SABR Digital Library

The 1972 Texas Rangers were a culmination of decades of trying to get a major-league team in Dallas-Fort Worth. The area has a long history with baseball, going back to the 1800s, and minor-league teams played in both cities right up until the Rangers arrived with Ted Williams at the helm.High expectations were quickly dashed. Just how bad were those early Rangers teams? When reporter Mike Shropshire wrote a book about covering the Rangers from 1973 to '75, he titled it Seasons In Hell. Twenty years later, the Rangers still hadn't made the playoffs. Counting the decade when the franchise was known as the Washington Senators, the team did not go to the playoffs for the first 35 years of itsexistence.So why write a book about the 1972 Texas Rangers, perhaps the worst team in club history? Becausethey're the start of that history. Articles in this book cover the effort to bring a team to North Texas andthe story of Tom Vandergriff, the man now known as "the father of the Rangers." Biographies of everyman to play--or coach--for the 1972 team are presented, including Frank Howard, Larry Bittner, HoracioPina and Tom Grieve, and broadcasters Don Drysdale and Bill Mercer. Owner Bob Short and ArlingtonStadium itself are given full write-ups as well.This book is the collaborative work of 46 members of SABR-the Society for American BaseballResearch.

The Federal League formed in 1913 as an "outlaw league" in six cities across the Midwest. In 1914 it added two teams and declared itself a major league. The league's owners "stole" players from the two existing major leagues and put teams in some of the same cities. Both the American and National Leagues struck back. After the 1915 season, with several Federal League teams struggling financially, the two more-established leagues bought out several teams. This caused the collapse of the Federal League. The impact of the Federal League on baseball is still felt today. The league filed one of the first antitrust lawsuits against Organized Baseball. The case ended up in the court of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who looms large in baseball history. Although that case was settled, a later lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Court decided that baseball is entertainment and thus not subject to antitrust law. This decision has had a wide-ranging effect on the business of baseball. For a physical reminder of the Federal League, one can still see the ballpark built for the Chicago Whales, now known as Wrigley Field. This book contains biographies of a number of the key players and executives, and game accounts of some of the most interesting games during the league's brief existence.

Featuring an introduction by John Schuerholz, bios of all 40 players, and writeups of key games from 1995.

Rich in anecdotes and humor, Bill Werber's Memories of a Ballplayer is a clear-eyed memoir of the world of big-league baseball in the 1930s. Originally published by SABR in hardcover in 2000 and in paperback in 2001, the book is still in print, but now also available as an ebook. Bill Werber's claim to fame is unique: he is the last living person to have a direct connection to the 1927 Yankees, "Murderers' Row," a team hailed by many as the best of all time. Signed by the Yankees while still a freshman at Duke University, Werber spent two weeks that summer of '27 on the Yankee bench to "gain experience"-and was miserable and lonely, ignored by everyone. After graduating in 1930, Werber was back with the Yankees, but he was soon sent to the minors for seasoning (including a stretch with Casey Stengel). He returned to the big leagues in 1933 and was promptly traded to the Red Sox. A fleet-footed third baseman, Werber also played for the Athletics, Reds, and Giants, leading the league three times in stolen bases and once in runs scored. He was with the Reds when they won the pennant in 1939 and 1940. Werber played with or against some of the most productive hitters of all time, including Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio.

For over 100 years, Michigan and Trumbull was the scene of some of the most exciting baseball ever. This book, the collaborative work of 34 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), portrays 50 classic games at the corner, spanning the earliest days of Bennett Park until Tiger Stadium's final closing act. From Ty Cobb to Mickey Cochrane, Hank Greenberg to Al Kaline, and Willie Horton to Alan Trammell, the illustrious names of Tiger legends shine forth in these pages. A must-read for those who love the crack of the bat, the glory of green grass, and tales of great games well told. "[M]ore than anything, [Tiger Stadium] has been a cherished home to our memories" -Ernie Harwell, Tigers broadcaster Preface, Basil M. "Mickey" Briggs April 28, 1896: There Used to Be a Haymarket Here, Marcus W. Dickson April 25, 1901: Welcome to the Big Leagues, Richard Riis July 16, 1909: "I Never Saw Anything Like It", Phil Williams August 24, 1909: An Honest Slide, or a Case of Malicious Intent, Jeff Samoray October 14, 1909: "Most Exciting World Series Game Ever", Mitch Lutzke April 20, 1912: Frank Navin's Field of Dreams, Jim Wohlenhaus July 4, 1912: George Mullin No-Hitter, Mitch Lutzke September 20, 1912: Smoky Joe Seeks a 17th Straight Win, Rich Bogovich August 4, 1918: Cobb Single in 18th Defeats Big Train, Richard Riis April 30, 1922: Charlie Robertson's Perfect Game, David L. Fleitz June 13, 1924: The Day All Hell Broke Loose, Mike Lynch June 2, 1925: "...Wild as Bedlam", Gregory H. Wolf May 10, 1927: "I'm Glad to Be Back Here...", Richard Riis October 2, 1927: Heilmann Takes Title, Chip Mundy July 14, 1934: The G-Men Pull Off the Miracle, Jeffrey Koslowski September 10, 1934: "Happy New Year, Hank!", Matt Keelean October 4, 1934: Rowe Takes the Cardinals to School, Gregory H. Wolf October 9, 1934: "This is a Case For Judge Landis", Brent Heutmaker October 7, 1935: Goose Goslin, Money Player, Scott Ferkovich October 3, 1937: "Whistling Jake" One-Hits Tribe; Stops Johnny Allen, Terry W. Sloope May 4, 1939: Who is That Kid?!, Bill Nowlin October 6, 1940: Newsome's Performance Marked with Extraordinary Emotion, William M. Anderson July 8, 1941: "Listen, You Lug...", Marc Lancaster July 1, 1945: "We Want Greenberg!", Richard Riis July 18, 1947: Hutchinson Ends Yanks' 19-Game Win Streak, Mike Whiteman July 20, 1947: 58,369 Fans Most Ever, Ruth Sadler June 15, 1948: "Look at Your Wonderful Lights Here..." Scott Dominiak June 23, 1950: "A Fellow Doesn't Have a Night Like That Very Often", Chip Mundy July 10, 1951: "We're the Big Guys Now...", Marc Lancaster May 15, 1952: "I've Got to Get Married More Often", Gregory H. Wolf June 17, 1961: The Tiger Outslug the Yankees, Steve J. Weiss June 24, 1962: "It Was a Long, Long, Long Ballgame, John Milner 36. June 15, 1965: "I Had Pretty Good Stuff", Steven Kuehl September 14, 1968: "VJ Day All Over Again", Scott Ferkovich September 17, 1968: Unlucky Hero Wins Pennant, Jeff Samoray October 7, 1968: Jose Feliciano Lights Tigers' Fire, Scott Ferkovich July 13, 1971: "He Crushed It" Scott Ferkovich October 2, 1972: Lolich Fans 15, Doug Lehman October 11, 1972: Northrup's Wallop Wins It, Raymond Buzenski July 15, 1973: Ryan Tosses No-Hitter Gregory H. Wolf May 7, 1974: LaGrow Knuckles Under to Wood, Will Bennett June 28, 1976: Bird is the Word, Scott Ferkovich June 4, 1984

