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Post by pippsheadache on Aug 16, 2024 15:12:03 GMT -5
That is so cool. A fine player who is largely forgotten. Sort of a mentor to his fellow Dodger outfielder Casey Stengel. Casey used to talk about how much he thought of Wheat when he would get on one of his rambles. Although he played almost entirely with Brooklyn, he was one of those late-career greats with a little mileage left on them who was astutely signed by Connie Mack to supplement already great A's teams in 1927 and 1928. Besides Wheat he brought in Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and a second act for Eddie Collins to join the likes of Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons and Mickey Cochrane. In each case Mack got genuine contributions from his geriatric signees. Thanks for sharing all that great MLB history. Max, I love stories like yours about older relatives or family friends who talked about those long ago players to those of us on this board. I have that in my own family so I always identify with it. The farthest back baseball fan in my orbit was born in 1890 in Philadelphia and his recollections went back to the late 1890s, so he would tell me about watching Ed Delahanty and Iron Man McGinnity and Napoleon Lajoie and Wee Willie Keeler and Rube Waddell. What was cool was watching baseball with him into the late 70s and he would come out with some line like Luis Tiant's windup reminded him of Cy Young's or the way Manny Trillo would look at the ball before he threw it to first was just what Nap Lajoie did. It made those vague historical figures seem very real to me. So when you talk about your uncle being a Zack Wheat fan -- and anything you read about Zack is positive -- it resonates. I'll bet your uncle remembered Wilbert Robinson managing the Dodgers and Van Lingle Mungo pitching for them. I assume he grew up in Brooklyn, which as you probably know was a separate city until 1898. |
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Post by Max on Aug 17, 2024 10:56:16 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing all that great MLB history. Max, I love stories like yours about older relatives or family friends who talked about those long ago players to those of us on this board. I have that in my own family so I always identify with it. The farthest back baseball fan in my orbit was born in 1890 in Philadelphia and his recollections went back to the late 1890s, so he would tell me about watching Ed Delahanty and Iron Man McGinnity and Napoleon Lajoie and Wee Willie Keeler and Rube Waddell. What was cool was watching baseball with him into the late 70s and he would come out with some line like Luis Tiant's windup reminded him of Cy Young's or the way Manny Trillo would look at the ball before he threw it to first was just what Nap Lajoie did. It made those vague historical figures seem very real to me. So when you talk about your uncle being a Zack Wheat fan -- and anything you read about Zack is positive -- it resonates. I'll bet your uncle remembered Wilbert Robinson managing the Dodgers and Van Lingle Mungo pitching for them. I assume he grew up in Brooklyn, which as you probably know was a separate city until 1898. That same uncle played semi-pro baseball, he grew up a Dodger fan but became a Yankee fan when the Dodgers moved as did my other uncle. My dad and the rest of the family on both sides were always Yankee fans. If you love those stories, my family would have loved you, because I heard so much about certain MLB players of the past that I almost feel like I actually got to see them play.  For example, how Joe D would make great catches look easy, Rizzuto's quick release throw on a double-play, etc...
I think it's great that you have that in your own family, I could listen to that kind of MLB talk all day.
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Post by inger on Aug 18, 2024 7:30:48 GMT -5
HARRY STOVEY
More 1890’s hi-jinx… 🤓
As a rookie with the 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs, Stovey led the NL with 14 3B & 6 HR. Eleven years later with the 1891 NL Bostonteam, Stovey again led in both. That year he had 20 3B & 16 HR. He’s the only player to lead his league in 3B and HR in the same season twice.
Stovey’s mother, like many people of her time, considered it unsavory to be a ballplayer. Stowe was the family name. So, Stovey simply changed his name so his mom wouldn’t see his name in the box scores.
He retired having totaled more runs scored than games played. Played in 1,489 G; scored 1,495 R. This feat has only been duplicated by his contemporaries, Billy Hamilton and George Gore…
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Post by inger on Aug 18, 2024 7:55:52 GMT -5
PETE BROWNING
As a rookie he led the AA in three major categories. In 1882 in the Louisville franchise of the American Association, hit .378, had an OBP of .430 & managed an OPS+ of 223! He outhit the NL’s Dan Brouthers in all 3 categories.
