Baseball History Podcast

Fury Gene Tenace was born October 10, 1946 in Russellton, Pennsylvania. His actual birth name is Fiore Gino Tennaci. Tenace was an underappreciated talent whose magnificent performance in the 1972 World Series displayed to the world his valuable but rarely spotlighted abilities. He reached 20 Home Runs in five of his seven seasons as a regular but throughout his career, his low batting averages were focused on. Missed was the fact that, after becoming an everyday player, he had an on-base average of .400 five times and over .390 three times.

Richard Rudolph, nicknamed “Baldy”, was born August 25, 1887 in New York, New York. Spitballer Dick Rudolph rotated in a trio that pitched the 1914 Braves from last place on July 4 to the pennant. Rudolph paced the staff with 27 wins and added two more in the World Series as the Braves swept the Athletics in four games.

Henry Emmett Manush nicknamed “Heinie,” was born July 20, 1901 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Mastering the art of the line drive but unable to master his own temper, Heinie Manush burst onto the major league scene with the Detroit Tigers and quickly became one of the fiercest and most feared hitters in the game.

Edward Marvin Reulbach, nicknamed “Big Ed”, was born December 1, 1882 in Detroit, MI. Reulback employed the technique of “shadowing” hiding the ball in his windup and had what was generally regarded as the finest curve ball in either league to become one baseball’s most difficult pitchers to hit.

Joseph Lowell “Joe” Gordon, nicknamed “Flash”, was born February 18, 1915 in Los Angeles, California. The acrobatic Gordon would be remembered for his defensive skills alone, but he was also a powerful and timely hitter. He holds the American League second basemen’s records for career Home Runs and Home Runs in a season. After his playing days were over, he achieved some success as a manager, but may be better known for his involvement in one of the more bizarre trades in baseball history: one manager for another.

Richard Atley Donald, nicknamed “Swampy”, was born August 19, 1910 in Morton, Mississippi. Donald was the Yankees’ number-four or -five starter for most of his career. He was blessed with the support of New York’s tremendous offense and sparkling defense, but was also a good pitcher in his own right.

Harold Joseph Traynor, nicknamed “Pie,” was born November 11, 1899 in Framingham, Massachusetts. The pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1920s and ’30s, Traynor was a superior third baseman and a skillful hitter. He batted .320 during his 17-year career, hit .300 or better 10 times, and never struck out more than 28 times in a season.

Richard William Marquard, nicknamed “Rube”, was born October 9, 1886 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Tall and gangly, with a cannon for a left arm, Rube Marquard made headlines around the country in 1908 when the New York Giants purchased his contract for the unprecedented price of $11,000, by far the largest amount of money ever paid for a ballplayer.

Antonio Oliva Lopez Hernandes Javique, better known as Tony Oliva, was born on July 20, 1938 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. Oliva is the only player in major league history to win batting titles in his first two full seasons. He was one of the most graceful, natural hitters of all time, but had his career cut short by a bad knee.

Edward Leslie Grant was born May 21, 1883 in Franklin, Massachusetts. Eddie Grant was a typical Deadball Era third baseman: mediocre offensively but defensively reliable, particularly against the bunt. He was fast on the bases and dependable in the clutch. Today, however, he is best remembered as the most prominent major leaguer killed in combat during World War I.