 Ban Johnson, the famous American League president in the early 1900s, picked perhaps the first all-time AL team in 1929. More than 70 years later, many of Johnson’s picks more than hold their own when compared to stars of the league from more contemporary times. (picked in 1929) 1B: George Sisler 2B: Eddie Collins SS: Bobby…
 Ranking the Center Fielders Joe DiMaggio made playing center field for the New York Yankees cool. He was graceful and he was a winner (10 pennants in 13 seasons), and helped establish the Yankee mystique. Switch-hitting Mickey Mantle combined power and speed in ways no one ever had before. Other great Yankee center fielders…
On December 8, 1958, Hall of Famer Tris Speaker dies from a heart attack at the age of 70. Regarded as a consummate defensive center fielder, Speaker batted .345 over a 22-year career, ranking him sixth on the all-time list, behind Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Joe Jackson, Lefty O Doul and Ed Delahanty. He is…
In February 1951, a grand collection of baseball greats attended a party held by Toots Shor â the legendary New York City restaurateur â in celebration of the National League’s 75th anniversary. Included among the distinguished group were Hall of Famers Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Charlie Gehringer, Rogers Hornsby, Kid Nichols,…
Shortly before his death in 1948, Babe Ruth, in an interview with The Saturday Evening Post, picked an all-time all-star team, minus the right fielderâthough he offered some suggestions. “I just don’t want to pick myself,” he said. His most surprising omission, however, was that of Lou Gehrig. You’re probably thinking: “Maybe he went with…
Cy Young, Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Ty Cobb pose together prior to Old Timer’s Day on September 28, 1947 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. It was held on the final day of the season in front of 23,085 fans, the Yankees stage the first Old-Timersâ Day in major league…
War Bond Game, August 26, 1943, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Tris Speaker, Lefty Grove, Connie Mack, Eddie Collins, Al Simmons, Bill Dickey, George Sisler, and Homerun Baker stand in uniform before an Old Timers All Star game.
“The 76-year-old gray-haired man puffed contently on an ancient, battered pipe,” wrote Burton Hawkins of The Washington Star, referring to Cy Young, whom he interviewed in May 1943. The sprightly septuagenarianâMLB’s career leader in wins (511), losses (315), complete games (749), innings (7,356), and batters faced (29,565)âdiscussed a variety of topics with Hawkins, including pitching,…
In 1941. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker
1939 – The National Professional Indoor Baseball League, headed by league president Tris Speaker, begins play. The league has 10 clubs, one in each then major-league city except Washington. Alas, it disappears within a month.