He was well-known for his frequent odd behavior. He refused to slide during games and would often stand on one leg while on defense, because he believed it made it less likely for others to collide with him.
He led a life littered with eccentricities, for instance, he owned hundreds of “ retired” baseball bats, which he stored in his mom’s basement. His preference was for bats that were 37” and 48 Oz... Did I mention that each bat had its own name? Yeah. It’s true. Most of them were biblical names.
He was a highly skilled marble player and figure skater as a youth.
Browning suffered from mastoiditis, a painful condition that left him nearly deaf. Undiagnosed, it led to frequent misunderstandings, even an unnecessary incarceration in an insane asylum, also having to do with a lifelong drinking problem.
His death at age 59 was caused by cirrhosis of the liver, general weakening of the body and the final stages of syphillis due to an affinity for prostitutes…
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Post by pippsheadache on Aug 18, 2024 8:31:10 GMT -5
Max, I love stories like yours about older relatives or family friends who talked about those long ago players to those of us on this board. I have that in my own family so I always identify with it. The farthest back baseball fan in my orbit was born in 1890 in Philadelphia and his recollections went back to the late 1890s, so he would tell me about watching Ed Delahanty and Iron Man McGinnity and Napoleon Lajoie and Wee Willie Keeler and Rube Waddell. What was cool was watching baseball with him into the late 70s and he would come out with some line like Luis Tiant's windup reminded him of Cy Young's or the way Manny Trillo would look at the ball before he threw it to first was just what Nap Lajoie did. It made those vague historical figures seem very real to me. So when you talk about your uncle being a Zack Wheat fan -- and anything you read about Zack is positive -- it resonates. I'll bet your uncle remembered Wilbert Robinson managing the Dodgers and Van Lingle Mungo pitching for them. I assume he grew up in Brooklyn, which as you probably know was a separate city until 1898. That same uncle played semi-pro baseball, he grew up a Dodger fan but became a Yankee fan when the Dodgers moved as did my other uncle. My dad and the rest of the family on both sides were always Yankee fans. If you love those stories, my family would have loved you, because I heard so much about certain MLB players of the past that I almost feel like I actually got to see them play. For example, how Joe D would make great catches look easy, Rizzuto's quick release throw on a double-play, etc...
I think it's great that you have that in your own family, I could listen to that kind of MLB talk all day.
That’s great Max. Multi-generational baseball. We're both fortunate to have that in our families. Like you, even as a kid I loved hearing about the players of yesteryear. The veterans of this site have heard this ad nauseum, but at the risk of making their eyes roll I'll tell you that my grandparents used to own two boarding houses in the 20s and 30s on Somerset Street in Philadelphia, right behind the wall of Shibe Park where the Philadelphia Athletics used to play. They had a contract with Connie Mack to house some of the players during the season, especially the younger ones who weren't making much money or some of the unmarried ones. Jimmie Foxx was the biggest name of the group when he first came up as a teenager, but they had others like Max Bishop and Joe Boley and Indian Bob Johnson and many others. My grandparents didn't know anything about baseball,but they knew Connie Mack's checks didn't bounce. My father and his brother were kids who loved baseball and they got to know these guys. They often ran errands for Foxx and his teammates like Al Simmons. They often got game passes for their efforts and even played catch with them. Connie Mack lived two blocks from my grandparents home and seeing him and exchanging small talk was no different than doing that with any other neighbor. Players were a lot more accessible then because they were financially more in the same category as many of the fans (although as a group still better paid than the average person, but not nearly to the extent that they have been for the past 50 years or so.) I remember even in the 1960s there were some Yankee players living within walking distance of Yankee Stadium. Hector Lopez for instance had an apartment on the Grand Concourse just a few blocks away. Lucky you to have that Yankee history in your family. I am always up for hearing from the diminishing number of people who saw DiMaggio and Rizzuto and Henrich and Keller and Reynolds etc. Fans who remember seeing The Babe and Lou would have to be at least in their mid-90s. The oldest kinescope I've been able to find of a live TV broadcast is from the 1952 World Series, so you can watch Allie Reynolds and Johnny Mize as well as Jackie Robinson. Missed Joe D by one year. |
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Post by inger on Aug 18, 2024 11:18:02 GMT -5
TIP O’NEILL
Tip was the first player to lead the league in RBI with fewer than 5 HR that season. In 1886, O’Neill had 103 RBI but only 3 HR for the AA’s STL.
