Frank Graham (writer)
Encyclopedia
Frank Graham, Sr. was an American sportswriter
and biographer. He covered sports in New York for the New York Sun
from 1915 to 1943 and for the New York Journal-American from 1945 to 1965. He was also a successful author, writing biographies of politician Al Smith
and athletes Lou Gehrig
and John McGraw
, as well as histories of the New York Yankees
, New York Giants
and Brooklyn Dodgers
. Graham's writing style was notable for his use of lengthy passages of "unrelieved dialogue" in developing portraits of the persons about whom he wrote. Graham was posthumously inducted into the "writers wing" of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
in 1972. He was also posthumously honored in 1997 by the Boxing Writers Association of America
with its highest honor, the A.J. Liebling Award.
section of New York City. His mother died during child birth, and he was raised by his grandmother and sister. He contracted spinal meningitis as a boy and lost vision in one eye. He completed only one semester of high school at New York's High School of Commerce. From 1909 to 1915, he worked as an office boy for the New York Telephone Company and developed an interest in boxing. He participated in several amateur boxing matches and wrote articles on boxing for Boxing
magazine and the New York World
.
. He covered the New York Giants
' spring training in 1916. While working at the Sun, he became associated with Damon Runyan and Grantland Rice
. He remained with the Sun for nearly 30 years. From 1934 to 1943, he wrote a column in the Sun called "Setting the Pace."
("Lou Gehrig, A Quiet Hero," 1942), John McGraw
("McGraw of the Giants: An Informal Biography," 1944) and former New York Governor and U.S. Presidential candidate Al Smith
("Al Smith, American: An Informal Biography," 1945). He also wrote critically acclaimed team histories of the New York Yankees
, New York Giants
and Brooklyn Dodgers
that remained in print more than 50 years later.
In 1959, Graham published his last book, "Third Man in the Ring," the story of boxing referee Ruby Goldstein
as told by Goldstein to Graham.
and have fallen into public domain. Links to a number of his better-known columns are set forth below in the "Selected articles written by Graham."
. In a foreword to a later edition of Graham's history of the Yankees, Leonard Koppett
wrote, "He didn't take a lot of notes. He just absorbed what was being said – and what it meant in the right context – and reproduced it in graceful prose and natural speech. It is this style of narration through dialogue that makes his books come so alive."
It was through Graham's use of conversational dialogue that one of baseball's legendary quotes was recorded. Graham reported on a conversation with Leo Durocher
during which New York Giants manager Mel Ott
and his players walked out of the opposing dugout. Durocher pointed to them and told Graham, "Take a look at them. All nice guys. They'll finish last. Nice guys. Finish last." It was another Durocher conversation recorded by Graham that led to the nickname "Gashouse Gang
" for the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals. Graham reported on a conversation between Durocher and Dizzy Dean
. When asked if the Cardinals would win the pennant if they played in the American League
, Durocher said, "They wouldn't let us in the other league. They would say we are a lot of gashouse ballplayers."
Graham also developed a reputation for kindness and tolerance. His friend, Bob Reilly, described Graham as being "psychopathically polite." Colleague Jimmy Cannon
wrote:
Sportswriter Arthur Daley wrote that, at a dinner in the 1940s honoring Graham, Grantland Rice had asked the speakers to blast Graham with "words of scathing condemnation." Giants' manager Mel Ott
reportedly "stuttered" and "stammered" trying to find words of denunciation for Graham and finally said: "Dammit, Granny. I just can't, I gotta tell the truth. Frank Graham is the nicest, kindest, gentlest, finest, sweetest and most wonderful person I ever met in my life."
Despite his personal reputation as a gentleman, Graham was attracted to the shadowy underworld surrounding sport. In the "Dictionary of Literary Biography," Edward J. Tassinari wrote:
in 1961 to accept a lifetime achievement award from the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America
, a UPI reporter covering the event wrote: "[T]he crowd rose to its feet in acknowledgement of one of the top writers in the country. And there weren't many dry eyes among them."
