mrs. Kinder, and had no idea she was Babe’s wife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086417069-1CW7Y55UW8ZH3Y6UK6EW/32.+dorothy.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Julia Julia Ruth Stevens was born in Athens, Ga., on July 7, 1916, to Claire Hodgson, a teenage beauty, and her husband, Frank, who was many years his wife’s senior. They separated when Julia was a baby, and Ms. Hodgson went with her to New York and found work as an illustrator’s model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086438339-XNKOPHSSV74MLBIRQLEF/33.+with+lou.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe and Lou The original odd couple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086461096-NS1CV7F1W5MR815LYSV9/34.+barnstorming.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Barnstorming After their iconic 1927 season, when Babe hit 60 home runs and Gehrig connected for 47, the two went on a nationwide barnstorming tour, captaining teams called the “Bustin’ Babes” and “Larrupin Lous.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086483139-EQ0GM93P1ATSBPNPS16U/35.+pitching.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe the Pitcher On June 23, 1917, Babe started a game against Washington. After umpire Brick Owens called the first four pitches balls, Ruth charged Owens and threw a punch that landed. Babe was ejected from the game, and Ernie Shore replaced him. After he took the mound, the previously walked batter was thrown out attempting to steal, then Shore retired the next 26 batters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086506921-NTTFMI0OKLA9YLJALVCY/36.+Joe+and+Babe+Ruth.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe and Shoeless Joe "I copied Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen. The greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter." - Babe Ruth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086557452-8JZ7GTAA0GO7FS2P92D0/37.+Joe%27s+career+stats+vs.+Babe+Ruth.png Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne Though incomplete, these are Shoeless Joe’s career stats batting against pitcher Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086531853-55EKJ9VHWVVYNPESNJMH/38.+bats.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Bats On display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, the lower bat was given to Babe by Shoeless Joe when the two exchanged bats in July of 1920 during a series between the White Sox and Yankees in New York. The top bat was used by Ruth from 1918-1921. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086577937-8U4DXJC15BSY7H6Z1Z5S/39.+yankee+stadium+dimensions.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Yankee Stadium A left-handed hitter’s dream with that short porch in right field, Yankee Stadium was not only The House That Ruth Built, it was just as much the house built for Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086649508-14DRD5M61P4G16WDQD49/99+shibe+park.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe at Shibe Park A 39-year old Babe Ruth swings for the fences during batting practice at his favorite road ballpark. Shibe Park, Philadelphia, 1934. In Babe’s 171 career games at Shibe Park: .357/.472/.753, 1.225 OPS, 68 HR, 175 RBI, 164 R, 220 H, 132 BB, 464 TB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086625314-CFA8LZB3XABKRXVPEWAR/40.+moe+berg.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Moe Berg Moe Berg was maybe not the best baseball player of all time, but certainly one of the most important. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086690887-K11UOI4VPSBYM8ASUMRV/41.+trains.png Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Passaic, New Jersey, 1933 A torrential rain had pummeled Passaic on May 3, 1933. The all-day rain had washed out a dirt embankment that supported the Erie Railroad tracks. Six orphans saved hundreds of lives after warning a commuter train. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086718935-S7DFK69L1CK4RBKCW8OM/42.+Bill+Jenkinson.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Bill Jenkinson Bill Jenkinson is one of the country's most trusted and respected baseball historians. He has documented every hit in Babe Ruth’s career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086741380-XQ5RHTC7DLR89NESMXO7/43.+black+fans.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Civil Rights Advocate As far back as 1918, Babe played games against famous all-black teams. When Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920 and took his fame to a new level, half the games in his postseason barnstorming tour were against black teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086768990-CSSCAD6H8KHUEYYAYJVZ/44.+landis.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis There is speculation that Landis actively worked to keep Babe from managing a team, fearful that Babe would have brought in black players to break the color barrier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086792708-EOXCGO25KNYNRW5CA0Z5/45.+big+fella.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Big Fella Jane Leavy’s book is the definitive text on Babe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087507948-7FCR47LCF265QR8RH2N6/46.+radio.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe on the Radio Babe appeared on countless radio programs once the medium became available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087534647-9QZJK7K7YQXFRMT6C20O/47.+boxing.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Boxing In 1925, Babe Ruth’s career was in turmoil. Sick, overweight, and at odds with his manager, the Babe turned to trainer Artie McGovern, who salvaged the baseball player’s life and career—through boxing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087560266-ZHGQW50DHNMZ4NHGGSAZ/48.+jersey.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Game Worn Jersey An SGC authenticated game worn Babe Ruth jersey from 1928-1930 set the record for the highest price ever paid publicly for a piece of memorabilia at $5.64 million in June of 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087596608-RQ7QLPGJXIESMZA7X2XC/49.+more+than+babe.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - More Than Just The Babe The archives in the museum house way, way more than just Babe Ruth artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087644902-CEGCFSRZ4YXISDO52MIZ/50.+kimono.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - 1934 Japan Tour This kimono was presented to Babe during the 1934 tour of Japan. According to his daughter, Julia, it was a favorite from Babe’s night time wardrobe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087689680-SXWKA04H8C5A54CYP8KO/51.+museum.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Check Out The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum Online Website YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Store Linktree https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087747657-TFUIGTKGUTRR47CSSR37/52.+bathroom.JPG Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - My Old Bathroom No facade, but it was still pretty cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087780684-NCLLU5AZ8OFMJMX73FOI/53.+bathroom.JPG Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe And Lou You thought my mom was joking, didn’t you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087876426-CYHTUZUGQGWIMVMVY8T3/54.+star+spangled+banner.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne The site of the original Star Spangled Banner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087817888-U83KCIXGHZ6QR9IWARVB/55.+german+house.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Birthplace Filled with period-appropriate furniture and decorations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087911156-MW1HZ4HXS66JU0D0VK58/56.+santa.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Santa Babe At the end of the Hotel Astor Christmas party on Dec. 10, 1947, Babe Ruth bestowed a wish upon everyone gathered there — and a few more people besides: “I want to take this opportunity to wish all the children, not only in America but all over the world, a very Merry Christmas.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087940809-6X84WCG949Y6ZHTPM4V1/57.+with+kids.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe with Kids Look at the pure joy on Babe’s face, and the intent listening happening by each and every one of the children in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087965771-4I4IHA3NUKXW1VXPM1JM/58.+joe.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Shoeless Joe If you’re going to pick a player to model your swing after, you could do a lot worse than Shoeless Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087998716-1T6LSR9PTR1R3LNV4I7B/59.+braves.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Boston Braves Babe Not quite the storybook ending you’d have hoped for with a career like Babe’s, unfortunately. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088142712-8G81NLGJ8I02NNCKGFGJ/97+hotz.JPG Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Hotz’s Cafe Yankee Stadium might be "The House That Ruth Built," but Hotz’s is the house the mighty Babe drank at when he was in Cleveland. A lot of the greatest old ballplayers did, going all the way back to the 1920s, from Ty Cobb to Lou Gehrig to Indians legend Rocky Colavito. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088292140-IREFLZTIV3DGRDTNC63Z/98+bowling.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Bowling Julia Ruth Stevens, Babe’s daughter, told of going bowling with her father when they lived in New York. "Daddy liked to bowl the smaller balls, not tenpins, and we had great fun together," she said. The sport of duckpins was invented in Baltimore by two Orioles, John McGraw and Wilbert Robertson, for off-season diversion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088174486-SCS4963TSL7JKSEF4EY1/60.+joe+and+mickey.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Joe D and Mickey You ever see a picture where you just know that both people absolutely hated that they were asked for it to be taken? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088434038-3O0SG3SI77WHTXBY61N0/61.+street+ball.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Take Me To The Babe These baseballs are painted on the sidewalk from the entrance to Camden Yards directly to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. There are 60 baseballs along the walk, one for every home run he hit in his record-breaking 1927 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088465099-J31K3HAGZPRIZF1WKNB8/62.+sportoscope.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Two Swings Issued by Spalding Sporting Goods in 1931, this flip book features Babe Ruth as a home run hitter on one side and Babe Ruth as a line drive hitter on the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088502992-Y9QUXSE3V6RI48XOI3RX/63.+babe+in+a+car.jpg Season 2 - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Behind The Wheel Some drives ended better than others, as it were. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/02 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615081177139-ESWYBC3OK8YLVXF3FPD1/youtube.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615081707428-LNA92F1XDP8LMDSJV2NL/cover+photo.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams Marjorie Adams and me, recording our interview. Photo courtesy of Sam Rubin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082594525-9JZF277O37KV0CF2SHX1/01.+gilbert+and+sullivan.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Gilbert & Sullivanl William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan made musical theatre a key part of popular culture in Britain and America. They created 14 works together, including The Sorcerer, which was their first full length project. Its premiere was held November 17, 1877 in London. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082615101-YQDW132EI75UZDI1APKM/02.+Agricultural+Reader.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Daniel Adams Doc’s father, Daniel Adams, was a noted physician, textbook author, and state legislator. Adams compiled or wrote several different textbooks over the course of his life, including The Medical and Agricultural Register, which was published in 1807. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082644867-4LGS4VK11B6YUMTLGAPM/03.+geography.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Geography; or, A Description of the World First published in 1814, it was a pretty thick geography book for someone who never traveled west of Buffalo, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083204083-FAEQVE6RRWUTCX29V7WU/04.+arithmetic.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Scholar's Arithmetic Originally published in 1801, the text was very popular during the first quarter of the 19th century. He published a revision of it, entitled Adams’ New Arithmetic, in 1827. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083224111-GOQHZA6TOB8V535S1IPZ/05.+Doc+Adams%2C+circa+1870.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Doc Adams Daniel Lucius "Doc" Adams is the hero of our story. This photo of him was taken around 1870. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083242707-SV9CEM4IWKQX9M9XEQQI/06.+April+13%2C+1980+NYT+article.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - New York Times In 1939 R. C. Adams wrote a memoir of his father. Unpublished in his day, it appeared in the April 13, 1980 New York Times, along with a letter to the editor by R. C. Adams’ great-grandson, Nathan Adams Downey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083263271-YR4GBNMG8PQRS3G0AWD7/07.+garden+of+eden.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Baseball In The Garden of Eden Major League Baseball Official Historian John Thorn’s 2011 book draws on original research to tell how the game evolved from other bat-and-ball games and gradually supplanted them, how the New York game came to dominate other variants, and how gambling and secret professionalism promoted and plagued the game. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083292794-CBA6GO4BRZWE80CHBIT8/08.+doubleday.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Abner Doubleday Abner Doubleday was a career United States Army officer and Union major general. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the Civil War. In 1908, fifteen years after his death, Doubleday was declared by the Mills Commission to have invented the game of baseball (a claim never made by Doubleday during his lifetime). This claim has been thoroughly debunked by baseball historians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083315746-QJSYF4EX2VXQDZ8Z7LRC/09.+Cornelia.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Cornelia Cook Doc and Cornelia Cook were married in 1861, and remained together until Doc’s death. The couple had five children; the first, a son named Charles, died less than a month after his birth in 1864. The others, two sons (Frank and Roger) and two daughters (Catharine and Mary), were born between 1866 and 1874. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083334233-Y3WPLR5E10E3XF7H0J6X/10.+1881+Yale+autobiography.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Yale Autobiography This collection of autobiographies, gathered and published 50 years after the Class of 1835 was admitted to the college, featured a write up by Doc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083355581-NTSPSBAK9OY18OYDP4A6/11.+1881+Yale+autobiography+1.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Autobiography Part one of Doc’s entry is shown here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083376214-X4BEHAWXKWHCLMOZOGWI/12.+1881+Yale+autobiography+2.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Autobiography (cont.) Part two of Doc’s entry is shown here. The quote Marjorie gives is from point 8. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083397023-RU2PJCJL5A7344YO6GTR/13.+bat+and+ball+letter.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Bat and Ball Letter On June 15, 1832, Doc received a letter from his 11-year old sister. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083437629-5U3MYDB35719NI4G66G9/14.+pittsfield.jpeg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Pittsfield “Baseball” Bylaw of 1791 In 2004, officials and historians from Pittsfield, Massachusetts uncovered a document which they believe is the earliest written reference to baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083472310-NUGJ38ZPZOUGCGRZZTF5/15.+Henry+Ward+Beecher.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Henry Ward Beecher Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery. He also liked to play the flute with Doc Adams, for which he is not quite as well known. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083493873-BUG45VT3G3CN4MVICMYB/16.+Walter+Avery.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Walter T. Avery Walter Avery was born in 1814 and graduated from Columbia in 1836. His first appearance with the Knickerbockers was on April 14, 1846, but his membership lasted only a few years. In 1850, he, along with a number of other Knickerbockers, headed west to seek their fortunes panning for gold. He passed away in 1904 at the age of 90, at which time he was the last living member of the original Knickerbocker ball club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083521112-3J3C55KOX1KDEWH6868H/17.+knickerbockers.jpeg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Knickerbocker Base Ball Club The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club formally organized on September 23, 1845. Doc Adams joined the club about a month later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083539980-WVA5SISAY4VCO6NKA5HE/18.+Madison+Square+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Madison Square Park The southwest corner of Madison Square Park (here, in 1860) is where America’s pastime got its mid-19th century start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083562454-7E6DGSMYUFEH7K7OVLNQ/19.+how+baseball+happened.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - How Baseball Happened One of the best baseball books of 2020 is this one by Tom Gilbert, which talks about how baseball really got its start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083584709-U15FB2W7QMB1AKDTSDD8/20.+The+other+doc+adams.JPG Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Other “Doc” Adams Hugh Milburn Stone was an actor best known for his role as "Doc" (Dr. Galen Adams) on the CBS Western series Gunsmoke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083607790-MW3AOPSHQNSG7GTNPWOT/21.+website.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Doc’s Website You can find tons of great information on the website dedicated to Doc: docadamsbaseball.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083627149-UYLPUFW1WGPMUMONAHAF/22.+elysian+fields.JPG Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Elysian Fields The Elysian Fields was parkland located on Hoboken's northern riverfront and stretched roughly from present day 9th to 12th Streets and from Washington Street to the Hudson River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083647999-1N3WITY88D2HQYQFBV93/23.+box+score.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - June 19, 1846 Doc played in the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club’s first “Official” game at Elysian Fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083669923-7UFTCD7D6G70QQ27Z0MK/24.+swamp+frogs.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Great Black Swamp Frogs The Vintage Base Ball Club from Sylvania, Ohio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083691325-7H8DQGEKH9GH4TKWQ84C/25.+Fred+Ivor-Campbell.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Fred Ivor-Campbell Fred served as the chair of SABR’s 19th Century Committee from 1991 through 1998. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083710133-Y5JX6XHB9BA2LUGXQ28T/26.+lemon+peel+baseball.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Lemon Peel Baseball Similar to the style of ball Doc Adams was making for his teams, these are referred to as lemon peel balls because their stitch pattern mimics the cuts used to peel a lemon. Learn how involved of a process it is to make one by watching THIS VIDEO. You can buy a replica lemon peel ball HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083732106-8OUVNCAECPEJZTEDWHTZ/27.+shortstops.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Shortstop What do each of these players have in common? They owe their careers to Doc Adams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083752395-C9UV4RD2JK3DHY3QAPBD/28.+1856+Gothams.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Gothams While many other teams existed, it seemed the Knickerbockers were most fond of the Gothams and the Eagles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083777048-OH7HKRZWU7HA9TGGT0AV/29.+laws+of+base+ball.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Laws of Base Ball Penned by Doc Adams in 1857, the Laws of Base Ball outlined the rules and guidelines by which players and clubs would follow when playing in “match games of base ball.” Many of its proposed elemental rules, from setting base paths at 90 feet, to settling on nine players per team, to fixing the duration of the game at nine innings, owe their genesis to the document that was drafted during a convention of New York area baseball clubs in 1857. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083802870-7TTUC1SHIOGK0F2R3ABV/30.+Grenelle%27s+laws.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Grenelle’s Laws William Henry Grenelle was elected to membership in the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club on June 14, 1850. By 1857, he was Club Director. It is thanks to his copies of Doc Adams’ original laws that we know what all of the original rules were, even though one of the original Adams pages is missing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083826051-W1I7W8KOHVKN60Z6Q65I/31.+all+star+match.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1858 All-Star Match On July 20, 1858, nearly 10,000 fans gathered to watch what was essentially the first All-Star Game in the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083849442-BBZMSX1M315RAV5J5Z1V/32.+1859+New+York+Knickerbockers+with+NY+Excelsiors+%28Doc+Adams+4th+from+left%29.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams 1859 New York Knickerbockers with NY Excelsiors panoramic photo (Doc Adams is 4th from left). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083869056-9KYWGBAVX3KELCPI492P/33.+1946+daguerreotype.jpeg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1846 Daguerreotype Quite a controversial photo, this daguerreotype has been dissected and debated for years. Most scholars and historians have concluded it is not of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, and that Doc Adams is not pictured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083891795-LFU8CS11JIHYDV103H1F/34.+1862+Knickerbocker+Base+Ball+Club%2C+taken+from+%27A+Founding+Father+of+Baseball%27+%28Doc+Adams+is+sitting+in+the+front+row%2C+second+in+from+the+left%29.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1862 Photo of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club Doc Adams is sitting in the front row, second in from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083919212-GDGMKE47OPKGJPRJDB4J/35.+The+Adams+house+in+Ridgefield%2C+CT.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Adams Home In Ridgefield, Connecticut https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083938766-LI1X09IYWLK4TEF4Y0HM/36.+Ridgefield+Savings+Bank.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Ridgefield Savings Bank Doc became President in 1871, and would serve in that role for 10 of the next 15 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083960310-D7WKHFJZMKHTSJVGEN49/37.+John+Thorn.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - John Thorn Since March 1, 2011, John Thorn has been the Official Historian for Major League Baseball. He has also attempted to shed light on the contributions of 19th century pioneers of the game, while debunking common misconceptions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083983721-WSLDFEJPRFD5PRGUG543/38.+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+New+York+Times.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Marjorie Adams Going to bat for her great-grandfather, Doc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084008195-GWIRO20TZ8730QVI0IC8/39.+laws.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Up For Auction The Laws of Base Ball went back up for auction in 2016, this time with the seller and bidders knowing exactly what they were. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084034022-63JP25R2RZ59WZXQAP9Q/40.+Roger+Ratzenberger.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Roger Ratzenberger Roger has his own amazing website, but he also runs the Doc Adams website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084061699-ZLSXBLHS42PUAHW1Y3NX/41.+KBBC+buttons.jpg Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Knickerbocker Base Ball Club buttons These buttons were most likely ceremonial for special occasions, similar to the stud buttons that would go into a collar of a band uniform or a military uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084089628-1RCWEHLBREQ3HIEXMOK5/42.+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+Matt+Allibone%2C+The+Evening+Sun.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Marjorie’s Mission To get Doc Adams represented in Cooperstown, in memory of her father and her grandfather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084115251-JPGMW9J6DAPJ12P5UX0M/43.+HOF.png Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Just Short Doc needed only two more votes in 2015 to have been elected to the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084143794-NVRBT49IVCCL4ZUE5FQA/44.+Marjorie.JPG Season 2 - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Help Marjorie, Help Doc Visit the website Sign the petition Get in touch and spread the word! https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-two/01 monthly 0.5 2021-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016558314-O5AZVSI7B8MWJAKUDI5C/youtube.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016673096-S4T2A89H4IZBKZ5BNKOL/cover+photo.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin Me and Mike Miller after recording our interview in the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017277915-K5AHF9LMJ5DLNDN7MYBC/01.+Camperdown+Mill.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Camperdown Mill Camperdown Mill opened on the east side of the Reedy River in 1876, and by 1880, it was the second-largest mill in South Carolina, employing 260 workers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017301345-72WZIJ3H8L3LURZPJTYN/02.+Dope+Wagon.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Dope Wagons Dope wagons were carts laden with snacks and soft drinks that circulated through North and South Carolina and other southern textile mills to provide workers with food and beverages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017323791-OAWKWTI085ISV7G3ZT94/03.+Textil+Heritage+Park.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Textile Heritage Park The Greenville Revitalization Corporation unveiled plans for the Textile Heritage Park, a 6-acre mixed-use park to be located on the old Monaghan Mill parking lot. It will feature a walking trail with 12 alcoves dedicated to the history of various Upstate mills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017342427-1ZKXSWTQ6B1BIXLGJ0BJ/04.+West+Village+Lofts+at+Brandon+Mill.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Renovated Mills in Greenville Many of the old mills in Greenville are being renovated, including Brandon Mill, seen here, which has been converted into luxury apartments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017365814-2IA5UOEIJT3Z472B9HLF/05.+Bobby+Richardson.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Bobby Richardson South Carolina native Bobby Richardson went on to have a great career with the Yankees. He was an 8-time All-Star, a 5-time Gold Glove Award winner, a 3-time World Series Champion, and in 1960 he became the only player in World Series history to be named World Series MVP despite being on the losing team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017385961-MS45EW0ONZGNZNG26V5V/06.+Bobby+Richardson.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - SJJM Grand Opening Bobby Richardson (right) and Bob Bolin tour the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum at the Grand Opening in 2008. Richardson was one of the keynote speakers at the event, and signed autographs for fans all day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017411429-6NI0DM17TS51XPLJWG6G/07.+1983+Carolina+High+Trojans.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - 1983 Carolina High Trojans Under the leadership of Coach Erwin, the Trojans went 25-1, with their only loss coming in the third game of the season. Lester is in the top row, all the way on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017430409-LHDO1ZTU69YAP8TTJO0E/08.+1983+State+Champs.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Class 3A State Champions A victory cigar never tasted so good. Here’s Coach Erwin and his 1983 team celebrating on the field after their State Championship, their 22nd consecutive win to finish the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017453870-XC208I15P4DKD15K2AWM/09.+Katie.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson sitting on the steps of her home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017481869-ATM1RGP7WLDLF4EMONGB/10.+Joe+with+his+dog.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe in His Lawn Chair Joe loved sitting in his front yard to relax, and would watch the neighborhood kids ride their bikes up and down the street, or play with his dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017504328-CZWRSJ5A62E151EXDE14/11.+With+Furman+Bisher.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Furman Bisher Joe sits with famed sports writer Furman Bisher in the summer of 1949. The notes from that visit enabled Bisher to write THIS ARTICLE, which appeared in the October, 1949 issue of Sport Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017528291-ZKHMF5M75RPPJGZUSQYN/12.+At+the+gas+station+with+his+1940+Packard.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - At The Gas Station Joe talking baseball with gas station attendant Joe Worthy while his car is being filled with gas at Garrett's Esso station on Anderson Road in Greenville. Joe was driving a 1940 Packard at the time, which was his favorite of all of his cars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017555598-T8M2YUQ9R2LXHT5A22SO/13.+At+the+grocery+store.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - At The Grocery Store Joe buying groceries at Christian's Grocery Store, located at 1900 Anderson Road, in Greenville. The clerk in this photo is Fred "Skinny" Powers, who was an excellent athlete in his own right (he lettered in basketball and baseball all four years he attended Wofford College). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017579267-S2Y33K0FCLOB72JIRTA2/14.+Joe+swinging.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Takes A Swing In the front yard of his home, during the summer of 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017601924-UGBQRSY3O8F7T7TGGDN9/15.+The+bend.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Betsy’s Bend Lester remembers Betsy leaning up against Joe’s desk in the corner of his home office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017621327-VMC9M3J9ZNCSP91BTAQL/16.+Community.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Community Member Joe passes the time with some of his buddies at Hunt's Shell Station in West Greenville. Left to right: L.W. "Scoop" Kelly, "Boogie" Greer, Joe, and Aleck "Mutt" Rollins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017646163-S9G7LQBIX46AHP40O53Y/17.+Former+Ballplayer.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Former Ballplayer This picture was taken on “Joe Jackson Night,” which was held August 2, 1948 by the people of Brandon Mill. They came together prior to a mill league game to honor Joe. The man holding the radio is Carter "Scoop" Latimer, the sportswriter who gave Joe the nickname "Shoeless.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017669873-SPKR7U0SL44JEQRACDHJ/18.+joe+liquor+store+in+1950.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe At His Liquor Store Joe and Katie ran a liquor store at 1262 Pendleton Street in Greenville for years. Joe would stand out on the sidewalk in front of the store and talk baseball with any kids who were too young to come inside. Apparently, this little one had a pretty convincing fake ID. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017692433-FL972AFSNR5V6Z3LZR2Z/19.+Joe+teaches+baseball.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Teaches The Kids How To Play Joe circa 1944 teaching kids in West Greenville how to play baseball. Joe could always be seen playing ball with the mill kids in West Greenville. Joe would usually pitch for both teams and would play until Katie came to get him for dinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017713653-IHVWE3O1UIY5XT8TDCXR/20.+Joe+with+kids.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Ice Cream For The Kids Joe giving ice cream to neighborhood kids at Bolts Drugs Store in West Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017738149-SV9SRI8E2FMQMMBJNSQS/21.+Katie.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Katie had an incredibly strong presence, which is how she was able to keep Joe in line all those years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017759283-F7HCJ0S7EZ04IQ53CZ7I/22.+Jerry%2C+Katie%2C+and+Joe.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Family Ties Left to right: Joe’s brother Jerry, Joe’s wife Katie and Joe, with their niece Patty, and nephew Tommy Ellis. This photo was taken in front of Joe's liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017780925-4TQ7G6GQ1L6Q2RKWK1ZH/23.+Katie.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Business Woman Katie Jackson behind the counter at Joe Jackson’s Liquor Store in Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017804757-2KXHRR243ZZCOLJNHOE2/24.+1932+Greenville+Spinners.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Betsy This photo shows Joe on the 1932 Greenville Spinners, holding Black Betsy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017868793-MYDN4ESLXL9Z2DOH26FM/25.+Field+of+Dreams.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Field of Dreams Don’t forget to check out the MBH episode with Craig Purcell, tour guide at the Field of Dreams Movie Site, and the episode with artist Andy Brown, both from Season One. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017832662-YAD03M4NO8A6SKST38D8/26.+Field+of+Dreams.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - If You Build It… Lester will come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017950073-GS3R2SECGCJXK6KFFWK2/27.+metal+going+through+it.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Metal Strip The Spalding Sporting Goods Company repaired Black Betsy when Joe broke it in 1911. This metal piece is thought to have been inserted by them, to either keep the bat straight, or protect it from any further damage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017979164-WDCDCGXLGGKSE6AP2F2F/28.+Joe%27s+other+bats.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Ty Cobb Ty marvels at the size of Joe’s hands in this photo, as Joe holds three of his thick-handled bats with ease. Thought Joe played with many bats throughout his career, Black Betsy was his favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018002615-NNP9GVIXQEQTH1ST6058/29.+2001-07-18+at+San+Diego+Hall+of+Champions.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Betsy & A Friend Black Betsy (right) and another of Shoeless Joe’s bats are pictured on display at the San Diego Hall of Champions, July 18, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018074083-EHLB2PN06SR97SQ2K2Q4/30.+game+used+bat.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Game Used Rookie Season Bat Hillerich & Bradsby Model J13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018099825-PRASA29JLYRXIYIY4863/31.+game+used+bat.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Another Game Used Bat A very select few game used bats have surfaced over the years, and not all of those have been verified as authentic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018122456-2VSZET3UYVI9MI0I5VMH/32.+game+used+bat.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - A Two-Toned Gamer This bat closely matches the style bat Joe is holding in the photo above with Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018147924-WOLH8KVRDTR849Y11P7G/33.+Black+Betsy.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Black Betsy Lester made the tough decision to put Betsy up for auction. It sold in 2001 via one of the biggest eBay auctions to have ever happened at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018168798-YC4MRUO0V20T7X38FA6M/34.+Joe+Anders.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Anders Joe Anders (far right) looks on as his idol, Joe Jackson, teaches the local Brandon Mill baseball players how to properly grip a bat. Anders became close personal friends with Jackson over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018189636-CLJXU3TM6NPZNZ1IG6XD/35.+Joe+Thompson.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Thompson Joe Thompson grew up in Greenville and knew Joe Jackson personally. He wrote THIS BOOK in 1997. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018211483-122STMXJR9HRTVNG0L7E/36.+Lester+in+New+York.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Lester in New York I told you if you build it, Lester will come! THIS is the game Lester saw. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018234466-QLPW7WBSXNISYGOGZ3IJ/37.+Linthead.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Linthead “Linthead” was a disparaging nickname for cotton mill workers, sometimes equated with the term “white trash.” It likely came into common usage early in the 20th century, when the growing number of cotton mills and mill workers began to alter the landscape of South Carolina life. “Linthead” had both a literal and a figurative meaning. A veritable snowstorm of cotton lint in the mills covered workers from head to toe. The term also differentiated mill workers from farmers and townspeople, the other major components of the white population. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018261040-X3KXZR9YF88SKZ11UNNJ/38.+ebay+card+front.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - The “Black Betsy” The baseball card created to promote the eBay auction featured a familiar photo of Joe holding Betsy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018333272-FLNAWITU7YHVUVIJGX5I/41.+Lester%27s+shrine.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Lester’s Office Lester has a window in his office. But instead of facing his desk so when he’s sitting there, he’d be looking out the window, he positioned himself so he could look up at any time and see this incredible shrine dedicated to Shoeless Joe Jackson. I think I’d have made the same decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018386873-52DDZ1GBDKU5QPN5L01Y/42.+christmas+card.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Christmas Card This is a Christmas card the Erwins wrote to Katie Jackson back in the 1950s, which she kept. It’s now back in Lester’s possession. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018417109-J2L1KLA3I097XI3YD0FA/43.+get+well+card.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Get Well Card Another card the Erwins wrote to Katie in the 1950s, this time when Katie was in the hospital. Lester found it inside the box that was pulled from the attic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018445027-KY66Z7540VDI0VCG4GW0/44.+Bill+of+sale+from+Joe+to+Lefty+inside.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Bill of Sale Joe sold his pool hall and cigar store in Chicago to his friend and former teammate, Lefty Williams, for $1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018474727-0SH47NQ29GFQD1ZZ7ZTD/45.+Joe%27s+bible.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Bible Another personal belonging of Joe’s which now belongs to Lester. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018499810-0NSUVCEXV1BMCDAK7BSO/46.+Joe%27s+rabbit+foot.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Rabbit Foot Joe had a number of superstitions, both in life and in his playing career. This is tangible proof of Joe’s superstitious nature. Ever wondered why a rabbit’s foot is considered lucky in the first place? Me too. Well, HERE is your answer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018531123-H8ZIBHJB8WDUXPXQWSUL/47.+telegram.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Telegram This telegram from Joe, dated December 2, 1915, was asking Katie to wire him $50 so he could get home during the off-season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018556673-CHO8VUA89JQBNM2G5FT2/48.+Katie%27s+passbook.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Passbooks for Katie Jackson These passbooks allowed free admission to each of the White Sox games for Katie Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018588647-1QG13QTDFSR4LYL803VR/49.+Joe+with+his+trophy.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe With His Trophy One of his most prized possessions, Joe won this trophy for throwing a ball 396 feet, 8 inches at a skills competition on September 27, 1917. It was part of a benefit game played in honor of Tim Murnane. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018619952-15I2VGTXFZ7G5M769PSE/50.+Cleveland+Hall+of+Fame+clock.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Gold Clock Joe was given this clock by the Cleveland Indians in 1951 when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018647011-TPUF2VZJEMUF6QNLPXZX/40.+society.gif Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Society Lester started the Shoeless Joe Jackson Society, which is devoted to the goal of seeing Joe claim his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018674248-78HMQ4D8MU55L4WSMN2C/39.+legislation.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - H. Res. 269 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Joseph Jefferson “Shoeless Joe” Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018707588-16A609KSAK6DA9F84L2X/51.+Joe+with+Gertrude.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe & Gertrude Joe with his little sister, Gertrude. This photo originally appeared in THIS ARTICLE in the March 1916 issue of Baseball Magazine. You may recognize the logo of Lester’s Society from the cover of this magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018733502-3J09OF16OGFORBEWPS8F/52.+Municipal+Stadium.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Municipal Stadium Lester started the Shoeless Joe Jackson Society in hopes of having the baseball stadium in Greenville named for Joe. Instead, the city decided to call it Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018757510-2URAD7CQK0LPV6YCJNJB/53.+Joe+at+Meadowbrook+Park.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Meadowbrook Park Built in 1938, Meadowbrook Park in Greenville was home at different points to the Greenville Spinners, Greenville Braves, Greenville Mets, Greenville Red Sox, and Greenville Rangers. It was renovated after a fire in 1948, and burned to the ground after another fire in 1972. This photo shows Joe in the stands in 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018782352-YCPBR9W6U7CWMABSKZU7/54.+nolan+ryan.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Nolan Ryan 19-year old Nolan Ryan struck out 19 batters on June 11, 1966 against the Spartanburg Phillies - setting a Western Carolinas League record. Ryan went 17-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 272 strikeouts in 183 innings for Greenville that year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018816271-Y8FYV87DH9IOPE9509KT/55.+ted+williams.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Ted Williams “When Babe Ruth wanted to model his swing after the perfect swing, it was Jackson he imitated - Jackson, with his big Black Betsy, wailing the tar out of the ball. Hitting for the third highest average in history. Hitting with power. Triples all over the place. The greatest natural hitter of all time is what some say. I think they may be right.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018844686-Z93PT3MGG8PB26NNVQEJ/56.+Katie.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Standing outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018872238-PXZXV1LP4N96PCLS5B8C/57.+gentleman.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - A Gentleman. A Gentle Man. This portrait of Joe was taken by the incredibly talented and prolific Louis Van Oeyen in 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018897710-IKW0NCCM8FLENPW11CRT/58.+SJJ+Memorial+Park.JPG Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park The field where Joe played as a member of the Brandon Mill baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018925855-DPLLFRJDFWLESSFY5URM/59.+Brandon+Mill+vintage+aerial.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Brandon Mill This old aerial photo of Brandon Mill and the surrounding mill community shows the original orientation of the ball field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018950328-QDTFWYCWRPMQVHH53A5N/60.+Textile+Hall.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Textile Hall From 1917 to 1962, the five-story building, which was approximately 101 by 235 feet, hosted the Southern Textile Exposition, a trade fair for textile machinery. The 4,000-seat venue was also used for other purposes, including the annual Southern Piedmont Textile Basketball Tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018977439-CRLQ4J4RWSQR7RW84Q5I/61.+grand+opening.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Grand Opening June 21, 2008 was the day the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library officially opened to the public. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019051602-5X57YSJJHKC5XOMD6WDK/62.+original+location.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Katie’s House This is what the Jacksons’ old home on Wilburn Street looked like in 2005, before it was moved across town to become the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019110582-PHEFZXKGX7CI5DYGLIW3/63.+joe+in+the+front+yard.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe in the Front Yard Lester fondly remembers spending time at this house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019135158-90PS550BCM0NP49Z5FP9/64.+lester.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Get In Touch With Lester Write A Letter: The Shoeless Joe Jackson Society 106 Century Oaks Drive Easley, SC 29642 Email Lester: erwinlester@hotmail.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019162551-ONY8U8BNVRHFHM4QRQ8B/65.+statue.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Statue The dedication ceremony took place July 13, 2002 in Greenville. The statue has since been moved from its original location, and it now sits right at the entrance of Fluor Field on the West End of Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019188323-L3IG2UHHBBL03A0SBSO3/66.+wedding+day.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Katie’s Wedding Day July 19, 1908. “The popular center fielder of the local team made the greatest home run of his career on Sunday. The home run was made on Cupid’s diamond and the victory was a fair young lady. On Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock Joe was married to Miss Kate Wynn.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019233936-7JIZ063BB52G1Y9Q4MVZ/68.+joe+anders.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Anders and Joe Jackson A couple local Greenville kids talking baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019260015-4CLDLH17C5YOW0MANESS/69.+joe+in+the+front+yard.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe In His Yard Sitting in his favorite lawn chair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019285803-42AUE1R6DVYZY0I1M4OE/70.+Joe+%28seventh+from+the+left%29+as+a+member+of+the+1903+Brandon+Mill+team.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Brandon Mill Team in 1903 Joe is standing seventh from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019316478-4O3Z1SACG31V2YXD6EQT/71.+The+1907+Victor+Mill+team.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Victor Mill Team in 1907 Joe is seated, in the middle row, second from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019346618-DM2C2EXGUQT0ZBE0KIYC/72.+Woodside+Mill.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Woodside Mill Team in 1937 Joe was the player/manager for the Woodside Mill team in 1937. Here he is with his younger brother, Jerry, who was the star of that team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019377753-JYOSHL4LWD8EBTZC6FGW/73.+Joe+and+Betsy.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Inspecting His Bat I wonder what he’s looking for… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019409699-ZLGOMERDZ0MMMMLZ7PTG/74.+Joe+and+Black+Betsy.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe And Betsy This newspaper clipping was found in the Jackson Family Scrapbooks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019437760-M50UKJBLYQSOS6TYDFEX/75.+ebay+card+reverse.jpg Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin - The “Black Betsy” The baseball card created to promote the eBay auction featured some detailed photos of Joe’s famous bat on the back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019501557-99H0XDHJ6048CZMO8ETU/77.+nola.png Season 2 - 0201 - Lester Erwin Many of the photos that appear on this page, and lots of the research for this interview and these liner notes wouldn’t have been possible without Mike Nola and his incredible website www.blackbetsy.com. If you’ve never been, click the link now. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three daily 0.75 2025-12-12 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/09 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f09287a-c184-4800-b827-a44eca9f68f5/youtube.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/245bf9be-dff1-4cb6-987d-f05c841211f4/square.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley Me and Stew Thornley after recording our interview at his home in Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a291da32-1d10-45f8-a96a-5f5914231991/GLfWzX5WgAE3yZ5.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - D&J Glove Repair This episode is brought to you by D&J Glove Repair. WEBSITE TWITTER PRICING https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52aa30dc-938a-4973-a8c6-47fb4e114bc5/GHb6dotWQAA5mo6.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out D&J Glove Repair is located at 3742 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c24dd7e6-51e8-4e46-8ce1-ab4e78dd4e9d/01+-+books.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Accomplished Author Stew Thornley is the leading historian of Minnesota sports, and has written more than 15 sports-related books for adults, over 30 more for young readers, and more than 100 articles and stories that have appeared in a variety of publications and periodicals. A list of his writings can be found HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/855d46b8-9de9-42c2-b371-1ba340a45e63/02+-+Polo+Grounds.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Decorated Historian Stew was the recipient of the National Baseball Research Award in 1988. In 1998, Stew received the USA Today Baseball Weekly Award for best research presentation at the SABR convention in San Francisco for his presentation on the Polo Grounds. He was the recipient of the 2010 Tony Salin Memorial Award for commitment to the preservation of baseball history, from The Baseball Reliquary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94de287b-e9a1-451b-a647-5454a2dfbae8/98+-+Stew+SABR+award.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 2016 Bob Davids Award Stew was the recipient of the 2016 Bob Davids Award from the Society for American Baseball Research, which is awarded to the member whose contributions to SABR and baseball reflect the ingenuity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the founder and past president of SABR, L. Robert “Bob” Davids. It is the highest honor SABR awards, and the list of previous winners is a veritable who’s who of baseball research and writing, including the official historian of Major League Baseball, John Thorn, who won the award in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/060382be-76f4-4d62-98ef-59d42a6f15ef/01+-+bat+boy.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnesota Gophers Bat Boy Stew was the bat boy for the Gophers in 1968 and 1969, as well as for their summer league team in 1967. Here, the 1968 Gophers celebrate after sweeping Michigan State for the Big Ten title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ce8903-74ae-4ce5-8de0-08824e6d027a/04+-+Warren+Brown.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Warren Brown Warren Brown was the bat boy for the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds from 1970-1972. Warren was our guest for Episode 9 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da256010-2dd6-4847-bf5a-c750882b5ab7/05+-+Cemetery+adventurer.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cemetery Adventurer Stew has been to the gravesites of more than 200 Baseball Hall of Famers, and 40 U. S. Presidents, including David Rice Atchison, who was president for a day when Zachary Taylor wouldn’t take office on a Sunday, on March 4, 1849. Read Stew’s list of Hall of Fame grave sites HERE. Read his essay about visiting those graves, which features links to photos of many of them, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e22f506c-036d-4155-98ab-5e729159c0fc/06+-+Jeremy+Feador.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jeremy Feador Jeremy Feador is the official team historian of the Cleveland Guardians, but he got his start researching cemeteries. Jeremy was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c0e0ca2-59a1-4790-91ad-207b48e7a943/07+-+mom+graceland.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - My Mom We speak with my mom after every interview of this podcast, and more often than not, cemeteries make their way into the conversation. Here, my mom and I stop for a photo in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24bf48b9-271c-4818-b80b-48cf4a214ca0/08+-+tokyo+dome.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Tokyo Dome Stew went to the 2-game series between the Mets and Cubs at the Tokyo Dome to open the 2000 MLB season. The first game on March 29 was the first time an MLB game was ever played outside North America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ffc9b5a-3567-454e-a3c6-2204ec39ab4d/10+-+Cuba.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cuba In February 2001, Stew and his wife, Brenda, attended five games in Cuba’s National Series, visited an elite sports school, and met with current and former Cuban players. They also visited the grave of Martín Dihigo, at the time the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who was buried in Cuba, as well the graves as José Méndez and Cristóbal Torriente, who have since been inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/462e0f06-7d01-4913-a71c-2c7aa5bce3ef/11+-+Brenda+pitch+clock.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Brenda Himrich Stew’s wife, Brenda, is very involved in baseball, as well. In March of 2017, while Stew was acting as the official scorer for the World Baseball Classic games in Guadalajara, Brenda did the press box announcing, relaying Stew’s scoring decisions in Spanish. Brenda also does the field timing coordination for some of the Twins games. So if you see that clock on the wall in the bullpen ticking down the time between innings, that’s Brenda doing that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6a9b819-f1fc-41f9-9e83-09d2ef9734ef/12+-+skydive.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Wild Child Stew has been skydiving, but he has also wrestled a bear! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75102f46-ccfe-4917-80a0-dece8d3d7ef8/13+-+bat+boy.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1968 Minnesota Gophers Stew was the bat boy for the 1968 Big Ten Champion Gophers baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b573b587-c459-4790-8f31-b2bdc0ce9f66/14+-+1979+SABR+directory.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Society for American Baseball Research Stew has been a SABR member since 1979. If you’re not already a member, consider joining. You can do that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72886143-05a6-487f-972d-188daac032aa/15+-+stew%27s+first+game.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - July 19, 1962 The first MLB game Stew attended was this 8-0 victory by the Twins over the Indians at Metropolitan Stadium on July 19, 1962. You can read his article for the SABR Games Project on that game HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cec2dc9-e5c2-4fa4-be80-ed6cc20e98f5/16+-+flintstones.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Flintstones Stew became a Yankees fan initially to annoy his dad, who wouldn’t let Stew watch an episode of The Flintstones instead of a baseball game one night as a kid. It turned out okay for Stew, who got to watch his adopted favorite team win a little more often than the Twins have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acd59910-265c-42c1-93ab-b25c9564a5d3/17+-+mickey.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mickey Mantle Stew may have been a contrarian, but he wasn’t silly. His favorite player growing up, like so many other kids of his age, was Mickey Mantle. Mickey hit his 534th career home run against the Twins in Minnesota. He would only hit two more home runs in his career. His 536 home runs was good enough for third on MLB’s all-time list at the time of his retirement. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93df4e32-8a9e-44a3-89f7-18bae61e4fdb/18+-+Earl+Battey.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Earl Battey Earl Battey was one of the top defensive catchers in the American League in the early 1960s. His Twins teams were in contention for the pennant in 1962 and 1967, and won the pennant in 1965, losing the World Series to Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. Battey was also a part-time player for the pennant-winning 1959 White Sox. Early Battey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/826f7f48-2651-4251-b5d1-43bd435245c3/19+-+Harmon+Killebrew.jpeg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Harmon Killebrew Harmon Killebrew was the favorite player of MANY Twins fans, including Stew’s brother. Killebrew had the fifth-most home runs in major league history at the time of his retirement. He was second only to Babe Ruth in American League history, and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Harmon Killebrew’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06afbd3f-b640-4f49-b6e8-893b15134e72/20+-+vic+power.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Vic Power Victor Felipe Pellot Pové played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Athletics, Indians, Twins, Angels, and Phillies from 1954 through 1965. Pellot was the second Puerto Rican of African descent to play in MLB and the second Puerto Rican to play in the American League, following Hiram Bithorn. Pellot used the name Vic Power during his major league career, but played as Victor Pellot when he played winter ball in Puerto Rico. He was an AL All-Star for four seasons, won seven consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and was Stew’s mom’s favorite player. Vic Power’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a811652d-3780-4892-aa97-95093db83452/21+-+jim+kaat.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jim Kaat Jim Kaat was an All-Star for three seasons and a Gold Glove winner for 16 seasons. He was the American League leader in shutouts (5) in 1962, and the AL leader in wins (25) and complete games (19) in 1966. In addition to his 283 career wins, he had three 20-win seasons. Kaat won 190 games with the Senators/Twins, second most in club history and has the most wins of any pitcher since the team moved to Minnesota. He also has the most Gold Glove Awards of any Twins player, with 12. Jim Kaat’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a38a01f9-5839-449f-81cb-bd638218dc78/22+-+announcing.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Public Address Announcing Stew worked in radio after graduating from Marshall University High School. He started doing public address announcing around that same time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/384fedb8-067d-4964-a5a4-9b5716e4cb8a/23+-+lou+brock.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1975 St. Louis Cardinals Stew’s first job in radio was in a town not too far from St. Louis, which meant he got to follow the 1975 Cardinals. He remembers watching Lou Brock, Willie Davis, and Reggie Smith. Stew was also lucky enough to see Bob Gibson’s final career start. Lou Brock’s SABR Biography Reggie Smith’s SABR Biography Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff02f4a5-9ba9-4965-b4f3-45bd451573df/24+-+1980+sabr+research+journal.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Stew’s First SABR Article Stew wrote an article on the 1884 St. Paul Saints of the Union Association, which was the first major league team in the state of Minnesota. The article was published in the 1980 SABR Baseball Research Journal. Read Stew’s article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5eaf2f93-4dbd-420a-8fbc-26764ae504b2/25+-+ted+williams.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ted Williams Ted Williams was chagrined when he was assigned to Daytona Beach, the spring training home of the Minneapolis Millers, Boston’s top minor-league affiliate. He’d come across as brash and cocky to manager Joe Cronin and been given some riding by his fellow outfielders, and he did admit to telling clubhouse man Johnny Orlando, “Tell them, I’ll be back, and tell them I’m going to wind up making more money in this frigging game than all three of them put together.” Ted Williams’ Year in Minneapolis by Bill Nowlin Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe08e25b-c61f-4b6c-8f31-7e1b5332d6c9/26+-+Willie+Mays.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Willie Mays Halsey Hall provided the first reports on Mays in the Minneapolis Tribune: “You watch him run and throw and hit and you are on his side in a minute, although nobody has thrown many curve balls at him yet and he’s still a green pea in the organized realm. … Willie is lithe, beautifully muscled, just under six feet, weighs 170 pounds and doesn’t vary five pounds in his weight off and in season. Righthanded all the way, he has great power to right center and here the dear old memory of Nicollet’s fences in that direction come back.” Willie Mays Had a Spectacular—But Short—Stay in Minneapolis by Stew Thornley Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68fbe6aa-685e-4d2a-b7d5-7d0c207caaa5/27+-+Carl+Yastrzemski.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Carl Yastrzemski Carl Yastrzemski was a gifted athlete, as adept at basketball as he was at baseball. He graduated from Bridgehampton (New York) High School in 1957. While there, he broke a basketball scoring mark previously held by Hall of Fame football player Jim Brown. It was his basketball prowess that earned him a scholarship to Notre Dame. Carl Yastrzemski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d11b51d2-32ab-4481-9732-739b670b5c6e/28+-+Joe+Hauser.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe Hauser “In all my days in the majors I have never discovered a ball player who could be compared with George Sisler, but this chap Hauser is an exact duplicate for Sisler the way he handles his bat. His mannerisms are very similar.” - Branch Rickey, President, St. Louis Cardinals Joe Hauser’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57db5304-7bfd-4b84-b198-3d8b80a058e3/29+-+Nicollet+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Nicollet Park One of Stew’s first books, On to Nicollet: The Glory and Fame of the Minneapolis Millers, was published by Nodin Press out of Minneapolis in 1988 and 2000. Stew’s love of old stadiums, and hearing stories from his father about Nicollet Park, helped him fall in love with the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3aefdf69-d229-455f-a802-920e2c053069/30+-+keeping+score.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scorer Stew has been an official scorer for Major League Baseball since 2007. As an official scorer in baseball, you are recording what happens, but you are also a judge. The official scorer files a report after each game for documentation purposes. A Glimpse Into The Life Of An Official Scorer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b303247-e0a5-4130-b4db-f766cae23e10/31+-+Keeping+score.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Keeping Score Stew’s mom always filled out the scorecard when they would go to games, and his dad would help explain what everything meant. The Twins’ programs also taught you how to keep score. With those examples, Stew began keeping score. Soon, he started developing his own style and shorthand. Little did he know, it would turn into a career. Official Scorers Consider Bad Hops, Bad Throws — And Exit Velocity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25c7dbac-28f8-404b-8e97-af3528b3f47e/32+-+wild+child.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Wild Child, Pt. 2 (allegedly) This photo may or may not depict one Stew Thornley. I cannot confirm or deny his appearance in this photo, and certainly couldn’t say with any certainty that he is climbing the foul pole during this White Sox-Twins game. But… if that is Stew Thornley climbing the foul pole during this White Sox-Twins game, this would have happened during the years when Stew was “focusing on drinking more than keeping score.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad9ca7b-139c-444c-8d5d-c12d96c2c074/33+-+data+casting.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Data Casting Stew started data casting for Total Sports in 1998, before MLB.com even existed. When you’re following along with a game online, the data caster is the person entering the information such as “pitch in the dirt.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c34bdb0-c664-4dfa-b591-6cb1b93dc561/34+-+keeping+score.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Locked In When you’re watching a game in the stands, there may be lots of things or people to distract you. But watching a game in the press box, or keeping score from anywhere in the park, can help keep you focused on the action in a way that simply watching the action might not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/865d684f-444c-43a0-bb42-13fbe281347c/35+-+Mark+Gola.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mark Gola Mark was the official scorer for the Phillies when the Astros threw a combined no-hitter during Game 4 of the 2022 World Series. Mark Gola ’94 Relies On His Judgment To Create The Official Records Of Games https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e112708a-67fb-4015-8eec-8859c8362a85/36+-+head+scratcher.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Messy” Plays Stew isn’t often left scratching his head, even on long rundowns where many players are out of their natural positions, covering bags or taking throws in places where they wouldn’t normally be standing. Stew says plays like those are his opportunity to show everyone why he’s in the official scorer’s seat, and they’re not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45bf81e5-7b75-4ae7-aa09-ea09444afccc/37+-+michael+cuddyer.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Michael Cuddyer In the bottom of the 6th inning of the Twins-Blue Jays game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Dome on May 14, 2008, Michael Cuddyer hit a ground ball to Scott Rolen at third base. Rolen couldn’t make the play, and Cuddyer reached first safely. Stew was the official scorer on that play, and ruled it an error on Rolen, who was one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. Rolen won eight Gold Glove Awards over the course of his Hall-of-Fame career, the fourth-most among third basemen. Michael Cuddyer SABR Biography Scott Rolen SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98f2e492-03c7-4fea-a26a-61f7e1f6fc08/38+-+Stew+Thornley.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scorers The most common judgment call an official scorer makes is whether a batter reached base on a hit or an error. Other rulings made by the official scorer include whether a pitch that goes past the catcher is a wild pitch or a passed ball, and which reliever is credited with a win when the starting pitcher does not go five innings but leaves with a lead that his team doesn't relinquish. The official scorer is permitted to change a judgment call for up to 24 hours after a game concludes or is suspended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54bd75c9-8ff9-48d4-9d38-b352be159902/39+-+data+casting.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sabermetrics Advanced statistics such as catch probability may be useful to scouts and other people in determining how good a player is, Stew says official scorers aren’t necessarily using those numbers in real-time to make their judgements on calls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82586840-b577-4b8f-ba40-492231a7945d/40+-+Jeter.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Derek Jeter Derek Jeter may have taken home five Gold Glove awards throughout his 20 year career, but the most significant defensive metrics shows us that he was perhaps one of the worst shortstops of his generation. Sure, Jeter didn’t make many errors (fourth-highest fielding percentage on that same list), but judging a fielder’s defensive abilities based on a number of errors he didn’t make is basically like saying a basketball player is a good defender because he didn’t commit a ton of fouls. Derek Jeter SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0acc46c3-671a-4ea4-a980-3575d238bce2/41+-+Exit+Velo.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Exit Velocity Exit Velocity measures the speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact. This is tracked for all Batted Ball Events -- outs, hits and errors. From recent studies calculating 90th percentile exit velocity, it appears as if a 104-mph exit velo is the level that a median MLB player will typically achieve. EV90th ranks all batted balls (excluding bunts) by exit velocity, and takes the one that is better than roughly 90% of that hitter’s batted ball events. The very best power hitters in baseball are seven to eight mph above 104, and the very worst power hitters are seven to eight mph below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8353b20-51f3-4255-9746-c21b33f6f874/42+-+replay.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Using Replay Stew always uses his real-time reaction to make his first assessment of a play, whether it was a hit or an error. However, he said the sweet spot for using replay to either reinforce or change the way he scores a play is about a 6-second delay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/849c809e-7b1b-4f68-afdb-57db259ddfaa/43+-+Alexander+Cartwright.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Alexander Cartwright Stew visited Alexander Cartwright’s grave on a trip to Hawaii with his wife, Brenda. While he is in the Hall of Fame, Cartwright’s contributions to the game of baseball were exaggerated. Alexander Cartwright SABR Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a7f92dc-74f9-4f60-af20-00f5272cc374/45+-+Al+Lopez.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Al López Alfonso Ramón López played for the Brooklyn Robins / Dodgers, Boston Bees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians between 1928 and 1947, and was the manager for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox from 1951 to 1965 and during portions of the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Due to his Spanish ancestry and "gentlemanly" nature, he was nicknamed "El Señor". As a player, López was a two-time All-Star known for his defensive skills, leadership, and durability, as he established a major league record for career games played at catcher (1,918) that stood for decades. As a manager, his .584 career winning percentage ranks fourth best in major league history among managers of at least 2,000 games. Al López’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da5ae915-6728-4b99-bc13-a8c38c0089bf/46+-+Willie+Stargell.jpeg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Willie Stargell Willie Stargell is buried in Wilmington, North Carolina. With the help of a local SABR member, Stew was able to find Willie’s grave. Willie Stargell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8c80990-5d3f-4b58-9300-828f682352f8/47+-+Rogers+Hornsby.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rogers Hornsby Rogers Hornsby is buried on private property in Texas. Stew wasn’t going to let that stop him from seeing the site. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98406990-fbd0-451e-a417-369636105010/48+-+Monument+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Monument Park Many kids in the 1950s and 60s believed that the three monuments which were in-play at Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park were the burial sites of the men on the plaques. The Story of Monument Park at Yankee Stadium https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7351039a-e611-4110-92be-ab4b5a58cd7b/44+-+Babe+Ruth%27s+grave.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out This great story about his visit to Babe Ruth’s grave can be found on Stew’s website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05066c9f-3528-49c7-b689-69f200a1ee92/49+-+Minnesota+Baseball+History.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Baseball In Minnesota The roots of baseball in Minnesota are part of the post-Civil War baseball boom in America. The area’s earliest teams were amateur nines, representing cities of all sizes throughout the state, a few of them even organized before the Civil War, beginning with a sunny August afternoon in 1857 when Minnesota’s first ball club was organized in Nininger. Read Stew’s article which appeared in the Minnesota Twins Media Guide on Minnesota’s Baseball History HERE. Buy Stew’s book Baseball In Minnesota: The Definitive History HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a2437eb-699d-476b-944d-169cd1717487/50+-+1877+Red+Caps.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - W.W. Fisher W.W. Fisher was a Black second baseman and pitcher who played for the otherwise all-white Winona Clippers in 1875. He was apparently recruited from the Chicago Uniques, and was subjected to racial taunting by opposing players. Some pinned “n…..baby” badges on their shirts in hopes of provoking Fisher. Negotiations for a game between St. Paul and Winona apparently stalled because the St. Paul Red Caps refused to play if Winona used Fisher. The Red Caps claimed its objection was not racial but based on Fisher’s being a professional. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/660b3214-39cf-4d42-a97a-19733568962c/51+-+Joe+Miller.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe W. Miller Joseph Wick Miller was born in Germany in 1850 and began his baseball career in 1872 as a player-manager for the Washington Nationals of the National Association. Miller was the Captain/Manager and Second Baseman for the 1877 St. Paul Red Caps, who was the first professional baseball team in Minnesota. The other starters for the 1877 Red Caps were Harry Salisbury (Pitcher), Emil Gross (Catcher), Ed Gault (1B), Joe Ellick (3B), Sumner Ely (LF), Birmingham (RF), Art Allison (CF) and Bill McClellan (SS). The team ended the 1877 season with a record of 28 wins and 21 losses, finishing first in the League Alliance. Professional Base Ball Debuts in Minnesota: The St. Paul Red Caps, Minneapolis Brown Stockings, And Winona Clippers Of 1875–1877 by Rich Arpi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7800817-e9c7-4948-8960-4f5c73b18cc3/52+-+Town+Ball.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e30ac434-305e-4eeb-88f6-d3255ca59ef0/53+-+Bud+Fowler.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bud Fowler In Black baseball history, Bud Fowler is the pioneer. His resume includes a long list of firsts. He is the first acknowledged African-American professional player — way back in 1878 before there were any Black teams of consequence. He was the first to play on integrated teams. In fact, Fowler preferred White clubs because they fielded the best nines and offered the stiffest competition through much of his career. As such, he was the first significant Black player in the US. As researcher and author Robert Peterson declared, “Frank Grant, Bud Fowler and George Stovey were unquestionably of major-league star caliber.” Fowler was the first African-American in Organized Baseball. He also had the widest traveled and longest career of the early players, by any qualification. Fowler was the first African-American to captain an integrated club. He was also one of the first significant Black promoters, forming the heralded Page Fence Giants and other clubs and leagues. Bud Fowler’s SABR Biography Bud Fowler, Black Pioneer and the 1884 Stillwaters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92153c41-9cb1-4bdf-b5ed-40c67a44d882/54+-+St.+Paul%27s+old+ballparks.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - St. Paul’s Ballparks Like any city with a blossoming baseball scene, St. Paul’s ballparks moved around quite a bit over the years. Originally, teams would find a vacant lot or empty field to play their games, and once that spot became established, businesses and homes would pop up around the site, raising the value of the land. Often, a developer would swoop in and buy the plot, forcing the teams to find another place to play. And so on and so on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de343906-bf89-4b0b-9214-a95e5febc807/55+-+1891+Cornhuskers.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sioux City Cornhuskers The Sioux City Cornhuskers won Western League championships in 1891 and 1894 (Sioux City didn't field a team in 1892 or 1893 for a variety of reasons). After the 1894 season, the team was purchased by former baseball player and manager Charles Comiskey, renamed the Saints and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a690637b-2472-4734-87c3-64f82b9df3e1/56+-+Charles+Comiskey.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Charles Comiskey Charles Comiskey was a former ballplayer who bought the Sioux City Cornhuskers. Comiskey was friends with Ban Johnson, who was the President of the Western League at the time. After Comiskey purchased the team, he moved it to St. Paul, Minnesota. He renamed them the Saints, where they played in the Western League. Charles Comiskey’s SABR Biography Ban Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42ab7486-a9cc-4313-a39a-e7c41d46324a/57+-+1897+Saints+with+Charles+Comiskey.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1897 St. Paul Saints The Saints played in St. Paul from 1895-1899 under the ownership of Charles Comiskey, before they moved again to Chicago before the 1900 season. The 1897 team finished in 4th place with a record of 86-51. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8cd565b-ba67-4843-9940-a7d3ff1bf443/59+-+Tony+Mullane.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Tony Mullane Anthony John Mullane, nicknamed "Count" and "the Apollo of the Box", was an Irish man who pitched for seven major league teams from 1881–1894. After his major league career ended, he continued pitching until 1902 in leagues such as the Western League, the Eastern League, the California Winter League, and the Pacific Northwest League. He is best known as a switch pitcher who could throw with either hand, and for having one of the highest career win totals of pitchers not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Mullane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6be3e7fd-daa5-4c81-b72e-141ef2071a21/57+-+Western+League.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out On March 22, 1899, the movers and shakers of the Western League met in Milwaukee to discuss the future of the league. The meeting’s participants included T. J. Loftus, J. F. Franklin, M. R. Killilea, Connie Mack, Ban Johnson, J. H. Manning, Charles Comiskey, G. A. Van Derbeck, C. H. Salapaugh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68714b5a-1fa5-4b59-807a-762a351ad684/60+-+1901+Chicago+White+Sox.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1901 Chicago White Sox Comiskey had built a great team, and they were immediately successful after the move to Chicago. They finished the 1900 season with a record of 82-53 to win the newly-renamed American League, still considered a minor league at the time. From 1901 to 1906, they finished either 1st or 2nd in the now-Major American League, winning the World Series in 1906. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e74bb57-34e2-4117-888d-1a8981ec1339/61+-+apostles.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - St. Paul Apostles The St. Paul Apostles were one of several named teams during the late 19th and early 20th century. The first Apostles team joined the Northwestern League in 1884 as an expansion team. Midway through the season, the league folded twice. After the second time, the Apostles became a barnstorming team, before they and the Milwaukee Cream Citys were invited to join the Union Association in late August. The Apostles played 9 games going 2-6-1 before folding. The second Apostles came when the Western Association was created in 1888 season. This Apostles team was a continuation of the St. Paul Saints which had played in other leagues in previous years; in fact, the two names would be used interchangeably until the early years of the 20th century, and it is purely a modern convention to use one name at the exclusion of the other. Thus, the Apostles are referred to as the Saints starting in 1892 when the Western League was reformed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba2e0473-a64c-449e-9f51-947fd0ee2071/62+-+Lexington+Park.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Lexington Park In 1897, Comiskey's Saints began playing at Lexington Park, a ballpark commissioned by Comiskey in Saint Paul’s Midway neighborhood. The park was bounded by Lexington, University, Fuller and Dunlap. It was far enough away outside of the city center that the team could play Sunday baseball. In 1909, the state of Minnesota changed its laws on Sunday activities, allowing sporting events to be held. The Saints played at Lexington park from 1897 to 1956. Today, you can find a plaque commemorating the field in front of the TCF Bank branch building that now occupies the space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1d72599-f506-4234-9e41-d9475e2fc6f3/63+-+Colored+Gophers.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Lexington Park was also the home of the St. Paul Colored Gophers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecab1793-6963-4a34-900f-29ac661c3aef/64+-+Bobby+Marshall.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bobby Marshall In 1903, Bobby Marshall became the first Black football player to play for the University of Minnesota. He also starred for the school’s baseball team and later became the first Black semipro hockey player in the nation’s history. Shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in law, Marshall played third base for the Minneapolis "Lund-Lands" for one season, in 1906. In 1907, he played for the St. Paul Colored Gophers, and then in 1908, he played utility for the Minneapolis Keystones and moved to first base later in the season. In 1909 and 1910, Marshall split the season between the Colored Gophers and the Chicago Leland Giants in 1909 and the Colored Gophers and the Chicago Giants in 1910. Marshall bought the Colored Gophers team in 1911 and used the name Twin Cities Gophers.[3][4] He played for and managing the Colored Gophers team occasionally until at least 1916. Bobby Marshall’s SABR Biography 1909 St. Paul Colored Gophers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51edbf94-924e-4265-ae66-cf69adfa0732/65+-+1903+Saints+with+Miller+Huggins.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1903 St. Paul Saints The 1903 and 1904 Saints teams each won the pennant. Among their star players were Miller Huggins and Germany Schaefer. Miller Huggins’ SABR Biography Germany Schaefer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e27ea24e-9e9f-409d-811b-32c0f7873e32/85+-+Mike+Kelley.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Kelley Michael Kelley played only briefly in one major league season with the Louisville Colonels in 1899. Despite this lack of major league success, he was a highly respected minor league player and manager, forging a 30-year career as a manager and becoming a legendary figure in the Twin Cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b02aa215-84af-4e2d-8f11-84726de2e56f/67+-+Cy+Morgan.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cy Morgan Harry Richard "Cy" Morgan was a pitcher on the 1906 St. Paul Saints team. He also pitched in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds between 1903 and 1913. He helped the Athletics win the 1910 and 1911 World Series. The 1912 Reach Guide credits him with helping carry the pitching burden for the 1911 team while stars Jack Coombs and Chief Bender were less effective than usual early in the season. Cy Morgan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44c088b1-8d18-4234-ad54-c50b894ae2ea/68+-+Chief+Meyers.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - John “Chief” Meyers John “Chief” Meyers played with the St. Paul Saints during the 1908 season. He was purchased by the Giants late that season, but didn't make his first appearance in a big league game until 1909. He was the starting catcher on the Giants 3-straight pennant-winning teams from 1911-1913. “A strong love of justice, a lightning sense of humor, a fund of general information that runs from politics to Plato, a quick, logical mind, and the self-contained, dignified poise that is the hallmark of good breeding-he is easily the most remarkable player in the big leagues,” wrote one reporter. On the field, the strong but slow-footed Meyers was almost certainly the best offensive catcher of the Deadball Era, retiring with a .291 average for his nine-year career. John “Chief” Meyers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6af32283-f0a8-4e96-9fe4-196cfaccba69/69+-+Harry+Howell.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Harry Howell Harry Howell was an infielder for the 1911 St. Paul Saints after his Major League pitching career ended. Howell was known to throw one of the "wettest" spitballs in history as he used so much slippery elm that it appeared that he was foaming at the mouth, but he was also the best pitcher the Browns had during the deadball era as he still holds the Browns' best career team ERA record of 2.06. Harry Howell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb951f00-682a-4157-96ed-ae831db6be9d/70.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Chalmers Race In 1910 auto magnate Hugh Chalmers offered an automobile to the baseball player with the highest batting average that season. What followed was a batting race unlike any before or since, between the greatest but most despised hitter, Detroit’s Ty Cobb, and the American League’s first superstar, Cleveland’s popular Napoleon Lajoie. The race came down to the last game of the season, igniting more interest among fans than the World Series and becoming a national obsession. Cobb, thinking the prize was safely his, skipped the last two games of the season, while Lajoie suspiciously had eight hits in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. Although initial counts favored Lajoie, American League president Ban Johnson, the sport’s last word, announced Cobb the winner, and amid the controversy both players received cars. Buy Rick Huhn’s amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b03417bb-bdc1-4f15-94f3-e812807c2886/71+-+beaumont.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Ginger” Beaumont Clarence Howeth "Ginger" Beaumont was with the Saints club in 1911 when he was at the end of his career. In 12 seasons, he led MLB in hits 4 times; runs, total bases, and batting average one time each; and had 8 seasons with 20 or more steals, including a career high 36 in 1901. On July 22, 1899, at the Pirates' Exposition Park, he got six infield hits in six at bats and scored six runs. He was the first player ever to have an at bat in the World Series. Ginger Beaumont’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00dfb8cb-7091-4c82-9283-edb0f9f6b5f4/73+-+Tipton.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Eric Tipton Eric Tipton was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1939 NFL Draft by Washington, but chose to play professional baseball instead. He played outfield for the Philadelphia Athletics (1939–1941) and the Cincinnati Reds (1942–1945). Tipton then played with the St. Paul Saints (1946–1951) of the American Association, and the Portland Beavers (1952) of the Pacific Coast League. Eric Tipton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf0396a8-9678-431d-8bac-e3678f761e5d/72+-+Hooks+Dauss.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Hooks Dauss George August "Hooks" Dauss pitched for the 1911 and 1912 Saints before his 15-year MLB career. His real name was George, but he was called "Hooks" or "Hookie" because he had such a great curveball. Dauss had 223 career wins, and is still the Detroit Tigers' all-time winningest pitcher. He is also the Tigers' all-time leader in losses, hits allowed, and hit batsmen Hooks Dauss’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c80ac060-f8c0-406c-bb4d-8a9bec342f4b/74+-+Everett+Scott.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Everett Scott Everett Scott was an infielder on the 1913 Saints team. He had a 13-year MLB career after he left the Saints. His streak of 1,307 consecutive games played lasted from June 20, 1916 until May 5, 1925, when Scott was benched in favor of Yankees teammate Paul “Pee Wee” Wanninger. At the time, Scott’s consecutive games streak was the longest in history. To this day, only Lou Gehrig (2,130) and Cal Ripken, Jr. (2,632) have ever played more games in a row than Scott. On June 1, 1925, Lou Gehrig’s streak began when he pinch-hit for the same man who ended Scott’s streak, Pee Wee Wanninger. This story wouldn’t be complete without telling you that Wanninger later went on to play for the St. Paul Saints in 1926. Everett Scott’s SABR Biography Pee Wee Wanninger’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6b05220-1430-4557-aa4c-24af5591aa1c/75+-+lu+blue.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Lu” Blue "Lu" Blue was a switch-hitting outfielder on the 1918 Saints. He interrupted his baseball career for military service in World War I and was later honored with burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Lu Blue’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6e49974-ad96-4da3-ac79-fe6683d6f5aa/76+-+wagner.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Leon Wagner Leon Wagner is a name not well-remembered today, unless you old enough to have seen baseball in the 1960s. But those who did follow the game at that time will never forget Wagner. He was one of those guys who could not pass through the major leagues without leaving an imprint. With his high cheekbones, the rhythmic wiggling of his lower body at the plate, and his thunderous swing, Wagner became a memorable fan favorite. Leon Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05c8e3c6-b4fc-4a58-96b8-c5096981d185/77+-+schilling.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Chuck Schilling Charles Thomas “Chuck” Schilling was right-handed, stood 5-feet-10, and was listed at 160 pounds. He wasn’t flashy. Indeed, sportswriter Ed Rumill dubbed him “a quiet little fellow, colorless in uniform but all business and every inch a ballplayer.” Red Sox coach Billy Herman said, “You forget he’s out there until they hit the ball to the right side of the infield. Then Chuck goes and gets it. He just doesn’t miss.” Chuck Schilling’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ace71bb-1f75-40b0-89fe-13e35f4d6d1b/78+-+halas.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - George Halas George Halas played for the 1919 Saints. He started the year with the Yankees, but a hip injury making a slide trying to stretch a double into a triple during a spring training game derailed his promising baseball career. By July, he was hitting just .091 in 12 games. Manager Miller Huggins gave him the news that he was being sent to the Saints. The reason wasn’t what Halas said for the rest of his life – that Babe Ruth was now New York’s starting right fielder; Ruth didn’t join the team until the next year. This unbelievable painting by former My Baseball History guest Graig Kreindler is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field. George Halas’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1555f027-3877-4e79-9159-aaa25e7dbd1b/79+-+benton.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rube Benton John Cleave "Rube" Benton pitched for the 1921 and 1922 Saints. Benton was tangentially involved with the Black Sox Scandal, having knowledge of the fix. Shortly thereafter Benton was demoted to the minors - not banned from the game as the Black Sox players were. After a successful season with the St. Paul Saints, the Cincinnati Reds wanted to bring him back up. Both National League president John Heydler and American League president Ban Johnson protested that there was no place in either big league for him. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis intervened, however, arguing that if Benton was eligible to play for St. Paul, then he was also eligible to play for Cincinnati. Benton was allowed to re-join the Reds, where he pitched until 1925. Rube Benton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8f89596-67f3-4599-9f98-76d2eb88db7b/80+-+Dutch+Leonard+Affair.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Dutch Leonard Affair In May of 1926, Dutch Leonard contacted the office of the Tigers and informed Detroit owner, Frank Joseph Navin, that he held proof that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker had fixed and bet on a game played on September 25, 1919. Leonard contacted Ban Johnson's office, as well. Navin and Johnson believed Leonard's story and agreed to buy him off for $20,000, the amount that Leonard argued Detroit owed him. So, Dutch surrendered his two letters of proof to them. They, in turn, notified Commissioner Landis of the events, as a courtesy. Next, Johnson contacted the two players and called them into his office. Cobb and Speaker denied the charges. Johnson, not believing them, told them they had to quit. On November 2, Ty left a letter of resignation at Navin's office. On November 29, Speaker's resignation was announced, with no explanation given. Dutch Leonard’s SABR Biography Baseball Gods In Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5016a429-b5c8-4050-aa60-0544f1f5638d/81+-+durocher.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Leo Durocher Leo Durocher played Shortstop in St. Paul during the 1927 season. From the book "The Lip" by Gerald Eskenazi: "Leo had gone into professional baseball with this admonition from his father: 'Keep your mouth shut. Just listen.' But it was at St. Paul that he began yakking up on the bench and in the field. His manager there, Nick Allen, used to tell him, 'Talk it up. Show 'em you're alive. Make some noise. This is baseball, not a church.' And his teammates on the bench supposedly told him to start gabbing. As if Leo needed encouragement." Leo Durocher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bb09577-495f-4aff-888d-d412ae64993a/82+-+financial+stake.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Miller Huggins’ Financial Stake This is the original document proving Miller Huggins actually did personally own shares of the St. Paul Saints. It is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field. Miller Huggins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917096f6-94f3-4daf-89c2-58dcb7f3ca81/83+-+Jack+Saltzgaver.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jack Saltzgaver Otto Hamlin "Jack" Saltzgaver was on the 1930-1931 editions of the Saints. The Saints and the New York Yankees worked out a deal that would send Saltzgaver and Johnny Murphy to the Yankees after the 1931 season. The Saints got back three players and $60,000. He was on the Yankees teams of 1932 and 1934-1937 playing in 20, 94, 61, 34 and 17 games as an utility infielder batting .128, .271, .262, .211 and .182. His major league career ended on the war-time Phillies team of 1945 when he was in 52 games hitting .325. In his MLB career, he played in 278 games and had 764 at bats batting .260, with a .351 OBP and .347 slugging. Defensively, he was at third for 119 games, at second for 78 and at first for 18 - all with a combined fielding average of .957. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cba5a30-209d-4a8d-b5b5-693fad7c25d5/84+-+Miller+Huggins.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The St. Paul-New York Underground Railroad The Saints player pipeline with Miller Huggins and Bob Connery began while they were in St. Louis. It continued when Huggins went to the Yankees. During Bob Connery's presidency, the Saints and Yankees transferred 29 players between the two clubs. The total amount the Yankees paid the Saints for those players was about $300,000. Pictured here is Miller Huggins and Yankee Owner, Colonel Jacob Ruppert. Bob Connery’s SABR Biography Jacob Ruppert’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2efd2101-d3a9-4e7e-b1c7-db4a1963d65f/66+-+Mike+Kelley.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Kelley Mike Kelley played for the Saints in 1902-1905 and managed them from 1902-1905, 1908-1912 and 1915-1923. Overall, he managed five American Association pennant winners (all in St. Paul), and was employed in baseball for 52 years. It is said that all 16 Major League owners loved Mike Kelley and would literally jump to help him out. When he wanted to sell a player, they would be happy to give him an extra good price. Michael Kelley’s 1906-08 Woes with Organized Baseball by Dennis Pajot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e64a79c-032e-4854-85ab-a0a0884a61cb/86+-+Streetcar+Series.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Streetcar Series Independence Day and Labor Day would bring a streetcar double-header. It was called this because fans rode streetcars between the team’s day/night doubleheaders (first night game in 1937). Imagine yourself in the late 1930s. During a day game, you’d witness a hard-fought game at Lexington Park. Then you could take a streetcar over to Nicollet Park and watch a wild night game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4f25e81-87e3-4865-b9b1-161888679d5a/87+-+Oscar+Roettger.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Oscar Roettger “A little more experience is all you need,” wrote Brooklyn Dodgers manager Wilbert Robinson to Oscar Roettger of the St. Paul Saints before the 1927 season. It didn’t quite happen — Roettger played in five games for Uncle Robbie’s squad and 37 games in the major leagues over four seasons. A substantial minor-league career included eight seasons with the Saints, three with the Double-A Montreal Royals, and a brief experience in the minor-league managerial realm. Roettger remembered the intensity of the crowds at the Streetcar Series games between the St. Paul Saints and the Minneapolis Millers long after his career was over. Oscar Roettger’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/224b70a3-a559-42dd-b55f-c87fba1045d5/88+-+Gene+Mauch.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Gene Mauch During the July 4, 1959 Streetcar Series game at Midway Stadium, St. Paul booster and well-known heckler Chuck Van Avery was located strategically with a few pals near the visitors' dugout. His taunts got a little too personal for Millers manager Gene Mauch that day, and Mauch went into the stands to let him know. Gene Mauch’s Managerial Record Gene Mauch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca43e0c3-b1fb-4f77-b7df-cca344d1609b/89+-+1924+Little+World+Series.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1924 Little World Series The series was supposed to be best of 9, but Game 3 ended in a 6-6 tie after 13 innings. St. Paul won the series in 10 games (5 games to 4, plus that one tie) despite going down 3 games to 1 and being outscored by Baltimore, 38-37 over the course of the series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2d620a4-0a7b-4f43-adcb-aba6d5cc2c3d/90+-+called+shot.jpeg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mark Koenig One of Babe Ruth’s former Yankee teammates, Mark Koenig, had joined the Cubs in late August of the 1932 season and batted .353 in 33 games to help propel Chicago to the National League pennant. Although Koenig had been a catalyst, his teammates felt he was deserving of just a half-World Series share because he had been with the team for such a short time. When Ruth heard that Koenig wasn’t voted a full share, he lambasted the Cubs in a story published in the Chicago Daily Tribune. “Sure, I’m on ’em; I hope we beat ’em four straight,’’ he was quoted as saying. “They gave Koenig a sour deal in their player cut. They’re chiselers and I’ll tell ’em so.” Mark Koenig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb92b065-66c4-4e23-91e4-9ff4427d50e0/91+-+chapman.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ben Chapman Ben Chapman played 3B for the 1929 Saints. He then played for the Yankees from 1930-1936. He was moved to LF by manager Joe McCarthy to take advantage of his speed and arm. Chapman led AL Outfielders in assists in 1933, was moved to CF in 1934, and led the league in OF assists again in 1935. Two weeks after Chapman was traded to the Phillies in 1945, he was named their manager. His spirited leadership brought initial improvement, but soon his temper and poorly timed comments, especially his widely publicized vicious baiting of Jackie Robinson in 1947, exasperated owner Bob Carpenter. The scene in the movie "42" depicts that moment and some of the fallout. Chapman was fired in 1948. Ben Chapman’s SABR Biography Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1aed702-b64e-4dff-83fd-c564aa62d306/92+-+schultz.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Howie Schultz Howard Henry Schultz, nicknamed "Stretch" and "Steeple", was a baseball and basketball player from St. Paul. Schultz played in both Major League Baseball and in the National Basketball Association, one of thirteen athletes to do so. Schultz won an NBA title with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1952. Howie Schultz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f165aef-80f0-4ead-bea4-7c016de1db09/93+-+angelo.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Angelo Giuliani Angelo John "Tony" Giuliani was a catcher from 1936–41 and 1943. Born in St. Paul, he attended Saint Thomas Military Academy and has been selected to its Athletic Hall of Fame. Giuliani threw and batted right-handed. His pro career, curtailed by injury, extended for 12 seasons (1932–43) with a one-game appearance in 1949 as a member of the Minneapolis Millers. During his 243-game MLB career, Giuliani collected only 157 hits, with 18 doubles and three triples. After his playing career, he became a longtime scout. Angelo Giuliani’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ab13bff-f241-4861-8e24-bb3aa272d2dc/94+-+branch.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Branch Rickey In 1944, the Saints became the top affiliate of Brooklyn. Dodgers President Branch Rickey began acquiring players from the Saints in the early 1940s and bought the team outright in 1947, folding it into the Dodgers’ first-class farm system. Branch Rickey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c24719c0-3574-43c1-a34d-44f75419351c/95+-+duke+snider.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Duke Snider The 1948 Saints featured Duke Snider, who batted .316 with the team, and hit a home run that a batboy said was "the longest ball [he] had ever seen." He went on to have a pretty decent MLB career, too. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29ff9684-2bdc-459e-8974-0ffe4de9847c/96+-+campanella.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Roy Campanella Roy Campanella was 25 years old when he appeared as a catcher on the 1948 St. Paul Saints. He was the American Association's first Black player, and no hotel in St. Paul would rent him a room. He was a three-time MVP in the Major Leagues and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Roy Campanella’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/662766ae-2037-4647-ad25-427964274bc6/97+-+montreal.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jackie Robinson in Montreal Montreal was the Dodgers’ other top farm club. Jackie Robinson seemed to have a fairly smooth experience there, all things considered. But his team still had to travel to play away games in cities such as Louisville, where racism was a much bigger problem than it was in the international city north of the border. March 17, 1946: Jackie Robinson plays his first exhibition game for Montreal Royals by Bob Webster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62f1f5ca-f3fd-42f5-bb13-a8d8ca562ce9/98+-+Lexington+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Lexington Park In 1957, Lexington Park, the home of the Saints, was replaced by Midway Stadium. Pictured here is Lexington Park in 1952. Twin City Ballparks by Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3396a80c-be9f-4176-b111-e4ae5ab804b2/99+-+midway+stadium.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Midway Stadium (I) Saint Paul Saints baseball players in 1960 at the old Midway Stadium at 1000 North Snelling Ave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cb18d54-86de-4463-a212-0ebaa8a298eb/100+-+big+league+baseball.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - MLB in the Twin Cities In 1961, the Washington Senators become the Minnesota Twins, and chose the Minneapolis stadium to be their home, so the St. Paul Saints moved to Omaha, which left St. Paul without its own professional team for the first time in decades. Washington Senators team history https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29752f79-f20b-41b0-90f1-5c273cec3fa7/101+-+Metropolitan+Stadium.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, served the Minnesota Twins for 21 seasons. However, it was originally the home of the minor league Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. The drive for a new ballpark for the Millers began in the 1940s. In June of 1948, the Millers, affiliated with the parent New York Giants, and the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners agreed on a 17-acre tract near Theodore Wirth Park, slightly less than three miles west of downtown Minneapolis, for a new ballpark. It was the intention of the Millers/Giants to purchase the property, reroute a stream to its natural channel, and construct a stadium with a seating capacity between 20,000 and 30,000. Metropolitan Stadium by Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bba2ee24-3756-48aa-aeff-28d574de55ea/102+-+Black+baseball.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Black Baseball in St. Paul There is a rich history of Black baseball in St. Paul, as well, dating back over a century. The first recorded African-American baseball player in the state of Minnesota was Prince Honeycutt, in Fergus Falls in 1872. But Black players faced abuse from the fans, their opponents, and sometimes even their own teammates. By the end of the 19th century, Black players were completely banned from the game. Even in 1899, when the state of Minnesota enacted a law prohibiting racial discrimination in public places, that law did not apply to professional baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42e02450-8c02-4b3a-aceb-155640a20e65/103+-+Billy+Williams.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Billy Williams Billy Williams starred in multiple sports — but baseball was his favorite. Even in high school, he played for several town semipro teams, including the Spaldings and the Hamm's Exports. His reputation as a power-hitting first baseman and outfielder grew, and he was regularly recruited to play for teams across the region — often the only Black player on the squad. Eventually, Williams would play for more than 30 teams, and he was even hired for games against the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints. But while Williams likely had the talent to make it to the big leagues, organized baseball's prohibition against Black players meant his future was limited. Williams declined an offer from one team executive willing to sign him, provided he told people he was Native American. Williams refused. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fb69990-ad02-431f-96cb-1565faa249a9/104+-+Keystone+Tigers.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Walter Ball was a member of the Keystone Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba90ebca-85e4-4a07-9bf4-7735cf8f7ea5/105+-+Walter+Ball.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Walter Ball Right-hander Walter Ball was one of the top pitchers in early black baseball, often being favorably compared with a contemporary, Hall of Famer Rube Foster. In the prime of his career, the Indianapolis Freeman remarked, “everyone knows that Walter Ball and ‘Steel Arm’ Johnny Taylor are the most sensational pitchers of the race.” Lacking great speed, Ball found success with his smarts, control, and frequent use of the spitball. Off the field, the stylish Ball had a reputation as a gentleman and “the swellest dresser,” often wearing tailored suits. Walter Ball’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38590292-8156-42bd-ab78-686dcd1ae558/106+-+John+Donaldson.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - John Donaldson In 1908 John Donaldson was a tall, slender young man from small-town America with a strong left arm and the hand/eye coordination required to squarely hit a round ball with a round bat, yet there was no place for him in Organized Baseball. Because he was a black man. But using his talent and personality, he made a place for himself in segregated baseball as the star of various black and mixed-race barnstorming teams in the Midwest. Later in his career he also played as the only black man on small-town Minnesota teams. He drew a blueprint on how to make money in baseball outside of the major leagues that Satchel Paige followed 20 years later. Pete Gorton and Sam Sinke have helped to document 430+ wins and 5,300+ strikeouts in Donaldson’s amazing career. John Donaldson and Black Baseball in Minnesota John Donaldson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf8b2087-4db7-4b8d-ad1a-09d7f5ab70f5/107+-+Mohawk+Giants.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Chappie Johnson Walter Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, had one of the greatest seasons ever in 1913, going 36-7 with 11 shutouts. That fall, the Mohawk Colored Giants, a Black baseball team, added an unofficial loss to Johnson’s tally when he and an all-white team of major leaguers came to town as part of a barnstorming tour. On the Giants team was Chappie Johnson, seated second from the left. The Quebec Adventures of Chappie Johnson’s All-Stars by Christian Trudeau https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96ecccf7-a3dc-4b0e-a65c-74710d14be7c/108+-+Todd+Peterson.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Early Black Baseball In Minnesota Though they played in the years before Rube Foster formed the first Negro League, the St. Paul Gophers and their bitter crosstown rivals, the Minneapolis Keystones, had the talent, bench depth, and determination to rival many of those later, better known teams. The Gophers, in fact, beat Chicago's celebrated Leland Giants in 1909, laying claim to blackball's western championship. Focusing on these two clubs, author Peterson lays out the early history of African American baseball in the Upper Midwest. Included are new statistics and more than 50 rarely seen photographs. Buy Todd Peterson’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72f50f16-ce36-4639-b0f2-3691f8fd697e/109+-+Frank+White.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - They Played For The Love Of The Game During the many decades that Major League Baseball and its affiliates imposed a strict policy of segregation, Black ballplayers in Minnesota were relegated to a haphazard array of semipro leagues, barnstorming clubs, and loose organizations of all-black teams—many of which are lost to history. They Played for the Love of the Game recovers that history by sharing stories of African American ballplayers in Minnesota, from the 1870s to the 1960s, through photos, artifacts, and spoken histories passed through the generations. Author Frank White's own father was one of the top catchers in the Twin Cities in his day, a fact that White did not learn until late in life. While the stories tell of denial, hardship, and segregation, they are highlighted by athletes who persevered and were united by their love of the sport. Buy Frank White’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ec219a7-4b1c-453e-9b27-154642fe0c4c/109+-+Black+pioneers.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db997298-0b27-49d9-86b4-7c3302bee0c9/110+-+Uptown+Sanitary+Shop.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67749234-25f6-49ed-acf5-25090bf7ad87/111+-+Askin+Marine.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdd0db8b-d111-4b64-baa2-ee3c0a3c436e/112+-+Rondo.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rondo For much of the 20th century, the Rondo neighborhood was an important cultural and residential center of the Black community in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan region. The core of Old Rondo was demolished between 1956 and 1968, to make way for the construction of the Interstate 94 freeway. At least 650 families were displaced from the neighborhood, as well as many businesses and community locations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e6b5e6b-619d-4387-9e43-9f4726fde180/113+-+Toni+Stone.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Toni Stone Toni Stone grew up in Rondo, playing pickup games with neighborhood boys. She convinced St. Paul Saints manager Gabby Street to let her work out at his baseball school. At 16, she became the only girl on the Twin Cities Colored Giants, a semipro team. She made history in 1953 with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League by becoming the first woman to play professional baseball in a men's league. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/661f218b-491c-487a-820a-d5391640e1a3/114+-+Millerettes.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minneapolis Millerettes The Minneapolis Millerettes represented Minnesota in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1944. However, like in the men’s Major Leagues at the time, Black players were not allowed to play. Eventually, a lack of local support contributed to the Millerettes moving in 1945 — just a year after their debut — to become the Fort Wayne Daisies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55296e30-6866-45eb-a084-3895c079291e/115+-+New+Saints.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - New Saints In 1993, the St. Paul Saints appear once again, formed as part of the new independent Northern League. The primary ownership of the team is shared by Marvin Goldklang, Mike Veeck and Bill Murray. The Saints gained national acclaim after winning the Northern League title and becoming well known for over-the-top wacky promotions. Mike Veeck’s mantra is “fun is good". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91364009-4b05-40e0-8778-9d379d3c621d/116+-+Mike+and+me.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Veeck Mike’s grandfather, William Veeck Sr., was president of the Chicago Cubs from 1919 until his death in 1933, leading the club to two NL championships. Mike's dad, Bill Veeck Jr., grew up in the baseball business, beginning his career as a popcorn vendor for his dad’s team. He went on to own a string of major league franchises, including the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Mike Veeck’s career was nearly derailed by a 1979 stunt he orchestrated, “Disco Demolition Night.” Mike was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c29340cc-d5c0-4da6-9c4b-4aa3af90bd73/117+-+Isla+Borders.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ila Borders In 1997, the Saints signed pitcher Ila Borders, becoming the first professional men’s baseball team to have a female on their roster. Ila made her debut on May 31, 1997, and played for a total of 4 seasons, pitching in 52 minor league baseball games with four different teams. In 1999, her best year, she had an ERA of 3.63. Borders had made her historic collegiate debut on Feb. 15, 1994 when she became the first woman to pitch in a men’s college baseball game. She pitched a five-hitter for Southern California College against the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a 12-1 victory. She retired in 2000 to pursue a career in firefighting and in 2003 she was elected to the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals for her unique contributions to the game of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2344c5eb-a5dc-4b9f-9360-c37b7638749f/118+-+Target+Field.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Target Field is an absolutely beautiful stadium, but charging $20 minimum per ticket the last week of the season when your team has been eliminated from playoff contention is going to result in some empty seats. Who benefits from that? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db88a9e8-a9e0-426c-80ba-5684406866ab/119+-+Minoso.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnie Miñoso Saturnino Orestes "Minnie" Armas Arrieta Miñoso prepares to swing at a pitch as he plays for the St. Paul Saints on July 26, 2003 at the age of 77. Miñoso became the first player to play professional baseball in seven different decades when he was in the lineup for the team’s annual Negro League Tribute. Acting as Designated Hitter, Miñoso walked in the first inning. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173877074-EZYI39ZKX5ZS22J1NZIR/120.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173877416-KADUCVJ2TA04GUSZDNNV/121.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173878189-D5S15KFIEYYXAB5L6Q7S/122.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173878503-J1BF9EHNNQIPMAI4N5DZ/123.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173879373-P9YGD9IYUIMRUBGQEDB5/124.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da5ae165-b4a5-44e2-a537-afd6e343c5f1/125+-+Bill+Veeck.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bill Veeck Before they had a Major League franchise, Milwaukee had a team in the American Association, called the Brewers. Bill Veeck bought the team in 1940. They won 3 pennants in 5 years, and Bill sold the franchise in 1945. He riled up the St. Paul Saints fans by saying his Brewers teams wouldn’t stay “in a jerk town like St. Paul” when on the road, opting instead to stay at a hotel in Minneapolis. It was purely a show to sell more tickets, and it worked like a charm. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba5ac06f-df74-445a-87b4-9b3a4bd7eba5/126+-+Merkle%27s+boner.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Merkle’s Boner Merkle's Boner refers to the notorious base-running mistake committed by rookie Fred Merkle of the New York Giants in a game against the Chicago Cubs on September 23, 1908. Merkle's failure to advance to second base on what should have been a game-winning hit led instead to a force play at second and a tied game. The Cubs later won the makeup game, which proved decisive as they beat the Giants by one game to win the National League pennant for 1908. It has been described as "the most controversial game in baseball history." Fred Merkle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b8d76de-3c88-48b8-a942-30a17d603860/127+-+Mets.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1962 Mets at the Polo Grounds Original Mets Frank Thomas, Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer & Roger Craig jump for joy at the Polo Grounds, where they played for the first two years of their franchise’s existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff31c872-9b30-43dd-956a-77e67db35d1d/128+-+Jets.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - AFL at the Polo Grounds At their first home stadium, the New York Jets, originally known as the Titans, often played in front of sparse crowds from 1960 to 1963. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9029d070-ff29-495e-becd-7f65e2fdc005/129+-+head+shot.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Follow Stew Online Stew’s Website Hall of Fame Baseball Gravesites A List of Stew’s Writing Email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff6fdf0e-caaf-43ee-ae4e-7342ab15cdf9/130+-+official+scorer.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scoring My mom acted as official scorer for many of the vintage base ball games I played from 2009 to 2021. Even though those games were incredibly low stakes compared to an official MLB game, sometimes it could still get pretty nerve-wracking! Official Scorers Consider Bad Hops, Bad Throws... And Exit Velocity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d415bf01-0026-43c1-ae50-643f84bb4445/131+-+Joe+Anders.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe Anders A great player in his own right, Joe Anders was a member of the 1940 Brandon Mill team which won the Textile League Championship. Anders, who played and coached between 1938 and 1955, is considered the greatest Textile League player ever. He signed with the Yankees in 1942 and was scheduled to be their starting 3B within a week, but two days later he got his WWI draft papers and never played in the majors. In 1955, Anders was the Cottonwood League's MVP, hitting .505 and compiling a 30-game hitting streak at the age of 34. He had 3 hits in the All-Star Game that year, leading his team to a 4-0 victory. He was inducted into the Greater Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Anders "remembered seeing Joe Jackson pinch hit in a mill league game at the age of 56. Already weakened by the first of several heart attacks, he nevertheless smashed the ball off the centerfield fence, 415 feet from home plate." "Anders' stories were instrumental in preserving the history of textile baseball. He also contributed to several unsuccessful attempts to persuade Major League Baseball to reinstate [Joe] Jackson." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69c7deca-3077-4964-8d0c-76a3f7342558/132+-+Bobby+Richardson.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played 2B for the team from 1955-1966. Bobby Richardson’s SABR Biography Bobby was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bba3514f-2c5b-401b-a11a-2e88c7df2464/133+-+Sam+Allen.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sam Allen Sam Allen is a former Negro League player who spent time as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, the Raleigh Tigers, and the Memphis Red Sox. He led the Negro American League in runs scored in 1957, helping the Monarchs win the championship. Sam was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87f7513a-a19a-49f2-8f46-3a71a47fdba8/134+-+Ange+Armato.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ange Armato Ange Armato is a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who spent time playing with the Rockford Peaches and the Kalamazoo Lassies. Ange was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ad5d2c4-f7c8-4a4d-9cac-78703f3f9e95/135+-+Marjorie+Adams.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Marjorie Adams Marjorie Adams was the great-granddaughter of Doc Adams, who wrote The Laws of Base Ball in 1857 which set many of the primary rules of the sport still followed to this day. He also invented the position of Shortstop during his playing career. Doc Adams’ SABR Biography Marjorie was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f751d2c1-126c-43dd-9bb7-164fdb8353bc/136+-+Mike+Wallace+Bob+Feller.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Mike Wallace Interviews In an interview which was conducted on August 4, 1957, Bob Feller talks to Mike Wallace about ballplayers' salaries, the reserve clause, rich ball clubs, Pay TV, beer companies as sponsors, bean balls, gambling, and Joe DiMaggio versus Ted Williams. Watch the interview HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c51c65f-41e5-42c5-901d-0496ee36b280/137+-+keeping+score.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Learning How Many programs will teach you how to keep score, educating the reader what symbols to use and how to interpret plays on the field and on the page in front of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c11ff13b-43e9-492b-a49b-eb0dc095584b/138+-+Doris+Kearns+Goodwin.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Doris Kearns Goodwin “My father taught me how to keep score when I was six so I could recount that afternoon’s Dodgers game when he came home from work.” “So what would happen when I first was learning how to do this, and he would come home from work — I was too excited, so I'd blurt out, "the Dodgers won," or, "the Dodgers lost," which, of course, took much of the drama of this two-hour telling away. So I finally learned that you had to tell a story from beginning to middle to end. “In fact, he already knew who won. That's what's so crazy, right? He never even told me when I was young that all of this would be in the newspapers the next day. So at first I thought he wouldn't even know what happened to the game without me.” Buy Doris’ book Wait Till Next Year HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19d4aa2e-09a5-46b8-b108-2f01f4a8ce9f/139+-+coyote.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Dangers of Grave Hunting On a recent trip to Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, my mom and I were less than 30 feet away from a coyote, who was thankfully more well-behaved than the shepherd my mom ran into while searching for a grave on private property another time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26098683-621c-43f9-95fe-8f173bb05471/140+-+catch+probability.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Catch Probability Catch Probability represents the likelihood that a batted ball to the outfield will be caught, based on four important pieces of information tracked by Statcast. 1. How far did the fielder have to go? 2. How much time did he have to get there. 3. What direction did he need to go in? 4. Was proximity to the wall a factor? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6643a9fd-7be8-4eb9-a6e7-66f627ef0f16/141+-+War+On+The+Diamond.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - War On The Diamond War On The Diamond is a documentary which tells the story of how the death of Ray Chapman in 1920 sparked a 100-year rivalry between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. You can watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18cec642-f6b3-496d-af39-6e56c1e1f048/142+-+Target+Field.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Target Field Target Field opened in 2010 as the new home of the Minnesota Twins, but it has also served as the home of other local and regional baseball events. Though originally designed for baseball, it has also hosted football, soccer, hockey games, and concerts. In 2010, ESPN The Magazine ranked the open-air venue as the number one baseball stadium experience in North America. The stadium hosted the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c213acd-25c9-423a-b30f-69bb56b2ad23/143+-+City+of+Baseball+Museum.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out The City of Baseball Museum is located inside CHS Field, the home of the St. Paul Saints. It’s amazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3b8c128-f92e-4b1c-adcd-a82523282551/144+-+Babe+Ruth.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ruth’s Record(s) The 29 home runs that Babe Ruth hit in 1919 broke Ned Williamson’s 1884 record of 27. Williamson set his record playing in Lake Park, the Chicago White Stocking’s home field that featured a right field wall just 196-feet from home plate. When Babe homered on July 18, 1921 for the 139th time in his career, he surpassed the mark previously held by Roger Connor. Though at the time, no one really knew the historic import, because no one was quite sure who did hold the record. Connor had 124 home runs in the National League and 14 in the Players’ League, which existed for only one season (1890). Those 14 home runs existed in limbo until Commissioner William Eckert ruled in 1968 that the Players’ League was, in fact, a Major League for record-keeping purposes. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/584ebee3-3260-4473-b3a3-e088cb7c1cea/145+-+SABR+52.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - SABR 52 The 52nd SABR Convention will be in Minneapolis from August 7 through August 11 at the Hyatt Regency. Learn everything you need to about the convention, including how to register so you can attend, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e25774b6-e83d-4b8f-add4-4f5cee53163f/146+-+Toni+Stone+Field.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Toni Stone Field Toni Stone, the Rondo neighborhood kid who shattered racial and gender barriers, once took the roster spot of Hank Aaron and proved over and again she could play the game. A second baseman in the Negro Leagues in the 1950s, she’s considered the first woman to play professional men's baseball. More than two decades after her death, her efforts are slowly being recognized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/773dcc1b-fdc4-4596-85cc-06a21b4af61d/147+-+Women.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Women In The Negro Leagues For decades, women's baseball was just as segregated as the men's game. But Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan enjoyed professional opportunities in the Negro Leagues, blazing a trail for the women who would come after them. Black Women Playing Baseball: An Introduction by Leslie Heaphy Playing With The Boys: Gender, Race, and Baseball in Post-War America by A.J. Richard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1106cf7-bc6f-40dd-a193-1f252cb83aad/148+-+Rube+Foster.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rube Foster Andrew “Rube” Foster is perhaps the person with the greatest impact upon Black baseball. Not only was Foster one of the best pitchers and best managers of the early twentieth century but he also was the architect of the Negro National League. Despite facing immense racial prejudice, Foster carried out three distinctive baseball positions during his lifetime and is often known as the “Father of Negro Baseball.” Rube Foster’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1971acc3-bc54-4953-b4ff-0bd68996362c/149+-+streetcar+series.JPEG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74d552b0-cd95-415f-a69c-33a20a587ee3/150+-+Twins+logo.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnie and Paul The Twins’ original logo was created by illustrator Ray Barton. The iconic image featured two mammoth twins, Minnie and Paul, eternally shaking hands while spanning the Mississippi River. Minnie and Paul, of course, represent the great Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, respectively. The logo has gone through changes over the years, being phased in, phased out, and updated several times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07e51129-fb21-48aa-b0ea-e46d044bca09/151+-+mlb+blackouts.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d33ade35-4eff-48ab-8d4c-6c690decf9a9/152+-+Brian+Bernardoni.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the Official Historian of Wrigley Field, and has been a tour guide at the park since 1998. Brian was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6bcaad8-2472-4eee-99d2-9a95c21371fa/153+-+Alex+Cheremeteff.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Alex Cheremeteff Alex Cheremeteff is a writer, researcher, and historian who is an expert on the Philadelphia Athletics. Alex was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b362cd4-444a-4840-b1c9-d99115317022/154+-+email.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d9ef4f7-75e7-47d5-8a9c-8dd3217fb704/155+-+DJ.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - D&J Glove Repair This episode was brought to you by D&J Glove Repair. WEBSITE TWITTER PRICING https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07dd8283-b353-4bba-bd4e-7414f274eceb/156+-+Speakers.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - SABR 52’s Scheduled Featured Speakers SABR 52 will feature a Hall of Fame speaker lineup you’ll love — including Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Bert Blyleven, and Jim Kaat. You’ll also hear from Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey, General Manager Thad Levine, former pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Glen Perkins, and more. You can see a list of scheduled featured speakers HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a5ce335-9f7f-424f-894e-fe299125aa3b/157+-+The+National.jpg Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The National The 44th National Sports Collectors Convention will be held at the I-X Center in Cleveland from July 24th through July 28th, 2024. Follow The National on twitter HERE. If you’re planning on being in Cleveland for that, come see me at the Love Of The Game Auctions booth! But also, carve some time out of your Friday night plans to come watch the 1860s style vintage base ball game I’m hosting at League Park. RSVP on the Facebook Event Page for the vintage games by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a926668f-93d9-4fa1-bd88-c56b263787dc/158+-+Baseball+Heritage+Museum.png Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Baseball Heritage Museum Entrance to the game will be $10 per person, but that price will also get you free admission to the Baseball Heritage Museum, which operates out of the original ticket office at League Park. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the museum, as well. Make a donation toward the game HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a046e393-d9e3-4bf9-8145-4598b7970ee8/159+-+Vintage+games.JPG Season 3 - 0309 - Stew Thornley - My Summer Plans MLB Game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham HOF Induction Weekend in Cooperstown The National Sports Card Convention in Cleveland My vintage games at League Park in Cleveland SABR Convention in Minneapolis Maybe a little sleep? Maybe? Get ready for Season 4 of the podcast, which begins Wednesday, October 9th, 2024! https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/08 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef9c2abf-7b46-4f2b-a558-046d9240aa2a/youtube.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1095e821-40cb-48b4-9cf4-b9fbfc345859/square.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador Me and Jeremy Feador after recording our interview at Progressive Field in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a46b2b67-f9fb-4200-889e-488612174493/01+-+1995+Indians.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The 1990s Indians The Cleveland teams of the 1990s were an embarrassment of riches. An extremely solid player (if not an All-Star) at every position, the team was in contention nearly every year and is considered one of the greatest teams to not win a World Series in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49343f6b-e025-4335-b585-66d6addb8f24/02+-+Cleveland+Browns.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Move” Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced that the team would move from its longtime home of Cleveland to Baltimore for the 1996 NFL season. Subsequent legal actions by the City of Cleveland and Browns season ticket holders led the NFL to broker a compromise in which Modell agreed to return the Browns franchise to the league. The agreement stipulated that the Browns franchise, including its history, records and intellectual property, would remain in Cleveland. In exchange, the NFL agreed to grant Modell a new franchise in Baltimore (which was eventually named the Ravens) and the City of Cleveland agreed to build an NFL-caliber venue to replace the aging Cleveland Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/311c5cb8-f16c-49c6-933b-e601a86abcd8/03+-+Adams+Street+Cemetery.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Adams Street Cemetery Jeremy worked on a cemetery research project while at Wright State University. He found military records for an Indian Wars veteran who served in the late 1890s. Anthony Ruhl now has a headstone, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, thanks to Jeremy’s research. “Feador, whose car bumper sticker reads "I Brake for Old Graveyards," also located the diary of another Adams Street Cemetery resident, George N. Huckins, in the Duke University Library.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da1a1874-6a33-4321-978e-2ad32c4ed546/IMG_0245.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob DiBiasio Bob DiBiasio, known fondly as “Bobby D” around town, is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians. Bob’s association with the team dates back to 1979. He is renowned throughout the community as the city’s baseball memory and as an exceptionally friendly individual. You can frequently find him promoting both the team and the city at large, taking time to engage with fans who want to offer advice on the team or reminisce about their baseball memories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f05a40ab-c9c5-4dec-903d-96c1c9409bd5/05+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Museum When the Bob Feller Museum in Iowa was closing, Jeremy and Bobby D flew to Van Meter and drove a U-Haul back to Cleveland full of items for the team to preserve and display at the stadium. In the New York Times article about the trip, Jeremy is referred to as “another Indians employee,” which he has most definitely gotten over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7acb9a2a-735a-413b-9967-17b268326404/06+-+Guardians.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge opened in 1932. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db92f54a-b324-4b1b-bc0b-e9da2474108f/07+-+Cuyahoga+River+Fire.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire Stories about the Cuyahoga River fire on June 22, 1969 often combine fact and myth. The fire took place in Cleveland, a few miles north of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Heavy industry dominates this section of the river. Railroad bridges near Republic Steel trapped debris in the river, causing it to pile up. Oil on the water added to its flammability. A flare tossed from an overpassing train likely provided the spark that ignited the debris. The fire lasted for less than a half hour and resulted in minor damage to the railroad bridges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5899d83-f52f-42ca-bc6b-8af66cba37d9/08+-+Cleveland+Museum+of+Art.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cleveland Museum of Art Internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art, The Cleveland Museum of Art houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 61,000 works of art from around the world. The museum provides free general admission to the public. With a $755 million endowment, it is the fourth-wealthiest art museum in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/395d7656-45f9-4371-87ed-5d487948ec92/09+-+Cleveland+Clinic.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States. For the past twenty years in the fields of cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery, Cleveland Clinic has been ranked and regarded as the best and highest-performing hospital in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a824127c-851f-4b69-b384-af1b1192f75d/09+-+Theater+District.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland’s Theater District Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City (only Lincoln Center is larger). Constructed in a span of 19 months in the early 1920s, it has 10 performance spaces, including five theaters restored to their original 1920s elegance, that host more than 1,000 events a year, including some of the biggest titles on Broadway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62e774d8-2540-4fe7-a61f-c963da63d579/11+-+Guardians.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Guardians of Transportation The Art Deco “Guardians of Transportation” figures on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge are 43-feet tall and were carved out of local sandstone. Wilbur Watson, the bridge’s engineer, wrote that the eight figures - who have stood guard over east-west traffic since 1932 - were meant to “typify the spirit of progress in transportation,” with each Guardian holding a different kind of vehicle in its hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e375821d-01fa-481f-88fb-993ec5cde80f/12+-+Rock+and+Roll+HOF.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Rock Hall” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located on the shore of Lake Erie, documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures and personnel who have influenced its development. The museum opened on September 2, 1995, and celebrated with a blockbuster benefit concert at nearby Cleveland Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b66c07e6-dd4f-4f86-a8a0-b9fd8514eb31/13+-+Cleveland+Forest+Citys.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Forest City Club Cleveland Forest City Club, 1868. Standing (left to right): Charles J. Sheffield, James L. “Deacon” White, J.W. Clarke, Arthur E. Burt. Bottom (l-r): George W. Stockley, A.R. “Pikey” Smith, William P. Johnson, Harvey B. Brown, Leonard C. Hanna. Forest City's club had been established three years earlier, and the following June would become a professional team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72fd10ec-cb85-4b63-9006-4f3fccc17b57/14+-+Forest+Citys.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Forest Citys The actual name of the team, as shown in standings, was Forest City, not "Cleveland.” The name "Forest Citys" was used in the same generic style of the day in which the team from Chicago was called the "Chicagos." Modern writers often refer to the club as the "Cleveland Forest Citys," which does not reflect 1870s usage, but does distinguish the team from the Rockford, Illinois, professional team that was also called "Forest City," that being a long-standing nickname of both of those cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1fa64563-69c7-471a-8c33-32b640d4def1/15+-+Deacon+White.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Deacon White James Laurie “Deacon” White, who batted left-handed, finished his pro career with a .312 batting average, collecting 2,067 hits, 24 home runs, and 988 RBI in an era when home runs were rare. Only the legendary Cap Anson had more hits, runs and RBIs than White during those early days of baseball. In addition, White helped six teams win championships and was the first player to bat in an organized professional league game, hitting a double at age 23 for the Forest Citys in a National Association contest in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1871. A right-handed pitcher, White was among the first players to throw a curveball, during a brief semi-pro stint with Cleveland in the 1860s. He also claimed he created the first catcher's mask, though he isn't officially credited with that invention. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. Deacon White’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a952891-465d-4813-ba78-cfc1b9cf85d5/16+-+The+Forest+City.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Forest City” One of Cleveland’s nicknames is “The Forest City,” which is especially fitting when looking at older images of the landscape. This photo shows the opening of the Cleveland Fine Arts Garden in 1928. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0781e80f-cb9b-4762-a9ef-a4513f4210b8/17+-+Cleveland+Blues.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Blues The Original Cleveland Blues team began in 1878 as an amateur club. In 1879 they became part of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blues played at Kennard Street Park (aka National League Park), which is currently East 46th Street & Cedar Ave. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on September 13, 1883. Other notable Blues players included Jack Glasscock and Ned Hanlon. The team was purchased by Charles Byrne in 1885 for $10,000 and folded into his Brooklyn Grays team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b4f2842-cb90-4e8b-ac67-67b277acac9f/18+-+Franklin+Lewis.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Franklin Lewis First published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 1949, Franklin “Whitey” Lewis’s The Cleveland Indians begins with the organization’s early years as the Cleveland Forest Citys, covers the 1920 World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers, and concludes with the excitement of the 1948 pennant race. With the advantage of modern research, however, some of the stories and anecdotes included in Lewis’ book have been disproven. Unfortunately, many modern writers have relied heavily upon Lewis’ book while doing research of their own, thereby perpetuating the untrue myths Lewis included in his work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135886db-bcca-4d7a-8ab2-fa52013d147d/19+-+Plain+Dealer.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Plain Dealer The newspaper was established in January 1842 when two brothers, Joseph William Gray and Admiral Nelson Gray, took over The Cleveland Advertiser and changed its name to The Plain Dealer. Their archives have been digitized, which has made research much easier for modern historians like Jeremy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a52c9f69-fb42-4019-80e2-51c688a16c22/20+-+Mike+Miller.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Mike Miller Mike Miller is a Shoeless Joe Jackson historian and expert, and has volunteered at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum as a tour guide for more than 10 years. His research led him to find the exact date and the exact hit when Joe got the nickname “Shoeless.” CLICK HERE to view the free digital version of his book on Joe’s career. You can listen to Episode 2 of Season 1 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2553c391-e814-4ee3-b9ab-19974fa5e8db/21+-+Cleveland+Press.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cleveland Press The Cleveland Plain Dealer proclaimed, “The Blues Will Win The Pennant This Year” across the page when it printed the American League schedule on March 6, 1903. The Plain Dealer continued to refer to the club as the Blues as somewhat of a protest to the new name of Naps, which was chosen by fans in a contest run by the rival Cleveland Press. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bac736e-fe05-41dc-a7be-3990dff6116a/22+-+Satchel.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Tye Few reliable records or news reports survive about players in the Negro Leagues. Through dogged detective work, award-winning author and journalist Larry Tye has tracked down the truth about this majestic and enigmatic pitcher, interviewing more than two hundred Negro Leaguers and Major Leaguers, talking to family and friends who had never told their stories before, and retracing Paige’s steps across the continent. Buy a copy of Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85b153ef-878a-402a-9918-eb2ac4958711/23+-+Frank+W.+Smith.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Frank W. Smith Frank W. Smith was a staff photographer for the Cleveland Ledger in the early 1900s and shot for the Cleveland Plain Dealer during the 1910s, traveling out of state with the baseball team for their Spring Training on multiple occasions. This photo shot by Smith of League Park head groundskeeper Frank Van Dellen resides in my personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95452cdf-2fdf-4b51-8554-de45ba80de10/24+-+Louis+Van+Oeyen+Portrait+b%26w.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Louis Van Oeyen Louis Van Oeyen (1865-1946) was the first photographer hired as staff on a Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper, and a pioneer in many techniques and activities of photojournalism. Van Oeyen was hired as a Cleveland Press photographer in 1901, after his photographs of the water intake explosion disaster in Lake Erie, and the assassination of President William McKinley, were published in the Press. During his career at the Press, he shot portraiture, politics, disaster, crime, scandal, and sports photographs. His greatest love was baseball, and he became official photographer for the American League in 1908, and for the World Series until 1922. This portrait he took of Shoeless Joe Jackson is one of my favorite photos of Joe ever taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bf58ef6-d154-47c4-9954-1f9ecc5932a9/25+-+Grainy+images.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Grainy/Graney Photos Images from the Cleveland Plain Dealer digital archives prove that original photos with higher resolution must have existed at some point. Like this one, from the October 9, 1920 issue as the Indians headed into Game 4 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The paper depicted 20 players from the Cleveland squad, with each panel having a unique advertisement from a local merchant booster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3282014-304a-48dc-bbae-a3816d480101/36+-+1901+team.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1901 Team Photo Had this photo not been captioned this way in the April 18, 1901 issue of the Plain Dealer, you might not have known this was a shot of the 1901 team, especially based on the different uniforms the players are wearing with different city names and logos on their chests. One of the great (and awful, and difficult, and rewarding) things about being a researcher is knowing how many other photos like this exist but have not yet been properly identified because it is not necessarily immediately apparent who is depicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/838d01dc-4243-4e81-a3b8-35643ac55854/26+-+1892+Cleveland+Spiders.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Spiders Before the 1889 season, the Cleveland Blues switched from the American Association to the National League. They also earned a new nickname, the Cleveland Spiders, because so many of their players were very thin, long, tall, and gangly, reminiscent of spiders. The 1892 Spiders are pictured here at League Park, with the original wooden stands visible in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb67e867-18ff-43e2-b53e-f0c242590a57/27+-+cy+young.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young Cy Young pitched from 1890 to 1898 for the Cleveland Spiders, then returned to Cleveland from 1909 to 1911 to pitch for the Cleveland Naps. He holds nearly all of the career counting statistics records for pitchers, including most Wins all time (511), most Losses (315), most Games Started (815), most Complete Games (with 749!), most Innings Pitched, most Batters Faced, and a handful of others. He passed away in 1955, and in 1956, they started calling the award given to the best pitcher at the end of every season the Cy Young Award. Cy Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/969c4c3c-50be-47a3-8ce9-24adf2fe5db7/28+-+Cy+Young.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy’s Plaque Cy Young was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Buy Scott Longert’s biography for young readers, Cy Young: An American Baseball Hero, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6467bbb8-0b8d-476d-affa-8888974047d5/29+-+cy+young+and+bob+feller.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young and Bob Feller Even after his playing days were over, Cy Young would often make the drive to Cleveland and be present at the ballpark. This 1940 photograph depicts the greatest pitchers in the history of Cleveland baseball, as an old Cy Young shows off his curve ball grip to young phenom Bob Feller in the Indians locker room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43cb954e-8e43-47d1-9799-916c5fb84c47/31+-+Stan+Coveleski.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Stan Coveleski Stan Coveleski was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Stan Coveleski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d3102c6-6917-4040-b5e9-066c199f64b5/32+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Cy Young pitched the opening game at Cleveland’s League Park. There aren’t too many baseball diamonds left where you can go stand on the same mound that Cy Young once threw from, but League Park is one of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b1b95f-4e57-4167-9442-be4248b22353/33+-+Cleveland+Infants.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1890 Cleveland Infants The Cleveland Infants were a one-year baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. Owned by Al Johnson, the Infants finished 1890, their lone season, with 55 wins and 75 losses. Their home games were played at Brotherhood Park. The team included future Baseball Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty, and the league's batting champion, Pete Browning. Ed Delahanty’s SABR Biography Pete Browning’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51f8f393-fbed-4252-80b5-f6800a3c5345/34+-+1907+Victor+Mill+team.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Textile League South Carolina had a blossoming textile industry in the late-1800s and early-1900s. At its peak, there were 18 different cotton mills within a 3-mile radius in Greenville. Many mills had their own baseball team to improve morale, and those teams formed a league to play against each other. This photo depicts the 1907 Victor Mill baseball team, featuring Shoeless Joe Jackson, middle row, second from left. Buy Tom Perry’s great book on the Textile League HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb3331e3-17ed-49a4-81aa-208dbc70da85/35+-+League+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Built in 1891, League Park was situated at the northeast corner of Dunham Street (now known as East 66th Street) and Lexington Avenue in the Hough neighborhood. League Park was originally built as a wood structure, but was rebuilt using steel and concrete in 1910. Here is what it looked like circa 1905, as colorized by They Played In Color Galleries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4133efe1-a85d-4083-94c8-883d1ee40124/37+-+Patsy+Tebeau.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tebeau’s Tribe Sportswriters occasionally referred to teams by names other than what they were officially called. After the arrival of Louis Sockalexis in 1897, one of the many names used to describe Cleveland’s baseball team became the Indians. Sometimes they were referred to as Tebeau’s Indians (Patsy Tebeau was the team’s Irish-American player-manager), Tebeau’s Tribe, and even as Tebeau’s Hibernian Indians. Patsy Tebeau’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b650ca4f-0302-40b3-9551-9fd062d6281e/38+-+Louis+Sockalexis+-+Boston+Post+May+19+1895.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Louis Sockalexis Louis Sockalexis was a member of the Penobscot Indian tribe of Maine. He played in only 94 Major League games, but is remembered today as being the first recognized minority to perform in the National League. Sockalexis was signed by the Cleveland Spiders in 1897, fifty years before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is depicted here in the May 19, 1895 issue of the Boston Post. Louis Sockalexis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d25d1fb-7607-43a2-943d-68231ce93a75/39+-+Jim+Toy.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jim Toy James Madison Toy was an early Major League Baseball player who had a short two-year career with the Cleveland Blues and the Brooklyn Gladiators, both of the American Association. Toy began his professional baseball career in the International League for the Utica, New York team. He showed his versatility by playing many different positions, as well as having a well known good throwing arm. He helped lead the Utica team to the International League championship in 1886. While his heritage is still uncertain, it is possible that with his inclusion on the 1887 Cleveland Blues of the American Association made Toy the first ever Native American to play Major League Baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/586cc722-6a6c-4dcd-a21d-fa8fe17c14e4/40+-+1899+St.+Louis+Perfectos.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - St. Louis Perfectos In 1899, Spiders owners Frank and Stanley Robison purchased a second team – the bankrupt St. Louis Perfectos of the National League (who later became the Cardinals) – and then promptly sent all of the Spiders' top talent to that club, including future Hall-of-Famers Cy Young, left fielder Jesse Burkett, and shortstop Bobby Wallace. The remaining Spiders were one of the worst teams in history. Here, the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos are pictured, with Cy Young in the lower left corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816d3323-27ec-47a6-b65a-5a1ec1b25ca1/41+-+Harley+Parker.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Grand Rapids Rustlers The Grand Rapids Rustlers were founded in 1894 and were one of the founding teams of the Western League, a league that would go on to become the American League. Other teams in the league included Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Toledo, and Sioux City. Some notable players from the Rustlers were George Pinkney, Bob Caruthers, Lady Baldwin, Crazy Schmit, and Bumpus Jones. Pictured here is pitcher Harley Parker, who may have pitched one of the worst games in history on July 25, 1894. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99bda4a4-666a-4a34-b3c2-4884e845ba6f/42+-+1905+League+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Lake Shores After the 1899 season, the Grand Rapids Rustlers moved to Cleveland, renamed themselves the Lake Shores, and played their games at League Park. Managed by Jimmy McAleer, the 1900 team missed the postseason after finishing the regular season in 6th place with a 63-73 record in the Western/American League, still a minor league at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d452f4db-44d7-420f-9bd1-6fd9cfb2c056/43+-+Cleveland+Blues.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1901 Cleveland Blues In 1901, the American League (formerly Ban Johnson’s Western League) broke with the National Agreement and declared itself a competing Major League. The Cleveland franchise was among its eight charter members. Although some American League teams chose names abandoned by other major league teams in their respective cities (such as the Chicago White Stockings, Philadelphia Athletics, and [in 1902] the St. Louis Browns), the Cleveland team did not want to associate themselves with the disastrous 1899 Cleveland Spiders, so the new team became known as the Bluebirds or Blues. The 1901 Cleveland Blues played 136 games during the regular season, winning 54 games while losing 82, and finished in seventh position. They played their home games at League Park I and drew 131,380 fans over the course of their home season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bf65be0-abd0-438f-98ec-a436e3a144d6/44+-+1902+Cleveland+Bronchos.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1902 Cleveland Bronchos In 1902, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies obtained an injunction, effective only in Pennsylvania, barring Nap Lajoie from playing baseball for any team other than the Phillies. The American League responded by transferring Lajoie's contract to the Cleveland Bronchos. Lajoie is pictured here, bottom row center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/672bd46e-7ff9-45ca-8a46-0a47d97b82f6/45+-+Charles+Somers.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Charles Somers Once called the “good angel of the American League,” Charles Somers was much more than one of the league’s founding members; he was also its principal financier. A shy, unassuming man who made his fortune in the coal business, Somers brought major-league baseball back to Cleveland in 1901, and also helped the junior circuit establish clubs in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. At one point, the free-spending magnate was part-owner of four of the league’s eight franchises. Charles Somers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f29b239f-d222-45eb-bfeb-7a8464c854ed/46+-+Ban+Johnson.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ban Johnson The most powerful figure of the Deadball Era, Ban Johnson’s rise to prominence in the national pastime was as improbable as it was meteoric. Relying neither on athletic renown nor inherited wealth, Johnson maneuvered his way into becoming president of the Western League in 1893, then skillfully transformed the fledgling circuit into one of the most formidable minor leagues of the late nineteenth century. In 1901, Johnson renamed the Western League the American League, declared it a major league, and then succeeded in challenging the one-league supremacy of the National League. Johnson’s triumph marked a turning point in baseball history, cementing the modern two-league system and setting the stage for the unparalleled financial successes of the coming years. Ban Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36a0b9e4-da22-499e-bfe6-9e8000a3ab13/47+-+Nap.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Napoleon Lajoie In 1902, Napoleon Lajoie became Cleveland's first big signing. From 1901 to 1904, Lajoie had the highest batting average in the league. In 1901, he batted .426, and led the American League in nearly every offensive category, winning the triple crown. Lajoie became not only their second baseman, but also their manager. He was one of baseball’s first superstars, so Cleveland just up and named the whole team after him. His name was Napoleon, they called him “Nap” for short, and until 1911, Cleveland’s baseball team was officially called the Cleveland Naps. Napoleon Lajoie’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/374657fd-a1ca-450c-a274-acaf807d554f/48+-+Nap.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Nap Napoleon Lajoie was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Lajoie combined graceful, effortless fielding with powerful, fearsome hitting to become one of the greatest all-around players of the Deadball Era, and one of the best second basemen of all time. At 6’1″ and 200 pounds, Lajoie possessed an unusually large physique for his time, yet when manning the keystone sack he was wonderfully quick on his feet, threw like chain lightning, and went over the ground like a deer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cf8fd9b-5f03-4c10-a81e-79951723ae69/49+-+Candy+LaChance.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Candy LaChance George Joseph "Candy" LaChance reached the majors in 1893, spending six years with the Brooklyn Grooms / Bridegrooms before moving to the Baltimore Orioles (1899), Cleveland Blues (1901) and Boston Americans (1902–05). He hit .300 or more five times, and from 1894 to 1899 averaged 26 stolen bases each year, with a career-high 37 in 1895. He also led all National League hitters in 1895 with 108 RBI. LaChance earned the nickname "Candy" because he preferred to chew on peppermints rather than chewing tobacco. Candy LaChance’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6545fad9-ae17-4356-a04f-52135cd6ad46/50+-+Delahanty.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ed Delahanty John Rogers, described as a "penny-pinching" majority owner of the Phillies, assured Napoleon Lajoie that he would make the same salary as teammate Ed Delahanty. However, Lajoie discovered that while he was earning $2,600, Ed Delahanty was earning $3,000. Rogers increased Lajoie's pay by $200 but the damage had already been done. "Because I felt I had been cheated, I was determined to listen to any reasonable American League offer," Lajoie said. It was nothing personal against Delahanty, for whom Lajoie changed positions to play First Base so Ed could go back to his natural position of Left Field. The two were even roommates on the team. It was a matter of principle. Ed Delahanty’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32c598ae-80e9-46a7-a908-fd97ceb8e573/51+-+Chalmers+Race.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Chalmers Race In 1910 auto magnate Hugh Chalmers offered an automobile to the baseball player with the highest batting average that season. What followed was a batting race unlike any before or since, between the greatest but most despised hitter, Detroit’s Ty Cobb, and the American League’s first superstar, Cleveland’s popular Napoleon Lajoie. The race came down to the last game of the season, igniting more interest among fans than the World Series and becoming a national obsession. Cobb, thinking the prize was safely his, skipped the last two games of the season, while Lajoie suspiciously had eight hits in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. Although initial counts favored Lajoie, American League president Ban Johnson, the sport’s last word, announced Cobb the winner, and amid the controversy both players received cars. Buy Rick Huhn’s amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28df21e7-ca06-4a83-9e60-98293b3f981b/52+-+Elmer+Flick.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Elmer Flick Elmer Flick was the right fielder for Cleveland from 1902 to 1910, before Joe Jackson came to town. A speed demon, from 1904 through 1907, Flick had four straight years with at least a .300 batting average, at least 15 triples, and at least 35 steals. He had 10 straight seasons with 20 or more steals, 7 of those being seasons with 30 or more. Flick also won the 1905 batting title. Elmer Flick’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7fd5b7e4-7d81-461f-915e-437da8a21333/53+-+Elmer+Flick.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Elmer Flick Elmer Flick was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7590a545-b16f-4dfa-919e-669e3977a9a8/54+-+Addie+Josss.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Joss Addie Joss pitched from 1902 to 1910 with the Cleveland Bronchos and Naps. He is baseball’s all-time leader in WHIP, with a 0.968 career mark, and is second all-time in career ERA, with a 1.887 mark, trailing only Ed Walsh’s 1.816 total. Joss completed 234 of the 260 games he started in his career, and finished with 160 wins in a little more than 8 full seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1b9718c-7591-43f6-acff-47055cf852e9/54+-+Addie+Joss+and+Ed+Walsh.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Human Hairpin Joss threw a 74-pitch perfect game against Ed Walsh of the White Sox on October 2, 1908 at League Park in the final days of the 1908 pennant race, and added another no-hitter to his résumé on April 20, 1910 when he beat the White Sox again. Addie Joss’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f02ed7e-90c9-4794-8f13-c8e6b46f2e82/58+-+benefit+game.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field” at Addie Joss’s benefit game, July 24, 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a610ff8f-4fc4-46ba-89dd-316d8f6bae2b/57+-+Benefit+Game.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Joss Benefit Game To help raise money for Joss’ family after he passed away, the players organized the first ever gathering of All-Star players for a benefit game. It was essentially the first All-Star game in history, and it took place on July 24, 1911. The Cleveland Plain Dealer called it “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field.” The total raised was $12,931.60, the equivalent of more than $375,000 today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cb73cac-ee05-48d0-9e86-9bea4506913f/56+-+Addie+Joss.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Addie Joss was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Joss was called the “Human Hairpin” because of his long arms, gangly build and pitching motion. He would turn his back to the plate, sometimes facing second base, and then whirl around and unleash a sidearm delivery to the plate. Hall of Famer Bobby Wallace said “Joss sort of hid the ball on you. One moment, you’d be squinting at a long, graceful windup and the next instant, out of nowhere, the ball was hopping across the plate – and a lot of us were caught standing flat-footed with our bat glued to our shoulders.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/736528fe-e076-40d0-9fbd-c0af64749713/59+-+Jack+Graney.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack Graney From 1908 to 1922, Jack Graney was the Left Fielder for the Cleveland Naps and Indians. Though not officially named, he was essentially the team captain. Never one to hit for power or for a high average, Graney generated offense by working the count and drawing walks, earning the nickname “Three-and-two Jack” in the process. Graney’s hitting philosophy worked: despite posting a career batting average of just .250, the left-hander registered a .354 on-base percentage, and twice led the league in base on balls. Jack Graney’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9386cbc-9ec6-4977-adcc-e4f274086e28/60+-+Jack+and+Larry.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack & Larry Jack’s dog Larry was beloved by fans and players alike. He was a Bull Terrier who could do tricks and acted as on-field entertainment before games and between innings on many occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1ddc88a-b5dc-4bfe-9833-09f446cbccb9/60b+-+Team+Photo+With+Larry.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Team Photos With Larry While there are actually official team photos taken with Larry in them, here’s a rarely seen image taken by photographer Frank W. Smith of a handful of Naps out on an excursion with Larry in Athens, Georgia during the team’s 1914 Spring Training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28d55dae-32b4-4a92-8f25-ac9fbee52bce/60a+-+Larry+Plays+Leap+Frog.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Playing Leap Frog This image was taken by Frank W. Smith at 1914 Spring Training for the Cleveland Naps in Athens, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a036c4e5-7de0-4195-bd56-4960e28879d4/59+-+Graney.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - As A Broadcaster Not only was Jack Graney a major part of the team as a player, but he eventually became the play-by-play broadcaster for the Indians from 1932 to 1953, widely considered to be the first former big league player to broadcast a major league game. Graney called the World Series for a national audience in 1935 and also broadcast that year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland. Graney was the 2022 Ford C. Frick Award winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2309b743-44d3-4596-ac7e-2f9928d996d9/63+-+Herb+Score.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Herb Score Herb Score pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1955 through 1959 and the Chicago White Sox from 1960 through 1962. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1955, and an AL All-Star in 1955 and 1956. Due to an on-field injury that occurred in 1957, he retired early as a player in 1962. Score was a television and radio broadcaster for the Indians from 1964 through 1997. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006. Herb Score SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d003904d-626d-47ef-8df2-51a93cfc9932/64+-+Hough+neighborhood.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Rebuilt with steel and concrete in 1910, Jeremy describes the updated version of League Park as a “reverse Fenway” with a huge wall in Right Field to accommodate for the short dimensions to the fence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0053f72c-3a56-4d52-bd91-5b4221a3d5da/65+-+Right+Field+wall.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Right Field Wall A good second baseman would turn and run toward the outfield if a ball was hit at the right field fence because caroms off the wall were wildly unpredictable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b657871-2d60-4e10-b6d1-c747cc36331e/66+-+League+Park+today.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out League Park today, with a modern fence built to the same height as the original. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cbd04701-8432-45fa-ba04-bd7269daf145/67+-+dimensions.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Deep CF Look at how deep it is to straightaway center field. The fact that Tris Speaker would play shallow enough to be able to turn unassisted double plays in this park is insane. But he knew what he was capable of, and he made it happen. Check out the 360 degree views of League Park from the upper deck, recreated by Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks, by clicking HERE (trust me, do it). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/472ea99c-3e45-41ed-81ac-a454026dc5cf/68+-+League+Park+toilet.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Men’s Restroom Circled here, the men’s restroom on first base side of the lower level had a window which overlooked the field, so you wouldn’t have to miss any action while you were taking care of business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8a5594a-7751-461d-a571-ca4d568b947b/69+-+League+Park+toilet+view.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - View From The Restroom Not too shabby, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/317bed56-cb29-44f8-8d81-fb129fc7da4c/70+-+Progressive+Field.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Progressive Field Even though it’s still only a few decades old, Progressive Field has already seen tons of history, including play during three World Series, two All-Star Games, a 22-game winning streak, and countless walk-off wins. Not to mention, a 455-game sellout streak which lasted from June 12, 1995 through April 4, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab005a56-8cbd-4ac9-bf2e-f8037ec2a351/71+-+Cleveland+Municipal+Stadium+being+built.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, under construction in 1931. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a55f1a02-ef88-431b-97de-0759fd51abb7/72+-+1920+World+Series.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1920 World Series The 1920 World Series was the first World Series played at League Park. Cleveland hosted games 4 through 7 of the series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/066e384b-fe17-49c6-9242-9dd12bdd17f9/70+-+1945+Cleveland+Buckeyes.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes “The Cleveland Buckeyes … astounded the diamond world by knocking off the Homestead Grays, long the dominant force in Negro baseball, in four straight games in the world series,” wrote legendary Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith. “… Cleveland ‘breezed’ through the series in easy fashion.” SABR Games Project - September 20, 1945 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f9395d8-d9fe-42bb-9e16-78c33ca6f30c/74+-+Ray+Chapman+portrait.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman By 1915, Cleveland owner Charlie Somers was in such financial trouble that he was only able to afford to keep one of his team’s two superstars. He was faced with a decision between building around Ray Chapman, or building around Shoeless Joe Jackson. He chose Ray. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bba0bff-4cb1-4d5d-bd96-e6c39e31a80e/75+-+Steve+O%27Neill.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Steve O’Neill Steve O’Neill was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Steve O’Neill’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c09b1729-596f-4416-b706-eb461830e96a/76+-+Charlie+Jamieson.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Charlie Jamieson Charlie Jamieson was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Charlie Jamieson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4756b73-2008-410f-8150-d5fd21fe9ff3/77+-+Charles+Conlon+1913+b%26w.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Shoeless Joe Jackson People say that Joe Jackson’s first three full seasons in baseball may be the best 3-year run in history. From 1911 through 1913, he led the major leagues with 656 hits. He slashed a .393 batting average, a .462 on base percentage, and a .574 slugging percentage with a 192 OPS+. He averaged 219 hits, 43 doubles, 21 triples and 6 home runs. He also averaged 119 runs, 81 runs batted in, 34 steals, and 320 total bases per season. Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/694cac3d-8250-48d7-9c32-62cdabe36203/78+-+Bris+Lord.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bris Lord Bristol Robotham Lord played from 1905 to 1913 for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps, and Boston Braves. Lord, pictured here, is best known for a 1910 trade between Philadelphia and Cleveland in which he was exchanged for Morrie Rath and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Jackson had only played 10 games in his MLB career at that point, but went on to become one of the best hitters in baseball history. Morrie Rath’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a3f468b-0079-4175-89d9-139309cc2509/79+-+Joe%27s+former+home.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out This vacant lot at 7209 Lexington Avenue was where Joe Jackson once lived. League Park is a couple blocks to the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b34e5d9-2e1b-4b2d-a505-9ffa1e5dca20/80+-+boarding+house.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 6301 Hough Ave. Was this once a boarding house where the likes of Tris Speaker and Ray Chapman once lived? Jeremy did some digging on twitter to try to find the answer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1de177ec-ecb3-4329-87fb-441d82ff1e49/81+-+Jim+Dunn.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jim Dunn One of James Dunn’s earliest moves as the new owner of the Cleveland team was to rehire most of the front-office staff and meet personally with Charles Somers for his input, assuring a smooth transition. Somers was certainly impressed. He gave his support to Dunn, calling him “a real live wire (who) will … give Cleveland a good ball club.” His most significant early move was the acquisition of Tris Speaker, star center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. The deal was expensive, costing Cleveland two players, including a solid pitcher, as well as $55,000 in cash. Dunn asserted: “A tail-ender will not pay in Cleveland, but a first division team will draw big … I would not have thought of entering baseball if I had intended to be content with a second division outfit.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/804bec4d-1b6c-4692-a95e-402aa5d5828c/82+-+Speaker+trade.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Tris Speaker trade to Cleveland was not without a little controversy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/734395d3-7abe-4244-8f51-29a284ecc363/83+-+Tris+Speaker.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tris Speaker Legendary for his short outfield play, Tris Speaker led the American League in putouts seven times and in double plays six times in a 22-year career with Boston, Cleveland, Washington, and Philadelphia. Speaker’s career totals in both categories are still major-league records at his position. No slouch at the plate, Speaker had a lifetime batting average of .345, sixth on the all-time list, and no one has surpassed his career mark of 792 doubles. Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac94e0dc-2b32-498a-a608-54a8120c1459/84+-+Speaker+and+Doby.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Complicated Legacy While Speaker is rumored to have been a member of the KKK in Texas, he was also a supporter of Larry Doby’s when he broke the American League’s color barrier with Cleveland. Here, Speaker demonstrates batting for Cleveland players. Left to right: Luke Easter (1B), Jim Hegan (C), Larry Doby (OF), Ray Boone (SS), and Al Rosen (3B). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3af714af-eae0-473c-b264-2c3e98a2d5e9/84+-+Tris+Speaker.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Grey Eagle Tris Speaker was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acd39696-0bc6-4d86-90b1-c11689a5bddd/86+-+Dutch+Leonard+Affair.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Dutch Leonard Affair In May of 1926, Dutch Leonard contacted the office of the Tigers and informed Detroit owner, Frank Joseph Navin, that he held proof that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker had fixed and bet on a game played on September 25, 1919. Leonard contacted Ban Johnson's office, as well. Navin and Johnson believed Leonard's story and agreed to buy him off for $20,000, the amount that Leonard argued Detroit owed him. So, Dutch surrendered his two letters of proof to them. They, in turn, notified Commissioner Landis of the events, as a courtesy. Next, Johnson contacted the two players and called them into his office. Cobb and Speaker denied the charges. Johnson, not believing them, told them they had to quit. On November 2, Ty left a letter of resignation at Navin's office. On November 29, Speaker's resignation was announced, with no explanation given. Dutch Leonard’s SABR Biography Baseball Gods In Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bbf1c3e-a49c-4faa-bd68-6491ad541ec8/87+-+Ray+Chapman.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman had four seasons with 10 or more triples, six straight seasons with 20 or more steals, including 52 in 1917. He was a great team player, leading the American League in sacrifice hits three times in his eight seasons, and was just really well-liked by teammates and opponents. August 16, 1920 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e6519e2-fbca-4048-a4be-fcf799b75e37/89+-+War+On+The+Diamond.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - War On The Diamond War On The Diamond is a documentary which tells the story of how the death of Ray Chapman in 1920 sparked a 100-year rivalry between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. You can watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bbde25c-ee7c-4fce-94fa-8b6fb63e01c5/90+-+Joe+Sewell.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Sewell Joe Sewell got called up in mid-September of 1920 and ended up taking Ray Chapman’s place at Shortstop in the middle of a pennant race after Ray passed away. He was only 21 years old, but he hit over .300 and struck out only 4 times for the rest of the season. From 1921 through 1929, back when there were only 154 games in a season, Sewell never played less than 152 games in a season. Joe Sewell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35e6ec7d-e2d6-4bff-a163-9c399cd610d0/91+-+Joe+Sewell.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Sewell Joe Sewell was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a68f4897-7e8c-4c8b-9d00-f7175687828d/92+-+Chapman%27s+grave.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman’s Grave Ray Chapman is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. His marker is always covered with baseballs and Cleveland baseball mementos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7435da49-3efe-41ab-a536-aa564ebae44b/93+-+Ray+Chapman.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfc88e48-a962-4e35-9e45-091e6c697e0b/94+-+Black+arm+bands.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out After Ray’s passing, the team wore black arm bands on their sleeves to remember their fallen teammate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dd3d1d1-fb5c-4ae0-925c-3cc6cabba91c/95+-+Tim+Murnane.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tim Murnane Tim Murnane had gotten his start in professional baseball as a member of the 1872 Middletown (CT) Mansfields before six seasons of service to the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia White Stockings, the Boston Red Caps, and the Providence Grays. When Murnane suffered a fatal heart attack while attending an opera performance at Schubert Theater in Boston in February of 1917, it was learned that he had left only meager savings from his long baseball career to support his widow and four children from his second marriage. A memorial fund was established, with the support of the American League and the Baseball Writers Association of America, and Murnane's good friend and former Red Sox team owner John I. Taylor began to orchestrate plans for a benefit game pitting his old club against a selection of Major League greats. Tim Murnane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99f16be3-8460-4cfb-b7c1-f3037316d018/96+-+Benefit+game.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tim Murnane Benefit Game Before the game was played, multiple skills competitions were held. Ray Chapman was the fastest player to round the bases. He is pictured here on that day, also with (left to right) Rabbit Maranville, Ty Cobb, and Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2691f976-12b0-4f35-b05c-f9cb26680ff7/97+-+Cooperstown+Casebook.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cooperstown Casebook Jay Jaffe shows us how to use his revolutionary ranking system to ensure the right players are recognized at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The foundation of Jaffe’s approach is his JAWS system, an acronym for the Jaffe WAR Score, which he developed over a decade ago. Through JAWS, each candidate can be objectively compared on the basis of career and peak value to the players at his position who are already in the Hall of Fame. Because of its utility, JAWS has gained an increasing amount of exposure in recent years. Buy The Cooperstown Casebook HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a144dc71-bf5a-4dff-abf1-f78ae8da53d6/94+-+Ray%27s+plaque.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Ray Chapman memorial plaque was lost for years, but is now on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b821f45-053a-4d71-aad3-72f93f00ad65/99+-1920+White+Sox.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1920 Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox had thrown the 1919 World Series, but they hadn’t been caught or punished after the series, so they played almost the entire 1920 season. During the span of the previous four years, from August 26th, 1916 through August 26th, 1920, the White Sox never lost more than 4 games in a row. But from August 27th to September 4th, 1920, the White Sox lost seven consecutive games, falling all the way down to third place in the American League, behind the first place Indians and the second place Yankees. Here, Joe Jackson takes batting practice before a 1920 White Sox game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59134bac-dab6-4853-b0cc-381543faa1dd/100+-+Wamby+Triple+Play.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Game 5 of the 1920 World Series In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, Cleveland turned an unassisted triple play, Elmer Smith hit a grand slam, and pitcher Jim Bagby, Sr. hit a home run against the Brooklyn Robins (today's Dodgers). It was the first time any of those events had ever happened in the World Series, and shortstop Bill Wambsganss's big moment remains the only unassisted triple play in the history of the postseason. Bill Wambsganss' SABR Biography Elmer Smith’s SABR Biography Jim Bagby, Sr.’s SABR Biography October 10, 1920 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d213039-2cd6-4dda-9aef-0e6c8ec7a005/101+-+1917-world-series-ring-close-up.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Jackson’s World Series Ring While the White Sox didn’t technically give out rings after the team won the 1917 World Series, Joe Jackson had his fob turned into a ring. I’ve been lucky enough to wear it a couple times, and yes, it’s as cool as you’d imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b83fd9a-1d04-4243-8ba0-d66d433fc68c/102+-+Babe+at+League+Park.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe Ruth at League Park In 173 career games at League Park, Babe Ruth batted .372 with 46 home runs, 33 doubles and 11 triples. He drove in 144 runs, scored 147, and had 394 total bases. He walked 177 times in 173 games, which helped him achieve a .528 career on base percentage at League Park. Babe Ruth holds the all-time record with a .689 career slugging percentage. Second place all-time is Ted Williams at .634, more than 50 points behind him. But at League Park, Babe slugged .728. Cleveland pitcher George Uhle said the hardest ball he ever saw hit was a line drive Babe hit at League Park. It was still rising when it hit the top of the screen near the scoreboard, 460 feet away. Uhle said, “It was the most terrific hit I ever saw. It would have landed on East 79th Street, but the screen stopped it and he only got a double.” George Uhle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a96d4bbc-4028-425d-8c1d-69f7f70b27f2/103+-+View+from+the+Andrews+Storage+Company.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe Ruth’s 500th HR Babe Ruth became the first player ever to hit a 500th career home run when he put a ball over the right field fence at League Park on August 11, 1929. This is the view from the Andrews Storage Company building rooftop, just across Lexington Avenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d7deb1c-7b30-442d-8d41-c9774bdc1b50/104+-+Joe+DiMaggio+at+League+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game Hit Streak Joe DiMaggio’s record-breaking hitting streak was snapped at League Park on July 17, 1941. July 17, 1941 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43bbcbc9-996f-4da2-9d62-4df23786b111/105+-+babe%27s+500th.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe’s 500th Babe gave Jack Geiser, the kid who retrieved and returned the ball Ruth hit for his 500th home run, a $20 bill (the equivalent of more than $300 today), an autographed baseball (worth about $25,000 today), and a chance to sit in the Yankees’ dugout. Ruth is seen here with Lou Gehrig looking at the home run ball in the League Park dugout on August 11, 1929. At the end of the 1929 season, Ruth had 516 career home runs. Rogers Hornsby was 2nd on baseball’s all-time list with 277. August 12, 1929 Cleveland Plain Dealer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3588d2f9-fec8-4c42-82dd-9fe5d49cdcbd/106+-+Bob+Feller+exhibit.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Bob Feller exhibit in the Terrace Club at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e3db030-8212-42cb-9657-eb27581694cc/107+-+Bob%27s+ball.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller’s Contract Ball? “My father signed [my first] contract with me, as my guardian. I received a check for $1.00 to make it legal…I also received a ball autographed by all the Cleveland Indians.” — Excerpt from Bob Feller’s Little Black Book of Baseball Wisdom Jeremy and the Guardians have the ball pictured here on display at the Bob Feller exhibit, but is this that baseball? The story of Bob’s “gopher ball” signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59fe22c6-f2af-4c51-b2ca-dda1660c8b79/108+-+Ray+Fosse.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Fosse In the first half of 1970, Ray Fosse hit .313 with 16 home runs and 45 runs batted in. He hit in 23 consecutive games beginning June 9, the longest AL streak since 1961. Fosse was rewarded with a spot on the American League All-Star Game roster. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Pete Rose singled and was on second when the Cubs’ Jim Hickman singled to center field. The Royals’ Amos Otis fired the ball home to try to nail Rose. Fosse moved up the third-base line to catch the throw from Otis when Rose and the baseball seemingly arrived at the same time. Rose crashed into Fosse’s left shoulder to score the winning run, bowling Fosse over. Ray Fosse’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc96a6b8-f793-401c-ba93-167901ebee19/109+-+Hotz+Cafe.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Hotz Café In 1919 Hotz Café was only in business for about a year when Prohibition began. The café survived that era (1920-1933) as a speakeasy, attracting such high-profile characters as Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2672e680-eeca-4957-9bc1-1e4fba231cc5/110+-+Hotz.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Hotz Café Today "One night, after a baseball game, Babe Ruth came in and bought rounds for everyone in the bar," says Hotz. The Babe paid his tab with a check. "Thirteen dollars and sixty-five cents," says Hotz. The Yankee legend rarely paid for a drink, however -- even when he "paid." "We still have it in my mom's safe," says Hotz. "My grandpa refused to cash it." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da6aa006-a9dd-41e5-b41b-a0c10ed2d30b/111+-+Earl+Averill.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl Averill Earl Averill was another great Centerfielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1929 to 1939, picking up right where Tris Speaker left off. The first ever All-Star Game in Major League history was in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Earl was selected as an All-Star every year from 1933 through 1938 when he was 36 years old. He was top 10 in MVP voting 4 times, and top 5 three times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9a4427-838e-4d7c-b886-99344befc206/112+-+Earl+Averill.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl Averill Earl Averill was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62b39699-d0cc-4a36-8d4c-40c24af1ce96/113+-+Earl%27s+clock.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl’s Indians HOF Clock Each of the 10 original inductees received Atmos clocks by Jaeger-LeCoultre with a special engraving. Averill’s inscription reads: Howard Earl Averill Chosen by fans as outfield on all-time Cleveland all-star team Charter member of Cleveland Hall of Fame Sept - 2 - 1951 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b38df8a3-5c65-4228-8cf5-a3755509f3cf/114+-+Municipal+Stadium.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Municipal Stadium Municipal Stadium was completed in 1931 and was designed for access by automobile. It held 80,000 people, which, for most of its tenure, was the largest seating capacity of any Major League stadium. The stadium was built for football, and for the Indians, and the Indians played all of their games at the stadium from the middle of the 1932 season through 1933. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2abfe33a-a7f2-4f3c-b4c2-fae1b556f708/115+-+ballpark+mustard.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ballpark Mustard Bertman Original Ballpark Mustard is a brown mustard made by Bertman Foods Company, a Cleveland food manufacturer and distributor which has produced several varieties of mustards since 1925, well known regionally because they are served at sports stadiums around Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/119582e4-d696-49f6-881e-4d2c3d7bf217/116+-+Lou+Boudreau.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Lou Boudreau was a Shortstop with the Cleveland Indians from 1938 to 1950. He was player/manager from 1942 through 1950. Lou finished 17th or higher in MVP voting for every single year in the 1940s, including 8 top-10 finishes, 3 top-5 finishes, and actually winning the award in 1948 when he had career-highs in nearly every offensive category: hits, home runs, runs, RBI, walks, batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS+, and total bases. Lou Boudreau’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/883064a4-0247-4c18-880f-f67ea4f86122/117+-+Lou+Boudreau.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Lou Boudreau was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57823349-67e0-4126-918a-e0c66d8c0a4c/118+-+The+Kid+From+Cleveland.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Kid From Cleveland The Kid from Cleveland chronicles the journey of a troubled teenage baseball enthusiast from northeast Ohio. He’s taken under the wing of the 1948 World Champion Cleveland Indians, with personalities such as Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Tris Speaker, Hank Greenberg, Satchel Paige, and Bill Veeck playing pivotal roles. Watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a427460-607c-4318-8b3b-6476eee6f9fd/119+-+Rocky+Colavito.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Rocky Colavito Rocky Colavito was a nine-time All-Star who averaged 33 home runs per year for his first 11 seasons, exceeding 40 home runs three times and 100 runs batted in six times. Colavito was the fifth player in the history of the American League to have eleven consecutive 20 home run seasons (1956–1966). In 1959, he hit four consecutive home runs in one game and, was the AL home run champion. He was also the first outfielder in AL history to complete a season without making an error. “The Curse of Rocky Colavito” is a phenomenon that supposedly prevents Cleveland from winning the World Series. Its origin is traced back to the unpopular trade of the right fielder to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn in 1960. Rocky Colavito’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/396637bc-583c-446e-966a-770163ae7946/120+-+Bob+Feller.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Bob Feller was a right-handed starting pitcher who began his career at the age of 17, before he finished high school. His high school graduation was covered by network radio. He served as an anti-aircraft gunner on the battleship USS Alabama in WWII, missing 4 years in the prime of his career, and yet he STILL won 266 games. An extremely conservative estimate is that he would have won another 70 if he hadn’t left for the war, some people think he would have won another 100 games had he not missed that time. Even still, he threw 3 no-hitters, including one on opening day in 1940 when he was only 21 years old, and another 12 one-hitters. Bob Feller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97a10b40-91af-4ba1-9eb3-9329f2d6947a/121+-+Bob+Feller.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Bob Feller was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58881b40-713e-4654-8402-e760d388c141/122+-+Our+Team.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Our Team In intimate, absorbing detail, Luke Epplin’s Our Team traces the story of the integration of the Cleveland Indians and their quest for a World Series title through four key participants: Bill Veeck, an eccentric and visionary owner adept at exploding fireworks on and off the field; Larry Doby, a soft-spoken, hard-hitting pioneer whose major-league breakthrough shattered stereotypes that so much of white America held about Black ballplayers; Bob Feller, a pitching prodigy from the Iowa cornfields who set the template for the athlete as businessman; and Satchel Paige, a legendary pitcher from the Negro Leagues whose belated entry into the majors whipped baseball fans across the country into a frenzy. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0229e301-3b4a-4409-a8aa-65913d2c825f/123+-+Anne+Feller.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Anne Feller Bob’s widow, Anne Feller, cut the red ribbon with Bobby D to officially open the Bob Feller exhibit. That same day, May 13, 2015, Corey Kluber tied Feller’s club record with 18 strikeouts in a regulation game (set by Bob on October 2, 1938, against Detroit) when he struck out 18 Cardinals in only 8 innings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/438c9df9-4a71-4ff9-b519-fa3c94bc32e9/124+-+navy.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - In The Navy Bob Feller was the first major sports celebrity to enlist in the military after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, doing so just days after the attack. In the weeks and months that followed, others followed his lead, including some of baseball’s brightest stars. Joe DiMaggio. Ted Williams. Hank Greenberg. Stan Musial. A total of 4,500 professional ballplayers ended up serving in World War II. But Feller led the way. As veteran sportswriter Bob Hertzel wrote in 2010 at the time of Feller’s death, “Feller made it the American thing to do, to give up life as a professional athlete to serve in the military effort against Germany and Japan.’’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba0e2524-9c12-4a5f-9686-ca2450130d93/125+-+veeck.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bill Veeck Bill Veeck bought the team for $1.6 million on June 22, 1946. He saw 80,000 empty seats by the lakefront and decided he wanted all of Cleveland’s home games played there again. Veeck was instrumental in signing Larry Doby to the club, breaking the color barrier in the American League. The two are seen here together. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography Listen to my interview with Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93bf950f-3cc8-4e79-b73a-8151b4365348/126+-+Doby.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American league when he became the first Black player for the Cleveland Indians. Some people say he may have had it even harder than Jackie Robinson. Jackie played in Montreal in 1946, so he had a whole year of preparation for the treatment he would face when he got to the Major Leagues, playing against white players, and in front of mostly white fans. Doby, on the other hand, was playing with the Newark Eagles of the Negro League until July 2, 1947, when he signed with Cleveland. He made his Cleveland Indians debut three days later, on July 5 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, becoming the first player to go directly to the white Major Leagues from the Negro leagues. Larry Doby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b1947f9-4e8f-4b95-a89d-bc173c39e064/127+-+Doby.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Doby came up as a 2nd baseman, but moved to center field in 1948, where he would eventually become a 7-time All Star. He played with Cleveland from 1947 through 1955, then came back for one more year with the team in 1958. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f33e6fe3-20fd-42a5-9971-ec4bd8cef890/128+-+Doby.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Larry Doby was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/078932be-1c17-444a-ac35-6e68fea466e0/129+-+Luke+Easter.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Luke Easter Luke Easter was best known for his powerful home runs, colloquially known as "Easter Eggs." On July 18, 1948, while with the Homestead Grays, Easter became the first player to hit a home run into the center field bleachers at New York's Polo Grounds during game action, a drive estimated at 490 feet. During his rookie season, he hit the longest home run in the history of Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, a 477-foot blast over the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. The only other player to match that feat was Mickey Mantle, who did it in 1960. Luke Easter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe8f1118-0954-42e8-a09f-7b556f89e989/130+-+Cleveland+Cubs.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Cubs The Cleveland Cubs were a Negro League baseball team in Cleveland in 1931 and 1932. Even though they were hampered by disarray in the Negro Leagues and the crumbling economy, the Cubs managed the best record for a pre-World War II Cleveland Negro League team at 29 wins and 24 losses in 1931. The team played a great deal of its games at Kinsman Hardware Field, a small venue that only held a few thousand fans. The best player on their 1931 team was a pitcher named Satchel Paige, seen here. Paige had a 199 ERA+, a 0.908 WHIP, and averaged 4.5 strikeouts for every walk that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/668f549f-b1d8-4350-ac2b-32f399b5e4e7/131+-+Satchel+Paige.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige was 41 years old (maybe???) when the Indians signed him in 1948. A lot of people thought it was a gimmick. A publicity stunt. That Paige was washed up, and Bill Veeck knew it, but he was trying to sell tickets to black fans in Cleveland. He wasn’t washed up, though, and became an integral part of Cleveland’s run to the World Series. Larry Doby and Satchel Paige became the first African-American players to win a World Series championship when the Indians won in 1948. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cedb5d3-a7bf-4506-89a1-b50c4387ee5f/132+-+Paige.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a4e2ad4-05c8-40e9-972f-249b88901381/133+-+one+game+playoff.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - One Game Playoff The 1948 American League tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to the 1948 regular season, played between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox to determine the winner of the American League pennant. The game was played on October 4, 1948, at Fenway Park in Boston. It was necessary after both teams finished the season with identical win–loss records of 96–58. This was the first-ever one-game playoff in the AL, and the only one before 1969, when the leagues were split into divisions. Gene Bearden SABR Biography October 4, 1948 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/246ea9e5-9edb-462d-a4db-557a923bdd9f/134+-+Cleveland+Buckeyes.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Buckeyes The Cleveland Buckeyes existed in an era of war and racial strife. Overshadowed by the Indians' title in 1948, the Buckeyes were a very prominent team in the Negro American League, having won a World Series in 1945. The decline of the Buckeyes was not a result of decreased competitive play on the field, but rather the integration of Major League Baseball. Buy Stephanie Liscio’s book Integrating Cleveland Baseball HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76d157d9-c3a2-406e-9502-f04ce75865ed/135+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - A Second Life The original ticket office from League Park still stands, seen here at the corner of 66th and Lexington in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. The Baseball Heritage Museum now operates out of the ticket office building, and the renovated field has gotten a second life thanks to investments from the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bd3b54a-a5ab-4dfd-b94a-69389de23b73/136+-+HOF.PNG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame In 1951, the Indians spent about $25,000 to design a special S-shaped room on the lower level of Cleveland Municipal Stadium which housed the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. It was the vision of the team’s public relations director, Marshall Samuel, after visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He convinced Indians’ vice president Nate Dolin to create a museum for their own team’s history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1993ff1b-4470-4540-bcbc-0da970642f74/137+-+1970+Cleveland+Indians+Hall+Of+Fame.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Artifacts A lot of the artifacts which were supposedly once in the team’s Hall of Fame were unfortunately lost, sold, or stolen over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40978579-ba1f-43e1-9138-725079f44b0d/138+-+Joe+Jackson.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Inaugural Class The inaugural class of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 1951 included 10 former players: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, Earl Averill, Mel Harder, Ken Keltner, Steve O’Neill, Joe Sewell, and Hal Trosky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e137ab6-6f9f-4ec0-b365-5022188525ac/139+-+Joe%27s+clock.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe’s Clock While Joe probably never had the chance to see it, the Indians did, indeed, send the clock to the Jacksons in recognition of Joe’s induction into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. This photo, from the Jackson family scrapbooks, shows where Katie kept the clock on their mantel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0e825c6-eef1-48fc-a26c-cbce70c8bacc/140+-+gone.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Gone Without A Trace? There are a handful of theories as to where some of the missing items may be. Unfortunately, we will most likely never know for sure, and the team will almost certainly never get them back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ffb6dc2-9bd0-410c-980a-8b4667642d25/141+-+Heritage+Park.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Heritage Park at Progressive Field honors all the members of Cleveland’s Hall of Fame. Frank Robinson, MLB’s first ever Black manager, is the statue in the center of the plaza. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b52c345c-d2ed-4bf6-be43-7fe5cf504d6b/142+-+Doby%27s+contract.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby’s Contract On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby and Indians Owner Bill Veeck met in the General Manager’s office at Comiskey Park to hammer out the details of Doby’s contract. For $5,000 and a promise of $1,000 more if he was still with the team 30 days after signing, Doby was officially a member of the Cleveland Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a832c9a8-1240-4afc-aa20-cee1301c386d/143+-+Feller%27s+bat.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The bat Babe Ruth was leaning on in the famous photo was actually Bob Feller’s bat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d2534d4-af86-4a40-b285-0b1876917271/144+-+2019+ASG.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 2019 All-Star Game The team also has a number of items from the 2019 All-Star Game and its festivities, which were held at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07afacfd-81fa-400f-bfb3-954289dd8b05/145+-+1916+uniform.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1916 Uniform Numbers On June 26, 1916, Indians management rolled out the new concept of numbered uniforms. The next day, The Plain Dealer recorded a brief mention of this historic event: “An innovation was sprung by the management when the Indians appeared with numbers upon their sleeves such as are worn by the drivers of race horses. It was the carrying out of an idea by Vice President Robert McRoy, and will, it is expected, be adopted by the league. Graney for instance, is № 1; Turner, № 2; Speaker № 3; and so on.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a9de61f-5f4b-457a-9868-1c7e93101210/146+-+1921.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1921 Worlds Champions In 1921, the Cleveland Indians wore "Worlds Champions" across their chests because they could — they won the World Series in 1920. Imagine the hubris it takes to wear that on the front of your jersey everyday. Everyone says the reigning champs in any sport have a target on their back, but that's speaking figuratively. This is a target on the front. The Indians finished 94-60 in 1921, good for second in the AL behind the Yanks at 98-55. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b2e13c-17fd-4f75-966b-c82652e9a35b/147+-+Caldwell.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Caldwell “The bolts flashed here and there, causing much excitement,” Harry P. Edwards wrote in The Sporting News. “There was a blinding flash that seemed to set the diamond on fire and Caldwell was knocked flat from the shock of it.” Ray Caldwell’s SABR Biography August 24, 1919 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df7ff6ba-1330-4be4-bc36-a0fadb482ba3/148+-+Jeremy+Feador.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Follow Jeremy Online Jeremy’s Twitter Guardians Fan Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b4413ff-aad7-4c48-8b78-e5918a740608/149+-+Guardians.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Follow The Guardians Online Facebook Twitter Instagram Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15b4663c-7e05-4bc4-985b-d410755e3be0/150+-+podcast.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jeremy’s Podcast Cleveland’s Team: A Baseball History Podcast Apple Podcasts Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/849b9c81-f1e4-4356-8303-d4f2fe4e72a7/151+-+Indians.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1994 Indians I’m in the middle row, kneeling, all the way on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3229d336-5abc-4a2c-b39f-3448aa66e5ee/152+-+Matt+Corning.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Matt Corning A lifelong friend, I met Matt Corning on this Indians team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d7f9a3a-cedd-4775-b077-447efda24f6e/153+-+hat.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - What’s Going On With My Hat? This was clearly before I knew how to properly curve a bill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/919818a0-9356-4be9-8ac5-40e4b1e5a598/154+-+Baseball+Graves+map.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - SABR’s Baseball Graves Map Using data graciously provided by former SABR Director Fred Worth, the Baseball Graves Map contains burial locations of over 9,000 players, managers, owners, executives, and other significant figures from Major League Baseball, the Negro Leagues, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/544b560a-9634-44e7-bc97-7ac8b7da6c1a/155+-+Cy+Young+Museum.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young Museum Cy Young died in Newcomerstown, Ohio. At the Cy Young Museum in that town, you can see his shoes, his rocking chair, the last hat he wore, and a number of other pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb74d8cd-2b26-4f5b-a6fb-7013aafc2ccb/156+-+Cy+Young+cemetery.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Cy Young is buried at this beautiful, yet nondescript, local cemetery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/278bf709-761d-4af9-906b-e56d727eb087/157+-+Cy+Young+grave.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young’s Grave You can find Cy Young’s grave at New Peoli Cemetery in Peoli, Ohio, which is in Tuscarawas County. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/356e52b4-92a5-4bf4-8ec2-377dbe8258f5/158+-+Javan+Emory+circa+1885.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Javan Emory “Some photographs tell stories; others keep secrets.” This is a stunning example of an image that doesn’t immediately answer all of your questions. It was taken circa 1885 of catching phenom Javan Isaac Emory. Javan Emory was a celebrated catcher at a time when catching was dangerous and required real courage. He often caught for celebrated Black pitcher George Stovey. His capabilities as a catcher during an exhibition game for a National League “proved to be so threatening that Major league baseball drew the color line in direct response.” Read Paul Reiferson’s essay, “He Wears The Mask”, originally published in the Southwest Review from Southern Methodist University, by CLICKING HERE. You can listen to Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/087bfa73-d154-45d1-a864-e261c97a92f0/159+-+Carl+B.+Stokes.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Carl B. Stokes Elected in 1967, Cleveland Mayor Carl B. Stokes’ platform on the environment stressed a people-first approach that we now call environmental justice. Stokes served as the 51st mayor of Cleveland, and was one of the first black elected mayors of a major U.S. city. He is buried at the historic Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b3b84f1-9c7e-4c24-8eef-b9e0a4a79835/160+-+Vince.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Weird Moments In Cleveland Sports Cleveland sports teams have set records for futility in baseball, football, and basketball. But even beyond that, Cleveland sports fans have witnessed more than their share of weird, wild, random, and odd occurrences, from front office ineptitude to absurd losses to bizarre injuries and more. Vince Guerrieri’s book sheds light on them all. You can buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7edea339-30e3-47cd-9d6e-eee8596905c5/161+-+Ray+Chapman%27s+Funeral+by+Louis+Van+Oeyen.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman’s Funeral This photo of the floral arrangements at Ray Chapman's Funeral was taken by Louis Van Oeyen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6349765-3cf0-4a26-ad0e-dabf4d272fee/162+-+The+Pitch+That+Killed.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Pitch That Killed Buy Mike Sowell’s fantastic book The Pitch That Killed: The Story of Carl Mays, Ray Chapman, and the Pennant Race of 1920 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a4b9931-b02d-424c-9710-33c2b2c6d6a7/163+-+Graney.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack Graney Jack Graney was named the winner of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2022 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Graney was the first winner of the award to have been born in Canada. Notice the glasses of water next to Jack on the table, like Jeremy mentioned during our conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e41db61-1fea-49fc-8c60-3be87980687d/164+-+Addie+Joss+panoramic.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Panoramic photo from the Addie Joss benefit game played at League Park on July 24, 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e95bb77-398e-431d-9ca7-7b7e05d21a40/165+-+Jack+and+Larry.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack & Larry Look at the love between these two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81b27fa0-5a7e-4ad9-b067-3544468d8dc8/166+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Museum Van Meter, Iowa’s City Hall still displays certain artifacts and memorabilia from the Bob Feller Museum. The display is available for public viewing at Van Meter City Hall, 310 Mill Street, during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 1pm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b381f4d5-5d31-4f3b-a14e-9b392f392543/167+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Some of the items and displays at the Bob Feller Museum at Van Meter City Hall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ea5a457-4ff2-4937-a449-ad25163582e7/168+-+Iowa+Road+Trip.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Buddy Holly Crash Site Unlike the official "Day the Music Died" shrine at the nearby Surf Ballroom (where the trio played their last concert only a few hours earlier), the memorial at the crash site is strictly D.I.Y. In fact, the site didn't even have a memorial until 1988, when music fan Ken Paquette made a stainless steel monument of a guitar and three records with the names of the three rockers. In 2009 he made a memorial for the pilot as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49df3524-f40c-4cc0-8f4a-2c7b94749a25/169+-+Grant+Wood.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - American Gothic In 1930, Grant Wood took a tour of a small Iowa town and spotted a little white house with a large Gothic window. Inspired, Wood quickly sketched the house and returned home to Cedar Rapids to paint American Gothic. The house still stands to this day and its exterior is viewed by thousands of people each year. The adjacent visitor center welcomes travelers from near and far and provides services for the site, including an exhibit gallery and a gift shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb0fbb42-530a-4334-8031-abed505d7e7d/170+-+Feller+barn.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The barn next to the house where Bob Feller grew up. He supposedly learned how to pitch in this barn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f3e978f-2244-454f-b066-b3bd3718b9d5/171+-+Feller+sign.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Feller Barn Really cool to see the “Feller” sign still hanging after all these years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1505e162-ca8b-4e6d-b35f-fb6d58a9bfc0/172+-+Guardians.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Guardians That’s Progressive Field in the background. The bridge leads you directly to it. It’s a very powerful thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01852caf-37da-4583-8186-a6e73d2e7897/173+-+Art+Deco.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Art Deco Art deco is my favorite style of architecture. You can read a fun twitter thread about it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e0c1446-54f8-4374-82a2-e34d22761b94/174+-+Bob+Busser.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser Bob Busser is an incredible ballpark and arena historian who has photographed hundreds of venues across North America over the past five decades. Bob’s Website Bob shot this photo of League Park on film in 1987. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb93e295-8446-4074-9c34-bc933fc9fb92/175+-+Bob+Busser.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser, Pt. 2 Bob Busser was the winner of the 2019 Tony Salin Award, which is given each year to recognize an individual for their commitment to the preservation of baseball history by the Baseball Reliquary. Bob shot this photo of League Park on film in 1991, 1996, 2003, or 2005. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9da4d844-8e43-4517-aba4-0c0076146e1f/176+-+Bob+Busser.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser, Pt. 3 Bob also has an album on his site of miscellaneous photos at/of League Park at varying stages in its history, including during and after demolition. This photo shows some of the seats along the first base line, with the right field wall and foul pole in the background. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72549992-5c60-46fd-b5fb-d364e4b370d4/177+-++1952-08-15+Opening+Ceremony+at+Municipal+Stadium.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lost To The Sands Of Time These photos are from the Opening Ceremony of the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame at Municipal Stadium on August 15, 1952. Read Jacob Pomrenke’s article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ede7de55-3c8c-42a2-b3ec-41134ea733df/178+-+Mantle.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home Marketed as “an investment opportunity” to interested fans, Mickey Mantle’s boyhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma recently sold for $7 per share. Hopefully one day someone with a vision can turn it into the Mickey Mantle Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/027fe069-1e8f-4f3e-a11c-97b9590c264a/179+-+Comiskey+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Baseball Palace Of The World Thanks to a loan from Charlie Somers, Charles Comiskey was able to build Comiskey Park for his White Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2b0feed-7706-4d50-b9ca-1c86886a8187/180+-+Chalmers+Race.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Chalmers Race of 1910 Lajoie and Cobb battled for the batting title in 1910. Here they are in 1911 with Shoeless Joe Jackson. Their stats in 1911? Lajoie had the "low" batting average of the group at .365, while Jackson set the MLB rookie record with a .408 average. Cobb led the Majors with a .419 average, 127 RBI, and 83 steals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b988b14-c7cb-4081-8d7e-d9d7fe6ea52e/181+-+Dutch+Leonard.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Dutch Leonard Affair A meaningless game at the end of the 1919 regular season almost cost Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker their careers, and their legacies. Here they are in 1911, locked in as they study someone in the batting cage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c76e97fd-694c-4c5e-96fa-9a7d3c7e4ded/182+-+Shibe+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Shibe Park The first steel and concrete stadium ever built, Shibe Park (later known as Connie Mack Stadium) in Philadelphia was a sight to behold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/572f3476-3f4b-4f94-8b66-c5cb28661844/183+-+Comiskey+blueprints.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Blueprints Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks is able to do what he does only if he can get his hands on a full set of blueprints of the stadiums he’s trying to recreate. To date, he has digitally recreated Comiskey Park, League Park, Crosley Field, and Ebbets Field. The blueprints pictured here are from Comiskey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5d3f2f0-8667-44e6-b431-049625121c58/184+-+Bard%27s+Room+decorated.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Period Appropriate Decorations Brian looks at old photos to make sure he’s decorating spaces accurately. Here is a later version of the Bard’s Room at Comiskey Park. You can take a 360 degree tour of an earlier version, decorated appropriately for that era, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3477b189-f077-4313-8fb2-b14a6ad82bfa/185+-+Worlds+Champions+jerseys+-+Tris+Speaker.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tris Speaker The Worlds Champion of recording unassisted double plays in Center Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8eaacc6-51e9-4d9e-9d0c-645d6df2da24/186+-+Lou+Boudreau+Day+in+Harvey%2C+Illinois+1948-10-28.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Day October 28, 1948 was Lou Boudreau Day in Harvey, Illinois, honoring the hometown hero for winning the 1948 World Series. In this photo, Boudreau and Illinois Governor Dwight Green acknowledge the crowd as they drive down the street. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71438166-fed0-4979-8062-228fecadf772/187+-+Jeremy+at+Progressive.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out We should all be as lucky as Jeremy, to get to do something we’re passionate about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e16a889-9c6e-4c72-94d2-a843d5542436/188+-+heritage+park.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Heritage Park If you find yourself at the ballpark in Cleveland at some point, make sure you take a stroll through Heritage Park and look at all of the plaques. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0883a38-f3f5-4f0b-9d26-3a285bb97511/189+-+newsletter.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4dedff-d64b-48a4-8fcc-e85f148a9457/122+-+Our+Team.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Our Team In intimate, absorbing detail, Luke Epplin’s Our Team traces the story of the integration of the Cleveland Indians and their quest for a World Series title through four key participants: Bill Veeck, an eccentric and visionary owner adept at exploding fireworks on and off the field; Larry Doby, a soft-spoken, hard-hitting pioneer whose major-league breakthrough shattered stereotypes that so much of white America held about Black ballplayers; Bob Feller, a pitching prodigy from the Iowa cornfields who set the template for the athlete as businessman; and Satchel Paige, a legendary pitcher from the Negro Leagues whose belated entry into the majors whipped baseball fans across the country into a frenzy. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/413791e0-9423-4446-9b3f-f0b4f2647a57/160+-+Vince.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Weird Moments In Cleveland Sports Cleveland sports teams have set records for futility in baseball, football, and basketball. But even beyond that, Cleveland sports fans have witnessed more than their share of weird, wild, random, and odd occurrences, from front office ineptitude to absurd losses to bizarre injuries and more. Vince Guerrieri’s book sheds light on them all. You can buy it HERE. You can also retweet the pinned tweet on the My Baseball History twitter profile for a chance to win a signed copy of either Luke’s book or Vince’s book, so do that, too! HERE! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5de9df5-2cd0-452f-8165-2cb81f81cf69/190+-+vintage+games.JPG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Vintage Base Ball Me and my mom at the 2021 Vintage Games in Royston, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c5ec325-0c9a-42e9-bea1-1a5d98daff4e/191+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - A Dream Come True I’ve rented the field at League Park for the evening of Friday, July 26th, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. To fulfill a lifelong dream to play on the field at League Park, I will be throwing an 1860s style baseball game that evening which will start at 7:00 pm that night and be open to the public. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73a3ca81-7552-4652-8403-17e4bbfd232b/192+-+The+National.jpg Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The National The 44th National Sports Collectors Convention will be held at the I-X Center in Cleveland from July 24th through July 28th, 2024. Follow The National on twitter HERE. If you’re planning on being in Cleveland for that, carve some time out of your Friday night plans to come watch my game at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3127a4b-433e-45b5-bba0-4f3b4d7b5c71/192+-+Baseball+Heritage+Museum.png Season 3 - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Baseball Heritage Museum Entrance to the game will be $10 per person, but that price will also get you free admission to the Baseball Heritage Museum, which operates out of the original ticket office at League Park. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the museum, as well. Make a donation toward the game HERE. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/07 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10d38781-266a-42ef-8414-258f1a38f1aa/youtube.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a514aec2-7075-4457-8925-881aea4896d2/square.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato Me and Ange Armato after recording our interview in her home in Rockford, Illinois https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6172ef5-1042-482c-80a0-12e77a0df7bc/01+-+AAGPBL.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The AAGPBL was founded by Philip K. Wrigley in 1943. It was the first professional women’s sports league in the United States. Over 600 women played in the league during its 11-year run through 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f2be5a8-759f-4553-8013-fce06fd9fa73/02+-+beauty+standards.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Feminine Ideal Women were selected for their skilled play, but the player also needed to fit what was seen by marketers as a “wholesome, feminine ideal.” In this photo, Grand Rapids Chicks catcher Ruth "Tex" Lessing is adjusting her makeup during spring training in Opa-Locka, Florida in 1948. Lessing has been considered as one of the best defensive catchers in AAGPBL history. Respected for her solid skills behind home plate, including a strong and accurate arm, she set several all-time and single-season records before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury that forced her to retire prematurely. Lessing also was renowned for her fiery and competitive spirit. In 1947, she was fined $100 for punching an umpire after he made a call she disapproved. In response, a collection taken up by fanatics netted more than $2000. She paid the fine and gave the rest of the money to charity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/665fa183-82fb-4236-a3e7-7f804fed3ad4/03+-+1949+spring+training+bus+trip.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Spring Training Ange Armato (second from right) getting ready to board the Rockford Peaches team bus as it heads to Spring Training prior to the 1949 season. Ange Armato’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ecc41a1-0b8b-4996-8d38-14d98aa054d4/04+-+Dave+Pearce+with+Ange+Armato.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dave Pearce Dave lives in Rockford and has an amazing Rockford Peaches collection. He is pictured here with his friend, Ange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03d10080-f2b6-475b-872d-5f2503e78d69/05+-+Graig+Kreindler%27s+Dottie+Kamenshek.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Graig Kreindler Artist and friend of the podcast, Graig Kreindler, had previously painted Peaches great Dottie Kamenshek for Dave Pearce. Graig introduced me to Dave, who then introduced me to Ange, which is how this interview became possible. Dottie Kamenshek’s AAGPBL Profile Listen to Graig’s episode of My Baseball History HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/958f4197-3f96-4d6b-b9db-165844698603/06+-+us+womens+team.JPG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - USA Baseball Women's National Team When the team announced they would be playing an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium in August of 2023, I knew I had to be there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bdc441c-f57d-4bba-84b0-e2dcceecac9c/07+-+Dave%27s+collection.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Some of the many pieces in Dave Pearce’s incredible Rockford Peaches collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6df0c8b-c1fc-47bb-ba50-88d095d331d1/08+-+Ange+Armato+reclining.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Athletic From An Early Age Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Ange would play sports with the boys her age in the fields near her house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/099d5c2d-3f62-4f23-b6d4-e304628e0497/09+-+1945+Peaches+program.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s First Game Ange attended her first Rockford Peaches game in 1945. She was immediately hooked. 1945 Rockford Peaches 1945 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9905760-b6ab-4dff-81c9-4119cd16b3c2/10+-+Carolyn+Morris.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Carolyn Morris A hard-throwing, underhand pitcher, Carolyn “India” Morris had a brief but relevant career in the AAGPBL. She hurled a perfect game, three no-hitters, twelve innings of no-hit ball in a final championship series, and averaged 26 wins in each of her three seasons in the circuit. While many people think the AAGPBL strictly played baseball, the first few years of the league were actually spent playing softball. Carolyn Morris’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dab85bb3-5f97-4230-9ac9-c96b32ee7f0a/11+-+Bill+Allington.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington Bill Allington spent 31 years in baseball as a player (15), coach (4) and manager (12). He started his professional career as an outfielder, playing from 1926 through 1940 with ten teams in four different leagues. Following his playing career, Allington coached in the minors from 1941 to 1944, before landing in the AAGPBL, to become the most successful manager in the league's history. With Allington at the helm, the Rockford Peaches reached the playoff six times, winning the Title in 1945 and in consecutive years from 1948 to 1950. Allington later managed the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1953 and 1954, leading them to the league’s best record in both seasons. Bill Allington’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7569d766-6c01-4286-a9eb-1716aa140013/12+-+1943+ball.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1943 Rules and Regulations In 1943, the league’s first year, a 12” ball was used. There were 65’ between bases, and the pitching distance was 40’. Pitching was done only underhand. For comparison’s sake, a Major League Baseball ball must be between 9 and 9.25”, while the bases are 90’ apart, and the pitching mound is 60’6” from home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e9ecdc7-27b8-4dad-adc1-1d32b4cad3a6/13+-+autographs.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Autographs While players were always willing to sign autographs for fans (and especially for children), Ange doesn’t remember too many people asking the players to sign things. That has made era-specific autographs of players from the AAGPBL particularly hard to find for collectors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66e6c15b-63b0-47f1-b6e0-afc19525fb93/14+-+Snookie+Harrell.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Snookie” Harrell Dorothy “Snookie” Harrell (eventually Snookie Doyle) was a smooth-fielding Shortstop who played with the Peaches from 1944 to 1952. She was a 5-time All-Star who collected 667 hits and stole 229 bases in her career. After eight seasons in the league, Snookie moved on to softball, playing with teams in Phoenix, Portland, and Los Angeles. At the end of her softball career, she even served as manager of the champion Orange Lionettes. Growing up, Snookie was Ange’s favorite player. Snookie Harrell’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1975aec0-73a4-47c3-8618-ba5f878bc1a2/15+-+V+formation.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Playing During WWII The AAGPBL had an impact on American morale during a time when many men had been drafted off to war, leaving behind family and friends. Philip K. Wrigley purposely placed teams in manufacturing cities that were beleaguered by the war effort on the home front. At the beginning of every game, the Star Spangled Banner was played while the girls formed a 'V' for victory in remembrance of the men at war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9550a375-3f7f-4f95-b168-e1cb22c585da/16+-+Age+15+with+DeKalb+softball+team.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - DeKalb Traveling Team When Ange was 15, she played with a traveling team based out of DeKalb, Illinois. In this photo, she is in the front row, second from the left, without a hat on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e64a226c-0dc9-418c-bd7d-0de50caf31af/17+-+Age+15+as+a+fan+with+Rita+Briggs.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - A Loyal Fan Since Ange was local to Rockford, she was able to attend all of the games and eventually became close enough with the team’s players and manager Bill Allington that she felt comfortable asking to participate at practice. Allington obliged, and at the age of 15, Ange was playing with the best team in the AAGPBL on a regular basis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86b040fb-278b-444a-94ef-906e36d6cf67/18+-+1947+batting+practice+with+the+Peaches.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Pitching Batting Practice Before too long, Ange was pitching batting practice to the Peaches. Remember, she was only 17 years old at the time, and not even an official member of the team since she hadn’t yet been offered or signed a contract. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8679110f-2f18-43e3-8228-a1259db33056/19+-+Bill+Allington+and+team.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1945 Rockford Peaches The 1945 Rockford Peaches included (kneeling from left) Alva Jo Fisher, Dottie Key, Kay Rohrer, Betty Carveth, manager Bill Allington, (standing from left) Jean Cione, Helen Filarski, and Irene Kotowitz. The Peaches went 67-43 that season, winning the regular season championship. They went on to also win the playoff championship, beating the Fort Wayne Daisies in the finals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3353b97e-72e5-4090-9c13-eadc5d76592b/20+-+Ticket+-+25+cents.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Tickets Tickets were affordable, as the teams were trying to draw as much attendance as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e1b08dd-09f3-48ac-b848-a8ae94fbda7c/21+-+Smith+field%2C+home+of+the+Grand+Rapids+Chicks+from+1945-%2750..jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Night Games Smith field, home of the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1945-1950, was one of the many stadiums which had lights. This allowed for night games to be played in the AAGPBL. It also helped draw the biggest attendances possible, since day baseball makes it hard for anyone with a day job to attend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e26650d1-bf9d-42c6-acbb-e674ec94db35/22+-+Beyer+Stadium+1950.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Beyer Stadium This photo, taken during a Peaches game in 1950, shows what Ange was talking about with the stands being filled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1b14442-cd47-4ed1-a899-7cfa7468dbf1/23+-+1946+K%26K+Koeds.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1946 K&K Koeds Ange played for the Rockford K&K Koeds during the 1946 season at the age of 16. She is in the top row, third from the right in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b6b8b7c-01ff-4fff-a07a-4013d79b0729/24+-+K%26K+Koeds+uniform.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - New Uniforms Ange designed these uniforms for the Koeds to wear. They look modern and stylish even today, but this was nearly 80 years ago! And Ange was only 16 years old! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b6ca1af-e131-448c-aad9-229bd510933f/25+-+K%26K+Koeds.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange In Her Own Uniform It’s not often that an athlete can say that they personally designed the uniforms their team wore. But Ange can say that about the Rockford K&K Koeds. Here she is, standing, wearing the uniform she designed for the team. The Koeds were a traveling team that played in cities such as Kenosha, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96341ae0-483a-40b0-a03a-903880bd3a73/26+-+1946.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1946 Rules and Regulations In 1946, the league changed to an 11” ball for game play after playing with an 11.5” ball in 1944 and 1945. The distance between the bases was increased to 72’, up from 68’ in 1944 and 1945. In 1945, the pitching distance increased from 40’ to 42’, but they pushed it back another foot in 1946, making the distance 43’ from the rubber to home plate. Pitching was still allowed to be done underhand, but starting in 1946, the AAGPBL also allowed sidearm delivery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea75f3b-f1be-45d6-817d-666054f20b34/27+-+1948+Spring+Training+in+Florida.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Spring Training Though she was still young and underweight, Ange was invited to Spring Training in 1948 by Peaches manager Bill Allington. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28b7555c-571a-4228-98aa-9fea9c8db896/28+-+1948.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Rules and Regulations In 1948, the league changed to a 10 3/8” ball for game play after playing with an 11” ball the previous two seasons. The distance between the bases remained at 72’, but the pitching distance was moved all the way back to 50’ after having been only 43’ each of the previous two seasons. However, the reason for this drastic move back was because in 1948, overhand pitching became legal for the first time in AAGPBL history. Sidearm delivery was still allowed, if a pitcher preferred. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cedf4705-b33b-4094-b6c2-5f293658cdbc/29+-+Ange+on+a+car.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange in 1948 Bill Allington thought Ange was still too young and small to play with the Peaches in 1948. He recommended that she go back to school and try to put some weight on to be ready for the next season. In 1948, Ange played Shortstop for the DeKalb girls team, as well as for the Rockford All-Stars girls team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ccdd5d0-017b-405d-83bb-572203d8ecb7/30+-+1948+Playoff+Program.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 74-49 during the 1948 regular season, good enough to finish in second place in the AAGPBL’s Western Division. They defeated the Kenosha Comets in the first round of the playoffs, then the Racine Belles in the second round to advance to the championship. There, they defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their second title in four seasons, having also won the 1945 title. 1948 Rockford Peaches 1948 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/116b3e30-209d-4881-aff0-32dcdf1e9b53/30.5+-+trophy.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Trophy This is the trophy the Peaches received for winning the AAGPBL championship after the 1948 playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a0cab6b-6166-4463-8da2-5e5843974587/31+-+1949+signing+contract+with+Peaches.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Getting The Call Ange and Arlene Houston (pictured, right) were set to join the Peaches for the 1949 season after participating at the AAGPBL training academy in Chicago in 1948. Arlene Houston’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64f8b01e-6dbc-49e6-a631-f36bcee8fdfc/32+-+Jean+Cione.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean “Cy” Cione Cy played 10 seasons in the AAGPBL, starting in 1945 with Rockford, 1946 in Peoria, 1947 back with Rockford, 1947-51 with Kenosha, 1952 in Battle Creek, 1953 with Muskegon and then back to Rockford for the league’s last season. During her career, Jean pitched three no-hitters. Jean played some outfield and first base when not pitching. As a 17-year-old junior in high school, Cy attended a tryout in Rockford. Max Carey, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, conducted the day long tryout. Jean was selected and invited to the spring training session in Chicago. She could run, hit and throw. During her first year with the Rockford Peaches, Jean sharpened those raw skills and learned the strategies of the game from the manager considered to be the best in the league, Bill Allington. Jean attributed her longevity in the league to her first year under such an outstanding manager. Jean Cione’s AAGPBL Profile Jean Cione’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4be9eafa-3c05-499e-964d-fb439be1adfd/33+-+1948+Spring+Training+with+Jean+Smith.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Spring Training Ange at the 1948 Spring Training in Florida, pictured here with Jean Smith. Jean Smith’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5745082-98db-45bb-8b29-0739089dba70/34+-+partying.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - “I Don’t Recall” When asked what the players got up to at night during their month-long Spring Training in Florida, Ange couldn’t really remember too much other than the fact that there were lots of bottles on the floors each morning. This photo shows Dottie Ferguson Key (seated center) enjoying a postgame talk with teammates (from left) Lorraine Fischer, Mary Pratt, Naomi "Sally" Meiers, Dorothy "Kammie" Kamenshek and Cartha "Ducky" Doyle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b87eb428-c48a-48ae-9f7c-704ab767bd4d/35+-+employee+ticket.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Employee Ticket This little yellow card let everyone know you were a member of the AAGPBL. It was all Ange cared about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52c9a51f-a220-4f94-aa36-89002614bd0f/36+-+1949.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Rules and Regulations In 1949, the league changed to a 10” ball for game play after playing with a 10 3/8” ball the previous season. The distance between the bases remained at 72’, but the pitching distance moved back again, this time to 55’ after having been only 50’ the previous season. Pitching was allowed to be either an overhand or a sidearm delivery, whichever the pitcher preferred. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1819b2c6-487e-42d8-afe4-84dbf03432bd/37+-+1949+score+card.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Spring Training Ange was invited to Spring Training again in 1949, this time in Peoria, Illinois. This time, she was fully expecting to make the team and play the regular season as a member of the Peaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbb7da34-1c26-4b0a-8025-f0580e68f677/38+-+Ange+Armato+card.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s Biggest Strengths Ange said what made her such a good player was her fielding, and the fact that she enjoyed doing the work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67d1f88e-c720-4409-a82f-4ef85885a263/39+-+Ange+batting.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange Batting Ange’s greatest strength offensively was her speed. She was a fast runner, which made her a good base stealer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed3e653d-24b6-45c7-965e-4a5a7704e0c0/40+-+uniforms.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Uniforms The uniform in the AAGPBL was a dress with a flared, three-quarter length skirt, instead of pants or even shorts, like most other women's baseball and softball teams wore, because league managers wanted to emphasize the feminine image of the players. Satin shorts were worn under the skirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c99d3c2e-7fd7-43b7-9eb6-e255d5d20149/41+-+Sophie+Kurys+slides+as+Pauline+Pirok+tries+to+apply+the+tag+-+1947.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Sliding Hazards Sophie “The Flint Flash” Kurys slides as Pauline “Pinky” Pirok tries to apply the tag in this action shot during a game between the Racine Belles and the South Bend Blue Sox on September 14, 1947. Despite the fact that the AAGPBL uniforms offered little to no protection for a player sliding in the dirt, Sophie did it often, and was great at it. Sophie Kurys’ AAGPBL Profile Pauline Pirok’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c8cd032-52d8-4435-8f37-f93e6165c533/42+-+sliding+-+faye+dancer.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - More Sliding Hazards 'All The Way' Faye Dancer recalled her experience in the AAGPBL: 'The guys would look at our short skirts, then look at our legs and wonder how we could slide without taking all the hide off ourselves. Well, we did take the hide off ourselves. I loved to slide.’ Faye Dancer’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98d71d34-2137-4d77-a32f-6603066f4886/43+-+colored+uniforms.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Colored Uniforms Pictured here are the first four players to be signed to the league in 1943. Standing, L-R: Clara Schillace of the Racine Bells, Ann Harnett of the Kenosha Comets, Edie Perlick of the Racine Belles. Seated: Shirley Jameson of the Kenosha Comets. They are pictured here in colors to represent all four teams, not necessarily the team they actually played for. Clara Schillace’s AAGPBL Profile Ann Harnett’s AAGPBL Profile Edie Perlick’s AAGPBL Profile Shirley Jameson’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb84164a-1352-4435-b1fa-95f6b9ec3047/44+-+bloomer+girls+page.PNG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bloomer Girls After Ange was left off the 1949 Peaches roster due to her injury, she went to Chicago to go play with Emery Parichy’s Bloomer Girls of the National Girls Baseball League. One of the best players in the league, and arguably the greatest softball pitcher of all time, was a woman named Wilda Mae Turner. Turner (pictured middle, right) had consecutive winning streaks of 102 and 46 games for the World Amateur Alameda team in 1938 at the age of 16. She turned professional with Parichy’s Bloomer Girls and won 153 games in six years. She was voted to the All-Star team each year. She pitched a perfect game in 1946, and had a streak of 104 consecutive scoreless innings in 1948. It is estimated that her overall career Earned Run Average was 0.14. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6de41012-9fa7-40db-88f3-6a15e946e233/45+-+Barber+Colman.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Barber-Colman The Barber–Colman Company was a manufacturer of textile and milling machinery from its founding in 1894 until the 1980s. Howard Colman organized the company in Rockford, Illinois, with capital from W. A. Barber. Early successes with their Hand Knotter and Warp Tying Machine allowed the company to expand internationally, manufacturing goods in five states and three countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24fb5d3e-4ef5-47a4-b8d8-a9c702d43f7e/46+-+1949+Playoffs+program.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 75-36 during the 1949 regular season, finishing tied with the South Bend Blue Sox for the best record in the AAGPBL. After earning a first round bye in the playoffs, they defeated the Blue Sox in the second round to advance to the finals. There, they defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their second consecutive title, and third in five seasons, having also won the 1945 title. It was the first time a team had repeated as champions in the AAGPBL. 1949 Rockford Peaches 1949 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fe55b09-146d-4018-842a-dedb1d1a8048/47+-+1949+trophy.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Trophy This is the trophy the Peaches received for winning the AAGPBL championship after the 1949 playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07ac1b89-d8cc-492b-9ff7-67a39dad2b24/47+-+1950.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1950 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 67-44 during the 1950 regular season, earning the best record by 2.5 games over the Kenosha Comets. They beat the Comets in the first round of the playoffs to advance to the finals. There, they again defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their third consecutive title, and fourth in six seasons, having also won the 1945 title. It was the first time a team had won three straight titles in the AAGPBL. 1950 Rockford Peaches 1950 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc20873a-e2b9-4432-956d-53fbf03b8e65/49+-+Jean+Faut.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut The Peaches were up 2-0 in the 1951 championship series before the South Bend Blue Sox took the final 3 games to win the best-of-5 series. Rockford lost ro South Bend in 5 games again in 1952, after Jean Faut won two games pitching and went 6-for-20 with two triples and three RBI in the series at the plate for the Blue Sox. From 1945 to 1952, a span of 8 seasons, the Rockford Peaches made it to the Championship Series 7 times. They won 4 titles, and the 3 series that they lost, they lost them all in the last possible game (one of them in 16 innings). That’s a string of dominance that would never be matched. Jean Faut’s AAGPBL Profile Jean Faut’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c95cf75-484f-400e-9681-8647a79a2322/50+-+injuries.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Injuries Muskegon Lassies player Marion Watson Stanton broke her right leg in two places while sliding home during an exhibition game with a Cuban team in 1947. Rossey Weeks consoles Marion while long time AAGPBL umpire, Norris “Gadget” Ward, examines her leg. Marion Watson Stanton’s AAGPBL Profile Rossey Weeks’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0ba808d-c067-4602-a987-17abba137484/51+-+Night+games+-+Peoria+Stadium+in+1948..jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Night games were common in the AAGPBL, as most stadiums had lights. This shot was taken from a 1948 game in Peoria. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10d16f68-b0ca-4425-94cd-37585cbed794/52+-+Dottie+Kamenshek+leaping.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Kamenshek Dorothy Kamenshek played 10 seasons in the league, all of them with the Rockford Peaches. She is the league’s all-time leader in hits and total bases, and was named an All-Star all 7 seasons when All-Star teams were named. She won two batting titles, hitting .345 in her best season. In 3,736 at bats in her career, she struck out a total of 81 times. She was so good that at one point, she was recruited by a men's team from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but she believed they only wanted her for publicity so she turned down the offer. Dottie Kamenshek’s AAGPBL Profile SABR - Baseball’s Greatest Fielding First Baseman? August 18, 1947 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26ef4c09-7fa0-4971-863c-5d56c5eef24a/53+-+Snookie+Harrell+and+Carolyn+Morris.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Captain vs. Leader Ange doesn’t remember there being a player who was specifically anointed “Captain” of the team, but she does remember that Snookie Harrell was the team’s leader. Here, she is pictured with teammate Carolyn Morris. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85253a02-5efd-428a-847f-994680a32481/54+-+Eleanor+Callow.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Eleanor Callow Eleanor was more than just the greatest power hitter in League history. On top of being the all-time leader in home runs and triples, Callow was perhaps the league’s best all-around position player. Callow ranks in the Top 10 in career batting average and was one of only two players in League history to post a 20 HR-20 SB season. She was an elite five-tool player. She is one of only five sluggers with at least 400 career RBIs, and she was named to an all-star team in seven of her eight professional seasons. But she was at her best in the postseason, hitting .322 clip and setting playoff records for most career RBIs, doubles, and triples. Eleanor Callow’s AAGPBL Profile Eleanor Callow’s SABR Biography August 28, 1951 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c965e78e-30db-457a-9064-fc0bc6873eb6/55+-+Dottie+Ferguson.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Ferguson Key Dorothy B. "Dottie" Ferguson Key was a Canadian softball player, but she was also a speed skating champion. She joined the Peaches in 1945 at the age of 23, originally playing second base. Her speed led her to be moved to Center Field, where she could use her speed and great arm to make plays most others couldn’t. She wasn’t a great hitter, but she wasn’t afraid to get hit. One season, she was hit by 92 pitches. Once she was on base, her quickness made her an excellent base stealer, something she did 461 times during her 10-year career. Dottie Key’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46fcb0ff-4412-4c28-80fa-700393a97267/56+-+Lois+Florreich.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Lois “Flash” Florreich Kathleen Lois "Flash" Florreich played for the South Bend Blue Sox and Kenosha Comets from 1943 to 1946 where she split time between Third Base and Outfield. In 1946, the Comets also tried her as a pitcher, where she struggled. She came over to the Peaches in 1947, and Rockford exclusively used her on the mound, focusing on turning her into a great pitcher. From 1947 until her retirement after the 1950 season, Lois went 77-44 with an ERA of 1.18. She struck out 702 batters in 1,051 innings pitched, was a 2-time All-Star, and was named the League’s “Pitching Champion” in 1949. Lois Florreich’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80393afc-5122-4549-83ec-bdc2d64ec1c3/57+-+Helen+Nicol+Fox.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Helen Nicol Fox Helen Nicol Fox was born in Alberta, Canada where she became the city’s top softball pitcher before her 20th birthday. She once struck out 23 batters in a 1940 playoff game. In 1942, she won the deciding game of the Western Canadian championship while pitching for the Edmonton Walk-Rites, but was lured south to play in the All-American League. Helen played for the Kenosha Comets from 1943 to 1947, and was named the League’s “Pitching Champion” in 1943 and 1944. She even acted as the team’s chaperone in 1945, at the age of 25. Halfway through the 1947 season, she was traded to the Peaches, where she played until she retired after the 1952 season. She had speed and control, and was one of the League’s greatest pitchers, holding several all-time records, including 163 wins and 1,076 strikeouts. Helen Fox’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0410f2b9-062e-4c92-b646-c9981b4c1b1b/57+-+Sis+Waddell.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Helen “Sis” Waddell Helen "Sis" Waddell-Wyatt was an excellent softball player from Pennsylvania, she grew up playing ball with her 5 brothers, who gave her the nickname “Sis.” She was an all-star basketball player in high school, but she was scouted by the South Bend Blue Sox and invited to try out for the AAGPBL, which she had never even heard of. She played Second Base for the Rockford Peaches in 1950 and 1951, helping them to the championship her first year. Sis Waddell’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06fb5fd8-e8d7-441b-9fdd-e5649c4a143b/58+-+Rose+Gacioch.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Rose Gacioch Rose "Rosie Gaspipe" Gacioch is the connection between the Bloomer Girls of the 1930s and the AAGPBL. She pitched for 7 years before joining the South Bend Blue Sox in 1944. She came to the Peaches in 1945, where she would play until the League folded, besides a brief stint with the Grand Rapids Chicks for part of the 1950 season. Rose played every position throughout her career besides Shortstop and Catcher, was a good hitter with power, and she was an excellent bunter. But she was really known for her pitching. She had 94 career wins and was an All-Star in each of the final four seasons of the League. On August 26, 1953, she pitched a no-hitter. Rose Gacioch’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1c9f741-b4ab-41a5-b284-87f151ad0af0/59+-+Dottie+Green+and+Olive+Little.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Green Dorothy “Dottie” Green wasn’t an average chaperone. Chaperones were usually older women. They handled the players’ paychecks and housing, made sure they followed the League’s strict rules for proper behavior, and mentored young players. Most players were between the ages of 17 and 22, and many were away from home for the first time, so having an older woman around to almost be a maternal figure made sense. But Dottie Green was a former player. She was a catcher for four seasons with the Rockford Peaches, but her career ended in 1947 when she tore ligaments in her knee. After her time in the League, she became a captain of the guards at the state prison in Framingham. She said “I never would have been able to handle that without the training I got on the ballfield.” She is pictured here (on the right) with Olive Little. Dottie Green’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bca52dea-63de-4a45-9a30-ea3ba6d65940/60+-+1945+Rockford+Peaches+at+Rockford+College+2.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Rules of Conduct Read the full list of rules HERE. In this photo, the 1945 Rockford Peaches meet at Rockford College before the season starts to go over those rules and talk about the upcoming year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f1d5647-d3c9-47b6-9640-e1c8a5b8ddd8/61+-+Elise+Harney.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Feminine Looks” One of the requirements for women playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was for them to maintain their "feminine looks." The very first entry in the Rules of Conduct reads: ”ALWAYS appear in feminine attire when not actively engaged in practice or playing ball. This regulation continues through the playoffs for all, even though your team is not participating. AT NO TIME MAY A PLAYER APPEAR IN THE STANDS IN HER UNIFORM, OR WEAR SLACKS OR SHORTS IN PUBLIC.” In this photo, Elise Harney, pitcher for the Kenosha Comets, refreshes her makeup between innings as teammate Janice O'Hara and another player look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a3bc28a-2908-4f26-ba1e-9ade51713b42/62+-+Having+fun+in+New+York+City.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Breaking The Rules Fines of FIVE DOLLARS for the first offense, TEN DOLLARS for the second offense, and SUSPENSION for the third offense were automatically imposed for breaking any of the League’s rules as outlined by the code of conduct. Most players followed the rules rather than risk being thrown out of the league, but “most” does not mean “ALL.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc2eec3e-b909-4630-b72d-9ae90c6df403/63+-+charm+school.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Charm School Charm and beauty school was a requirement for all members of the AAGPBL. Read the text from the official Charm School Guide HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecfa2b98-cfef-4f4b-a227-2107c00d21d2/64+-+Dottie+Wiltse+Collins+and+daughter.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Roster Turnover Sometimes a player from the previous year’s roster wouldn’t show up for spring training the following season. Whether it was because she had a child in the offseason, or had obligations with another job or her family, or if she just couldn’t decide in time if she wanted to play another year, the team she was expected to play for would essentially release her into a pool of other similar players, and then the other teams would have an opportunity to sign them if they wanted to. After pitching until she was 4 months pregnant, Dottie Wiltse Collins decided to go on maternity leave with her first child, Patricia (pictured) on August 1, 1948. Dottie had gone 13-8 with a 2.01 ERA so far that season. Patty was born on December 22nd of that year. Dottie would return to the League in 1950 for her final season. Dottie Wiltse Collins’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a7c6b0e-a74d-4b09-ac43-636a02159f52/65+-+1953+Mitch+Skupien+manager.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Mitch Skupien Mitch Skupien managed each of the last six years of the AAGPBL’s existence. In addition to his work as a skipper, from 1949 to 1950 Skupien was kept busy as a general manager for the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies touring teams. For the next two years, the Colleens and Sallies recruited new talent for the league while playing an extensive exhibition schedule against each other. They played games through the South and East, including contests at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Yankee Stadium in New York City. Mitch saw Ange play softball in Oak Park (near Chicago) and told her to come play for his Kalamazoo Lassies team in the AAGPBL. After years of waiting, Ange finally had her shot in the league. Mitch Skupien’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cdc6bca-8284-4eaf-a2dd-cf568a943d50/66+-+1953+Kalamazoo+Lassies+team.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1953 Kalamazoo Lassies The Kalamazoo Lassies went 56-50 during the 1953 regular season, finishing in third place out of the six teams remaining in the AAGPBL. Ange is second row, far right in this photo. 1953 Kalamazoo Lassies 1953 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc9fb6b1-2474-4d1b-ac38-675cf5f4e65e/67+-+Little+Bonnie.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Ange got her nickname “Little Bonnie” because of her resemblance to South Bend catcher Bonnie Baker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ef537c2-aadb-4dbc-bffc-bff74676213c/68+-+bonnie+baker+catcher%27s+mask+-+she+had+five+brothers%2C+four+sisters%2C+all+of+them+catchers+on+Canadian+ball+teams.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bonnie Baker Mary Geraldine “Bonnie” Baker was an all-star catcher in the AAGPBL from 1943 to 1952. Baker was one of 68 Canadian players in the AAGPBL. She had five brothers and four sisters, and all of them were catchers on Canadian ball teams. A former model, Baker was often chosen by the league to pose for publicity shots and act as a league spokesperson. She was the league's most publicized player and was referred to as "Pretty Bonnie Baker" by the press. When she joined the AAGPBL, Baker promised her husband, who was fighting overseas in World War II, that she would quit the game when he returned. She also served as player-manager with the Kalamazoo Lassies in 1950, becoming the only woman in league history to do so. Bonnie Baker’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/251422fe-bfd3-4b14-a07c-90e120fda716/69+-+bus+-+Traveling+by+bus.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Traveling By Bus It certainly wasn’t a luxurious lifestyle, traveling in a bus that wasn’t air conditioned, sometimes driving all night to get to the next city after a doubleheader. But the players loved the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/690c8990-ce06-476e-8e0f-5fe738a4e5e8/70+-+Hotel+Faust+in+Rockford.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Hotel Faust At the end of World War II, during VJ day, the center for much of the celebration in Rockford took place in the area of the Hotel Faust and the nearby Midway theater. In its heyday, the Faust was known as the premier hotel for Rockford, hosting such dignitaries as President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the 1960 Democratic Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, as well as one of the Kings of Sweden during a visit to the Swedish community located in Rockford. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bd6e68b-07f1-4177-acc4-67c3ef91cdda/71+-+hotel+meal+check.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Eating on the Road Players would get a per diem, which was supposed to be enough for them to afford food on the road. Sometimes it was enough, sometimes it wasn’t, but players would rarely have any money leftover to subsidize their salaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9fa019f-cf19-46f4-868a-6997151d8c3b/72+-+Beach+-+South+Bend+Blue+Sox+players+Elizabeth+Lib+Mahon+%2C+Marie+Kruckel%2C+Lillian+Luckey+and+Jean+Faut+on+July+15%2C+1946.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Fun As A Team When the players had some down time if they weren’t playing a game or traveling to the next city, they would often go to the beach. Here, South Bend Blue Sox players Elizabeth “Lib” Mahon, Marie Kruckel, Lillian Luckey, and Jean Faut relax by the water on July 15, 1946. Elizabeth Mahon’s SABR Biography Jean Faut’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e842c7e-4959-4895-89dc-d5d7a432eb59/73+-+singing+-+Nalda+Bird+Phillips+and+Pepper+Paire+Davis.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Singing Singing was a way that players loved to kill time on the bus and connect with each other away from the field, too. Here, Lavonne “Pepper” Paire Davis sings with Nalda “Bird” Phillips while Nalda plays the piano. Pepper was a fine catcher and had a very high fielding average of .977. She was a steady influence behind the plate, handling the pitchers well. She was always able to get the best out of her pitchers. In her 10 seasons as a player in the AAGPBL, her team won the championship nine times. Nalda “Bird” Phillips’ AAGPBL Profile Lavonne “Pepper” Paire’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e7ad41-d42f-4f4e-b495-4571e8287fe6/74+-+Victory+Song.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Victory Song” The All-American Girls League Song, sung in the movie A League Of Their Own by the players, was written for the movie by Pepper Paire and Nalda Bird Phillips. The real life players sing the song at each AAGPBL reunion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/149a8407-99e3-46fa-b2ed-3562d3240a50/75+-+1953+Kalamazoo+Lassies%2C+back+row+left+of+chaperone.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out The Kalamazoo Lassies lost the 1953 AAGPBL championship to the Grand Rapids Chicks. Ange is top row, second from right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55057f3f-0354-43ea-8d8f-944117087ebc/76+-+1953+player+pass.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s 1953 Player Pass Pretty special to have one of these. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32b06afd-4e22-43bc-8488-3fcba6d1b8a2/77+-+Cold+-+Laurie+Lee%2C+Irene+Hickson%2C+Sophie+Kurys%2C+JJo+Winter+and+Janet+Jamieson.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Cold Weather Baseball A deep run in the playoffs meant you were playing ball in less-than-ideal weather at that time of year in the midwest. Here, Laurie Lee, Irene Hickson, Sophie Kurys, Joanne Winter, and Janet Jamieson huddle up under some blankets in the dugout during a 1948 game for the Racine Belles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de83dcd5-bbdf-441b-a373-06770d0bc848/78+-+Dottie+Schroeder+-+the+swing.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Schroeder Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder was a shortstop who played from 1943 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the only player to play every season in the league. At age fifteen, Schroeder was the youngest original member of the AAGPBL. Dottie Schroeder’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79cb5e03-bf0c-48c7-a46f-2013f31e95d1/79+-+Doris+Sams.JPG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Doris Sams Doris Jane "Sammye" Sams was an outfielder and pitcher who played from 1946 through 1953. By the time her final season ended in 1953, Sams’ career average of .290 was good enough to be the league’s sixth highest lifetime mark. She also set a new league home run mark with 12 in 1952. Following the 1947 season, Sammye’s second year, she was selected as the league’s Player of the Year. A pitcher turned outfielder, she was named to the All-Star team at both positions. No other player in the twelve-year history of the AAGPBL accomplished that feat. Sams was a gifted all-around athlete. Not only did the tall right-hander pitch a perfect game for the Muskegon Lassies on August 18, 1947, defeating the Fort Wayne Daisies, 2-0, but she batted .280, the third highest average among the league’s regulars, and contributed 41 RBIs. Doris Sams’ AAGPBL Profile Doris Sams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1ea2d18-c5dc-4442-9ef4-dcdfa8be91c3/80+-+lefty+alvarez.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Isabel “Lefty” Álvarez Isabel "Lefty" Álvarez was born and raised in Havana, Cuba, and learned to play baseball from a neighbor. At age 13, she joined the Estrellas Cubanas (Cuban Stars), an All-Star team modeled after the AAGPBL. The first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States was held in 1947 in Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. Álvarez was the youngest Cuban player to join the AAGPBL at the age of 15 in 1949. She is pictured here (on the right), along with Cuban-born Daisies teammate Mirtha “Mita” Marrero Fernandez. Lefty Álvarez’s AAGPBL Profile 2009 Lefty Álvarez Video Interview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a4de4c7-5f12-435c-b6f6-955b49b768c7/81+-+June+Peppas.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - June Peppas June Peppas was a two-time All-Star pitcher and first baseman for seven seasons. In the decisive Game 5 of the 1954 AAGPBL Championship Series, Peppas pitched a clutch complete game for Kalamazoo and went 3-for-5 with an RBI against her former Daisies team, winning by an 8–5 margin to give the Lassies the Championship. Peppas finished with a .450 average and collected two of the three Lassies victories, becoming the winning pitcher of the last game in the league's history. She later helped compile the list of players and would edit the first newsletter for the Players Association that would eventually bring everyone together for the first reunion in 1982 in Chicago. June Peppas’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2f89ef9-065b-4101-8805-4f274fbb6979/82+-+1991+directory.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Directory Without June’s work, the AAGPBL alums would have never had a directory for the former players to all stay in touch with each other. They would have never had their first reunion in 1982. They would have never created the Players Association in 1987. If it weren’t for that renewed interest in the league and the stories of its players, Penny Marshall never would have heard about it, and A League Of Their Own never would have been made. The story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League would have very likely been lost to the sands of time (like many of its contemporary leagues) had it not been for June Peppas and her work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83a6201e-8f06-453c-8508-c90a6362bfa5/83+-+1988+Lifetime+Pass.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s Lifetime Pass Thanks to June Peppas’ work, the AAGPBL eventually created a Players Association. This lifetime pass, belonging to Ange Armato, states that she is and always will be a member of the league. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32ba3408-672e-4b88-911c-cced9896b43f/84+-+1993+-+50th+reunion+in+South+Bend.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Reunions This photo is from the AAGPBL’s 50th reunion in South Bend, Indiana in 1993. The league’s 80th reunion was held in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/271ee86b-38fa-4e80-95e2-b4060a2aade0/86+-+peaches+pamphlet.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b8eb0a1-9afb-41ca-9b80-c3cea51043e3/87+-+Bill+Allington+argues.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington Managers were usually men who had played professional baseball, but Allington was actually a fast pitch softball coach in California when he became aware of the League. Many of his California Sate Championship players came East with Bill when he accepted a managerial position with the League. He expected maximum effort from his players, but he also required that they intimately know the rules of the game. It wasn’t unusual for Bill to give his players pop quizzes about the game during bus rides to away games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa8a80d2-5c44-4b1c-9d2d-c9e7257cba2b/88+-+Jimmie+Foxx+and+Dottie+Schroeder.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jimmie Foxx Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx giving some hitting tips to AAGPBL superstar Dottie Schroeder. Jimmie Foxx’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f783e94-290a-4782-8040-ac0c6d85fc00/89+-+ange%27s+fandom.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - White Sox Fandom Ange decided in 1954 that she needed to start rooting for a Major League Baseball team. She thought it made the most sense to pick a team close to her, and between the two Chicago teams, she picked the White Sox. Five years later, the Go-Go White Sox were in the World Series. It would be 46 more years after that before her favorite team would actually win a World Series, and it looks like it may be 46 more before they win again. But that doesn’t keep Ange from being a fan, as is evidenced by the home decor pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8592796f-8369-4fb7-90df-8036d322150f/87+-+1955+AAGPBL+Traveling+Team+aka+Bill+Allington%27s+All+Stars.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington's All Stars Allington organized “Allington’s All Stars,” made up of some of the best players from the league. They toured & played exhibition games against men’s teams coast to coast from 1955-1958. They even traveled north into Canada, and south into Mexico. Pictured here (left to right): Allington, Jo Weaver, Dottie Schroeder, Kate Horstman, Joan Berger, Gertie Dunn, Ruth Richard, Delores Lee, Jean Smith, Jean Geissinger, and Maxine Kline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f3e8e91-e608-4350-9f9e-e4b8d5de0603/91+-+Penny+Marshall.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Penny Marshall Penny’s vision to bring the story of the AAGPBL to the mainstream resulted in a resurrection of popularity for the league and its players. A League of Their Own was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $132.4 million worldwide and garnering acclaim for Marshall's direction and the performances of its ensemble cast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66a8ca08-69f2-4472-8df0-7b5a29fdba69/91+-+1991+A+League+Of+Their+Own+tryouts.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Tryouts For The Movie Tryouts were held in Skokie, Illinois. It wasn’t a given that just because you showed up to tryouts, you would automatically be included in the movie. Luckily, Ange made the cut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f955ae84-7fb7-47cf-98e7-db3a17908704/93+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+jersey.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - National Baseball Hall of Fame The entire AAGPBL was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Not any individual players, but the entire league. In 1991, the players involved in the filming of A League of Their Own went back to Cooperstown to recreate their induction for the film. This photo shows Ange during that 1991 visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80e20877-0902-4830-b732-89c378f57949/94+-+1991+-+Hall+of+Fame+Lori+Petty.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Look Familiar? This display was featured prominently toward the end of the movie. Here is Ange taking it in during her 1991 trip to Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2354f468-a85e-459f-8340-3caddb9bbecd/95+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+display.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Women In Baseball Now a permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ange poses in front of the history she helped create. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28643bcc-155c-46d9-a7f5-a61b80467e87/96+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+display+names.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Names We Should Know Ange points to her name on the list of the more than 600 total players who played during the AAGPBL’s 12-year run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8104ab8-8cd7-4408-a830-b404f216445c/93+-+1991+-+AAGPBL+Blue+team.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Blue Team Ange was the shortstop on the blue team in the movie, so next time you watch, keep your eyes open for her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01d5c80b-027a-47eb-afdd-deeaca4b9068/98+-.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut Jean played from 1946 to 1953 for the South Bend Blue Sox. She led the Blue Sox to championships in 1951 and 1952, and was a four-time All-Star with South Bend. She’s the league’s all-time leader in ERA, with a 1.23 career mark, and second in career wins with 140. She was a three-time 20-game winner who threw two career no-hitters, and two of the AAGPBL’s five perfect games in league history. She won two out of the ten Player of the Year Awards given in the history of the league, and is just one of two two-time winners of the award. Jean Faut’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68bcd5ca-ddbf-4b92-a1c5-6092544a6194/100+-+Connie+Wisniewski.jpeg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Connie Wisniewski Connie Wisniewski was a two-way star who played from 1944 to 1952, playing in the outfield and pitching. Connie’s 23-10 record in 1944 helped the Milwaukee Chicks win the championship. The team moved to Grand Rapids in 1945 where Connie played the remainder of her career. In 1945, Connie was the Player of the Year, going 32-11 on the mound. She led the league’s pitchers in winning percentage, a feat which she duplicated for three consecutive years. She set an all-time low ERA mark with 0.81 for the season. She led the league in most games pitched and most games won, as well. In 1946, she pitched 40 complete games, without once being removed from a game. Although her ERA increased that year to 0.96, her winning percentage also increased and she was named the league’s Pitching Champion for the second consecutive year. Connie Wisniewski’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ea7dcdc-1e7a-4fbc-839c-49f27e1cb8bb/101+-+Jo+Weaver.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jo Weaver Joanne “Jo” Weaver played for the Fort Wayne Daisies from 1950 to 1954. She was named the league’s Batting Champion in 1952, 1953, and 1954. She was also named the league’s Player of the Year in 1954 with a batting average of .429 to go with her 29 home runs, 87 RBI, 109 runs, and a .763 slugging percentage. Her 29 home runs set an AAGPBL single season record. Jo was also the youngest sister to Jean and Betty Weaver, who were each also very good hitters in the league. Jo Weaver’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bca27841-82b0-4cf3-a385-74d551a3ca4f/102+-+Faye+Dancer.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Faye Dancer “All The Way” Faye Dancer played from 1944-50 as an OF and pitcher. Labeled as “a fly-catching genius” by sportswriters of the day, Dancer could “go back on the dead run, catch the ball over her shoulder, wheel around, and in one motion throw a strike to the catcher in the air from deep center field.” Dancer was also known for her hitting and base stealing. In 1948, she stole 108 bases. She led the league in both Steals and HRs at times. “She was that rare breed of ballplayer who could get up to bat, lay down a perfect bunt, and then steal second base. And then the next time up, she could hit the long ball and knock it out of the ballpark.” Faye Dancer’s AAGPBL Profile Faye Dancer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6c0ab65-4259-4e1a-99f5-03627368265b/103+-+Sophie+Kurys+%27The+Flint+Flash%27.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Sophie Kurys Sophie Kurys played from 1943 to 1952, mostly as a second baseman for the Racine Belles. In 1946, Sophie was the Player of the Year. She hit .286, but she stole 201 bases out of 203 attempts! She scored 119 runs, walked 93 times, and had a fielding percentage of .973 at second base. She led all players in the playoffs in hitting, stolen bases, and runs scored. Soph was the real deal, and was an all-star year in and year out. She was, without a doubt, one of the greatest team players developed in the league. She also had two incredible nicknames: “The Flint Flash” and “Tina Cobb.” Sophie Kurys’ AAGPBL Profile Sophie Kurys’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19124226-6b5d-4215-8167-2276e5367e77/104+-+1991+-+Hall+of+Fame+jersey.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Hall of Famer Ange in front of a uniform at the National baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b9ad966-2145-4c5d-ae99-c2738604ee7a/105+-+mother%27s+day+2023.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out For Mother’s Day 2023, my mom and I went to Beyer Stadium in Rockford to see the field where the Peaches played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf0ef175-4194-4fb6-b65b-39898f5228ca/107+-+ticket+stand.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ticket Booth The original ticket booth to Beyer Stadium is still standing, and was designated a city historic landmark in 2004. Some plaques and signage have been added to the structure to really give a sense of the history of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a17aa4d-c4b5-49eb-b201-eb09f6504f74/106+-+plaques.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Plaques and Information Boards The walkway from the entrance by the ticket booth to the stands at the field is decorated with all sorts of plaques and information boards which all give a nicely detailed history of the stadium, of the Rockford Peaches, and of the players who played at Beyer. It was all very well done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a54030b-a5ec-49cb-bd70-43b7e383e8ff/108+-+midway+village.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Midway Village Museum After our stop at Beyer, my mom and I continued on to the Midway Village Museum in Rockford, which had even more exhibits and artifacts relating to the Rockford Peaches and the AAGPBL. It was a fantastic day, and we both highly recommend making both stops if you’re ever in the Rockford area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3655c65f-1732-4090-81f8-978f579a1c1e/109+-+us+womens+team.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Over the past couple decades, the Friends of Beyer Stadium group has helped renovate and restore the historic field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e90bf3b-e4e0-4801-9670-55c7b8db9624/110+-+Evolution+of+the+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out The evolution of the ball during the course of play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65426c46-a421-4cae-b99a-59ba549e2227/111+-+evolution.JPEG Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out This display at the Midway Village Museum was very eye-opening to me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e226ec72-429c-4f6d-acd3-f8c354d766cd/112+-+Children+-+Kay+Blumetta.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Young Players While they were professional athletes, many of the players in the AAGPBL were incredibly young. Some as young as 14 years old, the average age of a rookie in the league was somewhere between 17 and 22. Here, 22-year-old Kay Blumetta of the Grand Rapids Chicks holds a couple stuffed animals. Kay Blumetta’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aa6e01e-c919-4fd9-b09c-28005f597be8/113+-+1991+-+Ange+with+older+Geena+Davis.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - A League Of Their Own Ange with Lynn Cartwright, who played the senior version of Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis’ character) in A League Of Their Own. Lynn Cartwright’s IMDB https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8690b51-5ac4-4ab8-97cb-060316b3230f/114+-+Bloomer+Girls+with+Gwen+Wong.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bloomer Girls Ange’s parents seemed to be very progressive, both with their encouragement of her interest in sports, and in art. Not to mention being okay with Ange going to Chicago and playing sports away from home. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/996fb01d-28e0-43e7-a67d-5c110b0d13c6/116+-+Camp+Grant.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Camp Grant Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois, was established in July 1917 to train the 86th “Black Hawk” Infantry Division (National Army). It was originally built with the capacity of just under 43,000 men, but by the summer of 1918, there were over 57,000, making Camp Grant the largest cantonment in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0b8397c-d2de-4062-ae7a-6917c36507d6/115+-+honor+roll.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Reminders of War This billboard in Glendale, New York, was erected in 1942. As of 1943, the Glendale Honor Roll (as it was called) bore the names of 1,263 listed in service in the U.S. Armed Forces. By the time the war ended in 1945, there were some 2,000 from Glendale who had served; about 30 of them had been killed in combat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b287435-d6be-4d26-aecd-fdff6fedb9ee/117+-+victory+gardens.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Victory Gardens Victory gardens, as they were called, grew out of a national push during World War II to help ease food shortages in the states, as so much food from America was going to soldiers abroad and our allies. Victory gardens were mostly about food. But they had a civic function as well, rallying communities to work together to aid the war effort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bd11b2b-b3e2-4f79-bdca-9f468e3b64c8/118+-+AJ.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - A.J. Pierzynski A.J. Pierzynski is mom’s favorite player. A.J. please come on the podcast? shoelesspodcast@gmail.com if you’re interested, I promise it will be fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d93e1ff6-953a-49ae-8b13-a99428274c3a/119+-+home+cities.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - A Grueling Schedule Even though these cities don’t seem very far apart from each other, playing 109 games in 110 days is still going to wear you down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4d6ae53-5831-4195-b854-7f66e6843138/120+-+team+timeline.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out This timeline shows which teams existed at which times during the 12-year history of the AAGPBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc9c26f2-dd5f-499f-a6e4-258a56386f3c/121+-+Monarchs+bus.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Negro League Travel Similar to that of the travel taking place within the AAGPBL, except it wasn’t a guarantee that when a Negro League team got to their destination city, there would be a hotel that would allow them to sleep there. Listen to my interview with former Kansas City Monarchs player Sam Allen HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/684307f8-8af7-460b-831c-5f6c21cb56db/122+-+madonna.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Based On A True Story Madonna’s character in the movie is said to have been modeled after Faye Dancer, the real AAGPBL player. Other characters from the film were based on specific players, or amalgamations of multiple players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b078a94-ed10-42fd-be4f-cddaa0579b20/123+-+Dottie+Ferguson.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Ferguson Key Dorothy "Dottie" Ferguson Key was once hit by 92 pitches in one season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46f95b31-9d41-4ea5-b0b5-46b50f6a4221/123+-+Sliding+-+Chaperone+Dottie+Green+doctors+a+strawberry+on+Lois+Florreich.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dirt In The Skirt Chaperone Dottie Green doctors a strawberry on Lois Florreich. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4beab475-3fdb-497b-8e5d-c5a295dd872e/124+-+Jean+Faut+hits+her+first+at+bat+with+the+AAGPBL+during+the+opening+game+of+the+1946+season+for+the+South+Bend+Blue+Sox+against+the+Fort+Wayne+Daisies.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut When most people hear Jean Faut’s name, they think of the great pitcher who was the AAGPBL’s Pitching Champion in 1950, 1952, and 1953. But she was also a skilled hitter, who was the league’s Batting Champion in 1949. In this photo, Jean Faut hits in her first career AAGPBL at bat with the South Bend Blue Sox during the opening game of the 1946 season against the Fort Wayne Daisies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b12a2989-e249-4847-a9aa-19a96b324853/124+-+Kenosha+Comet+players+enjoying+their+time+at+a+carnival+in+1947.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Having Fun As A Team Kenosha Comet players enjoying their time at a carnival in 1947. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10345594-4901-4f37-9737-c02a8d62fad4/127+-+Attendance+-+Playland+Park+in+South+Bend.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Attendance The stand were packed at Playland Park in South Bend 80 years before Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes were breaking attendance and viewership records for women’s sporting events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e3bf7ee-c7b4-4b73-8a33-a2f85a520ae3/128+-+1993+-+50th+anniversary+reunion.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Reunions This is the cover of the 50th Anniversary Reunion held in 1993 in South Bend, Indiana. Those reunions wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of June “Lefty” Peppas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8552d32-8b1b-48e0-934d-3b701602dbaa/130+-+Bosse+Field.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bosse Field Bosse Field is located in Evansville, Indiana. Opened in 1915, it was the first municipally owned sports stadium in the U.S. and is the third-oldest ballpark still in regular use for professional baseball, surpassed only by Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914). Some of the scenes from A League Of Their Own were filmed at Bosse. Faux 1940s-vintage signs created for the 1992 movie were left in place for baseball and film fans to enjoy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa199679-f1e9-43d7-8ec6-cc6b3de2452d/131+-+Suds+Bucket.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - The Suds Bucket The exterior shots of the Suds Bucket bar in the movie were shot at Hornville Tavern, which is located at 2607 West Baseline Road in Evansville, Indiana. So if you’re planning on making a trip to go see Bosse Field, stop for a drink there, too. Thanks to friend of the podcast Perry Barber for that tip. Listen to Perry'’s episode of My Baseball History HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82c5136a-0e19-4ef8-8b3d-e572c2ff9730/128+-+Dottie+Green+in+her+uniform.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Green Dottie played in the AAGPBL as a catcher before knee injuries ended her playing days. She then became a chaperone for the team. After her playing days, she worked in a prison, saying she never would have been able to have that career had she not learned what she did as a member of the AAGPBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ed311a3-7659-49a2-9131-791d98e3bc9d/132+-+Clearing+The+Basesss.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27ab9101-1506-43bf-bfee-b4200002b8e8/133+-+National+Girls+Baseball+League.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - National Girls Baseball League The National Girls Baseball League (NGBL) was a professional women's baseball league which existed from 1944 to 1954, with teams based in the Chicagoland area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0696d535-5c8d-4c84-a6d0-659f0fe8083e/134+-+Emery+Parichy.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Emery Parichy The National Girls Baseball League was founded by Emery Parichy, who was the owner of a local roofing company. Charles Bidwill (who was the owner of the Chicago Cardinals football team), and politician Ed Kolski co-founded the league with Parichy. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aec4fc82-345d-4c90-89f6-9da7465a3c30/135+-+Buck+Weaver.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Buck Weaver Emery Parichy had operated the predecessor to the NGBL, the Metropolitan League, but to bring legitimacy and notoriety to the new league, big name retired male athletes were brought on. Football great Red Grange was named the president of the league, while former Major League ball players Woody English and Buck Weaver were hired as managers. Red Grange’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Biography Woody English’s SABR Biography Buck Weaver’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee7e4c4d-3d28-4496-b8d9-e817113ecd52/136+-+Wilda+Mae+Turner.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Technically Softball The National Girls Baseball League started a year after the AAGPBL and differed from it in that the NGBL kept and allowed the traditional underhand softball pitching format, despite explicitly labeling itself as “baseball.” Wilda Mae Turner, pictured here, is arguably the greatest softball pitcher to ever live. She once reeled off a string of 84 scoreless innings, winning 102 straight games as an amateur in Oakland before joining the NGBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82d351b0-8dde-4b5b-8ba0-a31f518185d9/137+-+Dorothy+Boots+Klupping.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dorothy “Boots” Klupping Many players appeared in both the AAGPBL and the NGBL during the course of their careers. Some notable players to have done so are Connie Wisniewski, Sophie Kurys, Jo Winter, Audrey Wagner, Edie Perlick, and Dorothy “Boots” Klupping. Klupping was subject in a promotion to showcase her skills by having her pitch against a group of Major League players from the White Sox. She struck out one of them. Here, “Boots” is pitching for the Montgomery Vee-Eights in the 1938 national tournament at Soldier Field in Chicago. Dorothy Klupping’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa000781-ace1-49a0-9c17-5ed2bb63fb7e/138+-+Gwen+Wong.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Gwen Wong Gwendolyn Wong was a Chinese-American who was a left-handed pitcher for the Bloomer Girls. In her only season, she pitched six no-hitters, 10 one-hit games, and had six two-hit games, facing only 282 batters in 22 games. After winning the League Championship with the Bloomer Girls, she retired and went on to University of California Berkeley. Wong was 14-year-old in this photo, pitching for the “39ers” softball team in San Francisco. The patch on her sleeve was to advertise the Golden Gate International Exposition while the team barnstormed throughout California. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4055644-003d-42d8-9934-40fa777b30ed/139+-+Nancy+Ito.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Nancy Ito Nancy Ito was a shortstop for the Bloomer Girls and the first Japanese-American ballplayer in the National Girls Baseball League. After her time in the league, a future coach asked her to learn catching because that team’s regular catcher left to get married. In the next two decades, Ito was named a 13-time All-American. An outstanding defensive catcher with a strong throwing arm, Ito made only 10 errors in 1,401 chances in 222 games in the Pacific Coast Women’s League from 1967-1974 for a fielding percentage of .993. Former teammate Carol Spanks called Ito “the best catcher she’d ever seen.” And In 1982, Ito was elected to the National Softball Hall of Fame. Nancy Ito - USA Softball Hall of Fame Profile Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8a4e73b-e320-4d96-94b9-b621db077cc2/140+-+Betty+Chapman.jpg Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - Betty Chapman Betty Chapman became the first female African-American professional softball player when she signed as an outfielder for the Music Maids of the National Girls Baseball League in 1951. Chapman had two RBI in her debut game July 18, 1951, and scored the game-winning run in the team’s game four days later. She was given the nickname “Miss Minnie Minoso” in an article that came out 10 days after her debut, when her batting average was still over .500. Despite Chapman’s success, over the four remaining years of the league, very few other African American players were signed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6aa75dc-6ca3-4e94-9d2b-615a6531e0ff/141+-+dolly+vardens.png Season 3 - 0307 - Ange Armato - The Dolly Vardens Black women playing baseball wasn’t something that started in the 1940s. During the second half of the 19th century, a semi-pro team called the Dolly Vardens played around the Philadelphia area. The team was assembled by barber-turned-sports entrepreneur John Lang in the 1880s, with newspaper confirmation of games as early as May of 1883. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/06 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1807671-56a0-4d0a-ab3c-b004387c8228/youtube.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/364dfda2-28d8-4739-9bd3-da181cb50c85/square.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles Me and William Peebles after recording our interview in his workshop near Boston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1030f86f-3ddf-4b01-bfbf-aaf799a66481/01+-+Love+Of+The+Game.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Love Of The Game Auctions This episode is brought to you by Love Of The Game Auctions. WEBSITE REGISTER TO BID CONSIGN CLICK HERE to view their Spring 2024 Premier Auction catalog https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f74d000a-6a20-4634-aa3e-9a8da2b5cde8/02+-+Official+League+Ball+red+stitching.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Huntington Base Ball Co. Every ball William ships out from Huntington Base Ball Co. comes wrapped in tissue and foil, and is housed in a custom box, the same way baseballs were shipped 100 years ago. Baseball meets research meets craftsmanship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ead44e2a-3ca1-41fc-b187-4dad2eb57553/03+-+Boston+Braves.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston Braves One of William’s neighbors growing up was the former bat boy for the Boston Braves, and caddied for Babe Ruth. The Boston Braves played at Braves Field. In 1953, Boston University purchased the stadium, demolishing most of it except for the right field stands and a long building that originally housed the ticket and executive offices. The stadium is now known as Nickerson Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c6d09d6-6391-4153-88e4-482270ee9f2e/04+-+William%27s+first+game.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Fan From An Early Age William’s first Red Sox game was July 26, 1987 against the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox won 11-1, with both Dwight Evans and Wade Boggs hitting home runs that day. Like any good collector and historian, of course, William still has his tickets from that game. Dwight Evans’ SABR Biography Wade Boggs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98647f9c-5e2f-4d97-af5d-162e2f84cf2f/05+-+1995+opening+day.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Opening Day 1995 William skipped school to attend the Red Sox' Opening Day game on April 26, 1995 vs. the Minnesota Twins. José Canseco signed a program for William that day, as the Red Sox won 9-0, with Canseco going 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. José Canseco’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12a4970c-ac5c-4809-b1f7-03db8b2702e4/06+-+reebok.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Reebok William had an internship with Reebok in the late 1990s and worked on color designs of shoes. At the time, some of Reebok’s biggest athletes were Frank Thomas, Roger Clemens, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Shawn Kemp. Frank Thomas’ Hall of Fame Biography Roger Clemens’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/554dd046-0063-40c0-bb7b-50caa7fd92d1/07+-+Smithsonian+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Smithsonian Magazine When William saw a vintage base ball player on the cover of the October, 1998 issue of Smithsonian Magazine, it caught his attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b583a87-820d-47c5-a8f5-58f477d0cd74/08+-+HOF.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - National Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame has a vast archive of old baseballs and old baseball equipment. William spent lots of time taking precise measurements and detailed notes so he could accurately recreate the patterns which produced those old artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7144ad04-a0a9-46c3-84ce-aea789b8abb5/09+-+William%27s+baseballs.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out Some of the old base balls William had laid out from his personal collection during our interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c50db8e0-2ea7-42bb-bf05-908cffba8c43/10+-+old+vs.+new.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out William’s trained eye can immediately spot the differences in these two baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d4c8e51-75b7-4d25-b387-63825076391b/11+-+The+Ross+Ball+cross+section.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Inside Base Ball This is a cross section of a Harvey Ross base ball, circa 1850s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dc2b808-05ec-4500-83c6-9abda230e559/12+-+baseball+patent.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Patent Drawings Studying the original patent submission drawings can help someone understand exactly how to recreate an old baseball exactly the way the original makers would have done it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/202d0c44-f801-41ee-970a-2442f19bcdb7/13+-+fingerless+glove.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Fingerless Gloves An 1880 fingerless glove. (Milo Stewart, Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd42d276-d5bc-4234-b046-bea5544e54e9/14+-+uncrate.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Uncrate When Uncrate featured Huntington Base Ball Co. on their website in May of 2010, William’s business was exposed to millions of potential customers. At that point, it was off to the races. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85eaa50f-6ff9-4285-a41e-d9ee7c4d7e5b/15+-+Boston+American+Baseball+Co.JPEG Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston American Base Ball Co. This drawing was the original concept for William’s company which eventually became Huntington Base Ball Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5296b4ee-e208-4f2f-a705-a78cb17fbd6a/16+-+Huntington+Avenue+Grounds.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Huntington Avenue Grounds When the Boston Red Sox were founded as charter members of the American League and known as the Boston Americans, the team needed a new ballpark to call home. A location along Huntington and Rogers Avenues in the Roxbury section of Boston was selected to construct a $35,000 ballpark. A small 9,000 seat facility constructed primarily of wood was built here and opened on May 8, 1901 when Boston battled the Philadelphia Athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/408e288b-89c1-4000-b2d5-4d1cc4854f5c/17+-+William.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - A Craftsman “A nod to the past with our eyes on the present.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/786e4d4a-4867-4ac7-83b4-f113dfcaceaa/18+-+pennants.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Pennants It’s not just baseballs that William makes. He also creates hand-sewn pennants, whose quality is unmatched. BUY SOME HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb6823c3-12ef-4550-b532-be4bac5451f5/19+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball+inside.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - More Inside Base Ball 1875 rubber-covered seamless ball inside https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e60f79c6-a0b9-4e90-ad2e-240f03337eeb/20+-+1845+to+early+1850s+four+piece+cover.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Earliest Base Balls Bat and ball games have been around for centuries, but the first balls to be manufactured specifically for the purpose of playing the sport of base ball seem to have been created in the late 1840s-1850s. This four piece cover ball is from circa 1845 to early 1850s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cefd37e7-5398-4c15-a5d1-16802f7e69ee/1830-1850+cloth+homemade+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Cloth Balls Cloth balls pre-dated leather, but those balls were created with multiple purposes in mind, not necessarily solely to be used to play base ball. This is an example of a cloth homemade ball from circa 1830-1850. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c1d163c-0440-41b1-a6bb-8b26abb74cae/22+-+1855-1880+one+piece+cover+variation.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Trophy Balls In the early days of baseball, it was customary for the winning team to keep the game ball as a trophy. It would often be decoratively painted with the final score of the game, the teams who played, and the date to commemorate the occasion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6d66ff5-5e2e-44c0-84f5-b5771040743c/23+-+underhand+pitching.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out In the early days of the sport, it was not the pitcher’s job to try to strike out a batter. His main purpose was to serve a ball to the batter to give the batter a chance to put the ball in play. To that end, pitching was actually done underhanded for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3d7df07-c55e-415a-a155-65bd8cdf40c7/24+-+ray+chapman.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Ray Chapman The death of Ray Chapman was a pivotal moment in baseball history, causing players, teams, and leagues to take a hard look at how the game balls were being treated in the name of player safety. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2e8b90b-1f51-43b3-8126-643d1810359f/25+-+Doc+Adams%2C+circa+1870.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Doc Adams Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams was a member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. He invented the position of Shortstop, but he was also one of the earliest base ball makers. He started making four-piece leather covers using a method he learned from a Scotch saddler. CLICK HERE to listen to our previous episode of My Baseball History with Doc’s great-granddaughter, Marjorie Adams. Doc Adams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1226bff7-a205-41d8-8ec1-a868ee5614a1/26+-+1850s+to+1860s+one+piece+cover+aka+lemon+peel+2.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - One Piece Cover Ball The earliest baseballs were very lightweight and soft, were smaller than the modern baseball, and were made of yarn or string surrounding a core covered by a single piece of leather stitched together. Dark leather was usually used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/523a7fb0-de8f-4127-bb15-16d8f0d7549d/27+-+1850s+to+1860s+one+piece+cover+aka+lemon+peel.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - “Lemon Peel Base Ball” This is the same ball pictured above, just the opposite side where the stitches all meet. They called this a "lemon peel" or "rose pedal", and it consisted of four sides sewn together to form an "X". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/032bd3ef-1d66-44e3-a31f-6c1de0a50092/28+-+The+Ross+Ball+template.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - The Ross Ball Template As William mentioned, you can imagine the amount of waste when making a ball using this pattern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75114d87-1102-4977-a692-8c922fad3b44/29+-+Louis+Mahn%2C+1882+american+association+tag.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Louis Mahn Louis Mahn perfected the manufacture of a good “standard” baseball. Mahn’s standardized ball was developed under a March 21, 1872 patent that he bought from a John Osgood. The ball was built in two hemispherical sections and sewn together with an interlocking double herringbone stitch in a figure eight loop so that if one stitch broke, the whole ball didn’t unravel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d7ad85c-e254-436c-a7a1-ab2df03720fc/30+-+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+New+York+Times.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Marjorie Adams I was lucky enough to sit down with Marjorie Adams in October of 2020 to talk about her great-grandfather, Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams. Marjorie passed away July 7, 2021, without being able to see Doc inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. You can listen to Episode 2 of Season 2 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/211627d2-abaa-4579-b440-2584943cce5f/31+-+laws+of+base+ball.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - 1858 Laws Of Base Ball In March of 1858, 25 clubs met in New York to form the National Association of Base Ball Players. A set of rules was agreed upon, published, and made available to teams. For the first time ever, the ball’s size, weight, and materials were specified. The core was to be composed of India rubber, but by failing to specify how much rubber could be used, the Association left open the possibility that teams would choose baseballs whose liveliness fit their own style of play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/445d6e02-3b48-45c7-a239-e40959ff57ba/32+-+trophy+balls.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Trophy Balls Why did we let this tradition die?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f78cb51-44f7-4d6c-81cd-12cd576f94eb/33+-+trophy+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Trophy Ball Trophy balls are incredibly hard to find, and when you do, they’re often very expensive. William is lucky enough to have this example from 1870 in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b111aeca-5f59-494b-8365-4e3c3e915b38/34+-+1868+patent+model.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Henry Alden’s 1868 Ball In 1868, Henry A. Alden of New York, patented an "Improvement in India-Rubber Base-Balls," a further improvement to his 1867 patent. The inventor stated that this ball was more durable than ordinary balls. The center of the ball was made of cork but rather than the ordinary leather covering, the inventor proposed an outer covering of rubber and the stitching was imitated by raised rubber stitching, to prevent slipping of the ball when used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85b33f2e-fb02-4905-9c7a-17e9aa008238/35+-+Harrison+Harwood.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Harrison Harwood Harrison Harwood was President of the Natick & Cochituate Street Railway Company in Massachusetts. In 1858, he established The Harwood & Sons baseball factory of Natick, which was the first baseball manufacturing facility in the USA. This location started making Harwood Baseballs in 1858 (before Spalding and Reach), and remained in operation for 117 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5acdb2a6-0293-4ba9-8028-522616f5811d/36+-+first+patent.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - The First Patent Henry A. Alden’s 1868 ball was the first base ball to be awarded a patent in U.S. history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16ee8fc5-f76c-43e7-ba34-7782b615d6c8/37+-+1870s+Young+America+red+cover.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Red Ball Cricket used a red ball, so in about 1870, base ball tried to use a red ball, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bdbfc12-b0c8-4948-baa1-9adbe41708fe/38+-+1870s+endless+seam.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - “Endless Seam” Base Ball 1868 introduced us to the figure-eight style ball that eventually became the standard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9b1c6b3-68b5-4dce-849c-a00b0a579224/39+-+Figure+8+pattern.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Figure-Eight Pattern On top of making the ball’s seams stronger and more durable, cutting the leather in this pattern allows for so much more of the leather to be used, and results in much less waste. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/799c22a6-ae96-4c85-9d69-b50eb17a25c7/39+-+less+waste.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Less Waste This photo is a great visualization of how using the figure eight pattern creates far less waste than the previous methods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/161bfe10-75c6-4252-a6b0-62a62da0f973/39+-+ellis+drake.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Ellis Drake It has been written that Ellis Drake was the inventor of the two-piece figure-eight stitched baseball cover. Drake was born in 1839, in Stoughton, Massachusetts and was the son of a shoemaker. He is said to have sketched the design for the two-piece cover in school in the 1840's and made a prototype from his father's scrap leather. He stated that the lemon peel balls used at school where "round ball" was played came apart on the four corners and caused the ball not to be true when thrown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8a8a01c-1849-4cde-9fd7-c3a1ca206e6d/41+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Giblin Ball John Giblin’s 1875 rubber-covered seamless ball https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38a904aa-ddcf-4e8e-abf7-1080190e2f6e/42+-+Reach+Seamless+Ball.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Reach Seamless Ball Reach took Giblin’s concept and began mass-producing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aeba3214-39bd-41d3-a9f9-cfecb4dabeca/43+-+1890+pre-punctured+stitching+points.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Official National League Baseball In 1876, the first A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods store opened in Chicago. That same year, Spalding developed the first Major League Baseball to become the official baseball of the National League (1876-1976) and American League (1889-1973). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82859c20-db4c-4ef6-a032-d19df6c26a45/44+-+AG+Spalding.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - A. G. Spalding Albert Goodwill Spalding had three careers and was very successful at all of them. He was a pitcher and then executive in the early years of professional baseball, and then became the co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. In the 1880s, he took players on the first world tour of baseball. With William Hulbert, Spalding organized the National League. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. Albert Spalding’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af1f2015-f702-4472-b9f7-87d1507e4c03/45+-+Harry+Wright.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Wright, Howland, & Mahn Harry Wright, George Howland and Louis Mahn were partners in a baseball retail store on Washington Street at the corner of Kneeland Street in Boston. Known as Wright, Howland, & Mahn, sellers of baseball goods, they continued in 1878 to ‘79. They moved to 765 Washington Street in 1880 and ‘81. In 1881, with the Red Stockings fading, Harry and George Wright moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where they co-managed the Providence Grays. Louis Mahn was still manufacturing baseballs all the way up through 1883 and ‘84. Harry Wright’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03500ef9-7d8c-498e-b09b-fdae6748c26f/46+-+AJ+Reach+sa.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - A. J. Reach Alfred James Reach played baseball before the Civil War as a teenager for the Brooklyn Eckfords. He is believed to be the first player paid to play the game. Starting in 1865, Reach reportedly received $25 per week to play. Six years later he joined the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association. After a five-year playing career in the NA, Reach founded the Philadelphia Phillies. He became the first team president of the Philadelphia Phillies as part owner. He went on to become an influential publisher, sporting goods manufacturer, and spokesman for the sport. He was the founder and owner of the AJ Reach Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45b2e42d-7e09-4223-a1aa-801e3da3da49/47+-+1908+double+stitch+and+new+core+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Official American League Baseball Reach baseballs became the official ball of the newly-formed American League in 1901, and the company continued to produce the league’s balls until 1974. In addition to 20 different types of baseballs, the company made catcher’s masks, mitts and chest protectors; fielder’s and boxing gloves; punching bags; and footballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b7c8de5-ef9f-467d-96f4-afd4fc9f36dd/48++-+Shibe.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - The Shibes To transfer the Athletics’ ownership to local interests, Connie Mack approached Benjamin F. Shibe in December 1900 about investing in the club. Shibe, who was a partner at A. J. Reach & Company, had a long association with sports and readily understood the marketing potential a second major league would offer in selling the Reach Company’s products. The deal was made all the sweeter for Shibe by Mack’s offer to make the A. J. Reach baseball the official ball of the American League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d01aaeb9-b70f-4908-9b20-b31acd60f7f1/49+-+1883+plastic+cement+core+patent.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - 1883 Plastic Cement Core Base Ball With this ball, Benjamin Shibe solved the problem that John Giblin couldn’t. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f34e9d0-4283-4c51-9bd2-a5290779d116/50+-+Melot.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Melot’s 1883 Seamless Leather Cover Ball Without seams, throwing curveballs and other trick pitches became much harder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f417543-48d7-4728-af32-5acf49b612e4/51+-+1889+Shibe+double+seam.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Shibe’s 1889 Double Seam Ball Though it was a more durable baseball, the extra stitching made it much harder to manufacture, and also much more expensive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f97ef22-b729-4ccb-8095-58bed16b429f/52+-+fan+for+a+fan.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - A Fan For A Fan The baseball background used in these wonderful souvenirs is actually the Shibe Double Seam ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c696b755-de19-4eee-8124-c5d606951c00/53+-+stitching+baseballs.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Stitching Baseballs By Hand Often done by women, and sometimes even done at their home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7921a415-ed27-4680-934e-48948044d2c3/54+-+stitching+baseballs.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Men Stitching Men stitched baseballs, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37008c8c-1dab-4a43-940e-9acf6984e184/54+-+babe+ruth.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Men Stitching Does the man stitching this baseball look familiar to you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0dad0f0-f7f4-4423-b531-a3f8ffc38894/54++-babe+ruthh.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Stitching I don’t think there were normally this many supervisors watching an employee stitch a baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef38f26d-ed49-42bb-bb34-d9a02ff8ae55/55+-+women+winding.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Winding Baseballs Women usually wound the different layers of string and yarn around the ball’s core because it was a job that wasn’t as physically taxing as stitching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2755aecd-2ce7-432f-b252-dd27588ccd5d/56+-+women+winding.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - More Winding The machines made it faster and easier to get a consistent, tight product. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b49ce682-f1e4-465f-9cdd-13ec5c55b4a3/57+-+stamping+baseballs.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Stamping When the baseballs were finished, they were stamped with the appropriate logos and markings before being boxed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f55d93ff-63fb-45a4-8ad6-3f893e997146/58+-+die.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Dies Imagine how much easier it is to get accurate holes punched when you use a die, instead of doing everything by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d1ed6d1-e2e1-475d-b576-67d3ba94025c/59+-+stitching.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Thread Length Making sure the length you pull for the threads is accurate is important. Screwing it up is a mistake you only make once. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/921fe6e5-7e87-4f4d-bfb8-febb9f53081b/60+-+shop.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Tools and Tooling Having the proper equipment and tools makes every job faster, easier, and more consistent. Which then also makes them more profitable since there are less mistakes and you can turn out the products quicker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfcb2154-552b-4b10-b09c-fac8d856bc2f/61+-+1914+Federal+League.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Federal League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the Federal League were teal and orange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/56120ebe-9ab3-4bcd-bfdd-a41cca81343b/62+-+1910+American+League+cork+center.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - American League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the American League were red and blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c5d1a2d-f746-4870-bf30-4d9a22e86864/63+-+1925+cushioned+cork+center.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - National League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the National League were red and black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7d24681-ccf7-4fe9-8eba-0daaa3a5240c/64+-+modern+colors.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Modern Colors When you order a baseball from William and Huntington Base Ball Co., you can either stick with traditional stitch colors, or choose from any number of modern colors which were never previously used, or even available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d4667ea-0008-441f-9159-4d967f0ed4aa/65+-+1909+cork+center+patent.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Cork Center Ball Shibe’s idea to use cork in the center led to far greater consistency and much better performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64e307ed-930d-434a-bbfe-a2380eab9efa/65.5+-+thread.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - String Look how tightly that string is wound around the core inside that baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01616d5c-62f3-4a0c-a86f-6068e963aabd/66+-+baseball+center.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - What’s Inside A Modern Baseball? The various components of a deconstructed baseball, as compared to an intact ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/583b9195-a47a-4133-87ba-d7c18862afe3/67+-+mudless+baseball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Mudless Baseball MLB has been experimenting - for better (or bettor) or for worse - with what exactly can be done to manipulate the balls being used on the field today. This prototype from Spring Training 2019 used leather which had been impregnated with a chemical to make the ball tacky right out of the box, with no need to rub mud on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a272e0c-7c3a-4fd5-8240-9c9289112ea5/68+-+1943+WWII+rubber+rationing.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - WWII Baseballs Due to rationing of rubber during WWII, baseballs were made with kind of a mish mosh of materials. As such, the performance of the balls during that time suffered, as did hitting statistics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1c3bf63-e262-40b1-9e20-61724f5042e2/69+-+2019+drag+coefficient+decreases.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - MLB Buys Rawlings When the league owns the manufacturing company, it becomes much easier to hide changes being made to the ball. Changes the league claims they aren’t making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ae77181-b37c-49ca-b7f8-4e384abccc6f/72+-+baseballs.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c12e30d7-563c-4504-b6b3-411cab9890e1/71+-+home+runs.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Home Run Rates Dr. Meredith Wills has been studying baseballs for years, tracking which balls are being used in games during the season, during playoff games, or during marquee matchups on nationally televised games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d5b70f2-720f-45b6-91d1-3d4014142533/996+-+different+weights.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out From a study of baseballs used during the 2022 MLB season done by Dr. Meredith Wills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13a7f96c-d276-458e-b3cc-2e446f67c427/73+-+1970+5x+center.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - 1970 5X Center Ball This ball reacted so hot off the bat that the league determined it was unsafe to use during game play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3246a8e5-738d-499d-9105-64ec11334f50/74+-+use+the+balls.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Functional Art Pieces While William actually uses the baseballs he makes, he knows most people who buys his products buy them to display them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f18b2d16-5844-4064-9be6-20aea9714cf5/75+-+Orlando+Cepeda+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Orlando Cepeda One of William’s favorite commissions he’s ever worked on, this baseball for Orlando Cepeda used different colored strings to represent the different teams the First Baseman played for during his Hall of Fame career. Orlando Cepeda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c256011-b7c4-4030-b3c1-23c18c8936af/76+-+shop.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Working Away William may be isolated in his shop, but the work he does is fulfilling and being his own boss is a dream. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/777aa441-c400-46c1-afc6-96f45ee13049/77+-+gloves.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Gloves When William started Huntington Base Ball Co. he thought his clients would be high end collectors who wanted to own affordable versions of the priceless artifacts they were after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab15b18b-ebce-4cf8-b9f0-1695395fdb70/78+-+name.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Signature William signs every single box that goes out the door. After all, doesn’t an artist sign his paintings? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad3b6d55-9661-476f-84ae-edf753052dd1/79+-+George+W+Bush+Presidential+Library.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - George W. Bush In 2014, William was asked to make baseballs for the gift shop at the George W. Bush Presidential Library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c8e681b-9abb-4456-a204-9f805ade8669/80+-+Clemente+Museum.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Clemente Museum William has also supplied baseballs for the Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh. If you’ve never been, that’s a trip absolutely worth making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb1d8798-00ab-4707-b22a-9bd98180da40/81+-+Paul+and+I.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Paul Reiferson Paul Reiferson is a photography connoisseur who spent decades amassing the most complete Charles Conlon collection ever privately assembled. He also has an unbelievable collection of baseballs. These liner notes are filled with many photos of the baseballs in his collection. You can listen to Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53c07b38-4bc9-438f-bf53-65fc3695ea7b/82+-+1914-1915+Federal+League+baseball.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Federal League Ball Stitched and designed exactly like the original baseballs used during the 1914 and 1915 seasons in the Federal League, William’s version has slightly different stamping so they won’t be confused with the real artifacts, which sell for thousands of dollars. That’s how historically accurate William has been able to get with his recreations thanks to his research and skill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7141111b-ad49-4507-8bfe-26fc3584e246/84+-+bats.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Bats It’s not just baseballs and gloves and pennants that William makes. He also makes bats! SHOP HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78d7d211-8532-4ae7-9d9c-7ab8d7d3627d/83+-+William.jpeg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Follow William Online Website Facebook Instagram Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4207ddf-335b-4233-888b-38d0b0768937/85+-+workship.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out William’s workshop https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/670a9d5d-0fb8-4868-bcff-178ed9249620/86+-+shibe+park.JPEG Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Shibe Park My mom and I at the site of Shibe Park in Philadelphia during October of 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/924b6dfd-6b37-4ec3-a518-1a510a51dd2d/87+-+boston.jpeg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston Trip “A walk in the park” is certainly one way to describe this trip during spring break of 1998. It’s not the way that I would choose to describe it, but it’s certainly one way to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/626c9f04-03af-4629-b789-21bf841cafa0/88+-+fingerless+gloves.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Vintage Style Gloves William’s gloves are used by vintage base ball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c34d3686-c936-44ae-9e6d-57cd78cfae58/89+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball+patent+tag.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Patent Tags Patent tags from John Giblin’s rubber-covered seamless ball, pictured earlier. Patent No. 165994 was issued on July 27th, 1875. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c150d8cb-4ae3-4d48-b50b-9daa83c6fe8e/90+-+1312+Arch+Street.JPG Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Mitchell & Ness In 1904, former tennis and wrestling champ Frank P. Mitchell and Scottish golfer Charles M. Ness set the future of authentic in motion when they met up in Philadelphia to establish Mitchell & Ness Sporting Goods. At first, they specialized in stringing tennis racquets, constructing custom-made golf clubs and making uniforms for local Philly baseball and football teams. You can listen to Episode 3 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear my conversation with former owner Peter Capolino HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd134818-3b91-4196-86e2-f8a8512e7449/91+-+1863+-1868+one+piece+cover+variation.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Harvey Ross Harvey Ross was one of the first famous producers of the base ball. Ross was a sail maker by trade, but, as a member of the Atlantic Club in Brooklyn, started making base balls for his team. He made the balls in his home on Park Avenue in New York City, and they became so popular that he eventually sold them all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1dbd3a4-a540-4dec-8a27-c151e71e24b4/92+-+John+Van+Horn%2C+baseball+manufacturer.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - John Van Horn John Van Horn was a member of the Union Club, of Morrisania, New York. He had a little boot and shoe store on Second Avenue in New York City where he would make his base balls. His legendary "lively ball" earned Van Horn the reputation of being the "greatest ball maker of the nineteenth century." He and Harvey Ross turned out the best base balls for some years, and they were used in nearly all of the match games that were played up to the early 1870s. CLICK HERE to read A Chronology of Ballmaking up to 1872 – and a list of 32 Ballmakers, 1858 to 1890 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e00310c-a9e8-468d-8e4a-719ad9fe928f/93+-+James+Naismith.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Dr. James Naismith It’s easy for basketball fans to point directly to the singular person who invented their favorite sport. Dr. James Naismith was faced with the challenge of creating a new indoor game to keep his students at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, active during the winter months. He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the University of Kansas basketball program, and is an unquestioned legend. For baseball fans, it’s not quite as simple to name the people who started their favorite sport or developed the equipment. Unfortunately, even the names many people do know weren’t actually involved in the sport’s creation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17fe9919-07de-4cf1-9a29-286d92d2e5dc/94+-+vintage+games.JPG Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out My mom and I at the 2014 vintage base ball game at the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston, Georgia. Between us is Allison Kate Jackson, great-great-great niece of Shoeless Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55438e46-6604-4090-8712-3e203ed4481d/95+-+2018+Vintage+Game+%2827+of+106%29.JPG Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Dark Base Balls Imagine being an outfielder, trying to pick up this dark colored baseball with the wooded background behind the batter. It was a nightmare until the ball got above the treeline and had the (hopefully) clear blue sky behind it. But line drives or ground balls were often misplayed because a fielder just couldn’t see the ball early enough to properly react to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77385d33-343a-463e-939f-7073be45e982/96+-+tools+of+the+trade.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Tools Of The Trade It’s no wonder William’s right forearm is crazy strong. Try cutting leather with a pair of scissors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/864f6f37-17e5-44dd-93ce-7123c458d849/97+-+1927+Reach+factory.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - The Reach Factory Thanks to the technological advancements of Benjamin Shibe, by 1883, the Reach factory was making 1.3 million baseballs and 100,000 bats per year. This is a photo of Eddie Collins, Connie Mack, and Ty Cobb taking a factory tour in 1927. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6642affe-773f-439b-9699-9ea4804c18e9/98+-+ben+shibe.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Benjamin Shibe Ben Shibe is credited with the invention of the automated stitching machinery to make standardized baseballs. It was his business savvy that helped turn a nascent game at his birth into a multi-million dollar enterprise by his death. Shibe Park in Philadelphia was named in his honor from 1909 to 1954. Ben’s son, Tom, was a co-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics and succeeded his father as team President upon his death in 1922. Tom’s brother, John, then served as Vice-president. When Tom Shibe passed away, John succeeded him as club President, but illness would force him to resign within a few months and he died the following year. Benjamin Shibe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/488fc860-509c-4920-88ab-6327c2e63327/99.+1929-10-12.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Sell Out Crowds When there weren’t enough seats inside the gates at Columbia Park, fans would sit on the roofs of the row homes across the street so they could still watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2769052e-88d7-4114-9a72-50c73ed0fb02/100+-+goldilocks+ball.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out CLICK HERE to read the article we keep referencing using Dr. Meredith Wills’ research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f82b60cc-bc7a-457d-8c97-393e805fdbca/101+-+field+of+dreams.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Field of Dreams Game I was at the game between the White Sox and Yankees at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on August 12, 2021. Tim Anderson’s walk-off home run into the corn was one of the most exciting sports moments I’ve ever witnessed in person. To think it may have been aided by a juiced baseball kind of taints the entire experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e852e6c6-85e8-4aa1-98bc-3f229f94841f/102+-+game+used+baseball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - MLB Authenticated Game Used Memorabilia MLB wouldn’t let players or teams send Dr. Meredith Wills game used baseballs because they didn’t want her outing their shadiness. But hey, if you want to buy some game used baseballs, bidding starts at $10 HERE… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ed56e0f-9cc3-4396-b8cd-d3da6cb1a587/103+-+in+his+shop.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - William Working In His Shop When I got to William’s shop to record the interview, I spent the first 20 minutes or so just watching him work. It was so inspiring watching someone be so clearly in their element. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/144bac92-ea4d-4825-becc-252c5f729246/104+-+catchers+masks.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Decor Everyone should be so lucky to have a space in their home that looks like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bf4812e-f204-45e5-8993-397c6d198204/105+-+coasters.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Leather Coasters These things are really, really cool in person. They look great, they feel great, and they smell great. BUY YOURS HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e26a22d3-1e32-4a8c-b7e7-95dedf430f9e/106+-+Cepeda+ball.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Cepeda Ball Here’s another view of the custom baseball William made for Orlando Cepeda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf3f0c6d-2381-4285-9c80-47f98dfa3c96/108+-+pitch+that+killed.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - The Pitch That Killed Mike Sowell's brilliant account of the events of 1920--meticulously researched and mellifluously written--captures all the intensity of the moment of the Chapman beaning and the entire incredible season. Only a writer of Sowell's power and skill could do justice to such a tale, and the result is one of the most highly respected and widely acclaimed baseball books ever written. This book is a must-read. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59f3d436-d863-489c-9159-c692978a5855/108+-+Wrigley.jpeg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Lights At Wrigley When the first scheduled night game at Wrigley Field was rained out on 8/8/88, many people took it as a sign from above that there just shouldn’t be lights at the historic park. You can listen to Episode 6 of Season 1 of My Baseball History to hear my conversation with Wrigley Field’s Official Historian Brian Bernardoni HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d897b61b-2f80-4916-9b86-dac78311a4e4/109+-+Andrew.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Love Of The Game Auctions Operations Manager Andrew Aronstein mans the LOTG booth at the 2023 National Sports Card Convention in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b15ca0ed-1941-4b29-9021-7624234c5299/110+-+Graney+with+Larry+the+mascot.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Magic Lantern Slides Available in their Spring Premier Auction which closes March 30, 2024, the Frank W. Smith Glass Lantern Slide Collection includes 57 unique slides, mostly featuring the 1914 Cleveland Naps. Read Andrew’s article about the discovery HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c7f3729-121e-421c-ae46-90d6e4d9466a/111+-+Joe+Jackson+magic+lantern+slide.png Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Joe Jackson’s Slide It may not be Charles Conlon’s shot of Ty Cobb, but this image captured by Frank W. Smith is easily the most dynamic action photo ever taken of Shoeless Joe Jackson. There’s a reason LOTG made it the image they used on the cover for THIS AUCTION. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93bb618d-0c7c-4ae8-b5bf-8b5cb89d084b/112+-+Signed+photo.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Record Breaking Photo This photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson, also taken by Frank W. Smith, sold through a Christie’s auction in October of 2021. It is said to be autographed by Joe, which would make it the only known signed photo of Joe to exist. Because of that possibility, it broke the record for most expensive signed sports photo of all time, selling for $1.47 million. As someone who has seen numerous examples of Joe’s signature on legal documents which are absolutely assured to be signed by Joe’s hand, I have very serious doubts that the signature on this photo was created by Joe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce27fbf7-0609-4b50-b8c7-1b1ac99e9301/113+-+1963+Topps+Sandy+Koufax.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - 1963 Topps Sandy Koufax card The large and colorful borders at the bottom of the 1963 Topps card set are extremely susceptible to chipping and wear. Because of that, finding high grade examples of cards from this set is more difficult (and, therefore, more expensive) than most other Topps sets from that era. If you have a copy of this card you want to send to me because you love me or love the podcast so much, I wouldn’t mind that at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8406003a-0e36-406e-b519-3320802c5f3a/114+-+profile.jpg Season 3 - 0306 - William Peebles - Want A Free Baseball? If you want the chance to win a free baseball from William Peebles and Huntington Base Ball Co., all you have to do is follow each of our accounts on twitter, and then retweet the pinned tweet at the top of the MBH profile. We’ll pick a winner and they’ll get a baseball shipped to them for free! Follow Huntington Base Ball Co. Follow My Baseball History https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/05 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65c25ef5-f64e-4731-a3b6-f70950a477ed/youtube.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a700f8f-9e5e-4167-843f-a2cb70a068fd/Paul+and+I.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson Me and Paul Reiferson at the Jackie Robinson Museum in Brooklyn, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8417bb4-95c9-485b-95a6-17875ff091fb/01+-+charles+conlon.jpeg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Charles M. Conlon Charles Martin Conlon was born in Albany, New York and grew up in the neighboring city of Troy. He started his career working as a proof-reader for New York City newspapers in the early 1900s, and took up landscape photography as a hobby. Conlon became a master photographer, and is known for his distinctive and poetic documentation of America’s favorite pastime. Paul Reiferson donated his collection of nearly 500 of Conlon’s images to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/999ca191-c8ba-4739-a6ac-63759c9d6aac/02+-+Christy+Mathewson+1911.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Christy Mathewson Delivering all four of his pitches, including his famous “fadeaway” (now called a screwball), with impeccable control and an easy motion, Christy Mathewson was the greatest pitcher of the Deadball Era’s first decade, compiling a 2.13 ERA over 17 seasons and setting modern National League records for wins in a season (37), wins in a career (373), and consecutive 20-win seasons (12). This photo of the big right-hander, taken by Charles Conlon in 1911, is iconic. Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c78b28b-68da-4ae2-a58d-b8a1ae93be1c/03+-+Photographers+on+the+field.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photographers On The Field Look how close photographers used to be! Before the advent of telephoto lenses, if you wanted to get a super close action shot, sometimes you had to put yourself in harm’s way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f5ee732-32e9-411c-9963-2bac1bc86fbf/04+-+Cobb+slide.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Most Famous Photo On July 23, 1910 at Hilltop Park in New York during a game between the Yankees and the visiting Detroit Tigers, Charles Conlon took what is considered by many to be the best baseball photograph ever captured. In the image, Ty Cobb slides into third base, and into third baseman Jimmy Austin. Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography Jimmy Austin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fccbd275-83f8-4f9e-8544-208bfcd28202/05+-+The+Glory+Years+of+Baseball.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Glory Years of Baseball The book that started it all for Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea70a550-93d3-4a82-89ba-5e1a00c8f83c/06+-+1967+Bob+Uecker.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 1967 Bob Uecker Card Before Paul knew any better, he thought this Bob Uecker card was “very old.” It led him to seek out a Babe Ruth card, which eventually turned into a lifelong search for vintage baseball items. Bob Uecker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04e7d82d-1cd6-4ca6-8210-30976de4f004/Englishtown+Flea+Market.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Englishtown Flea Market Paul’s dad helped kickstart Paul’s collections by taking him to the Englishtown Flea Market in New Jersey. But it was his dad’s storytelling about his own favorite players which truly helped Paul gain an appreciation for the guys on the baseball cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a8237d7-c1ae-4cfa-9ce5-dc4a9c941180/07+-+1951+Berk+Ross+Richie+Ashburn.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 1951 Berk Ross Richie Ashburn Card Paul wanted to collect anyone who his dad loved, and his dad’s favorite player was Richie Ashburn. This 1951 Berk Ross card of Richie was the first one Paul got for his own collection. Richie Ashburn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41d76c73-bf03-4992-96bb-9dae9d715f31/08+-+Run+With+The+Swift.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Run With The Swift” Paul read The Wise Men and truly learned the lesson of running with the swift while he was a student at Harvard Business School. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df9598e7-3635-41c3-b4bd-ec262141b158/10+-+negative.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Negatives Paul describes negatives as something like a musical score. Negatives can be manipulated in a dark room or in various software programs, but it is an image that has the potential to be something other than exactly what it is on the substrate on which it exists. This negative, taken by photographer Francis P. Burke, shows Walter Johnson at Comiskey Park circa 1912. Walter Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707806232526-18ZLOYVZQP6AYQKJIHWA/11+-+Ansel+Adams+Clearing+Winter+Storm+printed+1937.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Printed from original negative in 1937 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707806232710-V3OPG5P0UAIIYG2UY2OI/12+-+Ansel+Adams+Clearing+Winter+Storm+printed+1970.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Printed from original negative, with selenium toner, between 1963-1970 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f2cebf5-51c9-435c-9d82-523fe3faaaca/13+-+Type+I.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type I Photo A 1st generation photograph, developed from the original negative, during the period (within approximately two years of when the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ad8bbe3-e55d-4e68-83f9-c92f597601c1/14+-+Type+II.jpeg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type II Photo A photograph, developed from the original negative, during the period (more than approximately two years after the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40b28adb-2e77-4ed8-a1cd-11cb13b8b5d8/15+-+Type+III+Maris.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type III Photo A 2nd generation photograph, developed from a duplicate negative or wire transmission, during the period (within approximately two years of when the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cdb84ee-d3cb-470b-96e5-12a8699bf492/16+-+Type+IV.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type IV Photo A 2nd generation photograph (or 3rd or later generation), developed from a duplicate negative or wire transmission, during a later period (more than approximately two years after the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b82e1971-2bd8-4483-815d-72bcfd4f08cd/17+-+baryta.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baryta Photo Paper The word ‘baryta’ comes from the chemical compound barite – barium sulphate. The use of brightening agents in the baryta layer of photographic paper did begin in the early 1950s. Its adoption, however, was gradual and never complete, complicating the dating of photographic paper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f0493ad-5683-4c9d-be83-c007d46ca0b5/18+-+Chritsy+Mathewson+1912+verso.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Stamps The stamp on the back of a photograph is another way many people attempt to date a print. However, there are huge incentives to counterfeit stamps to make modern prints appear more vintage, so this method cannot always be trusted. This is the back of a Christy Mathewson photo taken circa 1913 by Charles Conlon. Note the stamp on the back, which reads: CHARLES M. CONLON Evening Telegram New York Paul and I discuss Conlon’s handwritten notes on the back of the photo, which are less than flattering to his friend, later in the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0e63d55-9edc-4a27-a738-e49d011871cc/19+-+Ansel+Adams+Moonrise+prints+throughout+the+years.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Moonrise Over Hernandez This photo, considered by many to be the greatest photograph ever made, was taken by Ansel Adams on November 1, 1941. Using that date as the starting point, which of these printings of it would be considered a “Vintage Print” and which would be considered a “Modern Print”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9bb5cc6-0ced-4e81-9252-bce831fc4438/20+-+Cy+Young+1910+glass+plate+negative.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Glass Plate Negatives Dry plate glass negatives were the first economically successful durable photographic medium. Dry plate negatives are typically on thinner glass plates, with a more evenly coated emulsion. Dry plate glass negatives were in common use between the 1880s and the late 1920s. This glass plate negative was taken by Charles Conlon of Cy Young in 1910. Like Paul mentioned, glass plate negatives are hard to work with because of their weight and their fragility. Silver nitrate is used in numerous silver-based processes from the ambrotype to the gelatin silver print. In gelatin silver printing, silver nitrate is typically mixed with other chemicals to form a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, usually silver bromide or silver chloride, suspended in gelatin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ddc9608-b91d-4c38-bbd1-7e216ed5fdd5/21+-+Albumen+print.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Albumen Prints The albumen print, also called albumen silver print, is a method of producing a photographic print using egg whites. It was the first commercial process of producing a photo on a paper base from a negative. Previous methods - such as the daguerreotype and the tintype - were printed on metal. This image, taken by George K. Warren of the 1871 Yale Baseball Team, is an albumen print. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/709aa8c3-400e-4840-a095-9eb5d8650e09/22+-+Ambrotype.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ambrotypes The invention of wet collodion photography processes in the 1850s allowed the development of two new kinds of photographs: ambrotypes and tintypes. These new formats shared many characteristics with the earlier daguerreotypes but were quicker and cheaper to produce. An ambrotype is comprised of an underexposed glass negative placed against a dark background. The dark backing material creates a positive image. Photographers often applied pigments to the surface of the plate to add color, often tinting cheeks and lips red and adding gold highlights to jewelry, buttons, and belt buckles. This 19th century ambrotype shows a female baseball player holding a ring bat in her right hand and a baseball in her left hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf94b9d3-7055-48fc-8db7-4b8393ec3cba/23+-+Kintsugi.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Kintsugi Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold — built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c3cfa62-7205-4133-94ce-95439555d48f/24+-+contact+print.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Contact Prints A contact print is a photographic image produced from a film, usually a negative, The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film original onto a light sensitive material pressed tightly to the film. This contact print from William N. Jacobellis shows Joe DeMaestri of the Philadelphia A's, circa 1953. Joe DeMaestri’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d23f0f6e-81e4-4b3d-8b5b-56f285539977/25+-+35+mm+shot.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 35 mm film While you’re still able to capture beautiful images, using 35 mm film produces much grainier images than using glass plate negatives. Glass plate negatives can hold a tremendous amount of information on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bba549e-4897-494d-8f89-a3848d2e2790/26.5.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Carl J. Horner Carl J. Horner was a studio photographer who may have been the first official photographer of Major League Baseball. His portraits were used as the basis of the famous T206 baseball card set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d71028dd-3309-44d0-8a84-a5dba6c78e74/26+-+Carl+J+Horner+business+card.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “European Photographer” Horner was born in Europe and advertised himself as a “European photographer” to indicate that he was artistic in a way in which American photographers were not. Note the bottom left corner of this cabinet photo’s folder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26f72ed6-a4e4-4a1c-810e-db89000453f6/27+-+Doge+Loredan.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan The Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan is a painting by Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini, dating from c. 1501–02. It portrays Leonardo Loredan, the Doge of Venice from 1501 to 1521, in his ceremonial garments with the corno ducale worn over a linen cap. John Pope-Hennessy described Bellini as "by far the greatest fifteenth-century official portraitist", adding that "the tendency towards ideality that impairs his private portraits here stood him in good stead, and enabled him to codify, with unwavering conviction, the official personality." Baseball portrait photographer Carl J. Horner took inspiration from this style of European portraiture, particularly when it came to lighting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c93267d-55fc-44ea-a628-9e2b3e12b8a0/28+-+Horner%27s+Wagner.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Honus Wagner by Carl J. Horner Possibly the most famous portrait by Carl J. Horner, this image was the basis of the highly sought-after T206 baseball card featuring Honus Wagner, which sells for millions of dollars. Honus Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4110a4c9-2d91-4f18-8404-c6768e410a8b/29+-+Jefferson+Burdick.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Jefferson Burdick The American Card Catalog: The Standard Guide on All Collected Cards and Their Values is a reference book for American trading cards produced before 1951, compiled by Jefferson Burdick. First published in 1939, some collectors regard the book as the most important in the history of collectible cards. The book catalogues sports and non-sports cards, but is best known for its categorization of baseball cards. Sets like 1909-11 White Borders, 1910 Philadelphia Caramel’s, and 1909 Box Tops are most commonly referred to by their ACC catalogue numbers. They are, respectively, T206, E95, and W555. Burdick donated his personal collection of over 300,000 pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1947. He spent the next 15 years working at the museum's drawings and prints department to accomplish the task of cataloging the collection. At 5 p.m. on Jan. 10, 1963, Burdick pasted his last card, rose, worked himself into his coat and announced, “I shan’t be back.” The next day, he checked into a hospital. He died there on March 13 at 63. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba50dec-84b5-4fc8-9820-b2348ef4c903/30+-+double+vintage.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Double-Vintage Charles Schwartz has been a collector of 19th and 20th century photographs since 1970. His areas of specialization include Japanese photography before and between the wars; portraits of photographers; the African-American experience (from Civil War to the present); and 19th century cased images, including Japanese ambrotypes. His concept of ‘Double-Vintage’ is having objects displayed alongside vintage photographs in which they are depicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707864052750-RL18JGNXNERDL0GS9UKN/31+-+Joe+in+the+living+room.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Joe Jackson in his living room, 1949 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707864050481-4BZQR6AQFV4QVVFDBS5E/32+-+my+recreation.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - My recreation of that exact same spot with vintage pieces, 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3057cb2-ac14-4caa-8a36-30c5047da283/33+-+Germany+Schaefer%2C+1911.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Graflex The invention of the Graflex camera allowed photographers to break free of the confines of their studios, and actually take their cameras outside, or to the homes or places of work of their subjects. Here, Germany Schaefer of the Washington Senators, plays around with a Graflex in 1911. Germany Schaefer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c98c8a4-571b-4ec1-99bf-2fb6eec72c95/34+-+Charles+Conlon+1913+b%26w.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out Charles Conlon was able to take this photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson at the Polo Grounds in 1913 because his Graflex allowed him to take his camera anywhere, shooting his subjects where they felt most comfortable and familiar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12d97a05-10bb-4a0d-9870-72667d71334a/35+-+Chief+Meyers+1914.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out This striking image of Chief Meyers was taken by Charles Conlon in 1914. If you look in Meyers’ eyes, you can see Conlon (and his camera) in the reflection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54276514-a6c5-4568-a3a7-4522ebc14254/36+-+Ty+Cobb+at+Comiskey+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Francis P. Burke A Chicago-based photographer, Francis P. Burke was the official photographer of the Chicago Cubs during the early part of the 20th century. This photo Burke took of Ty Cobb at Comiskey Park would later become the basis of Cobb’s famous Cracker Jack baseball card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c96d940-e6a0-4e92-ae7e-b900112ed1d5/37+-+George+Burke.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Burke More than 60 years after his death, George Burke remains one of the most famous and collected baseball photographers. Burke was the official photographer for several teams and provided the photos for the Goudey and Play Ball baseball card sets. Based out of Chicago, Burke shot some of the iconic images of the days’ stars including Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Dizzy Dean and Joe DiMaggio. Babe Ruth once called Burke his favorite photographer, and he and numerous other stars bought his photographs to fulfill their autograph requests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dafc9787-196a-4906-9fcb-feead50ee69d/38+-+George+Brace.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Brace George Brace was born on Chicago’s South Side on April 11, 1913. By the time he retired in 1994, he had 65 years of experience, capturing more than half of major league baseball’s years in pictures, and leaving a priceless legacy to fans everywhere. Along with his mentor, George Burke, Brace photographed baseball’s first official All-Star Game (NL vs. AL) at Comiskey Park in 1933. Brace captured an estimated 13,000 subjects, including players, managers, umpires, groundskeepers, ball boys, mascots, concessionaires, announcers, et al. “If they came to Chicago, I got ’em,” he told everyone, leaving hundreds of thousands of images. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21fac4b9-d3e4-4b9e-8f7e-175bad0959ac/39+-+Frank+Chance+The+American+Magazine+1909.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Francis P. Burke Although his images were used for numerous Cracker Jack cards and publications of the day, Burke’s name has been largely forgotten. Here, his 1905 image of Frank Chance graces the cover of a 1909 issue of The American Magazine. Frank Chance’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/027539f5-4d89-4387-ae53-f82170c50007/40+-+Paul+Thompson.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Paul Thompson While many believe (or want to believe) Paul Thompson was a photographer, he actually operated a photography news service which aggregated photos taken by a large network of photographers across the country and distributed those photos to publications which wanted to use them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e7a938d-f454-45ba-9d5f-d3c308203142/41+-+George+Grantham+Bain.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Grantham Bain George Grantham Bain was known as "the father of foreign photographic news." Although not a photographer, himself, he operated Bain News Service starting in 1898. The George Grantham Bain Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division comprises approximately 40,000 glass plate negatives and 50,000 photographic prints.[2] Most are scanned and have been made available online. Most date from the 1900s to the mid-1920s, but some are as early as the 1860s, and some as late as the 1930s. The majority of Bain's images depict events in New York City, but he also copied extant images of worldwide events for news distribution purposes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7c793e5-dd18-430d-a99c-7072368ef746/42+-+Sweeney+Gets+Speaker+-+1910+in+New+York.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Charles M. Conlon According to Paul, Charles Conlon was unquestionably the first “baseball photographer,” as opposed to photographers prior to Conlon who sometimes took photos at baseball games or of baseball players. Conlon was truly a baseball photographer. In this photo, he captures Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox sliding into Ed Sweeney of the New York Yankees circa 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d6817f5-0797-4abd-a82e-8b84d05aa889/43+-+Edweard+Muybridge%2C+1886.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Eadweard Muybridge Eadweard Muybridge was an English photographer known for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture projection. Muybridge was a noted photographer in the 19th century American West. He photographed Yosemite, San Francisco, the newly acquired Alaskan Territory, subjects involved in the Modoc War, and lighthouses on the West Coast. He also made his early "moving" picture studies in California. This series of photos was taken in 1886. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc47e6fb-e79c-4868-85a5-17186a3185ba/44+-+1905+Spalding+Base+Ball+Guide.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide was an annual baseball guide, founded by A. G. Spalding, and published by his American Sports Publishing Company. First published in 1878, its name varied slightly over time. In 1940, it merged with another publication to become The Official Baseball Guide. A modern descendant of the Guide is published by the Sporting News. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cf5b876-25e2-45b3-b6f7-783ce1210964/45+-+Paul+Thompson+photo.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - T205 Portraits This portrait of Johnny Evers was taken by the Paul Thompson agency and became the basis for the Johnny Evers baseball card which appeared in the T205 set. Johnny Evers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a755d109-e2f6-4f91-8545-ca25f10550d7/46+-+Rube+Marquard+-+Published+in+Reach%27s+Official+Base+Ball+Guide%2C+1914.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Reach's Official Base Ball Guide, 1914 In addition to being published in the Spalding guide, Conlon’s photos also appeared in the Reach guide books. This page, taken from the 1914 edition, credits Conlon in the lower right corner for taking the photos featuring the New York Giants’ pitching staff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09f75c76-cf3b-466c-8b8e-c5776b105a91/47+-+joe+jackson+swing.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - After The Swing Many photographers chose to take photos of swinging batters once their swing was complete, as opposed to trying to capture the middle of the swing, or even the point of contact when the bat meets the ball. Take this photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson, a lifetime .356 batter, captured in 1916. Paul theorizes that this was due to photographers of the day struggling with the shutter speed of their cameras. When photographers would “miss” a shot using a glass plate negative, it was expensive and time consuming. This led to many photographers opting for the safer photos, ones they knew they could get. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9e67282-6698-4535-9e42-c9a5bfb4c204/48+-+butch+schmidt.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Butch Schmidt Normally, Conlon would set up behind a left handed batter. For this image of Butch Schmidt, Conlon set up in front of him and produced a great action shot. The image is stamped ‘October 24, 1914’ and was published in the 1915 Spalding Guide. Butch Schmidt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7206b994-c170-4950-bf0e-bd6f8ae48532/50.1+-+They%27re+All+Good+American+Names.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Charley Can Be Trusted. Always.” With these five words to his teammates, Christy Mathewson gave Charles Conlon the biggest vote of confidence any photographer could ever ask for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c72b0d4c-0bb9-4b1c-b3bf-6d0035f41e22/51+-+Christy+Mathewson+1904.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s First Baseball Photo? Taken in 1904 of Christy Mathewson, this image is potentially the first ever baseball photo ever taken by Charles Conlon. Not bad, Rook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4750053d-1970-4cc2-9f97-251a89c003e6/52+-+Chritsy+Mathewson+1912+front.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Christy’s Crow’s Feet The inscription on the back of this photo, in Conlon’s own hand, reads: “1913 - First appearance of crow’s feet under his eyes. Years on the pitching slab under burning sun beginning to tell.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b6e9a8d-f341-46b1-b614-5ead74068972/53+-+angle+of+incidence.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photography Concepts Applied To Sports? The angle formed between the normal and the incident ray at the point of incidence is called the angle of incidence. Similarly, the angle formed between the normal and the reflected ray at the point of incidence is called the angle of reflection. When Conlon tried to explain this concept to Home Run Baker, as he felt it related to baseball, Baker shrugged him off, thinking Conlon was out of his element. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34c59f4-36ac-4c3c-8765-7701c58c6ce2/54+-+Honus+Wagner+1914.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Betraying His Friends? Were Conlon’s photos of his aging friends’ eyes a betrayal of their trust? Or was Conlon simply trying to learn as much about the sport as he possibly could, and approaching performance analysis in a way no one else had ever thought to? This image of his friend, Honus Wagner, was taken in 1914, when Wagner was 40 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64bce95d-bbd1-40cc-aeb7-746e6e0f8054/55+-+Sam+Crawford+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - F. C. Lane’s Captions "If you ever want to know why Hans Wagner dropped out of the select batting circle, look at his eyes." "Sam Crawford is a man who has carefully conserved his energies. His calm philosophy of life has carried him much farther than the restless activity which burns up the energies of so many players. But Sam's batting eye is growing dim. The lustre, the quickness of perception which he knew in his youth, are gone forever." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player's Eyes Grow Old," Baseball Magazine, May 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37ae89da-9924-4aca-bc35-feb7714f40b8/55+-+Conlon%27s+Eyes.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baseball Magazine "Look at Chief Meyers. The strained, almost wild, look in his eyes is a telling tribute to the exhausting effects of the only game. Meyers is practically through, so they say… Take a bird's-eye sweep of Meyers' record; note how that marvelous batting gift rose to heights which few ever reach and then note how steadily and decisively it fell. What took more than a hundred points off his batting average in three years? If anything save damaged eye-sight could produce such a change in so short a time, what was it?" "Look at the weary look in Evers' eyes. The fiery Trojan is growing old for a ball player. His batting was never his chief claim to glory, though he was always a brainy and usually a good hitter. The camera favors Evers in the accompanying picture. His eyes are older even than they look in the illustration." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player's Eyes Grow Old," Baseball Magazine, May 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca3d1da0-1f81-4915-b9e4-ccc6c3bb2d72/55+-+Bag+It+Michael.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Bag It, Michael! Michael Jordan appeared on 50 Sports Illustrated covers. More than anyone ever. He was always very cooperative with SI. Until they published this cover in March of 1994. MJ's main objection was that Sports Illustrated never spoke to him for the story. He vowed to never speak to the magazine again after that. And he never did. Michael Jordan’s Baseball Reference page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d361852-26c4-46fb-98de-03abec9ee816/58+-+Ty+Cobb+batting+grip.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Batting Grips "Strikingly like Cobb, but with a great, decisive difference, is Joe Jackson's position at the plate. Almost with the same build as Cobb, slightly lighter on his feet, more wiry, with stronger hands and forearms, the great White Sox slugger is the perfect model of what a ball player should be. Jackson holds the bat at much the same elevation as does Cobb, but there is a telling difference in the way in which he grips the war club. His hands are close together. Furthermore, the bat is gripped at the extreme end of the handle. His right hand overlaps the far end of the bat as though he wanted to get every inch of the club into the swing and wanted to stretch the bat a little more. Unlike Cobb, Jackson is a slugger, first, last, and all the time, a batter who scores hits by the matchless keenness of his eye, by the driving power of his bat; a batter whose superior has never been seen and whose equal it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find. One other feature of Jackson's pose is noticeable, the bat which he clutches in his sinuous fingers with so resolute a grip, is black." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player Grips His Bat," Baseball Magazine, September 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4488bcd-b3d4-40f1-a8ed-ec16e1847c57/59+-+Tris+Speaker+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Batting Grips "Until Ty Cobb robs him of his newly won crown, Tris Speaker is champion. Note the curious way in which the direful Tris stands at the plate. He draws a line with the ends of his bat in the dust, his tribute to the players' superstition, then takes his stand in a resolute, rather crouching attitude, swinging his bat slowly back and forth across the plate. Speaker is one man who holds the bat almost parallel with the ground. Look at his shoulders and they will corroborate that statement. He keeps his shoulders elevated so that if the ball comes high he can raise his arms and the bat with the minimum of effort. If the ball comes low, he can, of course, lower his hands to meet it without effort." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player Grips His Bat," Baseball Magazine, September 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b103de5-3839-4989-a26d-86b71a1e1bed/60+-+Fred+Jacklitsch+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Fred Jacklitsch "[Fred] Jacklitsch has the typical, dockwalloper catcher's hand. The palm is thick and hard and bony. Every finger of the hand has been broken, some of them several times. See how greatly distended is the mid-joint of the middle finger. A fierce foul tip shattered the bone at this point." - F. C. Lane, "Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, October 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f3fefd-1c9e-4c45-a735-8fe3e37a80da/61+-+Al+Walters+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Alfred “Roxy” Walters "Al Walters of the Yanks is still a relative newcomer. He hasn't a huge war club of a hand, but the essential characteristics are all there. Note the thickness of the palm, the short, stubby, powerful fingers." - F. C. Lane, "Inside Dope From A Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, July 1918 Roxy Walters’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/427b9cd0-479e-464d-989b-760e56d77aa5/62+-+Jimmy+Archer+1913.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Jimmy Archer "The first and fourth fingers look like the wreck of the Hesperus. The little finger curves like a barrel hoop. Jimmy [Archer] couldn't straighten it to save his life, but it didn't bother him any, as he said 'the ball fitted well into that curve.' The first finger is grown to about two sizes owing to the fact that both joints have been repeatedly broken. The other two fingers might not do over well for a violin player, but they are quite straight and normal for a catcher. Not saying that they have not met with their mishaps. Jimmy broke every finger of this hand.” - F. C. Lane, "Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, October 1917 Jimmy Archer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59f9aba6-0acb-410e-843e-77588b31746e/63+-+%27Big%27+Ed+Walsh%2C+spitball+grip+1913.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baseball’s Golden Age The cover photo of the incredible book by Neal and Constance McCabe depicts Big Ed Walsh’s spitball grip, photographed by Charles Conlon in 1913. When Paul saw this print in person, he knew he had to own it. It was the first Conlon in his collection, but it wouldn’t be the last. Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4207dd7e-e2dc-40e4-a3ee-b9b4e89c3a9c/64+-+Eddie+Cicotte%2C+knuckleball+grip+1913.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Eddie Cicotte It didn’t take long for Paul to purchase his second Conlon. He bought this print of Eddie Cicotte’s knuckleball grip (taken by Conlon circa 1913) in the same transaction. This was a gift and a curse, though. When you own one of something, it’s just something cool you own. But now that Paul owned two, that’s the start of a collection. And it was all downhill from there. Eddie Cicotte’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c7169bb-3b22-47a2-bb54-86dc6b684224/65+-+Walker+Evans.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Walker Evans The photographs of Walker Evans told the story of American working-class life with an exacting frankness that was truly revolutionary for its time. His iconic portrait of Allie Mae Burroughs - a farmer's wife, and mother of four - whose unforgettable eyes seem to stare right through us - is one of the most firmly embedded images in American consciousness. A staffer at Fortune and Time magazines, Evans actually reached the height of his powers toward the end of The Great Depression. Drawing deeply on the American literary tradition, he went further than others in his refusal to romanticize poverty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df4fcfcd-0a20-4451-bd07-299e6a66d728/66+-+Diane+Arbus.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Diane Arbus This portrait of 7-year-old twin sisters Cathleen and Colleen Wade is probably Diane Arbus’ most recognisable work. The image, which was taken at a Christmas party for twins and triplets in New Jersey, shows the girls standing uniformly side by side – their height, matching dresses and haircuts characterising them as twins. The differing facial expressions of the pair, however, show the strong sense of individuality from each girl and begs the question of whether or not the twins are actually identical, which might be why their parents have claimed that this image is the worst likeness of their daughters that they've ever seen. This image gained more notoriety upon the release of cult horror film “The Shining”, when pop-culture fanatics began comparing the girls in the 1967 portrait to the spooky twins featured in Stanley Kubrick’s film. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01ea25ec-bc56-4c54-b286-fb4ed0f3434f/67+-+first+baseball.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The First Baseball Ever Patented It took decades of hunting, and a good amount of luck, but this piece became the cornerstone of the collection Paul was trying to build, so he could tell the story he wanted to tell. David Wells’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8439bf67-a3ae-404e-b817-c523cf76ede4/68+-+Babe+Ruth.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Babe Ruth’s Eyes "Here you may meet baseball's greatest slugger face to face. Babe Ruth, the Superman of Swat — most picturesque of ball players, the greatest slugger who ever lived." Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97196b04-c19b-413b-9b5f-1bd3b6a84d50/69+-+Lou+Gehrig.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Lou Gehrig’s Eyes "Lou Gehrig, Ruth's most promising rival for slugging honors. There is a forceful personality behind those thoughtful eyes quite in keeping with the smashing power of his hits." Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/045a46db-8bfd-4944-82d6-dc7ef2f73961/70+-+Ben+Paschal+bat.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ben Paschal "Babe Ruth was taken out of a ball game this spring and a pinch hitter sent to the plate in Ruth's place. This incident was telegraphed from coast to coast and caused a national sensation in sport. 'Paschal bats for Ruth,' became the most widely discussed line of type printed in the newspapers of the United States that day. Paschal, a substitute, is called from the dugout to bat for the greatest slugger of the baseball ages." - George Moriarty, The Warren Tribune, April 29, 1927 Ben Paschal’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2106a860-8afe-4729-bcc8-0dde703cec48/71+-+Photographers+at+the+Polo+Grounds%2C+1914.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Owning The Cameras Imagine owning one of the actual cameras used to take these incredible photos. That’s what Paul thought he was about to do, before finding out that he was misled. This image shows a group of photographers at the Polo Grounds in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/544f8569-8d2b-4c87-98b3-111617e607cf/72+-+Charles+Conlon.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Cleaning House Charles Conlon, pictured here at his proofreader’s desk at the Evening Telegram in 1930, lived in a small house in New Jersey. Eventually, the thousands of glass plate negatives he was storing, documenting his life’s work, became too much of a nuisance to keep at his home. So he decided to have one of the most tragic spring cleanings in American history, and threw thousands of pieces away. About 8,000 images survived of an estimated 40-50,000 total. The world will never know what was lost in that purge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a58e904-32d9-4f48-96aa-223ea2afc3ce/73+-+Ty+Cobb+slide+full.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out Conlon’s most recognizable work, Ty Cobb sliding into Jimmy Austin on July 23, 1910 was taken out of instinct. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eef63fd1-76f2-46ce-b1dd-2134f6af7d7d/74+-+Casey+Stengel+batting+1916.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Intellectual Property Rights Paul regrets saying that he lacked the authority to speak on matters of intellectual property rights in images. He wishes he had said that he lacked the knowledge. Paul thinks that the truth of an idea has nothing to do with the authority of its proponents. This Conlon image of Casey Stengel batting in 1916 was used as the basis of an illustration which graced the cover of the September 1917 issue of Baseball Magazine. Casey Stengel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b320f783-5fe0-4982-886b-b15b41c4b7ef/75+-+Ty+Cobb+1913.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Prime Paul posits that the prime of Charles Conlon’s career spanned about 7 years, roughly from 1911 to 1917. This portrait of Ty Cobb was taken by Conlon in 1913, smack dab in the middle of Conlon’s prime. Paul considers the peak of Conlon’s prime to be 1913 and 1914, when he begins experimenting with photographic essays on eyes, hands, and grips of players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e541b9ba-be27-4bff-8664-52e237fff0e8/76+-+Ray+Chapman%27s+last+photo.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ray Chapman’s Death Paul says the death of Ray Chapman is the line of demarcation when it comes to important events being photographed on the baseball diamond. Before Chapman’s death in 1920, there isn’t a single important event that was photographed on a baseball field. After Chapman’s death, there isn’t a single important event that wasn’t. Chapman was hit with a pitch from the hand of Carl Mays on August 16, 1920 at the Polo Grounds in New York. He died the following day. This is one of the last photos ever taken of him. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f25063a3-1f40-48bb-86ed-2e40b1c57e7c/77+-+New+York+Daily+News+-+something+new+in+baseball.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Something New In Baseball” The New York Daily News began taking photos of every play of every game of the 1920 World Series, hoping to be able to capture every significant play on film so they could put it in a “double truck” two-page spread in the paper. Photographers positioned on the first base side and the third base side of the field used modified Graflex cameras to be able to capture any and every play on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf931ccc-9061-42c4-91b1-6fa0b6b36ced/78+-+Wambsganss+unassisted+triple+play.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Bill Wambsganss’ Unassisted Triple Play This photo exists thanks to the Daily News and their “Sports, Illustrated” experiment. It shows Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians recording the first ever unassisted triple play in the history of the World Series. Bill Wambsganss SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdf2a5a7-f36c-4595-93fc-e4acb6a4b2e0/79+-+Ali.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Neil Leifer Neil Leifer’s photography career has spanned over 60 years. Beginning in 1960, his pictures regularly appeared in every major national magazine, including the Saturday Evening Post, Look, LIFE, Newsweek, and, most often, Sports Illustrated and Time. His photographs have appeared on over 200 Sports Illustrated, Time, and People covers. Here is one of the most iconic sports photos ever taken: Muhammad Ali reacting after his first round knockout of Sonny Liston during the World Heavyweight Title fight at St. Dominic’s Arena in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e4d4351-0875-4467-abb5-71af9cdb9029/80+-+Honus+Wagner+1912.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Honus Wagner Wagner considered Conlon a friend, and even went out of his way to protect Charley’s exclusivity when it came to getting certain photos on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/252317cb-c467-4a29-85b2-5bacf80794cb/81+-+Mordecai+Brown%2C+change-up+grip+1914.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Three Finger” Brown Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown, lost his index finger in a childhood farming accident, and the injury imparted bewildering movement to his curve ball. Conlon confessed that he took this photograph of Brown’s change-up grip in 1914 when he was a member of Federal League’s St. Louis Terriers, motivated by the naive thought that the details of Brown's pitching grip might be useful to his friend, John McGraw. Brown and his Chicago Cubs largely dominated McGraw's New York Giants from 1906-1910. Mordecai Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aa9331e-1afe-40cd-9554-1bdb2793d80c/82+-+different+addresses.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Different Stamps Photos from earlier in Charles Conlon’s career had a stamp with an address of 216 W. 111th Street in New York. The 189 Alden Place stamp appears on the backs of Conlon prints from (at least) 1930 until 1943. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b430bc84-81b5-4b55-8eab-71960d8443e3/83+-+Babe+Ruth+-+Nat+Fein.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photos That Answer Questions Nat Fein’s photo of Babe Ruth from what many believed would be Babe’s final public appearance on June 13 of 1948 is one of the lasting images of the sport’s greatest hero. “Babe Bows Out” won Fein the Pulitzer Prize. “I saw Ruth standing there with his uniform, No. 3 . . . and knew that was the shot. It was a dull day, and most photographers were using flash bulbs, but I slowed the shutter and took the picture without a flash.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0658e30f-7c97-45cd-b0a5-7eb8f0910c8f/84+-+Behind+the+Gare+Saint-Lazare.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Decisive Moment The photographic master Henri Cartier-Bresson made some key observations about photography, translated as “the decisive moment” which is often (incorrectly) characterized as: “capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, where the image represents the essence of the event itself.” Cartier-Bresson, himself, explains it like this: "In a photograph, composition is the result of a simultaneous coalition, the organic coordination of elements seen by the eye. One does not add composition as though it were an afterthought superimposed on the basic subject material, since it is impossible to separate content from form. Composition must have its own inevitability about it. But inside movement there is one moment at which the elements in motion are in balance. Photography must seize upon this moment and hold immobile the equilibrium of it.” His 1932 photo Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare (pictured here) is often cited as an example of his “decisive moment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/909a5b09-f948-49e0-aac1-64300feb17e8/85+-+Babe+Ruth+-+Harry+Harris.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Harry Harris Harry Harris used a flash while shooting Ruth that day, like many other photographers. Harris also shot his image in portrait, instead of landscape, making his image significantly different from Fein’s, although they were shooting from similar positions. Harris was a great photographer in his own right, but he missed the mark this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db7cc80a-d0f9-4d8c-b752-896aefb6e94d/86+-+Nat+Fein+with+a+flash.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Fein’s Flash Fein didn’t use a flash on the photo which won him the Pulitzer, but he did use a flash on this photo of Babe coming out of the dugout. Look at the difference the flash makes. Paul said that Nat Fein might have credited Jimmy Hare with telling him not to use a flash. While Fein did tell Paul that he had worked with Jimmy Hare early in his career, the person who told Fein not to use a flash was the New York Herald Tribune’s picture editor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/635c9d52-17a7-4526-b02b-e6308c894498/86+-+Weegee+photo.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Arthur Fellig aka “Weegee” Weegee worked in Manhattan's Lower East Side as a press photographer during the 1930s and 1940s and developed his signature style by following the city's emergency services and documenting their activity. Paul mistakenly says that a mother is watching her children die in a fire in this December 15, 1939 photograph. In his book Naked City, Weegee titles the photograph “I Cried When I Took This Picture,” and describes it as a mother and daughter crying as another daughter and her young baby are burning to death in the top floor of the tenement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3759ddb-c249-4556-ac48-14faa72119b0/87+-+Javan+Emory+circa+1885.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Javan Emory “Some photographs tell stories; others keep secrets.” This is a stunning example of an image that doesn’t immediately answer all of your questions. It was taken circa 1885 of catching phenom Javan Isaac Emory. Javan Emory was a celebrated catcher at a time when catching was dangerous and required real courage. He often caught for celebrated Black pitcher George Stovey. His capabilities as a catcher during an exhibition game for a National League “proved to be so threatening that Major league baseball drew the color line in direct response.” Read Paul’s essay, “He Wears The Mask”, originally published in the Southwest Review from Southern Methodist University, by CLICKING HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfd720bd-06b5-4073-8c5f-6a567616a887/88+-+Black+Betsy+coloring+patent.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Tobacco Juice? Paul thinks Shoeless Joe Jackson’s famous bat, “Black Betsy,” wasn’t stained with tobacco juice, as we have all been told for nearly 120 years. Instead, since he is so familiar with all of the different bat-related patents from the early days of baseball, Paul is fairly certain the bat was actually turned on a lathe while a piece of Black Walnut was held against the bat, darkening the lighter colored wood until a desired effect had been achieved. CLICK HERE to see the full patent in question. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed982a75-1e4b-4d45-8c6e-96c2e879ee74/89+-+Liquor+Store+b%26w.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “One of Baseball’s Great Images of Failure” Many of the images used in these liner notes are courtesy of the Paul Reiferson Collection, but this is actually one that I personally own. It depicts Joe Jackson standing behind the counter at his liquor store in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 2, 1939. He is 52 years old here. Paul says “what makes the whole story beautiful today is that he’s banned.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14ccc17e-72eb-415b-ad0a-5ff23b86f6d1/90+-+Ralph+Branca.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ralpha Branca This heartbreaking image from Barney Stein shows Ralph Branca in the clubhouse after Bobby Thomson hit the Shot Heard ‘Round The World to give the Giants the 1951 National League Pennant over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ralph Branca SABR Biography Bobby Thomson SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6d9d327-8cbd-4f74-9dcf-59bb475d18a3/91+-+Inconsolable.jpeg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “The Agony” Barney Stein also captured Ralph Branca & coach Cookie Lavagetto together, in silence, on the clubhouse steps. “After the ball sailed into the seats, I’d inadvertently picked up the rosin bag and threw it down in disgust. Head down, I headed for the centerfield clubhouse. Jackie [Robinson] had the presence of mind to make sure [Bobby] Thomson touched every base. He did. We were defeated. Undone.” Branca was inconsolable. Once in the clubhouse, he buried his face on the floor. His teammates left him alone. Jackie eventually approached him and said, “Ralph, it it weren’t for you, we would have never made it this far.” Cookie Lavagetto SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c77c065a-3ff1-416d-850f-5e517dbda455/Mantle+throwing+helmet.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Mick “Mickey Mantle Having A Bad Day At Yankee Stadium” in 1965, captured by John Dominis. One of the great pictures of an athlete in decline, Dominis picks up where Conlon left off with his “eyes” series. Mickey Mantle SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f717ef6-3122-472d-a5be-bbbad847f6fa/93+-+Mickey+Mantle+eyes+by+Ralph+Morse.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Influence Dominis wasn’t the only photographer being influenced by Conlon’s work. This shot of Mickey Mantle in the backyard of his River Edge, NJ, home on June 7, 1956 from Ralph Morse, along with a couple other taken during this session, clearly draws inspiration from Conlon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01d04c47-036b-4abc-b9bc-8e5c408c485e/94+-+Mickey+Mantle+batting+grip+by+Ralph+Morse.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Or This One… Mickey’s batting grip, taken that same day. Is it safe to assume Morse was aware of Conlon and his work? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b64fdb0-cd9f-46fb-9e4f-006cf8f3d22b/95+-+Nolan+Ryan+fastball+grip+by+Robert+Seale.jpeg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Or How About This One? Nolan Ryan’s fastball grip by Robert Seale. Does this look familiar at all? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dfb451d-6c41-4e5a-bad7-cf78f9b3c090/96+-+Willie+Mays%27+catch.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out New York Daily News photographer Frank Hurley caught Willie May’s catch during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6e250c7-9dc8-4b01-9cd5-912d6162aa0a/97+-+Gehrig+full+uniform.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Lou Gehrig Uniform With Pants Sometimes a deal feels good in the moment, but with hindsight, you realize it wasn’t as good of a deal as you thought at the time. Paul selling a full Lou Gehrig uniform, with the number 4 on the back, including the pants, was one of those times for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf87f546-e551-44af-8e71-ab9226f0e984/98+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Josh Gibson Another piece Paul regrets selling is this beautiful close-up portrait of Josh Gibson at age 18 during his rookie season in 1930. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30f42e08-9665-4f1e-b73f-9a6c441148c1/99+-+the+first+baseball+card.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The First Baseball Card? In 1863, a series of games was played at St. George’s Cricket Club in New York. A total of three games was played at the site. Two were cricket matches but the third was a baseball game. Tickets to the games were sold for .25 but some special tickets featuring pictures of players in the games were sold for .50. Harry Wright SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f0f5376-7d63-4a59-a185-bd5d4c53c8af/100+-+Walt+Whitman.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Walt Whitman “In our sun-down perambulations of late, through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing ‘base,’ a certain game of ball…. Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms…. The game of ball is glorious.” Walt Whitman, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 23 1846 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1769e7ec-4200-43c1-881c-fc4c80dc8f32/101+-+jackie+debut+ticket.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - April 15, 1947 A ticket from Jackie Robinson’s debut game has skyrocketed in price during recent years as collectors have begun coveting tickets to famous sporting events just as much as cards or game-used artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ece5b51-a034-4577-96c0-c2cd0f765db1/102+-+Jackie+Robinson+Story.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Jackie Robinson Story Jackie Robinson plays himself in this heartfelt and unusually realistic biopic that follows his early years to baseball superstardom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94bd175a-0b31-484f-9124-f6631e9d2fa5/103+-+with+sons.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Follow Paul Online Facebook Instagram LinkedIn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15186cd9-6b7b-48e5-8699-39c98f4c6e85/104+-+me+playing+as+a+kid.JPG Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Mom / Photographer This ghostly double-exposure shot of Dan Wallach was captured by Lori Wallach at the Field of Dreams Movie Site during the summer of 1993. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a56da99-201c-4a0a-a9a2-28d7f58d193b/105+-+mom%27s+present.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Mom’s Birthday Present Taken in Carbondale, Illinois in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ccb1286-9fdb-45da-bf93-e3781d8d0b53/106+-+McCabe.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Neal and Constance McCabe Their names have become synonymous with Charles Conlon’s images at this point, as well. If you don’t already own a copy, you can buy the book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60dc3334-3e15-4510-bcaf-b127e918e16b/107+-+These+Eyes+Sure+Have+It.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - These Eyes Sure Have It Conlon’s photo essay on the eyes of the 1927 Murderer’s Row Yankees is one of the great photo series in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f096ae81-5853-4524-a263-9e5a98a4b00b/108+-+Live+From+The+Rock+Room.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Live From The Rock Room Started by drummer Mike Felumlee (Smoking Popes, Alkaline Trio) in his basement, Live From The Rock Room gives touring bands a chance to get a free meal and some free publicity. When I helped shoot still photography during the sessions, my photos often times resembled those of Charles Conlon. YouTube Instagram Facebook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ad699d1-2803-490b-af2e-969ef87b9377/109+-+Big+Ed+Walsh.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Big Ed Walsh From 1907 to 1912, “Big Ed” Walsh tested the limits of a pitcher’s endurance like no pitcher has since. During that stretch the spitballing right-hander led the American League in innings pitched four times, often by staggeringly large margins. He hurled a total of 2,248 innings, 300 more than any other pitcher in baseball. He started 18 more games than any other pitcher, and led the American League during that stretch in games finished and saves, though the latter statistic would not be tracked for another 60 years. His finest season came in 1908, when Walsh became the last pitcher in baseball history to win 40 games, and hurled an incredible 464 innings, 73⅓ more than any other pitcher in baseball. This photo of him was taken by Charles Conlon circa 1911. Big Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0cccbfa-faf9-4a56-9792-2c71f842e89a/110+-+John+Quincy+Adams+1843.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - John Quincy Adams This daguerreotype was taken in a Washington portrait studio in March 1843, when Adams was in the middle of his post-presidential career in Congress. He gave it as a gift to a fellow representative, whose descendants kept it in the family while apparently losing track of its significance. It is the earliest known photograph of a president. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99bcaf85-4d5a-4d17-ab96-b281541ce212/111+-+Lincoln.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Changing Face of Lincoln Abraham Lincoln’s physical appearance changed dramatically during his tenure as President of the United States. The magnitude of his apparent aging is often demonstrated by showing a photograph from the start of his first term compared to one taken a few months before his death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ff09fa3-1f3c-4f14-9819-0f3eb8df938d/112++-+Matthew+Brady.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Matthew Brady When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Matthew Brady marketed his services to soldiers who, before going off to war, wanted to give their family members photograph keepsakes of themselves. Yet Brady believed photography could document the war in a way no other medium could and envisioned a greater purpose for his talents, stating later, “I had to go. A spirit in my feet said ‘Go,’ and I went.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52d38132-0215-4b43-8a00-faa01548aee6/113+-+Babe+Ruth+1922.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Relating To The Camera This 1922 image of Babe Ruth is a clear example of the trust Conlon’s subjects had in him, and the rapport which allowed him to get photos no one else could get. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b207039-79f4-4265-a0f2-a3da1604e92c/114+-+Carl+J+Horner+Bradley+photo+1.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Carl J. Horner Portraits Notice the difference between the above photo by Conlon, and this original Carl J. Horner studio portrait cabinet photograph of Bill Bradley as a member of the Cleveland Naps. The photo was taken circa 1906 and would be used a few years later as the basis of Bradley’s T206 card. Granted, they were setting out to accomplish two separate things, but there’s no way Horner could ever get the shots in his studio which Conlon was getting on location with his Graflex and the full trust of his subjects. Bill Bradley SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb6eccb0-723a-4ae5-803b-cbc7bb8a4b54/115+-+kitchen.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Recreating History We did our best to make the kitchen inside the museum look as accurate as possible to the time period, including a period-appropriate refrigerator. Guests really seemed to love what we did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61ebdf81-5422-4398-a944-f74b17228dda/116+-+paul+and+i.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Paul and I The Jackie Robinson Museum was really cool to experience. I couldn’t think of anyone better to go through with than Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b94aa5e-4644-40dd-8702-8219d3427ac3/117+-+Phillies+dugout+taunting+Jackie+Robinson+-+April+22%2C+1947.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - April 22, 1947 Paul donated this original photograph to the Jackie Robinson Museum. It shows the Phillies dugout taunting Jackie Robinson just one week after he broke the Major League Baseball color barrier. This scene was depicted in the movie 42 starring Chadwick Boseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/711470b4-74fa-4a50-afc1-6f2ee6604ee4/118+-+Paul.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - A Critical Eye Seeing the things which resonated with Paul was extremely interesting. Sometimes those same things also resonated with me, but not always. Sometimes it took some further explanation from Paul for me to really see why something that resonated with him should also resonate with me. Having someone there to teach me what and how to see was wonderful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d5f31f0-fe9a-4882-b8c5-b9954e8eca76/119+-+weird+set+up.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Design Choices This trophy and award case was truly breathtaking. You were drawn to it from across the room. But as you walked up to it from the other side of the room, you realized it was 10 feet tall, which meant you couldn’t really see the details or engravings on anything above a certain point. So while the concept was beautiful, and the layout within the case is gorgeous, it wasn’t a functional museum display for people who were there to read and see and learn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dee8d145-ea84-4801-8bfa-a3651c6cdaa5/120+-+Chapman.png Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman’s death contributed to the banning of the spitball, and to the first real push for mandatory use of batting helmets. While no photos of that moment or any of the following moments exist, photos of the flower arrangements from his funeral (seen here, captured by famed photographer Louis Van Oeyen) and other related moments were captured after the fact. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3cb547a-52f3-411f-9a33-341e24bdcc5d/121+-+Halper.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Barry Halper In October of 2010, Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn told the New York Post that a Barry Halper-donated jersey, supposedly worn by Shoeless Joe Jackson, was a fake. Horn stated that the logo utilized acrylic coloring first created in 1941. The jersey had been removed from display in 2008. Issues of authenticity have been raised with other items, including ones purported to belong to Cy Young, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and others. Subsequent reports alleged that scores of items in Halper's collection had been stolen from the Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Public Library, or other institutions. There have also been allegations that items in his collection were stolen from the wives or family members of deceased baseball stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99dc222c-2227-4586-9b2a-6dde8c41f9e1/122+-+%27Shoeless%27+Joe+Jackson+1912.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Joe Jackson’s Black Bats The story we’ve been told for years about Joe’s bat being stained by tobacco juice may not be accurate. This photo was taken by Charles Conlon in 1912. Notice the light handle and the perfect line separation of the dark barrel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707907072914-BEYH55ZQDYJK0H313P1I/123+-+Conlon+card.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707907073138-BMIW2ZRHNXX7NMDSB33E/124+-+Conlon+card+back.jpg Season 3 - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/04 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5fd306d-761a-41e5-8381-acfb88b401cd/youtube.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef8812cb-94af-408d-919c-2904a677a389/Mike+and+me+square.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck Mike Veeck and me after recording our interview at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a90fb4a-6d28-47f0-bdc0-1aa133de6b7f/01+-+Veeck+as+in+Wreck.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Veeck - As In Wreck One of the most famous baseball autobiographies ever written, Veeck - As In Wreck is the first person telling of the chaotic career of baseball's incorrigible maverick https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/784dfa81-4d5c-44ab-ae7f-0413a5c1d831/02+-+The+Saint+of+Second+Chances.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Saint of Second Chances The 2023 Netflix documentary is the story of how Mike Veeck, son of legendary Major League Baseball owner Bill Veeck, blows up his father's career and then spends the next few decades learning the value of a second chance. Watch it as a companion piece to this episode, if you have the chance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5018be0-5905-4b97-9f13-d92cad323a39/03+-+William+Veeck+Sr.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Veeck, Sr. William Louis Veeck Sr. was a newspaper writer in Chicago whose coverage of the Cubs led to him being offered a job with the team. William Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c61b95eb-ed4a-4ec6-b02f-bd5d502c34ed/04+-+Bill+Bailey.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - “Bill Bailey” William Veeck wrote under the pseudonym “Bill Bailey” and was known for being tough but fair as a journalist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/239fec8f-009b-44d2-b7db-d78a4190624a/05+-+Bill+Veeck+Sr.%2C+Joe+McCarthy%2C+and+William+Wrigley+Jr.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Wrigley, Jr. Mr. Wrigley asked Veeck “if you’re so smart about how I ought to be running my baseball club, why don’t you come over here and run it?” Veeck finished his lunch and then took Mr. Wrigley up on his offer. (left to right) William Veeck, Joe McCarthy, and William Wrigley, Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c28351f9-2a1b-44cb-bcc0-fcc66d53259f/06+-+William+Veeck.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Respected Although he wore a stiff collar and a tie every day to work, William Veeck still knew how to have fun, and was adamant about treating everyone with respect. That approach made him one of the most beloved people in baseball, even by his competition. He was also a visionary, enthusiastically promoting Ladies’ Days and the radio broadcasts of ball games, figuring — correctly — that fans would flock to his ballpark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82053412-858c-4ee6-9712-5908e13717ef/07+-+Margaret+%E2%80%9CMidge%E2%80%9D+Donahue.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Margaret “Midge” Donahue William Veeck made Midge Donahue the first woman to be promoted to an executive level in baseball when he appointed her to be the Cubs’ Club Secretary in 1926. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f9ba854-aa5c-49ce-b99b-1d22f8c33aac/08+-+Margaret+Donahue+1923+Cubs+check.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Great Team Donahue worked her way up the ladder, becoming the Cubs’ Vice President by the time her career ended in 1958. This is a paycheck from early in her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2213b99c-25f9-4c74-9382-ecdb5c9afa78/09+-+Grace%2C+Bill%2C+and+William+Veeck.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Family Man William with his wife, Grace, and their son, William Veeck, Jr., who they called Bill. William taught Bill many valuable lessons about life and business through baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80726a19-d776-4d32-8d5e-5fc814bc0ed3/10+-+Bill+Veeck.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Bill Veeck William Louis Veeck Jr. was born in Chicago on February 9, 1914, to William Louis Veeck, Sr. and Grace Greenwood DeForest Veeck. Young Bill began hanging around the ballpark at the age of 10, working as a vendor and ticket seller. Junior famously never wore a necktie, had wild, kinky, reddish hair that won him the nickname Burrhead, and spent his life tilting at every establishment windmill in sight. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8a61432-3f0c-4811-8747-f73988323f51/10+-+August+1945+Welcome+Home+Bill+Veeck.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Milwaukee Brewers Before they had a Major League franchise, Milwaukee had a team in the American Association, called the Brewers. Bill Veeck bought the team in 1940. They won 3 pennants in 5 years, and Bill sold the franchise in 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de7e02bd-3b88-4524-ba96-ae801065193b/September+1945+Operation+Successful.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Military Service Bill served three years as a Marine during World War II. During his service, he suffered an injury to his leg which caused him to have his leg amputated above his knee and would force him to endure more than 35 surgeries over the course of his life. While in the hospital, Bill would read a book a day about any and all subjects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da4edb5f-88d4-485d-8438-acbeb297a1e4/13+-+1942+Phillies.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1942 Philadelphia Phillies Veeck wrote that he tried to buy the bankrupt Philadelphia Phillies after the 1942 season, and intended to stock the team with black players, breaking organized baseball’s color line three years before Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers. In his 1962 autobiography, he asserted that he had lined up financing and enlisted the promoter Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, to help sign Negro Leagues stars. Veeck said he informed Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis of his plan as a courtesy, but that Landis and National League president Ford Frick thwarted him by arranging a quick sale of the Phillies to another buyer. The controversial story has been debated for years as to whether it was true, but Veeck did end up breaking the color barrier in the American League in 1947 by signing Larry Doby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75ccc993-f95d-472d-ba6d-20e1042a125e/14+-+Cleveland+Indians.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cleveland Indians Bill bought the Cleveland Indians in 1946 and immediately made sure that all of the team’s games were broadcast on the radio. He also had the team start playing all of their games in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium in 1947 because it’s seating capacity of well over 70,000 dwarfed that of League Park. Here he is with Bob Feller, who is signing his new contract. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4f6dd2-8840-4a47-a95c-d8340372557f/15+-+Larry+Doby+signs+with+the+Indians.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Larry Doby Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American league on July 5, 1947, just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in the Major Leagues. Bill Veeck actually paid Effa Manley of the Newark Eagles, who was the Negro League team owner who had previously employed his new player. Larry Doby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d797d1f-2aa7-45ae-90b2-c83044d36074/16+-+Satchel+Paige.jpeg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Satchel Paige Not just a publicity stunt, Veeck signed the great Satchel Paige in 1948. The team went on to set an attendance record that season, but whether it was 2.6 million (officially) or 3.4 million (unofficially) is up for debate. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f8c6520-af47-4ac5-9c77-dd2f75c95552/17+-+1948+Cleveland+Indians+win+the+World+Series.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1948 World Series Champions More important than setting their franchise’s attendance record in the 1948 season, the team also won the World Series, thanks in large part to the contributions made by Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e81da7a-ad3a-44ce-8c90-e7bbdd14cca7/18+-+Jazz.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - All That Jazz Larry Doby and Bill Veeck bonded over their love of Jazz. The pair would even go to shows at juke joints together. Bill enjoyed Louis Armstrong and Dixieland, while Larry - who was a more serious aficionado - enjoyed people like Miles Davis and Lionel Hampton (pictured). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/121b85ea-d8d3-4fdf-8ddc-98764e3c7c3f/19+-+Larry%27s+wife.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Helen Doby Jackie Robinson had handlers to make sure everything went smoothly on and off the field. Larry Doby only had his wife, Helen Curvy Robinson. The two met as freshmen at Paterson’s Eastside High School and married in 1946 after he returned from three years serving in the Navy in World War II. They lived in Paterson, but moved to Montclair, one of the state’s first integrated suburbs, after Paterson brokers refused to sell to them, and raised their five children there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb832501-85c4-4ecb-90c3-324fb7e64192/20+-+Joe+Gordon.jpeg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Joe Gordon Larry Doby loved Joe Gordon until his dying day because Gordon was the only white player who went out of their way to play catch with Doby when he broke into the white Major Leagues. “Then Joe Gordon, the second baseman who would become my friend, came up to me and asked, “Hey, rookie, you gonna just stand there or do you want to throw a little?’ I will never forget that man.” Gordon also protected Doby, in more ways than one. Joe Gordon’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f986c0fe-13e0-4312-bf71-1da2f2549207/21+-+Maryfrances+and+Bill+Veeck+KWK.jpeg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Maryfrances Veeck Bill’s first wife, Eleanor, filed for divorce in 1949. To pay the settlement, Bill was forced to sell his share of the Cleveland Indians. The following year, Bill married Maryfrances Ackerman, whose own background in marketing and promotions helped Veeck take things to the next level when he bought an 80% stake in the St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab57bf4-0448-4309-8d42-5e370a930885/22+-+Grandstand+Managers.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Grandstand Managers Day This 1951 stunt saw Veeck hand out signs to fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis which said “YES” on one side, and “NO” on the other, and the game’s managerial decisions were put up to a fan vote. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86b1432f-6789-491a-8ed8-6460446e7eda/23+-+Eddie+Gaedel+at+bat.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Eddie Gaedel One of Veeck’s most memorable stunts was sending 3’7” Eddie Gaedel to the plate in a game between the Browns and the Tigers in August of 1951. Bob Cain had the impossible task of trying to throw a strike to a man with a 1.5” strike zone. Eddie Gaedel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/defe4315-55e4-4277-85ed-80a9c041a1be/24+-+Dave+Stevens.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Dave Stevens Dave Stevens was a college athlete at Augsburg College where he played varsity football, baseball and wrestled. Mike Veeck took inspiration from his dad’s signing of Eddie Gaedel when he signed Stevens, who has no legs, to play minor league baseball for the St. Paul Saints in 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e821a62c-9d5b-409d-a5f8-068a5750c419/25+-+Maryfrances+and+Bill+Veeck+WBKB.jpeg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Television Revenue Sharing In 1952, Bill Veeck suggested that Major League teams should split the television revenue with the visiting clubs. He was shot down in the moment, but that concept was decades ahead of its time and would eventually be adopted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6370730-1bc0-4025-84f9-12f6a1479848/26+-+Getting+the+keys+to+Comiskey+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Chicago White Sox Bill bought the White Sox in 1959, immediately helping the team set an attendance record en route to a World Series appearance in his first year of ownership. Here he is, getting the keys to his new workplace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3dac84d-8a2b-486b-a3e0-94084c13a888/27+-+Sherry+brothers.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Norm and Larry Sherry Mike was old enough to remember being at the 1959 World Series as a kid. His most lasting memory from the Series is how unbelievably well the Sherry brothers played. Norm Sherry’s SABR Biography Larry Sherry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717fb6e6-d812-400a-86cb-2a027f95525d/28+-+1959+World+Series.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1959 World Series While the White Sox lost the 1959 World Series to the Dodgers, it was still a memorable one. Games 3, 4 and 5 were the first World Series games played on the West Coast. The three games averaged over 90,000 fans — at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Game 5’s attendance of 92,706 is still a World Series record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ada1271f-55c2-4fbe-a698-8548c49a4163/29+-+Ted+Kluszewski.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Ted Kluszewski Ted Kluszewski was a true slugger. He cut his sleeves short to show off his muscles, and in the 1959 World Series he hit a home run so hard off the facade in Comiskey Park that it bounced all the way back to second base. What more could a young fan ask for when looking for a player to be a fan of? Ted Kluszewski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2cd325f-1aea-46ff-ba71-03c2aa9ac103/30+-+go+go+white+sox.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The 1959 Go-Go White Sox With a mostly inept offense, it’s a wonder the Chicago White Sox made it to the 1959 World Series. Mike recalls Luis Aparicio leading off games getting on first base, stealing second, and then being driven home by Nellie Fox. “Then they wouldn’t score again for 3 innings.” Here is the Go-Go Sox’s double-play combination on the August 10, 1959 cover of Sports Illustrated. Luis Aparicio’s SABR Biography Nellie Fox’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f2f4970-77d5-4315-a493-69955e800ac1/31+-+Mary+Frances+Veeck%2C+with+son+Mike%2C+then+8+years+old%2C+cheering+at+opening+day+at+Comiskey+Park+on+April+14%2C+1959.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Going To Games As A Kid Maryfrances Veeck, with son Mike, then 8 years old, cheering at opening day at Comiskey Park on April 14, 1959. She instilled in her children to be proud of their father, but never boast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d9c11a5-1c84-4eb3-b352-adf85651c720/32+-+Martian+Invasion+at+Comiskey.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Alien Invasion At Comiskey Park On May 26, 1959, Bill Veeck staged an “invasion” at Comiskey Park. Four little people dressed as Martians landed on the field via helicopter and captured White Sox stars Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio. One of the little people was Eddie Gaedel, who had remained friendly with Bill Veeck almost a decade after their stunt in St. Louis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5851750-50de-492d-9322-224d094783e7/33+-+Bill+Veeck+in+front+of+the+scoreboard.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Exploding Scoreboard On April 28, 1960, Bill Veeck unveiled the “Exploding Scoreboard” at Comiskey Park. He got the idea for it after watching Jimmy Cagney in The Time Of Your Life. The 130-foot scoreboard featured lights, sirens, a Sox-O-Gram message board, and multi-colored pinwheels. It cost $300,000 and opened to mixed reviews from journalists, fans, and opposing players and managers. You can hear Bill talking about the scoreboard in a 1982 interview HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cd40399-70a8-4de2-8453-2e69c504638b/34+-+White+Sox+Shorts.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Infamous Shorts Maryfrances Veeck was the original publicist for the Ice Capades, and used her experience in that capacity to help Bill run and market his baseball teams over the years. She even helped design the shorts that the White Sox briefly wore during the 1976 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4828aa4-93a6-40de-8b4e-6139fec7d866/35+-+1961-07-22+Bill+Veeck+and+family+leaving+the+Shoreland+Hotel+in+Chicago+on+their+way+to+Maryland.+Mike%2C+10%2C+Marya%2C+6%2C+Greg%2C+5+an.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Growing (And Traveling) Family Bill and Maryfrances had 6 kids together. Not one of them was born in the same state. Here is the family on July 22, 1961, leaving the Shoreland Hotel in Chicago on their way to Maryland. Pictured are Mike, 10, Marya, 6, Greg, 5 and Lisa, 2. Maryfrances, is holding daughter Juliana. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa589e54-847c-474f-bfd8-9aaec3081482/36+-+Bill+Veeck+fan+favorite.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Man Of The People Mike said of his father, “If it made him laugh, and it made people he respected laugh, he would go with it. “He ran his ball club as democratically as possible because he made decisions that would benefit the fans,” which endeared him to the fan base and made them more loyal than you could imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a7c07e4-cb30-4b6a-9cf3-4fb2efc5e0b8/37+-+Nellie+Fox+cancer+fund.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Fans sent in money to the Sox once Bill Veeck came back for his second stint as owner. They were thanking him for coming back, and trying to entice him to keep the team in Chicago, as opposed to moving the team to Seattle, which was rumored. The Veecks donated the money to the Nellie Fox cancer fund, and obviously kept the team where it belongs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/920497ba-171a-4d43-9432-7c0124004cc3/38+-+Opening+Day+1976.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Opening Day, 1976 On April 9th, at the White Sox home opener in the year of America’s bicentennial, (left to right) White Sox business manager Rudie Schaffer, field manager Paul Richards, and owner Bill Veeck dressed up in Revolutionary War garb and put on a show for the fans, singing the full version of the National Anthem as part of the day’s festivities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c65c8dc-2e5d-4671-8cd1-1216d6320f92/39+-+Owners+Kid.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Owner’s Kid Mike was trying to make a name for himself, and prove to everyone in and around the organization (and, probably, to himself) that he wasn’t just hired because his dad owned the team. He worked tirelessly, cleaning out the 57 storage rooms in Comiskey Park. He even volunteered to go down an elevator shaft to investigate a rumored murder. No bodies were down there, but he did find Shoeless Joe Jackson’s signed contract down there, which was then donated to the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c00270c-28d7-42cb-8712-6bf708eff76c/40+-+First+day+at+school.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - First Saints Day Marv Goldklang, Bill Murray, and Mike Veeck on their first day at the St. Paul Saints. The Goldklang Group is a sports ownership and management group led by Marvin Goldklang which owns the Charleston RiverDogs of the Carolina League and the Pittsfield Suns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. They also owned the St. Paul Saints from 1993 to 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2188457-fd95-48e4-a51c-8aebb487c6dd/42+-+bards+room.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Bard’s Room While there was never an official White Sox Archives, or a proper White Sox Museum where fans could appreciate the history of the franchise, The Bard’s Room at old Comiskey Park was an exclusive enclave for media and invited guests. It included owner/VIP dining, private dining, a centralized kitchen, and a lot of White Sox history. Check out the work done by Brian Powers (@SportsBandbox on twitter) to see his digital recreation of multiple historic ballparks. His rendition of The Bard’s Room is seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70f3abdb-6b6d-4cde-bbd4-5ed5fb6eb446/43+-+Center+Field+shower.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Center Field Shower In 1978, Bill Veeck installed a shower in center field for the fans who wanted to cool off during hot games at Comiskey Park. Here he is, trying it out for himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88580384-7bbb-47b9-a6f9-15ea7ba0d113/44+-+Bill+Veeck+and+Harry+Caray.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Miller’s Pub Many late nights have been spent sharing a drink and a laugh at Miller’s Pub in Chicago. Bill Veeck has his own corner there to this day, with multiple photographs of him hung on the wall. Here he is at Miller’s Pub with another one of Chicago’s most famous bargoers, Harray Caray. Following in his father’s footsteps, it was a late night at Miller’s Pub when Mike came up with the idea for Disco Demolition: “what if we had a night for people who hated disco?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df2c8309-8f5c-4a41-8ac8-b101dfa8879a/45+-+Detroit+Free+Press+02.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Disco Demolition Night July 12, 1979. A date which will live in infamy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea71a2f0-e34a-4a7d-8f01-b52d9ebb8d88/46+-+Steve+Dahl%2C+WLUP%27s+Lorelei+Shark%2C+and+Mike+Veeck.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Steve Dahl The famous shock jock from Chicago’s WLUP was the emcee for the event. (left to right) Steve Dahl, WLUP's Lorelei Shark, and Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a65c752b-4317-48e7-9801-576fcce96c2b/47+-+Fans+on+the+field.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Unprepared and Outnumbered Mike told police to expect a crowd of about 35,000 people that night. The police laughed, thinking there was no way that many would show up. Instead, 100,000 people showed up. 60,000 inside the stadium, and another 40,000 who couldn’t get in. The police were simply outnumbered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b623ddbf-339f-480c-bd6f-5e0ecf6113ab/52+-+More+fans+on+the+field.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77357695-0bf0-469a-a0b9-c6b4b7da6a2d/51+-+climbing+the+fences.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Climbing The Fences Some people suggest only 50,000 people were at Disco Demolition, but when you see the pictures of the stands full, fans covering the field, and even more literally climbing their way in over the fences because there wasn’t enough security to stop them, Mike’s estimate seems much more accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31a57a40-c88c-4f92-a7c7-f877521d7cd1/48+-+Chicago+Tribune.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Slow News Day? While Disco Demolition was certainly a newsworthy event at the time, Mike wonders if it really necessitated 7 pages of coverage in the Chicago Tribune and 6 pages in the Chicago Sun-Times. Mike also vehemently denies any homophobic, racist, or sexist intentions behind the event. It was simply intended to be a silly way to bring fans out to the park that got out of hand and has morphed into a completely different animal through the lens of today’s culture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86a2261e-e55b-4029-8706-ec7158643abc/49+-+Justine+Siegal.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Justine Siegal Justine Siegal became professional baseball’s first female coach, spending two months in the summer of 2009 as first-base coach with the Brockton Rox, an independent minor league baseball team in Brockton, Massachusetts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05fb47e1-3434-45a8-a872-ffbcf8cefca9/50+-+Ila+Borders.JPG Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Ila Borders Ila Borders was the first female to receive a sports scholarship to play men's college baseball. She played 4 years and became the first woman to win a men's college baseball game. Ila impressed the St. Paul Saints and Mike Veeck with her talent and determination, resulting in her becoming the first female to compete and win a men's professional baseball game. Ila played four years in professional baseball and is featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e958f7ab-5538-46aa-894e-5a87d6504130/54+-+1993+St.+Paul+Saints.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - St. Paul Saints Going against all conventional wisdom, Mike decided to put the St. Paul Saints just 7 miles away from the 2-time World Series champion Minnesota Twins. Seemingly even crazier, they were going to play their games in an outdoor stadium - again… in St. Paul, Minnesota. Somehow, it all worked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816e6da8-2c6a-4e03-931a-2f1a7ec85a03/53+-+Miami+Miracle.PNG Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Miami Miracle While with the Miracle, Mike tried to schedule an opportunity to get Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso an at bat in his 7th decade. The Commissioner’s Office called and canceled the event the day of, claiming it wasn’t “in the best interest of baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b55b777-40b0-4e75-903f-231a1f78b537/59+-+Minnie+Minoso.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Minnie Miñoso The Veecks go back a long way with Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso. Here is Bill and Minnie sharing a laugh. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aeec40de-b0ff-4bf6-a905-b348f57db232/55+-+Dressed+to+the+nines.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make It Fun How DID it work? Because of Mike’s unwavering insistence to make the ballpark fun. And to never take the game (or himself) too seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b12704a8-ac11-4259-9721-f498a0391ea0/56+-+Sister+Ros.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Sister Ros Sister Rosalind Gefre is a popular attraction with the St. Paul Saints. She can be seen giving massages at every game. She has been featured on television, in newspapers and magazines, and has given hundreds of speeches to groups. Known for her warmth, her caring, and her expression of God’s love through healing touch, her massage schools and clinics are based upon Christian principles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74755d06-c9ac-4a0b-a354-a8652172d8a2/57+-+full+trophy+case.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Full Trophy Case For what many people initially thought would be a joke of a franchise that was bad for the sport, this sure is a pretty full trophy case. From league championships to being honored multiple times as the Organization of the Year, the Saints proved there is more than one way to successfully run a baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2dcb4ee-97b1-4455-bfc8-eb7524f5d99b/58+-+Mike+at+CHS+Field.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Twins AAA Affiliate The Saints got the ultimate nod of approval from baseball when they were invited to become the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins after the reorganization of the Minor Leagues. Mike and the Saints built a beautiful thing in the Saints and CHS Field in St. Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1704866221672-E1XF9J6HNAYW2ZPXUVGE/61.1.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1704866222543-69E9480W6GXCBN1E0WD3/61.2.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ebdd503-bba2-4c6b-a4bd-b3af91ee1a00/62+-+Jesse+Cole+quote.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Jesse Cole A lot of people consider Jesse Cole of the Savannah Bananas to be a modern-day Bill Veeck. Mike seems to agree, thinking that if his dad were around today, he would be all over TikTok and social media to grow his fan base the way Jesse has. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce480896-3b1d-4e9c-ac02-bc3ca8777300/62+-+Jesse+Cole.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f2c20e5-df6d-47eb-90f5-ac94159ac972/64+-+Whatever+it+takes.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Times Were Different And the money was different. Bill Veeck would help around the stadium because there might not have been enough money to just hire someone else to do things. Here he is helping the grounds crew, because that’s what needed to be done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123e3452-93b9-4dc6-9513-c8ab73ea9017/63+-+Bill+Veeck+helping+at+Comiskey+Park%2C+1959.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Whatever It Takes How many current owners do you think would to clean the seats at their ballpark, like Bill is doing in this photo at Comiskey Park in 1959. With Bill Veeck, it wasn’t even a question. But with the economic barrier to become an owner being as high as it is, you just don’t have the same type of people running clubs today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d39633c4-da91-44ac-bc6f-14233b71f5b3/66+-+Bill+Veeck+hot+dog.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Every-man Bill Veeck never thought he was better than anyone else, and he never took himself too seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bbe38c0-5129-4518-b66c-408ea637559c/65+-+Bill+Veeck+with+baby+Mike.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Mike’s Relationship With His Father In recent years, Mike has come to realize how much Bill taught him. About business, about baseball, about life. Here they are together, slightly earlier in Mike’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0f385a5-e843-4c25-a51e-d315612d6e1d/67+-+Mike+with+a+hot+dog.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Like Father, Like Son The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, whether you like it or not sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04f6a83e-6c74-4b6b-ae7d-d8ef7ecdbd6b/60+-+Bill+Veeck+HOF+Plaque.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Hall Of Fame Not everyone may have agreed with every decision Bill Veeck made, or the way he went about doing things sometimes, but you can’t argue with results. This plaque proves his lasting impact on the game, and on society. Bill Veeck was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b664aaf-2720-4cdc-98cd-3320e4f48028/68+-+2005-05-31+left-field+bleachers+at+Comiskey.JPG Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Keep Up With Mike Online Mike’s Website Fun Is Good Watch The Saint Of Second Chances on Netflix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68d8c259-585a-4fb5-9e16-65c302508ede/69+-+comiskey+park+home+plate.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Site of Old Comiskey Park’s Home Plate I’ve been there a time or two. The area immediately surrounding it got a face lift in 2023, so if you haven’t been recently, or you’ve never been, make sure you go get some new pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dec57868-18ff-466f-8650-bcd3e6a74757/70+-+smoking.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Aroma of Comiskey Park Back when people were allowed to smoke in public, people would bring their cigars and pipes to the ballgame. That aroma seeped into the fabric of the stadiums, and became just as recognizable a smell as the grass or the hot dogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c51bfbb-94f3-4c5d-b168-014a1f1f7fe2/71+-+SABR+51.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - SABR 51 in Chicago The 51st SABR Convention was my first, and it was something I’ll never forget. Held over a handful of days at the legendary Palmer House in Chicago, it was at the convention where I met Mike Veeck and he agreed to sit down with me for an interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03c390c3-8bc4-4d6a-83b0-454fffa4cf9c/73+-+William+Veeck+having+fun.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Veeck, Sr. William may have been all business most of the time, but he still liked to have fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f6c8ad8-dbcf-486e-899d-56bb351befba/74+-+Federal+League+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Weeghman Park Originally built for Chicago’s Federal League team, the Cubs of the National League moved in after the league folded. It was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927, but before that it was known as Weeghman Park, after Charles Weeghman. In this postcard from 1914, the second deck had not yet been added to the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4eac8883-da63-4b64-a434-d3b62ba3a848/75+-+William+Veeck+Sr+and+Rogers+Hornsby.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Rogers Hornsby It would not be inaccurate to call the 1929 Cubs team president William L. Veeck’s crowning achievement. Arguably baseball’s strongest franchise — even the Ruth/Gehrig New York Yankees could not have been rated higher at this juncture — the Cubs had been built player by player over a decade by Veeck, with assistance from keen scout Jack Doyle. The last building block came aboard, thanks to owner William Wrigley, Jr.’s impetus and healthy checkbook, via second baseman Rogers Hornsby. Few could even dream to match up with the Cubs’ lineup, anchored by Hornsby and Hack Wilson, and backed by a Big Four pitching rotation led by Charlie Root. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37ee3afe-4a0a-40dc-8b96-98eae2ab20a5/72+-+Margaret+Donahue+quaker+oats+ad+-+May+10%2C+1930+issue+of+the+Saturday+Evening+Post.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Advocate For Women Midge Donahue was valued and respected by William Veeck. Her opinions mattered, and her input was welcomed. Donahue and Veeck are seen here in a Quaker Oats ad which appeared in the May 10, 1930 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3320e1c8-ffbd-4c78-9c64-7c16b2b09109/76+-+Larry+Doby+with+Bill+Veeck.JPG Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Civil Rights Advocate William’s son, Bill, was just as courageous in speaking out on behalf of (and employing) people whose voices were not traditionally represented. Here he is shaking hands with Larry Doby, who he signed in 1947 to break the color barrier in the American League. The two became genuine friends off the field, and their families are still in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7521819a-0a6c-4615-8f78-388b46428e0f/77+-+Daniel+Burnham.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Daniel Burnham Daniel Burnham’s extraordinary leadership skills were made manifest when he became the director of works at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Burnham & Root were named consulting architects. When Root died suddenly in January of 1891, Burnham assumed responsibility for overseeing and completing construction for some 150 buildings on more than 600 acres of land. Daniel Burnham is famously quoted as saying "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/067128bd-1ad3-4c5f-b300-ad5649c866f6/77+-+Effa+Manley.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Effa Manley Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles with her husband, Abe. In 2006 the Special Committee on Negro Leagues elected her to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for her work as a baseball executive. As of 2019, she was the only woman inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01ca5be8-daf5-4917-b130-c8e2c845f438/73+-+William+Veeck+Sr+and+Charles+Comiskey.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Veecks and The Comiskeys The two families go way back, and their names will forever be linked. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey sits with William Veeck in this 1920 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f99d5082-77c5-4d3a-835c-05fefbb2b801/79+-+St.+Paul+Saints.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - St. Paul Saints The Chicago White Sox organization actually started AS the St. Paul Saints in the Western League. Charles Comiskey bought the team, moved them to Chicago, the Western League became the American League, and the rest is history. You can see and read about some of that history at the City Of Baseball Museum at CHS Field in St. Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7778c8cb-317a-486c-bf57-777f02307f60/80+-+George+Halas.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - George Halas Before he helped form the NFL and owned the Chicago Bears, George Halas was a highly rated prospect going into his 1919 rookie season with the New York Yankees. But Halas’ major-league debut was delayed when he injured a hip during a spring-training game, and baseball just didn’t pan out for him. Graig Kreindler’s portrait of the one-time St. Paul Saints player is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field in St. Paul. George Halas’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e8a8a37-4e7b-412f-93ba-aea72236709a/81+-+John+Allyn+and+Bill+Veeck.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - John Allyn The Allyn Brothers (John and Arthur, Jr.) were co-owners of the Chicago White Sox from 1961 through 1969. John then became the sole principal owner from 1969 through 1975 before selling the team to Bill Veeck. Here, John Allyn smokes a cigar with Bill Veeck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55050675-7113-49f7-8187-32ce61d42139/82+-+Bill+Veeck+holding+an+Early+Wynn+card.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Bill Veeck Quotes “This world would be better if more people didn’t take it too seriously.” “There are only two seasons: winter, and baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10f7ef62-dcdb-4f6c-a0aa-780a591d1744/83+-+Home+Sweet+Home.JPG Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Leaving His Imprint Bill Veeck made his mark on the game of baseball, to an extant that most people don’t even realize. But he also made a huge impact on the city, the people, and the culture of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91182f41-ba49-4027-8d44-c917dc70e4da/84+-+Cleveland+Indians+HOF.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame The Indians unveiled their own team Hall of Fame in 1951. They put it up to a fan vote to decide who would be the inaugural 10 people to be inducted, and the fans decided Shoeless Joe Jackson would be one of the 10. Read more about the all-but-forgotten Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/873d3b9f-4cb1-471b-9e30-138788a5aec3/85+-+Steve+Dahl+and+Garry+Meier.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Steve Dahl & Garry Meier One of Chicago’s most legendary broadcast duos, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier first worked together in 1979 at WLUP-FM, where Meier was an overnight disc jockey and Dahl was establishing himself as a brash, blunt, provocative comedic personality. The two established an instant rapport and a talent for controversy, most notably in July 1979, when they hosted the chaotic “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e2f717a-e900-4ecb-a1e5-626eeca5a9c6/86+-+Detroit+Free+Press+03.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Disco Demolition Night Revisionist history has made that event into something it was never intended to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21d826c4-3824-4dba-9856-d49c598df66b/87+-+Disco+Sucks+banner.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - It Was A Movement It didn’t even necessarily have to do with the music being good or bad, or the clothes being good or bad, or the dancing being good or bad… many people were simply fed up with disco being everywhere, all the time, and shoved down their throats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d1075b-34e4-4ddb-be55-4c35395f976e/88+-+Detroit+Free+Press+06.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Believe It Or Not… This photo shows how Disco Demolition was SUPPOSED to go! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91559a9f-5f66-4de1-991a-2f9248bb08ab/89+-+Fire+on+the+field.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Not Like This When the fans realized there were more of them than there were police officers, security guards, and ushers, there wasn’t much left stopping a full blown riot from happening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80288002-105a-4681-98fd-5ddfd58bf1e5/90+-+Steve+Dahl+with+the+records.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Wreckage Steve Dahl poses with a dumpster full of broken records. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28e02708-6ecf-4863-8b91-23eec1c60bfe/91+-+Bill+Veeck+discussing+the+options.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cooler Heads Prevail? Bill Veeck tries to discuss the options for a possible game 2 of the doubleheader, but everyone’s safety was top priority. Players, staff, and fans, alike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea45d5d-2102-4c31-87b4-2f6c3b119f4d/92+-+Mary+Frances+Veeck+and+Bill+Veeck+on+April+9%2C+1960%2C+at+333+N.+Michigan+Ave.+in+Chicago.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Partners, In Every Sense Of The Word Maryfrances and Bill Veeck on April 9, 1960, at 333 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cd92371-5ffd-454c-83dc-68d22fb6e9fa/93+-+Darry+Strawberry.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Darryl Strawberry Mike gave Darryl Strawberry his “second chance” by signing him to play with the St. Paul Saints when no other professional team was willing to take a chance on him. Darryl told Mike Veeck “you taught me to love the game again.” Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7c676d1-7b37-4fc6-9d7a-b9616138c3c0/94+-+Eddie+Gaedel+salutes+the+crowd.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Eddie Gaedel Eddie salutes the crowd after his one and only game in Major League Baseball, playing for Bill Veeck’s St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85fd5bc8-5382-4744-aac0-fdae58fd6b54/95+-+Dave-Stevens+Darryl-Strawberry.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Unlikeliest of Friends Despite their differences at first glance, Dave Stevens and Darryl Strawberry shared a unique bond during Darryl’s time with the St. Paul Saints. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fe51373-db34-4181-b682-a20d3f33365a/96+-+Minnetonka+Queen.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Love Boats The Saints gave away these little yellow rubber boats before their May 27, 2006 game to honor the TV show The Love Boat … allegedly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0d36f80-df1b-4768-a291-926cd4173f38/97+-+tweeting+wienre.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - National Hot Dog Day On July 23, 2011, the Saints handed out boxer shorts with an image on the front of a blue bird taking a photo of a wiener with his phone to celebrate National Hot Dog Day … allegedly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/970bcb76-8358-467f-beb2-87b3fd998669/98+-+Vasectomy+Night.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Vasectomy Night One of the promotions that was too much to go through with, even for a Veeck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9362c53-69a7-411a-8707-834778bc57c6/99+-+Explosions+in+the+sky.png Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Are you guys sick of these Disco Demolition photos yet because I have like 50 more I’m choosing not to post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7322748-98d5-40c2-b213-33da2dac67b8/99+-+Replacing+the+sod+the+next+day.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Okay, last one, I promise. This is the grounds crew cleaning up the debris and replacing the sod the day after Disco Demolition Night. Looking at the shape of the field, there’s absolutely no way the two teams could have safely played a game on it. Forget about, you know, the riot that was happening. The White Sox officially forfeited Game 2 to the Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38af15ae-1d64-49f4-bb06-6f8619ae13b7/99+-+Dodgers+baseball+forfeit.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - August 10, 1995 The most recent forfeit in Major League Baseball occurred when Dodgers fans threw giveaway baseballs onto the field to protest some close calls in the team’s game against the Cardinals on August 10, 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4cbbd30-5103-47e9-92be-02f0ffc916f1/99+-+Babe+Ruth+Ty+Cobb.jpg Season 3 - 0304 - Mike Veeck - June 13, 1924 From the New York Times: “The game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers came to an unexpected end this afternoon when 18,000 spectators stormed the field and started a riot which involved the police, the players and the employees of the park. It was a free-for-all fight, with the police, endeavoring to distinguish rival fighters, only making the fight more complicated and more intense.” SABR Games Project Article About This Game RETROSHEET’s Full List Of Every Forfeit Ever https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/03 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13a8dd3d-3b52-479a-b57f-deecf67023a5/youtube.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e37f1c09-abfd-4fdf-9136-aede92a383cb/1000.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino Me and Peter Capolino after recording our interview at his home in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17804879-4177-4ff8-ae23-2bb0ffb0b5f6/01+-+Sisto+Capolino.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sisto Capolino Peter’s father, Sisto Capolino, was born in Formia, Italy. He came to America and started working at Mitchell & Ness in 1919. By 1952, he bought the company, which he owned and operated until his death in 1978. Here he is stringing a tennis racket by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96e335c3-6ec6-4ecd-a494-d42380809e93/02+-+wood+shaft+golf+club.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Wooden Shafted Golf Clubs Charles M. Ness was from a golfing town in Scotland. He linked up with Frank P. Mitchell in 1904 to create a partnership called Mitchell & Ness. They had separate shops until 1911, with the Mitchell part being a tennis company, and the Ness part being a golf company. From 1904 until 1929, Mitchell & Ness actually manufactured golf clubs, and they are in the registry of wooden shafted golf club makers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/046a95e7-8659-4d25-8bbb-0dfe2d4cec49/03+-+Bill+Tilden.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bill Tilden Bill Tilden was the world No. 1 amateur for six consecutive years, from 1920 to 1925, and was ranked as the world No. 1 professional by Ray Bowers in 1931 and 1932 and Ellsworth Vines in 1933. He won 14 Major singles titles, including 10 Grand Slam events, one World Hard Court Championships and three professional majors. He was the first American man to win Wimbledon, taking the title in 1920. He also won a joint-record seven U.S. Championships titles. Mitchell & Ness strung all of his rackets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88e1c4e2-66a9-4462-83cc-123ee6946d71/04+-+label.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Local Baseball Uniforms Mr. Mitchell began making uniforms for local baseball teams around 1925. Here is an example of an early label you might find inside a M&N uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62154fc4-ed0c-42dd-a9a1-74342c1e4961/05+-+1939+Philadelphia+Athletics+uniforms.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1939 Philadelphia Athletics Some of the earliest uniforms Peter remembers Mitchell & Ness making for a major professional sports team were made for the 1939 Philadelphia Athletics. They made the Athletics uniforms until 1954. M&N also made the Phillies’ uniforms from about 1942-1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19f382d0-804e-49cc-8127-536ce155e256/06+-+1933+Philadelphia+Eagles.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Philadelphia Eagles Mitchell & Ness was the official outfitter of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933 through 1963. That means everything. From shoes to helmets, and every piece of equipment in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7279be9-d72b-40f2-b04d-7788d5e1d658/07+-+Fred+Schubach.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fred Schubach Fred Schubach was the equipment manager for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Colts. Here, Chuck Bednarik of the Eagles hands his jersey and shoes to Schubach after the December 16, 1962, game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06109e47-c4fb-40bc-9f17-2b0c32b774ff/08+-+1960+NFL+Championship+Game.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1960 NFL Championship Game Before the 1960 NFL Championship Game, Peter helped Freddie Schubach put the facemasks on the Eagles’ helmets in the locker room. That game is one of the lasting memories of Peter’s youth, and helped solidify his love of sports. Here, Philadelphia’s Chuck Bednarik, center, with Green Bay’s Paul Hornung, left, and Jim Taylor after the Eagles’ 17-13 victory over the Packers in the N.F.L. championship game on Dec. 26, 1960, at Franklin Field. Notice the face mask on Bednarik’s helmet. Peter can tell you everything about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/861d3ab7-b7a0-413d-872e-4e88f524f152/09+-+August+1947+Sport+Magazine.jpeg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sport Magazine Launched in September of 1946, Sport Magazine pioneered the generous use of color photography – it carried eight full-color plates in its first edition. Ted Williams was featured on the August, 1947 cover, seen here. Peter would cut out the color photos from each issue and glue them into scrapbooks he would make as a child. Little did he know, he was doing research and creating an archive that would help him years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39c0852e-3de8-4679-a575-7cb00c51f371/10+-+Age+8+with+his+family.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Family Peter with his family, age 8 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9679613d-bb97-4bd2-987c-a988d06509be/11+-+military.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Military Peter graduated from Susquehanna University in 1967, then went to Officer Candidate School and became an Army Engineer Officer in the Corps of Engineers, graduating as a Second Lieutenant. Luckily, Peter got sent to Korea instead of Vietnam, so he spent 13 months in the DMZ in 1968 and 1969. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a58921fb-57b2-4e89-b242-75ac3374be9d/12+-+Bjorn+again.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tennis Peter’s true love is tennis. To this day, he still has the Tennis Channel on TV. Here he is with Björn Borg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58b9a954-7620-42dd-8abb-5d85b5217d63/13+-+Joanne+Graham.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Joanne Graham When Peter moved the store to 13th and Walnut, it was just him, his wife, Fran, and their friend Joanne Graham working there. Here is Joanne in 1987, wearing Peter’s 1949 Philadelphia Athletics jacket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fb20ec8-1a47-4069-810e-718626040c6e/14+-+1972+Dolphins.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1972 Miami Dolphins The undefeated 1972 Dolphins had Bob Griese at quarterback, Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris at running back and Paul Warfield at receiver. But the defense, with virtually unknown players, was also crucial to their championship run. The No-Name Defense held opponents to 11 points per game during the season. The ‘72 Dolphins also had aqua blue uniforms made by the Russell Corporation which Peter and his employee, Mike Robinson, knocked off. The ease with which they could do it thanks to their knowledge and access, and the success those jerseys had in the store, led M&N to start creating retail versions of every NFL team’s uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f8016e2-8376-4747-898a-b95274259da0/15+-+CBLSL.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - City of Brotherly Love Softball League Peter came up with the name and created the logo for the City of Brotherly Love Softball League, a gay league in Philadelphia, and had a very meaningful relationship with the players and the league over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16f191b8-79ad-4b33-a1c7-892a1eeb3f76/16+-+Bob+Skinner.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bob Skinner The first real, game worn uniform Peter remembers someone bringing into the shop for him to try to fix was the vest of Pittsburgh Pirates OF/1B Bob Skinner. The early days saw Peter repairing lots of Pittsburgh Pirates uniforms, and lots of St. Louis Browns uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a22cb71-f866-43bd-b16f-513f67328a22/17+-+Pirates+numners.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Attention To Detail The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t put numbers on the front of their jerseys until 1962. An authentic Roberto Clemente uniform from before that time wouldn’t have his number on the front, whereas an authentic Willie Stargell uniform would have his number, since his career started in 1962. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1702437051036-9UH5BAHDRJZTXI79VHWC/18+-+1987+SI.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - July 6, 1987 Sports Illustrated issue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1702437083064-YEPQXBM7T804COZ77FW9/19+-+1987+SI.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - July 6, 1987 Sports Illustrated article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a8c440-0f9a-47eb-9757-ed4ff8c5cc57/20+-+logo.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. Peter created this separate company to hold all of the licenses with the different leagues. It was completely different from Mitchell & Ness because the leagues wanted people to be buying from a company who had wholesale distribution. Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. was the wholesale branch that held the licensing rights, manufactured all of the clothing, and sold it to other stores all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e0d63e9-6a10-430c-87be-d3e5ae324078/21+-+Richie+Ashburn.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Richie Ashburn When Peter started making throwback jerseys, first he made those of the players he loved growing up. As a kid from Philadelphia, Richie Ashburn was at the top of the list for Peter. Richie Ashburn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a62a5302-d8e0-445b-b05b-a75b7ff962b5/22+-+Hank+Aaron.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Henry Aaron Zipper Front Jersey Sometimes, you can’t trust the memory of the players implicitly. Henry Aaron swore up and down that he never wore a jersey with a zipper front, but Peter knew he had. Here is a photo of him wearing his 1954 Braves uniform, with a zipper front and center. A game-worn jersey sold at auction in 2011. Henry Aaron SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c991495-06cf-45e9-9bb4-0cd1a944275d/23+-+Paul+Pogharian.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Paul Pogharian Peter would send Paul to the Philadelphia Public Library to help him do research when they were trying to figure out the actual colors of garments that were only photographed in black and white. Paul was the heart and soul of what Peter meant Mitchell & Ness to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cdeabcd-5e1d-4d0f-a5c4-2b072a0e8c9a/24+-+1937+Brooklyn+Dodgers.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers Believe it or not, there was one year when the Dodgers wore green, not blue. It was 1937, and while no color photographs appear of the players or coaches wearing these uniforms, artifacts have surfaced in recent years which prove they existed, in addition to newspaper articles of the day. The green uniforms only lasted one year, and by 1938 the team was back to Dodger Blue. Peter enlisted the help of many friends and employees to look in newspapers for any mention of uniform colors by the sportswriters of the day. People like Bill Lipinski and Bob Downs would look in the microfiche to see what they could find. Generally, the day before opening day, the day of opening day, and/or the day after opening day of a new season would be where the journalists would mention any changes to the color schemes or designs of the uniforms for the local teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbd4d20a-0c03-4316-aeb7-7c45d81aad33/25+-+Marc+Okkonen.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Marc Okkonen One of the most underrated writers and researchers in baseball history, Marc Okkonen spent years creating a database for every uniform change in the history of Major League Baseball for every team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a6c6a95-8d3e-44f3-96a3-29e45b11e65a/26+-+1917+Sox.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1917 White Sox World Series Uniforms Arguably the most beautiful uniform in the history of sports, the 1917 Chicago White Sox uniforms that the team only wore during the World Series that year proved to be one of the hardest uniforms for Peter to recreate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfa3226c-d075-4b68-9c1a-1eaa35ecae57/27+-+1951+Yankees+patch.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1951 New York Yankees It was hard for Mitchell & Ness to come up with different Yankees jerseys to continue to reproduce since they never changed the way their uniform looked. But with patches for specific years, like this 1951 patch for the American League’s Golden Anniversary, Peter was able to get creative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ef6cfde-5b2f-40d7-b352-b12bcc129b98/28+-+1943-03-18+The+Sporting+News+Cardinals+logo.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - The Origin Of The Cardinals’ Emblem One of Peter’s favorite stories is how the Cardinals originally decided what to put on the front of their uniforms. Miss Allie May Schmidt decorated the table for a meeting of the Men’s Fellowship organization at which Branch Rickey (who was, at the time, the Vice President of the Cardinals) was going to be speaking. She looked out the window for some inspiration, saw a couple cardinal birds perched on a branch, and thought that would look pretty on the table. That’s how she decorated it, Branch Rickey loved it, and the next season, the Cardinals uniforms had a couple red birds perched on a bat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be3349ef-62c2-4ed5-9078-ae4ffb234404/29+-+Cardinals+uniform+history.GIF Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - R. J. Liebe Athletic Lettering Company The Liebe Company has done most of the lettering on all baseball jerseys from the 1920s up until the present day. All of the Rawlings, Wilson, and Goodman uniforms. They possess all of the paper patterns, all of the research, and all of the history of everything they ever did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f28494ca-d568-4420-b7ac-9002d5eb7067/30+-+1956+Cardinals+jersey.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1956 St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys The fans hated the fact that the team got rid of the birds perched on the bat for the 1956 season, so these only lasted one year. By 1957, the familiar look was back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bc77e86-b311-4a33-8185-33a655bbc3b3/31+-+Tail+Feather+Variations.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tail Feather Variations There is a slight difference between the 1964 Cardinals uniforms and the 1967 Cardinals uniforms. Can you spot it? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd768ebb-c2d6-470b-a873-220b1d44ed1f/32+-+1939+Baseball+Centennial+Patch.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch Every team in Major League Baseball wore these patches on their sleeves during the 1939 season. Since the St. Louis Browns already had a patch on their left sleeve, they wore this one on their right sleeve. Every other team in MLB wore it on their left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99c5d059-7c34-4a9b-bdbf-c59b120d718b/33+-+1955+Jackie+Robinson+Dodgers.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Jackie Robinson Peter proudly showing off the 1955 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers uniform he finally landed on making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5982994f-b95d-4f66-9a81-7f35a8cf17a4/34+-+Bill+Russell.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bill Russell Peter felt that the players should be known for their achievements. He had little history write ups in his catalogs to help educate potential customers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc95187b-cf4b-4571-86e5-3b712854ccbb/35+-+Andy+Hyman+of+Distant+Replays.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Andy Hyman Andy owned and operated Distant Replays in Atlanta, which became integral in the explosion of popularity for Mitchell & Ness, and throwback uniforms at large. HERE is a great old interview he did with Paul Lukas at Uni Watch back in December of 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/effb8d91-9cf2-48dc-bd90-3fc9a00d2be1/36+-+Run+DMC.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - DMC Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC and Peter go way back because of a shared love of music. But not the type of music you’d expect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b54046d-7d57-4c47-80a2-4ff2bb35c836/37+-+Big+Boi+and+Andre+3000+of+OutKast+wearing+throwbacks+in+1993.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - OutKast Big Boi and Andre 3000 of OutKast rocking sports uniforms all the way back in 1993 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0ddf88b-ae98-43d5-af29-9a565173acb6/38+-+Fran.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fran Deitrich Peter’s wife, Fran, was a silent partner in every respect of the word. She went to art school and had no formal training in running a sporting goods store, but she figured everything out and made it work, allowing Mitchell & Ness to succeed in ways it never would have been able to without her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1e30edd-daca-4f05-b075-9ba894227164/39+-+Dale+Murphy.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Dale Murphy Peter was surprised that Black rappers would want to wear the jersey of a white baseball player, not considering that if they were from Atlanta, the Braves were their team regardless of color. Here, Big Boi is wearing the powder blue Dale Murphy throwback in Outkast’s 1999 “Skew It on the Bar-B” music video. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dd86686-9fc9-478d-bd50-71f7345938d9/40+-+Peter+in+store.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Mission Statement If Peter wanted to do one thing with Mitchell & Ness, it was “To accurately recreate the history of sports through the evolution of the uniform.” I’d say it was a job well done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4edd871e-56dc-4937-8bc8-2b4b82b7007f/41.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Reuben “Big Rube” Harley Big Rube was Peter’s product placement guy from 2001 to 2006, helping Mitchell & Ness apparel find its way onto concert stages, music videos, and red carpets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3908ddd6-6114-479f-8124-77c62bc4ed7d/42+-+Fat+Joe.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fat Joe Peter had to stretch the rules of jersey making for Fat Joe, but they formed a bond that was well worth breaking a couple rules. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05a1861e-8154-4d43-9e36-df4310e1d06a/43+-+Iverson.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Allen Iverson Allen Iverson was good friends with Fat Joe, and became good friends with Peter. AI is wearing a custom Mitchell & Ness creation on this now-iconic SLAM Magazine cover from March of 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d1d2354-feb5-4e21-9b20-cf30710bf5c6/44+-+Kobe.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Kobe Bryant Another interesting magazine cover featuring an NBA superstar in a Mitchell & Ness creation is this one from August of 2002, featuring Kobe Bryant wearing his dad’s 76ers jersey. "I felt like I would be giving my father the respect that he deserves for raising me and for encouraging me to be the best that I can be in the game of basketball and also showing some love to my old hometown." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e52a1465-1cfe-4b76-9a85-fbead6425abc/45+-+Kobe.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 2002 NBA Playoffs En route to his third consecutive NBA championship, Kobe Bryant broke out a number of Mitchell & Ness jerseys from the best players across all of sports history during the 2002 Playoffs. He was one of the best players on the planet, but still showing his respect for the greatness which came before him. Not to mention seriously increasing the brand awareness of M&N. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6790fb2d-558c-4966-a4fc-e6d77063aaa4/46+-+Jay+Z.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Girls, Girls, Girls Jay-Z wore a super obscure jersey in the video for Girls, Girls, Girls. No team name. No name on the back. Just a maroon shirt with a white 33 on it. It became, by far, Mitchell & Ness’ best selling jersey of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39a2f4d0-812a-4616-bd38-e815a3d252f0/47+-+Sammy+Baugh.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sammy Baugh That obscure maroon jersey from Jay-Z’s music video was the 1947 uniform Sammy Baugh wore while playing football for Washington’s NFL franchise. Peter felt great that he could help out an NFL legend with some pretty massive royalty checks late in his life. Here is Peter with Philadelphia’s adopted son, Sylvester Stallone, who is wearing the Baugh jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd8876b4-7bb8-4d71-81f4-08f6d82415c6/48+-+Lance+Alworth.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Lance Alworth In 11 pro seasons, Lance Alworth caught 542 passes for 10,266 yards, an 18.9-yard average and 85 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. But there are a ton of guys in the Hall of Fame who have been all but forgotten. Lance Alworth’s legacy lives on thanks to Mitchell & Ness immortalizing his jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ff62ebc-f338-4d9d-b193-9be7e6b34f7a/49+-+2012-04-10+Biz+Markie+at+the+flagship+store.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Biz Markie Biz Markie DJing at the Mitchell & Ness flagship store on April 10, 2012. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bec25e9-ce84-4057-aba7-3f77f6a864b6/50+-+Satin+uniforms.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Satin Uniforms Several teams that had installed lights in their stadiums also outfitted their players in satin jerseys, pants, and caps with the hope that fans could see them better. These satin uniforms made their first appearance in the mid-1930s but became more popular with teams, especially the Dodgers, during the 1940s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/191ede50-724e-42e6-9de5-1471735c54a4/51+-+2010-11-17+Flagship+Store+grand+opening.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Make it stand out Peter has made so many jerseys over the years that he couldn’t think of a single one he wanted to make, but never got around to making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45fce8fa-e0dd-4425-9669-7206f70dcb70/52+-+Mickey+Mantle+jersey.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Mickey Mantle One of the top selling jerseys in the history of Mitchell & Ness was Mickey’s famous number 7. I’ve got one in my own collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75a75294-a666-43f5-81f8-921b3817ae25/53+-+Willie+Mays+jersey.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Willie Mays Despite the fact that Willie Mays thought no one would want to buy his authentic wool flannel jerseys and requested that his be made into double-knits, Willie’s jersey was another all-time top seller for Mitchell & Ness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aff04eb-4484-4871-bc56-068c729a88c5/54+-+Ron+Jaworski.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Ron Jaworski Of course Peter liked making Ron Jaworski’s jersey… he was an Eagle! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e23e7c8-fd69-4b15-885f-e0b2656fcd17/55+-+Tommy+McDonald.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tommy McDonald Tommy McDonald was Peter’s all-time favorite player “because we were the same size.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30c4b48b-67ea-48d1-92a7-65fe55586a1d/56+-+Fran.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “We Don’t Want To Meet You” “Who is this Fran Deitrich who signs all our checks? We want to meet HER!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8d32faf-5bbb-4432-abb0-c059192a3a18/57+-+1917+White+Sox.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1917 White Sox An absolutely classic uniform, it always struck me as odd that Mitchell & Ness stopped producing these. Did MLB ask them to stop because they didn’t want the association with the 1919 Black Sox team, whose uniforms were almost identical? Peter tells us in the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f66d469-058f-47bd-b133-2893107f73cd/58+-+Michael+Jordan+jerseys.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “Everybody Needed Michael Jordan Jerseys” More than you would ever know, Mr. Capolino… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b42a911b-9839-4673-8296-f11c10d492a8/59+-+Dave+Schultz.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “None Of It’s My Blood…” The easiest way for Peter to recreate jerseys was for him to have an actual original on hand so he could inspect it and take notes. Dave “The Hammer” Schultz brought in his blood-stained Philadelphia Flyers jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d4e9ec7-a0ac-4457-a2aa-d2f267edc518/60+-+1913+Philadelphia+Athletics+Sweater.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1913 Philadelphia Athletics Now that Peter can relax a little in retirement, he has turned his focus toward making authentic baseball sweaters with the help of his friend, Norma. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bc15179-57f6-4f82-9f01-74b4d2da22c2/61+-+1907-08+Cubs+sweater.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1907-08 Chicago Cubs Norma knits all of the sweaters by hand, and they are of an unbelievable quality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e798b97e-4e80-4e25-a61f-d046fc2a36fd/62+-+1901+Baltimore+Orioles+sweater.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1901 Baltimore Orioles Of course, with Peter doing the research for them, they are also unbelievably accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75ff3975-c734-4649-9000-7116e4f54789/63+-+Sporting+Goods+HOF.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame Peter was inducted into the National Sporting Goods Association Hall Of Fame in 2020, which came as a surprise to him but was something he was incredibly grateful for. Here he is with Committee chairman Ken Meehan, of Dunham Sports, and Hall of Famer Stan Jurga. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9af48c3c-dbee-40f4-b092-57ea71dd2d5c/64+-+Legacy.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Legacy Peter feels like his true legacy is the family of employees and volunteers who have been connected through Mitchell & Ness over the course of his career. Here is his team some time around 1994 or 1995, wearing a variety of Dodgers jerseys ranging from 1890 through 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f9d91f1e-0ac4-4266-8925-a5c6b8f6e402/65+-+1950+Phillies+jacket.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1950 Phillies Jacket Worn here by his wife, Fran, in 1987, one of Peter’s regrets is that he didn’t hold on to at least one of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies jackets he made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3325a960-982b-4478-8349-8cf9db3792e3/66+-+Peter.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - What Peter’s Up To Now That He’s “Retired” - Making sweaters with Norma - Informally working with Jerry Cohen at Ebbets Field Flannels - Consulting with Team Pro Standard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43d7d6b4-9246-4c7d-a4f1-d39e3ac9dca8/67+-+Joe%27s+sweater.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Shoeless Joe Jackson This photo shows Joe wearing his Savannah Indians sweater in 1909. Joe led his team in hits, doubles, triples, and home runs that season, and won the batting title for the entire South Atlantic League by batting .358 in 118 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7645b418-cc4d-44f7-97f5-1fc0f5abb5b1/68.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Make it stand out My Michael Jordan jersey collection, featuring literally dozens of Mitchell & Ness pieces, thanks to Peter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f670de07-4f4f-41d9-9209-ebcd070a0936/69+-+Steven+Dilger.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Steven Dilger Thanks to Steven for connecting me with Peter so we could make this interview happen! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/464e4aa0-f39d-46be-8df6-728e4251aad2/70+-+Lou+Gehrig.