Baseball History Podcast

Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, nicknamed Minnie (mean-YO-so, commonly pronounced minn-OH-so by media, was born November 29, 1925 in El Perico, Cuba. Minoso would do whatever was necessary to get on base, including getting in the way of fastballs. In 16 American League seasons, he set the league record by being hit by a pitch 189 times. He is one of just two players in Major League history to play in five separate decades

Robert Earl Wilson was born October 2, 1934 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He was actually born with the name Earl Lawrence Wilson. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound pitcher who relied on sliders and fastballs, Wilson made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 1959, as their first black pitcher. Originally a catcher, Wilson threw hard, and switched to pitching in 1953, his first pro season.

Clifford Carlton Cravath, nicknamed both “Gavvy” and “Cactus”, was born March 23, 1881 in Escondido, California. Cravath was the home run king of the deadball era. Employing a powerful swing and taking advantage of Baker Bowl’s forgiving dimensions, the Philadelphia clean-up hitter led the National League in home runs six times, establishing new twentieth-century records for most home runs in a season and career. He set marks Babe Ruth would break soon after with the introduction of the lively ball.

Vincent Edward Jackson, nicknamed “Bo”, was born November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He wasn’t the first multi-sport athlete, but he was one of the best. His feats in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League are well-known, and the outfielder/running back became the first athlete named to two sports’ All-Star games, a testament to his athletic prowess.