A Time Machine To 5 Events in Baseball History

[Fred]

May 30, 1894 - Bobby Lowe's (4) HR performance. It was said after his second HR fans were throwing coins for him. True meaning of a FANatic for the game.

October 8, 1908 - Game between Giants and Cubs to determine the league championship. The game was played because of Merkle's boner. Accounts indicate it was a crazy scene at Coogan's Bluff.

Any game in the early 20th century that would have had HOFers pitching against each other. Would really liked to have seen a Joss and Johnson matchup.

May 25, 1935 - Watch Ruth hit his final HR (actually three that day)

Any game in the summer of 1976 that Mark Fidrych started - I remember watching him pitch on TV. It was so different to see someone grooming the mound and talking to the ball.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Fred

Any game in the summer of 1976 that Mark Fidrych started - I remember watching him pitch on TV. It was so different to see someone grooming the mound and talking to the ball.

Another that that was hard for me not to list

[Yoda]

Only a couple that haven't been already mentioned:
1. Sandy Amoros terrific catch off a Yogi Berry sliced fly ball to left, which saved the Dodgers WS victory in '55.
2. Any game when Jackie Robinson steals home.
3. The incident when a sliding Ty Cobb purportedly sliced up Frank Baker with his spikes.
4. On the pathos side, maybe when Gil McDougal's line drive hit Herb Score in the eye.

[FrankWakefield]

Doug, post #25 had you asking about the photo in post #14.

My grandfather, Mathew Wakefield, was born in 1880. I have a handful of memories of him, he passed when I was 6 or so. I recall that at my Aunt's house, in an upstairs bedroom, was my grandfather. On his dresser was that picture. I think he was showing me a pocket watch or pocketknife, and I recall that photo. Later, I remember wondering about it. New York on the jersey, NY on the hat. Had to be the Yankees. It being the Giants was inconceivable to my peanut kid brain, I knew the Giants were in San Francisco. As a pre-teenager, I figured out who Dusty Rhodes was, and the picture was on my little desk in my room. By college days I realized that in the 1954 World Series Dusty Rhodes went 4 for 6, with 7 RBIs and 2 home runs.

And before grad school I am aware that he did that in 3 games, the lore being that he'd celebrated so much after game 3 that he was unlikely to be called upon to bat, but I now doubt that.

Dusty didn't start any of those games. His first HR was down the right field line, much less than 300 feet. Some of the Media considered it a cheap home run. The Media had less to say about that after his HR in game 2 was out to center field, way more than 400', out there where Willie had made The Catch the day before.

Daddy Wake, as I knew him, had been a farmer, in western Kentucky. He had some renown in being able to raise a good tobacco crop, and being skilled in treating tobacco for the various disease and insect problems. In later years he ran a newstand in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. That was the home of the Hopkinsville Hoppers, of the class D Kitty League. Dusty started professional play there in 1947, with the Hoppers, hitting .326 and slugging .474, in 125 games. Here's a link to his bio:

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Dusty-Rhodes/

So... that picture is the image used on the 1955 Topps cards of Dusty Rhodes, card #1. NY fans loved him because he ran hard to first, and could reach the short outfield wall in right, down there by the foul pole.

I decided to try and make copies of the photo, and that's when I learned it's not a photo. It's a PMT. Photo Mechanical Transfer. It was a bunch of dots. I eventually got several copies made.

I'm thinking either Daddy Wake knew Dusty from that 1947 season, or maybe Dusty made his way through Hopkinsville, KY and Nashville, TN (he played there in 1952, before going up to the Giants in July) on some sort of a dinner speaking circuit, or maybe as a salesman for one of the Distilleries in that fine state that provides fine bourbon for sensible folk.

In the early 2000's I wrote Dusty, he lived in Redbud, CA at the time, I sent him several of my reprints (that had no trace of the writing), and a copy of my original. I asked him to sign 2 of them and mail them back in the SASE I'd sent, and suggested he keep the others for himself. And I asked some questions. He sent the photos back, asked me a few questions, didn't recall Daddy Wake, and answered my questions.

The only other time I've seen one of these it was offered in one of the best auctions going, Scott Brockelman's. I bid enough that I got it.

That SABR bio is a brief, interesting article, even if you hate the Giants.
And look at retrosheet.org for the play by play. I wrote those guys, asking questions and for signed index cards (which is sent, with SASE's), most signed. Sadly, I wrote Don Liddle just after he had passed, my recollection is that his wife sent me a photo that he'd signed. Marv Grissom signed and answered questions. I think it was he that told me... Don Liddle came into that first game to relieve Maglie after the first two reached. Liddle pitched to Wertz, who hit that ball 460' feet to center, leading to The Catch. Durocher had seen all that he wanted from Liddle, and sent me it. As I get to the mound and get the ball, Don turns to me and said "I got my man, you get yours."

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Doug, post #25 had you asking about the photo in post #14.

