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Articles by Bill Nowlin
The 5: Mets Books - 1969 Edition
March is National Reading Month, and with the excitement of a new baseball season on the horizon, there is no better way to celebrate than with a book about the Mets. But, with so many Mets books out there, which are the best ones to read? I'll be honest...when I sat down to write this, my goal was to come up with five Mets-related books that I recommend most.
SkyDome (Toronto)
This article was written by Allen Tait The term “nova” is a good metaphor for describing the story of SkyDome. The stadium burst on the scene in 1989 and shone brightly as a state-of-the-art multi-use stadium. It was the first stadium with a fully retractable roof, the first that helped attract 4 million fans in a season for baseball and the first stadium to host a World Series game that was not played on US soil.
Society for American Baseball Research
Eleanor Callow was more than just the greatest power hitter in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) history. On top of being the all-time leader in home runs and triples, Callow was perhaps the league’s best all-around position player.
Wahconah Park (Pittsfield, MA)
Wahconah Park: an outdated barn or a precious relic? A swamp or a hallowed slab? A money pit or a landmark? After well over a century, the dichotomy persists. Baseball players were facing off there before Babe Ruth was born, before “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written, before architects sketched the first raw outlines of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park.
September 8, 1933: Mel Almada becomes the first Mexican native to play in a major-league baseball game
The team that was the last to integrate had been – 26 years earlier – the first to field a native of Mexico in the major leagues. The team was the Boston Red Sox, who took until 1959 to field a Black ballplayer – Pumpsie Green.
Society for American Baseball Research
“I think I was put on this earth to be a coach.”1 “Have you ever had an itch you can’t scratch? Athletes have one for life, a ‘jock’s itch’ that a ton of Tinactin won’t cure.”2 So writes Tom House, former left-handed pitcher who, after he retired from baseball, went on to pursue graduate studies. He ultimately obtained a Ph.D. in sports psychology, and launched a new career to offer instruction to aspiring athletes in a number of sports.
Jackie Robinson’s Steals of Home
Jackie Robinson slides to home plate in an attempt to avoid the tag during a game between the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets Field on May 13, 1956. Catcher is Ray Katt. Batter is Clem Labine. It was one of the times he didn’t make it. (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY) Jackie Robinson was fast on the basepaths, and he enjoyed “disruptive baserunning” as well – trying to distract the opposing pitcher any way he could.
Introducing Team DRA/DRC+ and Splits - Baseball Prospectus
Hello BP Readers! When we last met I was excited to bring you the news of our new leaderboards. Since the launch of those leaderboards we’ve been continuing to build out various aspects of the site, including the Injured List Ledger. One thing that we’ve heard from you on, though, was the absence of team-level data, especially for our proprietary stats like DRA, DRA-, and DRC+.
The Deep League Landscape: Week Two - Baseball Prospectus
On these deep-league targets, sometimes you just need a small reason to believe.
Ceiling-Only Dynasty Prospect Rankings: Top 101 of 2021 - Baseball Prospectus
For those who only care about upside, enjoy.
The Stash List: Week Two - Baseball Prospectus
The Stash List, not the 'Stache List. We ain't ranking facial hair out here.
LABR and Tout Wars Recap 2021 - Baseball Prospectus
Image credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA TODAY Sports Welcome to my annual LABR and Tout Wars mono-league recap. For the second consecutive year, we decided to pull all this data into one article rather than separate them into two pieces. Tout Wars is the third and final major analyst league that holds mono-league, salary-cap drafts throughout the spring. CBS holds their salary-cap drafts in mid-to-late February, followed by LABR in late February and Tout Wars in mid-May.
Major-League Umpiring during the Pandemic of 2020 - Baseball Prospectus
Image credit: Chris Guccione L to R: Chris Guccione, Todd Tichenor, Gerry Meals, Laz Diaz, Marvin Hudson, and Mark Carlson during the 2020 World Series. The “56” patch was in honor of umpire Eric Cooper. This article is brought to you by a partnership between Baseball Prospectus and the Pandemic Baseball Book Club, a collective of baseball authors focused on the principle of cooperation over competition.
It's Been...One Week of Prospect Observations - Baseball Prospectus
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A look at what the first week of play has taught us about some current prospects—without jumping to conclusions.
By Bill Nowlin, Howard Megdal Verified, Jeffrey Paternostro Verified, Mark Barry, Craig Goldstein Verified
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Baseball Prospectus
Box Score Banter 2021: Reds' Offense, Red Hot - Baseball Prospectus
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The Reds' offense is impressive; the continuation of the runner-on-second rule in extras is less so; Justin Dunn is somewhere between those poles.
