From the earliest days of his playing career to the end of his managing days, Leo Durocher loved to yap. Miller Huggins had encouraged the 160-pound youngster to compensate for his weak bat with hustle. As a player Durocher also distinguished himself with quick fielding. Throughout his managerial career he often reverted to his boyhood games, playing pepper with players several decades younger than himself. Even when he managed the Cubs in his 60s, Durocher surprised 2 of his stars, Ernie Banks & Ron Santo, with his ability to keep up with the younger players. Durocher was certainly not a threat with the bat. He was a career .247 hitter, with just 24 homers. His highest batting average came in 1936, when he hit .286 for the Cardinals. Overall, though, he performed better the preceding year, hitting .265 in 143 games. That season (1935) included career highs in home runs (8), slugging percentage (.376), & RBIs (78). Durocher’s already limited productivity tailed off significantly in the 1940s. In 1940 he played in little more than half the games (62) he had the year before, & came to bat only 175 times. In 1939 Durocher came in 8th in the MVP voting, & he was 2nd among shortstops. In 1941, 1943, & 1945, his last 3 years playing, he appeared in only 26 games total, batting just 67 times. (He managed, but did not play for, the Dodgers in 1942 & 1944.) In 1941 Brooklyn won its 1st pennant since 1920, but lost the World Series to the Yankees in 5 games. The next year, the Dodgers won 104 games but lost the pennant to the Cardinals. Brooklyn finished 3rd in 1943. With the players who had been in the military returning in 1946, Leo shifted over to managing full time. It was in that season that he purportedly made his well-known statement “nice guys finish last.” Aimed at the last-place Giants & their manager, Mel Ott, the phrase quickly took on a life of its own, appearing in all sorts of publications, popular and scholarly, ever since. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
From his birth in 1905, to his death in 1991, in Palm Springs, CA, Leo Durocher witnessed a great deal of social, political, & international change, some of which he helped bring about. Durocher played an important supporting role in the integration of major-league baseball. His frank assessment of African American baseball talent remains a simple, if coarse, endorsement of the American belief in meritocracy. He stood in the 3rd-base coach’s box for 1 of baseball’s most memorable home runs, Bobby Thomson’s 1951 “Shot Heard ’Round the World” off Ralph Branca. He led the NY Giants to a surprising World Series victory in 1954. More than a decade later Durocher piloted the Chicago Cubs through 6½ frustrating seasons, always falling short of the postseason. Along the way Durocher kept company with movie stars, entertainers, & an entire retinue of shady underworld characters. Durocher found success in both playing & managing, winning World Series titles while playing shortstop for the 1928 Yankees & 1934 Cardinals, & then as the manager of the 1954 Giants. He won NL pennants, but no world championships, with the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers & the 1951 Giants. Finally, the famous phrase “nice guys finish last,” attributed to him, has achieved recognition throughout American culture. Leo Ernest Durocher was born on July 27, 1905, to George & Clarinda (Provost) Durocher in West Springfield, MA. He was the youngest of 4 sons, but at 5-feet-10 grew to be the tallest. His French-Canadian parents often spoke French at home. George Durocher worked on the railroad, for the Boston & Albany Railroad. Like his older brothers, Leo served Mass at the local Quebecois parish, St. Louis. Durocher said he “went through grammar school and then began at Springfield Technical High School, but he got into a fight with a male mathematics teacher in his 2nd year, was suspended for 30 days & never went back.” #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 12, 1937, Leo Durocher and the St. Louis Cardinals visited #RickwoodField for an exhibition game with the Birmingham Barons. Leo went 0-4 while playing shortstop for the Cardinals. "Lippy" also visited #Rickwood in 1929 with the Yankees and in 1931 with the Cincinnati Reds. #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, Joe Keene was inducted in the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
Doing scouting work for several years, Bobby Doerr came to know Dick Williams, particularly after Williams took over as manager of the Toronto farm club. “I got to know him pretty good when he was with Toronto. I have to say that seeing him operate in the minor leagues coaching & managing, & then 3 years at the Red Sox level, he was the best manager that I saw. Now Joe Cronin was very good. I loved Joe Cronin, to play for. But if I had to pick a manager to take a team that was potentially a winning team, Dick Williams someway was able to put something together[,] and I thought he was 1 of the best managers I saw.” After he was named Red Sox manager for the 1967 season, Dick Williams asked Bobby to serve as his 1st base coach. He served for the 3 seasons that Williams managed, 1967-1969. Doerr’s job was to work with the hitters, as well as coach 1st. He was familiar with most of the young hitters, having seen them while doing his work as a roving instructor. After Williams was fired late in 1969, incoming manager Eddie Kasko brought in his new staff for the 1970 campaign. Several years later, Doerr was named coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, & served them for a number of years as the team’s hitting coach. “I really didn’t want to go back into baseball,” he says, “but they made it so nice for me. Pat Gillick was really good to work with. Peter Bavasi. I was there ’77 through ’81 & then I worked a couple of years in the minor leagues. More or less spring training, up to Medicine Hat with the rookie team. I didn’t do much after ’82, ’83.” In 1986, Bobby Doerr & Ernie Lombardi were named to the Hall of Fame by the special veterans committee. On May 21, 1988, the Red Sox retired Bobby’s uniform number, #1. Doerr died at the age of 99 on November 13, 2017 in Junction City, Oregon. He had been the oldest living member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame at the time of his death, & the only remaining major-league player from the 1930s. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On August 2, 1947, Bobby Doerr was given a night at Fenway. He received an estimated $22,500 worth of gifts including a car. In early August 1951, in the midst of another excellent year, Bobby suffered a serious back problem. He’d hurt it a bit bending over for a slow-hit ground ball; he felt something give, but continued the game. Quite a while afterwards, he woke up 1 morning & found he could hardly get out of bed or put on his shoes. He got some treatment but missed nearly 3 weeks before returning to play. He got in only a few more games. The problem persisted, & he had to bow out after just 1 at-bat. Fears that it was a ruptured disc proved not the case & surgery was ruled out, but Doerr was told to rest the remainder of the season. At season’s end, Doerr could look back on 1,247 RBIs, a career batting average of .288 & some 2,042 major-league base hits. Bobby had played most of his career for just 2 managers: Joe Cronin & Joe McCarthy. He felt Cronin was “firm, but he patted you on the back; he always encouraged you in different ways. That was when I was younger, & was a big help to me.” McCarthy was a “much firmer disposition kind of guy” who was admittedly “a little more difficult to play for” – but Bobby recognized that he played some of his best seasons for McCarthy. He’d played 14 seasons in the majors & had a good career. Though only 33, he didn’t want to risk more serious injury & decided to retire to his farm in Oregon. Over time, the back fused itself in some fashion & he found himself able to lift bales of hay & sacks of grain. He began raising cattle, fattening steers for resale, but there was almost no profit in it for the small herd of 100 or so that he could hold on his spread. When Bobby returned to Boston for a night to honor Joe Cronin in 1956, he was asked if he might like to manage in Boston’s system. He declined, but did take a position that he describes as “kind of like a roving coach in the minor leagues” beginning in 1957. He is listed as a Red Sox scout for the years 1957-66. He did a lot of traveling, checking out Red Sox prospects. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
