Who am I?

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#276)

I pitched 9 years in the bigs...but only pitched in even number years 3 of those 9 seasons. I broke in as a 20 year old with a WS winner, and finished as a 32 year old with a winning record for an expansion team.

How good was I as a pitcher? Well... I had a shutout once (a one-hitter to boot!)...which was half of my season's win total...in a season that I dropped 10.

Of those 9 seasons, there was only one that I had an ERA under the league average, and I was under by 0.02 over a whopping 31.2 innings. I was a 10 game winner in back to back seasons.

But I am still remembered, however, for a being in a blockbuster of a trade, a trade that (directly or indirectly) led to me pitching for 4 AL teams, the Ham Fighters, and the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredoover the next 5 seasons.

Who am I?

[JL25and3]

Who am I? (#276)

I pitched 9 years in the bigs...but only pitched in even number years 3 of those 9 seasons. I broke in as a 20 year old with a WS winner, and finished as a 32 year old with a winning record for an expansion team.

How good was I as a pitcher? Well... I had a shutout once (a one-hitter to boot!)...which was half of my season's win total...in a season that I dropped 10.

Of those 9 seasons, there was only one that I had an ERA under the league average, and I was under by 0.02 over a whopping 31.2 innings. I was a 10 game winner in back to back seasons.

But I am still remembered, however, for a being in a blockbuster of a trade, a trade that (directly or indirectly) led to me pitching for 4 AL teams, the Ham Fighters, and the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredoover the next 5 seasons.

Who am I?

I'll say it was a blockbuster trade - one of the most famous trades ever. Curiously, not many people remember the names of the two people traded: Marilyn and Suzanne. Suzanne was your wife, Mr. Kekich, and remains married to Fritz Peterson to this day. You and Marilyn didn't work out so well, I'm afraid.

Obviously, that, ah, uncomfortable situation led to your being traded for a few bags of balls and somebody named Lowell Palmer. Your buddy Fritz didn't last all that much longer with the Yankees, either, but at least he brought back more of a return...

[Rich McKinney]

Correct JL!

Kekich had a mediocre career before the infamous trade with Fritz Peterson, and it went downhill afterwards...Yankees to the Indians in 73, to Japan in 74, to the Rangers in 75, to Mexico in 76, and to the Inaugural Mariners in 1977.

He came up as a 20 year old with the 1965 World Champion Dodgers, and threw his only shutout in 1968, a 2-0 one-hitter against the Mets, his only bright spot in a 2-10, 3.91 ERA season in the year of the pitcher.

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#277)

I was an outfielder whose career in the majors spanned 7 years...but I only played in the majors for 2 of them. I spent the bulk of my career in baseball in the International League. I was chiefly a Chief in those intermediate years between stints in the show. I was up for a cup of coffee the first year I made it, getting a paltry 13 PA in the 2 weeks I was up in June. Although I had only 2 singles in those 13 at bats, I was not the cause of my teams collapse...the team had given up 2 games of its lead while I was there, but they were still 7 games ahead when I went back to AAA.

So I bided my time....and waited, and waited. Finally, I get my big break....actually, it was a knee injury to the parent team's CF that got me back on the stage. I stayed for the final 3 months of the season, getting in 52 games as the 4th outfielder on a team that was on the brink of something special. I was a good enough gardner that when I took the field, I always went to CF. My hitting? Well, I'll tell you that I had more walks than strikeouts...but my batting average looked like a TV show of the time...(Room) .222.

Back to the minors I went after my last in the bigs...I got traded a year later with my old teammate with the injured knee for another centerfielder that had hitting problems of his own, thanks to a beanball that made him bit gun shy at the plate...but a guy that would win his 3rd and 4th championship ring after this trade.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#277)

I was an outfielder whose career in the majors spanned 7 years...but I only played in the majors for 2 of them. I spent the bulk of my career in baseball in the International League. I was chiefly a Chief in those intermediate years between stints in the show. I was up for a cup of coffee the first year I made it, getting a paltry 13 PA in the 2 weeks I was up in June. Although I had only 2 singles in those 13 at bats, I was not the cause of my teams collapse...the team had given up 2 games of its lead while I was there, but they were still 7 games ahead when I went back to AAA.

So I bided my time....and waited, and waited. Finally, I get my big break....actually, it was a knee injury to the parent team's CF that got me back on the stage. I stayed for the final 3 months of the season, getting in 52 games as the 4th outfielder on a team that was on the brink of something special. I was a good enough gardner that when I took the field, I always went to CF. My hitting? Well, I'll tell you that I had more walks than strikeouts...but my batting average looked like a TV show of the time...(Room) .222.

Back to the minors I went after my last in the bigs...I got traded a year later with my old teammate with the injured knee for another centerfielder that had hitting problems of his own, thanks to a beanball that made him bit gun shy at the plate...but a guy that would win his 3rd and 4th championship ring after this trade.

Who am I?

The last time Syracuse won a title, center fielder Rick Bladt had an experience that would spook him during that season -- something the Ghost Chasers at TAPS may want to investigate. In a International League game against Memphis on July 30, 1976, Memphis batter Art Gardner hit a deep drive over the head of Bladt ... a ball which hit off the center field wall in the bottom of the third inning. Bladt raced back to retrieve the ball while the batter raced around the bases ... but the ball (maybe a true orb) was no where to be found. While Rick searched high and low for the missing ball, Gardner circled the bases for an apparent inside-the-park home run. Bladt threw up his arms in disgust while the other outfielders helped with the search -- but there was no ball to be found. Umpires finally would send Gardner back to second base. The hit was ruled a double ... but where had the ball gone?

In better days of the past, Rick Bladt had played in the major leagues. In fact, one year to the day earlier, Rick was wearing a Yankee uniform and was the starting center fielder for the Yankees in a game won over the Tigers, 2-1. at Shea. Bladt went hitless in four at-bats against Lolich. No fair-struck balls were lost at anytime during that game. This 1975 season would be his final year of major league play ... although he would be part of a January 20, 1977 trade, along with Elliot Maddux, that would send the two players, from the Yankees, to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Paul "Motor Mouth" Blair.

Earlier yet, in 1969, Bladt had played in his first major league games. He played briefly in June that season for the Chicago Cubs. He was around long enough to get himself two singles in thirteen at-bats. His second and final National League career hit came off a future HOF'er - Jim Bunning.

[Rich McKinney]

Whadda you know, Dave gets to answer a trivia question once in a while here. Correctly, of course. Good job!

[Dave Visbeck]

Whadda you know, Dave gets to answer a trivia question once in a while here. Correctly, of course. Good job!

Thanks, Rich.

Also thanks for bumping this whole thread up again. Hadn't seen you around for quite awhile!

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#278)

It took me 10 years and 3 organizations to make it to the show, but I did make it as a 29 year old rookie. Thank goodness for expansion!

That first season, I played in all but 5 of my teams games, even making the Topps Rookie team, belting out 18 HRs along the way. I was the bright spot on a team that dropped over twice as many games as it won. That rookie season was the highlight of my career, however, as the next year saw me not breaking Mendoza. I played parts of the next 3 seasons as well, being released in September of my 5th year in the Bigs.

One last clue to my identity...I was teammates with my cousin for 2 seasons, while his brother (also my cousin, of course) was racking up WS rings. I never even got a sniff of the first division, let alone post-season play.

Who am I?

[49andCounting]

Who am I? (#278)

It took me 10 years and 3 organizations to make it to the show, but I did make it as a 29 year old rookie. Thank goodness for expansion!

That first season, I played in all but 5 of my teams games, even making the Topps Rookie team, belting out 18 HRs along the way. I was the bright spot on a team that dropped over twice as many games as it won. That rookie season was the highlight of my career, however, as the next year saw me not breaking Mendoza. I played parts of the next 3 seasons as well, being released in September of my 5th year in the Bigs.

One last clue to my identity...I was teammates with my cousin for 2 seasons, while his brother (also my cousin, of course) was racking up WS rings. I never even got a sniff of the first division, let alone post-season play.

Who am I?

You are Coco Laboy. Your cousins are Pepe and Angel Mangual. Angel played with the Oakland A's teams that won three consecutive titles from 1972 to 1974.

[Rich McKinney]

You are Coco Laboy. Your cousins are Pepe and Angel Mangual. Angel played with the Oakland A's teams that won three consecutive titles from 1972 to 1974.

Correct 49! Coco was a ml Lifer, but was saved by the expansion draft. By 1970, the league learned not to throw the fastball to him, and his BA dropped to .199. A knee injury that winter in the PR Winter League spelled the end of Laboy's career, but he hung on for parts of the next 3 seasons.

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#279)

Ron Luciano once said if the niceness of ballplayers could be represented by a white cap or a black cap (white cap being nice, black cap being evil), that I would be wearing a totally black uniform. Teams must have agreed with this sentiment, because in my thirteen years in the bigs, the longest time that I spent with any one team was 2 complete seasons. Eight teams, playing for each at least for one year and never more than two. I bet that there is already enough information here for someone to bag who I am. But let me give you a few more hints...

I played in the same city as my brother in one of my stops, although we were not teammates. My brother played for the Giants in his big seasons, a team that I did not play for in my extensive travels. I did manage to garner a WS ring along the way, but I got to ride the pine for that series. I bested the star of that WS losing team individually later in my career, my big season in the big leagues.

Now who am I?