By Jeffrey Paternostro Verified, Bill Nowlin, Howard Megdal Verified, Jon Hegglund, Ginny Searle Verified
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Baseball Prospectus
Society for American Baseball Research
Jesse “Bill” Williams was one of the premier defensive infielders in the Negro Leagues during his career. “He could field anything that came his way at short and throw batters out from deep in the hole,” one writer said in describing his skills.1 He is also known as the Kansas City Monarchs player who switched positions to make room for Jackie Robinson. Jesse Horace Williams was born to Willie W. Williams and Carrie M. Austin on June 22, 1913, in Henderson, Texas, 130 miles east of Dallas.
Society for American Baseball Research
March 10, 2021 Before there was The Ballpark at Arlington, The Ballpark at Jackson,… https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/research-collection4_350x300.jpg 300 350 sabr /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png sabr2021-03-10 00:28:182021-03-10 00:45:25The Ballpark (Old Orchard Beach, ME) February 11, 2021 The Southern Tier Expressway does not lend itself to reflection… https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/research-collection4_350x300.jpg 300 350 sabr...
September 1, 1941: Ted Williams bumps his batting average to .410 with another home run
Shooting for .400, Ted Williams didn’t manage a single in the Boston Red Sox’ September 1 doubleheader with the Washington Senators, nor a two-base hit. He didn’t hit a triple, either, but he improved his batting average by three points, from .407 to .410. He did hit three home runs — two in the first game and one in this second game. He also walked four times, twice in each game.
Society for American Baseball Research
Henry Chadwick, the esteemed “Father of Baseball,” observed William Selden in 1889 and called him “an excellent strategic pitcher.”1 Selden was an ace of the Cuban Giants, a pioneering African-American team. Two years later, he pitched a shutout with President Benjamin Harrison looking on.2 Selden had come a long way since his days as the mascot and bat boy of the 1877 Boston Red Stockings. William H. Selden was born on October 10, 1866, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Society for American Baseball Research
He was a star pitcher, one who not only threw a no-hitter — against none other than Rube Foster’s 1915 Chicago American Giants1 — but also tossed a four-hit complete game against the 1911 Pittsburgh Pirates. He was, for parts of two decades, a manager who is credited with at least 196 career wins. He was the traveling secretary for the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs. He was a part-time baseball writer with the Pittsburgh Courier. He was, for a time, the secretary of the Negro National League.
Society for American Baseball Research
Frank E. Bradley, a fireballing right-handed pitcher who played in six seasons for the Kansas City Monarchs before suffering a career-ending wound in World War II, was born on February 3, 1918, in Benton, Bossier Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of June and Adline (Gates) Bradley.
October 20, 2004: ‘Hell freezes over’; Red Sox complete historic ALCS comeback over Yankees in Game 7
Everyone watching the game knew Dave Roberts was put in to try to steal second base. It was Game Four of the 2004 ALCS, and the Red Sox had lost each of the first three games of the best-of-seven series to their archrivals, the New York Yankees. The third of the three losses hadn’t even been close: a crushing 19-8 defeat at Fenway Park. No team had ever come back and won a best-of-seven series after losing the first three.
Society for American Baseball Research
Drafted out of high school as a 17-year-old left-handed pitcher, Andy Hassler enjoyed a 14-year career in the major leagues for the California Angels and five other big-league clubs. The Palo Verde High School (Tucson, Arizona) graduate, selected in the 25th round of the June 1979 draft, was scouted and signed by Jack Paepke and Kenny Myers for the California Angels. Andrew Earl Hassler was born on the Texas shoreline near Galveston in the small city of Texas City on October 18, 1951.
Society for American Baseball Research
Pitcher Jim Wilson was a right-hander who played 16 years in professional baseball, including 257 games in major-league ball over the course of 12 seasons — despite being near death after having his skull fractured by a line drive off the bat of Hank Greenberg. He went on to become the first Executive Director of the Major League Scouting Bureau. James Alger Wilson was born in San Diego on February 20, 1922, the sixth child of city policeman George Wilson and his wife, Mary (Rinde) Wilson.
Doug Mientkiewicz
There are only seven players in baseball history who have earned both an Olympic gold medal and a World Series ring. One of these men also has a Gold Glove on his mantel — Doug Mientkiewicz. Mientkiewicz, a 12-year major-league baseball veteran. finished with a .271 career batting average. He played for seven different teams and points to his longevity in the game as one of the things of which he is most proud. “[I most valued] staying in the big leagues,” Mientkiewicz said. “It is hard.