#HallOfFameFriday: Samantha Rich The final member of the 2023 HOF class and most recent addition to the HOF was Samantha Rich, a 2016 graduate who starred on the women’s lacrosse team for four years. During her time with the Panthers, Rich set numerous program records, while collecting accolades left and right! Some of those accomplishments included: -All-Skyline Conference First Team twice (2015 and ‘16) -All-Skyline Conference Second Team (‘14) -IWLCA All-Boardwalk Region Second Team (‘16) -2015 SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award - WLAX -2015 IWLCA DIII All-Regional Performer -Purchase College Female Athlete of the Year twice (‘15 and ‘16) -led the team in goals three of four seasons -ranked top-5 in every major statistical category With her nomination, Rich became the first and only women’s lacrosse player named to the Purchase College HOF! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
In 1939, Bobby Doerr upped his average to .318 and added some power, more than doubling his home run total with 12. Though his average slipped a bit in 1940 (to .291), he became a more productive hitter, driving in 105 runs, with 37 doubles, 10 triples, & 22 home runs. Again, he led the league in double plays, again turning 118 of them. His 401 putouts also led the AL. Doerr was named to the 1st of 9 AL All-Star teams in 1941. Come 1943, he played in every Red Sox game all year long, & though his RBI total slipped to 75, Doerr excelled on defense, leading the AL in putouts, assists, double plays, & fielding average. Doerr anchored the 2nd base slot for Boston through the 1951 season, missing just 1 year (and 1 crucial month) during World War II. The month was September 1944. When he left the defense job to play the 1944 season, he received his draft orders & was told to report at the beginning of September. By the time September came around, the Red Sox were in the thick of the pennant race, just 4 games out of 1st place & both Doerr (.325 at the time, his .528 slugging average led the league) & Hughson (18-5, 2.26 ERA) had to leave. The team couldn’t sustain those two losses and their hopes sputtered out. Because of the war, Doerr missed the entire 1945 season. After the war, Staff Sergeant Doerr changed back into his Red Sox uniform and returned to the 1946 edition of the Red Sox. He drove in 116 runs, his highest total yet – thanks to the potent Boston batting order. Bobby once again led the league in four defensive categories, the same four as in 1943: putouts, assists, double plays, and fielding percentage. The Red Sox waltzed to the World Series, but lost to the Cardinals in 7 games. Doerr led the regulars in hitting, batting .409 with nine hits in 22 Series at-bats. Babe Ruth, asked who was the MVP of the AL, said, “Doerr, and not Ted Williams, is the No. 1 player on the team.” #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 9 and 10, 1949, Bobby Doerr and the Boston Red Sox returned to #RickwoodField for a two-game exhibition series against the Birmingham Barons. The second game of the series was a 7-5 Boston victory that included Bobby Doerr going 2-3 with a home run. #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, George Kagan was inducted in the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
“Bobby Doerr was an absolutely outstanding player. He was an exceptional second baseman, he rarely booted ground balls, he was a good clutch hitter and a good all-around hitter who could bat third, fourth or fifth in a lineup of good hitters. We never had a captain, but he was the silent captain of the team.” – Ted Williams Bobby Doerr was the second baseman for the Boston Red Sox from 1937-1951. He and teammate Ted Williams were both scouted on the same trip by Eddie Collins from the 1936 San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. Named to nine All-Star Games, Doerr was steady, consistent, and showed leadership on and off the field. Defensively, he led the AL in fielding percentage four times and in double plays five times. He once held the AL record for most consecutive chances at second base without an error: 414. “I never saw him misplay a ball, and he had the best backhand of any 2nd baseman I ever saw,” said Red Sox teammate Johnny Pesky. Offensively, Doerr hit .288 for his career, with 2,042 hits, 381 doubles, 89 triples, and 223 home runs, which at the time of his retirement, was the third highest total ever amassed by a second baseman. He racked up 1,094 runs scored and 1,247 runs batted in. He missed the 1945 season in order to serve in the military, but returned to lead the team to the 1946 pennant with 18 home runs and 116 runs batted in. He hit .409 and drove in three runs in the World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He retired in his early 30s due to back problems. He scouted for the Red Sox from 1957-66, and coached there from 1967-69. He served as the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977-81. In 1969, Red Sox fans voted him the team’s all-time best second baseman. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1986. An all around gentleman with a great reputation in the game, New York Yankees rival Tommy Henrich said: “Bobby Doerr is one of the very few who played the game hard and retired with no enemies.” Doerr passed away on Nov. 13, 2017. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On October 18, 1949 the Jackie Robinson All Star barnstorming tour made a stop at #RickwoodField to play the Birmingham Black Barons with their star center fielder, Willie Mays. The All Stars boasted players like Jackie, Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, and Don Newcombe. Larry Doby went 2-3 with two singles to center and stole home! #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, Gordon W Jacobs was inducted in the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
Joe DiMaggio batted .357 for the 1941 season and led the league in runs batted in and total bases. He won his second MVP Award, receiving 15 first-place votes, while Ted Williams, who hit .406 and led the league in home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and runs, received eight. DiMaggio batted just .305 in 1942, the lowest average of his seven years in the majors, and he also compiled the lowest number of home runs and runs batted in. The Yankees won the pennant, but they lost the World Series to the Cardinals, marking the team’s only loss in 10 trips to the Series during DiMaggio’s career. On February 17, 1943, DiMaggio enlisted in the Army Air Force. Like many other major leaguers, he never saw combat, serving instead in a morale-boosting role by playing on service baseball squads. In June 1944 he was sent to Hawaii, where he continued to play ball but also spent several weeks in a Honolulu hospital suffering from stomach ulcers. After being sent back to the mainland, he was granted a medical discharge in September 1945. In the meantime, his wife had been granted a divorce and custody of their son, Joe, Jr. DiMaggio’s first season following the war was a disappointment for the thirty-one-year-old returning veteran, dubbed “America’s No. 1 athletic hero” by the New York Daily News. While his slugging percentage was fourth- best in the AL, his batting average (.290) and RBIs (95) were lower than in any previous season, and his home run total (25) the second lowest. As the 1947 season neared, the outlook for improvement was not good. The first news about DiMaggio that year was the announcement of his upcoming surgery to remove a bone spur from his left heel. On January 7, a three-inch spur was removed. Then, when skin-graft surgery was needed two months later to close the wound from the first operation, John Drebinger of the New York Times wrote that DiMaggio “seems to be giving more prominence to the human heel than it has received since the days of Achilles.” #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