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Baseball Centennial Patch Lou Gehrig in his final season, 1939, during which every team wore the patch you see here on their uniform sleeves. Thanks to Todd Radom’s article about the patch, I was ready to answer Peter’s test during our interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/429bd1d7-b2dd-478b-b9e6-5cdd9efc9276/71+-+Beyond+Blessed.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Beyond Blessed This picture says it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2313190-679d-428a-a457-1640f97145d3/72+-+Mickey+card.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1958 Topps Card #487 Nostalgia is a strange thing. It’s what makes this relatively common Mickey Mantle card one of Bob Costas’ prized possessions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb6cb194-250d-4374-af3e-a833bdc37a12/73+-+1312+Arch+Street.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1312 Arch Street The Mitchell & Ness store opened by Peter’s father, Sisto, in 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cc974ca-da06-4c90-8889-375b28aed402/74+-+black+and+white+photos.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Black And White Photos It can be very hard to determine the colors of artifacts when all you have to go off of are black and white photos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87864bc2-e422-48f4-a779-d178b03c392e/75+-+differing+shades.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Differing Shades Even when you find a newspaper article describing a color, sometimes you still have to make a guess because “navy blue” isn’t always the exact same. Check out this photo of Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson taken in September of 1913. Cobb’s navy blue Detroit Tigers hat and socks are significantly darker than Jackson’s navy blue Cleveland Naps hat and socks, yet in a newspaper, they would both be called “navy blue.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9225bc33-f7f9-46ee-bfc4-b2a3f0c01527/76+-+1909+Savannah+Indians+pennant.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1909 Savannah Indians Mike Miller found this old Savannah Indians pennant, which confirmed our suspicions that their team color was maroon. It made it possible for Peter and I to recreate the sweater Joe wore that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1dc8c11-b0ad-42e8-937f-276c4be47dea/77.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Joe’s Sweater Very cool, but black and white https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b131f77c-2ba1-41ec-94f1-6ea76edab6b2/78+-+me.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - My Sweater VERY cool, and in color, thanks to Peter and Norma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6040d876-8b47-47db-ae5f-2e6267ba1fe4/79+-+decisions.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - First Attempt Trying to get the colors exactly right was a challenge. Our first attempt, as you can see, the red was a little too bright, and the gray wasn’t quite dark enough. Of the three choices for the buttons, the Bone button seemed to be the obvious winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e771acb2-774c-4ede-9758-94f2afdadf5f/80+-+serif.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Custom Font The attention to detail to make sure every single aspect of the lettering was right, every single aspect of the knit pattern… everything! That’s what makes these sweaters so unbelievably cool (and so costly). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a71f547a-0665-4d84-9245-ea17a6e3c293/81+-+Jim+Thorpe+Carlisle+Indians+sweater.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Current Obsession These sweaters are so cool. This is a replica of a sweater Jim Thorpe wore with the Carlisle Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/946277f3-5184-42de-9abd-4bd83fd22a03/82+-+Savannah+Valet+Service.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Savannah Valet Service After Joe’s MLB career came to an end, he and Katie moved back to Savannah, Georgia full time and opened a dry cleaning business called Savannah Valet Service. It was very successful, with multiple locations and 20 employees. They operated it until Joe’s mom got sick in Greenville, South Carolina in 1932, at which point they sold everything down in Georgia and moved back home to SC until they each passed away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f07bb409-d7d3-4cf6-8edd-3e3890fdfa66/83+-+Ray+Schalk.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Ray Schalk Although he was on the Chicago White Sox during the 1919 World Series, he wasn’t one of the 8 Men Out. He’s actually a member of the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, where his 1917 World Series uniform is stored in their archives. Notice the wear on the S-O-X logo on the chest, compared to the vibrant colors of the sleeve patch. That’s because Schalk was a catcher, and his chest protector rubbed up against the S-O-X logo all series long, dulling the colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6363d410-0e99-46e7-b3e2-6ed7afa442f0/84+-+Impressive+Rolodex.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Impressive Rolodex Peter is friends with some pretty amazing people. Their relationships have lasted this long because it’s been about more than just business. It’s about a mutual respect and appreciation for the passion the other person has for what they do, even if it’s not something the other would normally enjoy or care about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e67bd76c-dc86-4405-9301-008f260bedcc/85+-+Lower+Merion.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Lower Merion Kobe Bryant’s high school jersey from Lower Merion is probably the most famous high school uniform of any basketball player of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65a41a2f-8b59-4d76-8e0f-ec258b940889/86+-+Employee+Family.JPG Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Legacy Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08cefbd9-5d65-41ff-b38a-980c5eb055da/87+-+1948+jersey.png Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1948 Birmingham Black Barons Jersey My most recent purchase from Ebbets Field Flannels is this 1948 Birmingham Black Barons road uniform https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52ad0c55-f1f4-4ed8-915d-9eb9f04ba7c5/88+-+Rickwood+Field.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Rickwood Field The oldest ballpark in America, Rickwood Field opened in 1910. On June 20, 2024, the San Francisco Giants will play the St. Louis Cardinals in a regular season game there to honor the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/360e7cfb-d868-468d-a626-a6c2d1248565/89+-+1948+Birmingham+Black+Barons.jpg Season 3 - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1948 Birmingham Black Barons Can you see him? The greatest ballplayer of all time? He’s in this picture. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/02 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88a45c4c-0b94-46bc-a4a0-9de12e028fb4/youtube.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6929fb23-a97c-439a-a111-494e291da4ee/IMG-6406.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen Sam Allen and me after recording our interview at his home in Norfolk, Virginia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5287b19-561d-4018-a741-5a7991f5876d/01+-+John+T+West.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - John T. West School John T. West School was built in 1906 and located in the Huntersville neighborhood in Norfolk, Virginia. It was the first public African-American school in the City of Norfolk to hold high school classes for African-American school children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15d52276-32f9-4ad1-98f0-38fddb669d49/02+-+Barraud+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Barraud Park Prior to the mid-1920s, African-American civic leaders sought to convince the city to build a major park or some recreation site for Black residents in the city. Black residents only had makeshift recreation spaces and several small parks in Berkley, Brambleton, and Lambert’s Point. They were not allowed to set foot in Lafayette Park unless they were picking up trash along Granby Street. In 1926 the city finally bought land from the Barraud family to be used for “colored” recreation. The park was formally opened in August 1928. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83378c08-9c1d-4648-a1b6-f37578af5cff/03+-+Jackie+Robinson.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson at High Rock Park On October 12, 1949, "Jackie Robinson and his Major League All Stars” with Roy Campanella and Larry Doby played an exhibition game against “the American League All Stars" at High Rock Park. The exhibition drew a crowd estimated at 12,000 fans to the home of the New York Yankee farm club Norfolk Tars. Contemporary newspaper accounts say several thousand fans were turned away on orders of the fire department that night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6fe8782-dbc8-4b26-a459-ccf5e37faa5d/04+-+Satchel+and+Josh.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Satchel and Josh After the 1942 Negro World Series, the Kansas City Monarchs and Homestead Grays continued to schedule exhibition games. The teams engaged in a short barnstorming tour in the Tidewater region of Virginia, scheduling games in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. This photo shows the two legends shaking hands before their October 2nd game at High Rock Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/028d42d8-060e-4022-bab2-c3a07caa2106/05+-+High+Rock+Park+segregation.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out The second covered Grandstand down the line at High Rock Park was specifically for "coloreds" and African-American patrons had to enter through a "Jim Crow Gate." Segregation was sadly still very much alive in the south during this time and African-Americans had their own distinct seating area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06f58e89-957f-45e5-8114-e3ce5052bbb8/06+-+Pvt.+Willie+Mays%2C+a+physical+training+instructor+at+Fort+Eustis%2C+Va.%2C+leads+GIs+through+a+calisthenics+session+on+Feb.+19%2C+1953.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Pvt. Willie Mays Acting as a physical training instructor at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Willie Mays leads GIs through a calisthenics session on February 19, 1953. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/836848ae-4037-469d-987e-314717eaa77c/07+-+Joe+Lewis.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Joe “Sleepy” Lewis A native of Drakes Branch, Virginia, Joe Lewis made his Negro leagues debut in 1920 with the Baltimore Black Sox. He spent many years playing for the Hilldale Club, and was part of their 1925 Colored World Series championship team. Lewis also acted as a promoter of baseball games while Willie Mays was stationed at Ft. Eustis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99b88dcb-691a-4000-b66e-609685c1fef7/08+-+left+handed.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Left Handed Batter When a left handed pitcher was on the mound, the angle of their delivery made it difficult for Sam at the plate as a left handed batter. He made it work, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d56204-28f9-4cbf-baf0-70080697236f/09+-+zip+brooks.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Fred “Zip” Brooks In February 1954, news circulated about new hires in the Piedmont League, including “Zip” Brooks and Jim Mason. Six players, along with their trainer, Zip, became the first Black men on the Tars’ spring training roster. He eventually became the trainer for the Richmond Colts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0393c398-f890-4676-a8f5-13e227030568/10+-+NY+Yankees+at+High+Rock+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Yankees Farm Club The Yankees were Sam’s favorite team growing up, because the local Norfolk Tars were their Class B affiliate. Every spring, the Yankees would come up from their Spring Training camp to play exhibition games against the Tars at High Rock Park. The games brought out so many fans that they would line up all the standing room only tickets around the warning track, and the fans themselves were actually "in play." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee305cc1-ccca-4be0-87b6-62d60cdc00c3/11+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, many Black and minority baseball fans across the country (including Sam) adopted the Dodgers as their new favorite team, regardless of their previous allegiances. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/465e92bb-16b1-4dab-8679-73697efb0bbd/12+-+Willie+Mays+at+Camp+Kilmer+on+May+29%2C+1952.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Willie Mays After playing with Willie Mays during some exhibition games while Willie was stationed at Ft. Eustis, Sam became a fan of the New York Giants. Here, Willie is seen at Camp Kilmer on May 29, 1952, shortly after being drafted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6947634-a49e-41ec-a809-d412e185e4f9/13+-+going+all+out.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Going All Out One of the things Sam admired so much about Willie Mays was the fact that he always gave it everything he had, whether it was during a World Series game, or during an exhibition game. Willie always left everything on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9fbeb9e5-c58f-4c0c-8d46-1dc4c97b85af/14+-+Goose+Tatum.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Goose Tatum Better known as a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters' basketball team, Reece “Goose” Tatum was also a flashy-fielding showman with the Indianapolis Clowns. At first base he provided a big target for infielders and entertained the fans with his long arms and a big stretch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad98ff9a-0a7e-4573-800f-3f383d428966/16+-+Abe+Saperstein.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Abe Saperstein Best known as the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, Abe Saperstein earned most of his wealth from his work as a promoter and booking agent for the Negro American League. He was also Satchel Paige’s personal agent, and worked with Bill Veeck to scout talent for the Cleveland Indians, the first American League team to integrate. Abe Saperstein’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b4e2fb1-f1e2-43d5-b33c-02bd8be4e32d/17+-+Syd+Pollock.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Syd Pollock A pioneer of women’s baseball in the 1920s, in the 1930s Syd Pollock set up a booking agency to compete directly against the most powerful man in black baseball, Nat Strong. Later he owned the Ethiopian Clowns, a team that combined skilled play and comedy baseball. In order to play in the Negro American League the team was compelled to change its name to the Indianapolis Clowns and stop wearing African costumes, although they continued to perform clowning routines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb21f195-d8ad-45fb-a270-277f8dafd412/18+-+King+Tut.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - “King Tut” Richard Elmer "King Tut" King played with the Cincinnati/Indianapolis Clowns in 1943, 1945, and 1948. King was known more for performing pantomime comedy acts than his playing ability. King was also known for his oversized first baseman's mitt. King was billed as "The Crown Clown," crown prince of Negro baseball. He also performed skits before the game, between innings, and interacted with the fans in the stands. He often dressed as an Egyptian Pharaoh or wore a tuxedo and top hat. He eventually transitioned away from playing altogether, but remained associated with the Clowns until his retirement in 1959. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f73dd5b-c52b-4d0c-a4cf-fdf97747e8ce/19+-+Spec+Bebop.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Spec Bebop Spec Bebop was a dwarf who performed vaudeville routines and had top billing with the Clowns well into the 1950s. He often worked alongside King Tut, where the two performed a rowboat routine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0512a95-470a-4c7b-b32c-5c69f2eaf141/20+-+High+School+football.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Two Sport Star While at Booker T. Washington High School, Sam (#1 in the front row) once scored 6 touchdowns in a game against Crestwood. Not only that, but he also added 4 extra points. And don’t you forget it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66854d61-466b-46cd-9a20-a864a0023ead/21+-+82nd+Airborne.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - 82nd Airborne Sam used to train every day like they were going to war tomorrow. You had to be prepared. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8a9a7d5-77f6-4aeb-a6f0-159a25367e80/22+-+Ernie+Wheelwright.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ernie Wheelwright One of Sam’s football teammates while in the military was Ernest Lamour 'Wheels' Wheelwright. Ernie attended Southern Illinois University and served in the 101st Airborne Division (a.k.a. the Screaming Eagles). Wheelwright played as a running back for the New York Giants (1964–65), Atlanta Falcons (1966–67) and the New Orleans Saints (1967–70). Following the end of his football career, Wheelwright appeared as an actor in films including The Longest Yard (1974), Trackdown (1976), The Greatest (1977) & Wildcats (1986). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0f53975-67be-4a51-bbc7-a3b9d2a51741/23+-+Walt+Lundy.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Walt Lundy One of Sam’s friends growing up, Walt Lundy played multiple sports at Booker T. Washington High School. Here they are playing on a basketball team together in the 1950s (Sam is wearing #8). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4faa1feb-6639-4b75-a8ed-4236239c75aa/24+-+Harry+Postove.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Harry Postove Harry Postove was instrumental in seeing the Norfolk City League come to fruition, and nurtured the league for over 50 years. He was a sports editor for the Norfolk Ledger, served in the Military, was one of the White Sox’ top scouts. Postove signed Walt Lundy to a minor league contract. He is seen here, signing Luis Aparicio to the White Sox in June of 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f487c69d-2898-4034-ace8-20f63cdbde5e/25+-+Wilson+Gloves.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Wilson Baseball Gloves They may have been expensive, but they were worth it. You can’t have your glove breaking when you need it to make the play! Here is an ad from 1951, right when Sam was looking for some new equipment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e86b4b1-edd4-4af1-8fbf-f5aaaed81663/26+-+Willie+Mays+at+the+age+of+20%2C+in+the+clubhouse+of+the+Minneapolis+Millers%2C+on+his+way+to+the+New+York+Giants.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Phenom The day Willie Mays graduated from high school, he was signed by the New York Giants. First, the Giants sent Mays to their Class B farm team in Trenton, New Jersey, but he quickly advanced to their AAA farm club. Here he is, at the age of 20, in the clubhouse of the Minneapolis Millers in 1951. He would be called up to the Giants and go on to win Rookie Of The Year that season, helping the Giants win the pennant. The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! He may have been young, but he was already well on his way to being a superstar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4ef42dd-3511-4356-a3fa-1675f84ed10d/27+-+the+catch.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out Willie’s brilliant play in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series may have been his most famous instance making a catch like that, but it certainly wasn’t his first time. Sam saw Willie make a play just like this a couple years earlier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1d6bdbd-bee7-4610-91c2-cdf886d91062/28+-+Smoky+Joe+Williams.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Smoky Joe Williams Once tabbed by Ty Cobb as “a sure 30-game winner in the major leagues,” Smoky Joe Williams is often mentioned by old-timers as black baseball’s greatest pitcher, superior even to Cannonball Redding, Bill Foster, Frank Wickware, and Satchel Paige, who called Williams his idol. In the twilight of his career with the Homestead Grays, Smoky Joe bested Paige, 30 years his junior, in two out of three games. Smoky Joe Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/046d09f3-9720-4339-9ac6-b5f6527f6a4a/29+-+Satchel+Paige.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Satchel Paige Sam thinks that while there may have been other great pitchers throughout history, the thing which set Satchel Paige apart from them all was his longevity. “Everybody thinks it’s remarkable how I keep getting batters out in my 40th year of pitching — that’s right, 40 years of straight baseball,” Paige said. He had been happy to be hired by Kansas City, but only so that “now folks can see that I must have had a lot more going for me, and deserved to be in the big leagues when I was in my prime.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2228eff4-8ff0-4ade-8222-55f8a829d3ad/30+-+Satchel+Paige.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Biggest Stage Satchel Paige was never afraid of big moments or big stages. In fact, that’s when he came alive. Sam said Satchel was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. What happened in the one at bat Sam had against him? “He blew me away.” Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/828a2f23-0b0e-4723-99ce-0bb681359877/31+-+Tommy+de+la+Cruz.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Tomás de la Cruz Before Jackie Robinson came on the scene there were Roberto Estalella, Alex Carrasquel, Hiram Bithorn, and Tommy de la Cruz – Caribbean-born foreign imports with more than a small trace of African bloodlines to strain the boundaries of segregated North American professional baseball. In 1944, he won 9 games, lost 9 games, put up a 3.25 ERA, and had an ERA+ of 108. He even threw a complete game one-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tomás de la Cruz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b203657b-d350-4802-87fd-e0d64546c427/31+-+1957+Reds+spring+training.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Cincinnati Reds Training Camp Douglas, Georgia was the home of the Reds’ spring training camp from 1954 through 1957. The Airbase was a ready-made facility with barracks and a dining hall. The airbase athletic field included a baseball diamond, volleyball courts, four tennis courts, basketball court, and an obstacle course. Sam was at the 1957 camp, but didn’t end up making the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8657f62-240c-43f8-a629-3d063b9ea9b4/33+-+Bob+Mitchell+pension.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bob Mitchell Bob “Peach Head” Mitchell was signed by Monarchs manager Buck O'Neil and joined a strong pitching staff featuring the legendary Satchel Paige. He compiled a 30-14 record from 1954-57. Mitchell helped Sam Allen become a Monarch, and he was instrumental in the decades-long fight to get former Negro League players their rightful pensions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d03d91ed-9db2-4979-b3a9-a2329814f758/34+-+Curt+Flood.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Curt Flood Curt Flood earned an invitation to the Cincinnati Reds’ Spring Training in 1957 after the year he had at High Point-Thomasville in 1956. In 154 games, Flood batted .340 with 190 hits and scored 133 runs. He had 29 home runs, 128 RBI, and 317 total bases. He walked 102 times and stole 19 bases, too. Curt Flood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdfb92f3-88f4-4155-9f0e-0fa5268229d1/35+-+French+Shriners.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - French Shriners Sam had an extremely nice pair of shoes with him on the bus to Jacksonville the night of April 19, 1957. This 1957 ad for French Shriners lists the price as $21.95, which is the equivalent of $235 in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c16c12f-927f-4113-be10-ef0a76321a21/36+-+Dizzy+Dismukes.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Dizzy Dismukes William "Dizzy" Dismukes was a star pitcher, one who not only threw a no-hitter — against none other than Rube Foster’s 1915 Chicago American Giants — but also tossed a four-hit complete game against the 1911 Pittsburgh Pirates. He was, for parts of two decades, a manager who is credited with at least 196 career wins. He was the traveling secretary for the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs. He was a part-time baseball writer with the Pittsburgh Courier. He was, for a time, the secretary of the Negro National League. In the early 1950s, he became one of the first Black scouts in Organized Baseball, working for both the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, and in 1952 the Pittsburgh Courier listed him among the best Negro League pitchers of all time. Dizzy Dismukes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b40268cc-11a7-4e5d-a85e-8fcc64732df0/37+-+Burt+Shotton.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Burt Shotton When Burt Shotton retired, he promised his wife he’d never put on another uniform. When he was offered a managerial job by Branch Rickey, Shotton kept his promise to his wife… and managed in a suit. Burt Shotton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5bed90c-ec72-4150-8feb-fb35ef4eab1d/38+-+Ted+Rasberry.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ted Rasberry In 1953, Ted Rasberry purchased an Indianapolis team and moved them to Detroit, renaming the team the Detroit Stars. He applied to the Negro American League and was accepted. He purchased the Kansas City Monarchs in 1956, but the League would not allow Rasberry to own two teams, so he sold the Detroit Stars to his niece and secretary, Minnie Forbes, who owned the team from 1956 to 1958. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f6a9961-74b7-4927-b6f7-91a74084c3ca/39+-+Memphis+Red+Sox+owners.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Martin Brothers The Memphis Red Sox played at Martin Stadium, which was built by the Martin brothers, who owned the team. That made the Memphis Red Sox one of the only Negro League teams to own their own stadium. The Memphis Red Sox were never the most heralded bunch, but three decades of Negro League baseball was still a major victory that very few teams could claim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e85177d-c92d-4e4b-b3f0-012d3472a8c2/40+-+Martin+Stadiumm.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Martin Stadium Martin Stadium, formerly known as Lewis Park, was home of one of the most enduring teams of the Negro Leagues — the Memphis Red Sox (1920s-1950s). It was one of only a few baseball stadiums that exclusively hosted a team from the Negro Major Leagues. A stadium owned by Blacks, that promoted Black athletics, was a unique cultural fixture in any American city much less a major city in the segregated south. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d399bbf4-e7e8-44f2-9e8e-c074a4dd0400/41+-+Lefty+Mathis.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - “Lefty” Mathis Verdell “Lefty” Mathis, a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox, was the premier southpaw in the Negro Leagues during the 1940s. His ability and popularity were such that he pitched in three East-West All Star Games, starting the 1944 and 1945 games for the West, and made the all-star roster a total of six times. Mathis needed surgery after the 1945 season, but no doctor would operate on him. Dr. Martin, one of the owners of the Red Sox, performed the surgery to remove bone chips from Mathis’ left elbow, enabling him to come back and pitch again in 1946. Verdell “Lefty” Mathis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f11604e5-2086-42e9-ab4e-f00945fe573c/42+-+Negro+Motorist+Green+Book.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Negro Motorist Green Book An annual guidebook for African-American road trippers founded and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. From a New York-focused first edition published in 1936, Green expanded the work to cover much of North America. The Green Book became "the bible of black travel" during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against African Americans and other non-whites was widespread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1221090f-5573-4686-a821-f0d9d409e707/43+-+Monarchs+bus.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bus Travel Mastering travel in segregated America was the hallmark of many successful black baseball teams. Switching from train travel to bus travel allowed you to get to your league opponent destinations faster, while also picking up exhibition games in between travel. The Kansas City Monarchs were among the earliest teams to take advantage of bus travel. Here we see the Kansas City Monarchs’ team bus with manager Frank Duncan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f42d370-a78a-4c48-9e4f-30fb01a6839c/44+-+Bonnie+McEachin.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bonnie McEachin’s Plaza Hotel In 1940, Bonnie Estelle McEachin opened a 12-room hotel near the Booker T. Theatre. It was so popular that she opened a new place, The Plaza Hotel, at 1757 Church in Norfolk, Virginia six months later with twice as many rooms. All African-American entertainers stayes at the Plaza, even if they were performing 50 miles away. Duke Ellington ordered steaks sent there from New York. Some songs were written at the Plaza, including "Yakkity Yak" by the Four Coasters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16988f8e-81e5-496c-9564-25c34f8f929b/45+-+Billy+Williams.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Billy Williams Billy Williams was the youngest of five children. The brother born directly before him was Franklin Delano Williams, who was roommates with Sam Allen during their time together on the Memphis Red Sox. Frank eventually signed with the Pirates organization and would have a six-year minor league career. Billy Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b16d5d48-4dcf-4176-b552-758c307de8b4/46+-+1957+Kansas+City+Monarchs.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Speedy Sam Sam batted lead off for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1957. He led the Negro American League in runs scored thanks to his speed and base running. He was also a great bunter, allowing him to get on base in any number of ways. His skills helped Kansas City win the championship in 1957, the last championship the Monarchs would win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f61a02b-612c-4fe5-bd0a-50c536896060/47+-+Rube+Foster.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Rube Foster Hall of Fame manager John McGraw once said, “To play for Rube Foster you had to be able to bunt into a hat ... Rube would put two hats out on the field, one between the pitcher’s mound and first base, the other between the mound and third. If you couldn’t get a bunt down into one of those two hats, you couldn’t make the team.” He would have loved Sam Allen. Rube Foster’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf2007a0-8528-4aa6-aae6-7237d96e45cf/48+-+Pedro+Sierra.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Pedro Sierra Pedro Sierra was born in Cuba in 1938. His journey to being a professional ballplayer, something he promised his dying mother he would do, began in the Negro Leagues as a member of the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars from 1954 to 1958. This led to a long minor league career with the Minnesota Twins’ and Washington Senators’ affiliates from the late 1950s through the 1970s, with a few years interrupted by military service. He extended his time in baseball all the way through 1975 in Mexico. He and Sam are good friends who frequent card shows and autograph signings together. Sam’s family calls him “Uncle Pedro.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b537656-e8d2-4db2-99d3-f381246a1f60/49+-+Ebbets+Field.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ebbets Field The loudest roar from a crowd Sam ever heard in his career was when he hit a home run at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. No wonder that was Sam’s favorite place to play. Twilight At Ebbets Field https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f066a3b4-7aaa-4f66-ba43-3021575d1163/50+-+Willard+Brown.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Willard Brown Willard J. Brown was known as “Home Run” during his career, when he played almost exclusively for the Kansas City Monarchs. He used a 40-ounce bat to become the preeminent Negro Leagues home-run hitter during the 1940s. Brown was one of the five original Black players to integrate the white Major Leagues in 1947, along with Jackie Robinson. When Brown returned to the Monarchs in 1958 after a hiatus, Sam Allen was sent to the Raleigh Tigers to make room for Brown on the roster. Brown was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Willard Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2234428-ab01-4098-828b-b55e13fa221a/51+-+1958+Kansas+City+Monarchs.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Small Rosters As you can tell from this 1958 Kansas City Monarchs team photo, the roster sizes in the Negro Leagues were nowhere near as large as teams for the white Major Leagues. That meant that players often times needed to know how to play multiple positions, and pray they didn’t get injured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35fae114-0620-47e5-9b05-a76b76de069a/52+-+Sam.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Lost Statistics One of the reasons it’s been so hard for the average fan to contextualize how great players in the Negro Leagues were is that their games weren’t always covered in newspapers so the statistics have been lost. But ask any player who played back then and they’ll tell you, their league was just as talented. If not more so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7d27af6-e7d1-4268-96a9-3c0f1c37fa0d/53+-+few+photos.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Few Photos This is one of the very few photos Sam has of himself during his playing career. Not because he lost photos he had, or wasn’t careful about collecting and keeping them when they were taken, but because so few photos were taken of most Negro League players and games in the first place. That’s another reason why it’s so important to preserve the history of the Negro Leagues and of Black baseball. If we don’t, that history gets lost. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e2ff256-0116-4687-b3b1-8806621d771f/54+-+Negro+League+crowds.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Negro League Crowds While the fans at Negro League games were predominantly Black, there were still plenty of white fans in the stands, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97fcb4c3-cd40-471a-926e-04dfc6c3baf6/55+-+Josh+Gibson.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Josh Gibson It is said that Josh Gibson once hit a ball in Portsmouth and it didn’t stop until it reached Pittsburgh. The fact that there was a train track behind the stadium and Josh hit a home run over the fence and into the moving train is a detail that isn’t necessary. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b65011e7-cef5-4798-b7b3-85388d19bb00/56+-+barrier+breakers.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Barrier Breakers There were five Black players who played during the 1947 Major League baseball season, which many people don’t realize. They were: Jackie Robinson - SABR Biography Dan Bankhead - SABR Biography Larry Doby - SABR Biography Willard Brown - SABR Biography Hank Thompson - SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37a41e4b-24c1-4482-a416-28bddb360255/57+-+military.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Drafted Into The Military Sam was just entering his prime as a baseball player, but his playing career was cut short due to being drafted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce3a3c86-6550-4eba-86c2-c317fd997339/58+-+Jessie+Mitchell.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jessie Mitchell Jessie Mitchell of the Birmingham Black Barons led the Negro American League in batting in 1957 with a .338 average. He also hit 17 home runs and drove in 67 runs to win the Triple Crown that season. He was selected to play in four East-West All Star games (1955-1959). In 1959, he completed his Negro League career with the Kansas City Monarchs." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/313bf6c3-43d1-4e15-98ec-292fb0e35eb0/59+-+Jackie+Robinson+barnstorming.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson Barnstorming Tours Beginning in 1946 and continuing through the 1950s, Jackie Robinson annually led a group of "all-star" players on a postseason barnstorming tour. During the early years, Robinson's barnstorming team toured in Mexico and the roster featured primarily Negro League players. In later years, as integration progressed, the team included many black Major League stars, including his Dodgers teammates Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. (Campanella also led his own, separate barnstorming tour in the 1950s.) This ball, based upon the signatures present, most likely dates from one of Robinson's early tours in 1949 or 1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b4cf56e-e503-4ec7-8b79-1e20672d5649/60+-+Freedom+National+Bank.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Freedom National Bank When Jackie Robinson left the sports world, he used his status as a public figure to move into the political and corporate arena. In 1958 he became a spokesman and fundraiser for the NAACP. Robinson protested with Martin Luther King in Birmingham, Alabama. He was also present at King’s famous march on Washington in 1963. Jackie then open up a bank called the Freedom Bank. This stimulated Harlem’s economy by offering generous loans for local homes and businesses. Established in 1973 by Rachel Robinson to perpetuate the memory of her husband, the Jackie Robinson Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization that administers one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for talented college students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d67f3cd7-1cbb-4bd9-89de-ed4f726fc9b6/61+-+Pride.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Proud Man One of the best feelings for Sam was coming home after being away playing ball and hearing the neighborhood women talking about how proud everyone was of him for living out his dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f142d30-4516-4f2f-9e80-66e557511279/62+-+A+Part+Of+Our+History.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Part Of Our History Baseball history is American history. That very much includes the history of the Negro Leagues. Here, Sam stands in front of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36dd390d-0916-4d6e-8e9c-86979a5b92f1/63+-+2021+All+Star+Game.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - 2021 All Star Game Sam brought his daughter and his grandson with him when he was invited to MLB’s 2021 All Star Game in Denver. One of the highlights of the trip for Sam was meeting CC Sabathia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57b70c38-552e-4a21-be14-6626f4f67676/64+-+Harbor+Park.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Harbor Park Sam was a 2019 inductee of the Tidewater Baseball Shrine at Harbor Park in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, one of his proudest achievements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07fa8f5a-134f-4638-9bf3-c510e856ed01/65+-+Lifetime+pass.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Lifetime Pass Sam has also received a Lifetime Pass from Major League Baseball, allowing him and a guest free entry into any game he wants to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abbc3c8c-2c37-4761-a410-83aeb5541dbd/66+-+Sam%27s+Daughter.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Family Man Sam is most proud of his family. Here he is with his daughter at her graduation from Bennet College. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22b3d0d6-d470-424f-abf8-7da305e73dbc/67+-+His+grandson.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Grandson You can just see in his eyes how proud he is of his grandson, Gregory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27bd5587-955f-488f-984d-439b83593321/68+-+Sam+and+Donavon.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam and Don Sam and his grandson, Donavon, have a special bond. Don helps Sam get to all of his engagements, and was instrumental in helping to set up this interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4036b90-4ead-4ce7-914c-ac75a5b2a58d/69+-+With+CC+Sabathia.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - CC Sabathia CC Sabathia has gone above and beyond to make sure Sam Allen, Pedro Sierra, and all other living Negro League players are getting the love and recognition they deserve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/307b253c-a888-4df5-9efb-a4ff7002a3cc/70+-+Ken+Griffey%2C+Jr..jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ken Griffey, Jr. Sam gets the VIP treatment wherever he goes, from whoever is there. An entire generation of fans looked up to Ken Griffey, Jr., but Ken looks up to Sam. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1344f6ee-e819-4ee0-b96e-88f0aac3374b/71+-+Tim+Anderson.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Tim Anderson My favorite moment I’ve ever witnessed in person at a baseball game was Tim Anderson walking it off into the corn at the Field of Dreams game. Don watched that moment on TV and knew it was special, too. Here is Graig Kriendler’s painting of that amazing night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24e57765-3743-4558-845f-4747f9f8a0c9/72+-+a+legend.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Legend Don’s friends would say “I didn’t know your granddad was a legend!” Well, he is. It’s nice that he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f1529fc-02e2-4055-8d7d-b2d486e6ce88/73+-+Bobby+Giannini.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Stevenson High School Rooting for my friend and our quarterback Bobby Giannini as he led our team to the IHSA 8A State Finals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3630176d-ee83-45cb-810e-4b076dd3bde2/74+-+Blackhawks+at+Soldier+Field.JPG Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Blackhawks at Soldier Field We were prepared for the cold, but it was still nice that the Blackhawks kept scoring to keep us warm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a1f165a-bff4-4f0c-8d0f-ed0ba995b0a8/75+-+Sam.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Total Recall We may have been speaking about things that happened 65 years ago, but Sam remembered them like it was yesterday. People, places, events… everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7071dd58-a7b0-4e7d-a504-c4dbc8661e68/76+-+NLBM+statues.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City is an absolute must-see. Seriously. Plan your trip right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cc62020-2dc7-45c8-ba24-638d253ae1f7/77+-+2022-07-17+Black+Diamonds+podcast+with+Bob+Kendrick.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Black Diamonds Bob Kendricks’ podcast for the NLBM is a great listen, too. If you haven’t checked it out before, why don’t you start with THIS EPISODE, featuring Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f197c6e0-e236-4ce4-8126-3d22f53b023c/78+-+Nat+King+Cole.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Nat King Cole A baseball fan, himself, Nat King Cole once recorded a song that mixed his gospel upbringing with his love of the sport: “The First Baseball Game” Here he is with Jackie Robinson as they wait for Game 2 of a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, June 5, 1954 to start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03d70e28-3b84-44ea-8acc-01e1b941dfdc/79+-+Standing+on+the+Shoulders+of+Giants.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants Look at the reverence CC Sabathia has for Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/388631b7-65ff-4222-9c23-9d37094cf2a1/80+-+Bob+Motley.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bob Motley Bob Motley’s umpiring career began as he recovered from a gunshot wound at a military hospital on Okinawa. "I could look out the window and see there was a ball field, so I decided I'd hop down with my crutches. And they needed an umpire," he says. So they gave him a mask and chest protector, and he began calling balls and strikes for the Marines. His grandson, Byron Motley, is a documentary filmmaker whose recent film The League is a great watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ecedd62-18cc-42bf-b1c4-112bded6ccbd/81+-+the+crew.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Crew Special thanks to Sam and Donavon, of course, but also to Ted and Edward Holstrom. What a special day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9697649d-761f-4c6c-9f55-199fb1788715/82+-+Sam%27s+recliner.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Chair With Don’s help, we were able to get the audio levels as good and consistent as possible while Sam sat in his comfortable chair during our long conversation. I couldn’t be more grateful for both of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/836d6153-8a9e-4dcd-8794-fd28bde2b0e4/83+-+follow+Sam.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Follow Sam on Social Media Sam’s Instagram Don’s Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f51aedc0-115d-434e-b29c-a4e79f7e56b8/5x5_MBH_LOGO.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Follow My Baseball History on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Clearing The Bases email newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2392dc73-2425-442e-a4ad-aed800d59a1e/84+-+Walter+Lundy.png Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Friends Claude Cousins August 7, 1938 - March 2, 2005 Walt Lundy (pictured here) December 10, 1935 - June 18, 2005 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a491f0ce-430b-46ad-a76c-b85948fecdac/85+-+Toni+Stone.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Toni Stone Toni Stone’s break came when Syd Pollock, owner of the Indianapolis Clowns, signed her in 1953. Although she was originally signed to increase ticket sales, she proved to be far more than just a novelty woman player. One newspaper article said of her playing – “she’s agile, has good baseball instinct, and knows what a Louisville slugger is used for.” Other women were eventually signed, as well, thanks to Stone’s success. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01b8e1cd-b24a-4589-bd7a-c0c6aa3f69c5/86+-+Henry+Aaron.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Henry Aaron Henry Aaron, a Mobile, Alabama native, signed with the Indianapolis Clowns in April of 1952 for $200 a month after the team's business manager, Bunny Downs, saw him play for the Mobile Black Bears the year before in an exhibition game against the Clowns. The crosshanded hitting shortstop would join the team for the 1952 season. In three months, he would lead the league in hitting with a .467 batting average. He would also lad in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, rbi's and total bases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d9b1bde-0002-44cd-adae-63ace329b30a/87+-+1957-07-01+Clowns+vs+Black+Yankees.jpg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - Indianapolis Clowns vs. New York Black Yankees The Clowns, taking a page from the Harlem Globetrotters’ playbook, took their opponents on the road with them so they were always guaranteed to have a worthy opponent in whichever city they were scheduled to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ef730a3-9c9a-41ff-9599-2622d5796253/88+-+New+York+Black+Yankees.jpeg Season 3 - 0302 - Sam Allen - New York Black Yankees Fans immediately realized the Yankees name and associated it with success and entertainment. The Black Yankees were managed by Dick Lundy, no relation to Walt. Dick Lundy’s SABR Biography https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-three/01 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c96f5641-5dba-4ef1-9755-9ecbd6fdf35b/youtube.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6baa21ca-1904-4f58-9187-4a8e7f618c36/IMG-6897.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke Me and Jacob Pomrenke after getting to see a game used baseball from Game 5 of the 1919 World Series during a private tour of the Chicago Sports Museum at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4521fa56-7ca9-4a7e-9405-0a2b5e402f23/01+-+Cal+Ripken.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Root For The Home Team Jacob saw Cal Ripken, Jr. hit a home run in his 1,500th straight game. A young Edgar Martinez homered that night, too. Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/161422e3-fd07-4f81-8365-531fd708663c/02+-+Brooks+Robinson+carrot+cake.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Brooks Robinson’s Favorite Carrot Cake Jacob still has an old Baseball HOF yearbook from the '80s that included Brooks Robinson's wife's carrot cake recipe. Brooks Robinson’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dc6e3b4-b78c-4a8f-a8e0-71d835bc2bde/03+-+Babe+Ruth+birthplace.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum Located just a couple blocks away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the museum is absolutely worth a visit if you’re ever in Baltimore. Listen to my interview with Executive Director Shawn Herne HERE Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b009c7e-f92e-463c-b05e-caa8ee28861e/04+-+grandfather.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jacob’s Grandfather He grew up in Detroit in the 1940s and 50s, and once faced pitcher Billy Pierce just after he was signed by the Tigers. He moved to Baltimore in the 1960s where he continued his love of baseball. Billy Pierce’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10fada37-f0ab-4881-a4da-80296379a81a/02+-+Glavine.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Tom Glavine Tom and Jacob, each pictured here in 1996 (Jacob is on the right). Tom Glavine’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4b99f5f-26b4-46d5-b65b-20fde61aac32/06+-+1991+Braves.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1991 Atlanta Braves While they may have lost to the Minnesota Twins in Game 7 of the World Series, the 1991 Braves are still Jacob’s favorite team of all time. 1991 World Series Game 7 SABR Games Project Article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a91c84e-0cd7-4571-83ec-440e17d998de/07+-+Tomahawk+Chop.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Tomahawk Chop Jacob has been advocating for the retirement of “The Chop” for years, both publicly and privately. "I think it's a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general,'' Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley said. "It's not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It's not. It's about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and how we're perceived in that way, or used as mascots.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1564bed8-3e84-40e7-8478-dc04594f565b/08+-+1997+SABR+convention.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1997 SABR Convention The 1997 Convention was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Convention organizer co-chairs were Harry Rothgerber and Henry Mayer. A total of 440 members and guests were in attendance. Pee Wee Reese and the Congressman Jim Bunning were the featured speakers, with Bunning giving the keynote address. There were several interesting player panels. One consisted of Reese, Carl Erskine, Don Lund, Ed Stevens, and Tot Presnell. Branch Rickey III and Louisville Redbirds General Manager Dale Owens also spoke. The membership had a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory and also attended an American Association game between the Louisville Redbirds and the Iowa Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a23c2745-e866-4d1b-a276-4bfeffbb459c/09+-+Len+Levin.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Len Levin Len Levin was best known as a grammar/usage/style guru. For 30 years, he served as The Providence Journal’s news editor, overseeing the copy desk with a velvet fist. Len was a teacher - he trained scores of copy editors who went on to work at The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, and many other metro papers. He also taught copy editing and news writing courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. After retirement, he helped organize and run the SABR Research Exchange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f15a368-5cec-46b1-adb1-7e9fa1d8070a/10+-+sabr+logo.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Research Committees Covering a wide range of topics, the SABR Research Committees are a great way to get involved and dig deeper into a particular topic in which you may be interested. With more than 30 different committees, there’s something for everyone. Any SABR member can join any of the committees, and any SABR member can be a member of as many committees as they choose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b712ecc-0d84-4c69-9953-673f6e61ed4d/11+-+Biography+Project.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Biography Project Probably the most ambitious project SABR has ever created, its goal is to write a biography of every single person to have ever played a game in the Major Leagues and the Negro Leagues. Of the more than 24,000 players who qualify, SABR has written biographies on more than 6,000 of them. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a569433-8ba2-4952-ad00-2ec8aa5ef1b4/12+-+seamheads+negro+leagues.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out The Negro Leagues Data Base at Seamheads.com is the most comprehensive data base of Negro Leagues players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/608b3035-415a-46f1-899a-adde78bf7926/13+-+Fred+McMullin.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Fred McMullin Until his fateful involvement in the plot to fix a World Series, Fred McMullin was known as the Chicago White Sox’ “lucky man.” His addition to the starting lineup coincided with late-season surges to win the American League pennant in 1917 and 1919. Fred McMullin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e2acd16-b1c5-4ee4-b936-37b5a5010b1d/14+-+Lefty+Williams.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Lefty Williams After he was banned from baseball, Lefty Williams and his wife Lyria lived here, on Granville Ave. in Chicago, from 1927-36 until heading west to California. Lefty Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96802a70-537c-4785-8a3d-48a44bbcbfd5/15+-+Lefty+Sullivan.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - John “Lefty” Sullivan Lefty Sullivan had everything a pitcher could want: a blazing fastball, a knee-buckling curve, a disappearing spitball, and pinpoint control. The one thing he couldn’t do was field. Lefty Sullivan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1259446f-1560-4976-9b3d-b843a6128c02/16+-+Joe+Jenkins.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joe Jenkins Just ten days after the 1919 World Series ended, Joe Jenkins learned that his brother William, a prominent businessman in Mexico and a US consular agent there, had been kidnapped by revolutionary rebels. The incident set off an international furor between the two countries that stained William Jenkins’ reputation for the rest of his life. Joe Jenkins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17536ba0-5656-48cb-a60c-c27ca20752f3/17+-+SABR+Games+Project.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Games Project A complement to the Biography Project, the SABR Games Project is a way to tell stories about individual games, usually ones which are historically significant in some way. Follow the SABR Games Project HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/530a679f-9d1f-4adf-b57b-3b1d2fd725b7/18+-+Wingfoot+Express.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - July 21, 1919 - White Sox vs. Yankees Doubleheader White Sox fans in certain sections of Comiskey Park may have caught a glimpse in the distance of the Wingfoot Express on its second excursion around downtown, which lifted off about a half-hour after the first game began at 2:00 p.m. Soon after the start of the second game, many more fans could see the blimp in the air as it began to make its way south toward the White City Amusement Park at 63rd Street. If it had finished its voyage, Goodyear’s airship likely would have passed directly over Comiskey Park around the fourth or fifth inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7e5e376-3cfe-4389-a9b6-c6c051ec8ec0/19+-+sabr+membership+directory.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Society for American Baseball Research The Society for American Baseball Research is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, primarily through the use of statistics. The organization was founded in Cooperstown, New York, on August 10, 1971, at a meeting of 16 “statistorians” coordinated by sportswriter Bob Davids. The organization now reports a membership of over 7,000. Become a member today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0ff6eed-7499-40e6-ac3c-e248539ae1da/20+-+sabr+chapters.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Local Chapters For most members, their primary chapter is the regional group closest to their physical location. But members also have the option to join any other SABR chapter and receive email newsletters, stay updated on upcoming events (both virtual and in-person), and connect with other like-minded members. With more than 80 chapters worldwide, SABR chapters reach every corner of the baseball world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05631c53-3981-4c56-bdb4-3badcdaffd20/21+-+1919+World+Series+Symposium.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Scandal Research Committee Jacob has been the chairman of the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee since 2010. Amazing discoveries have been made since he has taken the reins, and he has coordinated many incredible events. This photo, taken at the historic Mercantile Library in Cincinnati, shows Jacob moderating a panel discussion during the 2019 symposium for the 100th anniversary of the 1919 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/709f7f90-9b8f-49aa-a774-15f1f72c82c8/22+-+player+salaries.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Player Salaries One of the groundbreaking discoveries of recent years is that of the player contract cards, which tell us exactly how much the players on the 1919 White Sox were being paid, and how that compared to other players in the American League. The truth paints a very different picture than what we have been led to believe all these years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc8a9365-8147-4aa9-9edd-129b95acfc39/23+-+1919+world+series+ball.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out There aren’t many known game balls that have survived from the 1919 World Series, but this game used ball from Game 5 was authenticated by Chicago Tribune sports editor Harvey Woodruff before being placed in a 1920 time capsule and buried in the walls of the old Chicago Tribune printing plant. It is now on display at the Chicago Sports Museum. SABR Games Project article about that game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88a9a497-fa53-4050-a528-a285f0eedefa/24+-+Bill+Lamb.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox In The Courtroom by Bill Lamb A comprehensive, non-partisan account of the judicial proceedings spawned by the corruption of the 1919 World Series was badly needed. This book by Bill Lamb provides it. The narrative of events was crafted from surviving fragments of the judicial record, contemporaneous newspaper accounts of the proceedings, museum archives and, occasionally, the literature of the Black Sox scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1018bf00-85c6-4e6c-ac24-f67ca4b906f7/25+-+Eight+Men+Out.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof Like many others, reading the book Eight Men Out is what got Jacob interested in the Black Sox Scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab0dbd7-d30d-4216-a4a7-8205c1057cd8/26+-+Scandal+On+The+South+Side.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Scandal on the South Side This book, which Jacob edited, was published by SABR in 2015. It isn’t a rewriting of Eight Men Out, but it is the complete story of everyone associated with the 1919 Chicago White Sox. Scandal on the South Side has full-life biographies on each of the 31 players who made an appearance for the White Sox in 1919, plus a comprehensive recap of Chicago’s pennant-winning season, the tainted World Series, and the sordid aftermath. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a07c963-891a-4d45-8101-50e8508d435e/27+-+Burying+The+Black+Sox.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Burying The Black Sox by Gene Carney In 2006, Gene’s book Burying The Black Sox: How Baseball's Cover-Up of the 1919 World Series Fix Almost Succeeded was published. By 2008, he had founded the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e0deb41-cc81-4b33-8375-62ad9fa9ddee/28+-+8+Myths+Out.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d00dae6-72cc-49cc-b7d8-ecde5e3b89d4/29+-+Comiskey+As+Scrooge.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FIRST MYTH OUT This is the central thesis of Eight Men Out: Charles Comiskey’s “ballplayers were the best and were paid as poorly as the worst,” as Eliot Asinof wrote. That couldn’t be further from the truth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5967f1f9-c37e-484e-b4c3-7c87db6373b3/30+-+The+Cicotte+Bonus.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SECOND MYTH OUT Eddie Cicotte and Chick Gandil were already conspiring with gamblers to fix the World Series several weeks before Charles Comiskey would have had the chance to renege on a bonus payment. And if Cicotte had pitched better in the pennant clincher, he would have earned his 30th win regardless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3940856-9486-4a56-84b8-96e9304f0260/31+-+Gamblers+Initiated+The+Fix.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - THIRD MYTH OUT Fixing the World Series was a total “team” effort and the White Sox players did most of the heavy lifting. Chick Gandil and Eddie Cicotte, separately and together, first approached Sport Sullivan, a prominent Boston bookmaker, and Sleepy Bill Burns, a former major-league pitcher, to get the fix rolling. The Des Moines Connection to the Black Sox Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135afd4a-a941-4250-9c50-e70052b26503/32+-+The+Hitman.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FOURTH MYTH OUT The primary source for the claim that Williams’ life was in danger is an anecdote by a neighbor boy — first told four decades after the fact — who claimed Lefty’s wife Lyria once told him the pitcher had been threatened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae840206-9b38-4806-af81-e6e5be9a56a6/33+-+Only+Eight+Men+Out.jpeg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FIFTH MYTH OUT As the historians Dr. Harold and Dorothy Seymour wrote, “The groundwork for the crooked 1919 World Series, like most striking events in history, was long prepared. The scandal was not an aberration brought about solely by a handful of villainous players. It was a culmination of corruption and attempts at corruption that reached back nearly twenty years.” The 1917 Fenway Park Gamblers Riot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a19fd70-546e-4ebc-9a24-028774574e5c/34+-+Baseball%27s+Cover+Up.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SIXTH MYTH OUT Just about everyone in the sport’s inner circle, including White Sox owner Charles Comiskey, who admitted in a 1930 interview that he heard reports about the fix before any games were played. But Comiskey and other baseball officials allowed most of the 1920 season to be played without publicizing what they had learned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ca052fd-3492-4005-a692-2032237d24f0/35+-+The+Stolen+Confessions.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SEVENTH MYTH OUT The Black Sox criminal trial, which resulted in the acquittal of the players, is often depicted as an example of Chicago-style corruption and shady courtroom shenanigans. But the theft of key files, including the players’ grand jury testimony transcripts, was a minor incident that played no significant role in the jury’s decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22556279-7875-4535-803c-b82533cde9f7/36+-+Shamed+Into+Silence.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - EIGHTH MYTH OUT The players did not, as is commonly believed, hang their heads in shame and “drop out of sight” or “quietly vanish” after they were banned from baseball. Some of the players expressed remorse (especially Eddie Cicotte and Felsch), while others remained defiant or claimed innocence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135009b4-7679-400a-b652-ceb039491d2d/98+-+Full+project+link.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out I’ve included many of the links in these liner notes, but there are dozens more on the proper SABR link. Go down the rabbit hole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f2cba9e-e34b-4906-88a6-0cc01b8df3cc/37+-+Cavalier+Magazine.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Abe Attell Interviewed for the October, 1961 issue of Cavalier Magazine, Abe Attell may not have been the most reliable source for Eliot Asinof to have used for his research leading up to writing Eight Men Out. But he was the one who was willing to talk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/249f9d7a-8fcb-4c46-b06c-147c99863bac/39+-+Sport+Sullivan.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joseph J. “Sport” Sullivan Black Sox researcher and historian Bruce Allardice has done lots of writing on this gambling “Sport” Sullivan, not to be confused with the fight promoter named Martin J. Sullivan, who also was nicknamed “Sport.” Sport Sullivan’s SABR Biography The Boxer, The Ballplayer, and the Great Black Sox Manhunt SABR Biographies of many of the gamblers, players, and other characters involved in the Black Sox Scandal, conveniently collected for you on THIS PAGE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b9e53ae-b9e9-4568-b87d-39cbd2f7f7fd/40+-+Shoeless+Joe+Jackson.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Shoeless Joe Jackson An Ever-Changing Story: Exposition and Analysis of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Public Statements on the Black Sox Scandal by Bill Lamb Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4847793a-f176-4423-a538-376ccde56587/41+-+Eddie+Collins.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Eddie Collins “Eddie Collins was not only one of baseball's most consistently good batters, but perhaps also its best bunter and hit-and-run man, as well as one of its craftiest base runners and finest defensive second basemen.” - Rick Huhn Eddie Collins was quick to go on the record soon after the Black Sox Scandal was exposed. In an interview with Collyer’s Eye on October 30, 1920, he said “there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind” as early as the first inning of Game One that the games were being thrown. He added, “If the gamblers didn’t have Weaver and Cicotte in their pocket, then I don’t know a thing about baseball.” But Collins’ tone changed over the years and he began to back off from his comments that he had known much about the scandal. “I was to be a witness to the greatest tragedy in baseball’s history — and I didn’t know it at the time,” he told The Sporting News in 1950. Eddie Collins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/515660b3-c81e-42e2-b365-26f3cd482b7d/42+-+Buck+Weaver.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Buck Weaver Jacob’s online namesake. When Buck Weaver applied for reinstatement in 1953, he said, “Even a murderer serves his sentence and is let out. I got life.” Buck Weaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4128b2f-8ae2-4722-bca4-96c0ac91826f/43+-+Vintage+Base+Ball.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Vintage Base Ball Jacob has been playing 1860s style Base Ball for over a decade now. If you follow him on twitter, @BuckWeaver, you probably already knew that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60b975fd-a1fa-4310-9567-1e2ee634361c/44+-+Bisbee%2C+AZ.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, AZ Jacob’s favorite place to play vintage ball, Warren Ballpark is one of the few adobe brick ballparks to have ever hosted professional baseball games. It was originally built in 1909, and is one of the oldest ballparks in America. Dozens of major leaguers have played there, including a number of Sox, both Black and White. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c93924-ba2a-450a-a2c3-0d169728c925/45+-+Game+1+of+the+1919+World+Series.gif Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out Possibly the closest any of us will ever get to being able to see the 1919 World Series, a remarkable newsreel featuring nearly five minutes of game action from Games One and Three was recently discovered and is now available, thanks to the Library and Archives Canada and the Dawson City Museum in Yukon, Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2877a885-c9e2-4671-a1cf-579f70df180e/46+-+Walter+Johnson+Smokey+Joe+Wood.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - September 6, 1912 at Fenway Park "Smoky Joe" Wood of the Boston Red Sox warms up prior to facing off against Walter Johnson, one of the most heralded pitching duels in baseball history. “My regular pitching turn was scheduled to come on Saturday, and they moved it up a day so that Walter and I could face each other,” said Wood. “Walter had already won 16 in a row and his streak had ended. I had won 13 in a row and they challenged our manager, Jake Stahl, to pitch me against Walter, so Walter could stop my streak himself.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1c993b4-144c-4a4a-b368-dc322c4f72e3/47+-+Jackie+Robinson+at+the+Polo+Grounds.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jackie Robinson at the Polo Grounds If you’re going to go to a game at the Polo Grounds to watch Jackie Robinson play, you might as well pick one of the most famous games ever played, right? October 3, 1951 SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75d23c4a-1f2b-47ca-986b-3e3a7188e2a3/48+-+Black+Sox+Trial+Reenactment.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Trial production The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission and the DePaul University Theatre Department put on a reproduction of the Black Sox trial in Springfield and in Chicago, which Jacob helped keep factually accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f255ae2-6341-4d29-bb83-c7cd23046483/49+-+No+Betting+Allowed.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - No Betting Allowed In This Park Jim "Death Valley" Scott at Comiskey Park. The signs were everywhere, if you know how to look. Jim Scott’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74edfbf7-9c8a-4458-8a75-285485a14ca2/50+-+Jacob.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Follow Jacob and SABR Online The Society for American Baseball Research SABR on Twitter Jacob’s Website Jacob on Twitter Jacob’s articles on the SABR website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cbdbc40-131d-4689-865a-8d5683a07deb/51+-+SABR+Landmarks+map.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR’s Interactive Maps Baseball Landmarks Map Graves Map https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aed5bdfb-001c-46b4-acde-15cb0e8658c5/52+-+Comiskey%27s+grave.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Charles Comiskey’s Grave Jacob and I went on a search for a handful of graves and other baseball-related sites in the Chicagoland area together. The Old Roman is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79166dd9-62ad-483c-a625-a07333994ac5/53+-+Harry+Caray.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Harry Caray’s Grave Harry Caray is buried at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. Harry Caray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c792dcd0-8af7-4f6e-9cda-ab17662f0f9d/54+-+Edward+Holstrom.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - “Big Ed” Edward Holstrom and his dad, Ted, found this plaque honoring “Big Ed” Walsh on a road trip thanks to the SABR Interactive Baseball Map. “Big Ed” Walsh’s SABR Biography Follow Edward on Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cc50f8c-c3e7-4413-9b91-7907594e430b/55+-+Chicago+chapter.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Chapter Meetings You can be a member of multiple chapters, and enjoy the benefits of having friends all over the country who share a similar interest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d7dbfee-ce73-4625-84bf-c4890f05406a/56+-+Chicago+Walking+Tour.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Chicago Baseball Walking Tour I don’t care how many times I’ve been on this walking tour, I will go every chance I get with Jacob and Tracy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f94bfe6e-6b27-41c8-99ce-7a99faf3f9a1/57+-+Walking+Tour.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jacob Leads The Way It’s amazing how you can live in a place, drive past (or walk past) a building a million times, but not know its history or realize its significance until someone who lives across the country comes to visit and tells you all about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/489d417a-f693-4d3d-822d-5dbd2024189a/58+-+Billy+Goat+Tavern.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Billy Goat Tavern The original Billy Goat Tavern location was “born” in 1934 when Greek immigrant, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, purchased the Lincoln Tavern. One day, a goat fell off a passing truck and wandered inside. Sianis adopted the goat, grew a goatee, acquired the nickname “Billy Goat,” and changed the name of the bar to the Billy Goat Tavern. It gained nationwide popularity after a Saturday Night Live sketch parodied its strict rules and limited menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b3bd1cd-325d-4871-ad53-d5837ec41b97/59+-+Gene+Carney.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Gene Carney For more than 15 years, beginning in 1993, Gene Carney wrote a semi-regular column called “Notes From The Shadows of Cooperstown” from his home in Utica, New York. At first, it was an eclectic blend of essays, poetry, book reviews, and a little baseball history. In September 2002, it took on a singular focus: the Black Sox Scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02f998e7-8d94-446c-99e2-1521fc0a6b50/60+-+Friends+for+Life.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Carrying The Torch The way Gene Carney treated Jacob, that’s how Jacob has treated me. He has always gone out of his way to not only answer my billion questions, but to include me in the cool things that he does. He and Tracy have become friends for life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da74d98d-2fa3-4c11-b999-6b0179f0e31d/61+-+Arnold+Rothstein.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Arnold Rothstein He was the Kingpin in New York gambling circles and reputed financier of the World Series fix. In his 1920 grand jury testimony, he strongly denied any involvement and Chicago prosecutors publicly exonerated him. He was later accused by Ban Johnson of arranging theft of the grand jury transcripts. And yet, somehow, Arnold Rothstein could remain as under the radar as he wanted to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d82c4353-c6d7-4ac2-9282-dffb48f49c50/62+-+Ray+Schalk.png Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Collyer’s Eye Collyer’s Eye was a Chicago gambling periodical published weekly beginning April 10, 1915. Its vested interest was clear: gambling would thrive only if sports were on the up and up. Ironically, Collyer’s Eye was more interested in cleaning up baseball than baseball was. In articles beginning a week after the final game, Collyer’s Eye said the 1919 World Series had been fixed, correctly named some of the gamblers who were behind it, and correctly named most of the players later indicted. In the December 13, 1919 issue, White Sox catcher Ray Schalk named 7 names of teammates he felt had thrown the World Series, and said he didn’t expect them to be back with the team for the 1920 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd86629b-395a-49af-a30d-f036bc6e3812/63+-+Ray+Schalk.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Ray Schalk Ray Schalk’s 1917 World Series uniform, which is housed in the archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The White Sox won the series 4 games to 2 over the New York Giants. Notice how pristine the flag patch is on the sleeve, and how worn the S-O-X logo on the chest is, in comparison. That is due to his chest protector rubbing against the raised, color logo for 6 straight games. Ray Schalk’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75f3e8f5-ca1d-4749-a072-05de02e33d07/64+-+Red+Faber+Museum.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Red Faber Museum Located less than half an hour from the Field of Dreams, the Red Faber Museum honors Cascade, Iowa’s favorite son. Red Faber’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cc148ff-b8da-4764-a363-216fefa96e77/65+-+Jacob%27s+new+book.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joe Jackson vs. Chicago American League Baseball Club Everyone knows the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox. At least, everyone thinks they do. They’ve seen the famous movies. Maybe they’ve even read the books. But they’ve never read anything like this. David J. Fletcher and Jacob Pomrenke uncovered the truth – as Joe Jackson and Charles Comiskey told the courts, straight from their own mouths – and have made it public for the first time ever. This book changes everything. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c23f273-80a4-47d9-9149-d04685add4a8/66+-+White+Sox+Found+Not+Guilty.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Acquitted Baseball's Trial of the Century ended August 2, 1921 when Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox were acquitted of conspiracy charges. The eight men were banned for life the next day by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had gone against his word from before the trial began. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43a37d25-6b45-4b55-b689-c9bcca5201ca/67+-+Wedding.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - September 6 1995: Cal Ripken, Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig’s “Unbreakable” Streak by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game 2009: Jacob marries Tracy on the anniversary Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f5e671-edb0-4412-9545-cc7535905c59/68+-+Vintage+Jacob.JPG Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1860s Style Rules Fun for the whole family! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc952e24-0f8d-4f3a-9871-fc0e04436886/69+-+Brooks+Robinson.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Brooks Robinson The lasting memory of Brooks Robinson for many remains his wizardry in the 1970 World Series. But countless others will remember the man behind the statistics, records, and awards. He conducted himself with class throughout his 23 seasons in a major-league uniform, and fulfilled extraneous obligations with joy and enthusiasm. Brooks Robinson’s SABR Biography In Memoriam: Brooks Robinson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c457f9cf-204e-4692-aa4d-b883a79feb53/70+-+Support+The+Podcast.jpg Season 3 - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Follow My Baseball History Online Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four daily 0.75 2025-12-12 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/09 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6219da90-60c7-4ee6-8f24-f45d6151688f/youtube.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/084757d3-80f2-486a-af97-142dc2132a7c/square.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch Me and Josh Rawitch after recording our interview in his office at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Please note that of all of the amazing images in baseball history which Josh could have chosen, the one he has displayed on the wall in his office is a panoramic photograph taken at the Addie Joss Benefit Game at League Park in Cleveland. Coincidentally, the photo features a young Shoeless Joe Jackson, who Josh and I have framed behind us in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1726f42-c23a-41df-81f1-44f986c257c3/01+-+Willis+Monie+Books.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Willis Monie Books This episode is brought to you by Willis Monie Books. Visit Willis Monie on your next trip to Cooperstown: 139 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 435-1607 Website Email Willis Monie Books Follow Willis Monie Books on social media: Facebook Instagram eBay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed3bf6c4-f82b-4dee-8f4d-2c52c5396c9c/02+-+Willis+Monies.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Than Baseball Despite its proximity to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Willis Monie Books is FAR more than just a baseball book store. You’ll find all of the types of books you’d expect to find in a great used book store. Americana, Theology, Art, History, Fiction (including 1000's of titles in Mystery and Science Fiction), Literary Criticisms and Biographies, Science and Natural History, Cookbooks, Cinema, Business and Economics, Music and Opera, Children's, Crime and Law, Psychology and many other categories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4765df75-edaf-4dae-82ee-23ffd70a3fe6/03+-+Historical+Building.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - History Willis Monie Books has a great Local section, too, featuring not only books by local Cooperstown authors, but also books about the rich history of Cooperstown, itself. The building where Willis Monie is located is historic in its own right, having been built in 1913, and living several lives before becoming the incredible bookstore that it is today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6186b4c3-758a-4612-9048-8abf5b2544f0/04+-+Curtis+Pride.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Curtis Pride Curtis Pride will be signing at Willis Monie Books during the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Pride played in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2006 for the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2015, he was named MLB's Ambassador For Inclusion. Curtis Pride’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd848ba3-fc11-4ac7-ba57-40ad3a819f63/04+-+Book+Fair.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair The Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair is coming to the Clark Sports Center on June 28th, from 10 am to 4 pm. Explore an extravaganza of antique and vintage books, ephemera, and maps, with all proceeds going to the Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aff4cffa-cf9b-47d0-b4e3-108db20e2f06/06+-+Cooperstown.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooperstown, New York The village of Cooperstown is pure Americana, a one-stoplight town nestled between the Adirondacks and the Catskills in Central New York. It drew its name from the family of James Fenimore Cooper – whose father, William Cooper, founded the village – whose works of literature have become American standards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a06771a-b756-4076-a765-415842696e58/07+-+Baseball.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Synonym For “Baseball” Cooperstown has become a synonym for “baseball” – thanks to a story about a Civil War general and the country’s love for a timeless game. By the last half of the 19th Century, baseball had become the National Pastime. The United States was a little more than 100 years old, and baseball had evolved with the country. But there was no definitive answer as to the birth of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db55e255-1c3a-459f-9c8f-f05aea56eef7/08+-+Spalding.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A.G. Spalding Enter the Spalding Commission, a board created by sporting goods magnate and former player A.G. Spalding to establish the genesis of baseball. And after a few years of searching, they found their answer. Albert Goodwill Spalding was a pitcher, manager, and executive in the early years of professional baseball, and the co-founder of the Spalding sporting goods company. A.G. Spalding’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b15b6183-2f08-46ce-a42d-c8b6c15c25fa/09+-+Graves+letter.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Abner Graves Abner Graves, a mining engineer, proclaimed that Abner Doubleday – a decorated Union Army officer who fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter at the start of the Civil War and later served at the Battle of Gettysburg – invented baseball in 1839 in Cooperstown. That was good enough for the Spalding Commission, which came to its conclusion in 1907. The Doubleday Myth is widely discredited among modern baseball historians. The recollections of Graves have been criticized because Graves was five years old in 1839, and 71 when he first made the Doubleday claims. Although Spalding referred to Doubleday and Graves as "playmates" in his submission of evidence to the Mills Commission, Doubleday was more than a decade older than Graves, turning 20 in 1839. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b37ed6ef-251c-4a2c-a860-c4f5a20d5437/10+-+Clark.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Stephen C. Clark Three decades later, Cooperstown philanthropist Stephen C. Clark – seeking a way to celebrate and protect the National Pastime as well as an economic engine for Cooperstown – asked National League president Ford C. Frick if he would support the establishment of a Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Clark was the youngest of the four sons of Alfred Corning Clark and Elizabeth Scriven. His grandfather, Edward Cabot Clark, had been Isaac Singer's lawyer and partner in the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Alfred Corning Clark inherited a 37.5% stake in the company, and invested the profits in New York City real estate. Alfred died in April 1896, leaving a $30,000,000 family trust to his widow and sons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e88503d-a8af-41c0-9876-638455e488c1/11+-+HOF.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Hall of Fame Stephen C. Clark’s idea was welcomed, and in 1936 the inaugural Hall of Fame class of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner was elected. Three years later, the Hall of Fame building officially opened in Cooperstown as all of baseball paused to honor what was called “Baseball’s Centennial” and as the first four Hall of Fame classes were inducted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6785353-d961-409f-91ef-e66186fd8285/12+-+Doubleday.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Abner Doubleday Time Magazine wrote: “The world will little note nor long remember what (Doubleday) did at Gettysburg, but it can never forget what he did at Cooperstown.” In the years since, The Doubleday Myth has been refuted. Doubleday himself was at West Point in 1839. Yet The Myth has become strong enough that the facts alone do not deter the spirit of Cooperstown. Abner Doubleday’s SABR Biography “The Legendary Doubleday Game” - SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96a2c751-781f-4ac5-941b-675c7fb6c1dd/13+-+HOF+Weekend+1939+2535.89+NBL.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, surely the most well-known sports shrine in the world, continues to thrive in the town where baseball’s pulse beats the strongest. But in the years following the opening of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 1939, the Museum has become much more than just home to baseball’s biggest stars. The Hall of Fame is the keeper of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3febb103-cb4c-4507-9b0a-5251d9d989fe/14+-+Sue+McKay.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Artifacts The Hall of Fame’s collections contain more than 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts – such as bats, balls, gloves and uniforms – donated by players and fans who want to see history preserved. Here, Hall of Fame director of collections Sue MacKay accessions artifacts prior to storing them in collections. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27a2693f-130c-41bb-b69f-5ff3a25d5660/15+-+Doubleday+Ball.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Climate-Controlled The artifact collection is housed in climate-controlled rooms to protect the delicate leather, fabric and wood materials used in baseball. The Museum promises – in exchange for the donation of an artifact – to care for an item in perpetuity, which means the effects of temperature and humidity must be constantly regulated. The Museum’s first accessioned item was the “Doubleday Baseball”, seen here, which was discovered in a farmhouse in nearby Fly Creek, N.Y., in 1935 and dates to the 19th Century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e47a0f9f-3e2b-4c09-884a-51bb8790c1b3/16+-+Cy+Young.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cy Young Then in 1937, Cy Young – elected to the Hall of Fame that year in the second year of voting – generously donated several artifacts, including the 1908 ball from his 500th win and the uniform he wore with the Boston Braves. Young wore this uniform during his six-week stint with the Boston Braves at the start of the 1912 season. Young was unable to get his 45-year-old arm into shape and he retired at the end of May, having never been called into a game that year. Nevertheless, Young’s donations generated new offers from other players, as well as fans. Cy Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9396e3a-5367-468c-a176-b10dcdf5fffe/17+-+HOF+Game.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall of Fame Game Thousands of fans attended the opening of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 1939. That same year, another Cooperstown tradition was started with the launch of the annual Hall of Fame Game, which, for 70 years, was an annual celebration of the game as two Major League Baseball teams played an annual exhibition contest at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Here, Babe Ruth pinch-hits during the first Hall of Fame Game in 1939. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e069f7d-a471-4ec3-921f-66bdeede7ff4/18+-+Doubleday+Field.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Doubleday Field Doubleday Field dates back to 1920, and the first grandstand was built in 1924. Thanks to Works Progress Administration money during the Great Depression, the field was expanded again in 1934. Here, a game takes place in 1919 on the land where Doubleday Field would eventually be built. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac396f23-f2f7-4b59-805c-415babe141dd/19+-+Green+Light+Letter.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “Green Light Letter” The A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center is also part of the Museum experience, and the Center’s Library contains more than three million documents on the history of baseball, ranging from reference books to the “Green Light Letter” sent by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in January of 1942, urging Landis to keep baseball going during World War II. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48f93960-3c4b-42d1-85d1-4a355996cfd2/20+-+Giamatti+Research+Center.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center As an educational institution, the Museum offers outreach programs for audiences of all ages. Through virtual classroom technology, Cooperstown is transported to schools across the country with videoconference lessons featuring any one of 16 learning modules. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1896f696-5922-474a-9f2f-e13d7073f228/21+-+archives.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Statistics The Hall of Fame welcomes 250,000 visitors annually and the Museum’s collections contain more 200,000 baseball cards, 250,000 historic baseball photographs and images, and 14,000 hours of original audio and video recordings. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a252c6fd-28a3-4196-b31c-2eb5ab89a2c2/22+-+Josh+HOF+outside.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh Rawitch Josh Rawitch is in his fifth year as President of the Hall of Fame, and his 31st season working in baseball. He oversees the daily operation of the nonprofit, educational institution, which employs nearly 100 full-time staff members with the mission to preserve history, honor excellence, and connect generations. Josh was honored with the 2018 Robert O. Fishel Award which goes to the “active, non-uniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards” of the longtime baseball PR executive for which it is named. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/226f94a6-44b7-41df-b939-b3ea2918a53d/23+-+Earthquake.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Northridge, CA Interstate 10 split and collapsed over La Cienega Boulevard following the Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1994. Lasting approximately 8 seconds, it was the largest earthquake in the area since 1971. Fifty-seven people died and more than 9,000 were injured. (Photo courtesy of Eric Draper / Associated Press) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4e1105-b2f0-47c6-9813-14f80563e4f1/24+-+earthquake+kids.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Earthquake Kids The Northridge City Little League players, who had become known as “The Earthquake Kids,” were honored with a ticker-tape parade on Disneyland’s Main Street after their run to the 1994 Little League World Series championship game. (Photo courtesy of Kari Rene Hall/The Los Angeles Times) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dd96fce-d247-4d48-93c4-88caadbb46b8/25+-+Little+League.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Record-Holder Josh holds the Northridge Little League record for most consecutive home runs … allowed as a pitcher. He gave up four home runs in a row, but hey, a record’s a record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d842652-cf70-4dba-97fa-8208543c13bd/26+-+Vander+Meer.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Records That Will Never Be Broken One of the evergreen topics of conversation among baseball fans is “what record will never be broken?” and while there are many which I think are far beyond reach, one I feel very confident will never be broken is Johnny Vander Meer’s two consecutive no-hitters. It is possible that someone comes along one day and replicates the feat, but I sincerely doubt anyone ever breaks the record by throwing three consecutive. Johnny Vander Meer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb509f9-7c66-48af-876a-4c5da872353b/27+-+Espy.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cecil Espy Josh was a Dodgers fan growing up, and the first game he remembers attending was down the stretch in 1983 at Dodger Stadium. Cecil Espy played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds in 1983 and from 1987–1993. He made a great catch in the outfield during the first game Josh attended, which was most likely October 1, 1983 against the Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c873e8c-9183-484d-9a25-b533283118dc/28+-+Sax.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Steve Sax Steve Sax was a second baseman from 1981 to 1994, most known for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he won world championships in 1981 and 1988. Most importantly, though, he was Josh’s favorite player growing up. A five-time All-Star, Sax was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1982 and won the Silver Slugger Award in 1986. He also played for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and the Oakland Athletics. Steve Sax’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bf1cce5-ea80-4639-a15e-9b5f8192122b/29+-+Cards.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cards Started It All Josh’s Uncle Marvin lived in Boston and had a massive baseball card collection. When Josh was 7 years old, he got a pack of 1983 Fleer cards in the mail from his uncle. Josh remembers seeing the cards of Mike Ramsey and Jerry Martin, and he just became addicted to opening packs. Josh and his brother became big card collectors during the Junk Wax Era, paying attention to the cards’ values in Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide. Mike Ramsey’s 1983 Fleer card Jerry Martin’s 1983 Fleer card https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19885707-786a-49f3-afa1-1e72ba20c31b/30+-+Vin+and+young+Josh.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Vin Scully Josh grew up listening to Vin Scully call the games of his favorite team. Whether he realized it at the time or not, that surely played a big part in Josh wanting to go into broadcasting when he was in high school and college. Vin Scully’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a1b46ae-cf43-4e6b-9fc3-5d8d460379f1/31+-+Vin+Scully.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 131 Years From 1886 when Connie Mack’s playing career began, until 2016 when Vin Scully’s broadcasting career ended, either Mack or Scully were involved in every single Major League season for a 131 year stretch. For daily facts like the one you see here, follow My Baseball History on your preferred social media platform: Facebook Instagram Bluesky Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23d2d4a6-ac3a-4079-8629-4982a5dc747d/32+-+Frick.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ford C. Frick Award The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball". The award was created in 1978, and named in tribute to former commissioner Ford C. Frick following his death that year. Prior to his career as an executive, Frick was a baseball writer and occasional broadcaster; he gained fame as a ghostwriter for Babe Ruth in the 1920s. Recipients of the award are not members of the Hall of Fame—they are not "inducted" or "enshrined", they are not "Hall of Fame broadcasters", and there is no "broadcasters' wing" of the Hall of Fame—they are officially "honorees." The award is given at a separate ceremony from the induction ceremony on Hall of Fame weekend. As with recipients of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award for baseball writing, the honorees are permanently recognized in a "Scribes & Mikemen" exhibit in the HOF's library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4487ac5d-eac0-40a5-860d-a2fe391aaece/33+-+Indiana.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Indiana University One of Josh’s broadcasting professors at Indiana University told him to send his resume to his hometown team, and that led to Josh working for the Dodgers for about 15 years. Josh’s advice to anyone in college now who wants to get involved in sports: “If you’re lucky enough to be at a school with an athletic department, you’ve got to find a way to get involved in it.” Get something on your resume that shows you want to work in sports, that you’re not just a sports fan who won your fantasy league or that you’re into baseball cards. Actually prove that you want to work in sports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b8d565c-295f-4666-ac90-a0c296755075/34+-+SIU.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Southern Illinois University I went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and was on the air at the student-run radio station, WIDB, for all four years. I called six different sports as a Saluki: men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, softball, and women’s volleyball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/112be47e-e901-4e16-8b75-73048b7b08d5/35+-+Dodgers.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Bilingual Josh took Spanish in high school like anyone else, but didn’t take it very seriously. However, after his first summer as an intern with the Dodgers, he asked Assistant GM Robert Schweppe, “If I want to be a GM one day, what should I go do to improve my chances?” Robert told him to learn Spanish, and said it would be a very valuable skill to have. When he went back to IU for his sophomore year, Josh took Spanish again, but took it seriously this time. It changed his life forever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7e46973-ccaf-4737-be66-ed3042c2930a/36+-+South+America.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Travel On October 23, 2001, Josh landed in Rio de Janeiro to start the trip of a lifetime, backpacking South America for 3 1/2 months. Josh says he can’t encourage young people enough to travel cheaply & be open to new adventures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/518262ff-bc4d-4858-b844-ac7a7b3aad13/37+-+Venezuela.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Caribbean Series Josh took this photo when the Tomateros de Culiacán (Mexico) won the championship game of the Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela back in February of 2002. The Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) is an annual club tournament contested by professional baseball teams in Latin America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bee37d3-74d3-46dd-8b68-f14cabe4a353/38+-++Ohtani.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Huge Advantage While Josh doesn’t think it’s a necessity to be bilingual, it’s certainly a huge advantage if you want to work in baseball. It seems like either Spanish or Japanese are the foreign languages of the future in MLB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/686bec0c-056f-46f1-834e-00f4e9f23403/39+-+Diamondbacks+academy.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dominican Republic The Diamondbacks asked Josh if he would emcee the opening of their academy at the Las Américas Complex in the Dominican Republic in November of 2024. Without being able to communicate in Spanish, Josh wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity, or many of the others he’s been lucky enough to have in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a02897c-afb8-4fde-afd0-7ada84015e60/40+-+Piazza.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - May 18, 1998 Josh’s first day on the job with the Dodgers was May 18, 1998, just a few days after the team had traded away the face of their franchise, Mike Piazza. Not only was Piazza the face of the Dodgers, he was the face of Los Angeles. One of Josh’s first duties was to drive around Los Angeles, taking Mike Piazza’s face and likeness down from all of the billboards, bus shelters, and buildings. The trade was made by studio executives from the media company that bought the club from the O’Malley family, without the knowledge or input of soon-to-be-former general manager Fred Claire. On May 22, just eight days after trading for Piazza, the Marlins dealt him to the New York Mets for three prospects, a move which would change the trajectory of Piazza’s career, and of both franchises. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecf77d34-2c90-418b-8a85-733eefb92073/41+-+HOF+Plaque.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mike Piazza Mike Piazza played 16 seasons, from 1992 to 2007, most notably for the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, while also having brief stints with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. A 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher, he produced strong offensive numbers at his position. In his career, he recorded 427 home runs—a record 396 of which were hit as catcher—along with a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBI. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Mike Piazza’s SABR Biography Mike Piazza’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78cdd62c-5cd7-4275-b4ea-0a673943790c/42+-+Marlins.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Marlins Trade(s) On May 15, 1998, the Dodgers traded Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Marlins in return for Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Manuel Barrios, and Jim Eisenreich. On May 22, the Marlins traded Piazza to the New York Mets for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz. Todd Zeile’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2910c5ed-0cf6-4868-81f8-dd690f8b4be4/43+-+Dodgers.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dodgers Career Josh worked for the Dodgers during kind of a tumultuous stretch in their history. It was a transitional phase for the franchise, with the team having four different owners and ownership groups over the course of his time there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f08301c1-652b-4e88-813f-ef7af0f8a9db/44+-+Lasorda.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tommy Lasorda In his 21 seasons as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda’s club finished 4th or worse seven different times. They finished with a .500 or worse record seven different times, as well. But the team stuck with him because they believed in his vision, and in the effect he had on the team. That loyalty paid off with four National League pennants and two World Series titles. Tommy Lasorda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94a1b5b9-bbd0-46e8-bf65-5999a6b27ffb/45+-+Joe+Torre+2008+at+Great+Wall.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2008 in Beijing Josh vividly remembers a conversation he had with Joe Torre, Frank McCourt, and Jamie McCourt while on a trip to China in 2008 about the importance of continuity and stability in a franchise. It’s one of the things that made Joe Torre’s tenure as Yankees manager such a success, and one they hoped to replicate with him at the helm in Los Angeles. Joe Torre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96c6c1d4-836f-4b0b-bf0a-a627e910933e/46+-+Managers.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Managerial Turnover After Tommy Lasorda retired, the Dodgers had a hard time finding a manager to fill his shoes. Bill Russell Glenn Hoffman Davey Johnson Jim Tracy Grady Little Joe Torre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cb0e9cd-c207-4113-8554-08ef27dc71d6/47+-+Dan+Evans.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dan Evans Dan Evans started as an intern with the Chicago White Sox while a junior at DePaul University and was eventually promoted to Assistant GM. After almost 20 years, Evans resigned from the White Sox following the 2000 season. During his tenure, he was responsible for drafting or acquiring future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, Tom Seaver, Robin Ventura, Paul Konerko, and Bo Jackson, among others. Evans then became the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001 to 2004, during which they ended a seven-year postseason drought. Among the players drafted under Evans were all-stars Matt Kemp and Russell Martin. Evans also signed Hall of Famer Fred McGriff. Evans is currently the president of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Board of Directors, with his term beginning in June of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c95863c2-197c-4a0b-a819-3d15d2c0ce97/48+-+mlb+website.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out This is what MLB.com looked like on November 25, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/566e63ef-c9c4-491e-9cd1-12b33db0718d/49+-+Diamondbacks.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Diamondbacks Josh worked as a beat reporter for MLB Advanced Media (aka mlb.com), and helped make the transition from every team having and running their own website, to MLB running the websites for each team under a cohesive brand, look, and feel. After that, Josh went back to the Dodgers for a bit, working as the Vice President of Communications. Then, he worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks for about a decade, including as their Senior Vice President of Content and Communications. Here is Josh with longtime Diamondbacks broadcaster Greg Schulte in Cooperstown. Greg donated the headset he wore during the 2023 World Series, and also his scorebook from 2001, including the historic Game 7 walkoff by Luis Gonzalez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1e353ba-778a-4224-810b-a57913c5ce4d/50+-+Ken+Kendrick%2C+Randy+Johnson%2C+Derrick+Hall+and+Luis+Gonzalez.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Left to right: National Baseball Hall of Fame Board Member Ken Kendrick, Randy Johnson, Josh Rawitch, Derrick Hall and Luis Gonzalez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec086b18-7197-4862-86f2-8d3bde7b6494/51+-+Greinke.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “On What Charges?” When Josh walked into the office the morning Arizona signed Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall essentially told him “sit down, shut up, and just watch what happens throughout the course of today.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52222b38-acb7-4047-adb0-9c09b8716bec/52+-+passport.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Passport Another good piece of advice is to have a valid and active passport, because you never know what opportunities may come your way when people know you’re willing and able to travel internationally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22e5d597-0cb4-499e-9608-b727a0e926c9/53+-+Team+Israel.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - World Baseball Classic Josh has served as the Venue Press Chief for multiple World Baseball Classics. This moment in Seoul, South Korea during the 2017 World Baseball Classic sticks in Josh’s mind as one of the most memorable he’s ever been a part of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d85a377-8f50-41b1-a120-ee5d204776b3/54+-+Bobby+Knight.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Coach Bobby Knight While Josh was in Arizona, he was an adjunct professor at the Walter Cronkite School Of Journalism at Arizona State University, where he taught sports communication. When he was at Indiana University as a student, he took a class called The Technique of Coaching Basketball, which was taught by legendary IU basketball coach Bobby Knight. While this lesson isn’t quite the same as the one Coach Knight taught his class about motivation, it’s still one worth listening to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e5f6270-d7cc-4667-8d74-4ca2b7efcb29/55+-+Larussa.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tony and Bobby When Josh was with the Diamondbacks, Tony Larussa was in the front office. He brought in Coach Knight, who was actually a big baseball fan, to speak to the team. Coach Knight was also close friends and fly fishing buddies with Ted Williams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35053f10-a943-48bd-8136-0e28f10e9dc6/56+-+Torre.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Joe Torre Baseball Camp Josh attended Joe Torre baseball camp as a kid. Josh’s counselor/coach at the camp was comedian Brody Stevens. It feels like serendipity that, years later, Josh would up working with Joe Torre when he became manager of the Dodgers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac135556-92e7-4846-ac46-cf9dfa509f6a/57+-+Roberts.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dave Roberts After only five Negro League managers who have higher winning percentages, Dave Roberts is the winningest manager in the history of Major League Baseball. Here is Josh with Dave Roberts (center) and Scott Akasaki, who is serving as an Exhibit Ambassador for Yakyu | Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/044f27c9-de19-43ff-84d3-f997827a68a6/58+-+2003+with+Dodgers+in+Arizona.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Social Media The 2003 Dodgers opened in Arizona with Hall of Famers Fred McGriff, Rickey Henderson, and Adrián Beltré on their roster, four future managers in Robin Ventura, Dave Roberts, Cody Ross, and Álex Cora, an NFL All-Pro in Brian Jordan, and lots of good dudes. Josh would know, because he’s standing in the doorway in this picture with the team. Imagine the content we could have gotten if the guys in this room had social media back then. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68109a5b-cd2f-48da-b30d-3273bd8155a3/59+-+Interviewed+one+year+ago.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - HOF President Josh came to Cooperstown for his interview on May 10, 2021, he was announced as the new President of the Hall of Fame in June of that year, and assumed the role officially in September. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16e220bb-6f48-453c-a486-174484716c07/60+-+Josh+HOF.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Not His Job While Josh is the face of the institution, he is not in charge of selecting who gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, and has no say in the voting process. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart, Jr. / the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e2380e2-64fc-4789-bc31-90452f988471/61+-+staff.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - And Other Duties As Assigned The actual administration of the Hall of Fame is a big part of Josh’s job, but curation, archives, library, dealing with Hall of Famers, dealing with big announcements, thinking about Hall of Fame Induction Weekend and everything that goes into that are things most people don’t consider when they ask Josh what he does. Josh is in charge of running a 100+ person institution, which means meetings, strategic planning, trying to think about what the future looks like, as well as fundraising because they’re an independent nonprofit organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7923ee26-e1ba-4ab2-8d56-7d0a4bf3add4/62+-+women+in+baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Women In Baseball While Commissioner Manfred sits on the Board of Directors at the Hall of Fame, and the Hall likes to work in conjunction with Major League Baseball, they are two entirely separate entities. Major League Baseball is an incredible partner to the Hall of Fame, but MLB does not own or fund the Hall in any way. The Hall is a completely independent nonprofit organization, which allows them to dictate their own exhibits and displays, such as their Diamond Dreams: Women In Baseball exhibit, seen here, and “¡Viva Baseball!,” which focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing countries of Latin America: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ac6fc83-3655-4cb7-81d7-fe1c31080e09/63+-+latin+baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ad86d58-ee9c-4052-a815-9619804316ed/64+-+yakyu+baseball.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Yakyu Baseball Baseball in the United States and yakyu in Japan exist, and in fact prosper, as a result of the emergence of transpacific systems of exchange between the two countries over the past 150 years. The new exhibit, set to open in July of 2025, will explore the wide-ranging exchange of baseball between Japan and the United States from the Meiji era to today and the transpacific circulation of baseball concepts, styles of play, fan experiences, equipment, and people that shaped the shared culture of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72a26a32-ddbc-4149-877e-29703c1366a1/65+-+make+a+donation.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make A Donation Before there was a competing American League to eventually play a World Series against, the two best teams in the National League competed for the Temple Cup from 1894 to 1897. Pictured here is the actual Temple Cup, which is on display at the HOF. If you want to help preserve the history of the game, now is a great time to make a donation to the Hall of Fame. If that’s something you’re interested in doing, you can do so HERE. If you would like to show your support by becoming a member of the Hall of Fame, you can do that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a323a76-7a51-476f-9b97-407928a5bf6e/66+-+2001+visit+to+HOF+with+his+dad.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh’s First Visit Josh first visited the Hall of Fame in 2001 with his dad. They both loved it, but neither of them could ever have imagined that one day, Josh would be in charge of running it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e7ecb2d-b2ca-4a4b-9d9c-bb38376460c4/67+-+Larussa+Torre.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2014 Visit Josh intended to come back to Cooperstown in 2014 in advance of Joe Torre’s induction to get a lay of the land for the following year when Randy Johnson was going to be inducted, just to see how the whole process went and what the weekend looked like. Josh made that trip with Tony Larussa, who the Diamondbacks had just hired as their Chief Baseball Officer, as well as with Joe Torre. Here are Tony and Joe with two-time Sporting News Executive of the Year Roland Hemond, who is credited with the original idea for the Arizona Fall League. Roland Hemond’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ccc8c6-1e96-4a7c-a956-6d347c7a6ff0/68+-+HOF+induction+on+stage.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Induction Weekend Josh’s view (from the stage) during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is pretty great. Here is what he saw during Jim Leyland’s speech in 2024. Jim Leyland’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6258b538-72aa-4df0-a431-b74279d56600/68.5+-+1939+signage.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - June 12, 1939 If Josh had a time machine and could attend any Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in history, he’d love to go back to the first one ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c7c3cf0-91bc-4261-bb63-8b9b59ba0abc/69+-+First+induction+ceremony.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - First Induction Ceremony The world learned on February 2, 1936, that Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. All of the Hall of Fame's living members (except Ty Cobb) sat for a photograph on June 12, 1939 in Cooperstown during the inaugural Induction Ceremony, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7567550e-a0d6-4715-aa50-bc416567df4b/70+-+Jackie.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jackie Robinson If Josh couldn’t be at the first ever Induction Ceremony, his next pick would be to go to the July 23, 1962 Induction Ceremony so he could watch Jackie Robinson give his speech. During his speech, Jackie said: “I want to thank all of the people throughout this country who were just so wonderful during those trying days. I appreciate it at no end and it’s the greatest honor any person could have and I only hope that I’ll be able to live up to this tremendously fine honor.” Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5693dcd8-738c-4d26-856f-aeffdbf402eb/71+-+Cooper+Park.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooper Park The Class of 1966 featured the induction of Casey Stengel and Ted Williams and marked the move of the Induction Ceremony from Main Street to Cooper Park. In the early 1990s, the induction ceremony was moved to The Clark Sports Center to accommodate larger crowds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74561d27-62f2-4ca8-9dad-6d6bbae34c26/72+-+Idelson.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jeff Idelson Jeff Idelson joined the Baseball Hall of Fame on September 26, 1994, as director of public relations and promotions. He was named as the organization's vice president of communications and education in 1999, a role that includes overseeing the Hall of Fame elections and awards, communications, community and media relations, publications, public programs, promotions, advertising, and artifact acquisition. He also oversaw the museum's college internship program and education department. He was named President of the Hall of Fame on April 16, 2008, replacing Dale Petroskey. After his successor Tim Mead stepped down in May 2021, he returned as "interim president" through the 2021 induction ceremony on September 8 of that year. Along with Jean Fruth, Idelson is also the co-founder of Grassroots Baseball, a 501(c)3 celebrating the amateur game around the globe and inspiring more children to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d9d673a-1a20-4b14-a30d-bdf76dd5373f/73+-+Souls+of+the+Game.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball spotlights the decades-long history of Black baseball prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95ef3ad1-5001-4619-ac8f-938200bd5e4c/74+-+Savannah+Bananas.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Savannah Bananas “We are so excited to welcome the Savannah Bananas here to Cooperstown, New York, the last stop on their nationwide tour,” Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. “And we feel there’s no better place to be than right here at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, to be able to be at the opening of this great exhibit, which really celebrates the phenomenon – the fabulous phenomenon – that has been created by Jesse Cole and his team.” The Bananas played at Doubleday Field on September 16, 2023, to a sold out crowd (of course). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d626638f-788b-483e-b560-24e5be56cfce/75+-+handling+artifacts.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Handling Artifacts Because Josh didn’t come from a museum background before being named President of the Hall of Fame, he was surprised to learn about the amount of thought and care that goes into handling, storing, moving, displaying, and preserving the artifacts. Here he is very carefully holding the cap Babe Ruth wore as a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57c884bf-b5c8-493d-8a9f-096c31d52b85/76+-+HOFers.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall of Famers It’s Josh’s job to interact with Hall of Famers basically every day. Sometimes he has to take a step back to realize how insane that is, that he has become friends with the people who are idolized by millions (including himself). Here he is with Hall of Famer Jim Thome. Jim Thome’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f42c330b-0c8f-4532-bc3e-50e94128d54a/77+-+Sale.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Chris Sale Chris Sale stopped at the Hall of Fame during the All-Star Break in 2023 with his son’s youth team. They got to see several artifacts that Chris donated over the years. Sale is an 8-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award winner, and a World Series champion. He has won an ERA Title, a Cy Young Award, and pitching’s Triple Crown. On May 25, 2025, Sale recorded his 2,500th career strikeout, reaching the milestone faster than any other pitcher in MLB history. It took him just 2,026 innings, breaking the previous record of 2,107⅔ innings held by Randy Johnson. There’s a very good chance Chris ends up with a plaque in Cooperstown one day, which he can eventually visit along with all of the items he’s donated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea54ba47-4be3-4e73-b2fc-57657f2f43e0/78+-+CC.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - CC Sabathia CC Sabathia visited the Hall of Fame for the first time on July 31, 2022 with his son’s team. Josh got to show them CC’s cleats from the first game ever at New Yankee Stadium. Sabathia was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025 following a 19-year career which saw the left-hander win 251 games and strike out 3,093 batters. CC is one of only 19 pitchers ever to strike out more than 3,000 batters in a career. CC Sabathia’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d812963e-f90f-4b5a-977f-8f71f126ebb3/80+-+Ichiro.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ichiro Ichiro Suzuki visited the Hall of Fame seven times during his playing career, by far more than any other player during their career. He truly loves and respects the history of the game, especially the great hitters in baseball’s rich history. After totaling 420 hits from 2002-03, Ichiro broke George Sisler’s longstanding MLB record of 257 hits in 2004, topping the mark by five. Here he is, standing in front of Sisler’s Hall of Fame plaque. George Sisler’s SABR Biography (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50435c7d-6141-49e3-9c8c-5e081006186c/79+-+Ichiro.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Ichiro Ichiro accumulated 3,089 hits, 509 stolen bases, and 10 Gold Glove Awards despite not appearing in a big league game until he was 27 years old. His 10 years with 200-or-more hits tied the MLB mark, and those 10 seasons came consecutively, setting another MLB record. The Hall of Fame has many items donated by Ichiro, who is honored to have the Hall care for his artifacts. Ichiro’s SABR Biography (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f77f825-f2a2-45e7-83a9-4e828dabf44c/81+-+Mickey.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mickey Mantle Mickey Mantle (left) and Whitey Ford (right) were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. The Class of 1974 also included Cool Papa Bell, Jim Bottomley, Jocko Conlan, and Sam Thompson. During Mickey’s playing career, he earned a total of $1.2 million from his Yankees contracts. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography Tom Catal, a Cooperstown mainstay and Mickey Mantle’s former autograph agent, was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a404e27-0fe2-4775-a0b9-ff9b34de4101/82+-+Banda.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Anthony Banda When players like Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, and Tom Seaver donated their entire collections to the Hall of Fame years ago, it set the precedent for future players to want to donate what could otherwise be monetarily valuable items to the Hall. Josh’s personal relationship with Anthony Banda dates back to 2017 when both were part of the Diamondbacks organization. Look how excited Anthony was to know the jersey he was wearing when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 will forever live in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/516abcbf-6124-464d-9f8d-ad6451b36b55/83+-+Kelsie+Whitmore.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “Working In Baseball” When people talk about "working in baseball," they usually assume that means working for one of the teams, or maybe for a broadcasting partner. But working at the Hall of Fame is absolutely "working in baseball." Here, Josh talks in his office with Kelsie Whitmore, a member of the United States women's national baseball team who was also the first woman to be in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9230e66-dcc4-4464-a757-d14c48268d47/84+-+Life+in+Cooperstown.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Life In Cooperstown Josh’s twitter account is as much about life in Cooperstown as it is about the Hall of Fame. It makes Josh one of my favorite people to follow, because you get to see so much more than you’ll ever get to see on a trip to the Hall of Fame, and it makes you feel like you’re actually there. This photo, which he posted along with a few others on January 7, 2024, was taken by his wife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74c76a2e-d66f-40e5-85d9-a169f73c55eb/85+-+Bernardoni.JPG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the Official Historian of Wrigley Field, and has been a tour guide at the park since 1998. One of his favorite things about working at Wrigley is having the chance to be there when no one else is, and then watching the park come to life as people start to file in on a game day. Brian was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47b7f807-5c52-4f9a-9dde-a10a9ce691a5/86+-+Plaque+Gallery.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Josh has a similar feeling about the Hall of Fame’s Plaque Gallery as Brian Bernardoni has about Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28338d5c-bbec-4ca3-8071-95a3881ead02/87+-+Hallmark.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Decorated For The (Off)Season My favorite time of year to visit the Hall of Fame is during the winter, because I know that I am going to have the museum to myself, for the most part. The decorations are beautiful, and Cooperstown is scenic with the snow, but I’m there to experience the museum. To me, the best way to do that is without a bunch of other people around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f5d38eb-d0b5-4b71-8c5b-babd40e3a4b9/88+-+Hallmark.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Hallmark Movie Set Josh feels incredibly blessed to have a place like Cooperstown in America, but to live there and work there is next-level for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d306dc3-ae52-401b-b519-cd81bea015fc/89+-+Plaque+Gallery.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Top 1% There have been nearly 25,000 players in Major League history. The Hall of Fame is comprised of 351 elected members. Included are 278 former major league players, as well as 40 executives/pioneers, 23 managers and 10 umpires. Jane Forbes Clark loves the fact that the Baseball Hall of Fame holds themselves to such a high standard, whereas other halls of fame allow in more former players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb1f98cf-e51b-468a-bd98-607d396ce561/90+-+Represented.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Still Represented Just because a player doesn’t have a plaque in the Plaque Gallery, doesn’t mean they’re not represented in the museum somewhere. This allows the Hall of Fame to truly tell the story of baseball’s history, and to recognize and celebrate far more than just the Top 1% who earn the honor of getting a plaque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f217231a-de3a-4068-9d28-cb89d2cb0a81/91+-+BBWAA.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out If you’re in your local Baseball Writers’ Association of America chapter covering baseball for 10+ years, you are eligible to be a Hall of Fame voter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92d630b2-8da5-4506-88b0-a46a99cc5e99/92+-+Era+Committees.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Era Committees The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired major league players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, along with managers, umpires and executives whose greatest contributions to the game were realized either prior to 1980 or after 1980. In all its forms, the Era Committee has elected 183 individuals (117 major leaguers, 33 executives, 23 managers and 10 umpires) to the Hall of Fame. The most recent vote elected Dick Allen and Dave Parker from the candidates seen here. They will be inducted in the Class of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f8922c7-870e-4e3e-ba20-e7ae6b58c57f/93+-+Ghosts.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ghosts in the Gallery at Cooperstown I think one of the things that keeps Shoeless Joe Jackson's name in the public consciousness after all these years is that people think he belongs in the Hall and isn't in, so every year his name gets brought up as someone who is deserving of a plaque but doesn't have one. For the guys who deserved plaques and got them when they retired decades ago, there's nothing left to talk about really, and their names eventually fade away. Ghosts In The Gallery at Cooperstown: Sixteen Little-Known Members of the Hall of Fame by David Fleitz discusses this concept, that just because you're enshrined at the Hall of Fame, that's no guarantee of lasting name recognition because the sport's history stretches too far back. Eventually, someone is going to come along and break the records those first few generations set, and despite having a plaque in the gallery, some guys who are in the Hall of Fame are still going to largely be forgotten. You can buy David Fleitz’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/352af7e7-915c-4966-a0e5-1fa5260a2aa2/94+-+HOFers.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out While inner-circle Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Henry Aaron, and Willie Mays may have many items on display and in the archives of the Hall, there isn’t necessarily a focus on trying to have every single HOFer represented by an artifact on the floor of the museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04b011cf-69cc-4240-b960-d1f94a122098/95+-+Shoeless+Joe.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - No Plaque? No Problem. Just because players like Shoeless Joe Jackson or Barry Bonds might not have plaques in the Hall of Fame, their pictures, their artifacts, and their stories are all over this museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa951cd6-7d32-444d-adc8-077ac6c3e5bf/95.5+-+Bonds.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6296af59-eed7-4c00-a880-6dd615657505/97+-+Henry+Aaron.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron Josh thinks Henry Aaron is the player who is most represented on the floor of the museum since he donated his entire collection to the Hall of Fame. The uniform he was wearing when he hit career home run #715 to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record is on display, as well as a number of the home run balls he hit during the chase. An entire exhibit, called Chasing The Dream, is dedicated to Henry Aaron’s life and career, including trophies and awards he won, bats he used, and even items from his boyhood home. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac1ed899-0e72-4ee3-93bb-49d9f8dd6fa5/96+-+Henry+Aaron.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7490f100-e6b2-4932-a16d-695992647389/98+-+Babe.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Ruth Babe Ruth is probably represented the next most, after Henry Aaron. While Aaron’s gallery is full of the actual artifacts, many of the items in Ruth’s gallery are faux newspaper articles or facsimiles of original artifacts which may be too old or fragile to be on display. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab144c45-fd31-4d9a-be07-a6c4aae70a38/99+-+Statue.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron Statue On May 23, 2024, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum debuted a new Henry Aaron statue, ensuring that his lifetime of heroics on and off the field is celebrated for all time. The bronze representation of Aaron – 76 inches tall and weighing about 650 pounds – is titled “Keep Swinging” and is located on the first floor of the Museum near the base of the Grand Staircase. The inscription, which is a quote from Aaron, reads: “As long as there’s a chance that maybe I can hammer out a little justice now and then, or a little opportunity here and there, I intend do to as I always have – keep swinging.” Fourteen Hall of Famers were on hand to mark the dedication of the statue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dabe2e84-e304-45d9-ae41-0358d0cc2caa/100+-+Souls+of+the+Game.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2714e78a-5091-4ccf-a96d-b9ae9adfee8e/101+-+One+For+The+Books.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41695329-131a-4496-bca6-69f1914f5202/100+-+digital+displays.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Digital Displays Having digital displays for things like single-season and all-time records makes it much easier (and much more cost-effective) for the Hall of Fame to update displays when records are broken. Instead of having to retype, reformat, reprint, and rehang new placards, a simple script automatically updates any new statistics on its own, ensuring that every display is always up-to-date. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec298d80-94f5-45dc-9686-387961b24c21/103+-+Willie+Mays.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Updating Plaques Unless there is an egregious error, the Hall of Fame usually doesn’t update plaques. Now that Negro League statistics have been incorporated into the Major League record books, Willie Mays’ career hit total has increased by 10 compared to when his HOF plaque was created. That means his plaque is just always going to have the wrong number of hits on it now, which is unfortunate but understandable. According to researcher Ted Chastain, at least 17 original plaques have been replaced over the years by altered versions (with changes to the likeness, name or text), including one that’s been changed at least twice (Ted Williams), and another that’s been changed at least three times (Bob Feller). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e217177-eae0-4164-9111-edf751c0f970/104+-+facsimiles.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Impossible To Display It All There are about 40,000 artifacts in the Hall of Fame’s collection. About 10% of those are above ground, meaning roughly 4,000 are on display and 36,000 are not. It’s great to know that so much baseball history is preserved, but it’s a shame that so much of it is unseen. Even a large number of the things on display within the museum – primarily when it comes to ephemera – aren’t the actual items. They’re facsimiles that have been reproduced from the originals which are in the archives. The rule of thumb is that for every year something is on display, it needs to “rest” for three years, away from the light. The Hall of Fame rotates their artifacts to keep them safely preserved in perpetuity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47533ae5-4c25-483a-850e-117c7432f25d/105+-+HOF+vintage+set+up.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Old Photos Of The Hall I have a small collection of photos of the Hall of Fame, and it's very interesting to go back and look at what the interior used to look like, how things were set up, and what pieces were on display from decades past. It seems like for the first few decades, the museum was solely "here are artifacts from the retired greats of the game, or players who have passed away" and "here, we recognize and honor the great teams from years gone by." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39376a38-89ac-4ae9-af5a-1c908010711f/106+-+current.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Modern Times, Modern Artifacts Of course the Hall of Fame still has an enormous amount of space dedicated to those types of things, but it seems like in recent years, there is much more attention paid to current players and amazing feats, like having the glove of a pitcher who recently threw a no-hitter, or the bat from a player who recently hit for the cycle, even if those players aren't necessarily on a Hall of Fame trajectory for their career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e51ccde6-92a2-4b15-b2cb-dee52ea857e8/107+-+Sasaki.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Roki Sasaki A ball Roki Sasaki used to pitch a 19-strikeout perfect game for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2022 will be included in the Museum’s upcoming Yakyu | Baseball exhibit. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a4f7f65-23cd-4c6f-a42f-46a2292d7ede/108+-+Doubleday+Myth.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Doubleday Myth I think the Hall does a good job now of addressing the Doubleday Myth and acknowledging that it has been debunked. While the field in Cooperstown is still called Doubleday, I think it's fair to say that the Hall is definitely no longer claiming Abner Doubleday invented baseball, or hitching their wagon to his name or the stories associated with him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717a29fe-bf21-4fc9-98a9-9cef0709d8d4/109+-+Doubleday+Fog.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Spiritual Home of Baseball But now here we are, 85 years after the first induction ceremony, and despite the original placement of the Hall of Fame being in Cooperstown under false pretenses, there is now nearly a century of legitimate history right here in town. Josh likes to call Cooperstown “the spiritual home of baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e43e7fd5-8d35-4248-9c48-ae0a2a4edc50/110+-+HOF+Weekend+1939+Centennial+plaque+4022.68WT+NBL.jpg.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Updated Signage The Village of Cooperstown has removed old signage like this plaque, which was unveiled in June of 1939, touting Abner Doubleday as the “inventor of baseball.” Now, those types of signs are gone, with some of them even having been replaced with signage addressing the fact that the Doubleday Myth has been debunked. There are a couple great books which detail the origins of baseball: How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed by Thomas W. Gilbert Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Secret History of the Early Game by John Thorn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f38a437-8a45-4bd3-ab7d-69696b4feeca/111+-+Cabrera.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Acquiring New Artifacts Miguel Cabrera presented the helmet he wore when he hit his 500th career home run to Josh Rawitch (left) and Jon Shestakofsky of the Hall of Fame on September 24, 2021 in Detroit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5b92fc4-9de0-40f5-90fc-87899b54367f/112+-+Pearls.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Joc Pederson’s Pearls Joc Pederson, who launched two pinch-hit home runs in the National League Division Series and added another homer in the NLCS, turned a fashion statement into a rally symbol for Braves fans throughout the team’s march to the 2021 World Series title. Following the Braves victory parade in Atlanta on November 5, Pederson donated his pearl necklace to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87b251cf-67ee-4039-b00e-a25be9d2f229/113+-+White+Sox.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5e7b198-9e18-44da-bf2f-843cb7988d67/114+-+White+Sox.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - White Sox The White Sox have thrown a total of 20 no-hitters in their franchise’s history, which is the most by any American League team. They also have three perfect games, which is second-most in MLB behind the Yankees. The first White Sox no-hitter was thrown by Nixey Callahan on September 20, 1902. The most unlikely was a perfect game thrown by Philip Humber on April 21, 2012. A former top prospect with the Mets, Humber never quite lived up to the hype of being the No. 3 overall Draft pick in 2004. But almost eight years later, he achieved greatness, throwing the third perfect game in White Sox history and 21st overall in MLB. Additionally, Humber accomplished the feat with just 96 pitches, the first perfecto to be under 100 pitches since David Cone’s in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d85fa462-5fcc-4301-8418-3e9a898c0bb2/115+-+Buehrle.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Mark Buehrle wore this cap, preserved in the Museum’s collection, when he threw his first no-hitter in a crisp two hours and three minutes on April 18, 2007. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62f633ac-4911-4a22-bc7e-dfe1f050ad97/116+-+Wise.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - DeWayne Wise’s Glove The Glove that DeWayne Wise used to rob Gabe Kapler of a home run, preserving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23, 2009, is in the Hall of Fame’s collection. Mark Buehrle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2ff75c8-c171-4cfe-9622-876f87a95c34/117+-+HOF+Induction+Weekend.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Induction Weekend Josh thinks every baseball fan should experience a Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in person at least once in their life. Here he is with Director of A/V services Bruce Brodersen, who retired in 2024 after 35 years at the Hall of Fame. Bruce started just days before the 1989 Induction when it was still held in Cooper Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/288d6e19-7bff-495a-ab84-c906b058d2ce/118+-+Fall.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Fall in Cooperstown I mean, come on. How can you not love this? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a66fe9b2-c196-438f-b019-c15d52ba894e/119+-+Winter.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Winter in Cooperstown Like I mentioned earlier, winter is my favorite time to visit the Hall of Fame. It may not be the prettiest or best time to visit Cooperstown, but I’ll take that trade off to have the Hall nearly completely to myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7c342e6-09ba-41fc-b27c-0dd228cd58d3/120+-+HOF.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Okay, so when is really the best time to visit Cooperstown and go to the Hall of Fame? Josh says “as soon as you can!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9476597a-9266-460d-99ec-a251a726609a/121+-+Ted+Williams.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Living Up To The Expectations It’s not often that you wait your whole life to do something, and then when you finally do it, it not only lives up to the expectations you’ve built up all those years, but it exceeds them. But that’s what the Hall of Fame does. Josh says you should take making a trip to Cooperstown off your “Bucket List” and add it to your “To Do List.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c56688ed-03d8-4609-a985-82c0d34c33dc/122+-+The+Politics+of+Glory.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Politics of Glory Bill James gives an often harsh critique of the operation of the Baseball Hall of Fame in his book, The Politics of Glory: How Baseball's Hall of Fame Really Works. After colorfully relating the shrine's history with both praise and scorn, James attacks the voting procedures, especially in the case of the Veterans Committee, which in the institution's early years filled the roster with friends and teammates. Along with his own choices regarding who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and who does not, James offers "better" methods for future selection. Buy The Politics of Glory: How Baseball's Hall of Fame Really Works by Bill James HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca8dba50-89d8-4df0-947c-01744cafb1dc/123+-+HOF+logo.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Follow The National Baseball Hall Of Fame Online Website Facebook Twitter Bluesky Instagram YouTube TikTok email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d75a5bbf-f6bb-42fb-b4bc-c0fb12168669/124+-+Become+A+Member.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Become A Member 25 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-7200 There are tons of perks of being a member, no matter which tier you select. But most importantly, all members get free admission for an entire year. Start planning your trips now. BECOME A MEMBER HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dba68045-4ea7-4aae-bc33-2016654ec2a9/125+-+Memories+and+Dreams.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Memories and Dreams The Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, includes in-depth profiles of Hall of Famers and regular features on the historic artifacts, photographs and documents that comprise the Museum’s unparalleled collection. The magazine also features behind-the-scenes stories of the unforgettable legends and moments from the National Pastime. Featuring some of the most respected baseball writers in the world, participants in the Museum’s Membership program receive Memories and Dreams six times a year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02c4c49f-fd97-4fff-89ab-00f03a0941e5/124+-+Josh+HOF+suit.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Follow Josh Online Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f484cd7-dd74-499e-8a86-c4286724fa86/127+-+1999+HOF+visit.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Personal Photographer My mom took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during our trip to Cooperstown when my travel team played at Dreams Park in July of 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72b3a16f-43fa-43f2-90c7-49f7945a68e3/128+-+2025+HOF+recreation.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Self-Timer I took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during my trip to Cooperstown in December of 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51f43081-6b5c-4fdf-b986-c8f129eb65e0/127.5+-+1999+Cooperstown+Dreams+Park.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out In scenic Cooperstown after a game at Dreams Park. Left to right: Jimmy Robin (CF), Dan Wallach (3B), Nolan Weick (1B) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a7fd46d-f251-4542-af4f-f37c9e099497/129+-+Black+Sox+display.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Black Sox Scandal Display While I don’t have a closeup from our 1999 trip, here are the items that were in the Black Sox Scandal display during my 2021 trip. Some items which had previously been on display were removed over the course of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c8eb0c5-6a40-4d91-9ddb-c4996022a08d/130+-+Black+Sox.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Personal Photographer (Again) My mom took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during our trip to Cooperstown in December of 2024. Notice how the displays have changed over the years, including the photos and text on the walls. Having so many of the “artifact(s) temporarily removed” during this visit was a little disappointing, but Josh told us during this interview why that needs to be done every so often. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71d4f5a0-dfac-4c98-87d2-1e4f1488e26d/130+-+Trains.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hard To Get To When people used to travel by trains, Cooperstown wasn’t hard to get to because there was a station right in town. But now that the main modes of transportation are airplane and car, Cooperstown has become slightly more difficult to visit. Think of all of the amazing ballplayers who took the train to Cooperstown over the years… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/475389fe-6de9-4ef1-a549-a0b80950ede6/132+-+Plaque.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - All By Ourselves My mom and I were able to spend as much time as we wanted in the Plaque Gallery, completely unbothered by anyone else, because we visited the Hall the week before Christmas. We never felt like we had to rush through an exhibit because we were holding up the people behind us, since there never were people behind us. It made an already magical trip even better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ed6d50a-72a9-4c4a-bd02-1ec723281c7a/133+-+Two+Full+Days.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Two Full Days If you want to know how much time you should expect to spend at the Hall to really be able to take it all in, I would suggest at least two full days. There’s just so, so much to see. If you like to read every placard, and look at every item in detail, and take lots of pictures, it’s going to take you longer - especially depending on what time of year you visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0887221-87df-42cc-bc74-8e34f2a8ee87/134+-+Rings.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out World Series gifts which winning teams have given to their players over the years. While the gifts varied in the earlier years from pins to fobs to watches, when the Giants gave their players rings after winning the 1922 World Series, every other team since then has followed suit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfd6d756-bc9e-419c-8498-c7ec904f57a2/135+-+Trophy+Balls.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Trophy Balls In the early days of baseball, it was customary for the winning team to keep the game ball as a trophy. It would often be decoratively painted with the final score of the game, the teams who played, and the date to commemorate the occasion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c90c9f94-f236-4480-8d41-3e3f78284bba/136+-+Trophy+Balls.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Trophy Balls Why did we let this tradition die?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdc93a01-fdae-4990-b4f7-7f7e57e25d11/137+-+World+Tour.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - World Tours In late October of 1888, two baseball clubs and an entourage of business managers, sportswriters, wives, and other enthusiasts of our National Pastime embarked on an extended offseason ball-playing tour. The brains and money behind the expedition was none other than Albert Spalding. After a month’s journey, the tourists arrived in Cairo, Egypt and on February 9, 1889, mounted camels and donkeys for a pilgrimage to the pyramids. There, the Chicago and All-America teams played what was assuredly the first game of baseball on the sands of the Giza Plateau. Following their game at the pyramids, the 1888-89 world tour party climbed onto the Sphinx for one of baseball’s most striking photographs. A baseball used in that historic contest, kept by tour umpire and future Hall of Famer George Wright, is inside the cubbyhole in this display. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82b63a44-b5b2-4838-bd37-81f5b16ff611/138+-+Babe+Ruth%27s+Locker.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Ruth’s Locker Babe Ruth put up monumental statistics during his playing career. But the Bambino was more than numbers – especially to those who knew him, like former teammate Joe Dugan, who once said: “To understand him you had to understand this: He wasn’t human.” Sports writer Tommy Holmes, winner of the 1979 BBWAA Career Excellence Award, was more succinct: “Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn’t believe me.” When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Babe Ruth artifacts you’ll see is his locker from The House That [He] Built … Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c91e906c-e662-4309-aec4-36749343d520/139+-+Mickey+Mantle%27s+Uniform.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mickey Mantle’s Uniform Whitey Ford called him as “a superstar who never acted like one. He was a humble man who was kind and friendly to all his teammates, even the rawest rookie. He was idolized by all the other players.” Mickey Mantle was an iconic baseball player with immense talent. His drive and love for the game pushed him past injuries and into the record books. When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Mickey Mantle artifacts you’ll see is his uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de69f29b-6994-4f89-8832-057e56fd8512/140+-+Henry+Aaron%27s+Bat.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron’s Bat Boxing legend Muhammad Ali once called Henry Aaron “The only man I idolize more than myself. ” For many, Henry Aaron was everything an athlete – and a human being – should be. Aaron grew up in humble surroundings in Mobile, Ala. He passed through the sandlots with brief stops in the Negro Leagues and the minor leagues before he settled in with the Braves, where he ultimately became one of baseball’s most iconic figures. When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Henry Aaron artifacts you’ll see is the bat he used to hit his 600th career home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b493db10-6bb6-4174-b30a-16438e8a017f/141+-+Tommy+Lasorda.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Legendary Leadership Josh has been lucky enough to have spent time around a number of amazing coaches, managers, and leaders in his life. Here he is having some fun with Tommy Lasorda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6512463e-4819-4efe-8c9f-1278d48d4255/142+-+Casey+Stengel.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Casey Stengel "Casey (Stengel) knew his baseball. He only made it look like he was fooling around. He knew every move that was ever invented and some that we haven't even caught on to yet." – Sparky Anderson Casey Stengel's 54 distinguished years in baseball spanned everything from the Dead Ball Era to Mickey Mantle’s booming home runs. Through it all, Stengel’s colorful personality and instantly quotable remarks made him one of baseball’s most beloved characters. He is also, apparently, the manager my mom wishes she could have played for. In 1965, Mets owner Joan Payson gave her box seats to Rhoda Sherbell so the artist could better capture his spirit. Sherbell then talked him into lending her his uniform and shoes, which allowed her to make this sculpture even more realistic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/befab09c-81b4-460c-96a5-eb17bd8f015a/143+-+Vin+Scully.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Voice Of Multiple Generations Josh was lucky enough to have been able to work with one of the voices of his childhood, Vin Scully, when he was with the Dodgers. The two remained friends even after Josh went to the Diamondbacks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f118e29b-ed9e-4b07-bf4f-4cba4092aad0/144+-+Frick.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a765e2ec-7a99-4457-bad0-29a5fa06839c/145+-+Gehrig.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “This Is A Way That You Can Live Forever” Lou Gehrig is among the players who made donations to the Hall of Fame of a significant amount of their artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/598d333e-7a56-4884-90ad-ed53ad17ce2b/146+-+Brooks.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brooks Robinson Known as “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” Brooks Robinson is regarded as arguably the best defensive third baseman the game has ever seen. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson recalled what it was like to watch his teammate go to work: “He was the best defensive player at any position. I used to stand in the outfield like a fan and watch him make play after play. I used to think, ‘Wow! I can’t believe this.’” Brooks is another player who made a significant donation of artifacts to the Hall of Fame. In this case, the glove he used in 1970 to author one of the greatest defensive performances in World Series history is displayed above another glove you may be familiar with. The one Willie Mays was wearing to make The Catch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2be56c10-37cc-4965-9b72-8b005c01fccb/147+-+Spanish.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Spanish Josh taking Robert Schweppe’s advice to learn Spanish was a life-altering decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab9976d-af95-42ce-a6c6-1de7a918961d/148+-+Sadaharu+Oh.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Travel Abroad In 2015, Josh had the distinct honor of meeting the legendary Sadaharu Oh on a trip to Japan. Oh, a legendary figure in Japanese baseball, holds the record for the most home runs in organized baseball history with 868. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in Japanese baseball history. Oh was inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. “He talked hitting with Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, and Tony LaRussa and we were hanging on his every word. He exudes class in a way that is indescribable.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9afa1b4d-2d38-4356-b4ff-9799612df9f8/149+-+Kreindler.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Graig Kreindler Graig Kreindler, possibly the greatest living baseball artist, was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/018cd770-3706-4336-b70d-9300e4c07549/150+-+Leroy.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - LeRoy Neiman LeRoy Neiman was an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screenprints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a28b12e-54ff-40ff-a339-102454a65a2b/151+-+Kadir.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Kadir Nelson Kadir Nelson is a Los Angeles-based painter, illustrator, and author who is best known for his paintings often featured on the covers of The New Yorker magazine, and album covers for Michael Jackson and Drake. His work is focused on African-American culture and history. The New York Times described his work as "sumptuous, deeply affecting work. Nelson’s paintings are drenched in ambience, and often overt symbolism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8791647-936f-49ae-8a9a-5df1f6a14fe1/152+-+Rockwell.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Norman Rockwell Tough Call – also known as Game Called Because of Rain, Bottom of the Sixth, or The Three Umpires – is a 1948 painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, painted for the April 23, 1949, cover of The Saturday Evening Post magazine. It is considered the best known of Rockwell's baseball-themed works, and appears in at least ten Rockwell commentary books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f2547d4-c5b4-49ec-9558-eea92d396d2d/153+-+Paine.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Paine Proffitt Paine Proffitt is an American-born artist best known for his sporting works and for his depiction of the "working man's life". He studied illustration at the University of Brighton in 1994 before moving to England permanently in 2001. Proffitt had moved to Philadelphia when he was 14 after spending his early years in Saigon, Beirut, and Kenya as a result of the work of his father - novelist and war correspondent Nicholas Proffitt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a04ac4d-d660-442b-b747-a16a3d2fac78/154+-+Plaque+Gallery.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Spending time alone in the Plaque Gallery was one of the highlights of the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/609b5108-0ae2-43f7-baf7-571870b9938f/155+-+The+First+Class.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The First Class This is the view at the end of the aisle when you first walk into the Plaque Gallery. It’s a long way away from where you’re standing, but the way the room is laid out, you can’t help but be drawn to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fe4bfd6-a7df-4e5e-964e-df06b9e79484/156+-+The+First+Class.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - First Class, Indeed Two-hundred twenty-six writers cast ballots for the first election. Voters could select up to 10 names from players who starred from 1900 forward. Ty Cobb received 222 votes, the most of any candidate, earning election with 98.23% of the vote. Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner received 215 votes apiece (95.13%), while Christy Mathewson got 205 votes (90.70%). Walter Johnson received 189 votes (83.62%) – 20 more than the 169 necessary to reach the 75% mark needed for induction. Pretty hard to imagine that none of these players were unanimous, when you think about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/203206e0-aa95-4f11-8f23-66dc31ede3b6/157+-+art.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The art gallery on the first floor is a really underrated room in the museum. If you like art, though, it’s a must-see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55d1cfd2-29aa-49e1-8c88-ccf6c715f5b6/158+-+Mom.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Everyone’s Fandom Is Different Sometimes even your own. In 1999, my mom would have probably been fixated on the plaque on the bottom of this photo. In 2024, she was decidedly more interested in the one on the top. It was one of the main plaques she was looking forward to seeing when we started planning this trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c7cbd0a-d643-45c4-8516-6f2ae64e2adf/159+-+Movies.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Up The Ramp Make sure you explore the entire space when you’re at the Hall of Fame. It’s easy to miss the section of the museum that’s up the ramp and around the corner when you’re in the Plaque Gallery, but there is a lot more to see if you take the time to look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c193b02-1249-4fec-82d9-6bdf697c199b/160+-+movies.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Famous Baseball Movies One of the exhibits up that ramp honors many of the famous baseball movies from over the years. Pictured here is the uniform Billy Dee Williams wore in the 1976 movie The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings, which is loosely based on the story of the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. Jay Valentine, who patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Clowns, was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fbbbb83-98b9-4bb6-a2a1-57b88afbf16f/161+-+courtyard.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Courtyard There’s even stuff outside the museum! This somewhat hidden courtyard had multiple statues. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled, and don’t be afraid to explore. You never know what you’re going to find! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28c1361e-fb96-4ab2-8186-47c7b6856bfd/162+-+Souls+Of+The+Game.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball spotlights the decades-long history of Black baseball prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1b0e54f-8dbf-43d1-8505-acf512108968/163+-+Ruth.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Bows Out Babe Ruth was bigger than the game, evolving through deed and legend to become part of the fabric of American culture. Today, a piece of that fabric lives in Cooperstown – a Ruth jersey that he never wore in an official game and yet was seen by millions of fans during Babe’s lifetime. It’s a story – like so many others – that comes alive at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibit Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a73b4a1-014d-430f-8d48-4874dc591bcb/164+-+Ruth.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - June 13, 1948 The exhibit features more than 50 three-dimensional artifacts – none more evocative than the woolen No. 3 jersey acquired by the Hall of Fame on June 13, 1948, the day Ruth’s number was officially retired by the Yankees. “A Hall of Fame official was on the field that day at Yankee Stadium when Ruth gave him the uniform,” said Tom Shieber, the Museum’s senior curator and the lead curator of the new Ruth exhibit. “The photo of Ruth looking out at the field with the number “3” on his back was seen world-wide, and it won a Pulitzer Prize for photographer Nat Fein. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a5ca231-804f-485c-bd51-aec243f8ddf2/164.5+-+Ruth.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Bricks Anyone who knows me well knows I can’t pass up an opportunity to post a picture of some bricks from a historic baseball-related site or two. Here are a couple that are on display in the Babe Ruth exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42fab8f2-a74d-4d72-9df2-cd9f2a63b231/165+-+Women.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Women In Baseball Women have been playing baseball almost as long as men have. Their long connection with the game began in the 1860s and has continued through the efforts of pioneers like Amanda Clement, Jackie Mitchell, Toni Stone, Maria Pepe, and Ila Borders. The popular “Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball” exhibit traces women's roles in the game from 19th-century ballclubs to their present-day involvement – on the field and in baseball's front offices and broadcast booths. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b13e92-7ed9-4f4e-85a2-24177a65415b/166+-+Latin.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out “¡Viva Baseball!” focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing countries of Latin America: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c888167a-b1c3-46fb-a262-a8b11150bb8b/167+-+Sacred+Grounds.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Sacred Ground The third floor used to be the home of Sacred Ground, an exhibit which celebrated the special connection that people feel in their favorite ballpark. This exhibit used sights, sounds, and even smells to remind fans of their favorite ballparks that they grew up around. Featuring more than 200 artifacts and interactive displays spanning 125 years of baseball history and culture, the exhibit took up 1,800 square feet of space. One of the most unique items was the cornerstone from Ebbets Field, which was salvaged when the Brooklyn stadium was met with the wrecking ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a55d4c46-eedd-48bb-90ab-93bf38852250/168+-+Comiskey.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Comiskey Pinwheel There was a turnstile from the Polo Grounds and the on-deck circle from Forbes Field, the place where some of baseballs greatest legends previously knelt. Among the most illustrious artifacts in Sacred Ground was this "pinwheel" from the original exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park, installed owner Bill Veeck. Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, who is a former Major League Baseball executive and Minor League Baseball owner known for his creative sales, marketing, and promotions, including Disco Demolition Night, was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd2054e4-866b-4bbc-a3ad-2bf4aee36893/169+-+Yakyu.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out During our visit in December of 2024, the Sacred Ground exhibit was in the process of being uninstalled to make way for the Yakyu | Baseball exhibit, which is set to open in July of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21e517f9-b9b8-43ba-8459-caa501f989b9/170+-+Shoebox+Treasures.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Shoebox Treasures For generations of fans, their love of the National Pastime can be traced to simple pieces of cardboard with an image on one side and numbers on the other. They were our Shoebox Treasures, and their story is one of the most celebrated in the game's history. The Museum,'s exhibit examines the history, design, and production of cards, the 1980s boom that turned a child’s hobby into a multi-million dollar industry, and the joy and camaraderie that so many collectors have found in the hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bf124a2-b224-423b-b478-3518ab583a8d/171+-+more+art.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Artwork The exhibit is divided into four primary themes: An exploration of the long history of baseball cards; the evolution of baseball card design; how and why fans of all ages collect baseball cards; and those cards that are considered “Holy Grails.” Shoebox Treasures features more than 2,000 cards on display, as well as some original artwork, like that of Mike Noren (aka Gummy Arts) and Tim Carroll. Tim Carroll, who is a world-renowned baseball card pop artist who has his works displayed in multiple museums across the country, including the Sandy Koufax piece in this photo, was our guest for Episode 10 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3eb5b353-b6a4-4545-ad96-4440733ad92f/172+-+lockers.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a32115f-e987-43b6-b616-1915892923b4/173+-+Guardians.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cleveland Guardians Some of the items in the Guardians locker in December of 2024 included the jersey Rajai Davis wore when he hit his game-tying 2-run home run in the 8th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, the cap Terry Francona wore during the last game he managed for the team in October of 2023, and the drum John Adams beat to rally crowds at home games from 1973 through 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc5c96ae-600c-4f7b-9cb1-bb41cdb0910d/174+-+One+Shining+Moment.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - One Shining Moment Michael Jordan’s “one shining moment” came on March 29, 1982 when he hit the game-winning shot in the NCAA Championship Game for UNC. He went on to a pretty decent basketball career after that. While he may not have a plaque in Cooperstown, the bat he used as a member of the minor league Birmingham Barons in 1994 is on display at the Hall of Fame. Did you seriously think I wasn’t going to find a way to get this picture in these liner notes? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82a1d5ff-a229-477b-8644-078264689454/175+-+Cooperstown+scenes.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Scenic Cooperstown Even off-season, there was still a beauty and a magic to Main Street in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9432739c-3c8d-4baf-b745-87bd9b9dd1e6/176+-+Willis+Monie.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Willis Monie Books I know I talked about Willis Monie Books at the start of this episode, but seriously, you have to carve some time out during your next trip to Cooperstown to browse this place. 139 Main Street www.wilmonie.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2e371ab-51d9-4c93-8ef8-80a05bd34094/177+-+The+Lake.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Everyone rants and raves about “the lake” and it’s like, how great can it be? It’s just a lake. I’ve seen water before. And then you go to this one and you’re like… oh. Yeah. They were right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01c0d303-56cf-4009-8062-0696dba028bc/178+-+Glasses.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - HOF Glasses There is one glass for every living Hall of Famer in the lower level hallway at The Otesaga Hotel. When one of the living Hall of Famers passes away, a single white rose is placed in their glass, as you can see here with Willie Mays’ glass, since he passed away in June of 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73b85d75-a800-459b-b5be-5cc4d390882c/179+-+The+Otesaga+Hotel.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Otesaga Hotel Located along over 700 feet of Lake Otsego shoreline, The Otesaga Hotel opened its luxurious doors for the first time on July 12, 1909. Of its beauty, a local newspaper wrote: “No more fortunate location could have been chosen for a hotel. From its windows and broad veranda, a view as charming as the Divine Hand ever painted fills the eye.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd738f0d-5b89-4e88-993c-fdc2db964748/180+-+postcard.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Postcards Today, The Otesaga Hotel exudes elegance in its signature Georgian Revival details, a stately wood-columned portico, and dome-capped cupola. The Otesaga (Iroquois for “a place of meetings”) and its Leatherstocking Golf Course have drawn visitors for generations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6566063e-e748-4588-a150-c4d34c77901a/181+-+Nicholson+Bridge.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tunkhannock Viaduct In 1912, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad began construction of the Tunkhannock Viaduct and the population of Nicholson swelled from 700 to more than 2,000. By the end of October 1915, after 2.5 years of around-the-clock work, the Tunkhannock Viaduct was complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03f2dda5-1c50-4520-885b-7aeae23bfa65/182+-+Nicholson+Bridge.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Nicholson Bridge The Tunkhannock Viaduct, also known as Nicholson Bridge, was 240 feet high and a half-mile long, with piers 40 to 90 feet below ground, and a parapet 3 feet thick and 4 feet high to enclose the double tracks on the 34 feet wide deck. At the time, it was said to be the largest concrete structure in the world. The American Society of Civil Engineers dubbed it the “Ninth Wonder of the World.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7e6320c-389a-469f-a593-cf7c9154bb24/183+-+Nicholson+Bridge.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The architects of Yankee Stadium are speculated to have been influenced by the bridge’s look when they designed the stadium’s iconic frieze, eight years after the bridge was completed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc58ca19-2199-4e1c-a81c-fe593cf56318/184+-+Shoeless+Joe.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - In Or Out? Or Both? While Joe Jackson may not have a plaque in the Plaque Gallery at the Hall of Fame (yet), he is certainly well-represented in the museum. It is my contention that his NOT being inducted into the Hall of Fame has kept Joe more famous all these years than he ever would have been had he been inducted at the time of his contemporaries like Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker, or Sam Crawford. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3609049-e0a8-4eae-9f4a-d66adf58fbae/185+-+The+Pitch+That+Killed.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Pitch That Killed Buy Mike Sowell’s fantastic book The Pitch That Killed: The Story of Carl Mays, Ray Chapman, and the Pennant Race of 1920 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6f06fb5-a3b8-405e-90d2-1e90d5b32c51/186+-+Cleveland.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Josh had one huge image on an otherwise big, blank wall in his office: the panoramic photo of the Addie Joss Benefit Game players at League Park in 1911 (featuring Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was a member of the Cleveland Naps at the time). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/825a8d3a-a260-4f4b-b119-122554b4b4d7/187+-+On+This+Date.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out One of these posts got a lot more engagement on social media than the other. Can you guess which one? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92a8dc0f-3749-4826-b174-07b745285c9b/188+-+Lajoie.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Napoleon Lajoie “Lajoie was one of the most rugged hitters I ever faced. He’d take your leg off with a line drive, turn the third baseman around like a swinging door, and powder the hand of the left fielder.” – Cy Young Napoleon Lajoie, hitter extraordinaire, sublime fielder, manager and executive, has been described as “the first superstar in American League history.” And indeed, to concentrate on his hitting or his fielding is to miss his all-around talent as a player. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6cecd38-7ef0-4e51-9bc4-f1bd6b2b6700/189+-+Speaker.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tris Speaker “At the crack of the bat he'd be off with his back to the infield, and then he'd turn and glance over his shoulder at the last minute and catch the ball so easy it looked like there was nothing to it, nothing at all." – Smoky Joe Wood By the time Tris Speaker turned 22, he was already one of the best center fielders in the game, a player highly regarded for both his work at the plate and in the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e2ad5fd-ff9a-4338-a1ee-a81bc6681608/190+-+Christy.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Christy Mathewson He was the first great pitching star of the modern era, and is still the standard by which greatness is measured. Christy Mathewson changed the way people perceived baseball players by his actions on and off the field. His combination of power and poise – his tenacity and temperance – remains baseball’s ideal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f909e934-f531-4ee3-a23f-97943d082b47/191+-+Satchel+Paige.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Satchel Paige The numbers do not do justice to his legend. The stories, however, keep alive the memory of a man who became bigger than the game. Leroy “Satchel” Paige was bigger than mere numbers. Apocryphal stories surround Satchel Paige, who was born July 7, 1906 in Mobile, Alabama. He began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s after being discharged from reform school. The lanky 6-foot-3 right-hander quickly became the biggest drawing card in Negro baseball, able to overpower batters with a buggy-whipped fastball. Paige, a showman at heart, bounced from team-to-team in search of the best paycheck – often pitching hundreds of games a year between regular Negro Leagues assignments and barnstorming opportunities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1db132ae-75b7-4a59-bcca-4931277b425e/192+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh Gibson The applause Josh Gibson received should have been louder. He was considered the best power hitter of his era in the Negro Leagues and perhaps even across the entire sport. His introduction to organized baseball came at age 16. In 1929, the Crawford Colored Giants, a semi-pro team in Pittsburgh, convinced him to join their squad. He became a professional by accident July 25, 1930 while sitting in the stands. When Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing injured his hand, Gibson was invited to replace him because his titanic home runs were already well known in Pittsburgh. “If someone had told me Josh hit the ball a mile, I would have believed them,” said Sam Jethroe, who starred for the Cleveland Buckeyes. His legendary feats with the Homestead Grays have many experts regarding Gibson as the sport’s greatest home run hitter. Negro Leagues statistics of the time are somewhat incomplete, but the legend of Gibson’s power has always been larger than life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad351f51-fff1-4fdc-ad47-2b8a6e6d6315/193+-+Library.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - My Baseball Library I’d venture to guess that at least 100 books in my baseball library have been purchased from Willis Monie Books in Cooperstown over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0082d60-ad8f-4b45-b1bd-b4a18b68e460/194+-+Jane+Forbes+Clark.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jane Forbes Clark Jane Forbes Clark is Chairman of the Board of Directors of The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. A member of the Board since 1992 and Chairman since 2000, she provides substantial museum expertise, philanthropic insight and management skill in this leadership position. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1825eb40-6305-4892-9e6e-06cea953ce83/195+-+The+Lake.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28138eca-4108-4b84-bdbb-e1facea208a2/196+-+Council+Rock.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Council Rock Park A historical marker denotes Council Rock as a meeting place for Native Americans, an idea mentioned by James Fenimore Cooper in his novel The Pioneers. Members of the Mohawk and Oneida Nations occupied this region both before and after the arrival of settlers and likely used the area around the lake for seasonal hunting and fishing camps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b246480-057d-40c4-acfa-47c8179a8af2/197+-+Kingfisher+Tower.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Kingfisher Tower Kingfisher Tower is a 60-foot-tall folly, built by Edward Clark in 1876, on the eastern shore of Otsego Lake at Point Judith. It is a Gothic Revival structure built by Clark "to beautify the lake" and "to provide construction jobs during an economic turndown". The structure was designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3055e5c6-46c2-4ff7-b52e-e93b08f281a3/198+-+Rocking+Chairs.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Rocking Chairs To sit in these chairs on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel, knowing dozens of Hall of Famers have sat in them before me, was a pretty cool feeling. The view wasn’t bad, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3964d438-c58a-41c4-8b38-a5bf10c46697/199+-+Hall+of+Famers.JPG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Rocking Chairs From left to right: Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, Bob DiBiasio, and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield spend some time on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel, rocking in the exact chairs I sat in on this trip. Bob DiBiasio, who is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, and has been a public relations executive with Cleveland for all but one season since 1979, was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cc213c5-9651-4e66-80bb-a43bbccc29d3/200+-+Women+in+Baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out My mom, looking at one of the displays within the Diamond Dreams: Women In Baseball exhibit at the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f8faf2f-0852-428c-a4a7-d670f140cb94/201+-+Nancy+Faust.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Nancy Faust Nancy Faust’s picture from the display shown above. Nancy, who is a legendary organist most famous for her 41-year career playing for the Chicago White Sox from 1970 through 2010 during which she invented walk-up music and popularized the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch, was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. You can also follow Nancy online: Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87e694ec-b180-404f-9939-7eb61da25b0a/202+-+Nancy.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mother’s Day, 2025 Nancy Faust is scheduled to play her organ at six White Sox Sunday home games in 2025. The first was Sunday, May 11th, which happened to be Mother’s Day. I drove back to Chicago to see Nancy play with my mom. It was a nearly perfect day. The full list of games Nancy is scheduled to play in 2025: - Sunday, May 11 vs. Miami - Sunday, May 25 vs. Texas - Sunday, June 8 vs. Kansas City - Sunday, June 29 vs. San Francisco - Sunday, July 13 vs. Cleveland - Sunday, August 10 vs. Cleveland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08fe7860-80e1-487b-af4f-e01596227ced/202+-+Brian+Powers.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brian Powers Brian Powers, who is a licensed architect and the man behind the incredible Bandbox Ballparks project which digitally reconstructs long-forgotten ballparks to preserve their histories, was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. You can also follow Brian online: Twitter Facebook Instagram The Bandbox Ballparks website YouTube https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/550e5798-e73e-44fa-86d1-ffef2fab93ae/204+-+SABR.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - SABR 53 My mom and I will be in Dallas/Ft. Worth for the SABR convention from June 25-29. If you’re planning on being there, make sure you find us and say hello! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0d75bce-9e4f-4ca9-a671-f44fe3e54cfd/205+-+email.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17ff1676-29de-42eb-a66b-6fc907d75c84/206+-+giveaway.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a souvenir booklet from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, printed in 1949? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5481b2e-9fd1-4d88-b05a-3d86aa7dc7a1/207+-+tener.jpg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - John K. Tener John Kinley Tener was an Irish-born American politician and Major League Baseball player and executive. He served as the 25th governor of Pennsylvania from 1911 until 1915. During his baseball career, Tener played as a pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association, the Chicago White Stockings of the National League, and the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players' League. After his playing career, he served as President of the National League. When John Tener came to Cooperstown in 1916, he visited a cow pasture owned by Elihu Phinney. The Phinney lot was a plot of ground once believed to have been used by Abner Doubleday and other Cooperstown schoolboys to play the first game of baseball in 1839. Tener suggested that the cow pasture be turned into a memorial to Doubleday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70a41625-d4ce-4705-abfe-12374495737e/208+-+Pitcher.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dr. Ernest L. Pitcher On September 6th, 1920, Doubleday Field officially opened. The first game was between Milford and Cooperstown. National League president John Heydler was present and even umpired the first inning. A vote in 1920 to buy the lot was turned down by the Cooperstown taxpayers, 204 to 151. With the lease set to expire, a fundraising effort to raise the $5,000 necessary to acquire the lot was led by Dr. Ernest L. Pitcher, a local dentist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f43ffe-b458-46b1-b53b-b5c41c86dd65/209+-+Heydler.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - John Heydler John Arnold Heydler was an American executive in Major League Baseball. After working as a National League umpire, he was the secretary to the NL president and then became the secretary-treasurer of the NL before assuming the NL presidency himself. Heydler made early contributions to baseball recordkeeping and statistics. In a letter dated October 13, 1926, Heydler wrote, “I only hope that the people of Cooperstown will be able to hold on to this historic property. It may be years from now that professional baseball will honor itself by doing something to perpetuate this Doubleday Field, but I have faith that eventually something will be done. This, of course, is a personal expression and not official.” John Heydler’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee6723c5-e5bf-4f4f-8de8-e37d51e3ecfa/210+-+Entrance.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Entrance In June of 1927, additional property was purchased for an entrance to Doubleday Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e19d367-945b-447d-bda3-bb26e7b7ba82/211+-+WPA.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - WPA Changes Beginning in 1933, Doubleday Field was again seeing changes, as not only were additional parcels of land purchased to expand left field, which was short of regulation size, but under a Works Progress Administration program, the entire field was graded, a new diamond was constructed, the area was fenced in, and the entrance was landscaped. (Photo courtesy of the Smith & Telfer Collection, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3571914b-71ad-4065-bbc2-b3973b4d46ca/212+-+1934+reopening.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 1934 Reopening On August 3, 1934, Lt. Gov. M. William Bray of New York formally reopened the field, which the Associated Press called “one of the finest playing grounds in Eastern New York” when it reported on the story later that week. (Photo courtesy of the Smith & Telfer Collection, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7936dba3-ecb6-40b7-9c02-0a629ccc344d/213+-+1938+Grandstand.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Grandstand In preparation for the numerous events it would be hosting, Doubleday Field, thanks to another WPA program, underwent a facelift beginning in 1938, which included building a steel and concrete grandstand, installing new wooden bleachers, seeding the field, laying a drainage system, setting out a new board fence for the outfield, and constructing stone masonry for the rest of the facility. This work would give the field a seating capacity of nearly 10,000. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cb52c14-6210-4d00-8b0f-b5aab4be9287/214+-+1940+HOF+game.jpeg Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall Of Fame Game The 1939 All-Star game proved such a success that it prompted discussions of future games that would bring crowds back to Cooperstown for subsequent summers. Here, members of the Boston Red Sox warm up prior to the June 13, 1940 Hall of Fame Game vs. the Cubs. That day began a 68-year tradition of the annual Hall of Fame Game, an in-season exhibition between two major league teams in Cooperstown. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcb2ebca-f06d-4adb-a6b1-304e2dc39afa/215+-+Dimensions.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dimensions Stars such as Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Henry Aaron would all homer in the hitter-friendly confines of Doubleday Field. The field’s dimensions were just 296’ to left field, 336’ to left center, 390’ to dead center, 350’ to right center, and 312’ to right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f624f9bf-2f7b-4074-a116-57a5c1449806/216+-+stands.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Stands In 1959, the first base section of the stands was donated by Thomas Yawkey, owner of the Boston Red Sox at the time. Doubleday Field has seen other changes, including new sections having replaced the old, uncovered stands, where only the grandstand remains from when the refurbished park opened in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/000bc91e-44eb-4a43-836d-9e5a1fac369e/217+-+Doubleday.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Idyllic Setting Today, the fabled 6,600-seat ball field, situated between Susquehanna, Pioneer, Elm, and Main streets, surrounded in its idyllic setting with quaint houses and majestic trees, is not only a destination for baseball fans, but baseball teams from around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd1d6d24-612c-400f-9819-abc8ca48e3be/218+-+Doubleday.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Owned and operated by the village of Cooperstown, Doubleday Field will play host to more than 350 baseball games this year, ranging from youth baseball, to high school and collegiate tournaments, to senior leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab6ff875-a624-4e00-b92d-af9fd34fed52/219+-+My+First+Game.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - My First Game At Doubleday My first time seeing a game actually being played at Doubleday Field in person was on May 25, 2024 when 14 Hall of Famers and two dozen legendary players – many of whom had played on the historic field throughout the years – came together for the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, which paid tribute to the legends of Black baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa15eb6f-af57-463d-9eb3-adf50a38e92b/220+-+East+West.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2024 East-West Classic Ryan Howard went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to win the game’s MVP award and lead Team East past Team West 5-4 in front of 5,740 fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a7b00dc-6f37-4593-9e75-e9afa53365c1/221+-+Been+There.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Been There, Done That (kinda) I had been to Doubleday Field a number of times before that, and had been inside the stadium to take pictures and walk around, but until last May, I had never actually seen a game there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a568a6b-7da7-46b1-ab8a-d079068f994d/222+-+William.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - William Peebles Sitting in the stands with friend of the show William Peebles of Huntington Base Ball Co., I couldn’t help but think how cool it would be to PLAY on that field. After asking a few questions to some people in the know, I believe that may be a possibility. William Peebles, who is the owner, founder, and craftsman of Huntington Base Ball Co. and a historian of the evolution of the baseball, was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bfea849-387f-4dd1-9ec3-b943a03a8617/223+-+2021-10-30+3.JPG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Vintage Games I have organized and played in 1860s style vintage games at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville, SC, at the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston, GA, and at historic League Park in Cleveland, OH. I know what it takes to make an event like that happen. For 2026, in honor of Josh Rawitch, hosting a game like that at Doubleday Field has moved from my bucket list, over to my to-do list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0d95654-e779-4d16-ae02-c30303488b8c/224+-+Doubleday+Field.JPEG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2026 If you’re listening to this or reading this right now and you feel like you can make it to Cooperstown next year to play in a vintage baseball game, SEND ME AN E-MAIL and I’ll add you to the list of potential players for next year. If enough people are interested, we’ll figure out a time that works best for all of us, and a time where we can reserve the field, and we’ll make it happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/869ae1c0-0b65-468d-94d3-fe82e9d04d23/225+-+Lemon+Peel.JPG Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - How To Play If you don’t know what 1860s style vintage baseball is, I promise, it’s not intimidating at all and people of all ages, skill levels, and genders can play. I wrote up a little description of the rules RIGHT HERE, so you can check them out if you want to before committing. But for real, it’s just going to be a bunch of friends having a good time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00e0306a-17ce-4da6-9160-dfaa57908383/226+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/08 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d79b4c1-3f01-4ce3-ba76-2bcf1fb17b7f/youtube.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5271e02b-46ba-4a6e-a7a3-5a99043c3f11/square.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio Bob DiBiasio and me after recording our interview at his home in Solon, Ohio. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b768295-69fb-45c0-830f-381c8c24ade4/01+-+Diamond+King.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Diamond King This episode is brought to you by The Diamond King, a documentary by filmmaker Marq Evans about legendary baseball artist Dick Perez. Website Watch The Trailer To see the full list of places where you can rent or buy the movie, CLICK HERE. Instagram Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a8da61f-8c1e-482b-9fee-ef57fc936e3b/02+-+baseketball.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Local Kid Bob is a Lakewood, Ohio native who graduated from Lakewood High School in 1973. He earned degrees in journalism and education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1977. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21c42a4f-fa22-4341-be86-b8de3094fdbd/03+-+Transcript.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Transcript While at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob was sports editor of the school paper The Transcript, the student Sports Information Director, and did color on OWU football and basketball broadcasts. He also played one year of basketball and two years of baseball at OWU. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d4c654c-0cdb-452e-9ac2-069d6be001ac/04+-+Fremont+News+Messenger.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Journalism In 1978 he earned his Masters Degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and started a stint as Assistant Sports Editor of the Fremont (OH) News-Messenger before joining the Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7897e3d-0201-4cae-9bed-3f27cc652356/04+-+1980.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Year 47 Bob has been a public relations executive with Cleveland since 1979, making 2025 his 47th season in Major League Baseball. He started with the Indians in 1979 as Assistant PR Director, and was named Director of PR in 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6aa2bd6-6529-4206-a949-02761e7902bc/06+-+1987+Braves.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1987 Atlanta Braves In 1986, Bob was named the Public Relations Director to Sports Illustrated’s Dream Team. His lone season away from Cleveland was 1987 when he served as PR Director for the Atlanta Braves, but he came back to Cleveland following that season and was named Vice President of Public Relations for the Indians in 1988. Bob was promoted to his current position in 2011. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95116b40-c8aa-4c2b-85f1-1d6236cbd23f/07+-+Fishel.jpeg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Awards and Recognition Bob received the Mel Harder Distinguished Service Award for Community Involvement in 1997, and was inducted into the Lakewood High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999. Bob was the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence in Major League Baseball, and he received the ALS Cleveland Chapter Lou Gehrig “Iron Horse” Award for Community Service in 2009. Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5af0d870-64aa-44dc-ad5c-011d8ddf6248/08+-+Jeremy.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jeremy Feador Jeremy Feador is the official historian of the Cleveland Guardians, and was the guest on Episode 8 of Season 3 of My Baseball History. During our interview, we spent more than two hours tracing the history of professional baseball in Cleveland all the way back to the 1860s and ‘70s with the Forest Citys. Then we moved chronologically through all of the different teams and team names Cleveland has had over the years, stopping along the way to talk about the great individual players who made up those teams. Listen to Jeremy’s full episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6bc2296-5648-4a4d-ac58-596ee0bdd473/09+-+1995+Indians.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out With this being the 30th anniversary of the iconic 1995 Indians, I thought Bob DiBiasio would be a fun person to chat with to get some perspective about that specific group, and everything they achieved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11eb4192-9b86-41ef-8728-e20343f6b0dd/10+-+Sparky+DiBiasio.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sparky DiBiasio The field at Euclid had previously been known as "Euclid Stadium" or "Panther Stadium" before being renamed to honor Bob’s uncle, Dr. Spartoco "Sparky" DiBiasio, who was the first Head football coach of the newly consolidated Euclid High School in 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf2c3d76-0c9e-4e15-b1db-690916ea5a18/11+-+Anthony+DiBiasio.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Anthony DiBiasio Bob’s dad, Anthony DiBiasio, is a Lakewood Schools legend. A World War II veteran, he worked with the school system from 1948-85. During that span, he was a teacher and advisor. In addition to acting as an assistant baseball and basketball coach, Bob’s dad was also a football coach at Lakewood High School before leaving to direct the reading center at Lakewood High School. “Tony DiBiasio Square,” which is located at the corner of Franklin and Bunts roads, was named in his honor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba242ab0-9b52-497f-a935-4cb30c111932/12+-+Brothers.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Brothers Dan (right), who is six years older than Bob, went on to become a college president for almost 30 years in the state of Ohio at Wilmington and Ohio Northern. The middle brother, Tony (left), is three years older than Bob. Tony was a child psychologist who had a private practice and was also in the Fairview School systems in their guidance counseling programs. He was also an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University. Bob (center), the youngest, went into sports. Despite their differences in age, the older DiBiasio brothers allowed young Bobby to tag along and play with them growing up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fe72406-4ba9-4858-ad4e-14b46bc6a453/13+-+Bob+Gain.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Gain Bob Gain was a defensive tackle for the Browns (1952, 1954-1964), starting in five Pro Bowl games in the span of seven years. Gain played tackle, middle guard, and end and was a standout defender at tackle, end, and middle guard. Cleveland led the NFL in many defensive categories in his 12 years. The Browns won two-thirds of their games and three NFL championships during his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/260b42fe-bd0f-4bcb-9c6b-8ad533a640fa/14+-+OWU+baseball.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out While he was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, Bob played one year of basketball and two years of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8166ee2-e2bf-43bc-96dc-698e1ac12fb0/15+-+1971+home+opener.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - April 8, 1971 Ohio Gov. John J. Gilligan, wearing an Indians jacket, warms up for first pitch at the Cleveland Indians home opening day ceremonies on April 8, 1971 against the Boston Red Sox. Fans were treated to a classic Northeast Ohio spring day, with a low of 23 and a high of 62. Nevertheless, more than 40,000 fans turned out at Cleveland Municipal Stadium as the Tribe faced the Red Sox. Bob was one of them, as he skipped classes that day to attend the game, meaning he was in the house to see Gomer Hodge’s heroics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcb2ef5a-caa2-435b-bf89-9297dff15f01/16+-+Gomer+Hodge.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Gomer Hodge Gomer Hodge couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to his major-league career. Down 2-0 going into the 8th, Hodge - a rookie who days earlier had turned 27 - faced Sonny Siebert. Hodge hit a double and would later score on John Lowenstein’s single. In the 9th, with Ray Fosse on third and Lou Camilli on second, Boston’s Ken Tatum fired a 1-2 fastball, and Hodge smacked a two-run single. Fosse and Camilli scored, and the Indians won, 3-2. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4ecc6b6-556a-4ec3-ac16-bfaf36071807/17+-+Russell+Schneider.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Russell Schneider Russell Scheider was the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Indians beat reporter from 1964-78. He was tough, dogged, and competitive to the point of combativeness. Schneider also covered the Cleveland Browns for a time in the 1980s and became great friends with former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano. After Schneider assumed the beat, Browns owner Art Modell said effusively, "Welcome to the family." "I'm here to cover the team," Russ said gruffly. "Not to be part of your family." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f518bd67-4dbd-45fd-824d-ad2e39cc2225/18+-+Transcript.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Transcript Bob earned degrees in journalism and education at Ohio Wesleyan University, and while he was there, he was the sports editor of The Transcript, but he also played one year of basketball and three years of baseball. Then he got his Masters Degree in Journalism from the Ohio State University. Believe it or not, Bob always knew he wanted to be the PR guy for the Indians. 1974 OWU yearbook 1975 OWU yearbook 1976 OWU yearbook 1977 OWU yearbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a8a75ce-8b24-4f94-bb5b-e21dae9018bc/98+-+Phi+Gamma+Delta.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Both of Bob’s older brothers were Phi Gamma Delta, so Bob followed in their footsteps. Here he is in the 1975 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60178f5b-0d58-46a0-a2ab-8d8314fc9dd1/19+-+Harry+Jones.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Harry Jones Harry Jones was a nationally known baseball writer covering the Indians for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in the 1950s, and in the 1960s he became the Indians TV play-by-play man. When Gabe Paul came from the Yankees to become president of the Indians in the 1970s, he wanted a veteran PR guy and hired Harry. Bob was in contact with Harry all through college, all through his time working on his master's degree at Ohio State, all the time he was in Fremont, telling Harry he wanted his job some day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c873e50-2d57-4dc4-8163-178669b6eb59/20+-+Frank+Shannon.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Frank Shannon Frank Shannon served as a player-coach for the Youngstown Bears in the National Basketball League during the 1946–47 season. Shannon was also a long-time high school and college coach in Ohio, serving at several different high schools as well as Ohio Wesleyan University. He coached men's basketball at Ohio Wesleyan for 21 years and men's tennis for 7 years. His basketball teams won 214 games, ranking him sixth all-time among Ohio Athletic Conference coaches. In 1962, he was named Ohio College Coach of the Year after guiding the Bishops to a 21-3 record and the OAC championship. His tennis teams won 6 consecutive OAC championships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5594c1b-b239-4fd4-bd54-5360f1ed2fcc/22+-+basketball.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Self-Awareness In preparation for his sophomore season at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob noticed that the incoming freshmen recruits were more athletic than Bob could have ever dreamed to be. It was then that he realized a professional basketball career was most likely not in his future, confirmed by a pep talk from Coach Shannon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b028a3b-7af0-4fdd-b862-ac2cbe7bc76f/23+-+jeremy.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out If you’re new to the show, or if you just haven’t had a chance to listen to my episode with Guardians team historian Jeremy Feador, you can listen to it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f90e04ff-c9bc-4a65-985b-76478af90cb6/24+-+Clinch.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Clinching the Division The Cleveland Indians hosted the Baltimore Orioles at Jacobs FIeld on September 8, 1995. The game was broadcast on NBC as part of "The Baseball Network." The Tribe's record was a ridiculous 86-37 coming into the game, leading the Royals in the AL Central by a whopping 22.5 game margin. Cleveland won 3-2, clinching their first playoff berth since 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f30c638f-72d0-4ea1-8bef-fc401d3058f5/25+-+Espinosa.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Álvaro Espinoza Although a free swinger, Álvaro Espinoza was a good bat handler and contact hitter. A sure-handed fielder, he had a strong throwing arm and found many ways to turn a double play, as well as his concentration and knowledge of the game were his main assets during his 12-year career. Espinoza was also noted for his bubble gum hat antics, as well as other practical jokes he and teammate Wayne Kirby used to play on the 1995 Cleveland Indians. Álvaro Espinoza’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/494bca2a-fe34-4e23-8dd4-ee5f2130d1fb/26+-+Game+Time.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Game Time It may have been all fun and games in the locker room to a certain point, but about 30 minutes before the first pitch, the music would get turned off, and everybody would get in the zone. That intense focus struck fear into Indians opponents, and by mid-May of 1995, visiting teams didn’t want to come to Jacobs Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f56267-1d6e-46ae-a2ca-e210068f0712/27+-+John+Hart.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - John Hart In 1989, John Hart joined the Cleveland Indians as a Special Assignment Scout. Hart spent the two seasons as Director of Baseball Operations, but on September 18, 1991, he replaced the retiring Hank Peters as general manager. In 1993, Hart became Executive Vice President of the Indians, as well. In 1994, he was named “Executive of the Year” by The Sporting News, becoming only the second Cleveland executive to have won the award (Bill Veeck, 1948). He followed it up by being named “Executive of the Year” in 1995, as well, becoming only the third person to win the award in back-to-back years. Hart was the team's GM through 2001. John Hart’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9ba7370-56ce-45a8-8aa3-1e5b43822399/28+-+Hank+Peters.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hank Peters Hank Peters (right) did two tours with the Indians. He was the director of player development from 1966-71. He then returned as general manager in November 1987, acting in that role until September 1991. Peters convinced owner Dick Jacobs to invest heavily in the farm system. Peters then made a trade that set the foundation of Cleveland’s baseball revival by trading Joe Carter to San Diego for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga at the winter meetings in 1989. Hank Peters’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e473f82-d8cb-4e3a-8304-caca501140ed/29+-+John+Hart+manager.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - John Hart, Manager John Hart didn’t want to be a front office guy. He wanted to be in uniform, and managing the team on the field. He did so for 19 games during the 1989 season, leading the team to an 8-11 record, but Hank Peters had other plans for Hart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25f8656d-c7ec-4181-a0eb-cbf25fa184e3/30+-+Dick+Jacobs.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dick Jacobs Richard E. “Dick” Jacobs was the majority owner of the Cleveland Indians from December 1986 until February 2000. He purchased the team with his older brother, David H. Jacobs, from the estate of the late F.J. “Steve” O’Neill in December 1986 for $35.5 million. Jacobs oversaw the restoration of the Indians to on-the-field and at-the-box-office success following three decades of mediocrity. Dick Jacobs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d24ab6e5-f21d-4a2b-9c35-7f1ce28d5ab8/31+-+Dolan.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Larry Dolan Lawrence J. “Larry” Dolan was the principal owner of the Cleveland Guardians from 2000 until his death in 2025. During his time as owner, the team had periods of competitiveness, including playoff runs in 2007 and 2013, and making it to the World Series in 2016, as well as periods without success, including several seasons with over 90 losses. While the team's payrolls were among the highest in MLB during Jacobs' final years as owner, at times they had been among the lowest under Dolan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4326a6ae-0e28-42f4-83a1-dcf1e69640df/32+-+Paul+Dolan.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Paul Dolan After graduating from law school, Paul Dolan was hired as an attorney for his father's law firm (Thrasher, Dinsmore, and Dolan), eventually becoming a partner in 1992. Upon his father taking control of the team, Paul was hired as a vice president and general counsel. In 2004, he was promoted to team president. Though officially listed as Owner/Chairman/CEO by the team, the Guardians are considered to be a family asset, purchased through various Dolan Family trusts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef5f8873-5284-4a2e-b66a-5e163f2a6cae/33+-+Chris+Antonetti.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Chris Antonetti Chris Antonetti worked in the front office of the Montreal Expos in 1998, but has worked for the Guardians franchise since 1999. Before the 2010 season, Executive VP/GM Mark Shapiro announced his promotion to team general manager at season's end, with chairman/CEO Paul Dolan naming Antonetti as Shapiro's successor. On October 6, 2015, the Cleveland franchise announced the promotion of Antonetti to president of baseball operations along with the promotion of assistant general manager Mike Chernoff to general manager. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbefce02-e439-4d80-aef6-9a6fd37b61d8/34+-+Mike+Chernoff.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mike Chernoff Mike Chernoff attended Princeton University, where he played shortstop for the Tigers baseball team. He took an internship to work in the Indians' front office and remained with the team. He served as the director of baseball relations, and was promoted to assistant general manager in Cleveland in October 2010. In 2014, he declined an opportunity to interview for the general manager position with the San Diego Padres. He has filled that role for the Guardians since October of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acdfd842-d476-4fdb-a863-4b4eee9cbf57/35+-+Dan+O%27Dowd.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dan O’Dowd Dan O'Dowd was the Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager of the Indians, working for the team from 1987 to 1998. Dan oversaw the Indians scouting and player development needs, and under his tutelage, the Indians were named “Organization of the Year” in 1992 by Baseball America. Along with John Hart, Dan O’Dowd played a pivotal role in Cleveland’s defining decision to lock its young, emerging talent into long term contracts. Dan O’Dowd’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1901607-54f5-42df-b17b-7c489ab52565/36+-+Arbitration.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Arbitration Left-handed starter Greg Swindell was the last player to beat the Indians in salary arbitration, winning a salary of $2.025 million in 1991. Swindell won his hearing, but came away mad because of critical remarks made by the Indians’ attorney. The Tribe had offered just $1.4 million. The meetings were so contentious, however, that John Hart and Dan O'Dowd felt they had to do something to avoid the process in the future. Their solution was to offer players multiyear deals before they reached the required service time to be eligible for arbitration, producing the longest sustained run of success in franchise history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d2d12bc-4d27-4bfb-b0c5-2169c1afd80c/38+-+Multiple+multi-year+deals.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Multiple Multi-Year Deals The Tribe’s new strategy was so groundbreaking, there was an article in the March 30, 1992 Sports Illustrated by Peter King about it titled “Tribe Of The Future: By Offering Multiyear Deals, The Cleveland Indians Bank On Their Best Young Players.” “In negotiations with some agents with tough reputations, the Indians got a dozen deals done in a five-week frenzy that ended on March 12. Talks are continuing with the 13th player, slugging outfielder Albert Belle.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e855321a-06e4-49fe-b06f-ebf1642aad26/37+-+Bauer.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Trevor Bauer When Trevor Bauer took the Indians to arbitration in 2018, it was just the third time the team had gone to arbitration with a player since 1991 when they went with Swindell (who won) and second baseman Jerry Browne (who lost). The Indians also went with right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Josh Tomlin in 2014, with the team winning both cases. In each of those cases, they took a file-and-trial approach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7565c96a-f9a8-440c-91fe-ae1148020e2a/39+-+Joey.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joey Belle When John Hart came into the organization, he took a hard look at their minor league teams, top to bottom. He felt like the only guy in the entire farm system with real potential was some kid named Joey Belle. While he had an attitude, the directive was for everyone to just put up with it, because he was so good. Belle’s 1990 season was interrupted by a rehab stay. Re-emerging clean and healthy, Joey Belle began going by his given first name, Albert, upon leaving the facility. He made Cleveland’s roster for good at the start of the 1991 season, and in 123 games that year, he batted .282 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64a1f2f3-a0a3-4803-81ba-53022711b402/41+-+Rick+Manning.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - “Archie” Rick Manning played for the Cleveland Indians (1975–1983) and Milwaukee Brewers (1983–1987), and has been a color commentator for Cleveland Guardians telecasts since 1990. When you listen to broadcasts, you may hear Manning referred to as “Arch” or “Archie.” This became his nickname because of another professional athlete who also has the name of Manning: former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Rick Manning’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38fe5674-fd9d-43e0-8453-ed950bda356e/41+-+batting+cage.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Nobody Worked Harder Albert would spend hours in the batting cage, arriving at the complex earlier than anyone else, and already having a full sweat going before his teammates would show up for practice or games. Albert, Jim Thome, and Manny Ramirez wouldn’t let “little hitters” like Kenny Lofton or Carlos Baerga get in the cage when they were in the zone. Bob says that “opportunity + preparation = luck” and that there are no better examples of that being true than Albert and himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ac95b1-12ea-4c17-a812-ea1daa19f32d/42+-+Charlie+Manuel.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Charlie Manuel After his own successful playing career, Charlie Manuel coached and managed the Cleveland Indians and managed the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the 2008 World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2009 National League Championship Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bob says Charlie Manuel was the perfect fit to be the hitting coach for the group of players on those mid- to late-90s Indians teams. He would talk hitting 24/7. Charlie Manuel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32e7e3f4-1424-46f0-9657-49b634a5b76a/43+-+Thome.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome’s Bat Point Jim Thome explains how (and why) Charlie Manuel helped him develop his iconic bat point during a rain delay in the 1993 season in THIS CLIP from the MLB Network. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/876284b4-67bd-4a7d-be65-eb9acb942fde/40+-+1994+-+8-Albert+Belle.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Albert Belle Albert Belle had the only 50 home run/50 double season in MLB history in 1995. At his peak, he was one of the most dominant (and one of the most feared) hitters in baseball. Albert Belle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c066eddd-a0d8-4dd6-bb25-2fa086edc2e4/40+-+corked+bat.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Corked Bat In the first inning of the game on July 15, 1994 at Comiskey Park, White Sox manager Gene Lamont was tipped off that Indians batter Albert Belle was using a corked bat. The Indians, knowing the bat was indeed corked, dispatched relief pitcher Jason Grimsley to retrieve the confiscated bat from the umpires' dressing room. Grimsley accessed the area above the false ceiling in the clubhouse and crawled across with a flashlight in his mouth until he reached the umpires' room. He switched Belle's bat with teammate Paul Sorrento's and returned to the clubhouse. The Indians were ordered by the American League to produce Belle's original, unaltered bat. Initially, the AL had threatened to involve the FBI in regards to the burglary, but they dropped the issue in exchange for the bat. On July 18, the bat was sent to MLB in New York where it was x-rayed and then sawed in half in the presence of Belle and Indians GM John Hart. The bat was found to be corked and Belle was suspended by the AL for 10 games. Jason Grimsley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30aa3de7-610d-437f-b5ff-ce7c13a5405a/44+-+craig+sager.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Craig Sager Craig Sager was a sports reporter who covered an array of sports for CNN and its sister stations TBS and TNT, from 1981 until his death in late 2016. Sager began his career as a reporter for WXLT in Sarasota, Florida. He worked as a radio news director in 1974, making $95 a week for his efforts, a paltry sum which was supplemented by his access to sports events. Sager was in Atlanta and dodged security to be on the field on April 8, 1974, when Henry Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run, becoming the first to interview him at home plate amidst mass fan pandemonium. During a TV spot for TBS in 1987, Bob got in trouble because he told Craig Sager, on the air, how to cork a bat. That kind of thing was frowned upon, to say the least. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8d90d6a-197b-4e4e-8bc7-a7440c78e2d0/44+-+corked+bat.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Corking A Bat After Sammy Sosa’s bat was shattered by Devil Rays pitcher and former Cubs teammate Jeremi Gonzalez during the first inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 win on June 3, 2003, catcher Toby Hall retrieved a broken piece and showed plate umpire Tim McClelland it was filled with pieces of cork. Sosa was promptly ejected, and the “crime” became national news. Sammy said it was an accident - that he had used the bat during batting practice and accidentally grabbed it by mistake when he went to the plate. Bob tells us that there are good ways to cork a bat, and bad ways, but that the point of corking a bat isn’t to hit more or longer home runs. The point of corking a bat is to make it lighter, giving players some extra swing speed in the dog days of summer when their bodies are tired and may be dragging a bit. Sammy Sosa’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae57b4a7-8e72-4430-99b1-5eccc0fc0356/48+-+Phil+Seghi.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Phil Seghi Phil Seghi was a front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A longtime associate of Gabe Paul, Seghi was credited with signing Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits, when Seghi was farm system and scouting director of the Cincinnati Reds in 1960. In 1963, Seghi was promoted by Bill DeWitt to assistant general manager, but a change in ownership and the arrival of Bob Howsam in 1967 as GM caused Seghi to leave Cincinnati for the Oakland Athletics at the close of that season. Seghi would serve 13 full seasons as Cleveland's general manager, starting in 1973. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6456e24-a4cd-482d-ac44-c25cc3fac9c1/49+-+Joe+Neikro.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Niekro On August 3, 1987, Twins knuckleballer Joe Niekro was ejected after umpires determined he was trying to scuff balls, presumably to give his signature pitch a bit more movement. That's the short version. The long version is much more entertaining. Watch this. Niekro denied that he was scuffing the ball. He said he always kept an emery board in his pocket to keep his nails in proper shape for a better grip on the knuckleball (though, he also had sandpaper). The league suspended him for 10 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/855b54a1-fd20-4636-9ee4-d11de12c041b/50+-+Joe+Carter.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Carter In the winter following the 1989 season, John Hart traded the big league club's only real star, Joe Carter, to the Padres for a package which included Sandy Alomar, Jr. and Carlos Baerga. Carter enjoyed a breakout season with the Indians in 1986, when he led the major leagues with 121 runs batted in and recorded career highs of 200 base hits, 341 total bases, and 108 runs scored. In Cleveland, Carter established himself as a prolific power hitter, hitting as many as 35 home runs in a season and regularly driving in 100 or more runs. He was also a very good base runner, stealing 20-30 bases a year with a high rate of success. In 1987, Carter became a member of the single-season 30–30 club for home runs/stolen bases. Joe Carter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1924feb7-0aee-4ec9-869b-8d31fc94bee1/51+-+1991+-+13-Sandy+Alomar.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sandy Alomar, Jr. Sandy Alomar, Jr. won Rookie of the Year in 1990 and a Gold Glove, and was a 6-time All-Star during his 11 years with Cleveland, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award when the game was held at Jacobs Field in 1997. That season, Sandy also put together a 30-game hitting streak (one short of Nap Lajoie's franchise record, and four short of his former Padres teammate Benito Santiago's record for catchers), and helped lead Cleveland to their third straight postseason appearance. Sandy Alomar, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bc4bc20-1916-4dbf-b032-a49bb79a9fda/52+-+1997+ASG+MVP.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Leader “When he spoke, everybody listened.” Sandy suffered a number of injuries over the first half of his career, but in 1997, everything finally came together. He batted .324 and was the MVP of the All-Star game in his home ballpark, hitting a game-deciding two-run home run off Shawn Estes to the left field bleachers in the bottom of the 7th inning of a 3–1 American League win. Alomar was the first player to hit an All-Star game home run in his home stadium since Hank Aaron in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbe3e692-f379-46c5-bcb8-1fe6609888b8/53+-+Mel+Harder.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mel Harder The only player to have spent more seasons in a Cleveland uniform than Sandy Alomar, Jr. (as both a player and coach combined) is Mel Harder, who spent 36 consecutive seasons with the team. Harder spent 42 seasons in baseball, the first 36 with the Indians as a pitcher from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly regarded pitching coaches from 1948 to 1963. He set franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched (3,426.1) which were later broken by Bob Feller, and he still holds the club record of 582 career games pitched. He was among the AL's career leaders in wins (9th), games (8th) and starts (10th) when he retired. He was also an excellent fielder, leading AL pitchers in putouts four times, then a record. Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f4175c1-b14d-4405-9ebf-598c3fb9ab26/54+-+Jacobs+Field.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Always Available Charles Nagy, Mel Harder, and Sandy Alomar, Jr. play catch at a publicity photo shoot during the construction of Jacobs Field. Bob says he is forever indebted to Sandy, Charlie, and Carlos Baerga for their constant willingness to show up for events like this one during such an important time for the franchise to get good PR. Charles Nagy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3aeb0d6-9e13-4eae-a941-6e4c104c8b15/55+-+Cleveland+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The commemorative tickets for the final series at Cleveland Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8baacddc-ea52-4d66-9098-99630028b154/56+-+1993+-+13-Carlos+Baerga.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Carlos Baerga Carlos Baerga ended up spending a little more than 6 and a half seasons with Cleveland. He was known for his superb hitting abilities during his first stint with the Indians in the early-to-mid-1990s, accumulating impressive batting statistics, earning three All-Star appearances (1992, 1993, 1995), two Silver Slugger Awards (1993, 1994), and making key contributions to the Indians' 1995 postseason run. He was considered one of Major League Baseball's hardest-hitting middle infielders by 1995 with his superb bat speed and switch-hitting power. Carlos Baerga’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/281775e5-09a6-442e-ae3b-9c1fc6ff20c3/57+-+Carlos.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Historic Talent On April 8, 1993, Carlos Baerga became the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. He hit a two-run shot against Yankees southpaw Steve Howe in the 7th inning and finished the frame with a home run from the left side of the plate against Steve Farr. Bob called Carlos the spiritual leader of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a2a62a5-f7ea-4424-a682-0ac36306edfd/58+-+Spanish.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Spanish Broadcasting Carlos Baerga is the analyst for the Cleveland Guardians Spanish-language radio broadcasts on WARF 1350 AM in Cleveland. He rotates play-by-play duties with Rafa Hernández-Brito and Octavio Sequera. Baerga's Spanish-language broadcasts cover all 81 home games during the regular season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af0337eb-8c88-45ca-bf47-bd6108bfec74/59+-+Thome.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome Cleveland drafted Jim Thome in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft from Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. He came up as a third baseman, but struggled there defensively, and would eventually make the move over to First Base, where he had a Hall of Fame career. In his initial stint with Cleveland, a 12-season run which lasted from 1991 through 2002, Thome batted .287, averaging 39 home runs and 109 RBI per 162 games. He won a Silver Slugger Award, was a 3-time All-Star, and finished top-7 in MVP voting 3 times, but that’s a career no one expected from a community college kid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06799f57-6b18-4c84-92a9-e46ce69078cd/60+-+Thome.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - An Athletic Family Many of the Thome family played sports. Jim's grandmother was hired at a local Caterpillar plant solely to play for the company's softball team. His father built bulldozers for Caterpillar and played slow-pitch softball. His aunt, Caroline Thome Hart, is in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame. His two older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, each played baseball at Limestone High School. Jim Thome’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c4723e4-15b4-4013-9238-d3cff2f6cf69/61+-+1996+-+Manny+Ramirez.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Manny Ramirez Cleveland drafted Manny Ramirez with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft out of George Washington High School in New York. Manny was called up for 22 games in 1993, but his real tenure in Cleveland was from 1994 through 2000. In less than 1,000 games with the Indians, Manny hit 236 home runs, he had 804 RBI, and 1,086 hits. He batted .313, but he also walked 541 times, putting his on-base percentage at .407. He was a 4-time All-Star with Cleveland, a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and finished top-6 in MVP voting 3 times. And that was all BEFORE he left for Boston, where his career really took off. Manny Ramirez’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5dd8284a-8510-421e-abd3-243a208dd8f4/62+-+1999.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Manny’s 1999 Season In 1999, Manny Ramirez had a remarkable season, posting a .333 batting average with 44 home runs and a league-leading 165 RBI. While he led the league in RBI, he finished third in American League MVP voting, behind Ivan Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez. The 1999 Indians team scored 1,009 runs, becoming only the 7th team since 1900 to cross the plate more than a thousand times in a single season. No team has done it since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68a9bd96-0ed1-4ed1-b1de-52830aadc709/63+-+High+School.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Top Prospect Scouts wrote that the Washington Heights senior had "big-time power" with the ability to hit 400-500 home runs. (He'd end up hitting 555.) He batted .650 with 14 dingers in just 22 games his final year in high school. His swing was art in motion. “Manny goes to call a timeout and he puts his back hand up. The umpire never gave him time so Trovin Valdez threw the pitch. Manny was trying to get his hand on the bat, never got it on the bat, and just swung," third base coach Steve Mandl says. "He hit the ball down the left-field line into some handball courts ... almost 400 feet. He definitely didn't get his other hand on the bat, I was standing right there." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67f5c39f-3201-4c22-a0f4-09a192547fd8/64+-+Bob+Fisher.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Fisher Dr. Robert "Bob” Fisher retired in 2010 after 42 seasons as head coach of the Baldwin Wallace University baseball program. Coach Fisher was the winningest head coach in the history of the college with 700 career wins (700-641-14 overall). Fisher was selected by his fellow OAC coaches as the 1996 Coach of the Year, the fourth time in his career he had been honored with the award. The last 35 Fisher-coached squads won 10 or more games, while 14 teams won 20 or more. Under Fisher, BW advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament 4 times and the OAC Playoffs 16 times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ab38d8a-4949-4f36-a99e-c398378e5af2/65+-+Davis.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Allen Davis aka Abraham Allende Allende will be remembered by many in Greater Cleveland for his years as a sportscaster when he used the professional name of Allen Davis. Davis worked for six years at WKYC Channel 3 and eight years at WEWS Channel 5. He then was director of community relations for the Cleveland Indians. He left the Indians in 2000 to study for the ministry and dropped Davis in favor of Abraham Allende, his given name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ef392a6-33d8-4d02-b2f4-8824e003d205/66+-+batting+order.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Batting Order This was the batting order the Indians used during Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS. Pretty insane to have such an embarrassment of riches that you can slot Jim Thome 6th and Manny Ramirez 7th in the order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/566f90bd-6fbe-4a3b-baba-02c7014b59dd/67+-+Cecil+Fielder.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Cecil Fielder Cecil Fielder played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1988), in Japan's Central League for the Hanshin Tigers (1989), and then in MLB for the Detroit Tigers (1990–1996), New York Yankees (1996–97), Anaheim Angels in 1998, and Cleveland Indians in 1998. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–home run mark since George Foster hit 52 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977. He was the first AL player to do so since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris famously hit 54 and 61 in 1961. He is the father of Prince Fielder, who similarly established himself as a premier power hitter during his career. The Fielders are the only father and son to both have 50-home run seasons in MLB history. Cecil Fielder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e129ca4d-3723-40d9-b526-2fe6e68e4cf9/68+-+1995+-+Kenny+Loften.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Kenny Lofton In the winter following the 1991 season, Cleveland traded for Kenny Lofton. In his first stint with the team from 1992 through 1996, Lofton averaged 6.2 WAR per season, batting .316, stealing 325 bases, and playing elite defense in the outfield. Kenny Lofton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8789ab53-89bd-4dfb-9099-201048fc808b/69+-+Kenny+Lofton+basketball.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Multi Sport Star “I don’t know if there’s another player more dynamic in our franchise’s history than Kenny Lofton.” A pretty big statement from Bob, considering 2025 is the franchise’s 125th season. But Kenny started out as a basketball player, attending the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship and leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1988. The team was coached by Lute Olson and included Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, Jud Buechler, Sean Rooks, and Tom Tolbert, all of whom went on to play in the NBA. Lofton did not join the school's baseball team until his junior year, but was so athletic he was drafted by the Houston Astros. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f74a1ea3-2fab-4811-a925-1c592dbcae29/70+-+Omar.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Omar Vizquel In the winter following the 1993 season, Cleveland traded for Omar Vizquel, who was on the Mariners. John Hart kind of pulled a quick one because he was friends with Edgar Martinez who was teammates with Vizquel at the time. Hart coyly asked Edgar about Omar. Edgar said “he’s special, he’s going to be a star,” and Hart traded for him later that day. Bob said that of all the players from the ‘90s Indians, he had the most fun watching Omar Vizquel play ball. Omar Vizquel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a09213cb-8049-43a8-89c0-cf94622c5088/71+-+Duane+Kuiper.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Duane Kuiper As a player, Duane Kuiper was a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants. As a middle infielder, he was Bob’s favorite player growing up. Save for one year, Kuiper has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants since 1986, and is one half of the popular "Kruk and Kuip" duo alongside his friend and former teammate Mike Krukow. He briefly left the Giants in 1993 to work for the expansion Colorado Rockies, but returned in 1994. Duane Kuiper’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/230927c7-907a-4e4e-8ac7-20a15ea46efe/72+-+1996+-+Eddie+Murray.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Eddie Murray The first really big acquisitions where Cleveland spent legitimate money was when they signed First Baseman Eddie Murray and Pitcher Dennis Martinez before the 1994 season. Murray signed a one-year, $3 million contract with an option for a second year, to play First Base. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b606aaf0-d65f-40e6-b470-7ff1b1cbcc93/999+-+Lajoie+and+Speaker.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 3,000 Hit Club Eddie Murray would get his 3,000th hit on June 30, 1995 in a game against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 20th player in Major League history to join the club, and the third to do so in a Cleveland uniform, joining Napoleon Lajoie, who did it in 1914, and Tris Speaker, who did it in 1925. Here, Bob holds the bats of Napoleon Lajoie and Tris Speaker on a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff71a0a3-703b-48e8-b37a-911896f5d977/73+-+Dennis+Martinez.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dennis Martínez José Dennis Martínez Ortiz was nicknamed "El Presidente" ('The President'). He was the first Nicaraguan to play in the major leagues. During his career, Martínez pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves from 1976 to 1998. He threw a perfect game in 1991, and was a four-time MLB All-Star. Dennis Martínez’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0112da2-d8ab-4067-8ca7-a6114c5b4d38/74+-+Key+Tower.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Key Tower Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center) is a skyscraper on Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Designed by architect César Pelli, the building reaches 57 stories (947 feet) to the top of its spire, and is visible from up to 20 miles away. It is the tallest building in the state of Ohio, the 39th-tallest in the United States, and the 165th-tallest in the world. Bob remembered hearing that there was an amphitheater somewhere near the 28th floor on the south side of the building, which overlooked the construction site where Jacobs Field was being completed. He decided that would make a great location to hold the press conference announcing the signings of Dennis Martínez and Eddie Murray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a503327b-f3da-4fcf-bf82-44fa3b2a192e/75+-+630+group.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The 6:30 AM Group Eddie Murray Manny Ramirez Jim Thome Carlos Baerga Charlie Manuel was the hitting coach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/803c194b-18d9-488e-9f46-7317b81fa398/76+-+Strike.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Strike The 1994 Indians started the season 14-17, but then went on a 52-30 run before The Strike hit. They had been as many as 5 games back, but they had closed the gap to just 1 game back of the first place White Sox by the time the season ended prematurely after their win against Toronto on August 10. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e704b25-9d8a-418b-8a9a-859b33c11c42/77+-+Buddy+Bell.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Buddy Bell When the suggestion was made that replacement players would suit up for major league teams during The Strike, Buddy Bell refused to get in uniform to coach them, almost costing him his job. Buddy Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1a1f382-855f-493e-ba05-55b61c1e7c32/78+-+455.jpeg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Sellout Streak 1995 was an interesting year in baseball. Lots of other teams had trouble winning their fans back after The Strike. There was serious talk that the sport may never recover, that fans might never come back and support their teams like they had Pre-Strike. The Indians didn't seem to have that problem. Every home game from June 12th on was sold out, a streak which wouldn’t end until April 4, 2001. By then, the team had sold out a then-Major League record 455 consecutive regular-season home games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/689687af-8fad-494a-aacd-1d7ee1058941/79+-+Paul+Assenmacher.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Paul Assenmacher Paul Assenmacher was a left-handed relief pitcher who played for fourteen seasons. He pitched for the Atlanta Braves (1986–1989), Chicago Cubs (1989–1993), New York Yankees (1993), Chicago White Sox (1994) and the Cleveland Indians (1995–1999). Assenmacher is tied with Mike Jackson for most games pitched in the 1990s (644). He was a very good fielding pitcher, recording a .986 fielding percentage with only two errors in 146 total chances in 855.2 innings pitched. Paul Assenmacher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e9b5ffe-901d-48ac-81b1-be03d037365f/80+-+Eric+Plunk.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Eric Plunk Eric Plunk played from 1986 through 1999. He pitched for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers. Plunk was the winning pitcher in the first ever game played at Jacobs Field on April 4, 1994. He became one of the most reliable set-up men in baseball, posting a sub-3.00 earned run average in four consecutive seasons from 1993 to 1996. On September 17, 1996, Plunk pitched the final three innings and got the save in the Indians' 9-4 win over the White Sox that clinched Cleveland's second consecutive Central Division title. Eric Plunk’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c044d7-84a5-4a6e-8085-15e2882831ea/81+-+Jose+Mesa.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - José Mesa José Mesa played from 1987 through 2007. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers. He retired with 321 career saves. Mesa was a two-time MLB All-Star and won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1995, when he led the AL in saves. His nickname was "Joe Table", the literal translation of his name in the English language. José Mesa’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20e6c77f-c03f-4789-8b34-9d98164a22a4/83+-+Opening+Day.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jacobs Field Opening Day at Jacobs Field may have been “Just Perfect,” but it almost never happened. The referendum for the new stadium passed 52-48, barely allowing it to be built. In fact, the state of baseball in Cleveland was in such limbo during this time that Bob actually wrote two different press releases in preparation for the announcement: one for if it passed and the team stayed in Cleveland, and another for if it didn't pass and the team would leave town. Commissioner Fay Vincent came to Cleveland at Dick Jacobs’ request and told the media that if the referendum didn’t pass, there was no guarantee there would be a team in Cleveland moving forward. Thankfully, the referendum did pass, and Jacobs Field would be the new stadium for the 1994 season. It was the first time since the 1946 season that the Indians were playing in a stadium that was built specifically for baseball. Opening Day was April 4, 1994, with President Bill Clinton on hand to throw out the first pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22cc95d8-7b80-4b1f-9dc2-4ef1326c1084/83+-+Feller.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Bob Feller waves to the crowd during opening day ceremonies on April 4, 1994 at Jacobs Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be85d390-a014-47f6-ba58-f1d33f7550d0/84+-+Hal+Lebovitz.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hal Lebovitz Hal Lebovitz began his baseball-writing career in 1946 with the now defunct Cleveland News, covering the Indians as the paper's beat writer from 1950 until the News folded in 1960. Lebovitz then moved to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, covering baseball until 1964 when he became the paper's sports editor, a position he held for over 20 years. He was also a regular contributor to the Sporting News from 1947 to 1993. On several occasions, he was instrumental in keeping the Indians from moving, most notably in the 1970s, when he found out the plan to split an Indians season between homes being played in Cleveland and New Orleans, with the team eventually moving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f46e7391-7131-4332-b9ba-201c717028d4/86+-+Bob%27s+team.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Crushing Blow Had Cleveland lost their baseball team, it would have been a crushing blow for Bob, both personally and professionally. He would have lost his dream job, but he also would have lost the team he grew up loving. The team which made him fall in love with the sport. It’s one thing to lose a job, but you can always find another job. Losing a team is a pain that can never be fully healed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ac8cc72-07b0-42ee-9d82-e6a6dca5b871/87+-+Orel+Hershiser.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Orel Hershiser Orel Hershiser won 134 games for the Dodgers through the 1994 season, finishing Top-4 in Cy Young voting 4 different times, and winning the award during the Dodgers’ magical 1988 season. In April of 1995, he signed with Cleveland for less than half of what he had made the previous season in Los Angeles. Hershiser said the reason he signed with Cleveland is because he looked at their lineup, realized they were scoring 7.5 runs a game, and thought to himself, “my abilities may be dwindling, but I can stick around a game long enough for a win if my offense is scoring 7.5 runs for me.” Orel Hershiser’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/879f1b50-2e84-40de-8c23-4252156f7485/88+-+Nagy.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Pitching Staff Everyone remembers that 1995 Indians team for being an offensive juggernaut, but the pitching staff had the best team ERA in the American League. Orel Hersheiser, Dennis Martinez, and Charles Nagy (seen here) anchored the rotation. 38 of closer Jose Mesa's 46 saves in 1995 were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations, a major-league record at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3397f508-2185-4449-838c-dc1cd522c99a/89+-+1954.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1954 Pitching Staff The 1954 Indians pitching staff won the Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in Wins, Innings Pitched, and Strikeouts. Here, Cleveland manager Al Lopez kneels alongside his pitchers, from left: Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Mike Garcia and Herb Score. Lopez guided the 1954 Indians to a dazzling, record-setting 111-43 record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2323408-3c03-48f9-a8df-50f7bbec74c2/90+-+Fryman.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Travis Fryman Travis Fryman played for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 2002. Fryman batted .287 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs in 1998, his first season in Cleveland, to help lead his team to the American League Central division crown. Injuries hampered Fryman in 1999. He rebounded to have his best season in 2000. He established career highs in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.516), on-base percentage (.392), hits (184), doubles, and RBIs (106). Additionally, he made only eight errors in the field and had a 60-game errorless streak on his way to winning a Gold Glove Award. He was also the starting third baseman for the American League at the All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b8292d-d0f2-4fe1-b564-3aab4fb6c487/91+-+Jacobs+Field.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out While having suites and tons more ticket sales allowed the Indians to have a payroll that competed with the big market teams, it wasn’t the brand new stadium that put fans in those seats… it was the dominant team on the field. Other teams around the country didn’t necessarily understand that major point when they tried to build new stadiums of their own, thinking that would automatically cure any money issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/974abb94-40ca-4ac5-8050-7bedd9cd761d/92+-+Hall+of+Famers.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hall of Famers The 1995 team had three Hall of Famers on it in Jim Thome, Eddie Murray, and Dave Winfield. Here, Bob hangs out on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York with Eddie (left) and Dave (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a99addfd-322a-4f33-ba96-139c99745e4e/93+-+Winfield.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dave Winfield Over his 22-year career, Dave Winfield played for six teams: the Padres, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins, and Indians. He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Braves. Winfield was a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner. In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 in his first year of eligibility, and was an inaugural inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. The 1995 Indians team was so stacked that people forget Winfield was even on it. He didn’t even make the playoff roster, that’s how great the team was. Dave Winfield’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e68d69dd-2f65-40e6-b8f6-e5f08bcb71e7/94+-+Wahoo.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Wahoo! What A Finish Valerie Arcuri Bonacci is a former Vice President of Marketing and Broadcasting for the Cleveland Indians where she spent 17 years. Like most players, she paid her dues with a three-year tour of duty in the Minor Leagues (Kinston, North Carolina). Valerie, along with the people at Major League Baseball, conceived of and produced the “Wahoo! What a Finish” documentary, which chronicled the come-from-behind wins of the Indians. Bob decided to hold a press conference announcing the release of the VHS tape. The people at MLB were shocked at the reception. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/441300bb-a385-4ac2-97b0-7d4d77bc4ccc/95+-+1952-08-15+Opening+Ceremony+at+Municipal+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Team Museum Bob says that the plan is for Progressive Field to eventually have a team museum, which is something the Indians actually pioneered more than 70 years ago. On August 15, 1952, Cleveland Municipal Stadium officially opened the first team museum inside a baseball stadium, pictured here during its opening day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13f0d621-d6aa-49bd-90bc-dc6ef4ecf858/96+-+1970+Cleveland+Indians+Hall+Of+Fame.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Filling In The Gaps While the museum was groundbreaking, and had some really cool artifacts, it didn’t last forever, and most of the pieces were lost or stolen after it closed and things were put into storage. It has been a difficult task for current team historian Jeremy Feador to retroactively build a museum to go into the current stadium, but it is a task he is working hard to accomplish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba25851-70a2-417e-88cc-e24bbc4adc87/97+-+Hargrove.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mike Hargrove After his own successful major league career was over, Mike Hargrove started at the lowest rung in professional baseball, as the hitting instructor at Batavia of the short season Class A New York-Penn League, but worked his was all the way up to become the manager of the big league club. He took over the Indians in July of 1991 when John McNamara was dismissed. The Indians were a team in disarray and destined to lose a franchise record 105 games. He went on to win 721 games in 9 years at the helm of the Tribe, leading them to two World Series trips. Mike Hargrove’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccc78110-75b3-4adc-ac7e-98ef65711e26/98+-+Piniella.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Lou Piniella Lou Piniella won the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1995 when he led the Mariners to a 79-66 record, and again in 2001 when he led the Mariners to a record-tying 116 wins. Piniella earned 86 points (9 first place votes) to win the 1995 award, while Mike Hargrove (71 points, 8 first place votes) finished third behind Boston’s Kevin Kennedy (74 points, 11 first place votes). While it is definitely a shame that Mike Hargrove never won a Manager of the Year award during his career, I’m sure Bob feels like Addie Joss’ death, Ray Chapman’s death, or the 1993 boating accident which took the lives of Steve Olin and Tim Crews are all higher on the franchise’s official Travesty List. Lou Piniella’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b77356b6-13ff-4863-ba21-dc6ae0cea7f6/99+-+coaches.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out 1995 Cleveland Indians coaching staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/750bbd36-a35f-42ca-8051-6919416e9641/100+-+Tony+Pena+with+WKYC+Channel+3+Sports+Anchor+Jim+Donovan.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Tony Peña’s Walkoff In three seasons with Cleveland, Tony Peña hit 8 home runs total in the regular season. But he hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS against Boston. Here he is with WKYC Channel 3 Sports Anchor Jim Donovan after hitting his dramatic home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/56e8ee48-8267-4ce3-99c7-057ca896b0da/101+-+Uecker.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Uecker Bob Uecker was the color commentator for that World Series on NBC with Bob Costas performing play-by-play duties. As storied of a career as Uecker had as a broadcaster, the only two World Series he called were the 1995 Series, and the 1997 Series. How fitting, though, for him to be on the mic both times for the Indians, after his portrayal of Harry Doyle in the Major League movie franchise. Bob Uecker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22d91471-b02c-48e2-a398-53c6da6a50ae/102+-+Major+League.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Goes Hollywood Bob hanging out with Jake Taylor and Rick Vaughn, probably talking about a potential prospect from the California Penal League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6be2dda8-b455-45c4-9358-5b3e5cea5bc7/103+-+Herb+Score.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Herb Score Herb Score pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1955 through 1959 and the Chicago White Sox from 1960 through 1962. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1955, and an AL All-Star in 1955 and 1956. Due to an on-field injury that occurred in 1957, he retired early as a player in 1962. Score joined the Tribe’s broadcast team in 1964, spending the first four years on television and the next 29 on the radio, through 1997. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006. Herb Score’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4360965a-adac-44b3-a606-9aef8d89d4a7/104+-+Braves.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - What If…? From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning 14 consecutive division titles, making an MLB record 8 consecutive NLCS appearances, and producing one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball including Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. But they only won that one World Series, and if the Indians had won in 1995 instead, I think we look back at those Braves teams the same way we look at the Buffalo Bills who went to four straight Super Bowls but couldn't win one. Who knows the butterfly effect that 1995 World Series started? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/115120bc-915b-4a0a-91b1-458ba1e9c13a/105+-+Brinkman.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Brinkman Joe Brinkman worked in the American League from 1972 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his 2006 retirement. Brinkman was the left field umpire for Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS between the Mariners and the Yankees, meaning he was the umpire who officially ruled Edgar Martinez's famous double a fair ball. Brinkman was also the home plate umpire with the controversial strike zone during Game 6 of the 1995 World Series between the Indians and Braves. Joe Brinkman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8ada3a5-2565-44b0-9633-4ee29cfa9b91/106+-+1995+World+Series.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Close Series The 1995 World Series was extremely close, with the Braves only outscoring the Indians 23-19 over the span of the six game series. Game 1 - Braves win 3-2 Game 2 - Braves win 4-3 Game 3 - Indians win 7-6 in 11 innings Game 4 - Braves win 5-2 Game 5 - Indians win 5-4 Game 6 - Braves win 1-0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b972f5b-6fe5-4dbe-bae9-24262abd10f7/107+-+Rally.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - World Series Rally The city of Cleveland held a rally for the Indians at Public Square after the season, which is something that doesn't happen often. On October 30, 50,000 people dropped whatever they would have normally been doing on a Monday to make a pilgrimage to Public Square to celebrate a team that didn’t win the world series. Bob wants to be sure you understand it was a rally, not a parade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b3bb4a3-0363-4681-8be1-2a62e1bef9b6/108+-+Omar.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Omar’s Speech Bob remembers Omar Vizquel giving a funny speech at the rally, talking about an older woman who came up to him in Atlanta to tell him how much she loved him and the way the team played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c583be5d-8bfb-4a78-b70d-0b31e12f02bb/109+-+sold+out+events.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 91 Sold Out Events The 1997 season at Jacobs Field featured an unprecedented 91 sold out events, from every home Indians game, to the All-Star Game, to the Home Run Derby, to playoff games. By the end of the year, everyone involved in the organization needed a vacation. Thankfully, Action Travel in Solon was there to help Bob and his family take that vacation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a08bf9ab-e6ca-4669-bef4-cfc98afe18c8/110+-+Winning.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Guardian Way…? Cleveland has won more games over the past 12 years than every other team besides the Dodgers and Yankees, but you don't really hear about The Guardian Way. However, there is clearly an intentional philosophy of trying to create a sustained winning culture in action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00b504f6-574f-477d-915f-ac5e36844f62/111+-+3+things.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Philosophy in Cleveland Bob says that philosophy is based on 3 things: Acquisition of talent, with an emphasis on high character, quality talent. Development. Provide every possible resource that you can to make each person within the organization the best they can be Opportunity. Give them the opportunity to show what they can do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b179af5-9987-45b4-be45-1580e24aa6f4/112+-+1995+Indians+All+Stars.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Having The (All-)Stars Align It is insanely difficult to make the dollars, the talent, health, and the culture align. The Indians teams of the mid- to late-90s had the good fortune of those stars aligning, even if they didn’t win the big one. Here, the six players who represented the Indians at the 1995 All-Star Game in Texas take a photo together. Top row, left to right: Manny Ramirez, Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle Bottom row, left to right: Dennis Martinez, José Mesa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10b5463a-5fe1-48cd-bfc8-941ca5517de6/113+-+Dominican+Academy.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dominican Academy Cleveland made a major investment in their Dominican academy, placing an emphasis on finding talent in the baseball-rich country. The state-of-the art facility covers 22 acres and was built to accommodate 120 players, coaches, and staff. Fully furnished dormitory housing can hold up to 88 athletes who are supported by amenities that promote nutrition, mental-skills training, strength and conditioning, medical services and safety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a362d0-8aff-4b66-9680-456c0a807fbf/114+-+North+Coast+Social.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Among the changes made to Progressive Field this offseason was the reconfiguration of the upper deck in left field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b3293a1-dc7c-42ee-8812-474f62788baa/115+-+North+Coast+Social.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Look at these gorgeous views! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88414178-0217-478a-b5f3-d7396eda7070/116+-+Friend+Bologna.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Fried Bologna Sandwich One of the new menu items offered at Progressive Field this year is a piece of griddle-toasted bologna topped with American cheese, potato chips, and a tangy sauce on a brioche bun. Don’t tell Bob’s doctors if you see him eating one at the park this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c14168f8-49ec-4fc2-8858-7edfac2c94ab/117+-+Blue+Seats.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Blue Seats Progressive Field is in the midst of switching from forest green seats to blue. While they’re about 75% done making the transition, that will be a 3-year process, so there’s still a chance you get a green seat if you come to a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5975f948-7178-49a8-907b-5f174c1b6a0f/118+-+ALCS.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Behind The 8-Ball The Guardians advanced to the 2024 ALCS (I know, because I was there), which is always a good thing. However, it put the construction crew behind the 8-ball because it meant they couldn’t start the new phase of renovations until late October as they waited for the season to end. Surely, a tradeoff the Guardians will be happy to make every year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7d29ba9-1a57-488f-bc09-2bc09ae13f3c/119+-+Jim+Folk.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Folk Jim Folk is in his 41st season in Major League Baseball and 31st with the Cleveland Guardians. He joined the organization in June of 1992 as Director, Ballpark Operations and was elevated to Vice President, Ballpark Operations in November 2001; he will lead the next generation of ballpark improvements at Progressive Field after being named to his current position in December 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d053f528-670c-4b54-8ac8-8a4560be6cf1/120+-+Bill+Clinton.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - President Bill Clinton Bob had the honor of escorting sitting President Bill Clinton to the mound to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day of the inaugural 1994 season at Jacobs Field. For a kid from Lakewood, it was one of the thrills of his life. “Beautiful, man,” said Clinton in an interview of his thoughts of the new park, which was funded largely on a tax on liquor and cigarettes. “There isn’t enough federal money to rebuild the cities. It takes efforts like this one to bring in jobs and housing.” The capacity crowd roared as Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, ascended to the top step of the Indians’ dugout and looked up at the crowd behind him. Clinton wound up and threw a perfect strike to Sandy Alomar Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ebced14-ef2a-4f63-94fa-834ef1de2fe5/121+-100th+anniversary.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 100th Anniversary On July 21, 2001, the Indians brought back as many living members of their 100 greatest players to commemorate their 100th anniversary as a team. Front row, left to right: Herb Score, Al Rosen, Minnie Minoso, Mel Harder, Bob Feller, Steve Gromek, Ray Narleski, Vic Power Second row: Max Alvis, Tito Francona, Jim Perry, Kim Grant, Johnny Romano, Rocky Colavito, Joe Azcue, Woodie Held Third row: Luis Tiant, Sonny Siebert, Sam McDowell, Andre Thornton, Len Barker, Rick Manning, Pat Tabler, Ray Fosse Fourth row: Brook Jacoby, Doug Jones, Tom Candiotti, Joe Charboneau, Duane Kuiper, Gary Bell, Rick Waits, Orel Hershiser Top row: Omar Vizquel, Roberto Alomar, Charles Nagy, Jim Thome, Travis Fryman, Kenny Lofton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/859f3f4f-7351-45fc-af99-0fee68b52712/122+-+Friends.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - “How Lucky Am I?” Bob sits with his childhood hero, Rocky Colavito, at an event. Bob has been lucky enough to not only meet his childhood idols, but to become close personal friends with them over the 47 years he has spent on the job. While it is part of the job, and there is lots of important work to do, that perk is certainly not lost on him. Just a kid from Lakewood. Rocky Colavito’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea421cee-0578-419a-9e0b-09b29ed3394c/123+-+Bob.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Follow Bob Online Twitter Bob DiBiasio is also the host of “At the Ballpark with Bobby D” across the Cleveland Guardians radio network. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f9e213b-5004-4360-97ab-582d36c7dd0a/124+-+Guardians.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Follow The Guardians Online Facebook Twitter Bluesky Instagram Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c49e18f3-9fdf-4adc-b2cd-38f433631e3b/125+-+Bob%27s+House.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Home Sweet Home Bob was gracious enough to invite me to his house so we could sit down together and record this interview. I felt at home before I even walked in the door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdbb7111-b48e-4ded-991e-a2bd11437974/126+-+Decor.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Some of the items Bob has on display in his home office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0483f1b5-5505-4750-8d68-a4ecd2bb5258/127+-+Rings.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Oh, and these were kind of cool, too… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70712c12-0608-485a-adbe-acb994acc163/128+-+1997.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Don’t Worry… …that 1997 American League Champions ring wasn’t stolen. It was on Bob’s finger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65cf4e50-6874-4748-8cac-7f7f88116b62/129+-+Boyhood+Home.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sorry, Dorns This was my house growing up. If I ever get really famous, it will be known as my Boyhood Home. That set of windows in the upper right was my room. The driveway was almost the perfect dimensions for a half court of basketball, and every spring once the snow and ice were gone, I would draw a three point line and the free throw lane lines in chalk with the appropriate distances. I would be out there all day and night. My neighbors must have hated me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/772b8eff-8d4e-491e-890c-6d6329208565/130+-+Indiana+Dunes.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Indiana Dunes One of my favorite things about traveling is that you get to learn about and see places like this. Most people think Indiana is just a flat midwestern state. And, for the most part, it is. But it does still have some amazingly beautiful places, like the Indiana Dunes. It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22fa794a-d3db-4381-b245-bcfdb37946a4/131+-+math.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Young Dan The first baseball team I played on that used genuine baseball team names and logos happened to be the Indians. Here I am standing in front of my teammate and friend, Matt Corning, during the summer of 1994. It was about this age (7) when I started learning how math could help me understand sports better, such as learning probabilities, and calculating batting averages. It was funny to hear Bob say during our interview that he had similar experiences growing up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3cd3391-ce5a-48a1-ae6c-3394639c4ec6/132+-+Power.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Power Bats, Power Arms One of these guys had 134 career home runs. One of them had 381 home runs in about 10 full seasons worth of games. The other had 555 home runs. That ain’t too bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a17e1ba5-6601-4d34-8c00-2b443b8b9e83/133+-+Tyson.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - It’s One Thing To Have A Plan… … it’s something entirely different to be able to execute that plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70adbb22-9e31-4b52-9ee6-8f447342398b/134+-+HOF.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hall Of Fame The 1995 Indians team had three Hall of Famers on it. Now that MLB has officially reinstated Pete Rose and reconfirmed their stance that Joe Jackson isn’t on any ineligible list, that could potentially open the doors for guys from the Steroids Era to be inducted down the line. If that happens, Manny Ramirez will surely become a Hall of Famer, and possibly others from this team. If and when that happens, I’m sure Bob will be back in Cooperstown for their induction ceremonies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85eeb5c7-a3ee-4684-a96c-985cc2cde564/135+-+Lindor.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Francisco Lindor However Cleveland is building their culture, they’re doing an amazing job because their homegrown stars are willing to take less money to stay with the team. While Francisco Lindor was eventually traded to the Mets, before leaving, he had been willing to sign an extension with Cleveland for less than his market value. He was traded to the Mets following the 2020 season and later signed a 10-year, $341 million extension with the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5914dd1-04bb-4081-b1ab-076538ec0006/136+-+Jose.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez signed a contract with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022. It is worth $141 million, with a duration of seven years. It was an extension to a contract signed in 2021. And while, yes, $141 million is an enormous sum of money to you and me, it is FAR below what a player of his caliber would have been worth in free agency. Again, a player was willing to take less money than he knew he was worth, just so he could stay in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4d9dbef-e0e0-4b54-8b22-3d51163026b0/137+-+Pine+Tar.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Pine Tar Official Rule 1.10 (b) states that no substance can cover the handle more than 18 inches from the end, and if any substance extends past that limit, “in the umpire’s judgment,” the bat would be removed from the game. The “umpire’s judgment” mention is important to note here, because that is no exact science. Just ask George Brett. July 24, 1983: The Pine Tar Game article from the SABR Games Project by Bruce Slutsky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9d3f80-ba09-49a4-9d63-4c3ca6ca0971/138+-+Jim+Thome.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome What an unbelievable career Jim had, finishing with more than 600 career home runs. For a player with such amazing statistics, he bounced around to a handful of teams. The common denominator wherever he went, though, was that the fans and his teammates loved him. I saw that firsthand during the summer of 2008 when I had an internship where I covered the White Sox and Cubs in Chicago. Jim treated me with respect in a way that few other players that summer did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaba4b03-c5a1-4f2e-9753-d2da9e139407/139+-+Ken+Griffey+Jr.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ken Griffey, Jr. On July 30, 2008, famed photographer Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 608th career home run in his last game for the Reds. On July 31, at the trade deadline, Griffey was traded to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar, ending his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati. On August 20, 2008, Griffey hit his first home run as a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Dickey, which moved him into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth place in career home runs. Griffey surpassed Sosa on September 23, with one off Minnesota's Matt Guerrier. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20e4fdec-5efe-4405-bd26-35d5c78541de/140+-+Ted+Williams.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ted Williams On September 28, 1960, at Boston's Fenway Park, Red Sox star Ted Williams hit a home run in the last at-bat of his Hall of Fame career. Just shy of 10,500 fans attended the game, at the end of a 1960 season that saw the Sox finish 65-89. With Boston facing a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning, Williams strode to the plate for the last time and hit his final home run – number 521 – off pitcher Jack Fisher and into the Red Sox bullpen in right-centerfield. Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c748b0f-c562-4e3f-afaa-76b10f945264/141+-+Shift.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Ted Williams Shift The "Ted Williams Shift" - an extreme defensive positioning with six fielders stationed on the right half of the field - was born when Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau tried it on July 14, 1946. It was immortalized on this card from the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set. How did Williams do against the shift that day? Not bad. He became the first Red Sox player ever to hit three home runs in one game at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f6e18a0-3a4e-4d04-8a77-f269df59aec1/142+-+Mom%27s+view.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Progressive Field looks so nice driving on the highway with the skyline behind it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e87d54ab-5c92-4090-a8c5-3515b581f6c0/143+-+Broncos.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Is That All We Needed To Do?! The 1997 Denver Broncos were one of the teams in the 1990s who changed their uniforms and then immediately won the championship during their first season wearing them, as they beat the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5725c446-c4b8-4348-81ca-5c40b4cbf2e8/144+-+Building+the+Stadium.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - It Takes More Than Simply Building A New Stadium You also need to put a winning team on the field. Luckily for the Indians, they did both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d8b7583-65dc-4df0-ad44-5fe1c36b34f8/145+-+Heritage+Park.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Heritage Park at Progressive Field https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dc56c72-6fa4-42ad-bfdc-93e42ce9e8b3/146+-+lower+level.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The lower level at Heritage Park. Don’t miss it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49ebbc2b-cd9f-4a04-a7e2-dffa8ea0cded/147+-+heritage+park.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Me and Joe One of the many photos I have taken over the years with Joe’s plaque on the lower level of Heritage Park at Progressive Field. If you ever go to a game with me in Cleveland, I promise, I will take you down there to show this to you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e5ec082-2a8b-4611-b1a0-8ad735348eab/148+-+Ray%27s+plaque.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The Ray Chapman plaque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abf3d9f8-ef06-4bcd-8b03-1410cecee8b2/149+-+HOF.PNG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A New Museum? It seems like the plan is for there to be some kind of museum or museum-like area in Progressive Field when all of the renovations are done. The Indians were the first franchise to have a museum in their stadium, so it would be fitting for their current stadium to have one again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7606861f-8cbc-42b0-8ffd-ed7fc4f982b6/150+-+2001+reunion+3.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Monetize Your History! It has always shocked me that teams don’t find better ways to monetize their own histories. Selling throwback uniforms of the great players from their franchise’s past seems like such an easy thing to do. Show me a picture of the guy wearing the uniform, then have a rack of those exact uniforms hanging right next to it for me to make an impulse buy. I will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d6f98a7-2593-436d-9582-6e2ee9f5d48c/151+-+Upper+Deck.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Upper Deck Some of the new seats in the upper deck at Progressive Field, with the red seats forming the diamond C logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50b34c1c-5098-4894-bcfc-bdd36284c5d3/152+-+Bobby+D.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Everybody’s Buddy There’s a reason Bob has been around the organization for nearly half a century. He’s great at his job, but he’s an even better person, as is evident when you see the number of long-lasting friendships he has with the players he has worked with over the years. Here, Bob catches up with Joe Charboneau and Sandy Alomar, Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3cfdd02-1d8a-4459-bf0a-5352d7713a20/153+-+Forever+indebted.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Forever indebted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4ab6aa-08a9-485f-a5f9-062b84fb20e7/154+-+vibrant.JPG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Young At Heart Bob was the perfect person to talk with about this team. He’s vibrant, and energetic, and is clearly just so passionate about this franchise and those players. It was a joy to watch him remember these stories in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c2189fd-1227-4c59-8175-96a0a48ea95a/155+-+1981.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Longest Tenured Employees 2025 is Bob’s 46th season overall with the Guardians, but his current stint started in 1988. Johnny Goryl and Wendy Hoppel are believed to be the other longest-tenured employees of the Guardians. Wendy’s tenure with the club began in June of 1984 when she was hired as an assistant to the Farm & Scouting Director. 2025 is Wendy’s 41st season in the Guardians Baseball Operations department and her 25th season as the club’s Director of Baseball Administration. Johnny Goryl is a Special Assistant to Player Development whose tenure with the club began in 1982. He won the Cleveland BBWAA “Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy” Award in 1986, and was inducted into the Guardians Distinguished Hall of Fame in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96471df5-79e5-4c87-86cb-a324a8c18155/156+-+Indians.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Long History With The Tribe Even though I grew up in Chicago as a White Sox fan, I also liked the Indians a lot. My first team with a real MLB team name and logo was in 1994 when my team was the Indians, and then the actual Indians went on their run so it was easy to want to root for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9d547ae-5d6f-43a5-892b-5133458006e5/157+-+Ken+Griffey+Jr.+Slugfest.JPEG Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest One of my favorite video games to play growing up was Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest on my Game Boy Color. I would always play as the Indians because they just had such an amazing lineup, and I loved being able to manipulate the batting order to alternate between right-handed and left-handed batters since they had each, as well as a number of switch hitters. The speed in the lineup allowed me to steal an inordinate amount of bases, and to just cause chaos on the basepaths and for the pitcher, in general. Here are the stats I kept for one season’s worth of games. *Note: No trades were made. This is the original roster of the Cleveland Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/492c8f69-e2c6-4248-8f9c-d8a3c95d1602/158+-+email.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77f3e5b5-2e1e-4ba1-8972-9410f7470166/159+-+Giveaway+Book.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of The Glorious Indian Summer of 1995; When A Season of Dreams Became Reality in Cleveland by Russell Schneider? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a713cda5-394f-4927-ab09-ebcad45bbe01/160+-+Home+Runs.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Absurd Power On May 9, 1995, in just the 12th game of the season, the Cleveland Indians tied a major league record by scoring eight runs in the 1st inning before making an out. Seven of those runs scored as the result of home runs, including Kenny Lofton’s leadoff homer, Paul Sorrento’s grand slam, and Carlos Baerga’s two-run blast. Cleveland went on to a 10 – 0 victory behind Orel Hershiser and Paul Assenmacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/914e27ed-6bd1-4dfd-b23c-906e0688ec6d/161+-+307+Home+Runs.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 307 Home Runs The 1995 Indians hit 207 home runs in 144 games. That might not seem like a lot, especially when the current single-season record for most home runs by a team is 307, which was achieved by both the 2019 Twins and the 2023 Braves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dde5fe4e-7acb-4e5a-94ff-82ea743faf00/162++-1997+Griffey.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1997 Mariners Until Major League Baseball started messing with the baseball in the 2000s, the pre-2000 record was just 264 home runs by the 1997 Mariners. Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 56 of those 264 home runs, the first of two straight seasons in which Griffey would tie for his career high with 56. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/647b8e63-2359-43af-ad4c-779ef6d74650/163+-+1995+Albert+Belle.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1995 Indians Let’s remember, once again, that the 1995 season was shortened because of the Strike. The Indians hit 207 home runs in just 144 games, averaging more than 1.4 home runs per game. If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have hit 233 home runs, which would have been good enough for the 4th highest single-season total in history at the time. Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 50 out of the team’s 207 home runs hit that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/315c45ef-ea93-4601-bf15-5f40ab281281/164+-+Albert+Belle.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1,000 Runs Similarly, Bob mentioned how the 1995 team did not score 1,000 runs. They did score 840 runs, which was an average of more than 5.8 per game in the 144 games they played. If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have scored 945 runs. Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 121 out of the team’s 840 runs scored that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fd15bc9-6a6f-42d1-a10c-0cea425095f8/165+-+Alomar.jpg Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1999 Indians Only 20 teams in major league history have actually hit the 1,000 run mark in a single season, but 13 of those instances came before the year 1900. Of the 7 different 1,000-run seasons since 1900, one of them was the 1999 Indians, who scored 1,009 runs. Roberto Alomar led the team (and the league) with 138 out of the team’s 1,009 runs scored that season, but there were five players on the team that year who scored 100 or more runs: 1. Roberto Alomar - 138 2. Manny Ramirez - 131 3. Omar Vizquel - 112 4. Kenny Lofton - 110 5. Jim Thome - 101 So whether the 1995 team would have gotten 1,000 in a full season or not, the franchise built those 90s teams to hit for power and score lots of runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3aa28615-c4ff-4fa2-ab87-2e1bbe072cc6/166+-+1995+accolades+-+batters.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The players who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians hit a bunch of home runs during their careers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2933ee71-4b0a-47ad-bc41-4be88b040597/167+-+1995+accolades+-+pitchers.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The pitchers who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians are mostly overlooked, but they had some great careers, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe74efe4-2982-42f0-9b2a-a37435853b4f/202+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/07 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f552e19-dce4-4f57-8d71-8fd9810e8c1d/youtube.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fedc8d6c-1bf3-40f4-97b5-431d4037d600/square.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal Me and Tom Catal after recording our interview at his apartment in Cooperstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5659e1fc-5428-4bcf-961b-53ec83a368de/01+-+Safe+At+Home.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles This episode is brought to you by Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles. Visit Safe At Home on your next trip to Cooperstown: 91 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY (607) 547-1317 Email Safe At Home Follow Safe At Home on social media: TikTok Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50082eb0-f9a2-458a-b7dc-4e8289ea901a/02+-+Hall+of+Fame.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Pitcher Tom Catal was a great pitcher for St. Agnes Cathedral in high school in New York. His career was so impressive that he was inducted into the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02e14965-d186-4611-9b66-6d48381e264e/03+-+Braves.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom signed to play professionally and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Braves organization before a car accident ended his playing career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27c28ee5-5299-484d-b007-2f0d65a57f79/04+-+1979-04+-+Mantle+signs+for+%241000+per+hour+in+New+York.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom put on the very first Mickey Mantle autograph show on September 9, 1978, paying The Mick $3,000 for three hours of his time to sign. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5176ee0-881f-40a1-a89f-6897bcea4433/05+-+Duke+Snider.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Duke Snider Eventually, Tom began representing other players at autograph shows, like Duke Snider, and he became more and more respected within the industry he helped elevate to levels previously thought to be unreachable. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/300207a8-0420-41c8-84d0-c93f27232b6c/06+-+Mickey+Mantle+Museum.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle Museum After a move to Cooperstown, Tom bought a building and founded the Mickey Mantle Museum, which he curated. In the past couple of decades, he has sold much of his collection, but at one point, Tom had, by far, the world’s biggest collection of Mickey Mantle memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2833310-639c-46d3-883f-efeea72be8a9/07+-+Mickey+Mantle+hearts+Tom+Catal.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Unique Inscriptions Tom’s collection includes hundreds of autographed baseballs from the greatest players to ever play the game. Some of them even became close personal friends over the years. Among his many autographed baseballs, Tom has a handful which were lovingly inscribed by his buddies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48d2f5d4-58ba-4dd6-a5a5-c3baa10048e5/08+-+Hodges.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Gil Hodges Tom grew up a Dodgers fan in New York. “Gil Hodges was my favorite player … until I saw Willie Mays play.” Even a Dodgers fan couldn’t deny the greatness on display when Willie suited up. Gil Hodges’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1d276a4-aa12-41bb-8ca6-e900dbb13eae/09+-+Willie.jpeg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie Mays “I’ve seen other great players that I liked, but nobody had the flair that Willie had.” Can’t argue that. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2615eff5-f877-4219-836e-5e686b329f9e/10+-+Raines.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tim Raines Tim Raines was a seven-time All-Star, four-time stolen base champion, and National League batting champion, Raines is regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters and baserunners in baseball history. Tim Raines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66fbb32e-0833-4f10-8fe2-1935daea08c6/11+-+Piazza.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mike Piazza Mike Piazza was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher, he produced strong offensive numbers at his position; in his career, he recorded 427 home runs—a record 396 of which were hit as catcher—along with a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBI. Mike Piazza’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0196ff3a-7682-4195-8aa1-0332102f5506/12+-+Hanley.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hanley Ramírez Hanley Ramírez was a three-time MLB All-Star and received the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Ramírez established himself as an elite hitter during his prime years, winning the 2009 batting title with a .342 average, and was a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He finished top-10 in MVP voting three times in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf6fffc3-046a-4236-800b-e45e3a1aff97/13+-+Raines.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Yankees Tom hates the Yankees so much that he couldn’t even bring himself to root for them when one of his favorite players of all time, Tim Raines, played for the team from 1996-1998. In 242 games with the Yankees, Raines batted .299, collecting 237 hits and 130 walks, and scoring 154 runs in 940 plate appearances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7972b65-6790-4b7c-850c-c2fb0a70e07a/14+-+Willie+Mickey+Duke.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie, Mickey, and The Duke Tom’s favorite player was Willie Mays, but he also felt that Willie was the best player of the famous New York center fielders. While Tom didn’t like Mickey Mantle, he respected Mickey as a player, and felt he was second best of the group, followed by Duke Snider. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfaf3154-783d-42d1-9574-ab132fd2f3ea/15+-+National+League.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - National League All-Star Dominance The National League dominated the All-Star Game from 1950 to 1985, going 32–7–1. In a stretch from 1963 to 1982, the National League won 19 of 20 All-Star Games, losing only the 1971 contest at Tiger Stadium 6-4. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16556863-88a5-4520-baa8-0eb82f5aad33/16+-+Nassau+County+High+School+Sports+Hall+of+Fame.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom was inducted into the Nassau County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab95657a-4160-42fb-9ec7-fc08dd8d1ac5/17+-+Koufax.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Sandy Koufax Tom was a great high school pitcher who threw multiple no-hitters and set records in his county, so he is somewhat of an authority on great pitching, and what it takes to be a great pitcher. As a Dodgers fan, you would think he would have been enamored with Sandy Koufax, especially growing up in the peak of Sandy’s dominance. But Tom actually thinks Sandy is a bit overrated. I’m not sure if Sandy was overrated. I never saw him pitch. But I will say, it was difficult to pick out which picture to use for this entry, because there are multiple images of him holding trophies or pointing to a scoreboard full of 0s after his multiple Major League no-hitters. Sandy Koufax’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24fe9484-dbcc-4b94-90fc-d8137ef65886/18+-+Kershaw.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Clayton Kershaw Clayton Kershaw is actually Tom’s favorite Dodgers pitcher. And like, yeah, I get it. Kershaw is a 10-time All-Star, a 3-time Cy Young Award Winner who finished top-5 in seven consecutive seasons, an MVP Award winner (as a pitcher!), a 5-time ERA title winner, a pitching Triple Crown winner, and a Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award winner. Add in a couple World Series, and that’s a pretty decent looking resume. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/789fb175-dc38-4501-97b7-e0ebf67e8dc2/19+-+Gibson.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bob Gibson Bob Gibson played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959 to 1975. Known for his fiercely competitive nature, Gibson tallied 251 wins, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 earned run average. A nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, he won two Cy Young Awards and the 1968 National League Most Valuable Player Award. Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/492a6d1b-587e-4780-9d09-167e0953c098/20+-+Marichal.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Juan Marichal Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez, nicknamed "the Dominican Dandy", played from 1960 to 1975, mostly with the San Francisco Giants. Known for his high leg kick, variety of pitches, arm angles and deliveries, pinpoint control, and durability, Marichal won 18 games to help the Giants reach the 1962 World Series. He went on to earn 191 victories in the 1960s, the most of any major league pitcher. He won over 20 games six times, on each occasion posting an ERA below 2.50 and striking out more than 200 batters. He became the first right-hander since Bob Feller to win 25 games three times, and his 26 wins in 1968 remain a Giants franchise record. Juan Marichal’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49ed66b5-c871-49d6-ac7c-b0a8f4d5b894/21+-+Seaver.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Seaver Tom’s all-time starting rotation is a pretty good one: Koufax, Kershaw, Gibson, Marichal, and Seaver. A combined 1,182 career wins, 11 Cy Young Awards, 15 ERA titles, and 3 MVP Awards. Not a bad collection of talent and accomplishments. With the Mets, Tom Seaver won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, and won three NL Cy Young Awards. He was a 12-time All-Star and ranks as the Mets' all-time leader in wins. During his career, he compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, a 2.86 ERA, and he threw a no-hitter in 1978. Tom Seaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5518694e-9f04-4914-a48a-56cc60eab5d6/22+-+Braves.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom’s Own Pitching Career Tom signed to play professionally and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Braves organization before his career was cut short by an automobile accident on the Southern State Parkway. Tom compiled a record of 7 wins and 6 losses with a 3.88 ERA in his 37-game career with the Gulf Coast Braves, Jamestown Braves, and West Palm Beach Braves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50ad5422-c79c-4065-b579-47ba7f7271ed/23+-+stats.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s minor league statistics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62cc09cc-2b12-458a-985e-2c4cd0506122/24+-+1967+Jamestown+Braves.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1967 Jamestown Braves The Jamestown Braves of the New York-Pennsylvania League ended the 1967 season with a record of 39 wins and 41 losses, finishing fourth in the NYPL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26a99451-e1fe-4346-8d38-f01a3a5dd19d/25+-+Spring+Training.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Spring Training Tom had a chance to play in Spring Training with Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Joe Torre. This photo of the heavy hitting trio was taken March 5, 1965 at West Palm Beach, Florida. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography Eddie Mathews’ SABR Biography Joe Torre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39dc6796-66c9-4e1e-871c-3f84e14e9d1b/26+-+Rico+Carty.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Rico Carty Tom actually formed a good relationship with Rico Carty. Rico’s batting averages in his first six full seasons were .330 in 1964, .310 in 1965, .326 in 1966, .255 in 1967, .342 in 1969 (after missing the 1968 season with tuberculosis), and .366 in 1970. Carty led the Major Leagues in batting average and on base percentage (.454) in 1970, was named to his only All-Star Game, and finished 10th in MVP voting. Rico Carty’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c9926ba-139f-4f2b-a2e7-c8a683e386bb/27+-+aaron.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Henry Aaron Tom struck out Henry Aaron on three straight curveballs in spring training. From a very early age, Tom had a great curveball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6f04c7b-0344-422d-9b92-c31dd9f5d72a/28+-+mantle.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Collecting Mickey After his baseball career ended, Tom went to work with E.F. Hutton as an options broker on Wall Street, and that’s when he really started to collect baseball memorabilia in earnest. Even though he was a bigger fan of Willie Mays, Tom understood that collecting Mickey was where the money was, so that’s what he started to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dab396dd-2fb2-410a-ac15-36b0f3664330/29+-+mays.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hindsight is 20/20 Tom once sold a 1952 Willie Mays that was in great condition. At the time, the book price was $10, but because of its condition, Tom held out for $15 from his buyer. The buyer agreed. Today, a 1952 Willie Mays Topps card #261 in a PSA NM-MT 8 holder is worth somewhere between $100,000 and $165,000. One in a PSA Mint 9 holder is worth somewhere between $250,000 and $1.1 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ce8d4f1-d839-468c-94be-e15ecb8b5a79/30+-+1951+Bowman.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1951 Bowman Mays After selling my house in South Carolina, the very first thing I bought was a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e842d8e-dd28-4c86-bb4b-4f634e1ad106/31+-+wagner.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - T206 Wagner Over the course of his collecting career, Tom has owned THREE different copies of the T206 Honus Wagner card. Tom sold two of the Wagners to Louis Avon, and eventually sold his third Wagner to Richard Gelman. If you’re new to the show and haven’t had a chance to hear our previous episode with hobby pioneer and SABR’s 2020 Jefferson Burdick Award winner Michael Aronstein, save THIS LINK in your bookmarks now so you can go back after you finish listening to this episode with Tom, and then listen to that episode with Michael and his son, Andrew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cdeb67f-efbb-4796-a864-a0466b43c63a/32+-+Idlewild+Airport.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Idlewild Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. It was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its 1939 opening. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Idlewild was renamed in tribute to JFK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d31e679-0f62-4c18-a1d4-f59888331d2f/33+-+Ty+Cobb.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Big Score In 1981, Tom bought a collection with hundreds of T206 cards, including two different Wagners, over a dozen Ty Cobbs, and a Christy Mathewson “you coulda cleaned your teeth” with for a total of $8,000. Today, even a PSA Poor 1 graded copy of a green background Ty Cobb card is worth nearly $4,000. So, all in all, you could say this was a pretty good score. Tom was great at buying large collections and quickly flipping them for a quick profit, even if that sometimes meant leaving some money on the table. Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bea33c1-3be0-4851-869f-b6a89607736a/34+-+1978-09-09+ticket.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s First Show Tom put on the very first Mickey Mantle autograph show on September 9, 1978 at Hofstra University. Mickey charged $3 per autograph, as stipulated in a contract that paid him $1,000 per hour for three hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5104086b-2701-4f38-9df9-b4b9e814e8ee/40+-+1978-09-09+advertisement+from+March+15%2C+1978+issue+of+SCD.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Little Help From My Friends Tom and his friends Bob Ragonese and Vinnie Trocino put on the show. Tom’s opinion was that to have a successful show on Long Island, "we had to have a superstar as an attraction." Back then, show promoters and collectors were happy to have former or current players from the local major league team as the signers. Tom called Pete Rose and also considered Willie Mays. The final decision was that The Mick would be the best drawing card, considering the location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bec1e590-73df-42a4-8b32-65b6ae710877/36+-+Mickey+signing.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Mantle Shows” Collector and hobby historian Frank Barning wrote: “I remember standing with [Tom Catal] at his first Mantle show, at Hofstra, prior to Mantle's arrival. He was as nervous as a bridegroom a few minutes before his wedding. Catal was scared to death that the great Yankee would be a no show and that refunds to the long line of collectors would have to be made, plus his table holders would have screamed. The Mick did arrive on schedule and for the hobby the rest is history.” Tony Spaneo and Harmon Cooper soon became part of the group headed by Tom Catal, along with Bob Ragonese and Vinnie Trocino. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e89dc302-73bf-4c0e-9935-8cc940e8395b/37+-+Commerce+Comet.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Commerce Comet” Mickey was born in Commerce, Oklahoma, which begat one of his nicknames, “The Commerce Comet.” It was rare that Mickey would sign a baseball or photo with that as an inscription, but he would do it for Tom. If you want one for your own collection, you can buy THIS ONE for a little over $63,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5d45b23-9f06-4d0d-bc29-60cb09658ace/38+-+Oklahoma+Kid.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Oklahoma Kid” Even more rare than Mickey signing “The Commerce Comet” are examples of him inscribing “The Oklahoma Kid.” But, again, he would do it for Tom. HERE is an example you can add to your collection for about $25,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c2bd9a5-1d74-4c63-ae13-3e5b4c26c8a4/39+-+Roy+True.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Roy J. True Mickey said, “I never cared about business matters. I didn't have to handle my finances because my attorney, Roy True, took care of all that. Even though I didn't like it, over the years Roy would go over business matters with me, and I'd half listen for about 20 or 30 minutes at the most.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d3c3f29-2018-4de4-bcce-4549ebb3a0cd/40+-+Reserve+Life+Insurance+Company.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Reserve Life Insurance Company In 1972, after his playing career had ended, Mickey began working with the Reserve Life Insurance Company of Dallas, Texas, given the title Director of Public Relations. He would often answer fan letters and autograph requests sent to him there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c60cd8e-97e7-4859-bca1-47e2f31d6567/41+-+Ed+Kubina.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ed Kubina A collector named Ed Kubina brought his daughter’s entire girl scout troop to that first autograph show in 1978, and had Mickey sign 18 different pictures, one per scout, with Mickey making them all out “To Ed.” At one point, Kubina (pictured here, with Mickey) had over 700 autographs from Mickey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19b62b1d-e4fd-499d-ac22-ed7019465576/42+-+Multiple+autographs.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hundreds of Autographs Tom bought a couple hundred Mickey Mantle autographs back from Ed Kubina’s daughter at one point, knowing that they were all legitimate since he had gotten them all in person at shows that Tom put on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6983b573-0018-49bf-bddd-888de65d0f17/43+-+Join+The+Movement.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Brady Signing Collectors like Ed Kubina could afford hundreds of Mickey Mantle autographs because players back then were charging $3 per signature. Tom Brady superfans who shelled out thousands for the retired NFL star’s autograph at a Miami event were outraged after they say they were left with illegible scribbles on their valuables. “I would have much rather him not sign it than what we got. He defaced our stuff,” complained Glen Gagnon, who was among about 100 people who forked over $3,600 for VIP tickets to the weekend business conference where Brady was one of the speakers. The signatures people received left many wondering if they’d be able to later get the autographs authenticated, and others trying to wash off the signatures they fear might just devalue their collectables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/416e9e18-833e-4f92-94d5-59f91924b312/44+-+Humble.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Humility “What’s the big fuss?” You’re Mickey Mantle! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc428998-6cd3-4e33-b21f-12b319379a22/45+-+Tom+Greenwade.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Greenwade Yankees' scout Tom Greenwade signed Mickey for $1,100 after he graduated high school. Other players were making as much as $50,000 in signing bonuses at the time, so Mickey and his dad really left a lot of money on the table. That was the first of many financial deals and negotiations throughout his life that saw Mickey lose out. Tom Greendwade’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0c8a5cc-d133-45ce-83b0-5f6a2cff3f35/46+-+Allan+Savitt.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Allan Savitt On April 15, 1951 a hustler named Allan Savitt called the rookie Mantle at the Concourse Plaza Hotel, where Mickey was living. Savitt told Mantle that he could get him a contract with an organization that would secure him testimonials and endorsements. He promised Mickey that he could get him $50,000 a year in endorsements and personal appearances. Mantle would receive one-half the profits. The organization would receive the other half. Mantle agreed and signed a two-year contract with the firm. Savitt was now Mantle's agent. When Yankees traveling secretary Frank Scott asked Mickey if he had consulted a lawyer, Mantle responded that "...this fellow had a lawyer for me." This article appeared in the December 9, 1952 issue of The New York Times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c97291f-3903-49b4-9d34-967239811fe4/47+-+Holly+Brooke.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out This March, 1957 issue of Confidential Magazine details the story of Mickey’s financial relationship with Holly Brooke, at least, according to Brooke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5989654-9fb4-4d0b-b07f-d1f7b218ac92/48+-+Holly+Brooke.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Here is the article from that March, 1957 issue of Confidential Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2b4015b-1998-4365-9c01-dbf87db7be79/49+-+Greer+Johnson+2.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Greer Johnson Greer Johnson said that when she met Mickey Mantle, she was looking for a career change. "He had known that I wanted to do something in the business world, so one day he asked me if I had ever thought about being an agent for celebrities," Johnson said. "I just laughed...But he kept at it." Johnson took her new work seriously. As a "celebrity agent," she represented Mantle and a number of his old teammates like Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra. But her main client was always Mickey. "It was a Cinderella story in the beginning. I traveled, met people, did things I never imagined would be possible in my life." While the line of division between romance and business was missing, Greer saw him from the start through very different eyes. "I traveled with him all the time... He was like a little boy to me; he was very nave and totally inexperienced when it came to business.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6409ec01-5537-44f9-885f-ac81fc4a6a1b/50+-+Mickey+with+his+wife%2C+Merlyn.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Merlyn Mantle While attending high school, Merlyn Johnson met Mickey Mantle, two years before his MLB debut. Mickey was a baseball player at Commerce High School, while Merlyn was a cheerleader at rival Picher High School. Their first date took place at a movie theater along the famed Route 66 in Miami, Oklahoma. On December 23, 1951, Merlyn married Mickey, following his rookie season with the Yankees. The couple had four sons: Mickey, Jr., David, Billy, and Danny. The couple remained married for 43 years, until Mickey''s death in 1995, although they were estranged during his final years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d21b01a-3e63-4c0f-9ab2-0f75817f58f1/51+-+Mickey+showing+Bobby+the+ropes.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Welcoming To Young Teammates There are many stories about Mickey being very welcoming to young players when they first came up to the Yankees. Here he is, showing teammate Bobby Richardson around the stadium when Bobby was in his first week with the team. Bobby Richardson, the 1960 World Series MVP, was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. Bobby Richardson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1275c110-76b3-4ae5-9f7d-d80c18e3709f/52+-+Joe.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio They may both be smiling in this photo, but one of them is thinking “I don’t care what Casey Stengel says… if I can get to a ball, it’s MINE, kid. And don’t you dare forget it.” I love the writing on the back of Mickey’s glove here, spelling out “M-I-C-K” vertically across the fingers. Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6e47235-aa93-4791-a6ab-4c93ba60e3e2/53+-+A+Teammate.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Teammate Tom described Mickey as “a teammate,” which was a very important word to Mickey. Mickey didn’t feel like Joe DiMaggio was a good teammate to him, and made it a point to never make a young player feel the way Joe had made him feel. Mickey always tried to be a good teammate, on and off the field. Babe Ruth’s monument in Yankee Stadium describes him as “A great ballplayer. A great man. A great American.” Lou Gehrig’s describes him as “A man. A gentleman. And a great ballplayer.” Mickey’s describes him as “A great teammate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bac254a7-4097-4700-9aab-3dc36b82dbbc/54+-+Teammate.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Grave Even Mickey’s grave makes sure to use that word, calling him “A magnificent New York Yankee” first, but then the very next thing is to say Mickey was a “true teammate,” even before mentioning he was a Hall of Famer, or the most popular player of his era. It was important to Mickey that his teammates thought of him that way, and it was important to him that regular people saw him that way, too. That’s one of the qualities which made Mickey so special. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0334419e-c63e-49de-93ee-35aeabbf62e6/55+-+Joe+D.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio and Barry Halper Originally part of the Barry Halper collection, this piece contains an inscribed signature by Joe DiMaggio which reads "Barry - You have quite a collection. Best Wishes. Joe DiMaggio." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f51c6b2e-53c1-4393-b5de-896045db635b/56+-+Stage+Deli.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Stage Deli The Stage Deli first opened in 1937 on Broadway & 48th Street by a crude, gravel-voiced Russian immigrant named Max Asnas who would be dubbed the "Corned-Beef Confucius" by Fred Allen thanks to his "Asnas-isms," for example: "Money is something you make in case you don't die.” The Stage deli was a New York institution, and while playing with the Yankees, both Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle regularly ate there. Each became good friends of the owners, Max and Hymie Asnas, and their families. The Asnas brothers often made the players special meals that were not on their menu. In Mickey’s rookie season, the Asnas brothers even housed Mantle and some teammates in an apartment above the deli. Joe started to see his celebrity being challenged by Mickey. The Stage had been his place. Max was his friend. But now, here comes this highly-touted rookie not only poised to take his spot on the team, but also in New York? Joe hated that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed9617c6-3a7d-4207-a553-d5cc92a6a82f/57+-+Lefty+Gomez.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Lefty Gomez Joe DiMaggio loved reading Superman comic books, but he was so protective of his image that he didn’t want anyone to see him buying them, or knowing that he read them. So Joe would have his teammate and roommate, Lefty Gomez, go out and buy them for him. Sometimes when Gomez bought the comic—and DiMaggio always had him get it the very day it came out—he would goof around by calling out to DiMaggio, who hovered off to the side, "You mean this comic book, Joe? Or this one, the Superman?" DiMaggio would scowl and turn his back and walk off a few paces. Lefty Gomez’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27768b12-2b6e-4a5b-90d8-f062129d63d1/58+-+Locker+Room.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Protective Of His Image Joe DiMaggio never wanted anyone to take his photo unless he was fully dressed in his uniform, or fully dressed in a suit. This photo is one of the rare occasions in which we get to see him in the locker room getting dressed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9da3fc9b-98b4-4df6-8f0d-9074321e96c7/59+-+Maris+MVP.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - MVP Awards Mickey finished first or second in MVP voting during six seasons, winning the award in 1956 (the year he won the Triple Crown), 1957, and 1962. Mickey finished second in MVP voting behind Roger Maris in 1960, and then again in 1961. While Roger broke Babe Ruth's record in 1961, Mickey's stats were pretty clearly better overall compared to Maris' that year. Had Mickey won one of those MVP awards, he would have retired with a then-record four career MVPs. Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9a2a31e-c3ee-4f35-ad5d-67d0fe11636e/60+-+Failure.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Regret Mickey batted .255, .288, .245, and .237 for a combined .254 average from 1965 through 1968. Those last four years dropped his career average to .298, down from the .309 lifetime average he'd had after the 1964 season. Mickey said his only regret from his playing days was that he didn’t retire with a .300 average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45d3baee-e5de-47fa-8b07-a7cfd522adf7/61+-+Maris.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The M&M Boys Mickey was always publicly gracious about losing the 1961 home run chase to Roger Maris, and he always said that the right person broke Babe's record that year, but for a while that season it was looking like a possibility that they might both break it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd9ccd30-f310-4c96-a312-ff1ebbf4397f/62+-+Babe+Ruth.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Beating The Babe Mickey's father said his goal was for Mickey to be the greatest ballplayer who ever lived. Mickey knew that, so that became Mickey’s goal, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c1da41f-5184-4562-bbc9-18580e0285a0/63+-+Injured.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Injuries Mickey’s body began to break down in the latter half of his career. Here, Mickey bandages his leg in the locker room before a game in June of 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66555237-3961-489f-941b-1899e71b661f/64+-+Drain+Pipe.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Drain Cover In Game 2 of 1951 World Series, the 19-year-old rookie injured his knee on a drain cover in right field. His knee exploded, and he missed the rest of the Series. He would never be the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1109b78c-46a5-4334-8795-c28efc3f373d/65+-+Injuries.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Other Injuries Mickey had plenty of injuries over the course of his career. Mickey is shown on crutches here in 1963, after his latest injury, a broken bone in his foot, which was caused when his spikes caught in the fence while chasing a Baltimore homer. Mantle’s other illnesses or injuries from head to toe include: - Tonsillectomy, 1956 - Injured right shoulder, 1957 - Rib cage injury, 1963 - Abscess of right hip, 1961 - Fractured right index finger, 1959 - Pulled right thigh muscle, 1955 - Sprained left knee, 1956 - Fell heavily on left knee, 1962 - Cartilage operation on injured right knee, 1951 - Re-injured right knee requiring another operation, 1952 - Osteomyelitis in left ankle and shin, 1947 - Last night’s accident, breaking the metatarsal bone in the left foot. The 31-year-old switch hitter has been plagued since his youth when he suffered a form of infantile paralysis that weakened his legs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c62b892-f380-45c8-879e-ff1a60760dc1/66+-+plane.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Travel Accommodations The Yankees didn't start traveling by plane until the 1956 season. Before that, they traveled exclusively by train. Here, Mickey is helped from a plane upon arrival from Baltimore after he broke his left foot crashing into the outfield fence while trying to catch a home run hit by Brooks Robinson. Brooks Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d639290-6617-4930-971e-94dcb87f1121/67+-+Mutt.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Switch Hitting Mickey Mantle’s father was Elvin Charles “Mutt” Mantle. He worked in lead and zinc mines and also played semi-pro baseball himself. He and his father, Charles Mantle, taught Mickey how to play baseball. Mickey batted left-handed against his father when he pitched right-handed to him. And Mickey would bat right-handed when his grandfather, Charles, pitched left-handed to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f63f9595-9ee9-41a6-8c04-f24656cc9800/68+-+Mickey%27s+mom.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Mom Mickey Mantle’s mother was Lovell Mantle (nee Richardson). She was a homemaker, but she was knowledgeable about baseball, too. According to Mickey, his dad asked his mom to make a baseball bat for him when he was in the cradle. She also made his first baseball uniform by cutting down his father’s baseball uniform. She and Mickey studied over his first contract from the New York Yankees together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3a35ccd-dacf-4810-b1aa-12d80815cf75/69+-+Mickey+and+Family.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Own Family Mickey often worried that he was a bad father. His friends would try to convince him that there wasn’t much more Mickey could do, since he was away from home so often due to his job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d09447db-fcfe-4439-b91e-5ec60f20d995/70+-+Billy.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59fac238-cb11-4464-bcc1-c1771ee06bfc/71+-+Immature.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Immaturity Mickey wasn't criticized too much because he was just so great, but when he was criticized, it was because of his perceived immaturity, especially in the first half of his career. The famous story about Phil Linz and his harmonica comes to mind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/903fd6c3-9a88-46f2-8d90-9931821439b0/74+-+Grimace.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Playing Through Pain Mickey played in every game he could, and probably played in many games he shouldn’t have played in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb520fd4-314b-4063-a5ec-23abaf7d21b2/72+-+Called+Shot.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Babe’s Called Shot In a career of larger-than-life achievements, Babe’s Called Shot in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series is probably his signature moment. This photo shows Babe Ruth after hitting that mammoth home run, being greeted at home plate by Lou Gehrig. Looking on is the Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett. Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography Gabby Hartnett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f9112d9-3a67-4927-b1a5-609c5cd26cf0/73+-+The+Catch.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Catch As of the end of the 2024 season, there have been over 217,042 regular season MLB games played, including games from the National League (1876-2018), American League (1901-2018), and other leagues that no longer exist. In all of those games, with all of the outs which have been recorded, there is one play great enough to be known as “The Catch.” Willie May’s incredible play in the 8th inning of Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, with the score tied 2-2, off the bat of Cleveland Indians slugger Vic Wertz. Vic Wertz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5d51edd-62dc-494a-808e-b4e31f64823e/75+-+Perfect+Game.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Preserving Perfection Mickey got a good jump on Gil Hodges' line drive to left-center before catching it in stride for the second out of the fifth, preserving Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Don Larsen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed6759cf-a6fb-4dc3-b962-963f69fa85b2/76+-+Teammate.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Teammate Mickey knew that he was in a better financial situation than most of his former teammates, and he also knew that he had the pull to make some demands. Often times, Mickey’s participation at an autograph signing was contingent upon the event also allowing his former teammates - like Hank Bauer (left), and Moose Skowron (right) - to also come along and make some money. Hank Bauer’s SABR Biography Bill “Moose” Skowron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91b817d3-3ad3-4614-9928-5aa78ca0df23/77+-+Cobb.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ty Cobb Ty Cobb, who was an early investor in Coca-Cola and was worth over $12 million when he died, reportedly sent monthly checks to retired baseball players who had fallen on hard times, demonstrating a compassionate side beyond his on-field persona. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9afd414c-5638-457c-ade7-bdefd3d4bc7e/78+-+fakes.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Forged Signatures Even though Mickey signed enough autographs to fill an abyss, his autograph remains one of the most heavily-forged signatures of all time. It has been said that somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of the Mickey Mantle signatures on the internet are fakes, like this one shown here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49bf540f-7016-4629-b0e5-a5ab0dbc3009/79+-+Signing+During+His+Career.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - How Many Are Out There? Tom estimates that Mickey signed more than half a million baseballs in his life, but notes that Mickey actually didn’t sign too many during his playing career, especially from 1956 through 1960. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fd8cb30-21fb-4904-80d3-ab00a40c9c8b/80+-+Katie+Jackson.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Katie Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson never went to school a day in his life, and never learned to read or write. When fans would send in for an autograph, it was actually Joe’s wife, Katie, who would sign his name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15e473d4-da77-4db1-8d02-e512afc0c7f0/81+-+Clubhouse+Signature.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Clubhouse Signatures Mickey very rarely put his autograph on team-signed baseballs. Those were usually done by clubhouse attendants, secretaries, or bat boys. If fans would request signatures through the mail directly from Mickey, Tom says it was often Mickey’s family who was signing on his behalf. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb8659c9-a092-411d-bd1e-7b53f0e4178e/82+-+Marino.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Prolific Forgers Master forger Gregory Marino, who could perfectly copy signatures on sight and worked 15 hours a day to produce forgeries, estimated that he made over a million Mickey Mantle forgeries. An FBI investigation uncovered $100 million worth of fraud into forged celebrity autographs and sports memorabilia in the United States. Tom also mentioned Michael Bertolini as a possible prolific forger, and Ron Dross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68d27e88-d8b2-4c57-b593-8ff9ec6ea8ed/83+-+Barry+Halper+circa+1984.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Barry Halper Barry Halper owned one of the most extensive baseball memorabilia collections ever assembled. Halper, a limited partner in the New York Yankees, amassed some 80,000 items. A portion of it was acquired by Major League Baseball and donated to the Hall of Fame in 1998. In October 2010, Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn told the New York Post that a Halper-donated jersey, supposedly worn by Shoeless Joe Jackson, was a fake. Issues of authenticity have been raised with other auctioned items, including items purported to belong to Cy Young, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a95c5781-b162-4774-ab91-dbe82abc0db4/85+-+Mantle+PSA+6.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1952 Topps Mantle PSA 6 Tom had two PSA 6 copies of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card at The National a few years ago. To say those cards are valuable would be putting it lightly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6b419fa-7586-43ba-ac3d-c8f3a4cec099/86+-+Signature+Changes.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Signature Changes Mickey’s signature is magical. His autograph is one of the most coveted signatures in the hobby. Collector and historian Kelly Eisenhauer put together this incredible article for Sports Collectors Digest with dozens of examples of Mickey’s signature throughout the years, showing the major (and minor) changes over time. I pulled out examples from his player contracts from every few years during his actual career, but I urge you to actually go read the article and see all of the different examples Kelly put together to show the decades of change in Mickey’s signature. READ IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe8407be-7730-4170-a675-b7c4d30cd1e1/87+-+1951.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s 1951 Signature In 1951, Mickey was not quite 20 years old, but was a member of the World Champion New York Yankees. Making his debut on April 17, 1951, the Mick’s surroundings were new, as was his signature. This example shows a very rare autographed Mickey Mantle Fan Club postcard dated May 18, 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe87127e-36d8-4f5f-a68e-a2bb85b027bd/89+-+Bad+Signatures.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bad Signatures Some players just don’t take pride in their signatures the way players did in years past. A few examples which came to mind for Tom and me during our interview: Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography Doc Gooden’s SABR Biography Mark McGwire SABR Article on the 1998 HR Chase Greg Maddux’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a11cdf3-72ce-4f2e-b55e-ac96f8943d0c/87+-+Half+Moons.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Mickey Mantle gifted this cardboard sheet with 99 of his signatures on it to business partner Joseph Timmerman in 1991. It sold for $247,144 in August of 2024, an average of $2,496 per signature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a6e4e46-ce96-47d9-89d7-0058a153253a/90+-+1981-12-05+show.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom’s Autograph Shows Tom put on dozens of shows with superstar ballplayers like Duke Snider, such as this show from December 5 and 6, 1981. The reaction people had over seeing and meeting Mickey Mantle was unlike anything else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed28c41f-5c2a-454d-8d6b-755727be1852/91+-+Craze.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Craze The boys sticking their arms over the dugout roof to sneak an autograph from Mickey during his career in the 1950s and 1960s were the men attending the autograph shows in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The only difference was, now they had the money to spend on autographs, and a chance to meet their hero. But Mickey was still their hero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d3f2736-0256-4f23-b632-8703d1a95ec4/92+-+Cool.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cool Tom said multiple times in the interview that he was lucky, in regards to his friendship with Mickey. And you can hear it in his voice. Tom may not have thought Mickey was the best ballplayer ever, but he was in awe of him as a person. Tom could feel the confidence and coolness Mickey exuded, and saw with regularity the effect it had on other people. Here, Mickey is surrounded by the press after a 1960 World Series game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/789e76d8-64bc-4fa5-b528-86eba6eb11ed/93+-+Temper.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Temper There are stories of Mickey being short with fans sometimes, but Tom explains that by saying those fans came into the interaction acting too familiar with Mickey, asking for too much, or asking for it at the wrong time (like if Mickey was eating a meal and didn’t want to be bothered at that moment). But Mickey would usually end up feeling bad about his initial reaction, and would often do what he could to make it up to the fan he had originally spurned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e4adb53-43d0-4ee5-987d-891b4f926576/94+-+Shyness.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Shyness There are countless stories about how shy Mickey was when he came to the Yankees, and even into his career. But Tom said Mickey learned to accept his stardom over the years, and especially later in life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3445f60-d009-441a-89b6-2083952edd22/95+-+Tom%27s+Luck.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Guy Tom said over and over how lucky he was, calling Mickey a great guy, and reiterating how generous Mickey was, specifically to Tom. This game-used glove from 1967 was one of the pieces in Tom’s collection, which was on display at the Mickey Mantle Museum when Tom ran it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b36eb36-f023-4396-a70f-c212142e9489/96+-+1994-04-18+Sports+Illustrated.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mental Health Mickey dealt with depression and anxiety all his life. There was a particular episode on a flight back home to Dallas after a card show in April of 1987 when paramedics had to meet Mickey's plane at Dallas' Love Field because they thought he was having a heart attack. It turned out to be a panic attack, but Mickey continued to internalize stress, which was only exacerbated by his drinking. In 1993, Mickey admitted that at times, he had thought about killing himself. In an essay titled “I Was Killing Myself” in an April 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated, Mickey said, “I always took pride in my dependability when I was doing public-relations work, endorsements and personal appearances. I always wanted to do my best. It was when I had no commitments, nothing to do or nowhere to be that I lapsed into those long drinking sessions.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6df0ad1-a84e-4aa7-81d7-2c365480abea/97+-+Mickey+autograph+show.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Alcohol As A Crutch Mickey said he used alcohol as a crutch. To help him overcome his shyness and make him feel more comfortable before personal appearances. “I'd forget what day it was. What month it was. What city I was in. There were dozens of personal appearances and card shows that I had agreed to be at, but when the time came to go, I'd argue that I had never agreed to the commitment in the first place. But I always made the appearance. I'm still proud of that.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/afa8fe43-bdcf-4e64-b05c-bc4cd5ebdc01/98+-+Pete+Rose.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete Rose In addition to Mickey and Duke Snider, one of Tom’s bigger clients who he sometimes represented at autograph shows was Pete Rose, who also became a close personal friend over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ecb0caf-fc88-4efc-a0f7-81b058b621b6/99+-+Mickey.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Guaranteed Success When talking about putting on autograph shows, Tom once said “Mickey Mantle guarantees success. I’ve been doing these shows for five years, and every year, he gets more popular. In Detroit, he almost caused a riot. Same thing in Kansas City. Mickey Mantle can outdraw God. By 50 percent.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8f2c9af-c860-49a9-9207-fb1e7d25e153/100+-+Mickey+and+Babe.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Was Mickey’s Career A Failure? To a normal person, of course not. How could you call what Mickey accomplished a failure? But Mickey’s dad set the goal for Mickey to be the greatest ballplayer who ever lived. And, close as he may have come, Mickey didn’t accomplish that goal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/698c9c23-5b0b-45fc-b239-dc9cf2e057bb/101+-+Willie+Mickey+Duke.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie, Mickey, & The Duke For decades, it was “Willie, Mickey, and The Duke.” All three of them, nearly always mentioned together. Even immortalized as a trio in a song by Terry Cashman. Duke Snider was the first to kind of fade into obscurity, and then it became “Mays and Mantle” whose names were inextricably linked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77760d6e-0c3c-44a8-a72e-ce4be65c03a4/102+-+Greatest+Living+Ballplayer.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Greatest Living Ballplayer” For years, Joe DiMaggio insisted on being referred to and introduced as "The Greatest Living Ballplayer" but most people seemed to understand that that was a title fitting only either Willie or Mickey. But now, 30 years after Mickey has passed away, it seems like his status as one of the inner circle Hall of Famers has kind of slipped a little, and today most people consider Willie Mays to be the greatest all around ballplayer who ever lived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f1776c-f395-4475-9f94-13247cb76fce/103+-+Museum.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle Museum Of the more than 20,000 players to have played Major League Baseball over the years, it seems like Mickey Mantle is a no-brainer to have his own museum. Tom started the Mickey Mantle Museum in Cooperstown, which housed what was the world’s largest Mickey Mantle collection at the time. Tom’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c781d924-ff44-4d2f-ac00-2cab2b089651/104+-+Stuff.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “I Had So Much Stuff Then” Here are some of the items Tom had on display at the museum, including advertisements, autographed baseballs, and products endorsed by Mickey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8353a841-24cc-4ed7-a20b-207673f07a30/105+-+More+Stuff.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - More Stuff Jerseys, magazines featuring Mickey on the cover, commemorative plates, figurines, buttons, pins, spoons, newspaper articles… you name it. Tom had it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5df3c30f-7d0b-4c48-bbe6-ecb52ce7881a/106+-+Cuff+Links.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cuff Links In certain years, the Yankees gave their players cuff links in addition to World Series rings. They did it in 1950, and they did it in 1961. Tom used to own Mickey’s 1961 cuff links, but recently sold them. Pictured here is Roger Maris’ set from that same year, as well as the tie tack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d243164-0acb-45f9-8e04-32703bbe0c7e/107+-+Golf+Bag.JPG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Golf Bag Tom has sold the vast majority of his collection over the past 20 years, and still has more than most Mickey Mantle collectors will ever own in their lives. One such item which is no longer in Tom’s collection is Mickey’s personalized golf bag, seen here when it was on display at Tom’s Mickey Mantle Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/812adaa5-5758-48e5-b308-1fc6dca37cfd/108+-+Golf+Scorecard.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Collectability of Mickey Mantle If anyone else goes golfing, they throw their scorecard away when they finish their round and that’s the end of it. When Mickey Mantle went golfing and kept a scorecard, people bid on it at an auction and it was worth hundreds of dollars. On multiple occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b77e36e6-4c16-4b2e-8651-bdce37bc5d0f/109+-+Jersey.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Wait … Don’t Get Rid Of That!” When Mickey would be getting ready to bring stuff to an auction house to get rid of it, Tom would try to intercept it and give Mickey whatever amount Mickey was hoping to get for everything. It saved Mickey the trouble, and helped Tom grow his incredible collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdab0110-9ebb-4b31-a93a-0e9f8a649f99/110+-+So+Much+Stuff.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s apartment, full of all sorts of incredible baseball memorabilia he’s collected over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f36b0d83-0914-47b8-9ec4-f8147e2deb59/111+-+Rose.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete’s Suit One of the more unique pieces Tom still owns is the suit Pete Rose was wearing when he was indicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fcf3a4a-369e-4083-baf9-b7086623fa63/112+-+Boyhood+Home.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Boyhood Home Rally, a company which allows people to buy shares of various memorabilia including wine and sports cars, sold 47,000 shares of Mickey Mantle’s boyhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma for $7 each on October 27, 2023, ESPN reported. The company saw a number of potential options for how to utilize the property, which Rally bought for $175,000 in 2022, and had been valued at $329,000. Turning the house into a museum or an Airbnb-style short-term rental, the creation of a Little League field, and creating trading cards with pieces of the property embedded in them were all ideas which had been floated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4ae8aa6-ef36-41c0-8ec0-641bd2a460be/113+-+Lou+Gehrig+charm+bracelet.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Pictured here is the charm bracelet that Lou Gehrig gave to his wife Eleanor on their fourth wedding anniversary. The bracelet is made up of 17 charms that represent Gehrig’s awards and achievements. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1155fbd-e624-45a4-a453-55fd430b6c95/114+-+Mickey.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Your Buddy, Mick No matter how comfortable Tom was with Mickey, and how down to earth Mickey was, it was impossible for Tom to forget that he was Mickey Mantle. His millions of fans were a constant reminder that Tom was in the presence of greatness, even if Mickey never made himself out to be more important than anyone else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d11efa8c-ab2e-45fa-8344-e1b4eb8bbc17/115+-+So+Much+Stuff+It%27s+A+Joke.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Some of the many Mickey Mantle cards and autographs Tom has on display in his apartment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72dccc11-78b9-43a9-a783-898ba62af03f/116+-+Dugout+shot.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Dugout Shot These photos, autographed by Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Joe DiMaggio, and Whitey Ford, were the cause of some awkwardness between the friend group who signed them. Billy Martin’s SABR Biography Whitey Ford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c90cfdc-ccfb-4aa5-9770-8b50eba0761e/118+-+Homestead.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Old Homestead Steakhouse Located in New York City’s Meatpacking District, one of Manhattan's trendiest neighborhoods for entertainment & culture, The Old Homestead first opened its doors in 1868 – making it the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in the United States and, one of the longest continually operating restaurants in America. The steakhouse has made appearances in multiple television shows, including a 1995 episode of Seinfeld and a 2004 episode of The Sopranos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f421247a-25f2-4a78-8ecf-8abd885c3add/119+-+Mickey+Mantle%27s.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant Mickey would also take Tom to his own restaurant. Tom never had to pay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00b78b79-2a00-4b8f-acb0-905a7195d2a6/120+-+Contracts.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Contracts Mickey made somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 million during his career as a player. If Juan Soto plays 150 games per season over the course of his 15-year contract with the Mets, he will make $1,020,000 every 3 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0aee76e-a970-4b51-a786-ae14d0d34fe7/121+-+Mantle.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - That’s One Way To Get Rid Of Cards You Don’t Want Several years after producing the 1952 set, Topps executive Sy Berger decided to discard the unsold cards, literally dumping them into the Atlantic Ocean. Little did Berger know that he was creating a smaller supply for the future secondary market, one that Berger and the rest of Topps did not even realize would come to fruition; with fewer cards, including the Mantles, available to future collectors, the card became rarer and more valuable. The "finest known example" of a 1952 Topps Mantle sold at an auction with Heritage for $12.6 million in August of 2022. $12.6 million is more than 10 times what Mickey made as a player in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa164679-169e-4e3d-a273-315fcbce2b4e/122+-+The+Hall+of+Fame%27s+Wagner.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The HOF’s Wagner This copy of the T206 Honus Wagner card is on display in the Shoebox Treasures exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. While it is an ungraded copy, and the HOF has no interest in having it graded, I believe it may be the nicest example of the card in existence. Luckily, it is in the permanent archives of the Hall, so it will be preserved forever. But a part of me is curious to know what it would sell for if it hit the open market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6baca0fa-6378-4730-be8b-4b111f3d85ed/123+-+Mickey%27s+last+jersey.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Last Jersey The jersey worn by Mickey Mantle when he played his final game as a New York Yankee on September 28, 1968, sold for $2.19 million in February of 2022. It was also the jersey Mickey was wearing when Denny McLain served up what has become known as “The Gift,” essentially a batting practice fastball during the game on September 19, 1968, which Mickey hit over the fence for his 535th career home run. #535 allowed Mickey to pass Jimmie Foxx and move into sole possession of third place on the all-time list, behind only Babe Ruth who had 714, and Willie Mays who had hit 587 at that point in his career. He hit one final home run on September 20, 1968, finishing his career with 536. Denny McLain’s SABR Biography Jimmie Foxx’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43fce893-264e-44b4-b99c-bc7f1789f932/124+-+Inscription.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Friend Mickey signed that final jersey with a blue sharpie, and added an inscription which read “To Tom. A great friend. Always. The Mick.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f35f053c-8637-41e1-bdf3-6cb7cc18880a/125+-+SI.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Sports Illustrated Covers Mickey has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated 13 times so far, with seven of those covers coming in the first 11 years of the magazine’s existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b05abe6e-8852-43b6-a24f-a3a6ba5a2b76/126.5+-+Hickok+Belt.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Hickok Belt Mickey Mantle received the Ray Hickok jeweled belt in January of 1957 in recognition of Mickey being named the professional athlete of the year for 1956. The belt was named in honor of the founder of the Hickok Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York, which made belts, hence the choice of a belt as a trophy. The actual belt was made from alligator-skin, had a solid gold buckle, an encrusted 4-carat diamond, and 26 gem chips. Of the 27 winners between 1950 and 1976, 15 were baseball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7738d41c-6980-42a1-97d9-fc3236f00bb4/127+-+Ali.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Starstruck? Tom said Mickey never got starstruck, even when rubbing elbows with some of the most famous people in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b47f87aa-3240-40bb-bcd2-9d3f794cc49b/128+-+trophy.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Other Cool Items Tom has owned multiple game-used jerseys from Mickey, game-used gloves, jewelry, trophies, and hundreds of autographed pictures and baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dd31736-6b99-4847-a8d3-312f46a962e5/129+-+Mickey+cabinets.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s apartment is full of cabinets like the ones in this photo. A handful of them are exclusively filled with Mickey Mantle-related items. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d9dc804-45e2-4d99-b85e-f44835a70bbe/130+-+Pete+Rose+on+the+bench+outside.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ambassador Of The Game Tom said that those who knew Mickey well lost someone special when he passed, but that the true ambassador of the game of baseball was Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89178149-3f56-4181-8fe0-5e26ff6c9b94/131+-+Negro+League+players.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Negro League Players Tom has a great respect for Negro League players, and has gone out of his way over the past 30 years to meet former players, and collect what he can from their lives and careers. Guys like Buck O’Neil, Ray Dandridge, Cool Papa Bell, and Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b59a5748-243e-441b-a595-cb78a17d2a79/132+-+Buck+Leonard.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Buck Leonard Tom’s favorite Negro League player was Buck Leonard, who he had a chance to meet. Leonard played for the Homestead Grays between 1934 and 1950, batting fourth behind Josh Gibson for many years. The Grays teams of the 1930s and 1940s were considered some of the best teams in Negro league history. Leonard and Gibson are two of only nine players in league history to win multiple batting titles. Leonard never played in the white Major Leagues; he declined an offer in 1952 of an MLB contract because he felt he was too old. Buck Leonard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0544b0b-d328-4630-b08d-9e082236685d/133+-+If+He+Liked+You+He+Loved+You.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - If He Liked You, He Loved You Tom was one of the lucky ones who Mickey loved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a64c8c0-f43e-4254-9a74-9d6bd08d0e54/134+-+The+Last+Boy.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Last Boy Jane Leavy’s book, The Last Boy, is one of the best-researched books ever written about Mickey. Her other baseball books (The Big Fella, about Babe Ruth, and Sandy Koufax) are equally incredible. Buy The Last Boy here Buy The Big Fella here Buy Sandy Koufax here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fee19602-8080-43f5-8af3-f88ce7ea46e5/135+-+Castro.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - America’s Prodigal Son Another book Tom recommends was written by Tony Castro, who has written multiple books on Mickey and on the Yankees. Tom provided all of the photos for America’s Prodigal Son, Tony’s 2008 book on Mickey. Buy America’s Prodigal Son here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37aefda5-482b-4539-ac15-701e2b7474e9/136+-+Safe+At+Home.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles Safe at Home Ballpark Collectibles is in the building at 91 Main Street in Cooperstown. In 2002, Tom bought that building with Andrew Vilacky, gutted it, and remodeled it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84d09867-22b8-45f8-bd56-3619308277d2/137+-+Pete+Rose%27s+Apartment.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Apartment The second floor apartment of the building is normally where Pete Rose would stay during his annual pilgrimage to Cooperstown for induction weekend each year. A pretty convenient spot, considering Pete would make public appearances and sign autographs on the first floor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/858fef99-46bc-422a-93f4-a353753955ef/138+-+Mickey%27s+Place.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Place Mickey’s Place, located at 74 Main Street in Cooperstown, is a building previously owned by Tom. He had Pete Rose there in about 1995 to sign autographs, and the two hit it off, which began their business relationship and friendship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2d8660e-7635-4144-9a13-48ae261301ae/139+-+Rose.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Japanese The 2025 Hall of Fame induction weekend is expected to be the biggest in Cooperstown’s history, with Ichiro going in and drawing massive crowds from all over the world. Pete Rose taught himself how to write “Rose” in Japanese Kanji, which he has done on the ball seen here. You can buy one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5974d9e-b3d8-4406-be94-e3de2c89f120/140+-+Mickey.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - My Favorite Player I never saw Mickey play, but he’s my favorite player of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a1f3c48-11c5-48c1-9e74-86e415eb8409/141+-+Charlie+Hustle.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Charlie Hustle "It was 1963, my rookie year, and we were playing the Yankees in spring training," Rose told the Village News in 2018. "I came in as a pinch runner. I slid, head first, into third base. “Then a guy hit a pop up that the shortstop (Tony Kubek) caught. I ran to home and slid head first. We won the game. “After the game, Mantle told reporters, 'Did you see that Charlie Hustle beat us today?' The next day the headline in the papers was: Charlie Hustle Beats Yankees." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98cf1e99-18bd-46b9-8a40-3fbeedd707ef/142+-+Hit+King.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Hit King No one liked to remind people that Pete Rose was “The Hit King” more than Pete Rose’s biggest fan, Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d68ea633-c351-4136-abe9-e573dee65697/143+-+All+Day+And+All+Night.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Just a handful of Tom’s autographed baseballs from Pete Rose, each with a different inscription, ranging from “Best Wishes” and “Merry XMas” to “You Are A Real Asshole” “Fuck Off” and “Kiss My Ass.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c2c7141-ce08-4937-ba97-75701abf1d2b/144+-+Fishing.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ted Williams Spinning Reel Ted Williams, “the greatest hitter who ever lived,” was also a star in the sport fishing world and a member of the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame. In the early 1960s, after his baseball career ended, he imported a line of spinning reels from Turin, Italy, that were sold under the Ted Williams, Inc. label out of Miami. Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbb42545-bbdd-40f4-b538-fa6ec3b2b995/145+-+Pete+Rose.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Do You Collect?” …nothing compared to this, but yeah, I’ve got some stuff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f734a28-c3b8-4ab4-996e-a4c7944060f4/146+-+Topps+contract.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Topps Contract Tom’s incredible high school pitching career propelled him to a minor league career in the Braves organization. While in the minor leagues, Tom signed a contract with Topps which gave the rights to his name, image, and likeness for the use of baseball cards over to the chewing gum manufacturing company, should Tom have made it to the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b613d8f-03a0-45be-93b3-09678d00eb84/147+-+Billy+Martin+death+day.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Close Friends Mickey signed this autograph to Tom on the day Billy Martin passed away, dating it for posterity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79636499-b1ed-49d0-a8ef-c72f7e248b48/148+-+Idlewild.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Idlewild Airport The TWA terminal at Idlewild Airport, with its distinctive wing-shaped roof, boasted features now common everywhere —closed circuit television, a central public address system, baggage carousels, fancy clubs and lounges, and electronic arrivals and departures boards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29885394-9620-4589-a36f-b55f52663e32/149+-+Autograph+Shows.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Autograph Shows Tom was one of the pioneers of major autograph shows, striking gold with Mickey Mantle in 1978 when they worked together for the first time. This signed admission ticket from a banquet on March 27, 1982, is one of the many Mickey Mantle autographed pieces Tom still has on display in his apartment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9be2fdb-ad94-45c1-a932-c7ba1830bb15/150+-+Big+Contract.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Big” Contracts For the time, Mickey was one of the highest paid players. This photo shows Mickey signing his first $100,000 per year contract in 1963. He had already won 3 MVPs and 7 World Series titles before the Yankees felt he had earned that big of a contract, but I digress. Other players of the time who weren’t quite on Mickey’s level needed additional income from offseason jobs during their careers, and/or autograph shows after their playing days ended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7cc9867-88b8-4bae-993b-641fa1b203eb/151+-+Life+Insurance.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Life Insurance Mickey manning the phones at his life insurance gig after his playing career. Even Mickey Mantle, who made $1.2 million during his playing career, got a job after he retired so he could bring some extra money in to provide for his family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ac9c997-cc5e-4dc7-b114-ed65dc013b09/152+-+Laughing.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Regular Guy Mickey was just a down to earth guy who wanted to hang out and have some drinks and laugh with his buddies. It just so happened that he was one of the most gifted athletes to ever walk the earth. But unless you already knew that about him, you’d have never known that about him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2585b04-9e7d-4dfb-9677-6908416611be/153+-+Family.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Father Mickey may not have always been the best husband or the best father, which are things he regretted during his life. But that didn’t mean he didn’t love his wife or his sons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e00d0f4d-d763-4d2d-96fe-8d68114da5f6/154+-+Jay+Valentine.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Jay Valentine Our last episode was with Jay Valentine, who patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. You can listen to that interview, which was featured in Episode 6 of Season 4, by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ec48e8b-cc94-43b9-aa84-b31d9343c89e/155+-+Bob+Cerv+and+Mickey.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bob Cerv Bob Cerv and Mickey Mantle were teammates from 1951-1956, again in 1960, and for one more stint from 1961-62. Cerv saw Mickey before his first knee injury in the 1951 World Series, and when his body was still young enough to recover from his many injuries. Cerv said Mickey was one of the fastest players he’d ever seen. Mickey holds the record for fastest time from home to first, clocking in at 3.1 seconds. During the 1961 season, Cerv lived in a $251-per-month (equivalent to $2,658 in 2025) apartment in Queens with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Cerv was having an affair with Angie Dickinson at one point during his career. Bob injured his knee during a game, so Angie came rushing to the hospital to check on him. When she arrived, she was greeted in the room by Bob’s wife, Phyllis. Bob Cerv’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93c7ebe6-f0c7-4af3-9b05-818c3b6e3ea9/156+-+women.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Player It seemed like saying “no” to people was a problem Mickey had all his life. This personality trait led him to situations and circumstances that a person with a stronger will may not have found themselves in. Mickey regretted some of them, but his actions proved he didn’t regret them enough to stop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52559aa4-e5d3-426c-bac9-e18442970a74/157+-+Triple+Crown.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Acclaim All of Mickey’s accomplishments on the field led him to be celebrated by many off the field. Sometimes the acclaim he received was pure of heart. Other times, it may not have been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3a45007-dfef-4bd1-84b7-ac2711105fee/158+-+Kennedys.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - People In Power Not just in sports, but in all walks of life, if you’re a good looking person who is well-spoken and has some sort of power, opportunities will present themselves for you to be with people who aren’t your spouse. Do you have the willpower and strength to maintain fidelity if and when those moments arise? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a82d145-d723-4e6d-bb97-ead7e3861eee/159+-+Jefferson.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Thomas Jefferson As great of a President as Thomas Jefferson may have been, there are moral dilemmas we may face when trying to admire Jefferson, the person. And while times may have been different, there are certain things which have always been seen as wrong. Here, Beverly Frederick Jefferson (left), grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, is pictured with three of his sons, circa 1900. No images of Sally Hemings or her children are known. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71a96025-2b80-479d-978a-f74cb10a94a8/160+-+Joe+D.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio When Mickey was originally called up to the Yankees, he was given number 6, not number 7. Babe Ruth had been number 3. Lou Gehrig was the team’s next star and was number 4. Joe DiMaggio was next, and was given number 5. So when the team felt Mickey Mantle was in line to succeed Joe, they gave him number 6. This 1951 photo shows Yankees clubhouse attendant Pete Sheehy hanging Mickey's rookie #6 uniform in his locker while holding Joe DiMaggio's #5 jersey. The pressure was too much for Mickey to handle, and after being sent down to the minors to find himself again, he requested his now-iconic number 7 when he re-joined the big league club for good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/601aba66-8072-47b0-88b8-0b462148f7b9/161+-+Ohtani.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Fame Is Different Today This is a photo of probably the best baseball player on the planet. 70 years ago, if you showed 1,000 average Americans a photo of the best baseball player on the planet, even if they weren’t dressed in uniform, probably 75% could tell you who it was. I would venture to guess if you ran that same experiment today with this photo, the vast majority of people wouldn’t even be able to make a guess as to who this is, let alone tell you he’s an athlete, or what sport he plays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fef42c8b-2844-4e1d-808a-8c61298cdfc6/162+-+Soto.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Juan Soto Same rules apply as above. How many average Americans out of 1,000 do you think could look at this picture and be able to tell you who is in it? Even if you told them afterward, how many people would genuinely know who Juan Soto was, just by hearing his name? Most sports fans, sure. But Juan Soto isn’t culturally famous the way players like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle were. I believe those days are gone, for the most part. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fa64d41-89f6-4a1d-a415-8b9d3d59a394/163+-+Wendy+Ward.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Wendy Ward Wendy Ward was a three-time All-American at Arizona State University. During her time in Tempe, she won the 1994 U.S. Women’s Amateur and represented the U.S. in the Curtis Cup that same year. She led the ASU women’s golf team to three consecutive NCAA national team titles (1993-1995). As a professional, Ward won four times on the LPGA Tour, competed in 14 U.S. Women’s Opens, 10 R&A Women’s Opens, and was selected for Team USA on three Solheim Cup teams (2002, 2003, 2005). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64ef5494-f78d-4122-aa93-07b7ef1a6795/164+-+Jane+Lynch.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Jane Lynch Jane Lynch is an actress, comedian, and singer. Known for playing starring and recurring roles in comedic television, her accolades include one Golden Globe, five Primetime Emmys and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2013, Lynch received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Out of all of her achievements, she may be most well known for going to high school with my mom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7db183b2-5ff5-4174-863b-a0785bbf8798/165+-+1960+World+Series+Game+3+celebration+with+Mikey+and+Whitey.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played 2B for the team from 1955-1966, and was teammates with Mickey every year he played. Bobby was an 8-time All-Star, a 5-time Gold Glove Award winner, a 3-time World Series champion, and the 1960 World Series MVP. He was our guest on Episode 5 of Season 2, which you can listen to HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d928034-a528-4e5f-a3d2-ee3cd391e8ac/166+-+bobby+at+mickey%27s+funeral.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Given Grace Bobby was a very religious man his whole life, and although he didn’t agree with the way Mickey was living his life off the field, he still opened his heart to Mickey and the two became friends. Later in life, as Mickey turned to religion, Bobby was there for him. Bobby even gave the eulogy at Mickey’s funeral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8106e69f-712d-4ec4-9761-19c34b501f34/167+-+Willie+Mays.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Say Hey! You wanna know how great Willie Mays was? As much as the Dodgers and Giants hated each other, and as much as their fans hated each other, it was acceptable to be a Dodgers fan and have your favorite player be Willie Mays. Because who could argue with that? He was the best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd8ded51-aec2-4126-a4a8-5679370b8f0f/168+-+Casino.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Banned From Baseball In 1979, Willie Mays had just been inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was severing as the New York Mets’ hitting instructor when he signed a contract to be a “goodwill ambassador” for the Bally’s Park Place hotel and casino in Atlantic City. It was not a full-time job. Mays’ job was basically, to show up and be famous while doing meet-and-greets at corporate and charity events. But his ties to a casino prompted Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to prohibit Willie from any baseball-related employment. Similarly, Mickey took a position at the Claridge Casino Hotel in 1983, which resulted in his own ban from the sport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbb59081-e331-4a9e-aa9e-8548b5ce0366/169+-+Pete.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete Rose on a HOF Ballot? Now that he has passed away, I think it’s going to happen. And, yes, you are seeing this picture correctly. Pete Rose actually signed a copy of John Dowd’s Report To The Commissioner outlining Pete’s ties to gambling for Tom Catal. If you’ve never read the report and find yourself wanting to, you can do that HERE. It’s 228 pages, and let me warn you that Pete doesn’t come out of it smelling like a rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f6e7245-7cae-4c49-9a74-3535e24d59c1/170+-+Van+Oeyen+Portrait+b%26w.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Shoeless Joe Jackson Now that Pete Rose has passed, I believe that opens the door for Joe Jackson to be included on a Hall of Fame ballot, as well. Whether he gets inducted or not is a different question, but there should technically be no more barriers in the way of him at least being considered for induction again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df4fc9ab-d9fe-4824-bfe3-7bf4bae39290/171+-+Peter+Ueberroth.jpg Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Peter Ueberroth In March of 1984, the Major League Baseball owners hired Peter Ueberroth to be their new Commissioner. Ueberroth had spent the previous five years as the head of the committee that organized the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was (a) the first privately-funded Olympic Games held in America; and (b) finished with about a quarter of a billion dollar surplus for its investors. Ueberroth took office in October, and then on March 18, 1985, he reinstated Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, saying that they were “two of the most beloved and admired athletes in the country today and they belong in baseball.” Ueberroth did not, by any stretch of the imagination, relax baseball’s anti-gambling rules to reinstate Mantle and Mays. He said he was only making these two exceptions to the rule and that, over time, he’d look into working on new guidelines with gambling industries because “the whole world of gambling is changing.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84fbe6f6-f0b9-4e9c-a522-95b48f210450/172+-+Memorabilia.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Some of Tom’s Memorabilia Tom has things organized and displayed with a purpose. Having cards of Satchel Paige and Bob Feller next to each other was no accident, I can assure you. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography Bob Feller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b30038fe-f0f3-46cc-ba9d-d6c53130a164/173+-+Apartment.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Another view of Tom’s apartment, full of some of the most amazing baseball memorabilia you could imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1586befb-0bbf-4058-88e9-fb31d2964e0b/174+-+Cooperstown.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cooperstown Otsego Lake is the headwaters of the Susquehanna River, and on a quiet day it's easy to contemplate the water's journey all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. Council Rock is believed to have been a meeting place for Native Americans prior to the Revolutionary War. Members of the Mohawk and Oneida Nations likely used the area around the lake for seasonal hunting and fishing camps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e289e93-0481-4731-9bb1-41b04f360eb9/175+-+Winter.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Best Time To Visit The HOF I feel comfortable saying this because most people aren’t going to listen so it’s not going to ruin my plans, but I promise you, the absolute best time of year to visit the Hall of Fame is the week before Christmas. NO ONE is in the museum besides docents. It is the most beautiful, peaceful place, and you can take as much time as you want in every exhibit. You can take as many photos as you want without feeling rushed because there’s a group of thirty 12-year-olds waiting behind you to film a TikTok video dancing in front of a game-used jersey. If you’ve never been during the winter, trust me when I say, there is no better time to actually take in the museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85370676-638a-411a-a79c-42d48b4e56e9/176+-+7.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Episode 7 of Season 4 There are tons of coincidences in life. This Mickey Mantle episode being the 7th of our season was not one of them. I’ve had this planned for over a year. Thanks for indulging me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe4764b7-4f66-41dd-9481-058a0c65e4e6/177+-+email.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6693995d-2efb-4c5b-afda-7bd57ce90791/178+-+Catal+card.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a custom baseball card of Tom Catal, autographed by Tom? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a06cb8b6-1f4e-4b2f-af3f-8135258bacf6/179+-+MJ.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Michael Jordan It was pretty early in my life that I learned the difference between having a favorite player, and understanding who the best player on a team was. Growing up in Chicago and being a Bulls fan, it was harder to make that distinction, because everyone’s favorite player was Michael Jordan, and he was so clearly the best player on the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9dabdfcc-6f74-4834-8872-de7c9cc2ed57/180+-+Robin.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Robin Ventura For the White Sox, my favorite player was Robin Ventura, our third baseman. And Robin was really good. He had an incredible college career at Oklahoma State, setting the all-time Division 1 record for longest hitting streak with a string of 58-straight games, and he was drafted 10th overall in the 1988 June Amateur Draft by the Sox. He was an All-Star in the Majors, winning multiple Gold Glove Awards, and hit 18 career Grand Slams, which, at the time of his retirement, was more than everybody who had ever played the game besides Eddie Murray and Lou Gehrig. Robin Ventura’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f3180bb-c353-4296-923e-692e10bb12bc/181+-+Frank.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Frank Thomas From 1991 to 1997, Frank became the only player in major league history to have seven consecutive seasons with at least a .300 batting average, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, 100 walks, and 20 home runs. He won back-to-back MVP Awards in 1993 and 1994, and won the 1997 batting title by batting .347, which was only the third highest single season batting average of his career. Thomas retired with nine seasons of 100 or more runs, RBI and walks, the third-most in history at that time behind only Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He’s a Hall of Famer, for good reason, and I loved watching him play. But Robin was my guy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728ebadf-292e-4105-87f1-1e6d4dcb79cd/182+-+Mickey.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Was My Favorite Player In Baseball History There is absolutely an adorable picture of me as like a 2-year-old wearing a Yankees jersey that’s big enough to go down to my ankles, but I just can’t find it right now so this picture of me at the 2024 World Series with Mickey’s retired number in Monument Park will have to do, but please believe me that Mickey has been my guy since I was old enough to understand what baseball history was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a455ce5c-8fa3-4918-8178-52e3f832ef4f/183+-+Outfield.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A 5-Tool Player In 1955, Mickey had a career-high 20 outfield assists. After that, runners didn't challenge him nearly as much, and Mickey never had more than 11 in a season the rest of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7199c350-35bf-4439-810a-7be58f34b99f/184+-+Stealing.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Stealing Mickey had incredible speed, but more than just being fast, he was also a smart base runner. He had a higher career stolen base percentage than Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson (78%), Luis Aparicio (79%), Lou Brock (75%), and Ty Cobb (65%), all of whom were stolen base champions at some point in their career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dba5d66-afb2-4874-ae72-0601d941b57e/185+-+Bunting.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bunting Mickey used that speed along with his great hand-eye coordination to become one of the best bunters in baseball history. He’s 10th place all-time in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 in only 148 at-bats, good for a .541 batting average. He had 7 bunt singles in World Series play, and even had one in the 1959 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/780aaa7e-eeb4-4c42-873d-92e4c5e95069/184+-+Bunting.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Here’s Mickey laying down a surprise bunt to try to get a base hit in the 1954 Hall of Fame Game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abcee9d0-b11a-4cc8-85ea-9e7d5f660f2c/187+-+18+years.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Once Said… “During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8572baca-1f26-44e7-8ad5-e81283b60d5d/188+-+walks.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Because He Gets On Base Mickey's incredible eye put him on base far more often than his contemporaries. He had 11 seasons with 99 or more walks, with a career-high 146 in 1957. While his .421 career on base percentage is good enough for 19th all time, if Mickey would have been more focused on getting hits early in his career, instead of drawing walks, there's a good chance he ends his career with the .300 batting average he so regrettably lost by sticking around those last four years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d00b393-b824-4a40-9ffa-c73a140ac56e/189+-+Mickey+Willie.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mantle & Mays While Mickey is one of the true greats of the game, and a larger-than-life figure both on and off the field, I am able to acknowledge that he wasn't the best player of all time. He wasn’t even the best player of HIS time. It’s clear that Willie Mays was the better player. And like we talked about in the interview, we'll never truly know how great Mickey could have been if it hadn't been for his injuries, but as things actually played out, Willie was better in nearly every phase of the game, and had better statistics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ebbb024-4eb2-48c6-b8f4-c6ba25e109d4/190+-+1964.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie’s Best Seasons Mickey's peak was slightly higher than Willie’s. Mantle recorded 11.3 WAR in both 1956 and 1957, tied for the 14th best seasons in baseball history. Just like Mickey, Willie's two best seasons were also back-to-back. Mays achieved 11.0 WAR in 1964 and 11.2 WAR in 1965, the 19th and 18th best seasons in baseball history, respectively. But Willie's peak was longer than Mickey’s, by far, with him having 6+ WAR in a season 18 years apart (10.4 in 1954, and 6.3 in 1971). Mickey’s span of 6+ WAR seasons was only 11 years (6.3 in 1952, and 6.0 in 1962). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ac3dc71-0014-42e5-b440-fd4cc265065b/191+-+Hornsby.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - 10+ WAR Seasons There have been 60 individual seasons in baseball history during which a position player has recorded 10+ WAR. Babe Ruth has 9 of them. Willie Mays has 6. Rogers Hornsby also has 6. Hornsby’s 12.1 WAR season in 1924 is the 5th best season in history. Hornsby was a 2-time MVP and a 7-time batting champion. He and Ted Williams are the only players in baseball history to win two Triple Crowns. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6df8e52-f347-4287-9070-dce4907b6c49/192+-+Military+Mays.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mays’ Military Service While Mickey's career was shortened due to his failing body, and his statistics were affected due to his injuries and his drinking, let's not forget that Willie's career was affected by missed games, as well. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1951, but then immediately missed 120 games in the 1952 season, and all 154 games of the 1953 season due to his military service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaf92941-cd9d-45df-8c10-01aec50f627b/193+-+1954.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1954 When Willie returned for his first season back in 1954, he led the Major Leagues with 10.4 WAR, a .345 batting average, and a .667 slugging percentage, winning the MVP and leading the Giants to a World Series win. He hit 41 home runs that year, and then 51 the following year in 1955. Even a conservative estimate gives him another 60 home runs from those missed games in 1952 and 1953, and somewhere in the neighborhood of an additional 310 hits. That takes his career home run total to 720, instead of 660, giving him the most all time, at the time of his retirement. Only Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 3rd all-time in Home Runs, instead of 6th. Another 310 hits gives Willie 3,603 for his career, which would have put him 3rd all-time at the time of his retirement, behind only Ty Cobb and Stan Musial. Only Henry Aaron and Pete Rose have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 5th all-time in hits, instead of 13th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff4c0273-0ddc-4868-a126-63eb82330fca/194+-+Rickey.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - How Great Could One Player Be? Another 160 runs bumps him up to 2,228, which puts him at 3rd all time, instead of 7th, just 17 behind Ty Cobb for 2nd place, and 67 behind Rickey Henderson for 1st. Another 180 Runs Batted In bumps him up to 2,089, which puts him at 4th place all time, instead of 12th, and would make him one of only 6 players with more than 2,000 RBI in his career. Willie is already one of only 4 players in history with more than 6,000 total bases, but adding another 500 for the time he missed in the military moves his career total up to 6,580 and in to second place all time, behind only Henry Aaron's 6,856. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff9de36f-1896-4414-956e-ee10628eaad9/195+-+Seals+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Seals Stadium It has long been said that the Giants moving to San Francisco also cost Willie a number of home runs. But taking a deeper look at the statistics, that doesn't seem quite accurate. The first two years the Giants called the West Coast home, the team played their home games at Seals Stadium. Willie hit 33 total home runs there in 1958 and 1959, while he hit 30 home runs on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c409a762-6514-44e8-9acb-517a49cc2a81/196+-+Candlestick.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Candlestick Park Candlestick Park opened in 1960, and Willie played his home games there through the end of the 1971 season, and for the first 19 games of the 1972 season before he went to the Mets to end his career. During that span, Willie played 884 home games at Candlestick Park, where he hit 202 home runs. In that same period, he played 908 games away from Candlestick, and he hit 194 home runs. So Willie hit 5.93 Home Runs per 100 Plate Appearances at Candlestick, and only 5.17 Home Runs per 100 Plate Appearances on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1f6d53b-6479-48f3-a713-6b481b35c533/197+-+Fences.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out After 1960, everything at Candlestick changed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccd799ca-1ca8-4e08-b771-be3412e68d92/198+-+Willie.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Closer Fences Beginning in 1961, the Giants changed the start time of their home games from 1:30 pm to 1:00 pm to combat the late afternoon winds coming off the San Francisco Bay, but they also moved the fences in. Down the left and right field lines both stayed consistent at 330 feet each. Straightaway center was shortened from 420 feet to 410 feet, while right center and left center were each shortened from 397 feet all the way down to 365 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d66b2e21-41a1-42d1-9334-b4384fd9a0f1/199+-+Candlestick.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Pitcher’s Park? Willie, himself, said that playing at Candlestick forced him to adjust his swing, as he focused on hitting the ball to right-center field, where the wind would be less of a factor. But the fact is, he was able to do that, and it most likely helped his production. The myth that Candlestick was a pitcher's park was just that: a myth. In fact, in 8 of the 13 seasons from 1960 through 1972, the park factors at Candlestick actually favored batters, not pitchers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e1d7808-1664-4056-8c42-3449532be2fa/200+-+Rickwood.JPEG Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out I was lucky enough to be at the MLB game at Rickwood Field in June of 2024, and was at the MiLB game there the night Willie Mays passed away. You can read about my surreal experience HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/267aac86-93fa-408a-baac-b55214bf993a/200+-+Mays+and+Mantle.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mays & Mantle Whatever Willie’s actual career statistics are, or what they could have been, there’s no debate that he’s one of the greatest players to ever put on a uniform. In my estimation, he is the greatest. But as much as I love Willie, and respect him, Mickey Mantle will always be my favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e5899c-f16f-461b-bf47-36e6b7cd950b/202+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0407 - Tom Catal - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/06 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7440024f-07e7-4ae1-a767-9d4011ecf955/youtube.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f6edb73-da5d-4747-ab73-2fd0a3516707/Square+small.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine Me and Jay Valentine after recording our interview at his home in Ohio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f65dc82-df99-49fc-b8de-dd60d59d057d/01+-+Ethiopian+Clowns.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Miami Giants Though the Miami Giants’ history is shadowy at best, several accounts credit Johnny Pierce, a numbers runner and bootlegger, and Hunter Campbell with the team’s founding. Pierce’s and Campbell’s choice of “Giants” as team moniker is not surprising; black teams frequently adopted “Giants,” so if fans saw “Giants” on an announcement or advertisement, they could assume it was a black team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5da71e70-b3e4-47a2-972d-f3a14cd2babe/02+-+Ethiopian+Clowns.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ethiopian Clowns By 1941, the team was calling themselves the Miami Ethiopian Clowns, but when they became an independent barnstorming club, they shortened that to just the Ethiopian Clowns. The team’s Ethiopia reference was seen by some as exploitation of black sympathy, which encouraged Negro league owners to oppose adding the Clowns to their ranks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32687f6a-409b-4225-a688-87a81d9eff6b/03+-+Syd+Pollock.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Syd Pollock Syd Pollock was instrumental in promoting and popularizing the Clowns and developed them into a nationally-known combination of show business and baseball. Pollock worked as a booking agent for several clubs starting in the late 1910s before becoming an executive with the Havana Red Sox / Cuban House of David / Pollock's Cuban Stars from 1927 to 1933. Pollock served as the booker, general manager and eventual primary owner of the Ethiopian/Indianapolis Clowns from 1936 to 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5ec181f-bba1-4933-8d2e-d4a4ba6fc7b6/04+-+Prince+Joe+Henry.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Prince Joe” Henry While still fielding a legitimate team, the Clowns also toured with several members known for comic acts — sort of a baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters, including Joe "Prince" Henry. Injuries put an end to a two-plus-season stint holding down second base for the Memphis Red Sox in the early 1950’s, but Henry resurfaced in 1955 with the Clowns. Henry's showmanship at third base during two seasons in Indianapolis earned him the nickname "Prince Joe." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2dcac8c-da75-4640-b67e-d8280246672d/05+-+Cincinnati+Clowns+Pennant.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out In 1943, the team relocated to Cincinnati, where they became the Cincinnati Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6d23f9c-1a02-429e-9486-58c4b52695c9/06+-+Buffalo.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Move To Buffalo The 'Buffalo Clowns' were a very successful team, as they were already the Negro League Champions upon arriving in Buffalo in 1951, and went on to win 2 more championships in 1952 and 1955. During their 5 year span in Buffalo, the Clowns played all of their games at home at Offermann Stadium on Michigan and East Ferry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a28978d8-1684-4704-8cbb-48f356c973fd/07+-+1950-08-01+Clowns.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 1950 Clowns The Clowns rejoined the Independent League and won their first league championship in 1950. Here, King Tut (left) boxes with Spec Bebop during a Clowns game on August 1, 1950. (Photo By Dean Conger/The Denver Post) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c219be0-4e66-4da8-82b4-4ea1dcde88d3/08+-+Champions.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Champions The Indianapolis Clowns won the Negro American League championship in 1951, 1952, and 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b16533e5-e021-420c-b43d-9a01cb06baea/09+-+1977.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 1977 - The Clowns’ 48th Season Jay Valentine joined the team in 1977, playing Center Field and participating in the show that season and the following year, in 1978. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0579a949-e5ed-46e2-a280-4728d13cc0d7/10+-+Sioux+Empire+College.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out After playing with the Clowns, Jay attended Sioux Empire College for two years where he played for former New York Yankee and World Series champion Bob Cerv. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/386b7c31-b985-424a-a3cc-2b43263c96d0/11+-+Clowns.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling Circus The Clowns played in every state in the US, as well as Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The largest crowd the team ever played in front of was 41,127 fans in Detroit. The smallest crowd was only 35 fans in Lubbock, Texas, but there was an active tornado happening during the game. The Clowns once played in a town with a population of just 476 people, yet managed to bring out 1,372 fans to the game. The Clowns continued to play exhibition games as a barnstorming team until they finally disbanded in 1989, but not before they made history and broke barriers for more than half a century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86fb4875-dc41-420a-bdef-d3dc9c96f60a/12+-+Parents.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay Valentine Jay was born in Chillicothe, Ohio in 1957, but his dad took a job in Oberlin so the family moved there in 1966. Jay’s dad was one of ten children, and Jay was one of five. Jay’s parents are pictured here with Jay’s nephew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/231980a0-f09d-45cd-b253-bca618588fa7/13+-+Young+Jay.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Young Jay Since there were so many men in the family, there were always gloves laying around the house. Jay grew up learning to love watching and playing baseball as a Cleveland Indians fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9c39af7-b58a-49a8-8003-2427d268adea/14+-+Vada+Pinson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vada Pinson Vada Pinson played as a center fielder for 18 years (1958–1975). The best years of his career came with the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he played from 1958 to 1968 as a four-time National League All-Star. Pinson was 5’ 11” and 170 pounds, and batted and threw left-handed. He combined power, speed, and strong defensive ability, and was Jay’s favorite player growing up. Radio executive Clifford Evans conducted audio interviews of baseball players during spring training in the early 1960s. You can listen to the interview he conducted with Vada Pinson on February 26, 1962 HERE. Vada Pinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9fa108d-0f12-4d6e-b3a5-e2acd85bb463/15+-+Vic+Davalillo.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vic Davalillo Vic Davalillo played as an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians (1963–68), California Angels (1968–69), St. Louis Cardinals (1969–70), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971–73), Oakland Athletics (1973–74), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977–80). Davalillo, who batted and threw left-handed, was a leadoff hitter known for his speedy baserunning and capable defense, all qualities which made Jay adore him. Davalillo also had an exceptional career in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he is the all-time leader in total base hits and career batting average. All told, Davalillo played for 30 years in the U.S., Mexico, and his homeland of Venezuela, compiling more than 4,100 base hits during his career. Vic Davalillo’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9912b4f-b8a7-41e6-9e36-c483afea450b/16+-+Mickey+Rivers.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mickey Rivers Mickey Rivers played from 1970 to 1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. As a Yankee, he was part of two World Series championship teams, both defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1977 and 1978. "Mick The Quick" was generally known as a speedy leadoff hitter who made contact and was an excellent center fielder, so it’s no wonder Jay liked him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39b90961-578c-46d8-8978-0fd8c1500b45/17+-+Cesar+Cedeno.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - César Cedeño César Cedeño was a center fielder from 1970 to 1986, winning five consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1972 and 1976. As a member of the Astros, he helped the franchise win its first-ever NL Western Division title and postseason berth in 1980. Cedeño became only the second player in MLB history to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season (1972), and the only major leaguer to do so in three consecutive seasons (1972-74). César Cedeño’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad014058-7604-4bba-9026-1392f34e1b4e/18+-+Vada+Pinson+shoes.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vada’s Shoes One of the things that always stood out to Jay about Vada Pinson was his shoes. It wasn’t just Jay who noticed, though. Teammates also praised the way Pinson took pride in his appearance, shining his shoes to a high gloss. Former Reds second baseman Tommy Helms: “His game and practice shoes were shined brighter than my dress shoes.” Former Reds manager Sparky Anderson: “He would spit shine those shoes of his every day.” Curt Flood, who was a year ahead of Pinson at McClymonds High School in West Oakland: “Vada was neat as a pin. He shined his shoes between innings, almost.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00c19cb2-5e32-4d56-bf77-fd82acc9b38a/19+-+Jay%27s+Shoes.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Shoes Did you really think I was going to bring this up in the interview, make you read all of those quotes about teammates commenting on Vada Pinson’s shiny shoes, and then not show you a picture of Jay as a little kid with his shoes all shined? I thought you knew me better than that by now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02f97ac9-4d83-42fa-adca-300e77ccbbb7/20+-+1955+Little+League.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Little League Little League Baseball prohibited racial discrimination when it was founded in 1939, but In 1955, Little League’s rule directly conflicted with Southern laws that prohibited integration. That year, white Little League teams in South Carolina, Florida, and Texas refused to take the field against Black teams as part of a massive resistance to the Brown decision. Pictured here are Jaycees catcher Richard Morris Jr., Kiwanis pitcher Johnny Lane, Jaycees pitcher Robert East, Kiwanis catcher Gary Fleming, Little Leaguers from Orlando who made history in 1955. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4df400f8-5ba6-452f-a60e-dcfb50d9e1f8/21+-+Tiant.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Luis Tiant Another of Jay’s favorite players growing up was Luis Clemente Tiant Vega, a Cuban pitcher who played primarily for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. "El Tiante" compiled a 229–172 record with 2,416 strikeouts, a 3.30 ERA, 187 complete games, and 49 shutouts in 19 seasons. He was an All-Star three times and a four-time 20-game winner. Tiant was the AL ERA leader in 1968 and 1972 and the AL leader in shutouts in 1966, 1968, and 1974. Tiant was the only child of Luis Tiant Sr. and Isabel Vega. From 1926 through 1948, the senior Tiant was a great left-handed pitcher for the Negro league's New York Cubans during the summer, and the Cuban professional league's Cienfuegos in the winter. Luis Tiant’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c3ec3a7-804b-4c58-a37a-c1645b529e97/22+-+Ohio+Counties.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hot Stove League Jay lived in Oberlin, which is in Lorain County in Ohio. While playing travel ball in the Hot Stove League growing up, his teams would travel to the surrounding counties in Ohio to play games, usually between 30 and 40 each summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dbb64e6-5535-4b40-9eb8-b173c6150681/23+-+Vada+Pinson+28.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - #28 Vada Pinson (and César Cedeño, actually) wore the number 28 during his playing career, so that’s the number Jay chose to wear when he played ball in high school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db1b831f-454c-4c37-bd0d-3c0cd4d28b9b/24+-+High+School.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Oberlin High School Jay went to Oberlin High School and played center field for the Indians in his one season playing high school ball. In the last game of his sophomore year, he hit an inside the park home run against Vermillion. Unfortunately, before the game, the upperclassmen on the team had purchased beer to drink on the team bus after to celebrate. When the boys cracked them open, the smell of the beer made its way to the front of the bus, where the coaches were. Every player on the team was suspended, and after the story made its way to the newspapers, the entire team was kicked out of the conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f66603a-63d1-4444-8ab8-ff7cc7a3317d/25+-+American+Legion.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - American Legion Baseball American Legion Baseball enjoys a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers teams in all 50 states plus Canada. Each year young people, ages 13 to 19, participate. Since its inception in 1925, the league has had millions of players, including countless who have gone on to play in college and professional baseball, with 82 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The program is also a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c676ec1-a9c6-49a7-a5e8-778c21227f72/26+-+Scott+Fletcher.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Scott Fletcher Sometimes scouts would come to American Legion games in search of talent. Scott Fletcher was discovered by a scout playing American Legion ball in Wadsworth, Ohio. Eventually, he played 15 years in Major League Baseball, including with the Texas Rangers and two stints with the Chicago White Sox. George W. Bush named his dog Spot Fetcher after Fletcher while Bush was the owner of the Texas Rangers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5e74d1f-4ac6-430c-8558-467a91aea3ea/27+-+Envelope.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Jay received letters from the Major League Scouting Bureau informing him that there were tryouts all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d20abd00-6016-4175-b019-81ee63cad518/28+-+Letter.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Major League Scouting Bureau These letters served as an open invitation to the recipient to attend any tryout on the enclosed list. It was up to the player to pay his way to the tryout, and to show up with any equipment and uniforms he may need, but once your name was in the system, you were able to try out on any of the dates and at any of the locations listed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa3f556c-e2bc-49ed-b54a-fd41f547a096/29+-+Tryout+list.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Tryout Though he theoretically could have gone to any of the tryouts on this list (which was multiple pages long), Jay chose to only go to the tryout held on June 12, 1976 at Tallmadge High School in Tallmadge, Ohio. The name of the school and town is mistakenly spelled “Talmadge” on the sheet. Maybe that was the first test for a player trying out there… Jay’s handwriting on the page show some basic directions of how he was going to get there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2c66144-48ea-4f5c-bbe6-1b3a412d2f74/30+-+Just+A+Kid.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Just A Kid In 1976, Jay earned an invitation to the Florida Instructional League in Fort Lauderdale with the New York Yankees. He got on a plane on January 23, 1976, after finishing his high school credits that December, a semester early. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/069ead29-93cd-4b88-b376-2a23a9822224/31+-+Steve+Hughes.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Hughes Steve Hughes’ career began with the Pittsburgh Pirates straight out of high school, where he spent nine years splitting time between the Pirates and Reds in the minor leagues. Steve also had the honor of playing for the original Nashville Sounds team. Since Steve had already been signed by a team, he bought a conversion van and had a little bit of money - at least compared to the other players sharing the house at the Florida Instructional League with Jay. Steve was a polished infielder, playing primarily shortstop, but he compiled a career batting average of only .218 with 1 home run and 157 RBI in his 655-game career. He had been sent to the FIL to work on his hitting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f39b424a-8d30-41e0-adc4-1079afc163c4/32+-+Jay.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Grueling Schedule The players of the Florida Instructional League were expected to be at the field and ready to play every morning by 8:00 am. They lived 3-4 miles from the ballpark, and were not supplied with transportation to get to and from home, so it was on them to walk, run, or hitchhike to the park. The players would taking batting and fielding practice until the actual Major League ballplayers showed up for their training. At that point, the Instructional League players would shag balls for the Major Leaguers. Around noon, the first round of the day’s practice would end and the players would have a break until about 6:00 pm when they would have to be back at the ballpark for an evening game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6c4c4b9-c41c-4a5c-8a65-6704808330a9/33+-+McD%27s.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - McDonald’s The players weren’t being paid, so it was on them to either have enough money sent from home, or to get part-time jobs in Florida so they could stay financially solvent for the 8 weeks they were at Spring Training. While some players stole cars to make ends meet, others got jobs at the local McDonald’s, which was the largest in the world at the time. Jay worked late nights at the 24-hour restaurant for three days before deciding it wasn’t for him. Check out this McDonald’s ad from 1976. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0506a2c6-beb0-4282-9a23-18a759d5267d/34+-+Reggie.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reggie Jackson Jay shared the field with Reggie Jackson at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. Jackson retired after the 1987 season with 563 career home runs, the sixth-highest total in MLB history at the time. Reggie Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1e930a7-04ec-4e6c-b99a-cc29d13cfeab/35+-+Graig+Nettles.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Graig Nettles Jay shared the field with Graig Nettles at Yankees Spring Training in 1976. Nettles is regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, winning Gold Glove Awards in 1977 and 1978. Graig Nettles’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26afdd75-54df-4200-a15b-43b81b0e216e/36+-+Jay.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Getting Instruction The whole point of the Florida Instructional League is for young players to receive instruction on how to become better. After the Major League players would get done practicing for the day, the Instructional League players would continue to work, and that’s when the coaches would tell them what they needed to focus on to get better. They told Jay, “You’ve got good skills, you’ve got good speed, but your arm could be better. And don’t pull your head off on the ball when you’re at the plate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7cc2818-c14c-4a10-aed4-0bca468abd2a/37+-+Kenny+Loftonn.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Kenny Lofton Jay has been described as “Kenny Lofton before Kenny Lofton” because he was a fast center fielder who batted and threw left-handed, batted leadoff, was a great bunter, and stole a lot of bases because he was so fast. I’d say that’s a pretty fair comparison. Kenny Lofton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/521fcd0b-718a-4cfc-9281-fd5d1f63970f/38+-+logo.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Dr. Deuce Jay wore the #2 on many of his uniforms over the years. He also got on base and he stole bases, earning him the nickname Dr. Deuce. If you were going to walk him, you were often times walking a double, since Jay was going to immediately steal second in addition to receiving the free pass to first. At first, his friends were calling him “Dr. Jay” but Jay knew the only “Dr. J” played in Philadelphia. So he became “Dr. Deuce” shortly thereafter. He has even created his own Dr. Deuce logo, and has custom hats he wears (and sells, if you want to buy one) with the logo on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/924d2c4c-9410-4a0d-83d2-173400afee8d/39+-+400+batting+average.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Stats Jay was a great bunter, which was one of the things that helped him have a high batting average. In a July, 1978 issue of the Elyria Chronicle Telegram, it was reported that Jay was batting over .400 after 21 games of the season. While his career statistics aren’t documented anywhere, and can’t be found online, during his career, Jay would keep his daily stats in a calendar so he could keep track of his progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14ccdda7-1fd4-4568-939c-bfabb0c8264d/40+-+Jay+in+College.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Great Base Stealer The most bases Jay ever stole in one game was SIX!!! But he wasn’t just a volume stealer; Jay was efficient. In four years of college ball, Jay was only thrown out three times trying to steal. No wonder he had so much swag. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a735fd4-1a27-4255-9b07-52cdf8313ebd/41+-+Doctor+Deuce.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - What To Watch For When Jay was on first base, he would focus on the pitcher’s foot touching the rubber. If that came off the ground, he knew to get back because there was going to be a pickoff attempt. If the pitcher’s front foot lifted off the ground instead, it was off to the races. But Jay wasn’t only stealing on pitchers. He would pay attention to the catchers, as well. If a catcher was lazy throwing the ball back to the pitcher from his knees, Jay had no problem taking an extra base on a delayed steal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f5c46fc-d669-425e-a78a-e2e3722ed57c/42+-+afro.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Afro Here is Jay in 1976 after he came home from Spring Training. Jay said that at its peak, his afro put Oscar Gamble’s to shame. “It exceeded all proportion, It could not be contained, It bloomed round like a dark sunrise, It glistened in the rain. The little boys with crew cuts Or blond locks oh so fair Would look and cheer with wonder At Oscar Gamble’s hair.” —Roy Peter Clark Gamble was not allowed to keep his afro when he was traded to the Yankees because of their strict appearance policy. At the time, Gamble had a commercial deal with Afro Sheen, but they cancelled the deal when he cut his afro to comply with team policy. Oscar was reimbursed by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for the $5,000 he lost in the deal. Oscar Gamble’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbc8a72d-befc-4b41-8657-2399e11e71f7/43+-+Eddie+Murray.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Eddie Murray Jay shared the field with Eddie Murray at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. While Murray would go on to a Hall of Fame career, becoming one of only seven players in MLB history with both 500+ career home runs and 3,000+ career hits, Jay said he didn’t feel intimidated by Murray, or any other player on the field. Jay felt his skills were good enough to compete with any of them. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14297e41-fbef-45a8-96dc-961c5b731aba/44+-+Paul+Blair.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Blair Jay shared the field with Paul Blair at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. Jay said Paul played the shallowest center field of anyone he had ever seen, because Blair knew he could still get back to any ball hit over his head. Apparently, he knew what he was talking about, as his 8 career Gold Glove Awards can attest. Blair won his first in 1967. After missing out in 1968, he won the award seven consecutive years from 1969 to 1975. Jay preferred to play deep and come in on balls, so it was amazing for him to watch Blair play. Paul Blair’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba0c5571-2fb3-40fb-9ea9-4fe380b1172c/45+-+Curtis+Wallace.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Curtis Wallace Curtis Wallace was a 5’ 11” and 183 pound stocky infielder trying to make the Single A team. He told Jay about the Indianapolis Clowns when the two were down in Florida for the Instructional League. That was the first time Jay learned about the Clowns, and that Henry Aaron and Satchel Paige had played for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa33939c-f02c-4e8e-b32f-1880c0000552/46+-+college.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - College Ball Even though the Yankees invited Jay down to Florida to participate in the Instructional League, Jay credits the Baltimore Orioles for his opportunity to play college ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fec9142-bba2-4803-8d38-94696f655da6/47+-+George+Long.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long For 25 years, George Long was the booking agent for the Indianapolis Clowns. Long would operate the Clowns from 1972 to 1983, so he was the team owner at the time when Jay was invited to try out to make the team in 1977. Since George lived in Muscatine, Iowa, that’s where tryouts were held. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c09963b-ac01-45bb-ba75-e1c6b63352e8/48+-+Ed+Hamman+and+Syd+Pollock.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman & Syd Pollock George Long bought the team in 1972 from Ed Hamman, who had actually been a player on the Clowns until he bought the team from Syd Pollock. Here, Hamman (left) and Pollock are photographed together at a baseball meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1959. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a6d8c9c-af84-4af9-bda2-35bf0f256f72/49+-+Ed+Hamman.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman Hamman was known in his playing days for being able to pitch the ball from behind his back or between his legs. He conceived the idea for the oversized glove and bat which remained staples of the Clowns’ show for years. Here, Hamman (right) is pictured with Richard Elmer "King Tut" King (left) and Ralph Bell, aka “Spec Bebop” (center). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17faaf91-e6c5-446d-b4df-caf48d25f80f/50+-+King+Tuttttt.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Some Are Called Clowns When Curtis Wallace arrived with the Clowns after he was called to come play for the team, he was surprised by what he saw. An excerpt from Bill Heward’s great book, Some Are Called Clowns: “I figured I'd walk into a hotel and there'd be a bunch of guys in the lobby bobbing their heads and sticking their tongues out with their eyes rolling in big circles. People walking on their hands, juggling balls and bouncing them off their heads… “You know, Indianapolis Clowns. And I was kind of scared 'cause I figured somebody was going to ask me about my number, if I kicked balls off my feet, did cartwheels, or what, and all I could do was play baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728344a4-737e-4dba-a568-00dc5d604cd4/51+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam Birmingham Sam was the Clown Prince of the team when Jay was with the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1568bdb-997a-4f8b-9fec-e7b486b07b76/52+-+Bobo.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nate “Bobo” Smalls Nate “Bobo” Smalls was also a major part of the show, sharing time with Birmingham Sam as the main attractions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/894bf2ac-34ff-4ab8-91ae-32c6f5183c2c/53+-+Henry+Aaron.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “If He Did It, I Could, Too” When Jay learned that Henry Aaron got his start in professional baseball by playing with the Clowns, he thought to himself “if he did it, I could, too.” Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography John Wyatt’s SABR Biography Paul Casanova’s SABR Biography Hal King’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ccc4c2c-62e4-4fcc-90f0-c9df199f46b1/54+-+1944+Clowns+with+Armando+Vasquez.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Roster Sizes Roster sizes for Negro League teams were usually only about 15-16 players per team. Pictured here is the 1944 Clowns team, featuring rookie Armando Vázquez. Vázquez followed in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Martin Dihigo, and came to the U.S. to become a Negro Leagues baseball player in 1944. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0576b8d8-c150-4aae-9b13-b5344f9fc184/55+-+Checker+Aero.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Checker Aerobus When Jay was with the Clowns, however, they kept a roster of just 12 players! Why only 12? Because that’s how many could fit in their vehicle: the Checker Aerobus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6c0363a-ae5b-420a-b627-0f3f4e1b5149/56+-+George+Long.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long While George Long managed the team in a sense, he wasn’t really the team’s Manager, on the baseball field. That was really left up to the players, themselves, since George really only traveled with the team for a couple weeks out of the year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5049a77c-0335-4fa7-8605-1b727e841a7d/57+-+Broken+Wrist.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Injuries Jay broke his wrist two times within six weeks one season. He was able to tough it out and stay with the team, performing in the announcer’s booth for part of the time. But if an injury was really severe, like a broken arm or broken leg or something, usually the player would just be sent home because George Long couldn’t afford to keep a player on the road who wasn’t contributing to the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3dc0bde3-5511-481e-8674-f3cb1aa74adf/58+-+Games.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Very Few Off Days The Clowns would play between 60-70 games in about 3 months time during the summers, sometimes playing 2-3 games in a single day. Occasionally, the team would play an early game in one town, drive up to 200 miles to the next town immediately after the first game ended, and play a second game that night in the new town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a754d4a-e9cf-46ec-865f-cc277eb18e4c/59+-+Marty.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Marty Kobernus There were really only three guys on the Clowns who pitched regularly. However, anyone on the team who could throw strikes was allowed to pitch to save those guys' arms since the team played so many games. The team would just talk amongst themselves to decide whose arms was good to go on any given day, and whoever needed to step up and eat some innings would do so. Pictured here is one of the Clowns’ regular pitchers, Marty Kobernus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a64ecb7d-4859-4660-8fba-c9fb14d78954/60+-+traveling.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling The Clowns traveled to 28 different states in three months while Jay was with the team one year. George Long scheduled all of the games and coordinated everything from back home in Muscatine, Iowa. Pictured here is Marty Kobernus in the Rocky Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f6cd3f-52cd-4e72-a241-182776562f13/61+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam Jay was roommates with the team’s Clown Prince, Birmingham Sam, when they were lucky enough to get either a hotel or a motel on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4feba22f-b13c-43de-9627-6aa5fbfd0f06/62+-+Juggling+Joe+Taylor.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Juggling Jay could juggle, which came in handy during the team’s shows. The Clowns had juggling as part of their shows dating back decades. Here, “Juggling Joe” Taylor shows off his skills. Taylor was an exceptionally good juggler, but his talent didn’t relate to baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ceac7d4-3764-4f7f-9b72-2d481331f412/62+-+28+states.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Lots Of Time In The Car Jay played in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado… 28 states in three months one season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c99bd0-0361-47f4-9bc4-8c301bc7b4ae/63+-+Drank+Some+Beers.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pass The Time “We drank some beers, smoked some cigarettes, and drank some beers” to pass the time in the car on those long drives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2ed1a8e-77d9-45a2-b648-1a5cebca10a2/64+-+Coco.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mike Coco When your personal car has personalized plates with your name on them, you know you love to drive. Second baseman Mike Coco rarely gave up the wheel when traveling with the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6174f69e-cd36-4a85-9fc7-eed4b1a07552/66+-+Coco+and+Marty.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Road Trip Gags There wasn’t really room to play cards or do anything other than drink, sleep, or bust each other’s balls in the car. The hours and hours the teammates spent joking with each other made them a really tight-knit group. Here, Coco and Marty show just how close teammates can be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7af2b528-aac4-4190-80bd-ee29d401c5a9/67+-+Maps.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling In The Checker Aero The members of the team got pretty good at reading maps over the course of their time playing with the Clowns. If there were ever any issues, they could always call George Long in Muscatine, Iowa, who would help them out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bffbbe5-8d6f-4646-81aa-9e352015620c/68+-+mail.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Staying In Touch When the team was on the road, the players would have friends and family (and girls) send mail to this address in Muscatine. Then, George would send that mail to the team’s next stop on the road, since he knew their schedule, and the players could stay in touch with everyone that way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/505c7d72-b121-4d93-be30-43a74a30d73d/69+-+Girls.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Girls If players met girls on the road, they might follow the team for a couple games. But if they wanted to stay in touch after that, they would have to send mail to their favorite player through George Long in Muscatine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5da98f69-5482-4443-bb53-bb91db9dfc3f/70+-+George+Long.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long George Long spent 67 years as the organizer and coach of the semipro team in Muscatine, Iowa. He managed Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron, and managed against Satchel Paige and Dizzy Dean. In an interview with the New York Daily News when he was 89-years-old, when asked how long he would manage, he said “I’m going to give it up when I get old.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dd193e2-9eed-4949-a07e-26eb6e177637/71+-+Broadside.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Advertising George Long would print up hundreds of copies of these blank broadsides at the beginning of each season. Notice on this one it says “48th Season” which was Jay’s first with the team, 1977. The bottom right corner would be left blank so George could fill it in with the appropriate information for each team/city/date/time to properly promote each individual game. If he was traveling with the team, he would walk around the town handing these posters out to local businesses and hanging them up where he saw fit. If he wasn’t traveling with the team, he would trust the team to do it, or send posters to the opposing teams/towns in advance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a2c648d-c954-49b1-bb8b-de05a0a1b8b4/72+-+Wooten.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hubert “Big Daddy” Wooten Hubert Wooten, who was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on September 6, 1944, graduated from Carver High School. He signed a minor league contract with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 1964 where he pitched and played in the outfield. He played for the Clowns from 1965-68. Wooten, who was only 5’ 8”, said "I've always had power and people wonder how. And I'd tell them, 'It happens when you work on a farm.' When I was a youngster, I had to cut wood, I had to walk behind that mule, and I had to take two 50-pound bags of fertilizer, one in this hand and one in the other, and carry them across the field. I didn't get my power in the gym, I got my power on the farm." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad10668-738d-4a20-8066-8fdb909884f4/73+-+Smallwood.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - DeWitt “Woody” Smallwood DeWitt "Woody" Smallwood played from 1950-1954 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the New York Black Yankees, the Philadelphia Stars, and the Birmingham Black Barons. A teammate of Henry Aaron’s on the Clowns, Smallwood remarked "Aaron could make that tin fence in Winston-Salem talk with his line drive hits." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90ed7418-f420-4549-b459-5e4fb7f441a4/74+-+Goose+Tatum.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reece “Goose” Tatum Reece “Goose” Tatum was a flashy-fielding showman with the Clowns. At first base, he provided a big target for infielders and entertained the fans with his long arms and a big stretch. Although better known for his glovework, Tatum started the 1947 All Star game for the West squad and banged out 2 hits in 4 times at the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2a85c7f-ba22-4994-b014-99041e17928e/75+-+John+Wyatt.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - John Wyatt John Wyatt played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as a relief pitcher. From 1961 through 1969, he played for the Kansas City Athletics (1961–66), Boston Red Sox (1966–68), New York Yankees (1968), Detroit Tigers (1968) and Oakland Athletics (1969). He began his career in the Negro Leagues playing for the Indianapolis Clowns (1953–55). John Wyatt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b251b9f1-3f5b-429d-ada7-80e36cb8343d/76+-+Coleman.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clarence “Choo-Choo” Coleman Clarence Coleman was born in Orlando, Florida, on August 25, 1937. In 1955, shortly after graduating high school, Coleman signed with the Indianapolis Clowns. The authors of The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris, had this to say about Coleman: "Choo-Choo Coleman was the quintessence of the early New York Mets. He was a 5'8", 160-pound catcher who never hit over .250 in the majors, had 9 career home runs, 30 career RBIs, and couldn't handle pitchers. Plus his name was Choo-Choo. What more could you ask for?" Casey Stengel once complimented Coleman's speed, saying that he'd never seen a catcher so fast at retrieving passed balls. Choo-Choo Coleman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3bac6c9-1949-4439-878a-6724ff80c824/77+-+Casanova.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Casanova Paulino ("Paul") Ortiz Casanova was a Cuban catcher who played Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1974 for the Washington Senators and Atlanta Braves. Casanova began his professional baseball career on January 1, 1960, when he was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Indians. After playing ten minor league games, he was released by the Indians. Casanova was picked back up by the Indians in December, only to be released again in April 1961. During the 1961 season, he played for the Indianapolis Clowns. After baseball, Casanova created a baseball academy at his home in Florida. It also became a gathering place for his former teammates and fellow Cuban ball players. Casanova has been described as the glue holding his whole generation of baseball players together. Paul Casanova’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/124c5c35-d5be-4d53-87c1-19a7094ae9f2/78+-+King.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hal King Harold King was a catcher in Major League Baseball and the Mexican League from 1967 to 1979 for the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the Saraperos de Saltillo. King began his professional baseball career in 1962 with the Indianapolis Clowns, and played for the team through 1964. Hal King’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a87127f3-40cf-4380-85b5-3f6c13259b1e/79+-+Toni+Stone.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Toni Stone The Clowns were the first professional baseball team to hire a woman to a long-term contract to play competitively, when they signed Toni Stone in 1953. Stone played second base and hit .243. Clowns owner Syd Pollock was reportedly trying to hire Stone for the Indianapolis Clowns since the close of the 1950 baseball season. While the media reported that she finally agreed to sign on for a staggering $12,000 for 1953, many sources identify that figure as an untruth for publicity purposes. Other reports are that Pollock wanted Stone to play in a skirt or in shorts, and she refused. A baseball player from her early childhood, she also played for the San Francisco Sea Lions, the New Orleans Creoles, and the Kansas City Monarchs before retiring from baseball in 1954. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6989c68c-51f6-424a-8838-504259185ad5/80+-+Toni+Stone+in+Ebony+Magazine+July+01%2C+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Toni Stone in Ebony Magazine from July 1, 1953 (courtesy of Toni Stone family, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce1f81ad-ea22-4666-a5c6-bb9106f1f4af/81+-+Mamie+Peanut+Johnson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mamie "Peanut" Johnson Some accounts have Mamie “Peanut” Johnson barnstorming with the Clowns in late 1953, but she was definitely playing full-time in 1954. Johnson had initially attempted to try out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, but was barred due to race. A pitcher with a slider, circle change, screwball and a curveball she claimed to have learned from Satchel Paige, she did not throw hard but she had good control. They called the 5-foot-3 (or maybe 5-foot-2) Johnson “Peanut.” Story has it that in her first game pitching for the Clowns, Hank Baylis peered from the batter’s box to the diminutive pitcher on the mound and called, “What makes you think you can strike a batter out? Why, you aren’t any larger than a peanut?” She struck him out, and the nickname stuck. Johnson is believed to have compiled a 33-8 record on the mound in her time pitching for the Clowns. But she hit, too – the reports vary, but all place her within the range of .260 to .285 for her career batting average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53b7d02c-fe2d-4b4f-866f-c8f4d346be91/82+-+Connie+Morgan+and+Jackie+Robinson.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Connie Morgan A native of Philadelphia, Connie Morgan graduated John Bartram High School in 1953 and attended William Penn Business Institute. Clowns owner Syd Pollock arranged for Connie to try out during the Clowns’ postseason 1953 tour against Jackie Robinson’s Major League All-Stars, where she was photographed with Jackie. Morgan joined the Clowns in 1954, playing second base for Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston. She was signed "to a contract estimated at $10,000 per season." Described as standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds, she was "slated to get the regular female assignment in the starting lineup." On opening day of the 1954 season, "she went far to her right to make a sensational stop, flipped to shortstop Bill Holder and started a lightning double play against the Birmingham Barons." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c152ccb-5219-4b7b-aaea-4daef2ff177f/83+-+Feminine+Stars.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Women In The Negro Leagues For decades, women's baseball was just as segregated as the men's game. But Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan enjoyed professional opportunities in the Negro Leagues, blazing a trail for the women who would come after them. Black Women Playing Baseball: An Introduction by Leslie Heaphy Playing With The Boys: Gender, Race, and Baseball in Post-War America by A.J. Richard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb72d90d-5e53-4719-85ce-95549685c31e/84+-+Henry+Aaron+postcard.jpeg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Henry Aaron Scout Bunny Downs discovered Henry Aaron playing with the Mobile Black Bears, a semipro team, during an exhibition. Aaron was making $3 per game. When he signed his first professional contract with the Clowns in 1953 for $200 a month, he was thrilled. Aaron flourished with Indianapolis, helping guide the team to the 1952 Negro League World Series crown. In 26 games, he posted a .366 batting average, hit five home runs, and stole nine bases. The series, and the season, allowed Aaron to showcase his range of skills not just for regional scouts, but for several major-league organizations as well. Following the championship, two telegrams reached Henry – one with an offer from the New York Giants, and a second with an offer from the Boston Braves. Aaron chose the latter, evidently because of a $50-a-month difference in salary, and Boston immediately purchased his contract from Indianapolis. That’s right: the Giants were $50 away from having Willie Mays and Henry Aaron in the same outfield. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e960444-943a-46ea-a210-205d479e1104/85+-+Multi+Sport+Star.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Multi-Sport Star Jay took all sports seriously, whether it was baseball, basketball, or football. When he heard that Henry Aaron was discovered by Major League scouts while playing for the Clowns, though, he turned his intensity up a notch. “It really gave me a sense of, man, this is a serious venture. If [Henry Aaron] played there and got signed there, then this is not just a little thing.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06a7d7fa-e626-42fe-ad0b-956c2f0c92e6/86+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Team Historian While George Long had been running the Clowns for years, he wasn’t always around the players. And even when he was, most of them didn’t really talk to George too much. Jay mainly learned the history of the Indianapolis Clowns from Birmingham Sam and Bobo, who had each played for the team for years by the time Jay joined. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f83f8da-d739-42f2-9fda-87f9c1f0b7df/1943+Clowns+team%2C+courtesy+of+Indiana+Historical+Society.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out This photo of the 1943 Clowns team is courtesy of Indiana Historical Society https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f12fa8d2-7d23-46f4-9f09-37b0b934ffef/87+-+1947+Manuel+Godines%2C+Reinaldo+Verde+and+Andres+Mesa%2C+courtesy+of+Indiana+Historical+Society.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Negro League Team The Indianapolis Clowns were historically a Negro League team, but the Negro American League's 1951 season is generally considered the last true Negro league season. Most Negro League teams disbanded for good when the Negro American League officially closed its doors in 1952 – three years after it had become the sole Negro major league still in operation. This photo shows players from the 1947 Clowns team (left to right) Manuel Godínez, Reinaldo Verdes Drake, and Andrés A. Mesa. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67a0e2b4-f150-4b72-a0b6-9de7b1307cc1/88+-+Negro+Leagues+Indianapolis+Clowns+v+Kingston+Braves.jpeg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Carrying On The Negro Leagues Tradition Even though the Negro Leagues were no more, the Clowns kept playing well into the 1980s. While Jay didn’t and his teammates didn’t consider themselves to be Negro League players, they believed they were carrying on the tradition of the Negro Leagues by continuing to barnstorm like the teams who came before them. When the team was announced at ballparks, they would say “The Indianapolis Clowns: The Last Of The Negro League Baseball Teams.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5f74b44-3d51-40e4-bf98-c67e9f8aa653/89+-+Bingo+Long.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out The 1976 movie The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings is loosely based on the story of the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/539b858f-32e5-4177-a607-798ed09b6e55/92+-+Clowns.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Some Are Called Clowns You can read a pdf version of Bill Heward’s great book, Some Are Called Clowns by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad376567-0ae9-496b-97cd-32de21a3e464/90+-+Wagner.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Leon Wagner In order to add authenticity to the baseball scenes, the cast included Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner, who was a two-time American League all-star. From 1961 to 1963, Wagner averaged 31 home runs and 99 RBI. With his upbeat nature, big smile, and willingness to laugh, Wagner emerged as a popular figure in the clubhouse. Wagner portrayed first baseman Fat Sam Popper in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. The film drew heavy criticism for exaggerating the clownish aspects of the Negro Leagues. Perhaps because of the poor reviews, Wagner’s acting career soon fizzled out. He would never again make an appearance in a feature film. Leon Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d37fafd1-bb86-4487-9a50-6777a5331348/91+-+Bingo+Long.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out The cast also included Jophrey Brown (who pitched in one game for the 1968 Chicago Cubs, then became a well-respected Hollywood stuntman), as well as Rico Dawson and “Birmingham” Sam Brison, who each played for the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71f6109c-7d6b-48eb-ac8f-1c21fc54e7fa/102+-+Bingo+Long+jersey.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Colorful Jerseys Billy Dee Williams played Bingo Long in the 1976 film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. While the film’s success introduced the Negro Leagues to a wider audience, the story line’s emphasis on “clowning” reinforced racial stereotypes in baseball. Billy Dee Williams sported this colorful jersey as Long, the title character who was based on legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb5d58a-144f-4ab6-8b5e-5b4ead2df9e1/95+-+Special+Jersey.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Jersey Jay was gifted this special Indianapolis Clowns jersey from Birmingham Sam Brison because he was in the act. If you were in the act, you would get a little bit more money, so Jay got $13 a day. Jay is proud of the fact that he was paid more to play for the Clowns than Henry Aaron was, since Aaron was only paid $200 per month when he was with the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2833f584-c079-4e41-94f7-6966c6cba2c2/96+-+King+Tut.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - King Tut Richard Elmer King was the famous Clown Prince for the Clowns known as “King Tut.” King joined Charlie Henry’s Louisville-based Zulu Cannibal Giants in 1934. The Cannibals wore grass skirts, red wigs and face paint. King was known more for performing pantomime comedy acts than his playing ability. He often worked alongside dwarf Spec Bebop, where the two performed their rowboat routine. King was also known for his oversized first baseman's mitt, which had been conceived by Ed Hamman. King eventually transitioned away from playing altogether, but remained associated with the Clowns until his retirement. His illness led to his retirement in the spring of 1959, which left a void with the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d2ba2f8-f792-4908-9bac-400f9317790e/97+-+James+Nature+Boy+Williams.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - James “Nature Boy” Williams By the time James “Nature Boy” Williams joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1955, the team had become a full-time barnstorming attraction, having dropped out of the Negro American League which itself was in its death throes. The 6’ 2” 220-pound Williams spent more than a decade with the Clowns and was known for batting barefoot, playing with the large glove (as pictured) and dancing at first base with umpires. Williams was the first person tasked with replacing King Tut as the Clown Prince after Tut’s retirement. While Williams was popular, the Clowns needed someone with King Tut’s charisma. Besides, Williams had some health issues of his own. He played the entire 1963 season with his right eye completely blind due to an off-season accident, without even his teammates knowing his condition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/daf36858-7ce8-4171-a403-7239a0b47597/98+-+Birmingham+Sam.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sam Brison Enter: Sam Brison. Given his resemblance to King Tut, Clowns owner Syd Pollock originally billed Brison “King Tut, Jr.” but fans kept asking Sam how his dad was doing, thinking they were asking about the original King Tut, and Sam didn’t have an answer because that wasn’t his dad, and he didn’t want to lie to the fans who genuinely cared about King Tut and were asking about him out of kindness. When Pollock asked if he just wanted to be called by his name, Brison said: “No, I figure Birmingham Sam will be good. People will ask me about how Birmingham is. I can answer that.” Brison played (and performed) for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1962 to 1978. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a8dbccb-5ec7-4d3c-9c57-7255d8a39dbf/99+-+Sam+golfing.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Great Athlete “Sam was crazy.” But he was a great athlete. He would get into a new town and hustle the doctors on the golf course, winning extra money for himself and Jay. Following the example of many members of the Clowns throughout the team’s history, Brison also spent his winters playing basketball, first with Goose Tatum’s Harlem Road Kings, then with the Harlem Globetrotters. On the basketball court, he said he “had a lot of showmanship about me… I did a lot of hollering.” Here, Sam practices his swing with Clowns pitcher Kurt Christiansen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d613fba3-f1da-427f-b8aa-ea6358ec78f1/100+-+Birmingham+Sam.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Junior” Sam used to call Jay “Junior.” When Jay asked why, Sam said it was because Satchel Paige used to call Sam “Junior” so he was just passing on the tradition. Paige’s last turns on the mound came in 1967, pitching for the Clowns. By his own estimation, he had pitched in about 2,500 games before putting down his glove for good. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d80f9c7-2f23-4498-af0f-ed5079945343/101+-+drunk.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clothing Optional Sometimes, when you have just the right amount of alcohol in your system, you have one drink more than that and end up making some interesting decisions. Birmingham Sam wasn’t the only Clowns player to have experienced this phenomenon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92377aa4-0278-4302-8f8f-bfa90c489a80/103+-+Women.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Women One of the women Jay “met” while playing for the Clowns was Nicki Thomas, who was born Nancy Elizabeth Tritt on March 22, 1954 in Berwyn, Illinois. She is most remembered for being Playboy's Playmate of the Month in March of 1977. Since the team never stayed in a town for more than 24 hours, Jay said if you met a girl, you literally had to “hit and run.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34fb0a6-b39a-4309-8f0f-37095fd5940e/104+-+Sam.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sam Could Play Anywhere Jay said "Sam could pitch, he could catch, he could play any position on the field... except for mine." His best position was shortstop, but he was so good that he could play first base while sitting in a chair, still able to reach for baseballs and scoop poor throws despite having a very limited range of motion. He would also sit at first base and hold the runner on while staying in the chair. While Sam wasn't a switch hitter, but he would mess with the pitcher before the pitch came by standing backwards in the batter’s box until the pitcher was about to release the ball, then jump around at the last moment and smash the pitch, as seen in the video below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54165c23-0928-4daa-b3e1-e11816627ca2/106+-+Ed+Hamman+car.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman Most of the clowning that took place into the 1970s and 80s had been passed down from generation to generation by Ed Hamman, the player-turned-owner of the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cbf24fb-cd3a-4b6f-b523-69d238fda949/106+-+Brison.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - An Amazing Talent In 1969 The Associated Press reported that Brison had secured a spring training tryout with the Boston Red Sox’ Carolina League Winston-Salem franchise. The Associated Press story incorrectly said the 29-year-old Brison was only 23. Brison said an injury earlier in the spring had led to the cancelation of a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8de59ec-30a5-42e4-8aea-1badcf9d5214/108+-+Rowboat.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Rowboat Routine King Tut and Spec Bebop were the most famous pair of Clowns to perform the rowboat routine, but the routine itself dates back to decades before them. Here, Nick Altrock (umbrella) and Al Schacht (“The Clown Prince of Baseball”, rowing) perform the routine before Game 1 of the 1925 World Series. A short clip of the routine as depicted in Bingo Long can be seen below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1f30cd8-3f15-4556-949b-6efacefb2a4a/110+-+Bobo.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nate “Bobo” Smalls Nate “Bobo” Smalls was a pitcher who played for the Clowns from 1965 to 1986, a longer tenure than any other player ever had with the team. Smalls had a great fastball and a really good curveball. But what was probably most impressive about him was the size of his hands, and the control he had when pitching. Bobo could take three baseballs in one hand, line up three guys like catchers, and he could throw a strike to each one of those guys with the same throw. His biography can be found in a book called Only The Ball Was White as well as in Some Are Called Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c9170c-acfa-4d66-b59a-5a2ed85e3d64/111+-+Steve+Anderson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Anderson Steve Anderson was a one armed first baseman whose nickname was “Nub.” At age 6, Anderson was hit by a telephone truck and had his left arm amputated, but that didn’t stop him from playing ball. Billed as “the world’s greatest one-armed player,” Steve fielded this way: He’d catch the ball, lay the glove on his shoulder in the same motion, and get the ball away as fast as any major leaguer. And the glove never fell off his shoulder. Some say he could turn a double play and bat with one arm better than most players could with two. There was a one-armed player in Bingo Long, so you can see how Anderson would have received a throw by watching the clip below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1daf2d04-9d61-464e-925b-c8b45b11345d/113+-+Rico+Dawson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Rico Dawson Known for his flashy style and athletic ability, Rico Dawson was an outstanding hitter who batted over .400 in three different seasons at Sterling High School career in Greenville, South Carolina. While playing for the Greenville Black Spinners after his college career, Dawson said he had a “real good game” playing in an exhibition against the Indianapolis Clowns. After that game, the Clowns offered Dawson a contract to go on the road with them, which he did for two seasons. His association with the team led to him being recommended as an extra for the Bingo Long movie. Despite having no acting experience, Dawson impressed the directors so much that he was given the speaking role of second baseman, Willie Lee Shively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4cd745cf-fc08-42b1-8c40-a65d1afcc80a/114+-+Clowns.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72932205-f754-48ca-aed3-161efb898b51/115+-+racism.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reliving Old Memories Some of them better than others. It’s sad to think what some people find to be an acceptable way to treat someone else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b50c482d-c745-485c-9b29-9d13fe1fd473/116+-+Not+Everyone.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hard To Believe It’s hard to believe you could meet someone like Jay and think anything negative about him. But it’s even harder to believe that there are people out there who would never give themselves a chance to truly meet him in the first place. Of course, not everyone the Clowns encountered on the road gave them a hard time, but the ones that did are still remembered all these years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70799232-c0de-4d9e-8af4-1987ac16cb40/117+-+Clowns.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Imagine showing up to your baseball game, trying your absolute best, and getting beat by a team with a player dressed in a clown suit while they goof around all game. Luckily, most opposing players and fans were in on the bit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21974510-050f-409c-af2a-e57e89d5b4b9/118+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Diffusing The Situation If there ever was an instance when an opposing fan or player seemed to be taking things too seriously, Birmingham Sam or Bobo would try to incorporate them into the act to lighten the mood so everyone else could keep playing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e6fb09f-0a5f-4a55-8793-a9a533f69927/119+-+Green+Book.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Negro Motorist Green Book An annual guidebook for African-American road trippers founded and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. From a New York-focused first edition published in 1936, Green expanded the work to cover much of North America. The Green Book became "the bible of black travel" during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against African Americans and other non-whites was widespread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45f0a4e7-ed42-4a99-9549-5be595e8b5b4/120+-+Smiling.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Always Smiling Jay is one of the kindest people I've met since moving to Cleveland. He is always smiling, and he goes out of his way to be supportive and to show up for people. Here he is with Bob DiBiasio, who is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, at an event hosted by the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccb4ee7c-b264-4366-a1ec-be75c199a09b/122+-+nice+facilities.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nice Facilities It wasn’t often when the Clowns played in beautiful ballparks with nice facilities, but when they did, the players made sure to take advantage of the ability to shower in the locker rooms. With how much they always had to drive, the team would sometimes go days without sleeping in a hotel or motel, which means it could also be days without a chance to shower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/051229cf-f6c7-49ad-8f2e-d2b0d23199fc/123+-+car.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - When All Else Fails, Drink A Beer If everyone has to be stuck in the car without showering for days, you might as well get some beer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5efa5c5f-d6cb-40c8-8def-7c28ced7b7e5/124+-+too+many+games+to+be+played.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “We’ll Just Find Somebody Else” If a player missed the team bus, they were a “hog cutter” and had most likely played their last game with the Clowns. The team had too much traveling to do, too many games to play, to also have to worry about keeping everyone in line. If you couldn’t hold yourself accountable to be on the bus by the time it left for the next town, the team would just find someone else on the road to replace you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ecd057d-8154-44b2-b962-71da09e574f2/125+-+Sioux+Empire.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sioux Empire College After Jay played his first season with the Clowns in 1977, he went to Sioux Empire College in Haywarden, Iowa. The school was founded in 1965, with the first semester being held in the fall of 1967. A few of Jay’s teammates on the Sioux Empire team were guys he traveled with on the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d255853-e491-4f2f-ba0c-5b0a4bedaf6f/126+-+team.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c699782-d857-40a5-a3c5-1c327e89cc10/127+-+Big+George.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Big George Big George Sanders was a pitcher who was similar to J.R. Richard. “The Saga of J.R. Richard’s Debut: Blowing Away 15 Sticks at Candlestick” by Dan VanDeMortel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1508f1b-891c-4405-a460-00b5e1c3fc7c/128+-+Greg+Stockton.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Greg Stockton Greg Stockton was the team’s catcher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3cde87f-47a4-45bd-abdc-d153d165d3c7/129+-+Mike+Coco.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mike Coco Mike Coco was the team’s second baseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ebaf8a9-70f9-443d-a060-216251a45500/130+-+Mark+Glatter.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mark Glatter Mark Glatter was a teammate of Jay’s at Sioux Empire who also played with the Clowns sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123b7537-6250-4950-a300-99b4fd432a77/131+-+Tom+Farr.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Tom Farr Tom Farr was a teammate of Jay’s at Sioux Empire who also played with the Clowns sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc91d126-7487-4675-8438-924941ae26d9/132+-+Bob+Cerv.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bob Cerv Bob Cerv was Jay’s manager when he played for Sioux Empire College. Cerv played Major League Baseball from 1951 through 1962, most notably spending 9 seasons with the Yankees, winning a World Series with the team in 1956 and being named an All-Star in 1958 as a member of the Athletics. Prior to his professional career, Cerv was a collegiate baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Bob Cerv’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/368032ac-7df9-49b6-9bd6-d81e781aa2a3/133+-+Mantle+and+Maris.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Roommates During the 1961 season, Cerv lived in a $251-per-month (equivalent to $2,658 in 2025) apartment in Queens with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Cerv and Maris often roomed together, because the Yankees’ manager didn’t understand Maris’ personality and wanted Cerv, the seasoned veteran, to help him figure it out. “Roger asked me ‘Why are you my roommate now?’ when I first roomed with him,” recalls Cerv. “I told him, ‘To tell the truth, the skipper wants to know what makes you tick.’ We were best buds after that.” Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/703fce6d-dc3b-4a51-8b25-68675ad3a5e8/134+-+Bob+Cerv.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Not Afraid To Fight “[Billy] was a ballplayer. A little hotheaded, though. He didn’t take any crap,” said Cerv, of Billy Martin. Billy may have had the mouth that started the fights, but Bob Cerv wasn’t afraid to come in and finish them. On May 17, 1958, Cerv fractured his jaw in this home plate collision with Detriot Tigers catcher Red Wilson. Doctors said Cerv would be out for six weeks. He was back three days later. After six weeks playing with his jaw wired shut, Cerv was still batting .310 and leading the American League in home runs and RBIs. The Saturday Evening Post covered the story in 1958. Red Wilson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00ef2e99-b84a-485a-9b0b-f0e2f6b8415d/135+-+Angie+Dickinson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Angie Dickinson Angie Dickinson began her career on television, and appeared in more than 50 films. Dickinson's big-screen breakthrough role came in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo (1959), in which she played a flirtatious gambler called "Feathers" who becomes attracted to the town sheriff played by Dickinson's childhood idol John Wayne. Bob Cerv was having an affair with Angie Dickinson at one point during his career. Cerv injured his knee during a game, so Angie came rushing to the hospital to check on him. When she arrived, she was greeted in the room by Bob’s wife, Phyllis. Yikes. Here is Angie Dickinson in A Fever in the Blood (1961). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abc56a94-5968-4bed-bf1b-bc9b0b3de90c/136+-+Siram.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Regor Siram Bob Cerv and Regor Siram (Roger Maris, spelled backward) light up cigars at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 1960, as both celebrated additions to their families. Maris’ wife gave birth to a boy in Kansas City, while Mrs. Cerv gave birth to the couple’s 8th child, a girl, on August 26. Bob and Phyllis had 10 children, all of whom went through college, 32 grandkids, and 11 great-grandchildren. So there were lots of cigars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/106e2d88-6732-438d-8f24-918445715b14/137+-+Mickey.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mickey Mantle Bob Cerv said Mickey Mantle was one of the fastest players he’d ever seen. Mickey holds the record for fastest time from home to first, clocking in at 3.1 seconds. Cerv and Mantle were teammates from 1951-1956, again in 1960, and for one more stint from 1961-62. Cerv saw Mickey before his first knee injury in the 1951 World Series, and when his body was still young enough to recover from his many knee issues. Though Mickey was one of the fastest players in the game in his prime, the Yankees preferred that he didn't run because of his persistent leg injuries. He stole just 153 bases in his career, with a career high of 21 in 1959. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74245193-5061-424e-be44-d532203861bd/138+-+Larsen.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Don Larsen After getting pounded for 4 runs in 1.2 innings in Game 2, Don Larsen spiraled into a three-day depression. Larsen went out with a couple of newspaper pals, brothers Milton and Arthur Richman, the night before the fifth game. Legend has it Larsen was drunk when he showed up for Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. “I had no idea I was starting that game until I came to the park that day,” Larsen said. “When I got to the park there was a baseball in my shoe. That was the tradition in those days.” Larsen ended up throwing a perfect game, the only perfecto in postseason history. It was by far the most memorable moment in his 14-year career. Don Larsen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9124add6-1930-4bb6-abf4-dc9d174817e1/139+-+Larsen.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Casey Stengel At spring training in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1956, Don Larsen fell asleep while driving back to the team hotel, lost control of his convertible, and crashed into a palm tree. It was 5 a.m. He escaped with a chipped tooth and a $15 ticket. When manager Casey Stengel (seen here, center, with Bob Cerv on the right), a notorious boozer himself in his playing days, was asked what his pitcher was doing out at that ungodly hour, Stengel told the press with a straight face “he went out to mail a letter.” Casey Stengel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/174cd8a7-837b-46bd-9bc2-f915a9bfbdc4/IMG_1592.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Belvie Kennerly Jay always played center field. But when Bob Cerv brought in new recruit Belvie Kennerly, he asked Jay to move over to left so Belvie could play center. Jay obliged. Jay is seen here seated in the middle row all the way on the left. Belvie is in the center of that same row, and Belvie’s brother, James, is seated next to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cfe1854-7d3a-4a5a-9b17-133b41f8707d/141+-+Cerv.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Bunt The Damn Ball!” Sometimes Jay and Belvie would “miss” a bunt sign from the dugout and choose to swing away. The next pitch, Bob Cerv would tell the infielders they were getting the bunt sign again, and if they “missed it” this time, they’d be sitting the rest of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1370b0d9-a4cf-4cfe-9a90-b7b28bdd81f1/142+-+Sioux+Empire.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Easy To Listen Jay said it was easy to listen to what Bob Cerv was telling the team because he had not only been to the Majors, but had a long career with impressive accolades. Cerv knew what it took to get to where those players wanted to be. You would be crazy not to listen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3c78ab5-79cc-4803-9a2b-c240df029b16/121+-+How+To+Live+On+%2415+A+Week.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Was It Enough Money? In 1971, Indianapolis Clowns players received no salary, and received just $4 a day in meal money. By the time Jay was on the team 6 years later, players were being paid $5 a day in meal money. Jay personally earned an extra $5 because he was in the Shadow Ball routine and part of the show. And if the team didn't stop to get a hotel or a motel at night, each player would get $2 more of what was called "riding money" for sleeping in the car while the team drove to the next town. While the team may have joked about how little the players were being paid (this image once appeared in an Indianapolis Clowns program), Jay acknowledges that the amount the players made simply wasn’t enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04ab66eb-7f96-4719-902f-e185c2489bfa/143+-+Old+Grand+Dad.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Old Grand Dad Jay was able to save a little bit of money on the road because he wasn’t a big drinker or smoker. Some other players weren’t as fiscally responsible. Birmingham Sam liked to smoke cigarettes and drink Old Grand Dad bourbon, but he could usually afford it because he was getting paid to be the Clown Prince, and hustling doctors on the golf course, to boot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54a8d6ba-101e-435a-b0aa-d9559046e4c4/144+-+Coco.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Money Manager When George Long wasn’t actively traveling with the team to handle it himself, he appointed Mike Coco to manage the money for the team. From taking care of the payouts with the other teams at the end of games, to divvying up the money to the other Clowns players, Coco could be trusted. Here he is with Birmingham Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b375a456-7877-4498-aa7e-ae399096ae42/145+-+Henry+Aaron+with+Syd+Pollock.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - In The Owner’s Best Interest When a Major League team would sign a player from the Indianapolis Clowns, the owner of the team would get 2% of the value of the Major League contract that the player would sign as a kick back. So when the Braves signed Henry Aaron for $10,000, the owner of the Clowns got $200. At that time, the owner was Syd Pollock, seen here shaking hands with Henry Aaron. While that $200 was valuable to the team, it also created a hole in the roster by shipping one of the team’s best players off to the big leagues. It was made abundantly clear that everyone on the team was replaceable, though. From the last guy on the bench, to the Clown Prince, himself. No one was bigger than the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfac79c1-e08b-423a-bb9f-b4a0f8245f06/146+-+Henry+Aaron+bill+of+sale.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Aaron’s Sale This letter outlines the sale of Henry Aaron by the Indianapolis Clowns to the Braves organization. “…lowest deal I would consider on shortstop HENRY AARON would be $10,000., with $2500. down payment, balance to be paid after 30-day look, regardless of classification he was started in, and salary of $350. monthly.” “I feel this youngster is another Ted Williams in the hitting department, and can hit to all fields as well as lay down bunts, and his fielding right now leaves little to be desired, outside of a bit of polishing on getting off his throws.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb6e356-76dd-48a1-9427-5ccd85b27417/147+-+Grand+Junction.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Grand Junction, CO Despite a couple miscues in the outfield due to the thin air, Jay’s favorite place to play was Grand Junction, Colorado, against the Grand Junction Eagles. Here he is (center) goofing around with Clowns teammates Darryl Herring (left) and Big George Sanders (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e37d1a2-17bf-409b-bbe0-a5480329d575/148+-+Paul+Molitor.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Molitor Paul Molitor was an All-Big Ten and All-American shortstop for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1976 and 1977. At the U of M, Molitor had a career batting average of .350, and led his team to the Big Ten championship and a College World Series appearance in 1977. He played for the Grand Junction Eagles, but was called up to the big leagues to play for Milwaukee a couple weeks before Jay Valentine had a chance to play against him. Molitor played 21 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins. In 1993 he helped lead the Blue Jays to a World Series title, earning World Series MVP honors. On September 16, 1996, against the host Kansas City Royals, Molitor became the 21st player in MLB history to hit 3,000 hits, the first to hit that mark with a triple. The .306 career hitter and seven-time All-Star retired in 1998. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Paul Molitor’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf691d97-820a-4605-b131-92d2fa9ef901/149+-+Kevin+Schoendienst.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Kevin Schoendienst Kevin Schoendienst, the son of Cardinals legend and Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst, played against Jay in Grand Junction, Colorado. They all went out drinking together after the game, which wasn’t uncommon. Red Schoendienst’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a267713-b183-450a-8480-8f1f2991b50c/150+-+Steve+Bartkowski.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Bartkowski Steve Bartkowski was a quarterback in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons (1975–1985), the Washington Redskins (1985), and the Los Angeles Rams (1986). He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Bartkowski played college football for the California Golden Bears, earning consensus All-American honors as a senior in 1974. He was selected by the Falcons with the first overall pick of the 1975 NFL draft. In addition to playing football, Bartkowski was also an All-American baseball player at first base for the Bears. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 33rd round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft from Emil R. Buchser HS (Santa Clara, CA) and again by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA). Bartkowski played baseball for Bob Cerv in Kansas, and was teammates with Ron Guidry on that team. Ron Guidry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/411ee8da-07b4-4356-a3b2-d5db2c886fe1/151+-+nice+ballparks.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nice Ballparks Jay feels lucky to have played in some really nice ballparks over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f01e31e-aeb8-40d4-aa4c-127ec4f44eaf/152+-+Summer+Ball.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out When Jay was in college, he played summer ball with this team sponsored by Valley National Bank for multiple years. Jay is top row, all the way on the right in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a35a790d-1925-4c30-b25d-79b26c5c9bce/153+-+Packer+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Packer Stadium Also known as Sioux Falls Stadium in South Dakota, this was Jay’s home ballpark when playing for the summer league team. Originally opened in 1941, the stadium has been the home field of the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association since 2013. It was also the home field of the Sioux Falls Packers (Northern League, 1966-1971), the Sioux Falls Canaries (Northern League, 1993-2005), the Sioux Falls Canaries (American Association, 2006-2009), the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants (American Association, 2010-2012), and the St. Paul Saints (American Association, 2020). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e212a9f-d1f8-466e-8283-27681a8115ad/154+-+Griffey.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ken Griffey, Sr. Ken Griffey, Sr. played for the Sioux Falls Packers in 1970. Sioux Falls was the second-lowest rung on the Reds’ minor-league ladder. Jay says he heard many stories of the racism Ken faced while playing there. Ken Griffey, Sr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed24c574-29f4-4d73-9adb-f51a7b8fa084/155+-+conditions.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ballpark Conditions Jay remembers most of the ballparks he played in being nice, but the ones which weren’t as in good of shape tended to be in the southern states. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4aaceb3e-2c02-4b6d-982f-eb980c06d17e/156+-+48th+season.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clowns’ 48th Season Jay played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the 48th and 49th seasons, which were 1977 and 1978, respectively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca4d8633-a76a-4689-9357-645d739a0245/157+-+Sioux+Empire+College.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sioux Empire College After each of his two seasons with the Clowns, Jay played for Sioux Empire College. Then in 1979 and 1980, Jay played for Sioux Falls College, which is now called the University of Sioux Falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1997d126-4024-4e5c-a2ed-6e9dd72c2b76/159+-+acting.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - After College Jay didn’t think he was necessarily going to be a ballplayer after he graduated college. He majored in Speech Communications and Theater, and thought after his baseball career was over, he would either become an actor, or do something in sports broadcasting. Jay is pictured here in the center, acting in a play during college. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3acc6c93-0c8d-4baf-951b-733ff2aa3118/159+-+home+run.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Home Runs Jay wasn’t a power hitter, but he did hit some big home runs in his career. At least a couple of three-run home runs (one of which was written about in the newspaper), and a grand slam are some of the highlights of his playing days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0482073f-c629-4383-b15c-26155deb683c/160+-+Summer+League.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Summer League Jay’s grand slam came in Sioux Falls while playing in front of his home crowd at Sioux Falls College. Here he is (top row, second from left) in a Summer League team photo for his Valley National Bank team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fa972ba-de12-4292-bc90-93d80a4129c4/161+-+freedom.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Freedom When asked what the best thing about being a ballplayer for the Indianapolis Clowns was, Jay responded with “the freedom.” Being able to do your own thing, without people telling you what to do, is a great feeling. “You did whatever you wanted to do.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1089469c-ea0b-4e80-83b8-866be2266f7f/162+-+college+eligibility.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - College Eligibility Even though he was only making $12-13 a day playing for the Clowns, he was still being paid, technically making him a professional. That should have ended his college eligibility, but luckily, no one found out and he was able to play for Sioux Empire and Sioux Falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74852c2d-cdaf-4b0f-a686-f54dbeb2c0fc/163+-+accomplishments.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pride Jay said he is proud of his life’s accomplishments. After spending the day talking with him, and sitting together going through all of his old photos, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks, that was extremely evident. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d92d7a06-bc9b-4041-aa95-4952cc18b1bf/164+-+younger+self.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Advice For His Younger Self Jay took the game seriously. He eats, sleeps, and drinks baseball. While he didn’t happen to be at the right place at the right time to achieve his ultimate dream of making it to the Major Leagues, Jay was in Fort Lauderdale at 18 years old, sharing the field with Major League players and in front of Major League managers, coaches, and scouts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e4b82b9-df82-4290-a431-bc152e3ab5cb/165+-+letter.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out This is the letter Jay got from the Baltimore Orioles telling him to go play for Bob Cerv. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dbc239e-977c-4fb6-b041-5d53abc2fe9e/166+-+Bonnie.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bonnie Jay’s sister, Bonnie, who drove him from Ohio to Iowa to try out for the Indianapolis Clowns, and then drove him from Ohio to Iowa AGAIN to take him to Sioux Empire College. Now that’s someone you can count on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f3698ec-e229-4bc2-9f76-240cc92b157c/167+-+Follow+Jay.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Follow Jay Online Facebook email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88de4f11-7b80-4d4a-b118-8971f3eaba11/168+-+Mom.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 50 States At the time of this recording, I have been to 49 states, only missing Hawaii. By far and away, the person who has been with me in the most different states is my mom. Here we are at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in March of 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0b38da5-413b-4c27-aed6-eb4ee0805f34/169+-+Family.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Supportive Family Jay was lucky in that he had support from his family to chase his dreams. Here he is with his three brothers and sister. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3cfd46f3-763a-4696-a59a-4645cba9f2a1/170+-+39th+season+1968+program+06.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Travel As if traveling across the country with a baseball team on a bus wasn’t hard enough already, but then they have to deal with racism, too? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b6ab183-c717-46ae-9682-133550d0bfce/171+-+Jay%27s+House.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Man Cave Jay was gracious enough to invite me over to his house so we could record this interview. It is insane to me that I am friends with someone who has had a run in with the Ku Klux Klan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47c6eba7-23db-4147-bd9c-8f975ade4deb/172+-+A+Big+Kid+At+Heart.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Big Kid At Heart Jay’s personality and kind heart makes it easy to want to be around him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d47b3fbe-88ab-4f4f-addb-26d32cf2ab9b/173+-+40th+season+1969+broadside.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Broadsides This broadside is from 1969, the Indianapolis Clowns’ 40th season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3991495f-67c5-4025-8ddc-ac368cb91e6b/175+-+broadsides.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c65dd4c-3d97-4953-bd59-203a342cd769/174+-+Birmingham+Sam+autograph.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam This is a close up shot of one of the broadsides Jay has in his personal collection. This one was signed by Jay’s friend, teammate, and roommate, Birmingham Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f62edde1-e4a1-45bd-81b4-ed57f27b1a24/176+-+pranks.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pranks This isn’t a story Jay told while we were rolling, but afterward when we were going through the pictures together, he found this one and told me the story behind it. His teammates woke him up one morning and threw a Burger King bag on his bed, saying they got him breakfast. Jay opened the bag, and inside was the snake you can see on the railing in this photo. Boys will be boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/993c36cb-2f4a-496c-a6ef-51dea7d7d606/177+-+Bingo+Long.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings If you have never seen the movie before, I genuinely do recommend it. Now that you have listened to this interview with Jay and heard him talk about his experiences barnstorming with the Indianapolis Clowns, I think you will understand and appreciate a lot of the subtleties of the film, especially when it comes to the showmanship of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/882410ba-adaf-447d-ae1a-b8c51629deed/180+-+Soundtrack.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Soundtrack I had the soundtrack to the movie on vinyl well before I had ever seen the movie. A large chunk of my vinyl collection is made up of baseball-related records, so any time I see one I don’t have, I am tempted to buy it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ed7405e-6112-44ca-b3d4-c457514088bc/181+-+Goose+Tatum+1948+newspaper.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Goose Tatum Goose Tatum was basketball’s original clown prince. He was discovered by Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein on – of all places – the baseball diamond. Goose was a tremendous athlete, with physical skills that matched his timing and sense of humor. Tatum choreographed several of the famous Globetrotter reams including hiding in the crowd, spying on the opposition’s huddle, and feinting only to be revived by the foul smell of his own shoe. He was a serious basketball player, though, perfecting a hook shot that he often shot without even looking at the basket. In 1948, Tatum and the Globetrotters upset the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers in a one-game showdown for the ages. The article see here appeared in a 1948 newspaper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb589ee-ce8a-44b0-a28c-3621e1c3c332/182+-+Meadowlark+Lemon.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Meadowlark Lemon Few athletes have impacted their sport on a worldwide level more than Meadowlark Lemon. Perhaps the most well-known and beloved member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Lemon played in more than 16,000 games – 7,500 consecutively – for the Globetrotters in a career that began in 1954 and lasted until 1978. Known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Lemon’s favored “can’t miss” halfcourt hookshot and comedic routines were performed in more than 70 countries around the globe, entertaining millions of fans, Presidents, Kings, Queens, and even Popes. As a basketball performer, Lemon’s goal was always the same – entertainment, laughter, and fun. Lemon was a 2003 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dac153a5-e611-4ff8-a063-0a8e53d3b69f/183+-+Wilt.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Wilt Chamberlain One of the most famous and dominant players in Harlem Globetrotters history, Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain began his professional career in 1958 when the Globetrotters signed the University of Kansas standout to one of the largest contracts in sports. Following his Globetrotter career, Chamberlain starred in the NBA from 1959 through 1973, playing for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his NBA career, his dominance brought on many rules changes, including widening the lane, introducing offensive goaltending and revising rules governing free throw shooting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53be8299-dbb9-4876-8914-f2c6f6994396/184+-+Toni+Stone+in+Ebony+Magazine+July+1%2C+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Toni Stone in the July 1, 1953 issue of Ebony Magazine (courtesy of the Toni Stone family, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d94f1779-44ef-4032-a472-7413601947de/185+-+Satchel+Paige.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s after being discharged from reform school in Alabama. The lanky 6-foot-3 right-hander quickly became the biggest drawing card in Negro baseball, able to overpower batters with a buggy-whipped fastball. Paige, a showman at heart, bounced from team-to-team in search of the best paycheck – often pitching hundreds of games a year between regular Negro Leagues assignments and barnstorming opportunities. At the age of 42, Paige made his American League debut when Bill Veeck signed him to a contract with Cleveland on July 7, 1948. Paige was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23085529-5a6f-4726-a386-0c38d87da498/186+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Josh Gibson The applause Josh Gibson received should have been louder. He was considered the best power hitter of his era in the Negro Leagues and perhaps even across the entire sport. The legend of Gibson’s power has always been larger than life. His introduction to organized baseball came at age 16 when he joined the Gimbels A.C. He became a professional by accident July 25, 1930 while sitting in the stands. When Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing injured his hand, Gibson was invited to replace him because his titanic home runs were already well known in Pittsburgh. Gibson’s natural skills were immense. His powerful arm, quick release and agility made base runners wary of trying to steal. Gibson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0098ec86-05e0-4b2c-8285-bd4e8cbd3c79/187+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - James “Cool Papa” Bell Cool Papa Bell may well have been the fastest man ever to play the game of baseball. The most colorful story of his legendary speed was one told by Satchel Paige, who said that Cool Papa was so fast he could flip the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark. But stories of his base running speed are legion, advancing two and even three bases on a bunt, beating out tappers back to the pitcher, and also playing a shallow center field – because his speed allowed him to catch up to just about anything out there. He was a member of three of the greatest Negro League teams in history, winning three championships each with the St. Louis Stars, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Homestead Grays. Bell was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. Cool Papa Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ab0ad75-d5e4-4d3b-8919-d66e6f77e8e7/188+-+Others.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46f88e0b-7413-4d83-b863-768b23af4227/189+-+Museums.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Where Can You Learn More? In addition to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, there are a few other great museums preserving Negro League baseball history. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri The Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park The Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham, Alabama https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/860f408b-5a3e-4a83-8843-c44b3852c9f5/190+-+Bob+Cerv.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bob Cerv If Bob Cerv looked like this and could land Angie Dickinson, imagine how hard it must have been for Mickey Mantle to stay faithful once he got a couple drinks in him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25e55182-4bda-44c4-9608-e345bac5ec82/191+-+David+Wells.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - David Wells On May 17, 1998, David Wells pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history. Pitching against the Twins at Yankee Stadium in front of 49,820 fans, Wells threw the perfect game while being hung over, calling it a "raging, skull-rattling" hangover. “I went to the park, I was a wreck. I mean, I was a wreck. (David Cone) told me, he goes, you need to go to Monahan’s office to get away from everybody, you stink. So I just started chewing gum, drinking a lot of water and coffee, about ten trips to the bathroom. My stomach was boiling over pretty good. I don’t know, at about 11:30 I had a pancake in there from the spread and I felt a little bit better but I was still a wreck.” “I knew if I had a short outing, I would’ve gotten in a lot of trouble,” Wells said. “A lot of people knew I was pretty hammered.” His outing was as short as a 9-inning complete game could be: 27 batters. He didn’t get in any trouble. David Wells’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/953c55b7-e77a-48e9-be15-43104892d282/192+-+Bachelor.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bachelor Jay wasn’t only responsible for himself. He also owned this Siberian Husky for over a decade, his buddy Bachelor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24519755-179d-48f8-a14c-825b515bd3f4/240+-+email.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b973d9ad-5894-41ba-a48b-b85fb25ed54d/241+-+giveaway.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a custom baseball card of Jay Valentine, autographed by Jay? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e5f6d99-ce3b-47ce-a3df-ea5789eb400d/195+-+Ethiopian+Clowns+first+American+tour.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Rose Colored Glasses? We now look back fondly on the Ethiopian / Indianapolis Clowns and the style of baseball they played in the 1930s and 40s, but many Negro League players themselves deeply resented the comic image the Clowns portrayed at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717bfb6c-4d68-4e77-8025-adc651cfbcc6/196+-+Jim+Cohen.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jim “Fireball” Cohen Jim “Fireball” Cohen was a righthanded pitcher who made his debut in 1946 and pitched for the team through 1952. He threw a fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and knuckleball. In 1948, Cohen was selected to play in the East–West All-Star Game. He played in the Venezuelan League in the winter of 1948-1949, and had a 2-3 record with a 3.64 ERA for the 1950 Clowns. He drove the team bus and was the business manager for Indianapolis in addition to pitching before he retired. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/827f1bd0-3f7d-46e5-8915-2a37c2e19a64/197+-+Reinaldo+Drake.