Here lies Charlie Harding, whose sole appearance in the major leagues came as a relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers on September 18, 1913. He was the second Tigers pitcher to make his first—and last— appearance in the majors that day. Charles Harding was born on January 3, 1891 in Nashville, Tenn. His first year … Continue reading Grave Story: Charlie Harding (1891-1971)
Here lies Steere Noda, a businessman, community servant and politician in his native state of Hawaii. However, the reason that he was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 was that he was the founder of the Asahi Nisei Baseball Team, one of the oldest baseball teams west of the Rockies. Steere … Continue reading Grave Story: Steere Noda (1892-1986)
Here lies Alexander Cartwright, one of the Fathers of Baseball who created some of its earliest rules. Or maybe he was just A Guy Who Played Baseball in its earliest development and gets more credit than he deserves. That’s the problem when you go back to the 1840s and 1850s to the development of what … Continue reading Grave Story: Alexander Cartwright (1820-1892)
Here lies Joe DeSa, a first baseman/outfielder who neverreally got a fair shake in the majors, no matter how well he performed in AAA.He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1980) and Chicago White Sox (1985). Joe DeSa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 27, 1959. His uncle, John Matias, played briefly for the … Continue reading Grave Story: Joe DeSa (1959-1986)
Here lies Sled Allen, a backup catcher for the St. Louis Browns in 1910. This is one of my most favorite baseball stories ever, because it shows you what you miss if you never look outside of a player's career. If you only pay attention to his playing career, you see he played in the … Continue reading Grave Story: Sled Allen (1886-1959)
(Editor’s note: I want to thank my Instagram friend Cadavra Scientist for sending me these pics. Follow their work at http://www.instagram.com/cadavrascientist.) Here lies Charlie Buffinton, one of the greatest pitchers of 19th Century baseball and, you could argue, one of the best pitchers not currently a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Buffinton … Continue reading Grave Story: Charlie Buffinton (1861-1907)
Here lies Clayton Lambert, who had a pretty good season in the majors and one short, really not-good, strange season. His MLB career was delayed for several years by World War II. Lambert pitched for the Cincinnati Reds (1946-47). Clayton Lambert was born in Summit, Ill., on March 26, 1917. He went to Illinois College … Continue reading Grave Story: Clayton Lambert (1917-1981)
LOST--ONE BASEBALL PLAYER: PITCHER by inclination; apparently sound in wind and limb, and answers to the name of "Rube." Address all communications to Connie Mack, manager Philadelphia American League ball club, present keeper.The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Ill.), August 10, 1902. Here lies Rube Waddell, one of the most dominating pitchers in the game — when … Continue reading Grave Story: Rube Waddell (1876-1914)
Here lies Fred “Dad” Clark, a first baseman who played in 12 games for the 1902 Chicago Orphans (aka the Colts aka the Cubs). You’re going to have to trust me that this is the right grave marker, even though most of it is covered up by grass and weeds. I tried to remove as … Continue reading Grave Story: Fred “Dad” Clark (1873-1956)
Here lies Jay Van Noy, one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of the state of Utah. He had a chance to become one of the early two-sport players but passed up the NFL to focus on baseball. His career with the 1951 St. Louis Cardinals as an outfielder/pinch-hitter was brief, but he … Continue reading Grave Story: Jay Van Noy (1928-2010)