April 11, 1912, marked a new era in the history of the Cincinnati Reds. On that day the team inauguratedthe season by playing its first game at Redland Field, which was renamed Crosley Field in 1934 in honorof the team's owner, Powel Crosley. The new steel and concrete ballpark was located at the site of itspredecessor, the outdated wooden Palace of the Fans at the intersection of Findlay Street and WesternAvenue. For almost six decades, Crosley Field beckoned like a shining gem surrounded by warehousesand industrial complexes in the Queensgate neighborhood of the Queen City. The Reds closed the bookon Crosley Field on June 24, 1970, and moved into Riverfront Stadium, a modern all-purpose sportsvenue that held almost twice as many spectators. This book evokes memories of Crosley Field through detailed summaries of more than 85 historic andmonumental games played there, and 10 insightful feature essays about the history of the ballpark. Former Reds players Johnny Edwards and Art Shamsky share their memories of the park in introductions. Among the exciting contests recounted here are an Opening Day no-hitter in 1918, action from theinfamous 1919 World Series, Negro Leagues games, Joe DiMaggio's 1939 World Series heroics, JohnnyVan Der Meer's incredible summer of two no-hitters, and no-hitters by Lon Warneke and Clyde Shoun. Hank Aaron's 3000th hit took place at Crosley Field, as did indelible performances by Pete Rose, RobertoClemente, and Frank Robinson.

The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played. In the Fall 2016 issue: Analyzing the Major Leagues: The Historical Evolution of the Designated Hitter Rule by John Cronin The Stallings Platoon Prequel: 1913 by Bryan Soderholm-Difatte The.700 Club: Blessedly Good Baseball by Douglas Jordan Baseball Player Won-Lost Records: The Ultimate Baseball Statistic by Tom Thress Organized Baseball and Baseball Organizations: Organized Baseball's Night Birth by Mark Metcalf The International Girls Baseball League by Bill McMahon, Merrie Fiedler & "Nordie" Nordquist The Great American Pastime (1956): Hollywood, Little League, and the Post-World War II Consensus by Ron Briley Off the Field: The Show Girl and the Shortstop: The Strange Saga of Violet Popovich and Her Shooting of Cub Billy Jurges by Jack Bales A Question of Character: George Davis and the Flora Campbell Affair by Bill Lamb Chief Bender: A Marksman at the Traps and on the Mound by Robert D. Warrington Feats and Figures of the Nineteenth Century: The Young and the Restless: George Wright 1865-1868 by Robert Tholkes Catcher Duke Farrell's Record Performance by Brian Marshall Discrepancy in an All-Time MLB Record: Billy Hamilton's 1894 Runs Scored by Herm Krabbenhoft, Keith Carlson, David Newman, and Richard "Dixie" Tourangeau

This is a book about baseball's true "replacement players." During the four seasons the U.S. was at war in World War II (1942-45), 533 players made their major-league debuts. There were 67 first-time major leaguers under 21 (Joe Nuxhall the youngest at 15). More than 60 percent of the players in the 1941 Opening Day lineups departed for the service. The 1944 Dodgers had only Dixie Walker and Mickey Owen from their 1941 pennant-winning team. The owners brought in not only first-timers but also oldsters. Hod Lisenbee pitched 80 innings for the Reds in 1945 at the age of 46. He had last pitched in the major leagues in 1936. War veteran and former POW Bert Shepard, with an artificial leg, pitched in one game for the 1945 Senators, and one-armed outfielder Pete Gray played for the St. Louis Browns. The war years featured firsts and lasts. The St. Louis Browns won their first (and last) pennant in 1944-a team that featured 13 players classified as 4-F. The Cubs appeared in the 1945 World Series but have not made it back since. Some 53 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) have contributed to this volume. We invite you to sit back and relax as you learn Who's on First? Includes contributions by: Alan Cohen, Ashlie Christian And Armand Peterson, Bill Nowlin, Bob Brady, Bob Lemoine, Bob Mayer, Bob Webster, Charles Faber, Charlie Weatherby, Chris Rainey, Cort Vitty, David Finoli, David M. Jordan, David Raglin And Barb Mantegani, David W. Pugh, Don Zminda, Duke Goldman, Greg Erion, Gregg Omoth, Gregory H. Wolf, J. G. Preston, James D. Smith, Iii, Jay Hurd, Jeff Marlett, Jeff Obermeyer, Jim Sweetman, Joanne Hulbert, John Shannahan, Leslie Heaphy, Lyle Spatz, Marc Lancaster, Marc Z Aaron, Marc S. Sternman, Mel Marmer, Merrie A. Fidler, Michael Huber, Michael Huber And Rachel Hamelers, Mike Mcclary, Peter C. Bjarkman, Rex Hamann, Rich Bogovich, Richard Cuicchi, Richard Moraski, Rory Costello And Lou Hernández, Seamus Kearney, Sidney Davis, Steve Smith, Thomas Ayers, Tom Hawthorn, Walter Leconte.