#HallOfFameFriday: Andre Nixon The first member of the 2023 HOF class was Andre Nixon, a 2014 graduate who starred on the men’s basketball team for three seasons. During his time with the Panthers, Nixon became one of the most storied players in program history, winning three Skyline Conference Championships among his many other accomplishments! Some of those included: -Skyline Conference Player of the Year (‘14) -All-Skyline Conference First Team (‘14) -All-Skyline Conference Second Team (‘13) -Led the Panthers to back-to-back Skyline Conference Championships (‘13,’14) -D3Hoops.com All-Atlantic Region Player of the Year (‘14) -NABC All-District First Team (‘14) -MVP of the Reese’s DIII All-Star Game (‘14) -ECAC All-Stars First Team (‘14) -NABC All-America Second Team (‘14) -Career numbers: 90 games played, 55 starts and 1,069 career points With his nomination, Nixon became just the third men’s basketball player named to the Purchase College HOF to date! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
“Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” — attributed to Jimmy Breslin by Herb Caen, San Francisco Chronicle, June 3, 1975. Joe DiMaggio was one of the most recognizable and popular men in mid-twentieth century America. He was celebrated in song and literature as an iconic hero, and he was married, briefly, to the nation’s number one glamour girl. On March 16, 1999, the House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring him “for his storied baseball career; for his many contributions to the nation throughout his lifetime; and for transcending baseball and becoming a symbol for the ages of talent, commitment and achievement.” But first and foremost Joe DiMaggio was a ballplayer. Known as the Yankee Clipper, he was the undisputed leader of New York Yankees teams that won nine World Series titles in his 13-year career that ran from 1936 to 1951, with three years lost to duty in World War II. He was three times the American League’s Most Valuable Player and he holds what many consider to be the most remarkable baseball record of all, a 56-game hitting streak in 1941. As the son of immigrants, he was the embodiment of the American Dream, a rags-to-riches story played out in pinstripes. Joseph Paul DiMaggio was born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio on November 25, 1914, in Martinez, California, 25 miles northeast of San Francisco. His parents, Giuseppe and Rosalia (Mercurio) DiMaggio, had settled there after emigrating from Sicily. After Joe was born they moved the family to San Francisco, where Giuseppe continued to work as a fisherman. Joe was the eighth of their nine children, one of five sons. Two of his brothers, Vince and Dominic, would also play in the major leagues. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 12, 1948, Joe DiMaggio and the New york Yankees visited #RickwoodField for an exhibition game with the Birmingham Barons. The Yankee Clipper went 1-3 with a run scored in the 12-1 Yankee victory. #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2014, Lynn Houser was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
The young prospect was having a hard time adjusting to the backstop position in the major leagues. Offensively, he was a threat from the beginning of his career. He was a classic bad-ball hitter who could get wood on the ball no matter where the pitch was: high, low, outside. He hit them all. But no one really taught him how to master the “ins and outs” of catching. He was lacking the fundamentals of the position. The young man, who hailed from The Hill section of St. Louis, MO, was short & stocky with ears protruding awkwardly from his head. Lawrence “Yogi” Berra had all the labels attached to him. “Can’t miss.” “Sure thing” – they followed him through his short minor-league career. But the Yankees’ general manager, George Weiss, formerly the team’s farm director, was as familiar with Berra’s game as anyone & knew that all Yogi needed was someone to mold his ability. Weiss asked Bill Dickey in 1949 to join manager Casey Stengel’s staff & work primarily with Berra. Dickey, whose hitting & catching eventually got him into the Hall of Fame, jumped at the opportunity. Although The Sporting News wrote that “Berra was a question mark insofar as his availability as a catcher is concerned,” Dickey went to work on his protégé. Dickey used repetition & more repetition, teaching Berra tricks of the trade for handling fouls & popups, making plays at the plate, working with the pitcher, maintaining the right stance and balance when throwing out a baserunner. He drilled into the young man’s head the concept that the catcher is the extension of the manager on the diamond. The catcher controls the game, & contributes more than just catching the baseball. Berra, he of sayings that often made you stop & scratch your head, explained that “Bill was learning me all his experience.” Dickey proclaimed that Berra would be the best catcher in the AL within 2 years. It did not take that long; Berra was king of the backstops early in the 1949 season. “I always say I owe everything I did in baseball to Bill Dickey. He was a great man,” said Berra. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Bill Dickey and the New York Yankees played the Birmingham Barons in an exhibition game on April 4, 1935. Bill Dickey batted fifth for the Yankees and played behind the plate. He went 2-5 with a run scored, a RBI, and a stolen base. #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic #Rickwood #rickwoodfield
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2020, Stacy Hosman was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
As spring training approached in 1931, the Cardinals front office was dealing with another matter, and that was the excessive bills that Dean racked up, charging the purchases to the ballclub. The figure was up to $2,700 and growing. Rickey eventually put him on a restricted pay allowance equal to a dollar a day. Dean was also getting on the nerves of Street, and his teammates. He was loud and incorrigible, broke team rules, and was generally viewed as a pest. Yet, wherever the club went, it was Dean whom the media and fans had the most interest in. This also grated on the veteran players. Dean opened the 1931 season on the bench. It may have been a form of punishment for his actions, or because the starting rotation was pitching well. In any case he was sent to Houston, where he spent the rest of the season. Despite his grating personality, there was no denying his talent. Dean recorded a 26-10 record for Houston with 11 shutouts. He racked up 303 strikeouts in 304 innings pitched. The Buffaloes, who played a split-season schedule, won the second-half pennant and Dean was named the league’s MVP. Despite Dean’s achievements, Houston manager Joe Schultz thought it could have been even better. Dizzy would try to strike out all the good hitters, pitching to their strengths, and often letting up on the weaker hitters. Schultz believed this was a case of overconfidence, something Dean surely did not lack. Schultz and Dean went to eat at a diner, each ordering scrambled eggs and bacon. By mistake the kitchen substituted calves’ brains for the bacon. Dizzy, always a big eater, cleaned his plate. He asked the waitress what it was he had eaten and she informed him of the mistake. “What?” he said. “I didn’t order no brains.” Schultz replied, “Be quiet, she knows what you need.” On June 15, 1931, Dean married Patricia Nash of Bond, MS. She took control of Dizzy’s wild spending, & was really like a mother to him in many ways, teaching him manners & picking out his clothes. She was also his business manager, his banker, & his bookkeeper. They were married for 43 years, & had no children. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2013, Rick Hodges was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
Whitey Herzog wanted to help the 3-year old UAB Blazer Baseball team and their coach, his old friend, Harry Walker. On April 8, 1981, the Whitey Herzog managed St. Louis Cardinals visited #RickwoodField for an exhibition game with the Blazers. The 7-2 Cardinal victory also featured an appearance by future HOFer Jim Kaat. #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Early in his career, Kiki Cuyler visited #Rickwood as a member of the Nashville Volunteers in 1923. Years later, Kiki returned as the player/manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts. In this game, Kiki batted 7th and played left field. The future HOFer would go 3-5 during a 10-7 Birmingham Barons victory. #rickwoodfield #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2018, Jackie Hilston was inducted into the Florida Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame.