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reinaldo Drake Reinaldo Drake was a Cuban-born center fielder who played for and even managed the Clowns at points from 1945 through 1954. A native of Havana, Drake was selected to the East-West All-Star Game in 1953, and later played minor league baseball for the Yakima Braves in Washington state. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d68f614-3c66-4e33-841f-1b21ffa99395/198+-+Ray+Neil.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ray Neil Ray Neil was a second baseman and played his entire career for the Clowns franchise, beginning in 1941 when they were still known as the Ethiopian Clowns. He moved with the team to Cincinnati in 1943, and played for the Indianapolis Clowns until he retired following the 1954 season. He was among the Negro American League’s top batters in 1953. In the 1953 East-West Game, Neil hit third for the East and was their brightest light in a 5-1 loss. He went 3 for 3 with a triple, and a run, getting half of the East's hits. Neil also scored the East’s lone run when he connected off Sam (Buddy) Woods and came around on a hit by Henry Kimbro two batters later. In his autobiography, Henry Aaron (a teammate of Neil's on the 1952 Clowns) posits that Neil might have been too flashy a player for a part of the country that had never had a black player yet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2874c660-0d67-482f-b0fc-ece09f094b69/199+-+Buster+Haywood.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Buster Haywood The 1952 championship squad also featured Albert “Buster” Haywood, who played for the Clowns in both Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Haywood was primarily a catcher during his playing career. In 1941, the Clowns won 125 games during the regular season, as well as the post-season Denver Post Tournament, with Haywood winning MVP. The Virginia native hit .288 for the 1943 Cincinnati Clowns, splitting the catching duties with Pepper Bassett. He hit .270 as the starter for the Cincinnati/Indianapolis Clowns in 1944, then was a backup again in 1945. Haywood backed up Sam Hairston as catcher in 1948, and began a stint as manager of the Clowns - a job he would hold until he left the team after the 1953 season. He was the player/manager for the Memphis Red Sox in 1954 before retiring. He helped discover Henry Aaron in 1951 when the Clowns played against him on the semipro Mobile Black Bears, then became Aaron’s first manager in professional baseball on the 1952 Clowns. Haywood also managed the East team in three consecutive East-West Games from 1951 through 1953. Buster Haywood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e181f21f-284c-4271-94dd-33f0e8883988/200+-+Aaron.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Henry Aaron The Clowns had signed Aaron on November 20, 1951, after local scout Ed Scott saw the skinny 17-year-old infielder. Aaron didn’t even know how to properly hold a bat, placing his lead hand on top until a coach corrected him and showed the eventual home run king how to produce more power. The kid from Mobile, Alabama only spent one season in the Negro Leagues before signing a contract with the Milwaukee Braves’ organization, leaving the Clowns after their 1952 championship season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1ae2254-8fab-48d2-bbc1-3ef8e4103021/201+-+Garner.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Horace Garner Outfielder Horace Garner also played for the Clowns. Along with Henry Aaron and Felix Mantilla, Garner integrated the South Atlantic League in 1953 when the trio played for the Jacksonville Braves. Garner spent ten seasons in the minor leagues, batting .321 with 1,115 hits, 190 doubles, 37 triples and 157 home runs in 997 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad31e576-dfd9-4ab1-a3c1-e224cb27d30f/202+-+Jenkins.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pee Wee Jenkins Pee Wee Jenkins was a pitcher for the 1952 Clowns who also spent part of that season with the Birmingham Black Barons. Jenkins had previously helped the New York Cubans win the 1947 Negro League World Series over the Cleveland Buckeyes. He had an ample variety of pitches and good control. He also played for Luke Easter's All-Stars barnstorming team in 1950 and the Negro League All-Stars barnstorming team in 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c8d7914-7f8d-4735-87b3-d394886e7753/203+-+Wilkes.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jimmy Wilkes Jimmy “Seabiscuit” Wilkes played for the Newark Eagles from 1945 to 1948. The outfielder was a member of the 1946 Negro League World Series championship team, and was an All-Star in 1948. In 1949 and 1950, Wilkes played for the Houston Eagles of the Negro American League. He then played Minor League Baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization from 1950 through 1952. After appearing in only nine games in that 1952 season, he returned to the Negro American League and spent the rest of the year with the Indianapolis Clowns, helping lead them to another championship. Wilkes subsequently played with the Brantford Red Sox of Southern Ontario from 1953 through 1963, with the Red Sox finishing as champions of the Intercounty Baseball League in five of those seasons. Wilkes is considered one of the top 100 players in league history. Jimmy Wilkes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b65cc4b-d678-4223-97b0-980d3c6bdfb3/204+-+Toni+Stone+circa+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Toni Stone The Indianapolis Clowns needed to fill the vacancy left by Henry Aaron after he signed with the Braves following that 1952 season, and they made history in doing so, becoming the first professional baseball team to sign a female player to a long-term contract. Toni Stone was brought on to play second base with the team in 1953, and she batted .243. The following year, the Clowns sold her contract to the Kansas City Monarchs. This photo of Toni Stone circa 1953 is courtesy of the Toni Stone family / Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed551642-16cb-42c8-96c1-f334b25dd349/205+-+Peanut.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Mamie “Peanut” Johnson may have been slight, at 5-foot-4 and less than 120 pounds, but she had a strong right arm and a competitive spirit that took her from the sandlots of Washington into professional baseball, with the Indianapolis Clowns. While playing on sandlots, Bish Tyson, a former Negro Leagues player, saw her play and suggested that she had the talent to go pro. That led to a tryout with Clowns manager Bunny Downs, and she joined the team a day later. Johnson was the first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues, and was a two-way player, too. She would go on to compile a record of 33-8 for the Clowns, while batting between .262 and .284. Johnson stopped playing after the 1955 season, becoming a nurse, the occupation that she’d have for the rest of her working career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/484bff15-0fc8-4a12-84fb-6ca45f1ec06f/206+-+Richard+King%2C+manager+Oscar+Charleston%2C+and+Connie+Morgan%2C+courtesy+of+HOF.jpg Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Connie Morgan At just 19 years old, Connie Morgan became the third woman in history to play in the Negro Leagues. Morgan quickly proved she could play at an elite level. In her two seasons with Indianapolis, Morgan was good enough to split time at second base with Ray Neiland, and she could turn the double play with the best of them. She also had a strong showing in the batter’s box, hitting around .300. Negro Leagues legend and Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston managed Morgan during her two years. “Good athletes, girls especially, aren’t born every day,” Charleston told the Courier Journal in June of 1954. “It is a pleasure to watch her in action... In her quiet way, she made buddies among her teammates, while gaining their admiration with her remarkable play at second base.” Here, “King Tut”, Oscar Charleston, and Morgan pose for the camera, circa 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15eb3d7f-9b79-4336-be69-91bd19ecad44/207+-+Nancy+Miller+broadside.JPEG Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nancy Miller But women didn’t only play for the Clowns… women also served as umpires for the team! Most notably, former Chicago model Nancy Miller, who was the first female umpire in professional ball. The back of her Indianapolis Clowns baseball card says: “The first lady umpire in pro ball, Nancy toured for two years with the Clowns, helping the gate and giving more laughs to the game. She was a good showman and did a creditable job behind the plate. The former Chicago model gamely put up with the rigors of touring - at least having a single room. She never missed a game, even when a foul tip broke her finger.” This broadside is from 1971, the Indianapolis Clowns’ 42nd season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3351b0f4-552a-4749-88ca-a840ba1b67d0/251+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/05 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0868da1c-dbad-4e48-9885-180f4b8a5e4a/youtube.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19861934-e84f-485c-929e-0d54b35d3945/RF+Fence+tight.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers Me and Brian Powers in front of the legendary right field fence at Cleveland’s historic League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33f4a01d-cbb3-4e15-8bc7-1068f40cd0c9/01+-+The+Glove+Lab.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Glove Lab This episode is brought to you by The Glove Lab. Use code MBH15 at checkout to get 15% off their full-service package, which includes cleaning, conditioning, and re-lacing through the end of 2025. Visit Their Website Follow The Glove Lab on social media: Instagram Facebook Bluesky YouTube TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75b14cff-1652-426c-a308-940d72ab8cb9/02+-+Hohenecken+Castle.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hohenecken Castle Hohenecken Castle is the ruin of a spur castle from the Hohenstaufen era on the Schlossberg hill above the Kaiserslautern ward of Hohenecken in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Growing up a self-described “Army brat,” Brian spent time overseas, particularly in Germany. He remembers seeing this castle often as a kid, and becoming interested in architecture because of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fcacde91-bbee-48fd-90e5-31e35664c54d/03+-+Germany.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - My Foreign Exchange This is the dome ceiling from one of the churches I visited while on a foreign exchange to Germany when I was in high school. It must have been one of the first churches we went inside because I was still interested enough (at 16 years old) to take pictures of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eed8bbbf-f435-47d1-8b08-5fc714dbe715/04+-+Neuschwanstein+castle+in+Germany+-+8+or+9+years+old.jpeg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Neuschwanstein Castle This is one of Brian’s original drawings he was talking about. It is of Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century historicist palace on a rugged hill of the foothills of the Alps in the very south of Germany. Brian drew this castle when he was either 8 or 9 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ece39c8-a35c-4f15-bc03-d1b7bf818883/05+-+Neuschwanstein+castle+in+Germany.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Neuschwanstein Castle In case you were wondering how accurate Brian’s drawing is, here’s an actual photograph of Neuschwanstein Castle. Not too shabby for 9 years old, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/437ed230-1d7f-4a50-a02b-0aea77c225cc/06+-+Municipal+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Municipal Stadium Brian’s family members were baseball fanatics, which helped Brian develop a love for the sport. His grandfather would go to games at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, and was always interested in checking the box scores in the newspaper for attendance numbers in addition to the game stats. Some games, the attendance was really, really good, considering the stadium held upwards of 80,000 fans. Other games, the attendance was … not as good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb07ac93-9145-4047-b52c-f907d72950b1/07+-+Family.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Family Brian’s dad, Rod, was stationed overseas for a portion of his military career. It was hard for Brian to keep up with baseball in a different country, though some games would be broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63c826e4-ed22-413d-b904-97d3a834ed33/08+-+Boy+Scouts.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Scouts Even though it may have been hard to follow baseball as closely as he may have wanted to, Brian took up other interests and stayed busy in other ways. When the Powers family moved back to the United States after Brian’s dad was transferred again, it became easier to watch, listen to, and attend baseball games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/564448b9-5a6f-477c-ae16-69f06e4f3f0d/09+-+Cleveland+shirt.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cleveland Indians Fan Brian’s parents, his uncles, and his grandfather were all Cleveland Indians fans. When his classmates were wearing Yankees and Dodgers gear, Brian stayed strong, repping his hometown team. That’s a tradition Brian still participates in to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/404f4ab7-0870-4ac6-b2be-f9a011861950/10+-+Truist+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - What Is Lost? As beautiful as new stadiums like Truist Park may be, it’s a shame to lose that connectivity between generations when stadiums are torn down and rebuilt every 30 years like seems to be the new trend. Atlanta fans today aren’t going to games at the same stadium that their parents went to games, and their parents didn’t go to games at the same stadium that their parents went to games. There’s something sad about that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af9ccfa8-a150-4e2f-905c-dc3dfd6e4376/11+-+Chief+Wahoo.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Municipal Stadium Brian remembers making trips as a child from Iowa to Cleveland to visit family. He knew they were close when he saw Chief Wahoo looking out over the freeway from Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/578e4b76-b2a7-4dda-9091-8d09c1cffddc/12+-+Kingdome.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seattle’s Kingdome Brian’s family lived in Seattle for a while, shortly after the Kingdome opened. Brian remembers being fascinated with the architecture, specifically the sheer size a building needed to be to be able to play baseball inside of it. This photo was taken on Opening Day of the 1985 season, Tuesday, April 9 against the Oakland Athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ff6f686-4e7a-44d9-bef6-b33da001eef6/14+-+Auburn.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Auburn University Brian went to Auburn University and studied architecture. He chose Auburn because he wanted to go to a school which had both architecture and engineering programs. Brian may be the only person I’ve interviewed for this podcast who knew what they wanted to do with their life after school, and then actually did that thing. It just goes to show you how driven Brian is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7c08dbd-d8a9-4f3a-8755-5f140fcbba1b/15+-+Jordan-Hare+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Jordan-Hare Stadium With the addition of the west upper deck in 1980 and the east upper deck in 1987, Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium became the largest stadium in the state of Alabama. Brian was a student at Auburn during its construction, and watching that process (along with a tour from Mr. Jackson Davis) solidified his desire to focus on architecture instead of engineering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae5de821-1003-49dd-b323-50f5d54abd61/16+-+Old+and+New+Comiskeys.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Trip To Chicago In February of 1990, Brian’s architecture class took a trip to Chicago to see some buildings. One day, Brian decided he wanted to make a side trip to Old Comiskey Park, which was about to enter its final season as the home of the Chicago White Sox. He took this photo that day. New Comiskey Park is being built in the foreground, with Old Comiskey still standing in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc14434f-e854-403a-aa12-3062acd0fcdd/17+-+Blueprints.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Blueprints Brian has amassed an incredibly impressive collection of blueprints over the last 35 years. Pictured here are some of his original blueprints from Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22215a29-1469-45d4-a532-c347385ff108/18+-+League+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park When Brian became enamored with Old Comiskey Park after his trip to Chicago, he began learning about some of the other old ballparks from the past. League Park in Cleveland was a very early steel and concrete stadium, as well. Brian’s family ties to the city of Cleveland made that a special place for him, even though he had never seen a game there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/026edea7-a321-4e20-aca2-9a363fb2ba5d/19+-+Shibe+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park The next ballpark Brian fell in love with was actually the first ballpark in the country to get the steel and concrete treatment: Shibe Park in Philadelphia, where the Athletics played from 1909 through the end of the 1954 season, after which they moved to Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67c67905-9020-4859-a584-e1e41c965ea1/20+-+Rickwood+Field.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood Field When Old Comiskey Park came down, Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama became the next oldest ballpark in the country. Comiskey opened in July of 1910, while Rickwood opened in August. Fenway Park, the current oldest Major League ballpark, didn’t open until April of 1912. Here, Birmingham Barons ballplayers and fans pose in front of Rickwood’s distinctive entrance in 1930. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/faeca2d7-6cb3-42ba-8d51-cbcd433223d4/21+-+Rickwood_93_01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Thorn In Birmingham’s Side After the Birmingham Barons moved to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium for the 1988 season (where they would play their home games through the end of the 2012 season), Rickwood Field sat abandoned and was left to decay. The city of Birmingham didn’t really know what to do with it, so it mostly just sat, untouched, with no tenants. It seemed destined for the wrecking ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2bac077-e520-4903-aa2f-635461ad7e25/22+-+Rickwood+HABS.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic American Buildings Survey The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is the nation's first federal preservation program, begun in 1933. As such, it established methodologies that are now standard practice within the field such as the surveying and listing of historic sites and the creation of documentation for public benefit. A HABS team came to Rickwood Field to preserve its history. Images from the HABS report can be found HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe783772-0f3b-4a40-9262-31241ab116db/23+-+Rickwood+HABS.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out One of the images of Rickwood Field included in the HABS report. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8912b772-9a41-4ba8-96eb-f798f46e7e6e/24+-+Rickwood_93_00.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Friends of Rickwood Field Brian was living in Montgomery, Alabama at the time, but he routinely made the 180-mile round trip back and forth to Birmingham to watch the HABS team work, and learn how to preserve a historic ballpark. Brian became one of the charter members of the Friends of Rickwood Field, which formed in 1992. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6f81e79-514b-4f33-ab0e-6e2b519b43b7/25+-+MLB+at+Rickwood.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - MLB At Rickwood On June 20, 2024, the San Francisco Giants played the St. Louis Cardinals in a regular season MLB game at Rickwood Field. Three decades earlier, no one involved in saving Rickwood could have envisioned a Major League game taking place at that location. Brian included. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b2a70b7-aa3d-4acc-9f5e-3a7b6e117ee4/26+-+Filming+Cobb.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Filming Cobb While the Friends of Rickwood and the HABS team were working on saving the field, some Hollywood scouts were in the area and thought Rickwood would be the perfect setting for some of the games to be filmed in the upcoming movie Cobb. They agreed to help pay for the renovations, as long as they could film in the newly-renovated stadium once it was complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65ac6382-f5ec-4b1a-a154-930957dac10f/27+-+Throwbacks.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Vacant No More Once the field was renovated for the movie, the city of Birmingham and its residents starting using Rickwood much more frequently. The Barons would play “turn back the clock” games there occasionally, high school teams would play there, and community events and charity games would be held at the historic space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d4ed664-06ad-4556-ac2b-917e392880f2/28+-+Rickwood.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out In 1993, it may have been impossible for Brian to look ahead and envision professional baseball happening at Rickwood again. But, as an architect, he was able to look back and imagine what it must have been like in its former glory, as seen here in 1929 with a capacity crowd. (Photo courtesy of Glynn West) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7be0a2c9-8bdf-4d49-bb04-9f915c6add02/29+-+Vote.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - More Than Just Baseball Rickwood Field played an important role in the community, above and beyond hosting baseball games. On August 18, 1915 the Alabama Equal Suffrage Association and the Birmingham Barons hosted a suffrage day to support women’s suffrage during a baseball game at Rickwood. Just a few years later, the women of Alabama, as well as women across the United States, were granted the right to vote after the passage and subsequent ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Rickwood also played a role in the Civil Rights Movement, proving to community members that people of different races could coexist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/def72f9a-0dfe-4ea5-9e50-372298c84395/30+-+2016.JPG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood in 2016 Seeing the transformation just from 2016 (my first time at Rickwood Field) to 2024 (when I was there for the MLB game between the Giants and Cardinals) was impressive enough. I can’t even imagine how proud Brian must be to have seen the transformation from 1993 to 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b190ef75-5a71-4b22-b660-315b5f13a87e/31+-+Wimpy.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tom Paciorek Left fielder Tom Paciorek emerged as an offensive leader for the Mariners in 1981, finishing second in the AL batting race (.326) to Carney Lansford. Tom was also in the top ten in the league in on-base pct., slugging pct. and OPS. Paciorek hit game-winning, game-ending (this was before the term “walk off”) home runs in back-to-back games against the Yankees at the Kingdome May 8th and 9th. The second game-winner thrilled a Bat Night crowd of 51,903, of which Brian was one. Tom Paciorek’s SABR Oral History Interview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3b16bb5-428f-4f3f-803c-9a8ba6441ff1/32+-+Events.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Amazing Events Brian has been to All-Star Games, Home Run Derbies, and has seen a lot of great stars play the game in person. But often the memories he takes back from a certain ballpark or event are tied into his experience, not necessarily who he saw play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0fdb42cb-b3b6-40e7-8e90-31f1478ab0bf/33+-+Anaheim+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Angel Stadium of Anaheim Angel Stadium is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the Majors, as it debuted in 1966 after the club moved from Los Angeles and became the then-California Angels. Brian’s first big project was working on major renovations to the stadium which took place in 1997 when the club was under Disney ownership. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11979ae5-cab8-47ab-8611-8664e6cd8b0d/34+-+Gene+and+Babe.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gene Autry and Babe Maybe the Babe in this photo is Babe Herman and not George Herman Ruth, but I couldn’t find a picture of Gene Autry and Babe Ruth together, okay? This is pretty close, though, huh? And no, your eyes haven’t deceived you. Gene and Babe swapped their regular uniforms for this picture. Gene Autry’s SABR Biography Babe Herman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b0ae893-fc67-4981-809b-dd9905dac0cb/35+-+New+Comiskey.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - New Comiskey Park Brian said that when New Comiskey Park opened, there were “mixed reviews” on it, which is putting it extremely nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3dd1412-0ae9-4616-a78c-f1adb628b339/36+-+Janet+Marie+Smith.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Janet Marie Smith “There is only one Janet Marie Smith,” said Rob Neyer, a baseball author, analyst and commentator. “She is a devotee of writer Jane Jacobs, who wrote about the life of a city and what it should be for its people. And that’s a big part of what (Smith) does. In some places, they have tried to put these ‘retro-style’ ballparks in the suburbs, but if you don’t do it in a city, it’s not the same.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2986ba4-e00f-45c3-85cd-f5e9b66dce64/37+-+Oriole+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oriole Park at Camden Yards The Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse is adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It was constructed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) beginning in 1899, with later sections completed in 1905. It is purported to be the longest brick building on the East Coast. When Janet Marie Smith and company were making Oriole Park the first “retro modern” ballpark, they tried to figure out a way to incorporate the warehouse into the ballpark experience. It worked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51917315-e657-4dc4-a314-77bbc61ea78a/38+-+United+Center.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Indoor Venues There are facebook groups (such as Ballpark Chasers) with tens of thousands of members who all share the same goal of trying to see a game at every MLB stadium. Those groups don’t really exist for other sports with the same passion as they do for baseball. It’s a challenge to give an indoor venue its own personality, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Here is Brian at the United Center, which has been the basketball home of the Chicago Bulls and the hockey home of the Chicago Blackhawks since 1994. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/405f71a2-9533-4f15-abd8-7e283ea5e3ee/39+-+Wrigley.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Wrigley Field The new trend seems to be teams wanting to own as many properties around their stadium as possible, so they can have restaurants, hotels, bars, and shops as added revenue streams in addition to the money they make from parking, ticket sales, and merchandise and concessions inside the stadium. Teams also want to use their stadiums as many days out of the year as possible, whether that be by hosting sports other than the one normally played in the stadium, concerts, private events, political rallies, or anything else. An empty stadium doesn’t make the owner money, and making money is the true name of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae1d2ae7-f601-4d18-bcfe-6c32f66b5e24/40+-+1930s+grandstand+-+from+Hamtramck+Heritage+Collection.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hamtramck Stadium Historic Hamtramck Stadium was dedicated in 1930 and served as the home of the Detroit Stars and the Detroit Wolves of the Negro Leagues. As many as 17 future Baseball Hall of Famers played there over the years. As one the few remaining Negro League ballparks in the United States, Hamtramck stadium was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Photo courtesy of Hamtramck Heritage Collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97f84bb7-dcb9-406c-80fb-05cc47f53088/41+-+Historic+Structures+Report.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic Structures Report Hamtramck was awarded the African American Civil Rights Grant to complete pre-development planning for Hamtramck Stadium, and in 2018, as part of the planning project, Brian were tasked to complete a Historic Structures Report and create a conceptual vision for the stadium and grounds to serve the community into the future. Read the Historic Structures Report HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ca75c0f-9a2b-4efc-9a74-dbb267909e76/42+-+Historical+Significance+1930s+-+from+Hamtramck+Heritage+Collection.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historical Significance A big part of the HSR is demonstrating a site’s historical significance. Luckily, Hamtramck Stadium has a storied history, with as many as 17 Hall of Famers having played there at some point over the years. Photo courtesy of Hamtramck Heritage Collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bde048b8-6705-4f40-b3f9-bd86b77659a6/43+-+Site+Detailed.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Conceptual Design The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has strict criteria in place so developers can’t come in and just start doing their own thing in a space which is designated as a historic structure. You have to be very sensitive to the historical aspects of the property. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5343098f-bbb5-4149-bcea-6c6cbb9e36af/44+-+2022-08+roof+columns+before+and+after+-+from+Colin+Winterbottom.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Before And After Brian worked closely with Wayne County to rehabilitate the existing grandstand structure, including the roof, wood seating deck, bleachers and steel super structure to its original 1930s look as a part of the centennial celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Negro Leagues in 2020. Photo courtesy of Colin Winterbottom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e83a53ba-bd33-46ec-a13b-c6dcb56b199d/45+-+at+night.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out I visited Hamtramck Stadium on the evening of June 5 and the morning of June 6, 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/178f5292-f57d-4fbc-87e3-b3e0ca6c85e2/46+-+murals.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out The murals everywhere made the stadium feel very much like a community gathering place. Like it was for everyone, not some place you could only go if you paid admission. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea2e31c-1ec2-4c66-82fc-3423dd6b996a/47+-+murals.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Norman “Turkey” Stearnes is one of the (at least) 17 Hall of Famers to have played at Hamtramck over the years. Stearnes was most known for his time with the Detroit Stars, who called Hamtramck home at points during his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c67fa8d-bb88-4c19-aa82-c1df66a8ab3d/48+-+kids.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rewarding Work Brian’s rehabilitation work on Hamtramck was awarded the prestigious Michigan Governor’s Award from the State Historic Preservation Office in 2023, but he said the thing that makes him most emotional about the project is knowing that kids and the community can use that field for generations to come, when it had been derelict for decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0833292-c6e8-4d83-9f9b-1ab3838d9d54/49+-+Bandbox+Ballparks.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bandbox Ballparks In 2019, Brian formed Bandbox Ballparks to share his specialized research of our sports architectural heritage, aiming to tell the stories and preserve the architectural legacy of sports venues today to be enjoyed by generations of tomorrow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/794e6176-4137-40c2-abd1-9e7f50dfeed9/50+-+ink+on+vellum.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ink On Vellum When Brian first started working as an architect, the tools of the trade were still ink on vellum with a parallel bar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ac4065e-7348-48f2-9550-32001b498343/51+-+AutoCAD.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - AutoCAD After vellum, things progressed to AutoCAD. Researched drawings, photos, and sketches help to develop full CAD drawings of the entire ballpark. The level of detail meets Historic American Building Survey standards. It would have been hard to imagine how far the technology has come in just three decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/445bb529-189b-4337-82f5-9bb8d4a0c026/51+-+Details.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Building Information Modeling In the mid-2000s, there was a large leap in Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle, from earliest conception to demolition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24aa8238-97d1-4e02-bee6-a3abef2c0b8a/53+-+HABS+standards.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - HABS Standards The old Comiskey Park Revit model allows generation of high-quality drawings to Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) standards, which means Brian could submit these drawings to the Library Of Congress for inclusion to preserve them. This section of Comiskey Park is cut through the RF Pavilion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f4f654-ca45-4cb2-9109-975ae0efb547/52+-+shoe+shine.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shoe Shine The fusion point of all smells at old Comiskey Park. Brats, beer, cigarettes and shoe polish swirled together with a light draft of infield grass from the 3rd base entry portal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d1fca57-782d-4bb3-bf6f-abf7ecd09652/55+-+amass+a+collection.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Why Comiskey? Brian’s visit to Comiskey Park in March of 1991. There was still one season left to play, but its days were numbered. Thus began a 28-year odyssey for Brian to preserve the park as he amassed a large collection of photos, drawings, books, and maps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eeb9349b-ef76-45ec-9d97-34cb5ea73986/56+-+Frank+Osborn.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Osborn Engineering Osborn Engineering is an architectural and engineering firm based in Cleveland. Founded in 1892, it is noted mostly for designing sports stadiums. More than 100 stadiums have been designed by Osborn, including Fenway Park, the original Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium, and numerous minor league, collegiate, and major league sports facilities in all sports. Frank Osborn is pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f59451ba-25c0-407f-9476-8b63503e1468/57+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Osborn Blueprints Brian is lucky enough to have a complete set of Osborn Engineering blueprints from Cleveland’s League Park in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf2bd0e0-eb79-46ac-80ab-612e2c89528f/58+-+Ticket+Office.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Ticket Office Brian mentioned that of all of the ballparks he’s done, League Park is the one which still has original components you can go visit. The original ticket office at the corner of 66th and Lexington in the Hough neighborhood is still standing, and houses the Baseball Heritage Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8508296-910d-4608-8fd4-372e16b43861/59+-+Ticket+Office.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Office Here is Brian’s rendition of what that original ticket office looked like at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64752e18-ae9f-4315-bded-74560cd0fe68/60+-+Tunnel+Steps+03.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Player Tunnel These steps were originally between the home and away clubhouses and took the players through a tunnel under the grandstand so they could get to their respective dugouts. While the tunnel has been filled in for safety reasons, the steps are still there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f17bf34-b4f1-4ffe-ba27-25580e09db04/61+-+Tunnel+Steps+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Steps Here is Brian’s rendition of what those steps looked like at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ca1b040-e483-41b0-8326-f9dcb049a1f8/62+-+Hough+Neighborhood.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hough Neighborhood Brian wonders what the Hough neighborhood may have looked like when League Park was in its hey day. While there aren’t too many pictures from that era, we do have the Hopkins Plat Book Of Cleveland map from 1912 which shows us what businesses and homes surrounded the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45493cad-4ef7-4844-b429-ffe24d936966/63+-+Hough+Neighborhood+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Version Brian made the Hough neighborhood come to life a little bit more with his rendition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/618da05e-ff5e-4eeb-91c4-6a93f590e0f0/64+-+League+Park+1910+Postcard.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Blueprints Or Bust While photographs and images like the one seen on this 1910 postcard of League Park may be helpful to color the ballpark (literally and figuratively) once the model is made, there would be no way for Brian to accurately make a model without a full set of the actual blueprints. There is no guessing in Brian’s work. Every inch is exactly as it would have been originally constructed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53eb56b8-926d-4afb-91cf-e3a200f49212/65+-+Specific+Entrances+05.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specific Entrances League Park was unique in that there were specific entrances for each section, so depending on where your ticket was for, that’s how you entered the ballpark initially. You couldn’t go through the wrong turnstile because the ticket taker at that turnstile would see you didn’t have a ticket for that section. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/678948e5-fe70-4a6f-abc5-57c2c41eed82/66+-+Specific+Entrances+07.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specific Pathways Then, once you were inside the stadium, the only place you could go was to your section because there were fences and guided rails and pathways which led you only to where you were supposed to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee4ec696-80b6-4527-bebd-11371ab6d5ad/67+-+Colosseum.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Colosseum The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome in Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age. Some experts estimate that it took only 15 minutes for more than 50,000 spectators to empty the Colosseum. The vast corridors, or vomitorium, allowed for quick flow of the traffic, and crowds spilled out in a matter of minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1cd9dd3-a0ab-413e-9515-44ac66c5ebab/68+-+Huntington+Avenue+Grounds.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Huntington Avenue Grounds Longtime listeners of My Baseball History may remember us mentioning the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston during our episode with William Peebles, owner of Huntington Base Ball Co., who hand makes base balls and all sorts of other great pieces. You can listen to that episode HERE, where we discuss the history of the ball used to play the sport, and how they have been made throughout time. The Grounds was the first home field for the Boston Red Sox from 1901 to 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/876bd5f3-9db4-4fe2-a75b-b572569e39e6/69+-+Columbia+Park.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Columbia Park Columbia Park in Philadelphia was home to the Athletics from 1901 through 1908. The team felt by the middle of 1902 that they had already outgrown the park, and nearly immediately started looking for a new location where they could build. It wasn’t until 1909 when Shibe Park opened and the team moved. Listen to our episode with Alex Cheremeteff on the history of the Philadelphia Athletics HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b696bf2d-2bfc-43b0-b245-33c2993173a9/70+-+Crosley+Field.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Harry Hake Harry Hake Sr. (1871 - 1955) was a prominent American architect in Cincinnati at the turn of the 20th century. His son Harry Hake Jr. and grandson Harry Hake III were also prominent architects and partners in his firm. The Hake family were the architects responsible for Crosley Field and all of its remodels and renovations over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ffa0f9eb-83cb-4f0d-8cc8-bbc968810b0e/71+-+Sacred+Ground.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Sacred Ground Exhibit The Sacred Ground exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown celebrated the special connection people feel in their favorite ballpark. The exhibit used sights, sounds, and even smells to remind fans of their favorite ballparks. It featured more than 200 artifacts and interactive displays spanning 125 years of baseball history and culture, and took up 1,800 square feet on the museum’s third floor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb12ce98-38c7-4c10-98db-8f6f73524c15/72+-+Sacred+Ground.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Lenny DiFranza Lenny DiFranza was the Assistant Curator of New Media at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum when Brian learned the Hall had acquired some original blueprints of Old Comiskey Park from 1910. Brian and Lenny struck a deal that each party would share what they have with the other, so both Brian and the HOF had full sets of Comiskey’s prints. Eventually this led to Brian’s work being part of the Sacred Ground exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9720482-926d-4ae6-b346-e7cb04ea5e73/73+-+BHM.JPG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gaining Credibility As if Brian’s work doesn’t speak for itself, the fact that it has been major parts of exhibits at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park lends Brian even more credibility. Brian’s philosophy is “if you do good work, it will get noticed.” He has definitely been noticed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6db7202f-75dd-49c8-8546-dfc8fbdef1e6/74+-+Shibe+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park Brian would love to be able to digitally recreate Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, but he just can’t find sufficient blueprints to do the job to the standards he holds himself to. If you have any blueprints, or can help Brian find some, please let one of us know. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7fde5ae-45a2-4207-9ca2-765562057559/75+-+Connie+Mack%27s+Office.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Connie Mack’s Office Connie Mack’s “oval office” was in the corner tower of Shibe Park and its domed cupola. This allowed Mr. Mack the ability to have 360 degree views to the exterior of the stadium, and onto the playing field, without leaving his office. “The Tall Tactician” sits at his desk at the ripe old age of 87 in this 1949 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06250595-2351-4b63-b9af-f7664f70c330/76+-+The+Polo+Grounds.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Polo Grounds The other park Brian wants to do but just can’t find sufficient blueprints for is the Polo Grounds in New York. So many quirks, so much history, it would be amazing to see Brian’s interpretation of it. Maybe one day… SABR article on the Polo Grounds by former My Baseball History guest Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c873c857-b3fe-4f82-a1a2-bdd9dafa0bea/77+-+Polo+Grounds.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Perks Of The Job One of Brian’s favorite things now that his work is well known is having people send him interesting photographs of different parts of forgotten stadiums and ballparks. Players used to have to walk all the way across the field at the Polo Grounds and up a staircase in deep center field to get to their clubhouse. Imagine a stadium getting built like that today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ee4fb63-c189-42ad-8dab-72c685719167/78+-+Dodger+Blue+seats.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Visually Accurate Not just in the placement of features, but with their colors, as well. It took Brian a couple different attempts to get the color of the seats at Ebbets Field to show up as the perfect shade of blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a0b658e-e224-4e7f-9acc-042b03003430/79+-+Specification.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specification Sometimes Brian gets lucky and can find the specification of a ballpark’s finish schedule, which is a companion to the blueprints which sometimes describes the colors of seats, railings, lockers, and other features of the ballpark. He has this one of Cleveland’s League Park from August of 1909, prepared by the Osborn Engineering Company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12f54067-35f9-4338-a5ce-4344f9819a34/80+-+Historic+Photos.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic Photos Historic photos like this one of Kid Gleason at Comiskey Park in 1919 are great in showing where seats and railings and other architectural details were exactly placed, but if a photo is in black and white, it can only help Brian so much. From there, he needs to do the research to find out what color those seats were, what color those railings were, etc. Kid Gleason’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/399bcc25-e0d5-4834-acd8-9feee44884cd/81+-+League+Park+seat.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historical Accuracy Sometimes the easiest way to make sure you’re getting the colors right is to simply find an artifact which has survived in its original condition. Luckily for Brian, the Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park has a handful of different seats from throughout the stadium, all painted their original colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f1d8529-b690-4a5f-b75e-676a4898dbc4/82+-+Comiskey+Park+seats.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Seats Tell A Story Sometimes, if Brian gets lucky, he’ll find a seat from a stadium with multiple layers of paint on it. Some seats from Comiskey Park, for example, have three different colors of paint on them from throughout the years, as they were originally painted red, then covered in sky blue paint (seen here), and finally finished with green paint on top of that. Those little details tell the story of a ballpark, and bridge the gap from era to era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40536a86-53ad-43a5-9e77-92ca74f48750/83+-+Seats.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seat Study Brian painstakingly diagrammed the seats from Comiskey Park so when it came time to input the dimensions into his program, everything would be exactly as it would have appeared in real life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d99f958-f5dd-46e4-ad39-8b57d93ca4b2/84+-+Section+40+Row+A+Seat+22+ticket.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Look Up Brian can often tell just based on the size and shape of a seat where in the ballpark it would have been. But another cool way he can use his models is by looking up exact seat locations based on ticket stubs. Like this one, for example, from Section 40, Row A, Seat 22 at Ebbets Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6558d74-c6b3-495f-8264-8607dfe41e60/85+-+Section+40+Row+A+Seat+22.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Section 40, Row A, Seat 22 With his model, Brian can find that exact seat in Ebbets Field, and show you what your view from that seat would have looked like if you were really sitting there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc907367-b18c-4d25-bc68-afdc4946c1de/86+-+American+Seating+Company.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - American Seating Company Not all blueprints show the exact designs of the seats in the stadium, or the exact locations of those seats within each section. But Harry Hake’s Crosley Field blueprints gave lots of great details of the seats from American Seating Company which were to be installed at the home of the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17fff539-febc-4bfe-8055-b8e13c09542a/87+-+Crosley+seat.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Casting Diagrams The casting diagrams for the seats at Crosley Field showed the metal “C” on the seat stanchions on the side of some of the seats, which then made it easier for Brian to recreate those details in his model, since he knew exactly what they were supposed to look like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98835406-9f97-4d76-83a6-2eedd0e7f2a3/88+-+1925+Yankee+Stadium.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - 1925 at Yankee Stadium This photograph shows the 1925 Opening Day ceremonies taking place at Yankee Stadium. Had you not known that, with enough research, you might have been able to narrow it down to come to that same conclusion based on clues like outfield wall advertisements, the size of the crowd, the fact that there is a marching band on the field, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76eabe58-11b7-472c-ba6f-08a0bb2ffdd2/89+-+Bedford+Avenue+Behind+the+RF+Wall+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Botany Tie Signs Behind the right field wall at Ebbets Field, running along Bedford Avenue, there were a series of advertisements for Botany Ties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3fbd832-3df5-4685-8497-69d3adc941e3/90+-+Botany+Man+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Not Good Enough While Brian was able to find actual photographs of the Botany Tie advertisement of the man around the corner on Montgomery, none of the photos were clear enough, or showed enough of the image for him to be able to accurately recreate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87ee9496-130e-4424-9ead-fd25f3eddb29/91+-+Botany+Man+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Lucky Find Searching eBay late one night, Brian found a slide of a very similar Botany billboard which was originally on the side of the road in Ohio. Brian bought the slide, and when it came in, he scanned it in, cleaned it up in photoshop, and was able to accurately recreate the ad for his model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad47ba87-84f0-4ff4-b6eb-47929b3ebbcb/92+-+Botany+Man+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Finished Product Here is what all that hard work ended up looking like. If you want everything you do to be perfectly accurate, those are the lengths you need to go to sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26183ad8-30b0-4b2c-b616-da17783582f7/93+-+CF+scoreboard+and+the+iconic+pinwheels.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - 1990 Brian decided to recreate what Comiskey Park looked like during its final year in 1990 for his project, thinking it would resonate most with fans who were actually alive to have seen it that year. Had he chosen its first year (1910), the audience participation may not have been as impassioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf01e97c-1603-45a7-a1fc-fe5259fe62f7/94+-+Zachary+Taylor+Davis.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Zachary Taylor Davis There was an attempt by architect Zachary Taylor Davis to convince Charles Comiskey to allow him to build a cantilevered grandstand, free of posts. Such a design would have been a pioneer among ball parks, but upon discovering that cantilevering could add as much as $350,000 to the cost of the park, nearly doubling its initial proposed price, Comiskey vetoed the idea, and ordered the architects to proceed with a conventional design of vertical steel beam supports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5151501-9743-426a-9b10-5d2637fdccc1/95+-+focal+point.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out While cantilevering, architects need to be cognizant of the focal point, making sure the upper decks don’t overhang the lower decks too much, and also aren’t pushed too far back. Comiskey Park had a chance to be the first cantilevered stadium, but Charles Comiskey balked at the price to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7723023-6aea-40a9-9e35-792419f70696/96+-+Hough+Neighborhood+04.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out League Park’s decks were basically stacked right on top of each other, as you can see here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12b451ce-3594-4d1f-86b3-232afced129b/97+-+Big+Ed+Walsh.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Big Ed Walsh It's been said that the outfield at Comiskey Park was so huge because Big Ed Walsh, the White Sox leading pitcher at the time (pictured here with Addie Joss), accompanied architect Karl Vitzthum to Cleveland, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh to check out their ballparks in preparation of drawing the plans for Comiskey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbdf0c76-3246-4058-97fc-a65f397fe4fa/98+-+1910.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey’s Dimensions in 1910 The claim is that Walsh was responsible for suggesting deep fences and cavernous power alleys to make it a more friendly park for him to pitch in. Whether that’s true or not, take a look at these dimensions and tell me it’s not a park you’d want to pitch in… Big Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1facc21e-1bb4-42e6-addd-fd465b7a2579/99+-+Yankee+Stadium+1923.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Yankee Stadium’s Dimensions in 1923 It has also been suggested that one of the reasons Old Yankee Stadium was called “The House That Ruth Built” was because the Yankees purposely created a short porch in right field, knowing that for the next decade, the left-handed Babe was going to be pulling baseballs to right, and obviously the team wanted to turn as many of those fly balls into home runs as possible. Here are the stadium’s dimensions in its first year, 1923. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/460ca669-57ba-410d-9d34-6ad9905d78db/100+-+Veeck+fence.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Moving The Fence This photo from April 26, 1947 shows the groundskeepers moving the outfield fence at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The outfield dimensions at Municipal Stadium were deep, with center field being 470’ from home. Always looking for an edge, owner Bill Veeck would have the fences moved sometimes as much as 15 feet in or out, depending on who Cleveland was playing, before the American League put a stop to that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9737d32d-3569-4114-b341-e731693872ea/101+-+Comiskey+Construction.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Construction Comiskey Park was built in 1910 for $750,000. In today’s dollars, that is less than $25 million. Architect Zachary Taylor Davis submitted his first design to Charles Comiskey on October 6, 1909. Less than 9 months later, on July 1, 1910, the White Sox played their first game there, in front of 32,000 fans. But let’s also not forget that 4 of those 9 months were winter in Chicago! They didn’t actually break ground until February 15. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb87512a-4b10-4ebe-b18c-67ae7a72c442/102+-+Globe+Life+Field.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Globe Life Field Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers, opened in 2020 and cost $1.2 billion to build. That’s 48 times more expensive than Comiskey. But not only that, it took YEARS of planning and construction to actually build Globe Life. Construction alone took 31 months, with more than 11,000 people working on the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa0836c6-bc53-41ff-9c6e-a7ae2f5f1b17/103+-+1953-01-17+Cleveland+Plain+Dealer+-+League+Park+under++Snow+during+construction+in+1910.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park Construction This photo, which appeared in the January 17, 1953 issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, shows League Park under a foot of snow during construction in 1910. But considering they didn’t start construction until the 1909 season was over, and Cleveland was playing their home games here by April of 1910, sometimes you’re going to have to deal with some snow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/743457ec-429c-4a15-97f6-3e451331e800/104+-+Ready+for+night+baseball.+The+8+light+towers+installed.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Night Baseball At Comiskey While Comiskey had done temporary lights on August 27, 1910 as an experiment, it wasn’t until August 14, 1939 that night baseball became a permanent feasibility at the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35f36587-3dec-4f43-b827-26af618d8994/105+-+white+wash.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Veeck’s Big Changes Bill Veeck bought majority interest in the White Sox in 1959 and started making lots of changes to Comiskey Park. He painted the red brick façade white Put a picnic area in left field Installed the first electric scoreboard behind the center field bleachers Installed an exploding scoreboard that had fireworks, aerial bombs, and numerous sounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e589ac-d662-43b9-b800-9f6565721a38/106+-+Brick+Work+at+League+Park.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Look at this beautiful brick work at League park. Wouldn’t it be such a shame to paint this and lose the nuance? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67b506a5-46d0-4abe-9646-b3950c81ecfc/107+-+Details.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brick Details I mean, come on! This is exquisite. League Park must have truly been something special in its day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa20df88-3eb2-4963-86dd-3bba1656f074/108+-+White+Washedd.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Whitewashed League Park was whitewashed, too. This photo taken by the legendary Bob Busser shows the ticket office at the corner of 66th and Lexington painted white. Luckily, during the renovations, the paint was removed and the bricks were restored to their original colors. Check out more of Bob’s photography from League Park HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6676bbf-15d7-4eac-b591-b29556fcf5d9/109+-+Better.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Bricks Doesn’t this just look so much better? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f577d3c7-a3aa-4321-82e4-7b0724416d93/110+-+architectural+styles.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Architectural Styles Comiskey Park is often referred to as Prairie Style architecture, which was popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Zachary Taylor Davis designed Comiskey Park, but was prolific in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/467e8fb2-ddd6-4add-8a2f-659a65b17894/111+-+picnic+area.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Picnic Area Bill Veeck installed this picnic area under the left field stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fb259d5-07c6-47d8-85a8-1f350dd1d7f0/112+-+best+seat+in+the+house.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Best seat in the house? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3621f257-e7be-4fe2-ab69-eeb5a2434a1f/113+-+Outfield+Corner+Seats.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Far Into The Left Field Corner Notice how these seats never rotate toward the field. If you sat here, you would have to wrench your back or your neck for three hours to be able to see the game. Not my idea of a good time, but at least you’re covered from the elements should the weather get bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c36fc75b-ec5a-47a1-a84d-3973f3148018/114+-+Groundskeepers+Residence.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Groundskeeper’s Residence This is directly from the Comiskey Park blueprints, showing the dimensions and layout of the residence built in the stadium specifically for the groundskeeper to live. This is one of those things that you’d never think of, but the more you consider it, the more sense it makes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48e0640c-e685-4741-8229-92eaaeaff8d6/115+-+Van+Buskirk.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clarence Randall Van Buskirk Clarence Van Buskirk went to college at New York University and became both an engineer and an architect. He was well liked and established in Brooklyn’s social set, so it came as no surprise that he got a job with the City of Brooklyn in 1895 as an assistant engineer in the City Works Department. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6bffda31-37d7-4a57-9388-44230e2265f3/116+-+Baker+Bowl.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Baker Bowl National League Park, commonly referred to as the Baker Bowl after 1923, was home to the Philadelphia Phillies from 1887 until 1938, and the first home field of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933 to 1935. It opened in 1887 with a capacity of 12,500. It burned down in 1894 and was rebuilt in 1895 as the first ballpark constructed primarily of steel and brick and with a cantilevered upper deck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfd4d469-c396-4b07-82a8-1801eb2b6bea/117+-+Hotel+Sinton.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hotel Sinton Hotel Sinton, on the southeast corner of 4th & Vine, was once Cincinnati's premier hotel. It was completed in 1907 just one day shy of the fourth anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Pike's Building which previously stood at that spot. Despite concerns from locals that the location, itself, may be bad luck (the building before the Pike burned down, too), Hotel Sinton opened with great fanfare. It was also the hotel where the Chicago White Sox players and owner, Charles Comiskey, stayed while in Cincinnati for the 1919 World Series, and where gamblers met with seven members of the White Sox to "fix" that World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ca40358-c93b-414e-be62-cdba3b1b7c00/118+-+Iroquois+Theater.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Iroquois Theater The Iroquois Theatre fire was a catastrophic fire in Chicago that broke out on December 30, 1903, during a performance attended by 1,700 people. The fire caused 602 deaths and 250 non-fatal injuries. It ranks as the worst theater fire in the United States, surpassing the carnage of the Brooklyn Theatre fire of 1876, which claimed at least 278 lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6387d5a1-d70e-4a30-98d2-d6c617cf4ed4/119+-+LF+Pavillion%2C+Bleachers.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Vertically Aligned The front edges of the upper and lower decks of League Park were vertically aligned, bringing the up-front rows in the upper deck closer to the action, but those in back couldn’t see much of foul territory. The new park seated over 18,000 people, more than double the seating capacity of its wooden predecessor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bab65a9-fe1a-409e-9f3e-69423e2864b6/120+-+Frank+Meade.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Frank Meade Frank Meade was a prominent architect active in Cleveland from 1895 until the 1930s who designed more than 800 homes in historical revival styles, many of them in partnership with James M. Hamilton. Throughout his career, no matter the makeup of the firm, Meade was known as the architect of some of the city's finest residential projects built in the early 20th century, including numerous residences in the Euclid Heights development and Shaker Heights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0aba0dd-0bfb-45ce-9dba-fca010d1ce89/121+-+Hough+Neighborhood+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hough Neighborhood The buildings which already stood surrounding the property where League Park was rebuilt informed how the park could be rebuilt. Those buildings weren’t going anywhere, and the park was bound by the streets, as well, so the footprint was set. That’s what makes League Park a “bandbox ballpark.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de090204-be6d-44be-ac91-f5ce08581e79/122+-+Fenway+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Fenway Park There are examples of parks whose dimensions were forced onto them thanks to the plots of land upon which they were built. Everyone knows about the Green Monster in Fenway Park, but not everyone really understands that it's there because Lansdowne Street runs directly behind the wall and that the Red Sox just didn't have any more land available to them to make left field deeper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49210791-fadf-4fd8-93b2-7ca1c9f5f381/123+-+Hough+Neighborhood+03.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Bandbox Ballpark The same thing that happened at Fenway also happened with League Park, just flipped, with Lexington Avenue forcing a short distance to right field. With only 290 feet from home plate to the right field foul pole, the only way to make it tough to hit home runs there would be to make the right field fence very tall. So that’s what Cleveland did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/edd946e4-e807-4267-966d-ea3a36e7c105/124+-+RF+Fence.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Not only was the right field fence at League Park tall, making it hard for hitters to conquer, but it was also very difficult for outfielders to play, since unpredictable caroms and wild bounces were almost a sure thing due to its irregular face. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7fb666d0-a7ca-4f8c-b663-b332b032ea93/125+-+Triples.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Place Where Triples Go To Die Shoeless Joe Jackson got one of his other famous nicknames playing right field at League Park. While most right fielders had lots of difficulty anticipating where batted balls would wind up due to the fence, Joe seemed to have it figured out. His incredible speed paired with his cannon for an arm helped him hold most players to singles and doubles when they hit the ball to right, rarely allowing triples. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/205cd587-c2b1-4721-95a7-73649aa80b67/126+-+Prints.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f0f8da2-5936-4329-9a5e-1ab7ccfc9693/127+-+Intuit+Dome.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Intuit Dome The Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California has over 1,400 toilets and urinals, which is three times more than the average NBA arena. The bathrooms are part of the arena's design to reduce lines and keep fans engaged in the game. Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is behind the extra bathrooms. Ballmer is a former Microsoft CEO who spent $2 billion building the arena. He's been known to brag about the bathrooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f3afb4a-b253-48db-8ea4-9042fb65ff52/128+-+Bathroom.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Unique Discovery Brian discovered that old League Park possibly had the only men's room in MLB history where you were able to watch the game while physically using the restroom. What he calls “the sky toilet.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e836c63d-94ef-484d-a488-e50b8f0d61fb/129+-+Toilet.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Location, Location, Location By placing the toilet here, with a window facing the field, men could use the urinal without missing a single pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1678cd7e-8ca1-478f-b3bf-e74896e742b5/130+-+View+from+the+Toilet.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - What A View I can think of worse places to put a bathroom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb840c2-663e-45ca-9247-56c80721ab80/131+-+Stairs%2C+Not+Ramps+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairs, Not Ramps Since the footprint of the stadium was so small, really the only way to get fans from the ground level to the upper levels was through vertical stairs. League Park didn’t have the complex ramp structures that most other parks had. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3b50b2a-f17d-4cb2-ba4d-3cfd3a8fd213/132+-+Dumbwaiter.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Dumbwaiter Looking around the upper deck concourse at League Park, including the 44' dumbwaiter shaft structure that moved refreshments between the lower and upper concession stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d383a07-0706-49e2-8131-baadf6eae4e9/133+-+Best+Seat.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seat In The House Many box seats in League Park had direct views into the dugouts. Great for hecklers who sat next to visitors dugout on the third base side. This is the result of the stands being expanded inward toward the field. The boxes between the dugouts were actually four rows of 4" risers, with the front row being level with the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b95da528-1a21-4e6f-b000-889eb12cf1f5/134+-+Field+Layout.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Process Brian starts with the site, the diamond, and the grounds around it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79c18e09-739f-47a5-a158-4b4fa0f58e78/135+-+Site+Layout.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Next Step Then, Brian identifies the structural plan, the layout plan, as it relates to the diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5c7c25d-5b8c-4c3c-9eec-9d7a525d0dfb/136+-+Stairs%2C+Not+Ramps+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Super Structure Next, Brian needs to build the part that will support the rest of the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bea68627-28bd-4438-b4db-ec1c3bcd5cb1/137+-+Overall+Seating+Bowl.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seating Bowl The fans are going to need somewhere to sit while they watch games in this stadium, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c16407e4-fd35-4cfc-bc18-82f50090764f/138+-+Lexington+Avenue%2C+RF+Pavillion.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Exterior Envelope and Enclosure It’s really starting to look like a finished ballpark at this point, but there’s still some work to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dcabef2-9454-42d8-9681-e213ecf100ee/139+-+Concessions.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Finishing Touches The last piece of the puzzle is finishing off the concession stands, toilets, and other details around the inside of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/116551ae-1d05-487a-90ef-f96159a6d971/140+-+Neighborhood+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Neighborhood As Brian completes more ballparks, he is starting to focus on the neighborhoods in which these parks live, adding even more details surrounding the parks than he had in his previous projects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d18cb216-b938-4608-b0a1-e6ae36c5fa78/141+-+Crosley.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field These two postcards of Crosley Field show the stark transformation of the neighborhood surrounding the ballpark in just a couple decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ac3e087-0b4f-4b7d-9212-73c883a834e1/142+-+SABR+meeting.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - SABR Meeting On June 29, 2024, Brian spoke at League Park in Cleveland during a SABR meeting for the Jack Graney Chapter. Brian has been partnering with the Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland to develop an interactive exhibition of League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3e09aab-2144-4e97-96a3-a3415cfd0194/143+-+Hough.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rough Neighborhood For a number of years, the Hough neighborhood where League Park sits went through hardships. This photo, taken by the legendary Bob Busser, shows the condition the park was in just a couple decades ago. Luckily, the city of Cleveland put in the money to save it and renovate it into the beautiful park it is today. Check out more of Bob Busser’s photography of League Park HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b50ecc3-bf36-4d02-b211-8e997c4b94a3/144+-+inside.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bob Busser Photography This is another amazing (yet sad) photo by Bob Busser of the interior of League Park. This is similar to what Brian saw on his trip to Cleveland in the 1990s; a ballpark in utter disrepair. Bob Busser has shot thousands of photos of venues all over the world. To see more, visit his website HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/511c4202-7e0b-464f-8fce-a59f1f9cb4b9/145+-+Vintage+Game.jpeg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Playing On The Field On July 26, 2024, I rented the field at League Park and hosted an 1860s style vintage base ball game there. To play on the same field as all of the game’s greats was a truly incredible experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/598cd415-d61a-4411-89ee-16fd93398043/146+-+Happenstance.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Happenstance Brian paid a visit to Cleveland’s historic League Park on the afternoon of May 1, 2021. He just so happened to be there at 3:45pm, exactly 130 years to the minute after the Cleveland Spiders’ Cy Young threw out the inaugural first pitch at what was then a brand new park. This is the photo he took that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85f466d3-3746-4d1d-b932-9fc56f5b55c3/147+-+Palace+of+the+Fans.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Palace Of The Fans The Reds played at The Palace of the Fans from 1902 through 1911. The distinct and ornate ballpark had a seating capacity of 12,000. In addition to the main grandstand that had been constructed prior to the start of the season, part of the previous League Park that had not been destroyed by fire remained standing and was used as seating in right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb6ca838-4e55-4ef0-a126-399a15a212a8/148+-+Crosley.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field The Reds moved into a new park for the 1912 season. It was originally known as Redland Field, but was renamed Crosley Field in 1934. The team played there until June of 1970. Redland Field was the third steel-and-concrete stadium in the National League. It had a double-deck grandstand around the diamond. Beyond first and third base were single-deck covered pavilions which extended to the corners, with bleachers in the right field area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67d7926f-b2f7-40dd-83b7-51b9e171db72/149+-+Boomerang.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Old Boomerang The unusual angle of the covered areas down the lines and behind home plate gave that area a distinctive "V" shape, giving rise to one of several nicknames the park had, "The Old Boomerang." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a4a25e7-95e3-45cd-ba79-c8994db88557/150+-+Hill.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Berm For some, it was an endearing ballpark quirk. For the Reds, it could be a home-field advantage. "Crosley Field was a tough place for outfielders to play," outfielder and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson told MLB.com in 2015. "You couldn't just run up the terrace, you had to climb it. And if there was a ball over your head, you could never climb it fast enough to make a play against the wall." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66a61922-c1da-4a44-92c6-6dee2fd5904b/151+-+Outfield+Berm+Profile.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Outfield Berm Profile At some point in the early 1960s, the Reds asked Harry Hake, the architect of Crosley Field, if they could remove the berm from the outfield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2694aebb-10b8-4cdc-a211-03675cd3a419/152+-+Right+field+bleacher+structure.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - No Can Do Unfortunately, the berm was acting as structural support for the wall at that point, and removing it could cause the entire wall and the street on the opposite side of it to collapse. The berm was helping to retain the vertical concrete wall, which was at some points 5 or 6 feet above the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8d747c1-9a2a-4610-8078-242d64d747e3/153+-+Center+field+scoreboard.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Outfield Walls While Crosley Field may not have had the same number of extensions from its outfield walls as League Park in Cleveland had, the weird angles and horizontal protuberance still made it a difficult outfield to defend. Oh yeah, and the berm didn’t help, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b10234c-da4f-4600-a287-d3e4e21b5ae0/154+-+Findlay.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - In A Ravine The distinctive brick wall (standing 40'-8") in the right field corner of Crosley Field was a presence from inside the park while welcoming fans at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue. However, when walking on Findlay, you were actually 16 feet above the level of the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b23503e-93be-4bcb-a51e-e3d642205c3b/155+-+box+seats.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Box Seats The "Center Box" seats were the seats that infilled the area directly behind the backstop at old Crosley Field. When added in 1946, the distance from home plate to the backstop was reduced from the lengthy 96 feet down to 78 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc6723c9-3b02-470e-98b4-a70e920dcee4/155+-+dugout.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Dugouts The dugouts at Crosley Field didn’t offer much in terms of relief from the Cincinnati heat and humidity, so players would sneak into the old 1912 dugouts which were still there, and were basically vaults, buried under the box seats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f38f2acb-9126-4288-aff4-f7357b8ee35c/157+-+entrance.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Entrances Most fans entered Crosley Field through the main office building on Findlay Street or at the right field pavilion. The bleacher area had a separate entrance off Western Avenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61577051-1cd7-4d92-8f05-01501cdf645a/158+-+Rickwood.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out This aerial view of Rickwood Field shows the ballpark configuration by the end of the 1920s. While there were covered stands, the segregated bleachers section in deep right field where Black fans were forced to sit was purposely left uncovered, leaving them exposed to the sweltering Birmingham sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1e83803-bbe4-4496-b9b3-f554057fd2b4/158+-+segregation.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Segregation Stories have long been told of ballparks having separate entrances, separate seating areas, and separate restrooms for white fans and Black fans. But to see “Colored Men’s Toilet” and “Colored Women’s Toilet” on the actual blueprints to a stadium truly drives the point home that this treatment wasn’t just how people acted toward one another. It was by design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5eff8b8a-7a3f-4ce5-86c3-668454b70ff4/159+-+Capacity.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Capacity Crosley Field was usually among the smallest parks in the majors. It accommodated only 25,000 fans in 1912. Even at its peak, it barely exceeded 30,000 seats, excluding temporary seating areas created for opening day and World Series games. Contributing to this was the fact that there were no bleachers in left or center fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02287bd3-fe9c-4c69-ab2c-1916280b8b5e/160+-+Lights.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Let There Be Light The Reds became the first team to play a night game when they turned on the lights against the Phillies on May 24, 1935. Night baseball was one of the largest milestones in ballpark design for revenue, media and operations. SABR Games Project article about that game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba794cf1-c004-414d-a11c-0078b8814503/161+-+Brian+Bernardoni.JPG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the official historian of Wrigley Field, and was the guest on Episode 6 of Season 1 of My Baseball History. During our interview, he talked about how Wrigley Field was wired for lights in the early 1940s and was going to be able to play night games, but when World War II called for people to make sacrifices, Mr. Wrigley donated all of the metal that was meant to be used to build the light towers to the war effort. Wrigley Field would have to wait until August of 1988 before the Cubs played their first night game there. Listen to Brian’s full episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f3cd102-5b26-4c65-baa1-e06540fa0bbf/162+-+Polo+Grounds+lights.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Testing The Lights The first night game at the Polo Grounds took place on May 24, 1940 when the Giants defeated the Boston Bees 8-1. Ahead of the game, the new lights needed to be tested to make sure that every spot on the field would be illuminated, and that no players would have lights shining so brightly in their direction that it may blind them from being able to perform. This photo shows the final lighting test ahead of that first night game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9a51f72-fd0b-40d4-a9c9-d951f5379e75/163+-+Lights.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Slightly Angled It may be tough to tell from your seat, but each bulb on the light tower is angled slightly differently from all of the other bulbs, concentrating its specific beam to a very direct 4-square foot part of the field below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9b875da-a758-4c2e-b1ba-fdbe87173360/166+-+TV+Platforms.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Park TV Platforms The TV platforms at old Comiskey Park were obviously not original to the park since TV hadn’t been invented when Comiskey opened. WGN started telecasting White Sox games with cameras on these platforms in 1948, and the MLB All-Star game was televised for the first time from Comiskey on July 11, 1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a76579c4-aa40-4092-8b9c-dbfa3e3a635b/170+-+TV+Cameras.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - TV Platforms In Action Interview process to be hired as a camera operator: Interviewer: Can you operate a camera? Candidate: Yes, I’m very good at that. Interviewer: Great. Are you afraid of heights?" Candidate: … what? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/786d49b2-d5ef-42a5-9018-b3e18e7b8ab9/169+-+Motorola+ad.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Television This Motorola television ad ran in the April 4, 1948 edition of the Chicago Tribune, selling TVs for $495. That’s the equivalent of nearly $6,500 today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c708ba7-eb3e-4d93-8ebe-b1917074018e/167+-+League+Park+media.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park’s Crow’s Nest League Park had a single "crow's nest" media basket that was perched over the 3rd base line, which also helped the press cover football games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82106328-19ec-4597-9812-a812554d283a/168+-+League+Park.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crow’s Nest In Action Since all of these media areas were added as afterthoughts to the original stadium designs which did not include plans for them, each stadium had to get creative with how they incorporated spaces for writers and broadcasters as the media landscape in America changed. They all look a little disjointed because they are all a little disjointed. No architect from this first generation of ballparks knew it was something that would eventually need to be included. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8b6ceee-a8f7-4e32-8dca-3faa9b199418/173+-+The+Press+Box+That+Never+Was.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Brian found drawings for a press box to be added to League Park for the 1920 World Series. That addition was never built, but Brian has the blueprints as proof that it was at least seriously discussed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab0e3ed8-4702-46fe-ad7a-751a81f7d1f5/164+-+Crosley+press+box.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field Press Box The roof-top press box was added in 1936 at old Crosley Field. Like many early 20th century ballparks, it had to adapt from print, to radio, then television. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/860fb393-a9f9-4a09-96ed-c2dcbfd14c55/165+-+press+box.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rooftop Perch The rooftop perch was home to all writing press and media covering the Cincinnati Reds through 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8da8683b-a950-4d8c-b9da-dbb9b7cdc2aa/171+-+Ebbets.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Press Boxes At Ebbets Field, additional camera decks, photo and press boxes were added along the 1st and 3rd base lines over the years as electronic media grew in popularity in Major League Baseball and around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c9bc8da-d878-483e-b783-c57229e2dad5/172+-+Ebbets+In+Action.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets In Action It’s really evident in this photo how much of an afterthought these press areas were. This box at Ebbets Field is literally just tacked on to the front of the Upper Deck. It worked, but it wasn’t ideal, and it probably wasn’t incredibly comfortable, or safe to enter/exit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd3b1316-45fe-466e-836a-3fdaa0078f2c/174+-+Best+Seats.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seats In The House The caption to this photo reads: “CROSLEY FIELD GROOMED - Next week brings baseball’s opener, and Crosley Field is getting set. Mattie Schwab, groundskeeper, stands behind home plate screen. See that vacant spot? Additional seats will go there.” Those seats are where Brian would want to sit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d75146e7-6318-48f7-abb6-d67fc301b9fc/175+-+Best+Seats.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1954355-0aa8-43fb-929a-3088ae0f65b5/176+-+Ronnie+Dale.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ronnie Dale Erwin Ronald "Ronnie" Grubb, a Cincinnati native known as "Ronnie Dale," was the Cincinnati Reds organist at Crosley Field. Family members say he was the first organist to lead the crowd in yelling "Charge!" - still heard today at ballparks and arenas everywhere. As legend has it, he was once told by umpire Jocko Conlan to stop playing it, and was thrown out of the game when he persisted. Dale played every home game for the Reds for about 14 years. His position was normally in foul territory above third base in Crosley Field's organ booth, but Brian says he found evidence that at times Dale’s organ was positioned right behind home plate among those “center box” seats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/485c1e23-2816-4c2a-91b1-1ad8e9395dd2/177+-+1965.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Plexiglass Backstop In 1965, a plexiglass backstop was installed behind home plate at Crosley Field, improving visibility for box seat patrons, but making it harder to hear the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4938eb27-d767-483e-8c96-95cf2657dcb7/178+-+Charles+Ebbets.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Charles Ebbets Charles Henry Ebbets, Sr. (October 29, 1859 - April 18, 1925) served as co-owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1897 to 1902 before becoming majority owner of the team. He remained the majority owner until his death in 1925. He also served as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1898 to 1925, and was the namesake of Ebbets Field. Ebbets acquired the property to build the stadium over several years, starting in 1908, by buying lots until he owned the entire block. Construction began on March 4, 1912. The cornerstone, a piece of Connecticut granite that held newspapers, pictures of baseball players, cards, telegrams, and almanacs, was laid on July 6, 1912. Charles Ebbets’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2813b122-7371-4c08-9d37-642232f525c8/179+-+Cornerstone+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce83e0e2-0ca4-4f46-84e8-11858715c80d/180+-+Cornerstone.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cornerstone Clad in a Dodger uniform, five-year-old Mitchell Modell looks at some of the musty papers and records taken from the old cornerstone at Ebbets Field during an auction sale at the old ballpark. Mitchell was among the younger fans on hand for the sale at which bats, balls, bases and other items were offered to nostalgic baseball buffs who used to root for "Dem Bums." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dedfd3b-042f-4dfa-9fc5-e648ac3cce1a/181+-+Cornerstone+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cornerstone In theory, this was an amazing idea, making the cornerstone a time capsule full of artifacts and autographs and all sorts of things. But it wasn’t sealed properly, so everything inside was destroyed, and when they tried to break it open, the sledgehammer smashed a huge chunk out of it. Other than that, though… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3ae52c7-a1e0-4233-af45-beee9b0dcfa1/182+-+Van+Buskirk.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clarence Randall Van Buskirk Suzanne Spellen wrote an absolutely insane four-piece article about Van Buskirk, the architect of Ebbets Field. It is shocking, to say the least, and is well worth your time. Here are the links to each part: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b667bfa-def1-4fac-92e4-c1762742a761/183+-+Rotunda.JPG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Rotunda Ebbets Field essentially had a lobby known as the rotunda. While very few pictures of the entrance have survived, it was a common meeting place for friends and family who were going to see the Dodgers play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e312c3ca-f645-4336-98cf-c9a28788c088/184+-+Seat+Installation+Lower+Deck+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stacked Decks Much like many of the other ballparks we’ve talked about, the decks at Ebbets Field were basically stacked directly on top of one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/efeb55c5-ff08-4588-b04d-c85abb07e6c0/185+-+clubhouse.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Clubhouse The clubhouse at Ebbets Field was state-of-the-art. Here, Jackie Robinson speaks with members of the media inside the clubhouse after the Dodgers clinched the pennant by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 30, 1956. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography Photo by John G. Zimmerman / Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9fe66d4b-666a-4696-b412-0ea6b08764a1/186+-+Rotunda.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rotunda Of the very few surviving images of the rotunda to have surfaced, these seem to be the clearest shots. Notice the lights hanging above the window cages and scroll down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f89ebf37-3d01-4650-8287-195bfaad57e3/187+-+light+fixture.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Light Fixtures This is one of the very few surviving original light fixtures from the Ebbets Field rotunda. The globes are supposed to be baseballs, and the arms holding them are shaped like baseball bats. Pretty clever. It’s a shame more didn’t make it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a707eb5b-0f1b-4b30-96b8-fade51d034c8/195+-+Dodgers+vs.+Giants.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Attention To Detail It wasn’t just in the rotunda where baseballs were used as decorative accents. Check out the outside of the stadium, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9d51bcd-398c-43a5-ae98-69d658c7907b/196+-+Ornamental+Baseballs.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Details In Action You just don’t see this type of attention to detail in stadiums anymore. It’s not about how beautiful the owners can make them; it’s about how much money they can make for the owners. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f909b314-3944-4302-98d3-2adf98a9b6a2/187+-+Marilyn.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Celebrities Ebbets Field certainly was no stranger to having cameras inside of it. From the multiple World Series games, to special events, millions of people passed through the turnstiles over the years to see the athletes and celebrities who graced the field. Here, Marilyn Monroe waves to the Ebbets Field crowd from a convertible car at the ceremonial kick off for a match between a combined Israeli Hapoel team and the American Soccer League Stars on May 12, 1957. More photos from that day HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e9f6876-6cb1-4047-9bd2-1859d621d4ae/189+-+Spiral+Staircase+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hidden Stairs Just off the rotunda were various staircases for a few privileged personnel. One staircase took you up to the press box. The private spiral stair highlighted in this image allowed office brass to make a quick exit or ticket staff to run their cash up to the counting room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21aa08b4-23b1-4f5c-9a30-55f2e1c98eaa/191+-+Wood+Slatted+Seats+03.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out When the ballpark opened in 1913, the outfield was bounded by bare concrete walls all around, which would soon be covered with advertising. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cace1d12-7d52-4532-9f6f-a2590df99c8e/192+-+Deep+CF+Corner+01.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ballpark Quirks There was a large door in deep right center field, at the one place where the outfield and the sloping Bedford Avenue were at the same elevation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff19a99d-91db-4d20-86a7-b3320ee2b843/193+-+Deep+CF+Corner.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Quirks In Action If a ball was hit deep into that right center field corner, sometimes it could rattle around and allow a runner to grab an extra base. If the fielder got flustered, sometimes the runner could get two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8893a2d8-7c87-4370-b707-124a3a6dfbec/194+-+circus+seats.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - “Circus Seats” Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the World Series on October 5, 1920. Even though bleachers had been in the outfield all season, during the World Series they were called an "emergency grandstand" to allow the club to charge more. The press referred to these rows of wooden bleachers just inside the left field wall as "circus seats." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f14b643-77fa-44b2-862e-91488cdd7ff9/197+-+Uneven+Seating+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Uneven Seating Since the right field fence was very short due to Lexington Avenue being so close, Osborn had to push the stadium and the seating as close to Linwood Avenue as possible to maximize the distance from home plate to right. Because of this, there are less rows of seats on the third base side than there are on the first base side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1694f49b-95bb-4abb-b8e8-06f34286df5b/198+-+E.+66th+Street+and+Linwood+Avenue.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - East 66th Street and Linwood Avenue This also forced both clubhouses and a lot of the back of house stuff (like offices, ticket booths, etc) to be on the first base side of the stadium, since that is where they could afford the space to build those things. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f40596cb-2b87-416d-9125-afd7c7c96db2/199+-+Stairs+to+Upper+Deck%2C+Home+Plate.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairs Since space was so limited, League Park was forced to use stairs to get fans from level to level, as opposed to more modern ballparks which have the luxury of ramps when they are built on slightly larger plots of land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/526706c4-7c56-439d-91af-dc2026aaa184/200+-+Gladys+Goodding+Organ+Loft+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Press Boxes Not only was Ebbets Field one of the first stadiums to install press boxes, they are also widely considered the first team to employ an organist. But since there were no plans for an organ when the stadium was built, the team needed to give their organist a box, too, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b87fce0b-5186-4ebd-b0f1-54da849fd920/201+-+Gladys+Goodding+Organ+Loft+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gladys Goodding Gladys Goodding was dubbed “The Ebbets Field Organ Queen” when she started playing for the Dodgers in 1942. She played until the team moved to Los Angeles in 1957 and was widely beloved by the Dodger faithful. I talked a little bit about Gladys Goodding in Episode 1 of Season 4 with Nancy Faust, who played organ for the White Sox for 41 years and is credited with inventing walk-up music. Listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f287e91-99aa-4e00-ab39-883682691747/202+-+T+Brackets.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - T-Brackets Ebbets Field's distinctive "T" shaped brackets adorned the front of the upper deck after the trusses were modified in 1929 to accommodate new upper box seating and press boxes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c0af60-1da8-469c-9a80-f216ae15ece8/203+-+In+Action.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bearing The Weight The extra trusses were added to be able to hold the additional weight of the box seating and press boxes, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1745836-e1c3-4acd-adb4-968a726c5876/204+-+Auction.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Auction Saul Leisner was assigned to auction off Ebbets Field, both the structure and its contents, on April 20, 1960. Leisner began the auction at 11:15 am by climbing an eight-foot ladder and holding a gavel. Estimates were that over 500 people gathered around the marble rotunda. Locker room stools, benches, team banners, seats, bricks, bats, caps, team photos, balls, and the brownstone cornerstone of the stadium were included in the items for sale. Leisner stated that it was the saddest day of his life, and it was a difficult task for him, as he had been a faithful fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and was heartbroken when the team relocated. Jerry Amalfitano, pictured here, shows his mom and dad one of 20,000 seats being released by Ebbets Field before being demolished. Photo by Leroy Jakob / NY Daily News Archive https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3f26be7-1f5c-419f-b864-41d96985a163/205+-+Box+Seats+Along+1B+Side+02.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seats In The House Brian thinks sitting near the Dodgers bullpen area down the first base line at Ebbets Field would be a pretty great time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a34b914-af96-4d52-b943-896eb3557c2e/206+-+Scoreboard+03.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Scoreboard The scoreboard at Ebbets Field had a sneaky component to it. If there was a close play in the field, the official scorer would light up either the “H” or the “E” in the “Schaefer” script above the scoreboard to let fans know whether the previous play had been ruled a hit or an error. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fccec4f-6b19-4c4e-9d4d-cb03dfac6e31/208+-+Cottage.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clubhouse Cottages The baseball "clubhouse" got its name when many early 20th century ballparks had separate structures that housed the team dressing rooms. The visitors' clubhouse at old Crosley Field was a last of its kind in MLB before demolition in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2326e7f-bdb7-481f-9b30-1ce03b2fb95a/207+-+Cottages.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Link To The Past The cottages from the Palace Of The Fans actually survived the fire that took out almost all of the rest of that park. They were reused as the visitors clubhouse when Redland Field/Crosley Field opened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3581dc6-2c46-4c59-bf64-10d9563fdef9/209+-+Comerica+Park.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Follow Brian Online Twitter Facebook Instagram The Bandbox Ballparks website YouTube email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/435a6c84-153d-48e1-93df-0e64fc0accc8/210+-+bandbox.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bandbox Ballparks A “bandbox” is a ballpark whose small dimensions make it easier to hit home runs. Oftentimes those dimensions are forced upon the stadium due to the small amount of land available to build, whether it be because of existing homes and businesses, or streets and railroad tracks. The term is reference to the bandstands and band boxes that were common in small towns at the turn of the century. However, Charles Earle Funk and Charles Earle Funk, Jr. state that the term originally referred to a small wooden box in which collars or "bands" were kept. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f52fb405-096a-4a64-8066-2138060f5a38/211+-+Comiskey.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Personally Significant I have enjoyed each of Brian’s projects, but the fact that his first two (Comiskey Park and League Park) have special significance to my life means those will always hold a special place in my heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e183bfb4-f80b-4780-ba41-8ba275f02c66/212+-+Shibe+Park.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park My mom and I were at the site of Shibe Park together in October of 2020 while on a road trip to record interviews for My Baseball History. While in Philadelphia, we recorded our episode with Alex Cheremeteff on the history of the Philadelphia Athletics. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/efe0776c-9c84-4ea0-85a0-334b148b891f/213+-+Minute+Maid+Park+in+Houston.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - All It Takes Is A Hard Hat And some confidence and you can pretty much get anywhere you want to get in this world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5890f49f-b2d2-453c-b3a6-62c5fd779d9f/214+-+Faner+Hall.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Faner Hall Faner Hall was designed by architecture firm Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham in the Brutalist style. The building on Southern Illinois University’s Carbondale campus is 914 feet long and four stories high. It acts as a "wall" between the old and new sections of campus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/409c3eaf-8f99-49b8-9e08-430d1b368de8/215+-+pelzer.JPG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Feel The Legacy “I could stand there and feel the legacy of what was there before” is the perfect way to sum up why I’ve spent the past two decades traveling around the country trying to visit as many former sites where Shoeless Joe Jackson played as I can. Here I am at the site of the Pelzer Mill ball field in South Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3e4c403-0835-4a70-abfa-e9cce51d148c/216+-+Where+Joe+Stood.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Where Joe Stood Today it’s just a parking lot, but in 1919, Shoeless Joe Jackson stood in this exact spot while he was patrolling left field for the Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati’s Redland Field during the World Series. There’s something cool about that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18783961-e19f-42df-97e2-82a8272b30a2/217+-+Last+Comiskey.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Last Comiskey If you haven’t seen Matt Flesch’s amazing documentary on the final season of White Sox baseball at Comiskey Park, click the links below and thank me later. Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/383aafb6-2c0d-4efc-818e-03a2b0fc016b/218+-+stairwell.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairwell If you played at League Park, you walked down these steps. Dozens of Hall of Famers, and hundreds of names you know, both in the white Major Leagues, and in the Negro Leagues. True history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4ddf61d-7386-4801-b0ee-8b52745053d4/219+-+batter%27s+box.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Batter’s Box It was a pretty special feeling to stand in the same batter’s box as some of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0c96572-07c7-4f5c-bc97-5bf39bdd5c53/220+-+Tiger+Stadium.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out This is the former site of Tiger Stadium in Detroit. The city has renovated the space and installed a field turf field similar to what the city of Cleveland has done at the site of League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb02206c-ff45-45d4-963c-cee9195de0da/220+-+Specific+Entrances+04.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Prices “Dan, that was in 1946, you can’t expect those prices today!” $1.50 was the price of the most expensive ticket. Today, $1.50 is the equivalent of $24.28. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98705db0-a0c9-48d0-95f2-98e8b2eaaebc/221+-+Triples.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Where Triples Go To Die This mural of one of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s nicknames used to be on a wall in West Greenville, South Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a8ab0d4-ed54-4f68-b0f1-ff596510e300/223+-+Kaline%27s+Corner.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tiger Stadium It’s Kaline’s Corner! Pretty cool to be able to go walk out on that field and know you’re standing exactly where some of the all-time greats of the game once stood. Al Kaline’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90985a89-50a2-4a97-b916-69529fc3dc73/224+-+Huntington.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Wild Dimensions The center field fence at Huntington Avenue Grounds was originally 530 feet, but was later changed to 635 feet. Good luck! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f19f78f7-da29-4909-956e-97a5d0dc3da6/225+-+Tris+Speaker.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tris Speaker Tris Speaker holds the major league record for turning the most unassisted double plays during a career with six. In the National League, no outfielder has ever had more than two during their career. Speaker’s name is all over the record books when it comes to double plays as an outfielder, unassisted or otherwise. Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90b70720-e7ab-4f4e-a1a0-1e24bb5ae9ab/226+-+Columbia+Park.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Columbia Park While Columbia Park in Philadelphia has been gone for more than a century, the row homes which surrounded the foot print of the park are still standing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d62d076-5387-41d9-9c13-3118576fbd64/227+-+Boxing.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Boxing at Comiskey Park So much more than baseball happened at these old baseball stadiums. From boxing matches (like the Joe Louis fight in 1936 at Comiskey Park pictured here) to political rallies and everything else in between, stadiums were built to be used, not to sit empty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f31123c6-3955-458d-b8d1-62a635d24418/228+-+Camden+Yards.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oriole Park at Camden Yards Absolutely respectful of the history. Babe Ruth was born just a couple blocks away, and the home in which he was born is now a museum. I spoke with the Executive Director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, Shawn Herne, for Episode 3 of Season 2 of My Baseball History. Listen to that episode HERE. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e72012a-2ac0-4344-81e9-f9b727e4771e/229+-+Warehouse.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out The way Janet Marie Smith and the Orioles not only incorporated the warehouse into the ballpark experience, but made it something special, was truly genius. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6282322-c47c-4347-86c9-c88d815af816/230+-+New+Comiskey.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - New Comiskey Park When New Comiskey Park opened, it was covered in the famous colors of Chicago’s south side team: concrete and royal blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52e6db7c-e6b4-4408-83aa-ed66e2438a12/231+-+Comiskey.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Old Comiskey Park The real shame of it all is that had this all happened ten years later, we most likely would have been able to find a way to save Old Comiskey from the wrecking ball the same way Fenway Park was saved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de6b8e58-b5a8-4b10-a9e7-fb5d78a35e66/232+-+New+Comiskey.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out For all the flack New Comiskey (rightfully) got when it opened, it is a genuinely decent ballpark today, thanks to 35 years of beautifying efforts from the White Sox. A better color scheme, more greenery, statues all over the concourse, and great concessions are some of the highlights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd516ea8-cf66-4749-8e19-63af6e811903/233+-+Scoreboard.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oh Yeah… …and the scoreboard! How could I forget the scoreboard? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ebb578bc-35c3-4e8c-a852-8dc1a60664ae/234+-+Groundskeepers+Residence+location.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Groundskeeper’s Residence Here is where it was located in Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34d305c-df66-4f1f-9ddb-23cbea075419/235+-+Catalina.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Catalina Island Casino The casino was owned by Philip K. Wrigley. Ramps were installed in the casino to quickly get 6,000 people from the third floor ballroom down to the ground floor in case of an emergency. He took inspiration from the ramps at Wrigley Field, which he also owned at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b9b7415-c101-45d7-8905-b4609cde7b8e/236+-+Paul+and+I.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Preserving American History Paul Reiferson is a photography connoisseur who spent decades amassing the most complete Charles Conlon collection ever privately assembled. During out discussion for Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History, Paul spoke of the responsibility he felt to conserve and preserve the photos in his collection because they were important documents, not just collectibles. You can listen to my interview with Paul HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d1cca38-7555-40d1-9f79-e3c9d43fb675/237+-+Brian%27s+office.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Office You guys have no idea how cool the contents of that flat file storage are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aca8f667-cbf7-4d32-b6fb-c298c70390fb/238+-+Comiskey+Park+blueprints.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Blueprints Here is Brian flipping through the original blueprints to Old Comiskey Park. Unbelievable to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c21662ee-a323-4533-895c-e521558e2014/239+-+Look+at+this.JPEG Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Look At This! It was an incredible experience to not only see those blueprints, but to see them with Brian walking me through them. A day I’ll never forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a48ad23-bec8-42df-bddf-fdfc30c42f53/240+-+email.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9a48a77-d798-484b-a53b-9e7e4f87552a/241+-+dvd.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a DVD copy of Matt Flesch’s incredible Last Comiskey documentary? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/691c819c-0c91-4d16-8433-3a0ba24c3086/242+-+Rickwood.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood Field I think the best book on Rickwood Field is Allen Barra’s Rickwood Field, A Century In America’s Oldest Ballpark. Buy it HERE. There’s also a tough one to find by Ben Cook that’s worth looking for called Good Wood, A Fan’s History of Rickwood Field. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50ccb80c-bae0-4ec5-ba26-fae28d98a808/243+-+Comiskey.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Park There have been lots of books written about Old Comiskey Park, but my favorite is the third installment of the McFarland Historic Ballparks series by Floyd Sullivan called Old Comiskey Park, Essays and Memories of the Historic Home Of The Chicago White Sox, 1910-1991. Buy it HERE. Of course, Ken Smoller’s book, Last Comiskey, which is the companion piece to Matt Flesch’s documentary by the same name is worth tracking down, too. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/462a749a-dd3d-46ac-912a-154c10c75036/244+-+League+Park+book.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park The best book written about League Park in Cleveland is by Ken Krsolovic and Bryan Fritz, and it’s called League Park, Historic Home of Cleveland Baseball, 1891-1946. Buy it HERE. Another book called Where Cleveland Played, Sports Shrines From League Park To The Coliseum by Morris Eckhouse and Greg Crouse is well done, and while only about 20 pages of that one are actually about League Park, there are some great old photos that make it worth your time. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/893c467b-28e7-47bf-9d94-13fcde59c176/245+-+Crosley.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field In my opinion, the best book about Crosley Field is Cincinnati's Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City by Gregory H. Wolf. Buy it HERE. Cincinnati's Crosley Field: The Illustrated History of a Classic Ballpark by Greg Rhodes and John Erardi is worth checking out, too. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/404040d3-9cc4-4abb-9b79-4328df98fada/246+-+Ebbets.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Ebbets Field has had so much written about it, it’s almost not fair to narrow it down to just a couple books, but that’s the format I’ve gone with here, so I’ll stick to it. A recent book by the aforementioned Gregory H. Wolf titled Ebbets Field: Great, Historic, and Memorable Games in Brooklyn's Lost Ballpark takes the top spot for me. Buy it HERE. The Greatest Ballpark Ever: Ebbets Field and the Story of the Brooklyn Dodgers by Bob McGee is a close second. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f370c1a-5c23-47c4-8ae7-f5a18ad64dbc/247+-+Shibe.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park If you want to learn more about Shibe Park aka Connie Mack Stadium, check out Bruce Kuklick’s To Every Thing A Season, Shibe Park and Urban Philadelphia, 1909-1976. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/679b39f6-768f-4bc6-9435-7093fa9d3b2e/248+-+Forbes.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - McFarland Historic Ballparks The McFarland Historic Ballparks series has books on the following ballparks: Forbes Field - Buy it HERE Ebbets Field - Buy it HERE Old Comiskey Park - Buy it HERE Tiger Stadium - Buy it HERE The Polo Grounds - Buy it HERE Rosenblatt Stadium - Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85d690d8-a496-4c5b-a38a-be3b45136fc9/249+-+Green+Cathedrals.jpg Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Green Cathedrals SABR put out a great reference book called Green Cathedrals, The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks by Philip J. Lowry, and while there isn’t a ton of information on any one individual ballpark, it’s got the names, details, dimensions, tenants, and sometimes photos of more than 400 stadiums, parks, fields, yards, and grounds. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd885bbb-a5ae-4abe-925d-c503a77a11d7/250+-+Take+Me+Out+To+The+Ballpark.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Take Me Out To The Ball Park In 1983, The Sporting News put out a book called Take Me Out To The Ball Park which gave brief histories on 35 different ballparks, with lots of photos, and the famous artwork by Amadee Wohlschlaeger that you’re sure to recognize. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cf06a12-903b-4397-ac5d-4a140203946c/251+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0405 - Brian Powers - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/04 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12716d2b-5da1-4f4f-a478-f6924ee45ce3/youtube.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a682a0-75cc-41ec-b663-8ba3c89010e6/square.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein Andrew Aronstein, Michael Aronstein, and me after recording our interview in New York https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8efd8054-14fd-4fad-91b1-59dadb033b7b/01+-+BHM.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Heritage Museum This episode is brought to you by the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park. 6601 Lexington Avenue Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 789 - 1083 Visit Their Website Join The Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50219946-5c1e-4793-bad9-4a21cb2f1653/02+-+BHM.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Former Ticket Office League Park was the home of the Cleveland Spiders, Naps, and Indians from 1891 through 1946. While most of the original League Park was torn down years ago, the ticket office still stands. That is where the Baseball Heritage Museum operates out of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d301109b-14bc-48f2-9162-5e17276fb4ff/03+-+Addie+Joss+Benefit+Game.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out A benefit game was held for Addie Joss’ family at League Park on July 24, 1911 after he passed away earlier that spring. The game featured Shoeless Joe Jackson and nine eventual Hall of Famers as the Cleveland Naps hosted the best players in the American League in what was essentially the first All-Star Game in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec591942-cc56-4875-aa9f-092e030116dc/04+-+Quincy+Trouppe.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Negro Leagues History League Park served as home to the Cleveland Buckeyes for eight seasons. During that time, the team won two Negro American League championships. Led by Quincy Trouppe, the Buckeyes won the 1945 Negro League World Series over Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, and the star-studded Homestead Grays. Start planning your visit to the Baseball Heritage Museum so you can learn about all of the incredible history which happened on that site. Become A Member of the BHM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29573ca1-506f-4565-9066-b4941837942b/05+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pioneer Michael Aronstein was a card show pioneer, having arranged and hosted one of the very first baseball card “conventions” in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c6c2b2f-98fb-47f5-af81-8e79ab9a6abf/06+-+1974+ASCCA.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - ASCCA Shows Michael co-organized the biannual American Sports Card Collectors Association shows in New York City. Travel through time and take a look at these pictures from the May 25-27, 1973 show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5589e12-acdd-405f-8602-1fdfd8acf740/07+-+Collectors+Quarterly.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Collectors Quarterly Michael was the publisher of Collectors Quarterly, which he used to advertise TCMA’s 1976 Major League Baseball card set, offering it directly via mail order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f87e1ca3-fded-478f-9eb5-6703b3a34f11/08+-+plastic+sheets.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Trailblazer Michael became one of the hobby’s first full-time dealers, and provided collectors with alternatives to mainstream sets along with collecting supplies such as plastic sheets before they were widely available anywhere else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e025f403-d8e6-4506-80db-ac9708d309bf/09+-+Cal+Ripken+Jr..png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Minor League Cards As long ago as 1968, Michael was the first to make and sell new cards of old players. But he also produced hundreds of current minor league team card sets, including the “pre-rookie cards” of Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Wade Boggs, re-launching the minor league card industry in the process. Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR Biography Wade Boggs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a496a0bb-9ea4-4adf-8aca-aa16c34ba1fa/10+-+Collectors+Quarterly+01.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - SSPC Michael’s Sports Stars Publishing Company card set challenged the monopoly Topps had on the card industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9360fee-9d81-4934-bb6c-ef8cb7d5304e/11+-+1981+Donruss.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1981 Donruss Michael was the exclusive distributor of the 1981 Donruss baseball card set, which was the first time in years that collectors had an alternative to Topps. Rickey Henderson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c3cd750-a933-4201-bfcc-df7f1a40a4a8/12+-+1972+TCMA.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael co-founded TCMA in 1972. TCMA offered sets that allowed collectors of modest means to own cards of 19th century players, along with 20th century players who didn’t appear on a lot of cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cbb0d7d1-3970-4047-a671-462a717797db/13+-+Cracker+Jack+reprints.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1914 Cracker Jack Reprints In 1972, TCMA began reprinting old card sets which were either obscure, had become too valuable for the common collector to obtain, or both. Their reprint of the 1914 Cracker Jack set featured this highly sought-after Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f71e54ef-fea1-4a84-9162-0f2b909818eb/14+-+Yankees+Dynasty.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Everyone knew Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and even Bill Dickey, but players like Steve Sundra, Kemp Wicker, and Poison Ivy Andrews had been all but forgotten until TCMA’s Yankees Dynasty set put them on cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46e7d700-3020-4ef8-950c-284af1eb8271/15+-+Andrew.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew Aronstein Michael’s son, Andrew, grew up around baseball cards and, more importantly, baseball photos. He’s not only had a collector’s mindset from the very beginning, but also that of an archivist. Andrew has thankfully kept boxes full of papers, letters, contracts, magazines, photos, and, of course, cards relating to TCMA and all of the other ventures from his father’s storied past. This interview wouldn’t have happened without him, and the liner notes for this episode are full of artifacts from Andrew’s impressive archives. Here he is, gracing the cover of the catalog for the 5th annual National Sports Collectors Convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2b12df5-a539-4f16-8e45-0fcc43250244/16+-+Wagner.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T-206 Honus Wagner The Honus Wagner card from the T-206 set is one of the hobby’s most iconic cards. We will talk about it a lot during this interview. Get ready for some incredible stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65d19c32-ce52-4e1a-9ed8-532c666d756d/17+-+Irvin.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Monte Irvin Michael’s favorite player growing up was Monte Irvin, who was an outfielder for the Newark Eagles (1938–1942, 1946–1948), New York Giants (1949–1955) and Chicago Cubs (1956). When he joined the New York Giants, Irvin became one of the earliest African-American MLB players. He played in two World Series for the Giants. When future Hall of Famer Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was asked to mentor him. Irvin, himself, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. Monte Irvin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95d4cc2b-e03f-450f-8a44-88a00de3ff26/18+-+Mueller.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Don Mueller Another of Michael’s favorite players growing up was Don Mueller, who played for the New York Giants and Chicago White Sox from 1948 through 1959. Mueller earned the nickname "Mandrake the Magician" for being adept at consistently putting the ball in play and delivering hits through the infield, which Michael remembers as “dying quails.” Don Mueller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c97857cf-9b6e-44ab-910d-c4a9dd59be25/19+-+Strip+cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Strip Cards The first cards Michael remembers buying and collecting were the 1943/49 R302 strip cards he would get at the candy store. The card fronts had a basic cartoon image of the player, with the player’s name inside of a baseball. The backs had a biography of the subject on the front with the M.P. & Co. name at the bottom. Mel Ott’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee82d7e5-714b-4383-949e-adc9602cee87/20+-+interchangeable.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Interchangeable … Kind Of As Michael mentioned, the same image was often used for multiple players between the 1943 and 1949 sets. In the case of Ernie Bonham (1943, left) and Buddy Kerr (1949, right), it wasn’t that big of a deal. No Black ballplayers were included in the 1943 set since none were allowed to play Major League Baseball at the time. When Larry Doby (famously a Black ballplayer) was included in the 1949 set, the image of Johnny Vander Meer from the 1943 set was reused. No changes were made to the likeness of Vander Meer, who was, incongruously, white. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86a30bdf-4876-480e-8baf-d3e46374cb16/21+-+1948+Bowman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1948 Bowman 1948 was Bowman's first attempt at releasing a baseball card set. It is small in card size and set size, as cards were smaller than today's standard size, and only 48 cards were included in the set. The design of the cards is rather basic, as front include only a black and white image (no names), and backs contain the player's name, position, and biography. While this set is small in size, it is loaded with rookies. It includes 1st year cards of hall of famers such as Yogi Berra, Stan Musial, and Warren Spahn, just to name a few. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25820c67-c2c9-4649-88a3-3d2bfded956d/22+-+1951+Bowman.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman For 1951, Bowman increased the size of their set to 324 total cards. Included in this year were rookies of both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Bowman slightly increased the size of the card for the 1951 set, but kept the familiar color art reproduction of actual color photographs. The fronts finally included the player's name on them. Backs look similar to previous Bowman sets, with the player's name, team, and biography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0efdf911-46fa-4ca5-bf23-c0576e68c700/23+-+180th+Street+%2B+3rd+Avenue.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Newspaper Stand Michael’s aunt had a newspaper stand at 180th Street and 3rd Avenue in the Bronx, which taught him things about business that most kids his age would have no reason to know. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a180f67-d395-4d2b-bfc7-410b5f2fd267/24+-+1951+Bowman+box.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman Boxes Michael remembers the 1951 Bowman set being released in series of 36 cards, and having to buy a box for each series as they came out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f48364e9-673f-43f8-8f2e-25c4201bcb53/25+-+Candy+Store.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Candy Stores Kids would go to the candy store closest to their school once classes let out. It’s where Michael would hang out, offering to buy, sell, or trade his baseball cards from his classmates so he could complete his sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d9d8009-a1d0-472f-9993-83de7f5ed9f8/25+-+Flipping+Baseball+Cards.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Flipping Cards While it wasn’t necessarily the greatest way to keep your cards in pristine condition, flipping cards was a way kids could grow their collections by earning cards from their friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee16774b-2d1d-4202-bd7c-3f1ab9a11c51/25+-+Bicycle+Spokes.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bicycle Spokes This kid’s bike sounded really cool, I’m sure, but if he’d have kept this 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in better condition, he could have bought 100,000 bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3eba39ea-01e7-432e-99e9-2d0f0b15528c/28+-+PS+92.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - P.S. 92 This is the Class of 1947 from P.S. 92, so just a few years older than Michael, but this was his school in the Bronx. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83f55063-e709-4df3-8adc-cd23560c8412/29+-+card+backs.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs At a time when kids didn’t care about keeping their cards in good condition because they could have never imagined these little pieces of cardboard ending up to be worth hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars, Michael always did his best to keep his cards pristine. He enjoyed reading the bios on the backs of the cards to learn about his favorite players. This is the back of Willie Mays’ 1951 Bowman card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a8e813a-dfe6-4e63-8822-76a4566a390d/30+-+1974+Topps.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1974 Topps Factory Set Topps became the first card company to offer collectors the ability to just buy the entire complete set of cards for a year in one shot when they offered their 1974 factory set through a JC Penney catalog. They didn't get great results with that strategy, so Topps didn't offer another factory set until 1985. SSPC offered one in 1975/76, so while they technically weren't the first company to try it, they were very early. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a27e073-115b-4ade-afa7-bab40e3f59c8/31+-+Ray+Noble.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Tough To Find The 1951 Bowman set was issued in multiple series and the high numbers (#253-324) are the most difficult to find. This includes the rookie card of New York Giants first year catcher Ray Noble, and both the Mays and Mantle cards. Most of the 324 cards in the set had a vertical orientation, however, of the 39 to have been printed horizontally, the rookie cards of both Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle are among them. Ray Noble’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bf4782f-4162-4d7a-9a91-860f520111eb/32+-+1950+Bowman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1950 Bowman Once Michael completed his 1951 Bowman set, he was excited to try to go back and complete the 1950 set, as well. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22c2bb62-7f01-4cb4-977d-b58ccbdffde9/33+-+1949+Bowman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1949 Bowman And then once he was done with the 1950 Bowman, it was on to the 1949 Bowman set, as well. The work of a collector is never, ever, ever done. Monty Kennedy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98a26a53-62c7-4cf6-ba73-ee6145ac0e19/34+-+T206.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Cards T206 is a tobacco card set issued from 1909 to 1911 in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 different brands owned by the American Tobacco Company. The name T206 refers to the catalog designation assigned by Jefferson Burdick in his book The American Card Catalog. It is also known informally as the "White Border" set due to the distinctive white borders surrounding the lithographs on each card. It is a landmark set in the history of baseball card collecting, due to its size and rarity, and the quality of its color lithographs. The first series of cards were issued beginning in 1909. From 1909 to 1911 cards of over 500 major minor-league players in 16 different cigarette brands. Several of the cards are among the most expensive sports cards ever sold. Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df982412-aabe-49b3-ac78-4aa859d54bdf/35+-+1933+Goudey.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1933 Goudey The Goudey Gum Company was an American chewing gum company started in 1919. Though baseball cards had been available with cigarettes and certain lines of candy for many years, Goudey was the first American company to issue baseball cards with each stick of gum - a practice they began in 1933. That year, Goudey produced a 240 card set, also called "Big League Chewing Gum". These cards, issued with bubble gum in each pack, were the first baseball gum cards. The 1933 Goudey set is considered one of the "Big Three" classic baseball card sets, along with the T206 and 1952 Topps sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3182b68-8969-40d8-a2e7-7a896e2b1789/36+-+Shot+Heard+Round+The+World.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Shot Heard ‘Round The World Bobby Thomson’s dramatic home run was the truly seminal moment in Michael’s childhood, and solidified his love for baseball. Bobby Thomson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98dc0356-d064-4639-8787-010a63725278/37+-+Television.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Television It was starting to become more common for homes to have televisions in addition to having radios by the early 1950s, but a nice tv was still a luxury. To make the screen feel bigger, often times users would place a large magnifying glass in front of the set, which was often small. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdaaf0d1-72ec-4c8c-87ca-1982cd674d8d/38+-+Thomson.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - October 3, 1951 The first pitch was at 1:30 pm, while Michael was still in school. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, and that would remain the score until the Giants tied it up at 1 in the bottom of the 7th. Michael remembers being distraught as he came home from school with the Giants behind. So it’s possible he came home from school before the bottom of the 7th, but it’s also possible that he remembers the Dodgers scoring three runs in the top of the 8th to take a 4-1 lead, late in a low scoring game. The Giants battled back in the bottom of the 9th, with Whitey Lockman hitting an RBI double with one out. Bobby Thomson came to the plate next, with Lockman on second and Don Mueller on third. I think you know what happened from there. SABR Games Project article about this game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6785c13-387b-4923-bb48-a08581c6913c/39+-+Worthington.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Al Worthington Al Worthington played all or part of 14 seasons for the New York / San Francisco Giants (1953–54, 1956–59), Boston Red Sox (1960), Chicago White Sox (1960), Cincinnati Reds (1963–64) and Minnesota Twins (1965–69). He was Michael’s mother’s favorite player. Al Worthington’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7699a49-32ac-40af-91f9-98329b2b76c7/40+-+1952+Woolworth%27s+display.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Where Could You Buy Cards? Michael remembers mostly buying cards at candy stores, and having to run from block to block since some stores were loyal Bowman sellers, while others were loyal Topps dealers. This photo shows a Woolworth’s department store in 1952, displaying that year’s Topps baseball card set for their customers to buy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a2c9fe5-8630-4ea0-a2c0-9fa8dc1da911/41+-+Crawford+Foxwell.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Crawford Foxwell Crawford Foxwell was a serious baseball fan. Not only did he attend baseball games, it is said that he spent his honeymoon (with his bride, of course) at a doubleheader of Senators games. It turns out that Mr. Foxwell didn’t just like to watch baseball. He collected baseball cards and memorabilia, and amassed such a collection that an entire room of his home was needed to hold it. In 1970, Foxwell held the first Mid Atlantic Sport Collectors Convention, the first event of its type. This show and sale would grow and draw people from as far away as Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6d4f08f-85b3-49f4-baf9-689028224b5c/42+-+1940+Play+Ball.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1940 Play Ball After a successful debut in 1939, Gum, Inc. brought back its Play Ball baseball card set in 1940. The 240-card set matched 1933 Goudey as the largest, single-year, gum card set issued to that point, featuring a noticeably improved design and larger checklist that included legendary players from the past. Measuring in at 2-1/2" by 3-1/8", 1940 Play Ball Baseball was printed and distributed in two series. Several elements were added to the 1939 set top help elevate the 1940 Play Ball design. A banner featuring the player's name, and nickname, if applicable, was added to the bottom. The section is adorned with a glove, bat, and catcher's mask, and a frame is placed around the picture. The backs are very similar to the ones found in the 1939 set, featuring a detailed biographical write-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aac5be42-f637-4ab1-8aa2-6ee4f593984c/43+-+Dodgers+airplane.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dodgers Move To Los Angeles On January 4, 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first professional sports team to own its own airplane. The team, owned by Walter O’Malley, placed an order for a Convair 440 Metropolitan airliner. The price was $775,000, and the ball club took delivery of serial number 406 in April. On October 8, 1957, the team announced it would be moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b68761d-1601-4e25-8b1f-0c36a3e9d851/44+-+Mets.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Meet The Mets! The Mets became a National League franchise in 1962, replacing the Dodgers and Giants who had moved to the west coast in 1958. The new team took uniform design inspiration from each of the city’s former tenants, using the interlocking NY logo that the Giants used to wear on their hats, the blue main color from the Dodgers, and the orange accent color from the Giants, to create the look they used on the field. Michael was immediately on board to become a Mets fan, since they were the new National League team in New York. It was “an insult” to think he might have started rooting for the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb244921-831f-4246-a69b-918ee26389a7/45+-+Giants+back+in+New+York.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Giants Return To New York Associated Press Photo From June 1, 1962: San Francisco Giant Center Fielder Willie Mays, left, tips his cap to acknowledge applause of New York baseball fans as he is introduced with teammates along the third base line at the Polo Grounds. Mays, the only active regular player to appear in the lineup when the Giants last played in the Polo Grounds in 1957, was back at his outfield spot and batting in the same place in the batting order as he was in the days of the New York Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f318a18b-805b-49d0-998e-bde1c01e3ef4/46+-+1961+LIU+Baseball.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Long Island University Michael graduated from Long Island University in 1962 with a degree in advertising. While at LIU, Michael acted as equipment manager for the baseball team. He is pictured here with the 1961 squad, wearing a jacket in the front row, all the way on the right. The first player at the top left is Ron Solomine, who went on to play AAA ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cedea819-14d0-4365-aa2b-5c404aec3f8b/47+-+1968+SCFC+Honus+Wagner.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron The first significant, full-size set Michael created was an 82-card set split between two series in 1968 and 1969. They were sold under the moniker Sports Cards For Collectors, or SCFC for short. Michael was 28 years old at the time. That set, which has become known as the SCFC Old Timers set, included pen drawings by his Uncle Myron (initialed MSA) and Aunt Margie (initialed MA) of not only of Hall of Fame players, but also managers, pioneers, executives, commissioners, forgotten players, and even umpire Bill Klem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee07e91e-55f8-48fc-a1bc-2b7136862015/48+-+1971-12-18+First+TCMA+ad+in+the+Sporting+News.PNG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - First Ad This 1-inch advertisement which appeared in the December 18, 1971 issue of The Sporting News, was the first ad TCMA ran in that publication. Eventually, Michael ended up with a mailing list of over 100,000 collectors. This was a time when most collectors weren’t aware that the more exotic sets existed. The guys creating these reprint sets were advanced collectors, and the reprints exposed the hobby to cards they otherwise may never have seen, let alone owned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c8706b0-b726-4abb-b150-e3bbd0fb3fe2/49+-+1969+SCFC+Bill+Klem.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Another one of Uncle Myron’s drawings (notice the “MSA” just under Bill Klem’s chin) for the SCFC set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc4db4b3-4cd4-42fd-abde-e6f4a8953dfa/50+-+Smokey+Joe+Wood.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Aunt Margie If you look closely between Smoky Joe Wood’s signature on this card, and his chin, you’ll notice the initials “MA” instead of “MSA” which appear on most of the other SCFC cards. The “MA” indicates that Michael’s Aunt Margie was the artist behind this drawing, as opposed to Uncle Myron. Smoky Joe Wood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/797e31e0-b92d-486d-91a4-d74c3024830c/51+-+PO+Box.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA Mailers This is one of the many mailers TCMA sent out over the years, which showed products they had available and included ordering instructions. The front also features the P.O. Box in Amawalk, New York that Michael remembered. They were getting a 20% response rate on these mailers, when most good mail campaigns can expect around a 5% response rate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b76daff7-c4d9-46b3-bf49-e9c7dca81730/52+-+Earl+Weaver.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Earl Weaver Earl Weaver was relaxed with his ballplayers and tough on umpires, and he eschewed small-ball tactics like stolen bases and hit-and-runs in favor of the big inning. His strategy was “Pitching, defense and the three-run homer,” and he was known to say "Don't play for one run unless you know that run will win a ballgame." The strategy worked for him, as he won four pennants and a World Series during his managerial career, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. Those concepts also worked for Michael Aronstein, who employed those same strategies in his own business career. Play things steady but be ready for the home run deal, and capitalize on it. Earl Weaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f267ec7-925d-4937-981e-588a1038ab47/53+-+Marshall+Oreck%E2%80%99s+1963+The+Collector%E2%80%99s+Directory.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Marshall Oreck’s 1963 The Collector’s Directory https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01a3ca58-db87-4108-98d7-9b8721f192b7/54+-+Who%E2%80%99s+Who+in+Card+Collecting+-+Irv+Lerner%E2%80%99s+1970+edition.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Irv Lerner’s 1970 Who’s Who in Card Collecting Another publication similar to Marshall Oreck’s The Collector’s Directory, Irv Lerner’s Who’s Who In Card Collecting was created and distributed with the intent of collectors to get to know each other. By listing your contact information and tidbits about your collection (what you have available for trade/sale, what you’re looking for, etc), it became easy for people to connect and make deals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/764bb2d3-4f72-4fc7-aae6-8bf0b8347d15/55+-+Who%27s+who+in+collecting+1970+entry.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael’s bio in the 1970 edition of Who’s Who In Card Collecting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfb0215e-a8af-408a-b4f7-2a22791794dd/56+-+prices.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Look at some of these prices… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8353aa21-fb67-4ac0-b78b-5bdeee684545/57+-+prices.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out I mean, seriously, come on… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f8cd04-4e85-42c0-a21c-c686e2715201/58+-+prices.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Okay, that’s it… when I get my time machine, who’s coming with me?? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79901eb0-940b-4330-9ece-53cedfa1db54/59+-+boxers.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T218 Champions While cards of boxers from the early 1900s don’t sell for hundreds of thousands (or millions) like some baseball cards from that era do today, even buying them for a dollar each would have absolutely been a great investment had Michael held onto them all these years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79ccf3f6-0da0-4c19-b830-3c98b089dfd2/60+-+Lew+Lipset.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lew Lipset This picture from 1984 - taken by Frank Barning of Baseball Hobby News - shows Mike Gordon in the top right, Lew Lipset in the lower right, and Michael Aronstein in the lower left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3cdfc251-9d74-48be-8db1-9ccde09582e4/61+-+1969+SCFC+Al+Downing.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1969 SCFC Yankees Picture Cards This 22-card set of the New York Yankees measures approximately 4" by 5" and features black-and-white player photos with white borders. The cards are listed below according to the numbers stamped on their white backs. Pictured here is Yankees pitcher Al Downing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d723349-fda6-4ad3-86eb-d94a24270fdd/62+-+Bill+Hongach+book.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Hongach Bill Hongach was the bat boy for the Yankees, and he would take photos of the players for Michael so he could make cards from them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/682b5d07-e53f-405e-8237-be0711fd46d8/63+-+Munson.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Thurman Munson This Thurman Munson postcard, originally issued by Howard Photo Service, was one of the Earl Weaver “home runs” Michael hit during his career. Thurman Munson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc6d37c9-61d1-40dd-ba5d-2e1ef0049c62/64+-+1919+White+Sox.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Unlicensed Originally, Michael was doing everything unlicensed out of his basement, but he thought he could get around those issues because he wasn’t printing cards of current players. Instead, he re-printed long out-of-print sets, and made his own sets of retired or deceased players, like his 1919 Chicago White Sox set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8020bbcc-f421-44bb-a44e-0452b3dd5d37/64.5+-+Richmond_Times_Dispatch_Mon__Feb_10__1975_.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This article originally appeared in the February 10, 1975 issue of the Richmond Times Dispatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb3b8d88-928f-4f9c-bd3b-1baf58bae011/65+-+1983+Lynchburg+Mets.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Minor League Team Sets Michael also made arrangements with minor league teams to print team sets, and signed contracts to make it official. If he printed the cards in black and white - like he did with the 1983 Lynchburg Mets set shown here - Michael would print 1,000 sets. The team would receive 500 sets for free to fulfill the contract, and Michael could sell the remaining 500 sets. Dwight Gooden’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7307c09d-5e2e-45ed-8425-074eab2e8338/66+-+Rickey+Henderson.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Color Printing If he printed the cards in color - like he did with the 1979 Ogden A’s set shown here - Michael would print 3,000 sets. The team would receive 1,000 sets for free to fulfill the contract, and Michael could sell the remaining 2,000 sets. Generally, the color sets were reserved for AAA clubs. Rickey Henderson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d93ac1a8-672a-4525-981f-87594981ff62/67+-+Bill+Himmelman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Himmelman Baseball Nostalgia, Inc. was founded in November of 1974 by Bill Himmelman, Michael Aronstein, and Pete Henrici in Cooperstown, New York. Opening on April 23rd of 1975, the focus of the store was to promote baseball - past and present - as well as collecting. The store featured the ever-expanding lineup of historical cards produced by Michael’s company, TCMA Ltd. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917a20a1-41b4-40f2-b873-2aadc33929f7/68+-+1930s+set.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1930’s Set In 1972 TCMA began issuing "The 1930’s" set in separate series of 24 cards each. 21 series were eventually issued for a total of 504 cards. The set was made possible by utilizing an enormous collection of glass plate negatives Michael purchased from an antique dealer in Greenwich, CT in 1969. These glass plate negatives date from the 1920s to the 1940s and were used to create several TCMA issued cards and sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34a15c35-8eb1-45f5-9456-e4074c0eb6d8/69+-+beautiful.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out “Look how beautiful they are,” Michael beamed, as Andrew brought out a binder of these cards during the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac1d88f5-0d80-40e4-a905-0ad96c7e7d65/70+-+card+backs.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs Michael typed out the card backs for each card in the set, and then stuck them on the back of the printed photos. If you look closely, you can see the bottom edges don’t quite meet up perfectly on the Joe DiMaggio card shown here. Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30f20e9a-9f7e-48ba-aff9-ba79b825fcc3/71+-+1973-05-25+American+Sports+Card+Collectors+Association+convention+3.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - American Sports Card Collectors Association Conventions Among the first sports card collecting groups, the American Sports Card Collectors Association held shows in the New York City area where a small, but avid group of adults and kids gathered a couple of times each year to buy, sell and trade. This photo, taken May 25, 1973, shows the amount of cards some dealers had with them at their tables. The location for this show was a large union hall– District 65 at 13 Astor Place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb0e076-e976-4467-b6d0-32a1c54c1e9c/72+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+Melina+with+the+sign.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - March 15, 1970 Michael’s daughter, Melina, holds up a sign welcoming collectors to the Aronstein’s basement on March 15, 1970. Click through the slide show below to see more photos from one of the earliest gatherings of baseball card collectors ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242685431-RIVZ9N3FGIC7ABWBN4TE/73+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+001.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242684694-KZ9I4X7BP9LCE5UIZUXG/74+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+002.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242697749-76UNWB5SKAHFVLLJLEPR/75+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+003.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242700908-7HNMGPRUWPXVQ9DXTICU/76+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+004.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242711278-D102UINZZ6GCS7G44K0R/77+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+005.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242717660-62CM7Z4Q19FKYPYPM1X8/78+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+006.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242722123-WUXGR09CDD1DEFFZ4PVZ/79+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+007.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242728096-6GRSJ5TS63436GIX904K/80+-+1968+SCFC+%28Sports+Cards+for+Collectors%29+uncut+sheet+front.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242731506-DOJKOFCBDXBTGK440M4I/81+-+1968+SCFC+%28Sports+Cards+for+Collectors%29+uncut+sheet+back.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242730169-K5GRCLLUP93D0DGOBV8U/82+-+1970+Sport+Fan+page+1.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242731637-NWYAM3DCBRFIJH39L1T8/83+-+1970+Sport+Fan+page+2.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242732525-ZSQMRUO6NUGF7E8RGW4E/84+-+1970+The+Trader+Speaks+page+1.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242732773-TJ6UJR7BOQVHKB7QBB48/85+-+1970-03-15+convention+write+up+1.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242733401-GDLHQYIKWAA6LNJJZ1Z6/86+-+1970-03-15+convention+write+up+2.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/291cc36b-e9ef-4528-86fd-6d6a18b70bf1/87+-+1970-06-15+The+Trader+Speaks.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dan Dischley Dan Dischley was one of the 19 attendees at Michael’s first convention in his basement in March of 1970. Long before baseball memorabilia became a multimillion-dollar cottage industry, SABR founding member Dan Dischley bought three different T206 Honus Wagner cigarette cards as he was building his own prized collection in the 1960s and ’70s. “I sold all three of them,” Dischley said, “and the most I got for any of them was $1,500.” As a SABR co-founder and publisher of The Trader Speaks, one of the earliest publications devoted to memorabilia and card collecting, Dischley played a pioneering role in the growth of the hobby over the past half-century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3276976-fa2d-425b-82fc-6b701c945b00/88.5+-+Bill+Haber.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Haber Bill Haber was also one of SABR’s founding members. Considered one of baseball’s greatest biographical researchers, Bill spent much of his time tracking down obscure ballplayers from the 19th and early 20th centuries whose deaths had gone unrecorded by the Baseball Encyclopedia or the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Working from his home in Brooklyn, he located the identities of more than 300 players whose fates were previously unknown. Bill Madden of the New York Daily News once wrote, “In terms of sleuthing, Dick Tracy, Magnum and Jim Rockford had nothing on Haber.” He was a longtime sports statistician and editor for Topps Chewing Gum Inc. When he passed away, he left a virtually complete set of E107 Breisch-Williams (the only prominent set issued between 1895 and 1910) and a full set of T210 Old Mill, plus hundreds of other rare sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d6666c3-d57e-4cfa-bc25-09ba89b3b931/89+-+MI+Daily+Tribune+08+19+1972.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Mastro This photo of Michael (left) sitting with Bill Mastro appeared in the August 19, 1972 issue of the Michigan Daily Tribune. In the early 1970’s, the going rate for a T206 Honus Wagner was $1,500. Both Michael and Bill Mastro were proud owners at a time when only approximately 15 were known to exist in the hobby. In October 2013, Mastro, CEO of Mastro Auctions (the owner of Robert Edward Auctions) pleaded guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court and later admitted to the court that he had trimmed the "Gretzky" Wagner to sharply increase its value. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4b7a176-c3e4-4d2b-8b2c-f95929ca0130/90+-+Bruce+Yeko.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bruce Yeko Bruce Yeko was let go from his job as an accountant and became the hobby’s first full-time dealer in May of 1963, selling baseball cards mostly to kids. His ads resulted in a lot of orders with nickels, dimes and quarters taped on sheets of paper as the youngsters tried to fill out sets or buy a favorite player’s card they couldn’t seem to pull from packs. In New York, Yeko connected with other adults who got together to buy collections and maybe sell a few things. Yeko continued to sell full time for about the next 25 years, filling a home, two other buildings, a two-story barn and cottage with cards…20 million at one point, he says. Selling off his massive collection, Bruce used those funds to produce over 300 original cast recordings of such musicals as The Baker's Wife, In Trousers, Prettybelle, and countless other musicals that no commercial record company would have produced, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Read a great interview with Bruce Yeko by George Vrechek HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97128f78-551c-4303-93d1-8a32efce8eb1/91+-+Dennis+Graye.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dennis Graye What is considered to be the first card convention took place at Jim and Marjie Nowell’s house in Southern California in October of 1969. It was attended by 13 collectors, with local attendees including Nowell (pictured here, center), Ed Broder, Goodie Goldfadden, Ray Medeiros, Ray Hess, Jim McConnell, and some younger collectors. There were only two out of state collectors in attendance: John England from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Dennis Graye from Detroit (pictured here, left). When Graye returned home, he was so enthused about his experience that he helped organize a mini-convention at the home of Lloyd Toerpe. This was such a success that Graye, Toerpe, and several other Michigan collectors began organizing a bigger show for 1970. That became the annual Midwest Sports Collectors Convention (the Detroit show), the country's biggest show throughout the 1970s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85430bc5-4e8c-4498-822d-523e78bdb149/92+-+Keith+Olbermann.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Michael took a liking to a young Keith Olbermann, and would always make sure Keith stayed close by at card shows so Michael could watch out for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc9127fa-23b8-4f1b-aec6-6a967fa447a3/93+-+1973+New+York+Convention+by+Keith+Olbermann.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out A write up on the 1973 New York Convention by Keith Olbermann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4069cdd-7499-4455-90db-055a0de41ea5/94+-+Rick+Cerrone.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rick Cerrone After graduating from NIU in 1976, Rick Cerrone worked with the magazine Baseball Quarterly, eventually purchasing it and renaming it Baseball Magazine. He went on to work as assistant director of public relations for MLB before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as VP of Public Relations. In 1996, Cerrone became the Senior Director of Media Relations for the New York Yankees, working for the organization until 2006, as the team won four World Series titles. Cerrone became the Editor in Chief of Baseball Digest in 2018. This photo appeared in the August 13, 1994 issue of The Reporter Dispatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae372afd-46ab-4941-8d21-869bf2ea04f9/95+-+Bill+Madden.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Madden Bill Madden is a sportswriter who formerly wrote for the New York Daily News. A member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, he has served on the Historical Overview Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, 2007 and 2008, helping to select candidates for the final ballots presented to the Veterans Committee. Madden was a sportswriter with United Press International for nine years before he joined the Daily News in 1978. He covered the New York Yankees before becoming a columnist in 1989. In 2010, Madden was the recipient of the baseball scribe's highest honor, the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d1a6a4-0bd4-445f-bc5e-1cf445f774d1/96+-+2008+with+Keith+Olbermann+during+the+last+weekend+at+Shea+Stadium.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Keith Olbermann spent the first 20 years of his career in sports journalism. He was a sports correspondent for CNN and for local TV and radio stations in the 1980s, winning the Best Sportscaster award from the California Associated Press three times. He co-hosted ESPN's SportsCenter from 1992 to 1997. From 1998 to 2001, he was a producer and anchor for Fox Sports Net and a host for Fox Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball. This photo shows Michael and Keith during the last weekend at Shea Stadium in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/793f0866-c551-4a50-b2a1-87eb50931fc3/97+-+Six+Wagners.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Wagners At least SIX of the 19 men in attendance at Michael Aronstein’s basement convention either owned a T206 Honus Wagner at the time of the gathering or would acquire one shortly after the event. Bill Haber actually brought his to the convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b25e8767-9eb0-49f8-a0d6-6b11a3004ded/98+-+Wagner.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Honus Wagner At this point, there are nearly 100 known copies of the T206 Honus Wagner in the hobby. A significant amount more than the roughly 15 which were known to exist when Michael first started seriously collecting. There have been differing theories as to why so few copies exist, which helps to make it one of the most valuable baseball cards ever, but Andrew Aronstein seems to be very confident that Wagner was against the use of his photo on a product that promotes the use of tobacco to children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a41f0aba-5d19-4b35-9bc9-19150e4eb031/99+-+1973-04-14+Patent+Trader+ad.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - How To Find A Wagner Michael ran this ad in the April 14, 1973 edition of the Patent Trader, among others. It would land him the biggest score of his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/198a1e74-f557-43d2-be74-3c62c2c57c50/100+-+the+first+Wagner.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s First Wagner It may not be perfect, it may have three borders missing, but it’s nicer than any T206 Wagner I’ve ever owned. But wait!! Why would I write the word “first” in this title? Is it possible for someone to have owned more than one of these cards?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c325912d-e27a-4ef9-a1a1-f3c3f0f0df55/101+-+Jeanne.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Loving, Understanding Wife Michael hit the lottery when he found Jeanne, who has allowed him to not only continue his hobby, but turn it into his life and career. But Jeanne isn’t just a passive witness to the madness; she has been along for the ride (often literally) the whole time. This photo of the couple was published in the September 6, 1973 issue of the Patent Trader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/191d7a85-7e02-44fc-a0c8-510464e86b64/102+-+Sept+6%2C+1973.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Stuck To Another T206 If you look closely, you can see that the Wagner pictured here is actually the one that’s missing three borders. Michael stuck it onto another T206 card to give it the appearance of being a full card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1277e79-8d62-476b-92b1-f63a5d5a4650/103+-+First+two+PSA+graded+cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Each of the first two cards PSA ever graded were T206 Honus Wagners. Look at the serial numbers in the lower right corner of the “flip” above each card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbf9aaf3-77a9-4b54-b1e6-02e5ff936794/104+-+Fred+McKie%2C+Mike+Aronstein+and+Frank+Nagy+at+the+1972+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1972 Midwest Sports Collectors Convention Fred McKie, Michael Aronstein, and Frank Nagy at the 1972 Midwest Sports Collectors Convention in Detroit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6e2eae0-930a-471d-9127-fdf07009ad3f/105+-+Crawford+Foxwell+1971+convention.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1971 Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention One of my favorite things about the hobby is how grand everything is always made out to be. “Let’s get 15-20 guys getting together at one of our houses, and we’re going to call it the Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention.” But that’s how these things start. You need to convince people that these gatherings are worth attending, and giving them grandiose names is one super easy way to make them sound official and worthwhile. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/edda1975-91c3-499b-b4a6-fabbdf7abbe2/106+-+Tom+Collier.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Tom Collier Tom Collier is all the way on the right in the second row next to the bush in the photo from the 1971 Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention at Crawford Foxwell’s house shown above, but here he is working a table with Michael Aronstein. Tom was great at buying huge card collections in the south, and then flipping them. Michael Aronstein brought the business sense to TCMA, but Tom Collier found the rare cards which the two would reprint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d4ae061-0497-4e9f-8be1-be564044acda/107+-+1887+Allen+and+Ginter.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1887 Allen & Ginter Allen & Ginter's best-known set was issued in 1887 under the "World's Champions" tagline and featured 50 athletes from several different sports. The fronts feature a brightly-colored lithograph painting. Below the picture are a name, an advertisement for Allen & Ginter, and a note of the company's home city of Richmond, Virginia. The backs feature a checklist, with all 50 athletes listed with their respective sports. Of the ten baseball players included in the set, six of them are in the Hall of Fame. TCMA reprinted this scarce set in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/463a6ff5-7783-4de3-b551-3864c74cddf9/108+-+1922+American+Caramel.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1922 American Caramel The 1922 American Caramel (E120) set contains 240 cards. The set features all of the era’s Major League stars - including numerous Hall of Famers - with teams broken down alphabetically within their respective league. The set is evenly represented by fifteen players from each of the sixteen teams, and was one of the first sets produced using two distinct motifs depending on the league: sepia-toned cards for American League players and a greenish-blue hue for National League subjects. TCMA reprinted this scarce set in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9dceaec-7eb4-420e-b4ea-5a2d708c7f72/109+-+Cracker+Jack+cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Cracker Jack Cards TCMA reprinted the 1914/1915 Cracker Jack sets in 1972, as well. In addition to issuing individual cards, they were also issued as an uncut sheet. Here's a photo of Michael set up at a show with the TCMA reprints in 1972 or 1973. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cd04bb6-7317-47a8-ada8-02f6512eed1e/110+-+American+Card+Catalog.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick’s American Card Catalog The classifications set up by Jefferson Burdick were essential to early collectors and are still used to this day. The reason is because there were so many cards out there that collectors needed a way to classify them and keep them organized. Jefferson Burdick sorted cards by how they were distributed or what they were. For example, cards placed inside of tobacco products were given a T-Card (for tobacco) designation. Miniature blanket cards were called B-Cards. Cards distributed by magazines or publications were called M-Cards. Sports card collectors know him for his work with, primarily, baseball cards. However, the American Card Catalog goes far beyond that scope and includes not only other sports cards but all kinds of non-sports issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2fe944cf-e6d0-401b-baa7-36eeb1ccdc88/111+-+1930s+set.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1930’s Set Johnny McCarthy played all or parts of 11 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and Boston Braves between 1934 and 1948. He helped the Giants win the 1937 National League pennant as their regular first baseman. His 65 runs batted in were third on the team. In the 1937 World Series, McCarthy started all five games against the cross-town New York Yankees and collected four hits, including a double, in 19 at bats. The Yankees won the Series, four games to one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fba91764-5aa2-48f4-909a-3059a4b3191b/112+-+Autographs.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Autographs According to Michael, the original purpose of TCMA’s 1930’s set was to get the cards autographed by the players who were still alive. Collectors are still after signed versions of these cards today, more than 50 years after their original release. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c9c702b-1b16-4e25-a42e-b962e9ae5dc0/113+-+index+cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Index Cards Before TCMA came along, collectors were sending blank index cards through the mail for players to autograph, like this one, which was signed by Cleveland Indians pitcher Mel Harder. Isn’t it so much nicer to have an image of the player signed? Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68181725-75c4-41e8-bd03-44b014a7e6c3/114+-+1972+Cedar+Rapids+Cardinals.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1972 Cedar Rapids Cardinals Contrary to popular belief, TCMA’s first Minor League set was NOT a 30-card set of the 1972 Cedar Rapids Cardinals in the Class-A Midwest League. While TCMA did make a set of the 1972 team, that set was requested by the team a couple years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a668acb-c0c2-4cdf-a3b2-0eabef7dcc64/115+-+1974+Gastonia+Rangers.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1974 Gastonia Rangers The real first Minor League set TCMA did was for the 1974 Gastonia Rangers in the Class-A Western Carolinas League. That set was the first of what would eventually be hundreds of TCMA Minor League team sets over the next 16 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e633699-e05b-4df0-8f96-962d4d04fef0/116+-+TCMA.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out An early TCMA mailer, offering Minor League team card sets at $3 per set https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35d6a92a-f8f5-457d-ac20-e2aa1bb88a20/117+-+Jeff+Morey.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jeff Morey As much a collector as he was a photographer, Jeff Morey was Michael’s contact in Syracuse to get all of the photos of the Minor League players who came through town, both home and away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/584a8c88-18e1-4c7a-87b0-2208eaca02df/118+-+Mike+Aronstein+sorting+1963+Topps.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Doing The Work So much work goes into making a card set that most people don’t think about or understand. From the creative side, to the logistics side, to the marketing side, to the sales and fulfillment… dozens of tasks - if not hundreds - need to be completed just to get one set out the door. Michael was doing nearly all of that work himself, for hundreds of different sets. Here is a photo of Michael sorting 1963 Topps cards in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a5fe0b0-3505-4a60-8882-49d531ef97c1/119+-+TCMA+Warehouse.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Growth Eventually, TCMA grew to have at least 20 employees and a 15,000 square foot warehouse, but Michael was still very much in charge of doing much of the work that went into being a $3 million a year company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99598935-106c-408c-a0c8-a3a2bec5a1a8/120+-+backs.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs Some Minor League teams would include statistics and player information with the photos they would send TCMA to help them make the card sets, which made Michael’s job a lot easier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/322e1ae5-8915-4843-bbac-0b108a8eceab/121+-+Ron+Darling+alternate.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Alternate Photos Andrew still has alternate photos that the photographers sent to TCMA which were never used to make cards. This photo of Ron Darling on the 1983 Tidewater Tides has never been seen by the public… until now. Ron Darling’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2261d4f2-332e-4b5a-a2bd-5d19496db807/122+-+Gary+Carter.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Gary Carter One of Andrew’s favorite archive finds was when he was digging through one day and realized he was looking at the color photo used to make the black and white card of Gary Carter. It was an image he’d seen hundreds of times before, but never in color. Gary Carter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a63f77d1-af44-445e-9a06-288c7f4ae2a3/123+-+Gary+Carter.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Black And White Card This was the card Andrew had seen so many times before. Beautiful in its own right, absolutely, but it’s easy to see why Andrew was so taken aback when he finally saw the image in color. The future Hall of Famer hit 23 home runs for the Memphis Blues in 1974, which was his last Minor League appearance until a 5-game rehab stint with Tidewater in 1989. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/832bd0ae-5107-427a-a4bb-78a398e60cd5/123+-+uncut+sheets.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncut Sheets Michael technically became an employee of the printer because the printer didn’t want to cut the sheets of cards himself, but needed Michael to be insured in case an accident occurred during that dangerous job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd98d845-6378-4790-a04d-4ecd13da0d52/125+-+More+ads.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Once you’ve got finished card sets, now it’s time to market them and sell them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78bd32c9-e4da-46de-bc0a-f17442160f8c/126+-+24%2C000+copies.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Over 24,000 Copies Distributed Michael was getting such a high response rate from his ads that Barclays kicked him out because he was bringing them too many checks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95df8cfa-4d7c-4814-a878-df618caeb1fb/127+-+Baseball+Advertiser.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “I Got It Today, Michael!” Michael would send one copy of every mailer to his mother, so she could let him know everything was actually being mailed out. This copy of Baseball Advertiser still has the label addressed to Ann Aronstein affixed to it. Andrew still has all of the Baseball Advertiser publications that were sent to Michael’s mother. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/296ca519-4b8a-487c-9180-eddb9aece90b/128+-+order+form.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This is a form you would see in Baseball Advertiser or one of the other publications so you could actually place your order with TCMA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d3730fd-58d4-47ad-81c0-78e4810997ba/129+-+Plastic+Sheets.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 9-Pocket Plastic Sheets It seems unfathomable to collectors today who have grown up with these 9-pocket plastic sheets ubiquitous in the hobby, but there was a time before binders. A lucky phone call paired with Michael’s vision popularized these sheets, which have been a hobby staple for decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/342bb3bb-9747-48e5-aa9d-4ece943f9640/130+-+1973+New+York+Convention+by+Ron+Greenwood.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - ASCCA Convention The first convention, which was held May 23-25, 1973, at a union center on 8th Street in Manhattan was such a success that Michael helped to organize a second one just four months later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b797c37-3b1d-4e44-b38c-095b4f433454/131+-+1973-05-25+American+Sports+Card+Collectors+Association+convention+2.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - May 25, 1973 Among the first sports card collecting groups, the American Sports Card Collectors Association held shows in the New York City area where a small, but avid group of adults and kids gathered a couple of times each year to buy, sell and trade. This photo, taken May 25, 1973, proves that these early shows were already being attended by kids, too, and that the hobby wasn’t dominated by adults. The location for this show was a large union hall– District 65 at 13 Astor Place. The boy holding the uncut sheet of 1949 Bowman cards is Rob Lifson, former founder and president of Robert Edward Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0de0cd6-387e-4c96-be99-4e5aae18ecce/131.5+-+The_Lexington_Herald_Thu__May_31__1973_.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This write up was published in the May 31, 1973 issue of The Lexington Herald. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce2aa129-b92d-459f-91bf-8cfe2d0faecb/131+-+1973-10-13+first+issue+of+Sports+Collectors+Digest.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Feature Article The second ASCCA convention, held September 14-16, 1973, was the feature article in the very first issue of Sports Collectors Digest, which was published October 12, 1973. Over 1,000 people showed up for that convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b922808a-8f6d-4c23-b3e5-9f8c6d03f8d7/133+-+ASCCA+show+pins+from+1970s.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Show Pins Here is an assortment of show pins from the early ASCCA shows of the 1970s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b78b2a-df6b-4895-b800-c906031685e9/134+-+Lew+Alcindor.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lew Alcindor Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was a giant. An epic talent, already seven feet tall as a 17-year-old high schooler from Power Memorial Academy at the Catholic High School Athletic Association Championship game. For some reason, Michael scheduled a card convention that was supposed to be held in the gym where Alcindor’s high school team was set to play a playoff basketball game, should they make it that far. Look at the kid to the left of Alcindor in absolute awe. They made it that far. Michael had to move the location of the convention at the last minute. Everything worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7153b350-7697-4eb1-955d-887d625d22bf/135+-+1973-04-14+Patent+Trader+ad.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - WANTED Baseball Cards Michael ran this ad in the April 14, 1973 edition of the Patent Trader, among others. It would land him the biggest score of his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/569d4e47-58e9-4ea4-b6d6-78df38470409/136+-+Plank.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Eddie Plank By all accounts, only 75 to 100 T206 Eddie Plank cards are known to exist. Like the more famous Honus Wagner card from the same set, the scarcity is, and will likely always remain, a secret lost to history. A likely reason for the card's scarcity is that Plank was anti-tobacco and demanded that his image be removed from the cards used to promote cigarettes. Plank was one of his manager Connie Mack's favorite players because he lived clean, eschewing late nights, alcohol, and tobacco. Mack and Plank were known as two of the most outspoken anti-tobacco advocates in baseball, years before that became Wagner's calling card. Unlike Wagner who smoked cigars, Plank was never seen using tobacco products of any kind. Another theory is that the printing plate for his card broke, leaving the print run far shorter than it otherwise would have been. Eddie Plank’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/512193a5-2efa-47da-9244-761c511881d7/137+-+Wagner.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Despite its condition flaws, Michael said it was still “unbelievably exciting” to finally own a T206 Honus Wagner. This was the actual copy of the card he acquired in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f686066b-d81e-4b0d-bf26-9d4ea49f0688/138+-+Being+A+Collector.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Being A Collector Michael said his wife, Jeanne, allowed him to keep a cabinet in their bedroom with all of his card albums. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e0ae4d0e-b259-4252-b411-12ef0d3735fa/139+-+1962-03-01+card+prices+including+T206+Wagner.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Hobby’s First Expensive Card Even as early as March of 1962, the T206 Honus Wagner card was worth around $250 in what was “the fastest growing hobby in the country” at the time: card collecting. Compare that to the prices of other single cards at the time (anywhere between $0.04 and $1.00 each), and it’s clear that collectors have known for decades that there’s just something special about the Wagner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2f58887-7ed4-45fe-97d2-c345bf34916c/140+-+1973+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention+3.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rising Prices A little over a decade later, the starting bid of an auction for a T206 Honus Wagner was $800. It was the first time that a Wagner was ever publicly auctioned off, and it sold for $1,100 to Fred McKie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b369348-e661-4669-ba01-728db333ef14/141+-+McKie+Wagner.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Bob Jaspersen wrote about Fred McKie’s new acquisition in this 1973 issue of Sport Fan. The actual copy of the card McKie won is pictured on the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc84e891-92ef-48c3-ac20-f8cbba1666ba/142+-+1973+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention+1-2.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Another write up about the 1973 convention where the Wagner was auctioned off to Fred McKie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8601cf3d-9334-41ab-b26e-4e8e15176592/143+-+Back.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - $6.6 Million If you’ve ever wondered what the back of a $6.6 million card looks like, you can sleep well tonight knowing that you’ve seen it for yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f687db-c109-4313-8711-3e84a1e72069/144+-+letter.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - July 24, 1974 “Gentlemen: I have the baseball card collection of my late father, who would have been now in his 80s. It seems to me to be quite extensive and includes two Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner cards, one Piedmont Honus Wagner, two Plank cards, and three of Lajoie. This collection would be for sale – either separately or as a whole – depending, of course, on the money involved. I am at a loss as to how to go about this. Perhaps you can help me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f09c3fa-128c-456e-a362-e4bc38a29496/145+-+The_Record_Wed__Dec_26__1973_.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Huge Deal Rick Barudin and Bud Kurzweil didn’t want to drive out of state to pick up a baseball card, so they called Michael. He was willing to do it, and it was one of the best drives he ever made in his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4678b5e-1e36-4d03-847d-a030d1843237/146+-+Jumbo+front.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s Newest Card: “The Jumbo Wagner” This copy of the Wagner was the third one Michael had been in possession of within a span of three years. It was the second one he had owned. He bought it from the woman who wrote the letter, Rick Barudin and Bud Kurzweil reimbursed him for what he spent to get it, and in return, Michael gave Rick and Bud his original Wagner with the three missing borders. All in, Michael had spent $0.20 to obtain this card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27d6e810-da34-4dcf-a615-e55a64ca7320/148+-+Jumbo+back.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “The Jumbo Wagner” This card is known as “The Jumbo Wagner” because the borders are so large compared to some other T206 cards. PSA has even give the card a qualifier of (MC) which stands for mis-cut. The Jumbo Wagner measures 1 7/16″ by 2 11/16″. Most T206 cards are 2 5/8″ in height. The card broke a record for the most expensive card ever sold in October of 2016, when it sold for $3.12 million by Goldin Auctions. That price was a significant bump from the last time that card was sold. Approximately three and a half years earlier, in April of 2013, the Jumbo Wagner fetched $1.2 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ef696d2-97cc-47fc-af17-e483e8c62445/149+-+stein.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Merchandising Almost Gone Terribly Wrong Michael sent his Wagner to the photographer so they could take pictures of it for this beer stein. The photographer put some adhesive on the back of the card to take the pictures, and slightly damaged the back of the card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72f2c7a7-8f72-4a95-aefb-00e7a65c98aa/151+-+1974+auction.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out After Michael drove to Vermont and acquired The Jumbo Wagner, he gave his original Wagner (which was missing three borders) to Buddy Kerzweil and Rick Barudin for them to auction off. The opening bid for their October 7, 1974 auction was $900. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f80c1bef-a37a-4d88-af6c-a1cc9a845471/152+-+Topps+uncut+sheets.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncut Sheets Originating from the collection's first series (#1-109), this original 1966 Topps uncut sheet of 132 cards contains many of the sets best stars that include Hall of Famers Hunter, Koufax, Mays, Perez, Niekro, and Yastrzemski, and two cards each of Mantle and Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a75accc2-08aa-4ba8-8026-795e0898f417/153+-+Mantle.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - That’s One Way To Get Rid Of Cards You Don’t Want Several years after producing the 1952 set, Topps executive Sy Berger decided to discard the unsold cards, literally dumping them into the Atlantic Ocean. Little did Berger know that he was creating a smaller supply for the future secondary market, one that Berger and the rest of Topps did not even realize would come to fruition; with fewer cards, including the Mantles, available to future collectors, the card became rarer and more valuable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc1c0c96-b115-48a8-ba8a-e1a22ffa63e0/154+-+mom.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - If Only We Had Time Machines We could go back and stop Sy Berger from dumping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of baseball cards into the ocean because he didn’t want them sitting on the shelves anymore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1c31138-23ee-4859-abd8-447db13ab779/150+-+Lajoie.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1933 Goudey Lajoie This Napoleon Lajoie card was not originally included in the 1933 Goudey set. Instead, in 1934, collectors had to acquire the card direct from the manufacturer in order to complete their set. The missing card was sent through the mail to the collectors who contacted the Goudey company. Many of the examples were mailed with a paper clip affixed to it, leaving impressions on the surface of the card. As a result, you will encounter some examples that exhibit spider wrinkles along the front or back of the card. Highgrade examples in the marketplace are best explained by the fact that the card was never subject to insertion into packs, avoiding some of the traditional handling. Napoleon Lajoie’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27924751-f50b-4ebf-8c5a-d1b08a571e82/155+-+Magee.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Magee Error Card This is one of the three big rarities in the T206 baseball set along with the Honus Wagner and Eddie Plank cards. It is also, perhaps, the most famous error card in the entire hobby. Sherry Magee was an excellent major leaguer, finishing his 16-year career with a .291 batting average and 1,176 RBI during the Dead Ball Era. In fact, he led the NL in RBI on four separate occasions and finished among the league leaders in home runs several times. Unfortunately, Magee’s name was initially spelled incorrectly as “Magie” on this T206 example. It was quickly corrected, with the corrected version printed in much higher abundance than the coveted error, but a number of copies of the incorrect version did make it out there. Although it is subject to debate, most hobbyists feel this card is a must if you want to truly complete the T206 set. Sherry Magee’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6b36559-058b-4818-8121-5c8237b76585/156+-+elway.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - John Elway Of the many pre-rookie cards of incredibly famous players that TCMA would put out over the years, Michael said the only one he really thought about in advance was John Elway. Not Wade Boggs, or Darryl Strawberry, or Rickey Henderson, or Dwight Gooden, or Cal Ripken, Jr. John Elway. The football player. Elway was an outfielder for the 1982 Oneonta Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97b6d5d3-3425-46d6-9190-97ef7a6ac12f/157+-+1977-07-09+The+Evansville+Press.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Players were proud to have their own baseball card. For most, it was their first time ever appearing on a card. Here, future Hall of Famer Jack Morris shows off his pride and joy in the July 9, 1977 issue of The Evansville Press. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c470cb20-35b1-4934-b131-ab8ae4b4f4bf/158+-+Gregg+Jeffries.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Prospecting In the 1980s, as the value of rookie cards from great players of the 1950s and 1960s skyrocketed, collectors began “prospecting” rookies and buying dozens of copies of their first cards. Gregg Jeffries was one of the many junk wax rookies who didn’t pan out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6745030-0c1a-488a-8881-7adeda3e84cd/159+-+Famous+%26+Barr.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael checklisted the 1916 M101-4/M101-5 Famous and Barr Co. cards in the November-December 1971 issue of Dan Dischley’s “The Trader Speaks.” It was the first time anyone had even seen that back on those cards, let alone checklisted them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f286f687-67a3-4961-9b15-0e9e24e34b1e/160+-+T206+backs.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael may not have cared about the backs on his T206 cards, but many modern collectors go crazy over them. Entire websites are dedicated to determining the rarity of certain backs, like T206resource.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42f74611-a38c-424f-9f3e-9ab73cf64a96/161+-+Sports+Collectors+Bible.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Sports Collectors Bible In 1974, the legendary Bert Sugar was compiling The Sports Collectors Bible. But he couldn’t do it alone, and he was looking for good, cheap help. Michael suggested a 15-year-old Keith Olbermann. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d9c4bad-6217-44c0-a6e6-108f71e2dd41/162+-+Keith+Olbermann.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out An article written by a 15-year-old Keith Olbermann in early 1974. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26c13126-d828-4ae9-9836-76463bf5fd32/163+-+Jefferson+Burdick.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick Jefferson Burdick remains a hero to a hobby he may be said to have created. The Society for American Baseball Research honors one individual each year with its Jefferson Burdick Award, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the baseball card hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd46f21e-d595-4f99-ba1b-59dea5699130/164+-+Frank+Nagy.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This glowing article about hobby legend Frank Nagy was written by Fred McKie and appeared in the August, 1974 issue of Sports Scoop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9251ee65-fa22-4ab4-af9a-ba23d36ac905/165+-+Crawford+Foxwell+with+his+collection+in+1975.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Crawford Foxwell Easton, Maryland. Crawford “Crab” Foxwell looks over a souvenir baseball, part of a vast collection of diamond memorabilia he keeps in a room of his Cambridge home. The 47-year-old baseball buff started collecting the items as a hobby in the late 1940s. He was interested in all sports at first, but later realized he’d have to specialize - and baseball was his choice. April 23, 1975. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9778a21e-1b76-4c9b-90a9-202678c6f0a4/166+-+SSPC.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - SSPC in 1975, Michael started another entity called Sports Stars Publishing Co. or "SSPC." He had just started TCMA 3 years earlier, but SSPC was created with the intent to sell cards of current Major League players. Just… without the gum. Great Topps Monopoly by Mark Armour, a 10-part series Dennis Eckersley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45619cb4-cfdb-41c7-b812-f78dd1814567/SSPC+vs+Topps+1976-04+-+Bob+Laughlin%27s+newsletter.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Bob Laughlin wrote about the SSPC vs Topps controversy in the April, 1976 issue of his newsletter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9387af65-c468-4cc6-8797-d0805aff50a0/167+-+Topps+letter.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Letter From Topps Michael received this letter from Topps Vice President Sy Berger on November 25, 1974. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a18b34c-ccd6-4005-a30a-ee0789156d6c/169+-+1989+Bowman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1989 Bowman 1989 Bowman (produced by Topps) is a 484-card set released July 6th, 1989. Billed as the "Comeback Edition!," 1989 Bowman bears little resemblance to the prospect and rookie-laden brand it would eventually become, and can be seen as almost a second Topps "flagship" set. The design of the set was meant to resemble the 1953 Bowman Color Baseball set, and each card measures 2.5" X 3.75" - a quarter-inch longer than the post-1957 standard-size trading card. As a result, the cards do not fit into standard-sized 9-pocket sheets, top-loaders, or cardboard set boxes, and briefly caused a run on 8-pocket sheets. This lack of compatibility with standard storage supplies hurt sales of the product. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50017223-1d8a-4c78-ad24-02079747b255/171+-+Collectors+Quarterly+03.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Collectors Quarterly SSPC published an advertising vehicle called Collectors Quarterly. It was short-lived because the original editor had to leave for another opportunity, and Michael didn’t have anyone to replace him. The original editor? Keith Olbermann. That “other opportunity”? Keith had to leave to go off to college. Michael asked Rick Cerrone to come in and be the editor of the final issue, which would fulfill everyone’s yearly subscription, and then the magazine would cease to exist. Rick convinced Michael to keep printing the publication, but to change it from Collectors Quarterly into Baseball Quarterly since the only other baseball-related magazine which came out more than once a year at that time was Baseball Digest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db7c6f5f-0a51-43eb-bb6f-7c09a62261b9/170+-+Baseball+Quarterly+01.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Quarterly After making the switch from Collectors Quarterly to Baseball Quarterly, thanks to the vision of new editor Rick Cerrone, a series of shrewd business moves eventually landed the publication with national distribution, appearing on newsstands all over the country. Baseball Quarterly was eventually sold to Rick Cerrone, who would turn it into Baseball Magazine. Rick would become the PR Director for the Pirates, and then held the same role with the Yankees. Now he’s the editor of Baseball Digest, the very publication he had set out to challenge with the distribution of Baseball Quarterly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e456e66-35b3-4d3f-b75d-433bb2b77639/172+-+1981-1.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Advertiser Baseball Advertiser was a way for TCMA to offer their products to their mailing list of over 100,000 collectors. Note the mailing address label on the issue pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d04bc9c-8307-4932-9243-c47a76cfbfe7/173+-+1975+SSPC.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1975 SSPC In 1975, SSPC printed an unlicensed card set which was heavily influenced aesthetically by the 1953 Bowman. It was the only full baseball card set ever issued during the Topps monopoly. George Brett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4ad236-f3ab-4c2b-afd4-691d0778b56f/174+-+1953+Bowman.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1953 Bowman Color In a 1988 article for Baseball Cards magazine, Michael said "There was too much ‘gingerbread' on Topps cards.” As he said in our interview, he was a Bowman fan and collector. When you look at an image like this 1953 Bowman Color, one which Michael describes as “the pure card,” it’s easy to see what he sees in it. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/003f0d55-87b7-4b56-a65c-f78d32678e8e/175+-+1976+SSPC+card+back+written+by+Keith+Olbermann.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1976 SSPC Keith Olbermann wrote the backs of all of the cards in SSPC’s 1976 set. Keith was 17 years old. You can read a ton of other baseball-related stuff Keith has written over the years HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d1ae409-b6a0-42cf-8617-2342f2c51521/176+-+Collectors+Quarterly+02.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bob Laughlin Bob was a cartoonist who created his own card sets, but also did artwork for TCMA, including the artwork on the covers of Collectors Quarterly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8960470d-9f57-4061-bcda-67cefe4e10b6/177+-+1976+SSPC.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Shea Stadium Most of the photos which were used in the SSPC set were taken at Shea Stadium. Darrell Evans’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d581cc45-0176-4514-9ae8-d11f25707c4b/178+-+Bill+Hongach.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Hongach Most of those photos were taken by Bill Hongach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fef5daa1-1e06-4715-89ce-353275aa3b85/178+-+Fred+Lynn.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Confusion There's some confusion over the date of this set because the cards are copyrighted 1975 on the back, but they actually came out in early 1976, and were always officially referred to as a 1976 set by TCMA. The back of the Fred Lynn card, for instance, mentions he won the AL ROY and MVP for the 1975 season. That’s because before those cards were able to reach stores, Michael was sued by Topps and barred from selling them further. Fred Lynn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cfb7ec0-e392-4a88-80f4-ba1d434fdfa4/180+-+1976+SSPC+card+593+-+Nolan+Ryan.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1976 SSPC Card 593 The negatives for that 1976 set were stolen and led to a bootlegged "illegal reprint" set popping up a few years later. You can tell the difference because card 593 in the original pressing is of Catfish Hunter and Nolan Ryan, and the front says "Nolan" as it should. The bootlegged set has "Noland" instead, an error that you caught and corrected on the original printing plates, but snuck by in the stolen negatives. Catfish Hunter’s SABR Biography Nolan Ryan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14a58882-6ca1-4d31-a3c3-48581fe12ff2/181+-+Renata+Galasso.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Renata Galasso Renata Galasso reportedly began her business as a baseball card dealer in the early 1970s as a way to pay for college. She purchased individual packs of cards - primarily Topps - and built sets for sale, which was unusual for that time. Galasso eventually opened a shop around 1975 on Bay Ridge Parkway, and later relocated to 6305 10th Avenue in Brooklyn. At one point, Galasso claimed in her catalogs and shipping labels to be the "World's Largest Hobby Card Dealer." Galasso printed some cards in partnerships with Topps and TCMA, and eventually printed some independent card sets, as well. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cb378d9-2ba7-4fa2-b2d2-a00c51824196/182+-+Andrew%27s+rookie+card.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew’s Rookie Card Pretty cool to have your birth announcement be a baseball card made by the same guy and in the same fashion as he’s making cards for Major Leaguers and Hall of Famers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/295c4f17-82fe-4dc0-8a07-99d277c1f56f/183+-+September+1974.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - September, 1974 This photo was taken four years before Andrew’s arrival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f3f7da7-8a37-41f4-bf60-9a01142648a8/184+-+1960s.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The 1960’s The 1978 TCMA The 1960’s set consists of 293 cards, all of which measure 2 ½” by 3 ½”. The cards feature many photos from Michael’s library of photos. In 1981, TCMA released a second set of 188 cards, featuring more players from the 1960s. The first card of "The 1960's II" begins with #294, and the set concludes with #482. These cards were printed in much smaller numbers. Roberto Clemente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e4736412-c2db-4d5b-8939-d6a0837483e3/185+-+Bert+Sugar.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bert Sugar In 1979, Michael purchased a huge photo archive from Bert Sugar’s The Ring magazine. Sugar had file cabinets full of baseball photos dating from the early 1900s up until about 1925. He sold to Michael for $500 total. That collection is selling for over $2 million today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7015534b-922c-4d1d-b17f-66c98a60f863/186+-+John+Romita+Sr.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - John Romita, Sr. John Romita, Sr. was a comic book artist best known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man and for co-creating characters including Mary Jane Watson, the Punisher, Kingpin, Wolverine, and Luke Cage. He did the inserts Michael was creating for the Yankees yearbooks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab2880d2-da4b-4251-9a0d-985d6a8d6acd/187+-+1981+Donruss.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1981 Donruss In 1981, Fleer and Donruss were two new manufacturers who jumped into what had been Topps’ exclusive market. Michael managed to become the exclusive distributor of Donruss. Ozzie Smith’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b9bb160-10ef-4c03-81a4-73e9ec6dfd0c/188+-+Vern+Ruhle.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Fraught With Errors The 1981 Donruss set is fraught with errors, though Michael didn’t have anything to do with them. He was just the distributor. Collation on the set is bad. Bob Lacey’s last name was spelled Lacy instead of Lacey. Vern Ruhle’s card had the face of Ken Forsch on it (pictured here). Ken Forsch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f145510-b486-4d65-a1c0-4db90b626cdd/189+-+Baseball+Immortals.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Immortals One of the most popular collector's issues ever released was the "Baseball Immortals" set originally issued in 1980 and later updated in 1984, 1986 and 1987. Although many baseball card sets have featured top players from the past, the Baseball Immortals set was the first to depict every member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The cards themselves do not mention a manufacturer, and while it has been commonly referred to as an SSPC issue, it was actually distributed mainly by TCMA and Renata Galasso. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f6ce190-c98e-479a-b7bf-8c65f4bfd2f2/190+-+Baseball%27s+Greatest.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball’s Greatest As a 7-year-old, I was never going to be able to afford to buy original Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Jimmie Foxx cards. But I had real cards of theirs with stats and everything from the Baseball's Greatest Sluggers set. I'd never even heard of Paul Waner, Sam Rice, or Bill Dickey, but I could compare their accomplishments to the players I did know, thanks to the Baseball's Greatest Hitters set. The first time I'd ever learned of Satchel Paige, Rube Waddell, or Mordecai Brown was because of the Baseball's Greatest Pitchers set. And that was exactly why Michael created those sets in the first place. Paul Waner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f15a08c-8156-4520-a136-05a701ab2545/191+-+trainer.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Everyone Deserves A Card When Michael made team sets, he made sure to include everyone on the team, whether they played in one game or in all of them. When he started making Minor League team sets, he took that thoughtfulness to the next level, including cards of trainers, and mascots, and coaches. Surprisingly, it’s those obscure members of the team whose cards have become the favorites of collectors over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7eba9b41-1be6-47f5-820c-e83423f73e3a/192+-+1942+Play+Ball+fantasy+set.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1942 Play Ball Fantasy Set Joe DiMaggio didn’t get a card the year following his incredible 1941 season which saw him hit safely in a record-breaking 56 games in a row. Michael did his best to right that wrong when he imagined what a 1942 Play Ball set would have looked like, had it come out when it should have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d60d662-96a1-4859-89a8-623ff06f8776/193+-+1990-ish+at+a+local+field+in+Yorktown+Heights%2C+NY.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - No Regrets Michael’s family has said a million times that he should have sold the house, but not the cards. His wife, Jeanne, told him specifically not to sell the Jumbo Wagner. But when Michael sold his entire collection in 1984, that included the Jumbo Wagner. However, the money he made from that sale gave he and his wife the breathing room to figure out their next move as Michael got back on his feet, and allowed them to raise their kids the way they wanted to. It would be nice to still have a card that’s worth 7-8 figures, but having that peace of mind 40 years ago was worth something, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2324b84f-2def-47ce-8ae5-79e5a4e9e529/194+-+McKie.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Special Moment Andrew is seen here holding the Fred McKie T206 Wagner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97a69670-057c-44b2-afb9-f532a187a90e/195+-+Andrew+with+the+Jumbo+Wagner.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - An Even More Special Moment Holding the McKie Wagner must have been very cool (holding ANY Wagner must be pretty cool, let’s be honest), but holding the Jumbo Wagner - a card Andrew’s dad actually owned and loved - must have been an indescribable feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5263a4b4-f9e6-4d3d-bae1-39f38f0667f2/196+-+Andrew.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 5th Annual National Michael was one of the hosts of the 5th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention, which was held August 9-12, 1984, at the Aspen Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. That might explain why his son, Andrew, is on the cover of the show’s program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0c97fdd-b24e-4d9a-a6b6-dfde3cdb817d/197+-+Manufactured+Scarcity.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Manufactured Scarcity One of my biggest problems with the hobby is also one of Michael and Andrew’s: the manufactured scarcity of cards. Simply making a card a refractor, or arbitrarily giving it a different color border, or numbering it out of 5 shouldn’t make it any more valuable. And really, all it’s doing is making collectors NOT want to collect every card from their favorite players, because they know they will never be able to own every card that gets made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18de1bde-fdc2-4089-bd48-df2874362621/199.5+-+1975.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Stigma There is sometimes a stigma attached to adults collecting baseball cards, something that is often seen as meant for children. Andrew theorizes that adults started collecting because they couldn’t afford those cards when they were kids, or they may have been familiar with cards as kids but now their interest is rekindled and now they have money. The money that is involved in the hobby today is something Michael would have never been able to predict when he was manning tables at shows in 1975, like he is here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66ee9493-4a3f-4061-89c2-2c78dfc2f5a7/198+-+Photo+File.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Photo File, Inc. When TCMA went out of business, Michael started to work for Collectors Marketing Corp. doing the baseball card end of it. They sold the company, but let Michael take their photo archives. The next week, he started making photos in his basement. It was an immediate success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34b37687-2064-455e-b523-812031322bae/200.1+-+Officially+Licensed.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael’s friend Bert Sugar came through in the clutch yet again, securing the official MLB license for Photo File. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89051275-eb88-4d46-995e-f85aa4eeaa52/199+-+Rob+Moroso.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rob Moroso Rob Moroso was a NASCAR driver who was champion of the NASCAR Busch Series in 1989. He was posthumously awarded the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award. A promising young driver, he and another driver were killed when Moroso was driving under the influence at excessive speeds on roads near his hometown of Terrell, North Carolina, just four days after his 32nd birthday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ce39f10-f20f-4396-b75b-9cb19a7a1fd3/200+-+Photo+File.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Photo File’s Photo File This is what you got in the mail if you were on Photo File’s mailing list. You would pick out the name(s) you wanted, without seeing an image first, and just trust that what you were going to get back in the mail was going to look great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fa37bc7-2e00-4b76-9cce-ca6f1731ec81/200.1+-+Benny+Agbayani.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Shoot Everything, Use A Fraction Of It If you take 10,000 pictures a week during Spring Training, you’re going to be prepared when an unknown player comes out of nowhere and goes on a tear. You’re just ready to print 5,000 copies of those Benny Agbayani pictures when everyone wants them, because it’s something you already have in your inventory. If you have to go out and shoot once demand is high, by the time you have a finished product ready to go out the door, the moment might be over. Benny Agbayani’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/daac35fc-1ec7-41ec-a46c-de58bc5b8258/202+-+Pete+Rose.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pete Rose Pete Rose would do autograph signings so frequently, it seemed like Photo File was always printing up new pictures for him to autograph at shows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0ee6191-7743-4f28-954c-624ac3442079/203+-+Pete+Rose.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Same Rose, Different Pose Another one of the many images Photo File had of Pete Rose that they would print for him to use at autograph signings. When Photo File was awarded a license for photography by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, it became the first company to be given a license for photography by any major sport in the United State. Eventually, it had licenses from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, CLC, WWE, and MLS and their respective player associations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c8a12f-31e6-4e14-b8c5-014e085d796c/204+-+First+Day+Cover.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This is an example of one of Photo File’s first day covers featuring Mark McGwire during the 1998 Home Run Chase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7fa69bc-f391-4b83-be50-4c1148d030a8/205+-+Red+Sox.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Red Sox When the Red Sox won the World Series in November of 2004, Photo File started doing $1 million of business a month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/661e4f96-07d4-4386-a986-17275dd87014/206+-+1991+Andrew.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Young Andrew At 10 years old, Andrew would go to summer camp with Photo File order forms and get all of his friends to buy photos of the players in their inventory. Here is Andrew a couple years after that, in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73798270-4e26-4a2d-9204-38837515d829/207+-+1975+SSPC.jpeg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Greatest Achievement Michael says he is most proud of the fact that his creative ideas enabled him to send four people to college without student loans or debt. This picture was taken in 1975, just a few years before Andrew’s rookie year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4563d8e-4735-40bc-85f5-ead9b7a2309f/208+-+Baseball+Nostalgia.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Nostalgia Michael was partners with the owners of this hobby shop in the parking lot of Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Whatever Michael couldn’t sell at TCMA, he would send to the shop and they would sell it there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1283e1b1-0c01-4050-82ea-94b211434087/209+-+Sports+Nostalgia.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Sports Nostalgia This store was the same concept as Baseball Nostalgia, just a different location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a9c1374-1878-42c7-819e-20cc919e87b2/209+-+The+MA+in+TCMA.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Do You Have Any TCMA Cards? I’m “M.A.”! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fdfc60c-1426-4495-8641-d37127f42abb/211+-+Mets+cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Queens Baseball Convention Andrew sets up a table every year at the Queens Baseball Convention, the Mets annual fan fest, selling packs of 25 cards for cheap to unload the neverending supply from his father. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36c69686-18fa-4902-9ce0-13a67cab8ada/210+-+Mr.+Met.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Mr. Met Also pictured: the mascot for the National League baseball team that plays in New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df03a190-1678-4f4f-afb8-911b44a2952a/212+-+2020+Jefferson+Burdick+Award.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick Award Winner In 2020, Michael was selected as the winner of the inaugural Jefferson Burdick Award by the Society for American Baseball Research’s Baseball Cards Committee. The Jefferson Burdick Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the baseball card hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8726b404-1219-4414-8e9f-f51d950e3335/214+-+Munson+Fisk.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Serendipity You never know who you’re going to run into as you take a walk around your neighborhood with your friends. Sometimes, it’s just some random dogs, so make sure you have treats with you. But other times, it’s the photographer who shot one of the most iconic photos which embodies the spirit of one of sports’ most iconic rivalries. Michael is always ready for either scenario. Carlton Fisk’s SABR Biography Thurman Munson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe403a46-74f6-4eb1-b390-335cda2df173/215+-+Making+A+List.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Making A List? While no single list exists which details every card Michael has created throughout his career spanning SCFC, SSPC, TCMA, and any other venture named or otherwise, many cards are properly listed in the Sports Collectors Bible. Eventually, we’re going to get Andrew to make his best effort at a complete list, though… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f62ce7f-a0cd-4eaf-be38-f9b2daedcbb5/216+-+TCMA+Archivist.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s Archivist It may be an impossible goal, but with our help, we can get Andrew closer to reacquiring one copy of every card Michael has ever made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50d73143-6ff8-492b-8aea-b77f2def7e99/217+-+rotograph.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1905 PC782 Rotograph Postcards The PC782 Rotograph postcards set includes various baseball players from New York. There are eight individual postcards of players, and a team postcard for the New York Giants, as well. While it is not confirmed, one is believed to exist for the Highlanders, too. As a result, the number of cards considered to be in the set varies among collectors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/669f189f-8c83-4bd1-9d07-07b0c6e3d249/218+-+Lillian+Russell.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Not Just Baseball There are hundreds of Rotograph real photo postcards, and the vast majority of them are not baseball-related. Michael has a large collection of them, including a handful of autographed postcards from silent movie actresses from the day, such as Lillian Russell, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78397b1c-5ec0-4151-b4c9-1de1e1ff50db/219+-+2016+in+Cooperstown.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Preserving The Legacy Andrew is clearly passionate about preserving the legacy of his father. Hopefully this podcast and these liner notes play a small part in doing just that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61c63d91-d56c-4ce4-b841-a36b21351523/220+-+HOF+Induction+Cards.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Hall Of Fame Induction Day Cards TCMA and Photo File produced these at certain points from 1984 through 2020, but no official checklist exists. Tom Seaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b184b12-2f9f-4f47-89b0-6fa6ca61b345/221+-+Pete+Henrici.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pete Henrici Pete was Michael’s business partner and ran Baseball Nostalgia in Cooperstown. He still lives there to this day. In the background of this very photo, you can see a handful of the Hall of Fame Induction Day cards we’re talking about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6a27d4f-a7ed-4436-a7e2-7a655bfdac7c/222+-+Mets+Hat.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “Mets Hat”? That’s definitely not what Andrew was saying before this picture was taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e3ad092-eac3-4636-8f1f-ba6ccb997db0/223+-+Lenny+Dykstra.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lenny Dykstra Tough not to be a Mets fan with the team they had in the mid- to late-1980s, especially when your dad was so heavily involved with the team in producing Minor League cards of the players and the official postcards of the team, as well. Going to Game 3 of the 1986 NLCS was to Andrew’s fandom what Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round The World was to Michael’s. Lenny Dykstra’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc7e3235-99e4-42e8-9788-159b8341c800/224+-+Michael.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Reach Out To Michael TCMAcovers@mac.com Trade him some Mets cards! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bc2bf23-8a80-41d5-b4ca-fde135fc8662/225+-+Andrew.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Reach Out To Andrew TCMAphotos@mac.com Instagram Take him to a baseball game some time. I promise, it’s a fun thing to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b951922-b501-4c63-9dad-bf1d7e6bd304/226+-+Topps.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Topps Complete Sets I have every Topps complete set from the year I was born until the current day. My mom wrapped them each year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a96e75a-f7c1-45b1-bd10-8e5c37972c8f/227+-+Giddy.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out You could absolutely hear the joy and love in Michael’s heart when he spoke. A true pleasure to have been a part of this one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00459ea1-ce87-49a4-afb4-526a64e15c51/228+-+keep+us+on+track.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keep Us On Track I couldn’t be more grateful to Andrew for playing the role he played in making this episode happen. From the prep work, to bringing the archives with him, to keeping us on track during the conversation, and all of the photos he has provided for these liner notes… I simply couldn’t have done this episode the way it was done without him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/929bd72c-6057-4068-95a7-1c71ec550720/229+-+Three+Borders+Wagner.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s First Wagner Absolutely crazy that someone can be able to say “my first Wagner” because you need to clarify which Wagner you’re talking about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08f0f102-ab99-4536-9e4c-bdadf2865e57/230+-+titanium+case.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Cases Listen. I get it, okay? You need something to protect your investments, because some of these cards are worth tens of thousands of dollars. My point is that it’s crazy we’re at a point in the hobby where kids are walking around carrying those types of cards without really thinking anything of it. And instead of being THRILLED to own something so rare/valuable/beautiful, they’re thinking about how they can flip it for the next card. It’s just a wild place to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0660b2c-a3b1-4199-aaec-0c9b50ef3b03/231+-+Mantle.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman Mickey’s actual rookie card is this 1951 Bowman card, NOT the 1952 Topps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95536f90-c4b1-428d-a36a-68fb92453552/232+-+Theft.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Theft At Card Shows A theft of millions of dollars of sports cards occurred at a major sports card and memorabilia show at least twice that we know of in 2024. Sports card dealer Ashish Jai reported a theft of more than $2 million of sports cards in July at the Dallas Card Show at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center in Allen, TX. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/138279ff-888e-4bd3-8c49-9b652a0d590f/233+-+Burglary.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Robbing Athletes During Games Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's Ohio home was burglarized in December while he was playing in a game. Burrow joined a growing list of high-profile athletes, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, who have reported home break-ins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40951d05-d6b6-4f4f-83e0-246ce0dd23d9/234+-+1975+Topps.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1975 Topps The 1975 Topps set is a tough one to find in great condition because of the way the color ink often invites edge chipping. Centering is often an issue with this set, as are fish eyes (which you notice in the blue sky background just blow the “L” in “ROYALS” on this George Brett example). George Brett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0edcce39-5aad-41b8-899c-a2d4d0b10679/236+-+Strawberry.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Darryl Strawberry Darryl’s 1983 TCMA card shows him as a member of the Tidewater Tides, the Mets’ AAA affiliate. Strawberry was 21 years old during the 1983 season which saw him play only 16 games in the Minor Leagues before being called up and winning the National League Rookie Of The Year Award. Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc678d9a-e3d0-46e9-9f46-3db16ef06781/237+-+Will+Hudson.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Will Hudson You guys, it turns out the backup shortstop from the Mets’ Single-A affiliate Capital City Bombers in 2003 is named Will Hudson, and he does, in fact, have a real baseball card that Michael didn’t have to make. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e7183ef-4dbc-4959-abd8-7fa155559f6c/238+-+Uncle+Myron.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron With the help of the artistic ability of his Uncle Myron and Aunt Margie, Michael was able to create his first baseball card sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95a47858-ded0-4243-ae34-31f9c346fce3/239+-+1970+SFCF+Bobby+Lowe+by+Myron+Aronstein.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron’s Work This Bobby Lowe cartoon which appeared in the 1970 SFCF card set was drawn by Michael’s uncle, Myron Aronstein. Bobby Lowe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0af39a4a-5444-4fba-8773-b207ab3ebd8e/240+-+NL+Outfield.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - NL Outfield Imagine suiting up for your first All-Star appearance as a pitcher in the American League, and knowing this is the other team’s outfield. Now imagine it’s your 26th straight appearance, and your league has only won twice (which is what happened to the American League from 1960 through 1982). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01f75930-fb24-4c7a-bc46-2f9d1996bf2f/241+-+Keith+Olbermann+cards.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Read more things Keith has written about baseball over the years HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3e8a622-7a05-48f7-b9fc-c77234037b62/242+-+Olbermann%27s+Ball+Closet.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith’s Ball Vault His words, not mine. Check out THIS VIDEO of him talking about the Carlton Fisk “Stay Fair!” home run ball from the 1975 World Series, and hear him casually mention a half dozen other insanely historic baseballs he has in his vault. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3386172-7e28-4d46-bd98-07d288085355/235+-+Interior.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out From Andrew’s archives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/872312b1-8b86-4adc-8d0e-aad832908918/243+-+Crawford+Foxwell+postcard+reverse.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael got this postcard from Crawford Foxwell ahead of Michael’s first baseball card convention in his basement in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b75bb67-22aa-4a22-8772-6f0fcbb8ded2/244+-+Andrew%27s+Archives.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew’s Archives Maybe all of this stuff ends up in a book one day. But until then, it can live here for you to enjoy and learn from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29a1b96d-62c5-4904-8437-67292b32a0af/245+-+1982+TCMA+Baseball%27s+Greatest.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s Baseball’s Greatest One of the most formative card sets in my life. It never occurred to me all those years ago that these cards were the work of one man, and by the time I was old enough to know that, I never dreamed that I would be able to sit down with that man and talk about them. This interview was a dream come true, and a genuine honor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e17866f8-c402-429a-bfa5-26cef2ce0b72/246+-+Bustin+Babes.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bustin’ Babes & Larrupin’ Lous This was what I saw every time I walked into my bathroom for about 15 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81c4a5a0-165b-42a9-92f1-0a623302b2ac/247+-+Big+Wall.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Main Wall I would venture to guess that most of these photos (if not all of them) were Photo File pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/682a524c-5989-42cd-8bda-11dc53894ed2/248+-+Above+The+Toilet.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Above The Toilet There wasn’t enough room on the main wall for outfielders, so I put them on the wall above the toilet. This view also gives you a good look at the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire wallpaper border, meaning this bathroom remodel took place shortly after the 1998 Home Run Chase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/998a5348-8015-46c6-aa97-ce1cfcd18fbe/249+-+On+The+Tank.JPG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Satchel Paige That little book on the right side of the tank was a double-sided flip book of Babe Ruth. When you flipped the pages in one direction, you saw Babe take his home run swing. When you turned the book over and flipped the pages in the other direction, you saw Babe take his line drive swing. It was really, really cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fda64cf-c871-4849-ab62-96706f8ce896/250+-+Jeanne.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jeanne Only a true ride or die would say “you should have sold the house, not your baseball card collection.” Mike hit a home run with Jeanne. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cadabdb8-c793-4597-a250-6fa35c0771d5/251+-+McKie+Wagner.jpg Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The McKie Wagner Look how happy he is here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cdaf68a-2ee6-423e-9aac-db0e60ac2efb/252+-+Andrew+with+Ken+Goldin+and+the+Jumbo+Wagner.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Jumbo Wagner Look how happy he is here, too! If you’re reading this right now and you just happen to own the Wagner that’s missing three borders, let’s figure out a way to get together with Andrew so he can take a picture holding that one, too, and complete his lifelong goal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47c95366-e252-447d-a9d3-abcdab6bbe57/253+-+Burdick%27s+Wagner.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Burdick’s Wagner This was the first T206 Wagner I ever saw in person, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in December of 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73e16432-d363-4a30-8555-c2a4326db283/254+-+The+Hall+of+Fame%27s+Wagner.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The HOF’s Wagner I saw this Wagner just a few days later at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6c93e79-b628-44b5-91ba-d68d67dcf877/255+-+email.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c772173d-0aa5-4be4-a7a9-33b118006350/256+-+Giveaway.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win an original TCMA Renata Galasso card of Shoeless Joe Jackson from 1981? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8763170d-f250-4c26-a7b0-4d0598a2b086/257+-+Satchel+Paige.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - My Own Satchel Paige Michael’s original TCMA card is on the left. My version is on the right. Not too bad for a 13-year-old using dial-up internet and Microsoft Excel, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63960c0b-bd08-46a2-a871-7fb51f8b9107/258+-+Bobby.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bobby Giannini In high school, Bobby lettered three years in football, two years in basketball and four years in track. He was all-state, all-conference, and all-area co-captain as a senior, leading our team to the Class 8A State Finals. After graduating, he went on to play at Air Force. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f67c4791-9efe-4c91-935f-8e96edf90717/259+-+Bobby+cards.JPEG Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - My Own Card Set I hope Michael Aronstein would be proud of these. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f6caed1-0922-4f90-ad93-012e4dd69af1/299+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/03 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/896a8eaf-d90f-426c-96f8-9caf1df0ffe3/youtube.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0589e96b-cc3a-4ed4-b486-3b1aa2dbd726/square.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell Ashton Lansdell and me after recording our interview in Kenosha, Wisconsin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bbafa94-3ed2-4caf-b47b-10458239b2e3/01+-+KODA.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - KODA KODA (Kreators of Divine Auras) is the new clothing line created by Ashton Lansdell. Ashton designs every piece herself, and the font used on everything is her own handwriting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa2f9c10-5a19-4e2e-be39-191eee274500/02+-+Koda+hat.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Be The Energy KODA’s sun logo symbolizes karmic energy, and is a symbol that Ashton even has tattooed on her. Visit the KODA website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfd525cd-dba5-4eaf-8f75-810b38d02923/03+-+2006+YMCA.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - An Early Start Ashton started playing baseball at the age of 4, and continued to play baseball throughout her childhood, even when she was the only girl on her team. Here she is in 2006, playing for the Lake Norman YMCA team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b80a05b0-d125-4f00-b83d-28b0250c8639/04+-+Wheeler+pitchingg.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Breaking Barriers Ashton became the first woman to be a starting pitcher in a Georgia 7A regional game while playing at Wheeler High School. She helped guide the Wildcats to the 2019 Regional Title. “Ashton Lansdell Set To Take Mound For Wheeler Baseball Team” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c90f3073-25fe-4f1a-9945-dc58f76b5d6c/05+-+Team+USAA.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Team USA At the age of 17, Ashton tried out for and landed a spot on the USA Women’s National Baseball Team, an elite 18-player group of professionals that represents the United States in international women's baseball competitions. “Get To Know The USA Women’s National Baseball Team As They Go For Gold At The World Cup” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b308dfa2-f306-4d72-8863-7e7a7eafa8cb/06+-+2019+Pan+American+Games.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - 2019 COPABE Women's Pan-American Games In 2019, Ashton helped lead the team to a gold medal victory at the COPABE Women's Pan-American Championships in Mexico, hitting .583 for Team USA. She was second on the US with 8 extra-base hits, and hit for the cycle against Cuba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c767a760-5c33-4964-b6dc-9992db47dfd8/07+-+Georgia+Highlands+College+portrait.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Georgia Highlands College Ashton played one season of baseball at Georgia Highlands College, where she became the first female to play baseball at the NJCAA level. “Wheeler’s Ashton Lansdell to Play Baseball in College” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbc7063a-da97-42dc-b2d6-b8052aa4eb35/09+-+FIU+catching+a+softball.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making The Switch Ashton switched to softball for the first time in her life when she transferred to Florida International University for her sophomore year. Ashton was FIU’s starting shortstop in 2023, ranking 4th in Conference USA and 40th nationally among the leaders in steals. “She Developed Her Game Playing Baseball, But Could be FIU Softball Team’s Breakout Star” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72219b2e-b34c-4f33-ade4-c2bc169f6bb9/10+-+Team+USA+leadoff.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Team USA Ashton represented Team USA for the 2023-2024 Women's Baseball World Cup, acting as the team’s leadoff hitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de988cf9-a502-4594-9089-f82329b2eabb/11+-+RTEFW.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - #RTEFW Team USA came just short of their goal to RTEFW, though they did win their first silver medal in a decade at the 2024 Women’s World Cup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6ba2732-0a2c-42cb-9449-e36960fceb1a/12+-+Ole+Miss+locker.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ole Miss In June of 2024, Ashton announced she was transferring again, this time to Ole Miss, where she will play for the Rebels during the 2025 softball season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d71f25c-7821-41cd-8671-c0c2b4bdd3ac/13+-+Savannah+Bananas.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Savannah Bananas In June of 2024, Ashton signed a three-week contract with the Savannah Bananas, and traveled around the country playing to sold out crowds in minor and major league ballparks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b79353e-b21a-4c8e-9512-bf1f39f4bfff/14+-+2012+11+year+old+Georgia+State+Champs.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Growing Up Ashton was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but mostly grew up in Marietta, Georgia, which is where she considers home. Here is Ashton’s 11U team which won the 2012 Georgia State Championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6d49a1c-3c57-4130-992a-e54fdfdf43ce/15+-+Young+Ashton+1.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Natural Born Hitter Ashton hit a home run in her very first tee ball game ever. Here she is, a couple years later, locked in at the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32faa077-18ce-4ebe-b9ac-a043e1afe6e5/16+-+Catcher.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Catcher Ashton’s dad, Scott, was a catcher when he played college ball. Here she is trying the position for herself as a youngster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/782e623c-a65b-453f-ad7c-d339187a6979/17+-+Trophy.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball Is Fun Ashton was never pressured to play baseball, but she had fun doing it, and just happened to be very, very good at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cc9038c-5a3a-476d-84d5-3bb3391873b1/18+-+Mom+volleyball.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Mom Ashton’s mom, Dana, played volleyball when she was younger, and still works out every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/299b66e6-89c1-43a5-9da7-b38b789a9117/19+-+Camden.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Camden Ashton actually wished for a younger brother when she was 5 or 6 years old and was blessed with her younger brother, Camden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/afc8f28f-03f5-4eff-8838-bad9583d775e/20+-+Outfield.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Outfield Ashton started as an outfielder because of her speed. On her 12U team, the East Side Strikers, one of her teammates was a girl, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c5807dc-26d1-4f42-99f5-e4e83f2ebf0b/21+-+East+Side+Rage.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Always Been Normal There have been some teams where Ashton had female teammates, but it never felt strange to her to be the only girl on an otherwise all-boys team. That’s something she’s lived with her whole life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c80e0b38-6ecb-467b-bb10-b30722ae716c/22+-+high+school.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - High School High school was the first time gender was something that really got considered, since Ashton had to be in locker rooms to change before and after games. But on the field, she was just another member of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2f6edf4-3d6c-414d-8aad-75120461669b/23+-+Georgia+Highlands+Water.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Part Of The Team That mentality carried on into her college playing days, as well. Once she was in the dugout and on the field, Ashton was just another player on the team, and gender didn’t matter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce74a9ec-1916-4872-af65-df33cd9ad66a/24+-+Georgia+Highlands+Sliding+Into+Home.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making The Plays Ashton made it easy for her coaches and teammates to think of her as any other member of the team, because she consistently made the plays on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dde37dcb-ef26-4ccb-9f33-d8e44c0b4acf/25+-+Braves+fan.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Braves Fan Ashton has been an Atlanta Braves fan from an early age. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97f3c90d-4158-4524-a1e9-f7d0c0376f7e/26+-+tattoo.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Tattoo Ashton got the Braves’ throwback “A” logo tattooed on her after Atlanta won the World Series in 2021. This logo appeared on the team’s caps from 1972 through 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17f5de05-78d4-4b3f-b9bb-25e01f4b32bc/27+-+Chipper+Jones.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Chipper Jones Ashton’s favorite player growing up was Chipper Jones. The Atlanta Braves selected him as the No. 1 pick in the 1990 amateur draft and over the next two decades, he helped lead the franchise to its greatest heights, winning a World Series in his rookie season, earning the National League’s Most Valuable Player award, and becoming the face of a baseball dynasty. Chipper Jones’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f99e3112-3c44-4f64-a4ca-fce3a882a21b/28+-+East+Side.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Pressure To Switch From the time Ashton started playing on travel baseball teams, other parents and coaches would often tell her she should switch to softball. “Breaking Boundaries in Baseball - More Young Female Players Unwilling To Give Up Beloved Sport For Softball” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e99532dd-00a6-4d89-b8ca-31bf6eb17acc/29+-+FIU+infield.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball vs. Softball Ashton said she was surprised at just how different softball is than baseball, now that she has played both at a high level. “Student Who Played Baseball On The U.S. Women’s National Team Now Shifts To Softball At FIU” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/576c9f89-ae6f-47ce-92df-460a963553ae/30+-+Wheeler+High+School.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Wheeler High School Ashton went to Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. On March 9, 2018, just two weeks after her 17th birthday, she became the first girl to start a varsity baseball game in Cobb County history when she took the mound, pitching 3 and 1/3 innings in a win against Pebblebrook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89100cb7-8598-4d7f-bb60-8e5d236b4000/32+-+Dave+McDonald+Field.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dave McDonald Field Ashton’s favorite memory playing at her home field in high school was clinching a spot to go to the playoffs for the first time in years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1fd92d13-a48a-4be2-b716-8647ab2f49a1/33+-+Team+USA+2019.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out The 2019 US Women’s National Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/291bb686-635d-4a1c-98e2-a3a650e7149e/34+-+Dirty+uniform.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Causing Trouble On The Basepaths Ashton’s speed and fearless base running are an issue for opposing teams. She can even make what looks like a negative situation turn into a positive by running herself out of trouble, then immediately putting that play behind her to focus on the next one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d26faab-fdee-4803-8b8b-66879d27cae1/35+-+Japan.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Japan’s Women’s Baseball Team The Japan women's national baseball team won the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup, which was their sixth consecutive title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/756251f0-2e71-464a-995e-bda9aa68d630/36+-+Team+USA+practice+fielding.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Limited Practice Time While some countries have their women’s baseball teams together and practicing and playing together all year, the US Women’s National Team is usually only together for a very short time before they’re playing in games that count. Trying to create team chemistry and get in a good rhythm on and off the field is a challenge for any team, but it’s even harder for a team which isn’t afforded the ability to be together a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99ff65ed-13a5-4ce7-b25c-9b93fb0b4d63/37+-+Veronica.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Veronica Alvarez Veronica Alvarez made her managerial debut in 2019 when she became the first female recipient of the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year award for her efforts in leading the Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f79c8b0-a984-42a6-9ad8-21a36cb3a9ee/38+-+Malaika.jpeg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Malaika Underwood From her debut in 2006 to her final appearance in 2022, Malaika Underwood played on a Team USA-record 11 national teams and medaled at eight different international competitions. She won four total gold medals, including at the 2006 Women’s Baseball World Cup, the 2015 Pan American Games Qualifier and Pan American Games, and the 2019 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5232769-c9e4-4f75-8e23-2d3bf624c702/39+-+Alex.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Oglesby A key player for the inaugural Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, Alex Oglesby batted .364 to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. She played in the Ladies Professional Baseball League before representing Team USA and was the league’s youngest player when it began in 1997. At just 17 years old, Oglesby led the San Jose Spitfires to the league’s first World Series Championship and was named both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts. She also helped form the California Women’s Baseball League in 2002, where she earned MVP honors twice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c38ab1e-9f6a-404c-a889-596cfb132a8b/40+-+Mendo.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Reynol Mendoza During the 2019 team’s run to a gold medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, Reynol Mendoza helped coach its pitchers to a collective 3.16 ERA and .255 batting average against in 37 innings of work. Prior to coaching, Mendoza played seven seasons in the Miami Marlins’ minor league system after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1992 MLB Draft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7613fde3-c4d5-4166-8d58-0e0ad4f69c1e/41+-+Laura+Collins.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Laura Collins In 2004, at the inaugural World Cup, Laura Collins led the team with a 1.00 ERA while tossing two complete games and allowing just two earned runs in 14 innings. After winning her gold medal, Collins stepped aside to raise a family and earn a living working for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near Hollywood, Florida. After a 14-year break, she re-joined the team in 2018 as a 44-year-old and was teammates with Ashton, who was 17 years old at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c01226dd-2e12-4fef-97bb-270562b787a0/42+-+Team+USA+bat.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “The Future Of Women’s Baseball” Ashton has been called “The Future Of Women’s Baseball” since she was 17 years old, which can be a lot of pressure to live up to, but Ashton knows that there are women all over the world who can help her carry that torch, not just her teammates on the US Women’s National Team. “These Two High Schoolers Are The Future Of Women’s Baseball” “Prospectus Feature: Believe in Ashton Lansdell” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95ccec9d-b8a7-4d1f-8636-a65007fe4be1/43+-+Making+Team+USA.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making Team USA USA Baseball announced the final 20-woman roster for the 2018 Women's National Team following the completion of a week-long identification process in Cary, North Carolina, which included the Women's National Open and Women's National Team Trials. Ashton’s mom helped her celebrate the life-changing news. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/281a069f-b232-48d0-997f-703218c397fc/44+-+Basketball+knee+brace.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Multi-Sport Star Ashton also played basketball at Wheeler High School, which is how she tore her ACL during her sophomore year. If it hadn’t been for that injury, Ashton may have made Team USA as a 15-year-old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4749df19-8d61-4db1-9617-22bfe7948fc9/45+-+Birth+stats.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - 222 Ashton tore her ACL with 2:22 on the clock, which was wild because that number already held such significance in her life. Ashton was born February 22, 2001, and has “222” tattooed on her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a5c4618-34a6-48e1-a802-b6119dc67a10/46+-+Knee+surgery+stitches.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - First Real Injury Ashton said the pain was intense, but that the sound of the injury was the scariest part, having never suffered an injury of that severity before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f36648b4-affc-466f-8231-fa68b0315278/47+-+knee+surgery.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Surgery Within a few days after having her surgery, Ashton was already in physical therapy to regain movement and strength in her leg so she could get back on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89ced867-d8e1-4acb-8fed-e9797d28d7d7/48+-+Georgia+Highlands+College+commitment.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Georgia Highlands College On July 18, 2019, Ashton announced her commitment to Georgia Highlands College. The Junior College team had won at least 29 games in the competitive Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association in each of their three previous seasons before Ashton became a part of the program. “Ashton Lansdell Following Baseball Dream In The NJCAA” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/799e53b2-8f68-4b07-9ad4-ea4fd8143b1a/49+-+Dash+O%E2%80%99Neill.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dash O’Neill When Ashton met coach Dash O’Neill, she knew Georgia Highlands College was the right fit for her, and the place which would allow her to take the next step in her career. 2024 was a special season for O'Neill and the Chargers who led the nation in wins (56), won the Appalachian District Championship, and made the program's first ever trip to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Prior to taking the helm at GHC, O’Neill spent 12 years at NJCAA powerhouse Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, AL. At Chattahoochee Valley, O’Neill helped guide the Pirates to 493 wins, three consecutive appearances in the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series, and the #1 ranking in the NJCAA in 2013, 2014, and 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32af7997-5c5a-4567-83be-786298fcc818/50+-+Georgia+Highlands+Seeds.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Being Someone’s Favorite Player As soon as Ashton announced she would be playing at GHC, many people on the internet claimed her as their new favorite college baseball player. “I Have A New Favorite Baseball Player And Her Name Is Ashton Lansdell” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfd7ee19-b38d-406f-8d0e-c752cb2c9e08/51+-+AJC.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The AJC came out to GHC to interview Ashton and write a story about her in October of 2019. “Breaking Boundaries In Baseball” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/858cadf2-b658-41d9-9ca3-76cddb6ccad0/52+-+instagram+post.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Haters Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever used the internet before can attest, there are always going to be haters out there. How you deal with them and whether or not you allow them to affect you says a lot about you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f57459-da59-4543-b405-a6b0278f82a3/53+-+confidence.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Quiet Confidence Ashton has expectations for herself, which she does everything in her power to live up to. Her confidence is apparent when you watch her practice, play, and just go about life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/393d2721-57aa-4779-a658-377233637896/54+-+Flex.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Okay… maybe she’s a little cocky, too. But that’s a good thing, sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d168abf0-5848-44c0-aa95-77f6c7c8cd5e/55+-+gold+medal.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Gold Medal Ashton helped lead the US Women’s National Baseball team to a gold medal victory at the Women's Pan-American Championships in Mexico. The team went 7-0 in the tournament, out scoring their opponents 124-20. In the gold medal game, Ashton hit a 2-RBI double to center field in the 3rd inning to break the tie and give the US a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b37c121-1471-44ce-a569-49d1a288e549/56+-+Team+USA+Smiling.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Baseball Is Fun” Ashton says “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.” When you watch her play, it’s very clear that Ashton is doing it right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9d56fa1-793b-409e-a719-d56d43b2a919/57+-+Having+fun.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Beloved Teammate Ashton is always talking on the field, and always getting her teammates to join in on the fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/119b67d8-b993-4878-a920-4cf422c2e2ca/58+-+selfies.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Selfies It’s clear as day that Ashton is the life of the party, and leads by example when it comes to building team chemistry, even if it’s something as simple as taking selfies in the dugout to loosen everyone up before a big game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/882e16fb-0617-4628-8046-78e0c2338b3f/59+-+selfies.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - More Selfies Listen, I’m telling you, it’s not for show. This is just who Ashton is, and her personality is undeniable. It’s awesome to watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8ad0d5a-1411-45fc-9a63-dc1879216ba4/60+-+Team+USA+2024.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out It’s no coincidence who’s in the center of this photo, and why everyone around her is smiling, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5c6f91c-312f-4481-9c1c-a9a4dcd1b9cc/61+-+mom.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Be Present Where Your Feet Are” Ashton’s mom’s voice is in her head all the time, reminding her to be grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728326bf-3475-45ac-97fe-31dbc6717f3c/62+-+Team+USA+Cycle+against+Cuba.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 22, 2019 vs. Cuba Ashton went 4-5 with 5 RBI, hitting a double in the 2nd inning, a single in the 3rd, a 2-RBI triple in the 4th, and a 400-foot 3-run home run to dead center in the 5th. Team USA won the game 23-1, thanks to Ashton’s first career cycle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bbb3700-569c-43f3-be1e-f29fa58b02ea/63+-+in+the+gym.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Working Out Ashton’s love of the gym, and her desire to be strong (and, you know, to be able to walk and run) helped her mentally as she recovered from her second torn ACL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63c4951b-4aa5-4192-a820-3c909ed654dc/64+-+Young+Ashton+4.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton In The Outfield Ashton originally played outfield because she was so fast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bcd2d20-7ace-45c0-9242-590cf62e6db2/65+-+Pitchinggg.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Pitching Ashton’s coach knew she had a decent arm, so when the team needed some more pitchers, he brought her in from the outfield and taught her how to pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83780b69-b09e-42b0-a1ed-1cd030fdf3b4/66+-+East+Side+Heat.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Ashton on the East Side Heat, where she first learned how to pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db51bfe4-6f3b-447b-857c-873de14ba7e6/67+-+Wheeler+coaches.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Second Base After her knee injury in high school, Ashton switched her focus to second base. Thankfully, she has always loved infield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2344328-0920-4d3c-a69a-ab326721200c/68+-+dirty.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Dirty Uniform Ashton’s uniform is literally always dirty once she gets to the field. Whether it be from making a diving play in the field… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c22a3ddf-877d-4fcb-bf95-0e0c27a4e1d3/69+-+head+first.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Means You’re Hustling … or sliding on the basepaths, it’s easy to pick Ashton out on the diamond because she’s the one covered in dirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ded5ba7-8a63-4daf-8e95-f09ab9b45987/70+-+third+base.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Third Base During her senior year of high school, Ashton continued pitching but also learned to play third base, which is one of her favorite positions to play to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/219662dd-a4f1-4ad3-9187-704373e85143/71+-+acuna.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ronald Acuña, Jr. Let’s make a list of the things Ashton has in common with Ronald Acuña, Jr.: Hits bombs Steals bases Tons of energy Insane swag Fun celebrations Uniform is constantly dirty Injury history which includes multiple torn ACLs Debuted at a young age Dad was a baseball player It’s no wonder he’s Ashton’s current favorite player. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55aa89ff-4373-4009-b540-5fb10f801fb3/73+-+speed+and+strength.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Speed & Strength Ashton’s work in the gym builds her strength, but focused workouts thanks to her trainer help her maintain her speed and flexibility, especially after her injuries, so she can continue hitting triples and stealing bases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/231e6089-a9d2-4ddd-9e4d-ba0485482095/74+-+home+run+derby+x.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X The Home Run Derby X field is limited by a 45-degree angle from home plate. There is a fence between 280-320 feet to centerfield and 260-300 feet down the lines. Both the pitchers mound and batters box are on a raised stage. Additionally, there are fielders. Two from each team while on defense. Catches count as one point, the same as a home run does for the hitting team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b29a512-b00b-4c29-aaf8-7f3e785f2d9b/75+-+Alex+Hugo+flex.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Hugo Alex Hugo has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball Team since 2018. She is Team USA's everyday second baseman and hit at a .308 clip while leading the team in runs scored in 2024. In 2019 at the 2019 COPABE Women's Pan-American Championships, Alex led Team USA offensively, hitting .652/.742/1.391 with a team-leading 15 hits, 20 runs scored, 18 RBIs and four home runs, while also recording five doubles. She went 6-6 to lead the team in stolen bases, and earned All-Tournament awards for best batter, most home runs and best second baseman. Alex was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and earned the 2019 USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year Award for her performance. Ashton loves being able to participate in Home Run Derby X events with Alex. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c575baee-1923-4be9-a729-e397aec1e397/76+-+Take+A+Bow.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - On A Big Stage … Literally Batters and pitchers are on a 10-foot stage off the ground during Home Run Derby X competitions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2acccf98-a3c8-415f-8aa9-02820c11c1aa/77+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+Dodgers+celebrating.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Winner Ashton isn’t just there to mess around. She’s there to win. Here she is, celebrating with her Dodgers teammates (including Adrián González) after the 2022 event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98512694-a808-4ccd-bc88-93f2ce59d956/78+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+family.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X Family It’s a tight knit group, so every time they get to see each other, it feels like a little family reunion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b710e1fe-3737-44bf-a255-7d02c2f8a6de/79+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+in+London.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - London Series Ashton was lucky enough to travel to London for Home Run Derby X in 2023 as part of the London Series fan festival when the Cardinals and Cubs played a two-game series at London Stadium. Ashton has also traveled to Mexico City and Seoul for other international Home Run Derby X events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61fae1a8-90b7-4bb1-bc08-5527dc6051e2/80+-+london.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - London Tourist After participating in the Home Run Derby X event in London, Ashton stuck around with her aunt and was able to be a tourist for a bit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1aa671ba-98ff-41e1-a5b0-8b74830deb8f/81+-+FIU+shortstop.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Switch To Softball It was a difficult decision for Ashton to switch over to softball, especially after years of being so adamant about playing baseball, but she says it’s a decision she doesn’t regret at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/295f8e76-ffdc-4a78-9856-729a8ec745c2/82+-+Aleimalee+Lopez.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Aleimalee Lopez A former four-year starter for Florida International University and a first-team All-Conference USA selection, Aleimalee Lopez served as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss (2020-21) and as a volunteer assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio (2018-20) before becoming an assistant coach at her alma mater. Prior to her return to FIU, Lopez held the position of assistant head coach for the Sarasota Circus, who claimed the 2021 championship in the Florida Gulf Coast Summer League. Lopez has enjoyed a decorated international playing career as she has been a member of the Puerto Rico National Team for nearly 15 years. She helped the squad capture a gold medal at the 2018 Central American Games and earned a bronze at the 2019 Pan American Games – finishing behind only the United States and Canada. She also competed professionally in Italy in the Italian Softball League during the summer of 2017. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c9cb18c-f216-40b8-ab07-ff42bf67a6ff/83++-FIU+softball.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Big Adjustment Ashton said the toughest adjustment for her to make when switching from baseball to softball was at the plate, with the pitching motions of the two sports being so wildly different from one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29f8356a-e6b9-4839-9254-8095724621f4/84+-+FIU+Clemson+HR.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - First Home Run On February 9, 2023, in her first EVER softball game at any level, Ashton started at shortstop and hit in the 3-spot against the 10th ranked team in the country, Clemson. Clemson beat the Panthers 10-1, unfortunately, but FIU’s lone run came in the 3rd inning off of this solo home run Ashton hit to dead center. Watch the video below to see the full clip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed5a4896-c797-4716-8a6e-8d86836c3c7a/85+-+FIU+Dancing.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “This Is Why You Brought Me Here” Ashton’s teammates were in awe after her home run. She would hit 11 more over the course of her FIU career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64458f6e-f5d5-4e17-a5e4-6308e723d152/86+-+hat.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Wearing A Hat The only question Ashton asked before committing to play softball at FIU was “can I wear a baseball cap on the field?” since that is what she had worn her entire life. When the answer came back “yeah, no problem,” it was a done deal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98c0f177-95dd-4621-9d99-bd3b0d72bc2f/87+-+stretching.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Switching back and forth from baseball to softball depending on which sport is in season at the moment can be mentally difficult, so one way Ashton tries to stay focused is by keeping the same stretching routines before each game, no matter the sport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c898b44a-9a7d-45ea-a356-fae1bf8c33d0/88+-+Team+USA+portrait.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Focus Focusing on breathing and rhythm is another way Ashton has been trying to keep calm and in the moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96087041-7ded-46cf-9d17-01f99ef19714/89+-+glove.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Glove While she doesn’t have many rituals, Ashton said she always likes to make sure that her glove is well taken care of, which is a good habit for players of any age, gender, or skill level to get into. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc302209-64bf-4cbb-9a15-e9f108f49d59/90+-+routine.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Routine One way a player often calms their nerves and makes each at bat in a game feel familiar is by creating a ritual or routine when they’re in the batter’s box. That is something Ashton has been working on to help her succeed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd30ff5e-0e15-4ddc-9854-52d05e0e00cf/91+-+playing+in+the+dirt.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Playing In The Dirt Ashton is always kicking around the dirt in the infield, smoothing it out. That’s something I did all the time as a player, too. Not just in the field, but on the pitcher’s mound and in the batter’s box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92ce11f3-89e3-4e88-902a-501544ff6ebe/92+-+progress.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Progress It’s amazing to think how far women’s baseball in America has come since the 1940s, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League existed. Ashton says the progress she has personally seen since 2019 is incredible, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db174f77-952d-41fa-b348-83c37208cb41/93+-+Team+USA+player+of+the+day.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Social Media Social media plays a huge part in the growth of the game, both nationally and internationally. Now, when a player makes a great play, hits a big home run, or has a great game, the whole world can not only know about it, but see it within minutes. Players can have their own followings, earn their own sponsorships, and build their own fan bases. Those are opportunities which weren’t afforded to players in previous generations, and Ashton and her teammates are taking full advantage of those opportunities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cab158b9-9633-463d-ac6d-cd4e18a22628/94+-+Dream+tattoo.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Dream Until It’s Your Reality” Ashton has already accomplished so much, but she continues to accomplish bigger and better things because she continues to set goals for herself, and then strives to achieve them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0957b20-d8b4-4e11-88c2-9c362de49780/95+-+part+of+the+team.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Part Of The Team Whether it’s Adrián González, Nick Swisher, Jonny Gomes, or any of her other teammates through Home Run Derby X or another team, Ashton feels like she belongs because she has proven that her skills measure up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31d3c85d-69b2-40d7-aab6-b12ec856e4ca/96+-+Alex+Crosby.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Crosby Alex Crosby’s love for his heritage first stemmed from being around his mother, who he says is ‘super British.’ Once he saw Great Britain’s support of its soccer team, he knew what country he wanted to eventually represent on the diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b392470-c34f-42e0-9606-c16089123b98/97+-+Kelsie+Whitmore.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Kelsie Whitmore Kelsie Whitmore has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball team since 2014. She was named USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year in 2022. Kelsie played college softball for Cal State Fullerton and has also played professionally for the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association, and the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League, becoming the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. On April 10, 2024, Kelsie signed with the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League. She became the first woman to play for that league, and on June 6, 2024, became the first female to start a Pioneer League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fda8abf2-1b50-44b5-afd0-e1232d4962aa/98+-+denae+benites.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Denae Benites Denae Benites has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball team since 2019. She batted .364 while maintaining a perfect fielding percentage as a catcher for the team in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a44ddcaa-5e9b-481c-a74d-05b409fed767/99+-+the+next+generation.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Advice For The Next Generation Go after what you want. Do your best doing what you love in life every single day. Don’t let anyone take your happiness away from you. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If someone says you can’t do something, prove them wrong. Dream until it’s your reality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc69b350-143a-4d0b-b899-4068dda022a1/100+-+USA+Eye+Black.jpeg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Follow Ashton Online KODA Instagram TikTok Twitter Snapchat LinkTree Bless her Venmo or CashApp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa6ed8f1-f7df-4c84-99e5-ea3779f0dd24/101+-+Daily+Sports+History+logo.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Daily Sports History On this day in sports history, something iconic, unique, and crazy happened. That’s what the show Daily Sports History is here to bring you. Listen daily to re-live iconic moments, find out about unique situations, and learn how sports got from its beginning to where it is now. Listen now at DailySportsHistory.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ddfce443-083b-4e01-a750-8e4ce59c94b0/102+-+float+it.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Float It” If you’ve never seen Rookie Of The Year, don’t watch THIS CLIP. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22591244-9842-437e-a2c0-90e6e74fb42e/103+-+Beyer.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois was the home of the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48c6a7dc-e5ba-40d2-b9ee-1266052b62cb/103+-+Beyer.JPG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Beyer Stadium On August 3, 2023, the US Women’s National Baseball Team played an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73fb7468-68c3-4c52-9a84-c5588a850cda/105+-+Beyer.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 3, 2023 Ashton Lansdell plays third base while Kelsie Whitmore pitches during an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/478ee269-073e-4818-97ac-0861ecdbddca/106+-+Kenosha.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 4, 2023 The following day, the USWNT played another exhibition game at Simmons Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Here, Ashton waits in the bullpen down the third base line after warming up during the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5838f23-40f6-4365-a8e0-e40e77c0e64e/107+-+dirty.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dirty Uniform Seriously. It’s always dirty. It’s awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18dd3644-6481-4054-b22b-e03bd8263b30/108+-+young+ashton.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Young Ashton Ashton got her start at an early age. She’s been tearing up the base paths ever since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de879c17-3f6f-44ce-b961-8954fa48fae8/109+-+Freddie.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Freddie Freeman In the moments after crossing home plate, after his 409-foot homer had crossed the right-field fence and a packed Dodger Stadium crowd erupted in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, Freddie Freeman sprinted over to the seats behind the batter’s box and celebrated with his father through the netting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0548a679-2b8e-45cc-9e9e-b2c9cc81c7b3/110+-+Supportive+family.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Supportive Family Ashton’s entire family is incredibly supportive of her. Her mom and step dad hug her in this photo taken at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. while attending one of the Savannah Bananas games Ashton played in during the summer of 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba469438-55fa-403c-9b39-ffe52abe68a6/111+-+Nashville.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - In Nashville Ashton’s mom and brother came to see her in Nashville at the Home Run Derby X event at First Horizon Park on August 31, 2024. Andruw Jones and Nick Swisher headlined two of the four squads, with former University of Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo joining Ashton and her USWNT teammate Alex Hugo among the other participants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bef3f22f-e2ff-4c47-b87a-5c6e20a1d64d/112+-+Ole+Miss.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ole Miss Ashton’s mom and brother were even a part of her photo shoot to announce her transfer to Ole Miss, where she will play softball in the upcoming 2025 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47a567e8-1d07-4499-a569-d0f4910ba02b/Home+Run+Derby+X+durham.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X in Durham Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Jonny Gomes, Ian Desmond, Tiare Jennings, Ashton Lansdell, Amanda Lorenz, and Skylar Wallace paired with players from Duke, North Carolina, NC State and UNCW to make up the teams competing at the Home Run Derby X event at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on September 7, 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5183eabc-21cb-4f27-871f-7725fa5565ae/114+-+Savannah+Bananas+lineup+card.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - June 29, 2024 Pretty cool to see your name on any lineup card, but to see it listed fifth in the batting order during the Savannah Bananas World Tour at Victory Field in Indianapolis must have been a truly special feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75bc1bd5-5f8a-46c9-9d3e-c2459bab09c0/115+-+Savannah+pitchingg.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - All Smiles All The Time This is seriously Ashton all game long. It’s such a pleasure to watch her play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de0c20b5-d6d2-4c58-96eb-5e6fd8e92804/116+-+Savannah+Bananas+swing.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Very Appealing Jerseys Get it? Cause it’s the Bananas? So the jerseys are … nevermind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbc3eff8-a614-4598-a35b-468a1c45725c/117+-+Savannah+Bananas+at+Nationals+Park.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Ashton and the Bananas played in front of 42,000 fans at a sold out Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b5058f9-a101-4f34-9cf6-a40b93576025/118+-+baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Differences Between Baseball… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26009c05-0c2a-43ce-b8d2-8a661a58f5d5/119+-+Ole+Miss+Wearing+a+hat.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - … And Softball They’re two totally different sports. From the size of the fields, to the size of the equipment, to the motions of the throws, and even the behavior of the dugouts during games. It takes skill to be able to so seamlessly transition between playing both at a high level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2fa65552-1019-4108-9cb7-7a9fdfa666a6/120+-+ange+armato.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ange Armato Ange Armato is a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who spent time playing with the Rockford Peaches and the Kalamazoo Lassies. She was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00d9c543-7d8e-411a-9d8c-51f6ddd7d246/121+-+Evolution+of+the+ball.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League started out playing softball (left, 1943). By the time the league played its final season in 1954, they were playing baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f32680d4-c8e0-4885-bbe9-3ca00cbb124e/122+-+evolution.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b1b4bb6-4f48-4446-a361-739f3d7e1f99/123+-+Team+USA+throw.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Difference In Throws When Ashton plays baseball, a throw from third base to first is a little over 127 feet, with a ball that has a 9-inch circumference. When she plays softball, a throw from the second base bag is 60 feet, with a ball that has a 12-inch circumference. However, when she fields a routine grounder, the throw is closer to 30 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/435c5e1a-a79d-4c8d-91d1-a3c8ba3b6961/124+-+Team+USA+Ticket+Punched.JPG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Limited Time Together Team USA spends so little time actually together as a team compared to some of the other top countries competing against them in international competitions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba98efa-ad70-430d-b98c-da52b45cbac2/125+-+USA+silver+medal.JPEG Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Silver Medal With that in mind, it’s even more remarkable how consistently great Team USA has been, winning the Gold Medal at the 2019 COPABE Pan-American Games, and winning the Silver Medal at the 2024 Women’s Baseball World Cup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0fc36a7a-a4a1-4996-90b4-5a7faf1b722a/126+-+Wheeler+baserunning.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Playing With The Boys It was no big deal to Ashton or her teammates for them to be on the same team, or to share a locker room in high school. That’s a huge cultural shift from when Title IX was enacted and signed into law. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/352b6062-da8e-4359-b61a-860801c5e505/Savannah+Bananas+smiling.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Breaking Barriers From becoming the first woman to play at the NJCAA level in 2021, to playing on a Major League field in front of 42,000 fans with the Savannah Bananas just three years later, it’s been a remarkable ascension for Ashton Lansdell. But she’s achieved everything she has because she’s worked for it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e73dd02b-f5b2-4dbf-b93b-00bfaedef1cf/128+-+email.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcf2cf8b-a654-4a61-8827-c0b51dd71425/129+-+autograph.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win an autographed baseball from Ashton Lansdell? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d099d46-0a81-4c60-8ea9-6f49e446e497/130+-+Uganda+Team+USA.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Uganda In December of 2023, four players from the US Women’s National Baseball Team went to East Africa to host baseball clinics which reached over 300 girls across five regions within the Republic of Uganda. Ashton was one of those four players, and she went with Meggie Meidlinger, Anna Kimbrell, and Kelsie Whitmore on a whirlwind tour of the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60e72777-9a7e-4811-b1d3-9aea42de61db/131+-+Uganda.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Poor Nation Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world. In 2012, 37.8 percent of the population lived on less than $1.25 a day. Families often cannot support their children at school, and in most cases, girls drop out of school to help out in domestic work or to get married. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6ced736-fd9e-4ecd-8c80-7bc43670a335/132+-+Baseball+At+Heart+logo.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball At Heart At Baseball at Heart, their mission is to create an infinite and enhanced baseball community in Africa with a strong focus on youth development and providing opportunities to youngsters from underprivileged communities. They believe that through the sport of baseball, they can empower individuals, inspire positive change, and foster personal growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1afb753e-3f25-4b14-a2be-ab9b49b7f355/133+-+Grassroots+Baseball.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Grassroots Baseball Grassroots Baseball celebrates the amateur game around the globe and promotes the benefits of sports in people’s lives, through baseball. As Grassroots Baseball says, sports aren’t merely a diversion, and their influence doesn’t end at the chalk lines. Playing sports offers so much more than just the final score on the field, especially in historically underserved communities, where they can empower and transform the lives of youth, minorities, and women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d7c6d0d-815a-4484-87bf-831a206d680b/134+-+Uganda+Day+1.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 1 Heavy rain flooded the field they planned to use in Kampala, but the resourceful team moved the action indoors. The kids had a blast, practicing base running and hitting before a game between the girls and boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d40d8c7b-fb11-4b63-96e6-b610918a0813/135+-+Uganda+Day+2.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 2 The second day in Lugazi saw a little more rain, but not enough to keep Ashton and her teammates from working with some girls who already had experience wielding bats in both baseball and softball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bd00824-a524-45b3-a295-6434acd26b0f/136+-+Uganda+Day+3.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 3 On the third day, the group embarked on an incredible journey from the banks of the Nile to the Kakira Sugar Factory. Many kids in the area come from hardworking, low-income families who work in the sugar plantations. It was a day filled with fundamental skill-building — base running, hitting, fielding, and pitching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de9f05d1-c8c1-4434-bdfb-5d6ea4a14aff/137+-+Uganda+Day+4.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 4 The fourth day saw the group travel to Luwero, where the pioneering Luwero Valley High School team became the first-ever champions of women’s baseball in Uganda. A significant number of girls, aged 10 and below, joined the group to delve into the world of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5b9ca08-e8a1-4f80-9c1a-7bfb8b0b11dc/138+-+Uganda+Day+5.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 5 The fifth and final day of the trip led the group to the north region. In the Kiryandongo refugee camp, where many South Sudanese have found refuge, over 40 Sudanese girls passionately embraced baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eebc2804-eb4a-4668-907a-d9a38a867e8c/139+-+Jean+Fruth.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Jean Fruth Filmmaker and photographer Jean Fruth surrounds her work with purpose, using the power of images to tell stories and inspire change. Jean is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Grassroots Baseball. Jean’s film debut came in 2024 as Director and Producer of SEE HER BE HER. Jean is the author/photographer of three books in the Grassroots Baseball Series: Where Legends Begin (2019), Route 66 (2022), and See Her Be Her (2024). Jean is honored to be designated by Sony as one of its select Sony Artisans of Imagery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7dd1b693-3764-4e00-8f16-4f80660f6f47/140+-+See+Her+Be+Her.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - See Her Be Her See Her Be Her celebrates the girls and women of baseball, from the glorious past of the players made famous by Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own, to the ongoing exploits of the most talented females in the game today, to the very real possibility that a woman will one day make her major league debut. Jean Fruth traveled the globe, shooting on three continents and assembling the over 250 strikingly beautiful photos that illustrate this book. Buy the book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a4e3057-c791-4c1c-948b-2c265946b05f/141+-+Uganda+3.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Follow Jean Fruth Online Her photography is truly stunning. Instagram YouTube Twitter Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5a8a0be-7066-4b62-938a-a254d8d529b3/142+-+Baseball+For+All.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball For All Baseball For All started with one all-girls team playing against boys in Cooperstown, New York, and now has players in over 40 states and 5 countries competing on teams in tournaments all over the U.S. The nonprofit was founded by Justine Siegal in 2010, and it’s one I’ve been volunteering with this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76177b55-edfd-430e-9772-93ce371eb286/143+-+Justine.jpg Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Justine Siegal Justine Siegal is the first woman in baseball history to coach for a professional men’s baseball team (Brockton Rox - 2009), the first female to throw batting practice to a Major League Baseball team during Spring Training (Cleveland Indians - 2011), and the first woman to ever coach for a MLB organization (Oakland Athletics - 2015). Since then, her jersey has been hung in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. She has also gone on to work with baseball teams around the world, including Team Israel at the MLB World Baseball Classic Qualifier, and as a guest coach in Japan and Mexico. She founded Baseball For All in 2010 to provide opportunities for girls to play, coach, and lead in baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0538650b-2926-442c-903f-a33a78ac453e/144+-+logo.png Season 4 - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/02 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea682efa-f6b9-4746-8890-4bad57f670f1/youtube.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44183ade-83f0-42e3-b489-54dab1a0e433/square.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom Me and Todd Radom after recording our interview at his home in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acf09e2f-aade-4d35-afe7-f7dcab0e442f/01+-+1924+Negro+Leagues.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1924 Negro League World Series Card Set This episode is brought to you by historian Jay Caldwell and his 1924 Negro League World Series card set. Featured artists in the set include Graig Kreindler, Brian Kong, Jeff Suntala, Mike Kupka, and Darryl Matthews, who is the son of Negro Leagues player Fran Matthews. BUY THE CARD SET HERE Graig Kreindler was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1899bd8-81a8-4bb7-8758-1a6f49afb5dc/02+-+1924+Negro+League+World+Series.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Five members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame participated in the 1924 Negro League World Series, with Biz Mackey, Judy Johnson, and Louis Santop playing for Hilldale, while Bullet Rogan and José Méndez played for the Monarchs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/838bdef0-6e70-4869-8a90-d77521ddc0fb/03+-+Phil+S.+Dixon.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phil S. Dixon Negro Leagues historian and author Phil S. Dixon and I spoke about the panoramic photo of the 1924 Negro League World Series shown above. Phil was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42b8c635-1b11-4dc6-9c6b-c8c8e4e65691/04+-+Super+Bowl+XXXVIII+logo.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Super Bowl XXXVIII Todd Radom designed the logo for Super Bowl XXXVIII. The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in the game, which was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2004. At the time, this was the most watched Super Bowl ever with 89.8 million viewers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/780235bf-06b5-4120-bcdc-41bed7bf713b/05+-+2009+NBA+All+Star+Game.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2009 NBA All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 146–119 in the game, which was played at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona on February 15, 2009. The West's Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were named joint winners of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3da6dec7-9d5d-475b-9d78-40da6c293aba/06+-+2014+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2014 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the game, which was played at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 15, 2014. Mike Trout was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ddea3b52-9d10-4352-b7c9-2e27375b0690/07+-+2016+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2016 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 4-2 in the game, which was played at Petco Park in San Diego, California on July 12, 2016. Eric Hosmer was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f07c567-469e-4f4c-a90f-c751f0ae02d3/08+-+2018+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2018 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 8-6 in the game, which was played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on July 17, 2018. Alex Bregman was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59358977-6995-48f2-88a1-77727d4e6e2f/09+-+Washington+Nationals.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Washington Nationals Todd designed this logo for the Washington Nationals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09dd0e54-d806-4dc0-af45-6e3cb7ca3902/10+-+Los+Angeles+Angels.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Los Angeles Angels Todd designed this logo for the Los Angeles Angels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/923504cf-9e15-40ff-bb32-bc5735192a6d/11+-+Winning+Ugly.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Winning Ugly Winning Ugly is Todd’s loving homage to some of the most “questionable” MLB uniforms ever worn. It’s a tribute to the sheer chutzpah of whomever it was that decided that the Pittsburgh Pirates should wear a dizzying combination of black and gold uniforms that made them look for all the world like a swarm of bumblebees. Winning Ugly is also a history of the baseball uniform, beginning with the ones that the Cincinnati Red Stockings first wore on July 15, 1867. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51d34e4e-4d00-4549-83a7-829e6e2fe4d0/12+-+Fabric+of+the+Game.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fabric Of The Game Fabric of the Game is the result of a three year collaboration between Todd and Chris Creamer which started in earnest with a 2017 visit to visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s D. K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, located in Toronto. The two examined vintage sweaters and dug deep into the history of every NHL team, surrounded by ghosts and legends, with the Conn Smythe Trophy close at hand. The book contains more than 50 original illustrations and 100 photos that span the century-long history of the NHL. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9e387d1-3097-4f73-ac60-fd3b89cc2706/13+-+Big+3.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - BIG3 Todd is also the man behind the league and team identities, as well as the branding, for Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. The league was founded in 2017 and consists of 12 teams whose rosters include both former NBA players and international players. The rules of BIG3 games contain deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2435730-c14f-4630-9389-fa9d962f91d3/14+-+1975+red+sox.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1975 Boston Red Sox Despite living close to Yankee Stadium, Todd became a Red Sox fan growing up. The first team he remembers loving - and, unfortunately, the first team to break his heart - was the 1975 Red Sox. The 1975 team finished first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses. Following a sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, the Red Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abb51e20-fa40-484c-a959-4dddc1113a9b/15+-+Boston+Massacre+ticket.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1978 Boston Massacre The 1978 Boston Massacre was the name given to a four-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees in September of 1978. The Yankees won all four games in the series by a combined score of 42-9, leaving the teams tied with identical records at the end of play on September 10. They were the first games Todd attended in person at Fenway Park, and this ticket was Todd’s from the fourth and final game of the series, which the Yankees won 7-4. The series was named after the Boston Massacre of 1770, which was a violent confrontation between colonists and British soldiers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d1a8f13-cabc-41b6-a456-199dd2a06d78/16+-+Favorite+players.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Favorite Players Todd’s favorite players growing up were members of those 1970s Red Sox teams: Carl Yastrzemski - Read his SABR Biography HERE Dwight Evans - Read his SABR Biography HERE Fred Lynn - Read his SABR Biography HERE Jim Rice - Read his SABR Biography HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8d00330-b6c6-4b6c-ac37-03447425091d/17+-+Todd%27s+dad.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Artistic Family Todd’s comes from an artistic family. His father was a graphic designer and photographer. His father was a painter. And his father was a painter, too. Here is Todd’s dad in late September of 1973, sweeping home plate at the old Old Yankee Stadium during a photo shoot for the Empire Sporting Goods catalog (Mets catcher Duffy Dyer stands at left). Demolition of the stadium began October 1, 1973, making this one of the very last things which happened before the renovations. Duffy Dyer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98cb2b17-069c-4ed7-9fd3-78ce5ce47925/18+-+grandfather.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Not Pushed Toward The Arts Despite coming from such a long line of artists, Todd wasn’t necessarily encouraged to pursue a similar career. He wasn’t discouraged from becoming an artist, either. Here is a photo of Todd (at left) and his brother (at right) with their grandfather, Ial, at Central Park Zoo in the late 1960s. Todd’s grandfather was the most dapper man Todd ever knew. He was a fine artist by trade who painted in a collared shirt and tie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72d27f83-59d7-4917-bc4a-6e41f16637f3/19+-+Clemente.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - September 24, 1971 Todd attended his first baseball game in person on September 24, 1971 at Shea Stadium. In front of 35,936 fans, he watched the Pirates beat the Mets 3-2 in just under two hours. Within a month, the Pirates went on to win the World Series and the World Series MVP would be Clemente. Clemente was the honoree that night in a pre-game ceremony at Shea. With his beloved wife, three sons and parents in attendance, he stood proudly alongside a contingent of Puerto Rican civic and community leaders from the New York area. Todd attended the game with his Great Uncle Gus, sitting in the press box. Roberto Clemente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50930f2a-3e10-472d-aede-3226ed2a3ab7/20+-+Mattingly.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Don Mattingly Don Mattingly played his entire career before interleague play was introduced, and he never appeared in a World Series. In fact, he is the only player with more than 1,250 games played for the Yankees without a World Series appearance. As such, despite playing for 14 seasons from 1982 through 1995, he only played against a total of 13 different teams in his 1,785 career games. Don Mattingly’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abd211d8-11cd-4dc6-be9f-8facb079bed3/21+-+bumblebees.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bumblebees Another formative memory for Todd was seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates and their black and yellow “bumblebee” uniforms in person at Shea Stadium on July 16, 1977. Here, Pirates LF Mike Easler bats against the Mets in Shea Stadium. Mike Easler’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc404aa8-2ca9-49ff-b966-955d938d7822/21+-+1977+Old+Timers+Day.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1977 Old Timers Day at Shea July 16, 1977 also just happened to be Old Timers Day at Shea Stadium, as well. And, oh yeah, this historic moment happened that day, too. All four of the great New York center fielders walked onto the field together. No big deal. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography Willie Mays’ SABR Biography Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f6427d-c65c-4191-9c34-f96047e3f5e2/23+-+milton+glaser.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Milton Glaser One of the graphic designers Todd looked up to as he was coming up was Milton Glaser, who is best known for the creation of the I Love NY logo. Glaser was born on June 26, 1929, and passed away on his 91st birthday in 2020. He is recognized for numerous designs, including the logos for for DC Comics, Stony Brook University, and Brooklyn Brewery, as well as his graphic work on the introduction of the iconic 1969 Olivetti Valentine typewriter. Among his other famous works is this 1966 psychedelic art style poster of Bob Dylan, which was commissioned by CBS Records for Dylan’s forthcoming album, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4cc5a3-dc93-4c77-b190-5e8aa2b39fb7/24+-+senior+thesis+triptych+painting.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom Todd studied design at New York City’s School of Visual Arts. His senior thesis was this triptych painting on the visual history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c282b09-581d-4656-bda4-8ced6c26e557/25+-+ymca.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Sloane House YMCA Before SVA had official dorms, some students stayed in one of the 1600 rooms of the Sloane House YMCA, located at 356 West 34th Street, just below Hell’s Kitchen, near 9th Avenue in New York. The building, which was the largest residential YMCA building in the nation, also had floors that functioned as a hostel and a notorious 5th floor that was a long term S.R.O. (Single Room Occupancy). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7006791-165e-436a-a96c-89a48b5fb83e/26+-+Keith+Haring.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Keith Haring One of the opportunities afforded to Todd thanks to living in New York at the time, was being able to attend Keith Haring’s first gallery show in September of 1982 at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery, shown here. The show was attended not just by collectors in suits and ties but also by Haring’s contemporaries and friends from different cultures, from street artists to college students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b01d3d01-2b9f-47b6-ae15-3642cf61788d/27+-+September+of+1988+-+with+Vincent+and+Jim%2C+with+Bill+behind+the+camera.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Road Trips Todd and his buddies started going on road trips in college. Seeing the country and attending baseball games at the various stadiums essentially wound up being background research for his future career. Here he is (at right) in September of 1988 with his friends Vincent and Jim, while their friend Bill is behind the camera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd539355-4125-4556-b419-7ea54d21d676/900+-+1987-09+Burger+King+Growth+Chart+Day.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Comiskey Park Todd remembers this game he saw at Comiskey Park September 20, 1987 between the White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. There was an Ozzie Guillén Burger King Growth Chart giveaway that day, for those of you keeping score at home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b76b9a09-21dd-447a-bed4-52be5544ff55/28+-+Jim+Bennett.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - James Bennett Jim is one of Todd’s buddies from SVA. They are still friends to this day. Todd has some of his work hanging in his home. Here is a piece he did for The National Pastime Museum of Shoeless Joe Jackson. James’ Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd7812b8-d2b2-486d-9f28-9df3a69c3f0b/29+-+Immaculate+Grid.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Immaculate Grid Immaculate Grid was developed by Brian Minter, a software developer from Atlanta, who named it after the immaculate inning, in which a pitcher strikes out three batters on three pitches each. The first grid appeared on April 4, 2023. Each of the grid's three rows and columns corresponds to a professional team, statistical achievement, or award, and players must fill each square by selecting an athlete who meets both criteria. Since players get only one guess per square, each one must be correct for the result to be "immaculate". Correctly guessed players cannot be used elsewhere in the grid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecce6c46-8436-420e-84ee-0d8790ae21df/901+-+Steve+Jeltz.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Steve Jeltz Immaculate Grid has bottled an intense desire for any sports fan, repackaged it, and given it right back to us: to just sit around and name some guys. We are given opportunities to remember guys we otherwise might not have a reason to think of very often, such as Milt Thompson, or Steve Jeltz, who is pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55104823-6166-4db5-9c8c-346da5c0a2ca/30+-+1995+World+Series.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1995 World Series Todd was able to see the country when it was a very different place than it is today. While it has only been a few decades, much has changed. Here he is at a decently big game in Cleveland in 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1faeb506-bdbf-4830-a701-e1500dcace5e/31+-+Milwaukee+County+Stadium+after+the+%28Free%29+game.+Vincent%2C+Bill%2C+Todd%2C+Jim+-+September+11%2C+1988.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Been There, Done That Todd’s travels have allowed him to understand fan bases in ways which many other designers never could. Here he is at Milwaukee County Stadium after the game on September 11, 1988, with his friends (left to right) Vincent, Bill, [Todd] and Jim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917d2299-6f3d-45ec-8a79-183393596777/32+-+Exhibition+Stadium+in+Toronto%2C+1988.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Exhibition Stadium in Toronto Originally built in 1959 for football and then modified in 1975-76 for baseball, the Canadian National Exhibition Stadium - as it was originally called - was the home stadium of the Toronto Blue Jays for 968 games from April 7, 1977 through May 28, 1989. Todd was able to see a game there in 1988 before the new stadium was built. Here he is, enjoying a hot dog in the upper deck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec693179-67b7-45b1-9154-5be0a0aef778/33+-+Globe+Life+Field.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Globe Life Field Todd designed the logo for Globe Life Field, which is the retractable roof stadium in Arlington, Texas where the Texas Rangers have played their home games since 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 National League Championship Series and the 2020 World Series were played exclusively at Globe Life Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3a955bb-1804-4fdf-9160-cdaece058ba1/34+-+Souvenir+stop+at+the+boarder+-+Montreal+1988.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Drinking Beer Beer goes down like water when you’re drinking outside in the Texas heat in the summer. One of the reasons why Globe Life Field was built with a retractable roof was to keep the fans and players safe and comfortable during extreme temperatures. Todd and his buddies have never had an issue putting beers back, as is evidenced by this photo of the group at the Canadian border in 1988. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/497df50f-344e-4ec2-a921-5b5660a4687e/35+-+books.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd’s first jobs after SVA was in the publishing industry, designing book jackets. He has done over 1,000 book cover designs in his career, many of them baseball related. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/498422e8-0e05-4653-80a4-f04db450de3c/36+-+Larry+Ritter.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Lawrence Ritter Lawrence Ritter wrote the The Glory of Their Times (1966, updated 1984), and collaborated with another baseball historian, Donald Honig, on The Image of Their Greatness (1979) and The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time (1981). In researching The Glory of Their Times, Ritter travelled a total distance of 75,000 miles (121,000 km) to interview his subjects, allowing them to reminisce freely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13ab197b-4332-4f24-8781-b26aef6e9e00/902+-+John+Thorn.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - John Thorn John Thorn has been the Official Historian of Major League Baseball since March 1, 2011. He, along with Pete Palmer, first compiled a baseball encyclopedia known as Total Baseball in 1989. The encyclopedia contains seasonal and career statistics in numerous categories for every Major League player, as well as historical, opinion, and year-by-year essays. John also served as the publisher of Total Sports Publishing throughout its existence from 1998 through 2002, during which point he and Todd worked closely together on a number of books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfb2cbc5-02e7-440a-ab7c-63d73c59e058/a+journal+that+belonged+to+my+grandmother%2C+who+was+born+in+1910.+It+contains+her+childhood+collection+of+her+father%E2%80%99s+cigar+bands-tiny+pieces+of+art+that+speak+to+a+distant+place+and+time..jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Grandmother These pages are from a journal that belonged to Todd’s grandmother, Pearl, who was born in 1910. It contains her childhood collection of her father’s cigar bands - tiny pieces of art that speak to a distant place and time. Pearl went to Parsons School of Design in the 1920s and 1930s. Parsons was founded in 1896 and is one of the oldest schools of art and design in New York. Parsons was the first school to offer programs in fashion design, interior design, advertising, graphic design, transdisciplinary design, and lighting design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfed41ec-71ec-4e58-b3af-d257a9d5f3d6/903+-+Letraset.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Letraset Letraset was a company known mainly for manufacturing sheets of typefaces and other artwork elements using the dry-transfer lettering method. The dry rub-down transfer technique was used by the punk movement because of its ease of manipulation, its low price and the quality of the rendered layout. Letraset's ease of use and widespread availability aligned with the do-it-yourself value of this movement by allowing punks to create designs independent from printers and publishers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a82650ce-7755-42b6-9af2-c0e86ddea014/37+-+doing+things+by+hand.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Doing Things By Hand Todd came up before everything was done digitally, meaning he had to learn how to do everything by hand. From drawing and lettering, to coloring. Those skills helped him understand the basics of design, and allowed him to flourish when the transition to digital began. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de78f3a0-c17f-4a1d-bcb8-09ed1988510c/Drawing%2C+lettering%2C+rubber+cement%2C+x-acto+knives%2C+registration+marks%2C+etc.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Drawing, lettering, rubber cement, x-acto knives, registration marks, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/797052eb-ce4c-4399-8346-5493f64cf793/34+-+Macintosh_Quadra_700.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Macintosh Quadra 700 When Todd made the transition to digital, he purchased a tricked-out Macintosh Quadra 700, along with a flatbed scanner and a black and white laser printer. At the time, that equipment was state of the art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dccdaaca-4dc8-4a51-a923-47a77a887930/39+-+Todd%27s+Office.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Office The leap in technology over the past 30 years is astounding. Now, Todd can work off of a laptop from anywhere in the world, and with the help of iCloud and Dropbox, he can pull up any file from the past 3+ decades and work on it wherever he is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d545fed5-d921-4172-8891-7d9488e9f21d/40+-+Charlotte+Hornets.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Alexander Julian Alexander Julian designed the uniform for the Charlotte Hornets when they joined the NBA. “I wanted everything to represent the little details and design aesthetic that had popularized my brand. And I know this is difficult to believe, but I designed the first vertical striped polo shirts. That’s the reason the vertical stripes were in the jerseys, and they’re actually knitted, not printed. I didn’t want the shorts to be striped, because I wanted it to look like sportswear, so I did the stripes on just the top, not on the shorts. I added the multicolor trim, the kind of thing I was always putting on my sweaters and knits. They were the first basketball shorts—and maybe the last—to have pleats.” Julian also re-designed the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball uniforms. He created the trademark argyle pattern down the sides of the uniform, added bolder trim, and used different fabrics for the 1991-92 season upon Dean Smith's request. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f446aca-f052-42d7-8c6c-a2a71a612b43/41+-+white+sox.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - White Sox and Hip Hop The new White Sox logo was created in 1991 to usher in a new era for the franchise as they moved into a new ballpark. It’s a simple and clean look and was immediately embraced by West Coast Hip Hop Culture - most notably by Dr. Dre’s former group N.W.A. Despite the rap group famously being from South Central Los Angeles, N.W.A. embraced the new White Sox logo. It was Dr. Dre specifically sporting the White Sox hat in the “Nothing But A ‘G’ Thang” music video that helped cement the Sox place in Hip Hop Culture. Ice Cube says he made the White Sox cap popular in hip hop, but credits Frank Thomas for putting it on the map in general: "I think the Big Hurt played more in that than me. I put it on the hip hop map." Watch the documentary “Fitted In Black: How Hip-Hop Fueled The Greatest Rebrand In Sports” HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4072981d-3b86-45b5-bfd1-d26d88a50c27/42+-+Mickey+Mantle.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Mitchell & Ness Todd makes a pretty ridiculous claim during our interview that Mitchell & Ness was making throwback jerseys for 35-year-old men who grew up idolizing Mickey Mantle. Well, I am here to remind you that I am 37 years old, not 35. Get your facts straight, Todd! Here I am wearing my 1951 Mickey Mantle throwback jersey - made by Mitchell & Ness - inside the Yankees Museum at the New Yankee Stadium before Game 4 of the 2024 World Series. Former owner of Mitchell & Ness, Peter Capolino, was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d76d3d1d-02cc-446e-b3ec-547e49135a8d/43+-+Roy+Rogers.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Roy Rogers Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, was the midwife of national sports team marketing. When the original NFL Enterprises - now called NFL Properties, the division of the NFL that licenses team logos - was created in 1959, it was a division of Roy Rogers Enterprises. Before Rogers came along, each of the 12 NFL teams took care of its own licensing. Some teams even gave away their rights, thinking the team was getting free publicity. In 1958 the Los Angeles Rams, the first team to put its logo on the side of its helmets, started selling a bobblehead doll of a Rams player. The doll was a hit. "This is the first we can identify of team logos being applied to a product," says Roger Atkin, former vice president of retail sales at NFL Properties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4c2ce07-dd7f-4f3f-91c2-07ef726ecead/44+-+Anne+Occi.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Anne Occi Anne Occi was hired as MLB’s first creative director in October 1990, with a mission to build the league’s design capabilities from scratch. Her formative design work appeared on the original uniforms for expansion teams like the Colorado Rockies and the then-Florida Marlins (both born in 1993), and the Arizona Diamondbacks and the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays (both of which debuted in 1998). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ad61545-0599-4d08-8f0a-d3278b8662ec/45+-+Tigers.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tigers Alternate Jerseys “As alternate jerseys go, this one is not bad,” Todd Radom wrote, “but it represents a strange departure from the Tigers’ tried-and-true uniform routine.” The fan reaction was less than enthusiastic. “It didn't go over very well,” Trammell said. “The Olde English D, it’s been there forever, and we don’t want to change.” They were supposed to be worn for Sunday home games, but management decided they didn't like them, so they were scrapped after one game and one game only, a 12-1 defeat to the Red Sox on May 7, 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c50f3ff-a879-4098-9c6e-77eae05a0b43/46+-+Coca+Cola.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Coca-Cola Coca-Cola’s brand history began when John Stith Pemberton, the inventor of the beverage, turned to his book accountant, Frank M. Robinson, to help him brand his creation. Frank immediately suggested the simple and mark-hitting ‘Coca-Cola’. The marketing strategy created a boom, and one year later Frank came up with the first logo – the handwritten name of the company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b212ffe-2674-47d1-bd2a-5ab2d9fba03f/47+-+ibm.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - IBM The saga of IBM began in 1911, conceived by Charles Ranlett Flint, and officially adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation in 1924, a move that signaled its ambition beyond mere computing tasks. This era heralded the evolution of IBM from a modest beginning into a titan of the technology industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33588077-c6c9-4910-b803-f4a5396149c3/48+-+Yankees.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees Top Hat Logo This New York Yankees logo was designed by Lon Keller and unveiled on March 1, 1947. It featured a patriotic Uncle Sam-style tophat on a red and white baseball bat, with the bat also forming part of the letter k in the scripted Yankees across with a red and white baseball behind. This version differed slightly from the mark used today, the stars on the hat are different and the lighter blue has been eliminated. The Yankees used this logo as a co-primary logo from 1968-80. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8652b8f-63bc-48f4-8a54-09a8d8c7f70d/49+-+Blue+Jays.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Toronto Blue Jays logo One of the few things hanging on the wall in Todd’s office is this envelope addressed to him from the Toronto Blue Jays, featuring the original logo designed by Richard Walker, and signed by him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ab5a360-59ed-4824-9759-1a08c931074c/50+-+Blue+Jays.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Blue Jays Logo History The Blue Jays made their primary logo color red at one point, completely dropped the word “Blue” from their team name and went with black as their primary logo at another point, and have seemingly finally righted the ship by embracing the “Blue” in Blue Jays again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/578a94c9-10bb-4f35-903d-df613e9d3c8f/51+-+NY.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Yankees’ “NY” The interlocking “NY” of the Yankees’ logo is arguably the most recognizable in all of professional sports. Injured NYPD patrolman John McDowell was awarded the NYPD’s Medal of Valor, which prominently featured the interlocking “NY” symbol above a silver shield, depicting a woman placing a laurel wreath on a policeman’s head. It was designed by Louis Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., and survives at the New York City Police Museum. The baseball team arrived in 1903 as the Highlanders, not yet called the Yankees. In 1909, the interlocking “NY” made its first appearance on the Highlanders' uniform caps and left sleeves. It is believed that the design was adopted by William “Big Bill” Devery, one of the club’s owners and a former chief in the NYPD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a841e6e5-fd70-4ee2-9165-f8689a1b9ac2/53+-+White+Sox.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out While the Yankees have barely changed their look in more than 100 years, the White Sox have gone a different route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31cdaf4c-6d1e-4075-8e5f-b3eaa9b59139/54+-+nba.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - NBA Jerseys The NBA has lost its way when it comes to which team wears which jerseys in games. This photo was taken during Game 1 of a First Round playoff series on April 16, 2023. The Miami Heat were the #8 seed, playing on the road, but wearing white uniforms. The Milwaukee Bucks were the #1 seed, playing at home. Though their primary color is forest green, the court for this game was blue, and their uniforms were black. Make it make sense, NBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22af2730-7ec7-44fb-9c58-ee02a0e074f2/52+-+August+2000%2C+at+an+empty+Yankee+Stadium%2C+a+photo+shoot+with+Don+Zimmer.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - In Modern Use Todd poses here at an empty Yankee Stadium in August of 2000 next to Don Zimmer, who proudly displays the interlocking NY on both his Yankees hat and uniform. Don Zimmer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61bb0f8f-9e79-475b-903d-dffdafdba83f/55+-+NY+Giants+%26+Mets+caps.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out This image was taken from Part 3 of Todd’s great “Twelve Ballcaps, Twelve Stories” blog series. Check out his blog HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7bd77a2-2319-4832-b239-4d9382b7c96d/56+-+Mismatched+D.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tigers Mismatched Ds The Tigers’ uniform Old English "D" made its debut in 1896, when the club played in the Western League. Its first appearance took place on April 28 of that year, during the club’s home opener at Bennett Park, located at the corner of Michigan Street and Trumbull Avenue. The club first wore an Old English "D" on their caps in 1905, though the “D” on the cap and the “D” on the uniform didn’t perfectly match. Todd has written about this a number of times, including HERE, HERE, and HERE. The Tigers' “D” has been a staple of the team's visual identity since 1904, when it was first featured on their road uniforms. The D morphed and sometimes disappeared entirely in the early 20th century. The 1930-33 clubs wore a script "Detroit," both at home and on the road. These four seasons represent the longest continual stretch that the franchise did not sport an Old English "D" in its history. Todd Lukas of Uni Watch has also written about teams with mismatched cap and uniform logos. You can read one such article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1b775ce-6e95-4686-8e04-af03ff913616/57+-+Bill+Clinton.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bill Clinton Todd and the former President, chatting it up about the St. Louis Cardinals. Clinton was born in 1946, the same year that the Cardinals bought shiny red satin uniforms to be worn during night road games. It would appear that Hillary would have approved of those uniforms (note her jacket in this photo), but Manager Eddie Dyer decided they were too flashy and scrapped them. The team did end up wearing satin uniforms in 1948, though they were not red. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39b1b050-16c3-4528-9e25-caec597aa3fa/58+-+Birds+on+Bat.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Birds on Bat The Cardinals introduced their now-classic Birds On Bat uniforms before the 1922 season. While they have evolved over the years, the basic idea and layout has remained mostly the same. Todd wrote about them HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b713526-a522-4851-81d6-f8d40098f21b/59+-+todd%27s+first+MLB+design.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s First MLB Design On October 29, 1993, the Los Angeles Dodgers began a three-game Friendship Series against the newly formed Taiwanese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) All-Star team. The Dodgers roster for the exhibition series consisted of 25 players, including Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser, future Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martínez, former Rookie of the Year winners Eric Karros, Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi. The Dodgers were managed by future Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, and hitting coach Ben Hines and pitching coach Ron Perranoski also made the trip to Taiwan. Vin Scully additionally traveled with the team to be the commentator of the series and Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo was on the trip as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c097fd2c-2d7b-44b1-a3d8-be710a3b02b0/60+-+Knoxville+Smokies.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Knoxville Smokies The first baseball logo of any kind that Todd did was for the minor league Knoxville Smokies, who just recently announced that a quarter century after leaving Knoxville, the now-Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs is returning home and reprising their former name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce525f6c-9663-406d-8a07-7243eea73b26/61+-+1994+Milwaukee+Brewers.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Milwaukee Brewers Todd was the mastermind behind the Milwaukee Brewers’ so-called Motre Bame logo. As the team celebrated their 25th anniversary in Milwaukee, they introduced this new look. Green was incorporated as a color for the first time in franchise history. This logo, which was first introduced in 1994 and used until the end of the 1999 season, resembled an industrial stamp, paying homage to Milwaukee's industrial history, and gave the team a modern yet old-fashioned look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b00b26-51c3-43f7-9bc6-9d813964a6d8/62+-+Ball+In+Glove.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - "Ball-In-Glove" Logo The "ball-in-glove" logo was introduced in 1978 after a contest which was open to the public drew more than 2,000 entries. An art history student at UW-Eau Claire, Tom Meindel, designed the logo that went on to be the winner. The design of the logo was meant to be recognizable on items as small as a button and as large as a billboard. The logo, which arranges the letters M and B together to form the shape of a baseball glove with a baseball inside, was retired after the 1993 season. An iconic design, the Brewers brought this concept back nearly thirty years later as its full-time design in 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0bac208-2c47-480f-9cfc-855cca318e87/63+-+Original+Milwaukee+sketches.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Original Drawings Todd lent his original drawings for the Brewers redesign to the Worcester Art Museum for their 2021 exhibition “The Iconic Jersey: Baseball x Fashion” which was the first exhibition solely devoted to the baseball jersey in an art museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94ad03ef-19db-4da2-b903-2a2f7600e7ca/908+-+Milwaukee+Brewers+original+drawings+2.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hand Drawings This was the last job Todd did before computerization, and he felt it was too important to attempt it on Adobe Illustrator, a program with which he wasn’t entirely comfortable yet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/397abf8b-f962-4ab6-b8a5-d700fa50fe98/64+-+Todd+Wearing+His+Own+Hat.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Wearing His Own Work It must be really awesome to be able to wear a hat with a Major League Baseball team’s logo on it which you designed. Here is Todd doing just that at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1994, with his friends Bill, Vincent, Joe, and Jim. Fitted hat collectors would kill for this hat now. “It’s about fashion. It’s about drip.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c7f24b9-443d-4a5f-a1d6-f3c05d0a631e/909+-+Todd%27s+office.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Office Todd really doesn’t have too many things on display in his office, so you know that the things he does choose to display are incredibly special to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123bcb01-e99f-409b-8737-036a3879b7a8/65+-+Hartford+Whalers.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hartford Whalers Logo Graphic designer Peter Good created the Whalers logo as a work-for-hire gig for Jack Lardis Associates, an ad agency that was working with the Whalers at the time. Good was not a hockey fan and in fact had never designed a sports logo before (nor would he ever design one again), but he ended up creating one of the sports world’s most beloved logos. He was paid $2,000. Todd was lucky enough to spend some time with Peter Good before he passed away, and Peter gifted Todd this original logo sheet, which he signed for Todd. It is hanging in Todd’s office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c763f5a4-f745-48ed-956a-d83af80cc52c/66+-+tattoos.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Sports Logo Tattoos Todd says “sports fans are the most ardent brand loyalists on earth” because what other logo would someone willingly tattoo on their body? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1484dd9f-b4ef-4a84-b1bb-d9f626eecd92/67+-+Kings+100.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Sacramento Kings 100th Anniversary Todd designed the very first 100th anniversary logo for any NBA franchise. The mark draws upon several easily-defined visual touchstones that help bridge the entire history of the franchise, starting with the ribbon in the center, which echoes the one that was utilized by the team when it was based in Rochester and won the NBA championship in 1950-51. Red and blue have been the team’s colors in every city that the Kings have called home, and the team’s current uniform script is included at bottom. Finally, five cities have hosted the team, and all are represented by five jewels in the logo’s crown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/722c6a63-88ae-4e8e-8e57-7e0f24691403/68+-+Mariners.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fascinated By Architecture Many of Todd’s designs, especially for commemorative logos, include architecture. This logo commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Seattle Mariners is a perfect example, showcasing the city’s skyline in the background, highlighted by the iconic Space Needle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48606bce-46b1-4488-a899-cd017db4fb9e/69+-+old+yankee+stadium.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Old Yankee Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Old Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28b09259-da05-4072-ae98-e0af2ccdc3d9/70+-+new+yankee+stadium.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - New Yankee Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the first season at New Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5d50958-9886-4cc4-b7ab-14f086697fd5/71+-+busch+stadium.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Busch Stadium II Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Busch Stadium II. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa15ae10-2428-417b-a217-f17a36bd7945/72+-+busch+stadium+iii.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Busch Stadium III Todd designed the commemorative logo for the first season at Busch Stadium III. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a163dc6-91ab-4046-b71c-d1167e9025cb/73+-+fenway+park.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fenway Park Todd designed the commemorative logo for the 90th Anniversary of Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7005b9c2-fb2e-4ee6-ab9a-5b3e8df542f7/73+-+fenway+100.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Red Sox Todd designed the commemorative logo for the 100th Season of the Boston Red Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08bfbd33-db15-4440-9581-3abb209ab713/73+-+Todd%27s+design+at+Fenway+park.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Green Monster Here is that previous logo, enormously displayed on the Green Monster at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6e6d59a-7afe-4e2c-867b-924f8eb6f792/74+-+Stadium+logos.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Here are some of the other stadium logos which Todd has created over the years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2253366b-44cb-4dce-9e01-a23c29401543/75+-+SSG+Landers.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - SSG Landers Todd partnered with the KBO’s SSG Landers Baseball Club to create a new brand identity for the franchise. The new program includes primary, secondary, and tertiary logos, wordmarks, uniform and headwear designs, apparel designs, and activation resources. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48f91dc3-e776-433c-aed5-aea883173651/910+-+SSG+Landers.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - SSG Landers Uniforms Todd was at the annual winter fan convention in Incheon, Korea, where he unveiled the new visual identity & uniforms for the Korean Baseball Association’s SSG Landers in front of 1,500 cheering fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b64f6b9-38b1-4618-98ba-19d8b64a9234/76+-+Scalability.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Scalability Todd and I went to the Phillies game together on April 16, 2024. The Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 thanks to home runs by J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper. While walking around Citizens Bank Park, we noticed this sign, which was a logo Todd designed to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the stadium. The sign was about 4’ tall and 6’ wide, but thanks to Todd’s design, it could have been scaled up much bigger than that, or scaled down much smaller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f26b19-894b-46b0-b5b3-21fd7ac8d1a7/77+-+2010+NBA+All+Star+Game.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out You wanna talk scalability? Check out the size of the scoreboard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08c93fc7-9bdc-4aab-aa1d-4470ac27702d/78+-+Tiger+Stadium.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tiger Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Tiger Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/837b1e0d-5208-4c5e-9c80-946434d6298c/79+-+Shea+Stadium.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Shea Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Shea Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7de697b-2e0b-4ac4-bf43-ec6a4d00a523/80+-+Bricks.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bricks Todd may not be from Chicago, but he knows a couple important bricks when he sees them. Some of the items he has on display in his office are these bricks from Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9e8a60-b01f-4842-978b-257359890ba1/81+-+Mets.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Mets Lettering Todd created a script font for the Mets, where the end of every letter had to meet the beginning of the next letter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd050694-abf9-4e55-be80-b9db7d41eb12/82+-+whimsical+logos.JPG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Humor, Whimsy, and Joy Individual teams each printed their own programs up until 1974 when Major League Baseball Promotion Corp took over with a single, unified vision. That seems to be a kind of turning point in the aesthetics of the game, from the whimsical 50s and 60s, into a new era where teams and the league tried to be more serious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/017357b2-b5a3-48e0-8e31-95ed8469f602/83+-+Reimagined+World+Series+logos.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Series Logos There was no official World Series logo until 1978. But in 2003 for the 100th anniversary of the first modern World Series, Major League Baseball commissioned Todd to imagine what logos of the un-logoed past might have looked like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84e09b00-1cce-4916-b0c3-ea3efd800e86/84+-+Hollywood+Stars.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hometown Collection For over a decade, Todd has worked with Minor League Baseball’s “Hometown Collection” to revive, and in some cases re-envision, obscure identities that might have otherwise been lost to time. You research defunct, often obscure brands to create authentic renderings of headwear marks, logos, and uniform lettering. Here is his take on a logo for the Hollywood Stars, who played at Gilmore Field. You can buy official merchandise from the Hometown Collection HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad9a1fd-0e51-4d1c-8259-5767d9fc0975/85+-+Time+Traveling.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Time Traveling Todd likes to look through old newspapers while doing this type of research so he can truly immerse himself in the time period and get a better understanding for what things might have looked and felt like in that bygone era. He likes to set aside time for himself to fall down those rabbit holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aabbe78d-2ae0-4857-a780-d87c2d42a68b/86+-+1992+Cooperstown+Collection+designs.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cooperstown Collection These are some of Todd’s original drawings from 1992 when he started working on the Cooperstown Collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1acc861-c606-4a5a-adce-405844cce7fe/87+-+winning+ugly.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Winning Ugly In Winning Ugly: A Visual History of the Most Bizarre Baseball Uniforms Ever Worn, Todd says that the line of demarcation in terms of what baseball uniforms look like is the year 1987. You can buy Todd’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8928d43f-4a83-4973-aae7-667fc833b3c7/88+-+white+sox.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b04185d-0318-47c0-98dd-74a81e20b96c/89+-+tequila+sunrise.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaa92eb6-64cd-4929-b71f-40d02d954d4c/120+-+1869+Cincinnati+Red+Stockings.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Uniforms of the Past Here is Todd with some players of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cde27091-4293-4b20-ad29-49eda1f71ceb/911+-+Peter+Ueberroth.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Peter Ueberroth After the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were such a financial success, Peter Ueberroth was brought in to become baseball’s next commissioner. He had just been named Time’s Man of the Year. However, he was also known as a “miser with a Midas touch.” The perception that Ueberroth spent more time trying to turn the Olympics into exclusively a business, taking its soul, marred his success. The reputation followed him into baseball. Peter Ueberroth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e86f5950-f3c8-4c10-bf50-4cb20bba81e3/90+-+1970+Red+Sox.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Naked Red Sox The Red Sox uniforms of the early 1970s didn’t have piping around their necks the way later uniforms did. Todd feels these uniforms look naked in comparison. Here, Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith, and Tony Conigliaro pose in 1970. Carl Yastrzemski’s SABR Biography Reggie Smith’s SABR Biography Tony Conigliaro’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fce345b-4109-478e-ba2f-f4fc6a7b7900/91+-+high+socks.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - High Socks Todd thinks players should wear high socks to allow for an extra pop of color, like Hunter Pence did when he played for the Phillies. Teams could even get creative with adding logos on the socks, as the Phillies did here with their Liberty Bell mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7a02ff1-cab4-42a2-925e-93b89dca3be5/92+-+1982+Cardinals.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Pullover Uniforms Todd doesn’t think every team can necessarily pull off pullover uniforms, but it’s hard to argue with how good the 1982 Cardinals looked wearing theirs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d86419c4-51f8-4295-9478-b94fd5059d6f/93+-+1977+Blue+Jays.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1977 Blue Jays When the first nine Toronto Blue Jays stepped on the snow-covered field of Exhibition Stadium on April 7, 1977, they wore white pullovers with "BLUE JAYS" in split-lettering and the logo centred in the front, and the player's number in split-lettering in the back. To accent the uniform, triple stripes of light blue, white, and dark blue surround the sleeves, neckline, and down the side of the legs. The history of the team’s powder blue uniforms is very interesting and aesthetically beautiful, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a71a2b56-f5cc-4d85-aa83-c2aa24e2a815/94+-+Blue+Jays.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Something Is Off … Center When the Blue Jays moved their logo from the center of the uniform under either TORONTO on the road uniforms, or BLUE JAYS on the home uniforms, Todd thinks it lost something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b570b9b-2d7c-4b08-bf26-640975c3625c/95+-+Dodgers.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dodgers Uniforms With a small handful of exceptions, the Dodger uniform has been a steady and familiar presence, both home and away, with its blue underscored script lettering. The primary team color is blue - Dodger Blue - and it's hard to imagine that it's ever been anything otherwise. Baseball innovator Larry MacPhail is responsible for making the Dodgers who they are today, at least in terms of aesthetics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4aa8eec6-0d12-4809-aaab-a86d9d25e4b7/96+-+Orioles.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Orioles Hats The Baltimore Orioles’ "smiling bird" - or, alternatively, the "cartoon bird" - was originally introduced just in time for franchise's first World Series victory in 1966. This logo was used for 23 seasons, then fell into disuse for another 23 seasons. The origins of the original 1966 logo involve legendary baseball executive Frank Cashen, a 7 Up cartoon character named "Fresh-Up Freddie," Baltimore's National Brewing Company, and the Orioles' desire to successfully compete for marketing dollars with the National Football League's Baltimore Colts. Here, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr. are seen wearing the logo on their hats. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d218206e-3d76-4469-a3e8-e6a1042d4934/97+-+A%27s.jpeg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Athletics The Old English “A” on the Athletics’ caps dates all the way back to their days in Philadelphia. They wore it in Kansas City. They wore it in Oakland. While the team has officially dropped any city attachment from their name as they prepare for an interim stay in Sacramento before potentially moving to Las Vegas, it appears as if they are bringing the Old English “A” along with them. Here, Reggie Jackson smiles in his bright yellow Athletics uniform. Todd has written about the unique history of the Athletics uniforms, which you can read HERE. Reggie Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80644aa2-9528-492e-b279-4a6aceb484e0/98+-+2008+Blue+Jays.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2008 Blue Jays During the few years when the Toronto Blue Jays were trying to just call themselves the “Jays” and made their primary color black instead of blue, they wore a hat with a stylized “T” on it for some games. Roy Halladay’s facial expression says it all here. Roy Halladay’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9e13d11-f499-45cf-9115-6856b7913ecc/99+-+1971+Phillies.jpeg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1971 Phillies According to the official MLB rules, a player's uniform cannot include a pattern that resembles a baseball: Rule 3.03(g): No part of a player's uniform can have a pattern that suggests or imitates the shape of a baseball. The Chicago Cubs protested the Philadelphia Phillies uniforms in 1971 because they felt the uniforms included such a pattern. Pitcher Rick Wise is seen here wearing the offending threads. Rick Wise’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dff67a3e-52b7-4cbc-a6e1-fe34688eabe1/100+-+Negro+Leagues+75th+Anniversary+Logo.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Negro Leagues 75th Todd designed the Negro Leagues 75th Commemorative Year logo in 1995. The Seattle Mariners wore it on their right sleeve all season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05068f13-a9dd-4e79-9981-3ed08461fcac/101+-+Edgar+Martinez+statue.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Edgar Martinez Statue The Seattle Mariners have two statues at their ballpark. The Edgar Martinez statue features the Negro Leagues 75th Commemorative Year patch that Todd designed. Edgar Martinez’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de06384d-5f14-4cca-a13d-a6da138d66f8/102+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd also designed each of these Jackie Robinson logos. The one on the left was worn on each team’s uniform for the duration of the 1997 season, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Todd created a new logo for the 75th Anniversary, shown on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b5cafeb-910f-4c18-a7de-6b5f8b5daa9d/103+-+Griffey+statue.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Ken Griffey, Jr. Statue The other statue the Seattle Mariners have at their ballpark is, naturally, of Ken Griffey, Jr. The Griffey statue features the Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary patch that Todd designed. Todd said, “to be cast in bronze, literally… it’s pretty cool that it’s going to be around for a long, long time.” Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/756c9a9e-c0ff-4b0f-b26b-8c69786619f0/104+-+Super+Bowl+XIX.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Super Bowl XIX Todd didn’t create this logo, but it is very much of the time. Super Bowl XIX was played on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in California, the first Super Bowl played in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joe Montana and the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 38–16 to win their second Super Bowl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46a5af6e-46a9-45d5-bcb7-635458cb2413/105+-+All+Century+Team.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - MLB All-Century Team In 1999, the Major League Baseball All-Century Team was chosen by popular vote of fans. To select the team, a panel of experts first compiled a list of the 100 greatest MLB players from the 20th century. Todd created 100 illustrations of the 100 nominated players. Over two million fans then voted on the players using paper and online ballots. Preceding Game 2 of the 1999 World Series, the members of the All-Century Team were revealed. Every living player named to the team attended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00021de7-124a-418b-a494-d9f95a5564ba/105.5+-+All+Century+Team.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/189d4c33-66ac-43c1-a5b4-308e884e232c/106+-+All+Century+Team+ballot.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd’s illustrations for the All-Century Team were also featured on the ballot, as well as all around Fenway Park during the 1999 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a59da05-c23b-459c-9d64-c236039ce3c7/107+-+Vlad+HOF.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Work On A Hall Of Fame Plaque Vladimir Guerrero was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018, and upon his induction, it was announced that the hat he would be wearing on his plaque in Cooperstown would be his Angels hat, bearing the logo Todd designed for the team. Vladimir Guerrero’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21c7aabc-86ba-422d-911d-5c9f6e4f1766/108+-+Cuba.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cuba Todd went to Cuba in December of 1999 with authors Peter Bjarkman and Mark Rucker, friends who knew the place, knew people there, and knew how to navigate the unique dynamics of visiting the country. That year, Todd designed Smoke: The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball, the definitive pictorial history of Cuban baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e070fa14-d1ee-43b2-8951-d577110fd41a/109+-+2005+Original+sketch%2C+World+Baseball+Classic+logo.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Baseball Classic Todd’s original sketches from 2005, as well as the eventual finished product of his logo for the World Baseball Classic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab8590af-851b-4567-ac2a-7aef18466054/110+-+Orioles+in+Cuba.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Baltimore Orioles In Cuba The Baltimore Orioles played a series of two exhibition games against the Cuba national baseball team on March 28 and May 3, 1999. The Orioles won the first game, which was held in Havana, by a score of 3–2 in extra innings. The Cuba national team defeated the Orioles 12–6 in the second game, which was held in Baltimore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/879035b7-6a17-45aa-be45-21bdc3466005/111+-+Cooperstown+Collection.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cooperstown Collection Todd’s process for the development of the Cooperstown Collection logo, from August 1997 to February 1998. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79eb44d8-8eae-46a6-a9b1-d28238e10e19/112+-+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Perks Of The Job One of the great things about having friends like Tom Shieber at the National Baseball Hall of Fame is that sometimes you get to hold one of Lou Gehrig’s bats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5795f55-5884-49ed-9952-38fee93a0586/113+-+Letterhead.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Before it was possible to digitally reproduce artwork, there would be irregularities, rough edges, and often times image degradation from copying an original multiple times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49dab759-ad71-49bc-8586-6de1199f6f3f/114+-+Brooklyn+Cyclones.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Brooklyn Cyclones The Brooklyn Cyclones logo is a navy blue diamond with CYCLONES across it in gold. The Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster (the inspiration for the team name) is referenced by the light blue patterning at the bottom of the diamond. The Cyclones became the first professional sports team in Brooklyn since the Dodgers left in 1958. Todd created their logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/673e26c3-138f-48c7-9af1-cc659a895a5f/115+-+Coney+Island+Cyclone.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Research Sometimes doing research is fun. Here is Todd and his buddies at The Cyclone on Coney Island. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aff55dfe-40c5-4375-94bc-4ee05c72c8de/116+-+Yankees.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees The Yankees’ rich tradition, in addition to the fact that their players don’t change as often as a college team or a minor league team’s players change, makes it very difficult for them to take chances with rebranding or logo and design changes. Here are a handful of the player-specific logos Todd has made for Yankees over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b17aa5f-1ca2-4465-85e4-95831f24acbf/117+-+Hornets.jpeg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Charlotte Hornets When I tell you the absolute stranglehold this Charlotte Hornets Starter Jacket had on every kid in the 90s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d209f9a-0798-4993-a3e8-2373657c3be7/118+-+Washington.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Washington Nationals Todd created the logo and visual identity of the Washington Nationals. Here is his original art from 2008, which turned into the script lettering the Nationals used on their road uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3fde021-5568-45d1-a1a4-63fa16dd0c09/119+-+Iverson.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Allen Iverson The Philadelphia 76ers pivoted completely away from their red, white, and blue color scheme in the late 1990s and early 2000s, opting instead to make black their primary color, with gold and red accents. They were ushering in a new era with Allen Iverson as the star of the team, and trying to distance themselves from the underachieving teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Iverson led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, where Philadelphia lost to Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e95cc9f3-aed0-4cad-ba76-d1ed7a129ba2/907+-+Worlds+Champions.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out The 1906 New York Giants, 1906 Philadelphia Giants, 1921 Indians, and 1927 Cardinals all wore WORLD (or WORLDS) CHAMPIONS on their jerseys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/212b6946-a02b-4a80-826a-64f82eefc39e/122+-+Houston.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Houston Colt .45s The Houston ball club became the Astros in December of 1964. When the team flirted with the idea of playing a throwback game wearing the old Colt .45s jerseys which featured a gun on them, MLB stepped in and, well, shot the idea down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b1fc4c4-aaf2-4fa3-95fe-702f79999eba/123+-+Phillies.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies have never worn the fully written form of “Philadelphia” across the front of their uniforms in team history. There have been “Phillies” and “P” and “PHILA” and even “Phils” and now “Philly” with the recent City Connect uniforms, but the full city name has never appeared. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a45832d-a0fd-43a9-9e45-bc08d1bed846/124+-+1905+Washington+Nationals.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1905 Washington Nationals The first club to wear a team nickname on their jersey was the 1905 Washington Nationals (aka Senators), which they did on their home uniforms. Their road uniforms that year simply had a block W on the left chest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5927af5-ae25-4ff5-917b-1b93c52dd7fa/125+-+1954+Athletics.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1954 Athletics In their final season in Philadelphia, the A’s wore their full nickname “Athletics” on the front of their uniforms for the first time in franchise history. Until that point, their uniforms either displayed their famous Old English “A” (for both home and road sets), or their nearly-as-famous White Elephant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95e8193b-e90d-4da2-9515-bf31455f079f/126+-+Phillies.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phillies City Connect Uniform “We wanted to do something outside the box, but something that connected to the city,” Phillies vice president of business affairs Howard Smith said. “We’re honoring the city through the lens of the city flag.” The Phillies cap and helmet are midnight blue. The helmet has a matte finish, which the players requested and said they love. The logo on the cap and helmet features the Liberty Bell with two yellow stars. Inside the bell is a midnight blue city skyline and a light blue sky. Inside the jersey’s letters are subtle markings meant to represent the cracks in the Liberty Bell. There are 13 of them to represent the 13 original colonies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1dca590a-83ad-4ba8-ab76-2a1bb359bc24/127+-+Red+Sox.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Red Sox City Connect Uniform The Red Sox switched from wearing blue to rocking a giant red sock on the front of their jerseys in 1908. Ever since 1933, when the Red Sox first put a red 'B' on a navy cap and added "Red Sox" in their distinctive font on the front of their jerseys, Boston hasn't changed its uniforms much. The city connect uniform, however, is made up of the Boston marathon's distinctive yellow an blue. The front still says "Boston," and there will also be a racing bib on the left sleeve with "617" printed on it for the area code where Fenway Park resides. The yellow uniform won’t replace the Red Sox’ customary look. Its purpose is to honor Patriots Day through a fresh lens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1520662a-13ed-4d7f-b9f1-4a4c88c4e7a5/128+-+Padres.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Padres City Connect Uniform The Padres uniform is a nod to their binational fanbase, with colors that highlight the vibrancy of the region's coastal community. The colorful uniforms feature sleeves of pink and mint, with "San Diego" emblazoned across the chest in those same hues. They feature outlines of yellow, and -- taken as a whole -- the uniforms are meant to match the vibrant colors of San Diego's fabled pink and yellow sunsets beyond the Pacific Ocean. They're also a nod to the landscapes and artwork of San Diego and the nearby Baja peninsula. A sizeable portion of the team's fanbase hails from Tijuana, Mexico, and the surrounding areas in Baja California. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ca05471-ec3a-4b98-9f86-77209dfccd1c/129+-+Cubs.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cubs City Connect Uniform The Cubs uniform is dark navy with powder trim. The word “Wrigleyville” takes center stage. The patch on the sleeve is the Chicago “Y” logo with the city’s iconic stars highlighted. That patch is brilliant and a step beyond just incorporating the logo generally. “One of the pillars of the Cubs organization is to ‘be a good neighbor,” said Cubs Vice President of Marketing Lauren Fritts. “We’re aware of the impact we have not only on the neighborhood surrounding us, but on all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods.” The Wrigleyville front has the text shaped like the marquee outside the stadium. On the bottom of the jersey is the phrase “respect our neighborhood,” which adorns signs at Wrigley Field. The hat features a white “C” with a light blue outline and a star from the Chicago flag in the middle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca25564f-fed6-47fc-8625-5adb20fb20b8/130+-+Miami+Floridians.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Miami Floridians The Floridians existed for only four ABA seasons (from 1968-69 through 1971-72). They moved to Miami from Minnesota (where they were the Muskies in 1967-68), and stayed in Florida until they folded in May 1972. The team had two color schemes: their original red, blue, and white, and their later black, magenta, and orange. Why were they called simply "The Floridians"? Because during the later years of their existence, the team played games all over Florida. Most games were in Miami, some were in Tampa/St. Pete and Jacksonville, and a small number were in West Palm Beach. During the 2011-2012 NBA season, the Miami Heat wore throwback uniforms on several occasions which were modeled after the magenta and orange uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c1cb837-198c-4647-b56f-e140bf2014fa/131+-+mismatched+helmet.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Throwback Uniforms, Modern Helmets Most teams have gotten way better at this, but when throwback uniforms were still seen more as kind of a one-off thing and less as a way to really generate interest and sell merchandise, teams would often simply wear their modern batting helmets with their otherwise throwback uniforms, creating a disjointed look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd541a91-9de4-4d88-858e-168a6a740480/132+-+White+Sox.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out The White Sox hosted the first “Turn Back the Clock Day” in MLB history when they played in 1917 style uniforms at Comiskey Park on July 11, 1990. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15c34399-c571-42e1-af5e-faf3cc1e22c8/133+-+Field+of+Dreams.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Field of Dreams Game On August 12, 2021, the Chicago White Sox played the New York Yankees in a game at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa. The game had everything. Star power up and down the Yankees and White Sox rosters. A three-time Oscar nominee in Kevin Costner, watching from the stands. A wild, walk-off ending that capped a perfect night. And rows and rows of corn that made the ballpark scene different from any other in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73002789-50e2-4152-8ed1-5c3f0aeb5fe5/134+-+Flocked+Insignia.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Flocked Insignia The Pirates were the first team in the Major Leagues to wear batting helmets. The first helmets were fiberglass miners’ caps covered in wool. Flocking was originally done because Pirates General Manager Branch Rickey wanted to simulate the appearance of the wool material of a baseball hat instead of just having the outside of a fiberglass helmet. Pictured here is Pirates star Manny Sanguillén wearing a flocked batting helmet in 1973. Manny Sanguillén’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc9d81c8-76c9-455d-9c07-7f6e7a856766/135+-+Clemente+Award.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Roberto Clemente Award The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. Todd designed the logo for the award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/793c6c5e-e2c4-41c8-86a5-22f31e90a859/136+-+1989+Kentucky+Derby+Day.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - May 6, 1989 Todd and his buddies attended the Red Sox game at Fenway Park on May 6, 1989. The Red Sox defeated the Rangers by a score of 7-0, and later that evening, Sunday Silence won the Kentucky Derby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f596fbce-d9c2-420a-9462-2821dd196447/137+-+Angels.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2002 Angels Troy Percival, Troy Glaus, and Bengie Molina of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate after defeating the San Francisco Giants to win the 2002 World Series. Todd was able to watch a team celebrate winning a World Series while wearing a logo and uniform that he designed. Kind of cool. Bengie Molina’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of Ron Vesely https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6d9a4f0-3fc8-47a8-ba97-26e13bc3f986/138+-+Brewers.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1994 Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers played at Yankee Stadium for only one series during the strike-shortened 1994 season, but Todd’s new designs saw the field on June 17, June 18, and June 19. Here, B.J. Surhoff takes a swing during that series while grass and dirt stain the front of his uniform. The Brewers beat the Yankees 2 games to 1 in the 3-game set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f55a879-6bd6-4c93-8a5f-698eb6390b5c/139+-+Commemorative+Logos.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out When it comes to celebrating a milestone, one size most definitely does not fit all. Here are some of the celebration logos Todd has designed over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e117fc3c-c19d-45a2-9807-7eacf876dff9/140+-+White+Sox.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1917 White Sox The White Sox wore all of these uniforms at different points of the 1917 season. A dark blue road uniform was a staple of their set since 1902, but supply chain issues during World War I made it too hard and too expensive to keep importing the blue dye necessary to make them. Starting in the War-shortened season of 1918, the Sox ditched their dark blue road uniforms, and they wouldn’t appear again for nearly a decade. The Sox would wear dark blue on the road in 1925, 1926, 1930, and 1931, then again from 1976 through 1981. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd4bb536-46b3-4acd-a75a-46eb435288d4/141+-+Padres.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a184b0f0-34ae-4671-b671-4413c5ff9a7d/142+-+Phillies.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1979 Burgundy Phillies In 1979, the plan was that the team would wear them for every Saturday night home game. But, they only ended up wearing them once after players objected on the grounds that they looked ridiculous in them. The fact that the team couldn’t get all of the components of the uniform (pants, jersey, hat, stirrups, and undershirt) to all be exactly the same shade of dark red probably didn’t help. Here, Mike Schmidt gets ready to field a ground ball during the game on May 19 against the Expos. Once it was decided the uniforms were “one and done,” the Phillies received calls from fans around the country wanting to buy them. The Phillies decided to sell them for $200 (jersey, pants, cap) with proceeds going to special needs children in the Delaware Valley. Mike Schmidt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35ade106-8ac3-4aa7-acbc-5afdec5faaea/143+-+White+Sox.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Using Pants As A Design Element The Chicago White Sox utilized some of the blank canvas on their pants to display uniform numbers from 1982-86 (seen here), and then again from 1987-88 with a different uniform design. The Astros became the first team to wear uniform numbers on their pants when they did so from 1975-79. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a896cc66-011f-4fd1-bc05-4d5460ade85c/144+-+Diamondbacks.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3cba32b-0fb9-414b-be4e-14b6372a6dc6/145+-+Lawrence+Taylor.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Taking A Cue From Football? Maybe a way to make baseball pants more interesting would be to use thicker stripes down the sides, like the New York Football Giants wore in the 1980s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34e46f59-6eeb-49a8-9cf1-ae042c4ba504/146+-+White+Sox+Ticket+Box.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2017 White Sox Season Tickets The Chicago White Sox commissioned Todd to create their 2017 premium season ticket package which consisted of 81 little pieces of art that depict the club's rich history, from 1901 right up to the present time. Original illustration and lettering, a nod to vintage design elements and club logos, combined with photography and depictions of artifacts make up the whole deal. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum selected the project for inclusion in its permanent collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/122a1306-2a81-440b-89ab-45ff38ef791d/147+-+Tickets.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c035937-2a2e-4b97-87f3-ec01943cb85e/148+-+Willie+Horton.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2018 Detroit Tigers Season Tickets The Detroit Tigers 2018 season ticket package celebrates the beloved World Championship team of 1968, a golden anniversary worthy of commemoration every single home game. Tiger favorites such as Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLain, Gates Brown, and others are celebrated here with a combination of original illustration, photography, and era-inspired typography. Seat and game information is delivered via a bespoke series of letterforms that duplicate the club's uniform numbers and player name lettering. This ticket features Tigers left fielder Willie Horton. Willie Horton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/038d5716-1286-4b4b-b8f9-0bda8a146744/149+-+2018+Tigers+Tickets.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c887863-d4cb-4ea1-8bfa-47342006a639/150+-+Janet+Marie+Smith.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Janet Marie Smith Janet Marie Smith joined the Dodgers in 2012 as Senior Vice President, planning and development and has overseen the large-scale improvement and expansion projects at Dodger Stadium and Campo Las Palmas, the club’s home in the D.R. Prior to her time with the Dodgers, Smith worked for the Orioles (VP of planning and development from 1989–94, 2009–12), Braves (VP of planning and development from 1994–2000) and Red Sox (Senior VP of planning and development from 2002–09). She oversaw the design and construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the preservation and improvements at Fenway Park, and the transformation of the 1996 Olympic Stadium into Turner Field in Atlanta. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e18182a-8eca-4761-af50-1dc8e4d93b65/151+-+Dodger+Stadium.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dodger Stadium Todd has seen parts of Dodger Stadium many others have not seen, from angles most people don’t have access to, thanks to his friendship with Janet Marie Smith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04719d64-d9b2-4241-bffd-23bb70ae99d6/152+-+Casey+the+Bulldog.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd based his design for the Cleveland Browns’ secondary logo on his bulldog, Casey, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f4288f6-c78c-4d79-b984-77018d9f7c50/153+-+Tattoo.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tattoo While Casey crossed over the rainbow bridge in 2002, she lives on forever as a tattoo on many people in Cleveland and around the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f6bcbd-499c-440e-8bf2-786b5634a515/154+-+1914+Pittsburgh+Feds+road+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc Okkonen One of the most underrated writers and researchers in baseball history, Marc Okkonen spent years creating a database for every uniform change in the history of Major League Baseball for every team. The Hall of Fame has scanned Marc’s original drawings and incorporated them into a searchable database titled Dressed to the Nines: A History of The Baseball Uniform. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2769bde-7a64-4090-83ee-ad67474df1dd/155+-+Paul+Lukas.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Paul Lukas Paul Lukas is a journalist, storyteller, cultural critic, and media artist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Esquire, Fortune, Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, Gourmet, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Spin, The New Republic, The Financial Times, Slate.com, and many other publications and websites. He is best known for creating “Uni Watch,” the sports world’s foremost column devoted to uniform design, which has appeared on a variety of different platforms since its inception in 1999. Lukas retired from uniform writing in 2024 but still serves as Uni Watch’s publisher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2ebfd69-bc74-4f8f-b6cf-8c9a1e265791/156+-+Phil+Hecken.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phil Hecken Phil Hecken first encountered Uni Watch as a reader, when the column ran at Slate.com in 2003 and ’04. After the daily Uni Watch blog launched in 2006, Phil became a prolific commenter, which caught the eye of Uni Watch founder Paul Lukas. Paul then tapped Phil to become his “bench coach” and weekend editor in 2008. Phil’s hard work and dedication to Uni Watch eventually led to him being named the site’s Deputy Editor. When Lukas retired from uniform writing on May 26, 2024, Phil was the obvious choice to take over the site’s daily editorial operations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1df1f8d-4447-4415-885d-894cd55751a8/157+-+Chris+Creamer.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Chris Creamer Chris Creamer is a writer, historian, and world-renowned expert on sports logos and uniforms based in the Toronto area. His passion for logos resulted in the creation of SportsLogos.net, an ongoing 20+ year project dedicated to the history of team logos and uniforms. Photos from and links to dozens of pages on SportsLogos.net fill the liner notes you’re reading right now. In November of 2020, Chris and Todd published Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos, and Uniforms, a book they had been working on since 2017. You can buy that book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdf4ead4-177a-468e-a0e1-53c2a7f3ec63/158+-+Peter+Capolino.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Peter Capolino Peter Capolino is the founder and former owner of the Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. in Philadelphia. Peter is one of the main people responsible for the emergence and subsequent rise in popularity of “throwback uniforms” thanks to his work at Mitchell & Ness. Peter was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55f63276-17de-4c6d-bd43-5c1e05317e61/159+-+1939+Patch.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch The myth of Abner Doubleday's alleged invention of baseball in Cooperstown in 1839 has long been discredited, but the centennial celebration in 1939 featured a sophisticated and extensive marketing campaign. The official dedication of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown took place on June 12 of that year, part of the yearlong festivities. A contest was held to create the official logo — the winner was New York artist Marjori Bennett. Let's pause to consider the fact that the first logo to be featured on the uniforms of every MLB club in a single year was created by a woman, a noteworthy item given the dynamics of the profession (and America) in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c59d4741-6bca-4dd4-947f-b43e189f83aa/160+-+Basketball+Hall+of+Fame.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and preserving the history of basketball. Dedicated to Canadian-American physician James Naismith, who invented the sport in Springfield, the Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959, before opening its first facility on February 17, 1968. Todd designed the logo seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6ca4418-816e-4817-9f25-42f1f6e32945/161+-+Ice+Cube.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Ice Cube Impact Award On January 15, 2024, The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame introduced the inaugural Naismith Hall of Fame Ice Cube Impact Award, an honor celebrating Ice Cube’s remarkable contributions to professional basketball and his dedication to community service. This groundbreaking award symbolizes the acknowledgment of individuals who, like Ice Cube, leverage the basketball to create positive change in their communities. More than just a sports honor, this award recognizes those who score points not only in games but in making a lasting impact beyond the court. Todd designed the entire visual identity of the award, including the trophy Ice Cube is holding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92d3357c-8d98-47a1-aa79-725500e6d03a/162+-+Powder+Blues.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Powder Blues The 1941-42 Cubs wore blueish-gray colored pants and vest, with royal blue sleeves. The world wasn’t ready for that level of beauty yet, so they went back to traditional gray by 1943. But by the 1970s and 80s, powder blue had taken over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ab1a30a-f77e-4a05-8c62-b8e29de60a3d/163+-+Balls+In+Play.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Nike Uniform Controversy The new Nike-designed and Fanatics-produced uniforms were billed as having lighter materials for the players on the field, but the pants — especially ones that are white — have a see-through quality to them, and that was evidenced in a picture shared by NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Alex Pavlovic of Giants infielder Casey Schmitt, which went viral for what one could see in the groin region. Fanatics, the producer of the new MLB uniforms for this season, and Nike, who designed the new threads, have left players and fans everywhere upset with the changes to a new fabric and the decreasing sizes of player names and jerseys. The jerseys are extremely easy to sweat through and sometimes the jerseys and pants don’t match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ab3ed11-2356-469f-bb85-068036335501/164+-+Henry+Aaron.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Atlanta Braves As Todd writes in Winning Ugly: The Atlanta Braves’ 1972 visual reboot represented a bold, colorful departure from their previously sedate appearance. Uniform collector Bill Henderson notes that the uniforms were cheaply constructed. “They began to shrink rapidly with the first washing, until after a few washings they had become unwearable,” he says. “The club then decided to have the uniforms dry-cleaned after each game. Surviving examples are shrunken and puckered and many are stained.” Henry Aaron is seen here in the blue jersey. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2abf871-decd-41d3-8f50-c6058ea7afdf/165+-+Turn+Ahead+The+Clock+uniforms.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Who knows what the future of MLB uniforms holds…? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9a6a2e0-f0f6-4313-8d2e-5ace66720c8f/165+-+Chris+Stapleton+posters.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Chris Stapleton Todd designed a series of baseball-inspired posters for country music artist Chris Stapleton. You can buy them HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdbb6953-4b03-4431-89b1-81049f99e320/167+-+Todd%27s+logo.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Follow Todd Online Instagram Twitter Website Baseball Tonight Podcast Previous Podcasts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29153901-db29-46b6-a5a9-80cb71cb9c53/168+-+World+Series+Tickets+more.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Series Games Todd has been to many World Series games over the years, starting with Game 1 of the 1977 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c155f3f1-6218-41e7-a08f-81ab7ce497bb/169+-+1978+Old+Timers+Game.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees Stadium Old Timers Day 1978 Just five days after “quitting,” Billy Martin was rehired to take the reins again with the start of the 1980 season at Old-Timers Day on July 29, 1978. The theme of this game was the silver anniversary of the amazing run of five straight World Series wins (1949-1953). According to John Sterling, announcing from the radio booth, this may have been the greatest assemblage of former players. The game marked Roger Maris’ first Yankee Old-Timers event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccc6a9eb-76ba-4fdc-be82-9197ae384798/170+-+Gooden.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Doc Gooden Todd was lucky enough to have seen 20 year-old Dwight Gooden strike out 16 Giants on August 20, 1985. He was smart enough to have commemorated it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a080888-247f-4bc3-919f-8f1501b94c11/171+-+All+Star+Games.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd has been to 28 straight MLB All-Star Games after attending the 2024 game at Globe Life Field, but the 1999 event at Fenway will always hold a special place in his heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a40160ff-ac86-4b39-b13a-0856f25c67fe/172+-+1978+Opening+Day+at+Yankee+Stadium+-+Reggie+bars.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Opening Day 1978 Todd was there on Opening Day in the Bronx in 1978 when 44,667 fans threw their Reggie bars onto the field (Todd ate his). Memorably and hilariously remembered in his book Winning Ugly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/615b75d2-4ea8-42bb-83c1-eb66f4d30686/173+-+September+of+1987.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Wrigley Field Todd was sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley on September 21, 1987 when he took this incredible shot of Darryl Strawberry blowing a bubble with his gum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1e84633-23c6-45eb-99e9-7d12e809567c/174+-+Clock.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd Radom Designer • Baseball Historian https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7412ebd0-8d56-4ffd-9115-7184718ca43e/175+-+Indians.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - My First Logo While I had played organized sports before and been on teams with names, the first team I ever played on which had a real logo was the Indians in 1994 with my friend, Matt Corning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/625b4893-008b-480a-bb3b-2abd715d7842/176+-+Todd+in+1970.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Young Todd If I post a picture of myself as a youngster, it’s only fair that Todd gets one, too. Here he is playing ball, circa 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ea131b1-b47e-4e66-8175-97d9e01be3f3/177+-+September+1987+in+Detroit.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Traveling For History’s Sake Todd’s long list of stadiums visited has helped him in his art career, but the experiences and memories helped shape him as a person, too. Here are memories from a game he saw at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on September 19, 1987. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/308da5db-4528-4de2-b21e-5713367f6b42/178+-+Exhibition+Stadium.+Jim%2C+Todd+-+Toronto%2C+September+12%2C+1988.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Just Bein’ A Guy With His Buds Here is Todd with his buddy, Jim, at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto on September 12, 1988. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e12e55f2-aaa2-4006-94b2-f4852e922a38/179+-+Detroit.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Destination U.S.A. Todd has an entire series of prints like these that he has made for different cities. It is clear that he understands the soul of each place because he has been there to experience it himself. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this Detroit image by clicking HERE. You can also purchase any of the other cities Todd has done by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96fb4d25-f7e6-4c4e-a7ac-f410e3b5c5cb/180+-+New+Orleans.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Crescent City Original art with vintage flair. 10 color printing with archival pigment-based ink. Digitally printed on heavy natural white, museum-grade archival, 100% acid-free matte art paper. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this New Orleans image by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2929e60-c509-496e-896e-c66008eb19ae/181+-+Philadelphia.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - City Of Brotherly Love Original art with vintage flair. 10 color printing with archival pigment-based ink. Digitally printed on heavy natural white, museum-grade archival, 100% acid-free matte art paper. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this Philadelphia image by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31bf3386-fbe6-4eac-a8aa-89d6d2324615/182+-+Winning+Ugly.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18485867-b4ef-4f5a-9da9-4c6c3ba1ae33/183+-+Dick+Allen.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Richie Allen Dick Allen was one of the most feared hitters in baseball in the 1960s. In an era dominated by pitching, he slugged some of the most prodigious home runs and quickly become one of the most exciting players in the game. Dick Allen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/055ee04c-da7a-4ca6-a8b8-bd02b389f5ff/184+-+Shoeless+Joe.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Shoeless Joe Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson is widely hailed as the greatest natural hitter in the history of the game. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, Jackson stood 6-feet-1 and weighed 178 well-built pounds. He belted sharp line drives to all corners of the ballpark, and was fast enough to lead the American League in triples three times. He never won a batting title, but his average of .408 in 1911 still stands as a Cleveland team record and a major-league rookie record. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eeb05087-a324-4ea5-9208-998c20cdcbae/185+-+Frank+Thomas.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Frank Thomas Frank Thomas was a five-time All-Star and is the only player in major league history to have seven consecutive seasons (1991–1997) with at least a .300 batting average, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, 100 walks, and 20 home runs. Thomas also won the AL batting title in 1997 with a .347 mark. He was a two-time AL MVP and won a World Series in 2005. Frank Thomas is widely considered one of the greatest right handed hitters in MLB history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18e503cb-1550-4024-86db-4110b4d0e16b/186+-+Rookie.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Uniform Changes I understand that the White Sox have a history which dates back more than 120 years, but I believe the amount of times they have changed their uniforms in their history, especially from the 1930s through the 1970s, is one of the reasons why they don’t have the same fanbase as teams like the Cubs, Yankees, or Red Sox, who have been around for similar amounts of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37e6687e-3512-4b97-ba51-3d8dc9685300/187+-+1907+Cubs.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Pinstripes George Steinbrenner once tried to trademark pinstripes, but the Yankees were not the first team to wear pinstripes on a uniform. New York briefly added pinstripes to their uniforms in 1912, then re-added them on a permanent basis soon after Jacob Ruppert bought the team in 1915. However, the Chicago Cubs' had pinstripes as early as 1907 when they wore them during the World Series, and it is the Cubs who are recognized as the first Major League Baseball team to incorporate pinstriping into a baseball uniform. George Steinbrenner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/baf62a1d-a82b-477d-bcff-d07538288478/188+-+Papa.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - What Is The Best Tool? “Whatever tool I need to get the job done.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d57fe60f-7aca-4e6f-9aa3-8ff6dde55e5f/189+-+sketch.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Gary Cieradkowski This was the original sketch I sent to Gary Cieradkowski, who had reservations about the amount of detail I was wanting to end up in a piece of art that would be viewed at such a small scale. For some unknown reason, Gary put his trust in me anyway. Scroll down THIS PAGE to see some of the other reference photos I sent Gary to show him my vision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90c946b9-3ad7-41d8-9ebb-6b31b35752b0/190+-+artwork.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Finished Product If you’ll pardon the pun, Gary Cieradkowski knocked it out of the park. I was blown away when he sent me the finished artwork for the show. When it’s shrunk down small on your phone, you still get the concept. But when it’s blown up bigger like this, it’s a truly amazing piece of art. If you’d like to read about what it was like to create the artwork from Gary’s perspective, he wrote about it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfbc4399-e975-43f4-8f66-9ffa5ed5b546/191+-+Mets+logo.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbb430a6-26ce-4f04-adcb-ea571940fd4c/192+-+Mets.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Proposed Update The New York Mets' time-honored skyline logo was created in 1961 and has been utilized by the franchise—with a few tweaks—ever since then. The visual landscape of New York has evolved over the past half century, the result of both development and of tragedy. Todd took a swing at updating the Mets logo to more accurately reflect the New York that exists today, and wrote about his choices HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/168dc4be-036d-42b0-8483-e86574cf0c81/193+-+1939.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch Every team in Major League Baseball wore these patches on their sleeves during the 1939 season. Since the St. Louis Browns already had a patch on their left sleeve, they wore this one on their right sleeve. Every other team in MLB wore it on their left. Todd wrote about the patch HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/192616c5-f563-489b-916e-2e051e34862a/194+-+commemorative+tickets.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Commemorative Game Tickets A trend I hate, but if we’re going to embrace it as a concept as we stray further and further from physical printed tickets as the norm, can we please stop making these things $50+? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/004b0f0b-ce17-4b93-bce3-9479f6d164df/195+-+Fabric+Of+The+Game.JPEG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Buy Todd and Chris’ incredible book, Fabric Of The Game, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f4eaa27-5938-4b0c-b08c-1c8ecd33b408/196+-+Angels.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Anaheim Angels Mo Vaughn looks disgusted at something. While it may be related to a recent at bat, it’s possible an opponent was taunting him because of these uniforms, which were not very well received by adults at the time. Coincidentally enough, it was this era of the Angels which Todd was brought in to help the team move on from. The Disney Angel Wings era lasted from 1997 through 2001, with Todd’s designs taking the field starting in 2002. The Angels promptly won the World Series in 2002. Coincidence??? Mo Vaughn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c71123bd-049d-44f5-bcd1-6c8822d46c3e/197+-+Arizona.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Arizona Diamondbacks These purple and teal uniforms fell out of favor for a while, but it seems like there is a pretty large group of fans who wouldn’t mind seeing them make their return. It’s possible they’re not as in love with the uniforms, themselves, so much as they are nostalgic for the success the team had while wearing them, thanks to pitching from Randy Johnson to help the team win the 2001 World Series. Randy Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39e3c49f-cb1e-4bfa-a872-f9fcd7c845f8/198+-+White+Sox+Shorts.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Infamous White Sox Shorts Maryfrances Veeck was the original publicist for the Ice Capades, and used her experience in that capacity to help Bill run and market his baseball teams over the years. She even helped design the shorts that the White Sox briefly wore during the 1976 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50c74c34-b9a5-4944-9316-9aedbc0eb207/199+-+email.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5d12dcc-607c-4bba-97b0-ab81994da016/201+-+Winning+Ugly+book+signing.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a signed paperback copy of Todd’s book about the history of baseball uniforms, Winning Ugly? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d07fb5c-20c5-4dde-a0f9-6f49b57923b0/202+-+Marc+Okkonen.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc Okkonen Before Todd Radom became one of the world’s leading historians and experts on baseball uniform designs and logos, Marc Okkonen exhaustively cataloged major league uniforms dating back to 1900. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1777bdb9-3c62-4062-926e-f897d02787ac/203+-+Cubs+uniforms.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - A Keen Eye In 1984, Marc was watching the movie “The Natural” starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, when he spotted what he thought were flaws in the uniforms of the opponents of the fictional New York Knights in the film. Marc noticed that the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs (seen here, as depicted in the flim) were not precise replicas of the originals from 1939, when the movie takes place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca845e03-9b17-45e4-8164-771063e2c721/204+-+Marc+Okkonen.JPG Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century Marc spent five years poring through books, microfilms and archives, including those at the Library of Congress and the Baseball Hall of Fame, to find images of every home and road uniform worn by all major league teams, starting in 1900. His research turned into a groundbreaking book, Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century: The Official Major League Baseball Guide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47358b32-1cbf-43b8-a1c1-5b1515c9a7c2/205+-+Joe+and+Ty+Cobb+color.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - A Difficult Task Marc’s mission was more than just finding and drawing the uniforms and hats for each team exactly as he saw them depicted in old photos. Okkonen also had to figure out the precise colors of those early twentieth century uniforms, a task made considerably more difficult by the lack of color photography from those years. The shade of blue that the Cleveland Naps wore was slightly different from the shade of blue that his Detroit Tigers wore, for example. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfb596a2-d7b4-46f4-88d6-e335bd3e6c32/206+-+Dressed+To+The+Nines+template+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dressed To The Nines Template Okkonen’s investigations took him to a sports library in Los Angeles, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. To facilitate his work he moved to upstate New York for a time to be closer to the Hall. Okkonen’s artistic ability vividly enhanced his findings. He envisioned a two-dimensional faceless mannequin on which to illustrate each uniform: standing, with his left hand on his hip, and his right hand holding the bat a couple inches above the knob and slung over his shoulder. That pose allowed the entire uniform to be highlighted and compared to others, from the cap to the socks. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac7018e2-3b73-41b5-9b25-2b0cbce27053/207+-+1914+Chi+Feds+home+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc’s Original Drawing Of 1914 Chi Feds Home Uniform Marc continually revised and updated his work based on additional research and his book serves as the basis for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s online exhibit on baseball uniforms. In fact, The Hall of Fame has scanned Marc’s original drawings and incorporated them into a searchable database titled Dressed to the Nines: A History of The Baseball Uniform. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b83d739-d154-46f4-8922-501c204095b0/208+-+New+York+Gothams.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Tom Shieber is responsible for locating and correctly identifying the oldest baseball team photograph in existence: this one of the New York Gotham club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/727ee22b-6561-4dca-8015-b430ad720a75/207+-+Federal+League+drawings+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Original Federal League Drawings Shieber said, “I started working at the Hall of Fame in 1998. I was hired to do the website, not to be a curator. And I wanted to do “Dressed to the Nines” from the minute I was working here. We used to have a physical exhibit on uniforms at the Hall, and then we took it down. So I thought we could do a really good job of having a web exhibit.” Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e3ba1e3-92b7-4cef-bf59-6e030689df30/210+-+2000+Cups+of+Coffee.jpg Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2,000 Cups Of Coffee Marc Okkonen also wrote and illustrated several other baseball books, including The Ty Cobb Scrapbook, The Federal League of 1914-1915: Baseball's Third Major League, and 2,000 Cups of Coffee, which contains images of players whose major-league careers lasted for 10 or fewer games from 1900-1949. In 2014, Marc won the Henry Chadwick Award from the Society for American Baseball Research, which honors baseball’s great researchers — historians, statisticians, analysts, and archivists — for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America’s present with its past. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aa07b93-6d86-49ff-8f60-dc6c7af8badd/190+-+artwork.png Season 4 - 0402 - Todd Radom - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-four/01 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c692bb1-299c-466e-9317-e3a57c5b3825/youtube.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8b822ff-e4d3-4e59-8172-67de4cc97d9b/Square.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust Me and Nancy Faust after recording our interview at her home in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/083b49f4-5078-485a-8e61-a2e4863a45ac/01+-+GroveWood.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - GroveWood Baseball Museum This episode is brought to you by the GroveWood Baseball Museum. WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63513cee-54fe-4536-ad9d-ff905d4d504d/02+-+GroveWood.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Make it stand out The GroveWood Baseball Museum has over 1,000 artifacts dating all the way back to the Civil War era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a697be05-4511-456f-9e86-4421aeac0119/03+-+Centerfield+spot.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Innovator From her center field perch at Old Comiskey Park, Nancy Faust became arguably the first sports organist to include pop and rock themes while playing during games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0571cb9-44ef-4629-9a7e-0ca155d23286/04+-+1970+White+Sox.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 1970 Chicago White Sox In Nancy’s first season, the White Sox went 56-106, drawing less than half a million fans to Comiskey Park for the first time since 1942, and finishing last in attendance in the American League for the second consecutive year. Plenty of good seats still available in this shot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c37c9443-f350-4f00-861b-f2631af8db4c/05+-+Sports+Illustrated.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Sports Illustrated Nancy was recognized in the September 5, 1977 issue of Sports Illustrated: “Regardless of how the White Sox finish, Comiskey Park's Nancy Faust is a sure bet to be the American League's MVO (Most Valuable Organist). When the Sox do something good—or even threaten to—she plays the tune from an old rock hit, Kiss Him Goodbye. Nowadays that immediately provokes a boisterous sing-along by Chicago fans…” "If the White Sox win it," says Chicago columnist Bill Gleason, "Nancy'll be the only organist ever voted a full Series share." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa29cd35-5039-48de-8635-c9d945b46c97/06+-+They_Plan_to_Serenade_the_Organist_at_Sox_Comiskey_Park___1979_05_01___Nancy_Faust_Day__Chicago_Tribune__1979_04_27__.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Celebrated By The Sox The White Sox held a special event at Comiskey Park on May 1, 1979 to celebrate Nancy Faust and everything she brought to the organization. It wasn’t the last time she would be honored in such a way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/288171b9-688e-4057-bb3e-ff246e1cb5d6/07+-+Bobblehead.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Her Own Bobblehead Ten thousand Nancy Faust bobblehead dolls were presented to fans by the White Sox before their game on September 18, 2010, just two weeks before her retirement. White Sox fan and historian Peter Wilt is seen here with his. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a77db32f-3d04-4e04-8521-9fbda77047b4/08+-+Shrine+Of+The+Eternals.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals Nancy was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2018. List of Other Inductees https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b62fdd57-b463-4a9f-a7f9-53fa1e66c0c1/09+-+Women+In+Baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - National Baseball Hall of Fame Nancy’s talents and contribution to the game are recognized in an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown called "Women in Baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4b89faa-4f2b-4d8b-872a-8f47e026ace0/10+-+put+in+bay.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Put-In-Bay Nancy’s mom was also a musical prodigy, playing keyboard by ear for passengers getting off the boat at Put-In-Bay in Ohio as a child. One of the world's largest hotels, the Hotel Victory, opened its 625 rooms to the public in 1892 in Put-In-Bay. The four-story hotel featured a one-thousand-seat dining room. However, on August 14, 1919, the giant hotel burned to the ground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/555fbaa7-a17f-48e4-8caf-4552b55cf3e4/11+-+Jenny%2C+Joy+%26+Jean.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Jenny, Joy And Jean Nancy’s mom could play just about any instrument and any song of the day. She toured the Midwest with an all-female band known as Jenny, Joy And Jean. Nancy’s mother performed as Jean, even though her real name was Jackie. She arranged music and played the fiddle. The group played for a couple of years on the nationally syndicated “WLS Radio Barn Dance” show that aired on WLS-AM for decades. When Nancy’s mother left the group, they split up since Nancy’s mom was the one doing all of the arrangements. However, after the split, Jenny Lou Carson went on to enjoy fame as a solo artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8def5ee-7c03-442e-9420-4f81878aef88/12+-+Nancy%27s+mom.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Make it stand out Nancy's mom, Jackie Faust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92c0b6fd-91ee-476f-9fc8-87aa74169314/13+-+Family.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Dad Nancy’s father was a Swedish immigrant who came to the United States at the age of 11. He ended up having a health center in the Chicago suburb of Evanston and gave Swedish massages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0395b85-025e-4991-a13a-81caf99dbb16/14+-+With+sister%2C+Judy.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Judy Nancy’s sister, Judy, was three years older. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a37f67b6-94f9-46b1-86a9-e7c7ec4c4442/15+-+With+Hammond+Times.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Musical Family Nancy, in the background, and her older sister, Judy, in the foreground, both played music growing up. Nancy continued on after Judy stopped playing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c01d88f-b9bc-4311-982c-83d7ecb72f4f/16+-+Age+6.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Early Start When Nancy was only 4 years old, her parents decided they were going to buy a Hammond organ so her mom could practice at home. Nancy started messing around on it when her mom wasn’t practicing and found out that she could figure out how to play some tunes by ear, too. Nancy is pictured here, at the age of 6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c82317c-49a1-406c-8de9-a09ce1213bbe/17+-+Morris+B+Sachs.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour The “Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour” was a favorite weekly talent show for Chicagoans from the 1930s well into the 1950s. It began as a radio program, but eventually became a television program. At the age of 5, Nancy appeared on the show. She played the song “Glow Worm” which was originally by Johnny Mercer but was covered in 1952 by The Mills Brothers. Nancy won first prize, winning a watch and $75. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e53a4f9e-054f-40b6-8e4f-e5de90321c88/19+-+1954-08+Hammond+Times.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Child Organist Nancy was featured on the cover of this August 1954 issue of Hammond Times, a publication specifically geared toward advertising the versatility and importance of Hammond Organs by telling the stories of many successful musicians who played them across the country. Is the watch Nancy is wearing on the cover the one she won (and subsequently lost) from her appearance on the “Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8ee3837-c379-405d-b797-3d22b90df3d0/19+-+1954-08+Hammond+Times+page+3.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond Times This was the write up inside the August 1954 issue of Hammond Times, featuring a 7-year-old Nancy, who they described as “a perfect example of what excellent results a child can achieve at a very early age in playing the Hammond Organ.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf4e8d7b-2b27-4493-9333-c2978506929b/18+-+With+dad.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Dad Even though it was Nancy’s mom who had the musical talent, it was actually Nancy’s dad who pushed her to practice and develop her musical skills through a series of animal-related bribes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8775b3e6-c8b6-46d3-955b-f6f4437d0c7e/19+-+1956-08+piano.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Piano vs. Organ Nancy says she’s not a great piano player, despite the two instruments looking visually similar. On the organ, you can use your foot to act as the bass, meaning your left hand doesn’t have to be as busy as it would need to be on a piano, where the left hand acts as the bass. On an organ, your left hand can play chords and let them sustain, whereas on a piano, your hands mostly need to keep moving. Nancy is pictured here sitting at the family’s piano, with an organ in the background. She is 9 years old here, in August of 1956. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/009b829c-62a0-4da4-91a5-9c063677cb60/20+-+Youthful+Sox.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Multi-Instrumentalist Nancy is obviously a great organist, and can also play piano, but she can also play chords on a guitar. When she went to North Park Universtiy, Nancy started out majoring in music where she was introduced to all of the woodwinds and stringed instruments. Once she learned where to put her fingers on those instruments, whether it be a violin, a saxophone, or anything else, Nancy could figure out how to play each of them by ear. Nancy graduated from North Park with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/358aa7a8-4d54-4283-9a9e-ede2fcd68faf/21+-+Stu+Holcomb.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Stu Holcomb Stu Holcomb (left) played college football for Ohio State University, then had a successful career coaching both college football and college basketball. After retiring from coaching, Holcomb was the athletic director at Northwestern University (1956–1966). Holcomb was the public relations director for the White Sox from 1968 until September 1, 1970, when he was promoted to replace Ed Short as General Manager. He would remain in that role until 1973, when he was succeeded by Roland Hemond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/637bfd97-73a5-4e49-906a-8869cb53f270/22+-+Centerfield+perch.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Center Field Perch When the White Sox first installed an organ at Comiskey Park, it was in the Center Field bleachers, where the white arrow is pointing in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/264bf43a-410f-4b44-a500-c99e20631226/22+-+Press+photo+2.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Amongst The Fans Nancy said being amongst the fans allowed her to really learn the game, and understand what songs might be appropriate to play at times. Being able to get instant feedback, as well as real time suggestions, only improved Nancy’s skills. By her third year playing at Comiskey, the organ was moved from the bleachers to behind home plate, putting her even closer to the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/891ee6ca-0316-440e-855e-b440820aec20/24+-+Home+States.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 1970 Opening Day Starting Lineup Nancy wasn’t given much direction in terms of what she should play as batters approached the plate, or at other times during the games. “I would suggest that perhaps, in your own mind, you start thinking of music that would be suitable for the park… Little comic gimmicks that involve umpires, players, fans, etc., are always welcome. Enclosed is a roster showing the states where most of our boys live.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b53ab15-7312-4713-b550-2e9d52650781/25+-+streaker.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - No Matter What Happened On The Field… … Nancy always seemed to have the perfect song choice to accompany the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a904c5b-84b7-4d17-8ec5-9f6a5b39dc7c/26+-+Spreadsheet.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s List Though nearly all of her musical choices were made off the top of her head, Nancy did have a list she would keep with certain categories to help her remember appropriate songs to play in certain situations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49884b32-1bb0-4e79-8e49-279037d88aa5/27+-+soxogram.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - SOXOGRAM When Nancy’s organ was moved behind home plate, it allowed her to see the messages displayed on the scoreboard throughout the game, helping her pick appropriate songs that she otherwise would not have been prompted to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a751536a-c81e-47e8-9d6b-7988bf4b8196/28+-+Bob+Creed.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bob Creed Nancy was hired to replace Bob Creed at Comiskey Park. Creed was the organist for the Chicago White Sox, Bulls and Sting. He had played with the Les Paul Orchestra and was staff organist with WLS-TV and radio in Chicago. He was also the organist and music arranger for the nightclub singer/pianist Al “Jealous Heart” Morgan for 28 years. During her first year, Nancy became aware of a petition that was being circulated to bring Creed back to replace her. Stu Holcomb stood up for Nancy and assured her that her job was safe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd6dfc2b-2f86-498b-ace6-7cce24e5deb5/29+-+Shay+Torrent.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A New Organ At Comiskey Park In 1960, owner Bill Veeck placed an organ in the center field bleachers at Comiskey Park to try to engage fans White Sox fans during games. It was the perfect promotional event for the Hammond Times to cover, since the Sox installed a Hammond Organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9b75724-d375-4506-91f0-883b2019f7e7/30+-+Shay+Torrent+2.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Shay Torrent Shay Torrent was the first organist for the White Sox, hired by Veeck in 1960. Torrent was already an accomplished musician by that point, having released multiple recordings prior to his career as a professional sports organist. Torrent remained with the White Sox through the 1966 season, after which he moved to California and became the original organist for the Angels. He played for them from 1967 through his retirement in 1985. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ae1326b-dead-4099-b234-acb808ecb08a/31+-+Outfield+perch.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nerves? Nancy said she really only gets nervous the first time she plays a new song, because she just wants to make sure she can get through it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73a5b080-94bf-426b-bbcd-a41e8181e6ce/32+-+Attractive+Organist.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Attractive Organist” In her first season, Nancy earned $95 per game, which was a very nice living in 1970. Despite her skills and obvious intelligence, Nancy was still described by her looks in some publications. In 1972, Stu Holcomb, the man who hired Nancy, physically removed Waukegan News-Sun sportswriter Linda Morstadt from the press box. While Nancy was never removed from her position, she also experienced some misogyny and wonders if the petition being circulated by fans in her first season was driven by the fact that she was a woman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/742ebc76-5fd9-410f-8200-b6c248d3f5ce/33+-+1971+Letter+from+Harry+Caray.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry Caray Hired By The Sox In 1971, the White Sox hired Harry Caray. Even though Nancy still didn’t know too much about baseball, she had friends who were big baseball fans who let her know Harry was coming to town, and that it was something to be excited about. One of them in particular convinced Nancy to write Harry a letter. This letter was Harry’s response. Harry Caray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e158ea21-d4a7-42ae-9385-16d2a77fe21a/34+-+With+Harry+Caray.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry and Nancy From 1945 to 1969, Caray was the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX. During those years, he developed a national following, calling three World Series and one All-Star Game. He was named Baseball Broadcaster of the Year seven consecutive times by The Sporting News. He was the broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics during the 1970 season before taking over for the White Sox in 1971. He remained there for 10 years before leaving to take the Cubs job in 1982. There, he became even more well known nationally as a result of the super station status of WGN Television. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d649878a-278c-4119-bb47-21de46bc1412/35+-+Press+photo+4.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” Nancy listened to the radio broadcast during games so she could learn more about baseball, and so she could get inspiration for songs to play based on what Harry Caray and his partner, Jimmy Piersall, were discussing. One of the first times Harry really noticed Nancy’s playing to the point of him mentioning her on air, it was because Nancy played the Ray Charles song “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” after she was inspired by hearing something Harry said. Jimmy Piersall’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1c6d52d-0f05-4952-aaab-0d39ff404169/36+-+1971-06-24.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “The Mayor Of Rush Street” Harry Caray promoted all aspects of the game, and was a fan favorite for his stunts like broadcasting games from the bleachers, like he’s doing here in this photo from a 1971 game. Caray was also a notorious drinker, both on air and off, which was something that connected him with many fans, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d701649a-d108-4cb7-b87e-8f97c3e82cc6/37+-+Press+photo+1.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Best Seat In The House By Nancy’s third season in 1972, she was so popular that Stu Holcomb moved her right behind home plate in the upper deck, at Harry Caray’s insistence. 10 box seats were removed so there would be room for her organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc623a88-5777-43ef-ae5b-dd79717ac105/38+-+Press+photo+3.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Changing Atmosphere Fans started pouring into Comiskey Park by 1972 since the team was better and because Harry Caray and Nancy were making it such a fun atmosphere. To be surrounded by enthusiastic, knowledgeable fans made Nancy’s job much more fun, and much easier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4cd94b2f-c9b9-4d17-ac90-6bd69059d686/39+-+Young+Nancy.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Third Base Side When Bill Veeck came to the park and noticed Nancy’s organ was occupying ten valuable seats in the upper deck directly behind home plate, her organ was moved again. This time, Nancy was moved down the 3rd base line, which she says actually gave her a better view of Harry’s booth, making it easier for the two to interact and play off of each other throughout the game. One of Nancy’s favorite songs to play when they would catch each other’s eyes was “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d26eac67-a551-4a70-9744-5e89a1c0b198/40+-+Superstitions+2.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bill Veeck Bill Veeck didn’t understand right away the connection Nancy had with her fans, or the fact that Nancy had fans of her own. When he initially moved her organ from behind home plate, the fans protested, saying Nancy was a big reason for their enjoyment of the game inside Comiskey Park. To his credit, Bill Veeck listened to those fans, and gave Nancy a better location down the third base line. The White Sox are saying “to hell with superstitions!” in this photoshoot, with Nancy under a ladder, and Bill Veeck (right) opening an umbrella indoors. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea12f6b3-9b39-41e1-a238-0807d0a03aa1/42+-+Famous+Footwear.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Famous Footwear Despite an advertising deal with Famous Footwear, Nancy said she’s actually most comfortable playing the organ shoeless. Joe Jackson would be proud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49d7150d-d5d3-47c0-b461-a8bff5706f4e/43+-+Hammond+organ+smile.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Fans All Around Nancy credits Harry’s enthusiasm for the resurgence in fan attendance at Comiskey Park. She said it was always more fun for her to play the organ when more people were at the games, and also notes that it meant a lot to her that Harry always made it a point to acknowledge Nancy by name, both on the air and over the PA in the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35c32f02-8067-4e38-ae0f-1139a58d093c/44+-+Jesus+Christ+Superstar.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Dick Allen In 1972, Dick Allen joined the Chicago White Sox and won the American League MVP, posting a league-leading 37 homers and 1.023 OPS. During that summer, Nancy began playing the title track from the 1970 rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” whenever Allen would come to the plate. The tradition caught on, and walk-up music was officially A Thing. “After all,” Nancy said then, “a great many Sox fans think he is another Jesus Christ.” Allen was one of the most feared sluggers of his era, a star who withstood many injustices in his career. During his best season, he inadvertently helped popularize the player-specific walk-up song. Dick Allen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69c5f6e9-f869-4c26-af52-6e10d91f7af3/45+-+Third+Base+Side.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Infinite Amount of Songs Nancy says that since she can basically play any song well enough to get the point across, there’s really no way to even estimate the number of songs she’s played throughout the course of her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68b00080-ad8b-47d4-adc7-c292dba53f7e/41+-+popcorn.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Popcorn Nancy would hang out in Dan Evans' office every day (and especially before the first day of a new series) with freshly popped popcorn and talk about the guys on the other team and what was going on with the Sox to learn if there was anything she could learn to make the songs better and more appropriate for the games. The information was nice, but it was really about the popcorn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07ca3cb6-ce07-496e-825b-d434b6dabfaa/46+-+Matt+Kaminski.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Matthew Kaminski Nancy said if she were the organist for a team today, she would be utilizing social media the way Braves organist Matthew Kaminski does, asking his followers for ideas on what songs to play. Some of his videos have been played over a million times! Matt’s website Matt’s twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae8f25c0-955d-4239-9d6f-424704414e89/47+-+Na+Na+Hey+Hey+Goodbye.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - July 29, 1977 The first time Nancy ever played “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” was during the July 29, 1977 White Sox game against the Kansas City Royals. The Sox were in the heat of a pennant race, and were playing an important game against the second-place Royals, who trailed the Sox by only 3.5 games coming in. The Sox scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 6-3 lead. Kansas City scored 5 unanswered runs of their own to take back the lead by a score of 8-6 after the top of the 7th. Nancy had heard the Steam song on her way to the game earlier that day, making note of the word “goodbye” in the lyrics. She tried playing it after a strikeout earlier in the game, to a tame reaction from the Comiskey Park crowd. The Sox tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the 7th against wild Royals pitcher Mark Littell. Just before the Sox knocked him out of the game, Nancy tried out the famous song again. This time, the crowd’s reaction was immediate and intense, drawing a comment from broadcaster Jimmy Piersall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfe64c61-04e4-4b14-8333-d782378995a2/48+-+Steam.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - White Sox Theme Littell walked the next batter, Chet Lemon. The batter after that, Eric Soderholm, reached on an error, and Littell was removed from the game. As he walked back to the dugout, Nancy played the song again, this time to an even bigger crowd reaction. The Sox went on to score four runs in the bottom of the 7th, taking a 10-8 lead. They added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th, winning the game 11-8 and increasing their lead in the AL West to 4.5 games over the Royals. At that point, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” became the theme song for the White Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5943cbc-af59-449a-ab4d-08613fd2848f/49+-+Bards+Room.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Bard’s Room Digitally recreated here by architect Brian Powers, the Bard’s Room at old Comiskey Park was an exclusive enclave for media and invited guests. It also included owner/VIP dining, private dining, centralized kitchen and a lot of White Sox history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20187681-34e8-4055-99f2-1976f075609e/50+-+Gold+Record+pose.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Gold Record The band Steam was suddenly inspired to re-release their record, eight years after its initial success. As a result, the single went gold a second time, and Mercury Records sent Nancy a gold record to acknowledge her role in re-popularizing the song. A single or an album becomes RIAA Gold certified after it has sold 500,000 units. The very first Gold Single was earned on March 14, 1958 with Perry Como’s “Catch A Falling Star” and four months later the cast album for Oklahoma!, sung by Gordon Macrae, became the first Gold Album. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac300676-91f1-458c-a7af-e3a6ed491f16/51+-+gold+record+kiss+em.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Ceremony The White Sox held a big ceremony at Comiskey Park before the game on September 2, 1977 where a representative from Mercury Records presented Nancy with the gold record. The ceremony was held only 35 days after Nancy had played the song for the first time at the stadium on July 29, meaning the single sold more than 14,000 copies every day since then to achieve its Gold status. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05885857-198b-40dd-a3ad-db0e44d75ca5/52+-+Bards+Room+accordion.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Bard’s Room The original Bard’s Room had the feel of a rustic yet upscale upper Midwest cabin — paneled in mahogany, decorated with deer heads, and made warm with a brick fireplace. The White Sox opened the room up to the press on occasion, and the writers soon took it over when Comiskey and his pals passed on or faded away. When Bill Veeck bought the team in 1959, he couldn’t resist the temptation to make the Bard’s Room his personal office, so he did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34a2299b-a2b4-4fd4-918c-8d4160c00031/53+-+1980.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Contracts After Harry Caray left to become the broadcaster for the Cubs, the White Sox signed Nancy to a 5-year contract, scared she would soon join Harry on the North Side. After 20 years with the club, the White Sox changed Nancy’s status from “independent contractor” to actual team employee, which gave her benefits she still enjoys today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b32d571b-0509-404e-86df-5e465298732e/54+-+With+Walt+Williams.JPG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Feedback Nancy says she never really got any feedback from the players about her songs, but it was clear that the players were aware of her and that she was beloved. Here, Nancy poses with White Sox outfielder Walt Williams, who was with the team from 1967 through 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1adf1c3d-1c69-40b2-91f3-53e55237b3c9/55+-+Harold+Baines.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harold Baines Nancy also made an impression on Harold Baines. She played “He’s So Shy” for him due to his quiet demeanor. who mentioned Nancy and her playing during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2019. Ahead of each one of Baines’ at-bats, Nancy led the crowd in a chant of his name -- like a childhood dream come to life. "It'd be late in the ballgame and there'd be a whole stand of people saying your name over and over with her playing to it. It'd be a tight ballgame, eighth or ninth inning. I'm coming up and 70% of the time I end up getting a hit to win the game, and that became the famous 'Har-old, Har-old,'" Baines said. Harold Baines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/787bea1d-151d-4633-af56-c665689b1551/56+-+Keith.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Music On The News? Once, during an interview on Jonathon Brandmeier’s show, Nancy mentioned how she’d love to play background music for the news since she could think of many appropriate songs based on the stories being discussed. She may not have exactly gotten that wish, but her music is featured on the Countdown With Keith Olbermann podcast. Listen to Keith’s podcast HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/455df279-d2b7-4ed8-820f-e705328d2ba7/57+-+Billy+Martin.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Billy Martin It was clear that Nancy’s music was having an impact on the game, and was being noticed by everyone from opposing players to Tigers manager Billy Martin. “He didn’t like the music I was playing when his team was at bat, and he complained to the umpires, who told me to stop playing,” Faust recalled. “And right away Stu (Holcomb) called and said you keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t be intimidated." Billy Martin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/510c2f67-44e4-4862-97ba-cdffea949687/58+-+1976-05-16+Midwest+magazine.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Celebrity By the mid-1970s, Nancy was becoming insanely popular at Chicago sporting events. She played organ for White Sox home games, but she also played at Chicago Bulls games from 1975 to 1984, at Chicago Sting pro soccer games from 1975 to 1988, at DePaul University Blue Demons basketball games from 1977 to 1981, and at Chicago Blackhawks games from 1984 to 1989. All of that exposure helped Nancy become a celebrity in her own right, appearing on this May 16, 1976 cover of Midwest magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da038db1-173d-4aec-ab65-ed859dc8c95b/59+-+Chicago+Stadium+organ.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Chicago Stadium Organ For many months prior to its dedication, the Chicago Stadium's 6-51 Barton organ was under construction in the factory of the Bartola Musical Instrument Co. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The instrument was designed by Dan Barton, and its building was under the supervision of Alfred Stoll, superintendent at the plant. At the time of its installation, the 7.5 ton console was the largest unit ever constructed, at a cost of $250,000. It had 51 sets of pipes, with 17 percussions and a drum section which consisted of 6 bass drums, 6 cymbals and 12 snare drums. The wind pressures varied from 15 to 50 inches, with there being 6 ranks of pipes on 50 inches pressure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/859550b4-16f5-4a4a-b47a-b7652ce8f8c1/60+-+Hammond+B3.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond B-3 There were many varieties of the Hammond organ, but the most popular variety, and the one still commonly in use today is the Hammond B-3. The B-3 featured a solid walnut body with four legs and base, a built-in stool, and weighed over 400 pounds. It had two 61 note keyboards, sometimes called the swell (top) and the great (bottom), a variety of built-in special effects, 9 preset keys for both keyboards (the inversely white and black keys on the bottom octave of each), two sets of nine stops (drawbars) for each manual, a full two octave set of foot pedals with two pedal drawbars built in to the console, and a volume pedal built into the base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e3f1869-1bfb-4fc3-b6cd-e588269fda51/61+-+Hammond+X66.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond X-66 Nancy convinced the White Sox to buy the new Hammond X-66 for the 1972 season. It was supposed to be the latest-and-greatest instrument from Hammond, but it ended up having some limitations which made it less versatile than the B-3. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aba4f3d4-46eb-4c07-8d99-dd8fb8e40ecd/62+-+Hammond+X66.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “On Deck” Though it wasn’t in use at Comiskey Park very long, Nancy used the Hammond X-66 to record a single of her own, titled “On Deck” and released through Pony Express Records. The B-Side was a 2:50 long medley called “Rah” comprised of the fight songs of the Big Ten schools, and Notre Dame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e0e53a58-fc80-403a-a1e1-f63f8794f73b/63+-+a+growing+rig.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Growing Rig As the years went on, Nancy became less concerned about the make and model of the organ she was playing, as long as whatever the Sox gave her had two full keyboards and two octaves of pedals. It was also important that the rig could accommodate a sequencer, a synthesizer, and a drum unit so Nancy could fill out the sounds of the songs she was playing, giving those songs more dimension. Nancy’s personal organ sold through Chicago White Sox Charities in December of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42d65645-3e08-44d0-a77e-670e4fb20f88/64+-+No+Sheet+Music.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - No Sheet Music Notice how in all of these photos of Nancy behind the organ, there is never any sheet music. She doesn’t think she would have been able to have the career she had if she would have needed to play off music, since everything happens so fast and all you have time to do is react and play, not look up the right song for the right moment. “I was really made for that job. I could never do anything in life as well as I was suited for that.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4531bfc-7be3-422d-b22c-ff8acb99cb55/65+-+party.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Party Atmosphere Nancy feels like the affordability of tickets made the games much more accessible to lots of fans, which in turn brought lots of fans to the games and created a party atmosphere at Comiskey. Everyone was there to have a good time and escape what was going on in the world, and enjoyed weird attractions and weird promotions at the ballpark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8845f7ed-1b14-4d6f-9300-583009373115/66+-+Nancy.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Upbeat and Fun Nancy always had a smile on her face, which was evident in her playing. Coincidentally, her playing put smiles on the faces of the fans in the crowd, regardless of the team’s win-loss record. Though, it was always more fun to play when the team was doing well and the fans were filling the stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48d3f4c9-ea2c-4d8f-8287-2986fd72ce4a/67+-+roger+bossard.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Roger Bossard Roger Bossard is the longest-tenured groundskeeper in MLB history, the longest-tenured White Sox employee, and is affectionately known as “The Sodfather.” His grandfather Emil and uncle Marshall worked for the Indians and were inducted into the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame. His father, Gene, was the Sox’s head groundskeeper at old Comiskey from 1940 to 1983. Nineteen of the 30 MLB teams use a patented drainage system that Bossard developed for the opening of New Comiskey Park in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdf82c09-fbdb-44b9-b1b8-4a67be9db25f/68+-+World+Series+ring.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 2005 World Series Ring When the White Sox won the 2005 World Series, Nancy was the longest-tenured official employee of the team. To commemorate her dedication, the team honored her with her very own World Series ring, which she proudly wears for special occasions to this day. It was a highlight of her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8129f168-25fd-4f4a-b45b-e8df40e06200/69+-+2010-11-24+Letter+from+President+Obama.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Presidential Recognition After her retirement, President Barack Obama sent Nancy a personal letter congratulating her on an amazing career. “Over the course of your career, you have demonstrated the ability of music to harness the energy of a crowd, capture the excitement of a moment, and leave a lasting mark on our memories. Baseball remains our national pastime, and I hope you take pride in the role you have played in enriching this American experience for players and spectators alike.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60b0d340-d397-4e47-9f40-56aa22d07f55/70+-+White+Sox+pitcher+Wayne+Edwards+and+manager+Jeff+Torborg+pose+with+Chicago+Sun-Times+sportswriter+Tom+Cruze.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Turn Back The Clock Day The White Sox held MLB's first ever Turn Back The Clock Day on July 11, 1990 against the Brewers. To set the early baseball atmosphere, ballpark ushers wore dated dress and some had megaphones to announce lineups. Ticket prices for general admission were $0.50 and all other tickets were half price. Here, White Sox pitcher Wayne Edwards and manager Jeff Torborg pose with Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Tom Cruze. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3bfd296-b3ef-43e3-89d9-67b8945601f1/71+-+Nancy+accordion.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy With Her Accordion Instead of playing her organ that day, Nancy was walking around in the crowd, appropriately dressed for the occasion, playing her accordion. If you want to watch the broadcast of the whole game, click play on the video above, but if you just want to watch Nancy play for a few seconds, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/739e13a9-1cdb-45e9-a061-26622151b84b/72+-+Final+Game+at+Old+Comiskey.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Last Comiskey Last Comiskey is a 2023 documentary directed by independent filmmaker Matt Flesch. The film chronicles the 1990 Chicago White Sox season, the last year the team played at Comiskey Park, which had been their home stadium since 1910. Created as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic, Flesch's film includes archival footage, interviews with players, coaches, media personalities, stadium employees, and longtime fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/218b73b3-66f6-49ed-8545-04e2bafd9ff8/72+-+Final+Game+man+in+disbelief.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Final Game This still was taken from a home video shot by Nancy’s family on the day of the final game at Old Comiskey Park. Just look at the emotions of the man in front of Nancy’s organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ae57098-3dd8-43fb-9825-bbda69493c77/74+-+2010-04-05+by+Brule+Laker.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Rain Delays While players, managers, fans, and especially the media covering the games might not particularly enjoy rain delays, Nancy said she loved them because it afforded her the opportunity to actually play songs in their entirety, instead of just the 8-10 second clips she normally had the time to play between pitches. This April 5, 2010 photo by Brule Laker may give us insight to another reason Nancy didn’t mind them, especially after the Sox moved to New Comiskey Park: her organ was indoors and completely protected from the elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f10ce156-0b46-43ec-a3ca-f69398813b06/75+-+1967+Letter+from+Wrigley.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - How Different Things Could Have Been… In February of 1967, while Nancy was still in college, one of her Cubs fan friends sent a letter to Philip K. Wrigley on her behalf, asking if the team would be interested in Nancy playing the national anthem for them. Mr. Wrigley replied to that 1967 inquiry saying they were not interested in Nancy’s services, leaving the door open for her to join the White Sox organization just a couple years later. Philip K. Wrigley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8591ec2a-03e0-4aa8-a1b1-e5da1127aa67/76+-+1979+Letter+from+Cubs.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Mea Cubs-a The Cubs eventually wrote to Nancy two different times, asking if she would come play for them, but her loyalty was solidified on the South Side by then. Here is one such letter Nancy received from the Cubs, dated April of 1979. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41e497f2-57e8-4a25-8c96-eae14eb62246/77+-+Peter+Wilt.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Sox Math” White Sox fan and historian Peter Wilt did some number crunching and determined that Nancy Faust has likely played in front of more fans than any musician in the history of the world. White Sox attendance history Blackhawks attendance history Bulls attendance history https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3dbe01c-15ef-4605-ba45-aa52181c168b/78+-+May+1%2C+1979.JPG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust Night Tuesday, May 1, 1979 was Nancy Faust Night/Music Night at Comiskey Park. If fans brought a musical instrument to the game, they got in for half price. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64b85607-4732-480e-ba7c-fd8d5821b898/79+-+Plaque.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust Organist Booth Dedicated at New Comiskey Park on September 18, 2010, the plaque reads: “During her legendary 40-year career as the organist for the Chicago White Sox, Nancy Faust entertained White Sox and baseball fans at more than 3,000 games and events. She was credited as the first sports organist to incorporate popular and rock themes - including her trademark rendition of “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him) Goodbye” - into her performance. “Dubbed “baseball’s best organist” by Sports Illustrated, she was famous for punctuating the game and opposing player at-bat music with personal and witty melodic interludes while entertaining millions of fans.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7120cc06-db00-4402-8ad3-a8f05c625345/80+-+Pensacola+Blue+Wahoos.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Minor Leagues While she no longer plays full-time, Nancy makes appearances every now and then at special events or minor league games, like this one for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fe64277-e89b-4313-84fd-9c2faf74e2f8/81+-+Women+In+Baseball.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - National Baseball Hall of Fame Nancy’s talents and contribution to the game are recognized in an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown called "Women in Baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e2acd14-2b8d-451d-979c-391d2e255ec6/82+-+World+Series+ring.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Follow Nancy Online Cameo Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19eca93b-4def-4215-b321-2210f4c0cb32/83+-+MJ.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Michael Jordan What would Nancy have played as Michael Jordan’s walk-up music had he stuck with baseball and eventually made it to the Major Leagues, as his former minor league manager Terry Francona predicted he would? Nancy’s idea HERE My idea HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32d2a530-6e32-4f7e-99fa-ae395ad78217/84+-+Best+Seat+in+the+History+of+Baseball.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Attraction Unto Herself Nancy was someone to be excited about, regardless of how the team was performing. During slow games, or slow seasons, visiting her at her organ was an exciting excursion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/574bb957-e5ee-4f88-af7f-7dc34b74d263/85+-+1956-08.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Chicago Girl Like my mom, Nancy is a Chicago girl through and through. Here is one more picture of Nancy as a child, this one taken in August of 1956 at the age of 9. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8898a7d1-3bd1-40cf-9dfd-c3431f889491/87+-+Harry+Caray.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch When Harry Caray went to go broadcast for the Cubs, WGN chose to leave the cameras rolling and stay in the stadium to broadcast him singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. This helped popularize the tradition nationwide, as WGN was broadcast nationally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de284829-f054-486c-bac8-e7ecc67c8ea1/88+-+Press+photo.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Youthfulness When Nancy started playing for the White Sox, she was fresh out of college. Her youthful energy informed the way she played the organ, and the way she interacted with Harry Caray during broadcasts. That playfulness came across to viewers, and made the ballpark a place people wanted to come hang out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bed381fa-7220-4f13-b019-7f541b2f2960/89+-+Last+Comiskey+book.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Last Comiskey Book Launch The accompanying book to Matt Flesch’s documentary Last Comiskey aims to serve as a lasting companion to the documentary, blending photographer Ken Smoller’s photos with new content to capture the essence of Comiskey Park and remind fans of its magic amid discussions of a potential new ballpark. Ken Smoller (aka “Stadium Vagabond”) is a photographer and writer based in Brookline Massachusetts, with childhood roots in Chicagoland. In over three decades of extensive traveling, he has photographed more than 2,350 stadiums in 48 states and 24 countries. Buy a DVD copy of the documentary HERE Order the book HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e772fec-0e53-4b62-8ca3-594b2be55101/91+-+From+Stadium+Vagabond.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Stadium Vagabond One of photographer Ken Smoller’s pictures of Nancy playing at Comiskey Park. Check out Ken’s amazing website HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45a69365-5aa9-40f3-b0ef-bb06e98168ba/92+-+Shay+Torrent.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Shay Torrent This vinyl record features Shay Torrent playing songs at California Angel Stadium’s Hammond X-66 organ. But Torrent was a prolific musician, releasing numerous organ records. Listen to his rendition of “La Paloma” HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9911c88c-2f5f-409c-9a94-54c8a4721367/93+-+Bobby+Richardson.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played second base for the team from 1955 through 1966, winning 3 World Series and 5 Gold Glove Awards. The 8-time All-Star also won the 1960 World Series MVP, despite the Yankees losing the series in 7 games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bobby was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/547098d6-5f00-4b7b-ae70-8a708008d832/94+-+Chicago+Tribune+Magazine.JPG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine Nancy graced the cover of the June 4, 1972 issue of the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, along with White Sox players Bill Melton and Wilbur Wood. “She’s Nancy Faust, the pixie-ish blonde organist at the Chicago White Sox Ball Park, whose quick wit and impromptu style have made her the darling of thousands of baseball fans. A friendly, popcorn-munching, All-American out-door girl, she even has her own fan club which issues a monthly newsletter called Nancy’s Notes.” Bill Melton’s SABR Biography Wilbur Wood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35e08337-fa2a-4441-a305-111b73d1c871/95+-+Bazooka.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Bubbly Personality During a series against the White Sox in Chicago, Kansas City Royals champion George Brett announced his intentions for the 1975 Joe Garagiola Bazooka Big League Bubble Gum Blowing Championship: “I want to go all the way in this thing. I’ve taken a lot of gum with me on this road trip, and I practice more than an hour a day in my room.” Here, Nancy measures George’s bubble while Pat Kelly and Lee "Bee Bee" Richard of the White Sox look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3314e48b-7aa8-4552-86e9-247eb699eefa/96+-+Gold+Record.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Honors In addition to her 2005 World Series Ring, she was also awarded this Gold Record from Mercury Records for helping to re-popularize Steam’s song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b382957-b620-4747-b904-3a3b95d4c67d/97+-+Chicago%27s+Own.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Chicago’s Own Nancy Faust is a gift we need to treasure. Follow her online: Cameo Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cc52507-e318-4fba-8b45-83a5fd2c2300/98+-+email.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b134a511-4ae8-430f-81ab-ef6dfa25d08d/99+-+Nancy+Faust+Presents+Crowd+Pleasing+Favorites.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win this 12” vinyl record of Nancy Faust Presents: Crowd Pleasing Favorites which was recorded live at Comiskey Park and released in 1983? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c15a3cec-c771-465d-82a7-5171b2e9eeee/100+-+Andy+The+Clown.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Andy The Clown Andrew Rozdilsky Jr. was more commonly known as Andy the Clown, performing at White Sox games at the original Comiskey Park from 1960 to 1990. Rozdilsky dressed as a clown one day to amuse his friends from a local bowling league, and they encouraged him to attend a White Sox game with them in the outfit. Performing as Andy the Clown, Rozdilsky became popular with the crowd. By coincidence, Rozdilsky won White Sox season tickets for 1961 in a Knights of Columbus raffle, and soon began to attend almost every game as Andy the Clown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7a9cbc1-2d34-4115-b0b0-1ea07bf90678/101+-+Denny+McLain.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Denny McLain Bob Creed succeeded Shay Torrent as the White Sox organist, and preceded Nancy Faust. Creed was an accomplished organist, but he was also a music teacher. His most famous student was probably Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain, who released an organ music album of his own after his dominant 1968 season which saw the right hander win the Cy Young Award, the MVP Award, and lead the Tigers to a World Series title over the St. Louis Cardinals. Denny McLain’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e77a3a47-f6ec-47b0-89b1-ca8b529c1d23/102+-+Gladys+Goodding.JPG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Gladys Goodding Gladys Goodding was the first organist in baseball history, joining the Dodgers at Ebbets Field in 1942 and staying until the team moved west. Originally, she was discovered by Larry McPhail as she played the organ at Madison Square Garden for New York Rangers hockey games. She would later on play at Knicks games. In addition to playing the organ she often sang the National Anthem at Dodger games. She was famous for playing a song called "Follow the Dodgers" as the team took to the field to start a game at Ebbets Field. You can listen to the song HERE. “Gladys Goodding, Ebbets Field Organ Queen” by Rob Edelman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51a721e7-be90-4f1d-a957-d13bb96722a5/103+-+John+Kiley.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - John Kiley John Kiley got his start playing for silent films at the Criterion Theater in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston at the age of 15. His day job was working for local radio station WMEX, where he was the music director from 1934 to 1956. Kiley primarily played before the game and during breaks, often opting for nostalgic music and avoiding more modern rock music. A popular trivia question among Boston-area sports fans in the 1970s was "Who is the only man to play for the Red Sox, the Bruins, and the Celtics?" referring to Kiley, who played the organs at both Fenway Park and the Boston Garden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f47682d8-b4fc-410d-bbbb-b2d6e94c9540/104+-+Jane+Jarvis.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Jane Jarvis Jane Jarvis was a jazz pianist and organist who played at Milwaukee Braves games beginning in 1955. Jarvis had to learn about baseball on the job. She eventually relocated to New York, working as a music arranger at ABC-TV and Muzak, and became the organist for the New York Mets. Jane Jarvis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed6e87a9-d4c1-46a3-9233-5c939300cda3/105+-+Toby+Wright+1965.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Toby Wright Because of pressure from the success of the Mets, their new Shea Stadium facility, and the popularity of their organist, Jane Jarvis, Yankees owner Dan Topping installed an organ at Yankee Stadium at the beginning of the 1965 season. Lowrey organ demonstrator Toby Wright was the first organist for the Yankees, performing the task during the 1965 and 1966 seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbae98a1-b956-4179-a3a0-607f84bba006/106+-+Burke.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - E. Michael Burke Former C.I.A. agent and general manager of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus E. Michael Burke became the new Yankees team president after CBS acquired the team. Burke brought Eddie Layton in to be the Yankees new organist for the upcoming 1967 season. Michael Burke’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70b1e844-33d3-443e-873b-2c8408c8ca3e/107+-+Eddie+Layton.jpg Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Eddie Layton When Eddie Layton was hired to become the Yankees new organist, he had never been to the stadium before and knew nothing about baseball. Eddie Layton went on to play the organ for the Yankees for over three decades, taking a break from 1971 to 1977 to pursue other musical commitments. When he retired on September 28, 2003, he played a final performance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", while fans chanted his name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ff220f0-ee5d-4dd1-9997-21ec179511cd/108+-+Nancy+Faust.JPEG Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust While Nancy Faust may not have been the first baseball organist, she’s the best in my book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ceeeb76f-3bad-4c45-86a6-88eab3b391d6/109+-+artwork.png Season 4 - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/06 monthly 0.5 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31900434-571d-4564-b78b-3d6ec8e3c5b8/youtube.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fefb9c86-bebc-462b-bee0-f3120901c68f/square.JPEG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski Adam Darowski and me after recording our interview in Somerset, Massachusetts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24887226-c19f-4139-afe7-5372eddf10df/01+-+Adam+Darowski.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Adam Darowski Adam Darowski is a designer and developer with over 25 years of experience with tech companies of all types — from tiny startups to billion dollar unicorns. Adam joined Sports Reference in late 2020 on a full-time basis after a long stint as a design consultant where he worked on their responsive site redesign and their Stathead launch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae31a8fe-632b-482d-a80d-8dca25af0244/02+-+Sports+Reference+transparent.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Sports Reference The Sports Reference sites first launched with Baseball-Reference.com in April of 2000 by Sean Forman, Pro-Football-Reference.com in December of 2000 by Doug Drinen, and Basketball-Reference.com in April of 2004 by Justin Kubatko. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93d341b0-edd7-4854-a47c-c81afd53fe1f/03+-+Sean+Forman.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Sean Forman Sean Forman formed Sports Reference, Inc. in October of 2004, and in December of 2007 the three groups joined forces with Jay Virshbo to create Sports Reference LLC, which is based in Pennsylvania. Sports Reference has steadily grown over the years, and currently has 42 full-time employees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0460d36-8fd9-4d9b-80fa-cb8321f72424/04+-+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Baseball Reference Online Website Bluesky Instagram Reddit Facebook Twitter Threads TikTok Michael Jordan’s Baseball Reference Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dcf2cb04-b833-49e5-8bcc-c6700c7b589b/05+-+Pro+Football.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Pro Football Reference Online Website Bluesky Instagram Reddit Facebook Twitter Threads TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06932ac3-4f49-45c6-98f7-fb8404d46be0/06+-+Basketball.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Basketball Reference Online Website Bluesky Instagram Reddit Facebook Twitter Threads TikTok Michael Jordan’s Basketball Reference Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78834e5b-c68d-429b-b9bb-3258cc13add2/07+-+College+Football.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow College Football Reference Online Website Facebook Twitter TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cad45841-0c1a-4eee-9d51-682bd9b1a905/08+-+College+Basketball.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow College Basketball Reference Online Website Facebook Twitter TikTok Michael Jordan’s College Bball Reference Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9014dcb-ace0-4735-a4d7-20170986f038/09+-+Hockey.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Hockey Reference Online Website Bluesky Instagram Reddit Facebook Twitter Threads TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2317bcc2-33cb-4696-aaec-66b4006972c7/10+-+FBref.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow FBref Online Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook Twitter Threads https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8939a3b9-5873-446c-b9f8-d76b243b1acd/11+-+Stathead.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Stathead Online Website Bluesky Facebook Twitter TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/921c8b21-472b-4663-9628-542dec16ad75/12+-+Immaculate+Grid.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Immaculate Grid Online Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook Twitter Threads Other Sports: Men’s Basketball / Women’s Basketball / Football / Hockey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ad91cc5-0538-4822-8bed-19c7328835b9/13+-+Immaculate+Footy.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Immaculate Footy Online Website Bluesky Instagram Twitter Threads https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed033c38-f07f-4817-b4fb-f90053b9930e/14+-+SABR+presentation.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Society for American Baseball Research Adam has been a member of the Society for American Baseball Research since 2013, and has presented multiple times at the annual SABR convention. Listen to Adam’s SABR51 Presentation Listen to Adam’s SABR53 Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0acfff77-8440-4833-8e0e-53dbccd138a6/15+-+Hall+of+Stats+poster.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Hall of Stats Adam is a historian focused on the Negro Leagues and Latin American baseball. His work, both personally and professionally, focuses on the intersection of statistical analysis and historical preservation. He enjoys building genuinely loveable and aggressively functional products that support those goals, like in 2012, when he launched the Hall of Stats, an alternate Hall of Fame populated by a mathematical formula, with the help of his friends Jeffrey Chupp and Michael Berkowitz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e941d077-4557-49c7-9507-1c23ce0cbafd/16+-+Outsider+Baseball+All+Stars.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Outsider Baseball All-Stars Or his Outsider Baseball All-Stars research, for which Adam has also created a dedicated website. Visit the website HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0d890d0-9d2f-4e1f-b577-8c39e3dc4cc6/17+-+Jerry+Malloy+conference.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Perfect Person Adam has spent years researching Black and Latin players, and has unparalleled access to the databases which document all of their statistics. He is the perfect person to have the discussion we’re about to have about the integration of the Negro Leagues statistics into the official MLB record books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aab6fb7e-880f-4c9c-9984-442d7917ee1a/18+-+Press+Release.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Long Time Coming On December 16, 2020, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Major League Baseball would be “correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history by officially elevating* the Negro Leagues to “Major League” status.” Read the full press release HERE. *“Elevating” is a word chosen by Major League Baseball, and is one which many Negro Leagues historians, researchers, and advocates have taken umbrage with. The usage of the word “elevate” implies that the Negro Leagues were somehow beneath the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c9ba325-8617-4708-9cfe-bcfd8ec9a03b/19+-+Major+Leagues.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 7 Distinct Leagues More from MLB’s official press release: “During this year’s centennial celebration of the founding of the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball is proud to highlight the contributions of the pioneers who played in these seven distinct leagues from 1920 through 1948. With this action, Major League Baseball seeks to ensure that future generations will remember the approximately 3,400 players of the Negro Leagues during this time period as Major League-caliber ballplayers. Accordingly, the statistics and records of these players will become a part of Major League Baseball’s history.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/734d19d9-e12d-4aad-b603-0c1a37c1f67f/20+-+Elias+Sports+Bureau.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Elias Sports Bureau “Major League Baseball and the Elias Sports Bureau have begun a review process to determine the full scope of this designation’s ramifications on statistics and records. MLB and Elias will work with historians and other experts in the field to evaluate the relevant issues and reach conclusions upon the completion of that process. “John Labombarda, Head of the Editorial Department at the Elias Sports Bureau, the Official Statistician of Major League Baseball, said: “The Elias Sports Bureau supports Major League Baseball in its conferral of Major League status on the Negro Leagues. We look forward to working with John Thorn and the people who worked on the research and construction of the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c63171b9-c269-46a3-88c3-d938d43d7db0/21+-+John+Thorn.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - John Thorn “John Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, said: “The perceived deficiencies of the Negro Leagues’ structure and scheduling were born of MLB's exclusionary practices, and denying them Major League status has been a double penalty, much like that exacted of Hall of Fame candidates prior to Satchel Paige's induction in 1971. Granting Major League Baseball status to the Negro Leagues a century after their founding is profoundly gratifying.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33dec6f7-d08f-41ff-8410-ac2cb727dda2/22+-+Sean+Gibson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Negro Leagues Are Major Leagues On June 15, 2021, Baseball Referenced made the following announcement: “We have dramatically expanded our coverage of the Negro Leagues and historical Black major league players. Major Negro Leagues (from 1920-1948) are now listed with the National League and American League as major leagues. We are not bestowing a new status on these players or their accomplishments. The Negro Leagues have always been major leagues. We are changing our site's presentation to properly recognize this fact.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/222664e7-c9b4-4487-8296-b8db46377eb8/117+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Which Games Are Included? “Although our work is heavily stats driven, we recognize that the history and the legend and lore of many of these players exist beyond the numbers. The Negro Leagues data is not complete. While the quality of play in the Negro Leagues was on a major league level, the wages, travel, playing conditions, press coverage, and record-keeping were more varied, primarily due to systemic racism. “Additionally, Negro League teams played a shorter regular season schedule, but with an extensive amount of exhibitions and barnstorming games that made for seasons that often approached 200 or more games in total. These contests were not part of their league schedule and are therefore not included in this database. This is why Josh Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque says that he hit "almost 800 home runs" while our data shows 166.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c92abc2-3cff-4540-a7e1-b8ee940f1341/24+-+Pre-1920.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 1920 Through 1948 “It's also important to remember that the history of Black Baseball does not start in 1920 or end in 1948, and even from 1920 through 1948 our presentation is incomplete. There were hundreds of teams and thousands of players that make up a more complete and richer history of Black Baseball than we are able to present here, and from 1920 through 1948 there were many star players and teams that found it more feasible to play only a barnstorming schedule (not just in the United States, but also the Caribbean, Mexico, and Venezuela) rather than participate in leagues.” Sol White’s Hall of Fame Biography Sol White’s Baseball Reference Sol White’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dcb353fc-e815-4f51-bfc8-3abba30a079a/24+-+Scouring.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Scouring The Records As John Thorn recently wrote: “In the years since Major League Baseball made their announcement, researchers have continued to scour the records for statistics that would reflect those Negro League seasons from 1920 through 1948. Periodically, Major League Baseball releases those findings into its dataset.” As a matter of fact, the most recent update just took place on December 2, 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3845bb88-0acd-43d9-8d73-3aa1402e09bd/25+-+Josh+Gibson+statistics.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Process, Not Product “Negro Leagues data — like all of MLB’s records — reflect process, not eternally settled product. Does Ty Cobb have 4,191 hits or 4,189? Is his lifetime batting average .366 or .367? As with Josh Gibson, there is room for both argument and understanding. “At this moment*, Gibson’s all-time slugging percentage drops by one point to .717, but he remains tops all-time. Like Cobb, he was undeniably greater than one thousandth of a decimal point.” *These graphics were posted by the official social media accounts of Major League Baseball when the record books were initially officially integrated. As you can see, Josh Gibson is credited here with having a .718 career slugging percentage, but with this most recent update by MLB, his official record (at least, for now) drops to .717. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10b4341d-e35f-47f6-ac65-72b79d60e50c/26+-+Adam%27s+Research.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Uniquely Qualified Adam Darowski’s own research has helped him understand the real-life and historical implications of the integration of the Major League record books, and his personal experience interviewing other researchers, historians, authors, and experts about this very subject makes him uniquely qualified to relay those implications to us. This topic can be extremely messy, and often times there may not be one true answer or a single correct way to do or interpret something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c2dd73d-ca65-4697-a3fb-683bd18581a6/28+-+Dougie.PNG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Dougie If you hear a dog in the background during the interview, that’s just Dougie, who was gracious enough to allow me to invade his space for a couple hours so Adam and I could sit down and have this talk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98a49208-dd30-47a0-af02-44fe2ff2e4fc/27+-+Outsider+Baseball+Notebook+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Outsider Baseball Notebook By the end of this episode, if you’re still craving more stories from Adam about great players and interesting baseball characters you may have never heard of before, I highly recommend checking out HIS amazing podcasts, too. The Outsider Baseball Notebook chronicles Adam’s journey learning about the Negro Leagues and pre-segregation baseball outside of the Negro Leagues. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb630e3a-ad95-4f8c-8f77-98f1ee28e51f/28+-+Building+The+Ballot.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Building The Ballot Adam’s other podcast, Building The Ballot, takes a deep dive into the candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Era Committees. While the elections those episodes were preparing for have come and gone, the discussions about the players, managers, executives, umpires, pioneers, and contributors are evergreen, so they’re just as informative and relevant today as they were when they were recorded, and I promise, they’re well worth your time. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63947ec2-07e4-4734-9587-08f914a855d0/31+-+McCoy+Stadium+scoreboard.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - McCoy Stadium McCoy Stadium was a baseball stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1970 through 2020, it served as home field of the Pawtucket Red Sox (PawSox), a Minor League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Completed in 1942, the stadium first hosted an affiliated minor league team in 1946, the Pawtucket Slaters, a Boston Braves farm team. Demolition of the stadium began on March 24, 2025, and was "all but completed on May 27." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93c6ce09-7297-465f-ad72-9d122545e881/32+-+McCoy+Stadium+panorama.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out A panoramic shot of McCoy Stadium, taken by Adam Darowski. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a512d71-fede-4fdb-beb9-b7f734643a83/33+-+McCoy+Stadium+fishing+spot.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Fishing Trick As you can see here, it wasn’t always super easy to reach the players on the field while Adam was in the stands at McCoy Stadium, so he and his friends devised a method of “fishing” for autographs by using a Coke bottle and lowering it to the player below them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93a05f51-dfbb-492b-a1d4-b00a03f19ef4/34+-+McCoy+Stadium+banner.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Murals and Banners On August 17, 2018, the PawSox announced that they would relocate to a new stadium in Worcester in April of 2021. With McCoy Stadium no longer needed by the Red Sox, they began selling off many of the items inside in preparation of demolition. Adam was considering buying one of these huge banners of a former player, like Marty Barrett, before he saw what the auction prices were getting up to. Marty Barrett’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de8c9a1e-32bf-4bb2-884e-8f2776d4142b/35+-+1987+Topps.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 1987 Topps The 1987 Topps baseball card set consisted of 792 cards, with subsets including Record Breakers (1-7), Turn Back the Clock (311-315), and All-Stars (595-616). The set also includes manager cards with a team checklist featured on the card backs. The key rookie cards for the set include #634 Rafael Palmiero and #648 Barry Larkin. From July 1986 to June 1987, Topps nearly doubled its sports card sales from $30.2 million to $59.2 million. Over the next 12 months, the same figure nearly doubled again, jumping to $120 million. Roger Clemens’ Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3065567b-b845-429a-9eb6-3bc919c00fb7/36+-+1986+Apple.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Family Computer Adam’s dad bought the family an Apple computer. Introduced in January 1986, two years after the original Macintosh, the Mac Plus shipped with 1 MB of RAM, a new double-sided 800 KB floppy drive, and a built-in SCSI port (the first Mac so equipped). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e43228e3-7ce9-48dc-98d6-32cf49bd09e1/Earl+Weaver+Baseball+game.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Earl Weaver Baseball Though Adam’s dad was not a sports fan, one day he brought home Earl Weaver Baseball, a computer game designed by Don Daglow and Eddie Dombrower and published in 1987 by Electronic Arts. It changed Adam’s life. The artificial intelligence for the computer manager was provided by Baseball Hall of Fame member Earl Weaver, then manager of the Baltimore Orioles, based on a lengthy series of interviews. EWB was a major hit, and along with John Madden Football helped pave the way for the EA Sports brand, which launched in 1992. Earl Weaver’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf0ff525-f4ff-4414-b0e4-9cc46e7ad415/38+-+Pick+Your+Team.jpeg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Simulator Earl Weaver Baseball was the first commercial computer sports game to allow players to simulate an entire season without showing each game play-by-play on the screen. For the first time, different stadiums were shown graphically on the screen, with gameplay adjusted for their actual dimensions. Defunct or demolished stadiums were included, such as the Polo Grounds, Griffith Stadium, Ebbets Field, and Sportsman's Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b82ee56e-f5f4-4b49-9c51-6f341ffcd098/Earl+Weaver+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Don Daglow Don Daglow is credited with many innovations in early video games, including the first baseball game (Baseball, 1971), one of the first role-playing games (Dungeon, 1975), the first RTS or sim game (Utopia, 1981), and the first graphical MMORPG (Neverwinter Nights, 1991). Many individual elements of the language of video game design are also credited to Daglow, such as the use of a circle beneath a player to indicate the possession of the ball in sports games, first used in Tony La Russa's Ultimate Baseball (1991). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a57f161a-a9ae-471a-be12-a5df73e704f6/40+-+Mike+Greenwell.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Mike Greenwell Mike “the Gator” Greenwell played his entire MLB career with the Boston Red Sox (1985–1996). He played seven games for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan (1997), before retiring. He was fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1987, and finished as the runner-up for the AL MVP Award in 1988 to José Canseco. Adam and I recorded our conversation on October 11, 2025, two days after Greenwell passed. Mike Greenwell’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a03b997f-5a98-43e0-b80b-5dbd68c7893e/41+-+Greenwell.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Mike Greenwell’s career statistics, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, with his incredible 1988 season highlighted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c73b1149-8df2-4bc4-86aa-e3b599a73ad0/42+-+1988+Red+Sox.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 1988 Red Sox The 1988 Boston Red Sox went 89-73, finishing 1st in the American League East. They lost in the ALCS to the Oakland A’s, who then lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adam still remembers the great players on that year’s team: Ellis Burks’ Baseball Reference Dwight Evans’ Baseball Reference Wade Boggs’ Baseball Reference Roger Clemens’ Baseball Reference Jody Reed’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f230538-8572-421e-bcdc-49e63e209aa9/43+-+2004+Red+Sox.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 2004 Red Sox The 2004 Boston Red Sox will always hold a special place in Adam’s heart, as well. Managed by Terry Francona, the team finished with a 98–64 record, three games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card, swept the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, and faced the Yankees in the ALCS for the second straight year. After losing the first three games and trailing in the ninth inning of the fourth game, the Red Sox became the first team in major league history to come back from a 3–0 postseason deficit, defeating the Yankees in seven games. The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, capturing their first championship since 1918, and breaking “The Curse of the Bambino.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b37f5d8b-24dc-4b18-8bd0-5f61fea061e3/44+-+White+Sox+through+41+games+in+2024.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Being A White Sox Fan It’s been … difficult lately. Through the first 41 games of their 2024 season, the White Sox were shut out 10 times. There were 10 teams in 2023 who were shut out fewer than 10 times over the full season. Even if the White Sox win another World Series before I die, I don’t think I would get the same amount of joy from that to overcome the amount of despair they have caused me, which sometimes makes me wonder why I continue to be a fan of theirs. If them achieving the ultimate goal wouldn’t even really make me happy, then what’s the point? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28b624d4-a673-44f1-acb1-d311e5f9af8b/45+-+Top+Prospects.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Top Prospects Adam is in the same boat as I am, where neither of us are nearly as big of fans of the modern game or the current teams as we used to be. Each of us have skewed more toward diving into the history of the game, as opposed to keeping up with the top prospects in the Red Sox system or the White Sox system. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce38cd9c-9377-4f39-b61f-f03dc4f24e36/46+-+Users+Come+First.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Users Come First Whether it’s conducting interviews with users to see how the site can improve, or refusing affiliate relationships with sportsbooks or gambling-affiliated companies, Sports Reference genuinely seems to put their users first. The values listed on their site state: “We strive to work with respect, reliability with oomph, and craftsmanship, and also to promote the democratization of sports data.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f70a2e25-d11f-4725-9599-f0a39107f5ba/48+-+Baseball+Prospectus.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Different Spaces For Different Types Of Users While I may personally prefer using Baseball-Reference.com when doing my own historical statistical research, Adam is still grateful that spaces still exist for other baseball sites. You may want to also check out: MLB.com FanGraphs Baseball Prospectus (where this image came from) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09befb19-6924-469a-bfec-320b899f552b/49+-+Stathead.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Stathead The 2024 White Sox had a losing streak of 21 games, the second longest losing streak in AL/NL history. Using the Streak Finder tool in Stathead Baseball, you can find how many other teams have had a streak of 20+ losses. Sign up to become a paying user HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84f1f154-83ce-41f1-aa86-a4d513e03598/46+-+Charitable+Contributions.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Why become a paying user when you can access so much information across the Sports Reference universe for free? Because, on top of gaining access to more tools and finders which will enhance your experience, you are also directly helping to contribute to other amazing organizations which fit the mission of SR. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32ccb86d-fe11-447c-a4e2-c0c896eea690/50+-+Immaculate+Grid+press+release.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid Brian Minter is the creator of Immaculate Grid, which Sports Reference announced the acquisition of right around the SABR convention in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2656c03f-3ecd-4351-8dfc-13b5944fc0ae/51+-+Page+Views.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Page Views When Adam and the Sports Reference team noticed the page views going crazy on certain parts of Baseball-Reference.com, they realized there might be something to this Immaculate Grid thing. People were noticing the number of impressions Immaculate Grid was getting on social media, too. It’s fun to see how Sports Reference tracks page views for other things, too. Bobby Bonilla’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7d160db-28ee-4815-93fc-ef0143622855/52+-+Immaculate+Grid.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Baseball Reference’s First Immaculate Grid Baseball Reference posted their first grid on July 11, 2023 (seen here). It just so happened to be the 100th Immaculate Grid to have been posted, which worked out quite nicely. You can go back and play any of the previous grids in the archive, dating all the way back to Grid #1, which was posted by Brian Minter on April 4, 2023. The reception after Baseball Reference took over the game was, well, immaculate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d739aa6-d727-4d4f-88a8-076b1560885e/53+-+Immaculate+Grid+all+sports.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Play them all: Baseball · Football · Men’s Basketball · Women’s Basketball · Hockey · Soccer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8316929e-38a2-4b54-885c-9713cbe60739/54+-+Immaculate+Grid+in+person.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Hand Crafted Although they have the technology to automate the creation of the daily grids, Adam still prefers to make them each by hand, purposely selecting the categories for each column and row with purpose and intent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49a6d93a-9e0e-4a0a-b4e5-94ae4dab1339/55+-+Grid+916.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid #916 This was the grid Adam describes which he published on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Play Grid #916 for yourself HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be8c8a0c-9acd-4052-ae7f-bf5f776e1f45/56+-+RBI.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 100 RBIs + Yankees You could choose to put Babe Ruth in this square, knowing that he absolutely had at least one season with 100+ RBI while playing for the Yankees, but Adam feels that one of the things which makes Immaculate Grid such a great game to play is that squares like this present an opportunity for the user to express themselves and flex their knowledge. Instead of using Babe Ruth, you could use someone more obscure to modern fans, like Wally Pipp, Charlie Keller, or Ben Chapman. To see the list of the Top 50 single-season RBI totals achieved by a Yankees player, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e113f216-43c7-4a53-8908-b09e9048b56c/57+-+Grid+273.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid #273 This was the grid Adam describes which he published on Sunday, December 31, 2023. As if the categories weren’t big enough hints, December 31 is the anniversary of Roberto Clemente’s tragic death, which happened on that day in 1972. Play Grid #273 for yourself HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac93b159-1341-4e78-ba56-fc610adc7e94/58+-+Torriente.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Cristóbal Torriente Cristóbal Torriente was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on November 16, 1893. He came stateside in 1913 to play for the Cuban Stars, played several seasons in the 1910s for J.L. Wilkinson’s “All-Nations” team, and won the Negro National League batting title in 1920 when he hit .411 for the Chicago American Giants. In 1920, the New York Giants, whose roster temporarily included Babe Ruth, visited Torriente’s native Cuba for a nine-game series vs. Almendares – Torriente’s team. Torriente outhit and out-homered Ruth in the series, which Almendares won. Like many players, Torriente had a parallel career in the Cuban Winter league. In 13 seasons in his homeland, he hit better than .300 11 times and won two batting titles. His teams won six Cuban championships in those 13 seasons. Cristóbal Torriente’s Baseball Reference Cristóbal Torriente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ea729d7-aaf8-4102-b36c-9a176c629b0b/59+-+Too+Hard.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Too Hard For A Grid Adam sometimes posts pairings like this on social media for his followers, because including them in an official grid would be too hard. Can you guess the four other players to have done this besides Bob Forsch? Bob Forsch’s Baseball Reference Bob Forsch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd864cc1-061d-4ded-a4e0-159b6087d322/60+-+Evil+Grid.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculately Evil How about an entire grid of awfulness? Adam posted this cursed matrix on April 11, 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3083604-1a15-46ba-b555-1e484bf3075e/61+-+Kenny+Lofton.JPG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Kenny Lofton Adam went up to Immaculate Grid legend Kenny Lofton at the Jerry Malloy Negro Leagues Conference because Adam wanted to tell Kenny that he’s one of the people who works on the game. Kenny Lofton’s Baseball Reference Kenny Lofton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c2d21d0-4553-45b0-9f02-6bccc4627d64/62+-+Kenny+Lofton+BR.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Looking at Kenny Lofton’s Baseball Reference page, can you tell why he’s an Immaculate Grid legend? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/608a3fbb-9177-465e-8928-b09e292b9f6b/63+-+Edwin+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid Legends Octavio Dotel’s Baseball Reference - 13 teams Rich Hill’s Baseball Reference - 14 teams Edwin Jackson’s Baseball Reference - 14 teams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/398700d6-2994-4fd6-8941-5b4da0f98751/64+-+Grid+738.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid #738 This was the grid Adam describes which he published on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the day after Octavio Dotel passed away. The six teams featured in this grid are the teams for which Dotel played the most career games. Play Grid #738 for yourself HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4b2ebfc-c501-47fe-9112-e49096c020a7/65+-+Kenny+Lofton.JPG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Stathead’s Versus Finder Kenny Lofton often utilizes Stathead’s Versus Finder to enhance his ability to talk smack to other retired ballplayers, like Dave Stewart, when they golf together. Kenny was thrilled to show Adam all of the purple links on his phone, proving that he uses it frequently. Dave Stewart’s Baseball Reference Dave Stewart’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19cc5251-2a94-4ab2-88ac-5c8fcd0d7f11/66+-+Versus+Finder.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out In case you were wondering, Dave Stewart had the advantage over Kenny Lofton when they matched up head-to-head. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6f1d8f4-38e6-4ad6-b758-854ab41cdeee/67+-+WAR.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - What Is The Best Statistic? There are a few different statistics which aim to show a player's overall greatness: Wins Above Average (WAA) - combines all aspects of a player’s game — hitting, pitching, base running, fielding, positional value, and more — and estimates how many more wins that player was worth than an average player. Wins Above Replacement (WAR) - takes that a step further and estimates how many more wins the player is worth than a replacement player. WAR per 162 is how many Wins Above Replacement a player would be worth over the course of a 162-game season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/740ed0e4-c38d-4b22-a184-e84ccbe73d7e/68+-+Hall+of+Stats.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Hall Of Stats One of Adam’s early projects was the Hall of Stats, which was an alternate Hall of Fame which was populated by a formula he created called Hall Rating. That technique established what a Hall of Fame might look like if the road to induction was based solely on statistical merit rather than intangibles and narratives. George Davis’ Baseball Reference George Davis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f4bbb5-de18-4f16-9044-6a66dc6be06e/67+-+Hall+of+Stats.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out While the Hall of Stats site is no longer up and running, Adam’s research made quite an impression on the baseball world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e4ddcda-57d5-4fe2-8211-ddfb1a95a180/71+-+Deacon+White.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Deacon White In an era when catchers did not use any equipment and were positioned much farther back from the pitcher than in modern baseball, just catching the ball was considered an advantage. Deacon White could not only catch, he could throw runners out. On May 4, 1871, while playing for the Cleveland Forest Citys, White recorded the first hit in the history of the National Association, recognized as the first major league. He led the NA with 77 RBI in 1873 while playing for the Boston Red Stockings, then paced the league with a .367 batting average during its final season of 1875. When the National League was born in 1876, White joined the Chicago White Stockings, and was the first NL RBI champ, driving in 60 runs. The next season back in Boston, White led the NL in hits (103), triples (11), RBI (49), batting average (.387) and OPS (.950). It was through the help of Adam Darowski’s research that Deacon White was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2013. Deacon White’s Baseball Reference Deacon White’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6a9d7e0-7b65-4e97-9545-c105da297dd3/72+-+Dwight+Evans.