And thank you for one of the greatest, if not greatest regular season night in MLB history. I still can not believe what I witnessed tonight. I love this game.
Bill Murray as Joe DiMaggio. Seals Stadium. The Iron Horse. Yogi & Campy. Edo Vanni & Seattle Baseball.
•September 27, 2011 • 1 CommentA great SCTV skit which features the always amazing Bill Murray as Joe DiMaggio, Martin Short as Vince DiMaggio and Eugene Levy as Dom DiMaggio. I find this skit hilarious and you should too.
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I recently came across this photo of Seals Stadium and I love it. Why you may ask? Simply due to fact that this photo had to be taken between 1930 and 1937 which were the years that the Seals and Mission Reds both shared Seals Stadium. The “San Francisco” and “Mission” pennants swaying in the air is pure Baseball beauty.
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An awesome photo from 1937 of Lou Gehrig playing first base at Fenway Park. I love old photos of the great sluggers of the past playing defense. Something about it is so interesting to me.
This is another great photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
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Yogi Berra & Roy Campanella converse during Spring Training of 1956. I can only hope that Campy is gloating a little bit about Brooklyn’s post season success against the Yankees in 1955.
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May 16th, 1939 at Sick’s Stadium. Seattle Rainiers players Jo-Jo White and Edo Vanni discuss the greatness that is the hook slide.
Edo Vanni lived in the Seattle, Washington area his entire life and is known in Northwest Baseball circles as “The Dean of Seattle Baseball.” A great article can be read HERE about his life in Baseball. Here is an excerpt:
In his lifetime, Vanni was employed by every Seattle franchise except the Mariners, who, in recognizing his contribution to the game, were compelled to offer him a lifetime pass.
and another
He endeared himself to Rainiers fans by trading fisticuffs over the smallest slight, and it didn’t matter who or how big the opponent was.
That should be enough to get you readers to check out the article. Vanni was awesome and everyone should know who he is. Learn about Baseball history and not just what you see in the current day Major Leagues, you may like what you find.
Incredible Ted Williams Interview.
•September 25, 2011 • Leave a CommentRecently I came across this 3 part interview that Bob Costas did with Ted Williams. The Splendid Splinter talks about everything from his days with the San Diego Padres, hitting advice he received from both Rogers Hornsby and Lefty O’Doul, his admiration of Joe DiMaggio, how he doesn’t always feel comfortable with the “Greatest Hitter Of All Time” title, his relationship with Boston’s media and fans and more.
I always enjoy Bob Costas’ Baseball interviews and this interview is no exception. It is worth watching if your a big Ted Williams fan like myself or just crazy about Baseball history. Enjoy.
(Unfortunately the video’s embedding options are disabled, so just use the videos as links)
Gibson & Brock. The Spaceman. The San Francisco Seals. 1919 Black Sox.
•September 22, 2011 • Leave a Comment
Game 4 of the 1968 World Series. Bob Gibson is congratulated by Lou Brock after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers. There’s nothing Bob Gibson couldn’t do.
To see pretty cool footage of Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem prior Game 4, click HERE. It’s not very related to Baseball but I am just a huge Marvin Gaye fan and I figured some of you may be too!
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June 21st, 2011 at the Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown. Bill Lee at bat looking cool as usual. To read a review of the game, click HERE. Take note that Lee entered the game in the 4th inning as a Catcher wearing only an 1880’s glove. If you know what that looks like then you know how awesome Bill Lee is.
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1939. The San Francisco Seals training in a sliding pit. Without a doubt this is one of the coolest photos I have come across in a long time.
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Speaking of the Seals, how great is this color photo of Seals Stadium?? I am assuming this was from opening day of 1958 although I could be wrong.
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The 8 members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who were banned for life for “Selling Out Baseball” according to this clipping. I have always felt a level of compassion for these guys due to Charles Comiskey being such a penny pincher. I am not necessarily saying that I too would have thrown the World Series if I were in their shoes. Then again, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have either.
DiMaggio & O’Doul in Tokyo. Ebbets Field. Vince & Joe. Lane Field. Cubs vs Braves.
•September 19, 2011 • Leave a Comment
1951, Tokyo Japan. Joe DiMaggio and Lefty O’Doul are honored during a visit to Japan as ambassadors of the game just 6 years after World War II officially ended. Look at all the people in the stands, pretty impressive turnout I must say.
On a related note, O’Doul helped name the Yomiuri (Tokyo) Giants in 1935. A cool history of the team and their name can be found on THIS auction page for a team photo from when they were still known as the “Dai-Nippon Tōkyō Yakyū Club.”
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A very cool photo of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. What I would give to be able to attend or play a game there. Apartment complexes now stand on the location of Ebbets Field which is really just too bad. I suggest they bulldoze them and rebuild Ebbets to EXACT scale of what is was.
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Joe DiMaggio & Vince DiMaggio during their PCL days as members of the San Francisco Seals and Hollywood Stars. This photo was taken in either 1934 or 1935, just shortly before the name “DiMaggio” was a household name throughout the nation.
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A great aerial view of Lane Field in San Diego. Speaking of great fields that I wish I was able to attend or play a game at, Lane Field would be near the top of the list without a doubt. The Lane Field location is now a parking lot for a cruise ship and I got to admit that it makes me want to throw up a little bit.
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June 17th, 1948. Such an INCREDIBLE photo. Gene Macuh of the Chicago Cubs is caught on camera in mid-air attempting to score against Boston Braves catcher Bill Salkeld.
This is another great photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
ninety feet of perfection. 