I treasured going to the Winter Meetings. You don't see people for a whole year and then here you are, face to face, and trying to make a deal.-from the Foreword by Roland Hemond, who has been attending Winter Meetings since 1952 This collection of articles about the Winter Meetings contains stories and hidden treasures that may help resolve moments of wonder that have periodically crossed your mind as a baseball fan or as a scholar. So much of baseball history happened at the winter meetings. This book provides you with a historical answer to the business of baseball over many of the early years of the minor leagues, the National League, and the American League, and even features a chapter on the Eastern Colored League Winter Meetings. Important philosophies regarding chosen identity, reactions to societal trends, agreements on how to operate, approval of new members, and player transactions emerged from the discussions and decisions made at the winter meetings. This book represents the first of two volumes to cover the history of Baseball's Winter Meetings. Volume One covers the years 1901 through 1957, and Volume Two (to be published in 2017) covers the years 1958 through 2016. The first volume covers the years of twentieth century baseball from the first year there were two "major leagues"-the American League having begun as a major league in 1901-and running through the final year before expansion to the West Coast. The second volume brings coverage of the Winter Meetings through the 2016 gathering in San Diego. Volume One comprises the collective work of a team of 38 SABR researchers and editors. The overall project was initiated by SABR's Business of Baseball Committee, the brainchild of editor Steve Weingarden. Volume Two will comprise the work of a number of the same authors and editors, but more than two dozen others. All in all, well over 60 SABR members will have contributed to this effort, including Abigail Miskowiec, Aimee Gonzalez, Andy Bokser, Bill Felber, Bill Nowlin, Bob LeMoine, Chris Jones, Christopher Matthews, Dale Voiss, Dennis Pajot, Ely Sussman, Eric Frost, Frederick C. Bush, Gary Levy, Gregory H. Wolf, Jacob Pomrenke, Jason C. Long, Jeremy Green, Jerry Nechal, Jim Howlenhaus, Jim Overmyer, Joe Marren, Marshall Adesman, Mike Lynch, Nick Klopsis, Nick Waddell, Paul Hensler, R.J. Lesch, Rich Bogovich, Roland Hemond, Silvio Sansano, Stephen R. Keeney, Steve Weingarden, Steven Bryant, Ted Leavengood, Travis Stern, and Zak Schmoll.

Harvey's Wallbangers: The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers commemorates a team that captured the hearts and imagination of baseball fans not just in Wisconsin, but around the country. Named for skipper Harvey Kuenn, the home-run slugging club was filled with a memorable cast of characters, future Hall of Famers, and All-Stars: from Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas, Ted Simmons, and Rollie Fingers to Cecil Cooper, Ben Oglivie, Paul Molitor, and Don Sutton. They were a close-knit and resilient group that weathered controversies and slumps to capture the AL East crown on the last day of the season, overcome a two-games-to-none deficit to win the best-of-five League Championship Series, and move to within one game of winning the World Series. This book is the result of the tireless work of more than 40 members of the Society for American Baseball Research. SABR members researched and wrote all of the biographies, game accounts, and essays in this volume. Introduction and Acknowledgements by Gregory H. Wolf Bud Selig and Harvey Kuenn, both key members of the 1982 Brewers, are given due respect with their own respective biographies. Additionally, many lesser known players from the 1982 roster, such as Kevin Bass, Rick Schabowski, Doc Medich, Charlie Moore, Pete Vukovich, and Ned Yost are documented. Articles containing information about the 1982 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals are also included.

The team now known as the Boston Red Sox played its first season in 1901. The city of Boston had a well-established National League team, known at the time as the Beaneaters, but the founders of the American League knew that Boston was a strong baseball market and when they launched the league as a new major league in 1901, they went head-to-head with the N.L. in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. Chicago won the American League pennant and Boston finished second, just four games behind. The Boston Americans played in a new ballpark-the Huntington Avenue Grounds-literally on the other side of the railroad tracks from the Beaneaters and they out-drew the Beaneaters by more than 2-1, in part because they had enticed some of the more popular players-player/ manager Jimmy Collins, pitcher Cy Young, and slugger Buck Freeman. This volume represents the collective work of more than 25 members of SABR-the Society for American Baseball Research. It offers individual biographies of the players, team owner Charles Somers, league founder Ban Johnson, and two of the team's most noted fans: Hi Hi Dixwell and Nuf Ced McGreevy. There is also a "biography" of the Huntington Avenue Grounds ballpark and a study of media coverage of Boston baseball in 1901, and a timeline running from the first spring training through that year's postseason games.

