Baseball Happenings

Choo Choo Coleman interview

2012-01-22T10:14:00.000-05:00

Clarence "Choo Choo" Coleman has been an elusive figure since his playing days with the New York Mets. Returning to New York after 45 years, Coleman sat down for an interview about his career starting from Class D with the Orlando club of the Washington Senators in 1955, through his time with the Dodgers and Phillies organizations before landing with the Mets in 1962.

Click here to read this rare interview with one of the favorites of the 1962 Mets.

Book Review - A Pirate's Journey - The Life Story of Major League Catcher Hank Foiles with Douglas Williams

2012-01-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

Hank Foiles

Spending 16 years behind the plate in professional baseball, Henry “Hank” Foiles saw more than his share of fastballs and foul tips. Along with the many games logged on his aching knees, his travels allowed him to forge relationships with many of the greats of the golden era, not only in baseball, but also pop culture. It is these experiences that comprise Foiles’ recently released autobiography, A Pirate’s Journey, which is co-authored by Douglas Williams.

Click here to read the entire review of A Pirate's Journey, which vividly chronicles Foiles' travels from Richmond, Virginia to the major leagues and thrilling road he took to get there.

Al Van Alstyne, 84, followed in the family baseball tradition

2012-01-16T08:11:00.000-05:00

Al Van Alsytne

Al Van Alstyne found himself in spring training with the Red Sox in 1952 surrounded by their 15 best prospects, all trying to fill the void of Ted Williams pending leave for active duty in the Korean War. The Red Sox paraded 14 different players to the outfield after Williams departed for service at the end of April; unfortunately, Van Alstyne wasn’t one of them.

Van Alstyne passed away January 5^th at the age of 84 after suffering from a long bout with cancer. He grew up in a baseball household, as his father Clayton Sr. pitched for the Washington Senators and his brother Clayton Jr. was an infielder in the Pirates organization. [Note: His father hit his only home run in his last major league at-bat, one of only 43 major leaguers to accomplish this feat.]

His father's baseball connections opened the door for his signing with the Boston Red Sox in 1950 from St. Lawrence University.

“My dad played in Washington with Joe Cronin, and he was with me the day I signed in Boston, as Joe was the general manager there,” said Van Alstyne in a 2009 phone interview I conducted with him.

He reported to Scranton of the Eastern League a month late after breaking his thumb playing ball right after he signed with Boston. His brother Clayton was playing for the Albany Senators which gave him the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream, to face his sibling in pro ball.

“I played against him my first year in Scranton, that was his last year. It was very enjoyable,” he said.

Van Alstyne earned his first of three invites to spring training in 1952 after having an All-Star season with Class C San Jose in 1951. Surrounded by a combination of established veterans and a volume of upstarts such as Jimmy Piersall, Gene Stephens, Tom Umphlett, and Bob DiPietro, there just wasn’t room for Van Alstyne to crack the big league roster.

“One of the reasons I signed with the Red Sox was that I saw guys were getting old, but they stayed on. I was just a rookie and I was competing with Williams, [Dom] DiMaggio and [Jackie] Jensen, not to mention Piersall, and Clyde Vollmer,” he said.

The opportunity to spend time with Williams during spring training allowed Van Alstyne to have a first hand view of what made him so special.

“Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw. He was dedicated to his hitting. I don’t care where he was; he was always talking about it and demonstrating to the point where I thought sawdust was coming out of the bat,” said Van Alstyne.

He recalled a spring training game where Williams displayed his great attention to detail in what was an otherwise meaningless game.

“We were playing the Yankees in St. Petersburg one day. He was on the bench and I was playing centerfield. When he was called up to pinch hit, he asked all of the guys what the new pitcher threw, what his best pitch was, etc. He was a real student of the game … he was the ultimate.”

Van Alstyne played in the Red Sox organization through 1955 and then was purchased by the Yankees. He spent one year with their AAA team and retired after facing the task of supplanting another legend, Mickey Mantle.

“I was behind Mantle in centerfield and we didn’t have free agency, so that was it,” he stated.
After baseball, Van Alstyne went into financial planning for Connecticut Sigma and was inducted in to the St. Lawrence Hall of Fame in 2003 for baseball and basketball.

Even thought he came up short with his attempts to get even a cup of coffee in the majors, Van Alstyne was without regret, “It was a great seven years I had with great people.”

More Info -

Al Van Alstyne pictured with Guy Morton in 1954 Red Sox spring training - Tuscaloosa News

Van Alstyne figures prominently in Red Sox win - Daytona Beach Morning News

Chris Potter, more than a friend to collectors

2012-01-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

Chris Potter with Rocky Colavito

Chris Potter has spent months on the road, traveling the country far and wide to have retired baseball players put their signatures on cherished baseball memorabilia for fellow collectors. What started out as an innocent meeting with Cy Young Award winner Dean Chance, has turned into a full-time business for Potter.

“It started with Dean Chance. I got to know him by going to a show and he just kind of took a liking to me,” said Potter. “Dean being Dean, he’s a business man. He asked if I had friends that collected autographs. He asked for me to get things for him to sign and he would give the money to his church. I got maybe 15-20 of my friends and we were able to raise about $1,000 for his church.”

Potter is set to embark on another round of signings with over 30 retired major leaguers that include the reclusive Rocky Colavito, All-Stars Jimmy “Toy Cannon” Wynn, George “Boomer” Scott, Don Kessinger and Steve Sax.

Using these signings to fund his road trips and the full-scale services of his business Chris Potter Sports, he was also able to bring some much needed financial support to players that baseball had left behind.

“These guys are remembered in baseball history, but baseball doesn’t want to remember them. A guy like [95-year-old] Danny Litwhiler wasn’t able to travel, but I traveled to him. When I handed him the money, there were tears in his eyes. He was in an assisted living facility and really needed the money.”

As Potter started to befriend more players, they became the referral system that enabled him to expand his network. As his reach lengthened, he was able to link teammates that haven’t spoken in decades.

“I found out it was a tight knit circle. … It’s been really nice, because I’ve been able to put these guys back in touch. I get their number from a friend of a friend and they tell me they haven’t spoken in 50 years. It’s heartwarming for me that I’m putting these guys back in touch. They’re rekindling relationships,” said Potter.

Collectors that are under the guise that Potter is doing easy work while exploiting these players need to think again. Traversing the United States to provide his service doesn’t come cheaply.

“We bought our car in April and since then there are 37,000 miles on it. Our expenses are ungodly amounts. Hotels, gas, food … it’s not like you can go to the grocery store and cook meals at home; you are constantly eating out,” said Potter.

The hectic pace of visiting multiple players per day has Potter on a similar schedule as a touring artist.

“The time we have on the road, we’re lucky if we get something small at the hotel in the morning and then getting back at 8-9pm and it is McDonalds or something fast. We’re always on the go,” he said.

Potter has even said that he’s been approached by a few television producers who have wanted to document his travels ala a reality TV show, but so far nothing has materialized.

For those skeptical about the reliability of Potter's service, one of his customers has entrusted him to handle an autograph book so valuable that it is flown across the country for his signings.

“We have a book that we handle for a customer who lives in Las Vegas. He flies out to us to hand deliver this book to me. It has over 7,000 signatures in it. It has Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams several times over, Stan Musial, etc. It is priceless. It can’t be sent in the mail,” said Potter.

Collectors can rest easily knowing that their items are being taken care of in a manner as if they were handling it themselves.

“With us, you know your item is going to be handled correctly. People are picky about the type of pens they want used and they want their cards signed in the right spot,” said Potter. “If it is an expensive item, then I would definitely let it be handled by a professional. That’s what we offer, a service to the collectors.”

For the full list of signings offered by Potter, please check his website. All items are due by Monday, December 9^th, 2012.

Ted Beard, 90, second person to hit homerun over right field wall in Forbes Field

2012-01-02T21:11:00.000-05:00

Ted Beard

While digging through baseball’s history books, one would be surprised to find Ted Beard’s name in the same company with Babe Ruth. The 5’8” 165 lb. outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates was only the second player, the first being Ruth, to ever hit a home run over the 86 foot high right field fence in Forbes Field. He was only one of ten different players to accomplish that feat until the last game was played there in 1970.

Beard died last week in Fishers, Ind. at the age of 90. Click here to read about his career, including an interview I conducted with him describing his legendary home run.

Major League Baseball lost over 90 alumni in 2011

2011-12-31T07:40:00.019-05:00

Dick Williams

Duke Snider

Always one of the sadder pieces that I write annually, reflecting on the major league alumni that died during the past year. In 2011, over 90 former big leaguers passed away including Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Harmon Killebrew, and Dick Williams.

The amount of living Negro League players continued to dwindle with the deaths of veterans Bill "Ready" Cash, Stanley Glenn, Millito Navarro, George Crowe and Butch McCord.

Tito Landrum was generous enough to share his thoughts on "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Poffo) who was his teammate in the Cardinals organization.

I feel fortunate to have been able to speak with many of these legends and get their memories on tape.

Below are a recap of the articles that I have penned this year, many containing personal photos and excerpts from interviews that I conducted with them during the course of my research. Feel free to share your memories of these legends that have moved on to greener pastures in 2011.

Major League Alumni

Marty Marion

Dick Williams kindled special friendship with his lunch crew
Nick Strincevich, 3rd oldest major league player dies at 96
Cole and Smalley Jr's deaths link a history started 57 years prior
Former Brooklyn Dodgers Schmitz and Buker pass away
Eddie Bockman, scout that signed Larry Bowa and four year MLB veteran, dies at 91
Joe Caffie Indians outfielder that started in the Negro Leagues, dies at 80
Ernie Johnson, 87, Braves pitcher, announcer and World War II veteran
Bob "Tex" Nelson's career a golden example of the flawed bonus rule
Federoff's influence has a lasting impact on the Tigers organization
Wes Covington, 79, 1957 World Series hero
Jose A. Pagan, 76, played 15 seasons with three clubs
Billy Harris, 79, former Brooklyn Dodger

Wes Covington

Duane Pillette, 88, teammate of Satchel Paige on St. Louis Browns
Eddie Joost, 94, last manager of the Philadelphia Athletics dies
Spook Jacobs: "He's worth $30,000 in the minor leagues!"
Marty Marion, former National League MVP, dies at 93
Duke Snider's Philadelphia grab eclipsed that of Willie Mays in the World Series
Former New York Mets catcher Greg Goossen passes away at 65
Recent Brooklyn Dodger passings - Tony Malinosky, Gino Cimoli, Cliff Dapper
Tony Malinosky,101, former Brooklyn Dodger passes away
George Crowe, 89, former Negro League player and Major League All-Star
Roy Hartsfield, 85, First Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, 1925-2011
Ryne Duren, 81, 3-time All-Star, 1929-2011

Negro League Alumni

Butch McCord

Bill 'Ready' Cash, veteran of eight Negro League seasons dies at 91
Negro League legend Willie "Curly" Williams left a lasting impact on many
Emilio 'Millito' Navarro, 105, world's oldest living baseball player
Stanley Glenn, 84, Negro League catcher and president
Bill Deck's exciting journey through the Negro Leagues
Butch McCord leaves behind a baseball legacy of a lifetime

Minor League Stars
"Macho Man" Randy Savage remembered by his baseball teammate Tito Landrum
Andres Fleitas, 95, Cuban Baseball Great (1916-2011)
Russell Rac, 81, hit four home runs in one game while with the St. Louis Cardinals organization
Bill Tosheff, first NBA rookie of the year, moonlighted as a strong armed pitcher

Bill Deck

Dick Williams kindled a special friendship with his lunch crew

2011-12-30T11:17:00.000-05:00

As Lou Rodophele went to lunch this week, one seat at the table remained empty. Thursday was the day the “Lunch Bunch” met, and for years without fail, one of baseball’s legendary managers was at the helm of the gathering. This holiday season was a painful reminder that their skipper, Dick Williams, is no longer around to hold court at their weekly get-togethers.

