Part one of a series looking gambling’s influence on baseball. It’s impossible to understand the Black Sox scandal without taking into consideration the intimate relationship between baseball and gambling during that era. Fixing games, betting on games and bribery offers were common practices during baseball’s Deadball Era in the early 20th century — and these […]
Ed Barrow’s decision to move Babe Ruth to the outfield
If he’d never done anything except discover Honus Wagner, Ed Barrow would hold an important place in the National Pastime’s grand history. No, he wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame today—which of course he is—but still, an important place. Barrow did so much more than discover Wagner, though. He’s in the Hall of Fame […]
BASEBALL AND WORLD WAR II
In the modern history of baseball, the United States has fought in four wars that materially affected the major leagues: World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. But in terms of both American casualties and the impact on baseball, World War II obviously stands out. When people talk about World War […]
WHITHER WHO’S WHO? THE END OF A CLASSIC BASEBALL BOOK
With most baseball guides now online, the hard copy annual “Who’s Who” in Baseball is something of a relic–its future uncertain. In print for more than 100 years and formerly indispensible to pros and fans alike, the 2016 edition of “Who’s Who” may have been its last. It has been quite a run for the Chicago Cubs’ Kris […]
THE DETROIT WOLVERINES, NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!
On the eve of his team’s opening-day matchup with the Indianapolis Hoosiers, Manager Bill Watkins called a meeting with the players. The meeting served not only as a pep talk, but it also afforded him an opportunity to review the team rules. The pre-season discourse had become a budding tradition for the 28-year-old Watkins. He […]