Did you know ...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

[malthaussen]

1. If I recall correctly...

... this was an exhibition put on by the owner of the Chattanooga team, who was a great showman in the Bill Veeck tradition. There is some reason to believe that Ruth and Gehrig were paid to whiff. In any event, Kenesaw Mountain Landis wasn't having it.

OTOH, I remember reading about a woman who pitched for the Senators in the early years of the 20th century... disguised as a man. Regrettably, I can't find any internet reference, even though I read it on the 'Net.

Objectively, women should be able to pitch in MLB, if they throw a knuckleball. In fact, a knuckleballer had a minor league try this century but wasn't good enough to move up. Problem is, of course, that managers don't really like knuckleballs, so you have to be a really good knuckleballer to make it in the majors. I seem to recall a fella who played for Atlanta who was pretty good with it though...

-- Mal

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. I would have to give benefit of reasonable doubt that they whiffed on purpose

paid or unpaid but, will we ever know for sure? Isn't that what Any "Man" would say? Gosh, can't be bested by a "girl" ...No Way!!
Especially in that era.

Everybody hates the knuckleball Can you blame them

and I know you posted about knuckleballs because you want my autographed baseball signed by Phil Neikro

[malthaussen]

3. Driving myself crazy trying to track down the female pitcher...

... finally found the reference. The story may well be a hoax, but the pitcher was Dale Gear, who pitched 1901 with the Senators and 1896 with the Spiders, and had a long and distinguished minor league career.

Probably factitious, but it makes a good story. As for Ruth and Gehrig whiffing, well, they did do that quite a bit anyway. But I lean more towards it being an Eddie Gaedel moment.

Me, I'm a big advocate of women in major sports. If they can play the game, they ought to be allowed to play the game. They don't even have to be very big. Hell, Jimmy Rollins is only 5-8 and he hits 20 homers a year...

Cool baseball, but *I* have one from the 1960 Pirates season. Mind you, the thread has disintegrated...

-- Mal

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. Roberto Clemente? none too shabby!

[malthaussen]

7. Well, y'all had the better right fielder...

... as far as hitting goes, anyway.

Apropros of the 60 Pirates, though, it just goes to show how if your highlights aren't in color, your reputation suffers. Only one World Series has been won by a home run in the bottom of the 9th of the 7th game. You would think, ya know, that that would be the greatest-ever WS moment. But it isn't, according to fans it is only number FIVE.

Okay, it was the Pirates unexpectedly (and undeservedly, boo hoo to all the sour grapers out there) winning against the beloved Yankees. And it was Bill Mazeroski, not some all-time great power hitter. And it was in black and white. But seriously... even Bill Buckner's error gets a higher rating.

-- Mal

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. hard to beat Hank ...

and ya gotta admit that Bill Buckner error was a real

[malthaussen]

9. You know what I like most about Maz's homer?

By the time the ball cleared the fence (360 feet away), Maz was already at second base. He took off out of the box at a dead run, he didn't stand there admiring it. Not enough of that anymore.

-- Mal

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. agree.

[KitSileya]

4. Reminds me of the women's football teams (soccer for you heathen Americans) in England

During WWI, women formed football teams that played matches in England, and after the war, they continued playing. In fact, they became as popular as men's football, so in 1921, the Football Association outlawed them playing on Association members' pitches, threatening to ban member teams who allowed women to play on their pitches.

Pretty typical attitude to women's sport in those days, and one we haven't gotten rid of completely yet.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. Speaking of Women in Sports ... last night in Boxing ... Holy Moly!

Those women were Slugging it Out No holding back what so ever

[Kingofalldems]

11. There's a teenage girl who was taught by Joe Niekro

to throw the knuckler and is now pitching in HS I believe. And quite dominant I understand. Maybe someone can find a link. I think I read it on DU.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Joe passed away in '06 with leukemia, I think.

[Kingofalldems]

13. Here you go:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120703/NEWS/120709779

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. yes, here are the pertinent paragraphs, thanks =

Baker has been having fun at the expense of boys and as a ground-breaking athlete for years. She learned to throw the fluttery pitch from former major leaguer Joe Niekro when she was seven years old.

Baker was playing baseball in the Plant City Little League at age seven when she started pestering Niekro, her coach, to teach her how to throw the elusive pitch.

He relented, teaching her a secret, and a star was born.

Baker has recorded two perfect games with the pitch, including one in a Little League All-Star game in Haines City in 2009. She's won many games, mixing the knuckleball with a curveball and a fastball that has been clocked in the mid-70 miles per hour range of late.

the article is from 2012.