Why I love this game IX...
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:12 amPhil Weintraub
He had the last hit in Philadelphia's Baker Bowl. There was no level playing field at Nashville's Sulphur Dell. The right fielder, if standing at the base of the fence, stood 22-1/2 feet above the playing field. Weintraub, playing the 'porch' in the 1930s, ran down the slope to field a hard-hit ground ball, only to have it go between his legs. As he turned to run up the hill to retrieve the ball, it bounded off the fence, and once again went between his legs. Finally grabbing the ball on his way back down the hill, he overthrew the third baseman while attempting to make a play on the batter who had rounded second, allowing him to score. Weintraub took three errors on the play.
Joe Dugan
It was in his first years in baseball that Dugan acquired the nickname of "Jumping", a nickname bestowed on him since he would often take unauthorized leaves from the team. After committing a few errors, he was booed by the Philadelphia fans. Sensitive and temperamental, he would leave the team until Mack was able to coax him back. Word of his departure spread around the league and, he would often be taunted by fans with the cry,"I want to go home!"
Bill McKechnie
According to one baseball reference work, McKechnie had a poor sense of direction, which did not improve when, as the Reds' manager, he began traveling by plane. He arrived in an airport when the Reds were to play the Pirates at Forbes Field. He hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the Schenley Hotel. "I never heard of it," said the driver. McKechnie gave him the names of the nearby streets. "Never heard of them either," the cabbie said. "How long have you been driving a cab here? the manager asked. "Twenty-five years and then some," said the driver, "But so help me I never heard of the Schenley Hotel! You must be in the wrong town! Where do you think you are?" "Pittsburgh," McKechnie said. "Pittsburgh, hell!" retorted the driver. "You're really lost. This is Detroit!" "
Dan Brouthers
On July 7, 1877, while running the bases, he collided at home plate with a catcher named Johnny Quigley. Quigley was knocked unconscious, having suffered a traumatic head injury, and later died from these injuries on August 12. The 19-year-old Brouthers was cleared of any wrongdoing by the authorities.
Bill Dahlen
He was often nonchalant and unfocused, showing up minutes before a game. He was rumored to get himself ejected so he could get to the racetrack. He was feisty, and abusive towards umpires even by today’s standards. And he’s among the best shortstops ever to play the game. "Bad Bill" Dahlen retired having played in more games than anyone in major league history; he was in the top ten for walks, extra base hits, RBI’s and stolen bases; and he led all shortstops in games, assists, putouts and double plays. He starred in both the 19th century and the deadball era, and managed as well. He’s a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, right? Wrong. Player after player with lower career ratings has been admitted, yet Dahlen has been ignored. Maybe time has clouded memories of the brilliance of this offensive dynamo and master of his position—but how much longer can it be before Bad Bill Dahlen takes his rightful place in Cooperstown?
He had the last hit in Philadelphia's Baker Bowl. There was no level playing field at Nashville's Sulphur Dell. The right fielder, if standing at the base of the fence, stood 22-1/2 feet above the playing field. Weintraub, playing the 'porch' in the 1930s, ran down the slope to field a hard-hit ground ball, only to have it go between his legs. As he turned to run up the hill to retrieve the ball, it bounded off the fence, and once again went between his legs. Finally grabbing the ball on his way back down the hill, he overthrew the third baseman while attempting to make a play on the batter who had rounded second, allowing him to score. Weintraub took three errors on the play.
Joe Dugan
It was in his first years in baseball that Dugan acquired the nickname of "Jumping", a nickname bestowed on him since he would often take unauthorized leaves from the team. After committing a few errors, he was booed by the Philadelphia fans. Sensitive and temperamental, he would leave the team until Mack was able to coax him back. Word of his departure spread around the league and, he would often be taunted by fans with the cry,"I want to go home!"
Bill McKechnie
According to one baseball reference work, McKechnie had a poor sense of direction, which did not improve when, as the Reds' manager, he began traveling by plane. He arrived in an airport when the Reds were to play the Pirates at Forbes Field. He hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the Schenley Hotel. "I never heard of it," said the driver. McKechnie gave him the names of the nearby streets. "Never heard of them either," the cabbie said. "How long have you been driving a cab here? the manager asked. "Twenty-five years and then some," said the driver, "But so help me I never heard of the Schenley Hotel! You must be in the wrong town! Where do you think you are?" "Pittsburgh," McKechnie said. "Pittsburgh, hell!" retorted the driver. "You're really lost. This is Detroit!" "
Dan Brouthers
On July 7, 1877, while running the bases, he collided at home plate with a catcher named Johnny Quigley. Quigley was knocked unconscious, having suffered a traumatic head injury, and later died from these injuries on August 12. The 19-year-old Brouthers was cleared of any wrongdoing by the authorities.
Bill Dahlen
He was often nonchalant and unfocused, showing up minutes before a game. He was rumored to get himself ejected so he could get to the racetrack. He was feisty, and abusive towards umpires even by today’s standards. And he’s among the best shortstops ever to play the game. "Bad Bill" Dahlen retired having played in more games than anyone in major league history; he was in the top ten for walks, extra base hits, RBI’s and stolen bases; and he led all shortstops in games, assists, putouts and double plays. He starred in both the 19th century and the deadball era, and managed as well. He’s a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, right? Wrong. Player after player with lower career ratings has been admitted, yet Dahlen has been ignored. Maybe time has clouded memories of the brilliance of this offensive dynamo and master of his position—but how much longer can it be before Bad Bill Dahlen takes his rightful place in Cooperstown?