For the 1953 St. Louis Browns, a downtrodden group accustomed to having the odds stacked against them, the numbers 14 and 18 added up to one in a million as they arrived in New York to play the Yankees. Fourteen was the number of consecutive losses the Browns had suffered. Eighteen was how many the Yankees had won in a row. Recalling the team’s mindset entering the … [Read more...] about How Satchel Paige helped Browns become kings for a day
Rickey Henderson, Willie McGee flipped ignition switch
Imagine having the American League batting champion and the National League batting champion from the same season at the top of the order. The 1990 Oakland Athletics came close to having that happen. Manager Tony La Russa put Rickey Henderson in the leadoff spot and Willie McGee in the No. 2 position during the last weeks of the 1990 season and then into the playoffs and … [Read more...] about Rickey Henderson, Willie McGee flipped ignition switch
How Rocky Colavito, Ken Boyer became peas in a pod
During their primes, Rocky Colavito in the American League and Ken Boyer in the National were prominent run producers. At one point, the Tigers and Cardinals considered swapping them for one another. Late in their careers, Colavito and Boyer became teammates _ with the White Sox, who got them for a pennant chase, and with the Dodgers, who hoped they’d boost a popgun … [Read more...] about How Rocky Colavito, Ken Boyer became peas in a pod
Fowl ball: Dave Parker had short stay with Cardinals
A trade of Dave Parker for George Hendrick during their playing days would have been a headliner. That didn’t happen, but this did: Parker and Hendrick essentially were swapped for one another as coaches. After coaching for the Angels in 1997, Parker became Cardinals hitting coach. He replaced Hendrick, who took the Angels coaching job Parker vacated. Parker’s … [Read more...] about Fowl ball: Dave Parker had short stay with Cardinals
Stubby Overmire came up big for Browns vs. Yankees
A little guy with a big heart, Stubby Overmire pitched for one of baseball’s weaklings and beat up the league’s biggest bully. Seventy-five years ago, on Dec. 15, 1949, the St. Louis Browns obtained Overmire from the Tigers for the waiver fee of $10,000. Frank Overmire got the nickname Stubby because he was short (5-foot-7, or less) and stout, and, as Joe Falls of the Detroit … [Read more...] about Stubby Overmire came up big for Browns vs. Yankees