Graham's last column in the Journal-American was published in December 1964. In January 1965, Graham fell at his home in New Rochelle, New York
, fracturing his skull. He died several days later at Nathan B. Etten Hospital in The Bronx
.
Graham was married to Gertrude Lillian Whipp in 1923. They had four children. In 1981, Graham's son, Frank Graham, Jr., wrote a dual biography of himself and his father titled "A Farewell To Heroes."
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
and biographer. He covered sports in New York for the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
from 1915 to 1943 and for the New York Journal-American from 1945 to 1965. He was also a successful author, writing biographies of politician Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
and athletes Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
and John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
, as well as histories of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
and Brooklyn Dodgers
History of the Brooklyn Dodgers
-Early Brooklyn baseball:Brooklyn was home to numerous baseball clubs in the mid-1850s. Eight of 16 participants in the first convention were from Brooklyn, including the Atlantic, Eckford, and Excelsior clubs that combined to dominate play for most of the 1860s...
. Graham's writing style was notable for his use of lengthy passages of "unrelieved dialogue" in developing portraits of the persons about whom he wrote. Graham was posthumously inducted into the "writers wing" of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 1972. He was also posthumously honored in 1997 by the Boxing Writers Association of America
Boxing Writers Association of America
The Boxing Writers Association of America was originally formed in 1926 as the Boxing Writers Association of Greater New York. The association's purpose is to promote better working conditions for boxing writers, as well as hold its writers to the highest professional and ethical standards...
with its highest honor, the A.J. Liebling Award.
Early years
Graham was born in 1893 in the East HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
section of New York City. His mother died during child birth, and he was raised by his grandmother and sister. He contracted spinal meningitis as a boy and lost vision in one eye. He completed only one semester of high school at New York's High School of Commerce. From 1909 to 1915, he worked as an office boy for the New York Telephone Company and developed an interest in boxing. He participated in several amateur boxing matches and wrote articles on boxing for Boxing
Boxing News
Boxing News is the longest-running boxing magazine still in publication, dating back to 1909. Owned by Newsquest Specialist Media .-History:Boxing News was founded in 1909 by original editor John Murray as, simply, Boxing...
magazine and the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
.
New York Sun
In 1915, Graham was hired by the New York SunNew York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
. He covered the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
' spring training in 1916. While working at the Sun, he became associated with Damon Runyan and Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
. He remained with the Sun for nearly 30 years. From 1934 to 1943, he wrote a column in the Sun called "Setting the Pace."
Author
In 1943, Graham was hired as the sports editor at Look magazine, a position he held for one year. During the 1940s, Graham also published several books, including biographies of Lou GehrigLou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
("Lou Gehrig, A Quiet Hero," 1942), John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
("McGraw of the Giants: An Informal Biography," 1944) and former New York Governor and U.S. Presidential candidate Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
("Al Smith, American: An Informal Biography," 1945). He also wrote critically acclaimed team histories of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
and Brooklyn Dodgers
History of the Brooklyn Dodgers
-Early Brooklyn baseball:Brooklyn was home to numerous baseball clubs in the mid-1850s. Eight of 16 participants in the first convention were from Brooklyn, including the Atlantic, Eckford, and Excelsior clubs that combined to dominate play for most of the 1860s...
that remained in print more than 50 years later.
In 1959, Graham published his last book, "Third Man in the Ring," the story of boxing referee Ruby Goldstein
Ruby Goldstein
"Ruby" Goldstein , the "Jewel Of The Ghetto," was an American boxer and prize fight referee.-Boxing career:Before he became a referee, Goldstein boxed professionally from 1925 to 1937...
as told by Goldstein to Graham.
New York Journal-American
In 1945, Graham was hired by the New York Journal-American. He wrote a column for the Journal-American known as "Graham's Corner" until 1964. Condensed versions of his columns from the Journal-American were regularly featured in Baseball DigestBaseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
and have fallen into public domain. Links to a number of his better-known columns are set forth below in the "Selected articles written by Graham."