Click here to read the friendship the two kindled as a result of their lunch meeting and the legacy Williams left behind.

Mets pitcher Pedro Beato looks to build on his rookie season

2011-12-27T17:02:00.000-05:00

Pedro Beato giving a clinic at the 5 Tool Baseball Academy

New York Mets pitcher Pedro Beato brought spring training early to an eager group of aspiring ballplayers Tuesday afternoon at the Five Tool Baseball Academy & G2 Training Center in Ozone Park, N.Y. The Xaverian High School graduate instructed the players on the finer points of pitching, sharing a bit of what he has learned after completing his first year in the big leagues.

Click here to read Beato's reflections on his rookie season in the majors with the New York Mets and his thoughts on 2012.

New York Mets pitcher Pedro Beato to give holiday pitching clinics in Queens and Manhattan

2011-12-24T16:21:00.000-05:00

Pedro Beato giving pitching tips

Pedro Beato, fresh off of his rookie season with the New York Mets, will be helping kids get back into baseball mode after all of the holiday festivities, leading a series of youth baseball clinics next week in Queens and Manhattan. Beato’s first stop next week will be right in his backyard of Ozone Park at the Five Tool Baseball Academy (100-02 Rockaway Blvd.) on Tuesday December 27th.

Appearing as part of a two-day clinic, Beato will lead pitching instruction at the newly minted Queens training facility on Rockaway Blvd. The clinic will cover all aspects of pitching and hitting, as well as physical training in this intimate setting. The clinic is for children ages 9-18 and will run from 9am-3pm on Tuesday December 27th and Thursday December 29th. For more information, including pricing for the two-day clinic, call Giovanni Zapata at 917-373-2286.

In between the days of his clinic in Ozone Park, Beato is making a return appearance Wednesday December 28th at the 5th annual Lou DeMartino Memorial Christmas Baseball Clinic. The free clinic is hosted by the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance and takes place at the John Jay College Gymnasium (899 Tenth Avenue) in Manhattan. Beato will appear for the second time at the clinic along with a pair of Archbishop Molloy grads turned prospects, Matt Rizzotti (Philadelphia Phillies) and Dennis O’Grady (San Diego Padres). Registration for the clinic is from 8am-9am, with the clinic running from 9am-1pm. To register in advance for the clinic, e-mail Tom Sylvester – tsylvester@gnysaa.org.

Andres Fleitas, 95, Cuban baseball great (1916-2011)

2011-12-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

Andres Fleitas (r.) pictured with his brother Angel in Chattanooga

Andres Fleitas, one of the oldest living players from the Cuban Baseball League, passed away in Miami last week at the age of 95.

Fleitas was a catcher / first baseman, who went pro in Cuba during the 1942-43 winter league season. His performance attracted the attention of major league scouts, and he was signed to the New York Giants organization.

After playing two years at the AAA level, he was lured by the large coffers of Mexican owner Jorge Pasquel, and spent three years in the Mexican League. This put him on the banned list by commissioner Happy Chandler, and when the ban was lifted, Fleitas still carried the stigma of playing in the outlaw league.

He continued to play in the minor leagues through 1954, even having the opportunity to play with his brother Angel in Chattanooga in the late 1940's (see above photo).

Award winning author George Vecsey praises Musial at Bergino Baseball Clubhouse

2011-12-24T10:12:00.000-05:00

George Vecsey (r.) with metroBASEBALL editor Nick D'Arienzo

George Vecsey, the long-standing New York Times writer, who recently stepped down from his column, appeared last week at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse to discuss the great Stan Musial. The Hall of Famer is the subject of Vecsey's latest book, An American Life (ESPN, 2011). The event, which was sponsored in partnership with metroBASEBALL magazine, attracted a full house of enthusiasts who participated with Vecsey in a podcast from the store.

Click here to see photos and read a full review of Vecsey's appearance and thoughts on the St. Louis Cardinal legend.

Gil Hodges' Brooklyn Dodger teammates make a pitch for his Hall of Fame honors

2011-12-05T22:42:00.000-05:00

The Golden Era Committee meets this weekend in Dallas at the winter baseball meetings to decide the worthiness of ten veterans and executives for Hall of Fame enshrinement. One of those ten candidates is beloved Brooklyn Dodger first baseman and manager of the 1969 New York Mets World Series championship team, Gil Hodges.

During the 15 years he was eligible for the BBWAA vote, Hodges finished as high as third in the voting on three occasions, while the next nine finishing below him (1976, 1977) eventually made the Hall of Fame. Later, various incarnations of the Veterans Committee failed to elect Hodges, while comparable players such as Orlando Cepeda (VC) and Tony Perez (BBWAA) received the call in back-to-back years.

At the time of his retirement, Hodges’ 370 home runs were the most in the National League by a right-handed hitter. He cemented the clean-up spot in Brooklyn’s lineup, guiding them to their only World Series in 1955. At first base, his glove work was outstanding, winning the Gold Glove during for three straight years since its inception in 1957.

Click here to read from Hodges' Brooklyn teammates about their feelings regarding his Hall of Fame chances.

Lenny Dykstra settles in at Strawberry's restaurant

2011-11-27T07:46:00.001-05:00

Lenny Dykstra, the much maligned center fielder for the 1986 New York Mets World Series championship team, appeared Saturday evening at Darryl Strawberry's Sports Grill in Queens. Click here to read about Dykstra's appearance and see photos from the event.

Did MLB short its retirees with the new collective barganing agreement?

2011-11-22T17:26:00.000-05:00

A provision of the new collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association included an extension through 2016 of what was deemed "charitable payments” delivered to non-vested retired MLB players who played prior to 1980.

These players, who played less than four or five seasons in the majors depending upon their debuts, are eligible for up to $10,000 in annual payments, as agreed upon earlier this season. For some players who just barely missed the cutoff for vesting, they receive checks of close to $10,000 per year; others who played the minimum required 43 days, are receiving as little as $625 per year. This payment is in stark contrast to the $30,000 annual pension payment to a player who debuted after 1980 that was on an active major league roster for the 43-day minimum.

The question remains; however, did MLB do the right thing by its retirees with the new CBA? Click here to read a compelling argument by Douglas Gladstone, the author of, "A Bitter Cup of Coffee."

Gil Hodges' disciples speak up on his Hall of Fame chances

2011-11-19T07:59:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Joan Hodges at the 2011 Gil Hodges Legacy Dinner

The topic of inductions was a hot item during Thursday night’s Winning Beyond Winning’s 14th annual Gil Hodges Legacy Dinner at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place.

Completing the ceremonial first pitch in front of a crowd of 250-plus supporters, former New York Yankees Frank Tepedino and Rusty Torres accepted their inductions into the Winning Beyond Winning “Winners Circle.”

Torres along with attorney Tom Sabellico founded the organization which helps to educate kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, while promoting participation in athletics. Tepedino was one of their first recruits. “At a time in my life, when I gave up alcohol, Rusty and Tom came into it. Winning Beyond Winning was a blessing,” said Tepedino.

New York Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson and his wife Erin were presented with the Great Americans Award for their community work with their charity High Socks for Hope in their home state of Alabama.

The dinner, which bears the name of the legendary Dodgers’ first baseman and New York Mets manager, served this year as an impromptu booster party for Hodges’ Hall of Fame candidacy. When Hodges’ wife Joan took the podium for the celebration of her 85th birthday, the buzz circulated about her late husband’s Hall of Fame credentials. Hodges is one of the ten candidates on the newly formed Golden Era ballot to be voted on December 4th in Dallas.

Long time New York Mets shortstop and Long Island Ducks owner Bud Harrelson spoke with Examiner about Hodges’ paternal influence as his manager. “When I was with him, I felt like I was a son and I think he made a lot of players feel like that,” said Harrelson. “I fell in love with this guy. He was not negative, always positive. … He was just a good man, a family man [with] really solid principles.”

Washington Senators outfielder Fred Valentine, who played under Hodges from 1964-67, also praised the character of his fallen manager. “Throughout my whole playing career I think I gave him 100, 110 percent while I was on the field. … I knew what type of person he was. He was a devoted person, a devoted manager and he treated all of the players equally well. All of the ballplayers seemed to like the way that he managed,” said Valentine. He hopes that the upcoming vote will land Hodges in Cooperstown. “I can’t say enough about Gil Hodges about a manager. I’m just praying as I told Mrs. Hodges [today], that he will make it to the Hall of Fame where he deserves to be.”

Another disciple of the beloved Mets manager, Art Shamsky, felt that Hodges’ honor is long overdue. “It’s certainly something that should have been done a number of years ago, especially if you look at his stats against guys like Tony Perez and Orlando Cepeda; it’s very comparable. I’m just not sure why it hasn’t happened before, and hopefully at this point while Mrs. Hodges is around to enjoy some good news, it will happen sooner than later.”

Mrs. Hodges took a rare public moment to reflect on this renewed opportunity for her late husband’s to gain entry to the Hall of Fame. “I’m going to be truthfully, very very honest with you. I have never really discussed this … how I feel about him, how over deserving [he is]. If it happens, we’ll be eternally grateful; if not, he’ll be in my heart forever.”

Strincevich, 3rd oldest major league player, dies at 96

2011-11-13T20:02:00.000-05:00

Nick Strincevich

While our country was celebrating the merits of our military veterans this Friday, the baseball family was mourning the loss of World War II era pitcher Nick Strincevich. He passed away November 11th in Valparaiso, Ind. At 96, he was the third oldest living major leaguer at the time of his death.

Click here to read about how he pitched to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, as well as became a favorite of Casey Stengel.

Tom Seaver steps up for veterans at Citi Pond in Bryant Park

2011-11-11T13:46:00.001-05:00


Tom Seaver poses with Fordham's Color Guard at Bryant Park	/ N. Diunte

Hall of Fame pitcher and former United States Marine Tom Seaver stood proudly on the podium Friday morning as he saluted the veterans at Citi Pond in Bryant Park. The legendary New York Met pitcher served in the Marine Corps from 1962-63, and remained on reserve duty until 1970.

Seaver, who throughout the morning, repeatedly expressed his respect for the members on active duty, explained how his time in the military helped better prepare him for his baseball career.

Click here to read Seaver's recollections of his military service, as well as view video and photos from the event.

Russell Rac, 81, hit four home runs in one game while with the St. Louis Cardinals organization

2011-11-07T19:54:00.000-05:00

Rac (c.) in between Don Blasingame (l.) and Rip Repluski (r.)

Mark Whiten gained notoriety when, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1993, he hit four home runs in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. While Whiten was the first Cardinal to achieve this feat, he wasn’t the first in the Cardinal family to do so. Long-time St. Louis farmhand Russell Rac set the single-game Venezuelan record when he hit four on January 8th, 1956 while playing for Pastora. At the time, he was only the eighth player in professional baseball history to reach that mark.

Rac passed away October 11th in his hometown of Galveston, TX, with little fanfare at the age of 81. Some 55 years ago; however, he sat among the top of the prospects in the Cardinals organization.

Click here to read more about Rac's record setting day in South America.

Cole and Smalley Jr.'s deaths link a history started 57 years prior

2011-10-30T20:02:00.001-04:00

Dave Cole and Roy Smalley Jr., remained linked long after the 1954 trade that saw them switch places on the Milwaukee Braves and the Chicago Cubs. After the late season emergence of Ernie Banks in 1953, the Cubs found Smalley Jr. expendable and sent him to the Braves for Cole during spring training. Both of their careers fizzled after the trade, neither showing the promise that either team expected after the swap.

Last week, they died four days apart. Smalley Jr. passed away at the age of 85 last Saturday in Arizona. Cole died in his hometown of Hagerstown, Md. at 81 on Wednesday.

Their deaths, while coincidental, reminds us of the depth of baseball's connections. The news drums up nostalgia of the hope that each player brought to their new teams some 57 years ago.