[49andCounting]

Who am I? (#279)

Ron Luciano once said if the niceness of ballplayers could be represented by a white cap or a black cap (white cap being nice, black cap being evil), that I would be wearing a totally black uniform. Teams must have agreed with this sentiment, because in my thirteen years in the bigs, the longest time that I spent with any one team was 2 complete seasons. Eight teams, playing for each at least for one year and never more than two. I bet that there is already enough information here for someone to bag who I am. But let me give you a few more hints...

I played in the same city as my brother in one of my stops, although we were not teammates. My brother played for the Giants in his big seasons, a team that I did not play for in my extensive travels. I did manage to garner a WS ring along the way, but I got to ride the pine for that series. I bested the star of that WS losing team individually later in my career, my big season in the big leagues.

Now who am I?

You are Alex Johnson. You played for the Yankees in 1974-75 while your brother, Ron, was starring for the New York Football Giants as a Running Back. Your World Series ring came as a member of the 1967 St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Red Sox in seven games. You then nosed out the star of that Red Sox team, Carl Yastrzemski, to win the 1970 American League batting title, .32899 to .32862.

[Rich McKinney]

You are Alex Johnson. You played for the Yankees in 1974-75 while your brother, Ron, was starring for the New York Football Giants as a Running Back. Your World Series ring came as a member of the 1967 St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Red Sox in seven games. You then nosed out the star of that Red Sox team, Carl Yastrzemski, to win the 1970 American League batting title, .32899 to .32862.

Correct, 49!

That quote by Luciano always stuck with me as a kid. And of course, the misdirection of Ron playing for the NY Football Giants was an easy one to see through.

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#280)

I spent 5 decades in the majors as a player, coach and manager. As a player, I had my moments...led the leagues in shutouts one year, and I would have won the ERA title by over three-quarters of a run if I had gotten 4 more stinking outs while on the mound! Hell my ERA was less than half of the league's ERA that season.

Although I was saddled as the poster child for an inept franchise, I garnered 3 WS rings for myself as a pitcher...each of them for teams in different time zones. My two pitching victories in WS play were 9 years and 9 days apart, both over the same team.

As a manager, I won 2 division titles...one of which ended up a pennant winner, but my team didn't take home the hardware that season.

Although I was a strictly a Senior Circuit player and manager, with stops in 8 cities along the way (9 if you add in my coaching), I did garner a WS ring as a coach in the AL...and once I got that ring, it was back to the NL for me.

One last bit...for most of one of my stops as a manager, I wasn't even the most popular person with my name in the city.

Who am I?

[Yankee Tripper]

Are you hum baby Roger Craig?

That's just a wild guess. If it's wrong I may try harder.

[Rich McKinney]

Nice guess Yankee Tripper!

Roger Craig won WS titles as a member of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers, and the 1964 Saint Louis Cardinals. His 1959 ERA was 2.06, but he pitched 152 2/3 innings that season, missing the cut by 4 outs. Sam Jones won the title with a 2.83 ERA.

Roger was of course the face of ineptitude with the expansion Mets, going 15-46 over the 1962-3 seasons.

As a pitching coach, he guided the Tigers staff the the WS championship in 1984. He managed the Padres and Giants along the way as well, winning the NL flag in 1989.

Of course, Roger Craig the running back for the SF 49ers was helping Bill Walsh win SB trophies in the 1980s as our hero was skippering the SF Giants.

[Dave Visbeck]

Been a very long time in catching up. Sorry.




#265 James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx (49andCounting)
*#266 Billy Beane (thecaptain)
#267 George "Rip" Van Haltren (groovitude)
#268 Jack "John Needles" Bentley (Yankee Tripper)
#269 Babe Ruth (hellonewman)
#270 Ladislaw Waldemar =is= Whitey Witt (hellonewman)
#271 (R) Jason Bay (The Sox Kid)
#272 Reggie Jackson (49andCounting)
#273 Joe Sewell (49andCounting)
*#274 Billy North (Yankee Tripper)
#275 Glenn Williams (JL25and3)
*#276 Mike Kekich (JL25and3)
*#277 Rick Bladt ( )
*#278 Coco Laboy (49andCounting)
*#279 Alex Johnson (49andCounting)
*#280 Roger Craig (Yankee Tripper)

[Dave Visbeck]

Now ... all of them, thus far.


#1 Ray Dandridge (yankeebot)
#2 Ted Williams - July 25, 1966 (JDPNYY) Cooperstown, New York homerun #522 (yankeebot)
#3 Vinny Castilla (THEBOSS84) Most HR's by Mexican born player (THEBOSS84)
#4 Enrique Wilson (JDPNYY)
#5 Don Baylor (THEBOSS84)
#6 Harry Heilmann (yankeebot)
#7 Larry Goetz (The Sox Kid)
#8 Joe McCarthy (The Sox Kid)
#8A Randy Johnson (yankeebot)
#9 George Frazier (The Sox Kid)
#10 Gus Niarhos (apolansk)
#11 Babe Ruth (apolansk, Soriambi, THEBOSS84, JDPNYY, Tifoso and Don Mattingly)
#12 Honus Wagner (apolansk)
#13 Dave Kingman (The Sox Kid)
#14 George Halas (hellonewman)
#15 George Whiteman (The Sox Kid)
#16 Hippo Vaughn (The Sox Kid)
#17 Babe Ruth (The Sox Kid)
#18 Paul Waner (26xwc)
#19 Joltin' Joe DiMaggio (apolansk)
#20 Joe McGinnity (apolansk)
#21 Jim Thorpe (26xwc)
#22 Keith McDonald (yankeebot)
#23 Cy Young (26xwc)
#24 Candy Cummings (26xwc)
#25 Bert Shepard (Casey37)
#26 Catfish Metkovich (Casey37)
#27 Lefty Gomez (thecaptain)
#28 Henry Brooks (no one got him right)
#29 "Stubby" Manger (Jenn6812)
#30 "Hippo" Vaughn (Jenn6812)
#31 Wilbur "Roxey" Roach (26xwc)
#32 George (Snuffy) Stirnweiss (26xwc)
#33 Casey Stengel (26xwc... the wizzard!)
#34 "Aaron" Andrew Robinson (26xwc)
#35 Bert Campaneris (thecaptain)
#36 Tom Clancey Sheehan (Casey37)
#37 Henry Cotto (yankeebot)
#38 Walter Alston (Casey37 - Mike)
#39 Dave McNally (yankeebot)
#40 Roger Maris (yankeebot)
#41 Jason Bay (apolansk)
#42 Mickey "The Commerce Comet" Mantle (Steve J. Rogers)
#43 Rynie Wolters (thecaptain)
#44 Bert Blyleven (thecaptain)
#45 Buck Ewing (Casey37 and "2-minute rule exception..." diehardyankeefan)
#46 Roger "Rocket" Clemens (26xwc - The Wizzard)
#47 Albert "Butts" Wagner (26xwc... the wizzard!)
#48 Sam Jones (26xwc)
#49 Mel Stottlemyre (26xwc)
#50 Frankie "The Fordham Flash" Frisch (diehardyankeefan)
#51 Paul O'Neill ( )

#52 Robert Eenhoorn (thecaptain)
#53 Rogers Hornsby (Casey37)
#54 Cliff Mapes ( )

#55 Jim Palmer (26xwc)
#56 Pat Dobson (thecaptain and 26xwc)
#57 Pete Rose (The Sox Kid)
#58 George Sisler (26xwc)
#59 Randy Johnson (26xwc)
#60 Lon Warneke (yankeemarc923)
#61 Tom Seaver (thecaptain)
#62 Jim Palmer (Paiglee)
*#63 Dennis Martinez (no one got him right)
#64 Pedro Martinez (apolansk)
#65 Carlton Fisk (Paiglee)
#66 Tim McCarver (26xwc)
#67 Paul Schreiber (thecaptain)
#68 Luther Almus "Doc" Cook (26xwc)
#69 Lee Magee (26xwc)
#70 Warren Spahn (The Sox Kid)
#71 Elston Howard (26xwc)
#72 Monte Pearson (26xwc)
#73 Mark McGwire (thecaptain)
#74 Tom Thevenow (hellonewman)
#75 Alfonso Soriano (Paiglee)
#76 Gonzalo Marquez (26xwc)
#77 Robin Ventura (26xwc)
#78 Vince Coleman (Paiglee)
#79 Johnny Podres (soxfansince67)
#80 Joe Torre (soxfansince67)
#81 Tommy Henrich (Paiglee)
#82 Goose Goslin (soxfansince67)
#83 Jack Quinn (26xwc)
#84 Quinn (soxfansince67)
#85 Jim Bagby Sr. & Jim Bagby Jr. (The Wizard - 26xwc)
#86 Mike Schmidt (hellonewman)
#87 Hal Newhouser (hellonewman)
#88 Glen Gorbous (26xwc)
#89 Vince DiMaggio (soxfansince67)
#90 Doc Crandall (soxfansince67)
#91 Stan Coveleski (soxfansince67)
#92 Paddy O'Connor (soxfansince67
#93 Jesse Haines (JL25and3)
#94 Dave Roberts (THEBOSS84)
#95 Neal Ball (JL25and3)
#96 Deacon McGuire (JL25and3)
#97 Jim Beattie (JL25and3)
#98 Brian Doyle (soxfansince67)
#99 Denny Doyle (soxfansince67)
#100 Jerry Remy (soxfansince67)
#101 Moe Berg (JL25and3)
#102 Lipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike (JL25and3)
#103 Hank Borowy (JL25and3)
#104 Hank Greenberg (JL25and3)
#105 Vic Power (soxfansince67) *Stole home twice in the same game
#106 Grover Cleveland Alexander (JL25and3)
#107 Moses Fleetwood Walker (JL25and3)
#108 Tom Mullane (JL25and3)
#109 Cap Anson (JL25and3)
#110 Dave Dravecky (soxfansince67)
*#111 Mike Glavine ( )