Hazen Shirley Cuyler died 18 years before his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but the player nicknamed "Kiki" posted achievements on the diamond far too great to be obscured by history. Cuyler was born Aug. 30, 1898, in Harrisville, Mich. And for nearly half of his 51 years, Cuyler was one of Major League Baseball's greatest hitters. “Cuyler can hit, run, field and throw with the best of 'em,” said broadcaster Fred Hoey. His nickname rhymes with “sky” and was derived from the first syllable of his surname, and few had trouble remembering the strapping right-handed hitter after he posted a .354 batting average in 1924 as a Pittsburgh Pirates rookie. During his first eight big league seasons, Cuyler hit .336 with three 200-hit seasons (and another in which he finished three short). He also averaged 110 runs scored per year (despite missing half of the 1927 season in a contract dispute) and 32 steals. Cuyler led the Pirates to a World Series victory in 1925, but was benched for the 1927 World Series – in which the Bucs were swept by the New York Yankees. That offseason, Cuyler was traded to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Sparky Adams (who hit .286 in his 13 big league seasons) and reserve outfielder Pete Scott (whose 1928 season with Pittsburgh was his last of three years in the Majors). Over the next seven seasons, Cuyler batted .328, helping the Cubs win National League pennants in 1929 and 1932. He spent four more seasons in the majors, finishing his 18-year career with 2,299 hits, 1,305 runs scored and a .321 batting average. His 155 runs scored in 1930 is tied for 24th on the all-time single-season list and has been surpassed only by Lou Gehrig (163 runs in 1931 and 167 in '36) in the years since. For many years, Cuyler spent his off-seasons touring with an All-Star basketball team. He also served as a minor league manager and major league coach following his playing career. Cuyler was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1968. He passed away on Feb. 11, 1950, after suffering a heart attack while serving as a coach for the Boston Red Sox. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
#HallOfFameFriday: Miller Lulow The third and final member of the 2022 HOF class was Miller Lulow, a 2013 graduate who starred on the baseball team for four seasons. During his time with the Panthers, Lulow became arguably the most decorated pitcher in team history, closing out his career in style. During the 2013 season, he went 7-1 in eight starts, tossed three complete games, made 21 appearances and recorded a team-best 1.85 ERA. He also struck out 45 over 73 innings of work. For his dominance, Lulow was named the Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year, All-Skyline First Team, Skyline Scholar-Athlete of the Year, D3Baseball.com All-Region and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region! Following his Purchase career, the righty went on to play in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs for the Taos Blizzard. Nowadays, Lulow is a lawyer for the Mayer Brown firm in New York City! With his nomination, Miller became just the second baseball player named to the Purchase College HOF to date! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
On March 26, 1933 Joe Cronin and his Washington Senators paid a visit to #Rickwood for an exhibition series with the Birmingham Barons. Joe played shortstop and batted fourth for the visiting Senators. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, Dan Hightower was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
“Every Day I put on a uniform was a thrill. Just to be a part of the show was a real thrill for me. Every day could have been my first big league game.” – Joe Cronin Joe Cronin had 1 of the most interesting, multifaceted careers in baseball: He was a player, manager, general manager, AL President & a member of the Hall of Fame’s board of directors & Veteran’s Committee. He was born in the basement of his aunt’s house in San Francisco in October 1906, the year of the great earthquake. His family was living in the basement because they had been displaced by the quake. A fine-fielding shortstop who hit for power & average, he played briefly for the Pirates in 1926 & 1927. The Washington Senators purchased his contract in 1928, for $7,500. The following year he became the Senators' regular shortstop. He played for the Senators until 1934, and during his time there, he led the league twice in games played, & once each in doubles and triples. He became player-manager in 1933, winning the pennant in his 1st season at the helm. Though the Senators lost the Series to the Giants, Cronin hit .318. In October of 1934, the Red Sox traded for Cronin, sending Lyn Lary & a quarter of a million dollars to Washington, an unprecedented sum. Cronin played shortstop for the Red Sox until 1945, and managed the club until 1947. Cronin hit over .300 for the Red Sox in 4 full seasons, & managed the team to the 1946 pennant, losing to the Cardinals in the World Series. From 1948 through 1959, Cronin served in the Red Sox front office in several capacities: He became the first former player to be named President of the AL in 1959, a position he held through 1973. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956. When the Red Sox retired Cronin’s No. 4 in 1984, Ted Williams had this to say about him: “Joe Cronin was a great player, a great manager, a wonderful father. No one respects you more than I do, Joe. I love you. In my book you’re a great man.” Cronin passed away on Sept. 7, 1984. #Rickwood #HallofFameFriday
Sam Crawford sprung from fertile Midwestern farm soil, and like a storm blowing across his native Nebraska’s prairie swept over the major league baseball landscape for nearly two decades. One of the Deadball Era’s most consistent performers, the powerful Crawford never led his league in slugging percentage, but finished in the top ten in that category every year but one from 1901 to 1915. During that span the left-hander paced the circuit in triples six times, on his way to establishing the career record for three-baggers that has not been eclipsed in the more than 85 years since his historic career came to an end. Standing an even six feet tall and weighing 190 pounds, Crawford was generally regarded as the strongest hitter of his day. “While we are no sculptor, we believe that if we were and were looking for a model for a statue of a slugger we would choose Sam Crawford for that role,” F.C. Lane of Baseball Magazine wrote in 1916. “Sam has tremendous shoulders and great strength. That strength is so placed in his frame and the weight so balanced that he can get it all behind the drive when he smites a baseball.” Yet Crawford was much more than a one-dimensional slugger. Playing in the era’s cavernous parks, Crawford had to leg out even the longest of his drives. In addition to his 309 career triples, the Nebraskan also holds the record for the most documented inside-the-park home runs in a single season, with 12 in 1901. #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic #Rickwood #rickwoodfield
The Detroit Tigers and the Birmingham Barons faced off in an exhibition game on March 25, 1911 at #Rickwood. The game was an 11-3 victory for the visiting Tiger squad. Sam Crawford batted cleanup for the Tigers and played right field. Wahoo Sam went 1-5 with a double that day. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2014, Karen Gilmartin was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
After a 6th-place finish in 1924, the Indians traded Coveleski, coming off a subpar year (15-16, 4.04 ERA) to the world champion Washington Senators. Despite having spent 9 years of his career there, Coveleski had no regrets about leaving Cleveland behind. “I never did like Cleveland,” he later explained. “Don’t know why. Didn’t like the town. Now the people are all right, but I just didn’t like the town.” He even admitted that his dissatisfaction with his surroundings had come to affect his performance. “You know I got to a point where I wouldn’t hustle no more,” Covey remembered. “See, a player get to be with a club too long. Gets lazy, you know.” True to form, Coveleski rebounded strongly for the Senators in 1925, finishing the season with a 20-5 record and capturing his second ERA title with a 2.84 ERA, though he lost both of his starts in Washington’s World Series defeat against Pittsburgh. After turning in another good year in 1926, Coveleski came down with a sore arm in 1927 & the Senators gave him his unconditional release. Covey caught on with the Yankees for the 1928 season, but pitched poorly & was released in August. Now out of baseball and with the opportunity to coach a boys’ amateur team, Coveleski moved his family to South Bend, Indiana. Coveleski then acquired & ran the Coveleski Service Station. During the Great Depression, however, both gas & business became hard to come by, & Covey quit the business. Coveleski, now fully retired, spent his time hunting & fishing, often driving to a nearby lake at 6 A.M. & generally enjoying life. On the strength of his 215 career wins & lifetime .602 winning percentage, Coveleski was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. In his own stoic way he expressed both his appreciation and frustration for having to wait so long: “It makes me feel just swell,” he said. “I figured I’d make it sooner or later, and I just kept hoping each year would be the one.” Coveleski died at the age of 94 on March 20, 1984 in a nursing home after a lengthy illness; he was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in South Bend. At the time of his death he was the oldest living Hall of Famer. #Rickwood #HallofFameFriday
