Matt and Tom Discuss – Bob Feller, Pitching Machines, December 15th, Free Agency, Bill Hamilton and Tommie Agee December 15th Show Notes December 15, 1896 – THE PITCHING CANNON AT WORK In 1896, Princeton University mathematics instructor Charles Hinton designed a gunpowder-powered baseball pitching machine for the Princeton University baseball team’s batting practice….
Ranking the Left Fielders Joe DiMaggio once said that it “wasn’t possible to describe just how great Stan Musial was.” Musial was “The Man” in St. Louis, leading the Cardinals to pennants in four of his first five seasons, winning three Most Valuable Player awards and seven batting titles. He ranks at the…
On July 10, 1945, ten new members are inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The inductees are catcher Roger Bresnahan, first baseman Dan Brouthers, outfielder Fred Clarke, third baseman Jimmy Collins, outfielders Ed Delahanty and Hugh Duffy, shortstop Hughie Jennings, outfielder King Kelly, first baseman Jim O’Rourke, and catcher Wilbert Robinson….
July 2, 1903, A three-time .400 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ed Delahanty was the sport’s first bona fide slugger, leading the league with 19 homers and 146 RBI in 1893. Ten years later “the King of Swat” was dead; his fatal plunge off the International Bridge into the foot of Niagara Falls 96…
On July 2, 1903, Seeing that George Davis is playing for the Giants, Ed Delahanty decides to jump to New York too. Leaving the Nationals in Detroit, he boards an eastbound train. He is put off the train for rowdy, and possibly drunken, behavior at Niagara Falls. When he tries to walk across the railroad…
1903 – Ed Delahanty, one of five major league brothers, and the greatest natural hitter of his time, rejoins the Washington Nationals in accordance with the baseball peace terms. A three-year contract with the New York Giants at $8,000 a season, signed during the winter, is canceled. The Nationals reimburse the Giants for the $3,000 advanced to Delahanty.
Cleveland rookie Otto Hess, who made his debut two days ago, wobbles to a 7 – 6, ten-inning win over the Washington Nationals. The Nats test the rookie by laying down 14 bunts, three of which are misplayed by Hess, four are hits, and seven go for sacrifices. Cleveland SS John Gochnauer breaks his finger in the 3rd inning when he tries to flag down a line drive hit by Ed Delahanty. Gochnauer stays in the game and doubles in the tying runs in the 8th inning and doubles home the winner off Case Patten in the 10th.
Willie Keeler, one of the smallest players and best bunters, drives the ball past startled LF Ed Delahanty of the Phillies for an inside-the-park grand slam and an 8 – 5 victory for Brooklyn.
Tom O’Brien of the New York Giants receives perhaps the first intentional walk in major league history. In the 8th inning, with runners on second and third bases with one out, Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies tells teammate pitcher Jack Fifield to walk O’Brien, who has hit well all day. Then next batter, Fred Hartman, hits into a double play.
On July 13, 1896, At the West Side Grounds Ed Delahanty hits four home runs (all Inside the park), but it’s not enough as the Philadelphia Phillies lose to the Chicago Colts, 9 – 8. The Phillies first baseman slugged his four dingers off the Cubs’ Adonis Terry, but Philadelphia rookie pitcher Ned Garvin couldn’t…