Category Archives: Baseball

Color Photos From Game 7 Of Cardinals 1964 World Series Victory

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Marvin E. Newman’s Color Photography Of Game 7 Of The 1964 World Series

Entrance to St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park Game 7, 1964 World Series photo: Marvin E. Newman

Marvin E. Newman was a photographer who took thousands of baseball photographs, many for Sports Illustrated during the 1950s -1970s.

The 1964 World Series was the last World Series played at the iconic Sportsman’s Park. Although Cardinals owner August Busch Jr. of Budweiser brewery fame renamed the ballpark for himself in 1953, most St. Louis fans still called it Sportsman’s Park until the ballpark closed in 1966. Continue reading →

First Fan In Line For World Series Tickets 1928

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Waiting To Buy Tickets To The 1928 World Series

Want to Get Good Seats? Be First In Line

Brooklynite Has Food Supply To Wait All Night For World Series
New York: Photo shows Arthur Jones of 913 East 12th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. with a supply of sandwiches, all ready to spend the night outside the Yankee Stadium to wait for the World series to begin. Arthur is the first on line having found his position at nine A.M. the day before the series opens. credit International News, 10-3-1928

Living in New York if you wanted to experience the 1928 World Series live you had only two choices. Continue reading →

Yankees Manager Casey Stengel & Pitcher Vic Raschi

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Casey Stengel Concerned Over Star Pitcher Vic Raschi’s Sore Arm – 1950

Raschi’s Arm Dims Yankees Hope
Chicago: Vic Raschi (r), New York Yankees’ 20 game winner and Yank manager Casey Stengel look melancholy today at the game with the White Sox. The arm trouble which took Raschi out of last night’s game, which the Yanks lost 4-3, may result in a knockout blow to the New Yorkers’ pennant hopes. photo Acme 9/20/1950

The news slug comments on Raschi’s arm trouble, yet in that 4-3 loss which Raschi did not figure in, he allowed only six hits and two runs over six innings.

On September 19, the Yankees held a half game lead over both the Red Sox and the Tigers for first place. Until playoffs came about in 1969, only each league’s winner would advance to the World Series.

But, Raschi would pitch again Continue reading →

Bob Feller Wins Father Of The Year

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Bob Feller Kisses Wife After Winning “Sports Father Of The Year” 1948

FELLER NAMED SPORTS FATHER OF THE YEAR
New York, NY –  Bob Feller kisses his wife, who ought to know, after he is awarded medal as 1948’s “Sports Father Of The Year” at the Yankee Stadium here today. In addition to the kiss, Mrs. Feller got orchids from her husband too. The medal was awarded to the Cleveland star pitcher by an ice cream company in behalf of the youngsters of America who look upon Bob as quite a guy. Photo: Herb Scharfman / International News,  June 12, 1948

The award to Feller was first announced on May 26, 1948 by the National Father’s Day Committee. The previous year’s sports award winner was Babe Ruth. The award was given to Feller between games of a double-header at Yankee Stadium.

68,586 fans attended the twin-bill on June 12 and saw the Indians sweep the Yankees 7-5 and 9-4.

The Indians would go on to win the World Series in 1948.

In 1948, the 29-year-old Feller had two sons Steven and Martin. A third son, Winthrop Bruce Feller was born 1950.

But Feller had issues with his wife Virginia Winther, who he married on January 16, 1943.

According to the Society for American Baseball Research,  “Virginia, had become addicted Continue reading →

A Play At The Plate You’ll No Longer See

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Rusty Staub Takes Out Catcher Jerry May At Home Plate – 1970

MONTREAL: Montreal Expos’ Rusty Staub (10) collides with Pittsburgh Pirates’ catcher Jerry May (12) after scoring Montreal’s second R.B.I. on a single by Coco Laboy, which also scored Don Hahn in the first inning here. August 4, 1970 photo: UPI Telephoto

Even though Rusty Staub scored, the Expos lost the game 4-2.