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Other Players Adam Recognized as HOF-worthy Scott Rolen - Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Scott Rolen’s Baseball Reference Alan Trammell - Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Alan Trammell’s Baseball Reference Larry Walker - Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Larry Walker’s Baseball Reference Carlos Beltrán - Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Carlos Beltrán’s Baseball Reference Dwight Evans - not yet inducted into the HOF Dwight Evans’ Baseball Reference As of 2026, the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot had 13 eventual Hall of Famers on it, with plenty more potential HOFers still on it — especially if the voters relax their stance on the Steroids Era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0099eb64-9867-4c3a-a551-515d6338c03d/73+-+King+Felix.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Pitcher Wins Baseball fans and writers used to place a premium on Wins for a pitcher. Modern researchers and statisticians understand that, with the way the game is played today, Wins are probably not the best way to measure a pitcher’s value. Félix Hernández won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award with a record of 13-12. Félix Hernández’s Baseball Reference Jacob deGrom went 10-9 when he won the NL Cy Young Award in 2018, and then repeated as the NL’s Cy Young Award winner in 2019 with a record of 11-8. Jacob deGrom’s Baseball Reference Paul Skenes went 10-10 when he won the 2025 NL Cy Young Award. Paul Skenes’ Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75aec7db-ce97-414a-9fb3-59dbda282a2c/74+-+Three+True+Outcomes.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Three True Outcomes Adam loves Hits, even though he thinks they may be the Wins of a position player. The game is just so much less focused on Hits because the Three True Outcomes (Walks, Strikeouts, and Home Runs) are so prevalent now, and Hits are just harder to come by. There have been 541 individual seasons in Major League history during which a player has recorded 200 or more hits. There have been 86 200+ hit seasons since 2000, with Ichiro accounting for 10 of them. Bobby Witt, Jr. (211) and Luis Arráez (200) each accomplished the feat in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d754400-0dce-437b-bc87-ea0726ce8b31/75+-+OPS.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Scoreboards at many MLB ballparks (like Progressive Field in Cleveland) have stopped showing batting average as the main statistic in the batting lineup graphic, instead choosing to show OPS. Whether OPS is a more meaningful statistic or not in terms of capturing a player’s true offensive value… which number looks better at a glance: .170 or .615? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40d99a86-f06f-4158-b1bc-5c49e6038c7b/76+-+WAR+components.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Components of WAR There is no one way to determine WAR. There are hundreds of steps to make this calculation, and dozens of places where reasonable people can disagree on the best way to implement a particular part of the framework. WAR is really just an idea of how to value players. Once you have the idea in place, there are dozens of implementation details that have multiple reasonable approaches to take. Additionally, the way specific people and places calculate WAR has changed over the years. Position Player WAR calculations Pitcher WAR calculations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d58f06f4-b3c5-4d8f-80a8-1ad48c332d79/68+-+How+To+Calculate+WAR.gif Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - How To Calculate WAR Baseball Reference explains what WAR is, and how it is calculated HERE. Sean Forman says that WAR is essentially GDP for baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f8ba822-1a9d-4fe6-9f9b-22f1eb0e0bf7/77+-+A+Beautiful+Mind.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Messaging Problem? Advanced Statistics can be incredibly useful, if you take the time to understand them. But many people feel overwhelmed by the concept, because the names of the statistics, themselves, are often confusing and seemingly nonsensical. Maybe it reminds them of high school algebra or calculus when, all of a sudden, there were letters in math. BABIP - Batting Average on Balls In Play wRC - Weighted Runs Created wRAA - Weighted Runs Above Average xFIP - Expected Fielding Independent Pitching RE24 - Run Expectancy Based on the 24 Base-Out States https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c4d04c9-3c5e-494f-aadb-472ca8364ffc/78+-+All+Bases.JPEG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Player Odometer @StizzyTalksSports on TikTok recently posted discussing a similar concept to my idea, but “All Bases” doesn’t quite take it as far as I am hoping. I want to include how many total bases a player travels during an inning. If he gets a double, sure, that’s two total bases, but that’s really the end of it. However, if a player hits a single and then goes first-to-third on a ball hit by the player following him in the batting order, he has now traveled three bases in the inning. If he scores on a sacrifice fly by the next batter, he traveled four bases. “All Bases” would have only given him one for his single. It’s very possible we just don’t have enough game data to actually be able to accurately calculate the Player Odometer for every player throughout Major League history, but it would be interesting to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5553129a-4885-4ec9-b418-8de9b67f4a01/79+-+Total+Average.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - “Total Average” Total Average is a statistic devised by sportswriter Thomas Boswell and introduced in 1978. It was also described in his 1982 article "Welcome to the world of Total Average where a walk is as good as a hit." It is designed to measure a hitter's overall offensive contributions, on the basis that "all bases are created equal." The definition of the statistic is simple. A player gets a credit for every base accumulated and a penalty for every out made. So a player gets one credit for a single, walk, stolen base, or a HBP; two for a double; three for a triple; and four for a home run. A player's Total Average is calculated by summing the accumulated bases and dividing by the number of outs the player makes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89515aea-797c-487f-8959-064ca46a46e6/1954+World+Series.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Commitment To Historical Accuracy While some websites and television broadcasts only use current team names and logos (even if the franchise no longer uses either) when referring to historical events, Baseball Reference makes it a point to not only use the historically accurate team name for a given event, but to use era-appropriate logos, as well. It’s something I love about them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99962eb3-8563-43d3-8fd3-394351a25875/81+-+Boston+Statistics.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Boston Statistics Without realizing the formatting these team profiles adhere to, some users mistook the lack of a team nickname on the 1911 Boston National League team’s Baseball Reference page as them actually being called the “Boston Statistics.” Also, I realize this franchise used three different logos, had two (or three?) different team nicknames, and three managers in this three year stretch, but I promise you, it is all the same franchise. 1910 Boston Doves Baseball Reference 1911 Boston Baseball Reference 1912 Boston Braves Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d74c0ed5-0c92-4c78-8440-24435d67c5e2/82+-+Statz.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Arnold Statz One of a very few ballplayers to ever collect more than 4,000 hits in Organized Baseball, Arnold “Jigger” Statz collected 737 of those hits in his eight seasons in the major leagues and another 3,356 in his 18 seasons in the minors. His career saw him in the majors before he played minor-league ball. Only Pete Rose played more games professionally. Statz still holds three records as a professional ballplayer: most runs scored, most outfield putouts, and most seasons played with one minor-league club. Arnold Statz’s Baseball Reference Arnold Statz’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f80df9d1-f7bf-4e51-a33c-022b0a100d9b/83+-+Nicknames.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Insensitive Nicknames Sports Reference has made the decision to refer to players by their given names, even if they were more well-known and/or commonly referred to as a nickname during their life and playing career, if that nickname is today seen as problematic. Typing the nickname into the search bar will still take you to their player page, where there is a line near the top of their profile which says “Name Note: Name presented as __________ in some sources” but the large font name at the head of the page is their socially appropriate, given name. William Barbeau’s Baseball Reference Charles Bender’s Baseball Reference George Cuppy’s Baseball Reference John Foreman’s Baseball Reference Billy Hoy’s Baseball Reference Bill Outen’s Baseball Reference Ralph Schwamb’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fdcb063-1b18-4404-94c6-74a87add0923/84+-+Tommy+John.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out In addition to having one of the longest careers in AL/NL history, Tommy John also has one of the coolest Easter Eggs on his Baseball Reference page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1cf4256-0c13-4d85-9f73-830ffd74fcfa/85+-+REM.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Eponymous Eponymous is the first greatest hits album by R.E.M., released in October of 1988, just a month before their Warner Bros. Records debut Green appeared. Eponymous was R.E.M.’s last authorized release on I.R.S. Records, to whom they had been contracted since 1982. The album reached #44 in the US and #69 in the UK. Spanning from the initial single release of "Radio Free Europe" to the previous year's breakthrough hit album Document, Eponymous provides a fair overview of R.E.M.'s early work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4b1ffdb-0d3b-47ba-83c2-8d4f5190677f/86+-+Mookie+Betts.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Mookie Betts’ Baseball Reference page includes a a partial bowling record which shows three 300 games he has rolled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e487a969-3718-4ecc-a9a1-b902b1309306/87+-+Madison.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Madison Bumgarner, one of the most famous pitchers in baseball, had been competing in team-roping rodeo events under the alias Mason Saunders for years during his career. His Baseball Reference page includes some of his winnings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18235620-4ce6-452c-80cd-8fa8ab87c696/88+-+Kicks+Left.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Because of the above video, Paul O’Neill’s Baseball Reference page notes that, in addition to Batting Left and Throwing Left, he also Kicks Left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1fcd102-3c62-4aeb-9e57-cda26d93ae7a/89+-+Heavy+Johnson.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Despite the fact that there was no war going on at the time, Oscar “Heavy” Johnson was, indeed, in the military in 1921, causing him to miss the season. This anomaly is reflected on his Baseball Reference page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89089e66-08e2-4043-8667-db0a21463bcf/90+-+Deion+Sanders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Deion Sanders’ Baseball Reference has a line most other pages do not have on the site: “Did not play - Pro Football” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3db744f6-ff7d-4b55-8dcb-bf044f18a10d/91+-+Deion+Sanders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Interestingly enough, Deion Sanders’ Pro Football Reference page has an anomaly as well: “Did not play - Retired” for three consecutive seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19dfe03a-0c09-4050-911c-6e12346c61be/92+-+Fields+Left+As+Well.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Fields: Left As Well Since Jim Abbott and Pete Gray were each missing either all or some of their right arms, it is no surprise that they threw with their left arms. However, generally, when a player throws with one arm, he fields with the other. Since that was not an option for either of these players, Baseball Reference displays that, in addition to Batting Left and Throwing Left, each player Fields Left as well. Jim Abbott’s Baseball Reference Jim Abbott’s SABR Biography Pete Gray’s Baseball Reference Pete Gray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d87ebb3-f60b-417a-a7a8-e529b9048f69/93+-+Roy+Hobbs.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Roy Hobbs If you type “Roy Hobbs” into the search bar at the top of Baseball-Reference.com, the page that loads is the IMDB page for Robert Redford’s character in the movie The Natural. “Eddie Waitkus and The Natural: What is Assumption? What is Fact?” - SABR article by Rob Edelman Eddie Waitkus’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/707393e8-0753-417a-81d4-c45733549946/94+-+WPBL.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Women’s Pro Baseball League If the Women’s Pro Baseball League has a data provider which can supply Baseball Reference with statistics for the games and players, we may very well see the WPBL statistics on Baseball-Reference.com later this year. If that happens, the WPBL would be the first professional women’s baseball league to be featured on Baseball Reference. There have been four previous professional women’s baseball leagues in America, and a number of professional women’s leagues, internationally, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d08d938-0ab7-4fa7-8e12-d81b1e546a2b/95+-+Outsider+Baseball+All+Stars.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Visit the website Adam created to supplement his Outsider Baseball All-Stars research HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/284909c7-6260-4dbb-8c15-b442b4088a8d/96+-+Simkus.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Scott Simkus Scott Simkus created a Negro League card set for the Strat-O-Matic Game Company in 2009. His first book, Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, was published in 2014. A member of the award-winning Seamheads Negro Leagues Database team, Simkus’s statistical research is now part of the official Major League record. Check out a fun, old interview with him HERE. Buy his book Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876–1950 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/865e78c1-347b-4dbc-bfa8-0fc4ce2a02f2/97+-+Ichiro.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - 4,000 Career Hits Scott Simkus published an article via SABR on August 22, 2013 titled “Ichiro Suzuki, Minnie Miñoso and 4,000 career ‘professional’ hits” in which he found nine players who had accumulated 4,000 hits as a professional baseball player. The previous night, Ichiro had collected what was touted at the time as his 4,000th career hit. The nine players Scott found at the time, while nothing that the list “may not be comprehensive”: Pete Rose, 4,769 Ty Cobb, 4,379 Hank Aaron, 4,245 Jigger Statz, 4,093 Julio Franco, 4,074 Minnie Miñoso, 4,073 Derek Jeter, 4,059 Ichiro Suzuki, 4,027 Stan Musial, 4,023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c034506b-a6ba-4629-b228-5d23d3920329/98+-+Julio+Franco+cards.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Julio Franco Adam loves Julio Franco. And, really, who could blame him? Julio Franco’s Baseball Reference Julio Franco’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f31b9568-a267-4dac-8a93-491bce5b5835/99+-+Nolan.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Nolan Ryan When Nolan Ryan went to Texas and became a pitcher for the Rangers, Adam’s attention followed, and he became a Rangers fan. It was then, after seeing Julio Franco’s batting stance, swing, and - as the kids say - aura, that Adam became a fan of Julio’s, as well. Nolan Ryan’s Baseball Reference Nolan Ryan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11f2e2ab-41af-4260-a04f-6b0b8954a4f6/100+-+1989-1991.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Adam said, “People forget how good Julio Franco was from 1989 to 1991.” Not people who read the liner notes, Adam. THOSE people will know exactly how good Julio Franco was from 1989 to 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23be4616-aa26-4ff5-a2f3-eb446cd05cf7/101+-+Minnie+Minoso+baseballs.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Minnie Miñoso Adam’s research into Julio Franco and the 4,000 hit club led him to discover the greatness of Minnie Miñoso, who has quickly become one of Adam’s all-time favorite players, too. Minnie Miñoso’s Baseball Reference Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23040354-c2ef-4253-a265-4c2b428913b4/102+-+Hector.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Héctor Rodríguez Héctor Rodríguez is a player from Cuba who Adam helped get over the 4,000 professional hit threshold. Héctor Rodríguez’s Baseball Reference Héctor Rodríguez’s stats on Adam’s site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ca0d050-a052-49b1-adfa-c072e1958889/103+-+researchers.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Team With these three researchers working together, they were able to more than double the amount of players on Scott Simkus’ original list of 4,000 professional hit club members. Von Spalding’s efforts, especially when it came to Latin ballplayers, was instrumental. Von was Adam’s guest on Episode 5 of Adam’s podcast, The Outsider Baseball Notebook. Listen to that episode on Apple Podcasts HERE. Listen to that episode on Spotify HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/793eacbd-2350-4b97-87e6-5c69df1e54ae/104+-+title.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Listen to Adam’s presentation from the 53rd annual SABR Convention HERE, and view the slides HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cf9dc86-dea5-4729-92a4-f2c2f5ff1381/105+-+Cano.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out During their presentation, Adam announced that Robinson Canó was approaching the 4,000 career hit milestone, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87d51794-f8b5-4ad3-b2b1-5f47af38fe90/106+-+Daily+Updates.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Daily Updates Adam started giving updates after nearly every game Robinson Canó played as he approached the 4,000 career hit milestone. This one, from July 2, 2025, was the one where things started to feel pretty real. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc24fb8f-3128-4212-8b87-1c525b6dd494/107+-+tweet.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Diablos Rojos del México Adam started working with Diablos Rojos del México, the team with which Robinson Canó was playing, so they could plan how they intended to celebrate if/when Canó reached the milestone with them. Adam made sure all of his numbers were 100% accurate, because the last thing he wanted to do was have a team and player celebrate a milestone, only for them to find out later that the counts were off. One source which helped Adam with Canó’s Dominican stats was WinterBallData.com. Follow Diablos Rojos del México online HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4f43d50-c0bd-48ed-9a1e-41fcfe861588/108+-+Tony+Perez.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Tony Pérez Tony Pérez is one of the members of the 4,000 professional hit club. His son, Eduardo, had more than 400 Major League hits, as well. Tony Pérez’s Baseball Reference Tony Pérez’s SABR Biography Eduardo Pérez’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/383c594a-436e-4493-bc39-87f0bac63a4b/109+-+Cano.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Mr. 4,000 Robinson Canó’s single in the Mexican League playoffs on September 13, 2025 gave him 4,000 career hits across all professional levels. Canó became the 22nd confirmed member of the 4,000 Professional Hit Club. The Diablos Rojos celebrated the milestone on the field, collecting the ball while Canó saluted the crowd. He became the first player to celebrate the milestone in real time. Photo courtesy of Prensa Diablos / Enrique Gutiérrez https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a675f8b-89c3-4480-ac84-c1175d158b25/110+-+Vinicio+%E2%80%9CChico%E2%80%9D+Garc%C3%ADa.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Vinicio “Chico” García Just days after Robinson Canó reached his milestone surrounded by applause and admiration, Vinicio “Chico” García surpassed 4,000 professional hits quietly in a spreadsheet — 55 years after his final game. Adam wrote about Canó and García joining the 4,000 Professional Hit Club HERE. Marc Normandin of Baseball Prospectus wrote about Adam’s research on the 4,000 Professional Hit Club HERE. Chico García’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72030c71-18dc-41c8-b41b-b96eea05222f/110+-+what+is+a+hit.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out What counts as a hit in Adam’s research, and what doesn’t? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e8523e7-8cca-4108-8fbb-bb348c98d06e/112+-+V%C3%ADctor+Davalillo.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Vic Davalillo Vic Davalillo played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians (1963-68), California Angels (1968-69), St. Louis Cardinals (1969-70), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971-73), Oakland Athletics (1973-74), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-80). Davalillo, who batted and threw left-handed, was a leadoff hitter known for his speedy base running, capable defense, and superb pinch hitting abilities. He was a fan favorite during his years with the Indians, and became a valuable utility player later in his career. Davalillo also had an exceptional career in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he is the all-time leader in total base hits and career batting average. He played for 30 years in the U.S., Mexico, and his homeland, compiling more than 4,100 total base hits. Vic Davalillo’s Baseball Reference Vic Davalillo’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4872ec4b-1d5f-4ed0-806b-1a02f6ebad65/113+-+World+Baseball+Classic.PNG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - World Baseball Classic Adam and I recorded our interview October 11, 2025. On February 27, 2026, Baseball Reference made this announcement, stating that all WBC statistics and records for the entire history of the competition, dating back to 2006, could now be found on their website. Check them out HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b121252-2271-44e6-b4a6-2094daeb5081/114+-+Tovar.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - César Tovar César Tovar played in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1976, most notably as the leadoff hitter for the Twins teams that won two consecutive AL West titles in 1969 and 1970. He later played for the Phillies, Rangers, Athletics, and Yankees. On September 22, 1968, he became only the second player in MLB history to play all nine positions during a single game, a feat first accomplished by Bert Campaneris, in 1965. He led the AL in doubles (36) and in triples (13) in 1970, and in hits (204) in 1971. Tovar also had a prolific career in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, where he played 26 seasons – second only to the 30 seasons played by Vic Davalillo. César Tovar’s Baseball Reference César Tovar’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bb82435-722a-4984-bd94-a96e62750590/116+-+Minnie+Minoso.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Minnie Miñoso Aside from two publicity stunt stints while he was in his 50s, Minnie Miñoso was done playing in Major League Baseball by the time he was 40 years old. However, he played continuously for the next decade in the Dominican Republic, in Mexico, and even the Pacific Coast League, accumulating more than 1,180 of his 4,563 professional hits. See all of his career hits HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f336dd9-c3c0-4ec0-8279-b9a331be59ea/117+-+Julio.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Julio Franco Julio Franco, on the other hand, added fewer than 70 non-MLB hits to his professional total after he played his final game in Major League Baseball, ending his career with 4,463. See all of his career hits HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40bce586-a870-468f-9790-94e6e6e0a234/118+-+Garcia.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Silvio García Silvio García was a sensational two-way player who spent time playing in eight countries, as far as Adam can tell. García played in the US, in Canada, in Cuba, in the Dominican Republic, in Mexico, in Venezuela, in Puerto Rico, and in Nicaragua. Although Adam doesn’t have García over the 4,000 hit threshold, there is still a lot of data missing which might get his current total of 2,646 a lot closer. Silvio García’s Baseball Reference Silvio García’s stats on Adam’s site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad54a63e-fe2f-40af-b704-1e617cf3da8e/119+-+L%C3%A1zaro+Salazar+card.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Lázaro Salazar Lázaro Salazar won 14 titles as a manager in Latin America, despite dying tragically at age 44 in Mexico. At age 24, Salazar was alreadybtasked with managing an All-Star cast of talent for dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell. Lázaro Salazar’s Baseball Reference Lázaro Salazar’s stats on Adam’s site Lázaro Salazar’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3464d56-3599-43cf-8d10-10be09f7a0f8/120+-+Pedro+%E2%80%9CPerucho%E2%80%9D+Cepeda.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Pedro “Perucho” Cepeda Pedro “Perucho” Cepeda was the father of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. It is said that he was an even better ballplayer than his son. Perucho Cepeda’s Baseball Reference Perucho Cepeda’s stats on Adam’s site Perucho Cepeda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88e3a476-2faf-4d95-be89-067765c574da/121+-+Pancho+Coimbre.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Pancho Coimbre Pancho Coimbre played 13 seasons in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, with the Leones de Ponce. During this period, the team won five league championships. Coimbre finished his career with an average of .337, and had an average of just 2.2 strikeouts per season, including four consecutive seasons from 1939 to 1942 without any strikeouts. Coimbre also won two LBPPR batting titles, and the league's Most Valuable Player Award in 1943. Pancho Coimbre’s Baseball Reference Pancho Coimbre’s stats on Adam’s site Pancho Coimbre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1b6b2c2-cbfd-43d3-9a1b-6704d70b7f74/122+-+Vidal+Lop%C3%A9z.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Vidal Lopéz Vidal Lopéz played in the professional leagues of Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico, overcoming color line prejudice throughout a career that lasted 21 years. He was well known for his solid batting, his long home runs, and his dominant pitching. His popular nickname, El Muchachote de Barlovento (The Big Boy of Barlovento), was a testimony to his naive face and burly frame. López is still considered one of the most versatile Venezuelan ballplayers ever produced. Vidal Lopéz’s Baseball Reference Vidal Lopéz’s stats on Adam’s site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5dfc6758-22f7-45e4-b97a-9dce13658661/123+-+Tetelo+Vargas.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Tetelo Vargas Tetelo Vargas was nicknamed "El Gamo Dominicano" ("the Dominican Deer"). He gained recognition around the Caribbean and in New York City by establishing a Negro league record when he hit home runs in seven consecutive at bats. Vargas hit .472 while playing for the New York Cubans in the Negro National League in 1943. While Baseball Reference recognizes this (listed as .4711) as the highest single-season batting average in MLB history, MLB.com instead recognizes Josh Gibson's .466 average, hit during the same season. Tetelo Vargas’ Baseball Reference Tetelo Vargas’ stats on Adam’s site Tetelo Vargas’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5fba61b-79fd-46d3-ae04-9c380341aa4a/124+-+AL+and+NL.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - What Is A Major League? A lot of people mistakenly assume that the major leagues are only the American League and the National League, which is what we know today as "Major League Baseball". But there is a difference between what we call the major leagues today and a baseball league which is considered “major.” Logos courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/883e4aea-a7f1-4ba6-ad41-ac066a4f8ba2/125+-+major+and+minor.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Minor Leagues Most people know that there is a distinction between Major leagues and Minor leagues, but they might not necessarily understand that there are many different “minor” leagues under the umbrella of that categorization, and that there have been many throughout time. The major leagues are very similar in that sense. Logos courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33375793-6fc2-46bd-ad2b-018f0d0e7aef/126+-+Federal+League.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - What Other Leagues Were Already Considered “Major”? From the Union Association and the American Association, to the Players League and the Federal league, and of course the American League and National League, which remain Major leagues today, there have been many different “Major” leagues over the years. All of those leagues which are considered “Major” have their statistics included in the Major Leagues record books. Logo courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2e4fa85-545c-4c31-a0c2-2f6283f29240/127+-+National+Association.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The National Association The National Association was the first fully-professional baseball league. Founded in 1871 and continuing through the 1875 season, it incorporated several professional clubs from the National Association of Base Ball Players of 1857–1870, sometimes called "the amateur Association". In turn, several NA clubs created the succeeding National League of Professional Baseball Clubs (the National League, founded 1876), which joined with the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs (the American League, founded 1901) in the National Agreement of 1903, a "peace pact" that recognized each other as legitimate "major leagues". Baseball Reference includes the National Association as a Major league, even though Major League Baseball doesn't technically consider that league to be Major. Buy Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875 by Paul Batesel HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5293d13-8221-40a5-9e85-0770493cced0/128+-+Ringer.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Why Weren’t The Negro Leagues Considered Major? In August of 2020, Ben Lindbergh wrote a piece at The Ringer basically asking "why are the Negro Leagues not considered Major leagues at this point?" You can (and should) read Ben’s piece HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/313b0a25-842c-4062-9c8c-d25aa8cc7c1f/129+-+Major+Leagues.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Which Negro Leagues Are Now Accepted As “Major”? In December of 2020, the comprehensive compilation of Negro League records from 1920 through 1948 was officially recognized by Major League Baseball, rewriting the historical record books to include Black players, Black teams, and their statistics. But only for certain years, and sometimes only certain games from those “accepted” years, and only if those leagues met certain criteria... The Major Negro Leagues by Adam Darowski https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ee8aed9-1c87-4302-aad4-b3e8b6c1a50d/130+-+League+Index.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Baseball Reference’s Addition Of The Stats By June of 2021, Baseball Reference already had the stats from these leagues up and running. Negro National League Eastern Colored League American Negro League East-West League Negro Southern League Negro National League II Negro American League https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12da4d4b-9498-48d2-94fb-ca616e46df76/131+-+Negro+Leagues+are+Major+Leagues.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Negro Leagues Are Major Leagues In addition to putting the statistics up on the site, Baseball Reference also commissioned a series of articles to help give context to why this all was happening, what it meant, and how fans and researchers could interpret these “new” statistics. You can read these articles HERE. Buy the book which contains the articles HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ac26ae0-cd52-4c37-8d81-29dd7e2baefd/132+-+Negro+Leagues+are+Major+Leagues+resource.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Resource For Educators Baseball Reference created this resource for educators to share the incredible story of the Negro Leagues — from the pioneers of Black Baseball in the late 19th century through the formation of the Negro Major Leagues and into the impact of integration on the American and National Leagues. Today, the widespread release of meticulously collected Negro League statistics has led to a Golden Age of Negro League research that culminated with the first Hall of Fame selections from the Negro Leagues in fifteen years — Minnie Miñoso, Buck O’Neil, and Bud Fowler. Frequently Asked Questions About The Negro Leagues Data https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b1a849c-1b57-4a28-a735-f171e55a964f/133+-+Bob+Kendrick.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Some Essays Welcome to the Negro Leagues Are Major Leagues by Sean Forman, President of Sports Reference, LLC Negro Leagues By The Numbers by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, with Joe Posnanski The Black Boys of Summer: A statistical observation by Larry Lester Historiography of Black Baseball & Negro Baseball Leagues by Gary Gillette Bob Kendrick was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a472a6c-4c99-4304-ad40-8f44058aa7d6/134+-+Adam+Jones.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - More Essays A Love Story by Adam Jones, 14-year MLB veteran Turkey Stearnes and the Inclusive Grand Slam by Vanessa Ivy Rose, granddaughter of Turkey Stearnes Gibson Family Reflections on the Publication of Baseball Reference’s Negro Leagues Statistics by Sean Gibson, great-grandson of Josh Gibson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c0031de-5d60-44c2-a763-d5c0c7c009be/135+-+Seamheads+logo.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Building the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database by Gary Ashwill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27b5b4ee-b31e-4a45-8e46-c9fb710496d9/136+-+1938-07-29-Zanesville-Signal-Josh-Gibson-4HR.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Which Stats Can Be Used? Major League Baseball can only offer data for games in which box scores exist, so as to preserve its unique double accounting of offense and defense. So for the moment Willie Mays’ home run in a game with the Birmingham Black Barons on August 11, 1948 — attested to in game accounts but as yet not in a box score — will go unaccounted. Likewise for Josh Gibson’s four home-run game on July 28, 1938, in a game between his Homestead Grays and the Memphis Red Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d550da1-80d0-4868-bd32-f2261746a6b7/137+-+Gary+Ashwill.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Seamheads The Seamheads database (with the exception of the Mexican League statistics) is built from the game level up, using box scores, newspaper articles, and scoresheets. As of December of 2020, Seamheads did not make use of published year-end statistics or standings — everything is verified from contemporary accounts of individual games. Another core principle of the database is that both sides of every game are represented. Consequently, many white major and minor leaguers are present in the database, so it’s possible to see how Babe Ruth or Christy Mathewson fared against Black or Cuban competition. The Seamheads Negro Leagues Database: A Brief Introduction by Gary Ashwill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bb7c489-6a9e-4519-b8f1-5df869a62f20/138+-+OTD+07-21-1959.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - How Quickly Did MLB Integration Happen? The argument is that after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, all of the best Black players were going to the now-integrated major leagues, so the level of play in the Negro Leagues wasn’t high enough to be considered a “major” league. But when you look at the actual numbers, in 1947, 0.9% of Major Leaguers were African American. The following year, 1948, that percentage dropped to just 0.7%. 1953 was the first year African Americans made up more than 3% of Major Leaguers. In a league with 16 teams, and 25 players per team, 3% of Major Leaguers means TWLEVE players. Not even one Black playe per team, on average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6bbcc9d7-32f5-4aec-86ca-f3d8bd4cb0b8/139+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7299145-bf88-4727-9bc6-a12ca7e2c7ca/140+-+Minnie%27s+Minor+League+Stats.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Minnie Miñoso’s minor league stats https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a07d299-7355-4e76-801a-ddbef9dab29a/141+-+Big+Mac.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The 1969 Decision In 1969, the Special Baseball Records Committee of Major League Baseball officially recognized six major leagues: the National League, the American League, the American Association, the Union Association of 1884, the Players' League of 1890, and the Federal League of 1914–1915. As Ben Lindbergh wrote in his August, 2020 piece: “MLB’s Special Baseball Records Committee, which was convened by commissioner William Eckert in 1968 as part of an arrangement with publisher Macmillan to produce The Baseball Encyclopedia. The “Big Mac,” as it eventually came to be called, was to be the official, definitive statistical compendium of the major leagues. “Which meant that someone had to answer a pesky question: Which were the major leagues? “That was the task of the SBRC, an all-white, five-man body that consisted of officials from the American and National Leagues, the commissioner’s office, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, all of whom are now deceased. “The National Association, which preceded the National League, was recognized as the first professional league but not considered a major league “due to its erratic schedule and procedures.” The ruling said nothing about the Negro Leagues. Which was, in a sense, unsurprising, because the committee itself had said nothing about the Negro Leagues when it met.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40ae7db8-7124-44d6-b576-a3d6ce1a3c4a/142+-+Union+Association.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Union Association The Union Association competed with Major League Baseball, lasting for just the 1884 season. St. Louis won the pennant, then joined the National League the following season. Seven of the 12 teams who were in the Union Association at some point during the 1884 season did not play a full schedule: four teams folded during the season and were replaced, while Chicago moved to Pittsburgh in late August. Justin McKinney has done a lot of research on the Union Association. Adam is unsure if it should be considered a major league, though Baseball Reference does count it as one, along with MLB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0aac9438-0e96-4c1c-8c88-639ea78cec0d/143+-+Players+League.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Players' League The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League (PL), was a short-lived but star-studded professional league of the 19th century. The NL had implemented a reserve clause in 1879, which limited the ability of players to negotiate across teams for their salaries, and both the AA and NL had passed a salary cap of $2,000 per player in 1885. John Montgomery Ward left the NL after failing to change its lopsided player–management relationship, and formed the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players in November 1889. Though the PL lasted just the one season of 1890, the Brotherhood included most of the best players of the National League. Because of this, MLB considers the PL a "major" league for official statistical purposes. The Boston franchise won the league’s only championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d64e07dd-996f-431a-b3b0-75a2036e1b49/144+-+Heavy+Johnson.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Oscar “Heavy” Johnson In 1923, Oscar “Heavy” Johnson won the Triple Crown, leading the league with 20 home runs, 120 RBI, and a .406 batting average. While those numbers are incredible, there are less than 100 games that season which have been accounted for. Heavy Johnson’s Baseball Reference Heavy Johnson’s SABR Biography, written by Adam Darowski Forgotten Heroes: Oscar “Heavy” Johnson by Dr. Layton Revel and Luis Munoz https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c935c7a4-4581-4836-ad7f-5a4590857d7b/145+-+box+scores.jpeg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Less Data As We Go Along? There is almost 100% box score coverage from Negro League games played in the 1920s. As we get into the Great Depression and into the 1930s, fewer games are getting reported on the box score level, dropping down to roughly 75% coverage. In the 1940s, the interest turns to integration and Major League Baseball, so Negro League teams are just not being reported as much in the Black press because they only have so many reporters to send to games, and if they’re going to the MLB games, there’s no one there to cover Negro League games. Add in the lack of resources and funding during WWII, and it’s a recipe for a dip down to roughly 50% coverage during the 1940s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05244dda-277d-4744-8b28-c730ff8ec9fe/146+-+Rube+Foster.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8dde540-d6b8-4f32-a880-061bba89ba50/147+-+Neil+Robinson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Neil Robinson Primarily a center fielder, Neil Robinson spent the majority of his 23 year career with the Memphis Red Sox. His uniform is pictured here, but Memphis was notorious for missing box scores, meaning we are unsure of his true statistics as a player. Prior to being acquired by Memphis, he played one season for the Homestead Grays and three seasons with the Cincinnati Tigers. Robinson ranks as the greatest hitter in the history of the Memphis Red Sox franchise, and appeared in nine Negro League East-West All Star Games. He won back-to-back Negro American League home run titles in 1939 and 1940, rivaling Mule Suttles, Josh Gibson, and Ted Strong. Neil Robinson’s Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea8b4005-0ae2-4ffa-bac7-450eb764c361/148+-+Ty+Cobb.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Some Stats Are Just… Wrong As recently as 1985 when Pete Rose was chasing Ty Cobb's all time hits record, we found out that all along, Ty Cobb's hit total was wrong because one game in 1910 was mistakenly counted twice. So instead of Cobb having 4,191 total hits, his career total is actually 4,189. The official MLB record book still credits Cobb with having 4,191 hits, even though they know that’s wrong! And those are the numbers of one of the greatest players to ever live, which gave him one of the most cherished records in baseball history, so you can only imagine the number of researchers who have poured over those specific numbers over the years, and they still got it wrong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1166f6b-102f-41d4-9ccb-4c7f3edbc22c/149+-+Josh+Gibson+stats.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A Difference In Narrative MLB’s focus since the integration of the Negro Leagues statistics into the official record books has seemed to be “look at all these new records!” while they have left a lot to be desired in terms of explaining these new numbers, and explaining that they are all works in progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5f6a4a4-684a-4001-9843-077a896458a2/150+-+Keyes.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Games Minimums Baseball Reference currently lists the single-season record holder for lowest ERA as Robert Keyes, who had a 0.643 ERA for the 1944 Memphis Red Sox. Robert Keyes threw 3 complete games and would only give up 2 earned runs all season, yet still wound up with a 1-2 record. The thing is, he is credited with pitching just 28 innings all season, because those are the only three games we have box scores from where he pitched. Because the Memphis Red Sox have so many missing box scores, Keyes pitched 28 innings out of just 27 team games with proven box scores, meaning, by MLB’s standards, he is the record holder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/066d5494-f5f8-4cf0-a3e6-88892154314e/151+-+Keefe.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Tim Keefe Prior to the Negro Leagues statistics being included in the Major League Baseball record books, the single season ERA record holder was Tim Keefe, who had a 0.857 ERA in 1880. However, Keefe only pitched in 12 games that season, and only threw 105 innings, so was it fair to have called that the record, either? Keefe was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1964. He is now credited with winning 342 games, but he only pitched in 14 seasons. He had six straight seasons with 32 or more wins, including two seasons with 41 or more, so clearly it was a very different game back then. Tim Keefe’s Baseball Reference Tim Keefe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c98a4a04-fb53-443b-a66e-8bbec5bad897/152+-+ERA.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Single-Season ERA Leaders While there may be a handful of names ahead of his on the list, many fans consider Bob Gibson’s 1968 season to be the true pace-setter for ERA. That’s not to say they are correct, it just goes to show that these discussions are already complicated enough. Bob Gibson’s Baseball Reference Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea72241a-a639-4f44-b655-1c0beea378ba/153+-+Aaron.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Home Run King This is a similar conversation we have heard for more than two decades now about “the real” Home Run King, when it comes to which record we accept as meaningful, regardless of what the record books show us. There are thousands, maybe millions of fans across the country who still consider Henry Aaron the all-time home run champ, despite having been passed, numerically, by Barry Bonds. Henry Aaron’s Baseball Reference Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography Barry Bonds’ Baseball Reference Barry Bonds’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9f29b0c-b583-4637-97e9-157374819d26/154+-+Bremer.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Eugene Bremer In 1942, Eugene Bremer joined former Cincinnati Tigers teammates Bill Jefferson, Sonny Harris, and Ray Robinson on the expansion Cincinnati Buckeyes of the Negro American League. Posting a 5-1 record with a 2.73 ERA in league play, Bremer made the West All-Star team for the second time in his career. Two All-Star games were played in 1942, with Bremer earning the starting nod in the second game, hosted on August 18 in Cleveland. On September 1, 1942, the Chicago Tribune reported that Bremer and teammate Sam Jethroe were to receive tryouts from the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1943 season. Indians president Alva Bradley quickly reneged on his promise, stating to the Cleveland Call and Post that his scouts had seen Bremer, Jethroe, and a third Buckeye, Parnell Woods play in that second East-West Game, and - based upon that one viewing - had decided that the three "did not stack up as material for the Indians." Eugene Bremer’s Baseball Reference Eugene Bremer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17e65bc0-fc52-4042-b629-2973566a7678/155+-+Lester.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio Larry Lester is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Negro Leagues, and is one of the five original founders of the NLBM. He is a published author, public speaker, researcher, and historian. He was our guest, along with fellow Negro Leagues researcher Stephanie Liscio, for Episode 1 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b872661f-885e-4363-bbc5-7593fd2ce28b/156+-+Memphis.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Memphis Red Sox White teams usually had their own stadiums, and often owned their own stadiums. But that wasn't a very common thing for Negro League teams. Martin Stadium, formerly known as Lewis Park, was home of the Memphis Red Sox. During its era, the stadium was one of the few African-American-owned and operated ball parks in the country. A stadium owned by Black people, which hosted and promoted Black athletics, was a unique cultural fixture in any American city - much less a major city in the segregated south. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us today when it comes to tracking down box scores from their games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1e29a80-34b9-4914-9f72-92af476d53df/157+-+Sam+Allen.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Sam Allen Sam Allen is a former Negro League player who spent time as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, the Raleigh Tigers, and the Memphis Red Sox. He led the Negro American League in runs scored in 1957, helping the Monarchs win the championship. Sam was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b030081f-295b-44e8-8378-9aa22a988fc8/158+-+Cool+Papa.jpeg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Cool Papa Bell Cool Papa Bell is considered the fastest man to ever play baseball. He was once timed circling the bases in 12 seconds flat. Bell stole 175 bases in a single season, (granted, they played 185-190 games, but still). He once said, “I remember one time I got five hits and stole five bases, but none of it was written down because they forgot to bring the scorebook to the game that day.” Cool Papa Bell was a great bunter, himself, but he also scored from first base on another player’s bunt TWO TIMES in his career. On another occasion, he went from first to third so fast that the other team protested the game since they figured he had to have been cheating. Cool Papa Bell’s Baseball Reference Cool Papa Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/018fce8d-114a-4357-b8c5-ba56d3710d39/159+-+Kevin+Johnson%2C+Doron+%27Duke%27+Goldman%2C+Adam+Darowski%2C+and+Joe+Williams.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Kevin Johnson Kevin Johnson of Seamheads also notes that stolen bases for some players may have been undercounted, particularly in the Negro American League, which didn't get as much coverage as the Negro National League on the east coast. Left to right: Kevin Johnson, Doron 'Duke' Goldman, Adam Darowski, and Joe Williams at the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2fe3ba84-25e1-4285-996c-519bf8414a4a/161+-+Pod+of+Fame.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Pod Of Fame with Jim Miloch Adam was the guest on Jim Miloch’s show, Pod Of Fame, to talk about the Hall of Fame candidacy of Oscar “Heavy” Johnson. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts HERE. Listen to the episode on Spotify HERE. Follow Pod of Fame on Twitter Follow Pod of Fame on Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/619fa7dd-09c0-4638-b42d-ac7b5527e548/160+-+Phil+S+DIxon+and+I.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Phil S. Dixon Renowned Negro Leagues author historian and researcher Phil S Dixon has hypothesized that one of the reasons why Negro League teams didn't compile season statistics, despite the fact that they were, indeed, keeping box scores for every game, was because if players couldn’t quantify how good they were compared to one another, it would be harder for them to ask for more money because you couldn't ever really prove how much better you were than the other players. Phil was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a559c917-9691-4df5-93cd-2af37a437c5b/162+-+SABR.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - SABR Task Force SABR’s Negro Leagues Task Force made a series of recommendations in February of 2021 on which Black leagues from baseball’s segregated era should be recognized as major leagues, and to advise how SABR should change its internal workings to reflect this determination. The task force, chaired by former SABR Board President Mark Armour, will continue studying other teams and leagues from baseball’s segregated era, including from before 1920 and after 1948, along with other top-level independent Black teams of the 1930s, which frequently played against White major-league players and teams. Some Black baseball teams were forced to operate independently in order to survive, as the color barrier enacted by White officials both necessitated the Negro Leagues’ existence and later led to their demise. In addition to Armour, the SABR task force includes Gary Ashwill, Cliff Blau, Scott Bush, Bill Carle, Sean Forman, Gary Gillette, Leslie Heaphy, Ted Knorr, Sean Lahman, Larry Lester, Trent McCotter, Todd Peterson, Jacob Pomrenke, Anthony Salazar, Cecilia Tan, and Tom Thress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ef5d29b-5605-41d6-889e-d03aeda7b1db/Negro+League+teams+vs+AL+or+NL+teams.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Negro League Teams vs. AL/NL Teams Between 1866 and 1948, top-flight African American clubs played over 7,000 games with White semi-pro, college, minor league, and major league teams and beat them nearly 65 percent of the time. While Negro League teams more than held their own while playing major league squads, they absolutely dominated bush leaguers. From the turn of the twentieth century through 1948, Blackball clubs played well over 1,400 games with minor league teams and All-Star outfits, beating them nearly 60 percent of the time. Negro Leagues = Major Leagues by Todd Peterson: An analysis of the quality of play of the Negro Leagues and the White major leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c017a8f2-d3a8-4951-9377-85d6557b6c7f/164+-+John+Donaldson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - John Donaldson John Donaldson was a pitcher in Pre-Negro league and Negro league baseball. In a career that spanned over 30 years, he played for many different Negro league and semi-professional teams, including the All Nations team and the Kansas City Monarchs. So far, researchers have discovered 718 games in which Donaldson is known to have pitched. Out of those games, Donaldson had over 420 wins and 5,221 strikeouts. According to some sources, he was the greatest pitcher of his era. John Donaldson’s Baseball Reference John Donaldson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d8a749b-6142-4bed-ae21-714e4d70d558/165+-+61.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Numbers Used To Mean Something One of the things that has always made baseball so great is the reverence for the numbers. Not just among baseball fans, but culturally. The number 60 meant something, and then the number 61 did. Single Season Home Run Leaders Babe Ruth’s Baseball Reference Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography Roger Maris’ Baseball Reference Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05d484c3-8fe3-4337-8df2-83485a1d5cbe/166+-+715.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Culturally Significant 714 meant something, and when Henry Aaron hit 715, it was a culturally significant moment. All-Time Home Run Leaders Henry Aaron’s Baseball Reference Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00e67066-88d2-44d6-acf7-94b1d461f217/167+-+Home+Run+Leaders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The 500 Home Run Club When I was a kid, I could tell you every member of the 500 home run club, with their career total, in order. 500 used to be a golden ticket to the Hall of Fame, and while the steroids era cheapened the significance of that once-magical number, I think you would be hard-pressed today to find even a pretty serious baseball fan who could tell you the current Top-10 list of career home run leaders, let alone what their career total is. For a sport where the numbers have always mattered so much, those days seem to be behind us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/868da3a1-672f-425a-b011-fd5afeb7243c/168+-+MLB.com%27s+batting+average+leaders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - MLB’s Top 10 The Top 10 career batting averages, according to Major League Baseball. MLB’s threshold is 5,000 career at bats in the American League and National League – OR – 5,000 career at-bats (or 2,000 career IP) the AL/NL PLUS Negro Leagues combined – OR – 1,800 career at-bats (or 600 career IP) in the Negro Leagues MLB’s claim is that those values are intended to equate to roughly ten (10) “qualified” seasons over a player’s career. Shoeless Joe Jackson misses out by 19 at bats, because he had 4,981 at bats in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4eff226d-a6bf-4f3d-a0fd-4868985865ee/169+-+BR+batting+average+leaders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Baseball Reference’s Top 10 The Top 10 career batting averages, according to Baseball Reference. Baseball Reference uses a minimum of 3,000 career plate appearances as its threshold, not 5,000 career at bats. That’s one difference from MLB.com. But Baseball Reference going to 4 decimal places instead of 3 like MLB.com does means that your lists are different in the actual numbers in some cases, too, not just in the players who qualify. Ty Cobb is .367 on MLB.com, he’s .3662 on Baseball Reference. Jud Wilson is .351 on MLB.com, he’s .3504 on Baseball Reference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/200c2534-721d-411b-bd5b-06cfbf0732b1/170+-+Josh+Gibson+new+records.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out A look at how the career batting average records changed, according to Major League Baseball, with the inclusion of Negro League statistics into the official MLB record books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84e62c94-7a84-4059-a544-10a8765fef33/171+-+Got+The+Shirt+On.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Adam’s Got The Shirt On And you could, too, if you want. If you’re interested in purchasing any Sports Reference apparel, click HERE. All proceeds are donated, so you’re not only buying a cool shirt, you’re also helping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/239f2009-2462-490f-ab70-d162c2cf6e95/172+-+Shirt.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out The Josh Gibson Foundation is one of the many great organizations Sports Reference works with and supports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7dca7ec5-ad8d-445d-a422-b51b964c630e/173+-+SABR+51+photo+by+Cecilia+Tan.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Relationship With SABR Baseball Reference likes to work with the research community, and cherishes its relationship with the Society for American Baseball Research. There are cases, from Ty Cobb’s career hits, to “What should be a major Negro League team?”, where the research community can differ in opinion from the official record book. Photo by Cecilia Tan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb43f10d-568e-40dd-b9f0-fe679f167785/174+-+Mikan.jpeg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - George Mikan The National Basketball League (NBL) was one of the oldest professional basketball leagues created in the United States. Originally established as the Midwest Basketball Conference in 1935 during what was considered to be the height of the Great Depression, the league changed its name to the NBL on October 6, 1937, weeks before it was set to begin what was to have been its third season of play under that name, effectively becoming a proper professional league in the process. Adam is working on a project that is going to end with the NBL being considered a major professional basketball league, along with the NBA and the BAA. George Mikan played the 1946-47, and 1947-48 seasons in the NBL. He then played the 1948-49 season in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) before playing the final six seasons of his Hall of Fame career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). George Mikan’s Basketball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cb37056-ac75-4f7e-9ca2-b81f7eb2e380/175+-+Verlander.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Justin Verlander passed Walter Johnson for number 9 on MLB’s all-time strikeouts leader board on August 26, 2025, if you believe the statistics (you shouldn’t). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d353ecbe-b7fd-4d9a-9e5d-1b49cbb61002/176+-+Pitching.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out From “Negro Leagues = Major Leagues” by Todd Peterson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3bc52ba-7b14-4434-bc78-5406470a24d3/177+-+Smokey+Joe+Williams.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Smokey Joe Williams Smokey Joe Williams spent his entire 27-year career (1905–1932) pitching in the Negro leagues, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Even still, Williams pitched many games against major league stars in postseason barnstorming exhibitions. He proved to be as tough against them as he was against the Negro leaguers, posting a 20-7 record in these games. Among his victims were Hall of Famers Grover Cleveland Alexander, Walter Johnson, Charles Bender, Rube Marquard, and Waite Hoyt. Smokey Joe Williams’ Baseball Reference Smokey Joe Williams’ Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dc03142-4b5a-4747-a95c-5a6e4fb84e86/178+-+Ray+Brown.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Raymond Brown In 14 seasons with the Homestead Grays, Raymond Brown became one of the great stars of African-American baseball, leading the team to eight pennants in one nine-year span. His vast repertoire of pitches included sinkers, sliders and even knuckleballs, but his curve was his go-to offering. In 1938, the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper listed Brown as one of five Negro Leagues stars who would be certain major leaguers if allowed to play. The others: Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Satchel Paige. All have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Ray Brown’s Baseball Reference Ray Brown’s SABR Biography Ray Brown’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb31a67b-52d1-406f-be5f-a2dfd5f5a39e/179+-+Mendez.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - José Méndez Cubans with darker skin were not allowed to play in the white major leagues, so many of them called the Negro Leagues home. Like José Méndez, who was a bona fide star in Cuba, and came over to become player/manager for the Kansas City Monarchs. Méndez was one of the players inducted into the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2006, while Buck was left on the outside, looking in. José Méndez’s Baseball Reference José Méndez’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4118b51a-6748-44ef-a036-993a744ebe43/180+-+Oscar+Charleston+BR.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Right Before Our Eyes It's great for us as researchers and fans right now that the record books are being integrated right before our eyes because we're learning all these names of guys who have been added to the All-Time lists… guys like Buck Leonard and Oscar Charleston and Jud Wilson and Turkey Stearnes. But in 50 years, those are just going to be names on a list in a book, the same way guys like Tris Speaker or Napoleon Lajoie or Sam Crawford are today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c4d9d58-65e6-4d53-9707-47eb0fc9b07e/181+-+Negro+League+veterans.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Will These Guys Really Be Remembered? Now that the record books are integrated, the reason why those records needed to be separated in the first place is eventually going to be forgotten. Maybe Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson's names will be remembered because they’ve crossed over into a higher level of public consciousness and have been legends even to white America for over 50 years now, but everyone who hasn’t had that same level of fame almost has no chance to be remembered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc9505c4-0cd4-4001-b7e2-60407691172e/182+-+FAQ.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Frequently Asked Questions Adam created a very informative Frequently Asked Questions page, and you should absolutely visit it. On top of teaching you something, it will make him feel better. Win/win. Frequently Asked Questions About The Negro Leagues Data https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c70a57b-88fe-4f10-8a7c-bdb6336ea7ea/183+-+Reddit.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Sports Reference has a really great social media presence. If you’re not already following them on your favorite platform, find them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de7aff8a-0b30-4a76-ae54-13ab0a1bbcb8/184+-+Reading.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Reading Is FUNdamental! But it seems like nobody wants to do it, even if it’s going to help them. If you want to try to fill out this grid, it’s Immaculate Grid #1069, and you can play it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6a1160b-d35e-45aa-a4be-08667712b11c/185+-+Bullet+Rogan+BR.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Do These Players Need To Be Legitimized? I am absolutely thrilled with the fact that these statistics are being uncovered and that databases like yours are being filled out so we can get a better, more complete picture of who these players were. But, I’m torn, frankly, on how to feel about the integration of the record books. I think that’s clear. In some ways, seeing the names of these players in print next to the historically-recognized all-time greats legitimizes them to the casual fan. But that’s a tacit admission that these players needed to be legitimized, and who am I to say “oh NOW I can believe that you were good at baseball”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81618c26-633a-4d07-bf4b-5ada82cbce0c/186+-+Toni+Stone.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Women In The Negro Leagues Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, and Connie Morgan were the first women to play in the Negro Leagues. Stone didn’t sign with the Indianapolis Clowns until 1953, which means that MLB does not have to recognize these women as Major League Baseball players, because the Negro Leagues were no longer considered “major” in 1953. Toni Stone’s Baseball Reference Bio Mamie “Peanut” Johnson’s Baseball Reference Bio Connie Morgan’s Baseball Reference Bio Women in the Negro Leagues by Leslie Heaphy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc82f437-de8e-48f7-9660-8ecc24b24dc8/187+-+Oscar+%E2%80%9CHeavy%E2%80%9D+Johnson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Oscar “Heavy” Johnson Check out Oscar “Heavy” Johnson’s stats on Adam’s site HERE. In addition to writing the SABR Biography for Heavy Johnson, Adam has also written the SABR Biographies for Walter “Dobie” Moore, Jesse “Hoss” Walker, and Hurley McNair. Heavy Johnson’s SABR Biography Dobie Moore’s SABR Biography Hoss Walker’s SABR Biography Hurley McNair’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3844bf9-4929-4b88-9f71-15fe178eae6c/188+-+25th+Infantry+Wreckers+alt.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out The 25th Infantry Wreckers were an all-Black Army baseball team that rose to prominence in the years surrounding World War I due to a dominant roster that included Hall of Famer Wilber “Bullet” Rogan, Negro League stars Oscar “Heavy” Johnson and Walter “Dobie” Moore, and several other players who would have careers in the Negro Leagues. Click the photo to be taken to Adam’s website to learn more about this incredible team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/606f54bc-f53a-4bbc-b313-173c4630c09d/189+-+Bullet+Rogan+2.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Wilber “Bullet” Rogan Renowned as a two-way player who could both hit and pitch successfully, one statistical compilation shows Wilber “Bullet” Rogan winning more games than any other pitcher in Negro leagues history and ranking fourth highest in career batting average. Rogan's early baseball career took place in the U.S. Army, where he played for the all-Black 25th Infantry Wreckers. After joining the Kansas City Monarchs, Rogan was the top pitcher and one of the best hitters on a team that won three pennants from 1923 to 1925, and the 1924 Colored World Series. In addition to pitching and hitting, Rogan started managing in 1926 and led his team to another league title in 1929. Bullet Rogan’s Baseball Reference Bullet Rogan’s stats on Adam’s site Bullet Rogan’s SABR Biography Bullet Rogan’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a586cd4b-05fd-4dfb-a078-840816b4321d/newspaper+coverage.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out The 25th Infantry Wreckers got extensive coverage from multiple newspapers in Hawaii. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f83f164-8435-4e61-9235-3021face9a88/190+-+SABR+presentations.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - SABR Presentation Adam presented “Wreckers in Hawaii: The Army Team that Became the Heart of the Kansas City Monarchs” at the 51st Annual SABR Convention in Chicago. Listen to the audio of Adam’s presentation HERE. View the slides from his presentation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c21f0a30-be03-4c74-a214-e84877aee818/Chinese+team.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out While in Hawaii, the 25th Infantry Wreckers played other Army teams - some of which could be very good - as well as a lot of local teams on the island. Those teams were interesting because they were set up ethnically. There was the All-Portuguese team, the All-Hawaiian team, and the All-Chinese team (seen here), who was probably the best team the Wreckers faced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8834930-536a-43b8-be27-66455ed6c5ad/193+-+Adam%27s+Office.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - How Can You Help? If you have any questions regarding Negro Leagues statistical or biographical data, or if you want to find out how you can help attempt to fill some gaps in the statistical coverage in the Seamheads database, please contact gary@seamheads.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2eb561b1-0666-4546-8da4-2f7e6e8e20a3/194+-+Simkus.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Scott Simkus is a researcher who has inspired and encouraged Adam to do the work he’s been doing. Scott’s book, Outsider Baseball, is the story of a forgotten world, where independent professional ball clubs zig-zagged across America, plying their trade in big cities and small villages alike. Included among the former and future major leaguers were mercenaries, scalawags, and outcasts. This is where Babe Ruth, Rube Waddell, and John McGraw crossed bats with the Cuban Stars, Tokyo Giants, Brooklyn Bushwicks, dozens of famous Negro league teams, and novelty acts such as the House of David and Bloomer Girls. Buy his book Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876–1950 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41821479-9444-4ec3-b666-07d9d06b6da5/195+-+Outsider+Baseball+Notebook+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Outsider Baseball Notebook The Outsider Baseball Notebook chronicles Adam’s journey learning about the Negro Leagues and pre-segregation baseball outside of the Negro Leagues. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/949a96b2-322c-43e2-91d8-adc0e3e9266b/196+-+Building+The+Ballot.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Building The Ballot Adam’s other podcast, Building The Ballot, takes a deep dive into the candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Era Committees. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen to Episode 13: The Next Tier of Negro League Candidates with Kevin Johnson of Seamheads Listen to Episode 17: The Best Players You’ve Never Heard Of — Cuban Baseball with Gary Ashwill of Seamheads https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60943c65-58f8-46d7-9a97-2fcd7d20c998/197+-+East+West.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Black Baseball’s National Showcase When the best Black baseball players assembled for the annual East-West All-Star games, which for a generation paralleled the white All-Star games, the concentration of talent on the field was second to none. This scholarly work brings together the painstakingly assembled history of those games, reconstructed play-by-plays, and accurate statistical records. Larry Lester recaptures the vigor of the Black communities' united attention to the event, describes the players whose talents brought them to this pinnacle of achievement, and discusses the less salubrious but still important stratagem of promoters, gamblers, and petty tyrants who cast an occasional shadow on the sunlit fields of Chicago's Comiskey Park. Buy a copy of this amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85c2f967-ee8d-457a-aa54-e601580f89e9/198+-+25th+infantry+wreckers.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out If Adam had a time machine, he would love to use it to see the 25th Infantry Wreckers play a game in Hawaii. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eaaa26fa-75fd-480c-bea0-6b06fdbb4403/02+-+Sports+Reference+transparent.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Sports Reference Online Website YouTube Reddit LinkedIn Bluesky Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7768f835-fa55-4124-acc4-70b0607b7191/04+-+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Baseball Reference Online Website Bluesky Instagram Reddit Facebook Twitter Threads TikTok Michael Jordan’s Baseball Reference Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a82dd4cf-921d-4602-88c1-4f1ac2d8e800/199+-+Adam+Negro+Leagues+are+Major+Leagues.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Adam Online Bluesky LinkedIn email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ab9ff32-abb5-4f95-ae8d-22720e5bd38e/200+-+SABR+54.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - SABR 54 Join me in Cleveland, Ohio, this summer for SABR’s 54th annual convention from July 29 through August 2, 2026, at the Hilton Downtown Cleveland hotel! Conference and hotel registration for SABR 54 is now available below. Click here for complete details on SABR 54 Early-Bird Registration and optional sessions. The annual SABR convention is open to all baseball fans and includes top featured speakers from around the baseball world — front office executives, players, managers, scouts, journalists, historians, and analysts — innovative panel discussions, ground-breaking research presentations, ballgames, the SABR Trivia Contest, and most of all, the opportunity to make and renew baseball friendships over the course of this exciting and memorable event. Register now by clicking HERE! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1ce201d-1fd8-462a-9a96-4ac0b285e087/201+-+SJJM.JPG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Updating The Statistics At first, when the MLB record books were updated to include Negro League statistics, Oscar Charleston overtook Shoeless Joe Jackson for third place on the career batting average list, dropping Joe to fourth. I made sure all of the docents (including my mom) at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum understood that getting things right during tours was of the utmost importance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/362cb11b-d3f6-440b-acd0-a2480e6655c9/202+-+Oscar+Charleston.JPEG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Hall Of Fame One of my favorite things is when I go to a museum - baseball or otherwise - and I already know a little bit about the topic being discussed or displayed inside. It allows you to connect with the people, the artifacts, and the exhibits you see on a deeper level. That’s how my mom and I felt when we saw Oscar Charleston’s plaque in the Hall of Fame when we went to Cooperstown. Josh Rawitch is the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was our guest for Episode 9 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81dd13d0-ae43-40dd-88e5-a6841f49c439/203+-+2005+Original+sketch%2C+World+Baseball+Classic+logo.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - World Baseball Classic On February 27, 2026, Baseball Reference made this announcement, stating that all World Baseball Classic statistics and records for the entire history of the competition, dating back to 2006, could now be found on their website. Check them out HERE. Todd Radom is a legendary graphic designer, sports branding expert, and writer who is responsible for the visual identities of multiple MLB teams, All-Star Game logos, and the official logo of the World Baseball Classic. These are his original sketches from 2005, as well as the eventual finished product of the logo. Todd was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12ba3f76-f431-4f82-a916-36fd455fbfd0/204+-+Carlos+Beltran.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Carlos Beltrán Carlos Beltrán has been inducted into the Hall of Fame since Adam and I recorded this interview, adding yet another player Adam spotlighted on his Hall of Stats website as statistically worthy, who would later go on to be enshrined. Carlos Beltrán is one of only five players in AL/NL history to record 400+ home runs, and 300+ stolen bases in a career. Carlos Beltrán’s Baseball Reference Carlos Beltrán’s SABR Biography Carlos Beltrán’s Involvement in the 2017 Houston Astros Cheating Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c094d82a-7903-4d24-a84a-c33f9d993874/205+-+Larry+Lester.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - A True Researcher It was important to me to have the conversation Adam and I had today, with someone who is actually a researcher. There is more nuance to this discussion than “this is what the numbers say.” I wanted to talk with someone who could look at those statistics, and tell us “this is what those numbers mean.” Adam was the perfect person for that job. Here he is with another incredible researcher: Larry Lester. Without Larry’s tireless dedication to Negro Leagues research and documentation, the conversation Adam and I had today would not have been possible. Larry was our guest, along with fellow Negro Leagues researcher Stephanie Liscio, for Episode 1 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47ef1fa7-6eb0-4eca-ab96-f9a4a45afb3a/206+-+WAR+for+outsiders.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - These Numbers Are Fluid It may be difficult or frustrating for the average fan to understand that the statistics of someone who played 100 years ago are still most likely going to be changing. When you look at a statistical category like WAR, whether any new box scores are found or not, a player’s career total can change if the formula which determines said statistic changes - which has happened with WAR! Position Player WAR Calculations and Details Pitcher WAR Calculations and Details Jaffe WAR Score system (JAWS) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/baab170f-0146-4cd2-9c89-3dd37bb7bc6c/207+-+Josh+Gibson.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Messaging Problem Without an explicit explanation from Major League Baseball that the “new records” being introduced can still potentially change as more box scores are discovered, many fans were left confused by the update. After seeing many long-standing records fall to players with better averages but over a much shorter season, many fans wrote the entire endeavor off. It seemed to be a blanket roll out presented as “these are the new records!” with the implication that, if these new records were overtaking stats which had been atop the record books for decades, these new records are surely going to be unchanged for decades, too. Clearly, that just isn’t the case. Had the process been properly explained, or had these quirks been better addressed and communicated, many issues the average fan has had in adopting these numbers as “legitimate” could have been avoided. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ceff49f-ac15-4ceb-aae9-83bf5482fd33/208+-+yearly+batting+average+leaders.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Yearly League Leaders & Records for Batting Average https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7570b70c-a66e-455b-b59c-a2e43b6475fe/209+-+Satchel+Paige.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Subject To Change These numbers are incredible, no doubt. But, like Adam said in the interview, the statistical coverage for Negro League games in the 1940s was significantly worse than it was in the 1920s, when almost every game is accounted for with a corresponding box score. It is very possible that a new box score is found for the 1944 Kansas City Monarchs which shows a game where Satchel Paige pitched. If that box score happens to be for a game during which Satchel gave up 8 runs in 2 innings, the stat line on this official MLB graphic will look wildly different. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3dc06493-e4d8-459c-bcf9-07cdc5c49114/210+-+Jacksons+in+the+Majors.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Something to consider… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e89012e-8cf7-4c4f-a4bd-67fdb4881559/211+-+MBH+immaculate+grid.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Crossover Episode You Never Knew You Needed Here’s a My Baseball History-themed Immaculate Grid I made for fans of the show. I originally posted it in Issue 054 of Clearing The Bases, our email newsletter, which was sent out January 9, 2026. If you’re not already subscribed, you can fix that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49be6194-9837-407d-94e3-0aa4dc0a0e2b/212+-+Immaculate+Grid.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Follow Immaculate Grid Online Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook Twitter Threads Other Sports: Men’s Basketball / Women’s Basketball / Football / Hockey / Soccer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60348a8e-5931-4048-878d-8de208d91fa6/213+-+Grid+1071.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid #1071 This was the grid Adam published on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Maybe it’s because this was posted during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, so Adam figured more people will have foreign-born players on their minds, but it is interesting to note how much more frequently “Born In ____” has become a category on the grids compared to when Baseball Reference first took over the game. Play Grid #1071 for yourself HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0967728-7b25-4411-a024-5ccccc935eb1/214+-+Grid+1000.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Immaculate Grid #1000 This was the grid Adam published on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Play Grid #1000 for yourself HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4a71345-016b-4f7a-892c-6248ef55010d/215+-+Cemetery.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - All The Important Information Not only does Baseball Reference immediately tell you a player’s height, weight, and handedness, it also tells you their birthday, the day they passed away if they are no longer alive, and where they are buried, if that information is known. Pair that with the Graves Map from the SABR Landmarks Committee, and you’ve got all the fixin’s for a real weird road trip (trust me - I have been on several of them). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18af8020-b706-4cca-8616-0fc2e0fbe0b2/216+-+SABR+Biography.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - SABR Biographies While there have been more than 6,800 biographies written for the SABR Baseball Biography Project at this point, not every player has one. However, if a player (or manager, or executive) does have one written about them, you can access it directly by clicking the “View Player Bio” link on Baseball Reference. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Baseball Reference Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e66a0a34-a40f-4408-aa0f-07a29896c580/217+-+Who+You+Know.PNG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - It’s Not What You Know… … it’s who you know. And I know Adam Darowski. Check out Sports Reference’s YouTube channel for more videos of Baseball Reference Tips & Tricks HERE. A selection of some videos I think you might enjoy: Step-By-Step Guide To Comparing Players On Stathead Baseball Episode 1 of For Your Reference, A Sports Podcast: 25th Infantry Wreckers featuring Adam Darowski What Is ERA+? | Stathead Baseball 60 Second Stats Use the Daily Event Finder Tool to see MLB statistics ⚾ | Stathead Baseball Tutorial Season & Career Player Batting Finder Tool | Step-By-Step Guide on Stathead Baseball https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dcc8f34-cf0d-40a0-be8b-86f231c2e61d/218+-+FB+Ref+-+Rafa%C5%82+Gikiewicz%2C+goalkeeper+for+FC+Augsburg.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - It’s Not Just Me, Apparently! This is a screenshot of a DM that Rafał Gikiewicz, goalkeeper for FC Augsburg, sent to Adam, asking Adam to walk him through a couple of the statistics he saw on FBref. And, if you’re wondering, no, Adam doesn’t speak Polish, either. Rafał Gikiewicz’s FBref Rafał Gikiewicz’s Twitter Rafał Gikiewicz’s Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf223fe0-72bc-4def-8eae-372613f49aae/219+-+Lincoln.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Lincoln Legal Papers The staff of the Lincoln Legal Papers project has spent the better part of twelve years collecting nearly 90,000 documents associated with the legal practice of Abraham Lincoln. The importance of archival collections for our project is evident in the following numbers. Of the 88,462 documents the project has accessioned into its collection, we found 36,259 in county court houses across the state; 28,342 at Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD); 4,366 among the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); and 3,915 at the Illinois State Archives. Of course, the Library of Congress and the National Archives have a bunch of great stuff, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49335953-0f8c-471d-bb88-9d748bd97ee8/220+-+Jacob.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Jacob Pomrenke Jacob Pomrenke is the Director of Editorial Content at the Society For American Baseball Research, and the chairman of the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. He was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48785314-f92a-4099-9385-53be46eba71d/221+-+dirt+trips.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Dirt Trips For well over a decade now, I have been actively traveling the country trying to visit the locations of important sites in the life and carer of Shoeless Joe Jackson. When possible, I like to have a brick from the location. Often times, that is not possible, so I settle for a jar of dirt. Hence why I call these “dirt trips” - a term you’ve heard before on this show. In this photo, I am standing in what I believe is the site of a former field which is the most likely location for Joe to have learned how to play baseball, and very possibly the first place he ever threw or hit a ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfa22e75-b9d1-4029-a60d-f9b18ad8ff97/222+-+mom.JPEG Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Census Records Jacob Pomrenke’s research - specifically when it comes to the utilization of census records - was a huge help for some of my early road trips. He had addresses of each of the players involved in the Black Sox Scandal, from former homes, to places of business. My mom has also been a huge help when it comes to doing that type of research for and with me over the years. There have been times in the past when I’ve been driving 8-10 hours a day to get someplace on a tight schedule, and she’ll be on the phone with me, looking stuff up online since I’m driving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e150213-355b-4257-b510-66b65f815eef/223+-+1913+Sanborn+Fire+Insurance+Map+from+Cleveland%2C+Cuyahoga+County.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - League Park When Joe played for Cleveland, he lived on the 7200 block of Lexington Avenue, which was just two blocks away from his team’s home stadium, on the very same street. He would walk to and from the game every day. His wife, Katie, would sit in the same seat so Joe would know where to look in the stands if he wanted to find her. No matter what the score was, Katie would leave the game during the 7th inning stretch to walk back to their house so Joe would have a hot meal ready and waiting for him to come home to when the game ended. This image shows League Park on a 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Ohio’s Cuyahoga County. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fb690d8-1218-4ce1-9509-8dff73ef4850/224+-+OTD+01-11-1948.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - On This Date Posts You’ve seen a handful of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c15d5c3a-0637-4468-980f-d2bdaa6da71a/225+-+email.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/723d4279-5a7a-451d-9cde-f7bad41d860f/226+-+The+Negro+Leagues+are+Major+Leagues.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of The Negro Leagues Are Major Leagues, a collection of essays and research compiled by Baseball Reference? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. Don’t want to risk not winning the contest? You can buy your own copy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc1c7bad-53f2-4dfe-9abf-09cea53be816/227+-+researchers.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The 4,000 Professional Hit Club Research Team During our discussion today, Adam and I spoke about his research along with his friends Von Spalding and Scott Simkus to document every player in professional baseball history who has ever compiled 4,000 or more hits, no matter which league those hits may have been collected in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9fae855-36c8-4766-af46-cbc6c15844fc/228+-+what+is+a+hit.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - What Counts As A Hit? Like he said during the interview, Adam and his friends counted hits collected in any competitive domestic leagues, playoffs, and international tournaments. They did not include hits compiled in an instructional or non-competitive setting (such as Spring training, or instructional leagues) or in exhibitions (like All-Star games or barnstorming games). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff2768bb-6372-487a-bd68-797b13ac1d98/229+-+Simkus.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Scott Simkus It all started when, in 2013, Scott Simkus published a SABR article announcing 9 members of the 4,000 career hit club. In February of 2025, after the Negro Leagues statistics had been incorporated thanks to the Seamheads data, and with Adam and Von adding their research, too, Scott published an update to his original SABR article which suddenly included 18 members of the 4,000 hit club, twice as many as he had found back in 2013. In March of 2025, they found another one. In April, another. And in May, they found one more. Meaning they were up to 21 total members at the time of Adam’s presentation at the 53rd annual SABR convention in Texas. Artwork courtesy of 2026 Jefferson Burdick Award winner Gary Cieradkowski, who was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42101915-77fb-4f43-a115-4bf82b010bc8/230+-+Polonia.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Constantly Updating Although Adam gave his presentation about the 4,000 Professional Hit Club in June of 2025, that list and those numbers are already out of date, which is a perfect example of how all baseball research, especially statistical research which relies on evidence found in box scores which are constantly being discovered, is always growing, changing, and evolving. Now, just 9 months after his presentation declaring 21 members in the 4,000 Professional Hit Club, there are currently 23 members, with Luis Polonia sitting on 3,999 career hits attributed to his name so far. But that’s as of the airing of this episode, on March 11, 2026. So, depending on when you’re listening to this, even THAT might be outdated. Thankfully, Adam was gracious enough to share the link to his constantly-updated spreadsheet with us, and that’s in the liner notes, so no matter when you’re listening to this, you can always go straight to the source linked on our website, and see what the current totals are. Check out the current list of 4,000 Professional Hit Club members HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b10e75f7-62b5-4a66-a308-503cf518607d/231+-+Rose.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Pete Rose For the purposes of the rest of this episode, I’m going with the numbers Adam has as of March of 2026. As it stands right now, 7 of the top 10 players are guys you probably know pretty well. Pete Rose is number one, with 4,856 professional hits. Interestingly, his .30496 batting average in 15,923 career at bats puts him exactly in the middle of the pack of the 23 players with 4,000 or more hits, with 11 players better than his, and 11 players worse. Many people mistakenly believe Pete Rose was a hitter with a great average, sometimes even thinking he’s got one of the best batting averages of all time. That’s actually a fairly common misconception I have found that many people have about him, especially in all my years speaking and interacting with baseball fans in a Joe Jackson-related capacity. But that’s just not the case. Pete Rose’s Major League batting average of .30285 is very good, sure. But it leaves him tied for 179th all-time. It’s worse than the career batting averages of Magglio Ordóñez, both Moisés and Matty Alou, and of Rusty Greer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86b51b7c-871b-4b53-ba32-19ae1203305b/232+-+Ichiro.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Ichiro Anyway, back to the 4,000 Professional hit list… Ichiro is 3rd all-time with 4,635, Minnie Miñoso is 5th with 4,563, and Ty Cobb is 7th with 4,409, which includes what we believe to be his true, accurate Major League total of 4,189 hits, not the inflated 4,191 which is in many historical record books. The discrepancy can be traced back to the 1910 season when Cobb had two hits in a game, but somehow score sheets were entered twice, on September 24 and again on September 25. That’s one of the mistakes in the white record books which Adam and I referred to during our interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7235b915-f0cd-4165-a043-a1a80d55269f/233+-+Aaron.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Henry Aaron But back to the 4,000 Hit list. Henry Aaron is 9th with 4,284, and Derek Jeter is 10th with 4,243. One of my favorite anecdotes about Henry Aaron, and maybe one you’ve heard before, is that if you took away every home run he hit in his Major League career, all 755 of them, he would still have 3,000 hits as a big leaguer. And, not surprisingly, he has the most home runs of anyone who has 4,000 career hits, with a total of 814 when you add in the other professional leagues he played in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ee76a72-8b25-44ba-9ea3-589960d09663/233.5+home+runs.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8157741e-4352-4bb9-b6fa-d3cda00640cd/234+-+Espino.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Héctor Espino But just behind Henry Aaron in terms of home runs is the man who has the second most professional hits, all time. Héctor Espino had 4,794 hits in his career, with 792 of them being home runs. So, take that Henry Aaron anecdote and kick it up a notch. If you removed every home run Héctor Espino hit in his professional career, he would still have FOUR THOUSAND hits. 4,002, to be exact. Not only does he have the second most home runs of anyone with 4,000 professional hits, but he has the most RBI, with 2,807, more than 200 ahead of second place. He also has the second best batting average, with a .333 career mark, second only to Ty Cobb. He must have been a truly special hitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63242275-dc5d-475c-acbc-f3293ad1a94a/235+-+batting+average.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ffaa6049-20f5-4ed4-afb6-c1af9adcf972/236+-+Mat%C3%ADas+Carrillo.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Matías Carrillo Fourth on the all-time professional hit list is Matías Carrillo, who had 4,575 in his career. 534 of them were home runs, and he also had 605 stolen bases, which makes him the only player in professional baseball history to reach 500+ home runs, 4,000+ hits, and even 500 stolen bases, let alone the 605 steals he actually had. There are two other players who have 400 home runs, 4,000 hits, and 400 stolen bases all time, and those are Minnie Miñoso, and Bobby Abreu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b11b36c-2819-49ef-99a2-8c7dd9ed10ae/237+-+stolen+bases.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc2342f1-8a00-4631-85bb-52e542ab9c32/237+-+Jesus+Sommers.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Jesús Sommers Eighth on the all-time Professional hit list is Jesús Sommers, who had 4,330 in his career. His .274 career batting average is the lowest of anyone on the list, but his 15,784 career at bats are second only to Pete Rose, with only Minnie Minoso also reaching 15,000 among players on this list. For comparison’s sake, Ty Cobb needed only 12,158 at bats to accumulate his 4,409 hits. If Ty had stuck around for the same amount of at bats that Sommers had, and performed at the same .363 batting average he had throughout his career at the time of his retirement, Cobb would have ended his career with 5,723 hits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f05142cf-ef11-4d23-bae4-5b2436a9129c/238+-+Julio+Franco+multi+HR.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Julio Franco For those of you keeping score at home, we’ve now talked about every player in the Top 10 list, except for one. The player with the 6th most hits in Professional Baseball history, is Adam Darowski’s favorite… Julio Franco. Julio Franco was born August 23, 1958. He played his last Major League game on September 17, 2007… when he was 49 years and 25 days old. In 2006, he became the oldest player in AL or NL history to hit a home run. He extended that record when he hit one the following season, on May 4, 2007. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38b61cb5-fb21-432b-946f-10c500acc652/239+-+Franco.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - The Ageless Wonder After re-joining the Braves during the 2001 season, Julio played 95 games or more every year from 2002 through 2006, so this wasn’t like many other old-age players from years past who had actually been retired for 3 or more years and came back for one last game in their mid- to late-40s or even their 50s. As it stands, only 12 players have ever appeared in a Major League game at an age more advanced than Julio’s during his final career game. Of those 12, only six were position players, and none of those six had actually played continuously before their final game. To say that Julio’s career is unique would not be inaccurate, but it would absolutely be insufficient. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a66d9134-341f-4993-aa95-d39257f4b730/240+-+Franco.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Add ‘Em Up! Including postseason play, Julio Franco recorded 2,608 hits in the American League and National League, 646 hits in the US minor leagues, 378 hits in the Dominican Republic, 348 hits in Mexico, 286 hits in Japan, 156 hits in South Korea, and he had 11 hits in the Caribbean Series. But if you add all those up, that only gives him 4,433 hits, so where are those other hits to bring him to the total Adam has at 4,463? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dacbdbcd-24d2-4724-9d0e-4a29f13a5661/241+-+Franco.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Fort Worth Cats Six of them came in 2014, when a 55-year old Julio Franco played for the Fort Worth Cats of the Independent United League. In 7 games for Forth Worth, Julio had 6 hits, including one double, and two walks. He scored 4 runs and drove in another. On May 24, 2014, the Fort Worth Cats tweeted: “Julio Franco extended his hitting streak to five games going 2-for-5 on the night with two singles. He has at least a hit in every game.” (And, yes, for the record, Julio Cesar Franco is FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD in this picture. In fact, he’s only about three months away from being 56!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bc42480-6026-4023-85ab-e96f9c3d750a/242+-+Franco.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Japan Franco played professional ball from 1978 to 2015, when he ended his career (at least, so far) with 24 hits in 25 games for the Ishikawa Million Stars of the Baseball Challenge League, a Japanese Independent League. That’s right. Julio Franco batted .312 with a .432 On Base Percentage … while playing professional baseball … as a 56-year-old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2895ad40-a331-43c0-80fc-111913e886be/244+-+Snake.jpg Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - One Of A Kind In 2020, a viral video made the rounds of a 61-year-old Franco taking swings in a batting cage wearing dress shoes and a scarf. The beard was gray, but there was no mistaking that stance, or that swing. The same swing that produced 4,463 professional hits, including 691 doubles, 98 triples, and 334 home runs at a .308 clip, while driving in 2,147 runs. There’s a reason why only five players who have ever put on a baseball uniform have collected more hits as a professional than Julio. And, thanks to Adam Darowski, not only do we know who each of those five players is, but we know exactly where each of their hits happened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6524dce5-de4e-4ef6-b9dd-a86e9148be96/999+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0506 - Adam Darowski - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/05 monthly 0.5 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51da1144-93f0-49ff-bd74-aec978454cea/youtube.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a62e4b15-8c3e-4e1f-b724-8d2c52644e78/square.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick Graig Kreindler, Bob Kendrick, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on February 13, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the formation of Rube Foster’s Negro National League in Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2dd9554-4e63-46ce-9711-1fcbef935067/01+-+2011+Bob+is+named+president+with+former+Negro+Leaguers%2C+Ulysses+Hollimon+%26+Jess+Rogers+along+with+DeMorris+Smith+%28son+of+Hall+of+Famer%2C+Hilton+Smith%29.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bob Kendrick Bob Kendrick was named President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 2011. He is in the center of this photo with former Negro Leaguers Ulysses Hollimon and Jess Rogers along with DeMorris Smith (son of Hall of Famer, Hilton Smith). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ae1a375-cf34-476f-b14c-b41b1fb307d8/02+-+One+Million+Dollar+Check.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Fundraising Phenom Bob’s leadership helped secure more than $15 million in financial support for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and widespread national acclaim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8fa6e48-a134-4923-b444-d3e7b2afa11e/03+-+star.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Kansas City Star Bob began his association with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as a volunteer during his 10-year newspaper career with The Kansas City Star. As senior copywriter for The Star’s Promotions Department, Bob won, or was part of a creative team that won, numerous local and regional advertising and marketing awards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/256410f7-3e64-4f0d-bba3-03707f7a63f5/98204425_128710662138773_5300835382454124544_n.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Pillar of the Community Bob’s volunteer roots in the Kansas City community are deep and passionate. He has served on the boards of various Kansas City-area non-profit organizations and has worked with Kansas City youth for more than 20 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25e35c97-154f-44d1-aa66-0c878a31f24e/05+-+Bob+giving+a+tour.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Guiding The Youth Bob remains active in the community and spends a great deal of time in Kansas City classrooms giving motivational talks to area students and sharing the illustrious history of Negro Leagues Baseball with nearly 100 schools, social and civic groups annually. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e2e8a20-f923-48fd-bf2b-c887bf0f4fb3/06+-+Bob+Missouri+Sports+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Bob was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2014 as a Sports Administrator, and while he doesn’t fashion himself to be a historian, Bob has become one of the leading authorities on the topic of Negro Leagues Baseball history and its connection to issues relating to sports, race and diversity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dda71c2f-c935-420a-9d67-d922a38132fd/07+-+Paseo+YMCA+postcard.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Paseo YMCA The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum operates two blocks from the Paseo YMCA, where Andrew “Rube” Foster held a meeting on February 13, 1920 to officially establish his Negro National League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b5fa9cf-ae2f-48bd-a261-767e6134ab4a/08+-+Graig+and+I.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - February 13, 2020 My favorite experience at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum happened on February 13, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the league’s formation. That night, Graig Kreindler had the grand opening of his Black Baseball in Living Color exhibit, which featured more than 200 hand-painted portraits. Graig was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e575935-79e6-4faf-8761-400ca06b5ba4/09+-+Graig+Black+Baseball.JPG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Graig spent three years researching the players, finding their photos, and hand painting the portraits for the exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb6f8263-5c48-445a-8d2a-85eb35fe4f6a/10+-+Josee+and+I.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Josée Tellier Josée Tellier is an illustrator and Expos connoisseur from Montréal. She flew down for Graig’s exhibit, as well, and the three of us spent a lot of time together that weekend. Josée was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01109b12-3e5b-477d-bc32-be2faaab129d/11+-+Winstead%27s.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Hitting All The Spots Graig, Josée, and I made sure to eat well that trip, getting barbecue at Gates and milkshakes at Winstead’s, in addition to spending hours inside the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, of course. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be586e2d-8f95-4ebe-a169-b569e79c1e47/12+-+NLBM+Incorporation+full.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum The NLBM was originally founded by a group of five men which included Kansas City Monarchs outfielder Alfred “Slick” Surratt (bottom left), Monarchs first baseman and manager John “Buck” O'Neil (bottom center), founder of the Black Archives of Mid-America Horace M. Peterson III, and friends of the show, researchers, historians, and authors Larry Lester (top left) and Phil S. Dixon (top right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e065953-28c0-4b4d-a431-38baf41b385a/13+-+Horace+Peterson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Horace M. Peterson III Horace M. Peterson III was an archivist and historian. During his studies, he began to collect valuable artifacts and documents in an effort to preserve the history of African-Americans in the Midwest. These collections would form the beginning of the Black Archives of Mid-America, which Peterson founded in 1976 and would serve as its executive director. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/075c029d-7720-40f0-9759-362a5de87311/14+-+1991+one+room.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - NLBM The NLBM opened its doors to the public in a tiny, one-room office space in 1991 with a dream of building a permanent facility that would pay rightful tribute to America’s unsung baseball heroes. Here, Monte Irvin (left) and Buck O’Neil stand in that little office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa405017-1f4a-4105-b0e9-6c9135b76f15/15+-+1997+new+space.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A New Facility The NLBM moved from that single-room inside the Lincoln Building to a 2,000-square-foot space in 1994, before finally realizing their original dream in November of 1997 when the museum moved again, this time into its new 10,000 square-foot home inside a cultural complex known as the Museums at 18th & Vine, under the leadership of its late chairman, Buck O’Neil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c2b0251-3250-4dd6-8254-ae1661484ae3/16+-+Buck+ONeil+presidential+medal.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil On November 13, 2012, the family of Buck O'Neil donated two items to the museum in honor of what would have been Buck’s 101st birthday. His Presidential Medal of Freedom — awarded posthumously by President George W. Bush — was donated, as well as a miniature replica of the Buck O'Neil statue at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a31a51f6-84fd-46ff-9b36-f7b0f398c8e9/17+-+Timeline.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Timeline The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum chronologically charts the progress of the Negro leagues with informative placards and interactive exhibits. Its walls are lined with pictures of players, owners, and officials of Negro League baseball from the Negro National League of 1920 through the Negro American League which lasted until 1962, but the history they share at the museum dates back much earlier than that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e157ed0b-af22-47da-be9f-b7b73a7a3c2f/18+-+Free+Februaryy.JPG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Free February If you want to see the museum for yourself, there is no wrong time to plan your trip to Kansas City, but the month of February provides you with a really special opportunity. In 2026, for what is now the 5th consecutive year, the Kansas City Royals Foundation is making admission to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum COMPLETELY FREE to all who visit during the month of February. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/668c1697-97fd-4c61-94b8-903c0a64c5e8/19+-+Free+February+mascot.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Proud Supporters The Kansas City Royals began this tradition as a way to honor Black History Month in February and drive supporters to the museum, and it’s grown in support every year since. The initiative is just one of several that the Royals do to support the museum throughout the calendar year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2f8a538-c711-471d-abec-142b3705593c/20+-+Bob+giving+a+tour+Chiefs.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bob Kendrick If you’re lucky, when you visit, you’ll have a chance to hear Bob Kendrick talk, like the Kansas City Chiefs were able to on this tour of the museum. Just in case you’re not that lucky when you plan your own trip, I got Bob to share some great stories with us today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12696c8d-4850-4ca0-9616-001d1ec3e455/21+-+Bob+Black+Diamonds.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Black Diamonds By the end of this episode, if you’re still craving more Negro Leagues stories from Bob, I highly recommend checking out his amazing podcast, Black Diamonds, which highlights the players, people, and events which shaped the Negro Leagues. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f04dd502-0134-424e-8132-a0da3db119c5/22+-+Lynette+Woodard+%28left%29+and+Cynthia+Cooper.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Basketball Star While injuries have kept him off the court for some time now, Bob received a basketball scholarship to attend Park College in Parkville, Missouri in 1980. Here he is with basketball legends Lynette Woodard (left) and Cynthia Cooper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/240c3204-56ac-4fff-8c49-bcacf06a6d4a/23+-+Posey+Cumberland+Plaque_NB.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Cumberland Posey Cumberland Posey Jr. was the best African American basketball player of his time, playing from the early 1900s through the mid-1920s. He retired from basketball in the late 1920s to focus exclusively on the business of baseball and on his weekly sports column in the Pittsburgh Courier, "In The Sportive Realm." In baseball, Posey played with the Homestead Grays in 1911, was manager by 1916, and became owner in the early 1920s. In a quarter-century running the team, he built it into one of the powerhouse franchises of black baseball, winning numerous pennants, including nine consecutively from 1937 to 1945. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Cumberland Posey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99958249-d0f1-4ced-8a2f-dfd101e469f9/24+-+Bob+Kendrick.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Volunteer Bob’s association with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum began as a volunteer in 1993 while he was working for the Kansas City Star. He immediately fell in love with the museum and its mission, and began taking on a larger role. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d20a55c1-f32b-446a-b6f4-48729efc41df/25+-+Bob+with+Buck.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil Bob’s passion for the Negro Leagues was largely influenced by his relationship with Buck O’Neil, who was one of the founders of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and a constant presence at the museum while he was alive. Buck O’Neil’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8221038a-f0f7-47dc-9790-108571cad753/26+-+Albert+Pujols.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - “Once You’re Bitten By The Buck Bug, It’s A Wrap!” Bob says he just wanted to be on Buck’s team, and help him in any way that he could. Here they are with Albert Pujols at the NLBM. Albert Pujols’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a8aac80-939f-4ec4-a0f9-6946d5a9ee0f/27+-+Buck+ONeil+Derek+Jeter.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Love At First Sight “I was no different than everybody else who met Buck for the first time,” Bob notes. “It was love at first sight!” Here is Buck with Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/888959a9-bc52-4256-82f0-7473cc2e968d/28+-+Colin+Powell+and+Landon+Rowland+on+left.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Civil Rights Institution The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is one of this country’s preeminent social justice Civil Rights institutions, it’s just seen through the lens of baseball. Pictured here, left to right: Landon Rowland, Bob Kendrick, Buck O’Neil, and Colin Powell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87d06bc6-e5e0-4014-9cd9-cbfdaa42a305/29+-+Discover+Greatness.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Discover Greatness The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has created five uniquely different national traveling exhibitions that offer interesting and entertaining perspectives on the scope and magnitude of the professional Negro Baseball Leagues and their impact on the social advancement of America. Discover Greatness Negro Leagues Béisbol Shades of Greatness Buck O’Neil: Right On Time Barrier Breakers: From Jackie To Pumpsie If you would like to inquire about booking any of these traveling exhibits, you can do that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9b7909c-d43b-4cea-ace0-6cbfaa82f1de/30+-+Buck+ONeil+Bill+Clinton.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s Wisdom It was through Buck O’Neil’s infinite wisdom that the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was established at Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The museum’s financial success has allowed for a rebirth of the formerly thriving neighborhood, and has served as a catalyst to turn the area into a world-class tourist destination once again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be3e53a9-0e98-469d-9a84-41924010d92a/31+-+New+Facility.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A New Facility In May of 2023, the museum announced that it is fundraising for a new 30,000-square-foot facility and campus, including a seven-story hotel just north of the Paseo YMCA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cf70ae1-607d-4598-89e2-c457d774a5aa/32+-+New+Facility+4.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil Education And Research Center The YMCA building will become the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14b9bf17-51e7-4566-afbe-7f8cfc387cf2/33+-+Paseo+YMCA+before+and+after.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Paseo YMCA Thanks to the help of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Paseo YMCA has undergone some major transformations in the past few decades. As the museum campus continues to be built nearby, it will continue to undergo even more wonderful changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd69be87-7f78-4b35-b4aa-880315844370/34+-+New+Facility.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A New Hotel A 7-story hotel will be constructed as part of the museum’s plans, allowing for visitors from all over the world to enjoy the world’s first Negro Leagues campus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17d1073d-45df-4e1e-aac3-34740cb23b32/35+-+Reggie+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Reggie Jackson Reggie Jackson is involved with the NLBM and is helping to make the museum’s new campus a reality. Reggie Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3c5dcde-6955-4ea6-8bd9-307ab9a2e276/36+-+Martinez+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Martinez Jackson Reggie Jackson’s father, Martinez Jackson, was half Puerto Rican and worked as a tailor. In addition to playing second base for the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, he also drove the team bus and acted as their traveling secretary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8691c63f-fd0c-463b-9fc1-196c50d02b23/37+-+Field+of+Legends.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out The Field of Legends allows visitors to walk onto a baseball diamond adorned by nearly life-sized bronze statues of thirteen larger-than-life figures from Negro league history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6fbcef1-2ca3-4cf2-9062-58e7fd9d3cd1/38+-+Rube+Foster.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Owner - Rube Foster Andrew “Rube” Foster was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1981, becoming the first representative of the Negro Leagues elected as a pioneer or executive. Rube Foster’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eef24127-e1a2-434d-b02f-24c8a59147d3/39+-+Rube+Foster.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Rube’s Statue Bob calls Rube Foster the most brilliant baseball mind the sport has ever seen. It’s hard to argue that claim, consider Rube was one of the greatest pitchers, one of the greatest managers, and one of the greatest executives in the history of the sport. Add in the fact that he established an entire league which successfully ran from 1920 through his untimely death in 1930, then folded the following year in 1931, and you can see the impact Rube must have had. Rube Foster’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/320dfe35-3975-4e43-bb29-24c22abb9042/40+-+Christy.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Christy Mathewson There are stories out there that New York Giants Hall of Fame manager John McGraw snuck Rube Foster into the team’s training camp to teach pitcher Christy Mathewson how to throw the “fadeaway” pitch, which we know today to be called the screwball. While there are many differing reports as to where Mathewson actually picked up the pitch, the fact remains that he used it to get himself all the way into the Hall of Fame. Christy Mathewson’s Hall of Fame Biography Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfd2478f-a4f6-4325-8651-703e8b236478/41+-+Waddell.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - “Rube” Andrew Foster earned the nickname “Rube” when he beat the great Rube Waddell in a head-to-head match up. From that point forward, Andrew Foster would be known as “Rube” as well. Rube Waddell’s Hall of Fame Biography Rube Waddell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/daf92786-2c9d-40f3-be1e-9ec87d28bce2/42+-+Chicago+American+Giants.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out In seven seasons as manager of the Chicago American Giants, Rube Foster (center, wearing suit) led his team to a 336-195 record (.633 winning percentage), including three straight Negro National League pennants. His team never finished worse than 3rd in a league which had at least eight teams each year he managed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d29c1c5c-d238-48b7-9828-3da70d947c98/43+-+Rube.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Strict, But With A Purpose Foster would fine his players as much as $5 if they were ever tagged out standing up on the base paths, or if they could not properly lay down a bunt on demand. In his 21 seasons as a manager in the multiple different leagues and for the multiple different teams which he managed, Foster had a combined record of 723-400 (.644 winning percentage). The AL/NL manager with the highest career winning percentage for a career which has ended is Joe McCarthy, who had a .615 winning percentage over 24 big league seasons. At the conclusion of the 2025 MLB season, Dave Roberts has a .618 winning percentage over 7 big league seasons as manager. Joe McCarthy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c9ec409-6fde-4649-ab76-986b4ab01e8b/44+-+CI+Taylor.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - C.I. Taylor Charles Isham “C.I.” Taylor was a second baseman, manager, and executive in the Negro Leagues. After serving in the 10th Cavalry during the Spanish–American War in the Philippines, Taylor attended Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1914, Taylor became half-owner - along with Thomas Bowser - and manager of the Indianapolis ABCs. Over the next several seasons, he developed the team into a power rivaled only by Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum awards The C.I. Taylor Legacy Award to the best manager each year. C.I. Taylor’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29fa6b4a-66ba-454e-a25b-81a54a863f8e/45+-+NNL+owners.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Great Salesman Not only was Rube Foster a brilliant baseball mind, but he also had to be a great salesman, convincing all of the other team owners to trust him and his vision enough to enter their teams into his Negro National League. Foster (front row, 3rd from left) and the other NNL owners are seen here at a meeting in 1922. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8c3cc48-001a-4a79-98ae-7f7c58c11387/46+-+Rube+Foster+Paseo+YMCA.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Paseo YMCA Foster’s Negro National League officially came into existence on February 13, 1920 at a meeting with the other team owners held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28c6fbf1-6add-4e90-93a4-69baa57a3143/47+-+Buck+Leonard.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 1B - Buck Leonard Walter “Buck” Leonard was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1972. Buck Leonard’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c35ee8d8-020c-499b-9d47-eb4558259a9b/48+-+Buck+Leonard.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s Statue Buck Leonard was one of the best pure hitters to play in the Negro Leagues. He was also a key part of the Homestead Grays dynasty of the 1930s and 1940s. He spent his entire 15-year career with the Homestead Grays, making his the longest term of service for a player with one team in Negro League history. Buck Leonard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15174ce3-a228-4ceb-bdb3-63429bdbe1b9/49+-+Danny+Glover+and+Buck+O%27Neil.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Greatest Fastball Hitter Ever Buck Leonard played in a league-record 11 East-West All-Star Games, and beginning in 1942, his Homestead Grays advanced to four consecutive Negro World Series, winning in 1943 and 1944. Here, Buck O’Neil and Danny Glover stand with Leonard’s statue on the Field of Legends at the NLBM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4854fafc-fe15-4108-b356-7d802afc0b70/50+-+Buck+Leonard.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Offered A Contract In 1952, with the color barrier broken, Buck was offered a major league contract, at the age of 45, but turned it down. He said, “I knew I was over the hill. I didn't try to fool myself.” In 1971, Satchel Paige became the first player who primarily starred in the Negro Leagues to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. The following year, in 1972, Buck Leonard was inducted with Josh Gibson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/408e1259-e8ed-4b75-8306-0331784a7489/51+-+Buck+Leonard.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Education Buck Leonard wasn't able to get a high school diploma until the age of 52, because his hometown didn't have a high school that allowed education for African Americans. While it was not uncommon for white or Black ballplayers to not have been college-educated, nearly 40% of players in the Negro Leagues had some level of college education. Less than 5% of white Major League players at the same time could say the same thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e98db9f4-d5db-4f69-8de6-347eb732247e/52+-+Jackie+UCLA.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Jackie Robinson In the fall of 1939, Jackie Robinson enrolled at UCLA, where the student population was less than 1% African American. There was not a single Black faculty member. He became the first Bruin at the Westwood campus to letter in four sports and was a genuine star in three of them - football, basketball and track. Baseball was his worst sport at UCLA. In the spring of 1941, a few units short of completing his degree, Robinson withdrew from UCLA because, he said, his mother needed him to go to work. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98d0e065-21af-4570-9256-2986e0d7edb2/53+-+Larry+Doby.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Larry Doby A native of Camden, South Carolina, and three-sport all-state athlete while in high school in Paterson, New Jersey, Larry Doby accepted a basketball scholarship from Long Island University in Brooklyn. Larry Doby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2282cf5-b8d8-4386-a2fd-31df74cc3f03/54+-+Monte+Irvin.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Monte Irvin Monte Irvin grew up in New Jersey. At Orange High School, he starred in four sports, earning a total of 16 varsity letters and setting a state record in the javelin throw. He was offered a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, but he had to turn it down because he did not have enough money to move to Ann Arbor. Instead, he attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and was a standout football player. Monte Irvin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51ed2bee-d1e7-419b-985f-662654ec80e0/55+-+Buck.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil Buck O’Neil grew up in the Newtown community in Sarasota, Florida. He worked the celery fields in Sarasota while his father ran a pool hall in Newtown. Buck was initially denied the opportunity to attend high school, thanks to racial segregation, as the entire state of Florida had only four high schools specifically for African Americans. Eventually, Buck moved to Jacksonville with some relatives where he completed high school and two years of college courses at Edward Waters College. Buck O’Neil’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0fdc6952-fe30-4abc-897a-dadeaa8e3c78/56+-+Pop+Lloyd.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 2B - Pop Lloyd John Henry “Pop” Lloyd was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1977. Pop Lloyd’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb97ee73-a940-416e-a5e0-c498bf810c37/57+-+Pop+Lloyd.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Pop’s Statue Pop Lloyd was discovered on the sandlots of Jacksonville by Rube Foster, Harry Buckner, and Sol White. Lloyd actually played more shortstop than second base, and was frequently compared to Honus Wagner, who said it was a compliment to be compared to Lloyd. Babe Ruth said Pop Lloyd was the best player he'd ever seen. Pop Lloyd’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74c4eaaf-34cb-43b9-af79-10c290fd20d7/58+-+Leland+Giants.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 1910 Chicago Leland Giants Lloyd was a part of the 1910 Chicago Leland Giants team who went 123-6. Pictured here is the 1909 Chicago Leland Giants. Standing (L to R): Pete Hill, Andrew Payne, George Wright, Walter Ball, Charles Dougherty, Bill Gatewood, Rube Foster. Seated (L to R): Danger Talbert, Harry Moore, Frank Leland, Bobby Winston, Sam Strothers, Nate Harris. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c57f02ee-f61c-46ea-8b83-474d71905714/60+-+Beisbol.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Lloyd played where the money was, whether that was in America or in Cuba. It was extremely common for Black baseball stars in the United States to be recruited to play in other countries where racial segregation and discrimination was far less severe than it was in America. In addition to the better treatment, oftentimes, those countries also paid better than what Black players would have made had they stayed in the US, anyway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df206c8d-04fa-4547-9143-45b957167fed/59+-+July+5%2C+1930+Yankee+Stadium.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - July 5, 1930 On July 5, 1930, Pop Lloyd played in the first ever game between two Black teams at Yankee Stadium when New York’s Lincoln Giants played a doubleheader against the Baltimore Black Sox. Lloyd was the first baseman and manager of the Lincoln Giants, and, at age 46, was the team’s third-best hitter with a .381 average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11b5e81a-1eb5-47ef-a31e-e5aaac8e6bfd/61+-+Judy+Johnson.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - SS - Judy Johnson Judy Johnson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1975. Judy Johnson’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0634eac-22f9-4544-b60c-e5bb11be8741/62+-+Judy+Johnson.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Judy’s Statue William Julius Johnson got the nickname "Judy" because he resembled a Chicago American Giants player named Judy Gans. Johnson was the Negro League's top third baseman in the 1920s and 1930s, but his statue is at shortstop on the Field of Legends. Judy Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b88ae38-e676-4950-b1c4-f25fb73b795f/63+-+Judy+Johnson.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Judy Johnson Because of his slick-fielding defensive abilities, he was known as "The Black Pie Traynor." He wasn't super fast, but he studied pitchers meticulously and used his knowledge to gain an advantage on the basepaths. Former teammate and roommate Ted Page said, "Judy Johnson was the smartest third baseman I ever came across. A scientific ballplayer, he did everything with grace and poise." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40914e3c-59a7-4c3e-8870-281d75c46ca7/64+-+Judy+and+Josh.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Pittsburgh Crawfords In one of the biggest trades in Negro League history, Josh Gibson and Judy Johnson were traded to the Homestead Grays for $2,500 and two journeymen players, Henry Spearman and Pepper Bassett, on March 20, 1937. Later, Judy Johnson was a manager, scout and coach. Here, the Crawfords’ "Big Five" are pictured in 1932. (Left to Right): Oscar Charleston, Ted Page, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, and Jud Wilson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41b7352f-c5f1-453c-8e8c-7935a2ce5149/66+-+Andy+Cooper.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Andy Cooper A top starting pitcher early in his career who became a valuable reliever in his final years on the diamond, Cooper was also an accomplished manager - leading the Monarchs to three pennants between 1937 and 1940 - and was responsible for the trade which brought Buck O’Neil to the Monarchs. Included among Cooper’s many accolades and accomplishments during his playing days was a 43-inning stretch with the Stars in which he didn’t issue a base on balls, winning twice as many games as he lost with both the Stars and Monarchs, helping lead Kansas City to the Negro National League pennant in 1929 and pitching 17 innings in a 1937 playoff game against the Chicago American Giants. Historian Dick Clark once said of Cooper: “In my estimation, the greatest Black pitcher ever to pitch for Detroit – that’s for the Stars or the Tigers.” Andy Cooper’s Hall of Fame Biography Andy Cooper’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a79f38a7-1fc9-4bac-aae4-456b0c3f3702/65+-+Judy+Johnson.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - First Black Coach Connie Mack once told him "if you were a white boy, you could name your own price." Judy Johnson retired nine years before the integration of the major leagues, but in 1954, he became the first African American to coach in Major League Baseball. He scouted and coached for the Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65f33151-efcb-44be-806a-c14d29b20479/67+-+Ray+Dandridge.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 3B - Ray Dandridge Ray Dandridge was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1987. Ray Dandridge’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22e83dca-21e3-4f18-878f-4d51df13889b/68+-+Ray+Dandridge.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Ray’s Statue Ray Dandridge grew up idolizing Judy Johnson, and some say he eventually became a better ballplayer than Johnson. Dandridge was a contact hitter who could hit to all fields, and a fancy fielder at third base who could also play shortstop, second base, and the outfield. Dandridge signed his first professional contract at the age of 19 with the Detroit Stars in 1933, then moved on to the Newark Eagles the following year, where he'd play off and on for the next decade. Ray Dandridge’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ec41b94-6b2f-4687-aa24-82ab6fd1854e/69+-+Million+Dollar+Infield.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Ray Dandridge was a part of the Million Dollar Infield of the 1937 Newark Eagles, along with Willie Wells at short, Dick Seay and second, and Mule Suttles at first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a59f642-4a03-4f50-8158-b8299a7600f3/71+-+Millers.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Minneapolis Millers The Minneapolis Millers were the top AAA team for the New York Giants. Their 1951 team included (left to right) Ray Dandridge, Dave Barnhill, and Willie Mays, each of whom starred in the Negro Leagues prior to signing with the Giants. Both Dandridge and Mays would eventually be Hall of Famers. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00875226-1868-4744-ad45-5ad8845f5097/70+-+Dandridge.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Best Third Baseman To Never Play In The Major Leagues Ray Dandridge also played for the New York Cubans and spent off seasons playing and managing in Cuba and Puerto Rico. He also played a year in Venezuela, and was one of the first to head to the Mexican League, where he spent most of the 1940s. But that meant that he was a victim of Commissioner Happy Chandler's 5-year ban for players who played in that league, so even after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Ray was ineligible to play in the newly-integrated Major Leagues. Bob Kendrick calls Ray Dandridge the best third baseman to never play in the major leagues. Happy Chandler’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f680e577-216d-4041-80bf-d21458cfb72e/72+-+Greason.JPG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bill Greason Reverend Bill Greason once said, "Playing in the Negro Leagues was a struggle, but at the end of the day, you struggled together. If you made it to the majors, you struggled alone." Bill Greason’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3144516b-d09d-4db5-ba30-16d62fcab4a3/73+-+Clark+Griffith.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Clark Griffith Clark Griffith began his MLB playing career with the St. Louis Browns (1891), Boston Reds (1891), and Chicago Colts/Orphans (1893–1900). He then served as player-manager for the Chicago White Stockings (1901–1902) and New York Highlanders (1903–1907). Griffith retired as a player after the 1907 season, remaining manager of the Highlanders in 1908. He managed the Cincinnati Reds (1909–1911) and Washington Senators (1912–1920), making some appearances as a player with both teams. Griffith owned the Senators from 1920 until his death in 1955, and was rumored to have seriously contemplated integrating the Senators before Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to break baseball’s color barrier in 1945. Clark Griffith’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6c16195-ea97-47a6-ac1e-67b729f850ba/74+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - LF - “Cool Papa” Bell Cool Papa Bell was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1974. Cool Papa Bell’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/295a4f2d-c3f7-44ea-8173-7ae0ff7e8d08/75+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Cool Papa’s Statue James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell started with the St. Louis Stars as a pitcher, but he hurt his arm, so they moved him to the outfield. The fastest man to ever play baseball, Bell was once timed circling the bases in 12 seconds flat. For context, the fastest time recorded around the bases in Major League Baseball is 13.3 seconds, set by Evar Swanson in 1932 according to The Physics of Baseball. In the modern StatCast era, Byron Buxton holds the record for the fastest home-to-home run, clocking in at 13.85 seconds in 2017. Cool Papa Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/372e8312-1587-4c77-a6e9-5cf2e70dacec/76+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Cool Papa Bell of the Homestead Grays sliding into third base during the first game of a double-header against the Baltimore Elite Giants at Washington's Griffith Stadium on Negro National League Opening Day, May 16, 1943. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58a5c6db-79f1-4977-a212-ff63f5b156c8/80+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Tall Tale? Was Cool Papa Bell really faster than the speed of light? Satchel Paige says yes! He saw it with his own eyes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb57b943-1202-4edd-8182-bccee5a6f982/77+-+Cool+Papa.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Prolific Base Stealer Cool Papa Bell wasn't just fast, though; he was smart. He watched the pitcher’s feet and was more careful with pitchers who had good moves. If he took a big lead, it usually meant he wasn't stealing. But if he took a small lead, there was a good chance he was going. Bell once stole 175 bases in a single season, (granted, they played 185-190 games, but still). He once said, “I remember one time I got five hits and stole five bases, but none of it was written down because they forgot to bring the scorebook to the game that day.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50500416-972a-4604-8e72-0ed17f15b78f/81+-+New+Records.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f4ffa1c-0202-4e77-afd0-a47e3539ed89/78+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - So Fast, He MUST Be Cheating… Right?? Cool Papa Bell was a great bunter, himself, but he also scored from first base on another player’s bunt TWO TIMES in his career. On another occasion, he went from first to third so fast that the other team protested the game since they figured he had to have been cheating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e4cd85cb-cfbf-4358-86e5-0a238b2ea26a/80+-+Jesse+Owens.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Jesse Owens At the time, Jesse Owens was known as the fastest man in the world. He would race against horses, but he refused to race against Cool Papa Bell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aabd10e-1e13-473b-9199-04e8fe801386/82+-+Buck+ONeil+Ernie+Banks+Lou+Brock.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Ernie, Buck, & Lou When Tom Baird sold the Kansas City Monarchs at the end of the 1955 season, Buck O'Neil resigned as manager and became a scout for the Chicago Cubs. He is credited for signing Hall of Famer Lou Brock to his first professional baseball contract. Buck O'Neil is sometimes incorrectly credited with also having signed Hall of Famer Ernie Banks to his first contract, but “Mr. Cub” was actually scouted and signed to the Monarchs by Cool Papa Bell. Banks played briefly for the Monarchs in 1950 and 1953, his play interrupted by Army duty. O'Neil was Banks' manager during those stints. Banks was signed to play for the Cubs more than two years before O'Neil joined them as a scout. O’Neil coached Banks in Chicago when he was named the first Black coach in the major leagues by the Cubs in 1962. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b27e7e95-e58e-4ac8-971b-276544ce956d/82.5+-+Lou+Brock.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Lou Brock Cool Papa also mentored Lou Brock, and was one of the first people who reached out to Brock when he was traded to St. Louis from the Cubs. On September 10, 1974, Brock tied and broke Maury Wills’ single-season record by swiping his 104th and 105th bases of the year. Cool Papa was there to hand Lou the record-setting base, and said, “Lou, we’re going to give you this base. Because if we don’t give it to you, you’re going to steal it anyway!” On August 29, 1977, Brock would steal his 893rd career base to break Ty Cobb’s all-time record. Lou Brock’s Hall of Fame Biography Lou Brock’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69ac1480-c8f8-4765-8026-7c845222e793/84+-+Oscar+Charleston.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - CF - Oscar Charleston Oscar Charleston was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1976. Oscar Charleston’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/736705f8-f4c2-4cc3-ae85-41b558db8864/85+-+Oscar+Charleston.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Oscar’s Statue A powerful hitter who could hit to all fields and bunt, Oscar Charleston was also extremely fast on the base paths and in center field. He played a very shallow center, almost behind second base. His great speed and instincts helped him outrun many batted balls, and he had a powerful arm. Coupled with his great natural ability was an aggressive demeanor and will to win. Oscar Charleston’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/099ed243-8efe-47dd-9e90-6267968cd634/86+-+Monte+Irvin%2C+Dontrelle+Willis%2C+Mudcat+Grant%2C+Juan+Pierre%2C+Carl+Crawford+%26+Negro+Leagues+legend%2C+Buck+O%E2%80%99Neil.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Greatest Baseball Player Ever? Buck O'Neil said that Willie Mays was the greatest major league player he ever saw, but called Oscar Charleston the greatest baseball player he ever saw. Here, surrounding Oscar’s statue on the Field of Legends, is (left to right): Monte Irvin, Dontrelle Willis, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Juan Pierre, Carl Crawford, and Buck O’Neil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc80a091-680f-453c-82c2-d5313bc13254/87+-+Bullet+Rogan.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - One Of The First NNL Superstars Bob calls Oscar Charleston one of the first two stars in Rube Foster’s Negro National League, which was a league filled with stars. But Bob says Oscar Charleston and Charles Wilber “Bullet” Rogan shined brighter than them all. Bullet Rogan’s Hall of Fame Biography Bullet Rogan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de4c61bc-d992-4263-a7a1-a3b68fbd0620/88+-+Oscar.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Oscar Charleston Oscar Charleston was said to have had the defensive prowess of Tris Speaker, the tenacity of Ty Cobb, and the power of Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0044c376-9f5e-4d41-ba61-a6315a741c44/89+-+Willie+Mays+and+Buck+ONeil.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Willie Mays Before Willie Mays When Willie Mays visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for the first time and saw the statues on the Field of Legends, he turned to Buck O’Neil and asked who was the representative of his position in Center Field. Buck responded by saying “Willie, that was you, before there ever was a you.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0818d5db-1b38-4fdd-954e-bb8202782093/90+-+Charleston.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Best Seasons Oscar Charleston’s finest season was likely 1925 when he hit .427 for the Harrisburg Giants, to go along with 20 home runs and 97 RBI. He won batting titles in the Eastern Colored League in 1924 and 1925. But his 1931 season with the Homestead Grays was pretty good, too. He batted .346 with 58 doubles, 26 triples, and 19 home runs that year. Depending on which all-time list you look at, Charleston ranks among the highest career batting averages in the history of the game. He is listed in second place all-time HERE, and third place all-time HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af601fdb-8fdb-436e-a553-61f93d031e51/91+-+Cuba.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Cuban Star In addition to his many years playing and managing Black baseball teams in America, Charleston also played nine seasons of winter ball, traveling the professional leagues in Cuba. For the games which we have box scores from, his recorded batting average playing in the Cuban League was .361 over those nine seasons. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum owns Oscar Charleston’s personal scrapbook as part of their collection. The period in his life and career which is most often represented in that scrapbook is his time in Cuba. Here, Pablo Mesa, Oscar Charleston, and Alejandro Oms are pictured while playing for Santa Clara in Cuba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec0deb55-73b2-4328-924b-2b82a4aecd9a/92+-+Leon+Day.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - RF - Leon Day Leon Day was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1995. Leon Day’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7800fa7-1fa6-4e30-ad0e-d2566aab3d12/93+-+Leon+Day.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Leon’s Statue A quiet, soft spoken and modest right-hander, Leon Day could play any position on the field besides catcher. His statue is in the outfield here at the museum, but he was a great, great pitcher with a deceptive fastball and a sharp curve. Hall of Famer Monte Irvin said if you had seen Bob Gibson pitch, but you didn’t see Leon Day, then you saw Leon Day. Leon Day’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1aba865-7cec-4cc7-bdae-5d395d1907e5/94+-+Leon+Day.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Leon Day Buck O’Neil said that Leon Day was a better center fielder than he was a pitcher, and he’s in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a pitcher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bf715b4-ce1d-4819-a529-6f9e9b748efa/95+-+Ohtani.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out The emergence of Shohei Ohtani as an incredible two-way player has given Bob the opportunity to have a modern example to compare Leon Day to while he gives tours at the NLBM, especially to younger fans who are enamored with Ohtani. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ef88d31-6439-49b5-b300-926e9363399f/96+-+Parker.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Dave Parker Leon Day was the last Negro Leaguer to still be alive to learn that he was going to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, like Dave Parker, who was inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, Day passed away after learning he had been inducted, but before the date of his induction ceremony, so he wasn’t able to physically be there to receive his flowers from all of his adoring fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3e478ca-e025-4a6b-a2cb-d53af32dd6a6/97+-+1942+East+West+ASG.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 1942 East-West All-Star Game The West mounted a threat in the bottom of the 7th inning of the 1942 East-West All-Star Game against East pitcher Barney Brown, but Leon Day relieved him with two outs. Day retired all seven men he faced, striking out five, including fanning the side in the 9th inning, to preserve the East’s 5-2 win. The Kansas City Monarchs won the 1942 Negro League World Series, although the Homestead Grays attempted to steal a game by bringing in Leon Day to pitch for them, as a ringer. When it was decided that the game wouldn’t count because Day hadn’t been on the team all year, the win he had earned was rescinded, and the Monarchs would go on to win the Series. Buy Larry Lester’s incredible book on the history of the East-West All-Star Game HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83987e5b-e554-45f3-a6ef-e9925d98d1eb/97.5+-+OTD+08-13-1944.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4adb4167-8f9d-427b-a0e5-ee36d25b8d17/98+-+Integration.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Players at the 1939 East-West All-Star Game at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Standing (L to R): Buck Leonard, Willie Wells, José Fernández, Sammy Hughes, George Scales, Mules Suttles, Pat Patterson, Josh Gibson, Bill Wright, Roy Partlow. Kneeling (L to R): Bill Byrd, Leon Day, Bill Holland, Condo Lopez, Goose Curry, Red Parnell. Day was on the short list with Josh Gibson and Willie Wells of players the Pittsburgh Pirates were considering signing to break the color barrier before the Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f3c05c7-c412-48cd-b7db-3561f6312fb7/99+-+Buck+stationed+in+Subic+Bay%2C+Philippines+during+WWII.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Why Fight For A Country That Isn’t Fighting For You? When Bob Kendrick asked Buck O’Neil that very question, Buck was very succinct, and very poignant: “Because we were American.” However, Bob said the only time Buck’s otherwise cheery disposition ever became somewhat sullen was when Buck would talk about his time in the service. Buck couldn’t understand how foreign POWs would be treated better by white American soldiers, than those white American soldiers would treat Black American soldiers. This photo shows Buck while he was stationed in Subic Bay in the Philippines during WWII. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7fc41e2-bdfd-4301-a785-d07c6d00f1a9/97+-+Leon+Day.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Opening Day No-Hitter Leon Day’s first game back from his own stint in the military was May 5, 1946, when he was the starting pitcher for the Newark Eagles. It was Opening Day of the 1946 season, and the Eagles were facing the Philadelphia Stars. In his first game since 1943, Leon threw a No Hitter. Now, for years, we’ve been told that Bob Feller’s no-hitter against the White Sox on April 16, 1940 at Comiskey Park is the only Opening Day no-hitter in major league history. But, since Major League Baseball now recognizes seven Negro leagues as major leagues for the period between 1920 and 1948, including the Negro National League, that means that Leon Day’s Opening Day No-Hitter should also be recognized… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5c734a4-4160-4cd5-a031-7b1a7abaa93d/101+-+Major+Negro+Leagues.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Major Leagues The first Negro National League game was played May 2, 1920 between the Chicago American Giants and the Indianapolis ABCs, who won the game 4-2. The ABCs were managed by C.I. Taylor, and Chicago was managed by Rube Foster. Both of them were Black, and… since Major League Baseball now recognizes seven Negro leagues as major leagues for the period between 1920 and 1948, including the Negro National League… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cb2baa6-2eae-41be-91fb-361f6d5f9391/100+-+Frank+Robinson.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - First Black Manager? … that means that Frank Robinson did NOT become the first Black manager in Major League history when he was at the helm for the Cleveland Indians on April 8, 1975. This statue at the center of Heritage Park in Cleveland’s Progressive Field celebrates the accomplishment, depicting Robinson handing the scorecard to the umpire before that game. However, C.I. Taylor and Rube Foster had actually become the first Black managers in major league baseball, unknowingly, 55 years earlier. Frank Robinson’s Hall of Fame Biography Frank Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cee0cd96-2c99-40bd-9f16-6b8596841d18/103+-+Bill+Lucas.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bill Lucas In 1976, businessman Ted Turner purchased the Atlanta Braves and quickly grew to like former Braves minor leaguer Bill Lucas, who had worked in the Braves front office since 1965. With the Braves mired in last place, some 30 games out of first in mid-September, Turner promoted Lucas to Vice President of Player Personnel. In essence, Turner made Lucas the team’s general manager, giving him ultimate responsibility for all player transactions. The official job title did not recognize the significance of the moment, but Bill Lucas essentially became the first Black general manager in the history of either the National or American Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42f2077e-a8a2-40bf-8f76-c55d1eb83885/103+-+Chicago+American+Giants.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Negro League Flags in MLB Stadiums Negro League teams winning the Negro League World Series... those count as official World Series wins now. So when people in Cleveland say the city has only seen two World Series winners, 1920 and 1948, that's no longer technically true. The Cleveland Buckeyes won the Negro League World Series in 1945. The White Sox fly this Chicago American Giants flag in their stadium to recognize the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cbfd7861-f1ff-43bd-a7ca-bbacfa68875a/105+-+Cool+Papa+Bell+MLB+The+Show.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out The inclusion of certain players in the video game series MLB The Show has introduced the Negro Leagues to a brand new generation of fans who might not have otherwise learned about them. Bob narrated the Negro League tales within the game, and has become a celebrity at the museum to fans who now know him from those stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f32d6d8e-a9b2-4eb2-b03e-a1a1030788f6/106+-+Satchel+Paige.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Pitcher - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1971. Satchel Paige’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e89f8ff7-a998-4527-8eb6-779c99d5d0db/107+-+Satchel+Paige.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Satchel’s Statue Satchel Paige may be the most famous baseball player who ever lived, excluding Babe Ruth. He also may be the most famous baseball player who ever lived, including Babe Ruth. But he is certainly the most famous Negro League player of all time. If someone only knows the name of one player from Negro Leagues history, the name they know is almost always Satchel Paige. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eccf9a5e-a6da-440c-ac71-731f5dcf0fbe/108+-+Satchel+Paige+sit+around+the+mound.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Bob’s favorite Satchel Paige story is one he got to tell in MLB The Show, depicted here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/379475bb-c83a-4889-a6d8-0c3029de2d01/109+-+Buck+Oneil+John+Smoltz.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s Pick Buck O’Neil spent his entire life in and around baseball. He saw hundreds of pitchers over the years. He even became friends with some of them. But of all the pitchers he watched and got to know, there was only one who Buck would pick to start for him if he absolutely needed to get a win: Leroy “Satchel” Paige. John Smoltz’s Hall of Fame Biography John Smoltz’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b4dc40e-399a-460a-bf9f-3948f4610ac5/110+-+Wilkinson.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - J. L. Wilkinson In his prime, Satchel Paige’s fastball was clocked at 105 miles per hour. But in the late 1930s, Satchel developed arm problems for the first time. Kansas City Monarchs owner J. L. Wilkinson signed Paige to his “B” team, giving Paige time to heal. Within a year, Paige’s shoulder had recovered and his fastball returned. As he aged, the control he once used to dazzle fans now became his primary weapon as a pitcher. J. L. Wilkinson’s Hall of Fame Biography J. L. Wilkinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2e766e4-2ada-4e5e-bcb4-c48125b6791e/111+-+Bismarck.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Integration in 1935 Satchel played on an integrated team in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1935, marking the first time since the 1800s that Black players and white players would be teammates on a semi-professional team. The team brought in a number of Negro League ringers, and absolutely dominated the competition. Pictured here are kneeling (L to R): Joe Desiderato, Al Leary, Neil Churchill, Dan Oberholzer, and Ed Hendee. Standing (L to R): Hilton Smith, Red Haley, Barney Morris, Satchel Paige, Moose Johnson, Quincy Troupe, and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d739fc16-cb8c-4d3b-b8d1-e7e7745c8112/112+-+Athletics.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Too Old To Be The First? Bob speculates that with the risk of a Black pitcher failing being much greater than a position player failing when transitioning from the Negro Leagues to the white Major Leagues, teams were too afraid to have Satchel Paige be the one to break the color barrier. While he still had the capacity to be great, and he was certainly a showman - which meant he was possibly a huge draw when it came to selling tickets - some owners may have looked at him as more of a sideshow than a legitimate signing, and weren’t willing to put their own reputation on the line for someone they couldn’t be certain would succeed. As Bob so succinctly puts it, “The first guy can’t fail. If the first guy fails, there is no second guy.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28201390-bce4-47d2-9698-07c6e8418b53/113+-+Veeck.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Willing To Take The Risk Bill Veeck was willing to take the risk to sign Satchel in 1948. The team went on to set an attendance record that season, but whether it was 2.6 million (officially) or 3.4 million (unofficially) is up for debate. More important than setting their franchise’s attendance record in the 1948 season, the team also won the World Series, thanks in large part to the contributions made by former Negro League stars Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. Bill Veeck’s Hall of Fame Biography Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22d980bb-09be-42d7-8f9b-fcf0d08d5228/114+-+Dean.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Dizzy Dean In 1934, brothers Dizzy and Daffy Dean were stars of Major League Baseball’s regular season and World Series. Following their St. Louis Cardinals’ victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game Seven, Dizzy and Daffy went on a fourteen game barnstorming tour against Satchel Paige and the best African-American baseball players in the country. Dizzy Dean’s Hall of Fame Biography Dizzy Dean’s SABR Biography Buy Phil S. Dixon’s captivating book about that tour HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed44b93d-8713-4997-acbd-1ab35ead5321/115+-+Feller.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bob Feller After arm troubles sidelined Dizzy Dean, a new pitching phenom, Bob Feller — aka Rapid Robert —assembled his own teams to face Paige and other Black barnstormers. By the time Paige became Feller’s rookie teammate on the Indians at age 42 in 1948, Satch and Feller had already barnstormed against each other for more than a decade. These often obscure contests helped hasten the end of Jim Crow baseball, paving the way for the game’s integration. Bob Feller’s Hall of Fame Biography Bob Feller’s SABR Biography Buy Timothy Gay’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47deb58e-4256-4c79-9490-b2fc9be579cd/116+-+barnstorming.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61936521-49ce-459b-a17c-0db5f5bc926b/117+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Catcher - Josh Gibson Josh Gibson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1972. Josh Gibson’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8626f086-b2c9-4f8f-adc1-f14997df8dff/118+-+Josh+Gibson.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Josh’s Statue The 6-1, 220-pound Josh Gibson was nearly indestructible behind the plate. He occasionally played left field or third base, but never for more than a game or two. Gibson’s natural skills were immense. His powerful arm, quick release, and agility made base runners wary of trying to steal, even while he was still in his crouch. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e10d29ca-7fcf-477b-8055-1e1222e2f02e/119+-+circa+1938.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Defensive Stance The statue of Josh Gibson at the NLBM purposely depicts him in his crouch to remind people that he was more than just a great power hitter. He was also a fantastic defensive catcher, who was always in complete control of his pitching staff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f201615-0763-4079-b4b9-e607da54c005/120+-+Bo+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bo Jackson Imagine this body behind home plate, and that’s what you had with Josh Gibson from a physical standpoint. Bo Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2a0b353-e5c2-41dc-b037-bd9e293cac1d/121+-+Gibson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Josh Gibson Buck O’Neil said Josh Gibson had the eyes of Ted Williams and the power of Babe Ruth rolled into one dynamic package. Bob thinks Josh Gibson is the greatest combination of power and average that baseball has ever seen, and has routinely called Gibson the best ballplayer of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6bd0bb5-e42e-420d-8add-b3e4e5ae45f0/122+-+Josh+Gibson+stats.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - MLB’s All-Time Leader Josh Gibson wasn’t just a great power hitter. He was a great hitter, with power. Now that certain statistics from the Negro Leagues are officially entered into the record books of Major League Baseball, Josh Gibson has become the all-time leader in a number of categories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/930701a9-2e82-480b-aa93-abf8c94dda3d/123+-+Big+Bat.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Josh The Basher Josh Gibson was baseball’s Paul Bunyan, wielding a 41 inch, 40 ounce bat which he purportedly once used to hit a fair ball clean out of Yankee Stadium during a game – something no one else ever did. Not Mickey Mantle. Not Babe Ruth. Only Josh Gibson. Gibson was famously quoted as saying “I don’t break bats; I wear them out.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f19f4c44-b6bd-4ce2-83a5-782fc6a37373/123.5+-+OTD+05-22-1946.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/064722dc-64db-4ecc-b1f4-ee817c4df8bc/124+-+MVP.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The MVP Trophy There was a movement in 2020 to have Josh Gibson's name replace Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis' name on the MVP trophy. Landis was MLB commissioner from 1920 until his death in 1944. During that time, no Black players played in the Major Leagues. Former Braves star Terry Pendleton, as well as Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Mike Schmidt, all told the Associated Press they support taking Landis' name off the award, with Larkin adding, "his name should not be represented on a plaque or award of honor, especially at this day and time. If his name was taken off, I would not be opposed to it at all." While Landis’ name was removed by the Baseball Writers Association of America starting with the awards given out for the 2020 season, Gibson’s did not replace it. The BBWAA’s decision came after 89% of its membership voted for removal. Barry Larkin’s Hall of Fame Biography Barry Larkin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81abd8cf-0ce9-4007-b712-4fd9d4d105fb/125+-+Dixon.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Greatest Teams Ever When we talk about the greatest teams in baseball history, we talk about the 1927 Yankees, the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates, the 1907 Chicago Cubs, or the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics. But there have been some unbelievably dominant Negro League teams who are on par with those great white Major League teams, who the average fan has usually not heard of: 1925 Kansas City Monarchs 1931 Homestead Grays 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords 1942 Kansas City Monarchs Three of those four teams have something in common: their catcher was Josh Gibson. Buy Phil Dixon’s book on the 1931 Grays HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54db0967-470f-4479-b850-3d036dfd02c8/126+-+1931+Grays.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out The 1931 Homestead Grays finished the season with a record of 143-29-2, according to Phil Dixon's research. They were outdrawing the Washington Senators in their own ballpark, which is why Clark Griffith, the owner of the Senators, was contemplating the idea of signing Josh Gibson to break the color barrier long before Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson. Standing (L to R): Cumberland Posey, owner; Bill Evans, SS-OF; Jasper Washington, 1B-3B; Ambrose Reid, OF-INF; Smokey Joe Williams, P; Josh Gibson, C; George Scales, 2B; Oscar Charleston, 1B; Charlie Williams, office. Kneeling (L to R): George Britt, P-C-OF-INF; Lefty Williams, P; Jud Wilson, 3B; Vic Harris, OF; Ted Radcliffe, P-C; Tex Burnett, C; Ted Page, OF. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70587f75-79c4-450a-b782-923ad8903595/127+-+Martin+Dihigo.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Batter - Martín Dihigo Martín Dihigo was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1977. Martín Dihigo’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d28b13a-0444-4a22-ae86-b876d1d20a6d/128+-+Martin+Dihigo.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Martín’s Statue Martín Dihigo was the best pitcher, he was the best base runner, he could play any position in the infield, and he had the best arm from the outfield. Some say his arm was better than Roberto Clemente's. According to Bob, when the White Sox paid a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 2006, pitcher and Cuban native José Contreras was in awe upon seeing the statue of Dihigo in the Field of Legends. Martín Dihigo’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0dfe01e-7b23-4504-87f1-bb4c401c1f97/130+-+OTD+09-16-1937.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Multiple Halls of Fame Martín Dihigo was the first Cuban-born inductee in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is pictured here in Venezuela in 1932. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a12dc6d4-9ae6-40b8-bda6-a08f6e76a174/129+-+Minnie+Minoso.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Minnie Miñoso Martín Dihigo was a legend as a pitcher. A legend at the plate. The Babe Ruth of Cuba, and the idol of players like Minnie Miñoso who grew up in Cuba. Miñoso described him as "very elegant." Minnie Miñoso was able to live out his dream of coming to America and playing in the major leagues, but Dihigo never got that chance. Minnie Miñoso’s Hall of Fame Biography Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f20e3221-ff5b-42d6-a9a6-b615e90d3cb8/131+-+Dihigo.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Martín Dihigo On September 5, 1938, Satchel Paige and Martín Dihigo were both on the mound with the Mexican League pennant on the line. The game went into the 9th inning, tied at 1-1. Dihigo ended the game as a batter, hitting a walk off home run. On a separate occasion, Dihigo once hit a 2-run home run off of Paige, and everyone in the stadium thought "oh wow, maybe Satchel Paige is hittable... but only if it's Martin Dihigo at the plate." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/612280e1-8d4c-4cb5-8c07-a2054b8f9e01/132+-+Dihigo.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - “El Maestro” Dihigo’s best season came in 1938, when he went 19-2 and posted a 0.90 ERA for Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. He also won a batting title that season with his .387 average. Monte Irvin called him "a beautiful ball player." Judy Johnson saw him play, and said "this guy could do it all." Roy Campanella said, “Dihigo was one of the greatest I ever saw. He was a tremendous hitter, had great power, could hit for an average, everything. I played against him in the Cuban winter league, in Mexico and in the Negro National League when he was with the New York Cubans." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2444da7f-f747-47b4-9608-ae5d75b01697/133+-+Bob+Motley+NLBM.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Umpire - Bob Motley Bob Motley was the last surviving Negro League umpire, passing away in September of 2017. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff684e63-6c2e-472a-a975-e8af9bc06f29/134+-+Bob+Motley.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bob’s Statue Motley worked as an umpire in the Negro Leagues from 1947 to 1958, but he also umpired in the Pacific Coast League, becoming the PCL's second Black umpire, following Emmett Ashford. Bob Motley’s SABR Biography Emmett Ashford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14c27cf4-5eee-41c9-9a47-997dd30e775a/134.5+-+OTD+04-11-1966.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ed8939d-4d01-4f41-a86a-e30c10d50437/135+-+Bob+Motley+jump.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Memorable For Many Reasons In addition to being a fantastic umpire, Bob Motley was well-known for his emphatic and often acrobatic calls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e621a75-6e0e-4d22-93d0-74c39f6997fb/136+-+Buck+O%27Neil.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil In his more than seven decades in baseball, Buck O’Neil was thrown out of just one game. The umpire who tossed him? Bob Motley. The two are seen here, separated by Ken Burns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b90ff8d-872f-4215-9cf7-a7b1980fe4a4/137+-+Bob+Motley+brother+Don+with+Buck.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Don Motley Bob Motley sometimes had a bit of a temper, and was even known to throw his brother, Don, out of NLBM board meetings, as the two were early supporters of the museum. Here is Bob’s brother, Don, with Buck O’Neil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdcad58b-d264-42ee-bab7-1f1cd97252a6/138+-+Bob+Motley+slide.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Roll With The Punches Motley was awarded a Purple Heart after being shot in the foot in Okinawa during World War II. So when Hank Baylis of the Kansas City Monarchs tried to attack Bob Motley with a machete on the bus one day after a game, it was no big thing. He’d been there, done that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/924e3c3e-3098-4264-b554-2db4a7750c28/199+-+Willard+%E2%80%9CHome+Run%E2%80%9D+Brown.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Willard “Home Run” Brown Over the years, Bob Motley umpired Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, and Henry Aaron. But, according to Bob, the best player he ever umpired was Willard “Home Run” Brown. The moniker was bestowed upon him, like many Negro Leagues nicknames were, by Josh Gibson. Willard Brown’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e95e30a-09fd-4ae2-b3f3-74dd248a1aa3/140+-+Brown.jpeg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - “Ese Hombre” While playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, Willard Brown became known as “Ese Hombre”, or “That Man” for his exceptional offense. In just 60 games played during the 1947-48 Puerto Rican Winter League, Brown set the home run record of 27, a record which still stands today. That winter, while playing for Santurce, Brown hit an astounding .432 and drove in 86 runs in just 234 at-bats, winning the Triple Crown. He won the Puerto Rican Winter League Triple Crown again during the 1949–1950 season, and also hit for the cycle once in his career. Willard Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03497404-dca9-4e7c-aefd-fb0801e3a42d/141+-+Brown+and+Thompson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Black Teammates Brown returned from his military service in 1946 and a year later, just a few months after Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, the St. Louis Browns signed him and Monarchs teammate Hank Thompson. The two would become the first pair of Black teammates in AL/NL history. The Associated Press reported that, of all the Black players signed in 1947, “Brown was considered to be the prize package of the lot, with only his age against him.” On August 13, 1947, Brown blasted the first home run ever hit by a Black player in the history of the American League. Hank Thompson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a93db40c-c921-4ad7-82b1-a1f80a401be4/142+-+Oise.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Oise All-Stars Willard Brown stormed the beaches at Normandy, and was later teammates with Leon Day on the Oise All-Stars in France in 1945. Oise beat General Patton’s 4th Army Red Circlers team for the European Theater Championship. Brown is front row, second from right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/098ce492-447f-468a-8d03-38cf0eaad88b/143+-+I+Was+Right+On+Time.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - I Was Right On Time In I Was Right on Time, Buck O’Neil charmingly recalls his days as a ballplayer and as a Black American in a racially divided country. From his barnstorming days with the likes of Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, or to the day in 1962 when he became the first Black American coach in the major leagues, I Was Right On Time takes us on a trip not only through baseball’s past, but through America’s as well. Buy I Was Right On Time HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46ff9cee-20b6-4814-bc93-ddbcfb3c31da/144+-+Buck+O%27Neil.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Manager - Buck O’Neil Buck O’Neil was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2022. Buck O’Neil’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47a8bee4-5603-4957-b867-b369ccbce350/145+-+Buck+O%27Neil.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s Statue John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil was a good player, and a great scout and coach after his playing career was over, but by far, the greatest impact he made was as an ambassador to the game. Buck O’Neil’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53fae747-febe-47a1-93cd-de8ac085ba71/146+-+Ken+Burns+with+Buck+Photo+by+Debbie+Sauer.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Ken Burns Ken Burns launched Buck into another stratosphere when he included Buck in his 1994 Baseball documentary. But that was just the beginning of a new chapter of life for Buck, as he took that popularity and parlayed it into incredible publicity and momentum for the Negro Leagues, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum doing late night talk show appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, and at all sorts of public appearances and things like that. Photo by Debbie Sauer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14897bb2-d278-43a3-87f4-c584c90d3b0b/147+-+Ken+Burns.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - America Fell In Love America fell in love with Buck when they saw him in Ken Burns’ Baseball documentary. He was this charming, gentle man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbe9221f-d920-49c0-8eee-66564f19ac56/148+-+Blue+Suit.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Hanging From The Hem Of His Garment Where Buck left off, that’s where Bob has picked up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b30895a0-6997-4f21-8700-7ee039a842e5/149+-+Buck+Green+Suit.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Perfect Spokesman Buck became the Pied Piper of the Negro Leagues, but telling stories about his teammates, opponents, friends, and memories was something he had already been doing for 40 years. People were just finally starting to listen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/056b71cf-cc8a-4708-80aa-c7242193cd36/199+-+With+Buck%27s+statue.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Taken The Baton It may feel like Buck is always looking over Bob’s shoulder, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, knowing Buck always had the best interest of the Negro Leagues, and of the museum, in mind. It is now Bob’s responsibility to create a new generation of fans to learn about and fall in love with the Negro Leagues through these stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/262a6549-bda8-44f7-8bb1-aec11896848e/151+-+A+New+House.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A New House For Buck Bob calls the current museum “The House That Buck Built,” but says he looks forward to building Buck a new house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/caca3b08-46ef-49eb-92a3-98c1068b5bd5/152+-+Buck.JPG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil Buck passed away on October 6, 2006, just a few months after learning he was not going to be inducted as a part of the 2006 Hall of Fame class. Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2006 proceeded in keeping with rules enacted in 2001, augmented by a special election; the result was the largest class of inductees (18) in the Hall's history, including the first woman elected, Effa Manley. On July 26, 2005, the Hall announced that its board of directors had approved a special election to be held in 2006, by the Committee on African-American Baseball, of Negro leagues and pre-Negro leagues candidates. The Committee selected 17 players and executives for induction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a2907bb-5cc9-4f09-8054-d6fecb590e94/IMG_1319.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Honoring Buck The Hall of Fame did many things in the 15 years between his passing and his eventual enshrinement to honor Buck, including the creation of the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1eb418ef-2b53-4f15-86d0-d390e9d081b8/154+-+Bob+with+Buck+HOF+statue.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Life-Size Statue A permanent, life-size bronze statue of O'Neil was dedicated in the museum that same year, accompanied by a list of award recipients and a plaque to educate museum visitors about Buck’s contributions to the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e0d2dfb-fb04-442e-a3ee-50be4bbcff61/155+-+HOF.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Elite Company While having a statue inside the Hall of Fame puts Buck in some elite company, joining Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Henry Aaron, the Hall kind of has an unfortunate history of inducting people after their death so they aren’t around to get their flowers, despite years of people arguing on their behalf. Not just Buck O'Neil, but Minnie Miñoso, Ron Santo, Dick Allen, and now the most recent example of Dave Parker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7dd80dc0-9339-4844-a66b-5125f6270dad/156+-+Joe+Posnanski.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Joe Posnanski Finding out Buck didn’t make it into the Hall of Fame in 2006 was more gut-wrenching for Bob and their mutual friend, Joe Posnanski, than it seemed to be for Buck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71476d68-1cb1-47ad-8cf7-8b9148313609/157+-+You+Can%27t+Cry.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Sometimes There Is Crying In Baseball Bob says that addressing the crowd of 300 people who were gathered on the Field of Legends at the NLBM anticipating a celebration, but having to tell them all that Buck O’Neil had actually not been inducted into the Hall of Fame, was the hardest speech he’s ever had to give in his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe138b54-7101-49c0-84da-782b37f70cd0/158+-+Buck+ONeil+2006+announcement.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Concession Speech While everybody else in the room was crying, Buck gave some perspective in the moment. He told the 300 people gathered there to celebrate his life and career not to be angry or bitter. Buck was glad he had an opportunity, and that’s all he could ever ask for. “If I’m a Hall of Famer in your eyes, that’s all that matters to me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/567c4bbf-71f4-4136-a00c-7ddb43a9a0e4/159+-+Ken+Burns+with+2nd+row+left+to+right+Ulysses+Hollimon%2C+Connie+Johnson%2C+Woody+Smallwood%2C+Hank+Mason%2C+Jess+Rogers%2C+Buck+O%E2%80%99Neil+%26+Jim+LaMarque.+Kneeling+Left+to+Right+Bob+Motley%2C+Doc+Horn%2C+Burns+%26+Slick+Surratt..jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - He Became Their Voice Buck became the voice that Negro Leaguers - either living or passed - didn’t have. Here, standing (L to R) is: Ulysses Hollimon, Connie Johnson, Woody Smallwood, Hank Mason, Jess Rogers, Buck O’Neil, and Jim LaMarque. Kneeling (L to R): Bob Motley, Doc Horn, Ken Burns, and Alfred “Slick” Surratt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/575cedc4-c2aa-4b5e-8dba-bcde7e231cec/160+-+Joe+Pos+with+Bob+and+Buck+at+HOF.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Skeptical Start Joe and Bob weren’t really sure how to feel when they went to Cooperstown for Buck’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, knowing the opportunity for Buck to have been there, himself, had been missed. Soon, though, the two realized Buck was there in spirit, and everybody just wanted to share their stories and memories with the two people they knew were Buck’s closest friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abc2b84d-2a04-4fe5-be0c-1ab485d0c3e5/161+-+Buck+Oneil+plaque+gallery.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Before… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47a0746e-15c8-43bc-acb2-884c1b52cff0/162+-+Buck+Oneil+plaque+installation.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out During… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f8d4311-e001-4b0a-b0d6-79ad4e6f11e6/162+-+Bob+with+Buck+HOF+plaque.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - … And After Looks much better this way, doesn’t it? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5c69cc5-1454-49c3-b070-9de41fdebaa3/164+-+Buck+ONeil+HOF+plaque.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s Hall of Fame Speech After Buck was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame and Bob was able to look back what he thought was Buck’s “concession speech” in 2006 from a different perspective, he realized that wasn’t a concession speech at all. That was Buck’s Hall of Fame speech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c82fd930-02e1-4519-b99f-6bbab5053c1e/165+-+Buck+ONeil+grace.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Always Teaching Re-framing Buck’s “concession speech” in that positive way allowed Bob to let go of the anger he had been holding onto for 16 years, and taught him a valuable lesson. One which Buck had been trying to teach all along. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d0b508e-462d-485f-bcb8-241f566fb47f/166+-+Soul+of+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Soul of Baseball There were people writing about the hurt, the pain, and the bittersweet nature of the Negro Leagues, but Buck O’Neil told sports columnist Joe Posnanski that someone should be writing about the joy of the Negro Leagues, and how much fun they had. When Buck asked Joe how he fell in love with baseball, that simple question eventually led the pair on a cross-country quest to recapture the love that first drew them to the game. At its heart is the story of 94-year-old Buck O’Neil — a man who truly played for the love of the game. Posnanski’s book The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America – An Emotional Quest with the Beloved Negro League Champion and the First African-American Coach is an endearing step back in time to the days when the crack of a bat and the smokey notes of a midnight jam session were the sounds that brought the most joy to a man’s heart. Buy The Soul of Baseball HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/903321a5-d5af-45f3-bada-ec810c0334c4/167+-+Buck+ONeil+portrait.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Remarkable Lack of Bitterness Joe Posnanski describes Buck as having a "remarkable lack of bitterness." Buck once said, "In Havana (Cuba), I was a baseball player. When I got back here [to America], I was a Black baseball player." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a9b4289-4cca-471e-bf1e-ad4dd63b0312/168+-+Jose+Mendez.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - José Méndez Cubans with darker skin were not allowed to play in the white major leagues. So many of them called the Negro Leagues home, like José Méndez, who was a bona fide star in Cuba, and came over to become player/manager for the Kansas City Monarchs. Méndez was one of the players inducted into the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2006, while Buck was left on the outside, looking in. José Méndez’ Hall of Fame Biography José Méndez’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a621154b-b65f-4b52-8986-f52a83087ac0/169+-+Cuba.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Multiple Teams, Multiple Countries When you think of Babe Ruth, you think of the New York Yankees. When you think of Ty Cobb, you think of the Detroit Tigers. When you think of Ted Williams, you think of the Boston Red Sox. But even the great Negro League players, or, maybe I should say, ESPECIALLY the great Negro League players, don't have that longevity with one team because they would be offered bigger pay days from another team, possibly in another country. Here, Josh Gibson is photographed as a member of the Maracaibo Centauros of Venezuela in 1940. Gibson not only batted .480 while playing with the Centauros, but he’s said to have belted a home run that was estimated to have travelled 600 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9885e9b2-3300-4491-8870-1692ba7e6a3c/112+-+Mark+Armour.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Mark Armour Since late 2023, Mark Armour has been on a quest to log every single pitching appearance in Paige’s extraordinary life and baseball career. As of this writing, Mark has logged 1,909 games. Read more of the details on Mark’s website HERE. Check out Mark’s interactive map HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0365270-4e2f-4a67-a7a6-89daa90ca3de/171+-+Satchel.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Always On The Move From 1926 through 1977, from age 19 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to old timers games in his late 60s, Satchel Paige pitched everywhere and forever. He played for well over one hundred different teams in the more than 1,900 games that Mark has documented at this point. And yes, maybe that helped more people learn about him because he was playing all over and in every town in the country, but that also meant that there wasn't a singular fan base who connected with him and could call him their own in the way that Yankees fans could with Lou Gehrig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9920415-bb25-4a5f-9f2e-a030f9ac09fc/172+-+Larger+Than+Life.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Larger Than Life I’ve always wondered if one of the reasons some of these players and stories weren't accepted or are dismissed by naysayers is because they just sound so fantastical that people assumed they weren't true. Everyone thought Babe Ruth was the greatest hitter who ever lived, and he finished with 714 home runs. But Josh Gibson is supposed to have hit well over 800, with some estimates putting the number closer to 1,000 when you include exhibition games and semi-pro competitions? Cool Papa Bell got into bed before the light went out. Satchel Paige calling his fielders in after intentionally walking the bases full, and then striking out the other team’s best hitter on three pitches to get out of the jam he purposely created for himself. Those things all happened, but when you hear about them for the first time, they sound unbelievable. As in, not believable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6ddf0a1-8d2d-4d89-8313-e348efe56571/173+-+Geddy+Lee+and+Bob+podium.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Geddy Lee On June 6th, 2008, Geddy Lee of the rock band Rush donated 400 autographed baseballs to the museum which had been signed by African-American stars of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ad2eae9-9e64-46d6-a495-d464252d66b6/174+-+Geddy+Lee.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f187ac4a-71af-40cc-af55-9c1c9e09b79d/IMG_6151.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Geddy Lee Collection Bob said “I can’t say that I was a big Rush fan before… but I’m a Rush fan now!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6f806fa-7d13-4140-8476-b83ed5634245/Geddy+Lee.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Geddy Lee with the Martín Dihigo and Josh Gibson statues on the Field of Legends at the NLBM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec0d0671-f494-4d5e-a794-e314759e46f7/175+-+72+Stories.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - 72 Stories: From the Baseball Collection of Geddy Lee One of the greatest bass players of all time, Geddy Lee is also a self-proclaimed baseball geek who assembled a noted collection of baseballs signed by some of the game’s greatest players — selections from which he recently auctioned at Christie’s. In 72 Stories: From the Baseball Collection of Geddy Lee, Geddy shares his love of the game and the stories behind some of his favorite baseballs and other items from his vast collection. Buy 72 Stories HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/466ed764-86b3-419e-86d2-71bcc8f31f16/178+-+artifacts.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make A Donation To The NLBM The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Making a tax-deductible donation supports the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum exhibitions, annual events and educational programming. If you have an artifact you would like to donate, or if you would like to make a monetary contribution, you can do that by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7503364b-5501-4b96-94b1-8a8d0376e18f/179+-+Bob+giving+a+tour+2.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Everyone Is A Distinguished Guest No matter how busy Bob’s schedule gets, he always makes time to come back to the museum so he can personally give tours and share his joy and knowledge with visitors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8140eea7-7247-4c28-84c6-d34876ac9621/180+-+Buck+ONeil+George+Bush.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - If Buck Could Do It… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6be7ad7-4457-486d-a887-4eded0324a72/181+-+Henry+Aaron+1999.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - … Bob Can Do It, Too! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bab4991-031d-4597-b617-c78e93b0a0bd/182+-+Ernie+Banks.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Ernie Banks “Mr. Cub” with the Satchel Paige statue on the Field of Legends during one of Ernie Banks’ visits to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdb8ccd2-6ebd-43af-86f7-c257145bc773/183+-+Price+of+Admission.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Plan Your Visit To The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum 1616 East 18th Street Kansas City, MO 64108 Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm (816) 221 - 1920 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54cd86aa-e017-4703-ac67-7689992fa603/Bob+with+an+award.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Follow The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Online Website Facebook Twitter Instagram TikTok YouTube Shop email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1986d6d4-7820-4084-833c-152e50d14c7e/185+-+With+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Follow Bob Kendrick Online Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07436524-1731-4210-8ef1-c1f1ee3a172a/186+-+NLBM+uniforms.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out I took this photo at the NLBM during one of my first visits there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7414a4b7-8f71-49d0-9639-fdd543cb5e38/187+-+Civil+Rights+Museum.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Not Just A Baseball Museum But a Civil Rights museum, told through the lens of baseball. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a place you should absolutely carve time out of your schedule to visit, if you are physically and financially able. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fb5307a-4757-43d5-9d30-08af38447ea5/188+-+Graig%27s+exhibit.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Graig Kreindler’s Art Unfortunately, Graig’s exhibit “Black Baseball In Living Color” is no longer on display, but, to give you an idea of what it looked like when it was up, here is the section of Jackie Robinson portraits Graig painted for the show. The combination of Graig’s work and the supplemental photo boards with quotes and captions and stories made it one of the most breathtaking and informative art exhibits I’ve ever seen in a museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b294268-5e31-4c52-a532-a72683bbb804/189+-+Field+of+Legends.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out The Field of Legends at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79b2f218-1179-41ec-8058-02ea92c212b1/190+-+Paseo+YMCA.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Paseo YMCA The literal birthplace of the Negro Leagues, and the future home of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f02ca775-c53a-4d21-a324-315977b32560/191+-+Sneak+Peak.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Sneak Peak This is your view as you walk through the turnstiles of the museum. You can briefly view the statues on the Field of Legends through the chicken wire fence, but the only one you get a good, up-close look at is Buck O’Neil’s. Then, you walk through the rest of the museum until the grand reveal at the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41dc7d40-9ee6-4b02-bb7a-e02f46a45df3/192+-+Timeline.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Timeline The layout of the museum really puts into perspective just how discriminated against Black players, and Black people in general, have been in America through the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/339b227e-06cc-4ead-ac62-26b755eef96a/193+-+Field+of+Legends.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Being at the museum at a time when no one else was walking amongst the statues in the Field of Legends made for an unforgettable experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ee85514-145b-4469-8798-18583e4631c0/194+-+Josh+Gibson.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Josh Gibson Standing in the outfield and looking in to home plate to see Josh Gibson is surreal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8c2b89d-5827-47cd-8688-b61d0c0ec341/195+-+Satchel+Paige.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Satchel Paige Standing at the rubber, or even slightly behind the mound, to see Satchel Paige’s perspective and be next to his statue gives you goosebumps… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b372a02-6b87-45d0-b650-7803ada2dc9e/196+-+Satchel+Paige+Ernie+Banks.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick … especially when you consider how many other incredible people have stood in that exact same spot. Also, I promise you, this is a different picture of Ernie Banks from an entirely different visit with Satchel’s statue. He’s wearing different hats in the two photos, and he is definitely younger in this one. But that just goes to show you how powerful these statues are. Even Ernie Banks always made it a point to go see and go touch Satchel when he would visit the NLBM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a77d156e-273a-46cc-b26e-4765d36d7649/197+-+Buck.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil The placement of this statue is, thankfully, less poignant today than it was before 2022, with Buck on the outside, looking in. But the symbolism is still incredibly strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e499583-e5ff-41ac-8986-d3fc95735811/198+-+Rube.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Rube Foster Standing next to a life-size statue of somebody is impactful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab7ca61c-507b-44d6-a222-ebc16cfd4e80/199+-+Graig%27s+paintings.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Graig ended up painting a total of 239 portraits for this exhibit, an exercise which took him three years. To see them all in one place is something I will never forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01fa3884-04c1-4d05-a0a2-54e2a758d7a5/200+-+Phil+S+DIxon+and+I.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Phil S. Dixon Phil S. Dixon is an author, public speaker, researcher and historian, focusing on the Negro Leagues for the past 40 years. He was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/734fe26d-3a9a-46ea-9a45-e9126557ea26/201+-+Larry+Lester+and+I.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Larry Lester Larry Lester is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Negro Leagues, and is one of the five original founders of the NLBM. He is a published author, public speaker, researcher, and historian. He was our guest, along with fellow Negro Leagues researcher Stephanie Liscio, for Episode 1 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c30274c-bc39-4fda-9291-57aa76c4ba9f/202+-+Sam+Allen.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Sam Allen Sam Allen is a former Negro League player who spent time as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, the Raleigh Tigers, and the Memphis Red Sox. He led the Negro American League in runs scored in 1957, helping the Monarchs win the championship. Sam was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c0ec5a5-452a-4236-905c-00df46edfe3e/203+-+Bob+giving+a+tour.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - In His Element Letting Bob Kendrick be in his element and just sit back and tell stories of these men whose stories he knows so well has been on my list of “Must Record” episodes since I started this podcast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53a1bd28-3912-4bf0-ae08-9502f45b39c1/204+-+Negro+League+Hall+of+Famers.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out While some of the names you heard in this episode are surely ones you’ve heard before, there are almost certainly a number of names of Black baseball and Negro League representatives who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame whose names are less familiar. The 44 people shown above all have direct ties to the Negro Leagues and/or Black baseball, and they are all inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bffefc6d-978b-4d55-9672-dff0836a31e4/205+-+Bob+with+Luis+Tiant.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Firsthand Knowledge Bob has been lucky enough over these past 3+ decades to have met and heard stories directly from a significant number of prominent figures, as they relate to the Negro Leagues. Those firsthand experiences only serve to enhance his stories. Luis Tiant’s SABR Biography Luis E. Tiant’s SABR Biography (Luis’ dad) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c869f50d-46cc-4ed6-a0be-50fb9dff4d08/206+-+Buck+Oneil+HOF+plaque+at+NLBM.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Heartbreaking There is absolutely no reason Buck O’Neil shouldn’t have been in this photo, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82b706f0-5d1e-40f8-b62f-772d6722f928/207+-+Bob+with+Buck+HOF+plaque+in+NLBM.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Better Late Than Never? When fans and historians look back 50 years from now, Buck’s name will be included among the other Hall of Famers as if it has been there all along. Those of us who were alive to watch how things played out in real time, however, will know that it could have all been handled so much better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/706f18f2-fbac-4d50-b232-f177d4f76c84/208+-+Bob+giving+tours.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Always Enthusiastic Bob’s ability to always have the same high level of enthusiasm while telling stories he has told literally over a thousand times is truly a skill very few have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8fef15e-b4d4-4396-abc6-750142418fc0/209+-+SJJM.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Trust Me I’m speaking from experience, having run a baseball museum and personally given hundreds of tours to people of all ages, all knowledge levels, and all levels of caring. Some tours are not as easy as others. What Bob Kendrick has is special. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da4e5192-4c8e-4246-ab64-d99840709900/210+-+Darowski.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Outsider Baseball Notebook Adam Darowski of Baseball-Reference.com has a couple really great podcasts, but The Outsider Baseball Notebook was particularly interesting to me, and I think it will be to you, too. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f289a3a-d27f-46f6-896d-d5dcdb9aa973/211+-+Field+of+Dreams.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Field of Dreams "If you build it, he will come." With these words, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife Annie (Amy Madigan), Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true. Along the way he meets reclusive activist Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), the mysterious "Doc" Graham (Burt Lancaster) and even the legendary "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (Ray Liotta). A heartwarming experience that has moved critics and audiences like no other film of this generation, Field of Dreams is a glowing tribute to all who dare to dream. Buy the DVD HERE. Buy the Blu-ray HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1166158b-ceac-43f5-a744-726d6aa2cce8/212+-+Sandlot.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Sandlot When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. Together, they go on a series of funny and touching adventures. The boys run into trouble when Smalls borrows a ball from his stepdad that gets hit over a fence, only later realizing the significance of that ball having been signed by Babe Ruth. Buy the DVD HERE. Buy the Blu-ray HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42b3a914-eca7-414f-992a-e9cc729ffe12/213+-+Bingo+Long.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings In the world of 1930s Negro League baseball, a spirited team of renegade players travels around the Midwest looking for that one big score. Richard Pryor, Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones star as three barnstorming ballplayers who take on prejudice and their own League's unfair rules while stealing cars, food and home base — anything to prove that they're the best team around. It's a showdown of brains over booby traps and sportsmanship over racial segregation as Bingo Long's All-Stars swing their way to a winning season. The 1976 movie is loosely based on the story of the Indianapolis Clowns. Buy the book HERE. Buy the DVD HERE. Buy the Blu-ray HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c77d3e7d-5d8a-417f-9330-cb2dbda0ebed/214+-+Jay+Valentine.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Jay Valentine Jay Valentine patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. Jay was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/659fca96-ccf5-4d26-8583-b1d90edd8bef/215+-+Gary+C.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Gary Cieradkowski Gary Cieradkowski is a renowned baseball historian, researcher, author, and artist. Gary was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec5b485d-eac1-487f-b920-3c3e3006b56f/216+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Already A Star Jackie Robinson was already a well-known college football star before breaking the color barrier of Major League Baseball. While that may seem insignificant today, at the time, college football was one of the biggest sports in the country, and a much bigger deal than the NFL even was. For Jackie to have been on front pages of newspapers across the country for his athletic prowess was no small feat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a07f363-efda-4654-b119-d46648d117af/217+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Cool Papa Bell Bell’s Hall of Fame plaque notes that he played 29 summers and 21 winters of professional baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e008e3e-e35c-4aa5-8845-2b24abe5c8ea/218+-+OTD+11-15-1908.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Not Just The Summers Negro Leaguers often played ball in America in the summers, but then went to Latin American countries in the winters to continue playing year-round. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4df9bb8-9113-4819-bc49-fa0d67f6920b/219+-+Lou+Brock.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Cool Papa Bell & Lou Brock How special must it have been for Lou Brock to have gotten that call from Cool Papa Bell when he got to St. Louis? As Bob said during the interview, Brock said “I knew him, I just didn’t think he knew me!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdacd2cd-80cc-4602-88c5-28df83e2da70/220+-+Crawfords+Outfielders.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Pittsburgh Crawfords outfielders, and the years they spent with the team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/313e1326-68c9-4c03-aafe-bb57fdd39e23/221+-+Oscar.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Oscar Charleston How would you like the three people you’re compared to on the baseball field be Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, and Babe Ruth? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/440527a4-a530-457d-9994-85b1f211b57d/222+-+Leon+Day.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Leon Day Besides catcher, Day could play any position on the field, and play it well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33fbd7c6-8713-42a4-80b9-d8dd73ddcb65/223+-+Satchel.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Satchel Paige If you want to be the best for FIFTY YEARS, you have to treat it like a job and take it seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea19d322-813b-40da-a626-e22ffc89cc9b/224+-+Satchel.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - “Age Is A Question Of Mind Over Matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” - Satchel Paige https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9750513c-71ba-4cc5-92b4-08ef21372192/225+-+Satchel+and+David+Barnhill+of+the+New+York+Cuban+Stars+shake+hands+before+1942+Yankee+Stadium+game.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Towering Presence Satchel Paige and Dave Barnhill of the New York Cuban Stars shake hands before a 1942 game at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb5e8884-3ec2-4637-b023-4fbc5ef24caf/226+-+Willie+Mays+and+MLK.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Baseball History Is American History The two have been intertwined for nearly 200 years now. You can track everything from the progress of the Civil Rights movement, to the economy, to how people feel about societal issues or the government, all by paying attention to baseball. Here, Willie Mays shakes hands with Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Stars for Freedom benefit concert on December 6, 1963 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The fundraiser gala was conceived by Sammy Davis Jr. to benefit SCLS, CORE and the NAACP. Councilman Gilbert Lindsay (third from left) and Mrs. Ethel Bradley (first right) look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/857df8cc-7672-4286-b590-e4bf37a50887/227+-+Mom.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Time With Buck The amount of time we were lucky enough to spend inside the museum still didn’t quite seem like enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58c2dee0-ffef-4919-8199-c9f0c6a8e482/236+-+Buck+Oneil+locker+room.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dd3ce88-2e70-4e49-9280-151ce11e644f/228+-+Lockers.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Lockers Connecting the exhibits portion of the NLBMto the Field of Legends portion is a beautifully laid out locker room area, with high quality replicas of the many uniforms worn by Negro Leaguers who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e723e33-9219-4b98-bd3c-631a8d2033aa/229+-+Artifacts.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Top Of The Lockers Each locker has the matching hat in the top shelf area, as well as any relevant artifacts relating to the player being honored. In this instance, a baseball with Satchel Paige’s autograph on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d737e4aa-4df8-4c8f-a3a9-6730b215f393/230+-+Geddy+Lee.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Geddy Lee Collection You can see the case peeking out behind my mom, who is transfixed by the Buck O’Neil case just before the Field of Legends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d723999b-d9aa-4287-85fc-ebdfede88cd3/231+-+Buck+with+his+statue.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck O’Neil It’s a shame neither of us ever got to meet him in person, but it was very special for both my mom and me to be inside the NLBM, knowing we were spending time in a place where Buck also spent so much time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3f6ec35-a985-47f7-953f-85c4bc91baee/232+-+Paseo.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62caa2fc-851e-4e3f-b7aa-953fcc18f95a/233+-+Buck.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick The writing underneath Buck’s 5-story mural reads: John “Buck” O’Neil Center This building was originally constructed as the Paseo YMCA which opened in 1914 to provide Kansas Citians of color a place that would specifically allow them a public or private multi-purpose facility serving as a meeting place for community oriented social gatherings, a transit living quarters, a recreational center promoting activities enhancing youth athleticism and religious ceremonies. In 1920, the YMCA was host to a significant event in American history. The Negro National Baseball League was created in this building. Now this edifice is renamed the John “Buck” O’Neil Center. “Buck,” as he was affectionately called, was a significant figure in Negro League baseball. He played with numerous teams across the country and was a player and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs. “Buck” lived his life as an open book to inspire and motivate. In 1962, “Buck” O’Neil signed with the Chicago Cubs as the first person of color to coach in Major League Baseball. He co-founded as well as promoted the Negro Baseball Museum in Kansas City. It’s often said, History offers us a way to travel into the past but our future allows us to dream of things to come with all of its possibilities. Therefore, let’s take this journey together so the dreams of our past can be the reality of our future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/839fcd79-a1df-4f0a-92ff-82797b95a862/235+-+Marjorie+Adams.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Marjorie Adams Marjorie Adams’ great-grandfather, Doc Adams, wrote The Laws of Base Ball in 1857 which set many of the primary rules of the sport which are still followed to this day. He also invented the position of Shortstop during his playing career. Marjorie was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54584a4f-055e-4145-9bc7-123fe8d2b315/237+-+Buck+ONeil+Royals.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Royalty In His Own Right While he may not have been inducted into the Hall of Fame while he was still alive, Buck O’Neil was very much aware of how loved he was before he passed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c49abc8-1c3c-455e-bb55-be2092a6746b/238+-+Buck+ONeil+HOF+plaque+Mookie+Betts.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Still Loved To This Day Buck is still so loved that it is special for people to even stand next to his Hall of Fame plaque, like Mookie Betts, who is well on his way to having a plaque of his own one day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40b23074-cd47-40e0-9d5b-3cf33a4b3f92/239+-+Buck+Oneil+scouting+reports.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - A Baseball Lifer As Joe Posnanski writes: “In the 1990s — I’m going to guess 1993 or 1994 — the Hall of Fame came to Buck and asked him to do scouting reports on Negro leaguers he thought belonged in the Hall of Fame. And he did 11 of them. All 11 are now in the Hall of Fame — well, 12 if you count the author, Buck himself.” You can read Joe’s entire article on them HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3f8f12c-346d-4f24-8f1a-221754a9c009/234+-+Buck.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Buck’s HOF Plaque One of the very first plaques my mom had on her list of ones she wanted to be sure to see when we visited the Hall of Fame was Buck O’Neil’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2815294b-67aa-4c1e-ab29-98033932c979/240+-+Christy.JPEG Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Christy Mathewson If my mom could recreate with any baseball player the same year-long road trip Joe Posnanski took with Buck O’Neil which resulted in a book, she would choose to have Christy Mathewson with her, and Charles Conlon in the back seat to photograph the whole thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01a1da80-5b46-49bc-a162-9651993cca43/241+-+OTD+07-04-1932.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - On This Date Posts You’ve seen a handful of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85d52f45-6451-4465-ab53-5fd8dfb72ec8/242+-+email.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e668c98-5014-4556-ae15-86914ab7414e/243+-+giveaway.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of John B. Holway’s incredible book, Black Diamonds: Life In The Negro Leagues From The Men Who Lived It, which is an oral history featuring interviews with a dozen former Negro Leaguers, including, among others, Chet Brewer, Willard “Home Run” Brown, and John “Buck” O’Neil? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. Don’t want to risk not winning the contest? You can buy your own copy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd6234ef-cacd-4d26-82e8-55659cb65cc3/244+-+Holway.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - John B. Holway As Peter Warren writes: John Holway was a pioneer in researching baseball in the Negro Leagues and Japan, which earned him acclaim as a recipient of two of the Society for American Baseball Research’s most prestigious awards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7278febf-a9e1-411b-a320-3b969796f40e/245+-+Chadwick.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Henry Chadwick Award In 2011, he won SABR’s Henry Chadwick Award, which was established in November 2009 to honor baseball’s great researchers for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America’s present with its past. Since 2010 when the award was given out for the first time, there have been a total of 68 historians, statisticians, analysts, and archivists to have received it, from early 20th century names like J.G. Taylor Spink and F.C. Lane, to more contemporary names like Mark Armour and Gary Ashwill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/015c100c-6209-4d4b-a672-52691f38a8b5/246+-+Bob+Davids.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Bob Davids Award In 1990, John Holway also won the Bob Davids Award, which honors SABR members whose contributions to SABR and baseball reflect the ingenuity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the founder and past president of the Society for American Baseball Research, L. Robert “Bob” Davids. The Bob Davids Award is considered SABR’s highest honor and is awarded each year at the annual convention. It was established by the Board of Directors in 1985, which means there have now been 41 recipients. People like Bill Nowlin (seen here, with the award), Leslie Heaphy, and the official historian of Major League Baseball, John Thorn, to friends of the show Stew Thornley and Larry Lester, who won in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Stew was our guest for Episode 9 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e60493c3-4f10-4072-9f90-c5121fd6da31/247+-+Holway.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Eight Decades Speaking of John Thorn, in 2011, he wrote this: “John Holway has been researching baseball since 1944. Few, if any, may boast longer or more noteworthy contributions to baseball research.” Because of Holway, Thorn wrote, knowledge and understanding of the Negro Leagues grew exponentially. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6e31d4b-dbb9-418c-bf16-b5d46658f7b5/248+-+Satch+and+Josh.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Where It All Began Back to Peter Warren, who writes: Holway’s contributions to Negro Leagues research were influential for generations of future scholars. His interest in Black baseball began in 1945, when, as a teenager, he attended a game between the Kansas City Monarchs and Homestead Grays at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. Holway recalled the matchup between two all-time greats in a May, 2020 SABR Oral History interview conducted by Bill Nowlin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d830e32c-7190-450c-b13b-6e31338a8dab/249+-+Japan+book.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Japan That experience prompted a lifetime of research and writing. After graduating from the University of Iowa, Holway served as a first lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean War. He was wounded, which earned him a Purple Heart, and was sent to Japan for the duration of his service, retiring as a colonel. He remained in Tokyo after the conflict ended, where he met Motoko Mori; the two married in 1954. He also became a big fan of Japanese baseball while abroad. In 1954, he published the first book ever written in English on the sport in Japan: Japan Is Big League In Thrills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/989ace5c-5f92-49bf-ac3c-db22b7fef4f9/250+-+Sumo.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Sumo Holway also wrote the first English-language book on sumo wrestling, Sumo, in 1955 before returning to the United States. Holway decided to write a story on slugging catcher Josh Gibson, which appeared in the Washington Post and other syndicated newspapers in 1970. Holway started making calls to people who knew Gibson, and soon he began traveling across the country to interview many then-living Negro League stars, including Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, and Cool Papa Bell. You can buy a copy of the very rare Sumo HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f70efab5-a89d-4c13-9b2d-dfa35e7c185a/251+-+Voices.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Not A Mere Footnote Those interviews formed the basis of his groundbreaking 1975 book, Voices From the Great Black Baseball Leagues, which brought the history and impact of the Negro Leagues to a wider audience. “From what I had stumbled on by accident was a virtually unexplored continent,” he wrote in the book’s introduction. “The world of black baseball history was not a mere footnote to baseball history — it was fully half of baseball history.” Buy a 1st edition hardcover copy HERE. Buy a paperback copy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/803060f4-eb79-4a0a-b0c2-7a2565868a00/252+-+Blackball+Stars.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Holway’s Other Titles Holway’s research helped bring the stories of the Negro Leagues into the mainstream, and he continued writing articles and books on the subject for the rest of his life. Buy Blackball Stars: Negro League Pioneers, which received the 1988 CASEY Award for the best baseball book of the year, HERE. Buy The Complete Book of the Negro Leagues HERE. Buy Josh Gibson HERE. Buy Josh and Satch HERE. Buy Ted Williams: The Last .400 Hitter HERE. Buy Ted The Kid HERE. Buy The Baseball Astrologer: And Other Weird Tales HERE. Buy Red Tails Black Wings: The Men of America's Black Air Force HERE. Buy Red Tails: An Oral History of the Tuskegee Airmen HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/080eb559-bd87-4f0f-bdf2-db4f7aac5e9b/253+-+Buck+ONeil+graphic.jpg Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Everything Happens For A Reason It was through books with John Holway and Steve Wulf that led to Buck O’Neil’s appearance in the Ken Burns baseball documentary. The success of that documentary helped bring attention to the Negro Leagues and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It’s not a stretch to say that that’s one of the reasons we were able to talk with Bob Kendrick for this interview today. Buy Black Diamonds: Life in the Negro Leagues from the Men Who Lived It by John B. Holway HERE. Buy I Was Right On Time by Buck O’Neil and Steve Wulf HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa42dc5c-6fc3-4709-bb6d-30caf0eede13/254+-+Glory.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Oral Histories After eight decades of researching, writing, documenting, and archiving, John Bartlett Holway passed away on December 5, 2024, at the age of 95. If you’re a fan of Lawrence Ritter’s brilliant book The Glory Of Their Times, or other oral history style books like that, you’re going to love the work of John Holway. There’s a very real chance this episode doesn’t exist without him. Buy The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It by Lawrence Ritter HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a8e5cc6-618c-4f53-a2af-36e9a7760d67/255+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0505 - Bob Kendrick - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/04 monthly 0.5 2026-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5840483a-96fc-4663-b17f-dca020f977ff/youtube.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0b1bd98-bf00-41e2-996f-280959b0c595/square.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski Gary Cieradkowski and me after recording our interview in his studio in his home in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74ffadd9-2d2b-4770-a1e2-d9b5859533f9/01+-+Midnight+Library+of+Baseball.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Midnight Library of Baseball This episode is brought to you by Ben Orlando’s amazing podcast Midnight Library of Baseball. Website Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Follow Midnight Library of Baseball on social media: Facebook Instagram TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02720cf3-73cc-432f-9a57-7dbb523c7947/02+-+Ben+Orlando.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ben Orlando Ben Orlando’s writing is one of the things that makes Midnight Library of Baseball so enjoyable. If you’d like to check out some of his fiction work, you can buy a copy of Lost Journals of Sundown by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cf31638-549e-42af-9ebc-ea26f48393eb/03+-+League+of+Outsider+Baseball+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The League of Outsider Baseball Gary’s book, The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball’s Forgotten Heroes, which he wrote, illustrated and designed, was published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster. Buy a copy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86f392a7-a2ef-4da1-9876-c0091bd7a8e0/04+-+21+cover.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball Gary is currently the editor of 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball. Buy Volume 1 HERE. Buy Volume 2 HERE. Buy the Unedited Prototype HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7390d0de-50a2-4bdc-93aa-06d083cd3b71/05+-+Look+at+banner+Michael.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Gary is also the artist and writer behind The Infinite Baseball Card Set blog, which has been one of the best baseball things on the internet since February of 2010. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b58a8c82-ae53-4e8b-96f7-521e2c4f7a2d/06+-+Website.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - StudioGaryC.com The full extent of what Gary Cieradkowski can offer can be found in the pages of his website, StudioGaryC.com, where you will also find prints of his award-winning posters for sale and his brilliant baseball history writing. While his last name may be a bit troublesome to say, his work speaks for itself. Visit his online store HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51049321-9984-4494-a07a-8a57cd6b6382/07+-+Team+Brown+Apparel.webp Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Team Brown Apparel Gary’s artwork and designs are all over the Team Brown Apparel website and store. Many of his Negro League and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League shirts are sold on their website, but they’re also available in the gift shop of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and in the Smithsonian. Visit the Team Brown Apparel website HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc74785b-db64-4284-b97b-388fa087bb43/08+-+Mickey+Mantle+565.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Finding The Untold Stories When Gary writes about well-known players like Mickey Mantle, he’s not going to tell you the story of the time Mickey hit a 565-foot home run at Griffith Stadium in Washington. The brilliance of Gary’s research and writing comes in finding the untold stories, even about famous players, and in his ability to talk about who these figures were as people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7c5afc3-e124-4ecc-9c9c-d9251637f746/09+-+Baseball+Reliquary+award.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tony Salin Award Gary’s writing, art, and research was recognized by the Baseball Reliquary in 2015 when he was named the recipient of the Tony Salin Memorial Award for Contributions to Baseball History, the highest honor a baseball writer, historian and researcher can receive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8334cf37-f274-4c40-a187-0f5baac6d150/10+-+Dizzy+Gillespie.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ultimate Fantasy Draft Gary and I are going to have an all-time fantasy team draft, picking one player we’d want on our team at each position from throughout the vast history of the game. We discuss so many figures from throughout baseball history. Not just players in the American and National Leagues, but also minor leaguers, Negro Leaguers, All-American Girls Professional Baseball Leaguers, international ballplayers, managers, executives, entertainers, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50190e9b-90e5-45cd-a2f2-d84bb9aea5a4/11+-+Duke+Snider.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Duke Snider Gary’s father grew up a Dodgers fan in the 1950s, so he would tell Gary about players like Duke Snider. This illustration of Duke Snider is from an ongoing series by Gary. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04b1814c-3fd1-476c-8a31-ce796ac6c2ee/12+-+Warren+Spahn+shirt.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Warren Spahn Gary’s father’s favorite player was Warren Spahn. Here is another illustration from that ongoing series by Gary. Warren Spahn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3edd45c-bf03-4b96-a73f-7d04b140f7ba/14+-+Newark+Star+Ledger.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Researcher From An Early Age By the time Gary was 11 years old, he was going to the public library on his own to research stories in the Newark Star-Ledger and other newspapers, trying to find stories about old baseball players and learning about the past. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/048e9ef4-509e-42aa-863f-6fe8a0ba1617/15+-+Warren+Spahn.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Warren Spahn Gary’s dad’s favorite player being Warren Spahn didn’t make sense to me, considering he was a Dodgers fan. But when Gary explained that being a Dodgers fan made his dad despise the Yankees, and the Milwaukee Braves - led by Warren Spahn - defeated the Yankees in the 1957 World Series when Gary’s dad was just starting to fall in love with baseball, it all made sense. Gary’s blog post on Warren Spahn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f03556f1-3a82-4fa5-9fbc-710ae46f9c6e/13+-+Van+Lingle+Mungo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Van Lingle Mungo Gary’s grandfather had been a Brooklyn Dodgers fan since the 1920s, so he would tell Gary stories about players like Jersey Joe Stripp and Van Lingle Mungo. Gary’s blog post about Van Lingle Mungo Van Lingle Mungo’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Van Lingle Mungo card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b55d0fd6-a747-4a70-a4e3-7337cd3436f4/16+-+Leo+Durocher.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Leo Durocher In the early 1940s, the Dodgers went to Havana, Cuba for Spring Training. Here, manager Leo Durocher and some of his players try to get out of the sun for a quick break. Leo Durocher’s SABR Biography “The Suspension of Leo Durocher” by David Mandell LIFE Magazine photo gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c124997a-221b-46c2-9523-55be97d51ae2/17+-+Larry+MacPhail.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Larry MacPhail Gary’s blog post about Larry MacPhail Larry MacPhail’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Larry MacPhail card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e0545b8-030e-4563-9f30-6e75dfd2dfe9/18+-+Football.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Football Cards Gary remembers finding football cards in the attic when he was a kid, but not really baseball cards. Gary’s blog post about Joe Guyon Buy Gary’s Joe Guyon card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b35ba64d-b77c-42d6-83e6-d4496bdaa2d2/19+-+Oriole+Park.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Oriole Park at Camden Yards Still acknowledged as the best MLB ballpark by both players and fans, Oriole Park at Camden Yards was the first stadium that approached the graphics, both print and environmental, from a holistic standpoint. All the pieces, from the tickets to the scoreboard, were designed with the same attention to detail and foresight. Gary used this philosophy back in 1991 when he designed Oriole Park with David Ashton and Company, and he still uses and believes in that philosophy today. Some of Gary’s other Camden Yards designs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84ca0509-e122-42da-880d-e8749662e743/19+-+Janet+Marie+Smith.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Janet Marie Smith Janet Marie Smith stands in front of the B&O Warehouse overlooking Eutaw Street at Baltimore's Camden Yards, the first of several of her projects that have shaped the modern-day sports facility. Janet and Gary had a shared love of baseball and baseball history, which made it easy for them to work together on designing Camden Yards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58f69059-094d-4e50-b2b5-d2240d677c71/19+-+Camden+Yards+clock.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Best Sign Design 1992 Gary has received many awards for his design work over the years, but the most important to him was actually his first: he received the “Best Sign Design 1992” award for his design of the clock at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23b41c00-2e56-4d55-84bf-64d53ca259c0/21+-+1993+ASG+logo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 1993 MLB All-Star Game Logo This logo for the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which Gary designed, incorporated the classic design elements used in Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the modern Major League Baseball logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6542fba5-b5cb-423f-96a8-5683655ba2b5/22+-+Super+Bowl+Logos.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Look at the difference between the Super Bowl logos from 1979-1987 (left) and the logos from 2018-2026 (right), courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb1cbb39-151e-40ae-b582-61694bd50fba/23+-+Dr.+Bob+Hieronimus.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Dr. Bob Hieronimus Dr. Bob Hieronimus is an educator, artist, author, activist and has been an acknowledged pioneer in the "New Paradigm" movement since 1971. In the late 1960s Hieronimus traveled with Elektra Records and recording artists such as Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, and Janis Joplin to design posters and album covers and share info on esoterica. Hieronimus has a long career as a muralist and painter. His occult and symbolic murals include the 2,700-square-foot prophetic Apocalypse completed during 1968–1969 at the Johns Hopkins University, which led to Hieronimus being called "one of this country's best muralists". The Historic Views of Baltimore 1752–1858 mural was completed in 1976 and is housed in the War Memorial Building Baltimore, Maryland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d1df012-89e7-40e8-b7e9-df8af16386eb/24+-+VW_Bug__Light_.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Woodstock Bus Hieronimus's most famous artcar, the Volkswagen bus "Light" (better known as "the Woodstock bus"), was photographed by the Associated Press and Rolling Stone at the original 1969 Woodstock, and is still seen today regularly reprinted in media all over the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0b1cd5d-39ba-4fc9-93aa-a124a095b29c/25+-+Negro+Leaguers.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out A shared love and passion for the Negro Leagues led Dr. Bob Hieronimus to introduce Gary to Leon Day, among others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3f362e4-dd66-4000-8fe5-1fe2a61fe285/26+-+Leon+Day+photo.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Leon Day Gary struck up a friendship with Leon Day, who once threw an Opening Day No-Hitter in the Negro Leagues. Leon Day’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f99af5c-5e02-4153-9b9b-03ad76af5a15/27+-+Leon+Day+military.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 1945 G.I. World Series The 1945 G.I. World Series was played at Stadion der Hitlerjugend, the Hitler Youth Stadium in Nuremberg. Leon Day pitched Game 2, which he said was the most memorable game of his career. Gary’s blog post about the 1945 G.I. World Series Buy Gary’s Leon Day card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b3fa133-c338-4ec8-8831-89c31d2d29e4/28+-+Oise+Stars.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Willard “Home Run” Brown Gary’s blog post about Willard Brown Willard “Home Run” Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15263e4f-2eb7-4a73-8198-28e0f25fe124/29+-+Ewell+Blackwell.jpeg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ewell Blackwell Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Ewell Blackwell had gone undefeated and thrown a no-hitter in the playoffs leading up to the 1945 G.I. World Series. In front of 50,000 fans in the first game of the Series, "The Whip" baffled the OISE batters with his sidearm, buggy whip delivery, striking out nine for the win. Ewell Blackwell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63e478b1-9fc5-4309-9ba4-f23ca6a85de1/30+-+Leon+Day.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Push For Leon Dr. Bob Hieronimus was instrumental in getting Leon Day into the Hall of Fame, but he didn’t do it alone. Gary helped by creating artwork to help with the PR push, such as this baseball card which was sent to local media outlets as part of Dr. Bob’s Hall of Fame campaign for Day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef365079-07f4-411b-8cba-2851696624c0/31+-+Leon+Day.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Hall of Famer, Leon Day “People don't know what a great pitcher Leon Day was. He was as good or better than Bob Gibson. He was a better fielder, a better hitter, could run like a deer. When he pitched against Satchel, Satchel didn't have an edge. You thought Don Newcombe could pitch. You should have seen Day! One of the best complete athletes I've ever seen.” – Monte Irvin Leon Day was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88522f74-0a4a-4c8d-b9c7-3e5b1f7d7d7d/32+-+Ruppert+Stadium.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Newark Eagles From 1936 to 1948, the Newark Eagles played in Ruppert Stadium in New Jersey, where both of Gary’s grandfathers routinely went to see games. Originally named Davids' Stadium after Newark Bears owner Charles L. Davids, it was home to the minor league Newark Bears of the International League from 1926-49, and to the Newark Stars of the Eastern Colored League in 1926. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44b365e9-f81a-45ee-9586-fc5e2516a1ca/33+-+Holway.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - John B. Holway John Holway’s contributions to Negro Leagues research were influential for generations of future scholars. His interest in Black baseball began in 1945, when as a teenager he attended a game between the Kansas City Monarchs and Homestead Grays at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC, featuring two all-time greats, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. Buy Black Giants by John Holway HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d82c0e4-4ffb-4a1f-b430-05da930ed23a/34+-+Leon+Day+Ideal+Cap+Co.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ideal Cap Co. Will Arlt of the Ideal Cap Co. in Cooperstown produced this 1937 Newark Eagles hat after seeing Gary’s illustration of Leon Day wearing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/431486c2-ff5b-4fce-85f9-b964746aada9/35+-+Ideal+Cap+Co..png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s First Client Gary drew hundreds of illustrations of baseball caps for Will Arlt in exchange for the hats that Will was producing for the Ideal Cap Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5251338-fb2c-4b98-a891-c512333dbe39/36+-+Patches.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Patch Perfect Gary’s attention to detail would make Will proud. He strives on getting colors right, as well as placing things accurately, thanks to his meticulous research. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/942002ac-6e1d-4059-8319-5fb692dd2e5e/37+-+Hieronimus.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Easter Eggs One of the best parts about seeing Gary’s larger pieces is being able to make out the signage in the backgrounds easier, since they often have hidden messages or nods to his friends or clients. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20c9fc4c-2421-41db-afbc-e398105d2e57/38+-+Smead+Jolley.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Smead Jolley Gary’s blog post on Smead Jolley Buy Gary’s Smead Jolley card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1cd0b37-0586-499c-96a9-859b9f4412e6/39+-+Graig+Kreindler.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Graig Kreindler Graig Kreindler is also a renowned baseball artist, historian, and researcher. He was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2907a50-de2a-4ec1-9a6c-332ffaa81bd7/39+-+1935+Pittsburgh+Crawfords.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Pittsburgh Crawfords Gary’s blog post on 1933 Pittsburgh Crawfords star Cool Papa Bell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/026d0825-45eb-4656-843d-6a2cff78d095/41+-+Pantone+Colors.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Pantone Color Book Gary is colorblind, so when he was first starting his career, he memorized the entire Pantone color book, which has thousands of colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9261271c-4557-449c-9d33-de35a63f118d/41+-+Colorful+Sky.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Colorful Skies Colorful skies have become kind of a trademark in Gary’s cards. Gary’s blog post on Bob Crues Bob Crues’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123d5e0d-626f-49c2-822e-adb0448b7a1e/43+-+T206.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - T206 Many of the cards in the T206 set have uniquely beautifully colored skies, so I always assumed Gary was just tipping his cap to those before I learned he was colorblind. George Davis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cea3af4-7467-45d1-a877-985861ef4362/44+-+Bicycle+Playing+Cards.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Bicycle Playing Cards In addition to being an amazing baseball artist, Gary’s credits also include Barnes & Noble’s music department, the Folgers Coffee can, and a redesign of Bicycle playing cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4172420-b5f4-49ed-b833-fb12ae72f47a/45+-+Victory+Faust.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Victory Faust Gary’s blog post on Charles “Victory” Faust Victory Faust’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Victory Faust card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24a7a7a3-d562-4a70-8156-2f14891d01fb/45.5+-+Leon+Day+first+card.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s First Card The first card Gary ever created was of Leon Day, which he posted to his blog on Sunday, February 21, 2010. Gary’s first blog post on Leon Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58f0adbe-b832-4801-8a7b-e16530cfe911/46+-+Hockey.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Not Just Baseball As with many of Gary’s posters, this was originally designed by for a Hollywood prop house and may be seen in the background of movies, television shows and commercials. If you want to own your own copy, you can buy one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/669a12a1-f93c-4bae-841e-cbfc1ec6d7fd/47+-+coloring+book.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary C Coloring Books?? As amazing at this idea sounds, they don’t exist. This is just one step in the process of Gary taking an idea and turning it into a finished piece of art. In October of 2024, Gary posted a five-part series of blogs detailing his process. You can read the entire thing below: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b7b15df-8e45-4931-848b-f70b717883e6/48+-+rough+idea.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - My Baseball History Gary created the artwork for this very podcast, as a matter of fact. He took the rough idea that I sent him… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b410bebe-0359-437b-9172-7c7d1e69b061/49+-+show+artwork.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Podcast Artwork … and somehow, magically, turned it into this. Gary wrote about the project HERE. You can also see some of the reference photos I sent him by scrolling down THIS PAGE until you get to the interactive photo slide show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2b42323-ea97-480d-8b9c-786683348a82/50+-+Satchel+Paige+SABR+cover.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Satchel Paige If someone had never seen any of Gary’s work, this is the piece he would show them to be like “this is what I do.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb05dc35-e7b4-461a-80da-5a0815258a2d/51+-+size+matters.JPEG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Relative Size Matters! Pictured here (left to right): T206, 1975 TCMA, Gary’s Infinite Card set, 1989 Bowman, 1994 The Sporting News Charles Conlon set https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2e7bd54-d578-4723-9ce3-d9a6e5986e7d/52+-+File+Cabinet.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Research Takes Time Gary’s file cabinet is full of potential stories. Some of them he’s only just recently started researching, some of them have been in the works for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52f02abc-7369-4ce3-bc02-89e2a1393e27/53+-+Alta+Weiss.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Whose Story Is One Worth Telling? There have been somewhere in the neighborhood of 25,000 Major League players at this point, now that certain years of the Negro Leagues are considered Major Leagues. But add in to that all of the minor leaguers, or town ball players, or industrial leagues, or outlaw leagues, or women, and there are literally probably 100,000 or more people who have played baseball dating back to the 1800s who all have their own story. Gary’s blog post on Alta Weiss Buy Gary’s Alta Weiss card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b886ffa-579d-42ec-8319-a3c6be7d9071/54+-+Roberto+Clemente.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Roberto Clemente Roberto Clemente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41bbf32e-b0bb-44ed-8189-2d140deb6920/55+-+Lou+Gehrig+21.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Lou Gehrig Gary’s original 2018 blog post on Lou Gehrig Buy Gary’s Lou Gehrig print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2af6d069-a83d-4f5e-8b97-33d0de219fb0/56+-+Voracious+Reader.JPEG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Voracious Reader Most of the books in Gary’s library are baseball books, which is where he comes across names and stories to pique his interest for potential future articles or art pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2de5a8ce-4821-43df-8589-5dbed0b52765/57+-+Joe+DiMaggio+San+Francisco.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe DiMaggio Gary says fans enjoy when he writes about well known players because it is “comfort reading” to them, and while he does take pride in his ability to uncover previously untold stories about the game’s greats, it seems like Gary is most interested researching obscure players. Gary’s blog post on Joe DiMaggio Buy Gary’s Joe DiMaggio card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3f53ceb-ab9a-4e36-a6a6-bde35c45b57d/58+-+Laughlin.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Bob Laughlin Jason Schwartz has called Gary our generation’s Bob Laughlin, which is high praise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/578e2d07-5433-41f6-92a6-4aaf2979e29f/59+-+Okkonen.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Marc Okkonen However, I think Gary is more similar to Marc Okkonen. Buy his groundbreaking book on the Uniforms of the 20th Century HERE. Buy his book on the Federal League HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25fd4d6c-f079-4f03-9485-046774cf30e3/60+-+Chi+Feds.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Dressed To The Nines This is Marc Okkonen’s original sketch of the 1914 Chi Feds home uniform. Check out the fruits of Marc’s labor with the Dressed To The Nines project HERE. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4266767-c11c-42d2-a600-5e3d96bea475/61+-+League+of+Outsider+Baseball+book+signing.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s Book A younger Gary, signing a stack of copies of his wonderful book at a local store when it first came out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6e32c12-8ecb-4bd3-a328-7a48f0109e1b/62+-+Butch+Glass.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Carl “Butch” Glass Gary is currently researching more about Carl “Butch” Glass, who played in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s and into the 1930s, as well as for military teams. Gary thinks Glass’ story is an interesting microcosm of American history. Photo courtesy of RMY Auctions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d322f1dd-0d9b-44a1-9c54-74d9870e1fc6/63+-+Bullet+Rogan.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Bullet Rogan Joe “Bullet” Rogan also played on military teams around the same time “Butch” Glass was playing for his. Bullet Rogan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/689ae988-87ad-49ef-9113-591735c505d9/64+-+Satchel+Paige.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Satchel Paige Gary’s blog post on Satchel Paige Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9ddf76d-f578-49f3-b67a-216c494eb872/65+-+Roy+Hobbs.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Roy Hobbs Gary’s blog post on Roy Hobbs Eddie Waitkus’ SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Eddie Waitkus card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7af63315-1b3d-4454-b178-be2264cd76ef/66+-+Sam+Mayday+Malone.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Sam “Mayday” Malone Gary’s blog post on Sam “Mayday” Malone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e4809fa-33cf-4418-a837-35f3f020b049/67+-+Joe+Shlabotnik.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe Schlabotnik Gary’s blog post on Joe Schlabotnik https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/155e1939-3ac6-4113-8877-6f03cae1e474/68+-+Joe+Shlabotnik.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out This is the Peanuts strip from August 18, 1963, which is the first reference Charles Schultz made to Joe Shlabotnik. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93aa5777-b029-4b5d-8c83-b722d951a14b/69+-+Pete+Hill+set.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Pete Hill Card Set Gary teamed with John “Preston” Pete Hill’s great-nephew, Major Ron Hill of Pittsburgh, and baseball researcher Gary Aswhill to create 15 original baseball cards detailing the Negro League standout’s long and varied career spanning the first quarter of the 20th century. Gary’s blog post on the Pete Hill card set Pete Hill’s SABR Biography Buy the Pete Hill card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa1a9cba-eba2-4bff-b110-fec031650db5/70+-+Gary+Ashwill.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary Ashwill Gary Ashwill researches and writes about Negro league and Latin American baseball. He is the founder and lead researcher of the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database, which is used by Major League Baseball, Baseball-Reference.com, the Society for American Baseball Research, and Fangraphs. He has won SABR’s Henry Chadwick Award, and the John Coates Next Generation Award, the Fay Vincent Award, and the Tweed Webb Lifetime Achievement Award from SABR’s Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e324e89-e6d8-45d8-83f9-5cc0edc1cdae/71+-+Simkus.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Scott Simkus Scott Simkus created a Negro League card set for the Strat-O-Matic Game Company in 2009. He also wrote the short-lived Outsider Baseball Bulletin. His first book, Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876-1950, was published in 2014. A member of the award-winning Seamheads Negro Leagues Database team, Simkus’s statistical research is now part of the official Major League record. Buy his book Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876–1950 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/964402b7-284a-4f0c-aa39-571a4f7b71e5/72+-+Paul+Gillespie.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Paul Gillespie Gary’s blog post on Paul Gillespie Paul Gillespie’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Paul Gillespie print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1eecf905-c642-4ad2-b1dd-e0783988ab5c/73+-+Seamheads+logo.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Gary created the logo for the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/548e9a4a-d5cd-43d3-a5f3-16c3f1a3eceb/74+-+Ballparks+Database.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Gary also created the logo for the Seamheads Ballparks Database https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfc3081e-4527-4621-979b-7ff31c4d9365/75+-+Sandy+Koufax.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Sandy Koufax Dan’s first starting pitcher An excerpt from Gary’s book about Sandy Koufax Sandy Koufax’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Sandy Koufax print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1629f10-8d23-461d-bf59-8838473451cb/76+-+Big+Carl+DeRose.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - “Big Carl” DeRose Gary’s first starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on “Big Carl” DeRose Buy Gary’s Carl DeRose card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cb2fe1c-7071-464e-b74d-2a4c8690b0b1/77+-+Christy+Mathewson.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Christy Mathewson Dan’s second starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Christy Mathewson Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d60bf337-6516-4c89-b0f6-e1a39ae8ea58/78+-+Pat+Scott.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Pat Scott Gary’s second starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Pat Scott SABR Landmarks article on Pat Scott Buy Gary’s Pat Scott card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/605be9fc-84a0-4721-9b85-99d72000cc24/79+-+AAGPBL+80th.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League 80th Reunion For the 80th anniversary of the AAGPBL, Gary re-imagined the logos for a number of the teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99e509f6-fbf0-417e-a15e-bf2b3aff466d/80+-+Ange+Armato+card.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Boring Hats Ange Armato is a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who spent time playing with the Rockford Peaches and the Kalamazoo Lassies. She was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c799bb7c-4fe8-49e2-a89f-f6633d800627/81+-+Ebbets+Field+Flannels.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ebbets Field Flannels Gary used to do design work for Ebbets Field Flannels. This is one of his many previous designs for EFF. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22192ef1-7043-49a5-bd06-0f3b4d660f5e/82+-+Team+Brown+Apparel.webp Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Team Brown Apparel Now, Gary works with Team Brown Apparel, who owns the rights to the AAGPBL, which has given Gary the chance to create shirt designs like he thinks would have been available in the 1940s, had these teams sold merch. Check out the AAGPBL gear that’s available from Team Brown Apparel, like this shirt Gary designed, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1eb2310-6df0-4be2-8cfd-fb8ca47c95be/83+-+Babe+Ruth+full+body.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Babe Ruth Dan’s third starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Babe Ruth Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c16ecf3f-1a22-4eb8-90cd-33f4aff9831b/84+-+Shawn+Herne.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum Shawn Herne is the Executive Director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. He was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e1dc69d-1767-4785-93e4-e6acb80da918/85+-+Babe+Ruth+living+room+photo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s Favorite Babe Ruth Photo It’s one of the first things you see when you first walk into Gary’s house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df172658-44c3-4bff-b21e-b407057bc8bd/86+-+Sig+Jakucki.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Sig Jakucki Gary’s third starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Sig Jakucki Sig Jakucki’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed70929f-ce07-42fc-a546-3abd8b5a922f/87+-+Eddie+Cicotte.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Eddie Cicotte Dan’s fourth starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Eddie Cicotte Eddie Cicotte’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Eddie Cicotte print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9ffdd45-e8f9-4e0f-823c-7f0256016171/Ex+small.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out The Ex Major League Stars barnstorming team. Eddie Cicotte is in the back row of players, wearing a sweater on the far right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99e7a313-5576-46e1-a2ce-687394d102a3/89+-+Swede+Risberg.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Swede Risberg Gary’s blog post on Swede Risberg Swede Risberg’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6037af33-66a2-4ede-a70c-0120577d439b/89+-+Black+Sox+box+set.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - After The Black Sox card set Eight Myths Out project by SABR A great article about Gary’s After The Black Sox set Buy Gary’s After The Black Sox card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4db79457-789a-4f44-9320-448208299d3c/91+-+Shoeless+Joe+Jackson+art.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Shoeless Joe Jackson During Gary’s research for the After The Black Sox Set, he discovered a number of previously-undocumented games that Joe Jackson had played in New Jersey. Gary’s blog post about those games in North Jersey Buy Gary’s Shoeless Joe Jackson print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e2ff4f9-764d-459d-b682-8a5b09499adf/92+-+Cy+Malis.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Cy Malis Gary’s fourth starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Cy Malis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41bf6c6f-7168-433f-b934-f9f4602b462b/93+-+Lefty+Grove.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Lefty Grove Dan’s fifth starting pitcher Gary’s 2010 blog post on Lefty Grove Gary’s 2020 blog post on Lefty Grove Lefty Grove’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d585813-fcc9-47c6-8a09-3b734f618f63/94+-+Babe+Ruth+Baltimore.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Babe Ruth Babe Ruth’s professional baseball career began as a member of the International League’s Baltimore Orioles. “Babe Ruth’s Half Season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1914” by Gary Sarnoff Buy Gary’s Babe Ruth print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c91a35e0-92fc-4718-887e-4b24c4655a1a/95+-+Jack+Dunn.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Jack Dunn Gary’s blog post on Jack Dunn Jack Dunn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9fa05276-c43f-4924-aab0-0d04f1f145dc/96+-+Max+Camera+Eye+Bishop.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Max “Camera Eye” Bishop Gary’s blog post on Max Bishop Max Bishop’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ccb840d-2702-4250-977b-274f9b09ac18/97+-+Joe+Boley.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe Boley Gary’s blog post on Joe Boley Joe Boley’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Joe Boley card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/487f7dce-06b4-45fe-9cd2-4d0d5330828a/98+-+1921+Baltimore+Orioles.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 1921 Baltimore Orioles card set See the entire list of people Gary researched and wrote about on his blog for the 1921 Baltimore Orioles card set HERE. Buy the 1921 Baltimore Orioles card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fa465b1-806b-44e6-b02a-c9651053c48b/99+-+Lefty+Glover.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tom “Lefty” Glover Gary’s fifth starting pitcher Gary’s blog post on Lefty Glover Lefty Glover’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Lefty Glover card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69cfa4ab-ffb1-47d2-9d73-ecb5c09e483c/100+-+Only+The+Ball+Was+White.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Only The Ball Was White Buy Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams by Robert Peterson HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6146ab2-3939-4305-a58e-63791ef46361/101+-+File.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s Files Gary has hundreds of these files, all full of stories just waiting to be written. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb294137-fe6b-4eea-ac90-1978ba117c13/102+-+Lefty+Glover+photo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33f2247d-dead-48cd-b3d3-246ef6f2e6cf/103+-+Roy+Campanella.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Roy Campanella Dan’s catcher Gary’s blog post on Roy Campanella Roy Campanella’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Roy Campanella card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/842dc65a-e893-45ca-80b3-dbabd51f71ec/104+-+Baltimore+Elite+Giants.webp Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Baltimore E-lite Giants The “Elite” in Baltimore Elite Giants is not pronounced the way you’d think. Check out the Elite Giants gear that’s available from Team Brown Apparel, like this shirt Gary designed, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f3d16ec-13f6-403b-b219-41ea4bcfa77c/105+-+Josh+Gibson.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Josh Gibson Gary’s blog post on his Baseball Research Journal covers, including this one featuring Josh Gibson Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1597da14-4d3c-4498-a527-a7ccbc828900/106+-+Pythias+Russ.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Pythias Russ Gary’s catcher Gary’s blog post on Pythias Russ Buy Gary’s Pythias Russ card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b77dde0-32d0-4d5a-867b-670c00bb76c6/107+-+SABR+Giveaways+2025.JPG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - SABR Convention Giveaways Gary gave these cards away during the 2024 SABR Convention in Minneapolis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0413e109-1c5b-45ce-9e12-ca5aac48ea5e/108+-+SABR+Giveaways+2025.JPG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 2025 Giveaways Gary liked it so much in 2024 that he did it again with these three new cards at the SABR Convention in Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e187c391-33f3-444e-ad26-1973fba67c06/109+-+Lou+Gehrig.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Lou Gehrig Dan’s first baseman Gary’s updated blog post on Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Lou Gehrig card booklet HERE. Buy Gary’s Lou Gehrig print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4918566d-29ad-4ed5-9c9b-f986a67dca31/110+-+Stan+Musial.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Stan Musial Gary’s blog post about Stan Musial Stan Musial’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Stan Musial card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6f24bf0-a488-4cb4-9883-3401d8381475/111+-+Hank+Greenberg.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Hank Greenberg Gary’s blog post on Hank Greenberg Hank Greenberg’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57950045-8bf0-41af-be6d-2b15a5ec6c7f/112+-+Paul+Krichell.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Paul Krichell Paul Krichell was a French catcher, best known for being the head scout for the New York Yankees for 37 years until his death. Krichell's talent evaluations and signings played a key role in building up the Yankees' run of success from the Murderers' Row teams of the 1920s to the 1950s teams led by Casey Stengel. He is shown here (left) with Yankees manager Joe McCarthy. Paul Krichell’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of RMY Auctions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83372e9f-6bc8-463d-82b6-dca87ac4198e/113+-+Rupe+Mills.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Rupe Mills Gary’s first baseman Gary’s blog post on Rupert Mills Rupe Mills’ SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Rupe Mills card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b17e4d9d-8a82-4c31-bd2c-3c2d09ad66a7/114+-+Jackie+Robinson+military.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Jackie Robinson Dan’s second baseman Gary’s blog post on Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c450fa74-3325-49ed-9051-073ef60d8b5f/116+-+Satchel+Paige+Trujillo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Satchel Paige Gary’s blog post on Satchel Paige “Satchel Paige and Trujillo, the Dominican Dictator” by Joe Guzzardi Buy Gary’s Satchel Paige print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1dadad30-23fd-4cb5-9d75-694e23a9ccdd/115+-+Sammy+T.+Hughes.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Sammy T. Hughes Gary’s second baseman Gary’s blog post on Sammy T. Hughes Sammy T. Hughes’ SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Sammy T. Hughes card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a55f960d-2b1f-40fc-8c20-bf6d562dc58e/117+-+Honus+Wagner.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Honus Wagner Dan’s shortstop Gary’s blog post on Honus Wagner Honus Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42739f6f-5889-43d1-8d90-ae8f69e4088c/118+-+Lucky+Jack+Riley.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Lucky Jack Riley Gary’s shortstop Gary’s blog post on Lucky Jack Riley “The Fate of Jack Riley, Shanghai's Notorious Slot Machine King” Buy Gary’s Lucky Jack Riley card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2666bfbf-4bec-4875-8e46-88f9b2f78ae2/119+-+Roy+Counts.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Roy Counts Gary’s blog post on Roy Counts Buy Gary’s Roy Counts card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/736b2950-668c-45b1-91b2-05c2311bf470/120+-+Minnie+Minoso.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Minnie Miñoso Dan’s third baseman Gary’s blog post on Minnie Miñoso Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dce22fa2-d268-44b3-bb3f-b31cc5fbee74/121+-+Caddy.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Fashion Plate Buy Gary’s Minnie Miñoso card booklet HERE. Photo courtesy of Baseball By BSmile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81dfb91a-6d60-426c-bc59-4712f4185746/122+-+Eddie+Kazak.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Eddie Kazak Gary’s third baseman Gary’s blog post on Eddie Kazak Buy Gary’s Eddie Kazak card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d0ea744-db4d-4571-9699-729d165582a4/123+-+Shoeless+Joe+New+Jersey.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Shoeless Joe Jackson Dan’s left fielder Gary’s blog post on Shoeless Joe Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s After The Black Sox card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e21cecab-7454-4057-b4f9-dde3728709f3/124+-+Shoeless+Joe+Greenville.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Greenville Spinners Gary’s blog post on Shoeless Joe’s Greenville Spinners days Buy Gary’s Shoeless Joe card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0860635e-00ef-4455-b363-f0a6161b7987/125+-+Shoeless+Joe+Kreindler.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Graig Kreindler’s Painting Graig also chose to make Joe’s Greenville Spinners uniform accented with red. Graig’s website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cabfd603-dfd0-411b-b978-44e738c2ee46/126+-+Billy+O%27Hara.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Billy O’Hara Gary’s left fielder Gary’s blog post on Billy O’Hara https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f876f43-73e2-4a91-94fa-f8090a9c3f4f/127+-+Willie+Mays.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Willie Mays Dan’s center fielder Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d33f4529-639b-49b8-9824-51b74e900ea0/128+-+Joe+Press+1949+letter+indicating+Yankees+turned+down+Willie+Mays.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe Press Joe Press wrote this letter in 1949, chewing out the Yankees for refusing to sign Black players, such as Willie Mays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a05ef363-af88-45db-bad5-33045eb91c99/129+-+Jimmy+Horio.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Jimmy Horio Gary’s center fielder Gary’s 2010 blog post on Jimmy Horio Gary’s 2013 blog post on Jimmy Horio Gary’s 2019 blog post on Jimmy Horio Buy Gary’s Jimmy Horio card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd4ae27a-3498-4313-84bb-047815184e84/130+-+Steamship.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Steamboat To Japan A "late thirties" passage from Yokohama to San Francisco on NYK cost $190 2nd Class, $315 1st Class. With a stop in Honolulu it took 9 days. $190 in 1938 would be roughly $4,365 in 2026. $315 in 1938 would be roughly $7,240 in 2026. “Murder, Espionage, and Baseball: The 1934 All-American Tour of Japan” by Rob Fitts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2660b9d-0c75-485f-9976-5d5798db41a2/131+-+Mickey+Mantle.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Mickey Mantle Dan’s right fielder Gary’s blog post on Mickey Mantle Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Mickey Mantle card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b7d8a45-7523-4a5c-ae79-bc6ed6edfd62/132+-+Fran+Boniar.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Fran Boniar Gary’s right fielder Gary’s blog post on Fran Boniar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2716aa85-52cf-4818-b055-63e9d5a2def5/133+-+Steve+Dalkowski.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Steve Dalkowski Gary’s blog post on Steve Dalkowski Buy Gary’s Steve Dalkowski print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0af8cc50-52eb-4e40-9f6f-20e2f4c5a407/134+-+Ted+Williams.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ted Williams Dan’s designated hitter Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf7098f5-0ba1-41e9-8c7a-34c9544886f0/135+-+Joe+Medwick.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe “Ducky” Medwick Gary’s designated hitter Joe Medwick’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5f65213-c0a5-4d0f-8c65-b1654514870b/136+-+Joe+McCarthy.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe McCarthy Dan’s manager Gary’s blog post on Joe McCarthy Joe McCarthy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ec06c22-3191-4013-b42c-eeeb3afabfdb/137+-+Tris+Speaker+at+Fenway%2C+1912.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tris Speaker Tris would have been my mom’s manager, if she were building her fantasy team. Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/360e2a87-d5a7-4c24-b087-1b9f77f280ce/138+-+Morris+Buttermaker.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Morris Buttermaker Gary’s manager https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68552ae9-03a7-47aa-814f-0d2b64a831db/139+-+Bad+News+Bears.JPEG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Bad News Bears Gary’s favorite baseball movie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e4c5b2bd-549d-4af6-8f56-fcb915fffc9d/140+-+Ty+Cobb.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ty Cobb Dan’s hitting coach Gary’s blog posts mentioning Ty Cobb Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb7a1c4f-ce0f-49c5-93d5-6c3df9ae979b/141+-+Steve+Bilko.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Steve Bilko Gary’s hitting coach Gary’s blog post on Steve Bilko Steve Bilko’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Steve Bilko card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3476232-fef4-4aec-ac2e-9d4f25e31502/142+-+Steve+Bilko+full+body.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - A Second Card Check out these amazing waffle weave uniforms! Buy Gary’s Bush League Home Run Heroes card set HERE. Buy the uncut sheet of Bush League Home Run Heroes, which is suitable for framing, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06d140c5-d02a-467b-85a1-8e9501dde0d8/143+-+Tommy+Lasorda.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tommy Lasorda Dan’s pitching coach Gary’s blog post on Tommy Lasorda Tommy Lasorda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de2e391a-4f3a-4bdb-b321-95b2aeb5f0de/144+-+Farmer+Dean.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Farmer Dean Gary’s pitching coach A quick post from JerseyGary on Farmer Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b03ab109-a40d-4f23-9b2b-94033aed35aa/145+-+Jack+Kerouac.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Jack Kerouac Dan’s beat reporter Gary’s blog post on Jack Kerouac “Jack Kerouac: The Beat of Fantasy Baseball” by Jim Reisler Buy Gary’s Jack Kerouac card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c19eaec-ecf6-4e31-b30d-21c4eeb844e4/146+-+Robret+L.+Ripley.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Robert L. Ripley Gary’s beat reporter Robert Ripley’s potential career as a baseball player ended because of an arm injury he sustained while trying out for the major leagues, and so he turned to his other main talent, drawing cartoons. Beginning at age 16, Ripley held jobs as a sports cartoonist with several San Francisco newspapers, and he moved to New York City in 1913. There he drew cartoons for the New York Globe, and he originated his first “Believe It or Not!” cartoon for that paper’s issue of December 19, 1918; this cartoon portrayed nine oddities from the world of athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb3a54d8-ee2f-4716-96d9-bd8361ffdbb7/147+-+Andy+The+Clown.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Andy The Clown Dan’s number one fan Andrew Rozdilsky Jr. was more commonly known as Andy The Clown, performing at White Sox games at the original Comiskey Park from 1960 to 1990. Gary’s blog post on Andy The Clown Buy Gary’s Andy The Clown card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09bfd878-ea03-4674-8c6c-3386e5be787b/148+-+Emory+Titman.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Emory Titman Gary’s number one fan Gary’s blog post on Emory Titman Buy Gary’s Emory Titman card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae6d47f1-fca3-4912-b83a-091c813a72f9/149+-+Dolly+Stark.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - “Dolly” Stark Crew Chief Gary’s blog post on Albert “Dolly” Stark Dolly Stark’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Dolly Stark card booklet HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/510e6999-9b36-448f-a033-af686a46a0aa/150+-+Dolly+Stark+dress.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Dolly Stark Dress Gary’s fashion drawing of a Dolly Stark Dress brought what would have otherwise been a forgotten relic back to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a97c80c4-64f6-490a-8523-d7736547500e/151+-+Charles+Cromwell.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Charles “Square Deal” Cromwell Umpire Gary’s blog post on Charles “Square Deal” Cromwell SABR article on umpires in the Negro Leagues https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ead93681-e5f6-4394-9b33-7a12724b15c5/152+-+Eddie+Bennett.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Eddie Bennett Bat Boy Eddie Bennett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1abc5620-2636-458f-bee9-f8dd0dcdf74d/153+-+Happy+Felsch.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Happy Felsch Gary’s blog post on Oscar “Happy” Felsch Happy Felsch’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s After The Black Sox card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b85a978d-3bbb-4351-9d0f-74fd48768e90/154+-+Kitty+Burke.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Kitty Burke National Anthem Singer “July 31, 1935: Kitty Burke comes to bat in Cincinnati” by Steven Wyder https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3ff0393-f49a-43f0-a957-8d5c5b677e9d/155+-+Frank+Sinatra.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Frank Sinatra 7th Inning Stretch Singer Why? Guess who starred in a 1949 Technicolor musical film produced in the Arthur Freed unit of MGM called … Take Me Out to the Ball Game! You guessed it: Frank Sinatra, along with co-stars Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold and Jules Munshin. The film was directed by Busby Berkeley. The Sinatra Swooners Sinatra Swooners game worn jersey & photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b526a222-aac2-44f1-8b4e-ae0cf012a083/156+-+John+Thorn.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - John Thorn Play-by-play broadcaster If you’re interested in seeing what baseball uniforms looked like in the early 1870s, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a4dd00f-72fb-4843-b700-187884bc0a20/157+-+John+Thorn+tweet.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80a62486-4f3e-4702-af70-e07e979a14e4/158+-+John+Thorn+friend.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - John Thorn John and his son, Mark, having some fun at Will Arlt’s “Old Clothes” section of The National Pastime store on Main Street in Cooperstown, circa 1989. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb0b21f8-a064-4aa6-8b81-b35d5d584d23/159+-+Moe+Berg.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Moe Berg Camera Operator Moe Berg’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s Moe Berg print HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5bfc77e-9f15-4bb3-bbda-464ed502f7aa/160+-+Crosley.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Crosley Field This digital rendering of Cincinnati’s Crosley Field was created by architect Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks. He was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1dca0bbc-2404-41a2-9a45-064c781b79cc/160+-+Johnny+Vander+Meer.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Johnny Vander Meer Johnny Vander Meer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bd824a3-8296-4f38-b7a1-09afdae6e870/161+-+Jud+Wilson.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 1933 East–West All-Star Game The 1933 East–West All-Star Game at Comiskey Park was the first Negro League All-Star Game in history. It was an exciting game which featured a number of Hall of Famers, including Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Biz Mackey, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Turkey Stearnes, Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, Bill Foster, and Jud Wilson (seen here). And those were just the guys who actually got into the game! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30aced29-4333-4c49-8d88-2f8eceddbeef/162+-+business+cards.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Follow Gary Online Website Gary’s old blog Facebook Instagram Twitter Substack Email Gary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61000546-f20a-4c88-a482-18e45af32095/163+-+booklets.JPG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s Subscription Series Buy Gary’s Season 8 subscription series for 2026 HERE. Check out all available past booklets HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65bca8a5-6314-43cb-bc3b-28fa64eceb5f/164+-+credibility.JPEG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Instant Credibility Gary’s artwork brought instant credibility to my podcast when people would see my business cards early on. Those who didn’t already know of Gary just saw really professional looking art and assumed I should actually be taken seriously. But those who knew Gary were like “you got Gary C to do your art?!” I still get that same reaction today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27f051e3-91e3-4095-85c4-75428a9d34bf/165+-+locker.JPEG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Living Room or Locker Room? This old baseball locker was the first thing you saw when you walked in the front door of my house in Chicago. You can see it in the photo on my business card, as well. This style of vintage baseball locker served as inspiration for the show’s artwork. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3777e0f1-3518-40ff-bde3-49c54ce0764b/166+-+widescreen.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out These details from Gary’s creation have served as secondary logos, avatars, banner images, and email signatures, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cba23030-0b04-4efe-8a3d-d741b16f4ad1/167+-+Gary+Cieradkowski.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary Cieradkowski Not just a brilliant artist and researcher, but a genuinely good person who, I am lucky to say, has become a friend over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c962384-67cc-45ed-97c4-b2431f693864/168+-+Chick+Gandil.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - After The Black Sox Set Can you tell how much I love this set from how often I’ve brought it up or how glowingly we talk about it all episode? Gary’s blog post on Chick Gandil Chick Gandil’s SABR Biography Buy Gary’s After The Black Sox card set HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c07552d0-6491-4952-b42d-23a0955f19bb/169+-+Lester.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Larry Lester Larry Lester is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Negro Leagues. He is a published author, public speaker, researcher, and historian. He was our guest, along with fellow Negro Leagues researcher Stephanie Liscio, for Episode 1 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c60ea2d7-060e-42f9-ac3d-37dc9d395487/170+-+Dixon.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Phil S. Dixon Phil S. Dixon is an author, public speaker, researcher and historian, focusing on the Negro Leagues for the past 40 years. He was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/983c4097-60e9-4e1e-b706-48c82a0fac10/171+-+Newark+Eagles.webp Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Full Circle It must be special for Gary to have grown up hearing stories from his grandfathers about watching the Newark Eagles play, and then to get paid to design artwork and logos and merchandise for that team for your job as an adult. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b59bad5-18f0-4256-a0c3-0eee55841a9e/172+-+League+of+Outsider+Baseball+Gary.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - He Puts In The Time All those hours late at night, working when no one else is watching, struggling for years to find that one piece of evidence that’s going to unlock the story you’ve been chasing… it’s all worth it when you see the finished product in your hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f66493e0-b551-4099-a17e-a8f8a8c51006/173+-+Gary%27s+studio.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Research May Take Time… … but it’s worth it when the end result is a story no one else has ever heard before. Even if it sometimes takes decades of digging to be able to uncover and verify that story. It’s clear that Gary is ready, willing, and able to do that research. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48495648-85c2-4d2d-b8e6-128438bd5ae2/174+-+my_desk_2017_sm.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - He Nails It With His Artwork Hearing Gary talk about his choices was really interesting. From what team he chooses to depict a player with, to what pose he thinks suits them, and everything in between. His artwork is an brilliant companion to his storytelling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6bd99e55-f7ab-47f2-a4e4-50e8de527fbf/175+-+Baseball+Research+Journal+covers.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Gary’s Work It’s fun to have collected so many of Gary’s pieces over the years, including many of these Baseball Research Journals, for which Gary created the cover artwork. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c7ccbbf-6337-4caf-a16d-a50d98f6f34a/176+-+My+Baseball+History+set+backs.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - MBH Card Set When Gary and I finished our interview, he handed me a stack of baseball cards which included one for every person we discussed in our interview. It was totally unexpected, but it’s something I’ll cherish forever. They had Gary’s normal artwork and design on the front, and then this specially-created back to commemorate my visit to Kentucky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ceab641a-c5ab-41e5-bd62-905375bc204d/177+-+Cardinals.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - St. Louis Cardinals Franchise History Ed Wheatley is the vice president of the St. Louis chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, an award-winning author of multiple baseball books, and an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. He was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 5, during which we spoke about the history of the Cardinals franchise dating all the way back to the 1800s. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81c40279-29b5-47ba-b7db-f1b6b915e740/178+-+Tom+Lefty+Glover+artwork.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tom “Lefty” Glover The excitement in Gary’s voice when he told the story of uncovering the truth about this player he had been trying to research for years was so evident. And this was hearing Gary tell that story years after he made that discovery. I can’t even imagine how excited he must have been in the actual moment. Buy the Lefty Glover card booklet so you can read the entirety of Gary’s research HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43f007c4-4193-4457-a394-6a07991a8069/179+-+Ty+Cobb+SABR+cover.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ty Cobb Grantland Rice and Ty Cobb had a long history, which apparently began (unknowingly to Rice) when Ty Cobb sent him a postcard claiming to be someone else, talking about how great this new kid Cobb is. “Grantland Rice’s Legacy in the Deadball Era” by John McMurray https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da8fd138-d452-4b12-9c10-5be8244ca0fb/180+-+Ideal+Cap+Co.JPG Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ideal Cap Co. Will Arlt and Ideal Cap Co. made the hats we wore during the inaugural 1860s style vintage base ball game between the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and the Ty Cobb Museum, which was played in Greenville, South Carolina in 2009. Here I am wearing that hat, standing with Joe Anders. Anders was Shoeless Joe’s protégé, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the textile leagues. Joe Anders was inducted into the Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of 1989. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e084a61-f77f-4efa-80eb-5cb699b3d712/181+-+Badge+of+Honor.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Those hats became a kind of badge of honor for the vintage players, since they were only available that first year. By 2021, which was the last year I played, only two of us from the inaugural game remained. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6bc02a4f-c010-414a-be6b-be6fd8c4a29c/182+-+Beano.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Baseball Grenade The BEANO T-13 hand grenade was an experimental grenade developed by the Office of Strategic Services (which later became the CIA), with assistance from Eastman Kodak Corporation, in the later years of World War II. The concept for the BEANO hand grenade was that a spherical grenade the size and weight of a common baseball would be effective in the hands of American troops. The designers believed that by emulating a baseball, any young American man should be able to properly throw the grenade with both accuracy and distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f73bce46-7a0b-4b00-8ff8-0e9bf21ad407/183+-+Bobby+Richardson.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played second base for the team from 1955-1966, winning 5 Gold Glove Awards and being named to 8 All-Star teams. He is a 3-time World Series champion, and won the 1960 World Series MVP. He was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4be1b6c5-3665-4168-af44-6f00298c3f46/184+-+peanuts.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Bobby Richardson caught the screaming line drive hit by Willie McCovey with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1962 World Series which would have scored two runs and given the Giants the Series victory had it gone over Richardson’s head. Charles Schultz never got over it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e67b2c36-7478-49ec-a492-c2eaffa2b041/185+-+OTD+01-14-1954.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - On This Date Posts You’ve seen a handful of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a14db56-68a4-4f86-8e8d-28cd72dc26e4/186+-+email.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44c20d10-72e4-4c05-bf45-38242bad6af9/187+-+League+of+Outsider+Baseball+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a signed copy of The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball's Forgotten Heroes by Gary Cieradkowski? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c442f274-6bfc-491c-9ecb-67b4c648e8ee/188+-+Joe.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe Jackson People often bemoan the fact that the Black Sox Scandal has kept Shoeless Joe Jackson out of the Hall of Fame. But, for most fans, that’s the end of their line of thinking. “Shoeless Joe doesn’t have a plaque because he was banned from baseball.” While that is partially true, it’s a little more complicated than that. In fact, Joe has actually received Hall of Fame votes twice before, in 1936 and again in 1946, receiving two votes apiece in those years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0576a956-c569-402b-a077-d015ed68b718/189+-+Joe+and+Ty+Cobb+b%26w.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson While Joe never won a batting title during his career, he is widely hailed as the greatest natural hitter in the history of the game. Ty Cobb, the man who singlehandedly kept Joe from winning three different batting titles in his playing days, praised Joe’s skills and ability for decades, even after Joe had passed away. One of the times he was quoted as saying, “I learned a lot, watching him... I don't think I ever saw a more perfect swing than [Joe’s].” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de416c59-b178-48b9-be16-2907d63fed66/190+-+Van+Oeyen+Portrait+b%26w.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Consistently Great In the nine full seasons of Major League ball Joe actually played, he finished in the Top 4 in the batting race seven times, including three second-place finishes, two third-place finishes, and two fourth-place finishes. His .356 career batting average stood third on the all-time list until recently, when requirements for the number of at bats needed by American League and National League batters to qualify for the all-time list increased to 5,000 after the inclusion of the Negro Leagues statistics into the Major League record books. Joe’s 4,981 career at bats means he no longer qualifies, missing out by 19 at bats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7c9c44b-f580-414a-800e-7dc42c0ac389/191+-+Comiskey.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Charles Comiskey In Charles Comiskey’s attempt to build a dynasty on the South Side of Chicago, he acquired Joe from Cleveland in August of 1915, just 8 months after he had acquired Eddie Collins from Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. With those two superstars in place, Comiskey had the foundation of a winning ball club for years to come. Joe led the White Sox to the 1917 World Series title over the New York Giants before missing most of the 1918 season due to his military service in WWI. He returned to the Sox in 1919, when he batted .351 with 96 RBI and only 10 strikeouts in 139 games, putting an exclamation point on a fantastic regular season by hitting a walk-off single to clinch the American League pennant on September 24 against the St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a76e28da-d60a-4dd4-ba9e-d8ac53865594/192+-+Joe+Jackson+Batting+Practice+B%26W.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - An Abrupt Ending Unfortunately, Joe’s career ended abruptly and prematurely because of his involvement in the infamous Black Sox Scandal of the 1919 World Series. What most people fail to realize, however, is that Joe and his teammates had initially gone unpunished, and were allowed to play the 1920 season before the scandal fully broke. With a week left to play in the 1920 regular season, the White Sox were a half game back from going to their third World Series in four seasons, with the only year they missed being the war-shortened 1918 season during which most of their roster was away for the war effort. The dynasty Charles Comiskey was attempting to build was undeniably real. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f70de40b-dc35-4a6f-9987-42869dbbd011/193+-+Landis.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Kenesaw Mountain Landis Joe was banned from the game, along with seven of his teammates, following the 1920 season, which was the first year of the live ball era. Joe had one of the best years of his career in 1920, setting career highs in home runs and RBI, driving in 121 runs and leading the league with 20 triples. His 218 hits made it the fourth time in his nine full seasons that he had 200 or more hits, and his .382 batting average was the third highest of his career. But then, with one decision by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, it all just… ended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d798359-4ba5-404c-b0ea-b11e82080b64/194+-+Van+Oeyen+Throwing+b%26w.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Career That Could Have Been 1920 was Joe’s age-32 season, which sounds like he would be aging out of the game in modern times. But based on his career trajectory, and the careers of his direct contemporaries like Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, and Rogers Hornsby, it is highly likely that Joe would have played into his 40s, had he not been banned by Commissioner Landis. Who knows what the 1920s would have looked like if Joe was allowed to continue playing in the Majors?But when you look at the players I just mentioned, their production skyrocketed during the Live Ball Era compared to their Dead Ball stats, especially when it came to their batting averages and RBI totals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4217a18-009e-4190-901a-6cae6037a11b/195+-+Cobb.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Ty Cobb Ty Cobb batted .371 during his 15 seasons in the dead ball era, averaging 227.8 hits and 102.2 RBI per 162 games. 1920 was his age-33 season, just a year older than Joe. Ty was coerced into an early retirement in 1926 due to his own betting scandal, when it came to light that he fixed a game and attempted to bet on it during the 1919 season, but came back to play in 1927 and 1928 with the Athletics, retiring after his age-41 season. In his first three seasons of the live ball era, Cobb batted .377, averaging 236.8 hits and 113.0 RBI per 162, all significant increases from his dead ball numbers. All told, in the nine seasons he played during the live ball era, Cobb batted .357, averaging 216.4 hits and 106.6 RBI per 162, and adding 41.6 WAR to bring his career total to 151.4, which is 6th all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/009e57d0-42c5-48dd-b04b-938096bc1f04/196+-+Speaker.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Tris Speaker Tris Speaker batted .338 during his 13 seasons in the dead ball era, averaging 201.9 hits and 80.5 RBI per 162 games. 1920 was his age-32 season, the exact same as Joe. Tris, funnily enough, was also coerced into an early retirement in 1926 due to that same betting scandal involving Ty Cobb (it is now known as the Dutch Leonard Affair). He, like Cobb, came back to play in 1927 and 1928, retiring after his age-40 season. In his first four seasons of the live ball era, Speaker batted .377, averaging 223.3 hits and 110.2 RBI per 162, all massive jumps from his dead ball stats. All told, in the nine seasons he played during the live ball era, Speaker batted .354, averaging 207.1 hits and 100.5 RBI per 162, and adding 52.2 WAR to bring his career total to 134.9, which is 9th all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b4fc5fd-4794-47a6-97ff-811dad902f0e/197+-+Joe+and+Tris.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Joe, Ty, and Tris Speaker once said about Joe, "I can't even remember him being in a batting slump. His swing was so perfect that there was little chance of it getting disorganized. He was the greatest natural hitter who ever lived." This photo was taken at the Addie Joss benefit game at League Park in Cleveland in 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d19b7a34-0d28-4d82-b0df-f73c86cbafdb/198+-+Hornsby.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Rogers Hornsby Rogers Hornsby batted .310 during his five seasons in the dead ball era, averaging 181.0 hits and 77.6 RBI per 162 games. 1920 was his age-24 season, eight years younger than Joe, meaning he was just about to enter his athletic prime when the live ball era began. He went on to play through 1937, retiring after his age-41 season. In his first four seasons of the live ball era, Hornsby batted .389, averaging 248.7 hits and 130.7 RBI per 162, all astronomically higher than his dead ball stats. All told, in the 18 seasons he played during the live ball era, Hornsby batted .374, averaging 219.6 hits and 125.3 RBI per 162, adding 100.8 WAR to bring his career total to 127.3, which is 12th all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18d53f9a-b8ee-405f-8682-fa336c7085fa/199+-+Lajoie.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - 35 Is The New 41 Due to the age difference, it’s not quite fair to compare Hornsby’s live ball production to theirs, or use it as a gauge to estimate what Joe would have done, had his career been able to play out naturally. However, the point can still be made that, at that time in baseball history, players of their caliber continued their careers until they were in their 40s. Like Cobb (center) and Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie (right) also retired at 41. Eddie Collins and Honus Wagner each retired at 43. If you were at that skill level, you played a long time back then. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ed5f35c-e3ad-4f6a-b6f9-a32d74b3f6e6/200+-+Joe.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Deadball Slugger Joe batted .352 during his 12 seasons in the dead ball era, averaging 212.3 hits and 91.7 RBI per 162 games. 1920 was his age-32 season, meaning he most likely had another nine or ten full seasons left in him, had he not been banned. In his only season of the live ball era, Jackson batted .382, and was on pace for 241.9 hits and 132.3 RBI per 162. Those numbers are perfectly in line with the increases Hornsby and Cobb saw in their statistics, accounting for the fact that Joe only played one season in the live ball era and his stats would have most likely started to come slightly back down to earth in years 2-4, had he been allowed to play them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f197a0e-ee7e-4ec9-8a06-9bd5dfe3ba75/206+-+Increases.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b85b9b1-1a3a-4f2c-9002-ecb7e45567c8/201+-+wider.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - How Many Hits? Joe’s career ended with 1,772 hits. If he plays for another nine seasons and is able to retire after his age-41 season, we’re looking at an addition of somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,524 hits. I’m basing that on Joe averaging 211 hits per 162 games, since Cobb averaged 216.4 and Speaker averaged 207.1 per 162 in their live ball careers. I’m also assuming he plays an average of just 130 games per season (which is exactly what Speaker averaged in his live ball career), as opposed to the 142.8 games per season Joe had been averaging at the point, when his career ended. That trajectory would have given Joe 3,296 career hits, which would put him 13th all time. If he plays a tenth full year, retiring after his age-42 season, and picks up another 90 hits in that final season, that gives him 3,386 and moves him up to 10th all time today. Cobb is 2nd all time, Speaker is 5th, and Hornsby is 40th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e060e1-84d6-4b56-bad4-26cd365e89aa/202+-+Collins+adjusted.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - First Six With 3,000 As of today, there are 33 players in Major League Baseball history who have collected 3,000 hits. At the time Joe would have crossed that threshold, which I project would have most likely been in late 1926, or possibly early 1927, he would have been just the seventh player in history with 3,000. The only six ahead of him would have been Cap Anson in July of 1897, Honus Wagner in June of 1914, Napoleon Lajoie in September of 1914, Ty Cobb in August of 1921, Tris Speaker in May of 1925, and Eddie Collins (seated, Joe is far left) in June of 1925. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d84e0ff1-c997-4636-bc23-5ecc58c03937/203+-+Trophies.jpeg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Runs Batted In Joe’s career ended with 792 RBI. If he would have played for another nine seasons instead of being banned following the 1920 season, he would have added another roughly 748 RBI (assuming he splits the difference between Cobb and Speaker’s live ball season averages, like he did during their dead ball careers). That would have given Joe 1,540 career RBI, which would put him tied for 49th all time. If he doesn’t retire until after his age-42 season, and picks up another 35 RBI, that gives him 1,575 and moves him up to 46th all time. Cobb is 9th all time, Hornsby is tied for 42nd, and Speaker is 51st. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3e1541c-040b-41b9-9ed7-1c7de17f8d05/204+-+Trophy.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Wins Above Replacement Joe’s career ended with 62.2 WAR. If he would have played for another nine seasons and added another 40.9 WAR, he would have ended his career with 103.1, which would be good for 29th all time, and 20th among position players. Based on his actual numbers, and on the things his contemporaries said about him, it is clear that Joe was one of the greatest players who ever lived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e742d07-7596-4a9d-9875-962082d14228/207+-+Live+Ball+Totals.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e570bce-121a-4a0b-ae5e-43351751517a/205+-+Joe+and+Black+Betsy+backyard.jpg Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - What Could Have Been? But all of that aside, instead of feeling sorry for Joe that he was robbed of what could have been one of the all-time great careers and a surefire spot in the Hall of Fame, we should feel sorry for baseball. Instead of the Yankees dominating the American League with six pennants in the 1920s, Joe Jackson and the White Sox dynasty that Charles Comiskey had built would have been New York’s heated rival for the duration of the decade. The two would have spent the entire decade fighting for pennants and creating unforgettable moments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e71b8fbd-9ce3-4246-b4c7-3a74cb3a59b6/208+-+Babe+and+Joe+b%26w.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - The Greatest Natural Hitter Ever Babe Ruth said "I copied Jackson's batting style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I'd ever seen; the greatest natural hitter I ever saw. I still think the same way. He's the guy who made me a hitter." Imagine what the 1920s would have looked like with those two going at it, head-to-head. It’s a shame that Joe wasn’t able to finish his career on his own terms. We’ll never know what his true statistics would have looked like, had he been able to. But I can promise you this: he would absolutely have a plaque in Cooperstown, alongside all of his peers who called him the greatest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c08cae0b-9340-43d9-8bbb-aea54a88ae06/199+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0504 - Gary Cieradkowski - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/03 monthly 0.5 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b174e992-0819-4a2a-b34b-68ddf792aab4/youtube.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/373d69ea-12f9-476f-83a7-866857230ece/square.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig Me and Phil Rosenzweig after recording our interview in Narragansett, Rhode Island. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d00552f-cf57-47c3-aef8-181d9edda12a/01+-+phil.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Phil Rosenzweig Phil Rosenzweig is the author of One Splendid Season: Baseball and America in 1912, Told with the Words and Images of the Hassan Triplefolder Set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6389f4c4-7071-496d-8be2-7465974236d4/02+-+Casey+Award.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - CASEY Award Phil’s book is one of the ten finalists for the 2025 Casey Award, which is an annual literary award that has been given to the best baseball book of the year since 1983 and is considered to be the most prestigious award that can be given to a baseball book. Check out the incredible list of past Casey Award nominees and winners HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f426af7-7b74-4501-a095-c856e24e5eb9/03+-+T202.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out In 1912, the American Tobacco Company designed an innovative set that combined the end panels from the 1911 T205 set, with white borders instead of gold, and a center panel consisting of a black and white photograph. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d372c8b-2afa-40aa-92c2-033ba0465fbe/04+-+fast+shutter+speed.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Fast-Shutter Photography The center panels of the T202 set are the first examples of fast-shutter photography ever used as the images on baseball cards. This photo, depicting Reds infielder Eddie Grant tagging out a runner at third, was used on card 40 in the set, which is pictured above. Eddie Grant’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e6df035-e620-4274-8f19-a6428a75faae/05+-+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - One Splendid Season One Splendid Season tells the story of the 1912 Major League Baseball season through the words and images of the Hassan Triplefolder tobacco card set. It offers a rich portrait of baseball and its place in American society in the Deadball Era, with photographs, postcards, and other memorabilia. Buy it HERE directly from Phil. Buy it HERE from Amazon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff550aa6-5131-4f19-b496-3f2535fee227/06+-+book.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Every Panel is Presented Every panel from the T202 set is presented in the book with a high-resolution scan, in vibrant color and outstanding detail, in its actual size. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9820c53d-a1ce-477a-b55a-658d3d359212/07+-+translated.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 14 Languages Phil Rosenzweig was born and raised in Northern California. He is professor emeritus of business administration at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is the author of numerous other books which have been translated into fourteen languages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16608ff8-ec74-47b8-bb3e-cc98ebfeb262/08+-+phil.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Phil Rosenzweig For over 35 years now, Phil has been active as a teacher, researcher, and writer. He received his PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1990. From 1990 to 1996, Phil was assistant professor at Harvard Business School in Boston. From 1996 to 2021, Phil was a professor at IMD in Switzerland, which is one of the world’s leading business schools. While at IMD, Phil directed programs with many leading companies and led the EMBA for six years. Prior to his career in academia, Phil got his BA in economics from UC Santa Barbara, an MBA from UCLA, and worked with Hewlett-Packard in California. Today, Phil lives in the United Kingdom, which made scheduling this interview kind of tricky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d316f620-83e9-4fd8-9789-014992ded7de/09+-+Paul.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - April 15, 2024 Phil and I met on April 15th, 2024, at Gitterman Gallery in New York City for the grand opening of Paul Reiferson’s incredible exhibition, Jackie Robinson and the Color Line. Paul is a photography connoisseur who spent decades amassing the most complete Charles Conlon collection ever privately assembled. He was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f00ec940-e264-4f08-9318-4ab58ce29960/IMG_3201.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - MBH Record-Setting Gathering To the best of my knowledge, the crowd of people in the room that day is now officially the largest gathering of My Baseball History guests ever assembled in one place, with (from left to right) Graig Kreindler, myself, Paul Reiferson, William Peebles, and (not pictured) Phil Rosenzweig all in attendance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0931775-79d7-42e2-841b-469f023df969/11+-+graig.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Graig Kreindler Graig Kreindler is a renowned baseball artist, historian, and researcher. He was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd310d5b-1585-47f8-9580-48fba5efd803/12+-+me.JPG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Dan Wallach I am the host, writer, and producer of My Baseball History, and the former Executive Director of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library in Greenville, South Carolina. I was the subject of Episode 1 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99e60f92-75a2-4330-8eb3-edbda4291eb1/12+-+william.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - William Peebles William Peebles is the owner, founder, and craftsman of Huntington Base Ball Co. and a historian of the evolution of the baseball. He was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cb56559-b50a-43bd-ae5e-d21737b4e6bc/14+-+paperback+writer.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Paperback Writer Phil’s love for photography was evident when we met each other at Gitterman Gallery for Paul’s exhibition opening, as was his love of baseball and history. Naturally, we hit it off. When Phil got back to the UK, he sent me a copy of the paperback version of his book, which I fell in love with. I asked if he would be down to come on the podcast, with the caveat being that we would have to record the interview in person. He said yes, but then it took about a year for our schedules to line up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d9367ff-b79b-4ca2-96df-a03aa6ce5ea8/15+-+Atlantic.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out In October of 2025, I planned a trip to meet Phil in Rhode Island so we could finally sit down for our interview. We were right on the Atlantic, and spent a great day together. We recorded our interview in the afternoon (in the building on the left of this photo), then had dinner and came back to watch some playoff baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc621ef4-9fe7-4fd6-8c4f-2f44f0dc3393/16+-+bobby+richardson.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1962 World Series Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played 2B for the team from 1955-1966. He caught the final ball hit by Willie McCovey in the bottom of the 9th inning during Game 7 to clinch the 1962 World Series for the Yankees. Had Richardson not made the play, the hit by McCovey most likely would have scored two runs, which would have won the game and the Series for the Giants, instead. Bobby Richardson was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7c74b2f-05d2-46e3-9834-3c16c5ed1fc3/17+-+1960+Cimoli.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Phil’s First Cards Phil’s dad bought him a pack of 1960 Topps baseball cards when Phil was 5 years old. This card of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gino Cimoli, which depicts him wearing a Cardinals uniform since he played in St. Louis during the 1959 season, was one of the first Phil ever owned. He still has it, to this day. GIno Cimoli’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b838b202-4078-451f-8b3c-2f5446b099e3/18+-+Cuban+Missile+Crisis.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of nuclear missiles in the United Kingdom, Italy and Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of nuclear missiles in Cuba. The crisis began on October 16, 1962, the same day as Game 7 of the 1962 World Series, and lasted until October 28. The confrontation is widely considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into full-scale nuclear war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eacf6b3-ff91-46ba-b073-a1ccaa99ccb2/19+-+1962+World+Series+cards.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1963 Topps Baseball Cards The 1963 Topps set had a 7-card subset dedicated to the games of the 1962 World Series. Phil remembers collecting them all, and noticing that the Yankees had won Games 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the 1962 World Series, while the Giants had won Games 2, 4, and 6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b73a256f-25e2-4e1a-b373-d9757d550172/20+-+1967+Topps+complete+set.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1967 Topps Complete Set After one of his classmates mentioned that he was going to buy the complete set of 1967 Topps cards, instead of trying to piece it together by buying pack after pack after pack, Phil convinced his dad to let him do the same. The $14.95 price tag was paid off with 25 cents a week of Phil’s allowance, but he still has the cards, which are significantly more valuable than $14.95 today. All in all, it was a very wise decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ceb82a23-8dfe-4751-83ac-94829023deaa/21+-+1956+Topps.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - What Is A Vintage Card? When Phil was 7 years old in 1962, this 1956 Topps set felt “vintage” to him. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a904594-cb53-417c-8fe3-e80bf8b945b4/22+-+1957+Topps.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - New York Giants Even this 1957 Topps card, featuring Willie Mays of the … New York Giants??? … felt archaic to Phil, who had only grown up knowing them as the San Francisco Giants. Little did Phil know at the time, but the Giants played in New York from 1885 to 1957 before moving to San Francisco to begin play in the 1958 season. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816a0353-4427-4caf-a511-0d991073297d/23+-+Tobacco+card.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tobacco Cards Tobacco cards are trading cards issued by tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette packaging and advertise cigarette brands. Between 1875 and the 1940s, cigarette companies often included collectible cards with their packages of cigarettes. Cigarette card sets document popular culture from the turn of the century, often depicting the period's actresses, costumes, and sports, as well as offering insights into mainstream humor and cultural norms. This example from Phil’s collection is a card from the T206 set which was released between 1909 and 1911. It is a landmark set in the history of baseball card collecting, due to its size and rarity, and the quality of its color lithographs. It features New York Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson wearing a dark cap. Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f06e771e-3baf-467c-8d04-61c83004ca45/24+-+T205.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T205 set The T205 set was released in 1911 and is known informally as the "Gold Borders" set due to the distinctive gold borders surrounding the lithographs on each card. The set consists of 221 cards, which include many variations and short prints, and features players from the American League, the National League, and Minor Leaguers. American League cards can be identified by the baseball diamond surrounding the portrait of the player sporting their team logo near the top. National League cards display a simple colored background with the first-ever use of a facsimile autograph of the player. There are also 12 Minor League cards printed with noticeably different and more detailed borders. This example from Phil’s collection features New York Giants pitcher Rube Marquard. Rube Marquard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8be47e43-d308-477b-b022-ebed59a25956/25+-+T202+74E+Marquard+Meyers.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T202 set The T202 set consists of 132 cards, each measuring about 2-1/4” by 5-1/4”. Each card is designed with two full-color end panels (similar in appearance to a T205 card). Those bookend a black-and-white center panel picture which bears an action photo or portrait. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9522970-65ff-438a-a08c-892a5aba0d3d/26+-+packaging.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out T202 cards came in packs of Hassan Cork Tip Cigarettes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8328ceb3-f725-433e-8a6a-92671e477f43/27+-+center+panel.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Fast Shutter Speed Photography The T202 set has two things that most card sets don't have. The first is the center panel, which has a black and white photograph of fast shutter speed photography. This is possibly the first example of a card set using fast shutter speed photography, with shutter speeds up to 1/1,000th of a second. While cameras did have fast shutter speeds in those days, this was before a time when photographers had telephoto lenses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9633ad5c-0723-4ba6-98d1-072172e475c0/28+-+Photographers+on+the+field.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Photographers On The Field While cameras had the ability to take fast shutter speed shots, there were no telephoto lenses in the early 1900s yet. This meant that the most logical places for photographers to stand so they could be close enough to the action to get clear shots, but without interfering with the game by being on the field of play, was near home plate, near the first base bag, or near the third base bag. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57cff090-f332-4965-8801-8ced7f3f5a65/29+-+third+base.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Which Shots Could They Get? With their positioning being as it was, photographers mostly got shots of plays at first base, at third base, of hitters in the batter’s boxes, or plays at home plate. It also meant that you won't see many photos of shortstops going into the hole, or outfielders making a catch at the fence, or things like that, since the photographers were simply standing too far away from those players to get good shots of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84514b7e-c48f-4910-b257-10a2931c1bb4/30+-+play+at+the+plate.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Play At The Plate A photographer would have had to anticipate a play at the plate, get in position while the play was developing, and be ready to snap the photo to get the image seen here, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set. This one shows New York catcher Ed Sweeney tagging out Big Ed Walsh of the White Sox at home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c67abdc-e75a-42bc-996b-72ed2570f341/31+-+first+baseman+guarding+first.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - First Baseman Guarding First Base This photo, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set, depicts Amby McConnell, the little second baseman of the Chicago Americans, sliding under the all but invincible Hal Chase and making the first base bag his own. A second sooner with the ball, and Chase would have had him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/401530e0-a7ed-4019-b05f-c279ce6ffa49/32+-+passing+the+bag.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - A Runner Passing The First Base Bag This photo, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set, depicts Mike Donlin, who thought he had made a safe hit; but he failed to do so, as the first baseman had touched the base and was returning the ball to the pitcher even before the runner reached the bag. Mike Donlin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09393796-404e-446c-a960-c4191ea07d63/33+-+elberfeld.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Plays At Third Base This photo, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set, depicts Kid Elberfeld, one of the greatest emergency hitters known to baseball, as the runner who has just gotten to third base, which is being covered by Jimmy Austin. Kid Elberfeld’s SABR Biography Jimmy Austin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39a94027-2af7-4fd6-a78d-bc63b8370534/34+-+passing+third.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Passing Third Base On The Way To Home Plate This photo, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set, depicts Jay Clarke (referred to as “Nig” Clarke on the card and in many contemporary accounts) unconcernedly continuing his hike around third for the home plate; he got there and added a run to the score. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55b05673-d690-447c-8abc-7038af21c7bc/35+-+second+base.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - A Play At Second Base? The back of this card reads “[Germany] Schaefer made a fine head-first slide into second, as illustrated on the other side of this card. He is one of the best known infielders of the American League, and an exceedingly versatile player.” But Phil speculates that this photo is actually staged during Spring Training, and not really taken during live game action. Germany Schaefer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a1957b0-a134-4c0d-8718-6a41be9112da/36+-+sidelines.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Taken On The Sidelines Before The Game This photo, which appears as a center panel on one of the cards in the T202 set, depicts Russell Ford, who is a student of the game, and has evolved his own future. He took up the famous spitball where other pitchers had left off and improved upon it till he has become as nearly invincible as a pitcher can possibly be. Russ Ford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20261a4d-bde0-402c-b499-684d44a39e78/37+-+1960+Topps.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Years Ahead of Their Time Topps had true game action in some of the World Series cards in the 1960s, with the 1960 Topps release marking the first year of an actual multi-card World Series subset, but Topps didn’t have true photographs of game action in true base cards until 1971. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/730af171-79db-4dd1-a724-324e32cdf734/38+-+folded.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - How The Cards Were Distributed The cards came pre-folded so they could fit into packs of the Hassan Cork-Tipped Cigarettes, which means that the extreme corners of the cards were often protected from damage more than they would have been had the cards not come folded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1e63c24-baaf-481b-95fa-785609ddaf71/38+-+folded.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Sometimes, card owners would fold these cards down the middle of the center panel, as well, as can be seen in this example. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c37d681e-ee6b-49b6-8921-1753daa59a90/39+-+tobacco+brands.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - American Tobacco Company Because of the fact that these cards came in packages of Hassan cigarettes, and that the cards folded, the T202 set is also known as the Hassan Triple Folders set. It has the T designation, as in T202, because it is one of a number of card sets which was available through the purchase of Tobacco products. American Tobacco was formed by 5 companies: W. Duke & Sons, Allen & Ginter, W.S. Kimball & Company, Kinney Tobacco, and Goodwin & Company. It commercialized baseball cards through its brands Fatima, Hassan, Meca, Obak, and a handful of others. Photo courtesy of BaseballAndTobacco.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81828314-0f03-4cba-872a-535ad8a3f638/40+-+Hassan.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Around the turn of the 20th century, anybody could buy a 10-pack of Hassan Cork Tip Cigarettes for a nickel — one-quarter the cost of other Turkish-style brands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0531e767-eca1-4911-a1e2-12ec7878fce2/41+-+Hassan.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - More Than Just Baseball Cards For years cigarette makers had been inserting cardboard stiffeners into their flimsy paper packs. But with the introduction of chromolithography in 1875 Richmond-based Allen & Ginter transformed its blank stiffeners into colorful cards printed with images of baseball players, Indian chiefs and the like. Other firms followed suit, and the modern-day trading card was born. Hassan produced cards featuring wildlife, Native Americans, cowboy life, flags of the world, lighthouses… all sorts of different subjects, so customers with all hobbies (and all ages) would be interested in buying their product. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb4e2199-09a8-4282-a216-a1a690640787/42+-+1911+Spalding+Guide.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1911 Spalding Guide In 1876, the first A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods store opened in Chicago. That same year, Spalding developed the first Major League Baseball to become the official baseball of the National League (1876-1976) and American League (1889-1973). In addition to being a sporting goods company, Spalding also produced an annual guide, which published images of the players, as well as recaps of what had happened in Major and Minor League baseball the previous year. The portraits which were used to create the side panels of the T202 set were used the year before, in 1911’s T205 set. But they were originally shot by the Paul Thompson agency for the 1911 Spalding Guide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bd8ae85-681d-401a-88e3-e9f0a3753fd7/44+-+T205+and+T206.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The end panels of the T202 set (of which there is a full, three-panel card, pictured above, on the right) were taken from the designs of the T205 gold border set which had come out the year before (pictured above, on the left). Notice that the Fred Merkle panel is nearly identical from the T205 set to the T202 set, which came out the following year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3362416-09cd-4908-bd3a-5250a2d72858/43+-+Merkle.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Paul Thompson Portraits The portraits of the players which made up the images of the T205 set were originally taken to be included in the Spalding Guides. While many believe (or want to believe) Paul Thompson was a photographer, he actually operated a photography news service which aggregated photos taken by a large network of photographers across the country and distributed those photos to publications which wanted to use them. This portrait of Fred Merkle was taken by the Paul Thompson agency and became the basis for the Fred Merkle baseball card which appeared in the T205 set, and then subsequently in the T202 set. Fred Merkle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df2ff827-bb15-4667-af07-5c4bf6c8a908/45+-+Spalding+Giants.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Portraits in the Spalding Guide Here is how the portraits which were taken by the Paul Thompson agency would have appeared in the Spalding Guide. Notice the Fred Merkle portrait on the left side, second from the top. These images were put to good, repeated use, since there were such a small amount of photos taken of most players, which is what made the portraits taken by the Paul Thompson agency so valuable - both monetarily, and culturally. Without the massive undertaking which was snapping photos of every single Major League player, most fans from around the country would never see what players looked like, or be able to put a face to the name when they read it in the newspaper. There was no tv, there was no internet, and not every team came to every city before interleague play. So, often times, a fan’s only chance to literally see the players who made up their favorite sport would have been in the annual Spalding Guide, or by collecting baseball cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9418592c-f129-45e7-bacf-75eb4263a29f/43+-+Louis+Van+Oeyen.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Louis Van Oeyen Louis Van Oeyen (1865-1946) was the first photographer hired as staff on a Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper, and a pioneer in many techniques and activities of photojournalism. Van Oeyen was hired as a Cleveland Press photographer in 1901, after his photographs of the water intake explosion disaster in Lake Erie, and the assassination of President William McKinley, were published in the Press. During his career at the Press, he shot portraiture, politics, disaster, crime, scandal, and sports photographs. His greatest love was baseball, and he became official photographer for the American League in 1908, and for the World Series until 1922. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99463c9b-f218-45ba-a31a-c6d30235b62f/44+-+Charles+Conlon.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Charles M. Conlon Charles Martin Conlon was born in Albany, New York and grew up in the neighboring city of Troy. He started his career working as a proof-reader for New York City newspapers in the early 1900s, and took up landscape photography as a hobby. Conlon became a master photographer, and is known for his distinctive and poetic documentation of America’s favorite pastime. He is pictured here at his proofreader’s desk at the Evening Telegram in 1930. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0a12b34-ef9b-4d09-aba4-e2fe3e57ac6a/45+-+Spalding+1912+p140.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Spalding Guide Action Shots A number of photos inside the Spalding Guide were taken by Louis Van Oeyen in Cleveland, or by Charles Conlon in New York. The majority of the action shots which make up the center panels of the T202 set were taken by either Van Oeyen or Conlon, and had previously been published in Spalding Guides. This is page 140 of the 1912 Spalding Guide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b63714f8-6104-4caf-98be-80856d5a8cba/49+-+2+back.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out In addition to the photography and portraits which adorned the front of the cards of the T202 set, the backs of the cards were also provided by Spalding. Here, you can see exactly how the three panels were shown, with the fold lines separating the two end panels from the larger center panel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e5d683a-91f2-4790-a632-03328755532b/50+-+Burdick.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The “T” Designation The classifications of cards set up by Jefferson Burdick were essential to early collectors and are still used to this day. The reason is because there were so many cards out there that collectors needed a way to classify them and keep them organized. Jefferson Burdick sorted cards by how they were distributed or what they were. For example, cards placed inside of tobacco products were given a T-Card (for tobacco) designation. Sports card collectors know him for his work with, primarily, baseball cards. However, the American Card Catalog goes far beyond that scope and includes not only other sports cards but all kinds of non-sports issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c66db43-b761-4f8c-8d29-b111443766d2/51+-+American+Card+Catalog.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Jefferson Burdick’s American Card Catalog Miniature blanket cards (often made of felt) were B-cards. Cards distributed by bakeries or found in bread products were D-cards. Cards found in caramels were E-cards. Cards found in foods, particularly ice cream or dairy products, were F-cards. Cards distributed by magazines or publications were M-cards. Tobacco cards which came out in the 19th century were N-cards (as opposed to 20th century tobacco cards, which got the T-designation). Cards found in gum were R-cards. Strip cards and Exhibits were W-cards. Game cards were WG-cards. Cards which came out in other countries (often in Canada) were either V-cards or C-cards. Click HERE for examples of specific sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14335438-449d-4306-9704-c73cb67951aa/52+-+T205+%26+T202+NL+vs.+AL.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The images of National League players were larger and often times slightly more detailed than those of American League players in both the T205 and T202 sets. While the National League cards were mostly just the portrait, the American League cards also included the ornate decorations around the portrait, which forced the portraits on those cards to be smaller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f9630c5-6f8d-4bef-9b6c-45a6e1e522db/53+-+portraits.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Phil has reproduced a number of the Paul Thompson portraits in his book, as can be seen above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8bcc675-d087-4b00-ba14-343c33ee3cbb/54+-+1953+Topps.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1953 Topps The 1953 Topps set has long been a favorite of collectors because of its beautiful design and art work. Each card consists of a team logo in the bottom corner and and red or black banner (red for American League, black for National League) on the bottom encompassing the players name, position, and team. The reverse of the cards contain a player biography, stats, and trivia. Topps originally planned the set to have 280 cards, but 6 contracts were lost to rival Bowman, leaving 274 cards in total. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c81b21e-c1bc-4963-86a2-864210256a16/55+-+1951+bowman.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1951 Bowman For 1951, Bowman increased the size of their set to 324 total cards. Included in this year were the true rookie cards of both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Bowman slightly increased the size of the card for the 1951 set, but kept the familiar color art reproduction of actual color photographs. The fronts finally included the player's name on them. Backs look similar to previous Bowman sets, with the player's name, team, and biography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca2ba885-bc04-42b0-8256-f39b0b9ba84c/56+-+original+photo.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Original Photographs The artwork in these sets from the 1950s was also based on actual photographs, as you can see here with this image of Mickey Mantle, which was artistically altered for his cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83cb09d1-92cd-41bc-98f5-88b2d748a486/57+-+end+panels.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The T202 set has 144 different end panels, and 76 different center panels throughout the set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9964ec84-77f3-4545-a82c-8fa4b624e55a/58+-+end+panels.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Some of these panels appear multiple times within the set, with numerous combinations of end cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e2edd8c-783a-4b90-bfcf-fc7edb6ebc1c/59+-+Cobb.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Ty Cobb Ty Cobb’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/420bdabd-2287-4967-940a-23b02179947c/60+-+Mathewson.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Christy Mathewson Christy Mathewson’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34312ce4-6156-460b-95bb-e19dafee59f6/61+-+Speaker.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tris Speaker Tris Speaker’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2801e521-dddb-4123-9ef8-38f1c2fc626d/59+-+cy+young.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out There are 137 different players represented in the set, including a large number of Hall of Famers, like Cy Young, who is represented on an end panel which serves as the last official baseball card he would appear on during his playing career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd8ae5e2-ecc0-45a7-9758-b24c27fa8502/60+-+baker.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Frank “Home Run” Baker Frank “Home Run” Baker’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Frank “Home Run” Baker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b734e340-57d8-4b0f-a15c-8fe2d0099941/64+-+Walsh.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - “Big Ed” Walsh “Big Ed” Walsh’s career statistics via Baseball Reference “Big Ed” Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17d1bbd1-3771-40d9-aac5-ff9c619a050b/65+-+Bender.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Charles Bender Charles Bender’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Charles Bender’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19004469-85ae-4889-917e-0601184ac174/66+-+konetchy.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Ed Konetchy Ed Konetchy’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Ed Konetchy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/719c24fe-dde0-4f11-8481-67f0bbc52fc7/67+-+daubert.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Jake Daubert Jake Daubert’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Jake Daubert’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/945d7b24-d4bd-4af5-a584-bbe21ee867d8/68+-+ford.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Russ Ford Russ Ford’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Russ Ford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15a86990-f5a9-45f4-9d04-68bb6f0ddbf8/69+-+cicotte.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Eddie Cicotte Eddie Cicotte’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Eddie Cicotte’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea7a4b26-5dfe-4e4b-963a-8ae723524f07/70+-+chase.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Hal Chase Hal Chase’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Hal Chase’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91ae6410-4497-4efa-8981-da153d737866/71+-+stovall.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - George Stovall George Stovall’s career statistics via Baseball Reference George Stovall’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6b0c26a-b188-454a-9ab5-ef44e9185d18/72+-+austin.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Jimmy Austin Jimmy Austin’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Jimmy Austin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f2626d1-bfd3-4122-ba60-86783d690885/73+-+meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - John Meyers John Meyers’ career statistics via Baseball Reference John Meyers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b37007e-a26b-421f-95e6-e4f55422e2ac/74+-+Hilltop+Park.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Hilltop Park Hilltop Park was the home of the New York Yankees from 1903 to 1912 when they were known as the "Highlanders". It was also the temporary home of the New York Giants during a two-month period in 1911 while the Polo Grounds was being rebuilt after a fire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d87ef122-066c-4e5c-af78-0e5332f76376/75+-+blair.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Walter Blair Walter Blair’s career statistics via Baseball Reference There are a number of theories as to why Blair was not included in the T205 set, but did sneak his way into the T202 set, along with Smoky Joe Wood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f908e2a3-2e4f-4de8-8b30-b4d2ac3e480c/76+-+wood.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Smoky Joe Wood Smoky Joe Wood’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Smoky Joe Wood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb0860a1-2df0-44bd-8f21-57656ddc190a/77+-+400+designs.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The backs of the T205 cards advertise that the set has "400 Designs" which, of course, is far greater than what was actually produced. There are many theories as to why this discrepancy exists. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1f01e14-4853-42c7-8d0c-d2dd94d6ba22/78+-+crawford.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Missing Stars? There are a number of players who had cards in the T205 set, but did not appear on end panels of the T202 set, like Germany Schaefer. Other players, such as Sam Crawford, Napoleon Lajoie, or Shoeless Joe Jackson, were not included in the T205 set, and also did not appear on end panels of the T202 set. However, one way the T202 set found a way to include them was to feature these players in the center panels of some of the action shots in the set. This center panel shows Athletics first baseman Harry Davis failing to catch “Wahoo Sam” Crawford napping at first. A wide throw pulled Davis off the bag, and Crawford was safe. Harry Davis’ SABR Biography Sam Crawford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cceba679-b6a7-47fd-b170-68b72d181d15/79+-+Lajoie.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Napoleon Lajoie It has always been strange to me that Napoleon Lajoie didn’t have an end panel within the T202 set. Not only was he one of the game’s biggest stars (he had 2,572 career hits entering the 1912 season, and would become just the third player in history to collect 3,000 hits before the 1914 season ended), but he also played in Cleveland, where many of the photos for this set were taken. Louis Van Oeyen worked out of Cleveland, and took hundreds of photographs of this team. He was around them often, and knew how good Lajoie was. I mean, the team was called “The Cleveland Naps” after him! So, while I’m glad he was able to be featured on a center panel, I have always felt it was an odd oversight to leave him off of an end panel. Napoleon Lajoie’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f648a8e1-989b-40aa-89ba-09a862ca1c2b/80+-+Alexander.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander Alexander, unfortunately, did not appear on many baseball cards during his playing career. Despite having a fantastic rookie season in 1911 during which he led the Major Leagues with 28 wins, he wasn’t included in the T206, T205, or T202 sets. His Cracker Jack card, shown here, is considered by many to be his rookie card. Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13ba4a8c-ea35-486d-9b8c-8fa7866543b6/81+-+Joe+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out While Shoeless Joe Jackson doesn’t have an end panel in the T202 set, and isn’t named in the captions of any card within the set, he does appear on the center panel of this card featuring Lee Tannehill and Harry Lord of the Chicago White Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6750a2ef-5191-4eb6-b84d-d3719f72724e/82+-+back.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The large captions on the center panel, as well as on the side panels, on the backs of the cards are another thing which make the T202 set unique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/783d564d-52d7-48a3-bbdd-01c0a8bb74c6/83+-+T206+backs.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T206 Backs The T206 set has beautiful logos on the back, but no captions. Many modern collectors go crazy over trying to find them all. Entire websites are dedicated to determining the rarity of certain backs, like T206resource.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b56b71a-9f01-4255-aced-6ee461ec263c/84+-+T205.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T205 Backs The T205 set has small captions on the backs of the cards, but do not compare to the amount of information included on the backs of the T202 set. In fact, if you take all of the text from all of the captions on all of the panels within the T202 set and transcribe them, you have a book that's about 50 pages in length. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/382e55da-6dba-4823-afd2-625987833ad1/85+-+Coal+Mines.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Working In The Mines Tom Jones hadn’t played Major League baseball since the 1910 season, so it’s … unusual he was included in the T202 set, but I’m glad he was, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten this incredible caption on the back of the center panel which depicts him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85974eae-c8b5-4649-8159-dd3f4a6fb67e/86+-+statistics.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Statistics Which Did Not Exist Yet The RBI statistic was tabulated - unofficially - from 1907 through 1919 by baseball writer Ernie Lanigan, but it didn’t become an official statistic until 1920. Similarly, ERA wasn’t officially calculated for the first time until the 1912 season when the National League began keeping track of it. The American League followed the next year. On the backs of the T202 cards, you’ll see the words reflect these holes in the official baseball language. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0ded08d-e0d8-4891-82bb-a9736e0279bc/87+-+marquard.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Rube Marquard Rube Marquard’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Rube Marquard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0aebba2f-cf56-4c36-9a91-32e41d25ce0c/88+-+Wilson.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Owen Wilson Owen Wilson’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Owen Wilson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b0be1d8-773d-4ac1-ae53-597a0f9bff04/89+-+Fenway.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Fenway Park in Boston opened in 1912. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f36f370-aed2-4743-ab47-9373c4280982/90+-+Cin+Redland+3.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Redland Field (later Crosley Field) in Cincinnati opened in 1912. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/966215df-a628-4921-a828-f01e10e0a38f/91+-+Navin.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Navin Field (later Briggs Stadium, and even later Tiger Stadium) in Detroit opened in 1912. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/531aad77-b7d0-4766-b890-b40a0eb0aa4e/92+-+1912+World+Series.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1912 World Series The 1912 World Series went 8 games because of a tied game which was called due to darkness. The dramatic ending to the close series makes it one of the greatest World Series of all time, and one which many consider to be the first truly great World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d4e9c89-4d9a-4732-9906-f61052e14768/93+-+The+Glory+Of+Their+Times.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Glory Of Their Times The Glory of Their Times: The Story of Baseball Told By the Men Who Played It by Lawrence Ritter is an oral history of the game in the first two decades of the century. It sends out an impressive roster of players to tell their own stories, and what stories they tell. Included are interviews from Rube Marquard, Babe Herman, Stan Coveleski, Smoky Joe Wood, and Wahoo Sam Crawford. A delight from cover to cover, reading the book is the next best thing to having been there in the days when the ball may have been dead, but the personalities were anything but. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1ff1484-d8ef-461c-b76c-228d1ba1e1b7/94+-+Athletics.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Behind the strength of Connie Mack’s $100,000 Infield, the Philadelphia Athletics won the 1910 and 1911 World Series, and would would win again in 1913. They returned to the World Series in 1914, but lost in a sweep to the Boston Braves, after which Mack immediately went about dismantling his dynasty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19e5e46f-cb83-4488-8338-245a6dc638be/95+-+MVP.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1912 AL MVP Of the top seven players in the race for the 1912 American League MVP Award, four of them are from either the Washington Nationals or the Philadelphia Athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/419f8bf5-bcee-415a-afab-f5ea4a7cffc3/96+-+Walter+Johnson.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Walter Johnson There have been 24 times in the history of baseball when an individual player had 13 or more Wins Above Replacement in a single season. Of those 24 individual seasons, only 5 of them happened after 1900. Of those 5, one of them was Babe Ruth in 1923, one of them was Doc Gooden in 1985, and the other three are Walter Johnson in 1912 (15.4 WAR), 1913 (16.6 WAR), and 1914 (13.0 WAR). Walter Johnson’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Walter Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac1da679-24ae-4835-bce7-23e860a018d0/97+-+Stephen+Jay+Gould.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Stephen Jay Gould In 1986, Stephen Jay Gould wrote a now-famous essay titled “Entropic Homogeneity Isn't Why No One Hits .400 Any More.” In it, he states “Declining variation becomes the key to our puzzle. Hitting .400 isn’t a thing in itself, but an extreme value in the distribution of batting averages … As variation shrinks around a constant mean batting average, .400 hitting disappears. It is, I think, as simple as that.” This declining variation, he argues, is due to humans running up against the limits of their capacity. This is actually not a sign of decline, but rather improvement in overall play: “The extinction of .400 hitting is, paradoxically, a mark of increasingly better play.” Gould uses batting average as the main statistic to demonstrate his argument. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4b885e3-02e3-48a0-8b5f-82bdb038ed32/98+-+Bergen.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Bill Bergen Across 3,028 career at bats, Bill Bergen had a .170 career batting average. 1908 was the only season in his career during which Bergen had a positive WAR, and even then, it was only 0.4 in 99 games played. In every other season of his 11-year career, he was worth negative WAR, totaling -6.9 WAR by the time he retired. Bill Bergen’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Bill Bergen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98ae1d34-b577-488a-aafd-ec4e75c70862/99+-+gray.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Dolly Gray Dolly Gray’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Dolly Gray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6866bdf1-42b6-4dfd-bb23-a812e872b5a1/100+-+Fenway+1973.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Fenway Park, 1973 On June 23, 1973, Phil took a trip to Boston to see a game at Fenway Park. Luckily for him, a rainout from a previous day meant he was actually able to see two games for the price of one. This is one of the photos he took that day. Box score and stats from Game 1 Box score and stats from Game 2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/156053a4-e698-48ce-8dc4-1a9ec437aa22/Fen_009.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Green Monster Here is another one of the photos Phil took that day. He took the photos with a cheap instamatic camera, which was common in the 1960s and ‘70s. There is a bit of discoloration at the top, a sort of yellow tint that either was a problem with the film or processing. Phil says the games were “well attended, very vocal crowd in a small venue, unlike what I was accustomed to in California.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0980e94-e408-4f9f-bfae-725375f84446/Fen_011.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Batting Practice Yet another photo taken by Phil at Fenway Park in 1973. Carlton Fisk’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Carlton Fisk’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/710e61c7-23ef-4cbd-9740-f7a60eb12739/103+-+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Yankee Stadium, 1973 Coincidentally, when Phil got back to school after his Fenway trip, a classmate asked if he’d like to join him on a trip to New York the following week. Phil said yes, and was able to see Old Yankee Stadium in its final year before the restorations. This is a photo Phil took that day, June 30, 1973. Box score and stats from that game Thurman Munson’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Thurman Munson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8739d8a-826d-41d7-be3d-2b1d7a1db577/104+-+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Monument Park Here is another one of the photos Phil took that day. Notice the flag pole and the monuments in center field, which are actually on the field and in play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2779f989-1c1f-4913-b9fc-f5c0c175b550/105+-+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Facade Here is another one of the photos Phil took that day, prominently showing the iconic facade or frieze, as well as the short porch in right field. Also note the foul pole is painted red, not yellow. Phil notes that the paid attendance at Yankee Stadium that day was about 10,000, and that the upper decks were filled with little leaguers, but they were kept away from the bottom few rows as a security measure. Hence the empty rows at the bottom of the upper deck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f441823-44a8-4963-bdb0-cde8fb1f22d4/106+-+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Phil at Yankee Stadium Phil paid $4 for a box seat and could roam at will, including right up to the field level. Here is another one of the photos taken that day, but this one wasn’t taken by Phil. An 18-year-old Phil asked an usher to take a photo of him, which you can see here. Mel Stottlemyre is pitching for the Yankees. Mel Stottlemyre’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Mel Stottlemyre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4100a65-87f6-493f-930f-22ff7f165714/107+-+Yankee+Stadium.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Phil’s scorecard and ticket stub from June 30, 1973 at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2855eeff-335c-4741-a175-e8e54885c1de/108+-+1964+Connie+Mack+Stadium.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Phil’s love for (and collection of) baseball stadium postcards began in 1964 when a family friend sent him this example from Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Every time his dad went on a trip after that, Phil would ask him to send a baseball stadium postcard so he could add to his collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c53cbd82-d0d7-4ed8-84b8-576e2f7bb3a1/109+-+Shibe.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out As gorgeous and unique as the inside of Shibe Park may have been, my favorite view of the first steel-and-concrete stadium in America has always been this one, an exterior view showing the cupola. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/517e6e0c-2c11-454a-93a7-fcb431ef1719/112+-+Comiskey+Park.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Comiskey Park in Chicago, home of the White Sox from 1910 through 1990. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5a986aa-6e83-4b95-b711-86cc737c5cb5/113+-+A+Nice+Meal.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out While the images on the front of the postcards are always most important to me, there are definitely times when you find some gems written on the back. Phil has one such example here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7648a417-c625-40ff-80a3-2be20fe605f8/114+-+Shibe+1911+back.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This postcard was written just as Game 2 of the 1911 World Series was about to begin. The Athletics beat the Giants 3-1 en route to a 4-2 Series victory, their second consecutive title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c5bdae7-8cb8-4640-919a-e9db0d9b6a1d/115+-+Henry+Aaron.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This one is from my personal collection. It was written on April 8, 1974, the day Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record by hitting his 715th career home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a9e8704-3b6d-4480-b514-d4f5964821b2/116+-+Ebbets+Field.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Not every stadium has a postcard (Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. didn’t have any commercial cards, for whatever reason), and not every stadium which had postcards would have photos from every angle, inside and out. Luckily, this postcard from Ebbets Field shows the view from center field, looking in toward home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8e913fd-ca1b-4115-92f7-60a329499cf3/117+-+Columbia+Park.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This postcard of Columbia Park in Philadelphia (which is where the Athletics played from 1901 through 1908, before Shibe Park was built to replace it) took me years to track down. I’m thrilled to have it in my collection, as this was the stadium where Shoeless Joe Jackson made his major league debut on August 25, 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5ec0aae-8e20-40e2-9a14-c85d66b60d74/118+-+Exposition+Park.JPG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Exposition Park was the name given to three historic stadiums initially located on the north side of the Allegheny River in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The city was annexed into Pittsburgh (then often spelled "Pittsburg") in 1907. The fields were used mainly for professional baseball and football from c. 1879 to c. 1915. In 1903, the third incarnation of Exposition Park was the first National League ballpark to host a World Series game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61a21ec7-a9f5-4f8d-bb7f-5eb4519307fe/119+-+Griffith+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" black and white postcard shows an aerial view of Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Opening Day, 1951. This is the only commercially produced postcard featuring Griffith Stadium in use as a baseball stadium, and was made by Eastern Air Lines Advertising Service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bc42959-e033-4469-8d51-176a05b3296a/120+-+layout.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out One Splendid Season is laid out so beautifully, and it tells the story of the 1912 season in such a compelling way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee7ba9f6-43a2-407a-9c00-d9d45acb0c50/121+-+Game+Faces.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Game Faces Peter Devereaux’s Game Faces: Early Baseball Cards From The Library Of Congress offers insight into the players and the game, giving readers a view of both baseball’s development and American culture at the turn of the 20th century. Marrying gems from the Library of Congress’ Benjamin K. Edwards Collection of 2,100 baseball cards to images of American life from 1887 to 1914, the book was a huge inspiration for Phil when he was thinking about how he wanted his own book on the T202 set to look and feel. Buy Game Faces HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aaec9e8-d77e-47ad-a7ac-2bc94f20ae1f/122+-+Antonio+Alcala.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Antonio Alcalá Antonio Alcalá of Studio A was the graphic designer Phil worked with to turn his vision into the beautiful book that is available now. Antonio graduated from Yale University with a BA in history and from the Yale School of Art with an MFA in graphic design, opening Studio A in 1988. Since then, his studio has won awards of excellence in design from local, national, and international design institutions, including AIGA, Print, Communication Arts, and Graphis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1b0ff81-e149-4f77-8488-e1270d216dc5/123+-+Yogi.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Yogi Berra Postage Stamp The U.S. Postal Service issued a Yogi Berra stamp on June 24, 2021, which was designed by Antonio Alcalá. The Forever stamp was dedicated during a ceremony at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey. Antonio Alcalá served on the Postmaster General’s Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee from 2010 until 2011, when he left to become an art director for the U.S. Postal Service's stamp development program. Yogi Berra’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Yogi Berra’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cd2c92d-d3e2-4b2b-877a-8d0ef4b9e5dc/124+-+Wilt+stamp.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Wilt Chamberlain These two Forever stamps which were first issued on December 5, 2014 in Philadelphia showcase artwork by Kadir Nelson, who created two portraits of Wilt Chamberlain. One is based on a photograph of Chamberlain in a Philadelphia Warriors uniform, the other based on an image of Chamberlain in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. The word “Wilt” is featured in the top right or left corner of each stamp, along with the “Forever” denomination and “USA” in the bottom right or left corner of each stamp. Wilt Chamberlain’s career statistics via Basketball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e07e292e-b7ae-4d04-9c51-ec1605c3aa88/125+-+layout+problems.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Laying out the book presented some logistical problems which Antonio helped Phil to solve. With each panel having its own caption, that meant simply flipping the card over and displaying a high-resolution scan exactly as it appeared would have been confusing to the reader. The photo on the left panel of the card’s front matches up with the caption on the right panel of card’s back, and vice versa. Figuring out an elegant and intuitive way to display both sides of every panel of the T202 set within the book was a challenge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f46dec2-bbdf-458d-bb23-edd96d3e1022/126+-+1911+and+1912+offensive+explosion.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - “Dead Ball” Era? Paul Reiferson, who knows more about the history of the actual ball when it comes to baseball than almost anyone I know, has said “There was nothing dead about the ‘dead ball’ in 1911 and 1912.” 1911 is the height of the most elastic ball possible. They dialed the ball back for the 1912 season, but 1912 is still kind of a jackrabbit offensive season. 1912’s Offensive WAR Leaders: 1) 9.3 WAR - Tris Speaker (CF, Boston Red Sox) 2) 8.9 - Ty Cobb (CF, Detroit Tigers) 3) 8.9 - Shoeless Joe Jackson (RF, Cleveland Naps) 4) 8.3 - Frank “Home Run” Baker (3B, Philadelphia Athletics) 5) 8.2 - Eddie Collins (2B, Philadelphia Athletics) 6) 7.2 - Heinie Zimmerman (3B, Chicago Cubs) 7) 6.1 - Honus Wagner (SS, Pittsburgh Pirates) 8) 5.5 - Sam Crawford (RF, Detroit Tigers) 9) 5.2 - Bill Sweeney (2B, Boston Braves) 10) 5.1 - Napoleon Lajoie (2B, Cleveland Naps) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b52abe5f-feff-4394-a6a8-150837b81ba5/127+-+Forbes.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The stability of the state of Major League Baseball after the National Agreement allowed teams to start building stadiums out of steel and concrete, as opposed to wood. These more permanent structures were meant to stand the test of time, and were a statement that baseball was here to stay. Philadelphia’s Shibe Park started the trend, quickly followed by Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad6c9686-08ad-45a7-b2a7-4f5be8fd262e/128+-+League+Park.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out 1910 saw the construction of even more steel and concrete stadiums, including League Park in Cleveland (pictured here), Comiskey Park in Chicago, and Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28fceff5-d229-4915-bcd5-7e36a0c83307/129+-+McGinnity.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Federal League Cards? The T202 set included cards featuring players from both the National League and the American League, as those were the only two recognized Major leagues at the time. It would have been interesting had this set had come out two years later, however, because that would have allowed for the possibility of the inclusion of Federal League players and teams. The T206 set included cards of Minor League players, like Joe McGinnity of the Eastern League’s Newark Indians, as well as many others. Joe McGinnity’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Joe McGinnity’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53cc90e2-70c7-4450-a779-19dc43abc544/130+-+Center+back.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Beautiful Language The backs of the cards often times make note of where a player is from. Some of the more exotic locations (basically anywhere west of the Mississippi, in 1912) would get an interesting description, like this one of Frank Chance’s birthplace. Frank Chance’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Frank Chance’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f474446f-00ff-4f45-99ac-d6b8ca1c84f0/131+-+cowboy.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Tris Speaker was from Texas, so that must make him a cowboy, right? The writer of the back of this card sure thought so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2eeedfa7-6acc-45f1-8575-7c7f725185ca/132+-+beautiful+language.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - More Beautiful Language This one is another favorite of mine, talking about catcher Ed Sweeney in a way modern writers just don’t do. While his full name was Edward Francis Sweeney, his nickname was Jeff, for some reason. I love old timey baseball. Ed Sweeney’s career statistics via Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d4339ef-a4dc-4ed6-8aad-9ee809f5e333/133+-+Great+Caesar%27s+Ghost.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Great Caesar’s Ghost! I mean, come on. How can you not love this? Red Dooin’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Red Dooin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c11c4463-1442-4cfd-8412-d364961a73fd/134+-+Mathewson.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Christy Mathewson There was no interleague play in 1910, and the Giants didn’t face the Yankees in the 1910 World Series, so what in the world is the back of this card talking about?? Christy Mathewson’s 1910 Game Logs Christy Mathewson’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a90270e1-7e25-4722-933b-5a6a81485613/Mathewson+14+Ks+-+The+Lincoln+Star+1910-10-14-11.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The 1910 City Series Back in this era, when a city had two (or more) teams, at the end of the regular season, if neither team was in the World Series, oftentimes they would face each other in a City Series. In the 1910 City Series between the Giants and the Yankees, Christy Mathewson faced off against the young Yankees pitcher Russ Ford, who had been the sensation of the American League that season. Mathewson struck out 14, which would have equaled the American League record at the time, and would have also been the most strikeouts of any single game in the National League in 1910, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ce771e4-7c46-4226-91b0-c672224a0ab3/136+-+Herrmann.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Garry Herrmann August "Garry" Herrmann was an American political operative for Cincinnati political boss George B. Cox, an executive of the Cincinnati Reds, and president of National Baseball Commission. In 1946, he was named in the Honor Rolls of Baseball. Herrmann served as president of the Cincinnati Reds of the National League from 1902 to 1927, and served as the president of National Baseball Commission from 1903 to 1920. Herrmann essentially filled the role of Commissioner of Baseball before that position was officially established in 1920. With two other Commission members, he established the annual nature of the World Series by 1905. It was his idea to hold “Field Days” which were essentially skills competitions for the players to showcase their talents. Garry Herrmann’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42ab2b15-037e-4587-8c41-da6ed266af2e/137+-+Field+Days.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Phil discusses some of the Field Days of the time in his book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44e3ddf9-8c23-4e83-a2ca-0e9fc277b5f6/138+-+Lobert.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - John “Hans” Lobert Hans Lobert’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Hans Lobert’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2c97a35-6e74-47b3-a2ed-3586c1c8edc7/139+-+Tim+Murnane.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tim Murnane Tim Murnane had gotten his start in professional baseball as a member of the 1872 Middletown (CT) Mansfields before six seasons of service to the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia White Stockings, the Boston Red Caps, and the Providence Grays. When Murnane suffered a fatal heart attack while attending an opera performance at Schubert Theater in Boston in February of 1917, it was learned that he had left only meager savings from his long baseball career to support his widow and four children from his second marriage. A memorial fund was established, with the support of the American League and the Baseball Writers Association of America, and Murnane's good friend and former Red Sox team owner John I. Taylor began to orchestrate plans for a benefit game pitting his old club against a selection of Major League greats. Tim Murnane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8453bb6b-0d35-4bd6-94a7-fa05c84972cd/140+-+benefit+game.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field” at Addie Joss’s benefit game, July 24, 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc2bf5b8-fb74-4477-b3e2-ccc9422bad19/141+-+Benefit+Game.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Addie Joss Benefit Game To help raise money for Joss’ family after he passed away, the players organized the first ever gathering of All-Star players for a benefit game. It was essentially the first All-Star game in history, and it took place on July 24, 1911. The Cleveland Plain Dealer called it “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field.” The total raised was $12,931.60, the equivalent of more than $375,000 today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72290d4f-b815-4919-9b6f-509347c6a487/140+-+Benefit+game.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tim Murnane Benefit Game Before the Tim Murnane benefit game was played on September 27, 1917, multiple skills competitions were held. Ray Chapman (seen here, on the left) was the fastest player to round the bases. He is pictured here on that day, also with (left to right) Rabbit Maranville, Ty Cobb, and Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0401ec30-9dc6-4f25-ad92-ddf814adbe9d/141+-+Long+Throw.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Joe With His Trophies Babe Ruth may have won the fungo contest at the Tim Murnane Benefit Game, but Shoeless Joe Jackson won the contest for the longest throw, hurling a ball 396 feet 8 inches in the air. Joe was upset he hadn’t cracked 400 feet with the throw, which is something he routinely did in his earlier days as a ballplayer. He won the large trophy he’s holding in this photo, thanks to that throw, and it became one of his most prized possessions because, in his eyes, that solidified the fact that he had the strongest arm in baseball. The smaller trophy he’s holding was for having the better hitting series between he and Ty Cobb in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de5d8ba0-cf68-41d3-b486-2ed5011ffc8d/142+-+Joe.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Prized Possession This photo shows Joe Jackson sitting in his living room in Greenville, South Carolina circa 1949, proudly holding the trophy he won in the throwing contest at the 1917 Tim Murnane Benefit Game field day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e612683-c1c6-467c-8e6f-852b51aa7ac7/145+-+Caught+Asleep+at+First.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Caught Asleep At First is one of Phil’s favorite cards in the set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74ffbdbf-6ae3-4368-af85-4193849da74e/146+-+Good+Play+at+Third.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Good Play At Third is another one of Phil’s favorite cards in the set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0770ded9-ca8b-49f5-931b-e27adee9f50b/147+-+Billy+Evans.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Billy Evans At a remarkable 22 years of age, Evans became the youngest umpire in major league history and began a 22-year Hall of Fame career in which he worked six World Series. He is pictured here, at left, with Walter Johnson in the center, and Babe Ruth on the right, at League Park in Cleveland. Billy Evans’ SABR Biography Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Memory Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/438d2ba0-9fe5-4c28-be37-ecbd38c721d0/148+-+OTD+11-29-1910.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tigers In Cuba After the regular season concluded in 1910, Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers went on an exhibition barnstorming tour of Cuba. If you want to see posts like these every day, follow My Baseball History on social media, where a new graphic gets posted daily to tell you what happened On This Day In Baseball History. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98cb552b-71f3-422d-a849-4164208cbfd4/149+-+Petway.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Bruce Petway If this artwork style looks familiar to you, it’s because the artist is the incomparable Gary Cieradkowski, who created the artwork for My Baseball History. Gary’s “Infinite Card Set” is the stuff of legend, and his research is second to none. To read what Gary was able to find on Bruce Petway, click HERE. Bruce Petway’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Bruce Petway’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d980a1c6-7a39-4417-b558-6d0398a7604a/150+-+Bush.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Switch Hitter Donie Bush’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Donie Bush’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f596eda-64bc-4ed3-a441-573c2c883107/151+-+pinch+hitter.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Pinch Hitter Eddie Collins’ career statistics via Baseball Reference Eddie Collins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bae2d148-0acc-4343-8646-14ecb7a138c8/152+-+pinch+hitter.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Relief Pitcher Kid Elberfeld’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Kid Elberfeld’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b274d63-6daf-40d5-89e2-e7dc49c410b0/153+-+Game+of+Inches.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - A Game Of Inches A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations That Shaped Baseball: The Game on the Field by Peter Morris is the only book ever to win both the Seymour Medal and the Casey Award as the best baseball book of the year. Peter Morris' magisterial encyclopedia of the national pastime will surprise, delight, and educate even the most knowledgeable fan. With its thousand-odd entries, A Game of Inches illuminates the origins of items ranging from catcher's masks to hook slides to intentional walks to baseball's reserve clause. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e84dbeb2-b989-412c-af0b-c643ffb2321d/154+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Let’s say you like to collect John Meyers pieces. Let’s see how many different cards from the T202 set you’d need to acquire, shall we? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d66b5cf-5054-4339-a234-5e88f3693e8b/155+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Two… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ff830ae-b654-43ec-b51f-59ed64cd6651/156+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Three… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6e32ee8-15fa-47f6-b4bd-0717e7572ac4/157+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Four… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe8e553d-85fb-41e8-ab8e-34801804263b/158+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Five… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f739f8ca-467c-45b7-b916-ed7926156058/159+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Six… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e1727b1-b34e-486c-8162-6b5f49f20ae0/160+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Seven… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2445ec20-7463-44ce-85d5-2b04a1ffb8a0/161+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Eight… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5476b762-3552-411f-9491-56ab67acb1cd/162+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Nine… and this is just one player within the Hassan Triplefolders. Granted, he and Hal Chase have more panels than any other players in the T202 set, but still. The complexity of this set is mind-blowing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ef1d86f-77f5-4db8-8204-5894c0d72cfe/163+-+panel.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Dismembered A quick eBay search for “T202 panel” yields nearly 75 results. “T202 altered” yields more than 50. While it may be abhorrent to some collectors to purposely go after amputated cards, the fact of the matter is that these cards exist on the market, and it may be the only chance someone has to own the panel that interests them, since a full card with that panel may not be in their budget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0fec9b2-66e0-4bdd-b549-c2cf4b7354b3/164+-+Wheat.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out A raw card of this Dahlen/Wheat combination sold for $236.50 on November 7, 2025. Eight days earlier, on October 30, 2025, a dismembered center panel of “Wheat Strikes Out” sold for $6.50. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdc9c70d-c34f-4be3-84eb-41ca849cf49f/165+-+Cobb_slide_into_third.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Charles Conlon’s Most Famous Photo On July 23, 1910 at Hilltop Park in New York during a game between the Yankees and the visiting Detroit Tigers, Charles Conlon took what is considered by many to be the best baseball photograph ever captured. In the image, Ty Cobb slides into third base, and into third baseman Jimmy Austin. This image is the star of the most desirable center panel in the T202 set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01d50889-0dfe-491f-baee-da0c205b0a52/166+-+T205+cobb.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T205 Cobb This exact copy of a Ty Cobb T205 card, graded SGC 3, sold for $7,499.99 on December 4, 2025. The highest priced T202 Cobb variation to have sold in that same time frame was a PSA 6 graded copy of A Desperate Slide For Third, with a Charles O’Leary end panel, which sold for $5,624.35 on November 26, 2025, but a PSA 6 is nowhere near comparable to an SGC 3, especially when it comes to vintage cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e6cba5c-5b47-4d61-8b0c-c21b1e4def6b/167+-+T202.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - T202 Cobb The closest comparably graded T202 Cobb card to have sold in that same time frame was this SGC 4 graded copy of A Desperate Slide For Third, with a Charles O’Leary end panel, which sold for just $2,291.00 on November 2, 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc2be70c-9536-4426-b7aa-27d8e70912c2/168+-+1953+Bowman.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Pure Card In a 1988 article for Baseball Cards magazine, hobby pioneer Michael Aronstein said "There was too much ‘gingerbread' on Topps cards.” Aronstein has been a dedicated Bowman fan and collector his entire life. When you look at an image like this 1953 Bowman Color, one which Michael describes as “the pure card,” it’s easy to see what he sees in it. Michael was the co-founder of TCMA baseball cards, the founder of Photo File, and the inaugural recipient of SABR’s 2020 Jefferson Burdick Award, which is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the baseball card hobby. He was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9acdd9f0-e8f5-4671-8c27-a165a2f78f3a/169+-+Grant.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out In “Grant Gets His Man,” Eddie Grant is the fielder in the center panel applying the tag, and he is one of the players featured on the end panels. When possible, the designers of the T202 set liked to have this arrangement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/303d7884-61c2-433c-ab05-a3579b64fc40/170+-+Lynch.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tom Lynch Thomas J. Lynch was a Major League umpire for 13 seasons, all of which were in the National League between the years of 1888 and 1902. Known as an honest, but sometimes brash ump, he later became NL president in 1910 as a compromise among the major league owners. Although his time as league president was considered uneventful, he was replaced following the 1913 season. Lynch was named to the Honor Rolls of Baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Tom Lynch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b493d385-2eab-442c-a2f0-bc9b8d7ec97c/171+-+Photographers+at+the+Polo+Grounds%2C+1914.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - No In-Game Photos Of The NL For some reason, Lynch decided that no photographers would be allowed to take photos of National League games, which means all of the in-game action shots in the T202 set are of American League players and teams. This photo shows photographers at the Polo Grounds in 1914, on the field before a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a023a2d2-8296-4cae-96bf-397b2329ca83/172+-+League+Park.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The action shot in the center panel of this Ty Cobb and Charley O’Leary card was taken at League Park in Cleveland, most likely by Louis Van Oeyen. Note the outrageously high outfield wall in the background, a trademark of League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/428c715f-c544-44ee-975f-6f935113c1a4/173+-+Cubs.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This card features three panels with famous Chicago Cubs: Joe Tinker on the left panel, Johnny Evers on the center panel, and Frank Chance on the right panel. “Evers Makes A Safe Slide” is the title of the action shot, which must have been taken before 1910, because of Tom Lynch’s rule. Based on the collar style of Evers’ uniform, the logo on his chest, and the color of his hat, we know this photo must have been taken during the 1908 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a29b322a-5bc5-482b-8fc8-a49debc3b99b/174+-+Meyers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out You didn’t really think I was done posting these earlier, did you? Ha! Of course I wasn’t. Do you think I’m done now…? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d19d9000-2c09-4447-a93a-aec2976eb583/175+-+48+hr004255+McGrawDavis+Tom+Connolly.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Original Photograph In the center panel of the T202 cards, this photo just shows Giants manager John McGraw (left) and Athletics first baseman Harry Davis shaking hands before the 1911 World Series. The original photograph, taken by the George Grantham Bain News Service, also incluldes umpire Tom Connolly, seen here. John McGraw’s SABR Biography Harry Davis’ SABR Biography Tom Connolly’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82592c60-6d06-4bf1-968f-0ef860c163e3/176+-+Stovall+and+Austin.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out There are three different variations of the T202 card which has the Ty Cobb sliding center panel. The first features end panels of George Stovall and Jimmy Austin (who is attempting to apply the tag on Cobb). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/999e2c5f-dcb7-4e7e-bc0b-bb69a8887692/177+-+Cobb+and+Moriarty.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The second variation features end panels of George Moriarty and Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad6170e5-082e-4c35-bd3d-a23c0d3bcee8/178+-+Cobb+and+Jennings.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The third, and most desirable variation, features end panels of Tigers manager Hughie Jennings and Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdb5b5e0-3ccc-4cae-a276-db9cd4814b9e/179+-+Devlin+Giants.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This card variation depicts Art Devlin as a member of the Giants, which is a rarity within the set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5282cde-ec75-4e86-b179-a81160c72331/180+-+Devlin+Rustlers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This card variation depicts Art Devlin as a member of the Rustlers (aka the Boston Braves) after he was traded to the team from the Giants. This card is a rarity within the set, but not as rare as the variation which depicts him as a member of the Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/383be689-ffcf-4228-8c78-0de8808b12fc/181+-+Birmingham%27s+Home+Run.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The PSA Pop Report for this card (Birmingham’s Home Run) would suggest that this is one of the more rare and valuable cards in the set, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0e7e4ed-92bc-4838-a84f-03a28a183828/182+-+Johnson+and+Street.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This card has end panels with Washington pitcher Walter Johnson and his catcher from 1908 through 1911, Gabby Street. Before the 1912 season began, Street was traded to New York, but the card makers still decided to pair the two together, despite no longer being teammates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e10de94-4652-42f5-be1f-cd1cbb346e7f/182+-+Knight+Catches+A+Runner.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This card has end panels with Washington pitcher Walter Johnson and infielder John Knight, who Gabby Street was traded for in February of 1912, meaning this card must have been produced at some point after that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/682c6083-9e51-4f98-b859-3c1cd06a6fc3/184+-+Joe+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out In May of 2010, a new poster to the Net54 message board introduced a theory that the T202 card featuring Chicago White Sox players Harry Lord and Lee Tannehill also featured a center panel action shot of Shoeless Joe Jackson sliding into third base. Fifteen years later, and it seems to be widely agreed upon by the hobby, which has caused the price of this otherwise common card to skyrocket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc281da8-0e0a-4335-b89d-4926778e4a3a/186+-+Joe+maybe.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out I personally believe that the player sliding into third base on THIS otherwise common card in the T202 set is also Shoeless Joe Jackson, though the hobby is not in agreement on that front (yet). And I won’t say which one, but I think there is a third center panel within the T202 set which depicts Shoeless Joe, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/344c9687-b7d2-4e70-962a-6926da9e5a54/186+-+Evers.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out One card with a slight variation in the T202 set is this Johnny Evers end panel. The normal version (on top) has a green background, while the much more rare variation (on the bottom) has a lighter blue background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac4d6016-ab41-4db8-998d-2e98d6a4bc2b/187+-+Ball+Too+Late.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The center panel of this card, titled “Chase Gets Ball Too Late,” raised some questions when Phil was trying to determine where it was taken. Those stands in the background, and the uniform the runner is wearing, do not look like anything he’s been able to verify as belonging to a Major League club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd21a2bb-a5a7-4e83-a5a0-022f405fb596/188+-+1911+Hal+Chase+Ball+Too+Late+1912+T202+image+photo+1.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Athens, Georgia Spring Training That’s because this photo was taken in Athens, Georgia, during Spring Training in 1909, and not during an actual Major League game. It wasn’t until the owner of this original photograph sent Phil this image with the writing on the back that Phil was able to verify when and where it was taken. That unlocked a handful of other images in the set he’d been stuck on pinpointing the locations of, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ae9c350-6a7b-46c1-8d87-b4bc8c611860/189+-+Knight+Catches+A+Runner.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Key That Unlocked Multiple Doors Once Phil knew what he was looking at, it immediately informed him on some of the other photos he had questions about. The mysterious houses in the background of this center panel, titled “Knight Catches a Runner”? Not so mysterious anymore! They’re perfect matches for the Spring Training site in Athens, Georgia. John Knight’s career statistics via Baseball Reference John Knight’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/797b5db3-fbc2-4c43-9ce6-116dc9bbca98/190+-+sidelines.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Another Perfect Match Those rickety bleachers in the background of this Russ Ford center panel, which previously made no sense? Another perfect match to the photo of the Spring Training site in Athens, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/247c19f3-2962-4fe5-a3ff-c393563bd53a/191+-+McAleer.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1912 World Series Before Game 6 of the 1912 World Series, Smoky Joe Wood advised his friends and family to bet on his Red Sox before his scheduled start, with Boston ahead three games to one. Wood was the American League’s top pitcher, had already beaten the Giants twice in the Series. Instead of throwing Wood again, Boston manager Jake Stahl was ordered by owner James McAleer to start the unseasoned Buck O’Brien in Game 6. The Red Sox lost that game and Wood, embarrassed and angered at having wrongly advised his friends, lost the next one, too. Jimmy McAleer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/509fa1a9-d64a-4c68-a858-898b99f232b1/191+-+Fullerton.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Hugh Fullerton Smoky Joe Wood and the Boston Red Sox were caught up in a betting scandal during the 1912 World Series, prompting syndicated sports reporter Hugh Fullerton to warn fans about gambling’s growing influence in baseball: “The muckerishness of the ‘fan’ is exceeding itself in muck this fall,” he wrote. “Boston howled that it was ‘all fixed’ then raved over the team when it won. [So] New York screamed that the Giants were throwing the series. For a comparatively trifling bet Wood risked Boston’s title and the wealth that accrued to the winners. Stamp out gambling and the end of talk of crookedness is at hand.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8990696c-961b-43f2-af53-ea589f35b4b6/195+-+Engle.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Clyde Engle Smoky Joe Wood won 3 games for the Red Sox in the World Series, including the Series clincher in Game 8, which was one of the wildest winner-take-all games in baseball history. The game went into extra innings, tied at 1-1. The Giants scored in the top of the 10th, to make it 2-1. Clyde Engle came to bat in the bottom of the 10th and cracked a long fly ball to center. Fred Snodgrass famously muffed it and let Engle land on second. Clyde Engle’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Clyde Engle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68e808db-db75-47cb-907b-eda44ce9b08c/194+-+Spoke.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tris Speaker With one out, Christy Mathewson got Tris Speaker to pop one up in foul territory near Fred Merkle at first base. Merkle and Mathewson converged, along with catcher John Meyers (who was often called “Chief” Meyers back then, due to his Native American ancestry). Out of thin air came the words, “Take it Chief, you take it!”—even though Meyers had the worst angle on the play. It was actually Tris Speaker who had yelled that as he was running down the line. Merkle and Mathewson froze, and Meyers couldn’t catch up to the ball, which landed on the ground, untouched. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ee8ad03-6970-4380-a733-340228451a31/194+-+Yerkes.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Steve Yerkes Giving himself new life at the plate, Speaker promptly lined a single to score Clyde Engle as the game-tying run, and sending Steve Yerkes to third base as the potential game winner. Two batters later, Larry Gardner launched a fly ball to deep right which was caught by Josh Devore—plenty far enough for Yerkes to score the Series-winning run after tagging up from third base. Steve Yerkes’ career statistics via Baseball Reference Steve Yerkes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/680d2042-7275-4f5b-9bc4-e4fe3f089209/193+-+Snodgrass.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Fred Snodgrass Fred Snodgrass took the brunt of the criticism for starting things off on the wrong foot defensively for New York. Though many would focus on Snodgrass and his “$30,000 Muff” — because that was the difference in the amount of money given to the winning and losing teams of the Series — there was plenty of blame to be shared among the Giants. As a team, New York committed 17 errors in the Series, including 5 in the abandoned Game 2, which ended in a 6-6 tie. Mathewson, despite allowing just four earned runs over 28 innings, was tagged with eight additional unearned runs and won none of his three starts, stretching his World Series winless streak to five games. Fred Snodgrass’ career statistics via Baseball Reference Fred Snodgrass’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca1f7aff-ff10-43fa-a052-f09fce4ecc79/196.5+-+Snodgrass+Muff.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out A letter written by Fred Snodgrass in which he discusses the 8th game of the 1912 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0f27c1a-dee4-40d5-bbc7-a4628e0f1af3/197+-+Halo.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Halo Effect The Halo Effect criticizes pseudoscientific tendencies in the explanation of business performance. The book was named "Business Book of the Year" 2007 at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5d57daf-3fc9-4f87-8a5a-472cc81614da/198+-+Rare.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Left-Handed First Basemen Hal Chase felt that the advantages gained by the angles and fluid fielding and throwing motions afforded to a first baseman who was left-handed compared to one who was right-handed would eventually become so obvious that it wouldn’t make sense to continue having right-handed throwing first basemen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8cf9bc3-01cf-4df3-8f47-820ce55bc464/199+-+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - One Splendid Season If you loved these liner notes (and I’m guessing you did, because you’re still reading this), trust me when I say you are going to LOVE the actual book. Phil’s storytelling is wonderful, and the chronological order in which the book is written adds suspense and intrigue in a way that is truly admirable. To buy it directly from Phil’s website, click HERE. To buy it from amazon, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c949392-4857-438a-8358-a389a8e4d633/200+-+back+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - What People Are Saying “Truly one of the most creative ideas for a book I’ve ever seen, and the layout is beautiful” - Dan McGowan, Boston Globe “One Splendid Season is a kaleidoscope of a sport coming of age, with fascinating images of ballparks, uniforms, equipment and more that laid the foundation for the multi-billion dollar game we know today.” - Tyler Kepner, Senior Baseball Writer for The Athletic Read more HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbad36a6-d362-4b03-b143-6e47332693e9/201+-+phil.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Follow Phil Online Instagram Facebook LinkedIn email Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6172537-6866-4f2b-8957-0eda5ceff9ad/202+-+Athens+GA+spring+training+site.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Sy Seidman The six center panels in the T202 set which appear to show the New York Highlanders’ spring training site in Athens, Georgia were likely taken by a young photographer named Sy Seidman. Isador Sy Seidman was a photographer and collector of old photographs who was born in 1891 in New York City. In 1921, he won the annual award of the New York Press Photographers Association for a distorted photo of the Statue of Liberty entitled ‘Liberty Enraged by Prohibition.' https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03139f37-17ef-4f98-8b71-9adb1d1e4f1e/203+-+Chapman.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Baseball Photography of the Deadball Era Jim Chapman’s book was the winner of the 2024 SABR Larry Ritter Book Award, which is granted annually by SABR’s Deadball Era Committee to the author of the best book about baseball between 1901 and 1919. The winner’s work must demonstrate original research or analysis, a fresh perspective, compelling thesis, impressive insight, accuracy, and clear, graceful prose. "This is the book. I've been studying the 1900-1915 era since I was 10 years old and Chapman's huge, extraordinary, overflowing book has given me as much joy and insight as anything I've seen in all that time. BUY IT." - Keith Olbermann Follow Keith’s advice and buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e98c557-2a39-445d-a068-bb54da9ab194/204+-+Mom.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Cemeteries Nothing says “Mother’s Day” like taking a walk through a cemetery looking for graves of old architects in Chicago, am I right? Well, that’s what my mom and I did in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9823f51-09b8-4436-8ff5-9bd5e26c455f/205+-+Jacob.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Jacob Pomrenke I don’t make it a habit of hanging out in cemeteries, but the people I love do, so who am I to deny them of their happiness? Here is Jacob Pomrenke at Charles Comiskey’s grave. Jacob is the Director of Editorial Content at the Society For American Baseball Research, and the chairman of the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. He was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/586faa06-cd99-4b5e-b8fd-c55722e5fc41/206+-+postcards.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Curt Teich Postcard Archive The Curt Teich Postcard Archives Collection is the nation’s largest public collection of postcards and related materials. The core collection in the Teich Archives is the industrial archives of the Curt Teich Company of Chicago, which operated from 1898 to 1978 as the world’s largest printer of view and advertising postcards. The collection was acquired by the Lake County Discovery Museum in 1982 and subsequently transferred to the Newberry Library, an independent research library in downtown Chicago, in 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06d43a08-11ed-4461-a7c8-4e7c4e63e12b/207+-+Cleveland.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Not Just Baseball Postcards One of my favorite ways to learn about the history of a city, particular the architectural history, is by looking at old postcards. One of the first things I did when I moved to Cleveland was buy a lot of 80+ historical Cleveland postcards on eBay, which have taught me so much that would have taken me years to discover on my own. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c18ebd9-eb28-4a27-87e7-802554561e60/208+-+Nicholson+Bridge.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Nicholson Bridge The Tunkhannock Viaduct, also known as Nicholson Bridge, was 240 feet high and a half-mile long, with piers 40 to 90 feet below ground, and a parapet 3 feet thick and 4 feet high to enclose the double tracks on the 34 feet wide deck. At the time, it was said to be the largest concrete structure in the world. The architects of Yankee Stadium are speculated to have been influenced by the bridge’s look when they designed the stadium’s iconic frieze, eight years after the bridge was completed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2491765a-1f30-4600-b8b7-22ff33545f42/209+-+Carnegie.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Carnegie Library in Harvey, IL Harvey, Illinois had a very interesting Carnegie building with traces of Romanesque architecture which was built in 1905 and was open from 1906 through 1971. And, it had ornaments. Big, honking, ornaments. Fall-off-the-roof-and-concuss-you ornaments. Architect Paul O. Moratz, of Bloomington, did not seem prone to such excess on his other buildings (Sycamore, Greenville, and Paxton). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aa8183e-8fec-4b55-b604-17b736ee426c/210+-+Stereoscope.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Stereoscopes Invented by Charles Wheatstone in 1838, the stereoscope was originally designed to explore binocular vision and the way human eyes work together to create three-dimensional images. By the 1850s, this fascinating device had become a popular form of Victorian parlor entertainment. Stereographs – the photographic cards designed for use with the stereoscope – featured a wide range of subjects, from famous landmarks to exotic wonders, offering viewers an immersive experience without leaving their homes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f576cb72-f29c-468b-a338-60fc277b4019/211+-+run+getter.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Quaint Language I love that he is referred to here as a “run getter.” Bobby Byrne’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Bobby Byrne’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52be2afe-0bc1-49d1-bb8c-8646d18c0678/212+-+injury+list.JPEG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Dead Ball Ailments This list of players dealing with injuries from April of 1912 is one of my favorite obscure things I own. The fact that the title of this blurb is “Major League Cripples” is quite the sign of the times, isn’t it? Let’s also notice that there are NINE Philadelphia Phillies on this list?! Somehow, they were still able to finish the season with a 73-79 record, which was good enough for 5th place out of 8 teams in the National League that year, and just a game and a half back from 4th place Cincinnati. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87502f44-4333-4289-bdeb-71fd142f8ed6/213+-+Tiger+Beat.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tiger Beat Tiger Beat was an American teen fan magazine published from 1965 to 2021, marketed primarily to adolescent girls. Tiger Beat was founded in September 1965 by Charles "Chuck" Laufer, his brother Ira Laufer, and television producer and host Lloyd Thaxton. A distinctive element of Tiger Beat was its covers, which featured cut-and-paste collaged photos – primarily head shots – of current teen idols. For the first twelve issues, Thaxton's face appeared at the top corner of the cover (at first the magazine was titled Lloyd Thaxton's Tiger Beat), and he also contributed a column. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cd19997-e95c-4506-abe7-922ee5421f7e/214+-+Archie.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Archie Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc. (often referred to simply as Archie Comics) is a comic book publisher headquartered in the village of Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle, Sabrina Spellman, Josie and the Pussycats, and Katy Keene. The initial Archie characters were created in 1941 by publisher John L. Goldwater and artist Bob Montana, in collaboration with writer Vic Bloom. They first appeared in Pep Comics #22 (cover-dated December, 1941). With the creation of Archie, Goldwater hoped to appeal to fans of the Andy Hardy films starring Mickey Rooney. Archie Comics was also the title of the company's longest-running publication, the first issue appearing with a cover date of Winter 1942. Starting with issue #70, the title was shortened to simply Archie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63ed302c-26ca-49c9-be39-354c9f9a1266/215+-+layout.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a47e8ac9-5f31-47d7-9f1c-506518109f68/217+-+Eddie+Grant.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out This portrait of Eddie Grant is stunning. Look at how many freckles he has. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/022a0167-b1be-44ab-ba7d-b30ae7adffd8/216+-+Grant.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Eddie Grant Okay, so maybe some artistic liberties were taken with this one… Eddie Grant’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Eddie Grant’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f90665bc-6c20-4301-a167-2245fb595750/218+-+Conlon+Cobb.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Usually when you see this image, it’s the cropped version which just shows Cobb and Austin, and the dirt flying up from Ty’s slide. But to see the full image as it appeared on the glass plate negative is truly something different, especially when you know the backstory of Charles Conlon not even being sure if he took the photo or not. It was just a reflex for him, and he was in the right place at the right time. That is evident when you see how the image isn’t framed the way a Conlon normally would be, and the angle of the camera is a little bit off, as well. One of the luckiest photos ever taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3049395-e0d5-4b00-a155-658b48b500b4/219+-+Athens.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Images take on Magic Lantern Slides by Cleveland photographer Frank W. Smith in Athens, Georgia during Cleveland Naps Spring Training in 1914. Photos courtesy of Love Of The Game Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c3db2be-1bdb-4952-8800-6a85d56783f4/220+-+Athens.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Joe in Athens Note the same rickety bleachers in the background, which match up perfectly with the images in the T202 set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a43c6111-71cd-4079-a77b-0ad4abaac1d9/221+-+Athens.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Around Town This photo was taken during Cleveland Naps Spring Training in 1914. The monument in this picture is still standing at the corner of Broad Street and College Avenue in Athens, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd81522e-d774-49f9-a6c7-e35b87ccbd01/222+-+Spalding+Cubs.jpeg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Spalding Guide This page from the Spalding Guide shows the Chicago Cubs lineup, featuring the portraits taken by the Paul Thompson agency. Do any of these images look familiar, now that you’ve seen some of the T202 cards? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52e929e5-5fab-4145-b104-193f4b4db0ab/223+-+OTD+11-25-1949.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90b6b0e9-27c8-4980-ab58-a72f59dca056/225+-+triptych.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece), oil-on-oak-panel triptych by Robert Campin, c. 1427-32; in The Cloisters, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/673d8e3c-9bac-498c-a64c-4e7cc954db47/226+-+T202.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Hal Chase Too Late, ink on card stock triptych by Hassan Cork Tip Cigarettes, 1912; in the Collection of Phil Rosenzweig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e56fbe15-4076-49d9-b215-4c7e5561caec/230+-+Green+Cathedrals.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Green Cathedrals Green Cathedrals is the “Bible of ballparks,” the reference that documents every ballpark that has ever played host to either the major leagues or the Negro leagues. This fifth edition is the first update to Green Cathedrals since 2006, and it now includes 583 ballparks, with the addition in particular of many Negro leagues parks that have been documented in the intervening years. From the 1870s to the present, from Akron to Zanesville, from the 23rd Street Grounds to Yankee Stadium, this volume is the authoritative and complete reference on ballparks. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf3abaa0-dd08-49db-97c8-b8fe86a7cc9c/227+-+Caught+Asleep+At+First.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Caught Asleep at First Being able to see the ball suspended in mid-air is something we take for granted today, but it was groundbreaking photography in 1912. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/089a5b76-8bf2-45d5-a748-f1f6d465ef71/228+-+Wright+Brothers.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Wright Brothers A glider test by the Wright Brothers, performed over the Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. In 1901, two years before their first powered flight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdc9d97c-461f-4d41-86a4-1edab8e39139/229+-+1971+Topps.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - 1971 Topps Topps didn’t have actual photographs of game action in true base cards until their 1971 set, nearly 60 years after the T202 set was released in 1912. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da834aeb-6d33-4f92-866b-ebf22d202135/231+-+Speaker.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Tris Speaker My mom fell in love with Tris Speaker after reading The Pitch That Killed by Mike Sowell. You will, too. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d104c43f-da8e-4378-a20e-c87da89e097b/233+-+OTD+06-20-1912.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - On This Date posts You’ve seen a handful of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d66a0efb-65de-4c0c-b036-70b6755014ea/232+-+email.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87e2249e-3cca-42ef-b440-e94803a4dbee/234+-+cover.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of One Splendid Season: Baseball and America in 1912, Told with the Words and Images of the Hassan Triplefolder Set by Phil Rosenzweig? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da353066-8e1b-4c5a-a901-447445b09945/235+-+triptych.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Triptychs Triptychs grew out of the hinged diptychs which were used in Byzantine and medieval art, but they blossomed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The fact that they were three panels naturally evoked the Holy Trinity of Christian symbolism of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The central panel is also the largest and most detailed, and, in religious triptychs, especially, usually holds the key sacred scene, showing the Virgin and Child, the Crucifixion, or another central mystery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c5f2354-bb52-4281-ae7c-1afec04fb275/236+-+triptych.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Triptychs The side panels which flank that central panel contain subsidiary narratives, possibly saints who are important to the patron or local community, narrative episodes leading into or flowing out of the central mystery, or donor portraits, kneeling in prayer, presented by their patron saints. Wealthy merchant families and guilds commissioned triptychs as statements of piety and social standing. Their own likenesses, often kneeling in the wings, made devotion visible and tied their salvation to their civic identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/078ac580-5268-40fb-a042-e4a32902f51f/237+-+Ghent.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out Some triptychs were large immovable altarpieces, like the Ghent Altarpiece (also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb), seen here… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0aa484e2-b6f9-4b1d-8dd4-8a5887774dff/238+-+Foldable.JPG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out … while others were small, folding objects. These were meant to be carried with you for private devotion, a fusion of art and practical spiritual technology. The size of the cards allowed followers of all ages the ability to worship their idols wherever they wanted, since the small triptychs could be in their pockets with them at all times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/280e558c-64dd-45ba-bbe1-83b5ab2a139b/239+-+Carl+J+Horner+business+card.JPG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Carl J. Horner We know, with certainty, that at least some of the people associated with the photography and design of baseball cards from the early 1900s were aware of European art history and procedures. Carl J. Horner was a studio photographer based in Boston who was recognized by Sporting Life in 1903 as the “official photographer” of the major leagues. Carl J. Horner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5e2255e-9532-4b5f-86eb-1786f3e2d6bd/240+-+Carl+J+Horner+european+photographer.JPG Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - European Photographer But Horner wasn’t born in Boston. He was born in Sweden, and even purposely advertised himself as a “European photographer” to indicate that he was artistic in a way in which American photographers were not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/610abefc-dbf6-463a-97b7-66edde8a235d/241+-+Carl+J+Horner+Bresnahan-Roger-cabinet-card-Horner-Carl.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Carl J. Horner Horner’s portraits appeared in prominent baseball annuals, like Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide and Reach’s Official American League Base Ball Guide. He regularly photographed major-leaguers until 1909, including established veterans and rising stars, and obscure players who would have brief careers. His use of light in his studio was extremely reminiscent of the lighting used in the portraits that classic European painters used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20d619eb-3c45-42fb-958a-296e7375925d/242+-+T202.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig I’m not saying that Horner designed the baseball cards that his photographs appeared on, or even that he influenced the design. But he was clearly familiar with European art, and it is not far-fetched to imagine that other people who were responsible for designing cards were familiar with it, as well, and possibly drew inspiration for the cards they were designing from some of the pieces they had seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96cba212-9209-4fe3-933d-32acd3adfe5f/224+-+Triptych.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out The Garden of Earthly Delights, oil-on-wood triptych by Hiëronymus Bosch, 1490–1500; in the Museo del Prado, Madrid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5124f52c-928c-47bd-88f3-ae89b36f812f/243+-+folded.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Triplefolders Each triplefolder in the T202 set unfolds like a miniature altarpiece; a triptych lifted straight from the visual language of churches and medieval devotion. At a time when baseball was taking root as America’s civic religion, the design on these cards echoed a form used for centuries to honor holy figures. While the manufacturers most likely chose the layout for practical reasons (you could fit in more pictures by folding the cards neatly into a cigarette package) the effect is unmistakable: a devotional object celebrating the idols of the diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/938b93db-bc3e-4e8d-a321-85c21cb2b1fc/244+-+The+Celebrant.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - The Celebrant This aesthetic connects beautifully with the themes found in The Celebrant, the novel by Eric Rolfe Greenberg, where fans elevate Christy Mathewson to near-mythic status, treating him as a kind of secular Christ whose grace transcends the ordinary game. Even the novel’s title - The Celebrant - carries double meaning: a devout fan, but also the person who performs a rite, like a priest presiding at the Eucharist. The Hassan triplefolders function the same way. They transform players into figures of quiet veneration, with the triptych format encouraging contemplation and a form of admiration that borders on devotion. Buy The Celebrant HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d4f27ce-fe70-4144-97f6-5aa8723426f9/245+-+stone+litho.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Stone Lithography By the 1910s, lithographers weren’t limited to hand-drawn stone work like they had been in years past. In fact, the T206 cards – and possibly also the T205s – were created using a multi-layered lithographic printing process, which involved transferring images from stone or metal plates to paper. Those stones would have been huge slabs of specially prepared limestone, 2-4" thick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a88c11c1-b9db-4652-b419-f0b8fbc0bd8d/246+-+registration.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Off-Register According to researcher Steve Birmingham on the Net54 message board, there is a bit of evidence that a two color press may have also been used for the T206 set. It's possible that a press that printed from a roll of cardstock rather than from individual sheets was used for some, and that probably would have been metal plates. This technique allowed for the vivid, detailed portraits that define the set, but it also introduced challenges. Each card required multiple layers of ink - one for each color. If the plates were misaligned, it resulted in “off-register” cards, where colors overlapped incorrectly or left gaps in the design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/461da126-312b-4ec7-acf8-9a8259a63421/247+-+American+Lithographic+Building.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - American Lithographic The American Lithographic Building (which is potentially one of the buildings where T206 cards were printed) still stands in New York City at the corner of 19th Street and 5th Avenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc54e5d4-e29d-4c02-b8b2-198a87a79332/248+-+miscut.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Inconsistencies One of the most intriguing aspects of T206 cards is the variety of plate shifts and color inconsistencies. A slight movement of the printing plate during production could cause misaligned borders or skewed portraits. These “miscuts” are highly sought after by some collectors, as they offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by early printers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4cd8cc86-676a-48e4-b8b2-2bba777e068b/249+-+Cobb.jpg Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Color Variations As we learn from the Anvil Card Company, color variations were another byproduct of the printing process. Differences in ink quality, humidity, and plate wear meant that even cards from the same production run could have subtle differences in hue. For example, Ty Cobb cards might feature a brighter green background in one batch and a darker, muted tone in another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bfad8be-319e-4543-80d0-fd1595a52cdb/250+-+T202.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Make it stand out By 1912, printers could combine multi-color chromolithography (like the portraits seen in the T206 set) with halftone screens on the same lithographic plates. This meant a printer could render the side portraits in rich, layered colors, and drop in a black-and-white photographic panel in the middle — all in one pass, through the same lithographic process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/061965f7-f799-471f-a57e-17e062328fc5/251+-+printing.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - It Was All Lithography The whole thing was one integrated sheet, folded and cut. Collectors of the T202 set often describe the center as “photographic” and the sides as “litho art,” which makes it sound like two different printing processes that have been spliced together. But in reality, it was all lithography. The distinction is in how the image was prepared for the lithographic plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ca11185-73a3-4297-9f63-dcc92b2ae26c/252+-+reused+panels.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Same Panels The end panels reused the same portrait artwork and plates from the T205 era, which we mentioned throughout the episode. Those were hand-drawn separations which were printed in multicolor chromo-lithography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d33d39a5-0ecf-4586-9a7d-19f2e521f647/253+-+photo.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Actual Photographs But the center panels were created from an actual photograph, converted into a halftone screen, and then transferred onto a litho plate. It looks different because it’s tonal, not drawn, but it’s still lithography — just photo-litho instead of hand-drawn chromo work. It’s one process, but two input styles, and yet another reason why this incredible card set was years ahead of its time. Jake Stahl’s career statistics via Baseball Reference Jake Stahl’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/357f8e81-d94d-4764-bc0d-8d0f88168aaa/299+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0503 - Phil Rosenzweig - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/02 monthly 0.5 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c358eac-3870-4fa5-b4e0-324d02bb6239/youtube.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59aa9ff4-8f2c-4a72-8cd6-9adeaad542dc/square.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley Me and Ed Wheatley after recording our interview in his home near St. Louis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87f2bb51-5e5e-4663-adaa-f8c62fd36cf0/01+-+emmy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Ed Wheatley Ed Wheatley is a St. Louis Cardinals fan and historian, and an award-winning author of multiple baseball books. He is also a filmmaker who has produced three films, with each of them receiving EMMY Award nominations, as well as a win in 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbb2ac01-adb8-4fc6-a5f3-264d6a0a9979/02+-+BroegBob.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob Broeg Bob Broeg was a titan of sports writing and knowledge in St. Louis for six decades. He was a local boy through and through, growing up in south city, attending the University of Missouri, and working in St. Louis (aside from a very brief time early in his career in Boston), from 1946 until his death. He held his dream job, St. Louis Cardinals beat writer, at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, before being promoted to sports editor, and then to assistant to the publisher. The St. Louis chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research bears his name. Bob Broeg’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c2dcda5-3f0a-43e2-83ea-ca55428ca3d6/03+-+HOF.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Greater St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Ed is an inductee in the Greater St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, being honored as a Contributor in the Class of 2023. With his induction, Ed joined his father, Ed Wheatley, Sr., who had been honored as a Player in the Class of 1989. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e692b41-ae61-4a60-a3d9-3756ed05a572/04+-+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team Ed’s book, St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team, was Sports Collectors Digest’s selection as the best baseball book in 2017. It was also nominated for the Lawrence Ritter Award by the Society for American Baseball Research for the best baseball book of 2017, and is #45 on Book Authority’s list of 100 Best Baseball Books of All Time. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b8f4c82-c581-4860-bb89-0a8762ce0734/05+-+Baseball+in+STL.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues Ed’s book, Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues, was selected by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as one of the top 25 books of 2020 , and is #73 on Book Authority’s list of 100 Best Baseball Books of All Time. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bacbaf6-2078-4a5b-9e29-fee39a0d49f6/06+-+From+STL+to+Cooperstown.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - From St. Louis to Cooperstown: Baseball Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City Ed’s most recent book, From St. Louis to Cooperstown: Baseball Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City, came out in May of 2025 and walks us through the chronology of the city’s baseball history, detailing the moments each player had on their road from St. Louis to Cooperstown. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f35e6df6-dcf8-4593-8586-0415ef7ff25f/07+-+Rawlings.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Finest in the Field®: A History of Baseball Through 50 Iconic Gloves Ed’s next book is a collaboration with Rawlings which is set to be released in April of 2026. It is called The Finest in the Field®: A History of Baseball Through 50 Iconic Gloves, which highlights fifty gloves as touchstones of baseball’s most storied players and plays. It will pair a gallery of sumptuous glove photography with essays, archival photos of the players, period advertisements, and other memorabilia to place each glove into its proper historical context. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77ffaff4-defc-4084-915f-92b689803379/08+-+rings.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - World Series Wins The Cardinals have won 19 National League pennants, which is third most in history behind the Dodgers and Giants. Their 7 National League Championship Series victories trail only the Dodgers, who have won the NLCS 10 times. The Cardinals have won 11 World Series titles, which is the most of any team in the National League, and second most in history, behind the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97869545-90f7-4a06-a8e9-ba369b0fad8b/09+-+The+Cardinal+Way.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Cardinal Way “From practice drills to roster management, The Cardinal Way has been used to describe everything that the St. Louis Cardinals organization does and why they do it. It has served as a conduit through which the organization has blended the philosophies of all its past and present managers and coaches. This blend has even helped mend organizational schisms between the management of the Major League club and the overall development of the minor league system.” - Kyle Thompson, MLB.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29db82df-3497-4b78-abe0-a5d3ba628e7e/10+-+Kissell.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - George Kissell George Kissell was a minor league player, manager, coach, scout, and instructor, as well as a Major League coach for the St. Louis Cardinals organization, and a key in establishing The Cardinal Way. Kissell summarized the reason for The Cardinal Way best: "Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll understand." George Kissell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24c2562c-a6fc-456e-8d72-a596316336a2/11+-+Ricketts.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dave Ricketts Dave Ricketts was a catcher and coach who played parts of six seasons (1963, 1965, 1967–1970) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Ricketts was a reserve catcher on the 1967 World Series champion Cardinals and their 1968 pennant winners. He later served as a longtime bullpen coach of the Cardinals (1974–1975, 1978–1991), including their 1982 World Series champions and 1985 and 1987 pennant winners, after having been the bullpen coach for the Pirates from 1971 to 1973, including the 1971 World Series champions. Dave Ricketts’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/291f1c53-91b5-44e7-b0ff-b97228f5852b/12+-+Retired+Numbers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Incredible Cardinals Ed’s book, Incredible Cardinals, came out in 2018 and discusses each of the 14 individuals who have had their number retired by the Cardinals organization. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cde68b9-a671-4b6c-a5f4-614a919e73c0/13+-+Beaumont+High+School.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Beaumont High School Ed’s dad, Edward R. Wheatley, Sr., played ball at Beaumont High School in St. Louis, which produced a number of professional baseball players in the 1940s and 1950s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42db27b2-85d5-48d8-9d9e-68d8bc9b2be9/14+-+Whitey+Herzog.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Whitey Herzog Whitey Herzog made his major league debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including scout, manager, coach, general manager, and farm system director. As a scout and farm system director, Herzog helped the New York Mets win the 1969 World Series. As a big-league manager, he led the Kansas City Royals to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1976 to 1978. Hired by Gussie Busch in 1980 to helm the St. Louis Cardinals, the team made three World Series appearances, winning the 1982 World Series over the Milwaukee Brewers and falling in 1985 and 1987. Whitey Herzog’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68bbe153-7a95-4c07-9291-c792117d3e0e/15+-+Beaumont.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Semi-Pro League In the 1950s and 1960s, St. Louis had one of the premier semi-pro leagues in the country, thanks to the vast amount of talent and decades of teaching that had gone into the area. As a little kid, Ed was a bat boy for his dad’s teams in those leagues. It was during these years, being around ex-major leaguers and future stars, when Ed truly developed his love of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58abe369-c18d-49cd-a0d1-f7f4b94b404f/16+-+1951+Fon+du+Lac+Panthers.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1951 & 1952 Fon du Lac Panthers Ed’s dad batted .260 with 112 walks, 90 RBI, and 104 runs in 153 games for the Yankees’ Class D Fon du Lac Panthers over 153 games in 1951 and 1952. He played briefly for the Joplin Miners in 1953, which is a team Mickey Mantle had played for in 1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50ba2a6a-98f1-4dfb-b2a1-f0bc1c77a0d4/17+-+Stockholm+Post.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Stockham Post 245 The 1956 Fred W. Stockham Post 245 team won the championship. Players from Beaumont and Central High Schools began playing together on the same Legion team for the first time that season. Beaumont was coming off a Missouri state high school title, while Central previously had won three consecutive state titles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/792299be-e95d-4f80-8aeb-b8ac7a871365/18+-+Dodgers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Minor League Systems In the 1940s and 1950s, the minor league system was much different from what it is today. Some teams had dozens of farm teams, meaning you had to beat out hundreds of other prospects if you wanted a chance at the big league club. Here, Brooklyn Dodgers prospects do some running at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida in 1948. Photo courtesy of the George Silk The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e6a1c8a-3ebf-4ce4-a2cf-8028aa0fc6ce/19+-+Senior+League+Team+Trophy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Senior League Ed plays baseball to this day, in competitive senior leagues which travel all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60a388dc-c201-41fa-afc6-276cb86a014e/20+-+1964+world+series.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1964 World Series The 61st edition of the World Series matched the National League champion Cardinals against the American League champion Yankees. St. Louis won in seven games, giving the Cardinals their seventh world championship. The Yankees, who had appeared in 15 of 18 World Series since 1947, would not play in the Series again until 1976. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b633766-360b-409d-8905-202ec270533e/21+-+Babe+Ruth+-+Nat+Fein.JPG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Babe Bows Out Nat Fein’s photo of Babe Ruth from what many believed would be Babe’s final public appearance on June 13 of 1948 is one of the lasting images of the sport’s greatest hero. “Babe Bows Out” won Fein the Pulitzer Prize. “I saw Ruth standing there with his uniform, No. 3 . . . and knew that was the shot. It was a dull day, and most photographers were using flash bulbs, but I slowed the shutter and took the picture without a flash.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/890dab5a-76b5-44c8-be5c-c4c04d71bad3/22+-+Babe+Ruth+Final+Appearance.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Babe’s Actual Last Appearance At a Major League Stadium While many people think that Babe Ruth’s final appearance at a Major League stadium was June 13, 1948 at Yankee Stadium, they are mistaken. Babe’s actual last appearance at a Major League stadium came six days later, at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, as Babe continued his tour across the country promoting American Legion ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2014777e-3689-4e6b-b3eb-d028b61e2370/23+-+Babe+Ruth+With+Kids.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Signed Baseball Babe gave each player from the American Legion teams an autographed baseball, so Ed’s dad got one that day. 75+ years later, Ed now has that ball in his possession, despite bringing it to school growing up for one of the most expensive versions of “Show And Tell” ever. Luckily, Ed and his classmates didn’t have a Sandlot moment with the ball… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fc9bb00-bc31-4d8b-bb42-125ae91932d5/24+-+Fred+Bird.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - How Quickly They Forget Ed speaks at a lot of schools in the St. Louis area, and he is surprised to see how few kids today know who Stan Musial was. Maybe Ed is a tad biased, because Stan was his favorite player growing up, but it just goes to show you how time marches on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ff443dd-074a-4430-92ba-4b60840ece15/25+-+Mickey+poster.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Mickey Mantle’s Signature Mickey’s signature is magical. His autograph is one of the most coveted signatures in the hobby. Collector and historian Kelly Eisenhauer put together this incredible article for Sports Collectors Digest with dozens of examples of Mickey’s signature throughout the years, showing the major (and minor) changes over time. I urge you to actually go read the article and see all of the different examples Kelly put together to show the decades of change in Mickey’s signature. READ IT HERE. If you’re new the to show, you may have missed Episode 7 of Season 4, which was a discussion with Tom Catal, who is Mickey Mantle’s former autograph agent, and was the founder and curator of the Mickey Mantle Museum in Cooperstown, New York. We talk about the different changes in Mickey’s signature over time, and cover many other incredible topics. LISTEN TO IT HERE. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b26d0ace-1f6f-4fcd-9a81-c78e1030ad2d/26+-+1964+autograph.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Mickey’s 1964 Signature Winning 99 regular-season games, the 1964 New York Yankees were the last edition of the great Bronx dynasty that could trace its origins back to the 1947 season. Even though the team had some fresh blood in the likes of pitcher Jim Bouton and first baseman Joe Pepitone, the team was top heavy with aging stars such as Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. Though they lost in seven games to the Cardinals in the World Series, the 1964 Yankees were still the top A.L. team that year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d965b0e-0a6b-4651-8d4a-db5cac8025c5/27+-+Johnny+Bench.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Rawlings Ed knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the different signatures on a Mickey Mantle autograph model glove and a Mickey Mantle signed baseball, because his current project (set to be released in April of 2026) is a book with Rawlings about 50 of the most significant baseball gloves in history. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4155da79-6191-474b-a45c-c135440a921a/28+-+Elston+Howard.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Elston Howard Aside from Stan Musial, Ed’s favorite player growing up was Elston Howard. Elston Howard was a catcher and a left fielder during a 14-year career from 1948 through 1968 which saw him play in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball, primarily for the New York Yankees. A 12-time All-Star, he also played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Boston Red Sox. In 1955, he was the first African American player on the Yankees roster, eight years after Jackie Robinson had broken MLB's color barrier in 1947. Howard was named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the 1963 pennant winners after finishing third in the league in slugging percentage and fifth in home runs, becoming the first black player in AL history to win the honor. He won Gold Glove Awards in 1963 and 1964, in the latter season setting AL records for putouts and total chances in a season. Elston Howard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe2217bf-7b58-4545-aa6c-fd66e43e6ba9/29+-+Maris.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Roger Maris And aside from Elston Howard, Ed’s other favorite player was Roger Maris. Maris is best known for setting a new MLB single-season home run record with 61 home runs in 1961, but he also appeared in seven World Series, playing for Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1961 and 1962, and for a Cardinals team that won the World Series in 1967. Maris made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. Maris finished his playing career as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968. Maris was an AL All-Star from 1959 through 1962, the AL MVP in 1960 and 1961, and an AL Gold Glove Award winner in 1960. Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1413ed69-a550-46d1-9ab9-bb7731cc10ba/30+-+Senior+League+Trophy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Ed’s Own Playing Career Ed has played in tournaments all over the country, from the Midwest, to Florida, to North Carolina. Ed has played with and against players from all over the world, including former Major League players, former Minor League players, and former college players. Ed’s teams have played against teams from all over the world, including Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9d9d155-2099-4989-9f8a-6d06f79c90c7/31+-+Original+Green+Monster.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Original Green Monster When the Red Sox renovated the Green Monster at Fenway Park to put seating on top of it, they took the original wall and sent it down to their minor league stadium in Florida. That’s one of the places Ed’s team plays in a tournament, which is always a thrill for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0308066-c01d-4c24-8302-b2faa5338841/32+-+Terry+Park.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Terry Park The Terry Park Ballfield (also known as the Park T. Pigott Memorial Stadium) in Fort Myers, Florida hosted Major League Baseball spring training for years, as well as a dozen years of Florida State League baseball. The stadium has hosted the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals spring training needs throughout the years. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente, Jimmy Foxx, Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, and George Brett are some of the Hall of Famers who have played at Terry Park, but Ed especially loves walking in the footsteps of George Sisler. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e48d4fa-2ebe-43b1-a7be-ee7efa85edb8/33+-+Pitching+to+Ozzie+Smith.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Fearless While the level of play in Ed’s senior leagues is very competitive, he shows no fear on the mound. After all, how could he, when he’s thrown to Ozzie Smith before? Ozzie Smith’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/642da7af-2410-4890-a447-1f1594d3961a/34+-+St+Louis+Area+Ballplayers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Baseball in St. Louis There have been dozens of genuinely great Major League players who have come out of the St. Louis area over the years, including more than a handful Hall of Famers. Ed talks about St. Louis’ rich baseball history in his book, Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues. You can BUY IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c04f144-49a4-4de6-aa2d-f1d8a8ee18c1/35+-+Hummel.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Rick Hummel Rick Hummel, nicknamed the “Commish”, covered the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 50 years before retiring after the 2022 season. The Busch Stadium Press Box is named after both Rick and Hall of Fame writer Bob Broeg, who also covered the Cardinals for the Post-Dispatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/229da9ba-5ae3-48f6-b648-a161f3ab60b6/36+-+Stockton.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - J. Roy Stockton J. Roy Stockton was a sportswriter who covered the Cardinals from 1915 to 1958, mostly for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In addition to his newspaper work, Stockton wrote several books, had a weekly radio show, served as president of the Florida State League, and was a member of the Veterans Committee of the Hall of Fame. Shortly before his death in 1972, he was honored by the Hall of Fame with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c56d9bad-ebd7-487a-ac4e-319f518adfa4/37+-+Dizzy+Dean.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dizzy Dean As a radio announcer, Dizzy Dean earned a devoted following and some enemies. He broke into song, usually "The Wabash Cannonball," during dull games, and his neologisms and malapropisms, such as "He slud into third" and "The players returned to their respectable bases," became legendary. In 1946 two Missouri schoolteachers complained to the Federal Communications Commission that Dean's broadcasts were "replete with errors in grammar and syntax" and were "having a bad effect on their pupils." Norman Cousins of the Saturday Review of Literature was among those who rallied to Dean's defense, and Dizzy himself offered something of an apology. "Maybe I am butcherin' up the English language a little," he said. "Well, all I got to say is that when me and Paul and pa was pickin' cotton in Arkansas, we didn't have no chance to go to school much. But I'm glad that kids are gettin' that chance today." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a2c2d40-9797-413a-8a6a-abcd1e9c829d/38+-+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - September 28, 1947 A crowd of 15,910 attended Sportsman’s Park on September 28, 1947 to see 37-year-old Dizzy Dean face off against the White Sox. It would be the second-highest attendance the Browns would have all season. Dean pitched three innings without allowing a run, scattering three hits and walking one batter. In bottom of the third, Dean also hit a single! However, he pulled a muscle on the hit and left after pitching the fourth inning. Dizzy Dean’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07b7954a-928d-470c-b75e-c94912dbba1e/39+-+OTD+07-07-1937.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dizzy’s Injury This injury, more than 10 years before his appearance for the Browns, would be the beginning of the end for Dizzy as a pitcher in the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fce0957d-89df-404c-b6aa-d751006807b6/40+-+Harry+Caray.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Harry Caray Harry Caray caught his break when he landed a job with the National League St. Louis Cardinals in 1945 and, according to several histories of the franchise, proved as adept at selling the sponsor's beer as at the play-by-play description. Caray teamed with former major-league catcher Gabby Street to call Cardinals games through 1950, as well as those of the American League St. Louis Browns in 1945 and 1946. Caray’s subsequent partners in the Cardinals' booth included Stretch Miller, Gus Mancuso, Milo Hamilton, Joe Garagiola, and Jack Buck. Harry Caray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84b637ea-ab58-4940-b7e0-fee118697954/41+-+Jack+Buck.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jack Buck Jack Buck was one of Missouri’s sports broadcasting pioneers. In 1954 Buck was hired by KMOX in St. Louis to be a member of the famous St. Louis Cardinals broadcasting team alongside Harry Caray, Milo Hamilton, and Joe Garagiola. As the main play-by-play announcer for KMOX radio, Buck was known as the “Voice of the St. Louis Cardinals” for nearly half a century. He was also a nationally recognized television and radio announcer who covered games for the National Football League, the National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association. In all, Buck called seventeen Super Bowls and eight World Series and was inducted into numerous sports broadcasting halls of fame. Jack Buck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72789041-63e0-4e3d-844b-372177182f06/42+-+Cardinal+Nation.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Cardinal Nation What started out because of KMOX’s incredibly strong radio signal has become a tradition now multiple generations old: listening to the Cardinals on the radio, even if you live hundreds of miles away from St. Louis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e8fc70b-a43d-423c-b648-56a3fcc2e657/43+-+Bob+Costas.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob Costas Bob Costas once told Ed that he used to go sit in his dad’s car as a kid and listen to Cardinals games on the radio. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/424308fe-b96a-4f5e-915a-758624b2c6e2/44+-+KMOX.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - KMOX Partners in a great tradition … the Cardinals and the Voice of St. Louis (and beyond). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4901ede-ef14-4f6d-a504-4e3650e2171d/45+-+Union+Printers+League.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Union Printers National Baseball League As early as 1883, union printers in New York City had organized the New York Morning Newspaper Baseball League with teams representing different New York and Brooklyn newspapers. The first Union Printers National Baseball League Tournament took place in New York City in September of 1908. Sponsored each year by the International Typographical Union (ITU), the tournament brought together teams representing the ITU from different cities for several days of sports, camaraderie, and brotherhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8363d26b-5727-43c7-a8b1-a0c9aa8828c7/47+-+attendance.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 3,000,000+ Fans From the Home Run Race summer of 1998 through 2019, the final normal regular season before COVID, the Cardinals drew 3 million or more fans in 21 of the 22 seasons. The only season in that span during which they didn’t reach 3 million was 2003, when they still drew 2.9 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9441401-1116-4e4b-b6d3-3b59041ce84b/48+-+Brown+Stockings.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Brown Stockings The St. Louis Brown Stockings entered the National League in 1876 as a founding team along with five other former National Association teams and two new professional league entrants. George Bradley pitched the first no-hitter in Major League history on July 15, 1876, when the Brown Stockings defeated the Hartford Dark Blues, 2–0. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25e7406d-194b-497e-859d-d730c1b9dad6/49+-+Red+Stockings.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Red Stockings The St. Louis Red Stockings were a professional baseball team in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players for the 1875 season. The site where they played their home games is first known to have been used for baseball in about 1867, when it was the home of something called the Veto Club, and was called the Veto Grounds. The grounds were evidently already well-known, as local newspapers in 1867 were calling it the "old" Veto Grounds. In 1874, the Red Stockings—then a local amateur club—built a grandstand behind home plate and a wooden stockade fence around the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/165878c2-44ff-443b-b2b5-37e262768bdd/50+-+Von+Der+Ahe.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Chris von der Ahe Chris von der Ahe’s meteoric rise to baseball prominence predated the modern-day World Series. Von der Ahe was the owner of the original St. Louis Browns franchise from 1881 to 1899. immigrated alone to New York around 1870 as a teenager with little means. Just six weeks later, von der Ahe traveled west to St. Louis and began a career as a grocery store clerk. Within two years he had saved enough to start his own saloon. As he heard enthusiastic stories of baseball from his patrons, von der Ahe sensed the game could serve as a business opportunity. As the majority owner of the St. Louis club, von der Ahe transformed the vacant lots next to his saloon into a baseball field that would become known by many names, most notably “Sportsman’s Park.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43206783-2dc5-4fae-9519-3df29f1d5769/51+-+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - American Association The American Association of Base Ball Clubs was a professional baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from 1882 to 1891. Together with the National League, founded in 1876, the AA participated in an early version of the World Series seven times versus the champion of the NL in an interleague championship playoff tournament. At the end of its run, several AA franchises joined the NL. After 1891, the NL existed alone, with each season's champions being awarded the Temple Cup (1894–1897). Pictured here is the 1885 St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe16cf6d-7c9f-4f9d-b9e5-af7b078a6e10/52+-+Maroons.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis Maroons The St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball team from 1884 to 1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due in large part to the dominance of the Maroons (who started the 1884 season 20-0). When the UA folded after playing just one season, the Maroons joined the National League. In 1887 the Maroons relocated to Indianapolis and became the Indianapolis Hoosiers, where they played three more seasons before folding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ceeaa005-3dc6-4738-a788-84fe5092281b/53+-+1892.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1892 St. Louis Browns The 1892 St. Louis Browns season was the team's 11th season in St. Louis, and their first as members of the National League. The Browns joined the National League when the American Association folded after the 1891 season and have remained a member ever since; the team has been known as the St. Louis Cardinals since 1900. This was the team’s final season before moving from the original Sportsman's Park to New Sportsman's Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bd5d4b2-7aae-41c2-af7b-20c030242ed1/54+-+1896+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Great Browns Players Pictured here is the 1896 St. Louis Browns team. Some of the best players of the Browns National League teams of the late 1880s were Bob Caruthers, Tip O’Neill, Arlie Latham, Theodore Breitenstein, and Charles Comiskey. Bob Caruthers’ SABR Biography Tip O’Neill’s SABR Biography Arlie Latham’s SABR Biography Theodore Breitenstein’s SABR Biography Charles Comiskey SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2afb65b-609f-4a24-861a-dd8197349848/55+-+100th+anniversary.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 100th Anniversary? In 1992, the St. Louis Cardinals sold all sorts of memorabilia with this logo on it, from books to baseballs, celebrating the team’s 100th anniversary. But was it really?? Logo courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e60e8a8-5d20-4e5f-b855-9e4fcd64ecb7/56+-+Comiskey.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Charles Comiskey Charlie Comiskey took over as a full-time player/manager at 25 years of age towards the end of the 1884 season. The unequivocal team leader piloted the Browns to four straight American Association pennants, winning at least two-thirds of his games in each season between 1885 and 1888. Comiskey’s Browns defeated the National League’s Chicago White Stockings (led by Hall of Fame player/manager Cap Anson) four games to two in the 1886 World’s Championship Series, staged between the two leagues in a prelude to the modern-day World Series. Heralded as a solid defender, “The Old Roman” is widely credited as being one of the first players not to hug the first base bag, but rather played closer to second base, enabling him to field more ground balls and having the pitcher cover first base. Comiskey was an organizational selection to be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame Class of 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25905877-6912-48f3-a172-88f291ba36e4/46+-+Map+of+St.+Louis.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Concentrated Greatness Not only did St. Louis have an American League and a National League team (who played in the same park for many years, no less), they also had a Federal League team and multiple Black baseball teams over the years, as well. Looking at this map of the area shows you exactly how close together all of their stadiums were, and how easy it was for fans to know where to go to see great baseball being played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e268e6d-22e2-4842-8134-ec62f162f55f/57+-+Robison.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Robison Brothers The team had new owners as the Robison Brothers, Frank and Stanley, bought the team from the outrageous but business minded Chris Von der Ahe. Frank was in business with his father-in-law, Charles Hathaway, operating cable cars in Cleveland and Stanley had a degree in civil engineering and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he also worked with his brother at the Hathaway and Robison, Street Railway Contractors and Builders based out of Cleveland. Stanley would oversee the business holdings from his home in Fort Wayne. The Robison brothers changed the team color to red, and the name of the ballpark to League Park (the same name of the park they owned in Cleveland). The red color proved so popular that fans and sportswriters began referring to the team by the shade of red: cardinal. The next season, the team officially became the Cardinals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22e92d23-3787-4b4e-b7d1-6e3c8a45a5f9/58+-+Perfectos.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1899 St. Louis Perfectos The 1899 team benefited from many players who were transferred from the Cleveland Spiders, who were also owned by the Robison brothers. This led to the Spiders compiling the worst season in MLB history, losing 134 games. However, the Perfectos wound up finishing only fifth. The pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas benefited from a similar arrangement. Brooklyn's owners also owned the Baltimore Orioles, allowing them to also transfer their better players to one team. After the 1899 season, such arrangements were outlawed in the National League. Both the Spiders and Orioles were among four teams eliminated from the league. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b21d3fa-035f-4a36-ac00-848e286d05d5/59+-+Young.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Cy Young Cy Young holds nearly all of the career counting statistics records for pitchers, including most Wins all time (511), most Losses (315), most Games Started (815), most Complete Games (with 749!), most Innings Pitched, most Batters Faced, and a handful of others. He passed away in 1955, and in 1956, they started calling the award given to the best pitcher at the end of every season the Cy Young Award. Cy Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24fa7ae9-0a69-446f-b928-b3ef84ae5c87/59+-+Burkett.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jesse Burkett Jesse Burkett was transferred to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1899 by the Spiders’ owner Frank Robison, who owned both teams. That year, Burkett hit .396 – a figure that was revised down from .402 in future years. After two more seasons with the Cardinals – which included a .376 average in 1901 that was good for his third National League batting crown – Burkett jumped to the St. Louis Browns of the American League for three years. Burkett actually batted over .400 twice and held the major league single-season hits record for 15 years. In 1946, Burkett was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Burkett holds the record for the most inside-the-park home runs in MLB history, with 55. For his career, Burkett compiled a .338 batting average on the strength of 2,850 hits. He scored 1,720 runs and notched 320 doubles. Jesse Burkett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1ac75bf-5be2-4661-aba4-ddb198f1d62a/61+-+Brewers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1901 Milwaukee Brewers The American League started in 1901 and had a team in Milwaukee (called the Brewers), who finished in dead last place with a record of 48-89. For some reason, though, St. Louis did not have an American League franchise, despite being the 4th largest city in America at the time. Ban Johnson, the President of the American League, saw that as a missed opportunity, and had the Milwaukee Brewers move to St. Louis for the 1902 season, renaming them the St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37408f3b-57d9-441f-8b6a-7240c399e232/62+-+Bobby+Wallace.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bobby Wallace “[Bobby Wallace] is one of the greatest fielding shortstops who ever lived,” fellow St. Louis Browns player Jimmy Austin said. “It was a delight to play third base next to that fellow.” In 1901 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Wallace led all National League shortstops in chances per game, assists and double plays and was still a threat at the plate, batting .324 with 91 RBI. He jumped to the American League's St. Louis Browns in 1902, holding down the starting shortstop job for 11 seasons. He also served as the team's manager during the 1911 and 1912 seasons. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953. Bobby Wallace’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc89876d-87fc-449b-afce-254bbcbe5006/63+-+Branch+Manager.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Branch Rickey Branch Rickey had a brief and undistinguished career as a major league catcher for the St. Louis Browns (1905–1906) and New York Highlanders in 1907. On offense, his batting average dropped below .200; on defense, an opposing team once stole 13 bases in a single game, thanks to Rickey’s weak throwing arm. Photo courtesy of National Photo Company Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-npcc-19279 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60eea0c5-edd1-42fc-a790-02baa27d48f2/64+-+Michigan.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Branch Manager Rickey enrolled at the University of Michigan’s Law School. In his second year, he signed on to coach the university’s baseball club, where he mentored George Sisler. Between 1910 and 1913, Rickey earned a 68-32-4 record. Despite his limited success as a player, the St. Louis Browns rehired Rickey to serve as the team’s manager from 1913 to 1915. Branch Rickey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5999b2f7-e2bf-45d0-a5ff-c323c0b922fb/65+-+Branch+Rickey+baseball+genius.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out The St. Louis Browns outfield of Ken Williams in left, Baby Doll Jacobson in center, and Johnny “Jack” Tobin in right, was a talented trio on an under-performing team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/863406bb-8338-462a-a522-17523d38eb10/66+-+Sam+Breadon.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Sam Breadon Sam Breadon bought a minority interest in the Cardinals in 1917, and two years later, in 1919, Browns manager Branch Rickey joined the Cardinals. Breadon bought out the majority stake in 1920 and appointed Rickey as the team’s business manager. The Cardinals won nine pennants and six World Series from the time Breadon took over in 1920 until he sold the club in November of 1947. The Cardinals’ record during that time was 2,470-1,830 (.574). “I realized that it’s the ballclub that counts, not the individual,” Breadon said. “And I never again was afraid to trade a player.” Sam Breadon’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54622c9b-fff1-44f4-b4ac-ad1cd15b47a4/67+-+Sportsman%27s+Park.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d67b7ad-b17f-4e56-8d9b-c5da88bba317/68+-+Britton-Helene-Hathaway-LOC.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Helene Hathaway Britton In March 1911, with woman suffrage a popular topic in the newspapers, a major league baseball club owner’s death caused a stir in the worlds of sports and society. The will left by Stanley Robison revealed that he had bequeathed controlling interest in the St. Louis Cardinals to his niece, Helene Robison Britton. The remaining shares went to Helene’s mother, the widow of former club co-owner Frank DeHaas Robison, Stanley’s brother. Early reports dismissed the notion that a woman - or women - would maintain ownership, least of all control, of a baseball franchise. But Helene, a young wife and mother of two small children, surprised the male-dominated world of baseball by not only refusing to sell her acquisition but taking an active role in its operation for the next six years, becoming the first woman in history to own a major league baseball club. Helene Hathaway Britton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9649b775-772a-4833-ac1b-b751bf0238e4/69+-+1911+National+League+owners+meeting.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out National League owners at the December 1911 league meeting. Helene Hathaway Britton is the only woman present. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bf8c1f0-7c55-4bab-8b05-c18acaed3d87/70+-+Branch+Rickey+minor+league+system.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Minor League Farm System Branch Rickey conceived the minor league farm system in an attempt to bolster his club, a concept he tried to pursue while with the Browns. By leasing use of Sportsman’s Park from the Browns instead of building their own stadium, the Cardinals were able to afford to implement Rickey’s idea for a farm system. That’s when the franchise took off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e4686878-0654-4e31-b074-84c85f77d2d9/71+-+Breadon.jpeg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Sam Breadon On June 6, 1920, the Cardinals played their last game at Robison Field (renamed Cardinal Field in 1917), which had been their home field since 1893. They beat the Cubs, 5-2. One of Sam Breadon’s first decisions as the team’s new owner was to agree to a ten-year lease for $20,000 annually, allowing his team to move six blocks to share Sportsman’s Park with the Browns, and allowing him to use the money from the sale of the aging ballpark to finance Branch Rickey’s idea of establishing a farm system by investing in a club affiliation with a minor league team in Houston, Texas. This cartoon depicts Sam Breadon as a mechanic in a St. Louis garage. Long before becoming the President of the Cardinals, Breadon moved to St. Louis as a struggling, young mechanic from New York. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee383902-b8f0-4338-853b-0abaf0708fa6/72+-+Robison+Fire.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Robison Field Robison Field is the best-known of several names given to a former Major League park in St. Louis. It was the home of the Cardinals from April 27, 1893 until June 6, 1920. Robison Field was the last remaining major league ballpark that was primarily wooden. The Cardinals sold the property to the developers of Beaumont High School, which was built on the site and was opened in 1926. This photo depicts a fire at the field on May 4, 1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aab71c8-f55f-49c4-9e9b-867a4e07b019/73+-+Sportsman%27s+Park.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out The new Sportsman’s Park was state of the art when it was built in 1909. Since it was constructed with steel and concrete, it was not susceptible to fires in the same way that previous wooden ballparks had been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aab4672-fa7c-4fde-ba55-7f0b04730785/74+-+Ball.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Philip De Catesby Ball Philip De Catesby Ball is perhaps best known for demoting pioneering baseball executive Branch Rickey from general manager to business manager in 1915, which led to his departure for the Cardinals. He considered Rickey's ideas, such as the development of an integrated farm system, to be too radical for the time; however, he also sought to prevent other teams from experimenting with these ideas by unsuccessfully seeking a court order to vacate Rickey's 1917 contract with the Browns' crosstown rivals. Phil Ball’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9aee813f-4a33-471e-bcd1-0d0eb29f6b7f/75+-+1922+Cardinals.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Birds on Bat In 1922, the Cardinals introduced the Birds on Bat logo and wore it on their uniform for the first time. Here, Austin McHenry proudly shows off the new threads. By the time he was 25 years old, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Austin McHenry was considered one of baseball’s best outfielders and hitters, especially after enjoying a 1921 season that saw him finish with a .350 batting average, second only to teammate and future Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby. McHenry also finished second to Hornsby in slugging at .531, placed among the top five National League hitters in doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases, and extra-base hits, and was one of only six N.L. hitters with 200 hits that season. Combined with a strong arm and an easy gait that was sometimes mistaken for indifference, McHenry was considered not only one of baseball’s best outfielders and hitters after his remarkable 1921 campaign, but one of the ten best left fielders of all time to that point in baseball history. Austin McHenry’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c5dc6b1-f0bb-4941-8933-e7f17cb2e98d/76+-+Capolino.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Peter Capolino Peter Capolino is the founder and former owner of the Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. in Philadelphia. Peter is nearly single-handedly responsible for the proliferation of throwback jerseys and the uniform literacy of the average fan. He was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cfeeaa3-040e-45e4-991c-72a02447db6e/77+-+Allie+May+Schmidt.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Allie May Schmidt The Birds on the Bat design originated from hand-painted cardboard birds created by Allie May Schmidt. She was asked to create table decorations for a Men’s Fellowship Club event at the Ferguson Presbyterian Church on February 16, 1921. Allie May was inspired when she saw cardinal birds perched on a lilac bush. Branch Rickey was in attendance at the event, and was impressed with Allie May’s painted cardboard birds (seen here). Rickey commissioned Allie May’s father, Edward H. Schmidt, who was head of the art department at the Woodward and Tiernan Printing Company, to create a new design for the team’s uniforms. The uniforms debuted in an exhibition game against the American League St. Louis Browns on April 8, 1922. Photo courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7b02630-4c07-46e4-a4ca-cc740197b226/78+-+1923+single+bird.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Single Bird Newspaper accounts for the 1923 season claim the Cardinals wore the Single Bird as their primary weekday uniform, and the Birds on the Bat as their Sunday uniform. However, collaborative research efforts between cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com and Jeff Scott at birdbats.com has lead us to refute the newspaper claim. According to our photo identification and Jeff Scott’s player number identification, we think the Cardinals wore the Birds on the Bat at home on weekdays and wore the Single Bird uniform on Sundays. Variations of the Single Bird uniform were also used during the 1927 season, with the words WORLD CHAMPIONS surrounding the bird on the left chest. The Cardinals’ 1928 home uniform, which was also worn for Game 3 of the 1928 World Series, was also a variation of the Single Bird logo. Here, Fred Toney models the 1923 version. Fred Toney’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/512bdaeb-4d7b-445b-9b94-5f67cc287ac6/79+-+1956+Cardinals.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1956 Cardinals Uniforms The 1956 Cardinals uniforms may be the most controversial of all time. General Manager Frank Lane, the man who traded Red Schoendienst in 1956, and who also attempted to trade Stan Musial, removed the Birds on the Bat from the uniforms. In its place was a cursive script that read Cardinals. Sluggerbird was embroidered on the left sleeve, batting left handed. This is the first season Sluggerbird appeared on the team’s jersey. Frank Lane’s original plan was to only wear the cursive script at home, and wear an interlocking STL on the chest for the the road uniform. Photo courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c201da4-24bf-4efa-8bda-179a5ce26e05/80+-+1951.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Slight Changes In 1951, the team refreshed their look with a new Birds on the Bat logo across the chest. It was the first Birds on the Bat logo to feature a yellow/gold bat, as opposed to the black bats which had always adorned the logo since their inception on the 1922 uniforms. The bat has remained yellow/gold since 1951. The Cardinals also wore a sleeve patch during the 1951 season, commemorating 75 years of the National League. Here, Red Schoendienst is seen wearing the 1951 Cardinals uniform. Red Schoendienst’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10c7362a-4c41-4ca4-9e8b-9afefc1805fe/81+-+Browns+logo.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis Browns Logo The Apotheosis of St. Louis is a statue of King Louis IX of France (who is the namesake of St. Louis, Missouri) which is located in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Part of the iconography of St. Louis, the statue was the principal symbol of the city between its erection in 1906 and the construction of the Gateway Arch in the mid-1960s. The eight stars represent the eight original teams of the American League, while the nine bars represent the nine innings of a baseball game, and the nine players on each team. Logo courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de135833-8346-489f-a1c7-84908d320a3a/82+-+Hall+of+Fame+with+Mary+Moore%2C+Maybelle+Blair%2C+and+Shirley+Burkovich.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Ed At The Hall Of Fame Ed has spoken at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown a number of times. Here he is on one of his visits to the Hall with Mary Moore, Maybelle Blair, and Shirley Burkovich of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82e77807-829c-4854-8e7b-abed490faab6/83+-+Hornsby.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Rogers Hornsby The best player on the team during this era was second baseman Rogers Hornsby, who was a Cardinal from 1915-1926, and then again for 46 games in 1933. He is, perhaps, the greatest right handed hitter in baseball history. He led the National League in batting seven times, including an incredible six-year stretch from 1920 through 1925 during which he averaged .397. He won the Triple Crowns in 1922 and 1925, and the Cardinals won the 1926 National League pennant and World Series, the first time they had won either. Hornsby was the player/manager of the Cardinals in 1925 and 1926, yet two months after winning the championship, he was fired. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b3d59f-531d-42d5-aba0-1a07d7919ad0/84+-+Doctor+Ruth.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Babe Promises A Homer Resting in bed in Essex Fells, 11-year-old Johnny Sylvester told his dad the only thing that could cheer him up would be a baseball from the World Series between the Yankees and Cardinals. His father asked a well-connected friend for help. Days later, both the Cardinals and Yankees shipped signed balls to Johnny’s dad – with Ruth scrawling, “I’ll knock a homer for you in Wednesday’s game.” Sure enough, Ruth hit not one but three home runs in Game 4. Alas, the Bombers lost the series in seven games. Soon after, on Oct. 11, 1926, Ruth and his business manager, Christy Walsh, visited Johnny at home in Essex Fells. The next day, the Daily News ran a front-page photo of Ruth and Johnny shaking hands, with the headline “‘Dr.’ Babe Ruth at Bedside.” SABR Games Article on Game 4 of the 1926 WS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c728713-b954-46f8-a3ef-62c51a102fc5/85+-+Right+Field.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Right Field at Sportsman’s Park During the 1929 season, the visiting Detroit Tigers hit eight home runs in a four-game series (July 2-4). Surprisingly, the Browns won three of the four games. Nonetheless, in an effort to help the Browns shell­ shocked pitching staff, Browns management used the off-day of July 5 to install a 21 1/2-foot screen in RF, placed above the existing wall. The screen was in play and raised the barrier to RF homers from 11.5 to 33 feet. The screen ran from the foul line to about right center-near the 354-ft. mark, and covered nearly all of right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/289e6e43-a8b9-402e-8ae7-25dfcfda334a/86+-+Alexander+Grover+379-68_PD.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Grover Cleveland Alexander In Game 6 of the 1926 World Series, 39-year-old Grover Cleveland Alexander tossed a complete game eight-hitter, holding the Yankees to just two runs in St. Louis’ 10-2 win, tying the Series at three games apiece. Without a single day of rest, Cardinals manager Rogers Hornsby summoned Alexander from the bullpen in Game 7 with the bases loaded, two outs and future Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri at the plate – and St. Louis clinging to a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning. Lazzeri missed a grand slam by the slimmest of margins with a blast down the left-field line, then struck out to end the inning. Alexander’s heroics gave the Cardinals their first World Series title. Grover Cleveland Alexander’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b67fa184-9d69-4e9d-8857-82baf118b8b2/87+-+1926+Glove.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob O'Farrell Bob O'Farrell played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and Cincinnati Reds. He was considered one of the greatest defensive catchers of his generation. O'Farrell experienced the highlight of his career in 1926 when he hit for a .293 average with a career-high 30 doubles, 7 home runs and 68 runs batted in as he helped the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant. He also led National League catchers in games caught and in putouts. In the 1926 World Series against the New York Yankees, O'Farrell produced a .301 batting average, but is remembered for throwing out Babe Ruth trying to steal second base for the last out of the seven-game series as the Cardinals claimed their first-ever world championship. In November of 1926, he was voted the winner of the 1926 National League Most Valuable Player Award with 79 out of the possible 80 votes. He was the first catcher to win a Most Valuable Player Award. In December of 1926, the Cardinals traded their manager, Rogers Hornsby, to the New York Giants for Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring, and subsequently named O'Farrell player-manager. This glove is on display at the Grovewood Baseball Museum in Tennessee. Bob O'Farrell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf915270-5fab-43a9-9912-a4f1a30d2193/88+-+Hornsby+Roger+14026-95_w+Breadon_PD.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Breadon vs. Hornsby Left to right, at the 1926 World Series: Sam Breadon, Mrs. William Niekamp, Mrs. Breadon, Mrs. Hornsby, Rogers Hornsby After the 1926 season, Rogers Hornsby and Cardinals owner Sam Breadon quarreled during contract talks. Reaching a boiling point, Hornsby stormed out of Breadon’s office, slamming the door behind him, triggering his banishment from the club. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c9f4060-2a0f-4144-8797-c8af5b161a9b/89+-+Hornsby+and+Veecks.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Rogers Hornsby with William Veeck, Sr. (left) and Bill Veeck (right). Neither relationship ended amicably, prompting Bill’s mom to ask her son, “Did you not learn anything from your father?!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e379bc3-3436-4ea9-83ac-d20d74a8dbcb/90+-+Arft.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Hank “Bow Wow” Arft Hank Arft played first base for the St. Louis Browns from 1948 to 1952. His top season was 1951, during which he achieved career highs in wins above replacement, games played, plate appearances, hits, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, total bases, and OPS+. Arft suffered a concussion during batting practice on May 24, 1952, when manager Rogers Hornsby refused to let the infielders take their reps with the protection of a screen as the batters hit balls into play. X-rays showed no fracture, but Arft missed the next two weeks, and the team grew more resentful of Hornsby’s decision making. Hank Arft’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1efda50-6499-410f-a558-de5d686160b6/91+-+Hornsby.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Hornsby in the Hall Rogers Hornsby was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942, and rightfully so; he’s one of the greatest players to ever live. Since 1900, only two players have batted .400 on three occasions – Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. Only two players have won multiple Triple Crowns – Ted Williams and Hornsby. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68b6b387-3a13-4511-890d-11d01d68c313/92+-+Retired+Number.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Retired “Number” Although he wore a couple different uniform numbers with the Cardinals when uniform numbers were first becoming a thing, there isn’t a single number that is truly connected to him. The Cardinals honored him by “retiring” his uniform with an “SL” emblem instead of a number, so he is recognized in the ballpark as one of the franchise’s truly great players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42a1f6c9-f6b1-4ef0-ae43-863ed000ce02/93+-+Joe+Medwick.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Joe “Ducky” Medwick In just his second full season in the big leagues in 1934, Joe Medwick had already established himself as one of the National League’s best hitters at age 22 and led the Cardinals to the World Series. Medwick opened Game 1 with four straight hits (including a home run) and went on to hit .379 in seven games against the Tigers, winning his first and only World Series ring. A solid defensive outfielder, Medwick would go on to become one of the National League’s most dangerous hitters in the 1930s. After Top 5 finishes in the NL MVP race in 1935 and 1936, Medwick received the NL MVP in 1937 when he won the NL Triple Crown and also led the league in hits, runs, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage. Joe Medwick’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/839b6bdc-5ee6-49a5-b983-63c89cebd3c8/94+-+Retired+Numbers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out The Cardinals unveiled the new display for their retired numbers on their outfield wall before the 2022 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26676ea4-7bbb-4ae3-8cb2-7643379ee8f6/95+-+1931+Cards.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1931 Cardinals The 1931 Cardinals went 101-53, and won their second World Series. The team featured Chick Hafey and Pepper Martin in the outfield, Jim Bottomley at first base, and Frankie Frisch at second. The pitching staff included Bill Hallahan, Burleigh Grimes, and Jesse Haines. Chick Hafey’s SABR Biography Pepper Martin’s SABR Biography Jim Bottomley’s SABR Biography Frankie Frisch’s SABR Biography Bill Hallahan’s SABR Biography Burleigh Grimes’ SABR Biography Jesse Haines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab04577e-4d3d-4c15-b413-2d7a95f05fde/96+-+Gashouse+Gang.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - "The Gashouse Gang” The nickname Gashouse Gang, by most accounts, came from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics. An opponent once stated the Cardinals players usually went into the field in unwashed, dirty, and smelly uniforms, which alone spread horror among their rivals. According to one account, shortstop Leo Durocher coined the term. He and his teammates were speaking derisively of the American League, and the consensus was that the Redbirds — should they prevail in the NL race — would handle whoever won the AL pennant. "Why, they wouldn't even let us in that league over there. They think we're just a bunch of gashousers." Leo Durocher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/343ea010-0865-4099-b5e9-dd939c56cbb5/97+-+band.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Team… Band? Outfielder Pepper Martin got some of his teammates together and started a band called the Marvelous Musical Mississippi Mudcats. It included pitcher Bill McGee, Frenchy Bordagaray, Ripper Collins and Bob Weiland. in 1936, Collins was traded to the Cubs and Martin's Mudcats lost a musician. Happily, during a Cubs-Cardinals game on September 10, 1937, they got the band back together. In the photo seen here, you can spot Collins thanks to his Cubs jersey. Left to right, the rest of the group is: Bordagaray, McGee, and Martin resting his leg on a bat. Pitcher Bob Weiland is playing glove in the back. CLICK HERE to listen to James McDonald’s SABR 51 presentation about the band. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca86403a-b8f7-42af-b92b-5818daf117b1/99+-+Bottomley.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jim Bottomley In his 11-year tenure with the Cardinals organization, he made an indelible mark on the team, city and their fans – with one of his most memorable moments coming in 1928, when he was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player. In 1928, Bottomley batted .325 and posted league-leading numbers in home runs (31), RBIs (136) and triples (20). His efforts propelled the Cardinals to the National League pennant. From 1926-31, “Sunny Jim,” as he was often referred to for his light-hearted disposition, led the Cardinals to the World Series four times (1926, 1928, 1930-31) with his stellar regular season stats. From 1924-29, he posted 100 or more regular season RBI and batted .300 or better from 1927-31. Jim Bottomley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3be8531c-46b5-4147-b001-d1b705900ab6/100+-+Pepper+Martin.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Pepper Martin Going into the 1931 season, Pepper Martin’s major league career amounted to playing in just 45 games with the Cardinals in 1928 and 1930. He remained primarily a bench player until June 15, when the Cardinals traded outfielder Taylor Douthit to the Cincinnati Reds. The trade finally allowed him to crack into the everyday lineup. Martin finished the regular season with a .300 batting average and 16 stolen bases in 123 games, leading all of the team’s outfielders with 282 putouts. Pepper Martin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/092bbac2-3f82-4d57-a0d9-f4be314d371f/101+-+Daffy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Paul “Daffy” Dean “We’re just a couple of natural born pitchers from down Texas way,” bantered Paul “Daffy” Dean about himself and his famous brother, Dizzy. “Two good natured ordinary fellers who God gave perfect pitchin’ bodies.” After Dizzy worked on a no-hitter for 7⅓ innings in the first game of a doubleheader on September 21, 1934, Daffy upstaged his loquacious older sibling by tossing a no-hitter to complete the St. Louis Cardinals’ shutout sweep of the Brooklyn Dodgers. “There’s little you can add when writing about the Deans,” quipped Brooklyn sportswriter Tommy Holmes. “Superlatives are useless.” Daffy Dean’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8c9fbfa-8569-45ca-b7aa-072be9cec03c/102+-+Dizzy.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean Dizzy Dean made his professional debut in 1930 and worked his way up to the major leagues that same year, throwing a complete game three-hitter for a win with the Cardinals on the final day of the season. Dean became a regular starter for St. Louis in 1932, leading the league in shutouts and innings pitched. It was also the first of four straight seasons he led the league in strikeouts. The four-time All-Star won 150 games in 12 seasons, with 1,163 strikeouts and a 3.02 career ERA. "When ole Diz was out there pitching it was more than just another ballgame,” said teammate Pepper Martin. “It was a regular three-ring circus and everybody was wide awake and enjoying being alive.” Dizzy Dean’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0b435c0-2ba2-4c13-b007-54744c7b18c2/103+-+Haines.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jesse “Pop” Haines Jesse Haines played his first full season in the major leagues as a 26-year-old in 1920. Despite the late start, Haines would pitch for the next 18 years for the Cardinals thanks to his knuckleball. He finished his career with 210 wins and a 3.64 ERA. Haines pitched in four World Series, helping the Cardinals to two championships. The first of those titles came in 1926. He beat the Yankees twice in the Fall Classic, shutting them out in Game 3 and winning Game 7 with help from Grover Cleveland Alexander's legendary relief appearance. Haines built on the momentum from the World Series to have the best season of his career in 1927. That year he went 24-10 with a 2.72 ERA and led the National League in complete games (25) and shutouts (six). Jesse Haines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/deb91cfb-38cc-4189-85b0-1ec78af5c03d/104+-+Deans.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out In the first game of a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers on September 21, 1934, Dizzy Dean (right) threw a three-hitter. In the second game, his brother, Daffy (left), threw a no-hitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2710ea0-7ef6-4ce2-b18c-fcbee0e87086/105+-+Xrays.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - X-Rays of Dean’s Head Show Nothing Sent to first base as a pinch-runner in Game 4 of the 1934 World Series, Dizzy Dean attempted to break up a double play on a ground ball. The second baseman's throw ended up hitting him square in the head, knocking him unconscious. Dean's X-ray at the hospital came back negative -- giving way to a supposed newspaper headline of "X-rays of Dean's head show nothing." That nothing came back to pitch in Game 5 and toss a World Series-winning, complete game shutout in Game 7. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01a6866b-5b1d-49a9-b6f4-3e5aa8f1fb63/98+-+band.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Clockwise from top left: Frenchy Bordagaray, Lon Warneke, Pepper Martin, Bob Weiland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/698d5112-0e45-460b-aa0f-5834f0362b2d/106+-+Frisch.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Frankie Frisch After Frankie Frisch was done managing, he became a member of the Hall of Fame's Committee on Baseball Veterans, which is responsible for electing players to the Hall of Fame who had not been elected during their initial period of eligibility by the Baseball Writers; Frisch eventually became chairman of the committee. In the years just prior to his death, a number of his Giants and Cardinals teammates were elected to the Hall of Fame, including Jesse Haines, Dave Bancroft, Chick Hafey, Rube Marquard, Ross Youngs, and George Kelly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd6142bc-5a8c-4037-b625-d737dfada437/107+-+Hafey.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Chick Hafey Hampered by poor eyesight and severe sinus problems, Charles James “Chick” Hafey played just 1,283 games but still managed to amass 1,466 hits and a career batting average of .317. Hafey won one batting title and was named to the inaugural All-Star Game, where he collected the first ever hit in All-Star Game history. Hafey was one of the first products of Rickey’s farm system, arriving in St. Louis as a rookie in 1924. He was a part of the 1926 Cardinals team that won the World Series, but was limited after suffering several beanings that season. It is believed his health problems were a result of the beanings, and he would become the most prominent player of his era to wear eye glasses. Hafey continued to wear glasses throughout his career. Chick Hafey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d99b8206-3262-4350-9e6f-6269b0cccf79/108+-+Durocher.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Leo Durocher Leo Durocher’s life in baseball began as a small, slick-fielding shortstop with the dynastic New York Yankees of the 1920s. While he was not an imposing hitter, Durocher’s scrappy play and maximum effort led Babe Ruth to call him “the All-American out.” Durocher won the 1928 World Series with the Yankees, then won another Fall Classic as captain of the St. Louis Cardinals’ “Gashouse Gang” in 1934. In addition to his hustle, Durocher also garnered his famous nickname “The Lip,” or “Lippy,” for his hard-scrabble conversations with umpires from the dugout. His temper was thought to have stemmed from his relationship with another diminutive Hall of Famer: Rabbit Maranville. Leo Durocher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acfb1d02-c9ec-4dea-8c01-93117ac9c652/109+-+OTD+10-07-1964.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob Uecker This little stunt may have gotten Bob Uecker into some trouble off the field, but it’s one of the lasting images of his time as a colorful character during his playing career. Bob Uecker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/839b50ab-057f-48cc-8291-44492cc9820d/110+-+Dizzy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dizzy Did It First 30 years before Bob Uecker did it, Dizzy Dean was doing it in 1934. Dizzy led the Gashouse Gang, winning the MVP in 1934, and leading the National League multiple times over the course of his career in wins, strikeouts, innings, complete games, and shutouts. He led the league with 28 wins in 1935, and was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games from 1934 to 1937. His number 17 is retired by the Cardinals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b3ee1be-5eab-4d13-83a0-ba7dc7cf0c6a/111+-+Cubs.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dizzy on the Cubs Dean won 28 and 24 games in 1935 and 1936 respectively, finishing second in MVP voting in both seasons. In 1937, Dean suffered an injury after being hit in the toe by a line drive during the All-Star Game. Trying to return from the injury too quickly, Dean hurt his arm and largely lost his effectiveness. Traded to the Cubs in 1938, Dean spent four seasons in Chicago, including appearing in the 1938 World Series, which the Cubs lost to the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab03da21-9f2a-4b97-b278-6467239abdff/112+-+Mize.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Johnny Mize Johnny Mize entered major league baseball in 1936, and soon took on the nickname “The Big Cat” because of the poise in his stance when he was at bat and his ease in the field. The first baseman really came into his own in 1938, the first of three consecutive spectacular years where he led the National League in total bases every year. He led the NL in slugging percentage with a .614 mark on 1938 to go with a .422 on-base percentage. Mize followed it up in 1939 by winning the batting title with a .349 average. He also led the NL in home runs with 28 and had a .444 on-base mark. In 1940, he was once again the home run leader, this time with 43, and he led the league in RBI. He led in RBI twice more, in 1942 and 1947. In 15 big league seasons, Mize totaled 2,011 hits, 359 home runs and 1,337 RBI to go with a .312 batting average. Johnny Mize’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82efa324-f30a-4dda-aa59-8cee92331513/113+-+Enos+Slaughter.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Enos Slaughter in 1938, Enos Slaughter comes to St. Louis. Slaughter was a bona fide all-star. In 1939, he led the National League with 52 doubles while batting .320. It was the first of four straight seasons in which Slaughter batted .300 or better. Slaughter missed all of 1943, 1944, and 1945 due to military service, but comes back in 1946 to lead the league in games played and RBI, and finishes third in the MVP race. Enos Slaughter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74a6f43a-dca7-441c-be77-ad4560ddd96c/114+-+Mad+Dash.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Mad Dash Slaughter dashed into baseball immortality during Game 7 of the 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Slaughter led off with a single. He remained at first base as the next two batters were retired and then took off to steal second with left fielder Harry Walker at the plate. Walker stroked a double into center field, and Boston’s Leon Culberson threw the ball to shortstop Johnny Pesky. While Pesky hesitated on the relay, Slaughter kept on running, ignoring third base coach Mike Gonzalez’s stop sign and scoring what proved to be the series-deciding run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bb75431-efae-4719-9c6a-92e3e2bbb1ca/115+-+Cooper.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Mort Cooper Mort Cooper was signed as an Amateur Free Agent in 1933 but he did not make his Major League debut until 1938 when he was 25, after years of battling injuries. The hurler was a middle-of-the-road player from 1939 to 1941, but in 1942 he was phenomenal with a league-leading 22 wins against only 7 losses, and Cooper was also first in the National League in ERA (1.78), Shutouts (10), ERA+ (192) and WHIP (0.987). Cooper was finally an All-Star, and he won the MVP. The season was capped off with a World Series win. In the following two years, Cooper remained a 20-game winner, was in the top ten in MVP voting, and helped the Cardinals win the NL pennant. The Cardinals won the World Series again in 1944, and Cooper was excellent with a 1.13 ERA. Mort Cooper’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d50d7ab2-6f03-4aac-b602-9d5c9c31edc4/116+-+Stan.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Stan Musial The Cardinals ended 1943 with a 105-49 record and clinched the NL pennant for the second consecutive season. Stan Musial hit .357 and won the batting title. He also led the league in batting average, doubles, and triples. It was the first of his three National League MVP seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48dd422b-c712-4110-9e34-2a8c701f7bf1/117+-+Marty+Marion.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Marty Marion After spending four seasons in the minors, Marty Marion made his big league debut with the Cards in 1940. A sure-fielding shortstop and good hitter, he would anchor the franchise’s infield through 1950. “Maybe I’m prejudiced because I see him every day,” said Cardinals manager Billy Southworth, who would bestow the nickname Mr. Shortstop on Marion. “But he’s the best ever. Yes, he’s Mr. Shortstop in person. He anticipates plays perfectly, can go to his right or left equally well and has a truly great arm. Some of the things he does have to be seen to be believed. And he’s just as grand a person, too, as he is a ballplayer.” Marion won the 1944 National League MVP Award by one point over Bill Nicholson of the Cubs. Marty Marion’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f513e3ee-9d03-49bf-b65b-02daa5b7724e/118+-+Branch+Rickey.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Farm System Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis shook the game’s growing player development program when he made free agents of 74 St. Louis Cardinals’ minor leaguers. On March 23, 1938, Landis set free 74 Cardinals minor leaguers. The players were released from a total of six teams and the owners of these teams were fined $2,176. Landis found that the St. Louis Cardinals were in violation of the working agreements with these minor league clubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd2c2d6d-f405-4d79-b43b-665d5fd2b57e/119+-+1940s.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The 1940s In the 1940s, a golden era emerged as Branch Rickey's farm system became laden with such talent as Enos Slaughter, Marty Marion, Mort Cooper, Walker Cooper, Max Lanier, Whitey Kurowski, and Johnny Beazley. The team also got significant contributions from Harry Brecheen and Howie Pollet. It was one of the most successful decades in franchise history with 960 wins and 580 losses for a winning percentage higher than any other Major League team at .623. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c4078f3-14dd-4262-9cf7-8688298e57ca/120+-+Musial.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Stan Musial Musial played his entire 22-year career as an outfielder and first baseman for the Cardinals. He is the franchise's career leader in virtually every batting category: games played, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, walks, and total bases. He has the most walk-off home runs in franchise history and the second-most multiple homer games behind Albert Pujols. His .331 average is fourth in team history. He was a 3-time MVP, and played in four World Series, winning three of them. He won 7 batting titles, and was a 24-time All-Star. Stan Musial’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a1b90cd-c331-4fa4-87ae-41bd51413af4/121+-+All+Century+Team.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e88afb8f-25ae-4684-a364-4b1d6d2402cf/122+-+1959+All+Star+Game.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - One Of The All-Time Greats Every time I see some Stan Musial statistics, whether they're from a single season, or his career stats, my immediate thought is "wow, this guy was REALLY good." My next thought is usually something along the lines of "how does no one ever mention his name among the inner-circle all-time greats?" I've always just found it strange that his numbers nearly rival Willie Mays and Henry Aaron's, but his name isn't revered like theirs on a national level. After speaking with some other filmmakers, journalists, and people who either covered Stan or spent time around him during his life and career, Ed hypothesizes that it may just be because he was kind of a boring guy. In a 2013 article, author Luke Epplin kind of comes to the same conclusion: “Biographers and fans paint the late Cardinals outfielder as the nicest guy in baseball, but that narrative has lessened his longterm legacy when compared with the other greats of his time.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62f2b259-3cbe-4500-857c-87e1a6660c38/123+-+1948.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Musial’s 1948 One of the most accomplished batsmen in big-league history, during a 22-season career that saw him set dozens of records, Musial composed no other 154-game schedule better than that of the Summer of 1948. It marked the closest he ever ever came to winning a Triple Crown: He led the National League with a .376 batting average, his highest single-season mark and the third of his seven batting titles. He led the National League with 131 runs batted in, the most he ever drove in during one season – this from the player who had the league record for career RBI until 1971. He finished third in the league with 39 home runs; Pittsburgh’s Ralph Kiner and New York’s Johnny Mize tied for the NL top honor with 40 homers apiece. Musial hit 475 home runs in his career, but his 1948 total marked his single-season best and was 20 more than his previous season high. “Why be greedy?” Musial said of missing the Triple Crown. “I had a pretty good year, so why wish for more than I had coming to me? My only regret is the Cardinals didn’t win the pennant.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62d056e1-bf5b-4d9e-8b19-852965dd1690/124+-+1948.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b63a246b-e082-4024-8cdf-1241f1354ad3/125+-+1940.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1940 Cardinals The 1940 Cardinals wore two different caps: the interlocking STL, that we’re all incredibly familiar with, and a block STL. The team has consistently had an interlocking STL on the cap since 1942. This photo and the images which make up the two graphics below, courtesy of cardinalsuniformsandlogos.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fecd96bb-caa3-412c-9775-2844f1c79140/125+-+Interlocking.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Billy Southworth wearing the interlocking STL for the 1940 Cardinals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ab88093-52e0-4994-8995-f4fc8403ea7d/126+-+Block.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Terry Moore wearing the block STL for the 1940 Cardinals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c7cf038-b6d6-488b-8ea0-27fe1c138e93/128+-+1976+pillbox+cap.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Pillbox Cap For the 1976 season, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National League, six NL teams wore patches and pillbox style caps. The Cardinals didn't wear them as their primary cap, but would wear them occasionally, and even painted the pillbox-style horizontal lines on their batting helmets, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ffb286ab-e94b-4b4c-9ec1-7a68edf93eab/129+-+Zipper+jersey+1951.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Zippered Jerseys As can be seen in many of the photos within these liner notes, the Cardinals wore zippered jerseys some years. This one, which Stan Musial wore during the 1951 season, sold for $43,200 in August of 2018 via Heritage Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/404e9ffa-6ded-4889-94f7-c517e7b5511c/130+-+Green+Light+Letter.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out FDR’s “Green Light Letter” gave Major League Baseball the okay to continue playing after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97005fdb-38e4-48b4-a65e-7c6fc40f7934/131+-+Browns+to+Los+Angeles.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Browns To Los Angeles? The St. Louis Browns held Spring Training at Olive Memorial Stadium in Burbank, California from 1949 to 1952, but nearly a decade earlier, the team almost moved to California entirely. Unable to compete in the American League on the field or with the rival Cardinals off of it, Browns ownership had decided to move the team to Los Angeles for the 1942 season, becoming the first major American professional sports franchise on the West Coast. The Browns were so certain they were moving that they had even set up a news conference in Los Angeles at Lyman's Cafe. All they needed was for the official vote, which was expected to pass. The Browns would head west, more than 15 years before the Dodgers and Giants ended up doing so. And so, the vote was scheduled. It was to take place in Chicago on the morning of Monday, Dec. 8, 1941. The news conference in Los Angeles was scheduled for 1 p.m. PT the same day. The Browns would triumphantly introduce themselves to Southern California. Major League Baseball would span coast to coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/953757b9-4dc8-4408-8c77-c0afee92b0fc/132+-+Night+Game.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - First Home Night Game On June 4, 1940, the Cardinals played their first night game at home, losing to Brooklyn, 10-1, despite Joe Medwick’s 5-for-5 performance that included three doubles. However, the honor of hosting the first night game in St. Louis went to the Browns 11 days earlier, on May 24, 1940, after the two teams had finally agreed to split the $150,000 cost of installing lights at Sportsman’s Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75baffe9-1fcb-455f-9e74-7a7ccf1733b5/133+-+Streetcar+Series.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Streetcar Series 1944 saw perhaps the nadir of 20th-century baseball, as the long-moribund St. Louis Browns won their only American League pennant. Some of the players were 4-Fs, rejected by the military for physical defects (such as one-armed Pete Gray) or limitations that precluded duty. Others divided their time between factory work in defense industries and baseball, some being able to play ball only on weekends. Some players avoided the draft by chance, despite being physically able to serve. Stan Musial was one. Musial, enlisting in early 1945, missed one season. He rejoined the Cardinals in 1946. As both teams called Sportsman's Park home, the traditional 2–3–2 home field assignment was used for the 1944 World Series (instead of the 3–4 format, which had been used during wartime). Pete Gray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c97de635-ab0b-49fd-b79a-6df49db34ba1/134+-+1944+St+Louis+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out The 1944 St. Louis Browns https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77adad07-a5a9-48dc-97a2-4c72454e59f6/135+-+1944+World+Series.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1944 World Series Stan Musial said it was strange playing in the 1944 World Series because, even though it was taking place in his team’s home park, he felt like the fans were mostly rooting for the underdog Browns, who also used Sportsman’s Park as their home field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7859eaaf-2e1a-4ece-90a4-6f90f7d1dfb3/136+-+Strikeouts.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Strikeouts With a difficult batter’s eye in center field, there were many strikeouts during the 1944 World Series at Sportsman’s Park. A difficult batter’s eye was one thing that players universally loathed about Wrigley Field in Chicago, as well. The Cubs’ strange and consistent issues with rigging up an acceptable batter’s eye compelled Stan Musial to once call the background “murder,” adding, “and that’s exactly what it will result in one of these days if something isn’t done.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45724c12-de91-4b5f-8899-e9be883359bb/133+-+Satin.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Satin Uniforms For the 1946 season, the Cardinals ordered red, satin uniforms. Satin uniforms were briefly used by a handful of MLB teams in the late 1940s to enhance fan viewing with the advent of night games, because it was believed that the reflective quality of the satin would be beneficial to fans viewing the game. But when Cardinals players saw the uniforms, they said they looked like lingerie, and didn’t want to wear them. The newspaper went on to say the Cardinals sold their red satin suits to a local teen baseball team, and never wore them in the big leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eda393a2-3387-4fbd-b9fa-77e1d6057d0f/134+-+Satin.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Satin Uniforms The Cardinals Museum obtained a silver-gray satin jersey, marked for the 1948 season, so it appears that the team didn’t immediately give up on the idea of playing in shiny uniforms. Pictured here is a rare satin jersey with all the official logo embroidery and trim, manufactured by Rawlings in St. Louis. “Satins” were briefly used by a handful of MLB teams in the late 40’s to enhance fan viewing with the advent of night games. It was believed that the reflective quality of the satin would be beneficial to fan viewing the game. Apparently they were extremely short-lived and it is thought that the players disliked them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48fe0414-517e-4897-8c6e-0cfed6f394ea/139+-+Script.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1956 Script Uniforms There is just something inherently wrong about a Cardinals uniform without the birds on the bat. The 1956 Cardinals uniforms look like a movie wanted to have a Major League team depicted, but couldn’t afford the rights to use the actual uniforms, so they made these knock-off jerseys and thought “that’s close enough, right?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fc5bd3b-559e-44fb-ad34-82a76ea03b5c/140+-+1946-1948-schoendienst-slaughter-marion-musial-kurowski.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Baggy Uniforms There’s just something about the way the Cardinals wore their uniforms in these days. A little loose-fitting. A little baggy. With the pants pulled up over the knee, but with enough material that it still kind of folded down and draped over, even with the socks staying exposed. Here, Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter, Marty Marion, Stan Musial, and Whitey Kurowski look the part. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70aab27d-df26-4679-981c-c712ba73b769/141+-+Red.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Red Schoendienst Another player to become a success on the Cardinals out of Branch Rickey’s farm system was Red Schoendienst. He joined the club in 1945 to fill in for Stan Musial in Left Field while Stan was serving in the U.S. Navy. Red batted .278 with 47 RBI and a National League-leading 26 stolen bases. The following year, Stan returned to the Cardinals, and Red moved to third base and then shortstop before settling in at second base. St. Louis won the World Series over the Boston Red Sox, and Red began to develop into one of the best hitting and fielding second basemen of all time. Red Schoendienst’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2903309-6d73-4742-be4f-1facd88d0939/142+-+Stan+and+Red.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Red & Stan Not only were they teammates for 14 years, they were also roommates. A truly special bond. When Schoendienst was inexplicably traded in 1956, Stan was visibly upset. “The rest of us got the word that Red had been traded just as we were boarding a train out of St. Louis for an eastern trip,” he wrote in Schoendienst’s 1998 autobiography. “It was the saddest day of my career. I slammed the door to my train berth shut and didn’t open it for a long time.” Asked by the Associated Press to comment on the trade, Stan Musial, Schoendienst’s friend and road roommate, responded with a rare, “No comment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ed9a5cd-a41b-4368-a275-5fd7d4e13828/143+-+Fungo.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Red’s Impact Red wore a Cardinals uniform for 45 seasons as a player, coach, and manager, and was involved with the organization for a total of 67 years. His number 2 was retired by the team in 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5af56968-32d9-4e07-8f32-bc9e3c310e86/144+-+Kissell.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - George Kissell You can’t really talk about The Cardinal Way without bringing up George Kissell. He spent 10 years in the minor leagues as an outfielder and served the Cardinals in several capacities after joining the organization in 1940. From 1946 to 1968, he worked as a manager, coach, scout and minor league instructor. Kissell was a Cardinals’ coach from 1969 to 1975. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/614d7610-fa0f-4c96-8510-18beacf5b67a/146+-+Oquendo.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - José Oquendo As a player, José Oquendo was known for his versatile defense: he played primarily second base and shortstop, but also frequently in the outfield, and made at least one appearance at every position. Oquendo has the second-highest career fielding percentage for second basemen (99.19%), behind only Plácido Polanco's career mark of 99.27%. As of 2025, Oquendo served as Minor League Infield Coordinator of the St. Louis Cardinals, an organization with whom he has been affiliated since 1985. He managed the Puerto Rico national team in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e089d1d-11f8-43fd-b7ae-b588afa8e398/145+-+Plaque.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Honoring George Kissell The Cardinals top player development award is named after Kissell, as is the quad in Jupiter, Florida where the minor leaguers compete. A permanent plaque outside the Jupiter clubhouse reads, in part: “Every player in the Cardinals’ Organization since 1940 has had contact with George Kissell and they have all been better for it … Well known for his emphasis on fundamentals, George taught several generations of Redbirds how to play baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/866faa7a-02f9-4056-bebd-b171d2e9ffea/147+-+St.+Louis+Browns+office.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bill Veeck A messy divorce caused Bill Veeck to have to sell his shares of the Cleveland Indians in 1949. He bought the St Louis Browns in July of 1951 with the same intent as the American League team had when they moved to St Louis in 1902: to run the Cardinals out of town. The Cardinals had won three World Series in the 1940s, and six since 1926, yet it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Browns could do it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d61fe71-e2ad-4c52-a166-d5fd0bc6365a/148+-+Navin.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Cardinals To Detroit? On March 28, 1935, during spring training in Bradenton, Florida, Sam Breadon told reporters he would move the Cardinals to Detroit if Tigers owner Frank Navin (seen here) approved. The 1934 Tigers had a regular-season attendance of 919,161 - nearly three times the Cardinals’ total - and Breadon saw the job-generating Motor City as a town better suited than St. Louis to support two major-league franchises. Sid Keener, sports editor of the St. Louis Star-Times, reported, “Breadon intimated that he would make overtures to the two major leagues during the coming season to rearrange the current setups of the National and American leagues. He said he believed baseball would profit by changing St. Louis to a one-club major league city, leaving the Browns as the sole representative in the Missouri city and by moving his own National League franchise to Detroit.” Frank Navin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f42f841-72cc-45d8-982d-37e9bd1c382b/149+-+Fred+Saigh.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Cardinals To Houston?! As baseball laid dormant in the winter of January 1953, Cardinals owner Fred Saigh was mulling over his future. He’d just gotten out of a six month stay at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, in November on parole after pleading no contest to tax evasion. It was likely if the Cardinals weren’t sold by the next Owner’s Meeting that he’d be formally banned from baseball for life (this happened to former Phillies Owner William D. Cox in 1943 after he was found to be gambling on baseball) in which case he’d suffer public humiliation and be forced to sell anyways and possibly to a buyer not of his choosing. Saigh would choose to sell the team prior to action from the National League and return to life away from sports and the public eye. The strongest and most serious offers had come from two groups of businessmen from Houston, Texas, they both planned to move the team to Houston by the 1954 season as the Cardinals already owned the rights to that market through their Minor League Affiliate the Houston Buffalos (later Buffs). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f97cce06-4819-4d21-a00a-c5665ea5f46b/150+-+Globetrotters.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Anything Could Happen On September 30th, 1951, St. Louis Browns fans had quite a day. After seeing Ned Garver win his 20th game, they were treated to a show by the Harlem Globetrotters, who set up a basketball court on the field at Sportsman’s Park after the baseball game concluded. Being at a Browns game, especially during the years when the team was owned by Bill Veeck, was like being at a circus. You never knew what was going to happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/948013f8-0d70-4dd3-8241-15c35962c25d/151+-+OTD+08-19-1951.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Eddie Gaedel One of Veeck’s most memorable stunts was sending 3’7” Eddie Gaedel to the plate in a game between the Browns and the Tigers in August of 1951. Bob Cain had the impossible task of trying to throw a strike to a man with a 1.5” strike zone. Eddie Gaedel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/380a65d0-91e2-42aa-b6a2-5d88d240ee87/152+-+Grandstand+Managers.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Grandstand Managers Day This 1951 stunt saw Veeck hand out signs to fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis which said “YES” on one side, and “NO” on the other, and the game’s managerial decisions were put up to a fan vote. August 24, 1951: St. Louis Browns Fans Manage To Get It Right In Veeck Promotion - SABR article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4179047-1c16-47d7-8ab8-5872c758a56f/153+-+Eddie+Gaedel+salutes+the+crowd.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1.000 OBP Eddie salutes the crowd after his one and only game in Major League Baseball, playing for Bill Veeck’s St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad7d4c2-fcb5-4455-917a-69a1e5153b8d/154+-+Connie+Mack.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - August 24, 1951 Despite the fact that the Browns somehow won this game (even though the Athletics knew every move the team was going to make before they made it??), Connie Mack was entertained by Veeck’s stunt at Sportsman’s Park. Hall of Fame article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44b99a3f-ef4b-484b-bd20-c04940727a2a/155+-+Busch.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - August Busch On February 20th, 1953, August "Gussie" Busch Jr., of Anheuser-Busch, bought the Cardinals for $3.75 million, according to KSDK. This acquisition ensured the Cardinals would remain in St. Louis, preventing them from being sold to out-of-town interests. Much like Chris von der Ahe had done half a century earlier, Auggie Busch bought the St. Louis ballclub because he thought it would be a great way for him to sell a lot of beer. Gussie Busch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa8c3489-d058-4b27-861c-465641e5d517/156+-+Busch+Beer.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Busch Stadium The story goes that Gussie Busch created Busch Beer as a middle finger to Major League Baseball after they refused his proposal to rename Sportsman’s Park as “Budweiser Stadium” because they didn’t want the association with beer or alcohol. Busch agreed, told them he would name the stadium after himself, “Busch Stadium,” and then shortly thereafter, announced a new beer: Busch Bavarian Beer. “This story is highly possible. It makes logical sense, and it’s a fantastic story,” says Neil Reid, the man behind TheBeerProfessor and professor of geography and planning at the University of Toledo. However, Reid notes, there is a lack of factual evidence to support this claim, although Busch Lager was introduced in 1955, followed by Busch Bavarian Beer the following year — several years after the park was purchased and named.” “[The stadium] was known as Sportsman’s for 75 years, then Budweiser Stadium for 24 hours, to be renamed Busch Stadium the next day,” she says. “Fans are still known to refer to it as Sportsman’s Park.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d0891dc-9224-47da-bd57-e899b560c106/157+-+Harry+Caray+beer.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Harry Caray Harry Caray was the Cardinals broadcaster from 1945 to 1969. In November 1968, Caray was nearly killed after being struck by an automobile while crossing a street in St. Louis; he suffered two broken legs in the accident, but recuperated in time to return to the broadcast booth for the start of the 1969 season. Lasting Impressions Of Harry Caray https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f7dfda7-29e4-44d7-87b7-2f28ba10cd46/158+-+Caray.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Recovery Gussie Busch, the Cardinals' president and then-CEO of Anheuser-Busch, who owned the Cardinals, spent lavishly to ensure Caray recovered, flying him on the company's planes to a company facility in Florida to rehabilitate and recuperate. On Opening Day of the 1969 season, fans cheered when Harry dramatically threw aside the two canes he had been using to cross the field and continued to the broadcast booth under his own power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fcaba015-aabe-46bd-9d01-e456310fa7d0/159+-+Jack+Buck.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jack Buck One of Harry’s broadcast partners was Jack Buck, who called games for the Cardinals from 1954 until 2002. From 1954 to 1969, the broadcast booth of Harry and Jack formed what is widely regarded as the best baseball broadcast duo ever. Jack Buck was behind the microphone for some of the franchise's most-memorable moments: - Bob Gibson's no-hitter in 1971 - Lou Brock's 105th stolen base in 1974 - Mark McGwire's 61st home run in 1998 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/525edf7e-c3ab-4b56-a541-b3fa23e8669d/160+-+Go+Crazy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Go Crazy! Jack Buck’s legendary call of Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when Buck told St. Louis fans to "Go crazy, folks! Go crazy," still sends chills up the spines of Cardinals fans every time it’s replayed. His signature phrase after every Cardinals victory was "That's a winner." Jack Buck Might As Well Have Been St. Louis’ Mayor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c03604c-5d0b-4ba4-9826-0e352d15a87c/161+-+Joe+G.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Joe Garagiola Joe Garagiola was signed at age 16 by the St. Louis Cardinals organization. At age 17, he remains the youngest player in Columbus Red Birds history. Garagiola never quite lived up to the promise of his youth, appearing in only 676 games over nine seasons for four National League teams. He was a mediocre hitter (though certainly good for a catcher) in the majors, which featured in his self-deprecating humor. He once told this story himself: "He knew that it was time to retire when he was catching, and his ex-teammate Stan Musial stepped into the batter's box, turned to Joe, and said, 'When are you gonna quit?'" Garagiola turned to broadcasting following his retirement as a player, first calling Cardinals radio broadcasts on KMOX from 1955 to 1962. Joe Garagiola’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/909fdc75-f693-4d6a-9a09-78d2cd3cd1d2/162+-+OTD+04-07-1958.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Wally Moon Wally Moon played for the Cardinals from 1954-1958 and is a player who isn’t normally recognized for his unique contribution to the game. Wally Moon’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3de97c4a-485a-4fc2-af86-2c34578dc5e3/163+-+Boyer.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Ken Boyer In 1955, Ken Boyer comes along. Boyer was a solid all-around third baseman. He hit for average and power and earned five Gold Glove Awards. From 1958 to 1963, he averaged 26 home runs and 98 RBI to go with a .304 batting average. In 1964, Boyer was named the National League Most Valuable Player after batting .295 with 24 homers and a league-leading 119 RBI. In the 1964 World Series against the Yankees, Boyer hit a grand slam in Game 4 to give the Cardinals a 4-3 victory, then had three hits and three runs in game 7 to help the Cardinals win. Ken Boyer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6ca9ef5-f20d-4c89-93a1-f707279633f3/164+-+Flood.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Curt Flood Curt Flood’s career numbers are really good, but his impact on the game is far more important. Flood was a three-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner for seven consecutive seasons, and batted over .300 in six seasons. He led the National League in hits in 1964 (with 211) and in singles in 1963, 1964, and 1968. Flood also led the National League in putouts as center fielder four times and in fielding percentage as center fielder three times. Flood became one of the pivotal figures in the sport's labor history when he refused to accept a trade following the 1969 season, ultimately appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although his legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d45a3ac-53fe-4ebe-9bbc-775cd29674c1/165+-+Sports+Illustrated.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Not Just A Flood, But A Deluge “The Cardinals' top hitter is the best centerfielder in the league, but he is only one vital member of a great, happy team.” This article by William Leggett was the cover story of the August 19, 1968 issue of Sports Illustrated. Curt Flood’s SABR Biography Listen to Curt Flood’s SABR Oral History interview on the Supreme Court’s reserve-clause decision https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9ed4dce-d66f-4099-ba73-06c56259b07a/166+-+Gibson.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob Gibson Bob Gibson ranks as the greatest pitcher in Cardinals history. A glance at the record book supports the claim. On the franchise's career lists, the right-hander ranks first in wins (251), games started (482), complete games (255), shutouts (56), innings pitched (3,884.1) and strikeouts (3,117). He is second in games pitched (528) and tied for ninth in ERA (2.91). An outstanding athlete, Gibson played with the Harlem Globetrotters before arriving in St. Louis to stay in 1961. In addition to being an amazing talent, he was a fierce competitor. Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ba699c7-1d85-47c6-8b97-f14a8b0c2501/167+-+Gibson.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 17 Strikeouts In 1968, Gibson authored the greatest season by a pitcher in modern history. His 1.12 ERA established an all-time record for 300 or more innings. Gibson posted a 22-9 record with league-leading totals of 13 shutouts and 268 strikeouts. During one stretch, he surrendered merely two earned runs over 95 innings. Gibson was named the N.L. Cy Young Award winner and MVP. During the 1968 World Series against Detroit, Gibson set a record with 17 strikeouts in Game 1. He pitched two more complete games (winning Game 4 by the score of 10-1 before losing Game 7 by a 4-1 margin) to run his streak to a record eight straight. His 35 strikeouts in the three games established a World Series record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bcca354-8faa-474c-a18c-8636b13f48b6/168+-+Get+Back+There.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Get Back There! It was easy for them to laugh about it after the game, but in the heat of the moment, there was absolutely no smile on Bob Gibson’s face when Tim McCarver tried to come to the mound to congratulate Gibby for his strikeout record during the 9th inning of a World Series game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd24fb50-10a6-49f4-9452-55dee9a20b02/169+-+Brock.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Brock’s No-Slide The Cardinals led 3-2 entering the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 1968 World Series, and with one out, Lou Brock doubled. Then Julian Javier, facing Tigers lefty Mickey Lolich, lashed a single to left. It was about to be a 4-2 lead for St. Louis, and about to be lights-out. Or so it seemed. But Willie Horton unleashed the throw, Bill Freehan caught it on a bounce, and tagged Brock, who surprisingly didn't slide. Doug Harvey, the Hall of Fame plate umpire, called him out on the bang-bang play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/150e1e4a-a61b-4a98-8d4c-b906ef74afdb/170+-+mccarver.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Tim McCarver Tim McCarver’s father was a police officer in Memphis. When Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis in 1968, racial tensions were high in America, but the bond that had been formed by Bob Gibson and his catcher was strong enough to withstand such turbulent times. Tim McCarver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aec909d7-6876-424c-aabf-b760611cb71f/171+-+Gibson.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - From Ghetto to Glory Devastated by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson still fulfilled his professional obligations and pitched the day after King’s death and the day after King’s funeral. In his 1968 book From Ghetto to Glory, Gibson said he was in his room at spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Florida, when he thought he heard a television report about King’s death. Uncertain of what he heard, Gibson went to teammate Lou Brock’s room. “Orlando Cepeda was there and from the expressions on their faces I knew I had heard correctly,” Gibson said. King was murdered on April 4, 1968, in Memphis. King’s funeral was Tuesday, April 9, and every team postponed its Tuesday opener … with one exception: Walter O'Malley's Dodgers, the very franchise that had signed Jackie Robinson and allowed him to break the color barrier; the most progressive team of the 1940s and '50s. "Mr. O'Malley is a man with tremendous ability," Robinson told a reporter then, "but also a man with a total lack of knowledge of the frustration of the Negro community. It grieves me that Walter O'Malley did not understand the importance of the thing." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d585e5fb-d6f3-42ca-8228-393a158d00a2/172+-+Brock.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Lou Brock The Cardinals' acquisition of outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs on June 15, 1964, ranks as perhaps the greatest steal in baseball history. St. Louis traded pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens in exchange for Brock and pitchers Jack Spring and Paul Toth. Over the course of his career with the Cardinals, Brock established himself as the most prolific base stealer in baseball history to that time. His 938 stolen bases stood as the major league record until Rickey Henderson broke it in 1991. Brock's total is still the National League record, and he owns the major league record with 12 seasons of 50 or more steals. He led the National League in steals on eight occasions, and set the season record with 118 in 1974, bettering Maury Wills' mark of 104. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f41d5de3-912b-4901-8e31-5741622cf152/173+-+OTD+06-18-1962.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - A Power Hitter? Brock thought he was a power hitter toward the beginning of his career, and, while he did have some incredible displays of strength, it was clear that his true gift was his speed and his baserunning. His legs took him all the way to Cooperstown, inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 1985. Lou Brock’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49318594-b3d7-4be6-9036-954e325915cc/174+-+Minnie.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Minnie Miñoso The White Sox traded Minnie Miñoso to the Cardinals for the 1962 season. “He’s the type of guy who’s good to have around,” Stan Musial said in January of 1962. “He’s a hustler like Enos Slaughter, but he’s much more relaxed than Enos, and he keeps the other players loose.” Miñoso aggravated a rib injury in St. Louis’s second game and missed eight games. In his third game back, the opener of a weekend series with the defending NL champion Reds on April 27, he hit two doubles in a 14-3 Cardinals win. On May 11, however, he suffered a fractured skull while diving into the Sportsman’s Park wall in pursuit of a ball, and only appeared in a total of 39 games that season. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c092fcef-b551-4296-a1d5-3ef03f894933/175+-+Cubs+Rivalry.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Cubs vs. Cardinals The Cardinals rivalry with the Cubs is one of the oldest and most bitter rivalries in Major League Baseball and in all of North American professional sports. The Cardinals have won 19 NL pennants, while the Cubs have won 17. However, the Cardinals have a clear edge when it comes to World Series success, having won 11 championships to the Cubs' three. Top Six Moments in Cubs/Cardinals Rivalry https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4743e00-c28a-47a4-aa3c-de5826f50348/176+-+Harry+Caray.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Traitor? While Harry Caray may have been let go by the Cardinals (whatever the cause of that may have been…), some Cardinals fans thought of him as a traitor when he eventually landed as the broadcaster for their rivals, the Chicago Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34ffa86-7d17-499e-baa0-57a2a0c46aa1/177+-+1967+Cardinals.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af4e735b-c9f1-4a2c-afde-66594c61d77c/178+-+Carlton.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Steve Carlton Before he was traded to the Phillies in 1972, Steve Carlton began his career with the Cardinals, spending seven years in St. Louis. In fact, as a member of the Cardinals, the lefty struck out 19 batters against the Mets on September 15, 1969, setting a new major league record for strikeouts in a nine inning game. Still relatively young at 27, Carlton asked the Cardinals for a salary of $65,000 for 1972. The Cardinals balked, and Carlton held out. But a solution was found when the Phillies offered to send holdout pitcher Rick Wise to St. Louis in exchange for Carlton. Steve Carlton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d93e7e95-b88a-45d8-95dd-9e9860f19177/179+-+Reuss.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Jerry Reuss “Some people don’t believe it, but yes—I was traded from the Cardinals to the Astros because of my mustache and that’s a fact,” said Jerry Reuss. “The team’s owner, Mr. Busch, said he didn’t like mustaches and he wanted me to shave it off. Busch was known for getting mad at a player and then he would settle down later, but he had this thing about mustaches and I guess it became a real issue. People thought it would blow over, but it didn’t and the team’s general manager Bing Devine was forced to trade me to the Astros. I was crushed about being traded, because I grew up in St. Louis and that was my team.” Reuss had gone 22-22 in 3 years with the Cardinals, but would go on to win 220 games in his career. Jerry Reuss’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ad96932-6e3c-4bef-b5f9-545fe1705e03/180+-+First+Pitch.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Browns As much as Ed knows about and cares about the Cardinals, it’s clear that his true love is the Browns. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to sit down again and do a deep dive into their history, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/659d6717-64a9-4353-b234-ae5c054a4740/181+-+Browns+memorabilia.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis Browns Historical Society Ed is the President of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society, and has spend decades building a loyal following for a team which no longer exists. Check out their incredible website HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/364700ce-3008-48a0-82a4-269647a29633/182+-+EMMY.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Team That Baseball Forgot When Ed made the film, he went down to the Gateway Grizzlies stadium to lay everything out and made it look like Sportsman’s Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2eb437a-c0e1-4470-b727-dc5c6622102b/183+-+Browns+stuff.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Authentic Memorabilia and Artifacts Ed’s collection and the items he has curated while leading the charge for the Browns historical society is truly remarkable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/776ac2ec-b3bb-4cf8-b577-d9fea1045642/184+-+Bobbleheads.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bobbleheads Ed has helped create a number of bobbleheads of Browns players and managers, including George Sisler, Don Larsen, Marty Marion, Roy Sievers, and Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b55b78c6-3b3c-4179-871a-35d0ad81759f/185+-+Browns.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - A Fan Base Unlike Any Other The Brooklyn Dodgers, the Philadelphia Athletics, the New York Giants… no relocated team has an active fan base like the one Ed has built for the St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bbc6790-fd87-4b0f-ae48-e1e0d1d212a4/186+-+Maysn+Winn%2C+Don+Mattingly%2C+and+Steve+Garvey.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Rawlings Ed’s next project is a book he’s been working on with Rawlings. Here he is with Maysn Winn, Don Mattingly, and Steve Garvey at a Rawlings Gold Glove event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8d15033-1322-4a0e-8b04-64f0b7229471/187+-+basement.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Ed’s basement is an amazing display of both Browns and Cardinals pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5237ea6c-5ded-4b2b-ba23-e3c22f143490/188+-+Chaim+Bloom.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Chaim Bloom Ed was able to call in a favor and get Cardinals president of bsaeball operations Chaim Bloom to come out to a dinner for the local SABR chapter. Bloom began his MLB career in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Rays, reaching the title of Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations. From 2020 to 2023, he was Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox. In 2024, Bloom joined the Cardinals as an advisor to then-president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and succeeded him in his role after the 2025 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/344919bd-802b-4b12-a30c-45bf54042eaf/189+-+Busch+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Follow Ed Online Ed’s Personal Facebook St. Louis Browns Facebook Page St. Louis Browns Website Email Ed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d50e4d9b-d0cc-45d2-9e6b-c9fb34960860/190+-+Game+5.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Game 5 of the 2025 World Series Before this game started, I turned to my mom and asked “Do you have a valid passport?” to which she said she did. Then my next question was “What are you doing Friday night?” knowing that, no matter who won Game 5, somebody was going to have a chance to clinch the World Series in Game 6, two nights later in Toronto, which is only a few hours away from Cleveland by car. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6d66bee-f8c4-4a62-ae24-9b9e8ef36f69/191+-+Ed%27s+dad.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Ed’s Dad Growing up in and around the game thanks to his dad’s career, Ed has a heartfelt passion for the sport that is unmistakable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d190b13-94dd-480f-9aad-2d511c268cd6/192+-+Alex.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Philadelphia Athletics Alex Cheremeteff is a writer, researcher, and historian who is an expert on the Philadelphia Athletics. He was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6716e8fe-8a57-49fd-b3cd-0391546c4579/193+-+Jeremy.JPG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Baseball In Cleveland Jeremy Feador is the official team historian of the Cleveland Guardians. He was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08b56802-6af1-484d-82e3-76fac23fd717/194+-+Jacob.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Black Sox Scandal Jacob Pomrenke is the Director of Editorial Content at the Society For American Baseball Research, and the chairman of the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. He was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fba7b10f-8bc5-4bb2-afd7-8e87e7547ae0/195+-+Gashouse+Gang.JPG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - The Gashouse Gang On paper they were the St. Louis Cardinals but in legend they are The Gashouse Gang. “They don’t look like a major league ball club,” the New York Sun observed. “Their uniforms are stained and dirty and patched and ill fitting… They spit out of the sides of their mouths and then wipe the backs of their hands across their shirt fronts.” But, the Sun noted, “they are not afraid of anybody.” Dizzy Dean said, “I don’t see how anybody can beat us now with two Deans on the ball club. Me and Paul, we’ll win 45 games between us.” (They won 49.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4cf37f6-f92a-4f4e-88f0-edb8ad3ae4db/196+-+Terriers.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis Terriers The St. Louis Terriers were a short-lived but spirited baseball team that played in the Federal League, a bold attempt to challenge Major League Baseball's dominance in 1914 and 1915. The Terriers played their home games at Handlan's Park, a modest but lively stadium located on the city's western edge. While the Cardinals were struggling at the time, the Terriers did siphon some fans away from the city’s National League team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19af412f-c672-49d9-84b4-74762ec21404/197+-+Groundskeepers+Residence.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Groundskeeper’s Residence This is directly from the Comiskey Park blueprints, showing the dimensions and layout of the residence built in the stadium specifically for the groundskeeper to live. We talked about this in Episode 5 of Season 4 with architect Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af5d7fbb-a6b6-430b-b4f5-672f9f17d214/198+-+Babe+Ruth%27s+Grave.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - SABR Graves Map Using data graciously provided by former SABR Director Fred Worth, the Baseball Graves Map has burial locations of over 9,000 players, managers, owners, executives, and other significant figures from MLB, the Negro Leagues, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and more. Worth has spent nearly two decades visiting baseball grave sites around the globe, beginning with a 2004 trip to Hall of Famer Travis Jackson’s grave in Waldo, Arkansas, near his home. Worth has supplemented his own travel database with information on burials from the SABR Biographical Research Committee, Gary Ashwill of the Seamheads Negro League Database, Retrosheet, family members of players, and other sources. His current tally is staggering (and continuing to grow): 9,459 graves in 4,186 cemeteries in 2,852 cities in 48 states, Washington, DC, and England. If you are familiar with the SABR Baseball Map, you will find the SABR Baseball Graves Map is similar in look and function. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36c44177-0524-4d70-926f-a8f5624793a6/199+-+Musial+HOF.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out There are a number of truly beautiful displays with incredible Cardinals-related artifacts at the Hall of Fame. Here is one of them, which features a handful of Stan Musial pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb0ee721-ed7b-4c07-b634-76834d642c7b/200+-+Josh.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Hall Of Fame Josh Rawitch is the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. He was our guest for Episode 9 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcd31221-8638-4a55-8e60-d87dc19b28a0/201+-+Musial+HOF.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Another piece which was crazy to see in person at the Hall of Fame was this monster painting by John Falter of Stan Musial signing autographs at Sportsman’s Park. It was featured on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post on May 1, 1954, and has become one of the most iconic pieces of sports art ever created. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41889349-326d-4879-931a-9928e8e38224/202+-+JFK.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1962 All-Star Game This photo of President John F. Kennedy and Stan Musial was taken at the 1962 All-Star Game, which was held at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. President Kennedy threw out the ceremonial game ball. Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick is standing in the center, between JFK and Stan The Man. Musial had a base hit that led to a run in the game. The day after the game, Stan visited JFK in the Oval Office at the White House, and there are some incredible photos of that visit HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f189d400-df7d-479d-9aed-9c492f9acacc/203+-+Willie+Mays.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - An Athlete Not that Stan Musial was out of shape, because you can’t have the amazing career that he had if you’re not in shape. And certainly not for 22 seasons. And maybe it’s partially due to his uniforms often times being kind of baggy, which would have hid his physique more than wearing a more form-fitting uniform would have. But when you see Willie Mays with his shirt off, that’s not quite the picture you have in your head when you think of what Stan would have looked like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/387cc7ab-d371-4cfb-8a5d-854dc05e7f54/204+-+HOF.JPEG Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - St. Louis HOFers 21% of all inductees in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown have some connection to St. Louis, whether that be as a member of the Cardinals organization, the Browns, or one of the Negro League teams from the city’s history. This uniform on display at the Hall was worn by Dizzy Dean, who was inducted as a member of the Class of 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/617f3038-498b-4af0-a9ea-4d33a88b836a/205+-+St.+Louis+to+Cooperstown.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out A page from Ed’s book, From St. Louis to Cooperstown: Baseball Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76548f9e-6c30-460a-9616-d92429922e4c/206+-+William+Veeck+Sr.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - William Veeck, Sr. William Louis Veeck Sr. was a newspaper writer in Chicago whose coverage of the Cubs led to him being offered a job with the team. William Veeck’s SABR Biography William’s grandson, Mike Veeck is a former Major League Baseball executive and Minor League Baseball owner known for his creative sales, marketing, and promotions, including Disco Demolition Night. He is the son of one-time St. Louis Browns owner, Hall of Famer Bill Veeck. Mike was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d990c35-aef9-472c-90f7-4404ab19ba19/207+-+Nancy+and+Harry.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Harry Caray Nancy Faust is a legendary organist. She is most famous for her 41-year career playing for the Chicago White Sox from 1970 through 2010 during which she invented walk-up music and, along with then-White Sox broadcaster Harry Caray, popularized the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. Nancy was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfbd16cd-e028-41a8-aa11-d8d27704c98f/208+-+Square.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Negro Leagues Larry Lester and Stephanie Liscio are two of the world’s leading authorities on the Negro Leagues, each of whom are published authors, public speakers, researchers, and historians. They were our guests for Episode 1 of Season 5. You can listen to that episode HERE. You can expect some more great Negro Leagues-related content later this season, too, so if you’re into that sort of thing, stay tuned! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b4b8252-04cf-4bda-80f7-ed316d34903e/209+-+OTD+05-08-1963.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - On This Date posts You’ve seen a bunch of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58e94f1b-561a-4f3f-9b2a-40efefb7202c/210+-+email.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0a581bc-88df-48a1-baf5-9f88134d4fc5/211+-+Baseball+in+STL.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues by Ed Wheatley? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29f77dc7-c662-4b7d-a1ce-103ca8f9b411/212+-+Kerr.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dickey Kerr Stan Musial actually began his pro baseball career as a left-handed pitcher in 1938 after signing with the Cardinals. But while playing in the outfield due to a shortage of players, Musial permanently damaged his throwing shoulder diving for a ball. Stan’s manager at the time, Dickey Kerr, suggested that Musial turn to hitting, based on the fact that Musial hit .352 in his part-time outfield duty in 1940. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2c85b45-398d-4d89-aeba-5387332fcefe/213+-+Kerr.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Standout Rookie Researcher and friend of the show, Jacob Pomrenke, explains Dickey Kerr’s credentials: “As a rookie with the Chicago White Sox in 1919, the left-hander pitched and won two complete games in the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. It was a tough feat for any rookie, but it was made even tougher because eight of his teammates were conspiring to throw that Series in what became known as the Black Sox Scandal.” Kerr was a 21-game winner in 1920, and won 19 more the following year, so he knew what good hitting looked like, and what it took to make it in the Majors. 1919 World Series Game 3 1919 World Series Game 6 Dickey Kerr’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d531ceba-5884-4eb3-bd84-db0d254108c0/214+-+Dickey+and+Cora.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Dickey and Cora Kerr Dickey Kerr and his wife, Cora, “took such a shine to the young man” that they also served as witnesses when Stan and his fiancée, Lillian, were married in Daytona Beach on May 25, 1940. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/badc14db-e637-4d62-928d-e5a47a3521b5/215+-+statue.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Stan’s Respect For Dickey Musial took Dickey’s advice, and, in 1941, Stan sailed through the vast Cardinals’ minor league system before hitting .426 in a late-season call-up with St. Louis. To honor Kerr, whom Stan once called “the best friend I’ve ever had,” the Musials named their son Richard, which was Dickey’s given name. Musial was also on hand to unveil a statue of his friend and former manager on August 20, 1966 at the Houston Astrodome. As of 2014, the statue could be found at Constellation Field in suburban Houston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66ed2eb5-f1b4-4890-9519-225fe6c52193/216+-+Record.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make it stand out Stan The Man’s Hit(s) Records: There have been 2,079 players in history who are in the official record books as being credited with playing at least one game as a member of the Cardinals franchise. No one has more than Stan Musial’s 3,026 games played in a Cardinals uniform. There have been 1,917 players credited with at least one plate appearance as a member of the Cardinals franchise. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 12,712. There have been 1,907 players credited with at least one at bat. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 10,972. There have been 1,590 players credited with at least one total base. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 6,134. There have been 1,416 players credited with scoring at least one run. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 1,949. There have been 1,141 players credited with at least one double. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 725. There have been 751 players credited with at least one triple. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 177. There have been 750 players credited with at least one home run. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 475. There have been 1,224 players credited with at least one extra base hit. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 1,377, and only three players (Albert Pujols, Rogers Hornsby, and Lou Brock) have as many as half of Stan’s total. There have been 1,590 players credited with at least one hit. No Cardinal has more than Stan Musial’s 3,630. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/157f7a74-40ad-4fd0-becd-52633864b99e/217+-+Navy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Missed Time… All of these numbers, and all of these Cardinals records Stan holds, come with him missing the entire 1945 season due to his military service in World War II. Stan was inducted into the United States Navy on January 23, 1945, served during World War II, and was later appointed a Colonel in the Missouri State Guard which he was very active in promoting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ce85ffd-b6f1-43c1-80bd-0bd3b24a178f/218+-+Navy.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - …Missed Stats If we look at his three seasons before 1945, and his three seasons after 1945, calculate his average production from those six years, and apply those numbers to what we could have reasonably expected him to do had he suited up for the Cards in 1945, we’re looking at another 150 games played, another 200 hits, 42 doubles, 15 triples, 18 home runs, and 96 runs batted in. He’d have batted .347, gotten on base at a .425 clip, and slugged .570, giving him an OPS+ of 171 and another 8.2 WAR to his already otherworldly career numbers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/305fcb9f-b9e0-4c90-9c58-92a32d3f8f10/219+-+1947.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1947 Stan started off the 1947 season by hitting just .146 in the month of April. On May 9, team doctor Dr. Robert Hyland confirmed a previous diagnosis of appendicitis, while discovering that Musial was concurrently suffering from tonsillitis. He received treatment, but did not have either his appendix or his tonsils removed until after the season ended. Despite his health woes, he finished the year with 183 hits and a batting average of .312. Those numbers would be great for any player not named Stan Musial, but that was 45 fewer hits than he had in 1946, and a 53 point drop in his average. He went from 9.3 Wins Above Replacement in 1946, to just 5.1 in 1947. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a0f7496-7f2f-43b3-af5c-c9c08d2bbf2d/220+-+1948.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - 1948 Back to full health in 1948, Stan finished the season leading the major leagues in batting average (.376), hits (230), doubles (46), triples (18), total bases (429), and slugging percentage (.702). His .376 average won the National League batting title by a 43-point margin. His .450 on-base percentage was tops by 27 points, and his .702 slugging percentage gave him a 138-point margin over second place, the largest gap since Rogers Hornsby's 1925 season. Stan and Ted Williams are pictured here, at the 1948 MLB All-Star Game at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62e87a95-41aa-4ceb-aa3e-9b34a6b91b14/221+-+1948.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Return To Form His return to form after his injury-riddled 1947 season won him the National League Most Valuable Player award, and he became the first player to have won the award three times. Johnny Mize of the New York Giants and Ralph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates both hit 40 home runs in 1948. Stan hit 39. Like Ed mentioned during the interview, had a home run that Stan allegedly hit during a rained out game in 1948 been counted in his season totals, he would have tied for the league lead in home runs, and won the Triple Crown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c5b90b6-86f7-47d1-9e92-29a311eb3dec/222+-+Broeg.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Bob Broeg As Glen Sparks wrote, legendary St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Bob Broeg reported on the “lost” home run in his 1995 autobiography, but several researchers have come up empty trying to actually locate this missing homer. St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Derrick Goold wrote an article several years ago trying to find definitive proof, one way or the other. Interestingly, that same St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer who started this theory about Musial’s lost home run, Bob Broeg, had also written The Sporting News article in 1948 about Musial winning MVP honors. Broeg didn’t mention a lost homer in that article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c75278b5-233d-4038-b8ae-7f5a5a8d9a13/223+-+Polo+Grounds.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Polo Grounds On August 4, 1948, the St. Louis Star-Times reported “Musial Wallops Longest Out” at the Polo Grounds. Stan mashed a ball 450-feet to right-center field in the 9th inning of a 7-2 Cardinals victory earlier that day, but because of the crazy dimensions of the Polo Grounds, Giants right-fielder Wilbert Marshall was able to catch the ball in front of the 455-foot mark near the bullpen. The ball would have been a home run at any other major-league ball park, but at the Polo Grounds, it was just a long out. But it was always an out, and could have never been mistaken for a lost home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc9ae1aa-c197-43f4-a2fb-1bfb167c6a4e/224+-+Polo+Grounds.jpg Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Make-up Games in New York So, researcher Dave Smith zeroed in on two make-up doubleheaders that the Cardinals and Giants played, one August 4 and the other September 19. Musial slammed a homer in the first game of the August double-dip and in the second game of the September twin bill. Smith: “We have to assign one of the games as the scheduled one and the other as the make-up. I always think of the second one as the makeup, but I have heard from others that apparently the standard is that the first one is the makeup.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1439bfe-9c0d-41fb-9612-a98d4b685939/225+-+Hall+of+Fame.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Stan The Man If Musial did indeed hit a rain-cancelled home run, he probably hit at least one home run to make up for it. Maybe Stan didn’t get cheated out of a Triple Crown, after all. If there actually was a missing home run and Stan had won the Triple Crown, leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, and batting average, he would have been the only player of the 20th century to also lead the league in runs, hits, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage in the same season. That one home run aside, 1948 was a year for the ages by Stan The Man, and just another indication of how truly great he was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b48b73f-dddd-4c58-a74b-d4a65a3a279b/299+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0502 - Ed Wheatley - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/season-five/01 monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f9565b39-ec2d-48f7-acf9-0f35a9ab2a86/youtube.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7213bc2b-c6ef-4bae-969d-bbac305aabb5/Square.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio Larry Lester, Stephanie Liscio, and me, after recording our interview at Cleveland’s historic League Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab56b79-68ac-4bab-a88d-09ddc2bb5c8a/01+-+alternate+logo+inverted.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Artistic Integrity Records This episode is brought to you by the Chicago-based record label Artistic Integrity Records. Website Email Artistic Integrity Records Follow Artistic Integrity Records on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1014436f-6a4a-4e66-9cde-17a9141530bc/02+-+Nancy+Faust+At+The+Game.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “Nancy Faust At The Game” Nancy Faust, the legendary sports organist who played at White Sox games for 41 years, was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. Her 1978 debut album “Nancy Faust At The Game” has been painstakingly restored and remastered, and is available for the first time in nearly 50 years thanks to Artistic Integrity Records. You can buy a CD copy either signed by Nancy or unsigned HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5cd70bd-d701-4a2f-acbd-89cefb76e866/03+-+League+Park.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Cleveland’s Historic League Park League Park is the former home of the Cleveland Spiders, Blues, Bronchos, Naps, and Indians from 1891 through 1946. It was the site of John Clarkson’s 300th career win in 1892, and of Games 1 through 3 of the 1895 Temple Cup, which ended with Hall of Famers Cy Young, Jesse Burkett, and the Cleveland Spiders as the Champions of the National League. John Clarkson’s SABR Biography Cy Young’s SABR Biography Jesse Burkett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89f62698-84a1-4cd7-9641-0a99bb32f005/04+-+OTD+10-02-1908.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Addie Joss Addie Joss threw a perfect game at League Park in 1908, and after he passed away in 1911, League Park was the site of what was essentially the first ever Major League All-Star Game when a benefit game was held to raise money for his family. Addie Joss’ SABR Biography Addie Joss Benefit SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d80fe5d-849c-41cb-a2b8-b1b32b9948b7/05+-+Nap.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - League Park Napoleon Lajoie collected his 3,000th career hit at League Park in 1914, and it was the site of the incredibly significant Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, which saw the first ever home run by a pitcher in a World Series game, the first ever grand slam in a World Series game, and the first – and to this day, only – unassisted triple play in a World Series game. Napoleon Lajoie SABR Biography 1920 World Series Game 5 SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/214ff6b8-262f-466f-8026-67f80ffe856d/06+-+OTD+07-16-1941.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Feats of Strength Walter Johnson got his 3,000th career strikeout at League Park in 1923, and Tris Speaker got his 3,000th hit there in 1925. Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run over League Park’s right field fence in 1929, and Joe DiMaggio got the last hit of his 56-game hitting streak there in 1941. Walter Johnson’s SABR Biography Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd4b4825-3018-4f43-8073-0c9b866d4ac2/07+-+Giants.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - A Long History of Black Baseball League Park hosted games played by Black baseball teams as early as 1907 when W.H. Ford’s Cleveland Giants called it home, but the most famous Black baseball team to play at League Park was the Cleveland Buckeyes, who called it home from 1942 through 1948, and then again for the first two months of the 1950 season after the team moved to Louisville for 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60bc115e-ff20-4044-8772-f69acce4ac1f/08+-+Cleveland+Buckeyes.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Cleveland Buckeyes League Park was the site of Game 2 of the 1945 Negro League World Series between the Cleveland Buckeyes and the Homestead Grays, and the site of the clinching Game 6 of the 1947 Negro League World Series between the Buckeyes and the New York Cubans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aac99be2-644e-4fba-a8b4-fa860c8e65b8/09+-+Feller.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Hall of Famers at League Park In addition to all of these great moments, the list of incredible players who have stepped on that field is incomprehensible. Literally dozens of Hall of Famers, both Black and white, have participated in games at League Park over the years. And not just players, either, but also umpires and managers. Bob Feller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/626c5a0a-2faa-4157-883a-cdf47a15d85f/10+-+Brian+Powers.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - League Park’s Architecture Brian Powers is an architect based out of Chicago who has digitally recreated a handful of ballparks from the early 1900s based on their original blueprints, which he has personally collected. He was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb2d04f6-2093-4037-abd1-fde0739e190a/11+-+Ralph+and+Chuck.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - League Park Today Today, League Park is owned and maintained by the City of Cleveland, and it was thanks to the city’s Division of Recreation that we had access to the Visitor Center to record the panel discussion you’re about to hear. Thank you to Mike Sierputowski and Ralph King (pictured, on the left) for helping to make that happen. Thank you, also, to Chuck Carter (pictured, on the right), who is the head groundskeeper at League Park. He makes everything look beautiful there and run smoothly. You can rent the field at League Park, or the Visitor Center (or both), for your own event! In 2024, I hosted an 1860s style vintage base ball game on the field, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. If you want to host an event there, fill out your permit application HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2528ddcf-8d7b-49af-bebd-072de7a15292/12+-+Stephanie+Liscio.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Stephanie Liscio Stephanie Liscio is the author of Integrating Cleveland Baseball: Media Activism, the Integration of the Indians, and the Demise of the Negro League Buckeyes. You can buy her book HERE. Stephanie is a member of the leadership team in Cleveland’s Jack Graney Chapter of SABR, and has contributed essays to a number of SABR publications, as well as to the Black Ball Journal. She completed her Ph.D. in history at Case Western Reserve University, where she wrote a dissertation on stadiums and community after World War II. In addition to her baseball-related research, Stephanie has worked as a researcher for University Hospitals’ 150th anniversary celebration, for the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement in Las Vegas, and has contributed to several documentary films. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c6e0e6e-33a8-4a89-9223-f6b54d9329e5/13+-+Larry+Lester.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry Lester Larry Lester is an esteemed author, historian, and consultant in film and museum curation. He is renowned for his lifelong dedication to preserving African American history, particularly through the lens of sports and cultural heritage. Larry is the former chairman of the Society for American Baseball Research's Negro League Committee. He co-founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, and served as its Research Director, Senior Editor, and Treasurer from 1991 to 1995. In 2006, Larry chaired the Hall of Fame's Special Negro Leagues Committee, selecting a record 17 new Negro League players, executives, and managers—an unprecedented recognition of their contributions. He is listed as a contributing researcher to more than 220 publications on African American history, and has authored, co-authored, or edited numerous books about Black Baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2500d00a-6941-47ef-a6fd-508b6ac0f23c/14+-+NLBM.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum With Buck O’Neil, Slick Suratt, and Phil Dixon, Larry Lester co-founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Phil Dixon is also an incredible Negro Leagues researcher, interviewer, and historian with over 40 years experience in the field. Phil was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ef96c3c-365c-4ab1-b671-1c73e87e0533/15+-+Seamheads.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Larry Lester’s pioneering stats project has since been augmented by the efforts of others, notably the Seamheads group, with which MLB launched its first iteration of the integrated historical database, including more than 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b712d72-dae6-41a1-a702-a18583397089/16+-+Last+Great+Decade.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - A Live Podcast Recording! This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at League Park on August 6, 2025. While we do touch on Black baseball topics dating back to the 19th century in this discussion, Larry, Stephanie, and I primarily focus on the Negro Leagues in the 1940s during this interview, the last great decade of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ab86dd7-202b-4e92-ab3c-181aba687412/17+-+Ticket+House.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ticket House League Park’s original ticket house at the corner of 66th and Lexington in the Hough neighborhood in Cleveland is still standing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4caae8b3-02dc-45bd-9cb1-765383bff7f2/18+-+Renovated+Field.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Fannie Lewis was the Ward 7 representative for the Cleveland City Council, an area which includes the Hough neighborhood, for almost thirty years. During her tenure, Lewis earned a reputation for her tireless efforts to improve the community in the wake of the 1966 Hough Riots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/597ee332-1cc5-4b27-83eb-3ae7896d3811/19+-+Chuck+Carter.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Chuck Carter Chuck Carter has been a fixture in the Black communities of Cleveland since 1962, when he and his family moved to the area. Taking cues from his mother’s civil rights activism, Chuck became a community leader and managed the Glenville Rec Center for years, creating initiatives to get the youth involved in multiple sports. Chuck has been the head groundskeeper at League Park for years, and continues his tireless efforts to enrich his community any way he can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72b637ee-7a10-462e-9f6e-347b8bdf7fc9/20+-+Visitor+Center.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out This was our setup in League Park’s Visitor Center the night we recorded this panel discussion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35c4c6f8-536e-42de-9b86-ad9c2a4bee07/21+-+Liscio.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Stephanie Liscio Stephanie’s book Integrating Cleveland Baseball: Media Activism, the Integration of the Indians and the Demise of the Negro League Buckeyes is available to purchase HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a0f1b17-2a06-4b25-9156-110f32241f2c/22+-+set+up.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d731daa7-1dbc-4072-a8a1-cd530ad38108/23+-+over+my+shoulder.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jackie Robinson I promise it wasn’t planned that my seat would be directly in front of the Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson collages on the walls of the Visitor Center. But I wasn’t going to rearrange any tables or chairs to change it, that’s for sure. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04c06486-6ef1-44f9-87d9-b33ff7183316/24+-+Moses+Fleetwood+Walker.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Moses Fleetwood Walker Moses Fleetwood Walker played for semi-professional and minor league baseball clubs before joining the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association for the 1884 season. Because of the American Association’s distinction as a “major” league, Walker is often credited with being the first Black man to play major league baseball. Moses Fleetwood Walker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38e10e38-1e77-4da1-9ce6-3c84b64642a7/25+-+Anson.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Cap Anson Adrian Constantine “Cap” Anson was regarded as one of the greatest players of his era and one of the first superstars of the game. Anson was one of baseball's first great hitters, and one of the first to tally over 3,000 career hits. In addition to being a star player, he innovated managerial tactics such as signals between players and the rotation of pitchers. Anson played a role in establishing the racial segregation in professional baseball that persisted until the late 1940s. On several occasions, Anson refused to take the field when the opposing roster included Black players. Because of his standing in the game, other players, managers, and teams felt emboldened to follow his lead. On July 14, 1887, the owners of the International League voted to ban the signing of new contracts with black players. Cap Anson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cf01b9c-c2c5-49cb-8a99-78f1236f5842/26+-+Jackie+and+Branch.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “Gentleman’s Agreement” African-Americans played in the Major Leagues in 1878 and between 1884 and 1887. Still, racist thinking persisted and Major League club owners again came to what can only be described as a “gentleman’s agreement” banning African-American players from the Major League. While no documentation exists, no contracts were extended to African-American players between 1888 and 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e081985-798d-4201-bfe8-44023345e1e9/27+-+Satchel.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Bismarck, ND During Satchel Paige’s brief 1933 stay in North Dakota, he struck out 119 batters in 72 innings and was a perfect 7-0. Paige’s most significant win for Bismarck was a 10-inning 3-2 Labor Day weekend win at Jamestown, in which he bested 1996 Hall of Fame inductee Bill Foster, whom Jamestown had brought in from the Chicago American Giants expressly to oppose Paige. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography Hilton Smith’s SABR Biography Quincy Trouppe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9fb63f4-cced-4957-a0a2-e2e90153e830/28+-+Churchills.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Neil Churchill Neil Churchill (seen here, bottom row, center) was a car dealer in Bismarck, North Dakota who funded an integrated baseball team in the mid-1930s, more than a decade before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Churchill teamed up with Abe Saperstein, the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters and personal friend of Churchill, to attract Negro League legend Satchel Paige along with three other Negro League players to his team in 1933. The team went on that year to claim the state championship, and the Bismarck Churchills won the very first NBC World Series in 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/447b6ab0-d91b-4270-9228-2d0b2d90af8a/29+-+Feller+and+Paige.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out The Bob Feller/Satchel Paige barnstorming tour following the 1946 season made stops in 32 United States cities over 27 days, including a game at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field, as advertised in the Oct. 16, 1946, Los Angeles Times. (courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3494fdc-490f-4b4d-aee0-10f7dabad637/30+-+Landis.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Kenesaw Mountain Landis There is speculation that one of the reasons Babe Ruth was never offered a managerial position in Major League Baseball after his playing career was over is because Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis told teams not to hire him. Landis felt because of Babe’s history in barnstorming, and his knowledge of the great Black baseball players of the time, that he would have brought the best Black players to a team if he were its manager, and integrated baseball long before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Kenesaw Mountain Landis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c243690-044e-4681-944c-b02ecdfd5810/31+-+Babe.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Babe Ruth Babe Ruth was incredibly familiar with the great Black players of the day because of his extensive barnstorming during the offseasons. Babe’s All-Stars lost to the Kansas City Monarchs during a postseason series in 1922, which infuriated Commissioner Landis. Kenesaw Mountain Landis presided over Major League Baseball from 1920 through 1945. He issued a ruling that said full Negro League teams could not play games against full white Major League teams. Ruth continued to barnstorm against Black players and teams (much to the delight of Black fans), and happily paid the fines levied by Landis for doing so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed3852eb-a4cf-4310-8a2c-f5d5391cecd6/32+-+1942+Phillies.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1942 Phillies Bill Veeck wrote that he tried to buy the bankrupt Philadelphia Phillies after the 1942 season, and intended to stock the team with black players, breaking organized baseball’s color line three years before Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers. In his 1962 autobiography, Veeck asserted that he had lined up financing and enlisted the promoter Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, to help sign Negro Leagues stars. Veeck said he informed Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis of his plan as a courtesy, but that Landis and National League president Ford Frick thwarted him by arranging a quick sale of the Phillies to another buyer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86e1839f-d9c0-407c-b89e-c1b9e06d2b40/33+-+OTD+07-05-1947.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry Doby The controversial story about Bill Veeck potentially buying the Philadelphia Phillies with the intent to integrate the team has been debated for years as to whether it was true, but Veeck did end up breaking the color barrier in the American League in 1947 by signing Larry Doby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd98e115-79e7-4bca-b321-deb1f83944c7/34+-+Satchel+Paige.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Paige and Veeck Not just a publicity stunt, Veeck signed the great Satchel Paige in 1948. The team went on to set an attendance record that season, but whether it was 2.6 million (officially) or 3.4 million (unofficially) is up for debate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a316980f-b5f7-4d71-ae91-91f15ddd6c55/35+-+Harlem+Globetrotters.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Harlem Globetrotters The 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament was held in Chicago in March of 1940 and featured 14 teams. The tournament gained a local interest when the Chicago Bruins of the NBL made it to the championship round after they beat the ABL's Washington Heurich Brewers in the semifinal round. The world famous Harlem Globetrotters (who were originally based in Chicago at the time before moving to New York and then Harlem permanently) made it to the championship round over the defending champion New York Renaissance. The Globetrotters won their first World Basketball Championship, defeating the Chicago Bruins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbad7cea-6d9d-4751-b72a-26cbccbe5410/36+-+Pirates.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates played in the same city as the Negro League’s Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays, each of whom were dominant teams with multiple Hall of Fame players. Despite this proximity to Black excellence, the Pirates would not integrate until 1954. From 1939 through 1954, the Pirates went a combined 1,090-1,364-25 (.44473 winning percentage). The only time they finished better than 4th in the National League during that span was in 1944, when teams were playing with short rosters due to World War II. Logo courtesy of SportsLogos.net https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/260b905f-4d5c-4195-b6f2-5c0cd1a4d31e/37+-+Robinson.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jackie Robinson, Football Star In their first year under head coach Edwin C. Horrell (after 14 years under William H. Spaulding as head coach), the 1939 UCLA Bruins compiled a 6–0–4 record (5–0–3 conference), finished in second place in the Pacific Coast Conference, played #3-ranked USC to a scoreless tie, and were ranked #7 in the final AP Poll. In the fall of 1939, Jackie Robinson enrolled at UCLA, where the student population was less than 1% African-American and there was not a single Black faculty member. He became the first Bruin at the Westwood campus to letter in four sports and was a genuine star in three of them - football, basketball, and track. Baseball was his worst sport at UCLA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/503a6e57-73e8-465b-87d3-58a389e02de5/38+-+Kenny+Washington.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Kenny Washington Kenny Washington rushed for 1,914 yards in his college career, a school record for 34 years. He was one of five African-American players on the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team, the others being Woody Strode, Jackie Robinson, Johnny Wynne, and Ray Bartlett. This was a rarity to have so many African Americans when only a few dozen at all played on college football teams. The Bruins played eventual conference and national champion USC to a 0–0 tie with the 1940 Rose Bowl on the line. UCLA teammates have commented how strong Washington was when confronted with racial slurs and discrimination. Washington was the first African-American to sign a contract with a National Football League team in the modern (post-World War II) era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e29c36f8-ebf0-46f2-8bfa-3e7158233a8b/39+-+College+Football.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out College football would dominate the front page of the newspapers in the 1930s during the season, even in October while the World Series was going on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4694ab77-a9e1-4631-804f-18ef684fce4a/40+-+All+Stars.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1942 East-West All-Star Game One of the earliest battlegrounds for integration was a Negro Leagues All-Star contest in Cleveland in 1942. That summer, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis claimed that there was no formal ban on African-Americans in baseball and that it was up to individual team owners to sign black players. This encouraged a number of African-American journalists to take the lead, but as had been evidenced by the prior half-century, no owners were exactly champing at the bit to be a trailblazer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/323edbd9-b29e-4ee1-8ccc-d89aa342129c/41+-+Jethroe.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Sam Jethroe The writers at the Cleveland Call and Post, an African-American weekly newspaper in the city, used Landis’s statement as the basis for their sales pitch to Indians owner Alva Bradley, who had been team president since 1927. When the paper asked Bradley about the commissioner’s comments, he echoed Landis by saying any owner could sign a black player at any time, and added that the Indians would consider it. (The Call and Post also reached out to Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau, who said that he supported the integration of the team, but would leave that decision up to Bradley.) Bradley managed to avoid and deflect specific questions about scouting Negro Leagues games, including the annual East-West All-Star Game. At one point Bradley claimed that “No Negro players have contacted me in any way,” and implied that he would not offer a tryout until a player formally asked for one. Almost immediately, the Call and Post proposed three players on the Negro American League’s Cleveland Buckeyes that they believed could cut it in MLB: outfielder Sam Jethroe, third baseman Parnell Woods, and pitcher Eugene Bremer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfb9898e-88c3-47d9-90ec-e1835443ce40/43+-+Parnell+Woods.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Parnell Woods John Fuster, one of the writers with the Call and Post, got permission from Buckeyes GM Wilbur Hayes to use the upcoming East-West All-Star Game in Cleveland as a “tryout” for Jethroe, Bremer, and Woods, since all three men would be on the roster. They penned a formal invitation to Bradley, and the request was signed by Parnell Woods, the only one of the three men who had a college degree. Bremer had a rough night, as he walked four and allowed five earned runs, and was knocked out of the game by the third inning, departing with the bases loaded. Jethroe and Woods managed to score the West’s lone runs, but only reached base due to a fielder’s choice and an error, respectively. Woods went hitless on the night, and let two balls past him at third base, while Jethroe dropped a routine fly ball and went hitless until a single in the ninth inning with the bases empty. If it was indeed a real tryout, it was truly the worst possible scenario for all three players. Sam Jethroe’s SABR Biography Parnell Woods’ SABR Biography Eugene Bremer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5167aca3-610f-4812-96a1-3371b53e76cd/44+-+Bradley.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “They Just Don’t Stack Up…” After the game, Indians owner Alva Bradley addressed Fuster, an account that was published in the Call and Post, and said “We have scouted these men… we saw them play at the Stadium on the night of August 18th, and frankly, Mr. Fuster, they are not big-league material. Why, not one of them got a hit…and the pitcher, Bremer, was knocked out of the box. They just don’t stack up as material for the Indians.” Here, Bradley (right) and Cy Slapnicka (left) are seen signing a contract with Bob Feller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f9e66c3-09ba-4b9a-b578-8d070395fdce/45+-+bus+crash.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Buckeyes Accident In the early morning hours of September 7, 1942, one auto of a caravan of three automobiles carrying Cleveland Buckeyes players and other personnel was involved in a fatal car accident. The team was using three cars as their team bus, pictured here, was in the shop for repairs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb6e74c3-3579-4db3-804f-328023e95efd/46+-+Negro+Leagues.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Black Business, More Than Baseball The Negro Leagues were the third largest Black business in America at their peak, and impacted the Black community and economy in so many ways. From employing umpires and front office people, to stadium workers like concessionaires, ticket takers, ushers, and grounds crews. But teams also traveled, so oftentimes they employed drivers, and when they were in a city away from home, they also patronized Black owned hotels and ate at Black owned restaurants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06d2d2db-246f-4375-8229-2a14b44338c8/47+-+Majestic.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Majestic Hotel Opened in 1902 as a five-story, 250-room residential hotel known as the Majestic Apartments, the Majestic Hotel emerged after the Great Migration as Cleveland's primary African-American hotel, a role it played until integration eased the need for hotels catering primarily to a black clientele. The imposing brick structure on the corner of East 55th Street and Central Avenue in the heart of the city's Cedar-Central neighborhood provided African Americans with a quality place to stay on a visit or to call home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4880c06-11d2-4fb8-9edf-be06e951bce5/48+-+Street+Hotel.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Street’s Hotel The Street’s Hotel was listed in the “Negro Travelers’ Green Book,” a guidebook published annually for African-Americans traveling through America during the era of Jim Crow laws. This guide indicated places that were relatively friendly to African Americans. It was located on 18th St at Paseo and had 60 guest rooms, each with private bath and telephone service. Conveniently located on the first floor was a haberdasher, a Tailor, a Post Office, and the famous Blue Room Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e2f08e0-39c3-4851-a255-9c2bf8cf8cd2/49+-+Negro+Motorist+Green+Book.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Negro Motorist Green Book An annual guidebook for African-American road trippers founded and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. From a New York-focused first edition published in 1936, Green expanded the work to cover much of North America. The Green Book became "the bible of black travel" during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against African Americans and other non-whites was widespread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed15d0aa-2f1e-4d57-956d-315f1ec17e7f/50+-+Gilmore.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Quincy Gilmore Quincy J. Gilmore was the secretary of the Kansas City Monarchs from 1922 through 1926, and then again from 1929 through 1939. His brief hiatus was spent acting as the secretary and treasurer of the entire Negro National League. At times, Gilmore also acted as the advance scout for the Monarchs, traveling ahead of the team to make sure their upcoming road trips went smoothly. In 1929, Gilmore formed the Texas-Oklahoma-Louisiana League and served as the League’s President. In 1938, Gilmore proposed a plan to nationally organize all the black semipro and independent teams in the United States into a series of regional leagues. The goal of these regional leagues would be to “feed” the Negro American League and Negro National League with ballplayers. Gilmore felt his plan would revitalize Negro League baseball. The press titled the proposed endeavor the “Rube Foster League.” The plan never materialized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/900178e7-5a28-4d31-8aac-dfcc9b2edbec/51+-+advocacy.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry’s Advocacy Larry’s advocacy led to landmark achievements, including securing retroactive Major League Baseball pensions for over 90 Negro League veterans in 1997 and enrolling approximately 150 former players in Major League Baseball Properties’ royalty program. These initiatives resulted in $143,248 awarded to surviving Negro League players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32e0e4e3-5867-4039-970c-b08fa0677879/52+-+writers.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - White Baseball Writers We know the names of white baseball writers like Ring Lardner (seen here), Grantland Rice, Hugh Fullerton, Damon Runyon, and Fred Lieb… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84e70bb4-e219-4f48-8f88-625edea4eaa3/53+-+Conlon.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - White Baseball Photographers … and we know the names of white baseball photographers like Charles Conlon (seen here), Louis Van Oeyen, Carl J. Horner, Francis Burke, George Burke, and George Brace. But the names of the journalists and photographers who covered Black baseball in America aren't as well known, if they're known at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81a175da-5a8d-4978-aba1-e03b68a079f2/54+-+Wendell+Smith.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Wendell Smith Jackie Robinson had a stellar 1945 season with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues but was virtually unknown to most of America. That fall, he picked up a pen to write a letter to the sportswriter Wendell Smith, seen here with Robinson. “I want to thank you and the paper for all you have done and are doing on my behalf,” Robinson wrote, referring to The Pittsburgh Courier, a prominent Black newspaper. “As you know, I am not worried about what the white press or people think, as long as I continue to get the best wishes of my people.” The letter was written eight days after Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, announced that he had signed Robinson for the team’s farm club in Montreal, and a year and a half before Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color line. Decades later, the film “42” illuminated Smith’s vital role in Robinson’s story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01aa3b3e-77a5-47c6-a9c7-052477d52e37/55+-+Harrison+Dillard.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Harrison Dillard William Harrison "Bones" Dillard (seen here, left, with Jesse Owens, right) was a track and field athlete from Cleveland. Dillard worked for the Cleveland Indians franchise in scouting and public relations capacities, and hosted a radio talk show on Cleveland's WERE. He also worked for the Cleveland City School District for many years as its business manager. At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, Dillard reached the final of the 100 meter sprint, which seemed to end in a dead heat between Dillard and another American, Barney Ewell. The finish photo showed Dillard had won, equaling the World record as well. This was the first use of a photo finish at an Olympic Games. As a member of the 4 × 100 meter relay team, he won another gold medal. Four years later, at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Dillard won gold in the 110 meter hurdles event. Another 4 × 100 meter relay victory yielded Dillard's fourth Olympic title. He is the only male in the history of the Olympic Games to win gold in both the 100 meter (sprints) and the 110 meter hurdles, making him the “World’s Fastest Man” in 1948 and the “World’s Fastest Hurdler” in 1952. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15bf4f76-afdf-477a-bbfb-f3e3e1e849dd/56+-+Municipal+Stadium.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium Larry grew up close to Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium and went to lots of A’s games when the team called KC home. He asked his family where all of the Black ballplayers were, and that’s when they told him for the first time about Negro League stars like Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell. Larry learned that Buck O’Neil, Connie Johnson, and Herman “Doc” Horn all lived nearby, so he started to visit them at their homes where they would tell him stories about the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1df76db7-0d5e-4bd1-b74b-a63d1b70e070/57+-+Ed+Charles.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ed Charles Ed Charles played for the Kansas City Athletics from 1962–1967 and for the New York Mets from 1967–1969. Ed Charles’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4013e575-8f65-4a33-aeb0-5aac3e10930f/58+-+John+Wyatt.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - John Wyatt A former Negro Leagues standout, John Wyatt pitched for nine seasons in the big leagues despite not making it to the majors until he was 26. But with a repertoire of several pitches – some that allegedly included slippery substances – Wyatt made his mark on the 1960s as one of the game’s most durable relievers. John Wyatt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a5bec87-daba-4d5e-b084-877dffd1c3db/59+-+Roommates.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Roommates More often than not, integrated teams would have an even number of Black players to optimize hotel space. Black and white players couldn’t share a room, so instead of leaving a Black player with a room to himself if the team had three or five minorities on the team, they would structure their rosters to ensure an even split. Johnny Wright was a right-handed pitcher with an outstanding curveball. He played for the Newark Elites, the Indianapolis Clowns, the Atlanta Black Crackers, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues. In 1943, Wright won 25 regular-season games for the Grays and added two shutouts in the Negro League World Series. Branch Rickey chose Wright to room with Jackie Robinson as teammates in Montreal. Johnny Wright’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bdd5abf-556f-48e5-b080-cb244b3bd8ed/60+-+Brown.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Different Sport, Same Story In Jim Brown’s autobiography Out Of Bounds, he confirms that the NFL employed the same even-number strategy as Major League Baseball when it came to rostering Black players on teams. Buy Out Of Bounds by Jim Brown and Steve Delsohn HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66e076f6-990c-4a0a-bed0-cd16ba8acad6/61+-+Larry+Doby+signs+with+the+Indians.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry Doby Stephanie was enamored with the story of the 1948 Cleveland Indians, particularly the trials and tribulations of Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. When she wanted to learn more about them, and started to follow their careers backwards to the Negro Leagues, her eyes were opened to an entire new world of characters and stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/037920f4-9eb5-490b-8f89-be0c211eff60/62+-+Carter.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Stephanie’s Favorite Players Growing up, Stephanie’s favorite players included Joe Carter and Barry Bonds. As she learned more about the Negro Leagues, and the fact that Black baseball leagues had to exist in the first place, she began to wonder what it would have been like had she never had a chance to watch the great Black ballplayers of her childhood play in Major League Baseball. That made Stephanie think about all of the players who did miss that opportunity, and missed out on a larger group of fans knowing about them and seeing their talents. Joe Carter’s SABR Biography Barry Bonds’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa63e551-ca1d-4e3f-b3ed-206c7c516613/63+-+Roommates.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Louis Jones In January of 1947, Bill Veeck hired Bill Killefer, a former player and longtime coach, to scout the Negro Leagues. Around that same time, he hired a Black man named Louis Jones -- a promoter and the first husband of singer and actress Lena Horne -- as the team’s assistant director of public relations. Jones, therefore, became the first Black executive in MLB, tasked with engaging with the city’s Black civic leaders and neighborhoods in preparation for the desegregation of the team. In Doby’s book Pride Against Prejudice, he mentions arriving in Cleveland on July 4, 1947, and having Jones, the newly-hired African-American assistant public relations director, assigned to be his roomie. Satchel Paige became Doby’s bunk mate the next season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e656b16d-27b3-46dc-a13d-5605b4d01b98/64+-+artifacts.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Negro League Artifacts Larry acquired rare artifacts from the families of Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Archie Ware, Chet Brewer and others for the Negro League Baseball Museum’s static exhibit and archives. Oscar Charleston’s SABR Biography Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography Chet Brewer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/551f9a58-d0cc-4bd5-8fc6-df3358807bde/65+-+Archie+Ware.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Archie Ware Archie Ware played first base in the Negro Leagues between 1942 and 1952. In between, Ware also played winter ball in Venezuela with the Navegantes del Magallanes club in the 1947-48 season. He also played for the Spur Cola Colonites of Panama in 1950-51, playing for Spur Cola in the 1951 Caribbean Series. Archie Ware’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06e9909e-054d-44c7-8721-65eb8c5658fe/66+-+Major+Leagues.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “Major” Leagues In December 2020, Larry’s comprehensive compilation of Negro League records from 1920 through 1948 was officially recognized by Major League Baseball, rewriting the historical record books to include Black players, Black teams, and their statistics. But only for certain years, and sometimes only certain games from those “accepted” years, and only if those leagues met certain criteria. The seven different Major Negro Baseball Leagues whose records have been absorbed into the official Major League Baseball record books are listed here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6b06c50-97bf-4898-a481-5163bd3b0fcd/149+-+Turkey.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Turkey Stearnes Negro Leagues legend Satchel Paige called Turkey Stearnes “one of the greatest hitters we ever had. He was as good as Josh [Gibson]. He was as good as anybody who ever played ball”. Stearnes was widely recognized as one of the game’s all-time great players during his career. Negro Leaguer Jim Canada, who played against Stearnes said: “He hit the ball nine miles. He was a show, people would go to see him play.” Stearnes could win games with both his arms and his legs. A swift center fielder who excelled on the bases, Stearnes led the Negro National League in batting average twice and is credited with 129 stolen bases. "That man could hit the ball as far as anybody," Cool Papa Bell said. "And he was one of our best all around players. He could field, he could hit, he could run. He had plenty of power." Turkey Stearnes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76e55602-17f2-411d-9e24-d48657e82a39/68+-+Pete+Hill.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Pete Hill Playing most of his career in the pre-Negro Leagues era, Pete Hill emerged from the backwoods of Culpeper County, Virginia, to become one of the most feared line-drive hitters in the game. His baseball years run roughly from 1889 to the mid-1920s and involve some of the pioneer programs of African-American baseball. Hill was considered to be a premier center fielder with a rocket arm and excellent glove. His talents also extended to the batter’s box, where he was a consistent line-drive hitter with outstanding speed on the base paths. Baseball historian Jim Riley has said that if an all-star outfield was created from the pre-1920 era, it would include Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Pete Hill. The Chicago Defender supports this, as noted from an article in 1910: Hill can “do anything a white player can do. He can hit, run, throw and is what is termed a wise, heady ballplayer.” Pete Hill’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a85c93a-2cf7-4c27-880e-a5da9605f4cb/69+-+Lajoie.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Napoleon Lajoie “Lajoie was one of the most rugged hitters I ever faced. He’d take your leg off with a line drive, turn the third baseman around like a swinging door, and powder the hand of the left fielder.” – Cy Young Napoleon Lajoie, hitter extraordinaire, sublime fielder, manager and executive, has been described as “the first superstar in American League history.” And indeed, to concentrate on his hitting or his fielding is to miss his all-around talent as a player. Lajoie combined graceful, effortless fielding with powerful, fearsome hitting to become one of the greatest all-around players of the Deadball Era, and one of the best second basemen of all time. At 6’1″ and 200 pounds, Lajoie possessed an unusually large physique for his time, yet when manning the keystone sack he was wonderfully quick on his feet, threw like chain lightning, and went over the ground like a deer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db6e5b04-b35a-4e5a-898c-e51cd2663504/70+-+Speaker.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Tris Speaker “At the crack of the bat he'd be off with his back to the infield, and then he'd turn and glance over his shoulder at the last minute and catch the ball so easy it looked like there was nothing to it, nothing at all." – Smoky Joe Wood Legendary for his short outfield play, Tris Speaker led the American League in putouts seven times and in double plays six times in a 22-year career with Boston, Cleveland, Washington, and Philadelphia. Speaker’s career totals in both categories are still major-league records at his position. No slouch at the plate, Speaker had a lifetime batting average of .345, sixth on the all-time list, and no one has surpassed his career mark of 792 doubles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fcc73a27-d9aa-46f0-9991-2f8fcf2430a6/71+-+New+Records.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61e6531d-8ba1-4112-8537-2b2d3c86115c/72+-+Minnie+Minoso.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “Minnie” Miñoso Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox instead of Harry Simpson. But why did Cleveland feel the need to trade either player? Because many teams, at the time, felt like having “too many” Black players on their team might alienate their white fans. Many clubs had these self-imposed limits, though you could argue that the only thing they were limiting was their team’s potential. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography Harry Simpson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed734221-f853-476f-8723-63290cb989d3/73+-+Gibson.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Josh Gibson Only 60-80 games per season were actually considered official Negro League games, so the statistics don't seem impressive always. But teams would play upwards of 100 barnstorming games in addition to actual regular season Negro League games. Because of those barnstorming games, Josh Gibson’s HOF plaque states he hit “almost 800 home runs,” but since only a fraction of those home runs came in officially accepted Negro League/“Major” League games, he is now officially credited with just 166 career home runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3184af71-b549-4519-9f70-58ecbac4214b/74+-+OTD+05-22-1946.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - No Need To Embellish The real stories are incredible enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfa11b71-9f78-4105-b13f-eccd649be002/74+-+Mendoza.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Mendoza Line The Mendoza Line is baseball jargon for a .200 batting average, the supposed threshold for offensive futility in Major League Baseball. It derives from light-hitting shortstop Mario Mendoza, who failed to reach .200 five times in his nine big league seasons. When a position player's batting average falls below .200, the player is said to be "below the Mendoza Line". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ae0b0ca-ace5-4ef5-805f-bf1925746aa6/75+-+East+West.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Black Baseball’s National Showcase When the best Black baseball players assembled for the annual East-West All-Star games, which for a generation paralleled the white All-Star games, the concentration of talent on the field was second to none. This scholarly work brings together the painstakingly assembled history of those games, reconstructed play-by-plays, and accurate statistical records. Larry recaptures the vigor of the Black communities' united attention to the event, describes the players whose talents brought them to this pinnacle of achievement, and discusses the less salubrious but still important stratagem of promoters, gamblers, and petty tyrants who cast an occasional shadow on the sunlit fields of Chicago's Comiskey Park. Buy a copy of this amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6d0dab4-28d3-4022-9582-ce001f4f44f6/77+-+OTD+08-13-1944.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - East-West All-Star Game In 1933, Arch Ward of the Chicago Tribune pitched the idea of having an All-Star Game as part of the festivities surrounding the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. That same summer, the Negro Leagues decided to try it for themselves, also in Chicago. The Negro League version wasn’t just a baseball game, though. It was the place to be, and the place to be seen. Everyone in Black popular culture wanted to be at these games, and many of them were regular attendees. People from all areas of fame: Duke Ellington, Lena Horne and her father, Teddy Horne, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Joe Louis… the list goes on and on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ad6f75b-9c74-4cf0-880e-e49daca5b77d/79+-+1939.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1939 East-West Game Of the 32,000 people in the stands at the East-West game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, less than 1,500 were White baseball fans paying their way. Fay Young of the Chicago Defender offered his own postgame commentary on the bigger picture, lamenting the attendance and considering the causes for such poor numbers: “In other words, the success of the game was made by Negro newspapers and the daily press. Even as liberal as [the White press] were here, it didn’t put people in the gate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/627ddfe3-b4d1-4968-9495-50130912df71/80+-+Cleveland+teams.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Black Baseball Teams In Cleveland Cleveland had more official Negro League teams than any other city, but it's because they all failed. Graphic courtesy of the research by Phil Dixon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c495069a-877f-4ba6-a925-6b55d8e8e00a/81+-+Buckeyes.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Cleveland Buckeyes The Buckeyes were the first Black baseball team to really succeed in Cleveland. They went to the 1945 and 1947 Negro League World Series, and won the 1945 Series against the Homestead Grays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53fe4e90-3835-4007-a241-0b760374f894/82+-+Homestead+Grays.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Homestead Grays The 1945 Grays had five future Hall of Famers on their team: Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, Ray Brown, and Jud Wilson. Buck Leonard’s SABR Biography Ray Browns’s SABR Biography Jud Wilson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/56af5825-ef6d-4676-8c65-9ae71a7fe591/83+-+Bremer.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - How Did The Buckeyes Win? With great play from Parnell Woods, Sam Jethroe, and Eugene Bremer (seen here), who we have mentioned already. But also with the help of other players, like Johnnie Cowan and Willie Jefferson. The Buckeyes pitching staff had the series of their lives, holding the offensive juggernaut on the other side of the diamond in check. Not only did the Buckeyes win the series, they swept the Grays, who were heavily favored. Johnnie Cowan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1675beda-705a-440c-93cf-3b67ee51da50/84+-+OTD+09-16-1937.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Multi-talented Many Negro League players were two-way stars, who could pitch and hit, as well as play other positions in the field. Not all of them were as good at playing both sides of the ball as Martín Dihigo, but many could more than adequately fill in at multiple positions on a moment’s notice. When you allow the best players from all over the world to play in your league, regardless of skin color, the level of talent and competition is going to be fierce. And that’s exactly what it was in the Negro Leagues. Martín Dihigo’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54037582-40a0-4212-8788-1baa84e1e22b/85+-+Rube.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Rube Foster Although Andrew "Rube" Foster (1879-1930) stands among the best African American pitchers of the 1900s, this baseball pioneer made his name as the founder and president of the Negro National League, the first all-black league to survive a full season. In addition to founding this groundbreaking black-owned and -operated business, the eventual Hall of Famer also founded and managed the Chicago American Giants, one of the most successful black baseball teams of the pre-integration era. Larry’s definitive biography combines period editorials and correspondence with insightful narrative to provide a comprehensive portrait of Foster. From the unstructured early days of black baseball, when Foster gained glory as a hard-throwing pitcher, through his struggles to establish the NNL and the Giants, to his tragic death from complications of syphilis, this work pays overdue tribute to an authentic American baseball icon. Buy a copy of the book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40558f09-8e78-4430-8b61-ba0780df4223/86+-+Chicago+American+Giants.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1914 Chicago American Giants Front row, from left: Billy “Little Corporal” Francis (third base), Richard “Dick” Whitworth (pitcher), Joseph Preston “Pete” Hill (shortstop), Andrew “Rube” Foster (owner-manager), Bruce Petway (catcher), James “Pete” Booker (catcher) and an unidentified person. Back row, from left: Bill Gatewood (pitcher); Jesse Barber, also Barbour (first base); Leroy Grant (first base); John Henry “Pop” Lloyd (shortstop); and Robert “Jude” Gans (outfield). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a6b9724-fe31-4621-acc0-d1835aec6e37/87+-+The+New+Negro.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The New Negro by Alain Locke The New Negro: An Interpretation is an anthology of fiction, poetry, and essays on African and African-American art and literature edited by Alain Locke, and first published in 1925. Locke lived in Washington, DC, and taught at Howard University during the Harlem Renaissance. As a collection of the creative efforts coming out of the burgeoning New Negro Movement or Harlem Renaissance, the book is considered by literary scholars and critics to be the definitive text of the movement. Part 1 of The New Negro: An Interpretation, titled "The Negro Renaissance," includes Locke's title essay "The New Negro," as well as nonfiction articles, poetry, and fiction by writers including Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay, Jean Toomer and Eric Walrond. You can read the entirety of the text HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a337f41-cb7e-464e-85ef-61a52860c344/88+-+The+Red+Summer.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The “Red Summer” of 1919 On July 27, 1919, thousands of Chicagoans sought relief from the brutal heat on the shores of Lake Michigan. Among them was Eugene Williams, a 17-year-old African American. When he and his friends inadvertently drifted across an invisible line that divided the waters by race, a group of whites, insulted by such an act, began throwing stones at them, one of which struck Williams, causing him to drown. In the racial powder keg that was Chicago, his murder was the spark that ignited it during what became the Red Summer of 1919. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7701f8fd-ec35-4766-9594-9c21937db25b/89+-+Harlem+Rens.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - New York Rens The New York Rens were the first Black-owned, all-Black, fully professional basketball team in history, formed in Harlem in October 1923. That year, basketball manager Robert “Bob” Douglas made a deal with Harlem real estate developer William Roach, the owner of the Renaissance Casino, a newly opened ballroom. Douglas asked Roach if the Spartans could play their home games at his ballroom in exchange for changing the name of the team to the “New York Renaissance” to promote the dance hall far and wide. Douglas, now armed with a permanent home court, introduced full-season player contracts to lock in his players. The “Rens” attracted the best African American talent in basketball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e142100-1c6e-4313-b185-6077d33c1157/90+-+Double+V.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - “Double V Campaign” In 1942 the African-American weekly Pittsburgh Courier started what they referred to as the “Double V Campaign”—black Americans not only had to fight for victory in the war, but also fight for equality on the home front. Baseball was a popular target; one of the arguments for the integration of baseball was that it would lead to desegregation in other areas of society. In fact, the military was desegregated a year after Robinson broke the color barrier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24137e3d-694c-46c5-af5f-935160edb929/91+-+Sam+Lacy.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Sam Lacy Samuel Harold Lacy was an African-American and Native American sportswriter, reporter, columnist, editor, and television/radio commentator who worked in the sports journalism field for parts of nine decades. Credited as a persuasive figure in the movement to racially integrate sports, Lacy in 1948 became one of the first black members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. In 1997, he received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing from the BBWAA. Sam Lacy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bea72192-eb5a-4ece-ac52-fd6a13c6ca0b/92+-+Ric+Roberts.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Eric “Ric” Roberts In April 1945, the major leagues announced the name of their new commissioner: Senator A.B. “Happy” Chandler of Kentucky. ''We went right down to see him the morning the story broke,'' said Eric (Ric) Roberts, a long time writer for The Pittsburgh Courier. ''Chandler came out immediately, shaking our hands, and said, 'I'm for the Four Freedoms. If a black boy can make it on Okinawa and Guadalcanal, hell, he can make it in baseball.' And he told us, 'Once I tell you something, brother, I never change. You can count on me.' I always thought that was a pretty stout thing for a Southerner to say.'' As Tom Conmy writes, “Ric Roberts was adept at cartoons and illustrations for all sports, but for baseball, football and boxing especially. Being a respected sports columnist since the 1930’s, he eventually became the sport editor for the Courier, as well. As with many of his contemporaries, he toiled in semi-obscurity for decades, but his work has always deserved a greater audience.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac9f4099-ac77-4c42-95a0-038a27532fa6/92+-+Fay+Young.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Frank A. Young Frank Albert Young (aka “Fay,” for his initials) was a journalist who wrote for many years for The Chicago Defender. Young was widely regarded as the "dean of Negro sportswriters." He helped organize the Negro National League in 1920, and served as statistician until the league disbanded in 1933. He also served as an official for the Illinois Athletic Commission, serving as a timekeeper at prizefights; he was also a former secretary of the Negro American League. Fay Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/606048de-be02-4986-8859-4d30b41c14ac/94+-+OTD+09-29-1879.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Reserve Clause The reserve clause was part of a player contract which stated that the rights to players were retained by the team upon the contract's expiration. Players under these contracts were not free to enter into another contract with another team. Once signed to a contract, players could, at the team's discretion, be reassigned, traded, sold, or released. The only negotiating leverage of most players was to hold out at contract time and to refuse to play unless their conditions were met. Players were bound to negotiate a new contract to play another year for the same team or to ask to be released or traded. They had no freedom to change teams unless they were given an unconditional release. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97fa279a-2868-4a51-a0b3-0b779d2d8e0a/95+-+Integration.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Integration Killed A Lot of Black Businesses As written by Japheth Knopp, “The decline and end of the Negro Leagues may provide insights about the changing realities for urban African-Americans in the years after World War II. Shifting political and economic opportunities, and the limits of those opportunities, have had a profound effect on American society, especially for African-Americans, over the course of the last eight decades. The early stages of integration in American society brought with it new hopes for marginalized minority groups; however, it also posed new challenges. Traditionally black-owned enterprises – among them the Negro Leagues – now faced increased competition for black workers and revenue and had difficulties maintaining sustainable businesses, which resulted in the failure of most medium and large-scale black firms during the mid-twentieth century.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/617b2bde-d28e-47d0-8816-98c07ee7459b/97+-+Military+Mays.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Mays’ Lost Time Willie Mays won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1951, but then immediately missed 120 games in the 1952 season, and all 154 games of the 1953 season due to his military service. When Willie returned for his first season back in 1954, he led the Major Leagues with 10.4 WAR, a .345 batting average, and a .667 slugging percentage, winning the MVP and leading the Giants to a World Series win. He hit 41 home runs that year, and then 51 the following year in 1955. Even a conservative estimate gives him another 60 home runs from those missed games in 1952 and 1953, and somewhere in the neighborhood of an additional 310 hits. That takes his career home run total to 720, instead of 660, giving him the most all time, at the time of his retirement. Only Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 3rd all-time in Home Runs, instead of 6th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ca6bd5a-d0dd-4cd4-9770-6caad5befe17/98+-+1954.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - And Lost Statistics Another 310 hits gives Willie 3,603 for his career, which would have put him 3rd all-time at the time of his retirement, behind only Ty Cobb and Stan Musial. Only Henry Aaron and Pete Rose have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 5th all-time in hits, instead of 13th. Another 160 runs bumps him up to 2,228, which puts him at 3rd all time, instead of 7th, just 17 behind Ty Cobb for 2nd place, and 67 behind Rickey Henderson for 1st. Another 180 Runs Batted In bumps him up to 2,089, which puts him at 4th place all time, instead of 12th, and would make him one of only 6 players with more than 2,000 RBI in his career. Willie is already one of only 4 players in history with more than 6,000 total bases, but adding another 500 for the time he missed in the military moves his career total up to 6,580 and in to second place all time, behind only Henry Aaron's 6,856. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3622681d-e745-4650-8efc-7cf5c1f97247/96+-+Larry+Doby+with+Bill+Veeck.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Only So Much Money To Go Around Black fans (and newspapers, as well) sometimes had a difficult choice to make, once baseball was integrated: do we go see our Black stars playing in the Major Leagues so we can witness them making history in person, or do we continue to financially support the Negro Leagues by attending those games, even if the best players have been plucked from the league? With limited money to spend on entertainment, and limited time, it was a tough choice for many fans and media outlets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7fc0f087-d415-483d-a745-82ddd9ebbfd1/99+-+1940.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1940 Kansas City Monarchs Suffering from an arm injury and generally thought to be done pitching, Satchel Paige joined the Monarchs' B team in 1939. By 1940, he had recovered and was called up to the Monarchs' main squad, where he became their top drawing card. The Monarchs went 38-13-1 in Negro American League play that year, winning the first half championship and the second half championship to become the undisputed champions of the league. The team featured six future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Paige (who was inducted in 1971), Willard “Home Run” Brown (2006), Buck O’Neil (2022), Hilton Smith (2001), Turkey Stearnes (2000), and manager Andy Cooper (2006). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/433a74ec-9712-466d-9ba4-4e6df5bc8340/100+-+1943.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1943-44 Homestead Grays The Homestead Grays won the Negro National League’s first half championship, its second half championship, and the Negro League World Series in both 1943 and 1944, an absolutely dominating run. The team featured five future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Josh Gibson (who was inducted in 1972), Cool Papa Bell (1974), Buck Leonard (1972), Ray Brown (2006), and Jud Wilson (2006). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c40f899-b63e-4ea4-b017-4d75979932c8/101+-+1946.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1946 Newark Eagles The Newark Eagles won the Negro National League’s first half championship, its second half championship, and the Negro League World Series in 1946, finishing the season with a 46-16-2 record in league play. The team featured four future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Larry Doby (who was inducted in 1998), Monte Irvin (1973), Leon Day (1995), manager Biz Mackey (2006), and owner Effa Manley (2006). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37c8c864-126c-4959-af65-e7920fa11e1a/101.5+-+OTD+05-05-1946.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Leon Day “People don't know what a great pitcher Leon Day was. He was as good or better than Bob Gibson. He was a better fielder, a better hitter, could run like a deer. When he pitched against Satchel, Satchel didn't have an edge. You thought Don Newcombe could pitch. You should have seen Day! One of the best complete athletes I've ever seen.” – Monte Irvin When rumors swirled about the Pittsburgh Pirates possibly giving tryouts to Black ballplayers, the Pittsburgh Courier speculated who might be given such tryouts: “Leon Day is the type of hurler the Pirates need… He has all the qualities necessary for the majors. We believe he could do much better than the Pirates’ leading hurler, Rip Sewell.” Day was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995. Leon Day’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/067af4f0-87d4-41bd-9f0d-195ace32be64/102+-+1947.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1947 New York Cubans The New York Cubans won the Negro League World Series in 1947, defeating the Cleveland Buckeyes (who had just won in 1945) in six games, winning four while having one game called a tie due to rain after six innings. The Cubans finished the season with a 43-18-1 record in Negro National League play. The team featured Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso (who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022), Pat Scantlebury, Ray Noble, player-manager José María Fernández, and Lino Donoso (who was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a35672ad-8a8c-4b84-8fd1-db73bbf95688/103+-+Ted+Strong.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ted Strong Theodore Reginald Strong, Jr. played in the Negro Leagues from 1936 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1951 for the Chicago American Giants, Indianapolis Athletics, Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis ABCs, and Indianapolis Clowns. Strong's career was interrupted while he served in World War II from 1943 to 1945 as a Seabee in the Marshall Islands. In his nine seasons playing in the Negro Leagues, he was named an All-Star seven times, and his teams won the pennant five times. Strong won two batting titles, and won the Negro American League’s Triple Crown in 1942, leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, and batting average. Strong also played basketball for the original Harlem Globetrotters from 1935 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1949, during the baseball off-season. In 1942, he also briefly played for the Chicago Studebaker Flyers of the National Basketball League, along with other Globetrotters, as one of the first Black players in the league. Ted Strong’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdac5af0-dc30-45c7-84a7-9310c98c37ac/104+-+Oscar.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Oscar Charleston “Charlie was a tremendous left-handed hitter who could also bunt, steal a hundred bases a year, and cover center field as well as anyone before him or since… he was like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Tris Speaker rolled into one.” – Buck O’Neil A powerful hitter who could hit to all fields and bunt, Oscar Charleston was also extremely fast on the base paths and in center field. He played a very shallow center, almost behind second base, and his great speed and instincts helped him outrun many batted balls. He had a powerful arm. Coupled with this great natural ability was an aggressive demeanor and will to win. From the mid-1920s on, he was a player-manager for several clubs. In 1933, he joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords and would manage the 1935 Crawfords club that many consider the finest Negro League team of all time. He played nine seasons of winter ball in Cuba, amassing statistics quite similar to his big league achievements. Oscar Charleston’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4df4056b-b776-4b4a-9b5d-bab20c2808af/105+-+Quincy.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Quincy Trouppe Quincy Trouppe was an amateur boxing champion, as well as a catcher in the Negro leagues from 1930 to 1949. He also played in the Mexican League and the Canadian Provincial League. His teams included St. Louis Stars, Detroit Wolves, Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, Indianapolis ABC's/St. Louis Stars, New York Cubans, and Bismarcks (aka Bismarck Churchills). He played in Latin America for 14 winter seasons and barnstormed with Black all-star teams, playing against white major league players. He was a player-manager for the Cleveland Buckeyes, whom he led to Negro American League titles in 1945 and 1947 (he is pictured here, on the left, with Sam Jethroe). Trouppe managed the Santurce Crabbers in the Puerto Rican winter league, winning the 1947-48 season championship. Quincy Trouppe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/066cf4cb-ee1b-45d3-831d-b2c47070222d/106+-+1935.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords The Pittsburgh Crawfords won the Negro National League’s first half championship, and the NNL pennant in 1935, finishing the season with a 44-20-3 record in league play. The team featured four future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Josh Gibson (who was inducted in 1972), player-manager Oscar Charleston (1976), Cool Papa Bell (1974), Judy Johnson (1975) and owner Effa Manley (2006). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/becc202c-c15e-430f-aae0-32c94484dc43/107+-+1924.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1924 Kansas City Monarchs The Kansas City Monarchs won the Negro National League pennant in 1924, finishing the season with a 57-22 record in league play. They went on to defeat the Hilldale Club five games to four in the best-of-nine 1924 Colored World Series. The team featured three future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including player-manager José Méndez (who was inducted in 2006, and was one of the first group of players elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939), Wilber “Bullet” Rogan (1998), and owner J. L. Wilkinson (2006). It also featured 1923 Triple Crown winner Oscar “Heavy” Johnson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75a260f0-407e-4471-afa5-90e4d6282490/108+-+1930.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 1930 St. Louis Stars The St. Louis Stars won the Negro National League’s first half championship, and the NNL pennant in 1930, finishing the season with a 65-22-1 record in league play. The team featured three future members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Cool Papa Bell (who was inducted in 1974), Mule Suttles (2006), and Willie Wells (1997). Famed two-way player Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, who was so named because of his ability to pitch one game of a doubleheader, and catch the other, was also one of the team’s stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28962a87-6be7-470b-bc2b-49ffbe29005e/109+-+Effa+Manley.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Effa Manley Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American league on July 5, 1947, just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in the Major Leagues. Bill Veeck actually paid Effa Manley of the Newark Eagles, who was the Negro League team owner who had previously employed his new player. Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles with her husband, Abe. In 2006 the Special Committee on Negro Leagues elected her to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for her work as a baseball executive. As of 2025, she was the only woman inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/265d6a92-4e82-4954-a6d6-a28a4b88773a/110+-+Hall+of+Fame.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Hall of Fame Effa Manley’s career is a testament to her commitment to baseball and civil rights – and to her vision and dedication to creating respect for Negro Leagues baseball. While attending a World Series game in 1932, Effa met her future husband, Abe Manley. Abe had already established his reputation in the local community as a baseball man. Together, they forged a partnership that resulted in the rapid rise to fame of the Newark Eagles, a team they owned from 1935 (moved from Brooklyn to Newark in 1936) until she sold the club to a group of investors in 1948. As co-owner of the Eagles, Effa handled contracts and travel schedules for the Eagles, and she quickly gained recognition across the league for her ability to promote the team. Fellow owner Cumberland Posey remarked that the league could learn something from her keen sense of promotion. She also displayed personal care for the team’s players on and off the field, assisting them with jobs, serving as godparents to some, and purchasing a $15,000 bus for the team’s travel – always working to get players the best available accommodations on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c2f3a3d-064c-4a59-ada9-ef06b94cd4d8/111+-+Pawol.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jen Pawol Jen Pawol became the first female Major League Baseball umpire when she debuted on August 9, 2025. She is the seventh woman to work as a professional baseball umpire. Pawol appeared as the first base umpire in the first game of a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, joining crew chief Chris Guccione at second base, Chad Whitson at third and David Rackley at home plate. She was third base umpire in the second game of the doubleheader. She continued as an umpire on Sunday, August 10, becoming the first female home plate umpire in a regular-season MLB game, in another game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ed5b19d-f663-443a-a5ae-d12720a49c30/112+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - One Of Only A Few Still Standing League Park remains significant today because it is one of only five Negro League home ballparks still in existence. It’s a powerful thing to be able to go to the actual places where these players stood, and to walk in their footsteps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0984ec35-a77e-47f3-a81b-9f1633ada5de/113+-+Where+They+Stood.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Where They Stood The list of players to walk down this stairwell is the Who’s Who of baseball history: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Bob Feller, Dizzy Dean, Jimmie Foxx. But also Negro League players like Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, Ray Brown, and Jud Wilson. Even Willie Mays walked down this stairwell when he played a game at League Park on July 18, 1948. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a88447ac-de57-426d-8aa5-0130ed42d516/114+-+League+Park.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f454f100-460f-4ed5-9c75-0c06e655d61e/115+-+Memphis.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Martin Stadium White teams usually had their own stadiums, and often owned their own stadiums. But that wasn't a very common thing for Negro League teams. Martin Stadium, formerly known as Lewis Park, was home of the Memphis Red Sox. During its era, the stadium was one of the few African-American-owned and operated ball parks in the country. Robert S. Lewis, Sr., one of the pioneers in Negro baseball, built the park at the corner of Iowa Avenue and Lauderdale Street. Lewis sold the park and the team to W. S. Martin and his brothers in 1927. Before it was demolished in 1961, Martin Stadium also hosted African-American community events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdbf9416-d6d1-49fe-bef9-d1c272915d7e/116+-+Greenlee+Field.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Greenlee Field William "Gus" Greenlee, a benevolent community figure with a criminal background, built Greenlee Field on Bedford Avenue as the home of the Pittsburgh Crawfords baseball team. Greenlee, who was extensively involved in the city's numbers rackets, saw the team as an opportunity to legitimize his wealth through baseball ownership. The presence of field lights above the stands indicates this photo was taken after September 1932. Gus Greenlee’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cc27b93-0a42-4911-8d88-063a0a7c3e6a/117+-+OTD+07-08-1932.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Greatness at Greenlee Of the many incredible games which took place at Greenlee Field over the years, my time machine game for that site may be this July 8, 1932 no-hitter by Satchel Paige. July 8, 1932: Satchel Paige Throws First Recorded No-Hitter Of His Professional Career article by Aaron Tallent Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d00803e-1d1b-4118-a3be-f7096083dc72/118+-+OTD+08-02-1930.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry’s Time Machine Game Pretty hard to argue against wanting to see this one in person. Smoky and the Bandit: The Greatest Pitching Duel in Blackball History article written by … Larry Lester Smoky Joe Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b084735-f101-4506-97c7-0957c0a19f7a/119+-+Quincy+Trouppe.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Quincy Trouppe Quincy played with the Satchel Paige All-Stars in 1946, and had some incredible stories about that tour. But he also kept everything, and was a documentarian, of sorts, taking lots of photos and even videos, keeping scrapbooks and scorecards and all kinds of artifacts from his life and career. Trouppe was a 39-year-old “rookie” when he caught six games for the 1952 Cleveland Indians. On May 3, 1952, he and "Toothpick Sam" Jones formed the first Black battery in American League history. It is fitting that his autobiography is titled “20 Years Too Soon.” You can buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/488d0347-7839-42e4-99fd-67bf373f5671/120+-+Trouppe.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out This photo shows the All-Stars who accompanied Satchel Paige (top row, in hat) during his 1946 barnstorming tour. Quincy Trouppe is on the far right, wearing his camera around his neck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93a37d69-3565-4381-916f-5b2cc8386825/121+-+Tate.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Cleveland Tate Stars The Cleveland Tate Stars were the city's representative in Rube Foster's Negro National Baseball League in 1922 and part of 1923, with offices located at 3734 Central Ave. Owned by businessman George Tate, the team was plagued by financial problems during its short existence despite reporting decent attendance figures at their home games, and owning their own park, Tate Field. Negro National League founder Rube Foster once called the park, located E. 55th St. between Woodland and Central avenues, "one of the finest baseball stadiums owned by our people in the country." The Tate Stars played as an independent (non-affiliated) team from 1919 through 1921, and joined the Negro National League in 1922. In their only season as a full-fledged league member, they finished last out of eight clubs with a reported 17–29 record in league play. They returned to independent ball in 1923, loosely associated with the Eastern Colored League, but in August rejoined the NNL as an associate team, finishing with a record of 13–16–1 against all opponents. Candy Jim Taylor was the team’s player-manager. “Candy” Jim Taylor’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4536febc-c356-4cb4-aa9f-1a72f4ff3c9f/122+-+Sam+Jethroe.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Sam Jethroe Dr. Layton Revel published this great piece on Sam Jethroe in 2020, but Stephanie would still like to do more research on “The Jet.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f609f77-5ece-4aae-89f3-b1836e20b91a/123+-+Ledger.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Financial Records Thanks to historian and collector Jay Caldwell, this incredible piece now belongs to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. It is the original financial ledger of the Negro National League which was kept by Rube Foster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38199e2f-7317-4ca2-bfa8-a9108deb49bb/124+-+Bolden.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ed Bolden Ed Bolden's first occupation in baseball was as a 28-year-old volunteer scorekeeper for a team out of Darby, Pennsylvania, under 19 year-old manager, Austin Thompson. Thompson went on to organize the Hilldale Club out of Darby in the spring of 1910. After Thompson established the Hilldale Club, Bolden took over as owner and head of the team. Bolden transformed the team's status from amateur to professional. This aided the team in taking off financially, as the team attracted high levels of talent and scheduled games against skilled opponents. When it came to recruiting players, he would either go out and look for specific types or levels of talent, or place advertisements in local newspapers regarding open tryouts. Ed Bolden’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46069fd9-2933-4a2c-b520-f096c5d26984/125+-+Ed+Bolden%E2%80%99s+Hilldale+Daises+in+1912.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out Ed Bolden’s Hilldale Daises in 1912 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a00b8ed-5867-4133-b17b-636f33fcd8b5/126+-+Memphis+Red+Sox+owners.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Martin Brothers The Memphis Red Sox played at Martin Stadium, which was owned by the Martin brothers, who owned the team. That made the Memphis Red Sox one of the only Negro League teams to own their own stadium. A stadium owned by Blacks, that promoted Black athletics, was a unique cultural fixture in any American city - much less a major city in the segregated south. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ebb1df56-99e7-4854-a6d3-7e37372e008d/127+-+Larry.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Black Baseball’s National Showcase Larry has written many books, but Stephanie thinks his book about the history of the East-West All-Star Game is a must-read for any fan. When the best Black ballplayers assembled for the annual East-West All-Star games, the concentration of talent on the field was second to none. This scholarly work brings together the painstakingly assembled history of those games, reconstructed play-by-plays, and accurate statistical records. Buy a copy of this amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/359687e0-0220-4fb6-8f82-741a99648d65/128+-+Tygiel.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Baseball’s Great Experiment In this gripping account of one of the most important steps in the history of American desegregation, Jules Tygiel tells the story of Jackie Robinson's crossing of baseball's color line. Examining the social and historical context of Robinson's introduction into white organized baseball, both on and off the field, Tygiel also tells the often neglected stories of other African-American players - such as Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron - who helped transform our national pastime into an integrated game. Drawing on dozens of interviews with players and front office executives, contemporary newspaper accounts, and personal papers, Tygiel provides the most telling and insightful account of Jackie Robinson's influence on American baseball and society. Buy a copy of it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/636b3d13-e243-4d52-98e1-77f5238323ef/129+-+Only+The+Ball+Was+White.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Only The Ball Was White When Only the Ball Was White was first published in 1970, Satchel Paige had not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame and there was a general ignorance even among sports enthusiasts of the rich tradition of the Negro Leagues. Few knew that during the 1930s and '40s outstanding black teams were playing regularly in Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn's Ebbets Field. And names like Cool Papa Bell, Rube Foster, Judy Johnson, Biz Mackey, and Buck Leonard would bring no flash of smiling recognition to the fan's face, even though many of these men could easily have played alongside Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Hack Wilson, Lou Gehrig--and shattered their records in the process. In Only the Ball Was White, Robert Peterson tells the forgotten story of these excluded ballplayers, and gives them the recognition they were so long denied. Buy a copy of it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0c68414-2ec3-4e98-b838-058be8099b10/130+-+Lester.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Larry’s Research It has taken decades, but Larry’s painstaking research has allowed his player encyclopedia to be formatted the same way as The Baseball Encyclopedia, the baseball reference book first published by Macmillan in 1969. Larry tracked down players’ heights, weights, birthdays, home towns, whether they batted left-handed or right-handed (BL or BR), and whether they threw left-handed or right-handed (TL or TR). Here is a sample page with a couple pretty great players on it. You can buy a copy of the updated edition HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a40f0ccc-0dc1-48f4-8f12-f55c3407f128/131+-+Powell.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Malvin Powell Malvin “Putt” Powell, was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues between 1929 and 1937. Powell spent his entire career with the Chicago American Giants, and was selected to play in the 1934 East–West All-Star Game. It was only after hearing from Powell’s daughter, Malva, that Larry learned Putt’s real first name was M-A-L-V-I-N, and not M-E-L-V-I-N, as had been mistakenly written in every newspaper of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3c6a0bf-a630-48e9-b60f-e864126c7a5b/132+-+Davis.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ross Davis Ross “Satch” Davis was born on July 28, 1918 in Greenville, Mississippi. He pitched in the Negro Leagues from 1940-1947 with the Baltimore Elite Giants, Cleveland Buckeyes, New York Black Yankees, and Boston Blues. He threw a no-hitter with Roy Campanella as his catcher as a member of the Baltimore Elite Giants against a potent Newark Eagles lineup that included Hall of Famers Biz Mackey, Monte Irvin, and Willie Wells on “Decoration Day” in 1940, which threw Larry for a loop while trying to corroborate that story. What is now known as “Memorial Day” was called “Decoration Day” from 1868 through 1967. Davis pitched and won against Satchel Paige in 1943 and against Dan Bankhead in 1947. He played with Jackie Robinson's All-Stars in 1946, and pitched in the 1947 Negro World Series as a member of the Cleveland Buckeyes. His career was interrupted due to his military service in World War II from November 1943 through the end of the 1945 season. During his Army service, he was awarded a Bronze Star. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eaf5c585-4a37-4934-a8c8-7f445dab6782/133+-+American+Giants.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Flying The Negro League Championship Flags Larry’s current mission is trying to get each of the current Major League teams to fly the flags of the Negro League teams from their cities who previously won Negro League championships. The Chicago White Sox are the only team to have honored a Negro League team in such a way, as of 2025. Pictured here is the Chicago American Giants flag flying at whatever the White Sox are calling their stadium this month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4de63f0d-cd79-43a4-8243-587cc296097b/134+-+Pittsburgh.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - A Legacy Lost The Pirates gutted what was known as Legacy Square of its seven statues of Negro leagues ballplayers along with the associated interpretive panels which were on display at PNC Park. As Opening Day 2015 approached, the Pirates were set to destroy the statues after having already destroyed the large Legacy Square baseball bats. Purely by coincidence, Sean Gibson (great-grandson of Josh Gibson and Executive Director of the non-profit Josh Gibson Foundation) was offered a chance to rescue the statue of his great-grandfather. With insufficient storage or transportation, Gibson initially balked at the offer, instead suggesting the statues be redistributed throughout PNC Park, but once he realized the urgency of the situation, Gibson informed the Pirates that he would take the Josh Gibson statue – as well as the six others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/733de494-5bba-48b4-9cc2-4cc3ed45ab54/135+-+fans.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Integrated Crowds Depending on the stadium, sometimes white fans were allowed to intermingle with Black fans. Photo by Frank Russell Hightower, courtesy of Craig Britcher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dad8e9b-8311-4386-8d74-638b25763cc1/136+-+OTD+08-07-1950.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Segregated Crowds In some cases, such as at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, there was a dedicated “Black” section during Birmingham Barons games, while the rest of the stadium was open to white fans. So when the Birmingham Black Barons would play at Rickwood, the Black fans flipped the script, forcing white fans to sit in the uncovered seats beyond the right field fence, the same way they were made to during white games. If anyone tried to buck the system, there was trouble. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08bbf942-af14-4c45-a106-5caebd1e9711/137+-+Scorebook+from+the+Hilldale+Club+dated+back+to+Sept.+18%2C+1926.+About+72_+of+statistics+from+the+Negro+Leagues+has+been+recovered.+Photo+courtesy+of+Gary+Ashwill.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Scorebooks Scorebook from the Hilldale Club of the Eastern Colored League, dated September 18, 1926. Photo courtesy of Gary Ashwill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c769aa1-7789-47e8-8037-53a83b04a025/138+-+Scorebook+from+a+game+between+the+Baltimore+Elite+Giants+and+New+York+Cubans+in+Baltimore+on+June+12%2C+1942.+The+New+York+Cubans+won+the+Negro+Leagues+World+Series+in+1947.+Photo+courtesy+of+Gary+Ashwill.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - More Scorebooks Scorebook from a game between the Baltimore Elite Giants and New York Cubans in Baltimore on June 12, 1942. Photo courtesy of Gary Ashwill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ef2bbde-96e1-4800-81f1-b1da24f81db8/139+-+Page+Fence+Giants.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Train Travel John W. Jackson Jr., better known as “Bud Fowler,” made his pro debut in 1878 in the International Association. He is believed to be the first Black player to play pro baseball. Fowler played for – among other teams – the Page Fence Giants, a top pre-Negro Leagues team of the 19th century that also featured future Hall of Famer Sol White. The team traveled by train in a car that advertised the team. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1afac3ac-8c68-4765-95a3-890688f37a94/140+-+Larry+Lester.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Follow Larry Online Website Email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37fc6612-6726-4560-b0c3-4b021ec55484/141+-+Stephanie+Liscio.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Follow Stephanie Online Twitter Hiram College Email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36c62fef-e40b-471e-a5ee-4699d5d537ad/142+-+QR+Codes.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out If you think this episode has been worth even one dollar, please use one of the QR codes you see here to make a donation in any amount on your preferred payment app. If you would rather make a donation another way, you can email me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d6f544a-c160-4b5e-8ae9-41dba8656800/143+-+NLBM.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out The Field of Legends at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06fa90a7-6dc8-46f6-881f-cdffbe21c98d/144+-+Mom.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - NLBM With My Mom Ever since my first trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, my mom has wanted to visit it for herself. I took her there in July of 2025 so we could finally cross it off her list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3254de8-40c5-48c9-b5c8-2db86476553b/145+-+Larry+and+Stephanie.JPG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - A Live Event Larry and Stephanie were a joy to have on the show, and made it so easy for me to record this conversation in front of a live audience, something I had never done before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2bee140-98c0-4d34-b05b-68f79b2a2e1a/146+-+Bill+Veeck+HOF+Plaque.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Bill Veeck Not everyone may have agreed with every decision Bill Veeck made, or the way he went about doing things sometimes, but you can’t argue with results. This plaque proves his lasting impact on the game, and on society. Bill Veeck was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Bill’s son, Mike, who has been a lifelong baseball showman in his own right, was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5ee43cc-d998-4d3e-bed1-819092b9757c/147+-+Wendell+Smith.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Wendell Smith In one sense, the story of baseball’s integration can be traced to a diamond in Detroit in 1932. Wendell Smith was an 18-year-old pitcher in a playoff game. He threw a shutout masterpiece. His team won 1-0, in extra innings. Afterward, Wish Egan, a scout for the Detroit Tigers, signed the losing pitcher, who was white, but said he couldn’t sign Smith because he was black. “Wendell went home and cried,” author Michael Marsh said. “That helped spur his activism.” From that moment, Smith devoted himself to challenging baseball’s racial barriers. While working for the Pittsburgh Courier in 1942, Smith wrote, “Major League Baseball is perpetuating the very things thousands of Americans are overseas fighting to end, namely, racial discrimination and segregation.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a081deb-5d85-4781-a38f-601bed8bb81c/148+-+42.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - 42 Andre Holland plays sportswriter Wendell Smith in the movie 42. “The story is that Branch Rickey hand-picks Wendell Smith to sort of follow Jackie Robinson around and teach him about the politics of the time and keep him out of trouble. And in exchange for that, he gets unprecedented access to the team,” Holland said. Photo courtesy of Birmingham News/Bob Carlton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cae1e0be-71be-4358-aec3-3d663a5a559e/149+-+Turkey+Stearnes.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Turkey Stearnes Having been to the Hall of Fame after becoming a much more informed student of the Negro Leagues and its players, it’s easier to have an image come to mind when certain names are mentioned. That was the experience my mom had when Turkey Stearnes’ name was brought up during this discussion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd09f202-bfb8-4a7f-89a7-0eff5085ccfa/150+-+Sam+Allen.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Sam Allen Sam Allen is a former Negro League player who spent time as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, the Raleigh Tigers, and the Memphis Red Sox. He led the Negro American League in runs scored in 1957, helping the Monarchs win the championship. Sam was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df5ff6ee-3919-49e5-8ffd-d71c57a76672/152+-+OTD+04-02-1931.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jackie Mitchell If you’re anything like my mom, the more you learn about Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the more you’ll despise him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b61595e-df9e-4656-aac6-51a774264751/153+-+Perry+Barber.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Female Umpires Perry Barber has been a professional and amateur baseball umpire since 1981. Perry was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. During our discussion, Perry brings up women like Eleanor Engle and Maureen Galvin, who were kept from participating in professional baseball games by Ford C. Frick, following the tradition of Kenesaw Mountain Landis of not allowing women in baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba6aa68d-b804-4e6b-a7ae-254bfe82e6bc/154+-+Phil+Dixon.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Phil Dixon Phil S. Dixon (pictured here, left) is an author, public speaker, researcher and historian, focusing on the Negro Leagues for the past 40 years. Phil was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/efa33266-58ed-47b3-9c1c-fc55e9bcf664/151+-+Jay+Valentine.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jay Valentine Jay Valentine patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. Jay was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8e6117f-bde7-4d65-9f01-22bcbe74808a/155+-+Ted+Williams.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ted Williams As Ted Williams ascended to baseball superstardom, he made a conscious effort to distance himself from his Mexican roots. At the time, racial discrimination was rampant in the United States, and many Mexican Americans faced prejudice both socially and professionally. Williams, keenly aware of how this could impact his career, chose to identify solely as an Anglo-American. Despite his public silence, hints of his background occasionally surfaced. His mother’s maiden name, Venzor, was well known, and some journalists speculated about his heritage. But Williams rarely addressed the subject, instead focusing on his pursuit of baseball excellence. He wanted to be known for his bat, not his background. In March of 1946, Williams was offered $500,000 to quit the Red Sox and play for Havana in the Mexican League. The Splendid Splinter refused the offer, but a handful of other white Major Leaguers and plenty of Negro League players would accept the invitation to play in the Mexican League. By 1940, there were 63 African-American players in Mexico. Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a141eba-da6e-46ab-a6fe-9f6b43d23849/156+-+Willie.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Best of The Best Just some of the awards former Negro League players won in the white Major Leagues within the first 15 years or so after integration: - Jackie Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947, and NL MVP in 1949 - Roy Campanella won NL MVP in 1951, 1953, and 1955 - Don Newcombe won Rookie of the Year in 1949, and won the NL MVP and Cy Young Awards in 1956 - Sam Jethroe won Rookie of the Year in 1950 - Willie Mays won Rookie of the Year in 1951 and won the NL MVP in 1954 and 1965 - Joe Black won Rookie of the Year in 1952 - Junior Gilliam won Rookie of the Year in 1953 - Henry Aaron won NL MVP in 1957 - Ernie Banks won NL MVP in 1958 and 1959 - Elston Howard won AL MVP in 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6148b702-d60e-443c-9561-a7c59324185c/157+-+Frank+Robinson.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Frank Robinson The list above are just the players who won major awards who had previously played in the Negro Leagues, but the list goes on and on, especially when you consider guys like Frank Robinson, who never actually played in the Negro Leagues, but were Black ballplayers. Robinson won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1956, the NL MVP in 1961, and the AL MVP in 1966, also winning the Triple Crown that year. Not to mention the dozens of All-Star Game appearances by players who had previously played in the Negro Leagues, or Black players who came up shortly after integration. Frank Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1444ed91-770d-463c-8936-31051983f373/158+-+Lou+Brock.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Lou Brock Trade In 1946, the Cubs finished 11 games over .500. The Cubs were 69-85 in 1947, and they didn’t finish above .500 again until 1963. Buck O’Neil was a Cubs coach in 1964 when the team had five Black players. One of them was a young outfielder named Lou Brock. When O’Neil heard that general manager John Holland was planning to trade Brock, he advised him not to. The Cubs traded Brock to Saint Louis that summer for a sore-armed white pitcher, Ernie Broglio. It’s regarded as one of the worst trades in baseball history. Brock helped the Cardinals win the World Series that year, and went on to set many base-stealing records and total more than 3,000 hits on his way to the Hall of Fame. Lou Brock’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8223956e-7816-4719-a4ef-69d6c4d6418c/159+-+Ernie+Banks.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Ernie Banks Perhaps no player defines his team as thoroughly as “Mr. Cub,” who played with joy and immense talent for the Cubs from 1953 through 1971. A native of Dallas, Texas, 19-year-old Ernie Banks debuted for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues in 1950. After two years in the Army, Banks returned to the Monarchs, who sold his contract to the Chicago Cubs in 1953. His debut on September 17 marked the first appearance of an African-American player for the franchise. Banks started every game at shortstop for the Cubs in 1954, finishing second in the NL Rookie of The Year voting and 16th in NL MVP voting. Banks would go on to win Most Valuable Player Awards in 1958 and 1959. Ernie Banks’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20152361-7ae6-405e-a6c8-22d73a75b00f/160+-+White+Sox.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out The White Sox need to bring this back to their outfield wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7b4872b-3bf9-4295-a83d-10c7f814bbb0/161+-+Joe+Jackson.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - League Park This photo was taken May 15, 1913 at Cleveland’s League Park and shows Harry Wolter of the Yankees being thrown out at second base. Shoeless Joe Jackson is looking in on the play from right field, in front of the huge wall which follows Lexington Avenue, where Joe’s glove became known as “the place where triples go to die.” Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e0f2c450-48d7-4f3c-b960-3bc53b73f07e/162+-+460+feet.JPEG Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Make it stand out 460 feet is just so, so much farther away than you can even imagine until you’re standing there looking at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3548e2f4-ff61-4926-9abb-095deb6cab3e/163+-+Uhle.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - George Uhle Cleveland pitcher George Uhle said the hardest ball he ever saw hit was when Babe Ruth drove a ball to straightaway center field at League Park, hitting the top of the scoreboard, 460 feet from home plate. Uhle said when the ball hit the scoreboard, it was still rising, but Ruth only got a double because it didn’t make it over to actually clear the fence. Babe Ruth credited Uhle with being the toughest pitcher he ever faced, although Ruth batted .336 against him. Out of Ruth’s 714 career home runs, he got only four off Uhle. Uhle had the second most strikeouts of Ruth by a pitcher, with 25. Only Lefty Grove had more, with 27. This photo of George Uhle during the 1926 season was taken by Cleveland photographer Louis Van Oeyen, who is regarded as among the best photographers in baseball history. George Uhle’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of RMY Auctions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7ff52e1-6a40-4d57-8c15-1214a31e8ade/164+-+Having+Fun.jpeg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - A Fun Event The rapport Larry and Stephanie had made my job so easy that night. All I had to do was ask the questions and let them take it away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79e4ff54-788a-4ae1-95dc-c459d22ba995/165+-+SABR+54.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - SABR 54 in Cleveland SABR will be heading to Cleveland, Ohio for their 54th annual convention from Wednesday, July 29th through Sunday, August 2nd, 2026. Registration information for SABR 54 and their special hotel room block at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown hotel will be available at SABR.org/convention in early 2026. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/171b9f1a-819c-4cd0-a28a-537edb2145d5/167+-+OTD+07-17-1903.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - On This Date posts You’ve seen a bunch of them throughout these liner notes, so you have an idea of the type of content you can expect every day if you aren’t already following My Baseball History on social media. If you’d like to follow the show on your favorite platform, click one of the following links and it will take you right to our profile. Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c219c75-04c9-49c6-97bb-856a8280c35b/166+-+email.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd246f60-9b65-4075-95f0-5de2aeacf448/168+-+Giveaway.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of The Negro Leagues Book by Larry Lester and Dick Clark? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a715d9c8-527d-4d71-bb67-80a9697f62ef/169+-+OTD+10-01-1932.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Babe Ruth in 1932 During the episode, we mentioned the idea that Babe Ruth was passed over for Major League managerial jobs because he was secretly being blackballed at the direction of Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis. As early as 1932, Babe’s name was linked to a job with the Red Sox, the team with which he began his career. At that point, Babe was still a significant player on the Yankees, and he told people he wasn’t quite ready to manage a club. In fact, it was during the 1932 World Series against the Cubs when the Babe called his shot at Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e7e7d1f-186d-4ff2-b973-d2d67345fa41/170+-+Bucky+Harris.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Bucky Harris In October 1923, Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith was looking to make a change with his team’s leadership. He turned to his young second baseman, Bucky Harris. In 1924, Griffith’s gamble paid off immediately. At age 27, Harris promptly managed his team to its first pennant and World Series title,and Harris would be forever known afterward as “The Boy Wonder.” Here, Bucky Harris (right), then a player-manager for Detroit, speaks with Roger Bresnahan (left), who was a coach for the Tigers at the time. In September of 1933, Harris resigned as manager of the Detroit Tigers, and, although Babe Ruth was still under contract as a player for the Yankees, speculation immediately ran rampant that he would become the player-manager of the Tigers for the following season. Bucky Harris’ SABR Biography Roger Bresnahan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0068109b-8b81-41fe-9ea4-f8d545faaa0a/171+-+Mickey.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Mickey Cochrane Gordon “Mickey” Cochrane was a fiery catcher, nicknamed “Black Mike” for his fierce competitive spirit, who helped lead his teams to five pennants and three World Series crowns during his 13 big league seasons. He spent his first nine years with the Connie Mack’s A’s, capturing American League flags from 1929 to 1931, with Fall Classic titles coming in 1929 and ’30. Sold for $100,000 to the Detroit Tigers after the 1933 campaign to become player-manager, he promptly lead his new team to the top of the Junior Circuit his first two seasons and a World Championship in 1935. There are a number of theories as to why the Tigers decided to hire Mickey Cochrane as their manager instead of Babe Ruth. Had it not been for a previously scheduled barnstorming trip to Hawaii that Babe refused to postpone, he may have become Detroit’s player-manager. But while Babe was away, a handful of people got into Frank Navin’s ear and convinced him that hiring Babe was a bad idea. Mickey Cochrane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0134bbc3-da84-4670-bcfb-9927be8ffb79/172+-+Julia.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Julia Ruth Stevens Years later, Babe’s daughter, Julia, noted that Babe was known to be friends with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, an African-American actor and dancer who was later an honorary pallbearer at the Babe’s funeral. Julia Ruth Stevens said her father absolutely would have wanted black players on his team, and that that was something most white owners would have been frightened by at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08e4fff2-ff03-4fe2-913c-2e6b93bb699e/173+-+Yawkey.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Tom Yawkey It’s interesting that the first managerial job Babe was legitimately linked to was that of the Red Sox in 1932. He longed to manage the Yankees, but was passed over when the club hired Joe McCarthy as their manager in 1931. Had the Red Sox made him their manager the following season, the course of history and the timeline of baseball’s integration may have changed. But it’s also very reasonable to assume that Boston’s owner beginning in 1933, Tom Yawkey, never would have allowed Babe to bring in Black ballplayers. Tom Yawkey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c3b98ef-d9a3-4a08-9cdd-01e4db652b80/174+-+Fenway+Park.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Boston It has long been known that Boston is not exactly a racially progressive city. In fact, it wasn’t until September 8, 1942 when the first exhibition game between two Negro League teams was finally played within the city limits of Boston. Unlike many metropolitan areas in the East and South, Boston did not have a Black team represent the city. But not only that, the community even refused to embrace the concept of hosting Negro League games played between teams from other cities. It wasn’t until that exhibition game in 1942 which was played between the Philadelphia Stars and the Baltimore Elite Giants at Fenway Park when that changed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7985482d-c1cc-4711-990c-8a7ce0502250/175+-+Paige.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Satchel Paige Three weeks after that game at Fenway, another significant Negro League game occurred. On September 29, 1942, at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Satchel Paige arrived to save the day for the Kansas City Monarchs during the 1942 Negro League World Series. Satch was late to the game after he was detained by a speeding ticket, but when he finally showed up, he fired 5+ innings of no-hit relief, leading Kansas City to a 9-5 win, and a World Series victory, sweeping the mighty Homestead Grays. After Paige’s dominating performance, an article by Barney Freeman of the Associated Press suggested that Satchel might be pitching in the white major leagues the next year. “Since Judge Landis announced last summer that there was no unwritten law to bar Negro players from the major leagues, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians have indicated that they will give Negroes a tryout next season. The management of other major league teams, including those of the Red Sox and Braves, have not yet indicated what their Intentions are. Paige, who has been a star for longer than most men can remember, is probably nearing his 40s, but maybe life is only beginning for the hurler.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ffeb357-ded9-486c-92ba-a4f541abca8e/176+-+Jackie.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Jackie Robinson Landis was lying, but apparently, Barney Freeman, mistakenly, took him at his word. It wouldn’t be until 1945 that the first real step toward breaking the color barrier was taken when Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract within the Dodgers organization. At the Major League Baseball Owners’ Meeting on August 27, 1946, a committee formed to study integration, which included Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, delivered its secretive report defending the covert color barrier which existed in professional baseball. This was still a little more than 6 months before Jackie Robinson would play his first Major League game, though he had already played roughly 100 games for the Montreal Royals in preparation for his call up to the big leagues. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/629b6675-861b-4e48-9a85-9f93a68c15b8/177+-+Yankee.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Profits Over Everything The absurd reasons given at that owners’ meeting as to why Black players shouldn’t be allowed to play in the white Major Leagues included an absence of skills due to inferior training, a lack of fundamentals, and the need to respect existing Negro League contracts. Like we mentioned in the panel discussion earlier in this episode, another lesser known motivation may have been profit, which was revealed later in the report: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0f9cd78-f6ef-4925-9d31-173f46c3d8f0/178+-+Comiskey.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Follow The Money “The Negro leagues rent their parks in many cities from clubs in Organized Baseball (and) Club owners in the major leagues are reluctant to give up revenues amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.” The fear that white fans would be driven away if Black players attracted more minorities to the ballpark was another underlying reason for owners wanting to keep the longstanding tradition of segregation intact. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff9f6aff-95eb-4511-abae-e486cc3f4894/179+-+Pumpsie.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Pumpsie Green With Yawkey steering the ship, it’s no surprise the Red Sox became the last Major League club to integrate, despite the wealth of talent available. The Red Sox purchased the contract of Elijah “Pumpsie” Green during the 1955 season, but Green remained with the Stockton Ports to finish the year in the California League, despite the team not being affiliated with Boston. Green played the 1956 season with the Albany Senators, who actually were a Red Sox affiliate. He spent the 1957 season with the Oklahoma City Indians and San Francisco Seals, and then played the 1958 season with the Minneapolis Millers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f29d2f22-d0cd-4873-a06f-5d74b0855678/180+-+OTD+07-21-1959.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - The Last To Integrate In 1959, Green was invited to the Red Sox major league spring training camp. Despite playing well and receiving lots of media attention, Green was sent back to Minneapolis. However, after hitting .320 through 98 games, he was promoted to the major league club where he made his debut on July 21, 1959. Pumpsie Green debuted more than 12 years after Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Red Sox didn’t play their first Black player until two-and-a-half years after Jackie Robinson had retired. Pumpsie Green’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54a02f93-41bd-4a05-a249-9118f3be0717/181+-+OTD+06-26-1962.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Earl Wilson A week after Pumpsie Green broke the Red Sox color barrier as a pinch runner and infielder, Earl Wilson became the team’s first Black pitcher. On June 26, 1962, at Fenway Park, Wilson no-hit the Los Angeles Angels and helped his own cause by hitting a home run to win the game 2-0. With that performance, Wilson became the first Black pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the American League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7eeafa2-5510-4838-a2f7-0480ef92c9ee/182+-+Wilson.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Firing On All Cylinders In Detroit Not surprisingly, things didn’t work out in Boston for Wilson. In the middle of the 1966 season, he was traded to Detroit, where he would thrive. He led the American League in wins in 1967, and started the second most games for the Tigers in 1968, leading them to a World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The only pitcher who started more games for Detroit in 1968 than Wilson was Denny McLain, who won the Cy Young and the MVP Award that season. Earl Wilson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28bb46a2-b002-4976-a905-abf6676650a6/183+-+Yawkey.jpg Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Curse Of The Bambino? Jackie Robinson called Tom Yawkey of the Red Sox “one of the most bigoted guys in baseball.” As Larry noted in the interview, for decades, the Red Sox inability to win a World Series was explained away by “The Curse of the Bambino,” but in reality, it was the team’s inaction when it came to integration which cost them dearly on the field. So many Black stars entered the game in this period, and the Red Sox passed on all of them. It was the taint of their own delay to integrate which still haunted them decades after, not the ghost of Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13022809-6e18-46be-bfd4-1fee05961c97/184+-+logo.png Season 5 - 0501 - Larry Lester & Stephanie Liscio - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0409 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6219da90-60c7-4ee6-8f24-f45d6151688f/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/084757d3-80f2-486a-af97-142dc2132a7c/square.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch Me and Josh Rawitch after recording our interview in his office at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Please note that of all of the amazing images in baseball history which Josh could have chosen, the one he has displayed on the wall in his office is a panoramic photograph taken at the Addie Joss Benefit Game at League Park in Cleveland. Coincidentally, the photo features a young Shoeless Joe Jackson, who Josh and I have framed behind us in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1726f42-c23a-41df-81f1-44f986c257c3/01+-+Willis+Monie+Books.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Willis Monie Books This episode is brought to you by Willis Monie Books. Visit Willis Monie on your next trip to Cooperstown: 139 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 435-1607 Website Email Willis Monie Books Follow Willis Monie Books on social media: Facebook Instagram eBay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed3bf6c4-f82b-4dee-8f4d-2c52c5396c9c/02+-+Willis+Monies.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Than Baseball Despite its proximity to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Willis Monie Books is FAR more than just a baseball book store. You’ll find all of the types of books you’d expect to find in a great used book store. Americana, Theology, Art, History, Fiction (including 1000's of titles in Mystery and Science Fiction), Literary Criticisms and Biographies, Science and Natural History, Cookbooks, Cinema, Business and Economics, Music and Opera, Children's, Crime and Law, Psychology and many other categories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4765df75-edaf-4dae-82ee-23ffd70a3fe6/03+-+Historical+Building.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - History Willis Monie Books has a great Local section, too, featuring not only books by local Cooperstown authors, but also books about the rich history of Cooperstown, itself. The building where Willis Monie is located is historic in its own right, having been built in 1913, and living several lives before becoming the incredible bookstore that it is today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6186b4c3-758a-4612-9048-8abf5b2544f0/04+-+Curtis+Pride.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Curtis Pride Curtis Pride will be signing at Willis Monie Books during the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Pride played in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2006 for the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2015, he was named MLB's Ambassador For Inclusion. Curtis Pride’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd848ba3-fc11-4ac7-ba57-40ad3a819f63/04+-+Book+Fair.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair The Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair is coming to the Clark Sports Center on June 28th, from 10 am to 4 pm. Explore an extravaganza of antique and vintage books, ephemera, and maps, with all proceeds going to the Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aff4cffa-cf9b-47d0-b4e3-108db20e2f06/06+-+Cooperstown.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooperstown, New York The village of Cooperstown is pure Americana, a one-stoplight town nestled between the Adirondacks and the Catskills in Central New York. It drew its name from the family of James Fenimore Cooper – whose father, William Cooper, founded the village – whose works of literature have become American standards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a06771a-b756-4076-a765-415842696e58/07+-+Baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Synonym For “Baseball” Cooperstown has become a synonym for “baseball” – thanks to a story about a Civil War general and the country’s love for a timeless game. By the last half of the 19th Century, baseball had become the National Pastime. The United States was a little more than 100 years old, and baseball had evolved with the country. But there was no definitive answer as to the birth of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db55e255-1c3a-459f-9c8f-f05aea56eef7/08+-+Spalding.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A.G. Spalding Enter the Spalding Commission, a board created by sporting goods magnate and former player A.G. Spalding to establish the genesis of baseball. And after a few years of searching, they found their answer. Albert Goodwill Spalding was a pitcher, manager, and executive in the early years of professional baseball, and the co-founder of the Spalding sporting goods company. A.G. Spalding’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b15b6183-2f08-46ce-a42d-c8b6c15c25fa/09+-+Graves+letter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Abner Graves Abner Graves, a mining engineer, proclaimed that Abner Doubleday – a decorated Union Army officer who fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter at the start of the Civil War and later served at the Battle of Gettysburg – invented baseball in 1839 in Cooperstown. That was good enough for the Spalding Commission, which came to its conclusion in 1907. The Doubleday Myth is widely discredited among modern baseball historians. The recollections of Graves have been criticized because Graves was five years old in 1839, and 71 when he first made the Doubleday claims. Although Spalding referred to Doubleday and Graves as "playmates" in his submission of evidence to the Mills Commission, Doubleday was more than a decade older than Graves, turning 20 in 1839. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b37ed6ef-251c-4a2c-a860-c4f5a20d5437/10+-+Clark.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Stephen C. Clark Three decades later, Cooperstown philanthropist Stephen C. Clark – seeking a way to celebrate and protect the National Pastime as well as an economic engine for Cooperstown – asked National League president Ford C. Frick if he would support the establishment of a Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Clark was the youngest of the four sons of Alfred Corning Clark and Elizabeth Scriven. His grandfather, Edward Cabot Clark, had been Isaac Singer's lawyer and partner in the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Alfred Corning Clark inherited a 37.5% stake in the company, and invested the profits in New York City real estate. Alfred died in April 1896, leaving a $30,000,000 family trust to his widow and sons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e88503d-a8af-41c0-9876-638455e488c1/11+-+HOF.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Hall of Fame Stephen C. Clark’s idea was welcomed, and in 1936 the inaugural Hall of Fame class of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner was elected. Three years later, the Hall of Fame building officially opened in Cooperstown as all of baseball paused to honor what was called “Baseball’s Centennial” and as the first four Hall of Fame classes were inducted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6785353-d961-409f-91ef-e66186fd8285/12+-+Doubleday.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Abner Doubleday Time Magazine wrote: “The world will little note nor long remember what (Doubleday) did at Gettysburg, but it can never forget what he did at Cooperstown.” In the years since, The Doubleday Myth has been refuted. Doubleday himself was at West Point in 1839. Yet The Myth has become strong enough that the facts alone do not deter the spirit of Cooperstown. Abner Doubleday’s SABR Biography “The Legendary Doubleday Game” - SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96a2c751-781f-4ac5-941b-675c7fb6c1dd/13+-+HOF+Weekend+1939+2535.89+NBL.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, surely the most well-known sports shrine in the world, continues to thrive in the town where baseball’s pulse beats the strongest. But in the years following the opening of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 1939, the Museum has become much more than just home to baseball’s biggest stars. The Hall of Fame is the keeper of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3febb103-cb4c-4507-9b0a-5251d9d989fe/14+-+Sue+McKay.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Artifacts The Hall of Fame’s collections contain more than 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts – such as bats, balls, gloves and uniforms – donated by players and fans who want to see history preserved. Here, Hall of Fame director of collections Sue MacKay accessions artifacts prior to storing them in collections. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27a2693f-130c-41bb-b69f-5ff3a25d5660/15+-+Doubleday+Ball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Climate-Controlled The artifact collection is housed in climate-controlled rooms to protect the delicate leather, fabric and wood materials used in baseball. The Museum promises – in exchange for the donation of an artifact – to care for an item in perpetuity, which means the effects of temperature and humidity must be constantly regulated. The Museum’s first accessioned item was the “Doubleday Baseball”, seen here, which was discovered in a farmhouse in nearby Fly Creek, N.Y., in 1935 and dates to the 19th Century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e47a0f9f-3e2b-4c09-884a-51bb8790c1b3/16+-+Cy+Young.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cy Young Then in 1937, Cy Young – elected to the Hall of Fame that year in the second year of voting – generously donated several artifacts, including the 1908 ball from his 500th win and the uniform he wore with the Boston Braves. Young wore this uniform during his six-week stint with the Boston Braves at the start of the 1912 season. Young was unable to get his 45-year-old arm into shape and he retired at the end of May, having never been called into a game that year. Nevertheless, Young’s donations generated new offers from other players, as well as fans. Cy Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9396e3a-5367-468c-a176-b10dcdf5fffe/17+-+HOF+Game.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall of Fame Game Thousands of fans attended the opening of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 1939. That same year, another Cooperstown tradition was started with the launch of the annual Hall of Fame Game, which, for 70 years, was an annual celebration of the game as two Major League Baseball teams played an annual exhibition contest at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Here, Babe Ruth pinch-hits during the first Hall of Fame Game in 1939. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e069f7d-a471-4ec3-921f-66bdeede7ff4/18+-+Doubleday+Field.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Doubleday Field Doubleday Field dates back to 1920, and the first grandstand was built in 1924. Thanks to Works Progress Administration money during the Great Depression, the field was expanded again in 1934. Here, a game takes place in 1919 on the land where Doubleday Field would eventually be built. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac396f23-f2f7-4b59-805c-415babe141dd/19+-+Green+Light+Letter.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “Green Light Letter” The A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center is also part of the Museum experience, and the Center’s Library contains more than three million documents on the history of baseball, ranging from reference books to the “Green Light Letter” sent by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in January of 1942, urging Landis to keep baseball going during World War II. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48f93960-3c4b-42d1-85d1-4a355996cfd2/20+-+Giamatti+Research+Center.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center As an educational institution, the Museum offers outreach programs for audiences of all ages. Through virtual classroom technology, Cooperstown is transported to schools across the country with videoconference lessons featuring any one of 16 learning modules. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1896f696-5922-474a-9f2f-e13d7073f228/21+-+archives.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Statistics The Hall of Fame welcomes 250,000 visitors annually and the Museum’s collections contain more 200,000 baseball cards, 250,000 historic baseball photographs and images, and 14,000 hours of original audio and video recordings. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a252c6fd-28a3-4196-b31c-2eb5ab89a2c2/22+-+Josh+HOF+outside.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh Rawitch Josh Rawitch is in his fifth year as President of the Hall of Fame, and his 31st season working in baseball. He oversees the daily operation of the nonprofit, educational institution, which employs nearly 100 full-time staff members with the mission to preserve history, honor excellence, and connect generations. Josh was honored with the 2018 Robert O. Fishel Award which goes to the “active, non-uniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards” of the longtime baseball PR executive for which it is named. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/226f94a6-44b7-41df-b939-b3ea2918a53d/23+-+Earthquake.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Northridge, CA Interstate 10 split and collapsed over La Cienega Boulevard following the Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1994. Lasting approximately 8 seconds, it was the largest earthquake in the area since 1971. Fifty-seven people died and more than 9,000 were injured. (Photo courtesy of Eric Draper / Associated Press) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4e1105-b2f0-47c6-9813-14f80563e4f1/24+-+earthquake+kids.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Earthquake Kids The Northridge City Little League players, who had become known as “The Earthquake Kids,” were honored with a ticker-tape parade on Disneyland’s Main Street after their run to the 1994 Little League World Series championship game. (Photo courtesy of Kari Rene Hall/The Los Angeles Times) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dd96fce-d247-4d48-93c4-88caadbb46b8/25+-+Little+League.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Record-Holder Josh holds the Northridge Little League record for most consecutive home runs … allowed as a pitcher. He gave up four home runs in a row, but hey, a record’s a record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d842652-cf70-4dba-97fa-8208543c13bd/26+-+Vander+Meer.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Records That Will Never Be Broken One of the evergreen topics of conversation among baseball fans is “what record will never be broken?” and while there are many which I think are far beyond reach, one I feel very confident will never be broken is Johnny Vander Meer’s two consecutive no-hitters. It is possible that someone comes along one day and replicates the feat, but I sincerely doubt anyone ever breaks the record by throwing three consecutive. Johnny Vander Meer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb509f9-7c66-48af-876a-4c5da872353b/27+-+Espy.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cecil Espy Josh was a Dodgers fan growing up, and the first game he remembers attending was down the stretch in 1983 at Dodger Stadium. Cecil Espy played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds in 1983 and from 1987–1993. He made a great catch in the outfield during the first game Josh attended, which was most likely October 1, 1983 against the Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c873e8c-9183-484d-9a25-b533283118dc/28+-+Sax.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Steve Sax Steve Sax was a second baseman from 1981 to 1994, most known for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he won world championships in 1981 and 1988. Most importantly, though, he was Josh’s favorite player growing up. A five-time All-Star, Sax was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1982 and won the Silver Slugger Award in 1986. He also played for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and the Oakland Athletics. Steve Sax’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bf1cce5-ea80-4639-a15e-9b5f8192122b/29+-+Cards.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cards Started It All Josh’s Uncle Marvin lived in Boston and had a massive baseball card collection. When Josh was 7 years old, he got a pack of 1983 Fleer cards in the mail from his uncle. Josh remembers seeing the cards of Mike Ramsey and Jerry Martin, and he just became addicted to opening packs. Josh and his brother became big card collectors during the Junk Wax Era, paying attention to the cards’ values in Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide. Mike Ramsey’s 1983 Fleer card Jerry Martin’s 1983 Fleer card https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19885707-786a-49f3-afa1-1e72ba20c31b/30+-+Vin+and+young+Josh.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Vin Scully Josh grew up listening to Vin Scully call the games of his favorite team. Whether he realized it at the time or not, that surely played a big part in Josh wanting to go into broadcasting when he was in high school and college. Vin Scully’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a1b46ae-cf43-4e6b-9fc3-5d8d460379f1/31+-+Vin+Scully.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 131 Years From 1886 when Connie Mack’s playing career began, until 2016 when Vin Scully’s broadcasting career ended, either Mack or Scully were involved in every single Major League season for a 131 year stretch. For daily facts like the one you see here, follow My Baseball History on your preferred social media platform: Facebook Instagram Bluesky Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23d2d4a6-ac3a-4079-8629-4982a5dc747d/32+-+Frick.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ford C. Frick Award The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball". The award was created in 1978, and named in tribute to former commissioner Ford C. Frick following his death that year. Prior to his career as an executive, Frick was a baseball writer and occasional broadcaster; he gained fame as a ghostwriter for Babe Ruth in the 1920s. Recipients of the award are not members of the Hall of Fame—they are not "inducted" or "enshrined", they are not "Hall of Fame broadcasters", and there is no "broadcasters' wing" of the Hall of Fame—they are officially "honorees." The award is given at a separate ceremony from the induction ceremony on Hall of Fame weekend. As with recipients of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award for baseball writing, the honorees are permanently recognized in a "Scribes & Mikemen" exhibit in the HOF's library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4487ac5d-eac0-40a5-860d-a2fe391aaece/33+-+Indiana.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Indiana University One of Josh’s broadcasting professors at Indiana University told him to send his resume to his hometown team, and that led to Josh working for the Dodgers for about 15 years. Josh’s advice to anyone in college now who wants to get involved in sports: “If you’re lucky enough to be at a school with an athletic department, you’ve got to find a way to get involved in it.” Get something on your resume that shows you want to work in sports, that you’re not just a sports fan who won your fantasy league or that you’re into baseball cards. Actually prove that you want to work in sports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b8d565c-295f-4666-ac90-a0c296755075/34+-+SIU.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Southern Illinois University I went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and was on the air at the student-run radio station, WIDB, for all four years. I called six different sports as a Saluki: men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, softball, and women’s volleyball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/112be47e-e901-4e16-8b75-73048b7b08d5/35+-+Dodgers.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Bilingual Josh took Spanish in high school like anyone else, but didn’t take it very seriously. However, after his first summer as an intern with the Dodgers, he asked Assistant GM Robert Schweppe, “If I want to be a GM one day, what should I go do to improve my chances?” Robert told him to learn Spanish, and said it would be a very valuable skill to have. When he went back to IU for his sophomore year, Josh took Spanish again, but took it seriously this time. It changed his life forever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7e46973-ccaf-4737-be66-ed3042c2930a/36+-+South+America.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Travel On October 23, 2001, Josh landed in Rio de Janeiro to start the trip of a lifetime, backpacking South America for 3 1/2 months. Josh says he can’t encourage young people enough to travel cheaply & be open to new adventures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/518262ff-bc4d-4858-b844-ac7a7b3aad13/37+-+Venezuela.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Caribbean Series Josh took this photo when the Tomateros de Culiacán (Mexico) won the championship game of the Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela back in February of 2002. The Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) is an annual club tournament contested by professional baseball teams in Latin America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bee37d3-74d3-46dd-8b68-f14cabe4a353/38+-++Ohtani.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Huge Advantage While Josh doesn’t think it’s a necessity to be bilingual, it’s certainly a huge advantage if you want to work in baseball. It seems like either Spanish or Japanese are the foreign languages of the future in MLB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/686bec0c-056f-46f1-834e-00f4e9f23403/39+-+Diamondbacks+academy.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dominican Republic The Diamondbacks asked Josh if he would emcee the opening of their academy at the Las Américas Complex in the Dominican Republic in November of 2024. Without being able to communicate in Spanish, Josh wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity, or many of the others he’s been lucky enough to have in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a02897c-afb8-4fde-afd0-7ada84015e60/40+-+Piazza.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - May 18, 1998 Josh’s first day on the job with the Dodgers was May 18, 1998, just a few days after the team had traded away the face of their franchise, Mike Piazza. Not only was Piazza the face of the Dodgers, he was the face of Los Angeles. One of Josh’s first duties was to drive around Los Angeles, taking Mike Piazza’s face and likeness down from all of the billboards, bus shelters, and buildings. The trade was made by studio executives from the media company that bought the club from the O’Malley family, without the knowledge or input of soon-to-be-former general manager Fred Claire. On May 22, just eight days after trading for Piazza, the Marlins dealt him to the New York Mets for three prospects, a move which would change the trajectory of Piazza’s career, and of both franchises. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecf77d34-2c90-418b-8a85-733eefb92073/41+-+HOF+Plaque.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mike Piazza Mike Piazza played 16 seasons, from 1992 to 2007, most notably for the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, while also having brief stints with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. A 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher, he produced strong offensive numbers at his position. In his career, he recorded 427 home runs—a record 396 of which were hit as catcher—along with a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBI. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Mike Piazza’s SABR Biography Mike Piazza’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78cdd62c-5cd7-4275-b4ea-0a673943790c/42+-+Marlins.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Marlins Trade(s) On May 15, 1998, the Dodgers traded Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Marlins in return for Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Manuel Barrios, and Jim Eisenreich. On May 22, the Marlins traded Piazza to the New York Mets for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz. Todd Zeile’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2910c5ed-0cf6-4868-81f8-dd690f8b4be4/43+-+Dodgers.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dodgers Career Josh worked for the Dodgers during kind of a tumultuous stretch in their history. It was a transitional phase for the franchise, with the team having four different owners and ownership groups over the course of his time there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f08301c1-652b-4e88-813f-ef7af0f8a9db/44+-+Lasorda.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tommy Lasorda In his 21 seasons as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda’s club finished 4th or worse seven different times. They finished with a .500 or worse record seven different times, as well. But the team stuck with him because they believed in his vision, and in the effect he had on the team. That loyalty paid off with four National League pennants and two World Series titles. Tommy Lasorda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94a1b5b9-bbd0-46e8-bf65-5999a6b27ffb/45+-+Joe+Torre+2008+at+Great+Wall.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2008 in Beijing Josh vividly remembers a conversation he had with Joe Torre, Frank McCourt, and Jamie McCourt while on a trip to China in 2008 about the importance of continuity and stability in a franchise. It’s one of the things that made Joe Torre’s tenure as Yankees manager such a success, and one they hoped to replicate with him at the helm in Los Angeles. Joe Torre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96c6c1d4-836f-4b0b-bf0a-a627e910933e/46+-+Managers.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Managerial Turnover After Tommy Lasorda retired, the Dodgers had a hard time finding a manager to fill his shoes. Bill Russell Glenn Hoffman Davey Johnson Jim Tracy Grady Little Joe Torre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cb0e9cd-c207-4113-8554-08ef27dc71d6/47+-+Dan+Evans.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dan Evans Dan Evans started as an intern with the Chicago White Sox while a junior at DePaul University and was eventually promoted to Assistant GM. After almost 20 years, Evans resigned from the White Sox following the 2000 season. During his tenure, he was responsible for drafting or acquiring future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, Tom Seaver, Robin Ventura, Paul Konerko, and Bo Jackson, among others. Evans then became the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001 to 2004, during which they ended a seven-year postseason drought. Among the players drafted under Evans were all-stars Matt Kemp and Russell Martin. Evans also signed Hall of Famer Fred McGriff. Evans is currently the president of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Board of Directors, with his term beginning in June of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c95863c2-197c-4a0b-a819-3d15d2c0ce97/48+-+mlb+website.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out This is what MLB.com looked like on November 25, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/566e63ef-c9c4-491e-9cd1-12b33db0718d/49+-+Diamondbacks.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Diamondbacks Josh worked as a beat reporter for MLB Advanced Media (aka mlb.com), and helped make the transition from every team having and running their own website, to MLB running the websites for each team under a cohesive brand, look, and feel. After that, Josh went back to the Dodgers for a bit, working as the Vice President of Communications. Then, he worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks for about a decade, including as their Senior Vice President of Content and Communications. Here is Josh with longtime Diamondbacks broadcaster Greg Schulte in Cooperstown. Greg donated the headset he wore during the 2023 World Series, and also his scorebook from 2001, including the historic Game 7 walkoff by Luis Gonzalez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1e353ba-778a-4224-810b-a57913c5ce4d/50+-+Ken+Kendrick%2C+Randy+Johnson%2C+Derrick+Hall+and+Luis+Gonzalez.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Left to right: National Baseball Hall of Fame Board Member Ken Kendrick, Randy Johnson, Josh Rawitch, Derrick Hall and Luis Gonzalez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec086b18-7197-4862-86f2-8d3bde7b6494/51+-+Greinke.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “On What Charges?” When Josh walked into the office the morning Arizona signed Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall essentially told him “sit down, shut up, and just watch what happens throughout the course of today.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52222b38-acb7-4047-adb0-9c09b8716bec/52+-+passport.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Passport Another good piece of advice is to have a valid and active passport, because you never know what opportunities may come your way when people know you’re willing and able to travel internationally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22e5d597-0cb4-499e-9608-b727a0e926c9/53+-+Team+Israel.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - World Baseball Classic Josh has served as the Venue Press Chief for multiple World Baseball Classics. This moment in Seoul, South Korea during the 2017 World Baseball Classic sticks in Josh’s mind as one of the most memorable he’s ever been a part of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d85a377-8f50-41b1-a120-ee5d204776b3/54+-+Bobby+Knight.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Coach Bobby Knight While Josh was in Arizona, he was an adjunct professor at the Walter Cronkite School Of Journalism at Arizona State University, where he taught sports communication. When he was at Indiana University as a student, he took a class called The Technique of Coaching Basketball, which was taught by legendary IU basketball coach Bobby Knight. While this lesson isn’t quite the same as the one Coach Knight taught his class about motivation, it’s still one worth listening to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e5f6270-d7cc-4667-8d74-4ca2b7efcb29/55+-+Larussa.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tony and Bobby When Josh was with the Diamondbacks, Tony Larussa was in the front office. He brought in Coach Knight, who was actually a big baseball fan, to speak to the team. Coach Knight was also close friends and fly fishing buddies with Ted Williams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35053f10-a943-48bd-8136-0e28f10e9dc6/56+-+Torre.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Joe Torre Baseball Camp Josh attended Joe Torre baseball camp as a kid. Josh’s counselor/coach at the camp was comedian Brody Stevens. It feels like serendipity that, years later, Josh would up working with Joe Torre when he became manager of the Dodgers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac135556-92e7-4846-ac46-cf9dfa509f6a/57+-+Roberts.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dave Roberts After only five Negro League managers who have higher winning percentages, Dave Roberts is the winningest manager in the history of Major League Baseball. Here is Josh with Dave Roberts (center) and Scott Akasaki, who is serving as an Exhibit Ambassador for Yakyu | Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/044f27c9-de19-43ff-84d3-f997827a68a6/58+-+2003+with+Dodgers+in+Arizona.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Social Media The 2003 Dodgers opened in Arizona with Hall of Famers Fred McGriff, Rickey Henderson, and Adrián Beltré on their roster, four future managers in Robin Ventura, Dave Roberts, Cody Ross, and Álex Cora, an NFL All-Pro in Brian Jordan, and lots of good dudes. Josh would know, because he’s standing in the doorway in this picture with the team. Imagine the content we could have gotten if the guys in this room had social media back then. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68109a5b-cd2f-48da-b30d-3273bd8155a3/59+-+Interviewed+one+year+ago.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - HOF President Josh came to Cooperstown for his interview on May 10, 2021, he was announced as the new President of the Hall of Fame in June of that year, and assumed the role officially in September. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16e220bb-6f48-453c-a486-174484716c07/60+-+Josh+HOF.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Not His Job While Josh is the face of the institution, he is not in charge of selecting who gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, and has no say in the voting process. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart, Jr. / the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e2380e2-64fc-4789-bc31-90452f988471/61+-+staff.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - And Other Duties As Assigned The actual administration of the Hall of Fame is a big part of Josh’s job, but curation, archives, library, dealing with Hall of Famers, dealing with big announcements, thinking about Hall of Fame Induction Weekend and everything that goes into that are things most people don’t consider when they ask Josh what he does. Josh is in charge of running a 100+ person institution, which means meetings, strategic planning, trying to think about what the future looks like, as well as fundraising because they’re an independent nonprofit organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7923ee26-e1ba-4ab2-8d56-7d0a4bf3add4/62+-+women+in+baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Women In Baseball While Commissioner Manfred sits on the Board of Directors at the Hall of Fame, and the Hall likes to work in conjunction with Major League Baseball, they are two entirely separate entities. Major League Baseball is an incredible partner to the Hall of Fame, but MLB does not own or fund the Hall in any way. The Hall is a completely independent nonprofit organization, which allows them to dictate their own exhibits and displays, such as their Diamond Dreams: Women In Baseball exhibit, seen here, and “¡Viva Baseball!,” which focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing countries of Latin America: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ac6fc83-3655-4cb7-81d7-fe1c31080e09/63+-+latin+baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ad86d58-ee9c-4052-a815-9619804316ed/64+-+yakyu+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Yakyu Baseball Baseball in the United States and yakyu in Japan exist, and in fact prosper, as a result of the emergence of transpacific systems of exchange between the two countries over the past 150 years. The new exhibit, set to open in July of 2025, will explore the wide-ranging exchange of baseball between Japan and the United States from the Meiji era to today and the transpacific circulation of baseball concepts, styles of play, fan experiences, equipment, and people that shaped the shared culture of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72a26a32-ddbc-4149-877e-29703c1366a1/65+-+make+a+donation.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make A Donation Before there was a competing American League to eventually play a World Series against, the two best teams in the National League competed for the Temple Cup from 1894 to 1897. Pictured here is the actual Temple Cup, which is on display at the HOF. If you want to help preserve the history of the game, now is a great time to make a donation to the Hall of Fame. If that’s something you’re interested in doing, you can do so HERE. If you would like to show your support by becoming a member of the Hall of Fame, you can do that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a323a76-7a51-476f-9b97-407928a5bf6e/66+-+2001+visit+to+HOF+with+his+dad.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh’s First Visit Josh first visited the Hall of Fame in 2001 with his dad. They both loved it, but neither of them could ever have imagined that one day, Josh would be in charge of running it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e7ecb2d-b2ca-4a4b-9d9c-bb38376460c4/67+-+Larussa+Torre.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2014 Visit Josh intended to come back to Cooperstown in 2014 in advance of Joe Torre’s induction to get a lay of the land for the following year when Randy Johnson was going to be inducted, just to see how the whole process went and what the weekend looked like. Josh made that trip with Tony Larussa, who the Diamondbacks had just hired as their Chief Baseball Officer, as well as with Joe Torre. Here are Tony and Joe with two-time Sporting News Executive of the Year Roland Hemond, who is credited with the original idea for the Arizona Fall League. Roland Hemond’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ccc8c6-1e96-4a7c-a956-6d347c7a6ff0/68+-+HOF+induction+on+stage.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Induction Weekend Josh’s view (from the stage) during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is pretty great. Here is what he saw during Jim Leyland’s speech in 2024. Jim Leyland’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6258b538-72aa-4df0-a431-b74279d56600/68.5+-+1939+signage.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - June 12, 1939 If Josh had a time machine and could attend any Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in history, he’d love to go back to the first one ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c7c3cf0-91bc-4261-bb63-8b9b59ba0abc/69+-+First+induction+ceremony.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - First Induction Ceremony The world learned on February 2, 1936, that Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. All of the Hall of Fame's living members (except Ty Cobb) sat for a photograph on June 12, 1939 in Cooperstown during the inaugural Induction Ceremony, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7567550e-a0d6-4715-aa50-bc416567df4b/70+-+Jackie.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jackie Robinson If Josh couldn’t be at the first ever Induction Ceremony, his next pick would be to go to the July 23, 1962 Induction Ceremony so he could watch Jackie Robinson give his speech. During his speech, Jackie said: “I want to thank all of the people throughout this country who were just so wonderful during those trying days. I appreciate it at no end and it’s the greatest honor any person could have and I only hope that I’ll be able to live up to this tremendously fine honor.” Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5693dcd8-738c-4d26-856f-aeffdbf402eb/71+-+Cooper+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cooper Park The Class of 1966 featured the induction of Casey Stengel and Ted Williams and marked the move of the Induction Ceremony from Main Street to Cooper Park. In the early 1990s, the induction ceremony was moved to The Clark Sports Center to accommodate larger crowds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74561d27-62f2-4ca8-9dad-6d6bbae34c26/72+-+Idelson.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jeff Idelson Jeff Idelson joined the Baseball Hall of Fame on September 26, 1994, as director of public relations and promotions. He was named as the organization's vice president of communications and education in 1999, a role that includes overseeing the Hall of Fame elections and awards, communications, community and media relations, publications, public programs, promotions, advertising, and artifact acquisition. He also oversaw the museum's college internship program and education department. He was named President of the Hall of Fame on April 16, 2008, replacing Dale Petroskey. After his successor Tim Mead stepped down in May 2021, he returned as "interim president" through the 2021 induction ceremony on September 8 of that year. Along with Jean Fruth, Idelson is also the co-founder of Grassroots Baseball, a 501(c)3 celebrating the amateur game around the globe and inspiring more children to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d9d673a-1a20-4b14-a30d-bdf76dd5373f/73+-+Souls+of+the+Game.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball spotlights the decades-long history of Black baseball prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95ef3ad1-5001-4619-ac8f-938200bd5e4c/74+-+Savannah+Bananas.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Savannah Bananas “We are so excited to welcome the Savannah Bananas here to Cooperstown, New York, the last stop on their nationwide tour,” Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. “And we feel there’s no better place to be than right here at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, to be able to be at the opening of this great exhibit, which really celebrates the phenomenon – the fabulous phenomenon – that has been created by Jesse Cole and his team.” The Bananas played at Doubleday Field on September 16, 2023, to a sold out crowd (of course). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d626638f-788b-483e-b560-24e5be56cfce/75+-+handling+artifacts.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Handling Artifacts Because Josh didn’t come from a museum background before being named President of the Hall of Fame, he was surprised to learn about the amount of thought and care that goes into handling, storing, moving, displaying, and preserving the artifacts. Here he is very carefully holding the cap Babe Ruth wore as a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57c884bf-b5c8-493d-8a9f-096c31d52b85/76+-+HOFers.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall of Famers It’s Josh’s job to interact with Hall of Famers basically every day. Sometimes he has to take a step back to realize how insane that is, that he has become friends with the people who are idolized by millions (including himself). Here he is with Hall of Famer Jim Thome. Jim Thome’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f42c330b-0c8f-4532-bc3e-50e94128d54a/77+-+Sale.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Chris Sale Chris Sale stopped at the Hall of Fame during the All-Star Break in 2023 with his son’s youth team. They got to see several artifacts that Chris donated over the years. Sale is an 8-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award winner, and a World Series champion. He has won an ERA Title, a Cy Young Award, and pitching’s Triple Crown. On May 25, 2025, Sale recorded his 2,500th career strikeout, reaching the milestone faster than any other pitcher in MLB history. It took him just 2,026 innings, breaking the previous record of 2,107⅔ innings held by Randy Johnson. There’s a very good chance Chris ends up with a plaque in Cooperstown one day, which he can eventually visit along with all of the items he’s donated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea54ba47-4be3-4e73-b2fc-57657f2f43e0/78+-+CC.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - CC Sabathia CC Sabathia visited the Hall of Fame for the first time on July 31, 2022 with his son’s team. Josh got to show them CC’s cleats from the first game ever at New Yankee Stadium. Sabathia was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025 following a 19-year career which saw the left-hander win 251 games and strike out 3,093 batters. CC is one of only 19 pitchers ever to strike out more than 3,000 batters in a career. CC Sabathia’s Hall of Fame Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d812963e-f90f-4b5a-977f-8f71f126ebb3/80+-+Ichiro.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ichiro Ichiro Suzuki visited the Hall of Fame seven times during his playing career, by far more than any other player during their career. He truly loves and respects the history of the game, especially the great hitters in baseball’s rich history. After totaling 420 hits from 2002-03, Ichiro broke George Sisler’s longstanding MLB record of 257 hits in 2004, topping the mark by five. Here he is, standing in front of Sisler’s Hall of Fame plaque. George Sisler’s SABR Biography (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50435c7d-6141-49e3-9c8c-5e081006186c/79+-+Ichiro.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Ichiro Ichiro accumulated 3,089 hits, 509 stolen bases, and 10 Gold Glove Awards despite not appearing in a big league game until he was 27 years old. His 10 years with 200-or-more hits tied the MLB mark, and those 10 seasons came consecutively, setting another MLB record. The Hall of Fame has many items donated by Ichiro, who is honored to have the Hall care for his artifacts. Ichiro’s SABR Biography (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f77f825-f2a2-45e7-83a9-4e828dabf44c/81+-+Mickey.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mickey Mantle Mickey Mantle (left) and Whitey Ford (right) were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. The Class of 1974 also included Cool Papa Bell, Jim Bottomley, Jocko Conlan, and Sam Thompson. During Mickey’s playing career, he earned a total of $1.2 million from his Yankees contracts. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography Tom Catal, a Cooperstown mainstay and Mickey Mantle’s former autograph agent, was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a404e27-0fe2-4775-a0b9-ff9b34de4101/82+-+Banda.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Anthony Banda When players like Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, and Tom Seaver donated their entire collections to the Hall of Fame years ago, it set the precedent for future players to want to donate what could otherwise be monetarily valuable items to the Hall. Josh’s personal relationship with Anthony Banda dates back to 2017 when both were part of the Diamondbacks organization. Look how excited Anthony was to know the jersey he was wearing when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 will forever live in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/516abcbf-6124-464d-9f8d-ad6451b36b55/83+-+Kelsie+Whitmore.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “Working In Baseball” When people talk about "working in baseball," they usually assume that means working for one of the teams, or maybe for a broadcasting partner. But working at the Hall of Fame is absolutely "working in baseball." Here, Josh talks in his office with Kelsie Whitmore, a member of the United States women's national baseball team who was also the first woman to be in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9230e66-dcc4-4464-a757-d14c48268d47/84+-+Life+in+Cooperstown.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Life In Cooperstown Josh’s twitter account is as much about life in Cooperstown as it is about the Hall of Fame. It makes Josh one of my favorite people to follow, because you get to see so much more than you’ll ever get to see on a trip to the Hall of Fame, and it makes you feel like you’re actually there. This photo, which he posted along with a few others on January 7, 2024, was taken by his wife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74c76a2e-d66f-40e5-85d9-a169f73c55eb/85+-+Bernardoni.JPG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the Official Historian of Wrigley Field, and has been a tour guide at the park since 1998. One of his favorite things about working at Wrigley is having the chance to be there when no one else is, and then watching the park come to life as people start to file in on a game day. Brian was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47b7f807-5c52-4f9a-9dde-a10a9ce691a5/86+-+Plaque+Gallery.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Josh has a similar feeling about the Hall of Fame’s Plaque Gallery as Brian Bernardoni has about Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28338d5c-bbec-4ca3-8071-95a3881ead02/87+-+Hallmark.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Decorated For The (Off)Season My favorite time of year to visit the Hall of Fame is during the winter, because I know that I am going to have the museum to myself, for the most part. The decorations are beautiful, and Cooperstown is scenic with the snow, but I’m there to experience the museum. To me, the best way to do that is without a bunch of other people around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f5d38eb-d0b5-4b71-8c5b-babd40e3a4b9/88+-+Hallmark.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - A Hallmark Movie Set Josh feels incredibly blessed to have a place like Cooperstown in America, but to live there and work there is next-level for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d306dc3-ae52-401b-b519-cd81bea015fc/89+-+Plaque+Gallery.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Top 1% There have been nearly 25,000 players in Major League history. The Hall of Fame is comprised of 351 elected members. Included are 278 former major league players, as well as 40 executives/pioneers, 23 managers and 10 umpires. Jane Forbes Clark loves the fact that the Baseball Hall of Fame holds themselves to such a high standard, whereas other halls of fame allow in more former players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb1f98cf-e51b-468a-bd98-607d396ce561/90+-+Represented.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Still Represented Just because a player doesn’t have a plaque in the Plaque Gallery, doesn’t mean they’re not represented in the museum somewhere. This allows the Hall of Fame to truly tell the story of baseball’s history, and to recognize and celebrate far more than just the Top 1% who earn the honor of getting a plaque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f217231a-de3a-4068-9d28-cb89d2cb0a81/91+-+BBWAA.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out If you’re in your local Baseball Writers’ Association of America chapter covering baseball for 10+ years, you are eligible to be a Hall of Fame voter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92d630b2-8da5-4506-88b0-a46a99cc5e99/92+-+Era+Committees.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Era Committees The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired major league players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, along with managers, umpires and executives whose greatest contributions to the game were realized either prior to 1980 or after 1980. In all its forms, the Era Committee has elected 183 individuals (117 major leaguers, 33 executives, 23 managers and 10 umpires) to the Hall of Fame. The most recent vote elected Dick Allen and Dave Parker from the candidates seen here. They will be inducted in the Class of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f8922c7-870e-4e3e-ba20-e7ae6b58c57f/93+-+Ghosts.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Ghosts in the Gallery at Cooperstown I think one of the things that keeps Shoeless Joe Jackson's name in the public consciousness after all these years is that people think he belongs in the Hall and isn't in, so every year his name gets brought up as someone who is deserving of a plaque but doesn't have one. For the guys who deserved plaques and got them when they retired decades ago, there's nothing left to talk about really, and their names eventually fade away. Ghosts In The Gallery at Cooperstown: Sixteen Little-Known Members of the Hall of Fame by David Fleitz discusses this concept, that just because you're enshrined at the Hall of Fame, that's no guarantee of lasting name recognition because the sport's history stretches too far back. Eventually, someone is going to come along and break the records those first few generations set, and despite having a plaque in the gallery, some guys who are in the Hall of Fame are still going to largely be forgotten. You can buy David Fleitz’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/352af7e7-915c-4966-a0e5-1fa5260a2aa2/94+-+HOFers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out While inner-circle Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Henry Aaron, and Willie Mays may have many items on display and in the archives of the Hall, there isn’t necessarily a focus on trying to have every single HOFer represented by an artifact on the floor of the museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04b011cf-69cc-4240-b960-d1f94a122098/95+-+Shoeless+Joe.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - No Plaque? No Problem. Just because players like Shoeless Joe Jackson or Barry Bonds might not have plaques in the Hall of Fame, their pictures, their artifacts, and their stories are all over this museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa951cd6-7d32-444d-adc8-077ac6c3e5bf/95.5+-+Bonds.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6296af59-eed7-4c00-a880-6dd615657505/97+-+Henry+Aaron.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron Josh thinks Henry Aaron is the player who is most represented on the floor of the museum since he donated his entire collection to the Hall of Fame. The uniform he was wearing when he hit career home run #715 to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record is on display, as well as a number of the home run balls he hit during the chase. An entire exhibit, called Chasing The Dream, is dedicated to Henry Aaron’s life and career, including trophies and awards he won, bats he used, and even items from his boyhood home. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac1ed899-0e72-4ee3-93bb-49d9f8dd6fa5/96+-+Henry+Aaron.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7490f100-e6b2-4932-a16d-695992647389/98+-+Babe.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Ruth Babe Ruth is probably represented the next most, after Henry Aaron. While Aaron’s gallery is full of the actual artifacts, many of the items in Ruth’s gallery are faux newspaper articles or facsimiles of original artifacts which may be too old or fragile to be on display. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab144c45-fd31-4d9a-be07-a6c4aae70a38/99+-+Statue.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron Statue On May 23, 2024, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum debuted a new Henry Aaron statue, ensuring that his lifetime of heroics on and off the field is celebrated for all time. The bronze representation of Aaron – 76 inches tall and weighing about 650 pounds – is titled “Keep Swinging” and is located on the first floor of the Museum near the base of the Grand Staircase. The inscription, which is a quote from Aaron, reads: “As long as there’s a chance that maybe I can hammer out a little justice now and then, or a little opportunity here and there, I intend do to as I always have – keep swinging.” Fourteen Hall of Famers were on hand to mark the dedication of the statue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dabe2e84-e304-45d9-ae41-0358d0cc2caa/100+-+Souls+of+the+Game.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2714e78a-5091-4ccf-a96d-b9ae9adfee8e/101+-+One+For+The+Books.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41695329-131a-4496-bca6-69f1914f5202/100+-+digital+displays.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Digital Displays Having digital displays for things like single-season and all-time records makes it much easier (and much more cost-effective) for the Hall of Fame to update displays when records are broken. Instead of having to retype, reformat, reprint, and rehang new placards, a simple script automatically updates any new statistics on its own, ensuring that every display is always up-to-date. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec298d80-94f5-45dc-9686-387961b24c21/103+-+Willie+Mays.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Updating Plaques Unless there is an egregious error, the Hall of Fame usually doesn’t update plaques. Now that Negro League statistics have been incorporated into the Major League record books, Willie Mays’ career hit total has increased by 10 compared to when his HOF plaque was created. That means his plaque is just always going to have the wrong number of hits on it now, which is unfortunate but understandable. According to researcher Ted Chastain, at least 17 original plaques have been replaced over the years by altered versions (with changes to the likeness, name or text), including one that’s been changed at least twice (Ted Williams), and another that’s been changed at least three times (Bob Feller). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e217177-eae0-4164-9111-edf751c0f970/104+-+facsimiles.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Impossible To Display It All There are about 40,000 artifacts in the Hall of Fame’s collection. About 10% of those are above ground, meaning roughly 4,000 are on display and 36,000 are not. It’s great to know that so much baseball history is preserved, but it’s a shame that so much of it is unseen. Even a large number of the things on display within the museum – primarily when it comes to ephemera – aren’t the actual items. They’re facsimiles that have been reproduced from the originals which are in the archives. The rule of thumb is that for every year something is on display, it needs to “rest” for three years, away from the light. The Hall of Fame rotates their artifacts to keep them safely preserved in perpetuity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47533ae5-4c25-483a-850e-117c7432f25d/105+-+HOF+vintage+set+up.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Old Photos Of The Hall I have a small collection of photos of the Hall of Fame, and it's very interesting to go back and look at what the interior used to look like, how things were set up, and what pieces were on display from decades past. It seems like for the first few decades, the museum was solely "here are artifacts from the retired greats of the game, or players who have passed away" and "here, we recognize and honor the great teams from years gone by." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39376a38-89ac-4ae9-af5a-1c908010711f/106+-+current.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Modern Times, Modern Artifacts Of course the Hall of Fame still has an enormous amount of space dedicated to those types of things, but it seems like in recent years, there is much more attention paid to current players and amazing feats, like having the glove of a pitcher who recently threw a no-hitter, or the bat from a player who recently hit for the cycle, even if those players aren't necessarily on a Hall of Fame trajectory for their career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e51ccde6-92a2-4b15-b2cb-dee52ea857e8/107+-+Sasaki.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Roki Sasaki A ball Roki Sasaki used to pitch a 19-strikeout perfect game for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2022 will be included in the Museum’s upcoming Yakyu | Baseball exhibit. (Photo courtesy of Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a4f7f65-23cd-4c6f-a42f-46a2292d7ede/108+-+Doubleday+Myth.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Doubleday Myth I think the Hall does a good job now of addressing the Doubleday Myth and acknowledging that it has been debunked. While the field in Cooperstown is still called Doubleday, I think it's fair to say that the Hall is definitely no longer claiming Abner Doubleday invented baseball, or hitching their wagon to his name or the stories associated with him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717a29fe-bf21-4fc9-98a9-9cef0709d8d4/109+-+Doubleday+Fog.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Spiritual Home of Baseball But now here we are, 85 years after the first induction ceremony, and despite the original placement of the Hall of Fame being in Cooperstown under false pretenses, there is now nearly a century of legitimate history right here in town. Josh likes to call Cooperstown “the spiritual home of baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e43e7fd5-8d35-4248-9c48-ae0a2a4edc50/110+-+HOF+Weekend+1939+Centennial+plaque+4022.68WT+NBL.jpg.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Updated Signage The Village of Cooperstown has removed old signage like this plaque, which was unveiled in June of 1939, touting Abner Doubleday as the “inventor of baseball.” Now, those types of signs are gone, with some of them even having been replaced with signage addressing the fact that the Doubleday Myth has been debunked. There are a couple great books which detail the origins of baseball: How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed by Thomas W. Gilbert Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Secret History of the Early Game by John Thorn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f38a437-8a45-4bd3-ab7d-69696b4feeca/111+-+Cabrera.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Acquiring New Artifacts Miguel Cabrera presented the helmet he wore when he hit his 500th career home run to Josh Rawitch (left) and Jon Shestakofsky of the Hall of Fame on September 24, 2021 in Detroit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5b92fc4-9de0-40f5-90fc-87899b54367f/112+-+Pearls.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Joc Pederson’s Pearls Joc Pederson, who launched two pinch-hit home runs in the National League Division Series and added another homer in the NLCS, turned a fashion statement into a rally symbol for Braves fans throughout the team’s march to the 2021 World Series title. Following the Braves victory parade in Atlanta on November 5, Pederson donated his pearl necklace to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87b251cf-67ee-4039-b00e-a25be9d2f229/113+-+White+Sox.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5e7b198-9e18-44da-bf2f-843cb7988d67/114+-+White+Sox.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - White Sox The White Sox have thrown a total of 20 no-hitters in their franchise’s history, which is the most by any American League team. They also have three perfect games, which is second-most in MLB behind the Yankees. The first White Sox no-hitter was thrown by Nixey Callahan on September 20, 1902. The most unlikely was a perfect game thrown by Philip Humber on April 21, 2012. A former top prospect with the Mets, Humber never quite lived up to the hype of being the No. 3 overall Draft pick in 2004. But almost eight years later, he achieved greatness, throwing the third perfect game in White Sox history and 21st overall in MLB. Additionally, Humber accomplished the feat with just 96 pitches, the first perfecto to be under 100 pitches since David Cone’s in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d85fa462-5fcc-4301-8418-3e9a898c0bb2/115+-+Buehrle.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Mark Buehrle wore this cap, preserved in the Museum’s collection, when he threw his first no-hitter in a crisp two hours and three minutes on April 18, 2007. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62f633ac-4911-4a22-bc7e-dfe1f050ad97/116+-+Wise.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - DeWayne Wise’s Glove The Glove that DeWayne Wise used to rob Gabe Kapler of a home run, preserving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23, 2009, is in the Hall of Fame’s collection. Mark Buehrle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2ff75c8-c171-4cfe-9622-876f87a95c34/117+-+HOF+Induction+Weekend.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Induction Weekend Josh thinks every baseball fan should experience a Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in person at least once in their life. Here he is with Director of A/V services Bruce Brodersen, who retired in 2024 after 35 years at the Hall of Fame. Bruce started just days before the 1989 Induction when it was still held in Cooper Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/288d6e19-7bff-495a-ab84-c906b058d2ce/118+-+Fall.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Fall in Cooperstown I mean, come on. How can you not love this? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a66fe9b2-c196-438f-b019-c15d52ba894e/119+-+Winter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Winter in Cooperstown Like I mentioned earlier, winter is my favorite time to visit the Hall of Fame. It may not be the prettiest or best time to visit Cooperstown, but I’ll take that trade off to have the Hall nearly completely to myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7c342e6-09ba-41fc-b27c-0dd228cd58d3/120+-+HOF.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Okay, so when is really the best time to visit Cooperstown and go to the Hall of Fame? Josh says “as soon as you can!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9476597a-9266-460d-99ec-a251a726609a/121+-+Ted+Williams.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Living Up To The Expectations It’s not often that you wait your whole life to do something, and then when you finally do it, it not only lives up to the expectations you’ve built up all those years, but it exceeds them. But that’s what the Hall of Fame does. Josh says you should take making a trip to Cooperstown off your “Bucket List” and add it to your “To Do List.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c56688ed-03d8-4609-a985-82c0d34c33dc/122+-+The+Politics+of+Glory.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Politics of Glory Bill James gives an often harsh critique of the operation of the Baseball Hall of Fame in his book, The Politics of Glory: How Baseball's Hall of Fame Really Works. After colorfully relating the shrine's history with both praise and scorn, James attacks the voting procedures, especially in the case of the Veterans Committee, which in the institution's early years filled the roster with friends and teammates. Along with his own choices regarding who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and who does not, James offers "better" methods for future selection. Buy The Politics of Glory: How Baseball's Hall of Fame Really Works by Bill James HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca8dba50-89d8-4df0-947c-01744cafb1dc/123+-+HOF+logo.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Follow The National Baseball Hall Of Fame Online Website Facebook Twitter Bluesky Instagram YouTube TikTok email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d75a5bbf-f6bb-42fb-b4bc-c0fb12168669/124+-+Become+A+Member.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Become A Member 25 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-7200 There are tons of perks of being a member, no matter which tier you select. But most importantly, all members get free admission for an entire year. Start planning your trips now. BECOME A MEMBER HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dba68045-4ea7-4aae-bc33-2016654ec2a9/125+-+Memories+and+Dreams.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Memories and Dreams The Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, includes in-depth profiles of Hall of Famers and regular features on the historic artifacts, photographs and documents that comprise the Museum’s unparalleled collection. The magazine also features behind-the-scenes stories of the unforgettable legends and moments from the National Pastime. Featuring some of the most respected baseball writers in the world, participants in the Museum’s Membership program receive Memories and Dreams six times a year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02c4c49f-fd97-4fff-89ab-00f03a0941e5/124+-+Josh+HOF+suit.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Follow Josh Online Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f484cd7-dd74-499e-8a86-c4286724fa86/127+-+1999+HOF+visit.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Personal Photographer My mom took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during our trip to Cooperstown when my travel team played at Dreams Park in July of 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72b3a16f-43fa-43f2-90c7-49f7945a68e3/128+-+2025+HOF+recreation.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Self-Timer I took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during my trip to Cooperstown in December of 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51f43081-6b5c-4fdf-b986-c8f129eb65e0/127.5+-+1999+Cooperstown+Dreams+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out In scenic Cooperstown after a game at Dreams Park. Left to right: Jimmy Robin (CF), Dan Wallach (3B), Nolan Weick (1B) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a7fd46d-f251-4542-af4f-f37c9e099497/129+-+Black+Sox+display.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Black Sox Scandal Display While I don’t have a closeup from our 1999 trip, here are the items that were in the Black Sox Scandal display during my 2021 trip. Some items which had previously been on display were removed over the course of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c8eb0c5-6a40-4d91-9ddb-c4996022a08d/130+-+Black+Sox.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Personal Photographer (Again) My mom took this photo of me in front of the Black Sox Scandal display during our trip to Cooperstown in December of 2024. Notice how the displays have changed over the years, including the photos and text on the walls. Having so many of the “artifact(s) temporarily removed” during this visit was a little disappointing, but Josh told us during this interview why that needs to be done every so often. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71d4f5a0-dfac-4c98-87d2-1e4f1488e26d/130+-+Trains.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hard To Get To When people used to travel by trains, Cooperstown wasn’t hard to get to because there was a station right in town. But now that the main modes of transportation are airplane and car, Cooperstown has become slightly more difficult to visit. Think of all of the amazing ballplayers who took the train to Cooperstown over the years… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/475389fe-6de9-4ef1-a549-a0b80950ede6/132+-+Plaque.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - All By Ourselves My mom and I were able to spend as much time as we wanted in the Plaque Gallery, completely unbothered by anyone else, because we visited the Hall the week before Christmas. We never felt like we had to rush through an exhibit because we were holding up the people behind us, since there never were people behind us. It made an already magical trip even better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ed6d50a-72a9-4c4a-bd02-1ec723281c7a/133+-+Two+Full+Days.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Two Full Days If you want to know how much time you should expect to spend at the Hall to really be able to take it all in, I would suggest at least two full days. There’s just so, so much to see. If you like to read every placard, and look at every item in detail, and take lots of pictures, it’s going to take you longer - especially depending on what time of year you visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0887221-87df-42cc-bc74-8e34f2a8ee87/134+-+Rings.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out World Series gifts which winning teams have given to their players over the years. While the gifts varied in the earlier years from pins to fobs to watches, when the Giants gave their players rings after winning the 1922 World Series, every other team since then has followed suit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfd6d756-bc9e-419c-8498-c7ec904f57a2/135+-+Trophy+Balls.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Trophy Balls In the early days of baseball, it was customary for the winning team to keep the game ball as a trophy. It would often be decoratively painted with the final score of the game, the teams who played, and the date to commemorate the occasion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c90c9f94-f236-4480-8d41-3e3f78284bba/136+-+Trophy+Balls.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Trophy Balls Why did we let this tradition die?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdc93a01-fdae-4990-b4f7-7f7e57e25d11/137+-+World+Tour.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - World Tours In late October of 1888, two baseball clubs and an entourage of business managers, sportswriters, wives, and other enthusiasts of our National Pastime embarked on an extended offseason ball-playing tour. The brains and money behind the expedition was none other than Albert Spalding. After a month’s journey, the tourists arrived in Cairo, Egypt and on February 9, 1889, mounted camels and donkeys for a pilgrimage to the pyramids. There, the Chicago and All-America teams played what was assuredly the first game of baseball on the sands of the Giza Plateau. Following their game at the pyramids, the 1888-89 world tour party climbed onto the Sphinx for one of baseball’s most striking photographs. A baseball used in that historic contest, kept by tour umpire and future Hall of Famer George Wright, is inside the cubbyhole in this display. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82b63a44-b5b2-4838-bd37-81f5b16ff611/138+-+Babe+Ruth%27s+Locker.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Ruth’s Locker Babe Ruth put up monumental statistics during his playing career. But the Bambino was more than numbers – especially to those who knew him, like former teammate Joe Dugan, who once said: “To understand him you had to understand this: He wasn’t human.” Sports writer Tommy Holmes, winner of the 1979 BBWAA Career Excellence Award, was more succinct: “Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn’t believe me.” When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Babe Ruth artifacts you’ll see is his locker from The House That [He] Built … Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c91e906c-e662-4309-aec4-36749343d520/139+-+Mickey+Mantle%27s+Uniform.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mickey Mantle’s Uniform Whitey Ford called him as “a superstar who never acted like one. He was a humble man who was kind and friendly to all his teammates, even the rawest rookie. He was idolized by all the other players.” Mickey Mantle was an iconic baseball player with immense talent. His drive and love for the game pushed him past injuries and into the record books. When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Mickey Mantle artifacts you’ll see is his uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de69f29b-6994-4f89-8832-057e56fd8512/140+-+Henry+Aaron%27s+Bat.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Henry Aaron’s Bat Boxing legend Muhammad Ali once called Henry Aaron “The only man I idolize more than myself. ” For many, Henry Aaron was everything an athlete – and a human being – should be. Aaron grew up in humble surroundings in Mobile, Ala. He passed through the sandlots with brief stops in the Negro Leagues and the minor leagues before he settled in with the Braves, where he ultimately became one of baseball’s most iconic figures. When you visit the Hall of Fame, one of the many Henry Aaron artifacts you’ll see is the bat he used to hit his 600th career home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b493db10-6bb6-4174-b30a-16438e8a017f/141+-+Tommy+Lasorda.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Legendary Leadership Josh has been lucky enough to have spent time around a number of amazing coaches, managers, and leaders in his life. Here he is having some fun with Tommy Lasorda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6512463e-4819-4efe-8c9f-1278d48d4255/142+-+Casey+Stengel.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Casey Stengel "Casey (Stengel) knew his baseball. He only made it look like he was fooling around. He knew every move that was ever invented and some that we haven't even caught on to yet." – Sparky Anderson Casey Stengel's 54 distinguished years in baseball spanned everything from the Dead Ball Era to Mickey Mantle’s booming home runs. Through it all, Stengel’s colorful personality and instantly quotable remarks made him one of baseball’s most beloved characters. He is also, apparently, the manager my mom wishes she could have played for. In 1965, Mets owner Joan Payson gave her box seats to Rhoda Sherbell so the artist could better capture his spirit. Sherbell then talked him into lending her his uniform and shoes, which allowed her to make this sculpture even more realistic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/befab09c-81b4-460c-96a5-eb17bd8f015a/143+-+Vin+Scully.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Voice Of Multiple Generations Josh was lucky enough to have been able to work with one of the voices of his childhood, Vin Scully, when he was with the Dodgers. The two remained friends even after Josh went to the Diamondbacks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f118e29b-ed9e-4b07-bf4f-4cba4092aad0/144+-+Frick.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a765e2ec-7a99-4457-bad0-29a5fa06839c/145+-+Gehrig.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - “This Is A Way That You Can Live Forever” Lou Gehrig is among the players who made donations to the Hall of Fame of a significant amount of their artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/598d333e-7a56-4884-90ad-ed53ad17ce2b/146+-+Brooks.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brooks Robinson Known as “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” Brooks Robinson is regarded as arguably the best defensive third baseman the game has ever seen. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson recalled what it was like to watch his teammate go to work: “He was the best defensive player at any position. I used to stand in the outfield like a fan and watch him make play after play. I used to think, ‘Wow! I can’t believe this.’” Brooks is another player who made a significant donation of artifacts to the Hall of Fame. In this case, the glove he used in 1970 to author one of the greatest defensive performances in World Series history is displayed above another glove you may be familiar with. The one Willie Mays was wearing to make The Catch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2be56c10-37cc-4965-9b72-8b005c01fccb/147+-+Spanish.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Spanish Josh taking Robert Schweppe’s advice to learn Spanish was a life-altering decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab9976d-af95-42ce-a6c6-1de7a918961d/148+-+Sadaharu+Oh.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Travel Abroad In 2015, Josh had the distinct honor of meeting the legendary Sadaharu Oh on a trip to Japan. Oh, a legendary figure in Japanese baseball, holds the record for the most home runs in organized baseball history with 868. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in Japanese baseball history. Oh was inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. “He talked hitting with Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, and Tony LaRussa and we were hanging on his every word. He exudes class in a way that is indescribable.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9afa1b4d-2d38-4356-b4ff-9799612df9f8/149+-+Kreindler.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Graig Kreindler Graig Kreindler, possibly the greatest living baseball artist, was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/018cd770-3706-4336-b70d-9300e4c07549/150+-+Leroy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - LeRoy Neiman LeRoy Neiman was an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screenprints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a28b12e-54ff-40ff-a339-102454a65a2b/151+-+Kadir.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Kadir Nelson Kadir Nelson is a Los Angeles-based painter, illustrator, and author who is best known for his paintings often featured on the covers of The New Yorker magazine, and album covers for Michael Jackson and Drake. His work is focused on African-American culture and history. The New York Times described his work as "sumptuous, deeply affecting work. Nelson’s paintings are drenched in ambience, and often overt symbolism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8791647-936f-49ae-8a9a-5df1f6a14fe1/152+-+Rockwell.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Norman Rockwell Tough Call – also known as Game Called Because of Rain, Bottom of the Sixth, or The Three Umpires – is a 1948 painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, painted for the April 23, 1949, cover of The Saturday Evening Post magazine. It is considered the best known of Rockwell's baseball-themed works, and appears in at least ten Rockwell commentary books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f2547d4-c5b4-49ec-9558-eea92d396d2d/153+-+Paine.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Paine Proffitt Paine Proffitt is an American-born artist best known for his sporting works and for his depiction of the "working man's life". He studied illustration at the University of Brighton in 1994 before moving to England permanently in 2001. Proffitt had moved to Philadelphia when he was 14 after spending his early years in Saigon, Beirut, and Kenya as a result of the work of his father - novelist and war correspondent Nicholas Proffitt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a04ac4d-d660-442b-b747-a16a3d2fac78/154+-+Plaque+Gallery.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Spending time alone in the Plaque Gallery was one of the highlights of the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/609b5108-0ae2-43f7-baf7-571870b9938f/155+-+The+First+Class.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The First Class This is the view at the end of the aisle when you first walk into the Plaque Gallery. It’s a long way away from where you’re standing, but the way the room is laid out, you can’t help but be drawn to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fe4bfd6-a7df-4e5e-964e-df06b9e79484/156+-+The+First+Class.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - First Class, Indeed Two-hundred twenty-six writers cast ballots for the first election. Voters could select up to 10 names from players who starred from 1900 forward. Ty Cobb received 222 votes, the most of any candidate, earning election with 98.23% of the vote. Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner received 215 votes apiece (95.13%), while Christy Mathewson got 205 votes (90.70%). Walter Johnson received 189 votes (83.62%) – 20 more than the 169 necessary to reach the 75% mark needed for induction. Pretty hard to imagine that none of these players were unanimous, when you think about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/203206e0-aa95-4f11-8f23-66dc31ede3b6/157+-+art.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The art gallery on the first floor is a really underrated room in the museum. If you like art, though, it’s a must-see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55d1cfd2-29aa-49e1-8c88-ccf6c715f5b6/158+-+Mom.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Everyone’s Fandom Is Different Sometimes even your own. In 1999, my mom would have probably been fixated on the plaque on the bottom of this photo. In 2024, she was decidedly more interested in the one on the top. It was one of the main plaques she was looking forward to seeing when we started planning this trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c7cbd0a-d643-45c4-8516-6f2ae64e2adf/159+-+Movies.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Up The Ramp Make sure you explore the entire space when you’re at the Hall of Fame. It’s easy to miss the section of the museum that’s up the ramp and around the corner when you’re in the Plaque Gallery, but there is a lot more to see if you take the time to look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c193b02-1249-4fec-82d9-6bdf697c199b/160+-+movies.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Famous Baseball Movies One of the exhibits up that ramp honors many of the famous baseball movies from over the years. Pictured here is the uniform Billy Dee Williams wore in the 1976 movie The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings, which is loosely based on the story of the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. Jay Valentine, who patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Clowns, was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fbbbb83-98b9-4bb6-a2a1-57b88afbf16f/161+-+courtyard.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Courtyard There’s even stuff outside the museum! This somewhat hidden courtyard had multiple statues. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled, and don’t be afraid to explore. You never know what you’re going to find! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28c1361e-fb96-4ab2-8186-47c7b6856bfd/162+-+Souls+Of+The+Game.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball spotlights the decades-long history of Black baseball prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1b0e54f-8dbf-43d1-8505-acf512108968/163+-+Ruth.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Babe Bows Out Babe Ruth was bigger than the game, evolving through deed and legend to become part of the fabric of American culture. Today, a piece of that fabric lives in Cooperstown – a Ruth jersey that he never wore in an official game and yet was seen by millions of fans during Babe’s lifetime. It’s a story – like so many others – that comes alive at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibit Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a73b4a1-014d-430f-8d48-4874dc591bcb/164+-+Ruth.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - June 13, 1948 The exhibit features more than 50 three-dimensional artifacts – none more evocative than the woolen No. 3 jersey acquired by the Hall of Fame on June 13, 1948, the day Ruth’s number was officially retired by the Yankees. “A Hall of Fame official was on the field that day at Yankee Stadium when Ruth gave him the uniform,” said Tom Shieber, the Museum’s senior curator and the lead curator of the new Ruth exhibit. “The photo of Ruth looking out at the field with the number “3” on his back was seen world-wide, and it won a Pulitzer Prize for photographer Nat Fein. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a5ca231-804f-485c-bd51-aec243f8ddf2/164.5+-+Ruth.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Bricks Anyone who knows me well knows I can’t pass up an opportunity to post a picture of some bricks from a historic baseball-related site or two. Here are a couple that are on display in the Babe Ruth exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42fab8f2-a74d-4d72-9df2-cd9f2a63b231/165+-+Women.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Women In Baseball Women have been playing baseball almost as long as men have. Their long connection with the game began in the 1860s and has continued through the efforts of pioneers like Amanda Clement, Jackie Mitchell, Toni Stone, Maria Pepe, and Ila Borders. The popular “Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball” exhibit traces women's roles in the game from 19th-century ballclubs to their present-day involvement – on the field and in baseball's front offices and broadcast booths. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b13e92-7ed9-4f4e-85a2-24177a65415b/166+-+Latin.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out “¡Viva Baseball!” focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing countries of Latin America: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c888167a-b1c3-46fb-a262-a8b11150bb8b/167+-+Sacred+Grounds.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Sacred Ground The third floor used to be the home of Sacred Ground, an exhibit which celebrated the special connection that people feel in their favorite ballpark. This exhibit used sights, sounds, and even smells to remind fans of their favorite ballparks that they grew up around. Featuring more than 200 artifacts and interactive displays spanning 125 years of baseball history and culture, the exhibit took up 1,800 square feet of space. One of the most unique items was the cornerstone from Ebbets Field, which was salvaged when the Brooklyn stadium was met with the wrecking ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a55d4c46-eedd-48bb-90ab-93bf38852250/168+-+Comiskey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Comiskey Pinwheel There was a turnstile from the Polo Grounds and the on-deck circle from Forbes Field, the place where some of baseballs greatest legends previously knelt. Among the most illustrious artifacts in Sacred Ground was this "pinwheel" from the original exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park, installed owner Bill Veeck. Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, who is a former Major League Baseball executive and Minor League Baseball owner known for his creative sales, marketing, and promotions, including Disco Demolition Night, was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd2054e4-866b-4bbc-a3ad-2bf4aee36893/169+-+Yakyu.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out During our visit in December of 2024, the Sacred Ground exhibit was in the process of being uninstalled to make way for the Yakyu | Baseball exhibit, which is set to open in July of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21e517f9-b9b8-43ba-8459-caa501f989b9/170+-+Shoebox+Treasures.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Shoebox Treasures For generations of fans, their love of the National Pastime can be traced to simple pieces of cardboard with an image on one side and numbers on the other. They were our Shoebox Treasures, and their story is one of the most celebrated in the game's history. The Museum,'s exhibit examines the history, design, and production of cards, the 1980s boom that turned a child’s hobby into a multi-million dollar industry, and the joy and camaraderie that so many collectors have found in the hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bf124a2-b224-423b-b478-3518ab583a8d/171+-+more+art.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - More Artwork The exhibit is divided into four primary themes: An exploration of the long history of baseball cards; the evolution of baseball card design; how and why fans of all ages collect baseball cards; and those cards that are considered “Holy Grails.” Shoebox Treasures features more than 2,000 cards on display, as well as some original artwork, like that of Mike Noren (aka Gummy Arts) and Tim Carroll. Tim Carroll, who is a world-renowned baseball card pop artist who has his works displayed in multiple museums across the country, including the Sandy Koufax piece in this photo, was our guest for Episode 10 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3eb5b353-b6a4-4545-ad96-4440733ad92f/172+-+lockers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a32115f-e987-43b6-b616-1915892923b4/173+-+Guardians.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Cleveland Guardians Some of the items in the Guardians locker in December of 2024 included the jersey Rajai Davis wore when he hit his game-tying 2-run home run in the 8th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, the cap Terry Francona wore during the last game he managed for the team in October of 2023, and the drum John Adams beat to rally crowds at home games from 1973 through 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc5c96ae-600c-4f7b-9cb1-bb41cdb0910d/174+-+One+Shining+Moment.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - One Shining Moment Michael Jordan’s “one shining moment” came on March 29, 1982 when he hit the game-winning shot in the NCAA Championship Game for UNC. He went on to a pretty decent basketball career after that. While he may not have a plaque in Cooperstown, the bat he used as a member of the minor league Birmingham Barons in 1994 is on display at the Hall of Fame. Did you seriously think I wasn’t going to find a way to get this picture in these liner notes? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82a1d5ff-a229-477b-8644-078264689454/175+-+Cooperstown+scenes.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Scenic Cooperstown Even off-season, there was still a beauty and a magic to Main Street in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9432739c-3c8d-4baf-b745-87bd9b9dd1e6/176+-+Willis+Monie.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Willis Monie Books I know I talked about Willis Monie Books at the start of this episode, but seriously, you have to carve some time out during your next trip to Cooperstown to browse this place. 139 Main Street www.wilmonie.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2e371ab-51d9-4c93-8ef8-80a05bd34094/177+-+The+Lake.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Everyone rants and raves about “the lake” and it’s like, how great can it be? It’s just a lake. I’ve seen water before. And then you go to this one and you’re like… oh. Yeah. They were right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01c0d303-56cf-4009-8062-0696dba028bc/178+-+Glasses.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - HOF Glasses There is one glass for every living Hall of Famer in the lower level hallway at The Otesaga Hotel. When one of the living Hall of Famers passes away, a single white rose is placed in their glass, as you can see here with Willie Mays’ glass, since he passed away in June of 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73b85d75-a800-459b-b5be-5cc4d390882c/179+-+The+Otesaga+Hotel.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Otesaga Hotel Located along over 700 feet of Lake Otsego shoreline, The Otesaga Hotel opened its luxurious doors for the first time on July 12, 1909. Of its beauty, a local newspaper wrote: “No more fortunate location could have been chosen for a hotel. From its windows and broad veranda, a view as charming as the Divine Hand ever painted fills the eye.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd738f0d-5b89-4e88-993c-fdc2db964748/180+-+postcard.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Postcards Today, The Otesaga Hotel exudes elegance in its signature Georgian Revival details, a stately wood-columned portico, and dome-capped cupola. The Otesaga (Iroquois for “a place of meetings”) and its Leatherstocking Golf Course have drawn visitors for generations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6566063e-e748-4588-a150-c4d34c77901a/181+-+Nicholson+Bridge.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tunkhannock Viaduct In 1912, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad began construction of the Tunkhannock Viaduct and the population of Nicholson swelled from 700 to more than 2,000. By the end of October 1915, after 2.5 years of around-the-clock work, the Tunkhannock Viaduct was complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03f2dda5-1c50-4520-885b-7aeae23bfa65/182+-+Nicholson+Bridge.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Nicholson Bridge The Tunkhannock Viaduct, also known as Nicholson Bridge, was 240 feet high and a half-mile long, with piers 40 to 90 feet below ground, and a parapet 3 feet thick and 4 feet high to enclose the double tracks on the 34 feet wide deck. At the time, it was said to be the largest concrete structure in the world. The American Society of Civil Engineers dubbed it the “Ninth Wonder of the World.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7e6320c-389a-469f-a593-cf7c9154bb24/183+-+Nicholson+Bridge.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out The architects of Yankee Stadium are speculated to have been influenced by the bridge’s look when they designed the stadium’s iconic frieze, eight years after the bridge was completed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc58ca19-2199-4e1c-a81c-fe593cf56318/184+-+Shoeless+Joe.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - In Or Out? Or Both? While Joe Jackson may not have a plaque in the Plaque Gallery at the Hall of Fame (yet), he is certainly well-represented in the museum. It is my contention that his NOT being inducted into the Hall of Fame has kept Joe more famous all these years than he ever would have been had he been inducted at the time of his contemporaries like Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker, or Sam Crawford. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3609049-e0a8-4eae-9f4a-d66adf58fbae/185+-+The+Pitch+That+Killed.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - The Pitch That Killed Buy Mike Sowell’s fantastic book The Pitch That Killed: The Story of Carl Mays, Ray Chapman, and the Pennant Race of 1920 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6f06fb5-a3b8-405e-90d2-1e90d5b32c51/186+-+Cleveland.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Josh had one huge image on an otherwise big, blank wall in his office: the panoramic photo of the Addie Joss Benefit Game players at League Park in 1911 (featuring Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was a member of the Cleveland Naps at the time). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/825a8d3a-a260-4f4b-b119-122554b4b4d7/187+-+On+This+Date.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out One of these posts got a lot more engagement on social media than the other. Can you guess which one? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92a8dc0f-3749-4826-b174-07b745285c9b/188+-+Lajoie.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Napoleon Lajoie “Lajoie was one of the most rugged hitters I ever faced. He’d take your leg off with a line drive, turn the third baseman around like a swinging door, and powder the hand of the left fielder.” – Cy Young Napoleon Lajoie, hitter extraordinaire, sublime fielder, manager and executive, has been described as “the first superstar in American League history.” And indeed, to concentrate on his hitting or his fielding is to miss his all-around talent as a player. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6cecd38-7ef0-4e51-9bc4-f1bd6b2b6700/189+-+Speaker.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Tris Speaker “At the crack of the bat he'd be off with his back to the infield, and then he'd turn and glance over his shoulder at the last minute and catch the ball so easy it looked like there was nothing to it, nothing at all." – Smoky Joe Wood By the time Tris Speaker turned 22, he was already one of the best center fielders in the game, a player highly regarded for both his work at the plate and in the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e2ad5fd-ff9a-4338-a1ee-a81bc6681608/190+-+Christy.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Christy Mathewson He was the first great pitching star of the modern era, and is still the standard by which greatness is measured. Christy Mathewson changed the way people perceived baseball players by his actions on and off the field. His combination of power and poise – his tenacity and temperance – remains baseball’s ideal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f909e934-f531-4ee3-a23f-97943d082b47/191+-+Satchel+Paige.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Satchel Paige The numbers do not do justice to his legend. The stories, however, keep alive the memory of a man who became bigger than the game. Leroy “Satchel” Paige was bigger than mere numbers. Apocryphal stories surround Satchel Paige, who was born July 7, 1906 in Mobile, Alabama. He began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s after being discharged from reform school. The lanky 6-foot-3 right-hander quickly became the biggest drawing card in Negro baseball, able to overpower batters with a buggy-whipped fastball. Paige, a showman at heart, bounced from team-to-team in search of the best paycheck – often pitching hundreds of games a year between regular Negro Leagues assignments and barnstorming opportunities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1db132ae-75b7-4a59-bcca-4931277b425e/192+-+Josh+Gibson.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Josh Gibson The applause Josh Gibson received should have been louder. He was considered the best power hitter of his era in the Negro Leagues and perhaps even across the entire sport. His introduction to organized baseball came at age 16. In 1929, the Crawford Colored Giants, a semi-pro team in Pittsburgh, convinced him to join their squad. He became a professional by accident July 25, 1930 while sitting in the stands. When Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing injured his hand, Gibson was invited to replace him because his titanic home runs were already well known in Pittsburgh. “If someone had told me Josh hit the ball a mile, I would have believed them,” said Sam Jethroe, who starred for the Cleveland Buckeyes. His legendary feats with the Homestead Grays have many experts regarding Gibson as the sport’s greatest home run hitter. Negro Leagues statistics of the time are somewhat incomplete, but the legend of Gibson’s power has always been larger than life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad351f51-fff1-4fdc-ad47-2b8a6e6d6315/193+-+Library.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - My Baseball Library I’d venture to guess that at least 100 books in my baseball library have been purchased from Willis Monie Books in Cooperstown over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0082d60-ad8f-4b45-b1bd-b4a18b68e460/194+-+Jane+Forbes+Clark.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Jane Forbes Clark Jane Forbes Clark is Chairman of the Board of Directors of The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. A member of the Board since 1992 and Chairman since 2000, she provides substantial museum expertise, philanthropic insight and management skill in this leadership position. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1825eb40-6305-4892-9e6e-06cea953ce83/195+-+The+Lake.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28138eca-4108-4b84-bdbb-e1facea208a2/196+-+Council+Rock.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Council Rock Park A historical marker denotes Council Rock as a meeting place for Native Americans, an idea mentioned by James Fenimore Cooper in his novel The Pioneers. Members of the Mohawk and Oneida Nations occupied this region both before and after the arrival of settlers and likely used the area around the lake for seasonal hunting and fishing camps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b246480-057d-40c4-acfa-47c8179a8af2/197+-+Kingfisher+Tower.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Kingfisher Tower Kingfisher Tower is a 60-foot-tall folly, built by Edward Clark in 1876, on the eastern shore of Otsego Lake at Point Judith. It is a Gothic Revival structure built by Clark "to beautify the lake" and "to provide construction jobs during an economic turndown". The structure was designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3055e5c6-46c2-4ff7-b52e-e93b08f281a3/198+-+Rocking+Chairs.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Rocking Chairs To sit in these chairs on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel, knowing dozens of Hall of Famers have sat in them before me, was a pretty cool feeling. The view wasn’t bad, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3964d438-c58a-41c4-8b38-a5bf10c46697/199+-+Hall+of+Famers.JPG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Rocking Chairs From left to right: Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, Bob DiBiasio, and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield spend some time on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel, rocking in the exact chairs I sat in on this trip. Bob DiBiasio, who is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, and has been a public relations executive with Cleveland for all but one season since 1979, was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cc213c5-9651-4e66-80bb-a43bbccc29d3/200+-+Women+in+Baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out My mom, looking at one of the displays within the Diamond Dreams: Women In Baseball exhibit at the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f8faf2f-0852-428c-a4a7-d670f140cb94/201+-+Nancy+Faust.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Nancy Faust Nancy Faust’s picture from the display shown above. Nancy, who is a legendary organist most famous for her 41-year career playing for the Chicago White Sox from 1970 through 2010 during which she invented walk-up music and popularized the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch, was our guest for Episode 1 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. You can also follow Nancy online: Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87e694ec-b180-404f-9939-7eb61da25b0a/202+-+Nancy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Mother’s Day, 2025 Nancy Faust is scheduled to play her organ at six White Sox Sunday home games in 2025. The first was Sunday, May 11th, which happened to be Mother’s Day. I drove back to Chicago to see Nancy play with my mom. It was a nearly perfect day. The full list of games Nancy is scheduled to play in 2025: - Sunday, May 11 vs. Miami - Sunday, May 25 vs. Texas - Sunday, June 8 vs. Kansas City - Sunday, June 29 vs. San Francisco - Sunday, July 13 vs. Cleveland - Sunday, August 10 vs. Cleveland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08fe7860-80e1-487b-af4f-e01596227ced/202+-+Brian+Powers.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Brian Powers Brian Powers, who is a licensed architect and the man behind the incredible Bandbox Ballparks project which digitally reconstructs long-forgotten ballparks to preserve their histories, was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 4. You can listen to that episode HERE. You can also follow Brian online: Twitter Facebook Instagram The Bandbox Ballparks website YouTube https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/550e5798-e73e-44fa-86d1-ffef2fab93ae/204+-+SABR.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - SABR 53 My mom and I will be in Dallas/Ft. Worth for the SABR convention from June 25-29. If you’re planning on being there, make sure you find us and say hello! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0d75bce-9e4f-4ca9-a671-f44fe3e54cfd/205+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17ff1676-29de-42eb-a66b-6fc907d75c84/206+-+giveaway.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a souvenir booklet from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, printed in 1949? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5481b2e-9fd1-4d88-b05a-3d86aa7dc7a1/207+-+tener.jpg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - John K. Tener John Kinley Tener was an Irish-born American politician and Major League Baseball player and executive. He served as the 25th governor of Pennsylvania from 1911 until 1915. During his baseball career, Tener played as a pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association, the Chicago White Stockings of the National League, and the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players' League. After his playing career, he served as President of the National League. When John Tener came to Cooperstown in 1916, he visited a cow pasture owned by Elihu Phinney. The Phinney lot was a plot of ground once believed to have been used by Abner Doubleday and other Cooperstown schoolboys to play the first game of baseball in 1839. Tener suggested that the cow pasture be turned into a memorial to Doubleday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70a41625-d4ce-4705-abfe-12374495737e/208+-+Pitcher.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dr. Ernest L. Pitcher On September 6th, 1920, Doubleday Field officially opened. The first game was between Milford and Cooperstown. National League president John Heydler was present and even umpired the first inning. A vote in 1920 to buy the lot was turned down by the Cooperstown taxpayers, 204 to 151. With the lease set to expire, a fundraising effort to raise the $5,000 necessary to acquire the lot was led by Dr. Ernest L. Pitcher, a local dentist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f43ffe-b458-46b1-b53b-b5c41c86dd65/209+-+Heydler.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - John Heydler John Arnold Heydler was an American executive in Major League Baseball. After working as a National League umpire, he was the secretary to the NL president and then became the secretary-treasurer of the NL before assuming the NL presidency himself. Heydler made early contributions to baseball recordkeeping and statistics. In a letter dated October 13, 1926, Heydler wrote, “I only hope that the people of Cooperstown will be able to hold on to this historic property. It may be years from now that professional baseball will honor itself by doing something to perpetuate this Doubleday Field, but I have faith that eventually something will be done. This, of course, is a personal expression and not official.” John Heydler’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee6723c5-e5bf-4f4f-8de8-e37d51e3ecfa/210+-+Entrance.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Entrance In June of 1927, additional property was purchased for an entrance to Doubleday Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e19d367-945b-447d-bda3-bb26e7b7ba82/211+-+WPA.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - WPA Changes Beginning in 1933, Doubleday Field was again seeing changes, as not only were additional parcels of land purchased to expand left field, which was short of regulation size, but under a Works Progress Administration program, the entire field was graded, a new diamond was constructed, the area was fenced in, and the entrance was landscaped. (Photo courtesy of the Smith & Telfer Collection, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3571914b-71ad-4065-bbc2-b3973b4d46ca/212+-+1934+reopening.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 1934 Reopening On August 3, 1934, Lt. Gov. M. William Bray of New York formally reopened the field, which the Associated Press called “one of the finest playing grounds in Eastern New York” when it reported on the story later that week. (Photo courtesy of the Smith & Telfer Collection, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7936dba3-ecb6-40b7-9c02-0a629ccc344d/213+-+1938+Grandstand.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Grandstand In preparation for the numerous events it would be hosting, Doubleday Field, thanks to another WPA program, underwent a facelift beginning in 1938, which included building a steel and concrete grandstand, installing new wooden bleachers, seeding the field, laying a drainage system, setting out a new board fence for the outfield, and constructing stone masonry for the rest of the facility. This work would give the field a seating capacity of nearly 10,000. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cb52c14-6210-4d00-8b0f-b5aab4be9287/214+-+1940+HOF+game.jpeg Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Hall Of Fame Game The 1939 All-Star game proved such a success that it prompted discussions of future games that would bring crowds back to Cooperstown for subsequent summers. Here, members of the Boston Red Sox warm up prior to the June 13, 1940 Hall of Fame Game vs. the Cubs. That day began a 68-year tradition of the annual Hall of Fame Game, an in-season exhibition between two major league teams in Cooperstown. (Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcb2ebca-f06d-4adb-a6b1-304e2dc39afa/215+-+Dimensions.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Dimensions Stars such as Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Henry Aaron would all homer in the hitter-friendly confines of Doubleday Field. The field’s dimensions were just 296’ to left field, 336’ to left center, 390’ to dead center, 350’ to right center, and 312’ to right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f624f9bf-2f7b-4074-a116-57a5c1449806/216+-+stands.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - New Stands In 1959, the first base section of the stands was donated by Thomas Yawkey, owner of the Boston Red Sox at the time. Doubleday Field has seen other changes, including new sections having replaced the old, uncovered stands, where only the grandstand remains from when the refurbished park opened in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/000bc91e-44eb-4a43-836d-9e5a1fac369e/217+-+Doubleday.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Idyllic Setting Today, the fabled 6,600-seat ball field, situated between Susquehanna, Pioneer, Elm, and Main streets, surrounded in its idyllic setting with quaint houses and majestic trees, is not only a destination for baseball fans, but baseball teams from around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd1d6d24-612c-400f-9819-abc8ca48e3be/218+-+Doubleday.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Make it stand out Owned and operated by the village of Cooperstown, Doubleday Field will play host to more than 350 baseball games this year, ranging from youth baseball, to high school and collegiate tournaments, to senior leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab6ff875-a624-4e00-b92d-af9fd34fed52/219+-+My+First+Game.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - My First Game At Doubleday My first time seeing a game actually being played at Doubleday Field in person was on May 25, 2024 when 14 Hall of Famers and two dozen legendary players – many of whom had played on the historic field throughout the years – came together for the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, which paid tribute to the legends of Black baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa15eb6f-af57-463d-9eb3-adf50a38e92b/220+-+East+West.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2024 East-West Classic Ryan Howard went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to win the game’s MVP award and lead Team East past Team West 5-4 in front of 5,740 fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a7b00dc-6f37-4593-9e75-e9afa53365c1/221+-+Been+There.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Been There, Done That (kinda) I had been to Doubleday Field a number of times before that, and had been inside the stadium to take pictures and walk around, but until last May, I had never actually seen a game there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a568a6b-7da7-46b1-ab8a-d079068f994d/222+-+William.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - William Peebles Sitting in the stands with friend of the show William Peebles of Huntington Base Ball Co., I couldn’t help but think how cool it would be to PLAY on that field. After asking a few questions to some people in the know, I believe that may be a possibility. William Peebles, who is the owner, founder, and craftsman of Huntington Base Ball Co. and a historian of the evolution of the baseball, was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bfea849-387f-4dd1-9ec3-b943a03a8617/223+-+2021-10-30+3.JPG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Vintage Games I have organized and played in 1860s style vintage games at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville, SC, at the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston, GA, and at historic League Park in Cleveland, OH. I know what it takes to make an event like that happen. For 2026, in honor of Josh Rawitch, hosting a game like that at Doubleday Field has moved from my bucket list, over to my to-do list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0d95654-e779-4d16-ae02-c30303488b8c/224+-+Doubleday+Field.JPEG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - 2026 If you’re listening to this or reading this right now and you feel like you can make it to Cooperstown next year to play in a vintage baseball game, SEND ME AN E-MAIL and I’ll add you to the list of potential players for next year. If enough people are interested, we’ll figure out a time that works best for all of us, and a time where we can reserve the field, and we’ll make it happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/869ae1c0-0b65-468d-94d3-fe82e9d04d23/225+-+Lemon+Peel.JPG Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - How To Play If you don’t know what 1860s style vintage baseball is, I promise, it’s not intimidating at all and people of all ages, skill levels, and genders can play. I wrote up a little description of the rules RIGHT HERE, so you can check them out if you want to before committing. But for real, it’s just going to be a bunch of friends having a good time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00e0306a-17ce-4da6-9160-dfaa57908383/226+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0409 - Josh Rawitch - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0408 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d79b4c1-3f01-4ce3-ba76-2bcf1fb17b7f/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5271e02b-46ba-4a6e-a7a3-5a99043c3f11/square.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio Bob DiBiasio and me after recording our interview at his home in Solon, Ohio. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b768295-69fb-45c0-830f-381c8c24ade4/01+-+Diamond+King.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Diamond King This episode is brought to you by The Diamond King, a documentary by filmmaker Marq Evans about legendary baseball artist Dick Perez. Website Watch The Trailer To see the full list of places where you can rent or buy the movie, CLICK HERE. Instagram Twitter Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a8da61f-8c1e-482b-9fee-ef57fc936e3b/02+-+baseketball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Local Kid Bob is a Lakewood, Ohio native who graduated from Lakewood High School in 1973. He earned degrees in journalism and education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1977. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21c42a4f-fa22-4341-be86-b8de3094fdbd/03+-+Transcript.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Transcript While at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob was sports editor of the school paper The Transcript, the student Sports Information Director, and did color on OWU football and basketball broadcasts. He also played one year of basketball and two years of baseball at OWU. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d4c654c-0cdb-452e-9ac2-069d6be001ac/04+-+Fremont+News+Messenger.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Journalism In 1978 he earned his Masters Degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and started a stint as Assistant Sports Editor of the Fremont (OH) News-Messenger before joining the Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7897e3d-0201-4cae-9bed-3f27cc652356/04+-+1980.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Year 47 Bob has been a public relations executive with Cleveland since 1979, making 2025 his 47th season in Major League Baseball. He started with the Indians in 1979 as Assistant PR Director, and was named Director of PR in 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6aa2bd6-6529-4206-a949-02761e7902bc/06+-+1987+Braves.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1987 Atlanta Braves In 1986, Bob was named the Public Relations Director to Sports Illustrated’s Dream Team. His lone season away from Cleveland was 1987 when he served as PR Director for the Atlanta Braves, but he came back to Cleveland following that season and was named Vice President of Public Relations for the Indians in 1988. Bob was promoted to his current position in 2011. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95116b40-c8aa-4c2b-85f1-1d6236cbd23f/07+-+Fishel.jpeg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Awards and Recognition Bob received the Mel Harder Distinguished Service Award for Community Involvement in 1997, and was inducted into the Lakewood High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999. Bob was the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence in Major League Baseball, and he received the ALS Cleveland Chapter Lou Gehrig “Iron Horse” Award for Community Service in 2009. Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5af0d870-64aa-44dc-ad5c-011d8ddf6248/08+-+Jeremy.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jeremy Feador Jeremy Feador is the official historian of the Cleveland Guardians, and was the guest on Episode 8 of Season 3 of My Baseball History. During our interview, we spent more than two hours tracing the history of professional baseball in Cleveland all the way back to the 1860s and ‘70s with the Forest Citys. Then we moved chronologically through all of the different teams and team names Cleveland has had over the years, stopping along the way to talk about the great individual players who made up those teams. Listen to Jeremy’s full episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6bc2296-5648-4a4d-ac58-596ee0bdd473/09+-+1995+Indians.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out With this being the 30th anniversary of the iconic 1995 Indians, I thought Bob DiBiasio would be a fun person to chat with to get some perspective about that specific group, and everything they achieved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11eb4192-9b86-41ef-8728-e20343f6b0dd/10+-+Sparky+DiBiasio.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sparky DiBiasio The field at Euclid had previously been known as "Euclid Stadium" or "Panther Stadium" before being renamed to honor Bob’s uncle, Dr. Spartoco "Sparky" DiBiasio, who was the first Head football coach of the newly consolidated Euclid High School in 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf2c3d76-0c9e-4e15-b1db-690916ea5a18/11+-+Anthony+DiBiasio.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Anthony DiBiasio Bob’s dad, Anthony DiBiasio, is a Lakewood Schools legend. A World War II veteran, he worked with the school system from 1948-85. During that span, he was a teacher and advisor. In addition to acting as an assistant baseball and basketball coach, Bob’s dad was also a football coach at Lakewood High School before leaving to direct the reading center at Lakewood High School. “Tony DiBiasio Square,” which is located at the corner of Franklin and Bunts roads, was named in his honor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba242ab0-9b52-497f-a935-4cb30c111932/12+-+Brothers.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Brothers Dan (right), who is six years older than Bob, went on to become a college president for almost 30 years in the state of Ohio at Wilmington and Ohio Northern. The middle brother, Tony (left), is three years older than Bob. Tony was a child psychologist who had a private practice and was also in the Fairview School systems in their guidance counseling programs. He was also an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University. Bob (center), the youngest, went into sports. Despite their differences in age, the older DiBiasio brothers allowed young Bobby to tag along and play with them growing up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fe72406-4ba9-4858-ad4e-14b46bc6a453/13+-+Bob+Gain.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Gain Bob Gain was a defensive tackle for the Browns (1952, 1954-1964), starting in five Pro Bowl games in the span of seven years. Gain played tackle, middle guard, and end and was a standout defender at tackle, end, and middle guard. Cleveland led the NFL in many defensive categories in his 12 years. The Browns won two-thirds of their games and three NFL championships during his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/260b42fe-bd0f-4bcb-9c6b-8ad533a640fa/14+-+OWU+baseball.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out While he was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, Bob played one year of basketball and two years of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8166ee2-e2bf-43bc-96dc-698e1ac12fb0/15+-+1971+home+opener.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - April 8, 1971 Ohio Gov. John J. Gilligan, wearing an Indians jacket, warms up for first pitch at the Cleveland Indians home opening day ceremonies on April 8, 1971 against the Boston Red Sox. Fans were treated to a classic Northeast Ohio spring day, with a low of 23 and a high of 62. Nevertheless, more than 40,000 fans turned out at Cleveland Municipal Stadium as the Tribe faced the Red Sox. Bob was one of them, as he skipped classes that day to attend the game, meaning he was in the house to see Gomer Hodge’s heroics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcb2ef5a-caa2-435b-bf89-9297dff15f01/16+-+Gomer+Hodge.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Gomer Hodge Gomer Hodge couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to his major-league career. Down 2-0 going into the 8th, Hodge - a rookie who days earlier had turned 27 - faced Sonny Siebert. Hodge hit a double and would later score on John Lowenstein’s single. In the 9th, with Ray Fosse on third and Lou Camilli on second, Boston’s Ken Tatum fired a 1-2 fastball, and Hodge smacked a two-run single. Fosse and Camilli scored, and the Indians won, 3-2. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4ecc6b6-556a-4ec3-ac16-bfaf36071807/17+-+Russell+Schneider.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Russell Schneider Russell Scheider was the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Indians beat reporter from 1964-78. He was tough, dogged, and competitive to the point of combativeness. Schneider also covered the Cleveland Browns for a time in the 1980s and became great friends with former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano. After Schneider assumed the beat, Browns owner Art Modell said effusively, "Welcome to the family." "I'm here to cover the team," Russ said gruffly. "Not to be part of your family." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f518bd67-4dbd-45fd-824d-ad2e39cc2225/18+-+Transcript.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Transcript Bob earned degrees in journalism and education at Ohio Wesleyan University, and while he was there, he was the sports editor of The Transcript, but he also played one year of basketball and three years of baseball. Then he got his Masters Degree in Journalism from the Ohio State University. Believe it or not, Bob always knew he wanted to be the PR guy for the Indians. 1974 OWU yearbook 1975 OWU yearbook 1976 OWU yearbook 1977 OWU yearbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a8a75ce-8b24-4f94-bb5b-e21dae9018bc/98+-+Phi+Gamma+Delta.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Both of Bob’s older brothers were Phi Gamma Delta, so Bob followed in their footsteps. Here he is in the 1975 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60178f5b-0d58-46a0-a2ab-8d8314fc9dd1/19+-+Harry+Jones.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Harry Jones Harry Jones was a nationally known baseball writer covering the Indians for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in the 1950s, and in the 1960s he became the Indians TV play-by-play man. When Gabe Paul came from the Yankees to become president of the Indians in the 1970s, he wanted a veteran PR guy and hired Harry. Bob was in contact with Harry all through college, all through his time working on his master's degree at Ohio State, all the time he was in Fremont, telling Harry he wanted his job some day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c873e50-2d57-4dc4-8163-178669b6eb59/20+-+Frank+Shannon.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Frank Shannon Frank Shannon served as a player-coach for the Youngstown Bears in the National Basketball League during the 1946–47 season. Shannon was also a long-time high school and college coach in Ohio, serving at several different high schools as well as Ohio Wesleyan University. He coached men's basketball at Ohio Wesleyan for 21 years and men's tennis for 7 years. His basketball teams won 214 games, ranking him sixth all-time among Ohio Athletic Conference coaches. In 1962, he was named Ohio College Coach of the Year after guiding the Bishops to a 21-3 record and the OAC championship. His tennis teams won 6 consecutive OAC championships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5594c1b-b239-4fd4-bd54-5360f1ed2fcc/22+-+basketball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Self-Awareness In preparation for his sophomore season at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob noticed that the incoming freshmen recruits were more athletic than Bob could have ever dreamed to be. It was then that he realized a professional basketball career was most likely not in his future, confirmed by a pep talk from Coach Shannon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b028a3b-7af0-4fdd-b862-ac2cbe7bc76f/23+-+jeremy.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out If you’re new to the show, or if you just haven’t had a chance to listen to my episode with Guardians team historian Jeremy Feador, you can listen to it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f90e04ff-c9bc-4a65-985b-76478af90cb6/24+-+Clinch.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Clinching the Division The Cleveland Indians hosted the Baltimore Orioles at Jacobs FIeld on September 8, 1995. The game was broadcast on NBC as part of "The Baseball Network." The Tribe's record was a ridiculous 86-37 coming into the game, leading the Royals in the AL Central by a whopping 22.5 game margin. Cleveland won 3-2, clinching their first playoff berth since 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f30c638f-72d0-4ea1-8bef-fc401d3058f5/25+-+Espinosa.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Álvaro Espinoza Although a free swinger, Álvaro Espinoza was a good bat handler and contact hitter. A sure-handed fielder, he had a strong throwing arm and found many ways to turn a double play, as well as his concentration and knowledge of the game were his main assets during his 12-year career. Espinoza was also noted for his bubble gum hat antics, as well as other practical jokes he and teammate Wayne Kirby used to play on the 1995 Cleveland Indians. Álvaro Espinoza’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/494bca2a-fe34-4e23-8dd4-ee5f2130d1fb/26+-+Game+Time.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Game Time It may have been all fun and games in the locker room to a certain point, but about 30 minutes before the first pitch, the music would get turned off, and everybody would get in the zone. That intense focus struck fear into Indians opponents, and by mid-May of 1995, visiting teams didn’t want to come to Jacobs Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f56267-1d6e-46ae-a2ca-e210068f0712/27+-+John+Hart.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - John Hart In 1989, John Hart joined the Cleveland Indians as a Special Assignment Scout. Hart spent the two seasons as Director of Baseball Operations, but on September 18, 1991, he replaced the retiring Hank Peters as general manager. In 1993, Hart became Executive Vice President of the Indians, as well. In 1994, he was named “Executive of the Year” by The Sporting News, becoming only the second Cleveland executive to have won the award (Bill Veeck, 1948). He followed it up by being named “Executive of the Year” in 1995, as well, becoming only the third person to win the award in back-to-back years. Hart was the team's GM through 2001. John Hart’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9ba7370-56ce-45a8-8aa3-1e5b43822399/28+-+Hank+Peters.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hank Peters Hank Peters (right) did two tours with the Indians. He was the director of player development from 1966-71. He then returned as general manager in November 1987, acting in that role until September 1991. Peters convinced owner Dick Jacobs to invest heavily in the farm system. Peters then made a trade that set the foundation of Cleveland’s baseball revival by trading Joe Carter to San Diego for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga at the winter meetings in 1989. Hank Peters’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e473f82-d8cb-4e3a-8304-caca501140ed/29+-+John+Hart+manager.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - John Hart, Manager John Hart didn’t want to be a front office guy. He wanted to be in uniform, and managing the team on the field. He did so for 19 games during the 1989 season, leading the team to an 8-11 record, but Hank Peters had other plans for Hart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25f8656d-c7ec-4181-a0eb-cbf25fa184e3/30+-+Dick+Jacobs.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dick Jacobs Richard E. “Dick” Jacobs was the majority owner of the Cleveland Indians from December 1986 until February 2000. He purchased the team with his older brother, David H. Jacobs, from the estate of the late F.J. “Steve” O’Neill in December 1986 for $35.5 million. Jacobs oversaw the restoration of the Indians to on-the-field and at-the-box-office success following three decades of mediocrity. Dick Jacobs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d24ab6e5-f21d-4a2b-9c35-7f1ce28d5ab8/31+-+Dolan.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Larry Dolan Lawrence J. “Larry” Dolan was the principal owner of the Cleveland Guardians from 2000 until his death in 2025. During his time as owner, the team had periods of competitiveness, including playoff runs in 2007 and 2013, and making it to the World Series in 2016, as well as periods without success, including several seasons with over 90 losses. While the team's payrolls were among the highest in MLB during Jacobs' final years as owner, at times they had been among the lowest under Dolan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4326a6ae-0e28-42f4-83a1-dcf1e69640df/32+-+Paul+Dolan.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Paul Dolan After graduating from law school, Paul Dolan was hired as an attorney for his father's law firm (Thrasher, Dinsmore, and Dolan), eventually becoming a partner in 1992. Upon his father taking control of the team, Paul was hired as a vice president and general counsel. In 2004, he was promoted to team president. Though officially listed as Owner/Chairman/CEO by the team, the Guardians are considered to be a family asset, purchased through various Dolan Family trusts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef5f8873-5284-4a2e-b66a-5e163f2a6cae/33+-+Chris+Antonetti.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Chris Antonetti Chris Antonetti worked in the front office of the Montreal Expos in 1998, but has worked for the Guardians franchise since 1999. Before the 2010 season, Executive VP/GM Mark Shapiro announced his promotion to team general manager at season's end, with chairman/CEO Paul Dolan naming Antonetti as Shapiro's successor. On October 6, 2015, the Cleveland franchise announced the promotion of Antonetti to president of baseball operations along with the promotion of assistant general manager Mike Chernoff to general manager. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbefce02-e439-4d80-aef6-9a6fd37b61d8/34+-+Mike+Chernoff.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mike Chernoff Mike Chernoff attended Princeton University, where he played shortstop for the Tigers baseball team. He took an internship to work in the Indians' front office and remained with the team. He served as the director of baseball relations, and was promoted to assistant general manager in Cleveland in October 2010. In 2014, he declined an opportunity to interview for the general manager position with the San Diego Padres. He has filled that role for the Guardians since October of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acdfd842-d476-4fdb-a863-4b4eee9cbf57/35+-+Dan+O%27Dowd.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dan O’Dowd Dan O'Dowd was the Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager of the Indians, working for the team from 1987 to 1998. Dan oversaw the Indians scouting and player development needs, and under his tutelage, the Indians were named “Organization of the Year” in 1992 by Baseball America. Along with John Hart, Dan O’Dowd played a pivotal role in Cleveland’s defining decision to lock its young, emerging talent into long term contracts. Dan O’Dowd’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1901607-54f5-42df-b17b-7c489ab52565/36+-+Arbitration.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Arbitration Left-handed starter Greg Swindell was the last player to beat the Indians in salary arbitration, winning a salary of $2.025 million in 1991. Swindell won his hearing, but came away mad because of critical remarks made by the Indians’ attorney. The Tribe had offered just $1.4 million. The meetings were so contentious, however, that John Hart and Dan O'Dowd felt they had to do something to avoid the process in the future. Their solution was to offer players multiyear deals before they reached the required service time to be eligible for arbitration, producing the longest sustained run of success in franchise history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d2d12bc-4d27-4bfb-b0c5-2169c1afd80c/38+-+Multiple+multi-year+deals.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Multiple Multi-Year Deals The Tribe’s new strategy was so groundbreaking, there was an article in the March 30, 1992 Sports Illustrated by Peter King about it titled “Tribe Of The Future: By Offering Multiyear Deals, The Cleveland Indians Bank On Their Best Young Players.” “In negotiations with some agents with tough reputations, the Indians got a dozen deals done in a five-week frenzy that ended on March 12. Talks are continuing with the 13th player, slugging outfielder Albert Belle.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e855321a-06e4-49fe-b06f-ebf1642aad26/37+-+Bauer.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Trevor Bauer When Trevor Bauer took the Indians to arbitration in 2018, it was just the third time the team had gone to arbitration with a player since 1991 when they went with Swindell (who won) and second baseman Jerry Browne (who lost). The Indians also went with right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Josh Tomlin in 2014, with the team winning both cases. In each of those cases, they took a file-and-trial approach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7565c96a-f9a8-440c-91fe-ae1148020e2a/39+-+Joey.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joey Belle When John Hart came into the organization, he took a hard look at their minor league teams, top to bottom. He felt like the only guy in the entire farm system with real potential was some kid named Joey Belle. While he had an attitude, the directive was for everyone to just put up with it, because he was so good. Belle’s 1990 season was interrupted by a rehab stay. Re-emerging clean and healthy, Joey Belle began going by his given first name, Albert, upon leaving the facility. He made Cleveland’s roster for good at the start of the 1991 season, and in 123 games that year, he batted .282 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64a1f2f3-a0a3-4803-81ba-53022711b402/41+-+Rick+Manning.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - “Archie” Rick Manning played for the Cleveland Indians (1975–1983) and Milwaukee Brewers (1983–1987), and has been a color commentator for Cleveland Guardians telecasts since 1990. When you listen to broadcasts, you may hear Manning referred to as “Arch” or “Archie.” This became his nickname because of another professional athlete who also has the name of Manning: former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Rick Manning’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38fe5674-fd9d-43e0-8453-ed950bda356e/41+-+batting+cage.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Nobody Worked Harder Albert would spend hours in the batting cage, arriving at the complex earlier than anyone else, and already having a full sweat going before his teammates would show up for practice or games. Albert, Jim Thome, and Manny Ramirez wouldn’t let “little hitters” like Kenny Lofton or Carlos Baerga get in the cage when they were in the zone. Bob says that “opportunity + preparation = luck” and that there are no better examples of that being true than Albert and himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ac95b1-12ea-4c17-a812-ea1daa19f32d/42+-+Charlie+Manuel.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Charlie Manuel After his own successful playing career, Charlie Manuel coached and managed the Cleveland Indians and managed the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the 2008 World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2009 National League Championship Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bob says Charlie Manuel was the perfect fit to be the hitting coach for the group of players on those mid- to late-90s Indians teams. He would talk hitting 24/7. Charlie Manuel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32e7e3f4-1424-46f0-9657-49b634a5b76a/43+-+Thome.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome’s Bat Point Jim Thome explains how (and why) Charlie Manuel helped him develop his iconic bat point during a rain delay in the 1993 season in THIS CLIP from the MLB Network. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/876284b4-67bd-4a7d-be65-eb9acb942fde/40+-+1994+-+8-Albert+Belle.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Albert Belle Albert Belle had the only 50 home run/50 double season in MLB history in 1995. At his peak, he was one of the most dominant (and one of the most feared) hitters in baseball. Albert Belle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c066eddd-a0d8-4dd6-bb25-2fa086edc2e4/40+-+corked+bat.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Corked Bat In the first inning of the game on July 15, 1994 at Comiskey Park, White Sox manager Gene Lamont was tipped off that Indians batter Albert Belle was using a corked bat. The Indians, knowing the bat was indeed corked, dispatched relief pitcher Jason Grimsley to retrieve the confiscated bat from the umpires' dressing room. Grimsley accessed the area above the false ceiling in the clubhouse and crawled across with a flashlight in his mouth until he reached the umpires' room. He switched Belle's bat with teammate Paul Sorrento's and returned to the clubhouse. The Indians were ordered by the American League to produce Belle's original, unaltered bat. Initially, the AL had threatened to involve the FBI in regards to the burglary, but they dropped the issue in exchange for the bat. On July 18, the bat was sent to MLB in New York where it was x-rayed and then sawed in half in the presence of Belle and Indians GM John Hart. The bat was found to be corked and Belle was suspended by the AL for 10 games. Jason Grimsley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30aa3de7-610d-437f-b5ff-ce7c13a5405a/44+-+craig+sager.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Craig Sager Craig Sager was a sports reporter who covered an array of sports for CNN and its sister stations TBS and TNT, from 1981 until his death in late 2016. Sager began his career as a reporter for WXLT in Sarasota, Florida. He worked as a radio news director in 1974, making $95 a week for his efforts, a paltry sum which was supplemented by his access to sports events. Sager was in Atlanta and dodged security to be on the field on April 8, 1974, when Henry Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run, becoming the first to interview him at home plate amidst mass fan pandemonium. During a TV spot for TBS in 1987, Bob got in trouble because he told Craig Sager, on the air, how to cork a bat. That kind of thing was frowned upon, to say the least. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8d90d6a-197b-4e4e-8bc7-a7440c78e2d0/44+-+corked+bat.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Corking A Bat After Sammy Sosa’s bat was shattered by Devil Rays pitcher and former Cubs teammate Jeremi Gonzalez during the first inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 win on June 3, 2003, catcher Toby Hall retrieved a broken piece and showed plate umpire Tim McClelland it was filled with pieces of cork. Sosa was promptly ejected, and the “crime” became national news. Sammy said it was an accident - that he had used the bat during batting practice and accidentally grabbed it by mistake when he went to the plate. Bob tells us that there are good ways to cork a bat, and bad ways, but that the point of corking a bat isn’t to hit more or longer home runs. The point of corking a bat is to make it lighter, giving players some extra swing speed in the dog days of summer when their bodies are tired and may be dragging a bit. Sammy Sosa’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae57b4a7-8e72-4430-99b1-5eccc0fc0356/48+-+Phil+Seghi.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Phil Seghi Phil Seghi was a front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A longtime associate of Gabe Paul, Seghi was credited with signing Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits, when Seghi was farm system and scouting director of the Cincinnati Reds in 1960. In 1963, Seghi was promoted by Bill DeWitt to assistant general manager, but a change in ownership and the arrival of Bob Howsam in 1967 as GM caused Seghi to leave Cincinnati for the Oakland Athletics at the close of that season. Seghi would serve 13 full seasons as Cleveland's general manager, starting in 1973. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6456e24-a4cd-482d-ac44-c25cc3fac9c1/49+-+Joe+Neikro.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Niekro On August 3, 1987, Twins knuckleballer Joe Niekro was ejected after umpires determined he was trying to scuff balls, presumably to give his signature pitch a bit more movement. That's the short version. The long version is much more entertaining. Watch this. Niekro denied that he was scuffing the ball. He said he always kept an emery board in his pocket to keep his nails in proper shape for a better grip on the knuckleball (though, he also had sandpaper). The league suspended him for 10 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/855b54a1-fd20-4636-9ee4-d11de12c041b/50+-+Joe+Carter.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Carter In the winter following the 1989 season, John Hart traded the big league club's only real star, Joe Carter, to the Padres for a package which included Sandy Alomar, Jr. and Carlos Baerga. Carter enjoyed a breakout season with the Indians in 1986, when he led the major leagues with 121 runs batted in and recorded career highs of 200 base hits, 341 total bases, and 108 runs scored. In Cleveland, Carter established himself as a prolific power hitter, hitting as many as 35 home runs in a season and regularly driving in 100 or more runs. He was also a very good base runner, stealing 20-30 bases a year with a high rate of success. In 1987, Carter became a member of the single-season 30–30 club for home runs/stolen bases. Joe Carter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1924feb7-0aee-4ec9-869b-8d31fc94bee1/51+-+1991+-+13-Sandy+Alomar.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sandy Alomar, Jr. Sandy Alomar, Jr. won Rookie of the Year in 1990 and a Gold Glove, and was a 6-time All-Star during his 11 years with Cleveland, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award when the game was held at Jacobs Field in 1997. That season, Sandy also put together a 30-game hitting streak (one short of Nap Lajoie's franchise record, and four short of his former Padres teammate Benito Santiago's record for catchers), and helped lead Cleveland to their third straight postseason appearance. Sandy Alomar, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bc4bc20-1916-4dbf-b032-a49bb79a9fda/52+-+1997+ASG+MVP.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Leader “When he spoke, everybody listened.” Sandy suffered a number of injuries over the first half of his career, but in 1997, everything finally came together. He batted .324 and was the MVP of the All-Star game in his home ballpark, hitting a game-deciding two-run home run off Shawn Estes to the left field bleachers in the bottom of the 7th inning of a 3–1 American League win. Alomar was the first player to hit an All-Star game home run in his home stadium since Hank Aaron in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbe3e692-f379-46c5-bcb8-1fe6609888b8/53+-+Mel+Harder.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mel Harder The only player to have spent more seasons in a Cleveland uniform than Sandy Alomar, Jr. (as both a player and coach combined) is Mel Harder, who spent 36 consecutive seasons with the team. Harder spent 42 seasons in baseball, the first 36 with the Indians as a pitcher from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly regarded pitching coaches from 1948 to 1963. He set franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched (3,426.1) which were later broken by Bob Feller, and he still holds the club record of 582 career games pitched. He was among the AL's career leaders in wins (9th), games (8th) and starts (10th) when he retired. He was also an excellent fielder, leading AL pitchers in putouts four times, then a record. Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f4175c1-b14d-4405-9ebf-598c3fb9ab26/54+-+Jacobs+Field.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Always Available Charles Nagy, Mel Harder, and Sandy Alomar, Jr. play catch at a publicity photo shoot during the construction of Jacobs Field. Bob says he is forever indebted to Sandy, Charlie, and Carlos Baerga for their constant willingness to show up for events like this one during such an important time for the franchise to get good PR. Charles Nagy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3aeb0d6-9e13-4eae-a941-6e4c104c8b15/55+-+Cleveland+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The commemorative tickets for the final series at Cleveland Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8baacddc-ea52-4d66-9098-99630028b154/56+-+1993+-+13-Carlos+Baerga.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Carlos Baerga Carlos Baerga ended up spending a little more than 6 and a half seasons with Cleveland. He was known for his superb hitting abilities during his first stint with the Indians in the early-to-mid-1990s, accumulating impressive batting statistics, earning three All-Star appearances (1992, 1993, 1995), two Silver Slugger Awards (1993, 1994), and making key contributions to the Indians' 1995 postseason run. He was considered one of Major League Baseball's hardest-hitting middle infielders by 1995 with his superb bat speed and switch-hitting power. Carlos Baerga’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/281775e5-09a6-442e-ae3b-9c1fc6ff20c3/57+-+Carlos.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Historic Talent On April 8, 1993, Carlos Baerga became the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. He hit a two-run shot against Yankees southpaw Steve Howe in the 7th inning and finished the frame with a home run from the left side of the plate against Steve Farr. Bob called Carlos the spiritual leader of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a2a62a5-f7ea-4424-a682-0ac36306edfd/58+-+Spanish.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Spanish Broadcasting Carlos Baerga is the analyst for the Cleveland Guardians Spanish-language radio broadcasts on WARF 1350 AM in Cleveland. He rotates play-by-play duties with Rafa Hernández-Brito and Octavio Sequera. Baerga's Spanish-language broadcasts cover all 81 home games during the regular season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af0337eb-8c88-45ca-bf47-bd6108bfec74/59+-+Thome.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome Cleveland drafted Jim Thome in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft from Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. He came up as a third baseman, but struggled there defensively, and would eventually make the move over to First Base, where he had a Hall of Fame career. In his initial stint with Cleveland, a 12-season run which lasted from 1991 through 2002, Thome batted .287, averaging 39 home runs and 109 RBI per 162 games. He won a Silver Slugger Award, was a 3-time All-Star, and finished top-7 in MVP voting 3 times, but that’s a career no one expected from a community college kid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06799f57-6b18-4c84-92a9-e46ce69078cd/60+-+Thome.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - An Athletic Family Many of the Thome family played sports. Jim's grandmother was hired at a local Caterpillar plant solely to play for the company's softball team. His father built bulldozers for Caterpillar and played slow-pitch softball. His aunt, Caroline Thome Hart, is in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame. His two older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, each played baseball at Limestone High School. Jim Thome’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c4723e4-15b4-4013-9238-d3cff2f6cf69/61+-+1996+-+Manny+Ramirez.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Manny Ramirez Cleveland drafted Manny Ramirez with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft out of George Washington High School in New York. Manny was called up for 22 games in 1993, but his real tenure in Cleveland was from 1994 through 2000. In less than 1,000 games with the Indians, Manny hit 236 home runs, he had 804 RBI, and 1,086 hits. He batted .313, but he also walked 541 times, putting his on-base percentage at .407. He was a 4-time All-Star with Cleveland, a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and finished top-6 in MVP voting 3 times. And that was all BEFORE he left for Boston, where his career really took off. Manny Ramirez’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5dd8284a-8510-421e-abd3-243a208dd8f4/62+-+1999.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Manny’s 1999 Season In 1999, Manny Ramirez had a remarkable season, posting a .333 batting average with 44 home runs and a league-leading 165 RBI. While he led the league in RBI, he finished third in American League MVP voting, behind Ivan Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez. The 1999 Indians team scored 1,009 runs, becoming only the 7th team since 1900 to cross the plate more than a thousand times in a single season. No team has done it since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68a9bd96-0ed1-4ed1-b1de-52830aadc709/63+-+High+School.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Top Prospect Scouts wrote that the Washington Heights senior had "big-time power" with the ability to hit 400-500 home runs. (He'd end up hitting 555.) He batted .650 with 14 dingers in just 22 games his final year in high school. His swing was art in motion. “Manny goes to call a timeout and he puts his back hand up. The umpire never gave him time so Trovin Valdez threw the pitch. Manny was trying to get his hand on the bat, never got it on the bat, and just swung," third base coach Steve Mandl says. "He hit the ball down the left-field line into some handball courts ... almost 400 feet. He definitely didn't get his other hand on the bat, I was standing right there." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67f5c39f-3201-4c22-a0f4-09a192547fd8/64+-+Bob+Fisher.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Fisher Dr. Robert "Bob” Fisher retired in 2010 after 42 seasons as head coach of the Baldwin Wallace University baseball program. Coach Fisher was the winningest head coach in the history of the college with 700 career wins (700-641-14 overall). Fisher was selected by his fellow OAC coaches as the 1996 Coach of the Year, the fourth time in his career he had been honored with the award. The last 35 Fisher-coached squads won 10 or more games, while 14 teams won 20 or more. Under Fisher, BW advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament 4 times and the OAC Playoffs 16 times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ab38d8a-4949-4f36-a99e-c398378e5af2/65+-+Davis.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Allen Davis aka Abraham Allende Allende will be remembered by many in Greater Cleveland for his years as a sportscaster when he used the professional name of Allen Davis. Davis worked for six years at WKYC Channel 3 and eight years at WEWS Channel 5. He then was director of community relations for the Cleveland Indians. He left the Indians in 2000 to study for the ministry and dropped Davis in favor of Abraham Allende, his given name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ef392a6-33d8-4d02-b2f4-8824e003d205/66+-+batting+order.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Batting Order This was the batting order the Indians used during Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS. Pretty insane to have such an embarrassment of riches that you can slot Jim Thome 6th and Manny Ramirez 7th in the order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/566f90bd-6fbe-4a3b-baba-02c7014b59dd/67+-+Cecil+Fielder.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Cecil Fielder Cecil Fielder played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1988), in Japan's Central League for the Hanshin Tigers (1989), and then in MLB for the Detroit Tigers (1990–1996), New York Yankees (1996–97), Anaheim Angels in 1998, and Cleveland Indians in 1998. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–home run mark since George Foster hit 52 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977. He was the first AL player to do so since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris famously hit 54 and 61 in 1961. He is the father of Prince Fielder, who similarly established himself as a premier power hitter during his career. The Fielders are the only father and son to both have 50-home run seasons in MLB history. Cecil Fielder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e129ca4d-3723-40d9-b526-2fe6e68e4cf9/68+-+1995+-+Kenny+Loften.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Kenny Lofton In the winter following the 1991 season, Cleveland traded for Kenny Lofton. In his first stint with the team from 1992 through 1996, Lofton averaged 6.2 WAR per season, batting .316, stealing 325 bases, and playing elite defense in the outfield. Kenny Lofton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8789ab53-89bd-4dfb-9099-201048fc808b/69+-+Kenny+Lofton+basketball.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Multi Sport Star “I don’t know if there’s another player more dynamic in our franchise’s history than Kenny Lofton.” A pretty big statement from Bob, considering 2025 is the franchise’s 125th season. But Kenny started out as a basketball player, attending the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship and leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1988. The team was coached by Lute Olson and included Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, Jud Buechler, Sean Rooks, and Tom Tolbert, all of whom went on to play in the NBA. Lofton did not join the school's baseball team until his junior year, but was so athletic he was drafted by the Houston Astros. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f74a1ea3-2fab-4811-a925-1c592dbcae29/70+-+Omar.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Omar Vizquel In the winter following the 1993 season, Cleveland traded for Omar Vizquel, who was on the Mariners. John Hart kind of pulled a quick one because he was friends with Edgar Martinez who was teammates with Vizquel at the time. Hart coyly asked Edgar about Omar. Edgar said “he’s special, he’s going to be a star,” and Hart traded for him later that day. Bob said that of all the players from the ‘90s Indians, he had the most fun watching Omar Vizquel play ball. Omar Vizquel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a09213cb-8049-43a8-89c0-cf94622c5088/71+-+Duane+Kuiper.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Duane Kuiper As a player, Duane Kuiper was a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants. As a middle infielder, he was Bob’s favorite player growing up. Save for one year, Kuiper has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants since 1986, and is one half of the popular "Kruk and Kuip" duo alongside his friend and former teammate Mike Krukow. He briefly left the Giants in 1993 to work for the expansion Colorado Rockies, but returned in 1994. Duane Kuiper’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/230927c7-907a-4e4e-8ac7-20a15ea46efe/72+-+1996+-+Eddie+Murray.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Eddie Murray The first really big acquisitions where Cleveland spent legitimate money was when they signed First Baseman Eddie Murray and Pitcher Dennis Martinez before the 1994 season. Murray signed a one-year, $3 million contract with an option for a second year, to play First Base. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b606aaf0-d65f-40e6-b470-7ff1b1cbcc93/999+-+Lajoie+and+Speaker.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 3,000 Hit Club Eddie Murray would get his 3,000th hit on June 30, 1995 in a game against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 20th player in Major League history to join the club, and the third to do so in a Cleveland uniform, joining Napoleon Lajoie, who did it in 1914, and Tris Speaker, who did it in 1925. Here, Bob holds the bats of Napoleon Lajoie and Tris Speaker on a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff71a0a3-703b-48e8-b37a-911896f5d977/73+-+Dennis+Martinez.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dennis Martínez José Dennis Martínez Ortiz was nicknamed "El Presidente" ('The President'). He was the first Nicaraguan to play in the major leagues. During his career, Martínez pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves from 1976 to 1998. He threw a perfect game in 1991, and was a four-time MLB All-Star. Dennis Martínez’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0112da2-d8ab-4067-8ca7-a6114c5b4d38/74+-+Key+Tower.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Key Tower Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center) is a skyscraper on Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Designed by architect César Pelli, the building reaches 57 stories (947 feet) to the top of its spire, and is visible from up to 20 miles away. It is the tallest building in the state of Ohio, the 39th-tallest in the United States, and the 165th-tallest in the world. Bob remembered hearing that there was an amphitheater somewhere near the 28th floor on the south side of the building, which overlooked the construction site where Jacobs Field was being completed. He decided that would make a great location to hold the press conference announcing the signings of Dennis Martínez and Eddie Murray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a503327b-f3da-4fcf-bf82-44fa3b2a192e/75+-+630+group.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The 6:30 AM Group Eddie Murray Manny Ramirez Jim Thome Carlos Baerga Charlie Manuel was the hitting coach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/803c194b-18d9-488e-9f46-7317b81fa398/76+-+Strike.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Strike The 1994 Indians started the season 14-17, but then went on a 52-30 run before The Strike hit. They had been as many as 5 games back, but they had closed the gap to just 1 game back of the first place White Sox by the time the season ended prematurely after their win against Toronto on August 10. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e704b25-9d8a-418b-8a9a-859b33c11c42/77+-+Buddy+Bell.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Buddy Bell When the suggestion was made that replacement players would suit up for major league teams during The Strike, Buddy Bell refused to get in uniform to coach them, almost costing him his job. Buddy Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1a1f382-855f-493e-ba05-55b61c1e7c32/78+-+455.jpeg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Sellout Streak 1995 was an interesting year in baseball. Lots of other teams had trouble winning their fans back after The Strike. There was serious talk that the sport may never recover, that fans might never come back and support their teams like they had Pre-Strike. The Indians didn't seem to have that problem. Every home game from June 12th on was sold out, a streak which wouldn’t end until April 4, 2001. By then, the team had sold out a then-Major League record 455 consecutive regular-season home games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/689687af-8fad-494a-aacd-1d7ee1058941/79+-+Paul+Assenmacher.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Paul Assenmacher Paul Assenmacher was a left-handed relief pitcher who played for fourteen seasons. He pitched for the Atlanta Braves (1986–1989), Chicago Cubs (1989–1993), New York Yankees (1993), Chicago White Sox (1994) and the Cleveland Indians (1995–1999). Assenmacher is tied with Mike Jackson for most games pitched in the 1990s (644). He was a very good fielding pitcher, recording a .986 fielding percentage with only two errors in 146 total chances in 855.2 innings pitched. Paul Assenmacher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e9b5ffe-901d-48ac-81b1-be03d037365f/80+-+Eric+Plunk.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Eric Plunk Eric Plunk played from 1986 through 1999. He pitched for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers. Plunk was the winning pitcher in the first ever game played at Jacobs Field on April 4, 1994. He became one of the most reliable set-up men in baseball, posting a sub-3.00 earned run average in four consecutive seasons from 1993 to 1996. On September 17, 1996, Plunk pitched the final three innings and got the save in the Indians' 9-4 win over the White Sox that clinched Cleveland's second consecutive Central Division title. Eric Plunk’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c044d7-84a5-4a6e-8085-15e2882831ea/81+-+Jose+Mesa.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - José Mesa José Mesa played from 1987 through 2007. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers. He retired with 321 career saves. Mesa was a two-time MLB All-Star and won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1995, when he led the AL in saves. His nickname was "Joe Table", the literal translation of his name in the English language. José Mesa’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20e6c77f-c03f-4789-8b34-9d98164a22a4/83+-+Opening+Day.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jacobs Field Opening Day at Jacobs Field may have been “Just Perfect,” but it almost never happened. The referendum for the new stadium passed 52-48, barely allowing it to be built. In fact, the state of baseball in Cleveland was in such limbo during this time that Bob actually wrote two different press releases in preparation for the announcement: one for if it passed and the team stayed in Cleveland, and another for if it didn't pass and the team would leave town. Commissioner Fay Vincent came to Cleveland at Dick Jacobs’ request and told the media that if the referendum didn’t pass, there was no guarantee there would be a team in Cleveland moving forward. Thankfully, the referendum did pass, and Jacobs Field would be the new stadium for the 1994 season. It was the first time since the 1946 season that the Indians were playing in a stadium that was built specifically for baseball. Opening Day was April 4, 1994, with President Bill Clinton on hand to throw out the first pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22cc95d8-7b80-4b1f-9dc2-4ef1326c1084/83+-+Feller.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Bob Feller waves to the crowd during opening day ceremonies on April 4, 1994 at Jacobs Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be85d390-a014-47f6-ba58-f1d33f7550d0/84+-+Hal+Lebovitz.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hal Lebovitz Hal Lebovitz began his baseball-writing career in 1946 with the now defunct Cleveland News, covering the Indians as the paper's beat writer from 1950 until the News folded in 1960. Lebovitz then moved to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, covering baseball until 1964 when he became the paper's sports editor, a position he held for over 20 years. He was also a regular contributor to the Sporting News from 1947 to 1993. On several occasions, he was instrumental in keeping the Indians from moving, most notably in the 1970s, when he found out the plan to split an Indians season between homes being played in Cleveland and New Orleans, with the team eventually moving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f46e7391-7131-4332-b9ba-201c717028d4/86+-+Bob%27s+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Crushing Blow Had Cleveland lost their baseball team, it would have been a crushing blow for Bob, both personally and professionally. He would have lost his dream job, but he also would have lost the team he grew up loving. The team which made him fall in love with the sport. It’s one thing to lose a job, but you can always find another job. Losing a team is a pain that can never be fully healed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ac8cc72-07b0-42ee-9d82-e6a6dca5b871/87+-+Orel+Hershiser.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Orel Hershiser Orel Hershiser won 134 games for the Dodgers through the 1994 season, finishing Top-4 in Cy Young voting 4 different times, and winning the award during the Dodgers’ magical 1988 season. In April of 1995, he signed with Cleveland for less than half of what he had made the previous season in Los Angeles. Hershiser said the reason he signed with Cleveland is because he looked at their lineup, realized they were scoring 7.5 runs a game, and thought to himself, “my abilities may be dwindling, but I can stick around a game long enough for a win if my offense is scoring 7.5 runs for me.” Orel Hershiser’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/879f1b50-2e84-40de-8c23-4252156f7485/88+-+Nagy.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Pitching Staff Everyone remembers that 1995 Indians team for being an offensive juggernaut, but the pitching staff had the best team ERA in the American League. Orel Hersheiser, Dennis Martinez, and Charles Nagy (seen here) anchored the rotation. 38 of closer Jose Mesa's 46 saves in 1995 were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations, a major-league record at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3397f508-2185-4449-838c-dc1cd522c99a/89+-+1954.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1954 Pitching Staff The 1954 Indians pitching staff won the Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in Wins, Innings Pitched, and Strikeouts. Here, Cleveland manager Al Lopez kneels alongside his pitchers, from left: Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Mike Garcia and Herb Score. Lopez guided the 1954 Indians to a dazzling, record-setting 111-43 record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2323408-3c03-48f9-a8df-50f7bbec74c2/90+-+Fryman.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Travis Fryman Travis Fryman played for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 2002. Fryman batted .287 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs in 1998, his first season in Cleveland, to help lead his team to the American League Central division crown. Injuries hampered Fryman in 1999. He rebounded to have his best season in 2000. He established career highs in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.516), on-base percentage (.392), hits (184), doubles, and RBIs (106). Additionally, he made only eight errors in the field and had a 60-game errorless streak on his way to winning a Gold Glove Award. He was also the starting third baseman for the American League at the All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b8292d-d0f2-4fe1-b564-3aab4fb6c487/91+-+Jacobs+Field.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out While having suites and tons more ticket sales allowed the Indians to have a payroll that competed with the big market teams, it wasn’t the brand new stadium that put fans in those seats… it was the dominant team on the field. Other teams around the country didn’t necessarily understand that major point when they tried to build new stadiums of their own, thinking that would automatically cure any money issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/974abb94-40ca-4ac5-8050-7bedd9cd761d/92+-+Hall+of+Famers.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hall of Famers The 1995 team had three Hall of Famers on it in Jim Thome, Eddie Murray, and Dave Winfield. Here, Bob hangs out on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York with Eddie (left) and Dave (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a99addfd-322a-4f33-ba96-139c99745e4e/93+-+Winfield.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dave Winfield Over his 22-year career, Dave Winfield played for six teams: the Padres, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins, and Indians. He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Braves. Winfield was a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner. In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 in his first year of eligibility, and was an inaugural inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. The 1995 Indians team was so stacked that people forget Winfield was even on it. He didn’t even make the playoff roster, that’s how great the team was. Dave Winfield’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e68d69dd-2f65-40e6-b8f6-e5f08bcb71e7/94+-+Wahoo.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Wahoo! What A Finish Valerie Arcuri Bonacci is a former Vice President of Marketing and Broadcasting for the Cleveland Indians where she spent 17 years. Like most players, she paid her dues with a three-year tour of duty in the Minor Leagues (Kinston, North Carolina). Valerie, along with the people at Major League Baseball, conceived of and produced the “Wahoo! What a Finish” documentary, which chronicled the come-from-behind wins of the Indians. Bob decided to hold a press conference announcing the release of the VHS tape. The people at MLB were shocked at the reception. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/441300bb-a385-4ac2-97b0-7d4d77bc4ccc/95+-+1952-08-15+Opening+Ceremony+at+Municipal+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Team Museum Bob says that the plan is for Progressive Field to eventually have a team museum, which is something the Indians actually pioneered more than 70 years ago. On August 15, 1952, Cleveland Municipal Stadium officially opened the first team museum inside a baseball stadium, pictured here during its opening day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13f0d621-d6aa-49bd-90bc-dc6ef4ecf858/96+-+1970+Cleveland+Indians+Hall+Of+Fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Filling In The Gaps While the museum was groundbreaking, and had some really cool artifacts, it didn’t last forever, and most of the pieces were lost or stolen after it closed and things were put into storage. It has been a difficult task for current team historian Jeremy Feador to retroactively build a museum to go into the current stadium, but it is a task he is working hard to accomplish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba25851-70a2-417e-88cc-e24bbc4adc87/97+-+Hargrove.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Mike Hargrove After his own successful major league career was over, Mike Hargrove started at the lowest rung in professional baseball, as the hitting instructor at Batavia of the short season Class A New York-Penn League, but worked his was all the way up to become the manager of the big league club. He took over the Indians in July of 1991 when John McNamara was dismissed. The Indians were a team in disarray and destined to lose a franchise record 105 games. He went on to win 721 games in 9 years at the helm of the Tribe, leading them to two World Series trips. Mike Hargrove’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccc78110-75b3-4adc-ac7e-98ef65711e26/98+-+Piniella.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Lou Piniella Lou Piniella won the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1995 when he led the Mariners to a 79-66 record, and again in 2001 when he led the Mariners to a record-tying 116 wins. Piniella earned 86 points (9 first place votes) to win the 1995 award, while Mike Hargrove (71 points, 8 first place votes) finished third behind Boston’s Kevin Kennedy (74 points, 11 first place votes). While it is definitely a shame that Mike Hargrove never won a Manager of the Year award during his career, I’m sure Bob feels like Addie Joss’ death, Ray Chapman’s death, or the 1993 boating accident which took the lives of Steve Olin and Tim Crews are all higher on the franchise’s official Travesty List. Lou Piniella’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b77356b6-13ff-4863-ba21-dc6ae0cea7f6/99+-+coaches.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out 1995 Cleveland Indians coaching staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/750bbd36-a35f-42ca-8051-6919416e9641/100+-+Tony+Pena+with+WKYC+Channel+3+Sports+Anchor+Jim+Donovan.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Tony Peña’s Walkoff In three seasons with Cleveland, Tony Peña hit 8 home runs total in the regular season. But he hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS against Boston. Here he is with WKYC Channel 3 Sports Anchor Jim Donovan after hitting his dramatic home run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/56e8ee48-8267-4ce3-99c7-057ca896b0da/101+-+Uecker.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Uecker Bob Uecker was the color commentator for that World Series on NBC with Bob Costas performing play-by-play duties. As storied of a career as Uecker had as a broadcaster, the only two World Series he called were the 1995 Series, and the 1997 Series. How fitting, though, for him to be on the mic both times for the Indians, after his portrayal of Harry Doyle in the Major League movie franchise. Bob Uecker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22d91471-b02c-48e2-a398-53c6da6a50ae/102+-+Major+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Bob Goes Hollywood Bob hanging out with Jake Taylor and Rick Vaughn, probably talking about a potential prospect from the California Penal League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6be2dda8-b455-45c4-9358-5b3e5cea5bc7/103+-+Herb+Score.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Herb Score Herb Score pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1955 through 1959 and the Chicago White Sox from 1960 through 1962. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1955, and an AL All-Star in 1955 and 1956. Due to an on-field injury that occurred in 1957, he retired early as a player in 1962. Score joined the Tribe’s broadcast team in 1964, spending the first four years on television and the next 29 on the radio, through 1997. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006. Herb Score’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4360965a-adac-44b3-a606-9aef8d89d4a7/104+-+Braves.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - What If…? From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning 14 consecutive division titles, making an MLB record 8 consecutive NLCS appearances, and producing one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball including Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. But they only won that one World Series, and if the Indians had won in 1995 instead, I think we look back at those Braves teams the same way we look at the Buffalo Bills who went to four straight Super Bowls but couldn't win one. Who knows the butterfly effect that 1995 World Series started? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/115120bc-915b-4a0a-91b1-458ba1e9c13a/105+-+Brinkman.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Joe Brinkman Joe Brinkman worked in the American League from 1972 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his 2006 retirement. Brinkman was the left field umpire for Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS between the Mariners and the Yankees, meaning he was the umpire who officially ruled Edgar Martinez's famous double a fair ball. Brinkman was also the home plate umpire with the controversial strike zone during Game 6 of the 1995 World Series between the Indians and Braves. Joe Brinkman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8ada3a5-2565-44b0-9633-4ee29cfa9b91/106+-+1995+World+Series.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Close Series The 1995 World Series was extremely close, with the Braves only outscoring the Indians 23-19 over the span of the six game series. Game 1 - Braves win 3-2 Game 2 - Braves win 4-3 Game 3 - Indians win 7-6 in 11 innings Game 4 - Braves win 5-2 Game 5 - Indians win 5-4 Game 6 - Braves win 1-0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b972f5b-6fe5-4dbe-bae9-24262abd10f7/107+-+Rally.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - World Series Rally The city of Cleveland held a rally for the Indians at Public Square after the season, which is something that doesn't happen often. On October 30, 50,000 people dropped whatever they would have normally been doing on a Monday to make a pilgrimage to Public Square to celebrate a team that didn’t win the world series. Bob wants to be sure you understand it was a rally, not a parade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b3bb4a3-0363-4681-8be1-2a62e1bef9b6/108+-+Omar.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Omar’s Speech Bob remembers Omar Vizquel giving a funny speech at the rally, talking about an older woman who came up to him in Atlanta to tell him how much she loved him and the way the team played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c583be5d-8bfb-4a78-b70d-0b31e12f02bb/109+-+sold+out+events.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 91 Sold Out Events The 1997 season at Jacobs Field featured an unprecedented 91 sold out events, from every home Indians game, to the All-Star Game, to the Home Run Derby, to playoff games. By the end of the year, everyone involved in the organization needed a vacation. Thankfully, Action Travel in Solon was there to help Bob and his family take that vacation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a08bf9ab-e6ca-4669-bef4-cfc98afe18c8/110+-+Winning.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Guardian Way…? Cleveland has won more games over the past 12 years than every other team besides the Dodgers and Yankees, but you don't really hear about The Guardian Way. However, there is clearly an intentional philosophy of trying to create a sustained winning culture in action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00b504f6-574f-477d-915f-ac5e36844f62/111+-+3+things.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Philosophy in Cleveland Bob says that philosophy is based on 3 things: Acquisition of talent, with an emphasis on high character, quality talent. Development. Provide every possible resource that you can to make each person within the organization the best they can be Opportunity. Give them the opportunity to show what they can do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b179af5-9987-45b4-be45-1580e24aa6f4/112+-+1995+Indians+All+Stars.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Having The (All-)Stars Align It is insanely difficult to make the dollars, the talent, health, and the culture align. The Indians teams of the mid- to late-90s had the good fortune of those stars aligning, even if they didn’t win the big one. Here, the six players who represented the Indians at the 1995 All-Star Game in Texas take a photo together. Top row, left to right: Manny Ramirez, Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle Bottom row, left to right: Dennis Martinez, José Mesa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10b5463a-5fe1-48cd-bfc8-941ca5517de6/113+-+Dominican+Academy.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Dominican Academy Cleveland made a major investment in their Dominican academy, placing an emphasis on finding talent in the baseball-rich country. The state-of-the art facility covers 22 acres and was built to accommodate 120 players, coaches, and staff. Fully furnished dormitory housing can hold up to 88 athletes who are supported by amenities that promote nutrition, mental-skills training, strength and conditioning, medical services and safety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a362d0-8aff-4b66-9680-456c0a807fbf/114+-+North+Coast+Social.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Among the changes made to Progressive Field this offseason was the reconfiguration of the upper deck in left field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b3293a1-dc7c-42ee-8812-474f62788baa/115+-+North+Coast+Social.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Look at these gorgeous views! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88414178-0217-478a-b5f3-d7396eda7070/116+-+Friend+Bologna.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Fried Bologna Sandwich One of the new menu items offered at Progressive Field this year is a piece of griddle-toasted bologna topped with American cheese, potato chips, and a tangy sauce on a brioche bun. Don’t tell Bob’s doctors if you see him eating one at the park this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c14168f8-49ec-4fc2-8858-7edfac2c94ab/117+-+Blue+Seats.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Blue Seats Progressive Field is in the midst of switching from forest green seats to blue. While they’re about 75% done making the transition, that will be a 3-year process, so there’s still a chance you get a green seat if you come to a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5975f948-7178-49a8-907b-5f174c1b6a0f/118+-+ALCS.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Behind The 8-Ball The Guardians advanced to the 2024 ALCS (I know, because I was there), which is always a good thing. However, it put the construction crew behind the 8-ball because it meant they couldn’t start the new phase of renovations until late October as they waited for the season to end. Surely, a tradeoff the Guardians will be happy to make every year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7d29ba9-1a57-488f-bc09-2bc09ae13f3c/119+-+Jim+Folk.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Folk Jim Folk is in his 41st season in Major League Baseball and 31st with the Cleveland Guardians. He joined the organization in June of 1992 as Director, Ballpark Operations and was elevated to Vice President, Ballpark Operations in November 2001; he will lead the next generation of ballpark improvements at Progressive Field after being named to his current position in December 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d053f528-670c-4b54-8ac8-8a4560be6cf1/120+-+Bill+Clinton.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - President Bill Clinton Bob had the honor of escorting sitting President Bill Clinton to the mound to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day of the inaugural 1994 season at Jacobs Field. For a kid from Lakewood, it was one of the thrills of his life. “Beautiful, man,” said Clinton in an interview of his thoughts of the new park, which was funded largely on a tax on liquor and cigarettes. “There isn’t enough federal money to rebuild the cities. It takes efforts like this one to bring in jobs and housing.” The capacity crowd roared as Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, ascended to the top step of the Indians’ dugout and looked up at the crowd behind him. Clinton wound up and threw a perfect strike to Sandy Alomar Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ebced14-ef2a-4f63-94fa-834ef1de2fe5/121+-100th+anniversary.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 100th Anniversary On July 21, 2001, the Indians brought back as many living members of their 100 greatest players to commemorate their 100th anniversary as a team. Front row, left to right: Herb Score, Al Rosen, Minnie Minoso, Mel Harder, Bob Feller, Steve Gromek, Ray Narleski, Vic Power Second row: Max Alvis, Tito Francona, Jim Perry, Kim Grant, Johnny Romano, Rocky Colavito, Joe Azcue, Woodie Held Third row: Luis Tiant, Sonny Siebert, Sam McDowell, Andre Thornton, Len Barker, Rick Manning, Pat Tabler, Ray Fosse Fourth row: Brook Jacoby, Doug Jones, Tom Candiotti, Joe Charboneau, Duane Kuiper, Gary Bell, Rick Waits, Orel Hershiser Top row: Omar Vizquel, Roberto Alomar, Charles Nagy, Jim Thome, Travis Fryman, Kenny Lofton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/859f3f4f-7351-45fc-af99-0fee68b52712/122+-+Friends.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - “How Lucky Am I?” Bob sits with his childhood hero, Rocky Colavito, at an event. Bob has been lucky enough to not only meet his childhood idols, but to become close personal friends with them over the 47 years he has spent on the job. While it is part of the job, and there is lots of important work to do, that perk is certainly not lost on him. Just a kid from Lakewood. Rocky Colavito’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea421cee-0578-419a-9e0b-09b29ed3394c/123+-+Bob.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Follow Bob Online Twitter Bob DiBiasio is also the host of “At the Ballpark with Bobby D” across the Cleveland Guardians radio network. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f9e213b-5004-4360-97ab-582d36c7dd0a/124+-+Guardians.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Follow The Guardians Online Facebook Twitter Bluesky Instagram Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c49e18f3-9fdf-4adc-b2cd-38f433631e3b/125+-+Bob%27s+House.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Home Sweet Home Bob was gracious enough to invite me to his house so we could sit down together and record this interview. I felt at home before I even walked in the door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdbb7111-b48e-4ded-991e-a2bd11437974/126+-+Decor.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Some of the items Bob has on display in his home office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0483f1b5-5505-4750-8d68-a4ecd2bb5258/127+-+Rings.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Oh, and these were kind of cool, too… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70712c12-0608-485a-adbe-acb994acc163/128+-+1997.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Don’t Worry… …that 1997 American League Champions ring wasn’t stolen. It was on Bob’s finger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65cf4e50-6874-4748-8cac-7f7f88116b62/129+-+Boyhood+Home.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Sorry, Dorns This was my house growing up. If I ever get really famous, it will be known as my Boyhood Home. That set of windows in the upper right was my room. The driveway was almost the perfect dimensions for a half court of basketball, and every spring once the snow and ice were gone, I would draw a three point line and the free throw lane lines in chalk with the appropriate distances. I would be out there all day and night. My neighbors must have hated me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/772b8eff-8d4e-491e-890c-6d6329208565/130+-+Indiana+Dunes.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Indiana Dunes One of my favorite things about traveling is that you get to learn about and see places like this. Most people think Indiana is just a flat midwestern state. And, for the most part, it is. But it does still have some amazingly beautiful places, like the Indiana Dunes. It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22fa794a-d3db-4381-b245-bcfdb37946a4/131+-+math.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Young Dan The first baseball team I played on that used genuine baseball team names and logos happened to be the Indians. Here I am standing in front of my teammate and friend, Matt Corning, during the summer of 1994. It was about this age (7) when I started learning how math could help me understand sports better, such as learning probabilities, and calculating batting averages. It was funny to hear Bob say during our interview that he had similar experiences growing up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3cd3391-ce5a-48a1-ae6c-3394639c4ec6/132+-+Power.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Power Bats, Power Arms One of these guys had 134 career home runs. One of them had 381 home runs in about 10 full seasons worth of games. The other had 555 home runs. That ain’t too bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a17e1ba5-6601-4d34-8c00-2b443b8b9e83/133+-+Tyson.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - It’s One Thing To Have A Plan… … it’s something entirely different to be able to execute that plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70adbb22-9e31-4b52-9ee6-8f447342398b/134+-+HOF.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Hall Of Fame The 1995 Indians team had three Hall of Famers on it. Now that MLB has officially reinstated Pete Rose and reconfirmed their stance that Joe Jackson isn’t on any ineligible list, that could potentially open the doors for guys from the Steroids Era to be inducted down the line. If that happens, Manny Ramirez will surely become a Hall of Famer, and possibly others from this team. If and when that happens, I’m sure Bob will be back in Cooperstown for their induction ceremonies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85eeb5c7-a3ee-4684-a96c-985cc2cde564/135+-+Lindor.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Francisco Lindor However Cleveland is building their culture, they’re doing an amazing job because their homegrown stars are willing to take less money to stay with the team. While Francisco Lindor was eventually traded to the Mets, before leaving, he had been willing to sign an extension with Cleveland for less than his market value. He was traded to the Mets following the 2020 season and later signed a 10-year, $341 million extension with the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5914dd1-04bb-4081-b1ab-076538ec0006/136+-+Jose.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez signed a contract with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022. It is worth $141 million, with a duration of seven years. It was an extension to a contract signed in 2021. And while, yes, $141 million is an enormous sum of money to you and me, it is FAR below what a player of his caliber would have been worth in free agency. Again, a player was willing to take less money than he knew he was worth, just so he could stay in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4d9dbef-e0e0-4b54-8b22-3d51163026b0/137+-+Pine+Tar.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Pine Tar Official Rule 1.10 (b) states that no substance can cover the handle more than 18 inches from the end, and if any substance extends past that limit, “in the umpire’s judgment,” the bat would be removed from the game. The “umpire’s judgment” mention is important to note here, because that is no exact science. Just ask George Brett. July 24, 1983: The Pine Tar Game article from the SABR Games Project by Bruce Slutsky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9d3f80-ba09-49a4-9d63-4c3ca6ca0971/138+-+Jim+Thome.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Jim Thome What an unbelievable career Jim had, finishing with more than 600 career home runs. For a player with such amazing statistics, he bounced around to a handful of teams. The common denominator wherever he went, though, was that the fans and his teammates loved him. I saw that firsthand during the summer of 2008 when I had an internship where I covered the White Sox and Cubs in Chicago. Jim treated me with respect in a way that few other players that summer did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaba4b03-c5a1-4f2e-9753-d2da9e139407/139+-+Ken+Griffey+Jr.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ken Griffey, Jr. On July 30, 2008, famed photographer Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 608th career home run in his last game for the Reds. On July 31, at the trade deadline, Griffey was traded to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar, ending his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati. On August 20, 2008, Griffey hit his first home run as a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Dickey, which moved him into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth place in career home runs. Griffey surpassed Sosa on September 23, with one off Minnesota's Matt Guerrier. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20e4fdec-5efe-4405-bd26-35d5c78541de/140+-+Ted+Williams.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ted Williams On September 28, 1960, at Boston's Fenway Park, Red Sox star Ted Williams hit a home run in the last at-bat of his Hall of Fame career. Just shy of 10,500 fans attended the game, at the end of a 1960 season that saw the Sox finish 65-89. With Boston facing a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning, Williams strode to the plate for the last time and hit his final home run – number 521 – off pitcher Jack Fisher and into the Red Sox bullpen in right-centerfield. Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c748b0f-c562-4e3f-afaa-76b10f945264/141+-+Shift.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - The Ted Williams Shift The "Ted Williams Shift" - an extreme defensive positioning with six fielders stationed on the right half of the field - was born when Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau tried it on July 14, 1946. It was immortalized on this card from the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set. How did Williams do against the shift that day? Not bad. He became the first Red Sox player ever to hit three home runs in one game at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f6e18a0-3a4e-4d04-8a77-f269df59aec1/142+-+Mom%27s+view.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Progressive Field looks so nice driving on the highway with the skyline behind it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e87d54ab-5c92-4090-a8c5-3515b581f6c0/143+-+Broncos.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Is That All We Needed To Do?! The 1997 Denver Broncos were one of the teams in the 1990s who changed their uniforms and then immediately won the championship during their first season wearing them, as they beat the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5725c446-c4b8-4348-81ca-5c40b4cbf2e8/144+-+Building+the+Stadium.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - It Takes More Than Simply Building A New Stadium You also need to put a winning team on the field. Luckily for the Indians, they did both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d8b7583-65dc-4df0-ad44-5fe1c36b34f8/145+-+Heritage+Park.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Heritage Park at Progressive Field https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dc56c72-6fa4-42ad-bfdc-93e42ce9e8b3/146+-+lower+level.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The lower level at Heritage Park. Don’t miss it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49ebbc2b-cd9f-4a04-a7e2-dffa8ea0cded/147+-+heritage+park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Me and Joe One of the many photos I have taken over the years with Joe’s plaque on the lower level of Heritage Park at Progressive Field. If you ever go to a game with me in Cleveland, I promise, I will take you down there to show this to you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e5ec082-2a8b-4611-b1a0-8ad735348eab/148+-+Ray%27s+plaque.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The Ray Chapman plaque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abf3d9f8-ef06-4bcd-8b03-1410cecee8b2/149+-+HOF.PNG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A New Museum? It seems like the plan is for there to be some kind of museum or museum-like area in Progressive Field when all of the renovations are done. The Indians were the first franchise to have a museum in their stadium, so it would be fitting for their current stadium to have one again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7606861f-8cbc-42b0-8ffd-ed7fc4f982b6/150+-+2001+reunion+3.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Monetize Your History! It has always shocked me that teams don’t find better ways to monetize their own histories. Selling throwback uniforms of the great players from their franchise’s past seems like such an easy thing to do. Show me a picture of the guy wearing the uniform, then have a rack of those exact uniforms hanging right next to it for me to make an impulse buy. I will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d6f98a7-2593-436d-9582-6e2ee9f5d48c/151+-+Upper+Deck.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Upper Deck Some of the new seats in the upper deck at Progressive Field, with the red seats forming the diamond C logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50b34c1c-5098-4894-bcfc-bdd36284c5d3/152+-+Bobby+D.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Everybody’s Buddy There’s a reason Bob has been around the organization for nearly half a century. He’s great at his job, but he’s an even better person, as is evident when you see the number of long-lasting friendships he has with the players he has worked with over the years. Here, Bob catches up with Joe Charboneau and Sandy Alomar, Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3cfdd02-1d8a-4459-bf0a-5352d7713a20/153+-+Forever+indebted.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out Forever indebted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4ab6aa-08a9-485f-a5f9-062b84fb20e7/154+-+vibrant.JPG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Young At Heart Bob was the perfect person to talk with about this team. He’s vibrant, and energetic, and is clearly just so passionate about this franchise and those players. It was a joy to watch him remember these stories in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c2189fd-1227-4c59-8175-96a0a48ea95a/155+-+1981.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Longest Tenured Employees 2025 is Bob’s 46th season overall with the Guardians, but his current stint started in 1988. Johnny Goryl and Wendy Hoppel are believed to be the other longest-tenured employees of the Guardians. Wendy’s tenure with the club began in June of 1984 when she was hired as an assistant to the Farm & Scouting Director. 2025 is Wendy’s 41st season in the Guardians Baseball Operations department and her 25th season as the club’s Director of Baseball Administration. Johnny Goryl is a Special Assistant to Player Development whose tenure with the club began in 1982. He won the Cleveland BBWAA “Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy” Award in 1986, and was inducted into the Guardians Distinguished Hall of Fame in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96471df5-79e5-4c87-86cb-a324a8c18155/156+-+Indians.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - A Long History With The Tribe Even though I grew up in Chicago as a White Sox fan, I also liked the Indians a lot. My first team with a real MLB team name and logo was in 1994 when my team was the Indians, and then the actual Indians went on their run so it was easy to want to root for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9d547ae-5d6f-43a5-892b-5133458006e5/157+-+Ken+Griffey+Jr.+Slugfest.JPEG Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest One of my favorite video games to play growing up was Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest on my Game Boy Color. I would always play as the Indians because they just had such an amazing lineup, and I loved being able to manipulate the batting order to alternate between right-handed and left-handed batters since they had each, as well as a number of switch hitters. The speed in the lineup allowed me to steal an inordinate amount of bases, and to just cause chaos on the basepaths and for the pitcher, in general. Here are the stats I kept for one season’s worth of games. *Note: No trades were made. This is the original roster of the Cleveland Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/492c8f69-e2c6-4248-8f9c-d8a3c95d1602/158+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77f3e5b5-2e1e-4ba1-8972-9410f7470166/159+-+Giveaway+Book.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a copy of The Glorious Indian Summer of 1995; When A Season of Dreams Became Reality in Cleveland by Russell Schneider? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a713cda5-394f-4927-ab09-ebcad45bbe01/160+-+Home+Runs.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Absurd Power On May 9, 1995, in just the 12th game of the season, the Cleveland Indians tied a major league record by scoring eight runs in the 1st inning before making an out. Seven of those runs scored as the result of home runs, including Kenny Lofton’s leadoff homer, Paul Sorrento’s grand slam, and Carlos Baerga’s two-run blast. Cleveland went on to a 10 – 0 victory behind Orel Hershiser and Paul Assenmacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/914e27ed-6bd1-4dfd-b23c-906e0688ec6d/161+-+307+Home+Runs.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 307 Home Runs The 1995 Indians hit 207 home runs in 144 games. That might not seem like a lot, especially when the current single-season record for most home runs by a team is 307, which was achieved by both the 2019 Twins and the 2023 Braves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dde5fe4e-7acb-4e5a-94ff-82ea743faf00/162++-1997+Griffey.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1997 Mariners Until Major League Baseball started messing with the baseball in the 2000s, the pre-2000 record was just 264 home runs by the 1997 Mariners. Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 56 of those 264 home runs, the first of two straight seasons in which Griffey would tie for his career high with 56. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/647b8e63-2359-43af-ad4c-779ef6d74650/163+-+1995+Albert+Belle.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1995 Indians Let’s remember, once again, that the 1995 season was shortened because of the Strike. The Indians hit 207 home runs in just 144 games, averaging more than 1.4 home runs per game. If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have hit 233 home runs, which would have been good enough for the 4th highest single-season total in history at the time. Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 50 out of the team’s 207 home runs hit that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/315c45ef-ea93-4601-bf15-5f40ab281281/164+-+Albert+Belle.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1,000 Runs Similarly, Bob mentioned how the 1995 team did not score 1,000 runs. They did score 840 runs, which was an average of more than 5.8 per game in the 144 games they played. If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have scored 945 runs. Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 121 out of the team’s 840 runs scored that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fd15bc9-6a6f-42d1-a10c-0cea425095f8/165+-+Alomar.jpg Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - 1999 Indians Only 20 teams in major league history have actually hit the 1,000 run mark in a single season, but 13 of those instances came before the year 1900. Of the 7 different 1,000-run seasons since 1900, one of them was the 1999 Indians, who scored 1,009 runs. Roberto Alomar led the team (and the league) with 138 out of the team’s 1,009 runs scored that season, but there were five players on the team that year who scored 100 or more runs: 1. Roberto Alomar - 138 2. Manny Ramirez - 131 3. Omar Vizquel - 112 4. Kenny Lofton - 110 5. Jim Thome - 101 So whether the 1995 team would have gotten 1,000 in a full season or not, the franchise built those 90s teams to hit for power and score lots of runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3aa28615-c4ff-4fa2-ab87-2e1bbe072cc6/166+-+1995+accolades+-+batters.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The players who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians hit a bunch of home runs during their careers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2933ee71-4b0a-47ad-bc41-4be88b040597/167+-+1995+accolades+-+pitchers.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Make it stand out The pitchers who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians are mostly overlooked, but they had some great careers, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe74efe4-2982-42f0-9b2a-a37435853b4f/202+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0408 - Bob DiBiasio - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0407 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f552e19-dce4-4f57-8d71-8fd9810e8c1d/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fedc8d6c-1bf3-40f4-97b5-431d4037d600/square.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal Me and Tom Catal after recording our interview at his apartment in Cooperstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5659e1fc-5428-4bcf-961b-53ec83a368de/01+-+Safe+At+Home.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles This episode is brought to you by Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles. Visit Safe At Home on your next trip to Cooperstown: 91 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY (607) 547-1317 Email Safe At Home Follow Safe At Home on social media: TikTok Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50082eb0-f9a2-458a-b7dc-4e8289ea901a/02+-+Hall+of+Fame.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Pitcher Tom Catal was a great pitcher for St. Agnes Cathedral in high school in New York. His career was so impressive that he was inducted into the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02e14965-d186-4611-9b66-6d48381e264e/03+-+Braves.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom signed to play professionally and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Braves organization before a car accident ended his playing career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27c28ee5-5299-484d-b007-2f0d65a57f79/04+-+1979-04+-+Mantle+signs+for+%241000+per+hour+in+New+York.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom put on the very first Mickey Mantle autograph show on September 9, 1978, paying The Mick $3,000 for three hours of his time to sign. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5176ee0-881f-40a1-a89f-6897bcea4433/05+-+Duke+Snider.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Duke Snider Eventually, Tom began representing other players at autograph shows, like Duke Snider, and he became more and more respected within the industry he helped elevate to levels previously thought to be unreachable. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/300207a8-0420-41c8-84d0-c93f27232b6c/06+-+Mickey+Mantle+Museum.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle Museum After a move to Cooperstown, Tom bought a building and founded the Mickey Mantle Museum, which he curated. In the past couple of decades, he has sold much of his collection, but at one point, Tom had, by far, the world’s biggest collection of Mickey Mantle memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2833310-639c-46d3-883f-efeea72be8a9/07+-+Mickey+Mantle+hearts+Tom+Catal.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Unique Inscriptions Tom’s collection includes hundreds of autographed baseballs from the greatest players to ever play the game. Some of them even became close personal friends over the years. Among his many autographed baseballs, Tom has a handful which were lovingly inscribed by his buddies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48d2f5d4-58ba-4dd6-a5a5-c3baa10048e5/08+-+Hodges.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Gil Hodges Tom grew up a Dodgers fan in New York. “Gil Hodges was my favorite player … until I saw Willie Mays play.” Even a Dodgers fan couldn’t deny the greatness on display when Willie suited up. Gil Hodges’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1d276a4-aa12-41bb-8ca6-e900dbb13eae/09+-+Willie.jpeg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie Mays “I’ve seen other great players that I liked, but nobody had the flair that Willie had.” Can’t argue that. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2615eff5-f877-4219-836e-5e686b329f9e/10+-+Raines.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tim Raines Tim Raines was a seven-time All-Star, four-time stolen base champion, and National League batting champion, Raines is regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters and baserunners in baseball history. Tim Raines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66fbb32e-0833-4f10-8fe2-1935daea08c6/11+-+Piazza.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mike Piazza Mike Piazza was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher, he produced strong offensive numbers at his position; in his career, he recorded 427 home runs—a record 396 of which were hit as catcher—along with a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBI. Mike Piazza’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0196ff3a-7682-4195-8aa1-0332102f5506/12+-+Hanley.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hanley Ramírez Hanley Ramírez was a three-time MLB All-Star and received the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Ramírez established himself as an elite hitter during his prime years, winning the 2009 batting title with a .342 average, and was a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He finished top-10 in MVP voting three times in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf6fffc3-046a-4236-800b-e45e3a1aff97/13+-+Raines.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Yankees Tom hates the Yankees so much that he couldn’t even bring himself to root for them when one of his favorite players of all time, Tim Raines, played for the team from 1996-1998. In 242 games with the Yankees, Raines batted .299, collecting 237 hits and 130 walks, and scoring 154 runs in 940 plate appearances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7972b65-6790-4b7c-850c-c2fb0a70e07a/14+-+Willie+Mickey+Duke.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie, Mickey, and The Duke Tom’s favorite player was Willie Mays, but he also felt that Willie was the best player of the famous New York center fielders. While Tom didn’t like Mickey Mantle, he respected Mickey as a player, and felt he was second best of the group, followed by Duke Snider. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfaf3154-783d-42d1-9574-ab132fd2f3ea/15+-+National+League.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - National League All-Star Dominance The National League dominated the All-Star Game from 1950 to 1985, going 32–7–1. In a stretch from 1963 to 1982, the National League won 19 of 20 All-Star Games, losing only the 1971 contest at Tiger Stadium 6-4. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16556863-88a5-4520-baa8-0eb82f5aad33/16+-+Nassau+County+High+School+Sports+Hall+of+Fame.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom was inducted into the Nassau County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab95657a-4160-42fb-9ec7-fc08dd8d1ac5/17+-+Koufax.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Sandy Koufax Tom was a great high school pitcher who threw multiple no-hitters and set records in his county, so he is somewhat of an authority on great pitching, and what it takes to be a great pitcher. As a Dodgers fan, you would think he would have been enamored with Sandy Koufax, especially growing up in the peak of Sandy’s dominance. But Tom actually thinks Sandy is a bit overrated. I’m not sure if Sandy was overrated. I never saw him pitch. But I will say, it was difficult to pick out which picture to use for this entry, because there are multiple images of him holding trophies or pointing to a scoreboard full of 0s after his multiple Major League no-hitters. Sandy Koufax’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24fe9484-dbcc-4b94-90fc-d8137ef65886/18+-+Kershaw.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Clayton Kershaw Clayton Kershaw is actually Tom’s favorite Dodgers pitcher. And like, yeah, I get it. Kershaw is a 10-time All-Star, a 3-time Cy Young Award Winner who finished top-5 in seven consecutive seasons, an MVP Award winner (as a pitcher!), a 5-time ERA title winner, a pitching Triple Crown winner, and a Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award winner. Add in a couple World Series, and that’s a pretty decent looking resume. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/789fb175-dc38-4501-97b7-e0ebf67e8dc2/19+-+Gibson.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bob Gibson Bob Gibson played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959 to 1975. Known for his fiercely competitive nature, Gibson tallied 251 wins, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 earned run average. A nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, he won two Cy Young Awards and the 1968 National League Most Valuable Player Award. Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/492a6d1b-587e-4780-9d09-167e0953c098/20+-+Marichal.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Juan Marichal Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez, nicknamed "the Dominican Dandy", played from 1960 to 1975, mostly with the San Francisco Giants. Known for his high leg kick, variety of pitches, arm angles and deliveries, pinpoint control, and durability, Marichal won 18 games to help the Giants reach the 1962 World Series. He went on to earn 191 victories in the 1960s, the most of any major league pitcher. He won over 20 games six times, on each occasion posting an ERA below 2.50 and striking out more than 200 batters. He became the first right-hander since Bob Feller to win 25 games three times, and his 26 wins in 1968 remain a Giants franchise record. Juan Marichal’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49ed66b5-c871-49d6-ac7c-b0a8f4d5b894/21+-+Seaver.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Seaver Tom’s all-time starting rotation is a pretty good one: Koufax, Kershaw, Gibson, Marichal, and Seaver. A combined 1,182 career wins, 11 Cy Young Awards, 15 ERA titles, and 3 MVP Awards. Not a bad collection of talent and accomplishments. With the Mets, Tom Seaver won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, and won three NL Cy Young Awards. He was a 12-time All-Star and ranks as the Mets' all-time leader in wins. During his career, he compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, a 2.86 ERA, and he threw a no-hitter in 1978. Tom Seaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5518694e-9f04-4914-a48a-56cc60eab5d6/22+-+Braves.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom’s Own Pitching Career Tom signed to play professionally and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Braves organization before his career was cut short by an automobile accident on the Southern State Parkway. Tom compiled a record of 7 wins and 6 losses with a 3.88 ERA in his 37-game career with the Gulf Coast Braves, Jamestown Braves, and West Palm Beach Braves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50ad5422-c79c-4065-b579-47ba7f7271ed/23+-+stats.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s minor league statistics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62cc09cc-2b12-458a-985e-2c4cd0506122/24+-+1967+Jamestown+Braves.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1967 Jamestown Braves The Jamestown Braves of the New York-Pennsylvania League ended the 1967 season with a record of 39 wins and 41 losses, finishing fourth in the NYPL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26a99451-e1fe-4346-8d38-f01a3a5dd19d/25+-+Spring+Training.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Spring Training Tom had a chance to play in Spring Training with Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Joe Torre. This photo of the heavy hitting trio was taken March 5, 1965 at West Palm Beach, Florida. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography Eddie Mathews’ SABR Biography Joe Torre’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39dc6796-66c9-4e1e-871c-3f84e14e9d1b/26+-+Rico+Carty.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Rico Carty Tom actually formed a good relationship with Rico Carty. Rico’s batting averages in his first six full seasons were .330 in 1964, .310 in 1965, .326 in 1966, .255 in 1967, .342 in 1969 (after missing the 1968 season with tuberculosis), and .366 in 1970. Carty led the Major Leagues in batting average and on base percentage (.454) in 1970, was named to his only All-Star Game, and finished 10th in MVP voting. Rico Carty’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c9926ba-139f-4f2b-a2e7-c8a683e386bb/27+-+aaron.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Henry Aaron Tom struck out Henry Aaron on three straight curveballs in spring training. From a very early age, Tom had a great curveball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6f04c7b-0344-422d-9b92-c31dd9f5d72a/28+-+mantle.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Collecting Mickey After his baseball career ended, Tom went to work with E.F. Hutton as an options broker on Wall Street, and that’s when he really started to collect baseball memorabilia in earnest. Even though he was a bigger fan of Willie Mays, Tom understood that collecting Mickey was where the money was, so that’s what he started to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dab396dd-2fb2-410a-ac15-36b0f3664330/29+-+mays.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hindsight is 20/20 Tom once sold a 1952 Willie Mays that was in great condition. At the time, the book price was $10, but because of its condition, Tom held out for $15 from his buyer. The buyer agreed. Today, a 1952 Willie Mays Topps card #261 in a PSA NM-MT 8 holder is worth somewhere between $100,000 and $165,000. One in a PSA Mint 9 holder is worth somewhere between $250,000 and $1.1 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ce8d4f1-d839-468c-94be-e15ecb8b5a79/30+-+1951+Bowman.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1951 Bowman Mays After selling my house in South Carolina, the very first thing I bought was a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e842d8e-dd28-4c86-bb4b-4f634e1ad106/31+-+wagner.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - T206 Wagner Over the course of his collecting career, Tom has owned THREE different copies of the T206 Honus Wagner card. Tom sold two of the Wagners to Louis Avon, and eventually sold his third Wagner to Richard Gelman. If you’re new to the show and haven’t had a chance to hear our previous episode with hobby pioneer and SABR’s 2020 Jefferson Burdick Award winner Michael Aronstein, save THIS LINK in your bookmarks now so you can go back after you finish listening to this episode with Tom, and then listen to that episode with Michael and his son, Andrew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cdeb67f-efbb-4796-a864-a0466b43c63a/32+-+Idlewild+Airport.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Idlewild Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. It was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its 1939 opening. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Idlewild was renamed in tribute to JFK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d31e679-0f62-4c18-a1d4-f59888331d2f/33+-+Ty+Cobb.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Big Score In 1981, Tom bought a collection with hundreds of T206 cards, including two different Wagners, over a dozen Ty Cobbs, and a Christy Mathewson “you coulda cleaned your teeth” with for a total of $8,000. Today, even a PSA Poor 1 graded copy of a green background Ty Cobb card is worth nearly $4,000. So, all in all, you could say this was a pretty good score. Tom was great at buying large collections and quickly flipping them for a quick profit, even if that sometimes meant leaving some money on the table. Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bea33c1-3be0-4851-869f-b6a89607736a/34+-+1978-09-09+ticket.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s First Show Tom put on the very first Mickey Mantle autograph show on September 9, 1978 at Hofstra University. Mickey charged $3 per autograph, as stipulated in a contract that paid him $1,000 per hour for three hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5104086b-2701-4f38-9df9-b4b9e814e8ee/40+-+1978-09-09+advertisement+from+March+15%2C+1978+issue+of+SCD.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Little Help From My Friends Tom and his friends Bob Ragonese and Vinnie Trocino put on the show. Tom’s opinion was that to have a successful show on Long Island, "we had to have a superstar as an attraction." Back then, show promoters and collectors were happy to have former or current players from the local major league team as the signers. Tom called Pete Rose and also considered Willie Mays. The final decision was that The Mick would be the best drawing card, considering the location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bec1e590-73df-42a4-8b32-65b6ae710877/36+-+Mickey+signing.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Mantle Shows” Collector and hobby historian Frank Barning wrote: “I remember standing with [Tom Catal] at his first Mantle show, at Hofstra, prior to Mantle's arrival. He was as nervous as a bridegroom a few minutes before his wedding. Catal was scared to death that the great Yankee would be a no show and that refunds to the long line of collectors would have to be made, plus his table holders would have screamed. The Mick did arrive on schedule and for the hobby the rest is history.” Tony Spaneo and Harmon Cooper soon became part of the group headed by Tom Catal, along with Bob Ragonese and Vinnie Trocino. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e89dc302-73bf-4c0e-9935-8cc940e8395b/37+-+Commerce+Comet.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Commerce Comet” Mickey was born in Commerce, Oklahoma, which begat one of his nicknames, “The Commerce Comet.” It was rare that Mickey would sign a baseball or photo with that as an inscription, but he would do it for Tom. If you want one for your own collection, you can buy THIS ONE for a little over $63,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5d45b23-9f06-4d0d-bc29-60cb09658ace/38+-+Oklahoma+Kid.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Oklahoma Kid” Even more rare than Mickey signing “The Commerce Comet” are examples of him inscribing “The Oklahoma Kid.” But, again, he would do it for Tom. HERE is an example you can add to your collection for about $25,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c2bd9a5-1d74-4c63-ae13-3e5b4c26c8a4/39+-+Roy+True.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Roy J. True Mickey said, “I never cared about business matters. I didn't have to handle my finances because my attorney, Roy True, took care of all that. Even though I didn't like it, over the years Roy would go over business matters with me, and I'd half listen for about 20 or 30 minutes at the most.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d3c3f29-2018-4de4-bcce-4549ebb3a0cd/40+-+Reserve+Life+Insurance+Company.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Reserve Life Insurance Company In 1972, after his playing career had ended, Mickey began working with the Reserve Life Insurance Company of Dallas, Texas, given the title Director of Public Relations. He would often answer fan letters and autograph requests sent to him there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c60cd8e-97e7-4859-bca1-47e2f31d6567/41+-+Ed+Kubina.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ed Kubina A collector named Ed Kubina brought his daughter’s entire girl scout troop to that first autograph show in 1978, and had Mickey sign 18 different pictures, one per scout, with Mickey making them all out “To Ed.” At one point, Kubina (pictured here, with Mickey) had over 700 autographs from Mickey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19b62b1d-e4fd-499d-ac22-ed7019465576/42+-+Multiple+autographs.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Hundreds of Autographs Tom bought a couple hundred Mickey Mantle autographs back from Ed Kubina’s daughter at one point, knowing that they were all legitimate since he had gotten them all in person at shows that Tom put on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6983b573-0018-49bf-bddd-888de65d0f17/43+-+Join+The+Movement.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Brady Signing Collectors like Ed Kubina could afford hundreds of Mickey Mantle autographs because players back then were charging $3 per signature. Tom Brady superfans who shelled out thousands for the retired NFL star’s autograph at a Miami event were outraged after they say they were left with illegible scribbles on their valuables. “I would have much rather him not sign it than what we got. He defaced our stuff,” complained Glen Gagnon, who was among about 100 people who forked over $3,600 for VIP tickets to the weekend business conference where Brady was one of the speakers. The signatures people received left many wondering if they’d be able to later get the autographs authenticated, and others trying to wash off the signatures they fear might just devalue their collectables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/416e9e18-833e-4f92-94d5-59f91924b312/44+-+Humble.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Humility “What’s the big fuss?” You’re Mickey Mantle! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc428998-6cd3-4e33-b21f-12b319379a22/45+-+Tom+Greenwade.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom Greenwade Yankees' scout Tom Greenwade signed Mickey for $1,100 after he graduated high school. Other players were making as much as $50,000 in signing bonuses at the time, so Mickey and his dad really left a lot of money on the table. That was the first of many financial deals and negotiations throughout his life that saw Mickey lose out. Tom Greendwade’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0c8a5cc-d133-45ce-83b0-5f6a2cff3f35/46+-+Allan+Savitt.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Allan Savitt On April 15, 1951 a hustler named Allan Savitt called the rookie Mantle at the Concourse Plaza Hotel, where Mickey was living. Savitt told Mantle that he could get him a contract with an organization that would secure him testimonials and endorsements. He promised Mickey that he could get him $50,000 a year in endorsements and personal appearances. Mantle would receive one-half the profits. The organization would receive the other half. Mantle agreed and signed a two-year contract with the firm. Savitt was now Mantle's agent. When Yankees traveling secretary Frank Scott asked Mickey if he had consulted a lawyer, Mantle responded that "...this fellow had a lawyer for me." This article appeared in the December 9, 1952 issue of The New York Times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c97291f-3903-49b4-9d34-967239811fe4/47+-+Holly+Brooke.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out This March, 1957 issue of Confidential Magazine details the story of Mickey’s financial relationship with Holly Brooke, at least, according to Brooke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5989654-9fb4-4d0b-b07f-d1f7b218ac92/48+-+Holly+Brooke.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Here is the article from that March, 1957 issue of Confidential Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2b4015b-1998-4365-9c01-dbf87db7be79/49+-+Greer+Johnson+2.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Greer Johnson Greer Johnson said that when she met Mickey Mantle, she was looking for a career change. "He had known that I wanted to do something in the business world, so one day he asked me if I had ever thought about being an agent for celebrities," Johnson said. "I just laughed...But he kept at it." Johnson took her new work seriously. As a "celebrity agent," she represented Mantle and a number of his old teammates like Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra. But her main client was always Mickey. "It was a Cinderella story in the beginning. I traveled, met people, did things I never imagined would be possible in my life." While the line of division between romance and business was missing, Greer saw him from the start through very different eyes. "I traveled with him all the time... He was like a little boy to me; he was very nave and totally inexperienced when it came to business.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6409ec01-5537-44f9-885f-ac81fc4a6a1b/50+-+Mickey+with+his+wife%2C+Merlyn.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Merlyn Mantle While attending high school, Merlyn Johnson met Mickey Mantle, two years before his MLB debut. Mickey was a baseball player at Commerce High School, while Merlyn was a cheerleader at rival Picher High School. Their first date took place at a movie theater along the famed Route 66 in Miami, Oklahoma. On December 23, 1951, Merlyn married Mickey, following his rookie season with the Yankees. The couple had four sons: Mickey, Jr., David, Billy, and Danny. The couple remained married for 43 years, until Mickey''s death in 1995, although they were estranged during his final years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d21b01a-3e63-4c0f-9ab2-0f75817f58f1/51+-+Mickey+showing+Bobby+the+ropes.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Welcoming To Young Teammates There are many stories about Mickey being very welcoming to young players when they first came up to the Yankees. Here he is, showing teammate Bobby Richardson around the stadium when Bobby was in his first week with the team. Bobby Richardson, the 1960 World Series MVP, was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. Bobby Richardson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1275c110-76b3-4ae5-9f7d-d80c18e3709f/52+-+Joe.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio They may both be smiling in this photo, but one of them is thinking “I don’t care what Casey Stengel says… if I can get to a ball, it’s MINE, kid. And don’t you dare forget it.” I love the writing on the back of Mickey’s glove here, spelling out “M-I-C-K” vertically across the fingers. Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6e47235-aa93-4791-a6ab-4c93ba60e3e2/53+-+A+Teammate.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Teammate Tom described Mickey as “a teammate,” which was a very important word to Mickey. Mickey didn’t feel like Joe DiMaggio was a good teammate to him, and made it a point to never make a young player feel the way Joe had made him feel. Mickey always tried to be a good teammate, on and off the field. Babe Ruth’s monument in Yankee Stadium describes him as “A great ballplayer. A great man. A great American.” Lou Gehrig’s describes him as “A man. A gentleman. And a great ballplayer.” Mickey’s describes him as “A great teammate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bac254a7-4097-4700-9aab-3dc36b82dbbc/54+-+Teammate.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Grave Even Mickey’s grave makes sure to use that word, calling him “A magnificent New York Yankee” first, but then the very next thing is to say Mickey was a “true teammate,” even before mentioning he was a Hall of Famer, or the most popular player of his era. It was important to Mickey that his teammates thought of him that way, and it was important to him that regular people saw him that way, too. That’s one of the qualities which made Mickey so special. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0334419e-c63e-49de-93ee-35aeabbf62e6/55+-+Joe+D.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio and Barry Halper Originally part of the Barry Halper collection, this piece contains an inscribed signature by Joe DiMaggio which reads "Barry - You have quite a collection. Best Wishes. Joe DiMaggio." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f51c6b2e-53c1-4393-b5de-896045db635b/56+-+Stage+Deli.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Stage Deli The Stage Deli first opened in 1937 on Broadway & 48th Street by a crude, gravel-voiced Russian immigrant named Max Asnas who would be dubbed the "Corned-Beef Confucius" by Fred Allen thanks to his "Asnas-isms," for example: "Money is something you make in case you don't die.” The Stage deli was a New York institution, and while playing with the Yankees, both Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle regularly ate there. Each became good friends of the owners, Max and Hymie Asnas, and their families. The Asnas brothers often made the players special meals that were not on their menu. In Mickey’s rookie season, the Asnas brothers even housed Mantle and some teammates in an apartment above the deli. Joe started to see his celebrity being challenged by Mickey. The Stage had been his place. Max was his friend. But now, here comes this highly-touted rookie not only poised to take his spot on the team, but also in New York? Joe hated that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed9617c6-3a7d-4207-a553-d5cc92a6a82f/57+-+Lefty+Gomez.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Lefty Gomez Joe DiMaggio loved reading Superman comic books, but he was so protective of his image that he didn’t want anyone to see him buying them, or knowing that he read them. So Joe would have his teammate and roommate, Lefty Gomez, go out and buy them for him. Sometimes when Gomez bought the comic—and DiMaggio always had him get it the very day it came out—he would goof around by calling out to DiMaggio, who hovered off to the side, "You mean this comic book, Joe? Or this one, the Superman?" DiMaggio would scowl and turn his back and walk off a few paces. Lefty Gomez’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27768b12-2b6e-4a5b-90d8-f062129d63d1/58+-+Locker+Room.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Protective Of His Image Joe DiMaggio never wanted anyone to take his photo unless he was fully dressed in his uniform, or fully dressed in a suit. This photo is one of the rare occasions in which we get to see him in the locker room getting dressed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9da3fc9b-98b4-4df6-8f0d-9074321e96c7/59+-+Maris+MVP.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - MVP Awards Mickey finished first or second in MVP voting during six seasons, winning the award in 1956 (the year he won the Triple Crown), 1957, and 1962. Mickey finished second in MVP voting behind Roger Maris in 1960, and then again in 1961. While Roger broke Babe Ruth's record in 1961, Mickey's stats were pretty clearly better overall compared to Maris' that year. Had Mickey won one of those MVP awards, he would have retired with a then-record four career MVPs. Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9a2a31e-c3ee-4f35-ad5d-67d0fe11636e/60+-+Failure.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Regret Mickey batted .255, .288, .245, and .237 for a combined .254 average from 1965 through 1968. Those last four years dropped his career average to .298, down from the .309 lifetime average he'd had after the 1964 season. Mickey said his only regret from his playing days was that he didn’t retire with a .300 average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45d3baee-e5de-47fa-8b07-a7cfd522adf7/61+-+Maris.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The M&M Boys Mickey was always publicly gracious about losing the 1961 home run chase to Roger Maris, and he always said that the right person broke Babe's record that year, but for a while that season it was looking like a possibility that they might both break it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd9ccd30-f310-4c96-a312-ff1ebbf4397f/62+-+Babe+Ruth.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Beating The Babe Mickey's father said his goal was for Mickey to be the greatest ballplayer who ever lived. Mickey knew that, so that became Mickey’s goal, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c1da41f-5184-4562-bbc9-18580e0285a0/63+-+Injured.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Injuries Mickey’s body began to break down in the latter half of his career. Here, Mickey bandages his leg in the locker room before a game in June of 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66555237-3961-489f-941b-1899e71b661f/64+-+Drain+Pipe.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Drain Cover In Game 2 of 1951 World Series, the 19-year-old rookie injured his knee on a drain cover in right field. His knee exploded, and he missed the rest of the Series. He would never be the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1109b78c-46a5-4334-8795-c28efc3f373d/65+-+Injuries.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Other Injuries Mickey had plenty of injuries over the course of his career. Mickey is shown on crutches here in 1963, after his latest injury, a broken bone in his foot, which was caused when his spikes caught in the fence while chasing a Baltimore homer. Mantle’s other illnesses or injuries from head to toe include: - Tonsillectomy, 1956 - Injured right shoulder, 1957 - Rib cage injury, 1963 - Abscess of right hip, 1961 - Fractured right index finger, 1959 - Pulled right thigh muscle, 1955 - Sprained left knee, 1956 - Fell heavily on left knee, 1962 - Cartilage operation on injured right knee, 1951 - Re-injured right knee requiring another operation, 1952 - Osteomyelitis in left ankle and shin, 1947 - Last night’s accident, breaking the metatarsal bone in the left foot. The 31-year-old switch hitter has been plagued since his youth when he suffered a form of infantile paralysis that weakened his legs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c62b892-f380-45c8-879e-ff1a60760dc1/66+-+plane.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Travel Accommodations The Yankees didn't start traveling by plane until the 1956 season. Before that, they traveled exclusively by train. Here, Mickey is helped from a plane upon arrival from Baltimore after he broke his left foot crashing into the outfield fence while trying to catch a home run hit by Brooks Robinson. Brooks Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d639290-6617-4930-971e-94dcb87f1121/67+-+Mutt.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Switch Hitting Mickey Mantle’s father was Elvin Charles “Mutt” Mantle. He worked in lead and zinc mines and also played semi-pro baseball himself. He and his father, Charles Mantle, taught Mickey how to play baseball. Mickey batted left-handed against his father when he pitched right-handed to him. And Mickey would bat right-handed when his grandfather, Charles, pitched left-handed to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f63f9595-9ee9-41a6-8c04-f24656cc9800/68+-+Mickey%27s+mom.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Mom Mickey Mantle’s mother was Lovell Mantle (nee Richardson). She was a homemaker, but she was knowledgeable about baseball, too. According to Mickey, his dad asked his mom to make a baseball bat for him when he was in the cradle. She also made his first baseball uniform by cutting down his father’s baseball uniform. She and Mickey studied over his first contract from the New York Yankees together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3a35ccd-dacf-4810-b1aa-12d80815cf75/69+-+Mickey+and+Family.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Own Family Mickey often worried that he was a bad father. His friends would try to convince him that there wasn’t much more Mickey could do, since he was away from home so often due to his job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d09447db-fcfe-4439-b91e-5ec60f20d995/70+-+Billy.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59fac238-cb11-4464-bcc1-c1771ee06bfc/71+-+Immature.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Immaturity Mickey wasn't criticized too much because he was just so great, but when he was criticized, it was because of his perceived immaturity, especially in the first half of his career. The famous story about Phil Linz and his harmonica comes to mind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/903fd6c3-9a88-46f2-8d90-9931821439b0/74+-+Grimace.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Playing Through Pain Mickey played in every game he could, and probably played in many games he shouldn’t have played in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb520fd4-314b-4063-a5ec-23abaf7d21b2/72+-+Called+Shot.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Babe’s Called Shot In a career of larger-than-life achievements, Babe’s Called Shot in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series is probably his signature moment. This photo shows Babe Ruth after hitting that mammoth home run, being greeted at home plate by Lou Gehrig. Looking on is the Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett. Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography Gabby Hartnett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f9112d9-3a67-4927-b1a5-609c5cd26cf0/73+-+The+Catch.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Catch As of the end of the 2024 season, there have been over 217,042 regular season MLB games played, including games from the National League (1876-2018), American League (1901-2018), and other leagues that no longer exist. In all of those games, with all of the outs which have been recorded, there is one play great enough to be known as “The Catch.” Willie May’s incredible play in the 8th inning of Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, with the score tied 2-2, off the bat of Cleveland Indians slugger Vic Wertz. Vic Wertz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5d51edd-62dc-494a-808e-b4e31f64823e/75+-+Perfect+Game.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Preserving Perfection Mickey got a good jump on Gil Hodges' line drive to left-center before catching it in stride for the second out of the fifth, preserving Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Don Larsen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed6759cf-a6fb-4dc3-b962-963f69fa85b2/76+-+Teammate.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Teammate Mickey knew that he was in a better financial situation than most of his former teammates, and he also knew that he had the pull to make some demands. Often times, Mickey’s participation at an autograph signing was contingent upon the event also allowing his former teammates - like Hank Bauer (left), and Moose Skowron (right) - to also come along and make some money. Hank Bauer’s SABR Biography Bill “Moose” Skowron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91b817d3-3ad3-4614-9928-5aa78ca0df23/77+-+Cobb.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ty Cobb Ty Cobb, who was an early investor in Coca-Cola and was worth over $12 million when he died, reportedly sent monthly checks to retired baseball players who had fallen on hard times, demonstrating a compassionate side beyond his on-field persona. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9afd414c-5638-457c-ade7-bdefd3d4bc7e/78+-+fakes.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Forged Signatures Even though Mickey signed enough autographs to fill an abyss, his autograph remains one of the most heavily-forged signatures of all time. It has been said that somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of the Mickey Mantle signatures on the internet are fakes, like this one shown here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49bf540f-7016-4629-b0e5-a5ab0dbc3009/79+-+Signing+During+His+Career.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - How Many Are Out There? Tom estimates that Mickey signed more than half a million baseballs in his life, but notes that Mickey actually didn’t sign too many during his playing career, especially from 1956 through 1960. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fd8cb30-21fb-4904-80d3-ab00a40c9c8b/80+-+Katie+Jackson.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Katie Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson never went to school a day in his life, and never learned to read or write. When fans would send in for an autograph, it was actually Joe’s wife, Katie, who would sign his name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15e473d4-da77-4db1-8d02-e512afc0c7f0/81+-+Clubhouse+Signature.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Clubhouse Signatures Mickey very rarely put his autograph on team-signed baseballs. Those were usually done by clubhouse attendants, secretaries, or bat boys. If fans would request signatures through the mail directly from Mickey, Tom says it was often Mickey’s family who was signing on his behalf. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb8659c9-a092-411d-bd1e-7b53f0e4178e/82+-+Marino.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Prolific Forgers Master forger Gregory Marino, who could perfectly copy signatures on sight and worked 15 hours a day to produce forgeries, estimated that he made over a million Mickey Mantle forgeries. An FBI investigation uncovered $100 million worth of fraud into forged celebrity autographs and sports memorabilia in the United States. Tom also mentioned Michael Bertolini as a possible prolific forger, and Ron Dross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68d27e88-d8b2-4c57-b593-8ff9ec6ea8ed/83+-+Barry+Halper+circa+1984.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Barry Halper Barry Halper owned one of the most extensive baseball memorabilia collections ever assembled. Halper, a limited partner in the New York Yankees, amassed some 80,000 items. A portion of it was acquired by Major League Baseball and donated to the Hall of Fame in 1998. In October 2010, Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn told the New York Post that a Halper-donated jersey, supposedly worn by Shoeless Joe Jackson, was a fake. Issues of authenticity have been raised with other auctioned items, including items purported to belong to Cy Young, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a95c5781-b162-4774-ab91-dbe82abc0db4/85+-+Mantle+PSA+6.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1952 Topps Mantle PSA 6 Tom had two PSA 6 copies of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card at The National a few years ago. To say those cards are valuable would be putting it lightly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6b419fa-7586-43ba-ac3d-c8f3a4cec099/86+-+Signature+Changes.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Signature Changes Mickey’s signature is magical. His autograph is one of the most coveted signatures in the hobby. Collector and historian Kelly Eisenhauer put together this incredible article for Sports Collectors Digest with dozens of examples of Mickey’s signature throughout the years, showing the major (and minor) changes over time. I pulled out examples from his player contracts from every few years during his actual career, but I urge you to actually go read the article and see all of the different examples Kelly put together to show the decades of change in Mickey’s signature. READ IT HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe8407be-7730-4170-a675-b7c4d30cd1e1/87+-+1951.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s 1951 Signature In 1951, Mickey was not quite 20 years old, but was a member of the World Champion New York Yankees. Making his debut on April 17, 1951, the Mick’s surroundings were new, as was his signature. This example shows a very rare autographed Mickey Mantle Fan Club postcard dated May 18, 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe87127e-36d8-4f5f-a68e-a2bb85b027bd/89+-+Bad+Signatures.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bad Signatures Some players just don’t take pride in their signatures the way players did in years past. A few examples which came to mind for Tom and me during our interview: Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography Doc Gooden’s SABR Biography Mark McGwire SABR Article on the 1998 HR Chase Greg Maddux’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a11cdf3-72ce-4f2e-b55e-ac96f8943d0c/87+-+Half+Moons.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Mickey Mantle gifted this cardboard sheet with 99 of his signatures on it to business partner Joseph Timmerman in 1991. It sold for $247,144 in August of 2024, an average of $2,496 per signature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a6e4e46-ce96-47d9-89d7-0058a153253a/90+-+1981-12-05+show.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Tom’s Autograph Shows Tom put on dozens of shows with superstar ballplayers like Duke Snider, such as this show from December 5 and 6, 1981. The reaction people had over seeing and meeting Mickey Mantle was unlike anything else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed28c41f-5c2a-454d-8d6b-755727be1852/91+-+Craze.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Craze The boys sticking their arms over the dugout roof to sneak an autograph from Mickey during his career in the 1950s and 1960s were the men attending the autograph shows in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The only difference was, now they had the money to spend on autographs, and a chance to meet their hero. But Mickey was still their hero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d3f2736-0256-4f23-b632-8703d1a95ec4/92+-+Cool.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cool Tom said multiple times in the interview that he was lucky, in regards to his friendship with Mickey. And you can hear it in his voice. Tom may not have thought Mickey was the best ballplayer ever, but he was in awe of him as a person. Tom could feel the confidence and coolness Mickey exuded, and saw with regularity the effect it had on other people. Here, Mickey is surrounded by the press after a 1960 World Series game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/789e76d8-64bc-4fa5-b528-86eba6eb11ed/93+-+Temper.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Temper There are stories of Mickey being short with fans sometimes, but Tom explains that by saying those fans came into the interaction acting too familiar with Mickey, asking for too much, or asking for it at the wrong time (like if Mickey was eating a meal and didn’t want to be bothered at that moment). But Mickey would usually end up feeling bad about his initial reaction, and would often do what he could to make it up to the fan he had originally spurned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e4adb53-43d0-4ee5-987d-891b4f926576/94+-+Shyness.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Shyness There are countless stories about how shy Mickey was when he came to the Yankees, and even into his career. But Tom said Mickey learned to accept his stardom over the years, and especially later in life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3445f60-d009-441a-89b6-2083952edd22/95+-+Tom%27s+Luck.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Guy Tom said over and over how lucky he was, calling Mickey a great guy, and reiterating how generous Mickey was, specifically to Tom. This game-used glove from 1967 was one of the pieces in Tom’s collection, which was on display at the Mickey Mantle Museum when Tom ran it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b36eb36-f023-4396-a70f-c212142e9489/96+-+1994-04-18+Sports+Illustrated.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mental Health Mickey dealt with depression and anxiety all his life. There was a particular episode on a flight back home to Dallas after a card show in April of 1987 when paramedics had to meet Mickey's plane at Dallas' Love Field because they thought he was having a heart attack. It turned out to be a panic attack, but Mickey continued to internalize stress, which was only exacerbated by his drinking. In 1993, Mickey admitted that at times, he had thought about killing himself. In an essay titled “I Was Killing Myself” in an April 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated, Mickey said, “I always took pride in my dependability when I was doing public-relations work, endorsements and personal appearances. I always wanted to do my best. It was when I had no commitments, nothing to do or nowhere to be that I lapsed into those long drinking sessions.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6df0ad1-a84e-4aa7-81d7-2c365480abea/97+-+Mickey+autograph+show.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Alcohol As A Crutch Mickey said he used alcohol as a crutch. To help him overcome his shyness and make him feel more comfortable before personal appearances. “I'd forget what day it was. What month it was. What city I was in. There were dozens of personal appearances and card shows that I had agreed to be at, but when the time came to go, I'd argue that I had never agreed to the commitment in the first place. But I always made the appearance. I'm still proud of that.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/afa8fe43-bdcf-4e64-b05c-bc4cd5ebdc01/98+-+Pete+Rose.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete Rose In addition to Mickey and Duke Snider, one of Tom’s bigger clients who he sometimes represented at autograph shows was Pete Rose, who also became a close personal friend over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ecb0caf-fc88-4efc-a0f7-81b058b621b6/99+-+Mickey.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Guaranteed Success When talking about putting on autograph shows, Tom once said “Mickey Mantle guarantees success. I’ve been doing these shows for five years, and every year, he gets more popular. In Detroit, he almost caused a riot. Same thing in Kansas City. Mickey Mantle can outdraw God. By 50 percent.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8f2c9af-c860-49a9-9207-fb1e7d25e153/100+-+Mickey+and+Babe.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Was Mickey’s Career A Failure? To a normal person, of course not. How could you call what Mickey accomplished a failure? But Mickey’s dad set the goal for Mickey to be the greatest ballplayer who ever lived. And, close as he may have come, Mickey didn’t accomplish that goal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/698c9c23-5b0b-45fc-b239-dc9cf2e057bb/101+-+Willie+Mickey+Duke.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie, Mickey, & The Duke For decades, it was “Willie, Mickey, and The Duke.” All three of them, nearly always mentioned together. Even immortalized as a trio in a song by Terry Cashman. Duke Snider was the first to kind of fade into obscurity, and then it became “Mays and Mantle” whose names were inextricably linked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77760d6e-0c3c-44a8-a72e-ce4be65c03a4/102+-+Greatest+Living+Ballplayer.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “The Greatest Living Ballplayer” For years, Joe DiMaggio insisted on being referred to and introduced as "The Greatest Living Ballplayer" but most people seemed to understand that that was a title fitting only either Willie or Mickey. But now, 30 years after Mickey has passed away, it seems like his status as one of the inner circle Hall of Famers has kind of slipped a little, and today most people consider Willie Mays to be the greatest all around ballplayer who ever lived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f1776c-f395-4475-9f94-13247cb76fce/103+-+Museum.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle Museum Of the more than 20,000 players to have played Major League Baseball over the years, it seems like Mickey Mantle is a no-brainer to have his own museum. Tom started the Mickey Mantle Museum in Cooperstown, which housed what was the world’s largest Mickey Mantle collection at the time. Tom’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c781d924-ff44-4d2f-ac00-2cab2b089651/104+-+Stuff.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “I Had So Much Stuff Then” Here are some of the items Tom had on display at the museum, including advertisements, autographed baseballs, and products endorsed by Mickey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8353a841-24cc-4ed7-a20b-207673f07a30/105+-+More+Stuff.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - More Stuff Jerseys, magazines featuring Mickey on the cover, commemorative plates, figurines, buttons, pins, spoons, newspaper articles… you name it. Tom had it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5df3c30f-7d0b-4c48-bbe6-ecb52ce7881a/106+-+Cuff+Links.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cuff Links In certain years, the Yankees gave their players cuff links in addition to World Series rings. They did it in 1950, and they did it in 1961. Tom used to own Mickey’s 1961 cuff links, but recently sold them. Pictured here is Roger Maris’ set from that same year, as well as the tie tack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d243164-0acb-45f9-8e04-32703bbe0c7e/107+-+Golf+Bag.JPG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Golf Bag Tom has sold the vast majority of his collection over the past 20 years, and still has more than most Mickey Mantle collectors will ever own in their lives. One such item which is no longer in Tom’s collection is Mickey’s personalized golf bag, seen here when it was on display at Tom’s Mickey Mantle Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/812adaa5-5758-48e5-b308-1fc6dca37cfd/108+-+Golf+Scorecard.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Collectability of Mickey Mantle If anyone else goes golfing, they throw their scorecard away when they finish their round and that’s the end of it. When Mickey Mantle went golfing and kept a scorecard, people bid on it at an auction and it was worth hundreds of dollars. On multiple occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b77e36e6-4c16-4b2e-8651-bdce37bc5d0f/109+-+Jersey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Wait … Don’t Get Rid Of That!” When Mickey would be getting ready to bring stuff to an auction house to get rid of it, Tom would try to intercept it and give Mickey whatever amount Mickey was hoping to get for everything. It saved Mickey the trouble, and helped Tom grow his incredible collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdab0110-9ebb-4b31-a93a-0e9f8a649f99/110+-+So+Much+Stuff.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s apartment, full of all sorts of incredible baseball memorabilia he’s collected over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f36b0d83-0914-47b8-9ec4-f8147e2deb59/111+-+Rose.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete’s Suit One of the more unique pieces Tom still owns is the suit Pete Rose was wearing when he was indicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fcf3a4a-369e-4083-baf9-b7086623fa63/112+-+Boyhood+Home.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Boyhood Home Rally, a company which allows people to buy shares of various memorabilia including wine and sports cars, sold 47,000 shares of Mickey Mantle’s boyhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma for $7 each on October 27, 2023, ESPN reported. The company saw a number of potential options for how to utilize the property, which Rally bought for $175,000 in 2022, and had been valued at $329,000. Turning the house into a museum or an Airbnb-style short-term rental, the creation of a Little League field, and creating trading cards with pieces of the property embedded in them were all ideas which had been floated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4ae8aa6-ef36-41c0-8ec0-641bd2a460be/113+-+Lou+Gehrig+charm+bracelet.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Pictured here is the charm bracelet that Lou Gehrig gave to his wife Eleanor on their fourth wedding anniversary. The bracelet is made up of 17 charms that represent Gehrig’s awards and achievements. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1155fbd-e624-45a4-a453-55fd430b6c95/114+-+Mickey.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Your Buddy, Mick No matter how comfortable Tom was with Mickey, and how down to earth Mickey was, it was impossible for Tom to forget that he was Mickey Mantle. His millions of fans were a constant reminder that Tom was in the presence of greatness, even if Mickey never made himself out to be more important than anyone else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d11efa8c-ab2e-45fa-8344-e1b4eb8bbc17/115+-+So+Much+Stuff+It%27s+A+Joke.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Some of the many Mickey Mantle cards and autographs Tom has on display in his apartment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72dccc11-78b9-43a9-a783-898ba62af03f/116+-+Dugout+shot.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Dugout Shot These photos, autographed by Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Joe DiMaggio, and Whitey Ford, were the cause of some awkwardness between the friend group who signed them. Billy Martin’s SABR Biography Whitey Ford’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c90cfdc-ccfb-4aa5-9770-8b50eba0761e/118+-+Homestead.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Old Homestead Steakhouse Located in New York City’s Meatpacking District, one of Manhattan's trendiest neighborhoods for entertainment & culture, The Old Homestead first opened its doors in 1868 – making it the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in the United States and, one of the longest continually operating restaurants in America. The steakhouse has made appearances in multiple television shows, including a 1995 episode of Seinfeld and a 2004 episode of The Sopranos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f421247a-25f2-4a78-8ecf-8abd885c3add/119+-+Mickey+Mantle%27s.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant Mickey would also take Tom to his own restaurant. Tom never had to pay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00b78b79-2a00-4b8f-acb0-905a7195d2a6/120+-+Contracts.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Contracts Mickey made somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 million during his career as a player. If Juan Soto plays 150 games per season over the course of his 15-year contract with the Mets, he will make $1,020,000 every 3 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0aee76e-a970-4b51-a786-ae14d0d34fe7/121+-+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - That’s One Way To Get Rid Of Cards You Don’t Want Several years after producing the 1952 set, Topps executive Sy Berger decided to discard the unsold cards, literally dumping them into the Atlantic Ocean. Little did Berger know that he was creating a smaller supply for the future secondary market, one that Berger and the rest of Topps did not even realize would come to fruition; with fewer cards, including the Mantles, available to future collectors, the card became rarer and more valuable. The "finest known example" of a 1952 Topps Mantle sold at an auction with Heritage for $12.6 million in August of 2022. $12.6 million is more than 10 times what Mickey made as a player in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa164679-169e-4e3d-a273-315fcbce2b4e/122+-+The+Hall+of+Fame%27s+Wagner.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The HOF’s Wagner This copy of the T206 Honus Wagner card is on display in the Shoebox Treasures exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. While it is an ungraded copy, and the HOF has no interest in having it graded, I believe it may be the nicest example of the card in existence. Luckily, it is in the permanent archives of the Hall, so it will be preserved forever. But a part of me is curious to know what it would sell for if it hit the open market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6baca0fa-6378-4730-be8b-4b111f3d85ed/123+-+Mickey%27s+last+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Last Jersey The jersey worn by Mickey Mantle when he played his final game as a New York Yankee on September 28, 1968, sold for $2.19 million in February of 2022. It was also the jersey Mickey was wearing when Denny McLain served up what has become known as “The Gift,” essentially a batting practice fastball during the game on September 19, 1968, which Mickey hit over the fence for his 535th career home run. #535 allowed Mickey to pass Jimmie Foxx and move into sole possession of third place on the all-time list, behind only Babe Ruth who had 714, and Willie Mays who had hit 587 at that point in his career. He hit one final home run on September 20, 1968, finishing his career with 536. Denny McLain’s SABR Biography Jimmie Foxx’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43fce893-264e-44b4-b99c-bc7f1789f932/124+-+Inscription.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Great Friend Mickey signed that final jersey with a blue sharpie, and added an inscription which read “To Tom. A great friend. Always. The Mick.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f35f053c-8637-41e1-bdf3-6cb7cc18880a/125+-+SI.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Sports Illustrated Covers Mickey has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated 13 times so far, with seven of those covers coming in the first 11 years of the magazine’s existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b05abe6e-8852-43b6-a24f-a3a6ba5a2b76/126.5+-+Hickok+Belt.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Hickok Belt Mickey Mantle received the Ray Hickok jeweled belt in January of 1957 in recognition of Mickey being named the professional athlete of the year for 1956. The belt was named in honor of the founder of the Hickok Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York, which made belts, hence the choice of a belt as a trophy. The actual belt was made from alligator-skin, had a solid gold buckle, an encrusted 4-carat diamond, and 26 gem chips. Of the 27 winners between 1950 and 1976, 15 were baseball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7738d41c-6980-42a1-97d9-fc3236f00bb4/127+-+Ali.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Starstruck? Tom said Mickey never got starstruck, even when rubbing elbows with some of the most famous people in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b47f87aa-3240-40bb-bcd2-9d3f794cc49b/128+-+trophy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Other Cool Items Tom has owned multiple game-used jerseys from Mickey, game-used gloves, jewelry, trophies, and hundreds of autographed pictures and baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dd31736-6b99-4847-a8d3-312f46a962e5/129+-+Mickey+cabinets.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Tom’s apartment is full of cabinets like the ones in this photo. A handful of them are exclusively filled with Mickey Mantle-related items. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d9dc804-45e2-4d99-b85e-f44835a70bbe/130+-+Pete+Rose+on+the+bench+outside.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ambassador Of The Game Tom said that those who knew Mickey well lost someone special when he passed, but that the true ambassador of the game of baseball was Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89178149-3f56-4181-8fe0-5e26ff6c9b94/131+-+Negro+League+players.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Negro League Players Tom has a great respect for Negro League players, and has gone out of his way over the past 30 years to meet former players, and collect what he can from their lives and careers. Guys like Buck O’Neil, Ray Dandridge, Cool Papa Bell, and Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b59a5748-243e-441b-a595-cb78a17d2a79/132+-+Buck+Leonard.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Buck Leonard Tom’s favorite Negro League player was Buck Leonard, who he had a chance to meet. Leonard played for the Homestead Grays between 1934 and 1950, batting fourth behind Josh Gibson for many years. The Grays teams of the 1930s and 1940s were considered some of the best teams in Negro league history. Leonard and Gibson are two of only nine players in league history to win multiple batting titles. Leonard never played in the white Major Leagues; he declined an offer in 1952 of an MLB contract because he felt he was too old. Buck Leonard’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0544b0b-d328-4630-b08d-9e082236685d/133+-+If+He+Liked+You+He+Loved+You.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - If He Liked You, He Loved You Tom was one of the lucky ones who Mickey loved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a64c8c0-f43e-4254-9a74-9d6bd08d0e54/134+-+The+Last+Boy.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Last Boy Jane Leavy’s book, The Last Boy, is one of the best-researched books ever written about Mickey. Her other baseball books (The Big Fella, about Babe Ruth, and Sandy Koufax) are equally incredible. Buy The Last Boy here Buy The Big Fella here Buy Sandy Koufax here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fee19602-8080-43f5-8af3-f88ce7ea46e5/135+-+Castro.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - America’s Prodigal Son Another book Tom recommends was written by Tony Castro, who has written multiple books on Mickey and on the Yankees. Tom provided all of the photos for America’s Prodigal Son, Tony’s 2008 book on Mickey. Buy America’s Prodigal Son here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37aefda5-482b-4539-ac15-701e2b7474e9/136+-+Safe+At+Home.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Safe At Home Ballpark Collectibles Safe at Home Ballpark Collectibles is in the building at 91 Main Street in Cooperstown. In 2002, Tom bought that building with Andrew Vilacky, gutted it, and remodeled it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84d09867-22b8-45f8-bd56-3619308277d2/137+-+Pete+Rose%27s+Apartment.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Apartment The second floor apartment of the building is normally where Pete Rose would stay during his annual pilgrimage to Cooperstown for induction weekend each year. A pretty convenient spot, considering Pete would make public appearances and sign autographs on the first floor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/858fef99-46bc-422a-93f4-a353753955ef/138+-+Mickey%27s+Place.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey’s Place Mickey’s Place, located at 74 Main Street in Cooperstown, is a building previously owned by Tom. He had Pete Rose there in about 1995 to sign autographs, and the two hit it off, which began their business relationship and friendship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2d8660e-7635-4144-9a13-48ae261301ae/139+-+Rose.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Japanese The 2025 Hall of Fame induction weekend is expected to be the biggest in Cooperstown’s history, with Ichiro going in and drawing massive crowds from all over the world. Pete Rose taught himself how to write “Rose” in Japanese Kanji, which he has done on the ball seen here. You can buy one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5974d9e-b3d8-4406-be94-e3de2c89f120/140+-+Mickey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - My Favorite Player I never saw Mickey play, but he’s my favorite player of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a1f3c48-11c5-48c1-9e74-86e415eb8409/141+-+Charlie+Hustle.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Charlie Hustle "It was 1963, my rookie year, and we were playing the Yankees in spring training," Rose told the Village News in 2018. "I came in as a pinch runner. I slid, head first, into third base. “Then a guy hit a pop up that the shortstop (Tony Kubek) caught. I ran to home and slid head first. We won the game. “After the game, Mantle told reporters, 'Did you see that Charlie Hustle beat us today?' The next day the headline in the papers was: Charlie Hustle Beats Yankees." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98cf1e99-18bd-46b9-8a40-3fbeedd707ef/142+-+Hit+King.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Hit King No one liked to remind people that Pete Rose was “The Hit King” more than Pete Rose’s biggest fan, Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d68ea633-c351-4136-abe9-e573dee65697/143+-+All+Day+And+All+Night.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Just a handful of Tom’s autographed baseballs from Pete Rose, each with a different inscription, ranging from “Best Wishes” and “Merry XMas” to “You Are A Real Asshole” “Fuck Off” and “Kiss My Ass.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c2c7141-ce08-4937-ba97-75701abf1d2b/144+-+Fishing.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Ted Williams Spinning Reel Ted Williams, “the greatest hitter who ever lived,” was also a star in the sport fishing world and a member of the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame. In the early 1960s, after his baseball career ended, he imported a line of spinning reels from Turin, Italy, that were sold under the Ted Williams, Inc. label out of Miami. Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbb42545-bbdd-40f4-b538-fa6ec3b2b995/145+-+Pete+Rose.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Do You Collect?” …nothing compared to this, but yeah, I’ve got some stuff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f734a28-c3b8-4ab4-996e-a4c7944060f4/146+-+Topps+contract.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Topps Contract Tom’s incredible high school pitching career propelled him to a minor league career in the Braves organization. While in the minor leagues, Tom signed a contract with Topps which gave the rights to his name, image, and likeness for the use of baseball cards over to the chewing gum manufacturing company, should Tom have made it to the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b613d8f-03a0-45be-93b3-09678d00eb84/147+-+Billy+Martin+death+day.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Close Friends Mickey signed this autograph to Tom on the day Billy Martin passed away, dating it for posterity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79636499-b1ed-49d0-a8ef-c72f7e248b48/148+-+Idlewild.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Idlewild Airport The TWA terminal at Idlewild Airport, with its distinctive wing-shaped roof, boasted features now common everywhere —closed circuit television, a central public address system, baggage carousels, fancy clubs and lounges, and electronic arrivals and departures boards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29885394-9620-4589-a36f-b55f52663e32/149+-+Autograph+Shows.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Autograph Shows Tom was one of the pioneers of major autograph shows, striking gold with Mickey Mantle in 1978 when they worked together for the first time. This signed admission ticket from a banquet on March 27, 1982, is one of the many Mickey Mantle autographed pieces Tom still has on display in his apartment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a9be2fdb-ad94-45c1-a932-c7ba1830bb15/150+-+Big+Contract.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - “Big” Contracts For the time, Mickey was one of the highest paid players. This photo shows Mickey signing his first $100,000 per year contract in 1963. He had already won 3 MVPs and 7 World Series titles before the Yankees felt he had earned that big of a contract, but I digress. Other players of the time who weren’t quite on Mickey’s level needed additional income from offseason jobs during their careers, and/or autograph shows after their playing days ended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7cc9867-88b8-4bae-993b-641fa1b203eb/151+-+Life+Insurance.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Life Insurance Mickey manning the phones at his life insurance gig after his playing career. Even Mickey Mantle, who made $1.2 million during his playing career, got a job after he retired so he could bring some extra money in to provide for his family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ac9c997-cc5e-4dc7-b114-ed65dc013b09/152+-+Laughing.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Regular Guy Mickey was just a down to earth guy who wanted to hang out and have some drinks and laugh with his buddies. It just so happened that he was one of the most gifted athletes to ever walk the earth. But unless you already knew that about him, you’d have never known that about him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2585b04-9e7d-4dfb-9677-6908416611be/153+-+Family.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Father Mickey may not have always been the best husband or the best father, which are things he regretted during his life. But that didn’t mean he didn’t love his wife or his sons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e00d0f4d-d763-4d2d-96fe-8d68114da5f6/154+-+Jay+Valentine.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Jay Valentine Our last episode was with Jay Valentine, who patrolled center field in 1977 and 1978 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the Negro League baseball teams. You can listen to that interview, which was featured in Episode 6 of Season 4, by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ec48e8b-cc94-43b9-aa84-b31d9343c89e/155+-+Bob+Cerv+and+Mickey.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bob Cerv Bob Cerv and Mickey Mantle were teammates from 1951-1956, again in 1960, and for one more stint from 1961-62. Cerv saw Mickey before his first knee injury in the 1951 World Series, and when his body was still young enough to recover from his many injuries. Cerv said Mickey was one of the fastest players he’d ever seen. Mickey holds the record for fastest time from home to first, clocking in at 3.1 seconds. During the 1961 season, Cerv lived in a $251-per-month (equivalent to $2,658 in 2025) apartment in Queens with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Cerv was having an affair with Angie Dickinson at one point during his career. Bob injured his knee during a game, so Angie came rushing to the hospital to check on him. When she arrived, she was greeted in the room by Bob’s wife, Phyllis. Bob Cerv’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93c7ebe6-f0c7-4af3-9b05-818c3b6e3ea9/156+-+women.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Player It seemed like saying “no” to people was a problem Mickey had all his life. This personality trait led him to situations and circumstances that a person with a stronger will may not have found themselves in. Mickey regretted some of them, but his actions proved he didn’t regret them enough to stop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52559aa4-e5d3-426c-bac9-e18442970a74/157+-+Triple+Crown.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Acclaim All of Mickey’s accomplishments on the field led him to be celebrated by many off the field. Sometimes the acclaim he received was pure of heart. Other times, it may not have been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3a45007-dfef-4bd1-84b7-ac2711105fee/158+-+Kennedys.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - People In Power Not just in sports, but in all walks of life, if you’re a good looking person who is well-spoken and has some sort of power, opportunities will present themselves for you to be with people who aren’t your spouse. Do you have the willpower and strength to maintain fidelity if and when those moments arise? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a82d145-d723-4e6d-bb97-ead7e3861eee/159+-+Jefferson.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Thomas Jefferson As great of a President as Thomas Jefferson may have been, there are moral dilemmas we may face when trying to admire Jefferson, the person. And while times may have been different, there are certain things which have always been seen as wrong. Here, Beverly Frederick Jefferson (left), grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, is pictured with three of his sons, circa 1900. No images of Sally Hemings or her children are known. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71a96025-2b80-479d-978a-f74cb10a94a8/160+-+Joe+D.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Joe DiMaggio When Mickey was originally called up to the Yankees, he was given number 6, not number 7. Babe Ruth had been number 3. Lou Gehrig was the team’s next star and was number 4. Joe DiMaggio was next, and was given number 5. So when the team felt Mickey Mantle was in line to succeed Joe, they gave him number 6. This 1951 photo shows Yankees clubhouse attendant Pete Sheehy hanging Mickey's rookie #6 uniform in his locker while holding Joe DiMaggio's #5 jersey. The pressure was too much for Mickey to handle, and after being sent down to the minors to find himself again, he requested his now-iconic number 7 when he re-joined the big league club for good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/601aba66-8072-47b0-88b8-0b462148f7b9/161+-+Ohtani.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Fame Is Different Today This is a photo of probably the best baseball player on the planet. 70 years ago, if you showed 1,000 average Americans a photo of the best baseball player on the planet, even if they weren’t dressed in uniform, probably 75% could tell you who it was. I would venture to guess if you ran that same experiment today with this photo, the vast majority of people wouldn’t even be able to make a guess as to who this is, let alone tell you he’s an athlete, or what sport he plays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fef42c8b-2844-4e1d-808a-8c61298cdfc6/162+-+Soto.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Juan Soto Same rules apply as above. How many average Americans out of 1,000 do you think could look at this picture and be able to tell you who is in it? Even if you told them afterward, how many people would genuinely know who Juan Soto was, just by hearing his name? Most sports fans, sure. But Juan Soto isn’t culturally famous the way players like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle were. I believe those days are gone, for the most part. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fa64d41-89f6-4a1d-a415-8b9d3d59a394/163+-+Wendy+Ward.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Wendy Ward Wendy Ward was a three-time All-American at Arizona State University. During her time in Tempe, she won the 1994 U.S. Women’s Amateur and represented the U.S. in the Curtis Cup that same year. She led the ASU women’s golf team to three consecutive NCAA national team titles (1993-1995). As a professional, Ward won four times on the LPGA Tour, competed in 14 U.S. Women’s Opens, 10 R&A Women’s Opens, and was selected for Team USA on three Solheim Cup teams (2002, 2003, 2005). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64ef5494-f78d-4122-aa93-07b7ef1a6795/164+-+Jane+Lynch.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Jane Lynch Jane Lynch is an actress, comedian, and singer. Known for playing starring and recurring roles in comedic television, her accolades include one Golden Globe, five Primetime Emmys and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2013, Lynch received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Out of all of her achievements, she may be most well known for going to high school with my mom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7db183b2-5ff5-4174-863b-a0785bbf8798/165+-+1960+World+Series+Game+3+celebration+with+Mikey+and+Whitey.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played 2B for the team from 1955-1966, and was teammates with Mickey every year he played. Bobby was an 8-time All-Star, a 5-time Gold Glove Award winner, a 3-time World Series champion, and the 1960 World Series MVP. He was our guest on Episode 5 of Season 2, which you can listen to HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d928034-a528-4e5f-a3d2-ee3cd391e8ac/166+-+bobby+at+mickey%27s+funeral.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Given Grace Bobby was a very religious man his whole life, and although he didn’t agree with the way Mickey was living his life off the field, he still opened his heart to Mickey and the two became friends. Later in life, as Mickey turned to religion, Bobby was there for him. Bobby even gave the eulogy at Mickey’s funeral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8106e69f-712d-4ec4-9761-19c34b501f34/167+-+Willie+Mays.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Say Hey! You wanna know how great Willie Mays was? As much as the Dodgers and Giants hated each other, and as much as their fans hated each other, it was acceptable to be a Dodgers fan and have your favorite player be Willie Mays. Because who could argue with that? He was the best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd8ded51-aec2-4126-a4a8-5679370b8f0f/168+-+Casino.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Banned From Baseball In 1979, Willie Mays had just been inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was severing as the New York Mets’ hitting instructor when he signed a contract to be a “goodwill ambassador” for the Bally’s Park Place hotel and casino in Atlantic City. It was not a full-time job. Mays’ job was basically, to show up and be famous while doing meet-and-greets at corporate and charity events. But his ties to a casino prompted Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to prohibit Willie from any baseball-related employment. Similarly, Mickey took a position at the Claridge Casino Hotel in 1983, which resulted in his own ban from the sport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbb59081-e331-4a9e-aa9e-8548b5ce0366/169+-+Pete.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Pete Rose on a HOF Ballot? Now that he has passed away, I think it’s going to happen. And, yes, you are seeing this picture correctly. Pete Rose actually signed a copy of John Dowd’s Report To The Commissioner outlining Pete’s ties to gambling for Tom Catal. If you’ve never read the report and find yourself wanting to, you can do that HERE. It’s 228 pages, and let me warn you that Pete doesn’t come out of it smelling like a rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f6e7245-7cae-4c49-9a74-3535e24d59c1/170+-+Van+Oeyen+Portrait+b%26w.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Shoeless Joe Jackson Now that Pete Rose has passed, I believe that opens the door for Joe Jackson to be included on a Hall of Fame ballot, as well. Whether he gets inducted or not is a different question, but there should technically be no more barriers in the way of him at least being considered for induction again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df4fc9ab-d9fe-4824-bfe3-7bf4bae39290/171+-+Peter+Ueberroth.jpg Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Peter Ueberroth In March of 1984, the Major League Baseball owners hired Peter Ueberroth to be their new Commissioner. Ueberroth had spent the previous five years as the head of the committee that organized the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was (a) the first privately-funded Olympic Games held in America; and (b) finished with about a quarter of a billion dollar surplus for its investors. Ueberroth took office in October, and then on March 18, 1985, he reinstated Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, saying that they were “two of the most beloved and admired athletes in the country today and they belong in baseball.” Ueberroth did not, by any stretch of the imagination, relax baseball’s anti-gambling rules to reinstate Mantle and Mays. He said he was only making these two exceptions to the rule and that, over time, he’d look into working on new guidelines with gambling industries because “the whole world of gambling is changing.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84fbe6f6-f0b9-4e9c-a522-95b48f210450/172+-+Memorabilia.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Some of Tom’s Memorabilia Tom has things organized and displayed with a purpose. Having cards of Satchel Paige and Bob Feller next to each other was no accident, I can assure you. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography Bob Feller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b30038fe-f0f3-46cc-ba9d-d6c53130a164/173+-+Apartment.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Another view of Tom’s apartment, full of some of the most amazing baseball memorabilia you could imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1586befb-0bbf-4058-88e9-fb31d2964e0b/174+-+Cooperstown.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Cooperstown Otsego Lake is the headwaters of the Susquehanna River, and on a quiet day it's easy to contemplate the water's journey all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. Council Rock is believed to have been a meeting place for Native Americans prior to the Revolutionary War. Members of the Mohawk and Oneida Nations likely used the area around the lake for seasonal hunting and fishing camps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e289e93-0481-4731-9bb1-41b04f360eb9/175+-+Winter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - The Best Time To Visit The HOF I feel comfortable saying this because most people aren’t going to listen so it’s not going to ruin my plans, but I promise you, the absolute best time of year to visit the Hall of Fame is the week before Christmas. NO ONE is in the museum besides docents. It is the most beautiful, peaceful place, and you can take as much time as you want in every exhibit. You can take as many photos as you want without feeling rushed because there’s a group of thirty 12-year-olds waiting behind you to film a TikTok video dancing in front of a game-used jersey. If you’ve never been during the winter, trust me when I say, there is no better time to actually take in the museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85370676-638a-411a-a79c-42d48b4e56e9/176+-+7.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Episode 7 of Season 4 There are tons of coincidences in life. This Mickey Mantle episode being the 7th of our season was not one of them. I’ve had this planned for over a year. Thanks for indulging me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe4764b7-4f66-41dd-9481-058a0c65e4e6/177+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6693995d-2efb-4c5b-afda-7bd57ce90791/178+-+Catal+card.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a custom baseball card of Tom Catal, autographed by Tom? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a06cb8b6-1f4e-4b2f-af3f-8135258bacf6/179+-+MJ.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Michael Jordan It was pretty early in my life that I learned the difference between having a favorite player, and understanding who the best player on a team was. Growing up in Chicago and being a Bulls fan, it was harder to make that distinction, because everyone’s favorite player was Michael Jordan, and he was so clearly the best player on the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9dabdfcc-6f74-4834-8872-de7c9cc2ed57/180+-+Robin.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Robin Ventura For the White Sox, my favorite player was Robin Ventura, our third baseman. And Robin was really good. He had an incredible college career at Oklahoma State, setting the all-time Division 1 record for longest hitting streak with a string of 58-straight games, and he was drafted 10th overall in the 1988 June Amateur Draft by the Sox. He was an All-Star in the Majors, winning multiple Gold Glove Awards, and hit 18 career Grand Slams, which, at the time of his retirement, was more than everybody who had ever played the game besides Eddie Murray and Lou Gehrig. Robin Ventura’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f3180bb-c353-4296-923e-692e10bb12bc/181+-+Frank.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Frank Thomas From 1991 to 1997, Frank became the only player in major league history to have seven consecutive seasons with at least a .300 batting average, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, 100 walks, and 20 home runs. He won back-to-back MVP Awards in 1993 and 1994, and won the 1997 batting title by batting .347, which was only the third highest single season batting average of his career. Thomas retired with nine seasons of 100 or more runs, RBI and walks, the third-most in history at that time behind only Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He’s a Hall of Famer, for good reason, and I loved watching him play. But Robin was my guy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728ebadf-292e-4105-87f1-1e6d4dcb79cd/182+-+Mickey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Was My Favorite Player In Baseball History There is absolutely an adorable picture of me as like a 2-year-old wearing a Yankees jersey that’s big enough to go down to my ankles, but I just can’t find it right now so this picture of me at the 2024 World Series with Mickey’s retired number in Monument Park will have to do, but please believe me that Mickey has been my guy since I was old enough to understand what baseball history was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a455ce5c-8fa3-4918-8178-52e3f832ef4f/183+-+Outfield.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A 5-Tool Player In 1955, Mickey had a career-high 20 outfield assists. After that, runners didn't challenge him nearly as much, and Mickey never had more than 11 in a season the rest of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7199c350-35bf-4439-810a-7be58f34b99f/184+-+Stealing.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Stealing Mickey had incredible speed, but more than just being fast, he was also a smart base runner. He had a higher career stolen base percentage than Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson (78%), Luis Aparicio (79%), Lou Brock (75%), and Ty Cobb (65%), all of whom were stolen base champions at some point in their career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dba5d66-afb2-4874-ae72-0601d941b57e/185+-+Bunting.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Bunting Mickey used that speed along with his great hand-eye coordination to become one of the best bunters in baseball history. He’s 10th place all-time in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 in only 148 at-bats, good for a .541 batting average. He had 7 bunt singles in World Series play, and even had one in the 1959 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/780aaa7e-eeb4-4c42-873d-92e4c5e95069/184+-+Bunting.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out Here’s Mickey laying down a surprise bunt to try to get a base hit in the 1954 Hall of Fame Game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abcee9d0-b11a-4cc8-85ea-9e7d5f660f2c/187+-+18+years.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mickey Once Said… “During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8572baca-1f26-44e7-8ad5-e81283b60d5d/188+-+walks.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Because He Gets On Base Mickey's incredible eye put him on base far more often than his contemporaries. He had 11 seasons with 99 or more walks, with a career-high 146 in 1957. While his .421 career on base percentage is good enough for 19th all time, if Mickey would have been more focused on getting hits early in his career, instead of drawing walks, there's a good chance he ends his career with the .300 batting average he so regrettably lost by sticking around those last four years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d00b393-b824-4a40-9ffa-c73a140ac56e/189+-+Mickey+Willie.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mantle & Mays While Mickey is one of the true greats of the game, and a larger-than-life figure both on and off the field, I am able to acknowledge that he wasn't the best player of all time. He wasn’t even the best player of HIS time. It’s clear that Willie Mays was the better player. And like we talked about in the interview, we'll never truly know how great Mickey could have been if it hadn't been for his injuries, but as things actually played out, Willie was better in nearly every phase of the game, and had better statistics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ebbb024-4eb2-48c6-b8f4-c6ba25e109d4/190+-+1964.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Willie’s Best Seasons Mickey's peak was slightly higher than Willie’s. Mantle recorded 11.3 WAR in both 1956 and 1957, tied for the 14th best seasons in baseball history. Just like Mickey, Willie's two best seasons were also back-to-back. Mays achieved 11.0 WAR in 1964 and 11.2 WAR in 1965, the 19th and 18th best seasons in baseball history, respectively. But Willie's peak was longer than Mickey’s, by far, with him having 6+ WAR in a season 18 years apart (10.4 in 1954, and 6.3 in 1971). Mickey’s span of 6+ WAR seasons was only 11 years (6.3 in 1952, and 6.0 in 1962). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ac3dc71-0014-42e5-b440-fd4cc265065b/191+-+Hornsby.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - 10+ WAR Seasons There have been 60 individual seasons in baseball history during which a position player has recorded 10+ WAR. Babe Ruth has 9 of them. Willie Mays has 6. Rogers Hornsby also has 6. Hornsby’s 12.1 WAR season in 1924 is the 5th best season in history. Hornsby was a 2-time MVP and a 7-time batting champion. He and Ted Williams are the only players in baseball history to win two Triple Crowns. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6df8e52-f347-4287-9070-dce4907b6c49/192+-+Military+Mays.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mays’ Military Service While Mickey's career was shortened due to his failing body, and his statistics were affected due to his injuries and his drinking, let's not forget that Willie's career was affected by missed games, as well. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1951, but then immediately missed 120 games in the 1952 season, and all 154 games of the 1953 season due to his military service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaf92941-cd9d-45df-8c10-01aec50f627b/193+-+1954.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - 1954 When Willie returned for his first season back in 1954, he led the Major Leagues with 10.4 WAR, a .345 batting average, and a .667 slugging percentage, winning the MVP and leading the Giants to a World Series win. He hit 41 home runs that year, and then 51 the following year in 1955. Even a conservative estimate gives him another 60 home runs from those missed games in 1952 and 1953, and somewhere in the neighborhood of an additional 310 hits. That takes his career home run total to 720, instead of 660, giving him the most all time, at the time of his retirement. Only Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 3rd all-time in Home Runs, instead of 6th. Another 310 hits gives Willie 3,603 for his career, which would have put him 3rd all-time at the time of his retirement, behind only Ty Cobb and Stan Musial. Only Henry Aaron and Pete Rose have since eclipsed that total, meaning Willie would now be 5th all-time in hits, instead of 13th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff4c0273-0ddc-4868-a126-63eb82330fca/194+-+Rickey.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - How Great Could One Player Be? Another 160 runs bumps him up to 2,228, which puts him at 3rd all time, instead of 7th, just 17 behind Ty Cobb for 2nd place, and 67 behind Rickey Henderson for 1st. Another 180 Runs Batted In bumps him up to 2,089, which puts him at 4th place all time, instead of 12th, and would make him one of only 6 players with more than 2,000 RBI in his career. Willie is already one of only 4 players in history with more than 6,000 total bases, but adding another 500 for the time he missed in the military moves his career total up to 6,580 and in to second place all time, behind only Henry Aaron's 6,856. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff9de36f-1896-4414-956e-ee10628eaad9/195+-+Seals+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Seals Stadium It has long been said that the Giants moving to San Francisco also cost Willie a number of home runs. But taking a deeper look at the statistics, that doesn't seem quite accurate. The first two years the Giants called the West Coast home, the team played their home games at Seals Stadium. Willie hit 33 total home runs there in 1958 and 1959, while he hit 30 home runs on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c409a762-6514-44e8-9acb-517a49cc2a81/196+-+Candlestick.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Candlestick Park Candlestick Park opened in 1960, and Willie played his home games there through the end of the 1971 season, and for the first 19 games of the 1972 season before he went to the Mets to end his career. During that span, Willie played 884 home games at Candlestick Park, where he hit 202 home runs. In that same period, he played 908 games away from Candlestick, and he hit 194 home runs. So Willie hit 5.93 Home Runs per 100 Plate Appearances at Candlestick, and only 5.17 Home Runs per 100 Plate Appearances on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1f6d53b-6479-48f3-a713-6b481b35c533/197+-+Fences.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out After 1960, everything at Candlestick changed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccd799ca-1ca8-4e08-b771-be3412e68d92/198+-+Willie.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Closer Fences Beginning in 1961, the Giants changed the start time of their home games from 1:30 pm to 1:00 pm to combat the late afternoon winds coming off the San Francisco Bay, but they also moved the fences in. Down the left and right field lines both stayed consistent at 330 feet each. Straightaway center was shortened from 420 feet to 410 feet, while right center and left center were each shortened from 397 feet all the way down to 365 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d66b2e21-41a1-42d1-9334-b4384fd9a0f1/199+-+Candlestick.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - A Pitcher’s Park? Willie, himself, said that playing at Candlestick forced him to adjust his swing, as he focused on hitting the ball to right-center field, where the wind would be less of a factor. But the fact is, he was able to do that, and it most likely helped his production. The myth that Candlestick was a pitcher's park was just that: a myth. In fact, in 8 of the 13 seasons from 1960 through 1972, the park factors at Candlestick actually favored batters, not pitchers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e1d7808-1664-4056-8c42-3449532be2fa/200+-+Rickwood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Make it stand out I was lucky enough to be at the MLB game at Rickwood Field in June of 2024, and was at the MiLB game there the night Willie Mays passed away. You can read about my surreal experience HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/267aac86-93fa-408a-baac-b55214bf993a/200+-+Mays+and+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Mays & Mantle Whatever Willie’s actual career statistics are, or what they could have been, there’s no debate that he’s one of the greatest players to ever put on a uniform. In my estimation, he is the greatest. But as much as I love Willie, and respect him, Mickey Mantle will always be my favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e5899c-f16f-461b-bf47-36e6b7cd950b/202+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0407 - Tom Catal - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0406 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7440024f-07e7-4ae1-a767-9d4011ecf955/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f6edb73-da5d-4747-ab73-2fd0a3516707/Square+small.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine Me and Jay Valentine after recording our interview at his home in Ohio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f65dc82-df99-49fc-b8de-dd60d59d057d/01+-+Ethiopian+Clowns.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Miami Giants Though the Miami Giants’ history is shadowy at best, several accounts credit Johnny Pierce, a numbers runner and bootlegger, and Hunter Campbell with the team’s founding. Pierce’s and Campbell’s choice of “Giants” as team moniker is not surprising; black teams frequently adopted “Giants,” so if fans saw “Giants” on an announcement or advertisement, they could assume it was a black team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5da71e70-b3e4-47a2-972d-f3a14cd2babe/02+-+Ethiopian+Clowns.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ethiopian Clowns By 1941, the team was calling themselves the Miami Ethiopian Clowns, but when they became an independent barnstorming club, they shortened that to just the Ethiopian Clowns. The team’s Ethiopia reference was seen by some as exploitation of black sympathy, which encouraged Negro league owners to oppose adding the Clowns to their ranks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32687f6a-409b-4225-a688-87a81d9eff6b/03+-+Syd+Pollock.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Syd Pollock Syd Pollock was instrumental in promoting and popularizing the Clowns and developed them into a nationally-known combination of show business and baseball. Pollock worked as a booking agent for several clubs starting in the late 1910s before becoming an executive with the Havana Red Sox / Cuban House of David / Pollock's Cuban Stars from 1927 to 1933. Pollock served as the booker, general manager and eventual primary owner of the Ethiopian/Indianapolis Clowns from 1936 to 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5ec181f-bba1-4933-8d2e-d4a4ba6fc7b6/04+-+Prince+Joe+Henry.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Prince Joe” Henry While still fielding a legitimate team, the Clowns also toured with several members known for comic acts — sort of a baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters, including Joe "Prince" Henry. Injuries put an end to a two-plus-season stint holding down second base for the Memphis Red Sox in the early 1950’s, but Henry resurfaced in 1955 with the Clowns. Henry's showmanship at third base during two seasons in Indianapolis earned him the nickname "Prince Joe." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2dcac8c-da75-4640-b67e-d8280246672d/05+-+Cincinnati+Clowns+Pennant.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out In 1943, the team relocated to Cincinnati, where they became the Cincinnati Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6d23f9c-1a02-429e-9486-58c4b52695c9/06+-+Buffalo.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Move To Buffalo The 'Buffalo Clowns' were a very successful team, as they were already the Negro League Champions upon arriving in Buffalo in 1951, and went on to win 2 more championships in 1952 and 1955. During their 5 year span in Buffalo, the Clowns played all of their games at home at Offermann Stadium on Michigan and East Ferry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a28978d8-1684-4704-8cbb-48f356c973fd/07+-+1950-08-01+Clowns.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 1950 Clowns The Clowns rejoined the Independent League and won their first league championship in 1950. Here, King Tut (left) boxes with Spec Bebop during a Clowns game on August 1, 1950. (Photo By Dean Conger/The Denver Post) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c219be0-4e66-4da8-82b4-4ea1dcde88d3/08+-+Champions.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Champions The Indianapolis Clowns won the Negro American League championship in 1951, 1952, and 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b16533e5-e021-420c-b43d-9a01cb06baea/09+-+1977.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 1977 - The Clowns’ 48th Season Jay Valentine joined the team in 1977, playing Center Field and participating in the show that season and the following year, in 1978. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0579a949-e5ed-46e2-a280-4728d13cc0d7/10+-+Sioux+Empire+College.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out After playing with the Clowns, Jay attended Sioux Empire College for two years where he played for former New York Yankee and World Series champion Bob Cerv. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/386b7c31-b985-424a-a3cc-2b43263c96d0/11+-+Clowns.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling Circus The Clowns played in every state in the US, as well as Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The largest crowd the team ever played in front of was 41,127 fans in Detroit. The smallest crowd was only 35 fans in Lubbock, Texas, but there was an active tornado happening during the game. The Clowns once played in a town with a population of just 476 people, yet managed to bring out 1,372 fans to the game. The Clowns continued to play exhibition games as a barnstorming team until they finally disbanded in 1989, but not before they made history and broke barriers for more than half a century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86fb4875-dc41-420a-bdef-d3dc9c96f60a/12+-+Parents.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay Valentine Jay was born in Chillicothe, Ohio in 1957, but his dad took a job in Oberlin so the family moved there in 1966. Jay’s dad was one of ten children, and Jay was one of five. Jay’s parents are pictured here with Jay’s nephew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/231980a0-f09d-45cd-b253-bca618588fa7/13+-+Young+Jay.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Young Jay Since there were so many men in the family, there were always gloves laying around the house. Jay grew up learning to love watching and playing baseball as a Cleveland Indians fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9c39af7-b58a-49a8-8003-2427d268adea/14+-+Vada+Pinson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vada Pinson Vada Pinson played as a center fielder for 18 years (1958–1975). The best years of his career came with the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he played from 1958 to 1968 as a four-time National League All-Star. Pinson was 5’ 11” and 170 pounds, and batted and threw left-handed. He combined power, speed, and strong defensive ability, and was Jay’s favorite player growing up. Radio executive Clifford Evans conducted audio interviews of baseball players during spring training in the early 1960s. You can listen to the interview he conducted with Vada Pinson on February 26, 1962 HERE. Vada Pinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9fa108d-0f12-4d6e-b3a5-e2acd85bb463/15+-+Vic+Davalillo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vic Davalillo Vic Davalillo played as an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians (1963–68), California Angels (1968–69), St. Louis Cardinals (1969–70), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971–73), Oakland Athletics (1973–74), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977–80). Davalillo, who batted and threw left-handed, was a leadoff hitter known for his speedy baserunning and capable defense, all qualities which made Jay adore him. Davalillo also had an exceptional career in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he is the all-time leader in total base hits and career batting average. All told, Davalillo played for 30 years in the U.S., Mexico, and his homeland of Venezuela, compiling more than 4,100 base hits during his career. Vic Davalillo’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9912b4f-b8a7-41e6-9e36-c483afea450b/16+-+Mickey+Rivers.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mickey Rivers Mickey Rivers played from 1970 to 1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. As a Yankee, he was part of two World Series championship teams, both defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1977 and 1978. "Mick The Quick" was generally known as a speedy leadoff hitter who made contact and was an excellent center fielder, so it’s no wonder Jay liked him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39b90961-578c-46d8-8978-0fd8c1500b45/17+-+Cesar+Cedeno.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - César Cedeño César Cedeño was a center fielder from 1970 to 1986, winning five consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1972 and 1976. As a member of the Astros, he helped the franchise win its first-ever NL Western Division title and postseason berth in 1980. Cedeño became only the second player in MLB history to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season (1972), and the only major leaguer to do so in three consecutive seasons (1972-74). César Cedeño’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad014058-7604-4bba-9026-1392f34e1b4e/18+-+Vada+Pinson+shoes.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Vada’s Shoes One of the things that always stood out to Jay about Vada Pinson was his shoes. It wasn’t just Jay who noticed, though. Teammates also praised the way Pinson took pride in his appearance, shining his shoes to a high gloss. Former Reds second baseman Tommy Helms: “His game and practice shoes were shined brighter than my dress shoes.” Former Reds manager Sparky Anderson: “He would spit shine those shoes of his every day.” Curt Flood, who was a year ahead of Pinson at McClymonds High School in West Oakland: “Vada was neat as a pin. He shined his shoes between innings, almost.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00c19cb2-5e32-4d56-bf77-fd82acc9b38a/19+-+Jay%27s+Shoes.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Shoes Did you really think I was going to bring this up in the interview, make you read all of those quotes about teammates commenting on Vada Pinson’s shiny shoes, and then not show you a picture of Jay as a little kid with his shoes all shined? I thought you knew me better than that by now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02f97ac9-4d83-42fa-adca-300e77ccbbb7/20+-+1955+Little+League.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Little League Little League Baseball prohibited racial discrimination when it was founded in 1939, but In 1955, Little League’s rule directly conflicted with Southern laws that prohibited integration. That year, white Little League teams in South Carolina, Florida, and Texas refused to take the field against Black teams as part of a massive resistance to the Brown decision. Pictured here are Jaycees catcher Richard Morris Jr., Kiwanis pitcher Johnny Lane, Jaycees pitcher Robert East, Kiwanis catcher Gary Fleming, Little Leaguers from Orlando who made history in 1955. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4df400f8-5ba6-452f-a60e-dcfb50d9e1f8/21+-+Tiant.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Luis Tiant Another of Jay’s favorite players growing up was Luis Clemente Tiant Vega, a Cuban pitcher who played primarily for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. "El Tiante" compiled a 229–172 record with 2,416 strikeouts, a 3.30 ERA, 187 complete games, and 49 shutouts in 19 seasons. He was an All-Star three times and a four-time 20-game winner. Tiant was the AL ERA leader in 1968 and 1972 and the AL leader in shutouts in 1966, 1968, and 1974. Tiant was the only child of Luis Tiant Sr. and Isabel Vega. From 1926 through 1948, the senior Tiant was a great left-handed pitcher for the Negro league's New York Cubans during the summer, and the Cuban professional league's Cienfuegos in the winter. Luis Tiant’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c3ec3a7-804b-4c58-a37a-c1645b529e97/22+-+Ohio+Counties.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hot Stove League Jay lived in Oberlin, which is in Lorain County in Ohio. While playing travel ball in the Hot Stove League growing up, his teams would travel to the surrounding counties in Ohio to play games, usually between 30 and 40 each summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dbb64e6-5535-4b40-9eb8-b173c6150681/23+-+Vada+Pinson+28.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - #28 Vada Pinson (and César Cedeño, actually) wore the number 28 during his playing career, so that’s the number Jay chose to wear when he played ball in high school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db1b831f-454c-4c37-bd0d-3c0cd4d28b9b/24+-+High+School.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Oberlin High School Jay went to Oberlin High School and played center field for the Indians in his one season playing high school ball. In the last game of his sophomore year, he hit an inside the park home run against Vermillion. Unfortunately, before the game, the upperclassmen on the team had purchased beer to drink on the team bus after to celebrate. When the boys cracked them open, the smell of the beer made its way to the front of the bus, where the coaches were. Every player on the team was suspended, and after the story made its way to the newspapers, the entire team was kicked out of the conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f66603a-63d1-4444-8ab8-ff7cc7a3317d/25+-+American+Legion.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - American Legion Baseball American Legion Baseball enjoys a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers teams in all 50 states plus Canada. Each year young people, ages 13 to 19, participate. Since its inception in 1925, the league has had millions of players, including countless who have gone on to play in college and professional baseball, with 82 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The program is also a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c676ec1-a9c6-49a7-a5e8-778c21227f72/26+-+Scott+Fletcher.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Scott Fletcher Sometimes scouts would come to American Legion games in search of talent. Scott Fletcher was discovered by a scout playing American Legion ball in Wadsworth, Ohio. Eventually, he played 15 years in Major League Baseball, including with the Texas Rangers and two stints with the Chicago White Sox. George W. Bush named his dog Spot Fetcher after Fletcher while Bush was the owner of the Texas Rangers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5e74d1f-4ac6-430c-8558-467a91aea3ea/27+-+Envelope.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Jay received letters from the Major League Scouting Bureau informing him that there were tryouts all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d20abd00-6016-4175-b019-81ee63cad518/28+-+Letter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Major League Scouting Bureau These letters served as an open invitation to the recipient to attend any tryout on the enclosed list. It was up to the player to pay his way to the tryout, and to show up with any equipment and uniforms he may need, but once your name was in the system, you were able to try out on any of the dates and at any of the locations listed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa3f556c-e2bc-49ed-b54a-fd41f547a096/29+-+Tryout+list.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Tryout Though he theoretically could have gone to any of the tryouts on this list (which was multiple pages long), Jay chose to only go to the tryout held on June 12, 1976 at Tallmadge High School in Tallmadge, Ohio. The name of the school and town is mistakenly spelled “Talmadge” on the sheet. Maybe that was the first test for a player trying out there… Jay’s handwriting on the page show some basic directions of how he was going to get there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2c66144-48ea-4f5c-bbe6-1b3a412d2f74/30+-+Just+A+Kid.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Just A Kid In 1976, Jay earned an invitation to the Florida Instructional League in Fort Lauderdale with the New York Yankees. He got on a plane on January 23, 1976, after finishing his high school credits that December, a semester early. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/069ead29-93cd-4b88-b376-2a23a9822224/31+-+Steve+Hughes.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Hughes Steve Hughes’ career began with the Pittsburgh Pirates straight out of high school, where he spent nine years splitting time between the Pirates and Reds in the minor leagues. Steve also had the honor of playing for the original Nashville Sounds team. Since Steve had already been signed by a team, he bought a conversion van and had a little bit of money - at least compared to the other players sharing the house at the Florida Instructional League with Jay. Steve was a polished infielder, playing primarily shortstop, but he compiled a career batting average of only .218 with 1 home run and 157 RBI in his 655-game career. He had been sent to the FIL to work on his hitting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f39b424a-8d30-41e0-adc4-1079afc163c4/32+-+Jay.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Grueling Schedule The players of the Florida Instructional League were expected to be at the field and ready to play every morning by 8:00 am. They lived 3-4 miles from the ballpark, and were not supplied with transportation to get to and from home, so it was on them to walk, run, or hitchhike to the park. The players would taking batting and fielding practice until the actual Major League ballplayers showed up for their training. At that point, the Instructional League players would shag balls for the Major Leaguers. Around noon, the first round of the day’s practice would end and the players would have a break until about 6:00 pm when they would have to be back at the ballpark for an evening game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6c4c4b9-c41c-4a5c-8a65-6704808330a9/33+-+McD%27s.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - McDonald’s The players weren’t being paid, so it was on them to either have enough money sent from home, or to get part-time jobs in Florida so they could stay financially solvent for the 8 weeks they were at Spring Training. While some players stole cars to make ends meet, others got jobs at the local McDonald’s, which was the largest in the world at the time. Jay worked late nights at the 24-hour restaurant for three days before deciding it wasn’t for him. Check out this McDonald’s ad from 1976. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0506a2c6-beb0-4282-9a23-18a759d5267d/34+-+Reggie.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reggie Jackson Jay shared the field with Reggie Jackson at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. Jackson retired after the 1987 season with 563 career home runs, the sixth-highest total in MLB history at the time. Reggie Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1e930a7-04ec-4e6c-b99a-cc29d13cfeab/35+-+Graig+Nettles.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Graig Nettles Jay shared the field with Graig Nettles at Yankees Spring Training in 1976. Nettles is regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, winning Gold Glove Awards in 1977 and 1978. Graig Nettles’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26afdd75-54df-4200-a15b-43b81b0e216e/36+-+Jay.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Getting Instruction The whole point of the Florida Instructional League is for young players to receive instruction on how to become better. After the Major League players would get done practicing for the day, the Instructional League players would continue to work, and that’s when the coaches would tell them what they needed to focus on to get better. They told Jay, “You’ve got good skills, you’ve got good speed, but your arm could be better. And don’t pull your head off on the ball when you’re at the plate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7cc2818-c14c-4a10-aed4-0bca468abd2a/37+-+Kenny+Loftonn.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Kenny Lofton Jay has been described as “Kenny Lofton before Kenny Lofton” because he was a fast center fielder who batted and threw left-handed, batted leadoff, was a great bunter, and stole a lot of bases because he was so fast. I’d say that’s a pretty fair comparison. Kenny Lofton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/521fcd0b-718a-4cfc-9281-fd5d1f63970f/38+-+logo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Dr. Deuce Jay wore the #2 on many of his uniforms over the years. He also got on base and he stole bases, earning him the nickname Dr. Deuce. If you were going to walk him, you were often times walking a double, since Jay was going to immediately steal second in addition to receiving the free pass to first. At first, his friends were calling him “Dr. Jay” but Jay knew the only “Dr. J” played in Philadelphia. So he became “Dr. Deuce” shortly thereafter. He has even created his own Dr. Deuce logo, and has custom hats he wears (and sells, if you want to buy one) with the logo on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/924d2c4c-9410-4a0d-83d2-173400afee8d/39+-+400+batting+average.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Stats Jay was a great bunter, which was one of the things that helped him have a high batting average. In a July, 1978 issue of the Elyria Chronicle Telegram, it was reported that Jay was batting over .400 after 21 games of the season. While his career statistics aren’t documented anywhere, and can’t be found online, during his career, Jay would keep his daily stats in a calendar so he could keep track of his progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14ccdda7-1fd4-4568-939c-bfabb0c8264d/40+-+Jay+in+College.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Great Base Stealer The most bases Jay ever stole in one game was SIX!!! But he wasn’t just a volume stealer; Jay was efficient. In four years of college ball, Jay was only thrown out three times trying to steal. No wonder he had so much swag. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a735fd4-1a27-4255-9b07-52cdf8313ebd/41+-+Doctor+Deuce.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - What To Watch For When Jay was on first base, he would focus on the pitcher’s foot touching the rubber. If that came off the ground, he knew to get back because there was going to be a pickoff attempt. If the pitcher’s front foot lifted off the ground instead, it was off to the races. But Jay wasn’t only stealing on pitchers. He would pay attention to the catchers, as well. If a catcher was lazy throwing the ball back to the pitcher from his knees, Jay had no problem taking an extra base on a delayed steal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f5c46fc-d669-425e-a78a-e2e3722ed57c/42+-+afro.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Afro Here is Jay in 1976 after he came home from Spring Training. Jay said that at its peak, his afro put Oscar Gamble’s to shame. “It exceeded all proportion, It could not be contained, It bloomed round like a dark sunrise, It glistened in the rain. The little boys with crew cuts Or blond locks oh so fair Would look and cheer with wonder At Oscar Gamble’s hair.” —Roy Peter Clark Gamble was not allowed to keep his afro when he was traded to the Yankees because of their strict appearance policy. At the time, Gamble had a commercial deal with Afro Sheen, but they cancelled the deal when he cut his afro to comply with team policy. Oscar was reimbursed by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for the $5,000 he lost in the deal. Oscar Gamble’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbc8a72d-befc-4b41-8657-2399e11e71f7/43+-+Eddie+Murray.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Eddie Murray Jay shared the field with Eddie Murray at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. While Murray would go on to a Hall of Fame career, becoming one of only seven players in MLB history with both 500+ career home runs and 3,000+ career hits, Jay said he didn’t feel intimidated by Murray, or any other player on the field. Jay felt his skills were good enough to compete with any of them. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14297e41-fbef-45a8-96dc-961c5b731aba/44+-+Paul+Blair.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Blair Jay shared the field with Paul Blair at Orioles Spring Training in 1976. Jay said Paul played the shallowest center field of anyone he had ever seen, because Blair knew he could still get back to any ball hit over his head. Apparently, he knew what he was talking about, as his 8 career Gold Glove Awards can attest. Blair won his first in 1967. After missing out in 1968, he won the award seven consecutive years from 1969 to 1975. Jay preferred to play deep and come in on balls, so it was amazing for him to watch Blair play. Paul Blair’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba0c5571-2fb3-40fb-9ea9-4fe380b1172c/45+-+Curtis+Wallace.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Curtis Wallace Curtis Wallace was a 5’ 11” and 183 pound stocky infielder trying to make the Single A team. He told Jay about the Indianapolis Clowns when the two were down in Florida for the Instructional League. That was the first time Jay learned about the Clowns, and that Henry Aaron and Satchel Paige had played for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa33939c-f02c-4e8e-b32f-1880c0000552/46+-+college.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - College Ball Even though the Yankees invited Jay down to Florida to participate in the Instructional League, Jay credits the Baltimore Orioles for his opportunity to play college ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fec9142-bba2-4803-8d38-94696f655da6/47+-+George+Long.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long For 25 years, George Long was the booking agent for the Indianapolis Clowns. Long would operate the Clowns from 1972 to 1983, so he was the team owner at the time when Jay was invited to try out to make the team in 1977. Since George lived in Muscatine, Iowa, that’s where tryouts were held. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c09963b-ac01-45bb-ba75-e1c6b63352e8/48+-+Ed+Hamman+and+Syd+Pollock.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman & Syd Pollock George Long bought the team in 1972 from Ed Hamman, who had actually been a player on the Clowns until he bought the team from Syd Pollock. Here, Hamman (left) and Pollock are photographed together at a baseball meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1959. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a6d8c9c-af84-4af9-bda2-35bf0f256f72/49+-+Ed+Hamman.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman Hamman was known in his playing days for being able to pitch the ball from behind his back or between his legs. He conceived the idea for the oversized glove and bat which remained staples of the Clowns’ show for years. Here, Hamman (right) is pictured with Richard Elmer "King Tut" King (left) and Ralph Bell, aka “Spec Bebop” (center). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17faaf91-e6c5-446d-b4df-caf48d25f80f/50+-+King+Tuttttt.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Some Are Called Clowns When Curtis Wallace arrived with the Clowns after he was called to come play for the team, he was surprised by what he saw. An excerpt from Bill Heward’s great book, Some Are Called Clowns: “I figured I'd walk into a hotel and there'd be a bunch of guys in the lobby bobbing their heads and sticking their tongues out with their eyes rolling in big circles. People walking on their hands, juggling balls and bouncing them off their heads… “You know, Indianapolis Clowns. And I was kind of scared 'cause I figured somebody was going to ask me about my number, if I kicked balls off my feet, did cartwheels, or what, and all I could do was play baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728344a4-737e-4dba-a568-00dc5d604cd4/51+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam Birmingham Sam was the Clown Prince of the team when Jay was with the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1568bdb-997a-4f8b-9fec-e7b486b07b76/52+-+Bobo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nate “Bobo” Smalls Nate “Bobo” Smalls was also a major part of the show, sharing time with Birmingham Sam as the main attractions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/894bf2ac-34ff-4ab8-91ae-32c6f5183c2c/53+-+Henry+Aaron.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “If He Did It, I Could, Too” When Jay learned that Henry Aaron got his start in professional baseball by playing with the Clowns, he thought to himself “if he did it, I could, too.” Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography John Wyatt’s SABR Biography Paul Casanova’s SABR Biography Hal King’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ccc4c2c-62e4-4fcc-90f0-c9df199f46b1/54+-+1944+Clowns+with+Armando+Vasquez.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Roster Sizes Roster sizes for Negro League teams were usually only about 15-16 players per team. Pictured here is the 1944 Clowns team, featuring rookie Armando Vázquez. Vázquez followed in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Martin Dihigo, and came to the U.S. to become a Negro Leagues baseball player in 1944. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0576b8d8-c150-4aae-9b13-b5344f9fc184/55+-+Checker+Aero.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Checker Aerobus When Jay was with the Clowns, however, they kept a roster of just 12 players! Why only 12? Because that’s how many could fit in their vehicle: the Checker Aerobus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6c0363a-ae5b-420a-b627-0f3f4e1b5149/56+-+George+Long.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long While George Long managed the team in a sense, he wasn’t really the team’s Manager, on the baseball field. That was really left up to the players, themselves, since George really only traveled with the team for a couple weeks out of the year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5049a77c-0335-4fa7-8605-1b727e841a7d/57+-+Broken+Wrist.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Injuries Jay broke his wrist two times within six weeks one season. He was able to tough it out and stay with the team, performing in the announcer’s booth for part of the time. But if an injury was really severe, like a broken arm or broken leg or something, usually the player would just be sent home because George Long couldn’t afford to keep a player on the road who wasn’t contributing to the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3dc0bde3-5511-481e-8674-f3cb1aa74adf/58+-+Games.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Very Few Off Days The Clowns would play between 60-70 games in about 3 months time during the summers, sometimes playing 2-3 games in a single day. Occasionally, the team would play an early game in one town, drive up to 200 miles to the next town immediately after the first game ended, and play a second game that night in the new town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a754d4a-e9cf-46ec-865f-cc277eb18e4c/59+-+Marty.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Marty Kobernus There were really only three guys on the Clowns who pitched regularly. However, anyone on the team who could throw strikes was allowed to pitch to save those guys' arms since the team played so many games. The team would just talk amongst themselves to decide whose arms was good to go on any given day, and whoever needed to step up and eat some innings would do so. Pictured here is one of the Clowns’ regular pitchers, Marty Kobernus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a64ecb7d-4859-4660-8fba-c9fb14d78954/60+-+traveling.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling The Clowns traveled to 28 different states in three months while Jay was with the team one year. George Long scheduled all of the games and coordinated everything from back home in Muscatine, Iowa. Pictured here is Marty Kobernus in the Rocky Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f6cd3f-52cd-4e72-a241-182776562f13/61+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam Jay was roommates with the team’s Clown Prince, Birmingham Sam, when they were lucky enough to get either a hotel or a motel on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4feba22f-b13c-43de-9627-6aa5fbfd0f06/62+-+Juggling+Joe+Taylor.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Juggling Jay could juggle, which came in handy during the team’s shows. The Clowns had juggling as part of their shows dating back decades. Here, “Juggling Joe” Taylor shows off his skills. Taylor was an exceptionally good juggler, but his talent didn’t relate to baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ceac7d4-3764-4f7f-9b72-2d481331f412/62+-+28+states.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Lots Of Time In The Car Jay played in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado… 28 states in three months one season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c99bd0-0361-47f4-9bc4-8c301bc7b4ae/63+-+Drank+Some+Beers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pass The Time “We drank some beers, smoked some cigarettes, and drank some beers” to pass the time in the car on those long drives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2ed1a8e-77d9-45a2-b648-1a5cebca10a2/64+-+Coco.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mike Coco When your personal car has personalized plates with your name on them, you know you love to drive. Second baseman Mike Coco rarely gave up the wheel when traveling with the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6174f69e-cd36-4a85-9fc7-eed4b1a07552/66+-+Coco+and+Marty.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Road Trip Gags There wasn’t really room to play cards or do anything other than drink, sleep, or bust each other’s balls in the car. The hours and hours the teammates spent joking with each other made them a really tight-knit group. Here, Coco and Marty show just how close teammates can be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7af2b528-aac4-4190-80bd-ee29d401c5a9/67+-+Maps.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Traveling In The Checker Aero The members of the team got pretty good at reading maps over the course of their time playing with the Clowns. If there were ever any issues, they could always call George Long in Muscatine, Iowa, who would help them out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bffbbe5-8d6f-4646-81aa-9e352015620c/68+-+mail.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Staying In Touch When the team was on the road, the players would have friends and family (and girls) send mail to this address in Muscatine. Then, George would send that mail to the team’s next stop on the road, since he knew their schedule, and the players could stay in touch with everyone that way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/505c7d72-b121-4d93-be30-43a74a30d73d/69+-+Girls.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Girls If players met girls on the road, they might follow the team for a couple games. But if they wanted to stay in touch after that, they would have to send mail to their favorite player through George Long in Muscatine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5da98f69-5482-4443-bb53-bb91db9dfc3f/70+-+George+Long.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - George Long George Long spent 67 years as the organizer and coach of the semipro team in Muscatine, Iowa. He managed Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron, and managed against Satchel Paige and Dizzy Dean. In an interview with the New York Daily News when he was 89-years-old, when asked how long he would manage, he said “I’m going to give it up when I get old.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dd193e2-9eed-4949-a07e-26eb6e177637/71+-+Broadside.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Advertising George Long would print up hundreds of copies of these blank broadsides at the beginning of each season. Notice on this one it says “48th Season” which was Jay’s first with the team, 1977. The bottom right corner would be left blank so George could fill it in with the appropriate information for each team/city/date/time to properly promote each individual game. If he was traveling with the team, he would walk around the town handing these posters out to local businesses and hanging them up where he saw fit. If he wasn’t traveling with the team, he would trust the team to do it, or send posters to the opposing teams/towns in advance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a2c648d-c954-49b1-bb8b-de05a0a1b8b4/72+-+Wooten.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hubert “Big Daddy” Wooten Hubert Wooten, who was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on September 6, 1944, graduated from Carver High School. He signed a minor league contract with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 1964 where he pitched and played in the outfield. He played for the Clowns from 1965-68. Wooten, who was only 5’ 8”, said "I've always had power and people wonder how. And I'd tell them, 'It happens when you work on a farm.' When I was a youngster, I had to cut wood, I had to walk behind that mule, and I had to take two 50-pound bags of fertilizer, one in this hand and one in the other, and carry them across the field. I didn't get my power in the gym, I got my power on the farm." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad10668-738d-4a20-8066-8fdb909884f4/73+-+Smallwood.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - DeWitt “Woody” Smallwood DeWitt "Woody" Smallwood played from 1950-1954 for the Indianapolis Clowns, the New York Black Yankees, the Philadelphia Stars, and the Birmingham Black Barons. A teammate of Henry Aaron’s on the Clowns, Smallwood remarked "Aaron could make that tin fence in Winston-Salem talk with his line drive hits." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90ed7418-f420-4549-b459-5e4fb7f441a4/74+-+Goose+Tatum.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reece “Goose” Tatum Reece “Goose” Tatum was a flashy-fielding showman with the Clowns. At first base, he provided a big target for infielders and entertained the fans with his long arms and a big stretch. Although better known for his glovework, Tatum started the 1947 All Star game for the West squad and banged out 2 hits in 4 times at the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2a85c7f-ba22-4994-b014-99041e17928e/75+-+John+Wyatt.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - John Wyatt John Wyatt played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as a relief pitcher. From 1961 through 1969, he played for the Kansas City Athletics (1961–66), Boston Red Sox (1966–68), New York Yankees (1968), Detroit Tigers (1968) and Oakland Athletics (1969). He began his career in the Negro Leagues playing for the Indianapolis Clowns (1953–55). John Wyatt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b251b9f1-3f5b-429d-ada7-80e36cb8343d/76+-+Coleman.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clarence “Choo-Choo” Coleman Clarence Coleman was born in Orlando, Florida, on August 25, 1937. In 1955, shortly after graduating high school, Coleman signed with the Indianapolis Clowns. The authors of The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris, had this to say about Coleman: "Choo-Choo Coleman was the quintessence of the early New York Mets. He was a 5'8", 160-pound catcher who never hit over .250 in the majors, had 9 career home runs, 30 career RBIs, and couldn't handle pitchers. Plus his name was Choo-Choo. What more could you ask for?" Casey Stengel once complimented Coleman's speed, saying that he'd never seen a catcher so fast at retrieving passed balls. Choo-Choo Coleman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3bac6c9-1949-4439-878a-6724ff80c824/77+-+Casanova.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Casanova Paulino ("Paul") Ortiz Casanova was a Cuban catcher who played Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1974 for the Washington Senators and Atlanta Braves. Casanova began his professional baseball career on January 1, 1960, when he was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Indians. After playing ten minor league games, he was released by the Indians. Casanova was picked back up by the Indians in December, only to be released again in April 1961. During the 1961 season, he played for the Indianapolis Clowns. After baseball, Casanova created a baseball academy at his home in Florida. It also became a gathering place for his former teammates and fellow Cuban ball players. Casanova has been described as the glue holding his whole generation of baseball players together. Paul Casanova’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/124c5c35-d5be-4d53-87c1-19a7094ae9f2/78+-+King.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hal King Harold King was a catcher in Major League Baseball and the Mexican League from 1967 to 1979 for the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the Saraperos de Saltillo. King began his professional baseball career in 1962 with the Indianapolis Clowns, and played for the team through 1964. Hal King’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a87127f3-40cf-4380-85b5-3f6c13259b1e/79+-+Toni+Stone.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Toni Stone The Clowns were the first professional baseball team to hire a woman to a long-term contract to play competitively, when they signed Toni Stone in 1953. Stone played second base and hit .243. Clowns owner Syd Pollock was reportedly trying to hire Stone for the Indianapolis Clowns since the close of the 1950 baseball season. While the media reported that she finally agreed to sign on for a staggering $12,000 for 1953, many sources identify that figure as an untruth for publicity purposes. Other reports are that Pollock wanted Stone to play in a skirt or in shorts, and she refused. A baseball player from her early childhood, she also played for the San Francisco Sea Lions, the New Orleans Creoles, and the Kansas City Monarchs before retiring from baseball in 1954. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6989c68c-51f6-424a-8838-504259185ad5/80+-+Toni+Stone+in+Ebony+Magazine+July+01%2C+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Toni Stone in Ebony Magazine from July 1, 1953 (courtesy of Toni Stone family, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce1f81ad-ea22-4666-a5c6-bb9106f1f4af/81+-+Mamie+Peanut+Johnson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mamie "Peanut" Johnson Some accounts have Mamie “Peanut” Johnson barnstorming with the Clowns in late 1953, but she was definitely playing full-time in 1954. Johnson had initially attempted to try out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, but was barred due to race. A pitcher with a slider, circle change, screwball and a curveball she claimed to have learned from Satchel Paige, she did not throw hard but she had good control. They called the 5-foot-3 (or maybe 5-foot-2) Johnson “Peanut.” Story has it that in her first game pitching for the Clowns, Hank Baylis peered from the batter’s box to the diminutive pitcher on the mound and called, “What makes you think you can strike a batter out? Why, you aren’t any larger than a peanut?” She struck him out, and the nickname stuck. Johnson is believed to have compiled a 33-8 record on the mound in her time pitching for the Clowns. But she hit, too – the reports vary, but all place her within the range of .260 to .285 for her career batting average. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53b7d02c-fe2d-4b4f-866f-c8f4d346be91/82+-+Connie+Morgan+and+Jackie+Robinson.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Connie Morgan A native of Philadelphia, Connie Morgan graduated John Bartram High School in 1953 and attended William Penn Business Institute. Clowns owner Syd Pollock arranged for Connie to try out during the Clowns’ postseason 1953 tour against Jackie Robinson’s Major League All-Stars, where she was photographed with Jackie. Morgan joined the Clowns in 1954, playing second base for Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston. She was signed "to a contract estimated at $10,000 per season." Described as standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds, she was "slated to get the regular female assignment in the starting lineup." On opening day of the 1954 season, "she went far to her right to make a sensational stop, flipped to shortstop Bill Holder and started a lightning double play against the Birmingham Barons." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c152ccb-5219-4b7b-aaea-4daef2ff177f/83+-+Feminine+Stars.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Women In The Negro Leagues For decades, women's baseball was just as segregated as the men's game. But Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan enjoyed professional opportunities in the Negro Leagues, blazing a trail for the women who would come after them. Black Women Playing Baseball: An Introduction by Leslie Heaphy Playing With The Boys: Gender, Race, and Baseball in Post-War America by A.J. Richard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb72d90d-5e53-4719-85ce-95549685c31e/84+-+Henry+Aaron+postcard.jpeg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Henry Aaron Scout Bunny Downs discovered Henry Aaron playing with the Mobile Black Bears, a semipro team, during an exhibition. Aaron was making $3 per game. When he signed his first professional contract with the Clowns in 1953 for $200 a month, he was thrilled. Aaron flourished with Indianapolis, helping guide the team to the 1952 Negro League World Series crown. In 26 games, he posted a .366 batting average, hit five home runs, and stole nine bases. The series, and the season, allowed Aaron to showcase his range of skills not just for regional scouts, but for several major-league organizations as well. Following the championship, two telegrams reached Henry – one with an offer from the New York Giants, and a second with an offer from the Boston Braves. Aaron chose the latter, evidently because of a $50-a-month difference in salary, and Boston immediately purchased his contract from Indianapolis. That’s right: the Giants were $50 away from having Willie Mays and Henry Aaron in the same outfield. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e960444-943a-46ea-a210-205d479e1104/85+-+Multi+Sport+Star.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Multi-Sport Star Jay took all sports seriously, whether it was baseball, basketball, or football. When he heard that Henry Aaron was discovered by Major League scouts while playing for the Clowns, though, he turned his intensity up a notch. “It really gave me a sense of, man, this is a serious venture. If [Henry Aaron] played there and got signed there, then this is not just a little thing.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06a7d7fa-e626-42fe-ad0b-956c2f0c92e6/86+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Team Historian While George Long had been running the Clowns for years, he wasn’t always around the players. And even when he was, most of them didn’t really talk to George too much. Jay mainly learned the history of the Indianapolis Clowns from Birmingham Sam and Bobo, who had each played for the team for years by the time Jay joined. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f83f8da-d739-42f2-9fda-87f9c1f0b7df/1943+Clowns+team%2C+courtesy+of+Indiana+Historical+Society.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out This photo of the 1943 Clowns team is courtesy of Indiana Historical Society https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f12fa8d2-7d23-46f4-9f09-37b0b934ffef/87+-+1947+Manuel+Godines%2C+Reinaldo+Verde+and+Andres+Mesa%2C+courtesy+of+Indiana+Historical+Society.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Negro League Team The Indianapolis Clowns were historically a Negro League team, but the Negro American League's 1951 season is generally considered the last true Negro league season. Most Negro League teams disbanded for good when the Negro American League officially closed its doors in 1952 – three years after it had become the sole Negro major league still in operation. This photo shows players from the 1947 Clowns team (left to right) Manuel Godínez, Reinaldo Verdes Drake, and Andrés A. Mesa. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67a0e2b4-f150-4b72-a0b6-9de7b1307cc1/88+-+Negro+Leagues+Indianapolis+Clowns+v+Kingston+Braves.jpeg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Carrying On The Negro Leagues Tradition Even though the Negro Leagues were no more, the Clowns kept playing well into the 1980s. While Jay didn’t and his teammates didn’t consider themselves to be Negro League players, they believed they were carrying on the tradition of the Negro Leagues by continuing to barnstorm like the teams who came before them. When the team was announced at ballparks, they would say “The Indianapolis Clowns: The Last Of The Negro League Baseball Teams.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5f74b44-3d51-40e4-bf98-c67e9f8aa653/89+-+Bingo+Long.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out The 1976 movie The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings is loosely based on the story of the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/539b858f-32e5-4177-a607-798ed09b6e55/92+-+Clowns.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Some Are Called Clowns You can read a pdf version of Bill Heward’s great book, Some Are Called Clowns by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad376567-0ae9-496b-97cd-32de21a3e464/90+-+Wagner.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Leon Wagner In order to add authenticity to the baseball scenes, the cast included Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner, who was a two-time American League all-star. From 1961 to 1963, Wagner averaged 31 home runs and 99 RBI. With his upbeat nature, big smile, and willingness to laugh, Wagner emerged as a popular figure in the clubhouse. Wagner portrayed first baseman Fat Sam Popper in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. The film drew heavy criticism for exaggerating the clownish aspects of the Negro Leagues. Perhaps because of the poor reviews, Wagner’s acting career soon fizzled out. He would never again make an appearance in a feature film. Leon Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d37fafd1-bb86-4487-9a50-6777a5331348/91+-+Bingo+Long.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out The cast also included Jophrey Brown (who pitched in one game for the 1968 Chicago Cubs, then became a well-respected Hollywood stuntman), as well as Rico Dawson and “Birmingham” Sam Brison, who each played for the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71f6109c-7d6b-48eb-ac8f-1c21fc54e7fa/102+-+Bingo+Long+jersey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Colorful Jerseys Billy Dee Williams played Bingo Long in the 1976 film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. While the film’s success introduced the Negro Leagues to a wider audience, the story line’s emphasis on “clowning” reinforced racial stereotypes in baseball. Billy Dee Williams sported this colorful jersey as Long, the title character who was based on legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb5d58a-144f-4ab6-8b5e-5b4ead2df9e1/95+-+Special+Jersey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Jersey Jay was gifted this special Indianapolis Clowns jersey from Birmingham Sam Brison because he was in the act. If you were in the act, you would get a little bit more money, so Jay got $13 a day. Jay is proud of the fact that he was paid more to play for the Clowns than Henry Aaron was, since Aaron was only paid $200 per month when he was with the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2833f584-c079-4e41-94f7-6966c6cba2c2/96+-+King+Tut.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - King Tut Richard Elmer King was the famous Clown Prince for the Clowns known as “King Tut.” King joined Charlie Henry’s Louisville-based Zulu Cannibal Giants in 1934. The Cannibals wore grass skirts, red wigs and face paint. King was known more for performing pantomime comedy acts than his playing ability. He often worked alongside dwarf Spec Bebop, where the two performed their rowboat routine. King was also known for his oversized first baseman's mitt, which had been conceived by Ed Hamman. King eventually transitioned away from playing altogether, but remained associated with the Clowns until his retirement. His illness led to his retirement in the spring of 1959, which left a void with the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d2ba2f8-f792-4908-9bac-400f9317790e/97+-+James+Nature+Boy+Williams.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - James “Nature Boy” Williams By the time James “Nature Boy” Williams joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1955, the team had become a full-time barnstorming attraction, having dropped out of the Negro American League which itself was in its death throes. The 6’ 2” 220-pound Williams spent more than a decade with the Clowns and was known for batting barefoot, playing with the large glove (as pictured) and dancing at first base with umpires. Williams was the first person tasked with replacing King Tut as the Clown Prince after Tut’s retirement. While Williams was popular, the Clowns needed someone with King Tut’s charisma. Besides, Williams had some health issues of his own. He played the entire 1963 season with his right eye completely blind due to an off-season accident, without even his teammates knowing his condition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/daf36858-7ce8-4171-a403-7239a0b47597/98+-+Birmingham+Sam.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sam Brison Enter: Sam Brison. Given his resemblance to King Tut, Clowns owner Syd Pollock originally billed Brison “King Tut, Jr.” but fans kept asking Sam how his dad was doing, thinking they were asking about the original King Tut, and Sam didn’t have an answer because that wasn’t his dad, and he didn’t want to lie to the fans who genuinely cared about King Tut and were asking about him out of kindness. When Pollock asked if he just wanted to be called by his name, Brison said: “No, I figure Birmingham Sam will be good. People will ask me about how Birmingham is. I can answer that.” Brison played (and performed) for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1962 to 1978. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a8dbccb-5ec7-4d3c-9c57-7255d8a39dbf/99+-+Sam+golfing.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Great Athlete “Sam was crazy.” But he was a great athlete. He would get into a new town and hustle the doctors on the golf course, winning extra money for himself and Jay. Following the example of many members of the Clowns throughout the team’s history, Brison also spent his winters playing basketball, first with Goose Tatum’s Harlem Road Kings, then with the Harlem Globetrotters. On the basketball court, he said he “had a lot of showmanship about me… I did a lot of hollering.” Here, Sam practices his swing with Clowns pitcher Kurt Christiansen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d613fba3-f1da-427f-b8aa-ea6358ec78f1/100+-+Birmingham+Sam.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Junior” Sam used to call Jay “Junior.” When Jay asked why, Sam said it was because Satchel Paige used to call Sam “Junior” so he was just passing on the tradition. Paige’s last turns on the mound came in 1967, pitching for the Clowns. By his own estimation, he had pitched in about 2,500 games before putting down his glove for good. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d80f9c7-2f23-4498-af0f-ed5079945343/101+-+drunk.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clothing Optional Sometimes, when you have just the right amount of alcohol in your system, you have one drink more than that and end up making some interesting decisions. Birmingham Sam wasn’t the only Clowns player to have experienced this phenomenon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92377aa4-0278-4302-8f8f-bfa90c489a80/103+-+Women.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Women One of the women Jay “met” while playing for the Clowns was Nicki Thomas, who was born Nancy Elizabeth Tritt on March 22, 1954 in Berwyn, Illinois. She is most remembered for being Playboy's Playmate of the Month in March of 1977. Since the team never stayed in a town for more than 24 hours, Jay said if you met a girl, you literally had to “hit and run.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34fb0a6-b39a-4309-8f0f-37095fd5940e/104+-+Sam.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sam Could Play Anywhere Jay said "Sam could pitch, he could catch, he could play any position on the field... except for mine." His best position was shortstop, but he was so good that he could play first base while sitting in a chair, still able to reach for baseballs and scoop poor throws despite having a very limited range of motion. He would also sit at first base and hold the runner on while staying in the chair. While Sam wasn't a switch hitter, but he would mess with the pitcher before the pitch came by standing backwards in the batter’s box until the pitcher was about to release the ball, then jump around at the last moment and smash the pitch, as seen in the video below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54165c23-0928-4daa-b3e1-e11816627ca2/106+-+Ed+Hamman+car.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ed Hamman Most of the clowning that took place into the 1970s and 80s had been passed down from generation to generation by Ed Hamman, the player-turned-owner of the Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cbf24fb-cd3a-4b6f-b523-69d238fda949/106+-+Brison.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - An Amazing Talent In 1969 The Associated Press reported that Brison had secured a spring training tryout with the Boston Red Sox’ Carolina League Winston-Salem franchise. The Associated Press story incorrectly said the 29-year-old Brison was only 23. Brison said an injury earlier in the spring had led to the cancelation of a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8de59ec-30a5-42e4-8aea-1badcf9d5214/108+-+Rowboat.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Rowboat Routine King Tut and Spec Bebop were the most famous pair of Clowns to perform the rowboat routine, but the routine itself dates back to decades before them. Here, Nick Altrock (umbrella) and Al Schacht (“The Clown Prince of Baseball”, rowing) perform the routine before Game 1 of the 1925 World Series. A short clip of the routine as depicted in Bingo Long can be seen below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1f30cd8-3f15-4556-949b-6efacefb2a4a/110+-+Bobo.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nate “Bobo” Smalls Nate “Bobo” Smalls was a pitcher who played for the Clowns from 1965 to 1986, a longer tenure than any other player ever had with the team. Smalls had a great fastball and a really good curveball. But what was probably most impressive about him was the size of his hands, and the control he had when pitching. Bobo could take three baseballs in one hand, line up three guys like catchers, and he could throw a strike to each one of those guys with the same throw. His biography can be found in a book called Only The Ball Was White as well as in Some Are Called Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c9170c-acfa-4d66-b59a-5a2ed85e3d64/111+-+Steve+Anderson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Anderson Steve Anderson was a one armed first baseman whose nickname was “Nub.” At age 6, Anderson was hit by a telephone truck and had his left arm amputated, but that didn’t stop him from playing ball. Billed as “the world’s greatest one-armed player,” Steve fielded this way: He’d catch the ball, lay the glove on his shoulder in the same motion, and get the ball away as fast as any major leaguer. And the glove never fell off his shoulder. Some say he could turn a double play and bat with one arm better than most players could with two. There was a one-armed player in Bingo Long, so you can see how Anderson would have received a throw by watching the clip below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1daf2d04-9d61-464e-925b-c8b45b11345d/113+-+Rico+Dawson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Rico Dawson Known for his flashy style and athletic ability, Rico Dawson was an outstanding hitter who batted over .400 in three different seasons at Sterling High School career in Greenville, South Carolina. While playing for the Greenville Black Spinners after his college career, Dawson said he had a “real good game” playing in an exhibition against the Indianapolis Clowns. After that game, the Clowns offered Dawson a contract to go on the road with them, which he did for two seasons. His association with the team led to him being recommended as an extra for the Bingo Long movie. Despite having no acting experience, Dawson impressed the directors so much that he was given the speaking role of second baseman, Willie Lee Shively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4cd745cf-fc08-42b1-8c40-a65d1afcc80a/114+-+Clowns.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72932205-f754-48ca-aed3-161efb898b51/115+-+racism.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reliving Old Memories Some of them better than others. It’s sad to think what some people find to be an acceptable way to treat someone else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b50c482d-c745-485c-9b29-9d13fe1fd473/116+-+Not+Everyone.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Hard To Believe It’s hard to believe you could meet someone like Jay and think anything negative about him. But it’s even harder to believe that there are people out there who would never give themselves a chance to truly meet him in the first place. Of course, not everyone the Clowns encountered on the road gave them a hard time, but the ones that did are still remembered all these years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70799232-c0de-4d9e-8af4-1987ac16cb40/117+-+Clowns.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Imagine showing up to your baseball game, trying your absolute best, and getting beat by a team with a player dressed in a clown suit while they goof around all game. Luckily, most opposing players and fans were in on the bit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21974510-050f-409c-af2a-e57e89d5b4b9/118+-+Birmingham+Sam.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Diffusing The Situation If there ever was an instance when an opposing fan or player seemed to be taking things too seriously, Birmingham Sam or Bobo would try to incorporate them into the act to lighten the mood so everyone else could keep playing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e6fb09f-0a5f-4a55-8793-a9a533f69927/119+-+Green+Book.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Negro Motorist Green Book An annual guidebook for African-American road trippers founded and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. From a New York-focused first edition published in 1936, Green expanded the work to cover much of North America. The Green Book became "the bible of black travel" during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against African Americans and other non-whites was widespread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45f0a4e7-ed42-4a99-9549-5be595e8b5b4/120+-+Smiling.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Always Smiling Jay is one of the kindest people I've met since moving to Cleveland. He is always smiling, and he goes out of his way to be supportive and to show up for people. Here he is with Bob DiBiasio, who is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, at an event hosted by the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccb4ee7c-b264-4366-a1ec-be75c199a09b/122+-+nice+facilities.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nice Facilities It wasn’t often when the Clowns played in beautiful ballparks with nice facilities, but when they did, the players made sure to take advantage of the ability to shower in the locker rooms. With how much they always had to drive, the team would sometimes go days without sleeping in a hotel or motel, which means it could also be days without a chance to shower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/051229cf-f6c7-49ad-8f2e-d2b0d23199fc/123+-+car.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - When All Else Fails, Drink A Beer If everyone has to be stuck in the car without showering for days, you might as well get some beer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5efa5c5f-d6cb-40c8-8def-7c28ced7b7e5/124+-+too+many+games+to+be+played.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “We’ll Just Find Somebody Else” If a player missed the team bus, they were a “hog cutter” and had most likely played their last game with the Clowns. The team had too much traveling to do, too many games to play, to also have to worry about keeping everyone in line. If you couldn’t hold yourself accountable to be on the bus by the time it left for the next town, the team would just find someone else on the road to replace you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ecd057d-8154-44b2-b962-71da09e574f2/125+-+Sioux+Empire.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sioux Empire College After Jay played his first season with the Clowns in 1977, he went to Sioux Empire College in Haywarden, Iowa. The school was founded in 1965, with the first semester being held in the fall of 1967. A few of Jay’s teammates on the Sioux Empire team were guys he traveled with on the Indianapolis Clowns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d255853-e491-4f2f-ba0c-5b0a4bedaf6f/126+-+team.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c699782-d857-40a5-a3c5-1c327e89cc10/127+-+Big+George.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Big George Big George Sanders was a pitcher who was similar to J.R. Richard. “The Saga of J.R. Richard’s Debut: Blowing Away 15 Sticks at Candlestick” by Dan VanDeMortel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1508f1b-891c-4405-a460-00b5e1c3fc7c/128+-+Greg+Stockton.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Greg Stockton Greg Stockton was the team’s catcher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3cde87f-47a4-45bd-abdc-d153d165d3c7/129+-+Mike+Coco.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mike Coco Mike Coco was the team’s second baseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ebaf8a9-70f9-443d-a060-216251a45500/130+-+Mark+Glatter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mark Glatter Mark Glatter was a teammate of Jay’s at Sioux Empire who also played with the Clowns sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123b7537-6250-4950-a300-99b4fd432a77/131+-+Tom+Farr.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Tom Farr Tom Farr was a teammate of Jay’s at Sioux Empire who also played with the Clowns sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc91d126-7487-4675-8438-924941ae26d9/132+-+Bob+Cerv.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bob Cerv Bob Cerv was Jay’s manager when he played for Sioux Empire College. Cerv played Major League Baseball from 1951 through 1962, most notably spending 9 seasons with the Yankees, winning a World Series with the team in 1956 and being named an All-Star in 1958 as a member of the Athletics. Prior to his professional career, Cerv was a collegiate baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Bob Cerv’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/368032ac-7df9-49b6-9bd6-d81e781aa2a3/133+-+Mantle+and+Maris.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Roommates During the 1961 season, Cerv lived in a $251-per-month (equivalent to $2,658 in 2025) apartment in Queens with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Cerv and Maris often roomed together, because the Yankees’ manager didn’t understand Maris’ personality and wanted Cerv, the seasoned veteran, to help him figure it out. “Roger asked me ‘Why are you my roommate now?’ when I first roomed with him,” recalls Cerv. “I told him, ‘To tell the truth, the skipper wants to know what makes you tick.’ We were best buds after that.” Roger Maris’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/703fce6d-dc3b-4a51-8b25-68675ad3a5e8/134+-+Bob+Cerv.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Not Afraid To Fight “[Billy] was a ballplayer. A little hotheaded, though. He didn’t take any crap,” said Cerv, of Billy Martin. Billy may have had the mouth that started the fights, but Bob Cerv wasn’t afraid to come in and finish them. On May 17, 1958, Cerv fractured his jaw in this home plate collision with Detriot Tigers catcher Red Wilson. Doctors said Cerv would be out for six weeks. He was back three days later. After six weeks playing with his jaw wired shut, Cerv was still batting .310 and leading the American League in home runs and RBIs. The Saturday Evening Post covered the story in 1958. Red Wilson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00ef2e99-b84a-485a-9b0b-f0e2f6b8415d/135+-+Angie+Dickinson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Angie Dickinson Angie Dickinson began her career on television, and appeared in more than 50 films. Dickinson's big-screen breakthrough role came in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo (1959), in which she played a flirtatious gambler called "Feathers" who becomes attracted to the town sheriff played by Dickinson's childhood idol John Wayne. Bob Cerv was having an affair with Angie Dickinson at one point during his career. Cerv injured his knee during a game, so Angie came rushing to the hospital to check on him. When she arrived, she was greeted in the room by Bob’s wife, Phyllis. Yikes. Here is Angie Dickinson in A Fever in the Blood (1961). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abc56a94-5968-4bed-bf1b-bc9b0b3de90c/136+-+Siram.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Regor Siram Bob Cerv and Regor Siram (Roger Maris, spelled backward) light up cigars at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 1960, as both celebrated additions to their families. Maris’ wife gave birth to a boy in Kansas City, while Mrs. Cerv gave birth to the couple’s 8th child, a girl, on August 26. Bob and Phyllis had 10 children, all of whom went through college, 32 grandkids, and 11 great-grandchildren. So there were lots of cigars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/106e2d88-6732-438d-8f24-918445715b14/137+-+Mickey.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mickey Mantle Bob Cerv said Mickey Mantle was one of the fastest players he’d ever seen. Mickey holds the record for fastest time from home to first, clocking in at 3.1 seconds. Cerv and Mantle were teammates from 1951-1956, again in 1960, and for one more stint from 1961-62. Cerv saw Mickey before his first knee injury in the 1951 World Series, and when his body was still young enough to recover from his many knee issues. Though Mickey was one of the fastest players in the game in his prime, the Yankees preferred that he didn't run because of his persistent leg injuries. He stole just 153 bases in his career, with a career high of 21 in 1959. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74245193-5061-424e-be44-d532203861bd/138+-+Larsen.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Don Larsen After getting pounded for 4 runs in 1.2 innings in Game 2, Don Larsen spiraled into a three-day depression. Larsen went out with a couple of newspaper pals, brothers Milton and Arthur Richman, the night before the fifth game. Legend has it Larsen was drunk when he showed up for Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. “I had no idea I was starting that game until I came to the park that day,” Larsen said. “When I got to the park there was a baseball in my shoe. That was the tradition in those days.” Larsen ended up throwing a perfect game, the only perfecto in postseason history. It was by far the most memorable moment in his 14-year career. Don Larsen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9124add6-1930-4bb6-abf4-dc9d174817e1/139+-+Larsen.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Casey Stengel At spring training in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1956, Don Larsen fell asleep while driving back to the team hotel, lost control of his convertible, and crashed into a palm tree. It was 5 a.m. He escaped with a chipped tooth and a $15 ticket. When manager Casey Stengel (seen here, center, with Bob Cerv on the right), a notorious boozer himself in his playing days, was asked what his pitcher was doing out at that ungodly hour, Stengel told the press with a straight face “he went out to mail a letter.” Casey Stengel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/174cd8a7-837b-46bd-9bc2-f915a9bfbdc4/IMG_1592.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Belvie Kennerly Jay always played center field. But when Bob Cerv brought in new recruit Belvie Kennerly, he asked Jay to move over to left so Belvie could play center. Jay obliged. Jay is seen here seated in the middle row all the way on the left. Belvie is in the center of that same row, and Belvie’s brother, James, is seated next to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cfe1854-7d3a-4a5a-9b17-133b41f8707d/141+-+Cerv.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - “Bunt The Damn Ball!” Sometimes Jay and Belvie would “miss” a bunt sign from the dugout and choose to swing away. The next pitch, Bob Cerv would tell the infielders they were getting the bunt sign again, and if they “missed it” this time, they’d be sitting the rest of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1370b0d9-a4cf-4cfe-9a90-b7b28bdd81f1/142+-+Sioux+Empire.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Easy To Listen Jay said it was easy to listen to what Bob Cerv was telling the team because he had not only been to the Majors, but had a long career with impressive accolades. Cerv knew what it took to get to where those players wanted to be. You would be crazy not to listen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3c78ab5-79cc-4803-9a2b-c240df029b16/121+-+How+To+Live+On+%2415+A+Week.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Was It Enough Money? In 1971, Indianapolis Clowns players received no salary, and received just $4 a day in meal money. By the time Jay was on the team 6 years later, players were being paid $5 a day in meal money. Jay personally earned an extra $5 because he was in the Shadow Ball routine and part of the show. And if the team didn't stop to get a hotel or a motel at night, each player would get $2 more of what was called "riding money" for sleeping in the car while the team drove to the next town. While the team may have joked about how little the players were being paid (this image once appeared in an Indianapolis Clowns program), Jay acknowledges that the amount the players made simply wasn’t enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04ab66eb-7f96-4719-902f-e185c2489bfa/143+-+Old+Grand+Dad.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Old Grand Dad Jay was able to save a little bit of money on the road because he wasn’t a big drinker or smoker. Some other players weren’t as fiscally responsible. Birmingham Sam liked to smoke cigarettes and drink Old Grand Dad bourbon, but he could usually afford it because he was getting paid to be the Clown Prince, and hustling doctors on the golf course, to boot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54a8d6ba-101e-435a-b0aa-d9559046e4c4/144+-+Coco.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Money Manager When George Long wasn’t actively traveling with the team to handle it himself, he appointed Mike Coco to manage the money for the team. From taking care of the payouts with the other teams at the end of games, to divvying up the money to the other Clowns players, Coco could be trusted. Here he is with Birmingham Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b375a456-7877-4498-aa7e-ae399096ae42/145+-+Henry+Aaron+with+Syd+Pollock.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - In The Owner’s Best Interest When a Major League team would sign a player from the Indianapolis Clowns, the owner of the team would get 2% of the value of the Major League contract that the player would sign as a kick back. So when the Braves signed Henry Aaron for $10,000, the owner of the Clowns got $200. At that time, the owner was Syd Pollock, seen here shaking hands with Henry Aaron. While that $200 was valuable to the team, it also created a hole in the roster by shipping one of the team’s best players off to the big leagues. It was made abundantly clear that everyone on the team was replaceable, though. From the last guy on the bench, to the Clown Prince, himself. No one was bigger than the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfac79c1-e08b-423a-bb9f-b4a0f8245f06/146+-+Henry+Aaron+bill+of+sale.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Aaron’s Sale This letter outlines the sale of Henry Aaron by the Indianapolis Clowns to the Braves organization. “…lowest deal I would consider on shortstop HENRY AARON would be $10,000., with $2500. down payment, balance to be paid after 30-day look, regardless of classification he was started in, and salary of $350. monthly.” “I feel this youngster is another Ted Williams in the hitting department, and can hit to all fields as well as lay down bunts, and his fielding right now leaves little to be desired, outside of a bit of polishing on getting off his throws.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb6e356-76dd-48a1-9427-5ccd85b27417/147+-+Grand+Junction.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Grand Junction, CO Despite a couple miscues in the outfield due to the thin air, Jay’s favorite place to play was Grand Junction, Colorado, against the Grand Junction Eagles. Here he is (center) goofing around with Clowns teammates Darryl Herring (left) and Big George Sanders (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e37d1a2-17bf-409b-bbe0-a5480329d575/148+-+Paul+Molitor.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Paul Molitor Paul Molitor was an All-Big Ten and All-American shortstop for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1976 and 1977. At the U of M, Molitor had a career batting average of .350, and led his team to the Big Ten championship and a College World Series appearance in 1977. He played for the Grand Junction Eagles, but was called up to the big leagues to play for Milwaukee a couple weeks before Jay Valentine had a chance to play against him. Molitor played 21 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins. In 1993 he helped lead the Blue Jays to a World Series title, earning World Series MVP honors. On September 16, 1996, against the host Kansas City Royals, Molitor became the 21st player in MLB history to hit 3,000 hits, the first to hit that mark with a triple. The .306 career hitter and seven-time All-Star retired in 1998. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Paul Molitor’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf691d97-820a-4605-b131-92d2fa9ef901/149+-+Kevin+Schoendienst.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Kevin Schoendienst Kevin Schoendienst, the son of Cardinals legend and Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst, played against Jay in Grand Junction, Colorado. They all went out drinking together after the game, which wasn’t uncommon. Red Schoendienst’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a267713-b183-450a-8480-8f1f2991b50c/150+-+Steve+Bartkowski.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Steve Bartkowski Steve Bartkowski was a quarterback in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons (1975–1985), the Washington Redskins (1985), and the Los Angeles Rams (1986). He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Bartkowski played college football for the California Golden Bears, earning consensus All-American honors as a senior in 1974. He was selected by the Falcons with the first overall pick of the 1975 NFL draft. In addition to playing football, Bartkowski was also an All-American baseball player at first base for the Bears. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 33rd round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft from Emil R. Buchser HS (Santa Clara, CA) and again by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA). Bartkowski played baseball for Bob Cerv in Kansas, and was teammates with Ron Guidry on that team. Ron Guidry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/411ee8da-07b4-4356-a3b2-d5db2c886fe1/151+-+nice+ballparks.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nice Ballparks Jay feels lucky to have played in some really nice ballparks over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f01e31e-aeb8-40d4-aa4c-127ec4f44eaf/152+-+Summer+Ball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out When Jay was in college, he played summer ball with this team sponsored by Valley National Bank for multiple years. Jay is top row, all the way on the right in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a35a790d-1925-4c30-b25d-79b26c5c9bce/153+-+Packer+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Packer Stadium Also known as Sioux Falls Stadium in South Dakota, this was Jay’s home ballpark when playing for the summer league team. Originally opened in 1941, the stadium has been the home field of the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association since 2013. It was also the home field of the Sioux Falls Packers (Northern League, 1966-1971), the Sioux Falls Canaries (Northern League, 1993-2005), the Sioux Falls Canaries (American Association, 2006-2009), the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants (American Association, 2010-2012), and the St. Paul Saints (American Association, 2020). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e212a9f-d1f8-466e-8283-27681a8115ad/154+-+Griffey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ken Griffey, Sr. Ken Griffey, Sr. played for the Sioux Falls Packers in 1970. Sioux Falls was the second-lowest rung on the Reds’ minor-league ladder. Jay says he heard many stories of the racism Ken faced while playing there. Ken Griffey, Sr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed24c574-29f4-4d73-9adb-f51a7b8fa084/155+-+conditions.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ballpark Conditions Jay remembers most of the ballparks he played in being nice, but the ones which weren’t as in good of shape tended to be in the southern states. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4aaceb3e-2c02-4b6d-982f-eb980c06d17e/156+-+48th+season.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Clowns’ 48th Season Jay played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the 48th and 49th seasons, which were 1977 and 1978, respectively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca4d8633-a76a-4689-9357-645d739a0245/157+-+Sioux+Empire+College.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Sioux Empire College After each of his two seasons with the Clowns, Jay played for Sioux Empire College. Then in 1979 and 1980, Jay played for Sioux Falls College, which is now called the University of Sioux Falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1997d126-4024-4e5c-a2ed-6e9dd72c2b76/159+-+acting.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - After College Jay didn’t think he was necessarily going to be a ballplayer after he graduated college. He majored in Speech Communications and Theater, and thought after his baseball career was over, he would either become an actor, or do something in sports broadcasting. Jay is pictured here in the center, acting in a play during college. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3acc6c93-0c8d-4baf-951b-733ff2aa3118/159+-+home+run.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Home Runs Jay wasn’t a power hitter, but he did hit some big home runs in his career. At least a couple of three-run home runs (one of which was written about in the newspaper), and a grand slam are some of the highlights of his playing days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0482073f-c629-4383-b15c-26155deb683c/160+-+Summer+League.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Summer League Jay’s grand slam came in Sioux Falls while playing in front of his home crowd at Sioux Falls College. Here he is (top row, second from left) in a Summer League team photo for his Valley National Bank team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6fa972ba-de12-4292-bc90-93d80a4129c4/161+-+freedom.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Freedom When asked what the best thing about being a ballplayer for the Indianapolis Clowns was, Jay responded with “the freedom.” Being able to do your own thing, without people telling you what to do, is a great feeling. “You did whatever you wanted to do.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1089469c-ea0b-4e80-83b8-866be2266f7f/162+-+college+eligibility.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - College Eligibility Even though he was only making $12-13 a day playing for the Clowns, he was still being paid, technically making him a professional. That should have ended his college eligibility, but luckily, no one found out and he was able to play for Sioux Empire and Sioux Falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74852c2d-cdaf-4b0f-a686-f54dbeb2c0fc/163+-+accomplishments.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pride Jay said he is proud of his life’s accomplishments. After spending the day talking with him, and sitting together going through all of his old photos, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks, that was extremely evident. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d92d7a06-bc9b-4041-aa95-4952cc18b1bf/164+-+younger+self.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Advice For His Younger Self Jay took the game seriously. He eats, sleeps, and drinks baseball. While he didn’t happen to be at the right place at the right time to achieve his ultimate dream of making it to the Major Leagues, Jay was in Fort Lauderdale at 18 years old, sharing the field with Major League players and in front of Major League managers, coaches, and scouts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e4b82b9-df82-4290-a431-bc152e3ab5cb/165+-+letter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out This is the letter Jay got from the Baltimore Orioles telling him to go play for Bob Cerv. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dbc239e-977c-4fb6-b041-5d53abc2fe9e/166+-+Bonnie.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bonnie Jay’s sister, Bonnie, who drove him from Ohio to Iowa to try out for the Indianapolis Clowns, and then drove him from Ohio to Iowa AGAIN to take him to Sioux Empire College. Now that’s someone you can count on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f3698ec-e229-4bc2-9f76-240cc92b157c/167+-+Follow+Jay.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Follow Jay Online Facebook email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88de4f11-7b80-4d4a-b118-8971f3eaba11/168+-+Mom.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - 50 States At the time of this recording, I have been to 49 states, only missing Hawaii. By far and away, the person who has been with me in the most different states is my mom. Here we are at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in March of 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0b38da5-413b-4c27-aed6-eb4ee0805f34/169+-+Family.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Supportive Family Jay was lucky in that he had support from his family to chase his dreams. Here he is with his three brothers and sister. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3cfd46f3-763a-4696-a59a-4645cba9f2a1/170+-+39th+season+1968+program+06.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Travel As if traveling across the country with a baseball team on a bus wasn’t hard enough already, but then they have to deal with racism, too? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b6ab183-c717-46ae-9682-133550d0bfce/171+-+Jay%27s+House.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jay’s Man Cave Jay was gracious enough to invite me over to his house so we could record this interview. It is insane to me that I am friends with someone who has had a run in with the Ku Klux Klan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47c6eba7-23db-4147-bd9c-8f975ade4deb/172+-+A+Big+Kid+At+Heart.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - A Big Kid At Heart Jay’s personality and kind heart makes it easy to want to be around him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d47b3fbe-88ab-4f4f-addb-26d32cf2ab9b/173+-+40th+season+1969+broadside.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Broadsides This broadside is from 1969, the Indianapolis Clowns’ 40th season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3991495f-67c5-4025-8ddc-ac368cb91e6b/175+-+broadsides.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c65dd4c-3d97-4953-bd59-203a342cd769/174+-+Birmingham+Sam+autograph.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Birmingham Sam This is a close up shot of one of the broadsides Jay has in his personal collection. This one was signed by Jay’s friend, teammate, and roommate, Birmingham Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f62edde1-e4a1-45bd-81b4-ed57f27b1a24/176+-+pranks.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pranks This isn’t a story Jay told while we were rolling, but afterward when we were going through the pictures together, he found this one and told me the story behind it. His teammates woke him up one morning and threw a Burger King bag on his bed, saying they got him breakfast. Jay opened the bag, and inside was the snake you can see on the railing in this photo. Boys will be boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/993c36cb-2f4a-496c-a6ef-51dea7d7d606/177+-+Bingo+Long.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings If you have never seen the movie before, I genuinely do recommend it. Now that you have listened to this interview with Jay and heard him talk about his experiences barnstorming with the Indianapolis Clowns, I think you will understand and appreciate a lot of the subtleties of the film, especially when it comes to the showmanship of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/882410ba-adaf-447d-ae1a-b8c51629deed/180+-+Soundtrack.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Soundtrack I had the soundtrack to the movie on vinyl well before I had ever seen the movie. A large chunk of my vinyl collection is made up of baseball-related records, so any time I see one I don’t have, I am tempted to buy it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ed7405e-6112-44ca-b3d4-c457514088bc/181+-+Goose+Tatum+1948+newspaper.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Goose Tatum Goose Tatum was basketball’s original clown prince. He was discovered by Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein on – of all places – the baseball diamond. Goose was a tremendous athlete, with physical skills that matched his timing and sense of humor. Tatum choreographed several of the famous Globetrotter reams including hiding in the crowd, spying on the opposition’s huddle, and feinting only to be revived by the foul smell of his own shoe. He was a serious basketball player, though, perfecting a hook shot that he often shot without even looking at the basket. In 1948, Tatum and the Globetrotters upset the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers in a one-game showdown for the ages. The article see here appeared in a 1948 newspaper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cb589ee-ce8a-44b0-a28c-3621e1c3c332/182+-+Meadowlark+Lemon.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Meadowlark Lemon Few athletes have impacted their sport on a worldwide level more than Meadowlark Lemon. Perhaps the most well-known and beloved member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Lemon played in more than 16,000 games – 7,500 consecutively – for the Globetrotters in a career that began in 1954 and lasted until 1978. Known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Lemon’s favored “can’t miss” halfcourt hookshot and comedic routines were performed in more than 70 countries around the globe, entertaining millions of fans, Presidents, Kings, Queens, and even Popes. As a basketball performer, Lemon’s goal was always the same – entertainment, laughter, and fun. Lemon was a 2003 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dac153a5-e611-4ff8-a063-0a8e53d3b69f/183+-+Wilt.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Wilt Chamberlain One of the most famous and dominant players in Harlem Globetrotters history, Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain began his professional career in 1958 when the Globetrotters signed the University of Kansas standout to one of the largest contracts in sports. Following his Globetrotter career, Chamberlain starred in the NBA from 1959 through 1973, playing for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his NBA career, his dominance brought on many rules changes, including widening the lane, introducing offensive goaltending and revising rules governing free throw shooting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53be8299-dbb9-4876-8914-f2c6f6994396/184+-+Toni+Stone+in+Ebony+Magazine+July+1%2C+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Toni Stone in the July 1, 1953 issue of Ebony Magazine (courtesy of the Toni Stone family, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d94f1779-44ef-4032-a472-7413601947de/185+-+Satchel+Paige.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s after being discharged from reform school in Alabama. The lanky 6-foot-3 right-hander quickly became the biggest drawing card in Negro baseball, able to overpower batters with a buggy-whipped fastball. Paige, a showman at heart, bounced from team-to-team in search of the best paycheck – often pitching hundreds of games a year between regular Negro Leagues assignments and barnstorming opportunities. At the age of 42, Paige made his American League debut when Bill Veeck signed him to a contract with Cleveland on July 7, 1948. Paige was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/23085529-5a6f-4726-a386-0c38d87da498/186+-+Josh+Gibson.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Josh Gibson The applause Josh Gibson received should have been louder. He was considered the best power hitter of his era in the Negro Leagues and perhaps even across the entire sport. The legend of Gibson’s power has always been larger than life. His introduction to organized baseball came at age 16 when he joined the Gimbels A.C. He became a professional by accident July 25, 1930 while sitting in the stands. When Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing injured his hand, Gibson was invited to replace him because his titanic home runs were already well known in Pittsburgh. Gibson’s natural skills were immense. His powerful arm, quick release and agility made base runners wary of trying to steal. Gibson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0098ec86-05e0-4b2c-8285-bd4e8cbd3c79/187+-+Cool+Papa+Bell.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - James “Cool Papa” Bell Cool Papa Bell may well have been the fastest man ever to play the game of baseball. The most colorful story of his legendary speed was one told by Satchel Paige, who said that Cool Papa was so fast he could flip the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark. But stories of his base running speed are legion, advancing two and even three bases on a bunt, beating out tappers back to the pitcher, and also playing a shallow center field – because his speed allowed him to catch up to just about anything out there. He was a member of three of the greatest Negro League teams in history, winning three championships each with the St. Louis Stars, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Homestead Grays. Bell was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. Cool Papa Bell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ab0ad75-d5e4-4d3b-8919-d66e6f77e8e7/188+-+Others.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46f88e0b-7413-4d83-b863-768b23af4227/189+-+Museums.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Where Can You Learn More? In addition to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, there are a few other great museums preserving Negro League baseball history. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri The Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park The Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham, Alabama https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/860f408b-5a3e-4a83-8843-c44b3852c9f5/190+-+Bob+Cerv.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bob Cerv If Bob Cerv looked like this and could land Angie Dickinson, imagine how hard it must have been for Mickey Mantle to stay faithful once he got a couple drinks in him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25e55182-4bda-44c4-9608-e345bac5ec82/191+-+David+Wells.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - David Wells On May 17, 1998, David Wells pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history. Pitching against the Twins at Yankee Stadium in front of 49,820 fans, Wells threw the perfect game while being hung over, calling it a "raging, skull-rattling" hangover. “I went to the park, I was a wreck. I mean, I was a wreck. (David Cone) told me, he goes, you need to go to Monahan’s office to get away from everybody, you stink. So I just started chewing gum, drinking a lot of water and coffee, about ten trips to the bathroom. My stomach was boiling over pretty good. I don’t know, at about 11:30 I had a pancake in there from the spread and I felt a little bit better but I was still a wreck.” “I knew if I had a short outing, I would’ve gotten in a lot of trouble,” Wells said. “A lot of people knew I was pretty hammered.” His outing was as short as a 9-inning complete game could be: 27 batters. He didn’t get in any trouble. David Wells’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/953c55b7-e77a-48e9-be15-43104892d282/192+-+Bachelor.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Bachelor Jay wasn’t only responsible for himself. He also owned this Siberian Husky for over a decade, his buddy Bachelor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24519755-179d-48f8-a14c-825b515bd3f4/240+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b973d9ad-5894-41ba-a48b-b85fb25ed54d/241+-+giveaway.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a custom baseball card of Jay Valentine, autographed by Jay? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e5f6d99-ce3b-47ce-a3df-ea5789eb400d/195+-+Ethiopian+Clowns+first+American+tour.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Rose Colored Glasses? We now look back fondly on the Ethiopian / Indianapolis Clowns and the style of baseball they played in the 1930s and 40s, but many Negro League players themselves deeply resented the comic image the Clowns portrayed at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717bfb6c-4d68-4e77-8025-adc651cfbcc6/196+-+Jim+Cohen.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jim “Fireball” Cohen Jim “Fireball” Cohen was a righthanded pitcher who made his debut in 1946 and pitched for the team through 1952. He threw a fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and knuckleball. In 1948, Cohen was selected to play in the East–West All-Star Game. He played in the Venezuelan League in the winter of 1948-1949, and had a 2-3 record with a 3.64 ERA for the 1950 Clowns. He drove the team bus and was the business manager for Indianapolis in addition to pitching before he retired. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/827f1bd0-3f7d-46e5-8915-2a37c2e19a64/197+-+Reinaldo+Drake.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Reinaldo Drake Reinaldo Drake was a Cuban-born center fielder who played for and even managed the Clowns at points from 1945 through 1954. A native of Havana, Drake was selected to the East-West All-Star Game in 1953, and later played minor league baseball for the Yakima Braves in Washington state. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d68f614-3c66-4e33-841f-1b21ffa99395/198+-+Ray+Neil.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Ray Neil Ray Neil was a second baseman and played his entire career for the Clowns franchise, beginning in 1941 when they were still known as the Ethiopian Clowns. He moved with the team to Cincinnati in 1943, and played for the Indianapolis Clowns until he retired following the 1954 season. He was among the Negro American League’s top batters in 1953. In the 1953 East-West Game, Neil hit third for the East and was their brightest light in a 5-1 loss. He went 3 for 3 with a triple, and a run, getting half of the East's hits. Neil also scored the East’s lone run when he connected off Sam (Buddy) Woods and came around on a hit by Henry Kimbro two batters later. In his autobiography, Henry Aaron (a teammate of Neil's on the 1952 Clowns) posits that Neil might have been too flashy a player for a part of the country that had never had a black player yet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2874c660-0d67-482f-b0fc-ece09f094b69/199+-+Buster+Haywood.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Buster Haywood The 1952 championship squad also featured Albert “Buster” Haywood, who played for the Clowns in both Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Haywood was primarily a catcher during his playing career. In 1941, the Clowns won 125 games during the regular season, as well as the post-season Denver Post Tournament, with Haywood winning MVP. The Virginia native hit .288 for the 1943 Cincinnati Clowns, splitting the catching duties with Pepper Bassett. He hit .270 as the starter for the Cincinnati/Indianapolis Clowns in 1944, then was a backup again in 1945. Haywood backed up Sam Hairston as catcher in 1948, and began a stint as manager of the Clowns - a job he would hold until he left the team after the 1953 season. He was the player/manager for the Memphis Red Sox in 1954 before retiring. He helped discover Henry Aaron in 1951 when the Clowns played against him on the semipro Mobile Black Bears, then became Aaron’s first manager in professional baseball on the 1952 Clowns. Haywood also managed the East team in three consecutive East-West Games from 1951 through 1953. Buster Haywood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e181f21f-284c-4271-94dd-33f0e8883988/200+-+Aaron.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Henry Aaron The Clowns had signed Aaron on November 20, 1951, after local scout Ed Scott saw the skinny 17-year-old infielder. Aaron didn’t even know how to properly hold a bat, placing his lead hand on top until a coach corrected him and showed the eventual home run king how to produce more power. The kid from Mobile, Alabama only spent one season in the Negro Leagues before signing a contract with the Milwaukee Braves’ organization, leaving the Clowns after their 1952 championship season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1ae2254-8fab-48d2-bbc1-3ef8e4103021/201+-+Garner.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Horace Garner Outfielder Horace Garner also played for the Clowns. Along with Henry Aaron and Felix Mantilla, Garner integrated the South Atlantic League in 1953 when the trio played for the Jacksonville Braves. Garner spent ten seasons in the minor leagues, batting .321 with 1,115 hits, 190 doubles, 37 triples and 157 home runs in 997 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad31e576-dfd9-4ab1-a3c1-e224cb27d30f/202+-+Jenkins.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Pee Wee Jenkins Pee Wee Jenkins was a pitcher for the 1952 Clowns who also spent part of that season with the Birmingham Black Barons. Jenkins had previously helped the New York Cubans win the 1947 Negro League World Series over the Cleveland Buckeyes. He had an ample variety of pitches and good control. He also played for Luke Easter's All-Stars barnstorming team in 1950 and the Negro League All-Stars barnstorming team in 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c8d7914-7f8d-4735-87b3-d394886e7753/203+-+Wilkes.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Jimmy Wilkes Jimmy “Seabiscuit” Wilkes played for the Newark Eagles from 1945 to 1948. The outfielder was a member of the 1946 Negro League World Series championship team, and was an All-Star in 1948. In 1949 and 1950, Wilkes played for the Houston Eagles of the Negro American League. He then played Minor League Baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization from 1950 through 1952. After appearing in only nine games in that 1952 season, he returned to the Negro American League and spent the rest of the year with the Indianapolis Clowns, helping lead them to another championship. Wilkes subsequently played with the Brantford Red Sox of Southern Ontario from 1953 through 1963, with the Red Sox finishing as champions of the Intercounty Baseball League in five of those seasons. Wilkes is considered one of the top 100 players in league history. Jimmy Wilkes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b65cc4b-d678-4223-97b0-980d3c6bdfb3/204+-+Toni+Stone+circa+1953%2C+courtesy+of+the+Toni+Stone+family%2C+Negro+Leagues+Baseball+Museum+Archives.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Toni Stone The Indianapolis Clowns needed to fill the vacancy left by Henry Aaron after he signed with the Braves following that 1952 season, and they made history in doing so, becoming the first professional baseball team to sign a female player to a long-term contract. Toni Stone was brought on to play second base with the team in 1953, and she batted .243. The following year, the Clowns sold her contract to the Kansas City Monarchs. This photo of Toni Stone circa 1953 is courtesy of the Toni Stone family / Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed551642-16cb-42c8-96c1-f334b25dd349/205+-+Peanut.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Mamie “Peanut” Johnson may have been slight, at 5-foot-4 and less than 120 pounds, but she had a strong right arm and a competitive spirit that took her from the sandlots of Washington into professional baseball, with the Indianapolis Clowns. While playing on sandlots, Bish Tyson, a former Negro Leagues player, saw her play and suggested that she had the talent to go pro. That led to a tryout with Clowns manager Bunny Downs, and she joined the team a day later. Johnson was the first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues, and was a two-way player, too. She would go on to compile a record of 33-8 for the Clowns, while batting between .262 and .284. Johnson stopped playing after the 1955 season, becoming a nurse, the occupation that she’d have for the rest of her working career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/484bff15-0fc8-4a12-84fb-6ca45f1ec06f/206+-+Richard+King%2C+manager+Oscar+Charleston%2C+and+Connie+Morgan%2C+courtesy+of+HOF.jpg Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Connie Morgan At just 19 years old, Connie Morgan became the third woman in history to play in the Negro Leagues. Morgan quickly proved she could play at an elite level. In her two seasons with Indianapolis, Morgan was good enough to split time at second base with Ray Neiland, and she could turn the double play with the best of them. She also had a strong showing in the batter’s box, hitting around .300. Negro Leagues legend and Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston managed Morgan during her two years. “Good athletes, girls especially, aren’t born every day,” Charleston told the Courier Journal in June of 1954. “It is a pleasure to watch her in action... In her quiet way, she made buddies among her teammates, while gaining their admiration with her remarkable play at second base.” Here, “King Tut”, Oscar Charleston, and Morgan pose for the camera, circa 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15eb3d7f-9b79-4336-be69-91bd19ecad44/207+-+Nancy+Miller+broadside.JPEG Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Nancy Miller But women didn’t only play for the Clowns… women also served as umpires for the team! Most notably, former Chicago model Nancy Miller, who was the first female umpire in professional ball. The back of her Indianapolis Clowns baseball card says: “The first lady umpire in pro ball, Nancy toured for two years with the Clowns, helping the gate and giving more laughs to the game. She was a good showman and did a creditable job behind the plate. The former Chicago model gamely put up with the rigors of touring - at least having a single room. She never missed a game, even when a foul tip broke her finger.” This broadside is from 1971, the Indianapolis Clowns’ 42nd season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3351b0f4-552a-4749-88ca-a840ba1b67d0/251+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0406 - Jay Valentine - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0405 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0868da1c-dbad-4e48-9885-180f4b8a5e4a/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19861934-e84f-485c-929e-0d54b35d3945/RF+Fence+tight.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers Me and Brian Powers in front of the legendary right field fence at Cleveland’s historic League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33f4a01d-cbb3-4e15-8bc7-1068f40cd0c9/01+-+The+Glove+Lab.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Glove Lab This episode is brought to you by The Glove Lab. Use code MBH15 at checkout to get 15% off their full-service package, which includes cleaning, conditioning, and re-lacing through the end of 2025. Visit Their Website Follow The Glove Lab on social media: Instagram Facebook Bluesky YouTube TikTok https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75b14cff-1652-426c-a308-940d72ab8cb9/02+-+Hohenecken+Castle.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hohenecken Castle Hohenecken Castle is the ruin of a spur castle from the Hohenstaufen era on the Schlossberg hill above the Kaiserslautern ward of Hohenecken in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Growing up a self-described “Army brat,” Brian spent time overseas, particularly in Germany. He remembers seeing this castle often as a kid, and becoming interested in architecture because of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fcacde91-bbee-48fd-90e5-31e35664c54d/03+-+Germany.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - My Foreign Exchange This is the dome ceiling from one of the churches I visited while on a foreign exchange to Germany when I was in high school. It must have been one of the first churches we went inside because I was still interested enough (at 16 years old) to take pictures of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eed8bbbf-f435-47d1-8b08-5fc714dbe715/04+-+Neuschwanstein+castle+in+Germany+-+8+or+9+years+old.jpeg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Neuschwanstein Castle This is one of Brian’s original drawings he was talking about. It is of Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century historicist palace on a rugged hill of the foothills of the Alps in the very south of Germany. Brian drew this castle when he was either 8 or 9 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ece39c8-a35c-4f15-bc03-d1b7bf818883/05+-+Neuschwanstein+castle+in+Germany.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Neuschwanstein Castle In case you were wondering how accurate Brian’s drawing is, here’s an actual photograph of Neuschwanstein Castle. Not too shabby for 9 years old, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/437ed230-1d7f-4a50-a02b-0aea77c225cc/06+-+Municipal+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Municipal Stadium Brian’s family members were baseball fanatics, which helped Brian develop a love for the sport. His grandfather would go to games at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, and was always interested in checking the box scores in the newspaper for attendance numbers in addition to the game stats. Some games, the attendance was really, really good, considering the stadium held upwards of 80,000 fans. Other games, the attendance was … not as good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb07ac93-9145-4047-b52c-f907d72950b1/07+-+Family.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Family Brian’s dad, Rod, was stationed overseas for a portion of his military career. It was hard for Brian to keep up with baseball in a different country, though some games would be broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63c826e4-ed22-413d-b904-97d3a834ed33/08+-+Boy+Scouts.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Scouts Even though it may have been hard to follow baseball as closely as he may have wanted to, Brian took up other interests and stayed busy in other ways. When the Powers family moved back to the United States after Brian’s dad was transferred again, it became easier to watch, listen to, and attend baseball games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/564448b9-5a6f-477c-ae16-69f06e4f3f0d/09+-+Cleveland+shirt.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cleveland Indians Fan Brian’s parents, his uncles, and his grandfather were all Cleveland Indians fans. When his classmates were wearing Yankees and Dodgers gear, Brian stayed strong, repping his hometown team. That’s a tradition Brian still participates in to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/404f4ab7-0870-4ac6-b2be-f9a011861950/10+-+Truist+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - What Is Lost? As beautiful as new stadiums like Truist Park may be, it’s a shame to lose that connectivity between generations when stadiums are torn down and rebuilt every 30 years like seems to be the new trend. Atlanta fans today aren’t going to games at the same stadium that their parents went to games, and their parents didn’t go to games at the same stadium that their parents went to games. There’s something sad about that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af9ccfa8-a150-4e2f-905c-dc3dfd6e4376/11+-+Chief+Wahoo.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Municipal Stadium Brian remembers making trips as a child from Iowa to Cleveland to visit family. He knew they were close when he saw Chief Wahoo looking out over the freeway from Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/578e4b76-b2a7-4dda-9091-8d09c1cffddc/12+-+Kingdome.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seattle’s Kingdome Brian’s family lived in Seattle for a while, shortly after the Kingdome opened. Brian remembers being fascinated with the architecture, specifically the sheer size a building needed to be to be able to play baseball inside of it. This photo was taken on Opening Day of the 1985 season, Tuesday, April 9 against the Oakland Athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ff6f686-4e7a-44d9-bef6-b33da001eef6/14+-+Auburn.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Auburn University Brian went to Auburn University and studied architecture. He chose Auburn because he wanted to go to a school which had both architecture and engineering programs. Brian may be the only person I’ve interviewed for this podcast who knew what they wanted to do with their life after school, and then actually did that thing. It just goes to show you how driven Brian is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7c08dbd-d8a9-4f3a-8755-5f140fcbba1b/15+-+Jordan-Hare+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Jordan-Hare Stadium With the addition of the west upper deck in 1980 and the east upper deck in 1987, Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium became the largest stadium in the state of Alabama. Brian was a student at Auburn during its construction, and watching that process (along with a tour from Mr. Jackson Davis) solidified his desire to focus on architecture instead of engineering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae5de821-1003-49dd-b323-50f5d54abd61/16+-+Old+and+New+Comiskeys.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Trip To Chicago In February of 1990, Brian’s architecture class took a trip to Chicago to see some buildings. One day, Brian decided he wanted to make a side trip to Old Comiskey Park, which was about to enter its final season as the home of the Chicago White Sox. He took this photo that day. New Comiskey Park is being built in the foreground, with Old Comiskey still standing in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc14434f-e854-403a-aa12-3062acd0fcdd/17+-+Blueprints.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Blueprints Brian has amassed an incredibly impressive collection of blueprints over the last 35 years. Pictured here are some of his original blueprints from Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22215a29-1469-45d4-a532-c347385ff108/18+-+League+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park When Brian became enamored with Old Comiskey Park after his trip to Chicago, he began learning about some of the other old ballparks from the past. League Park in Cleveland was a very early steel and concrete stadium, as well. Brian’s family ties to the city of Cleveland made that a special place for him, even though he had never seen a game there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/026edea7-a321-4e20-aca2-9a363fb2ba5d/19+-+Shibe+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park The next ballpark Brian fell in love with was actually the first ballpark in the country to get the steel and concrete treatment: Shibe Park in Philadelphia, where the Athletics played from 1909 through the end of the 1954 season, after which they moved to Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67c67905-9020-4859-a584-e1e41c965ea1/20+-+Rickwood+Field.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood Field When Old Comiskey Park came down, Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama became the next oldest ballpark in the country. Comiskey opened in July of 1910, while Rickwood opened in August. Fenway Park, the current oldest Major League ballpark, didn’t open until April of 1912. Here, Birmingham Barons ballplayers and fans pose in front of Rickwood’s distinctive entrance in 1930. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/faeca2d7-6cb3-42ba-8d51-cbcd433223d4/21+-+Rickwood_93_01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Thorn In Birmingham’s Side After the Birmingham Barons moved to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium for the 1988 season (where they would play their home games through the end of the 2012 season), Rickwood Field sat abandoned and was left to decay. The city of Birmingham didn’t really know what to do with it, so it mostly just sat, untouched, with no tenants. It seemed destined for the wrecking ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2bac077-e520-4903-aa2f-635461ad7e25/22+-+Rickwood+HABS.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic American Buildings Survey The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is the nation's first federal preservation program, begun in 1933. As such, it established methodologies that are now standard practice within the field such as the surveying and listing of historic sites and the creation of documentation for public benefit. A HABS team came to Rickwood Field to preserve its history. Images from the HABS report can be found HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe783772-0f3b-4a40-9262-31241ab116db/23+-+Rickwood+HABS.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out One of the images of Rickwood Field included in the HABS report. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8912b772-9a41-4ba8-96eb-f798f46e7e6e/24+-+Rickwood_93_00.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Friends of Rickwood Field Brian was living in Montgomery, Alabama at the time, but he routinely made the 180-mile round trip back and forth to Birmingham to watch the HABS team work, and learn how to preserve a historic ballpark. Brian became one of the charter members of the Friends of Rickwood Field, which formed in 1992. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6f81e79-514b-4f33-ab0e-6e2b519b43b7/25+-+MLB+at+Rickwood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - MLB At Rickwood On June 20, 2024, the San Francisco Giants played the St. Louis Cardinals in a regular season MLB game at Rickwood Field. Three decades earlier, no one involved in saving Rickwood could have envisioned a Major League game taking place at that location. Brian included. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b2a70b7-aa3d-4acc-9f5e-3a7b6e117ee4/26+-+Filming+Cobb.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Filming Cobb While the Friends of Rickwood and the HABS team were working on saving the field, some Hollywood scouts were in the area and thought Rickwood would be the perfect setting for some of the games to be filmed in the upcoming movie Cobb. They agreed to help pay for the renovations, as long as they could film in the newly-renovated stadium once it was complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65ac6382-f5ec-4b1a-a154-930957dac10f/27+-+Throwbacks.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Vacant No More Once the field was renovated for the movie, the city of Birmingham and its residents starting using Rickwood much more frequently. The Barons would play “turn back the clock” games there occasionally, high school teams would play there, and community events and charity games would be held at the historic space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d4ed664-06ad-4556-ac2b-917e392880f2/28+-+Rickwood.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out In 1993, it may have been impossible for Brian to look ahead and envision professional baseball happening at Rickwood again. But, as an architect, he was able to look back and imagine what it must have been like in its former glory, as seen here in 1929 with a capacity crowd. (Photo courtesy of Glynn West) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7be0a2c9-8bdf-4d49-bb04-9f915c6add02/29+-+Vote.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - More Than Just Baseball Rickwood Field played an important role in the community, above and beyond hosting baseball games. On August 18, 1915 the Alabama Equal Suffrage Association and the Birmingham Barons hosted a suffrage day to support women’s suffrage during a baseball game at Rickwood. Just a few years later, the women of Alabama, as well as women across the United States, were granted the right to vote after the passage and subsequent ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Rickwood also played a role in the Civil Rights Movement, proving to community members that people of different races could coexist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/def72f9a-0dfe-4ea5-9e50-372298c84395/30+-+2016.JPG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood in 2016 Seeing the transformation just from 2016 (my first time at Rickwood Field) to 2024 (when I was there for the MLB game between the Giants and Cardinals) was impressive enough. I can’t even imagine how proud Brian must be to have seen the transformation from 1993 to 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b190ef75-5a71-4b22-b660-315b5f13a87e/31+-+Wimpy.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tom Paciorek Left fielder Tom Paciorek emerged as an offensive leader for the Mariners in 1981, finishing second in the AL batting race (.326) to Carney Lansford. Tom was also in the top ten in the league in on-base pct., slugging pct. and OPS. Paciorek hit game-winning, game-ending (this was before the term “walk off”) home runs in back-to-back games against the Yankees at the Kingdome May 8th and 9th. The second game-winner thrilled a Bat Night crowd of 51,903, of which Brian was one. Tom Paciorek’s SABR Oral History Interview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3b16bb5-428f-4f3f-803c-9a8ba6441ff1/32+-+Events.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Amazing Events Brian has been to All-Star Games, Home Run Derbies, and has seen a lot of great stars play the game in person. But often the memories he takes back from a certain ballpark or event are tied into his experience, not necessarily who he saw play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0fdb42cb-b3b6-40e7-8e90-31f1478ab0bf/33+-+Anaheim+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Angel Stadium of Anaheim Angel Stadium is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the Majors, as it debuted in 1966 after the club moved from Los Angeles and became the then-California Angels. Brian’s first big project was working on major renovations to the stadium which took place in 1997 when the club was under Disney ownership. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11979ae5-cab8-47ab-8611-8664e6cd8b0d/34+-+Gene+and+Babe.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gene Autry and Babe Maybe the Babe in this photo is Babe Herman and not George Herman Ruth, but I couldn’t find a picture of Gene Autry and Babe Ruth together, okay? This is pretty close, though, huh? And no, your eyes haven’t deceived you. Gene and Babe swapped their regular uniforms for this picture. Gene Autry’s SABR Biography Babe Herman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b0ae893-fc67-4981-809b-dd9905dac0cb/35+-+New+Comiskey.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - New Comiskey Park Brian said that when New Comiskey Park opened, there were “mixed reviews” on it, which is putting it extremely nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3dd1412-0ae9-4616-a78c-f1adb628b339/36+-+Janet+Marie+Smith.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Janet Marie Smith “There is only one Janet Marie Smith,” said Rob Neyer, a baseball author, analyst and commentator. “She is a devotee of writer Jane Jacobs, who wrote about the life of a city and what it should be for its people. And that’s a big part of what (Smith) does. In some places, they have tried to put these ‘retro-style’ ballparks in the suburbs, but if you don’t do it in a city, it’s not the same.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2986ba4-e00f-45c3-85cd-f5e9b66dce64/37+-+Oriole+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oriole Park at Camden Yards The Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse is adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It was constructed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) beginning in 1899, with later sections completed in 1905. It is purported to be the longest brick building on the East Coast. When Janet Marie Smith and company were making Oriole Park the first “retro modern” ballpark, they tried to figure out a way to incorporate the warehouse into the ballpark experience. It worked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51917315-e657-4dc4-a314-77bbc61ea78a/38+-+United+Center.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Indoor Venues There are facebook groups (such as Ballpark Chasers) with tens of thousands of members who all share the same goal of trying to see a game at every MLB stadium. Those groups don’t really exist for other sports with the same passion as they do for baseball. It’s a challenge to give an indoor venue its own personality, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Here is Brian at the United Center, which has been the basketball home of the Chicago Bulls and the hockey home of the Chicago Blackhawks since 1994. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/405f71a2-9533-4f15-abd8-7e283ea5e3ee/39+-+Wrigley.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Wrigley Field The new trend seems to be teams wanting to own as many properties around their stadium as possible, so they can have restaurants, hotels, bars, and shops as added revenue streams in addition to the money they make from parking, ticket sales, and merchandise and concessions inside the stadium. Teams also want to use their stadiums as many days out of the year as possible, whether that be by hosting sports other than the one normally played in the stadium, concerts, private events, political rallies, or anything else. An empty stadium doesn’t make the owner money, and making money is the true name of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae1d2ae7-f601-4d18-bcfe-6c32f66b5e24/40+-+1930s+grandstand+-+from+Hamtramck+Heritage+Collection.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hamtramck Stadium Historic Hamtramck Stadium was dedicated in 1930 and served as the home of the Detroit Stars and the Detroit Wolves of the Negro Leagues. As many as 17 future Baseball Hall of Famers played there over the years. As one the few remaining Negro League ballparks in the United States, Hamtramck stadium was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Photo courtesy of Hamtramck Heritage Collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97f84bb7-dcb9-406c-80fb-05cc47f53088/41+-+Historic+Structures+Report.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic Structures Report Hamtramck was awarded the African American Civil Rights Grant to complete pre-development planning for Hamtramck Stadium, and in 2018, as part of the planning project, Brian were tasked to complete a Historic Structures Report and create a conceptual vision for the stadium and grounds to serve the community into the future. Read the Historic Structures Report HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ca75c0f-9a2b-4efc-9a74-dbb267909e76/42+-+Historical+Significance+1930s+-+from+Hamtramck+Heritage+Collection.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historical Significance A big part of the HSR is demonstrating a site’s historical significance. Luckily, Hamtramck Stadium has a storied history, with as many as 17 Hall of Famers having played there at some point over the years. Photo courtesy of Hamtramck Heritage Collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bde048b8-6705-4f40-b3f9-bd86b77659a6/43+-+Site+Detailed.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Conceptual Design The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has strict criteria in place so developers can’t come in and just start doing their own thing in a space which is designated as a historic structure. You have to be very sensitive to the historical aspects of the property. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5343098f-bbb5-4149-bcea-6c6cbb9e36af/44+-+2022-08+roof+columns+before+and+after+-+from+Colin+Winterbottom.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Before And After Brian worked closely with Wayne County to rehabilitate the existing grandstand structure, including the roof, wood seating deck, bleachers and steel super structure to its original 1930s look as a part of the centennial celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Negro Leagues in 2020. Photo courtesy of Colin Winterbottom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e83a53ba-bd33-46ec-a13b-c6dcb56b199d/45+-+at+night.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out I visited Hamtramck Stadium on the evening of June 5 and the morning of June 6, 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/178f5292-f57d-4fbc-87e3-b3e0ca6c85e2/46+-+murals.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out The murals everywhere made the stadium feel very much like a community gathering place. Like it was for everyone, not some place you could only go if you paid admission. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea2e31c-1ec2-4c66-82fc-3423dd6b996a/47+-+murals.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Norman “Turkey” Stearnes is one of the (at least) 17 Hall of Famers to have played at Hamtramck over the years. Stearnes was most known for his time with the Detroit Stars, who called Hamtramck home at points during his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c67fa8d-bb88-4c19-aa82-c1df66a8ab3d/48+-+kids.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rewarding Work Brian’s rehabilitation work on Hamtramck was awarded the prestigious Michigan Governor’s Award from the State Historic Preservation Office in 2023, but he said the thing that makes him most emotional about the project is knowing that kids and the community can use that field for generations to come, when it had been derelict for decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0833292-c6e8-4d83-9f9b-1ab3838d9d54/49+-+Bandbox+Ballparks.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bandbox Ballparks In 2019, Brian formed Bandbox Ballparks to share his specialized research of our sports architectural heritage, aiming to tell the stories and preserve the architectural legacy of sports venues today to be enjoyed by generations of tomorrow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/794e6176-4137-40c2-abd1-9e7f50dfeed9/50+-+ink+on+vellum.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ink On Vellum When Brian first started working as an architect, the tools of the trade were still ink on vellum with a parallel bar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ac4065e-7348-48f2-9550-32001b498343/51+-+AutoCAD.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - AutoCAD After vellum, things progressed to AutoCAD. Researched drawings, photos, and sketches help to develop full CAD drawings of the entire ballpark. The level of detail meets Historic American Building Survey standards. It would have been hard to imagine how far the technology has come in just three decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/445bb529-189b-4337-82f5-9bb8d4a0c026/51+-+Details.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Building Information Modeling In the mid-2000s, there was a large leap in Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle, from earliest conception to demolition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24aa8238-97d1-4e02-bee6-a3abef2c0b8a/53+-+HABS+standards.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - HABS Standards The old Comiskey Park Revit model allows generation of high-quality drawings to Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) standards, which means Brian could submit these drawings to the Library Of Congress for inclusion to preserve them. This section of Comiskey Park is cut through the RF Pavilion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f4f654-ca45-4cb2-9109-975ae0efb547/52+-+shoe+shine.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shoe Shine The fusion point of all smells at old Comiskey Park. Brats, beer, cigarettes and shoe polish swirled together with a light draft of infield grass from the 3rd base entry portal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d1fca57-782d-4bb3-bf6f-abf7ecd09652/55+-+amass+a+collection.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Why Comiskey? Brian’s visit to Comiskey Park in March of 1991. There was still one season left to play, but its days were numbered. Thus began a 28-year odyssey for Brian to preserve the park as he amassed a large collection of photos, drawings, books, and maps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eeb9349b-ef76-45ec-9d97-34cb5ea73986/56+-+Frank+Osborn.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Osborn Engineering Osborn Engineering is an architectural and engineering firm based in Cleveland. Founded in 1892, it is noted mostly for designing sports stadiums. More than 100 stadiums have been designed by Osborn, including Fenway Park, the original Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium, and numerous minor league, collegiate, and major league sports facilities in all sports. Frank Osborn is pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f59451ba-25c0-407f-9476-8b63503e1468/57+-+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Osborn Blueprints Brian is lucky enough to have a complete set of Osborn Engineering blueprints from Cleveland’s League Park in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf2bd0e0-eb79-46ac-80ab-612e2c89528f/58+-+Ticket+Office.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Ticket Office Brian mentioned that of all of the ballparks he’s done, League Park is the one which still has original components you can go visit. The original ticket office at the corner of 66th and Lexington in the Hough neighborhood is still standing, and houses the Baseball Heritage Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8508296-910d-4608-8fd4-372e16b43861/59+-+Ticket+Office.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Office Here is Brian’s rendition of what that original ticket office looked like at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64752e18-ae9f-4315-bded-74560cd0fe68/60+-+Tunnel+Steps+03.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Player Tunnel These steps were originally between the home and away clubhouses and took the players through a tunnel under the grandstand so they could get to their respective dugouts. While the tunnel has been filled in for safety reasons, the steps are still there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f17bf34-b4f1-4ffe-ba27-25580e09db04/61+-+Tunnel+Steps+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Steps Here is Brian’s rendition of what those steps looked like at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ca1b040-e483-41b0-8326-f9dcb049a1f8/62+-+Hough+Neighborhood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hough Neighborhood Brian wonders what the Hough neighborhood may have looked like when League Park was in its hey day. While there aren’t too many pictures from that era, we do have the Hopkins Plat Book Of Cleveland map from 1912 which shows us what businesses and homes surrounded the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45493cad-4ef7-4844-b429-ffe24d936966/63+-+Hough+Neighborhood+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Version Brian made the Hough neighborhood come to life a little bit more with his rendition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/618da05e-ff5e-4eeb-91c4-6a93f590e0f0/64+-+League+Park+1910+Postcard.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Blueprints Or Bust While photographs and images like the one seen on this 1910 postcard of League Park may be helpful to color the ballpark (literally and figuratively) once the model is made, there would be no way for Brian to accurately make a model without a full set of the actual blueprints. There is no guessing in Brian’s work. Every inch is exactly as it would have been originally constructed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53eb56b8-926d-4afb-91cf-e3a200f49212/65+-+Specific+Entrances+05.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specific Entrances League Park was unique in that there were specific entrances for each section, so depending on where your ticket was for, that’s how you entered the ballpark initially. You couldn’t go through the wrong turnstile because the ticket taker at that turnstile would see you didn’t have a ticket for that section. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/678948e5-fe70-4a6f-abc5-57c2c41eed82/66+-+Specific+Entrances+07.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specific Pathways Then, once you were inside the stadium, the only place you could go was to your section because there were fences and guided rails and pathways which led you only to where you were supposed to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee4ec696-80b6-4527-bebd-11371ab6d5ad/67+-+Colosseum.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Colosseum The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome in Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age. Some experts estimate that it took only 15 minutes for more than 50,000 spectators to empty the Colosseum. The vast corridors, or vomitorium, allowed for quick flow of the traffic, and crowds spilled out in a matter of minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1cd9dd3-a0ab-413e-9515-44ac66c5ebab/68+-+Huntington+Avenue+Grounds.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Huntington Avenue Grounds Longtime listeners of My Baseball History may remember us mentioning the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston during our episode with William Peebles, owner of Huntington Base Ball Co., who hand makes base balls and all sorts of other great pieces. You can listen to that episode HERE, where we discuss the history of the ball used to play the sport, and how they have been made throughout time. The Grounds was the first home field for the Boston Red Sox from 1901 to 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/876bd5f3-9db4-4fe2-a75b-b572569e39e6/69+-+Columbia+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Columbia Park Columbia Park in Philadelphia was home to the Athletics from 1901 through 1908. The team felt by the middle of 1902 that they had already outgrown the park, and nearly immediately started looking for a new location where they could build. It wasn’t until 1909 when Shibe Park opened and the team moved. Listen to our episode with Alex Cheremeteff on the history of the Philadelphia Athletics HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b696bf2d-2bfc-43b0-b245-33c2993173a9/70+-+Crosley+Field.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Harry Hake Harry Hake Sr. (1871 - 1955) was a prominent American architect in Cincinnati at the turn of the 20th century. His son Harry Hake Jr. and grandson Harry Hake III were also prominent architects and partners in his firm. The Hake family were the architects responsible for Crosley Field and all of its remodels and renovations over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ffa0f9eb-83cb-4f0d-8cc8-bbc968810b0e/71+-+Sacred+Ground.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Sacred Ground Exhibit The Sacred Ground exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown celebrated the special connection people feel in their favorite ballpark. The exhibit used sights, sounds, and even smells to remind fans of their favorite ballparks. It featured more than 200 artifacts and interactive displays spanning 125 years of baseball history and culture, and took up 1,800 square feet on the museum’s third floor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb12ce98-38c7-4c10-98db-8f6f73524c15/72+-+Sacred+Ground.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Lenny DiFranza Lenny DiFranza was the Assistant Curator of New Media at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum when Brian learned the Hall had acquired some original blueprints of Old Comiskey Park from 1910. Brian and Lenny struck a deal that each party would share what they have with the other, so both Brian and the HOF had full sets of Comiskey’s prints. Eventually this led to Brian’s work being part of the Sacred Ground exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9720482-926d-4ae6-b346-e7cb04ea5e73/73+-+BHM.JPG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gaining Credibility As if Brian’s work doesn’t speak for itself, the fact that it has been major parts of exhibits at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park lends Brian even more credibility. Brian’s philosophy is “if you do good work, it will get noticed.” He has definitely been noticed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6db7202f-75dd-49c8-8546-dfc8fbdef1e6/74+-+Shibe+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park Brian would love to be able to digitally recreate Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, but he just can’t find sufficient blueprints to do the job to the standards he holds himself to. If you have any blueprints, or can help Brian find some, please let one of us know. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7fde5ae-45a2-4207-9ca2-765562057559/75+-+Connie+Mack%27s+Office.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Connie Mack’s Office Connie Mack’s “oval office” was in the corner tower of Shibe Park and its domed cupola. This allowed Mr. Mack the ability to have 360 degree views to the exterior of the stadium, and onto the playing field, without leaving his office. “The Tall Tactician” sits at his desk at the ripe old age of 87 in this 1949 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06250595-2351-4b63-b9af-f7664f70c330/76+-+The+Polo+Grounds.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Polo Grounds The other park Brian wants to do but just can’t find sufficient blueprints for is the Polo Grounds in New York. So many quirks, so much history, it would be amazing to see Brian’s interpretation of it. Maybe one day… SABR article on the Polo Grounds by former My Baseball History guest Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c873c857-b3fe-4f82-a1a2-bdd9dafa0bea/77+-+Polo+Grounds.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Perks Of The Job One of Brian’s favorite things now that his work is well known is having people send him interesting photographs of different parts of forgotten stadiums and ballparks. Players used to have to walk all the way across the field at the Polo Grounds and up a staircase in deep center field to get to their clubhouse. Imagine a stadium getting built like that today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ee4fb63-c189-42ad-8dab-72c685719167/78+-+Dodger+Blue+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Visually Accurate Not just in the placement of features, but with their colors, as well. It took Brian a couple different attempts to get the color of the seats at Ebbets Field to show up as the perfect shade of blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a0b658e-e224-4e7f-9acc-042b03003430/79+-+Specification.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Specification Sometimes Brian gets lucky and can find the specification of a ballpark’s finish schedule, which is a companion to the blueprints which sometimes describes the colors of seats, railings, lockers, and other features of the ballpark. He has this one of Cleveland’s League Park from August of 1909, prepared by the Osborn Engineering Company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12f54067-35f9-4338-a5ce-4344f9819a34/80+-+Historic+Photos.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historic Photos Historic photos like this one of Kid Gleason at Comiskey Park in 1919 are great in showing where seats and railings and other architectural details were exactly placed, but if a photo is in black and white, it can only help Brian so much. From there, he needs to do the research to find out what color those seats were, what color those railings were, etc. Kid Gleason’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/399bcc25-e0d5-4834-acd8-9feee44884cd/81+-+League+Park+seat.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Historical Accuracy Sometimes the easiest way to make sure you’re getting the colors right is to simply find an artifact which has survived in its original condition. Luckily for Brian, the Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park has a handful of different seats from throughout the stadium, all painted their original colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f1d8529-b690-4a5f-b75e-676a4898dbc4/82+-+Comiskey+Park+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Seats Tell A Story Sometimes, if Brian gets lucky, he’ll find a seat from a stadium with multiple layers of paint on it. Some seats from Comiskey Park, for example, have three different colors of paint on them from throughout the years, as they were originally painted red, then covered in sky blue paint (seen here), and finally finished with green paint on top of that. Those little details tell the story of a ballpark, and bridge the gap from era to era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40536a86-53ad-43a5-9e77-92ca74f48750/83+-+Seats.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seat Study Brian painstakingly diagrammed the seats from Comiskey Park so when it came time to input the dimensions into his program, everything would be exactly as it would have appeared in real life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d99f958-f5dd-46e4-ad39-8b57d93ca4b2/84+-+Section+40+Row+A+Seat+22+ticket.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Look Up Brian can often tell just based on the size and shape of a seat where in the ballpark it would have been. But another cool way he can use his models is by looking up exact seat locations based on ticket stubs. Like this one, for example, from Section 40, Row A, Seat 22 at Ebbets Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6558d74-c6b3-495f-8264-8607dfe41e60/85+-+Section+40+Row+A+Seat+22.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Section 40, Row A, Seat 22 With his model, Brian can find that exact seat in Ebbets Field, and show you what your view from that seat would have looked like if you were really sitting there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc907367-b18c-4d25-bc68-afdc4946c1de/86+-+American+Seating+Company.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - American Seating Company Not all blueprints show the exact designs of the seats in the stadium, or the exact locations of those seats within each section. But Harry Hake’s Crosley Field blueprints gave lots of great details of the seats from American Seating Company which were to be installed at the home of the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17fff539-febc-4bfe-8055-b8e13c09542a/87+-+Crosley+seat.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Casting Diagrams The casting diagrams for the seats at Crosley Field showed the metal “C” on the seat stanchions on the side of some of the seats, which then made it easier for Brian to recreate those details in his model, since he knew exactly what they were supposed to look like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98835406-9f97-4d76-83a6-2eedd0e7f2a3/88+-+1925+Yankee+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - 1925 at Yankee Stadium This photograph shows the 1925 Opening Day ceremonies taking place at Yankee Stadium. Had you not known that, with enough research, you might have been able to narrow it down to come to that same conclusion based on clues like outfield wall advertisements, the size of the crowd, the fact that there is a marching band on the field, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76eabe58-11b7-472c-ba6f-08a0bb2ffdd2/89+-+Bedford+Avenue+Behind+the+RF+Wall+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Botany Tie Signs Behind the right field wall at Ebbets Field, running along Bedford Avenue, there were a series of advertisements for Botany Ties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3fbd832-3df5-4685-8497-69d3adc941e3/90+-+Botany+Man+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Not Good Enough While Brian was able to find actual photographs of the Botany Tie advertisement of the man around the corner on Montgomery, none of the photos were clear enough, or showed enough of the image for him to be able to accurately recreate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87ee9496-130e-4424-9ead-fd25f3eddb29/91+-+Botany+Man+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Lucky Find Searching eBay late one night, Brian found a slide of a very similar Botany billboard which was originally on the side of the road in Ohio. Brian bought the slide, and when it came in, he scanned it in, cleaned it up in photoshop, and was able to accurately recreate the ad for his model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad47ba87-84f0-4ff4-b6eb-47929b3ebbcb/92+-+Botany+Man+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Finished Product Here is what all that hard work ended up looking like. If you want everything you do to be perfectly accurate, those are the lengths you need to go to sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26183ad8-30b0-4b2c-b616-da17783582f7/93+-+CF+scoreboard+and+the+iconic+pinwheels.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - 1990 Brian decided to recreate what Comiskey Park looked like during its final year in 1990 for his project, thinking it would resonate most with fans who were actually alive to have seen it that year. Had he chosen its first year (1910), the audience participation may not have been as impassioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf01e97c-1603-45a7-a1fc-fe5259fe62f7/94+-+Zachary+Taylor+Davis.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Zachary Taylor Davis There was an attempt by architect Zachary Taylor Davis to convince Charles Comiskey to allow him to build a cantilevered grandstand, free of posts. Such a design would have been a pioneer among ball parks, but upon discovering that cantilevering could add as much as $350,000 to the cost of the park, nearly doubling its initial proposed price, Comiskey vetoed the idea, and ordered the architects to proceed with a conventional design of vertical steel beam supports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5151501-9743-426a-9b10-5d2637fdccc1/95+-+focal+point.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out While cantilevering, architects need to be cognizant of the focal point, making sure the upper decks don’t overhang the lower decks too much, and also aren’t pushed too far back. Comiskey Park had a chance to be the first cantilevered stadium, but Charles Comiskey balked at the price to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7723023-6aea-40a9-9e35-792419f70696/96+-+Hough+Neighborhood+04.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out League Park’s decks were basically stacked right on top of each other, as you can see here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12b451ce-3594-4d1f-86b3-232afced129b/97+-+Big+Ed+Walsh.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Big Ed Walsh It's been said that the outfield at Comiskey Park was so huge because Big Ed Walsh, the White Sox leading pitcher at the time (pictured here with Addie Joss), accompanied architect Karl Vitzthum to Cleveland, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh to check out their ballparks in preparation of drawing the plans for Comiskey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbdf0c76-3246-4058-97fc-a65f397fe4fa/98+-+1910.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey’s Dimensions in 1910 The claim is that Walsh was responsible for suggesting deep fences and cavernous power alleys to make it a more friendly park for him to pitch in. Whether that’s true or not, take a look at these dimensions and tell me it’s not a park you’d want to pitch in… Big Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1facc21e-1bb4-42e6-addd-fd465b7a2579/99+-+Yankee+Stadium+1923.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Yankee Stadium’s Dimensions in 1923 It has also been suggested that one of the reasons Old Yankee Stadium was called “The House That Ruth Built” was because the Yankees purposely created a short porch in right field, knowing that for the next decade, the left-handed Babe was going to be pulling baseballs to right, and obviously the team wanted to turn as many of those fly balls into home runs as possible. Here are the stadium’s dimensions in its first year, 1923. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/460ca669-57ba-410d-9d34-6ad9905d78db/100+-+Veeck+fence.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Moving The Fence This photo from April 26, 1947 shows the groundskeepers moving the outfield fence at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The outfield dimensions at Municipal Stadium were deep, with center field being 470’ from home. Always looking for an edge, owner Bill Veeck would have the fences moved sometimes as much as 15 feet in or out, depending on who Cleveland was playing, before the American League put a stop to that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9737d32d-3569-4114-b341-e731693872ea/101+-+Comiskey+Construction.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Construction Comiskey Park was built in 1910 for $750,000. In today’s dollars, that is less than $25 million. Architect Zachary Taylor Davis submitted his first design to Charles Comiskey on October 6, 1909. Less than 9 months later, on July 1, 1910, the White Sox played their first game there, in front of 32,000 fans. But let’s also not forget that 4 of those 9 months were winter in Chicago! They didn’t actually break ground until February 15. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb87512a-4b10-4ebe-b18c-67ae7a72c442/102+-+Globe+Life+Field.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Globe Life Field Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers, opened in 2020 and cost $1.2 billion to build. That’s 48 times more expensive than Comiskey. But not only that, it took YEARS of planning and construction to actually build Globe Life. Construction alone took 31 months, with more than 11,000 people working on the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa0836c6-bc53-41ff-9c6e-a7ae2f5f1b17/103+-+1953-01-17+Cleveland+Plain+Dealer+-+League+Park+under++Snow+during+construction+in+1910.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park Construction This photo, which appeared in the January 17, 1953 issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, shows League Park under a foot of snow during construction in 1910. But considering they didn’t start construction until the 1909 season was over, and Cleveland was playing their home games here by April of 1910, sometimes you’re going to have to deal with some snow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/743457ec-429c-4a15-97f6-3e451331e800/104+-+Ready+for+night+baseball.+The+8+light+towers+installed.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Night Baseball At Comiskey While Comiskey had done temporary lights on August 27, 1910 as an experiment, it wasn’t until August 14, 1939 that night baseball became a permanent feasibility at the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35f36587-3dec-4f43-b827-26af618d8994/105+-+white+wash.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Veeck’s Big Changes Bill Veeck bought majority interest in the White Sox in 1959 and started making lots of changes to Comiskey Park. He painted the red brick façade white Put a picnic area in left field Installed the first electric scoreboard behind the center field bleachers Installed an exploding scoreboard that had fireworks, aerial bombs, and numerous sounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e589ac-d662-43b9-b800-9f6565721a38/106+-+Brick+Work+at+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Look at this beautiful brick work at League park. Wouldn’t it be such a shame to paint this and lose the nuance? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67b506a5-46d0-4abe-9646-b3950c81ecfc/107+-+Details.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brick Details I mean, come on! This is exquisite. League Park must have truly been something special in its day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa20df88-3eb2-4963-86dd-3bba1656f074/108+-+White+Washedd.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Whitewashed League Park was whitewashed, too. This photo taken by the legendary Bob Busser shows the ticket office at the corner of 66th and Lexington painted white. Luckily, during the renovations, the paint was removed and the bricks were restored to their original colors. Check out more of Bob’s photography from League Park HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6676bbf-15d7-4eac-b591-b29556fcf5d9/109+-+Better.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Bricks Doesn’t this just look so much better? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f577d3c7-a3aa-4321-82e4-7b0724416d93/110+-+architectural+styles.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Architectural Styles Comiskey Park is often referred to as Prairie Style architecture, which was popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Zachary Taylor Davis designed Comiskey Park, but was prolific in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/467e8fb2-ddd6-4add-8a2f-659a65b17894/111+-+picnic+area.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Picnic Area Bill Veeck installed this picnic area under the left field stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fb259d5-07c6-47d8-85a8-1f350dd1d7f0/112+-+best+seat+in+the+house.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Best seat in the house? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3621f257-e7be-4fe2-ab69-eeb5a2434a1f/113+-+Outfield+Corner+Seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Far Into The Left Field Corner Notice how these seats never rotate toward the field. If you sat here, you would have to wrench your back or your neck for three hours to be able to see the game. Not my idea of a good time, but at least you’re covered from the elements should the weather get bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c36fc75b-ec5a-47a1-a84d-3973f3148018/114+-+Groundskeepers+Residence.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Groundskeeper’s Residence This is directly from the Comiskey Park blueprints, showing the dimensions and layout of the residence built in the stadium specifically for the groundskeeper to live. This is one of those things that you’d never think of, but the more you consider it, the more sense it makes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48e0640c-e685-4741-8229-92eaaeaff8d6/115+-+Van+Buskirk.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clarence Randall Van Buskirk Clarence Van Buskirk went to college at New York University and became both an engineer and an architect. He was well liked and established in Brooklyn’s social set, so it came as no surprise that he got a job with the City of Brooklyn in 1895 as an assistant engineer in the City Works Department. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6bffda31-37d7-4a57-9388-44230e2265f3/116+-+Baker+Bowl.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Baker Bowl National League Park, commonly referred to as the Baker Bowl after 1923, was home to the Philadelphia Phillies from 1887 until 1938, and the first home field of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933 to 1935. It opened in 1887 with a capacity of 12,500. It burned down in 1894 and was rebuilt in 1895 as the first ballpark constructed primarily of steel and brick and with a cantilevered upper deck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfd4d469-c396-4b07-82a8-1801eb2b6bea/117+-+Hotel+Sinton.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hotel Sinton Hotel Sinton, on the southeast corner of 4th & Vine, was once Cincinnati's premier hotel. It was completed in 1907 just one day shy of the fourth anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Pike's Building which previously stood at that spot. Despite concerns from locals that the location, itself, may be bad luck (the building before the Pike burned down, too), Hotel Sinton opened with great fanfare. It was also the hotel where the Chicago White Sox players and owner, Charles Comiskey, stayed while in Cincinnati for the 1919 World Series, and where gamblers met with seven members of the White Sox to "fix" that World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ca40358-c93b-414e-be62-cdba3b1b7c00/118+-+Iroquois+Theater.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Iroquois Theater The Iroquois Theatre fire was a catastrophic fire in Chicago that broke out on December 30, 1903, during a performance attended by 1,700 people. The fire caused 602 deaths and 250 non-fatal injuries. It ranks as the worst theater fire in the United States, surpassing the carnage of the Brooklyn Theatre fire of 1876, which claimed at least 278 lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6387d5a1-d70e-4a30-98d2-d6c617cf4ed4/119+-+LF+Pavillion%2C+Bleachers.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Vertically Aligned The front edges of the upper and lower decks of League Park were vertically aligned, bringing the up-front rows in the upper deck closer to the action, but those in back couldn’t see much of foul territory. The new park seated over 18,000 people, more than double the seating capacity of its wooden predecessor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bab65a9-fe1a-409e-9f3e-69423e2864b6/120+-+Frank+Meade.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Frank Meade Frank Meade was a prominent architect active in Cleveland from 1895 until the 1930s who designed more than 800 homes in historical revival styles, many of them in partnership with James M. Hamilton. Throughout his career, no matter the makeup of the firm, Meade was known as the architect of some of the city's finest residential projects built in the early 20th century, including numerous residences in the Euclid Heights development and Shaker Heights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0aba0dd-0bfb-45ce-9dba-fca010d1ce89/121+-+Hough+Neighborhood+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hough Neighborhood The buildings which already stood surrounding the property where League Park was rebuilt informed how the park could be rebuilt. Those buildings weren’t going anywhere, and the park was bound by the streets, as well, so the footprint was set. That’s what makes League Park a “bandbox ballpark.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de090204-be6d-44be-ac91-f5ce08581e79/122+-+Fenway+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Fenway Park There are examples of parks whose dimensions were forced onto them thanks to the plots of land upon which they were built. Everyone knows about the Green Monster in Fenway Park, but not everyone really understands that it's there because Lansdowne Street runs directly behind the wall and that the Red Sox just didn't have any more land available to them to make left field deeper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49210791-fadf-4fd8-93b2-7ca1c9f5f381/123+-+Hough+Neighborhood+03.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Bandbox Ballpark The same thing that happened at Fenway also happened with League Park, just flipped, with Lexington Avenue forcing a short distance to right field. With only 290 feet from home plate to the right field foul pole, the only way to make it tough to hit home runs there would be to make the right field fence very tall. So that’s what Cleveland did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/edd946e4-e807-4267-966d-ea3a36e7c105/124+-+RF+Fence.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Not only was the right field fence at League Park tall, making it hard for hitters to conquer, but it was also very difficult for outfielders to play, since unpredictable caroms and wild bounces were almost a sure thing due to its irregular face. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7fb666d0-a7ca-4f8c-b663-b332b032ea93/125+-+Triples.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Place Where Triples Go To Die Shoeless Joe Jackson got one of his other famous nicknames playing right field at League Park. While most right fielders had lots of difficulty anticipating where batted balls would wind up due to the fence, Joe seemed to have it figured out. His incredible speed paired with his cannon for an arm helped him hold most players to singles and doubles when they hit the ball to right, rarely allowing triples. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/205cd587-c2b1-4721-95a7-73649aa80b67/126+-+Prints.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f0f8da2-5936-4329-9a5e-1ab7ccfc9693/127+-+Intuit+Dome.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Intuit Dome The Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California has over 1,400 toilets and urinals, which is three times more than the average NBA arena. The bathrooms are part of the arena's design to reduce lines and keep fans engaged in the game. Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is behind the extra bathrooms. Ballmer is a former Microsoft CEO who spent $2 billion building the arena. He's been known to brag about the bathrooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f3afb4a-b253-48db-8ea4-9042fb65ff52/128+-+Bathroom.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Unique Discovery Brian discovered that old League Park possibly had the only men's room in MLB history where you were able to watch the game while physically using the restroom. What he calls “the sky toilet.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e836c63d-94ef-484d-a488-e50b8f0d61fb/129+-+Toilet.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Location, Location, Location By placing the toilet here, with a window facing the field, men could use the urinal without missing a single pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1678cd7e-8ca1-478f-b3bf-e74896e742b5/130+-+View+from+the+Toilet.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - What A View I can think of worse places to put a bathroom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb840c2-663e-45ca-9247-56c80721ab80/131+-+Stairs%2C+Not+Ramps+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairs, Not Ramps Since the footprint of the stadium was so small, really the only way to get fans from the ground level to the upper levels was through vertical stairs. League Park didn’t have the complex ramp structures that most other parks had. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3b50b2a-f17d-4cb2-ba4d-3cfd3a8fd213/132+-+Dumbwaiter.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Dumbwaiter Looking around the upper deck concourse at League Park, including the 44' dumbwaiter shaft structure that moved refreshments between the lower and upper concession stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d383a07-0706-49e2-8131-baadf6eae4e9/133+-+Best+Seat.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seat In The House Many box seats in League Park had direct views into the dugouts. Great for hecklers who sat next to visitors dugout on the third base side. This is the result of the stands being expanded inward toward the field. The boxes between the dugouts were actually four rows of 4" risers, with the front row being level with the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b95da528-1a21-4e6f-b000-889eb12cf1f5/134+-+Field+Layout.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Process Brian starts with the site, the diamond, and the grounds around it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79c18e09-739f-47a5-a158-4b4fa0f58e78/135+-+Site+Layout.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Next Step Then, Brian identifies the structural plan, the layout plan, as it relates to the diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5c7c25d-5b8c-4c3c-9eec-9d7a525d0dfb/136+-+Stairs%2C+Not+Ramps+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Super Structure Next, Brian needs to build the part that will support the rest of the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bea68627-28bd-4438-b4db-ec1c3bcd5cb1/137+-+Overall+Seating+Bowl.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Seating Bowl The fans are going to need somewhere to sit while they watch games in this stadium, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c16407e4-fd35-4cfc-bc18-82f50090764f/138+-+Lexington+Avenue%2C+RF+Pavillion.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Exterior Envelope and Enclosure It’s really starting to look like a finished ballpark at this point, but there’s still some work to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6dcabef2-9454-42d8-9681-e213ecf100ee/139+-+Concessions.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Finishing Touches The last piece of the puzzle is finishing off the concession stands, toilets, and other details around the inside of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/116551ae-1d05-487a-90ef-f96159a6d971/140+-+Neighborhood+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Neighborhood As Brian completes more ballparks, he is starting to focus on the neighborhoods in which these parks live, adding even more details surrounding the parks than he had in his previous projects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d18cb216-b938-4608-b0a1-e6ae36c5fa78/141+-+Crosley.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field These two postcards of Crosley Field show the stark transformation of the neighborhood surrounding the ballpark in just a couple decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ac3e087-0b4f-4b7d-9212-73c883a834e1/142+-+SABR+meeting.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - SABR Meeting On June 29, 2024, Brian spoke at League Park in Cleveland during a SABR meeting for the Jack Graney Chapter. Brian has been partnering with the Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland to develop an interactive exhibition of League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3e09aab-2144-4e97-96a3-a3415cfd0194/143+-+Hough.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rough Neighborhood For a number of years, the Hough neighborhood where League Park sits went through hardships. This photo, taken by the legendary Bob Busser, shows the condition the park was in just a couple decades ago. Luckily, the city of Cleveland put in the money to save it and renovate it into the beautiful park it is today. Check out more of Bob Busser’s photography of League Park HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3b50ecc3-bf36-4d02-b211-8e997c4b94a3/144+-+inside.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bob Busser Photography This is another amazing (yet sad) photo by Bob Busser of the interior of League Park. This is similar to what Brian saw on his trip to Cleveland in the 1990s; a ballpark in utter disrepair. Bob Busser has shot thousands of photos of venues all over the world. To see more, visit his website HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/511c4202-7e0b-464f-8fce-a59f1f9cb4b9/145+-+Vintage+Game.jpeg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Playing On The Field On July 26, 2024, I rented the field at League Park and hosted an 1860s style vintage base ball game there. To play on the same field as all of the game’s greats was a truly incredible experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/598cd415-d61a-4411-89ee-16fd93398043/146+-+Happenstance.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Happenstance Brian paid a visit to Cleveland’s historic League Park on the afternoon of May 1, 2021. He just so happened to be there at 3:45pm, exactly 130 years to the minute after the Cleveland Spiders’ Cy Young threw out the inaugural first pitch at what was then a brand new park. This is the photo he took that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85f466d3-3746-4d1d-b932-9fc56f5b55c3/147+-+Palace+of+the+Fans.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Palace Of The Fans The Reds played at The Palace of the Fans from 1902 through 1911. The distinct and ornate ballpark had a seating capacity of 12,000. In addition to the main grandstand that had been constructed prior to the start of the season, part of the previous League Park that had not been destroyed by fire remained standing and was used as seating in right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb6ca838-4e55-4ef0-a126-399a15a212a8/148+-+Crosley.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field The Reds moved into a new park for the 1912 season. It was originally known as Redland Field, but was renamed Crosley Field in 1934. The team played there until June of 1970. Redland Field was the third steel-and-concrete stadium in the National League. It had a double-deck grandstand around the diamond. Beyond first and third base were single-deck covered pavilions which extended to the corners, with bleachers in the right field area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67d7926f-b2f7-40dd-83b7-51b9e171db72/149+-+Boomerang.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Old Boomerang The unusual angle of the covered areas down the lines and behind home plate gave that area a distinctive "V" shape, giving rise to one of several nicknames the park had, "The Old Boomerang." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a4a25e7-95e3-45cd-ba79-c8994db88557/150+-+Hill.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Berm For some, it was an endearing ballpark quirk. For the Reds, it could be a home-field advantage. "Crosley Field was a tough place for outfielders to play," outfielder and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson told MLB.com in 2015. "You couldn't just run up the terrace, you had to climb it. And if there was a ball over your head, you could never climb it fast enough to make a play against the wall." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66a61922-c1da-4a44-92c6-6dee2fd5904b/151+-+Outfield+Berm+Profile.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Outfield Berm Profile At some point in the early 1960s, the Reds asked Harry Hake, the architect of Crosley Field, if they could remove the berm from the outfield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2694aebb-10b8-4cdc-a211-03675cd3a419/152+-+Right+field+bleacher+structure.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - No Can Do Unfortunately, the berm was acting as structural support for the wall at that point, and removing it could cause the entire wall and the street on the opposite side of it to collapse. The berm was helping to retain the vertical concrete wall, which was at some points 5 or 6 feet above the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8d747c1-9a2a-4610-8078-242d64d747e3/153+-+Center+field+scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Outfield Walls While Crosley Field may not have had the same number of extensions from its outfield walls as League Park in Cleveland had, the weird angles and horizontal protuberance still made it a difficult outfield to defend. Oh yeah, and the berm didn’t help, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b10234c-da4f-4600-a287-d3e4e21b5ae0/154+-+Findlay.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - In A Ravine The distinctive brick wall (standing 40'-8") in the right field corner of Crosley Field was a presence from inside the park while welcoming fans at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue. However, when walking on Findlay, you were actually 16 feet above the level of the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b23503e-93be-4bcb-a51e-e3d642205c3b/155+-+box+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Box Seats The "Center Box" seats were the seats that infilled the area directly behind the backstop at old Crosley Field. When added in 1946, the distance from home plate to the backstop was reduced from the lengthy 96 feet down to 78 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc6723c9-3b02-470e-98b4-a70e920dcee4/155+-+dugout.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Dugouts The dugouts at Crosley Field didn’t offer much in terms of relief from the Cincinnati heat and humidity, so players would sneak into the old 1912 dugouts which were still there, and were basically vaults, buried under the box seats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f38f2acb-9126-4288-aff4-f7357b8ee35c/157+-+entrance.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Entrances Most fans entered Crosley Field through the main office building on Findlay Street or at the right field pavilion. The bleacher area had a separate entrance off Western Avenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61577051-1cd7-4d92-8f05-01501cdf645a/158+-+Rickwood.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out This aerial view of Rickwood Field shows the ballpark configuration by the end of the 1920s. While there were covered stands, the segregated bleachers section in deep right field where Black fans were forced to sit was purposely left uncovered, leaving them exposed to the sweltering Birmingham sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1e83803-bbe4-4496-b9b3-f554057fd2b4/158+-+segregation.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Segregation Stories have long been told of ballparks having separate entrances, separate seating areas, and separate restrooms for white fans and Black fans. But to see “Colored Men’s Toilet” and “Colored Women’s Toilet” on the actual blueprints to a stadium truly drives the point home that this treatment wasn’t just how people acted toward one another. It was by design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5eff8b8a-7a3f-4ce5-86c3-668454b70ff4/159+-+Capacity.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Capacity Crosley Field was usually among the smallest parks in the majors. It accommodated only 25,000 fans in 1912. Even at its peak, it barely exceeded 30,000 seats, excluding temporary seating areas created for opening day and World Series games. Contributing to this was the fact that there were no bleachers in left or center fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02287bd3-fe9c-4c69-ab2c-1916280b8b5e/160+-+Lights.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Let There Be Light The Reds became the first team to play a night game when they turned on the lights against the Phillies on May 24, 1935. Night baseball was one of the largest milestones in ballpark design for revenue, media and operations. SABR Games Project article about that game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba794cf1-c004-414d-a11c-0078b8814503/161+-+Brian+Bernardoni.JPG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the official historian of Wrigley Field, and was the guest on Episode 6 of Season 1 of My Baseball History. During our interview, he talked about how Wrigley Field was wired for lights in the early 1940s and was going to be able to play night games, but when World War II called for people to make sacrifices, Mr. Wrigley donated all of the metal that was meant to be used to build the light towers to the war effort. Wrigley Field would have to wait until August of 1988 before the Cubs played their first night game there. Listen to Brian’s full episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f3cd102-5b26-4c65-baa1-e06540fa0bbf/162+-+Polo+Grounds+lights.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Testing The Lights The first night game at the Polo Grounds took place on May 24, 1940 when the Giants defeated the Boston Bees 8-1. Ahead of the game, the new lights needed to be tested to make sure that every spot on the field would be illuminated, and that no players would have lights shining so brightly in their direction that it may blind them from being able to perform. This photo shows the final lighting test ahead of that first night game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9a51f72-fd0b-40d4-a9c9-d951f5379e75/163+-+Lights.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Slightly Angled It may be tough to tell from your seat, but each bulb on the light tower is angled slightly differently from all of the other bulbs, concentrating its specific beam to a very direct 4-square foot part of the field below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9b875da-a758-4c2e-b1ba-fdbe87173360/166+-+TV+Platforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Park TV Platforms The TV platforms at old Comiskey Park were obviously not original to the park since TV hadn’t been invented when Comiskey opened. WGN started telecasting White Sox games with cameras on these platforms in 1948, and the MLB All-Star game was televised for the first time from Comiskey on July 11, 1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a76579c4-aa40-4092-8b9c-dbfa3e3a635b/170+-+TV+Cameras.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - TV Platforms In Action Interview process to be hired as a camera operator: Interviewer: Can you operate a camera? Candidate: Yes, I’m very good at that. Interviewer: Great. Are you afraid of heights?" Candidate: … what? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/786d49b2-d5ef-42a5-9018-b3e18e7b8ab9/169+-+Motorola+ad.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Television This Motorola television ad ran in the April 4, 1948 edition of the Chicago Tribune, selling TVs for $495. That’s the equivalent of nearly $6,500 today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c708ba7-eb3e-4d93-8ebe-b1917074018e/167+-+League+Park+media.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park’s Crow’s Nest League Park had a single "crow's nest" media basket that was perched over the 3rd base line, which also helped the press cover football games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82106328-19ec-4597-9812-a812554d283a/168+-+League+Park.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crow’s Nest In Action Since all of these media areas were added as afterthoughts to the original stadium designs which did not include plans for them, each stadium had to get creative with how they incorporated spaces for writers and broadcasters as the media landscape in America changed. They all look a little disjointed because they are all a little disjointed. No architect from this first generation of ballparks knew it was something that would eventually need to be included. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8b6ceee-a8f7-4e32-8dca-3faa9b199418/173+-+The+Press+Box+That+Never+Was.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Brian found drawings for a press box to be added to League Park for the 1920 World Series. That addition was never built, but Brian has the blueprints as proof that it was at least seriously discussed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab0e3ed8-4702-46fe-ad7a-751a81f7d1f5/164+-+Crosley+press+box.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field Press Box The roof-top press box was added in 1936 at old Crosley Field. Like many early 20th century ballparks, it had to adapt from print, to radio, then television. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/860fb393-a9f9-4a09-96ed-c2dcbfd14c55/165+-+press+box.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rooftop Perch The rooftop perch was home to all writing press and media covering the Cincinnati Reds through 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8da8683b-a950-4d8c-b9da-dbb9b7cdc2aa/171+-+Ebbets.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Press Boxes At Ebbets Field, additional camera decks, photo and press boxes were added along the 1st and 3rd base lines over the years as electronic media grew in popularity in Major League Baseball and around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c9bc8da-d878-483e-b783-c57229e2dad5/172+-+Ebbets+In+Action.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets In Action It’s really evident in this photo how much of an afterthought these press areas were. This box at Ebbets Field is literally just tacked on to the front of the Upper Deck. It worked, but it wasn’t ideal, and it probably wasn’t incredibly comfortable, or safe to enter/exit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd3b1316-45fe-466e-836a-3fdaa0078f2c/174+-+Best+Seats.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seats In The House The caption to this photo reads: “CROSLEY FIELD GROOMED - Next week brings baseball’s opener, and Crosley Field is getting set. Mattie Schwab, groundskeeper, stands behind home plate screen. See that vacant spot? Additional seats will go there.” Those seats are where Brian would want to sit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d75146e7-6318-48f7-abb6-d67fc301b9fc/175+-+Best+Seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1954355-0aa8-43fb-929a-3088ae0f65b5/176+-+Ronnie+Dale.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ronnie Dale Erwin Ronald "Ronnie" Grubb, a Cincinnati native known as "Ronnie Dale," was the Cincinnati Reds organist at Crosley Field. Family members say he was the first organist to lead the crowd in yelling "Charge!" - still heard today at ballparks and arenas everywhere. As legend has it, he was once told by umpire Jocko Conlan to stop playing it, and was thrown out of the game when he persisted. Dale played every home game for the Reds for about 14 years. His position was normally in foul territory above third base in Crosley Field's organ booth, but Brian says he found evidence that at times Dale’s organ was positioned right behind home plate among those “center box” seats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/485c1e23-2816-4c2a-91b1-1ad8e9395dd2/177+-+1965.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Plexiglass Backstop In 1965, a plexiglass backstop was installed behind home plate at Crosley Field, improving visibility for box seat patrons, but making it harder to hear the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4938eb27-d767-483e-8c96-95cf2657dcb7/178+-+Charles+Ebbets.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Charles Ebbets Charles Henry Ebbets, Sr. (October 29, 1859 - April 18, 1925) served as co-owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1897 to 1902 before becoming majority owner of the team. He remained the majority owner until his death in 1925. He also served as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1898 to 1925, and was the namesake of Ebbets Field. Ebbets acquired the property to build the stadium over several years, starting in 1908, by buying lots until he owned the entire block. Construction began on March 4, 1912. The cornerstone, a piece of Connecticut granite that held newspapers, pictures of baseball players, cards, telegrams, and almanacs, was laid on July 6, 1912. Charles Ebbets’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2813b122-7371-4c08-9d37-642232f525c8/179+-+Cornerstone+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce83e0e2-0ca4-4f46-84e8-11858715c80d/180+-+Cornerstone.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cornerstone Clad in a Dodger uniform, five-year-old Mitchell Modell looks at some of the musty papers and records taken from the old cornerstone at Ebbets Field during an auction sale at the old ballpark. Mitchell was among the younger fans on hand for the sale at which bats, balls, bases and other items were offered to nostalgic baseball buffs who used to root for "Dem Bums." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dedfd3b-042f-4dfa-9fc5-e648ac3cce1a/181+-+Cornerstone+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Cornerstone In theory, this was an amazing idea, making the cornerstone a time capsule full of artifacts and autographs and all sorts of things. But it wasn’t sealed properly, so everything inside was destroyed, and when they tried to break it open, the sledgehammer smashed a huge chunk out of it. Other than that, though… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3ae52c7-a1e0-4233-af45-beee9b0dcfa1/182+-+Van+Buskirk.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clarence Randall Van Buskirk Suzanne Spellen wrote an absolutely insane four-piece article about Van Buskirk, the architect of Ebbets Field. It is shocking, to say the least, and is well worth your time. Here are the links to each part: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b667bfa-def1-4fac-92e4-c1762742a761/183+-+Rotunda.JPG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Rotunda Ebbets Field essentially had a lobby known as the rotunda. While very few pictures of the entrance have survived, it was a common meeting place for friends and family who were going to see the Dodgers play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e312c3ca-f645-4336-98cf-c9a28788c088/184+-+Seat+Installation+Lower+Deck+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stacked Decks Much like many of the other ballparks we’ve talked about, the decks at Ebbets Field were basically stacked directly on top of one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/efeb55c5-ff08-4588-b04d-c85abb07e6c0/185+-+clubhouse.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - The Clubhouse The clubhouse at Ebbets Field was state-of-the-art. Here, Jackie Robinson speaks with members of the media inside the clubhouse after the Dodgers clinched the pennant by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 30, 1956. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography Photo by John G. Zimmerman / Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9fe66d4b-666a-4696-b412-0ea6b08764a1/186+-+Rotunda.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rotunda Of the very few surviving images of the rotunda to have surfaced, these seem to be the clearest shots. Notice the lights hanging above the window cages and scroll down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f89ebf37-3d01-4650-8287-195bfaad57e3/187+-+light+fixture.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Light Fixtures This is one of the very few surviving original light fixtures from the Ebbets Field rotunda. The globes are supposed to be baseballs, and the arms holding them are shaped like baseball bats. Pretty clever. It’s a shame more didn’t make it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a707eb5b-0f1b-4b30-96b8-fade51d034c8/195+-+Dodgers+vs.+Giants.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Attention To Detail It wasn’t just in the rotunda where baseballs were used as decorative accents. Check out the outside of the stadium, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9d51bcd-398c-43a5-ae98-69d658c7907b/196+-+Ornamental+Baseballs.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Details In Action You just don’t see this type of attention to detail in stadiums anymore. It’s not about how beautiful the owners can make them; it’s about how much money they can make for the owners. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f909b314-3944-4302-98d3-2adf98a9b6a2/187+-+Marilyn.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Celebrities Ebbets Field certainly was no stranger to having cameras inside of it. From the multiple World Series games, to special events, millions of people passed through the turnstiles over the years to see the athletes and celebrities who graced the field. Here, Marilyn Monroe waves to the Ebbets Field crowd from a convertible car at the ceremonial kick off for a match between a combined Israeli Hapoel team and the American Soccer League Stars on May 12, 1957. More photos from that day HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e9f6876-6cb1-4047-9bd2-1859d621d4ae/189+-+Spiral+Staircase+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Hidden Stairs Just off the rotunda were various staircases for a few privileged personnel. One staircase took you up to the press box. The private spiral stair highlighted in this image allowed office brass to make a quick exit or ticket staff to run their cash up to the counting room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21aa08b4-23b1-4f5c-9a30-55f2e1c98eaa/191+-+Wood+Slatted+Seats+03.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out When the ballpark opened in 1913, the outfield was bounded by bare concrete walls all around, which would soon be covered with advertising. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cace1d12-7d52-4532-9f6f-a2590df99c8e/192+-+Deep+CF+Corner+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ballpark Quirks There was a large door in deep right center field, at the one place where the outfield and the sloping Bedford Avenue were at the same elevation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff19a99d-91db-4d20-86a7-b3320ee2b843/193+-+Deep+CF+Corner.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Quirks In Action If a ball was hit deep into that right center field corner, sometimes it could rattle around and allow a runner to grab an extra base. If the fielder got flustered, sometimes the runner could get two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8893a2d8-7c87-4370-b707-124a3a6dfbec/194+-+circus+seats.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - “Circus Seats” Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the World Series on October 5, 1920. Even though bleachers had been in the outfield all season, during the World Series they were called an "emergency grandstand" to allow the club to charge more. The press referred to these rows of wooden bleachers just inside the left field wall as "circus seats." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f14b643-77fa-44b2-862e-91488cdd7ff9/197+-+Uneven+Seating+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Uneven Seating Since the right field fence was very short due to Lexington Avenue being so close, Osborn had to push the stadium and the seating as close to Linwood Avenue as possible to maximize the distance from home plate to right. Because of this, there are less rows of seats on the third base side than there are on the first base side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1694f49b-95bb-4abb-b8e8-06f34286df5b/198+-+E.+66th+Street+and+Linwood+Avenue.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - East 66th Street and Linwood Avenue This also forced both clubhouses and a lot of the back of house stuff (like offices, ticket booths, etc) to be on the first base side of the stadium, since that is where they could afford the space to build those things. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f40596cb-2b87-416d-9125-afd7c7c96db2/199+-+Stairs+to+Upper+Deck%2C+Home+Plate.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairs Since space was so limited, League Park was forced to use stairs to get fans from level to level, as opposed to more modern ballparks which have the luxury of ramps when they are built on slightly larger plots of land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/526706c4-7c56-439d-91af-dc2026aaa184/200+-+Gladys+Goodding+Organ+Loft+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Press Boxes Not only was Ebbets Field one of the first stadiums to install press boxes, they are also widely considered the first team to employ an organist. But since there were no plans for an organ when the stadium was built, the team needed to give their organist a box, too, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b87fce0b-5186-4ebd-b0f1-54da849fd920/201+-+Gladys+Goodding+Organ+Loft+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Gladys Goodding Gladys Goodding was dubbed “The Ebbets Field Organ Queen” when she started playing for the Dodgers in 1942. She played until the team moved to Los Angeles in 1957 and was widely beloved by the Dodger faithful. I talked a little bit about Gladys Goodding in Episode 1 of Season 4 with Nancy Faust, who played organ for the White Sox for 41 years and is credited with inventing walk-up music. Listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f287e91-99aa-4e00-ab39-883682691747/202+-+T+Brackets.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - T-Brackets Ebbets Field's distinctive "T" shaped brackets adorned the front of the upper deck after the trusses were modified in 1929 to accommodate new upper box seating and press boxes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c0af60-1da8-469c-9a80-f216ae15ece8/203+-+In+Action.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bearing The Weight The extra trusses were added to be able to hold the additional weight of the box seating and press boxes, seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1745836-e1c3-4acd-adb4-968a726c5876/204+-+Auction.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Auction Saul Leisner was assigned to auction off Ebbets Field, both the structure and its contents, on April 20, 1960. Leisner began the auction at 11:15 am by climbing an eight-foot ladder and holding a gavel. Estimates were that over 500 people gathered around the marble rotunda. Locker room stools, benches, team banners, seats, bricks, bats, caps, team photos, balls, and the brownstone cornerstone of the stadium were included in the items for sale. Leisner stated that it was the saddest day of his life, and it was a difficult task for him, as he had been a faithful fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and was heartbroken when the team relocated. Jerry Amalfitano, pictured here, shows his mom and dad one of 20,000 seats being released by Ebbets Field before being demolished. Photo by Leroy Jakob / NY Daily News Archive https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3f26be7-1f5c-419f-b864-41d96985a163/205+-+Box+Seats+Along+1B+Side+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Best Seats In The House Brian thinks sitting near the Dodgers bullpen area down the first base line at Ebbets Field would be a pretty great time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a34b914-af96-4d52-b943-896eb3557c2e/206+-+Scoreboard+03.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Scoreboard The scoreboard at Ebbets Field had a sneaky component to it. If there was a close play in the field, the official scorer would light up either the “H” or the “E” in the “Schaefer” script above the scoreboard to let fans know whether the previous play had been ruled a hit or an error. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fccec4f-6b19-4c4e-9d4d-cb03dfac6e31/208+-+Cottage.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Clubhouse Cottages The baseball "clubhouse" got its name when many early 20th century ballparks had separate structures that housed the team dressing rooms. The visitors' clubhouse at old Crosley Field was a last of its kind in MLB before demolition in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2326e7f-bdb7-481f-9b30-1ce03b2fb95a/207+-+Cottages.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - A Link To The Past The cottages from the Palace Of The Fans actually survived the fire that took out almost all of the rest of that park. They were reused as the visitors clubhouse when Redland Field/Crosley Field opened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3581dc6-2c46-4c59-bf64-10d9563fdef9/209+-+Comerica+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Follow Brian Online Twitter Facebook Instagram The Bandbox Ballparks website YouTube email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/435a6c84-153d-48e1-93df-0e64fc0accc8/210+-+bandbox.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Bandbox Ballparks A “bandbox” is a ballpark whose small dimensions make it easier to hit home runs. Oftentimes those dimensions are forced upon the stadium due to the small amount of land available to build, whether it be because of existing homes and businesses, or streets and railroad tracks. The term is reference to the bandstands and band boxes that were common in small towns at the turn of the century. However, Charles Earle Funk and Charles Earle Funk, Jr. state that the term originally referred to a small wooden box in which collars or "bands" were kept. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f52fb405-096a-4a64-8066-2138060f5a38/211+-+Comiskey.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Personally Significant I have enjoyed each of Brian’s projects, but the fact that his first two (Comiskey Park and League Park) have special significance to my life means those will always hold a special place in my heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e183bfb4-f80b-4780-ba41-8ba275f02c66/212+-+Shibe+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park My mom and I were at the site of Shibe Park together in October of 2020 while on a road trip to record interviews for My Baseball History. While in Philadelphia, we recorded our episode with Alex Cheremeteff on the history of the Philadelphia Athletics. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/efe0776c-9c84-4ea0-85a0-334b148b891f/213+-+Minute+Maid+Park+in+Houston.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - All It Takes Is A Hard Hat And some confidence and you can pretty much get anywhere you want to get in this world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5890f49f-b2d2-453c-b3a6-62c5fd779d9f/214+-+Faner+Hall.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Faner Hall Faner Hall was designed by architecture firm Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham in the Brutalist style. The building on Southern Illinois University’s Carbondale campus is 914 feet long and four stories high. It acts as a "wall" between the old and new sections of campus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/409c3eaf-8f99-49b8-9e08-430d1b368de8/215+-+pelzer.JPG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Feel The Legacy “I could stand there and feel the legacy of what was there before” is the perfect way to sum up why I’ve spent the past two decades traveling around the country trying to visit as many former sites where Shoeless Joe Jackson played as I can. Here I am at the site of the Pelzer Mill ball field in South Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3e4c403-0835-4a70-abfa-e9cce51d148c/216+-+Where+Joe+Stood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Where Joe Stood Today it’s just a parking lot, but in 1919, Shoeless Joe Jackson stood in this exact spot while he was patrolling left field for the Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati’s Redland Field during the World Series. There’s something cool about that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18783961-e19f-42df-97e2-82a8272b30a2/217+-+Last+Comiskey.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Last Comiskey If you haven’t seen Matt Flesch’s amazing documentary on the final season of White Sox baseball at Comiskey Park, click the links below and thank me later. Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/383aafb6-2c0d-4efc-818e-03a2b0fc016b/218+-+stairwell.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Stairwell If you played at League Park, you walked down these steps. Dozens of Hall of Famers, and hundreds of names you know, both in the white Major Leagues, and in the Negro Leagues. True history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4ddf61d-7386-4801-b0ee-8b52745053d4/219+-+batter%27s+box.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Batter’s Box It was a pretty special feeling to stand in the same batter’s box as some of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0c96572-07c7-4f5c-bc97-5bf39bdd5c53/220+-+Tiger+Stadium.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out This is the former site of Tiger Stadium in Detroit. The city has renovated the space and installed a field turf field similar to what the city of Cleveland has done at the site of League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb02206c-ff45-45d4-963c-cee9195de0da/220+-+Specific+Entrances+04.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ticket Prices “Dan, that was in 1946, you can’t expect those prices today!” $1.50 was the price of the most expensive ticket. Today, $1.50 is the equivalent of $24.28. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98705db0-a0c9-48d0-95f2-98e8b2eaaebc/221+-+Triples.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Where Triples Go To Die This mural of one of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s nicknames used to be on a wall in West Greenville, South Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a8ab0d4-ed54-4f68-b0f1-ff596510e300/223+-+Kaline%27s+Corner.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tiger Stadium It’s Kaline’s Corner! Pretty cool to be able to go walk out on that field and know you’re standing exactly where some of the all-time greats of the game once stood. Al Kaline’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90985a89-50a2-4a97-b916-69529fc3dc73/224+-+Huntington.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Wild Dimensions The center field fence at Huntington Avenue Grounds was originally 530 feet, but was later changed to 635 feet. Good luck! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f19f78f7-da29-4909-956e-97a5d0dc3da6/225+-+Tris+Speaker.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Tris Speaker Tris Speaker holds the major league record for turning the most unassisted double plays during a career with six. In the National League, no outfielder has ever had more than two during their career. Speaker’s name is all over the record books when it comes to double plays as an outfielder, unassisted or otherwise. Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90b70720-e7ab-4f4e-a1a0-1e24bb5ae9ab/226+-+Columbia+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Columbia Park While Columbia Park in Philadelphia has been gone for more than a century, the row homes which surrounded the foot print of the park are still standing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d62d076-5387-41d9-9c13-3118576fbd64/227+-+Boxing.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Boxing at Comiskey Park So much more than baseball happened at these old baseball stadiums. From boxing matches (like the Joe Louis fight in 1936 at Comiskey Park pictured here) to political rallies and everything else in between, stadiums were built to be used, not to sit empty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f31123c6-3955-458d-b8d1-62a635d24418/228+-+Camden+Yards.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oriole Park at Camden Yards Absolutely respectful of the history. Babe Ruth was born just a couple blocks away, and the home in which he was born is now a museum. I spoke with the Executive Director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, Shawn Herne, for Episode 3 of Season 2 of My Baseball History. Listen to that episode HERE. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e72012a-2ac0-4344-81e9-f9b727e4771e/229+-+Warehouse.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out The way Janet Marie Smith and the Orioles not only incorporated the warehouse into the ballpark experience, but made it something special, was truly genius. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6282322-c47c-4347-86c9-c88d815af816/230+-+New+Comiskey.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - New Comiskey Park When New Comiskey Park opened, it was covered in the famous colors of Chicago’s south side team: concrete and royal blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52e6db7c-e6b4-4408-83aa-ed66e2438a12/231+-+Comiskey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Old Comiskey Park The real shame of it all is that had this all happened ten years later, we most likely would have been able to find a way to save Old Comiskey from the wrecking ball the same way Fenway Park was saved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de6b8e58-b5a8-4b10-a9e7-fb5d78a35e66/232+-+New+Comiskey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Make it stand out For all the flack New Comiskey (rightfully) got when it opened, it is a genuinely decent ballpark today, thanks to 35 years of beautifying efforts from the White Sox. A better color scheme, more greenery, statues all over the concourse, and great concessions are some of the highlights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd516ea8-cf66-4749-8e19-63af6e811903/233+-+Scoreboard.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Oh Yeah… …and the scoreboard! How could I forget the scoreboard? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ebb578bc-35c3-4e8c-a852-8dc1a60664ae/234+-+Groundskeepers+Residence+location.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Groundskeeper’s Residence Here is where it was located in Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34d305c-df66-4f1f-9ddb-23cbea075419/235+-+Catalina.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Catalina Island Casino The casino was owned by Philip K. Wrigley. Ramps were installed in the casino to quickly get 6,000 people from the third floor ballroom down to the ground floor in case of an emergency. He took inspiration from the ramps at Wrigley Field, which he also owned at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b9b7415-c101-45d7-8905-b4609cde7b8e/236+-+Paul+and+I.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Preserving American History Paul Reiferson is a photography connoisseur who spent decades amassing the most complete Charles Conlon collection ever privately assembled. During out discussion for Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History, Paul spoke of the responsibility he felt to conserve and preserve the photos in his collection because they were important documents, not just collectibles. You can listen to my interview with Paul HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d1cca38-7555-40d1-9f79-e3c9d43fb675/237+-+Brian%27s+office.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Brian’s Office You guys have no idea how cool the contents of that flat file storage are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aca8f667-cbf7-4d32-b6fb-c298c70390fb/238+-+Comiskey+Park+blueprints.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Original Blueprints Here is Brian flipping through the original blueprints to Old Comiskey Park. Unbelievable to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c21662ee-a323-4533-895c-e521558e2014/239+-+Look+at+this.JPEG Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Look At This! It was an incredible experience to not only see those blueprints, but to see them with Brian walking me through them. A day I’ll never forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a48ad23-bec8-42df-bddf-fdfc30c42f53/240+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9a48a77-d798-484b-a53b-9e7e4f87552a/241+-+dvd.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a DVD copy of Matt Flesch’s incredible Last Comiskey documentary? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/691c819c-0c91-4d16-8433-3a0ba24c3086/242+-+Rickwood.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Rickwood Field I think the best book on Rickwood Field is Allen Barra’s Rickwood Field, A Century In America’s Oldest Ballpark. Buy it HERE. There’s also a tough one to find by Ben Cook that’s worth looking for called Good Wood, A Fan’s History of Rickwood Field. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50ccb80c-bae0-4ec5-ba26-fae28d98a808/243+-+Comiskey.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Comiskey Park There have been lots of books written about Old Comiskey Park, but my favorite is the third installment of the McFarland Historic Ballparks series by Floyd Sullivan called Old Comiskey Park, Essays and Memories of the Historic Home Of The Chicago White Sox, 1910-1991. Buy it HERE. Of course, Ken Smoller’s book, Last Comiskey, which is the companion piece to Matt Flesch’s documentary by the same name is worth tracking down, too. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/462a749a-dd3d-46ac-912a-154c10c75036/244+-+League+Park+book.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - League Park The best book written about League Park in Cleveland is by Ken Krsolovic and Bryan Fritz, and it’s called League Park, Historic Home of Cleveland Baseball, 1891-1946. Buy it HERE. Another book called Where Cleveland Played, Sports Shrines From League Park To The Coliseum by Morris Eckhouse and Greg Crouse is well done, and while only about 20 pages of that one are actually about League Park, there are some great old photos that make it worth your time. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/893c467b-28e7-47bf-9d94-13fcde59c176/245+-+Crosley.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Crosley Field In my opinion, the best book about Crosley Field is Cincinnati's Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City by Gregory H. Wolf. Buy it HERE. Cincinnati's Crosley Field: The Illustrated History of a Classic Ballpark by Greg Rhodes and John Erardi is worth checking out, too. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/404040d3-9cc4-4abb-9b79-4328df98fada/246+-+Ebbets.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Ebbets Field Ebbets Field has had so much written about it, it’s almost not fair to narrow it down to just a couple books, but that’s the format I’ve gone with here, so I’ll stick to it. A recent book by the aforementioned Gregory H. Wolf titled Ebbets Field: Great, Historic, and Memorable Games in Brooklyn's Lost Ballpark takes the top spot for me. Buy it HERE. The Greatest Ballpark Ever: Ebbets Field and the Story of the Brooklyn Dodgers by Bob McGee is a close second. Buy that one HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f370c1a-5c23-47c4-8ae7-f5a18ad64dbc/247+-+Shibe.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Shibe Park If you want to learn more about Shibe Park aka Connie Mack Stadium, check out Bruce Kuklick’s To Every Thing A Season, Shibe Park and Urban Philadelphia, 1909-1976. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/679b39f6-768f-4bc6-9435-7093fa9d3b2e/248+-+Forbes.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - McFarland Historic Ballparks The McFarland Historic Ballparks series has books on the following ballparks: Forbes Field - Buy it HERE Ebbets Field - Buy it HERE Old Comiskey Park - Buy it HERE Tiger Stadium - Buy it HERE The Polo Grounds - Buy it HERE Rosenblatt Stadium - Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85d690d8-a496-4c5b-a38a-be3b45136fc9/249+-+Green+Cathedrals.jpg Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Green Cathedrals SABR put out a great reference book called Green Cathedrals, The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks by Philip J. Lowry, and while there isn’t a ton of information on any one individual ballpark, it’s got the names, details, dimensions, tenants, and sometimes photos of more than 400 stadiums, parks, fields, yards, and grounds. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd885bbb-a5ae-4abe-925d-c503a77a11d7/250+-+Take+Me+Out+To+The+Ballpark.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Take Me Out To The Ball Park In 1983, The Sporting News put out a book called Take Me Out To The Ball Park which gave brief histories on 35 different ballparks, with lots of photos, and the famous artwork by Amadee Wohlschlaeger that you’re sure to recognize. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cf06a12-903b-4397-ac5d-4a140203946c/251+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0405 - Brian Powers - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0404 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12716d2b-5da1-4f4f-a478-f6924ee45ce3/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a682a0-75cc-41ec-b663-8ba3c89010e6/square.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein Andrew Aronstein, Michael Aronstein, and me after recording our interview in New York https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8efd8054-14fd-4fad-91b1-59dadb033b7b/01+-+BHM.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Heritage Museum This episode is brought to you by the Baseball Heritage Museum at Cleveland’s historic League Park. 6601 Lexington Avenue Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 789 - 1083 Visit Their Website Join The Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50219946-5c1e-4793-bad9-4a21cb2f1653/02+-+BHM.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Former Ticket Office League Park was the home of the Cleveland Spiders, Naps, and Indians from 1891 through 1946. While most of the original League Park was torn down years ago, the ticket office still stands. That is where the Baseball Heritage Museum operates out of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d301109b-14bc-48f2-9162-5e17276fb4ff/03+-+Addie+Joss+Benefit+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out A benefit game was held for Addie Joss’ family at League Park on July 24, 1911 after he passed away earlier that spring. The game featured Shoeless Joe Jackson and nine eventual Hall of Famers as the Cleveland Naps hosted the best players in the American League in what was essentially the first All-Star Game in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec591942-cc56-4875-aa9f-092e030116dc/04+-+Quincy+Trouppe.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Negro Leagues History League Park served as home to the Cleveland Buckeyes for eight seasons. During that time, the team won two Negro American League championships. Led by Quincy Trouppe, the Buckeyes won the 1945 Negro League World Series over Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, and the star-studded Homestead Grays. Start planning your visit to the Baseball Heritage Museum so you can learn about all of the incredible history which happened on that site. Become A Member of the BHM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29573ca1-506f-4565-9066-b4941837942b/05+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pioneer Michael Aronstein was a card show pioneer, having arranged and hosted one of the very first baseball card “conventions” in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c6c2b2f-98fb-47f5-af81-8e79ab9a6abf/06+-+1974+ASCCA.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - ASCCA Shows Michael co-organized the biannual American Sports Card Collectors Association shows in New York City. Travel through time and take a look at these pictures from the May 25-27, 1973 show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5589e12-acdd-405f-8602-1fdfd8acf740/07+-+Collectors+Quarterly.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Collectors Quarterly Michael was the publisher of Collectors Quarterly, which he used to advertise TCMA’s 1976 Major League Baseball card set, offering it directly via mail order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f87e1ca3-fded-478f-9eb5-6703b3a34f11/08+-+plastic+sheets.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Trailblazer Michael became one of the hobby’s first full-time dealers, and provided collectors with alternatives to mainstream sets along with collecting supplies such as plastic sheets before they were widely available anywhere else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e025f403-d8e6-4506-80db-ac9708d309bf/09+-+Cal+Ripken+Jr..png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Minor League Cards As long ago as 1968, Michael was the first to make and sell new cards of old players. But he also produced hundreds of current minor league team card sets, including the “pre-rookie cards” of Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Wade Boggs, re-launching the minor league card industry in the process. Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR Biography Wade Boggs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a496a0bb-9ea4-4adf-8aca-aa16c34ba1fa/10+-+Collectors+Quarterly+01.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - SSPC Michael’s Sports Stars Publishing Company card set challenged the monopoly Topps had on the card industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9360fee-9d81-4934-bb6c-ef8cb7d5304e/11+-+1981+Donruss.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1981 Donruss Michael was the exclusive distributor of the 1981 Donruss baseball card set, which was the first time in years that collectors had an alternative to Topps. Rickey Henderson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c3cd750-a933-4201-bfcc-df7f1a40a4a8/12+-+1972+TCMA.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael co-founded TCMA in 1972. TCMA offered sets that allowed collectors of modest means to own cards of 19th century players, along with 20th century players who didn’t appear on a lot of cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cbb0d7d1-3970-4047-a671-462a717797db/13+-+Cracker+Jack+reprints.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1914 Cracker Jack Reprints In 1972, TCMA began reprinting old card sets which were either obscure, had become too valuable for the common collector to obtain, or both. Their reprint of the 1914 Cracker Jack set featured this highly sought-after Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f71e54ef-fea1-4a84-9162-0f2b909818eb/14+-+Yankees+Dynasty.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Everyone knew Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and even Bill Dickey, but players like Steve Sundra, Kemp Wicker, and Poison Ivy Andrews had been all but forgotten until TCMA’s Yankees Dynasty set put them on cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46e7d700-3020-4ef8-950c-284af1eb8271/15+-+Andrew.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew Aronstein Michael’s son, Andrew, grew up around baseball cards and, more importantly, baseball photos. He’s not only had a collector’s mindset from the very beginning, but also that of an archivist. Andrew has thankfully kept boxes full of papers, letters, contracts, magazines, photos, and, of course, cards relating to TCMA and all of the other ventures from his father’s storied past. This interview wouldn’t have happened without him, and the liner notes for this episode are full of artifacts from Andrew’s impressive archives. Here he is, gracing the cover of the catalog for the 5th annual National Sports Collectors Convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2b12df5-a539-4f16-8e45-0fcc43250244/16+-+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T-206 Honus Wagner The Honus Wagner card from the T-206 set is one of the hobby’s most iconic cards. We will talk about it a lot during this interview. Get ready for some incredible stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65d19c32-ce52-4e1a-9ed8-532c666d756d/17+-+Irvin.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Monte Irvin Michael’s favorite player growing up was Monte Irvin, who was an outfielder for the Newark Eagles (1938–1942, 1946–1948), New York Giants (1949–1955) and Chicago Cubs (1956). When he joined the New York Giants, Irvin became one of the earliest African-American MLB players. He played in two World Series for the Giants. When future Hall of Famer Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was asked to mentor him. Irvin, himself, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. Monte Irvin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95d4cc2b-e03f-450f-8a44-88a00de3ff26/18+-+Mueller.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Don Mueller Another of Michael’s favorite players growing up was Don Mueller, who played for the New York Giants and Chicago White Sox from 1948 through 1959. Mueller earned the nickname "Mandrake the Magician" for being adept at consistently putting the ball in play and delivering hits through the infield, which Michael remembers as “dying quails.” Don Mueller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c97857cf-9b6e-44ab-910d-c4a9dd59be25/19+-+Strip+cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Strip Cards The first cards Michael remembers buying and collecting were the 1943/49 R302 strip cards he would get at the candy store. The card fronts had a basic cartoon image of the player, with the player’s name inside of a baseball. The backs had a biography of the subject on the front with the M.P. & Co. name at the bottom. Mel Ott’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee82d7e5-714b-4383-949e-adc9602cee87/20+-+interchangeable.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Interchangeable … Kind Of As Michael mentioned, the same image was often used for multiple players between the 1943 and 1949 sets. In the case of Ernie Bonham (1943, left) and Buddy Kerr (1949, right), it wasn’t that big of a deal. No Black ballplayers were included in the 1943 set since none were allowed to play Major League Baseball at the time. When Larry Doby (famously a Black ballplayer) was included in the 1949 set, the image of Johnny Vander Meer from the 1943 set was reused. No changes were made to the likeness of Vander Meer, who was, incongruously, white. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86a30bdf-4876-480e-8baf-d3e46374cb16/21+-+1948+Bowman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1948 Bowman 1948 was Bowman's first attempt at releasing a baseball card set. It is small in card size and set size, as cards were smaller than today's standard size, and only 48 cards were included in the set. The design of the cards is rather basic, as front include only a black and white image (no names), and backs contain the player's name, position, and biography. While this set is small in size, it is loaded with rookies. It includes 1st year cards of hall of famers such as Yogi Berra, Stan Musial, and Warren Spahn, just to name a few. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25820c67-c2c9-4649-88a3-3d2bfded956d/22+-+1951+Bowman.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman For 1951, Bowman increased the size of their set to 324 total cards. Included in this year were rookies of both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Bowman slightly increased the size of the card for the 1951 set, but kept the familiar color art reproduction of actual color photographs. The fronts finally included the player's name on them. Backs look similar to previous Bowman sets, with the player's name, team, and biography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0efdf911-46fa-4ca5-bf23-c0576e68c700/23+-+180th+Street+%2B+3rd+Avenue.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Newspaper Stand Michael’s aunt had a newspaper stand at 180th Street and 3rd Avenue in the Bronx, which taught him things about business that most kids his age would have no reason to know. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a180f67-d395-4d2b-bfc7-410b5f2fd267/24+-+1951+Bowman+box.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman Boxes Michael remembers the 1951 Bowman set being released in series of 36 cards, and having to buy a box for each series as they came out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f48364e9-673f-43f8-8f2e-25c4201bcb53/25+-+Candy+Store.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Candy Stores Kids would go to the candy store closest to their school once classes let out. It’s where Michael would hang out, offering to buy, sell, or trade his baseball cards from his classmates so he could complete his sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d9d8009-a1d0-472f-9993-83de7f5ed9f8/25+-+Flipping+Baseball+Cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Flipping Cards While it wasn’t necessarily the greatest way to keep your cards in pristine condition, flipping cards was a way kids could grow their collections by earning cards from their friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee16774b-2d1d-4202-bd7c-3f1ab9a11c51/25+-+Bicycle+Spokes.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bicycle Spokes This kid’s bike sounded really cool, I’m sure, but if he’d have kept this 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in better condition, he could have bought 100,000 bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3eba39ea-01e7-432e-99e9-2d0f0b15528c/28+-+PS+92.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - P.S. 92 This is the Class of 1947 from P.S. 92, so just a few years older than Michael, but this was his school in the Bronx. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83f55063-e709-4df3-8adc-cd23560c8412/29+-+card+backs.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs At a time when kids didn’t care about keeping their cards in good condition because they could have never imagined these little pieces of cardboard ending up to be worth hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars, Michael always did his best to keep his cards pristine. He enjoyed reading the bios on the backs of the cards to learn about his favorite players. This is the back of Willie Mays’ 1951 Bowman card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a8e813a-dfe6-4e63-8822-76a4566a390d/30+-+1974+Topps.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1974 Topps Factory Set Topps became the first card company to offer collectors the ability to just buy the entire complete set of cards for a year in one shot when they offered their 1974 factory set through a JC Penney catalog. They didn't get great results with that strategy, so Topps didn't offer another factory set until 1985. SSPC offered one in 1975/76, so while they technically weren't the first company to try it, they were very early. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a27e073-115b-4ade-afa7-bab40e3f59c8/31+-+Ray+Noble.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Tough To Find The 1951 Bowman set was issued in multiple series and the high numbers (#253-324) are the most difficult to find. This includes the rookie card of New York Giants first year catcher Ray Noble, and both the Mays and Mantle cards. Most of the 324 cards in the set had a vertical orientation, however, of the 39 to have been printed horizontally, the rookie cards of both Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle are among them. Ray Noble’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bf4782f-4162-4d7a-9a91-860f520111eb/32+-+1950+Bowman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1950 Bowman Once Michael completed his 1951 Bowman set, he was excited to try to go back and complete the 1950 set, as well. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22c2bb62-7f01-4cb4-977d-b58ccbdffde9/33+-+1949+Bowman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1949 Bowman And then once he was done with the 1950 Bowman, it was on to the 1949 Bowman set, as well. The work of a collector is never, ever, ever done. Monty Kennedy’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98a26a53-62c7-4cf6-ba73-ee6145ac0e19/34+-+T206.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Cards T206 is a tobacco card set issued from 1909 to 1911 in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 different brands owned by the American Tobacco Company. The name T206 refers to the catalog designation assigned by Jefferson Burdick in his book The American Card Catalog. It is also known informally as the "White Border" set due to the distinctive white borders surrounding the lithographs on each card. It is a landmark set in the history of baseball card collecting, due to its size and rarity, and the quality of its color lithographs. The first series of cards were issued beginning in 1909. From 1909 to 1911 cards of over 500 major minor-league players in 16 different cigarette brands. Several of the cards are among the most expensive sports cards ever sold. Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df982412-aabe-49b3-ac78-4aa859d54bdf/35+-+1933+Goudey.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1933 Goudey The Goudey Gum Company was an American chewing gum company started in 1919. Though baseball cards had been available with cigarettes and certain lines of candy for many years, Goudey was the first American company to issue baseball cards with each stick of gum - a practice they began in 1933. That year, Goudey produced a 240 card set, also called "Big League Chewing Gum". These cards, issued with bubble gum in each pack, were the first baseball gum cards. The 1933 Goudey set is considered one of the "Big Three" classic baseball card sets, along with the T206 and 1952 Topps sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3182b68-8969-40d8-a2e7-7a896e2b1789/36+-+Shot+Heard+Round+The+World.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Shot Heard ‘Round The World Bobby Thomson’s dramatic home run was the truly seminal moment in Michael’s childhood, and solidified his love for baseball. Bobby Thomson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98dc0356-d064-4639-8787-010a63725278/37+-+Television.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Television It was starting to become more common for homes to have televisions in addition to having radios by the early 1950s, but a nice tv was still a luxury. To make the screen feel bigger, often times users would place a large magnifying glass in front of the set, which was often small. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdaaf0d1-72ec-4c8c-87ca-1982cd674d8d/38+-+Thomson.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - October 3, 1951 The first pitch was at 1:30 pm, while Michael was still in school. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, and that would remain the score until the Giants tied it up at 1 in the bottom of the 7th. Michael remembers being distraught as he came home from school with the Giants behind. So it’s possible he came home from school before the bottom of the 7th, but it’s also possible that he remembers the Dodgers scoring three runs in the top of the 8th to take a 4-1 lead, late in a low scoring game. The Giants battled back in the bottom of the 9th, with Whitey Lockman hitting an RBI double with one out. Bobby Thomson came to the plate next, with Lockman on second and Don Mueller on third. I think you know what happened from there. SABR Games Project article about this game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6785c13-387b-4923-bb48-a08581c6913c/39+-+Worthington.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Al Worthington Al Worthington played all or part of 14 seasons for the New York / San Francisco Giants (1953–54, 1956–59), Boston Red Sox (1960), Chicago White Sox (1960), Cincinnati Reds (1963–64) and Minnesota Twins (1965–69). He was Michael’s mother’s favorite player. Al Worthington’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7699a49-32ac-40af-91f9-98329b2b76c7/40+-+1952+Woolworth%27s+display.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Where Could You Buy Cards? Michael remembers mostly buying cards at candy stores, and having to run from block to block since some stores were loyal Bowman sellers, while others were loyal Topps dealers. This photo shows a Woolworth’s department store in 1952, displaying that year’s Topps baseball card set for their customers to buy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a2c9fe5-8630-4ea0-a2c0-9fa8dc1da911/41+-+Crawford+Foxwell.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Crawford Foxwell Crawford Foxwell was a serious baseball fan. Not only did he attend baseball games, it is said that he spent his honeymoon (with his bride, of course) at a doubleheader of Senators games. It turns out that Mr. Foxwell didn’t just like to watch baseball. He collected baseball cards and memorabilia, and amassed such a collection that an entire room of his home was needed to hold it. In 1970, Foxwell held the first Mid Atlantic Sport Collectors Convention, the first event of its type. This show and sale would grow and draw people from as far away as Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6d4f08f-85b3-49f4-baf9-689028224b5c/42+-+1940+Play+Ball.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1940 Play Ball After a successful debut in 1939, Gum, Inc. brought back its Play Ball baseball card set in 1940. The 240-card set matched 1933 Goudey as the largest, single-year, gum card set issued to that point, featuring a noticeably improved design and larger checklist that included legendary players from the past. Measuring in at 2-1/2" by 3-1/8", 1940 Play Ball Baseball was printed and distributed in two series. Several elements were added to the 1939 set top help elevate the 1940 Play Ball design. A banner featuring the player's name, and nickname, if applicable, was added to the bottom. The section is adorned with a glove, bat, and catcher's mask, and a frame is placed around the picture. The backs are very similar to the ones found in the 1939 set, featuring a detailed biographical write-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aac5be42-f637-4ab1-8aa2-6ee4f593984c/43+-+Dodgers+airplane.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dodgers Move To Los Angeles On January 4, 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first professional sports team to own its own airplane. The team, owned by Walter O’Malley, placed an order for a Convair 440 Metropolitan airliner. The price was $775,000, and the ball club took delivery of serial number 406 in April. On October 8, 1957, the team announced it would be moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b68761d-1601-4e25-8b1f-0c36a3e9d851/44+-+Mets.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Meet The Mets! The Mets became a National League franchise in 1962, replacing the Dodgers and Giants who had moved to the west coast in 1958. The new team took uniform design inspiration from each of the city’s former tenants, using the interlocking NY logo that the Giants used to wear on their hats, the blue main color from the Dodgers, and the orange accent color from the Giants, to create the look they used on the field. Michael was immediately on board to become a Mets fan, since they were the new National League team in New York. It was “an insult” to think he might have started rooting for the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb244921-831f-4246-a69b-918ee26389a7/45+-+Giants+back+in+New+York.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Giants Return To New York Associated Press Photo From June 1, 1962: San Francisco Giant Center Fielder Willie Mays, left, tips his cap to acknowledge applause of New York baseball fans as he is introduced with teammates along the third base line at the Polo Grounds. Mays, the only active regular player to appear in the lineup when the Giants last played in the Polo Grounds in 1957, was back at his outfield spot and batting in the same place in the batting order as he was in the days of the New York Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f318a18b-805b-49d0-998e-bde1c01e3ef4/46+-+1961+LIU+Baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Long Island University Michael graduated from Long Island University in 1962 with a degree in advertising. While at LIU, Michael acted as equipment manager for the baseball team. He is pictured here with the 1961 squad, wearing a jacket in the front row, all the way on the right. The first player at the top left is Ron Solomine, who went on to play AAA ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cedea819-14d0-4365-aa2b-5c404aec3f8b/47+-+1968+SCFC+Honus+Wagner.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron The first significant, full-size set Michael created was an 82-card set split between two series in 1968 and 1969. They were sold under the moniker Sports Cards For Collectors, or SCFC for short. Michael was 28 years old at the time. That set, which has become known as the SCFC Old Timers set, included pen drawings by his Uncle Myron (initialed MSA) and Aunt Margie (initialed MA) of not only of Hall of Fame players, but also managers, pioneers, executives, commissioners, forgotten players, and even umpire Bill Klem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee07e91e-55f8-48fc-a1bc-2b7136862015/48+-+1971-12-18+First+TCMA+ad+in+the+Sporting+News.PNG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - First Ad This 1-inch advertisement which appeared in the December 18, 1971 issue of The Sporting News, was the first ad TCMA ran in that publication. Eventually, Michael ended up with a mailing list of over 100,000 collectors. This was a time when most collectors weren’t aware that the more exotic sets existed. The guys creating these reprint sets were advanced collectors, and the reprints exposed the hobby to cards they otherwise may never have seen, let alone owned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c8706b0-b726-4abb-b150-e3bbd0fb3fe2/49+-+1969+SCFC+Bill+Klem.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Another one of Uncle Myron’s drawings (notice the “MSA” just under Bill Klem’s chin) for the SCFC set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc4db4b3-4cd4-42fd-abde-e6f4a8953dfa/50+-+Smokey+Joe+Wood.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Aunt Margie If you look closely between Smoky Joe Wood’s signature on this card, and his chin, you’ll notice the initials “MA” instead of “MSA” which appear on most of the other SCFC cards. The “MA” indicates that Michael’s Aunt Margie was the artist behind this drawing, as opposed to Uncle Myron. Smoky Joe Wood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/797e31e0-b92d-486d-91a4-d74c3024830c/51+-+PO+Box.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA Mailers This is one of the many mailers TCMA sent out over the years, which showed products they had available and included ordering instructions. The front also features the P.O. Box in Amawalk, New York that Michael remembered. They were getting a 20% response rate on these mailers, when most good mail campaigns can expect around a 5% response rate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b76daff7-c4d9-46b3-bf49-e9c7dca81730/52+-+Earl+Weaver.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Earl Weaver Earl Weaver was relaxed with his ballplayers and tough on umpires, and he eschewed small-ball tactics like stolen bases and hit-and-runs in favor of the big inning. His strategy was “Pitching, defense and the three-run homer,” and he was known to say "Don't play for one run unless you know that run will win a ballgame." The strategy worked for him, as he won four pennants and a World Series during his managerial career, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. Those concepts also worked for Michael Aronstein, who employed those same strategies in his own business career. Play things steady but be ready for the home run deal, and capitalize on it. Earl Weaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f267ec7-925d-4937-981e-588a1038ab47/53+-+Marshall+Oreck%E2%80%99s+1963+The+Collector%E2%80%99s+Directory.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Marshall Oreck’s 1963 The Collector’s Directory https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01a3ca58-db87-4108-98d7-9b8721f192b7/54+-+Who%E2%80%99s+Who+in+Card+Collecting+-+Irv+Lerner%E2%80%99s+1970+edition.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Irv Lerner’s 1970 Who’s Who in Card Collecting Another publication similar to Marshall Oreck’s The Collector’s Directory, Irv Lerner’s Who’s Who In Card Collecting was created and distributed with the intent of collectors to get to know each other. By listing your contact information and tidbits about your collection (what you have available for trade/sale, what you’re looking for, etc), it became easy for people to connect and make deals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/764bb2d3-4f72-4fc7-aae6-8bf0b8347d15/55+-+Who%27s+who+in+collecting+1970+entry.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael’s bio in the 1970 edition of Who’s Who In Card Collecting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfb0215e-a8af-408a-b4f7-2a22791794dd/56+-+prices.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Look at some of these prices… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8353aa21-fb67-4ac0-b78b-5bdeee684545/57+-+prices.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out I mean, seriously, come on… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f8cd04-4e85-42c0-a21c-c686e2715201/58+-+prices.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Okay, that’s it… when I get my time machine, who’s coming with me?? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79901eb0-940b-4330-9ece-53cedfa1db54/59+-+boxers.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T218 Champions While cards of boxers from the early 1900s don’t sell for hundreds of thousands (or millions) like some baseball cards from that era do today, even buying them for a dollar each would have absolutely been a great investment had Michael held onto them all these years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79ccf3f6-0da0-4c19-b830-3c98b089dfd2/60+-+Lew+Lipset.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lew Lipset This picture from 1984 - taken by Frank Barning of Baseball Hobby News - shows Mike Gordon in the top right, Lew Lipset in the lower right, and Michael Aronstein in the lower left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3cdfc251-9d74-48be-8db1-9ccde09582e4/61+-+1969+SCFC+Al+Downing.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1969 SCFC Yankees Picture Cards This 22-card set of the New York Yankees measures approximately 4" by 5" and features black-and-white player photos with white borders. The cards are listed below according to the numbers stamped on their white backs. Pictured here is Yankees pitcher Al Downing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d723349-fda6-4ad3-86eb-d94a24270fdd/62+-+Bill+Hongach+book.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Hongach Bill Hongach was the bat boy for the Yankees, and he would take photos of the players for Michael so he could make cards from them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/682b5d07-e53f-405e-8237-be0711fd46d8/63+-+Munson.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Thurman Munson This Thurman Munson postcard, originally issued by Howard Photo Service, was one of the Earl Weaver “home runs” Michael hit during his career. Thurman Munson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc6d37c9-61d1-40dd-ba5d-2e1ef0049c62/64+-+1919+White+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Unlicensed Originally, Michael was doing everything unlicensed out of his basement, but he thought he could get around those issues because he wasn’t printing cards of current players. Instead, he re-printed long out-of-print sets, and made his own sets of retired or deceased players, like his 1919 Chicago White Sox set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8020bbcc-f421-44bb-a44e-0452b3dd5d37/64.5+-+Richmond_Times_Dispatch_Mon__Feb_10__1975_.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This article originally appeared in the February 10, 1975 issue of the Richmond Times Dispatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb3b8d88-928f-4f9c-bd3b-1baf58bae011/65+-+1983+Lynchburg+Mets.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Minor League Team Sets Michael also made arrangements with minor league teams to print team sets, and signed contracts to make it official. If he printed the cards in black and white - like he did with the 1983 Lynchburg Mets set shown here - Michael would print 1,000 sets. The team would receive 500 sets for free to fulfill the contract, and Michael could sell the remaining 500 sets. Dwight Gooden’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7307c09d-5e2e-45ed-8425-074eab2e8338/66+-+Rickey+Henderson.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Color Printing If he printed the cards in color - like he did with the 1979 Ogden A’s set shown here - Michael would print 3,000 sets. The team would receive 1,000 sets for free to fulfill the contract, and Michael could sell the remaining 2,000 sets. Generally, the color sets were reserved for AAA clubs. Rickey Henderson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d93ac1a8-672a-4525-981f-87594981ff62/67+-+Bill+Himmelman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Himmelman Baseball Nostalgia, Inc. was founded in November of 1974 by Bill Himmelman, Michael Aronstein, and Pete Henrici in Cooperstown, New York. Opening on April 23rd of 1975, the focus of the store was to promote baseball - past and present - as well as collecting. The store featured the ever-expanding lineup of historical cards produced by Michael’s company, TCMA Ltd. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917a20a1-41b4-40f2-b873-2aadc33929f7/68+-+1930s+set.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1930’s Set In 1972 TCMA began issuing "The 1930’s" set in separate series of 24 cards each. 21 series were eventually issued for a total of 504 cards. The set was made possible by utilizing an enormous collection of glass plate negatives Michael purchased from an antique dealer in Greenwich, CT in 1969. These glass plate negatives date from the 1920s to the 1940s and were used to create several TCMA issued cards and sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34a15c35-8eb1-45f5-9456-e4074c0eb6d8/69+-+beautiful.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out “Look how beautiful they are,” Michael beamed, as Andrew brought out a binder of these cards during the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac1d88f5-0d80-40e4-a905-0ad96c7e7d65/70+-+card+backs.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs Michael typed out the card backs for each card in the set, and then stuck them on the back of the printed photos. If you look closely, you can see the bottom edges don’t quite meet up perfectly on the Joe DiMaggio card shown here. Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30f20e9a-9f7e-48ba-aff9-ba79b825fcc3/71+-+1973-05-25+American+Sports+Card+Collectors+Association+convention+3.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - American Sports Card Collectors Association Conventions Among the first sports card collecting groups, the American Sports Card Collectors Association held shows in the New York City area where a small, but avid group of adults and kids gathered a couple of times each year to buy, sell and trade. This photo, taken May 25, 1973, shows the amount of cards some dealers had with them at their tables. The location for this show was a large union hall– District 65 at 13 Astor Place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8eb0e076-e976-4467-b6d0-32a1c54c1e9c/72+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+Melina+with+the+sign.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - March 15, 1970 Michael’s daughter, Melina, holds up a sign welcoming collectors to the Aronstein’s basement on March 15, 1970. Click through the slide show below to see more photos from one of the earliest gatherings of baseball card collectors ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242685431-RIVZ9N3FGIC7ABWBN4TE/73+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+001.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242684694-KZ9I4X7BP9LCE5UIZUXG/74+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+002.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242697749-76UNWB5SKAHFVLLJLEPR/75+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+003.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242700908-7HNMGPRUWPXVQ9DXTICU/76+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+004.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242711278-D102UINZZ6GCS7G44K0R/77+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+005.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242717660-62CM7Z4Q19FKYPYPM1X8/78+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+006.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242722123-WUXGR09CDD1DEFFZ4PVZ/79+-+March+15%2C+1970+convention+-+007.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242728096-6GRSJ5TS63436GIX904K/80+-+1968+SCFC+%28Sports+Cards+for+Collectors%29+uncut+sheet+front.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242731506-DOJKOFCBDXBTGK440M4I/81+-+1968+SCFC+%28Sports+Cards+for+Collectors%29+uncut+sheet+back.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242730169-K5GRCLLUP93D0DGOBV8U/82+-+1970+Sport+Fan+page+1.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242731637-NWYAM3DCBRFIJH39L1T8/83+-+1970+Sport+Fan+page+2.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242732525-ZSQMRUO6NUGF7E8RGW4E/84+-+1970+The+Trader+Speaks+page+1.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242732773-TJ6UJR7BOQVHKB7QBB48/85+-+1970-03-15+convention+write+up+1.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1736242733401-GDLHQYIKWAA6LNJJZ1Z6/86+-+1970-03-15+convention+write+up+2.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/291cc36b-e9ef-4528-86fd-6d6a18b70bf1/87+-+1970-06-15+The+Trader+Speaks.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dan Dischley Dan Dischley was one of the 19 attendees at Michael’s first convention in his basement in March of 1970. Long before baseball memorabilia became a multimillion-dollar cottage industry, SABR founding member Dan Dischley bought three different T206 Honus Wagner cigarette cards as he was building his own prized collection in the 1960s and ’70s. “I sold all three of them,” Dischley said, “and the most I got for any of them was $1,500.” As a SABR co-founder and publisher of The Trader Speaks, one of the earliest publications devoted to memorabilia and card collecting, Dischley played a pioneering role in the growth of the hobby over the past half-century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3276976-fa2d-425b-82fc-6b701c945b00/88.5+-+Bill+Haber.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Haber Bill Haber was also one of SABR’s founding members. Considered one of baseball’s greatest biographical researchers, Bill spent much of his time tracking down obscure ballplayers from the 19th and early 20th centuries whose deaths had gone unrecorded by the Baseball Encyclopedia or the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Working from his home in Brooklyn, he located the identities of more than 300 players whose fates were previously unknown. Bill Madden of the New York Daily News once wrote, “In terms of sleuthing, Dick Tracy, Magnum and Jim Rockford had nothing on Haber.” He was a longtime sports statistician and editor for Topps Chewing Gum Inc. When he passed away, he left a virtually complete set of E107 Breisch-Williams (the only prominent set issued between 1895 and 1910) and a full set of T210 Old Mill, plus hundreds of other rare sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d6666c3-d57e-4cfa-bc25-09ba89b3b931/89+-+MI+Daily+Tribune+08+19+1972.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Mastro This photo of Michael (left) sitting with Bill Mastro appeared in the August 19, 1972 issue of the Michigan Daily Tribune. In the early 1970’s, the going rate for a T206 Honus Wagner was $1,500. Both Michael and Bill Mastro were proud owners at a time when only approximately 15 were known to exist in the hobby. In October 2013, Mastro, CEO of Mastro Auctions (the owner of Robert Edward Auctions) pleaded guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court and later admitted to the court that he had trimmed the "Gretzky" Wagner to sharply increase its value. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4b7a176-c3e4-4d2b-8b2c-f95929ca0130/90+-+Bruce+Yeko.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bruce Yeko Bruce Yeko was let go from his job as an accountant and became the hobby’s first full-time dealer in May of 1963, selling baseball cards mostly to kids. His ads resulted in a lot of orders with nickels, dimes and quarters taped on sheets of paper as the youngsters tried to fill out sets or buy a favorite player’s card they couldn’t seem to pull from packs. In New York, Yeko connected with other adults who got together to buy collections and maybe sell a few things. Yeko continued to sell full time for about the next 25 years, filling a home, two other buildings, a two-story barn and cottage with cards…20 million at one point, he says. Selling off his massive collection, Bruce used those funds to produce over 300 original cast recordings of such musicals as The Baker's Wife, In Trousers, Prettybelle, and countless other musicals that no commercial record company would have produced, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Read a great interview with Bruce Yeko by George Vrechek HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97128f78-551c-4303-93d1-8a32efce8eb1/91+-+Dennis+Graye.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Dennis Graye What is considered to be the first card convention took place at Jim and Marjie Nowell’s house in Southern California in October of 1969. It was attended by 13 collectors, with local attendees including Nowell (pictured here, center), Ed Broder, Goodie Goldfadden, Ray Medeiros, Ray Hess, Jim McConnell, and some younger collectors. There were only two out of state collectors in attendance: John England from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Dennis Graye from Detroit (pictured here, left). When Graye returned home, he was so enthused about his experience that he helped organize a mini-convention at the home of Lloyd Toerpe. This was such a success that Graye, Toerpe, and several other Michigan collectors began organizing a bigger show for 1970. That became the annual Midwest Sports Collectors Convention (the Detroit show), the country's biggest show throughout the 1970s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85430bc5-4e8c-4498-822d-523e78bdb149/92+-+Keith+Olbermann.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Michael took a liking to a young Keith Olbermann, and would always make sure Keith stayed close by at card shows so Michael could watch out for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc9127fa-23b8-4f1b-aec6-6a967fa447a3/93+-+1973+New+York+Convention+by+Keith+Olbermann.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out A write up on the 1973 New York Convention by Keith Olbermann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4069cdd-7499-4455-90db-055a0de41ea5/94+-+Rick+Cerrone.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rick Cerrone After graduating from NIU in 1976, Rick Cerrone worked with the magazine Baseball Quarterly, eventually purchasing it and renaming it Baseball Magazine. He went on to work as assistant director of public relations for MLB before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as VP of Public Relations. In 1996, Cerrone became the Senior Director of Media Relations for the New York Yankees, working for the organization until 2006, as the team won four World Series titles. Cerrone became the Editor in Chief of Baseball Digest in 2018. This photo appeared in the August 13, 1994 issue of The Reporter Dispatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae372afd-46ab-4941-8d21-869bf2ea04f9/95+-+Bill+Madden.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Madden Bill Madden is a sportswriter who formerly wrote for the New York Daily News. A member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, he has served on the Historical Overview Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, 2007 and 2008, helping to select candidates for the final ballots presented to the Veterans Committee. Madden was a sportswriter with United Press International for nine years before he joined the Daily News in 1978. He covered the New York Yankees before becoming a columnist in 1989. In 2010, Madden was the recipient of the baseball scribe's highest honor, the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d1a6a4-0bd4-445f-bc5e-1cf445f774d1/96+-+2008+with+Keith+Olbermann+during+the+last+weekend+at+Shea+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Keith Olbermann spent the first 20 years of his career in sports journalism. He was a sports correspondent for CNN and for local TV and radio stations in the 1980s, winning the Best Sportscaster award from the California Associated Press three times. He co-hosted ESPN's SportsCenter from 1992 to 1997. From 1998 to 2001, he was a producer and anchor for Fox Sports Net and a host for Fox Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball. This photo shows Michael and Keith during the last weekend at Shea Stadium in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/793f0866-c551-4a50-b2a1-87eb50931fc3/97+-+Six+Wagners.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Wagners At least SIX of the 19 men in attendance at Michael Aronstein’s basement convention either owned a T206 Honus Wagner at the time of the gathering or would acquire one shortly after the event. Bill Haber actually brought his to the convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b25e8767-9eb0-49f8-a0d6-6b11a3004ded/98+-+Wagner.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Honus Wagner At this point, there are nearly 100 known copies of the T206 Honus Wagner in the hobby. A significant amount more than the roughly 15 which were known to exist when Michael first started seriously collecting. There have been differing theories as to why so few copies exist, which helps to make it one of the most valuable baseball cards ever, but Andrew Aronstein seems to be very confident that Wagner was against the use of his photo on a product that promotes the use of tobacco to children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a41f0aba-5d19-4b35-9bc9-19150e4eb031/99+-+1973-04-14+Patent+Trader+ad.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - How To Find A Wagner Michael ran this ad in the April 14, 1973 edition of the Patent Trader, among others. It would land him the biggest score of his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/198a1e74-f557-43d2-be74-3c62c2c57c50/100+-+the+first+Wagner.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s First Wagner It may not be perfect, it may have three borders missing, but it’s nicer than any T206 Wagner I’ve ever owned. But wait!! Why would I write the word “first” in this title? Is it possible for someone to have owned more than one of these cards?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c325912d-e27a-4ef9-a1a1-f3c3f0f0df55/101+-+Jeanne.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Loving, Understanding Wife Michael hit the lottery when he found Jeanne, who has allowed him to not only continue his hobby, but turn it into his life and career. But Jeanne isn’t just a passive witness to the madness; she has been along for the ride (often literally) the whole time. This photo of the couple was published in the September 6, 1973 issue of the Patent Trader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/191d7a85-7e02-44fc-a0c8-510464e86b64/102+-+Sept+6%2C+1973.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Stuck To Another T206 If you look closely, you can see that the Wagner pictured here is actually the one that’s missing three borders. Michael stuck it onto another T206 card to give it the appearance of being a full card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1277e79-8d62-476b-92b1-f63a5d5a4650/103+-+First+two+PSA+graded+cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Each of the first two cards PSA ever graded were T206 Honus Wagners. Look at the serial numbers in the lower right corner of the “flip” above each card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbf9aaf3-77a9-4b54-b1e6-02e5ff936794/104+-+Fred+McKie%2C+Mike+Aronstein+and+Frank+Nagy+at+the+1972+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1972 Midwest Sports Collectors Convention Fred McKie, Michael Aronstein, and Frank Nagy at the 1972 Midwest Sports Collectors Convention in Detroit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6e2eae0-930a-471d-9127-fdf07009ad3f/105+-+Crawford+Foxwell+1971+convention.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1971 Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention One of my favorite things about the hobby is how grand everything is always made out to be. “Let’s get 15-20 guys getting together at one of our houses, and we’re going to call it the Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention.” But that’s how these things start. You need to convince people that these gatherings are worth attending, and giving them grandiose names is one super easy way to make them sound official and worthwhile. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/edda1975-91c3-499b-b4a6-fabbdf7abbe2/106+-+Tom+Collier.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Tom Collier Tom Collier is all the way on the right in the second row next to the bush in the photo from the 1971 Mid Atlantic Sports Collectors Convention at Crawford Foxwell’s house shown above, but here he is working a table with Michael Aronstein. Tom was great at buying huge card collections in the south, and then flipping them. Michael Aronstein brought the business sense to TCMA, but Tom Collier found the rare cards which the two would reprint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d4ae061-0497-4e9f-8be1-be564044acda/107+-+1887+Allen+and+Ginter.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1887 Allen & Ginter Allen & Ginter's best-known set was issued in 1887 under the "World's Champions" tagline and featured 50 athletes from several different sports. The fronts feature a brightly-colored lithograph painting. Below the picture are a name, an advertisement for Allen & Ginter, and a note of the company's home city of Richmond, Virginia. The backs feature a checklist, with all 50 athletes listed with their respective sports. Of the ten baseball players included in the set, six of them are in the Hall of Fame. TCMA reprinted this scarce set in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/463a6ff5-7783-4de3-b551-3864c74cddf9/108+-+1922+American+Caramel.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1922 American Caramel The 1922 American Caramel (E120) set contains 240 cards. The set features all of the era’s Major League stars - including numerous Hall of Famers - with teams broken down alphabetically within their respective league. The set is evenly represented by fifteen players from each of the sixteen teams, and was one of the first sets produced using two distinct motifs depending on the league: sepia-toned cards for American League players and a greenish-blue hue for National League subjects. TCMA reprinted this scarce set in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9dceaec-7eb4-420e-b4ea-5a2d708c7f72/109+-+Cracker+Jack+cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Cracker Jack Cards TCMA reprinted the 1914/1915 Cracker Jack sets in 1972, as well. In addition to issuing individual cards, they were also issued as an uncut sheet. Here's a photo of Michael set up at a show with the TCMA reprints in 1972 or 1973. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cd04bb6-7317-47a8-ada8-02f6512eed1e/110+-+American+Card+Catalog.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick’s American Card Catalog The classifications set up by Jefferson Burdick were essential to early collectors and are still used to this day. The reason is because there were so many cards out there that collectors needed a way to classify them and keep them organized. Jefferson Burdick sorted cards by how they were distributed or what they were. For example, cards placed inside of tobacco products were given a T-Card (for tobacco) designation. Miniature blanket cards were called B-Cards. Cards distributed by magazines or publications were called M-Cards. Sports card collectors know him for his work with, primarily, baseball cards. However, the American Card Catalog goes far beyond that scope and includes not only other sports cards but all kinds of non-sports issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2fe944cf-e6d0-401b-baa7-36eeb1ccdc88/111+-+1930s+set.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s 1930’s Set Johnny McCarthy played all or parts of 11 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and Boston Braves between 1934 and 1948. He helped the Giants win the 1937 National League pennant as their regular first baseman. His 65 runs batted in were third on the team. In the 1937 World Series, McCarthy started all five games against the cross-town New York Yankees and collected four hits, including a double, in 19 at bats. The Yankees won the Series, four games to one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fba91764-5aa2-48f4-909a-3059a4b3191b/112+-+Autographs.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Autographs According to Michael, the original purpose of TCMA’s 1930’s set was to get the cards autographed by the players who were still alive. Collectors are still after signed versions of these cards today, more than 50 years after their original release. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c9c702b-1b16-4e25-a42e-b962e9ae5dc0/113+-+index+cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Index Cards Before TCMA came along, collectors were sending blank index cards through the mail for players to autograph, like this one, which was signed by Cleveland Indians pitcher Mel Harder. Isn’t it so much nicer to have an image of the player signed? Mel Harder’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68181725-75c4-41e8-bd03-44b014a7e6c3/114+-+1972+Cedar+Rapids+Cardinals.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1972 Cedar Rapids Cardinals Contrary to popular belief, TCMA’s first Minor League set was NOT a 30-card set of the 1972 Cedar Rapids Cardinals in the Class-A Midwest League. While TCMA did make a set of the 1972 team, that set was requested by the team a couple years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a668acb-c0c2-4cdf-a3b2-0eabef7dcc64/115+-+1974+Gastonia+Rangers.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1974 Gastonia Rangers The real first Minor League set TCMA did was for the 1974 Gastonia Rangers in the Class-A Western Carolinas League. That set was the first of what would eventually be hundreds of TCMA Minor League team sets over the next 16 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e633699-e05b-4df0-8f96-962d4d04fef0/116+-+TCMA.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out An early TCMA mailer, offering Minor League team card sets at $3 per set https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35d6a92a-f8f5-457d-ac20-e2aa1bb88a20/117+-+Jeff+Morey.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jeff Morey As much a collector as he was a photographer, Jeff Morey was Michael’s contact in Syracuse to get all of the photos of the Minor League players who came through town, both home and away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/584a8c88-18e1-4c7a-87b0-2208eaca02df/118+-+Mike+Aronstein+sorting+1963+Topps.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Doing The Work So much work goes into making a card set that most people don’t think about or understand. From the creative side, to the logistics side, to the marketing side, to the sales and fulfillment… dozens of tasks - if not hundreds - need to be completed just to get one set out the door. Michael was doing nearly all of that work himself, for hundreds of different sets. Here is a photo of Michael sorting 1963 Topps cards in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a5fe0b0-3505-4a60-8882-49d531ef97c1/119+-+TCMA+Warehouse.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Growth Eventually, TCMA grew to have at least 20 employees and a 15,000 square foot warehouse, but Michael was still very much in charge of doing much of the work that went into being a $3 million a year company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99598935-106c-408c-a0c8-a3a2bec5a1a8/120+-+backs.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Backs Some Minor League teams would include statistics and player information with the photos they would send TCMA to help them make the card sets, which made Michael’s job a lot easier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/322e1ae5-8915-4843-bbac-0b108a8eceab/121+-+Ron+Darling+alternate.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Alternate Photos Andrew still has alternate photos that the photographers sent to TCMA which were never used to make cards. This photo of Ron Darling on the 1983 Tidewater Tides has never been seen by the public… until now. Ron Darling’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2261d4f2-332e-4b5a-a2bd-5d19496db807/122+-+Gary+Carter.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Gary Carter One of Andrew’s favorite archive finds was when he was digging through one day and realized he was looking at the color photo used to make the black and white card of Gary Carter. It was an image he’d seen hundreds of times before, but never in color. Gary Carter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a63f77d1-af44-445e-9a06-288c7f4ae2a3/123+-+Gary+Carter.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Black And White Card This was the card Andrew had seen so many times before. Beautiful in its own right, absolutely, but it’s easy to see why Andrew was so taken aback when he finally saw the image in color. The future Hall of Famer hit 23 home runs for the Memphis Blues in 1974, which was his last Minor League appearance until a 5-game rehab stint with Tidewater in 1989. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/832bd0ae-5107-427a-a4bb-78a398e60cd5/123+-+uncut+sheets.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncut Sheets Michael technically became an employee of the printer because the printer didn’t want to cut the sheets of cards himself, but needed Michael to be insured in case an accident occurred during that dangerous job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd98d845-6378-4790-a04d-4ecd13da0d52/125+-+More+ads.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Once you’ve got finished card sets, now it’s time to market them and sell them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78bd32c9-e4da-46de-bc0a-f17442160f8c/126+-+24%2C000+copies.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Over 24,000 Copies Distributed Michael was getting such a high response rate from his ads that Barclays kicked him out because he was bringing them too many checks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95df8cfa-4d7c-4814-a878-df618caeb1fb/127+-+Baseball+Advertiser.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “I Got It Today, Michael!” Michael would send one copy of every mailer to his mother, so she could let him know everything was actually being mailed out. This copy of Baseball Advertiser still has the label addressed to Ann Aronstein affixed to it. Andrew still has all of the Baseball Advertiser publications that were sent to Michael’s mother. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/296ca519-4b8a-487c-9180-eddb9aece90b/128+-+order+form.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This is a form you would see in Baseball Advertiser or one of the other publications so you could actually place your order with TCMA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d3730fd-58d4-47ad-81c0-78e4810997ba/129+-+Plastic+Sheets.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 9-Pocket Plastic Sheets It seems unfathomable to collectors today who have grown up with these 9-pocket plastic sheets ubiquitous in the hobby, but there was a time before binders. A lucky phone call paired with Michael’s vision popularized these sheets, which have been a hobby staple for decades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/342bb3bb-9747-48e5-aa9d-4ece943f9640/130+-+1973+New+York+Convention+by+Ron+Greenwood.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - ASCCA Convention The first convention, which was held May 23-25, 1973, at a union center on 8th Street in Manhattan was such a success that Michael helped to organize a second one just four months later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b797c37-3b1d-4e44-b38c-095b4f433454/131+-+1973-05-25+American+Sports+Card+Collectors+Association+convention+2.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - May 25, 1973 Among the first sports card collecting groups, the American Sports Card Collectors Association held shows in the New York City area where a small, but avid group of adults and kids gathered a couple of times each year to buy, sell and trade. This photo, taken May 25, 1973, proves that these early shows were already being attended by kids, too, and that the hobby wasn’t dominated by adults. The location for this show was a large union hall– District 65 at 13 Astor Place. The boy holding the uncut sheet of 1949 Bowman cards is Rob Lifson, former founder and president of Robert Edward Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0de0cd6-387e-4c96-be99-4e5aae18ecce/131.5+-+The_Lexington_Herald_Thu__May_31__1973_.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This write up was published in the May 31, 1973 issue of The Lexington Herald. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce2aa129-b92d-459f-91bf-8cfe2d0faecb/131+-+1973-10-13+first+issue+of+Sports+Collectors+Digest.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Feature Article The second ASCCA convention, held September 14-16, 1973, was the feature article in the very first issue of Sports Collectors Digest, which was published October 12, 1973. Over 1,000 people showed up for that convention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b922808a-8f6d-4c23-b3e5-9f8c6d03f8d7/133+-+ASCCA+show+pins+from+1970s.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Show Pins Here is an assortment of show pins from the early ASCCA shows of the 1970s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b78b2a-df6b-4895-b800-c906031685e9/134+-+Lew+Alcindor.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lew Alcindor Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was a giant. An epic talent, already seven feet tall as a 17-year-old high schooler from Power Memorial Academy at the Catholic High School Athletic Association Championship game. For some reason, Michael scheduled a card convention that was supposed to be held in the gym where Alcindor’s high school team was set to play a playoff basketball game, should they make it that far. Look at the kid to the left of Alcindor in absolute awe. They made it that far. Michael had to move the location of the convention at the last minute. Everything worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7153b350-7697-4eb1-955d-887d625d22bf/135+-+1973-04-14+Patent+Trader+ad.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - WANTED Baseball Cards Michael ran this ad in the April 14, 1973 edition of the Patent Trader, among others. It would land him the biggest score of his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/569d4e47-58e9-4ea4-b6d6-78df38470409/136+-+Plank.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Eddie Plank By all accounts, only 75 to 100 T206 Eddie Plank cards are known to exist. Like the more famous Honus Wagner card from the same set, the scarcity is, and will likely always remain, a secret lost to history. A likely reason for the card's scarcity is that Plank was anti-tobacco and demanded that his image be removed from the cards used to promote cigarettes. Plank was one of his manager Connie Mack's favorite players because he lived clean, eschewing late nights, alcohol, and tobacco. Mack and Plank were known as two of the most outspoken anti-tobacco advocates in baseball, years before that became Wagner's calling card. Unlike Wagner who smoked cigars, Plank was never seen using tobacco products of any kind. Another theory is that the printing plate for his card broke, leaving the print run far shorter than it otherwise would have been. Eddie Plank’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/512193a5-2efa-47da-9244-761c511881d7/137+-+Wagner.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Despite its condition flaws, Michael said it was still “unbelievably exciting” to finally own a T206 Honus Wagner. This was the actual copy of the card he acquired in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f686066b-d81e-4b0d-bf26-9d4ea49f0688/138+-+Being+A+Collector.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Being A Collector Michael said his wife, Jeanne, allowed him to keep a cabinet in their bedroom with all of his card albums. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e0ae4d0e-b259-4252-b411-12ef0d3735fa/139+-+1962-03-01+card+prices+including+T206+Wagner.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Hobby’s First Expensive Card Even as early as March of 1962, the T206 Honus Wagner card was worth around $250 in what was “the fastest growing hobby in the country” at the time: card collecting. Compare that to the prices of other single cards at the time (anywhere between $0.04 and $1.00 each), and it’s clear that collectors have known for decades that there’s just something special about the Wagner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2f58887-7ed4-45fe-97d2-c345bf34916c/140+-+1973+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention+3.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rising Prices A little over a decade later, the starting bid of an auction for a T206 Honus Wagner was $800. It was the first time that a Wagner was ever publicly auctioned off, and it sold for $1,100 to Fred McKie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b369348-e661-4669-ba01-728db333ef14/141+-+McKie+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Bob Jaspersen wrote about Fred McKie’s new acquisition in this 1973 issue of Sport Fan. The actual copy of the card McKie won is pictured on the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc84e891-92ef-48c3-ac20-f8cbba1666ba/142+-+1973+Midwest+Sports+Collectors+Convention+1-2.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Another write up about the 1973 convention where the Wagner was auctioned off to Fred McKie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8601cf3d-9334-41ab-b26e-4e8e15176592/143+-+Back.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - $6.6 Million If you’ve ever wondered what the back of a $6.6 million card looks like, you can sleep well tonight knowing that you’ve seen it for yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f687db-c109-4313-8711-3e84a1e72069/144+-+letter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - July 24, 1974 “Gentlemen: I have the baseball card collection of my late father, who would have been now in his 80s. It seems to me to be quite extensive and includes two Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner cards, one Piedmont Honus Wagner, two Plank cards, and three of Lajoie. This collection would be for sale – either separately or as a whole – depending, of course, on the money involved. I am at a loss as to how to go about this. Perhaps you can help me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f09c3fa-128c-456e-a362-e4bc38a29496/145+-+The_Record_Wed__Dec_26__1973_.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Huge Deal Rick Barudin and Bud Kurzweil didn’t want to drive out of state to pick up a baseball card, so they called Michael. He was willing to do it, and it was one of the best drives he ever made in his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4678b5e-1e36-4d03-847d-a030d1843237/146+-+Jumbo+front.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s Newest Card: “The Jumbo Wagner” This copy of the Wagner was the third one Michael had been in possession of within a span of three years. It was the second one he had owned. He bought it from the woman who wrote the letter, Rick Barudin and Bud Kurzweil reimbursed him for what he spent to get it, and in return, Michael gave Rick and Bud his original Wagner with the three missing borders. All in, Michael had spent $0.20 to obtain this card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27d6e810-da34-4dcf-a615-e55a64ca7320/148+-+Jumbo+back.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “The Jumbo Wagner” This card is known as “The Jumbo Wagner” because the borders are so large compared to some other T206 cards. PSA has even give the card a qualifier of (MC) which stands for mis-cut. The Jumbo Wagner measures 1 7/16″ by 2 11/16″. Most T206 cards are 2 5/8″ in height. The card broke a record for the most expensive card ever sold in October of 2016, when it sold for $3.12 million by Goldin Auctions. That price was a significant bump from the last time that card was sold. Approximately three and a half years earlier, in April of 2013, the Jumbo Wagner fetched $1.2 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ef696d2-97cc-47fc-af17-e483e8c62445/149+-+stein.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Merchandising Almost Gone Terribly Wrong Michael sent his Wagner to the photographer so they could take pictures of it for this beer stein. The photographer put some adhesive on the back of the card to take the pictures, and slightly damaged the back of the card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72f2c7a7-8f72-4a95-aefb-00e7a65c98aa/151+-+1974+auction.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out After Michael drove to Vermont and acquired The Jumbo Wagner, he gave his original Wagner (which was missing three borders) to Buddy Kerzweil and Rick Barudin for them to auction off. The opening bid for their October 7, 1974 auction was $900. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f80c1bef-a37a-4d88-af6c-a1cc9a845471/152+-+Topps+uncut+sheets.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncut Sheets Originating from the collection's first series (#1-109), this original 1966 Topps uncut sheet of 132 cards contains many of the sets best stars that include Hall of Famers Hunter, Koufax, Mays, Perez, Niekro, and Yastrzemski, and two cards each of Mantle and Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a75accc2-08aa-4ba8-8026-795e0898f417/153+-+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - That’s One Way To Get Rid Of Cards You Don’t Want Several years after producing the 1952 set, Topps executive Sy Berger decided to discard the unsold cards, literally dumping them into the Atlantic Ocean. Little did Berger know that he was creating a smaller supply for the future secondary market, one that Berger and the rest of Topps did not even realize would come to fruition; with fewer cards, including the Mantles, available to future collectors, the card became rarer and more valuable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc1c0c96-b115-48a8-ba8a-e1a22ffa63e0/154+-+mom.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - If Only We Had Time Machines We could go back and stop Sy Berger from dumping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of baseball cards into the ocean because he didn’t want them sitting on the shelves anymore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1c31138-23ee-4859-abd8-447db13ab779/150+-+Lajoie.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1933 Goudey Lajoie This Napoleon Lajoie card was not originally included in the 1933 Goudey set. Instead, in 1934, collectors had to acquire the card direct from the manufacturer in order to complete their set. The missing card was sent through the mail to the collectors who contacted the Goudey company. Many of the examples were mailed with a paper clip affixed to it, leaving impressions on the surface of the card. As a result, you will encounter some examples that exhibit spider wrinkles along the front or back of the card. Highgrade examples in the marketplace are best explained by the fact that the card was never subject to insertion into packs, avoiding some of the traditional handling. Napoleon Lajoie’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27924751-f50b-4ebf-8c5a-d1b08a571e82/155+-+Magee.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - T206 Magee Error Card This is one of the three big rarities in the T206 baseball set along with the Honus Wagner and Eddie Plank cards. It is also, perhaps, the most famous error card in the entire hobby. Sherry Magee was an excellent major leaguer, finishing his 16-year career with a .291 batting average and 1,176 RBI during the Dead Ball Era. In fact, he led the NL in RBI on four separate occasions and finished among the league leaders in home runs several times. Unfortunately, Magee’s name was initially spelled incorrectly as “Magie” on this T206 example. It was quickly corrected, with the corrected version printed in much higher abundance than the coveted error, but a number of copies of the incorrect version did make it out there. Although it is subject to debate, most hobbyists feel this card is a must if you want to truly complete the T206 set. Sherry Magee’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6b36559-058b-4818-8121-5c8237b76585/156+-+elway.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - John Elway Of the many pre-rookie cards of incredibly famous players that TCMA would put out over the years, Michael said the only one he really thought about in advance was John Elway. Not Wade Boggs, or Darryl Strawberry, or Rickey Henderson, or Dwight Gooden, or Cal Ripken, Jr. John Elway. The football player. Elway was an outfielder for the 1982 Oneonta Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97b6d5d3-3425-46d6-9190-97ef7a6ac12f/157+-+1977-07-09+The+Evansville+Press.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Players were proud to have their own baseball card. For most, it was their first time ever appearing on a card. Here, future Hall of Famer Jack Morris shows off his pride and joy in the July 9, 1977 issue of The Evansville Press. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c470cb20-35b1-4934-b131-ab8ae4b4f4bf/158+-+Gregg+Jeffries.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Prospecting In the 1980s, as the value of rookie cards from great players of the 1950s and 1960s skyrocketed, collectors began “prospecting” rookies and buying dozens of copies of their first cards. Gregg Jeffries was one of the many junk wax rookies who didn’t pan out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6745030-0c1a-488a-8881-7adeda3e84cd/159+-+Famous+%26+Barr.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael checklisted the 1916 M101-4/M101-5 Famous and Barr Co. cards in the November-December 1971 issue of Dan Dischley’s “The Trader Speaks.” It was the first time anyone had even seen that back on those cards, let alone checklisted them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f286f687-67a3-4961-9b15-0e9e24e34b1e/160+-+T206+backs.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael may not have cared about the backs on his T206 cards, but many modern collectors go crazy over them. Entire websites are dedicated to determining the rarity of certain backs, like T206resource.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42f74611-a38c-424f-9f3e-9ab73cf64a96/161+-+Sports+Collectors+Bible.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Sports Collectors Bible In 1974, the legendary Bert Sugar was compiling The Sports Collectors Bible. But he couldn’t do it alone, and he was looking for good, cheap help. Michael suggested a 15-year-old Keith Olbermann. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d9c4bad-6217-44c0-a6e6-108f71e2dd41/162+-+Keith+Olbermann.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out An article written by a 15-year-old Keith Olbermann in early 1974. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26c13126-d828-4ae9-9836-76463bf5fd32/163+-+Jefferson+Burdick.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick Jefferson Burdick remains a hero to a hobby he may be said to have created. The Society for American Baseball Research honors one individual each year with its Jefferson Burdick Award, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the baseball card hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd46f21e-d595-4f99-ba1b-59dea5699130/164+-+Frank+Nagy.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This glowing article about hobby legend Frank Nagy was written by Fred McKie and appeared in the August, 1974 issue of Sports Scoop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9251ee65-fa22-4ab4-af9a-ba23d36ac905/165+-+Crawford+Foxwell+with+his+collection+in+1975.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Crawford Foxwell Easton, Maryland. Crawford “Crab” Foxwell looks over a souvenir baseball, part of a vast collection of diamond memorabilia he keeps in a room of his Cambridge home. The 47-year-old baseball buff started collecting the items as a hobby in the late 1940s. He was interested in all sports at first, but later realized he’d have to specialize - and baseball was his choice. April 23, 1975. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9778a21e-1b76-4c9b-90a9-202678c6f0a4/166+-+SSPC.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - SSPC in 1975, Michael started another entity called Sports Stars Publishing Co. or "SSPC." He had just started TCMA 3 years earlier, but SSPC was created with the intent to sell cards of current Major League players. Just… without the gum. Great Topps Monopoly by Mark Armour, a 10-part series Dennis Eckersley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45619cb4-cfdb-41c7-b812-f78dd1814567/SSPC+vs+Topps+1976-04+-+Bob+Laughlin%27s+newsletter.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Bob Laughlin wrote about the SSPC vs Topps controversy in the April, 1976 issue of his newsletter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9387af65-c468-4cc6-8797-d0805aff50a0/167+-+Topps+letter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Letter From Topps Michael received this letter from Topps Vice President Sy Berger on November 25, 1974. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a18b34c-ccd6-4005-a30a-ee0789156d6c/169+-+1989+Bowman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1989 Bowman 1989 Bowman (produced by Topps) is a 484-card set released July 6th, 1989. Billed as the "Comeback Edition!," 1989 Bowman bears little resemblance to the prospect and rookie-laden brand it would eventually become, and can be seen as almost a second Topps "flagship" set. The design of the set was meant to resemble the 1953 Bowman Color Baseball set, and each card measures 2.5" X 3.75" - a quarter-inch longer than the post-1957 standard-size trading card. As a result, the cards do not fit into standard-sized 9-pocket sheets, top-loaders, or cardboard set boxes, and briefly caused a run on 8-pocket sheets. This lack of compatibility with standard storage supplies hurt sales of the product. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50017223-1d8a-4c78-ad24-02079747b255/171+-+Collectors+Quarterly+03.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Collectors Quarterly SSPC published an advertising vehicle called Collectors Quarterly. It was short-lived because the original editor had to leave for another opportunity, and Michael didn’t have anyone to replace him. The original editor? Keith Olbermann. That “other opportunity”? Keith had to leave to go off to college. Michael asked Rick Cerrone to come in and be the editor of the final issue, which would fulfill everyone’s yearly subscription, and then the magazine would cease to exist. Rick convinced Michael to keep printing the publication, but to change it from Collectors Quarterly into Baseball Quarterly since the only other baseball-related magazine which came out more than once a year at that time was Baseball Digest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db7c6f5f-0a51-43eb-bb6f-7c09a62261b9/170+-+Baseball+Quarterly+01.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Quarterly After making the switch from Collectors Quarterly to Baseball Quarterly, thanks to the vision of new editor Rick Cerrone, a series of shrewd business moves eventually landed the publication with national distribution, appearing on newsstands all over the country. Baseball Quarterly was eventually sold to Rick Cerrone, who would turn it into Baseball Magazine. Rick would become the PR Director for the Pirates, and then held the same role with the Yankees. Now he’s the editor of Baseball Digest, the very publication he had set out to challenge with the distribution of Baseball Quarterly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e456e66-35b3-4d3f-b75d-433bb2b77639/172+-+1981-1.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Advertiser Baseball Advertiser was a way for TCMA to offer their products to their mailing list of over 100,000 collectors. Note the mailing address label on the issue pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d04bc9c-8307-4932-9243-c47a76cfbfe7/173+-+1975+SSPC.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1975 SSPC In 1975, SSPC printed an unlicensed card set which was heavily influenced aesthetically by the 1953 Bowman. It was the only full baseball card set ever issued during the Topps monopoly. George Brett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4ad236-f3ab-4c2b-afd4-691d0778b56f/174+-+1953+Bowman.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1953 Bowman Color In a 1988 article for Baseball Cards magazine, Michael said "There was too much ‘gingerbread' on Topps cards.” As he said in our interview, he was a Bowman fan and collector. When you look at an image like this 1953 Bowman Color, one which Michael describes as “the pure card,” it’s easy to see what he sees in it. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/003f0d55-87b7-4b56-a65c-f78d32678e8e/175+-+1976+SSPC+card+back+written+by+Keith+Olbermann.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1976 SSPC Keith Olbermann wrote the backs of all of the cards in SSPC’s 1976 set. Keith was 17 years old. You can read a ton of other baseball-related stuff Keith has written over the years HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d1ae409-b6a0-42cf-8617-2342f2c51521/176+-+Collectors+Quarterly+02.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bob Laughlin Bob was a cartoonist who created his own card sets, but also did artwork for TCMA, including the artwork on the covers of Collectors Quarterly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8960470d-9f57-4061-bcda-67cefe4e10b6/177+-+1976+SSPC.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Shea Stadium Most of the photos which were used in the SSPC set were taken at Shea Stadium. Darrell Evans’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d581cc45-0176-4514-9ae8-d11f25707c4b/178+-+Bill+Hongach.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bill Hongach Most of those photos were taken by Bill Hongach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fef5daa1-1e06-4715-89ce-353275aa3b85/178+-+Fred+Lynn.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Confusion There's some confusion over the date of this set because the cards are copyrighted 1975 on the back, but they actually came out in early 1976, and were always officially referred to as a 1976 set by TCMA. The back of the Fred Lynn card, for instance, mentions he won the AL ROY and MVP for the 1975 season. That’s because before those cards were able to reach stores, Michael was sued by Topps and barred from selling them further. Fred Lynn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cfb7ec0-e392-4a88-80f4-ba1d434fdfa4/180+-+1976+SSPC+card+593+-+Nolan+Ryan.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1976 SSPC Card 593 The negatives for that 1976 set were stolen and led to a bootlegged "illegal reprint" set popping up a few years later. You can tell the difference because card 593 in the original pressing is of Catfish Hunter and Nolan Ryan, and the front says "Nolan" as it should. The bootlegged set has "Noland" instead, an error that you caught and corrected on the original printing plates, but snuck by in the stolen negatives. Catfish Hunter’s SABR Biography Nolan Ryan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14a58882-6ca1-4d31-a3c3-48581fe12ff2/181+-+Renata+Galasso.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Renata Galasso Renata Galasso reportedly began her business as a baseball card dealer in the early 1970s as a way to pay for college. She purchased individual packs of cards - primarily Topps - and built sets for sale, which was unusual for that time. Galasso eventually opened a shop around 1975 on Bay Ridge Parkway, and later relocated to 6305 10th Avenue in Brooklyn. At one point, Galasso claimed in her catalogs and shipping labels to be the "World's Largest Hobby Card Dealer." Galasso printed some cards in partnerships with Topps and TCMA, and eventually printed some independent card sets, as well. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cb378d9-2ba7-4fa2-b2d2-a00c51824196/182+-+Andrew%27s+rookie+card.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew’s Rookie Card Pretty cool to have your birth announcement be a baseball card made by the same guy and in the same fashion as he’s making cards for Major Leaguers and Hall of Famers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/295c4f17-82fe-4dc0-8a07-99d277c1f56f/183+-+September+1974.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - September, 1974 This photo was taken four years before Andrew’s arrival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f3f7da7-8a37-41f4-bf60-9a01142648a8/184+-+1960s.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The 1960’s The 1978 TCMA The 1960’s set consists of 293 cards, all of which measure 2 ½” by 3 ½”. The cards feature many photos from Michael’s library of photos. In 1981, TCMA released a second set of 188 cards, featuring more players from the 1960s. The first card of "The 1960's II" begins with #294, and the set concludes with #482. These cards were printed in much smaller numbers. Roberto Clemente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e4736412-c2db-4d5b-8939-d6a0837483e3/185+-+Bert+Sugar.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bert Sugar In 1979, Michael purchased a huge photo archive from Bert Sugar’s The Ring magazine. Sugar had file cabinets full of baseball photos dating from the early 1900s up until about 1925. He sold to Michael for $500 total. That collection is selling for over $2 million today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7015534b-922c-4d1d-b17f-66c98a60f863/186+-+John+Romita+Sr.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - John Romita, Sr. John Romita, Sr. was a comic book artist best known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man and for co-creating characters including Mary Jane Watson, the Punisher, Kingpin, Wolverine, and Luke Cage. He did the inserts Michael was creating for the Yankees yearbooks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab2880d2-da4b-4251-9a0d-985d6a8d6acd/187+-+1981+Donruss.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1981 Donruss In 1981, Fleer and Donruss were two new manufacturers who jumped into what had been Topps’ exclusive market. Michael managed to become the exclusive distributor of Donruss. Ozzie Smith’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b9bb160-10ef-4c03-81a4-73e9ec6dfd0c/188+-+Vern+Ruhle.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Fraught With Errors The 1981 Donruss set is fraught with errors, though Michael didn’t have anything to do with them. He was just the distributor. Collation on the set is bad. Bob Lacey’s last name was spelled Lacy instead of Lacey. Vern Ruhle’s card had the face of Ken Forsch on it (pictured here). Ken Forsch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f145510-b486-4d65-a1c0-4db90b626cdd/189+-+Baseball+Immortals.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Immortals One of the most popular collector's issues ever released was the "Baseball Immortals" set originally issued in 1980 and later updated in 1984, 1986 and 1987. Although many baseball card sets have featured top players from the past, the Baseball Immortals set was the first to depict every member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The cards themselves do not mention a manufacturer, and while it has been commonly referred to as an SSPC issue, it was actually distributed mainly by TCMA and Renata Galasso. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f6ce190-c98e-479a-b7bf-8c65f4bfd2f2/190+-+Baseball%27s+Greatest.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball’s Greatest As a 7-year-old, I was never going to be able to afford to buy original Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Jimmie Foxx cards. But I had real cards of theirs with stats and everything from the Baseball's Greatest Sluggers set. I'd never even heard of Paul Waner, Sam Rice, or Bill Dickey, but I could compare their accomplishments to the players I did know, thanks to the Baseball's Greatest Hitters set. The first time I'd ever learned of Satchel Paige, Rube Waddell, or Mordecai Brown was because of the Baseball's Greatest Pitchers set. And that was exactly why Michael created those sets in the first place. Paul Waner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f15a08c-8156-4520-a136-05a701ab2545/191+-+trainer.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Everyone Deserves A Card When Michael made team sets, he made sure to include everyone on the team, whether they played in one game or in all of them. When he started making Minor League team sets, he took that thoughtfulness to the next level, including cards of trainers, and mascots, and coaches. Surprisingly, it’s those obscure members of the team whose cards have become the favorites of collectors over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7eba9b41-1be6-47f5-820c-e83423f73e3a/192+-+1942+Play+Ball+fantasy+set.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1942 Play Ball Fantasy Set Joe DiMaggio didn’t get a card the year following his incredible 1941 season which saw him hit safely in a record-breaking 56 games in a row. Michael did his best to right that wrong when he imagined what a 1942 Play Ball set would have looked like, had it come out when it should have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d60d662-96a1-4859-89a8-623ff06f8776/193+-+1990-ish+at+a+local+field+in+Yorktown+Heights%2C+NY.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - No Regrets Michael’s family has said a million times that he should have sold the house, but not the cards. His wife, Jeanne, told him specifically not to sell the Jumbo Wagner. But when Michael sold his entire collection in 1984, that included the Jumbo Wagner. However, the money he made from that sale gave he and his wife the breathing room to figure out their next move as Michael got back on his feet, and allowed them to raise their kids the way they wanted to. It would be nice to still have a card that’s worth 7-8 figures, but having that peace of mind 40 years ago was worth something, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2324b84f-2def-47ce-8ae5-79e5a4e9e529/194+-+McKie.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - A Special Moment Andrew is seen here holding the Fred McKie T206 Wagner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97a69670-057c-44b2-afb9-f532a187a90e/195+-+Andrew+with+the+Jumbo+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - An Even More Special Moment Holding the McKie Wagner must have been very cool (holding ANY Wagner must be pretty cool, let’s be honest), but holding the Jumbo Wagner - a card Andrew’s dad actually owned and loved - must have been an indescribable feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5263a4b4-f9e6-4d3d-bae1-39f38f0667f2/196+-+Andrew.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 5th Annual National Michael was one of the hosts of the 5th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention, which was held August 9-12, 1984, at the Aspen Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. That might explain why his son, Andrew, is on the cover of the show’s program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0c97fdd-b24e-4d9a-a6b6-dfde3cdb817d/197+-+Manufactured+Scarcity.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Manufactured Scarcity One of my biggest problems with the hobby is also one of Michael and Andrew’s: the manufactured scarcity of cards. Simply making a card a refractor, or arbitrarily giving it a different color border, or numbering it out of 5 shouldn’t make it any more valuable. And really, all it’s doing is making collectors NOT want to collect every card from their favorite players, because they know they will never be able to own every card that gets made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18de1bde-fdc2-4089-bd48-df2874362621/199.5+-+1975.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Stigma There is sometimes a stigma attached to adults collecting baseball cards, something that is often seen as meant for children. Andrew theorizes that adults started collecting because they couldn’t afford those cards when they were kids, or they may have been familiar with cards as kids but now their interest is rekindled and now they have money. The money that is involved in the hobby today is something Michael would have never been able to predict when he was manning tables at shows in 1975, like he is here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66ee9493-4a3f-4061-89c2-2c78dfc2f5a7/198+-+Photo+File.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Photo File, Inc. When TCMA went out of business, Michael started to work for Collectors Marketing Corp. doing the baseball card end of it. They sold the company, but let Michael take their photo archives. The next week, he started making photos in his basement. It was an immediate success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34b37687-2064-455e-b523-812031322bae/200.1+-+Officially+Licensed.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael’s friend Bert Sugar came through in the clutch yet again, securing the official MLB license for Photo File. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89051275-eb88-4d46-995e-f85aa4eeaa52/199+-+Rob+Moroso.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Rob Moroso Rob Moroso was a NASCAR driver who was champion of the NASCAR Busch Series in 1989. He was posthumously awarded the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award. A promising young driver, he and another driver were killed when Moroso was driving under the influence at excessive speeds on roads near his hometown of Terrell, North Carolina, just four days after his 32nd birthday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ce39f10-f20f-4396-b75b-9cb19a7a1fd3/200+-+Photo+File.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Photo File’s Photo File This is what you got in the mail if you were on Photo File’s mailing list. You would pick out the name(s) you wanted, without seeing an image first, and just trust that what you were going to get back in the mail was going to look great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fa37bc7-2e00-4b76-9cce-ca6f1731ec81/200.1+-+Benny+Agbayani.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Shoot Everything, Use A Fraction Of It If you take 10,000 pictures a week during Spring Training, you’re going to be prepared when an unknown player comes out of nowhere and goes on a tear. You’re just ready to print 5,000 copies of those Benny Agbayani pictures when everyone wants them, because it’s something you already have in your inventory. If you have to go out and shoot once demand is high, by the time you have a finished product ready to go out the door, the moment might be over. Benny Agbayani’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/daac35fc-1ec7-41ec-a46c-de58bc5b8258/202+-+Pete+Rose.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pete Rose Pete Rose would do autograph signings so frequently, it seemed like Photo File was always printing up new pictures for him to autograph at shows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0ee6191-7743-4f28-954c-624ac3442079/203+-+Pete+Rose.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Same Rose, Different Pose Another one of the many images Photo File had of Pete Rose that they would print for him to use at autograph signings. When Photo File was awarded a license for photography by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, it became the first company to be given a license for photography by any major sport in the United State. Eventually, it had licenses from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, CLC, WWE, and MLS and their respective player associations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11c8a12f-31e6-4e14-b8c5-014e085d796c/204+-+First+Day+Cover.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out This is an example of one of Photo File’s first day covers featuring Mark McGwire during the 1998 Home Run Chase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7fa69bc-f391-4b83-be50-4c1148d030a8/205+-+Red+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Red Sox When the Red Sox won the World Series in November of 2004, Photo File started doing $1 million of business a month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/661e4f96-07d4-4386-a986-17275dd87014/206+-+1991+Andrew.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Young Andrew At 10 years old, Andrew would go to summer camp with Photo File order forms and get all of his friends to buy photos of the players in their inventory. Here is Andrew a couple years after that, in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73798270-4e26-4a2d-9204-38837515d829/207+-+1975+SSPC.jpeg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Greatest Achievement Michael says he is most proud of the fact that his creative ideas enabled him to send four people to college without student loans or debt. This picture was taken in 1975, just a few years before Andrew’s rookie year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4563d8e-4735-40bc-85f5-ead9b7a2309f/208+-+Baseball+Nostalgia.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Baseball Nostalgia Michael was partners with the owners of this hobby shop in the parking lot of Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Whatever Michael couldn’t sell at TCMA, he would send to the shop and they would sell it there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1283e1b1-0c01-4050-82ea-94b211434087/209+-+Sports+Nostalgia.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Sports Nostalgia This store was the same concept as Baseball Nostalgia, just a different location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a9c1374-1878-42c7-819e-20cc919e87b2/209+-+The+MA+in+TCMA.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Do You Have Any TCMA Cards? I’m “M.A.”! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fdfc60c-1426-4495-8641-d37127f42abb/211+-+Mets+cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Queens Baseball Convention Andrew sets up a table every year at the Queens Baseball Convention, the Mets annual fan fest, selling packs of 25 cards for cheap to unload the neverending supply from his father. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36c69686-18fa-4902-9ce0-13a67cab8ada/210+-+Mr.+Met.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Mr. Met Also pictured: the mascot for the National League baseball team that plays in New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df03a190-1678-4f4f-afb8-911b44a2952a/212+-+2020+Jefferson+Burdick+Award.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jefferson Burdick Award Winner In 2020, Michael was selected as the winner of the inaugural Jefferson Burdick Award by the Society for American Baseball Research’s Baseball Cards Committee. The Jefferson Burdick Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the baseball card hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8726b404-1219-4414-8e9f-f51d950e3335/214+-+Munson+Fisk.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Serendipity You never know who you’re going to run into as you take a walk around your neighborhood with your friends. Sometimes, it’s just some random dogs, so make sure you have treats with you. But other times, it’s the photographer who shot one of the most iconic photos which embodies the spirit of one of sports’ most iconic rivalries. Michael is always ready for either scenario. Carlton Fisk’s SABR Biography Thurman Munson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe403a46-74f6-4eb1-b390-335cda2df173/215+-+Making+A+List.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Making A List? While no single list exists which details every card Michael has created throughout his career spanning SCFC, SSPC, TCMA, and any other venture named or otherwise, many cards are properly listed in the Sports Collectors Bible. Eventually, we’re going to get Andrew to make his best effort at a complete list, though… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f62ce7f-a0cd-4eaf-be38-f9b2daedcbb5/216+-+TCMA+Archivist.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s Archivist It may be an impossible goal, but with our help, we can get Andrew closer to reacquiring one copy of every card Michael has ever made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50d73143-6ff8-492b-8aea-b77f2def7e99/217+-+rotograph.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1905 PC782 Rotograph Postcards The PC782 Rotograph postcards set includes various baseball players from New York. There are eight individual postcards of players, and a team postcard for the New York Giants, as well. While it is not confirmed, one is believed to exist for the Highlanders, too. As a result, the number of cards considered to be in the set varies among collectors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/669f189f-8c83-4bd1-9d07-07b0c6e3d249/218+-+Lillian+Russell.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Not Just Baseball There are hundreds of Rotograph real photo postcards, and the vast majority of them are not baseball-related. Michael has a large collection of them, including a handful of autographed postcards from silent movie actresses from the day, such as Lillian Russell, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78397b1c-5ec0-4151-b4c9-1de1e1ff50db/219+-+2016+in+Cooperstown.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Preserving The Legacy Andrew is clearly passionate about preserving the legacy of his father. Hopefully this podcast and these liner notes play a small part in doing just that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61c63d91-d56c-4ce4-b841-a36b21351523/220+-+HOF+Induction+Cards.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Hall Of Fame Induction Day Cards TCMA and Photo File produced these at certain points from 1984 through 2020, but no official checklist exists. Tom Seaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b184b12-2f9f-4f47-89b0-6fa6ca61b345/221+-+Pete+Henrici.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Pete Henrici Pete was Michael’s business partner and ran Baseball Nostalgia in Cooperstown. He still lives there to this day. In the background of this very photo, you can see a handful of the Hall of Fame Induction Day cards we’re talking about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6a27d4f-a7ed-4436-a7e2-7a655bfdac7c/222+-+Mets+Hat.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - “Mets Hat”? That’s definitely not what Andrew was saying before this picture was taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e3ad092-eac3-4636-8f1f-ba6ccb997db0/223+-+Lenny+Dykstra.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Lenny Dykstra Tough not to be a Mets fan with the team they had in the mid- to late-1980s, especially when your dad was so heavily involved with the team in producing Minor League cards of the players and the official postcards of the team, as well. Going to Game 3 of the 1986 NLCS was to Andrew’s fandom what Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round The World was to Michael’s. Lenny Dykstra’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc7e3235-99e4-42e8-9788-159b8341c800/224+-+Michael.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Reach Out To Michael TCMAcovers@mac.com Trade him some Mets cards! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bc2bf23-8a80-41d5-b4ca-fde135fc8662/225+-+Andrew.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Reach Out To Andrew TCMAphotos@mac.com Instagram Take him to a baseball game some time. I promise, it’s a fun thing to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b951922-b501-4c63-9dad-bf1d7e6bd304/226+-+Topps.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Topps Complete Sets I have every Topps complete set from the year I was born until the current day. My mom wrapped them each year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a96e75a-f7c1-45b1-bd10-8e5c37972c8f/227+-+Giddy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out You could absolutely hear the joy and love in Michael’s heart when he spoke. A true pleasure to have been a part of this one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00459ea1-ce87-49a4-afb4-526a64e15c51/228+-+keep+us+on+track.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keep Us On Track I couldn’t be more grateful to Andrew for playing the role he played in making this episode happen. From the prep work, to bringing the archives with him, to keeping us on track during the conversation, and all of the photos he has provided for these liner notes… I simply couldn’t have done this episode the way it was done without him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/929bd72c-6057-4068-95a7-1c71ec550720/229+-+Three+Borders+Wagner.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Michael’s First Wagner Absolutely crazy that someone can be able to say “my first Wagner” because you need to clarify which Wagner you’re talking about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08f0f102-ab99-4536-9e4c-bdadf2865e57/230+-+titanium+case.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Card Cases Listen. I get it, okay? You need something to protect your investments, because some of these cards are worth tens of thousands of dollars. My point is that it’s crazy we’re at a point in the hobby where kids are walking around carrying those types of cards without really thinking anything of it. And instead of being THRILLED to own something so rare/valuable/beautiful, they’re thinking about how they can flip it for the next card. It’s just a wild place to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0660b2c-a3b1-4199-aaec-0c9b50ef3b03/231+-+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1951 Bowman Mickey’s actual rookie card is this 1951 Bowman card, NOT the 1952 Topps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95536f90-c4b1-428d-a36a-68fb92453552/232+-+Theft.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Theft At Card Shows A theft of millions of dollars of sports cards occurred at a major sports card and memorabilia show at least twice that we know of in 2024. Sports card dealer Ashish Jai reported a theft of more than $2 million of sports cards in July at the Dallas Card Show at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center in Allen, TX. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/138279ff-888e-4bd3-8c49-9b652a0d590f/233+-+Burglary.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Robbing Athletes During Games Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's Ohio home was burglarized in December while he was playing in a game. Burrow joined a growing list of high-profile athletes, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, who have reported home break-ins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40951d05-d6b6-4f4f-83e0-246ce0dd23d9/234+-+1975+Topps.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - 1975 Topps The 1975 Topps set is a tough one to find in great condition because of the way the color ink often invites edge chipping. Centering is often an issue with this set, as are fish eyes (which you notice in the blue sky background just blow the “L” in “ROYALS” on this George Brett example). George Brett’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0edcce39-5aad-41b8-899c-a2d4d0b10679/236+-+Strawberry.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Darryl Strawberry Darryl’s 1983 TCMA card shows him as a member of the Tidewater Tides, the Mets’ AAA affiliate. Strawberry was 21 years old during the 1983 season which saw him play only 16 games in the Minor Leagues before being called up and winning the National League Rookie Of The Year Award. Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cc678d9a-e3d0-46e9-9f46-3db16ef06781/237+-+Will+Hudson.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Will Hudson You guys, it turns out the backup shortstop from the Mets’ Single-A affiliate Capital City Bombers in 2003 is named Will Hudson, and he does, in fact, have a real baseball card that Michael didn’t have to make. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e7183ef-4dbc-4959-abd8-7fa155559f6c/238+-+Uncle+Myron.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron With the help of the artistic ability of his Uncle Myron and Aunt Margie, Michael was able to create his first baseball card sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95a47858-ded0-4243-ae34-31f9c346fce3/239+-+1970+SFCF+Bobby+Lowe+by+Myron+Aronstein.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Uncle Myron’s Work This Bobby Lowe cartoon which appeared in the 1970 SFCF card set was drawn by Michael’s uncle, Myron Aronstein. Bobby Lowe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0af39a4a-5444-4fba-8773-b207ab3ebd8e/240+-+NL+Outfield.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - NL Outfield Imagine suiting up for your first All-Star appearance as a pitcher in the American League, and knowing this is the other team’s outfield. Now imagine it’s your 26th straight appearance, and your league has only won twice (which is what happened to the American League from 1960 through 1982). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01f75930-fb24-4c7a-bc46-2f9d1996bf2f/241+-+Keith+Olbermann+cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith Olbermann Read more things Keith has written about baseball over the years HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3e8a622-7a05-48f7-b9fc-c77234037b62/242+-+Olbermann%27s+Ball+Closet.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Keith’s Ball Vault His words, not mine. Check out THIS VIDEO of him talking about the Carlton Fisk “Stay Fair!” home run ball from the 1975 World Series, and hear him casually mention a half dozen other insanely historic baseballs he has in his vault. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3386172-7e28-4d46-bd98-07d288085355/235+-+Interior.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out From Andrew’s archives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/872312b1-8b86-4adc-8d0e-aad832908918/243+-+Crawford+Foxwell+postcard+reverse.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Make it stand out Michael got this postcard from Crawford Foxwell ahead of Michael’s first baseball card convention in his basement in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b75bb67-22aa-4a22-8772-6f0fcbb8ded2/244+-+Andrew%27s+Archives.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Andrew’s Archives Maybe all of this stuff ends up in a book one day. But until then, it can live here for you to enjoy and learn from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29a1b96d-62c5-4904-8437-67292b32a0af/245+-+1982+TCMA+Baseball%27s+Greatest.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - TCMA’s Baseball’s Greatest One of the most formative card sets in my life. It never occurred to me all those years ago that these cards were the work of one man, and by the time I was old enough to know that, I never dreamed that I would be able to sit down with that man and talk about them. This interview was a dream come true, and a genuine honor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e17866f8-c402-429a-bfa5-26cef2ce0b72/246+-+Bustin+Babes.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bustin’ Babes & Larrupin’ Lous This was what I saw every time I walked into my bathroom for about 15 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81c4a5a0-165b-42a9-92f1-0a623302b2ac/247+-+Big+Wall.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Main Wall I would venture to guess that most of these photos (if not all of them) were Photo File pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/682a524c-5989-42cd-8bda-11dc53894ed2/248+-+Above+The+Toilet.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Above The Toilet There wasn’t enough room on the main wall for outfielders, so I put them on the wall above the toilet. This view also gives you a good look at the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire wallpaper border, meaning this bathroom remodel took place shortly after the 1998 Home Run Chase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/998a5348-8015-46c6-aa97-ce1cfcd18fbe/249+-+On+The+Tank.JPG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Satchel Paige That little book on the right side of the tank was a double-sided flip book of Babe Ruth. When you flipped the pages in one direction, you saw Babe take his home run swing. When you turned the book over and flipped the pages in the other direction, you saw Babe take his line drive swing. It was really, really cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fda64cf-c871-4849-ab62-96706f8ce896/250+-+Jeanne.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Jeanne Only a true ride or die would say “you should have sold the house, not your baseball card collection.” Mike hit a home run with Jeanne. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cadabdb8-c793-4597-a250-6fa35c0771d5/251+-+McKie+Wagner.jpg Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The McKie Wagner Look how happy he is here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cdaf68a-2ee6-423e-9aac-db0e60ac2efb/252+-+Andrew+with+Ken+Goldin+and+the+Jumbo+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The Jumbo Wagner Look how happy he is here, too! If you’re reading this right now and you just happen to own the Wagner that’s missing three borders, let’s figure out a way to get together with Andrew so he can take a picture holding that one, too, and complete his lifelong goal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47c95366-e252-447d-a9d3-abcdab6bbe57/253+-+Burdick%27s+Wagner.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Burdick’s Wagner This was the first T206 Wagner I ever saw in person, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in December of 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73e16432-d363-4a30-8555-c2a4326db283/254+-+The+Hall+of+Fame%27s+Wagner.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - The HOF’s Wagner I saw this Wagner just a few days later at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6c93e79-b628-44b5-91ba-d68d67dcf877/255+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c772173d-0aa5-4be4-a7a9-33b118006350/256+-+Giveaway.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win an original TCMA Renata Galasso card of Shoeless Joe Jackson from 1981? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8763170d-f250-4c26-a7b0-4d0598a2b086/257+-+Satchel+Paige.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - My Own Satchel Paige Michael’s original TCMA card is on the left. My version is on the right. Not too bad for a 13-year-old using dial-up internet and Microsoft Excel, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63960c0b-bd08-46a2-a871-7fb51f8b9107/258+-+Bobby.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Bobby Giannini In high school, Bobby lettered three years in football, two years in basketball and four years in track. He was all-state, all-conference, and all-area co-captain as a senior, leading our team to the Class 8A State Finals. After graduating, he went on to play at Air Force. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f67c4791-9efe-4c91-935f-8e96edf90717/259+-+Bobby+cards.JPEG Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - My Own Card Set I hope Michael Aronstein would be proud of these. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f6caed1-0922-4f90-ad93-012e4dd69af1/299+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0404 - Michael Aronstein - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0403 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/896a8eaf-d90f-426c-96f8-9caf1df0ffe3/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0589e96b-cc3a-4ed4-b486-3b1aa2dbd726/square.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell Ashton Lansdell and me after recording our interview in Kenosha, Wisconsin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bbafa94-3ed2-4caf-b47b-10458239b2e3/01+-+KODA.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - KODA KODA (Kreators of Divine Auras) is the new clothing line created by Ashton Lansdell. Ashton designs every piece herself, and the font used on everything is her own handwriting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa2f9c10-5a19-4e2e-be39-191eee274500/02+-+Koda+hat.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Be The Energy KODA’s sun logo symbolizes karmic energy, and is a symbol that Ashton even has tattooed on her. Visit the KODA website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfd525cd-dba5-4eaf-8f75-810b38d02923/03+-+2006+YMCA.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - An Early Start Ashton started playing baseball at the age of 4, and continued to play baseball throughout her childhood, even when she was the only girl on her team. Here she is in 2006, playing for the Lake Norman YMCA team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b80a05b0-d125-4f00-b83d-28b0250c8639/04+-+Wheeler+pitchingg.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Breaking Barriers Ashton became the first woman to be a starting pitcher in a Georgia 7A regional game while playing at Wheeler High School. She helped guide the Wildcats to the 2019 Regional Title. “Ashton Lansdell Set To Take Mound For Wheeler Baseball Team” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c90f3073-25fe-4f1a-9945-dc58f76b5d6c/05+-+Team+USAA.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Team USA At the age of 17, Ashton tried out for and landed a spot on the USA Women’s National Baseball Team, an elite 18-player group of professionals that represents the United States in international women's baseball competitions. “Get To Know The USA Women’s National Baseball Team As They Go For Gold At The World Cup” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b308dfa2-f306-4d72-8863-7e7a7eafa8cb/06+-+2019+Pan+American+Games.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - 2019 COPABE Women's Pan-American Games In 2019, Ashton helped lead the team to a gold medal victory at the COPABE Women's Pan-American Championships in Mexico, hitting .583 for Team USA. She was second on the US with 8 extra-base hits, and hit for the cycle against Cuba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c767a760-5c33-4964-b6dc-9992db47dfd8/07+-+Georgia+Highlands+College+portrait.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Georgia Highlands College Ashton played one season of baseball at Georgia Highlands College, where she became the first female to play baseball at the NJCAA level. “Wheeler’s Ashton Lansdell to Play Baseball in College” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbc7063a-da97-42dc-b2d6-b8052aa4eb35/09+-+FIU+catching+a+softball.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making The Switch Ashton switched to softball for the first time in her life when she transferred to Florida International University for her sophomore year. Ashton was FIU’s starting shortstop in 2023, ranking 4th in Conference USA and 40th nationally among the leaders in steals. “She Developed Her Game Playing Baseball, But Could be FIU Softball Team’s Breakout Star” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72219b2e-b34c-4f33-ade4-c2bc169f6bb9/10+-+Team+USA+leadoff.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Team USA Ashton represented Team USA for the 2023-2024 Women's Baseball World Cup, acting as the team’s leadoff hitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de988cf9-a502-4594-9089-f82329b2eabb/11+-+RTEFW.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - #RTEFW Team USA came just short of their goal to RTEFW, though they did win their first silver medal in a decade at the 2024 Women’s World Cup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6ba2732-0a2c-42cb-9449-e36960fceb1a/12+-+Ole+Miss+locker.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ole Miss In June of 2024, Ashton announced she was transferring again, this time to Ole Miss, where she will play for the Rebels during the 2025 softball season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d71f25c-7821-41cd-8671-c0c2b4bdd3ac/13+-+Savannah+Bananas.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Savannah Bananas In June of 2024, Ashton signed a three-week contract with the Savannah Bananas, and traveled around the country playing to sold out crowds in minor and major league ballparks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b79353e-b21a-4c8e-9512-bf1f39f4bfff/14+-+2012+11+year+old+Georgia+State+Champs.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Growing Up Ashton was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but mostly grew up in Marietta, Georgia, which is where she considers home. Here is Ashton’s 11U team which won the 2012 Georgia State Championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6d49a1c-3c57-4130-992a-e54fdfdf43ce/15+-+Young+Ashton+1.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Natural Born Hitter Ashton hit a home run in her very first tee ball game ever. Here she is, a couple years later, locked in at the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32faa077-18ce-4ebe-b9ac-a043e1afe6e5/16+-+Catcher.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Catcher Ashton’s dad, Scott, was a catcher when he played college ball. Here she is trying the position for herself as a youngster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/782e623c-a65b-453f-ad7c-d339187a6979/17+-+Trophy.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball Is Fun Ashton was never pressured to play baseball, but she had fun doing it, and just happened to be very, very good at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cc9038c-5a3a-476d-84d5-3bb3391873b1/18+-+Mom+volleyball.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Mom Ashton’s mom, Dana, played volleyball when she was younger, and still works out every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/299b66e6-89c1-43a5-9da7-b38b789a9117/19+-+Camden.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Camden Ashton actually wished for a younger brother when she was 5 or 6 years old and was blessed with her younger brother, Camden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/afc8f28f-03f5-4eff-8838-bad9583d775e/20+-+Outfield.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Outfield Ashton started as an outfielder because of her speed. On her 12U team, the East Side Strikers, one of her teammates was a girl, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c5807dc-26d1-4f42-99f5-e4e83f2ebf0b/21+-+East+Side+Rage.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Always Been Normal There have been some teams where Ashton had female teammates, but it never felt strange to her to be the only girl on an otherwise all-boys team. That’s something she’s lived with her whole life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c80e0b38-6ecb-467b-bb10-b30722ae716c/22+-+high+school.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - High School High school was the first time gender was something that really got considered, since Ashton had to be in locker rooms to change before and after games. But on the field, she was just another member of the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2f6edf4-3d6c-414d-8aad-75120461669b/23+-+Georgia+Highlands+Water.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Part Of The Team That mentality carried on into her college playing days, as well. Once she was in the dugout and on the field, Ashton was just another player on the team, and gender didn’t matter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce74a9ec-1916-4872-af65-df33cd9ad66a/24+-+Georgia+Highlands+Sliding+Into+Home.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making The Plays Ashton made it easy for her coaches and teammates to think of her as any other member of the team, because she consistently made the plays on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dde37dcb-ef26-4ccb-9f33-d8e44c0b4acf/25+-+Braves+fan.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Braves Fan Ashton has been an Atlanta Braves fan from an early age. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97f3c90d-4158-4524-a1e9-f7d0c0376f7e/26+-+tattoo.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Tattoo Ashton got the Braves’ throwback “A” logo tattooed on her after Atlanta won the World Series in 2021. This logo appeared on the team’s caps from 1972 through 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17f5de05-78d4-4b3f-b9bb-25e01f4b32bc/27+-+Chipper+Jones.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Chipper Jones Ashton’s favorite player growing up was Chipper Jones. The Atlanta Braves selected him as the No. 1 pick in the 1990 amateur draft and over the next two decades, he helped lead the franchise to its greatest heights, winning a World Series in his rookie season, earning the National League’s Most Valuable Player award, and becoming the face of a baseball dynasty. Chipper Jones’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f99e3112-3c44-4f64-a4ca-fce3a882a21b/28+-+East+Side.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Pressure To Switch From the time Ashton started playing on travel baseball teams, other parents and coaches would often tell her she should switch to softball. “Breaking Boundaries in Baseball - More Young Female Players Unwilling To Give Up Beloved Sport For Softball” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e99532dd-00a6-4d89-b8ca-31bf6eb17acc/29+-+FIU+infield.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball vs. Softball Ashton said she was surprised at just how different softball is than baseball, now that she has played both at a high level. “Student Who Played Baseball On The U.S. Women’s National Team Now Shifts To Softball At FIU” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/576c9f89-ae6f-47ce-92df-460a963553ae/30+-+Wheeler+High+School.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Wheeler High School Ashton went to Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. On March 9, 2018, just two weeks after her 17th birthday, she became the first girl to start a varsity baseball game in Cobb County history when she took the mound, pitching 3 and 1/3 innings in a win against Pebblebrook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89100cb7-8598-4d7f-bb60-8e5d236b4000/32+-+Dave+McDonald+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dave McDonald Field Ashton’s favorite memory playing at her home field in high school was clinching a spot to go to the playoffs for the first time in years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1fd92d13-a48a-4be2-b716-8647ab2f49a1/33+-+Team+USA+2019.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out The 2019 US Women’s National Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/291bb686-635d-4a1c-98e2-a3a650e7149e/34+-+Dirty+uniform.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Causing Trouble On The Basepaths Ashton’s speed and fearless base running are an issue for opposing teams. She can even make what looks like a negative situation turn into a positive by running herself out of trouble, then immediately putting that play behind her to focus on the next one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d26faab-fdee-4803-8b8b-66879d27cae1/35+-+Japan.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Japan’s Women’s Baseball Team The Japan women's national baseball team won the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup, which was their sixth consecutive title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/756251f0-2e71-464a-995e-bda9aa68d630/36+-+Team+USA+practice+fielding.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Limited Practice Time While some countries have their women’s baseball teams together and practicing and playing together all year, the US Women’s National Team is usually only together for a very short time before they’re playing in games that count. Trying to create team chemistry and get in a good rhythm on and off the field is a challenge for any team, but it’s even harder for a team which isn’t afforded the ability to be together a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99ff65ed-13a5-4ce7-b25c-9b93fb0b4d63/37+-+Veronica.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Veronica Alvarez Veronica Alvarez made her managerial debut in 2019 when she became the first female recipient of the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year award for her efforts in leading the Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f79c8b0-a984-42a6-9ad8-21a36cb3a9ee/38+-+Malaika.jpeg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Malaika Underwood From her debut in 2006 to her final appearance in 2022, Malaika Underwood played on a Team USA-record 11 national teams and medaled at eight different international competitions. She won four total gold medals, including at the 2006 Women’s Baseball World Cup, the 2015 Pan American Games Qualifier and Pan American Games, and the 2019 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5232769-c9e4-4f75-8e23-2d3bf624c702/39+-+Alex.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Oglesby A key player for the inaugural Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, Alex Oglesby batted .364 to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. She played in the Ladies Professional Baseball League before representing Team USA and was the league’s youngest player when it began in 1997. At just 17 years old, Oglesby led the San Jose Spitfires to the league’s first World Series Championship and was named both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts. She also helped form the California Women’s Baseball League in 2002, where she earned MVP honors twice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c38ab1e-9f6a-404c-a889-596cfb132a8b/40+-+Mendo.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Reynol Mendoza During the 2019 team’s run to a gold medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, Reynol Mendoza helped coach its pitchers to a collective 3.16 ERA and .255 batting average against in 37 innings of work. Prior to coaching, Mendoza played seven seasons in the Miami Marlins’ minor league system after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1992 MLB Draft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7613fde3-c4d5-4166-8d58-0e0ad4f69c1e/41+-+Laura+Collins.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Laura Collins In 2004, at the inaugural World Cup, Laura Collins led the team with a 1.00 ERA while tossing two complete games and allowing just two earned runs in 14 innings. After winning her gold medal, Collins stepped aside to raise a family and earn a living working for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near Hollywood, Florida. After a 14-year break, she re-joined the team in 2018 as a 44-year-old and was teammates with Ashton, who was 17 years old at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c01226dd-2e12-4fef-97bb-270562b787a0/42+-+Team+USA+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “The Future Of Women’s Baseball” Ashton has been called “The Future Of Women’s Baseball” since she was 17 years old, which can be a lot of pressure to live up to, but Ashton knows that there are women all over the world who can help her carry that torch, not just her teammates on the US Women’s National Team. “These Two High Schoolers Are The Future Of Women’s Baseball” “Prospectus Feature: Believe in Ashton Lansdell” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95ccec9d-b8a7-4d1f-8636-a65007fe4be1/43+-+Making+Team+USA.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Making Team USA USA Baseball announced the final 20-woman roster for the 2018 Women's National Team following the completion of a week-long identification process in Cary, North Carolina, which included the Women's National Open and Women's National Team Trials. Ashton’s mom helped her celebrate the life-changing news. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/281a069f-b232-48d0-997f-703218c397fc/44+-+Basketball+knee+brace.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Multi-Sport Star Ashton also played basketball at Wheeler High School, which is how she tore her ACL during her sophomore year. If it hadn’t been for that injury, Ashton may have made Team USA as a 15-year-old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4749df19-8d61-4db1-9617-22bfe7948fc9/45+-+Birth+stats.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - 222 Ashton tore her ACL with 2:22 on the clock, which was wild because that number already held such significance in her life. Ashton was born February 22, 2001, and has “222” tattooed on her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a5c4618-34a6-48e1-a802-b6119dc67a10/46+-+Knee+surgery+stitches.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - First Real Injury Ashton said the pain was intense, but that the sound of the injury was the scariest part, having never suffered an injury of that severity before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f36648b4-affc-466f-8231-fa68b0315278/47+-+knee+surgery.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Surgery Within a few days after having her surgery, Ashton was already in physical therapy to regain movement and strength in her leg so she could get back on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/89ced867-d8e1-4acb-8fed-e9797d28d7d7/48+-+Georgia+Highlands+College+commitment.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Georgia Highlands College On July 18, 2019, Ashton announced her commitment to Georgia Highlands College. The Junior College team had won at least 29 games in the competitive Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association in each of their three previous seasons before Ashton became a part of the program. “Ashton Lansdell Following Baseball Dream In The NJCAA” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/799e53b2-8f68-4b07-9ad4-ea4fd8143b1a/49+-+Dash+O%E2%80%99Neill.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dash O’Neill When Ashton met coach Dash O’Neill, she knew Georgia Highlands College was the right fit for her, and the place which would allow her to take the next step in her career. 2024 was a special season for O'Neill and the Chargers who led the nation in wins (56), won the Appalachian District Championship, and made the program's first ever trip to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Prior to taking the helm at GHC, O’Neill spent 12 years at NJCAA powerhouse Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, AL. At Chattahoochee Valley, O’Neill helped guide the Pirates to 493 wins, three consecutive appearances in the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series, and the #1 ranking in the NJCAA in 2013, 2014, and 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32af7997-5c5a-4567-83be-786298fcc818/50+-+Georgia+Highlands+Seeds.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Being Someone’s Favorite Player As soon as Ashton announced she would be playing at GHC, many people on the internet claimed her as their new favorite college baseball player. “I Have A New Favorite Baseball Player And Her Name Is Ashton Lansdell” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfd7ee19-b38d-406f-8d0e-c752cb2c9e08/51+-+AJC.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The AJC came out to GHC to interview Ashton and write a story about her in October of 2019. “Breaking Boundaries In Baseball” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/858cadf2-b658-41d9-9ca3-76cddb6ccad0/52+-+instagram+post.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Haters Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever used the internet before can attest, there are always going to be haters out there. How you deal with them and whether or not you allow them to affect you says a lot about you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f57459-da59-4543-b405-a6b0278f82a3/53+-+confidence.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Quiet Confidence Ashton has expectations for herself, which she does everything in her power to live up to. Her confidence is apparent when you watch her practice, play, and just go about life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/393d2721-57aa-4779-a658-377233637896/54+-+Flex.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Okay… maybe she’s a little cocky, too. But that’s a good thing, sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d168abf0-5848-44c0-aa95-77f6c7c8cd5e/55+-+gold+medal.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Gold Medal Ashton helped lead the US Women’s National Baseball team to a gold medal victory at the Women's Pan-American Championships in Mexico. The team went 7-0 in the tournament, out scoring their opponents 124-20. In the gold medal game, Ashton hit a 2-RBI double to center field in the 3rd inning to break the tie and give the US a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4b37c121-1471-44ce-a569-49d1a288e549/56+-+Team+USA+Smiling.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Baseball Is Fun” Ashton says “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.” When you watch her play, it’s very clear that Ashton is doing it right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9d56fa1-793b-409e-a719-d56d43b2a919/57+-+Having+fun.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Beloved Teammate Ashton is always talking on the field, and always getting her teammates to join in on the fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/119b67d8-b993-4878-a920-4cf422c2e2ca/58+-+selfies.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Selfies It’s clear as day that Ashton is the life of the party, and leads by example when it comes to building team chemistry, even if it’s something as simple as taking selfies in the dugout to loosen everyone up before a big game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/882e16fb-0617-4628-8046-78e0c2338b3f/59+-+selfies.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - More Selfies Listen, I’m telling you, it’s not for show. This is just who Ashton is, and her personality is undeniable. It’s awesome to watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8ad0d5a-1411-45fc-9a63-dc1879216ba4/60+-+Team+USA+2024.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out It’s no coincidence who’s in the center of this photo, and why everyone around her is smiling, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5c6f91c-312f-4481-9c1c-a9a4dcd1b9cc/61+-+mom.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Be Present Where Your Feet Are” Ashton’s mom’s voice is in her head all the time, reminding her to be grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/728326bf-3475-45ac-97fe-31dbc6717f3c/62+-+Team+USA+Cycle+against+Cuba.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 22, 2019 vs. Cuba Ashton went 4-5 with 5 RBI, hitting a double in the 2nd inning, a single in the 3rd, a 2-RBI triple in the 4th, and a 400-foot 3-run home run to dead center in the 5th. Team USA won the game 23-1, thanks to Ashton’s first career cycle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7bbb3700-569c-43f3-be1e-f29fa58b02ea/63+-+in+the+gym.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Working Out Ashton’s love of the gym, and her desire to be strong (and, you know, to be able to walk and run) helped her mentally as she recovered from her second torn ACL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63c4951b-4aa5-4192-a820-3c909ed654dc/64+-+Young+Ashton+4.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton In The Outfield Ashton originally played outfield because she was so fast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bcd2d20-7ace-45c0-9242-590cf62e6db2/65+-+Pitchinggg.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Pitching Ashton’s coach knew she had a decent arm, so when the team needed some more pitchers, he brought her in from the outfield and taught her how to pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83780b69-b09e-42b0-a1ed-1cd030fdf3b4/66+-+East+Side+Heat.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Ashton on the East Side Heat, where she first learned how to pitch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db51bfe4-6f3b-447b-857c-873de14ba7e6/67+-+Wheeler+coaches.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Second Base After her knee injury in high school, Ashton switched her focus to second base. Thankfully, she has always loved infield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2344328-0920-4d3c-a69a-ab326721200c/68+-+dirty.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Dirty Uniform Ashton’s uniform is literally always dirty once she gets to the field. Whether it be from making a diving play in the field… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c22a3ddf-877d-4fcb-bf95-0e0c27a4e1d3/69+-+head+first.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Means You’re Hustling … or sliding on the basepaths, it’s easy to pick Ashton out on the diamond because she’s the one covered in dirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ded5ba7-8a63-4daf-8e95-f09ab9b45987/70+-+third+base.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Third Base During her senior year of high school, Ashton continued pitching but also learned to play third base, which is one of her favorite positions to play to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/219662dd-a4f1-4ad3-9187-704373e85143/71+-+acuna.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ronald Acuña, Jr. Let’s make a list of the things Ashton has in common with Ronald Acuña, Jr.: Hits bombs Steals bases Tons of energy Insane swag Fun celebrations Uniform is constantly dirty Injury history which includes multiple torn ACLs Debuted at a young age Dad was a baseball player It’s no wonder he’s Ashton’s current favorite player. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55aa89ff-4373-4009-b540-5fb10f801fb3/73+-+speed+and+strength.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Speed & Strength Ashton’s work in the gym builds her strength, but focused workouts thanks to her trainer help her maintain her speed and flexibility, especially after her injuries, so she can continue hitting triples and stealing bases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/231e6089-a9d2-4ddd-9e4d-ba0485482095/74+-+home+run+derby+x.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X The Home Run Derby X field is limited by a 45-degree angle from home plate. There is a fence between 280-320 feet to centerfield and 260-300 feet down the lines. Both the pitchers mound and batters box are on a raised stage. Additionally, there are fielders. Two from each team while on defense. Catches count as one point, the same as a home run does for the hitting team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b29a512-b00b-4c29-aaf8-7f3e785f2d9b/75+-+Alex+Hugo+flex.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Hugo Alex Hugo has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball Team since 2018. She is Team USA's everyday second baseman and hit at a .308 clip while leading the team in runs scored in 2024. In 2019 at the 2019 COPABE Women's Pan-American Championships, Alex led Team USA offensively, hitting .652/.742/1.391 with a team-leading 15 hits, 20 runs scored, 18 RBIs and four home runs, while also recording five doubles. She went 6-6 to lead the team in stolen bases, and earned All-Tournament awards for best batter, most home runs and best second baseman. Alex was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and earned the 2019 USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year Award for her performance. Ashton loves being able to participate in Home Run Derby X events with Alex. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c575baee-1923-4be9-a729-e397aec1e397/76+-+Take+A+Bow.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - On A Big Stage … Literally Batters and pitchers are on a 10-foot stage off the ground during Home Run Derby X competitions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2acccf98-a3c8-415f-8aa9-02820c11c1aa/77+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+Dodgers+celebrating.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Winner Ashton isn’t just there to mess around. She’s there to win. Here she is, celebrating with her Dodgers teammates (including Adrián González) after the 2022 event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98512694-a808-4ccd-bc88-93f2ce59d956/78+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+family.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X Family It’s a tight knit group, so every time they get to see each other, it feels like a little family reunion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b710e1fe-3737-44bf-a255-7d02c2f8a6de/79+-+Home+Run+Derby+X+in+London.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - London Series Ashton was lucky enough to travel to London for Home Run Derby X in 2023 as part of the London Series fan festival when the Cardinals and Cubs played a two-game series at London Stadium. Ashton has also traveled to Mexico City and Seoul for other international Home Run Derby X events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61fae1a8-90b7-4bb1-bc08-5527dc6051e2/80+-+london.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - London Tourist After participating in the Home Run Derby X event in London, Ashton stuck around with her aunt and was able to be a tourist for a bit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1aa671ba-98ff-41e1-a5b0-8b74830deb8f/81+-+FIU+shortstop.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Switch To Softball It was a difficult decision for Ashton to switch over to softball, especially after years of being so adamant about playing baseball, but she says it’s a decision she doesn’t regret at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/295f8e76-ffdc-4a78-9856-729a8ec745c2/82+-+Aleimalee+Lopez.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Aleimalee Lopez A former four-year starter for Florida International University and a first-team All-Conference USA selection, Aleimalee Lopez served as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss (2020-21) and as a volunteer assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio (2018-20) before becoming an assistant coach at her alma mater. Prior to her return to FIU, Lopez held the position of assistant head coach for the Sarasota Circus, who claimed the 2021 championship in the Florida Gulf Coast Summer League. Lopez has enjoyed a decorated international playing career as she has been a member of the Puerto Rico National Team for nearly 15 years. She helped the squad capture a gold medal at the 2018 Central American Games and earned a bronze at the 2019 Pan American Games – finishing behind only the United States and Canada. She also competed professionally in Italy in the Italian Softball League during the summer of 2017. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c9cb18c-f216-40b8-ab07-ff42bf67a6ff/83++-FIU+softball.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Big Adjustment Ashton said the toughest adjustment for her to make when switching from baseball to softball was at the plate, with the pitching motions of the two sports being so wildly different from one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29f8356a-e6b9-4839-9254-8095724621f4/84+-+FIU+Clemson+HR.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - First Home Run On February 9, 2023, in her first EVER softball game at any level, Ashton started at shortstop and hit in the 3-spot against the 10th ranked team in the country, Clemson. Clemson beat the Panthers 10-1, unfortunately, but FIU’s lone run came in the 3rd inning off of this solo home run Ashton hit to dead center. Watch the video below to see the full clip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed5a4896-c797-4716-8a6e-8d86836c3c7a/85+-+FIU+Dancing.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “This Is Why You Brought Me Here” Ashton’s teammates were in awe after her home run. She would hit 11 more over the course of her FIU career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64458f6e-f5d5-4e17-a5e4-6308e723d152/86+-+hat.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Wearing A Hat The only question Ashton asked before committing to play softball at FIU was “can I wear a baseball cap on the field?” since that is what she had worn her entire life. When the answer came back “yeah, no problem,” it was a done deal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98c0f177-95dd-4621-9d99-bd3b0d72bc2f/87+-+stretching.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Switching back and forth from baseball to softball depending on which sport is in season at the moment can be mentally difficult, so one way Ashton tries to stay focused is by keeping the same stretching routines before each game, no matter the sport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c898b44a-9a7d-45ea-a356-fae1bf8c33d0/88+-+Team+USA+portrait.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Focus Focusing on breathing and rhythm is another way Ashton has been trying to keep calm and in the moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96087041-7ded-46cf-9d17-01f99ef19714/89+-+glove.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Glove While she doesn’t have many rituals, Ashton said she always likes to make sure that her glove is well taken care of, which is a good habit for players of any age, gender, or skill level to get into. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc302209-64bf-4cbb-9a15-e9f108f49d59/90+-+routine.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Routine One way a player often calms their nerves and makes each at bat in a game feel familiar is by creating a ritual or routine when they’re in the batter’s box. That is something Ashton has been working on to help her succeed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd30ff5e-0e15-4ddc-9854-52d05e0e00cf/91+-+playing+in+the+dirt.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Playing In The Dirt Ashton is always kicking around the dirt in the infield, smoothing it out. That’s something I did all the time as a player, too. Not just in the field, but on the pitcher’s mound and in the batter’s box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92ce11f3-89e3-4e88-902a-501544ff6ebe/92+-+progress.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Progress It’s amazing to think how far women’s baseball in America has come since the 1940s, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League existed. Ashton says the progress she has personally seen since 2019 is incredible, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db174f77-952d-41fa-b348-83c37208cb41/93+-+Team+USA+player+of+the+day.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Social Media Social media plays a huge part in the growth of the game, both nationally and internationally. Now, when a player makes a great play, hits a big home run, or has a great game, the whole world can not only know about it, but see it within minutes. Players can have their own followings, earn their own sponsorships, and build their own fan bases. Those are opportunities which weren’t afforded to players in previous generations, and Ashton and her teammates are taking full advantage of those opportunities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cab158b9-9633-463d-ac6d-cd4e18a22628/94+-+Dream+tattoo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Dream Until It’s Your Reality” Ashton has already accomplished so much, but she continues to accomplish bigger and better things because she continues to set goals for herself, and then strives to achieve them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0957b20-d8b4-4e11-88c2-9c362de49780/95+-+part+of+the+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Part Of The Team Whether it’s Adrián González, Nick Swisher, Jonny Gomes, or any of her other teammates through Home Run Derby X or another team, Ashton feels like she belongs because she has proven that her skills measure up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31d3c85d-69b2-40d7-aab6-b12ec856e4ca/96+-+Alex+Crosby.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Alex Crosby Alex Crosby’s love for his heritage first stemmed from being around his mother, who he says is ‘super British.’ Once he saw Great Britain’s support of its soccer team, he knew what country he wanted to eventually represent on the diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b392470-c34f-42e0-9606-c16089123b98/97+-+Kelsie+Whitmore.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Kelsie Whitmore Kelsie Whitmore has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball team since 2014. She was named USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year in 2022. Kelsie played college softball for Cal State Fullerton and has also played professionally for the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association, and the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League, becoming the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. On April 10, 2024, Kelsie signed with the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League. She became the first woman to play for that league, and on June 6, 2024, became the first female to start a Pioneer League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fda8abf2-1b50-44b5-afd0-e1232d4962aa/98+-+denae+benites.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Denae Benites Denae Benites has been a member of the US Women’s National Baseball team since 2019. She batted .364 while maintaining a perfect fielding percentage as a catcher for the team in 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a44ddcaa-5e9b-481c-a74d-05b409fed767/99+-+the+next+generation.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ashton’s Advice For The Next Generation Go after what you want. Do your best doing what you love in life every single day. Don’t let anyone take your happiness away from you. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If someone says you can’t do something, prove them wrong. Dream until it’s your reality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc69b350-143a-4d0b-b899-4068dda022a1/100+-+USA+Eye+Black.jpeg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Follow Ashton Online KODA Instagram TikTok Twitter Snapchat LinkTree Bless her Venmo or CashApp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa6ed8f1-f7df-4c84-99e5-ea3779f0dd24/101+-+Daily+Sports+History+logo.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Daily Sports History On this day in sports history, something iconic, unique, and crazy happened. That’s what the show Daily Sports History is here to bring you. Listen daily to re-live iconic moments, find out about unique situations, and learn how sports got from its beginning to where it is now. Listen now at DailySportsHistory.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ddfce443-083b-4e01-a750-8e4ce59c94b0/102+-+float+it.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - “Float It” If you’ve never seen Rookie Of The Year, don’t watch THIS CLIP. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22591244-9842-437e-a2c0-90e6e74fb42e/103+-+Beyer.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois was the home of the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48c6a7dc-e5ba-40d2-b9ee-1266052b62cb/103+-+Beyer.JPG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Beyer Stadium On August 3, 2023, the US Women’s National Baseball Team played an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73fb7468-68c3-4c52-9a84-c5588a850cda/105+-+Beyer.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 3, 2023 Ashton Lansdell plays third base while Kelsie Whitmore pitches during an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/478ee269-073e-4818-97ac-0861ecdbddca/106+-+Kenosha.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - August 4, 2023 The following day, the USWNT played another exhibition game at Simmons Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Here, Ashton waits in the bullpen down the third base line after warming up during the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5838f23-40f6-4365-a8e0-e40e77c0e64e/107+-+dirty.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Dirty Uniform Seriously. It’s always dirty. It’s awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18dd3644-6481-4054-b22b-e03bd8263b30/108+-+young+ashton.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Young Ashton Ashton got her start at an early age. She’s been tearing up the base paths ever since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de879c17-3f6f-44ce-b961-8954fa48fae8/109+-+Freddie.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Freddie Freeman In the moments after crossing home plate, after his 409-foot homer had crossed the right-field fence and a packed Dodger Stadium crowd erupted in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, Freddie Freeman sprinted over to the seats behind the batter’s box and celebrated with his father through the netting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0548a679-2b8e-45cc-9e9e-b2c9cc81c7b3/110+-+Supportive+family.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Supportive Family Ashton’s entire family is incredibly supportive of her. Her mom and step dad hug her in this photo taken at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. while attending one of the Savannah Bananas games Ashton played in during the summer of 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba469438-55fa-403c-9b39-ffe52abe68a6/111+-+Nashville.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - In Nashville Ashton’s mom and brother came to see her in Nashville at the Home Run Derby X event at First Horizon Park on August 31, 2024. Andruw Jones and Nick Swisher headlined two of the four squads, with former University of Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo joining Ashton and her USWNT teammate Alex Hugo among the other participants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bef3f22f-e2ff-4c47-b87a-5c6e20a1d64d/112+-+Ole+Miss.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ole Miss Ashton’s mom and brother were even a part of her photo shoot to announce her transfer to Ole Miss, where she will play softball in the upcoming 2025 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47a567e8-1d07-4499-a569-d0f4910ba02b/Home+Run+Derby+X+durham.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Home Run Derby X in Durham Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Jonny Gomes, Ian Desmond, Tiare Jennings, Ashton Lansdell, Amanda Lorenz, and Skylar Wallace paired with players from Duke, North Carolina, NC State and UNCW to make up the teams competing at the Home Run Derby X event at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on September 7, 2024. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5183eabc-21cb-4f27-871f-7725fa5565ae/114+-+Savannah+Bananas+lineup+card.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - June 29, 2024 Pretty cool to see your name on any lineup card, but to see it listed fifth in the batting order during the Savannah Bananas World Tour at Victory Field in Indianapolis must have been a truly special feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75bc1bd5-5f8a-46c9-9d3e-c2459bab09c0/115+-+Savannah+pitchingg.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - All Smiles All The Time This is seriously Ashton all game long. It’s such a pleasure to watch her play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de0c20b5-d6d2-4c58-96eb-5e6fd8e92804/116+-+Savannah+Bananas+swing.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Very Appealing Jerseys Get it? Cause it’s the Bananas? So the jerseys are … nevermind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbc3eff8-a614-4598-a35b-468a1c45725c/117+-+Savannah+Bananas+at+Nationals+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Ashton and the Bananas played in front of 42,000 fans at a sold out Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b5058f9-a101-4f34-9cf6-a40b93576025/118+-+baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Differences Between Baseball… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26009c05-0c2a-43ce-b8d2-8a661a58f5d5/119+-+Ole+Miss+Wearing+a+hat.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - … And Softball They’re two totally different sports. From the size of the fields, to the size of the equipment, to the motions of the throws, and even the behavior of the dugouts during games. It takes skill to be able to so seamlessly transition between playing both at a high level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2fa65552-1019-4108-9cb7-7a9fdfa666a6/120+-+ange+armato.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Ange Armato Ange Armato is a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who spent time playing with the Rockford Peaches and the Kalamazoo Lassies. She was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00d9c543-7d8e-411a-9d8c-51f6ddd7d246/121+-+Evolution+of+the+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League started out playing softball (left, 1943). By the time the league played its final season in 1954, they were playing baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f32680d4-c8e0-4885-bbe9-3ca00cbb124e/122+-+evolution.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b1b4bb6-4f48-4446-a361-739f3d7e1f99/123+-+Team+USA+throw.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - The Difference In Throws When Ashton plays baseball, a throw from third base to first is a little over 127 feet, with a ball that has a 9-inch circumference. When she plays softball, a throw from the second base bag is 60 feet, with a ball that has a 12-inch circumference. However, when she fields a routine grounder, the throw is closer to 30 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/435c5e1a-a79d-4c8d-91d1-a3c8ba3b6961/124+-+Team+USA+Ticket+Punched.JPG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Limited Time Together Team USA spends so little time actually together as a team compared to some of the other top countries competing against them in international competitions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba98efa-ad70-430d-b98c-da52b45cbac2/125+-+USA+silver+medal.JPEG Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Silver Medal With that in mind, it’s even more remarkable how consistently great Team USA has been, winning the Gold Medal at the 2019 COPABE Pan-American Games, and winning the Silver Medal at the 2024 Women’s Baseball World Cup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0fc36a7a-a4a1-4996-90b4-5a7faf1b722a/126+-+Wheeler+baserunning.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Playing With The Boys It was no big deal to Ashton or her teammates for them to be on the same team, or to share a locker room in high school. That’s a huge cultural shift from when Title IX was enacted and signed into law. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/352b6062-da8e-4359-b61a-860801c5e505/Savannah+Bananas+smiling.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Breaking Barriers From becoming the first woman to play at the NJCAA level in 2021, to playing on a Major League field in front of 42,000 fans with the Savannah Bananas just three years later, it’s been a remarkable ascension for Ashton Lansdell. But she’s achieved everything she has because she’s worked for it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e73dd02b-f5b2-4dbf-b93b-00bfaedef1cf/128+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Bluesky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bcf2cf8b-a654-4a61-8827-c0b51dd71425/129+-+autograph.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win an autographed baseball from Ashton Lansdell? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE or on bluesky HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d099d46-0a81-4c60-8ea9-6f49e446e497/130+-+Uganda+Team+USA.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Uganda In December of 2023, four players from the US Women’s National Baseball Team went to East Africa to host baseball clinics which reached over 300 girls across five regions within the Republic of Uganda. Ashton was one of those four players, and she went with Meggie Meidlinger, Anna Kimbrell, and Kelsie Whitmore on a whirlwind tour of the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60e72777-9a7e-4811-b1d3-9aea42de61db/131+-+Uganda.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - A Poor Nation Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world. In 2012, 37.8 percent of the population lived on less than $1.25 a day. Families often cannot support their children at school, and in most cases, girls drop out of school to help out in domestic work or to get married. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6ced736-fd9e-4ecd-8c80-7bc43670a335/132+-+Baseball+At+Heart+logo.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball At Heart At Baseball at Heart, their mission is to create an infinite and enhanced baseball community in Africa with a strong focus on youth development and providing opportunities to youngsters from underprivileged communities. They believe that through the sport of baseball, they can empower individuals, inspire positive change, and foster personal growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1afb753e-3f25-4b14-a2be-ab9b49b7f355/133+-+Grassroots+Baseball.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Grassroots Baseball Grassroots Baseball celebrates the amateur game around the globe and promotes the benefits of sports in people’s lives, through baseball. As Grassroots Baseball says, sports aren’t merely a diversion, and their influence doesn’t end at the chalk lines. Playing sports offers so much more than just the final score on the field, especially in historically underserved communities, where they can empower and transform the lives of youth, minorities, and women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d7c6d0d-815a-4484-87bf-831a206d680b/134+-+Uganda+Day+1.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 1 Heavy rain flooded the field they planned to use in Kampala, but the resourceful team moved the action indoors. The kids had a blast, practicing base running and hitting before a game between the girls and boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d40d8c7b-fb11-4b63-96e6-b610918a0813/135+-+Uganda+Day+2.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 2 The second day in Lugazi saw a little more rain, but not enough to keep Ashton and her teammates from working with some girls who already had experience wielding bats in both baseball and softball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bd00824-a524-45b3-a295-6434acd26b0f/136+-+Uganda+Day+3.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 3 On the third day, the group embarked on an incredible journey from the banks of the Nile to the Kakira Sugar Factory. Many kids in the area come from hardworking, low-income families who work in the sugar plantations. It was a day filled with fundamental skill-building — base running, hitting, fielding, and pitching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de9f05d1-c8c1-4434-bdfb-5d6ea4a14aff/137+-+Uganda+Day+4.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 4 The fourth day saw the group travel to Luwero, where the pioneering Luwero Valley High School team became the first-ever champions of women’s baseball in Uganda. A significant number of girls, aged 10 and below, joined the group to delve into the world of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5b9ca08-e8a1-4f80-9c1a-7bfb8b0b11dc/138+-+Uganda+Day+5.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Day 5 The fifth and final day of the trip led the group to the north region. In the Kiryandongo refugee camp, where many South Sudanese have found refuge, over 40 Sudanese girls passionately embraced baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eebc2804-eb4a-4668-907a-d9a38a867e8c/139+-+Jean+Fruth.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Jean Fruth Filmmaker and photographer Jean Fruth surrounds her work with purpose, using the power of images to tell stories and inspire change. Jean is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Grassroots Baseball. Jean’s film debut came in 2024 as Director and Producer of SEE HER BE HER. Jean is the author/photographer of three books in the Grassroots Baseball Series: Where Legends Begin (2019), Route 66 (2022), and See Her Be Her (2024). Jean is honored to be designated by Sony as one of its select Sony Artisans of Imagery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7dd1b693-3764-4e00-8f16-4f80660f6f47/140+-+See+Her+Be+Her.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - See Her Be Her See Her Be Her celebrates the girls and women of baseball, from the glorious past of the players made famous by Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own, to the ongoing exploits of the most talented females in the game today, to the very real possibility that a woman will one day make her major league debut. Jean Fruth traveled the globe, shooting on three continents and assembling the over 250 strikingly beautiful photos that illustrate this book. Buy the book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a4e3057-c791-4c1c-948b-2c265946b05f/141+-+Uganda+3.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Follow Jean Fruth Online Her photography is truly stunning. Instagram YouTube Twitter Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d5a8a0be-7066-4b62-938a-a254d8d529b3/142+-+Baseball+For+All.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Baseball For All Baseball For All started with one all-girls team playing against boys in Cooperstown, New York, and now has players in over 40 states and 5 countries competing on teams in tournaments all over the U.S. The nonprofit was founded by Justine Siegal in 2010, and it’s one I’ve been volunteering with this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76177b55-edfd-430e-9772-93ce371eb286/143+-+Justine.jpg Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Justine Siegal Justine Siegal is the first woman in baseball history to coach for a professional men’s baseball team (Brockton Rox - 2009), the first female to throw batting practice to a Major League Baseball team during Spring Training (Cleveland Indians - 2011), and the first woman to ever coach for a MLB organization (Oakland Athletics - 2015). Since then, her jersey has been hung in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. She has also gone on to work with baseball teams around the world, including Team Israel at the MLB World Baseball Classic Qualifier, and as a guest coach in Japan and Mexico. She founded Baseball For All in 2010 to provide opportunities for girls to play, coach, and lead in baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0538650b-2926-442c-903f-a33a78ac453e/144+-+logo.png Past Episodes - 0403 - Ashton Lansdell - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0402 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea682efa-f6b9-4746-8890-4bad57f670f1/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44183ade-83f0-42e3-b489-54dab1a0e433/square.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom Me and Todd Radom after recording our interview at his home in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acf09e2f-aade-4d35-afe7-f7dcab0e442f/01+-+1924+Negro+Leagues.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1924 Negro League World Series Card Set This episode is brought to you by historian Jay Caldwell and his 1924 Negro League World Series card set. Featured artists in the set include Graig Kreindler, Brian Kong, Jeff Suntala, Mike Kupka, and Darryl Matthews, who is the son of Negro Leagues player Fran Matthews. BUY THE CARD SET HERE Graig Kreindler was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1899bd8-81a8-4bb7-8758-1a6f49afb5dc/02+-+1924+Negro+League+World+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Five members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame participated in the 1924 Negro League World Series, with Biz Mackey, Judy Johnson, and Louis Santop playing for Hilldale, while Bullet Rogan and José Méndez played for the Monarchs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/838bdef0-6e70-4869-8a90-d77521ddc0fb/03+-+Phil+S.+Dixon.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phil S. Dixon Negro Leagues historian and author Phil S. Dixon and I spoke about the panoramic photo of the 1924 Negro League World Series shown above. Phil was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42b8c635-1b11-4dc6-9c6b-c8c8e4e65691/04+-+Super+Bowl+XXXVIII+logo.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Super Bowl XXXVIII Todd Radom designed the logo for Super Bowl XXXVIII. The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in the game, which was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2004. At the time, this was the most watched Super Bowl ever with 89.8 million viewers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/780235bf-06b5-4120-bcdc-41bed7bf713b/05+-+2009+NBA+All+Star+Game.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2009 NBA All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 146–119 in the game, which was played at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona on February 15, 2009. The West's Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were named joint winners of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3da6dec7-9d5d-475b-9d78-40da6c293aba/06+-+2014+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2014 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the game, which was played at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 15, 2014. Mike Trout was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ddea3b52-9d10-4352-b7c9-2e27375b0690/07+-+2016+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2016 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 4-2 in the game, which was played at Petco Park in San Diego, California on July 12, 2016. Eric Hosmer was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f07c567-469e-4f4c-a90f-c751f0ae02d3/08+-+2018+MLB+All+Star+Game.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2018 MLB All-Star Game Todd designed the logo for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. The American League defeated the National League 8-6 in the game, which was played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on July 17, 2018. Alex Bregman was named the winner of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59358977-6995-48f2-88a1-77727d4e6e2f/09+-+Washington+Nationals.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Washington Nationals Todd designed this logo for the Washington Nationals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09dd0e54-d806-4dc0-af45-6e3cb7ca3902/10+-+Los+Angeles+Angels.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Los Angeles Angels Todd designed this logo for the Los Angeles Angels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/923504cf-9e15-40ff-bb32-bc5735192a6d/11+-+Winning+Ugly.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Winning Ugly Winning Ugly is Todd’s loving homage to some of the most “questionable” MLB uniforms ever worn. It’s a tribute to the sheer chutzpah of whomever it was that decided that the Pittsburgh Pirates should wear a dizzying combination of black and gold uniforms that made them look for all the world like a swarm of bumblebees. Winning Ugly is also a history of the baseball uniform, beginning with the ones that the Cincinnati Red Stockings first wore on July 15, 1867. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51d34e4e-4d00-4549-83a7-829e6e2fe4d0/12+-+Fabric+of+the+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fabric Of The Game Fabric of the Game is the result of a three year collaboration between Todd and Chris Creamer which started in earnest with a 2017 visit to visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s D. K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre, located in Toronto. The two examined vintage sweaters and dug deep into the history of every NHL team, surrounded by ghosts and legends, with the Conn Smythe Trophy close at hand. The book contains more than 50 original illustrations and 100 photos that span the century-long history of the NHL. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9e387d1-3097-4f73-ac60-fd3b89cc2706/13+-+Big+3.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - BIG3 Todd is also the man behind the league and team identities, as well as the branding, for Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. The league was founded in 2017 and consists of 12 teams whose rosters include both former NBA players and international players. The rules of BIG3 games contain deviations from the official rules of 3-on-3 basketball as administered by FIBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2435730-c14f-4630-9389-fa9d962f91d3/14+-+1975+red+sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1975 Boston Red Sox Despite living close to Yankee Stadium, Todd became a Red Sox fan growing up. The first team he remembers loving - and, unfortunately, the first team to break his heart - was the 1975 Red Sox. The 1975 team finished first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses. Following a sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, the Red Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abb51e20-fa40-484c-a959-4dddc1113a9b/15+-+Boston+Massacre+ticket.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1978 Boston Massacre The 1978 Boston Massacre was the name given to a four-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees in September of 1978. The Yankees won all four games in the series by a combined score of 42-9, leaving the teams tied with identical records at the end of play on September 10. They were the first games Todd attended in person at Fenway Park, and this ticket was Todd’s from the fourth and final game of the series, which the Yankees won 7-4. The series was named after the Boston Massacre of 1770, which was a violent confrontation between colonists and British soldiers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d1a8f13-cabc-41b6-a456-199dd2a06d78/16+-+Favorite+players.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Favorite Players Todd’s favorite players growing up were members of those 1970s Red Sox teams: Carl Yastrzemski - Read his SABR Biography HERE Dwight Evans - Read his SABR Biography HERE Fred Lynn - Read his SABR Biography HERE Jim Rice - Read his SABR Biography HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8d00330-b6c6-4b6c-ac37-03447425091d/17+-+Todd%27s+dad.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Artistic Family Todd’s comes from an artistic family. His father was a graphic designer and photographer. His father was a painter. And his father was a painter, too. Here is Todd’s dad in late September of 1973, sweeping home plate at the old Old Yankee Stadium during a photo shoot for the Empire Sporting Goods catalog (Mets catcher Duffy Dyer stands at left). Demolition of the stadium began October 1, 1973, making this one of the very last things which happened before the renovations. Duffy Dyer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98cb2b17-069c-4ed7-9fd3-78ce5ce47925/18+-+grandfather.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Not Pushed Toward The Arts Despite coming from such a long line of artists, Todd wasn’t necessarily encouraged to pursue a similar career. He wasn’t discouraged from becoming an artist, either. Here is a photo of Todd (at left) and his brother (at right) with their grandfather, Ial, at Central Park Zoo in the late 1960s. Todd’s grandfather was the most dapper man Todd ever knew. He was a fine artist by trade who painted in a collared shirt and tie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72d27f83-59d7-4917-bc4a-6e41f16637f3/19+-+Clemente.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - September 24, 1971 Todd attended his first baseball game in person on September 24, 1971 at Shea Stadium. In front of 35,936 fans, he watched the Pirates beat the Mets 3-2 in just under two hours. Within a month, the Pirates went on to win the World Series and the World Series MVP would be Clemente. Clemente was the honoree that night in a pre-game ceremony at Shea. With his beloved wife, three sons and parents in attendance, he stood proudly alongside a contingent of Puerto Rican civic and community leaders from the New York area. Todd attended the game with his Great Uncle Gus, sitting in the press box. Roberto Clemente’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50930f2a-3e10-472d-aede-3226ed2a3ab7/20+-+Mattingly.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Don Mattingly Don Mattingly played his entire career before interleague play was introduced, and he never appeared in a World Series. In fact, he is the only player with more than 1,250 games played for the Yankees without a World Series appearance. As such, despite playing for 14 seasons from 1982 through 1995, he only played against a total of 13 different teams in his 1,785 career games. Don Mattingly’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abd211d8-11cd-4dc6-be9f-8facb079bed3/21+-+bumblebees.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bumblebees Another formative memory for Todd was seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates and their black and yellow “bumblebee” uniforms in person at Shea Stadium on July 16, 1977. Here, Pirates LF Mike Easler bats against the Mets in Shea Stadium. Mike Easler’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc404aa8-2ca9-49ff-b966-955d938d7822/21+-+1977+Old+Timers+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1977 Old Timers Day at Shea July 16, 1977 also just happened to be Old Timers Day at Shea Stadium, as well. And, oh yeah, this historic moment happened that day, too. All four of the great New York center fielders walked onto the field together. No big deal. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography Joe DiMaggio’s SABR Biography Willie Mays’ SABR Biography Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f6427d-c65c-4191-9c34-f96047e3f5e2/23+-+milton+glaser.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Milton Glaser One of the graphic designers Todd looked up to as he was coming up was Milton Glaser, who is best known for the creation of the I Love NY logo. Glaser was born on June 26, 1929, and passed away on his 91st birthday in 2020. He is recognized for numerous designs, including the logos for for DC Comics, Stony Brook University, and Brooklyn Brewery, as well as his graphic work on the introduction of the iconic 1969 Olivetti Valentine typewriter. Among his other famous works is this 1966 psychedelic art style poster of Bob Dylan, which was commissioned by CBS Records for Dylan’s forthcoming album, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc4cc5a3-dc93-4c77-b190-5e8aa2b39fb7/24+-+senior+thesis+triptych+painting.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom Todd studied design at New York City’s School of Visual Arts. His senior thesis was this triptych painting on the visual history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c282b09-581d-4656-bda4-8ced6c26e557/25+-+ymca.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Sloane House YMCA Before SVA had official dorms, some students stayed in one of the 1600 rooms of the Sloane House YMCA, located at 356 West 34th Street, just below Hell’s Kitchen, near 9th Avenue in New York. The building, which was the largest residential YMCA building in the nation, also had floors that functioned as a hostel and a notorious 5th floor that was a long term S.R.O. (Single Room Occupancy). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7006791-165e-436a-a96c-89a48b5fb83e/26+-+Keith+Haring.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Keith Haring One of the opportunities afforded to Todd thanks to living in New York at the time, was being able to attend Keith Haring’s first gallery show in September of 1982 at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery, shown here. The show was attended not just by collectors in suits and ties but also by Haring’s contemporaries and friends from different cultures, from street artists to college students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b01d3d01-2b9f-47b6-ae15-3642cf61788d/27+-+September+of+1988+-+with+Vincent+and+Jim%2C+with+Bill+behind+the+camera.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Road Trips Todd and his buddies started going on road trips in college. Seeing the country and attending baseball games at the various stadiums essentially wound up being background research for his future career. Here he is (at right) in September of 1988 with his friends Vincent and Jim, while their friend Bill is behind the camera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd539355-4125-4556-b419-7ea54d21d676/900+-+1987-09+Burger+King+Growth+Chart+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Comiskey Park Todd remembers this game he saw at Comiskey Park September 20, 1987 between the White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. There was an Ozzie Guillén Burger King Growth Chart giveaway that day, for those of you keeping score at home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b76b9a09-21dd-447a-bed4-52be5544ff55/28+-+Jim+Bennett.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - James Bennett Jim is one of Todd’s buddies from SVA. They are still friends to this day. Todd has some of his work hanging in his home. Here is a piece he did for The National Pastime Museum of Shoeless Joe Jackson. James’ Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd7812b8-d2b2-486d-9f28-9df3a69c3f0b/29+-+Immaculate+Grid.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Immaculate Grid Immaculate Grid was developed by Brian Minter, a software developer from Atlanta, who named it after the immaculate inning, in which a pitcher strikes out three batters on three pitches each. The first grid appeared on April 4, 2023. Each of the grid's three rows and columns corresponds to a professional team, statistical achievement, or award, and players must fill each square by selecting an athlete who meets both criteria. Since players get only one guess per square, each one must be correct for the result to be "immaculate". Correctly guessed players cannot be used elsewhere in the grid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecce6c46-8436-420e-84ee-0d8790ae21df/901+-+Steve+Jeltz.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Steve Jeltz Immaculate Grid has bottled an intense desire for any sports fan, repackaged it, and given it right back to us: to just sit around and name some guys. We are given opportunities to remember guys we otherwise might not have a reason to think of very often, such as Milt Thompson, or Steve Jeltz, who is pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55104823-6166-4db5-9c8c-346da5c0a2ca/30+-+1995+World+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1995 World Series Todd was able to see the country when it was a very different place than it is today. While it has only been a few decades, much has changed. Here he is at a decently big game in Cleveland in 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1faeb506-bdbf-4830-a701-e1500dcace5e/31+-+Milwaukee+County+Stadium+after+the+%28Free%29+game.+Vincent%2C+Bill%2C+Todd%2C+Jim+-+September+11%2C+1988.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Been There, Done That Todd’s travels have allowed him to understand fan bases in ways which many other designers never could. Here he is at Milwaukee County Stadium after the game on September 11, 1988, with his friends (left to right) Vincent, Bill, [Todd] and Jim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917d2299-6f3d-45ec-8a79-183393596777/32+-+Exhibition+Stadium+in+Toronto%2C+1988.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Exhibition Stadium in Toronto Originally built in 1959 for football and then modified in 1975-76 for baseball, the Canadian National Exhibition Stadium - as it was originally called - was the home stadium of the Toronto Blue Jays for 968 games from April 7, 1977 through May 28, 1989. Todd was able to see a game there in 1988 before the new stadium was built. Here he is, enjoying a hot dog in the upper deck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec693179-67b7-45b1-9154-5be0a0aef778/33+-+Globe+Life+Field.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Globe Life Field Todd designed the logo for Globe Life Field, which is the retractable roof stadium in Arlington, Texas where the Texas Rangers have played their home games since 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 National League Championship Series and the 2020 World Series were played exclusively at Globe Life Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3a955bb-1804-4fdf-9160-cdaece058ba1/34+-+Souvenir+stop+at+the+boarder+-+Montreal+1988.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Drinking Beer Beer goes down like water when you’re drinking outside in the Texas heat in the summer. One of the reasons why Globe Life Field was built with a retractable roof was to keep the fans and players safe and comfortable during extreme temperatures. Todd and his buddies have never had an issue putting beers back, as is evidenced by this photo of the group at the Canadian border in 1988. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/497df50f-344e-4ec2-a921-5b5660a4687e/35+-+books.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd’s first jobs after SVA was in the publishing industry, designing book jackets. He has done over 1,000 book cover designs in his career, many of them baseball related. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/498422e8-0e05-4653-80a4-f04db450de3c/36+-+Larry+Ritter.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Lawrence Ritter Lawrence Ritter wrote the The Glory of Their Times (1966, updated 1984), and collaborated with another baseball historian, Donald Honig, on The Image of Their Greatness (1979) and The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time (1981). In researching The Glory of Their Times, Ritter travelled a total distance of 75,000 miles (121,000 km) to interview his subjects, allowing them to reminisce freely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13ab197b-4332-4f24-8781-b26aef6e9e00/902+-+John+Thorn.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - John Thorn John Thorn has been the Official Historian of Major League Baseball since March 1, 2011. He, along with Pete Palmer, first compiled a baseball encyclopedia known as Total Baseball in 1989. The encyclopedia contains seasonal and career statistics in numerous categories for every Major League player, as well as historical, opinion, and year-by-year essays. John also served as the publisher of Total Sports Publishing throughout its existence from 1998 through 2002, during which point he and Todd worked closely together on a number of books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfb2cbc5-02e7-440a-ab7c-63d73c59e058/a+journal+that+belonged+to+my+grandmother%2C+who+was+born+in+1910.+It+contains+her+childhood+collection+of+her+father%E2%80%99s+cigar+bands-tiny+pieces+of+art+that+speak+to+a+distant+place+and+time..jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Grandmother These pages are from a journal that belonged to Todd’s grandmother, Pearl, who was born in 1910. It contains her childhood collection of her father’s cigar bands - tiny pieces of art that speak to a distant place and time. Pearl went to Parsons School of Design in the 1920s and 1930s. Parsons was founded in 1896 and is one of the oldest schools of art and design in New York. Parsons was the first school to offer programs in fashion design, interior design, advertising, graphic design, transdisciplinary design, and lighting design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfed41ec-71ec-4e58-b3af-d257a9d5f3d6/903+-+Letraset.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Letraset Letraset was a company known mainly for manufacturing sheets of typefaces and other artwork elements using the dry-transfer lettering method. The dry rub-down transfer technique was used by the punk movement because of its ease of manipulation, its low price and the quality of the rendered layout. Letraset's ease of use and widespread availability aligned with the do-it-yourself value of this movement by allowing punks to create designs independent from printers and publishers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a82650ce-7755-42b6-9af2-c0e86ddea014/37+-+doing+things+by+hand.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Doing Things By Hand Todd came up before everything was done digitally, meaning he had to learn how to do everything by hand. From drawing and lettering, to coloring. Those skills helped him understand the basics of design, and allowed him to flourish when the transition to digital began. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de78f3a0-c17f-4a1d-bcb8-09ed1988510c/Drawing%2C+lettering%2C+rubber+cement%2C+x-acto+knives%2C+registration+marks%2C+etc.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Drawing, lettering, rubber cement, x-acto knives, registration marks, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/797052eb-ce4c-4399-8346-5493f64cf793/34+-+Macintosh_Quadra_700.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Macintosh Quadra 700 When Todd made the transition to digital, he purchased a tricked-out Macintosh Quadra 700, along with a flatbed scanner and a black and white laser printer. At the time, that equipment was state of the art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dccdaaca-4dc8-4a51-a923-47a77a887930/39+-+Todd%27s+Office.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Office The leap in technology over the past 30 years is astounding. Now, Todd can work off of a laptop from anywhere in the world, and with the help of iCloud and Dropbox, he can pull up any file from the past 3+ decades and work on it wherever he is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d545fed5-d921-4172-8891-7d9488e9f21d/40+-+Charlotte+Hornets.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Alexander Julian Alexander Julian designed the uniform for the Charlotte Hornets when they joined the NBA. “I wanted everything to represent the little details and design aesthetic that had popularized my brand. And I know this is difficult to believe, but I designed the first vertical striped polo shirts. That’s the reason the vertical stripes were in the jerseys, and they’re actually knitted, not printed. I didn’t want the shorts to be striped, because I wanted it to look like sportswear, so I did the stripes on just the top, not on the shorts. I added the multicolor trim, the kind of thing I was always putting on my sweaters and knits. They were the first basketball shorts—and maybe the last—to have pleats.” Julian also re-designed the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball uniforms. He created the trademark argyle pattern down the sides of the uniform, added bolder trim, and used different fabrics for the 1991-92 season upon Dean Smith's request. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f446aca-f052-42d7-8c6c-a2a71a612b43/41+-+white+sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - White Sox and Hip Hop The new White Sox logo was created in 1991 to usher in a new era for the franchise as they moved into a new ballpark. It’s a simple and clean look and was immediately embraced by West Coast Hip Hop Culture - most notably by Dr. Dre’s former group N.W.A. Despite the rap group famously being from South Central Los Angeles, N.W.A. embraced the new White Sox logo. It was Dr. Dre specifically sporting the White Sox hat in the “Nothing But A ‘G’ Thang” music video that helped cement the Sox place in Hip Hop Culture. Ice Cube says he made the White Sox cap popular in hip hop, but credits Frank Thomas for putting it on the map in general: "I think the Big Hurt played more in that than me. I put it on the hip hop map." Watch the documentary “Fitted In Black: How Hip-Hop Fueled The Greatest Rebrand In Sports” HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4072981d-3b86-45b5-bfd1-d26d88a50c27/42+-+Mickey+Mantle.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Mitchell & Ness Todd makes a pretty ridiculous claim during our interview that Mitchell & Ness was making throwback jerseys for 35-year-old men who grew up idolizing Mickey Mantle. Well, I am here to remind you that I am 37 years old, not 35. Get your facts straight, Todd! Here I am wearing my 1951 Mickey Mantle throwback jersey - made by Mitchell & Ness - inside the Yankees Museum at the New Yankee Stadium before Game 4 of the 2024 World Series. Former owner of Mitchell & Ness, Peter Capolino, was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d76d3d1d-02cc-446e-b3ec-547e49135a8d/43+-+Roy+Rogers.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Roy Rogers Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, was the midwife of national sports team marketing. When the original NFL Enterprises - now called NFL Properties, the division of the NFL that licenses team logos - was created in 1959, it was a division of Roy Rogers Enterprises. Before Rogers came along, each of the 12 NFL teams took care of its own licensing. Some teams even gave away their rights, thinking the team was getting free publicity. In 1958 the Los Angeles Rams, the first team to put its logo on the side of its helmets, started selling a bobblehead doll of a Rams player. The doll was a hit. "This is the first we can identify of team logos being applied to a product," says Roger Atkin, former vice president of retail sales at NFL Properties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4c2ce07-dd7f-4f3f-91c2-07ef726ecead/44+-+Anne+Occi.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Anne Occi Anne Occi was hired as MLB’s first creative director in October 1990, with a mission to build the league’s design capabilities from scratch. Her formative design work appeared on the original uniforms for expansion teams like the Colorado Rockies and the then-Florida Marlins (both born in 1993), and the Arizona Diamondbacks and the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays (both of which debuted in 1998). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ad61545-0599-4d08-8f0a-d3278b8662ec/45+-+Tigers.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tigers Alternate Jerseys “As alternate jerseys go, this one is not bad,” Todd Radom wrote, “but it represents a strange departure from the Tigers’ tried-and-true uniform routine.” The fan reaction was less than enthusiastic. “It didn't go over very well,” Trammell said. “The Olde English D, it’s been there forever, and we don’t want to change.” They were supposed to be worn for Sunday home games, but management decided they didn't like them, so they were scrapped after one game and one game only, a 12-1 defeat to the Red Sox on May 7, 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c50f3ff-a879-4098-9c6e-77eae05a0b43/46+-+Coca+Cola.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Coca-Cola Coca-Cola’s brand history began when John Stith Pemberton, the inventor of the beverage, turned to his book accountant, Frank M. Robinson, to help him brand his creation. Frank immediately suggested the simple and mark-hitting ‘Coca-Cola’. The marketing strategy created a boom, and one year later Frank came up with the first logo – the handwritten name of the company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b212ffe-2674-47d1-bd2a-5ab2d9fba03f/47+-+ibm.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - IBM The saga of IBM began in 1911, conceived by Charles Ranlett Flint, and officially adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation in 1924, a move that signaled its ambition beyond mere computing tasks. This era heralded the evolution of IBM from a modest beginning into a titan of the technology industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/33588077-c6c9-4910-b803-f4a5396149c3/48+-+Yankees.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees Top Hat Logo This New York Yankees logo was designed by Lon Keller and unveiled on March 1, 1947. It featured a patriotic Uncle Sam-style tophat on a red and white baseball bat, with the bat also forming part of the letter k in the scripted Yankees across with a red and white baseball behind. This version differed slightly from the mark used today, the stars on the hat are different and the lighter blue has been eliminated. The Yankees used this logo as a co-primary logo from 1968-80. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8652b8f-63bc-48f4-8a54-09a8d8c7f70d/49+-+Blue+Jays.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Toronto Blue Jays logo One of the few things hanging on the wall in Todd’s office is this envelope addressed to him from the Toronto Blue Jays, featuring the original logo designed by Richard Walker, and signed by him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ab5a360-59ed-4824-9759-1a08c931074c/50+-+Blue+Jays.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Blue Jays Logo History The Blue Jays made their primary logo color red at one point, completely dropped the word “Blue” from their team name and went with black as their primary logo at another point, and have seemingly finally righted the ship by embracing the “Blue” in Blue Jays again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/578a94c9-10bb-4f35-903d-df613e9d3c8f/51+-+NY.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Yankees’ “NY” The interlocking “NY” of the Yankees’ logo is arguably the most recognizable in all of professional sports. Injured NYPD patrolman John McDowell was awarded the NYPD’s Medal of Valor, which prominently featured the interlocking “NY” symbol above a silver shield, depicting a woman placing a laurel wreath on a policeman’s head. It was designed by Louis Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., and survives at the New York City Police Museum. The baseball team arrived in 1903 as the Highlanders, not yet called the Yankees. In 1909, the interlocking “NY” made its first appearance on the Highlanders' uniform caps and left sleeves. It is believed that the design was adopted by William “Big Bill” Devery, one of the club’s owners and a former chief in the NYPD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a841e6e5-fd70-4ee2-9165-f8689a1b9ac2/53+-+White+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out While the Yankees have barely changed their look in more than 100 years, the White Sox have gone a different route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31cdaf4c-6d1e-4075-8e5f-b3eaa9b59139/54+-+nba.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - NBA Jerseys The NBA has lost its way when it comes to which team wears which jerseys in games. This photo was taken during Game 1 of a First Round playoff series on April 16, 2023. The Miami Heat were the #8 seed, playing on the road, but wearing white uniforms. The Milwaukee Bucks were the #1 seed, playing at home. Though their primary color is forest green, the court for this game was blue, and their uniforms were black. Make it make sense, NBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22af2730-7ec7-44fb-9c58-ee02a0e074f2/52+-+August+2000%2C+at+an+empty+Yankee+Stadium%2C+a+photo+shoot+with+Don+Zimmer.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - In Modern Use Todd poses here at an empty Yankee Stadium in August of 2000 next to Don Zimmer, who proudly displays the interlocking NY on both his Yankees hat and uniform. Don Zimmer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61bb0f8f-9e79-475b-903d-dffdafdba83f/55+-+NY+Giants+%26+Mets+caps.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out This image was taken from Part 3 of Todd’s great “Twelve Ballcaps, Twelve Stories” blog series. Check out his blog HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7bd77a2-2319-4832-b239-4d9382b7c96d/56+-+Mismatched+D.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tigers Mismatched Ds The Tigers’ uniform Old English "D" made its debut in 1896, when the club played in the Western League. Its first appearance took place on April 28 of that year, during the club’s home opener at Bennett Park, located at the corner of Michigan Street and Trumbull Avenue. The club first wore an Old English "D" on their caps in 1905, though the “D” on the cap and the “D” on the uniform didn’t perfectly match. Todd has written about this a number of times, including HERE, HERE, and HERE. The Tigers' “D” has been a staple of the team's visual identity since 1904, when it was first featured on their road uniforms. The D morphed and sometimes disappeared entirely in the early 20th century. The 1930-33 clubs wore a script "Detroit," both at home and on the road. These four seasons represent the longest continual stretch that the franchise did not sport an Old English "D" in its history. Todd Lukas of Uni Watch has also written about teams with mismatched cap and uniform logos. You can read one such article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1b775ce-6e95-4686-8e04-af03ff913616/57+-+Bill+Clinton.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bill Clinton Todd and the former President, chatting it up about the St. Louis Cardinals. Clinton was born in 1946, the same year that the Cardinals bought shiny red satin uniforms to be worn during night road games. It would appear that Hillary would have approved of those uniforms (note her jacket in this photo), but Manager Eddie Dyer decided they were too flashy and scrapped them. The team did end up wearing satin uniforms in 1948, though they were not red. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39b1b050-16c3-4528-9e25-caec597aa3fa/58+-+Birds+on+Bat.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Birds on Bat The Cardinals introduced their now-classic Birds On Bat uniforms before the 1922 season. While they have evolved over the years, the basic idea and layout has remained mostly the same. Todd wrote about them HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b713526-a522-4851-81d6-f8d40098f21b/59+-+todd%27s+first+MLB+design.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s First MLB Design On October 29, 1993, the Los Angeles Dodgers began a three-game Friendship Series against the newly formed Taiwanese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) All-Star team. The Dodgers roster for the exhibition series consisted of 25 players, including Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser, future Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martínez, former Rookie of the Year winners Eric Karros, Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi. The Dodgers were managed by future Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, and hitting coach Ben Hines and pitching coach Ron Perranoski also made the trip to Taiwan. Vin Scully additionally traveled with the team to be the commentator of the series and Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo was on the trip as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c097fd2c-2d7b-44b1-a3d8-be710a3b02b0/60+-+Knoxville+Smokies.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Knoxville Smokies The first baseball logo of any kind that Todd did was for the minor league Knoxville Smokies, who just recently announced that a quarter century after leaving Knoxville, the now-Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs is returning home and reprising their former name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce525f6c-9663-406d-8a07-7243eea73b26/61+-+1994+Milwaukee+Brewers.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Milwaukee Brewers Todd was the mastermind behind the Milwaukee Brewers’ so-called Motre Bame logo. As the team celebrated their 25th anniversary in Milwaukee, they introduced this new look. Green was incorporated as a color for the first time in franchise history. This logo, which was first introduced in 1994 and used until the end of the 1999 season, resembled an industrial stamp, paying homage to Milwaukee's industrial history, and gave the team a modern yet old-fashioned look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b00b26-51c3-43f7-9bc6-9d813964a6d8/62+-+Ball+In+Glove.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - "Ball-In-Glove" Logo The "ball-in-glove" logo was introduced in 1978 after a contest which was open to the public drew more than 2,000 entries. An art history student at UW-Eau Claire, Tom Meindel, designed the logo that went on to be the winner. The design of the logo was meant to be recognizable on items as small as a button and as large as a billboard. The logo, which arranges the letters M and B together to form the shape of a baseball glove with a baseball inside, was retired after the 1993 season. An iconic design, the Brewers brought this concept back nearly thirty years later as its full-time design in 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0bac208-2c47-480f-9cfc-855cca318e87/63+-+Original+Milwaukee+sketches.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Original Drawings Todd lent his original drawings for the Brewers redesign to the Worcester Art Museum for their 2021 exhibition “The Iconic Jersey: Baseball x Fashion” which was the first exhibition solely devoted to the baseball jersey in an art museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94ad03ef-19db-4da2-b903-2a2f7600e7ca/908+-+Milwaukee+Brewers+original+drawings+2.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hand Drawings This was the last job Todd did before computerization, and he felt it was too important to attempt it on Adobe Illustrator, a program with which he wasn’t entirely comfortable yet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/397abf8b-f962-4ab6-b8a5-d700fa50fe98/64+-+Todd+Wearing+His+Own+Hat.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Wearing His Own Work It must be really awesome to be able to wear a hat with a Major League Baseball team’s logo on it which you designed. Here is Todd doing just that at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1994, with his friends Bill, Vincent, Joe, and Jim. Fitted hat collectors would kill for this hat now. “It’s about fashion. It’s about drip.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c7f24b9-443d-4a5f-a1d6-f3c05d0a631e/909+-+Todd%27s+office.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Office Todd really doesn’t have too many things on display in his office, so you know that the things he does choose to display are incredibly special to him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123bcb01-e99f-409b-8737-036a3879b7a8/65+-+Hartford+Whalers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hartford Whalers Logo Graphic designer Peter Good created the Whalers logo as a work-for-hire gig for Jack Lardis Associates, an ad agency that was working with the Whalers at the time. Good was not a hockey fan and in fact had never designed a sports logo before (nor would he ever design one again), but he ended up creating one of the sports world’s most beloved logos. He was paid $2,000. Todd was lucky enough to spend some time with Peter Good before he passed away, and Peter gifted Todd this original logo sheet, which he signed for Todd. It is hanging in Todd’s office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c763f5a4-f745-48ed-956a-d83af80cc52c/66+-+tattoos.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Sports Logo Tattoos Todd says “sports fans are the most ardent brand loyalists on earth” because what other logo would someone willingly tattoo on their body? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1484dd9f-b4ef-4a84-b1bb-d9f626eecd92/67+-+Kings+100.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Sacramento Kings 100th Anniversary Todd designed the very first 100th anniversary logo for any NBA franchise. The mark draws upon several easily-defined visual touchstones that help bridge the entire history of the franchise, starting with the ribbon in the center, which echoes the one that was utilized by the team when it was based in Rochester and won the NBA championship in 1950-51. Red and blue have been the team’s colors in every city that the Kings have called home, and the team’s current uniform script is included at bottom. Finally, five cities have hosted the team, and all are represented by five jewels in the logo’s crown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/722c6a63-88ae-4e8e-8e57-7e0f24691403/68+-+Mariners.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fascinated By Architecture Many of Todd’s designs, especially for commemorative logos, include architecture. This logo commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Seattle Mariners is a perfect example, showcasing the city’s skyline in the background, highlighted by the iconic Space Needle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48606bce-46b1-4488-a899-cd017db4fb9e/69+-+old+yankee+stadium.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Old Yankee Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Old Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28b09259-da05-4072-ae98-e0af2ccdc3d9/70+-+new+yankee+stadium.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - New Yankee Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the first season at New Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5d50958-9886-4cc4-b7ab-14f086697fd5/71+-+busch+stadium.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Busch Stadium II Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Busch Stadium II. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa15ae10-2428-417b-a217-f17a36bd7945/72+-+busch+stadium+iii.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Busch Stadium III Todd designed the commemorative logo for the first season at Busch Stadium III. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a163dc6-91ab-4046-b71c-d1167e9025cb/73+-+fenway+park.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Fenway Park Todd designed the commemorative logo for the 90th Anniversary of Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7005b9c2-fb2e-4ee6-ab9a-5b3e8df542f7/73+-+fenway+100.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Red Sox Todd designed the commemorative logo for the 100th Season of the Boston Red Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08bfbd33-db15-4440-9581-3abb209ab713/73+-+Todd%27s+design+at+Fenway+park.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Green Monster Here is that previous logo, enormously displayed on the Green Monster at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6e6d59a-7afe-4e2c-867b-924f8eb6f792/74+-+Stadium+logos.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Here are some of the other stadium logos which Todd has created over the years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2253366b-44cb-4dce-9e01-a23c29401543/75+-+SSG+Landers.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - SSG Landers Todd partnered with the KBO’s SSG Landers Baseball Club to create a new brand identity for the franchise. The new program includes primary, secondary, and tertiary logos, wordmarks, uniform and headwear designs, apparel designs, and activation resources. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48f91dc3-e776-433c-aed5-aea883173651/910+-+SSG+Landers.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - SSG Landers Uniforms Todd was at the annual winter fan convention in Incheon, Korea, where he unveiled the new visual identity & uniforms for the Korean Baseball Association’s SSG Landers in front of 1,500 cheering fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b64f6b9-38b1-4618-98ba-19d8b64a9234/76+-+Scalability.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Scalability Todd and I went to the Phillies game together on April 16, 2024. The Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 thanks to home runs by J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper. While walking around Citizens Bank Park, we noticed this sign, which was a logo Todd designed to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the stadium. The sign was about 4’ tall and 6’ wide, but thanks to Todd’s design, it could have been scaled up much bigger than that, or scaled down much smaller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36f26b19-894b-46b0-b5b3-21fd7ac8d1a7/77+-+2010+NBA+All+Star+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out You wanna talk scalability? Check out the size of the scoreboard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08c93fc7-9bdc-4aab-aa1d-4470ac27702d/78+-+Tiger+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tiger Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Tiger Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/837b1e0d-5208-4c5e-9c80-946434d6298c/79+-+Shea+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Shea Stadium Todd designed the commemorative logo for the final season at Shea Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7de697b-2e0b-4ac4-bf43-ec6a4d00a523/80+-+Bricks.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Bricks Todd may not be from Chicago, but he knows a couple important bricks when he sees them. Some of the items he has on display in his office are these bricks from Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Old Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9e8a60-b01f-4842-978b-257359890ba1/81+-+Mets.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Mets Lettering Todd created a script font for the Mets, where the end of every letter had to meet the beginning of the next letter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd050694-abf9-4e55-be80-b9db7d41eb12/82+-+whimsical+logos.JPG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Humor, Whimsy, and Joy Individual teams each printed their own programs up until 1974 when Major League Baseball Promotion Corp took over with a single, unified vision. That seems to be a kind of turning point in the aesthetics of the game, from the whimsical 50s and 60s, into a new era where teams and the league tried to be more serious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/017357b2-b5a3-48e0-8e31-95ed8469f602/83+-+Reimagined+World+Series+logos.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Series Logos There was no official World Series logo until 1978. But in 2003 for the 100th anniversary of the first modern World Series, Major League Baseball commissioned Todd to imagine what logos of the un-logoed past might have looked like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/84e09b00-1cce-4916-b0c3-ea3efd800e86/84+-+Hollywood+Stars.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Hometown Collection For over a decade, Todd has worked with Minor League Baseball’s “Hometown Collection” to revive, and in some cases re-envision, obscure identities that might have otherwise been lost to time. You research defunct, often obscure brands to create authentic renderings of headwear marks, logos, and uniform lettering. Here is his take on a logo for the Hollywood Stars, who played at Gilmore Field. You can buy official merchandise from the Hometown Collection HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad9a1fd-0e51-4d1c-8259-5767d9fc0975/85+-+Time+Traveling.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Time Traveling Todd likes to look through old newspapers while doing this type of research so he can truly immerse himself in the time period and get a better understanding for what things might have looked and felt like in that bygone era. He likes to set aside time for himself to fall down those rabbit holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aabbe78d-2ae0-4857-a780-d87c2d42a68b/86+-+1992+Cooperstown+Collection+designs.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cooperstown Collection These are some of Todd’s original drawings from 1992 when he started working on the Cooperstown Collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1acc861-c606-4a5a-adce-405844cce7fe/87+-+winning+ugly.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Winning Ugly In Winning Ugly: A Visual History of the Most Bizarre Baseball Uniforms Ever Worn, Todd says that the line of demarcation in terms of what baseball uniforms look like is the year 1987. You can buy Todd’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8928d43f-4a83-4973-aae7-667fc833b3c7/88+-+white+sox.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b04185d-0318-47c0-98dd-74a81e20b96c/89+-+tequila+sunrise.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aaa92eb6-64cd-4929-b71f-40d02d954d4c/120+-+1869+Cincinnati+Red+Stockings.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Uniforms of the Past Here is Todd with some players of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cde27091-4293-4b20-ad29-49eda1f71ceb/911+-+Peter+Ueberroth.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Peter Ueberroth After the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were such a financial success, Peter Ueberroth was brought in to become baseball’s next commissioner. He had just been named Time’s Man of the Year. However, he was also known as a “miser with a Midas touch.” The perception that Ueberroth spent more time trying to turn the Olympics into exclusively a business, taking its soul, marred his success. The reputation followed him into baseball. Peter Ueberroth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e86f5950-f3c8-4c10-bf50-4cb20bba81e3/90+-+1970+Red+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Naked Red Sox The Red Sox uniforms of the early 1970s didn’t have piping around their necks the way later uniforms did. Todd feels these uniforms look naked in comparison. Here, Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith, and Tony Conigliaro pose in 1970. Carl Yastrzemski’s SABR Biography Reggie Smith’s SABR Biography Tony Conigliaro’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fce345b-4109-478e-ba2f-f4fc6a7b7900/91+-+high+socks.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - High Socks Todd thinks players should wear high socks to allow for an extra pop of color, like Hunter Pence did when he played for the Phillies. Teams could even get creative with adding logos on the socks, as the Phillies did here with their Liberty Bell mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7a02ff1-cab4-42a2-925e-93b89dca3be5/92+-+1982+Cardinals.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Pullover Uniforms Todd doesn’t think every team can necessarily pull off pullover uniforms, but it’s hard to argue with how good the 1982 Cardinals looked wearing theirs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d86419c4-51f8-4295-9478-b94fd5059d6f/93+-+1977+Blue+Jays.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1977 Blue Jays When the first nine Toronto Blue Jays stepped on the snow-covered field of Exhibition Stadium on April 7, 1977, they wore white pullovers with "BLUE JAYS" in split-lettering and the logo centred in the front, and the player's number in split-lettering in the back. To accent the uniform, triple stripes of light blue, white, and dark blue surround the sleeves, neckline, and down the side of the legs. The history of the team’s powder blue uniforms is very interesting and aesthetically beautiful, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a71a2b56-f5cc-4d85-aa83-c2aa24e2a815/94+-+Blue+Jays.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Something Is Off … Center When the Blue Jays moved their logo from the center of the uniform under either TORONTO on the road uniforms, or BLUE JAYS on the home uniforms, Todd thinks it lost something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b570b9b-2d7c-4b08-bf26-640975c3625c/95+-+Dodgers.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dodgers Uniforms With a small handful of exceptions, the Dodger uniform has been a steady and familiar presence, both home and away, with its blue underscored script lettering. The primary team color is blue - Dodger Blue - and it's hard to imagine that it's ever been anything otherwise. Baseball innovator Larry MacPhail is responsible for making the Dodgers who they are today, at least in terms of aesthetics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4aa8eec6-0d12-4809-aaab-a86d9d25e4b7/96+-+Orioles.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Orioles Hats The Baltimore Orioles’ "smiling bird" - or, alternatively, the "cartoon bird" - was originally introduced just in time for franchise's first World Series victory in 1966. This logo was used for 23 seasons, then fell into disuse for another 23 seasons. The origins of the original 1966 logo involve legendary baseball executive Frank Cashen, a 7 Up cartoon character named "Fresh-Up Freddie," Baltimore's National Brewing Company, and the Orioles' desire to successfully compete for marketing dollars with the National Football League's Baltimore Colts. Here, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr. are seen wearing the logo on their hats. Eddie Murray’s SABR Biography Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d218206e-3d76-4469-a3e8-e6a1042d4934/97+-+A%27s.jpeg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Athletics The Old English “A” on the Athletics’ caps dates all the way back to their days in Philadelphia. They wore it in Kansas City. They wore it in Oakland. While the team has officially dropped any city attachment from their name as they prepare for an interim stay in Sacramento before potentially moving to Las Vegas, it appears as if they are bringing the Old English “A” along with them. Here, Reggie Jackson smiles in his bright yellow Athletics uniform. Todd has written about the unique history of the Athletics uniforms, which you can read HERE. Reggie Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80644aa2-9528-492e-b279-4a6aceb484e0/98+-+2008+Blue+Jays.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2008 Blue Jays During the few years when the Toronto Blue Jays were trying to just call themselves the “Jays” and made their primary color black instead of blue, they wore a hat with a stylized “T” on it for some games. Roy Halladay’s facial expression says it all here. Roy Halladay’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9e13d11-f499-45cf-9115-6856b7913ecc/99+-+1971+Phillies.jpeg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1971 Phillies According to the official MLB rules, a player's uniform cannot include a pattern that resembles a baseball: Rule 3.03(g): No part of a player's uniform can have a pattern that suggests or imitates the shape of a baseball. The Chicago Cubs protested the Philadelphia Phillies uniforms in 1971 because they felt the uniforms included such a pattern. Pitcher Rick Wise is seen here wearing the offending threads. Rick Wise’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dff67a3e-52b7-4cbc-a6e1-fe34688eabe1/100+-+Negro+Leagues+75th+Anniversary+Logo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Negro Leagues 75th Todd designed the Negro Leagues 75th Commemorative Year logo in 1995. The Seattle Mariners wore it on their right sleeve all season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05068f13-a9dd-4e79-9981-3ed08461fcac/101+-+Edgar+Martinez+statue.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Edgar Martinez Statue The Seattle Mariners have two statues at their ballpark. The Edgar Martinez statue features the Negro Leagues 75th Commemorative Year patch that Todd designed. Edgar Martinez’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de06384d-5f14-4cca-a13d-a6da138d66f8/102+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd also designed each of these Jackie Robinson logos. The one on the left was worn on each team’s uniform for the duration of the 1997 season, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Todd created a new logo for the 75th Anniversary, shown on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b5cafeb-910f-4c18-a7de-6b5f8b5daa9d/103+-+Griffey+statue.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Ken Griffey, Jr. Statue The other statue the Seattle Mariners have at their ballpark is, naturally, of Ken Griffey, Jr. The Griffey statue features the Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary patch that Todd designed. Todd said, “to be cast in bronze, literally… it’s pretty cool that it’s going to be around for a long, long time.” Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/756c9a9e-c0ff-4b0f-b26b-8c69786619f0/104+-+Super+Bowl+XIX.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Super Bowl XIX Todd didn’t create this logo, but it is very much of the time. Super Bowl XIX was played on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in California, the first Super Bowl played in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joe Montana and the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 38–16 to win their second Super Bowl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46a5af6e-46a9-45d5-bcb7-635458cb2413/105+-+All+Century+Team.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - MLB All-Century Team In 1999, the Major League Baseball All-Century Team was chosen by popular vote of fans. To select the team, a panel of experts first compiled a list of the 100 greatest MLB players from the 20th century. Todd created 100 illustrations of the 100 nominated players. Over two million fans then voted on the players using paper and online ballots. Preceding Game 2 of the 1999 World Series, the members of the All-Century Team were revealed. Every living player named to the team attended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00021de7-124a-418b-a494-d9f95a5564ba/105.5+-+All+Century+Team.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/189d4c33-66ac-43c1-a5b4-308e884e232c/106+-+All+Century+Team+ballot.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd’s illustrations for the All-Century Team were also featured on the ballot, as well as all around Fenway Park during the 1999 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a59da05-c23b-459c-9d64-c236039ce3c7/107+-+Vlad+HOF.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Work On A Hall Of Fame Plaque Vladimir Guerrero was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018, and upon his induction, it was announced that the hat he would be wearing on his plaque in Cooperstown would be his Angels hat, bearing the logo Todd designed for the team. Vladimir Guerrero’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21c7aabc-86ba-422d-911d-5c9f6e4f1766/108+-+Cuba.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cuba Todd went to Cuba in December of 1999 with authors Peter Bjarkman and Mark Rucker, friends who knew the place, knew people there, and knew how to navigate the unique dynamics of visiting the country. That year, Todd designed Smoke: The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball, the definitive pictorial history of Cuban baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e070fa14-d1ee-43b2-8951-d577110fd41a/109+-+2005+Original+sketch%2C+World+Baseball+Classic+logo.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Baseball Classic Todd’s original sketches from 2005, as well as the eventual finished product of his logo for the World Baseball Classic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab8590af-851b-4567-ac2a-7aef18466054/110+-+Orioles+in+Cuba.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Baltimore Orioles In Cuba The Baltimore Orioles played a series of two exhibition games against the Cuba national baseball team on March 28 and May 3, 1999. The Orioles won the first game, which was held in Havana, by a score of 3–2 in extra innings. The Cuba national team defeated the Orioles 12–6 in the second game, which was held in Baltimore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/879035b7-6a17-45aa-be45-21bdc3466005/111+-+Cooperstown+Collection.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cooperstown Collection Todd’s process for the development of the Cooperstown Collection logo, from August 1997 to February 1998. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79eb44d8-8eae-46a6-a9b1-d28238e10e19/112+-+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Perks Of The Job One of the great things about having friends like Tom Shieber at the National Baseball Hall of Fame is that sometimes you get to hold one of Lou Gehrig’s bats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5795f55-5884-49ed-9952-38fee93a0586/113+-+Letterhead.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Before it was possible to digitally reproduce artwork, there would be irregularities, rough edges, and often times image degradation from copying an original multiple times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49dab759-ad71-49bc-8586-6de1199f6f3f/114+-+Brooklyn+Cyclones.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Brooklyn Cyclones The Brooklyn Cyclones logo is a navy blue diamond with CYCLONES across it in gold. The Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster (the inspiration for the team name) is referenced by the light blue patterning at the bottom of the diamond. The Cyclones became the first professional sports team in Brooklyn since the Dodgers left in 1958. Todd created their logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/673e26c3-138f-48c7-9af1-cc659a895a5f/115+-+Coney+Island+Cyclone.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Research Sometimes doing research is fun. Here is Todd and his buddies at The Cyclone on Coney Island. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aff55dfe-40c5-4375-94bc-4ee05c72c8de/116+-+Yankees.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees The Yankees’ rich tradition, in addition to the fact that their players don’t change as often as a college team or a minor league team’s players change, makes it very difficult for them to take chances with rebranding or logo and design changes. Here are a handful of the player-specific logos Todd has made for Yankees over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b17aa5f-1ca2-4465-85e4-95831f24acbf/117+-+Hornets.jpeg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Charlotte Hornets When I tell you the absolute stranglehold this Charlotte Hornets Starter Jacket had on every kid in the 90s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d209f9a-0798-4993-a3e8-2373657c3be7/118+-+Washington.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Washington Nationals Todd created the logo and visual identity of the Washington Nationals. Here is his original art from 2008, which turned into the script lettering the Nationals used on their road uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3fde021-5568-45d1-a1a4-63fa16dd0c09/119+-+Iverson.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Allen Iverson The Philadelphia 76ers pivoted completely away from their red, white, and blue color scheme in the late 1990s and early 2000s, opting instead to make black their primary color, with gold and red accents. They were ushering in a new era with Allen Iverson as the star of the team, and trying to distance themselves from the underachieving teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Iverson led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, where Philadelphia lost to Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e95cc9f3-aed0-4cad-ba76-d1ed7a129ba2/907+-+Worlds+Champions.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out The 1906 New York Giants, 1906 Philadelphia Giants, 1921 Indians, and 1927 Cardinals all wore WORLD (or WORLDS) CHAMPIONS on their jerseys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/212b6946-a02b-4a80-826a-64f82eefc39e/122+-+Houston.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Houston Colt .45s The Houston ball club became the Astros in December of 1964. When the team flirted with the idea of playing a throwback game wearing the old Colt .45s jerseys which featured a gun on them, MLB stepped in and, well, shot the idea down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b1fc4c4-aaf2-4fa3-95fe-702f79999eba/123+-+Phillies.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies have never worn the fully written form of “Philadelphia” across the front of their uniforms in team history. There have been “Phillies” and “P” and “PHILA” and even “Phils” and now “Philly” with the recent City Connect uniforms, but the full city name has never appeared. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a45832d-a0fd-43a9-9e45-bc08d1bed846/124+-+1905+Washington+Nationals.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1905 Washington Nationals The first club to wear a team nickname on their jersey was the 1905 Washington Nationals (aka Senators), which they did on their home uniforms. Their road uniforms that year simply had a block W on the left chest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5927af5-ae25-4ff5-917b-1b93c52dd7fa/125+-+1954+Athletics.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1954 Athletics In their final season in Philadelphia, the A’s wore their full nickname “Athletics” on the front of their uniforms for the first time in franchise history. Until that point, their uniforms either displayed their famous Old English “A” (for both home and road sets), or their nearly-as-famous White Elephant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95e8193b-e90d-4da2-9515-bf31455f079f/126+-+Phillies.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phillies City Connect Uniform “We wanted to do something outside the box, but something that connected to the city,” Phillies vice president of business affairs Howard Smith said. “We’re honoring the city through the lens of the city flag.” The Phillies cap and helmet are midnight blue. The helmet has a matte finish, which the players requested and said they love. The logo on the cap and helmet features the Liberty Bell with two yellow stars. Inside the bell is a midnight blue city skyline and a light blue sky. Inside the jersey’s letters are subtle markings meant to represent the cracks in the Liberty Bell. There are 13 of them to represent the 13 original colonies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1dca590a-83ad-4ba8-ab76-2a1bb359bc24/127+-+Red+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Red Sox City Connect Uniform The Red Sox switched from wearing blue to rocking a giant red sock on the front of their jerseys in 1908. Ever since 1933, when the Red Sox first put a red 'B' on a navy cap and added "Red Sox" in their distinctive font on the front of their jerseys, Boston hasn't changed its uniforms much. The city connect uniform, however, is made up of the Boston marathon's distinctive yellow an blue. The front still says "Boston," and there will also be a racing bib on the left sleeve with "617" printed on it for the area code where Fenway Park resides. The yellow uniform won’t replace the Red Sox’ customary look. Its purpose is to honor Patriots Day through a fresh lens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1520662a-13ed-4d7f-b9f1-4a4c88c4e7a5/128+-+Padres.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Padres City Connect Uniform The Padres uniform is a nod to their binational fanbase, with colors that highlight the vibrancy of the region's coastal community. The colorful uniforms feature sleeves of pink and mint, with "San Diego" emblazoned across the chest in those same hues. They feature outlines of yellow, and -- taken as a whole -- the uniforms are meant to match the vibrant colors of San Diego's fabled pink and yellow sunsets beyond the Pacific Ocean. They're also a nod to the landscapes and artwork of San Diego and the nearby Baja peninsula. A sizeable portion of the team's fanbase hails from Tijuana, Mexico, and the surrounding areas in Baja California. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ca05471-ec3a-4b98-9f86-77209dfccd1c/129+-+Cubs.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Cubs City Connect Uniform The Cubs uniform is dark navy with powder trim. The word “Wrigleyville” takes center stage. The patch on the sleeve is the Chicago “Y” logo with the city’s iconic stars highlighted. That patch is brilliant and a step beyond just incorporating the logo generally. “One of the pillars of the Cubs organization is to ‘be a good neighbor,” said Cubs Vice President of Marketing Lauren Fritts. “We’re aware of the impact we have not only on the neighborhood surrounding us, but on all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods.” The Wrigleyville front has the text shaped like the marquee outside the stadium. On the bottom of the jersey is the phrase “respect our neighborhood,” which adorns signs at Wrigley Field. The hat features a white “C” with a light blue outline and a star from the Chicago flag in the middle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca25564f-fed6-47fc-8625-5adb20fb20b8/130+-+Miami+Floridians.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Miami Floridians The Floridians existed for only four ABA seasons (from 1968-69 through 1971-72). They moved to Miami from Minnesota (where they were the Muskies in 1967-68), and stayed in Florida until they folded in May 1972. The team had two color schemes: their original red, blue, and white, and their later black, magenta, and orange. Why were they called simply "The Floridians"? Because during the later years of their existence, the team played games all over Florida. Most games were in Miami, some were in Tampa/St. Pete and Jacksonville, and a small number were in West Palm Beach. During the 2011-2012 NBA season, the Miami Heat wore throwback uniforms on several occasions which were modeled after the magenta and orange uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c1cb837-198c-4647-b56f-e140bf2014fa/131+-+mismatched+helmet.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Throwback Uniforms, Modern Helmets Most teams have gotten way better at this, but when throwback uniforms were still seen more as kind of a one-off thing and less as a way to really generate interest and sell merchandise, teams would often simply wear their modern batting helmets with their otherwise throwback uniforms, creating a disjointed look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd541a91-9de4-4d88-858e-168a6a740480/132+-+White+Sox.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out The White Sox hosted the first “Turn Back the Clock Day” in MLB history when they played in 1917 style uniforms at Comiskey Park on July 11, 1990. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15c34399-c571-42e1-af5e-faf3cc1e22c8/133+-+Field+of+Dreams.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Field of Dreams Game On August 12, 2021, the Chicago White Sox played the New York Yankees in a game at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa. The game had everything. Star power up and down the Yankees and White Sox rosters. A three-time Oscar nominee in Kevin Costner, watching from the stands. A wild, walk-off ending that capped a perfect night. And rows and rows of corn that made the ballpark scene different from any other in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73002789-50e2-4152-8ed1-5c3f0aeb5fe5/134+-+Flocked+Insignia.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Flocked Insignia The Pirates were the first team in the Major Leagues to wear batting helmets. The first helmets were fiberglass miners’ caps covered in wool. Flocking was originally done because Pirates General Manager Branch Rickey wanted to simulate the appearance of the wool material of a baseball hat instead of just having the outside of a fiberglass helmet. Pictured here is Pirates star Manny Sanguillén wearing a flocked batting helmet in 1973. Manny Sanguillén’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc9d81c8-76c9-455d-9c07-7f6e7a856766/135+-+Clemente+Award.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Roberto Clemente Award The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. Todd designed the logo for the award. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/793c6c5e-e2c4-41c8-86a5-22f31e90a859/136+-+1989+Kentucky+Derby+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - May 6, 1989 Todd and his buddies attended the Red Sox game at Fenway Park on May 6, 1989. The Red Sox defeated the Rangers by a score of 7-0, and later that evening, Sunday Silence won the Kentucky Derby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f596fbce-d9c2-420a-9462-2821dd196447/137+-+Angels.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2002 Angels Troy Percival, Troy Glaus, and Bengie Molina of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate after defeating the San Francisco Giants to win the 2002 World Series. Todd was able to watch a team celebrate winning a World Series while wearing a logo and uniform that he designed. Kind of cool. Bengie Molina’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of Ron Vesely https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e6d9a4f0-3fc8-47a8-ba97-26e13bc3f986/138+-+Brewers.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1994 Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers played at Yankee Stadium for only one series during the strike-shortened 1994 season, but Todd’s new designs saw the field on June 17, June 18, and June 19. Here, B.J. Surhoff takes a swing during that series while grass and dirt stain the front of his uniform. The Brewers beat the Yankees 2 games to 1 in the 3-game set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f55a879-6bd6-4c93-8a5f-698eb6390b5c/139+-+Commemorative+Logos.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out When it comes to celebrating a milestone, one size most definitely does not fit all. Here are some of the celebration logos Todd has designed over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e117fc3c-c19d-45a2-9807-7eacf876dff9/140+-+White+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1917 White Sox The White Sox wore all of these uniforms at different points of the 1917 season. A dark blue road uniform was a staple of their set since 1902, but supply chain issues during World War I made it too hard and too expensive to keep importing the blue dye necessary to make them. Starting in the War-shortened season of 1918, the Sox ditched their dark blue road uniforms, and they wouldn’t appear again for nearly a decade. The Sox would wear dark blue on the road in 1925, 1926, 1930, and 1931, then again from 1976 through 1981. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dd4bb536-46b3-4acd-a75a-46eb435288d4/141+-+Padres.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a184b0f0-34ae-4671-b671-4413c5ff9a7d/142+-+Phillies.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1979 Burgundy Phillies In 1979, the plan was that the team would wear them for every Saturday night home game. But, they only ended up wearing them once after players objected on the grounds that they looked ridiculous in them. The fact that the team couldn’t get all of the components of the uniform (pants, jersey, hat, stirrups, and undershirt) to all be exactly the same shade of dark red probably didn’t help. Here, Mike Schmidt gets ready to field a ground ball during the game on May 19 against the Expos. Once it was decided the uniforms were “one and done,” the Phillies received calls from fans around the country wanting to buy them. The Phillies decided to sell them for $200 (jersey, pants, cap) with proceeds going to special needs children in the Delaware Valley. Mike Schmidt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35ade106-8ac3-4aa7-acbc-5afdec5faaea/143+-+White+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Using Pants As A Design Element The Chicago White Sox utilized some of the blank canvas on their pants to display uniform numbers from 1982-86 (seen here), and then again from 1987-88 with a different uniform design. The Astros became the first team to wear uniform numbers on their pants when they did so from 1975-79. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a896cc66-011f-4fd1-bc05-4d5460ade85c/144+-+Diamondbacks.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3cba32b-0fb9-414b-be4e-14b6372a6dc6/145+-+Lawrence+Taylor.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Taking A Cue From Football? Maybe a way to make baseball pants more interesting would be to use thicker stripes down the sides, like the New York Football Giants wore in the 1980s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34e46f59-6eeb-49a8-9cf1-ae042c4ba504/146+-+White+Sox+Ticket+Box.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2017 White Sox Season Tickets The Chicago White Sox commissioned Todd to create their 2017 premium season ticket package which consisted of 81 little pieces of art that depict the club's rich history, from 1901 right up to the present time. Original illustration and lettering, a nod to vintage design elements and club logos, combined with photography and depictions of artifacts make up the whole deal. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum selected the project for inclusion in its permanent collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/122a1306-2a81-440b-89ab-45ff38ef791d/147+-+Tickets.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c035937-2a2e-4b97-87f3-ec01943cb85e/148+-+Willie+Horton.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2018 Detroit Tigers Season Tickets The Detroit Tigers 2018 season ticket package celebrates the beloved World Championship team of 1968, a golden anniversary worthy of commemoration every single home game. Tiger favorites such as Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLain, Gates Brown, and others are celebrated here with a combination of original illustration, photography, and era-inspired typography. Seat and game information is delivered via a bespoke series of letterforms that duplicate the club's uniform numbers and player name lettering. This ticket features Tigers left fielder Willie Horton. Willie Horton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/038d5716-1286-4b4b-b8f9-0bda8a146744/149+-+2018+Tigers+Tickets.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c887863-d4cb-4ea1-8bfa-47342006a639/150+-+Janet+Marie+Smith.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Janet Marie Smith Janet Marie Smith joined the Dodgers in 2012 as Senior Vice President, planning and development and has overseen the large-scale improvement and expansion projects at Dodger Stadium and Campo Las Palmas, the club’s home in the D.R. Prior to her time with the Dodgers, Smith worked for the Orioles (VP of planning and development from 1989–94, 2009–12), Braves (VP of planning and development from 1994–2000) and Red Sox (Senior VP of planning and development from 2002–09). She oversaw the design and construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the preservation and improvements at Fenway Park, and the transformation of the 1996 Olympic Stadium into Turner Field in Atlanta. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e18182a-8eca-4761-af50-1dc8e4d93b65/151+-+Dodger+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dodger Stadium Todd has seen parts of Dodger Stadium many others have not seen, from angles most people don’t have access to, thanks to his friendship with Janet Marie Smith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04719d64-d9b2-4241-bffd-23bb70ae99d6/152+-+Casey+the+Bulldog.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd based his design for the Cleveland Browns’ secondary logo on his bulldog, Casey, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f4288f6-c78c-4d79-b984-77018d9f7c50/153+-+Tattoo.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Tattoo While Casey crossed over the rainbow bridge in 2002, she lives on forever as a tattoo on many people in Cleveland and around the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1f6bcbd-499c-440e-8bf2-786b5634a515/154+-+1914+Pittsburgh+Feds+road+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc Okkonen One of the most underrated writers and researchers in baseball history, Marc Okkonen spent years creating a database for every uniform change in the history of Major League Baseball for every team. The Hall of Fame has scanned Marc’s original drawings and incorporated them into a searchable database titled Dressed to the Nines: A History of The Baseball Uniform. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2769bde-7a64-4090-83ee-ad67474df1dd/155+-+Paul+Lukas.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Paul Lukas Paul Lukas is a journalist, storyteller, cultural critic, and media artist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Esquire, Fortune, Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, Gourmet, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Spin, The New Republic, The Financial Times, Slate.com, and many other publications and websites. He is best known for creating “Uni Watch,” the sports world’s foremost column devoted to uniform design, which has appeared on a variety of different platforms since its inception in 1999. Lukas retired from uniform writing in 2024 but still serves as Uni Watch’s publisher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2ebfd69-bc74-4f8f-b6cf-8c9a1e265791/156+-+Phil+Hecken.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Phil Hecken Phil Hecken first encountered Uni Watch as a reader, when the column ran at Slate.com in 2003 and ’04. After the daily Uni Watch blog launched in 2006, Phil became a prolific commenter, which caught the eye of Uni Watch founder Paul Lukas. Paul then tapped Phil to become his “bench coach” and weekend editor in 2008. Phil’s hard work and dedication to Uni Watch eventually led to him being named the site’s Deputy Editor. When Lukas retired from uniform writing on May 26, 2024, Phil was the obvious choice to take over the site’s daily editorial operations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1df1f8d-4447-4415-885d-894cd55751a8/157+-+Chris+Creamer.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Chris Creamer Chris Creamer is a writer, historian, and world-renowned expert on sports logos and uniforms based in the Toronto area. His passion for logos resulted in the creation of SportsLogos.net, an ongoing 20+ year project dedicated to the history of team logos and uniforms. Photos from and links to dozens of pages on SportsLogos.net fill the liner notes you’re reading right now. In November of 2020, Chris and Todd published Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos, and Uniforms, a book they had been working on since 2017. You can buy that book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdf4ead4-177a-468e-a0e1-53c2a7f3ec63/158+-+Peter+Capolino.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Peter Capolino Peter Capolino is the founder and former owner of the Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. in Philadelphia. Peter is one of the main people responsible for the emergence and subsequent rise in popularity of “throwback uniforms” thanks to his work at Mitchell & Ness. Peter was our guest for Episode 3 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55f63276-17de-4c6d-bd43-5c1e05317e61/159+-+1939+Patch.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch The myth of Abner Doubleday's alleged invention of baseball in Cooperstown in 1839 has long been discredited, but the centennial celebration in 1939 featured a sophisticated and extensive marketing campaign. The official dedication of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown took place on June 12 of that year, part of the yearlong festivities. A contest was held to create the official logo — the winner was New York artist Marjori Bennett. Let's pause to consider the fact that the first logo to be featured on the uniforms of every MLB club in a single year was created by a woman, a noteworthy item given the dynamics of the profession (and America) in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c59d4741-6bca-4dd4-947f-b43e189f83aa/160+-+Basketball+Hall+of+Fame.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and preserving the history of basketball. Dedicated to Canadian-American physician James Naismith, who invented the sport in Springfield, the Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959, before opening its first facility on February 17, 1968. Todd designed the logo seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6ca4418-816e-4817-9f25-42f1f6e32945/161+-+Ice+Cube.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Ice Cube Impact Award On January 15, 2024, The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame introduced the inaugural Naismith Hall of Fame Ice Cube Impact Award, an honor celebrating Ice Cube’s remarkable contributions to professional basketball and his dedication to community service. This groundbreaking award symbolizes the acknowledgment of individuals who, like Ice Cube, leverage the basketball to create positive change in their communities. More than just a sports honor, this award recognizes those who score points not only in games but in making a lasting impact beyond the court. Todd designed the entire visual identity of the award, including the trophy Ice Cube is holding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92d3357c-8d98-47a1-aa79-725500e6d03a/162+-+Powder+Blues.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Powder Blues The 1941-42 Cubs wore blueish-gray colored pants and vest, with royal blue sleeves. The world wasn’t ready for that level of beauty yet, so they went back to traditional gray by 1943. But by the 1970s and 80s, powder blue had taken over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ab1a30a-f77e-4a05-8c62-b8e29de60a3d/163+-+Balls+In+Play.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Nike Uniform Controversy The new Nike-designed and Fanatics-produced uniforms were billed as having lighter materials for the players on the field, but the pants — especially ones that are white — have a see-through quality to them, and that was evidenced in a picture shared by NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Alex Pavlovic of Giants infielder Casey Schmitt, which went viral for what one could see in the groin region. Fanatics, the producer of the new MLB uniforms for this season, and Nike, who designed the new threads, have left players and fans everywhere upset with the changes to a new fabric and the decreasing sizes of player names and jerseys. The jerseys are extremely easy to sweat through and sometimes the jerseys and pants don’t match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ab3ed11-2356-469f-bb85-068036335501/164+-+Henry+Aaron.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Atlanta Braves As Todd writes in Winning Ugly: The Atlanta Braves’ 1972 visual reboot represented a bold, colorful departure from their previously sedate appearance. Uniform collector Bill Henderson notes that the uniforms were cheaply constructed. “They began to shrink rapidly with the first washing, until after a few washings they had become unwearable,” he says. “The club then decided to have the uniforms dry-cleaned after each game. Surviving examples are shrunken and puckered and many are stained.” Henry Aaron is seen here in the blue jersey. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2abf871-decd-41d3-8f50-c6058ea7afdf/165+-+Turn+Ahead+The+Clock+uniforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Who knows what the future of MLB uniforms holds…? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9a6a2e0-f0f6-4313-8d2e-5ace66720c8f/165+-+Chris+Stapleton+posters.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Chris Stapleton Todd designed a series of baseball-inspired posters for country music artist Chris Stapleton. You can buy them HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdbb6953-4b03-4431-89b1-81049f99e320/167+-+Todd%27s+logo.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Follow Todd Online Instagram Twitter Website Baseball Tonight Podcast Previous Podcasts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29153901-db29-46b6-a5a9-80cb71cb9c53/168+-+World+Series+Tickets+more.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - World Series Games Todd has been to many World Series games over the years, starting with Game 1 of the 1977 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c155f3f1-6218-41e7-a08f-81ab7ce497bb/169+-+1978+Old+Timers+Game.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Yankees Stadium Old Timers Day 1978 Just five days after “quitting,” Billy Martin was rehired to take the reins again with the start of the 1980 season at Old-Timers Day on July 29, 1978. The theme of this game was the silver anniversary of the amazing run of five straight World Series wins (1949-1953). According to John Sterling, announcing from the radio booth, this may have been the greatest assemblage of former players. The game marked Roger Maris’ first Yankee Old-Timers event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccc6a9eb-76ba-4fdc-be82-9197ae384798/170+-+Gooden.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Doc Gooden Todd was lucky enough to have seen 20 year-old Dwight Gooden strike out 16 Giants on August 20, 1985. He was smart enough to have commemorated it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a080888-247f-4bc3-919f-8f1501b94c11/171+-+All+Star+Games.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Todd has been to 28 straight MLB All-Star Games after attending the 2024 game at Globe Life Field, but the 1999 event at Fenway will always hold a special place in his heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a40160ff-ac86-4b39-b13a-0856f25c67fe/172+-+1978+Opening+Day+at+Yankee+Stadium+-+Reggie+bars.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Opening Day 1978 Todd was there on Opening Day in the Bronx in 1978 when 44,667 fans threw their Reggie bars onto the field (Todd ate his). Memorably and hilariously remembered in his book Winning Ugly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/615b75d2-4ea8-42bb-83c1-eb66f4d30686/173+-+September+of+1987.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Wrigley Field Todd was sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley on September 21, 1987 when he took this incredible shot of Darryl Strawberry blowing a bubble with his gum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1e84633-23c6-45eb-99e9-7d12e809567c/174+-+Clock.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd Radom Designer • Baseball Historian https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7412ebd0-8d56-4ffd-9115-7184718ca43e/175+-+Indians.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - My First Logo While I had played organized sports before and been on teams with names, the first team I ever played on which had a real logo was the Indians in 1994 with my friend, Matt Corning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/625b4893-008b-480a-bb3b-2abd715d7842/176+-+Todd+in+1970.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Young Todd If I post a picture of myself as a youngster, it’s only fair that Todd gets one, too. Here he is playing ball, circa 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ea131b1-b47e-4e66-8175-97d9e01be3f3/177+-+September+1987+in+Detroit.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Traveling For History’s Sake Todd’s long list of stadiums visited has helped him in his art career, but the experiences and memories helped shape him as a person, too. Here are memories from a game he saw at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on September 19, 1987. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/308da5db-4528-4de2-b21e-5713367f6b42/178+-+Exhibition+Stadium.+Jim%2C+Todd+-+Toronto%2C+September+12%2C+1988.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Just Bein’ A Guy With His Buds Here is Todd with his buddy, Jim, at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto on September 12, 1988. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e12e55f2-aaa2-4006-94b2-f4852e922a38/179+-+Detroit.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Destination U.S.A. Todd has an entire series of prints like these that he has made for different cities. It is clear that he understands the soul of each place because he has been there to experience it himself. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this Detroit image by clicking HERE. You can also purchase any of the other cities Todd has done by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96fb4d25-f7e6-4c4e-a7ac-f410e3b5c5cb/180+-+New+Orleans.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Crescent City Original art with vintage flair. 10 color printing with archival pigment-based ink. Digitally printed on heavy natural white, museum-grade archival, 100% acid-free matte art paper. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this New Orleans image by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2929e60-c509-496e-896e-c66008eb19ae/181+-+Philadelphia.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - City Of Brotherly Love Original art with vintage flair. 10 color printing with archival pigment-based ink. Digitally printed on heavy natural white, museum-grade archival, 100% acid-free matte art paper. You can buy an 11" x 17" high quality art print of this Philadelphia image by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31bf3386-fbe6-4eac-a8aa-89d6d2324615/182+-+Winning+Ugly.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18485867-b4ef-4f5a-9da9-4c6c3ba1ae33/183+-+Dick+Allen.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Richie Allen Dick Allen was one of the most feared hitters in baseball in the 1960s. In an era dominated by pitching, he slugged some of the most prodigious home runs and quickly become one of the most exciting players in the game. Dick Allen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/055ee04c-da7a-4ca6-a8b8-bd02b389f5ff/184+-+Shoeless+Joe.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Shoeless Joe Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson is widely hailed as the greatest natural hitter in the history of the game. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, Jackson stood 6-feet-1 and weighed 178 well-built pounds. He belted sharp line drives to all corners of the ballpark, and was fast enough to lead the American League in triples three times. He never won a batting title, but his average of .408 in 1911 still stands as a Cleveland team record and a major-league rookie record. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eeb05087-a324-4ea5-9208-998c20cdcbae/185+-+Frank+Thomas.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Frank Thomas Frank Thomas was a five-time All-Star and is the only player in major league history to have seven consecutive seasons (1991–1997) with at least a .300 batting average, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, 100 walks, and 20 home runs. Thomas also won the AL batting title in 1997 with a .347 mark. He was a two-time AL MVP and won a World Series in 2005. Frank Thomas is widely considered one of the greatest right handed hitters in MLB history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18e503cb-1550-4024-86db-4110b4d0e16b/186+-+Rookie.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Uniform Changes I understand that the White Sox have a history which dates back more than 120 years, but I believe the amount of times they have changed their uniforms in their history, especially from the 1930s through the 1970s, is one of the reasons why they don’t have the same fanbase as teams like the Cubs, Yankees, or Red Sox, who have been around for similar amounts of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37e6687e-3512-4b97-ba51-3d8dc9685300/187+-+1907+Cubs.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Pinstripes George Steinbrenner once tried to trademark pinstripes, but the Yankees were not the first team to wear pinstripes on a uniform. New York briefly added pinstripes to their uniforms in 1912, then re-added them on a permanent basis soon after Jacob Ruppert bought the team in 1915. However, the Chicago Cubs' had pinstripes as early as 1907 when they wore them during the World Series, and it is the Cubs who are recognized as the first Major League Baseball team to incorporate pinstriping into a baseball uniform. George Steinbrenner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/baf62a1d-a82b-477d-bcff-d07538288478/188+-+Papa.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - What Is The Best Tool? “Whatever tool I need to get the job done.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d57fe60f-7aca-4e6f-9aa3-8ff6dde55e5f/189+-+sketch.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Gary Cieradkowski This was the original sketch I sent to Gary Cieradkowski, who had reservations about the amount of detail I was wanting to end up in a piece of art that would be viewed at such a small scale. For some unknown reason, Gary put his trust in me anyway. Scroll down THIS PAGE to see some of the other reference photos I sent Gary to show him my vision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/90c946b9-3ad7-41d8-9ebb-6b31b35752b0/190+-+artwork.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Finished Product If you’ll pardon the pun, Gary Cieradkowski knocked it out of the park. I was blown away when he sent me the finished artwork for the show. When it’s shrunk down small on your phone, you still get the concept. But when it’s blown up bigger like this, it’s a truly amazing piece of art. If you’d like to read about what it was like to create the artwork from Gary’s perspective, he wrote about it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfbc4399-e975-43f4-8f66-9ffa5ed5b546/191+-+Mets+logo.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bbb430a6-26ce-4f04-adcb-ea571940fd4c/192+-+Mets.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Todd’s Proposed Update The New York Mets' time-honored skyline logo was created in 1961 and has been utilized by the franchise—with a few tweaks—ever since then. The visual landscape of New York has evolved over the past half century, the result of both development and of tragedy. Todd took a swing at updating the Mets logo to more accurately reflect the New York that exists today, and wrote about his choices HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/168dc4be-036d-42b0-8483-e86574cf0c81/193+-+1939.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch Every team in Major League Baseball wore these patches on their sleeves during the 1939 season. Since the St. Louis Browns already had a patch on their left sleeve, they wore this one on their right sleeve. Every other team in MLB wore it on their left. Todd wrote about the patch HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/192616c5-f563-489b-916e-2e051e34862a/194+-+commemorative+tickets.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Commemorative Game Tickets A trend I hate, but if we’re going to embrace it as a concept as we stray further and further from physical printed tickets as the norm, can we please stop making these things $50+? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/004b0f0b-ce17-4b93-bce3-9479f6d164df/195+-+Fabric+Of+The+Game.JPEG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Buy Todd and Chris’ incredible book, Fabric Of The Game, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f4eaa27-5938-4b0c-b08c-1c8ecd33b408/196+-+Angels.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Anaheim Angels Mo Vaughn looks disgusted at something. While it may be related to a recent at bat, it’s possible an opponent was taunting him because of these uniforms, which were not very well received by adults at the time. Coincidentally enough, it was this era of the Angels which Todd was brought in to help the team move on from. The Disney Angel Wings era lasted from 1997 through 2001, with Todd’s designs taking the field starting in 2002. The Angels promptly won the World Series in 2002. Coincidence??? Mo Vaughn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c71123bd-049d-44f5-bcd1-6c8822d46c3e/197+-+Arizona.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Arizona Diamondbacks These purple and teal uniforms fell out of favor for a while, but it seems like there is a pretty large group of fans who wouldn’t mind seeing them make their return. It’s possible they’re not as in love with the uniforms, themselves, so much as they are nostalgic for the success the team had while wearing them, thanks to pitching from Randy Johnson to help the team win the 2001 World Series. Randy Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39e3c49f-cb1e-4bfa-a872-f9fcd7c845f8/198+-+White+Sox+Shorts.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - The Infamous White Sox Shorts Maryfrances Veeck was the original publicist for the Ice Capades, and used her experience in that capacity to help Bill run and market his baseball teams over the years. She even helped design the shorts that the White Sox briefly wore during the 1976 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/50c74c34-b9a5-4944-9316-9aedbc0eb207/199+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5d12dcc-607c-4bba-97b0-ab81994da016/201+-+Winning+Ugly+book+signing.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win a signed paperback copy of Todd’s book about the history of baseball uniforms, Winning Ugly? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d07fb5c-20c5-4dde-a0f9-6f49b57923b0/202+-+Marc+Okkonen.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc Okkonen Before Todd Radom became one of the world’s leading historians and experts on baseball uniform designs and logos, Marc Okkonen exhaustively cataloged major league uniforms dating back to 1900. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1777bdb9-3c62-4062-926e-f897d02787ac/203+-+Cubs+uniforms.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - A Keen Eye In 1984, Marc was watching the movie “The Natural” starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, when he spotted what he thought were flaws in the uniforms of the opponents of the fictional New York Knights in the film. Marc noticed that the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs (seen here, as depicted in the flim) were not precise replicas of the originals from 1939, when the movie takes place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca845e03-9b17-45e4-8164-771063e2c721/204+-+Marc+Okkonen.JPG Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century Marc spent five years poring through books, microfilms and archives, including those at the Library of Congress and the Baseball Hall of Fame, to find images of every home and road uniform worn by all major league teams, starting in 1900. His research turned into a groundbreaking book, Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century: The Official Major League Baseball Guide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/47358b32-1cbf-43b8-a1c1-5b1515c9a7c2/205+-+Joe+and+Ty+Cobb+color.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - A Difficult Task Marc’s mission was more than just finding and drawing the uniforms and hats for each team exactly as he saw them depicted in old photos. Okkonen also had to figure out the precise colors of those early twentieth century uniforms, a task made considerably more difficult by the lack of color photography from those years. The shade of blue that the Cleveland Naps wore was slightly different from the shade of blue that his Detroit Tigers wore, for example. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfb596a2-d7b4-46f4-88d6-e335bd3e6c32/206+-+Dressed+To+The+Nines+template+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Dressed To The Nines Template Okkonen’s investigations took him to a sports library in Los Angeles, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. To facilitate his work he moved to upstate New York for a time to be closer to the Hall. Okkonen’s artistic ability vividly enhanced his findings. He envisioned a two-dimensional faceless mannequin on which to illustrate each uniform: standing, with his left hand on his hip, and his right hand holding the bat a couple inches above the knob and slung over his shoulder. That pose allowed the entire uniform to be highlighted and compared to others, from the cap to the socks. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac7018e2-3b73-41b5-9b25-2b0cbce27053/207+-+1914+Chi+Feds+home+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Marc’s Original Drawing Of 1914 Chi Feds Home Uniform Marc continually revised and updated his work based on additional research and his book serves as the basis for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s online exhibit on baseball uniforms. In fact, The Hall of Fame has scanned Marc’s original drawings and incorporated them into a searchable database titled Dressed to the Nines: A History of The Baseball Uniform. Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b83d739-d154-46f4-8922-501c204095b0/208+-+New+York+Gothams.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Make it stand out Tom Shieber is responsible for locating and correctly identifying the oldest baseball team photograph in existence: this one of the New York Gotham club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/727ee22b-6561-4dca-8015-b430ad720a75/207+-+Federal+League+drawings+-+photo+taken+by+Tom+Shieber%2C+courtesy+of+the+National+Baseball+Hall+of+Fame+and+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Original Federal League Drawings Shieber said, “I started working at the Hall of Fame in 1998. I was hired to do the website, not to be a curator. And I wanted to do “Dressed to the Nines” from the minute I was working here. We used to have a physical exhibit on uniforms at the Hall, and then we took it down. So I thought we could do a really good job of having a web exhibit.” Photo taken by Tom Shieber, courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e3ba1e3-92b7-4cef-bf59-6e030689df30/210+-+2000+Cups+of+Coffee.jpg Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - 2,000 Cups Of Coffee Marc Okkonen also wrote and illustrated several other baseball books, including The Ty Cobb Scrapbook, The Federal League of 1914-1915: Baseball's Third Major League, and 2,000 Cups of Coffee, which contains images of players whose major-league careers lasted for 10 or fewer games from 1900-1949. In 2014, Marc won the Henry Chadwick Award from the Society for American Baseball Research, which honors baseball’s great researchers — historians, statisticians, analysts, and archivists — for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America’s present with its past. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7aa07b93-6d86-49ff-8f60-dc6c7af8badd/190+-+artwork.png Past Episodes - 0402 - Todd Radom - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0401 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c692bb1-299c-466e-9317-e3a57c5b3825/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8b822ff-e4d3-4e59-8172-67de4cc97d9b/Square.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust Me and Nancy Faust after recording our interview at her home in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/083b49f4-5078-485a-8e61-a2e4863a45ac/01+-+GroveWood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - GroveWood Baseball Museum This episode is brought to you by the GroveWood Baseball Museum. WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63513cee-54fe-4536-ad9d-ff905d4d504d/02+-+GroveWood.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Make it stand out The GroveWood Baseball Museum has over 1,000 artifacts dating all the way back to the Civil War era. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a697be05-4511-456f-9e86-4421aeac0119/03+-+Centerfield+spot.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Innovator From her center field perch at Old Comiskey Park, Nancy Faust became arguably the first sports organist to include pop and rock themes while playing during games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0571cb9-44ef-4629-9a7e-0ca155d23286/04+-+1970+White+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 1970 Chicago White Sox In Nancy’s first season, the White Sox went 56-106, drawing less than half a million fans to Comiskey Park for the first time since 1942, and finishing last in attendance in the American League for the second consecutive year. Plenty of good seats still available in this shot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c37c9443-f350-4f00-861b-f2631af8db4c/05+-+Sports+Illustrated.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Sports Illustrated Nancy was recognized in the September 5, 1977 issue of Sports Illustrated: “Regardless of how the White Sox finish, Comiskey Park's Nancy Faust is a sure bet to be the American League's MVO (Most Valuable Organist). When the Sox do something good—or even threaten to—she plays the tune from an old rock hit, Kiss Him Goodbye. Nowadays that immediately provokes a boisterous sing-along by Chicago fans…” "If the White Sox win it," says Chicago columnist Bill Gleason, "Nancy'll be the only organist ever voted a full Series share." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa29cd35-5039-48de-8635-c9d945b46c97/06+-+They_Plan_to_Serenade_the_Organist_at_Sox_Comiskey_Park___1979_05_01___Nancy_Faust_Day__Chicago_Tribune__1979_04_27__.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Celebrated By The Sox The White Sox held a special event at Comiskey Park on May 1, 1979 to celebrate Nancy Faust and everything she brought to the organization. It wasn’t the last time she would be honored in such a way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/288171b9-688e-4057-bb3e-ff246e1cb5d6/07+-+Bobblehead.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Her Own Bobblehead Ten thousand Nancy Faust bobblehead dolls were presented to fans by the White Sox before their game on September 18, 2010, just two weeks before her retirement. White Sox fan and historian Peter Wilt is seen here with his. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a77db32f-3d04-4e04-8521-9fbda77047b4/08+-+Shrine+Of+The+Eternals.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals Nancy was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2018. List of Other Inductees https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b62fdd57-b463-4a9f-a7f9-53fa1e66c0c1/09+-+Women+In+Baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - National Baseball Hall of Fame Nancy’s talents and contribution to the game are recognized in an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown called "Women in Baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4b89faa-4f2b-4d8b-872a-8f47e026ace0/10+-+put+in+bay.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Put-In-Bay Nancy’s mom was also a musical prodigy, playing keyboard by ear for passengers getting off the boat at Put-In-Bay in Ohio as a child. One of the world's largest hotels, the Hotel Victory, opened its 625 rooms to the public in 1892 in Put-In-Bay. The four-story hotel featured a one-thousand-seat dining room. However, on August 14, 1919, the giant hotel burned to the ground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/555fbaa7-a17f-48e4-8caf-4552b55cf3e4/11+-+Jenny%2C+Joy+%26+Jean.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Jenny, Joy And Jean Nancy’s mom could play just about any instrument and any song of the day. She toured the Midwest with an all-female band known as Jenny, Joy And Jean. Nancy’s mother performed as Jean, even though her real name was Jackie. She arranged music and played the fiddle. The group played for a couple of years on the nationally syndicated “WLS Radio Barn Dance” show that aired on WLS-AM for decades. When Nancy’s mother left the group, they split up since Nancy’s mom was the one doing all of the arrangements. However, after the split, Jenny Lou Carson went on to enjoy fame as a solo artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8def5ee-7c03-442e-9420-4f81878aef88/12+-+Nancy%27s+mom.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Make it stand out Nancy's mom, Jackie Faust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92c0b6fd-91ee-476f-9fc8-87aa74169314/13+-+Family.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Dad Nancy’s father was a Swedish immigrant who came to the United States at the age of 11. He ended up having a health center in the Chicago suburb of Evanston and gave Swedish massages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0395b85-025e-4991-a13a-81caf99dbb16/14+-+With+sister%2C+Judy.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Judy Nancy’s sister, Judy, was three years older. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a37f67b6-94f9-46b1-86a9-e7c7ec4c4442/15+-+With+Hammond+Times.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Musical Family Nancy, in the background, and her older sister, Judy, in the foreground, both played music growing up. Nancy continued on after Judy stopped playing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c01d88f-b9bc-4311-982c-83d7ecb72f4f/16+-+Age+6.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Early Start When Nancy was only 4 years old, her parents decided they were going to buy a Hammond organ so her mom could practice at home. Nancy started messing around on it when her mom wasn’t practicing and found out that she could figure out how to play some tunes by ear, too. Nancy is pictured here, at the age of 6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c82317c-49a1-406c-8de9-a09ce1213bbe/17+-+Morris+B+Sachs.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour The “Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour” was a favorite weekly talent show for Chicagoans from the 1930s well into the 1950s. It began as a radio program, but eventually became a television program. At the age of 5, Nancy appeared on the show. She played the song “Glow Worm” which was originally by Johnny Mercer but was covered in 1952 by The Mills Brothers. Nancy won first prize, winning a watch and $75. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e53a4f9e-054f-40b6-8e4f-e5de90321c88/19+-+1954-08+Hammond+Times.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Child Organist Nancy was featured on the cover of this August 1954 issue of Hammond Times, a publication specifically geared toward advertising the versatility and importance of Hammond Organs by telling the stories of many successful musicians who played them across the country. Is the watch Nancy is wearing on the cover the one she won (and subsequently lost) from her appearance on the “Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8ee3837-c379-405d-b797-3d22b90df3d0/19+-+1954-08+Hammond+Times+page+3.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond Times This was the write up inside the August 1954 issue of Hammond Times, featuring a 7-year-old Nancy, who they described as “a perfect example of what excellent results a child can achieve at a very early age in playing the Hammond Organ.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf4e8d7b-2b27-4493-9333-c2978506929b/18+-+With+dad.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Dad Even though it was Nancy’s mom who had the musical talent, it was actually Nancy’s dad who pushed her to practice and develop her musical skills through a series of animal-related bribes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8775b3e6-c8b6-46d3-955b-f6f4437d0c7e/19+-+1956-08+piano.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Piano vs. Organ Nancy says she’s not a great piano player, despite the two instruments looking visually similar. On the organ, you can use your foot to act as the bass, meaning your left hand doesn’t have to be as busy as it would need to be on a piano, where the left hand acts as the bass. On an organ, your left hand can play chords and let them sustain, whereas on a piano, your hands mostly need to keep moving. Nancy is pictured here sitting at the family’s piano, with an organ in the background. She is 9 years old here, in August of 1956. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/009b829c-62a0-4da4-91a5-9c063677cb60/20+-+Youthful+Sox.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Multi-Instrumentalist Nancy is obviously a great organist, and can also play piano, but she can also play chords on a guitar. When she went to North Park Universtiy, Nancy started out majoring in music where she was introduced to all of the woodwinds and stringed instruments. Once she learned where to put her fingers on those instruments, whether it be a violin, a saxophone, or anything else, Nancy could figure out how to play each of them by ear. Nancy graduated from North Park with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/358aa7a8-4d54-4283-9a9e-ede2fcd68faf/21+-+Stu+Holcomb.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Stu Holcomb Stu Holcomb (left) played college football for Ohio State University, then had a successful career coaching both college football and college basketball. After retiring from coaching, Holcomb was the athletic director at Northwestern University (1956–1966). Holcomb was the public relations director for the White Sox from 1968 until September 1, 1970, when he was promoted to replace Ed Short as General Manager. He would remain in that role until 1973, when he was succeeded by Roland Hemond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/637bfd97-73a5-4e49-906a-8869cb53f270/22+-+Centerfield+perch.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Center Field Perch When the White Sox first installed an organ at Comiskey Park, it was in the Center Field bleachers, where the white arrow is pointing in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/264bf43a-410f-4b44-a500-c99e20631226/22+-+Press+photo+2.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Amongst The Fans Nancy said being amongst the fans allowed her to really learn the game, and understand what songs might be appropriate to play at times. Being able to get instant feedback, as well as real time suggestions, only improved Nancy’s skills. By her third year playing at Comiskey, the organ was moved from the bleachers to behind home plate, putting her even closer to the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/891ee6ca-0316-440e-855e-b440820aec20/24+-+Home+States.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 1970 Opening Day Starting Lineup Nancy wasn’t given much direction in terms of what she should play as batters approached the plate, or at other times during the games. “I would suggest that perhaps, in your own mind, you start thinking of music that would be suitable for the park… Little comic gimmicks that involve umpires, players, fans, etc., are always welcome. Enclosed is a roster showing the states where most of our boys live.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b53ab15-7312-4713-b550-2e9d52650781/25+-+streaker.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - No Matter What Happened On The Field… … Nancy always seemed to have the perfect song choice to accompany the action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a904c5b-84b7-4d17-8ec5-9f6a5b39dc7c/26+-+Spreadsheet.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s List Though nearly all of her musical choices were made off the top of her head, Nancy did have a list she would keep with certain categories to help her remember appropriate songs to play in certain situations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49884b32-1bb0-4e79-8e49-279037d88aa5/27+-+soxogram.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - SOXOGRAM When Nancy’s organ was moved behind home plate, it allowed her to see the messages displayed on the scoreboard throughout the game, helping her pick appropriate songs that she otherwise would not have been prompted to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a751536a-c81e-47e8-9d6b-7988bf4b8196/28+-+Bob+Creed.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bob Creed Nancy was hired to replace Bob Creed at Comiskey Park. Creed was the organist for the Chicago White Sox, Bulls and Sting. He had played with the Les Paul Orchestra and was staff organist with WLS-TV and radio in Chicago. He was also the organist and music arranger for the nightclub singer/pianist Al “Jealous Heart” Morgan for 28 years. During her first year, Nancy became aware of a petition that was being circulated to bring Creed back to replace her. Stu Holcomb stood up for Nancy and assured her that her job was safe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd6dfc2b-2f86-498b-ace6-7cce24e5deb5/29+-+Shay+Torrent.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A New Organ At Comiskey Park In 1960, owner Bill Veeck placed an organ in the center field bleachers at Comiskey Park to try to engage fans White Sox fans during games. It was the perfect promotional event for the Hammond Times to cover, since the Sox installed a Hammond Organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9b75724-d375-4506-91f0-883b2019f7e7/30+-+Shay+Torrent+2.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Shay Torrent Shay Torrent was the first organist for the White Sox, hired by Veeck in 1960. Torrent was already an accomplished musician by that point, having released multiple recordings prior to his career as a professional sports organist. Torrent remained with the White Sox through the 1966 season, after which he moved to California and became the original organist for the Angels. He played for them from 1967 through his retirement in 1985. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ae1326b-dead-4099-b234-acb808ecb08a/31+-+Outfield+perch.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nerves? Nancy said she really only gets nervous the first time she plays a new song, because she just wants to make sure she can get through it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73a5b080-94bf-426b-bbcd-a41e8181e6ce/32+-+Attractive+Organist.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Attractive Organist” In her first season, Nancy earned $95 per game, which was a very nice living in 1970. Despite her skills and obvious intelligence, Nancy was still described by her looks in some publications. In 1972, Stu Holcomb, the man who hired Nancy, physically removed Waukegan News-Sun sportswriter Linda Morstadt from the press box. While Nancy was never removed from her position, she also experienced some misogyny and wonders if the petition being circulated by fans in her first season was driven by the fact that she was a woman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/742ebc76-5fd9-410f-8200-b6c248d3f5ce/33+-+1971+Letter+from+Harry+Caray.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry Caray Hired By The Sox In 1971, the White Sox hired Harry Caray. Even though Nancy still didn’t know too much about baseball, she had friends who were big baseball fans who let her know Harry was coming to town, and that it was something to be excited about. One of them in particular convinced Nancy to write Harry a letter. This letter was Harry’s response. Harry Caray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e158ea21-d4a7-42ae-9385-16d2a77fe21a/34+-+With+Harry+Caray.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry and Nancy From 1945 to 1969, Caray was the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX. During those years, he developed a national following, calling three World Series and one All-Star Game. He was named Baseball Broadcaster of the Year seven consecutive times by The Sporting News. He was the broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics during the 1970 season before taking over for the White Sox in 1971. He remained there for 10 years before leaving to take the Cubs job in 1982. There, he became even more well known nationally as a result of the super station status of WGN Television. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d649878a-278c-4119-bb47-21de46bc1412/35+-+Press+photo+4.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” Nancy listened to the radio broadcast during games so she could learn more about baseball, and so she could get inspiration for songs to play based on what Harry Caray and his partner, Jimmy Piersall, were discussing. One of the first times Harry really noticed Nancy’s playing to the point of him mentioning her on air, it was because Nancy played the Ray Charles song “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” after she was inspired by hearing something Harry said. Jimmy Piersall’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1c6d52d-0f05-4952-aaab-0d39ff404169/36+-+1971-06-24.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “The Mayor Of Rush Street” Harry Caray promoted all aspects of the game, and was a fan favorite for his stunts like broadcasting games from the bleachers, like he’s doing here in this photo from a 1971 game. Caray was also a notorious drinker, both on air and off, which was something that connected him with many fans, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d701649a-d108-4cb7-b87e-8f97c3e82cc6/37+-+Press+photo+1.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Best Seat In The House By Nancy’s third season in 1972, she was so popular that Stu Holcomb moved her right behind home plate in the upper deck, at Harry Caray’s insistence. 10 box seats were removed so there would be room for her organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc623a88-5777-43ef-ae5b-dd79717ac105/38+-+Press+photo+3.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Changing Atmosphere Fans started pouring into Comiskey Park by 1972 since the team was better and because Harry Caray and Nancy were making it such a fun atmosphere. To be surrounded by enthusiastic, knowledgeable fans made Nancy’s job much more fun, and much easier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4cd94b2f-c9b9-4d17-ac90-6bd69059d686/39+-+Young+Nancy.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Third Base Side When Bill Veeck came to the park and noticed Nancy’s organ was occupying ten valuable seats in the upper deck directly behind home plate, her organ was moved again. This time, Nancy was moved down the 3rd base line, which she says actually gave her a better view of Harry’s booth, making it easier for the two to interact and play off of each other throughout the game. One of Nancy’s favorite songs to play when they would catch each other’s eyes was “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d26eac67-a551-4a70-9744-5e89a1c0b198/40+-+Superstitions+2.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bill Veeck Bill Veeck didn’t understand right away the connection Nancy had with her fans, or the fact that Nancy had fans of her own. When he initially moved her organ from behind home plate, the fans protested, saying Nancy was a big reason for their enjoyment of the game inside Comiskey Park. To his credit, Bill Veeck listened to those fans, and gave Nancy a better location down the third base line. The White Sox are saying “to hell with superstitions!” in this photoshoot, with Nancy under a ladder, and Bill Veeck (right) opening an umbrella indoors. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea12f6b3-9b39-41e1-a238-0807d0a03aa1/42+-+Famous+Footwear.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Famous Footwear Despite an advertising deal with Famous Footwear, Nancy said she’s actually most comfortable playing the organ shoeless. Joe Jackson would be proud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49d7150d-d5d3-47c0-b461-a8bff5706f4e/43+-+Hammond+organ+smile.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Fans All Around Nancy credits Harry’s enthusiasm for the resurgence in fan attendance at Comiskey Park. She said it was always more fun for her to play the organ when more people were at the games, and also notes that it meant a lot to her that Harry always made it a point to acknowledge Nancy by name, both on the air and over the PA in the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35c32f02-8067-4e38-ae0f-1139a58d093c/44+-+Jesus+Christ+Superstar.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Dick Allen In 1972, Dick Allen joined the Chicago White Sox and won the American League MVP, posting a league-leading 37 homers and 1.023 OPS. During that summer, Nancy began playing the title track from the 1970 rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” whenever Allen would come to the plate. The tradition caught on, and walk-up music was officially A Thing. “After all,” Nancy said then, “a great many Sox fans think he is another Jesus Christ.” Allen was one of the most feared sluggers of his era, a star who withstood many injustices in his career. During his best season, he inadvertently helped popularize the player-specific walk-up song. Dick Allen’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69c5f6e9-f869-4c26-af52-6e10d91f7af3/45+-+Third+Base+Side.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Infinite Amount of Songs Nancy says that since she can basically play any song well enough to get the point across, there’s really no way to even estimate the number of songs she’s played throughout the course of her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68b00080-ad8b-47d4-adc7-c292dba53f7e/41+-+popcorn.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Popcorn Nancy would hang out in Dan Evans' office every day (and especially before the first day of a new series) with freshly popped popcorn and talk about the guys on the other team and what was going on with the Sox to learn if there was anything she could learn to make the songs better and more appropriate for the games. The information was nice, but it was really about the popcorn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07ca3cb6-ce07-496e-825b-d434b6dabfaa/46+-+Matt+Kaminski.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Matthew Kaminski Nancy said if she were the organist for a team today, she would be utilizing social media the way Braves organist Matthew Kaminski does, asking his followers for ideas on what songs to play. Some of his videos have been played over a million times! Matt’s website Matt’s twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae8f25c0-955d-4239-9d6f-424704414e89/47+-+Na+Na+Hey+Hey+Goodbye.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - July 29, 1977 The first time Nancy ever played “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” was during the July 29, 1977 White Sox game against the Kansas City Royals. The Sox were in the heat of a pennant race, and were playing an important game against the second-place Royals, who trailed the Sox by only 3.5 games coming in. The Sox scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 6-3 lead. Kansas City scored 5 unanswered runs of their own to take back the lead by a score of 8-6 after the top of the 7th. Nancy had heard the Steam song on her way to the game earlier that day, making note of the word “goodbye” in the lyrics. She tried playing it after a strikeout earlier in the game, to a tame reaction from the Comiskey Park crowd. The Sox tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the 7th against wild Royals pitcher Mark Littell. Just before the Sox knocked him out of the game, Nancy tried out the famous song again. This time, the crowd’s reaction was immediate and intense, drawing a comment from broadcaster Jimmy Piersall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfe64c61-04e4-4b14-8333-d782378995a2/48+-+Steam.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - White Sox Theme Littell walked the next batter, Chet Lemon. The batter after that, Eric Soderholm, reached on an error, and Littell was removed from the game. As he walked back to the dugout, Nancy played the song again, this time to an even bigger crowd reaction. The Sox went on to score four runs in the bottom of the 7th, taking a 10-8 lead. They added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th, winning the game 11-8 and increasing their lead in the AL West to 4.5 games over the Royals. At that point, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” became the theme song for the White Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5943cbc-af59-449a-ab4d-08613fd2848f/49+-+Bards+Room.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Bard’s Room Digitally recreated here by architect Brian Powers, the Bard’s Room at old Comiskey Park was an exclusive enclave for media and invited guests. It also included owner/VIP dining, private dining, centralized kitchen and a lot of White Sox history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/20187681-34e8-4055-99f2-1976f075609e/50+-+Gold+Record+pose.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Gold Record The band Steam was suddenly inspired to re-release their record, eight years after its initial success. As a result, the single went gold a second time, and Mercury Records sent Nancy a gold record to acknowledge her role in re-popularizing the song. A single or an album becomes RIAA Gold certified after it has sold 500,000 units. The very first Gold Single was earned on March 14, 1958 with Perry Como’s “Catch A Falling Star” and four months later the cast album for Oklahoma!, sung by Gordon Macrae, became the first Gold Album. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac300676-91f1-458c-a7af-e3a6ed491f16/51+-+gold+record+kiss+em.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Ceremony The White Sox held a big ceremony at Comiskey Park before the game on September 2, 1977 where a representative from Mercury Records presented Nancy with the gold record. The ceremony was held only 35 days after Nancy had played the song for the first time at the stadium on July 29, meaning the single sold more than 14,000 copies every day since then to achieve its Gold status. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05885857-198b-40dd-a3ad-db0e44d75ca5/52+-+Bards+Room+accordion.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Bard’s Room The original Bard’s Room had the feel of a rustic yet upscale upper Midwest cabin — paneled in mahogany, decorated with deer heads, and made warm with a brick fireplace. The White Sox opened the room up to the press on occasion, and the writers soon took it over when Comiskey and his pals passed on or faded away. When Bill Veeck bought the team in 1959, he couldn’t resist the temptation to make the Bard’s Room his personal office, so he did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34a2299b-a2b4-4fd4-918c-8d4160c00031/53+-+1980.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Contracts After Harry Caray left to become the broadcaster for the Cubs, the White Sox signed Nancy to a 5-year contract, scared she would soon join Harry on the North Side. After 20 years with the club, the White Sox changed Nancy’s status from “independent contractor” to actual team employee, which gave her benefits she still enjoys today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b32d571b-0509-404e-86df-5e465298732e/54+-+With+Walt+Williams.JPG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Feedback Nancy says she never really got any feedback from the players about her songs, but it was clear that the players were aware of her and that she was beloved. Here, Nancy poses with White Sox outfielder Walt Williams, who was with the team from 1967 through 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1adf1c3d-1c69-40b2-91f3-53e55237b3c9/55+-+Harold+Baines.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harold Baines Nancy also made an impression on Harold Baines. She played “He’s So Shy” for him due to his quiet demeanor. who mentioned Nancy and her playing during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2019. Ahead of each one of Baines’ at-bats, Nancy led the crowd in a chant of his name -- like a childhood dream come to life. "It'd be late in the ballgame and there'd be a whole stand of people saying your name over and over with her playing to it. It'd be a tight ballgame, eighth or ninth inning. I'm coming up and 70% of the time I end up getting a hit to win the game, and that became the famous 'Har-old, Har-old,'" Baines said. Harold Baines’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/787bea1d-151d-4633-af56-c665689b1551/56+-+Keith.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Music On The News? Once, during an interview on Jonathon Brandmeier’s show, Nancy mentioned how she’d love to play background music for the news since she could think of many appropriate songs based on the stories being discussed. She may not have exactly gotten that wish, but her music is featured on the Countdown With Keith Olbermann podcast. Listen to Keith’s podcast HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/455df279-d2b7-4ed8-820f-e705328d2ba7/57+-+Billy+Martin.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Billy Martin It was clear that Nancy’s music was having an impact on the game, and was being noticed by everyone from opposing players to Tigers manager Billy Martin. “He didn’t like the music I was playing when his team was at bat, and he complained to the umpires, who told me to stop playing,” Faust recalled. “And right away Stu (Holcomb) called and said you keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t be intimidated." Billy Martin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/510c2f67-44e4-4862-97ba-cdffea949687/58+-+1976-05-16+Midwest+magazine.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Celebrity By the mid-1970s, Nancy was becoming insanely popular at Chicago sporting events. She played organ for White Sox home games, but she also played at Chicago Bulls games from 1975 to 1984, at Chicago Sting pro soccer games from 1975 to 1988, at DePaul University Blue Demons basketball games from 1977 to 1981, and at Chicago Blackhawks games from 1984 to 1989. All of that exposure helped Nancy become a celebrity in her own right, appearing on this May 16, 1976 cover of Midwest magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da038db1-173d-4aec-ab65-ed859dc8c95b/59+-+Chicago+Stadium+organ.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Chicago Stadium Organ For many months prior to its dedication, the Chicago Stadium's 6-51 Barton organ was under construction in the factory of the Bartola Musical Instrument Co. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The instrument was designed by Dan Barton, and its building was under the supervision of Alfred Stoll, superintendent at the plant. At the time of its installation, the 7.5 ton console was the largest unit ever constructed, at a cost of $250,000. It had 51 sets of pipes, with 17 percussions and a drum section which consisted of 6 bass drums, 6 cymbals and 12 snare drums. The wind pressures varied from 15 to 50 inches, with there being 6 ranks of pipes on 50 inches pressure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/859550b4-16f5-4a4a-b47a-b7652ce8f8c1/60+-+Hammond+B3.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond B-3 There were many varieties of the Hammond organ, but the most popular variety, and the one still commonly in use today is the Hammond B-3. The B-3 featured a solid walnut body with four legs and base, a built-in stool, and weighed over 400 pounds. It had two 61 note keyboards, sometimes called the swell (top) and the great (bottom), a variety of built-in special effects, 9 preset keys for both keyboards (the inversely white and black keys on the bottom octave of each), two sets of nine stops (drawbars) for each manual, a full two octave set of foot pedals with two pedal drawbars built in to the console, and a volume pedal built into the base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e3f1869-1bfb-4fc3-b6cd-e588269fda51/61+-+Hammond+X66.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Hammond X-66 Nancy convinced the White Sox to buy the new Hammond X-66 for the 1972 season. It was supposed to be the latest-and-greatest instrument from Hammond, but it ended up having some limitations which made it less versatile than the B-3. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aba4f3d4-46eb-4c07-8d99-dd8fb8e40ecd/62+-+Hammond+X66.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “On Deck” Though it wasn’t in use at Comiskey Park very long, Nancy used the Hammond X-66 to record a single of her own, titled “On Deck” and released through Pony Express Records. The B-Side was a 2:50 long medley called “Rah” comprised of the fight songs of the Big Ten schools, and Notre Dame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e0e53a58-fc80-403a-a1e1-f63f8794f73b/63+-+a+growing+rig.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Growing Rig As the years went on, Nancy became less concerned about the make and model of the organ she was playing, as long as whatever the Sox gave her had two full keyboards and two octaves of pedals. It was also important that the rig could accommodate a sequencer, a synthesizer, and a drum unit so Nancy could fill out the sounds of the songs she was playing, giving those songs more dimension. Nancy’s personal organ sold through Chicago White Sox Charities in December of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42d65645-3e08-44d0-a77e-670e4fb20f88/64+-+No+Sheet+Music.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - No Sheet Music Notice how in all of these photos of Nancy behind the organ, there is never any sheet music. She doesn’t think she would have been able to have the career she had if she would have needed to play off music, since everything happens so fast and all you have time to do is react and play, not look up the right song for the right moment. “I was really made for that job. I could never do anything in life as well as I was suited for that.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4531bfc-7be3-422d-b22c-ff8acb99cb55/65+-+party.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Party Atmosphere Nancy feels like the affordability of tickets made the games much more accessible to lots of fans, which in turn brought lots of fans to the games and created a party atmosphere at Comiskey. Everyone was there to have a good time and escape what was going on in the world, and enjoyed weird attractions and weird promotions at the ballpark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8845f7ed-1b14-4d6f-9300-583009373115/66+-+Nancy.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Upbeat and Fun Nancy always had a smile on her face, which was evident in her playing. Coincidentally, her playing put smiles on the faces of the fans in the crowd, regardless of the team’s win-loss record. Though, it was always more fun to play when the team was doing well and the fans were filling the stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/48d3f4c9-ea2c-4d8f-8287-2986fd72ce4a/67+-+roger+bossard.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Roger Bossard Roger Bossard is the longest-tenured groundskeeper in MLB history, the longest-tenured White Sox employee, and is affectionately known as “The Sodfather.” His grandfather Emil and uncle Marshall worked for the Indians and were inducted into the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame. His father, Gene, was the Sox’s head groundskeeper at old Comiskey from 1940 to 1983. Nineteen of the 30 MLB teams use a patented drainage system that Bossard developed for the opening of New Comiskey Park in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdf82c09-fbdb-44b9-b1b8-4a67be9db25f/68+-+World+Series+ring.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - 2005 World Series Ring When the White Sox won the 2005 World Series, Nancy was the longest-tenured official employee of the team. To commemorate her dedication, the team honored her with her very own World Series ring, which she proudly wears for special occasions to this day. It was a highlight of her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8129f168-25fd-4f4a-b45b-e8df40e06200/69+-+2010-11-24+Letter+from+President+Obama.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Presidential Recognition After her retirement, President Barack Obama sent Nancy a personal letter congratulating her on an amazing career. “Over the course of your career, you have demonstrated the ability of music to harness the energy of a crowd, capture the excitement of a moment, and leave a lasting mark on our memories. Baseball remains our national pastime, and I hope you take pride in the role you have played in enriching this American experience for players and spectators alike.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60b0d340-d397-4e47-9f40-56aa22d07f55/70+-+White+Sox+pitcher+Wayne+Edwards+and+manager+Jeff+Torborg+pose+with+Chicago+Sun-Times+sportswriter+Tom+Cruze.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Turn Back The Clock Day The White Sox held MLB's first ever Turn Back The Clock Day on July 11, 1990 against the Brewers. To set the early baseball atmosphere, ballpark ushers wore dated dress and some had megaphones to announce lineups. Ticket prices for general admission were $0.50 and all other tickets were half price. Here, White Sox pitcher Wayne Edwards and manager Jeff Torborg pose with Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Tom Cruze. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3bfd296-b3ef-43e3-89d9-67b8945601f1/71+-+Nancy+accordion.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy With Her Accordion Instead of playing her organ that day, Nancy was walking around in the crowd, appropriately dressed for the occasion, playing her accordion. If you want to watch the broadcast of the whole game, click play on the video above, but if you just want to watch Nancy play for a few seconds, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/739e13a9-1cdb-45e9-a061-26622151b84b/72+-+Final+Game+at+Old+Comiskey.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Last Comiskey Last Comiskey is a 2023 documentary directed by independent filmmaker Matt Flesch. The film chronicles the 1990 Chicago White Sox season, the last year the team played at Comiskey Park, which had been their home stadium since 1910. Created as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic, Flesch's film includes archival footage, interviews with players, coaches, media personalities, stadium employees, and longtime fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/218b73b3-66f6-49ed-8545-04e2bafd9ff8/72+-+Final+Game+man+in+disbelief.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - The Final Game This still was taken from a home video shot by Nancy’s family on the day of the final game at Old Comiskey Park. Just look at the emotions of the man in front of Nancy’s organ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ae57098-3dd8-43fb-9825-bbda69493c77/74+-+2010-04-05+by+Brule+Laker.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Rain Delays While players, managers, fans, and especially the media covering the games might not particularly enjoy rain delays, Nancy said she loved them because it afforded her the opportunity to actually play songs in their entirety, instead of just the 8-10 second clips she normally had the time to play between pitches. This April 5, 2010 photo by Brule Laker may give us insight to another reason Nancy didn’t mind them, especially after the Sox moved to New Comiskey Park: her organ was indoors and completely protected from the elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f10ce156-0b46-43ec-a3ca-f69398813b06/75+-+1967+Letter+from+Wrigley.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - How Different Things Could Have Been… In February of 1967, while Nancy was still in college, one of her Cubs fan friends sent a letter to Philip K. Wrigley on her behalf, asking if the team would be interested in Nancy playing the national anthem for them. Mr. Wrigley replied to that 1967 inquiry saying they were not interested in Nancy’s services, leaving the door open for her to join the White Sox organization just a couple years later. Philip K. Wrigley’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8591ec2a-03e0-4aa8-a1b1-e5da1127aa67/76+-+1979+Letter+from+Cubs.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Mea Cubs-a The Cubs eventually wrote to Nancy two different times, asking if she would come play for them, but her loyalty was solidified on the South Side by then. Here is one such letter Nancy received from the Cubs, dated April of 1979. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41e497f2-57e8-4a25-8c96-eae14eb62246/77+-+Peter+Wilt.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - “Sox Math” White Sox fan and historian Peter Wilt did some number crunching and determined that Nancy Faust has likely played in front of more fans than any musician in the history of the world. White Sox attendance history Blackhawks attendance history Bulls attendance history https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d3dbe01c-15ef-4605-ba45-aa52181c168b/78+-+May+1%2C+1979.JPG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust Night Tuesday, May 1, 1979 was Nancy Faust Night/Music Night at Comiskey Park. If fans brought a musical instrument to the game, they got in for half price. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64b85607-4732-480e-ba7c-fd8d5821b898/79+-+Plaque.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust Organist Booth Dedicated at New Comiskey Park on September 18, 2010, the plaque reads: “During her legendary 40-year career as the organist for the Chicago White Sox, Nancy Faust entertained White Sox and baseball fans at more than 3,000 games and events. She was credited as the first sports organist to incorporate popular and rock themes - including her trademark rendition of “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him) Goodbye” - into her performance. “Dubbed “baseball’s best organist” by Sports Illustrated, she was famous for punctuating the game and opposing player at-bat music with personal and witty melodic interludes while entertaining millions of fans.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7120cc06-db00-4402-8ad3-a8f05c625345/80+-+Pensacola+Blue+Wahoos.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Minor Leagues While she no longer plays full-time, Nancy makes appearances every now and then at special events or minor league games, like this one for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fe64277-e89b-4313-84fd-9c2faf74e2f8/81+-+Women+In+Baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - National Baseball Hall of Fame Nancy’s talents and contribution to the game are recognized in an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown called "Women in Baseball." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e2acd14-2b8d-451d-979c-391d2e255ec6/82+-+World+Series+ring.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Follow Nancy Online Cameo Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19eca93b-4def-4215-b321-2210f4c0cb32/83+-+MJ.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Michael Jordan What would Nancy have played as Michael Jordan’s walk-up music had he stuck with baseball and eventually made it to the Major Leagues, as his former minor league manager Terry Francona predicted he would? Nancy’s idea HERE My idea HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32d2a530-6e32-4f7e-99fa-ae395ad78217/84+-+Best+Seat+in+the+History+of+Baseball.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - An Attraction Unto Herself Nancy was someone to be excited about, regardless of how the team was performing. During slow games, or slow seasons, visiting her at her organ was an exciting excursion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/574bb957-e5ee-4f88-af7f-7dc34b74d263/85+-+1956-08.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Chicago Girl Like my mom, Nancy is a Chicago girl through and through. Here is one more picture of Nancy as a child, this one taken in August of 1956 at the age of 9. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8898a7d1-3bd1-40cf-9dfd-c3431f889491/87+-+Harry+Caray.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch When Harry Caray went to go broadcast for the Cubs, WGN chose to leave the cameras rolling and stay in the stadium to broadcast him singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. This helped popularize the tradition nationwide, as WGN was broadcast nationally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de284829-f054-486c-bac8-e7ecc67c8ea1/88+-+Press+photo.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Youthfulness When Nancy started playing for the White Sox, she was fresh out of college. Her youthful energy informed the way she played the organ, and the way she interacted with Harry Caray during broadcasts. That playfulness came across to viewers, and made the ballpark a place people wanted to come hang out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bed381fa-7220-4f13-b019-7f541b2f2960/89+-+Last+Comiskey+book.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Last Comiskey Book Launch The accompanying book to Matt Flesch’s documentary Last Comiskey aims to serve as a lasting companion to the documentary, blending photographer Ken Smoller’s photos with new content to capture the essence of Comiskey Park and remind fans of its magic amid discussions of a potential new ballpark. Ken Smoller (aka “Stadium Vagabond”) is a photographer and writer based in Brookline Massachusetts, with childhood roots in Chicagoland. In over three decades of extensive traveling, he has photographed more than 2,350 stadiums in 48 states and 24 countries. Buy a DVD copy of the documentary HERE Order the book HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e772fec-0e53-4b62-8ca3-594b2be55101/91+-+From+Stadium+Vagabond.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Stadium Vagabond One of photographer Ken Smoller’s pictures of Nancy playing at Comiskey Park. Check out Ken’s amazing website HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45a69365-5aa9-40f3-b0ef-bb06e98168ba/92+-+Shay+Torrent.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Shay Torrent This vinyl record features Shay Torrent playing songs at California Angel Stadium’s Hammond X-66 organ. But Torrent was a prolific musician, releasing numerous organ records. Listen to his rendition of “La Paloma” HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9911c88c-2f5f-409c-9a94-54c8a4721367/93+-+Bobby+Richardson.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played second base for the team from 1955 through 1966, winning 3 World Series and 5 Gold Glove Awards. The 8-time All-Star also won the 1960 World Series MVP, despite the Yankees losing the series in 7 games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bobby was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/547098d6-5f00-4b7b-ae70-8a708008d832/94+-+Chicago+Tribune+Magazine.JPG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine Nancy graced the cover of the June 4, 1972 issue of the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, along with White Sox players Bill Melton and Wilbur Wood. “She’s Nancy Faust, the pixie-ish blonde organist at the Chicago White Sox Ball Park, whose quick wit and impromptu style have made her the darling of thousands of baseball fans. A friendly, popcorn-munching, All-American out-door girl, she even has her own fan club which issues a monthly newsletter called Nancy’s Notes.” Bill Melton’s SABR Biography Wilbur Wood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35e08337-fa2a-4441-a305-111b73d1c871/95+-+Bazooka.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - A Bubbly Personality During a series against the White Sox in Chicago, Kansas City Royals champion George Brett announced his intentions for the 1975 Joe Garagiola Bazooka Big League Bubble Gum Blowing Championship: “I want to go all the way in this thing. I’ve taken a lot of gum with me on this road trip, and I practice more than an hour a day in my room.” Here, Nancy measures George’s bubble while Pat Kelly and Lee "Bee Bee" Richard of the White Sox look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3314e48b-7aa8-4552-86e9-247eb699eefa/96+-+Gold+Record.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy’s Honors In addition to her 2005 World Series Ring, she was also awarded this Gold Record from Mercury Records for helping to re-popularize Steam’s song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b382957-b620-4747-b904-3a3b95d4c67d/97+-+Chicago%27s+Own.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Chicago’s Own Nancy Faust is a gift we need to treasure. Follow her online: Cameo Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cc52507-e318-4fba-8b45-83a5fd2c2300/98+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b134a511-4ae8-430f-81ab-ef6dfa25d08d/99+-+Nancy+Faust+Presents+Crowd+Pleasing+Favorites.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Giveaway Contest Prize Want to win this 12” vinyl record of Nancy Faust Presents: Crowd Pleasing Favorites which was recorded live at Comiskey Park and released in 1983? Of course you do. Follow us on twitter HERE for your chance to win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c15a3cec-c771-465d-82a7-5171b2e9eeee/100+-+Andy+The+Clown.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Andy The Clown Andrew Rozdilsky Jr. was more commonly known as Andy the Clown, performing at White Sox games at the original Comiskey Park from 1960 to 1990. Rozdilsky dressed as a clown one day to amuse his friends from a local bowling league, and they encouraged him to attend a White Sox game with them in the outfit. Performing as Andy the Clown, Rozdilsky became popular with the crowd. By coincidence, Rozdilsky won White Sox season tickets for 1961 in a Knights of Columbus raffle, and soon began to attend almost every game as Andy the Clown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7a9cbc1-2d34-4115-b0b0-1ea07bf90678/101+-+Denny+McLain.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Denny McLain Bob Creed succeeded Shay Torrent as the White Sox organist, and preceded Nancy Faust. Creed was an accomplished organist, but he was also a music teacher. His most famous student was probably Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain, who released an organ music album of his own after his dominant 1968 season which saw the right hander win the Cy Young Award, the MVP Award, and lead the Tigers to a World Series title over the St. Louis Cardinals. Denny McLain’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e77a3a47-f6ec-47b0-89b1-ca8b529c1d23/102+-+Gladys+Goodding.JPG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Gladys Goodding Gladys Goodding was the first organist in baseball history, joining the Dodgers at Ebbets Field in 1942 and staying until the team moved west. Originally, she was discovered by Larry McPhail as she played the organ at Madison Square Garden for New York Rangers hockey games. She would later on play at Knicks games. In addition to playing the organ she often sang the National Anthem at Dodger games. She was famous for playing a song called "Follow the Dodgers" as the team took to the field to start a game at Ebbets Field. You can listen to the song HERE. “Gladys Goodding, Ebbets Field Organ Queen” by Rob Edelman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51a721e7-be90-4f1d-a957-d13bb96722a5/103+-+John+Kiley.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - John Kiley John Kiley got his start playing for silent films at the Criterion Theater in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston at the age of 15. His day job was working for local radio station WMEX, where he was the music director from 1934 to 1956. Kiley primarily played before the game and during breaks, often opting for nostalgic music and avoiding more modern rock music. A popular trivia question among Boston-area sports fans in the 1970s was "Who is the only man to play for the Red Sox, the Bruins, and the Celtics?" referring to Kiley, who played the organs at both Fenway Park and the Boston Garden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f47682d8-b4fc-410d-bbbb-b2d6e94c9540/104+-+Jane+Jarvis.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Jane Jarvis Jane Jarvis was a jazz pianist and organist who played at Milwaukee Braves games beginning in 1955. Jarvis had to learn about baseball on the job. She eventually relocated to New York, working as a music arranger at ABC-TV and Muzak, and became the organist for the New York Mets. Jane Jarvis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed6e87a9-d4c1-46a3-9233-5c939300cda3/105+-+Toby+Wright+1965.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Toby Wright Because of pressure from the success of the Mets, their new Shea Stadium facility, and the popularity of their organist, Jane Jarvis, Yankees owner Dan Topping installed an organ at Yankee Stadium at the beginning of the 1965 season. Lowrey organ demonstrator Toby Wright was the first organist for the Yankees, performing the task during the 1965 and 1966 seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbae98a1-b956-4179-a3a0-607f84bba006/106+-+Burke.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - E. Michael Burke Former C.I.A. agent and general manager of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus E. Michael Burke became the new Yankees team president after CBS acquired the team. Burke brought Eddie Layton in to be the Yankees new organist for the upcoming 1967 season. Michael Burke’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70b1e844-33d3-443e-873b-2c8408c8ca3e/107+-+Eddie+Layton.jpg Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Eddie Layton When Eddie Layton was hired to become the Yankees new organist, he had never been to the stadium before and knew nothing about baseball. Eddie Layton went on to play the organ for the Yankees for over three decades, taking a break from 1971 to 1977 to pursue other musical commitments. When he retired on September 28, 2003, he played a final performance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", while fans chanted his name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ff220f0-ee5d-4dd1-9997-21ec179511cd/108+-+Nancy+Faust.JPEG Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Nancy Faust While Nancy Faust may not have been the first baseball organist, she’s the best in my book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ceeeb76f-3bad-4c45-86a6-88eab3b391d6/109+-+artwork.png Past Episodes - 0401 - Nancy Faust - Support My Baseball History PayPal If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer. We appreciate you being here. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0309 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f09287a-c184-4800-b827-a44eca9f68f5/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/245bf9be-dff1-4cb6-987d-f05c841211f4/square.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley Me and Stew Thornley after recording our interview at his home in Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a291da32-1d10-45f8-a96a-5f5914231991/GLfWzX5WgAE3yZ5.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - D&J Glove Repair This episode is brought to you by D&J Glove Repair. WEBSITE TWITTER PRICING https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52aa30dc-938a-4973-a8c6-47fb4e114bc5/GHb6dotWQAA5mo6.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out D&J Glove Repair is located at 3742 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c24dd7e6-51e8-4e46-8ce1-ab4e78dd4e9d/01+-+books.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Accomplished Author Stew Thornley is the leading historian of Minnesota sports, and has written more than 15 sports-related books for adults, over 30 more for young readers, and more than 100 articles and stories that have appeared in a variety of publications and periodicals. A list of his writings can be found HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/855d46b8-9de9-42c2-b371-1ba340a45e63/02+-+Polo+Grounds.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Decorated Historian Stew was the recipient of the National Baseball Research Award in 1988. In 1998, Stew received the USA Today Baseball Weekly Award for best research presentation at the SABR convention in San Francisco for his presentation on the Polo Grounds. He was the recipient of the 2010 Tony Salin Memorial Award for commitment to the preservation of baseball history, from The Baseball Reliquary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94de287b-e9a1-451b-a647-5454a2dfbae8/98+-+Stew+SABR+award.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 2016 Bob Davids Award Stew was the recipient of the 2016 Bob Davids Award from the Society for American Baseball Research, which is awarded to the member whose contributions to SABR and baseball reflect the ingenuity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the founder and past president of SABR, L. Robert “Bob” Davids. It is the highest honor SABR awards, and the list of previous winners is a veritable who’s who of baseball research and writing, including the official historian of Major League Baseball, John Thorn, who won the award in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/060382be-76f4-4d62-98ef-59d42a6f15ef/01+-+bat+boy.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnesota Gophers Bat Boy Stew was the bat boy for the Gophers in 1968 and 1969, as well as for their summer league team in 1967. Here, the 1968 Gophers celebrate after sweeping Michigan State for the Big Ten title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7ce8903-74ae-4ce5-8de0-08824e6d027a/04+-+Warren+Brown.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Warren Brown Warren Brown was the bat boy for the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds from 1970-1972. Warren was our guest for Episode 9 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da256010-2dd6-4847-bf5a-c750882b5ab7/05+-+Cemetery+adventurer.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cemetery Adventurer Stew has been to the gravesites of more than 200 Baseball Hall of Famers, and 40 U. S. Presidents, including David Rice Atchison, who was president for a day when Zachary Taylor wouldn’t take office on a Sunday, on March 4, 1849. Read Stew’s list of Hall of Fame grave sites HERE. Read his essay about visiting those graves, which features links to photos of many of them, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e22f506c-036d-4155-98ab-5e729159c0fc/06+-+Jeremy+Feador.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jeremy Feador Jeremy Feador is the official team historian of the Cleveland Guardians, but he got his start researching cemeteries. Jeremy was our guest for Episode 8 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c0e0ca2-59a1-4790-91ad-207b48e7a943/07+-+mom+graceland.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - My Mom We speak with my mom after every interview of this podcast, and more often than not, cemeteries make their way into the conversation. Here, my mom and I stop for a photo in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24bf48b9-271c-4818-b80b-48cf4a214ca0/08+-+tokyo+dome.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Tokyo Dome Stew went to the 2-game series between the Mets and Cubs at the Tokyo Dome to open the 2000 MLB season. The first game on March 29 was the first time an MLB game was ever played outside North America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ffc9b5a-3567-454e-a3c6-2204ec39ab4d/10+-+Cuba.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cuba In February 2001, Stew and his wife, Brenda, attended five games in Cuba’s National Series, visited an elite sports school, and met with current and former Cuban players. They also visited the grave of Martín Dihigo, at the time the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who was buried in Cuba, as well the graves as José Méndez and Cristóbal Torriente, who have since been inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/462e0f06-7d01-4913-a71c-2c7aa5bce3ef/11+-+Brenda+pitch+clock.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Brenda Himrich Stew’s wife, Brenda, is very involved in baseball, as well. In March of 2017, while Stew was acting as the official scorer for the World Baseball Classic games in Guadalajara, Brenda did the press box announcing, relaying Stew’s scoring decisions in Spanish. Brenda also does the field timing coordination for some of the Twins games. So if you see that clock on the wall in the bullpen ticking down the time between innings, that’s Brenda doing that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6a9b819-f1fc-41f9-9e83-09d2ef9734ef/12+-+skydive.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Wild Child Stew has been skydiving, but he has also wrestled a bear! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75102f46-ccfe-4917-80a0-dece8d3d7ef8/13+-+bat+boy.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1968 Minnesota Gophers Stew was the bat boy for the 1968 Big Ten Champion Gophers baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b573b587-c459-4790-8f31-b2bdc0ce9f66/14+-+1979+SABR+directory.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Society for American Baseball Research Stew has been a SABR member since 1979. If you’re not already a member, consider joining. You can do that HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72886143-05a6-487f-972d-188daac032aa/15+-+stew%27s+first+game.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - July 19, 1962 The first MLB game Stew attended was this 8-0 victory by the Twins over the Indians at Metropolitan Stadium on July 19, 1962. You can read his article for the SABR Games Project on that game HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cec2dc9-e5c2-4fa4-be80-ed6cc20e98f5/16+-+flintstones.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Flintstones Stew became a Yankees fan initially to annoy his dad, who wouldn’t let Stew watch an episode of The Flintstones instead of a baseball game one night as a kid. It turned out okay for Stew, who got to watch his adopted favorite team win a little more often than the Twins have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acd59910-265c-42c1-93ab-b25c9564a5d3/17+-+mickey.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mickey Mantle Stew may have been a contrarian, but he wasn’t silly. His favorite player growing up, like so many other kids of his age, was Mickey Mantle. Mickey hit his 534th career home run against the Twins in Minnesota. He would only hit two more home runs in his career. His 536 home runs was good enough for third on MLB’s all-time list at the time of his retirement. Mickey Mantle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93df4e32-8a9e-44a3-89f7-18bae61e4fdb/18+-+Earl+Battey.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Earl Battey Earl Battey was one of the top defensive catchers in the American League in the early 1960s. His Twins teams were in contention for the pennant in 1962 and 1967, and won the pennant in 1965, losing the World Series to Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. Battey was also a part-time player for the pennant-winning 1959 White Sox. Early Battey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/826f7f48-2651-4251-b5d1-43bd435245c3/19+-+Harmon+Killebrew.jpeg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Harmon Killebrew Harmon Killebrew was the favorite player of MANY Twins fans, including Stew’s brother. Killebrew had the fifth-most home runs in major league history at the time of his retirement. He was second only to Babe Ruth in American League history, and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Harmon Killebrew’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06afbd3f-b640-4f49-b6e8-893b15134e72/20+-+vic+power.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Vic Power Victor Felipe Pellot Pové played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Athletics, Indians, Twins, Angels, and Phillies from 1954 through 1965. Pellot was the second Puerto Rican of African descent to play in MLB and the second Puerto Rican to play in the American League, following Hiram Bithorn. Pellot used the name Vic Power during his major league career, but played as Victor Pellot when he played winter ball in Puerto Rico. He was an AL All-Star for four seasons, won seven consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and was Stew’s mom’s favorite player. Vic Power’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a811652d-3780-4892-aa97-95093db83452/21+-+jim+kaat.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jim Kaat Jim Kaat was an All-Star for three seasons and a Gold Glove winner for 16 seasons. He was the American League leader in shutouts (5) in 1962, and the AL leader in wins (25) and complete games (19) in 1966. In addition to his 283 career wins, he had three 20-win seasons. Kaat won 190 games with the Senators/Twins, second most in club history and has the most wins of any pitcher since the team moved to Minnesota. He also has the most Gold Glove Awards of any Twins player, with 12. Jim Kaat’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a38a01f9-5839-449f-81cb-bd638218dc78/22+-+announcing.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Public Address Announcing Stew worked in radio after graduating from Marshall University High School. He started doing public address announcing around that same time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/384fedb8-067d-4964-a5a4-9b5716e4cb8a/23+-+lou+brock.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1975 St. Louis Cardinals Stew’s first job in radio was in a town not too far from St. Louis, which meant he got to follow the 1975 Cardinals. He remembers watching Lou Brock, Willie Davis, and Reggie Smith. Stew was also lucky enough to see Bob Gibson’s final career start. Lou Brock’s SABR Biography Reggie Smith’s SABR Biography Bob Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff02f4a5-9ba9-4965-b4f3-45bd451573df/24+-+1980+sabr+research+journal.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Stew’s First SABR Article Stew wrote an article on the 1884 St. Paul Saints of the Union Association, which was the first major league team in the state of Minnesota. The article was published in the 1980 SABR Baseball Research Journal. Read Stew’s article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5eaf2f93-4dbd-420a-8fbc-26764ae504b2/25+-+ted+williams.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ted Williams Ted Williams was chagrined when he was assigned to Daytona Beach, the spring training home of the Minneapolis Millers, Boston’s top minor-league affiliate. He’d come across as brash and cocky to manager Joe Cronin and been given some riding by his fellow outfielders, and he did admit to telling clubhouse man Johnny Orlando, “Tell them, I’ll be back, and tell them I’m going to wind up making more money in this frigging game than all three of them put together.” Ted Williams’ Year in Minneapolis by Bill Nowlin Ted Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe08e25b-c61f-4b6c-8f31-7e1b5332d6c9/26+-+Willie+Mays.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Willie Mays Halsey Hall provided the first reports on Mays in the Minneapolis Tribune: “You watch him run and throw and hit and you are on his side in a minute, although nobody has thrown many curve balls at him yet and he’s still a green pea in the organized realm. … Willie is lithe, beautifully muscled, just under six feet, weighs 170 pounds and doesn’t vary five pounds in his weight off and in season. Righthanded all the way, he has great power to right center and here the dear old memory of Nicollet’s fences in that direction come back.” Willie Mays Had a Spectacular—But Short—Stay in Minneapolis by Stew Thornley Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68fbe6aa-685e-4d2a-b7d5-7d0c207caaa5/27+-+Carl+Yastrzemski.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Carl Yastrzemski Carl Yastrzemski was a gifted athlete, as adept at basketball as he was at baseball. He graduated from Bridgehampton (New York) High School in 1957. While there, he broke a basketball scoring mark previously held by Hall of Fame football player Jim Brown. It was his basketball prowess that earned him a scholarship to Notre Dame. Carl Yastrzemski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d11b51d2-32ab-4481-9732-739b670b5c6e/28+-+Joe+Hauser.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe Hauser “In all my days in the majors I have never discovered a ball player who could be compared with George Sisler, but this chap Hauser is an exact duplicate for Sisler the way he handles his bat. His mannerisms are very similar.” - Branch Rickey, President, St. Louis Cardinals Joe Hauser’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57db5304-7bfd-4b84-b198-3d8b80a058e3/29+-+Nicollet+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Nicollet Park One of Stew’s first books, On to Nicollet: The Glory and Fame of the Minneapolis Millers, was published by Nodin Press out of Minneapolis in 1988 and 2000. Stew’s love of old stadiums, and hearing stories from his father about Nicollet Park, helped him fall in love with the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3aefdf69-d229-455f-a802-920e2c053069/30+-+keeping+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scorer Stew has been an official scorer for Major League Baseball since 2007. As an official scorer in baseball, you are recording what happens, but you are also a judge. The official scorer files a report after each game for documentation purposes. A Glimpse Into The Life Of An Official Scorer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b303247-e0a5-4130-b4db-f766cae23e10/31+-+Keeping+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Keeping Score Stew’s mom always filled out the scorecard when they would go to games, and his dad would help explain what everything meant. The Twins’ programs also taught you how to keep score. With those examples, Stew began keeping score. Soon, he started developing his own style and shorthand. Little did he know, it would turn into a career. Official Scorers Consider Bad Hops, Bad Throws — And Exit Velocity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25c7dbac-28f8-404b-8e97-af3528b3f47e/32+-+wild+child.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Wild Child, Pt. 2 (allegedly) This photo may or may not depict one Stew Thornley. I cannot confirm or deny his appearance in this photo, and certainly couldn’t say with any certainty that he is climbing the foul pole during this White Sox-Twins game. But… if that is Stew Thornley climbing the foul pole during this White Sox-Twins game, this would have happened during the years when Stew was “focusing on drinking more than keeping score.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fad9ca7b-139c-444c-8d5d-c12d96c2c074/33+-+data+casting.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Data Casting Stew started data casting for Total Sports in 1998, before MLB.com even existed. When you’re following along with a game online, the data caster is the person entering the information such as “pitch in the dirt.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c34bdb0-c664-4dfa-b591-6cb1b93dc561/34+-+keeping+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Locked In When you’re watching a game in the stands, there may be lots of things or people to distract you. But watching a game in the press box, or keeping score from anywhere in the park, can help keep you focused on the action in a way that simply watching the action might not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/865d684f-444c-43a0-bb42-13fbe281347c/35+-+Mark+Gola.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mark Gola Mark was the official scorer for the Phillies when the Astros threw a combined no-hitter during Game 4 of the 2022 World Series. Mark Gola ’94 Relies On His Judgment To Create The Official Records Of Games https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e112708a-67fb-4015-8eec-8859c8362a85/36+-+head+scratcher.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Messy” Plays Stew isn’t often left scratching his head, even on long rundowns where many players are out of their natural positions, covering bags or taking throws in places where they wouldn’t normally be standing. Stew says plays like those are his opportunity to show everyone why he’s in the official scorer’s seat, and they’re not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45bf81e5-7b75-4ae7-aa09-ea09444afccc/37+-+michael+cuddyer.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Michael Cuddyer In the bottom of the 6th inning of the Twins-Blue Jays game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Dome on May 14, 2008, Michael Cuddyer hit a ground ball to Scott Rolen at third base. Rolen couldn’t make the play, and Cuddyer reached first safely. Stew was the official scorer on that play, and ruled it an error on Rolen, who was one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. Rolen won eight Gold Glove Awards over the course of his Hall-of-Fame career, the fourth-most among third basemen. Michael Cuddyer SABR Biography Scott Rolen SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98f2e492-03c7-4fea-a26a-61f7e1f6fc08/38+-+Stew+Thornley.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scorers The most common judgment call an official scorer makes is whether a batter reached base on a hit or an error. Other rulings made by the official scorer include whether a pitch that goes past the catcher is a wild pitch or a passed ball, and which reliever is credited with a win when the starting pitcher does not go five innings but leaves with a lead that his team doesn't relinquish. The official scorer is permitted to change a judgment call for up to 24 hours after a game concludes or is suspended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54bd75c9-8ff9-48d4-9d38-b352be159902/39+-+data+casting.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sabermetrics Advanced statistics such as catch probability may be useful to scouts and other people in determining how good a player is, Stew says official scorers aren’t necessarily using those numbers in real-time to make their judgements on calls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82586840-b577-4b8f-ba40-492231a7945d/40+-+Jeter.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Derek Jeter Derek Jeter may have taken home five Gold Glove awards throughout his 20 year career, but the most significant defensive metrics shows us that he was perhaps one of the worst shortstops of his generation. Sure, Jeter didn’t make many errors (fourth-highest fielding percentage on that same list), but judging a fielder’s defensive abilities based on a number of errors he didn’t make is basically like saying a basketball player is a good defender because he didn’t commit a ton of fouls. Derek Jeter SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0acc46c3-671a-4ea4-a980-3575d238bce2/41+-+Exit+Velo.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Exit Velocity Exit Velocity measures the speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact. This is tracked for all Batted Ball Events -- outs, hits and errors. From recent studies calculating 90th percentile exit velocity, it appears as if a 104-mph exit velo is the level that a median MLB player will typically achieve. EV90th ranks all batted balls (excluding bunts) by exit velocity, and takes the one that is better than roughly 90% of that hitter’s batted ball events. The very best power hitters in baseball are seven to eight mph above 104, and the very worst power hitters are seven to eight mph below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8353b20-51f3-4255-9746-c21b33f6f874/42+-+replay.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Using Replay Stew always uses his real-time reaction to make his first assessment of a play, whether it was a hit or an error. However, he said the sweet spot for using replay to either reinforce or change the way he scores a play is about a 6-second delay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/849c809e-7b1b-4f68-afdb-57db259ddfaa/43+-+Alexander+Cartwright.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Alexander Cartwright Stew visited Alexander Cartwright’s grave on a trip to Hawaii with his wife, Brenda. While he is in the Hall of Fame, Cartwright’s contributions to the game of baseball were exaggerated. Alexander Cartwright SABR Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a7f92dc-74f9-4f60-af20-00f5272cc374/45+-+Al+Lopez.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Al López Alfonso Ramón López played for the Brooklyn Robins / Dodgers, Boston Bees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians between 1928 and 1947, and was the manager for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox from 1951 to 1965 and during portions of the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Due to his Spanish ancestry and "gentlemanly" nature, he was nicknamed "El Señor". As a player, López was a two-time All-Star known for his defensive skills, leadership, and durability, as he established a major league record for career games played at catcher (1,918) that stood for decades. As a manager, his .584 career winning percentage ranks fourth best in major league history among managers of at least 2,000 games. Al López’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da5ae915-6728-4b99-bc13-a8c38c0089bf/46+-+Willie+Stargell.jpeg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Willie Stargell Willie Stargell is buried in Wilmington, North Carolina. With the help of a local SABR member, Stew was able to find Willie’s grave. Willie Stargell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8c80990-5d3f-4b58-9300-828f682352f8/47+-+Rogers+Hornsby.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rogers Hornsby Rogers Hornsby is buried on private property in Texas. Stew wasn’t going to let that stop him from seeing the site. Rogers Hornsby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98406990-fbd0-451e-a417-369636105010/48+-+Monument+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Monument Park Many kids in the 1950s and 60s believed that the three monuments which were in-play at Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park were the burial sites of the men on the plaques. The Story of Monument Park at Yankee Stadium https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7351039a-e611-4110-92be-ab4b5a58cd7b/44+-+Babe+Ruth%27s+grave.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out This great story about his visit to Babe Ruth’s grave can be found on Stew’s website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05066c9f-3528-49c7-b689-69f200a1ee92/49+-+Minnesota+Baseball+History.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Baseball In Minnesota The roots of baseball in Minnesota are part of the post-Civil War baseball boom in America. The area’s earliest teams were amateur nines, representing cities of all sizes throughout the state, a few of them even organized before the Civil War, beginning with a sunny August afternoon in 1857 when Minnesota’s first ball club was organized in Nininger. Read Stew’s article which appeared in the Minnesota Twins Media Guide on Minnesota’s Baseball History HERE. Buy Stew’s book Baseball In Minnesota: The Definitive History HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a2437eb-699d-476b-944d-169cd1717487/50+-+1877+Red+Caps.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - W.W. Fisher W.W. Fisher was a Black second baseman and pitcher who played for the otherwise all-white Winona Clippers in 1875. He was apparently recruited from the Chicago Uniques, and was subjected to racial taunting by opposing players. Some pinned “n…..baby” badges on their shirts in hopes of provoking Fisher. Negotiations for a game between St. Paul and Winona apparently stalled because the St. Paul Red Caps refused to play if Winona used Fisher. The Red Caps claimed its objection was not racial but based on Fisher’s being a professional. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/660b3214-39cf-4d42-a97a-19733568962c/51+-+Joe+Miller.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe W. Miller Joseph Wick Miller was born in Germany in 1850 and began his baseball career in 1872 as a player-manager for the Washington Nationals of the National Association. Miller was the Captain/Manager and Second Baseman for the 1877 St. Paul Red Caps, who was the first professional baseball team in Minnesota. The other starters for the 1877 Red Caps were Harry Salisbury (Pitcher), Emil Gross (Catcher), Ed Gault (1B), Joe Ellick (3B), Sumner Ely (LF), Birmingham (RF), Art Allison (CF) and Bill McClellan (SS). The team ended the 1877 season with a record of 28 wins and 21 losses, finishing first in the League Alliance. Professional Base Ball Debuts in Minnesota: The St. Paul Red Caps, Minneapolis Brown Stockings, And Winona Clippers Of 1875–1877 by Rich Arpi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d7800817-e9c7-4948-8960-4f5c73b18cc3/52+-+Town+Ball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e30ac434-305e-4eeb-88f6-d3255ca59ef0/53+-+Bud+Fowler.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bud Fowler In Black baseball history, Bud Fowler is the pioneer. His resume includes a long list of firsts. He is the first acknowledged African-American professional player — way back in 1878 before there were any Black teams of consequence. He was the first to play on integrated teams. In fact, Fowler preferred White clubs because they fielded the best nines and offered the stiffest competition through much of his career. As such, he was the first significant Black player in the US. As researcher and author Robert Peterson declared, “Frank Grant, Bud Fowler and George Stovey were unquestionably of major-league star caliber.” Fowler was the first African-American in Organized Baseball. He also had the widest traveled and longest career of the early players, by any qualification. Fowler was the first African-American to captain an integrated club. He was also one of the first significant Black promoters, forming the heralded Page Fence Giants and other clubs and leagues. Bud Fowler’s SABR Biography Bud Fowler, Black Pioneer and the 1884 Stillwaters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/92153c41-9cb1-4bdf-b5ed-40c67a44d882/54+-+St.+Paul%27s+old+ballparks.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - St. Paul’s Ballparks Like any city with a blossoming baseball scene, St. Paul’s ballparks moved around quite a bit over the years. Originally, teams would find a vacant lot or empty field to play their games, and once that spot became established, businesses and homes would pop up around the site, raising the value of the land. Often, a developer would swoop in and buy the plot, forcing the teams to find another place to play. And so on and so on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de343906-bf89-4b0b-9214-a95e5febc807/55+-+1891+Cornhuskers.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sioux City Cornhuskers The Sioux City Cornhuskers won Western League championships in 1891 and 1894 (Sioux City didn't field a team in 1892 or 1893 for a variety of reasons). After the 1894 season, the team was purchased by former baseball player and manager Charles Comiskey, renamed the Saints and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a690637b-2472-4734-87c3-64f82b9df3e1/56+-+Charles+Comiskey.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Charles Comiskey Charles Comiskey was a former ballplayer who bought the Sioux City Cornhuskers. Comiskey was friends with Ban Johnson, who was the President of the Western League at the time. After Comiskey purchased the team, he moved it to St. Paul, Minnesota. He renamed them the Saints, where they played in the Western League. Charles Comiskey’s SABR Biography Ban Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42ab7486-a9cc-4313-a39a-e7c41d46324a/57+-+1897+Saints+with+Charles+Comiskey.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1897 St. Paul Saints The Saints played in St. Paul from 1895-1899 under the ownership of Charles Comiskey, before they moved again to Chicago before the 1900 season. The 1897 team finished in 4th place with a record of 86-51. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8cd565b-ba67-4843-9940-a7d3ff1bf443/59+-+Tony+Mullane.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Tony Mullane Anthony John Mullane, nicknamed "Count" and "the Apollo of the Box", was an Irish man who pitched for seven major league teams from 1881–1894. After his major league career ended, he continued pitching until 1902 in leagues such as the Western League, the Eastern League, the California Winter League, and the Pacific Northwest League. He is best known as a switch pitcher who could throw with either hand, and for having one of the highest career win totals of pitchers not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Mullane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6be3e7fd-daa5-4c81-b72e-141ef2071a21/57+-+Western+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out On March 22, 1899, the movers and shakers of the Western League met in Milwaukee to discuss the future of the league. The meeting’s participants included T. J. Loftus, J. F. Franklin, M. R. Killilea, Connie Mack, Ban Johnson, J. H. Manning, Charles Comiskey, G. A. Van Derbeck, C. H. Salapaugh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68714b5a-1fa5-4b59-807a-762a351ad684/60+-+1901+Chicago+White+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1901 Chicago White Sox Comiskey had built a great team, and they were immediately successful after the move to Chicago. They finished the 1900 season with a record of 82-53 to win the newly-renamed American League, still considered a minor league at the time. From 1901 to 1906, they finished either 1st or 2nd in the now-Major American League, winning the World Series in 1906. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e74bb57-34e2-4117-888d-1a8981ec1339/61+-+apostles.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - St. Paul Apostles The St. Paul Apostles were one of several named teams during the late 19th and early 20th century. The first Apostles team joined the Northwestern League in 1884 as an expansion team. Midway through the season, the league folded twice. After the second time, the Apostles became a barnstorming team, before they and the Milwaukee Cream Citys were invited to join the Union Association in late August. The Apostles played 9 games going 2-6-1 before folding. The second Apostles came when the Western Association was created in 1888 season. This Apostles team was a continuation of the St. Paul Saints which had played in other leagues in previous years; in fact, the two names would be used interchangeably until the early years of the 20th century, and it is purely a modern convention to use one name at the exclusion of the other. Thus, the Apostles are referred to as the Saints starting in 1892 when the Western League was reformed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba2e0473-a64c-449e-9f51-947fd0ee2071/62+-+Lexington+Park.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Lexington Park In 1897, Comiskey's Saints began playing at Lexington Park, a ballpark commissioned by Comiskey in Saint Paul’s Midway neighborhood. The park was bounded by Lexington, University, Fuller and Dunlap. It was far enough away outside of the city center that the team could play Sunday baseball. In 1909, the state of Minnesota changed its laws on Sunday activities, allowing sporting events to be held. The Saints played at Lexington park from 1897 to 1956. Today, you can find a plaque commemorating the field in front of the TCF Bank branch building that now occupies the space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1d72599-f506-4234-9e41-d9475e2fc6f3/63+-+Colored+Gophers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Lexington Park was also the home of the St. Paul Colored Gophers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecab1793-6963-4a34-900f-29ac661c3aef/64+-+Bobby+Marshall.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bobby Marshall In 1903, Bobby Marshall became the first Black football player to play for the University of Minnesota. He also starred for the school’s baseball team and later became the first Black semipro hockey player in the nation’s history. Shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in law, Marshall played third base for the Minneapolis "Lund-Lands" for one season, in 1906. In 1907, he played for the St. Paul Colored Gophers, and then in 1908, he played utility for the Minneapolis Keystones and moved to first base later in the season. In 1909 and 1910, Marshall split the season between the Colored Gophers and the Chicago Leland Giants in 1909 and the Colored Gophers and the Chicago Giants in 1910. Marshall bought the Colored Gophers team in 1911 and used the name Twin Cities Gophers.[3][4] He played for and managing the Colored Gophers team occasionally until at least 1916. Bobby Marshall’s SABR Biography 1909 St. Paul Colored Gophers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51edbf94-924e-4265-ae66-cf69adfa0732/65+-+1903+Saints+with+Miller+Huggins.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1903 St. Paul Saints The 1903 and 1904 Saints teams each won the pennant. Among their star players were Miller Huggins and Germany Schaefer. Miller Huggins’ SABR Biography Germany Schaefer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e27ea24e-9e9f-409d-811b-32c0f7873e32/85+-+Mike+Kelley.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Kelley Michael Kelley played only briefly in one major league season with the Louisville Colonels in 1899. Despite this lack of major league success, he was a highly respected minor league player and manager, forging a 30-year career as a manager and becoming a legendary figure in the Twin Cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b02aa215-84af-4e2d-8f11-84726de2e56f/67+-+Cy+Morgan.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Cy Morgan Harry Richard "Cy" Morgan was a pitcher on the 1906 St. Paul Saints team. He also pitched in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds between 1903 and 1913. He helped the Athletics win the 1910 and 1911 World Series. The 1912 Reach Guide credits him with helping carry the pitching burden for the 1911 team while stars Jack Coombs and Chief Bender were less effective than usual early in the season. Cy Morgan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/44c088b1-8d18-4234-ad54-c50b894ae2ea/68+-+Chief+Meyers.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - John “Chief” Meyers John “Chief” Meyers played with the St. Paul Saints during the 1908 season. He was purchased by the Giants late that season, but didn't make his first appearance in a big league game until 1909. He was the starting catcher on the Giants 3-straight pennant-winning teams from 1911-1913. “A strong love of justice, a lightning sense of humor, a fund of general information that runs from politics to Plato, a quick, logical mind, and the self-contained, dignified poise that is the hallmark of good breeding-he is easily the most remarkable player in the big leagues,” wrote one reporter. On the field, the strong but slow-footed Meyers was almost certainly the best offensive catcher of the Deadball Era, retiring with a .291 average for his nine-year career. John “Chief” Meyers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6af32283-f0a8-4e96-9fe4-196cfaccba69/69+-+Harry+Howell.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Harry Howell Harry Howell was an infielder for the 1911 St. Paul Saints after his Major League pitching career ended. Howell was known to throw one of the "wettest" spitballs in history as he used so much slippery elm that it appeared that he was foaming at the mouth, but he was also the best pitcher the Browns had during the deadball era as he still holds the Browns' best career team ERA record of 2.06. Harry Howell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb951f00-682a-4157-96ed-ae831db6be9d/70.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Chalmers Race In 1910 auto magnate Hugh Chalmers offered an automobile to the baseball player with the highest batting average that season. What followed was a batting race unlike any before or since, between the greatest but most despised hitter, Detroit’s Ty Cobb, and the American League’s first superstar, Cleveland’s popular Napoleon Lajoie. The race came down to the last game of the season, igniting more interest among fans than the World Series and becoming a national obsession. Cobb, thinking the prize was safely his, skipped the last two games of the season, while Lajoie suspiciously had eight hits in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. Although initial counts favored Lajoie, American League president Ban Johnson, the sport’s last word, announced Cobb the winner, and amid the controversy both players received cars. Buy Rick Huhn’s amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b03417bb-bdc1-4f15-94f3-e812807c2886/71+-+beaumont.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Ginger” Beaumont Clarence Howeth "Ginger" Beaumont was with the Saints club in 1911 when he was at the end of his career. In 12 seasons, he led MLB in hits 4 times; runs, total bases, and batting average one time each; and had 8 seasons with 20 or more steals, including a career high 36 in 1901. On July 22, 1899, at the Pirates' Exposition Park, he got six infield hits in six at bats and scored six runs. He was the first player ever to have an at bat in the World Series. Ginger Beaumont’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/00dfb8cb-7091-4c82-9283-edb0f9f6b5f4/73+-+Tipton.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Eric Tipton Eric Tipton was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1939 NFL Draft by Washington, but chose to play professional baseball instead. He played outfield for the Philadelphia Athletics (1939–1941) and the Cincinnati Reds (1942–1945). Tipton then played with the St. Paul Saints (1946–1951) of the American Association, and the Portland Beavers (1952) of the Pacific Coast League. Eric Tipton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf0396a8-9678-431d-8bac-e3678f761e5d/72+-+Hooks+Dauss.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Hooks Dauss George August "Hooks" Dauss pitched for the 1911 and 1912 Saints before his 15-year MLB career. His real name was George, but he was called "Hooks" or "Hookie" because he had such a great curveball. Dauss had 223 career wins, and is still the Detroit Tigers' all-time winningest pitcher. He is also the Tigers' all-time leader in losses, hits allowed, and hit batsmen Hooks Dauss’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c80ac060-f8c0-406c-bb4d-8a9bec342f4b/74+-+Everett+Scott.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Everett Scott Everett Scott was an infielder on the 1913 Saints team. He had a 13-year MLB career after he left the Saints. His streak of 1,307 consecutive games played lasted from June 20, 1916 until May 5, 1925, when Scott was benched in favor of Yankees teammate Paul “Pee Wee” Wanninger. At the time, Scott’s consecutive games streak was the longest in history. To this day, only Lou Gehrig (2,130) and Cal Ripken, Jr. (2,632) have ever played more games in a row than Scott. On June 1, 1925, Lou Gehrig’s streak began when he pinch-hit for the same man who ended Scott’s streak, Pee Wee Wanninger. This story wouldn’t be complete without telling you that Wanninger later went on to play for the St. Paul Saints in 1926. Everett Scott’s SABR Biography Pee Wee Wanninger’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6b05220-1430-4557-aa4c-24af5591aa1c/75+-+lu+blue.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - “Lu” Blue "Lu" Blue was a switch-hitting outfielder on the 1918 Saints. He interrupted his baseball career for military service in World War I and was later honored with burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Lu Blue’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6e49974-ad96-4da3-ac79-fe6683d6f5aa/76+-+wagner.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Leon Wagner Leon Wagner is a name not well-remembered today, unless you old enough to have seen baseball in the 1960s. But those who did follow the game at that time will never forget Wagner. He was one of those guys who could not pass through the major leagues without leaving an imprint. With his high cheekbones, the rhythmic wiggling of his lower body at the plate, and his thunderous swing, Wagner became a memorable fan favorite. Leon Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05c8e3c6-b4fc-4a58-96b8-c5096981d185/77+-+schilling.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Chuck Schilling Charles Thomas “Chuck” Schilling was right-handed, stood 5-feet-10, and was listed at 160 pounds. He wasn’t flashy. Indeed, sportswriter Ed Rumill dubbed him “a quiet little fellow, colorless in uniform but all business and every inch a ballplayer.” Red Sox coach Billy Herman said, “You forget he’s out there until they hit the ball to the right side of the infield. Then Chuck goes and gets it. He just doesn’t miss.” Chuck Schilling’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ace71bb-1f75-40b0-89fe-13e35f4d6d1b/78+-+halas.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - George Halas George Halas played for the 1919 Saints. He started the year with the Yankees, but a hip injury making a slide trying to stretch a double into a triple during a spring training game derailed his promising baseball career. By July, he was hitting just .091 in 12 games. Manager Miller Huggins gave him the news that he was being sent to the Saints. The reason wasn’t what Halas said for the rest of his life – that Babe Ruth was now New York’s starting right fielder; Ruth didn’t join the team until the next year. This unbelievable painting by former My Baseball History guest Graig Kreindler is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field. George Halas’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1555f027-3877-4e79-9159-aaa25e7dbd1b/79+-+benton.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rube Benton John Cleave "Rube" Benton pitched for the 1921 and 1922 Saints. Benton was tangentially involved with the Black Sox Scandal, having knowledge of the fix. Shortly thereafter Benton was demoted to the minors - not banned from the game as the Black Sox players were. After a successful season with the St. Paul Saints, the Cincinnati Reds wanted to bring him back up. Both National League president John Heydler and American League president Ban Johnson protested that there was no place in either big league for him. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis intervened, however, arguing that if Benton was eligible to play for St. Paul, then he was also eligible to play for Cincinnati. Benton was allowed to re-join the Reds, where he pitched until 1925. Rube Benton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8f89596-67f3-4599-9f98-76d2eb88db7b/80+-+Dutch+Leonard+Affair.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Dutch Leonard Affair In May of 1926, Dutch Leonard contacted the office of the Tigers and informed Detroit owner, Frank Joseph Navin, that he held proof that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker had fixed and bet on a game played on September 25, 1919. Leonard contacted Ban Johnson's office, as well. Navin and Johnson believed Leonard's story and agreed to buy him off for $20,000, the amount that Leonard argued Detroit owed him. So, Dutch surrendered his two letters of proof to them. They, in turn, notified Commissioner Landis of the events, as a courtesy. Next, Johnson contacted the two players and called them into his office. Cobb and Speaker denied the charges. Johnson, not believing them, told them they had to quit. On November 2, Ty left a letter of resignation at Navin's office. On November 29, Speaker's resignation was announced, with no explanation given. Dutch Leonard’s SABR Biography Baseball Gods In Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5016a429-b5c8-4050-aa60-0544f1f5638d/81+-+durocher.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Leo Durocher Leo Durocher played Shortstop in St. Paul during the 1927 season. From the book "The Lip" by Gerald Eskenazi: "Leo had gone into professional baseball with this admonition from his father: 'Keep your mouth shut. Just listen.' But it was at St. Paul that he began yakking up on the bench and in the field. His manager there, Nick Allen, used to tell him, 'Talk it up. Show 'em you're alive. Make some noise. This is baseball, not a church.' And his teammates on the bench supposedly told him to start gabbing. As if Leo needed encouragement." Leo Durocher’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2bb09577-495f-4aff-888d-d412ae64993a/82+-+financial+stake.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Miller Huggins’ Financial Stake This is the original document proving Miller Huggins actually did personally own shares of the St. Paul Saints. It is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field. Miller Huggins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/917096f6-94f3-4daf-89c2-58dcb7f3ca81/83+-+Jack+Saltzgaver.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jack Saltzgaver Otto Hamlin "Jack" Saltzgaver was on the 1930-1931 editions of the Saints. The Saints and the New York Yankees worked out a deal that would send Saltzgaver and Johnny Murphy to the Yankees after the 1931 season. The Saints got back three players and $60,000. He was on the Yankees teams of 1932 and 1934-1937 playing in 20, 94, 61, 34 and 17 games as an utility infielder batting .128, .271, .262, .211 and .182. His major league career ended on the war-time Phillies team of 1945 when he was in 52 games hitting .325. In his MLB career, he played in 278 games and had 764 at bats batting .260, with a .351 OBP and .347 slugging. Defensively, he was at third for 119 games, at second for 78 and at first for 18 - all with a combined fielding average of .957. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cba5a30-209d-4a8d-b5b5-693fad7c25d5/84+-+Miller+Huggins.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The St. Paul-New York Underground Railroad The Saints player pipeline with Miller Huggins and Bob Connery began while they were in St. Louis. It continued when Huggins went to the Yankees. During Bob Connery's presidency, the Saints and Yankees transferred 29 players between the two clubs. The total amount the Yankees paid the Saints for those players was about $300,000. Pictured here is Miller Huggins and Yankee Owner, Colonel Jacob Ruppert. Bob Connery’s SABR Biography Jacob Ruppert’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2efd2101-d3a9-4e7e-b1c7-db4a1963d65f/66+-+Mike+Kelley.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Kelley Mike Kelley played for the Saints in 1902-1905 and managed them from 1902-1905, 1908-1912 and 1915-1923. Overall, he managed five American Association pennant winners (all in St. Paul), and was employed in baseball for 52 years. It is said that all 16 Major League owners loved Mike Kelley and would literally jump to help him out. When he wanted to sell a player, they would be happy to give him an extra good price. Michael Kelley’s 1906-08 Woes with Organized Baseball by Dennis Pajot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e64a79c-032e-4854-85ab-a0a0884a61cb/86+-+Streetcar+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Streetcar Series Independence Day and Labor Day would bring a streetcar double-header. It was called this because fans rode streetcars between the team’s day/night doubleheaders (first night game in 1937). Imagine yourself in the late 1930s. During a day game, you’d witness a hard-fought game at Lexington Park. Then you could take a streetcar over to Nicollet Park and watch a wild night game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4f25e81-87e3-4865-b9b1-161888679d5a/87+-+Oscar+Roettger.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Oscar Roettger “A little more experience is all you need,” wrote Brooklyn Dodgers manager Wilbert Robinson to Oscar Roettger of the St. Paul Saints before the 1927 season. It didn’t quite happen — Roettger played in five games for Uncle Robbie’s squad and 37 games in the major leagues over four seasons. A substantial minor-league career included eight seasons with the Saints, three with the Double-A Montreal Royals, and a brief experience in the minor-league managerial realm. Roettger remembered the intensity of the crowds at the Streetcar Series games between the St. Paul Saints and the Minneapolis Millers long after his career was over. Oscar Roettger’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/224b70a3-a559-42dd-b55f-c87fba1045d5/88+-+Gene+Mauch.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Gene Mauch During the July 4, 1959 Streetcar Series game at Midway Stadium, St. Paul booster and well-known heckler Chuck Van Avery was located strategically with a few pals near the visitors' dugout. His taunts got a little too personal for Millers manager Gene Mauch that day, and Mauch went into the stands to let him know. Gene Mauch’s Managerial Record Gene Mauch’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca43e0c3-b1fb-4f77-b7df-cca344d1609b/89+-+1924+Little+World+Series.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1924 Little World Series The series was supposed to be best of 9, but Game 3 ended in a 6-6 tie after 13 innings. St. Paul won the series in 10 games (5 games to 4, plus that one tie) despite going down 3 games to 1 and being outscored by Baltimore, 38-37 over the course of the series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d2d620a4-0a7b-4f43-adcb-aba6d5cc2c3d/90+-+called+shot.jpeg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mark Koenig One of Babe Ruth’s former Yankee teammates, Mark Koenig, had joined the Cubs in late August of the 1932 season and batted .353 in 33 games to help propel Chicago to the National League pennant. Although Koenig had been a catalyst, his teammates felt he was deserving of just a half-World Series share because he had been with the team for such a short time. When Ruth heard that Koenig wasn’t voted a full share, he lambasted the Cubs in a story published in the Chicago Daily Tribune. “Sure, I’m on ’em; I hope we beat ’em four straight,’’ he was quoted as saying. “They gave Koenig a sour deal in their player cut. They’re chiselers and I’ll tell ’em so.” Mark Koenig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb92b065-66c4-4e23-91e4-9ff4427d50e0/91+-+chapman.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ben Chapman Ben Chapman played 3B for the 1929 Saints. He then played for the Yankees from 1930-1936. He was moved to LF by manager Joe McCarthy to take advantage of his speed and arm. Chapman led AL Outfielders in assists in 1933, was moved to CF in 1934, and led the league in OF assists again in 1935. Two weeks after Chapman was traded to the Phillies in 1945, he was named their manager. His spirited leadership brought initial improvement, but soon his temper and poorly timed comments, especially his widely publicized vicious baiting of Jackie Robinson in 1947, exasperated owner Bob Carpenter. The scene in the movie "42" depicts that moment and some of the fallout. Chapman was fired in 1948. Ben Chapman’s SABR Biography Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1aed702-b64e-4dff-83fd-c564aa62d306/92+-+schultz.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Howie Schultz Howard Henry Schultz, nicknamed "Stretch" and "Steeple", was a baseball and basketball player from St. Paul. Schultz played in both Major League Baseball and in the National Basketball Association, one of thirteen athletes to do so. Schultz won an NBA title with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1952. Howie Schultz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f165aef-80f0-4ead-bea4-7c016de1db09/93+-+angelo.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Angelo Giuliani Angelo John "Tony" Giuliani was a catcher from 1936–41 and 1943. Born in St. Paul, he attended Saint Thomas Military Academy and has been selected to its Athletic Hall of Fame. Giuliani threw and batted right-handed. His pro career, curtailed by injury, extended for 12 seasons (1932–43) with a one-game appearance in 1949 as a member of the Minneapolis Millers. During his 243-game MLB career, Giuliani collected only 157 hits, with 18 doubles and three triples. After his playing career, he became a longtime scout. Angelo Giuliani’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ab13bff-f241-4861-8e24-bb3aa272d2dc/94+-+branch.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Branch Rickey In 1944, the Saints became the top affiliate of Brooklyn. Dodgers President Branch Rickey began acquiring players from the Saints in the early 1940s and bought the team outright in 1947, folding it into the Dodgers’ first-class farm system. Branch Rickey’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c24719c0-3574-43c1-a34d-44f75419351c/95+-+duke+snider.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Duke Snider The 1948 Saints featured Duke Snider, who batted .316 with the team, and hit a home run that a batboy said was "the longest ball [he] had ever seen." He went on to have a pretty decent MLB career, too. Duke Snider’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29ff9684-2bdc-459e-8974-0ffe4de9847c/96+-+campanella.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Roy Campanella Roy Campanella was 25 years old when he appeared as a catcher on the 1948 St. Paul Saints. He was the American Association's first Black player, and no hotel in St. Paul would rent him a room. He was a three-time MVP in the Major Leagues and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Roy Campanella’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/662766ae-2037-4647-ad25-427964274bc6/97+-+montreal.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Jackie Robinson in Montreal Montreal was the Dodgers’ other top farm club. Jackie Robinson seemed to have a fairly smooth experience there, all things considered. But his team still had to travel to play away games in cities such as Louisville, where racism was a much bigger problem than it was in the international city north of the border. March 17, 1946: Jackie Robinson plays his first exhibition game for Montreal Royals by Bob Webster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62f1f5ca-f3fd-42f5-bb13-a8d8ca562ce9/98+-+Lexington+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Lexington Park In 1957, Lexington Park, the home of the Saints, was replaced by Midway Stadium. Pictured here is Lexington Park in 1952. Twin City Ballparks by Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3396a80c-be9f-4176-b111-e4ae5ab804b2/99+-+midway+stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Midway Stadium (I) Saint Paul Saints baseball players in 1960 at the old Midway Stadium at 1000 North Snelling Ave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cb18d54-86de-4463-a212-0ebaa8a298eb/100+-+big+league+baseball.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - MLB in the Twin Cities In 1961, the Washington Senators become the Minnesota Twins, and chose the Minneapolis stadium to be their home, so the St. Paul Saints moved to Omaha, which left St. Paul without its own professional team for the first time in decades. Washington Senators team history https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/29752f79-f20b-41b0-90f1-5c273cec3fa7/101+-+Metropolitan+Stadium.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, served the Minnesota Twins for 21 seasons. However, it was originally the home of the minor league Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. The drive for a new ballpark for the Millers began in the 1940s. In June of 1948, the Millers, affiliated with the parent New York Giants, and the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners agreed on a 17-acre tract near Theodore Wirth Park, slightly less than three miles west of downtown Minneapolis, for a new ballpark. It was the intention of the Millers/Giants to purchase the property, reroute a stream to its natural channel, and construct a stadium with a seating capacity between 20,000 and 30,000. Metropolitan Stadium by Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bba2ee24-3756-48aa-aeff-28d574de55ea/102+-+Black+baseball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Black Baseball in St. Paul There is a rich history of Black baseball in St. Paul, as well, dating back over a century. The first recorded African-American baseball player in the state of Minnesota was Prince Honeycutt, in Fergus Falls in 1872. But Black players faced abuse from the fans, their opponents, and sometimes even their own teammates. By the end of the 19th century, Black players were completely banned from the game. Even in 1899, when the state of Minnesota enacted a law prohibiting racial discrimination in public places, that law did not apply to professional baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42e02450-8c02-4b3a-aceb-155640a20e65/103+-+Billy+Williams.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Billy Williams Billy Williams starred in multiple sports — but baseball was his favorite. Even in high school, he played for several town semipro teams, including the Spaldings and the Hamm's Exports. His reputation as a power-hitting first baseman and outfielder grew, and he was regularly recruited to play for teams across the region — often the only Black player on the squad. Eventually, Williams would play for more than 30 teams, and he was even hired for games against the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints. But while Williams likely had the talent to make it to the big leagues, organized baseball's prohibition against Black players meant his future was limited. Williams declined an offer from one team executive willing to sign him, provided he told people he was Native American. Williams refused. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3fb69990-ad02-431f-96cb-1565faa249a9/104+-+Keystone+Tigers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Walter Ball was a member of the Keystone Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba90ebca-85e4-4a07-9bf4-7735cf8f7ea5/105+-+Walter+Ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Walter Ball Right-hander Walter Ball was one of the top pitchers in early black baseball, often being favorably compared with a contemporary, Hall of Famer Rube Foster. In the prime of his career, the Indianapolis Freeman remarked, “everyone knows that Walter Ball and ‘Steel Arm’ Johnny Taylor are the most sensational pitchers of the race.” Lacking great speed, Ball found success with his smarts, control, and frequent use of the spitball. Off the field, the stylish Ball had a reputation as a gentleman and “the swellest dresser,” often wearing tailored suits. Walter Ball’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38590292-8156-42bd-ab78-686dcd1ae558/106+-+John+Donaldson.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - John Donaldson In 1908 John Donaldson was a tall, slender young man from small-town America with a strong left arm and the hand/eye coordination required to squarely hit a round ball with a round bat, yet there was no place for him in Organized Baseball. Because he was a black man. But using his talent and personality, he made a place for himself in segregated baseball as the star of various black and mixed-race barnstorming teams in the Midwest. Later in his career he also played as the only black man on small-town Minnesota teams. He drew a blueprint on how to make money in baseball outside of the major leagues that Satchel Paige followed 20 years later. Pete Gorton and Sam Sinke have helped to document 430+ wins and 5,300+ strikeouts in Donaldson’s amazing career. John Donaldson and Black Baseball in Minnesota John Donaldson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf8b2087-4db7-4b8d-ad1a-09d7f5ab70f5/107+-+Mohawk+Giants.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Chappie Johnson Walter Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, had one of the greatest seasons ever in 1913, going 36-7 with 11 shutouts. That fall, the Mohawk Colored Giants, a Black baseball team, added an unofficial loss to Johnson’s tally when he and an all-white team of major leaguers came to town as part of a barnstorming tour. On the Giants team was Chappie Johnson, seated second from the left. The Quebec Adventures of Chappie Johnson’s All-Stars by Christian Trudeau https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96ecccf7-a3dc-4b0e-a65c-74710d14be7c/108+-+Todd+Peterson.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Early Black Baseball In Minnesota Though they played in the years before Rube Foster formed the first Negro League, the St. Paul Gophers and their bitter crosstown rivals, the Minneapolis Keystones, had the talent, bench depth, and determination to rival many of those later, better known teams. The Gophers, in fact, beat Chicago's celebrated Leland Giants in 1909, laying claim to blackball's western championship. Focusing on these two clubs, author Peterson lays out the early history of African American baseball in the Upper Midwest. Included are new statistics and more than 50 rarely seen photographs. Buy Todd Peterson’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72f50f16-ce36-4639-b0f2-3691f8fd697e/109+-+Frank+White.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - They Played For The Love Of The Game During the many decades that Major League Baseball and its affiliates imposed a strict policy of segregation, Black ballplayers in Minnesota were relegated to a haphazard array of semipro leagues, barnstorming clubs, and loose organizations of all-black teams—many of which are lost to history. They Played for the Love of the Game recovers that history by sharing stories of African American ballplayers in Minnesota, from the 1870s to the 1960s, through photos, artifacts, and spoken histories passed through the generations. Author Frank White's own father was one of the top catchers in the Twin Cities in his day, a fact that White did not learn until late in life. While the stories tell of denial, hardship, and segregation, they are highlighted by athletes who persevered and were united by their love of the sport. Buy Frank White’s book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ec219a7-4b1c-453e-9b27-154642fe0c4c/109+-+Black+pioneers.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db997298-0b27-49d9-86b4-7c3302bee0c9/110+-+Uptown+Sanitary+Shop.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67749234-25f6-49ed-acf5-25090bf7ad87/111+-+Askin+Marine.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fdd0db8b-d111-4b64-baa2-ee3c0a3c436e/112+-+Rondo.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rondo For much of the 20th century, the Rondo neighborhood was an important cultural and residential center of the Black community in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan region. The core of Old Rondo was demolished between 1956 and 1968, to make way for the construction of the Interstate 94 freeway. At least 650 families were displaced from the neighborhood, as well as many businesses and community locations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e6b5e6b-619d-4387-9e43-9f4726fde180/113+-+Toni+Stone.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Toni Stone Toni Stone grew up in Rondo, playing pickup games with neighborhood boys. She convinced St. Paul Saints manager Gabby Street to let her work out at his baseball school. At 16, she became the only girl on the Twin Cities Colored Giants, a semipro team. She made history in 1953 with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League by becoming the first woman to play professional baseball in a men's league. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/661f218b-491c-487a-820a-d5391640e1a3/114+-+Millerettes.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minneapolis Millerettes The Minneapolis Millerettes represented Minnesota in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1944. However, like in the men’s Major Leagues at the time, Black players were not allowed to play. Eventually, a lack of local support contributed to the Millerettes moving in 1945 — just a year after their debut — to become the Fort Wayne Daisies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55296e30-6866-45eb-a084-3895c079291e/115+-+New+Saints.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - New Saints In 1993, the St. Paul Saints appear once again, formed as part of the new independent Northern League. The primary ownership of the team is shared by Marvin Goldklang, Mike Veeck and Bill Murray. The Saints gained national acclaim after winning the Northern League title and becoming well known for over-the-top wacky promotions. Mike Veeck’s mantra is “fun is good". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91364009-4b05-40e0-8778-9d379d3c621d/116+-+Mike+and+me.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Mike Veeck Mike’s grandfather, William Veeck Sr., was president of the Chicago Cubs from 1919 until his death in 1933, leading the club to two NL championships. Mike's dad, Bill Veeck Jr., grew up in the baseball business, beginning his career as a popcorn vendor for his dad’s team. He went on to own a string of major league franchises, including the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Mike Veeck’s career was nearly derailed by a 1979 stunt he orchestrated, “Disco Demolition Night.” Mike was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c29340cc-d5c0-4da6-9c4b-4aa3af90bd73/117+-+Isla+Borders.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ila Borders In 1997, the Saints signed pitcher Ila Borders, becoming the first professional men’s baseball team to have a female on their roster. Ila made her debut on May 31, 1997, and played for a total of 4 seasons, pitching in 52 minor league baseball games with four different teams. In 1999, her best year, she had an ERA of 3.63. Borders had made her historic collegiate debut on Feb. 15, 1994 when she became the first woman to pitch in a men’s college baseball game. She pitched a five-hitter for Southern California College against the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a 12-1 victory. She retired in 2000 to pursue a career in firefighting and in 2003 she was elected to the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals for her unique contributions to the game of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2344c5eb-a5dc-4b9f-9360-c37b7638749f/118+-+Target+Field.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Target Field is an absolutely beautiful stadium, but charging $20 minimum per ticket the last week of the season when your team has been eliminated from playoff contention is going to result in some empty seats. Who benefits from that? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db88a9e8-a9e0-426c-80ba-5684406866ab/119+-+Minoso.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnie Miñoso Saturnino Orestes "Minnie" Armas Arrieta Miñoso prepares to swing at a pitch as he plays for the St. Paul Saints on July 26, 2003 at the age of 77. Miñoso became the first player to play professional baseball in seven different decades when he was in the lineup for the team’s annual Negro League Tribute. Acting as Designated Hitter, Miñoso walked in the first inning. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173877074-EZYI39ZKX5ZS22J1NZIR/120.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173877416-KADUCVJ2TA04GUSZDNNV/121.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173878189-D5S15KFIEYYXAB5L6Q7S/122.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173878503-J1BF9EHNNQIPMAI4N5DZ/123.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1718173879373-P9YGD9IYUIMRUBGQEDB5/124.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da5ae165-b4a5-44e2-a537-afd6e343c5f1/125+-+Bill+Veeck.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bill Veeck Before they had a Major League franchise, Milwaukee had a team in the American Association, called the Brewers. Bill Veeck bought the team in 1940. They won 3 pennants in 5 years, and Bill sold the franchise in 1945. He riled up the St. Paul Saints fans by saying his Brewers teams wouldn’t stay “in a jerk town like St. Paul” when on the road, opting instead to stay at a hotel in Minneapolis. It was purely a show to sell more tickets, and it worked like a charm. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba5ac06f-df74-445a-87b4-9b3a4bd7eba5/126+-+Merkle%27s+boner.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Merkle’s Boner Merkle's Boner refers to the notorious base-running mistake committed by rookie Fred Merkle of the New York Giants in a game against the Chicago Cubs on September 23, 1908. Merkle's failure to advance to second base on what should have been a game-winning hit led instead to a force play at second and a tied game. The Cubs later won the makeup game, which proved decisive as they beat the Giants by one game to win the National League pennant for 1908. It has been described as "the most controversial game in baseball history." Fred Merkle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b8d76de-3c88-48b8-a942-30a17d603860/127+-+Mets.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - 1962 Mets at the Polo Grounds Original Mets Frank Thomas, Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer & Roger Craig jump for joy at the Polo Grounds, where they played for the first two years of their franchise’s existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff31c872-9b30-43dd-956a-77e67db35d1d/128+-+Jets.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - AFL at the Polo Grounds At their first home stadium, the New York Jets, originally known as the Titans, often played in front of sparse crowds from 1960 to 1963. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9029d070-ff29-495e-becd-7f65e2fdc005/129+-+head+shot.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Follow Stew Online Stew’s Website Hall of Fame Baseball Gravesites A List of Stew’s Writing Email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ff6fdf0e-caaf-43ee-ae4e-7342ab15cdf9/130+-+official+scorer.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Official Scoring My mom acted as official scorer for many of the vintage base ball games I played from 2009 to 2021. Even though those games were incredibly low stakes compared to an official MLB game, sometimes it could still get pretty nerve-wracking! Official Scorers Consider Bad Hops, Bad Throws... And Exit Velocity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d415bf01-0026-43c1-ae50-643f84bb4445/131+-+Joe+Anders.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Joe Anders A great player in his own right, Joe Anders was a member of the 1940 Brandon Mill team which won the Textile League Championship. Anders, who played and coached between 1938 and 1955, is considered the greatest Textile League player ever. He signed with the Yankees in 1942 and was scheduled to be their starting 3B within a week, but two days later he got his WWI draft papers and never played in the majors. In 1955, Anders was the Cottonwood League's MVP, hitting .505 and compiling a 30-game hitting streak at the age of 34. He had 3 hits in the All-Star Game that year, leading his team to a 4-0 victory. He was inducted into the Greater Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Anders "remembered seeing Joe Jackson pinch hit in a mill league game at the age of 56. Already weakened by the first of several heart attacks, he nevertheless smashed the ball off the centerfield fence, 415 feet from home plate." "Anders' stories were instrumental in preserving the history of textile baseball. He also contributed to several unsuccessful attempts to persuade Major League Baseball to reinstate [Joe] Jackson." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/69c7deca-3077-4964-8d0c-76a3f7342558/132+-+Bobby+Richardson.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson is a Yankees legend who played 2B for the team from 1955-1966. Bobby Richardson’s SABR Biography Bobby was our guest for Episode 5 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bba3514f-2c5b-401b-a11a-2e88c7df2464/133+-+Sam+Allen.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Sam Allen Sam Allen is a former Negro League player who spent time as a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, the Raleigh Tigers, and the Memphis Red Sox. He led the Negro American League in runs scored in 1957, helping the Monarchs win the championship. Sam was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87f7513a-a19a-49f2-8f46-3a71a47fdba8/134+-+Ange+Armato.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ange Armato Ange Armato is a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who spent time playing with the Rockford Peaches and the Kalamazoo Lassies. Ange was our guest for Episode 7 of Season 3. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ad5d2c4-f7c8-4a4d-9cac-78703f3f9e95/135+-+Marjorie+Adams.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Marjorie Adams Marjorie Adams was the great-granddaughter of Doc Adams, who wrote The Laws of Base Ball in 1857 which set many of the primary rules of the sport still followed to this day. He also invented the position of Shortstop during his playing career. Doc Adams’ SABR Biography Marjorie was our guest for Episode 2 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f751d2c1-126c-43dd-9bb7-164fdb8353bc/136+-+Mike+Wallace+Bob+Feller.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Mike Wallace Interviews In an interview which was conducted on August 4, 1957, Bob Feller talks to Mike Wallace about ballplayers' salaries, the reserve clause, rich ball clubs, Pay TV, beer companies as sponsors, bean balls, gambling, and Joe DiMaggio versus Ted Williams. Watch the interview HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c51c65f-41e5-42c5-901d-0496ee36b280/137+-+keeping+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Learning How Many programs will teach you how to keep score, educating the reader what symbols to use and how to interpret plays on the field and on the page in front of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c11ff13b-43e9-492b-a49b-eb0dc095584b/138+-+Doris+Kearns+Goodwin.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Doris Kearns Goodwin “My father taught me how to keep score when I was six so I could recount that afternoon’s Dodgers game when he came home from work.” “So what would happen when I first was learning how to do this, and he would come home from work — I was too excited, so I'd blurt out, "the Dodgers won," or, "the Dodgers lost," which, of course, took much of the drama of this two-hour telling away. So I finally learned that you had to tell a story from beginning to middle to end. “In fact, he already knew who won. That's what's so crazy, right? He never even told me when I was young that all of this would be in the newspapers the next day. So at first I thought he wouldn't even know what happened to the game without me.” Buy Doris’ book Wait Till Next Year HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19d4aa2e-09a5-46b8-b108-2f01f4a8ce9f/139+-+coyote.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The Dangers of Grave Hunting On a recent trip to Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, my mom and I were less than 30 feet away from a coyote, who was thankfully more well-behaved than the shepherd my mom ran into while searching for a grave on private property another time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26098683-621c-43f9-95fe-8f173bb05471/140+-+catch+probability.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Catch Probability Catch Probability represents the likelihood that a batted ball to the outfield will be caught, based on four important pieces of information tracked by Statcast. 1. How far did the fielder have to go? 2. How much time did he have to get there. 3. What direction did he need to go in? 4. Was proximity to the wall a factor? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6643a9fd-7be8-4eb9-a6e7-66f627ef0f16/141+-+War+On+The+Diamond.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - War On The Diamond War On The Diamond is a documentary which tells the story of how the death of Ray Chapman in 1920 sparked a 100-year rivalry between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. You can watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/18cec642-f6b3-496d-af39-6e56c1e1f048/142+-+Target+Field.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Target Field Target Field opened in 2010 as the new home of the Minnesota Twins, but it has also served as the home of other local and regional baseball events. Though originally designed for baseball, it has also hosted football, soccer, hockey games, and concerts. In 2010, ESPN The Magazine ranked the open-air venue as the number one baseball stadium experience in North America. The stadium hosted the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c213acd-25c9-423a-b30f-69bb56b2ad23/143+-+City+of+Baseball+Museum.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out The City of Baseball Museum is located inside CHS Field, the home of the St. Paul Saints. It’s amazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3b8c128-f92e-4b1c-adcd-a82523282551/144+-+Babe+Ruth.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Ruth’s Record(s) The 29 home runs that Babe Ruth hit in 1919 broke Ned Williamson’s 1884 record of 27. Williamson set his record playing in Lake Park, the Chicago White Stocking’s home field that featured a right field wall just 196-feet from home plate. When Babe homered on July 18, 1921 for the 139th time in his career, he surpassed the mark previously held by Roger Connor. Though at the time, no one really knew the historic import, because no one was quite sure who did hold the record. Connor had 124 home runs in the National League and 14 in the Players’ League, which existed for only one season (1890). Those 14 home runs existed in limbo until Commissioner William Eckert ruled in 1968 that the Players’ League was, in fact, a Major League for record-keeping purposes. Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/584ebee3-3260-4473-b3a3-e088cb7c1cea/145+-+SABR+52.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - SABR 52 The 52nd SABR Convention will be in Minneapolis from August 7 through August 11 at the Hyatt Regency. Learn everything you need to about the convention, including how to register so you can attend, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e25774b6-e83d-4b8f-add4-4f5cee53163f/146+-+Toni+Stone+Field.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Toni Stone Field Toni Stone, the Rondo neighborhood kid who shattered racial and gender barriers, once took the roster spot of Hank Aaron and proved over and again she could play the game. A second baseman in the Negro Leagues in the 1950s, she’s considered the first woman to play professional men's baseball. More than two decades after her death, her efforts are slowly being recognized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/773dcc1b-fdc4-4596-85cc-06a21b4af61d/147+-+Women.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Women In The Negro Leagues For decades, women's baseball was just as segregated as the men's game. But Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan enjoyed professional opportunities in the Negro Leagues, blazing a trail for the women who would come after them. Black Women Playing Baseball: An Introduction by Leslie Heaphy Playing With The Boys: Gender, Race, and Baseball in Post-War America by A.J. Richard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1106cf7-bc6f-40dd-a193-1f252cb83aad/148+-+Rube+Foster.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Rube Foster Andrew “Rube” Foster is perhaps the person with the greatest impact upon Black baseball. Not only was Foster one of the best pitchers and best managers of the early twentieth century but he also was the architect of the Negro National League. Despite facing immense racial prejudice, Foster carried out three distinctive baseball positions during his lifetime and is often known as the “Father of Negro Baseball.” Rube Foster’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1971acc3-bc54-4953-b4ff-0bd68996362c/149+-+streetcar+series.JPEG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74d552b0-cd95-415f-a69c-33a20a587ee3/150+-+Twins+logo.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Minnie and Paul The Twins’ original logo was created by illustrator Ray Barton. The iconic image featured two mammoth twins, Minnie and Paul, eternally shaking hands while spanning the Mississippi River. Minnie and Paul, of course, represent the great Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, respectively. The logo has gone through changes over the years, being phased in, phased out, and updated several times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07e51129-fb21-48aa-b0ea-e46d044bca09/151+-+mlb+blackouts.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d33ade35-4eff-48ab-8d4c-6c690decf9a9/152+-+Brian+Bernardoni.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Brian Bernardoni Brian Bernardoni is the Official Historian of Wrigley Field, and has been a tour guide at the park since 1998. Brian was our guest for Episode 6 of Season 1. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6bcaad8-2472-4eee-99d2-9a95c21371fa/153+-+Alex+Cheremeteff.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Alex Cheremeteff Alex Cheremeteff is a writer, researcher, and historian who is an expert on the Philadelphia Athletics. Alex was our guest for Episode 4 of Season 2. You can listen to that episode HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b362cd4-444a-4840-b1c9-d99115317022/154+-+email.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d9ef4f7-75e7-47d5-8a9c-8dd3217fb704/155+-+DJ.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - D&J Glove Repair This episode was brought to you by D&J Glove Repair. WEBSITE TWITTER PRICING https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07dd8283-b353-4bba-bd4e-7414f274eceb/156+-+Speakers.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - SABR 52’s Scheduled Featured Speakers SABR 52 will feature a Hall of Fame speaker lineup you’ll love — including Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Bert Blyleven, and Jim Kaat. You’ll also hear from Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey, General Manager Thad Levine, former pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Glen Perkins, and more. You can see a list of scheduled featured speakers HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a5ce335-9f7f-424f-894e-fe299125aa3b/157+-+The+National.jpg Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - The National The 44th National Sports Collectors Convention will be held at the I-X Center in Cleveland from July 24th through July 28th, 2024. Follow The National on twitter HERE. If you’re planning on being in Cleveland for that, come see me at the Love Of The Game Auctions booth! But also, carve some time out of your Friday night plans to come watch the 1860s style vintage base ball game I’m hosting at League Park. RSVP on the Facebook Event Page for the vintage games by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a926668f-93d9-4fa1-bd88-c56b263787dc/158+-+Baseball+Heritage+Museum.png Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - Baseball Heritage Museum Entrance to the game will be $10 per person, but that price will also get you free admission to the Baseball Heritage Museum, which operates out of the original ticket office at League Park. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the museum, as well. Make a donation toward the game HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a046e393-d9e3-4bf9-8145-4598b7970ee8/159+-+Vintage+games.JPG Past Episodes - 0309 - Stew Thornley - My Summer Plans MLB Game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham HOF Induction Weekend in Cooperstown The National Sports Card Convention in Cleveland My vintage games at League Park in Cleveland SABR Convention in Minneapolis Maybe a little sleep? Maybe? Get ready for Season 4 of the podcast, which begins Wednesday, October 9th, 2024! https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0308 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef9c2abf-7b46-4f2b-a558-046d9240aa2a/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1095e821-40cb-48b4-9cf4-b9fbfc345859/square.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador Me and Jeremy Feador after recording our interview at Progressive Field in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a46b2b67-f9fb-4200-889e-488612174493/01+-+1995+Indians.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The 1990s Indians The Cleveland teams of the 1990s were an embarrassment of riches. An extremely solid player (if not an All-Star) at every position, the team was in contention nearly every year and is considered one of the greatest teams to not win a World Series in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49343f6b-e025-4335-b585-66d6addb8f24/02+-+Cleveland+Browns.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Move” Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced that the team would move from its longtime home of Cleveland to Baltimore for the 1996 NFL season. Subsequent legal actions by the City of Cleveland and Browns season ticket holders led the NFL to broker a compromise in which Modell agreed to return the Browns franchise to the league. The agreement stipulated that the Browns franchise, including its history, records and intellectual property, would remain in Cleveland. In exchange, the NFL agreed to grant Modell a new franchise in Baltimore (which was eventually named the Ravens) and the City of Cleveland agreed to build an NFL-caliber venue to replace the aging Cleveland Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/311c5cb8-f16c-49c6-933b-e601a86abcd8/03+-+Adams+Street+Cemetery.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Adams Street Cemetery Jeremy worked on a cemetery research project while at Wright State University. He found military records for an Indian Wars veteran who served in the late 1890s. Anthony Ruhl now has a headstone, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, thanks to Jeremy’s research. “Feador, whose car bumper sticker reads "I Brake for Old Graveyards," also located the diary of another Adams Street Cemetery resident, George N. Huckins, in the Duke University Library.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da1a1874-6a33-4321-978e-2ad32c4ed546/IMG_0245.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob DiBiasio Bob DiBiasio, known fondly as “Bobby D” around town, is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians. Bob’s association with the team dates back to 1979. He is renowned throughout the community as the city’s baseball memory and as an exceptionally friendly individual. You can frequently find him promoting both the team and the city at large, taking time to engage with fans who want to offer advice on the team or reminisce about their baseball memories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f05a40ab-c9c5-4dec-903d-96c1c9409bd5/05+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Museum When the Bob Feller Museum in Iowa was closing, Jeremy and Bobby D flew to Van Meter and drove a U-Haul back to Cleveland full of items for the team to preserve and display at the stadium. In the New York Times article about the trip, Jeremy is referred to as “another Indians employee,” which he has most definitely gotten over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7acb9a2a-735a-413b-9967-17b268326404/06+-+Guardians.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge opened in 1932. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db92f54a-b324-4b1b-bc0b-e9da2474108f/07+-+Cuyahoga+River+Fire.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire Stories about the Cuyahoga River fire on June 22, 1969 often combine fact and myth. The fire took place in Cleveland, a few miles north of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Heavy industry dominates this section of the river. Railroad bridges near Republic Steel trapped debris in the river, causing it to pile up. Oil on the water added to its flammability. A flare tossed from an overpassing train likely provided the spark that ignited the debris. The fire lasted for less than a half hour and resulted in minor damage to the railroad bridges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5899d83-f52f-42ca-bc6b-8af66cba37d9/08+-+Cleveland+Museum+of+Art.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cleveland Museum of Art Internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art, The Cleveland Museum of Art houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 61,000 works of art from around the world. The museum provides free general admission to the public. With a $755 million endowment, it is the fourth-wealthiest art museum in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/395d7656-45f9-4371-87ed-5d487948ec92/09+-+Cleveland+Clinic.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States. For the past twenty years in the fields of cardiology, heart, and vascular surgery, Cleveland Clinic has been ranked and regarded as the best and highest-performing hospital in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a824127c-851f-4b69-b384-af1b1192f75d/09+-+Theater+District.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland’s Theater District Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City (only Lincoln Center is larger). Constructed in a span of 19 months in the early 1920s, it has 10 performance spaces, including five theaters restored to their original 1920s elegance, that host more than 1,000 events a year, including some of the biggest titles on Broadway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62e774d8-2540-4fe7-a61f-c963da63d579/11+-+Guardians.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Guardians of Transportation The Art Deco “Guardians of Transportation” figures on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge are 43-feet tall and were carved out of local sandstone. Wilbur Watson, the bridge’s engineer, wrote that the eight figures - who have stood guard over east-west traffic since 1932 - were meant to “typify the spirit of progress in transportation,” with each Guardian holding a different kind of vehicle in its hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e375821d-01fa-481f-88fb-993ec5cde80f/12+-+Rock+and+Roll+HOF.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Rock Hall” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located on the shore of Lake Erie, documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures and personnel who have influenced its development. The museum opened on September 2, 1995, and celebrated with a blockbuster benefit concert at nearby Cleveland Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b66c07e6-dd4f-4f86-a8a0-b9fd8514eb31/13+-+Cleveland+Forest+Citys.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Forest City Club Cleveland Forest City Club, 1868. Standing (left to right): Charles J. Sheffield, James L. “Deacon” White, J.W. Clarke, Arthur E. Burt. Bottom (l-r): George W. Stockley, A.R. “Pikey” Smith, William P. Johnson, Harvey B. Brown, Leonard C. Hanna. Forest City's club had been established three years earlier, and the following June would become a professional team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72fd10ec-cb85-4b63-9006-4f3fccc17b57/14+-+Forest+Citys.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Forest Citys The actual name of the team, as shown in standings, was Forest City, not "Cleveland.” The name "Forest Citys" was used in the same generic style of the day in which the team from Chicago was called the "Chicagos." Modern writers often refer to the club as the "Cleveland Forest Citys," which does not reflect 1870s usage, but does distinguish the team from the Rockford, Illinois, professional team that was also called "Forest City," that being a long-standing nickname of both of those cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1fa64563-69c7-471a-8c33-32b640d4def1/15+-+Deacon+White.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Deacon White James Laurie “Deacon” White, who batted left-handed, finished his pro career with a .312 batting average, collecting 2,067 hits, 24 home runs, and 988 RBI in an era when home runs were rare. Only the legendary Cap Anson had more hits, runs and RBIs than White during those early days of baseball. In addition, White helped six teams win championships and was the first player to bat in an organized professional league game, hitting a double at age 23 for the Forest Citys in a National Association contest in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1871. A right-handed pitcher, White was among the first players to throw a curveball, during a brief semi-pro stint with Cleveland in the 1860s. He also claimed he created the first catcher's mask, though he isn't officially credited with that invention. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. Deacon White’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a952891-465d-4813-ba78-cfc1b9cf85d5/16+-+The+Forest+City.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - “The Forest City” One of Cleveland’s nicknames is “The Forest City,” which is especially fitting when looking at older images of the landscape. This photo shows the opening of the Cleveland Fine Arts Garden in 1928. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0781e80f-cb9b-4762-a9ef-a4513f4210b8/17+-+Cleveland+Blues.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Blues The Original Cleveland Blues team began in 1878 as an amateur club. In 1879 they became part of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blues played at Kennard Street Park (aka National League Park), which is currently East 46th Street & Cedar Ave. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on September 13, 1883. Other notable Blues players included Jack Glasscock and Ned Hanlon. The team was purchased by Charles Byrne in 1885 for $10,000 and folded into his Brooklyn Grays team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b4f2842-cb90-4e8b-ac67-67b277acac9f/18+-+Franklin+Lewis.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Franklin Lewis First published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 1949, Franklin “Whitey” Lewis’s The Cleveland Indians begins with the organization’s early years as the Cleveland Forest Citys, covers the 1920 World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers, and concludes with the excitement of the 1948 pennant race. With the advantage of modern research, however, some of the stories and anecdotes included in Lewis’ book have been disproven. Unfortunately, many modern writers have relied heavily upon Lewis’ book while doing research of their own, thereby perpetuating the untrue myths Lewis included in his work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135886db-bcca-4d7a-8ab2-fa52013d147d/19+-+Plain+Dealer.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Plain Dealer The newspaper was established in January 1842 when two brothers, Joseph William Gray and Admiral Nelson Gray, took over The Cleveland Advertiser and changed its name to The Plain Dealer. Their archives have been digitized, which has made research much easier for modern historians like Jeremy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a52c9f69-fb42-4019-80e2-51c688a16c22/20+-+Mike+Miller.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Mike Miller Mike Miller is a Shoeless Joe Jackson historian and expert, and has volunteered at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum as a tour guide for more than 10 years. His research led him to find the exact date and the exact hit when Joe got the nickname “Shoeless.” CLICK HERE to view the free digital version of his book on Joe’s career. You can listen to Episode 2 of Season 1 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2553c391-e814-4ee3-b9ab-19974fa5e8db/21+-+Cleveland+Press.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cleveland Press The Cleveland Plain Dealer proclaimed, “The Blues Will Win The Pennant This Year” across the page when it printed the American League schedule on March 6, 1903. The Plain Dealer continued to refer to the club as the Blues as somewhat of a protest to the new name of Naps, which was chosen by fans in a contest run by the rival Cleveland Press. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bac736e-fe05-41dc-a7be-3990dff6116a/22+-+Satchel.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Tye Few reliable records or news reports survive about players in the Negro Leagues. Through dogged detective work, award-winning author and journalist Larry Tye has tracked down the truth about this majestic and enigmatic pitcher, interviewing more than two hundred Negro Leaguers and Major Leaguers, talking to family and friends who had never told their stories before, and retracing Paige’s steps across the continent. Buy a copy of Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85b153ef-878a-402a-9918-eb2ac4958711/23+-+Frank+W.+Smith.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Frank W. Smith Frank W. Smith was a staff photographer for the Cleveland Ledger in the early 1900s and shot for the Cleveland Plain Dealer during the 1910s, traveling out of state with the baseball team for their Spring Training on multiple occasions. This photo shot by Smith of League Park head groundskeeper Frank Van Dellen resides in my personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95452cdf-2fdf-4b51-8554-de45ba80de10/24+-+Louis+Van+Oeyen+Portrait+b%26w.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Louis Van Oeyen Louis Van Oeyen (1865-1946) was the first photographer hired as staff on a Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper, and a pioneer in many techniques and activities of photojournalism. Van Oeyen was hired as a Cleveland Press photographer in 1901, after his photographs of the water intake explosion disaster in Lake Erie, and the assassination of President William McKinley, were published in the Press. During his career at the Press, he shot portraiture, politics, disaster, crime, scandal, and sports photographs. His greatest love was baseball, and he became official photographer for the American League in 1908, and for the World Series until 1922. This portrait he took of Shoeless Joe Jackson is one of my favorite photos of Joe ever taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1bf58ef6-d154-47c4-9954-1f9ecc5932a9/25+-+Grainy+images.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Grainy/Graney Photos Images from the Cleveland Plain Dealer digital archives prove that original photos with higher resolution must have existed at some point. Like this one, from the October 9, 1920 issue as the Indians headed into Game 4 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The paper depicted 20 players from the Cleveland squad, with each panel having a unique advertisement from a local merchant booster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3282014-304a-48dc-bbae-a3816d480101/36+-+1901+team.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1901 Team Photo Had this photo not been captioned this way in the April 18, 1901 issue of the Plain Dealer, you might not have known this was a shot of the 1901 team, especially based on the different uniforms the players are wearing with different city names and logos on their chests. One of the great (and awful, and difficult, and rewarding) things about being a researcher is knowing how many other photos like this exist but have not yet been properly identified because it is not necessarily immediately apparent who is depicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/838d01dc-4243-4e81-a3b8-35643ac55854/26+-+1892+Cleveland+Spiders.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Spiders Before the 1889 season, the Cleveland Blues switched from the American Association to the National League. They also earned a new nickname, the Cleveland Spiders, because so many of their players were very thin, long, tall, and gangly, reminiscent of spiders. The 1892 Spiders are pictured here at League Park, with the original wooden stands visible in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb67e867-18ff-43e2-b53e-f0c242590a57/27+-+cy+young.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young Cy Young pitched from 1890 to 1898 for the Cleveland Spiders, then returned to Cleveland from 1909 to 1911 to pitch for the Cleveland Naps. He holds nearly all of the career counting statistics records for pitchers, including most Wins all time (511), most Losses (315), most Games Started (815), most Complete Games (with 749!), most Innings Pitched, most Batters Faced, and a handful of others. He passed away in 1955, and in 1956, they started calling the award given to the best pitcher at the end of every season the Cy Young Award. Cy Young’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/969c4c3c-50be-47a3-8ce9-24adf2fe5db7/28+-+Cy+Young.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy’s Plaque Cy Young was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Buy Scott Longert’s biography for young readers, Cy Young: An American Baseball Hero, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6467bbb8-0b8d-476d-affa-8888974047d5/29+-+cy+young+and+bob+feller.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young and Bob Feller Even after his playing days were over, Cy Young would often make the drive to Cleveland and be present at the ballpark. This 1940 photograph depicts the greatest pitchers in the history of Cleveland baseball, as an old Cy Young shows off his curve ball grip to young phenom Bob Feller in the Indians locker room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43cb954e-8e43-47d1-9799-916c5fb84c47/31+-+Stan+Coveleski.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Stan Coveleski Stan Coveleski was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Stan Coveleski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d3102c6-6917-4040-b5e9-066c199f64b5/32+-+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Cy Young pitched the opening game at Cleveland’s League Park. There aren’t too many baseball diamonds left where you can go stand on the same mound that Cy Young once threw from, but League Park is one of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8b1b95f-4e57-4167-9442-be4248b22353/33+-+Cleveland+Infants.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1890 Cleveland Infants The Cleveland Infants were a one-year baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. Owned by Al Johnson, the Infants finished 1890, their lone season, with 55 wins and 75 losses. Their home games were played at Brotherhood Park. The team included future Baseball Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty, and the league's batting champion, Pete Browning. Ed Delahanty’s SABR Biography Pete Browning’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51f8f393-fbed-4252-80b5-f6800a3c5345/34+-+1907+Victor+Mill+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Textile League South Carolina had a blossoming textile industry in the late-1800s and early-1900s. At its peak, there were 18 different cotton mills within a 3-mile radius in Greenville. Many mills had their own baseball team to improve morale, and those teams formed a league to play against each other. This photo depicts the 1907 Victor Mill baseball team, featuring Shoeless Joe Jackson, middle row, second from left. Buy Tom Perry’s great book on the Textile League HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb3331e3-17ed-49a4-81aa-208dbc70da85/35+-+League+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Built in 1891, League Park was situated at the northeast corner of Dunham Street (now known as East 66th Street) and Lexington Avenue in the Hough neighborhood. League Park was originally built as a wood structure, but was rebuilt using steel and concrete in 1910. Here is what it looked like circa 1905, as colorized by They Played In Color Galleries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4133efe1-a85d-4083-94c8-883d1ee40124/37+-+Patsy+Tebeau.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tebeau’s Tribe Sportswriters occasionally referred to teams by names other than what they were officially called. After the arrival of Louis Sockalexis in 1897, one of the many names used to describe Cleveland’s baseball team became the Indians. Sometimes they were referred to as Tebeau’s Indians (Patsy Tebeau was the team’s Irish-American player-manager), Tebeau’s Tribe, and even as Tebeau’s Hibernian Indians. Patsy Tebeau’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b650ca4f-0302-40b3-9551-9fd062d6281e/38+-+Louis+Sockalexis+-+Boston+Post+May+19+1895.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Louis Sockalexis Louis Sockalexis was a member of the Penobscot Indian tribe of Maine. He played in only 94 Major League games, but is remembered today as being the first recognized minority to perform in the National League. Sockalexis was signed by the Cleveland Spiders in 1897, fifty years before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is depicted here in the May 19, 1895 issue of the Boston Post. Louis Sockalexis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d25d1fb-7607-43a2-943d-68231ce93a75/39+-+Jim+Toy.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jim Toy James Madison Toy was an early Major League Baseball player who had a short two-year career with the Cleveland Blues and the Brooklyn Gladiators, both of the American Association. Toy began his professional baseball career in the International League for the Utica, New York team. He showed his versatility by playing many different positions, as well as having a well known good throwing arm. He helped lead the Utica team to the International League championship in 1886. While his heritage is still uncertain, it is possible that with his inclusion on the 1887 Cleveland Blues of the American Association made Toy the first ever Native American to play Major League Baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/586cc722-6a6c-4dcd-a21d-fa8fe17c14e4/40+-+1899+St.+Louis+Perfectos.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - St. Louis Perfectos In 1899, Spiders owners Frank and Stanley Robison purchased a second team – the bankrupt St. Louis Perfectos of the National League (who later became the Cardinals) – and then promptly sent all of the Spiders' top talent to that club, including future Hall-of-Famers Cy Young, left fielder Jesse Burkett, and shortstop Bobby Wallace. The remaining Spiders were one of the worst teams in history. Here, the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos are pictured, with Cy Young in the lower left corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816d3323-27ec-47a6-b65a-5a1ec1b25ca1/41+-+Harley+Parker.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Grand Rapids Rustlers The Grand Rapids Rustlers were founded in 1894 and were one of the founding teams of the Western League, a league that would go on to become the American League. Other teams in the league included Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Toledo, and Sioux City. Some notable players from the Rustlers were George Pinkney, Bob Caruthers, Lady Baldwin, Crazy Schmit, and Bumpus Jones. Pictured here is pitcher Harley Parker, who may have pitched one of the worst games in history on July 25, 1894. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99bda4a4-666a-4a34-b3c2-4884e845ba6f/42+-+1905+League+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Lake Shores After the 1899 season, the Grand Rapids Rustlers moved to Cleveland, renamed themselves the Lake Shores, and played their games at League Park. Managed by Jimmy McAleer, the 1900 team missed the postseason after finishing the regular season in 6th place with a 63-73 record in the Western/American League, still a minor league at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d452f4db-44d7-420f-9bd1-6fd9cfb2c056/43+-+Cleveland+Blues.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1901 Cleveland Blues In 1901, the American League (formerly Ban Johnson’s Western League) broke with the National Agreement and declared itself a competing Major League. The Cleveland franchise was among its eight charter members. Although some American League teams chose names abandoned by other major league teams in their respective cities (such as the Chicago White Stockings, Philadelphia Athletics, and [in 1902] the St. Louis Browns), the Cleveland team did not want to associate themselves with the disastrous 1899 Cleveland Spiders, so the new team became known as the Bluebirds or Blues. The 1901 Cleveland Blues played 136 games during the regular season, winning 54 games while losing 82, and finished in seventh position. They played their home games at League Park I and drew 131,380 fans over the course of their home season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bf65be0-abd0-438f-98ec-a436e3a144d6/44+-+1902+Cleveland+Bronchos.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1902 Cleveland Bronchos In 1902, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies obtained an injunction, effective only in Pennsylvania, barring Nap Lajoie from playing baseball for any team other than the Phillies. The American League responded by transferring Lajoie's contract to the Cleveland Bronchos. Lajoie is pictured here, bottom row center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/672bd46e-7ff9-45ca-8a46-0a47d97b82f6/45+-+Charles+Somers.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Charles Somers Once called the “good angel of the American League,” Charles Somers was much more than one of the league’s founding members; he was also its principal financier. A shy, unassuming man who made his fortune in the coal business, Somers brought major-league baseball back to Cleveland in 1901, and also helped the junior circuit establish clubs in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. At one point, the free-spending magnate was part-owner of four of the league’s eight franchises. Charles Somers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f29b239f-d222-45eb-bfeb-7a8464c854ed/46+-+Ban+Johnson.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ban Johnson The most powerful figure of the Deadball Era, Ban Johnson’s rise to prominence in the national pastime was as improbable as it was meteoric. Relying neither on athletic renown nor inherited wealth, Johnson maneuvered his way into becoming president of the Western League in 1893, then skillfully transformed the fledgling circuit into one of the most formidable minor leagues of the late nineteenth century. In 1901, Johnson renamed the Western League the American League, declared it a major league, and then succeeded in challenging the one-league supremacy of the National League. Johnson’s triumph marked a turning point in baseball history, cementing the modern two-league system and setting the stage for the unparalleled financial successes of the coming years. Ban Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36a0b9e4-da22-499e-bfe6-9e8000a3ab13/47+-+Nap.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Napoleon Lajoie In 1902, Napoleon Lajoie became Cleveland's first big signing. From 1901 to 1904, Lajoie had the highest batting average in the league. In 1901, he batted .426, and led the American League in nearly every offensive category, winning the triple crown. Lajoie became not only their second baseman, but also their manager. He was one of baseball’s first superstars, so Cleveland just up and named the whole team after him. His name was Napoleon, they called him “Nap” for short, and until 1911, Cleveland’s baseball team was officially called the Cleveland Naps. Napoleon Lajoie’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/374657fd-a1ca-450c-a274-acaf807d554f/48+-+Nap.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Nap Napoleon Lajoie was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Lajoie combined graceful, effortless fielding with powerful, fearsome hitting to become one of the greatest all-around players of the Deadball Era, and one of the best second basemen of all time. At 6’1″ and 200 pounds, Lajoie possessed an unusually large physique for his time, yet when manning the keystone sack he was wonderfully quick on his feet, threw like chain lightning, and went over the ground like a deer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cf8fd9b-5f03-4c10-a81e-79951723ae69/49+-+Candy+LaChance.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Candy LaChance George Joseph "Candy" LaChance reached the majors in 1893, spending six years with the Brooklyn Grooms / Bridegrooms before moving to the Baltimore Orioles (1899), Cleveland Blues (1901) and Boston Americans (1902–05). He hit .300 or more five times, and from 1894 to 1899 averaged 26 stolen bases each year, with a career-high 37 in 1895. He also led all National League hitters in 1895 with 108 RBI. LaChance earned the nickname "Candy" because he preferred to chew on peppermints rather than chewing tobacco. Candy LaChance’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6545fad9-ae17-4356-a04f-52135cd6ad46/50+-+Delahanty.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ed Delahanty John Rogers, described as a "penny-pinching" majority owner of the Phillies, assured Napoleon Lajoie that he would make the same salary as teammate Ed Delahanty. However, Lajoie discovered that while he was earning $2,600, Ed Delahanty was earning $3,000. Rogers increased Lajoie's pay by $200 but the damage had already been done. "Because I felt I had been cheated, I was determined to listen to any reasonable American League offer," Lajoie said. It was nothing personal against Delahanty, for whom Lajoie changed positions to play First Base so Ed could go back to his natural position of Left Field. The two were even roommates on the team. It was a matter of principle. Ed Delahanty’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32c598ae-80e9-46a7-a908-fd97ceb8e573/51+-+Chalmers+Race.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Chalmers Race In 1910 auto magnate Hugh Chalmers offered an automobile to the baseball player with the highest batting average that season. What followed was a batting race unlike any before or since, between the greatest but most despised hitter, Detroit’s Ty Cobb, and the American League’s first superstar, Cleveland’s popular Napoleon Lajoie. The race came down to the last game of the season, igniting more interest among fans than the World Series and becoming a national obsession. Cobb, thinking the prize was safely his, skipped the last two games of the season, while Lajoie suspiciously had eight hits in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. Although initial counts favored Lajoie, American League president Ban Johnson, the sport’s last word, announced Cobb the winner, and amid the controversy both players received cars. Buy Rick Huhn’s amazing book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28df21e7-ca06-4a83-9e60-98293b3f981b/52+-+Elmer+Flick.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Elmer Flick Elmer Flick was the right fielder for Cleveland from 1902 to 1910, before Joe Jackson came to town. A speed demon, from 1904 through 1907, Flick had four straight years with at least a .300 batting average, at least 15 triples, and at least 35 steals. He had 10 straight seasons with 20 or more steals, 7 of those being seasons with 30 or more. Flick also won the 1905 batting title. Elmer Flick’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7fd5b7e4-7d81-461f-915e-437da8a21333/53+-+Elmer+Flick.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Elmer Flick Elmer Flick was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7590a545-b16f-4dfa-919e-669e3977a9a8/54+-+Addie+Josss.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Joss Addie Joss pitched from 1902 to 1910 with the Cleveland Bronchos and Naps. He is baseball’s all-time leader in WHIP, with a 0.968 career mark, and is second all-time in career ERA, with a 1.887 mark, trailing only Ed Walsh’s 1.816 total. Joss completed 234 of the 260 games he started in his career, and finished with 160 wins in a little more than 8 full seasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1b9718c-7591-43f6-acff-47055cf852e9/54+-+Addie+Joss+and+Ed+Walsh.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Human Hairpin Joss threw a 74-pitch perfect game against Ed Walsh of the White Sox on October 2, 1908 at League Park in the final days of the 1908 pennant race, and added another no-hitter to his résumé on April 20, 1910 when he beat the White Sox again. Addie Joss’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f02ed7e-90c9-4794-8f13-c8e6b46f2e82/58+-+benefit+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field” at Addie Joss’s benefit game, July 24, 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a610ff8f-4fc4-46ba-89dd-316d8f6bae2b/57+-+Benefit+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Joss Benefit Game To help raise money for Joss’ family after he passed away, the players organized the first ever gathering of All-Star players for a benefit game. It was essentially the first All-Star game in history, and it took place on July 24, 1911. The Cleveland Plain Dealer called it “The greatest array of players ever seen on one field.” The total raised was $12,931.60, the equivalent of more than $375,000 today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cb73cac-ee05-48d0-9e86-9bea4506913f/56+-+Addie+Joss.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Addie Addie Joss was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Joss was called the “Human Hairpin” because of his long arms, gangly build and pitching motion. He would turn his back to the plate, sometimes facing second base, and then whirl around and unleash a sidearm delivery to the plate. Hall of Famer Bobby Wallace said “Joss sort of hid the ball on you. One moment, you’d be squinting at a long, graceful windup and the next instant, out of nowhere, the ball was hopping across the plate – and a lot of us were caught standing flat-footed with our bat glued to our shoulders.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/736528fe-e076-40d0-9fbd-c0af64749713/59+-+Jack+Graney.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack Graney From 1908 to 1922, Jack Graney was the Left Fielder for the Cleveland Naps and Indians. Though not officially named, he was essentially the team captain. Never one to hit for power or for a high average, Graney generated offense by working the count and drawing walks, earning the nickname “Three-and-two Jack” in the process. Graney’s hitting philosophy worked: despite posting a career batting average of just .250, the left-hander registered a .354 on-base percentage, and twice led the league in base on balls. Jack Graney’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9386cbc-9ec6-4977-adcc-e4f274086e28/60+-+Jack+and+Larry.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack & Larry Jack’s dog Larry was beloved by fans and players alike. He was a Bull Terrier who could do tricks and acted as on-field entertainment before games and between innings on many occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1ddc88a-b5dc-4bfe-9833-09f446cbccb9/60b+-+Team+Photo+With+Larry.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Team Photos With Larry While there are actually official team photos taken with Larry in them, here’s a rarely seen image taken by photographer Frank W. Smith of a handful of Naps out on an excursion with Larry in Athens, Georgia during the team’s 1914 Spring Training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28d55dae-32b4-4a92-8f25-ac9fbee52bce/60a+-+Larry+Plays+Leap+Frog.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Playing Leap Frog This image was taken by Frank W. Smith at 1914 Spring Training for the Cleveland Naps in Athens, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a036c4e5-7de0-4195-bd56-4960e28879d4/59+-+Graney.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - As A Broadcaster Not only was Jack Graney a major part of the team as a player, but he eventually became the play-by-play broadcaster for the Indians from 1932 to 1953, widely considered to be the first former big league player to broadcast a major league game. Graney called the World Series for a national audience in 1935 and also broadcast that year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland. Graney was the 2022 Ford C. Frick Award winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2309b743-44d3-4596-ac7e-2f9928d996d9/63+-+Herb+Score.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Herb Score Herb Score pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1955 through 1959 and the Chicago White Sox from 1960 through 1962. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1955, and an AL All-Star in 1955 and 1956. Due to an on-field injury that occurred in 1957, he retired early as a player in 1962. Score was a television and radio broadcaster for the Indians from 1964 through 1997. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006. Herb Score SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d003904d-626d-47ef-8df2-51a93cfc9932/64+-+Hough+neighborhood.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - League Park Rebuilt with steel and concrete in 1910, Jeremy describes the updated version of League Park as a “reverse Fenway” with a huge wall in Right Field to accommodate for the short dimensions to the fence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0053f72c-3a56-4d52-bd91-5b4221a3d5da/65+-+Right+Field+wall.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Right Field Wall A good second baseman would turn and run toward the outfield if a ball was hit at the right field fence because caroms off the wall were wildly unpredictable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b657871-2d60-4e10-b6d1-c747cc36331e/66+-+League+Park+today.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out League Park today, with a modern fence built to the same height as the original. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cbd04701-8432-45fa-ba04-bd7269daf145/67+-+dimensions.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Deep CF Look at how deep it is to straightaway center field. The fact that Tris Speaker would play shallow enough to be able to turn unassisted double plays in this park is insane. But he knew what he was capable of, and he made it happen. Check out the 360 degree views of League Park from the upper deck, recreated by Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks, by clicking HERE (trust me, do it). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/472ea99c-3e45-41ed-81ac-a454026dc5cf/68+-+League+Park+toilet.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Men’s Restroom Circled here, the men’s restroom on first base side of the lower level had a window which overlooked the field, so you wouldn’t have to miss any action while you were taking care of business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8a5594a-7751-461d-a571-ca4d568b947b/69+-+League+Park+toilet+view.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - View From The Restroom Not too shabby, huh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/317bed56-cb29-44f8-8d81-fb129fc7da4c/70+-+Progressive+Field.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Progressive Field Even though it’s still only a few decades old, Progressive Field has already seen tons of history, including play during three World Series, two All-Star Games, a 22-game winning streak, and countless walk-off wins. Not to mention, a 455-game sellout streak which lasted from June 12, 1995 through April 4, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab005a56-8cbd-4ac9-bf2e-f8037ec2a351/71+-+Cleveland+Municipal+Stadium+being+built.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, under construction in 1931. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a55f1a02-ef88-431b-97de-0759fd51abb7/72+-+1920+World+Series.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1920 World Series The 1920 World Series was the first World Series played at League Park. Cleveland hosted games 4 through 7 of the series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/066e384b-fe17-49c6-9242-9dd12bdd17f9/70+-+1945+Cleveland+Buckeyes.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes “The Cleveland Buckeyes … astounded the diamond world by knocking off the Homestead Grays, long the dominant force in Negro baseball, in four straight games in the world series,” wrote legendary Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith. “… Cleveland ‘breezed’ through the series in easy fashion.” SABR Games Project - September 20, 1945 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f9395d8-d9fe-42bb-9e16-78c33ca6f30c/74+-+Ray+Chapman+portrait.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman By 1915, Cleveland owner Charlie Somers was in such financial trouble that he was only able to afford to keep one of his team’s two superstars. He was faced with a decision between building around Ray Chapman, or building around Shoeless Joe Jackson. He chose Ray. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bba0bff-4cb1-4d5d-bd96-e6c39e31a80e/75+-+Steve+O%27Neill.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Steve O’Neill Steve O’Neill was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Steve O’Neill’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c09b1729-596f-4416-b706-eb461830e96a/76+-+Charlie+Jamieson.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Charlie Jamieson Charlie Jamieson was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. Charlie Jamieson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f4756b73-2008-410f-8150-d5fd21fe9ff3/77+-+Charles+Conlon+1913+b%26w.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Shoeless Joe Jackson People say that Joe Jackson’s first three full seasons in baseball may be the best 3-year run in history. From 1911 through 1913, he led the major leagues with 656 hits. He slashed a .393 batting average, a .462 on base percentage, and a .574 slugging percentage with a 192 OPS+. He averaged 219 hits, 43 doubles, 21 triples and 6 home runs. He also averaged 119 runs, 81 runs batted in, 34 steals, and 320 total bases per season. Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/694cac3d-8250-48d7-9c32-62cdabe36203/78+-+Bris+Lord.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bris Lord Bristol Robotham Lord played from 1905 to 1913 for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps, and Boston Braves. Lord, pictured here, is best known for a 1910 trade between Philadelphia and Cleveland in which he was exchanged for Morrie Rath and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Jackson had only played 10 games in his MLB career at that point, but went on to become one of the best hitters in baseball history. Morrie Rath’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a3f468b-0079-4175-89d9-139309cc2509/79+-+Joe%27s+former+home.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out This vacant lot at 7209 Lexington Avenue was where Joe Jackson once lived. League Park is a couple blocks to the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b34e5d9-2e1b-4b2d-a505-9ffa1e5dca20/80+-+boarding+house.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 6301 Hough Ave. Was this once a boarding house where the likes of Tris Speaker and Ray Chapman once lived? Jeremy did some digging on twitter to try to find the answer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1de177ec-ecb3-4329-87fb-441d82ff1e49/81+-+Jim+Dunn.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jim Dunn One of James Dunn’s earliest moves as the new owner of the Cleveland team was to rehire most of the front-office staff and meet personally with Charles Somers for his input, assuring a smooth transition. Somers was certainly impressed. He gave his support to Dunn, calling him “a real live wire (who) will … give Cleveland a good ball club.” His most significant early move was the acquisition of Tris Speaker, star center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. The deal was expensive, costing Cleveland two players, including a solid pitcher, as well as $55,000 in cash. Dunn asserted: “A tail-ender will not pay in Cleveland, but a first division team will draw big … I would not have thought of entering baseball if I had intended to be content with a second division outfit.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/804bec4d-1b6c-4692-a95e-402aa5d5828c/82+-+Speaker+trade.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Tris Speaker trade to Cleveland was not without a little controversy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/734395d3-7abe-4244-8f51-29a284ecc363/83+-+Tris+Speaker.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tris Speaker Legendary for his short outfield play, Tris Speaker led the American League in putouts seven times and in double plays six times in a 22-year career with Boston, Cleveland, Washington, and Philadelphia. Speaker’s career totals in both categories are still major-league records at his position. No slouch at the plate, Speaker had a lifetime batting average of .345, sixth on the all-time list, and no one has surpassed his career mark of 792 doubles. Tris Speaker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac94e0dc-2b32-498a-a608-54a8120c1459/84+-+Speaker+and+Doby.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Complicated Legacy While Speaker is rumored to have been a member of the KKK in Texas, he was also a supporter of Larry Doby’s when he broke the American League’s color barrier with Cleveland. Here, Speaker demonstrates batting for Cleveland players. Left to right: Luke Easter (1B), Jim Hegan (C), Larry Doby (OF), Ray Boone (SS), and Al Rosen (3B). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3af714af-eae0-473c-b264-2c3e98a2d5e9/84+-+Tris+Speaker.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Grey Eagle Tris Speaker was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/acd39696-0bc6-4d86-90b1-c11689a5bddd/86+-+Dutch+Leonard+Affair.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Dutch Leonard Affair In May of 1926, Dutch Leonard contacted the office of the Tigers and informed Detroit owner, Frank Joseph Navin, that he held proof that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker had fixed and bet on a game played on September 25, 1919. Leonard contacted Ban Johnson's office, as well. Navin and Johnson believed Leonard's story and agreed to buy him off for $20,000, the amount that Leonard argued Detroit owed him. So, Dutch surrendered his two letters of proof to them. They, in turn, notified Commissioner Landis of the events, as a courtesy. Next, Johnson contacted the two players and called them into his office. Cobb and Speaker denied the charges. Johnson, not believing them, told them they had to quit. On November 2, Ty left a letter of resignation at Navin's office. On November 29, Speaker's resignation was announced, with no explanation given. Dutch Leonard’s SABR Biography Baseball Gods In Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bbf1c3e-a49c-4faa-bd68-6491ad541ec8/87+-+Ray+Chapman.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman had four seasons with 10 or more triples, six straight seasons with 20 or more steals, including 52 in 1917. He was a great team player, leading the American League in sacrifice hits three times in his eight seasons, and was just really well-liked by teammates and opponents. August 16, 1920 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e6519e2-fbca-4048-a4be-fcf799b75e37/89+-+War+On+The+Diamond.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - War On The Diamond War On The Diamond is a documentary which tells the story of how the death of Ray Chapman in 1920 sparked a 100-year rivalry between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. You can watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bbde25c-ee7c-4fce-94fa-8b6fb63e01c5/90+-+Joe+Sewell.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Sewell Joe Sewell got called up in mid-September of 1920 and ended up taking Ray Chapman’s place at Shortstop in the middle of a pennant race after Ray passed away. He was only 21 years old, but he hit over .300 and struck out only 4 times for the rest of the season. From 1921 through 1929, back when there were only 154 games in a season, Sewell never played less than 152 games in a season. Joe Sewell’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35e6ec7d-e2d6-4bff-a163-9c399cd610d0/91+-+Joe+Sewell.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Sewell Joe Sewell was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a68f4897-7e8c-4c8b-9d00-f7175687828d/92+-+Chapman%27s+grave.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman’s Grave Ray Chapman is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. His marker is always covered with baseballs and Cleveland baseball mementos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7435da49-3efe-41ab-a536-aa564ebae44b/93+-+Ray+Chapman.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cfc88e48-a962-4e35-9e45-091e6c697e0b/94+-+Black+arm+bands.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out After Ray’s passing, the team wore black arm bands on their sleeves to remember their fallen teammate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4dd3d1d1-fb5c-4ae0-925c-3cc6cabba91c/95+-+Tim+Murnane.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tim Murnane Tim Murnane had gotten his start in professional baseball as a member of the 1872 Middletown (CT) Mansfields before six seasons of service to the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia White Stockings, the Boston Red Caps, and the Providence Grays. When Murnane suffered a fatal heart attack while attending an opera performance at Schubert Theater in Boston in February of 1917, it was learned that he had left only meager savings from his long baseball career to support his widow and four children from his second marriage. A memorial fund was established, with the support of the American League and the Baseball Writers Association of America, and Murnane's good friend and former Red Sox team owner John I. Taylor began to orchestrate plans for a benefit game pitting his old club against a selection of Major League greats. Tim Murnane’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99f16be3-8460-4cfb-b7c1-f3037316d018/96+-+Benefit+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tim Murnane Benefit Game Before the game was played, multiple skills competitions were held. Ray Chapman was the fastest player to round the bases. He is pictured here on that day, also with (left to right) Rabbit Maranville, Ty Cobb, and Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2691f976-12b0-4f35-b05c-f9cb26680ff7/97+-+Cooperstown+Casebook.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Cooperstown Casebook Jay Jaffe shows us how to use his revolutionary ranking system to ensure the right players are recognized at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The foundation of Jaffe’s approach is his JAWS system, an acronym for the Jaffe WAR Score, which he developed over a decade ago. Through JAWS, each candidate can be objectively compared on the basis of career and peak value to the players at his position who are already in the Hall of Fame. Because of its utility, JAWS has gained an increasing amount of exposure in recent years. Buy The Cooperstown Casebook HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a144dc71-bf5a-4dff-abf1-f78ae8da53d6/94+-+Ray%27s+plaque.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Ray Chapman memorial plaque was lost for years, but is now on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b821f45-053a-4d71-aad3-72f93f00ad65/99+-1920+White+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1920 Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox had thrown the 1919 World Series, but they hadn’t been caught or punished after the series, so they played almost the entire 1920 season. During the span of the previous four years, from August 26th, 1916 through August 26th, 1920, the White Sox never lost more than 4 games in a row. But from August 27th to September 4th, 1920, the White Sox lost seven consecutive games, falling all the way down to third place in the American League, behind the first place Indians and the second place Yankees. Here, Joe Jackson takes batting practice before a 1920 White Sox game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59134bac-dab6-4853-b0cc-381543faa1dd/100+-+Wamby+Triple+Play.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Game 5 of the 1920 World Series In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, Cleveland turned an unassisted triple play, Elmer Smith hit a grand slam, and pitcher Jim Bagby, Sr. hit a home run against the Brooklyn Robins (today's Dodgers). It was the first time any of those events had ever happened in the World Series, and shortstop Bill Wambsganss's big moment remains the only unassisted triple play in the history of the postseason. Bill Wambsganss' SABR Biography Elmer Smith’s SABR Biography Jim Bagby, Sr.’s SABR Biography October 10, 1920 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d213039-2cd6-4dda-9aef-0e6c8ec7a005/101+-+1917-world-series-ring-close-up.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe Jackson’s World Series Ring While the White Sox didn’t technically give out rings after the team won the 1917 World Series, Joe Jackson had his fob turned into a ring. I’ve been lucky enough to wear it a couple times, and yes, it’s as cool as you’d imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b83fd9a-1d04-4243-8ba0-d66d433fc68c/102+-+Babe+at+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe Ruth at League Park In 173 career games at League Park, Babe Ruth batted .372 with 46 home runs, 33 doubles and 11 triples. He drove in 144 runs, scored 147, and had 394 total bases. He walked 177 times in 173 games, which helped him achieve a .528 career on base percentage at League Park. Babe Ruth holds the all-time record with a .689 career slugging percentage. Second place all-time is Ted Williams at .634, more than 50 points behind him. But at League Park, Babe slugged .728. Cleveland pitcher George Uhle said the hardest ball he ever saw hit was a line drive Babe hit at League Park. It was still rising when it hit the top of the screen near the scoreboard, 460 feet away. Uhle said, “It was the most terrific hit I ever saw. It would have landed on East 79th Street, but the screen stopped it and he only got a double.” George Uhle’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a96d4bbc-4028-425d-8c1d-69f7f70b27f2/103+-+View+from+the+Andrews+Storage+Company.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe Ruth’s 500th HR Babe Ruth became the first player ever to hit a 500th career home run when he put a ball over the right field fence at League Park on August 11, 1929. This is the view from the Andrews Storage Company building rooftop, just across Lexington Avenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d7deb1c-7b30-442d-8d41-c9774bdc1b50/104+-+Joe+DiMaggio+at+League+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game Hit Streak Joe DiMaggio’s record-breaking hitting streak was snapped at League Park on July 17, 1941. July 17, 1941 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43bbcbc9-996f-4da2-9d62-4df23786b111/105+-+babe%27s+500th.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Babe’s 500th Babe gave Jack Geiser, the kid who retrieved and returned the ball Ruth hit for his 500th home run, a $20 bill (the equivalent of more than $300 today), an autographed baseball (worth about $25,000 today), and a chance to sit in the Yankees’ dugout. Ruth is seen here with Lou Gehrig looking at the home run ball in the League Park dugout on August 11, 1929. At the end of the 1929 season, Ruth had 516 career home runs. Rogers Hornsby was 2nd on baseball’s all-time list with 277. August 12, 1929 Cleveland Plain Dealer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3588d2f9-fec8-4c42-82dd-9fe5d49cdcbd/106+-+Bob+Feller+exhibit.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The Bob Feller exhibit in the Terrace Club at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e3db030-8212-42cb-9657-eb27581694cc/107+-+Bob%27s+ball.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller’s Contract Ball? “My father signed [my first] contract with me, as my guardian. I received a check for $1.00 to make it legal…I also received a ball autographed by all the Cleveland Indians.” — Excerpt from Bob Feller’s Little Black Book of Baseball Wisdom Jeremy and the Guardians have the ball pictured here on display at the Bob Feller exhibit, but is this that baseball? The story of Bob’s “gopher ball” signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59fe22c6-f2af-4c51-b2ca-dda1660c8b79/108+-+Ray+Fosse.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Fosse In the first half of 1970, Ray Fosse hit .313 with 16 home runs and 45 runs batted in. He hit in 23 consecutive games beginning June 9, the longest AL streak since 1961. Fosse was rewarded with a spot on the American League All-Star Game roster. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Pete Rose singled and was on second when the Cubs’ Jim Hickman singled to center field. The Royals’ Amos Otis fired the ball home to try to nail Rose. Fosse moved up the third-base line to catch the throw from Otis when Rose and the baseball seemingly arrived at the same time. Rose crashed into Fosse’s left shoulder to score the winning run, bowling Fosse over. Ray Fosse’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc96a6b8-f793-401c-ba93-167901ebee19/109+-+Hotz+Cafe.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Hotz Café In 1919 Hotz Café was only in business for about a year when Prohibition began. The café survived that era (1920-1933) as a speakeasy, attracting such high-profile characters as Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2672e680-eeca-4957-9bc1-1e4fba231cc5/110+-+Hotz.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Hotz Café Today "One night, after a baseball game, Babe Ruth came in and bought rounds for everyone in the bar," says Hotz. The Babe paid his tab with a check. "Thirteen dollars and sixty-five cents," says Hotz. The Yankee legend rarely paid for a drink, however -- even when he "paid." "We still have it in my mom's safe," says Hotz. "My grandpa refused to cash it." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da6aa006-a9dd-41e5-b41b-a0c10ed2d30b/111+-+Earl+Averill.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl Averill Earl Averill was another great Centerfielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1929 to 1939, picking up right where Tris Speaker left off. The first ever All-Star Game in Major League history was in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Earl was selected as an All-Star every year from 1933 through 1938 when he was 36 years old. He was top 10 in MVP voting 4 times, and top 5 three times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b9a4427-838e-4d7c-b886-99344befc206/112+-+Earl+Averill.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl Averill Earl Averill was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62b39699-d0cc-4a36-8d4c-40c24af1ce96/113+-+Earl%27s+clock.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Earl’s Indians HOF Clock Each of the 10 original inductees received Atmos clocks by Jaeger-LeCoultre with a special engraving. Averill’s inscription reads: Howard Earl Averill Chosen by fans as outfield on all-time Cleveland all-star team Charter member of Cleveland Hall of Fame Sept - 2 - 1951 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b38df8a3-5c65-4228-8cf5-a3755509f3cf/114+-+Municipal+Stadium.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Municipal Stadium Municipal Stadium was completed in 1931 and was designed for access by automobile. It held 80,000 people, which, for most of its tenure, was the largest seating capacity of any Major League stadium. The stadium was built for football, and for the Indians, and the Indians played all of their games at the stadium from the middle of the 1932 season through 1933. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2abfe33a-a7f2-4f3c-b4c2-fae1b556f708/115+-+ballpark+mustard.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ballpark Mustard Bertman Original Ballpark Mustard is a brown mustard made by Bertman Foods Company, a Cleveland food manufacturer and distributor which has produced several varieties of mustards since 1925, well known regionally because they are served at sports stadiums around Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/119582e4-d696-49f6-881e-4d2c3d7bf217/116+-+Lou+Boudreau.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Lou Boudreau was a Shortstop with the Cleveland Indians from 1938 to 1950. He was player/manager from 1942 through 1950. Lou finished 17th or higher in MVP voting for every single year in the 1940s, including 8 top-10 finishes, 3 top-5 finishes, and actually winning the award in 1948 when he had career-highs in nearly every offensive category: hits, home runs, runs, RBI, walks, batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS+, and total bases. Lou Boudreau’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/883064a4-0247-4c18-880f-f67ea4f86122/117+-+Lou+Boudreau.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Lou Boudreau was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57823349-67e0-4126-918a-e0c66d8c0a4c/118+-+The+Kid+From+Cleveland.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Kid From Cleveland The Kid from Cleveland chronicles the journey of a troubled teenage baseball enthusiast from northeast Ohio. He’s taken under the wing of the 1948 World Champion Cleveland Indians, with personalities such as Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Tris Speaker, Hank Greenberg, Satchel Paige, and Bill Veeck playing pivotal roles. Watch it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a427460-607c-4318-8b3b-6476eee6f9fd/119+-+Rocky+Colavito.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Rocky Colavito Rocky Colavito was a nine-time All-Star who averaged 33 home runs per year for his first 11 seasons, exceeding 40 home runs three times and 100 runs batted in six times. Colavito was the fifth player in the history of the American League to have eleven consecutive 20 home run seasons (1956–1966). In 1959, he hit four consecutive home runs in one game and, was the AL home run champion. He was also the first outfielder in AL history to complete a season without making an error. “The Curse of Rocky Colavito” is a phenomenon that supposedly prevents Cleveland from winning the World Series. Its origin is traced back to the unpopular trade of the right fielder to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn in 1960. Rocky Colavito’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/396637bc-583c-446e-966a-770163ae7946/120+-+Bob+Feller.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Bob Feller was a right-handed starting pitcher who began his career at the age of 17, before he finished high school. His high school graduation was covered by network radio. He served as an anti-aircraft gunner on the battleship USS Alabama in WWII, missing 4 years in the prime of his career, and yet he STILL won 266 games. An extremely conservative estimate is that he would have won another 70 if he hadn’t left for the war, some people think he would have won another 100 games had he not missed that time. Even still, he threw 3 no-hitters, including one on opening day in 1940 when he was only 21 years old, and another 12 one-hitters. Bob Feller’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97a10b40-91af-4ba1-9eb3-9329f2d6947a/121+-+Bob+Feller.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Bob Feller was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58881b40-713e-4654-8402-e760d388c141/122+-+Our+Team.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Our Team In intimate, absorbing detail, Luke Epplin’s Our Team traces the story of the integration of the Cleveland Indians and their quest for a World Series title through four key participants: Bill Veeck, an eccentric and visionary owner adept at exploding fireworks on and off the field; Larry Doby, a soft-spoken, hard-hitting pioneer whose major-league breakthrough shattered stereotypes that so much of white America held about Black ballplayers; Bob Feller, a pitching prodigy from the Iowa cornfields who set the template for the athlete as businessman; and Satchel Paige, a legendary pitcher from the Negro Leagues whose belated entry into the majors whipped baseball fans across the country into a frenzy. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0229e301-3b4a-4409-a8aa-65913d2c825f/123+-+Anne+Feller.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Anne Feller Bob’s widow, Anne Feller, cut the red ribbon with Bobby D to officially open the Bob Feller exhibit. That same day, May 13, 2015, Corey Kluber tied Feller’s club record with 18 strikeouts in a regulation game (set by Bob on October 2, 1938, against Detroit) when he struck out 18 Cardinals in only 8 innings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/438c9df9-4a71-4ff9-b519-fa3c94bc32e9/124+-+navy.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - In The Navy Bob Feller was the first major sports celebrity to enlist in the military after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, doing so just days after the attack. In the weeks and months that followed, others followed his lead, including some of baseball’s brightest stars. Joe DiMaggio. Ted Williams. Hank Greenberg. Stan Musial. A total of 4,500 professional ballplayers ended up serving in World War II. But Feller led the way. As veteran sportswriter Bob Hertzel wrote in 2010 at the time of Feller’s death, “Feller made it the American thing to do, to give up life as a professional athlete to serve in the military effort against Germany and Japan.’’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba0e2524-9c12-4a5f-9686-ca2450130d93/125+-+veeck.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bill Veeck Bill Veeck bought the team for $1.6 million on June 22, 1946. He saw 80,000 empty seats by the lakefront and decided he wanted all of Cleveland’s home games played there again. Veeck was instrumental in signing Larry Doby to the club, breaking the color barrier in the American League. The two are seen here together. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography Listen to my interview with Bill’s son, Mike Veeck, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93bf950f-3cc8-4e79-b73a-8151b4365348/126+-+Doby.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American league when he became the first Black player for the Cleveland Indians. Some people say he may have had it even harder than Jackie Robinson. Jackie played in Montreal in 1946, so he had a whole year of preparation for the treatment he would face when he got to the Major Leagues, playing against white players, and in front of mostly white fans. Doby, on the other hand, was playing with the Newark Eagles of the Negro League until July 2, 1947, when he signed with Cleveland. He made his Cleveland Indians debut three days later, on July 5 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, becoming the first player to go directly to the white Major Leagues from the Negro leagues. Larry Doby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b1947f9-4e8f-4b95-a89d-bc173c39e064/127+-+Doby.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Doby came up as a 2nd baseman, but moved to center field in 1948, where he would eventually become a 7-time All Star. He played with Cleveland from 1947 through 1955, then came back for one more year with the team in 1958. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f33e6fe3-20fd-42a5-9971-ec4bd8cef890/128+-+Doby.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby Larry Doby was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/078932be-1c17-444a-ac35-6e68fea466e0/129+-+Luke+Easter.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Luke Easter Luke Easter was best known for his powerful home runs, colloquially known as "Easter Eggs." On July 18, 1948, while with the Homestead Grays, Easter became the first player to hit a home run into the center field bleachers at New York's Polo Grounds during game action, a drive estimated at 490 feet. During his rookie season, he hit the longest home run in the history of Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, a 477-foot blast over the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. The only other player to match that feat was Mickey Mantle, who did it in 1960. Luke Easter’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fe8f1118-0954-42e8-a09f-7b556f89e989/130+-+Cleveland+Cubs.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Cubs The Cleveland Cubs were a Negro League baseball team in Cleveland in 1931 and 1932. Even though they were hampered by disarray in the Negro Leagues and the crumbling economy, the Cubs managed the best record for a pre-World War II Cleveland Negro League team at 29 wins and 24 losses in 1931. The team played a great deal of its games at Kinsman Hardware Field, a small venue that only held a few thousand fans. The best player on their 1931 team was a pitcher named Satchel Paige, seen here. Paige had a 199 ERA+, a 0.908 WHIP, and averaged 4.5 strikeouts for every walk that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/668f549f-b1d8-4350-ac2b-32f399b5e4e7/131+-+Satchel+Paige.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige was 41 years old (maybe???) when the Indians signed him in 1948. A lot of people thought it was a gimmick. A publicity stunt. That Paige was washed up, and Bill Veeck knew it, but he was trying to sell tickets to black fans in Cleveland. He wasn’t washed up, though, and became an integral part of Cleveland’s run to the World Series. Larry Doby and Satchel Paige became the first African-American players to win a World Series championship when the Indians won in 1948. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cedb5d3-a7bf-4506-89a1-b50c4387ee5f/132+-+Paige.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Satchel Paige Satchel Paige was inducted into the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965. His plaque, seen here, is on display at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a4e2ad4-05c8-40e9-972f-249b88901381/133+-+one+game+playoff.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - One Game Playoff The 1948 American League tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to the 1948 regular season, played between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox to determine the winner of the American League pennant. The game was played on October 4, 1948, at Fenway Park in Boston. It was necessary after both teams finished the season with identical win–loss records of 96–58. This was the first-ever one-game playoff in the AL, and the only one before 1969, when the leagues were split into divisions. Gene Bearden SABR Biography October 4, 1948 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/246ea9e5-9edb-462d-a4db-557a923bdd9f/134+-+Cleveland+Buckeyes.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Buckeyes The Cleveland Buckeyes existed in an era of war and racial strife. Overshadowed by the Indians' title in 1948, the Buckeyes were a very prominent team in the Negro American League, having won a World Series in 1945. The decline of the Buckeyes was not a result of decreased competitive play on the field, but rather the integration of Major League Baseball. Buy Stephanie Liscio’s book Integrating Cleveland Baseball HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/76d157d9-c3a2-406e-9502-f04ce75865ed/135+-+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - A Second Life The original ticket office from League Park still stands, seen here at the corner of 66th and Lexington in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. The Baseball Heritage Museum now operates out of the ticket office building, and the renovated field has gotten a second life thanks to investments from the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bd3b54a-a5ab-4dfd-b94a-69389de23b73/136+-+HOF.PNG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame In 1951, the Indians spent about $25,000 to design a special S-shaped room on the lower level of Cleveland Municipal Stadium which housed the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. It was the vision of the team’s public relations director, Marshall Samuel, after visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He convinced Indians’ vice president Nate Dolin to create a museum for their own team’s history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1993ff1b-4470-4540-bcbc-0da970642f74/137+-+1970+Cleveland+Indians+Hall+Of+Fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Artifacts A lot of the artifacts which were supposedly once in the team’s Hall of Fame were unfortunately lost, sold, or stolen over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40978579-ba1f-43e1-9138-725079f44b0d/138+-+Joe+Jackson.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Inaugural Class The inaugural class of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 1951 included 10 former players: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, Earl Averill, Mel Harder, Ken Keltner, Steve O’Neill, Joe Sewell, and Hal Trosky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e137ab6-6f9f-4ec0-b365-5022188525ac/139+-+Joe%27s+clock.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Joe’s Clock While Joe probably never had the chance to see it, the Indians did, indeed, send the clock to the Jacksons in recognition of Joe’s induction into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. This photo, from the Jackson family scrapbooks, shows where Katie kept the clock on their mantel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0e825c6-eef1-48fc-a26c-cbce70c8bacc/140+-+gone.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Gone Without A Trace? There are a handful of theories as to where some of the missing items may be. Unfortunately, we will most likely never know for sure, and the team will almost certainly never get them back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ffb6dc2-9bd0-410c-980a-8b4667642d25/141+-+Heritage+Park.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Heritage Park at Progressive Field honors all the members of Cleveland’s Hall of Fame. Frank Robinson, MLB’s first ever Black manager, is the statue in the center of the plaza. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b52c345c-d2ed-4bf6-be43-7fe5cf504d6b/142+-+Doby%27s+contract.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Larry Doby’s Contract On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby and Indians Owner Bill Veeck met in the General Manager’s office at Comiskey Park to hammer out the details of Doby’s contract. For $5,000 and a promise of $1,000 more if he was still with the team 30 days after signing, Doby was officially a member of the Cleveland Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a832c9a8-1240-4afc-aa20-cee1301c386d/143+-+Feller%27s+bat.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The bat Babe Ruth was leaning on in the famous photo was actually Bob Feller’s bat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d2534d4-af86-4a40-b285-0b1876917271/144+-+2019+ASG.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 2019 All-Star Game The team also has a number of items from the 2019 All-Star Game and its festivities, which were held at Progressive Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07afacfd-81fa-400f-bfb3-954289dd8b05/145+-+1916+uniform.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1916 Uniform Numbers On June 26, 1916, Indians management rolled out the new concept of numbered uniforms. The next day, The Plain Dealer recorded a brief mention of this historic event: “An innovation was sprung by the management when the Indians appeared with numbers upon their sleeves such as are worn by the drivers of race horses. It was the carrying out of an idea by Vice President Robert McRoy, and will, it is expected, be adopted by the league. Graney for instance, is № 1; Turner, № 2; Speaker № 3; and so on.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a9de61f-5f4b-457a-9868-1c7e93101210/146+-+1921.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1921 Worlds Champions In 1921, the Cleveland Indians wore "Worlds Champions" across their chests because they could — they won the World Series in 1920. Imagine the hubris it takes to wear that on the front of your jersey everyday. Everyone says the reigning champs in any sport have a target on their back, but that's speaking figuratively. This is a target on the front. The Indians finished 94-60 in 1921, good for second in the AL behind the Yanks at 98-55. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c5b2e13c-17fd-4f75-966b-c82652e9a35b/147+-+Caldwell.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Caldwell “The bolts flashed here and there, causing much excitement,” Harry P. Edwards wrote in The Sporting News. “There was a blinding flash that seemed to set the diamond on fire and Caldwell was knocked flat from the shock of it.” Ray Caldwell’s SABR Biography August 24, 1919 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df7ff6ba-1330-4be4-bc36-a0fadb482ba3/148+-+Jeremy+Feador.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Follow Jeremy Online Jeremy’s Twitter Guardians Fan Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b4413ff-aad7-4c48-8b78-e5918a740608/149+-+Guardians.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Follow The Guardians Online Facebook Twitter Instagram Website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15b4663c-7e05-4bc4-985b-d410755e3be0/150+-+podcast.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jeremy’s Podcast Cleveland’s Team: A Baseball History Podcast Apple Podcasts Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/849b9c81-f1e4-4356-8303-d4f2fe4e72a7/151+-+Indians.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - 1994 Indians I’m in the middle row, kneeling, all the way on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3229d336-5abc-4a2c-b39f-3448aa66e5ee/152+-+Matt+Corning.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Matt Corning A lifelong friend, I met Matt Corning on this Indians team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d7f9a3a-cedd-4775-b077-447efda24f6e/153+-+hat.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - What’s Going On With My Hat? This was clearly before I knew how to properly curve a bill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/919818a0-9356-4be9-8ac5-40e4b1e5a598/154+-+Baseball+Graves+map.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - SABR’s Baseball Graves Map Using data graciously provided by former SABR Director Fred Worth, the Baseball Graves Map contains burial locations of over 9,000 players, managers, owners, executives, and other significant figures from Major League Baseball, the Negro Leagues, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/544b560a-9634-44e7-bc97-7ac8b7da6c1a/155+-+Cy+Young+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young Museum Cy Young died in Newcomerstown, Ohio. At the Cy Young Museum in that town, you can see his shoes, his rocking chair, the last hat he wore, and a number of other pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb74d8cd-2b26-4f5b-a6fb-7013aafc2ccb/156+-+Cy+Young+cemetery.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Cy Young is buried at this beautiful, yet nondescript, local cemetery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/278bf709-761d-4af9-906b-e56d727eb087/157+-+Cy+Young+grave.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Cy Young’s Grave You can find Cy Young’s grave at New Peoli Cemetery in Peoli, Ohio, which is in Tuscarawas County. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/356e52b4-92a5-4bf4-8ec2-377dbe8258f5/158+-+Javan+Emory+circa+1885.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Javan Emory “Some photographs tell stories; others keep secrets.” This is a stunning example of an image that doesn’t immediately answer all of your questions. It was taken circa 1885 of catching phenom Javan Isaac Emory. Javan Emory was a celebrated catcher at a time when catching was dangerous and required real courage. He often caught for celebrated Black pitcher George Stovey. His capabilities as a catcher during an exhibition game for a National League “proved to be so threatening that Major league baseball drew the color line in direct response.” Read Paul Reiferson’s essay, “He Wears The Mask”, originally published in the Southwest Review from Southern Methodist University, by CLICKING HERE. You can listen to Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/087bfa73-d154-45d1-a864-e261c97a92f0/159+-+Carl+B.+Stokes.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Carl B. Stokes Elected in 1967, Cleveland Mayor Carl B. Stokes’ platform on the environment stressed a people-first approach that we now call environmental justice. Stokes served as the 51st mayor of Cleveland, and was one of the first black elected mayors of a major U.S. city. He is buried at the historic Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b3b84f1-9c7e-4c24-8eef-b9e0a4a79835/160+-+Vince.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Weird Moments In Cleveland Sports Cleveland sports teams have set records for futility in baseball, football, and basketball. But even beyond that, Cleveland sports fans have witnessed more than their share of weird, wild, random, and odd occurrences, from front office ineptitude to absurd losses to bizarre injuries and more. Vince Guerrieri’s book sheds light on them all. You can buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7edea339-30e3-47cd-9d6e-eee8596905c5/161+-+Ray+Chapman%27s+Funeral+by+Louis+Van+Oeyen.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Ray Chapman’s Funeral This photo of the floral arrangements at Ray Chapman's Funeral was taken by Louis Van Oeyen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6349765-3cf0-4a26-ad0e-dabf4d272fee/162+-+The+Pitch+That+Killed.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Pitch That Killed Buy Mike Sowell’s fantastic book The Pitch That Killed: The Story of Carl Mays, Ray Chapman, and the Pennant Race of 1920 HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a4b9931-b02d-424c-9710-33c2b2c6d6a7/163+-+Graney.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack Graney Jack Graney was named the winner of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2022 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Graney was the first winner of the award to have been born in Canada. Notice the glasses of water next to Jack on the table, like Jeremy mentioned during our conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e41db61-1fea-49fc-8c60-3be87980687d/164+-+Addie+Joss+panoramic.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Panoramic photo from the Addie Joss benefit game played at League Park on July 24, 1911. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e95bb77-398e-431d-9ca7-7b7e05d21a40/165+-+Jack+and+Larry.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Jack & Larry Look at the love between these two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81b27fa0-5a7e-4ad9-b067-3544468d8dc8/166+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Feller Museum Van Meter, Iowa’s City Hall still displays certain artifacts and memorabilia from the Bob Feller Museum. The display is available for public viewing at Van Meter City Hall, 310 Mill Street, during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 1pm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b381f4d5-5d31-4f3b-a14e-9b392f392543/167+-+Bob+Feller+Museum.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out Some of the items and displays at the Bob Feller Museum at Van Meter City Hall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ea5a457-4ff2-4937-a449-ad25163582e7/168+-+Iowa+Road+Trip.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Buddy Holly Crash Site Unlike the official "Day the Music Died" shrine at the nearby Surf Ballroom (where the trio played their last concert only a few hours earlier), the memorial at the crash site is strictly D.I.Y. In fact, the site didn't even have a memorial until 1988, when music fan Ken Paquette made a stainless steel monument of a guitar and three records with the names of the three rockers. In 2009 he made a memorial for the pilot as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/49df3524-f40c-4cc0-8f4a-2c7b94749a25/169+-+Grant+Wood.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - American Gothic In 1930, Grant Wood took a tour of a small Iowa town and spotted a little white house with a large Gothic window. Inspired, Wood quickly sketched the house and returned home to Cedar Rapids to paint American Gothic. The house still stands to this day and its exterior is viewed by thousands of people each year. The adjacent visitor center welcomes travelers from near and far and provides services for the site, including an exhibit gallery and a gift shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb0fbb42-530a-4334-8031-abed505d7e7d/170+-+Feller+barn.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out The barn next to the house where Bob Feller grew up. He supposedly learned how to pitch in this barn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f3e978f-2244-454f-b066-b3bd3718b9d5/171+-+Feller+sign.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Feller Barn Really cool to see the “Feller” sign still hanging after all these years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1505e162-ca8b-4e6d-b35f-fb6d58a9bfc0/172+-+Guardians.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Guardians That’s Progressive Field in the background. The bridge leads you directly to it. It’s a very powerful thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01852caf-37da-4583-8186-a6e73d2e7897/173+-+Art+Deco.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Art Deco Art deco is my favorite style of architecture. You can read a fun twitter thread about it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e0c1446-54f8-4374-82a2-e34d22761b94/174+-+Bob+Busser.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser Bob Busser is an incredible ballpark and arena historian who has photographed hundreds of venues across North America over the past five decades. Bob’s Website Bob shot this photo of League Park on film in 1987. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb93e295-8446-4074-9c34-bc933fc9fb92/175+-+Bob+Busser.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser, Pt. 2 Bob Busser was the winner of the 2019 Tony Salin Award, which is given each year to recognize an individual for their commitment to the preservation of baseball history by the Baseball Reliquary. Bob shot this photo of League Park on film in 1991, 1996, 2003, or 2005. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9da4d844-8e43-4517-aba4-0c0076146e1f/176+-+Bob+Busser.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Bob Busser, Pt. 3 Bob also has an album on his site of miscellaneous photos at/of League Park at varying stages in its history, including during and after demolition. This photo shows some of the seats along the first base line, with the right field wall and foul pole in the background. You can view the whole album HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/72549992-5c60-46fd-b5fb-d364e4b370d4/177+-++1952-08-15+Opening+Ceremony+at+Municipal+Stadium.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lost To The Sands Of Time These photos are from the Opening Ceremony of the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame at Municipal Stadium on August 15, 1952. Read Jacob Pomrenke’s article HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ede7de55-3c8c-42a2-b3ec-41134ea733df/178+-+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home Marketed as “an investment opportunity” to interested fans, Mickey Mantle’s boyhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma recently sold for $7 per share. Hopefully one day someone with a vision can turn it into the Mickey Mantle Museum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/027fe069-1e8f-4f3e-a11c-97b9590c264a/179+-+Comiskey+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Baseball Palace Of The World Thanks to a loan from Charlie Somers, Charles Comiskey was able to build Comiskey Park for his White Sox. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2b0feed-7706-4d50-b9ca-1c86886a8187/180+-+Chalmers+Race.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Chalmers Race of 1910 Lajoie and Cobb battled for the batting title in 1910. Here they are in 1911 with Shoeless Joe Jackson. Their stats in 1911? Lajoie had the "low" batting average of the group at .365, while Jackson set the MLB rookie record with a .408 average. Cobb led the Majors with a .419 average, 127 RBI, and 83 steals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b988b14-c7cb-4081-8d7e-d9d7fe6ea52e/181+-+Dutch+Leonard.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The Dutch Leonard Affair A meaningless game at the end of the 1919 regular season almost cost Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker their careers, and their legacies. Here they are in 1911, locked in as they study someone in the batting cage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c76e97fd-694c-4c5e-96fa-9a7d3c7e4ded/182+-+Shibe+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Shibe Park The first steel and concrete stadium ever built, Shibe Park (later known as Connie Mack Stadium) in Philadelphia was a sight to behold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/572f3476-3f4b-4f94-8b66-c5cb28661844/183+-+Comiskey+blueprints.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Blueprints Brian Powers of Bandbox Ballparks is able to do what he does only if he can get his hands on a full set of blueprints of the stadiums he’s trying to recreate. To date, he has digitally recreated Comiskey Park, League Park, Crosley Field, and Ebbets Field. The blueprints pictured here are from Comiskey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5d3f2f0-8667-44e6-b431-049625121c58/184+-+Bard%27s+Room+decorated.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Period Appropriate Decorations Brian looks at old photos to make sure he’s decorating spaces accurately. Here is a later version of the Bard’s Room at Comiskey Park. You can take a 360 degree tour of an earlier version, decorated appropriately for that era, HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3477b189-f077-4313-8fb2-b14a6ad82bfa/185+-+Worlds+Champions+jerseys+-+Tris+Speaker.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Tris Speaker The Worlds Champion of recording unassisted double plays in Center Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8eaacc6-51e9-4d9e-9d0c-645d6df2da24/186+-+Lou+Boudreau+Day+in+Harvey%2C+Illinois+1948-10-28.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Lou Boudreau Day October 28, 1948 was Lou Boudreau Day in Harvey, Illinois, honoring the hometown hero for winning the 1948 World Series. In this photo, Boudreau and Illinois Governor Dwight Green acknowledge the crowd as they drive down the street. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/71438166-fed0-4979-8062-228fecadf772/187+-+Jeremy+at+Progressive.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Make it stand out We should all be as lucky as Jeremy, to get to do something we’re passionate about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e16a889-9c6e-4c72-94d2-a843d5542436/188+-+heritage+park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Heritage Park If you find yourself at the ballpark in Cleveland at some point, make sure you take a stroll through Heritage Park and look at all of the plaques. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0883a38-f3f5-4f0b-9d26-3a285bb97511/189+-+newsletter.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4dedff-d64b-48a4-8fcc-e85f148a9457/122+-+Our+Team.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Our Team In intimate, absorbing detail, Luke Epplin’s Our Team traces the story of the integration of the Cleveland Indians and their quest for a World Series title through four key participants: Bill Veeck, an eccentric and visionary owner adept at exploding fireworks on and off the field; Larry Doby, a soft-spoken, hard-hitting pioneer whose major-league breakthrough shattered stereotypes that so much of white America held about Black ballplayers; Bob Feller, a pitching prodigy from the Iowa cornfields who set the template for the athlete as businessman; and Satchel Paige, a legendary pitcher from the Negro Leagues whose belated entry into the majors whipped baseball fans across the country into a frenzy. Buy it HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/413791e0-9423-4446-9b3f-f0b4f2647a57/160+-+Vince.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Weird Moments In Cleveland Sports Cleveland sports teams have set records for futility in baseball, football, and basketball. But even beyond that, Cleveland sports fans have witnessed more than their share of weird, wild, random, and odd occurrences, from front office ineptitude to absurd losses to bizarre injuries and more. Vince Guerrieri’s book sheds light on them all. You can buy it HERE. You can also retweet the pinned tweet on the My Baseball History twitter profile for a chance to win a signed copy of either Luke’s book or Vince’s book, so do that, too! HERE! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5de9df5-2cd0-452f-8165-2cb81f81cf69/190+-+vintage+games.JPG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Vintage Base Ball Me and my mom at the 2021 Vintage Games in Royston, Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c5ec325-0c9a-42e9-bea1-1a5d98daff4e/191+-+League+Park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - A Dream Come True I’ve rented the field at League Park for the evening of Friday, July 26th, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. To fulfill a lifelong dream to play on the field at League Park, I will be throwing an 1860s style baseball game that evening which will start at 7:00 pm that night and be open to the public. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73a3ca81-7552-4652-8403-17e4bbfd232b/192+-+The+National.jpg Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - The National The 44th National Sports Collectors Convention will be held at the I-X Center in Cleveland from July 24th through July 28th, 2024. Follow The National on twitter HERE. If you’re planning on being in Cleveland for that, carve some time out of your Friday night plans to come watch my game at League Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3127a4b-433e-45b5-bba0-4f3b4d7b5c71/192+-+Baseball+Heritage+Museum.png Past Episodes - 0308 - Jeremy Feador - Baseball Heritage Museum Entrance to the game will be $10 per person, but that price will also get you free admission to the Baseball Heritage Museum, which operates out of the original ticket office at League Park. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the museum, as well. Make a donation toward the game HERE. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0307 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10d38781-266a-42ef-8414-258f1a38f1aa/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a514aec2-7075-4457-8925-881aea4896d2/square.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato Me and Ange Armato after recording our interview in her home in Rockford, Illinois https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6172ef5-1042-482c-80a0-12e77a0df7bc/01+-+AAGPBL.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The AAGPBL was founded by Philip K. Wrigley in 1943. It was the first professional women’s sports league in the United States. Over 600 women played in the league during its 11-year run through 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f2be5a8-759f-4553-8013-fce06fd9fa73/02+-+beauty+standards.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Feminine Ideal Women were selected for their skilled play, but the player also needed to fit what was seen by marketers as a “wholesome, feminine ideal.” In this photo, Grand Rapids Chicks catcher Ruth "Tex" Lessing is adjusting her makeup during spring training in Opa-Locka, Florida in 1948. Lessing has been considered as one of the best defensive catchers in AAGPBL history. Respected for her solid skills behind home plate, including a strong and accurate arm, she set several all-time and single-season records before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury that forced her to retire prematurely. Lessing also was renowned for her fiery and competitive spirit. In 1947, she was fined $100 for punching an umpire after he made a call she disapproved. In response, a collection taken up by fanatics netted more than $2000. She paid the fine and gave the rest of the money to charity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/665fa183-82fb-4236-a3e7-7f804fed3ad4/03+-+1949+spring+training+bus+trip.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Spring Training Ange Armato (second from right) getting ready to board the Rockford Peaches team bus as it heads to Spring Training prior to the 1949 season. Ange Armato’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3ecc41a1-0b8b-4996-8d38-14d98aa054d4/04+-+Dave+Pearce+with+Ange+Armato.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dave Pearce Dave lives in Rockford and has an amazing Rockford Peaches collection. He is pictured here with his friend, Ange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03d10080-f2b6-475b-872d-5f2503e78d69/05+-+Graig+Kreindler%27s+Dottie+Kamenshek.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Graig Kreindler Artist and friend of the podcast, Graig Kreindler, had previously painted Peaches great Dottie Kamenshek for Dave Pearce. Graig introduced me to Dave, who then introduced me to Ange, which is how this interview became possible. Dottie Kamenshek’s AAGPBL Profile Listen to Graig’s episode of My Baseball History HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/958f4197-3f96-4d6b-b9db-165844698603/06+-+us+womens+team.JPG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - USA Baseball Women's National Team When the team announced they would be playing an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium in August of 2023, I knew I had to be there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3bdc441c-f57d-4bba-84b0-e2dcceecac9c/07+-+Dave%27s+collection.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Some of the many pieces in Dave Pearce’s incredible Rockford Peaches collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6df0c8b-c1fc-47bb-ba50-88d095d331d1/08+-+Ange+Armato+reclining.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Athletic From An Early Age Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Ange would play sports with the boys her age in the fields near her house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/099d5c2d-3f62-4f23-b6d4-e304628e0497/09+-+1945+Peaches+program.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s First Game Ange attended her first Rockford Peaches game in 1945. She was immediately hooked. 1945 Rockford Peaches 1945 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9905760-b6ab-4dff-81c9-4119cd16b3c2/10+-+Carolyn+Morris.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Carolyn Morris A hard-throwing, underhand pitcher, Carolyn “India” Morris had a brief but relevant career in the AAGPBL. She hurled a perfect game, three no-hitters, twelve innings of no-hit ball in a final championship series, and averaged 26 wins in each of her three seasons in the circuit. While many people think the AAGPBL strictly played baseball, the first few years of the league were actually spent playing softball. Carolyn Morris’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dab85bb3-5f97-4230-9ac9-c96b32ee7f0a/11+-+Bill+Allington.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington Bill Allington spent 31 years in baseball as a player (15), coach (4) and manager (12). He started his professional career as an outfielder, playing from 1926 through 1940 with ten teams in four different leagues. Following his playing career, Allington coached in the minors from 1941 to 1944, before landing in the AAGPBL, to become the most successful manager in the league's history. With Allington at the helm, the Rockford Peaches reached the playoff six times, winning the Title in 1945 and in consecutive years from 1948 to 1950. Allington later managed the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1953 and 1954, leading them to the league’s best record in both seasons. Bill Allington’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7569d766-6c01-4286-a9eb-1716aa140013/12+-+1943+ball.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1943 Rules and Regulations In 1943, the league’s first year, a 12” ball was used. There were 65’ between bases, and the pitching distance was 40’. Pitching was done only underhand. For comparison’s sake, a Major League Baseball ball must be between 9 and 9.25”, while the bases are 90’ apart, and the pitching mound is 60’6” from home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e9ecdc7-27b8-4dad-adc1-1d32b4cad3a6/13+-+autographs.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Autographs While players were always willing to sign autographs for fans (and especially for children), Ange doesn’t remember too many people asking the players to sign things. That has made era-specific autographs of players from the AAGPBL particularly hard to find for collectors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66e6c15b-63b0-47f1-b6e0-afc19525fb93/14+-+Snookie+Harrell.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Snookie” Harrell Dorothy “Snookie” Harrell (eventually Snookie Doyle) was a smooth-fielding Shortstop who played with the Peaches from 1944 to 1952. She was a 5-time All-Star who collected 667 hits and stole 229 bases in her career. After eight seasons in the league, Snookie moved on to softball, playing with teams in Phoenix, Portland, and Los Angeles. At the end of her softball career, she even served as manager of the champion Orange Lionettes. Growing up, Snookie was Ange’s favorite player. Snookie Harrell’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1975aec0-73a4-47c3-8618-ba5f878bc1a2/15+-+V+formation.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Playing During WWII The AAGPBL had an impact on American morale during a time when many men had been drafted off to war, leaving behind family and friends. Philip K. Wrigley purposely placed teams in manufacturing cities that were beleaguered by the war effort on the home front. At the beginning of every game, the Star Spangled Banner was played while the girls formed a 'V' for victory in remembrance of the men at war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9550a375-3f7f-4f95-b168-e1cb22c585da/16+-+Age+15+with+DeKalb+softball+team.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - DeKalb Traveling Team When Ange was 15, she played with a traveling team based out of DeKalb, Illinois. In this photo, she is in the front row, second from the left, without a hat on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e64a226c-0dc9-418c-bd7d-0de50caf31af/17+-+Age+15+as+a+fan+with+Rita+Briggs.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - A Loyal Fan Since Ange was local to Rockford, she was able to attend all of the games and eventually became close enough with the team’s players and manager Bill Allington that she felt comfortable asking to participate at practice. Allington obliged, and at the age of 15, Ange was playing with the best team in the AAGPBL on a regular basis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86b040fb-278b-444a-94ef-906e36d6cf67/18+-+1947+batting+practice+with+the+Peaches.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Pitching Batting Practice Before too long, Ange was pitching batting practice to the Peaches. Remember, she was only 17 years old at the time, and not even an official member of the team since she hadn’t yet been offered or signed a contract. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8679110f-2f18-43e3-8228-a1259db33056/19+-+Bill+Allington+and+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1945 Rockford Peaches The 1945 Rockford Peaches included (kneeling from left) Alva Jo Fisher, Dottie Key, Kay Rohrer, Betty Carveth, manager Bill Allington, (standing from left) Jean Cione, Helen Filarski, and Irene Kotowitz. The Peaches went 67-43 that season, winning the regular season championship. They went on to also win the playoff championship, beating the Fort Wayne Daisies in the finals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3353b97e-72e5-4090-9c13-eadc5d76592b/20+-+Ticket+-+25+cents.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Tickets Tickets were affordable, as the teams were trying to draw as much attendance as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e1b08dd-09f3-48ac-b848-a8ae94fbda7c/21+-+Smith+field%2C+home+of+the+Grand+Rapids+Chicks+from+1945-%2750..jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Night Games Smith field, home of the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1945-1950, was one of the many stadiums which had lights. This allowed for night games to be played in the AAGPBL. It also helped draw the biggest attendances possible, since day baseball makes it hard for anyone with a day job to attend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e26650d1-bf9d-42c6-acbb-e674ec94db35/22+-+Beyer+Stadium+1950.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Beyer Stadium This photo, taken during a Peaches game in 1950, shows what Ange was talking about with the stands being filled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1b14442-cd47-4ed1-a899-7cfa7468dbf1/23+-+1946+K%26K+Koeds.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1946 K&K Koeds Ange played for the Rockford K&K Koeds during the 1946 season at the age of 16. She is in the top row, third from the right in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b6b8b7c-01ff-4fff-a07a-4013d79b0729/24+-+K%26K+Koeds+uniform.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - New Uniforms Ange designed these uniforms for the Koeds to wear. They look modern and stylish even today, but this was nearly 80 years ago! And Ange was only 16 years old! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b6ca1af-e131-448c-aad9-229bd510933f/25+-+K%26K+Koeds.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange In Her Own Uniform It’s not often that an athlete can say that they personally designed the uniforms their team wore. But Ange can say that about the Rockford K&K Koeds. Here she is, standing, wearing the uniform she designed for the team. The Koeds were a traveling team that played in cities such as Kenosha, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96341ae0-483a-40b0-a03a-903880bd3a73/26+-+1946.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1946 Rules and Regulations In 1946, the league changed to an 11” ball for game play after playing with an 11.5” ball in 1944 and 1945. The distance between the bases was increased to 72’, up from 68’ in 1944 and 1945. In 1945, the pitching distance increased from 40’ to 42’, but they pushed it back another foot in 1946, making the distance 43’ from the rubber to home plate. Pitching was still allowed to be done underhand, but starting in 1946, the AAGPBL also allowed sidearm delivery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea75f3b-f1be-45d6-817d-666054f20b34/27+-+1948+Spring+Training+in+Florida.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Spring Training Though she was still young and underweight, Ange was invited to Spring Training in 1948 by Peaches manager Bill Allington. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28b7555c-571a-4228-98aa-9fea9c8db896/28+-+1948.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Rules and Regulations In 1948, the league changed to a 10 3/8” ball for game play after playing with an 11” ball the previous two seasons. The distance between the bases remained at 72’, but the pitching distance was moved all the way back to 50’ after having been only 43’ each of the previous two seasons. However, the reason for this drastic move back was because in 1948, overhand pitching became legal for the first time in AAGPBL history. Sidearm delivery was still allowed, if a pitcher preferred. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cedf4705-b33b-4094-b6c2-5f293658cdbc/29+-+Ange+on+a+car.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange in 1948 Bill Allington thought Ange was still too young and small to play with the Peaches in 1948. He recommended that she go back to school and try to put some weight on to be ready for the next season. In 1948, Ange played Shortstop for the DeKalb girls team, as well as for the Rockford All-Stars girls team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ccdd5d0-017b-405d-83bb-572203d8ecb7/30+-+1948+Playoff+Program.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 74-49 during the 1948 regular season, good enough to finish in second place in the AAGPBL’s Western Division. They defeated the Kenosha Comets in the first round of the playoffs, then the Racine Belles in the second round to advance to the championship. There, they defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their second title in four seasons, having also won the 1945 title. 1948 Rockford Peaches 1948 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/116b3e30-209d-4881-aff0-32dcdf1e9b53/30.5+-+trophy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1948 Trophy This is the trophy the Peaches received for winning the AAGPBL championship after the 1948 playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a0cab6b-6166-4463-8da2-5e5843974587/31+-+1949+signing+contract+with+Peaches.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Getting The Call Ange and Arlene Houston (pictured, right) were set to join the Peaches for the 1949 season after participating at the AAGPBL training academy in Chicago in 1948. Arlene Houston’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64f8b01e-6dbc-49e6-a631-f36bcee8fdfc/32+-+Jean+Cione.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean “Cy” Cione Cy played 10 seasons in the AAGPBL, starting in 1945 with Rockford, 1946 in Peoria, 1947 back with Rockford, 1947-51 with Kenosha, 1952 in Battle Creek, 1953 with Muskegon and then back to Rockford for the league’s last season. During her career, Jean pitched three no-hitters. Jean played some outfield and first base when not pitching. As a 17-year-old junior in high school, Cy attended a tryout in Rockford. Max Carey, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, conducted the day long tryout. Jean was selected and invited to the spring training session in Chicago. She could run, hit and throw. During her first year with the Rockford Peaches, Jean sharpened those raw skills and learned the strategies of the game from the manager considered to be the best in the league, Bill Allington. Jean attributed her longevity in the league to her first year under such an outstanding manager. Jean Cione’s AAGPBL Profile Jean Cione’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4be9eafa-3c05-499e-964d-fb439be1adfd/33+-+1948+Spring+Training+with+Jean+Smith.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Spring Training Ange at the 1948 Spring Training in Florida, pictured here with Jean Smith. Jean Smith’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5745082-98db-45bb-8b29-0739089dba70/34+-+partying.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - “I Don’t Recall” When asked what the players got up to at night during their month-long Spring Training in Florida, Ange couldn’t really remember too much other than the fact that there were lots of bottles on the floors each morning. This photo shows Dottie Ferguson Key (seated center) enjoying a postgame talk with teammates (from left) Lorraine Fischer, Mary Pratt, Naomi "Sally" Meiers, Dorothy "Kammie" Kamenshek and Cartha "Ducky" Doyle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b87eb428-c48a-48ae-9f7c-704ab767bd4d/35+-+employee+ticket.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Employee Ticket This little yellow card let everyone know you were a member of the AAGPBL. It was all Ange cared about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52c9a51f-a220-4f94-aa36-89002614bd0f/36+-+1949.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Rules and Regulations In 1949, the league changed to a 10” ball for game play after playing with a 10 3/8” ball the previous season. The distance between the bases remained at 72’, but the pitching distance moved back again, this time to 55’ after having been only 50’ the previous season. Pitching was allowed to be either an overhand or a sidearm delivery, whichever the pitcher preferred. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1819b2c6-487e-42d8-afe4-84dbf03432bd/37+-+1949+score+card.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Spring Training Ange was invited to Spring Training again in 1949, this time in Peoria, Illinois. This time, she was fully expecting to make the team and play the regular season as a member of the Peaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dbb7da34-1c26-4b0a-8025-f0580e68f677/38+-+Ange+Armato+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s Biggest Strengths Ange said what made her such a good player was her fielding, and the fact that she enjoyed doing the work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/67d1f88e-c720-4409-a82f-4ef85885a263/39+-+Ange+batting.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange Batting Ange’s greatest strength offensively was her speed. She was a fast runner, which made her a good base stealer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed3e653d-24b6-45c7-965e-4a5a7704e0c0/40+-+uniforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Uniforms The uniform in the AAGPBL was a dress with a flared, three-quarter length skirt, instead of pants or even shorts, like most other women's baseball and softball teams wore, because league managers wanted to emphasize the feminine image of the players. Satin shorts were worn under the skirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c99d3c2e-7fd7-43b7-9eb6-e255d5d20149/41+-+Sophie+Kurys+slides+as+Pauline+Pirok+tries+to+apply+the+tag+-+1947.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Sliding Hazards Sophie “The Flint Flash” Kurys slides as Pauline “Pinky” Pirok tries to apply the tag in this action shot during a game between the Racine Belles and the South Bend Blue Sox on September 14, 1947. Despite the fact that the AAGPBL uniforms offered little to no protection for a player sliding in the dirt, Sophie did it often, and was great at it. Sophie Kurys’ AAGPBL Profile Pauline Pirok’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c8cd032-52d8-4435-8f37-f93e6165c533/42+-+sliding+-+faye+dancer.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - More Sliding Hazards 'All The Way' Faye Dancer recalled her experience in the AAGPBL: 'The guys would look at our short skirts, then look at our legs and wonder how we could slide without taking all the hide off ourselves. Well, we did take the hide off ourselves. I loved to slide.’ Faye Dancer’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98d71d34-2137-4d77-a32f-6603066f4886/43+-+colored+uniforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Colored Uniforms Pictured here are the first four players to be signed to the league in 1943. Standing, L-R: Clara Schillace of the Racine Bells, Ann Harnett of the Kenosha Comets, Edie Perlick of the Racine Belles. Seated: Shirley Jameson of the Kenosha Comets. They are pictured here in colors to represent all four teams, not necessarily the team they actually played for. Clara Schillace’s AAGPBL Profile Ann Harnett’s AAGPBL Profile Edie Perlick’s AAGPBL Profile Shirley Jameson’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb84164a-1352-4435-b1fa-95f6b9ec3047/44+-+bloomer+girls+page.PNG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bloomer Girls After Ange was left off the 1949 Peaches roster due to her injury, she went to Chicago to go play with Emery Parichy’s Bloomer Girls of the National Girls Baseball League. One of the best players in the league, and arguably the greatest softball pitcher of all time, was a woman named Wilda Mae Turner. Turner (pictured middle, right) had consecutive winning streaks of 102 and 46 games for the World Amateur Alameda team in 1938 at the age of 16. She turned professional with Parichy’s Bloomer Girls and won 153 games in six years. She was voted to the All-Star team each year. She pitched a perfect game in 1946, and had a streak of 104 consecutive scoreless innings in 1948. It is estimated that her overall career Earned Run Average was 0.14. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6de41012-9fa7-40db-88f3-6a15e946e233/45+-+Barber+Colman.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Barber-Colman The Barber–Colman Company was a manufacturer of textile and milling machinery from its founding in 1894 until the 1980s. Howard Colman organized the company in Rockford, Illinois, with capital from W. A. Barber. Early successes with their Hand Knotter and Warp Tying Machine allowed the company to expand internationally, manufacturing goods in five states and three countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24fb5d3e-4ef5-47a4-b8d8-a9c702d43f7e/46+-+1949+Playoffs+program.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 75-36 during the 1949 regular season, finishing tied with the South Bend Blue Sox for the best record in the AAGPBL. After earning a first round bye in the playoffs, they defeated the Blue Sox in the second round to advance to the finals. There, they defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their second consecutive title, and third in five seasons, having also won the 1945 title. It was the first time a team had repeated as champions in the AAGPBL. 1949 Rockford Peaches 1949 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8fe55b09-146d-4018-842a-dedb1d1a8048/47+-+1949+trophy.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1949 Trophy This is the trophy the Peaches received for winning the AAGPBL championship after the 1949 playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07ac1b89-d8cc-492b-9ff7-67a39dad2b24/47+-+1950.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1950 AAGPBL Champions The Rockford Peaches went 67-44 during the 1950 regular season, earning the best record by 2.5 games over the Kenosha Comets. They beat the Comets in the first round of the playoffs to advance to the finals. There, they again defeated the Fort Wayne Daisies to win their third consecutive title, and fourth in six seasons, having also won the 1945 title. It was the first time a team had won three straight titles in the AAGPBL. 1950 Rockford Peaches 1950 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc20873a-e2b9-4432-956d-53fbf03b8e65/49+-+Jean+Faut.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut The Peaches were up 2-0 in the 1951 championship series before the South Bend Blue Sox took the final 3 games to win the best-of-5 series. Rockford lost ro South Bend in 5 games again in 1952, after Jean Faut won two games pitching and went 6-for-20 with two triples and three RBI in the series at the plate for the Blue Sox. From 1945 to 1952, a span of 8 seasons, the Rockford Peaches made it to the Championship Series 7 times. They won 4 titles, and the 3 series that they lost, they lost them all in the last possible game (one of them in 16 innings). That’s a string of dominance that would never be matched. Jean Faut’s AAGPBL Profile Jean Faut’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c95cf75-484f-400e-9681-8647a79a2322/50+-+injuries.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Injuries Muskegon Lassies player Marion Watson Stanton broke her right leg in two places while sliding home during an exhibition game with a Cuban team in 1947. Rossey Weeks consoles Marion while long time AAGPBL umpire, Norris “Gadget” Ward, examines her leg. Marion Watson Stanton’s AAGPBL Profile Rossey Weeks’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0ba808d-c067-4602-a987-17abba137484/51+-+Night+games+-+Peoria+Stadium+in+1948..jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Night games were common in the AAGPBL, as most stadiums had lights. This shot was taken from a 1948 game in Peoria. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10d16f68-b0ca-4425-94cd-37585cbed794/52+-+Dottie+Kamenshek+leaping.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Kamenshek Dorothy Kamenshek played 10 seasons in the league, all of them with the Rockford Peaches. She is the league’s all-time leader in hits and total bases, and was named an All-Star all 7 seasons when All-Star teams were named. She won two batting titles, hitting .345 in her best season. In 3,736 at bats in her career, she struck out a total of 81 times. She was so good that at one point, she was recruited by a men's team from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but she believed they only wanted her for publicity so she turned down the offer. Dottie Kamenshek’s AAGPBL Profile SABR - Baseball’s Greatest Fielding First Baseman? August 18, 1947 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26ef4c09-7fa0-4971-863c-5d56c5eef24a/53+-+Snookie+Harrell+and+Carolyn+Morris.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Captain vs. Leader Ange doesn’t remember there being a player who was specifically anointed “Captain” of the team, but she does remember that Snookie Harrell was the team’s leader. Here, she is pictured with teammate Carolyn Morris. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85253a02-5efd-428a-847f-994680a32481/54+-+Eleanor+Callow.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Eleanor Callow Eleanor was more than just the greatest power hitter in League history. On top of being the all-time leader in home runs and triples, Callow was perhaps the league’s best all-around position player. Callow ranks in the Top 10 in career batting average and was one of only two players in League history to post a 20 HR-20 SB season. She was an elite five-tool player. She is one of only five sluggers with at least 400 career RBIs, and she was named to an all-star team in seven of her eight professional seasons. But she was at her best in the postseason, hitting .322 clip and setting playoff records for most career RBIs, doubles, and triples. Eleanor Callow’s AAGPBL Profile Eleanor Callow’s SABR Biography August 28, 1951 SABR Games Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c965e78e-30db-457a-9064-fc0bc6873eb6/55+-+Dottie+Ferguson.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Ferguson Key Dorothy B. "Dottie" Ferguson Key was a Canadian softball player, but she was also a speed skating champion. She joined the Peaches in 1945 at the age of 23, originally playing second base. Her speed led her to be moved to Center Field, where she could use her speed and great arm to make plays most others couldn’t. She wasn’t a great hitter, but she wasn’t afraid to get hit. One season, she was hit by 92 pitches. Once she was on base, her quickness made her an excellent base stealer, something she did 461 times during her 10-year career. Dottie Key’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46fcb0ff-4412-4c28-80fa-700393a97267/56+-+Lois+Florreich.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Lois “Flash” Florreich Kathleen Lois "Flash" Florreich played for the South Bend Blue Sox and Kenosha Comets from 1943 to 1946 where she split time between Third Base and Outfield. In 1946, the Comets also tried her as a pitcher, where she struggled. She came over to the Peaches in 1947, and Rockford exclusively used her on the mound, focusing on turning her into a great pitcher. From 1947 until her retirement after the 1950 season, Lois went 77-44 with an ERA of 1.18. She struck out 702 batters in 1,051 innings pitched, was a 2-time All-Star, and was named the League’s “Pitching Champion” in 1949. Lois Florreich’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80393afc-5122-4549-83ec-bdc2d64ec1c3/57+-+Helen+Nicol+Fox.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Helen Nicol Fox Helen Nicol Fox was born in Alberta, Canada where she became the city’s top softball pitcher before her 20th birthday. She once struck out 23 batters in a 1940 playoff game. In 1942, she won the deciding game of the Western Canadian championship while pitching for the Edmonton Walk-Rites, but was lured south to play in the All-American League. Helen played for the Kenosha Comets from 1943 to 1947, and was named the League’s “Pitching Champion” in 1943 and 1944. She even acted as the team’s chaperone in 1945, at the age of 25. Halfway through the 1947 season, she was traded to the Peaches, where she played until she retired after the 1952 season. She had speed and control, and was one of the League’s greatest pitchers, holding several all-time records, including 163 wins and 1,076 strikeouts. Helen Fox’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0410f2b9-062e-4c92-b646-c9981b4c1b1b/57+-+Sis+Waddell.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Helen “Sis” Waddell Helen "Sis" Waddell-Wyatt was an excellent softball player from Pennsylvania, she grew up playing ball with her 5 brothers, who gave her the nickname “Sis.” She was an all-star basketball player in high school, but she was scouted by the South Bend Blue Sox and invited to try out for the AAGPBL, which she had never even heard of. She played Second Base for the Rockford Peaches in 1950 and 1951, helping them to the championship her first year. Sis Waddell’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06fb5fd8-e8d7-441b-9fdd-e5649c4a143b/58+-+Rose+Gacioch.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Rose Gacioch Rose "Rosie Gaspipe" Gacioch is the connection between the Bloomer Girls of the 1930s and the AAGPBL. She pitched for 7 years before joining the South Bend Blue Sox in 1944. She came to the Peaches in 1945, where she would play until the League folded, besides a brief stint with the Grand Rapids Chicks for part of the 1950 season. Rose played every position throughout her career besides Shortstop and Catcher, was a good hitter with power, and she was an excellent bunter. But she was really known for her pitching. She had 94 career wins and was an All-Star in each of the final four seasons of the League. On August 26, 1953, she pitched a no-hitter. Rose Gacioch’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1c9f741-b4ab-41a5-b284-87f151ad0af0/59+-+Dottie+Green+and+Olive+Little.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Green Dorothy “Dottie” Green wasn’t an average chaperone. Chaperones were usually older women. They handled the players’ paychecks and housing, made sure they followed the League’s strict rules for proper behavior, and mentored young players. Most players were between the ages of 17 and 22, and many were away from home for the first time, so having an older woman around to almost be a maternal figure made sense. But Dottie Green was a former player. She was a catcher for four seasons with the Rockford Peaches, but her career ended in 1947 when she tore ligaments in her knee. After her time in the League, she became a captain of the guards at the state prison in Framingham. She said “I never would have been able to handle that without the training I got on the ballfield.” She is pictured here (on the right) with Olive Little. Dottie Green’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bca52dea-63de-4a45-9a30-ea3ba6d65940/60+-+1945+Rockford+Peaches+at+Rockford+College+2.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Rules of Conduct Read the full list of rules HERE. In this photo, the 1945 Rockford Peaches meet at Rockford College before the season starts to go over those rules and talk about the upcoming year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f1d5647-d3c9-47b6-9640-e1c8a5b8ddd8/61+-+Elise+Harney.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Feminine Looks” One of the requirements for women playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was for them to maintain their "feminine looks." The very first entry in the Rules of Conduct reads: ”ALWAYS appear in feminine attire when not actively engaged in practice or playing ball. This regulation continues through the playoffs for all, even though your team is not participating. AT NO TIME MAY A PLAYER APPEAR IN THE STANDS IN HER UNIFORM, OR WEAR SLACKS OR SHORTS IN PUBLIC.” In this photo, Elise Harney, pitcher for the Kenosha Comets, refreshes her makeup between innings as teammate Janice O'Hara and another player look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a3bc28a-2908-4f26-ba1e-9ade51713b42/62+-+Having+fun+in+New+York+City.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Breaking The Rules Fines of FIVE DOLLARS for the first offense, TEN DOLLARS for the second offense, and SUSPENSION for the third offense were automatically imposed for breaking any of the League’s rules as outlined by the code of conduct. Most players followed the rules rather than risk being thrown out of the league, but “most” does not mean “ALL.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc2eec3e-b909-4630-b72d-9ae90c6df403/63+-+charm+school.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Charm School Charm and beauty school was a requirement for all members of the AAGPBL. Read the text from the official Charm School Guide HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecfa2b98-cfef-4f4b-a227-2107c00d21d2/64+-+Dottie+Wiltse+Collins+and+daughter.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Roster Turnover Sometimes a player from the previous year’s roster wouldn’t show up for spring training the following season. Whether it was because she had a child in the offseason, or had obligations with another job or her family, or if she just couldn’t decide in time if she wanted to play another year, the team she was expected to play for would essentially release her into a pool of other similar players, and then the other teams would have an opportunity to sign them if they wanted to. After pitching until she was 4 months pregnant, Dottie Wiltse Collins decided to go on maternity leave with her first child, Patricia (pictured) on August 1, 1948. Dottie had gone 13-8 with a 2.01 ERA so far that season. Patty was born on December 22nd of that year. Dottie would return to the League in 1950 for her final season. Dottie Wiltse Collins’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a7c6b0e-a74d-4b09-ac43-636a02159f52/65+-+1953+Mitch+Skupien+manager.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Mitch Skupien Mitch Skupien managed each of the last six years of the AAGPBL’s existence. In addition to his work as a skipper, from 1949 to 1950 Skupien was kept busy as a general manager for the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies touring teams. For the next two years, the Colleens and Sallies recruited new talent for the league while playing an extensive exhibition schedule against each other. They played games through the South and East, including contests at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Yankee Stadium in New York City. Mitch saw Ange play softball in Oak Park (near Chicago) and told her to come play for his Kalamazoo Lassies team in the AAGPBL. After years of waiting, Ange finally had her shot in the league. Mitch Skupien’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cdc6bca-8284-4eaf-a2dd-cf568a943d50/66+-+1953+Kalamazoo+Lassies+team.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - 1953 Kalamazoo Lassies The Kalamazoo Lassies went 56-50 during the 1953 regular season, finishing in third place out of the six teams remaining in the AAGPBL. Ange is second row, far right in this photo. 1953 Kalamazoo Lassies 1953 AAGPBL Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc9fb6b1-2474-4d1b-ac38-675cf5f4e65e/67+-+Little+Bonnie.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Ange got her nickname “Little Bonnie” because of her resemblance to South Bend catcher Bonnie Baker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ef537c2-aadb-4dbc-bffc-bff74676213c/68+-+bonnie+baker+catcher%27s+mask+-+she+had+five+brothers%2C+four+sisters%2C+all+of+them+catchers+on+Canadian+ball+teams.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bonnie Baker Mary Geraldine “Bonnie” Baker was an all-star catcher in the AAGPBL from 1943 to 1952. Baker was one of 68 Canadian players in the AAGPBL. She had five brothers and four sisters, and all of them were catchers on Canadian ball teams. A former model, Baker was often chosen by the league to pose for publicity shots and act as a league spokesperson. She was the league's most publicized player and was referred to as "Pretty Bonnie Baker" by the press. When she joined the AAGPBL, Baker promised her husband, who was fighting overseas in World War II, that she would quit the game when he returned. She also served as player-manager with the Kalamazoo Lassies in 1950, becoming the only woman in league history to do so. Bonnie Baker’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/251422fe-bfd3-4b14-a07c-90e120fda716/69+-+bus+-+Traveling+by+bus.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Traveling By Bus It certainly wasn’t a luxurious lifestyle, traveling in a bus that wasn’t air conditioned, sometimes driving all night to get to the next city after a doubleheader. But the players loved the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/690c8990-ce06-476e-8e0f-5fe738a4e5e8/70+-+Hotel+Faust+in+Rockford.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Hotel Faust At the end of World War II, during VJ day, the center for much of the celebration in Rockford took place in the area of the Hotel Faust and the nearby Midway theater. In its heyday, the Faust was known as the premier hotel for Rockford, hosting such dignitaries as President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the 1960 Democratic Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, as well as one of the Kings of Sweden during a visit to the Swedish community located in Rockford. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8bd6e68b-07f1-4177-acc4-67c3ef91cdda/71+-+hotel+meal+check.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Eating on the Road Players would get a per diem, which was supposed to be enough for them to afford food on the road. Sometimes it was enough, sometimes it wasn’t, but players would rarely have any money leftover to subsidize their salaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9fa019f-cf19-46f4-868a-6997151d8c3b/72+-+Beach+-+South+Bend+Blue+Sox+players+Elizabeth+Lib+Mahon+%2C+Marie+Kruckel%2C+Lillian+Luckey+and+Jean+Faut+on+July+15%2C+1946.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Fun As A Team When the players had some down time if they weren’t playing a game or traveling to the next city, they would often go to the beach. Here, South Bend Blue Sox players Elizabeth “Lib” Mahon, Marie Kruckel, Lillian Luckey, and Jean Faut relax by the water on July 15, 1946. Elizabeth Mahon’s SABR Biography Jean Faut’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2e842c7e-4959-4895-89dc-d5d7a432eb59/73+-+singing+-+Nalda+Bird+Phillips+and+Pepper+Paire+Davis.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Singing Singing was a way that players loved to kill time on the bus and connect with each other away from the field, too. Here, Lavonne “Pepper” Paire Davis sings with Nalda “Bird” Phillips while Nalda plays the piano. Pepper was a fine catcher and had a very high fielding average of .977. She was a steady influence behind the plate, handling the pitchers well. She was always able to get the best out of her pitchers. In her 10 seasons as a player in the AAGPBL, her team won the championship nine times. Nalda “Bird” Phillips’ AAGPBL Profile Lavonne “Pepper” Paire’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e2e7ad41-d42f-4f4e-b495-4571e8287fe6/74+-+Victory+Song.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - “Victory Song” The All-American Girls League Song, sung in the movie A League Of Their Own by the players, was written for the movie by Pepper Paire and Nalda Bird Phillips. The real life players sing the song at each AAGPBL reunion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/149a8407-99e3-46fa-b2ed-3562d3240a50/75+-+1953+Kalamazoo+Lassies%2C+back+row+left+of+chaperone.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out The Kalamazoo Lassies lost the 1953 AAGPBL championship to the Grand Rapids Chicks. Ange is top row, second from right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55057f3f-0354-43ea-8d8f-944117087ebc/76+-+1953+player+pass.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s 1953 Player Pass Pretty special to have one of these. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32b06afd-4e22-43bc-8488-3fcba6d1b8a2/77+-+Cold+-+Laurie+Lee%2C+Irene+Hickson%2C+Sophie+Kurys%2C+JJo+Winter+and+Janet+Jamieson.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Cold Weather Baseball A deep run in the playoffs meant you were playing ball in less-than-ideal weather at that time of year in the midwest. Here, Laurie Lee, Irene Hickson, Sophie Kurys, Joanne Winter, and Janet Jamieson huddle up under some blankets in the dugout during a 1948 game for the Racine Belles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de83dcd5-bbdf-441b-a373-06770d0bc848/78+-+Dottie+Schroeder+-+the+swing.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Schroeder Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder was a shortstop who played from 1943 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the only player to play every season in the league. At age fifteen, Schroeder was the youngest original member of the AAGPBL. Dottie Schroeder’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79cb5e03-bf0c-48c7-a46f-2013f31e95d1/79+-+Doris+Sams.JPG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Doris Sams Doris Jane "Sammye" Sams was an outfielder and pitcher who played from 1946 through 1953. By the time her final season ended in 1953, Sams’ career average of .290 was good enough to be the league’s sixth highest lifetime mark. She also set a new league home run mark with 12 in 1952. Following the 1947 season, Sammye’s second year, she was selected as the league’s Player of the Year. A pitcher turned outfielder, she was named to the All-Star team at both positions. No other player in the twelve-year history of the AAGPBL accomplished that feat. Sams was a gifted all-around athlete. Not only did the tall right-hander pitch a perfect game for the Muskegon Lassies on August 18, 1947, defeating the Fort Wayne Daisies, 2-0, but she batted .280, the third highest average among the league’s regulars, and contributed 41 RBIs. Doris Sams’ AAGPBL Profile Doris Sams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1ea2d18-c5dc-4442-9ef4-dcdfa8be91c3/80+-+lefty+alvarez.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Isabel “Lefty” Álvarez Isabel "Lefty" Álvarez was born and raised in Havana, Cuba, and learned to play baseball from a neighbor. At age 13, she joined the Estrellas Cubanas (Cuban Stars), an All-Star team modeled after the AAGPBL. The first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States was held in 1947 in Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. Álvarez was the youngest Cuban player to join the AAGPBL at the age of 15 in 1949. She is pictured here (on the right), along with Cuban-born Daisies teammate Mirtha “Mita” Marrero Fernandez. Lefty Álvarez’s AAGPBL Profile 2009 Lefty Álvarez Video Interview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1a4de4c7-5f12-435c-b6f6-955b49b768c7/81+-+June+Peppas.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - June Peppas June Peppas was a two-time All-Star pitcher and first baseman for seven seasons. In the decisive Game 5 of the 1954 AAGPBL Championship Series, Peppas pitched a clutch complete game for Kalamazoo and went 3-for-5 with an RBI against her former Daisies team, winning by an 8–5 margin to give the Lassies the Championship. Peppas finished with a .450 average and collected two of the three Lassies victories, becoming the winning pitcher of the last game in the league's history. She later helped compile the list of players and would edit the first newsletter for the Players Association that would eventually bring everyone together for the first reunion in 1982 in Chicago. June Peppas’ AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2f89ef9-065b-4101-8805-4f274fbb6979/82+-+1991+directory.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Directory Without June’s work, the AAGPBL alums would have never had a directory for the former players to all stay in touch with each other. They would have never had their first reunion in 1982. They would have never created the Players Association in 1987. If it weren’t for that renewed interest in the league and the stories of its players, Penny Marshall never would have heard about it, and A League Of Their Own never would have been made. The story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League would have very likely been lost to the sands of time (like many of its contemporary leagues) had it not been for June Peppas and her work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83a6201e-8f06-453c-8508-c90a6362bfa5/83+-+1988+Lifetime+Pass.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ange’s Lifetime Pass Thanks to June Peppas’ work, the AAGPBL eventually created a Players Association. This lifetime pass, belonging to Ange Armato, states that she is and always will be a member of the league. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/32ba3408-672e-4b88-911c-cced9896b43f/84+-+1993+-+50th+reunion+in+South+Bend.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - AAGPBL Reunions This photo is from the AAGPBL’s 50th reunion in South Bend, Indiana in 1993. The league’s 80th reunion was held in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/271ee86b-38fa-4e80-95e2-b4060a2aade0/86+-+peaches+pamphlet.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b8eb0a1-9afb-41ca-9b80-c3cea51043e3/87+-+Bill+Allington+argues.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington Managers were usually men who had played professional baseball, but Allington was actually a fast pitch softball coach in California when he became aware of the League. Many of his California Sate Championship players came East with Bill when he accepted a managerial position with the League. He expected maximum effort from his players, but he also required that they intimately know the rules of the game. It wasn’t unusual for Bill to give his players pop quizzes about the game during bus rides to away games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa8a80d2-5c44-4b1c-9d2d-c9e7257cba2b/88+-+Jimmie+Foxx+and+Dottie+Schroeder.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jimmie Foxx Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx giving some hitting tips to AAGPBL superstar Dottie Schroeder. Jimmie Foxx’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f783e94-290a-4782-8040-ac0c6d85fc00/89+-+ange%27s+fandom.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - White Sox Fandom Ange decided in 1954 that she needed to start rooting for a Major League Baseball team. She thought it made the most sense to pick a team close to her, and between the two Chicago teams, she picked the White Sox. Five years later, the Go-Go White Sox were in the World Series. It would be 46 more years after that before her favorite team would actually win a World Series, and it looks like it may be 46 more before they win again. But that doesn’t keep Ange from being a fan, as is evidenced by the home decor pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8592796f-8369-4fb7-90df-8036d322150f/87+-+1955+AAGPBL+Traveling+Team+aka+Bill+Allington%27s+All+Stars.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bill Allington's All Stars Allington organized “Allington’s All Stars,” made up of some of the best players from the league. They toured & played exhibition games against men’s teams coast to coast from 1955-1958. They even traveled north into Canada, and south into Mexico. Pictured here (left to right): Allington, Jo Weaver, Dottie Schroeder, Kate Horstman, Joan Berger, Gertie Dunn, Ruth Richard, Delores Lee, Jean Smith, Jean Geissinger, and Maxine Kline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f3e8e91-e608-4350-9f9e-e4b8d5de0603/91+-+Penny+Marshall.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Penny Marshall Penny’s vision to bring the story of the AAGPBL to the mainstream resulted in a resurrection of popularity for the league and its players. A League of Their Own was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $132.4 million worldwide and garnering acclaim for Marshall's direction and the performances of its ensemble cast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66a8ca08-69f2-4472-8df0-7b5a29fdba69/91+-+1991+A+League+Of+Their+Own+tryouts.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Tryouts For The Movie Tryouts were held in Skokie, Illinois. It wasn’t a given that just because you showed up to tryouts, you would automatically be included in the movie. Luckily, Ange made the cut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f955ae84-7fb7-47cf-98e7-db3a17908704/93+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+jersey.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - National Baseball Hall of Fame The entire AAGPBL was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Not any individual players, but the entire league. In 1991, the players involved in the filming of A League of Their Own went back to Cooperstown to recreate their induction for the film. This photo shows Ange during that 1991 visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80e20877-0902-4830-b732-89c378f57949/94+-+1991+-+Hall+of+Fame+Lori+Petty.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Look Familiar? This display was featured prominently toward the end of the movie. Here is Ange taking it in during her 1991 trip to Cooperstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2354f468-a85e-459f-8340-3caddb9bbecd/95+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+display.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Women In Baseball Now a permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ange poses in front of the history she helped create. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28643bcc-155c-46d9-a7f5-a61b80467e87/96+-+1991+Hall+of+Fame+display+names.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Names We Should Know Ange points to her name on the list of the more than 600 total players who played during the AAGPBL’s 12-year run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8104ab8-8cd7-4408-a830-b404f216445c/93+-+1991+-+AAGPBL+Blue+team.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Blue Team Ange was the shortstop on the blue team in the movie, so next time you watch, keep your eyes open for her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01d5c80b-027a-47eb-afdd-deeaca4b9068/98+-.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut Jean played from 1946 to 1953 for the South Bend Blue Sox. She led the Blue Sox to championships in 1951 and 1952, and was a four-time All-Star with South Bend. She’s the league’s all-time leader in ERA, with a 1.23 career mark, and second in career wins with 140. She was a three-time 20-game winner who threw two career no-hitters, and two of the AAGPBL’s five perfect games in league history. She won two out of the ten Player of the Year Awards given in the history of the league, and is just one of two two-time winners of the award. Jean Faut’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68bcd5ca-ddbf-4b92-a1c5-6092544a6194/100+-+Connie+Wisniewski.jpeg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Connie Wisniewski Connie Wisniewski was a two-way star who played from 1944 to 1952, playing in the outfield and pitching. Connie’s 23-10 record in 1944 helped the Milwaukee Chicks win the championship. The team moved to Grand Rapids in 1945 where Connie played the remainder of her career. In 1945, Connie was the Player of the Year, going 32-11 on the mound. She led the league’s pitchers in winning percentage, a feat which she duplicated for three consecutive years. She set an all-time low ERA mark with 0.81 for the season. She led the league in most games pitched and most games won, as well. In 1946, she pitched 40 complete games, without once being removed from a game. Although her ERA increased that year to 0.96, her winning percentage also increased and she was named the league’s Pitching Champion for the second consecutive year. Connie Wisniewski’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ea7dcdc-1e7a-4fbc-839c-49f27e1cb8bb/101+-+Jo+Weaver.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jo Weaver Joanne “Jo” Weaver played for the Fort Wayne Daisies from 1950 to 1954. She was named the league’s Batting Champion in 1952, 1953, and 1954. She was also named the league’s Player of the Year in 1954 with a batting average of .429 to go with her 29 home runs, 87 RBI, 109 runs, and a .763 slugging percentage. Her 29 home runs set an AAGPBL single season record. Jo was also the youngest sister to Jean and Betty Weaver, who were each also very good hitters in the league. Jo Weaver’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bca27841-82b0-4cf3-a385-74d551a3ca4f/102+-+Faye+Dancer.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Faye Dancer “All The Way” Faye Dancer played from 1944-50 as an OF and pitcher. Labeled as “a fly-catching genius” by sportswriters of the day, Dancer could “go back on the dead run, catch the ball over her shoulder, wheel around, and in one motion throw a strike to the catcher in the air from deep center field.” Dancer was also known for her hitting and base stealing. In 1948, she stole 108 bases. She led the league in both Steals and HRs at times. “She was that rare breed of ballplayer who could get up to bat, lay down a perfect bunt, and then steal second base. And then the next time up, she could hit the long ball and knock it out of the ballpark.” Faye Dancer’s AAGPBL Profile Faye Dancer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6c0ab65-4259-4e1a-99f5-03627368265b/103+-+Sophie+Kurys+%27The+Flint+Flash%27.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Sophie Kurys Sophie Kurys played from 1943 to 1952, mostly as a second baseman for the Racine Belles. In 1946, Sophie was the Player of the Year. She hit .286, but she stole 201 bases out of 203 attempts! She scored 119 runs, walked 93 times, and had a fielding percentage of .973 at second base. She led all players in the playoffs in hitting, stolen bases, and runs scored. Soph was the real deal, and was an all-star year in and year out. She was, without a doubt, one of the greatest team players developed in the league. She also had two incredible nicknames: “The Flint Flash” and “Tina Cobb.” Sophie Kurys’ AAGPBL Profile Sophie Kurys’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19124226-6b5d-4215-8167-2276e5367e77/104+-+1991+-+Hall+of+Fame+jersey.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Hall of Famer Ange in front of a uniform at the National baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b9ad966-2145-4c5d-ae99-c2738604ee7a/105+-+mother%27s+day+2023.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out For Mother’s Day 2023, my mom and I went to Beyer Stadium in Rockford to see the field where the Peaches played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf0ef175-4194-4fb6-b65b-39898f5228ca/107+-+ticket+stand.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Ticket Booth The original ticket booth to Beyer Stadium is still standing, and was designated a city historic landmark in 2004. Some plaques and signage have been added to the structure to really give a sense of the history of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a17aa4d-c4b5-49eb-b201-eb09f6504f74/106+-+plaques.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Plaques and Information Boards The walkway from the entrance by the ticket booth to the stands at the field is decorated with all sorts of plaques and information boards which all give a nicely detailed history of the stadium, of the Rockford Peaches, and of the players who played at Beyer. It was all very well done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a54030b-a5ec-49cb-bd70-43b7e383e8ff/108+-+midway+village.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Midway Village Museum After our stop at Beyer, my mom and I continued on to the Midway Village Museum in Rockford, which had even more exhibits and artifacts relating to the Rockford Peaches and the AAGPBL. It was a fantastic day, and we both highly recommend making both stops if you’re ever in the Rockford area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3655c65f-1732-4090-81f8-978f579a1c1e/109+-+us+womens+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out Over the past couple decades, the Friends of Beyer Stadium group has helped renovate and restore the historic field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e90bf3b-e4e0-4801-9670-55c7b8db9624/110+-+Evolution+of+the+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out The evolution of the ball during the course of play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65426c46-a421-4cae-b99a-59ba549e2227/111+-+evolution.JPEG Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out This display at the Midway Village Museum was very eye-opening to me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e226ec72-429c-4f6d-acd3-f8c354d766cd/112+-+Children+-+Kay+Blumetta.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Young Players While they were professional athletes, many of the players in the AAGPBL were incredibly young. Some as young as 14 years old, the average age of a rookie in the league was somewhere between 17 and 22. Here, 22-year-old Kay Blumetta of the Grand Rapids Chicks holds a couple stuffed animals. Kay Blumetta’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aa6e01e-c919-4fd9-b09c-28005f597be8/113+-+1991+-+Ange+with+older+Geena+Davis.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - A League Of Their Own Ange with Lynn Cartwright, who played the senior version of Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis’ character) in A League Of Their Own. Lynn Cartwright’s IMDB https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e8690b51-5ac4-4ab8-97cb-060316b3230f/114+-+Bloomer+Girls+with+Gwen+Wong.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bloomer Girls Ange’s parents seemed to be very progressive, both with their encouragement of her interest in sports, and in art. Not to mention being okay with Ange going to Chicago and playing sports away from home. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/996fb01d-28e0-43e7-a67d-5c110b0d13c6/116+-+Camp+Grant.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Camp Grant Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois, was established in July 1917 to train the 86th “Black Hawk” Infantry Division (National Army). It was originally built with the capacity of just under 43,000 men, but by the summer of 1918, there were over 57,000, making Camp Grant the largest cantonment in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0b8397c-d2de-4062-ae7a-6917c36507d6/115+-+honor+roll.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Reminders of War This billboard in Glendale, New York, was erected in 1942. As of 1943, the Glendale Honor Roll (as it was called) bore the names of 1,263 listed in service in the U.S. Armed Forces. By the time the war ended in 1945, there were some 2,000 from Glendale who had served; about 30 of them had been killed in combat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b287435-d6be-4d26-aecd-fdff6fedb9ee/117+-+victory+gardens.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Victory Gardens Victory gardens, as they were called, grew out of a national push during World War II to help ease food shortages in the states, as so much food from America was going to soldiers abroad and our allies. Victory gardens were mostly about food. But they had a civic function as well, rallying communities to work together to aid the war effort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bd11b2b-b3e2-4f79-bdca-9f468e3b64c8/118+-+AJ.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - A.J. Pierzynski A.J. Pierzynski is mom’s favorite player. A.J. please come on the podcast? shoelesspodcast@gmail.com if you’re interested, I promise it will be fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d93e1ff6-953a-49ae-8b13-a99428274c3a/119+-+home+cities.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - A Grueling Schedule Even though these cities don’t seem very far apart from each other, playing 109 games in 110 days is still going to wear you down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4d6ae53-5831-4195-b854-7f66e6843138/120+-+team+timeline.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Make it stand out This timeline shows which teams existed at which times during the 12-year history of the AAGPBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bc9c26f2-dd5f-499f-a6e4-258a56386f3c/121+-+Monarchs+bus.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Negro League Travel Similar to that of the travel taking place within the AAGPBL, except it wasn’t a guarantee that when a Negro League team got to their destination city, there would be a hotel that would allow them to sleep there. Listen to my interview with former Kansas City Monarchs player Sam Allen HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/684307f8-8af7-460b-831c-5f6c21cb56db/122+-+madonna.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Based On A True Story Madonna’s character in the movie is said to have been modeled after Faye Dancer, the real AAGPBL player. Other characters from the film were based on specific players, or amalgamations of multiple players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b078a94-ed10-42fd-be4f-cddaa0579b20/123+-+Dottie+Ferguson.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Ferguson Key Dorothy "Dottie" Ferguson Key was once hit by 92 pitches in one season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/46f95b31-9d41-4ea5-b0b5-46b50f6a4221/123+-+Sliding+-+Chaperone+Dottie+Green+doctors+a+strawberry+on+Lois+Florreich.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dirt In The Skirt Chaperone Dottie Green doctors a strawberry on Lois Florreich. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4beab475-3fdb-497b-8e5d-c5a295dd872e/124+-+Jean+Faut+hits+her+first+at+bat+with+the+AAGPBL+during+the+opening+game+of+the+1946+season+for+the+South+Bend+Blue+Sox+against+the+Fort+Wayne+Daisies.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Jean Faut When most people hear Jean Faut’s name, they think of the great pitcher who was the AAGPBL’s Pitching Champion in 1950, 1952, and 1953. But she was also a skilled hitter, who was the league’s Batting Champion in 1949. In this photo, Jean Faut hits in her first career AAGPBL at bat with the South Bend Blue Sox during the opening game of the 1946 season against the Fort Wayne Daisies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b12a2989-e249-4847-a9aa-19a96b324853/124+-+Kenosha+Comet+players+enjoying+their+time+at+a+carnival+in+1947.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Having Fun As A Team Kenosha Comet players enjoying their time at a carnival in 1947. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10345594-4901-4f37-9737-c02a8d62fad4/127+-+Attendance+-+Playland+Park+in+South+Bend.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Attendance The stand were packed at Playland Park in South Bend 80 years before Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes were breaking attendance and viewership records for women’s sporting events. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e3bf7ee-c7b4-4b73-8a33-a2f85a520ae3/128+-+1993+-+50th+anniversary+reunion.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Reunions This is the cover of the 50th Anniversary Reunion held in 1993 in South Bend, Indiana. Those reunions wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of June “Lefty” Peppas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8552d32-8b1b-48e0-934d-3b701602dbaa/130+-+Bosse+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Bosse Field Bosse Field is located in Evansville, Indiana. Opened in 1915, it was the first municipally owned sports stadium in the U.S. and is the third-oldest ballpark still in regular use for professional baseball, surpassed only by Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914). Some of the scenes from A League Of Their Own were filmed at Bosse. Faux 1940s-vintage signs created for the 1992 movie were left in place for baseball and film fans to enjoy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aa199679-f1e9-43d7-8ec6-cc6b3de2452d/131+-+Suds+Bucket.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - The Suds Bucket The exterior shots of the Suds Bucket bar in the movie were shot at Hornville Tavern, which is located at 2607 West Baseline Road in Evansville, Indiana. So if you’re planning on making a trip to go see Bosse Field, stop for a drink there, too. Thanks to friend of the podcast Perry Barber for that tip. Listen to Perry'’s episode of My Baseball History HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82c5136a-0e19-4ef8-8b3d-e572c2ff9730/128+-+Dottie+Green+in+her+uniform.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dottie Green Dottie played in the AAGPBL as a catcher before knee injuries ended her playing days. She then became a chaperone for the team. After her playing days, she worked in a prison, saying she never would have been able to have that career had she not learned what she did as a member of the AAGPBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9ed311a3-7659-49a2-9131-791d98e3bc9d/132+-+Clearing+The+Basesss.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Join Our Email Newsletter It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms. We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less. Subscribe To The Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27ab9101-1506-43bf-bfee-b4200002b8e8/133+-+National+Girls+Baseball+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - National Girls Baseball League The National Girls Baseball League (NGBL) was a professional women's baseball league which existed from 1944 to 1954, with teams based in the Chicagoland area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0696d535-5c8d-4c84-a6d0-659f0fe8083e/134+-+Emery+Parichy.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Emery Parichy The National Girls Baseball League was founded by Emery Parichy, who was the owner of a local roofing company. Charles Bidwill (who was the owner of the Chicago Cardinals football team), and politician Ed Kolski co-founded the league with Parichy. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aec4fc82-345d-4c90-89f6-9da7465a3c30/135+-+Buck+Weaver.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Buck Weaver Emery Parichy had operated the predecessor to the NGBL, the Metropolitan League, but to bring legitimacy and notoriety to the new league, big name retired male athletes were brought on. Football great Red Grange was named the president of the league, while former Major League ball players Woody English and Buck Weaver were hired as managers. Red Grange’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Biography Woody English’s SABR Biography Buck Weaver’s SABR Biography Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee7e4c4d-3d28-4496-b8d9-e817113ecd52/136+-+Wilda+Mae+Turner.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Technically Softball The National Girls Baseball League started a year after the AAGPBL and differed from it in that the NGBL kept and allowed the traditional underhand softball pitching format, despite explicitly labeling itself as “baseball.” Wilda Mae Turner, pictured here, is arguably the greatest softball pitcher to ever live. She once reeled off a string of 84 scoreless innings, winning 102 straight games as an amateur in Oakland before joining the NGBL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82d351b0-8dde-4b5b-8ba0-a31f518185d9/137+-+Dorothy+Boots+Klupping.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Dorothy “Boots” Klupping Many players appeared in both the AAGPBL and the NGBL during the course of their careers. Some notable players to have done so are Connie Wisniewski, Sophie Kurys, Jo Winter, Audrey Wagner, Edie Perlick, and Dorothy “Boots” Klupping. Klupping was subject in a promotion to showcase her skills by having her pitch against a group of Major League players from the White Sox. She struck out one of them. Here, “Boots” is pitching for the Montgomery Vee-Eights in the 1938 national tournament at Soldier Field in Chicago. Dorothy Klupping’s AAGPBL Profile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa000781-ace1-49a0-9c17-5ed2bb63fb7e/138+-+Gwen+Wong.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Gwen Wong Gwendolyn Wong was a Chinese-American who was a left-handed pitcher for the Bloomer Girls. In her only season, she pitched six no-hitters, 10 one-hit games, and had six two-hit games, facing only 282 batters in 22 games. After winning the League Championship with the Bloomer Girls, she retired and went on to University of California Berkeley. Wong was 14-year-old in this photo, pitching for the “39ers” softball team in San Francisco. The patch on her sleeve was to advertise the Golden Gate International Exposition while the team barnstormed throughout California. Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4055644-003d-42d8-9934-40fa777b30ed/139+-+Nancy+Ito.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Nancy Ito Nancy Ito was a shortstop for the Bloomer Girls and the first Japanese-American ballplayer in the National Girls Baseball League. After her time in the league, a future coach asked her to learn catching because that team’s regular catcher left to get married. In the next two decades, Ito was named a 13-time All-American. An outstanding defensive catcher with a strong throwing arm, Ito made only 10 errors in 1,401 chances in 222 games in the Pacific Coast Women’s League from 1967-1974 for a fielding percentage of .993. Former teammate Carol Spanks called Ito “the best catcher she’d ever seen.” And In 1982, Ito was elected to the National Softball Hall of Fame. Nancy Ito - USA Softball Hall of Fame Profile Photo courtesy of: nationalgirlsbaseballleague.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b8a4e73b-e320-4d96-94b9-b621db077cc2/140+-+Betty+Chapman.jpg Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - Betty Chapman Betty Chapman became the first female African-American professional softball player when she signed as an outfielder for the Music Maids of the National Girls Baseball League in 1951. Chapman had two RBI in her debut game July 18, 1951, and scored the game-winning run in the team’s game four days later. She was given the nickname “Miss Minnie Minoso” in an article that came out 10 days after her debut, when her batting average was still over .500. Despite Chapman’s success, over the four remaining years of the league, very few other African American players were signed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d6aa75dc-6ca3-4e94-9d2b-615a6531e0ff/141+-+dolly+vardens.png Past Episodes - 0307 - Ange Armato - The Dolly Vardens Black women playing baseball wasn’t something that started in the 1940s. During the second half of the 19th century, a semi-pro team called the Dolly Vardens played around the Philadelphia area. The team was assembled by barber-turned-sports entrepreneur John Lang in the 1880s, with newspaper confirmation of games as early as May of 1883. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0306 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1807671-56a0-4d0a-ab3c-b004387c8228/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/364dfda2-28d8-4739-9bd3-da181cb50c85/square.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles Me and William Peebles after recording our interview in his workshop near Boston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1030f86f-3ddf-4b01-bfbf-aaf799a66481/01+-+Love+Of+The+Game.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Love Of The Game Auctions This episode is brought to you by Love Of The Game Auctions. WEBSITE REGISTER TO BID CONSIGN CLICK HERE to view their Spring 2024 Premier Auction catalog https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f74d000a-6a20-4634-aa3e-9a8da2b5cde8/02+-+Official+League+Ball+red+stitching.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Huntington Base Ball Co. Every ball William ships out from Huntington Base Ball Co. comes wrapped in tissue and foil, and is housed in a custom box, the same way baseballs were shipped 100 years ago. Baseball meets research meets craftsmanship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ead44e2a-3ca1-41fc-b187-4dad2eb57553/03+-+Boston+Braves.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston Braves One of William’s neighbors growing up was the former bat boy for the Boston Braves, and caddied for Babe Ruth. The Boston Braves played at Braves Field. In 1953, Boston University purchased the stadium, demolishing most of it except for the right field stands and a long building that originally housed the ticket and executive offices. The stadium is now known as Nickerson Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c6d09d6-6391-4153-88e4-482270ee9f2e/04+-+William%27s+first+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Fan From An Early Age William’s first Red Sox game was July 26, 1987 against the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox won 11-1, with both Dwight Evans and Wade Boggs hitting home runs that day. Like any good collector and historian, of course, William still has his tickets from that game. Dwight Evans’ SABR Biography Wade Boggs’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/98647f9c-5e2f-4d97-af5d-162e2f84cf2f/05+-+1995+opening+day.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Opening Day 1995 William skipped school to attend the Red Sox' Opening Day game on April 26, 1995 vs. the Minnesota Twins. José Canseco signed a program for William that day, as the Red Sox won 9-0, with Canseco going 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. José Canseco’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12a4970c-ac5c-4809-b1f7-03db8b2702e4/06+-+reebok.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Reebok William had an internship with Reebok in the late 1990s and worked on color designs of shoes. At the time, some of Reebok’s biggest athletes were Frank Thomas, Roger Clemens, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Shawn Kemp. Frank Thomas’ Hall of Fame Biography Roger Clemens’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/554dd046-0063-40c0-bb7b-50caa7fd92d1/07+-+Smithsonian+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Smithsonian Magazine When William saw a vintage base ball player on the cover of the October, 1998 issue of Smithsonian Magazine, it caught his attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b583a87-820d-47c5-a8f5-58f477d0cd74/08+-+HOF.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - National Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame has a vast archive of old baseballs and old baseball equipment. William spent lots of time taking precise measurements and detailed notes so he could accurately recreate the patterns which produced those old artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7144ad04-a0a9-46c3-84ce-aea789b8abb5/09+-+William%27s+baseballs.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out Some of the old base balls William had laid out from his personal collection during our interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c50db8e0-2ea7-42bb-bf05-908cffba8c43/10+-+old+vs.+new.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out William’s trained eye can immediately spot the differences in these two baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d4c8e51-75b7-4d25-b387-63825076391b/11+-+The+Ross+Ball+cross+section.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Inside Base Ball This is a cross section of a Harvey Ross base ball, circa 1850s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dc2b808-05ec-4500-83c6-9abda230e559/12+-+baseball+patent.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Patent Drawings Studying the original patent submission drawings can help someone understand exactly how to recreate an old baseball exactly the way the original makers would have done it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/202d0c44-f801-41ee-970a-2442f19bcdb7/13+-+fingerless+glove.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Fingerless Gloves An 1880 fingerless glove. (Milo Stewart, Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd42d276-d5bc-4234-b046-bea5544e54e9/14+-+uncrate.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Uncrate When Uncrate featured Huntington Base Ball Co. on their website in May of 2010, William’s business was exposed to millions of potential customers. At that point, it was off to the races. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85eaa50f-6ff9-4285-a41e-d9ee7c4d7e5b/15+-+Boston+American+Baseball+Co.JPEG Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston American Base Ball Co. This drawing was the original concept for William’s company which eventually became Huntington Base Ball Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5296b4ee-e208-4f2f-a705-a78cb17fbd6a/16+-+Huntington+Avenue+Grounds.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Huntington Avenue Grounds When the Boston Red Sox were founded as charter members of the American League and known as the Boston Americans, the team needed a new ballpark to call home. A location along Huntington and Rogers Avenues in the Roxbury section of Boston was selected to construct a $35,000 ballpark. A small 9,000 seat facility constructed primarily of wood was built here and opened on May 8, 1901 when Boston battled the Philadelphia Athletics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/408e288b-89c1-4000-b2d5-4d1cc4854f5c/17+-+William.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - A Craftsman “A nod to the past with our eyes on the present.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/786e4d4a-4867-4ac7-83b4-f113dfcaceaa/18+-+pennants.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Pennants It’s not just baseballs that William makes. He also creates hand-sewn pennants, whose quality is unmatched. BUY SOME HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eb6823c3-12ef-4550-b532-be4bac5451f5/19+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball+inside.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - More Inside Base Ball 1875 rubber-covered seamless ball inside https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e60f79c6-a0b9-4e90-ad2e-240f03337eeb/20+-+1845+to+early+1850s+four+piece+cover.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Earliest Base Balls Bat and ball games have been around for centuries, but the first balls to be manufactured specifically for the purpose of playing the sport of base ball seem to have been created in the late 1840s-1850s. This four piece cover ball is from circa 1845 to early 1850s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cefd37e7-5398-4c15-a5d1-16802f7e69ee/1830-1850+cloth+homemade+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Cloth Balls Cloth balls pre-dated leather, but those balls were created with multiple purposes in mind, not necessarily solely to be used to play base ball. This is an example of a cloth homemade ball from circa 1830-1850. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c1d163c-0440-41b1-a6bb-8b26abb74cae/22+-+1855-1880+one+piece+cover+variation.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Trophy Balls In the early days of baseball, it was customary for the winning team to keep the game ball as a trophy. It would often be decoratively painted with the final score of the game, the teams who played, and the date to commemorate the occasion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f6d66ff5-5e2e-44c0-84f5-b5771040743c/23+-+underhand+pitching.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out In the early days of the sport, it was not the pitcher’s job to try to strike out a batter. His main purpose was to serve a ball to the batter to give the batter a chance to put the ball in play. To that end, pitching was actually done underhanded for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3d7df07-c55e-415a-a155-65bd8cdf40c7/24+-+ray+chapman.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Ray Chapman The death of Ray Chapman was a pivotal moment in baseball history, causing players, teams, and leagues to take a hard look at how the game balls were being treated in the name of player safety. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2e8b90b-1f51-43b3-8126-643d1810359f/25+-+Doc+Adams%2C+circa+1870.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Doc Adams Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams was a member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. He invented the position of Shortstop, but he was also one of the earliest base ball makers. He started making four-piece leather covers using a method he learned from a Scotch saddler. CLICK HERE to listen to our previous episode of My Baseball History with Doc’s great-granddaughter, Marjorie Adams. Doc Adams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1226bff7-a205-41d8-8ec1-a868ee5614a1/26+-+1850s+to+1860s+one+piece+cover+aka+lemon+peel+2.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - One Piece Cover Ball The earliest baseballs were very lightweight and soft, were smaller than the modern baseball, and were made of yarn or string surrounding a core covered by a single piece of leather stitched together. Dark leather was usually used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/523a7fb0-de8f-4127-bb15-16d8f0d7549d/27+-+1850s+to+1860s+one+piece+cover+aka+lemon+peel.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - “Lemon Peel Base Ball” This is the same ball pictured above, just the opposite side where the stitches all meet. They called this a "lemon peel" or "rose pedal", and it consisted of four sides sewn together to form an "X". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/032bd3ef-1d66-44e3-a31f-6c1de0a50092/28+-+The+Ross+Ball+template.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - The Ross Ball Template As William mentioned, you can imagine the amount of waste when making a ball using this pattern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75114d87-1102-4977-a692-8c922fad3b44/29+-+Louis+Mahn%2C+1882+american+association+tag.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Louis Mahn Louis Mahn perfected the manufacture of a good “standard” baseball. Mahn’s standardized ball was developed under a March 21, 1872 patent that he bought from a John Osgood. The ball was built in two hemispherical sections and sewn together with an interlocking double herringbone stitch in a figure eight loop so that if one stitch broke, the whole ball didn’t unravel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d7ad85c-e254-436c-a7a1-ab2df03720fc/30+-+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+New+York+Times.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Marjorie Adams I was lucky enough to sit down with Marjorie Adams in October of 2020 to talk about her great-grandfather, Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams. Marjorie passed away July 7, 2021, without being able to see Doc inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. You can listen to Episode 2 of Season 2 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/211627d2-abaa-4579-b440-2584943cce5f/31+-+laws+of+base+ball.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - 1858 Laws Of Base Ball In March of 1858, 25 clubs met in New York to form the National Association of Base Ball Players. A set of rules was agreed upon, published, and made available to teams. For the first time ever, the ball’s size, weight, and materials were specified. The core was to be composed of India rubber, but by failing to specify how much rubber could be used, the Association left open the possibility that teams would choose baseballs whose liveliness fit their own style of play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/445d6e02-3b48-45c7-a239-e40959ff57ba/32+-+trophy+balls.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Trophy Balls Why did we let this tradition die?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f78cb51-44f7-4d6c-81cd-12cd576f94eb/33+-+trophy+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Trophy Ball Trophy balls are incredibly hard to find, and when you do, they’re often very expensive. William is lucky enough to have this example from 1870 in his personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b111aeca-5f59-494b-8365-4e3c3e915b38/34+-+1868+patent+model.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Henry Alden’s 1868 Ball In 1868, Henry A. Alden of New York, patented an "Improvement in India-Rubber Base-Balls," a further improvement to his 1867 patent. The inventor stated that this ball was more durable than ordinary balls. The center of the ball was made of cork but rather than the ordinary leather covering, the inventor proposed an outer covering of rubber and the stitching was imitated by raised rubber stitching, to prevent slipping of the ball when used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85b33f2e-fb02-4905-9c7a-17e9aa008238/35+-+Harrison+Harwood.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Harrison Harwood Harrison Harwood was President of the Natick & Cochituate Street Railway Company in Massachusetts. In 1858, he established The Harwood & Sons baseball factory of Natick, which was the first baseball manufacturing facility in the USA. This location started making Harwood Baseballs in 1858 (before Spalding and Reach), and remained in operation for 117 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5acdb2a6-0293-4ba9-8028-522616f5811d/36+-+first+patent.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - The First Patent Henry A. Alden’s 1868 ball was the first base ball to be awarded a patent in U.S. history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16ee8fc5-f76c-43e7-ba34-7782b615d6c8/37+-+1870s+Young+America+red+cover.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Red Ball Cricket used a red ball, so in about 1870, base ball tried to use a red ball, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bdbfc12-b0c8-4948-baa1-9adbe41708fe/38+-+1870s+endless+seam.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - “Endless Seam” Base Ball 1868 introduced us to the figure-eight style ball that eventually became the standard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9b1c6b3-68b5-4dce-849c-a00b0a579224/39+-+Figure+8+pattern.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Figure-Eight Pattern On top of making the ball’s seams stronger and more durable, cutting the leather in this pattern allows for so much more of the leather to be used, and results in much less waste. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/799c22a6-ae96-4c85-9d69-b50eb17a25c7/39+-+less+waste.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Less Waste This photo is a great visualization of how using the figure eight pattern creates far less waste than the previous methods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/161bfe10-75c6-4252-a6b0-62a62da0f973/39+-+ellis+drake.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Ellis Drake It has been written that Ellis Drake was the inventor of the two-piece figure-eight stitched baseball cover. Drake was born in 1839, in Stoughton, Massachusetts and was the son of a shoemaker. He is said to have sketched the design for the two-piece cover in school in the 1840's and made a prototype from his father's scrap leather. He stated that the lemon peel balls used at school where "round ball" was played came apart on the four corners and caused the ball not to be true when thrown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8a8a01c-1849-4cde-9fd7-c3a1ca206e6d/41+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Giblin Ball John Giblin’s 1875 rubber-covered seamless ball https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38a904aa-ddcf-4e8e-abf7-1080190e2f6e/42+-+Reach+Seamless+Ball.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Reach Seamless Ball Reach took Giblin’s concept and began mass-producing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aeba3214-39bd-41d3-a9f9-cfecb4dabeca/43+-+1890+pre-punctured+stitching+points.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Official National League Baseball In 1876, the first A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods store opened in Chicago. That same year, Spalding developed the first Major League Baseball to become the official baseball of the National League (1876-1976) and American League (1889-1973). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82859c20-db4c-4ef6-a032-d19df6c26a45/44+-+AG+Spalding.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - A. G. Spalding Albert Goodwill Spalding had three careers and was very successful at all of them. He was a pitcher and then executive in the early years of professional baseball, and then became the co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. In the 1880s, he took players on the first world tour of baseball. With William Hulbert, Spalding organized the National League. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. Albert Spalding’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/af1f2015-f702-4472-b9f7-87d1507e4c03/45+-+Harry+Wright.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Wright, Howland, & Mahn Harry Wright, George Howland and Louis Mahn were partners in a baseball retail store on Washington Street at the corner of Kneeland Street in Boston. Known as Wright, Howland, & Mahn, sellers of baseball goods, they continued in 1878 to ‘79. They moved to 765 Washington Street in 1880 and ‘81. In 1881, with the Red Stockings fading, Harry and George Wright moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where they co-managed the Providence Grays. Louis Mahn was still manufacturing baseballs all the way up through 1883 and ‘84. Harry Wright’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03500ef9-7d8c-498e-b09b-fdae6748c26f/46+-+AJ+Reach+sa.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - A. J. Reach Alfred James Reach played baseball before the Civil War as a teenager for the Brooklyn Eckfords. He is believed to be the first player paid to play the game. Starting in 1865, Reach reportedly received $25 per week to play. Six years later he joined the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association. After a five-year playing career in the NA, Reach founded the Philadelphia Phillies. He became the first team president of the Philadelphia Phillies as part owner. He went on to become an influential publisher, sporting goods manufacturer, and spokesman for the sport. He was the founder and owner of the AJ Reach Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45b2e42d-7e09-4223-a1aa-801e3da3da49/47+-+1908+double+stitch+and+new+core+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Official American League Baseball Reach baseballs became the official ball of the newly-formed American League in 1901, and the company continued to produce the league’s balls until 1974. In addition to 20 different types of baseballs, the company made catcher’s masks, mitts and chest protectors; fielder’s and boxing gloves; punching bags; and footballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b7c8de5-ef9f-467d-96f4-afd4fc9f36dd/48++-+Shibe.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - The Shibes To transfer the Athletics’ ownership to local interests, Connie Mack approached Benjamin F. Shibe in December 1900 about investing in the club. Shibe, who was a partner at A. J. Reach & Company, had a long association with sports and readily understood the marketing potential a second major league would offer in selling the Reach Company’s products. The deal was made all the sweeter for Shibe by Mack’s offer to make the A. J. Reach baseball the official ball of the American League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d01aaeb9-b70f-4908-9b20-b31acd60f7f1/49+-+1883+plastic+cement+core+patent.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - 1883 Plastic Cement Core Base Ball With this ball, Benjamin Shibe solved the problem that John Giblin couldn’t. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f34e9d0-4283-4c51-9bd2-a5290779d116/50+-+Melot.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Melot’s 1883 Seamless Leather Cover Ball Without seams, throwing curveballs and other trick pitches became much harder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f417543-48d7-4728-af32-5acf49b612e4/51+-+1889+Shibe+double+seam.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Shibe’s 1889 Double Seam Ball Though it was a more durable baseball, the extra stitching made it much harder to manufacture, and also much more expensive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f97ef22-b729-4ccb-8095-58bed16b429f/52+-+fan+for+a+fan.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - A Fan For A Fan The baseball background used in these wonderful souvenirs is actually the Shibe Double Seam ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c696b755-de19-4eee-8124-c5d606951c00/53+-+stitching+baseballs.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Stitching Baseballs By Hand Often done by women, and sometimes even done at their home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7921a415-ed27-4680-934e-48948044d2c3/54+-+stitching+baseballs.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Men Stitching Men stitched baseballs, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37008c8c-1dab-4a43-940e-9acf6984e184/54+-+babe+ruth.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Men Stitching Does the man stitching this baseball look familiar to you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0dad0f0-f7f4-4423-b531-a3f8ffc38894/54++-babe+ruthh.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Stitching I don’t think there were normally this many supervisors watching an employee stitch a baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef38f26d-ed49-42bb-bb34-d9a02ff8ae55/55+-+women+winding.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Winding Baseballs Women usually wound the different layers of string and yarn around the ball’s core because it was a job that wasn’t as physically taxing as stitching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2755aecd-2ce7-432f-b252-dd27588ccd5d/56+-+women+winding.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - More Winding The machines made it faster and easier to get a consistent, tight product. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b49ce682-f1e4-465f-9cdd-13ec5c55b4a3/57+-+stamping+baseballs.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Stamping When the baseballs were finished, they were stamped with the appropriate logos and markings before being boxed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f55d93ff-63fb-45a4-8ad6-3f893e997146/58+-+die.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Dies Imagine how much easier it is to get accurate holes punched when you use a die, instead of doing everything by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d1ed6d1-e2e1-475d-b576-67d3ba94025c/59+-+stitching.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Thread Length Making sure the length you pull for the threads is accurate is important. Screwing it up is a mistake you only make once. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/921fe6e5-7e87-4f4d-bfb8-febb9f53081b/60+-+shop.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Tools and Tooling Having the proper equipment and tools makes every job faster, easier, and more consistent. Which then also makes them more profitable since there are less mistakes and you can turn out the products quicker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dfcb2154-552b-4b10-b09c-fac8d856bc2f/61+-+1914+Federal+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Federal League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the Federal League were teal and orange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/56120ebe-9ab3-4bcd-bfdd-a41cca81343b/62+-+1910+American+League+cork+center.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - American League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the American League were red and blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6c5d1a2d-f746-4870-bf30-4d9a22e86864/63+-+1925+cushioned+cork+center.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - National League The stitch colors of the baseballs used by the National League were red and black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7d24681-ccf7-4fe9-8eba-0daaa3a5240c/64+-+modern+colors.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Modern Colors When you order a baseball from William and Huntington Base Ball Co., you can either stick with traditional stitch colors, or choose from any number of modern colors which were never previously used, or even available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6d4667ea-0008-441f-9159-4d967f0ed4aa/65+-+1909+cork+center+patent.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Cork Center Ball Shibe’s idea to use cork in the center led to far greater consistency and much better performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64e307ed-930d-434a-bbfe-a2380eab9efa/65.5+-+thread.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - String Look how tightly that string is wound around the core inside that baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01616d5c-62f3-4a0c-a86f-6068e963aabd/66+-+baseball+center.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - What’s Inside A Modern Baseball? The various components of a deconstructed baseball, as compared to an intact ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/583b9195-a47a-4133-87ba-d7c18862afe3/67+-+mudless+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Mudless Baseball MLB has been experimenting - for better (or bettor) or for worse - with what exactly can be done to manipulate the balls being used on the field today. This prototype from Spring Training 2019 used leather which had been impregnated with a chemical to make the ball tacky right out of the box, with no need to rub mud on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a272e0c-7c3a-4fd5-8240-9c9289112ea5/68+-+1943+WWII+rubber+rationing.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - WWII Baseballs Due to rationing of rubber during WWII, baseballs were made with kind of a mish mosh of materials. As such, the performance of the balls during that time suffered, as did hitting statistics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e1c3bf63-e262-40b1-9e20-61724f5042e2/69+-+2019+drag+coefficient+decreases.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - MLB Buys Rawlings When the league owns the manufacturing company, it becomes much easier to hide changes being made to the ball. Changes the league claims they aren’t making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ae77181-b37c-49ca-b7f8-4e384abccc6f/72+-+baseballs.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c12e30d7-563c-4504-b6b3-411cab9890e1/71+-+home+runs.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Home Run Rates Dr. Meredith Wills has been studying baseballs for years, tracking which balls are being used in games during the season, during playoff games, or during marquee matchups on nationally televised games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d5b70f2-720f-45b6-91d1-3d4014142533/996+-+different+weights.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out From a study of baseballs used during the 2022 MLB season done by Dr. Meredith Wills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13a7f96c-d276-458e-b3cc-2e446f67c427/73+-+1970+5x+center.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - 1970 5X Center Ball This ball reacted so hot off the bat that the league determined it was unsafe to use during game play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3246a8e5-738d-499d-9105-64ec11334f50/74+-+use+the+balls.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Functional Art Pieces While William actually uses the baseballs he makes, he knows most people who buys his products buy them to display them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f18b2d16-5844-4064-9be6-20aea9714cf5/75+-+Orlando+Cepeda+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Orlando Cepeda One of William’s favorite commissions he’s ever worked on, this baseball for Orlando Cepeda used different colored strings to represent the different teams the First Baseman played for during his Hall of Fame career. Orlando Cepeda’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c256011-b7c4-4030-b3c1-23c18c8936af/76+-+shop.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Working Away William may be isolated in his shop, but the work he does is fulfilling and being his own boss is a dream. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/777aa441-c400-46c1-afc6-96f45ee13049/77+-+gloves.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Gloves When William started Huntington Base Ball Co. he thought his clients would be high end collectors who wanted to own affordable versions of the priceless artifacts they were after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ab15b18b-ebce-4cf8-b9f0-1695395fdb70/78+-+name.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Signature William signs every single box that goes out the door. After all, doesn’t an artist sign his paintings? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad3b6d55-9661-476f-84ae-edf753052dd1/79+-+George+W+Bush+Presidential+Library.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - George W. Bush In 2014, William was asked to make baseballs for the gift shop at the George W. Bush Presidential Library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c8e681b-9abb-4456-a204-9f805ade8669/80+-+Clemente+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Clemente Museum William has also supplied baseballs for the Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh. If you’ve never been, that’s a trip absolutely worth making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cb1d8798-00ab-4707-b22a-9bd98180da40/81+-+Paul+and+I.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Paul Reiferson Paul Reiferson is a photography connoisseur who spent decades amassing the most complete Charles Conlon collection ever privately assembled. He also has an unbelievable collection of baseballs. These liner notes are filled with many photos of the baseballs in his collection. You can listen to Episode 5 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear our conversation HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53c07b38-4bc9-438f-bf53-65fc3695ea7b/82+-+1914-1915+Federal+League+baseball.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - William’s Federal League Ball Stitched and designed exactly like the original baseballs used during the 1914 and 1915 seasons in the Federal League, William’s version has slightly different stamping so they won’t be confused with the real artifacts, which sell for thousands of dollars. That’s how historically accurate William has been able to get with his recreations thanks to his research and skill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7141111b-ad49-4507-8bfe-26fc3584e246/84+-+bats.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Bats It’s not just baseballs and gloves and pennants that William makes. He also makes bats! SHOP HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/78d7d211-8532-4ae7-9d9c-7ab8d7d3627d/83+-+William.jpeg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Follow William Online Website Facebook Instagram Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4207ddf-335b-4233-888b-38d0b0768937/85+-+workship.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out William’s workshop https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/670a9d5d-0fb8-4868-bcff-178ed9249620/86+-+shibe+park.JPEG Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Shibe Park My mom and I at the site of Shibe Park in Philadelphia during October of 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/924b6dfd-6b37-4ec3-a518-1a510a51dd2d/87+-+boston.jpeg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Boston Trip “A walk in the park” is certainly one way to describe this trip during spring break of 1998. It’s not the way that I would choose to describe it, but it’s certainly one way to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/626c9f04-03af-4629-b789-21bf841cafa0/88+-+fingerless+gloves.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Vintage Style Gloves William’s gloves are used by vintage base ball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c34d3686-c936-44ae-9e6d-57cd78cfae58/89+-+1875+rubber-covered+seamless+ball+patent+tag.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Patent Tags Patent tags from John Giblin’s rubber-covered seamless ball, pictured earlier. Patent No. 165994 was issued on July 27th, 1875. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c150d8cb-4ae3-4d48-b50b-9daa83c6fe8e/90+-+1312+Arch+Street.JPG Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Mitchell & Ness In 1904, former tennis and wrestling champ Frank P. Mitchell and Scottish golfer Charles M. Ness set the future of authentic in motion when they met up in Philadelphia to establish Mitchell & Ness Sporting Goods. At first, they specialized in stringing tennis racquets, constructing custom-made golf clubs and making uniforms for local Philly baseball and football teams. You can listen to Episode 3 of Season 3 of My Baseball History to hear my conversation with former owner Peter Capolino HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd134818-3b91-4196-86e2-f8a8512e7449/91+-+1863+-1868+one+piece+cover+variation.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Harvey Ross Harvey Ross was one of the first famous producers of the base ball. Ross was a sail maker by trade, but, as a member of the Atlantic Club in Brooklyn, started making base balls for his team. He made the balls in his home on Park Avenue in New York City, and they became so popular that he eventually sold them all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1dbd3a4-a540-4dec-8a27-c151e71e24b4/92+-+John+Van+Horn%2C+baseball+manufacturer.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - John Van Horn John Van Horn was a member of the Union Club, of Morrisania, New York. He had a little boot and shoe store on Second Avenue in New York City where he would make his base balls. His legendary "lively ball" earned Van Horn the reputation of being the "greatest ball maker of the nineteenth century." He and Harvey Ross turned out the best base balls for some years, and they were used in nearly all of the match games that were played up to the early 1870s. CLICK HERE to read A Chronology of Ballmaking up to 1872 – and a list of 32 Ballmakers, 1858 to 1890 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1e00310c-a9e8-468d-8e4a-719ad9fe928f/93+-+James+Naismith.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Dr. James Naismith It’s easy for basketball fans to point directly to the singular person who invented their favorite sport. Dr. James Naismith was faced with the challenge of creating a new indoor game to keep his students at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, active during the winter months. He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the University of Kansas basketball program, and is an unquestioned legend. For baseball fans, it’s not quite as simple to name the people who started their favorite sport or developed the equipment. Unfortunately, even the names many people do know weren’t actually involved in the sport’s creation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17fe9919-07de-4cf1-9a29-286d92d2e5dc/94+-+vintage+games.JPG Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out My mom and I at the 2014 vintage base ball game at the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston, Georgia. Between us is Allison Kate Jackson, great-great-great niece of Shoeless Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55438e46-6604-4090-8712-3e203ed4481d/95+-+2018+Vintage+Game+%2827+of+106%29.JPG Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Dark Base Balls Imagine being an outfielder, trying to pick up this dark colored baseball with the wooded background behind the batter. It was a nightmare until the ball got above the treeline and had the (hopefully) clear blue sky behind it. But line drives or ground balls were often misplayed because a fielder just couldn’t see the ball early enough to properly react to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77385d33-343a-463e-939f-7073be45e982/96+-+tools+of+the+trade.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Tools Of The Trade It’s no wonder William’s right forearm is crazy strong. Try cutting leather with a pair of scissors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/864f6f37-17e5-44dd-93ce-7123c458d849/97+-+1927+Reach+factory.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - The Reach Factory Thanks to the technological advancements of Benjamin Shibe, by 1883, the Reach factory was making 1.3 million baseballs and 100,000 bats per year. This is a photo of Eddie Collins, Connie Mack, and Ty Cobb taking a factory tour in 1927. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6642affe-773f-439b-9699-9ea4804c18e9/98+-+ben+shibe.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Benjamin Shibe Ben Shibe is credited with the invention of the automated stitching machinery to make standardized baseballs. It was his business savvy that helped turn a nascent game at his birth into a multi-million dollar enterprise by his death. Shibe Park in Philadelphia was named in his honor from 1909 to 1954. Ben’s son, Tom, was a co-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics and succeeded his father as team President upon his death in 1922. Tom’s brother, John, then served as Vice-president. When Tom Shibe passed away, John succeeded him as club President, but illness would force him to resign within a few months and he died the following year. Benjamin Shibe’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/488fc860-509c-4920-88ab-6327c2e63327/99.+1929-10-12.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Sell Out Crowds When there weren’t enough seats inside the gates at Columbia Park, fans would sit on the roofs of the row homes across the street so they could still watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2769052e-88d7-4114-9a72-50c73ed0fb02/100+-+goldilocks+ball.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Make it stand out CLICK HERE to read the article we keep referencing using Dr. Meredith Wills’ research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f82b60cc-bc7a-457d-8c97-393e805fdbca/101+-+field+of+dreams.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Field of Dreams Game I was at the game between the White Sox and Yankees at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on August 12, 2021. Tim Anderson’s walk-off home run into the corn was one of the most exciting sports moments I’ve ever witnessed in person. To think it may have been aided by a juiced baseball kind of taints the entire experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e852e6c6-85e8-4aa1-98bc-3f229f94841f/102+-+game+used+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - MLB Authenticated Game Used Memorabilia MLB wouldn’t let players or teams send Dr. Meredith Wills game used baseballs because they didn’t want her outing their shadiness. But hey, if you want to buy some game used baseballs, bidding starts at $10 HERE… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0ed56e0f-9cc3-4396-b8cd-d3da6cb1a587/103+-+in+his+shop.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - William Working In His Shop When I got to William’s shop to record the interview, I spent the first 20 minutes or so just watching him work. It was so inspiring watching someone be so clearly in their element. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/144bac92-ea4d-4825-becc-252c5f729246/104+-+catchers+masks.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Decor Everyone should be so lucky to have a space in their home that looks like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bf4812e-f204-45e5-8993-397c6d198204/105+-+coasters.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Leather Coasters These things are really, really cool in person. They look great, they feel great, and they smell great. BUY YOURS HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e26a22d3-1e32-4a8c-b7e7-95dedf430f9e/106+-+Cepeda+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Cepeda Ball Here’s another view of the custom baseball William made for Orlando Cepeda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf3f0c6d-2381-4285-9c80-47f98dfa3c96/108+-+pitch+that+killed.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - The Pitch That Killed Mike Sowell's brilliant account of the events of 1920--meticulously researched and mellifluously written--captures all the intensity of the moment of the Chapman beaning and the entire incredible season. Only a writer of Sowell's power and skill could do justice to such a tale, and the result is one of the most highly respected and widely acclaimed baseball books ever written. This book is a must-read. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59f3d436-d863-489c-9159-c692978a5855/108+-+Wrigley.jpeg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Lights At Wrigley When the first scheduled night game at Wrigley Field was rained out on 8/8/88, many people took it as a sign from above that there just shouldn’t be lights at the historic park. You can listen to Episode 6 of Season 1 of My Baseball History to hear my conversation with Wrigley Field’s Official Historian Brian Bernardoni HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d897b61b-2f80-4916-9b86-dac78311a4e4/109+-+Andrew.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Love Of The Game Auctions Operations Manager Andrew Aronstein mans the LOTG booth at the 2023 National Sports Card Convention in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b15ca0ed-1941-4b29-9021-7624234c5299/110+-+Graney+with+Larry+the+mascot.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Magic Lantern Slides Available in their Spring Premier Auction which closes March 30, 2024, the Frank W. Smith Glass Lantern Slide Collection includes 57 unique slides, mostly featuring the 1914 Cleveland Naps. Read Andrew’s article about the discovery HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c7f3729-121e-421c-ae46-90d6e4d9466a/111+-+Joe+Jackson+magic+lantern+slide.png Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Joe Jackson’s Slide It may not be Charles Conlon’s shot of Ty Cobb, but this image captured by Frank W. Smith is easily the most dynamic action photo ever taken of Shoeless Joe Jackson. There’s a reason LOTG made it the image they used on the cover for THIS AUCTION. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93bb618d-0c7c-4ae8-b5bf-8b5cb89d084b/112+-+Signed+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Record Breaking Photo This photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson, also taken by Frank W. Smith, sold through a Christie’s auction in October of 2021. It is said to be autographed by Joe, which would make it the only known signed photo of Joe to exist. Because of that possibility, it broke the record for most expensive signed sports photo of all time, selling for $1.47 million. As someone who has seen numerous examples of Joe’s signature on legal documents which are absolutely assured to be signed by Joe’s hand, I have very serious doubts that the signature on this photo was created by Joe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce27fbf7-0609-4b50-b8c7-1b1ac99e9301/113+-+1963+Topps+Sandy+Koufax.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - 1963 Topps Sandy Koufax card The large and colorful borders at the bottom of the 1963 Topps card set are extremely susceptible to chipping and wear. Because of that, finding high grade examples of cards from this set is more difficult (and, therefore, more expensive) than most other Topps sets from that era. If you have a copy of this card you want to send to me because you love me or love the podcast so much, I wouldn’t mind that at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8406003a-0e36-406e-b519-3320802c5f3a/114+-+profile.jpg Past Episodes - 0306 - William Peebles - Want A Free Baseball? If you want the chance to win a free baseball from William Peebles and Huntington Base Ball Co., all you have to do is follow each of our accounts on twitter, and then retweet the pinned tweet at the top of the MBH profile. We’ll pick a winner and they’ll get a baseball shipped to them for free! Follow Huntington Base Ball Co. Follow My Baseball History https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0305 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65c25ef5-f64e-4731-a3b6-f70950a477ed/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a700f8f-9e5e-4167-843f-a2cb70a068fd/Paul+and+I.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson Me and Paul Reiferson at the Jackie Robinson Museum in Brooklyn, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a8417bb4-95c9-485b-95a6-17875ff091fb/01+-+charles+conlon.jpeg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Charles M. Conlon Charles Martin Conlon was born in Albany, New York and grew up in the neighboring city of Troy. He started his career working as a proof-reader for New York City newspapers in the early 1900s, and took up landscape photography as a hobby. Conlon became a master photographer, and is known for his distinctive and poetic documentation of America’s favorite pastime. Paul Reiferson donated his collection of nearly 500 of Conlon’s images to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/999ca191-c8ba-4739-a6ac-63759c9d6aac/02+-+Christy+Mathewson+1911.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Christy Mathewson Delivering all four of his pitches, including his famous “fadeaway” (now called a screwball), with impeccable control and an easy motion, Christy Mathewson was the greatest pitcher of the Deadball Era’s first decade, compiling a 2.13 ERA over 17 seasons and setting modern National League records for wins in a season (37), wins in a career (373), and consecutive 20-win seasons (12). This photo of the big right-hander, taken by Charles Conlon in 1911, is iconic. Christy Mathewson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c78b28b-68da-4ae2-a58d-b8a1ae93be1c/03+-+Photographers+on+the+field.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photographers On The Field Look how close photographers used to be! Before the advent of telephoto lenses, if you wanted to get a super close action shot, sometimes you had to put yourself in harm’s way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f5ee732-32e9-411c-9963-2bac1bc86fbf/04+-+Cobb+slide.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Most Famous Photo On July 23, 1910 at Hilltop Park in New York during a game between the Yankees and the visiting Detroit Tigers, Charles Conlon took what is considered by many to be the best baseball photograph ever captured. In the image, Ty Cobb slides into third base, and into third baseman Jimmy Austin. Ty Cobb’s SABR Biography Jimmy Austin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fccbd275-83f8-4f9e-8544-208bfcd28202/05+-+The+Glory+Years+of+Baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Glory Years of Baseball The book that started it all for Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea70a550-93d3-4a82-89ba-5e1a00c8f83c/06+-+1967+Bob+Uecker.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 1967 Bob Uecker Card Before Paul knew any better, he thought this Bob Uecker card was “very old.” It led him to seek out a Babe Ruth card, which eventually turned into a lifelong search for vintage baseball items. Bob Uecker’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04e7d82d-1cd6-4ca6-8210-30976de4f004/Englishtown+Flea+Market.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Englishtown Flea Market Paul’s dad helped kickstart Paul’s collections by taking him to the Englishtown Flea Market in New Jersey. But it was his dad’s storytelling about his own favorite players which truly helped Paul gain an appreciation for the guys on the baseball cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a8237d7-c1ae-4cfa-9ce5-dc4a9c941180/07+-+1951+Berk+Ross+Richie+Ashburn.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 1951 Berk Ross Richie Ashburn Card Paul wanted to collect anyone who his dad loved, and his dad’s favorite player was Richie Ashburn. This 1951 Berk Ross card of Richie was the first one Paul got for his own collection. Richie Ashburn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41d76c73-bf03-4992-96bb-9dae9d715f31/08+-+Run+With+The+Swift.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Run With The Swift” Paul read The Wise Men and truly learned the lesson of running with the swift while he was a student at Harvard Business School. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df9598e7-3635-41c3-b4bd-ec262141b158/10+-+negative.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Negatives Paul describes negatives as something like a musical score. Negatives can be manipulated in a dark room or in various software programs, but it is an image that has the potential to be something other than exactly what it is on the substrate on which it exists. This negative, taken by photographer Francis P. Burke, shows Walter Johnson at Comiskey Park circa 1912. Walter Johnson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707806232526-18ZLOYVZQP6AYQKJIHWA/11+-+Ansel+Adams+Clearing+Winter+Storm+printed+1937.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Printed from original negative in 1937 (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707806232710-V3OPG5P0UAIIYG2UY2OI/12+-+Ansel+Adams+Clearing+Winter+Storm+printed+1970.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Printed from original negative, with selenium toner, between 1963-1970 (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f2cebf5-51c9-435c-9d82-523fe3faaaca/13+-+Type+I.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type I Photo A 1st generation photograph, developed from the original negative, during the period (within approximately two years of when the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ad8bbe3-e55d-4e68-83f9-c92f597601c1/14+-+Type+II.jpeg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type II Photo A photograph, developed from the original negative, during the period (more than approximately two years after the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/40b28adb-2e77-4ed8-a1cd-11cb13b8b5d8/15+-+Type+III+Maris.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type III Photo A 2nd generation photograph, developed from a duplicate negative or wire transmission, during the period (within approximately two years of when the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cdb84ee-d3cb-470b-96e5-12a8699bf492/16+-+Type+IV.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Type IV Photo A 2nd generation photograph (or 3rd or later generation), developed from a duplicate negative or wire transmission, during a later period (more than approximately two years after the picture was taken). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b82e1971-2bd8-4483-815d-72bcfd4f08cd/17+-+baryta.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baryta Photo Paper The word ‘baryta’ comes from the chemical compound barite – barium sulphate. The use of brightening agents in the baryta layer of photographic paper did begin in the early 1950s. Its adoption, however, was gradual and never complete, complicating the dating of photographic paper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f0493ad-5683-4c9d-be83-c007d46ca0b5/18+-+Chritsy+Mathewson+1912+verso.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Stamps The stamp on the back of a photograph is another way many people attempt to date a print. However, there are huge incentives to counterfeit stamps to make modern prints appear more vintage, so this method cannot always be trusted. This is the back of a Christy Mathewson photo taken circa 1913 by Charles Conlon. Note the stamp on the back, which reads: CHARLES M. CONLON Evening Telegram New York Paul and I discuss Conlon’s handwritten notes on the back of the photo, which are less than flattering to his friend, later in the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0e63d55-9edc-4a27-a738-e49d011871cc/19+-+Ansel+Adams+Moonrise+prints+throughout+the+years.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Moonrise Over Hernandez This photo, considered by many to be the greatest photograph ever made, was taken by Ansel Adams on November 1, 1941. Using that date as the starting point, which of these printings of it would be considered a “Vintage Print” and which would be considered a “Modern Print”? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e9bb5cc6-0ced-4e81-9252-bce831fc4438/20+-+Cy+Young+1910+glass+plate+negative.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Glass Plate Negatives Dry plate glass negatives were the first economically successful durable photographic medium. Dry plate negatives are typically on thinner glass plates, with a more evenly coated emulsion. Dry plate glass negatives were in common use between the 1880s and the late 1920s. This glass plate negative was taken by Charles Conlon of Cy Young in 1910. Like Paul mentioned, glass plate negatives are hard to work with because of their weight and their fragility. Silver nitrate is used in numerous silver-based processes from the ambrotype to the gelatin silver print. In gelatin silver printing, silver nitrate is typically mixed with other chemicals to form a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, usually silver bromide or silver chloride, suspended in gelatin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ddc9608-b91d-4c38-bbd1-7e216ed5fdd5/21+-+Albumen+print.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Albumen Prints The albumen print, also called albumen silver print, is a method of producing a photographic print using egg whites. It was the first commercial process of producing a photo on a paper base from a negative. Previous methods - such as the daguerreotype and the tintype - were printed on metal. This image, taken by George K. Warren of the 1871 Yale Baseball Team, is an albumen print. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/709aa8c3-400e-4840-a095-9eb5d8650e09/22+-+Ambrotype.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ambrotypes The invention of wet collodion photography processes in the 1850s allowed the development of two new kinds of photographs: ambrotypes and tintypes. These new formats shared many characteristics with the earlier daguerreotypes but were quicker and cheaper to produce. An ambrotype is comprised of an underexposed glass negative placed against a dark background. The dark backing material creates a positive image. Photographers often applied pigments to the surface of the plate to add color, often tinting cheeks and lips red and adding gold highlights to jewelry, buttons, and belt buckles. This 19th century ambrotype shows a female baseball player holding a ring bat in her right hand and a baseball in her left hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf94b9d3-7055-48fc-8db7-4b8393ec3cba/23+-+Kintsugi.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Kintsugi Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold — built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3c3cfa62-7205-4133-94ce-95439555d48f/24+-+contact+print.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Contact Prints A contact print is a photographic image produced from a film, usually a negative, The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film original onto a light sensitive material pressed tightly to the film. This contact print from William N. Jacobellis shows Joe DeMaestri of the Philadelphia A's, circa 1953. Joe DeMaestri’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d23f0f6e-81e4-4b3d-8b5b-56f285539977/25+-+35+mm+shot.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - 35 mm film While you’re still able to capture beautiful images, using 35 mm film produces much grainier images than using glass plate negatives. Glass plate negatives can hold a tremendous amount of information on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bba549e-4897-494d-8f89-a3848d2e2790/26.5.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Carl J. Horner Carl J. Horner was a studio photographer who may have been the first official photographer of Major League Baseball. His portraits were used as the basis of the famous T206 baseball card set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d71028dd-3309-44d0-8a84-a5dba6c78e74/26+-+Carl+J+Horner+business+card.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “European Photographer” Horner was born in Europe and advertised himself as a “European photographer” to indicate that he was artistic in a way in which American photographers were not. Note the bottom left corner of this cabinet photo’s folder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/26f72ed6-a4e4-4a1c-810e-db89000453f6/27+-+Doge+Loredan.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan The Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan is a painting by Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini, dating from c. 1501–02. It portrays Leonardo Loredan, the Doge of Venice from 1501 to 1521, in his ceremonial garments with the corno ducale worn over a linen cap. John Pope-Hennessy described Bellini as "by far the greatest fifteenth-century official portraitist", adding that "the tendency towards ideality that impairs his private portraits here stood him in good stead, and enabled him to codify, with unwavering conviction, the official personality." Baseball portrait photographer Carl J. Horner took inspiration from this style of European portraiture, particularly when it came to lighting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5c93267d-55fc-44ea-a628-9e2b3e12b8a0/28+-+Horner%27s+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Honus Wagner by Carl J. Horner Possibly the most famous portrait by Carl J. Horner, this image was the basis of the highly sought-after T206 baseball card featuring Honus Wagner, which sells for millions of dollars. Honus Wagner’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4110a4c9-2d91-4f18-8404-c6768e410a8b/29+-+Jefferson+Burdick.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Jefferson Burdick The American Card Catalog: The Standard Guide on All Collected Cards and Their Values is a reference book for American trading cards produced before 1951, compiled by Jefferson Burdick. First published in 1939, some collectors regard the book as the most important in the history of collectible cards. The book catalogues sports and non-sports cards, but is best known for its categorization of baseball cards. Sets like 1909-11 White Borders, 1910 Philadelphia Caramel’s, and 1909 Box Tops are most commonly referred to by their ACC catalogue numbers. They are, respectively, T206, E95, and W555. Burdick donated his personal collection of over 300,000 pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1947. He spent the next 15 years working at the museum's drawings and prints department to accomplish the task of cataloging the collection. At 5 p.m. on Jan. 10, 1963, Burdick pasted his last card, rose, worked himself into his coat and announced, “I shan’t be back.” The next day, he checked into a hospital. He died there on March 13 at 63. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ba50dec-84b5-4fc8-9820-b2348ef4c903/30+-+double+vintage.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Double-Vintage Charles Schwartz has been a collector of 19th and 20th century photographs since 1970. His areas of specialization include Japanese photography before and between the wars; portraits of photographers; the African-American experience (from Civil War to the present); and 19th century cased images, including Japanese ambrotypes. His concept of ‘Double-Vintage’ is having objects displayed alongside vintage photographs in which they are depicted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707864052750-RL18JGNXNERDL0GS9UKN/31+-+Joe+in+the+living+room.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Joe Jackson in his living room, 1949 (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707864050481-4BZQR6AQFV4QVVFDBS5E/32+-+my+recreation.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - My recreation of that exact same spot with vintage pieces, 2021 (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c3057cb2-ac14-4caa-8a36-30c5047da283/33+-+Germany+Schaefer%2C+1911.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Graflex The invention of the Graflex camera allowed photographers to break free of the confines of their studios, and actually take their cameras outside, or to the homes or places of work of their subjects. Here, Germany Schaefer of the Washington Senators, plays around with a Graflex in 1911. Germany Schaefer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c98c8a4-571b-4ec1-99bf-2fb6eec72c95/34+-+Charles+Conlon+1913+b%26w.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out Charles Conlon was able to take this photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson at the Polo Grounds in 1913 because his Graflex allowed him to take his camera anywhere, shooting his subjects where they felt most comfortable and familiar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/12d97a05-10bb-4a0d-9870-72667d71334a/35+-+Chief+Meyers+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out This striking image of Chief Meyers was taken by Charles Conlon in 1914. If you look in Meyers’ eyes, you can see Conlon (and his camera) in the reflection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/54276514-a6c5-4568-a3a7-4522ebc14254/36+-+Ty+Cobb+at+Comiskey+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Francis P. Burke A Chicago-based photographer, Francis P. Burke was the official photographer of the Chicago Cubs during the early part of the 20th century. This photo Burke took of Ty Cobb at Comiskey Park would later become the basis of Cobb’s famous Cracker Jack baseball card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c96d940-e6a0-4e92-ae7e-b900112ed1d5/37+-+George+Burke.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Burke More than 60 years after his death, George Burke remains one of the most famous and collected baseball photographers. Burke was the official photographer for several teams and provided the photos for the Goudey and Play Ball baseball card sets. Based out of Chicago, Burke shot some of the iconic images of the days’ stars including Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Dizzy Dean and Joe DiMaggio. Babe Ruth once called Burke his favorite photographer, and he and numerous other stars bought his photographs to fulfill their autograph requests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dafc9787-196a-4906-9fcb-feead50ee69d/38+-+George+Brace.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Brace George Brace was born on Chicago’s South Side on April 11, 1913. By the time he retired in 1994, he had 65 years of experience, capturing more than half of major league baseball’s years in pictures, and leaving a priceless legacy to fans everywhere. Along with his mentor, George Burke, Brace photographed baseball’s first official All-Star Game (NL vs. AL) at Comiskey Park in 1933. Brace captured an estimated 13,000 subjects, including players, managers, umpires, groundskeepers, ball boys, mascots, concessionaires, announcers, et al. “If they came to Chicago, I got ’em,” he told everyone, leaving hundreds of thousands of images. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21fac4b9-d3e4-4b9e-8f7e-175bad0959ac/39+-+Frank+Chance+The+American+Magazine+1909.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Francis P. Burke Although his images were used for numerous Cracker Jack cards and publications of the day, Burke’s name has been largely forgotten. Here, his 1905 image of Frank Chance graces the cover of a 1909 issue of The American Magazine. Frank Chance’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/027539f5-4d89-4387-ae53-f82170c50007/40+-+Paul+Thompson.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Paul Thompson While many believe (or want to believe) Paul Thompson was a photographer, he actually operated a photography news service which aggregated photos taken by a large network of photographers across the country and distributed those photos to publications which wanted to use them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e7a938d-f454-45ba-9d5f-d3c308203142/41+-+George+Grantham+Bain.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - George Grantham Bain George Grantham Bain was known as "the father of foreign photographic news." Although not a photographer, himself, he operated Bain News Service starting in 1898. The George Grantham Bain Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division comprises approximately 40,000 glass plate negatives and 50,000 photographic prints.[2] Most are scanned and have been made available online. Most date from the 1900s to the mid-1920s, but some are as early as the 1860s, and some as late as the 1930s. The majority of Bain's images depict events in New York City, but he also copied extant images of worldwide events for news distribution purposes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7c793e5-dd18-430d-a99c-7072368ef746/42+-+Sweeney+Gets+Speaker+-+1910+in+New+York.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Charles M. Conlon According to Paul, Charles Conlon was unquestionably the first “baseball photographer,” as opposed to photographers prior to Conlon who sometimes took photos at baseball games or of baseball players. Conlon was truly a baseball photographer. In this photo, he captures Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox sliding into Ed Sweeney of the New York Yankees circa 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d6817f5-0797-4abd-a82e-8b84d05aa889/43+-+Edweard+Muybridge%2C+1886.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Eadweard Muybridge Eadweard Muybridge was an English photographer known for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture projection. Muybridge was a noted photographer in the 19th century American West. He photographed Yosemite, San Francisco, the newly acquired Alaskan Territory, subjects involved in the Modoc War, and lighthouses on the West Coast. He also made his early "moving" picture studies in California. This series of photos was taken in 1886. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dc47e6fb-e79c-4868-85a5-17186a3185ba/44+-+1905+Spalding+Base+Ball+Guide.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide was an annual baseball guide, founded by A. G. Spalding, and published by his American Sports Publishing Company. First published in 1878, its name varied slightly over time. In 1940, it merged with another publication to become The Official Baseball Guide. A modern descendant of the Guide is published by the Sporting News. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8cf5b876-25e2-45b3-b6f7-783ce1210964/45+-+Paul+Thompson+photo.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - T205 Portraits This portrait of Johnny Evers was taken by the Paul Thompson agency and became the basis for the Johnny Evers baseball card which appeared in the T205 set. Johnny Evers’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a755d109-e2f6-4f91-8545-ca25f10550d7/46+-+Rube+Marquard+-+Published+in+Reach%27s+Official+Base+Ball+Guide%2C+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Reach's Official Base Ball Guide, 1914 In addition to being published in the Spalding guide, Conlon’s photos also appeared in the Reach guide books. This page, taken from the 1914 edition, credits Conlon in the lower right corner for taking the photos featuring the New York Giants’ pitching staff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/09f75c76-cf3b-466c-8b8e-c5776b105a91/47+-+joe+jackson+swing.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - After The Swing Many photographers chose to take photos of swinging batters once their swing was complete, as opposed to trying to capture the middle of the swing, or even the point of contact when the bat meets the ball. Take this photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson, a lifetime .356 batter, captured in 1916. Paul theorizes that this was due to photographers of the day struggling with the shutter speed of their cameras. When photographers would “miss” a shot using a glass plate negative, it was expensive and time consuming. This led to many photographers opting for the safer photos, ones they knew they could get. Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d9e67282-6698-4535-9e42-c9a5bfb4c204/48+-+butch+schmidt.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Butch Schmidt Normally, Conlon would set up behind a left handed batter. For this image of Butch Schmidt, Conlon set up in front of him and produced a great action shot. The image is stamped ‘October 24, 1914’ and was published in the 1915 Spalding Guide. Butch Schmidt’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7206b994-c170-4950-bf0e-bd6f8ae48532/50.1+-+They%27re+All+Good+American+Names.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Charley Can Be Trusted. Always.” With these five words to his teammates, Christy Mathewson gave Charles Conlon the biggest vote of confidence any photographer could ever ask for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c72b0d4c-0bb9-4b1c-b3bf-6d0035f41e22/51+-+Christy+Mathewson+1904.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s First Baseball Photo? Taken in 1904 of Christy Mathewson, this image is potentially the first ever baseball photo ever taken by Charles Conlon. Not bad, Rook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4750053d-1970-4cc2-9f97-251a89c003e6/52+-+Chritsy+Mathewson+1912+front.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Christy’s Crow’s Feet The inscription on the back of this photo, in Conlon’s own hand, reads: “1913 - First appearance of crow’s feet under his eyes. Years on the pitching slab under burning sun beginning to tell.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b6e9a8d-f341-46b1-b614-5ead74068972/53+-+angle+of+incidence.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photography Concepts Applied To Sports? The angle formed between the normal and the incident ray at the point of incidence is called the angle of incidence. Similarly, the angle formed between the normal and the reflected ray at the point of incidence is called the angle of reflection. When Conlon tried to explain this concept to Home Run Baker, as he felt it related to baseball, Baker shrugged him off, thinking Conlon was out of his element. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b34c59f4-36ac-4c3c-8765-7701c58c6ce2/54+-+Honus+Wagner+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Betraying His Friends? Were Conlon’s photos of his aging friends’ eyes a betrayal of their trust? Or was Conlon simply trying to learn as much about the sport as he possibly could, and approaching performance analysis in a way no one else had ever thought to? This image of his friend, Honus Wagner, was taken in 1914, when Wagner was 40 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/64bce95d-bbd1-40cc-aeb7-746e6e0f8054/55+-+Sam+Crawford+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - F. C. Lane’s Captions "If you ever want to know why Hans Wagner dropped out of the select batting circle, look at his eyes." "Sam Crawford is a man who has carefully conserved his energies. His calm philosophy of life has carried him much farther than the restless activity which burns up the energies of so many players. But Sam's batting eye is growing dim. The lustre, the quickness of perception which he knew in his youth, are gone forever." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player's Eyes Grow Old," Baseball Magazine, May 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37ae89da-9924-4aca-bc35-feb7714f40b8/55+-+Conlon%27s+Eyes.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baseball Magazine "Look at Chief Meyers. The strained, almost wild, look in his eyes is a telling tribute to the exhausting effects of the only game. Meyers is practically through, so they say… Take a bird's-eye sweep of Meyers' record; note how that marvelous batting gift rose to heights which few ever reach and then note how steadily and decisively it fell. What took more than a hundred points off his batting average in three years? If anything save damaged eye-sight could produce such a change in so short a time, what was it?" "Look at the weary look in Evers' eyes. The fiery Trojan is growing old for a ball player. His batting was never his chief claim to glory, though he was always a brainy and usually a good hitter. The camera favors Evers in the accompanying picture. His eyes are older even than they look in the illustration." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player's Eyes Grow Old," Baseball Magazine, May 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ca3d1da0-1f81-4915-b9e4-ccc6c3bb2d72/55+-+Bag+It+Michael.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Bag It, Michael! Michael Jordan appeared on 50 Sports Illustrated covers. More than anyone ever. He was always very cooperative with SI. Until they published this cover in March of 1994. MJ's main objection was that Sports Illustrated never spoke to him for the story. He vowed to never speak to the magazine again after that. And he never did. Michael Jordan’s Baseball Reference page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4d361852-26c4-46fb-98de-03abec9ee816/58+-+Ty+Cobb+batting+grip.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Batting Grips "Strikingly like Cobb, but with a great, decisive difference, is Joe Jackson's position at the plate. Almost with the same build as Cobb, slightly lighter on his feet, more wiry, with stronger hands and forearms, the great White Sox slugger is the perfect model of what a ball player should be. Jackson holds the bat at much the same elevation as does Cobb, but there is a telling difference in the way in which he grips the war club. His hands are close together. Furthermore, the bat is gripped at the extreme end of the handle. His right hand overlaps the far end of the bat as though he wanted to get every inch of the club into the swing and wanted to stretch the bat a little more. Unlike Cobb, Jackson is a slugger, first, last, and all the time, a batter who scores hits by the matchless keenness of his eye, by the driving power of his bat; a batter whose superior has never been seen and whose equal it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find. One other feature of Jackson's pose is noticeable, the bat which he clutches in his sinuous fingers with so resolute a grip, is black." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player Grips His Bat," Baseball Magazine, September 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4488bcd-b3d4-40f1-a8ed-ec16e1847c57/59+-+Tris+Speaker+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Batting Grips "Until Ty Cobb robs him of his newly won crown, Tris Speaker is champion. Note the curious way in which the direful Tris stands at the plate. He draws a line with the ends of his bat in the dust, his tribute to the players' superstition, then takes his stand in a resolute, rather crouching attitude, swinging his bat slowly back and forth across the plate. Speaker is one man who holds the bat almost parallel with the ground. Look at his shoulders and they will corroborate that statement. He keeps his shoulders elevated so that if the ball comes high he can raise his arms and the bat with the minimum of effort. If the ball comes low, he can, of course, lower his hands to meet it without effort." - F. C. Lane, "How A Ball Player Grips His Bat," Baseball Magazine, September 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b103de5-3839-4989-a26d-86b71a1e1bed/60+-+Fred+Jacklitsch+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Fred Jacklitsch "[Fred] Jacklitsch has the typical, dockwalloper catcher's hand. The palm is thick and hard and bony. Every finger of the hand has been broken, some of them several times. See how greatly distended is the mid-joint of the middle finger. A fierce foul tip shattered the bone at this point." - F. C. Lane, "Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, October 1917 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/41f3fefd-1c9e-4c45-a735-8fe3e37a80da/61+-+Al+Walters+Baseball+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Alfred “Roxy” Walters "Al Walters of the Yanks is still a relative newcomer. He hasn't a huge war club of a hand, but the essential characteristics are all there. Note the thickness of the palm, the short, stubby, powerful fingers." - F. C. Lane, "Inside Dope From A Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, July 1918 Roxy Walters’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/427b9cd0-479e-464d-989b-760e56d77aa5/62+-+Jimmy+Archer+1913.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Jimmy Archer "The first and fourth fingers look like the wreck of the Hesperus. The little finger curves like a barrel hoop. Jimmy [Archer] couldn't straighten it to save his life, but it didn't bother him any, as he said 'the ball fitted well into that curve.' The first finger is grown to about two sizes owing to the fact that both joints have been repeatedly broken. The other two fingers might not do over well for a violin player, but they are quite straight and normal for a catcher. Not saying that they have not met with their mishaps. Jimmy broke every finger of this hand.” - F. C. Lane, "Ball Player’s Hands," Baseball Magazine, October 1917 Jimmy Archer’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/59f9aba6-0acb-410e-843e-77588b31746e/63+-+%27Big%27+Ed+Walsh%2C+spitball+grip+1913.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Baseball’s Golden Age The cover photo of the incredible book by Neal and Constance McCabe depicts Big Ed Walsh’s spitball grip, photographed by Charles Conlon in 1913. When Paul saw this print in person, he knew he had to own it. It was the first Conlon in his collection, but it wouldn’t be the last. Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4207dd7e-e2dc-40e4-a3ee-b9b4e89c3a9c/64+-+Eddie+Cicotte%2C+knuckleball+grip+1913.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Eddie Cicotte It didn’t take long for Paul to purchase his second Conlon. He bought this print of Eddie Cicotte’s knuckleball grip (taken by Conlon circa 1913) in the same transaction. This was a gift and a curse, though. When you own one of something, it’s just something cool you own. But now that Paul owned two, that’s the start of a collection. And it was all downhill from there. Eddie Cicotte’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c7169bb-3b22-47a2-bb54-86dc6b684224/65+-+Walker+Evans.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Walker Evans The photographs of Walker Evans told the story of American working-class life with an exacting frankness that was truly revolutionary for its time. His iconic portrait of Allie Mae Burroughs - a farmer's wife, and mother of four - whose unforgettable eyes seem to stare right through us - is one of the most firmly embedded images in American consciousness. A staffer at Fortune and Time magazines, Evans actually reached the height of his powers toward the end of The Great Depression. Drawing deeply on the American literary tradition, he went further than others in his refusal to romanticize poverty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df4fcfcd-0a20-4451-bd07-299e6a66d728/66+-+Diane+Arbus.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Diane Arbus This portrait of 7-year-old twin sisters Cathleen and Colleen Wade is probably Diane Arbus’ most recognisable work. The image, which was taken at a Christmas party for twins and triplets in New Jersey, shows the girls standing uniformly side by side – their height, matching dresses and haircuts characterising them as twins. The differing facial expressions of the pair, however, show the strong sense of individuality from each girl and begs the question of whether or not the twins are actually identical, which might be why their parents have claimed that this image is the worst likeness of their daughters that they've ever seen. This image gained more notoriety upon the release of cult horror film “The Shining”, when pop-culture fanatics began comparing the girls in the 1967 portrait to the spooky twins featured in Stanley Kubrick’s film. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01ea25ec-bc56-4c54-b286-fb4ed0f3434f/67+-+first+baseball.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The First Baseball Ever Patented It took decades of hunting, and a good amount of luck, but this piece became the cornerstone of the collection Paul was trying to build, so he could tell the story he wanted to tell. David Wells’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8439bf67-a3ae-404e-b817-c523cf76ede4/68+-+Babe+Ruth.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Babe Ruth’s Eyes "Here you may meet baseball's greatest slugger face to face. Babe Ruth, the Superman of Swat — most picturesque of ball players, the greatest slugger who ever lived." Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97196b04-c19b-413b-9b5f-1bd3b6a84d50/69+-+Lou+Gehrig.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Lou Gehrig’s Eyes "Lou Gehrig, Ruth's most promising rival for slugging honors. There is a forceful personality behind those thoughtful eyes quite in keeping with the smashing power of his hits." Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/045a46db-8bfd-4944-82d6-dc7ef2f73961/70+-+Ben+Paschal+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ben Paschal "Babe Ruth was taken out of a ball game this spring and a pinch hitter sent to the plate in Ruth's place. This incident was telegraphed from coast to coast and caused a national sensation in sport. 'Paschal bats for Ruth,' became the most widely discussed line of type printed in the newspapers of the United States that day. Paschal, a substitute, is called from the dugout to bat for the greatest slugger of the baseball ages." - George Moriarty, The Warren Tribune, April 29, 1927 Ben Paschal’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2106a860-8afe-4729-bcc8-0dde703cec48/71+-+Photographers+at+the+Polo+Grounds%2C+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Owning The Cameras Imagine owning one of the actual cameras used to take these incredible photos. That’s what Paul thought he was about to do, before finding out that he was misled. This image shows a group of photographers at the Polo Grounds in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/544f8569-8d2b-4c87-98b3-111617e607cf/72+-+Charles+Conlon.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Cleaning House Charles Conlon, pictured here at his proofreader’s desk at the Evening Telegram in 1930, lived in a small house in New Jersey. Eventually, the thousands of glass plate negatives he was storing, documenting his life’s work, became too much of a nuisance to keep at his home. So he decided to have one of the most tragic spring cleanings in American history, and threw thousands of pieces away. About 8,000 images survived of an estimated 40-50,000 total. The world will never know what was lost in that purge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a58e904-32d9-4f48-96aa-223ea2afc3ce/73+-+Ty+Cobb+slide+full.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out Conlon’s most recognizable work, Ty Cobb sliding into Jimmy Austin on July 23, 1910 was taken out of instinct. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/eef63fd1-76f2-46ce-b1dd-2134f6af7d7d/74+-+Casey+Stengel+batting+1916.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Intellectual Property Rights Paul regrets saying that he lacked the authority to speak on matters of intellectual property rights in images. He wishes he had said that he lacked the knowledge. Paul thinks that the truth of an idea has nothing to do with the authority of its proponents. This Conlon image of Casey Stengel batting in 1916 was used as the basis of an illustration which graced the cover of the September 1917 issue of Baseball Magazine. Casey Stengel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b320f783-5fe0-4982-886b-b15b41c4b7ef/75+-+Ty+Cobb+1913.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Prime Paul posits that the prime of Charles Conlon’s career spanned about 7 years, roughly from 1911 to 1917. This portrait of Ty Cobb was taken by Conlon in 1913, smack dab in the middle of Conlon’s prime. Paul considers the peak of Conlon’s prime to be 1913 and 1914, when he begins experimenting with photographic essays on eyes, hands, and grips of players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e541b9ba-be27-4bff-8664-52e237fff0e8/76+-+Ray+Chapman%27s+last+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ray Chapman’s Death Paul says the death of Ray Chapman is the line of demarcation when it comes to important events being photographed on the baseball diamond. Before Chapman’s death in 1920, there isn’t a single important event that was photographed on a baseball field. After Chapman’s death, there isn’t a single important event that wasn’t. Chapman was hit with a pitch from the hand of Carl Mays on August 16, 1920 at the Polo Grounds in New York. He died the following day. This is one of the last photos ever taken of him. Ray Chapman’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f25063a3-1f40-48bb-86ed-2e40b1c57e7c/77+-+New+York+Daily+News+-+something+new+in+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Something New In Baseball” The New York Daily News began taking photos of every play of every game of the 1920 World Series, hoping to be able to capture every significant play on film so they could put it in a “double truck” two-page spread in the paper. Photographers positioned on the first base side and the third base side of the field used modified Graflex cameras to be able to capture any and every play on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf931ccc-9061-42c4-91b1-6fa0b6b36ced/78+-+Wambsganss+unassisted+triple+play.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Bill Wambsganss’ Unassisted Triple Play This photo exists thanks to the Daily News and their “Sports, Illustrated” experiment. It shows Bill Wambsganss of the Cleveland Indians recording the first ever unassisted triple play in the history of the World Series. Bill Wambsganss SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bdf2a5a7-f36c-4595-93fc-e4acb6a4b2e0/79+-+Ali.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Neil Leifer Neil Leifer’s photography career has spanned over 60 years. Beginning in 1960, his pictures regularly appeared in every major national magazine, including the Saturday Evening Post, Look, LIFE, Newsweek, and, most often, Sports Illustrated and Time. His photographs have appeared on over 200 Sports Illustrated, Time, and People covers. Here is one of the most iconic sports photos ever taken: Muhammad Ali reacting after his first round knockout of Sonny Liston during the World Heavyweight Title fight at St. Dominic’s Arena in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6e4d4351-0875-4467-abb5-71af9cdb9029/80+-+Honus+Wagner+1912.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Honus Wagner Wagner considered Conlon a friend, and even went out of his way to protect Charley’s exclusivity when it came to getting certain photos on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/252317cb-c467-4a29-85b2-5bacf80794cb/81+-+Mordecai+Brown%2C+change-up+grip+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “Three Finger” Brown Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown, lost his index finger in a childhood farming accident, and the injury imparted bewildering movement to his curve ball. Conlon confessed that he took this photograph of Brown’s change-up grip in 1914 when he was a member of Federal League’s St. Louis Terriers, motivated by the naive thought that the details of Brown's pitching grip might be useful to his friend, John McGraw. Brown and his Chicago Cubs largely dominated McGraw's New York Giants from 1906-1910. Mordecai Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aa9331e-1afe-40cd-9554-1bdb2793d80c/82+-+different+addresses.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Different Stamps Photos from earlier in Charles Conlon’s career had a stamp with an address of 216 W. 111th Street in New York. The 189 Alden Place stamp appears on the backs of Conlon prints from (at least) 1930 until 1943. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b430bc84-81b5-4b55-8eab-71960d8443e3/83+-+Babe+Ruth+-+Nat+Fein.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Photos That Answer Questions Nat Fein’s photo of Babe Ruth from what many believed would be Babe’s final public appearance on June 13 of 1948 is one of the lasting images of the sport’s greatest hero. “Babe Bows Out” won Fein the Pulitzer Prize. “I saw Ruth standing there with his uniform, No. 3 . . . and knew that was the shot. It was a dull day, and most photographers were using flash bulbs, but I slowed the shutter and took the picture without a flash.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0658e30f-7c97-45cd-b0a5-7eb8f0910c8f/84+-+Behind+the+Gare+Saint-Lazare.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Decisive Moment The photographic master Henri Cartier-Bresson made some key observations about photography, translated as “the decisive moment” which is often (incorrectly) characterized as: “capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, where the image represents the essence of the event itself.” Cartier-Bresson, himself, explains it like this: "In a photograph, composition is the result of a simultaneous coalition, the organic coordination of elements seen by the eye. One does not add composition as though it were an afterthought superimposed on the basic subject material, since it is impossible to separate content from form. Composition must have its own inevitability about it. But inside movement there is one moment at which the elements in motion are in balance. Photography must seize upon this moment and hold immobile the equilibrium of it.” His 1932 photo Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare (pictured here) is often cited as an example of his “decisive moment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/909a5b09-f948-49e0-aac1-64300feb17e8/85+-+Babe+Ruth+-+Harry+Harris.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Harry Harris Harry Harris used a flash while shooting Ruth that day, like many other photographers. Harris also shot his image in portrait, instead of landscape, making his image significantly different from Fein’s, although they were shooting from similar positions. Harris was a great photographer in his own right, but he missed the mark this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/db7cc80a-d0f9-4d8c-b752-896aefb6e94d/86+-+Nat+Fein+with+a+flash.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Fein’s Flash Fein didn’t use a flash on the photo which won him the Pulitzer, but he did use a flash on this photo of Babe coming out of the dugout. Look at the difference the flash makes. Paul said that Nat Fein might have credited Jimmy Hare with telling him not to use a flash. While Fein did tell Paul that he had worked with Jimmy Hare early in his career, the person who told Fein not to use a flash was the New York Herald Tribune’s picture editor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/635c9d52-17a7-4526-b02b-e6308c894498/86+-+Weegee+photo.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Arthur Fellig aka “Weegee” Weegee worked in Manhattan's Lower East Side as a press photographer during the 1930s and 1940s and developed his signature style by following the city's emergency services and documenting their activity. Paul mistakenly says that a mother is watching her children die in a fire in this December 15, 1939 photograph. In his book Naked City, Weegee titles the photograph “I Cried When I Took This Picture,” and describes it as a mother and daughter crying as another daughter and her young baby are burning to death in the top floor of the tenement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3759ddb-c249-4556-ac48-14faa72119b0/87+-+Javan+Emory+circa+1885.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Javan Emory “Some photographs tell stories; others keep secrets.” This is a stunning example of an image that doesn’t immediately answer all of your questions. It was taken circa 1885 of catching phenom Javan Isaac Emory. Javan Emory was a celebrated catcher at a time when catching was dangerous and required real courage. He often caught for celebrated Black pitcher George Stovey. His capabilities as a catcher during an exhibition game for a National League “proved to be so threatening that Major league baseball drew the color line in direct response.” Read Paul’s essay, “He Wears The Mask”, originally published in the Southwest Review from Southern Methodist University, by CLICKING HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfd720bd-06b5-4073-8c5f-6a567616a887/88+-+Black+Betsy+coloring+patent.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Tobacco Juice? Paul thinks Shoeless Joe Jackson’s famous bat, “Black Betsy,” wasn’t stained with tobacco juice, as we have all been told for nearly 120 years. Instead, since he is so familiar with all of the different bat-related patents from the early days of baseball, Paul is fairly certain the bat was actually turned on a lathe while a piece of Black Walnut was held against the bat, darkening the lighter colored wood until a desired effect had been achieved. CLICK HERE to see the full patent in question. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ed982a75-1e4b-4d45-8c6e-96c2e879ee74/89+-+Liquor+Store+b%26w.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “One of Baseball’s Great Images of Failure” Many of the images used in these liner notes are courtesy of the Paul Reiferson Collection, but this is actually one that I personally own. It depicts Joe Jackson standing behind the counter at his liquor store in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 2, 1939. He is 52 years old here. Paul says “what makes the whole story beautiful today is that he’s banned.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14ccc17e-72eb-415b-ad0a-5ff23b86f6d1/90+-+Ralph+Branca.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ralpha Branca This heartbreaking image from Barney Stein shows Ralph Branca in the clubhouse after Bobby Thomson hit the Shot Heard ‘Round The World to give the Giants the 1951 National League Pennant over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ralph Branca SABR Biography Bobby Thomson SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6d9d327-8cbd-4f74-9dcf-59bb475d18a3/91+-+Inconsolable.jpeg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - “The Agony” Barney Stein also captured Ralph Branca & coach Cookie Lavagetto together, in silence, on the clubhouse steps. “After the ball sailed into the seats, I’d inadvertently picked up the rosin bag and threw it down in disgust. Head down, I headed for the centerfield clubhouse. Jackie [Robinson] had the presence of mind to make sure [Bobby] Thomson touched every base. He did. We were defeated. Undone.” Branca was inconsolable. Once in the clubhouse, he buried his face on the floor. His teammates left him alone. Jackie eventually approached him and said, “Ralph, it it weren’t for you, we would have never made it this far.” Cookie Lavagetto SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c77c065a-3ff1-416d-850f-5e517dbda455/Mantle+throwing+helmet.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Mick “Mickey Mantle Having A Bad Day At Yankee Stadium” in 1965, captured by John Dominis. One of the great pictures of an athlete in decline, Dominis picks up where Conlon left off with his “eyes” series. Mickey Mantle SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f717ef6-3122-472d-a5be-bbbad847f6fa/93+-+Mickey+Mantle+eyes+by+Ralph+Morse.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Conlon’s Influence Dominis wasn’t the only photographer being influenced by Conlon’s work. This shot of Mickey Mantle in the backyard of his River Edge, NJ, home on June 7, 1956 from Ralph Morse, along with a couple other taken during this session, clearly draws inspiration from Conlon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01d04c47-036b-4abc-b9bc-8e5c408c485e/94+-+Mickey+Mantle+batting+grip+by+Ralph+Morse.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Or This One… Mickey’s batting grip, taken that same day. Is it safe to assume Morse was aware of Conlon and his work? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5b64fdb0-cd9f-46fb-9e4f-006cf8f3d22b/95+-+Nolan+Ryan+fastball+grip+by+Robert+Seale.jpeg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Or How About This One? Nolan Ryan’s fastball grip by Robert Seale. Does this look familiar at all? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0dfb451d-6c41-4e5a-bad7-cf78f9b3c090/96+-+Willie+Mays%27+catch.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Make it stand out New York Daily News photographer Frank Hurley caught Willie May’s catch during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b6e250c7-9dc8-4b01-9cd5-912d6162aa0a/97+-+Gehrig+full+uniform.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Lou Gehrig Uniform With Pants Sometimes a deal feels good in the moment, but with hindsight, you realize it wasn’t as good of a deal as you thought at the time. Paul selling a full Lou Gehrig uniform, with the number 4 on the back, including the pants, was one of those times for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf87f546-e551-44af-8e71-ab9226f0e984/98+-+Josh+Gibson.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Josh Gibson Another piece Paul regrets selling is this beautiful close-up portrait of Josh Gibson at age 18 during his rookie season in 1930. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30f42e08-9665-4f1e-b73f-9a6c441148c1/99+-+the+first+baseball+card.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The First Baseball Card? In 1863, a series of games was played at St. George’s Cricket Club in New York. A total of three games was played at the site. Two were cricket matches but the third was a baseball game. Tickets to the games were sold for .25 but some special tickets featuring pictures of players in the games were sold for .50. Harry Wright SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f0f5376-7d63-4a59-a185-bd5d4c53c8af/100+-+Walt+Whitman.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Walt Whitman “In our sun-down perambulations of late, through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing ‘base,’ a certain game of ball…. Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms…. The game of ball is glorious.” Walt Whitman, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 23 1846 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1769e7ec-4200-43c1-881c-fc4c80dc8f32/101+-+jackie+debut+ticket.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - April 15, 1947 A ticket from Jackie Robinson’s debut game has skyrocketed in price during recent years as collectors have begun coveting tickets to famous sporting events just as much as cards or game-used artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7ece5b51-a034-4577-96c0-c2cd0f765db1/102+-+Jackie+Robinson+Story.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Jackie Robinson Story Jackie Robinson plays himself in this heartfelt and unusually realistic biopic that follows his early years to baseball superstardom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/94bd175a-0b31-484f-9124-f6631e9d2fa5/103+-+with+sons.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Follow Paul Online Facebook Instagram LinkedIn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15186cd9-6b7b-48e5-8699-39c98f4c6e85/104+-+me+playing+as+a+kid.JPG Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Mom / Photographer This ghostly double-exposure shot of Dan Wallach was captured by Lori Wallach at the Field of Dreams Movie Site during the summer of 1993. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a56da99-201c-4a0a-a9a2-28d7f58d193b/105+-+mom%27s+present.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Mom’s Birthday Present Taken in Carbondale, Illinois in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ccb1286-9fdb-45da-bf93-e3781d8d0b53/106+-+McCabe.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Neal and Constance McCabe Their names have become synonymous with Charles Conlon’s images at this point, as well. If you don’t already own a copy, you can buy the book HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60dc3334-3e15-4510-bcaf-b127e918e16b/107+-+These+Eyes+Sure+Have+It.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - These Eyes Sure Have It Conlon’s photo essay on the eyes of the 1927 Murderer’s Row Yankees is one of the great photo series in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f096ae81-5853-4524-a263-9e5a98a4b00b/108+-+Live+From+The+Rock+Room.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Live From The Rock Room Started by drummer Mike Felumlee (Smoking Popes, Alkaline Trio) in his basement, Live From The Rock Room gives touring bands a chance to get a free meal and some free publicity. When I helped shoot still photography during the sessions, my photos often times resembled those of Charles Conlon. YouTube Instagram Facebook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ad699d1-2803-490b-af2e-969ef87b9377/109+-+Big+Ed+Walsh.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Big Ed Walsh From 1907 to 1912, “Big Ed” Walsh tested the limits of a pitcher’s endurance like no pitcher has since. During that stretch the spitballing right-hander led the American League in innings pitched four times, often by staggeringly large margins. He hurled a total of 2,248 innings, 300 more than any other pitcher in baseball. He started 18 more games than any other pitcher, and led the American League during that stretch in games finished and saves, though the latter statistic would not be tracked for another 60 years. His finest season came in 1908, when Walsh became the last pitcher in baseball history to win 40 games, and hurled an incredible 464 innings, 73⅓ more than any other pitcher in baseball. This photo of him was taken by Charles Conlon circa 1911. Big Ed Walsh’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0cccbfa-faf9-4a56-9792-2c71f842e89a/110+-+John+Quincy+Adams+1843.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - John Quincy Adams This daguerreotype was taken in a Washington portrait studio in March 1843, when Adams was in the middle of his post-presidential career in Congress. He gave it as a gift to a fellow representative, whose descendants kept it in the family while apparently losing track of its significance. It is the earliest known photograph of a president. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99bcaf85-4d5a-4d17-ab96-b281541ce212/111+-+Lincoln.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - The Changing Face of Lincoln Abraham Lincoln’s physical appearance changed dramatically during his tenure as President of the United States. The magnitude of his apparent aging is often demonstrated by showing a photograph from the start of his first term compared to one taken a few months before his death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ff09fa3-1f3c-4f14-9819-0f3eb8df938d/112++-+Matthew+Brady.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Matthew Brady When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Matthew Brady marketed his services to soldiers who, before going off to war, wanted to give their family members photograph keepsakes of themselves. Yet Brady believed photography could document the war in a way no other medium could and envisioned a greater purpose for his talents, stating later, “I had to go. A spirit in my feet said ‘Go,’ and I went.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52d38132-0215-4b43-8a00-faa01548aee6/113+-+Babe+Ruth+1922.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Relating To The Camera This 1922 image of Babe Ruth is a clear example of the trust Conlon’s subjects had in him, and the rapport which allowed him to get photos no one else could get. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b207039-79f4-4265-a0f2-a3da1604e92c/114+-+Carl+J+Horner+Bradley+photo+1.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Carl J. Horner Portraits Notice the difference between the above photo by Conlon, and this original Carl J. Horner studio portrait cabinet photograph of Bill Bradley as a member of the Cleveland Naps. The photo was taken circa 1906 and would be used a few years later as the basis of Bradley’s T206 card. Granted, they were setting out to accomplish two separate things, but there’s no way Horner could ever get the shots in his studio which Conlon was getting on location with his Graflex and the full trust of his subjects. Bill Bradley SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb6eccb0-723a-4ae5-803b-cbc7bb8a4b54/115+-+kitchen.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Recreating History We did our best to make the kitchen inside the museum look as accurate as possible to the time period, including a period-appropriate refrigerator. Guests really seemed to love what we did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/61ebdf81-5422-4398-a944-f74b17228dda/116+-+paul+and+i.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Paul and I The Jackie Robinson Museum was really cool to experience. I couldn’t think of anyone better to go through with than Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b94aa5e-4644-40dd-8702-8219d3427ac3/117+-+Phillies+dugout+taunting+Jackie+Robinson+-+April+22%2C+1947.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - April 22, 1947 Paul donated this original photograph to the Jackie Robinson Museum. It shows the Phillies dugout taunting Jackie Robinson just one week after he broke the Major League Baseball color barrier. This scene was depicted in the movie 42 starring Chadwick Boseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/711470b4-74fa-4a50-afc1-6f2ee6604ee4/118+-+Paul.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - A Critical Eye Seeing the things which resonated with Paul was extremely interesting. Sometimes those same things also resonated with me, but not always. Sometimes it took some further explanation from Paul for me to really see why something that resonated with him should also resonate with me. Having someone there to teach me what and how to see was wonderful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7d5f31f0-fe9a-4882-b8c5-b9954e8eca76/119+-+weird+set+up.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Design Choices This trophy and award case was truly breathtaking. You were drawn to it from across the room. But as you walked up to it from the other side of the room, you realized it was 10 feet tall, which meant you couldn’t really see the details or engravings on anything above a certain point. So while the concept was beautiful, and the layout within the case is gorgeous, it wasn’t a functional museum display for people who were there to read and see and learn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dee8d145-ea84-4801-8bfa-a3651c6cdaa5/120+-+Chapman.png Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Ray Chapman Ray Chapman’s death contributed to the banning of the spitball, and to the first real push for mandatory use of batting helmets. While no photos of that moment or any of the following moments exist, photos of the flower arrangements from his funeral (seen here, captured by famed photographer Louis Van Oeyen) and other related moments were captured after the fact. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3cb547a-52f3-411f-9a33-341e24bdcc5d/121+-+Halper.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Barry Halper In October of 2010, Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn told the New York Post that a Barry Halper-donated jersey, supposedly worn by Shoeless Joe Jackson, was a fake. Horn stated that the logo utilized acrylic coloring first created in 1941. The jersey had been removed from display in 2008. Issues of authenticity have been raised with other items, including ones purported to belong to Cy Young, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and others. Subsequent reports alleged that scores of items in Halper's collection had been stolen from the Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Public Library, or other institutions. There have also been allegations that items in his collection were stolen from the wives or family members of deceased baseball stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99dc222c-2227-4586-9b2a-6dde8c41f9e1/122+-+%27Shoeless%27+Joe+Jackson+1912.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson - Joe Jackson’s Black Bats The story we’ve been told for years about Joe’s bat being stained by tobacco juice may not be accurate. This photo was taken by Charles Conlon in 1912. Notice the light handle and the perfect line separation of the dark barrel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707907072914-BEYH55ZQDYJK0H313P1I/123+-+Conlon+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1707907073138-BMIW2ZRHNXX7NMDSB33E/124+-+Conlon+card+back.jpg Past Episodes - 0305 - Paul Reiferson https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0304 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f5fd306d-761a-41e5-8381-acfb88b401cd/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ef8812cb-94af-408d-919c-2904a677a389/Mike+and+me+square.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck Mike Veeck and me after recording our interview at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a90fb4a-6d28-47f0-bdc0-1aa133de6b7f/01+-+Veeck+as+in+Wreck.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Veeck - As In Wreck One of the most famous baseball autobiographies ever written, Veeck - As In Wreck is the first person telling of the chaotic career of baseball's incorrigible maverick https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/784dfa81-4d5c-44ab-ae7f-0413a5c1d831/02+-+The+Saint+of+Second+Chances.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Saint of Second Chances The 2023 Netflix documentary is the story of how Mike Veeck, son of legendary Major League Baseball owner Bill Veeck, blows up his father's career and then spends the next few decades learning the value of a second chance. Watch it as a companion piece to this episode, if you have the chance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5018be0-5905-4b97-9f13-d92cad323a39/03+-+William+Veeck+Sr.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Veeck, Sr. William Louis Veeck Sr. was a newspaper writer in Chicago whose coverage of the Cubs led to him being offered a job with the team. William Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c61b95eb-ed4a-4ec6-b02f-bd5d502c34ed/04+-+Bill+Bailey.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - “Bill Bailey” William Veeck wrote under the pseudonym “Bill Bailey” and was known for being tough but fair as a journalist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/239fec8f-009b-44d2-b7db-d78a4190624a/05+-+Bill+Veeck+Sr.%2C+Joe+McCarthy%2C+and+William+Wrigley+Jr.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Wrigley, Jr. Mr. Wrigley asked Veeck “if you’re so smart about how I ought to be running my baseball club, why don’t you come over here and run it?” Veeck finished his lunch and then took Mr. Wrigley up on his offer. (left to right) William Veeck, Joe McCarthy, and William Wrigley, Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c28351f9-2a1b-44cb-bcc0-fcc66d53259f/06+-+William+Veeck.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Respected Although he wore a stiff collar and a tie every day to work, William Veeck still knew how to have fun, and was adamant about treating everyone with respect. That approach made him one of the most beloved people in baseball, even by his competition. He was also a visionary, enthusiastically promoting Ladies’ Days and the radio broadcasts of ball games, figuring — correctly — that fans would flock to his ballpark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/82053412-858c-4ee6-9712-5908e13717ef/07+-+Margaret+%E2%80%9CMidge%E2%80%9D+Donahue.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Margaret “Midge” Donahue William Veeck made Midge Donahue the first woman to be promoted to an executive level in baseball when he appointed her to be the Cubs’ Club Secretary in 1926. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f9ba854-aa5c-49ce-b99b-1d22f8c33aac/08+-+Margaret+Donahue+1923+Cubs+check.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Great Team Donahue worked her way up the ladder, becoming the Cubs’ Vice President by the time her career ended in 1958. This is a paycheck from early in her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2213b99c-25f9-4c74-9382-ecdb5c9afa78/09+-+Grace%2C+Bill%2C+and+William+Veeck.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Family Man William with his wife, Grace, and their son, William Veeck, Jr., who they called Bill. William taught Bill many valuable lessons about life and business through baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80726a19-d776-4d32-8d5e-5fc814bc0ed3/10+-+Bill+Veeck.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Bill Veeck William Louis Veeck Jr. was born in Chicago on February 9, 1914, to William Louis Veeck, Sr. and Grace Greenwood DeForest Veeck. Young Bill began hanging around the ballpark at the age of 10, working as a vendor and ticket seller. Junior famously never wore a necktie, had wild, kinky, reddish hair that won him the nickname Burrhead, and spent his life tilting at every establishment windmill in sight. Bill Veeck’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8a61432-3f0c-4811-8747-f73988323f51/10+-+August+1945+Welcome+Home+Bill+Veeck.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Milwaukee Brewers Before they had a Major League franchise, Milwaukee had a team in the American Association, called the Brewers. Bill Veeck bought the team in 1940. They won 3 pennants in 5 years, and Bill sold the franchise in 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de7e02bd-3b88-4524-ba96-ae801065193b/September+1945+Operation+Successful.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Military Service Bill served three years as a Marine during World War II. During his service, he suffered an injury to his leg which caused him to have his leg amputated above his knee and would force him to endure more than 35 surgeries over the course of his life. While in the hospital, Bill would read a book a day about any and all subjects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da4edb5f-88d4-485d-8438-acbeb297a1e4/13+-+1942+Phillies.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1942 Philadelphia Phillies Veeck wrote that he tried to buy the bankrupt Philadelphia Phillies after the 1942 season, and intended to stock the team with black players, breaking organized baseball’s color line three years before Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers. In his 1962 autobiography, he asserted that he had lined up financing and enlisted the promoter Abe Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, to help sign Negro Leagues stars. Veeck said he informed Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis of his plan as a courtesy, but that Landis and National League president Ford Frick thwarted him by arranging a quick sale of the Phillies to another buyer. The controversial story has been debated for years as to whether it was true, but Veeck did end up breaking the color barrier in the American League in 1947 by signing Larry Doby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75ccc993-f95d-472d-ba6d-20e1042a125e/14+-+Cleveland+Indians.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cleveland Indians Bill bought the Cleveland Indians in 1946 and immediately made sure that all of the team’s games were broadcast on the radio. He also had the team start playing all of their games in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium in 1947 because it’s seating capacity of well over 70,000 dwarfed that of League Park. Here he is with Bob Feller, who is signing his new contract. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bf4f6dd2-8840-4a47-a95c-d8340372557f/15+-+Larry+Doby+signs+with+the+Indians.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Larry Doby Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American league on July 5, 1947, just 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in the Major Leagues. Bill Veeck actually paid Effa Manley of the Newark Eagles, who was the Negro League team owner who had previously employed his new player. Larry Doby’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d797d1f-2aa7-45ae-90b2-c83044d36074/16+-+Satchel+Paige.jpeg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Satchel Paige Not just a publicity stunt, Veeck signed the great Satchel Paige in 1948. The team went on to set an attendance record that season, but whether it was 2.6 million (officially) or 3.4 million (unofficially) is up for debate. Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f8c6520-af47-4ac5-9c77-dd2f75c95552/17+-+1948+Cleveland+Indians+win+the+World+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1948 World Series Champions More important than setting their franchise’s attendance record in the 1948 season, the team also won the World Series, thanks in large part to the contributions made by Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e81da7a-ad3a-44ce-8c90-e7bbdd14cca7/18+-+Jazz.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - All That Jazz Larry Doby and Bill Veeck bonded over their love of Jazz. The pair would even go to shows at juke joints together. Bill enjoyed Louis Armstrong and Dixieland, while Larry - who was a more serious aficionado - enjoyed people like Miles Davis and Lionel Hampton (pictured). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/121b85ea-d8d3-4fdf-8ddc-98764e3c7c3f/19+-+Larry%27s+wife.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Helen Doby Jackie Robinson had handlers to make sure everything went smoothly on and off the field. Larry Doby only had his wife, Helen Curvy Robinson. The two met as freshmen at Paterson’s Eastside High School and married in 1946 after he returned from three years serving in the Navy in World War II. They lived in Paterson, but moved to Montclair, one of the state’s first integrated suburbs, after Paterson brokers refused to sell to them, and raised their five children there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bb832501-85c4-4ecb-90c3-324fb7e64192/20+-+Joe+Gordon.jpeg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Joe Gordon Larry Doby loved Joe Gordon until his dying day because Gordon was the only white player who went out of their way to play catch with Doby when he broke into the white Major Leagues. “Then Joe Gordon, the second baseman who would become my friend, came up to me and asked, “Hey, rookie, you gonna just stand there or do you want to throw a little?’ I will never forget that man.” Gordon also protected Doby, in more ways than one. Joe Gordon’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f986c0fe-13e0-4312-bf71-1da2f2549207/21+-+Maryfrances+and+Bill+Veeck+KWK.jpeg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Maryfrances Veeck Bill’s first wife, Eleanor, filed for divorce in 1949. To pay the settlement, Bill was forced to sell his share of the Cleveland Indians. The following year, Bill married Maryfrances Ackerman, whose own background in marketing and promotions helped Veeck take things to the next level when he bought an 80% stake in the St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab57bf4-0448-4309-8d42-5e370a930885/22+-+Grandstand+Managers.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Grandstand Managers Day This 1951 stunt saw Veeck hand out signs to fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis which said “YES” on one side, and “NO” on the other, and the game’s managerial decisions were put up to a fan vote. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86b1432f-6789-491a-8ed8-6460446e7eda/23+-+Eddie+Gaedel+at+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Eddie Gaedel One of Veeck’s most memorable stunts was sending 3’7” Eddie Gaedel to the plate in a game between the Browns and the Tigers in August of 1951. Bob Cain had the impossible task of trying to throw a strike to a man with a 1.5” strike zone. Eddie Gaedel’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/defe4315-55e4-4277-85ed-80a9c041a1be/24+-+Dave+Stevens.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Dave Stevens Dave Stevens was a college athlete at Augsburg College where he played varsity football, baseball and wrestled. Mike Veeck took inspiration from his dad’s signing of Eddie Gaedel when he signed Stevens, who has no legs, to play minor league baseball for the St. Paul Saints in 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e821a62c-9d5b-409d-a5f8-068a5750c419/25+-+Maryfrances+and+Bill+Veeck+WBKB.jpeg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Television Revenue Sharing In 1952, Bill Veeck suggested that Major League teams should split the television revenue with the visiting clubs. He was shot down in the moment, but that concept was decades ahead of its time and would eventually be adopted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6370730-1bc0-4025-84f9-12f6a1479848/26+-+Getting+the+keys+to+Comiskey+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Chicago White Sox Bill bought the White Sox in 1959, immediately helping the team set an attendance record en route to a World Series appearance in his first year of ownership. Here he is, getting the keys to his new workplace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3dac84d-8a2b-486b-a3e0-94084c13a888/27+-+Sherry+brothers.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Norm and Larry Sherry Mike was old enough to remember being at the 1959 World Series as a kid. His most lasting memory from the Series is how unbelievably well the Sherry brothers played. Norm Sherry’s SABR Biography Larry Sherry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/717fb6e6-d812-400a-86cb-2a027f95525d/28+-+1959+World+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - 1959 World Series While the White Sox lost the 1959 World Series to the Dodgers, it was still a memorable one. Games 3, 4 and 5 were the first World Series games played on the West Coast. The three games averaged over 90,000 fans — at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Game 5’s attendance of 92,706 is still a World Series record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ada1271f-55c2-4fbe-a698-8548c49a4163/29+-+Ted+Kluszewski.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Ted Kluszewski Ted Kluszewski was a true slugger. He cut his sleeves short to show off his muscles, and in the 1959 World Series he hit a home run so hard off the facade in Comiskey Park that it bounced all the way back to second base. What more could a young fan ask for when looking for a player to be a fan of? Ted Kluszewski’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2cd325f-1aea-46ff-ba71-03c2aa9ac103/30+-+go+go+white+sox.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The 1959 Go-Go White Sox With a mostly inept offense, it’s a wonder the Chicago White Sox made it to the 1959 World Series. Mike recalls Luis Aparicio leading off games getting on first base, stealing second, and then being driven home by Nellie Fox. “Then they wouldn’t score again for 3 innings.” Here is the Go-Go Sox’s double-play combination on the August 10, 1959 cover of Sports Illustrated. Luis Aparicio’s SABR Biography Nellie Fox’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1f2f4970-77d5-4315-a493-69955e800ac1/31+-+Mary+Frances+Veeck%2C+with+son+Mike%2C+then+8+years+old%2C+cheering+at+opening+day+at+Comiskey+Park+on+April+14%2C+1959.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Going To Games As A Kid Maryfrances Veeck, with son Mike, then 8 years old, cheering at opening day at Comiskey Park on April 14, 1959. She instilled in her children to be proud of their father, but never boast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d9c11a5-1c84-4eb3-b352-adf85651c720/32+-+Martian+Invasion+at+Comiskey.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Alien Invasion At Comiskey Park On May 26, 1959, Bill Veeck staged an “invasion” at Comiskey Park. Four little people dressed as Martians landed on the field via helicopter and captured White Sox stars Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio. One of the little people was Eddie Gaedel, who had remained friendly with Bill Veeck almost a decade after their stunt in St. Louis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a5851750-50de-492d-9322-224d094783e7/33+-+Bill+Veeck+in+front+of+the+scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Exploding Scoreboard On April 28, 1960, Bill Veeck unveiled the “Exploding Scoreboard” at Comiskey Park. He got the idea for it after watching Jimmy Cagney in The Time Of Your Life. The 130-foot scoreboard featured lights, sirens, a Sox-O-Gram message board, and multi-colored pinwheels. It cost $300,000 and opened to mixed reviews from journalists, fans, and opposing players and managers. You can hear Bill talking about the scoreboard in a 1982 interview HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2cd40399-70a8-4de2-8453-2e69c504638b/34+-+White+Sox+Shorts.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Infamous Shorts Maryfrances Veeck was the original publicist for the Ice Capades, and used her experience in that capacity to help Bill run and market his baseball teams over the years. She even helped design the shorts that the White Sox briefly wore during the 1976 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4828aa4-93a6-40de-8b4e-6139fec7d866/35+-+1961-07-22+Bill+Veeck+and+family+leaving+the+Shoreland+Hotel+in+Chicago+on+their+way+to+Maryland.+Mike%2C+10%2C+Marya%2C+6%2C+Greg%2C+5+an.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Growing (And Traveling) Family Bill and Maryfrances had 6 kids together. Not one of them was born in the same state. Here is the family on July 22, 1961, leaving the Shoreland Hotel in Chicago on their way to Maryland. Pictured are Mike, 10, Marya, 6, Greg, 5 and Lisa, 2. Maryfrances, is holding daughter Juliana. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa589e54-847c-474f-bfd8-9aaec3081482/36+-+Bill+Veeck+fan+favorite.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Man Of The People Mike said of his father, “If it made him laugh, and it made people he respected laugh, he would go with it. “He ran his ball club as democratically as possible because he made decisions that would benefit the fans,” which endeared him to the fan base and made them more loyal than you could imagine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6a7c07e4-cb30-4b6a-9cf3-4fb2efc5e0b8/37+-+Nellie+Fox+cancer+fund.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Fans sent in money to the Sox once Bill Veeck came back for his second stint as owner. They were thanking him for coming back, and trying to entice him to keep the team in Chicago, as opposed to moving the team to Seattle, which was rumored. The Veecks donated the money to the Nellie Fox cancer fund, and obviously kept the team where it belongs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/920497ba-171a-4d43-9432-7c0124004cc3/38+-+Opening+Day+1976.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Opening Day, 1976 On April 9th, at the White Sox home opener in the year of America’s bicentennial, (left to right) White Sox business manager Rudie Schaffer, field manager Paul Richards, and owner Bill Veeck dressed up in Revolutionary War garb and put on a show for the fans, singing the full version of the National Anthem as part of the day’s festivities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4c65c8dc-2e5d-4671-8cd1-1216d6320f92/39+-+Owners+Kid.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Owner’s Kid Mike was trying to make a name for himself, and prove to everyone in and around the organization (and, probably, to himself) that he wasn’t just hired because his dad owned the team. He worked tirelessly, cleaning out the 57 storage rooms in Comiskey Park. He even volunteered to go down an elevator shaft to investigate a rumored murder. No bodies were down there, but he did find Shoeless Joe Jackson’s signed contract down there, which was then donated to the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7c00270c-28d7-42cb-8712-6bf708eff76c/40+-+First+day+at+school.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - First Saints Day Marv Goldklang, Bill Murray, and Mike Veeck on their first day at the St. Paul Saints. The Goldklang Group is a sports ownership and management group led by Marvin Goldklang which owns the Charleston RiverDogs of the Carolina League and the Pittsfield Suns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. They also owned the St. Paul Saints from 1993 to 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f2188457-fd95-48e4-a51c-8aebb487c6dd/42+-+bards+room.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Bard’s Room While there was never an official White Sox Archives, or a proper White Sox Museum where fans could appreciate the history of the franchise, The Bard’s Room at old Comiskey Park was an exclusive enclave for media and invited guests. It included owner/VIP dining, private dining, a centralized kitchen, and a lot of White Sox history. Check out the work done by Brian Powers (@SportsBandbox on twitter) to see his digital recreation of multiple historic ballparks. His rendition of The Bard’s Room is seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/70f3abdb-6b6d-4cde-bbd4-5ed5fb6eb446/43+-+Center+Field+shower.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Center Field Shower In 1978, Bill Veeck installed a shower in center field for the fans who wanted to cool off during hot games at Comiskey Park. Here he is, trying it out for himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88580384-7bbb-47b9-a6f9-15ea7ba0d113/44+-+Bill+Veeck+and+Harry+Caray.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Miller’s Pub Many late nights have been spent sharing a drink and a laugh at Miller’s Pub in Chicago. Bill Veeck has his own corner there to this day, with multiple photographs of him hung on the wall. Here he is at Miller’s Pub with another one of Chicago’s most famous bargoers, Harray Caray. Following in his father’s footsteps, it was a late night at Miller’s Pub when Mike came up with the idea for Disco Demolition: “what if we had a night for people who hated disco?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/df2c8309-8f5c-4a41-8ac8-b101dfa8879a/45+-+Detroit+Free+Press+02.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Disco Demolition Night July 12, 1979. A date which will live in infamy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ea71a2f0-e34a-4a7d-8f01-b52d9ebb8d88/46+-+Steve+Dahl%2C+WLUP%27s+Lorelei+Shark%2C+and+Mike+Veeck.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Steve Dahl The famous shock jock from Chicago’s WLUP was the emcee for the event. (left to right) Steve Dahl, WLUP's Lorelei Shark, and Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a65c752b-4317-48e7-9801-576fcce96c2b/47+-+Fans+on+the+field.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Unprepared and Outnumbered Mike told police to expect a crowd of about 35,000 people that night. The police laughed, thinking there was no way that many would show up. Instead, 100,000 people showed up. 60,000 inside the stadium, and another 40,000 who couldn’t get in. The police were simply outnumbered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b623ddbf-339f-480c-bd6f-5e0ecf6113ab/52+-+More+fans+on+the+field.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77357695-0bf0-469a-a0b9-c6b4b7da6a2d/51+-+climbing+the+fences.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Climbing The Fences Some people suggest only 50,000 people were at Disco Demolition, but when you see the pictures of the stands full, fans covering the field, and even more literally climbing their way in over the fences because there wasn’t enough security to stop them, Mike’s estimate seems much more accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/31a57a40-c88c-4f92-a7c7-f877521d7cd1/48+-+Chicago+Tribune.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Slow News Day? While Disco Demolition was certainly a newsworthy event at the time, Mike wonders if it really necessitated 7 pages of coverage in the Chicago Tribune and 6 pages in the Chicago Sun-Times. Mike also vehemently denies any homophobic, racist, or sexist intentions behind the event. It was simply intended to be a silly way to bring fans out to the park that got out of hand and has morphed into a completely different animal through the lens of today’s culture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/86a2261e-e55b-4029-8706-ec7158643abc/49+-+Justine+Siegal.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Justine Siegal Justine Siegal became professional baseball’s first female coach, spending two months in the summer of 2009 as first-base coach with the Brockton Rox, an independent minor league baseball team in Brockton, Massachusetts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05fb47e1-3434-45a8-a872-ffbcf8cefca9/50+-+Ila+Borders.JPG Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Ila Borders Ila Borders was the first female to receive a sports scholarship to play men's college baseball. She played 4 years and became the first woman to win a men's college baseball game. Ila impressed the St. Paul Saints and Mike Veeck with her talent and determination, resulting in her becoming the first female to compete and win a men's professional baseball game. Ila played four years in professional baseball and is featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e958f7ab-5538-46aa-894e-5a87d6504130/54+-+1993+St.+Paul+Saints.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - St. Paul Saints Going against all conventional wisdom, Mike decided to put the St. Paul Saints just 7 miles away from the 2-time World Series champion Minnesota Twins. Seemingly even crazier, they were going to play their games in an outdoor stadium - again… in St. Paul, Minnesota. Somehow, it all worked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816e6da8-2c6a-4e03-931a-2f1a7ec85a03/53+-+Miami+Miracle.PNG Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Miami Miracle While with the Miracle, Mike tried to schedule an opportunity to get Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso an at bat in his 7th decade. The Commissioner’s Office called and canceled the event the day of, claiming it wasn’t “in the best interest of baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b55b777-40b0-4e75-903f-231a1f78b537/59+-+Minnie+Minoso.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Minnie Miñoso The Veecks go back a long way with Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso. Here is Bill and Minnie sharing a laugh. Minnie Miñoso’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aeec40de-b0ff-4bf6-a905-b348f57db232/55+-+Dressed+to+the+nines.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make It Fun How DID it work? Because of Mike’s unwavering insistence to make the ballpark fun. And to never take the game (or himself) too seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b12704a8-ac11-4259-9721-f498a0391ea0/56+-+Sister+Ros.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Sister Ros Sister Rosalind Gefre is a popular attraction with the St. Paul Saints. She can be seen giving massages at every game. She has been featured on television, in newspapers and magazines, and has given hundreds of speeches to groups. Known for her warmth, her caring, and her expression of God’s love through healing touch, her massage schools and clinics are based upon Christian principles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74755d06-c9ac-4a0b-a354-a8652172d8a2/57+-+full+trophy+case.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - A Full Trophy Case For what many people initially thought would be a joke of a franchise that was bad for the sport, this sure is a pretty full trophy case. From league championships to being honored multiple times as the Organization of the Year, the Saints proved there is more than one way to successfully run a baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b2dcb4ee-97b1-4455-bfc8-eb7524f5d99b/58+-+Mike+at+CHS+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Twins AAA Affiliate The Saints got the ultimate nod of approval from baseball when they were invited to become the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins after the reorganization of the Minor Leagues. Mike and the Saints built a beautiful thing in the Saints and CHS Field in St. Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1704866221672-E1XF9J6HNAYW2ZPXUVGE/61.1.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1704866222543-69E9480W6GXCBN1E0WD3/61.2.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2ebdd503-bba2-4c6b-a4bd-b3af91ee1a00/62+-+Jesse+Cole+quote.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Jesse Cole A lot of people consider Jesse Cole of the Savannah Bananas to be a modern-day Bill Veeck. Mike seems to agree, thinking that if his dad were around today, he would be all over TikTok and social media to grow his fan base the way Jesse has. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce480896-3b1d-4e9c-ac02-bc3ca8777300/62+-+Jesse+Cole.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8f2c20e5-df6d-47eb-90f5-ac94159ac972/64+-+Whatever+it+takes.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Times Were Different And the money was different. Bill Veeck would help around the stadium because there might not have been enough money to just hire someone else to do things. Here he is helping the grounds crew, because that’s what needed to be done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/123e3452-93b9-4dc6-9513-c8ab73ea9017/63+-+Bill+Veeck+helping+at+Comiskey+Park%2C+1959.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Whatever It Takes How many current owners do you think would to clean the seats at their ballpark, like Bill is doing in this photo at Comiskey Park in 1959. With Bill Veeck, it wasn’t even a question. But with the economic barrier to become an owner being as high as it is, you just don’t have the same type of people running clubs today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d39633c4-da91-44ac-bc6f-14233b71f5b3/66+-+Bill+Veeck+hot+dog.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Every-man Bill Veeck never thought he was better than anyone else, and he never took himself too seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0bbe38c0-5129-4518-b66c-408ea637559c/65+-+Bill+Veeck+with+baby+Mike.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Mike’s Relationship With His Father In recent years, Mike has come to realize how much Bill taught him. About business, about baseball, about life. Here they are together, slightly earlier in Mike’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d0f385a5-e843-4c25-a51e-d315612d6e1d/67+-+Mike+with+a+hot+dog.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Like Father, Like Son The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, whether you like it or not sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/04f6a83e-6c74-4b6b-ae7d-d8ef7ecdbd6b/60+-+Bill+Veeck+HOF+Plaque.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Hall Of Fame Not everyone may have agreed with every decision Bill Veeck made, or the way he went about doing things sometimes, but you can’t argue with results. This plaque proves his lasting impact on the game, and on society. Bill Veeck was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b664aaf-2720-4cdc-98cd-3320e4f48028/68+-+2005-05-31+left-field+bleachers+at+Comiskey.JPG Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Keep Up With Mike Online Mike’s Website Fun Is Good Watch The Saint Of Second Chances on Netflix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/68d8c259-585a-4fb5-9e16-65c302508ede/69+-+comiskey+park+home+plate.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Site of Old Comiskey Park’s Home Plate I’ve been there a time or two. The area immediately surrounding it got a face lift in 2023, so if you haven’t been recently, or you’ve never been, make sure you go get some new pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/dec57868-18ff-466f-8650-bcd3e6a74757/70+-+smoking.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Aroma of Comiskey Park Back when people were allowed to smoke in public, people would bring their cigars and pipes to the ballgame. That aroma seeped into the fabric of the stadiums, and became just as recognizable a smell as the grass or the hot dogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c51bfbb-94f3-4c5d-b168-014a1f1f7fe2/71+-+SABR+51.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - SABR 51 in Chicago The 51st SABR Convention was my first, and it was something I’ll never forget. Held over a handful of days at the legendary Palmer House in Chicago, it was at the convention where I met Mike Veeck and he agreed to sit down with me for an interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03c390c3-8bc4-4d6a-83b0-454fffa4cf9c/73+-+William+Veeck+having+fun.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - William Veeck, Sr. William may have been all business most of the time, but he still liked to have fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2f6c8ad8-dbcf-486e-899d-56bb351befba/74+-+Federal+League+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Weeghman Park Originally built for Chicago’s Federal League team, the Cubs of the National League moved in after the league folded. It was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927, but before that it was known as Weeghman Park, after Charles Weeghman. In this postcard from 1914, the second deck had not yet been added to the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4eac8883-da63-4b64-a434-d3b62ba3a848/75+-+William+Veeck+Sr+and+Rogers+Hornsby.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Rogers Hornsby It would not be inaccurate to call the 1929 Cubs team president William L. Veeck’s crowning achievement. Arguably baseball’s strongest franchise — even the Ruth/Gehrig New York Yankees could not have been rated higher at this juncture — the Cubs had been built player by player over a decade by Veeck, with assistance from keen scout Jack Doyle. The last building block came aboard, thanks to owner William Wrigley, Jr.’s impetus and healthy checkbook, via second baseman Rogers Hornsby. Few could even dream to match up with the Cubs’ lineup, anchored by Hornsby and Hack Wilson, and backed by a Big Four pitching rotation led by Charlie Root. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37ee3afe-4a0a-40dc-8b96-98eae2ab20a5/72+-+Margaret+Donahue+quaker+oats+ad+-+May+10%2C+1930+issue+of+the+Saturday+Evening+Post.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Advocate For Women Midge Donahue was valued and respected by William Veeck. Her opinions mattered, and her input was welcomed. Donahue and Veeck are seen here in a Quaker Oats ad which appeared in the May 10, 1930 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3320e1c8-ffbd-4c78-9c64-7c16b2b09109/76+-+Larry+Doby+with+Bill+Veeck.JPG Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Civil Rights Advocate William’s son, Bill, was just as courageous in speaking out on behalf of (and employing) people whose voices were not traditionally represented. Here he is shaking hands with Larry Doby, who he signed in 1947 to break the color barrier in the American League. The two became genuine friends off the field, and their families are still in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7521819a-0a6c-4615-8f78-388b46428e0f/77+-+Daniel+Burnham.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Daniel Burnham Daniel Burnham’s extraordinary leadership skills were made manifest when he became the director of works at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Burnham & Root were named consulting architects. When Root died suddenly in January of 1891, Burnham assumed responsibility for overseeing and completing construction for some 150 buildings on more than 600 acres of land. Daniel Burnham is famously quoted as saying "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/067128bd-1ad3-4c5f-b300-ad5649c866f6/77+-+Effa+Manley.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Effa Manley Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles with her husband, Abe. In 2006 the Special Committee on Negro Leagues elected her to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for her work as a baseball executive. As of 2019, she was the only woman inducted into the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01ca5be8-daf5-4917-b130-c8e2c845f438/73+-+William+Veeck+Sr+and+Charles+Comiskey.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Veecks and The Comiskeys The two families go way back, and their names will forever be linked. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey sits with William Veeck in this 1920 photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f99d5082-77c5-4d3a-835c-05fefbb2b801/79+-+St.+Paul+Saints.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - St. Paul Saints The Chicago White Sox organization actually started AS the St. Paul Saints in the Western League. Charles Comiskey bought the team, moved them to Chicago, the Western League became the American League, and the rest is history. You can see and read about some of that history at the City Of Baseball Museum at CHS Field in St. Paul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7778c8cb-317a-486c-bf57-777f02307f60/80+-+George+Halas.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - George Halas Before he helped form the NFL and owned the Chicago Bears, George Halas was a highly rated prospect going into his 1919 rookie season with the New York Yankees. But Halas’ major-league debut was delayed when he injured a hip during a spring-training game, and baseball just didn’t pan out for him. Graig Kreindler’s portrait of the one-time St. Paul Saints player is on display at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field in St. Paul. George Halas’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e8a8a37-4e7b-412f-93ba-aea72236709a/81+-+John+Allyn+and+Bill+Veeck.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - John Allyn The Allyn Brothers (John and Arthur, Jr.) were co-owners of the Chicago White Sox from 1961 through 1969. John then became the sole principal owner from 1969 through 1975 before selling the team to Bill Veeck. Here, John Allyn smokes a cigar with Bill Veeck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/55050675-7113-49f7-8187-32ce61d42139/82+-+Bill+Veeck+holding+an+Early+Wynn+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Bill Veeck Quotes “This world would be better if more people didn’t take it too seriously.” “There are only two seasons: winter, and baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10f7ef62-dcdb-4f6c-a0aa-780a591d1744/83+-+Home+Sweet+Home.JPG Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Leaving His Imprint Bill Veeck made his mark on the game of baseball, to an extant that most people don’t even realize. But he also made a huge impact on the city, the people, and the culture of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91182f41-ba49-4027-8d44-c917dc70e4da/84+-+Cleveland+Indians+HOF.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame The Indians unveiled their own team Hall of Fame in 1951. They put it up to a fan vote to decide who would be the inaugural 10 people to be inducted, and the fans decided Shoeless Joe Jackson would be one of the 10. Read more about the all-but-forgotten Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/873d3b9f-4cb1-471b-9e30-138788a5aec3/85+-+Steve+Dahl+and+Garry+Meier.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Steve Dahl & Garry Meier One of Chicago’s most legendary broadcast duos, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier first worked together in 1979 at WLUP-FM, where Meier was an overnight disc jockey and Dahl was establishing himself as a brash, blunt, provocative comedic personality. The two established an instant rapport and a talent for controversy, most notably in July 1979, when they hosted the chaotic “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4e2f717a-e900-4ecb-a1e5-626eeca5a9c6/86+-+Detroit+Free+Press+03.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Disco Demolition Night Revisionist history has made that event into something it was never intended to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/21d826c4-3824-4dba-9856-d49c598df66b/87+-+Disco+Sucks+banner.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - It Was A Movement It didn’t even necessarily have to do with the music being good or bad, or the clothes being good or bad, or the dancing being good or bad… many people were simply fed up with disco being everywhere, all the time, and shoved down their throats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d1075b-34e4-4ddb-be55-4c35395f976e/88+-+Detroit+Free+Press+06.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Believe It Or Not… This photo shows how Disco Demolition was SUPPOSED to go! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/91559a9f-5f66-4de1-991a-2f9248bb08ab/89+-+Fire+on+the+field.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Not Like This When the fans realized there were more of them than there were police officers, security guards, and ushers, there wasn’t much left stopping a full blown riot from happening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/80288002-105a-4681-98fd-5ddfd58bf1e5/90+-+Steve+Dahl+with+the+records.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - The Wreckage Steve Dahl poses with a dumpster full of broken records. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28e02708-6ecf-4863-8b91-23eec1c60bfe/91+-+Bill+Veeck+discussing+the+options.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Cooler Heads Prevail? Bill Veeck tries to discuss the options for a possible game 2 of the doubleheader, but everyone’s safety was top priority. Players, staff, and fans, alike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ea45d5d-2102-4c31-87b4-2f6c3b119f4d/92+-+Mary+Frances+Veeck+and+Bill+Veeck+on+April+9%2C+1960%2C+at+333+N.+Michigan+Ave.+in+Chicago.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Partners, In Every Sense Of The Word Maryfrances and Bill Veeck on April 9, 1960, at 333 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cd92371-5ffd-454c-83dc-68d22fb6e9fa/93+-+Darry+Strawberry.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Darryl Strawberry Mike gave Darryl Strawberry his “second chance” by signing him to play with the St. Paul Saints when no other professional team was willing to take a chance on him. Darryl told Mike Veeck “you taught me to love the game again.” Darryl Strawberry’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e7c676d1-7b37-4fc6-9d7a-b9616138c3c0/94+-+Eddie+Gaedel+salutes+the+crowd.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Eddie Gaedel Eddie salutes the crowd after his one and only game in Major League Baseball, playing for Bill Veeck’s St. Louis Browns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/85fd5bc8-5382-4744-aac0-fdae58fd6b54/95+-+Dave-Stevens+Darryl-Strawberry.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Unlikeliest of Friends Despite their differences at first glance, Dave Stevens and Darryl Strawberry shared a unique bond during Darryl’s time with the St. Paul Saints. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5fe51373-db34-4181-b682-a20d3f33365a/96+-+Minnetonka+Queen.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Love Boats The Saints gave away these little yellow rubber boats before their May 27, 2006 game to honor the TV show The Love Boat … allegedly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0d36f80-df1b-4768-a291-926cd4173f38/97+-+tweeting+wienre.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - National Hot Dog Day On July 23, 2011, the Saints handed out boxer shorts with an image on the front of a blue bird taking a photo of a wiener with his phone to celebrate National Hot Dog Day … allegedly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/970bcb76-8358-467f-beb2-87b3fd998669/98+-+Vasectomy+Night.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Vasectomy Night One of the promotions that was too much to go through with, even for a Veeck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9362c53-69a7-411a-8707-834778bc57c6/99+-+Explosions+in+the+sky.png Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Are you guys sick of these Disco Demolition photos yet because I have like 50 more I’m choosing not to post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f7322748-98d5-40c2-b213-33da2dac67b8/99+-+Replacing+the+sod+the+next+day.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - Make it stand out Okay, last one, I promise. This is the grounds crew cleaning up the debris and replacing the sod the day after Disco Demolition Night. Looking at the shape of the field, there’s absolutely no way the two teams could have safely played a game on it. Forget about, you know, the riot that was happening. The White Sox officially forfeited Game 2 to the Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38af15ae-1d64-49f4-bb06-6f8619ae13b7/99+-+Dodgers+baseball+forfeit.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - August 10, 1995 The most recent forfeit in Major League Baseball occurred when Dodgers fans threw giveaway baseballs onto the field to protest some close calls in the team’s game against the Cardinals on August 10, 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4cbbd30-5103-47e9-92be-02f0ffc916f1/99+-+Babe+Ruth+Ty+Cobb.jpg Past Episodes - 0304 - Mike Veeck - June 13, 1924 From the New York Times: “The game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers came to an unexpected end this afternoon when 18,000 spectators stormed the field and started a riot which involved the police, the players and the employees of the park. It was a free-for-all fight, with the police, endeavoring to distinguish rival fighters, only making the fight more complicated and more intense.” SABR Games Project Article About This Game RETROSHEET’s Full List Of Every Forfeit Ever https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0303 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13a8dd3d-3b52-479a-b57f-deecf67023a5/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e37f1c09-abfd-4fdf-9136-aede92a383cb/1000.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino Me and Peter Capolino after recording our interview at his home in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17804879-4177-4ff8-ae23-2bb0ffb0b5f6/01+-+Sisto+Capolino.