It was a partly cloudy day in Philadelphia on April 29th, 1904, when Stephen Millington picked up the ball on the mount of Boeselager Stadium. For most, it was the 25th game of the season. So far, it was a good season. Sixteen wins and eight losses ensured the division lead. The offense was explosive,…
Rich Whales’ Rookie Impresses, Inspires, Rests
By Anthony Harrison Baseball has a new richest man. A humble 26 year old leftfielder, Hyman Rickward, has signed with the Brooklyn Whales for a less-than-humble $52,000. Rickward is reported to be a complete player with a strong bat, strong glove, and speed on the bases. The star rookie was much sought after an off-season…
Joseph Benson
by John Momberg The words that struck terror into 11-year-old Joe Benson’s heart: “All right, now, Joseph… Time for you to come up to the board and recite your Latin translation.” As he moved to the front of the classroom, he felt the usual flush of redness creeping up from his collar to his cheeks….
An Intimate Baseball Conversation
By Steve Meyers Julien Henri (GM): That is about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, Thaddeus.Thaddeus Wolcraft (Owner): Look, here, Julien you work for me. Don’t you forget it.Henri: I’m aware of that Mr. Wolcraft.Wolcraft: That’s better.Henri: But it is still the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.Wolcraft: It’s your job not to think. Your job…
1904 Philadelphia Brewers Season Preview
“You damned island monkey! I hope you catch a disease on the way back!” The door to the dining room of Sir Patrick William Downing’s mansion slammed shut. An awkward silence filled the room. The Boeselager brothers looked at each other before looking at their host. “Maybe you should have reduced this to your birthday…
Breaking the Monotony
Pittsburgh August 20th, 1903 On a warm summer morning, a broad-shouldered man bounded up the steps to the entrance of the pristinely kept house on 23 North Willow Lane. This particular man was a celebrity in the Pittsburgh region – a face known to all. His name was Randy Sliger, and he lived in the…
1903 Richmond Rifles Review
By Drew Visscher RICHMOND RIFLES: 1903 SEASON REVIEW Following a dramatic nine-game series against the Saint Louis Beavers, the Rifles of Richmond secured their first Legacy Cup at home with an excellent Game 9 performance from hometown hero Ivy “Iron Horse” Maw. A surprise contender for the 1903 title, the seasoned Richmond roster enjoyed an…
1903 Philadelphia Brewers Season Review
1903 saw three different division champions compared to the previous season. Unfortunately, the Eastern League Liberty Division crowned a king, too. The Richmond Rifles reclaimed the throne and crushed the Philadelphia Brewers’ season goals of defending the title. New players As soon as the Brewers played their final game in 1902, Kirby Hocking was on…
Whale of a Scandal: Foreward
Published in the Summer of 1960, this bestselling recounting of one of the most famous scandals in baseball history is part memoir, part collection of interviews and essays, and part attempt to exorcise the past while rewriting many of its most basic assumptions. FOREWARD It’s a peculiar feeling, although perhaps not an uncommon one, to…
Bloodletting After Baltimore
July 4, 1903 Field of the Whales The Whales’ young lefthanded hurler sat despondent in the home locker room alone on a wet morning in Brooklyn. The trip back from Baltimore was long—not so much in terms of the distance, but rather in the Sisyphus-ian mental reliving of his pitching performance that such a journey…