This book rekindles memories of Milwaukee's County Stadium through detailed summaries of 72 games played there, and insightful feature essays about the history of the ballpark. The process to select games was agonizing, yet deliberate. The book could have easily been filled with memorable games by just Hank Aaron or Warren Spahn. About half of the games are dedicated to the Braves; the other half to the Brewers. Some of the summaries chronicle games that were memorable and historic when they occurred, such as Jim Wilson tossing the first no-hitter in County Stadium in 1954, the 1955 All-Star Game, the World Series contests of 1957, 1958, and 1982, and Robin Yount collecting his 3,000th hit in 1992. Other summaries recall great performances long forgotten, such as Bob Buhl's 14-inning complete-game victory in 1953 and the Brewers' two grand slams in one inning in an 18-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox in 1980. The games highlight the accomplishments and heroics of not just readily recognizable stars, like Aaron, Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, and Yount, but also revive memories of players like Gene Conley, Del Crandall, and Wade Blasingame of the Braves and Bob Coluccio, Dale Sveum, and Steve Woodard of the Brewers. Also included are great performances by the Braves' and Brewers' opponents, like Willie Mays' four homers in 1961 and Nolan Ryan's 300th victory in 1990. Twelve feature essays round out the volume and provide context for the stadium's history. Topics include the stadium's construction, the Braves' move to and departure from Milwaukee, the Chicago White Sox' home games at County Stadium, the Seattle Pilots' relocation to Milwaukee, and the stadium's demolition. Members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) researched and wrote all of the essays in this volume. These uncompensated volunteers are united by their shared interest in baseball history and resolute commitment to preserving its history. Without their unwavering dedication this volume would not have been possible. With contributions by Alan Cohen, Bill Nowlin, Bob Buege, Brian P. Wood, Chip Greene, Dan Fields, Dennis D. Degenhardt, Dennis Van Langen, Doug Welch, Frederick C. Bush, Greg Erion, Gregg Hoffmann, Gregory H. Wolf, J.G. Preston, Jeff Findley, Joe Schuster, Joel Rippel, John Bauer, John Bauer, Joseph Wancho, Lee Kluck, Mark Miller, Mark Pestana, Mark S. Sternman, Mike Huber, Mike Lynch, Norm King, Phillip Bolda, Richard "Dixie" Tourangeau, Richard Riis, Rick Schabowski, Robert C. Trumpbour, Ron Briley, Saul Wisnia, Scott Ferkovich, Stephen D. Boren, Steve West, Steven Kuehl, Stew Thornley, Tom Mason, and Tom Rathkamp.

Pitching a no-hitter is a dream for every major-league pitcher-once they have realized their dream of making it to the big leagues in the first place. Fewer than half the pitchers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame have thrown a no-hitter. Many of the biggest names in pitching have never done it. This book focuses on pitchers who threw no-hitters and the no-hitters they threw. Naturally, we couldn't present biographies of everyone who ever threw a no-hitter nor could we present Games Project accounts of all of them. From around 300 no-hitters thrown in the majors (out of over 213,000 games), we have selected 59 no-hitters to include, along with the biographies of the men who threw them. We wanted the book to touch on a variety of matters, and to span the decades so that there was some representation from the earlier eras of baseball right up to more recent years. We tried to hit certain themes-first no-hitter in each league; first no-hitter thrown at 60 feet 6 inches; first in which the losing team scored a run; first pitcher to debut with a no-hitter; first extra-inning no-hitter; etc. You'll find those all in here and maybe a surprise or two as well. This book represents the collective work of 56 different SABR members as authors and editors.

The Newark Eagles won only one Negro National League pennant during the franchise's 15-year tenure in the Garden State, but the 1946 squad that ran away with the NNL and then triumphed over the Kansas City Monarchs in a seven-game World Series was a team for the ages. World War II had ended, and numerous players who had served in the military returned to resume their playing careers with the Eagles. The returning veterans composed a veritable "Who's Who in the Negro Leagues" and included Leon Day, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, and Max Manning, as well as numerous role players. Four of the Eagles' stars-Day, Doby, Irvin, and player/manager Raleigh "Biz" Mackey, as well as co-owner Effa Manley-have been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This book, which was researched and written exclusively by more than 30 SABR members, presents not only the famous individuals, but also tells the tales of the other stars and the lesser-known players insofar as history allows them to be revealed. In addition to biographies of the players, co-owners, and P.A. announcer, there are also articles about Newark's Ruppert Stadium, Leon Day's Opening Day no-hitter, a sensational midseason game, the season's two East-West All-Star games, and the 1946 Negro League World Series between the Eagles and the renowned Kansas City Monarchs. A season timeline and a history of the Eagles' years in Newark help to present the entire context of the team and its lone championship season.

More than a century has passed since the "glorious Beaneaters" era of Boston's baseball history in the 1890s. While Boston would soon have a second baseball club that would capture the hearts of New England (the Red Sox), never again would there be such dominance over a decade as the Beaneaters accomplished. The team won five pennants in the decade. Nine of these players are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This book includes biographies of every player to appear with the team in the 1890s, such as Jimmy Bannon, Boileryard Clarke, Cozy Dolan, Pretzels Getzien, General Stafford, and George Yeager, as well as year-by year-recaps of seasons 1891 through 1899, bios of the owner and manager, articles on the ballparks they played in, recaps of 50 of the team's most thrilling and historic games, and articles on the team's impact on pop culture and 1980s baseball. Legendary manager Connie Mack called that era "a turbulent decade of the so-called roughhouse days in baseball. The Boston Beaneaters were ready for any fray, ever willing to take on the pugnacious Baltimore Orioles and give them a dose of their own medicine.-The tumultuous 1890s witnessed a player revolt against high-handed and monopolistic management," wrote baseball historian John Thorn, "The game was in a period of consolidation, or hibernation, or stagnation; one's perspective depended upon whether he were an owner, fan, or player." This book represents the combined efforts of more than 50 writers and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research.

The Black Sox Scandal is a cold case, not a closed case. When Eliot Asinof wrote his classic history about the fixing of the 1919 World Series, Eight Men Out, he told a dramatic story of undereducated and underpaid Chicago White Sox ballplayers, disgruntled by their low pay and poor treatment by team management, who fell prey to the wiles of double-crossing big-city gamblers offering them bribes to lose the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Eddie Cicotte, and the other Black Sox players were all banned from organized baseball for life. But the real story is a lot more complex. We now have access to crucial information that changes what we thought we knew about "baseball's darkest hour"-including rare film footage from that fateful fall classic, legal documents from the criminal and civil court proceedings, and accurate salary information for major-league players and teams. All of these new pieces to the Black Sox puzzle provide definitive answers to some old mysteries and raise other questions in their place. However, the Black Sox Scandal isn't the only story worth telling about the 1919 Chicago White Sox. The team roster included three future Hall of Famers, a 20-year-old spitballer who would go on to win 300 games in the minor leagues, and even a batboy who later became a celebrity with the "Murderers' Row" New York Yankees in the 1920s. All of their stories are included in Scandal on the South Side, which has full-life biographies on each of the 31 players who made an appearance for the White Sox in 1919, plus a comprehensive recap of Chicago's pennant-winning season, the tainted World Series, and the sordid aftermath. This book isn't a rewriting of Eight Men Out, but it is the complete story of everyone associated with the 1919 Chicago White Sox. The Society for American Baseball Research invites you to learn more about the Black Sox Scandal and the infamous team at the center of it all.

