With Davey Johnson’s selection as Manager of the Year this a good time to reflect back on the District’s first National League manager. Like Johnson he had strong roots in Baltimore. With Born in New York, three years after the half century mark, Billy or “Bald Billy” as he was called is usually associated with …
Nov 20
Baseball’s Golden Age
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
Zimmerman at Aberdeen
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
Base Ball with Cards
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 11
Baseball in Washington D.C. – The political and military connection
2012 has certainly been an exciting year for Washington baseball fans and players – it has been a long time coming! All of Washington should be very excited by the play of The Nationals this year. While the outcome of the St. Louis Cardinals divisional series is not what Washington baseball fans wanted, the fact …
Nov 06
Have you voted? Today is the last day to cast your ballot
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
Our 2004 AFL Diary Notes
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
The First Nationals
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 Henry Humphries
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
Bud “Zipper the Ripper” Zipfel, a.k.a. “The Belleville Belter,”
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 …