Chuck Hartenstein
Right-handed pitcher Chuck Hartenstein was a good, solid minor-league pitcher who enjoyed significant success in the National League, but struggled in the American League. He later moved on to work as Toronto’s minor-league pitching instructor and the major-league pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers. Basically, Hartenstein reached the major-league level in three different ways — as a pitcher, a pitching coach, and a major-league advance scout.
April 6, 1973: Yankees' Ron Blomberg makes debut as baseball's first designated hitter
April 6, 1973: Yankees' Ron Blomberg makes debut as baseball's first designated hitter Corrections? Additions? If you can help us improve this game story, contact us. Luis Tiant had led the majors with a 1.91 ERA in 1972 but his 1973 season got off to a rocky start. The Yankees were in town and they went to town, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
Society for American Baseball Research
LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ== LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==...
Society for American Baseball Research
Al Worthington came from a large Alabama family, the seventh of ten children born to Walter B. Worthington, a newspaper compositor, and his wife, Lake Worthington. After four daughters, the Worthingtons welcomed Allan Fulton Worthington into the world on February 5, 1929, in Birmingham. Walter worked for the Birmingham News for his last ten years and also pitched in one of the local amateur leagues.1 Al became a right-handed pitcher who worked 14 years in the major leagues.
Did MLB Exist Before the Year 2000?
By Bill Nowlin This article was published in the Fall 2019 Baseball Research Journal. Writers often refer to “MLB” as though it were something that has existed as long as there has been major-league baseball. It has not. I decided to ask the question: Did MLB exist before 2000? Or maybe late 1999? Some background on why I decided to delve into this question. Several odd words or constructions recur in submissions to the books I've edited for SABR over the past several years.
Society for American Baseball Research
Homer Simpson may live forever in baseball history as the man who pinch hit for Darryl Strawberry—who had already hit nine home runs (four-base hits often dubbed “homers”)—in the 1992 City Championship game between Springfield and Shelbyville. It was Simpson who knocked in the winning run, being knocked out in the process, and gave victory to Springfield. Patrick Henry once uttered “Give me liberty or give me death!” Numerous other public figures have been immortalized for short or snappy sayings.
Society for American Baseball Research
The Moose from Moosup – an easy nickname to pin on a 6-foot-5, 220-pound ballplayer who hailed from the village of Moosup, Connecticut. Right-handed-hitting Walt Dropo played for parts of 13 major-league seasons, with a solid .270 average (.326 on-base percentage, .432 slugging average), and 152 career home runs. Dropo easily won the 1950 Rookie of the Year award. He never had another year approaching 1950, but what a year it was.
George Yankowski
At the end of the 2019 baseball season, 25 former major-league baseball players who had seen military service in World War II survived. One of them is Massachusetts native George Edward Yankowski, who served in the United States Army and saw combat with General George S. Patton’s Third Army. At age 96, this ex-catcher says he’ll never forget his wartime encounters with legends like Babe Ruth if he lives to be 100. Based on his active lifestyle, he's likely to reach that milestone.
Society for American Baseball Research
Dick Pole was a 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed pitcher who broke in with the Red Sox in 1973. Born on October 13, 1950, in Trout Creek in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one of the few Yoopers who worked a major-league mound. Richard Henry Pole was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 1969.
Jack Billingham | Society for American Baseball Research
Although the 1970s Reds were famous for their great offense, a pitcher holds one of the team’s – and baseball’s – most impressive records. Jack Billingham has the lowest earned-run average in World Series play, 0.36. He allowed just one earned run in 25⅓ innings spread over three different World Series for the Reds. In addition to his two Series wins, his 145 regular-season wins make a strong case that some of those Reds could pitch a little, too.
Society for American Baseball Research
Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd starts his autobiography recalling back in 1964 when he was 5 years old, and his uncle Frank Boyd brought three civil-rights workers by the family home. Later that same year, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were discovered murdered. Dennis believes they were killed just after they left the Boyd home to head for Memphis.1 The home was in Meridian, Mississippi, where he had been born on October 6, 1959, to parents known as Skeeter and Sweetie.
Society for American Baseball Research
“He’s a superhero without a cape. That’s the way we see him.” — Alex Cora1 Several of the biggest base hits in Boston baseball history came off the bat of “Big Papi,” David Ortiz. He sports three world championship rings and then wrapped up his career with one of the best final seasons any player has ever enjoyed. Within months of leaving the game, he was honored by the Red Sox, who retired his jersey number 34. He had already become an instant icon in Red Sox Nation.
Bill Wambsganss | Society for American Baseball Research
Contemporary accounts of Cleveland second baseman Bill Wambsganss' fielding almost universally used the word "slick" to describe his play.