New York Mets celebrate the 25th anniversary of World Series victory at Strawberry's Sports Grill

2011-10-22T12:37:00.000-04:00

Strawberry’s Sports Grill in Douglaston was the site of a glorious reunion of the 1986 New York Mets World Series Championship team Friday evening. Over 25 members showed up on the silver anniversary of their title run, as part of a weekend series of events and appearances for the crew.

Fans paid upwards of $500 to mingle with the entire team at this private event and enjoy a wonderful open bar and seemingly endless buffet of food served by Strawberry’s staff. Darryl Strawberry himself was the consummate host, posing for photos and signing autographs at every turn of the corner, while catching up with teammates who came from far and wide for the reunion.

Click here to read the entire story and see photos and video from the event.

Former Brooklyn Dodgers Schmitz and Buker pass away

2011-10-15T09:46:00.000-04:00

Two of the senior alums of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Johnny Schmitz and Cy Buker passed away this week at the ages of 90 and 93 respectively.

Schmitz, nicknamed Bear Tracks for his big feet, pitched 13 seasons in the majors, spending parts of the 1951 and 1952 seasons in Brooklyn. He passed away on October 5, 2011 in Wisconsin.

Buker pitched for the Dodgers in 1945 during World War II, compiling a 7-2 record in his only season. He also passed away in Wisconsin on Tuesday, October 11th.

With their deaths, that leaves 44 living former major leaguers who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch found a friend in Tosheff

2011-10-06T17:30:00.000-04:00

As the Detroit Tigers enter Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium tonight, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch was once again reminded of his baseball roots. Ilitch was a minor league second baseman in the early 1950's with the Yankees, Senators and Tigers organizations. One of his teammates while playing for the Tampa Smokers of the Florida International League was the 1951-52 NBA Rookie of the Year, Bill Tosheff. Tosheff, like his contemporaries Bill Sharman and Gene Conley, was doing double duty holding down a NBA roster spot while trying to make the major leagues. Last week Tosheff succumed to cancer at the age of 85.

Receiving the news of his fallen teammate, Ilitch via e-mail basked in the thought of how his fellow Macdeonian's benevolance put him on the right track with his future wife Marian. Click here to read Ilitch's tribute to the two-sport star.

Bill Tosheff, first NBA rookie of the year, moonlighted as a strong armed pitcher

2011-10-04T18:58:00.002-04:00

Tosheff showing off his bling

Bill Tosheff, the 1951-52 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year, passed away this weekend due to complications from rectal cancer at the age 85 according to a statement by his daughter on his Facebook page.

“Tosh,” as he was affectionately known to seemingly everyone, actually left his burgeoning basketball career for another sport, baseball. For someone that didn't make the major leagues, during his seven-year minor league career, he was party to more than anyone could imagine.

Late in 2009, I caught up with Tosheff via telephone and we spoke at length regarding his baseball career. His travels in baseball were amazing, including meeting Ernest Hemmingway while playing ball in Cuba and how he was closely connected to Detroit Tigers owner and Little Caesar's Pizza mogul Mike Ilitch. Click here to read about Tosheff's exquisite baseball journey.

Eddie Bockman, scout that signed Larry Bowa and four year MLB veteran, dies at 91

2011-10-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

On the eve of the opening game of the ALDS playoffs, Yankee fans had a moment to pause. Another one to wear the pinstripes left their ranks. Joseph “Eddie” Bockman, a rookie third baseman with 1946 Yankees, passed away Thursday at his home in Millbrae, Calif. He was 91.

Click here to read the entire article where Bockman discusses his playing career with the Yankees, Indians and Pirates, which includes him being on the Indians when Larry Doby broke the American League color line. Bockman also talks about his most prized recruit, Larry Bowa.

Ralph Branca: A Moment in Time - Book Review

2011-09-26T18:27:00.000-04:00

The essence of a man’s life cannot be captured by any singular event or circumstance. Ralph Branca’s new autobiography A Moment in Time: An American Story of Baseball, Heartbreak and Grace (Scribner, 2011), attempts to quell the notion that his career is summarized by the high-inside fastball he threw to Bobby Thomson on October 3rd, 1951.

Informed by one of his Detroit Tiger teammates in 1954 of the Giants intricate sign-stealing system that included a buzzer system and telescopes, Branca held on to his secret for decades. Battling the burden of bearing the weight of the hopes of an entire city being dashed by one pitch, Branca finally felt that the time was right to illuminate his career after being quiet for so long.

Click here to see video of Branca discussing his new book, as well as to read the entire review.

Bill 'Ready' Cash, veteran of eight Negro League seasons dies at 91

2011-09-17T16:48:00.000-04:00

Bill “Ready” Cash, an All-Star catcher with the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues from 1943-1950, passed away Monday at Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia. He was 91.

Born February 21, 1919 in Round Oak, Ga., Cash moved to Southwest Philadelphia as a youngster, where he would hone his baseball skills on the local sandlots.

Click here to read more about the life and career of Bill "Ready" Cash, including interviews with his teammates and a video tribute to boot.

Carl Erskine talks sign stealing that the 1951 Giants / Dodgers rivalry

2011-09-15T20:47:00.000-04:00

Carl Erskine was one ill-placed curveball from possibly changing the fate of the 1951 playoff between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants.

When manager Charlie Dressen checked with his coach Clyde Sukeforth on the status of both Erskine and Ralph Branca to relieve a tiring Don Newcombe, Sukeforth replied, “He [Erskine] just bounced his curveball.” A few pitches later, Bobby Thomson stepped up to the plate and blasted the infamous home run off of Ralph Branca that became widely known as “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”

Erskine remained in the bullpen for a front row seat to one of baseball's most lauded moments. The moment; however, was not without controversy. Click here to read and watch Erskine's take on the alleged sign-stealing by the New York Giants.

Bernie Williams placed among Latino baseball legends

2011-09-01T17:13:00.001-04:00

Minnie Minoso, Felipe Alou, Tony Perez, Bernie Williams / N. Diunte

The Latino Baseball Hall of Fame (Salon de Fama del Beisbol Latino), located in La Romana, Dominican Republic, announced its Class of 2012 selections at the MLB offices Thursday. Leading the class of 2012 was the much revered New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams. The Puerto Rican centerfielder was among a panel that included Latino Baseball Hall of Famers Felipe Alou, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Perez.

While much of the attention centered on the announcement of Williams’ selection, the San Juan native humbly deferred to the legends seated to his left.

Click here to read more from Williams' big day, including live footage of Williams' speech and an interview with Alou.

Carl Erskine explains how he composed his curveball in Cuba

2011-08-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

On the verge of his 21st birthday, fresh off his first full season in professional ball, Carl Erskine found himself in a place that was in stark contrast from his hometown of Anderson, Ind. In the winter of 1947, Erskine was sent to Cuba to play with the Cienfuegos team at the urges of Branch Rickey. Erskine would quickly be introduced to a different climate that had nothing to do with the weather.

Click here to read more about Erskine's experiences playing in Cuba.

Joe Caffie Indians outfielder that started in the Negro Leagues, dies at 80

2011-08-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

Joe Caffie, the Cleveland Indians an outfielder who started with the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro Leagues in 1950, passed away at his home in Warren, OH, on August 1st, 2011. He was 80.

Click here to read more about his career, including words from his teammates and newspaper articles highlighting his career.

Negro League legend Willie "Curly" Williams left a lasting impact on many

2011-08-26T21:53:00.001-04:00

Willie "Curly" Williams (r.) with the author in 2007

Another eagle has ascended to the soaring skies and taken the legend of the Negro Leagues with him. Willie “Curly” Williams, infielder for the Newark, Houston and New Orleans Eagles of the Negro Leagues from 1945-51, died Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla. He was 86.

I had the good fortune of spending an entire day with Williams in September, 2007 as the city of Newark, NJ, featured an all-day tribute to the Newark Eagles.

Click here to read more about my experiences that day with Williams, as well as about the rest of his historical baseball career.

Carl Erskine tells the story of his first major league home run

2011-08-22T22:30:00.000-04:00

This is Part 1 of a series of interviews with Brooklyn Dodger great Carl Erskine about his experiences playing with the storied franchise. Erskine appeared recently in New York on behalf of the Bob Feller Museum and was kind enough to grant us access to produce this series of vignettes regarding his career.

Nineteen-fifty-five was a banner season in Brooklyn. The Dodgers finally won the pennant, proclaiming themselves bums no more. Johnny Podres shut down the heralded Yankees in Game 7, rightfully placing the champagne on the Brooklyn side of the dugout. Roy Campanella edged out teammate Duke Snider for National League MVP honors. The Dodgers, for once, were the sole kings of New York.

For pitcher Carl Erskine, 1955 holds a more special distinction in his heart. Click here to read about and see video of Erskine discussing his first (and only) major league home run.

Strawberry brings Mets magic to Douglaston for Community Day

2011-08-15T12:27:00.002-04:00

Darryl Strawberry was able to make a little more Mets magic happen in Queens, only this time it wasn't at the ballpark, but at his restaurant Strawberry's Sports Grill in Douglaston. This weekend saw Strawberry's former teammates Terry Leach, Barry Lyons and Kevin Mitchell as well as 1986 Mets coach Bud Harrelson, and ex-New York Giants punter Sean Landeta appear to raise money for Strawberry's Foundation for Autism Awareness.

Hundreds of supporters came to the small enclave near the Long Island Rail Road to see their Mets alums, participate in the many events and partake in the excellent cuisine of Strawberry's restaurant. Below are articles featuring video and interviews with the aforementioned members of the 1986 World Series Championship Mets team.

Kevin Mitchell returns to his baseball roots at Douglaston Community Day

Terry Leach delivers for autism awarness at Douglaston Community Day

Barry Lyons shares how B.A.T. sheltered him from Hurricane Katrina's destruction

Ernie Johnson, 87, Braves pitcher, announcer and World War II veteran

2011-08-12T23:36:00.001-04:00

Earlier this evening, it was reported during the Atlanta Braves telecast that their legendary announcer Ernie Johnson Sr. died Friday after spending time in hospice care. He was 87.

One of the friendliest voices in baseball, Johnson spent over 50 years with the organization as a player, executive and broadcaster.Johnson was one of a handful of players who are left from the Braves’ playing days in Boston. After getting a cup of coffee in 1950, his 15-4 record at AAA Milwaukee the next season paved the way for his full-time role with the Braves pitching staff in 1952.

He stayed with the Braves through the end of the 1958 season, playing one more year for the Baltimore Orioles after being released. Johnson was a key factor in the Braves 1957 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, pitching effectively in relief for three games.

In 2008, I had the opportunity to interview Johnson via a telephone call from his home in Cummings, GA. Johnson spoke with an unparalleled level of clarity and familiarity about his experiences in baseball and his service in World War II.

Click here to read Johnson's recollections of serving in World War II.

Federoff's influence has a lasting impact on the Tigers organization

2011-08-09T19:56:00.001-04:00

“He was the best manager I ever had,” said current Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland in the Detroit News. Al Federoff was Leyland’s manager during his 1964 rookie campaign in Lakeland, Fla. It was also Federoff who rescued Leyland a few years later when the Tigers weren’t sure what to do with him while filling out their minor league rosters. “Leyland was my good luck charm. I took him everywhere I could,” said Federoff during a 2008 interview I conducted with him from his home in Taylor, Mich.

While Federoff has received notoriety for mentoring Leyland, many are unaware that he was a sure-handed, light-hitting second baseman for the Tigers in the early 1950’s. He died in Glibert, Ariz. last week at the age of 87.

Federoff was one of the fastest players in major league baseball in the 1950's, clocking a 3.8 second time from home to first batting right handed, placing him sixth in major league baseball according to the September 3rd, 1952 issue of The Sporting News.

He entered professional baseball in 1946 with the Jamestown Falcons of the Class-D PONY League after serving in the Air Force in World War II. After a few years of climbing the rungs of the minor league ladder, he was a late season call-up with the Detroit Tigers in 1951.

