Baseball History Podcast

Robin Evan Roberts was born September 30, 1926 in Springfield, Illinois. In his prime, pitching was easy for Roberts, who used to say, “Too many people try to make it more complicated than it really is.” A hard-nosed competitor, Roberts ranks as the winningest righthander in Phillies history.

Robert Earl Wilson was born October 2, 1934 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He was actually born with the name Earl Lawrence Wilson. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound pitcher who relied on sliders and fastballs, Wilson made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 1959, as their first black pitcher. Originally a catcher, Wilson threw hard, and switched to pitching in 1953, his first pro season.

John Wesley Coombs, nicknamed “Jack” and “Colby Jack”, was born November 18, 1882 in LeGrand, Iowa. Armed with an above average fastball and a devastating drop curve, Coombs had one of the most dominant pitching seasons in baseball history in 1910, rolling up a 31-9 record to propel the Philadelphia Athletics to the American League pennant.

George Joseph Mullin, nicknamed “Wabash George” or “Big George”, was born July 4, 1880 in Toledo, Ohio. Powerfully built with a fearful fastball and biting curve that Johnny Evers once referred to as a “meteoric shoot,” George Mullin was Detroit’s stalwart right-handed pitcher for 12 years.

Theodore Amar Lyons was born December 28, 1900 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lyons never pitched in the minor leagues and never pitched in a World Series, but 21 seasons of yeoman work for the seldom-contending White Sox earned his 1955 election to the Hall of Fame.

Myron Walter Drabowsky, nicknamed “Moe” was born July 21, 1935 in Ozanna, Poland. He is one of only four players who played for both the Kansas City Athletics and the Royals.

Charles Augustus Nichols, better known as Kid Nichols, was born September 14, 1869 in Madison, Wisconsin. A success from the moment he made his major league debut at age 20 in 1890, Kid Nichols topped the 25-victory mark in each of his first nine seasons, leading the Boston Beaneaters staff, and sparking his club to five National League championships. A durable overhand pitcher with a smooth delivery, he depended on control, a good curve and fastball.

James Anthony Abbott was born September 19, 1967 in Flint, Michigan; although one source says that he was born in Southfield, Michigan and moved to Flint shortly afterwards. Born without a right hand, southpaw Jim Abbott went directly from the University of Michigan to the Angels’ starting rotation in the spring of 1989 without spending a day in the minor leagues. Many considered the move a publicity stunt by manager Doug Rader, but after struggling early, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games in his rookie season.

Ferguson Arthur Jenkins, nicknamed “Fergie,” was born December 13, 1943 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Canada’s first Hall of Fame member, Fergie Jenkins used pinpoint control and effectively changed speeds to win 284 games.

Donald Eugene Cardwell was born December 7, 1935 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As a right-handed pitcher, he played for five National League teams from 1957 to 1970. Cardwell signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1954. He debuted in 1957 and struggled in three seasons with the Phillies, winning 16 games while losing 24 as a spot starter.