September 2010

The duel of the century: Feller vs. Newhouser

Neither the Cleveland Indians nor the Detroit Tigers had any chance to win the pennant when they met in a late September game in 1946. But a much-anticipated meeting between the league’s two top pitchers drew a large crowd to Memorial Stadium.

When Hank Greenberg hit his 300th homer

Thanks to a mistake by the Washington catcher, Tiger slugger Hank Greenberg was able to deposit this baseball into the left field stands of Briggs Stadium. Not only was the home run of importance in that game, which Detroit won, 6-4, it was the 300th such blast of Greenberg’s esteemed career.

Bill Veeck’s “Night to end all nights”

Those who work in baseball for a living are fond of saying that without the fans there wouldn’t be a game. Rarely, however, do the fans get their due. One owner, Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, did his best to pay tribute to the fans and put them center stage.

Setting the record straight: The last ball caught before World War I

When Detroit fans settled into Navin Field for the traditional Labor Day doubleheader in 1918, they had no idea that they would see a 41-year old coach pitch and get a victory, and that a pharmacist who came to watch the game, would play the outfield in place of Ty Cobb. But that’s what happened.

Ty Cobb sold me a Coke

In the “Peach State” on May 8, one of the most popular beverages in history was first concocted, and on December 18, a legendary ballplayer was born. As a result, Coca-Cola became a household name and one of the most profitable companies in the world, and Tyrus Raymond Cobb became a batting champion and eventually one of the first members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Greatest Cinderella teams in baseball history

Here’s our list of the greatest Cinderella teams in baseball history, from the 1914 Miracle Boston Braves to the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, these teams wore the glass slipper for one magical season.