Baseball History Podcast

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.

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.

Wesley Noreen Westrum was born November 28, 1922 Clearbrook, Minnesota. He was known as a superb defensive catcher. In 1950 he set a National League record for catchers with a .999 fielding average. He later served as the second manager in the history of the New York Mets, replacing Casey Stengel.

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.

Francis Joseph O’Doul, nicknamed “Lefty”, was born on March 4, 1897, in San Francisco, CA. Lefty O’Doul was known first as a pitcher and then as one of the game’s best hitters. After leaving the majors, he managed in the Minor Leagues for more than 20 years, amassing more than 2,000 wins. He was recognized as one of the game’s great hitting instructors; men would travel far to have him critique their skills.

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.

John Henry Kramer, nicknamed Jack, was born January 5, 1918 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kramer likely did not make the most of his considerable ability but he certainly left lasting impressions in Red Sox and Browns baseball history. When he was on, he was a very good pitcher and often delivered clutch wins for his ballclubs

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.

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.

Timothy John “Tim” Keefe, nicknamed Sir Timothy, was born January 1, 1857 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A superior submarine pitcher, Tim Keefe won 342 games in just 14 big league seasons. He ran off a record 19 straight victories during the 1888 season, twice won over 40 games and three times pitched his club to the pennant. He was the first pitcher to post three separate 300-strikeout seasons.