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InmemoriamO f PlayersInW olrdW ars&Korea Eddie Grant: M ay 21, 1883 Franklin, M A O ctober 5, 1918 Argonne, France
Specks Webster: July 8, 1889 Wayland, M O N ovember 16, 1918 France M ajor League N egro League T hird Base/Shortstop Catcher Captain Corporal M ilitary Company H , 307th Infantry Regiment, 807th Pioneer Infantry AEF France
Elm er Gedeon: April 15, 1917 Cleveland, OH April 20, 1944 St. Pol, France M ajor League O utfield Captain 586th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group U SAAF
H ar ry M . O 'N eil l : M ay 8, 1917 Philadelphia, PA M arch 6, 1945 Iwo Jima M ajor League Catcher First Lieutenant 25th Weapons Company, 4th M arine Division, U S M arine Corps Pacific T heater of O perations
Bob N eighbors: N ovember 9, 1917 Talahina, OK August 8, 1952 N orth Korea M ajor League Shortstop M ajor 13th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group U SAF Korea
Baseball GOES TO W
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Medical ServicesonD-Day
Sherlock H olm es (1954) T he Case of the Pennsylvania Gun
Sherlock H olm es
By Jim Bain We take the modern day baseball for granted and never consider the fact that today's baseball is the end result of a long and fascinating metamorphose which saw the ball change dramatically. In the early history of the game the baseball played a Major part in baseball strategy. The makers of the hand-made baseball were easily identified as producing a Live, Medium or Dead Ball which allowed teams to use different baseballs in different situations. Baseballs radically changed in 1857 and their size and weight continued to change well into the 1860's until the Leagues finally adopted a standardize baseball in 1872, which remains the standards of today's modern baseball. The Baseball - Early History Early baseballs were made by hand winding yarn or string around a core, which could be any solid object, then using some sort of stuffing in the ball, which was then enclosed in a leather sheathing. The leather was usually brown in color and was stitched in what was known as a "lemon peel" or "rose pedal" stitch. The leather was wrapped around the ball and stitched together forming an X configuration on the outside of the ball. Because these balls were very light and soft, prior to 1845, a runner could be declared out if the fielder threw the ball and hit the runner, which was called Soaking a runner. I have no idea where the term originated or why. The Baseball Producers Since there was no standardized, official manufacturer of baseballs, players and local merchants would make them as they saw fit. Early baseballs were quite small and light compared to today's baseball, but were constructed of leather, although the colors varied from shades of medium brown to dark brown.
The first recording of a standardized baseball was in 1854 when the three New York Teams, The Knickerbockers, Gothams and Eagle Baseball Club all decided a baseball would be between 5 ½ to 6 ounces in weight with a diameter between 2 ¾ to 3 ½ inches and be sewn in a lemon peel stitch pattern.
Agat ha Christ ie - The Queen of
This sized baseball was probably adapted from the baseball they were currently using and were familiar with and was not the standard for the baseball teams in other parts of the country.
In 1857, the first baseball convention was held at Smith's Hotel in New York city, where numerous rules and standards were adopted by the 15 New York Baseball Clubs, the size of a standard baseball being one of them. It was agreed upon the baseball would have a circumference of between 10 and 10 ¼ inches and weigh between 6 and 6 ¼ ounces. In 1858 H.P. Harwood & Sons Company of Natick, MA, became the very first factory opened with the sole purpose of producing baseballs. They were also the inventors of the figure - eight stitching, the same stitching used in today's modern baseball. In 1858, baseball's second convention, set forth more specific rules concerning the composition and fabrication of the baseball. It was generally believed the great strides in manufacturing techniques prompted these changes so soon after the original rules were adopted. The new specifications said the baseball would have a core which was to be India-rubber, which comes from the latex of many tropical plants and is extremely elastic. The rules also stated the baseball for the game was to be provided by the challenging team, visitors in today's lingo, and would be presented to "Winning" club as a trophy. This had been an established custom for years, but was now an official rule. There are numerous stories associated with the creation of the baseball. For instance, it is rumored Ellis Drake was the inventor of the two - piece leather, figure-eight stitched baseball. It is said he drew a rough draft of the design in 1840 while in grade school and built a prototype from his father 's scrap leather. He'd toyed with his idea because he said the lemon peeled balls which were used at school to play "round Ball" with, came apart at the four corners of the stitching, making throwing the ball straight nearly impossible. Two years after creating his design, George and Harry Wright stole his idea and began producing baseball covers identical to Drake's and began selling them. Drake died in 1912, never patenting his idea which would have made him and his family very wealthy.
