Tag Archives: New York Giants

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 →

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 →

“The Catch” By Willie Mays An Alternate View

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Willie Mays 1954 World Series Catch As Seen From Center Field

Willie Mays died June 18, 2024 at the age of 93. The accolades and remembrances will pour in over the next few days. We’ll let two photos and a video serve as a microcosm of a brilliant career that writers will try to summarize but will undoubtedly fall short.

Mays was that good.

If Willie Mays was not the all around best baseball player of all-time he certainly ranks as one of the top five.

The above view of Mays’ 1954 World Series catch was taken by United Press photographer Sid Birns.

The original news slug says: Continue reading →

Celebrating “The Giants Win The Pennant” – 1951

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The Giants Win The Pennant

Eddie Stanky & Leo Durocher Celebrate Bobby Thomson’s Dramatic Game Winning Home Run

This Wide World syndicated photograph did not end up running in many newspapers. What might appear at first glance to be a fight is actually a celebration.

The Giants and Dodgers tied for the best record in the National League in 1951. To advance to the World Series, a three game playoff was set.

The teams split the first two games.

Game three ended on what many baseball historians consider the most dramatic moment in the history of the game. Continue reading →

Jacob Ruppert & Joe McCarthy Before World Series Game 1 1936

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Yankees Owner Jacob Ruppert & Manager Joe McCarthy At Game 1, 1936 World Series

Good Luck, Joe
Colonel Jacob Ruppert, owner of the Yankees, autographs a baseball for Joe McCarthy, Yank manager, as a token of best wishes before the start of the opening game of the World Series with the Giants, at the latter’s home park, The Polo Grounds, New York City. photo: Acme September 30, 1936

This photograph reminds us that there used to be no playoffs in baseball.  The two best teams Continue reading →

What Are Baseball Players Celebrating? Certainly Not Winning The World Series.

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New York Giants Celebrate Winning The National League Pennant September 30. 1937

Or, How To Put Celebrating In Perspective

The way baseball players celebrate or more accurately carry on when they win a regular ball game makes me scratch me head. It also makes me a little nauseous.

C.J. Abrams gets a Gatorade shower after delivering a tenth inning game winning single over the Atlanta Braves for the last place Washington Nationals. photo: San Diego Union Tribune

On September 28, 2022 the Washington Nationals Continue reading →

Old New York In Postcards #26 – Broadway 1895-1915

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Views Along Broadway From Bowling Green To Washington Heights

Broadway and 62nd Street – The Colonial Vaudeville Theater is on the left, 1913

Broadway means New York City. Sure there are other Broadway’s in the United States, but none have the same clout that New York’s Broadway does. It is the longest street in Manhattan and one of the oldest. What the Dutch called De Heere Straat and later De Heere Wegh, became Great George Street under English rule. The street was paved in 1707, but only from Bowling Green to Trinity Church at Wall Street. After the Revolution, New York’s citizens began renaming streets and Great George Street became Broadway.

Here are some postcard views of Broadway dating from 1895 – 1915 Continue reading →

Hall Of Famer Carl Hubbell & His Brother John Hubbell – 1937

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John Hubbell Is A Mirror Image of All-Star Carl Hubbell – 1937

Giants star pitcher Carl Hubbell with brother John Hubbell at spring training 1937 photo International News

Unfortunately for the New York Giants the mirror image does not mirror the talent.

Southpaw, Carl Hubbell known as “The Meal Ticket,” was the anchor of the New York Giants pitching staff in the 1930s. Carl was one of five brothers who played baseball and the only one who had big league success.

Our photo’s original caption says: Continue reading →

A Different Kind of “Dog Catcher” At New York Giants Spring Training 1956

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The Catcher Was A Dog – Spring Training Phoenix, Arizona 1956

Is Being A Catcher A Dog’s Life?

Sparky the dog in Wes Westrum’s catching gear March 12, 1956 photo; United Press

Baseball catchers wear the so-called tools of ignorance. They get hit by wild pitches, foul balls and errant bats, constantly taking a beating behind the plate. So who wants to be a catcher? Continue reading →

Cubs Jim Gleeson Scores The Tying Run – July 23, 1939

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Cubs Jim Gleeson Ties Game & Giants Lose Their Ninth In A Row

Jim Gleeson scores July 23 1939 photo International News

Home On A Fly

New York – Gleeson, right fielder for the Chicago Cubs, comes home from third after (Mel) Ott, right fielder for the New York Giants, caught (Rip) Russell’s long fly in the sixth inning of the game which the Cubs won 7-5, at the Polo Grounds, New York. (Ken) O’Dea, Giants catcher is set to catch the throw-in. Loss was the Giants ninth in a row. photo: International News 7/23/1939

81 years ago today the Giants and Cubs were in the midst of the pennant race, not beginning their seasons as MLB is doing today. There was no pandemic, just a World War brewing a couple of months away when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Continue reading →