Nellie Fox was born December 25, 1927 in Saint Thomas Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Nellie played in the Major Leagues from 1947 – 1965. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, and the Houston Astros. Fox had a lifetime .288 batting average, 2,663 hits, 35 home runs, and 790 runs batted in. Nellie …
There can never be enough said about #42 Jackie Robinson. Not only was #42 a tremendous baseball talent, Jackie was a man of character and high standards. Yes, Jackie was a great ball player. However, few knew he was a very good football and basketball player also. Consider Jackie Robinson’s character. Branch Rickey picked the right man …
Bill Klem is believed to be the “The Father of Modern Baseball Umpires”. William Joseph Klimm was born February 22, 1874 in Rochester, New York. His name was changed to Klem later in his life. The year was 1902 and Bill Klem, 28 years old, began his professional umpiring career in the Connecticut State League. In 1903 he …
Emmett Ashford was the first African-American umpire in the MLB. He was an umpire in the American League from 1966 to 1970. His nickname was “Ash”. Emmett Littleton Ashford was born on November 23, 1914 in Los Angeles, California. He was married to Willa Gene Fort and had two children. His father was a policeman …
Big, loud and beyond intimidation, Durwood Merrill was an umpire with a thick skin. He will always be remembered as one of the most colorful characters in Baseball. Reggie Jackson called him “The Reggie Jackson of UMPIRES”. He brought showmanship and fun to the game of Baseball. He has his own following of fans. In his book You’re …
JIMMY PIERSALL On June 23, 1963 knowing that his teammate Duke Snider didn’t receive much attention for hitting his 400th career homerun earlier in the season, New York Mets outfielder Jimmy Piersall thought up an idea to get more attention as his 100th career homerun was soon to be accomplished. “He practiced doing it!” Dallas …
Ron Luciano was a colorful, flamboyant and clever umpire. Known for his famous book, “The Umpire Strikes Back,” taken from the Star Wars movie, “The Empire Strikes Back,” that was popular in his time. He wrote and published several books about his umpiring career. Known to be a very dramatic umpire, he had a long-time feud with Baltimore Orioles …
Alexander Cartwright wrote the first baseball rule book and is know as the “Father of Baseball! ALEXANDER CARTWRIGHT “FATHER OF BASEBALL” Born Alexander Joy Cartwright Jr. in New York City April 17, 1820 was know as the “father of baseball” which is questionable. However he did write the first Rules of Baseball for his Knickerbocker …
Tom Connolly was one of the first umpires inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tom Connolly was born in Manchester, England on December 31, 1870. Tom was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY in 1953. He and Bill Klem were inducted on the same day by vote of the …
Dorothy Kamenshek, nickname “Dottie”, was know as the greatest female baseball player of all time. Dottie played baseball for the Rockford Peaches and was the best player in the league. At seventeen years old in 1943 she began her career with the Peaches of the AAGPBL. DOROTHY “DOTTIE” KEMENSHEK DECEMBER 21, 1925 – MAY 17, 2010 “A LEAGUE OF …