Although almost completely forgotten now, Ted Sullivan (1848 - 1929) was once among the best-known characters in baseball. He was called “The Daddy of Baseball” and “The Godfather of the National Game.” His story touches dozens of American cities, from Chicago to Washington D.C., Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Dallas, where he managed teams, started leagues, scouted … [Read more...] about The ‘Daddy of Baseball’
Was an Immigrant from
County Clare
Baseball
The ‘Daddy of Baseball’
Window on the Past
The Irish Bambino
In late 1990s baseball, home runs were everywhere. The balls were allegedly juiced. The sluggers were definitely juiced. Players who had been lanky rookies would later display cartoon-sized muscles, thanks to a regimen of syringes in the posterior. Even hitters of mediocre power were expected to belt 15 home runs per season. About one century earlier, however, 15 round-trippers … [Read more...] about Window on the Past
The Irish Bambino
Photo Album: Playing Ball With the FBI
My father was wanted by the F.B.I. Specifically, by J. Edgar Hoover himself. ℘℘℘ The founding director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had heard of Tommy Connor’s prowess on the baseball field. A star player in Washington, D.C., in the 1920s, Dad had graduated from high school at 15, put himself through college by 17, and went on to play Triple-A 3rd base for the old … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Playing Ball With the FBI
The One-Armed Pitcher
A one-armed Irishman with a bat... It just sounds problematic. And baseball player Hugh “One Arm” Daily was indeed a problematic guy. His predicament made it impossible for him to succeed as a hitter, but despite his handicap, he managed to have a career as a pitcher in baseball’s major leagues. Far more than a curiosity, he was for a couple of years a top-tier pitcher whose … [Read more...] about The One-Armed Pitcher
Irish Eye on Hollywood: Burns Pitches Tom Seaver
It looks like baseball is making yet another cinematic comeback. Irish American writer / director / actor Ed Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She’s the One) is slated to direct a documentary about baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Burns, the son of Irish immigrants, was born in the New York Mets’ home borough of Queens, so it is only fitting he would direct a movie about the … [Read more...] about Irish Eye on Hollywood: Burns Pitches Tom Seaver