John Thorn
@johnthorn.bsky.social
Official Historian, Major League Baseball. Since 2011, I have posted a story a week at ourgame.mlblogs.com. Views are my own, not those of MLB.
I think I may have to revisit my 45-year-old list of baseball's ten greatest games to include not only the 2016 finale (I was there), but also Game 7 last year (I wish I had been present). ourgame.mlblogs.com/the-greatest...
The Greatest Game Ever Played?
No, not Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, though in the heat of battle and the immediate glow of victory, some were quick to call it that…
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I think I may have to revisit my 45-year-old list of baseball's ten greatest games to include not only the 2016 finale (I was there), but also Game 7 last year (I wish I had been present). ourgame.mlblogs.com/the-greatest...
In 2017 I sat for an interview with Nick Davis, director of the Ted Williams documentary on PBS. Snips were used in the broadcast film, but here is the longform interview: www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
John Thorn | Interview | American Masters Digital Archive | PBS
www.pbs.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:18 PM
In 2017 I sat for an interview with Nick Davis, director of the Ted Williams documentary on PBS. Snips were used in the broadcast film, but here is the longform interview: www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
Baseball during the Civil War years of 1861-1864, fifth in a new series that goes back, back, back. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 5, 1861-1864
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Baseball during the Civil War years of 1861-1864, fifth in a new series that goes back, back, back. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Blacked out for TV, I listened to this thrilling game on radio at age 11. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkR5...
1958 NFL Giants 13 Browns 10 In the Snow
YouTube video by iprezent
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Blacked out for TV, I listened to this thrilling game on radio at age 11. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkR5...
A new post at Our Game by my old pal, Mark Rucker. ourgame.mlblogs.com/holy-smokes-...
Holy Smokes, Batmen!
A vexingly odd image
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:10 PM
A new post at Our Game by my old pal, Mark Rucker. ourgame.mlblogs.com/holy-smokes-...
"The stars of the Negro Leagues are now ensconced in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, but the bridge to Cooperstown was built by men who barbered and bootblacked, waited table and laundered linens, men who played baseball whenever they could." Revisited this today: ourgame.mlblogs.com/black-baseba...
Black Baseball, 1858–1900
My foreword to James Brunson’s monumental new history
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
"The stars of the Negro Leagues are now ensconced in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, but the bridge to Cooperstown was built by men who barbered and bootblacked, waited table and laundered linens, men who played baseball whenever they could." Revisited this today: ourgame.mlblogs.com/black-baseba...
Baseball in 1865, a monumental year. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 4, 1865
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Baseball in 1865, a monumental year. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
I had cause to read this old story of mine, again. Pretty good, I thought. gothamhistory.com/2015/06/15/m...
January 4, 2026 at 7:38 PM
I had cause to read this old story of mine, again. Pretty good, I thought. gothamhistory.com/2015/06/15/m...
Base Tender, from The Base Ball Player’s Pocket Companion. Published by Mayhew & Baker, Boston, 1859. In the Massachusetts Game of Base Ball, bases were marked by stakes. I once umpired a Massachusetts Game; note the base tender (and the smallish top hat provided by costume supply).
January 2, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Base Tender, from The Base Ball Player’s Pocket Companion. Published by Mayhew & Baker, Boston, 1859. In the Massachusetts Game of Base Ball, bases were marked by stakes. I once umpired a Massachusetts Game; note the base tender (and the smallish top hat provided by costume supply).
Happy New Year. The Pictorial Clipper, here from the last days of 1855 and the first of 1856, was an occasionally issued edition of The New York Clipper. I was lucky to snag a copy.
December 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Happy New Year. The Pictorial Clipper, here from the last days of 1855 and the first of 1856, was an occasionally issued edition of The New York Clipper. I was lucky to snag a copy.
The Rise of Professionalism and other postwar innovations in a newly national pastime; the latest entry in a continuing series. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 3, 1866
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Rise of Professionalism and other postwar innovations in a newly national pastime; the latest entry in a continuing series. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Reposted by John Thorn
If anyone is looking to close out the year with a great read about 19th century women’s baseball, I finally read this, and LOVED it.
Obviously for the women’s baseball aspect, but also because it’s everything I want in a baseball history book. Give me all the social context!
Obviously for the women’s baseball aspect, but also because it’s everything I want in a baseball history book. Give me all the social context!
December 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
If anyone is looking to close out the year with a great read about 19th century women’s baseball, I finally read this, and LOVED it.
Obviously for the women’s baseball aspect, but also because it’s everything I want in a baseball history book. Give me all the social context!
Obviously for the women’s baseball aspect, but also because it’s everything I want in a baseball history book. Give me all the social context!
Satchel Paige learning his lines. "Wonderful Country" (1959) starred Robert Mitchum and Julie London.
December 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Satchel Paige learning his lines. "Wonderful Country" (1959) starred Robert Mitchum and Julie London.
Merry Christmas to bookish baseball fans.
December 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Merry Christmas to bookish baseball fans.
After the Civil War, race continued to be the ruling question in baseball as in American life. Recalling 1867 in the second part of this series. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 2, 1867
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
After the Civil War, race continued to be the ruling question in baseball as in American life. Recalling 1867 in the second part of this series. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Reposted by John Thorn
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Not a historian but like to research. The AI might summarize what I'm looking for, but it doesn't find what I'm *not* looking for. The book on the shelf next to the one I wanted. The insight in chapter 6 based on the quote I needed from chapter 4.
December 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Merry Solstice, baseball fans. This occurred today at 10:03 AM, thus ... longer days from here on out. Put red stitches on those snowballs!
December 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Merry Solstice, baseball fans. This occurred today at 10:03 AM, thus ... longer days from here on out. Put red stitches on those snowballs!
1943 Kansas City vs. St. Paul minor league program--dig the background.
December 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
1943 Kansas City vs. St. Paul minor league program--dig the background.
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 1, 1868. The launch of a new series that goes back, back, back to the game's primordial days. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 1, 1868
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 1, 1868. The launch of a new series that goes back, back, back to the game's primordial days. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Merry Winter Solstice to all baseball fans, whatever holiday they may mark. A Facebook post from a decade ago. ourgame.mlblogs.com/merry-winter...
Medium
ourgame.mlblogs.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Merry Winter Solstice to all baseball fans, whatever holiday they may mark. A Facebook post from a decade ago. ourgame.mlblogs.com/merry-winter...
The 1912 World Series by telegraph, to a theater scoreboard in Dallas, TX.
December 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
The 1912 World Series by telegraph, to a theater scoreboard in Dallas, TX.
"A Revery of the Game," a poem that I had never seen, by Clarence Deming, who played baseball for the Yale nine once upon a time. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-revery-of-...
A Revery of the Game
By Clarence Deming, who played baseball for Yale
ourgame.mlblogs.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"A Revery of the Game," a poem that I had never seen, by Clarence Deming, who played baseball for the Yale nine once upon a time. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-revery-of-...
Lou Gehrig's locker remained in Yankee Stadium until the late 1940s. It has been on display @baseballhall for decades since.
December 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Lou Gehrig's locker remained in Yankee Stadium until the late 1940s. It has been on display @baseballhall for decades since.
A Green Bay Packers bobblehead fetched $36,404.
December 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A Green Bay Packers bobblehead fetched $36,404.