The Mets are a team known for warming hearts one day and breaking them the next. Nothing has ever come easy for the National League's third franchise in New York. Even the miraculous championship year of 1969 didn't occur without seven preceding years of futility. And in the dominant 1986 regular season, the road to an expected World Series title didn't happen without gut-wrenching, precipice-of-defeat dramatics in the playoffs. There have been fair measures of wondrous and woeful in the franchise's history, but this book's 57 game summaries-coinciding with the number of Mets years through 2018-are strictly for the eternal optimist. All, with the exception of one valiant defeat, end in triumph for the orange and blue. The selection process for these games involved various criteria including the time in the season, the dramatic level, and the impact in shaping franchise history. The games are recounted here thanks to the combined efforts of 32 SABR members. They run the gamut of the team's lifespan, beginning with its very first victory in April 1962 at Forbes Field, running through Tom Seaver's "Imperfect Game" in July '69 and the unforgettable Game Sixes in October '86, the "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS, then concluding with extra-inning heroics in September 2016 at Citi Field that helped ensure a wild-card berth. April 23, 1962: Mets First Victory Tony Valley June 26, 1963: Tim Harkness Game-Winning Slam Alan Raylesberg May 31, 1964: Longest Doubleheader Alan Cohen July 9, 1969: Seaver's Near-Perfect Game Alan Raylesberg September 15, 1969: Swoboda Is Carlton's Achilles Heel Richard A. Cuicchi October 15, 1969: Seaver/Swoboda Beat Baltimore Thomas J. Brown Jr. October 16, 1969: First Expansion Team to Win a World Series Thomas J. Brown Jr. April 22, 1970: Seaver Strikes Out 19 Batters Thomas J. Brown Jr. May 14, 1972: Willie Mays Homers in Mets Debut Kevin Larkin September 2, 1972: The Kind of a Night You Dream About Irv Goldfarb September 20, 1973: All the Good Bounces Brian Wright October 10, 1973: Ya Gotta Believe Steven C. Weiner October 14, 1973: Say Hey One Last Time Frederick C. Bush October 18, 1973: Koosman, McGraw Shutout Takes Series Frederick C. Bush June 14, 1980: The Steve Henderson Game Tom Cuggino April 5, 1983: Tom Seaver's Return Bruce Slutsky September 7, 1984: Dwight Gooden One-Hits Cubs Joseph Wancho April 9, 1985: Gary Carter HR Debut Bruce Slutsky July 4, 1985: Fire(works) & Rain Brian Wright September 12, 1985: Hernandez Walk-Off Joseph Wancho October 1, 1985: Strawberry's 11th-Inning Wallop Richard A. Cuicchi July 22, 1986: Extra-Inning Slugfest w/Brawl & Home Run Michael Huber 23 October 11, 1986: Dykstra's Homer Ends G3 NLCS Rory Costello October 14, 1986: Carter's Single Wins G5 NLCS Rory Costello October 15, 1986: 16-inning Battle for Pennant Rory Costello October 25, 1986: Buckner Error Matthew Silverman October 27, 1986: Game Seven Matthew Silverman August 11, 1988: McReynolds' Grand Slam Brian M. Frank October 4, 1988: Mets Steal G1 of NLCS Paul Hofmann October 8, 1988: Mets Beat Dodgers, Weather Tara Krieger July 25, 1990: Mets Survive Six-Run Ninth Michael Huber July 28, 1993: Walk-off Ends Young's 27-game Losing Streak Kevin Larkin and many more!

Minnie Minoso. Martin Dihigo. Luis Tiant Sr. and Jr. "El Duque" Orlando and Livan Hernadez. These are only a few of the leading lights profiled in this SABR BioProject book. The 47 individuals profiled here represent only a small handful of the legions of memorable and sometimes even legendary figures produced over nearly a century and a half by an island nation where the bat-and-ball sport known as baseball is more than a national pastime, it is the national passion. The book presents 47 biographies in all, plus essays on Cuban baseball. Profiled in this book: Aquino Abreu by Peter C. Bjarkman Rafael Almeida by Zack Moser Santos Amaro by Rory Costello Sandy (Edmundo) Amorós by Rory Costello Steve (Estebán) Bellán by Brian McKenna Ramón Bragaña by Lou Hernandez Bert (Dagoberto) Campaneris by Rich Schabowski José Cardenal by Ray Birch Paul Casanova by Rory Costello and José Ramirez Sandy (Sandalio) Consuegra by Rory Costello Mike (Miguel) Cuéllar by Adam Ulrey Tommie (Tomás) de la Cruz by Peter C. Bjarkman Martín Dihigo by Peter C. Bjarkman Pedro Formental by Tom Hawthorn Mike (Miguel) Fornieles by Thomas Ayers Bárbaro Garbey by Doug Hill Silvio García by Joe Gerard Mike (Miguel Ángel) González by Joe Gerard Tony González by Rory Costello and José Ramirez Mike (Fermín) Guerra by Bill Nowlin El Duque (Orlando) Hernández and Liván Hernández by Peter C. Bjarkman Mike (Ramón) Herrera by Bill Nowlin Pancho Herrera by José Ramirez Omar Linares by Peter C. Bjarkman Dolf (Adolfo) Luque by Peter C. Bjarkman Bobby Maduro by Rory Costello Connie (Conrado) Marrero by Peter C. Bjarkman Armando Marsans by Eric Enders Rogelio Martinez by Rory Costello Román Mejias by Ron Briley, Rory Costello, and Bill Nowlin José de la Caridad Méndez by Peter C. Bjarkman Minnie (Orestes) Miñoso by Mark Stewart Willy (Guillermo) Miranda by Rory Costello Julio Moreno by Rory Costello Tony Oliva by Peter C. Bjarkman Alejandro Oms by John Struth Camilo Pascual by Peter C. Bjarkman Tony (Tani) Pérez by Phil Cola Pedro Ramos by Peter C. Bjarkman Cookie (Octavio) Rojas by Peter M. Gordon Chico Ruiz by Rory Costello José Tartabull by Joanne Hulbert Tony Taylor by Rory Costello and José Ramirez Luis Tiant Jr.by Mark Armour Luis Tiant Sr. by Rory Costello Cristóbal Torriente by Peter C. Bjarkman Zoilo Versalles by Peter C. Bjarkman

