Ladies and Gentlemen Joe Start Your Engines
@joestart4hof.bsky.social
“Start was immense at 1st base — in fact, he was Joe Start, and that is perfection.” Brooklyn Eagle, November 7, 1865.
#sabr Author Page: https://sabr.org/authors/david-rader/
#sabr Author Page: https://sabr.org/authors/david-rader/
Pinned
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
Just a reminder that Globe Life went from a top 5 hitter park in 2023 to a Seattle-tier pitcher park this year.
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Just a reminder that Globe Life went from a top 5 hitter park in 2023 to a Seattle-tier pitcher park this year.
Just watched McGwire’s 62nd homer for the first time in forever and I felt bad for Steve Trachsel because this was actually a really good pitch.
November 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Just watched McGwire’s 62nd homer for the first time in forever and I felt bad for Steve Trachsel because this was actually a really good pitch.
The vibe I get from reporting at this point is that the people who had the initial idea for the WPBL thought of it as a cute novelty — like, they would have done a dog baseball league if it were feasible. I fear that nobody involved gives a shit and these ballplayers are going to get fucked over.
#WPBL NEWS — I asked the PR director for clarity over the use of past tense, indicating that the draft has already happened ahead of the draft this evening.
"Correct, the players have already been selected for teams," the WPBL PR director told me. "They are not chosen in real time tonight."
"Correct, the players have already been selected for teams," the WPBL PR director told me. "They are not chosen in real time tonight."
#WPBL NEWS — with the league running teams and not individual front offices, the PR director has told me the following:
"There were 12 coaches involved in the process of selecting players to the teams including those who were at the tryouts. This process was led by Alex Hugo with the WPBL."
"There were 12 coaches involved in the process of selecting players to the teams including those who were at the tryouts. This process was led by Alex Hugo with the WPBL."
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The vibe I get from reporting at this point is that the people who had the initial idea for the WPBL thought of it as a cute novelty — like, they would have done a dog baseball league if it were feasible. I fear that nobody involved gives a shit and these ballplayers are going to get fucked over.
“You will likely be disappointed in someone you had admired” has me laughing at the idea of Jello Biafra turning up in the flight logs.
I want to lay down a few markers here for folks as the clock starts ticking down to the release of the Epstein Files.
1) You are going to learn about a lot more disgusting and sickening things people said, joked about and maybe even did. You will likely be disappointed in someone you had admired
1) You are going to learn about a lot more disgusting and sickening things people said, joked about and maybe even did. You will likely be disappointed in someone you had admired
November 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
“You will likely be disappointed in someone you had admired” has me laughing at the idea of Jello Biafra turning up in the flight logs.
I’m really rooting for this league but I am also growing more convinced that it’ll be a miracle if they even get one season finished.
another notable thing in this article: "The league plans to do another raise as they get closer to its August 2026 launch."
the league's FAQs still states that the season was to begin in May 2026. #WPBL
the league's FAQs still states that the season was to begin in May 2026. #WPBL
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I’m really rooting for this league but I am also growing more convinced that it’ll be a miracle if they even get one season finished.
Tired: "1-2-3 inning"
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Tired: "1-2-3 inning"
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Lmao they’re letting me speak at the Baseball Hall of Fame
November 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Lmao they’re letting me speak at the Baseball Hall of Fame
Nobody does melancholic romance better than the Symposium. It makes me think of characters inside of Brontë novels dying of tuberculosis. Billy Corgan hit on this feeling about 10% of the time and these boys are putting up Hugh Duffy numbers.
November 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Nobody does melancholic romance better than the Symposium. It makes me think of characters inside of Brontë novels dying of tuberculosis. Billy Corgan hit on this feeling about 10% of the time and these boys are putting up Hugh Duffy numbers.
Release the Jim Downey/Jack Handey fake attorney files.
October 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Release the Jim Downey/Jack Handey fake attorney files.
A hero emerges.
October 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A hero emerges.
They never tell you the part where Vuckovich only pitched three games in the next two years and his career was effectively over.
October 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
They never tell you the part where Vuckovich only pitched three games in the next two years and his career was effectively over.
I’m gonna comment. It gets kinda crazy the more you look at them. Same eyes, same nose, same ears, same hair.
Difference is, Joe Start did Barry Bonds’ career but in reverse. JOEY START LETS GOOOOOOOOO
Difference is, Joe Start did Barry Bonds’ career but in reverse. JOEY START LETS GOOOOOOOOO
Presented without comment.
October 14, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I’m gonna comment. It gets kinda crazy the more you look at them. Same eyes, same nose, same ears, same hair.
Difference is, Joe Start did Barry Bonds’ career but in reverse. JOEY START LETS GOOOOOOOOO
Difference is, Joe Start did Barry Bonds’ career but in reverse. JOEY START LETS GOOOOOOOOO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BOY! It’s a shame they got this one photo of him in profile; it raises doubts about whether he had a chin or if it was more of a jaw that hung like a turkey’s dangly neck thing.