My grandfather, Mathew Wakefield, was born in 1880. I have a handful of memories of him, he passed when I was 6 or so. I recall that at my Aunt's house, in an upstairs bedroom, was my grandfather. On his dresser was that picture. I think he was showing me a pocket watch or pocketknife, and I recall that photo. Later, I remember wondering about it. New York on the jersey, NY on the hat. Had to be the Yankees. It being the Giants was inconceivable to my peanut kid brain, I knew the Giants were in San Francisco. As a pre-teenager, I figured out who Dusty Rhodes was, and the picture was on my little desk in my room. By college days I realized that in the 1954 World Series Dusty Rhodes went 4 for 6, with 7 RBIs and 2 home runs.

And before grad school I am aware that he did that in 3 games, the lore being that he'd celebrated so much after game 3 that he was unlikely to be called upon to bat, but I now doubt that.

Dusty didn't start any of those games. His first HR was down the right field line, much less than 300 feet. Some of the Media considered it a cheap home run. The Media had less to say about that after his HR in game 2 was out to center field, way more than 400', out there where Willie had made The Catch the day before.

Daddy Wake, as I knew him, had been a farmer, in western Kentucky. He had some renown in being able to raise a good tobacco crop, and being skilled in treating tobacco for the various disease and insect problems. In later years he ran a newstand in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. That was the home of the Hopkinsville Hoppers, of the class D Kitty League. Dusty started professional play there in 1947, with the Hoppers, hitting .326 and slugging .474, in 125 games. Here's a link to his bio:
Dusty's famous 'Chinese Home Run' in game 1 of the '54 Series. Doubt anybody would call it that today.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Dusty-Rhodes/

So... that picture is the image used on the 1955 Topps cards of Dusty Rhodes, card #1. NY fans loved him because he ran hard to first, and could reach the short outfield wall in right, down there by the foul pole.

I decided to try and make copies of the photo, and that's when I learned it's not a photo. It's a PMT. Photo Mechanical Transfer. It was a bunch of dots. I eventually got several copies made.

I'm thinking either Daddy Wake knew Dusty from that 1947 season, or maybe Dusty made his way through Hopkinsville, KY and Nashville, TN (he played there in 1952, before going up to the Giants in July) on some sort of a dinner speaking circuit, or maybe as a salesman for one of the Distilleries in that fine state that provides fine bourbon for sensible folk.

In the early 2000's I wrote Dusty, he lived in Redbud, CA at the time, I sent him several of my reprints (that had no trace of the writing), and a copy of my original. I asked him to sign 2 of them and mail them back in the SASE I'd sent, and suggested he keep the others for himself. And I asked some questions. He sent the photos back, asked me a few questions, didn't recall Daddy Wake, and answered my questions.

The only other time I've seen one of these it was offered in one of the best auctions going, Scott Brockelman's. I bid enough that I got it.

That SABR bio is a brief, interesting article, even if you hate the Giants.
And look at retrosheet.org for the play by play. I wrote those guys, asking questions and for signed index cards (which is sent, with SASE's), most signed. Sadly, I wrote Don Liddle just after he had passed, my recollection is that his wife sent me a photo that he'd signed. Marv Grissom signed and answered questions. I think it was he that told me... Don Liddle came into that first game to relieve Maglie after the first two reached. Liddle pitched to Wertz, who hit that ball 460' feet to center, leading to The Catch. Durocher had seen all that he wanted from Liddle, and sent me it. As I get to the mound and get the ball, Don turns to me and said "I got my man, you get yours."

Frank, great write up about Dusty. His short HR down the right field line at the old Polo Grounds was often referred to at the time as a 'Chinese' HR. Doubt you would hear that expression today.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

1) Home town boy Jake Beckley hitting 3 homers on Sept. 26, 1897 in St. Louis
2)June 3, 1932 Lou Gehrig hitting 4 homers and almost a 5th in one game.
3) Aug. 19, 1951 and Eddie Gaedel batting. My father was at that game and we didn't know it until I mentioned it one day. He said it wasn't a big deal to him since he was there for the cheap Falstaff beer that day.
4) Oct. 10, 1926 GCA in the 7th game of the 1926 Series.
5)Oct. 9, 1934 Dizzy Dean wins the 7th game of the WS.

[FrankWakefield]

.

[ValKehl]

This is a most interesting thread! My choices, in chronological order:

(1) Any 1888 or 1889 home game won by the Washington Nationals in which both "Dummy" Hoy and Connie Mack played the entire game. Hopefully, I would get their signatures on N172 Old Judge cards after the game.

(2) 1924 World Series, Washington's only WS Championship - hopefully seated next to Hank T. & George T.

(3) 1925 World Series, Game 3 in which Sam Rice made his famous, disputed catch as he tumbeled over the short right field wall into the temporary stands - hopefully seated next to Hank T. & George T.

(4) July 30, 1962, the second 1962 All-Star game (at Wrigley Field) in which Pete Runnels (my favorite Senator when I was a kid and winner of the 1962 AL batting title) hit a pinch-hit home run (Runnels was not a power hitter).

(5) April 8, 1974, at Atlanta when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth.

[Exhibitman]

Aaron #715 would be the top for me.



1976 ALCS game 5 is #2.



#3 is 1988 WS game 1, the Gibson HR
Koufax's perfect game is next.
Ryan's most dominant no-no would round it out