Baseball History Podcast

Thomas Francis Holmes, nicknamed “Kelly” and “Tommie”, was born March 29, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. A .302 lifetime hitter who set a then-National League record with a 37-game hitting streak in 1945, Holmes was one of the toughest men in history to strike out.

Frank Joseph Thomas was born June 11, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A strapping slugger and dead-pull hitter who crowded the plate, Thomas was considered the successor of Ralph Kiner. He was considered a rebel and much of his career was spent bickering with management over his monetary value.

Martin Bergen, nicknamed “Marty”, was born October 25, 1871 in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was considered a superior defensive catcher, as compared to his contemporaries. A 2001 article about him described him as “a nimble fielder with a bullwhip arm who could snap the ball to second base without so much as moving his feet.” Bergen’s career, however, ended suddenly when he killed his wife and two children and then committed suicide.

George Daniel Weaver, nicknamed “Buck”, was born August 18, 1890 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Slick-fielding Weaver was at his best in the 1919 World Series, cracking 11 base hits. Unfortunately, seven of his teammates were deliberately at their worst; they’d been bribed to throw the games and Buck knew all about it.

Roger Maxwell Cramer, nicknamed “Doc” and “Flit”, was born July 22, 1905 in Beach Haven, New Jersey. An agile, swift centerfielder, Cramer was considered to be one of the best judges of fly balls in the Major Leagues, and also owned an excellent arm. A mainstay at the top of his team’s lineup for many years, Cramer was a spray hitter who led the American League in singles five times.