Nov 20
THE GOLDEN AGE OF BASEBALL As volunteer curator of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, Jim Vankoski has become a treasure trove of Delco sports trivia. In a program sponsored by the Nether Providence Historical Society, Jim will share some baseball stories with us, including his favorites about 50-year Township resident Mickey Vernon, following a …
Nov 18
It is the summer of 2004 and Ryan Zimmerman is playing for Team USA. While we make the drive up to Aberdeen, Maryland, Team USA like Team Canada had driven up from Durham, North Carolina. On the bus was nineteen year old Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman had just completed his second year at the University of …
Nov 17
The popularity of the game of baseball quickly led to variations on the game. The popularity of the game quickly went beyond the playing field. Baseball games for the home were invented in the late 1860s, and came in various types with the “New Parlor Game of Base Ball” by Metcalf Sumner perhaps the most …
Nov 06
Jim Hartley of the Washington Baseball Historical Society and I “dcbaseballhistory.com” are co-sponsoring an election of the best players to have ever played (1901-2012) baseball for Washington. We are hoping to receive ballots from Washington baseball fans from every generation. Below is a ballot for you to use as you are selecting the best players …
Nov 05
This is what we wrote udring our visit to the Arizona Fall League in 2004. Thursday 14 October After breakfast we take a refreshing dip in the pool. We will be taking in doubleheaders over the next three days. The day game is at Phoenix Memorial Stadium. Rock formations just above the stadium make for …
Nov 04
Once again Washington has players in the Arizona Fall League that are showcasing their skills. We thought it time to reflect back to 2004. We were in Arizona watching several Arizona Fall League baseball games. The Peoria Javelinas had several players from the now defunct Montreal Expo organization that had recently been awarded to Washington. …
Nov 01
John Humphries, a left handed catcher played for the 1884 Washingtons of the American Association. He was born in North Gower, Ontario, Canada, 12 November 1861, and attended Cornell University from 1880 to 1882. In 1883 he signed with the New York Gothams. He was their backup catcher behind the talented and popular Buck Ewing. …
Oct 31
Belleville, Illinois’ Bud “Zipper the Ripper” Zipfel, a.k.a. “The Belleville Belter,” Denied MLB Pension and Health Insurance My book tells the true story about a group of former big-league ballplayers denied pensions as a result of the failure of both the league and the union to retroactively amend the vesting requirement change that granted instant …
Oct 30
Washington has a new generation of Strikeout King’s. The past generation of free swingers like Don Lock, Frank Howard and Jim Lemon did not stand a chance against the onslaught of the Next Generation of uninhibited swinging strikeout artists. The top ten Washington Strikeout Kings Year Strikeouts 1. Dunn, Adam 2010 199 2. Espinosa, Danny …
Oct 29
With Sandy now moving into the area, we hope everyone is safe and that we can all ride this out. Many years back I saw reference to the Toyko Senators. This documents some of the links between the Senators and Japan. Toyko Senators One of the charter members of the Japanese Professional baseball League, formed …