Reputation and writing style
During his career as a sportswriter, Graham was known for his use of conversational dialogue as a device to develop a word portrait of athletes. His use of "unrelieved dialogue" as a writing device was said to be patterned on the work of Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
. In a foreword to a later edition of Graham's history of the Yankees, Leonard Koppett
Leonard Koppett
Leonard Koppett was one of the most influential sportswriters of the 20th century.Born in Moscow, Koppett moved with his family from Russia to the United States when he was five years old...
wrote, "He didn't take a lot of notes. He just absorbed what was being said – and what it meant in the right context – and reproduced it in graceful prose and natural speech. It is this style of narration through dialogue that makes his books come so alive."
It was through Graham's use of conversational dialogue that one of baseball's legendary quotes was recorded. Graham reported on a conversation with Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
during which New York Giants manager Mel Ott
Mel Ott
Melvin Thomas Ott , nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire career for the New York Giants . Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and his players walked out of the opposing dugout. Durocher pointed to them and told Graham, "Take a look at them. All nice guys. They'll finish last. Nice guys. Finish last." It was another Durocher conversation recorded by Graham that led to the nickname "Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
" for the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals. Graham reported on a conversation between Durocher and Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
. When asked if the Cardinals would win the pennant if they played in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, Durocher said, "They wouldn't let us in the other league. They would say we are a lot of gashouse ballplayers."
Graham also developed a reputation for kindness and tolerance. His friend, Bob Reilly, described Graham as being "psychopathically polite." Colleague Jimmy Cannon
Jimmy Cannon
Jimmy Cannon was a sports journalist inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his coverage of the sport.-Early career:...
wrote:
"A gentle man who seemed to walk on the tips of his toes as if he intended to pass through the world without disturbing anyone. ... The copy was pure and so was he. He typed it quickly on the toy machine with the dainty tapping of polite fingers. He frisked the characters of even the rogues for their good traits and cherished them for that. He was an original, this embarrassed poet, who changed sports writing, and brought to it the dignity of folk literature."
Sportswriter Arthur Daley wrote that, at a dinner in the 1940s honoring Graham, Grantland Rice had asked the speakers to blast Graham with "words of scathing condemnation." Giants' manager Mel Ott
Mel Ott
Melvin Thomas Ott , nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire career for the New York Giants . Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
reportedly "stuttered" and "stammered" trying to find words of denunciation for Graham and finally said: "Dammit, Granny. I just can't, I gotta tell the truth. Frank Graham is the nicest, kindest, gentlest, finest, sweetest and most wonderful person I ever met in my life."
Despite his personal reputation as a gentleman, Graham was attracted to the shadowy underworld surrounding sport. In the "Dictionary of Literary Biography," Edward J. Tassinari wrote:
"[M]any of Graham's pieces reflect the New York ambience of the 1920s and the influences of RunyonDamon RunyonAlfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
and HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
in terms of characterization, atmosphere, and dialogue. Graham loved the offbeat, shadowy figures and rogues that dwelt on the fringes of his favorite sports – the gamblers, bookies, struggling horse trainers, and injury-riddled jockeys, and fight managers and promoters hustling for a buck or demonstrating the resiliency to continue in search of that elusive big payday."
Later years and family
Graham developed cancer in 1960. When Graham appeared at the Waldorf-Astoria HotelWaldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
in 1961 to accept a lifetime achievement award from the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
, a UPI reporter covering the event wrote: "[T]he crowd rose to its feet in acknowledgement of one of the top writers in the country. And there weren't many dry eyes among them."
Graham's last column in the Journal-American was published in December 1964. In January 1965, Graham fell at his home in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
, fracturing his skull. He died several days later at Nathan B. Etten Hospital in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.
Graham was married to Gertrude Lillian Whipp in 1923. They had four children. In 1981, Graham's son, Frank Graham, Jr., wrote a dual biography of himself and his father titled "A Farewell To Heroes."
Awards and honors
Graham was the recipient of numerous honors and awards for his writing. These include the following:- In 1957, the Boxing Writers Association of New York presented Graham with the James J. Walker Award for "long and meritorious" service to boxing.
