Tag Archives: Brooklyn Dodgers

Pesky, Stanky, the Scooter

The passing of Johnny Pesky (see yesterday’s blog) reminded me (Evander) of a third player of similar size and high skill from the same generation. Eddie Stanky played for Brooklyn and New York in the National League. He and The … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Pittsburgh Pirate and James Dean

Sixty years ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates completed one of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball history. The Buccaneers finished with 42 wins and 112 losses, to stagger an astonishing 54.5 games behind the National League Pennant-winning Brooklyn Dodgers. Pirates … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thank you, Jackie Robinson

Major League Baseball reached a long-overdue milestone sixty-five years ago today when Jackie Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. All major-league players wear JR’s number 42 this day to honor the individual who changed everything. I (Evander) can’t … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Unusual Opening Day for Yankees and Movie with the Literal Hollywood Ending

Yesterday, also Good Friday for the Western Church and the start of Passover at sundown for all Jews, happened to be Opening Day for the New York Yankees—first pitch after 3 p.m. It wound up the first Opening Day meltdown … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Cricket, Right Off the Bat Book, Right Off the Bat Podcasts, Yankees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honoring Jackie Robinson

Today is Jackie Robinson Day. Every player in Major League Baseball wears his number, 42, which has been retired from all of baseball. (Only one ballplayer still puts on the number every day: Mariano Rivera.) It’s a day to reflect … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Opening Day Butterflies

Like any Broadway opening night, Opening Day in Major League Baseball is front-loaded with anticipation, exhilaration, hope, anxiety, and the will to show the world (Don’t say anything, cricket fans) that you are the best. Everyone starts in first place. … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Cricket, England, India, Sri Lanka, Yankees | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three Baseball Geniuses

It has been my belief that there are three geniuses that transformed baseball. Two are discussed in Right Off the Bat, whereas the third is simply alluded to: his contributions being a little too complicated for what we are trying … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Book | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Willie, Mickey, and the Duke” (and Probably in that Order)

The New York Times obituary portrays a self-lacerating Duke Snider. I had no idea. Snider’s career (1947–64) overlapped my early following baseball only on the late side. I therefore had a slight connection to this member of the New York City … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment