Baseball History Podcast

William Harold Terry, nicknamed “Memphis Bill”, was born October 30, 1898 in Atlanta, Georgia. Terry was a superior first baseman in the 1920s and 1930s and one of baseball’s premier managers in the 1930s.

Raymond William Schalk was born August 12, 1892 in Harvel, Illinois. The diminutive Ray Schalk was a symbol of toughness and durability and was one of the premier catchers of his day. He caught a Major League record four no-hitters in his career, including one perfect game. A merely adequate batter, his best batting came in the 1919 World Series, when he hit .304 as eight of his teammates threw the Series to gamblers.

Wilfred Henry Lefebvre, nicknamed “Bill” or “Lefty”, was born November 11, 1915 in Natick, Rhode Island. Bill Lefebvre pitched with the Boston Red Sox in 1938 and 1939. After a 4-year absence from the major leagues, he played for the Washington Senators in 1943 and 1944. Lefebvre’s best pitch was a fastball but he also threw a slider and a palmball.

Albert John Weis was born April 2, 1938 in Franklin Square, New York. Weis, a light-hitting utility infielder, was a switch hitter until the end of the 1968 season, after which he batted exclusively right-handed. He was the most improbable of heroes in the 1969 Miracle Mets’ World Series. His ninth-inning single won Game Two and his seventh-inning homer tied Game Five, making the final Met victory possible; prior to the World Series had hit just six career homers.

Rogers Hornsby, nicknamed “The Rajah”, was born April 27, 1896 in Winters, Texas. Perhaps the game’s most proficient right-handed hitter, Rogers Hornsby captured seven batting titles — including six in a row — topping .400 three times. A complete player with a fierce passion for the game, Hornsby’s .424 mark in 1924 is a National League record for the 20th century and his career average of .359 is the highest ever in the National League.

Harry Franklin Sallee, nicknamed “Slim”, was born February 3, 1885 in Higginsport, Ohio. Sallee toiled in obscurity for eight and one-half seasons with what might have been the worst major league team of the Dead Ball era. Yet, the lean junkballer, gifted with fantastic control, won consistently.

Walter James Vincent Maranville, nicknamed “Rabbit”, was born November 11, 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Maranville compensated for his lack of size with an overabundance of spunk and determination. Over his 23-year Major League career, spent exclusively in the National League, the wide-ranging shortstop accumulated a record 5,133 putouts and developed a reputation for his eye-popping basket catches.

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.

Raymond Earl Fosse was born April 4, 1947 in Marion, Illinois. Fosse was involved in one of the most celebrated plays in All-Star Game history. In 1970, his first season as a Cleveland regular, he established himself as one of baseball’s best catchers, earning a spot on the All-Star team.