Filmed in December 1959, “Home Run Derby” was a groundbreaking weekly television series that pitted baseball’s top sluggers against one another in head-to-head battles for long ball supremacy. The show took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles (home of the Pacific Coast League’s Angels), chosen because of its near-symmetrical dimensions. Unlike modern derbies, hitters…
1) “That Willie Mays, he’s one of the greatest center fielders who ever lived. You can go back as far as you want and name all the great ones – Tris Speaker, Eddie Roush, Max Carey, Earle Combs, Joe DiMaggio. I don’t care who you name, Mays is just as good, maybe better.” — Harry…
▪️1) “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” — Jackie Robinson ▪️2) “[Jackie] knew he had to do well. He knew that the future of blacks in baseball depended on it. The pressure was enormous, overwhelming, and unbearable at times. I…
Second basemen Billy Martin and Jackie Robinson squared off in four World Series (1952-53; 1955-56), with each man enjoying his share of memorable highlights in the field, on the bases, and at the dish during October. True to character, the fiery Martin viewed these match-ups with the National League’s top second sacker as deadly serious….
Elmer Flick Position: RightfielderBats: Left • Throws: Right 5-9, 168lb (175cm, 76kg)Born:January 11, 1876 in Bedford, OHDied: January 9, 1971 in Bedford, OH Buried: Crown Hill Cemetery, Twinsburg, OHHigh School: Bedford HS (Bedford, OH)Debut: 1898 (2,039th in major league history)Last Game: July 4, 1910Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1963. (Voted by Veteran’s Committee) View Elmer Flick’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Full Name: Elmer Harrison Flick View…
Buck Ewing Positions: Catcher, First Baseman and RightfielderBats: Right • Throws: Right5-10, 188lb (178cm, 85kg)Born: October 17, 1859 in Hoagland, OHDied: October 20, 1906 in Cincinnati, OHBuried: Mount Washington Cemetery, Cincinnati, OHDebut: September 9, 1880 (487th in major league history)Last Game: May 27, 1897Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1939. (Voted by Old Timers Committee)View Buck Ewing’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).Full Name: William EwingView Player Info from…
Lefty Grove Position: PitcherBats: Left • Throws: Left6-3, 190lb (190cm, 86kg)Born: March 6, 1900 in Lonaconing, MD usDied: May 22, 1975 in Norwalk, OHBuried: Frostburg Memorial Park, Frostburg, MDHigh School: Central HS (Lonaconing, MD)Debut: April 14, 1925 Last Game: September 28, 1941Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1947. (Voted by BBWAA on 123/161 ballots)View Lefty Grove’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1925 seasonFull Name: Robert Moses GroveView Player…
Tim Keefe Position: PitcherBats: Right • Throws: Right5-10, 185lb (178cm, 83kg)Born: January 1, 1857 in Cambridge, MA usDied: April 23, 1933 (Aged 76-112d) in Cambridge, MABuried: Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, MADebut: August 6, 1880 (Age 23-218d, 481st in major league history)Last Game: August 15, 1893 (Age 36-226d)Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1964. (Voted by Veteran’s Committee)View Tim Keefe’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).Full Name: Timothy John KeefeNicknames: Smiling Tim or Sir TimothyView Player Info from…
Sid Farrar Essentials Positions: Bats: Throws: R Weight: 185 Born: August 10, 1859 in Paris Hill, ME USA Died: May 7, 1935 in New York, NY USA Debut: May 1, 1883 Last Game: October 4, 1890 Full Name: Sidney Douglas Farrar Sid Farrar, one of the 19th-century’s top defensive first basemen, enjoyed a short but…
Buzz Arlett Essentials Positions: Bats: B Throws: R 75 Weight: 225 Born: 1 3, 1899 in Elmhurst, CA USA Died: 5 16 1964 in Minneapolis, MN USA Debut: 4/14/1931 Last Game: 9/27/1931 Full Name: Russell Loris Arlett Russell Loris “Buzz” Arlett Buzz Arlett had some things in common with Babe Ruth. He was a big…