*#112 Tom Glavine ( )

*#113 Mike Piazza ( )

*#114 Bob Murphy ( )

Turkey Day People #1 Lefty Gomez (yankeebot)
Turkey Day People #2 Harry Brooks (apolansk, yankeebot)
#115 Masanori Murakami (Steve J Rogers)
*#116 Babe Ruth ( )
and JL25and3)
*#117 Dave Righetti ( )

#118 Johnny Pesky (JL25and3)
#118a Cookie Lavagetto ( )

#119 ??? *Damn* ... it was Rich "Goose-zilla" Gossage, whose bacon was saved by his future manager, Russell Earl Dent.
#120 Rick Monday (JL25and3)
#121 Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols (JL25and3)
#122 Joe Nuxhall (JL25and3)
#123 Harry Danning (JL25and3)
#124 Joe McGinty (JL25and3)
#125 Barry Bonds (JL25and3)
#126 Charlie Robertson (JL25and3)
#127 Russ Wrightstone (JL25and3)
#128 Frank Parkinson (JL25and3)
#129 Cliff Heathcote (JL25and3)
#130 Charlie Hollocher (JL25and3)
#131 Bobby Ray Murcer (JL25and3)
#132 Benny Kauff (JL25and3)
#133 Cal Ripken Jr. (THEBOSS84)
#134 Mark Davis (Steve J. Rogers)
#135 Big Unit (Steve J. Rogers)
#136 Nolan Ryan (JL25and3)
*#137 James Augstine "Catfish" Hunter ()
*#138 The Mick ()
#139 Sandy Koufax (Yankees Empire)
#139A Randy Johnson (Big_E}
*#140 "Old Lefty" Joe Nuxhall ( )
#141 Steve Christmas (JL25and3)
#142 James Wear "Bug" Holliday. (Bug?) (JL25and3)
#143 Eddie "Cocky" Collins (JL25and3)
#144 Curt Schilling (JL25and3)
#145 Rob Dibble (soxfansince67)
#146 Andres Gallarraga (soxfansince67)
*#147 Rich McKinney (JL25and3)
*#148 Bobby Grich (Bernie51Williams)
*#149 Don Baylor (Bernie51Williams)
*#150 Rob Gardner (fredgmuggs)
#151 Hank Bauer (Rich McKinney)
*#152 Ed Herrmann (fredgmuggs)
*#153 Richie Scheinblum (soxfansince67)
#154 Jack Taylor (Rich McKinney)
#155 Harry Wheeler (Rich McKinney)
#156 George Bignell (soxfansince67)
#157 Harmon Killebrew (JL25and3)
#158 Tom Sturdivant.(fredgmuggs)
#159 George Kell (Rich McKinney)
#160 Matt Alexander (JL25and3)
#161 Rick Mahler (JL25and3)
#162 Vida Blue (JL25and3)
#163 Juan Gonzalez (JL25and3)
#164 Joe Girardi (soxfansince67)
#165 "Prince Hal" Chase (Rich McKinney)
#166 Ted Lyons (JL25and3)
#167 Jerome Walton (Rich McKinney)
#168 Herb Score (soxfansince67)
#169 Luis Aparicio (Rich McKinney)
#170 Ron "Louisiana Lightning" or "Gator" Guidry (Rich McKinney)
*#171 Bobby Bonds (BillBuckner)
#172 Fernando Valenzuela (JL25and3)
*#173 (F) Captain Benjamin Sisko (yankeebot)
#174 Roberto Clemente (JL25and3)
#175 Tony Olivia (JL25and3)
*#176 Jack Russell (yankeebot)
#177 Wade Boggs (JL25and3)
#178 Mike Greenwell (JL25and3)
#179 Don Zimmer (JL25and3)
#180 Larry Goetz ... for the time being. was supposed to be someone different
*#181 Ralph Kiner (yankeesmarc923)
#182 Wilbur Wood (yankeesmarc923)
#183 Carl Weilman (thecaptain)
#184 Captain Eddie Grant -- United States Army (JL25and3)
#185 Chief Bender (soxfansince67)
#186 Jack Coombs (soxfansince67)
#187 George Aloys "Showboat" Fisher (TheDynasty26)
#188 Mike Coolbaugh (The Sox Kid was suggested) by (JL25and3)
#189 Curtis Leskanic (JL25and3) and half credit (The Sox Kid)
#190 Makato Suzuki (JL25and3) and half credit (The Sox Kid)
#191 Jon Garland (JL25and3) and half credit (The Sox Kid)
#192 Jimmy Archer (JL25and3)
#193 Butch Henline (soxfansince67)
*#194 Leo Durocher (Terry)
#195 Jocko Conlan (soxfansince67)
#196 George Mullin (thecaptain)
#197 Cornelius Alexander (Coonie) Mack (JL25and3) Was born Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy
#198 Ty Cobb (TheDynasty26)
#199 Zack Day (JL25and3)
#200 John Smoltz (JL25and3)
#201 Dizzy Dean (JL25and3
#202 Hank Schenz (JL25and3)
#203 James Francis "Pud" Galvin (JL25and3)
#204 Tim Keefe (JL25and3)
#205 Jason Derik "Izzy" Isringhausen (diehardyankeefan)
#206 William Van Landingham (diehardyankeefan)
#207 Edgar Renteria (TheDynasty26)
#208 Allen Travers (JL25and3)
#209 Jimmie Reese (DiMaggio56Mantle)
#210 Carl Yastrzemski (DiMaggio56Mantle)
#210A Yaz (thecaptain)
#211 Sandy Amoros (thecaptain)
#212 Philip Francis Rizzuto "Scooter" (thecaptain)
#213 George Pipgras (JL25and3)
#214 Hadeki Matsui (The Sox Kid and Y4L)
#215 James Bentley "Cy" Seymour (penguin4)
#216 Max Patkin (JL25and3)
#217 Phil Douglas (JL25and3)
#218 Dave Robertson (JL25and3)
#219 Eddie Murray (soxfansince67)
#220 Charles Leander "Bumpus" Jones (soxfansince67)
#221 Ray Grimes (soxfansince67)
#222 Tim Raines (montrealer)
#223 Walker Cooper (soxfansince67)
#224 Johnny Kucks (groovitude)
#225 Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (soxfansince67)
#226 Bill Dinneen (soxfansince67)
#227 Louis "Chief" Sockalexis (soxfansince67)
#228 "Parisian Bob" Caruthers (soxfansince67)
#229 Bobby "Doc" Brown (soxfansince67)
#230 Joe Start (shotz)
*#231 Bill Sharman (49andCounting)
#232 Jake Murrell Jones (49andCounting)
#233 Yogi Berra (49andCounting)
*#234 Dave DeBusschere (49andCounting)
#235 "Wee Tommy" Leach (49andCounting)
*#236 Murray Dickson (49andCounting)
#237 Jack Clements (JL25and3)
*#238 Tom Seaver (JL25and3)
#239 Barry Bonds (49andCounting)
*#240 Tom Tresh (49andCounting)
#241 Albert William Kaline (49andCounting)
#242 Sammy Sosa (49andCounting)
#243 Manny Ramirez (49andCounting)
#243+ Ted Williams (49andCounting)
#244 Hank Aaron (49andCounting)
#245 Dwight Evans (49andCounting)
#246 Derek Jeter (JL25and3)
#247 "Big Ed" Delahanty (JL25and3)
#248 Albert Goodwill Spalding (49andCounting)
#249 Bill Monbouquette (49andCounting)
#250 Mel Ott (Yankee Tripper)
#251 Bill "Spaceman" Lee (JL25and3)
*#252 Charlie Pride (49andCounting)
#253 Barry Lamar Bonds (Yankee Tripper)
#254 Stu Miller (JL25and3)
#255 Diomedes Antonio Olivo (Maldonado) ... (JL25and3 is right again )
#256 Billy Geer (49andCounting)
#257 Harry Leon "Kid" Keenan (49andCounting)
#258 Satchel Paige (49andCounting)
#259 Joe Cronin (49andCounting)
*#260 Darryl Strawberry (49andCounting)
#261 Philip Francis Rizzuto (49andCounting)
#262 Joseph Paul DiMaggio (49andCounting)
#263 Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing (49andCounting)
#264 Ken Griffey Jr. (49andCounting)
#265 James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx (49andCounting)
*#266 Billy Beane (thecaptain)
#267 George "Rip" Van Haltren (groovitude)
#268 Jack "John Needles" Bentley (Yankee Tripper)
#269 Babe Ruth (hellonewman)
#270 Ladislaw Waldemar =is= Whitey Witt (hellonewman)
#271 (R) Jason Bay (The Sox Kid)
#272 Reggie Jackson (49andCounting)
#273 Joe Sewell (49andCounting)
*#274 Billy North (Yankee Tripper)
#275 Glenn Williams (JL25and3)
*#276 Mike Kekich (JL25and3)
*#277 Rick Bladt ( )
*#278 Coco Laboy (49andCounting)
*#279 Alex Johnson (49andCounting)
*#280 Roger Craig (Yankee Tripper)

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#281)


In my rookie season, I led the league in most relief appearances made by a rookie. I won a few games, picked up a save and had an ERA that was below 4.00. In the year I wrapped up my pitching, twelve years later, I was in a different league and grinding-out games mostly as a starter. I still had arm enough to pitch nearly 200 innings in 32 games, used mostly as a starter while splitting time between two teams. In the month's time I had with my second club that season, I still had enough in the tank to pitch two complete games in my first two starts of three I would have there. The first start I lost on a walk-off ... but then I came back to win the second start while striking out 11 batters -- with three future HOF position players going down on strikes a combined 4 times. Lucky for me they left 5 men on base while doing so - because we only won by a run. This game would be the final win of my career. In the 26 games I started that season, I pitched a total of 15 complete games. I did have a shut-out among those.

