Baseball History Podcast

Wayne Kirby Simpson was born on December 2, 1948 in Los Angeles, California. In his first season, Simpson started the year by winning 13 of his first 14 decisions, including a one-hitter, a two-hitter, and a three-hitter. But shoulder problems limited him to just two appearances after July.

Earl Alonzo Moore, nicknamed “Crossfire”, was born July 29, 1877 in Pickerington, Ohio. A strikeout pitcher with streaks of wildness, Moore whipped the ball in with an intimidating, sweeping sidearm motion from the very end of the rubber.

Fred Alexandra Toney was born on December 11, 1888, just outside Nashville in rural Davidson County, Tennessee. Fred Toney is best remembered as the victor of perhaps the greatest pitchers’ duel in major-league history, a 1917 game in which he and Jim Vaughn both pitched no-hitters over the first nine innings.

Lynford Hobart Lary, nicknamed “Broadway”, was born January 28, 1906 in Armona, California. Lary was a well-traveled shortstop. He played for six different teams in a span of twelve years, including two stints with the St. Louis Browns and played for three teams in 1939. Primarily a singles hitter, Lary was a good defensive player with good hands and a strong arm.

Stanley Orville Spence was born on March 20, 1915, in South Portsmouth, KY. He was a left-handed hitter with some power and was a superlative outfielder with fine range and throwing ability

Roger Eugene Maris was born September 10, 1934 in Hibbing, Minnesota. With one extraordinary season Roger Maris secured his place in baseball history. And yet his establishment of the major league home run record in 1961 proved to be more of a personal curse than a professional triumph.

Gary Merle Geiger was born on April 4, 1937, in Sand Ridge, Illinois. One has to wonder just how good Gary Geiger would have been if he hadn’t had so many physical ailments and mishaps.

Charles August Risberg, nicknamed “Swede,” was born October 13, 1894 in San Francisco, CA. Risberg was a light-hitting, rifle-armed shortstop who played a key role in baseball’s biggest scandal. He was a rising young player in the American League when he was banned from the game at age 25.

James Evan Perry, Jr. was born October 30, 1935 in Williamston, North Carolina. Perry was tall, trim right-handed pitcher who overcame the knock that he was “too nice” to win consistently in the Major Leagues. He went on to win the American League Cy Young Award in 1970.

Jack Houston Rothrock was born March 14, 1905 in Long Beach, CA. He is sometimes listed as John Rothrock but his given name was Jack. Rothrock was a switch-hitting utility player who performed at all nine positions. He was a line drive hitter and aggressive baserunner with little power but good speed.