This day in baseball: First Sunday game in D.C.
Posted: May 19, 2022 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, blue laws, Cleveland Indians, District of Columbia, Griffith Stadium, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports, United States Congress, Washington Senators Leave a commentThe first Sunday baseball game ever played in the nation’s capital took place on May 19, 1918, five days after Congress voted in favor of lifting the ban in Washington, D.C. The Washington Senators defeated the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, in twelve innings in front of 15,352 fans at Griffith Stadium.
Griffith Stadium between 1909 and 1932 (Library of Congress)
This day in baseball: Sam Rice signs with the Indians
Posted: February 14, 2022 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cleveland Indians, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Sam Rice, sports, Washington Senators 3 CommentsOn February 14, 1934, Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice signed with the Cleveland Indians. Rice had played 19 seasons with the Washington Senators prior to this year, and would go on to retire at the conclusion of the 1934 season. Rice batted .293 in 335 at-bats for the Indians in his final season, but fell 13 hits shy of the 3,000 career hit mark before calling it quits. Rice would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1963.
Sam Rice in 1924 (Library of Congress)
This day in baseball: Vertical catch record
Posted: August 20, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Indians, Gabby Street, Hank Helf, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports, Terminal Tower, Washington Monument 7 CommentsIn a publicity stunt arranged by the Come to Cleveland Committee on August 20, 1938, five members of the Indians (catchers Hank Helf, Frank Pytlak, and Rollie Hemsley and coaches Wally Schang and Johnny Bassler) attempted to set a record by catching a baseball dropped from the top of the 708-foot tall Terminal Tower. In front of a crowd of approximately 10,000 people, rookie reserve catcher Hank Helf managed to catch a ball dropped from the 52-story structure, which was estimated to be traveling at 138 mph. The catch broke Gabby Street’s 1908 mark for a vertical catch, established when Street snagged a ball dropped 555 feet from the top of the Washington Monument.
Cleveland State University Library
“Tiant’s Apprentice,” by Denise Newbolt
Posted: August 4, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Denise Newbolt, Luis Tiant, Major League Baseball, MLB, poetry, sports, videos Leave a commentI enjoy the imagery presented in this piece. The metaphor comparing a pitcher to a dancer can be a good one, especially with some pitchers, like Luis Tiant, who have some rather elaborate windups.
*
Clear August sunlight spotlighted the dancer
he twirled in the style of Tiant
technical in spin, placed practiced choreography.
A white ball, laced red with a season’s skill and hope,
hurled to the stanched batter,
who would nick it to the dirt
In his 7th inning finale
a foul, a strike released in a summer’s era,
the spiraling pitcher spun to a season’s final ovation,
in late afternoon shadows.
Cleveland Guardians
Posted: July 24, 2021 Filed under: 21st Century | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Indians, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports 11 CommentsYesterday, the Cleveland Indians announced their new, much-anticipated team name, which will become effective at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Starting next season, the Cleveland baseball team will be known as the Cleveland Guardians.
While I wholeheartedly agree that a name change is necessary, I confess, I was initially torn about the new name. My initial reaction to the announcement was along the lines of, “Ew… what?” I thought, surely, they could have found something better than that.
But the more I think about it, the more the name grows on me. I cannot think of any other team in any sport, baseball or otherwise, who call themselves the Guardians. Plus, Guardians of the Galaxy is a kickass movie, and I would love to see Cleveland do a Star-Lord theme night (or a Groot theme night!).
I am curious what the new mascot is going to look like. That is just one of many details that the team will have to figure out in the months ahead, for sure. In the meantime, the new logo does look pretty slick.
“Indians Baseball Song,” Sammy Watkins and his Orchestra
Posted: June 29, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Indians, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, music, Sammy Watkins, sports 2 CommentsAccording to the description for this video, this song was transferred from a 45 RPM record from the 1960s. Listening to it certainly makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time. I get this mental image of men in colorful jackets and women in knee-length skirts walking excitedly towards Cleveland Stadium.
Quote of the day
Posted: June 21, 2021 Filed under: Quote of the day | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Indians, Jim Thome, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports 2 CommentsThe strongest thing I put into my body is steak and eggs. I just eat. I’m not a supplement guy. Steroids are not even a thought.
~Jim Thome
legion.org
This day in baseball: Dinneen’s no-hitters
Posted: May 12, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Bill Dinneen, Boston Pilgrims, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chief Bender, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Naps, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, Shibe Park, sports 2 CommentsOn May 12, 1910, Athletics right-hander Chief Bender threw a 4-0 no-hitter at Shibe Park against the Cleveland Naps (Indians). Bender issued just one walk, spoiling his shot at a perfect game.
The home plate umpire for the game was Bill Dinneen, who tossed a no-hit game of his own against the White Sox while playing with the Pilgrims (Red Sox) on September 27, 1905. This performance by Chief Bender made Dinneen the only person in big league history to both throw a no-hitter and call one as an umpire. Dinneen served as home plate umpire for five total no-hitters in his career as an umpire.
Bill Dinneen (The Sporting News)
This day in baseball: First Cactus League game
Posted: March 8, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cactus League, Cleveland Indians, Hi Corbett Field, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Giants, sports, Spring Training Leave a commentThe first-ever spring training game played in Arizona took place on March 8, 1946 at Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field. Bob Lemon led the Indians to victory over the Giants, 3-1, in the inaugural Cactus League contest.
This day in baseball: Burns’s triple play
Posted: September 14, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Frank Brower, George Burns, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Riggs Stephenson, Rube Lutzke, sports Leave a commentRed Sox first baseman George Burns completed an unassisted triple play against the Indians on September 14, 1923. To accomplish the feat, Burns snared Frank Brower’s line drive, he then tagged Rube Lutzke coming from first, and and finally beat Riggs Stephenson in a sprint back to second.
George Burns in 1921 (Wikipedia)
