#baseball-history

#baseball-history

Today is Monday, Sept. 29, the 272nd day of 2025. There are 93 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 29, 1954, Willie Mays of the New York Giants made a running, over-the-shoulder catch of a ball hit by Vic Wirtz of the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series; The Catch would become one of the most famous plays in baseball history. Also on this date: In 1789, Congress officially established a regular army under the U.S. Constitution.

Full disclosure, the editors of the book, Attorneys in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Louis H. Schiff and Robert M. Jarvis, sent me a review copy, but I've been trying to get it from the library, and we'll be honest, I'll buy this book because it's going to sit in my office as a resource. How? We'll see but I keep a dictionary of etymology and the Dickson Baseball Dictionary on the desk too. You just never know.

"I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign," Manfred said on the broadcast. "I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel. And I think our postseason format would be even more appealing for entities like ESPN, because you'd be playing out of the east and out of the west."

Greg Maddux was re-acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 19, 2008, in exchange for Minor League pitchers Eduardo Perez and Mike Watt.

Dan Ardell holds the unique distinction of having the only hit in Major League Baseball that ended in a walk-off loss, a peculiar highlight of his brief career.

Mike Tauchman made Crosstown Classic history by homering against Chris Flexen, becoming the first player to switch sides and achieve this feat in the rivalry.

Jesse Chavez finishes his career with a 4.27 ERA and a 4.24 FIP over 657 appearances across 18 seasons from 2008 until today.

From 1947 to 1956, Reese appeared in no fewer than 140 games and was one of the pillars of the franchise. Reese wasn't an MVP-level player, but he was what embodied that caliber teammate and role model.

Shane Smith represented the Chicago White Sox in the 2025 MLB All-Star game, becoming the first White Sox rookie pitcher to achieve this milestone, making franchise history.

The high-tech images of Aaron and other players were seen on the Truist Park infield before a blaze of a fireball launched from home plate to signify the homer that pushed Aaron past Babe Ruth's record of 714 homers.

Bill Caudill had a remarkable career as a closer in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 106 career saves and a 3.68 ERA over 445 games. He became a prominent name in the '80s after successful stints with teams like the Cubs, Seattle, and Oakland. The trade to the Blue Jays in 1984 marked a pivotal moment, yet his tenure there was marred by challenges with management and a decline in performance, leading to his release.

In a unique exchange, Paul Konerko received a signed jersey from Pope Leo XIV, marking a notable moment in sports and faith from the new U.S. pontiff.

Hideo Nomo made MLB history as the first Japanese pitcher to start the MLB All-Star Game on July 11, 1995, for the National League, pitching two scoreless innings.

Randy Jones is a fun baseball story lost in time. He lost 22 games in his sophomore season in 1974 as a member of the San Diego Padres. A year later, he won 20 games with a league-best 2.24 ERA. That year's National League Cy Young runner-up, the next season included a league-high 22 victories along with 25 complete games, 315.1 innings, and maybe the most insane strikeout total you could imagine: only 93.

William Jennings Bryan believes that John T. Scopes, defendant in the evolution trial, 'is doing more harm to the teachers of the country than to any other class.' This harm, he declared today, would be 'indefinitely increased if his (Scopes') views as to the independence of the teacher were established.' Bryan expressed the belief that the welfare of teachers is best preserved under the 'present system.' Under this system, he said, personal views of the teachers are left free, and the control of what is to be taught is left to those who employ the teachers.

Newcombe and Campanella had a bond, that Campanella knew how to pace Newcombe, and turned him into a complete pitcher. He also knew the stress on a man when he was one of only a few Negro ball players of his day.