Inspired by his taste of the big league action, Federoff hit a solid .288 at AAA Buffalo in 1952 and was recalled in July when second baseman Jerry Priddy went down with a leg injury. It was during this time that he would bear witness to two of Virgil Trucks’ greatest pitching performances ever.

The first one happened August 6, 1952 against the ageless Satchel Paige and the St. Louis Browns. Click here to read more about Federoff's career and involvement in Trucks' masterpieces.

Astros Martinez first home run riles up his hometown supporters

2011-08-04T00:25:00.001-04:00

Moments after J.D. Martinez hit his first major league home run, the action at Casanova's Baseball Academy in Hialeah came to a screeching halt. His first-inning blast off of Dontrelle Willis had the phone ringing off the hook. Former major leaguer Paul Casanova picked up the call and excitedly shouted, “Flaco did it! He hit his first home run!” All of the players working out stopped and cheered for the hometown rookie.

Click here to read reactions from both of his trainers, Casanova and 1971 World Series Champion Jackie Hernandez.

Bob "Tex" Nelson's career a golden example of the flawed bonus rule

2011-08-02T12:42:00.001-04:00

Imagine signing a high school slugger for a few million dollars and the following week putting him at the plate against the likes of Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia. Bob “Tex” Nelson in 1955 did just that, debuting against Hall of Famers Early Wynn and Bob Feller right after his high school graduation. He was signed by Paul Richards as one of his hyped “bonus babies” in June of 1955. He died suddenly last week in Texas at the age of 74.

Click here to read more about Nelson's career and why it never got off the ground.

Archbishop Molloy grad Baxter could realize boyhood dream of playing for the New York Mets

2011-07-27T22:43:00.001-04:00

Mike Baxter, who played under the legendary Jack Curran at Archbishop Molloy in Queens, is poised to replace Carlos Beltran on the Mets roster once he is traded. The 2002 Molloy grad was claimed off of waivers from the San Diego Padres last week after recovering from a spring training injury where he damaged ligaments in his left thumb after diving for a fly ball.

Since his signing, Baxter, the outfielder-first baseman was quickly promoted to Class AAA Buffalo from Class A Port St. Lucie after batting .438 in four games. Baxter didn't disappoint the Buffalo fans, swatting a home run in his first at-bat off of Scranton pitcher D.J. Mitchell.

The Whitestone native was excited about the possibility of playing with his hometown team. “I loved being with San Diego and I was disappointed at first, but then I was thrilled to learn I was claimed by the team I grew up rooting for. That was just fantastic."

Baxter made his major league debut as a September call-up in 2010, going 1-for-8, mostly as a pinch hitter. He was placed on the 40-man roster after his signing and could be first on the list to be recalled with Fernando Martinez and Kirk Nieuwenhuis on the disabled list.

More Info -
Baxter basking in big league call-up - New York Post
Meet Mike Baxter - Mets minor league blog
Queens native Baxter a hit with Triple-A Portland - Dylan Butler

Mike Bielecki waxes poetic about his rookie card

2011-07-27T13:21:00.001-04:00

Mike Bielecki, a veteran of 14 major league seasons, was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year in 1984 after going 19-3 for the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League. He was a September call-up at the end of the season, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, long enough to earn him a spot as a “Rated Rookie” in Donruss' 1985 set.

When handed his 1985 Donruss issue at a charity event last week, Bielecki starkly recalled not knowing the card was out when he was first asked to sign it.

Click here to read Bielecki's story behind his first view of his debut card.

New York Mets alumni assist Habitat for Humanity

2011-07-15T16:40:00.001-04:00

The New York Mets Alumni Association presented by Citi teamed up with Habitat for Humanity in Brooklyn earlier Friday for their “100 homes in Brooklyn” project. Representing the New York Mets at the Brownsville site were 1986 World Championship members and current SNY broadcasters Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. Also present was Executive Vice President of the Mets, Dave Howard.

Click here to see more photos and continue reading about the Mets alumni's efforts with Habitat for Humanity.

Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi teams up with Habitat-NYC

2011-07-14T16:05:00.001-04:00

New York, N.Y., July 14, 2011 – Citi and the New York Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi announced that they will team up once again with Habitat for Humanity - New York City (Habitat-NYC) tomorrow to build affordable housing for New York City families. The project is part of the Mets and Citi’s “Teammates in the Community” initiative, reflecting their ongoing commitment to be active participants in the community.

Mets greats and SNY broadcasters Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling will join 18 Citi volunteers to help build Habitat-NYC’s four-story affordable condominiums in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Once completed in 2012, they will house 12 families. This marks the third straight year Mets alumni and Citi will be working with Habitat-NYC to build affordable housing.

“Working with an organization like Habitat for Humanity and serving New Yorkers is just one of the many ways in which Citi makes an impact in the community,” said James Cava, Executive Vice President, Citi Realty Services. “Partnering with members of the New York Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi to build affordable housing for families in need is another great example of how we are enriching our business and community programs through our relationship with the Mets.”

“We’re excited that Keith and Ron are the latest Mets legends to participate in such a vital community initiative," said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, Mets. “We’re grateful to our partners at Citi and Habitat-NYC for the opportunity to lend a hand on this important project that will have a lasting impact on so many lives.”

“We are proud to celebrate another ‘home run’ in our long-time partnership with Citi, the Mets, and superstars Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. These dedicated team players will help build 12 affordable homes, working alongside families who will own them,” said Josh Lockwood, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity - New York City. “These homes are among our new ‘100 Homes in Brooklyn’ initiative to create affordable homes and help strengthen Ocean Hill-Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant, two communities hit hard by the recession. This is truly an ‘Amazin’ day for our neighborhoods and families.”

Later tomorrow, other members of the Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi – Dwight Gooden, Jesse Orosco, Rafael Santana, Rusty Staub and Darryl Strawberry – will be at Citi Field for Pyrotechnics Night as the Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:10 p.m. Additionally, Mets and Citi executives will present Habitat-NYC volunteers Tom Pace and Martin Friedman with the “Teammates in the Community” award during a special on-field pre-game ceremony. They will be honored for their exemplary commitment and dedication to serving and helping others for more than three years as volunteers with Habitat-NYC. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ways to give back to the community.

Pace and Friedman, who developed a friendship through their work at Grace Church in Brooklyn, both retired from their jobs several years ago, but the word “leisure” is not in their vocabulary, so the pair volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building homes in the Gulf Coast. That experience led them to volunteering with Habitat-NYC. Almost every Friday since 2008, they have worked at a Habitat-NYC construction site – installing studs and drywall, laying flooring and tile, painting walls and ceilings – giving their time selflessly to build affordable homes for and with New York City families.

Led by Citi Community Development (CCD), Citi’s relationship with Habitat-NYC includes much more than funding. The New York State CCD team provides leadership and guidance to develop opportunities for expanding Habitat-NYC’s impact, and Citi employees are enthusiastic volunteers at Habitat-NYC builds. Through this partnership, Citi has participated in more than 12 home-building events in New York, with an average of 15 volunteers per build.

The Ocean Hill-Brownsville homes are part of an overall project to build four multi-family buildings, each four stories, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom condominiums, which will eventually house 12 families when completed in 2012. Built to Energy Star standards and incorporating green materials and building techniques, these Habitat-NYC homes will help protect the health – and pocketbooks – of their future inhabitants.

Citi is a long-time supporter and partner of Habitat for Humanity. Since 2000, Citi and Habitat employees have built and helped create approximately 370 safe, affordable and energy-efficient homes across the United States for families in need.

Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com.

Habitat for Humanity-New York City

Habitat for Humanity - New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing. With the help of thousands of volunteers every year, Habitat-NYC has built more than 220 affordable homes in the five boroughs of New York City. Learn more at www.habitatnyc.org.

Robinson Cano gets an assist from his father during the Home Run Derby

2011-07-12T08:29:00.001-04:00

Last night's Home Run Derby champion, New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano didn't have to go far for family support, it was 60 feet away. His father Jose was throwing perfect pitches down the pipe all night long. It shouldn't be a surprise though; the elder Cano was a pitcher for the Houston Astros in 1989.

Click here to read more about Jose Cano's career and his relationship with his All-Star son.

Seven decades of World Series highlights signed by 12 baseball immortals

2011-07-11T17:04:00.000-04:00

To celebrate the 2011 All-Star weekend, A&E Home Entertainment is providing a sale on a truly impressive 21 DVD collection of seven decades of World Series highlights presented in a stunning 58-page commemorative book. There will be a 30% sale on everything baseball when you enter the code PLAYBALL from July 11-13, 2011 from shop.history.com

Only 100 of these editions have been hand signed by 12 Hall of Famers, which is described below. Those ordering the autographed edition will also receive a custom case to display their wares. You can order the autographed edition by clicking here.

For those that cannot afford the price tag on the limited edition set, the sale also applies to the standard 21 disc version which still comes in the beautiful commemorative book. We at Baseball Happenings have been given a screening copy of the set and it is truly a treasure for any baseball fan. This edition of the World Series Film Collection can be ordered by clicking here.

A&E HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PRODUCTIONS UNVEIL A SPECTACULAR, LIMITED-EDITION, AUTOGRAPH-ENHANCED VERSION OF THE OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION

The quintessential blend of baseball history and history-makers comes together in an unprecedented intersection of a luxurious Major League Baseball DVD collectible with authentic Hall of Fame signatures with SIGNATURE LINE: THE OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION. Available exclusively on Shop.History.com and Shop.MLB.com, the DVD set, which elegantly displays the iconic moments and legendary heroes across seven decades of World Series Films, will only be offered to sports fans around the globe in a limited-edition run of 100 for $2299.

The Signature Line edition will be embellished with the signatures of 12 World Series legends and Hall of Famers -- who helped pen World Series history and created many of the defining moments of Major League Baseball. Authenticated by Mounted Memories, an MLB licensee and leader in the sports collectibles field, the set will also be officially licensed and authenticated by Major League Baseball, with each unit individually numbered and marked with a sequentially coded hologram to ensure authenticity.

SIGNATURE LINE: THE OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION will be gilded by the golden signatures of:

Yogi Berra: Most World Series Championships, most hits, most doubles, singles, putouts, and guided Don Larsen to the only Perfect Game in World Series history.
Bob Gibson: Two-time World Series MVP, most strikeouts in a World Series game (17) and totaled 92 Ks in 81 innings pitched.
Reggie Jackson: “Mr. October” blasted 10 Fall Classic Home runs including three in a row on three pitches in 1977.
Johnny Bench: Driver of the Big Red Machine and defensive titan, he won the 1976 World Series MVP after batting .533 with two home runs.
Whitey Ford: The “Chairman of the Board” holds numerous World Series pitching records including: most strikeouts (94), most wins (10), innings (146), WS games (22).

Rounding out the star-studded roster of Fall Classic icons are:

Gary Carter
Bob Feller
Rollie Fingers
Carlton Fisk
Brooks Robinson
Mike Schmidt
Bruce Sutter

About THE OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION

The drama and unforgettable images of baseball are the World Series moments celebrated from generation to generation. Now, for the very first time, these dynamic events have been preserved and commemorated in a timeless treasure certain to become the centerpiece of any baseball fan’s home entertainment library. Elegantly displaying the complete set of official filmed World Series highlights across six decades of World Series Films (1943-2008), this encyclopedic set is divided into 14 eras and features 50 hours of unforgettable baseball action across 20 remastered DVDs.

With a foreward by 19-time Emmy winner Bob Costas of MLB Network and framed with 58-pages of editorial, remarkable archival images, and rare Hall of Fame artifacts, the dramatic package creates a timeline of World Series lore since 1903. The 65 official World Series Films feature more than 50 hours of restored, digitized, and glorious history as it happened.

The list of baseball’s greatest moments is dominated by the iconic events of the World Series and they live in this significant DVD trophy. These instantly recalled plays and players are showcased within this one-of-a-kind compendium including “The Catch” by Willie Mays, Don Larsen’s Perfect Game, Bill Mazeroski’s series-winning walk-off home run, Bob Gibson’s record setting 17-strikeouts, Carlton Fisk’s dramatic home run, Reggie Jackson’s three consecutive home runs, Kurt Gibson’s improbably Hollywood game winner and Jack Morris’ dominating 1-0 Game 7 masterpiece.

