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)
(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
Here lies Charlie Gould, the first baseman on the renowned 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings team and the first-ever manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Gould played for the Boston Red Stockings (1871-72), Baltimore Canaries (1874) and New Haven Elm Citys (1875), all of the National Association, and the Cincinnati Reds (1876-77). He also managed in New … Continue reading Grave Story: Charlie Gould (1847-1917)
RIP to Ted Wieand, who pitched for parts of two seasons with the Reds in the 1950s. He died on July 7 at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, located in Allentown, Pa. He was 88 years old. Wieand played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1958 and 1960 as part of an 11-year pro baseball … Continue reading Obituary: Ted Wieand (1933-2021)
Here lies Miller Huggins, who had a long career as an undersized but scrappy second basemen before becoming one of the game’s most renowned managers. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame after winning 6 American League pennants and 3 World Series championships with some of the greatest Yankees teams of all … Continue reading Grave Story: Miller Huggins (1878-1929)
RIP to Nino Escalera, one of two players who broke the color line with the Cincinnati Reds. According to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) via family members, he died on July 3 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, at the age of 91. Escalera played for the Reds in 1954 and became a very … Continue reading Obituary: Nino Escalera (1929-2021)
Harry Steinfeldt is the answer to one of baseball’s classic trivia questions – who was the third baseman in the Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance infield? It isn’t a fair summary of his career, though. For 14 years, he was a dependable infielder, and most of that time wasn’t even spent with his Hall of Fame compatriots. Steinfeldt played … Continue reading Grave Story: Harry Steinfeldt (1875-1914)
Here lies Frank Bancroft, who managed seven different teams in his career, including one of the most remarkable teams of the 19th Century. He also became a successful business manager who instituted several baseball traditions we still hold dear. Bancroft managed the Worcester Ruby Legs (1880), Detroit Wolverines (1881-82), Cleveland Blues (1883), Providence Grays (1884-85), … Continue reading Grave Story: Frank Bancroft (1846-1921)
RIP to Mike Bell, a part of the three-generation Bell baseball family and the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins. He died in Arizona on March 26 at the age of 46 from kidney cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021 and underwent surgery to remove a kidney and part of his liver. … Continue reading Obituary: Mike Bell (1974-2021)