- In 1958, Graham received the Grantland Rice Award, presented each year to the outstanding sportswriter in the United States.
- In 1961, he received the William J. Slocum Award for "long and meritorious service" to baseball.
- In 1971, he was posthumously honored by the Baseball Writers Association of AmericaBaseball Writers Association of AmericaThe Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
with its highest honor, the J.G. Taylor Spink AwardJ.G. Taylor Spink AwardThe J. G. Taylor Spink Award is the highest award given by the Baseball Writers Association of America to its members. The award was instituted in and named after J. G...
for distinguished baseball writing. As a recipient of the Spink Award, Graham was posthumously inducted into the "writers wing" of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumNational Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 1972. - In 1997, Graham was posthumously honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America with the A.J. Liebling Award for outstanding writing about boxing.
Books written by Graham
- "Lou Gehrig, A Quiet Hero" (1942, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "The New York Yankees: An Informal History" (1943, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "McGraw of the Giants: An Informal Biography" (1944 G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "The Brooklyn Dodgers: An Informal History" (1945, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "Al Smith, American: An Informal Biography" (1945, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "Baseball Wit and Wisdom: Folklore of a National Pastime" by Frank Graham and Dick HymanDick HymanRichard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
(1952) - "The New York Giants: An Informal History of a Great Baseball Club" (1952, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
- "Third Man in the Ring," by Ruby Goldstein and Frank Graham (1959, Funk & Wagnalls)
Selected articles written by Graham
- O'Doul – Frisco's Pride and Pal (Lefty O'DoulLefty O'DoulFrancis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul was an American Major League Baseball player who went on to become an extraordinarily successful manager in the minor leagues, and also a vital figure in the establishment of professional baseball in Japan.-Player:Born in San Francisco, California, O'Doul began his...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, November 1946 - Brightest Page in the Book (Joe PageJoe PageJoseph Francis Page , nicknamed Fireman and The Gay Reliever, was a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Page, who was left-handed, played with the New York Yankees from to and with the Pittsburgh Pirates in .-Professional career:Page was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free...
), Baseball Digest, January 1948 - Herb Pennock (Herb PennockHerb PennockHerbert Jefferis Pennock was a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his time spent with the star-studded New York Yankee teams of the mid to late 1920s and early 1930s. Pennock won two World Series championships with the Red Sox and then four World Series championships with the...
), Baseball Digest, April 1948 - Still the Same Old Gomez (Lefty GomezLefty GómezVernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...
), Baseball Digest, September 1948 - They Warred Over Tinker (Joe TinkerJoe TinkerJoseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
), Baseball Digest, October 1948 - Death of a Ball Club: Newark, once greatest, killed by progress, Baseball Digest, February 1950
- He's Their Stanky Now: Polo Grounders take to 'Brat' (Eddie StankyEddie StankyEdward Raymond Stanky , nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Braves , New York Giants , and St. Louis Cardinals...
), Baseball Digest, September 1950 - I'm Palsies With Umps – Frisch (Frankie FrischFrankie FrischFrancis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
), Baseball Digest, January 1951 - Essick: Coast's Star Star-Picker (Bill EssickBill EssickWilliam Earl Essick was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues. He attended Knox College and Lombard College.-External links:...
), Baseball Digest, March 1951 - Mantle of Prodigies for Mickey? (Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
), Baseball Digest, June 1951 - Why Did Dolan Make Bribe Offer? 1924 scandal mystery lingers on (Cozy Dolan), Baseball Digest, August 1951
- Harry Heilmann, Truly Great (Harry HeilmannHarry HeilmannHarry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...
), Baseball Digest, September 1951 - Yogi Knows All Hitters But One (Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
), Baseball Digest, October 1951 - Old-Timers Day with the Yankees: Why McCarthy quit coaching lines (Joe McCarthy), Baseball Digest, November 1951
- Greatest Fight on a Ball Field: When Dixie Walker took on Senators (Dixie WalkerDixie WalkerFred E. "Dixie" Walker was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
), Baseball Digest, June 1953 - On Seeing Pie Traynor Again (Pie TraynorPie TraynorHarold Joseph "Pie" Traynor was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and radio broadcaster. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted and threw right-handed...
