Rabbit Maranville

Wikipedia - "Walter James Vincent Maranville (November 11, 1891 – January 5, 1954), better known as Rabbit Maranville due to his speed and small stature (5'5", 155 pounds), was a Major League Baseball shortstop. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the National League, a mark which wasn't broken until 1986 by Pete Rose. Maranville played larger than his statistics would indicate. He finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season, playing for the Boston Braves as a 21-year old in 1913 even though his batting average was just .247 in 143 games with two homers."
Wikipedia
Baseball Reference
SABR: Rabbit Maranville
SABR: "Run, Rabbit, Run"
Beer Drinkers and Rabbit Maranville
Boston Braves of 1914 pulled a 'Rabbit' out of their cap for a miracle season
Walter Berndt - Smitty - with Rabbit Maranville

Edwin Romond - "Something I Could Tell You about Love"

The soft smack of pitches from my father
who's never cared for baseball, and never asks
about my Yankees. He doesn't want a glove,
just lets my hardball disappear into his hands
already sore from steering his truck without AC
or radio through the decay of Newark and Elizabeth.
My father, whose shirt's glued with sweat,
knows drums and crates must be loaded tonight
but still sands and throws to me across the hood
of his '53 Ford sagging with freight he'll have to carry
tomorrow into hardware stores and dentists' offices.
Tonight I pound the second-hand glove he bought me
and watch his face grow dim in the dark of our yard,
then the white ball from his hands into the August heat.
I'm playing catch with my father, who's never liked baseball
who nods when I ask for five minutes more.



Line Drives

The Polo Grounds: The End of the Road

"For more than half a century the Giants were more than just a ball club. They were a way of life and as important a part of New York as Broadway or Central Park. Never did they rise to greater heights than during the three decades when they were managed by John Joseph McGraw, a truculent, swaggering, fiery egotist, who was pure genius. McGraw was the most hated, beloved, envied, admired, feared and respected man in the game."
YouTube

2010 August: Shot Heard 'round the World
2011 March: Polo Grounds
2011 April: Pafko at the Wall: A Novella

Through a Blue Lens: The Brooklyn Dodger Photographs of Barney Stein 1937-1957

"Barney Stein was the Dodgers' official team photographer, an assignment he held for 21 years, from 1937 until the team left for Los Angeles. With access that no other media member had, his camera chronicled every aspect of the team's most memorable years--the great games, the legendary stars, the behind-the-scenes moments, and the personalities that made the Ebbets Field era so unforgettable. For the last half-century, Stein's Dodgers work has remained one of the sports world's lost treasures. Except for rare and scattered glimpses it has not been published or otherwise seen since the team headed west. Now, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers last season in Brooklyn, Barney Stein's Dodgers photographs live again. With nearly 200 photographs, Through a Blue Lens takes you to every corner of Ebbets Field."
amazon
Dodger photographer highlighted game off the field

1979 World Series

Wikipedia - "The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates (98–64) against the American League's Baltimore Orioles (102–57), with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games. The Pirates were famous for adopting Sister Sledge's hit anthem 'We Are Family' as their theme song. Willie Stargell, pitcher Bruce Kison, and catcher Manny Sanguillen were the only players left over from the Pirates team that last faced the Orioles in the 1971 World Series, and Orioles' pitcher Jim Palmer, Mark Belanger, and manager Earl Weaver were the only ones who were still with the team that faced the Pirates in that same previous meeting."
Wikipedia
Baseball Reference
Feature: 1979 World Series, "We Are Fam-i-ly!"
Baseball Almanac
amazon: The Pittsburgh Pirates 1979 World Series Collector's Edition
1979 World Series Live Blog
YouTube: Pittsburgh Pirates circa 1979 (pt. 1), (pt. 2), (pt. 3), (pt. 4), (pt. 5).
1979 world series - pirates last out

Anne Marie Macari - "Yankees"

For beauty, the men came toward us across the field,
and when they stood trance-still, or when they backed
hard against the wall, it seemed part of some
greater design, or when one swung, twisting
his torso and bending his knees at the same time
as the ball flew and the crowd erupted,
I was in thrall to all of them, because they held back
Then hit for their lives, because one gently lifted
his arm to meet the ball as if his own child
were falling toward him through thin air.
I even laughed at the men throwing beer
which drizzled onto my hair, and the one
yelling obscenities at the other team.
The blinding lights helped me see
their perfection, and I became a devotee-
not just for the sake of my sons, my arms around them-
though it was strange to be a women then,
to love them that much, the arena
filled me with men who were ready and had chosen
their weapons, so when the ball disappeared
for the last time all of us screamed
and rose from our seats so grateful
for our own violence which got us
this far without torture or mutilation,
and to one team brought to their knees,
and to the heroes, small in distance,
holding each other, rejoicing.


