# Chapter 8: Players & Legends

Baseball · Chapter 8: Players & Legends · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/interesting-facts/chapter-8-players-legends/)

Stories of players: The Bird, Satchel Paige, two-sport stars, the lives of Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson, second careers, families, nicknames, unlikely heroes and the shortest careers.

## 8.81 The Bird

Mark Fidrych's summer of 1976.

### Test 1: The Bird

- A minor league coach saw the likeness in his curly hair and long legs. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- He said he was telling it where to go. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- He knelt down to fix his landing spot. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- He was the first rookie to start it in years. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- He was second in the Cy Young voting. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- Curtain calls were rare in baseball then. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- Arm trouble later ended his career. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- It was one of the most famous rookie seasons. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- 24, 19, then 9. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))
- Detroit's crowds doubled when he pitched. (Source: SABR BioProject, Mark Fidrych; Detroit Tigers history; Baseball-Reference (1976 season))

## 8.82 Satchel Paige

The ageless pitcher and his rules for staying young.

### Test 1: Satchel Paige

- It buzzed, he said, like a bee. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- It was the last of his rules for staying young. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- Batters swung too early. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- He rigged a pole to carry several bags at once. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- His birth year was long a mystery. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- He won several pennants with them. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- Bill Veeck had brought him there. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- The 1920s, 1937, 1948, then 1968. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- The pause made batters swing too early. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')
- A nurse rubbed oil on his arm between innings. (Source: SABR BioProject, Satchel Paige; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Collier's (1953), 'How to stay young')

## 8.83 Two-Sport Stars

Players who also starred in football, basketball and athletics.

### Test 1: Two-sport stars

- His speed carried him up the wall. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He played for Atlanta in the 1992 World Series. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He homered for the Yankees and scored for the Falcons. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He won the pentathlon and decathlon in Stockholm. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He batted .202 in the Double-A season. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He left baseball in 1981. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He chose football in the end. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- 1913, 1981, 1989, then 1994. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- 141, 39, then 7. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))
- He was the 1989 All-Star Game MVP. (Source: SABR BioProject (Jim Thorpe, Danny Ainge, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders); Birmingham Barons history; MLB.com (Kyler Murray, 2018 draft))

## 8.84 Lou Gehrig's Life

From Columbia to the farewell speech.

### Test 1: Lou Gehrig's life

- He also pitched for its baseball team. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- It slowly weakens the muscles. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- He died two years after his farewell. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- The usual wait was set aside. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- The mayor offered it to him. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- He became the Yankees' first baseman and died on that date. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- Trains were called iron horses. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- 1921, 1923, 1939, then 1941. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- 1925, 1941, then 2021. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)
- Ruth hugged him after the speech. (Source: SABR BioProject, Lou Gehrig; National Baseball Hall of Fame; MLB.com, Lou Gehrig Day; ALS Association)

## 8.85 Jackie Robinson Beyond Baseball

College star, soldier, businessman and campaigner.

### Test 1: Jackie Robinson beyond baseball

- He played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- He ran second in the 200 metres. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- A military jury found him not guilty. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- He handled its staff relations. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- It was owned and run by Black Americans. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- Rachel Robinson accepted it. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- It gives college scholarships. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- 1939-41, 1944, 1957, then 1964. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- 1946, 1957, then 1973. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))
- He was the NCAA champion that year. (Source: Jackie Robinson Foundation; UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame; Library of Congress, 'Jackie Robinson and other baseball highlights'; US Army records (1944 court-martial))

## 8.86 Second Careers

Players who became actors, preachers and senators.

### Test 1: Second careers

- He grew up on the same St. Louis street. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He played one season with the Cubs. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He was famous for his speed on the bases. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He represented Kentucky. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- His album came out in 2009. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He played for the Portland Mavericks. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He later became a much-loved storyteller of the game. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- 1891, 1958, 1985, then 1999. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- 1964, 1986, 1996, then 1998. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))
- He called Milwaukee games for over 50 years. (Source: SABR BioProject (Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola, Chuck Connors, Billy Sunday, Jim Bunning, Bernie Williams); Portland Mavericks history (Kurt Russell))

## 8.87 Families in the Game

Fathers, sons, brothers and three generations.

### Test 1: Families in the game

- They also played together for Seattle. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- Both threw knuckleballs. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- Tommie hit 13 of them. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- All three played centre field. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- No father had managed two sons at once before. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- Jim won in 1970 and Gaylord in 1972. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- He played with Barry's father, Bobby. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- 1948, 1972, 1992, then 1997. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- 768, 573, then 451. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))
- The Bells became the second. (Source: SABR research on baseball families; Baseball-Reference (Boone, Griffey, Niekro, Aaron, DiMaggio, Perry, Ripken, Bonds families))

## 8.88 Nicknames

Peaches, splinters, catfish and an express train.

### Test 1: Nicknames

- He was also called 'Teddy Ballgame'. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- He grew up in Georgia. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- Finley wanted a colourful name for his star. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- The name came from a war film. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- They groaned 'here comes the man' when he batted. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- He was also 'the Bambino'. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- He played his whole career in San Diego. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- Cobb, Ruth, Williams, then Ryan. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- Hunter went along with the story. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)
- New spikes had given him blisters. (Source: SABR BioProject (Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Joe Jackson); National Baseball Hall of Fame)

## 8.89 Unlikely Heroes

Bench players who won big October games.

### Test 1: Unlikely heroes

- He drove in seven runs in the Series. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- DiMaggio kicked the dirt in anger. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- He was named the Series MVP. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- He had batted under .200 all season. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- He had batted only ten times all season. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- He had joined the club in the middle of the season. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- The Yankees went on to win the Series. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- 1947, 1954, 1972, then 1996. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- Atlanta scored three runs to win 3-2. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))
- He had scored from second on the single. (Source: SABR Games Project and Baseball-Reference (1947, 1954, 1972, 1978 and 1996 World Series; 1992 NLCS; 2018 World Series))

## 8.90 Cups of Coffee

The shortest big-league careers.

### Test 1: Cups of coffee

- He played two innings in right field. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- He served a Minnesota town for decades. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- He went three for three with two walks. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- He hurt his arm warming up. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- He did not play in the majors again for seven years. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- A fan campaign asked for it. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- It is as long as it takes to drink one. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- 2005, then 2012. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- 5, 2, then 0. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))
- A film made him famous decades later. (Source: SABR BioProject (Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham, John Paciorek, Larry Yount, Adam Greenberg, Jack Quinn, Jamie Moyer); MLB.com (Greenberg, 2012))

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the National Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB and its clubs, the WBSC, SABR's BioProject, the Library of Congress, Guinness World Records, makers' and leagues' own histories and named reputable media.

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