The game of baseball has a long and storied history of its players, teams and managers. The stats, the championships, pitching duels and so much more make this one of the most interesting items to study and watch.
Sports History
Baseball's Grand Old Man
Playing Days (1886-1896):
-A journeyman catcher known for his intelligence and leadership, not raw power.
-Briefly managed Pittsburgh before establishing the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901.
Early A's Dynasty (1901-1914):
-Built a powerhouse team based on pitching, defense, and smart baserunning.
-Won six of the first 14 American League pennants, establishing the A's as a dominant force.
-Developed stars like Eddie Plank and Nap Lajoie, ushering in a new era of strategic baseball.
Post-Dynasty Struggles (1915-1928):
-Failed to replicate early success, often trading away star players due to financial constraints.
-Faced criticism for his stubborn adherence to old-school tactics amidst the rise of the "live-ball" era.
Second A's Dynasty (1929-1931):
-Unearthed another generation of superstars like Al Simmons and Mickey Cochrane.
-Won two consecutive World Series, silencing his critics and proving his adaptability.
Later Years and Legacy (1932-1956):
-He continued managing into his 80s, winning over 3,700 games, a record that still stands.
-He Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, a testament to his unparalleled longevity and impact.
Baseball History Unpacked - June 14
1870 - At the Capitoline Grounds in Brooklyn, the Cincinnati Red Stockings see their 130-game consecutive winning streak (81 official games and 49 exhibitions) come to an end.
1979 - The Giants lose to the Cubs 8-6, but Willie McCovey hits his 513th career home run.
Baseball History Unpacked - June 10
1944 - Six weeks shy of his 16th birthday, Joe Nuxhall becomes the youngest person to play in a major league contest in this century.
2013 - Javier Baez of the Daytona Cubs (Florida State League) hits four home runs in a 9-6 win over the Fort Myers Miracle.
Baseball History Unpacked - June 9
This Day in Baseball June 17 - Bombin Brock
1962 - Lou Brock hits one of longest homeruns in Polo Grounds history.
This Day in Baseball June 17 - Pinch hit again Joe
This Day in Baseball June 17 - Lefty record
This Day in Baseball June 17 - Ruffing up the Tribe
This Day in Baseball June 19 - ARod 3000
Baseball History Unpacked - June 15
February 7 Jersey Numbers
Here are some jersey numbers in team sport history that stuck out. February 7, 1949 - Number 5, Joe DiMaggio became the first ball player to earn $100,000 a yearas he did so under contract with the New York Yankees . February 7, 1958 - The Brooklyn Dodgers official...
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February 6 Jersey Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 31 - 9 - 14 - 83 - 7 - 16 - 22 - 80 - 11 - 84 - 10 - 83 - 12 February 6, 1926 - St Louis Browns acquire catcher Wally Schang from ...
February 5 Jersey Numbers
Here is what happened in Sports Jersey History on February 5: Kareem hits a new NBA high, Hines hauls in a big one and Bob Douglas is honored. Our Sports Jersey Take of the Day is from historian Joe Ziemba. Listen in to learn more about sports history along with me from the unif...
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The Oregon Agricultural Hard Court Stars
(image) Members of the 1922 Oregon Agricultural College men's basketball team. From left to rightː Gill (forward), Hjeite (enter), and Feraley (forward), from February 5, 1922. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. We know the OAC by a different name today, Oregon State. The Oregon Ag...
The 1897 Strathcona Hockey Team
Formal portrait of Strathcona's First Hockey Team (1897). Stratchcona resides in British Columbian Province, and is the oldest residential neighbourhood of Vancouver, (image) Some players are labeled by number. 1. Bob Blain 2. Jim Blain 3. Billy Sharkles 4. Fred Richards 5. J. McIn...
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February 4 Jersey Numbers
Here is what happened in Sports Jersey History on February 4 : We talk about the great goaltending of Grant Fuhr and Ray Durbin of Row One Brand stops by to to discuss two of his favorite number 40s. Listen in to learn more about sports history along with me from the uniforms and jers...
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