This collection celebrates the images, plays, and heroes that make the World Series a cherished and significant event. As history unfolds technology evolves changing the annual documentary’s style. From the black and white editions, produced and narrated by Lew Fonseca (AL batting champ 1929, Cleveland Indians) thru the narration by legendary broadcasters including Mel Allen, Bob Prince, Harry Caray, Vin Scully, to the current Official World Series Film versions featuring multiple camera angles, players and coaches wired for sound, and play-by-play from TV and radio broadcasters, each annual film is a time capsule of its era. Records and seasons change with time, but the legends and lore of the World Series on DVD will last forever.

THE OFFICIAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL^® WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION includes these 20 DVDs:

Disc 1 -- 1943 Yankees, 1944 Cardinals, 1945 Tigers, 1946 Cardinals, 1947 Yankees, 1948 Indians (approx 182 min)
Disc 2 -- 1949-53 Yankees (approx 167 min)
Disc 3 -- 1954 Giants, 1955 Dodgers, 1956 Yankees (approx 115 min)
Disc 4 -- 1957 Braves, 1958 Yankees, 1959 Dodgers, 1960 Pirates, 1961 Yankees (approx 182 min)
Disc 5 -- 1962 Yankees, 1963 Dodgers, 1964 Cardinals (approx 100 min)
Disc 6 -- 1965 Dodgers, 1966 Orioles, 1967 Cardinals, 1968 Tigers (approx 152 min)
Disc 7 -- 1969 Mets, 1970 Orioles, 1971 Pirates (approx 116 min)
Disc 8 -- 1972-74 A’s, 1975-76 Reds (approx 170 min)
Disc 9 -- 1977-78 Yankees, 1979 Pirates, 1980 Phillies, 1981 Dodgers (approx 166 min)
Disc 10 -- 1982 Cardinals, 1983 Orioles, 1984 Tigers (approx 107 min)
Disc 11 -- 1985 Royals, 1986 Mets, 1987 Twins (approx 119 min)
Disc 12 -- 1988 Dodgers, 1989 A’s, 1990 Reds (approx 177 min)
Disc 13 -- 1991 Twins, 1992 Blue Jays (approx 139 min)
Disc 14 -- 1993 Blue Jays, 1995 Braves (approx 132 min)
Disc 15 -- 1996 Yankees, 1997 Marlins (approx 143 min)
Disc 16 -- 1998-2000 Yankees (approx 186 min)
Disc 17 -- 2001 Diamondbacks, 2002 Angels (approx 145 min)
Disc 18 -- 2003 Marlins, 2004 Red Sox (approx 142 min)
Disc 19 -- 2005 White Sox, 2006 Cardinals (approx 152 min)
Disc 20 -- 2007 Red Sox, 2008 Phillies (approx 163 min)

Wes Covington, 79, 1957 World Series hero

2011-07-07T12:12:00.001-04:00

Wes Covington

Wes Covington, the upstart who helped spark the Milwaukee Braves to victory in the 1957 World Series, died of cancer in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday. He was 79.

Born March 27, 1932 in Laurinburg, N.C., John Wesley Covington was signed by the Boston Braves in 1952. He was sent to their farm club in Eau Claire, W.I. where he roomed with a skinny 18-year-old from Alabama, Hank Aaron.

Click here to read teammate recollections of Covington, including Aaron's in the wake of his passing.

Derek Jeter's All-Star selection less than deserving

2011-07-06T09:59:00.001-04:00

Keith Allison / Flickr

As Derek Jeter inches closer to the 3000 hit plateau, further cementing his legendary status, critics have questioned his recent selection as the starting shortstop for the 2011 All-Star team. Entering today’s game sporting a .257 batting average with only 13 extra base hits; the Wall Street Journal said the shortstop’s selection was unwarranted. “Jeter has never been less deserving of the award,” wrote Daniel Barbarisi. Barbarisi cited Jeter’s OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was the lowest for a starting American League All-Star shortstop since the diminutive Freddie Patek in 1978.

Click here to see how Jeter's season compares to Hall of Famer's who were selected for the All-Star game with dubious qualifications.

Yogi Berra greets fans at the home of the New Jersey Jackals

2011-06-29T22:47:00.001-04:00

Fresh off of his appearance at the New York Yankees Old Timers' Day, Yogi Berra made his annual appearance at Yogi Berra Stadium in Montclair, home of the New Jersey Jackals of the independent Can-Am League. Adjacent to the Museum and Learning Center that bears his name, Berra signed autographs for the few hundred fans who lined up since 8am to meet the Yankee Hall of Famer.

Click here to read more about the Hall of Famer's appearance at his stadium in New Jersey.

Old Timers' Day a series of firsts for Jose Cardenal

2011-06-27T22:46:00.001-04:00

The age of 67 is unusually late to make a debut, but for Jose Cardenal, Sunday afternoon was his first appearance at Yankees Old Timers’ Day. Many fans from Cardenal’s playing days might be scratching their heads trying to remember when the speedy outfielder wore the Yankee pinstripes. It wasn’t as a player, but as a coach that Cardenal donned a Yankee uniform.

Click here to read more about Cardenal's debut on Old Timers' Day.

Mitch Williams - Straight Talk from Wild Thing - Book Review

2011-06-23T19:56:00.002-04:00

Admittedly, Mitch Williams’ best pitch was his fastball. No deception, just a high hard one that was at times, known to have a mind of its own. Earning the nickname “Wild Thing,” for his ornate pitching motion and resulting lack of control, Williams stays true to form with his new book, Straight Talk from Wild Thing co-authored by Darrell Berger.

Click here to read a full review of Williams' new book as well as watch video of him discussing the work on NBC 10 Philadelphia.

Willie Harris and Justin Turner greet Mets faithful at BJ's in Flushing

2011-06-19T11:37:00.001-04:00

Two members of the New York Mets, Willie Harris and Justin Turner made an appearance Saturday afternoon at BJ's in Flushing. Harris and Turner greeted fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs for an hour. Click here for more photos and video interviews with Turner and Harris from the signing.

Book Review - Always a Yankee - By Douglas Williams and Jim Coates

2011-06-16T20:28:00.001-04:00

The prestige, honor and infamy of wearing the Yankee pinstripes are some of the most magical forces in sports. Players who spent even a short time with the Bronx ballclub are often identified by their ties to baseball’s most storied franchise. Therefore, it is only right that Yankees World Series hero Jim Coates has titled his memoirs, "Always a Yankee: A Pitcher's Story; Jim Coates, He Beats the Odds to Become an All-Star and a World Champion". Co-authored with Doug Williams, Coates tells vivid tales of how he made it to the Yankees from the farms in Virginia.

Click here to read the entire review of Coates and Williams' "Always a Yankee."

Hiram Bithorn created a path for Puerto Ricans to enter major league baseball

2011-06-13T16:07:00.001-04:00

As thousands of Puerto Ricans rejoiced in New York City this weekend for the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, many flocked to stadiums across the country to watch major league baseball. The Commonwealth which has produced such greats as Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Alomar, should offer a tip of the cap to a pioneer that opened the door so these talented names could follow.

Five years before Jackie Robinson, Hiram Bithorn blazed new pathways in major league baseball. Click here to read more about Bithorn and his tragically short career.

Maury Wills proudly represents the Dodger blue at the 2011 MLB draft

2011-06-09T20:22:00.001-04:00

Maury Wills

Sixty years after signing with the Dodgers, Maury Wills continues to bleed Dodger blue. Wills appeared in New York City at a pre-draft luncheon earlier this week as the official representative of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2011 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. “El Fantasma” (The Ghost) as he was nicknamed in Venezuela for his base-stealing ability, spent a few minutes discussing his 1951 entry into the famed then-Brooklyn organization.

Click here to read about Wills memories of signing with the Dodgers in the wake of the 2011 MLB draft.

Jose A. Pagan, 76, played 15 seasons with three clubs

2011-06-07T19:50:00.003-04:00

Jose Pagan

Jose Pagan, who played 15 seasons in the majors between 1959 and 1973 with the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies, passed away Tuesday at his home in Sebring, Fla. He was 76.

Click here to read more about Pagan's career and passing.

Mets alumni team up with City Harvest to help the hungry

2011-06-04T16:58:00.002-04:00

Mets Alumni team up to assist City Harvest

In a continuing series of community based events, the Mets Alumni Association presented by Citi teamed up with City Harvest Friday evening before the Mets game against the Braves to package more than 25,000 lbs. of potatoes for New York area food charities.

The Mets brought out a roster of players from all of their teams that appeared in the World Series (1969, 1973, 1986 and 2000). Assisting in the packing efforts were Cleon Jones, Jim McAndrew, John Stearns, Rick Aguilera, Doug Sisk and Dennis Cook.

Click here to read their views about returning to Flushing to take part in the Mets alumni events for the week at Citi Field.

Gary Carter's teammates come together in support of "The Kid"

2011-06-04T16:52:00.001-04:00

Gary Carter Mets HOF Plaque

"The Kid" might be facing his toughest opponent yet; however, he can continue to battle strongly knowing he has the full support of his teammates. Gary Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher who is suffering from inoperable brain cancer was in the forefront of two of his teammates thoughts Friday evening. Two of Carter's World Champion 1986 New York Mets teammates Rick Aguilera and Doug Sisk were at Citi Field Friday night for a series of events sponsored by the New York Mets Alumni Association presented by Citi. It was very clear that throughout the evenings events, their thoughts were with their beloved catcher.

Click here to read Aguilera and Sisk's remarks regarding Carter when interviewed at Citi Field Friday evening.

Billy Harris, 79, former Brooklyn Dodger

2011-05-31T18:44:00.001-04:00

Billy Harris, 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers

Billy Harris, former pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers and member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, passed away Friday night at the age of 79 at his home in Kennewick, Wash.
Harris was hospitalized about a month ago for bleeding ulcers after he fainted in his restaurant, Billy’s Bullpen. Discharged from the hospital two weeks ago, Harris never fully recovered from his ailments.

Just a few short months ago in February, I interviewed Harris for a story I authored about his teammate, Clyde Parris. Harris was cheerful and spoke glowingly not only about his Montreal teammate, but his entire career in baseball.

Click here to read my interview with Harris as tribute to his passing. Baseball lost another one of their great storytellers.

Mickey Mantle swept through Joplin on his way to stardom

2011-05-26T15:39:00.001-04:00

Mickey Mantle / Cliff1066 - Flickr

With Joplin, Missouri devastated by an EF-5 strength tornado, the highest possible on the Enhanced Fujita scale of tornado power and intensity, much of the country’s attention is focused on beginning the relief efforts in this southwestern Missouri city.

While baseball may be farthest from the minds of those attempting to put back the pieces of their lives destroyed by the storm, longtime residents remember Joplin as the home of the Class C Joplin Miners of the New York Yankees organization.

In 1950, a fleet 18-year-old shortstop from Oklahoma named Mickey Mantle captured the hearts of this Midwestern city, rallying the team that inhabited Miners Park on 4th and Main.

Click here to read the entire article about Mantle's journey through Joplin.

Wilber "Bullet" Rogan and the Kansas City Monarchs - Book Review

2011-05-23T20:32:00.001-04:00

Imagine a player who many regard as a better pitcher than Satchel Paige and the equal of Joe DiMaggio at the plate and in the field. This isn’t the legend of Steve Nebraska, but that of Hall of Famer Wilber “Bullet” Rogan, who is so eloquently profiled by Phil S. Dixon in his book, “Wilber ‘Bullet’ Rogan and the Kansas City Monarchs.”

Click here to read an entire review of the book.

