I'm working on a larger story about Shoeless Joe Jackson, but before we get into his life, let's talk about the city of Greenville, S.C. It's a charming town with a fine minor-league ballpark and plenty of good shops and restaurants. But if you're a baseball history fan, there is another big reason to visit. … Continue reading Greenville still loves Shoeless Joe Jackson
Georgia native Jerry McQuaig rose to prominence as a star football player for Mercer University. The sport where he made his professional debut was baseball, however. McQuaig debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1934 before a brief career in the minor leagues and a much longer career in the world of amateur Georgia ball. Gerald … Continue reading Grave Story: Jerry McQuaig (1912-2001)
Here lies Henry Diddlebock, a long-time Philadelphia sportswriter and minor-league baseball executive. He also served as a manager for the St. Louis Browns, though the experiment of using a sportswriter as a manager lasted for all of 17 games in 1896. Henry Harrison Diddlebock was born in Philadelphia on June 27, 1854. His parents, Henry … Continue reading Grave Story: Henry Diddlebock (1854-1900)
Here lies Ralph Sharman, who briefly reached the major leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1917. About eight months after making his major-league debut, he died in a training accident while in the Army. Ralph Edward Sharman was born in Cleveland on April 11, 1895. His parents, John and Hannah Sharman, had emigrated from England … Continue reading Grave Story: Ralph Sharman (1895-1918)
Here lies Bug Holliday, who had a short but impactful career as one of the hardest hitters of the late 19th Century. He was fondly remembered for his animated personality as much as his batting prowess. Holliday played for the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association (1889) and the Cincinnati Reds of the National … Continue reading Grave Story: Bug Holliday (1867-1910)
When many 19th-Century ballplayers retired, they “took to the white apron” – in other words, they became bartenders. Others became police officers or fireman, but as far as I can tell, only one became an in-demand lithographer. That would be “Long” John Reilly, one of the premier sluggers of his era. Reilly played for the … Continue reading Grave Story: John Reilly (1858-1937)
RIP to Solly Drake, who with his brother Sammy Drake (1934-2010) made up the first African-American siblings in Major League Baseball history. He died on August 18 at the age of 90. Drake, who was for many years the pastor at Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, played for the Chicago Cubs (1956), … Continue reading Obituary: Solly Drake (1930-2021)
RIP to Bill Freehan, one of the greatest catchers of the 1960s and early '70s and a multi-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. He died in Detroit on August 19 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 79 years old. Freehan played for the Detroit Tigers from 1961 and 1963-76. The Detroit Tigers … Continue reading Obituary: Bill Freehan (1941-2021)
(Note: For the full story on John Reilly's life, click here.) On June 11, 1880, John Reilly boarded the steamer SS Narragansett, which was traveling from New York City to Providence. He’d later achieve fame first as a slugging first baseman and then as a lithographer, but at the time he was a 21-year-old Cincinnati … Continue reading John Reilly survives a shipwreck but breaks his heart
RIP to Johnny Groth, a good-hitting outfielder who played for 15 years in the majors following the end of World War II. He died on August 7 in his oceanfront condominium in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 95 years old and is survived by his wife of 72 years, Betty, and 11 children. Groth played … Continue reading Obituary: Johnny Groth (1926-2021)