Tip O’Neill award is given annually to the top Canadian player…
In his top season he “hit .492. However, that was in 1887 when walks were tabulated as hits. Adjusted to today’s standard, he still hit .435, 2nd highest all-time…
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Post by Max on Aug 18, 2024 12:03:14 GMT -5
That same uncle played semi-pro baseball, he grew up a Dodger fan but became a Yankee fan when the Dodgers moved as did my other uncle. My dad and the rest of the family on both sides were always Yankee fans. If you love those stories, my family would have loved you, because I heard so much about certain MLB players of the past that I almost feel like I actually got to see them play. For example, how Joe D would make great catches look easy, Rizzuto's quick release throw on a double-play, etc...
I think it's great that you have that in your own family, I could listen to that kind of MLB talk all day.
That’s great Max. Multi-generational baseball. We're both fortunate to have that in our families. Like you, even as a kid I loved hearing about the players of yesteryear. The veterans of this site have heard this ad nauseum, but at the risk of making their eyes roll I'll tell you that my grandparents used to own two boarding houses in the 20s and 30s on Somerset Street in Philadelphia, right behind the wall of Shibe Park where the Philadelphia Athletics used to play. They had a contract with Connie Mack to house some of the players during the season, especially the younger ones who weren't making much money or some of the unmarried ones. Jimmie Foxx was the biggest name of the group when he first came up as a teenager, but they had others like Max Bishop and Joe Boley and Indian Bob Johnson and many others. My grandparents didn't know anything about baseball,but they knew Connie Mack's checks didn't bounce. My father and his brother were kids who loved baseball and they got to know these guys. They often ran errands for Foxx and his teammates like Al Simmons. They often got game passes for their efforts and even played catch with them. Connie Mack lived two blocks from my grandparents home and seeing him and exchanging small talk was no different than doing that with any other neighbor. Players were a lot more accessible then because they were financially more in the same category as many of the fans (although as a group still better paid than the average person, but not nearly to the extent that they have been for the past 50 years or so.) I remember even in the 1960s there were some Yankee players living within walking distance of Yankee Stadium. Hector Lopez for instance had an apartment on the Grand Concourse just a few blocks away. Lucky you to have that Yankee history in your family. I am always up for hearing from the diminishing number of people who saw DiMaggio and Rizzuto and Henrich and Keller and Reynolds etc. Fans who remember seeing The Babe and Lou would have to be at least in their mid-90s. The oldest kinescope I've been able to find of a live TV broadcast is from the 1952 World Series, so you can watch Allie Reynolds and Johnny Mize as well as Jackie Robinson. Missed Joe D by one year. Yep, players were a lot more accessible back then. I remember hearing how many of the Brooklyn Dodgers lived in middle class neighborhoods of Brooklyn year round. Love reading your excellent post about your grandparents. Thanks for sharing. |
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Post by rizzuto on Aug 18, 2024 12:45:59 GMT -5
HARRY STOVEY More 1890’s hi-jinx… 🤓 As a rookie with the 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs, Stovey led the NL with 14 3B & 6 HR. Eleven years later with the 1891 NL Bostonteam, Stovey again led in both. That year he had 20 3B & 16 HR. He’s the only player to lead his league in 3B and HR in the same season twice. Stovey’s mother, like many people of her time, considered it unsavory to be a ballplayer. Stowe was the family name. So, Stovey simply changed his name so his mom wouldn’t see his name in the box scores. He retired having totaled more runs scored than games played. Played in 1,489 G; scored 1,495 R. This feat has only been duplicated by his contemporaries, Billy Hamilton and George Gore… Was he responsible for Stovey-Top Stuffing? |
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Post by rizzuto on Aug 18, 2024 12:46:27 GMT -5