Just in time for the Academy Awards, SABR"s book of baseball's "matinee stars." For well over a century, stars and supporting players on baseball diamonds have become stars and supporting players in the movies, on Broadway, in vaudeville and, eventually, on television and in concert halls. After all, ballplayers are celebrities. Whether on the field or the stage, they are in the business of entertaining the masses. Not surprisingly, many showbiz luminaries have become baseball enthusiasts. They have invested their time, money, and expertise to be part of the baseball world as team owners and fans. From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors includes essays by 43 SABR members that connect baseball and show biz. Not every ballplayer who ever made an appearance on screen or stage is included; to do so would result in a mini- encyclopedia. The purpose here is to offer a representative selection of those who crossed the lines between professional sports and popular entertainment. Included are biographies of selected individuals from the famous (Gene Autry, Joe DiMaggio, Jim Thorpe, Bernie Williams...) to the forgotten (Al Gettel, Lou Stringer, Wally Hebert, Wally Hood...) There are other select topics, from baseball on television shows and in Coca-Cola commercials to Jim Bouton's casting as "Jim Barton" in his Ball Four TV series and Don Drysdale playing "Don Drysdale" on The Donna Reed Show, Leave It To Beaver, and The Brady Bunch. Those who will relish the privileged peeks at the off-the-field life and times of Mike Donlin and Edward G. Robinson playing Hans Lobert on the big screen in Big Leaguer will surely savor From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors.

The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played.

Americans in the 1950s found new ways of enjoying themselves, from the rapid proliferation of television sets into every home, to the dawn of a new age of popular music, rock and roll, symbolized by a charismatic crooner named Elvis Presley. Baseball's place in American culture was still paramount, though the competition was gaining. In Boston, the baseball landscape changed dramatically in 1953 when the Braves moved to Milwaukee. Despite having the city to themselves, the Red Sox steadily lost attendance throughout the decade, due mainly to a series of teams that failed to contend. But because of television, fans of the region were able to "watch" Red Sox baseball for the first time without setting foot in Fenway Park. With its lagging fortunes of the team on the field, the club retained its hold on the hearts of the region throughout this period. The 1950s Red Sox were teeming with huge stories. You might know about Ted Williams, of course, but consider his teammates: Harry Agganis, a legendary local athlete whose tragic death is remembered by millions in the region; or Jimmy Piersall, whose illness and breakdown led to a book and two movies; or Jackie Jensen, a famous collegiate football star who forged a great career with the Red Sox. The Red Sox are famous for failing to integrate until 1959, the last team to do so. Depicted here are the people mostly blamed for this oversight (Tom Yawkey, Joe Cronin, and Mike Higgins), as well as the man who finally broke the color line (Pumpsie Green). Thanks to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), you can read the stories of 46 of these men, including all of of the aforementioned and one of the greatest announcers ever, Curt Gowdy. But along with many of the people you might remember, there are still plenty of lesser-known players that you can discover for the first time. All of these men made it the major leagues and played well enough to stick around for at least a few years. We think all of them are worth learning about, and hope you enjoy doing so.

Before the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Braves, there were the Boston Red Stockings. They were "Boston's First Nine" and 1871 through 1875, they won four consecutive pennants in the old National Association, considered by many to be baseball's first major league. In this five-year period, the team only fielded 22 players-but, then again, these were the days of the "one-man rotation." Who needed two pitchers, when one would do? And if that pitcher was Al Spalding, who won more than 50 games in back-to-back seasons of 1874 and 1875, that one pitcher was pretty good. Of the 22 players on the team, five of them are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. These were different days. The game was played a little differently from today-but not that differently. Take some time and enjoy the work of 38 SABR members. Several are among our leading 19th-century baseball experts; others became enthralled digging into the early days of professional baseball in Boston. There are fascinating stories of the men who played the game, the games, the seasons, the tours of Canada and even England and Ireland, where they took on some of the better cricket players of the British Isles, and beat them, too. Take a trip back to those glorious days of yesteryear, and see if you don't become captivated as we were in learning about stories of baseball and life from more than 140 years ago. The book includes recaps of each season, 1871-75, informative articles about the team and front office, and player biographies.

This book was inspired by the last Negro League World Series ever played and presents biographies of the players on the two contending teams in 1948-the Birmingham Black Barons and the Homestead Grays-as well as the managers, the owners, and articles on the ballparks the teams called home. Also included are articles that recap the season's two East-West All-Star Games, the Negro National League and Negro American League playoff series, and the World Series itself. Additional context is provided in essays about the effects of Organized Baseball's integration on the Negro Leagues, the exodus of Negro League players to Canada, and the signing away of top Negro League players, specifically Willie Mays. The lack of detailed press coverage of the Negro Leagues, the fact that not every player was a star with a lengthy career, and gaps in public records of the era (especially in regard to African Americans) present a situation in which it is not possible to detail the life of every single player as fully as in other SABR publications. In the face of such challenges, the SABR researchers who have contributed player biographies and feature articles to this book have done utmost diligence to uncover every possible nugget of information that is currently available and, in many instances, new discoveries have been made. Many of the players' lives and careers have been presented to a much greater extent than previously.

