Irish America

Irish America

Baseball

The ‘Daddy of Baseball’
Was an Immigrant from
County Clare

By Pat O'Neill and Tom Coffman

December/ January 2021

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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

Window on the Past

The Irish Bambino

By Ray Cavanaugh, Contributor
March / April 2020

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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

Submitted by Tom Connor
August / September 2019

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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

By Ray Cavanaugh, Contributor
March / April 2019

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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

By Tom Deignan, Columnist
September/ October 2018

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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