Oh ... a little something more. In the final season I pitched, I was also called upon to pinch-hit quite a lot. I hit .307 in those types of at-bats, with a .471 OBP, and a .615 SLG ... resulting in 9 RBI's. Unfortunately there were none of the walk-off type hits in there.

Hitting -- I think I should talk about my hitting some more -- especially about the home run. I had a total of 6 home runs against some future HOF guys. I picked on one in particular, getting to him alone a total of 4 times. Funny about one of those I did hit against him ... was that in another game played the day before, I had homered off another future HOF guy that is said to be a pitcher that could throw a 100 - 100+ mph pitch. Maybe that's why I caught-up to the 4 homers-off of guy's pitch so easily the next afternoon - although he too was no slouch throwing the fast ball.

I have also hit 2 home runs in a single game a total of three times. I have homered in both ends of a double-header on two occasions. I have homered 6 times in a single month ... actually doing that in two different months. I've homered 6 times in April games and have 1 in an October game. I have hit a grand slam and have homered in three consecutive games. I never did hit one of those walk-off type home runs ... but then again, I also never gave-up a walk-off home run while pitching.

With a bat, I did win games while with one team in other types of walk-off fashion. I did that a total of 8 times while with that team. Isn't that pretty good? And maybe I have some sort of record as far as those are concerned ... because only 4 came on base hits - all singles. I may lead the way in the odd-ball walk-off department -- HBP once, walked once ... and two came on long-fly outs -- because there was no sacrifice fly rule at the time.

Who am I?

[JL25and3]

Who am I? (#281)


In my rookie season, I led the league in most relief appearances made by a rookie. I won a few games, picked up a save and had an ERA that was below 4.00. In the year I wrapped up my pitching, twelve years later, I was in a different league and grinding-out games mostly as a starter. I still had arm enough to pitch nearly 200 innings in 32 games, used mostly as a starter while splitting time between two teams. In the month's time I had with my second club that season, I still had enough in the tank to pitch two complete games in my first two starts of three I would have there. The first start I lost on a walk-off ... but then I came back to win the second start while striking out 11 batters -- with three future HOF position players going down on strikes a combined 4 times. Lucky for me they left 5 men on base while doing so - because we only won by a run. This game would be the final win of my career. In the 26 games I started that season, I pitched a total of 15 complete games. I did have a shut-out among those.

Oh ... a little something more. In the final season I pitched, I was also called upon to pinch-hit quite a lot. I hit .307 in those types of at-bats, with a .471 OBP, and a .615 SLG ... resulting in 9 RBI's. Unfortunately there were none of the walk-off type hits in there.

Hitting -- I think I should talk about my hitting some more -- especially about the home run. I had a total of 6 home runs against some future HOF guys. I picked on one in particular, getting to him alone a total of 4 times. Funny about one of those I did hit against him ... was that in another game played the day before, I had homered off another future HOF guy that is said to be a pitcher that could throw a 100 - 100+ mph pitch. Maybe that's why I caught-up to the 4 homers-off of guy's pitch so easily the next afternoon - although he too was no slouch throwing the fast ball.

I have also hit 2 home runs in a single game a total of three times. I have homered in both ends of a double-header on two occasions. I have homered 6 times in a single month ... actually doing that in two different months. I've homered 6 times in April games and have 1 in an October game. I have hit a grand slam and have homered in three consecutive games. I never did hit one of those walk-off type home runs ... but then again, I also never gave-up a walk-off home run while pitching.

With a bat, I did win games while with one team in other types of walk-off fashion. I did that a total of 8 times while with that team. Isn't that pretty good? And maybe I have some sort of record as far as those are concerned ... because only 4 came on base hits - all singles. I may lead the way in the odd-ball walk-off department -- HBP once, walked once ... and two came on long-fly outs -- because there was no sacrifice fly rule at the time.

Who am I?

Dave! Great to see you back in form. I hope this is just a warmup for a busy "Who Am I" offseason.

You are Johnny Lindell, right-handed knuckleball pitcher for the Yankees, Pirates and Phillies. That rookie season was 1942, when you went 2-1, 3.76 in 23 games (including 2 starts) for the Yankees. The last year you were 6-17, 4.66, mostly for the Pirates. That was an awful team, so maybe your W-L record would have looked better somewhere else...but the fact was that you just couldn't get the knuckler over the plate. You led the league in walks with 139 (against 118 K!), and in wild pitches with 17.

Of course, those were your only two years as a pitcher in the bigs. Joe McCarthy didn't think much of your stuff, so he made you an outfielder in 1943. Did pretty well for a few years, too - led the league in triples your first two years (thanks to Death Valley, I assume). But in 1949 your bat must have slowed down, because the offense just wasn't there anymore. You were traded to the Browns in 1950, but couldn't even stick with them, and that was that.

Except that you went out to California and gave it another go as a pitcher, with Hollywood of the PCL. You had a pretty good year in 1951 and a terrific one in 1952 - 24-9, 2.72 in 282 IP. That got you your chance with the Pirates the next year...which didn't work out so well, but at least you gave it your best shot.

Keep 'em coming, Dave.

[Dave Visbeck]

Dave! Great to see you back in form. I hope this is just a warmup for a busy "Who Am I" offseason.

You are Johnny Lindell, right-handed knuckleball pitcher for the Yankees, Pirates and Phillies. That rookie season was 1942, when you went 2-1, 3.76 in 23 games (including 2 starts) for the Yankees. The last year you were 6-17, 4.66, mostly for the Pirates. That was an awful team, so maybe your W-L record would have looked better somewhere else...but the fact was that you just couldn't get the knuckler over the plate. You led the league in walks with 139 (against 118 K!), and in wild pitches with 17.

Of course, those were your only two years as a pitcher in the bigs. Joe McCarthy didn't think much of your stuff, so he made you an outfielder in 1943. Did pretty well for a few years, too - led the league in triples your first two years (thanks to Death Valley, I assume). But in 1949 your bat must have slowed down, because the offense just wasn't there anymore. You were traded to the Browns in 1950, but couldn't even stick with them, and that was that.

Except that you went out to California and gave it another go as a pitcher, with Hollywood of the PCL. You had a pretty good year in 1951 and a terrific one in 1952 - 24-9, 2.72 in 282 IP. That got you your chance with the Pirates the next year...which didn't work out so well, but at least you gave it your best shot.

Keep 'em coming, Dave.

Thanks for the nice reply, John. JL25and3 sure does know all his past Yankees -- for sure! Guess this guy could go in the pitchers that can hit thread.

Besides doing so well, as you stated, for the 1951 minor league season -- some ten years earlier, Johnny Lindell was named the 1941 Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News ... while pitching as a Yankees' farmhand for AA Newark club, in the International League. He went 23-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 228 innings pitched. He also had a .298 batting average.

All told he would end up winning 119 games as a pitcher in the minors ... along with being a .280 hitter for his minor league days.

Some things I didn't add, as far as hitting talk goes, in the majors, while playing left field for the Yankees, Lindell had a nice World Series in 1947. He led the Yankee team with 7 RBI and 4 EBH - even though he played in only six of the seven games. Lindell had 2 hits in each of 4 games. He was second on the team in hits ... with 9 ... behind only Tommy Henrich with 10. Henrich was 10-for-31 while Lindell went 9-for-18.. One of his four extra-base hits went for a triple ... a hit that makes him the tallest left fielder to ever hit a triple in all World Series play.

You mentioned his leading the league in triples, twice. Turns out that Lindell is also the tallest American League player to ever lead the league in triples.

In the final year Lindell pitched in the majors, Johnny had more success when he didn't bat in the 9th spot, when pitching. In three games where he started as a pitcher, he twice batted in the 5th spot, once in the 6th spot. He was 2-1 in those three starts with a 4.64 ERA. He also pitched a complete game.

[Rich McKinney]

Who am I? (#282)

I had perhaps one of the best seasons for a pitcher in over a half-century, but did I get rewarded for it???? No! I didn't get the Cy Young or the MVP. I accomplished something in that magic season that hadn't been done since the introduction of the lively ball. Of course, someone else eclipsed my mark the very next year, taking a little luster off my accomplishment, but I digress...

I was a workhorse, putting up a string of seasons with 200+ innings, earning double-digit wins in each season, then was jettisoned when the bottom dropped on my team that had gotten very long in the tooth. Spent 3 seasons in the other circuit, then finally hung them up.

Before you think I was bitter, let me tell you that I was rewarded for my efforts, just not for the season in question...For one shining moment, I was the Toast of the Town. I did 2 things in an October Classic that very few people have done either of, and I'm the only man to do them both. In fact, I did something in the post season that I never did in the regular season. Speaking of post season, in 5 starts, I was 3-1, pitching 46 innings with only 3 complete games. Very few can claim to average over 9 innings a start in the post season, and an ERA of 1.57 to boot!

