“Hey…the new meat is here!” “Hello new meat…Does your ma know you’re at the ball park?” “New meat??? More like fresh fish…” “Or maybe not-so-fresh fish, if my nose ain’t playin’ tricks on me!” The catcalls seemed to come from every corner of the locker room as the new players entered the Moline inner sanctum…
Month: February 2024
Spotlight: Milan Featherstone
Unexpectedly, the Philadelphia Brewers have a successful season. The offense is back and among the best in the Eastern League. The team is second with just a half-game behind the Brooklyn Whales. One face of the resurgence is Leo McKenzie. The 40-year-old captain enjoys his best season since his severe injury in 1906. Philadelphia, maybe…
Same Boston, Different Tea Party
June 3rd 1911, 4PM – The city of Boston was done with the mediocrity that was their beloved Banshees. The 92 year old franchise owner Atticus Jones was under pressure to make a move. After all, these were hard times in the streets, as well as on the field. The fans needed and deserved better…
Lee, Durtnell, and Fain… Best Pray for Rain
In the early summer of 1911, at the age of 74 and with the end of his career in sight, Brooklyn Whales’ manager and GM Marques Williams did something that shook the baseball world. He made a blockbuster of a trade. In June of that year, Brooklyn (42-25 at the time of the trade) was…
Bromwich Park
In 1908, Madigan Hall had agreed to end its conservatorship of the Whales and grant control of the franchise to a local businessman named George Bromwich. Bromwich, as much a dreamer as an empire builder, saw an opportunity with the Whales. A firm believer in never paying full price, he saw an opportunity to buy…
April 1911 – The Surprise
May 1, 1911 – by Ronald Schmidt Philadelphia is worried. Things are not going according to plan. The self-declared goal at the beginning of the season was to rebuild and strengthen efforts to lower the average age of the organization. The Philadelphia Brewers are now fighting for a qualifying spot in the postseason. Just before…