Burleigh Grimes
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Pittsburgh Pirates acquire outfielder Casey Stengel and infielder George Cutshaw from the Brooklyn Robins for future Hall of Fame pitcher Burleigh Grimes

On January 2, 1918, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquire outfielder Casey Stengel and infielder George Cutshaw from the Brooklyn Robins for pitcher Burleigh Grimes and Al Mamaux, and infielder Chuck Ward. Stengel will play only two seasons with the Pirates before moving on to Philadelphia, but will eventually enjoy a Hall of Fame career as a…

Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time

Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time

1916 – In Kansas City, MO, Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time. The exhibition game between the two stars features Zach Wheat, Casey Stengel, Max Carey, Hal Chase and others. The “Johnsons” prevail over the “Alexanders”, 3 – 2.

Pirate rookie Burleigh Grimes

Pirate rookie Burleigh Grimes makes his first start, against the Robins at Ebbets Field

1916 – Four days after his first appearance, Pirate rookie Burleigh Grimes makes his first start, against the Robins at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn breaks a scoreless tie with two runs in the 7th, after Honus Wagner flubs a double play grounder hit by Casey Stengel. Wagner, who ostensibly had told the rookie to have Stengel hit the ball to short, reportedly says, “Those damn big feet of mine have always been in my way.” Pittsburgh scores two in the 8th to tie but pitcher Larry Cheney hits a run-scoring double in the bottom of the 9th to win it for Brooklyn.

Ebbets Field Opens
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Ebbets Field Opens

On April 5, 1913, in Brooklyn Dodger history, in 1913 Genevieve Ebbets, daughter of the club president, throws out the first ball before 25,000 as the new $750,000.00 Ebbets Field opens in Brooklyn. Nap Rucker pitched the 3-2 win over the New York Yankees and Casey Stengel of the Dodgers hits the first inside the…

Casey Stengel makes an impressive major league debut, leading seventh-place Brooklyn to a surprising 7 – 3

1912 – Charlie—aka Casey—Stengel makes an impressive major league debut, leading seventh-place Brooklyn to a surprising 7 – 3 win over the streaking Pirates. The likable outfielder from Kansas City collects four hits, a walk, a pair of stolen bases and two tie-breaking RBI (the second putting Brooklyn ahead to stay and saddling 24-game winner Claude Hendrix with his ninth and final defeat of 1912).