So.....who am I?

[hellonewman]

You're Mickey Lolich. 376 innings in 1971 without the aid of the knuckleball Wilbur Wood used in 1972 to throw 376.2 was, indeed, amazing.

I know you won 3 games in a single World Series (1968), which not many have done; not sure of the other thing, though. Hit a home run?

[Rich McKinney]

You're Mickey Lolich. 376 innings in 1971 without the aid of the knuckleball Wilbur Wood used in 1972 to throw 376.2 was, indeed, amazing.

I know you won 3 games in a single World Series (1968), which not many have done; not sure of the other thing, though. Hit a home run?

Correct, HelloNewman!

Lolich pitched the most innings in 1971 by anyone in the Majors since Pete Alexander in 1917. As you said, Wilbur Wood bested Lolich in 1972. Lolich also struck out 308 batters and had 24 wins, all of them league highs. If it weren't for the switch hitter supreme, Vida Blue.....

Lolich did hit his only career ML homer in his 1st WS AB, a rare feat, along with his 3 wins in a single WS.

Without doing extensive research, I came up with Babe Ruth and Sherry Smith as 2 other hurlers with more than an average of 9 IP/Game Started in the post season. These fellows locked horns in a 14 inning affair in the 1916 WS. Lolich pitched into the 11th inning in the 1972 ALCS, and 9 full in the deciding game, only to lose the 1st game and get a no decision in Game 5.

[Dave Visbeck]

Anyone? I'm gonna come up with one by Friday.

Want one tough or easy?

[Yankee Tripper]

Anyone? I'm gonna come up with one by Friday.

Want one tough or easy?

Doesn't matter. Tough or easy I look forward to these as always.

[Dave Visbeck]

Anyone? I'm gonna come up with one by Friday.

Want one tough or easy?

I know ................. ............ I'm late.

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#283)

Please take a look at what follows ... and see if you know the answer. Just a few winks in an old ballplayer's life ... a day-by-day brief description from another wonderful season for many. I can't make it too obvious.

Tuesday ... a couple of base-hit knocks.

Wednesday ... singled and scored two runs.

Thursday ... we lost today in a long extra-inning game, played away. Stewart beat us - on a no-out, bases loaded single. Bet that kind of winning hit was a first for him. I'm worried about a teammate. He was injured some weeks back and is still having problems with his throwing arm. We are missing him. I singled twice in five times at bat. Scored one run, batted In one run ... but it just wasn't enough.

Friday ... walked a couple of times but managed a single in two at bats. Boy did we ever stink it up today.

Saturday ... only hit was a two-bagger. We won the road game on a pinch-hit - wasn't me.

Sunday ... got a single and double in five times at bat, and a couple of runs batted in. We still lost though.

Monday ... singled in three times up. Don't like this losing stuff. In the final extra inning, with two outs, Kamm whams a triple that settles it. Boy, was I ever sorry that I had left the game early. Two losses, in the same manner, in the last five days, is sure hard to take - and we're lookin' over our shoulders at someone close behind.

Tuesday ... walked three times today and on base five times after a pair of singles. We won.

Wednesday ... No game scheduled.

Thursday ... after a day of rest, we had a new lefty eighteen-game winner acquired from St Paul that pitched for us today. Understand he was a 31-46 big leagues pitcher in his past. He's now about two years out of the big's. Twirled well today against the last big league team that had let him go. He pitched a four-hitter in our win. I contributed yet just another single. A funny thing happened after the game. The new pitcher had earlier heard me talking to the gang about my hitting before the day's contest and had then watched (as a pitcher would watch) when I was at the bat. When the game was over he asked to speak to me about what it was that he had noticed in my hitting. I listened and it sounded good. Part of it was that I was shifting my weight too soon and coming off the ball a bit and not getting all the power I sould be getting from my legs. He had said, believe you me, that if he was still pitching for the other team across the lines ... that he would of kept quiet for sure about what he was seeing - and he said it with a big smile. Be nice to get my stroke back again, and I thanked him. I know I had been favoring a little injury and had maybe run into a bad habit as such.

Friday ... I almost kissed Fred today. Best day in weeks. I hit a three-run home run and two singles in four trips. We had a 5-2 win on the road.

Saturday ... Happy days. Had a sharp single early on in the game and then made the ninth inning one-run lead we had, made it instead into a three-run lead, when I put one over the centerfield fence. The injured teammate I had mentioned some days earlier, made a smart pinch-hit appearance today. He lined a single in the eighth inning, which had tied the contest at 2.

Sunday ... a triple and two singles, 2 runs scored and two runs batted in.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... two for three, with one being a three-bagger. Our five-game winning streak ended today.

Wednesday ... two singles in three at-bats. Two straight loses since being back at home.

Thursday ... smacked three doubles with five runs batted in. Back to winning ways.

Friday ... Rain.

Saturday ... one-for-four today, a hit which went for four bags. We won.

Sunday ... just a single in the first game of two. We took it on the chin in extra innings. Lost by one run.

Sunday ... in game two, I doubled once and singled twice. We won easily. There is another matter for concern and we're all worried. Our ace lefty is ailing. He last pitched a dozen days back ... and looked good whiles doing so. He was to have worked in one of the games today. He has now missed a pair of starts, with a case of neuritis. It's being reported that "he would be ready to pitch in two days." I don't think so. In all honesty, there is no telling how long he will remain inactive. We'll see when we open against St Louis, on Tuesday.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... singled and doubled in the game today. Our lefty ace did not pitch.

Wednesday ... rained

Thursday ... the grounds were too wet from all the rain yesterday and rain over the evening and early morning. Hate these rain days - especially when the bat is doing well.

Friday ... Another off day with no game scheduled.

Saturday ... in game one, I singled and doubled against General Crowder, whiles driving-in the only two runs we would score. We lost 5-2.

Saturday ... in game two, I failed to get a hit while striking out once in four at-bats. Don't know what else to say, other then I'm really disappointed. I'm not one to make excuses ... but the three days we had off really hurt. I hate to miss a day when playing ball. My hitting streak had ended, but I'm still both young and healthy ... with a lot of games yet to be played with plenty of chances for new hitting streaks.

In the streak of games where I had made at least one hit in each, I had gone 37-for-79 ... for a .468 average, with 24 singles, 8 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. I scored 18 runs, whiles batted-in 28. Also 14 base on balls and 5 strike-outs were numbered. I should mention I gathered a nine-game hitting streak that began the next day - on Sunday ... with 2 hits in four at-bats, one hit a double. In those nine games I went 13-for-32 ... for a .406 average, with 6 singles, 5 doubles, a triple and home run, scoring 12 times and driving-in 6. A long streak would of been nice, but the shorter streak should be remembered. Please add it up and see what you find ... and that would make me happy.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#283)

Please take a look at what follows ... and see if you know the answer. Just a few winks in an old ballplayer's life ... a day-by-day brief description from another wonderful season for many. I can't make it too obvious.

Tuesday ... a couple of base-hit knocks.

Wednesday ... singled and scored two runs.

Thursday ... we lost today in a long extra-inning game, played away. Stewart beat us - on a no-out, bases loaded single. Bet that kind of winning hit was a first for him. I'm worried about a teammate. He was injured some weeks back and is still having problems with his throwing arm. We are missing him. I singled twice in five times at bat. Scored one run, batted In one run ... but it just wasn't enough.

Friday ... walked a couple of times but managed a single in two at bats. Boy did we ever stink it up today.

Saturday ... only hit was a two-bagger. We won the road game on a pinch-hit - wasn't me.

Sunday ... got a single and double in five times at bat, and a couple of runs batted in. We still lost though.

Monday ... singled in three times up. Don't like this losing stuff. In the final extra inning, with two outs, Kamm whams a triple that settles it. Boy, was I ever sorry that I had left the game early. Two losses, in the same manner, in the last five days, is sure hard to take - and we're lookin' over our shoulders at someone close behind.

Tuesday ... walked three times today and on base five times after a pair of singles. We won.

Wednesday ... No game scheduled.

Thursday ... after a day of rest, we had a new lefty eighteen-game winner acquired from St Paul that pitched for us today. Understand he was a 31-46 big leagues pitcher in his past. He's now about two years out of the big's. Twirled well today against the last big league team that had let him go. He pitched a four-hitter in our win. I contributed yet just another single. A funny thing happened after the game. The new pitcher had earlier heard me talking to the gang about my hitting before the day's contest and had then watched (as a pitcher would watch) when I was at the bat. When the game was over he asked to speak to me about what it was that he had noticed in my hitting. I listened and it sounded good. Part of it was that I was shifting my weight too soon and coming off the ball a bit and not getting all the power I sould be getting from my legs. He had said, believe you me, that if he was still pitching for the other team across the lines ... that he would of kept quiet for sure about what he was seeing - and he said it with a big smile. Be nice to get my stroke back again, and I thanked him. I know I had been favoring a little injury and had maybe run into a bad habit as such.

Friday ... I almost kissed Fred today. Best day in weeks. I hit a three-run home run and two singles in four trips. We had a 5-2 win on the road.

Saturday ... Happy days. Had a sharp single early on in the game and then made the ninth inning one-run lead we had, made it instead into a three-run lead, when I put one over the centerfield fence. The injured teammate I had mentioned some days earlier, made a smart pinch-hit appearance today. He lined a single in the eighth inning, which had tied the contest at 2.

