Baseball History Podcast

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.”

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.

Alfonso Ramon Lopez, nicknamed “Al”, was born August 20, 1908 in Tampa, Florida. A solid major league catcher whose record of games caught stood for more than 40 years. He later found great success as manager.

Ernest Gordon Phelps, nicknamed “Babe”, was born April 19, 1908 in Odenton, MD. While playing for a local team, Phelps’ baseball exploits caught the attention of Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators. Griffith eventually offered the young ballplayer his first professional contract. In 1931, he was called up to the big club at the end of the season for the proverbial “cup of coffee.”

John W. Taylor, nicknamed “Jack”, was born January 14, 1874 in New Straitsville, Ohio. For a five year period, from June 20, 1901 to August 9, 1906, Taylor achieved a remarkable pitching record of never once being relieved in a game. During the span he started and completed 187 games.

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.

George Watt McQuillan was born May 1, 1885 in Brooklyn, New York. McQuillan enjoyed one of the best rookie seasons in history, going 23-17 for the mediocre Phillies with a sparkling 1.53 Earned Run Average. An unusually fast worker even in an era of briskly paced games, McQuillan pitched with “supreme self-confidence” becoming known as the brightest young pitcher in the game. Within three years, however, his career came crashing down in a sordid web of alcoholism, sexual escapades, and financial troubles.

David Francis Dravecky was born February 14, 1956 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was a consistently effective starter and occasional reliever for the Padres for over five seasons and the Giants for two.

Harold Joseph Traynor, nicknamed “Pie,” was born November 11, 1899 in Framingham, Massachusetts. The pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1920s and ’30s, Traynor was a superior third baseman and a skillful hitter. He batted .320 during his 17-year career, hit .300 or better 10 times, and never struck out more than 28 times in a season.

Charles Benjamin Adams, nicknamed “Babe”, was born May 18, 1882 in Tipton, Indiana. Best remembered for pitching three complete-game victories as a rookie to help the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1909 World Series, Babe Adams was one of the Deadball Era’s greatest control pitchers.