#HallOfFameFriday: Arnold “Arty” Epstein The second member of the 2022 HOF class was Arty Epstein, who served as the men’s basketball head coach from 1979-87. During his time with the Panthers, Epstein became the first coach to make a true impact on the athletics department. Over his years with the program, he overcame a lack of height among his players by utilizing speed and skill. That format paid off during the 83-84 season, when the squad became the first team in program history to finish with a winning record (17-8). They also won a bunch of close games and were aptly named, “The Cardiac Kids.” Additionally, he coached at DeWitt Clinton High in the Bronx for nearly 30 years, before he retired and returned to his home state of Massachusetts. With his nomination, Arty became the first and only coach named to the Purchase College HOF to date! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
Despite not being particularly large at 5’11” and 166 pounds, Stan Coveleski was bestowed the nickname The Big Pole. He typically threw overhand, but would drop down to a sidearm delivery once in a while. While at Portland Coveleski developed the spitball for which he later became famous. Coveleski felt that to become a top flight hurler he needed a pitch to supplement his fastball, curve, and slow ball. Covey developed excellent control of his spitball which he could make break in three directions depending on his wrist action: down, out, or down and out. When he first started experimenting with the spitball he tried using tobacco juice. Later, at the suggestion of Joe McGinnity and Harry Krause, he switched to alum which worked much better. Covey kept the alum in his mouth where it became gummy; he would wet his first two fingers to throw the spitter. With his newly developed spitball, Coveleski led the Pacific Coast League in games pitched and finished the 1915 season 17-�17 with a respectable 2.67 ERA. Despite his .500 record, Covey remained favorably regarded and prior to the 1916 season the Cleveland Indians, who enjoyed a close relationship with Portland, purchased his contract. In 1920, Coveleski and the Indians persevered to narrowly win the American League pennant. Once again, Coveleski was a big reason for the Tribe’s success, winning 24 games, finishing second in the league with a 2.49 ERA and leading the league with 133 strikeouts. His best work he saved for that year’s best-of-nine World Series against the Brooklyn Robins, pitching three complete-game victories, including a shutout in the series-clinching Game Seven. Covey posted a 0.67 ERA for the series, while walking only two batters in 27 innings. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Stan Coveleski was born Stanislaus Anthony Kowalewski to a family of Polish descent on July 13, 1889 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town located 60 miles north of the state capital in Harrisburg. “Covey” later recalled working in the local mines by the time he was 12 years old, from seven in the morning to seven at night six days a week for $3.75 per week. The youngest of five boys – four of whom would play professional baseball – Stanley, like his older brother Harry, who won 81 games for the Phillies, Reds, and Tigers, anglicized his name to Coveleskie when he moved into organized baseball (at some point after retirement the final ‘e’ came off his name). His oldest brother Jacob died during the Spanish-American war. Frank spent time with an outlaw club in Pennsylvania but fell victim to rheumatism that ended his career. John, a third baseman and outfielder, played in the minor leagues but could never quite break through. Coveleski hurled admirably in his 1st season in the league; in 272 innings pitched he led the league with 23 wins while losing only 11. His next two years, also in Lancaster, proved satisfactory. In 1912 he moved to Atlantic City in the same league and continued pitching well. Near the end of the 1912 season Coveleski caught the eye of manager Connie Mack . Signed to a contract and given a couple of late-season starts, the 23-year-old Coveleski acquitted himself well, but Mack believed he needed additional seasoning. Accordingly, the manager sent Covey across the country to Spokane , apparently believing that he had a gentleman’s agreement with Spokane to retain the rights to the promising young pitcher. Coveleski played 2 years in Spokane, hurling over 300 innings each year. According to one story Mack had forgotten about his rights to Coveleski and failed to take up his claim for the player. Later, upon inquiring about Covey, Mack was sent a box of big red apples as thanks & told his rights had expired. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 4, 1927 the Washington Senators traveled to #Rickwood for an exhibition game against the New York Giants. The game featured a pitching matchup of future Hall of Famers, Stan Coveleski verses Burleigh Grimes. Additionally, the Senators had Hall of Famers Goose Goslin, Bucky Harris, and Tris Speaker while the Giants had Rogers Hornsby and Mel Ott. Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem also worked the game. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, Al Frierson was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
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Modesty and mental and physical toughness embodied the spirit of Earle Combs. His ego never outgrew those values during his baseball career and the remainder of his life. The ultimate team player, he was kind, a gentle man whose life was guided by the Bible. In those still rough and tumble times of baseball he stood out as an anomaly and as a beacon of light in a sport that was still under the pall of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. That he was a baseball player and a good one was only the surface of a man who lived his life as purely as he knew how. Combs was the man in center field between Bob Meusel in left and Babe Ruth in right, a respected ballplayer though eclipsed by his flamboyant teammates. Fred Lieb wrote of Combs, “If a vote were taken of the sportswriters as to who their favorite ballplayer on the Yankees would be, Combs would have been their choice.” Quiet, modest, and intelligent, Combs said upon his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1970, he said, “I thought the Hall of Fame was for superstars, not just average players like me.” #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic #Rickwood #rickwoodfield
On March 31, 1925, the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Robins played to an 11-5 Yankee win at #Rickwood. Bob Meusel went 2-2 with two homers before being replaced in left field. Not to be outdone, the "Sultan of Swat", Babe Ruth went 4-5 on the day with a single, a double, and two round trippers! Earle Combs played centerfield for the Yankees that day and batted second. He went 2-6 on the day with a run scored. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2014, Rosemary Eure was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
#HallOfFameFriday: Victor Donato The first member of the 2022 HOF class was Victor Donato, a supervisor who worked in the department from 2002-18. Despite working here for 16 years, he never took a photo apparently, so Perseus is filling in. During his time with the Panthers, Donato worked as an indoor and outdoor supervisor for the collegiate teams during regular season games, numerous postseason tournaments, as well as working intramural events and major rental occasions. Additionally, he worked as a tailor and dry cleaner to the teams during his years, as that was his longtime family business too. Following a long career, Donato retired to North Carolina with his beloved wife, Nancy, where the couple still resides today. With his nomination, Victor became the first and only supervision personnel named to the Purchase College HOF to date! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