Sunday ... a triple and two singles, 2 runs scored and two runs batted in.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... two for three, with one being a three-bagger. Our five-game winning streak ended today.

Wednesday ... two singles in three at-bats. Two straight loses since being back at home.

Thursday ... smacked three doubles with five runs batted in. Back to winning ways.

Friday ... Rain.

Saturday ... one-for-four today, a hit which went for four bags. We won.

Sunday ... just a single in the first game of two. We took it on the chin in extra innings. Lost by one run.

Sunday ... in game two, I doubled once and singled twice. We won easily. There is another matter for concern and we're all worried. Our ace lefty is ailing. He last pitched a dozen days back ... and looked good whiles doing so. He was to have worked in one of the games today. He has now missed a pair of starts, with a case of neuritis. It's being reported that "he would be ready to pitch in two days." I don't think so. In all honesty, there is no telling how long he will remain inactive. We'll see when we open against St Louis, on Tuesday.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... singled and doubled in the game today. Our lefty ace did not pitch.

Wednesday ... rained

Thursday ... the grounds were too wet from all the rain yesterday and rain over the evening and early morning. Hate these rain days - especially when the bat is doing well.

Friday ... Another off day with no game scheduled.

Saturday ... in game one, I singled and doubled against General Crowder, whiles driving-in the only two runs we would score. We lost 5-2.

Saturday ... in game two, I failed to get a hit while striking out once in four at-bats. Don't know what else to say, other then I'm really disappointed. I'm not one to make excuses ... but the three days we had off really hurt. I hate to miss a day when playing ball. My hitting streak had ended, but I'm still both young and healthy ... with a lot of games yet to be played with plenty of chances for new hitting streaks.

In the streak of games where I had made at least one hit in each, I had gone 37-for-79 ... for a .468 average, with 24 singles, 8 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. I scored 18 runs, whiles batted-in 28. Also 14 base on balls and 5 strike-outs were numbered. I should mention I gathered a nine-game hitting streak that began the next day - on Sunday ... with 2 hits in four at-bats, one hit a double. In those nine games I went 13-for-32 ... for a .406 average, with 6 singles, 5 doubles, a triple and home run, scoring 12 times and driving-in 6. A long streak would of been nice, but the shorter streak should be remembered. Please add it up and see what you find ... and that would make me happy.

Who am I?

During my streak, you can probably see that I did pretty well in the RBI department. I ended this season with the most RBI's in the league ... actually, in all of big leagues play.

[Dave Visbeck]

Doesn't matter. Tough or easy I look forward to these as always.

Not trying to put you on the spot, Lou. Have a question. Have you looked at the latest? I do have all the games included in the streak. Do you know how many games this streak involves?

Wondering if anyone else knows how long the streak is.

[Yankee Tripper]

Not trying to put you on the spot, Lou. Have a question. Have you looked at the latest? I do have all the games included in the streak. Do you know how many games this streak involves?

Wondering if anyone else knows how long the streak is.

Busy weekend with March madness and daughter's softball. Hoping to put some attention to it tomorrow.

[shotz]

are you Joe DiMaggio?

[Dave Visbeck]

are you Joe DiMaggio?

Sorry, David. Good guess though.

I'll soon give clues if needed. Hit info is completely true and comes from actual newspaper accounts.

[Dave Visbeck]

Busy weekend with March madness and daughter's softball. Hoping to put some attention to it tomorrow.

Good luck.

[JL25and3]

Who am I? (#283)

Please take a look at what follows ... and see if you know the answer. Just a few winks in an old ballplayer's life ... a day-by-day brief description from another wonderful season for many. I can't make it too obvious.

Tuesday ... a couple of base-hit knocks.

Wednesday ... singled and scored two runs.

Thursday ... we lost today in a long extra-inning game, played away. Stewart beat us - on a no-out, bases loaded single. Bet that kind of winning hit was a first for him. I'm worried about a teammate. He was injured some weeks back and is still having problems with his throwing arm. We are missing him. I singled twice in five times at bat. Scored one run, batted In one run ... but it just wasn't enough.

Friday ... walked a couple of times but managed a single in two at bats. Boy did we ever stink it up today.

Saturday ... only hit was a two-bagger. We won the road game on a pinch-hit - wasn't me.

Sunday ... got a single and double in five times at bat, and a couple of runs batted in. We still lost though.

Monday ... singled in three times up. Don't like this losing stuff. In the final extra inning, with two outs, Kamm whams a triple that settles it. Boy, was I ever sorry that I had left the game early. Two losses, in the same manner, in the last five days, is sure hard to take - and we're lookin' over our shoulders at someone close behind.

Tuesday ... walked three times today and on base five times after a pair of singles. We won.

Wednesday ... No game scheduled.

Thursday ... after a day of rest, we had a new lefty eighteen-game winner acquired from St Paul that pitched for us today. Understand he was a 31-46 big leagues pitcher in his past. He's now about two years out of the big's. Twirled well today against the last big league team that had let him go. He pitched a four-hitter in our win. I contributed yet just another single. A funny thing happened after the game. The new pitcher had earlier heard me talking to the gang about my hitting before the day's contest and had then watched (as a pitcher would watch) when I was at the bat. When the game was over he asked to speak to me about what it was that he had noticed in my hitting. I listened and it sounded good. Part of it was that I was shifting my weight too soon and coming off the ball a bit and not getting all the power I sould be getting from my legs. He had said, believe you me, that if he was still pitching for the other team across the lines ... that he would of kept quiet for sure about what he was seeing - and he said it with a big smile. Be nice to get my stroke back again, and I thanked him. I know I had been favoring a little injury and had maybe run into a bad habit as such.

Friday ... I almost kissed Fred today. Best day in weeks. I hit a three-run home run and two singles in four trips. We had a 5-2 win on the road.

Saturday ... Happy days. Had a sharp single early on in the game and then made the ninth inning one-run lead we had, made it instead into a three-run lead, when I put one over the centerfield fence. The injured teammate I had mentioned some days earlier, made a smart pinch-hit appearance today. He lined a single in the eighth inning, which had tied the contest at 2.

Sunday ... a triple and two singles, 2 runs scored and two runs batted in.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... two for three, with one being a three-bagger. Our five-game winning streak ended today.

Wednesday ... two singles in three at-bats. Two straight loses since being back at home.

Thursday ... smacked three doubles with five runs batted in. Back to winning ways.

Friday ... Rain.

Saturday ... one-for-four today, a hit which went for four bags. We won.

Sunday ... just a single in the first game of two. We took it on the chin in extra innings. Lost by one run.

Sunday ... in game two, I doubled once and singled twice. We won easily. There is another matter for concern and we're all worried. Our ace lefty is ailing. He last pitched a dozen days back ... and looked good whiles doing so. He was to have worked in one of the games today. He has now missed a pair of starts, with a case of neuritis. It's being reported that "he would be ready to pitch in two days." I don't think so. In all honesty, there is no telling how long he will remain inactive. We'll see when we open against St Louis, on Tuesday.

Monday ... No game scheduled.

Tuesday ... singled and doubled in the game today. Our lefty ace did not pitch.

Wednesday ... rained

Thursday ... the grounds were too wet from all the rain yesterday and rain over the evening and early morning. Hate these rain days - especially when the bat is doing well.

Friday ... Another off day with no game scheduled.

Saturday ... in game one, I singled and doubled against General Crowder, whiles driving-in the only two runs we would score. We lost 5-2.

Saturday ... in game two, I failed to get a hit while striking out once in four at-bats. Don't know what else to say, other then I'm really disappointed. I'm not one to make excuses ... but the three days we had off really hurt. I hate to miss a day when playing ball. My hitting streak had ended, but I'm still both young and healthy ... with a lot of games yet to be played with plenty of chances for new hitting streaks.

In the streak of games where I had made at least one hit in each, I had gone 37-for-79 ... for a .468 average, with 24 singles, 8 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. I scored 18 runs, whiles batted-in 28. Also 14 base on balls and 5 strike-outs were numbered. I should mention I gathered a nine-game hitting streak that began the next day - on Sunday ... with 2 hits in four at-bats, one hit a double. In those nine games I went 13-for-32 ... for a .406 average, with 6 singles, 5 doubles, a triple and home run, scoring 12 times and driving-in 6. A long streak would of been nice, but the shorter streak should be remembered. Please add it up and see what you find ... and that would make me happy.

Who am I?

Was this the easy one or the hard one?

You are ol' Biscuit Pants himself, Larrupin' Lou, The Iron Horse. Starting on July 31, 1928 and going through the first game of the Augugst 24 doubleheader against the Browns, you hit in 20 straight games, piling up the gaudy numbers mentioned above. Add those 20 to the 9 games that followed, and you come up with a number sure to gladden the heart of any Yankee fan.

That new lefty who gave you the tip was a guy by the name of Fred Heimach, who seems to have been better as a hitting coach than as a pitcher. Even back in those days, though, I guess being a lefty made it easier to get a job, because he managed to pitch for 13 decidedly undistinguished MLB seasons. Heimach seems to have replaced Stan Coveleski, in the last gasp of his HOF career. (Stan was himself the answer to a trivia question - or half the answer - until 1971.)

[Dave Visbeck]

Was this the easy one or the hard one?

You are ol' Biscuit Pants himself, Larrupin' Lou, The Iron Horse. Starting on July 31, 1928 and going through the first game of the Augugst 24 doubleheader against the Browns, you hit in 20 straight games, piling up the gaudy numbers mentioned above. Add those 20 to the 9 games that followed, and you come up with a number sure to gladden the heart of any Yankee fan.

That new lefty who gave you the tip was a guy by the name of Fred Heimach, who seems to have been better as a hitting coach than as a pitcher. Even back in those days, though, I guess being a lefty made it easier to get a job, because he managed to pitch for 13 decidedly undistinguished MLB seasons. Heimach seems to have replaced Stan Coveleski, in the last gasp of his HOF career. (Stan was himself the answer to a trivia question - or half the answer - until 1971.)

But ... JL ............ what's going on here?

According to anything one may read concerning New York Yankees History, is word is that Larrupin' Lou never had any hitting streaks of twenty games or more!

I think you just made Lou Gehrig a very happy man, because someone from Yankee Land, "JL25and3," has now noted this little missing truth concerning Lou's hitting record ... and that Lou sould now be put on the list of Yankee players that have had at least one 20-game hitting streak during their career -- thusly wiping out the only supposed hitting blemish from Mr. Gehrig's extraordinary career.

Congrats JL25and3!

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#284 & #285)

(#284) I am a four-time 20-game winner. and have won an ERA title. There's also been a stretch where I led my team's pitching staff in striking-out batters for quite a few consecutive seasons, this one included. That's enough about me. I want to bring a young teammate, an outfielder, into this conversation.

It is not at all likely that our big outfielder (#285) will ever yearn for fame as a pitcher. In fact, he renounced the pitching mound in favor of the outfield in the dawn of his career, but he still retains something of his skill.

The power of his deadly right arm is now famed the country over. He can siege gun the ball home a mile a minute from the depths of the outfield, but ability to make long throws does not necessarily imply ability to shoot the ball thru as pitchers can. But, let me tell you, he can do both. He has a fast ball that puts mine to shame, and, as a matter of fact, there are not three hurlers in the league at this time who can serve up a speedier ball than our big fellow. Considering that he is an outfielder, and not a pitcher, his control is all that might be asked.

Not so very long ago in an earlier season, when the Senators were at the Polo Grounds, he went into the box and pitched to the batters during practice. He first served them over for the big fellow, and to the wonderment of the mob shot three fast balls thru the groove while the big fellow swung too late. Jim Shaw, the Washington pitcher, watched our young outfielder for a while and said: "I wish I had a fast ball like that. Why, he's pegging them past the big fellow, and he is trying lo hit them, too. He should make a whole of a hurler."

Perhaps, away in the innermost recesses of his brain he does crave fame as a pitcher. He never misses a chance to go into the box and work on the hitters. But it is not likely that he will return to the middle of the diamond, at least as a major leaguer. Several years ago when he started playing ball he got a job in the California State League as a hurler. He wandered around, landed a job in the North-western League, and did pretty well, but one day he learned how to time the break of a curve and to gauge the hop of a fast ball. That ended him as a pitcher, for his slugging was too valuable to the team to waste on the bench except every fourth day or so.

He landed in the Pacific Coast League with his station as outfielder and third sacker. He has always been a hitter, and in the other branches of baseball apart from the middle of the diamond he has made his bid for glory. Speaker, Seymour, Donlin and a host of others too numerous to mention have done the same thing.

Now he graces our outfield, and when I'm on the mound and he is stationed out there, over my shoulder, I'm happy he is there when a hit finds its way to him, and a base runner is fool enough to try his deadly arm.

Who are we?

[hellonewman]

I believe you're Bob Shawkey and your buddy is Bob Meusel.

I think I remember reading that Meusel for several years got the unenviable job of playing the sun field in whatever stadium the Yankees were in at the time.Babe Ruth's batting eye was considered too valuable to subject to squinting into harsh sunlight, so if the Yankees were in Boston, say, where the sun field is in right, Ruth would play left and Meusel right. In old Yankee Stadium, where the sun field was in left, Ruth would play right and Meusel in left.

No doubt Meusel was quite an authority on headache remedies.

[Dave Visbeck]

I believe you're Bob Shawkey and your buddy is Bob Meusel.

I think I remember reading that Meusel for several years got the unenviable job of playing the sun field in whatever stadium the Yankees were in at the time.Babe Ruth's batting eye was considered too valuable to subject to squinting into harsh sunlight, so if the Yankees were in Boston, say, where the sun field is in right, Ruth would play left and Meusel right. In old Yankee Stadium, where the sun field was in left, Ruth would play right and Meusel in left.

No doubt Meusel was quite an authority on headache remedies.

Exactly correct, Ron! And the man Meusel blew his pitches by, in batting practice ... was Babe Ruth.

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#286)

I think it is time to settle all controversy. The subject of such is about the origin of curve pitching. I was the one that brought the knack of such to base ball, after having had discovered.

I began my baseball career with the Excelsior Club, of Brooklyn, in 1866, being then seventeen years old. I played with the Excelsiors during 1867, was with the Stars, of Brooklyn, from 1868 to 1871; Mutuals, of New York, in 1872; Baltimore, 1873; Philadelphia, 1874; Hartford, 1875 and 1876; Lynn and Cincinnati, 1877 and Albany, 1878.

I was pitching for the Excelsior Club, in 1867 against Harvard at Boston when I was first positive I had the curve. I had worked for some time to make a ball curve, and often thought I had it, but, as I said, it was playing against Harvard that I was first positive. A number of men struck out, so I watched close and found I had at last got a curve ball and could control it. I will say that no other pitcher had the curve for four or five years under the old pitching rules. They mastered it when the underhand throw was allowed, in 1871.

Now thinking way back ... when possibly would it have otherwise first been that such a pitch would show itself on a ball field? What if I had not first noticed, whiles strolling on the Brooklyn waterfront in my earlier years, that I could make a clam shell curve when I hurled it through the air? With a profound joy and wonderment ... I am beyond glad that I was the pitcher that could transform that glorious gift, first seen at the shore, into a treasure that would soon be presented on a base ball field.

Who am I?

*If you beg to differ and feel a need to quibble my true facts and have questions on others first laying claim to the curve, I will do my best to respond promptly to anything in a manner that I hope you will find satisfactory.

[hellonewman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMICD3aMZpw

I believes you is William Arthur "Candy" Cummings.

[Dave Visbeck]

Who am I? (#287)

I was a right-handed pitcher that won over 100 games in the big leagues ... with a quite good win/loss percentage. On occasion I did play at other positions - but I'm only really known for my pitching. Unfortunately, pain would only allow me to pitch for seven seasons before my pitching days became too much.

The problem with me was that I was troubled quite often with arm problems. Almost every season I was troubled with a sore arm, but when the warm weather came I was always able to work the soreness out. Then the trouble was in the elbow or between the elbow and shoulder. One season the soreness went to my shoulder, and from that time on my pitching days were over. I have tried every remedy possible, but nothing seemed to do my arm any good. I even went to the old method of having my shoulder blistered like they treat a horse's leg, but even that proved unavailing.

I am convinced that nothing will do a lame shoulder any good. The sensation is a peculiar one. I can go out and pitch for a short time as well as I ever did. Then my arm commences to lose its power, and after pitching half an hour it falls perfectly powerless at my side. I would not be able to pitch a full game ... and that would not do.

After a few seasons off, I briefly attempted a comeback at pitcher. It did not go well, and that was that. I then gave a shot as a substitute umpire in the American Association. The following season it became full time employment but my heart wasn't ever really into that of calling balls and strikes ... so that ended too.

I wish my pitching career had been longer and the times were right to remedy my arm back to health ... but mine was a career too soon.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMICD3aMZpw

I believes you is William Arthur "Candy" Cummings.

Ron ... once again you are correct.

So ... from what you've heard or read, you do agree that Cummings was really the first as he said?

[hellonewman]

Ron ... once again you are correct.

So ... from what you've heard or read, you do agree that Cummings was really the first as he said?

From what I know on the subject, which isn't much, I'm more of a Fred Goldsmith guy. I believe Goldsmith was the first to do a public demonstration, so there's at least some documentation for him, however shaky.

[Dave Visbeck]

From what I know on the subject, which isn't much, I'm more of a Fred Goldsmith guy. I believe Goldsmith was the first to do a public demonstration, so there's at least some documentation for him, however shaky.

Don't tell Cummings that ... because I think he may want to add some thought on that!

[groovitude]

Who am I? (#287)

I was a right-handed pitcher that won over 100 games in the big leagues ... with a quite good win/loss percentage. On occasion I did play at other positions - but I'm only really known for my pitching. Unfortunately, pain would only allow me to pitch for seven seasons before my pitching days became too much.

The problem with me was that I was troubled quite often with arm problems. Almost every season I was troubled with a sore arm, but when the warm weather came I was always able to work the soreness out. Then the trouble was in the elbow or between the elbow and shoulder. One season the soreness went to my shoulder, and from that time on my pitching days were over. I have tried every remedy possible, but nothing seemed to do my arm any good. I even went to the old method of having my shoulder blistered like they treat a horse's leg, but even that proved unavailing.

I am convinced that nothing will do a lame shoulder any good. The sensation is a peculiar one. I can go out and pitch for a short time as well as I ever did. Then my arm commences to lose its power, and after pitching half an hour it falls perfectly powerless at my side. I would not be able to pitch a full game ... and that would not do.

After a few seasons off, I briefly attempted a comeback at pitcher. It did not go well, and that was that. I then gave a shot as a substitute umpire in the American Association. The following season it became full time employment but my heart wasn't ever really into that of calling balls and strikes ... so that ended too.

