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Alexander Jackson Davis, Picturesque American
An old story, reawakened by social media postsOliver Bronson House in Hudson NY (2016), Photo: Adam TarsiaOver the last few days, my friends at Abandoned Hudson Valley (visit them at...
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Try a Little Wilderness: Andrew Jackson Downing
Culture hero of the age, forever youngAndrew Jackson Downing (1815–1852)Downing was, and remains, a culture hero despite dying young; his life story, full of bravado and singular accomplishment, has...
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Strike Four
My foreword to Richard Hershberger’s new bookToday is the official publication date for a fine new book by my friend Richard Hershberger. I was delighted to provide this foreword.Every baseball fan...
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When Big Data Was Small
My foreword to Dick Cramer’s new memoirFROM: When Big Data Was Small: My Life in Baseball Analytics and Drug Design, by Richard D. Cramer, University of Nebraska Press, 2019.Richard D. Cramer has been...
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Sayonara, Ichiro
His press conference in Japan after playing his last gameOn Friday, March 22, Ichiro Suzuki had made two curtain calls at the Tokyo Dome, once after he left the game at the start of the bottom of the...
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The Original World Series
Postseason championships in 1884–1903Ernie LaniganFred Lieb, in the second number of SABR’s Baseball Research Journal, in 1973, wrote: “Ernest John (Ernie) Lanigan, early historian of the Hall of Fame,...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 1, 1869–1870
Thus begins a weekly seriesContinue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 2, 1871
Professional baseball gets a new leagueThe National Association of Amateur Base Ball Players, which had permitted professionalism within its ranks for 1869, revoked that right for 1870 and thus became...
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Black Baseball, 1858–1900
My foreword to James Brunson’s monumental new historyI think it is fitting to post this to Our Game on April 15, the day that Jackie Robinson set foot on Ebbets Field to break Baseball’s long-standing...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 3, 1872–1873
Subhed hereContinue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 4, 1874–1875
Professional baseball at low ebbRed Stockings and Athletics play baseball in England, at Prince’s Ground, Brompton; Harper’s Weekly, 1874Boston’s continuing dominance of its National Association rivals...
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Anson’s First Baseball Contract
From 1871, before he was known as Cap1889 trade cardOn Twitter the other day, a debate arose in regard to Marc Carig’s fine appreciation at The Athletic about baseball’s “red asses”...
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Early Baseball Contracts
From 1871 to 1891, including Cy YoungRockford Forest City contract with John J. Ryan of Philadelphia, January 12, 1871The other day we displayed and discussed Cap Anson’s contract with the Rockford...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 5, 1876
The birth of the National League and with it Major League BaseballThe creation of the National League in 1876 was all about Chicago, who captured the flag in 1876 and thus became champions for 1877, in...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 6, 1877
The National League struggles to survive as rivals emerge1877 featured several baseball guides, including Beadle, DeWitt, Spalding, Bryce, and Our Boys.The Louisville Grays, fifth place finishers the...
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New York’s First Ballpark
Before the Polo Grounds, a ballpark built for women’s baseballContinue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century: Part 7, 1878–1879
A national pastime in sight, at last1878 H804–6 Forbes Co. Merrill & Mackintire Advertising, Complete SetThe National League, founded in equal measure on principle and piracy, was in a mad scramble...
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Baseball Letter to Walt Whitman
Sent by Peter Doyle on September 21, 1868Continue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 8: 1880–1881
Competition is coming, as a new dynasty emergesFred Goldsmith in the 1930s, contemplating his glory days as a pitcher with the Chicagos of the 1880s.To reduce revolving of players between clubs and to...
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