An excellent place-hitter, slick fielder, and brainy baserunner, Eddie Collins epitomized the style of play that made the Deadball Era unique. At the plate, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound left-handed batter possessed a sharp batting eye, & aimed to hit outside pitches to the opposite field & trick deliveries back through the box. Once on base, Collins was a master at stealing, even though his foot speed wasn’t particularly noteworthy. A believer in the principle that a runner steals off the pitcher, Collins practiced the art of studying pitchers. He focused especially on the feet & hips of the pitcher, rather than just his hands, & thus was able to take large leads off 1st base. An Ivy League graduate, Collins was 1 of the smartest players of his day. Saddled with the nickname “Cocky” from early in his career, Collins drew the resentment of teammates for his self-confidence & good breeding . Perhaps for this reason, contradiction & complexity became a recurring theme throughout his 25-year major-league career. He made his major-league debut under an alias & later served as captain of the most infamous team in baseball history, the 1919 Chicago White Sox. He won an award recognizing him as the mvp in the league, only to be sold off to another club in the subsequent offseason. Despite his upper-class origins & education, Collins abided by a litany of superstitions, although he insisted he was “not superstitious, just thought it unlucky not to get base hits.” Collins became a regular player in the majors in 1908, splitting time at 5 positions: shortstop, 2nd base, & all 3 outfield spots, hitting .273 in 102 games. He converted to 2nd base full-time in 1909. It was no small coincidence that when Collins became the starting 2nd baseman, the team also took off. Eddie played every game in 1909, hitting .347 as the club rose to 2nd, chasing the pennant-winning Tigers to the wire. The young 2nd sacker finished 2nd in the circuit in hits, walks, steals, & batting average, & placed 3rd in the league in runs, total bases, & slugging. He led all 2nd basemen in putouts, assists, double plays, & fielding average. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 7, 1923, Eddie Collins and his Chicago White Sox took on the Birmingham Barons in an exhibition game at #Rickwood. The game was a pitcher's duel with the White Sox winning the game by a final score of 2-1. Eddie Collins batted third and played 2nd base for the White Sox. He went 3-4 on the day with two singles, a double, and a stolen base. #rickwoodfield #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, John Dubreuil was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
“Eddie Collins is the best ballplayer I have seen during my career on the diamond.” – John McGraw Born May 2, 1887 in Millerton, NY, Collins graduated from Columbia University before establishing himself in the majors with manager Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s in 1908. The next year, Collins became the A’s regular 2nd baseman, hitting .347 with 104 runs scored, 198 hits & 63 stolen bases. It would mark the first of 10 full seasons where Collins hit better than .340. From 1911-14, Collins finished 3rd, 6th, 3rd and 1st in the Chalmers Award voting – the de facto MVP Award, helping the Athletics win World Series titles in 1911 & 1913 and another AL pennant in 1914. But following his team’s shocking 1914 Fall Classic loss to the Braves & in the face of a national recession, Mack broke up his A’s and their legendary “$100,000 infield.” Mack sold the 27-year-old Collins to the Chicago White Sox for a record $50,000. Collins continued his outstanding all-around play in Chicago, leading the White Sox to the 1917 World Series title despite batting under .300 for a full season (at .289) for the 1st time in his career. In 1919, Collins hit .319 and stole a league-best 33 bases in leading the White Sox back to the World Series, a team known forever as the Black Sox after 8 players were accused of throwing the Fall Classic. Collins was never implicated in the scandal. Collins thrived with the introduction of the lively ball in 1920, recording career-bests of 228 hits and a .372 batting average. He continued to post batting averages well over .300 and managed the White Sox from the end of the 1924 season through the 1926 season, finishing with records better than .500 in each season. In 1923 & 1924, Collins finished second in the AL MVP voting. In 1925, Collins became just the 6th person to join the 3,000-hit club and the last for the next 17 seasons. Collins is 1 of only 5 players in history with more than 500 steals and a .400 on-base percentage. Collins was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939. He passed away March 25, 1951. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic
From the day he arrived in Detroit in January of 1934, Mickey Cochrane began spreading the word about the Tigers turning the page and becoming a contender again. He made the circuit of luncheons, banquets, social gatherings, and newspaper interviews. Cochrane was confident but not cocky. At a Kiwanis Club luncheon, he asserted, “I played with the Athletics for nine years and in that time we never finished out of the first division and I do not intend to do so now.” At another engagement he remarked, “I’m not foolish enough to expect a pennant the first season and maybe not the second, but I promise you an improved team.”6 Once spring training began, Cochrane didn’t waste any time instilling a new attitude in the Tigers. One of the local headlines read, “Cochrane Cracks Training Whip to Get Tigers into Fighting Trim.” He added 20 minutes of calisthenics to the routine of training camp. He conducted clinics on the fundamentals of sliding and defensive positioning. He imposed a midnight curfew and had a 9:00 A.M. wakeup call for the three-hour morning practices, which started not a minute after 10:30. He even ordered the hotel chef that “no man may order more than one steak a day.” One of the changes Cochrane made was a symbolic one. Before the 1930 season, the Tigers had done away with the classic Old English “D” on the front of their home jerseys. The logo had been worn since the club’s early days, including during their pennant-winning run of 1907-09. The new look apparently didn’t do much for Cochrane. He saw to it that the Old English “D” was put back on the uniforms and caps, in hopes that it would restore the Tigers’ champion pedigree. Indeed, there was a new boss in town, and baseball in Detroit was about to undergo a seismic change. #HallofFameFriday #rickwoodclassic #Rickwood #rickwoodfield
In his first 11 years in the majors, Mickey Cochrane never caught fewer than 110 games in the then 154-game season. He perfected the one-hand catching style to help protect the fingers on his throwing hand from getting overly banged up. Cochrane assisted two pitchers to establish 16-game winning streaks, still the American League record, when Lefty Grove accomplished the feat with the A’s in 1931 and Schoolboy Rowe with the Tigers in 1934. Cochrane was selected as American League MVP twice, in 1928 and 1934, primarily on his leadership abilities rather than his statistical accomplishments. On the field, Cochrane had a certain inspiration that infected other players to do their best. Cochrane never played on a team that finished worse than third place. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Our fourth 2024 CSCA Hall of Fame inductee is Dr. Shawn T. Wahl (Missouri State University)! It's fitting that we are inducting him into the CSCA Hall of Fame in Grand Rapids, because this was also the site of the 2016 CSCA "Foundation" Convention he planned! If you're a CSCA trivia buff, you'll know that this is the second year in a row that we've inducted a CSCA Hall of Fame member in the city they planned their convention in. #HallOfFameFriday #GRR One of his nominators wrote, “Shawn has made it his life’s work to leverage higher education resources to advance communication studies, arts, social sciences, and humanities education throughout the nation. He serves as a role model for all Central States members and, importantly, for the next generation of CSCA teachers and researchers.” Another of his nominators stated, “Shawn promotes and serves our discipline at every opportunity on his campus, in the discipline, in our associations, and in the many communities in which he moves, always with high quality and heart.” Another of his nominators commented, “I have known many, if not most, of the top leader/scholars in the Central States region for the past half century. Shawn is the most accomplished leader-scholar I have known during my 50 years of association with CSCA.”