The game of baseball is steeped in history from the game itself to sub-topics, such as the Negro league, Woman's league and minor leagues. It would be impossible to write everything historical about baseball, but the following is a chronological series of events following baseball history. The first mention of baseball was in a New York newspaper in 1823. 1839 Abner Doubleday officially invents the game of baseball. 1845 Alexander Joy Cartwright writes the official rules of Baseball. 1847 American soldiers in Mexico play a game of baseball using the wooden leg of General Santa Anna for a bat. 1867 Brooklyn Stars pitcher, Candy Cummings, throws the first curve ball. 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings become the 1st Professional Baseball team 1871 - 75 The National Association of Professional Baseball Players, NAPBBP is founded. 1876 The National League of Professional Baseball Players replaces NAPBBP. 1879 The Reserve Clause is introduced. This allows a team to automatically renew a players contract at the end of the season, which kept players from jumping teams. 1882 - 91 American Association, AA, is recognized as a Major league team. 1884 Louieville Sluggers were first introduced to major league baseball. Moses Fleetwood becomes the first Black to play major league baseball 1885 Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players is formed 1890 - 1911 Cy Young dominates as a pitcher. He is so good an award named after him, the Cy Young Award, is given to the best pitcher in each league yearly. 1901 The American League is given Major league status. 1903 The 1st World Series is played between the American and National leagues. 1910 President William Taft throws the first baseball out at a baseball game setting a precedent for all future Presidents. 1912 The 1st Strike by Players occurs. Fenway Park opens for play. 1913 Ebbets field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers opens. 1914 - 35 Babe Ruth, the Baby Bambino plays and captures the hearts of baseball fans everywhere. 1917 The New York Giants defeat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Two White Sox players are suspended for life for cheating.
1918 The 1st time the Star Bangle Banner is played before a baseball game. 1919 The World Series ends in scandal as the Chicago White Sox lose to the Cincinnati Redlegs. Nearly the entire White Sox team is suspended for intentionally losing the series. It became known as the "Black Sox scandal." 1920 The 1st Negro National League is founded consisting of only Negro ball players. 1921 The 1st live radio broadcast of a baseball game is broadcast by radio KDKA in Pittsburg. 1923 Yankee Stadium opens 1932 Babe Ruth calls his famous Home Run. 1935 1st baseball night game is played in Cincinnati. 1936 The Hall of Fame is established 1941 Joe DiMaggio hits safely in 56 straight ball games and Ted Williams hits.406 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is formed. 1949 Little League is first established in of all places, British Columbia, Canada 1969 The Montreal Expos become the first Major League Team from Canada. 1973 The Designated Hitter rule is established. The American League adopts its' usage, the National League does not. 1975 Arbitrator Peter Sertz changes baseball forever when he decides to do away with the Reserve Clause. Players began leaving teams and salaries went sky high. 1992 The Toronto Bluejays became the first team from Canada to win a world Series. 1994 There was no World Series due to the longest Player strike in history. It began August 12th and lasted until the Spring of 1995.
Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http:/ / www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com
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2. Babe Ru t h -Boston Red Sox,
St an Musial -
Boston Braves, New York Yankees
St.Louis Cardinals
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Mickey Mant l e-
Ted Wil l iams-
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
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Lou Gehrig-
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O U m ta ahaBB ee aacchh Hank Aaron-
Ty Cobb-
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Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers
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Robert o Cl ement e-
Rogers Hornsby-
Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns
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Saving Privat e Ryan - Omaha Beach Scene
Horus Wagner-
Joe Dimaggio-
Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Yankees
Click Her e t o Wat ch M ovie abou t A Leagu e of Th eir Ow n
Women in Basebal l - A Chapt er in Basebal l Hist ory By Nathan R Park In the 1900's, barnstorming teams known as "Bloomer Girls" were formed in parts of the United States of America. An attempt to profit from the participation of women in baseball was thought to have caused the rapid increase in its popularity. In 1931, Jackie Mitchell signed a contract with the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts. Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees and struck out their two star players, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! Since then, in 1952, organized baseball formally banned women from signing professional contracts with men's teams. This is still in effect today! The amount of women in baseball was about to increase as the Second World War saw many men go off to fight for their country. This meant that many women took their place, to keep the game of baseball alive. It when then that the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was founded with four teams; the Rockford Peaches, the Racine Belles and the Kenosha Comets, and the South Bend Blue Sox. The population of women in baseball soared! Rules encouraging the wearing of lipstick and long hair on the women in baseball were declared. Also the banning of wearing trousers off the field. At first, the women baseball players played fast pitched softball, with a larger ball with no overhand pitching. In 1948 overhand was introduced. Women's baseball's rules evolved from the men's baseball rules, with a few small changes. The AAGPBL finally folded in 1954, due to the televising of major league baseball in the 1950's. But the spirit of the women of baseball was to live on, as on November 5, 1988, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League enshrined memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York. More than 550 names are on a plaque in the exhibit named "Women In Baseball". Currently, there are around 40 youth and women's baseball teams throughout the U.S. They play in roughly nine leagues and independent tournaments throughout the year. You will be surprised at how much there is to learn about baseball. Visit Major League Baseball Brainiac [http:/ / www.baseball-brainiac.com] - an excellent source for baseball history, facts and information. For more information about women in baseball, check out the Baseball
Brainiac page Women In Baseball
African-Americans began to play baseball in the late 1800s on military teams, college teams, and company teams. They eventually found their way to professional teams with white players. Moses Fleetwood Walker and Bud Fowler were among the first to participate. However, racism and ?Jim Crow? laws would force them from these teams by 1900. Thus, black players formed their own units, ?barnstorming? around the country to play anyone who would challenge them. In 1920, an organized league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew ?Rube? Foster? a former player, manager, and owner for the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster and a few other Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, bringing the thrills and innovative play of black baseball to major urban centers and rural country sides in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and became centerpieces for economic development in many black communities. In 1945, Major League Baseball?s Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson now becomes the first African-American in the modern era to play on a Major League roster. While this historic event was a key moment in baseball and civil rights history, it prompted the decline of the Negro Leagues. The best black players were now recruited for the Major Leagues, and black fans followed. The last Negro Leagues teams folded in the early 1960s, but their legacy lives on through the surviving players and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