Doc and Straw share their thoughts on the 25th anniversary of the 1986 Mets World Series team

2011-05-22T18:22:00.001-04:00

Twenty-five years ago, two of the New York Mets youngest and brightest stars shone brightly atop the pinnacle of baseball’s biggest stage, the 1986 World Series. Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, both were in their early twenties and had captured the attention of baseball fans not only in New York, but nationwide.

A quarter of a century later, their careers have taken many twists and turns which included multiple run-ins with the law for drug offenses that derailed their once potential Hall of Fame careers. Despite their transgressions, they remain beloved figures in New York sports history.

Click here to read both Gooden and Strawberry's thoughts about the 25th anniversary of the 1986 World Series.

New York Mets legends Gooden and Strawberry in a charitable mood

2011-05-22T17:33:00.001-04:00

Anthony Mason (l) and Dwight Gooden (r) pose with a fan at BOX NYC

New York baseball heroes Darryl Strawberry and Dwight “Doc” Gooden were two of over 1,500 supporters who appeared at “Box NYC” at the Roseland Ballroom Thursday evening. The event which was put together by WCMG Events and Salita Promotions offered a mix of celebrity, charity, fine dining and boxing at one of Manhattan’s premier venues. Click here to read full coverage of Gooden and Strawberry's appearance at the charity fundraiser and boxing match.

"Macho Man" Randy Savage remembered by his baseball teammate Tito Landrum

2011-05-21T07:57:00.002-04:00

Before there was "Macho Man", Randy Savage was beating the bushes trying to get to the major leagues. Randy Poffo was an outfielder, catcher and first baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds organizations from 1971-1974.

Savage, the former WWF and WCW World Champion, died tragically Friday in an auto accident in Florida. He was a beloved figure in the arena of professional wrestling, known for his trademark, "Oooh yeah!" that he would exclaim during his colorful interviews.


1973 Orangeburg Cardinals Program

In 1973, the 20-year-old Savage was a teammate of a fresh faced rookie outfielder, Tito Landrum, in Orangeburg, S.C., playing together under the tutileage of Jimmy Piersall. Landrum enjoyed a nine-year career in the majors, winning a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and appeared in the 1985 World Series filling in brilliantly for an injured Vince Coleman.

Click here to read the entire interview with Landrum, where he talks about his memories of his former roommate in the Cardinals organization.

Brooklyn Dodger Ralph Branca holds spring fundraiser to benefit Sports Angels charity

2011-05-15T08:49:00.001-04:00

Ralph Branca with author

Famed Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca proceeded over an evening of "casino and cocktails" to benefit the Sports Angels charity at Langan's Pub and Restaurant in Manhattan earlier this week. Branca is the vice-chairman of Sports Angels, which is a non-profit organization that works to create opportunities for youth sports participation.

Branca, now 85, has been able to use his baseball celebrity and business connections to create a network for Sports Angels that has allowed them to expand since their 2005 inception. "We use our spring fundraiser get our supporters together and create awareness about what we do," Branca said.

Click here to see photos and read more about the evening's fundraising efforts.

Duane Pillette, 88, teammate of Satchel Paige on St. Louis Browns

2011-05-09T20:22:00.001-04:00

1954 Bowman Duane Pillette

Duane “Dee” Pillette, 8-year major league veteran pitcher died Friday in San Jose, Ca. at the age of 88. Pillette broke into the majors with the New York Yankees in 1949, pitching until 1956 with the St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies. He compiled a 38-66 record, leading the American League in losses in 1951 for the cellar dwelling Browns.

Pillette was the son of former major league pitcher Herman Pillette, who spent four of his 26 professional seasons in the major leagues with the Reds and Tigers. The elder Pillette pitched until he was 48 in the Pacific Coast League.

Click here to read a full interview with Pillette, including his thoughts on his legendary teammate, Satchel Paige.

Willie Mays inspired a rookie teammate in his final campaign

2011-05-08T15:33:00.001-04:00

George Theodore was a rookie left fielder for the New York Mets in 1973, when he found himself sharing the outfield with one of baseball's greatest legends, Willie Mays. Mays and Theodore were on the opposite ends of their respective careers; the veteran Mays playing in the last of his 22 Hall of Fame seasons and the young Theodore working his hardest to gain a toehold in the Mets starting lineup.

Returning to Flushing during the weekend of Mays' 80th birthday for a series of New York Mets Alumni Association events, Theodore reflected on Mays' ability to energize his teammates merely with his presence on the field.

New York Mets partner up with Jillian Michaels to benefit Dress for Success

2011-05-07T16:34:00.001-04:00

John Franco, George Theodore and Mr. Met jump start the event

The New York Mets Alumni Association, presented by Citi, as part of their ongoing “Teammates in the Community” series, lent a hand Saturday in Battery Park to Dress for Success for their annual power walk fundraiser. Mets alumni John Franco, George “The Stork” Theodore and Mr. Met were on hand to help kick off the event, along with Dress for Success' official spokesperson, fitness guru Jillian Michaels. Click here to see photos and read a complete recap of the event.

New York Mets alumni week appearances May 6-8

2011-05-04T16:41:00.002-04:00

Former New York Met George Foster / N. Diunte

The New York Mets will be showcasing their alumni this weekend at events throughout the city including appearances at Citi Field. For this current home stand, Edgardo Alfonzo, Kevin Elster, George Foster, John Franco, Ed Hearn and George "The Stork" Theodore will all be involved in the festivities for what has been dubbed, "Mets Alumni Week."

Click here to read all of the events happening in relation to Mets Alumni Week for May 6-8.

Bill White: Uppity: My Untold Story About the Games People Play

2011-05-03T22:54:00.002-04:00

Bill White, the former All-Star first baseman, National League president and New York Yankees broadcaster recently released his memoirs, Uppity: My Untold Story About the Games People Play. White speaks openly about his lengthy multi-faceted career in baseball and why he has distanced himself from the game. Click here to read the entire review of the book, as well as video of White speaking from his book signing in New Jersey.

Emilio 'Millito' Navarro, 105, world's oldest living baseball player

2011-05-01T08:03:00.001-04:00

Emilio "Millito" Navarro, the world's oldest living baseball player died Saturday at his home in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was 105. Click here to read more about the career of the flashy second baseman, which includes a Spanish language TV interview from his 103rd birthday.

Eddie Robinson goes to bat for his baseball family

2011-04-26T10:18:00.001-04:00

Eddie Robinson, the 90-year-old All-Star first baseman who played for seven franchises during his 13 year major league career, saw one of his life-long crusades come to fruition with last week's agreement to extend pension payments to the group of MLB alumni that fell into the pension gap between 1947-1979.

Robinson appeared in New York for the announcement of payments to the MLB veterans. He interviewed from his Fort Worth, Tx. home about his 20-year involvement in this process.

Connie Marrero's centennial celebration

2011-04-25T17:22:00.002-04:00

Today marks the 100th birthday for the Cuban pitcher for the Washington Senators, Connie Marrero. Click here to read more about the great career of Marrero, as well as recollections of the crafty veteran from his Washington Senator teammates.

Tony Oliva still on "cloud nine" about his baseball career

2011-04-25T10:49:00.002-04:00

Legendary Minnesota Twins outfielder Tony Oliva recently made an appearance in New York City at a baseball card show. Oliva, who just had a statue dedicated to himself at Target Field on opening day, took some time to reflect on his 50 years with the organization. Click here to read the entire interview with Oliva, as well as view video from the interview.

Reactions from retired Mets, Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers to new pension deal

2011-04-22T09:38:00.001-04:00

Friday, Major League Baseball and the MLBPA reached an agreement to provide payments to the 870 retirees that fell into the pension gap of 1947-1980. Changes to the vesting requirements offered benefits to players that played at least one day in the major leagues that debuted after 1980. With the new deal, players that aren't currently receiving retirement benefits from MLB will be awarded payments of up to $10,000 per year.

I caught up with a few former New York Mets, Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers who will now benefit from the agreement to get their thoughts on the deal. Click here to read what they think about the offer.

MLB awards pension benefits to a "new" group of retirees

2011-04-21T06:50:00.000-04:00

In an official announcement that is expected to be made at 2PM EST today, MLB and the MLBPA have reached an agreement that will award pension benefits to the approximately 870 retirees that did not play the required four years between 1947-1979 for vesting.

Much of their plight is detailed in Doug Gladstone's book, "A Bitter Cup of Coffee: How MLB and the Players Association Threw 874 Retirees a Curve."

More information will be provided after the press conference.

Follow Baseball Happenings on Twtitter

2011-04-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Now you can follow the writings of Baseball Happenings as well as my other site for Examiner.com via Twitter. Click on the link on this page or on the right menu bar to follow on Twitter. I hope that this will increase the level of interactivity on this site between the readers and myself.

So long Brad Emaus

2011-04-20T09:25:00.001-04:00

Brad Emaus / Xyku / Flickr

The Brad Emaus experiment lasted 42 at-bats. The Mets announced yesterday that they were designating the second baseman for assignment. They recalled Justin Turner from AAA Buffalo. As part of his waiver, the Mets have to offer Emaus back to the Toronto Blue Jays for $25,000, half of his draft fee.

Emaus looked overmatched by major league pitching, batting a lithe .162 during his tenure. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson justified Emaus' brief trial in Flushing. "We just decided that based on what we'd seen in spring training and what we'd seen so far this season, that we'd given it enough time."

Stanley Glenn, 84, Negro League catcher and president

2011-04-19T17:18:00.002-04:00


Stanley Glenn (r.) at the 2007 Judy Johnson Night

Stanley "Doc" Glenn, a catcher with the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues died Saturday, April 16 due to natural causes at his home in Yeadon, PA. He was 84.

Born Sept 19, 1926 in Wachatreague, VA, Glenn was a star at John Bartram High School in Philadelphia where he quickly drew the attention of the Stars Hall of Fame player / manager Oscar Charleston. Charleston signed him off of the sandlots in 1944 shortly after graduating from high school. Within a week of graduating, he was making $175 per month playing in the Negro Leagues.

Glenn would play with the Stars through 1950, playing against the likes of countless Hall of Famers in the Negro Leagues including: Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Monte Irvin, Ray Dandridge, Roy Campanella, Hilton Smith, and Willard Brown. He expertly detailed his recollections of not only his career, but of all of the greats he encountered in the Negro Leagues team-by-team in his 2006 autobiography entitled, "Don't Let Anyone Take Your Joy Away: An Inside Look at Negro League Baseball and Its Legacy."

His career, like many ballplayers at the time, was interrupted by World War II. He served as a technician in the Army Medical Corps during from September 1945 through November 1946, taking time off to play with the Stars when the opportunity presented itself. Upon his return from his service, he earned the nickname "Doc" for his physical therapy work performed during the war.

Glenn as a member of the Philly Stars

Returning after Jackie Robinson's signing to the Brooklyn Dodger organization, many teams saw their top talent raided by major league organizations looking for the next baseball superstar. During the 1950 season, the hands of the Boston Braves scout Honey Russell reached down and signed Glenn to their Class-A affiliate in Hartford. As a catcher in the Braves organization, he faced stiff competition from the likes of Walker Cooper and Del Crandall. Nonetheless, Glenn played four seasons with the Braves organization, playing in Quebec and Lincoln in addition to Hartford before moving on to a career in the electrical supply business.

Glenn's Hartford teammate Gene Conley, who would go on to win championships in both MLB (Milwaukee Braves) and the NBA (Boston Celtics), in his first year in pro ball when he pitched a game with Glenn as his catcher that was reminiscent of another lanky Negro League hurler.

"Stanley was my catcher the first season I played in A-ball. I liked him. I pitched a lot to him. I won my 20th game against Wilkes Barre. He was behind the plate when they gave me a night in Hartford. It was Gene Conley night," said Conley in a 2008 interview. "I pitched a shutout and beat Wilkes Barre 2-0 that night. After the last out, Stanley comes running out to the mound. Remember Podres jumping into Campanella's arms? He jumped up on me and said, 'I love you like a brother. You reminded me of Satch tonight!' He used to catch ol' Satch. I'll never forget that. It was a warm feeling. It was a good thing that he did; it made me feel good. The whole thing was nice. It was my 20th win, they gave me a night, and Stanley came out there and grabbed me. I tell people my first catcher told me I reminded him of Satchel Paige!"