On April 11, 1934, player/manager Mickey Cochrane and his Detroit Tigers took on the Birmingham Barons in an exhibition game at #Rickwood. The game was a slugfest for the Tigers who would win the game by a final score of 18-4. Mickey Cochrane batted fifth and played catcher for the Tigers. He went 2-4 on the day with two runs batted in and a run scored before being replaced. #rickwoodfield #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2013, William Douglas was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
“Greatest catcher of them all, (Mickey) Cochrane was,” said Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Grove of his longtime Philadelphia Athletics batterymate. Gordon “Mickey” Cochrane was a fiery catcher, nicknamed “Black Mike” for his fierce competitive spirit, who helped lead his teams to 5 pennants &3 World Series crowns during his 13 big league seasons. He spent his first 9 years with the Connie Mack’s A’s, capturing AL flags from 1929 to 1931, with Fall Classic titles coming in 1929 & ’30. Sold for $100,000 to the Detroit Tigers after the 1933 campaign to become player-manager, he promptly lead his new team to the top of the Junior Circuit his first 2 seasons and a World Championship in 1935. “He showed us how to get a man on first, move him over to third and then get him in. We needed somebody to take charge & show us how to win & that’s what Mickey did,” said Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg. “He was an inspirational leader. He’d been on 3 pennant winners & winning was a way of life with him, a winning spirit that was really infectious. He was the greatest fighting spirit on the ball field. He’d go through a brick wall to catch a ball.” “Cochrane was a great inspirational leader,” said Tigers Hall of Fame 2nd baseman Charlie Gehringer. “Boy, he was a hard loser, the hardest loser I think I ever saw. He wouldn’t stand for any tomfoolery. He wanted everybody to put out as hard as they could & he set the example himself. Always hustling, always battling. Cochrane was in charge out there.” Winner of the AL’s MVP Award in 1928 & 1934, Cochrane finished with a .320 career batting average, a career-best .357 coming in 1930. But it was his handling of pitchers which impressed those around him. Cochrane’s playing career came to an abrupt halt at the age of 34 when he was hit in the head by fastball from Yankees’ pitcher Bump Hadley on May 25, 1937. Cochrane survived the fracture skull, which one doctor reported, “The X-rays looked like a road map,” but never played another big league game. Cochrane was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947. He passed away on June 28, 1962 . #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
#HallOfFameFriday: Nico Marceca The third and final member of the 2019 HOF class is Nico Marceca, a 2011 graduate who starred on the men’s tennis team. During his time with the Panthers, Marceca became one of the most decorated players in team history, as he was named to the All-Skyline Conference Second Team three years in a row (2009, 10 and 11)! Additionally, he was named a SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete in 2011, a team captain and the President of the Purchase College Student Government, all while leading the Blue and Orange to the Skyline playoffs in back-to-back seasons. With his nomination, Nico became the first and only tennis player named to the Purchase College HOF to date! Since graduating, Marceca has worked for himself as a business entrepreneur, for Amazon as a Senior Product Manager and most recently, for Similarweb as its Head of Sales. #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
Even though the value of stealing bases can be argued, there is no dispute about the impact on a game’s outcome when a runner steals home. And one player, more than any other, can be considered the “Master Thief”: Tyrus Raymond Cobb. His record-setting career 54 steals of home (SOH) is a mark that may never be surpassed. Only two players stole more than half of Cobb’s 54 total: Max Carey (33) and George Burns (28). Not even the all-time overall stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, with his 1,406 thefts, could approach Cobb’s SOH total. Henderson stole home only eight times during his career. By comparison, Cobb stole home eight times in just one year alone (1912), setting the single-season major league record. The closest any player has ever come to Cobb’s seasonal SOH record is seven, reached by Pete Reiser in 1946 and Rod Carew in 1969. Although Cobb never stole home twice in a game, a feat accomplished by 11 players, he did steal second, third, and home in one inning on four different occasions to set the major league record (July 22, 1909, July 12, 1911, July 4, 1912, and August 10, 1924). Only Honus Wagner with three such events came close to Cobb’s record. During the July 12, 1911, game versus the Athletics, Ty stole second base, third base, and home plate on consecutive pitches by left handed Harry Krause. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
We are excited about this week’s #HallOfFameFriday! Our third 2024 CSCA Hall of Fame inductee is Mr. John Heineman (Lincoln Public Schools)! One of his nominators wrote, “John is a true communication educator who has served extensively for CSCA, who has demonstrated his commitment to the communication discipline, and who continues to promote speech communication, forensics, and the basic course in public education.” Another of his nominators stated, “John is a remarkable individual whose influence extends far beyond the confines of his professional roles. He is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all communication scholars.” Another of his nominators commented, “John’s service to CSCA and the broader discipline is incomparable. In addition to decades of service to CSCA and the discipline, he has been a lighthouse, a beacon of compassion and hope, someone who, with his life and work, has kept people alive and bettered lives.”
Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby played against each other in an exhibition game at Rickwood in April 1923, #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
In 1904 Ty Cobb, encouraged by a Royston teammate who had had a failed professional tryout, contacted teams in the newly formed South Atlantic (Sally) League. He received a response from the Augusta (Georgia) Tourists, inviting Cobb to spring training provided the boy pay his own expenses, and offering him a contract for $50 per month, contingent on Cobb making the team. For young Tyrus, this was a dream come true, a chance to play professional baseball. His father tried to talk him out of the decision, but finally relented, telling his son, “You’ve chosen. So be it, son. Go get it out of your system, and let us hear from you.” Cobb was released just two games into his stay with Augusta, but immediately received an offer from a semipro team in Anniston, Alabama. Cobb called his father, who advised him “Go for it. And I want to tell you one other thing — don’t come home a failure.” These words were to have a great impact in shaping the life and baseball career of Ty Cobb. Cobb played well with Anniston, and by August he received a telegram from Augusta asking him to rejoin the team. The year 1905 was to be a fateful one for Cobb. He reported to Augusta for spring training, and got the chance to play in two exhibition games against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers trained in Augusta in return for an option to purchase one player from the Augusta team at a later date. Cobb made an impression on the Tigers with his talent and his aggressive, even reckless, style of play. Augusta got off to a poor start, and Cobb’s play was uninspiring. In July, however, veteran George Leidy replaced Andy Roth as manager, and took Cobb under his wing. He told young Ty that he was wasting his talent, and schooled him in the finer points of the game. Cobb became the league’s best hitter, and Detroit and other teams began to take notice. The tutelage of Leidy was the turning point in Cobb’s career. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
On April 10, 1923, Ty Cobb and his Detroit Tigers took on Rogers Hornsby and the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game at #Rickwood. The big hit of the game was when Rogers Hornsby hit a blast over the scoreboard with two runners on. However, the Tigers would win the game by a final tally of 6-4. Ty Cobb batted third and played centerfield for the Tigers. He hit a double and went 1-3 on the day with a sacrifice, a walk, and a run scored. #rickwoodfield #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2013, Doc Dockery was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
#HallOfFameFriday Brandi Chastain is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist who has inspired generations of young women to play soccer and to fight for equal pay and working conditions as professional athletes. Learn more by visiting http://www.calnorth.org/hall-of-fame #CalNorthSoccer | #HallOfFame
It's time for our next #HallOfFameFriday! Our second 2024 CSCA Hall of Fame inductee is Dr. Chad Edwards (Western Michigan University)! One of his nominators wrote, “Chad’s profound contributions to the field of Communication, outstanding academic achievements, and exceptional leadership make him an exemplary candidate for this prestigious honor. He has exhibited unparalleled dedication to his craft throughout his distinguished career.” Another of his nominators stated, “Chad’s service as Executive Director and President reflect his passion for, and dedication to, serving CSCA and its members in two different yet equally demanding volunteer positions that each required an extensive amount of time, energy, and commitment.” Another of his nominators commented, “One of the most impressive things I learned from Chad was to focus on the future, figuring out how to leave the association stronger than we found it. His service and impact on the association is unparalleled and in a class all his own.”