Baseball players have always played hard. It’s just that Continue reading →

Seeing A Baseball Game At The Polo Grounds c. 1909

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A Fan Takes Some Snaphots Of The New York Giants At The Polo Grounds c. 1909

The San Francisco Giants opened the 2026 baseball season playing the New York Yankees.

There was no interleague play between American and National League teams until 1997.

But had the Giants played the Yankees 117 years ago neither team would have had to travel as their home ballparks were both in upper Manhattan. The Yankees playing their games at Hilltop Park at 168th St. and Broadway, while the Giants home field was at The Polo Grounds,155th Street and 8th Avenue. Continue reading →

Brooklyn Dodger Star Roy Campanella & Sons At Spring Training 1951

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Roy Campanella Shows His Sons The Tools Of The Trade

Dodgers Have A Family Act
Miami, Fla – If the boys turn out to be chips off the old block, the Dodgers will be all set in the catching department, if, and when, catcher Roy Campanella hangs up his mask and gloves. Here is Campanella with his sons, David, 7, and Roy, Jr., 2, as he puts them through their paces at Miami Stadium. The Dodgers won their first game yesterday in the Grapefruit League by shading the Boston Braves, 10-9 in an error-spangled game. photo: Herb Scharfman International News,  March 12 1951

Roy Campanella, because of the color barrier with an Italian father and Black mother, did not enter the major leagues until 1948 when he was 26. He played 10 sterling seasons, all for the Dodgers, and would win three Most Valuable Player Awards. Baseball legend Ty Cobb was impressed enough to say “Campanella will be remembered longer than any catcher in baseball history.”

Campanella’s career came to a tragic end Continue reading →

Mickey Mantle At Yankees Spring Training 1971

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Mickey Mantle Gives Advice To Prospects Rick Bladt and Joe Pactwa

Besides “hustle, play hard and be your best” what could Mickey Mantle say to young Yankee prospects? After all, they’re not Mickey Mantle.

As the news slug says:

March 8, 1971 -Ft. Lauderdale, FLA: Former Yankee great Mickey Mantle (L), a special instructor with the team at their spring training camp, gives some pointers to rookie outfield hopefuls Rich Bladt (C) and Joe Pactwa recently. Bladt played at Syracuse last season and Pactwa played at Manchester, N.H.. UPI Telephoto

RIck Bladt did get to play in the majors. Continue reading →

What Did The Rear Entrance To Ebbets Field Look Like?

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The Less Than Iconic Rear Facade Of Ebbets Field

The Dodgers left Brooklyn after the 1957 season, breaking many Dodgers fans hearts. The Dodgers home park Ebbets Field was razed in 1960. A housing project is now on its site.

But the memories of what the ballpark looked like is etched in anyone’s mind who ever visited Ebbets Field. If you do remember visiting you are at least 70 years-old. The reality is, few people are still around who actually saw the place.

It’s really photographs of the ballpark, especially the front entrance, that baseball fans are familiar with.

The main entrance was at the corner of Sullivan Place and McKeever Place. McKeever Place was originally Cedar Street, but renamed in 1932 after one of the contractors who built Ebbets Field.

This is what the front  looked like.

Ebbets Field 1940s

The exterior of the front of the New York Mets home Continue reading →

Christy Mathewson Memorial Tablet Unveiled 1926

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What Happened To A Bronze Memorial Plaque To Christy Mathewson?

It’s an historical artifact that seems quite self-explanatory.

Yet, when I first encountered this photograph there was no slug on the back explaining the setting or other identifiers.

A general internet search did not provide any clues. And proving once again that AI is worthless on millions of situations, Google was only able to transcribe words on the memorial which did not need transcribing as they are quite legible.

My assumption was that this bronze memorial plaque was once located at Christy Mathewson’s home field: The Polo Grounds of the New York Giants. If so what became of this memorial? Surely it would be preserved somewhere after the demolition of the Polo Grounds in 1964.

This is why you can never assume. I was completely wrong. Continue reading →