#Shortstops: Phantoms of the Fall Classic
The 1971 Athletics were swept by the Orioles in the ALCS - but not before tickets were produced for a potential Fall Classic in Oakland.
DISCOVER HISTORY
Stories from baseball's rich history are constantly being added to keep you connected to the game you love.
#Shortstops: Overdue Honor
Joe Sinnott's cartoon, titled “Honor Black Babe Ruth…At Last”, was published shortly after Josh Gibson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.
#Shortstops: Pin Interest
Cincinnati bowling alley owners honored Rogers Hornsby with a unique gift in 1952.
#Shortstops: Color of Diversity
Jim Shearer's illustration depicts the Pirates lineup from Sept. 1, 1971, when Pittsburgh became the first AL or NL team to field an all-Black and Latino starting lineup.
#Shortstops: Locastro’s stolen goods
Outfielder Tim Locastro wore these cleats on April 10, 2021, when he set a big league record (since 1951) with his 28th consecutive successful stolen base attempt to start his career.
#Shortstops: Dutch Strikes Silver
Dutch Zwilling was awarded this silver bat for leading the Chicago Federal League club in batting average in 1914.
#Shortstops: Slippery elm and the spitball
In the early 1900s, slippery elm bark was frequently used by spitball pitchers to facilitate unnatural movement of the ball.
#Shortstops: Bearing a Championship
The 1947 Mobile Bears went 94-59, winning the pennant and the Southern Association Championship. A scorecard from the 1947 season is preserved in Cooperstown.
#Shortstops: Patently amazing
In 1892, William C. Blades invented the "base-ball apparatus," a device designed to prevent arm injuries for pitchers.
#Shortstops: Football careers for baseball fans
Longtime NFL front office member Harry Hulmes, a lifelong baseball fan, used this book to keep record of his dice baseball games while aboard a Navy ship in 1948.
#Shortstops: Wings of a Hall of Famer
Hall of Fame executive Warren Giles was presented this trophy after his Rochester Red Wings ran away with the 1929 International League pennant.
#Shortstops: Father and Son
Both Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson and his son, Christy Mathewson Jr., produced a long list of accomplishments during lives that were tragically cut short.
#Shortstops: Lefty’s world
In a 1978 speech to the Novato Historical Society, Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez recounted his life and baseball career.
#Shortstops: Walk a Mile in her Shoes
On June 24, 1972, Bernice Gera became the first woman to umpire a professional baseball game.
#Shortstops: Music Box
Phil Linz's tune on a harmonica helped galvanize the Yankees for the stretch run during the 1964 season.
#Shortstops: Edge of Greatness
Razor blade used by Cy Young a part of the Museum’s artifact collection.