Leasing News

Juan Marichal

Wikipedia - "Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez (born October 20, 1937 in Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters' helmets."
Wikipedia
Baseball Reference
NYT: 30 Seconds With Juan Marichal
The Fight Between Juan Marichal and John Roseboro
MLB: No. 1 all-time Latino pitcher: Juan Marichal (Video)
SABR: Still Kicking High: Honoring Juan Marichal
YouTube: Juan Marichal "The Dominican Dandy" Interview With Bob Costas, RHP Juan Marichal: RareSportsFilms, Baseball Fight Aug 22, 1965

1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Wikipedia - "The 1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 15th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 1948, at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Missouri the home of both the St. Louis Browns of the American League and the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 5-2."
Wikipedia
YouTube: 1948 BASEBALL GAME with MEL ALLEN

The 100 Best Pitchers' Duels of 2011

"So sometimes you're at a ballgame and it's a really good pitchers' duel, so you start to wonder 'Is this the best pitchers' duel I have seen this year?' or 'Is this the best pitchers' duel the Rockies have had this year?' or 'Is this the best pitchers' duel in the majors this year?' or, if you are Ken Burns or have a Napoleonic complex, 'is this the Greatest Pitchers' Duel in Major League History?' There is, of course, no way to know, and that's where I come in."
Grantland - Bill James

EFQ Staff - "The All-Romance Team"

C Ed Hug

1B Joe Stripp
2B Jake Flowers
SS Bobby Wine
3B Jim Ray Hart
OF Pete Rose
OF Max Carey
OF Troy Neel

RHP Bob Friend
Vincente Amor

LHP Gus Salve
Slim Love (of Love, Mississippi)

BENCH Sandy Amoros
Buddy Dear
Jewel Ens
Norm Sherry
Rick Sweet
Red Kress

MGR Bobby Valentine


Elysian Fields Quarterly

Alejandro Oms

Wikipedia - "Alejandro Oms (March 13, 1895 - November 5, 1946) was a Cuban center fielder in Negro league baseball and Latin American baseball, most notably with the Cuban Stars (East). Born in Santa Clara, Las Villas, he died at age 51 in Havana. Oms played winter ball in the Cuban League from 1922 to 1946. He led the league in batting average three time, in 1924/25 (.393), 1928/29 (.432), and 1929/30 (.380), and won the Cuban League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1928/29. He ranks second all-time for career batting average in the Cuban League (behind Cristóbal Torriente) with an average of .345. He was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1944."
Wikipedia
Baseball Reference
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
MLB: Oms added excitement to game

Milwaukee County Stadium

1953 Milwaukee Braves County Stadium
Wikipedia - "Milwaukee County Stadium (or just County Stadium in context) was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events. ... Three weeks before the beginning of the 1953 season, and right before the new stadium was ready to open, the Braves made it official, applying for permission to relocate. The other National League owners agreed, with the team becoming the Milwaukee Braves. The Braves' first home game, on April 6, 1953 was an exhibition contest against the Boston Red Sox. In their first season in Milwaukee, the Braves set the National League attendance record of 1.8 million. The first published issue of Sports Illustrated on August 16, 1954, featured County Stadium and batter Eddie Mathews on its cover."
Wikipedia
ballparksofbaseball
Ballparks
Baseball Statistics
Milwaukee Braves
BallparkTour
Closing Down Milwaukee’s County Stadium in 2000

Moneyball

Wikipedia - "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game ... is a book by Michael Lewis, published in 2003, about the Oakland Athletics baseball team and its general manager Billy Beane. Its focus is the team's analytical, evidence-based, sabermetric approach to assembling a competitive baseball team, despite Oakland's disadvantaged revenue situation. A film based on the book starring Brad Pitt was released in 2011."
Wikipedia
W - Moneyball (film)
Moneyball
amazon: Moneyball
Google
EW (Video)
npr: 'Moneyball': Tracking Down How Stats Win Games (Video)
Roger Ebert: Moneyball
Grantland: The Economics of Moneyball
Brad Pitt in Moneyball: Class warfare on the baseball diamond
the dish: Moneyball

Alan Pizzarelli

at the produce stand
a kid with a baseball
plays catch with the awning

________


leaning for the sign
the pitcher rotates the ball
behind his back


________


at shortstop
between innings
sparrows dust-bathing


________


game over
all the empty seats
turn blue


______


the score keeper
peeks out of the scoreboard
spring rain


______


saturday afternoon
as the ballgame ends
geese return to the outfield



Baseball Haiku

Bob Uecker

Wikipedia - "Robert George 'Bob' Uecker (... born January 26, 1935) is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of 'Mr. Baseball' by Johnny Carson. He is currently the announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts on WTMJ and the Brewers Radio Network. Though he sometimes joked he was born on an oleo run to Illinois, Uecker was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up watching the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers at Borchert Field. He signed a professional contract with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and made his major league debut as a catcher with the club in 1962."
Wikipedia
Baseball Almanac: Bob Uecker Quotes
Meet Bob Uecker
YouTube: Bob Uecker Real Sports, On The Road, Miller Lite Commercial with Bob Uecker, Greatest Sports Legends- Bob Uecker gives Hank Aaron advice

