There are several ways to answer the baseball trivia question, “who is Al Downing?” Most people will tell you without hesitation, “he’s the guy who gave up Henry Aaron’s 715th home run.” And those people would be absolutely correct. Other correct answers: “He was the first African-American pitcher in the history of the New YorkContinue reading "Al Downing: The Man Who Gave Up No. 715"

Bob Oliver’s 1973 card is one that I’d subconsciously uploaded into my memory bank years ago. The second I plucked it from the box it went like this: “Oh, yeah – the cool action shot of Oliver reaching for the throw at first while Bert Campaneris speeds down the baseline.” These good action shots helpedContinue reading "Spirit of ’73: Bob Oliver"

In the top of the eighth inning of Game Four in the 1973 World Series, pinch hitter Mike Andrews led off for the Oakland Athletics, who were trailing the New York Mets, 6-1. The partisan Mets crowd in Shea Stadium, about 54,000 people, gave him a standing ovation, undoubtedly the first one he’d received sinceContinue reading "Spirit of ’73: Standing O for Andrews"

When you look at Enzo Hernández, what do you see? Is this the face of a young man whose quiet confidence shines through his thin smile, a ballplayer looking sharp despite the Padres’ goofy mustard and chocolate uniform? Or – if you look past the scuff and residue from the so-called chewing gum that wasContinue reading "Spirit of ’73: Enzo Hernández"

So, this is an ongoing experiment. Maybe it's more accurate to say this is an experiment in ongoingness. I have a few shoeboxes of baseball cards remaining, and about a year until the release of my book about Johnny Mize, Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. Anyway, here's the idea:Continue reading "Spirit of ’73: Leading off …"

They were shooting stars from different galaxies, the two men in this photo. Johnny Mize and Juan 'Tetelo' Vargas, teammates on the 1934 Concordia Eagles, Trujillo Cup champions. In October 1933, following a baseball season that began with the Greensboro (N.C.) Patriots and ended with the Rochester (NY) Red Wings, 20-year-old Johnny Mize of Demorest,Continue reading "Good ol’ Boy Gone South to Play Beisból"

For starters, this doesn’t feel right. This feels out of order, a cosmic square peg trying to force itself into an elusive round hole. I am rambling while trying to do my dear friend a modicum of justice. Anyway, years ago I wrote something about Tommy Deadwyler, something really nice that I can’t remember, butContinue reading "Tommy"

The truth is, Johnny Mize was always supposed to be first. The other truth is, I’m really glad that he wasn’t. Last year on April 1st, an appropriately foolish day, my first book, The Music and Mythocracy of Col. Bruce Hampton, was released by the University of Georgia Press. I worked long and hard onContinue reading "The Whys of Mize"

Who hit the first home run in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium? Hint: His name was Aaron. That was one of Col. Bruce Hampton’s favorite trivia questions, partly because Bruce was there to witness that inaugural moonshot, and partly because most people got the answer wrong. The correct answer is Tommie Aaron, who was Hammerin’ Henry’s littleContinue reading "Happy Home Run Anniversary"

With apologies to the great Ogden Nash, whose "Line-up for Yesterday" is a classic. That poem, though, doesn't mention any of the baseball greats who were banned from Major League Baseball because they were Black. This poem that I've cobbled together focuses entirely on the Negro Leagues (everyone or everything mentioned is related to that).Continue reading "Another Line-Up for Yesterday"