Here lies Ed McKean, a hard-hitting shortstop from the 19th Century who played on some tough Cleveland teams. He played for the Cleveland Blues of the American Association (1887-88), Cleveland Spiders (1889-98) and St. Louis Perfectos (1899). Edwin John McKean was born in Grafton, Ohio, on June 6, 1864. He started playing pro ball with … Continue reading Grave Story: Ed McKean (1864-1919)
Here lies Hank Small, a record-setting slugger in college whose Major League Baseball career was limited to one game. Small played for the 1978 Atlanta Braves. George Henry Small was born in Atlanta on July 31, 1953. He grew up in an area of Atlanta called the Golden Ghetto – a rough neighborhood surrounded by … Continue reading Grave Story: Hank Small (1953-2010)
Here lies Sammy Strang, who could have been a world-renowned operatic singer or a decorated war hero. Instead, thanks to a love of baseball, he became one of the game’s earliest pinch-hitters. His long association with the game also led to long tenures as a coach and a minor-league team owner. He played for the … Continue reading Grave Story: Sammy Strang (1876-1932)
Here lies Patsy Tebeau, one of the most vicious men to ever play the game of baseball. He was also a brilliant tactician, but if there was ever a notion that 19th-Century baseball was a game of gentlemen, Tebeau spiked that notion, spat on it and sent it running home. He played for the Chicago … Continue reading Grave Story: Patsy Tebeau (1864-1918)
Here lies Walt Kinzie, the grandson of one of Chicago’s early pioneers. He also was an infielder for the Detroit Wolverines (1882), Chicago White Stockings (1884) and St. Louis Browns (1884). Before we talk about Walt, let’s dig into a bit of Chicago history, because the name “Kinzie” is as old as the city itself. … Continue reading Grave Story: Walter Kinzie (1857-1909)
Here lies Frank Delahanty, the last surviving brother of the famed baseball-playing Delahantys. He had a brief career in the American League and Federal League and a rough post-baseball career that included a prison stint. Delahanty played for the New York Highlanders (1905-06, 1908), Cleveland Naps (1907), and the Buffalo Buffeds (1914) and Pittsburgh Rebels … Continue reading Grave Story: Frank Delahanty (1882-1966)
Here lies (in the unmarked grave in the center of the photo) George Ziegler, who pitched one game for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in 1890. While a little is known about his baseball career, almost nothing is known about his life outside of baseball – particularly how or why he came to a tragic fate in … Continue reading Grave Story: George Ziegler (1866-1942)
Here lies Ed Delahanty, a two-time batting champ, home run king, .400 hitter, part of one of the great baseball families and member of the Hall of Fame. And if he’s remembered these days for anything, it’s for the spectacular way he died – falling to his death at Niagara Falls. It is possibly the … Continue reading Grave Story: Ed Delahanty (1867-1903)
Here lies Gerry Shea, an amateur St. Louis catcher who played two games with the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of the 1905 season. Supposedly, he was pulled from the stands to play when the Cardinals didn’t have any healthy catchers available. It’s a great story… if it’s true. Gerald Joseph Shea was born … Continue reading Grave Story: Gerald Shea (1881-1964)
Here lies Ewing Kauffman, who founded the Kansas City Royals and guided the team for more than 20 years. The Missouri farmboy made his fortune in the pharmaceutical business and gave back to his Kansas City home, not only with a world champion baseball team but also with a philanthropic foundation that continues to operate … Continue reading Grave Story: Ewing Kauffman (1916-1993)
