Baseball History Podcast

Jimmie Reese was born October 1, 1901, in New York City.
Jimmie was born in New York City but raised in Los Angeles. At the age of 12 he was a batboy for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. For six years he held the batboy job except for a one-year stint in the U.S. Navy in 1918, where he was a mascot for a Navy team.

Albert Benjamin “Happy” Chandler, Sr. was born July 14, 1898 in Corydon, Kentucky.
He was the second Commissioner of baseball, succeeding the legendary Judge Landis. He was elected in 1945, after having served as Governor of Kentucky for four years and U.S. Senator for six.

Francis “Frankie” Frisch, nicknamed the Fordham Flash, was born September 9, 1898 in the Bronx, New York City, NY.
Frisch was an all-around athlete who jumped directly from college to the New York Giants and played on eight pennant-winners in 19 seasons. A fine switch-hitter, Frisch compiled a run of 11 straight .300 seasons and set single-season fielding records as a second baseman for chances and assists with the Cardinals in 1927.

JBaseball,history,Baseball History Podcast,Bob Wright,Baseball,World Series,SABR,SABR Baseball Biography Project, was born April 4, 1942 in San Francisco, California. Forever known as the man traded to the New York Mets for Nolan Ryan, Fregosi was the premier power-hitting shortstop in the American League during the 1960s. In the Los Angeles & California Angels first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team’s most productive and popular player.

Claude Wilson Osteen was born August 9, 1939 in Caney Springs, Tennessee. Sometimes referred to as “Gomer” because of his resemblance to TV’s Gomer Pyle but known locally as “Mudcat” due to his penchant for playing in mudholes, Osteen was a pitcher on baseball teams throughout his school years.

James Anthony Piersall was born November 14, 1929 in Waterbury, Connecticut. While he had a fairly good professional career as a center fielder, Piersall is better known for his well-publicized battle with bipolar disorder that became the subject of the movie Fear Strikes Out.

Daniel Edward Murtaugh was born October 8, 1917 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Danny Murtaugh parlayed charm, confidence, and intelligence into a lengthy, highly successful managerial career. Murtaugh’s ability to create cohesiveness in the clubhouse was a notable feat considering he spent his managerial years during an era of racial tension.

Richard Morrow Groat was born November 4, 1930 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. Groat was the complete ballplayer. A natural athlete, he never played minor league ball. The slick ball-handler was at or near the top of the league each year in assists, putouts, and double plays.

Stanley Raymond Harris, nicknamed “Bucky” was born November 8, 1896 in Port Jervis, New York. Bucky Harris spent seven different decades in the majors as a player, manager, executive, and scout. He both played for and managed the Senators beginning in 1924, directing the team to a World Series Championship in his rookie season and the American League pennant the following year.

Lawrence Robert Bowa was born December 6, 1945 in Sacramento, California. Characterized by his “soft” hands, strong arm, fast feet, and fiery personality, he won two Gold Glove Awards and led the National League in fielding percentage six times, then a league record.