Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. was born January 31, 1947. He was most noted for his blazing fastball and his longevity, routinely throwing pitches exceeding 100 mph, even into his forties.
Archive for May, 2006
Baseball HP 0624: Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, he played center field throughout most of his career. The epitome of the five-tool player, he combined power and speed in ways unseen on the diamond before his time.
Baseball HP 0623: Christy Mathewson
Christopher “Christy” Mathewson was born August 12, 1880 in Factoryville, Pennsylvania. In 1901 Mathewson won 20 games with a 2.41 ERA for the Giants, but manager Horace Fogel still did not believe his young star would win consistently, and had him practice at first, shortstop, and in the outfield. John McGraw arrived in mid-1902 and quickly put a stop to such experiments, and from 1903 to 1914 Mathewson never won fewer than 22 games.
Baseball HP 0622: Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornel “Willie” Stargell was born March 6, 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma. Over his 21-year career with the Pirates he batted .282 with 475 home runs. He did everything in a large way – blasting tape-measure home runs or striking out.
Baseball HP 0621: Tris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker was born on Wednesday, April 4, 1888 in Hubbard, Texas. Early in his life he suffered a broken right arm in a fall from a horse and was forced to use his left hand for throwing. Eventually he became very comfortable with it and stayed a southpaw even when his right arm healed.
Baseball HP 0620: Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond Cobb was born December 18, 1886 in Narrows, Georgia. Cobb’s batting title in 1907 was the first of 12 and first of nine in a row. He also established himself as a fine fielder.
Baseball HP 0619: George Brett
George Howard Brett was born May 15, 1953 in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He is one of the greatest third basemen in Major League Baseball history and the only man to ever win batting titles in three different decades.
Baseball HP 0018: Ernie Lombardi
Ernesto Natali Lombardi was born April 6, 1908 in Oakland, California.
Baseball HP 0617: Cy Young
Denton True Young was born March 29, 1867 in Gilmore, Ohio, a tiny village near Newcomerstown, Ohio. His nickname “Cy” is short for “Cyclone.” His nickname was given to him by a young catcher who warmed him up when he tried out for the Canton, Ohio minor league team. He was judged to be “as fast as a cyclone.”
