Happy Baseball Birthday... Sports Illustrated

Happy Baseball Birthday #60 to Sports Illustrated.

Sports Illustrated was first published on August 16, 1954, with a picture of Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Mathews gracing the cover.

Happy Baseball Birthday...Bull Durham

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday is former big league pitcher Bull Durham.

Louis Rapahel Staub was born on June  27, 1877, in New Oxford, Pennsylvania.

While playing minor league baseball Staub got into a bar fight, and was banned from playing baseball.

Staub found a law loophole that allowed him to change his name, and so Louis Staub Durham was given a new start in baseball.

While playing for Augusta of the South Atlantic League, he was chosen by the Brooklyn Superbas in baseball's Rule 5 Draft.

Bull Durham made his big league debut on September 16, 1904, at the age of 27.

Durham played for Brooklyn, the Washington Senators, and the New York Giants.

His big league career was brief, pitching in just 9 games, going 2-0, with a 5.28 ERA in 29 innings pitched.

His last big league appearance was for the Giants, on May 19,1909.

Durham pitched in 155 minor league games, playing in Augusta, Altoona, Lancaster, Louisville, and finally in Denver of the Western League.

After baseball Durham spent time acting in silent movies.

Bull passed away on June 28, 1960, in Bently, Kansas, at the age of 83.

HAPPY BASEBALL BIRTHDAY BULL DURHAM!

PLAY BALL!

Happy Baseball Birthday...Roger Bresnahan

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! Is Hall of Fame player and manager Roger Bresnahan.

Roger Philip Bresnahan  was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 11, 1879.

At the age of 16 Bresnahan played semi pro ball in Manistee, Michigan, and would make several minor league stops, including playing for his hometown Toledo Mudhens before getting to the big leagues.

Bresnahan made his debut in the big leagues on August 27, 1897 for the then Washington Senators of the National League.

In 17 big league baseball seasons Bresnahan played every position on the baseball diamond in 1,446 games, batting .276 in 4481 at bats.

In the 1905 World Series Bresnahan caught all give games for the champion Giants, including all three complete game shutouts by Christy Mathewson.

Brensnahan is most famous in baseball history not for any hit, throw, or play he made, but for what he popularized...catchers shin guards.

Brensnahan first wore shin guards in a ball game in 1907, and although several complaints were made, baseball allowed the equipment, and catchers all around baseball began using the protective guards.

Brensnahan also managed in the big leagues, as player/manager for both the St. Louis Cardinals (1909-12), and the Chicago Cubs (1913-15).

Brensnahan last big league appearance was a the Cubs player/manager, on October 3,1915.

Brensnahan stayed in baseball after his playing days, as a coach for the Giants and Detroit Tigers, before becoming the owner of the Toledo Mudhens.

Brensnahan passed away from a heart attack on December 4, 1944, in his hometown of Toledo, at the age of 65.

In 1945 the Veteran's Committee voted Roger Bresnahan into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Happy Baseball Birthday Roger Bresnahan!

PLAY BALL!

Happy Baseball Birthday...Bill Terry

In early 1981 I had the opportunity to meet Bill Terry.

For a young baseball fan of just 21, the chance to go see and meet a big league baseball player...a ballplayer in the National Baseball Hall of Fame was just terrific.

Bill Terry made Jacksonville, Florida his home after playing baseball.

He bought the minor league Jacksonville Braves of the South Atlantic League in 1958.

Mr. Terry is well known here in Jacksonville for his car dealership, Bill Terry Buick, which he ran from 1949 until his passing in 1989 at the age of 90.

I started thinking about that visit today when I saw that it would've been  Mr. Terry's 115th Birthday.

He was a very nice man who talked baseball with me...man was I nervous...talking to a man...a big leaguer...in the Hall of Fame...WOW!

Nearly every baseball fan knows about Ted Williams hitting .406 in 1941, the last player to hit over .400 in a single regular season.

I've always found it strange that Bill Terry has almost been forgotten by baseball fans, who should know that in 1930 he hit .401, the last National League player to hit over the magic number of .400.

Mr. Terry was a terrific hitter, posting a lifetime batting average of .341, with 2,193 base hits and 1, 078 RBI.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954.

Happy Baseball Birthday! Mr. Terry!


Play Ball!