Catcher

Alex Avila
Wikipedia - "Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field his position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket. Positioned behind home plate, the catcher can see the whole field; therefore, he is in the best position to direct and lead the other players in a defensive play. The catcher typically calls for pitches by means of hand signals; therefore, he/she must be aware of the pitcher's mechanics and strengths, as well as the batter's tendencies and weaknesses. Foul tips, bouncing balls in the dirt, and contact with runners during plays at the plate are all part of the catcher's job, so protective equipment must be worn. This includes a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and an extra-thick glove."
Wikipedia
Baseball Almanac: Gold Glove Award for Catchers
nrp - Covering The Plate: A Baseball Catcher Tells All (Video)

Lynn Rigney Schott - "Spring Training"

The last of the birds has returned ---
the bluebird, shy and flashy.
The bees carry fat baskets of pollen
from the alders around the pond.
The wasps in the attic venture downstairs,
where they congregate on warm windowpanes.
Every few days it rains.

This is my thirty-fifth spring;
still I am a novice at my work,
confused and frightened and angry.
Unlike me, the buds do not hesitate,
the hills are confident they will be
perfectly reflected
in the glass of the river.

I oiled my glove yesterday.
Half the season is over.
When will I be ready?

On my desk sits a black-and-white postcard picture
of my father -- skinny, determined,
in a New York Giants uniform --
ears protruding, eyes riveted.
Handsome, single-minded, he looks ready.

Thirty-five years of warmups.
Like glancing down at the scorecard
in your lap for half a second
and when you look up it's done --
a long fly ball, moonlike,
into the night
over the fence,
way out of reach.


Into the Temple of Baseball

Baseball - America's Pastime 2012 Wall Calendar

"First published in 1728, The Saturday Evening Post is one of America's oldest and most renowned publications - and is especially known for the colorful illustrations that grace the cover of each issue. Here, we've collected fantastic vintage baseball art from Saturday Evening Post, including pieces by John Falter, Eugene Iverd, and Leslie Thrasher."
amazon: Baseball - America's Pastime 2012 Wall Calendar
amazon: National Baseball Hall of Fame 2012 Wall
amazon: National Baseball Hall of Fame 2012 Box/Daily
amazon: 2012 Baseball Finger Sports Daily Desk
amazon: Baseball Trivia 2012 Calendar (Page a Day Die Cut Calendar)
amazon: Take Me Out to the Ballpark Wall Calendar 2012
amazon: 2012 ESPN Baseball Tonight
amazon: MLB Major League Baseball 2012 Daily Box Calendar

The Gashouse Gang - 1934

October 8, 1934. Game 6. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Detroit Tigers
Wikipedia - "The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of 1934. The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics. An opponent once stated that the Cardinals players usually went into the field in unwashed, dirty and smelly uniforms, which alone spread horror among their rivals. According to one account, scrappy shortstop Leo Durocher coined the term."
W - The Gashouse Gang
Baseball Almanac: Dizzy and the Gas House Gang
amazon - The Gashouse Gang
amazon - Dizzy and the Gas House Gang: The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals and Depression-Era Baseball
YouTube: The 1934 Cardinals "The Gashouse Gang"
1934 World Series
Series Wrapup
YouTube: The 1934 World Series 1 of 2, 2 of 2. 1934 WORLD SERIES - GAME ONE

Paul B. Janeczko - "Nicknames"

No one is happy
to be Bill or Brian or Joe.
Those are names
for teachers, parents, distant aunt

Here
Bill is the Bopper,
Brian is Snake
(for build not deeds),
Joe, the pitcher, is, of course,
Gas.

The others -
Scooter, Hoot, and Toots
Whale, Spunky, Goofy -
know who's who,
celebrate themselves,
singing their names
till they fill the air
of sweet summer nights.


That Sweet Diamond Baseball Poems

Camden Yards

Wikipedia - "Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was completed in 1992 to replace Memorial Stadium. It is situated in downtown Baltimore a few blocks west of the Inner Harbor in the Camden Yards Sports Complex."
Wikipedia
ballparks of baseball (YouTube)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baseball Pilgrimages
Andrew G. Clem
YouTube: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (September 2009)

Bang the Drum Slowly

Wikipedia - "Bang the Drum Slowly is a 1973 film adaptation of the 1956 baseball novel of the same name by Mark Harris. It was previously dramatized in 1956 on the U.S. Steel Hour with Paul Newman and Albert Salmi. It was directed by John D. Hancock and stars Michael Moriarty and a then-little-known Robert De Niro as baseball teammates. De Niro's performance in this film and in Mean Streets, released two months later, brought him widespread acclaim."
Wikipedia
Roger Ebert
amazon
Head Butler: directed by John Hancock. (YouTube)

2011 Septerber: Mark Harris