A visit to Baby Doll Jacobson’s gravesite

At 6’3″, Baby Doll was easy to spot in a lineup.

I went home for Thanksgiving.  Home as in where I grew up.  It was straight out of a TV show with me staying in my old room and even sleeping in my old bed.  I didn’t remember it creaking so much.

Outside of the turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, the significant part of the weekend was when we visited Baby Doll Jacobson’s grave site.  As I’ve mentioned here before, I found out over Christmas holiday two years ago  that I am a distant relative of Baby Doll (though we’re still figuring exactly how).  My brother and I decided that we would take the time we had together and go visit his grave,

With a little research, we figured out exactly which cemetery he was buried.  Turns out, it was only 15 miles from where I grew up and I’ve been by there many times.  Once there, it took us only 10 minutes or so of looking over gravestones to find Baby Doll’s.

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The cemetery where BDJ is buried

The epitaph on the gravestone was simple yet any baseball fan who knew his history would recognize who this person was.  On a gravestone engraved with two crossed bats, a ball and a glove, it said:

William Chester “Baby Doll” Jacobson

Aug. 16, 1890

Jan, 16, 1977

Major & Minor Leagues 21 Yrs American League

L.B.A. 311 & Held 13 Fielding Records

I don’t know why but the first thing that hit me when I saw this was his date of death.  It amazed me that someone who played baseball as early as 1915 was still around when I was a teenager.

There was also a bronze star next to the gravestone with World War 1917-1918.  Since then, Baby Doll’s son has confirmed that he had enlisted in the Navy at that time.  Something I did not know.

Since Saturday, I’ve been in more contact with Baby Doll Jacobson’s close relatives and they all seem like good people.  Occasionally, an interesting tidbit about Baby Doll’s life will come out (like the Navy story) which is this is all about.

Finally, I’d like to point you to some articles written back in the days when Baby Doll Jacobson was playing.  His grandson, Abe Hammar was gracious enough to send me the scanned copies.  They are a treasure trove in my opinion, not just for those interested in BDJ but for those into baseball history and for that matter, the history of sports press.  Here is a sample:

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You can see the full gallery of articles that Hammar sent me here (click the images to enlarge in order to read the articles).  Very interesting indeed.  Again, many thanks to Abe!!

New digs for The College Baseball Blog

Brian over at The College Baseball Blog informs me that they have a new address.  You can now access them at http://thecollegebaseballblog.com .  It seems that the site has gone through a renovation… it looks nice. Anyone who follows college baseball should definitely put The College Baseball Blog in their favorites.  Brian tirelessly puts in … Continue reading “New digs for The College Baseball Blog”

Brian over at The College Baseball Blog informs me that they have a new address.  You can now access them at http://thecollegebaseballblog.com .  It seems that the site has gone through a renovation… it looks nice.

Anyone who follows college baseball should definitely put The College Baseball Blog in their favorites.  Brian tirelessly puts in a lot of work covering the topic. 

 

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Danny Murtaugh: Where’s the love?

I’m a little surprised that so far in my super scientific poll which asks “Which manager would you vote to induct into the Hall of Fame?”, that Danny Murtaugh has received nary a vote.  He certainly has some credentials in his vitae.  Daniel Edward Murtaugh was born in 1917 in Chester, PA and even at full … Continue reading “Danny Murtaugh: Where’s the love?”

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I’m a little surprised that so far in my super scientific poll which asks “Which manager would you vote to induct into the Hall of Fame?”, that Danny Murtaugh has received nary a vote.  He certainly has some credentials in his vitae. 

Daniel Edward Murtaugh was born in 1917 in Chester, PA and even at full stature was a small man at 5’9″ and 165 lbs.  He of course, is best known as the manager who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to five first place finishes and two World Series championships.  However, he had a playing career as a secondbaseman for the Phillies, Braves, and Pirates. 

