This day in baseball: Charles Ebbets becomes president of the Dodgers
Posted: January 4, 2022 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Dodgers, Charles Byrne, Charles Ebbets, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports Leave a commentIn the wake of the death of Charles H. Byrne, team secretary Charles Ebbets became president of the Bridegrooms (Dodgers) on January 4, 1898. The team’s future owner also managed the Brooklyn team for the last 110 games of the season, finishing tenth among the twelve teams of the National League.
Charles Ebbets, c. 1915 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: A DH proposal
Posted: December 11, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baseball, history, John Heydler, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports Leave a commentIn an effort to speed up the game and add more offense, on December 11, 1928, National League president John Heydler proposed instituting a designated batter for the pitcher. The American League oppose the idea, however, and the NL withdrew the proposal before it could get to Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to break the deadlock.
John Heydler, 1918 (The Sporting News)
This day in baseball: Billy Williams is Rookie of the Year
Posted: November 30, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Baseball Writers Association of America, Billy Williams, Chicago Cubs, Joe Torre, Major League Baseball, Milwaukee Braves, MLB, National League, Rookie of the Year, sports 3 CommentsOn November 30, 1961, Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The outfielder hit 25 home runs and drove in 86 runs that year, and was selected on 10 of the 16 ballots cast by the writers. The runner-up in the voting, Braves catcher Joe Torre, received five votes from the writers.
Billy Williams in 1969 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: The Alleghenys jump to the National League
Posted: November 18, 2021 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American Association, Baseball, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Pittsburgh Pirates, Players' League, sports Leave a commentThe Pittsburgh Alleghenys left the American Association on November 18, 1886 to join the National League as an expansion team. In 1891, the Pittsburgh team would become known as the Pirates, a name derived from an incident involving the franchise accused of being “piratical” for taking players from rival teams in other leagues.
“Vida Blue,” Albert Jones
Posted: September 2, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, Pop culture | Tags: Albert Jones, All-Star Game, American League, Baseball, Cy Young Award, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, MLB, music, National League, Oakland Athletics, sports, Vida Blue 1 CommentVida Blue was a left-handed pitcher who is primarily known as a vital member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 to 1974. Blue won the American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971, and he was the first pitcher ever to  start the All-Star Game for both the American League (1971) and the National League (1978).
This tribute by Albert Jones was released in 1971.
This day in baseball: Ken Hubbs passes
Posted: February 13, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, history, Ken Hubbs, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, Rookie of the Year, sports 2 CommentsOn February 13, 1964, Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs died at the age of 22 when the red and white Cessna 172 plane he was piloting crashed a quarter-mile south of Bird Island in Utah Lake in the midst of a winter storm. Hubbs had taken flying lessons for the previous two off-seasons to overcome his fear of flying, obtaining his license just the previous month. Ken Hubbs had been the1962 NL Rookie of the Year.
Ken Hubbs in 1964 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Frick is NL’s public relations director
Posted: February 6, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Ford Frick, history, John Heydler, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League Leave a commentOn Feburary 6, 1934, New York news reporter and broadcaster Ford Frick was named the National League’s public relations director. In November of that same year, Frick would be elected as the president of the Senior Circuit, replacing John A. Heydler, who resigned due to poor health.
Ford Frick at the 1937 All-Star Game (Library of Congress)
RIP Tommy Lasorda
Posted: January 9, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, sports, Tommy Lasorda, World Series Leave a commentTommy Lasorda was born September 22, 1927. He was a hardcore baseball lifer, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 and 1955 and for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956. After retiring from playing, Lasorda worked as a scout for the Dodgers and eventually worked his way into coaching. He coached for the Dodgers from 1973 through 1976 before taking over as manager of the club. Lasorda led the Dodgers to four NL pennants and two World Series championships during his tenure. Upon retiring from the managerial position in 1996, he continued to work for the Dodgers in a variety of roles for the rest of his life.
Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 as a manager in his first year of eligibility. He died January 7, 2021 from a cardiopulmonary arrest in Fullerton, California at the age of 93.
Rest in peace.
LA Dodgers
This day in baseball: Umpire vision requirements are instituted
Posted: December 15, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports, Tom Lynch Leave a commentDuring a session held on December 15, 1910 at the Hotel Breslin in New York, National League president Tom Lynch announced to owners that umpires would be required to take what he called a “severe” eye test before the start of the season. As a result of the decree, any arbitrator found to have defective eyesight would not be permitted to work.
To this day, MLB umpires are required to demonstrate 20/20 vision, either with or without corrective lenses.
RIP Dick Allen
Posted: December 12, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: All-Star Game, American League, Baseball, Chicago White Sox, Dick Allen, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, MLB, National League, Philadelphia Phillies, Rookie of the Year, sports 5 CommentsI am well behind on this one. Dick Allen passed away this past Monday, December 7, 2020 at the age of 78.
Richard Anthony Allen was born March 8, 1942 in Wampum, Pennsylvania. During his fifteen-season Major League Baseball career, he appeared primarily as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder, most notably for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. Allen was named to the All-Star team seven times. He won the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 1972 AL Most Valuable Player Award. He also led the AL in home runs for two seasons, led the NL in slugging percentage one season and the AL in two seasons, and led each major league in on-base percentage, one season each. He finished his career with a .292 batting average and a .534 slugging percentage.
The Philadelphia Phillies retired Dick Allen’s number 15 on September 3, 2020. He was also inducted into the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals in 2004.
Rest in peace.
Dick Allen, c. 1965 (Wikipedia)
Archived Innings 