RIP to Jim Owens, who had a 12-year career as a pitcher before spending six seasons as a pitching coach. It has been reported that he died on September 8 at the age of 86. Owens pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (1955-56, 1958-62), Cincinnati Reds (1963) and Houston Colt .45s/Astros (1964-67). The story that announced … Continue reading Obituary: Jim Owens (1934-2020)
Here lies Charles Comiskey, one of the pioneers of baseball and a founder of the American League. Unfortunately, his legacy in the game has been tarnished, as his (inaccurate) portrayal as the miserly owner of the Chicago White Sox has been tied to the Black Sox scandal of the 1919 World Series. What is true … Continue reading Grave Story: Charles Comiskey (1859-1931)
RIP to Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock, who was one of the greatest stolen base threats in baseball history. Brock died on September 6 in a St. Louis hospital at the age of 81. Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted in the linked article that he had suffered from a multitude of … Continue reading Obituary: Lou Brock (1939-2020)
Earlier this week, I wrote about the life of Waite Hoyt, the Hall of Fame Yankees pitcher turned beloved Reds broadcaster. As an ace pitcher for the most dominant team in baseball in the 1920s, Hoyt had a lot of things going for him. A blessed right arm, good looks, a nicely shaped head. No, … Continue reading Waite Hoyt fights bad hats and lazy skin
RIP to Tom Seaver, a Hall of Fame pitcher and generally recognized as the greatest ever Met. He died on August 31 in Calistoga, Calif., at the age of 75. His family announced that he had passed away from complications of COVID-19 and Lewy body dementia. In March of 2019, his family had announced that … Continue reading Obituary: Tom Seaver (1944-2020)
Here lies Waite Hoyt, who was a rarity in baseball – a teenage phenom who actually lived up to his potential. Hoyt’s 21-year career included stops with the New York Giants (1918, 1932), Boston Red Sox (1919-20), New York Yankees (1921-30), Detroit Tigers (1930-31), Philadelphia Athletics (1931), Brooklyn Dodgers (1932, 1937-38) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-37). … Continue reading Grave Story: Waite Hoyt (1899-1984)
RIP to Remy Hermoso, a middle infielder who played for many years in his native Venezuela and also played with three MLB teams in the 1960s and '70s. He died on August 22 in his native Puerto Cabello at the age of 72. Hermoso played for the Atlanta Braves (1967), Montreal Expos (1969-70) and Cleveland … Continue reading Obituary: Angel “Remy” Hermoso (1947-2020)
RIP to Howie Judson, a pitcher for seven seasons in the major leagues in the 1940s and '50s. He was also part of a family that was renowned for its high school heroics in northern Illinois. He died on August 18 at a nursing home in Winter Haven, Fla., at the age of 95. Judson … Continue reading Obituary: Howie Judson (1925-2020)
Here lies Ted Turner, who pitched one game for the Chicago Cubs in 1920. After that, his life was a wild series of robberies, housebreaking, prison escapes and the occasional murder. As far as I can tell, the story of his baseball and criminal careers has never been properly told. So let’s dig into the … Continue reading Grave Story: Theodore Turner (1892-1958)
Here lies Alfred Goshorn, a renowned Cincinnati businessman who also organized the 1876 Centennial exposition in Philadelphia. His claim to fame as far as baseball goes is that he was the first president of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, helping to give rise to professional baseball. Alfred Traber Goshorn was born in Cincinnati on July 15, … Continue reading Grave Story: Alfred Goshorn (1833-1902)