Late into the Boston Red Sox's infamous 86-year championship drought-from 1918 to 2004-it wasnearly taboo to talk seriously about the 1918 team. Some believed the Red Sox were cursed because theyear after the Red Sox won their fifth World Championship, Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees(who went on to win the first of their many titles). The year the Sox had last won it all, 1918, became asing-song taunt delivered by mocking Yankees fans, and a subject to be avoided. But 1918 was a fascinating season, played in the shadow of the first World War with dozens of playersleaving for military service or war-related work all year long. With superstitions of "the curse" dispelledby the Red Sox return to championship glory in 2004 (and 2007 and 2013) we are free to explore 1918 infull. In this book, 28 members of the Society for American Baseball Research have compiled the most in-depth look at the 1918 Red Sox ever published. They have unearthed a wealth of information-much of itnever seen before-about every one of the 32 players who suited up that year, from Hall of Famers BabeRuth and Harry Hooper to Red Bluhm, who batted only once. This SABR edition of When Boston Still Had the Babe is newly available to celebrate the 100thanniversary of the 1918 season.

Baseball in Puerto Rico has a long history, dating back to the nineteenth century and now extending into the twenty-first. As of the end of 2016, there have been 323 players born in Puerto Rico or descended from Puerto Rican natives who have played in the major leagues. But there are thousands of Puerto Rican professional players who have played in the Caribbean and other professional leagues, including the minor leagues in the United States. As one might imagine from the title, Puerto Rico and Baseball: 60 Biographies contains 60 biographies of players-but it also has two "ballpark bios" and an article on major-league games played in Puerto Rico, both spring training exhibition games and several regular-season games from the time when "Los Expos" included San Juan as their home base. This book highlights some of the pioneers who played in the Negro Leagues before the color line was broken, right up through Ivan Rodriguez, elected in 2017 to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In reading this book you will get to know Perucho, who was compared with Ty Cobb and called the Babe Ruth of Puerto Rico; why Pancho Coimbre was considered one of the best hitters; the story of the great Roberto Clemente; who was "el Divino Loco," the first pitcher to win a major-league game on the Pacific Coast; who was "El Jibaro"; and even the great achievements of the man who was possibly the most complete catcher who ever stepped on a diamond. This book also represents the collaborative efforts of 46 authors and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Contents: Introduction, Edwin Fernandez Roberto Alomar, Chris Jones Sandy Alomar, Sr., Irv Goldfarb Sandy Alomar, Jr., Joe Wancho Luis arroyo, Rory Costello Benny Ayala, Rory Costello Carlos Baerga, Joe Wancho Juan Beniquez, Jonathan arnold Carlos Bernier, Charles F. Faber Hiram Bithorn, Jane Allen-Quevedo Bobby Bonilla, Mark Souder Ivan Calderon, Dan Potter John Candelaria, Steve West Orlando Cepeda, Mark armour Pedro "Perucho" Cepeda, Edwin Fernandez Roberto Clemente, Stew Thornley Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre, Joseph Gerard Alex Cora, Scott Cummings Joey Cora, Alan Cohen Jose "Cheo" Cruz (Dilan) Sr., Jane Schupmann Hewitt Jose Luis Cruz, Thomas Brown Ivan DeJesus, Sr., Richard Cuicchi Carlos Delgado, Paul Hofmann Eduardo Figueroa, Rory Costello Ruben Gomez, Thomas Van Hyning Juan Gonzalez, Edwin Fernandez Jose Hernandez, Marlene Vogelsang Roberto Hernandez, Alan Cohen with Matt Merullo Willie Hernandez, Gary Gillette Sixto Lezcano, Brian Wood Javy Lopez, Kyle Eaton Mike Lowell, Bill Nowlin Candido Maldonado, Tom Hawthorn Felix Mantilla, Rick Schabowski Luis "Canena" Marquez, amy Essington Edgar Martinez, Emily Hawks Orlando Merced, Justin Cabrera Felix Millan, Jane Allen-Quevedo Bengie Molina, John Vorperian Willie Montanez, Chuck Johnson Roger Moret, Seamus Kearney Jaime Navarro, Gregory H. Wolf Julio Navarro, Rory Costello Luis Olmo, Rory Costello Jose A. Pagan, Bill Johnson Juan Pizarro, Rory Costello Jorge Posada, Scott Dominiak Vic Power, Joe Wancho Jim Rivera, Richard Smiley Ivan Rodriguez, Steve West Rey Sanchez, Bill Nowlin Benito Santiago, Thomas Brown Jose G. "Pantalones" Santiago, Edwin Fernandez Jose R. Santiago, Edwin Fernandez and Bill Nowlin Ruben Sierra, Adam J. Ulrey Danny Tartabull, Charles F. Faber Dickie Thon, Bob LeMoine Jose Valentin, Steven Schmitt Javier Vazquez, Norm King Jose Vidro, Mark S. Sternman Bernie Williams, Rob Edelman

BASE BALL'S 19TH CENTURY "WINTER" MEETINGS looks at the business meetings of base ball's earliest days (not all of which were in the winter). As John Thorn writes in his Foreword, "This monumental volume traces the development of the game from its birth as an organized institution to its very near suicide at the dawn of the next century." BASE BALL'S 19TH CENTURY "WINTER" MEETINGS is one of three volumes—totaling more than 1,500 pages—devoted to the study of the business of baseball. Published previously were Baseball's Business: The Winter Meetings: 1901-1957 (released December 2016) and Baseball's Business: The Winter Meetings: 1958-2016 (published in December 2017.) This volume looks at the years from 1857 through 1900, thus completing SABR's study of the business meetings for a period spanning 161 years. 29 members of the Society for American Baseball Research collaborated on this book. John Thorn offers by way of conclusion: "SABR's essayists in this volume (as in the two that follow chronologically, although they were published first) clearly have advanced our knowledge of the period. This will become the great sourcebook for all future efforts to describe how the game grew, flourished, fought, nearly succumbed, and survived."

The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played.

