Baseball History Podcast

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.

Fred Girard Haney was born April 25, 1896 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Haney touched all the bases in a 65-year baseball career. Along the way, he was a player, coach, scout, World Series winning manager, broadcaster and general manager.

Frank Joseph Thomas was born June 11, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A strapping slugger and dead-pull hitter who crowded the plate, Thomas was considered the successor of Ralph Kiner. He was considered a rebel and much of his career was spent bickering with management over his monetary value.

William Walker Cooper was born January 8, 1915 in Atherton, Missouri. Cooper was a solid defensive catcher as well as a strong hitter, making the National League All-Star team every year from 1942 to 1950.

Enos Bradsher Slaughter, nicknamed “Country”, was born April 27, 1916 in Roxboro, North Carolina. He played 22 seasons with the Cardinals, Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and Milwaukee Braves. During that period, he was a 10-time All-Star and played in five World Series. He was renowned for a smooth, flat swing that made him a reliable “contact” hitter.

Edwin Lee Mathews was born October 13, 1931 in Texarkana, Texas. Eddie was six years old when his family moved to Santa Barbara, California where he developed into a star high school player. Signed by the Boston Braves in 1949, he continued to shine in their farm system as a left-handed power-hitting third baseman who hit towering home runs. A natural athlete blessed with tremendous power, a rifle arm, and a durable body, Mathews was the premier third baseman of his era and a key member of the Braves teams of the late 1950s.

Felipe Rojas Alou was born May 12, 1935 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. The first Dominican to play regularly in the major leagues, he is the most prominent member of one of the sport’s most notable families of the late 20th century.

Warren Edward Spahn was born April 23, 1921 in Buffalo, New York. The winningest lefthanded pitcher of all time, and possibly the best as well, Spahn was a complete player who helped himself at bat and in the field.

Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron was born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama. Aaron is best known for setting the Major League record for most home runs in a career at 755, surpassing the previous mark of 714 by Babe Ruth.