10/14 Birthday Team (text version)
C:Joe Girardi (5.6 WAR)
1B:Joe Start (32.4)
2B:Paul Radford (12.2)
3B:Tommy Harper (25.7)
SS:Frank Duffy (10.4)
LF:Al Oliver (43.6)
CF:Oscar Charleston (48.0)
RF:Kole Calhoun (14.7)
SP:Harry Brecheen (42.3)
Others: W.Aikens, E.Figueroa, M.Kelly, A.Shamsky,R. Church
C:Joe Girardi (5.6 WAR)
1B:Joe Start (32.4)
2B:Paul Radford (12.2)
3B:Tommy Harper (25.7)
SS:Frank Duffy (10.4)
LF:Al Oliver (43.6)
CF:Oscar Charleston (48.0)
RF:Kole Calhoun (14.7)
SP:Harry Brecheen (42.3)
Others: W.Aikens, E.Figueroa, M.Kelly, A.Shamsky,R. Church
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BOY! It’s a shame they got this one photo of him in profile; it raises doubts about whether he had a chin or if it was more of a jaw that hung like a turkey’s dangly neck thing.
There are no ethical comedians.
October 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
There are no ethical comedians.
I cannot believe that Trump handed the governor and the mayor something to agree on after the stadium fundraising fiasco.
ICE is running around Chicago harassing people for not being white.
Just a year ago, that was illegal in the United States and now it’s commonplace.
That’s not making America great again.
Just a year ago, that was illegal in the United States and now it’s commonplace.
That’s not making America great again.
South Shore Residents Return To Ransacked Apartments After ICE Raid: 'It Looks Like Hell'
A "now renting" sign outside touts granite countertops. Inside, residents are trying to make sense of the raid that made their already neglected building even worse.
blockclubchicago.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I cannot believe that Trump handed the governor and the mayor something to agree on after the stadium fundraising fiasco.
lol everyone posting about kimmel’s show makes sure to say that they don’t think he’s funny. sure, okay man. i bet you walk into bars at 4 pm and they have the big bang theory playing on tv without sound and you dunk on it really loudly. oh wow, you like mr show. sure, okay man.
September 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
lol everyone posting about kimmel’s show makes sure to say that they don’t think he’s funny. sure, okay man. i bet you walk into bars at 4 pm and they have the big bang theory playing on tv without sound and you dunk on it really loudly. oh wow, you like mr show. sure, okay man.
This is two Sundays in a row that the Mariners have tried to go point-for-point with multiple NFL offenses.
September 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This is two Sundays in a row that the Mariners have tried to go point-for-point with multiple NFL offenses.
Special thanks to @johnthorn.bsky.social, Bruce Allardice, and Tom Gilbert for all of the extra information they contributed. Without their help, I would’ve presented an incomplete picture of George’s life.
And an extra special shoutout to Bob Tholkes, who first discovered this game last year.
And an extra special shoutout to Bob Tholkes, who first discovered this game last year.
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
August 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Special thanks to @johnthorn.bsky.social, Bruce Allardice, and Tom Gilbert for all of the extra information they contributed. Without their help, I would’ve presented an incomplete picture of George’s life.
And an extra special shoutout to Bob Tholkes, who first discovered this game last year.
And an extra special shoutout to Bob Tholkes, who first discovered this game last year.
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
August 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
People are saying there’s a man named Midway who has the fastest legs in the region.
Chicago Salmon had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but couldn’t finish off the Douglas (MI) Dutchers at the historic, haunted Methodist campground in Des Plaines. The exciting game ended in a 5-5 tie. Plenty of defensive gems on display!
August 16, 2025 at 10:24 PM
People are saying there’s a man named Midway who has the fastest legs in the region.
This is only going to make sense to a very specific type of nerd, but the Hershberger-Tholkes collection arrived in the mail today and I am very excited to go home.
August 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This is only going to make sense to a very specific type of nerd, but the Hershberger-Tholkes collection arrived in the mail today and I am very excited to go home.
New article! It’s about how much I love Ross Youngs and how his induction into the baseball Hall of Fame should be the standard for others whose careers were cut short. I also analyze the candidacies of Thurman Munson, Ray Chapman, and yea, Joe Start. Link in the replies!
July 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
New article! It’s about how much I love Ross Youngs and how his induction into the baseball Hall of Fame should be the standard for others whose careers were cut short. I also analyze the candidacies of Thurman Munson, Ray Chapman, and yea, Joe Start. Link in the replies!
🚨🚨TRADE DEADLINE RUMOR🚨🚨
Joe Start straight-up for Aaron Judge
Joe Start straight-up for Aaron Judge
July 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🚨🚨TRADE DEADLINE RUMOR🚨🚨
Joe Start straight-up for Aaron Judge
Joe Start straight-up for Aaron Judge
Here is an estimate Start’s career stats in a 162 game world, and where they would rank among first basemen all-time:
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
July 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Here is an estimate Start’s career stats in a 162 game world, and where they would rank among first basemen all-time:
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
HOW MANY HITS WOULD JOE START HAVE GOTTEN IF HE PLAYED 162 GAME SEASONS?
Here are the basic facts:
Start averaged 68 games per season from 1871 - 1886
The only season where he missed significant time before his age-40 season was 1879
He averaged an absurd 214.5 hits per 162 games played
Here are the basic facts:
Start averaged 68 games per season from 1871 - 1886
The only season where he missed significant time before his age-40 season was 1879
He averaged an absurd 214.5 hits per 162 games played
July 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
HOW MANY HITS WOULD JOE START HAVE GOTTEN IF HE PLAYED 162 GAME SEASONS?
Here are the basic facts:
Start averaged 68 games per season from 1871 - 1886
The only season where he missed significant time before his age-40 season was 1879
He averaged an absurd 214.5 hits per 162 games played
Here are the basic facts:
Start averaged 68 games per season from 1871 - 1886
The only season where he missed significant time before his age-40 season was 1879
He averaged an absurd 214.5 hits per 162 games played