Rambling observations on books, history, movies, transit, obsolete technology, baseball, and anything else that crosses my mind.
| 1897 Spalding Baseball Guide |
Bill Lange, an outfielder from San Francisco, was born 150 years ago today, on 06-June-1871. For some reason, his nickname was Little Eva. He played his whole major league career with the Chicago National League club, which went through several names before it became the Cubs. Lange retired at 29 after the 1899 season and went into business in San Francisco. His nephew Highpockets Kelly played for the New York Giants.
| New York Tribune, 02-May-1920 |
George Kelly, called High Pockets because of his exceptional height, played first base for the New Giants when they appeared in the World Series four years in a row and won twice. Kelly was born in San Francisco 125 years ago today, on 10-September-2020. The Veterans' Committee voted him into the Hall of Fame in 1973, and it was a controversial choice because two of his teammates were on the committee. I remember a local television show that interviewed several local Hall of Famers. Kelly was on it.