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sisto Capolino Peter’s father, Sisto Capolino, was born in Formia, Italy. He came to America and started working at Mitchell & Ness in 1919. By 1952, he bought the company, which he owned and operated until his death in 1978. Here he is stringing a tennis racket by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96e335c3-6ec6-4ecd-a494-d42380809e93/02+-+wood+shaft+golf+club.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Wooden Shafted Golf Clubs Charles M. Ness was from a golfing town in Scotland. He linked up with Frank P. Mitchell in 1904 to create a partnership called Mitchell & Ness. They had separate shops until 1911, with the Mitchell part being a tennis company, and the Ness part being a golf company. From 1904 until 1929, Mitchell & Ness actually manufactured golf clubs, and they are in the registry of wooden shafted golf club makers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/046a95e7-8659-4d25-8bbb-0dfe2d4cec49/03+-+Bill+Tilden.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bill Tilden Bill Tilden was the world No. 1 amateur for six consecutive years, from 1920 to 1925, and was ranked as the world No. 1 professional by Ray Bowers in 1931 and 1932 and Ellsworth Vines in 1933. He won 14 Major singles titles, including 10 Grand Slam events, one World Hard Court Championships and three professional majors. He was the first American man to win Wimbledon, taking the title in 1920. He also won a joint-record seven U.S. Championships titles. Mitchell & Ness strung all of his rackets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88e1c4e2-66a9-4462-83cc-123ee6946d71/04+-+label.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Local Baseball Uniforms Mr. Mitchell began making uniforms for local baseball teams around 1925. Here is an example of an early label you might find inside a M&N uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/62154fc4-ed0c-42dd-a9a1-74342c1e4961/05+-+1939+Philadelphia+Athletics+uniforms.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1939 Philadelphia Athletics Some of the earliest uniforms Peter remembers Mitchell & Ness making for a major professional sports team were made for the 1939 Philadelphia Athletics. They made the Athletics uniforms until 1954. M&N also made the Phillies’ uniforms from about 1942-1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/19f382d0-804e-49cc-8127-536ce155e256/06+-+1933+Philadelphia+Eagles.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Philadelphia Eagles Mitchell & Ness was the official outfitter of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933 through 1963. That means everything. From shoes to helmets, and every piece of equipment in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c7279be9-d72b-40f2-b04d-7788d5e1d658/07+-+Fred+Schubach.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fred Schubach Fred Schubach was the equipment manager for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Colts. Here, Chuck Bednarik of the Eagles hands his jersey and shoes to Schubach after the December 16, 1962, game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06109e47-c4fb-40bc-9f17-2b0c32b774ff/08+-+1960+NFL+Championship+Game.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1960 NFL Championship Game Before the 1960 NFL Championship Game, Peter helped Freddie Schubach put the facemasks on the Eagles’ helmets in the locker room. That game is one of the lasting memories of Peter’s youth, and helped solidify his love of sports. Here, Philadelphia’s Chuck Bednarik, center, with Green Bay’s Paul Hornung, left, and Jim Taylor after the Eagles’ 17-13 victory over the Packers in the N.F.L. championship game on Dec. 26, 1960, at Franklin Field. Notice the face mask on Bednarik’s helmet. Peter can tell you everything about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/861d3ab7-b7a0-413d-872e-4e88f524f152/09+-+August+1947+Sport+Magazine.jpeg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sport Magazine Launched in September of 1946, Sport Magazine pioneered the generous use of color photography – it carried eight full-color plates in its first edition. Ted Williams was featured on the August, 1947 cover, seen here. Peter would cut out the color photos from each issue and glue them into scrapbooks he would make as a child. Little did he know, he was doing research and creating an archive that would help him years later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39c0852e-3de8-4679-a575-7cb00c51f371/10+-+Age+8+with+his+family.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Family Peter with his family, age 8 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9679613d-bb97-4bd2-987c-a988d06509be/11+-+military.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Military Peter graduated from Susquehanna University in 1967, then went to Officer Candidate School and became an Army Engineer Officer in the Corps of Engineers, graduating as a Second Lieutenant. Luckily, Peter got sent to Korea instead of Vietnam, so he spent 13 months in the DMZ in 1968 and 1969. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a58921fb-57b2-4e89-b242-75ac3374be9d/12+-+Bjorn+again.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tennis Peter’s true love is tennis. To this day, he still has the Tennis Channel on TV. Here he is with Björn Borg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/58b9a954-7620-42dd-8abb-5d85b5217d63/13+-+Joanne+Graham.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Joanne Graham When Peter moved the store to 13th and Walnut, it was just him, his wife, Fran, and their friend Joanne Graham working there. Here is Joanne in 1987, wearing Peter’s 1949 Philadelphia Athletics jacket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4fb20ec8-1a47-4069-810e-718626040c6e/14+-+1972+Dolphins.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1972 Miami Dolphins The undefeated 1972 Dolphins had Bob Griese at quarterback, Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris at running back and Paul Warfield at receiver. But the defense, with virtually unknown players, was also crucial to their championship run. The No-Name Defense held opponents to 11 points per game during the season. The ‘72 Dolphins also had aqua blue uniforms made by the Russell Corporation which Peter and his employee, Mike Robinson, knocked off. The ease with which they could do it thanks to their knowledge and access, and the success those jerseys had in the store, led M&N to start creating retail versions of every NFL team’s uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f8016e2-8376-4747-898a-b95274259da0/15+-+CBLSL.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - City of Brotherly Love Softball League Peter came up with the name and created the logo for the City of Brotherly Love Softball League, a gay league in Philadelphia, and had a very meaningful relationship with the players and the league over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16f191b8-79ad-4b33-a1c7-892a1eeb3f76/16+-+Bob+Skinner.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bob Skinner The first real, game worn uniform Peter remembers someone bringing into the shop for him to try to fix was the vest of Pittsburgh Pirates OF/1B Bob Skinner. The early days saw Peter repairing lots of Pittsburgh Pirates uniforms, and lots of St. Louis Browns uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8a22cb71-f866-43bd-b16f-513f67328a22/17+-+Pirates+numners.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Attention To Detail The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t put numbers on the front of their jerseys until 1962. An authentic Roberto Clemente uniform from before that time wouldn’t have his number on the front, whereas an authentic Willie Stargell uniform would have his number, since his career started in 1962. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1702437051036-9UH5BAHDRJZTXI79VHWC/18+-+1987+SI.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - July 6, 1987 Sports Illustrated issue (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1702437083064-YEPQXBM7T804COZ77FW9/19+-+1987+SI.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - July 6, 1987 Sports Illustrated article (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a3a8c440-0f9a-47eb-9757-ed4ff8c5cc57/20+-+logo.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. Peter created this separate company to hold all of the licenses with the different leagues. It was completely different from Mitchell & Ness because the leagues wanted people to be buying from a company who had wholesale distribution. Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. was the wholesale branch that held the licensing rights, manufactured all of the clothing, and sold it to other stores all over the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3e0d63e9-6a10-430c-87be-d3e5ae324078/21+-+Richie+Ashburn.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Richie Ashburn When Peter started making throwback jerseys, first he made those of the players he loved growing up. As a kid from Philadelphia, Richie Ashburn was at the top of the list for Peter. Richie Ashburn’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a62a5302-d8e0-445b-b05b-a75b7ff962b5/22+-+Hank+Aaron.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Henry Aaron Zipper Front Jersey Sometimes, you can’t trust the memory of the players implicitly. Henry Aaron swore up and down that he never wore a jersey with a zipper front, but Peter knew he had. Here is a photo of him wearing his 1954 Braves uniform, with a zipper front and center. A game-worn jersey sold at auction in 2011. Henry Aaron SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8c991495-06cf-45e9-9bb4-0cd1a944275d/23+-+Paul+Pogharian.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Paul Pogharian Peter would send Paul to the Philadelphia Public Library to help him do research when they were trying to figure out the actual colors of garments that were only photographed in black and white. Paul was the heart and soul of what Peter meant Mitchell & Ness to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1cdeabcd-5e1d-4d0f-a5c4-2b072a0e8c9a/24+-+1937+Brooklyn+Dodgers.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers Believe it or not, there was one year when the Dodgers wore green, not blue. It was 1937, and while no color photographs appear of the players or coaches wearing these uniforms, artifacts have surfaced in recent years which prove they existed, in addition to newspaper articles of the day. The green uniforms only lasted one year, and by 1938 the team was back to Dodger Blue. Peter enlisted the help of many friends and employees to look in newspapers for any mention of uniform colors by the sportswriters of the day. People like Bill Lipinski and Bob Downs would look in the microfiche to see what they could find. Generally, the day before opening day, the day of opening day, and/or the day after opening day of a new season would be where the journalists would mention any changes to the color schemes or designs of the uniforms for the local teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fbd4d20a-0c03-4316-aeb7-7c45d81aad33/25+-+Marc+Okkonen.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Marc Okkonen One of the most underrated writers and researchers in baseball history, Marc Okkonen spent years creating a database for every uniform change in the history of Major League Baseball for every team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9a6c6a95-8d3e-44f3-96a3-29e45b11e65a/26+-+1917+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1917 White Sox World Series Uniforms Arguably the most beautiful uniform in the history of sports, the 1917 Chicago White Sox uniforms that the team only wore during the World Series that year proved to be one of the hardest uniforms for Peter to recreate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bfa3226c-d075-4b68-9c1a-1eaa35ecae57/27+-+1951+Yankees+patch.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1951 New York Yankees It was hard for Mitchell & Ness to come up with different Yankees jerseys to continue to reproduce since they never changed the way their uniform looked. But with patches for specific years, like this 1951 patch for the American League’s Golden Anniversary, Peter was able to get creative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ef6cfde-5b2f-40d7-b352-b12bcc129b98/28+-+1943-03-18+The+Sporting+News+Cardinals+logo.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - The Origin Of The Cardinals’ Emblem One of Peter’s favorite stories is how the Cardinals originally decided what to put on the front of their uniforms. Miss Allie May Schmidt decorated the table for a meeting of the Men’s Fellowship organization at which Branch Rickey (who was, at the time, the Vice President of the Cardinals) was going to be speaking. She looked out the window for some inspiration, saw a couple cardinal birds perched on a branch, and thought that would look pretty on the table. That’s how she decorated it, Branch Rickey loved it, and the next season, the Cardinals uniforms had a couple red birds perched on a bat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/be3349ef-62c2-4ed5-9078-ae4ffb234404/29+-+Cardinals+uniform+history.GIF Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - R. J. Liebe Athletic Lettering Company The Liebe Company has done most of the lettering on all baseball jerseys from the 1920s up until the present day. All of the Rawlings, Wilson, and Goodman uniforms. They possess all of the paper patterns, all of the research, and all of the history of everything they ever did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f28494ca-d568-4420-b7ac-9002d5eb7067/30+-+1956+Cardinals+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1956 St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys The fans hated the fact that the team got rid of the birds perched on the bat for the 1956 season, so these only lasted one year. By 1957, the familiar look was back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9bc77e86-b311-4a33-8185-33a655bbc3b3/31+-+Tail+Feather+Variations.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tail Feather Variations There is a slight difference between the 1964 Cardinals uniforms and the 1967 Cardinals uniforms. Can you spot it? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fd768ebb-c2d6-470b-a873-220b1d44ed1f/32+-+1939+Baseball+Centennial+Patch.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1939 Baseball Centennial Patch Every team in Major League Baseball wore these patches on their sleeves during the 1939 season. Since the St. Louis Browns already had a patch on their left sleeve, they wore this one on their right sleeve. Every other team in MLB wore it on their left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99c5d059-7c34-4a9b-bdbf-c59b120d718b/33+-+1955+Jackie+Robinson+Dodgers.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Jackie Robinson Peter proudly showing off the 1955 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers uniform he finally landed on making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5982994f-b95d-4f66-9a81-7f35a8cf17a4/34+-+Bill+Russell.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Bill Russell Peter felt that the players should be known for their achievements. He had little history write ups in his catalogs to help educate potential customers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc95187b-cf4b-4571-86e5-3b712854ccbb/35+-+Andy+Hyman+of+Distant+Replays.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Andy Hyman Andy owned and operated Distant Replays in Atlanta, which became integral in the explosion of popularity for Mitchell & Ness, and throwback uniforms at large. HERE is a great old interview he did with Paul Lukas at Uni Watch back in December of 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/effb8d91-9cf2-48dc-bd90-3fc9a00d2be1/36+-+Run+DMC.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - DMC Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC and Peter go way back because of a shared love of music. But not the type of music you’d expect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b54046d-7d57-4c47-80a2-4ff2bb35c836/37+-+Big+Boi+and+Andre+3000+of+OutKast+wearing+throwbacks+in+1993.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - OutKast Big Boi and Andre 3000 of OutKast rocking sports uniforms all the way back in 1993 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c0ddf88b-ae98-43d5-af29-9a565173acb6/38+-+Fran.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fran Deitrich Peter’s wife, Fran, was a silent partner in every respect of the word. She went to art school and had no formal training in running a sporting goods store, but she figured everything out and made it work, allowing Mitchell & Ness to succeed in ways it never would have been able to without her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1e30edd-daca-4f05-b075-9ba894227164/39+-+Dale+Murphy.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Dale Murphy Peter was surprised that Black rappers would want to wear the jersey of a white baseball player, not considering that if they were from Atlanta, the Braves were their team regardless of color. Here, Big Boi is wearing the powder blue Dale Murphy throwback in Outkast’s 1999 “Skew It on the Bar-B” music video. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dd86686-9fc9-478d-bd50-71f7345938d9/40+-+Peter+in+store.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Mission Statement If Peter wanted to do one thing with Mitchell & Ness, it was “To accurately recreate the history of sports through the evolution of the uniform.” I’d say it was a job well done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4edd871e-56dc-4937-8bc8-2b4b82b7007f/41.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Reuben “Big Rube” Harley Big Rube was Peter’s product placement guy from 2001 to 2006, helping Mitchell & Ness apparel find its way onto concert stages, music videos, and red carpets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3908ddd6-6114-479f-8124-77c62bc4ed7d/42+-+Fat+Joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Fat Joe Peter had to stretch the rules of jersey making for Fat Joe, but they formed a bond that was well worth breaking a couple rules. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05a1861e-8154-4d43-9e36-df4310e1d06a/43+-+Iverson.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Allen Iverson Allen Iverson was good friends with Fat Joe, and became good friends with Peter. AI is wearing a custom Mitchell & Ness creation on this now-iconic SLAM Magazine cover from March of 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d1d2354-feb5-4e21-9b20-cf30710bf5c6/44+-+Kobe.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Kobe Bryant Another interesting magazine cover featuring an NBA superstar in a Mitchell & Ness creation is this one from August of 2002, featuring Kobe Bryant wearing his dad’s 76ers jersey. "I felt like I would be giving my father the respect that he deserves for raising me and for encouraging me to be the best that I can be in the game of basketball and also showing some love to my old hometown." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e52a1465-1cfe-4b76-9a85-fbead6425abc/45+-+Kobe.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 2002 NBA Playoffs En route to his third consecutive NBA championship, Kobe Bryant broke out a number of Mitchell & Ness jerseys from the best players across all of sports history during the 2002 Playoffs. He was one of the best players on the planet, but still showing his respect for the greatness which came before him. Not to mention seriously increasing the brand awareness of M&N. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6790fb2d-558c-4966-a4fc-e6d77063aaa4/46+-+Jay+Z.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Girls, Girls, Girls Jay-Z wore a super obscure jersey in the video for Girls, Girls, Girls. No team name. No name on the back. Just a maroon shirt with a white 33 on it. It became, by far, Mitchell & Ness’ best selling jersey of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/39a2f4d0-812a-4616-bd38-e815a3d252f0/47+-+Sammy+Baugh.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Sammy Baugh That obscure maroon jersey from Jay-Z’s music video was the 1947 uniform Sammy Baugh wore while playing football for Washington’s NFL franchise. Peter felt great that he could help out an NFL legend with some pretty massive royalty checks late in his life. Here is Peter with Philadelphia’s adopted son, Sylvester Stallone, who is wearing the Baugh jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/bd8876b4-7bb8-4d71-81f4-08f6d82415c6/48+-+Lance+Alworth.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Lance Alworth In 11 pro seasons, Lance Alworth caught 542 passes for 10,266 yards, an 18.9-yard average and 85 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. But there are a ton of guys in the Hall of Fame who have been all but forgotten. Lance Alworth’s legacy lives on thanks to Mitchell & Ness immortalizing his jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ff62ebc-f338-4d9d-b193-9be7e6b34f7a/49+-+2012-04-10+Biz+Markie+at+the+flagship+store.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Biz Markie Biz Markie DJing at the Mitchell & Ness flagship store on April 10, 2012. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4bec25e9-ce84-4057-aba7-3f77f6a864b6/50+-+Satin+uniforms.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Satin Uniforms Several teams that had installed lights in their stadiums also outfitted their players in satin jerseys, pants, and caps with the hope that fans could see them better. These satin uniforms made their first appearance in the mid-1930s but became more popular with teams, especially the Dodgers, during the 1940s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/191ede50-724e-42e6-9de5-1471735c54a4/51+-+2010-11-17+Flagship+Store+grand+opening.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Make it stand out Peter has made so many jerseys over the years that he couldn’t think of a single one he wanted to make, but never got around to making. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45fce8fa-e0dd-4425-9669-7206f70dcb70/52+-+Mickey+Mantle+jersey.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Mickey Mantle One of the top selling jerseys in the history of Mitchell & Ness was Mickey’s famous number 7. I’ve got one in my own collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75a75294-a666-43f5-81f8-921b3817ae25/53+-+Willie+Mays+jersey.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Willie Mays Despite the fact that Willie Mays thought no one would want to buy his authentic wool flannel jerseys and requested that his be made into double-knits, Willie’s jersey was another all-time top seller for Mitchell & Ness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2aff04eb-4484-4871-bc56-068c729a88c5/54+-+Ron+Jaworski.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Ron Jaworski Of course Peter liked making Ron Jaworski’s jersey… he was an Eagle! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e23e7c8-fd69-4b15-885f-e0b2656fcd17/55+-+Tommy+McDonald.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Tommy McDonald Tommy McDonald was Peter’s all-time favorite player “because we were the same size.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/30c4b48b-67ea-48d1-92a7-65fe55586a1d/56+-+Fran.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “We Don’t Want To Meet You” “Who is this Fran Deitrich who signs all our checks? We want to meet HER!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f8d32faf-5bbb-4432-abb0-c059192a3a18/57+-+1917+White+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1917 White Sox An absolutely classic uniform, it always struck me as odd that Mitchell & Ness stopped producing these. Did MLB ask them to stop because they didn’t want the association with the 1919 Black Sox team, whose uniforms were almost identical? Peter tells us in the interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f66d469-058f-47bd-b133-2893107f73cd/58+-+Michael+Jordan+jerseys.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “Everybody Needed Michael Jordan Jerseys” More than you would ever know, Mr. Capolino… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b42a911b-9839-4673-8296-f11c10d492a8/59+-+Dave+Schultz.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - “None Of It’s My Blood…” The easiest way for Peter to recreate jerseys was for him to have an actual original on hand so he could inspect it and take notes. Dave “The Hammer” Schultz brought in his blood-stained Philadelphia Flyers jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5d4e9ec7-a0ac-4457-a2aa-d2f267edc518/60+-+1913+Philadelphia+Athletics+Sweater.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1913 Philadelphia Athletics Now that Peter can relax a little in retirement, he has turned his focus toward making authentic baseball sweaters with the help of his friend, Norma. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5bc15179-57f6-4f82-9f01-74b4d2da22c2/61+-+1907-08+Cubs+sweater.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1907-08 Chicago Cubs Norma knits all of the sweaters by hand, and they are of an unbelievable quality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e798b97e-4e80-4e25-a61f-d046fc2a36fd/62+-+1901+Baltimore+Orioles+sweater.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1901 Baltimore Orioles Of course, with Peter doing the research for them, they are also unbelievably accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75ff3975-c734-4649-9000-7116e4f54789/63+-+Sporting+Goods+HOF.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame Peter was inducted into the National Sporting Goods Association Hall Of Fame in 2020, which came as a surprise to him but was something he was incredibly grateful for. Here he is with Committee chairman Ken Meehan, of Dunham Sports, and Hall of Famer Stan Jurga. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9af48c3c-dbee-40f4-b092-57ea71dd2d5c/64+-+Legacy.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Legacy Peter feels like his true legacy is the family of employees and volunteers who have been connected through Mitchell & Ness over the course of his career. Here is his team some time around 1994 or 1995, wearing a variety of Dodgers jerseys ranging from 1890 through 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f9d91f1e-0ac4-4266-8925-a5c6b8f6e402/65+-+1950+Phillies+jacket.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1950 Phillies Jacket Worn here by his wife, Fran, in 1987, one of Peter’s regrets is that he didn’t hold on to at least one of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies jackets he made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3325a960-982b-4478-8349-8cf9db3792e3/66+-+Peter.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - What Peter’s Up To Now That He’s “Retired” - Making sweaters with Norma - Informally working with Jerry Cohen at Ebbets Field Flannels - Consulting with Team Pro Standard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43d7d6b4-9246-4c7d-a4f1-d39e3ac9dca8/67+-+Joe%27s+sweater.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Shoeless Joe Jackson This photo shows Joe wearing his Savannah Indians sweater in 1909. Joe led his team in hits, doubles, triples, and home runs that season, and won the batting title for the entire South Atlantic League by batting .358 in 118 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7645b418-cc4d-44f7-97f5-1fc0f5abb5b1/68.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Make it stand out My Michael Jordan jersey collection, featuring literally dozens of Mitchell & Ness pieces, thanks to Peter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f670de07-4f4f-41d9-9209-ebcd070a0936/69+-+Steven+Dilger.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Steven Dilger Thanks to Steven for connecting me with Peter so we could make this interview happen! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/464e4aa0-f39d-46be-8df6-728e4251aad2/70+-+Lou+Gehrig.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Baseball Centennial Patch Lou Gehrig in his final season, 1939, during which every team wore the patch you see here on their uniform sleeves. Thanks to Todd Radom’s article about the patch, I was ready to answer Peter’s test during our interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/429bd1d7-b2dd-478b-b9e6-5cdd9efc9276/71+-+Beyond+Blessed.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Beyond Blessed This picture says it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c2313190-679d-428a-a457-1640f97145d3/72+-+Mickey+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1958 Topps Card #487 Nostalgia is a strange thing. It’s what makes this relatively common Mickey Mantle card one of Bob Costas’ prized possessions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb6cb194-250d-4374-af3e-a833bdc37a12/73+-+1312+Arch+Street.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1312 Arch Street The Mitchell & Ness store opened by Peter’s father, Sisto, in 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5cc974ca-da06-4c90-8889-375b28aed402/74+-+black+and+white+photos.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Black And White Photos It can be very hard to determine the colors of artifacts when all you have to go off of are black and white photos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/87864bc2-e422-48f4-a779-d178b03c392e/75+-+differing+shades.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Differing Shades Even when you find a newspaper article describing a color, sometimes you still have to make a guess because “navy blue” isn’t always the exact same. Check out this photo of Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson taken in September of 1913. Cobb’s navy blue Detroit Tigers hat and socks are significantly darker than Jackson’s navy blue Cleveland Naps hat and socks, yet in a newspaper, they would both be called “navy blue.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9225bc33-f7f9-46ee-bfc4-b2a3f0c01527/76+-+1909+Savannah+Indians+pennant.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1909 Savannah Indians Mike Miller found this old Savannah Indians pennant, which confirmed our suspicions that their team color was maroon. It made it possible for Peter and I to recreate the sweater Joe wore that season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b1dc8c11-b0ad-42e8-937f-276c4be47dea/77.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Joe’s Sweater Very cool, but black and white https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b131f77c-2ba1-41ec-94f1-6ea76edab6b2/78+-+me.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - My Sweater VERY cool, and in color, thanks to Peter and Norma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6040d876-8b47-47db-ae5f-2e6267ba1fe4/79+-+decisions.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - First Attempt Trying to get the colors exactly right was a challenge. Our first attempt, as you can see, the red was a little too bright, and the gray wasn’t quite dark enough. Of the three choices for the buttons, the Bone button seemed to be the obvious winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e771acb2-774c-4ede-9758-94f2afdadf5f/80+-+serif.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Custom Font The attention to detail to make sure every single aspect of the lettering was right, every single aspect of the knit pattern… everything! That’s what makes these sweaters so unbelievably cool (and so costly). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a71f547a-0665-4d84-9245-ea17a6e3c293/81+-+Jim+Thorpe+Carlisle+Indians+sweater.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Current Obsession These sweaters are so cool. This is a replica of a sweater Jim Thorpe wore with the Carlisle Indians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/946277f3-5184-42de-9abd-4bd83fd22a03/82+-+Savannah+Valet+Service.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Savannah Valet Service After Joe’s MLB career came to an end, he and Katie moved back to Savannah, Georgia full time and opened a dry cleaning business called Savannah Valet Service. It was very successful, with multiple locations and 20 employees. They operated it until Joe’s mom got sick in Greenville, South Carolina in 1932, at which point they sold everything down in Georgia and moved back home to SC until they each passed away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f07bb409-d7d3-4cf6-8edd-3e3890fdfa66/83+-+Ray+Schalk.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Ray Schalk Although he was on the Chicago White Sox during the 1919 World Series, he wasn’t one of the 8 Men Out. He’s actually a member of the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, where his 1917 World Series uniform is stored in their archives. Notice the wear on the S-O-X logo on the chest, compared to the vibrant colors of the sleeve patch. That’s because Schalk was a catcher, and his chest protector rubbed up against the S-O-X logo all series long, dulling the colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6363d410-0e99-46e7-b3e2-6ed7afa442f0/84+-+Impressive+Rolodex.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Impressive Rolodex Peter is friends with some pretty amazing people. Their relationships have lasted this long because it’s been about more than just business. It’s about a mutual respect and appreciation for the passion the other person has for what they do, even if it’s not something the other would normally enjoy or care about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e67bd76c-dc86-4405-9301-008f260bedcc/85+-+Lower+Merion.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Lower Merion Kobe Bryant’s high school jersey from Lower Merion is probably the most famous high school uniform of any basketball player of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/65a41a2f-8b59-4d76-8e0f-ec258b940889/86+-+Employee+Family.JPG Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Peter’s Legacy Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/08cefbd9-5d65-41ff-b38a-980c5eb055da/87+-+1948+jersey.png Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1948 Birmingham Black Barons Jersey My most recent purchase from Ebbets Field Flannels is this 1948 Birmingham Black Barons road uniform https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/52ad0c55-f1f4-4ed8-915d-9eb9f04ba7c5/88+-+Rickwood+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - Rickwood Field The oldest ballpark in America, Rickwood Field opened in 1910. On June 20, 2024, the San Francisco Giants will play the St. Louis Cardinals in a regular season game there to honor the Negro Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/360e7cfb-d868-468d-a626-a6c2d1248565/89+-+1948+Birmingham+Black+Barons.jpg Past Episodes - 0303 - Peter Capolino - 1948 Birmingham Black Barons Can you see him? The greatest ballplayer of all time? He’s in this picture. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0302 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88a45c4c-0b94-46bc-a4a0-9de12e028fb4/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6929fb23-a97c-439a-a111-494e291da4ee/IMG-6406.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen Sam Allen and me after recording our interview at his home in Norfolk, Virginia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b5287b19-561d-4018-a741-5a7991f5876d/01+-+John+T+West.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - John T. West School John T. West School was built in 1906 and located in the Huntersville neighborhood in Norfolk, Virginia. It was the first public African-American school in the City of Norfolk to hold high school classes for African-American school children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/15d52276-32f9-4ad1-98f0-38fddb669d49/02+-+Barraud+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Barraud Park Prior to the mid-1920s, African-American civic leaders sought to convince the city to build a major park or some recreation site for Black residents in the city. Black residents only had makeshift recreation spaces and several small parks in Berkley, Brambleton, and Lambert’s Point. They were not allowed to set foot in Lafayette Park unless they were picking up trash along Granby Street. In 1926 the city finally bought land from the Barraud family to be used for “colored” recreation. The park was formally opened in August 1928. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/83378c08-9c1d-4648-a1b6-f37578af5cff/03+-+Jackie+Robinson.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson at High Rock Park On October 12, 1949, "Jackie Robinson and his Major League All Stars” with Roy Campanella and Larry Doby played an exhibition game against “the American League All Stars" at High Rock Park. The exhibition drew a crowd estimated at 12,000 fans to the home of the New York Yankee farm club Norfolk Tars. Contemporary newspaper accounts say several thousand fans were turned away on orders of the fire department that night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6fe8782-dbc8-4b26-a459-ccf5e37faa5d/04+-+Satchel+and+Josh.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Satchel and Josh After the 1942 Negro World Series, the Kansas City Monarchs and Homestead Grays continued to schedule exhibition games. The teams engaged in a short barnstorming tour in the Tidewater region of Virginia, scheduling games in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. This photo shows the two legends shaking hands before their October 2nd game at High Rock Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/028d42d8-060e-4022-bab2-c3a07caa2106/05+-+High+Rock+Park+segregation.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out The second covered Grandstand down the line at High Rock Park was specifically for "coloreds" and African-American patrons had to enter through a "Jim Crow Gate." Segregation was sadly still very much alive in the south during this time and African-Americans had their own distinct seating area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/06f58e89-957f-45e5-8114-e3ce5052bbb8/06+-+Pvt.+Willie+Mays%2C+a+physical+training+instructor+at+Fort+Eustis%2C+Va.%2C+leads+GIs+through+a+calisthenics+session+on+Feb.+19%2C+1953.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Pvt. Willie Mays Acting as a physical training instructor at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Willie Mays leads GIs through a calisthenics session on February 19, 1953. Willie Mays’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/836848ae-4037-469d-987e-314717eaa77c/07+-+Joe+Lewis.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Joe “Sleepy” Lewis A native of Drakes Branch, Virginia, Joe Lewis made his Negro leagues debut in 1920 with the Baltimore Black Sox. He spent many years playing for the Hilldale Club, and was part of their 1925 Colored World Series championship team. Lewis also acted as a promoter of baseball games while Willie Mays was stationed at Ft. Eustis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99b88dcb-691a-4000-b66e-609685c1fef7/08+-+left+handed.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Left Handed Batter When a left handed pitcher was on the mound, the angle of their delivery made it difficult for Sam at the plate as a left handed batter. He made it work, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73d56204-28f9-4cbf-baf0-70080697236f/09+-+zip+brooks.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Fred “Zip” Brooks In February 1954, news circulated about new hires in the Piedmont League, including “Zip” Brooks and Jim Mason. Six players, along with their trainer, Zip, became the first Black men on the Tars’ spring training roster. He eventually became the trainer for the Richmond Colts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0393c398-f890-4676-a8f5-13e227030568/10+-+NY+Yankees+at+High+Rock+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Yankees Farm Club The Yankees were Sam’s favorite team growing up, because the local Norfolk Tars were their Class B affiliate. Every spring, the Yankees would come up from their Spring Training camp to play exhibition games against the Tars at High Rock Park. The games brought out so many fans that they would line up all the standing room only tickets around the warning track, and the fans themselves were actually "in play." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ee305cc1-ccca-4be0-87b6-62d60cdc00c3/11+-+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, many Black and minority baseball fans across the country (including Sam) adopted the Dodgers as their new favorite team, regardless of their previous allegiances. Jackie Robinson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/465e92bb-16b1-4dab-8679-73697efb0bbd/12+-+Willie+Mays+at+Camp+Kilmer+on+May+29%2C+1952.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Willie Mays After playing with Willie Mays during some exhibition games while Willie was stationed at Ft. Eustis, Sam became a fan of the New York Giants. Here, Willie is seen at Camp Kilmer on May 29, 1952, shortly after being drafted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6947634-a49e-41ec-a809-d412e185e4f9/13+-+going+all+out.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Going All Out One of the things Sam admired so much about Willie Mays was the fact that he always gave it everything he had, whether it was during a World Series game, or during an exhibition game. Willie always left everything on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9fbeb9e5-c58f-4c0c-8d46-1dc4c97b85af/14+-+Goose+Tatum.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Goose Tatum Better known as a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters' basketball team, Reece “Goose” Tatum was also a flashy-fielding showman with the Indianapolis Clowns. At first base he provided a big target for infielders and entertained the fans with his long arms and a big stretch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ad98ff9a-0a7e-4573-800f-3f383d428966/16+-+Abe+Saperstein.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Abe Saperstein Best known as the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, Abe Saperstein earned most of his wealth from his work as a promoter and booking agent for the Negro American League. He was also Satchel Paige’s personal agent, and worked with Bill Veeck to scout talent for the Cleveland Indians, the first American League team to integrate. Abe Saperstein’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2b4e2fb1-f1e2-43d5-b33c-02bd8be4e32d/17+-+Syd+Pollock.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Syd Pollock A pioneer of women’s baseball in the 1920s, in the 1930s Syd Pollock set up a booking agency to compete directly against the most powerful man in black baseball, Nat Strong. Later he owned the Ethiopian Clowns, a team that combined skilled play and comedy baseball. In order to play in the Negro American League the team was compelled to change its name to the Indianapolis Clowns and stop wearing African costumes, although they continued to perform clowning routines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fb21f195-d8ad-45fb-a270-277f8dafd412/18+-+King+Tut.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - “King Tut” Richard Elmer "King Tut" King played with the Cincinnati/Indianapolis Clowns in 1943, 1945, and 1948. King was known more for performing pantomime comedy acts than his playing ability. King was also known for his oversized first baseman's mitt. King was billed as "The Crown Clown," crown prince of Negro baseball. He also performed skits before the game, between innings, and interacted with the fans in the stands. He often dressed as an Egyptian Pharaoh or wore a tuxedo and top hat. He eventually transitioned away from playing altogether, but remained associated with the Clowns until his retirement in 1959. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f73dd5b-c52b-4d0c-a4cf-fdf97747e8ce/19+-+Spec+Bebop.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Spec Bebop Spec Bebop was a dwarf who performed vaudeville routines and had top billing with the Clowns well into the 1950s. He often worked alongside King Tut, where the two performed a rowboat routine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f0512a95-470a-4c7b-b32c-5c69f2eaf141/20+-+High+School+football.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Two Sport Star While at Booker T. Washington High School, Sam (#1 in the front row) once scored 6 touchdowns in a game against Crestwood. Not only that, but he also added 4 extra points. And don’t you forget it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66854d61-466b-46cd-9a20-a864a0023ead/21+-+82nd+Airborne.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - 82nd Airborne Sam used to train every day like they were going to war tomorrow. You had to be prepared. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d8a9a7d5-77f6-4aeb-a6f0-159a25367e80/22+-+Ernie+Wheelwright.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ernie Wheelwright One of Sam’s football teammates while in the military was Ernest Lamour 'Wheels' Wheelwright. Ernie attended Southern Illinois University and served in the 101st Airborne Division (a.k.a. the Screaming Eagles). Wheelwright played as a running back for the New York Giants (1964–65), Atlanta Falcons (1966–67) and the New Orleans Saints (1967–70). Following the end of his football career, Wheelwright appeared as an actor in films including The Longest Yard (1974), Trackdown (1976), The Greatest (1977) & Wildcats (1986). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b0f53975-67be-4a51-bbc7-a3b9d2a51741/23+-+Walt+Lundy.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Walt Lundy One of Sam’s friends growing up, Walt Lundy played multiple sports at Booker T. Washington High School. Here they are playing on a basketball team together in the 1950s (Sam is wearing #8). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4faa1feb-6639-4b75-a8ed-4236239c75aa/24+-+Harry+Postove.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Harry Postove Harry Postove was instrumental in seeing the Norfolk City League come to fruition, and nurtured the league for over 50 years. He was a sports editor for the Norfolk Ledger, served in the Military, was one of the White Sox’ top scouts. Postove signed Walt Lundy to a minor league contract. He is seen here, signing Luis Aparicio to the White Sox in June of 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f487c69d-2898-4034-ace8-20f63cdbde5e/25+-+Wilson+Gloves.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Wilson Baseball Gloves They may have been expensive, but they were worth it. You can’t have your glove breaking when you need it to make the play! Here is an ad from 1951, right when Sam was looking for some new equipment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8e86b4b1-edd4-4af1-8fbf-f5aaaed81663/26+-+Willie+Mays+at+the+age+of+20%2C+in+the+clubhouse+of+the+Minneapolis+Millers%2C+on+his+way+to+the+New+York+Giants.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Phenom The day Willie Mays graduated from high school, he was signed by the New York Giants. First, the Giants sent Mays to their Class B farm team in Trenton, New Jersey, but he quickly advanced to their AAA farm club. Here he is, at the age of 20, in the clubhouse of the Minneapolis Millers in 1951. He would be called up to the Giants and go on to win Rookie Of The Year that season, helping the Giants win the pennant. The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! He may have been young, but he was already well on his way to being a superstar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4ef42dd-3511-4356-a3fa-1675f84ed10d/27+-+the+catch.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out Willie’s brilliant play in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series may have been his most famous instance making a catch like that, but it certainly wasn’t his first time. Sam saw Willie make a play just like this a couple years earlier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f1d6bdbd-bee7-4610-91c2-cdf886d91062/28+-+Smoky+Joe+Williams.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Smoky Joe Williams Once tabbed by Ty Cobb as “a sure 30-game winner in the major leagues,” Smoky Joe Williams is often mentioned by old-timers as black baseball’s greatest pitcher, superior even to Cannonball Redding, Bill Foster, Frank Wickware, and Satchel Paige, who called Williams his idol. In the twilight of his career with the Homestead Grays, Smoky Joe bested Paige, 30 years his junior, in two out of three games. Smoky Joe Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/046d09f3-9720-4339-9ac6-b5f6527f6a4a/29+-+Satchel+Paige.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Satchel Paige Sam thinks that while there may have been other great pitchers throughout history, the thing which set Satchel Paige apart from them all was his longevity. “Everybody thinks it’s remarkable how I keep getting batters out in my 40th year of pitching — that’s right, 40 years of straight baseball,” Paige said. He had been happy to be hired by Kansas City, but only so that “now folks can see that I must have had a lot more going for me, and deserved to be in the big leagues when I was in my prime.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2228eff4-8ff0-4ade-8222-55f8a829d3ad/30+-+Satchel+Paige.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Biggest Stage Satchel Paige was never afraid of big moments or big stages. In fact, that’s when he came alive. Sam said Satchel was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. What happened in the one at bat Sam had against him? “He blew me away.” Satchel Paige’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/828a2f23-0b0e-4723-99ce-0bb681359877/31+-+Tommy+de+la+Cruz.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Tomás de la Cruz Before Jackie Robinson came on the scene there were Roberto Estalella, Alex Carrasquel, Hiram Bithorn, and Tommy de la Cruz – Caribbean-born foreign imports with more than a small trace of African bloodlines to strain the boundaries of segregated North American professional baseball. In 1944, he won 9 games, lost 9 games, put up a 3.25 ERA, and had an ERA+ of 108. He even threw a complete game one-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tomás de la Cruz’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b203657b-d350-4802-87fd-e0d64546c427/31+-+1957+Reds+spring+training.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Cincinnati Reds Training Camp Douglas, Georgia was the home of the Reds’ spring training camp from 1954 through 1957. The Airbase was a ready-made facility with barracks and a dining hall. The airbase athletic field included a baseball diamond, volleyball courts, four tennis courts, basketball court, and an obstacle course. Sam was at the 1957 camp, but didn’t end up making the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c8657f62-240c-43f8-a629-3d063b9ea9b4/33+-+Bob+Mitchell+pension.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bob Mitchell Bob “Peach Head” Mitchell was signed by Monarchs manager Buck O'Neil and joined a strong pitching staff featuring the legendary Satchel Paige. He compiled a 30-14 record from 1954-57. Mitchell helped Sam Allen become a Monarch, and he was instrumental in the decades-long fight to get former Negro League players their rightful pensions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d03d91ed-9db2-4979-b3a9-a2329814f758/34+-+Curt+Flood.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Curt Flood Curt Flood earned an invitation to the Cincinnati Reds’ Spring Training in 1957 after the year he had at High Point-Thomasville in 1956. In 154 games, Flood batted .340 with 190 hits and scored 133 runs. He had 29 home runs, 128 RBI, and 317 total bases. He walked 102 times and stole 19 bases, too. Curt Flood’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdfb92f3-88f4-4155-9f0e-0fa5268229d1/35+-+French+Shriners.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - French Shriners Sam had an extremely nice pair of shoes with him on the bus to Jacksonville the night of April 19, 1957. This 1957 ad for French Shriners lists the price as $21.95, which is the equivalent of $235 in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1c16c12f-927f-4113-be10-ef0a76321a21/36+-+Dizzy+Dismukes.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Dizzy Dismukes William "Dizzy" Dismukes was a star pitcher, one who not only threw a no-hitter — against none other than Rube Foster’s 1915 Chicago American Giants — but also tossed a four-hit complete game against the 1911 Pittsburgh Pirates. He was, for parts of two decades, a manager who is credited with at least 196 career wins. He was the traveling secretary for the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs. He was a part-time baseball writer with the Pittsburgh Courier. He was, for a time, the secretary of the Negro National League. In the early 1950s, he became one of the first Black scouts in Organized Baseball, working for both the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, and in 1952 the Pittsburgh Courier listed him among the best Negro League pitchers of all time. Dizzy Dismukes’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b40268cc-11a7-4e5d-a85e-8fcc64732df0/37+-+Burt+Shotton.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Burt Shotton When Burt Shotton retired, he promised his wife he’d never put on another uniform. When he was offered a managerial job by Branch Rickey, Shotton kept his promise to his wife… and managed in a suit. Burt Shotton’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e5bed90c-ec72-4150-8feb-fb35ef4eab1d/38+-+Ted+Rasberry.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ted Rasberry In 1953, Ted Rasberry purchased an Indianapolis team and moved them to Detroit, renaming the team the Detroit Stars. He applied to the Negro American League and was accepted. He purchased the Kansas City Monarchs in 1956, but the League would not allow Rasberry to own two teams, so he sold the Detroit Stars to his niece and secretary, Minnie Forbes, who owned the team from 1956 to 1958. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6f6a9961-74b7-4927-b6f7-91a74084c3ca/39+-+Memphis+Red+Sox+owners.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Martin Brothers The Memphis Red Sox played at Martin Stadium, which was built by the Martin brothers, who owned the team. That made the Memphis Red Sox one of the only Negro League teams to own their own stadium. The Memphis Red Sox were never the most heralded bunch, but three decades of Negro League baseball was still a major victory that very few teams could claim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e85177d-c92d-4e4b-b3f0-012d3472a8c2/40+-+Martin+Stadiumm.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Martin Stadium Martin Stadium, formerly known as Lewis Park, was home of one of the most enduring teams of the Negro Leagues — the Memphis Red Sox (1920s-1950s). It was one of only a few baseball stadiums that exclusively hosted a team from the Negro Major Leagues. A stadium owned by Blacks, that promoted Black athletics, was a unique cultural fixture in any American city much less a major city in the segregated south. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d399bbf4-e7e8-44f2-9e8e-c074a4dd0400/41+-+Lefty+Mathis.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - “Lefty” Mathis Verdell “Lefty” Mathis, a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox, was the premier southpaw in the Negro Leagues during the 1940s. His ability and popularity were such that he pitched in three East-West All Star Games, starting the 1944 and 1945 games for the West, and made the all-star roster a total of six times. Mathis needed surgery after the 1945 season, but no doctor would operate on him. Dr. Martin, one of the owners of the Red Sox, performed the surgery to remove bone chips from Mathis’ left elbow, enabling him to come back and pitch again in 1946. Verdell “Lefty” Mathis’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f11604e5-2086-42e9-ab4e-f00945fe573c/42+-+Negro+Motorist+Green+Book.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Negro Motorist Green Book An annual guidebook for African-American road trippers founded and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. From a New York-focused first edition published in 1936, Green expanded the work to cover much of North America. The Green Book became "the bible of black travel" during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against African Americans and other non-whites was widespread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1221090f-5573-4686-a821-f0d9d409e707/43+-+Monarchs+bus.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bus Travel Mastering travel in segregated America was the hallmark of many successful black baseball teams. Switching from train travel to bus travel allowed you to get to your league opponent destinations faster, while also picking up exhibition games in between travel. The Kansas City Monarchs were among the earliest teams to take advantage of bus travel. Here we see the Kansas City Monarchs’ team bus with manager Frank Duncan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f42d370-a78a-4c48-9e4f-30fb01a6839c/44+-+Bonnie+McEachin.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bonnie McEachin’s Plaza Hotel In 1940, Bonnie Estelle McEachin opened a 12-room hotel near the Booker T. Theatre. It was so popular that she opened a new place, The Plaza Hotel, at 1757 Church in Norfolk, Virginia six months later with twice as many rooms. All African-American entertainers stayes at the Plaza, even if they were performing 50 miles away. Duke Ellington ordered steaks sent there from New York. Some songs were written at the Plaza, including "Yakkity Yak" by the Four Coasters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16988f8e-81e5-496c-9564-25c34f8f929b/45+-+Billy+Williams.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Billy Williams Billy Williams was the youngest of five children. The brother born directly before him was Franklin Delano Williams, who was roommates with Sam Allen during their time together on the Memphis Red Sox. Frank eventually signed with the Pirates organization and would have a six-year minor league career. Billy Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b16d5d48-4dcf-4176-b552-758c307de8b4/46+-+1957+Kansas+City+Monarchs.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Speedy Sam Sam batted lead off for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1957. He led the Negro American League in runs scored thanks to his speed and base running. He was also a great bunter, allowing him to get on base in any number of ways. His skills helped Kansas City win the championship in 1957, the last championship the Monarchs would win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9f61a02b-612c-4fe5-bd0a-50c536896060/47+-+Rube+Foster.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Rube Foster Hall of Fame manager John McGraw once said, “To play for Rube Foster you had to be able to bunt into a hat ... Rube would put two hats out on the field, one between the pitcher’s mound and first base, the other between the mound and third. If you couldn’t get a bunt down into one of those two hats, you couldn’t make the team.” He would have loved Sam Allen. Rube Foster’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf2007a0-8528-4aa6-aae6-7237d96e45cf/48+-+Pedro+Sierra.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Pedro Sierra Pedro Sierra was born in Cuba in 1938. His journey to being a professional ballplayer, something he promised his dying mother he would do, began in the Negro Leagues as a member of the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars from 1954 to 1958. This led to a long minor league career with the Minnesota Twins’ and Washington Senators’ affiliates from the late 1950s through the 1970s, with a few years interrupted by military service. He extended his time in baseball all the way through 1975 in Mexico. He and Sam are good friends who frequent card shows and autograph signings together. Sam’s family calls him “Uncle Pedro.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7b537656-e8d2-4db2-99d3-f381246a1f60/49+-+Ebbets+Field.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ebbets Field The loudest roar from a crowd Sam ever heard in his career was when he hit a home run at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. No wonder that was Sam’s favorite place to play. Twilight At Ebbets Field https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f066a3b4-7aaa-4f66-ba43-3021575d1163/50+-+Willard+Brown.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Willard Brown Willard J. Brown was known as “Home Run” during his career, when he played almost exclusively for the Kansas City Monarchs. He used a 40-ounce bat to become the preeminent Negro Leagues home-run hitter during the 1940s. Brown was one of the five original Black players to integrate the white Major Leagues in 1947, along with Jackie Robinson. When Brown returned to the Monarchs in 1958 after a hiatus, Sam Allen was sent to the Raleigh Tigers to make room for Brown on the roster. Brown was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Willard Brown’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a2234428-ab01-4098-828b-b55e13fa221a/51+-+1958+Kansas+City+Monarchs.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Small Rosters As you can tell from this 1958 Kansas City Monarchs team photo, the roster sizes in the Negro Leagues were nowhere near as large as teams for the white Major Leagues. That meant that players often times needed to know how to play multiple positions, and pray they didn’t get injured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35fae114-0620-47e5-9b05-a76b76de069a/52+-+Sam.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Lost Statistics One of the reasons it’s been so hard for the average fan to contextualize how great players in the Negro Leagues were is that their games weren’t always covered in newspapers so the statistics have been lost. But ask any player who played back then and they’ll tell you, their league was just as talented. If not more so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b7d27af6-e7d1-4268-96a9-3c0f1c37fa0d/53+-+few+photos.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Few Photos This is one of the very few photos Sam has of himself during his playing career. Not because he lost photos he had, or wasn’t careful about collecting and keeping them when they were taken, but because so few photos were taken of most Negro League players and games in the first place. That’s another reason why it’s so important to preserve the history of the Negro Leagues and of Black baseball. If we don’t, that history gets lost. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0e2ff256-0116-4687-b3b1-8806621d771f/54+-+Negro+League+crowds.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Negro League Crowds While the fans at Negro League games were predominantly Black, there were still plenty of white fans in the stands, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97fcb4c3-cd40-471a-926e-04dfc6c3baf6/55+-+Josh+Gibson.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Josh Gibson It is said that Josh Gibson once hit a ball in Portsmouth and it didn’t stop until it reached Pittsburgh. The fact that there was a train track behind the stadium and Josh hit a home run over the fence and into the moving train is a detail that isn’t necessary. Josh Gibson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b65011e7-cef5-4798-b7b3-85388d19bb00/56+-+barrier+breakers.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Barrier Breakers There were five Black players who played during the 1947 Major League baseball season, which many people don’t realize. They were: Jackie Robinson - SABR Biography Dan Bankhead - SABR Biography Larry Doby - SABR Biography Willard Brown - SABR Biography Hank Thompson - SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37a41e4b-24c1-4482-a416-28bddb360255/57+-+military.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Drafted Into The Military Sam was just entering his prime as a baseball player, but his playing career was cut short due to being drafted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ce3a3c86-6550-4eba-86c2-c317fd997339/58+-+Jessie+Mitchell.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jessie Mitchell Jessie Mitchell of the Birmingham Black Barons led the Negro American League in batting in 1957 with a .338 average. He also hit 17 home runs and drove in 67 runs to win the Triple Crown that season. He was selected to play in four East-West All Star games (1955-1959). In 1959, he completed his Negro League career with the Kansas City Monarchs." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/313bf6c3-43d1-4e15-98ec-292fb0e35eb0/59+-+Jackie+Robinson+barnstorming.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Jackie Robinson Barnstorming Tours Beginning in 1946 and continuing through the 1950s, Jackie Robinson annually led a group of "all-star" players on a postseason barnstorming tour. During the early years, Robinson's barnstorming team toured in Mexico and the roster featured primarily Negro League players. In later years, as integration progressed, the team included many black Major League stars, including his Dodgers teammates Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. (Campanella also led his own, separate barnstorming tour in the 1950s.) This ball, based upon the signatures present, most likely dates from one of Robinson's early tours in 1949 or 1950. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b4cf56e-e503-4ec7-8b79-1e20672d5649/60+-+Freedom+National+Bank.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Freedom National Bank When Jackie Robinson left the sports world, he used his status as a public figure to move into the political and corporate arena. In 1958 he became a spokesman and fundraiser for the NAACP. Robinson protested with Martin Luther King in Birmingham, Alabama. He was also present at King’s famous march on Washington in 1963. Jackie then open up a bank called the Freedom Bank. This stimulated Harlem’s economy by offering generous loans for local homes and businesses. Established in 1973 by Rachel Robinson to perpetuate the memory of her husband, the Jackie Robinson Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization that administers one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for talented college students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d67f3cd7-1cbb-4bd9-89de-ed4f726fc9b6/61+-+Pride.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Proud Man One of the best feelings for Sam was coming home after being away playing ball and hearing the neighborhood women talking about how proud everyone was of him for living out his dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0f142d30-4516-4f2f-9e80-66e557511279/62+-+A+Part+Of+Our+History.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Part Of Our History Baseball history is American history. That very much includes the history of the Negro Leagues. Here, Sam stands in front of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/36dd390d-0916-4d6e-8e9c-86979a5b92f1/63+-+2021+All+Star+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - 2021 All Star Game Sam brought his daughter and his grandson with him when he was invited to MLB’s 2021 All Star Game in Denver. One of the highlights of the trip for Sam was meeting CC Sabathia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/57b70c38-552e-4a21-be14-6626f4f67676/64+-+Harbor+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Harbor Park Sam was a 2019 inductee of the Tidewater Baseball Shrine at Harbor Park in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, one of his proudest achievements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/07fa8f5a-134f-4638-9bf3-c510e856ed01/65+-+Lifetime+pass.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Lifetime Pass Sam has also received a Lifetime Pass from Major League Baseball, allowing him and a guest free entry into any game he wants to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/abbc3c8c-2c37-4761-a410-83aeb5541dbd/66+-+Sam%27s+Daughter.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Family Man Sam is most proud of his family. Here he is with his daughter at her graduation from Bennet College. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22b3d0d6-d470-424f-abf8-7da305e73dbc/67+-+His+grandson.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Grandson You can just see in his eyes how proud he is of his grandson, Gregory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/27bd5587-955f-488f-984d-439b83593321/68+-+Sam+and+Donavon.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam and Don Sam and his grandson, Donavon, have a special bond. Don helps Sam get to all of his engagements, and was instrumental in helping to set up this interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4036b90-4ead-4ce7-914c-ac75a5b2a58d/69+-+With+CC+Sabathia.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - CC Sabathia CC Sabathia has gone above and beyond to make sure Sam Allen, Pedro Sierra, and all other living Negro League players are getting the love and recognition they deserve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/307b253c-a888-4df5-9efb-a4ff7002a3cc/70+-+Ken+Griffey%2C+Jr..jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Ken Griffey, Jr. Sam gets the VIP treatment wherever he goes, from whoever is there. An entire generation of fans looked up to Ken Griffey, Jr., but Ken looks up to Sam. Ken Griffey, Jr.’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1344f6ee-e819-4ee0-b96e-88f0aac3374b/71+-+Tim+Anderson.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Tim Anderson My favorite moment I’ve ever witnessed in person at a baseball game was Tim Anderson walking it off into the corn at the Field of Dreams game. Don watched that moment on TV and knew it was special, too. Here is Graig Kriendler’s painting of that amazing night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24e57765-3743-4558-845f-4747f9f8a0c9/72+-+a+legend.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - A Legend Don’s friends would say “I didn’t know your granddad was a legend!” Well, he is. It’s nice that he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f1529fc-02e2-4055-8d7d-b2d486e6ce88/73+-+Bobby+Giannini.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Stevenson High School Rooting for my friend and our quarterback Bobby Giannini as he led our team to the IHSA 8A State Finals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3630176d-ee83-45cb-810e-4b076dd3bde2/74+-+Blackhawks+at+Soldier+Field.JPG Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Blackhawks at Soldier Field We were prepared for the cold, but it was still nice that the Blackhawks kept scoring to keep us warm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a1f165a-bff4-4f0c-8d0f-ed0ba995b0a8/75+-+Sam.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Total Recall We may have been speaking about things that happened 65 years ago, but Sam remembered them like it was yesterday. People, places, events… everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7071dd58-a7b0-4e7d-a504-c4dbc8661e68/76+-+NLBM+statues.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Make it stand out The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City is an absolute must-see. Seriously. Plan your trip right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cc62020-2dc7-45c8-ba24-638d253ae1f7/77+-+2022-07-17+Black+Diamonds+podcast+with+Bob+Kendrick.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Black Diamonds Bob Kendricks’ podcast for the NLBM is a great listen, too. If you haven’t checked it out before, why don’t you start with THIS EPISODE, featuring Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f197c6e0-e236-4ce4-8126-3d22f53b023c/78+-+Nat+King+Cole.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Nat King Cole A baseball fan, himself, Nat King Cole once recorded a song that mixed his gospel upbringing with his love of the sport: “The First Baseball Game” Here he is with Jackie Robinson as they wait for Game 2 of a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, June 5, 1954 to start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/03d70e28-3b84-44ea-8acc-01e1b941dfdc/79+-+Standing+on+the+Shoulders+of+Giants.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants Look at the reverence CC Sabathia has for Sam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/388631b7-65ff-4222-9c23-9d37094cf2a1/80+-+Bob+Motley.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Bob Motley Bob Motley’s umpiring career began as he recovered from a gunshot wound at a military hospital on Okinawa. "I could look out the window and see there was a ball field, so I decided I'd hop down with my crutches. And they needed an umpire," he says. So they gave him a mask and chest protector, and he began calling balls and strikes for the Marines. His grandson, Byron Motley, is a documentary filmmaker whose recent film The League is a great watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4ecedd62-18cc-42bf-b1c4-112bded6ccbd/81+-+the+crew.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - The Crew Special thanks to Sam and Donavon, of course, but also to Ted and Edward Holstrom. What a special day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9697649d-761f-4c6c-9f55-199fb1788715/82+-+Sam%27s+recliner.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Chair With Don’s help, we were able to get the audio levels as good and consistent as possible while Sam sat in his comfortable chair during our long conversation. I couldn’t be more grateful for both of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/836d6153-8a9e-4dcd-8794-fd28bde2b0e4/83+-+follow+Sam.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Follow Sam on Social Media Sam’s Instagram Don’s Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f51aedc0-115d-434e-b29c-a4e79f7e56b8/5x5_MBH_LOGO.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Follow My Baseball History on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Clearing The Bases email newsletter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2392dc73-2425-442e-a4ad-aed800d59a1e/84+-+Walter+Lundy.png Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Sam’s Friends Claude Cousins August 7, 1938 - March 2, 2005 Walt Lundy (pictured here) December 10, 1935 - June 18, 2005 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a491f0ce-430b-46ad-a76c-b85948fecdac/85+-+Toni+Stone.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Toni Stone Toni Stone’s break came when Syd Pollock, owner of the Indianapolis Clowns, signed her in 1953. Although she was originally signed to increase ticket sales, she proved to be far more than just a novelty woman player. One newspaper article said of her playing – “she’s agile, has good baseball instinct, and knows what a Louisville slugger is used for.” Other women were eventually signed, as well, thanks to Stone’s success. Toni Stone’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01b8e1cd-b24a-4589-bd7a-c0c6aa3f69c5/86+-+Henry+Aaron.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Henry Aaron Henry Aaron, a Mobile, Alabama native, signed with the Indianapolis Clowns in April of 1952 for $200 a month after the team's business manager, Bunny Downs, saw him play for the Mobile Black Bears the year before in an exhibition game against the Clowns. The crosshanded hitting shortstop would join the team for the 1952 season. In three months, he would lead the league in hitting with a .467 batting average. He would also lad in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, rbi's and total bases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9d9b1bde-0002-44cd-adae-63ace329b30a/87+-+1957-07-01+Clowns+vs+Black+Yankees.jpg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - Indianapolis Clowns vs. New York Black Yankees The Clowns, taking a page from the Harlem Globetrotters’ playbook, took their opponents on the road with them so they were always guaranteed to have a worthy opponent in whichever city they were scheduled to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6ef730a3-9c9a-41ff-9599-2622d5796253/88+-+New+York+Black+Yankees.jpeg Past Episodes - 0302 - Sam Allen - New York Black Yankees Fans immediately realized the Yankees name and associated it with success and entertainment. The Black Yankees were managed by Dick Lundy, no relation to Walt. Dick Lundy’s SABR Biography https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0301 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c96f5641-5dba-4ef1-9755-9ecbd6fdf35b/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6baa21ca-1904-4f58-9187-4a8e7f618c36/IMG-6897.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke Me and Jacob Pomrenke after getting to see a game used baseball from Game 5 of the 1919 World Series during a private tour of the Chicago Sports Museum at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4521fa56-7ca9-4a7e-9405-0a2b5e402f23/01+-+Cal+Ripken.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Root For The Home Team Jacob saw Cal Ripken, Jr. hit a home run in his 1,500th straight game. A young Edgar Martinez homered that night, too. Cal Ripken, Jr.’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/161422e3-fd07-4f81-8365-531fd708663c/02+-+Brooks+Robinson+carrot+cake.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Brooks Robinson’s Favorite Carrot Cake Jacob still has an old Baseball HOF yearbook from the '80s that included Brooks Robinson's wife's carrot cake recipe. Brooks Robinson’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2dc6e3b4-b78c-4a8f-a8e0-71d835bc2bde/03+-+Babe+Ruth+birthplace.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum Located just a couple blocks away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the museum is absolutely worth a visit if you’re ever in Baltimore. Listen to my interview with Executive Director Shawn Herne HERE Babe Ruth’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9b009c7e-f92e-463c-b05e-caa8ee28861e/04+-+grandfather.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jacob’s Grandfather He grew up in Detroit in the 1940s and 50s, and once faced pitcher Billy Pierce just after he was signed by the Tigers. He moved to Baltimore in the 1960s where he continued his love of baseball. Billy Pierce’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/10fada37-f0ab-4881-a4da-80296379a81a/02+-+Glavine.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Tom Glavine Tom and Jacob, each pictured here in 1996 (Jacob is on the right). Tom Glavine’s SABR biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4b99f5f-26b4-46d5-b65b-20fde61aac32/06+-+1991+Braves.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1991 Atlanta Braves While they may have lost to the Minnesota Twins in Game 7 of the World Series, the 1991 Braves are still Jacob’s favorite team of all time. 1991 World Series Game 7 SABR Games Project Article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a91c84e-0cd7-4571-83ec-440e17d998de/07+-+Tomahawk+Chop.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Tomahawk Chop Jacob has been advocating for the retirement of “The Chop” for years, both publicly and privately. "I think it's a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general,'' Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley said. "It's not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It's not. It's about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and how we're perceived in that way, or used as mascots.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1564bed8-3e84-40e7-8478-dc04594f565b/08+-+1997+SABR+convention.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1997 SABR Convention The 1997 Convention was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Convention organizer co-chairs were Harry Rothgerber and Henry Mayer. A total of 440 members and guests were in attendance. Pee Wee Reese and the Congressman Jim Bunning were the featured speakers, with Bunning giving the keynote address. There were several interesting player panels. One consisted of Reese, Carl Erskine, Don Lund, Ed Stevens, and Tot Presnell. Branch Rickey III and Louisville Redbirds General Manager Dale Owens also spoke. The membership had a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory and also attended an American Association game between the Louisville Redbirds and the Iowa Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a23c2745-e866-4d1b-a276-4bfeffbb459c/09+-+Len+Levin.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Len Levin Len Levin was best known as a grammar/usage/style guru. For 30 years, he served as The Providence Journal’s news editor, overseeing the copy desk with a velvet fist. Len was a teacher - he trained scores of copy editors who went on to work at The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, and many other metro papers. He also taught copy editing and news writing courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. After retirement, he helped organize and run the SABR Research Exchange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3f15a368-5cec-46b1-adb1-7e9fa1d8070a/10+-+sabr+logo.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Research Committees Covering a wide range of topics, the SABR Research Committees are a great way to get involved and dig deeper into a particular topic in which you may be interested. With more than 30 different committees, there’s something for everyone. Any SABR member can join any of the committees, and any SABR member can be a member of as many committees as they choose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6b712ecc-0d84-4c69-9953-673f6e61ed4d/11+-+Biography+Project.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Biography Project Probably the most ambitious project SABR has ever created, its goal is to write a biography of every single person to have ever played a game in the Major Leagues and the Negro Leagues. Of the more than 24,000 players who qualify, SABR has written biographies on more than 6,000 of them. Henry Aaron’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3a569433-8ba2-4952-ad00-2ec8aa5ef1b4/12+-+seamheads+negro+leagues.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out The Negro Leagues Data Base at Seamheads.com is the most comprehensive data base of Negro Leagues players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/608b3035-415a-46f1-899a-adde78bf7926/13+-+Fred+McMullin.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Fred McMullin Until his fateful involvement in the plot to fix a World Series, Fred McMullin was known as the Chicago White Sox’ “lucky man.” His addition to the starting lineup coincided with late-season surges to win the American League pennant in 1917 and 1919. Fred McMullin’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e2acd16-b1c5-4ee4-b936-37b5a5010b1d/14+-+Lefty+Williams.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Lefty Williams After he was banned from baseball, Lefty Williams and his wife Lyria lived here, on Granville Ave. in Chicago, from 1927-36 until heading west to California. Lefty Williams’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/96802a70-537c-4785-8a3d-48a44bbcbfd5/15+-+Lefty+Sullivan.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - John “Lefty” Sullivan Lefty Sullivan had everything a pitcher could want: a blazing fastball, a knee-buckling curve, a disappearing spitball, and pinpoint control. The one thing he couldn’t do was field. Lefty Sullivan’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1259446f-1560-4976-9b3d-b843a6128c02/16+-+Joe+Jenkins.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joe Jenkins Just ten days after the 1919 World Series ended, Joe Jenkins learned that his brother William, a prominent businessman in Mexico and a US consular agent there, had been kidnapped by revolutionary rebels. The incident set off an international furor between the two countries that stained William Jenkins’ reputation for the rest of his life. Joe Jenkins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/17536ba0-5656-48cb-a60c-c27ca20752f3/17+-+SABR+Games+Project.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Games Project A complement to the Biography Project, the SABR Games Project is a way to tell stories about individual games, usually ones which are historically significant in some way. Follow the SABR Games Project HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/530a679f-9d1f-4adf-b57b-3b1d2fd725b7/18+-+Wingfoot+Express.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - July 21, 1919 - White Sox vs. Yankees Doubleheader White Sox fans in certain sections of Comiskey Park may have caught a glimpse in the distance of the Wingfoot Express on its second excursion around downtown, which lifted off about a half-hour after the first game began at 2:00 p.m. Soon after the start of the second game, many more fans could see the blimp in the air as it began to make its way south toward the White City Amusement Park at 63rd Street. If it had finished its voyage, Goodyear’s airship likely would have passed directly over Comiskey Park around the fourth or fifth inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a7e5e376-3cfe-4389-a9b6-c6c051ec8ec0/19+-+sabr+membership+directory.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Society for American Baseball Research The Society for American Baseball Research is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, primarily through the use of statistics. The organization was founded in Cooperstown, New York, on August 10, 1971, at a meeting of 16 “statistorians” coordinated by sportswriter Bob Davids. The organization now reports a membership of over 7,000. Become a member today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a0ff6eed-7499-40e6-ac3c-e248539ae1da/20+-+sabr+chapters.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Local Chapters For most members, their primary chapter is the regional group closest to their physical location. But members also have the option to join any other SABR chapter and receive email newsletters, stay updated on upcoming events (both virtual and in-person), and connect with other like-minded members. With more than 80 chapters worldwide, SABR chapters reach every corner of the baseball world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/05631c53-3981-4c56-bdb4-3badcdaffd20/21+-+1919+World+Series+Symposium.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Scandal Research Committee Jacob has been the chairman of the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee since 2010. Amazing discoveries have been made since he has taken the reins, and he has coordinated many incredible events. This photo, taken at the historic Mercantile Library in Cincinnati, shows Jacob moderating a panel discussion during the 2019 symposium for the 100th anniversary of the 1919 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/709f7f90-9b8f-49aa-a774-15f1f72c82c8/22+-+player+salaries.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Player Salaries One of the groundbreaking discoveries of recent years is that of the player contract cards, which tell us exactly how much the players on the 1919 White Sox were being paid, and how that compared to other players in the American League. The truth paints a very different picture than what we have been led to believe all these years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc8a9365-8147-4aa9-9edd-129b95acfc39/23+-+1919+world+series+ball.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out There aren’t many known game balls that have survived from the 1919 World Series, but this game used ball from Game 5 was authenticated by Chicago Tribune sports editor Harvey Woodruff before being placed in a 1920 time capsule and buried in the walls of the old Chicago Tribune printing plant. It is now on display at the Chicago Sports Museum. SABR Games Project article about that game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/88a9a497-fa53-4050-a528-a285f0eedefa/24+-+Bill+Lamb.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox In The Courtroom by Bill Lamb A comprehensive, non-partisan account of the judicial proceedings spawned by the corruption of the 1919 World Series was badly needed. This book by Bill Lamb provides it. The narrative of events was crafted from surviving fragments of the judicial record, contemporaneous newspaper accounts of the proceedings, museum archives and, occasionally, the literature of the Black Sox scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1018bf00-85c6-4e6c-ac24-f67ca4b906f7/25+-+Eight+Men+Out.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof Like many others, reading the book Eight Men Out is what got Jacob interested in the Black Sox Scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8ab0dbd7-d30d-4216-a4a7-8205c1057cd8/26+-+Scandal+On+The+South+Side.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Scandal on the South Side This book, which Jacob edited, was published by SABR in 2015. It isn’t a rewriting of Eight Men Out, but it is the complete story of everyone associated with the 1919 Chicago White Sox. Scandal on the South Side has full-life biographies on each of the 31 players who made an appearance for the White Sox in 1919, plus a comprehensive recap of Chicago’s pennant-winning season, the tainted World Series, and the sordid aftermath. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4a07c963-891a-4d45-8101-50e8508d435e/27+-+Burying+The+Black+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Burying The Black Sox by Gene Carney In 2006, Gene’s book Burying The Black Sox: How Baseball's Cover-Up of the 1919 World Series Fix Almost Succeeded was published. By 2008, he had founded the Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9e0deb41-cc81-4b33-8375-62ad9fa9ddee/28+-+8+Myths+Out.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8d00dae6-72cc-49cc-b7d8-ecde5e3b89d4/29+-+Comiskey+As+Scrooge.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FIRST MYTH OUT This is the central thesis of Eight Men Out: Charles Comiskey’s “ballplayers were the best and were paid as poorly as the worst,” as Eliot Asinof wrote. That couldn’t be further from the truth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5967f1f9-c37e-484e-b4c3-7c87db6373b3/30+-+The+Cicotte+Bonus.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SECOND MYTH OUT Eddie Cicotte and Chick Gandil were already conspiring with gamblers to fix the World Series several weeks before Charles Comiskey would have had the chance to renege on a bonus payment. And if Cicotte had pitched better in the pennant clincher, he would have earned his 30th win regardless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f3940856-9486-4a56-84b8-96e9304f0260/31+-+Gamblers+Initiated+The+Fix.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - THIRD MYTH OUT Fixing the World Series was a total “team” effort and the White Sox players did most of the heavy lifting. Chick Gandil and Eddie Cicotte, separately and together, first approached Sport Sullivan, a prominent Boston bookmaker, and Sleepy Bill Burns, a former major-league pitcher, to get the fix rolling. The Des Moines Connection to the Black Sox Scandal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135afd4a-a941-4250-9c50-e70052b26503/32+-+The+Hitman.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FOURTH MYTH OUT The primary source for the claim that Williams’ life was in danger is an anecdote by a neighbor boy — first told four decades after the fact — who claimed Lefty’s wife Lyria once told him the pitcher had been threatened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ae840206-9b38-4806-af81-e6e5be9a56a6/33+-+Only+Eight+Men+Out.jpeg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - FIFTH MYTH OUT As the historians Dr. Harold and Dorothy Seymour wrote, “The groundwork for the crooked 1919 World Series, like most striking events in history, was long prepared. The scandal was not an aberration brought about solely by a handful of villainous players. It was a culmination of corruption and attempts at corruption that reached back nearly twenty years.” The 1917 Fenway Park Gamblers Riot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7a19fd70-546e-4ebc-9a24-028774574e5c/34+-+Baseball%27s+Cover+Up.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SIXTH MYTH OUT Just about everyone in the sport’s inner circle, including White Sox owner Charles Comiskey, who admitted in a 1930 interview that he heard reports about the fix before any games were played. But Comiskey and other baseball officials allowed most of the 1920 season to be played without publicizing what they had learned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1ca052fd-3492-4005-a692-2032237d24f0/35+-+The+Stolen+Confessions.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SEVENTH MYTH OUT The Black Sox criminal trial, which resulted in the acquittal of the players, is often depicted as an example of Chicago-style corruption and shady courtroom shenanigans. But the theft of key files, including the players’ grand jury testimony transcripts, was a minor incident that played no significant role in the jury’s decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/22556279-7875-4535-803c-b82533cde9f7/36+-+Shamed+Into+Silence.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - EIGHTH MYTH OUT The players did not, as is commonly believed, hang their heads in shame and “drop out of sight” or “quietly vanish” after they were banned from baseball. Some of the players expressed remorse (especially Eddie Cicotte and Felsch), while others remained defiant or claimed innocence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/135009b4-7679-400a-b652-ceb039491d2d/98+-+Full+project+link.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out I’ve included many of the links in these liner notes, but there are dozens more on the proper SABR link. Go down the rabbit hole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4f2cba9e-e34b-4906-88a6-0cc01b8df3cc/37+-+Cavalier+Magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Abe Attell Interviewed for the October, 1961 issue of Cavalier Magazine, Abe Attell may not have been the most reliable source for Eliot Asinof to have used for his research leading up to writing Eight Men Out. But he was the one who was willing to talk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/249f9d7a-8fcb-4c46-b06c-147c99863bac/39+-+Sport+Sullivan.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joseph J. “Sport” Sullivan Black Sox researcher and historian Bruce Allardice has done lots of writing on this gambling “Sport” Sullivan, not to be confused with the fight promoter named Martin J. Sullivan, who also was nicknamed “Sport.” Sport Sullivan’s SABR Biography The Boxer, The Ballplayer, and the Great Black Sox Manhunt SABR Biographies of many of the gamblers, players, and other characters involved in the Black Sox Scandal, conveniently collected for you on THIS PAGE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b9e53ae-b9e9-4568-b87d-39cbd2f7f7fd/40+-+Shoeless+Joe+Jackson.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Shoeless Joe Jackson An Ever-Changing Story: Exposition and Analysis of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Public Statements on the Black Sox Scandal by Bill Lamb Shoeless Joe Jackson’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4847793a-f176-4423-a538-376ccde56587/41+-+Eddie+Collins.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Eddie Collins “Eddie Collins was not only one of baseball's most consistently good batters, but perhaps also its best bunter and hit-and-run man, as well as one of its craftiest base runners and finest defensive second basemen.” - Rick Huhn Eddie Collins was quick to go on the record soon after the Black Sox Scandal was exposed. In an interview with Collyer’s Eye on October 30, 1920, he said “there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind” as early as the first inning of Game One that the games were being thrown. He added, “If the gamblers didn’t have Weaver and Cicotte in their pocket, then I don’t know a thing about baseball.” But Collins’ tone changed over the years and he began to back off from his comments that he had known much about the scandal. “I was to be a witness to the greatest tragedy in baseball’s history — and I didn’t know it at the time,” he told The Sporting News in 1950. Eddie Collins’ SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/515660b3-c81e-42e2-b365-26f3cd482b7d/42+-+Buck+Weaver.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Buck Weaver Jacob’s online namesake. When Buck Weaver applied for reinstatement in 1953, he said, “Even a murderer serves his sentence and is let out. I got life.” Buck Weaver’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a4128b2f-8ae2-4722-bca4-96c0ac91826f/43+-+Vintage+Base+Ball.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Vintage Base Ball Jacob has been playing 1860s style Base Ball for over a decade now. If you follow him on twitter, @BuckWeaver, you probably already knew that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/60b975fd-a1fa-4310-9567-1e2ee634361c/44+-+Bisbee%2C+AZ.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, AZ Jacob’s favorite place to play vintage ball, Warren Ballpark is one of the few adobe brick ballparks to have ever hosted professional baseball games. It was originally built in 1909, and is one of the oldest ballparks in America. Dozens of major leaguers have played there, including a number of Sox, both Black and White. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/95c93924-ba2a-450a-a2c3-0d169728c925/45+-+Game+1+of+the+1919+World+Series.gif Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Make it stand out Possibly the closest any of us will ever get to being able to see the 1919 World Series, a remarkable newsreel featuring nearly five minutes of game action from Games One and Three was recently discovered and is now available, thanks to the Library and Archives Canada and the Dawson City Museum in Yukon, Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2877a885-c9e2-4671-a1cf-579f70df180e/46+-+Walter+Johnson+Smokey+Joe+Wood.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - September 6, 1912 at Fenway Park "Smoky Joe" Wood of the Boston Red Sox warms up prior to facing off against Walter Johnson, one of the most heralded pitching duels in baseball history. “My regular pitching turn was scheduled to come on Saturday, and they moved it up a day so that Walter and I could face each other,” said Wood. “Walter had already won 16 in a row and his streak had ended. I had won 13 in a row and they challenged our manager, Jake Stahl, to pitch me against Walter, so Walter could stop my streak himself.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1c993b4-144c-4a4a-b368-dc322c4f72e3/47+-+Jackie+Robinson+at+the+Polo+Grounds.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jackie Robinson at the Polo Grounds If you’re going to go to a game at the Polo Grounds to watch Jackie Robinson play, you might as well pick one of the most famous games ever played, right? October 3, 1951 SABR Games Project article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75d23c4a-1f2b-47ca-986b-3e3a7188e2a3/48+-+Black+Sox+Trial+Reenactment.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Trial production The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission and the DePaul University Theatre Department put on a reproduction of the Black Sox trial in Springfield and in Chicago, which Jacob helped keep factually accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5f255ae2-6341-4d29-bb83-c7cd23046483/49+-+No+Betting+Allowed.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - No Betting Allowed In This Park Jim "Death Valley" Scott at Comiskey Park. The signs were everywhere, if you know how to look. Jim Scott’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74edfbf7-9c8a-4458-8a75-285485a14ca2/50+-+Jacob.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Follow Jacob and SABR Online The Society for American Baseball Research SABR on Twitter Jacob’s Website Jacob on Twitter Jacob’s articles on the SABR website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9cbdbc40-131d-4689-865a-8d5683a07deb/51+-+SABR+Landmarks+map.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR’s Interactive Maps Baseball Landmarks Map Graves Map https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/aed5bdfb-001c-46b4-acde-15cb0e8658c5/52+-+Comiskey%27s+grave.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Charles Comiskey’s Grave Jacob and I went on a search for a handful of graves and other baseball-related sites in the Chicagoland area together. The Old Roman is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/79166dd9-62ad-483c-a625-a07333994ac5/53+-+Harry+Caray.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Harry Caray’s Grave Harry Caray is buried at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. Harry Caray’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c792dcd0-8af7-4f6e-9cda-ab17662f0f9d/54+-+Edward+Holstrom.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - “Big Ed” Edward Holstrom and his dad, Ted, found this plaque honoring “Big Ed” Walsh on a road trip thanks to the SABR Interactive Baseball Map. “Big Ed” Walsh’s SABR Biography Follow Edward on Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0cc50f8c-c3e7-4413-9b91-7907594e430b/55+-+Chicago+chapter.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - SABR Chapter Meetings You can be a member of multiple chapters, and enjoy the benefits of having friends all over the country who share a similar interest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3d7dbfee-ce73-4625-84bf-c4890f05406a/56+-+Chicago+Walking+Tour.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Chicago Baseball Walking Tour I don’t care how many times I’ve been on this walking tour, I will go every chance I get with Jacob and Tracy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/f94bfe6e-6b27-41c8-99ce-7a99faf3f9a1/57+-+Walking+Tour.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Jacob Leads The Way It’s amazing how you can live in a place, drive past (or walk past) a building a million times, but not know its history or realize its significance until someone who lives across the country comes to visit and tells you all about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/489d417a-f693-4d3d-822d-5dbd2024189a/58+-+Billy+Goat+Tavern.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Billy Goat Tavern The original Billy Goat Tavern location was “born” in 1934 when Greek immigrant, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, purchased the Lincoln Tavern. One day, a goat fell off a passing truck and wandered inside. Sianis adopted the goat, grew a goatee, acquired the nickname “Billy Goat,” and changed the name of the bar to the Billy Goat Tavern. It gained nationwide popularity after a Saturday Night Live sketch parodied its strict rules and limited menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b3bd1cd-325d-4871-ad53-d5837ec41b97/59+-+Gene+Carney.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Gene Carney For more than 15 years, beginning in 1993, Gene Carney wrote a semi-regular column called “Notes From The Shadows of Cooperstown” from his home in Utica, New York. At first, it was an eclectic blend of essays, poetry, book reviews, and a little baseball history. In September 2002, it took on a singular focus: the Black Sox Scandal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02f998e7-8d94-446c-99e2-1521fc0a6b50/60+-+Friends+for+Life.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Carrying The Torch The way Gene Carney treated Jacob, that’s how Jacob has treated me. He has always gone out of his way to not only answer my billion questions, but to include me in the cool things that he does. He and Tracy have become friends for life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/da74d98d-2fa3-4c11-b999-6b0179f0e31d/61+-+Arnold+Rothstein.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Arnold Rothstein He was the Kingpin in New York gambling circles and reputed financier of the World Series fix. In his 1920 grand jury testimony, he strongly denied any involvement and Chicago prosecutors publicly exonerated him. He was later accused by Ban Johnson of arranging theft of the grand jury transcripts. And yet, somehow, Arnold Rothstein could remain as under the radar as he wanted to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d82c4353-c6d7-4ac2-9282-dffb48f49c50/62+-+Ray+Schalk.png Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Collyer’s Eye Collyer’s Eye was a Chicago gambling periodical published weekly beginning April 10, 1915. Its vested interest was clear: gambling would thrive only if sports were on the up and up. Ironically, Collyer’s Eye was more interested in cleaning up baseball than baseball was. In articles beginning a week after the final game, Collyer’s Eye said the 1919 World Series had been fixed, correctly named some of the gamblers who were behind it, and correctly named most of the players later indicted. In the December 13, 1919 issue, White Sox catcher Ray Schalk named 7 names of teammates he felt had thrown the World Series, and said he didn’t expect them to be back with the team for the 1920 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cd86629b-395a-49af-a30d-f036bc6e3812/63+-+Ray+Schalk.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Ray Schalk Ray Schalk’s 1917 World Series uniform, which is housed in the archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The White Sox won the series 4 games to 2 over the New York Giants. Notice how pristine the flag patch is on the sleeve, and how worn the S-O-X logo on the chest is, in comparison. That is due to his chest protector rubbing against the raised, color logo for 6 straight games. Ray Schalk’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/75f3e8f5-ca1d-4749-a072-05de02e33d07/64+-+Red+Faber+Museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Red Faber Museum Located less than half an hour from the Field of Dreams, the Red Faber Museum honors Cascade, Iowa’s favorite son. Red Faber’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/6cc148ff-b8da-4764-a363-216fefa96e77/65+-+Jacob%27s+new+book.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Joe Jackson vs. Chicago American League Baseball Club Everyone knows the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox. At least, everyone thinks they do. They’ve seen the famous movies. Maybe they’ve even read the books. But they’ve never read anything like this. David J. Fletcher and Jacob Pomrenke uncovered the truth – as Joe Jackson and Charles Comiskey told the courts, straight from their own mouths – and have made it public for the first time ever. This book changes everything. BUY IT HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2c23f273-80a4-47d9-9149-d04685add4a8/66+-+White+Sox+Found+Not+Guilty.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Black Sox Acquitted Baseball's Trial of the Century ended August 2, 1921 when Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox were acquitted of conspiracy charges. The eight men were banned for life the next day by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had gone against his word from before the trial began. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/43a37d25-6b45-4b55-b689-c9bcca5201ca/67+-+Wedding.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - September 6 1995: Cal Ripken, Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig’s “Unbreakable” Streak by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game 2009: Jacob marries Tracy on the anniversary Lou Gehrig’s SABR Biography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9f5e671-edb0-4412-9545-cc7535905c59/68+-+Vintage+Jacob.JPG Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - 1860s Style Rules Fun for the whole family! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fc952e24-0f8d-4f3a-9871-fc0e04436886/69+-+Brooks+Robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Brooks Robinson The lasting memory of Brooks Robinson for many remains his wizardry in the 1970 World Series. But countless others will remember the man behind the statistics, records, and awards. He conducted himself with class throughout his 23 seasons in a major-league uniform, and fulfilled extraneous obligations with joy and enthusiasm. Brooks Robinson’s SABR Biography In Memoriam: Brooks Robinson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c457f9cf-204e-4692-aa4d-b883a79feb53/70+-+Support+The+Podcast.jpg Past Episodes - 0301 - Jacob Pomrenke - Follow My Baseball History Online Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0208 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623251175439-QNT2BL25L0OOGNINACGV/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623251508820-ZNQ44ZXQBPVLR9AF2MFK/IMG_2901.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier Josée Tellier and I at Graig Kreindler’s art exhibit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253192644-6HSZ4CL96MT6VP9INWIN/01+-+HOF+Replicas.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - HOF Replicas Website Facebook Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253505173-F5XGCZXVLZ6HLGNDHXLO/02+-+wolfpackl.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Wolfpack Josée Tellier, Graig Kreindler, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri on February 13, 2020. 100 years to the day after Rube Foster founding the Negro National League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253597257-84MGZH2TTBXF76PXJNHY/03+-+graig.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Graig Kreindler stands proudly in front of his Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623253903097-ETWI98ATD69BJDALD44H/04+-+Gates.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Gates When you’re in Kansas City, you have to get barbecue. You can’t go wrong at Gates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254095096-SQL89LYMT4TPVLH7QI5Z/05+-+Buck+O%27Neil+murals.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out These huge murals by Alexander Austin grace the walls of the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center, which is the former Paseo YMCA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254334390-9183ATGTH48Q2HE6Y6M5/06+-+Josee.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - For Scale These murals are so huge and incredible. Here is Josée standing next to Jackie Robinson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254614329-W4PED7J566C3H4HQGZ5F/07+-+Winstead%27s.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Winstead’s I don’t know what compelled me to order a banana milkshake, but I had trust in this old school diner. Thankfully, that proved to be an incredible decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623254745226-3ZFPAZUEYXSX4SEUX75Z/08+-+Maurice+Richard.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Maurice Richard “Rocket” Richard played 18 seasons in the for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in 1944–45, and the first to reach 500 career goals. He retired in 1960 as the NHL's all-time leader in goals with 544. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256712129-UEH3HLUT4JW5PXR9CAP4/09+-+Happy+Birthday+Andre.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andre Dawson Josée’s favorite player of all time, Andre Dawson had a Hall Of Fame career which took off in Montréal as a member of the Expos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255386294-622T9I0DLLE4Y0SEW8OF/10+-+Gary+Carter.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Gary Carter Josée posted the first card of her 50 Expos project on January 5, 2019. Beloved former Expos player Gary Carter brought her some incredible attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255480964-JA7SVSUZ2L09LXJ65WAK/11+-+Rusty+Staub.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Rusty Staub Could you imagine running in to your favorite player, asking him to come to your wedding, and they actually show up?! That’s what Rusty Staub did for one lucky fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623255740180-GX8PW2AB3QEIBGJI173O/12+-+City+of+Murals.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - City of Murals There are murals all over Montréal, many of which are dedicated to former Royal Jackie Robinson, who played minor league ball in the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256018369-21Q7KE4BEAZQJPYU4QRD/13+-+Graig.JPG Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Graig Kreindler A truly incredible artist. An even better human being. A friend for life. Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256542479-CUEC5R44W49SEBYN3XN4/14+-+Moises+Alou.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Card Template Somehow modern and classic at the same time, Josée’s card design is beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256903431-JV69DJKX2WJCTLPJN97W/15+-+Bobbleheads.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Bobbleheads Josée has tried to acquire every Expos bobblehead she can find. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623256751729-AO6FVFPC0GA4VSQNHBY7/15+-+Andre+Dawson.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andre I’ve always loved Andre’s signature, even if it looks a little more like Clyde than Andre. There’s just something so beautiful about it. It fits perfectly on this card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257008548-48LM7Z6AG15M1SFWT6AJ/17+-+Bill+Lee.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Spaceman” Bill Lee One of the game’s most colorful figures, Bill Lee is remembered just as much for his entertainment as he is for his pitching performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257824091-VFBPRVPILO04Y5K2IMXV/18+-+Aurelie+book.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Le journal d'Aurélie Laflamme Josée is the illustrator of a popular book series, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623257945111-G4H7SXU2T9VFFQS8P8D1/19+-+Perry+Giannias.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Perry Giannias Perry Giannias first fell in love with the Expos when his Greek immigrant parents started taking him to games in the 1970s. Today, he has the world's largest private collection of Expos' memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623258095004-WCKEAKE1RP2BXA2CWFS1/20+-+Tim+Raines.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Raines If it weren’t for playing at the same time as Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines (who is also in the Hall of Fame) would have his name mentioned much more often in discussions as the best leadoff hitter and base stealer of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623258817485-J9I27TSHQXB59GXK7HX1/21+-+Kadir+Nelson.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Safe At Home” This incredible piece by artist Kadir Nelson is part of a collection of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City's Jackie Robinson is depicted sliding under the tag of Cleveland's Quincy Troupee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623259948824-N06MTLLC0RDQLYOZH3V8/22+-+graig.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out As an artist, it would be pretty hard NOT to be jealous of Graig Kreindler’s talent. I mean, look at these! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260022485-X5B7H8MMH6WZPDL6EIIQ/23+-+superhero.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Superhero He may not have actually been one, but he sure looked like one and played like one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260209784-2F3QXRB0NXC7J2D3447J/24+-+First+game+ticket.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - First Game Josée carries the ticket stub from her first ever Expos game with her wherever she goes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260329661-V8VE2IVC9M97QXUWEHA4/25+-+1994+champs.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1994 World Champions? Many Expos fans, including Josée, think they would have been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260494599-MFOKMFIJ8O7GHY4I2BUI/26+-+robbed.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Robbed? Many Expos fans, including Josée, still remember the exact date the 1994 season was cancelled, and the Expos’ record at the time. They were on pace for 105 regular season wins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260741545-5IR9LF8VPZU6W62AGYHG/27+-+white+sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1994 White Sox Yeah, the Expos were good in 1994, but I have a feeling this guy would have done all he could to prevent them from winning the World Series had it been played in 1994. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623260948269-FKRGGHEW06RH4E1RTFZO/28+-+Larry+Walker.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Larry Walker Larry Walker was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261053380-G868MMY1BJI3B6V3LHQV/29+-+Darrin+Fletcher.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Darrin Fletcher Fletcher helped guide the 1994 Expos pitching staff to lead the league in winning percentage and ERA, and tied for the league lead in shutouts with 8. But many Expos fans don’t have such fond memories of him for how the 1994 strike went down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261453055-BYNFUVG2T9GFH1V4VAMF/30+-+Pedro+Martinez.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Pedro Martinez If Josée could have kept one Expos player from leaving, forcing him to stay in Montréal and play his whole career for her favorite team, she’d have liked for Pedro Martinez to have stayed. Imagine if that dominant run had happened in Canada, instead of in Boston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261484606-SRW4DXW78F2V2W563KM6/31+-+Vlad+Guerrero.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Vladimir Guerrero The Expos have lost a number of perennial All-Stars, and even some Hall of Famers. Vladimir Guerrero is another player who left Montréal before his career was over, becoming a superstar for another team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623261889434-YXZKB0CRO4TOZDJLSJ3Q/32+-+Tom+Brady.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tom Brady Drafted by the Expos, Tom Brady has gone on to be a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer. In the NFL, that is. Could he have had the same Hall of Fame career if he had stuck with baseball? Former Expos General Manager Kevin Malone certainly thinks so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262500053-IODCPMIIDKLB6WWP449V/33+-+film.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Film Adaptation The book series for which Josée is the illustrator has sold more than 2.2 million copies, and has been adapted into multiple film releases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262866860-RR6HSAEAUJFN9C1B2UEX/34+-+nlbm+uniforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Ever since she was a little kid, Josée has been obsessed with uniforms. This display at the NLBM really caught her eye. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262928935-1VGU20UMET4E8F5T4N41/35+-+Expos+Cake.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Expos Everything! Even when making desserts, the Expos are never far from Josée’s mind. She is always doing whatever she can to love and support the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623262973013-58UNNLHC1KU4JRH85L5Z/36+-+Expos+Cowboy+hat.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Cowboy Hat Do you have a cowboy hat of YOUR favorite team? No. Of course you don’t. But Josée does. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263101453-H8MHGWMUBX78KH49Q3EH/37+-+Field+Of+Dreams.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Field of Dreams A magical place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263798463-FEUQBKT5QLTXIVYA50KA/38+-+Youppi+stuffed+animal.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Always Positive Sometimes it’s hard to be positive online, but Josée does her best to always be a good influence on and role model for her young fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623263944486-B6PQEUQ8TWTU92H19W8V/39+-+Jeff+Reardon.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Jeff Reardon Not only was Jeff Reardon a pretty great pitcher for the Expos, but his beard was mostly all one color, which Josée appreciated as she illustrated his card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264122937-DU78Y7XOAG6MM97B4L27/41+-+Blues+Sister.JPG Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Blues Brothers The simple purchase of a novelty coffee mug led to one of the best days of Josée’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264184488-JLGMO6T5MWMDBUPJBT91/40+-+Blues+Brothers.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Blues Sister “Absolute perfection” is how Josée described the Bluesmobile she got to ride around in when she visited Chicago. “We had a ton of fun. We went to Joliet prison.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264646536-J58BFA4L4E9GP4OMTHQH/42+-+elvis.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Elvis Josée is passionate about a lot of things, but her love for Elvis gets her … All Shook Up … I’m sorry I’ll show myself out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623264926166-B1E1U2Y79WDM55NUH0GO/43+-+Mickey.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Mickey Mantle If Josée could play catch with one person from baseball history, it would be with Mickey Mantle. Here is one of Graig Kreindler’s many paintings of America’s hero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265023149-FBYD11R6NF62ROBRYKK3/44+-+Wrigley+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Wrigley Field Josée’s favorite baseball stadium of all time is Wrigley, especially as someone who prefers the vintage stadiums to those with all of the modern amenities. Of course, when she was there, she rocked her Andre Dawson Expos jersey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265277262-ZEMVLQ7IZ6JOWNH45DR7/45+-+prized+possession.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Prized Possession A simple gift from her mother stays with Josée at all times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265333841-NZEC7OYEJL7W0MOSU6DF/46+-+Jacques+Doucet.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Jacques Doucet Jacques Doucet was the man who created much of the French terminology used during baseball broadcasts. He was the voice of the Expos, and is Josée’s favorite broadcaster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265551330-J4FFV6Q0BLV0N8SW2O96/47+-+Felipe+Alou.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Felipe Alou Briefly an Expos player and then later their manager, Felipe Alou had some great years in Montréal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265775902-Y5MEEQ1YM9T8ES5MCQMK/48+-+Youppi%21.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Youppi! In one of the most famous mascot moments in the history of sports, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had Youppi! ejected from a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265801347-OKVC4HIK8IY77QO5EB4T/49+-+Youppi+Costume.JPG Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Josée LOVES Youppi! Like… a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623265824963-BOHZSS0U5235BSU6ZL2T/50+-+Youpie.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Josée’s Philosophy “When you’re positive and have fun ideas, it attracts other fun people.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266078500-AC84BQT1WKUWUZ2ME21M/51+-+Charles+Bronfman.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Charles Bronfman The original owner of the Expos, his son is now heading the effort to bring a team back to Montréal. Even if it’s only for part of a season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266425107-CSTYHFQ26LNMPOZTLQVR/52+-+josee.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Follow Josée Online Facebook Twitter Instagram Etsy Website Behance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266632587-FU72LBM3BJFUQJRV36P1/53+-+header.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623266854987-1UVULYUKR3VFO8CUDLJV/54+-+field+of+dreams.JPG Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Field of Dreams One of our many trips to Dyersville, Iowa during my childhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623267164993-VKS2UFIE3K9592LPO8J3/55+-+Bryant+Reeves.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Finding Big Country” Documentarian Kat Jayme’s film about her search for former Grizzlies center Bryant “Big Country” Reeves showed what it was like for another Canadian fan who lost her favorite team to relocation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623267505005-S8RNIN2YBVZPYLOZCFWG/56+-+goodwin.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Doris Kearns Goodwin If you haven’t read this book before, do yourself a favor and read it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271350027-LCRDADL3KAB8BML16J6T/57+-+Willie+Mays.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Cards by Josée In the past year, Josée’s feelings toward cards have shifted as she has learned more about the hobby and studied the beauty in the design of vintage card sets. Now, she is making her own cards in limited quantities. You can buy them (and her other artwork) HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268085337-T8I27CP6PH3GQPYU83KU/58+-+cover+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Graig Kreindler Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 3) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268222380-Q72ITBKIC43DSC7DO78K/59+-+cover+photo+1.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Andy Brown Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 8) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623268362761-SMYIXQT3YNPVEXKGAFHB/60+-+tim.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Carroll Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 10) by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623269695464-OFRIHHEAA08YMF23NJDN/61+-+San+Diego+Chicken.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - The San Diego Chicken One of the most famous mascots in the history of sports, the man inside the costume became a kind of celebrity in his own right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623269995392-QC6CJR8T4I4Y5J22WOAH/62+-+bulls+mascot.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Chicago Bulls Mascots For years, Benny The Bull (left) was a big, red, fluffy mascot. In the mid-90s, during the Bulls’ second 3-peat, they added another, more athletic mascot named Da Bull. Eventually, the two merged, and the current version of Benny is slimmed down, very athletic, and entertaining. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623270151952-JBKW1WRDZ237G4O9AK4M/63+-+Jackie%27s+birthday.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Montréal Royals Jackie Robinson played his minor league ball in Canada. Branch Rickey knew that the Dodgers would often times put their best prospects up in Montréal, because it was something he had done as the GM of the club. When he later became the GM of the Pirates, some speculate that Rickey knew to look at the talent stashed away in Canada, and that’s how Roberto Clemente ended up in Pittsburgh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623270782376-R2GOG5FH6PNBOFMZRAAF/64+-+Wallach+lineup+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Tim Wallach No, I’m not related to him. But if you are, help me get him on the podcast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271439199-ICZTD71ZSPPRZNQRKKRX/65+-+Yogi.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Yogi Berra The winner of this episode’s trivia contest will win this Yogi Berra card by Josée, signed and numbered out of 50 by the artist, herself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623271676299-8BBY7Y35PVYD95E8OQSM/66+-+Andre+Rookie.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - 1977 NL Rookie Of The Year Andre Dawson shows media his already-crowded trophy room at home in Miami. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272448188-4WJYZJ6KHT6M5ARWL23Q/67+-+blank+contract.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - “Blank Contract” After owners colluded in the offseason before 1987, Andre Dawson found himself without a team. In a wild move, he offered the Cubs a “blank contract,” saying they could decide how much he was worth. It, uhh… worked out pretty well for both sides. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272768029-86VPZA3N92UDTU7Q0Y1O/68+-+Expos+turf.jpg Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Olympic Stadium Turf A decade of playing on this thin layer of carpet over a field of concrete in Montréal ruined Dawson’s knees. He had 12 knee surgeries in his career, and somehow he still wound up with 400 home runs and 300 steals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623272917578-XU4YR5ISADM0GJS1F8J4/69+-+andre+dawson.png Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Hall of Fame Inducted in 2010, Dawson is absolutely deserving of having a plaque in Cooperstown. Whatever hat he’s wearing on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1623273053959-PTB9JJ3IUTKJ5NATNDQK/70+-+sjjm.JPG Past Episodes - 0208 - Josée Tellier - Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum & Baseball Library Become a member: JOIN HERE Follow us online: Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0207 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832138181-MN7BURTSSPL20G58RGR7/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832206735-UJNE0YO6KE7TG9JTUO2M/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis Richard Davis and me (and Wade) after recording our interview in the Boggs Tavern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832768801-AMVW2G8T5CPT2D99FH1K/01+-+ManCave.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - ManCave Pictures Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620832921479-RWHMLY6RBJS3W2ZKSJKC/02+-+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Part of Richard’s award-winning Wade Boggs collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833150098-AJ6ODQH9SAG1E7KYZC2L/03+-+Man+Cave+Of+The+Year.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 2020 Man Cave Of The Year Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833385784-NT1A095XRLX7IIVOASK1/04+-+Man+Cave+Of+The+Year+trophy.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Trophy Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620833924834-UTTGIEZQ2LN0CE6N8LT6/05+-+1983+Donruss+rookie.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1983 Donruss Rookie Card Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620834320157-URVA0S56EG4ATMUG87KD/06+-+The+Hot+Corner.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Hot Corner Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835054198-5LN8Y4SUVW2PNA10U949/07+-+1986+World+Series.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1986 World Series Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835515157-HFE0PYF4EJKY52G1HWG3/08+-+Comiskey+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Comiskey Park Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620835998221-EDB4X173P526SIK8QV0A/09+-+great+defense.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Great Defense Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836228551-HLOB8BJJJSA8ES112K3B/10+-+May+1986+Beckett.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - May 1986 Beckett Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836333401-IXYQKRCBWGMCNGV3I6ET/11+-+Jan+1987+Beckett.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Jan / Feb 1987 Beckett Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836561590-FL2SSCJARFU1RN6XZBW3/12+-+all+in.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - All In From Day One Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836712434-K4O5V020OZH4ISQ0EERZ/13+-+game+used+yankees+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Game Used Yankees Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620836928685-2V7MUVXI9Z558533340Q/14+-+case.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - A Decades-long Pursuit Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837220661-W8855251YK026OO5W42Q/15+-+drawing.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Fans Helping Richard Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837402847-AURYB38J0SSA0F2EJR6X/16+-+batting+tee.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Obscure Items Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837592810-VAJ1R6UJL1MQDTU33NNG/17+-+family+guy.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Maintaining His Own Identity Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837760363-FPON14SN2EAVXIHXZD8N/18+-+slides.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Slides Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620837894816-TQJF7I2LB26BHRLB62AD/19+-+boston+cleats.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Connections Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838088372-7FIZGII9J9H97UON0NQM/20+-+My+Biggest+Fan.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1998 Game Worn Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838146934-78SJ7JXSSWCVS73I6XMB/21+-+Inscription.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade’s Biggest Fan Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838273252-UUJAW90SXSVEGITJA8U2/22+-+Red+Sox+Shower+shoes.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Red Sox Shower Shoes Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838546008-K1XD1SRBGR3ITUKNA5GC/23+-+Red+Sox+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1985 Game Worn Red Sox Jersey Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838628026-4UEMEF6UZIWWPB0M01KJ/24+-+signed.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Autographed Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620838881686-NEYJ6SF44AG4C0FGG1XR/25+-+cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Cards Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839027616-VI6PS9Y62JY6N84UZGTC/26+-+Rookie+cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Rookie Cards Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839320002-WK6I27VMAA7PSD5TXXS9/27+-+1984+Topps.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1984 Topps Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620839649783-ZCVZ7P6H3JROCBFWA49P/28+-+1987+Topps+All+Star.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1987 Topps All-Star Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620840206071-F9P8HOF6PSYELBB068IR/29+-+cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Hobbby Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620840471516-3Y8AICFK61BSGWOTV1UI/30+-+1941+Ted+Williams+Play+Ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620841237034-VCHL0B42CC62BWR2M5GY/31+-+1985+Red+Sox+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1985 Red Sox Gamer Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620841452980-82STXVKDU4QKL54MKFSH/32+-+Ray+Chapman%2C+Rabbit+Maranville%2C+Ty+Cobb%2C+and+Joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Tim Murnane Benefit Game Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842001254-EI9PWOWDP8DZYSWV2YNV/33+-+Hit+number+2988.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Hit #2,988 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842111870-5S7XP8Y744W7LFWY3EUT/34+-+jersey+retirement+ceremony.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 5/26/16 Red Sox Jersey Retirement Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842393587-O25CFP5VLWLHGSZAVDS5/35+-+B349.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Louisville Slugger B349 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620842957725-VSC1CUHGN1YWIBUOL8YD/36+-+early+programs.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Early Wade Boggs Minor League Programs Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843099604-299HIOGADS2TVMMOHFUA/37+-+pay+stub.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Minor League Pay Stub Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843418525-1KD6VM96FQL4GM7N2PBC/38+-+game+used+glove.jpeg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Game Used Glove Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843655560-MQFENPTYBMM33QFPRLN5/39+-+first+baseman%27s+glove.jpeg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1982 First Baseman’s Glove Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620843957239-0VHQ7PK5O8WZGPL92GKP/40+-+business+card.jpeg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Joe Jackson’s Liquor Store Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844099333-Q7A054S6HHHNARXJGAGK/41+-+big+bobblehead.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Big Bobblehead Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844189923-BAXS0WXG8X7XB2VY9K77/42+-+Stairwell.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Stairway To Heaven Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844376098-S3KS0UCR6EOSFJZY9CG5/43+-+other+shower+shoes.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Other Pair Of Shower Shoes Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620844672129-YG33BJFF12UZ8K699Q9K/44+-+twitter.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - @Boggs328 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620845546160-397S6Y6KC6SL28DB59S9/45+-+first+meeting.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - First Meeting Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620845702056-3NTBVCZXOD99YSCNXDEW/46+-+license+plate.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Richard’s License Plate Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847472238-U1NWXKJ2N3YBDJM9Z4HB/47+-+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Boggs Tavern Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620846126803-0CH1BNHXHHRPEOYB2VI4/48+-+Boggs+Trust.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Boggs Trust Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847253948-W4P4890EVIVOS60BSCQR/49+-+crazy+collection.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Rare Air Only a handful of people in the world know what it’s like to have a collection like Richard’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847321834-KHVW5VH6WWBNICHFGSMY/50+-+star+wars.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Other Collections Richard also collects Star Wars memorabilia and merchandise, which gives him a mental break from All Boggs, All The Time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620847747802-3CFGFA1LPH32SDSENG2L/51+-+gehrig.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 200 Hits, 100 Walks In A Season It’s only happened 25 times in history. Only 12 players have ever done it. Lou Gehrig - 7 times Wade Boggs - 4 times (all consecutively) Babe Ruth - 3 times Stan Musial - 2 times Todd Helton - 2 times Ty Cobb (1915), Woody English (1930), Hack Wilson (1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932), Hank Greenberg (1937), John Olerud (1993), and Bernie Williams (1999) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620848695313-TL68VEZ24O4MENO7E2ZN/52+-+for+rich.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Specifically For Richard This is one of the pieces Wade has given Richard from his own personal collection. It’s a game worn jersey from a Celebrity All-Star Game, signed and inscribed, and delivered in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620848808325-OI7W3P3FUSMF3M1ZIKE0/53+-+inscription.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Inscription To Richard My #1 Collector Wade Boggs HOF 05 Wade knows. Now you know, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850235973-ZFTG6UJXYLRCE0WE4MRB/54+-+Horseback.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade Boggs Takes A Ride After the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, helping Wade capture the first championship of his career, Wade Boggs hopped on the back of a police horse and took a victory lap around Yankee Stadium to celebrate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850485649-N7YWS5PQSOJ3WFP1ZUTW/55+-+3000th+hit.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Wade ‘s 3,000th Hit Wade Boggs became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run as his 3,000th career hit. Two players (Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) have done it since, but Wade was the first. As he crossed home after his trot around the bases, Wade bent down and kissed the plate. An iconic moment in his career, and in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620850876653-G2QJF7CDH3ME7B3DPNIV/56+-+Silver+Slugger.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Silver Slugger Award The Silver Slugger Award is decided by coaches and managers who vote for the players at each defensive position they'd most like to have on their team - based solely on their performance at the plate. Wade has 8 of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851314670-HASRQF4AKKDYREH2OSHH/57+-+Don+Mattingly.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Don Mattingly 1980s American League baseball was Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly (who Richard thinks belongs in the Hall of Fame). Here, Ted Williams gives Mattingly help with his batting stance during a 1986 dinner as Wade Boggs looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851603781-GCVMIXKIH2TARZTJSF00/58+-+Rich%27s+collection.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Richard stands proudly in his basement, showing off his unparalleled collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620851687941-ATXB6Q7IOUKRBZQ4KDJP/59+-+Rich+at+Boggs+Tavern.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Follow Richard on Social Media Personal Twitter Boggs Collection Twitter Boggs Collection Facebook Personal Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852504604-RC937BJS4DNJ90WKQVZU/60+-+my+first+MJ+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - My First MJ Jersey As you can see in the reflection, there have since been a few more added to the collection… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852571775-6QF21MB0AQHF5GRSF1BI/61+-+coke+room.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out My mom’s Coca-Cola collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852811386-U69GMEIN52VG3ALCA7F9/62+-+coke+tray.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1923 Coke Tray These vintage trays are some of the old, special items my mom likes to collect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620852924971-OJ34B01MHS58BBSCJR3G/63+-+mj+rookie.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card The most famous (and most expensive) card in the basketball hobby, this Michael Jordan rookie card is something I had been after for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853377603-MA9M0CT80ZZ8193V2Z2X/64+-+trio.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - My Alkaline Trio Collection Or… parts of it. There’s a lot of stuff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853667549-570XYECPM7BNRCOEHL4Q/65+-+old+coke+bottles.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out The evolution of Coca-Cola bottle designs over the years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620853875656-SO4QO81JW1FJZ5NZTHX3/66+-+specific+pieces.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Accumulation vs. Collection Every piece in Richard’s collection has a specific purpose, story, and meaning. It’s placement within the display is carefully thought out. It may not always have a huge monetary value (though many pieces do), but every piece has sentimental value of some kind. That’s the difference between someone who has a bunch of stuff, and someone who has a curated collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620854413349-TJ20JW2H9XBBU9X05PHB/67+-+meeting+your+hero.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Meeting Your Hero Sometimes it goes really well, like it luckily did for Richard when he met Wade Boggs. Not everyone who meets their hero ends up being that lucky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620858780570-UILKRADHL0VHAO1N2MYA/68+-+Alkaline+Trio+7-3-08.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Alkaline Trio I’ve never met Michael Jordan, but I have been lucky enough to meet and hang out with Alkaline Trio on a number of occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620859007492-PK2DLGYMNJL2OD27PU9V/69+-+gogo+rings.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Go-Go Rings This was a new one to me, but apparently, these were a thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860084494-HA1OWZE4IQRT1ZDUPRBK/70+-+Thurman+Munson.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Thurman Munson Catchers have a different view of the field than anyone else playing. Thurman Munson was one of the best to ever do it. Unfortunately, his career and life were cut short. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860377481-JZU2K433I89V5R1QDFPY/71+-+A.J.+Pierzynski.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - A.J. Pierzynski Always in the middle of the action, whether it was good, bad, or ugly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862006903-3N245DP8N4R8K08N29UR/72+-+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee Wade was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, receiving 91.9% of the vote in his first year of eligibility. This framed jersey commemorating the induction class of 2005, which also included Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, is in the Boggs Tavern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862058869-0XZKP2O08MUMXKJEXR30/73+-+Red+Sox+Jersey+Retirement.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Red Sox Jersey Jersey Retirement In an emotional ceremony in 2016, the Boston Red Sox retired Wade’s number 26. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620862584775-WRO5K5NHEHPJUUY3TIEW/74+-+Chicken+Man.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Chicken Man Wade’s consistent pre-game meal spawned a unique nickname, given to him by teammate Jim Rice. Daniel Jacob Horine immortalized the moniker in this art print, released in 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620861215387-PYOHNXWVATKGMJNXNCPP/72+-+box+score.png Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - Make it stand out Check out the box score and the story of the longest game ever played. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1620860883469-YUF93A9RRMOOJ3DFNVFE/72+-+33+inning+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0207 - Richard Davis - The Longest Game Ever Richard actually has the audio tapes from the 33-inning game the Pawtucket Red Sox played against the Rochester Red Wings in 1981. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0206 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618384661553-SEZ4YYJ2S02MH7EA6ZP4/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618384710524-9790P1BQVXJAISR4IJTV/cover+photo+closer.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber Me and Perry Barber after recording our interview in Port St. Lucie, Florida https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618385218194-58UNO5XKS72Q5ABENBZW/IMG_7413.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - HOF Replicas Website Facebook Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389116076-74SX68N5B80AQN6DQ29J/02+-+Perry+with+Brian+Kenny.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - With Brian Kenny Perry Barber’s broadcast partner for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York Penn League went on to have a very successful career, appearing on ESPN and MLB Network for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618385619617-12C2WYKY5SALYLK8B2JX/02+-+Rule+2.00.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Rule 2.00 Perry’s favorite rule in baseball’s rule book, which was added in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389364588-UAKH6TM308PIGQ4MVNSG/04+-+1963+with+mom+and+sister.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Twins With Their Mom Photo from 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389479623-4QIFY6572BM6SIP2J90W/05+-+International+Debutante+Ball%2C+1972.+Their+mother%2C+Jaqueline%2C+designed+the+dresses+they+wore..jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - International Debutante Ball, 1972 Warren and Perry’s mother, Jaqueline, designed the dresses they wore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389656795-0VME6LM575Y1JKVGFVCM/06+-+Guitar.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Singer/Songwriter Perry has been writing songs and performing for decades, having opened for acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Hall & Oates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618389896991-RLFGRPXL91ON7047DLOT/07+-+catch+a+rising+star.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Catch A Rising Star Richard Belzer, Pat Benatar, David Brenner at the famous New York comedy club https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618390239683-J5KTMF0IWL45FOQG1TQN/08+-+Ria+Cortesio.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ria Cortesio On March 29, 2007, Ria Cortesio became the first woman since Pam Postema in 1989 to work a Major league exhibition game. After being denied promotion for many years, she was released by Minor League Baseball on October 30, 2007. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618390530248-UJZBGAMUYMUBGRRF68RC/09+-+Jim+Evans.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Jim Evans Academy For Professional Umpiring For 22 years, the Evans Academy was one of an elite few schools authorized to send top umpire student graduates to MiLB's Professional Baseball Umpire Corp for evaluation and potential placement in the minor leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391018203-OW1CFUAR75Y05902EM8F/10+-+Ed+Montague.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - “The Umpire Stands Alone” Ed Montague worked in the National League in 1974 and from 1976 to 1999, and officiated throughout both leagues between 2000 and 2009. The most senior active umpire in the major leagues at the time of his retirement, his 4,369 total games ranked eighth in major league history when he retired. He is one of only three umpires to serve as crew chief for the World Series four times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391509103-23BG2B8X0TZ0VVWCQM6V/11+-+Perry%27s+Mom.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Perry’s Mom A strong, determined woman who was a great role model. It was after her suggestion when Perry decided to become an umpire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391668567-KEN7LM20SEFECRHW2RDM/12+-+Focusing.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - An Umpire’s Job To ensure that everybody at the baseball game has a safe place in which to enjoy it, either as a spectator or a participant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618391908844-9VLYMNOQMII4Y0PYTZBV/13+-+1990-03-25+justifying+a+phantom+tag+call+to+some+Yankees.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ejections Believe it or not, most umpires aren’t looking to eject anyone. They aim to resolve all arguments amicably, so everyone can continue participating in the game (and so they don’t have to relive the incident after the game when they’re filling out the mandatory ejection reports). Here is Perry justifying a phantom tag call to some Yankees during a game on *March 25, 1990. *No one needed to be ejected, thanks to Perry’s handling of the situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392183056-82V3W9LFL03QXAV6S4YF/14+-+1983+portrait.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Umpire Stands Alone This time, it’s not a song title. Perry had to umpire Little League games by herself when she first started in 1981, because the other umpires in the league didn’t want to be partnered with a woman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392294216-GB5BR20VT5CFZQLVMEBS/1982+at+umpire+school%2C+the+Barber+twins+Perry+%28left%29+and+Warren+with+umps+Randy+Marsh+%28left%29+and+Harry+Wendelstedt..jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - At Umpire School in 1982 The Barber twins Perry (left) and Warren with umps Randy Marsh (left) and Harry Wendelstedt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618392524104-U8TIDPF4R9VVWDWHWHOX/16+-+Harry+Wendelstedt+Umpire+School+graduating+class+of+1983.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School Graduating class of 1983, including Perry Barber. Can you find her? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618416683675-NVAMVO38Y8H0GKB9H8B1/Positioning+is+Everything.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Positioning is Everything In perfect position to make the call, Perry sees the play with clarity, and has the ability to instantly translate what she sees into physical motion to confidently transmit the call. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618417563882-KSG6TUNF4W1SJW8R19WL/18+-+Cape+Cod+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Taking Charge Perry makes the call, much to the batter’s dismay, during a Cape Cod League game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618417854099-3YD4GF2GU6OMAPK7CNLL/19+-+Left+to+right%3B+Laurie+Osburn+Adkins%2C++Jennifer+Hughes%2C+Perry+Barber%2C+Elizabeth+Osder%2C+Kathleen+Deutsch+Morrison%2C+Janet+L+Thomas.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - More Women In The Field Left to right: Laurie Osburn Adkins, Jennifer Hughes, Perry Barber, Elizabeth Osder, Kathleen Deutsch Morrison, Janet L Thomas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618418151599-ONMQAMY66DLAD4CDIZ2Z/20+-+Wendelstedt+Umpire+School.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Wendelstedt Umpire School Wendelstedt Umpire School is the only independently run professional umpire training program recognized by the minor leagues and major leagues. Harry Wendelstedt was the chief instructor from 1977 until 2012, when his son, Hunter, took control. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618418616271-ZW0Q8EBJL1UEFPWA3OND/21+-+Women+in+Baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women In Baseball The history of women playing the game of baseball dates back to at least the 1860s, when Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. fielded a team. In Philadelphia, a team of African-American women formed a baseball squad called the Dolly Vardens in May of 1883. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419067516-1JSG29MPWZ3267VA9AZS/22+-+Instant+Replay.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Instant Replay MLB was the last of the four major North American professional sports leagues to implement an instant replay review system when it did so for the 2008 season. More than a decade later, and it seems as if they still haven’t gotten it right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419291483-ET56YGZQWW7UNZCUEG40/23+-+ford+frick.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ford Frick While Ford Frick was NL president, he had a major role in the establishment of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a museum that honors the best players in baseball history. While commissioner, he sent notice that women are not to play on major league teams, stating his 'purpose was to prevent teams from using women players as a publicity stunt.' The result of this banning has kept highly skilled women, especially fastball pitchers, from playing in the minors or major leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618419725062-PZUZIGS352ZXBLSTFOTS/24+-+Eleanor+Engle.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Eleanor Engle Eleanor Engle reacts to an Associated Press story that reported she was ruled out of organized baseball in June of 1952. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420331487-KFBS4F0N2EASVGO8ZH89/25+-+Galvin.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Maureen Galvin On August 23, 1960, Maureen Galvin was all set to become the first female umpire to work a game behind the plate in professional baseball history in the second game of an Eastern League doubleheader between Allentown and Binghamton. However, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, saying the game is "too important" to both teams' playoff chances, overruled Eastern League president Tommy Richardson, and orders Galvin to be replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420673486-NQ1860MH3WEL6UKGUHIL/26+-+Carey+Schueler.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Carey A. Schueler Daughter of then White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, Carey was the first woman ever drafted by a MLB team when the White Sox picked the 18-year-old left-handed pitcher in the 43rd round (1,208th pick overall) of the 1993 MLB draft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618420951052-2TFUY62K4TC4JMINEWJH/27+-+University+of+Bridgeport+at+Columbia+contest+with+base+partner%2C+Atlantic+League+compadre+Joe+Bottita.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women Make Great Partners Here is Perry with base partner and Atlantic League compadre Joe Bottita at a game at the University of Bridgeport at Columbia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421076234-CVSDFXBH0A7HM7VB6PQB/28+-+Amanda+Clement.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Amanda Clement Amanda E. Clement was the first woman paid to umpire a baseball game, and may have also been the first woman to referee a high school basketball. Accompanying her brother to his games, Amanda often found herself umpiring the sandlot games, since girls did not play baseball with any regularity. However, when the boys asked her to fill in, she occasionally played a little first base, which helped her learn the game. Amanda has been recognized in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N. Y., as well as the Women's Sports Hall of Fame and the Women's Sports Foundation in San Francisco. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421451761-8XD424WM1TGA987BOO2B/29+-+Effa+Manley.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Effa Manley The Hall of Fame has only ever made one plaque with a woman’s face on it. Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues with her husband Abe from 1935 to 1948. Throughout that time, Effa served as the team's business manager and fulfilled many of her husband's duties as treasurer of the Negro National League. Effa was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618421708850-QCEZRN3OM1G3F3E4IF8X/30+-+Maud+Nelson.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Maud Nelson Maud Nelson (born Clementina Brida on November 17, 1881) was an early professional woman baseball pitcher, scout, manager, and team owner. She began pitching professionally at the age of 16, as a starting pitcher for the Boston Bloomer Girls. She played for several professional baseball teams, including the American Athletic Girls and the Cherokee Indian Base Ball Club. In addition to her starting pitching duties, she often played third base in the later innings of a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618422045394-05AEUH1T1U5UUY25G4FH/31+-+Bernice+Gera.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Bernice Gera On June 24, 1972, Bernice Gera became the first woman to umpire in a professional game. Gera worked the first game of a New York-Pennsylvania League doubleheader between the Auburn Phillies and Geneva Rangers. Gera encountered a series of disputes in the game and would never umpire again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618422351620-8WDQWDLE1REL3C9RWIE9/32+-+Pam+Postema.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Pam Postema Pam Postema was the first female baseball umpire to ever officiate a Major League Baseball spring training game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2000. She also wrote an appropriately-titled book, which you can buy HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424114805-IKGA09J8Q0UUD0UOF573/33+-+Theresa+Fairlady.jpeg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Theresa Fairlady In the spring of 1989, Theresa graduated fifth in a class of 180 from Harry Wendelstedt’s umpiring school. Wendelestedt said Fairlady was “the best female candidate I’ve ever had.” During her three years in organized baseball from 1989 to 1991, Fairlady faced her share of difficulties because of archaic attitudes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424271132-EVPPC6ORG5WL2W59ZIES/34+-+David+Wright+hitting+a+home+run+with+Perry+behind+the+plate.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Meet The Mets David Wright blasts a home run with Perry behind the plate at a Mets Spring Training game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424415960-CRUE9BOS83PYJYALU7ZP/35+-+Behind+the+plate.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - All Levels Perry has umpired at basically every level of baseball imaginable. Here she is behind the plate at a youth league game, while Denae Benites bats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618424865724-K58VG91CH2VGWM8HCL5Z/36+-+Moriarty.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - George Moriarty In a famed incident that almost cost him his umpiring career, George Moriarty fought four members of the Chicago White Sox simultaneously on Memorial Day of 1932. Moriarty called a pitch by White Sox hurler Milt Gaston ball three instead of strike three. Gaston gave up a game-tying triple on the next pitch, eventually losing the game. When the Sox heckled Moriarty as he walked off the field, he shouted back: “I’ll fight the whole White Sox team!” The 47-year-old ump was promptly attacked by four White Sox, some scarcely half his age: Gaston, Charlie Berry, Frank Grube, and player-manager Lew Fonseca. Moriarty sustained cuts, bruises, and a broken hand, but fought them to a draw. “Mr. Moriarty must be slipping,” one columnist quipped. “I can remember when he used to take on whole ball clubs as a warmup.” Gaston was suspended for ten days by AL president Will Harridge, the other three players were fined, and Moriarty was given a public reprimand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425131891-K23C5ESQIPFGNCXR7HYP/37+-+Perry+with+the+2018+Women%27s+Baseball+World+Cup+trophy.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women’s Baseball World Cup Perry with the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup trophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425202255-3UJ9BV78SH9GH2OSK0OH/38+-+Working+through+injuries%2C+with+Lee+Champagne.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Working Through Injuries Perry has had fingers on both hands broken, her ankle drilled with a foul ball, and myriad other injuries. That doesn’t keep her from working, though, as you can see here, with Lee Champagne. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425409190-ICOFN21XV2Q9KO0AN6GE/39+-+Photo+by+Mets+Fantasy+Camp+photographer+Bob+Dobens.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Beautiful Choreography Umpires have rotations, too, just as players do for certain plays. Here, Perry is captured while “on vacation” at third base by Mets Fantasy Camp photographer Bob Dobens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618425573854-VG41PFFCE1ZQHVZ98UHC/40+-+Perry.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Just Happy To Be There Perry used to prefer being behind home plate to call games, but as her career has progressed, she finds herself content anywhere on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426014578-7EPIIJHMWQ8AHV9YS9NX/41+-+whacker.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Whackers On close plays at a base, umpires have to watch for the runner's foot touching the bag and the ball hitting the glove — two different views — while listening for each. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426493306-11WPXB8N382D49Z1S5R3/42+-+2013-02-22+Calling+the+pitches+at+Tradition+Field+in+Port+St.+Lucie%2C+Florida.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Steady Behind Home Plate Calling the pitches at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida on February 22, 2013. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618426776167-JAEEGAZ8MPS795DF2E3W/43+-+sparky+lyle.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Sparky Lyle Sparky Lyle was a relief pitcher for sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977. From 1998–2012, Lyle served as manager of the Somerset Patriots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427023328-XM96IZK97BQJ146BXRHI/44+-+2013-02-02.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Been There, Done That Perry isn’t nearly as bothered by the challenges faced by umpires (specifically as a woman) at this point in her career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427183330-W3YDL42T66YKKVANT4FP/45+-+umpire.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Just An Umpire Not a “female umpire”. Just an umpire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427278041-DWINNYIWDV62V8808J4T/46+-+Baseball+is+exhausting.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Extra Inning Games 9 innings are hard enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618427469957-V06JEFATIJ6XTU64LIRR/47+-+Willie+Randolph+listens+to+home+plate+umpire+Perry+Barber.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - History Is Made On February 26, 2008, Perry assembled the umpire crew for an exhibition game between the New York Mets and the University of Michigan. She called in Ila Valcarcel, Mona Osborne and Theresa Cox Fairlady. Together, the four of them became the first all-female crew to umpire a game featuring a major league team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618428252715-L2697WHD3OAHOLXEEJ95/48+-+WBSC.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Great Partner Not every great umpire is a great partner. Take a look at this picture and see if you can guess how Perry’s colleagues feel about her ability as a partner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618428546142-7IWC12TE37MRIZ7VTPEX/49+-+Natalie+Sago+and+Jenna+Schroeder.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Female NBA Refs The NBA welcomed its first female referees in 1997, with Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner joining the ranks. On January 18, 2021, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made NBA history as the first female referees to work on the same court. Prior to that historic game, Sago had officiated 63 games in two NBA seasons, as well as four seasons in the NBA G League, and three seasons in the WNBA. She also worked the NBA G League International Challenge at NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles. Schroeder, who started on staff in the 2019-20 season, had previously refereed 27 regular season NBA games, as well as three seasons in the NBA G League, and two seasons in the WNBA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618429074412-KEH4AFREMY922IMP73S4/50+-+March+1996+with+Arthur+Richman%2C+who+hired+me+to+umpire+Mets+and+Yankees+intrasquads+in+an+era+when+women+umpires+were+regarded+mostly+as+a+bad+joke.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Arthur Richman Perry with her friend, Arthur Richman, in March of 1996. “[He] hired me to umpire Mets and Yankees intrasquads in an era when women umpires were regarded mostly as a bad joke.” That connection led to years of work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618429382546-I399XPF4PUCQ67W8ZB4M/51+-+JWBL.jpeg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - JWBL The Japan Women’s Baseball League is a professional women’s baseball league which was started in Japan in 2009. It’s tiny ― four teams in all ― but it exists. And it goes a long way toward explaining why, on the women’s side, America’s pastime is dominated by Japan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618430139834-I6JX8QAXSWFXO0H9RYDQ/52+-+women%27s+apparel.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Women As Revenue Streams A recent multi-country study found that 66% of people were interested in at least one women’s sport, and among sports fans (of whom 49% are female), that figure rises to 84%. But putting that aside, MLB should focus on attracting and including women to follow THEIR sport, because their buying power is equal to that of men. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618430886606-E19POLE23Q190JS2WJ48/53+-+manfred.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Rob Manfred Does the commissioner hate baseball? The answer is irrelevant. The fact that we even need to ask the question is what matters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618432063521-FR6VF3HA1U3A6RDXUWVX/55+-+John+McSherry.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - John McSherry A respected arbiter, John McSherry was one of several umpires who were noticeably overweight. McSherry was officially listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 328 pounds. He died from cardiac arrest, which occurred behind home plate during the opening game of the 1996 Major League Baseball season in Cincinnati on April 1, 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618432963924-N6DJMPCWL99IAWTDHDDP/56+-+Perry+with+Kim+Ng+and+Jennifer+Madison+of+the+APBPA.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - APBPA Perry with Kim Ng and Jennifer Madison of the APBPA. The Association of Professional Ball Players was formed in Los Angeles in 1924 when twelve former players gathered and determined there was a need to assist the less fortunate members of the baseball profession. Since then, the Association has grown to over 101,500+ current members. Follow them on twitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618433230584-CB3MUPQ2JWHI03O03IP4/57+-+2012+at+PSL.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - That Look Umpiring is not a job of just abject drudgery and bleakness, even if that’s how it may appear to an outsider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618433469727-J212MDD053S018VJOE72/58+-+At+Fenway+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - A Part Of The Game It’s all worth it for moments like this. Perry umpiring at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618434228595-0YXSKK8L233ODHQQC79R/59+-+Robot+Umpire.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - “Robot” Umpires The Atlantic League, an independent circuit with seven teams on the East Coast and one in Texas, became the first American professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes. Though it wasn’t without its glitches… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618434803877-LWGG0F24DC90D3NBTRSC/54+-+in+the+umpires%E2%80%99+dressing+room+at+Richmond+County+Stadium+where+the+Staten+Island+Yankees+play.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Plate Shoes And other proper equipment are essential to protect yourself as an umpire, especially behind the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435006354-848XOBPSJOYJOLEJZNS8/60+-+1996+at+Legends+Stadium+in+Tampa%2C+Cincinnati+Reds+at+Yankees.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - The Show While Perry never made it to umpire a regular season MLB game, she has umpired many spring training games, like this one between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees at Legends Stadium in Tampa in 1996. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435193630-3QSRNACZPC8KQ212KN2V/61+-+Atlantic+League.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - A World of Baseball There is so much more to the sport of baseball than just Major League Baseball. Here, Perry is preparing to umpire a game between two teams in the Atlantic League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435550374-SMNUZACH05LZNRY8DWPN/62+-+umpire+training+with+Ed+Montague%2C+Justine+Siegal%2C+Emma+Charlesworth-Seiler%2C+Jorge+Bauza%2C+and+Perry+Barber.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - The First Female MLB Ump? Many people think it will either be Emma Charlesworth-Seiler (pictured here, third from left), or Jen Pawol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618435809371-8B8DKTCHOBLNP2P3S0AA/63+-+With+Justine+Siegal+at+the+Fourth+Annual+Justine+Siegal%27s+Girls+Baseball+Academy%2C+which+took+place+at+the+old+Dodgertown+complex+in+Vero+Beach%2C+Florida..jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Baseball For All Perry (right) with Justine Siegal at the Fourth Annual Justine Siegal's Girls Baseball Academy, which took place at the old Dodgertown complex in Vero Beach, Florida. Check out Baseball For All’s website HERE and follow them on twitter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618436016250-TUL25L2YGWVYIK8T2EG0/64+-+Perry+with+Maybelle+Blair.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - International Women’s Baseball Center The IWBC’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote all aspects of women's baseball, both on and off the field. Check out their website HERE Follow them on twitter. Here, Perry sits with Maybelle Blair, former player in the AAGPBL with the Rockford Peaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618436432604-D9DANWRGQPAO2YHFBXB2/65+-+with+Tom+Seaver+at+Mets+Fantasy+Camp%2C+Port+St.+Lucie%2C+1990.jpeg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Follow Perry Online Here is Perry with Tom Seaver at Mets Fantasy Camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1990. If you want to get this close to Perry one day, start by following her online: Twitter Facebook Blog Interview With A Female Umpire That’s Why The Lady Is An Ump https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618447000418-JKV2W8X4HT0GOR7DP007/Twins+Warren+%28far+left%29+and+Perry+with+brother+Rocky+and+Sammy+Davis+Jr.+at+the+fabled+Copacabana+nightclub.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Destined For Stardom Perry ended up in showbiz for a while on her own, but she spent time around stars growing up, too. Here she is with her twin sister, Warren (far left), her brother Rocky, and Sammy Davis Jr. at the fabled Copacabana nightclub. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618446653198-CHOJ1ZG6CRK7BJ38SGI7/With+fellow+Jeopardy+champion%2C+researcher+Gabriel+Schechter+%28left%29+and+Tim+Wiles.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Jeopardy! Champion Perry with fellow Jeopardy! champion, researcher Gabriel Schechter (left) and Tim Wiles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618446745383-6SC7GKQDNVWWL6KF78Q9/Sharing+a+soda+in+1963.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Growing Up In The 1960s Perry and her twin sister share a soda in 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618447901852-M8GOLB6ZTI424BD66BIN/68+-+joe+west.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Joe West As seems to always be the case, Joe West was back in the news the opening week of the 2021 MLB season. This is nothing new for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618448900734-SZMAR6M8VE619YCYZY8X/70+-+Ila+Borders.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Ila Borders Ila Borders was the first woman… Ever awarded a collegiate baseball scholarship. To pitch in a minor league game, for the 1997 St. Paul Saints To win a professional game, for the Duluth-Superior Dukes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618450162708-ZYYVT6X1K0BOT9LMUMK5/71+-+Billy+Evans.jpg Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Billy Evans The youngest umpire in MLB history, Evans officiated six World Series during his career. After his retirement from umpiring, Evans was named the first GM in baseball history, when the Cleveland Indians hired him to the role in 1927. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1618450317191-FFKP253XYY7ANRJNK19X/72+-+Kim+Ng.png Past Episodes - 0206 - Perry Barber - Kim Ng After more than 30 years in baseball, Kim Ng was finally hired as a GM on November 13, 2020 by the Miami Marlins. Not only is she the first female GM in MLB history, she is the first female GM in any major North American men’s professional sports league. A true trailblazer, and hopefully the first of many hires that look like her. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0205 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ac21314b-bf80-484a-a896-427c33a35042/new+youtube.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615101234750-4JA7987RS9HRUZZ8OA5G/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson and me after recording our interview at his home in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615355737609-J23UGONDSZNV58PD85VV/01+-+ManCave+Pictures.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - ManCave Pictures Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Use code MBH15 at checkout for 15% off your next order https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356238663-CFF1LBJ9JQK8NAOTCTTQ/02+-+TBRS+-+With+sisters+Inez+and+Ann.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and His Sisters Inez on the left, Ann on the right, growing up in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356505156-GS2LV3KLJMPP0JDI6H83/03+-+Stan+Musial.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Stan The Man Musial’s beautifully legible autograph made quite an impression upon a young Bobby Richardson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357125194-FM5T5WH1REGW2MTBL6LK/04+-+TBRS+-+Sumter+American+Legion+team+%28Bobby+is+front+row%2C+4th+from+left%29.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - American Legion The Sumter, South Carolina American Legion team. Bobby is in the front row, 4th from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356577403-QWO8Y5KVA8MA8W8MO2KM/04+-+IP+-+American+Legion+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Young Bobby Bobby showing off his fundamentals, already ingrained in him at the age of 14. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615356818536-R4CI6X2UWF0624EBHHCA/05+-+Pride+of+the+Yankees.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Pride of the Yankees Gary Cooper starred as Lou Gehrig in this early biopic about the sad ending to one of baseball’s great careers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357524235-RVBV9FT3J4OQ4TSTAU32/07+-+Spud+Chandler.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Spud Chandler A former Yankee, himself, Spud Chandler was the scout who discovered Bobby Richardson for New York and pushed for the club to sign him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615357259587-KM56WMT5M6G7DI0IV22B/07+-+TBRS+-+Proud+parents.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Proud Parents Bobby’s parents couldn’t have been more proud of their son when he signed with the Yankees the day he graduated from high school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358017849-4J18O2JW5IKJ9BLYCF83/08+-+Mickey+Owen.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Norfolk Tars Bobby played for Manager Mickey Owen (left) during the 1953 season as a member of the Norfolk Tars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358336746-NC4GEWMI4XDJIKD32XBA/10+-+Olean.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The 1953 Olean Yankees. Bobby is in the middle row, second from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358665421-2PYV7ZHH2DCN4FTOB020/11+-+Crosetti.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Frankie Crosetti An act of kindness from Yankees coach Frank Crosetti, a former player in his own right, helped ease the nerves during Bobby’s first ever workout at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358867443-HNIEUFID1Y8EHEQ8KVRZ/12+-+Mickey+showing+Bobby+the+ropes.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Simple Gesture Mickey Mantle went out of his way to make Bobby feel welcomed when he was called up to the big leagues. That began a friendship that would last the rest of their lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615358963837-PP8A3WEM7QBLFY49WV7L/13+-+Newlyweds.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Newlyweds Bobby and Betsy were married in June of 1956, during the minor league season, much to the chagrin of Bob Howsam, the owner of the Denver Bears, for whom Bobby was playing at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615359854566-K1A1X8L28G5JPUX8ZKRV/14+-+Ralph+Houk.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ralph Houk Bobby’s favorite manager during his career, Ralph Houk managed Bobby in Denver, then later on for the Yankees. Houk eventually became the GM of the Yankees while Bobby was still playing. They rose through the ranks with each other, and were lifelong friends, with Bobby speaking at Ralph’s funeral at the request of Ralph’s child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615359539718-RRDQU0P12Q1L92FOIZY2/14+-+Gil+McDougald.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Gil McDougald Bobby was called up to the majors after Gil McDougald was hit by a line drive off the bat of teammate Bob Cerv during batting practice in 1955. Ironically, it would be a line drive off of McDougald’s bat that hit Herb Score in the head which would eventually lead to the downfall of his own career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615360235377-3OSFRREEXB83OSRPX6OI/16+-+joe+and+mickey.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle One of these men was not thrilled about having to take this photo. Can you guess which one? Trick question! Neither of them liked this. Joe hated the fact that Mickey was supposed to “replace” him, fearful that his legacy would not be remembered. Mickey hated the fact that Joe was so cold to him as he was coming up. All he wanted was Joe’s respect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361140632-AF0T9T9H0HA0JVM2BB31/17+-+kubek.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - “The Milkshake Twins” The Yankees were lucky to have such a steady double play combination for nearly a decade straight. Tony Kubek at Short, and Bobby Richardson at Second. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361164717-EO3EM18DACMI8G5QPOJY/18+-+boyer.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Clete Boyer The only reason Clete Boyer doesn’t have a trophy case full of Gold Glove Awards is because he played during the same time as Brooks Robinson, but Boyer was an absolute superstar defensively at the hot corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361332802-XFXJNDNOL16YWOZNRDZN/19+-+IP+-+Frank+Robinson+spikes.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Frank Robinson Only twice did Bobby Richardson miss double plays because of being hit by the runner. Both times, coincidentally, were when Frank Robinson came in with a hard slide. This instance, pictured here, ended with Bobby receiving 5 stitches when Frank slid into Bobby’s ankle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615361643820-XRNS1S3YQVJIUFWBSOZG/20+-+Skowron.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Moose Skowron Bill “Moose” Skowron promised Bobby $500 at the beginning of each season they played together if Bobby would catch all of the popups hit to the right side of the infield during the year. Bobby held up his end of the bargain. Moose owes him $3,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362131004-CUTX7V4M4CLMGWP1UN4X/21+-+O%27Dell.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Billy O’Dell Brooks Robinson (left) and Billy O’Dell did what they could to help Bobby get his average up to .300 on the last day of the 1959 season. O’Dell was from the upstate of South Carolina, went to Clemson, and was quail hunting buddies with Bobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362382004-ROUSTZH1S842RZA4DOAC/22+-+1960+World+Series.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1960 World Series Bobby set the all-time World Series record with 12 RBI during the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362440632-KNP3TQXOCGM72DGLQM33/23+-+6+RBI+in+a+World+Series+game.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Game 3 In the third game, alone, Bobby had 6 RBI, which is still the most RBI by one player in a single game in World Series history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362533172-M529S4LOOBCZLXIXF6UC/24+-+1960+World+Series+Game+3+celebration+with+Mikey+and+Whitey.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Celebrating a Record Mickey Mantle, Bobby Richardson, and Whitey Ford celebrate Bobby’s record-setting performance after Game 3. Luckily, Casey Stengel didn’t say “Hold that gun!” as Bobby walked up to the plate with the bases loaded in the 1st inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615363137148-2PO2BDTY8H9UCIMXQAIC/25+-+Maris+60.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Roger Maris Bobby Richardson and Elston Howard greet Roger Maris at home plate after Roger hit his 60th home run of the 1961 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615362974243-QFWCIHEQUPUFLY7FF9CL/25+-+Maris.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615364093233-K46Y2WA6HN0RY7D9X4R1/27+-+61.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 61* Barry Pepper as Roger Maris in Billy Crystal’s movie 61* https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615364697240-QR98VU8WEA9GRMXDVWM2/28+-+TBRS+-+Admiring+Mickey%27s+1962+MVP+Award.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1962 MVP Race Mickey Mantle won the MVP Award after the 1962 season, but even he said that Bobby Richardson deserved to win it. Here is Bobby (left) and Tony Kubek (right) admiring the award with Mickey in the locker room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615365092924-MJP09K0AKBYOO6TI35GX/29+-+No+Hat+for+Celebration.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Yankees celebrate after Bobby’s Series-clinching catch to win Game 7 of the 1962 World Series. Notice Bobby (center, in back) without his hat on, and the umpire (right) with it in his hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366362685-5XDC0KJ3U5YAZLDI6N93/30+-+Gibson.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1964 World Series Bob Gibson dominated everyone in the Yankees lineup during the 1964 World Series, except Bobby Richardson. Bobby went 7-14 against Gibson in the series, and collected 13 hits overall against St. Louis. It is still the most hits by one player in a single World Series in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366616930-W3TE1V7G4SRDYAC1W6O6/31+-+Koufax.jpeg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Sandy Koufax Bobby says Sandy Koufax was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. His results from Game 1 of the 1963 World Series seem to back up that assertion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615366980789-9LYDIW8JBVQREVQX2DXY/32+-+bob+sheppard.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - “The Voice of God” Bob Sheppard’s announcing became part of the unique atmosphere at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615367133288-E3XL0RY0FX1HPTS93FSB/33+-+Toby+Wright+1965.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Organ After seeing the success the Mets had earlier in the season by adding an organ to their in-game experience at Shea, the Yankees decided to add one themselves later in 1965. Toby Wright was the original organist for the Yankees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615367697246-O6PKPUNUHETXTIO2QILO/34+-+Old+Timers+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Old Timers Games Tris Speaker (left) and Ty Cobb at an Old Timers Game at Yankee Stadium in the 1950s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368139714-YFW39BRDWAT0DEI3K00X/35+-+astrodome.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - April 9, 1965 Mickey Mantle hits the first indoor home run in the history of the world during the first ever exhibition game at the Astrodome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368564990-3IWMU94YX8NBERI8XP6A/36+-+bouton.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ball Four Despite its controversy at the time, with baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn's attempts to discredit it and label it as detrimental to the sport, Jim Bouton’s Ball Four is considered to be one of the most important sports books ever written https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615368839733-WDM7OAFP8FYPB1WC83SJ/37+-+Mazeroski+walkoff.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Mazeroski’s Walk-off A rarely-seen photo of the aftermath of Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run which ended the 1960 World Series, you can see Yankees Pitcher Ralph Terry (#23) and Bobby Richardson (foreground) literally walking off the field in defeat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369105862-TRJTS864E7DC5QX2QP4M/38+-+Maris%27+61st.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Maris’ 61st October 1st, 1961. The final game of the regular season. Maris breaks the Babe’s single-season record with his 61st home run of the year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615365664600-0PB8UQBI8G253V89X2M6/99+-+Roger+Maris+curtain+call+upper+deck.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Curtain Call Even though Roger didn’t want to, Bobby and some of the other Yankees pushed Maris out to take a curtain call for the fans after he hit his record-breaking 61st home run in the 1961 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369277585-JBB0RW125KEM54U7S2UL/40+-+sports+illustrated+shoot.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Early Retirement When Sports Illustrated heard that Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek were planning to retire together, they sent a photographer to get some shots for the article. This photo still proudly hangs in Bobby’s home today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369455598-F42S4JF9TUZKZFC0KLGM/41+-+Family.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Growing Family Bobby and Betsy had a growing family, which was reason enough for him to want to retire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369571739-JVHOXMTEUTNLXKZYJPHS/42+-+gold+glove.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Gold Glove Bobby won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards, one each from 1961-1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369713426-F3XN14LAUNS867H1JV0G/43+-+IP+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson Day at Yankee Stadium, September 17, 1966 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369817752-L915EZ9YDMLXD2KM95JJ/44+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby Richardson Day Some of the items given out at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 1966, in celebration of Bobby Richardson Day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615369921256-ZUHI9VPT0RMPCMWE0VZN/45+-+Bobby+Richardson+Day.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Media Coverage Bobby and his family were featured in a newspaper article the following day, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370044011-NFF1FOPPLZPJS3230TOP/46+-+Old+Timers+Day+with+Yogi.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Old Timers Day Another great day with his teammate and lifelong friend, Yogi Berra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370155754-3WLTFH3WMHZOIUP1GONQ/47+-+Bobby+at+USC.jpeg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Coaching at USC After Paul Dietzel courted him for years, Bobby finally became the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370591174-26CN45HJZEMUODC04C15/48+-+earl+bass.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Earl Bass Earl Bass went 34-3 for the Gamecocks from 1972-75, going 12-1 in 1974 and 17-1 in 1975, earning first team All-American honors in each season. He still holds USC records for career ERA at 1.34, shutouts (10) and strikeouts (392). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370711448-0YIIUBLW8QEEX6S2L4O3/49+-+RM+-+1963+Yankees.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Not Just Teammates Bobby and his teammates shared lifelong friendships that carried well beyond the field of play. They might have all been different, but they were a team. Here are some of the 1963 Yankees: (top row, left to right) Elston Howard, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Tony Kubek (bottom row, left to right) Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371073440-7YA322YGQ8YXUSUSHOA0/50+-+houk+cigar.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ralph Houk Houk was Bobby’s favorite manager. “A player’s manager.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371225013-0TL42VRKQ759185EU1T6/51+-+stengel.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Casey Stengel Casey Stengel is one of baseball’s most interesting characters. His personality, and managerial style, definitely rubbed some people the wrong way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615371643578-5378JFKXSC8HVAJXMPZX/52+-+bill+dickey.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bill Dickey With a .313 lifetime batting average, nearly 2,000 career hits, and more than 200 career home runs as a Catcher for the Yankees, Bill Dickey knew a thing or two about hitting, and about what you should be looking for from a pitcher when you’re in the batter’s box. His guidance helped Bobby Richardson have one of the best years of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615370327674-DLMYS9A89SP4K3HU3DQO/48+-+hank+small.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Hank Small Bobby says one of his players, Hank Small, is the best collegiate baseball player he’d ever seen. “He reminded me so much of Mickey Mantle. He had the power. He could run. The only difference was Mantle was a switch-hitter. But Hank didn’t need to be (a switch-hitter) because he could hit to all fields.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372371319-B15XAECIJ4ZGWLLQI782/54+-+yankee+stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Original Yankee Stadium was a place unlike any other. 1923-2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372425336-RXTGVA3ES288H7XZHSL5/55+-+TBRS+-+Lou+Gehrig+Memorial+Award.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Bobby accepts the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1963 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372505117-GXF8ZLI6JVVWRD3E869I/56+-+TBRS+-+With+his+equipment.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - #1 Bobby wore the number 1 for the majority of his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615372838528-XN9H0CZAEAO5LKQOZF6R/57+-+billy+martin.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Unceremonious Exits A number of Yankee greats have left the team (or been forced to leave) on less-than-good terms. Yogi Berra, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Dick Howser, Bill Virdon, Billy Martin, Stump Merrill, Billy Martin, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Gene Michael… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373361424-1NY6B253S895T3M7O922/58+-+bob+costas.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bob Costas Watch his full eulogy at Mickey’s funeral HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373450074-HCW2GX4JJNB3LZT0DW0K/59+-+bobby+at+mickey%27s+funeral.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby’s Eulogy for Mickey Watch the full video HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373519189-R8KJGPFRMLUNFLUZ3I0Z/60+-+god%27s+hall+of+fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - God’s Hall of Fame One of Bobby’s favorite poems, he has recited it multiple times over the course of his life and career. One of the most famous recitals came at Mickey’s funeral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373618966-IYOYE02YR7CDD5WKTTKA/61+-+a+gift+from+the+mantles.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Gift From The Mantles Given to Bobby after Mickey’s funeral https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373664778-SV1TFNH02L17MF3H65N9/62+-+mantles.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Presented To Bobby Richardson You Enriched Dad’s Life And Soul With Your Presence Those Last Days. With God’s Love And Eternal Light, We Thank You. THE MICKEY MANTLE FAMILY 1931 - 1995 Teammate In The True Sense https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615373907498-KVJ90N5EYHQ9A6MS5HBG/63+-+kaline.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Al Kaline One of Bobby’s most respected opponents, here is 20-year-old Detroit Tigers Outfielder Al Kaline before a 1955 game at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374031687-KXZG5N70SD8BTEODNPYV/64+-+1963+Dream+Team.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1963 Dream Team The best players at each position in all of Major League Baseball, Bobby made the cut in 1963. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374153856-XS6YS9ZY1R2642H32S6A/65+-+Ted+Williams+hitting+instructor.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Ted Williams Bo Sox asked Ted Williams NOT to give Richardson any more hitting tips before a Red Sox - Yankees game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374341372-848M2O6Y15X723F2DUAT/66+-+Dreamy+at+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Enjoying It Tremendously While there were certainly some struggles, Bobby is still incredibly grateful for his career and all of the opportunities it brought him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374497542-K9HOFIV8FPPHZVK9SC5N/67+-+Fellowship+of+Christian+Athletes.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Public Speaking Bobby has been lucky enough to speak all over the country, and all over the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615374815986-PZNK1E3MJRZPTYR4VJXS/68+-+Mickey+at+USC.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Mickey at USC Bobby (left) welcomed his old friends, Whitey Ford (second from left) and Mickey Mantle (third from left) to South Carolina to speak with the team when he was head baseball coach at USC. Whitey gave some pitching tips, and Mickey gave some batting instruction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375050552-E2ED59ZMDD48Y45I252Q/69+-+Bobby+fields+a+double+play.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Turning Two Jerry Coleman taught Bobby how to turn the double play at second base. Bobby then became one of the best double play men in the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375175243-INRMO4HL639J939K18P2/70+-+IP+-+With+his+dad.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and His Dad Due to poor health in his later years, Mr. Richardson only saw Bobby play one game in person in Bobby’s career. While Bobby normally played Second Base, the one game his dad saw was one where Bobby played Third Base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375401006-YI2G6HDTANK2AIWQ5VEK/71+-+Bobby+and+Betsy.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby and Betsy If you want to reach out to Bobby, you can email him at bobby.betsy@gmail.com He also did give his phone number out, but I edited that out. You’re going to have to work for that one! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375532182-DNMYATG74C3ZG0KE9OJF/73+-+Sports+Complex+-+01.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Bobby Richardson Baseball Complex in Sumter, South Carolina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375595502-KNO1QTTZIXD7YVN2VLQA/74+-+Sports+Complex+-+02.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Great Honor This plaque greets every visitor to the Bobby Richardson Baseball Complex immediately upon their entry https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375669756-8MDB5CWFVR1SE6LUKGB5/75+-+Sports+Complex+-+03.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Close Up Bobby may not like the hair, but the plaque is great, and an amazing tribute to Sumter’s favorite son. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375734445-3CX352EMC7AETWO1ICGK/76+-+Sports+Complex+-+04.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - In Bobby’s Own Hand This saying is etched in the concrete at the foot of the base which holds the plaque shown above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375879820-66BZDXFEPS2DGHWDKSLG/77+-+The+Richardsons.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The Richardsons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615375932540-MK1BZPBX86SFYSB1VI9U/78+-+Bobby+at+the+SJJM.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - At The SJJM Bob Bolin (left) and Bobby Richardson tour the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library in Greenville, South Carolina at its grand opening on June 21, 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376334238-4LOHDGTV4N4CRRFUK5UW/79+-+yankee+stadium.JPG Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Summer of 2005 After finally getting the right tickets, we made our way inside to see Derek Jeter and the Yankees take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. What a day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376582342-SFGA0KXZ3155W1PU84P7/80+-+bob+cerv.jpeg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Deep Bond Roger Maris and Bob Cerv were not only teammates, they were friends and roommates. Here they are in the summer of 1960, each celebrating the recent births of their children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615376726645-MVRXH3BQJNR9UZN7H257/81+-+Posed.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Kid, I Lived It He was there. I’m jealous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377148496-8HUEDPDY71V79MJYAGTF/82+-+beautiful+signature.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Beautiful Signature Bobby’s autograph is wonderfully legible, all thanks to an interaction he had with Stan Musial when he was 12 years old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377375547-F1LBXNRBBU4614GWXHGH/83+-+TBRS+-+Turning+two.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Evading Danger After being spiked once or twice, you learn to get out of the way of the runner who’s barreling down on you, trying to break up the double play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615377631301-XV08NE0NVIUY7L3SR1D8/84+-+peanuts.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson Peanuts cartoons following the 1962 World Series https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378490934-H08UQC6I8R5P5HQTQYJU/85+-+1966+Christmas+Card+-+Christie%2C+Jeannie%2C+Ron%2C+Robby.png Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - What He Did, Not Who He Is Bobby’s playing career is just a small part of his life, which has helped keep him grounded all these years. Here is the Richardsons’ 1966 Christmas card with their children (left to right) Christie, Jeannie, Ron, and Robby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378672764-3GYF0OFMB1YG4QB1KXWS/86+-+4+bats.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Pretty Good Bobby might not think of himself as a superstar, or someone worth writing to all these years later. But I’ve got news for you, Mr. Richardson… you were, and you are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615378930544-BJ64DPOXC4RCS4NH4NA4/87+-+showing+me+around.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Showing Me Around Bobby was incredibly generous, inviting me into his home and showing me all of his memorabilia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615379007331-8P9PIAEZJXQ8YVSPKNF7/88+-+reminiscing.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Reminiscing Going through a scrapbook of photos from Bobby Richardson Day, remembering the incredible honor it was to have that day at Yankee Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615379930456-04VEQQSKU5JF3QN1KNVV/89+-+the+bobby+richardson+story.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - The Bobby Richardson Story Published in 1965, this book is a first-person autobiography that tells Bobby’s story in life and in baseball, up to that point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380192842-ZBVQP8E2O904HZM94BGM/90+-+Impact+Player.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Impact Player Published in 2012, in this book, Bobby shares his life story, including never-before-told tales from the Yankee clubhouse during the historic 1955-1965 pennant runs and World Series appearances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380533235-Z7GYWDCXJZ5BJY0CT9UI/91+-+1960+World+Series+Grand+Slam.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - Bobby’s Grand Slam In the 1st Inning of Game 3 in the 1960 World Series, Bobby Richardson shocked the world. And himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380689420-HFOFGAOS9RK4DOT7GHYV/92+-+Bobby%27s+Grand+Slam.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson The flight of Bobby’s grand slam, and all of the players on the field at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380632583-YAPAT4O81R8D4S1KLAK2/93+-+Crossing+Home.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - A Good Start Pretty nice to have a grand slam on the board after one inning in a World Series game. Bobby finished the game with 6 RBI, a World Series record which still stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615380916681-MDCGMLMG9MW1YVUENDCM/94+-+Game+4+1958+World+Series+-+Schoendienst+triple.jpg Past Episodes - 0205 - Bobby Richardson - 1958 World Series Game 4 Check out the box score from this game, which was the only game Bobby’s dad ever saw him play in person. Here, Red Schoendienst slides into Third Base (being covered by Bobby Richardson) after a triple. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0204 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089326992-4HTDFODPTWAHIT27HAXW/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089503951-KENATNLKHBM85H9YJ9DI/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Me and Alex Cheremeteff after recording our interview in Philadelphia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089849563-EDSXQVI2R3E772YZOSHE/01.+Phillies.jpeg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Childhood Heroes Alex was a Phillies fan growing up. His favorite players were Mike Schmidt, Garry Maddox, and Bob Boone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089873839-78F4FNPNQJ6Q1HABSUJE/02.+Cal+Ripken.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Rochester Red Wings Alex remembers seeing many future Major League stars when he used to go to Rochester Red Wings games. Some notable players were Cal Ripken, Jr., Steve Finley, and Brady Anderson. Opposing teams’ came through town, as well, and many of their players were also on their way to the bigs. Some of those who stuck out in Alex’s memory include Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, and Jim Thome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089908151-06JXF10TGVUVF0O35I5N/03.+Total+Baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Total Baseball Total Baseball is a baseball encyclopedia first compiled by John Thorn and Pete Palmer in 1989. The encyclopedia contains seasonal and career statistics in numerous categories for every Major League player, as well as historical, opinion, and year-by-year essays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089946457-X21VUDV9EYI30I7HI03Q/04.+The+Glory+Of+Their+Times.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The Glory Of Their Times The Glory of Their Times: The Story of Baseball Told By the Men Who Played It was written by Lawrence Ritter. Ritter was inspired by the death of Ty Cobb to preserve the oral histories of ballplayers, so, as a university professor, he used his summers to interview players from the turn of the century. The audio recordings can be found online through the Library of Congress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089969685-DUXVFO35ZKRSA888UUP2/05.+Conlon.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Charles Conlon Baseball's Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon by Neal and Constance McCabe is an examination of the remarkable legacy of Charles M. Conlon who took thousands of photographs of the baseball heroes of his day, from 1904 to 1942. His work captures the drama, power and human emotion of the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615089993066-5UQU6JCO8VLVGM966UUR/06.+Hall+of+Fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Giamatti Research Center The library is the foremost repository of baseball information, in all formats, in the world. Founded in 1939 along with the Hall of Fame itself, the library is a specialized research facility whose collections and services are available to all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090040566-WNH9LEI39NJLIUA3J3UR/07.+Cobb+slides.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Ty Cobb and Frank Baker This photo by William Kuenzel prevented Ty Cobb's suspension for life from baseball on charges that he intentionally spiked the arm of Home Run Baker. The photo proved that Cobb threw his body to the inside trying to evade Baker’s tag at third base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090062424-QMPP5H60IU7FAZRBKHDF/08.+1909-08-24+Connie+Mack+on+Ty+Cobb+after+the+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack’s Quote Philadelphia’s manager did not take too kindly to Ty Cobb spiking his third baseman, calling him, among other things, a "pinhead" and "malefactor." Cobb replied, "If the man with the ball is in the way, he is apt to get hurt." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090085037-FJV0WW9H8G8CB78FU0MP/09.+floral+horseshoe.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Wild Bill Donovan 9-30-1907: Detroit Tigers RHP Bill Donovan (center) poses in front of a floral horseshoe presented by his Philadelphia friends prior to a scheduled double-header at Columbia Park. A 20-year old Ty Cobb would belt a game-tying 9th inning HR. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090147185-2JW6MQ1RB55D3WOMJH1J/10.+1907-10-01+Philadelphia+Inquirer.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Cartoon drawing by Jim Nasium, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 1907 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090107274-WMFILWVYYB5MUV7RCAR3/11.+1901-01-24+Connie+Mack%27s+hiring.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack is Hired The Philadelphia Inquirer announces the hiring of Connie Mack as manager of the brand new Philadelphia Athletics of the American League on January 24, 1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090174746-58AQSILB2RB6YGXG7RUX/12.+1902+Athletics+-+White+Elephant.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - White Elephant The Athletics have John McGraw to thank for their mascot, the White Elephant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090194613-W5YJPDDV3NC67VPQTTO9/13.+1903+Athletics+scorebook+-+reverse.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Merchandising the White Elephant The defending American League Champions incorporated the famous "white elephant" for the first time in 1903, using the image on pennants, banners, and even this 1903 Philadelphia Athletics score book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090218666-UENTPUL0NPKWHZ01VPNI/14.+1902-09-29+Championship+Parade.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Championship Parade September 29, 1902: Scene along North Broad Street as the City of Philadelphia honored the American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics. "It was a great night for Connie Mack and his victorious team... And the White Elephant!" - The Philadelphia Inquirer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090241477-ZUGJ5EB9W2O9UIBL36NW/15.+1903-07-09+Rube+Waddell+leaves+the+team+cartoon.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Rube Waddell Leaves The Team July 9, 1903: The mystifying Rube Waddellpacks up his belongings and informs Connie Mack that he is on the first train to California. Later that afternoon, he surfaces in Camden, New Jersey where he plays CF with a team of collegians from Atlantic City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090346647-L9X6W7SO5H60VQJZ7KWA/16.+Ossie.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Ossee Schreckengost If ever there were a battery that was bound together in life and in death, it was probably pitcher Rube Waddell and catcher Ossee Schreckengost. Waddell's unpredictable and bizarre nature famously led to Ossee insisting on a "no crackers in bed" clause added to Waddell's contract. Schreckengost played without shin guards, and was one of the last major league catchers to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090408404-7WIVCSOW9LADZJ7OB7B6/17.+1905-10+Columbia+Park+in+Philadelphia.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1905 Philadelphia Athletics A pin featuring the 1905 American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics. The 19 players pictured are the only players Connie Mack used the entire season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090434962-GKTUQY9A7BU2SVJ41GEC/18.+1908-07-30+Connie+Mack+purchases+Joe+Jackson+for+%241%2C000.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1908 Philadelphia Athletics 1908 Philadelphia Athletics team photo featuring a 21-year old rookie named Shoeless Joe Jackson, pictured in the lower right corner. Connie Mack purchased Joe for $1,000 on July 30, 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090457745-3BPO069Q2S5L91QBF4M2/19.+joe+in+savannah.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shoeless Joe in Savannah Joe Jackson warming up with the Savannah Indians of the South Atlantic League in 1909. He hit .358 in 118 games before be recalled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090482050-1OV1QR7AAQNLLCHEJJC7/20.+Columbia+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Columbia Park Umpires and members of the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants meet at home plate during a 1905 World Series game at Columbia Park in Philadelphia's Brewerytown neighborhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090502111-C9CKHNP54JK07FLA7HJ3/21.+1909+-+corner+of+21st+Street+%26+Lehigh+Avenue.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park The beautiful edifice at the corner of 21st Street & Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia, 1909. Shibe Park's construction had just been completed, and was a marvel of architecture at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090525953-SAWRG7XRYRIOVM7PRSJP/22.+1909-04-12+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Opening Day at Shibe April 12, 1909: Resplendent in their brand new uniforms and sweaters, the Athletics line up in their dugout prior to the inaugural game at their sumptuous new palace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090547103-ER9SUUNWA9OYJ8BORQWH/23.+1910-06-30+Doc+Powers+Day+image.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Doc Powers Doc Powers was Eddie Plank's personal catcher and one of Connie Mack's favorite players. After he passed away, the Athletics honored him in multiple ways. Ultimately, “Doc Powers Day” was organized by the American League and hosted by the A’s to raise funds for his widow and children, an extraordinary effort for its time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090570183-JCF1F2WCH1PCK2F4WZD4/24.+%24100%2C000+infield.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - $100,000 Infield "ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THE HOOF" 1B Stuffy McInnis, 2B Eddie Collins, SS Jack Barry, and 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker pictured here in 1913. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090594089-Q4QUL4N7FABSMWL7WPEC/25.+harry+davis.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Harry Davis The 1910 season was Harry Davis' final season as a major league regular. He was team captain and performed all of Connie Mack's on-field duties, including taking out the lineup card, going over the pregame ground rules, and pitching changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090615672-YRSWGKL69D2XRO4MUML5/26.+Jack+Coombs.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1910 Athletics (Left to Right) 1B Harry Davis, RHP Jack Coombs, and LHP Eddie Plank take a breather during spring training in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910. 7 months later, they would capture their first World Series. Coombs tossed 13 shutouts that season, an AL record to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090667280-213UY8Y3Y2QNC4NGLIXM/27.+1910+Athletics+team+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Start of a Dynasty The 1910 Philadelphia Athletics finished the season 102-48 and rolled to a World Series title over the Chicago Cubs. Connie Mack used just TWO pitchers during the entire World Series - Chief Bender and Jack Coombs, who pitched all 45.2 innings over 5 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090695839-O1UV6H5NWGMD1HQZU1ZN/28.+1913-10-08+watered+down+infield+during+world+series.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Competitive Drive The New York Giants led the NL with 296 stolen bases in 1913. Note the excessive amount of moisture around the first base bag in this photo. It was ordered by Connie Mack to slow down the Giants' running game. It worked; the Giants stole just two bases in two games at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090724660-B8NA09WQC3ILPRQQDDGR/29.+Connie+Mack.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1913 World Series Prior to Game 3 of the 1913 World Series, Connie Mack tried to make his way to the field when he was stopped by an NYPD officer. Mack: "I want to get to the visitors' bench." Officer: "Do you belong to the club?" Mack: "No, you blockhead. The club belongs to me." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090829298-VIPS9QYH34AI4D4F8EZ0/30.+1909-04-21+at+Huntington+Ave+Grounds+in+Boston.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff Resplendent in their new uniforms and sweaters, the 1909 Athletics line up for a photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090750185-HU1RTUGREBIAHK5YI88Y/31.+1909-1912+Sweater+-+seen+here+on+Chief+Bender.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Single Elephant Sweater Proudly worn here by Chief Bender. After seeing this close up photo of the elephant silhouette, Alex was able to make his own version. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090856980-8NSPH6B6HRSGDZNWKURO/32.+Alex%27s+sweater.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Alex’s Sweater Alex found a clearance sale, shawl collar sweater with brown buttons. He swapped the brown buttons for white ones, made a cardboard elephant template based on the 1909-12 sweater shown above, got some premium white felt, a good pair of titanium scissors, and voila! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090887162-WUVRUJQYZ005QPUDZ7SK/33.+Eddie+Collins.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Eddie Collins Eddie Collins receives a Chalmers automobile for winning the AL MVP award. He is presented with his prize prior to Game 1 of World Series at Shibe Park on October 9, 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090908779-6LYOOJM85PZ0ETZ88R1G/34.+1914+Athletics+-+AL+Pennant+winners.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1914 Athletics Following their stunning collapse in the World Series, and attendance dropping from 2nd to 5th, Connie Mack took action. After the season, gone were Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, & Chief Bender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090933929-ENALF8GXAVOW2TK41ZC0/35.+1949+-+Connie+Mack+in+his+office+1.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie’s Office A fierce negotiator, the walkway leading up to Mack’s office was dubbed “The Bridge of Tears” by his players. Here he is in 1949, at the age of 87. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090956829-IMUSQUIR7AF7L422YG4D/36.+1911+-+Frank+Baker+at+Bennett+Park+in+Detroit.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Frank “Home Run” Baker "Home Run" Baker at Comiskey Park in 1913. Baker’s stats that year were unbelievable: .337/.413/.493, 167 OPS+, 12 HR, 117 RBI, 116 R, 34 SB, 34 2B, 9 3B. He also batted .450, with one HR and 7 RBI in the World Series - leading the A's to their 3rd title in 4 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615090998764-BGRV832IVDL7ZFI969SS/38.+Jimmie+Foxx+as+a+catcher.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Jimmie Foxx Jimmie Foxx was a 16-year old catcher with the Easton (Maryland) Farmers (Eastern Shore League) in 1924. In 76 games with Easton, Foxx hit .296, slugged .469, and knocked 10 home runs. After Miller Huggins passed on him, Connie Mack purchased him for $2,000 on July 30 based on the recommendation of Easton's manager: Frank “Home Run” Baker. With the emergence of Mickey Cochrane as a catcher, Mack moved Foxx to first base, a move that would lead to the HOF for both players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615091029227-1I2TKFFNUBV9BM2SVIOS/39.+bishop.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Max “Camera Eye” Bishop Max Bishop at Comiskey Park in 1925. "Camera Eye" was the leadoff hitter for Connie Mack's second dynasty. In 12 seasons, he had a .423 OBP, 966 Runs, and 1,156 BB. He had 8 consecutive seasons of 100+ BB, and 7 consecutive seasons of 80+ Runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615091055103-LD8DMKRW0F7IWN8KG2VH/37.+1929+AL+Champions.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1929 Athletics Alex thinks the 1929 Athletics may be the best team of all time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094388233-FUA46DBZZ7G47KXZF19I/40.+1929-10-12.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1929 World Series Game 4 Thousands of Philadelphians pack the rooftops along 20th Street on October 12, 1929 to watch Game 4 of the World Series. Trailing the Cubs 8-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Athletics mounted a historic comeback to ultimately win 10-8. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094423636-FD0AO28RJQJ5GQ17TCA3/41.+Ehmke.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Howard Ehmke Howard Ehmke is on the mound for Game 1 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on October 8, 1929. He struck out a then-World Series record 13 batters that day, as the A’s won 3-1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094448372-MUGX3MKX3P3BR15WJBB3/42.+1931+Athletics.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1931 Athletics They were a Game 7 loss away from being the first team to ever win 3 straight World Series. They went 107-45 (.704, including 60-15 at home), and scored 5.6 runs per game. They had FIVE Hall of Famers on their roster, six if you count Connie Mack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094473996-N0HLQK151UDL5VGCDRLB/43.+spite+fence.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The “Spite Fence” Rooftop owners in the neighborhood started constructing proper bleachers to sell tickets and capitalize on the success of the Athletics in the late 1920s and early 1930s. To prevent the neighborhood from profiting off of their product, John Shibe and the Athletics built the "Spite Fence" along the right field wall in 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094499561-TT797U48C1Q4RTITE0JL/44.+1934-03-14+at+spring+training+in+Fort+Myers%2C+Florida.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Triple Crown Foxx After making only $16,000 for winning the Triple Crown in 1933, Jimmie Foxx wanted $25,000 for 1934. Connie Mack's initial counter offer to that suggestion was $11,000. Mack then offered a compromise of $15,000 (plus attendance bonuses) for the '34 season. Foxx refused and held out. On March 9, 1934, Foxx signed for $20,000 - a $4,000 raise from the year before. Here, they sit next to each other during 1934 Spring Training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094528344-XVI46W48FU2U1BBMFDO3/45.+lights.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Night Baseball Despite objections from neighbors, the A's installed 8 light towers in 1939. The "spite fence" ended the goodwill the Athletics had with their neighbors. The light towers and penny-pinching ways essentially spelled the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094551784-4O11C61CIAH5YNAHL0NK/46.+Lena+Blackburne.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Lena Blackburne Connie Mack's long time coach was the founder and purveyor of "Lena Blackburne Original Baseball Rubbing Mud." The mud has been used for generations to remove the glossy sheen from brand new baseballs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094578083-I8PBLCYCFAK8JNK227EG/47.+Matt+Kilroy.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Matt Kilroy Matt Kilroy, a native Philadelphian, was Connie Mack's unofficial pitching coach during the A's early years. His specialty was teaching how to hold runners at first base. In 1901, at Mack's behest, he took Eddie Plank under his wing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094649159-3MNNR53FK6SI5MO1GL85/48.+shibe.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff On August 20, 1971, two boys set fire to Shibe Park. The resulting 5-alarm fire gutted the entire upper deck. This was the gruesome result. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094624453-VGJB0Y4L8SRI1QRWN8OI/49.+shibe+detail.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park in 1973 Even after it had been gutted by fire and abandoned, Shibe Park still maintained its grandeur. There will never be another ballpark like it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094678844-DV4KMIIODBOEO3KI622C/50.+1925+-+Connie+Mack+at+Comiskey+Park.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Connie Mack Despite his flaws, Alex still thinks Connie Mack is “The Father of Modern Baseball.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094735537-S7Q0H23LYW4PYDMTIALH/51.+1939-09-10+battle+of+the+dynasties+old+timers+day.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff The 1910-1914 Athletics & 1929-1931 Athletics pose with their manager, Connie Mack, in front of 23,235 fans on September 10, 1939 at Shibe Park. Dynasty #1 defeated Dynasty #2, 6-4 in 2.5 innings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094706956-D7YEVZEXUHHPX5S33XDY/52.+scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Scoreboard A view inside the manually-operated scoreboard at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094758481-OVHDBBXOF7TA6HS78JTA/53.+white+elephant.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Alex’s Website WhiteElephantBaseball.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094786879-QZ5U3LRFZOEAIONF9IMM/54.+Giants.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Philadelphia Giants The Philadelphia Giants were an Independent team who won 5 titles in 6 years from 1904-09. The great Rube Foster (back row, 2nd from L) won 20 games for the 1904 team, pictured here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094822305-AQXISMPQ4HC1AVWRQ6MV/55.+Allen.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Dick Allen The great Dick Allen (15) waits on-deck during a game at Connie Mack Stadium on June 26, 1966. Connie Mack Stadium had previously been known as Shibe Park, but was renamed in Febraury of 1953. Notice the “Spite Fence” in right field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094850545-9AMIJT58RHW1MH83PULX/56.+babe+ascension.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Babe In Philly Babe Ruth LOVED playing in Philadelphia. In fact, he loved it so much that one time he played an exhibition game after the Yankees had played the Athletics earlier in the day, because the game was going to raise money for a church to build a baseball field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094877427-54A7WZQ6U75XGIKTOA9S/57.+Lou+Gehrig%2C+Jimmie+Foxx%2C+Babe+Ruth+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Babe at Shibe When I said Babe Ruth loved playing in Philadelphia, I wasn’t joking. Alex compiled Babe’s career stats at Shibe Park. Check this out: 171 career games / .357 / .472 / .753 / 1.225 OPS / 68 HR / 175 RBI / 164 R / 220 H / 132 BB / 464 TB https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094904874-3SDHQA9N0VGWXDGZ1NRN/58.+alex.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Follow Alex Online Website Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094933595-V7TSUVFNQNITIHLQCTGK/59.+1931-03+Jimmie+Foxx+at+spring+training+in+Fort+Myers%2C+Florida.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Double X Jimmie Foxx is one of Alex’s favorite players of all time. Here he is at spring training in Fort Myers, Florida during March of 1931. The 23-year old had a solid season that year (.291/.380/.567, 30 HR, 120 RBI) helping the Philadelphia Athletics to their third consecutive American League pennant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094960838-70NCQ6U9WPURZ42CDKR6/60.+1933-04-01+Mickey+Cochrane+at+Shibe+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Mickey Cochrane In one of the most famous baseball photos of all time, Phillies 3B Pinky Whitney is tagged by Athletics C Mickey Cochrane while trying to score in the top of the 4th inning during the annual "City Series" exhibition on April 1, 1933 at Shibe Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615094987973-I0A7AXTC0DLNLRLTJYP9/61.+alexander.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Grover Cleveland Alexander Sgt. Grover Cleveland Alexander of the 342nd Field Artillery, 89th Division, departs New York on June 28, 1918. He spent seven weeks in the trenches, and was never the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095013541-006PJ1RGR9SBYO3V1JP8/62.+jimmie+and+ted.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Jimmie and Ted When the Red Sox acquired Jimmie Foxx on December 10, 1935, he was 2nd on the all time home run list with 302. He would hit another 222 in his 7 seasons in Boston, teaming with Ted Williams from 1939-1942. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095078517-NO7H9LXZDYTD6X88B7KP/65.5+mom.JPEG Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - My Mom and I Here we are, masked up, standing at the site where Shibe Park once stood. Photo by the incredibly talented Ryan Lawrence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095112396-MBPNZUJA3J0J4V3ACBO2/64.+Shibe+sign.JPEG Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - The Sign at Shibe Park Some baseball once happened there, apparently. At least, according to the sign. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095143300-UHIE9P9WUZ1SMEPW9OD1/66.+Shibe+row+homes.JPEG Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Shibe Park’s Row Homes Today While the ballpark is no longer there, the homes that once saw hundreds and thousands of fans sitting atop them remain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095170838-1KHF9472TG66F5BCT9X8/65.+Cobb+Conlon.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Conlon’s Cobb Ty Cobb’s fierce slide at the end of a steal of third base in 1910 is considered Charles M. Conlon’s most famous image. It was a different slide than the Frank Baker incident Alex and I discussed during this interview. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095220213-JTHVWITW1PQBH6CG9PZK/07.+Cobb+slides.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Kuenzel’s Cobb Here, again, is William Kuenzel’s photo of Cobb sliding into third base. This photo exonerated Cobb, who was clearly avoiding Frank Baker when you see the action from this angle. The Tigers and Athletics were fierce rivals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095250876-CC2AVOQW6DFELM25BGB7/67.+Mack.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Mack, The Player Connie Mack’s 65 years in baseball began as a catcher with the Washington Nationals in 1886. Throughout his playing career, he survived more on guile than raw ability. He led the league in 1890 by being hit by 20 pitches while batting. Mack was one of the first catchers to play directly behind home plate instead of setting up by the backstop. He was also famous for his abilities to fake the sound of a foul tip with his mouth and “tip” opposing players’ bats during their swings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095044505-HTWPO22HDPB72DVD90AJ/63.+dirt.JPEG Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Preserving History A very fancy way of saying “collecting dirt” from where the outfield would have been at the site of Shibe Park. As an Athletic in 1909, and as a visitor until 1920, Joe Jackson surely stood in this exact spot at some point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095287193-HPE40VFPFHJ53S9Y8UUX/68.+row+homes+near+Columbia+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Columbia Park’s Row Homes Today Imagine all of the great players and great games at Columbia Park that were viewed from these very rooftops… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095372869-H3LE4VB10MSV4YCAHO7P/70.+foxx.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Manager Foxx By all accounts, Jimmie Foxx’s time as manager of the 1952 Ft. Wayne Daisies of the AAGPBL was an enjoyable one. With daughter Nanci helping out as a batgirl, the team went 67-42 and made the playoffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095421429-UGVNALDX9OWKUPOZ7OA4/71.+windows.JPEG Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - A Window To The Past In 1991 Deliverance Evangelistic Church built a church on the site where Shibe Park once stood. The arches in the windows were meant to pay homage to the great stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095606022-JZO9DROVHYMQ9USZ3186/69.+1910+World+Series+-+fans+watching+from+across+the+street.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - 1910 World Series Thousands of fans who couldn’t fit inside Shibe Park were still able to watch the games by sitting on top of the roofs across the street. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095635921-PZK749XFHQB4GPBP80DB/72.+relocation.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff From 1903 to 1953, the league featured all the same clubs without change. In the early 50s, however, three different two-team cities lost the weaker of their clubs, as the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Athletics, and St. Louis Browns moved to towns without franchises. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095559042-F5HNIWTMUARV8506SRQI/73.+Joe%27s.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop Founded in 1949 in Northeast Philadelphia, it was only fitting that we got cheesesteaks from a place named Joe’s while we were in town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095822643-T08B675WE32HNEWT53UU/74.+Elysian+Fields.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club chose Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ as their practice site, and began intrasquad play October 6 1845, playing 15 such practice matches before the end of the year. On June 19, 1846, they played their first game against another club, hosting the New York Baseball Club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095789128-YJ3HFH6K9K0ILQ4Z4G2Y/75.+Buckminster.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Hotel Buckminster On September 19, 1919, bookmaker and gambler Joseph "Sport" Sullivan went to the Hotel Buckminster room of Arnold "Chick" Gandil, first baseman for the Chicago White Sox. It was there where they conspired to fix the 1919 World Series, which was to take place thirteen days later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095866700-Q4SDBF554VOIH8BMDTK1/76.+Room+615.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Room 615 Little is known about the meeting or the exact room where it took place. The speculation over the years is that the meeting took place in Room 615, where Sullivan would have been able to sit and look out the window, over what is now the Massachusetts Turnpike, and watch his accessories play at Fenway Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095905945-WXSJRBTQT08I6DTQQJLZ/77.+kuklick.png Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - To Every Thing A Season "[Kuklick] shows what a ballpark can mean to a neighborhood: 'Shibe Park was a place where uncommon deeds gave people a sense of commonality. In this, its special beauty, the game at Shibe Park rose above the flaws of its businessmen, its players, and its fans.'" ― Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615095933768-8YCVHZ23GLSX1S58WMHL/78.+Duncan+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0204 - Alex Cheremeteff - Duncan Park Duncan Park is the oldest ballpark in South Carolina, and one of the oldest wooden grandstand baseball stadiums in the nation. It also happened to receive 582 original wooden seats from Shibe Park. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0203 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085074422-9LB6BNXT2Y4QVNVXX9GW/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085168359-B2YKD4IBL5T3TYORI7G7/cover.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne Shawn Herne, Babe Ruth, and I after recording our interview at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085380895-2QNR7NCDI90RFTI6N8RG/01.+babe+ruth+birthplace.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum 216 Emory Street Baltimore, Maryland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085402279-ODTIHLVCRD7TEBEMEKLH/02.+mike+gibbons.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Executive Directors Mike Gibbons (left) and Shawn Herne shake hands as Mike passes the baton after 35 years on to his successor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085423100-WKXMYQAGZEBNNI58HDD1/03.+b%26o+railroad+museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - B&O Railroad Museum Originally named the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum when it opened on July 4, 1953, it has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world, and has the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the U.S. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085451234-2K49XTQE9HAOARDJ7GM9/04.+camden+yards.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Oriole Park at Camden Yards The famous warehouse beyond the right field fence has become nearly as iconic as the stadium itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085509275-8MWR5TFM6C20K3QGR8H7/05.+bj+surhoff.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - B.J. Surhoff Surhoff played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, and was a member of the Orioles from 1996-2000, where he earned his only All-Star selection in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085561302-M5AR9NMMRFR8XO1SGFZA/06.+the+room+he+was+born+in.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne Babe Ruth was born in this room in his maternal grandparents’ home in Baltimore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085531779-UCGZ9E09SPA795DKBRK6/07.+babe%27s+birth+certificate.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Birth Certificate Babe was born February 6, 1895. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085584904-COMCL47YAXZ95CFOKCW6/08.+babe+and+his+dad+at+their+bar.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - George Senior’s Saloon Located at 38 South Eutaw Street in Baltimore, this was actually where George Senior died while attempting to break up a bar brawl. This photo shows a happier time, with the Babe behind the bar in the center of the frame, and his father in the foreground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085637052-UNGRH8ZKXN5RAOHGJ085/09.+st+mary%27s.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys Babe was sent here when his parents couldn’t handle the responsibility of raising children while working. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085609921-CXDBHG3APRDVFCSGPP6C/10.+brother+matthias.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Brother Matthias Brother Matthias was born Martin Leo Boutilier in 1872. He moved to the United States, became an Xaverian priest, and adopted the name Matthias. At 6’ 6” and 250 pounds, he cut an imposing figure as Prefect of Discipline and Assistant Athletic Director. Throughout his life, Babe Ruth spoke of Brother Mathias in terms of veneration and gratitude. He taught Ruth more important lessons than just baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085663746-MNLO4PXSSQHYKP3B6ROB/11.+brother+gilbert.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Brother Gilbert Philip F. Cairnes became known as Brother Gilbert when he became an Xaverian brother. He is generally credited with steering the Babe to his first professional contract. The book shown contains the heretofore unpublished memoirs of Brother Gilbert, and has a number of previously unpublished photos from the Xaverian Order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085690773-R773ZJTET8LRVR0TCWCS/12.+st+marys+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - St. Mary’s Industrial School Baseball Team Photo 1914 Babe is in the center in the top row. Image courtesy of Huggins and Scott Auctions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085710361-MHBUD4BLLUZBRATHEZMY/13.+jack+dunn.png Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Jack Dunn During his seven-year career as a big league journeyman, Jack Dunn gained a reputation for his versatility in being able to play several different positions in the field, but just as notable was his astute understanding of the game and his knack for developing young players. SABR Bio by Jimmy Keenan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085737881-2OSBQ2XDJ1AU01OJ35VT/14.+babe+statue.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Statue Standing tall at the entrance of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085760576-IF7B4DBZ3LRTGFSA9UHI/15.+March+7%2C+1914.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - March 7, 1914 Babe Ruth begins his career with the Baltimore Orioles by hitting a home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085785330-1WO7R2UD15F2IOK33MZ5/16.+providence.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe in Providence “Babe Ruth appears to have gotten in on the ground floor with the fans as a result of his baffling southpaw brand of pitching and his ability to give the horse-hide vigorous punishment with the wagon tongue,” wrote the Providence Journal. Behind Ruth’s efforts, the Providence Grays would go on to beat out Rochester for the 1914 International League title after which Ruth would return to Boston to begin his storied Major League career in earnest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085804746-NS1BB1TTUCW8IZVFC28X/17.+boston.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Boston Red Sox Babe was a centerpiece on two World Series-winning Boston teams in 1916 and 1918. He threw the longest complete game, 14 innings, in the 1916 series against the former-Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers). While pitching for the Red Sox, Babe had a 2.19 ERA, 125 ERA+, 2.76 FIP, and won 89 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085830806-F50P41K9B79BPKFISXD9/18.+helen.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Helen Woodford Babe Ruth wed quiet Boston waitress Helen Woodford in a small ceremony at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Ellicott City on October 17, 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085852942-VUI2E9MX11XUA81Q51WG/19.+Babe%27s+parents.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Parents Katherine Schamberger and George Herman Ruth Sr., were both of German ancestry. According to the 1880 census, both of Babe’s parents were born in Maryland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085880021-QF78LXF7D9TJ763V58P8/20.+babe+ruths+boys+band.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Boys Band Ruth helped the school raise money after a fire through a tour by the St. Mary’s Industrial School Band. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085903461-22ACMKBIYVIGKJAIY0R6/21.+hospital.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Johnny Dale Sylvester Little Johnny Sylvester, hospitalized after being kicked by a horse, got an autographed ball from the Babe in the middle of the 1926 World Series. The ball’s message, “I’ll knock a homer for you in Wednesday’s game,” became legendary when Ruth kept his word — and hit three home runs that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085928086-9FE94KNCKVFIL5IA71OX/22.+christy+walsh.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Christy Walsh Walter “Christy” Walsh is considered to be the first baseball sports agent, having served that role for many of the game’s great players included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, John McGraw, Walter Johnson, and Lou Gehrig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085968450-OP325CQG6Y2VKRGFUL8B/23a.+underwear.gif Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth Underwear Ruth would endorse just about anything. Babe Ruth Underwear was endorsed by the Yankees slugger in 1926 to start production in 1927. Some of the larger boxes also came with a premium 14" baseball bat with the imprint BABE RUTH ATHLETIC UNDERWEAR. The white undergarment came in different styles. Some came as a two piece, and a button down sleeveless body suit with short leggings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615085991315-ODC4HMD9BY32ATO8JVLP/24.+Claire.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Claire Ruth Claire Merritt Hodgson Ruth was born Clara Mae Merritt on September 11, 1897 in Athens, Georgia. Claire's first husband, Frank Hodgson, died February 16, 1921, leaving her with a daughter, Julia. Claire and Babe met in 1923, and were married from 1929 until Babe’s death in 1948. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086014052-K3T0E0D3XPNT8E1AC5QK/25.+babe+and+kids.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe With Kids Babe loved spending time with kids, whether it was signing baseballs for them, playing with them, or just visiting them in the hospital to brighten their spirits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086037064-BKLUR0T1D3TYHEKQU4C0/26.+ascension.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - September 4, 1923 The pastor at Today Ascension of Our Lord in Philadelphia was concerned that neighborhood children didn’t have enough wholesome pastimes, so he had a baseball field built. Despite Ascension’s crowded school and packed Sunday Masses, he couldn’t find the money to repay the construction loan, so he asked Babe to play in a charity baseball game to raise money after the Yankees/Athletics game that day. Babe agreed, and 10,000 people paid to watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086287449-1XDEPATG1P426UYU6RZZ/27.+genuine+smile.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Genuine Smile Beside the fact that he was the most transcendent athlete in the history of American sports, Babe was known for being great with his younger fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086322908-ZK0QYY0NP2JMU48MBFX0/28.+pr+smile.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - PR Smile Babe’s PR smile is noticeably different than his genuine smile, which he always had on around children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086345599-AJ75KNEDOHM671APWFMW/29.+bellyache.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Bellyache Heard ‘Round The World When Babe arrived in St. Petersburg for spring training in 1925 he was not only overweight, but ill. This wasn’t that unusual — the spring “flu” was an annual thing for Babe. He wound up spending 7 weeks in the hospital. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086371084-JRQOJMKJDIVVM1BG5VQH/30.+dorothy.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Dorothy The mystery behind the 16-month-old Dorothy was never fully resolved. Was she Helen's biological daughter? Was she adopted? Was she Ruth's daughter by another woman? All of these possibilities have been forwarded by reporters and historians over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086392342-JWQ47P84KV9OKX9Q0B6N/31.+helen.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Helen’s Death On Jan. 11, 1929, Babe’s wife, Helen, was killed in a house fire in Watertown, Massachusetts. Helen lived in the house with a dentist, Edward H. Kinder. Helen and Babe were separated, but not divorced. Neighbors knew Helen as Mrs. Kinder, and had no idea she was Babe’s wife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086417069-1CW7Y55UW8ZH3Y6UK6EW/32.+dorothy.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Julia Julia Ruth Stevens was born in Athens, Ga., on July 7, 1916, to Claire Hodgson, a teenage beauty, and her husband, Frank, who was many years his wife’s senior. They separated when Julia was a baby, and Ms. Hodgson went with her to New York and found work as an illustrator’s model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086438339-XNKOPHSSV74MLBIRQLEF/33.+with+lou.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe and Lou The original odd couple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086461096-NS1CV7F1W5MR815LYSV9/34.+barnstorming.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Barnstorming After their iconic 1927 season, when Babe hit 60 home runs and Gehrig connected for 47, the two went on a nationwide barnstorming tour, captaining teams called the “Bustin’ Babes” and “Larrupin Lous.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086483139-EQ0GM93P1ATSBPNPS16U/35.+pitching.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe the Pitcher On June 23, 1917, Babe started a game against Washington. After umpire Brick Owens called the first four pitches balls, Ruth charged Owens and threw a punch that landed. Babe was ejected from the game, and Ernie Shore replaced him. After he took the mound, the previously walked batter was thrown out attempting to steal, then Shore retired the next 26 batters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086506921-NTTFMI0OKLA9YLJALVCY/36.+Joe+and+Babe+Ruth.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe and Shoeless Joe "I copied Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen. The greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter." - Babe Ruth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086557452-8JZ7GTAA0GO7FS2P92D0/37.+Joe%27s+career+stats+vs.+Babe+Ruth.png Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne Though incomplete, these are Shoeless Joe’s career stats batting against pitcher Babe Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086531853-55EKJ9VHWVVYNPESNJMH/38.+bats.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe’s Bats On display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, the lower bat was given to Babe by Shoeless Joe when the two exchanged bats in July of 1920 during a series between the White Sox and Yankees in New York. The top bat was used by Ruth from 1918-1921. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086577937-8U4DXJC15BSY7H6Z1Z5S/39.+yankee+stadium+dimensions.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Yankee Stadium A left-handed hitter’s dream with that short porch in right field, Yankee Stadium was not only The House That Ruth Built, it was just as much the house built for Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086649508-14DRD5M61P4G16WDQD49/99+shibe+park.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe at Shibe Park A 39-year old Babe Ruth swings for the fences during batting practice at his favorite road ballpark. Shibe Park, Philadelphia, 1934. In Babe’s 171 career games at Shibe Park: .357/.472/.753, 1.225 OPS, 68 HR, 175 RBI, 164 R, 220 H, 132 BB, 464 TB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086625314-CFA8LZB3XABKRXVPEWAR/40.+moe+berg.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Moe Berg Moe Berg was maybe not the best baseball player of all time, but certainly one of the most important. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086690887-K11UOI4VPSBYM8ASUMRV/41.+trains.png Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Passaic, New Jersey, 1933 A torrential rain had pummeled Passaic on May 3, 1933. The all-day rain had washed out a dirt embankment that supported the Erie Railroad tracks. Six orphans saved hundreds of lives after warning a commuter train. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086718935-S7DFK69L1CK4RBKCW8OM/42.+Bill+Jenkinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Bill Jenkinson Bill Jenkinson is one of the country's most trusted and respected baseball historians. He has documented every hit in Babe Ruth’s career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086741380-XQ5RHTC7DLR89NESMXO7/43.+black+fans.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Civil Rights Advocate As far back as 1918, Babe played games against famous all-black teams. When Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920 and took his fame to a new level, half the games in his postseason barnstorming tour were against black teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086768990-CSSCAD6H8KHUEYYAYJVZ/44.+landis.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis There is speculation that Landis actively worked to keep Babe from managing a team, fearful that Babe would have brought in black players to break the color barrier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615086792708-EOXCGO25KNYNRW5CA0Z5/45.+big+fella.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - The Big Fella Jane Leavy’s book is the definitive text on Babe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087507948-7FCR47LCF265QR8RH2N6/46.+radio.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe on the Radio Babe appeared on countless radio programs once the medium became available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087534647-9QZJK7K7YQXFRMT6C20O/47.+boxing.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Boxing In 1925, Babe Ruth’s career was in turmoil. Sick, overweight, and at odds with his manager, the Babe turned to trainer Artie McGovern, who salvaged the baseball player’s life and career—through boxing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087560266-ZHGQW50DHNMZ4NHGGSAZ/48.+jersey.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Game Worn Jersey An SGC authenticated game worn Babe Ruth jersey from 1928-1930 set the record for the highest price ever paid publicly for a piece of memorabilia at $5.64 million in June of 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087596608-RQ7QLPGJXIESMZA7X2XC/49.+more+than+babe.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - More Than Just The Babe The archives in the museum house way, way more than just Babe Ruth artifacts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087644902-CEGCFSRZ4YXISDO52MIZ/50.+kimono.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - 1934 Japan Tour This kimono was presented to Babe during the 1934 tour of Japan. According to his daughter, Julia, it was a favorite from Babe’s night time wardrobe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087689680-SXWKA04H8C5A54CYP8KO/51.+museum.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Check Out The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum Online Website YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Store Linktree https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087747657-TFUIGTKGUTRR47CSSR37/52.+bathroom.JPG Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - My Old Bathroom No facade, but it was still pretty cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087780684-NCLLU5AZ8OFMJMX73FOI/53.+bathroom.JPG Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe And Lou You thought my mom was joking, didn’t you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087876426-CYHTUZUGQGWIMVMVY8T3/54.+star+spangled+banner.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne The site of the original Star Spangled Banner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087817888-U83KCIXGHZ6QR9IWARVB/55.+german+house.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Birthplace Filled with period-appropriate furniture and decorations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087911156-MW1HZ4HXS66JU0D0VK58/56.+santa.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Santa Babe At the end of the Hotel Astor Christmas party on Dec. 10, 1947, Babe Ruth bestowed a wish upon everyone gathered there — and a few more people besides: “I want to take this opportunity to wish all the children, not only in America but all over the world, a very Merry Christmas.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087940809-6X84WCG949Y6ZHTPM4V1/57.+with+kids.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe with Kids Look at the pure joy on Babe’s face, and the intent listening happening by each and every one of the children in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087965771-4I4IHA3NUKXW1VXPM1JM/58.+joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Shoeless Joe If you’re going to pick a player to model your swing after, you could do a lot worse than Shoeless Joe Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615087998716-1T6LSR9PTR1R3LNV4I7B/59.+braves.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Boston Braves Babe Not quite the storybook ending you’d have hoped for with a career like Babe’s, unfortunately. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088142712-8G81NLGJ8I02NNCKGFGJ/97+hotz.JPG Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Hotz’s Cafe Yankee Stadium might be "The House That Ruth Built," but Hotz’s is the house the mighty Babe drank at when he was in Cleveland. A lot of the greatest old ballplayers did, going all the way back to the 1920s, from Ty Cobb to Lou Gehrig to Indians legend Rocky Colavito. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088292140-IREFLZTIV3DGRDTNC63Z/98+bowling.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Bowling Julia Ruth Stevens, Babe’s daughter, told of going bowling with her father when they lived in New York. "Daddy liked to bowl the smaller balls, not tenpins, and we had great fun together," she said. The sport of duckpins was invented in Baltimore by two Orioles, John McGraw and Wilbert Robertson, for off-season diversion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088174486-SCS4963TSL7JKSEF4EY1/60.+joe+and+mickey.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Joe D and Mickey You ever see a picture where you just know that both people absolutely hated that they were asked for it to be taken? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088434038-3O0SG3SI77WHTXBY61N0/61.+street+ball.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Take Me To The Babe These baseballs are painted on the sidewalk from the entrance to Camden Yards directly to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. There are 60 baseballs along the walk, one for every home run he hit in his record-breaking 1927 season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088465099-J31K3HAGZPRIZF1WKNB8/62.+sportoscope.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Ruth’s Two Swings Issued by Spalding Sporting Goods in 1931, this flip book features Babe Ruth as a home run hitter on one side and Babe Ruth as a line drive hitter on the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615088502992-Y9QUXSE3V6RI48XOI3RX/63.+babe+in+a+car.jpg Past Episodes - 0203 - Shawn Herne - Babe Behind The Wheel Some drives ended better than others, as it were. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0202 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615081177139-ESWYBC3OK8YLVXF3FPD1/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615081707428-LNA92F1XDP8LMDSJV2NL/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams Marjorie Adams and me, recording our interview. Photo courtesy of Sam Rubin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082594525-9JZF277O37KV0CF2SHX1/01.+gilbert+and+sullivan.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Gilbert & Sullivanl William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan made musical theatre a key part of popular culture in Britain and America. They created 14 works together, including The Sorcerer, which was their first full length project. Its premiere was held November 17, 1877 in London. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082615101-YQDW132EI75UZDI1APKM/02.+Agricultural+Reader.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Daniel Adams Doc’s father, Daniel Adams, was a noted physician, textbook author, and state legislator. Adams compiled or wrote several different textbooks over the course of his life, including The Medical and Agricultural Register, which was published in 1807. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615082644867-4LGS4VK11B6YUMTLGAPM/03.+geography.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Geography; or, A Description of the World First published in 1814, it was a pretty thick geography book for someone who never traveled west of Buffalo, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083204083-FAEQVE6RRWUTCX29V7WU/04.+arithmetic.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Scholar's Arithmetic Originally published in 1801, the text was very popular during the first quarter of the 19th century. He published a revision of it, entitled Adams’ New Arithmetic, in 1827. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083224111-GOQHZA6TOB8V535S1IPZ/05.+Doc+Adams%2C+circa+1870.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Doc Adams Daniel Lucius "Doc" Adams is the hero of our story. This photo of him was taken around 1870. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083242707-SV9CEM4IWKQX9M9XEQQI/06.+April+13%2C+1980+NYT+article.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - New York Times In 1939 R. C. Adams wrote a memoir of his father. Unpublished in his day, it appeared in the April 13, 1980 New York Times, along with a letter to the editor by R. C. Adams’ great-grandson, Nathan Adams Downey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083263271-YR4GBNMG8PQRS3G0AWD7/07.+garden+of+eden.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Baseball In The Garden of Eden Major League Baseball Official Historian John Thorn’s 2011 book draws on original research to tell how the game evolved from other bat-and-ball games and gradually supplanted them, how the New York game came to dominate other variants, and how gambling and secret professionalism promoted and plagued the game. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083292794-CBA6GO4BRZWE80CHBIT8/08.+doubleday.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Abner Doubleday Abner Doubleday was a career United States Army officer and Union major general. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the Civil War. In 1908, fifteen years after his death, Doubleday was declared by the Mills Commission to have invented the game of baseball (a claim never made by Doubleday during his lifetime). This claim has been thoroughly debunked by baseball historians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083315746-QJSYF4EX2VXQDZ8Z7LRC/09.+Cornelia.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Cornelia Cook Doc and Cornelia Cook were married in 1861, and remained together until Doc’s death. The couple had five children; the first, a son named Charles, died less than a month after his birth in 1864. The others, two sons (Frank and Roger) and two daughters (Catharine and Mary), were born between 1866 and 1874. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083334233-Y3WPLR5E10E3XF7H0J6X/10.+1881+Yale+autobiography.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Yale Autobiography This collection of autobiographies, gathered and published 50 years after the Class of 1835 was admitted to the college, featured a write up by Doc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083355581-NTSPSBAK9OY18OYDP4A6/11.+1881+Yale+autobiography+1.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Autobiography Part one of Doc’s entry is shown here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083376214-X4BEHAWXKWHCLMOZOGWI/12.+1881+Yale+autobiography+2.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1881 Autobiography (cont.) Part two of Doc’s entry is shown here. The quote Marjorie gives is from point 8. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083397023-RU2PJCJL5A7344YO6GTR/13.+bat+and+ball+letter.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Bat and Ball Letter On June 15, 1832, Doc received a letter from his 11-year old sister. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083437629-5U3MYDB35719NI4G66G9/14.+pittsfield.jpeg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Pittsfield “Baseball” Bylaw of 1791 In 2004, officials and historians from Pittsfield, Massachusetts uncovered a document which they believe is the earliest written reference to baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083472310-NUGJ38ZPZOUGCGRZZTF5/15.+Henry+Ward+Beecher.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Henry Ward Beecher Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery. He also liked to play the flute with Doc Adams, for which he is not quite as well known. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083493873-BUG45VT3G3CN4MVICMYB/16.+Walter+Avery.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Walter T. Avery Walter Avery was born in 1814 and graduated from Columbia in 1836. His first appearance with the Knickerbockers was on April 14, 1846, but his membership lasted only a few years. In 1850, he, along with a number of other Knickerbockers, headed west to seek their fortunes panning for gold. He passed away in 1904 at the age of 90, at which time he was the last living member of the original Knickerbocker ball club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083521112-3J3C55KOX1KDEWH6868H/17.+knickerbockers.jpeg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Knickerbocker Base Ball Club The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club formally organized on September 23, 1845. Doc Adams joined the club about a month later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083539980-WVA5SISAY4VCO6NKA5HE/18.+Madison+Square+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Madison Square Park The southwest corner of Madison Square Park (here, in 1860) is where America’s pastime got its mid-19th century start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083562454-7E6DGSMYUFEH7K7OVLNQ/19.+how+baseball+happened.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - How Baseball Happened One of the best baseball books of 2020 is this one by Tom Gilbert, which talks about how baseball really got its start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083584709-U15FB2W7QMB1AKDTSDD8/20.+The+other+doc+adams.JPG Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Other “Doc” Adams Hugh Milburn Stone was an actor best known for his role as "Doc" (Dr. Galen Adams) on the CBS Western series Gunsmoke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083607790-MW3AOPSHQNSG7GTNPWOT/21.+website.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Doc’s Website You can find tons of great information on the website dedicated to Doc: docadamsbaseball.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083627149-UYLPUFW1WGPMUMONAHAF/22.+elysian+fields.JPG Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Elysian Fields The Elysian Fields was parkland located on Hoboken's northern riverfront and stretched roughly from present day 9th to 12th Streets and from Washington Street to the Hudson River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083647999-1N3WITY88D2HQYQFBV93/23.+box+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - June 19, 1846 Doc played in the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club’s first “Official” game at Elysian Fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083669923-7UFTCD7D6G70QQ27Z0MK/24.+swamp+frogs.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Great Black Swamp Frogs The Vintage Base Ball Club from Sylvania, Ohio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083691325-7H8DQGEKH9GH4TKWQ84C/25.+Fred+Ivor-Campbell.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Fred Ivor-Campbell Fred served as the chair of SABR’s 19th Century Committee from 1991 through 1998. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083710133-Y5JX6XHB9BA2LUGXQ28T/26.+lemon+peel+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Lemon Peel Baseball Similar to the style of ball Doc Adams was making for his teams, these are referred to as lemon peel balls because their stitch pattern mimics the cuts used to peel a lemon. Learn how involved of a process it is to make one by watching THIS VIDEO. You can buy a replica lemon peel ball HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083732106-8OUVNCAECPEJZTEDWHTZ/27.+shortstops.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Shortstop What do each of these players have in common? They owe their careers to Doc Adams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083752395-C9UV4RD2JK3DHY3QAPBD/28.+1856+Gothams.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Gothams While many other teams existed, it seemed the Knickerbockers were most fond of the Gothams and the Eagles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083777048-OH7HKRZWU7HA9TGGT0AV/29.+laws+of+base+ball.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Laws of Base Ball Penned by Doc Adams in 1857, the Laws of Base Ball outlined the rules and guidelines by which players and clubs would follow when playing in “match games of base ball.” Many of its proposed elemental rules, from setting base paths at 90 feet, to settling on nine players per team, to fixing the duration of the game at nine innings, owe their genesis to the document that was drafted during a convention of New York area baseball clubs in 1857. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083802870-7TTUC1SHIOGK0F2R3ABV/30.+Grenelle%27s+laws.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Grenelle’s Laws William Henry Grenelle was elected to membership in the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club on June 14, 1850. By 1857, he was Club Director. It is thanks to his copies of Doc Adams’ original laws that we know what all of the original rules were, even though one of the original Adams pages is missing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083826051-W1I7W8KOHVKN60Z6Q65I/31.+all+star+match.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1858 All-Star Match On July 20, 1858, nearly 10,000 fans gathered to watch what was essentially the first All-Star Game in the history of baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083849442-BBZMSX1M315RAV5J5Z1V/32.+1859+New+York+Knickerbockers+with+NY+Excelsiors+%28Doc+Adams+4th+from+left%29.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams 1859 New York Knickerbockers with NY Excelsiors panoramic photo (Doc Adams is 4th from left). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083869056-9KYWGBAVX3KELCPI492P/33.+1946+daguerreotype.jpeg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1846 Daguerreotype Quite a controversial photo, this daguerreotype has been dissected and debated for years. Most scholars and historians have concluded it is not of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, and that Doc Adams is not pictured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083891795-LFU8CS11JIHYDV103H1F/34.+1862+Knickerbocker+Base+Ball+Club%2C+taken+from+%27A+Founding+Father+of+Baseball%27+%28Doc+Adams+is+sitting+in+the+front+row%2C+second+in+from+the+left%29.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - 1862 Photo of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club Doc Adams is sitting in the front row, second in from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083919212-GDGMKE47OPKGJPRJDB4J/35.+The+Adams+house+in+Ridgefield%2C+CT.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - The Adams Home In Ridgefield, Connecticut https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083938766-LI1X09IYWLK4TEF4Y0HM/36.+Ridgefield+Savings+Bank.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Ridgefield Savings Bank Doc became President in 1871, and would serve in that role for 10 of the next 15 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083960310-D7WKHFJZMKHTSJVGEN49/37.+John+Thorn.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - John Thorn Since March 1, 2011, John Thorn has been the Official Historian for Major League Baseball. He has also attempted to shed light on the contributions of 19th century pioneers of the game, while debunking common misconceptions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615083983721-WSLDFEJPRFD5PRGUG543/38.+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+New+York+Times.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Marjorie Adams Going to bat for her great-grandfather, Doc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084008195-GWIRO20TZ8730QVI0IC8/39.+laws.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Up For Auction The Laws of Base Ball went back up for auction in 2016, this time with the seller and bidders knowing exactly what they were. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084034022-63JP25R2RZ59WZXQAP9Q/40.+Roger+Ratzenberger.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Roger Ratzenberger Roger has his own amazing website, but he also runs the Doc Adams website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084061699-ZLSXBLHS42PUAHW1Y3NX/41.+KBBC+buttons.jpg Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Knickerbocker Base Ball Club buttons These buttons were most likely ceremonial for special occasions, similar to the stud buttons that would go into a collar of a band uniform or a military uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084089628-1RCWEHLBREQ3HIEXMOK5/42.+Marjorie+Adams+-+photo+credit+to+Matt+Allibone%2C+The+Evening+Sun.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Marjorie’s Mission To get Doc Adams represented in Cooperstown, in memory of her father and her grandfather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084115251-JPGMW9J6DAPJ12P5UX0M/43.+HOF.png Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Just Short Doc needed only two more votes in 2015 to have been elected to the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615084143794-NVRBT49IVCCL4ZUE5FQA/44.+Marjorie.JPG Past Episodes - 0202 - Marjorie Adams - Help Marjorie, Help Doc Visit the website Sign the petition Get in touch and spread the word! https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0201 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016558314-O5AZVSI7B8MWJAKUDI5C/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016673096-S4T2A89H4IZBKZ5BNKOL/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin Me and Mike Miller after recording our interview in the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017277915-K5AHF9LMJ5DLNDN7MYBC/01.+Camperdown+Mill.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Camperdown Mill Camperdown Mill opened on the east side of the Reedy River in 1876, and by 1880, it was the second-largest mill in South Carolina, employing 260 workers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017301345-72WZIJ3H8L3LURZPJTYN/02.+Dope+Wagon.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Dope Wagons Dope wagons were carts laden with snacks and soft drinks that circulated through North and South Carolina and other southern textile mills to provide workers with food and beverages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017323791-OAWKWTI085ISV7G3ZT94/03.+Textil+Heritage+Park.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Textile Heritage Park The Greenville Revitalization Corporation unveiled plans for the Textile Heritage Park, a 6-acre mixed-use park to be located on the old Monaghan Mill parking lot. It will feature a walking trail with 12 alcoves dedicated to the history of various Upstate mills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017342427-1ZKXSWTQ6B1BIXLGJ0BJ/04.+West+Village+Lofts+at+Brandon+Mill.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Renovated Mills in Greenville Many of the old mills in Greenville are being renovated, including Brandon Mill, seen here, which has been converted into luxury apartments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017365814-2IA5UOEIJT3Z472B9HLF/05.+Bobby+Richardson.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Bobby Richardson South Carolina native Bobby Richardson went on to have a great career with the Yankees. He was an 8-time All-Star, a 5-time Gold Glove Award winner, a 3-time World Series Champion, and in 1960 he became the only player in World Series history to be named World Series MVP despite being on the losing team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017385961-MS45EW0ONZGNZNG26V5V/06.+Bobby+Richardson.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - SJJM Grand Opening Bobby Richardson (right) and Bob Bolin tour the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum at the Grand Opening in 2008. Richardson was one of the keynote speakers at the event, and signed autographs for fans all day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017411429-6NI0DM17TS51XPLJWG6G/07.+1983+Carolina+High+Trojans.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - 1983 Carolina High Trojans Under the leadership of Coach Erwin, the Trojans went 25-1, with their only loss coming in the third game of the season. Lester is in the top row, all the way on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017430409-LHDO1ZTU69YAP8TTJO0E/08.+1983+State+Champs.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Class 3A State Champions A victory cigar never tasted so good. Here’s Coach Erwin and his 1983 team celebrating on the field after their State Championship, their 22nd consecutive win to finish the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017453870-XC208I15P4DKD15K2AWM/09.+Katie.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson sitting on the steps of her home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017481869-ATM1RGP7WLDLF4EMONGB/10.+Joe+with+his+dog.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe in His Lawn Chair Joe loved sitting in his front yard to relax, and would watch the neighborhood kids ride their bikes up and down the street, or play with his dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017504328-CZWRSJ5A62E151EXDE14/11.+With+Furman+Bisher.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Furman Bisher Joe sits with famed sports writer Furman Bisher in the summer of 1949. The notes from that visit enabled Bisher to write THIS ARTICLE, which appeared in the October, 1949 issue of Sport Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017528291-ZKHMF5M75RPPJGZUSQYN/12.+At+the+gas+station+with+his+1940+Packard.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - At The Gas Station Joe talking baseball with gas station attendant Joe Worthy while his car is being filled with gas at Garrett's Esso station on Anderson Road in Greenville. Joe was driving a 1940 Packard at the time, which was his favorite of all of his cars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017555598-T8M2YUQ9R2LXHT5A22SO/13.+At+the+grocery+store.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - At The Grocery Store Joe buying groceries at Christian's Grocery Store, located at 1900 Anderson Road, in Greenville. The clerk in this photo is Fred "Skinny" Powers, who was an excellent athlete in his own right (he lettered in basketball and baseball all four years he attended Wofford College). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017579267-S2Y33K0FCLOB72JIRTA2/14.+Joe+swinging.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Takes A Swing In the front yard of his home, during the summer of 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017601924-UGBQRSY3O8F7T7TGGDN9/15.+The+bend.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Betsy’s Bend Lester remembers Betsy leaning up against Joe’s desk in the corner of his home office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017621327-VMC9M3J9ZNCSP91BTAQL/16.+Community.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Community Member Joe passes the time with some of his buddies at Hunt's Shell Station in West Greenville. Left to right: L.W. "Scoop" Kelly, "Boogie" Greer, Joe, and Aleck "Mutt" Rollins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017646163-S9G7LQBIX46AHP40O53Y/17.+Former+Ballplayer.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Former Ballplayer This picture was taken on “Joe Jackson Night,” which was held August 2, 1948 by the people of Brandon Mill. They came together prior to a mill league game to honor Joe. The man holding the radio is Carter "Scoop" Latimer, the sportswriter who gave Joe the nickname "Shoeless.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017669873-SPKR7U0SL44JEQRACDHJ/18.+joe+liquor+store+in+1950.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe At His Liquor Store Joe and Katie ran a liquor store at 1262 Pendleton Street in Greenville for years. Joe would stand out on the sidewalk in front of the store and talk baseball with any kids who were too young to come inside. Apparently, this little one had a pretty convincing fake ID. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017692433-FL972AFSNR5V6Z3LZR2Z/19.+Joe+teaches+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Teaches The Kids How To Play Joe circa 1944 teaching kids in West Greenville how to play baseball. Joe could always be seen playing ball with the mill kids in West Greenville. Joe would usually pitch for both teams and would play until Katie came to get him for dinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017713653-IHVWE3O1UIY5XT8TDCXR/20.+Joe+with+kids.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Ice Cream For The Kids Joe giving ice cream to neighborhood kids at Bolts Drugs Store in West Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017738149-SV9SRI8E2FMQMMBJNSQS/21.+Katie.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Katie had an incredibly strong presence, which is how she was able to keep Joe in line all those years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017759283-F7HCJ0S7EZ04IQ53CZ7I/22.+Jerry%2C+Katie%2C+and+Joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Family Ties Left to right: Joe’s brother Jerry, Joe’s wife Katie and Joe, with their niece Patty, and nephew Tommy Ellis. This photo was taken in front of Joe's liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017780925-4TQ7G6GQ1L6Q2RKWK1ZH/23.+Katie.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Business Woman Katie Jackson behind the counter at Joe Jackson’s Liquor Store in Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017804757-2KXHRR243ZZCOLJNHOE2/24.+1932+Greenville+Spinners.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Betsy This photo shows Joe on the 1932 Greenville Spinners, holding Black Betsy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017868793-MYDN4ESLXL9Z2DOH26FM/25.+Field+of+Dreams.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Field of Dreams Don’t forget to check out the MBH episode with Craig Purcell, tour guide at the Field of Dreams Movie Site, and the episode with artist Andy Brown, both from Season One. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017832662-YAD03M4NO8A6SKST38D8/26.+Field+of+Dreams.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - If You Build It… Lester will come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017950073-GS3R2SECGCJXK6KFFWK2/27.+metal+going+through+it.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Metal Strip The Spalding Sporting Goods Company repaired Black Betsy when Joe broke it in 1911. This metal piece is thought to have been inserted by them, to either keep the bat straight, or protect it from any further damage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615017979164-WDCDCGXLGGKSE6AP2F2F/28.+Joe%27s+other+bats.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Ty Cobb Ty marvels at the size of Joe’s hands in this photo, as Joe holds three of his thick-handled bats with ease. Thought Joe played with many bats throughout his career, Black Betsy was his favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018002615-NNP9GVIXQEQTH1ST6058/29.+2001-07-18+at+San+Diego+Hall+of+Champions.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Betsy & A Friend Black Betsy (right) and another of Shoeless Joe’s bats are pictured on display at the San Diego Hall of Champions, July 18, 2001. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018074083-EHLB2PN06SR97SQ2K2Q4/30.+game+used+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Game Used Rookie Season Bat Hillerich & Bradsby Model J13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018099825-PRASA29JLYRXIYIY4863/31.+game+used+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Another Game Used Bat A very select few game used bats have surfaced over the years, and not all of those have been verified as authentic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018122456-2VSZET3UYVI9MI0I5VMH/32.+game+used+bat.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - A Two-Toned Gamer This bat closely matches the style bat Joe is holding in the photo above with Ty Cobb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018147924-WOLH8KVRDTR849Y11P7G/33.+Black+Betsy.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Black Betsy Lester made the tough decision to put Betsy up for auction. It sold in 2001 via one of the biggest eBay auctions to have ever happened at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018168798-YC4MRUO0V20T7X38FA6M/34.+Joe+Anders.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Anders Joe Anders (far right) looks on as his idol, Joe Jackson, teaches the local Brandon Mill baseball players how to properly grip a bat. Anders became close personal friends with Jackson over the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018189636-CLJXU3TM6NPZNZ1IG6XD/35.+Joe+Thompson.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Thompson Joe Thompson grew up in Greenville and knew Joe Jackson personally. He wrote THIS BOOK in 1997. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018211483-122STMXJR9HRTVNG0L7E/36.+Lester+in+New+York.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Lester in New York I told you if you build it, Lester will come! THIS is the game Lester saw. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018234466-QLPW7WBSXNISYGOGZ3IJ/37.+Linthead.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Linthead “Linthead” was a disparaging nickname for cotton mill workers, sometimes equated with the term “white trash.” It likely came into common usage early in the 20th century, when the growing number of cotton mills and mill workers began to alter the landscape of South Carolina life. “Linthead” had both a literal and a figurative meaning. A veritable snowstorm of cotton lint in the mills covered workers from head to toe. The term also differentiated mill workers from farmers and townspeople, the other major components of the white population. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018261040-X3KXZR9YF88SKZ11UNNJ/38.+ebay+card+front.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - The “Black Betsy” The baseball card created to promote the eBay auction featured a familiar photo of Joe holding Betsy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018333272-FLNAWITU7YHVUVIJGX5I/41.+Lester%27s+shrine.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Lester’s Office Lester has a window in his office. But instead of facing his desk so when he’s sitting there, he’d be looking out the window, he positioned himself so he could look up at any time and see this incredible shrine dedicated to Shoeless Joe Jackson. I think I’d have made the same decision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018386873-52DDZ1GBDKU5QPN5L01Y/42.+christmas+card.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Christmas Card This is a Christmas card the Erwins wrote to Katie Jackson back in the 1950s, which she kept. It’s now back in Lester’s possession. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018417109-J2L1KLA3I097XI3YD0FA/43.+get+well+card.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Get Well Card Another card the Erwins wrote to Katie in the 1950s, this time when Katie was in the hospital. Lester found it inside the box that was pulled from the attic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018445027-KY66Z7540VDI0VCG4GW0/44.+Bill+of+sale+from+Joe+to+Lefty+inside.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Bill of Sale Joe sold his pool hall and cigar store in Chicago to his friend and former teammate, Lefty Williams, for $1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018474727-0SH47NQ29GFQD1ZZ7ZTD/45.+Joe%27s+bible.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Bible Another personal belonging of Joe’s which now belongs to Lester. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018499810-0NSUVCEXV1BMCDAK7BSO/46.+Joe%27s+rabbit+foot.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Rabbit Foot Joe had a number of superstitions, both in life and in his playing career. This is tangible proof of Joe’s superstitious nature. Ever wondered why a rabbit’s foot is considered lucky in the first place? Me too. Well, HERE is your answer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018531123-H8ZIBHJB8WDUXPXQWSUL/47.+telegram.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Telegram This telegram from Joe, dated December 2, 1915, was asking Katie to wire him $50 so he could get home during the off-season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018556673-CHO8VUA89JQBNM2G5FT2/48.+Katie%27s+passbook.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Passbooks for Katie Jackson These passbooks allowed free admission to each of the White Sox games for Katie Jackson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018588647-1QG13QTDFSR4LYL803VR/49.+Joe+with+his+trophy.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe With His Trophy One of his most prized possessions, Joe won this trophy for throwing a ball 396 feet, 8 inches at a skills competition on September 27, 1917. It was part of a benefit game played in honor of Tim Murnane. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018619952-15I2VGTXFZ7G5M769PSE/50.+Cleveland+Hall+of+Fame+clock.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe’s Gold Clock Joe was given this clock by the Cleveland Indians in 1951 when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018647011-TPUF2VZJEMUF6QNLPXZX/40.+society.gif Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Society Lester started the Shoeless Joe Jackson Society, which is devoted to the goal of seeing Joe claim his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018674248-78HMQ4D8MU55L4WSMN2C/39.+legislation.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - H. Res. 269 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Joseph Jefferson “Shoeless Joe” Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018707588-16A609KSAK6DA9F84L2X/51.+Joe+with+Gertrude.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe & Gertrude Joe with his little sister, Gertrude. This photo originally appeared in THIS ARTICLE in the March 1916 issue of Baseball Magazine. You may recognize the logo of Lester’s Society from the cover of this magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018733502-3J09OF16OGFORBEWPS8F/52.+Municipal+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Municipal Stadium Lester started the Shoeless Joe Jackson Society in hopes of having the baseball stadium in Greenville named for Joe. Instead, the city decided to call it Municipal Stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018757510-2URAD7CQK0LPV6YCJNJB/53.+Joe+at+Meadowbrook+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Meadowbrook Park Built in 1938, Meadowbrook Park in Greenville was home at different points to the Greenville Spinners, Greenville Braves, Greenville Mets, Greenville Red Sox, and Greenville Rangers. It was renovated after a fire in 1948, and burned to the ground after another fire in 1972. This photo shows Joe in the stands in 1949. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018782352-YCPBR9W6U7CWMABSKZU7/54.+nolan+ryan.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Nolan Ryan 19-year old Nolan Ryan struck out 19 batters on June 11, 1966 against the Spartanburg Phillies - setting a Western Carolinas League record. Ryan went 17-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 272 strikeouts in 183 innings for Greenville that year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018816271-Y8FYV87DH9IOPE9509KT/55.+ted+williams.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Ted Williams “When Babe Ruth wanted to model his swing after the perfect swing, it was Jackson he imitated - Jackson, with his big Black Betsy, wailing the tar out of the ball. Hitting for the third highest average in history. Hitting with power. Triples all over the place. The greatest natural hitter of all time is what some say. I think they may be right.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018844686-Z93PT3MGG8PB26NNVQEJ/56.+Katie.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Katie Jackson Standing outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018872238-PXZXV1LP4N96PCLS5B8C/57.+gentleman.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - A Gentleman. A Gentle Man. This portrait of Joe was taken by the incredibly talented and prolific Louis Van Oeyen in 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018897710-IKW0NCCM8FLENPW11CRT/58.+SJJ+Memorial+Park.JPG Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park The field where Joe played as a member of the Brandon Mill baseball team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018925855-DPLLFRJDFWLESSFY5URM/59.+Brandon+Mill+vintage+aerial.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Brandon Mill This old aerial photo of Brandon Mill and the surrounding mill community shows the original orientation of the ball field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018950328-QDTFWYCWRPMQVHH53A5N/60.+Textile+Hall.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Textile Hall From 1917 to 1962, the five-story building, which was approximately 101 by 235 feet, hosted the Southern Textile Exposition, a trade fair for textile machinery. The 4,000-seat venue was also used for other purposes, including the annual Southern Piedmont Textile Basketball Tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615018977439-CRLQ4J4RWSQR7RW84Q5I/61.+grand+opening.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Grand Opening June 21, 2008 was the day the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library officially opened to the public. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019051602-5X57YSJJHKC5XOMD6WDK/62.+original+location.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Katie’s House This is what the Jacksons’ old home on Wilburn Street looked like in 2005, before it was moved across town to become the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019110582-PHEFZXKGX7CI5DYGLIW3/63.+joe+in+the+front+yard.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe in the Front Yard Lester fondly remembers spending time at this house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019135158-90PS550BCM0NP49Z5FP9/64.+lester.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Get In Touch With Lester Write A Letter: The Shoeless Joe Jackson Society 106 Century Oaks Drive Easley, SC 29642 Email Lester: erwinlester@hotmail.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019162551-ONY8U8BNVRHFHM4QRQ8B/65.+statue.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Shoeless Joe Jackson Statue The dedication ceremony took place July 13, 2002 in Greenville. The statue has since been moved from its original location, and it now sits right at the entrance of Fluor Field on the West End of Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019188323-L3IG2UHHBBL03A0SBSO3/66.+wedding+day.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe and Katie’s Wedding Day July 19, 1908. “The popular center fielder of the local team made the greatest home run of his career on Sunday. The home run was made on Cupid’s diamond and the victory was a fair young lady. On Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock Joe was married to Miss Kate Wynn.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019233936-7JIZ063BB52G1Y9Q4MVZ/68.+joe+anders.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Anders and Joe Jackson A couple local Greenville kids talking baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019260015-4CLDLH17C5YOW0MANESS/69.+joe+in+the+front+yard.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe In His Yard Sitting in his favorite lawn chair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019285803-42AUE1R6DVYZY0I1M4OE/70.+Joe+%28seventh+from+the+left%29+as+a+member+of+the+1903+Brandon+Mill+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Brandon Mill Team in 1903 Joe is standing seventh from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019316478-4O3Z1SACG31V2YXD6EQT/71.+The+1907+Victor+Mill+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Victor Mill Team in 1907 Joe is seated, in the middle row, second from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019346618-DM2C2EXGUQT0ZBE0KIYC/72.+Woodside+Mill.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe on the Woodside Mill Team in 1937 Joe was the player/manager for the Woodside Mill team in 1937. Here he is with his younger brother, Jerry, who was the star of that team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019377753-JYOSHL4LWD8EBTZC6FGW/73.+Joe+and+Betsy.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe Inspecting His Bat I wonder what he’s looking for… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019409699-ZLGOMERDZ0MMMMLZ7PTG/74.+Joe+and+Black+Betsy.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - Joe And Betsy This newspaper clipping was found in the Jackson Family Scrapbooks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019437760-M50UKJBLYQSOS6TYDFEX/75.+ebay+card+reverse.jpg Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin - The “Black Betsy” The baseball card created to promote the eBay auction featured some detailed photos of Joe’s famous bat on the back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019501557-99H0XDHJ6048CZMO8ETU/77.+nola.png Past Episodes - 0201 - Lester Erwin Many of the photos that appear on this page, and lots of the research for this interview and these liner notes wouldn’t have been possible without Mike Nola and his incredible website www.blackbetsy.com. If you’ve never been, click the link now. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0110 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010739303-9P5XQZHD0XCBTICZ7LH1/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010977711-A5WYQE6XQ269QGMF9IA5/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll Tim Carroll and me after recording our interview at the 2019 National Card Convention in Chicago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012758224-C1JM64MVIZSWOFGGYVIX/00.+nsta+conference+in+Nola.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - NSTA 2009 Tim and his wife went to New Orleans in March of 2009 to attend (and present at) the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012545115-B4L8G6Y19QAI5MGH8CZZ/01.+T206+Wagner.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Honus Wagner This is the Holy Grail of all trading cards. It features one of baseball's greatest players, and, more than 100 years after its release, it remains the symbol of trading card collecting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615012988400-VBGOX4685YOEQTZIB030/03.+2019+Wagner.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s 2019 Wagner Tim’s updated version of one of his very first concept pieces. Completed in 2019, ten years after he finished the first one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013024522-8BOX3N7TUS1E3ERZNWDV/05.+1952+mantle+revisited.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle The second of three cards Tim has revisited, this version of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card was made from nearly 1,600 cut baseball cards (including roughly 200 Orel Hershiser cards from the 1989 Topps set). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013060100-1YJ0YH3HTWGAXGI9RK7S/06.+concept+griffey.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Concept Griffey This was Tim’s original attempt at one of the most iconic cards in the hobby: the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card. Ken actually signed this piece! Tim completed this piece in 2008. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013085806-AZQ8T1RD143ERXK5VGWZ/07.+1989+griffey+revisited.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Griffey, Revisited There are a few cards in the hobby that are iconic, in every sense of the word. The 1989 Griffey Rookie is absolutely one of them. Tim completed this piece in 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013117366-V3D03YCQ0DDPNAZUJUKC/08.+road+map.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Road Map You can see Tim’s crude drawing and shading still exposed at the base of this Mike Trout piece as he works on it at the 2019 National in Chicago. The cut pieces he expects to need to use for the piece are ready to go for him, separated by color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013147078-STTFNMNISME9JEV39UAS/09.+Grid+Approach.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Grid Approach Thanks to his background in math, Tim takes the proper dimensions of each card and simply scales them up to the size of the piece he’s working on. Having a visual reference of the original card he’s recreating, along with his road map, enable him to create his mosaics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013188558-JLGWUYPG0RPOV5TGPEI9/10.+anson.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N162 Cap Anson This recreation of the 1888 Goodwin Champions Cap Anson shows the beauty of the card, especially in the background colors and design. You can read about Tim’s thoughts and process behind working on this card HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013241664-IR7ER5SGD5AZZ5OK3EPH/11.+kelly.jpeg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N162 King Kelly Another example from the 1888 Goodwin Champions set, this recreation of the King Kelly card actually ended up in the same collection as the Anson shown above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013265118-8IAMX5RT67MY3O1N1R27/12.+goudey+ruth.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Completed by Tim in 2015, this recreation of the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth ended up being 20” x 26.5” and was made from cut junk 80s and 90s cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013286907-BTC74ZHVN25X59PUPVIL/13.+gretzky.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Tim finished his recreation of the key rookie card of hockey’s greatest player in 2018. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013310980-C49DPWILMQ8GSUZCGY6E/14.+jordan.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan This is the most recognizable basketball card and the most important modern card from any sport in the entire hobby. Tim somehow managed to make it better than it already is. And it was already perfect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013334322-RYPXR2JLPJTIRIG7S6LR/15.+pattee.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Harry Pattee Pattee only collected 57 total hits in his 80 career games, but my god did he luck out with this beauty of a baseball card from one of the most iconic sets in history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013363031-OSDPDTXRKUKDZT95W57A/16.+bat+off+shoulder.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Ty Cobb There are four different Ty Cobb examples in the T206 set. This version, which has become known as the “Bat Off Shoulder” Cobb, is probably the most visually stunning card of “The Georgia Peach” of the group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013432703-UYBDJKTGVY5BYH9IH6HU/17.+schmidt+rookie.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt Schmidt’s Rookie Card may be more valuable… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013460506-RG7TNG6E8TNJRIBCRJH6/18.+1975+schmidt.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1975 Topps Mike Schmidt …but the 1975 Schmidt is the nicer art piece. I mean, just look at this beauty! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013483140-WHLSONGOYUJ4A9ITYL41/19.+bionic+bo.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1991 Fleer Pro-Vision Bo Jackson This is how many kids saw Bo Jackson in the early 90s: part man, part machine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013504170-T4X08UJJI5Y9ZOVXPTJC/20.+olerud.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1990 Upper Deck John Olerud Everybody has to have a favorite player. And for one John Olerud fan, this commissioned piece from Tim was the perfect gift. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013524722-P71LESZ68ZAC3JSVKUZU/21.+mookie.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Mookie Wilson Some of Tim’s personal favorite completed pieces aren’t of high value cards. This 1987 Topps Mookie Wilson, for instance, had huge sentimental value for one collector, which made it extremely satisfying for Tim to finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013549872-AJC49XGPR5STLTMTMKUX/22.+garage.JPG Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s Garage Tim set up his studio in his garage, which is decorated with some of his unsold pieces and personal collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013574558-FYJ74Z6R62O0WATEM2CP/23.+62+topps+mantle.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1962 Topps Mickey Mantle The 1962 Topps Mantle may not have anywhere near the financial value of the 1952 Topps Mantle, but sometimes the sentimental value of a card is more important than how much it is worth monetarily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013607328-D77CYBRRDKAAWB8SP78W/24.+88+score.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1988 Score Gregg Jefferies The cards from the 1988 Score set may not be very valuable today, but until his dad snuck a ‘62 Mantle into his stack, this Gregg Jefferies card was the best in Tim’s collection. The huge borders with various colors from the ‘88 Score set have ended up coming in handy for Tim many times over the years. And peep the beautiful Mets tops that were worn this year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013787608-21HX9GNLNVBGLBIB59L2/25.+donnie+moore.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Donnie Moore Donnie Moore went 43-40 with 89 saves and a 3.67 ERA in his 13-year career. But Tim will always remember him because his ‘87 Topps card has lots of green, lots of blue, and lots of wood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013812617-DX73ADRRJQULAE6WHS8Z/26.+eddie+milner.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Eddie Milner A 9-year career that only saw him hit .253 with 42 career home runs, Eddie Milner has largely been forgotten. But his ‘87 Topps card has tons of green in it, so Tim uses it whenever he can find one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013838300-JXXF92A08RYHYGV8QZT0/27.+bryan+clutterbuck.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1987 Topps Bryan Clutterbuck When you’re looking at cards through Tim’s eyes, you start to see them differently. You notice all of the blue in this card that can be useful to you, and you might overlook Bryan Clutterbuck’s 2-6 record with a 4.21 ERA in 34 career games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013904549-4RJ5UPPMBOFUQG33CK6G/tools+of+the+trade.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tools of the Trade You’ve heard of working your fingers to the bone. But Tim works his scissors to the… I don’t know… to the metal part underneath the comfortable rubber grip things? Not quite as catchy, but imagine how many hours of work it must take to do that! And he’s done it multiple times. Wescott, the brand of scissors Tim prefers, even claims on their site that “This will be the last scissor you will ever need.” Hah! Clearly, they’ve never met Tim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013868152-RIHEL21AHNKNXDN6EYQD/28.+mathewson.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T206 Christy Mathewson The T206 set actually has three different Christy Mathewson cards, with this one commonly referred to as the Mathewson “Portrait” card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013937021-85LH8T1HB445S2NIH2D0/29.+n172+anson.png Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - N172 Cap Anson There were two different Anson cards in the N172 set, which is perhaps the most important 19th Century set in existence. The cards were packed in Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarette packs, which is why the set is commonly referred to as the “Old Judge” set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013968406-IUEZAY1NCECOTE8BIDX7/30.+weston.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T218 Edward Payson Weston According to the back of this exquisite example from the T218 Champions set of 1910, “Edward Payson Weston is probably the greatest pedestrian that ever lived.” His greatest achievement was when he walked from Los Angeles to New York City (a distance of 3,600 miles) in 78 days at age 71. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615013997112-R3U5HBJN175USB3NX7WD/31.+Mayumi+Seto.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Mayumi Seto Seto is the artist behind the Topps Living sets. Originally from Kyoto, Japan, she has been creating art since she was 9 years old and has sketched everything from landscapes to Dragon Ball Z characters, in addition to baseball players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014023446-KKMNU78JKWEOW1Y1RKJG/32.+progress.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Inspiration Tim used Seto’s Topps Living Mike Trout card as inspiration for one of his pieces. Here is when Tim was just getting started on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014052688-87LA5WT1TZBWR7KP3CGS/33.+more+progress.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Starting to Come Together After finishing the bottom section with his name, position, and the Angels logo, and laying down the base of the batting helmet, Tim’s Mike Trout card started to take shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014081429-28JMRBWVE776QYKRBQJY/34.+working.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Nearing Completion Tim worked on the piece at the 2019 National in Chicago, and while it looked close to finished to the untrained eye, Tim still had hours of work left to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014112317-6098CK6SBTY3EKKX9FHK/35.+finished+trout.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Finished Piece Here is Tim’s finished piece, based on the Mike Trout entry in the Topps Living Set. The premise behind the Living Set program is that it’s a trading card set that starts with Card #1, but does not have a final card. It’s not tied to any specific season or era... but lives on year after year. It’s the first cross-generational product that can be collected and traded for years to come. Topps only issues one card per player, unless that player changes teams. Three new players are offered every week and are only available for purchase for one week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014137108-9K627VUGZUIU7IL6PJE1/36.+koufax.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Tim’s Sandy Koufax piece based on his 1955 rookie card was pre-approved to be permanently displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014164332-YMHTOJ27G3EBWTKO3228/37.+shoebox+treasures.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Shoebox Treasures “We decided to have a wall displaying a variety of art that has been inspired by and/or created from baseball cards,” said Hall of Fame Assistant Curator Gabrielle Augustine. “Besides the fact that it’s really cool and that I think our visitors will love it, this piece shows that baseball cards have transcended beyond the card collecting world... It shows that baseball cards can be both the medium and the inspiration behind amazing art.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014190884-Z3YLZ0PQV8WJL5OSCBGZ/38.+starry+night.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Starry Night” According to Tim, this is what happens when the baseball card artist meets a client that also loves Van Gogh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014225647-UOWNN6RUWINUO95I39RC/39.+chuck+close.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Chuck Close Tim definitely drew inspiration from Chuck Close’s method of scaling small pictures up to huge pieces by using a grid system. Close is seen here working on “Robert/104,072” some time in either 1973 or 1974. The piece, which measured in at 108” x 84” in its final form, was made with acrylic, ink, and pencil on a gessoed canvas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014252598-3MZ40W5FDBEFAKL5DGTN/40.+satchel.JPG Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - 1953 Topps Satchel Paige Tim’s recreation of this classic 1953 Topps card of Satchel Paige is perfect down to every last detail; including the fact that Topps misspelled Satchel’s name on the card! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014338857-I45WRVT5RSS96V0HWGLM/41.+sky.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Satchel’s Sky Tim knew that to get the blue for the sky, and to get the white for the border, he could use the backs of old baseball cards which often times used light blue or white backgrounds behind the statistics to make them easier to read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014380367-ABI5YBXKCLYK6DQEUMCE/42.+faces.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Faces in the Crowd Tim cut up hundreds of cards to find faces that had the right tones to create Satchel’s face for his recreation of 1953 Topps card #220. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014415912-A828EAXAJ24L9TD9W2HQ/44.+Splinter.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Splendid Splinter” Tim made this Ted Williams piece out of 1,941 toothpicks, a nod to his incredible 1941 season. It hangs in the Ted Williams Museum & Hitters Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014443458-T1TEZYIWUGD1COLSYZQI/45.+Toothpick+Ted.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Toothpick Ted” Another Ted Williams piece made of toothpicks, a play on Ted’s nickname “The Splendid Splinter.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014473788-NBZB8AT9CKX64RO90PN5/46.+big+hurt.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Big Hurt” Tim made this Frank Thomas piece out of band-aids and framed it with Ace bandages as an homage to Frank’s nickname, “The Big Hurt.” Tim is what you could call a “mixed media artist” apparently! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014503152-0CK9QQ4NGQU8707IFHES/47.+sweetness.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Sweetness” Tim made this Walter Payton piece out of Sweet’N Low, Equal, and sugar packets to play off of Walter’s famous nickname, “Sweetness.” The finished piece was 30” wide by 40" tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014531571-ZKYPFRZ1HXV01TU6BAI4/48.+mariano.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Mariano Rivera Since Mariano was so well known for breaking batters’ bats during his career, and since he faced the Red Sox more than anyone, Tim found it fitting to use pieces from a broken Dustin Pedroia bat to create this piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014559148-ACEKMENXDXEVRXJNWZ79/49.+bo.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Shattered Bats Tim made this 40” x 30” piece out of a shattered Bo Jackson bat. It is based on a photo which appeared on the cover of a Beckett Magazine in June of 1990. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014589829-N5NJ060V85PK2UCYEZAP/50.+bo.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Cut Cards The same photo also appeared on 1990 Score card #697, which gave Tim license to recreate his own version out of cut cards. The finished piece was 28.5” wide by 20.5” tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615014620906-V7MKH3ZMAVVVB2MB0DH0/51.+score+detail.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Bo Knows Details Finding only black and white cards can sometimes prove to be a struggle. For the border, Tim used a bunch of old checklist cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615015960076-GDZ6J5L86Y2CQCIK557M/53.+mason.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Tim’s Son, Mason Tim made this piece in late 2017 of his then-10-year-old son, Mason out of cut baseball cards. The finished product was about 3 feet by 3 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615015984946-V6ZUT8G89TXXHNK0D8LN/54.+Game+Called+Because+of+Rain.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - “Game Called Because of Rain” This piece, based on the famous Norman Rockwell painting, took Tim over 300 hours to complete. He finally finished on March 1, 2019 after using more than 4,000 baseball cards to achieve the 34.5” x 37” finished product. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016010259-BKCPP076CFLXCFL5H5TC/56.+SMR+magazine.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - SMR Magazine Tim was featured in an article in the September, 2019 issue of PSA’s Sports Market Report magazine. You can read the article, subtitled “Turning Sports Cards Into Modern Art” HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016078213-U5O1FHXAXN8H9B4F5GQ1/57.+follow+tim.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Follow Tim Online Website Email Facebook Twitter Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016108326-DHG8OCTIJ9W6ZDVUWX0S/Jack+Johnson.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - T218 Champions Card Set The Jack Johnson card is easily the most famous card from this incredibly unique, diverse set from circa 1910, which gives an interesting insight into the state of sports in America at the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615016137197-YPRV2DM0QGOSGBIABIC4/Edward+Payson+Weston.jpg Past Episodes - 0110 - Tim Carroll - Edward Payson Weston Weston was a notable pedestrian, who was largely responsible for the rise in popularity of the sport in the 1860s and 1870s, though the most famous of his feats were his cross-country treks in 1909 and 1910. A Man In A Hurry Walk of Ages https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0109 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005970629-C08BQLZ0KLKKWIZL65Q4/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006105526-4AI6SLKCMYQ7Y8N8M43H/cover+photo.JPG Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown Warren Brown and me after recording our interview at the Mercantile Library in Cincinnati https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006934723-V8NGHM88F1KTBLMRNADV/00+-+mercantile+library.JPG Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown The Mercantile Library in Cincinnati. Founded in 1835, it has been at its present site since 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615006974421-73ZQE19PQJF6CMJLSNM2/01.+Pete+Rose+and+Joe+DiMaggio.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose in Vietnam During the Vietnam War, it was somewhat common for pro athletes to join the Reserves to avoid the draft. Pete did so in 1963, after his rookie season with the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007026176-H3XA1AISAUU6IDO1S36N/02.+USO+Tour.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete and Joe DiMaggio USO Tour The State Department wanted Rose to go on a USO tour to help boost troop morale. To help persuade Pete, they told him, “Well, Joe DiMaggio's going.” Pete asked "Do I get to meet Joe?” “You get to live with him for 23 days,” came the response. “If it's good enough for Joe DiMaggio, it's got to be good enough for me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007091377-J2WNIBVPMXUW4W5FYRTX/03+-+Charlene+R+Brown%2C+RN+at+USPH.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Charlene R. Brown Warren’s mom was an RN at USPH. A chance encounter with Pete Rose led to the best job her son could ever dream of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007212660-EFS68SRA6Y17L0P7K18Y/04+-+Bernie+Stowe.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Bernie Stowe As a former Reds bat boy who worked himself all the way up to being the team’s equipment manager, Bernie Stowe knew exactly what he was offering Warren during their interview together in July of 1969: - Hard Work - Long Hours - Virtually No Pay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007234690-QXFCKYH476OQAPJXXRIF/05+-+Jim+Maloney.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Warren’s First Game The first game Warren attended was on August 13, 1963, when the Reds’ Jim Maloney bested Juan Marichal and the Giants with a 2-hit shutout, making him 18-4 on the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007287222-9B8U5URNR9F1WH5V4JBW/06+-+working+before+the+game.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Working Before The Game Many people think being a bat boy is just sitting on a stool near the on-deck circle and bringing the umpire new baseballs every few pitches. But it’s hours and hours of long, hard work. Here is Warren pulling a cart before a game in 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007311943-AOFSKDV2U3UEYG86L3G2/07+-+Putting+uniforms+in+the+lockers.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Putting the Uniforms in the Lockers Bat boys and equipment managers have to arrive before any players so they can prepare their lockers for the day’s game, and be ready to help with whatever may be needed. Here is Bernie Stowe doing just that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007346553-Y2SPWMH707LFJ682M3TI/08+-+glamorous+drudgery+and+hard+work.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Glamorous Drudgery and Hard Work An article which appeared in a local newspaper captured the essence of what being a bat boy is truly all about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007370125-QFQW23TF72FK9HKEEUJN/09+-+reds+clubhouse+at+crosley+field.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Crosley Field Clubhouse This Life Magazine photo shows how different Major League locker rooms used to be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007392733-S7LZR65S9RP96X568KXM/10+-+reds+clubhouse+riverfront+stadium.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Riverfront Stadium Clubhouse The Reds made the locker room in Riverfront Stadium much more luxurious. Much more space, wider lockers, and carpeted floors! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007414136-A2KCP8WW4KPEWCOXDS6A/11+-+sparky+anderson.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Sparky Anderson Sparky was introduced as the Reds’ new Manager before the 1970 season. He would manage the team through the 1978 season, winning four pennants and two World Series titles with the club. SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007438953-QL5I8GNNMOJUG2ZPHDSA/12+-+1970+reds.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 Reds Sparky’s first year with the team was also Warren’s first year with the team. The Reds got off to a 70-30 start in their first 100 games, but were decimated by injuries by the time the World Series rolled around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007462117-3HGSRXJDT6V8P8ZUHVZB/13+-+airplane+trip+to+baltimore+for+1970+world+series.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - First Plane Ride Warren’s first time on an airplane was when he traveled with the team on Ozark Air Lines to Baltimore for the 1970 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007483826-M0LCSKMTF64TJYGF1VWD/14+-+houston+astrodome+1.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Houston Astrodome Warren also traveled with the team during their 1972 road trip to Houston, where he got to see the Astrodome. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” featured the “Astrolite,” a four-story high scoreboard comprised of thousands of light bulbs. It was the world’s first animated scoreboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007509795-M7PWKWEF7Y9L3NJ6EWT0/15+-+houston+astrodome+2.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Roof at the Astrodome The dome's ceiling originally contained thousands of semitransparent panes made of Lucite. Players complained that glare from the panes made it hard for them to track fly balls. Two sections of the roof were painted white, but within a few months, the field’s natural grass died from lack of sunlight. The solution? A new, synthetic turf called “ChemGrass,” which came to be known as “Astroturf.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007534438-8T1BE9T844850FXKDBRT/16+-+bat+boys.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Relationships The work was hard, sure, but the relationships Warren developed made everything worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007558449-WVTRRKQCZQ5AAOAZY87D/17+-+1970+all+star+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 All-Star Game The MLB All-Star Game was held at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium on July 14, 1970. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007630146-DBOQM0DMC24P3KOITC8E/18+-+president+nixon.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - First Pitch President Nixon, seen here with the First Lady and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, threw out the first pitch at the 1970 All-Star Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007654816-D3HXN1GNZDIU071RWJSA/19+-+clemente.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Roberto Clemente Seen here, batting during the 1970 All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium, Roberto Clemente was Warren’s favorite non-Reds player. In 11 All-Star appearances, Clemente went 10-31 (.323) with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007676414-J41J6H6ECF78O44I4IAE/20+-+rose+fosse.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose and Ray Fosse Rose bowled over Fosse to score the winning run in extra innings. Fosse was never the same. Fosse’s SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007921732-GLL5Z3DLN5FGO02DEHQU/21+-+Bowie+Kuhn+holding+the+All+Star+bats.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Commemorative All-Star Game Bats Commissioner Bowie Kuhn inspecting the commemorative bats that would be given to each of the participants of the 1970 All-Star Game. Willie Mays gave one of his to Warren. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007946093-L7K9UNNOUWDIMECZR5DR/22+-+1970+world+series.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 World Series The first World Series ever played on Astroturf, the 1970 edition pitted the American League’s Baltimore Orioles against the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007969216-94UUQG1B34ZDCPJT5Z75/23+-+riverfront.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Riverfront Stadium After over two years of construction, the Reds played their first game at Riverfront Stadium on June 30, 1970. Its circular shape trapped heat inside, where it baked the playing surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615007989646-VMNPRMRWP0PPXGDD1B81/24+-+jackson+5.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Jackson 5 Before Game 1 of the 1970 World Series, the Jackson 5 sang the National Anthem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008013689-5KH9OC16FCEP6CES8G9A/25+-+Sparky+with+coaching+staff.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Reds Coaching Staff George Scherger and Alex Grammas were among the coaches Warren bonded with during his time with the Reds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008220890-OEY006OM3JVP4PW8N7CZ/26+-+close+up.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Winning Streak Warren was the bat boy on the field from April 28 to May 5, 1970. The Reds won 8 consecutive games during that stretch, and Warren was immediately thought of as the team’s “good luck charm.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008245667-4CQP7ONU6WAWNJM61TTF/27+-+pete+rose.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose After every at-bat, Pete would come back to the dugout and inspect his bat to see exactly how and where the ball left its mark. After analyzing the contact to be able to make adjustments for his next AB, Pete would wipe the scuff marks clean with rubbing alcohol so he could start fresh, and easily see the next ball’s mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008266799-M4L448U6XI6SUKMI0ZNJ/28+-+Ted+Kluszewski+getting+interviewed+during+a+rain+delay.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ted Kluszewski “Klu” played for the Reds from 1947-1957, but returned to the organization after retirement where he served as their Batting Coach for nine seasons in the 1970s. SABR Bio by Paul Ladewski https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008290305-5OOMTRTOKTADRSEGEPSP/29+-+brooks+robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Human Vacuum Cleaner Brooks Robinson stole the show (and a bunch of hits from the Reds) during the 1970 World Series. This masterpiece, robbing Lee May of a hit during Game 1, is one of the most memorable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008315126-OT16EPEVXU1WVBBQDOXU/30+-+working+before+the+game.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Bernie Stowe’s Advice “Everybody is going to be your friend now. You have to learn how to say no.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008341355-IC6XDDPS9K3IL4B2AVUH/31+-+1971+Reds.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1971 Reds Warren’s first full year on the field wasn’t a great one for the team. The 1971 Reds were No-Hit twice: once by Ken Holtzman of the Cubs, and another time later that month by Rick Wise of the Phillies, who also hit two home runs that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008376146-RRZ7HZSHSS3JVBBM2N81/32+-+1972+Reds.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 Reds After enduring injuries the year before, and the new season being shortened due to the first strike in MLB history, the 1972 Reds were itching to get back on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008403577-1YZMQNX96NEPKJ7QY8SW/33+-+close+up.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 NLCS Johnny Bench came up with the biggest home run in Reds’ history when he tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning of the decisive 5th Game of the 1972 NLCS against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That is Warren with his (BB) back to us in this photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008427931-E1DBJ7O6412IYG15K6G3/34+-+joe+morgan+and+pete+rose+in+the+clubhouse+at+riverfront.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Genius of Bob Howsam Not only did Reds GM Bob Howsam have the foresight to make the trade for Joe Morgan, he knew to put his locker next to Pete Rose to keep him accountable and motivated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008452254-4EL2YG2SZ8F3PMDXCT3P/35+-+hairs+vs+squares.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Hairs vs. Squares Ed Gruver’s 2016 book remembers the 1972 World Series just as much for the aesthetics as for the athletics. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008476456-KXNCK983LO0Z0MNFSI96/36+-+1970+World+Series+check.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1970 World Series Share Players Rep Woody Woodward informed Warren that he would be receiving a share of the 1970 World Series pot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008503231-IIIK996R4JAERSREO8C4/37+-+1972+World+Series+check.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 World Series Share In 1972, the Players Rep was Darrel Chaney. He told Warren the same thing Woody had in 1970. Warren used that money to pay for college. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008526001-8O3RZ73AQWQZ6PG0HX15/38+-+traveling+during+the+1972+world+series.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Traveling to the 1972 World Series Warren got to travel with the team to Oakland for the road games during the 1972 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008554790-TVTFFP006BL5XBPIT0L8/39+-+1972+World+Series.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum The Oakland Coliseum opened in 1966 after nearly two and a half years of construction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008933678-FLJ00EP7CM88GY26FTCI/40+-+Oakland-Alameda+County+Coliseum+1.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - In The Dugout Not many people in the history of the planet can say they were in the dugout during two separate World Series. Warren Brown is one of them. Here he is in Oakland in 1972. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615008962550-ZEQOBVRP5YFYMAG4H91S/41+-+more+rain.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Heavy Storms Rain pushed back Game 3 in Oakland from October 17 to October 18, but that didn’t deter the Reds from winning. Coming to Oakland after losing the first two games at home, Game 3 was a must-win for the Reds. They won. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009133490-2L75FZ2B044IVUGQN800/42+-+ticket+office.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - That’s the Ticket! Warren was hired to work in the ticket office for the Reds in January of 1977. He worked there until May of 1979. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009169668-15UA6GQNULKWI5S41KSZ/43+-+marsha+in+the+ticket+office.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Admit One While working in the ticket office, Warren met a coworker named Marsha Beal. They would eventually get married. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009215665-6RTOPP7YOOG8K9CK25CL/44+-+marsha+becomes+scoreboard+operator.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Scoreboard Operator After working in the ticket office, Marsha was the Scoreboard Operator for the Reds from 1978 to 1980. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009245289-7O60X21V9600AAC46E7N/45+-+a+family+affair.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - A Family Affair Not only did Warren and his wife, Marsha, both work for the Reds organization, their son Kyle worked in Stadium Operations in 2002, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009272162-LK0WEW1H4J0UTKU4JQEF/46+-+paul+derringer.jpeg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Paul Derringer Derringer pitched for the Reds from 1933 until 1942. He was a 6-time All-Star with the team, averaging 17 wins per season. He finished top-10 in MVP voting three times, led the league in starts three times, in winning percentage once (1939 when he went 25-7) and helped the Reds win the 1940 World Series. SABR Bio by Ralph Berger https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009297970-9F1ZJZXR6D7ELTPPARFF/47+-+Marsha%27s+Aunt+Iona+Whitely+and+her+Mom+Elizabeth+Ann+Beal.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Marsha’s Family Marsha's Aunt Iona Whitely and her Mom Elizabeth Ann Beal were first cousins with Paul Derringer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009326309-O15UKEQQ6NFFDTG6XBI9/48+-+with+pete+rose.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - A Special Bond Warren and Pete Rose have been close for 50 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009357491-6W4RBVWJ1WFILW4I4E6X/49+-+carlton+fisk+1975.JPG Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1975 World Series Carlton Fisk’s iconic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series gave the Red Sox one more breath. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Big Red Machine, who won Game 7 and the championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009385316-EJRGKZLWPULV13XDCU36/50+-+with+Pete+and+Hit+%231922.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete and Warren Warren with 1975 World Series MVP Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009412505-BJ2OS8B3LC9JLYQC607D/51+-+1976+Reds.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1976 Reds By beating the Yankees in the 1976 World Series, the Reds became the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 1921-22 Giants. This painting by artist Graig Kreindler depicts the famous team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009482173-X7SW74IZ4ZJT0Y0F68UV/52+-+The+Great+Eight.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Great Eight The starting lineup of Bench, Rose, Morgan, Pérez, Concepción, Foster, Griffey, and Gerónimo played 88 games together during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. They went 69-19 in those games, good for a .784 winning percentage. At that pace over 162 games, they would have won 127 games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009544857-RF9MZL4BZCT8BIYA2GRA/53+-+with+pete+rose.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose’s Season Goals 200 hits, 100 walks, 100 runs He never reached all three in the same season, but he had 200 hits and 100 runs in the same season five times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009573617-UH3W517XRO8EVKR4FYBX/54+-+Pete+Rose+alone+in+the+locker+room.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - An Enduring Memory Warren walked into the Reds’ locker room on Opening Day of 1970, and sitting there alone, before anyone else had even gotten to the park, was Pete Rose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009605489-G5HDZ266ZVTTPWUOTY5N/55+-+best+seat+in+the+house.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Perks of the Job At the time, Warren thought the best thing about being bat boy was having the best seat in the house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009633539-B6FG48B8HI9XBWMFDANX/56+-+Sparky+and+Warren+Brown.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Warren and Sparky But over the years, he realized the best perk was actually the relationships he formed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009664831-3KT8TTL74XBD11OSX12M/57+-+joe+morgan%2C+warren+brown%2C+and+pete+rose.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Joe Morgan, Warren, and Pete Rose Sharing a locker room with someone bonds you with that person for life. Warren is living proof of that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009698662-97A71PYUGMEYK6JMW2I1/58+-+with+Jim+Maloney.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Jim Maloney and Warren Warren got to catch his favorite pitcher of all time, Jim Maloney, when Maloney was rehabbing an injury. As if Warren didn’t already have enough “once in a lifetime” moments… SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009751989-KVDIPED8WWTVXU7IMOZC/59+-+clemente%27s+last+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Clemente’s Last Game Warren saw Roberto’s final game, the decisive Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS. Clemente died in a plane crash less than 3 months later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009858643-QK0TYS2GCRO4Y9XG1AX2/60+-+Jackie+Robinson+throwing+out+the+first+pitch+to+Johnny+Bench+-+1972+WS+Game+2.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - 1972 World Series Game 2 Jackie Robinson threw out the first pitch before the game. He passed away 9 days later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009894879-L61UIJ9B650DI5AJGDS7/61+-+big+red+machine.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - The Big Red Machine The National League’s team of the 70s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009926894-JPI559ZJ2LO2OCE0RBA2/62+-+a+win+in+the+1972+World+Series.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - World Series The Reds celebrate after winning a road game in Oakland during the 1972 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009958095-3A9QQQ10W7RJT5PC9WQ1/63+-+johnny+bench.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Johnny Bench Rookie of the Year. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 2 time MVP. 10 time Gold Glove Award winner. 14 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Mark Armour https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615009988328-TTLA0056X1IVC3HBZ3SY/64+-+pete+rose.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Pete Rose Rookie of the Year. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time Gold Glove Award winner. 3 time batting champion. 3 time World Series champion. 17 time All-Star. Baseball’s all-time career leader in hits, at-bats, plate appearances, and games played. “Charlie Hustle.” SABR Bio by Andy Sturgill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010020817-Y5WOEUG3S8GPPMVK0T9F/65+-+joe+morgan.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Joe Morgan 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year. 2 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time Gold Glove Award winner. 10 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010052932-5R4LJL08WEDGX5JK2C6W/66+-+tony+p%C3%A9rez.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Tony Pérez 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 7 time All-Star. Hall of Fame. SABR Bio by Phil Cola https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010083409-P00TJV4ULCMGSTHUUHCX/67+-+george+foster.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - George Foster 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time All-Star. Led the league in Runs, Home Runs, RBI, Slugging Percentage, OPS, and Total Bases in his 1977 MVP season. SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010125231-4JNI8FTDHBGRFAVS8UYE/68+-+sparky+anderson.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Sparky Anderson 2 time Manager of the Year. 5 time Pennant winner. 3 time World Series champion. Hall of Fame. SABR article by Steve Ames https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010156745-N8NG0QI7XIPZEP0E8FOE/69+-+marge+schott.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Marge Schott Marge Schott was the first woman to own and operate a major league team, but she was forced out of baseball because she embarrassed fellow owners with her use of offensive racial and ethnic slurs. SABR Bio by Warren Corbett https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010183917-TCY4XFMEP7G5AS3EWV8Z/70+-+ken+griffey.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ken Griffey Before there was Junior, and he needed to add the Senior, there was just Ken Griffey. 1 time All-Star game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 3 time All-Star. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010220913-ZH1OBLITTFLFDAQ7ZII3/71+-+ken+griffey+jr.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Ken Griffey, Jr. Ken Griffey, Jr. slides into third during the Reds' Father and Son Game with his dad, Ken Griffey, Sr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010270753-EDJG5AC2N00XK8RD67HP/72+-+marichal+spahn.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - July 2, 1963 Juan Marichal bested Warren Spahn in one of the great pitching duels of all time. Marichal’s pitching line: 16 innings, 8 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts. Spahn’s line: 15 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010311111-N6NEXWWXLMV20HF3G13H/73+-+reds+throwbacks.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Reds Throwback Uniforms To help celebrate their 150th year as a baseball team in 2019, the Reds wore a number of throwback uniforms throughout the course of the season. Here is a breakdown of what they wore, thanks to Chris Creamer and sportslogos.net. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010343470-KDQXZZ232K9KH0HWZSOI/74+-+powel+crosley.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Powel Crosley, Jr. An endlessly interesting man, Crosley was an inventor, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, and his companies manufactured everything from automobiles to radios, and operated WLW radio station. He became one of the most innovative owners in the history of baseball, installing lights so the Reds could play the first night games in MLB history, and broadcasting their games on the radio. SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010376539-BW86P3INNHUHWL5JWPWB/75+-+big+red+machine+pitching+staff.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Unsung Heroes The pitching staff of the Big Red Machine may not get a ton of recognition, but they were serviceable enough to help the team win four pennants and two World Series championships from 1970 to 1976. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010405975-Z9E0W1A6DG0MFE020ECA/76+-+warren.png Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Stay In Touch With Warren email Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010447385-MLXAA6XN3WTM6X4YYC0Y/77+-+Hotel+Sinton.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - Hotel Sinton The Chicago White Sox stayed at Hotel Sinton in Cincinnati while they were on the road during the 1919 World Series. The Sinton stood at the southeast corner of 4th and Vine from 1907 to 1968. It was in this hotel where the players finally agreed to actually go through with their plan to throw the World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615010475909-QIMALW53G0LORET4IMZ0/78+-+Frank+Mills+Andrews.jpg Past Episodes - 0109 - Warren Brown - F.M. Andrews Frank Mills Andrews was one of the top architects of his day. His works include the State Capitol Buildings in both Frankfurt, Kentucky and Helena, Montana, as well as the Hotel McAlpin in New York, which was the tallest hotel in the world upon its completion. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0108 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002688719-RO1DYAQK88SDLVOJ90RP/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002807776-JQ6LE1KM74IFD369RX1C/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown Andy Brown and me after recording our interview in my old living room in Skokie, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002879583-RJ9I167L8B20PCG1GFC4/02.+andy+in+front+of+the+fod+house.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy at the Field of Dreams Imagine my surprise when I finished recording the interview with Craig Purcell at the Field of Dreams Movie Site, to turn around and see Andy Brown painting the landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002906440-9Z96BON0N08KKSN0EZM7/03.+andy+painting+at+FOD.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - An Artist’s View Andy painting one of the multiple pieces he ended up completing at the Field of Dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002934865-0161KM8T841S25IPSEFD/04.+andy%27s+finished+Field+of+Dreams.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Finished Piece From the photo above, here is the final version. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002954999-56QRW3VBPSCUFQDSU5H3/05.+Target+Field.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Target Field The home of the Twins was Andy’s 14th MLB ballpark out of 30. He painted it on August 19, 2019. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002980446-WH8HP8C010711JRQB4HU/06.+If+You+Build+It.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Dwier Brown Dwier Brown’s 2014 book If You Build It... is a funny and moving memoir about Fathers, Fate and Field of Dreams. The podcast Andy listened to on his drive to the Field of Dreams, which featured an interview with Dwier Brown, was an episode of The Moonlight Graham Show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003041810-Z51A0IVX5PBBAR1TI4S2/07.+the+entrance.JPG Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown The entrance to the Field of Dreams Movie Site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003066286-UE8HYK62S1KFQK499KO9/08.+Andy+with+the+Ghost+Players.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy with the Ghost Players Andy just happened to catch the Ghost Players during their last performance of the 2019 season when he visited the Field of Dreams on Sunday, August 18. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003084246-6ETXCQ25NTI9FIR6YS9V/09.+albuquerque.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Albuquerque Isotopes Andy visited Albuquerque to watch the Isotopes play the Salt Lake Bees on July 28, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003103462-IPVUW9L6J888DGYR0S78/10.+Daegu+Samsung+Lions+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Daegu Samsung Lions Park Andy painting Daegu Samsung Lions Park, home of the Samsung Lions of the KBO. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003127788-9OPD9YAY3LYK3VELBQ25/11.+sketchbook.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Sketching Andy may not always have his paints, brushes, and canvas with him, but he’s always got his sketchbook so he can capture the people and places he comes across at a moment’s notice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003149860-YEJB5FF6PPFTVZGELDGK/12.+Jamsil+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Jamsil Stadium Andy’s painting of Jamsil Stadium, the home of the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. It is one of the many paintings Andy has done of the home ballparks from teams in the KBO. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003174156-0AJZQSGHJN3Q6ZGEON5X/13.+Koshien.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Koshien Stadium Andy’s painting of Koshien Stadium near Kobe, in Japan. It is the home of the Hanshin Tigers of the Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB), which is the highest level of baseball in Japan. It is one of the many paintings Andy has done of the home ballparks from teams in the NPB. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003195013-SWJOJMZ4MQWSQRCM4145/14.+Scoreboard+at+Koshien.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Scoreboard at Koshien Koshien Stadium was built to host Japan’s national high school baseball tournaments. It opened in August of 1924 with a capacity of 55,000 seats, making it the largest stadium in Asia at the time. When Babe Ruth brought the “All Americans” on a 12 city barnstorming tour of Japan in late 1934, the team played at Koshien. Jimmie Foxx and his wife filmed much of that tour. Moe Berg filmed some of it, too. Buy Andy’s painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003219980-2MCK416DC1XQ61MKMJMB/17.+president+race.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Presidents Race at Nationals Park The Presidents Race has happened in the middle of the fourth inning of every Nationals home game since 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003317010-MESLWE7956H4BM8LC0RA/18.+dog+day.PNG Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Dog Day at Comiskey Park Twice a year, White Sox fans get to walk their dogs around the warning track at Comiskey Park and sit with them in the outfield in designated sections with all of the other dogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003365442-7Q6GSRZXWIPAF4PXR568/19.+Gocheok+Sky+Dome.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - 2017 World Baseball Classic The Gocheok Sky Dome is the home ballpark of KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, but in 2017 it hosted games during the World Baseball Classic. Andy has painted Gocheok many times, but you can buy this specific piece HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003387654-VFBZBVFXAMYMOEDNKQHB/20.+Tokyo+Dome.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Tokyo Dome While living in Korea, Andy often visited Japan to draw and paint its baseball culture. This piece is from his first visit to the home ballpark of NPB’s Yomiuri Giants in 2015. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003410760-D97Y3UV3CRZUO28Y1E2G/21.+Stretched+Canvases.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Stretching His Canvases An important step in the painting process is stretching your canvas before starting. Most all oil and acrylic paints are somewhat rigid when dry. So, you could paint on un-stretched canvas, but the paint would most likely crack or flake off when the canvas folds, waves, or buckles. Stretching your canvas gives it dimensional stability. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003435853-N4XW7YRZGCUOXTVZRBDY/22.+Paints.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Paints Not all of Andy’s works are paintings, but when they are, he prefers to use oil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615003460453-GHOG846OCGTERKB1FQ3E/23.+Smock.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Getting Dirty When you work with the materials and speed with which Andy does, you’re inevitably going to create a mess. You could either ruin your clothes every time, or invest in a smock/apron to mitigate your dry cleaning bills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004046991-8UEKJ72XIPL1UQRFXQ1F/24.+Wrigley+Marquee.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Marquee at Wrigley Field Want to hear more about the iconic features found at Wrigley Field? Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Brian Bernardoni, the official historian of Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004115856-PM23VCZRSEY1GME44LYF/25.+Wrigley+drawing.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Minimalist Style Another one of Andy’s Wrigley pieces. So simple, yet still unmistakably Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004139965-YSUZ3L7AXLFSF1XNM343/26.+Trip+Route.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Stadiums Are Not The Journey It can be hard to spend time alone with your thoughts on a long road trip. And I think this definitely qualifies as a long road trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004163865-XM0WMAAVZXFC3JY16KN9/27.+Stars+and+Stripes.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Essence of America It was very interesting to hear how a foreigner perceives America, and what American values truly are. Buy this painting HERE These next two links contain graphic descriptions of unthinkable violence. It’s okay not to click them: Read about the Walmart shooting HERE Read about the Dayton shooting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004186815-VYE15OOVWD41R955VS9G/28.+with+Joey.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball Brings People Together Like it has for Andy and his friend, Joey Mellows, who have been traveling the world going to baseball games together for years. Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Joey, who you may know as @BaseballBrit on twitter, HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004212247-FV3RU6V48G7NWFHEUSQC/29.+andy+batting.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy At The Bat Andy spoke of the cultural heritage and legacy of the movie Field of Dreams, which he got to experience firsthand in Dyersville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004237009-CYPYKRLYU5HGB6JN4Z7D/30.+busan.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Busan, South Korea Sajik Stadium, which is know as a mecca of Korean baseball, is home of the Lotte Giants of the KBO. Andy has painted it many times, but you can buy this painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004262458-8CZEKRAAO129P8PLR17N/31.+simplicity.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball Has A Simplicity To It But yet, it is still so complex. Take this piece Andy created in St. Louis. Just a few simple lines. No colors. No logos. No players. And yet any baseball fan could tell you exactly what it is depicting. It’s a great metaphor for the game, itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004315984-T8V2FR0Y1N5XW745Q705/32.+no+bad+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - There Are No Bad Seats… … just different perspectives. Which is a very health attitude to have in baseball, and in life. Andy put that philosophy to good use in Kansas City on August 13, 2019 when he made this painting, which you can buy HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004339228-EU8HQBUL8BWM2FXCYRVZ/33.+mets.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - New York Mets The 2018 Mets led the league in potential. They finished the season 4th in their division. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004366020-GOKLY65LA9PUV8F9CSEI/34.+young+andy.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Young Andy Andy graduated from Loughborough University in Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England with a degree in Painting in 2002. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004389606-UD2ZRUEHN6NNRJTE0ZNY/35.+The+Mansard+Roof%2C+1923.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Mansard Roof This painting by Edward Hopper was completed in 1923. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004412923-WVEAKFJNI9TY36Y9UXRP/36.+Lincoln+For+The+Defense.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Lincoln For The Defense This painting by Norman Rockwell was completed in 1961 for a Saturday Evening Post story of almost the same title by Elisa Bialk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004469680-R3EKPKAMDI28I7935L0T/38.+panoramic+views.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown Painting panoramic views of the stadiums allows Andy to play with perspective, while getting everything on the canvas he’s trying to portray. Take this example of CC Sabathia’s sendoff from Yankee Stadium. You can buy Andy’s original painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004601617-LS8650TNPGLNYG9650VF/39.+capturing+energy.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Capturing Energy Sticking with the CC Sabathia theme, Andy’s broad brush strokes give the illusion of movement in many of his pieces. Couple that with the multiple overlaid images, and this piece really does a great job of capturing energy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004629645-DKXMK981KQBXLBEVHN15/40.+Tin+Type.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Tintype A tintype is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004658855-LJXSTJQTEUHOP28EQ9VB/41.+Tin+Type+of+Jamsil+Stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy’s Tintype This image of Jamsil Stadium was made using the Collodion Wet Plate process, invented in 1851. Andy developed it in a cardboard box on the passenger seat of his car in 2017. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004747287-S8VAY4R0APFODDR18O5N/42.+Pinhole+Camera.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Pinhole Camera A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens but with a tiny aperture (the so-called pinhole) – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known as the camera obscura effect. Andy has been using them for years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004774647-WIBSM2V5CI2CCD966STD/43.+Pinhole+photo+of+Jamsil.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy’s Image This photo of Jamsil Stadium was made using a box for holding bacteria for the intestine. The exposure time was 90 minutes. Notice how the movements of the players are captured! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004798888-HLZ36AWQF04SGFYLH0TO/44.+gaming+lounge.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Gaming at the Game From August 19th to August 21st, 2019, X Rocker and E-Squared partnered up with the Minnesota Twins to bring fans at Target Field the first ever gaming lounge inside of a baseball stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004828631-Z67XTN9HQ07JBI154ZT9/45.+wrigley+painting.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Scoreboard at Wrigley Andy painted Wrigley on August 22, 2019. He was enamored with the iconic scoreboard in center field, and made it a focal point of his piece. Buy the painting HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004853845-C4PSI0SP6A61J0SGCHQY/46.+Wrigley.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Ivy Another iconic part of the Wrigley aesthetic is the ivy, which was installed in 1937. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004882407-8Y4W4WYC3RWH689LUNNC/47.+Steamboat.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Steamboat in Cincinnati When Andy visited the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, the giant steamboat in center field caught his eye, and made it onto his canvas. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004908701-VWH9AFA358T5LU78G51I/48.+Minnie+and+Paul.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Minnie & Paul The old school Minnesota Twins logo of two fellas shaking hands across a river was created in 1961 by St. Paul illustrator Ray Barton, who was paid $15 to create the design. Now, it’s a 46-foot high neon sign in Target Field that lights up whenever a Twins player hits a home run. Which, in 2019, happened a lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004941252-DWFYLVB70MGK7PBI2J20/49.+arlington.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Ballpark in Arlington The Rangers chose to build a retro-style ballpark which incorporated many features of baseball's Jewel Box parks, including a roofed home run porch in right field, reminiscent of Tiger Stadium. Buy Andy’s work HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004967676-ZEPA7J12XPNTDRSJXRA1/50.+houston.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - The Train in Houston When Andy visited Houston on August 3, 2019, he thought he was going to see the train 90 feet above the field that was installed in 2000. He did, but he also saw the Astros throw a combined no-hitter against Seattle. Buy this piece HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615004996878-61AMMLSHLBRPE7CJ1R51/51.+Ichiro.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Ichiro’s Last Game Ichiro played the final MLB game of his career at the Tokyo Dome on March 21, 2019 as the Mariners faced the A’s in Japan. Buy Andy’s painting of Ichiro HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005021886-GWZL8LX8NLW3Q1RH2025/52.+Lou+Gehrig.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Lou Gehrig No one thought his consecutive games streak would ever be broken. Then Cal Ripken, Jr. came along. Buy Andy’s painting of Gehrig HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005050172-J4DMZ7P1OHGI5SDLH8G7/53.+hand+of+god.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - “Hand of God” Diego Maradona’s controversial goal in the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal in Mexico gave Argentina a 2-1 win over England. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005080193-0PMGVXP29ULTGKEAK4JI/54.+god+save+the+queen.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - God Save The Queen Andy created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II out of 1,000 used and unused tea bags which gained him international publicity, including a Trivial Pursuit question about his piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005109868-VYQWSEZJJH8VHDZ3O6HI/55.+paintings+on+the+ground.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - A Mini Art Exhibition When Andy stayed at my house, he was able to lay out all of the paintings he had with him at that point, and look at them all together for the first time. It was really cool to be there with him while he experienced that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005137081-F0RS8CFEDO92JF5VOUE6/56.+podcast.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - In My Living Room Andy was the first guest of the podcast to record their interview in my house with me. For every interview before that, I traveled to the subject. It was a neat change of pace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005172573-CAEVQPAGBTWHUDYAY8O4/57.+andy+at+the+field+of+dreams.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - If You Build It… Andy at the Field of Dreams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005200969-QWCIZ29B3DR7MN6CERM6/58.+Field+of+Dreams+easel.png Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - …He Will Come And Paint It Andy set up in a couple different spots at the Field of Dreams to get multiple perspectives and vantage points. This one allowed him to capture the field and the home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005226199-9NJ6CKSJPCIWJJPBYPK3/59.+Field+of+Dreams+home.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Field of Dreams (Home) Painted late in the evening of August 21, 2019. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005284337-K0PPSAP8TH5BLXBGZYDP/61.+Ghost+Players.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Ghost Players Artwork inspired by Andy’s trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005252929-UJ74MXC662U4EYIZXNUT/60.+Do+You+Want+To+Play+Catch.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Do You Want To Play Catch? II Artwork inspired by Andy’s trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005311550-G9S4E2XTDDL53LVLAYCP/62.+cooperstown.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Andy In Cooperstown Shoeless Joe may not have made it there, but Andy did. Here he is displaying his work during an exhibition at the end of his trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005336400-SANU72BHR5BT5OY4F9PR/63.+MLB+london+in+action.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Follow Andy Online Twitter Website Instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005360810-28B3JREKZ06AOBA3YIJH/64.+keith+arnatt.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Keith Arnatt Not just an artist. A real artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005389835-3ASG5H4EUP6LFDGZWLQM/65.+Andy+and+I+at+Joe%27s.JPG Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Me and Andy at Joe’s in Dyersville We were both exhausted, but we still enjoyed our time (and our food) at the appropriately-named Joe’s 2nd Street Diner in Dyersville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005416211-B9STB53TB76FTRV0KA9N/66.+Meeting+at+Yakzies.JPG Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Meeting at Yak-Zies Andy, Me, and Joey Mellows meeting for a drink at Yak-Zies in Wrigleyville. I was bartending, they were being tended to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005447008-RFXT52OWC37KFC5K0N1L/67.+Andy+and+Joey.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Joey and Andy Just a couple of chaps, dressed up like ballplayers from the early 1900s, in the middle of the night, in some stranger’s living room, 4,000 miles from home. And they couldn’t possibly be happier about it. Baseball really is magic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005508209-LW6Q131JLOG0NEMM7XWG/68.+Twitter+banner.JPG Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown The header on the @shoelesspodcast twitter profile is Andy’s painting of me interviewing Joey Mellows for his episode of My Baseball History. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005478717-LE806178IYR42EF121LE/69.+doubleday.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Doubleday Field Named for Abner Doubleday and located two blocks from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney’s farm. Andy was there in October of 2019. You can buy his painting of the field HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615005551969-S00Z1KROS0IL7IYMF1WW/70.+john+thorn.jpg Past Episodes - 0108 - Andy Brown - Baseball in the Garden of Eden Major League Baseball Official Historian John Thorn’s 2011 book draws on original research to tell how the game evolved from other bat-and-ball games and gradually supplanted them, how the New York game came to dominate other variants, and how gambling and secret professionalism promoted and plagued the game. Buy it HERE https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0107 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998753733-P0TPF5NNRN4132SAE669/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998882941-TMIK2ACZ7Z8CTT3B06TG/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows Me and Joey Mellows after recording our interview in my old living room in Skokie, Illinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614998941067-F3AH7LXUUNDC2C6G5CUJ/01.+tulane.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Tulane University On September 21, 2019, Joey spun a wheel to help him randomly select an American college football team to support for the rest of his life. It landed on Tulane, and Joey has been an ardent supporter since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999075036-I8QTH2EOP2A9VLSC2PT5/02.+joey+drinking+tea.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Morning Routine Joey starts every day he can by boiling a kettle of water to make some Yorkshire tea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999105112-W0S989A0F8UALWB7SQU5/03.+his+dog.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey’s Dog An American Cocker Spaniel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999130367-5O1JEY09RDFVWAUBFMAB/04.+time+zone+map.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Time Difference Joey initially became a baseball fan because of the fact that he couldn’t watch the soccer games he wanted to while in Seoul, Korea, thanks to a 9 hour time difference from England. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999158337-AK58DCBD2N0T5UVRMEJT/05.+joey+as+a+teacher.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Young Joe Got the block on smash. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999180970-PDN1VIRBJ9EYQFX27SGE/06.+joey+and+his+parents.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey and His Parents Joey’s first baseball game was a contest between the Chiba Lotte Marines and the ORIX Buffaloes at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan in April of 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999204297-82QWJEW8JQEORBG9TFQB/07.+baseball+cards.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Korean Baseball Cards One of the first ways Joey started to learn about baseball and its statistics was by having his students translate the backs of Korean Baseball cards for him https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999227937-QO8H249WY9444GTGTKD9/08.+Shin+Soo+Choo.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey’s First MLB Game June 27, 2016 at Yankee Stadium, hoping to see his favorite player, Shin-Soo Choo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999260258-TO7P3RRQWTUXAATIM9XV/09.+2016+euros.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2016 European Championships Iceland stunned a poor England side at the Stade de Nice, coming from behind to win, 2-1, and reach the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999292107-DVECGW5S1DSIW2S0XCS9/10.+Ken+Burns+baseball.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Ken Burns Ken’s Baseball documentary is legendary, and has definitely helped teach people about the game by telling little-known or long-forgotten stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999339340-WKWK7YQC2DA6UXWHD9FR/11.+billy+martin.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Billy Martin After his incredible playing days, Billy Martin became a manager who had an incredibly wild career. From being fired by the Yankees numerous times, to managing during 10-cent Beer Night, he lived through a lot of chaos. SABR Bio by Jimmy Keenan and Frank Russo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999363843-BW9AIHDFLISZDOFO9CFN/12.+2016+all+star+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2016 MLB All-Star Game The 2016 All-Star Game was played in San Diego on July 12. The American League won 4-2, thanks to a home run by MVP Eric Hosmer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999387851-MDX3ZKJKFL8REA8FUGSX/13.+wild+and+outside.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Wild and Outside Stefan Fatsis’ 1996 book details how a renegade minor league revived the spirit of baseball in America’s heartland. Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999409361-WMFTZ0M7P7K59KZX209W/14.+independent+league.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Independent League Something Joey loves doing is making maps. Here is his map of all of the Independent League baseball teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999441307-U1X9AR344WGKB11VDBFA/15.+field+of+dreams.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Field of Dreams A magical place. Joey can attest. Listen to the My Baseball History episode with Field of Dreams Movie Site tour guide Craig Purcell HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999534057-H4YIRP4LKQB1GAR55C5A/16.+joey+and+andy.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey and Andy Brown Great friends and great travel partners, Joey and Andy have seen a ton of baseball games together. We’ll hear Andy’s story in a later episode of My Baseball History. Joey’s twitter account started mostly as a joke, but has turned into a unique global platform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999590039-PTOHVKWNJEUPH5U9XV4F/17.+bullpenning.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Bullpenning The 2018 Tampa Bay Rays were supposed to be one of the worst teams in baseball. By creating a brand new strategy for starting pitching, they surprised the league and sparked a new conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999609624-0OLND5OFN6GU4NXICZMS/18.+wins.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Wins One of the oldest statistics in the record books is one that has recently come under some scrutiny: Pitcher’s Wins. As sabremetricians rethink the way statistics are valued, the emphasis has shifted away from traditional statistics in many cases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999646437-1FYTB7TBGV1SL8CPQI2M/19.+war.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - WAR Wins Above Replacement, commonly abbreviated to WAR, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999669150-KJ1W590GTR4CYERJKKWO/20.+dictaphone.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Dictaphone Joey was talking about using a modern, digital recorder, but Dictaphone was a company started in 1907 which produced recording devices that eventually became synonymous with the company’s name (like Xerox, or Kleenex). As the name implies, the Dictaphone is a dictation machine which works like a tape recorder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999692470-OBRNTTHW29VG85P4B6EN/22a.+blackouts.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 1. Make The Game More Accessible Ending local TV blackouts (some of which aren’t very “local”) would be a good start. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999779393-OI8EZG0XZ5BVMW8IDB5G/22b.+fun.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 2. Make The Game Look More Fun Allowing emotion and celebrations would attract a younger generation of fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999807438-GG2ETVQL1BUCV5YBL0JN/22c.+prices.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - 3. Make The Game More Affordable Having to pay $30 to park, $85 for each ticket, and $20 for a beer isn’t sustainable for most families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999863102-TJ44Q6E6LOJ661LOOCER/23.+elvis+night.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Elvis Night The Chicago White Sox run many promotions and special events at the stadium, one of which being Elvis Night, a fan favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999888009-8OOIFZD8VMUVQC9QO0O6/24.+joey+at+a+white+sox+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey on the South Side The White Sox gave Joey a warm welcome when he was in town to catch a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999912631-O93674CPOMUW7HDMTBH6/25.+fenway+culture.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - The Culture at Fenway It hasn’t always been one of inclusion and acceptance, something that the Red Sox, themselves, have recently been forced to address. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999946860-DKT8NU2A8GXME53VB8LS/26.+polanco+hits+for+cycle.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Polanco Hits For The Cycle On April 5, 2019, the Twins’ Jorge Polanco hit for the cycle against the Phillies. It was the earliest cycle, by date, in MLB history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614999972714-3ZVI42UA1BQ8V36PY2O8/27.+london+series.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - London Series The Yankees and Red Sox played the first ever MLB game in Europe on June 29, 2019. Neither team’s starting pitcher made it out of the 1st inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000002147-IP95SL03LOUKRKFOEAVX/28.+old+uniforms.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Old Uniforms Joey couldn’t even understand playing baseball wearing pants. When I told him they used to play in these old wool/flannel uniforms, his head almost exploded. Though he admitted they looked great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000046213-ELFY9IEVVZ9KR3YPON57/29.+ichiro%27s+last+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Ichiro’s Last Game On March 21, 2019 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, Ichiro played the final MLB game of his illustrious career. Word broke during the game that it would be Ichiro’s last. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615000075983-5MKPYCZN3CT4XG1878EK/30.+joey+scores+a+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Scoring A Game There are a million and one ways to score a baseball game. This is how Joey does it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001525275-YUW0P4BHEUDOB37JQB6T/31.+braves+game.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey In Atlanta Where he learned how much pressure is truly involved in picking which hat the ball is under on the jumbotron. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001563949-TV0ZVS9PH6ZLGI4MTGT4/32.+green+monster+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Green Monster Seats During the 2002-03 off-season, the Red Sox constructed a new seating section atop the wall to accommodate 274 fans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001599342-5VYUR9X2YVNU8K654M30/33.+mile++high+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mile High Seats While most of the seats in Coors Field are dark green, the seats in the 20th row of the upper deck are purple to mark the elevation of one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001626930-NB43DS31QOMNUGUO2XSY/34.+with+rafael+palmeiro.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Rafael Palmeiro Despite the fact that Palmeiro is one of only six players in MLB history with 500 Home Runs and 3,000 Hits, he has not been voted into the Hall of Fame. Perhaps if he regrew his famous mustache, he could curry some favor among the voters… (The other five members of the 500/3,000 club are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001651172-O54WAFA7X96KP8I2DCNT/35.+mick+mellows.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mick Mellows Joey’s dad, Mick, was a professional soccer player from 1965-1982. He made 15 international appearances for the English national amateur team, including the 1969 FA Amateur Cup final. He won “Player of the Year” of 1975 while playing for Portsmouth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001686704-2WB6HAGWQNGYPWLWS3Q2/37.+shoeless+joe.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Shoeless Joe Jackson After spending some time at my house, learning all about Shoeless Joe and reading up about some of his statistics, Joey is convinced he belongs in the Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001731759-GSVNT1L2GT12TXD6X9TV/38.+jeff+passan%27s+tweet.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Sexual.. I mean… Performance Enhancing Drugs This tweet from Jeff Passan uncovered a pretty wild story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001757108-W1PY8CDSY8IFD7J354X6/39.+with+Jeff+Passan.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey with Jeff Passan Joey has gotten some incredible access, along with international media coverage, during his trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001940401-9YLMWAKV6JFDPIWYTKF3/40.+mike+trout+wRC%2B.jpeg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - wRC+ wRC+ takes the statistic Runs Created and adjusts that number to account for important external factors - like ballpark or era. It's adjusted, so a wRC+ of 100 is league average, and 150 would be 50 percent above league average. Mike Trout is even better than that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001967313-FL7X9Q6VUB45O7ETMVE4/41.+OPS.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - OPS On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging average. The ability of a player both to get on base and to hit for power, two important offensive skills, are represented. Babe Ruth is 1st (1.1636), Mike Trout is 8th (0.9999), and Shoeless Joe Jackson is 28th (.9401) on the all time list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615001995607-34CWTRPHL8DC92UTTINI/42.+FIP.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - FIP Fielding Independent Pitching - or FIP - measures the events that are directly under a pitcher's control: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. It is a "rate" statistic, that resembles how many runs a pitcher might give up per nine innings, given these peripherals. There are some very familiar names on the list of best single-season FIP performances ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002021117-GD0JG7ICDWKD0KTWHICC/45.+joey%27s+favorite+seats+in+jamsil+stadium.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Jamsil Stadium Joey’s favorite place in the world to watch a baseball game is high in left field at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002152622-3CIXENB6V003G5JXY1HQ/46.+six+grandfathers.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Mount Rushmore Before becoming what we know today, Mount Rushmore was actually a sacred Lakota Sioux site known as "The Six Grandfathers." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002179219-24S3GW4G330NARXHUGPH/47a.+Lorenzo+Cain.png Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Lorenzo Cain Cain was a Royal from 2011-2017, helping them make the World Series in 2014 and 2015. He was an All-Star in 2015, the year the Royals won the title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002204879-0C880XUOEIV531UA0NLW/47b.+Whit+Merrifield.jpeg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Whit Merrifield Merrifield has been a Royal since 2016. He has a .296 lifetime batting average, and was an All-Star in 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002287192-EVJJZZHWP5MMAQCWC1M8/47c.+Adalberto+Mondesi.jpeg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Adalberto Mondesi Mondesi has been a Royal since 2016. He led the Major Leagues with 10 triples in 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002309872-UZKOOFXO7KTGXU6A5EV5/47d.+Alex+Gordon.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Alex Gordon Gordon has been a Royal since 2007. He is a 3-time All-Star, a 7-time Gold Glove winner, and helped lead the Royals to the 2014 and 2015 World Series, winning it in 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002335770-1DJXCPIPHWM6SYH2HOYU/48.+joey+with+shin+soo+choo.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Joey with Shin-Soo Choo It’s not every day you get to meet your idol. But it was this day for Joey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002362571-VXUQ9SCHX43ME39WFR2S/49.+Paul+Hollywood.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Paul Hollywood Another Brit who loves going on road trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002389266-TC4OYRM69AJ817KQZYUC/50.+joey.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Follow Joey Twitter Instagram Facebook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615002426516-HCT0T9T6CJG0K0E4C4RI/51.+bat+flips+and+nerds.jpg Past Episodes - 0107 - Joey Mellows - Bat Flips & Nerds Twitter Website https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0106 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982677937-9X0EKYRJLYG4R3Y215LX/youtube.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930874590-KF06572TB2895OAIUJ0J/cover+photo.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Me and Brian Bernardoni (showing off his 2016 World Series ring) standing in front of an original newspaper from his personal collection which documents the opening of Weeghman Park in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931001877-8SSGC4JRG6ULFLIUHTKG/01.+1977+cubs+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1977 Cubs The 1977 Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81–81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931023815-0B5Z5DJ0N5GJ7GOCQM4B/02.+brickhouses+with+gerald+ford.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Jack and Pat Brickhouse Pictured here, with President Gerald Ford (center), Jack and Pat Brickhouse played a huge role in Brian’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931045421-62DBVCB5RWF7R4ADO1FM/03.+dave+kingman+7up+poster.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Dave Kingman Brian’s “Number 10” was Dave Kingman, who hit 442 home runs over the course of his 16-year career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931072242-1N21IAONIA12WJK037PI/04.+cubs+on+wgn.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Cubs on WGN In April of 1948, WGN broadcast their first Cubs baseball game. The relationship lasted 72 years, and was a major factor in the Cubs’ popularity nationwide, despite being a losing team for much of that stretch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931099211-KKAZBB1JVNTVU9ORDOSU/06.+dave+kingman+day.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Dave Kingman Day The Cubs made August 7, 1980 Dave Kingman Day at Wrigley Field. The problem was, Kingman was on the DL and decided he’d rather spend the day on a boat than being honored at the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931203149-4IWMI5IP4UE1NQQOBFXP/07.+Section+420+seats.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Section 420 Upper deck, first base side. Brian’s favorite view in the stadium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931227532-JB54MAEDITG1EJGVJOTM/08.+ballpark+waking+up.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Wrigley Waking Up Brian posts pictures of the ballpark when he gets there, while it is still relatively empty, and they’re some of my favorite posts by anyone I follow. This is one such photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931252076-7J8UCTUSQI9OO6Y6ES3L/09.+bartman+game.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 2003 NLCS Game 6 There are some instances when the air gets heavy inside Wrigley Field. Like the one pictured here, which happened October 14, 2003. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931275221-XTF0EXCGT32W8ZPBPB5L/10.+Babe+Ruth%27s+called+shot.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1932 World Series Game 3 Did Babe Ruth really “call his shot”? There have been a number of conflicting stories over the years about one of baseball’s most famous moments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931376072-PEPS0F9J4714L2U7XCN4/11.+Billy+Jurges.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Billy Jurges Billy was shot by Violet Popovich at the Hotel Carlos in 1932. Violet said she loved “Bill Jurges for himself - and not for his place in the public eye or his popularity.” Love hurts, apparently. SABR Bio by Paul Geisler Jr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931401560-E80YDOH3M5WRJ6VPGB4Q/12.+Mark+Koenig.jpeg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Mark Koenig A former teammate on the Yankees of Babe Ruth, Koenig replaced the injured Jurges on the Cubs roster. SABR Bio by Daniel Shirley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931425239-RTX16RYX4CNQ46K24ZFJ/13.+Charlie+Root.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charlie Root Perhaps unfairly, Charlie Root’s name and legacy are indelibly intertwined with one of baseball’s most enduring and intriguing legends. SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931453393-C0QXX7KZY6VYRO9YAX6O/14.+Wrigley+Field+shirts.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Fans of Wrigley Field, Itself Not too many stadiums across the globe have their own fan base, or a profitable line of merchandise specifically referencing the building, and not the team which plays there. Wrigley Field has both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931477901-FLE2GXSAI4MG6SK6FUWC/15.+Ed+Hartig.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ed Hartig Official Cubs Historian Ed Hartig holds up the famed W Flag in honor of a Cubs victory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931503528-AS2J45P753520TZHXYWZ/16.+1942+program.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The War Kept Wrigley Without Lights In 1942, P.K. Wrigley had Wrigley Field wired for lights. The materials were delivered, and the lights were ready to be installed. But Wrigley felt those materials could better serve the nation by being donated to the war effort, so he scrapped the plans for night games and gave the 165 tons of steel to Great Lakes Naval Base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931524927-OCL06CASE08GUZ9HKA4J/17.+Charles+Weeghman.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charles Weeghman The December 30, 1915, Sporting News said of Weeghman, “He is a man who has made himself, having started as a waiter in a restaurant, and now he owns a dozen or so of his own.” Weeghman parlayed his fortune into the ownership of the Federal League’s Chi-Feds, and in 1914 he built Weeghman Park on the corner of Clark and Addison streets for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931597698-T0QALNS1B3H0QJ67QE28/18.+West+Side+Grounds.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Chicago’s West Side Grounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931616417-BCZHSSF3K0IV773Z69ZG/19.+Federal+League+Park.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni Chicago’s Federal League Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931571037-2LCHWWANVOEEPSF0UE7N/20.+Chicago+Federals.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Chi-Feds Chicago’s Federal League Team was known as the Chi-Feds in 1914. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931634134-P0HMIKH9QVWTL7W6DLV7/21.+Chicago+Whales.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Chicago Whales In 1915, the team was re-named the Whales after a public name-the-team contest whose results, in typical Chicago political fashion, were maybe kinda sorta absolutely rigged. The team went on to win the Federal League Championship with an 86-66 record. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931660827-Y1MC9A3T5QWTJOJDFJ8U/22.+Kenesaw+Mountain+Landis.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis While many baseball fans are generally aware that Landis heard a case involving Major League Baseball prior to becoming the game’s first commissioner, relatively little was known about the lawsuit - until recently. The lawsuit involved allegations by the Federal League which contended that the two major leagues (the American League and the National League) had illegally monopolized the baseball industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931682928-L9P9DSZ49R6NJ1UVMKIM/23.+Taft+sells+the+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Charles P. Taft Sells The Team On January 20, 1916, Charles Weeghman and his associates turned over $500,000 to Charles P. Taft in exchange for ownership of the Chicago Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931705565-IDEEPY7R60VAVFDJ82LE/24.+Taft+throws+out+first+pitch.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - William Howard Taft Throws Out The First Pitch William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, threw out the first first ball on April 14, 1910, from a box seat before the then-Washington Nationals played the Philadelphia Athletics. He was the first President to ever throw out a first pitch, but nearly every one since has followed in his footsteps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931730846-ENSDTNCY0JK3YOLO8EPO/25.+Jimmy+Carter.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Jimmy Carter President Carter loved playing softball so much that he actually had a field installed on the White House grounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931757621-WPRGUUOX6T2NNYDVFWOH/26.+opening+day+1916.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Cubs Opening Day, 1916 While Weeghman Park had been around for a couple years, April 20, 1916 was the first time the Cubs played a game there. They’ve played (almost all of) their home games at that location ever since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931782750-K71JVHQANH1X0F2BX9HY/27.+Marquee+in+1935.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Marquee A very early iteration of the famous marquee promotes the 1935 World Series between the Cubs and the Tigers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931811242-8TNP5EHQX5RSNH22VR2W/27.+marquee+in+1945+i+think.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Minor Changes By 1945, the marquee had already seen some changes to its look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931849148-FY4VHGEVWPMB9OEOB3M3/28.+Scoreboard+being+built.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Building The Scoreboard Another iconic part of the Wrigley aesthetic is the scoreboard, which was installed in 1937. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931874641-W6Y5GPP0285863N8YBKN/29.+Scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Scoreboard It’s rare to see a picture of the scoreboard this early, or from this angle, but here it is in 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931904459-B5R3FYZGLG9DSYFGVWMR/30.+Inside+The+Scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Inside the Scoreboard It’s not a very luxurious space, but man, is it awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931931244-VRSJ8T2GT9MLCKBETWJP/31.+Brian+in+the+Scoreboard.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian in the Scoreboard Sometimes if you know a guy, you get access to things, places, or people someone else might not otherwise get. Brian not only knows a guy; sometimes he IS the guy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931953231-FBPUW9BCLR9BLI99Y16Z/32.+View+from+Inside+the+Scoreboard.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - View From the Scoreboard Bring your binoculars, because it’s a long shot from home plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614931978382-OSDXT6ZDFCEGL80FGHTK/33.+Sam+Snead.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Sam Snead The only person to ever hit the scoreboard with a struck ball from home plate was the original Slammin’ Sammy, who did so with a golf ball during a Father’s Day exhibition in 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932003435-LUKT4HT2TZMTTSNAR5SQ/34.+Clock+installed.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Clock The clock above the scoreboard wasn’t installed until 1941. It originally had a white face, but has since been painted green to match the scoreboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932027779-EKORN0AMHJX1L8AMWEL5/35.+bleacher+walls.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Bleacher Walls Notice how there are no baskets hanging over the playing field from the top of the bleacher wall in this photo. Notice how the top of the wall is flat, instead of pointed, like it is today. Both of those features were changed to prevent the “Bum Races” (depicted here), and kept drunk Cubs fans from falling 12’ onto the unforgiving crushed brick of the warning track on the field of play. So, no, the baskets weren’t installed to help Ernie Banks get to 500 home runs. They were installed to catch drunks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932056417-42YNJ4GVPXKIY7RI9TOP/36.+building+the+bleachers.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The Bleachers Originally built in 1937, the bleachers are home to Wrigley Field’s “Bleacher Bums.” Playful chants during the game of “Left Field Sucks!” and “Right Field Sucks!” make the bleachers an endearing place for a child to take in a game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932085010-N817URNQJZ6DPGN6D7WX/37.+installing+the+ivy+in+1937.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Installing the Ivy Once the permanent bleacher walls were installed in 1937, it made it possible for the ivy to be installed later that same year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932108367-5AQQOH4BH9MCMYKGL53E/38.+AAGPBL+All+Star+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1943 AAGPBL All-Star Game The first night game to be held at Wrigley wasn’t 8/8/88, and it wasn’t 8/9/88 either. It was 7/1/43, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played their All-Star Game under temporary, portable lights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932136910-L7U2OQ8XL0YG3ITI30ZT/39.+Lamotta+knocks+out+Satterfield.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - September 12, 1946 Jake LaMotta knocks out Bob Satterfield under temporary portable lights at Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932168695-XSFCE0DELJGHQ5ANTIN2/40.+harlem+globetrotters.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - August 21, 1954 14,000 fans showed up to see the Harlem Globetrotters beat George Mikan’s US All-Stars under the lights at Wrigley. The court was set up between the pitcher’s mound and second base, with temporary lights surrounding the court only, so the fans in the bleachers were sitting in the dark watching the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932198035-LGB2JBRYXLXWA5ZS2UA0/41.+harry+caray+7th+inning+stretch.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - The 7th Inning Stretch Harry Caray actually made singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th Inning Stretch famous over on the South Side, when he would do it as the White Sox broadcaster along with organist Nancy Faust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932261208-Z0BZ5Z4HZGVEGKSM33A4/42.+cubs+uniform+history.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni The Cubs’ uniform progression over time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932229238-8Y8Q3202N6GZXGRASUOF/43.+me+at+353.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 353’ To Right Every good Cubs fan knows the dimensions by heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932283866-SYSAMKKXMO1UZCU9WIK6/44.+International+Softball+tournament.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - 1933 International Softball Tournament Held during the Century of Progress, it was the first international tournament of its kind, and was the seed that grew into the idea for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932308169-R5C68DMVF72HQ1MHSQ5U/45.+soccer.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Soccer at Wrigley Wrigley Field is, and always has been, a multi-sport facility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932336063-0FGC7P1LE3GRQJ17VWGF/46.+Wrestling.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Wrestling at Wrigley On more than just one occasion, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932366711-ZX7X722RNM8QUES7PZ7P/47.+ski+jumping+contest.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ski Jumping at Wrigley I swear I didn’t photoshop this picture, and that it actually happened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932393701-P1X3FU2H81MQ9R98SNQD/48.+hockey.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Hockey at Wrigley The Winter Classic has been held at Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932421149-X0OXIOZF1ME107BFQLDY/49.+political+rally.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Political Rallies at Wrigley Click THIS LINK for a truly insane list of many of the wild non-baseball events that have happened in Wrigley’s history. From a rodeo to a car dealership, and everything in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932450814-PZ28CBT7DNXHXBA4ZEGB/50.+rock+concerts.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Concerts at Wrigley Here is Ernie Banks up on stage with Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam’s 2013 concert at Wrigley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932477157-F2XLEK1PZR4RT09D3ZBS/51.+Gale+Sayers.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Football at Wrigley The Bears actually played their home games at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970, meaning Gale Sayers’ famed 6-TD performance (pictured here) happened at Wrigley, not at Soldier Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932520435-R8T79LR2KQ325TFY3FKV/52.+car+racing+at+soldier+field.png Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Auto Racing at Soldier Field The past was weird. And like, trust me, I fully understand that the present is weird, too. But, man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932550093-WEDNZEO3Y92NQABRD7HT/53.+Ernie+and+the+Bernardonis.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Ernie and the Bernardois I bet if you asked Brian, he would play in a band with this name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932593487-MPLXTPF0TNW6QVQR6SU2/54.+Rapoport+book.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Let’s Play Two Ron Rapoport’s book about Ernie Banks Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932619362-E03IVIEOLI4VU1Z057MA/55.+Brian+and+his+oldest+daughter.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian and his Daughter Standing near the same spot where she took her first steps, which is roughly where Brian’s grandmother played softball during the 1933 International Softball Tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932661445-4IXTQY2JJBQUV4XZ2VBM/56.+Brian%27s+wedding.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s Wedding Also at Wrigley. It’s almost like this place is kind of important to him, or something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932687487-1RP7IVDMHHL2P8QXO9UD/57.+Brian%27s+corner+at+Yak-Zies.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s Corner at Yak-Zies Where Brian and I first met while I was a bartender at the Wrigleyville location of Yak-Zies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932718692-CH9H89Q8TKES7RRDSBKC/58.+Me+and+the+Cubs+security+guards.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - My Cubs Security Guard Friends My favorite regulars were always the Cubs security guards who would come in after nearly every game for a quick drink or twelve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932752825-S8QVBRIWWT0NRS5IJDS1/59.+me+and+bill.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - When You’re Here, You’re Family Wait. Is that Olive Garden’s slogan? I don’t care, it fits here, too. These guys truly did become family to me over the years, and they’re what I miss most about being in Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932781345-3YD2S1SXQUWVXTVPTFQ6/60.+brian%27s+ring.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian’s World Series Ring There aren’t too many people who have an official World Series ring from the Chicago Cubs. Brian is one of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932810154-L3G0FOIF3HF082RCXOSK/61.+Brian+and+Tom+Ricketts+9-20-2017.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Brian Getting His Ring Tom Ricketts, himself, presented Brian with his World Series ring. Can you even imagine? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932838453-43ZK2FQK4GBS5KNXZSZL/62.+West+Side+Grounds+plaque.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - West Side Grounds Plaque Along with Mike Reischl, Brian was instrumental in getting a plaque put in place at the location of the West Side Grounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932863988-BXGB4ZIS0MDLJLG7Q2GG/63.+Brian+at+Wrigley.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Oldest Ballparks in America Wrigley is the second oldest Major League ballpark still in existence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932893991-IKHOGCOVGWVH1C9BGNYO/64.+Marcus+Aurelius.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Marcus Aurelius Brian named his company, Aurelius Public Affairs, after Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932919051-2FT3YUKMB6WT65W3ZNO9/65.+Svengoolie.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Svengoolie The character, portrayed by Rich Koz, is the host of a long-running local program in the Chicagoland area, and in recent years has expanded nationally. The show features low-budget and classic horror and sci-fi movies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614932952226-YLMPFO1Y6DNWW0MXJXCG/66.+Cap+Anson.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Cap Anson While Cap Anson may have been a brutal racist who singlehandedly instituted the color barrier into Major League baseball, this card from the 1888 Goodwin Champions N162 set may be one of the most beautiful baseball cards ever made. He was still a racist, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614933034207-73MPDUTNVZ56KMUVONOO/67.+old+chicago+newspapers.jpg Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni A timeline of defunct Chicago newspapers. And, hoo boy, are there a lot of them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614933008245-BLOCB4I7XBTPGTVOUEDL/68.+Brian%27s+twitter.JPG Past Episodes - 0106 - Brian Bernardoni - Follow Brian Online Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0105 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982531325-IT2GET7Y35VVR1E3CKEX/craig+purcell.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928188517-GOJJIGVEDIR0XR01KQM5/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell Me and Craig Purcell after recording our interview at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928541812-0HQ90K6FL9B8CALY5RXK/IMG_5625.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Location Map This photo of a very early brochure, which includes a map of where the Field of Dreams Movie Site could be found, is courtesy of Matt Rumpfeldt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928574893-PYKGJ314GIXHDIFMWJ2C/IMG_5626.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Early Literature The back of the brochure describes a bit about the process to build the field, and what very little merchandise was available for sale shortly after the film’s release. Photo courtesy of Matt Rumpfeldt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928615327-EOHZ9CX1FP30JBRP1SFO/01.+1969+Cubs.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The 1969 Cubs With a roster featuring five All Stars, four future Hall of Fame players, and a Hall of Fame manager, the 1969 Chicago Cubs were in first place for 155 days of the season until they famously collapsed in mid-September, losing 17 of their final 25 games to finish in second. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928642821-704MRMCYW8XVZHWV2KJ8/02.+The+Sandlot.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Sandlot Remember, kid: heroes get remembered, but legends never die. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928667522-180U30E3Q4W5TKY1PN6A/03.+Ertl+Toy+Company.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ertl Company Founded in 1945, the Ertl Company is based in Dyersville, Iowa, and is most known for its die-cast metal replicas of farm equipment and vehicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928691373-K31ULZZB6I6FU1T3TNDF/04.+Dyersville+Commercial.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Dyersville Commercial Proudly serving the area since 1873, the Dyersville Commercial is the official newspaper for the cities of Dyersville, Farley, Earlville, Holy Cross, New Vienna, Luxemburg, and Worthington, along with Dubuque County, Delaware County, and the Western Dubuque County Community School District. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928743062-92QVPCDA852BQHO2GVR6/05.+Filming.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Filming Field of Dreams Some behind the scenes images of the filming of the movie shed some interesting light on the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928785239-W7EQ1WOTKL6ZQXUJ6UHG/06.+F.I.S.T..jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - F.I.S.T. This 1978 film starring Sylvester Stallone was filmed in Dubuque from May through June of 1977. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928808239-MU9HF9ERPRW9LD2CYHJR/07.+Shoeless+Joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Shoeless Joe This novel by W. P. Kinsella about a struggling Iowa farmer who hears a voice telling him to build a baseball diamond in the middle of his corn field, was adapted for film as Field of Dreams – a critically acclaimed blockbuster that made the already beloved novel a sensation. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928832654-0BCCB4ZXTZFQNNUT4J0C/08.+Wedding.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Wedding of Your Dreams Want to Get Married and/or have your reception at the Field of Dreams Movie Site? Now you can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928855605-O2XFCL94I6SQV5WK6LP1/09.+denise+stillman.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Denise Stillman After a family trip to the Field of Dreams Movie Site, Denise and her husband learned it was for sale. She founded Go the Distance Baseball, and with the help of investors including baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, purchased the site in December 2012. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928880580-4HV8KRYYIEITWGM6L4XF/10.+Craig+in+uniform.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Craig in Uniform When he suggested that tour guides wear the authentic wool uniforms, Craig was thinking of how much it would add to the aesthetic. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t considering the summer heat and humidity of the Midwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928960429-CQOVLMHN4CGFPFS3X302/Harvey+on+TV.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Harvey The movie playing on the TV in the kitchen during Field of Dreams (and during tours of the house, today) is the 1950 film Harvey, featuring Jimmy Stewart. The story is about a man whose best friend is a pooka named Harvey - in the form of a 6’3.5” invisible rabbit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928998023-9GP4B8E8GV4H9VM49IBW/12.+Phil+Alden+Robinson+discusses+a+scene+with+Burt+Lancaster+on+the+set.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Burt Lancaster The Oscar-winning actor was 74 years old during the filming of Field of Dreams, which was his last film to appear in theaters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614928923837-L5YS5B0B8KWWLT7G6QR8/11.+Ray+Liotta.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Though Ray Liotta has been told that Field of Dreams is a great movie, he has yet to see it for himself. Liotta's mother was ill while they were filming the movie, which he mentally associates with the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929028025-U0GI64K4JCFBI0143A7M/12.5+if+you+build+it.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - If You Build It… He will come. I promise you. That’s the line. He will. Not they will. He will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929175497-EJLKIXREOHNRUB8JB1P8/14.5.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell This is a photograph of the farmhouse and property as it was presented to Universal Studios during the selection process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929224549-4ABWTU7GJZVYBDL6TG6J/movie+crew.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Crew Photo Back when the film was still using the working title Shoeless Joe, before being changed to Field of Dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929200173-BKVXUEB7TL8VYJS2X7MS/13.+Sue+Riedel.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Sue Riedel A member of the Iowa Film Board, Sue drove around the state to take pictures of local farms looking for sites which met Universal Studios’ qualifications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929265097-YLXRFQK6EYPT1NUW3S48/15.+Power+Lines.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell The utility lines above the field ran along the original property lines between the Ameskamp land and Lansing land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929290456-DYDFEYQGT5HH8R87YAHK/16.+Al+and+Rita+Ameskamp.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Al and Rita Ameskamp The Ameskamp family gave up some corn from their farm land to allow the field to be built for the filming of the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614929999168-E5CFM7II6GGR7C0I0RBI/17.+Don+Lansing.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Don Lansing Don Lansing owned the rest of the property, as well as the farm house used during the filming of the movie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930032736-MT3SDYA4CQ9J5TTTXZ9S/18.+whole+property.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Is This Heaven? It’s Iowa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930055040-B24RFH0S2W06PVX62W1N/19.+future+plans.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Concept Go the Distance Baseball bought 193 acres, including the movie site and land around it, for $3.4 million in December 2012, pledging to build All-Star Ballpark Heaven with 24 fields and an 88,000-square-foot indoor facility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930076607-3WRO9309EUXROLXM23SJ/20.+future+planss.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Temporary Stadium? This won't be the first time that MLB has built a temporary stadium for just one game. In 2016, a 12,500-seat stadium was erected at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930104537-2OXS1PQ0HRFYRNPZ1P7S/21.+1906+Dubuque+County+land+map.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Original Property Lines This 1906 Dubuque County land map shows the property lines of the original Lansing parcels of land, which are outlined in black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930132054-TYEY22Q7VJVS4ARNQ5DC/22.+If+You+Build+It.png Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - If You Build It… Dwier Brown’s 2014 book If You Build It... is a funny and moving memoir about Fathers, Fate and Field of Dreams. Buy It HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930164324-8PDDCFWIZ2CGXQFOOKA6/23.+Terence+Mann.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Interviews About Moonlight Graham The scene toward the end of Field of Dreams where Terence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) interviews the old men at the bar about Archibald “Moonlight” Graham was not scripted. Those were Doc’s real life friends, telling real stories about him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930191170-V90CZMYF4LAGHC16TXI3/24.+Corn.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - The Corn The filming schedule for Field of Dreams was based on the height of the corn. It had to be Kevin Costner's height (he's listed at 6'1") or taller when the voice first spoke to him. With a thumbs up from the state of Iowa, filmmakers dammed a nearby creek to make sure the corn had enough water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930217552-67VSAOCHGLHQXRBMLHK0/25.+ghost+players.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Ghost Players What began as a team of four in Dyersville in the fall of 1990 grew to a full entourage of 30 individuals known as the Ghost Players. They tour the world, in uniform, bringing the joy of baseball and the Field of Dreams to millions of people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930238945-CUO85I4UT0YFO0XO6ESM/26.+Ray+Liotta+batting.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Switched Hitter “For a month, I was batting left-handed and throwing right-handed. So one day the director came down to see how I was doing and I could see them mumbling… and they said, ‘Do you mind, it doesn’t matter if it is historically accurate.’ So they made me go right-handed.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930278574-CELY9HOGRRH72OJCVLCA/27.+Lemon+Peel+Baseballs.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Lemon Peel Base Balls This 4-piece hand stitched leather skinned baseball was one of the first style baseballs used. Dark leather was used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. Buy a replica HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930314443-W7XBSLDEE0WR7L7KMQJ6/28.+Take+Me+Out+To+The+Ballgame.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” The song’s little-known verses tell a deeper story about a woman and her desire to be part of the rooting crowd. Her name was Katie Casey, and in 1908 she was affirmably baseball’s biggest fan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930353763-8NIEWX82YHRPHAHT9J92/29.+Cole+Hamels+No+Hitter.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - July 25, 2015 Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930381086-9GNZ13ZRNQIAW9IH7WGT/30.+First+Game.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - July 25, 1995 20 years earlier to the day, Craig and his daughter attended their first game together: a 6-5 Cubs victory over the Montréal Expos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930406065-PZXN9R58ZJ0H8R1I5SUN/31.+Wheat+Penny.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Wheat Pennies The Wheat Penny is a staple in American society and has endured all steps of American 20th-century growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930430521-RDD2RVMFBA8HU98W7EAU/32.+me+playing+as+a+kid.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Playing at the Field of Dreams My mom got this eerie double-exposure photograph of me playing at the Field of Dreams as a child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930459870-4X4UHBW0YHTBTS0KZXTI/33.+Craig%27s+other+work.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Craig’s Other Work Dyersville Commercial Cascade Pioneer Manchester Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930490575-HJ090HHUSXLLGHH2MK5W/34.+Red+Faber.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Red Faber Could Red Have Kept The Black Sox White? by Craig Purcell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930521220-8WDQQN5XPUO794LD64AU/35.+website.JPG Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Field of Dreams Movie Site Visit their website HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614930552443-BUWJRWZTUX5N1AB2SH50/36.+social+media.jpg Past Episodes - 0105 - Craig Purcell - Field of Dreams Movie Site on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0104 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982379341-RM67Y4ZI9HIJVIOVS4PS/phil+s+dixon.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924303033-4AI5FNWF3BNX5F6OH6L4/cover+photo.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon Phil S. Dixon, John Donaldson historian Pete Gorton, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924937455-WHY403SBL6RJMGCC9SR1/01.+Eddie+Dwight.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Eddie Dwight Eddie Dwight played professional baseball from 1925-1937, including two stints with the Kansas City Monarchs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924961567-HKL1J3S3ZGFVTGPVTLTQ/02.+nlbm+incorporation.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - September 28, 1990 The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum files for incorporation. Signing the incorporation papers (L to R): Alfred “Slick” Surratt (board member), Larry Lester (treasurer), and John “Buck” O’Neil (chairman of the board) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924988922-GDHYZC6Z8IX27DH15W5V/03.+carroll+ray+mothell.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Carroll Ray Mothell A 15-year veteran of the Negro Leagues, Mothell was known for his versatility. He could play every position, and it was said you could use him “most any place, any time.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925011651-X0GLN9M7A361FQZINU57/04.+Kansas+City+Call.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Kansas City Call The Call is an African-American weekly newspaper founded in 1919 by Chester A. Franklin. It serves the black community of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925036194-MQ5HDZGIER5LJ75O7DA8/05.+kevin+harlan.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Kevin Harlan Kevin graduated from the University of Kansas in 1982 before becoming a voice regularly heard in households nationwide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925062227-N4XILZSPVC58VTLXUPQ0/06.+buck+oneil.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Buck O’Neil Buck O’Neil was a first baseman and manager in the Negro American League, mostly with the Kansas City Monarchs. After his playing days, he worked as a scout, and eventually became the first African American coach in Major League Baseball history. SABR Bio by Bob LeMoine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925090854-7GWEDKR0LNMP7P1U43E1/07.+jesse+williams.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jesse Williams Jesse was a shortstop from 1939-1954, mainly with the Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis Clowns, and in Cuba and Mexico. He was a member of the 1939, 1941, and 1942 Negro League champion Monarchs teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925119414-4HS40JHXWQDJU2JEBSX3/08.+doolittle+young.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Maurice “Doolittle” Young Maurice was a pitcher for the 1927 Kansas City Monarchs. For the year 1927, Maurice pitched while his brother, Tom, did the catching. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925145396-JTJOQKS0ZVV0ZKXF9SML/09.+horace+peterson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Horace Peterson Horace Michael “Pete” Peterson, III was a historian who captured the oral histories that helped shaped the Midwest. He founded the Black Archives of Mid-America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925204954-MSN6H80GMLQK2N4E4DV1/11.+charles+a+hazley.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Charles A. Hazley Hazley served on the Kansas City Council from 1971 to 1991. But he was also known for his fierce advocacy for inner-city residents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925166263-OQ1EFXNSRIEBIOVWEWIB/10.+emanuel+cleaver+ii.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Emanuel Cleaver II Emanuel Cleaver II is a United Methodist pastor and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Cleaver represents Missouri's 5th congressional district, elected in 2005. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925462119-6KSMRJKCF7AOZIKG6RSX/12.+ultimate+kansas+city+trivia+quiz+book.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Ultimate Kansas City Baseball Trivia Quiz Book Written by Phil S. Dixon and released in 1992 Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925517404-JVAKMQWCZ1TVMOWEQEFY/13.+nlbm.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum The timeline that guides you through the first few exhibits at the NLBM is truly powerful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925595416-LN8KFJ9389ORD8U9NQU5/14.+stokely+carmichael.jpeg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Stokely Carmichael Stokely Carmichael was a prominent organizer in the civil rights movement in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925617542-063Q4Q3UJR5OZ1KL7COG/15.+ralph+abernathy.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Ralph Abernathy Ralph Abernathy (center, smiling) on a march during the Civil Rights movement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925640509-DK0UJKKA7R28GOE3AUIX/16.+elisha+scott.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Elisha Scott, Sr. Elisha Scott, Sr. argued many civil rights and school segregation cases throughout Kansas and the Midwest. He gained a reputation in Kansas as taking the most impossible cases, and winning them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925667769-TLOUIPXEDEMQCDHVPEJ7/17.+gilkerson+union+giants.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Robert Gilkerson Owned and operated by Robert Gilkerson, the Lost Island Giants were a predecessor to Gilkerson’s Union Giants, a team that would be a staple of the Midwestern barnstorming circuit well into the 1930s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925693922-99Y0VE81R2XKIIB5OP0T/18.+wayne+terwilliger.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Wayne Terwilliger Wayne Terwilliger spent more than 60 years in a baseball uniform, either as a player, coach, or manager. He is the only person other than Connie Mack to have managed a team after his 80th birthday. SABR Bio by C. Paul Rogers III https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925719866-934JXTVU8J3RKW1QGWSR/19.+elrod+hendricks.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Elrod Hendricks Elrod Hendricks spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles teams that won three consecutive pennants from 1969-1971, including the 1970 World Series. SABR Bio by Rory Costello https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925740817-1T1WWQ0SWRN3YJZFLL03/20.+frank+robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Frank Robinson The only player in MLB history to win the MVP Award in both the American League and National League. Robinson also went on to become the first African American manager in MLB history. SABR Bio by Maxwell Kates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925794214-1XT2J24S957KB1N2C4WG/21.+rube+foster.jpeg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Rube Foster Known as the “Father of Negro League Baseball,” Foster developed some of the greatest athletes in the history of the game. In the 1905 season, Foster won 51 games as a pitcher, including a stretch of 44 consecutive victories. SABR Bio by Tim Odzer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925818022-2A3VJHK0Q12L67JT6FQF/22.+ernie+banks.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Ernie Banks Before he went on to hit 512 home runs in the Major Leagues, Ernie Banks played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925849231-USR2I7768XTHFV3IQKU1/23.+hank+aaron.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Hank Aaron Before he went on to hit 755 home runs in the Major Leagues, Hank Aaron played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro Leagues. SABR Bio by Bill Johnson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925874538-3BH191VGZIJPSGV7ZSJN/24.+satchel+paige+tombstone.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel Paige’s Tombstone A legend in life. An immortal in death. See the other side HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925920878-T8CFMVPXBSHPC14MC7EA/25.+larry+fritsch+jackie+robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Larry Fritsch Card Set This set, produced in 1986, featured 119 cards of Negro League Baseball Stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614925952548-S4SHYRZK7YAB1D2HBMLC/26.+1993+ted+williams+jud+wilson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jud Wilson The Jud Wilson card from the Ted Williams baseball card set which Phil S. Dixon compiled. SABR Bio by Joseph Gerard Other players Phil mentioned, who were part of this set: - Buck O’Neil - Josh Gibson - Webster McDonald - Vic Harris - Toni Stone - Ted Radcliffe - Leon Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926019066-AUD01O6CWQLETKRROMCL/27.+cool+papa+bell.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dixon’s Negro League Greats This card of Cool Papa Bell is one of 45 cards in the set put out by Phil S. Dixon in 1987. The set broke historical ground by becoming the first U.S. baseball card set produced by an African-American. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926058721-AV9BRU33BLKXL1YE9DR2/28.+dink+mothell.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Carroll Ray “Dink” Mothell Phil mentioned him earlier in the interview, too, but this is the card of Mothell that Phil put in his 1987 card set. In 1927, Mothell was selected as the Negro National League’s most outstanding second baseman. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926132423-K3NYOLH45VUFAN51V18G/29.+1924+negro+league+world+series+panoramic.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon 1924 Negro League World Series panoramic photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926192210-0OE5PXS5GK536095750Y/30.+negro+baseball+leagues+photographic+history.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Negro Baseball Leagues: A Photographic History This book earned Phil the 1992 Casey Award for the year’s best baseball book. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926216546-MBEBU5RKNBL9RORLD5ST/31.+chet+brewer.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Chet Brewer In 1929, Chet Brewer pitched 31 consecutive scoreless innings. He won 30 games in 1930, then in 1931 defeated a Major League All-Star team of Joe Kuhel and brothers Lloyd and Paul Waner. He threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Lakes team in 1931, won 34 games in 1933, and 33 more in 1934. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926249802-V2AUQ3ONV9ZF0TFDUPP3/32.+1926+chicago+american+giants.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1926 Chicago American Giants Road Uniform This is a replica of the uniform William “Steel Arm” Tyler wore as a member of the 1926 Chicago American Giants. Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926294561-H4WKCFDEQU8L7Q0LLNAP/33.+jack+matchett.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Clarence “Jack” Matchett Seen here reclining on the ground near his teammates, Jack Matchett was a pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1940s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926319742-SNV2W8BF9UT9IIF6Z9B7/34.+Jay+McShann.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Jay McShann Jay McShann was a jazz pianist and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster, and Walter Brown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926386900-STJIUZCLG3M3YE4C2XYH/35.+newt+joseph.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Newt Joseph Walter Lee “Newt” Joseph was the starting third baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs and hit the first home run of the 1924 Negro World Series. He hit for the cycle on Christmas Eve during the 1928 Cuban Winter League season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926420673-KTUBMDPSSO25DZXRZTPR/36.+1946+monarchs+team+signed+baseball.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1946 KC Monarchs Team Signed Ball See the other panels HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926458412-U39JOB51DEPW6366THNQ/37.+hank+aaron+rookies.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Hank Aaron Rookie Card While the prices of Hank’s 1954 Topps rookie card have steadily climbed over the years, the prices that high-end graded copies realize pale in comparison to that of a Mickey Mantle rookie card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926615232-4JHJJJ6N2HBFIH99ECT9/38.+verdell+mathis.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Verdell Mathis Verdell Mathis was one of the great left-handed pitchers of the 1940s, but since he played for the Memphis Red Sox, he never got the credit he deserved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926646376-5IA7QI3C4ZS41FNIMNA7/39.+floyd+boldridge.jpeg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Floyd Boldridge Floyd Boldridge was born in 1898 in Lexington, Missouri. He was the owner and an employee of the GEM barbershop located at 111 South 11 Street in the Courthouse Square well into his 80s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926720731-3ZBRQ872UFXA7VTK14BH/40.+dave+malarcher.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dave Malarcher David "Gentleman Dave" Julius Malarcher - who died in Chicago in 1982 at the age of 81 - was a sort of Renaissance man in the annals of Negro League baseball. He was a college graduate, a World War I veteran, a scholar, a poet, an activist, a slick-fielding third baseman, and a championship-winning manager. Hear him speak HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926746332-2O093Z8KP59SDK8KL1XL/41.+only+the+ball+was+white.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Only The Ball Was White Robert W. Peterson’s 1992 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926778561-AMVOO89P6TN549YO6MZ9/42.+1931+homestead+grays.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1931 Homestead Grays Phil S. Dixon’s 2009 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926836728-BS917XHSPEWP0JWFQ7CM/43.+satchel+paige.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel Paige Paige pitched whenever he could. Wherever he could. For whoever he could. He was in no way a common man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926866501-GUJMNQWUULY82PVHUHWZ/44.+dizzy+and+daffy.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Dizzy And Daffy Dean Barnstorming Tour Phil S. Dixon’s 2019 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926902875-TQD05EKL1YOQYXOJ1Y6I/45.+dizzy+and+daffy.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - The Brothers Dean Dizzy Dean and Daffy Dean were at the top of the pitching world in 1934. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926952466-JK6VVTYYNCDD5CM4RSXN/46.+rube+foster.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Andrew “Rube” Foster: A Harvest On Freedom’s Fields Phil S. Dixon’s 2009 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614926983269-SFTE3PTQQV00G219ZO6C/47.+dizzy+and+satchel.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Dizzy and Satch Satchel Paige became the first black player to play at Wrigley Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927011435-2Y3FGYCQB3CFZZTA9EAT/48.+frank+duncan.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Frank Duncan Frank “Dunk” Duncan was a member of the 1923, ‘24, ‘25, and ‘29 Kansas City Monarchs pennant-winning teams. He possessed one of the most accurate throwing arms in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927041191-TCTCOLUEIBZ6DDT787AR/49.+satchel.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Satchel: The Life And Times of an American Legend Larry Tye’s 2010 book Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927069563-QC9QA8S84W3I4P68X6D4/50.+lou+johnson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Lou Johnson When the Kansas City A's began play in 1955, the Monarchs found themselves paying increasingly exorbitant rent and fees for use of Municipal Stadium. As a result, the team played most of its games on the road that year, and began selling its players to other clubs, both in the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927106298-S7UF1Q9749OMOYJ499J0/51.+1934+kansas+city+monarchs.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1934 Kansas City Monarchs This team barnstormed all over the country, and played the Belleville, Illinois Stags a number of times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927131743-IFAKAK9015K9IPDG5LDK/52.+1935+claybrook+tigers.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - 1935 Claybrook Tigers Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe would join the Claybrook Tigers in 1936, acting as a player/manager for the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927154196-7GHBDPJP9OSRMV9LN5GL/53.+house+of+david+winnipeg.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Barnstorming in Canada This advertisement from the Winnipeg Tribune on June 6, 1935 promotes a game between the Kansas City Monarchs and the House of David. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927179956-WZS9K9K0T5BT3W8FJ4U2/54.+RBI.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Founded in 1989, RBI’s goal is to provide young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927208632-7UECF66CS5P8S6ORZ7LQ/55.+john+mitchell.png Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - John Mitchell In 1971, John Mitchell became the first black player in the history of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927236389-0PVL14EBQPY16WN248AO/56.+darrell+stuckey.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Darrell Stuckey Stuckey was drafted by the Chargers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014, and was a team captain for four years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927261860-AG823HIHCGZQWM9DKL9R/57.+buck.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Buck O’Neil at the NLBM Buck O’Neil played a huge role in the founding of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Listen to him talk HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927290254-E36Q7QV1DIF9RXYHMN1D/58.+john+donaldson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - John Donaldson Pete Gorton has been carrying the torch for John Donaldson and his legacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927316989-5OEPGUX28BBN9QEZ5EQQ/59.+home+run+johnson.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Grant “Home Run” Johnson Johnson earned his nickname by hitting 60 home runs in 1894. He played professionally for 30 years, until he was 51 years old. He played with lesser teams until 1932, when he finally retired at age 58. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927348276-H9F2GNAXYNIJ37F8EOVI/60.+bill+monroe.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Bill Monroe Monroe played for 19 years before dying prematurely of tuberculosis at the age of 38. In his obituary, it was reported that Hall of Fame manager John McGraw had once said "Monroe was the greatest infielder he had ever seen." SABR Bio by Phil Williams https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927375277-W72WR22WNCXSTC6RK4OR/61.+phil+at+the+NLBM.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Follow Phil Online Twitter Facebook NLBAlive.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614927409755-0KHWJ46Y8C5XKFHSW959/62.+shoeless+joe.jpg Past Episodes - 0104 - Phil S. Dixon - Shoeless Joe at the Shipyards Delaware River Shipbuilding League Shoeless Joe A Draft Dodger? https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0103 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982249279-HBML3BHP34YPC2Y9YZ4V/graig+kreindler.png Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922308646-KRC1JOIRKJ2QP4VV9X8Q/cover+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler Me and Graig Kreindler at the opening reception of the Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit featuring his artwork at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922445508-SKUWK6QGQIWBJ95CP2KL/01.+1951+Bowman+Mickey+Mantle.png Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle This card features the illustration style which Graig mentions was common in the late-40s and early-50s style baseball card sets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922474422-7LWUHO34DIF6K2WSUBCE/02.+Original+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Original Photograph The original photograph upon which the illustration for the above card was based was almost certainly shot by New York Yankees team photographer Bob Olen in early 1951. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922501449-HN1BRNT7BXV7Q1EGPB6E/03.+Mickey+Mantle+2002.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Graig’s Painting For His Dad Completed in 2002, this was the first painting Graig did of a baseball scene. Mickey Mantle at the plate during the 1952 World Series at Ebbets Field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922526675-5LR4E0VLRWI50N7H0PMG/04.+Honus+Wagner+at+West+Side+Park+in+1909.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Caracoling Elephant This painting features Honus Wagner at Chicago’s West Side Park in 1909. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922555287-4UY7TB16AQPRZMON7LYO/05.+Carl+Hubbell+in+1937.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Hubbell Blanks Bees This painting features Carl Hubbell pitching for the New York Giants in 1937, wearing their short-lived baby blue-trimmed uniforms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922578350-XG8GLHKXWB0F7XWFROO5/06.+Banjo%2C+Batboy+Eddie+Bennett%2C+1921+%282010%29.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Banjo This painting features Yankees bat boy Eddie Bennett in 1921. SABR Bio by Peter Morris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922605887-4BK9JSN8GVL9TV5ZYWML/07.+The+Dugout.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Dugout This painting by Norman Rockwell is one of the most iconic paintings in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922634709-12OI9SY0UPA0M2IBQRTB/08.+The+Only+Patient+The+Doctor+Says+No+To.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Only Patient The Doctor Says “No” To This painting by Dean Cornwell was produced for a magazine advertisement in 1944. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922662198-W7BA9VH5GON65KEEMGT3/09.+The+Nation+Makers.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Nation Makers This painting by Howard Pyle was completed in 1902. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922684717-ELGRYUKMJDYRL1H5EMS9/10.+On+His+Holidays.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - On His Holidays, Norway This painting by John Singer Sargent was completed in 1901. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922711138-6C1QLUIHPWPOEVKDQDLL/11.+Summer+Entertainment.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Sommarnöje This painting by Anders Zorn, whose title roughly translates to “Summer Fun” or “Summer Entertainment” was completed in 1886. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922733654-P7M5N2WC4I33GG3NP5YW/12.+The+Second+of+May+in+Madrid.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The 2nd of May in Madrid This painting by Joaquín Sorolla was completed in 1884, and depicts the death of Pedro Velarde y Santillán during the defense of the Monteleon Artillery Barracks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922760038-2U5I9SSTQ7Z60ZM82CZL/13.+The+Elders+by+Peter+Fiore.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Elders This painting by Peter Fiore is an example of his use of light and shadows in landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922781278-Y2S4IJ0V4TU0N6YR3X2I/14.+Charles+Conlon+-+1913.jpeg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Charles Conlon Of the many truly iconic photos taken of Shoeless Joe Jackson over the years, this image by Charles Conlon in 1913 may be the most famous of them all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922812665-4AUE8160BXGFHL6BXVMX/george+burke+photo+of+ray+chapman.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - George Burke While most of Burke’s photos are from the 1930s, this photo of Ray Chapman was taken in 1920, or possibly even earlier. Chapman’s sad tale is told in the incredible book by Mike Sowell, The Pitch That Killed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922839296-28YU9QR3SA3RBSNX61PC/16.+George+Grantham+Bain+-+1917+WS+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - George Grantham Bain Not only was he an incredible photographer, he also founded the first news photograph service, Bain News, in 1898. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922861992-722FV4DIWL3RTVFG44QZ/17.+Paul+Thompson+-+1917.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Paul Thompson This shot of Joe Jackson can easily be dated to the 1917 World Series, thanks to the unique uniforms the team only wore for those games. Thompson was a prolific photographer, capturing images of the greats of the game in the early part of the 20th century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922884775-Q0FNI4AC30O8JS1JS2GF/18.+Honus+Wagner+1903.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Honus Wagner, 1903 Taken by an unnamed photographer from the Chicago Daily News, and now a part of the Chicago History Museum collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922912340-YYKDE5QU1RGF8D5RDA0X/19.+Nap+Lajoie+1903.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Napoleon Lajoie, 1903 Taken by an unnamed photographer from the Chicago Daily News, and now a part of the Chicago History Museum collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922935623-03FE8U07URYTT7P26U8H/20.+Christy+Mathewson%2C+1900+-+color+study.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Color Study, Christy Mathewson, 1900 As you can see, the level of detail here isn’t quite as great as it is in the fully realized painting. The purpose of the color study is to get the colors right, not to create a perfect image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922965258-GG7149GFIKKMHZ87JYF1/21.+Christy+Mathewson%2C+1900+-+fully+realized.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Mathews This painting features a young Christy Mathewson as a member of the Norfolk Phenoms of the Virginia League in 1910. SABR Bio by Eddie Frierson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614922992409-1B8DXUJYN8GETQUOB6SC/22.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1917+-+color+study.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Color Study, Joe Jackson, 1917 You can see the premise of the painting that is about to be created, but the scope is smaller, the details aren’t as sharp, and the painting itself is 5” x 7”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923022036-HX1KHJGL4M5LN6EU0DNL/23.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1917+-+%27Series+Bound%27.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Series Bound This painting, whose fully realized form was 20” x 16”, shows the wider perspective of the scene touched upon in the color study. Joe Jackson overlooks the field from the dugout as his team prepares to advance to the 1917 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923046046-F3XR7UAF2VD7N9XD9HYI/24.+John+Thorn.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - John Thorn John Thorn has been the Official Historian of Major League Baseball since March 1, 2011. Wikipedia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923072376-R6AKOB6PQ09ERT49LKEM/25.+Red+Barber+with+Jackie+Robinson.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Red Barber with Jackie Robinson Red Barber was one of the great baseball announcers of all time, calling play-by-play from 1934 to 1966. Red Barber on Jackie Robinson SABR Bio by Warren Corbett https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923095774-CLJGBX7R1R6JCGJJME0L/26.+Navin%27s+Nominal+Star.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Navin’s Nominal Star This painting features Ty Cobb at bat in 1908. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923121450-X2MV408F8J8SRJ661CA6/27.+A+Terrible+Beauty.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - A Terrible Beauty Buy it HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923152929-1W1GAO9JUVKX5JJXYCOB/28.+Cap+Anson+color+study.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Cap Anson, 1875 This color study features Cap Anson on the Philadelphia Athletics in 1875. SABR Bio by David Fleitz https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923185058-WIZB43IQSSS5HKBLRKQO/29.+Shot+Heard+Round+The+World.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Shot Heard ‘Round The World Bobby Thomson’s game-winning home run off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds in New York City on October 3, 1951, to win the National League pennant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923209152-C96KWRCZX8AXWYN42WWZ/30.+Brooklyn+trolleys.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Brooklyn Trolleys These trolleys were part of the public transit system that ran throughout Brooklyn, including near Ebbets Field. Pedestrians had to stay out of their way, leading to the nickname Trolley Dodgers, which was later just shortened to Dodgers, how the baseball team was named. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923238321-VRU9RET0CLZAHLU8NGTE/31.+Jeter.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Derek Jeter, 2000 This painting features Derek Jeter in the year 2000, playing for what would be his fourth ring at the time. SABR Bio by Alan Cohen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923265299-ADM0J6QPUI4DEZLIG487/32.+Same+moment%2C+multiple+angles.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Same Moment, Different Painting When you have a self-imposed rule of never painting the same image twice, there are some creative workarounds you can employ… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923295188-Y2BUU1L441BQ0VATYNS4/33.+The+Luckiest+Man.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Luckiest Man This painting shows a different angle of Lou Gehrig giving his famous speech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923319625-0QTP9W2IZSPXXYI0TX4X/34.+Gehrig%27s+Farewell.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Gehrig’s Farewell This painting shows another slightly different angle of the same moment, one of the most iconic moments in baseball history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923348062-A016B27JWIX3LVWISFQL/35.+Gehrig+Fights+Back+Tears.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Gehrig Fights Back Tears This painting shows a close up of a dramatic moment in Lou’s impromptu speech on July 4, 1939. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923374818-GOR3VA46Z3CWY8NUO058/36.+Ty+Cobb+slides+into+3rd.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Ford’s Effort For Naught This painting shows Ty Cobb sliding into third base on July 23, 1910 vs. the New York Highlanders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923402142-5Y8XLUAUGGC6HWM2YCB6/37.+Charles+Conlon+photo.jpeg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Charles Conlon Original Photo Possibly the most famous baseball photograph ever taken, Conlon wasn’t even sure if he got it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923429414-WMTPDCL5M9NB1MMFXA9G/38.+Puig+fight.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - April 7, 2019 In the Reds’ ninth game of the year, Yasiel Puig was already making art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923455655-E3N49E5Q68SXH8VV46WE/39.+Puig+trade+deadline+fight.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - July 31, 2019 Yasiel Puig, getting in a fight for a team on which he was no longer a member, after being traded mid-game on the trade deadline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923478073-FP922SR3QP7ZBAIH9SPF/40.+Robin+and+Nolan.png Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura On August 4, 1993, Robin Ventura became the first player in Major League history to get six hits off of Nolan Ryan in a single inning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923511172-UAW1SJK6V6QZVN8RVETQ/41.+Babe+on+the+Red+Sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe on the Red Sox This painting shows a young Babe Ruth at his first spring training with the Red Sox in 1915. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923532625-DK3U4PDHRL8BBA234MQM/42.+Babe+as+a+skinny+Yankee.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Skinny Yankee This painting shows Babe in 1921, selecting his bat of choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923556733-AWHCLXSKTWUURYVPXCIG/43.+Babe+as+a+fat+Yankee.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Fat Yankee This painting shows Babe Ruth before the first game of the 1932 World Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923581060-8H4PXJN4DJVELUHJQICG/44.+Babe+Ruth+as+a+Boston+Brave+-+1935-04-23.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as a Brave This painting shows Babe Ruth as a member of the Boston Braves on April 23, 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923607145-5TQZEK64G7R9E5700B4I/45.+Babe+as+an+old+man.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Babe as an Old Man This painting shows Babe Ruth giving his famous speech at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 1947. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923708336-TC3SRU71ZSSRQ23UVZLS/46.+That+Man+Mantle.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - That Man Mantle This painting of Mickey in 1951 is the largest Graig has done, to date. It measures in at 62” wide and 86” tall, which means it’s basically life-sized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923739316-LCVNFEDW0QK37DHUCLJK/47.+DiMaggio.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Crowd, DiMaggio Stays Hot This painting shows Joe DiMaggio’s famous follow through as he extends his hitting streak during the summer of 1941. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923762083-70CQUXV5UM85NSSJLH4X/48.+Bill+Foster+mallorquina.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Bill Foster The 1927-28 mallorquina Cuban baseball card featuring the legendary Bill Foster. SABR Bio by Thomas Kern https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923793004-B0JZZSX5J68W1K0M1F4P/49.+Bill+Foster+painting.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Graig’s Painting This painting features Bill Foster with the Cuba Baseball Club from the 1927-28 Cuban Winter League. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923826341-4KDYQS0SOY705NI7AY2P/50.+Johnny+Vander+Meer%2C+1938.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Dutch Master This painting shows Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer sitting in the dugout in 1938. SABR Bio by James W. Johnson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923920298-X2PN7RXZHPFE8XHUEPUN/51.+Babe+Ruth+card.png Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Topps 150 Years of Baseball set Graig’s painting of Babe Ruth, immortalized forever on a Topps baseball card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923990578-KWAE71LUL2W76PL5QJOX/52.+Black+Baseball+In+Living+Color.JPG Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler Graig in front of some of the 228 paintings he completed for the Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614923950448-6ATFRMGU2ZFGFWMPPQPK/53.+Bob+Feller%2C+1940+Opening+Day+No+Hitter.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - The Heater Makes History This painting shows Bob Feller, “The Heater From Van Meter”, during his Opening Day no-hitter in 1940 against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924018536-K8UDR9IBG1SCV697ZSWU/54.+Bob+Feller+and+Graig%2C+2009+National+Card+Convention.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Meeting a Hero Graig had a chance to show Bob Feller his painting of his incredible feat at the 2009 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924044797-BNVAQ70ORNZE0UXURD7K/55.+Bob+Feller+looking+at+his+painting.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Masters of Their Craft SABR Bio by C. Paul Rogers III Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924071954-CXJS6AV01HICHYU74033/56.+Graig+Nettles.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Namesake The Graig Nettles picture Graig Kreindler drew as a child, which Nettles eventually saw in person and signed. SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924100244-L2DAXH8QK6M8W2Z4NL8K/57.+Geeks+Guide.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - A Talented Family The Geek’s Guide To Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924165286-ROXY3CJMWDG76JLR62VD/59.+Mariano+Rivera.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Enter Sandman This painting (I swear, it’s a painting) shows Mariano Rivera exiting the bullpen en route to the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium in 2004. SABR Bio by Alan Cohen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614924129691-9M9UXNZULU1RDTCHP6MO/58.+Joe+Jackson%2C+1911+-+%27A+New+Home%27.jpg Past Episodes - 0103 - Graig Kreindler - Follow Graig Online Website Facebook Twitter Instagram https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0102-ahykd monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614982053911-KN7WCH051HYU2CV53GL0/mike+miller.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ba6eb059-3d0f-4f21-ae3f-41c579ff744b/20+-+Mike+Miller.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller Me and Mike Miller after recording our interview in the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921051280-G0OKSJQNA6WPYIKRQY25/01+-+woodside+mill.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Woodside Mill At one point, the largest cotton mill in the world. This vintage postcard shows the trolley system which ran in front of the mill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921084134-IA6SF0GMVFVUBS5CJ6WX/02+-+plea+for+factory+people.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Plea For Factory People This poem was very popular from about 1899 to 1910. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921109043-PTAOJIYX7DXND4VAML44/03+-+textile+league.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Tom Perry’s Book Click THIS LINK to go to Amazon and see if any copies are currently available https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921188020-ILIVNHIVHWM7MPSZFJGO/04+-+1903+brandon+mill+team.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1903 Brandon Mill Team Joe is standing in the back row. Can you pick him out of the lineup? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921213930-EO2SKV86ABHZY5DA0T6Q/05+-+1907+Victor+Mill+team+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1907 Victor Mill Team Joe is standing in the back row, second from the left https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921236022-X3V810KCZVL6LA134LKQ/06+-+champ+osteen.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Champ Osteen SABR Biography Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921265667-NIX7VPQ3QR99DVQIVTED/07+-+giving+some+pointers.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Giving Some Pointers Joe attending a game at Brandon in the 1940s. Joe Anders listens intently as his hometown hero, Joe Jackson, shares some valuable insight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921299657-90ZQ27QOHII733EJSVKZ/08+-+1908+greenville+spinners.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1908 Greenville Spinners Joe is standing, fifth from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921334425-RCUWMO9NPF7JP9UWBBLL/09+-+hyder+barr.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Hyder Barr This photo is zoomed in from the full 1908 Greenville Spinners team photo. Hyder Barr is on the left, Shoeless Joe is on the right. Baseball History Daily Baseball Reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921365811-DMSNEO2212PQ8AHKFM09/10+-+Joe+and+Katie%27s+grave.JPG Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Katie Jackson’s Gravesite The Jacksons are buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921395123-5AEJW8FDDJCYG70YUIGE/11+-+world+war+i+draft+card.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - WWI Draft Card This draft card, filled out in 1918, lists Joe’s birth year as 1887. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921419113-3EAXSNHRMXP3PJMQQ2OU/12+-+wedding.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Katie’s Wedding on July 19, 1908 “The popular center fielder of the local team made the greatest home run of his career on Sunday. The home run was made on Cupid’s diamond and the victory was a fair young lady. On Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock Joe was married to Miss Kate Wynn.” In his 1949 interview with Furman Bisher for Sport Magazine, Joe said he was 19 when he got married, which would make his birth year 1889. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921443411-Q4NSYYF1DRWKET7B4R4V/13+-+hugh+fullerton.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Hugh Fullerton Chicagology article Jacob Pomrenke article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921465938-Q1M9BVG0SU6RW0K4ODSP/14+-+summer+of+1949.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - “Shoeless” No More Joe loved dressing nicely and driving nice cars, which he kept in immaculate condition, to combat the connotation of his nickname, which he never really loved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921493115-90AG10M5U4R9Q2T8Y0QF/15+-+joe+and+babe.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Babe Ruth and Joe “I copied my swing after Joe Jackson’s,” Babe Ruth told sports writer Grantland Rice in 1919. “His is the perfectest.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921517646-67YIJ3EFK2RII942YC1Q/16+-+stance.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Babe Copied Joe’s Swing And to be able to properly do that, he had to copy his stance, too. Here’s a visual representation of where Joe stood in the box, and how he would use his front foot to stride during his swing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921546467-CTXDHX4XNKNWVZMCNZN1/17+-+telephone+poll+-+1911-03-07.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - A Young Telephone Pole From a newspaper article published March 7, 1911 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921574769-0L47VVW2VJ1QG6U8LIVU/18+-+mike%27s+book.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Mike Miller’s Book Click THIS LINK to view the free digital version, hosted on the Greenville Public Library website https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921626534-YQP8INMAXTVZWKNHK9BK/19+-+landis.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Kenesaw Mountain Landis The bane of any Joe Jackson fan’s existence. Wikipedia Baseball Hall of Fame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921653645-YR4OAGA1FDXRJ5VW5Z82/20+-+joe+hits+cow.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe Hits A Cow From The Missoulian on March 28, 1914 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921680058-GUT96NQ7O6H43YHFH3Z2/21+-+vaudeville.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe and Ty Cobb’s Vaudeville Act “Just before the curtain was hoisted on the first night,” Sporting Life reported, “Joe got to thinking of old Greenville, South Carolina, where everybody knows him, and he decided to go there instead of upon the stage.” Read the full story HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921727584-25ZVHA79X8U140P5I9Z4/22+-+baseball+girls.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe Jackson’s Baseball Girls Joe took his Vaudeville show on the road to make some extra money during the winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921758063-19MOVN9C2QLCVSMFM828/23+-+katie.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Katie Jackson Joe’s wife, Katie Wynn Jackson, was instrumental in the success of their many businesses. Here she is behind the counter at the liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921783512-GMT25FO2AL36OO4CIIGI/24+-+joes+big+hit+1909-03-30.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe’s Big Hit From The Courier-Journal in Louisville on March 30, 1909 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921814741-SVT52J2SM1LIFE7M3JX2/25+-+virginia+colored+team.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - July 2, 1922 This broadside is promoting the Westwood Baseball Club of Hackensack, New Jersey facing off against the Virginia Colored Giants. It is the only known piece connecting Shoeless Joe Jackson to Negro League Baseball. See what it sold for HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921842287-5EE3URXD1E9QU9YC9FNZ/26+-+1922+broadside+front.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Circa 1922 Handout Passed out by Joe’s agent at the time, Ed “Square Deal” Phelan. See what it sold for HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921870173-LKDZ9E7G510VLSRAH0K1/27+-+joe+in+1932.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Joe in 1932 This picture shows Joe, playing for the Greenville Spinners at the time, hitting one out of the park against the Gaffney, SC team during the fifth inning of one game that summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921893140-6YQC4BIG38RA2CXF6D2B/28+-+mont+tennes.JPG Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Mont Tennes The Chicago Crime Scenes Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921926243-4Q47OZ1E4Y9JZYP0KLXS/29+-+Harlan+team+photo.jpg Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - 1918 in Wilmington, Delaware Behind The Bag The Delaware River Shipbuilding League, 1918 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614921959182-ELTKPXN9MJGVLDC2PQBK/30+-+landis+court+room.png Past Episodes - 0102 - Mike Miller - Landis and the Black Sox SABR Article by William F. Lamb https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/past-episodes/0101 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c4856b3-8f80-41e4-9704-eb3d8822a3a6/updated+youtube.png Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d730191a-a643-4daa-8bac-85c73d082c27/IMG_0124.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach Dan Wallach, Host https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918345567-HO3Z27841ZR5MAF9UIPU/01+-+hall+of+fame.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - 12 Years Old Here I am standing in front of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s shoes at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918387127-WBNIF0C57G0QBCY3U4BW/02+-+Dan+Wallach.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Slightly Older Waiting for my turn at bat during one of the Vintage Base Ball games against the Ty Cobb Museum, at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville. That’s my mom, Lori, in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918438437-CMAMSUIXPL9H9RP89C09/03+-+swoboda.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Miracle Mets Ron Swoboda of the Mets making “The Catch” during the 1969 World Series https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918463395-94VT0QPO2MW27LOKHPEY/04+-+white+sox.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Chicago White Sox I grew up during an exciting time to be a White Sox fan: the early- and mid-90s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918493883-UL7MK868I93YGBLVG4CG/05+-+boston.jpeg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Freedom Trail What good is going on a trip if you don’t write a detailed report on it after you come home? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918520245-CI91LO2F7CAQ89GFZXBI/06+-+rizzo.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Greenville Drive Anthony Rizzo suited up for the Drive during the 2009 season. He went on to be pretty good at baseball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918548177-L27JQA2QS5KWZP1M93FP/07+-+2009+vintage+games.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - 2009 Vintage Base Ball Games The original Shoeless Joes team from the Inaugural Vintage Base Ball game vs. the Ty Cobb Museum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918608771-5WRR3D4OZO1S8FMXECQ1/09+-+allison+and+mike+miller.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Allison Jackson & Mike Miller You can read Mike’s incredible research book by clicking HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918640173-1H0TOFXULE7I7G62140H/10+-+tom+perry.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Tom Perry The Textile League expert, fittingly with Brandon Mill behind him. Check out his book on the Textile League HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918672962-N76W68EVLWGTV0FKV7J6/11+-+lifelong+friends.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Lifelong Friends Me, “Judge” Rex Darnell, and Allison Jackson at one of the Vintage Base Ball games at Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park in Greenville, SC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918694865-GXFDLTBN4MF03OR9R9XX/12+-+moving+joe%27s+house.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Moving Joe’s House Richard Davis (seen here in the light blue polo) was the driving force behind the home’s move across Greenville in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918719300-T83CRQOFVR37SBSJKKYH/13+-+the+yak-zies+crew.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - The Yak-Zies Crew I spent five years working here. Best wings in Chicago, without exaggeration. Tell them I sent you if you’re ever in Wrigleyville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918749686-JX1UAX7DO85E7AM2ONML/14+-+pelzer.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Ball Field At Pelzer Mill I believe this is likely the first actual ball field where Joe Jackson ever played. I have a jar of dirt from here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918791278-BU36U7QVNNMHJ7Q8A3AD/15+-+business+card.jpeg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Joe’s Liquor Store This is the business card that was in Joe’s wallet on the day he died. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614918953329-0TGALBMZI1YCRVLFYR2T/16+-+behind+the+counter.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Behind The Counter Joe behind the counter at his liquor store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615156345352-IOTA2G3YD09NFRVOWIRD/Ryan+slugging+percentage.jpg Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Ryan Starinsky Ryan made the opening theme song, and the acoustic version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” for the show. Check out his band The Sidekicks Check out his band Slugging Percentage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614919010276-ZF775053FZ32F1NDYP4B/18+-+randy+moore.JPG Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Randy Moore Randy is in a band called Get Married. He took their song “Kingpin” and made a baseball organ version for the show. Check out his band Get Married Check out his band Moore Family Band https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614919205916-YTXL0E7Q75ALAYBOK7C6/19+-+artwork.png Past Episodes - 0101 - Dan Wallach - Gary Cieradkowski Gary made the artwork for the podcast, and knocked it out of the park. Check out his website HERE https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/34642a78-9f11-43dc-9d3f-927d9c70c9b1/icon.png Home - My Baseball History is a long form interview podcast. A new episode gets released on the second Wednesday of every month from October through June. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/de7f53fb-14a8-41ff-815c-a7a413214e24/AIR-041-A+cover.png Home - “Nancy Faust At The Game” My Baseball History and Artistic Integrity Records are thrilled to announce the release of legendary organist Nancy Faust’s 1978 debut album, available digitally and on compact disc for the first time ever! The official release date is July 29, 2025 - the 48th anniversary of Nancy playing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” at Comiskey Park for the first time. CDs are available autographed by Nancy, or unsigned. Read the full press release by clicking HERE. Order “Nancy Faust At The Game” on CD by clicking HERE. Listen to our interview with Nancy, which was Episode 1 of Season 4, by clicking HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a39325a2-2fd1-4a47-a66f-8ad7a18a382b/IMG_0124.JPG Home - The show is researched, written, engineered, produced, & hosted by Dan Wallach. Dan is a baseball fan and historian who formerly served as Executive Director of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, South Carolina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1615019992272-TU32D61DFJXU2F3O3DJ0/widescreen.png Home https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/about daily 0.75 2026-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d4966469-670a-4dfc-a105-786f7f00ceb2/01.jpg About The original sketch concept I sent to Gary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/3027ea83-c7ec-4b7b-93e9-0b0728a2c660/Jersey.png About Jersey reference - 1908 Greenville Spinners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c6368dfa-6551-4785-bbaa-62ec50b3cd11/1908+greenville+spinners+hat.jpg About Hat and color reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97305cb0-b240-42dd-9f63-f175384502d1/Locker+and+Stool.png About Locker and stool reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d1939e65-d169-4d8b-9052-da6d4322728c/lighting.jpg About Lighting reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8064d2b3-bc7a-4c57-99f3-1c5ac0880d5a/microphone.jpg About Microphone reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/884c1861-d148-4119-9352-68ded25d7529/black+betsy.jpg About Bat reference - Joe's bat, Black Betsy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/93a6ee31-4501-4a3d-b1ee-0f9a833db399/shoeless+joe%27s+cleats.jpg About Cleat reference - Joe's game-worn shoes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7f43b0f8-354b-4c08-a86a-86b9f4ebddfd/old+glove.jpg About Glove reference https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614994734658-EZ1KOXBN5IGFLZJLAX3D/Dan+Wallach.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614987119217-RTM4DJ0FY6FJEXW4FIY1/vintage+games.JPG About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614989599328-F2E5YBCFB2FVV449PD3O/Disc+16++v.11.8.15+106.JPG About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614993342986-UMZU6NCB4FS9SQ48RKPH/icon.png About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614995923223-CO9CJW6A08DIRUG8X24B/ryan+starinsky.png About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1614995823160-TGU5UKX1P0MOOQ7D516R/Randy.jpg About https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-12-08 https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/listen daily 0.75 2026-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fffd6a2d-f522-4905-831b-5b904357b38b/amazon-music.jpg Listen Amazon Music https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/444f5b3a-4b4c-4bf1-83ad-3fdd074adfde/Apple+Podcasts.png Listen Apple Podcasts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/211fb724-bd87-4f5c-8172-f98a2a7ac85f/Audible.png Listen Audible https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14dc7447-361c-4471-ae87-f16bb82ffd5e/Bullhorn.png Listen Bullhorn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/496e14e7-e4d1-4209-a9c0-1b4fba97d3b7/Castbox.png Listen Castbox https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/4976987e-b58a-4c99-beef-c67eee4e421d/Castro.png Listen Castro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/961c850c-4f30-4f42-ba76-a5a04f449c74/Deezer.png Listen Deezer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/37a4c935-bf21-4822-84c6-c38efafb6a27/Fathom.fm.jpg Listen Fathom.fm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/73cb5412-8259-4dbb-95f1-9a954492f8fa/gaana.png Listen Gaana https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c4fd886b-9d7b-4e85-bd87-76a7dbd4d410/iHeartRadio.png Listen iHeartRadio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2df9acde-9b1f-4bb8-bb51-83a0860e1872/JioSaavn.png Listen JioSaavn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/463d92c8-4001-4214-8a85-0a994ee1fd5e/Listen+Notes.png Listen ListenNotes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/695a02b1-8fcf-4b84-869c-94982576e353/Mixcloud.jpeg Listen Mixcloud https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7cb67c79-5892-4483-8d02-30c80317195b/Overcast.png Listen Overcast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9e16b7b-9e57-479d-b3e1-4f7502ae69eb/Pandora.png Listen Pandora https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/462a60ac-71ec-44c3-a579-421cade409ed/player.fm.png Listen Player.fm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/51294999-d593-4970-ad3c-ee3bbb3f617f/Pocket+Casts.png Listen PocketCasts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7e7c507d-7791-48d6-b036-870d288109a6/Podbay.png Listen Podbay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/66f7dd24-4eb1-4ab3-893c-80300b86e874/PodBean.png Listen PodBean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9597dda-5321-47bc-a04a-446e73373bf8/Podcast+Addict.png Listen Podcast Addict https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/240bc1d2-f59d-4a4d-b4e0-731a1b735040/Podcast+Index.png Listen Podcast Index https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/16f858d3-2989-4acc-ae64-f3fcd6688bd8/Podcast+Republic.png Listen Podcast Republic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7217c478-b17f-457e-8671-5a1a59429446/PodChaser.png Listen PodChaser https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cf688601-4800-4ee7-8d98-ccb87c3140ee/RSS.jpg Listen RSS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a09454e4-c3d0-482e-8ac8-c5e933ece59b/SoundCloud.png Listen SoundCloud https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c96e7d55-20f5-4732-ba04-fb4c25e61de6/Spotify.png Listen Spotify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ec9fcc47-32f1-4d0f-ab2d-919f4dc9f8cc/Stitcher.png Listen Stitcher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ff1fc86-9439-4ff8-8cde-c1563464b774/TuneIn.png Listen TuneIn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53b089a4-98e5-41e8-9011-673ee6236edc/YouTube.png Listen YouTube https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/newsletter daily 0.75 2024-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/38610d14-457c-4fcf-90ea-3242efcb2af1/059.JPEG Newsletter Issue 059 - March 27, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a6e14f0e-44ec-4d53-aa9e-7be8df71275b/058.JPEG Newsletter Issue 058 - March 13, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5ce0bc0a-0fc8-40db-9f82-dafef0604669/057.png Newsletter Issue 057 - February 27, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/fa384998-a0f7-40ce-b2fd-b81aabd98b88/056.png Newsletter Issue 056 - February 13, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/13c4b7f9-c689-45e9-a25e-00dd65b76225/055.png Newsletter Issue 055 - January 23, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c1fe636f-ae84-41f1-9eaa-d7d497e04b85/054.png Newsletter Issue 054 - January 9, 2026 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b9a96db8-82ee-4afa-9cb6-af46cff51980/053.JPEG Newsletter Issue 053 - December 26, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0271c491-545f-45da-ab39-9d591b7f4019/square.png Newsletter Issue 052 - December 12, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3faeecc-ff66-476c-8590-d06a2a783988/051.jpg Newsletter Issue 051 - November 28, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e3a22819-657c-4bc6-b2a3-43c0e05a30d9/square.png Newsletter Issue 050 - November 14, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/24f79158-d207-4295-a991-072b83fba09f/049.png Newsletter Issue 049 - October 24, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7415ef7b-a4d6-4dd2-aa82-2479507ac17c/Square.png Newsletter Issue 048 - October 10, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/01eb9030-f550-42ee-910f-3dc8653efd8f/IMG_6013.JPEG Newsletter Issue 047 - September 26, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2be0bd6f-c536-4432-bd45-de79f7316354/046.png Newsletter Issue 046 - September 12, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/25ed1b4d-2d08-4fa2-8b1d-d5ab8e091c60/IMG_7294.JPEG Newsletter Issue 045 - August 22, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/988ab2ca-f045-46d2-a9c6-6a7522b2e98f/044.png Newsletter Issue 044 - August 8, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/9c00e987-9c8f-4a28-b78d-ebe7f30152d4/AIR-041-A+cover.png Newsletter Issue 043 - July 25, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/53f9256c-2042-4a65-a0a7-b7060dbcd3b8/042.png Newsletter Issue 042 - July 11, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45ab650f-d82c-40b3-9ad0-ea2d55359f7b/IMG_5385.JPEG Newsletter Issue 041 - June 27, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/d53bc843-2f7a-4e9e-9601-ab9a8d28c453/square.png Newsletter Issue 040 - June 13, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/514b5684-5f2d-4e26-b5ad-8f70e622bb57/039.png Newsletter Issue 039 - May 23, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/7881ff89-9814-4970-a627-7ee943a8c2e3/038.png Newsletter Issue 038 - May 9, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2d274413-de3c-478e-8a1a-03d80fb49b5f/037.png Newsletter Issue 037 - April 25, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/42e5850a-a794-4e10-9557-b5d828af0824/036.png Newsletter Issue 036 - April 11, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/28440698-2232-478e-ba74-59a919e19b06/035.JPEG Newsletter Issue 035 - March 28, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9b00410-8403-49de-bfa3-7b1497969af0/Square+small.png Newsletter Issue 034 - March 14, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0c494a22-35a6-48d3-83b2-048c3295efd8/033.png Newsletter Issue 033 - February 28, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/886e8e4c-c662-41d5-9a2e-361e9ef7fdaf/RF+Fence+tight.png Newsletter Issue 032 - February 14, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02c1537b-3083-4661-80f6-9bc2d10471ac/031.JPEG Newsletter Issue 031 - January 24, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5eb2d62b-0bbc-4383-8222-435e330988f9/030.png Newsletter Issue 030 - January 10, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/35bab991-2e46-40a3-b22c-f227da434c34/029.JPEG Newsletter Issue 029 - December 27, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/816ba2e8-c61f-4bd0-9069-269026e70284/028.png Newsletter Issue 028 - December 13, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63ffa268-e53f-40e3-95b2-7bc1bdde920b/027.png Newsletter Issue 027 - November 22, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/99cc6acd-4cc6-43c3-aa67-4c062f34be03/026.JPEG Newsletter Issue 026 - November 8, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/97b3849a-9b69-4847-91b9-efd984d65a26/025.JPEG Newsletter Issue 025 - October 25, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/11507f8a-a956-4004-bb17-89c82b1b90c9/024.png Newsletter Issue 024 - October 11, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e655bc0b-7503-44a8-9435-7fbccd5ea1d3/023.png Newsletter Issue 023 - September 27, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b3063f98-7030-449f-a77d-ce35f8e09572/022.jpg Newsletter Issue 022 - September 13, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5e3cb75f-65a2-4665-bbe0-a435c1a34e61/021.jpg Newsletter Issue 021 - August 23, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b4c33e13-400e-4c95-ae43-63a9925c27f0/020.png Newsletter Issue 020 - August 9, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/02ecea4d-5504-4325-adfd-1f86f6690378/019.JPEG Newsletter Issue 019 - July 26, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a93385f6-5d5d-4321-beba-c6201a307926/018.JPEG Newsletter Issue 018 - July 12, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b6a7fd7-bcbe-46ef-b244-002c0e5e61b7/017.JPEG Newsletter Issue 017 - June 28, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/093a8a79-81f1-4117-a81a-341b0de2119d/016.png Newsletter Issue 016 - June 14, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/74933bdb-79a5-4171-b825-6fbb7b50033e/015.JPEG Newsletter Issue 015 - May 24, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1b16b673-5e11-4af1-af04-fcc9d7f07986/014.JPG Newsletter Issue 014 - May 10, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/c9d59564-8077-4b83-849b-eb105f28db9e/013.JPEG Newsletter Issue 013 - April 26, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2a3ed24b-8745-4356-ae43-9d1c2385d959/012.png Newsletter Issue 012 - April 12, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/63952535-0ffd-42b3-8ab2-dc622df09dcc/011.png Newsletter Issue 011 - March 22, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/546d57b8-dd98-4395-96c8-1305020acdd4/010.png Newsletter Issue 010 - March 8, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0b66113e-9058-4bfd-b3f9-bdea5240d827/009.png Newsletter Issue 009 - February 23, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/1d8180ab-b574-447b-baaf-cd68c66eca32/White+Sox+renderings.jpg Newsletter Issue 008 - February 9, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/cdd9a938-3745-4410-b2c6-f969cd782ce8/IMG_1958.jpg Newsletter Issue 007 - January 26, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ecb36c64-e84b-4bdc-b820-6912892bf550/1000.png Newsletter Issue 006 - January 12, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/006e9086-eb3b-4e5e-b0c7-6bf6f96ab1d7/1000.png Newsletter Issue 005 - December 22, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/8b6db9db-2879-4c40-9d09-9d779c9edb80/03+-+Jackie+Robinson+All+Stars.png Newsletter Issue 004 - December 8, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/14328fcf-3ee8-4e4e-a263-6f381bb14cea/Polo+Grounds+and+Yankee+Stadium.jpg Newsletter Issue 003 - November 24, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/81b5df11-950d-4d12-876e-0958378e284c/1000.png Newsletter Issue 002 - November 10, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0d3eda29-f644-4ecc-a474-b216e6c09042/IMG-0124.JPG Newsletter Issue 001 - October 30, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/a1a45707-f5c2-4967-a65d-6a091996d81d/header.png Newsletter - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/vintage daily 0.75 2024-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/2221bad1-d977-4e5c-a079-516196176d38/IMG_0075.png Vintage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/0a2bc7fe-41e9-40da-a24a-135367890e7c/IMG_7932.JPG Vintage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/5a404133-217e-4ecf-8c48-c371f19e22b5/2018+Vintage+Game+%2827+of+106%29.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/e832f5b7-8eab-4f8a-8228-43074be9f898/IMG_0012.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/45b4e600-6549-4877-9b71-c1695548451f/IMG_7967.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/b35917b9-0d16-410b-aa71-f4d7f97a2f9c/IMG_7963.JPG https://www.shoelesspodcast.com/air-041-a daily 0.75 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/ccc4458c-23a7-4708-b940-7a556ff3776b/AIR-041-A+cover.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6041865b24cd730f88e7fb4e/77ff4ab7-8f77-45d2-a59a-e8d2b489fd42/Square.png