Murtaugh’s prowess with the bat was nothing to write home about.  In his nine years in the majors, he accumulated only 8 homeruns and 219 rbis.  His runs scored (263) and on-base percentage (.331) weren’t much better even if you neutralize them for the time period he played in. 

He did however, placed ninth in the MVP voting in 1948, his first year with the Pirates.  That year, he hit .290 with 71 rbis.  He was also a good fielding secondbaseman leading the league in putouts, assists and double plays that same year. 

But that’s not why he’s on the ballot. 

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He’s up for election to the Hall of Fame in 2008 for his managerial ability.  For 15 years, he managed the Pirates to a 1115-950 record.  Of those 15 years, they finished first one-third of the time.  He brought the town of Pittsburgh a World Championship two times separated by 10 years (1960, 1971). 

Thanks in part to the Pirates’ defeat of the Yankees in the World Series of 1960, Murtaugh was named Sport Magazine’s “Man of the Year”. 

Danny Murtaugh died December 2, 1976 in Chester, PA, the same town he was born.

 

JROLL JOINS AROD

Jimmy Rollins – 2007 NL MVP Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was named NL 2007 MVP. Rollins had an incredible year! Jimmy batted .296, 41 steals, 212 basehits, 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, and was named Gold Glove SS. The 5’8″ switch hitter started all 162 games, had 716 at bats, scored 139 times, … Continue reading “JROLL JOINS AROD”

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Jimmy Rollins – 2007 NL MVP

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was named NL 2007 MVP. Rollins had an incredible year! Jimmy batted .296, 41 steals, 212 basehits, 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, and was named Gold Glove SS. The 5’8″ switch hitter started all 162 games, had 716 at bats, scored 139 times, and drove in 94 runs (mostly as a leadoff man). He follows fellow Phillie teammate Ryan Howard who was MVP in 2006.

Rollins is also a member of the Chicago Champions of the Illowa APBA League. He joins Champion teammate Alex Rodriguez as winners of the 2007 MVP Award. Other recent MVP Award winners on the Champs include 2006 AL MVP Award recipient Justin Morneau and 2005 AL MVP Award winner ARod. With all this talent it won’t be long before the Champions are back at the top of the IAL where they belong. In the 30+ years of the IAL History the Champions have won ten World Series Titles, but none in over the last ten years.

The highest paid player in the history of the game Alex Rodriguez totally earned his paycheck when he had a career year in Pinstripes. ARod batted .314, with 54 home runs, 156 RBI’s, and scored 143 runs. The slugger also stole 24 bases, had 31 doubles, walked 95 times, his onbase percentage was .422, and he did a pretty good job at the hot corner. I’ve been a big fan of Rodriguez’ since seeing him on Alex Rodriguez poster day when he played SS for the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League in 1994. I still have that poster on my wall, as well a an A-Ball card he signed for me that night, actually paid the batboy $5.00 to get the signature, felt kind of funny getting an 18 year old kid’s autograph.

Sox trade Jon Garland for O. Cabrera

DonS, an Angels fan, emailed us the news of the Garland-Cabrera trade with one comment. “Wow!” I guess we know how *he* feels about it. My thoughts about it pretty much in order I thought them: 1)  an unusual trade in this time. A player of value for a player of value.  No salary dump.  … Continue reading “Sox trade Jon Garland for O. Cabrera”

DonS, an Angels fan, emailed us the news of the Garland-Cabrera trade with one comment.

“Wow!”

I guess we know how *he* feels about it.

My thoughts about it pretty much in order I thought them:

1)  an unusual trade in this time. A player of value for a player of value.  No salary dump.  No established superstar for a handful of minor league prospects.  Kinda nice.

2) The White Sox can afford this.  Their well of starting pitching is deep.  Sox fans can feel free to disagree but they have Gio Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd who are itching to prove their worth. 

3)  Orlando Cabrera is 33

Thoughts?