August 12, 1984: Braves-Padres brawl leaves 17 players ejected in one game
August 12, 1984: Braves-Padres brawl leaves 17 players ejected in one game Corrections? Additions? If you can help us improve this game story, contact us. A record 17 ballplayers were ejected during one game. The San Diego Padres were in first place in the National League West, and the Atlanta Braves were in second, but they weren’t exactly battling it out in this Sunday game — the Padres had a 10½-game edge over Atlanta, with 46 games left on their schedule.
Society for American Baseball Research
One of the first things one notices about short-term Boston Red Sox leftfielder/pinch-hitter Gene Rye is that he used another surname while playing professional baseball, apparently Anglicized from Mercantelli. He was also sometimes known by the nickname "Half Pint" – he was 5-feet-6 and weighed 165 pounds. He batted left-handed, but threw right-handed.
Society for American Baseball Research
Unfortunately, Tim Wakefield just kind of ran out of time. The knuckleballer won 186 games with the Boston Red Sox — just six short of the franchise record held by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. Wakefield was 45 years old going into the 2012 season, an age at which various “butterfly” specialists have remained productive. Though he held an option he could invoke, the team and the player came to mutual agreement that he would retire.
Society for American Baseball Research
Looking at Ralph Comstock’s career record today, it doesn’t seem that remarkable, but the Milwaukee Journal was very impressed in April 1917, and called him the “little spitball heaver” and “baseball’s original rover.” The newspaper said, “During his early days in the game, Ralph was a sort of freebooter. Few players of his age can count off as many leagues in which they have played.
July 6, 1938: Braves Field hosts an integrated baseball game
July 6, 1938: Braves Field hosts an integrated baseball game Boston Royal Giants 4 House of David 3 Braves Field Boston, MA Corrections? Additions? If you can help us improve this game story, contact us. Bob Quinn owned the Boston Red Sox from 1923 into 1933. In 1936 he became president of the Boston Braves and renamed them the Bees, changing the name of the ballpark from Braves Field to National League Baseball Park. More imaginative locals called the place the Beehive.
SABR BioProject: May 2019 Newsletter
High and Inside The Newsletter of the BioProject Committee Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) May 2019 Past newsletters Editor: Andrea Long From the Directors Guest Columnist: Bill Nowlin From the Editor Update on BioProject Submissions Project Poobahs From Co-Directors Rory Costello and Gregory H. Wolf Change to BioProject Workflow As part of the ongoing effort to maintain the high standard of quality of SABR’s biographies, we have added another stage to the review process.
May 4, 1939: Who is that Kid? Ted Williams homers in dramatic Detroit debut
May 4, 1939: Who is that Kid? Ted Williams homers in dramatic Detroit debut Corrections? Additions? If you can help us improve this game story, contact us. Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams was 20 years old when he first played in a game at Detroit's Briggs Stadium. It quickly became his favorite ballpark in which to hit. Williams — “The Kid” — had won the Triple Crown in the American Association in 1938, with 43 home runs among his contributions to the Minneapolis Millers.
Society for American Baseball Research
Sam Jethroe was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1950, playing for the Boston Braves, and the first African-American to play major-league baseball in Boston. Five years earlier, he'd tried out for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, along with Jackie Robinson and Marvin Williams, but the Red Sox pursued none of them. Robinson went on to break the major-league color barrier and won Rookie of the Year in 1947.
Society for American Baseball Research
He’s been termed a “reluctant pioneer.” All Pumpsie Green wanted to do was play professional baseball. He didn’t even aspire to the major leagues at first, and would have been content playing for his hometown Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League. That said, Pumpsie Green took pride in the fact that he helped accomplish the integration of the Boston Red Sox, the last team in the majors to field an African American ballplayer.
August 12, 1984: Braves-Padres brawl leaves 17 players ejected in one game
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Society for American Baseball Research
You won’t find David Ferriss in the Cleveland, Mississippi, telephone directory — but if you were to look up Boo Ferriss, you’d find him. ”A lot of people down here hardly know my real name,” he says. The nickname came when he was a baby and tried to say the word ”brother” and it came out “boo.” He was born David Meadow Ferriss, though, on December 5, 1921, at Shaw, Mississippi. He batted lefthanded, but threw righthanded; he probably could have thrown ambidextrously, but never had the chance.
October 12, 1916: Red Sox claim championship on adopted turf
It was Columbus Day and the biggest crowd of the 1916 World Series. The Red Sox led the Brooklyn Robins three games to one. Some 43,620 came to Boston's Braves Field to see if the Red Sox could win their second world championship in a row. Brooklyn crowds had been only half the size of Boston’s, despite it being their team's first appearance in a World Series. Owner Charles Ebbets charged much higher prices than were customary at the time – all the way up to $5.00. And the weather was very cold.
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