Sports History

Born October 13, 1876, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Rube Waddell. The solidly built left-hander, played for 13 seasons in the Majors, with the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Orphans in the National League, as well as the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns in the American League.

Rube was also in 1902 set to play on Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics football team but decided against it. Mack later said, "There was a little fellow from Wanamaker's who asked for the job of quarterback. I don't think he weighed more than 140 [lbs]. Well, the first practice Waddell tackled him and broke his leg. It was the first inkling John [Shibe] and I had that players could be badly hurt in football. We got Rube out of there without delay. He was supposed to be pretty good, but we never found out." Waddell returned to his family's home in Pennsylvania and played with local football clubs there. He played with various football teams in his later years and had a brief stint as a goalkeeper in the St. Louis Soccer League

Born July 16, 1887, in Pickens County, South Carolina , Baseball Outfielder, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Joe's MLB career exteneded from 1908-20 with most notably the Chicago White Sox, But also the Philadelphia Athletics, and the Cleveland Naps. Jackson's MLB career batting average sat at .356, and is the fourth highest in the history of Major League Baseball. Jackson recalled he got his nickname during a mill game played in Greenville, South Carolina. Jackson had blisters on his foot from a new pair of cleats, which hurt so much that he took his shoes off before he was at bat. As play continued, a heckling fan noticed Jackson running to third base in his socks, and shouted "You shoeless son of a gun, you!" and the resulting nickname "Shoeless Joe" stuck with him. Jackson and the White Sox won the American League pennant and also the World Series. During the series, Jackson hit .307 as the White Sox defeated the New York Giants. Shoeless is often remembered for his association with the Black Sox Scandal, in which members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox participated in a conspiracy to fix the World Series. As a result, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned Jackson from baseball after the 1920 season. Jackson holds the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox franchise records for triples in a season and career batting average. In 1999, he ranked number 35 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Born September 5, 1874, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was Baseball Hall of Fame Second Baseman Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie. This legend was the Triple Crown winner in 1901; American League Batting Champion 1901–04, 10 as he played with the Philadelphia A's, Cleveland Naps during his MLB career.

Tyrus Raymond Cobb, nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was a whirlwind of a baseball player. Born in 1886, he entered the major leagues in 1905 and carved his legacy as one of the game's most dominant and controversial figures.
Cobb's career was a spectacle of statistics and records. He slashed a staggering .366 batting average, the highest in MLB history, and amassed an unthinkable 12 batting titles. He stole 117 bases in a single season (the most ever) and led the American League in hits 12 times. His aggressive baserunning, bordering on reckless, earned him the nickname "The Thief of Bagdad."
But Cobb wasn't just about numbers. He was a fiery competitor with a fierce will to win. His hustle and intensity were unmatched, pushing him to excel while sometimes alienating teammates and opponents. He was known for his sharp spikes, which some believe he used strategically, and his brawling incidents on the field added to his colorful reputation.
Despite the controversies, Cobb's brilliance on the field was undeniable. He was a triple threat, hitting for average, power and stealing bases with ease. He won three World Series titles with the Detroit Tigers and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936.
Yet, Cobb's legacy remains complex. His fiery personality and questionable tactics cast a shadow over his sporting achievements. He faced accusations of racism and was involved in off-field scandals. Nonetheless, Cobb's talent and unparalleled impact on the game are undeniable.
Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach, was a legend of contradictions. He was a feared competitor, a statistical marvel, and a figure of controversy. His name stands etched in baseball history, a reminder of the game's raw power and the enduring brilliance of a player who carved his path on and off the field.

Born May 2, 1887, in Millerton, New York, was Baseball Hall of Fame infielder Eddie Collins. Collins played for the Philadelphia A's and Chicago White Sox during his MLB career. Eddie was on the World Series Champion teams of 1910, 11, 13, 17, 29, 30; AL MVP 1914; 4 x AL stolen base leader.

Born July 13, 1852, born in Reading, Pennsylvania, was American baseball legendary Pitcher, George Bradley. "Grin," as he was known by teammates, played for multiple teams in the early years of the National League. He pitched for the St. Louis Brown Stockings, Chicago White Stockings (1877),
and Troy Trojans (1879). After the 1879 season his pitching was not in demand so he played infield for various teams including; Providence Grays (1880), Detroit Wolverines (1881), Cleveland Blues (1881–1883), Philadelphia Athletics (1883), Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884), Philadelphia Athletics (1886), and Baltimore Orioles (1888). His pitching in that short span of his 30 season in baseball are what we most remember because George threw the first no-hitter in MLB history 1876 as well as being the NL ERA leader 1876.

Born August 31, 1875, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Eddie Plank. This legend was a World Series champion in 1910, 11, 13 with the Philadelphia Athletics. After fourteen seasons with the A's Eddie signed on with the St. Louis Terriers in 1915, and the St. Louis Browns in 1916 and 1917. Plank was the first lefty to reach the 200 and 300 win plateaus and still sits in third place in the record books for southpaw victories at 326. Passing away in 1926 from a stroke, Eddie Plank was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946 by the Veterans Committee.

The Baseball Hall of Fame bio on Al Simmons. Al Simmons who was Nicknamed "Bucketfoot Al." He played for two decades in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and had his best years with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the late 1920s and early 1930s, winning two World Series with Philadelphia. Simmons also played for the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. Simmons is one of the top MLB players that wore the Number 7 Jersey.

Born October 22, 1907, in Sudlersville, Maryland, was Baseball Hall of Fame First Baseman, Jimmie Foxx.

This legend was a nine-time MLB All Star. Foxx won World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox in 1929, 30 and was awarded the American League MVP 1932, 33, 38. He also won the Triple Crown of baseball in 1933.

Fox played with both the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago Cubs.

Herb Pennock, nicknamed "The Squire" for his gentlemanly demeanor, wasn't your typical fire-balling pitcher. Standing at a slender 6 feet, he relied on guile, pinpoint control, and a diverse arsenal to carve out a Hall of Fame career. Pennock's journey, spanning over two decades, is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the game.

Debuting for the Philadelphia Phillies at the tender age of 18 in 1912, Pennock's early years were marked by inconsistency. Yet, his raw talent was undeniable. He showcased a deceptive fastball, a sharp curveball, and a masterful changeup, keeping hitters off balance. By 1914, he had established himself as a reliable starter, and in 1915, he led the National League with 27 wins, a feat he would repeat two years later.

He spent his prime years with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, consistently putting up impressive numbers. He led the league in ERA twice and won over 20 games in three seasons, showcasing his mastery over his new pitching style. His calm demeanor under pressure made him a go-to starter in crucial games, earning him the nickname "The Nerves of Steel."

Pennock's career wasn't without its challenges. He was traded multiple times, facing new teams and environments, but his adaptability and dedication to his craft remained constant. In 1931, at the age of 34, he defied expectations by leading the New York Yankees to a World Series victory, cementing his legacy as a big-game pitcher.