I wish my pitching career had been longer and the times were right to remedy my arm back to health ... but mine was a career too soon.

Who am I?

My best guess is that you are Jack Lynch. He pitched seven seasons, the last being three years after the previous one, and was a right-hander with a win percentage of .512. He retired in early 1890, giving him two seasons' opportunity to ump the American Association before it closed its proverbial doors after '91.

[Dave Visbeck]

From what I know on the subject, which isn't much, I'm more of a Fred Goldsmith guy. I believe Goldsmith was the first to do a public demonstration, so there's at least some documentation for him, however shaky.

*If you beg to differ and feel a need to quibble my true facts and have questions on others first laying claim to the curve, I will do my best to respond promptly to anything in a manner that I hope you will find satisfactory.

Hello to you, Mr. hellonewman, or (Ron). Let me tell you of something that has been said by Fred Goldsmith in an interview with a Detroit newspaper ...

"Credit has seldom been given to the originator of the curve ball. The veteran, Arthur Cummings has had what there was of it, but he did not any more invent and make successful the curve ball which became such a power than I did. Cummings was an older man than I, but I remember when he pitched for the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, in 1869, and no claim was then made that he was a curve pitcher. We called him "Candy" Cummings, and I believe he could pitch a game though in full dress suit and never wilt a collar."

Mr. Goldsmith continued ... "I was a boy in New Haven when I first saw Prof. "Ham" Avery pitch a curve. I watched him with open eyes and mouth, and we could scarcely believe it. He was a professor in philosophy at Yale, and the pitcher and captain of the team. He demonstrated it, using three poles, at Hamilton Park, and afterwards went to New York, where he showed it on the old Capitoline Grounds, I believe they were called."

Goldsmith then said "At any rate Yale beat everything, and some professionals in the bargain, and one of the latter, Cincinnati I think, offered Avery a big salary to join the club. Family reasons kept him from accepting, and soon after the professionals began using the curve, I learned it at New Haven and used the ball in the famous Lynn tournament, in 1874. I do not believe Cummings used the ball before I did, and I am sure any '73 man from Yale will agree with me that Prof. Avery pitched the first curve about which anything is written."



So, Ron, I beg to differ. In what will follow, you will soon find a copy of a clipping of the Brooklyn Union of July, 1870, which, I think, will answer Goldsmith's interview on the curve ball. Will say I never played with Atlantics, of Brooklyn, in 1869, or any other year. Also I taught Ham Avery how to curve the ball and explained the theory to the entire satisfaction of Prof. Eaton, of Yale, at New Haven, in 1875. As stated in the "Who am I," I began my baseball career with the Excelsior Club, of Brooklyn, in 1866, being then seventeen years old. I played with the Excelsiors during 1867, was with the Stars, of Brooklyn, from 1868 to 1871; Mutuals, of New York, in 1872; Baltimore, 1873; Philadelphia, 1874; Hartford, 1875 and 1876; Lynn and Cincinnati, 1877 and Albany, 1878.

I was pitching for the Excelsior Club, in 1867 against Harvard at Boston when I was first positive I had the curve. I had worked for some time to make a ball curve, and often thought I had it, but, as I said, it was playing against Harvard that I was first positive. A number of men struck out, so I watched close and found I had at last got a curve ball and could control it. I will say that no other pitcher had the curve for four or five years under the old pitching rules. They mastered it when the underhand throw was allowed, in 1871. I showed the way to hold the ball and make it curve to Bobby Mathews in 1871; Mann, of Princeton, 1874; Avery, in 1874 or 1875, and Tommy Bond in 1876.

Ron, will have attached the clipping very soon ............. if I can find out how. If not it shall be shown in its form.

[Dave Visbeck]

My best guess is that you are Jack Lynch. He pitched seven seasons, the last being three years after the previous one, and was a right-hander with a win percentage of .512. He retired in early 1890, giving him two seasons' opportunity to ump the American Association before it closed its proverbial doors after '91.

Oops ... ... I'm sorry I missed you, groovetude. Jack Lynch is a very good guess .... however it isn't right in this case. Sorry. However ... can I let you in on a little secret about Jack Lynch? Look at this date on your Lynch link. 1886-08-08. Jack Lynch had a very lame arm on that afternoon, in Louisville. Oh ... by the way, the info you will find on that link is wrong. Dead wrong. Do you see that Browning hit for the cycle on that day? He did ... but ... not many know that he actually hit a natural cycle that afternoon! But your probably wondering what could be wrong with the info ... I bet.

Jack Lynch, suffering with a lame arm, proved an easy victim to the Louisvilles that day, with Browning taking particular delight in going to first and beyond on safe hits. Browning had his batting clothes on, getting a single in the first inning, a double in the third inning, a three-bagger in the sixth inning ... and a home run in the ninth. But do you know that in modern day baseball his natural cycle would never of happened at all. Why? Well ... because Louisville, the home team, batted first in the game! In modern times, Louisville would of won the game when the Mets scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning ... instead of them doing so in the bottom of the inning. The final score would of then been ... Louisville 9 Metropolitan 6. Instead ... with Browning hitting his home run in the top of the ninth inning ... not the bottom of the ninth inning ... the score stood at Louisville 10 Metropolitan 3 ... heading into the bottom of inning nine!

Also ... just as a side note ... Hecker, the pitcher for Louisville, batted first in the line-up that day. A pitcher batting first! Oh ... and Guy Hecker also had four hits off the lame arm of Lynch ... on August 8, 1886.

Interesting? So ... you sure are correct about the "lame arm" part of the above "Who am I."

[Dave Visbeck]

Hello to you, Mr. hellonewman, or (Ron). Let me tell you of something that has been said by Fred Goldsmith in an interview with a Detroit newspaper ...

"Credit has seldom been given to the originator of the curve ball. The veteran, Arthur Cummings has had what there was of it, but he did not any more invent and make successful the curve ball which became such a power than I did. Cummings was an older man than I, but I remember when he pitched for the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, in 1869, and no claim was then made that he was a curve pitcher. We called him "Candy" Cummings, and I believe he could pitch a game though in full dress suit and never wilt a collar."

Mr. Goldsmith continued ... "I was a boy in New Haven when I first saw Prof. "Ham" Avery pitch a curve. I watched him with open eyes and mouth, and we could scarcely believe it. He was a professor in philosophy at Yale, and the pitcher and captain of the team. He demonstrated it, using three poles, at Hamilton Park, and afterwards went to New York, where he showed it on the old Capitoline Grounds, I believe they were called."

Goldsmith then said "At any rate Yale beat everything, and some professionals in the bargain, and one of the latter, Cincinnati I think, offered Avery a big salary to join the club. Family reasons kept him from accepting, and soon after the professionals began using the curve, I learned it at New Haven and used the ball in the famous Lynn tournament, in 1874. I do not believe Cummings used the ball before I did, and I am sure any '73 man from Yale will agree with me that Prof. Avery pitched the first curve about which anything is written."



So, Ron, I beg to differ. In what will follow, you will soon find a copy of a clipping of the Brooklyn Union of July, 1870, which, I think, will answer Goldsmith's interview on the curve ball. Will say I never played with Atlantics, of Brooklyn, in 1869, or any other year. Also I taught Ham Avery how to curve the ball and explained the theory to the entire satisfaction of Prof. Eaton, of Yale, at New Haven, in 1875. As stated in the "Who am I," I began my baseball career with the Excelsior Club, of Brooklyn, in 1866, being then seventeen years old. I played with the Excelsiors during 1867, was with the Stars, of Brooklyn, from 1868 to 1871; Mutuals, of New York, in 1872; Baltimore, 1873; Philadelphia, 1874; Hartford, 1875 and 1876; Lynn and Cincinnati, 1877 and Albany, 1878.

I was pitching for the Excelsior Club, in 1867 against Harvard at Boston when I was first positive I had the curve. I had worked for some time to make a ball curve, and often thought I had it, but, as I said, it was playing against Harvard that I was first positive. A number of men struck out, so I watched close and found I had at last got a curve ball and could control it. I will say that no other pitcher had the curve for four or five years under the old pitching rules. They mastered it when the underhand throw was allowed, in 1871. I showed the way to hold the ball and make it curve to Bobby Mathews in 1871; Mann, of Princeton, 1874; Avery, in 1874 or 1875, and Tommy Bond in 1876.

Ron, will have attached the clipping very soon ............. if I can find out how. If not it shall be shown in its form.

Here is the clipping ...

CLIPPING FROM BROOKLYN UNION, JULY
9, 1870.

Star-Mutual Game. Star, 14; Mutual, 3.


..........In. pitching .Wolter's .swift delivery was not
only surpased in speed by that of Cummings, but
in .strategic. play. did the. Star pitcher truly equal
even. Martin,. this. being .a. rare. combination of
pitching .talent. in. one. man... In. fact, .the. play
of .Cummings. in .his .position. as .pitcher. in. this
game. shows conclusively that he has studied the
science. .of.. his ..art. ...for. it. was .not. his. speed
which.troubled .the .Mutual. batsman, .but simply
that. command .of. the. ball .which enabled .him
to ..practically.. illustrate .the.. true ..art. of..""how
not to do It,". a. peculiar .power of giving a curve
to. the. line .of .the. ball. to. the. right. or .the. left
being. also .one. of .the. chief elements of his suc-
cess.........................................................................

[hellonewman]

All I know about curveballs is I couldn't hit them.