How Good Were t he Negro Basebal l Leagues? By Mark Hauser It is a sad comment on our society (read: US) that this question can actually exist. It is a shame that racism was so prevalent in the first half of the 20th Century that blacks (or African-Americans if you prefer, or Negroes, as they were called back then, hence, the name of the leagues) were not allowed to play in MLB. White players refused to play against blacks and judging from the fans' treatment of Jackie Robinson (as you know, the first black to play in MLB (1947) since the late 1800's) at first, many of the fans did want to see the blacks in MLB. At this site, I put a disclaimer under the baseball category, encouraging voters to consider the players from the Negro Leagues. Unfortunately, it is just a guess where to rank the players from the Negro Leagues for several reasons. First, many of them never played in MLB, or when they did, they were past their prime. For instance, the legendary Satchel Paige did not start pitching in MLB until he was around the age 42 or 43 (depending on which date of birth you believe). Second, the statistics from the Negro Leagues were incomplete. Third, those statistics are almost meaningless when comparing them to the MLB statistics, since the quality of the Negro Leagues were hard to determine. Fourth, the leagues were different statistically: from 1930-1950, the batting average in the Negro Leagues was .308, while the batting average in MLB was .269. This difference was apparently (from what I read -- including quotes from Negro League hitting stars such as Buck O'Neil) the result of a lack of pitching depth in the Negro Leagues. A study of 15 Negro League Stars (including Roy Campanella and Willie Mays) that I saw showed the same players hitting .319 in the Negro Leagues and then .271 in MLB. You may have heard claims that the Negro Leagues were actually stronger than MLB because they consistently beat them in exhibitions. Well, yes and no. The teams from MLB rarely had all their players from the major leagues -many of the players that played in these exhibitions were minor league players. Here is a study I found on the internet from a blog on Baseball Fever (the numbers on the right, e.g. (4-6) were the number of MLB players that played in the games; Major League Teams means that most of the same players were from the same team played) (games included are between 1902-1946):
Negro League Teams vs. Major League "All Stars" (0-3) 36 - 12 (.750); Negro League Teams vs. Major League "All Stars" (4-6) 23 - 15 (.605); Negro League Teams vs. Major League "All Stars" (7+) 41 - 49 (.456); Negro League Teams vs. Major League Team (4-6) 9 - 5 (.643);
T he Seven D ials M ystery 1981 John Gielgud & H ar ry A n
Sou l Of Th e Gam e
The Negro Leagues Basebal l Museum is NOT a Hal l of Fame. Often the museum is referred to as the "Negro Leagues Hall of Fame" or "Black Baseball Hall of Fame" and various names. It is important to the museum that we not be referred to as such. The NLBM was conceived as a museum to tell the complete story of Negro Leagues Baseball, from the average players to the superstars. We feel VERY strongly that the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY, is the proper place for recognition baseball's greatest players. The Negro Leagues existed in the face of segregation. Baseball's shrines should not be segregated today. Therefore, the NLBM does not hold any special induction ceremonies for honorees. As space allows, we include information on every player, executive, and important figure. However, we do give special recognition in our exhibit to those Negro Leaguers who have been honored in Cooperstown.
Kansas Cit y is a great pl ace t o visit ! The 18th & Vine area, the Country Club Plaza, Westport, Kauffman & Arrowhead Stadiums are highlight of this great community. For more information about events, hotels, food, and other activities and services, go to www.visitkc.com.
Top 10 Worl d Series Games Of Al l Time No. 10: 1991 World Series, Game 6: This is the game where Jack Buck exclaimed "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" In addition to Puckett's extra-inning heroics, the Twins' bullpen held the Braves scoreless for the last four innings of the game, allowing just three singles, two of which were erased by double plays.
1991 Wor ld Ser ies, Gam e 6
M an A gainst Cr im e, H ide & Seek 1952
T he V ise,. M an on a Cl
2001 Wor ld Ser ies, Gam e 7 M ar tin K ane, Pr ivate Eye , T r ip To Ber m uda 1953
M ichael Shayne, M urde
No. 9: 2001 Wor ld Ser ies, Gam e 7: Th e Diam on dback s h ad com e back f r om
a t h r ee gam es t o t w o def icit t o t ie t h e ser ies w it h a 15-2 cr u sh in g of t h e Yan k ees in Gam e 6. Bu t t h ey t r ailed 2-1 goin g in t o t h e bot t om of t h e n in t h of Gam e 7 again st a closer -- M ar ian o River a -- w h o, even t en year s bef or e h e br ok e t h e save r ecor d, w as ack n ow ledged as t h e gam e's best . An d even af t er River a m ade a t h r ow in g er r or on a bu n t at t em pt , h e r ecor ded an ou t ; t h e t yin g an d w in n in g r u n s w er e on base w it h New Yor k t w o ou t s f r om vict or y. River a gave u p a gam e-t yin g dou ble an d t h en h it Cr aig Cou n sell bef or e Lu is Gon zalez's bou n cer u p t h e m iddle w on it f or Ar izon a. Th is gam e also f eat u r ed sh u t dow n r elief in t h e lat e in n in gs by Ran dy Joh n son , ju st on e day af t er h e t h r ew seven solid in n in gs in Gam e 6.
No. 8: 1912 World Series, Game 8: Yes, I said "Game 8" -- in 1912, Game 2 was tied 6-6 after 11 innings when it was called for darkness in that pre-lights era. The Red Sox and Giants went on to split the other six games and had to play an eighth and deciding game. The game went into extra innings tied; the Giants scored in the top of the 10th to take a 2-1 lead. Clyde Engle led off the bottom of the inning with what appeared to be a routine fly to center field, but Fred Snodgrass dropped it; Engle reached second. Christy Mathewson retired the next hitter, but a walk and a single tied the game. An intentional pass was issued to set up a force at every base; Boston won the game and series on a sacrifice fly.