Glavine and Smoltz back together

There wasn’t much doubt that Tom Glavine was going to spend 2008 in Atlanta.  The big question was whether he’d be doing it pitching for the Braves. That question was resolved late yesterday when Tommy G signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta organization for $8 million.  That probably makes him happy.  As a Glavine fan and … Continue reading “Glavine and Smoltz back together”

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There wasn’t much doubt that Tom Glavine was going to spend 2008 in Atlanta.  The big question was whether he’d be doing it pitching for the Braves.

That question was resolved late yesterday when Tommy G signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta organization for $8 million.  That probably makes him happy.  As a Glavine fan and someone who has had Glavine on his APBA team since 1991, I follow him more than some Met/Braves fans do, I’ll wager.  And when Glavine is happy, I’m happy.

Smoltz, too is glad

“I’m extremely happy for the Atlanta Braves, for myself and our chances as an organization,” Smoltz said. “But this goes beyond our friendship. I think it’s the right thing to do in many ways, mainly because it makes our team better.”

Will 2008 year be Glavine’s swan song?  It’s too soon to tell.  I had written off Jamie Moyer five years ago and he’s still going well, maybe strong isn’t the word I’m looking for but he’s more than functional.  I do think that Tom Glavine never felt entirely comfortable in New York and going back to Atlanta can only help him.

 

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Cubs’ Spring Training Schedule out

The Chicago Cubs’ (tentative) Spring Training schedule is out.  Tickets go on sale January 8.  Details and Carrie Muskat’s summary are on mlb.com.    Tags: Cubs

The Chicago Cubs’ (tentative) Spring Training schedule is out.  Tickets go on sale January 8. 

Details and Carrie Muskat’s summary are on mlb.com. 

 

Photos of the UI Women’s BB team in action

Uof I’s first year Coach Jolette Law 

Yesterday, my daughter and I went to see the University of Illinois Women’s Basketball team with their new coach Jolette Law.  They were playing the Salukis of Southern Illinois.

Things were a bit shaky at first for both teams with no points scored almost into the the two minute mark.  The Salukis got off to a 8-3 and 11-5 lead.  But that’s when the Illini took charge and went on a 20-2 run and never looked back.  The Salukis did play respectable in the second half but the writing was on the wall.  Final score:  Illinois 63 Southern Illinois 53

Jenna Smith dominated with 32 points and 10 rebounds

No doubt who the player of the game was.  Jenna Smith, last week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, has a good chance of keeping that title.  She dominated the game with 32 of the Illini’s 63 points with 10 boards. 

More of my photos of Sunday’s game at The Baseball Zealot Photo Gallery (cool pics of cheerleaders doing their thang, too) 

Read more about the game at the Fighting Illini website.

Baseball Zealot Radio covers the awards (so far)

Happy Birthday to Baseball Zealot Radio!  One year ago today, we had our first podcast with me interviewing Teddy Ballgame down in Arizona covering the Arizona Fall League.  Listening to that first episode, I can tell we’ve come pretty far.

It’s Chuck and I for this episode.  Chuck wasn’t with us when we first started one year ago.  But Teddy and I got talking and we thought he would be a valuable addition to our show.  With his knowledge of baseball both current and historical, he’s been a great asset.

Anyway, here are the show notes for Show #34:

Show Notes for Episode 34:

Hosts: Tom, Chuck:

Summary: Chuck and I review the Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Cy Young awards.  We take a look forward to the MVP award next week.

An email that we get prompts some discussion about the 1922 St Louis Browns.

The Veterans Committee is voting on executives and managers so we give our opinions.  Also, the Ford Frick voting is near and fans can help narrow the selection.  Chuck and I discuss what it means exactly to be in the Hall of Fame.

Links we talked about:

Bob Bavasi’s Guide to Japanese Baseball

Veterans Committee Ballots Announced

2008 Ford Frick Award

Time: 51:26

Date Recorded: 11/18/07

Link to Episode 34

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