Baseball History Podcast

Ernest Gordon Phelps, nicknamed “Babe”, was born April 19, 1908 in Odenton, MD. While playing for a local team, Phelps’ baseball exploits caught the attention of Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators. Griffith eventually offered the young ballplayer his first professional contract. In 1931, he was called up to the big club at the end of the season for the proverbial “cup of coffee.”

William Ashley Freehan was born November 29, 1941 in Detroit, MI. Freehan played his entire Major League career for the Detroit Tigers and was widely regarded as one of the game’s best defensive catchers. He was described as a fierce competitor and a committed leader on the diamond.

Lewis Everett Scott, nicknamed “Deacon”, was born November 19, 1892 in Bluffton, Indiana. He was the steady infield leader of championship Red Sox and Yankee teams of the 1910s and 1920s and was considered to be the finest shortstop of his time. He set a Major League record for that time by appearing in 1,307 consecutive games.

John W. Taylor, nicknamed “Jack”, was born January 14, 1874 in New Straitsville, Ohio. For a five year period, from June 20, 1901 to August 9, 1906, Taylor achieved a remarkable pitching record of never once being relieved in a game. During the span he started and completed 187 games.

Dominic Paul DiMaggio, nicknamed “The Little Professor”, was born February 12, 1917 in San Francisco, CA. It is easy to overlook the remarkable career of Dominic DiMaggio. After all, he lived in the shadow of two famous ballplayers: his brother Joe, arguably the greatest all-around ballplayer of his era, and good friend and teammate Ted Williams, a Red Sox legend. Yet Dom was as solid a major-leaguer as there was in any era.