2008 Artwork Card

Later in life, with the resurgence of interest in the Negro Leagues, Glenn took the position as the president of the Negro League Baseball Players Association. He advocated for the rights of many of the former players and helped to create opportunities for them to share in the profits that many companies were making off of the renewed interest in the former league. He was a fixture at many events in the Philadelphia area, generously appearing to spread the word about the league and its history.

2010 Judy Johnson Tribute Night

Glenn was ceremoniously given his first baseball card by the Topps Company in 2007, when he was included in their Allen and Ginter set. His inclusion in the set opened up his career to a new generation of fans and collectors alike. He received a tremendous amount of fan mail after the printing of the card with requests for his signature and information on his career.

Mr. Glenn often appeared at the Delaware Blue Rocks annual Judy Johnson Tribute Night, where he graciously signed autographs and spoke about the history of Negro League baseball for many hours throughout the ballgame, often giving fans his home phone number to contact him with their questions. He was honored by the club in 2008 with special artwork bearing his image that was given to fans entering the stadium that evening. His passing dims another beacon that was able to illuminate the rich history of the Negro Leagues.

Eddie Joost, 94, last manager of the Philadelphia Athletics dies

2011-04-13T18:23:00.002-04:00

Eddie Joost with the author @ Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society 8/2008

Two-time All-Star shortstop and the last manager of the Philadelphia Athletics franchise Eddie Joost passed away Tuesday in Fair Oaks, CA. He was 94.

Joost began his major league career in 1936 with the Cincinnati Reds after starting only three seasons prior with the San Francisco Missions of the Pacific Coast League. Quickly disregarded by manager Charlie Dressen, who said Joost, "will never be a major league player," he became the starting second baseman for the Reds when they won the World Series in 1940.

His career was derailed after his World Series victory as he committed 45 errors at shortstop for the next two consecutive seasons. Joost was jettisoned to the Boston Braves in 1943 where he hit .185 in 496 at-bats. He skipped the 1944 season to work for a meatpacker that was an essential service to the war efforts. Returning to Boston in 1945 rested and refreshed, Joost was off to a good start when his wrist was broken by Billy Jurges sliding into second base.

The Braves suspended Joost after they claimed he deserted the club once they let him go home following his injury. With his career stalled on the suspended list, Joost thought his days were over. Rescued by the Rochester Red Wings of the AAA International League, Joost flourished. In 1946, he had career highs in home runs and RBI's. This tremendous showing piqued the interest of the legendary Connie Mack.

Mack, 84, was looking for a shortstop after a dismal finish to the 1946 season. When Mack contacted Joost, he reassured the veteran that he wasn't concerned with his rocky past. "You can play. That's all I care about," Mack said. Nineteen-forty-seven would begin a eight-year stay with the Athletics that would see Joost earn MVP considerations five times along with two All-Star selections. Between 1947 and 1952, Joost slugged 109 home runs, while walking over 100 times in each of the six seasons.

At the end of the 1953 season with Joost now 37 and the Athletics in financial disarray, he was offered the position of player-manager in a cost-cutting move. Once again, Joost was unsure of his abilities. New to managing, Joost expressed his concerns to Mr. Mack. Mack reassured his faith in Joost by saying, "You've been a great player for me. I know you'll do well." The Athletics, who had only one starter that hit over .300 that season, finished in last place in the American League with 103 losses. When the Athletics moved to Kansas City following the 1954 season, Joost was not asked to go west with the team.

Seeking a large bonus to continue his career, Joost signed with the Boston Red Sox for $10,000 in 1955. Joost suffered a broken hand early in the season and never effectively recovered to regain his old form. He briefly managed in the Red Sox farm system the following season with the San Francisco Seals, but quit the team quickly when he was turned off by the individualistic nature of their young bonus players. "They were all individual players, all great, but we kept losing. I quit, and walked away from baseball," said Joost.

After his baseball career had ended, Joost moved to Hawaii, where he worked for Wilson Sporting Goods before retiring. I had the opportunity to meet Joost in 2008 (pictured above) at the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society Museum. Joost was a frequent supporter of the society and at the time was extremely lucid and pleasant. I was impressed by the vigor and firm handshake he displayed at the age of 92 that represented a man much younger than his years. It was this youthful spirit that he exuded that kept him going much longer when many others would have perished.

More Info -
Big-leaguer Eddie Joost dies at 94 - SFGate.com
Eddie Joost recalls how Connie Mack revived his big league career - Baseball Digest
Baseball History Podcast: Eddie Joost - Baseball History Podcast

Eddie Robinson: "Lucky Me: My Sixty-Five Years in Baseball"

2011-04-11T21:01:00.001-04:00

Anyone who is involved in the game of professional baseball for sixty-five years is more than lucky; they’re blessed. Eddie Robinson, now 90, recounts his lengthy career as a player, coach and executive in his autobiography, “Lucky Me: My Sixty-Five Years in Baseball,” which is currently available via SMU Press.

Robinson, along with help from co-author C. Paul Rogers III, speaks eloquently about his six-plus decades in baseball. Growing up in Paris, TX, Robinson had his start from humble beginnings in the farming community during the Great Depression. Signed into professional ball in 1939, it would begin a playing career that saw Robinson make stops with seven different American League ball clubs from 1942-1957, as well as three years of World War II Service that almost ended his career.

Recovering from a botched surgery to remove a bone tumor during World War II, Robinson endured a long and hard road to return to baseball in 1946. Not only did Robinson come back, he excelled. Robinson had a banner year that season, winning the MVP of the Triple-A International League, beating out an upstart Jackie Robinson, who was on his quest to make baseball history. This wouldn’t be the first time that the Indians farmhand would have a brush with baseball’s integration, as he was involved in some controversy surrounding the debut of Larry Doby the following season.

Robinson was the only right-handed first baseman on the club, and was asked to defer to Doby by lending the rookie his glove to play the position. Only days before, manager Lou Boudreau has assured Robinson that he was the team’s primary first baseman. A flummoxed Robinson threatened to quit after lending Doby his glove; however, he explained his reasoning was not due to Doby’s race. “I threatened to quit because of my anger at Boudreau, not because he was a black guy coming in.”

After winning the World Series with the Indians in 1948, he was traded to the Washington Senators for Mickey Vernon. This would begin the merry-go-round that would see him visit seven teams in the next nine seasons. It is through these travels where the book takes shape.

Robinson adds colorful tidbits about his career at the end of extra chapter entitled, “Extra Innings,” which are anecdotes that enliven the stories of his career. Through his play with seven different franchises, Robinson details many innings that illustrate the depth of his career. Robinson has a story for seemingly every “name” player from the 1940’s and 1950’s and tells them in a manner that keeps the pages turning.

For the New York fans, Robinson expertly details his time as a member of the New York Yankees from 1954-56, where he helped man first base under Casey Stengel’s platoon. Robinson would later return to the Yankees in the early 1980’s as a scout.

While not a Hall of Famer, Robinson merits a lot of credit for his long relationship with the national pastime. Whether it was as a player, coach or executive, Robinson put his best foot forward and reaped the rewards of a long-time association with the sport. “Lucky Me,” allows the reader to ride along with Robinson through his sixty years in baseball, taking in the scenery every stop of the way.

Bill White greets fans at booksigning for "Uppity"

2011-04-03T20:06:00.001-04:00

Former New York Yankees broadcaster Bill White made an appearance this Saturday at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ to promote his memoir, “Uppity: My Untold Story of the Games People Play.” Legions of Yankees fans are familiar with White only from his work in the broadcast booth alongside Phil Rizzuto; however, White was a pioneer in baseball, a member of a select group of African-American players to debut in the 1950’s. White endured racial taunts and the laws of Jim Crow segregation to achieve a celebrated 13-year major league career with the Giants, Cardinals and Phillies.

Click here to read more about White's appearance, including video of his Q+A session with the fans, where he speaks candidly about his career.

Brad Emaus and the history of the Mets Rule 5 draft

2011-03-26T19:50:00.001-04:00

Brad Emaus

With signs pointing to Brad Emaus earning the nod for the second base position with the New York Mets this spring, click here to take a look at Emaus' career and the Mets recent history with their results in the Rule 5 draft.

Spook Jacobs: "He's worth $30,000 in the minor leagues!"

2011-03-16T19:39:00.001-04:00

Here is a link to a quick piece I wrote about the recently deceased former Philadelphia A's infielder Spook Jacobs about Branch Rickey's refusal to sell him to the White Sox while he was in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. I will follow soon with a full interview I conducted with Jacobs in 2009 where this is excerpted from.

Branch Rickey - "He's worth $30,000 in the minor leagues!"

Marty Marion, former National League MVP, dies at 93

2011-03-16T17:38:00.001-04:00

Marty Marion

Marty Marion, the 1944 National League MVP, nicknamed "The Octopus" for his tall build and long arms, died Tuesday night from natural causes. He was 93.

At 6'2" in height, Marion revolutionized the shortstop position when it was known primarily as a place for short and speedy defenders. His range and soft hands were his trademark, helping to pave the way for other tall shortstops such as Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.

Marion was voted MVP of the National League in 1944, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series pennant. He would play 11 seasons for the Cardinals from 1940-50 and then two additional seasons as a player-manager for the St. Louis Browns from 1952-53.

As a manger, Marion managed the Cardinals in 1951 and then replaced Rogers Hornsby as manager of the Browns in 1952. He took over the reigns of the Chicago White Sox ballclub late in the 1954 season and managed them through the end of the 1956 season.

Marion received as high of 40% of the Hall of Fame vote when he was eligible. In later years, he received support from the Veterans Committee. Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda put Marion in the same class as two other Hall of Fame shortstops, stating, "He was an outstanding shortstop for the Cardinals on the same level as Phil Rizzuto and Pee Wee Reese."

Bill Deck's exciting journey through the Negro Leagues

2011-03-09T20:41:00.003-05:00

Bill Deck - Philadelphia Stars

About two weeks ago, I reported on the death of one of the oldest living alums from the Negro Leagues, former Philadelphia Stars pitcher Bill Deck. Deck passed away in Philadelphia at the age of 95 after an extended stay in a nursing home.

In November 2007, on a Friday afternoon after a long day of teaching, I decided to drive to Mr. Deck's home in North Philadelphia to see if he would be willing to talk about his baseball career. After a few knocks on the door, a tall, lithe man with a baritone voice appeared. He briefly questioned my purpose for the visit; when I told him what I was there for, he graciously invited me inside. I understood his initial skepticism as there was a horrific shooting of a cop the day prior about two blocks away at a nearby gas station. After entering, we spent close to two hours discussing his career in baseball, his World War II service and his life after baseball. Upon discovering the news of his passing, I decided it was best to share visions of the career of another Negro Leaguer who has taken his stories to eternal rest.

Deck became enamored with the national pastime after moving to Darby, PA from North Carolina at the age of 10. “That’s when I became wrapped up in baseball. I would go to the games every day. We were what you would call ball chasers. We would get the foul balls and bring them back in. That was the good part.” A few years later, his family migrated across the Delaware County border into Southwest Philadelphia. It was there where he began playing baseball. “I started playing ball when I was 13 years old. We had moved to Southwest Philadelphia from Darby. They had a little team there, it was a mixed team, black and white. I was the only black on the team. When it came time to play against the other teams in our age group, they wouldn’t let me play. They said I was too good. I only played for special occasions, so I played with kids older than myself.”

A major opportunity arose when the family moved back to Darby. His neighbor was Ed Bolden, who was the owner of the Hilldale Daises (who would later own the Philadelphia Stars). “I had access to every game that came there. It taught you the basics of baseball, you learned everything. We had a kids team in Darby, and they would allow us to play like on a Monday, because the big time baseball was on the weekends. They would allow us to play in the park, provided we cut the grass and to put the lines down. I learned more about that than the players did. You learned how to put down a pitcher's mound, the batters box, etc. You learned a lot by just being around.”