PETE BROWNING As a rookie he led the AA in three major categories. In 1882 in the Louisville franchise of the American Association, hit .378, had an OBP of .430 & managed an OPS+ of 223! He outhit the NL’s Dan Brouthers in all 3 categories. He was well-known for his frequent odd behavior. He refused to slide during games and would often stand on one leg while on defense, because he believed it made it less likely for others to collide with him. He led a life littered with eccentricities, for instance, he owned hundreds of “ retired” baseball bats, which he stored in his mom’s basement. His preference was for bats that were 37” and 48 Oz... Did I mention that each bat had its own name? Yeah. It’s true. Most of them were biblical names. He was a highly skilled marble player and figure skater as a youth. Browning suffered from mastoiditis, a painful condition that left him nearly deaf. Undiagnosed, it led to frequent misunderstandings, even an unnecessary incarceration in an insane asylum, also having to do with a lifelong drinking problem. His death at age 59 was caused by cirrhosis of the liver, general weakening of the body and the final stages of syphillis due to an affinity for prostitutes… Didn't he also make fine shotguns? |
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Post by rizzuto on Aug 18, 2024 12:47:00 GMT -5
TIP O’NEILL Tip was the first player to lead the league in RBI with fewer than 5 HR that season. In 1886, O’Neill had 103 RBI but only 3 HR for the AA’s STL. Tip O’Neill award is given annually to the top Canadian player… In his top season he “hit .492. However, that was in 1887 when walks were tabulated as hits. Adjusted to today’s standard, he still hit .435, 2nd highest all-time… Wasn't he later to become Speaker of the House? |
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Post by fwclipper51 on Aug 18, 2024 15:48:16 GMT -5
August 21,1991-Yankees batter Bernie Williams fans 5 consecutive times in a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals to tie the MLB mark for a 9-inning game. Yankees MLB Hitting Coach Frank Howard, who was one of the 28 MLB batters, who also shared the strikeout mark, consoles Bernie Williams.
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Post by azbob643 on Aug 18, 2024 15:56:42 GMT -5
Yep, players were a lot more accessible back then. I remember hearing how many of the Brooklyn Dodgers lived in middle class neighborhoods of Brooklyn year round. My Mom grew up in New Rochelle. She said it wasn't unusual to see Gehrig around town and at the boatyard in the off-season. |
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Post by inger on Aug 19, 2024 6:06:19 GMT -5
HARRY STOVEY More 1890’s hi-jinx… 🤓 As a rookie with the 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs, Stovey led the NL with 14 3B & 6 HR. Eleven years later with the 1891 NL Bostonteam, Stovey again led in both. That year he had 20 3B & 16 HR. He’s the only player to lead his league in 3B and HR in the same season twice. Stovey’s mother, like many people of her time, considered it unsavory to be a ballplayer. Stowe was the family name. So, Stovey simply changed his name so his mom wouldn’t see his name in the box scores. He retired having totaled more runs scored than games played. Played in 1,489 G; scored 1,495 R. This feat has only been duplicated by his contemporaries, Billy Hamilton and George Gore… Was he responsible for Stovey-Top Stuffing? 😂 |
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Post by inger on Aug 19, 2024 10:46:14 GMT -5
Shohei Ohtani just joined the 30/30 club. It was the 70th time 30/30 has been reached, the 46th time in NL history, and the first time ever by a primary DH…
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Post by inger on Aug 19, 2024 10:57:28 GMT -5
Another 1890’s star!…
HARDY RICHARDSON
Hardy was the first player to homer in 5 consecutive games. Richardson went deep in each of the G on 10-, 11-, 12-, 15- & 15-Jul-1890 playing for the Players League Boston Reds. This was again brought the public’s attention when Richardson’s feat was tied by Babe Ruth 10-14-Jun-1920, 30 years later.
In the course of his career, he played every position on the Diamond.,He caught 6 X and even pitched 5 X.
Richardson’s career BA was .299. Mantle’s was .298. No comparison really. Richardson played in a era of high BA, Mantle in an era of suppressed BA in his later years…
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For example, how Joe D would make great catches look easy, Rizzuto's quick release throw on a double-play, etc...
