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The Original Reds
Aaron B. Champion tells the story, and he was thereCincinnati Reds of 1869[The following article, written by the late Aaron B. Champion, appeared in SAXBY’S MAGAZINE for August, 1887. As this is the...
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A New Major League: the Origin of the American Association
A New Major League: The Origin of the American AssociationA passage from Preston D. Orem’s booklet on the 1882 seasonMLB’s original Mets; the best independent club, they declined to join the AA until...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 9: 1882
The National League meets its match, and learnsThe variegated garb of the Cincinnati Reds of 1882 was mandated for all American Association clubs.William Ambrose Hulbert died on April 10, 1882, three...
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BASE BALL.
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME — RULES FOR ITS GOVERNMENT, &C.Continue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 10: 1883
Harmony descends on baseball: prophets and profitsThe New York Gothams of 1883 featured four future Hall of Famers, from Troy ex-pats Connor, Welch, and Ewing to John M. Ward, just in from the...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 11: 1884
The Year of Three Major LeaguesHoss Radbourn was profane and cantankerous; that’s his finger in a posed team shot from 1886Charles Radbourn earned the nickname “Hoss,” signifying endurance, by winning...
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From Imagining to Imaging
Baseball Cards and the Growth of a National PastimeContinue reading on Our Game »
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Cleveland’s First All-Star Game
It came two decades before you might thinkContinue reading on Our Game »
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New! Jim Bouton and “Ball Four” Now at the Library of Congress
Bouton’s papers acquired; Age of Aquarius and Vietnam recalledBouton with Seattle’s Pilots, the Brigadoon of big league baseball. Jim Bouton Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,...
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He’s Gone
A photo portfolio by Raymond ShawJim Bouton died Wednesday, July 10, two days after the Library of Congress announced the acquisition of his papers (https://bit.ly/2FZBg6Y). Our mutual friend, Ray...
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Jim Bouton Interviewed
Highlights from a “lost” 2004 radio broadcastJim Bouton in 1962My friend John Rosenfelder alerted to me a telephone interview Jim Bouton had done with Jim Nelson for the 2005 NON-COMMvention Radio...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 12: 1885
Back to two leagues, plus the BrotherhoodNick Young, Secretary of the National League since its foundingThe Union Association (UA) died, but the National League and American Association continued to...
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Herman Melville, Catskill Eagle
A bicentennial essay, penned long agoHerman Melville, 1819–1891I have just returned from a whirlwind weekend in Cooperstown, where the Hall of Fame welcomed six new members and I talked baseball...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 13: 1886
It’s all about the money … and the freedomContinue reading on Our Game »
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My Space and Welcome to It
From “Play’s the Thing,” Woodstock Times, May 17, 2007Feeling nostalgic today, with a touch of weltschmerz, I happened upon this story about social media and my then-impending geezerdom.I have begun to...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 14: 1887
Ballplayers as slaves: a sword with two edgesContinue reading on Our Game »
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 15: 1888–1889
A world tour, a player rebellion, and “Casey at the Bat”John Ward in 1888 Goodwin & Co. Baseball Champions Premium Round Album. He had kicked off the Great Player Rebellion with “Is the Base-Ball...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 16: 1890
A league is born, a league dies, as the game’s not so gay ’90s commenceKing Kelly of the Boston National League club in the Goodwin & Co. Baseball Champions Premium Round Album; in 1890 he would...
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A Pictorial Chronology of Baseball in the 19th Century, Part 17: 1891–1892
The American Association dies, the National League reignsAll dressed up but no place to go: the champion Boston Reds of the 1891 American Association challenged their hometown rivals, the Boston...
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You Know Me Al
A Busher’s Letters; the Ring Lardner classicThe Skyhorse edition, 2013, of the 1914 originalI wrote a foreword to an edition of You Know Me Al published six years ago by Skyhorse (link below). I think...
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