The Tony Conigliaro Award is given each year to the MLB player who "overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Tony Conigliaro." Conigliaro was hit in the face by a pitch in 1967. His injuries were so severe that he did not return to the playing field until 1969, homering on Opening Day. Despite his dramatic return, Conigliaro continued to be plagued with vision problems and was forced to retire at age 30. Instituted in 1990 by the Red Sox to honor Conigliaro after his death, the award has been given to 29 players including Rocco Baldelli, Dickie Thon, Jim Abbott, Curtis Pride, and R.A. Dickey. The life stories of these players have been gathered in this book through the collective efforts of 27 authors and editors who are members of SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research. Professional athletes perform seemingly superhuman feats at work every day. While they possess extraordinary skills, they, too, must persevere through human struggles, both physical and personal. Many MLB players have overcome significant adversity, obstacles, and disabilities to achieve their dreams on the diamond. The 29 athletes who have been presented with the Tony Conigliaro Award offer inspirational examples of ballplayers who have overcome significant adversity to enable them to pursue their professional careers. Contents: Introduction by Clayton Trutor The Red Sox and the Tony Conigliaro Award by Bill Nowlin The BBWAA and the Tony Conigliaro Award Tony Conigliaro by Bill Nowlin 1990-Jim Eisenreich by Scot Johnson 1991-Dickie Thon by Bob LeMoine 1992-Jim Abbott by Rick Swaine 1993-Bo Jackson by Norm King 1994-Mark Leiter by Clayton Trutor 1995-Scott Radinksy by Gregory H. Wolf 1996-Curtis Pride by David Laurila 1997-Eric Davis by Norm King 1998-Bret Saberhagen by Alan Cohen 1999-Mike Lowell by Bill Nowlin 2000-Kent Mercker by Clayton Trutor 2000-Tony Saunders by David E. Skelton 2001-Graeme LLoyd by Rory Costello 2001-Jason Johnson by Ryan Brecker 2002-Jose Rijo by Charles F. Faber 2003-Jim Mecir by Rick Swaine 2004-Dewon Brazelton by Rich Bogovich 2005-Aaron Cook by Joy Hackenmueller and Bill Nowlin 2006-Freddy Sanchez by Rich Bogovich 2007-Jon Lester by Saul Wisnia 2008-Rocco Baldelli by Eric Frost 2009-Chris Carpenter by Donna L. Halper 2010-Joaquin Benoit by Mark Brunke 2011-Tony Campana by Mark S. Sternman 2012-R.A. Dickey by Skip Nipper 2013-John Lackey by Susan Lantz 2014-Wilson Ramos by Joel Rippel 2015-Mitch Harris by Mike Huber 2016-Yangervis Solarte by Gordon Edes Pride and Perseverance: The Topps Baseball Card Set by Bill Nowlin The Hutch Award by Clayton Trutor The Lou Gorman Award

Few teams in baseball history have captured the hearts of their fans like the Milwaukee Braves of the 1950. During the Braves' 13-year tenure in Milwaukee (1953-1965), they had a winning record every season, won two consecutive NL pennants (1957 and 1958), lost two more in the final week of the season (1956 and 1959), and set big-league attendance records along the way. This book celebrates the Milwaukee Braves' historic 1957 World Series championship season. Led by the bats of National League Most Valuable Player Henry Aaron and slugging third baseman Eddie Mathews and the "Big Three" pitching trio (Cy Young Award winner Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl) the Braves won 95 games. The team enjoyed standout seasons by shortstop Johnny Logan, outfielder Wes Covington, and catcher Del Crandall And GM John Quinn pulled off the biggest trade of the summer, acquiring All-Star second baseman Red Schoendienst from the New York Giants. The Braves cemented their place in history by defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series. In one of the greatest performances in the history of the fall classic, crafty Lew Burdette tossed his second consecutive shutout (and third complete game) to defeat the Bronx Bombers in Game Seven, in Yankee Stadium. A collaborative effort of 32 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Thar's Joy in Braveland! The 1957 Milwaukee Braves portrays that memorable team with life stories of all of the roster players, the manager and coaching staff, the owner, the general manager, and sportswriters and radio announcers. Summaries of the regular season and World Series re-create the magic of that unforgettable season. Table of Contents: Introduction:The Milwaukee Braves Make History by Gregory H Wolf From Yawkey to Milwaukee: Lou Perini Makes his Move by Saul Wisnia THE BRAVES Henry "Hank" Aaron by William Johnson Joe Adcock by Gregory H Wolf Bill Bruton by John Harry Stahl Bob Buhl by Gregory H Wolf Lew Burdette by Alex Kupfer Dick Cole by Doug Engleman Gene Conley by John R Husman Wes Covington by Andy Sturgill Del Crandall by Gregory H Wolf Ray Crone by Gregory H Wolf John DeMerit by Steven Schmitt Harry Hanebrink by Andy Sturgill Bob Hazle by Nancy Snell Griffith Joey Jay by Joe Wancho Ernie Johnson by Dana Sprague Dave Jolly by Chip Greene Nippy Jones by Dan Fields Johnny Logan by Bob Buege Bobby Malkmus by Gregory H Wolf Felix Mantilla by Rick Schabowski Eddie Mathews by David Fleitz Don McMahon by John Vorperian Red Murff by Michael J Bielawa Danny O'Connell by Mel Marmer Andy Pafko by Dale Voiss Phil Paine by Chip Greene Taylor Phillips by Rick Schabowski Juan Pizarro by Rory Costello Del Rice by Norm King Mel Roach by David Fleitz Carl Sawatski by Gregory H Wolf Red Schoendienst by Kristen Lokemoen Ray Shearer by William Johnson Warren Spahn by Jim Kaplan Chuck Tanner by Dan Fields Hawk Taylor by Steven Schmitt Bobby Thomson by Jeff Findley Frank Torre by Norm King Bob Trowbridge by Nancy Snell Griffith THE MANAGER Fred Haney by Jim Gordon THE COACHES Bob Keely by Gregory H Wolf Johnny Riddle by Nancy Snell Griffith Charlie Root by Gregory H Wolf Connie Ryan by John McMurray GENERAL MANAGER John Quinn by Rory Costello County Stadium by Gregg Hoffmann Jane Jarvis by Rory Costello THE SPORTSWRITERS Headlines and Deadlines: Wordsmiths of the Braves by Bob Buege