His memories of watching the legends play in Hilldale Park were vivid. His lauded the merits of shortstop, Dick Lundy, who many feel belongs in the Hall of Fame. “There was a player with the Bacharach Giants, this was when I was still young. I used to watch him, he was a shortstop, Dick Lundy. He was the best shortstop I’ve ever seen. He was so smooth. He made hard plays look easy. His rival, Jake Stephens, played for Hilldale. I used to compare the two of them. Jake Stevens was a good shortstop. He’d make an easy play look hard, kicking up dust and everything, but Dick Lundy was the opposite. He made hard plays look easy.”

Deck also had the pleasure of watching Hall of Famer Judy Johnson operate on an up close and personal basis with the Hilldale team. While many are quick to sing the praises of Brooks Robinson and fellow Negro Leaguer Ray Dandridge as the best at the hot corner, Deck offered up the Delaware native. “I’d rate him the number one against anybody. He was actually that good. Nothing got past him. Being a kid, I was around 13-14 years old, watching guys like that play, just to have a catch with him was the highlight of your life.”

As Deck spent more time around Bolden's squad, the more he learned and matured as a player. He eventually had his shot with the Philadelphia Stars in 1939. Deck described how he made his way into the Negro Leagues. “They way you made your way in, people would notice you playing. I was a pitcher. Hilldale had a pitcher, Red Ryan. He taught me how to throw the curve-ball. I perfected it so good, it drew everyone’s attention. As I grew older, I developed a few pitches and that’s when they gave me a chance to play.” The person that opened the door for him was his former neighbor, Bolden.

“Ed Bolden wrote me a letter, and asked me if I would come to talk to him. And that’s how I got started.” While his stay with the Stars was brief, he most memorable moment came during a stop in Iowa. “The best game, I ever pitched was on a Tuesday night. We had played in Chicago, and we stopped in Des Moines, IA. We had a night game. I didn’t start the game. We were playing the St. Louis Stars, one of the big teams out West. In the 3rd inning, the manager came in and asked me, 'Could you come in and stop these guys from hitting?' I said, 'I just pitched Sunday, what are you talking about, that’s only two days rest!' He told me, 'They’re making us look like chumps.' I replied, 'Ok, I’ll give it a shot. I don’t know how long I’ll last, ‘cause you know I just pitched Sunday.' Anyway, it was very warm that night, and I guess that’s what did it. From the 3rd inning to the 9th inning, I didn’t give up a hit. It was the greatest moment of my life. It was in the papers. There were big write-ups in the Des Moines paper the next morning. I went to the restaurant the next day and the people asked, 'Are you the guy who pitched last night?' It was quite a crowd at the game, so I said 'Yeah, it was me.'”

Deck found his manager Jud Wilson to be very difficult to deal with. Wilson was a grizzled veteran, who was known for his short fuse. Deck knew his days were numbered with Wilson at the helm. “The manager of the team was Jud Wilson. He was a great third baseman. He was very hard to get along with. He didn’t like me at all I don’t think. In those days, the jobs were hard to come by. A rookie coming in, they were very choosy about who they wanted to play with them. If I come in, they’ve gotta move one of the old-timers. All of a sudden, here comes this kid to take his place. Anyway, that’s when he said, 'I’m going to send you down to the Bacharach Giants.'”

He continued to play until 1950, playing for the lesser known all-black semi-pro teams. “I played for the Bacharach Giants and the Stars from 1939-1942. We played all up and down the East Coast. We’d go up to Connecticut and play. You had to have a job, I got married in between. You had to have a job to boost the money up. We’d play in New Haven, come down the coast, play different teams. Around 1950, I finally stopped. I didn’t have that high hard one anymore. I played a little semi-pro after that. When I came out of the service, we moved to a little place called Lamont. I played with them in the Suburban League, to show them how to play ball. They’ve seen it [baseball], but they didn’t understand it.”

His playing career was interrupted by his military service in World War II. Deck spoke about how he was part of one of the pioneering Marine units in the service. “I was one of the first black Marines in 1942. When they opened up the Marine Corp for Black Marines, I went to sign up in 1942 and became a Marine in 1943. It was separate. You could go in the Marines. They took three black guys from Germantown in the Marines. We were segregated right then. We had a different training camp. We went to Camp LeJune, and that’s where we took boot camp training.”

After returning from World War II, Deck moved to Lamont, PA. It was there where he was visited by another pioneer, Jackie Robinson. “There was much buzz going on after Jackie Robinson. Jackie came to visit us in Lamont and explained to us about baseball. One of the fellows that lived up there knew someone who knew Jackie Robinson and he asked if Jackie could come to speak to us. That was in 1947.” He also sensed that Robinson's breaking of the color line spelled the end for Negro League baseball. “I knew that would break the Negro Leagues down. Everyone from kids on up they were thriving to go into the majors, black and whites. That little team we started in Lamont, a lot of those kids, the big leagues would look at them, send scouts out and send them to farm clubs.”

After baseball, Deck went into the field of masonry, which he attributed to his longevity. “[After baseball] I took up bricklaying. I put in 25 years. When I got married, I bought a farm in Wildwood, NJ. I bought that place in 1952. We kept it until 1993. We’d go out there and spend time on the shore, Rio Grande, NJ. It was getting too much for me to keep the place looking decent. My wife told me to sell it, and we went back to Philadelphia. After that I’ve just been retired.” At the time of the interview Deck, 92, still felt that he could get around pretty well. “I like to go around places. I had to stop driving. That’s a drawback. I’m going back to the doctors to see if they can help my eyes to see if I can get licensed again. My doctor told me physically I am in good enough shape. The years of bricklaying helped.”

In the mid 1990's, Deck ran into a familiar face while visiting a museum in downtown Philadelphia. He couldn't believe what he saw. “I went down the museum once, down at 7th and Arch. The Negro Museum. I saw this big picture on the wall, I said, 'That’s a picture taken at Parkside in 1939.' This lady that ran the museum at the time, she told me to come into her office, she wanted to talk to me. She asked me a lot of questions, almost like you are doing. I told her, 'On this picture there, that’s me right there! She asked, 'Do you mind if we keep this?' I said, 'Sure.' I had seen this picture before, but I hadn’t noticed it this closely. They enlarged it and had it hanging up. A few guys I knew down there said, 'Deck, do you know they have your picture hanging at the museum?' This was about ten years ago. I remember when that picture was taken. Right away, it brought my mind back to 1939.”

Long after Deck threw his final pitch, he admitted that baseball had never left him. “You get it in your blood and it stays there forever. I watch spring training when they televise it. I followed baseball all of these years. I’ll turn away something else to get to a baseball game. And you almost know what’s going to happen. It’s instinct or something.”

Only later in his life did Deck gain some fanfare for his accomplishments almost 60 years prior. “Lately, I get a lot of mail. I never would have believed it. When it first started, they used to send us letters from Buck O’Neil. They used to send us a check twice a year. All of the black players, the ones that were living, but they stopped that.”

When asked about how he wanted to be remembered, Deck was humbled by the thought of it. “I just want to be remembered as being out there trying to play. The thought of being remembered means a lot.”

Duke Snider's Philadelphia grab eclipsed that of Willie Mays in the World Series

2011-03-07T21:19:00.002-05:00

As detailed in Jason Aronoff's "Going, Going ... Caught!: Baseball's Great Outfield Catches as Described by Those Who Saw Them, 1887-1964" Duke Snider made an award winning grab on Memorial Day in 1954 that still stands as the best ever, yes, even better than Willie Mays' grab in the World Series later that year.

Click here to read an interview with two of the players involved in that game, that affirmed that Snider's catch was the best ever.

Former New York Mets catcher Greg Goossen passes away at 65

2011-02-27T21:11:00.001-05:00

Greg Goossen

Greg Goosen, who was one of the earlier catching prospects in the New York Mets organization died Saturday at his home in Sherman Oaks, CA. He was 65 years old. Goossen played for the Mets from 1965-68 and then with the Pilots and Senators before ending his major league career in 1970.

Bill Deck, Negro League pitcher dies at 95

2011-02-24T09:13:00.001-05:00

Bill Deck - 1939

Bill Deck, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues died Tuesday February 22, 2011 at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia according to Dr. Steven McIlwain. He was 95.

Born Sept 28, 1915, Deck had an early start in Negro League baseball as he was a ball chaser for the Hilldale Daises, where he had the chance to watch Hall of Famer Judy Johnson operate up close and personal.

Deck would go on to play for local semi-pro teams in the early 1930's before signing on with the Philadelphia Stars in 1939.

In 1943, Deck was drafted into the Marines for World War II. Deck was in one of the first all-black Marine units in the war. He served until 1946, and upon his return, played for the Bacharach Giants until 1951.

Deck returned to Philadelphia where he lived in North Philadelphia until his death.

- Note - Excerpts from a 2007 interview I conducted with Deck will be posted in a few days.

Clyde Parris - Private Autograph Signing March 5, 2011

2011-02-20T08:35:00.001-05:00

BaseballHappenings.net is proud to present a private signing with former Negro Leaguer Clyde Parris. He is the last living alum of the legendary Baltimore Elite Giants, having played with them in 1946. All items are due by March 5, 2011.

Affectionately known as "The Dude", the Panamania-born Parris entered pro ball in the United States with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues in 1946. Later that season he signed with the New York Black Yankees and played with them until 1948. He spent part of the 1949 season with the Cleveland / Louisville Buckeyes. He is currently one of less than 20 living Negro Leaguers to have entered the Negro Leagues before Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He would eventually be signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system, reaching the Triple-A level for six seasons, earning MVP honors at Class-A Elmira and winning the Triple-A batting title in 1956.

Click here to read a recent article about Parris' career, "Batting Average? You were thinking about surviving!"

Parris has never done a public or private signing. He appears in the 2009 Topps Allen and Ginter set.

The prices for the signing are as follows:
Cards / Photos / Flats / Index Cards - $10
Your Baseball - $12
Our 8x10 Photos - $15 (includes autograph)
Inscriptions - $5

Shipping costs are as follows:
You can send a SASE with your items, however, you assume all risk for the SASE.

$2 Baseball Cards / Index Cards / Photos Smaller Than 5x7
$4 Photos 5x7 or Larger
$5 Baseballs

If you are located outside of the United States, please email for a shipping quotation.

Payment Forms Accepted:
Paypal / Credit Card
Money Order

Please send your items with a post-it note and member name to ensure the correct return.

For details on paying by either Paypal / Credit Card, please send an email to baseballhappenings@yahoo.com

Clyde Parris continues to carry the legacy of the Negro Leagues

2011-02-17T19:02:00.001-05:00

2009 Allen and Ginter Clyde Parris

Jonathan "Clyde" Parris is one of the last living links to the Negro Leagues. Debuting in 1946 with the Baltimore Elite Giants, he is the last living player from the organization that produced Hall of Famers Roy Campanella and Leon Day, as well as Joe Black and Junior Gilliam. I recently caught up with Parris for a piece with the Queens Times / Ledger newspapers. Click here to read more about the career of Clyde Parris, and how he was extremely close to being called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers after leading the minor leagues in hitting.

Recent Brooklyn Dodger passings - Tony Malinosky, Gino Cimoli, Cliff Dapper

2011-02-13T22:27:00.001-05:00

As we push farther into 2011, the list of living players that appeared in uniform for the Brooklyn Dodgers are dwindling. In the past week, we lost three Dodger alumni: Tony Malinosky, who was the oldest living major league player; Cliff Dapper, the first player to be traded for a broadcaster; and Gino Cimoli, the first batter to appear in a major league game on the West Coast. Click on each of their photos to learn more about each player.

Tony Malinosky

Cliff Dapper

Gino Cimoli