Ray Dandridge visited #Rickwood during his rookie season with the Detroit Stars for a three game series with the Nashville Elite Giants. This box score shows the results of the double header played on August 6, 1933. Ray is listed as batting clean-up and playing short in both games. In the first game Dandridge went 2-4 with a run scored while in the second game he was 0-3. He was charged with an error in both games as the Nashville Elite Giants swept the double header that day. #rickwoodfield #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2020, Steve Coonrod was inducted into the Florida Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame.
#HallOfFameFriday: Abigail Katz The second member of the 2019 HOF class is Abby Katz, a 2013 graduate who starred on the women’s soccer team for four seasons. During her time with the Panthers, Katz became one of the program’s best midfielders ever, as she finished as the all-time leading scorer with 52 career goals. Additionally, she was named to the All-Skyline Conference First Team three times, a Jewish Sports Review All-American (2010), an ECAC All-Star (09), the Purchase College Female Athlete of the Year (13), Skyline Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year (13), a SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete (13), a two-time team captain and was a four-year starter on the softball team as well. With her nomination, Abigail became the third women’s soccer player to be inducted into the Purchase College Hall of Fame. Today, Katz works for the New York Red Bulls as a Human Resources Senior Manager! #FangsOut #PantherPride #BeUnstoppable
What could be better than a #HallOfFameFriday? We'll be celebrating for the next five weeks because we have a five person Hall of Fame class this year! Our first 2024 CSCA Hall of Fame inductee is Dr. Dawn O. Braithwaite (University of Nebraska–Lincoln)! One of her nominators wrote, “Dawn was my Ph.D. advisor, mentor, and encouraged me both professionally and personally. We are not just students to her, but lives who she feels compelled to make a difference in.” Another of her nominators stated, “Dawn not only talks the talk, but she walks the walk when it comes to setting an example of how to conduct one’s professional affairs as a member of the academy. She is an exemplar of how to actively engage one’s community and serve both the community and the discipline of communication through research, teaching, mentorship, and service.” Another of her nominators commented, “Dawn’s record of scholarship, teaching, and outreach–especially to the profession–is among the best and most visible in our profession. She is a credit to our profession and to the Central States Communication Association.”
Andy Cooper’s most famous pitching performance came late in his career, against rival Chicago. Chicago disputed the Monarchs’ 1937 Negro American League crown and the two teams agreed to a five-game playoff with games in five different midwestern cities to settle the score. Kansas City won the series three games to one, but it was Game Two – a 17-inning 2-2 tie – that was historic. Willie Foster started for the American Giants and Cooper for the Monarchs. With Chicago as the home team on a chilly day, Cooper gave up two runs in the bottom of the first on successive RBI doubles by Alec Radcliff and Turkey Stearnes. These were the only runs Cooper surrendered. He walked four batters and struck out seven. The Monarchs tied the game in the top of the seventh, scoring on an RBI single and a wild pitch. Foster was hurt on a line drive in the inning and replaced by Sug Cornelius. The game continued for ten more scoreless frames before being called. The Pittsburgh Courier wrote in its report of the contest, “The veteran Andy Cooper, going the entire route for the Monarchs, pitched probably one of the greatest games of his career. He rose to the heights when the Giants filled the bases in the thirteenth with none out by whiffing Stearnes and causing the dangerous [Subby] Byas to rap into a double play, Cooper to Else [the catcher] to Strong.” #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
By the 1930s, Andy Cooper’s premier pitching days were behind him. He remained an occasional starter for KC but was used more as a reliever. According to Monte Irvin, “Cooper was a rarity for his time, in the Negro Leagues and the major leagues, a relief specialist. Like so many pitchers in his day, Cooper was used as both a starter and a reliever. But his specialty was relief. He holds the all-time Negro Leagues records for saves and was the closest thing in his day to what is known as a closer.” Cooper’s second stint with the Monarchs lasted from 1932 until 1939 as a pitcher; he served as manager from 1936 to 1940. Wilkinson offered Andy the managerial reins in 1935 after Joe Rogan’s long tenure at the helm. Cooper demurred, though, and Sam Crawford stepped in that year instead. It was also in 1935 that the Brooklyn Eagles under manager Ben Taylor offered hefty contracts to Cooper and fellow Monarchs Newt Allen, Chet Brewer, George Giles, and T. Baby Young. Only Giles made the jump, beginning the season at first base for the Eagles and becoming player-manager in late May. Cooper accepted Wilkinson’s managerial offer in 1936. In his inaugural year as skipper, he led the Monarchs to the best record among independent teams. In 1937, KC joined the Negro AL and from 1937 to 1940, Cooper led them to four successive first-place finishes. Cooper’s 4 successive first-place league finishes with Kansas City took place when there was no Negro League World Series. Joining the Negro American League in 1937, the Monarchs dominated the circuit, whose teams included the Chicago American Giants, Memphis Red Sox, and Birmingham Black Barons. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday
Happy #HallofFameFriday! In 2012, Tom Conroy was inducted into the Florida Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame (Inaugural Class), admitted 10.25.1974.
A baseball player who spent the entirety of his playing career in the shadows of the American and National leagues due to the color of his skin, Andy Cooper made a name for himself in the Negro Leagues due to his mound mastery. Negro Leagues historian Dick Clark once said of Cooper: “In my estimation, the greatest black pitcher ever to pitch for Detroit – that’s for the Stars or the Tigers.” Born in Waco, Tex. in 1897, the thickly built Cooper, all 6-foot-2 and roughly 220 pounds of him, spent the majority of his Negro Leagues career as a durable and consistent left-handed hurler with the Detroit Stars and KC Monarchs over a two-decade career that spanned the 1920s and ‘30s. Included among Cooper’s many accolades and accomplishments during his playing days was a 43-inning stretch with the Stars in which he didn’t issue a base on balls, winning twice as many games as he lost with both the Stars and Monarchs, helping lead KC to the Negro NL pennant in 1929 and pitching 17 innings in a 1937 playoff game against the Chicago American Giants. According to a scouting report prepared by famed Negro Leagues player and manager Buck O’Neil, Cooper had a live arm with a total command of all of his pitches, which included a running fastball, tight curveball and biting screwball. “Andy never possessed the fine assortment of curves held in the supple arms of other pitchers. However, he did have what so many pitchers lack – sterling control,” wrote Russ J. Cowans in 1941 in The Chicago Defender, one of the top African-American newspapers of the day. “Cooper could almost put the ball any place he wanted it to go. A top starting pitcher early in his career who became a valuable reliever in his final years on the diamond, Cooper was also an accomplished manager – leading the Monarchs to three pennants between 1937 and 1940. “Cooper was a smart manager and a great, great teacher,” said Monarchs pitcher and fellow Hall of Famer Hilton Smith. Cooper passed away on June 3, 1941. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006. #rickwoodfield #Rickwood #rickwoodclassic #HallofFameFriday