), Baseball Digest, October 1954 - On Seeing Tris Speaker Again (Tris SpeakerTris SpeakerTristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
), Baseball Digest, November 1954 - He Still Has Little Red Wagon: Pepper Martin, At 50, Belly-Whops Into Third (Pepper MartinPepper MartinJohnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning abilities. Martin played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman and an outfielder for the St...
), Baseball Digest, November 1954 - Room with Two Great Guys (Red SchoendienstRed SchoendienstAlbert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
/Stan MusialStan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
), Baseball Digest, October 1955 - Everybody Loves Yogi (Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
), Baseball Digest, January 1956 - The Man's Non-Stop Run: Musial sets exclusive 3,000th hit as goal (Stan MusialStan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
), Baseball Digest, July 1956 - Frisch and His All-Stars, Baseball Digest, Jan 1957
- In Which an Old Umpire-Rider Gets Taken for a Ride (Beans ReardonBeans ReardonJohn Edward "Beans" Reardon was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1926 to 1949.- Early life and career:...
/Frankie FrischFrankie FrischFrancis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
), Baseball Digest, September 1957 - The Big Gap in the Ravine: L.A. mayor's slip of the tongue turns out to be prophetic (Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
), Baseball Digest, September 1958 - Are Hitters Asking For It? (BeanballBeanball"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head...
), Baseball Digest, October 1958 - Tony Lazzeri Was Like This (Tony LazzeriTony LazzeriAnthony Michael "Tony" Lazzeri was an American Major League Baseball player during the 1920s and 1930s, predominantly with the New York Yankees. He was part of the famed "Murderers' Row" Yankee batting lineup of the late 1920s , along with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bob Meusel...
), Baseball Digest, February 1959 - What's So Funny About Yogi? Nothing, especially not his base-running or memory (Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
), Baseball Digest, June 1959 - Only the First Trade's a Shock (Red SchoendienstRed SchoendienstAlbert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
), Baseball Digest, February 1960 - The Youngs McGraw Never Forgot: Though he lived only to 30, he became Giant immortal (Ross YoungsRoss YoungsRoss Middlebrook Youngs was a Major League Baseball outfielder best known for his superb defense and consistent hitting....
), Baseball Digest, February 1960 - Of Grimes and Douglas: They were masters of the spitball (Burleigh GrimesBurleigh GrimesBurleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was...
/Phil DouglasPhil DouglasPhillip Brooks Douglas was an American baseball player.Douglas originally signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1912, but soon landed with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1915, he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers, then to the Chicago Cubs.In 1919, he was signed by the New York Giants. John McGraw had...
), Baseball Digest, February 1962 - There Was Only One Benny Kauff: He was one of the most colorful of all Giants (Benny KauffBenny KauffBenjamin Michael Kauff was a professional baseball player, who played centerfield and batted and threw left-handed. Kauff was known as the “Ty Cobb of the Feds.” He is the only player to be permanently banned from baseball for reasons other than gambling...
), Baseball Digest, February 1962 - The Year Babe Hit His 60: They knew him in hot spots and tank towns (Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
), Baseball Digest, March 1962 - The Joe McCarthy Method: He was tolerant or harsh, as the case indicated (Joe McCarthy), Baseball Digest, March 1962
- Mickey Mantle, M.V.P. (Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
), Baseball Digest, February 1963 - The Making of an Outfielder (Leon WagnerLeon WagnerLeon Lamar Wagner was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Los Angeles Angels , Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
), Baseball Digest, February 1963 - In Holland It's Honkball, Baseball Digest, May 1964
- The Puzzling Giants of '27 (1927 New York Giants1927 New York Giants (MLB) seasonThe New York Giants season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the National League with a record of 92-62, 2 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :...
), Baseball Digest, August 1964