No. 7: 1924 World Series, Game 7: The Giants led the game 3-1 going
into the bottom of the eighth, but with the bases loaded and two out, Bucky Harris' ground ball took a bad hop over third baseman Freddie Lindstrom's head, scoring two runs and tying the game. The Giants got the winning run to scoring position in the ninth and 11th innings, but could not score. In the 12th with one out, Muddy Ruel hit a foul popup that was dropped; he redeemed himself with a double. After an error put a runner at first base with Ruel holding second, Earl McNeely hit another ball at Lindstrom -- which took another bad hop into left field, winning the game and Series for the Senators. That and the 1912 game were the only extra-inning winner-take-all games in the World Series, until... No. 6: 1991 World Series, Game 7: The Senators franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961; 30 years later, the team played two of the most excruciatingly exciting World Series games on consecutive nights. It's the only Series I'm honoring here with a pair of games. This one featured a 10-inning shutout thrown by Minnesota's Jack Morris while the Twins were leaving 12 men on base, finally scoring the game-winner on Gene Larkin's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the 10th.
No. 5: 1962 World Series, Game 7: The Giants and Yankees had to wait out several days of rain in San Francisco before playing Game 6, which the Giants won to tie the series. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out and Tony Kubek hit into a double play, scoring Moose Skowron. In the bottom of the ninth, Matty Alou led off with a bunt single, but Ralph Terry struck out the next two hitters, bringing up Willie Mays, who doubled -- but Alou held at third. The Yankees chose to pitch to Willie McCovey rather than put him on base and bring up Orlando Cepeda; McCovey hit a screaming line drive that would have won the game, but Bobby Richardson snagged it. That led to two famous Peanuts cartoons, the only time creator Charles Schulz (a huge Giants fan) ever referred to current events in the history of the strip.
No. 4: 1975 World Series, Game 6: Even if you are too young to have watched this game, you have likely seen Carlton Fisk's walkoff home run in the 12th inning of this game and his excited reaction. But the game would never have even gotten that far if not for Bernie Carbo hitting a three-run, pinch-hit home run to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Like this year's Series, Game 6 in '75 was pushed back by rain.
No. 3: 1986 World Series, Game 6: As in Thursday night's game, the visiting team, the Red Sox, took a two-run lead in an extra inning. The first two Mets were easy outs in the bottom of the 10th, then three singles off Calvin Schiraldi made it 5-4, bringing in Bob Stanley, who got Boston within one strike of victory before uncorking a wild pitch that tied it. Stanley got the Red Sox within a strike of the 11th inning before the famous ground ball that went between Bill Buckner's legs, prompting Vin Scully's excited TV call, "Behind the bag! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!"
No. 2: 2011 World Series, Game 6: You just saw it. 'Nuff said, except there's plenty more almost everywhere on Baseball Nation.
No. 1: 1960 World Series, Game 7: This game had everything. The three games the Yankees had won before Game 7 were by scores of 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0. Meanwhile, the Pirates won their three 6-4, 3-2 and 5-2. Game 7 see-sawed; Pittsburgh led 4-0 after two innings, but coughed that up and trailed 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, when they scored five runs, capped by a three-run pinch-hit home run by Hal Smith. Their 9-7 lead lasted about five minutes; the Yankees scored a pair off two Pirates pitchers. All that did was set up the most memorable home run in World Series history, Bill Mazeroski's walkoff, the only walkoff homer in a World Series Game 7.
H al l of Fame Umpires
Basebal l on the Radio
Sherlock Holmes Portrayed in Movies Throu
Sherlock Holmes Portrayed On t
The Hammer Guy Barney M iller Syndicate 1952
Mel Al l en and Red Barber on t he 1947 Worl d Series
JACK BUCK CALLING A CARDINALS GAME CIRCA 1962
T he Covered Bridge 1947
Fleet Lady 1949
Harry Lime
Oriol e's Radio Pl ay By Pl ay- The Men Behind t he Mic's
Chuck Thompson
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