Baseball History Podcast

arold Arthur Trosky, Sr., born Harold Arthur Trojovsky and nicknamed “Hal”, was born November 11, 1912 in Norway, Iowa. The first baseman’s career reached its apex in 1936, when he led the American League in runs batted in with 162, but he has been consigned to relative obscurity because his career overlapped the trio of Hall of Fame first basemen Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, and Lou Gehrig.

John Tortes Meyers, nicknamed “Chief”, was born July 29, 1880 in Riverside, California. Meyers was a member of the Cahuilla tribe, also called the Mission Indians. On the field, the strong but slow-footed Meyers was almost certainly the best offensive catcher of the Deadball Era.

Baldomero Almada, nicknamed “Melo”, was born February 7, 1913 in Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico. He moved to southern California with his family at the age of one in 1914, amid the political and business turmoil of the Revolution in Mexico. He made history by becoming the first Mexican baseball player to play in the Major Leagues.

Samuel Paul Derringer was born October 17, 1906 in Springfield, Kentucky. Derringer had such command of his pitches that he was called ‘The Control King.” He was known as a great spot pitcher able to put the ball in unhittable places. In addition to his fastball and curve, he also from time to time mixed in a knuckle ball.

Robert Richard Boyd, nicknamed “Rope”, was born October 1, 1919 in Potts Camp, Mississippi. Despite his high batting average, he lacked the home run punch expected from a first baseman and was primarily a pinch hitter in his last seasons.

John Joseph Murphy was born July 14, 1908 in New York City. A righthanded, curveballing control pitcher, Murphy began his career as a starter with the Yankees, starting 20 games as a rookie in 1934. After being switched to the bullpen the following season, he started only 20 more games in his 13-year career.

Wilson Lloyd Fewster, nicknamed “Chick”, was born November 10, 1895 in Baltimore, MD. Fewster broke into organized baseball in 1915 playing second base, and then in 1917 was brought up to the Yankees in time to debut on September 19. In 11 late-season games, he hit .222, driving in just one run and scoring twice.

Robert George Weiland was born December 14, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. Left-handed pitcher Weiland’s record is a reminder that the team you play for can have as much as anything to do with your won-loss totals. It was his misfortune to play for the worst two teams in the American League for the first six and a half years in the majors putting up a combined record of 20-50.

Alvin Neill Jackson, nicknamed “Little Al”, was born December 25, 1935 in Waco, Texas. Jackson was a gutty left-handed pitcher that Reds outfielder Vada Pinson described as “Very competitive, small, big heart – he knew how to pitch. He fought you every kind of way to help beat you.”

Early Wynn Jr., nicknamed “Gus”, was born January 6, 1920, Hartford, Alabama. He was a burly, hard-nosed competitor, who treated every ballgame as if it were a war. His durability helped him lead the American League in innings three times and also helped him last 23 seasons.