Behind the Bag
@behindthebag.bsky.social
The finest photos/sportswriting/art, each a story behind the story of classic baseball. Tom C. SABR member. Also X/Instagram/FB/Blog
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"Baseball failed to keep faith with me. (My suspension) read that if found innocent of any wrongdoing, I would be reinstated. If found guilty, I would be banned for life. I was found innocent, and I was still banned for life." - Shoeless Joe Jackson, 1949 #MLB
May 14, 2025 at 12:18 AM
"Baseball failed to keep faith with me. (My suspension) read that if found innocent of any wrongdoing, I would be reinstated. If found guilty, I would be banned for life. I was found innocent, and I was still banned for life." - Shoeless Joe Jackson, 1949 #MLB
“The Brooklyn players have been swell and they were encouraging all the way. The Brooklyn crowd was certainly on my side, but I don’t know how it will be in other parks.” “I know that this year is the test (but) I’m not going to worry at any time.” S.N. 4/23/47 #JackieRobinsonDay
April 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
“The Brooklyn players have been swell and they were encouraging all the way. The Brooklyn crowd was certainly on my side, but I don’t know how it will be in other parks.” “I know that this year is the test (but) I’m not going to worry at any time.” S.N. 4/23/47 #JackieRobinsonDay
“T’WAS A SLAUGHTER” - Brooklyn Citizen
“PLAYED LIKE AUTOMATONS” - Eagle
#Dodgers’ franchise worse home shutout loss until yesterday? 9/20/1898, a “howling farce” at Washington Park, 15-0 loss to Pirates. Bridegrooms (91 losses) would finish 10th, lowest position finish in franchise history
“PLAYED LIKE AUTOMATONS” - Eagle
#Dodgers’ franchise worse home shutout loss until yesterday? 9/20/1898, a “howling farce” at Washington Park, 15-0 loss to Pirates. Bridegrooms (91 losses) would finish 10th, lowest position finish in franchise history
April 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
“T’WAS A SLAUGHTER” - Brooklyn Citizen
“PLAYED LIKE AUTOMATONS” - Eagle
#Dodgers’ franchise worse home shutout loss until yesterday? 9/20/1898, a “howling farce” at Washington Park, 15-0 loss to Pirates. Bridegrooms (91 losses) would finish 10th, lowest position finish in franchise history
“PLAYED LIKE AUTOMATONS” - Eagle
#Dodgers’ franchise worse home shutout loss until yesterday? 9/20/1898, a “howling farce” at Washington Park, 15-0 loss to Pirates. Bridegrooms (91 losses) would finish 10th, lowest position finish in franchise history
March 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
January 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
January 22, 2025 at 12:23 AM
January 22, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Raise your glasses to the incomparable Bob Uecker (seen here as 1964 WS Champ Cardinals with fellow future broadcaster Tim McCarver), a great ambassador for the game for over a half-century, and Milwaukee’s favorite son. #RIP Bob
January 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Raise your glasses to the incomparable Bob Uecker (seen here as 1964 WS Champ Cardinals with fellow future broadcaster Tim McCarver), a great ambassador for the game for over a half-century, and Milwaukee’s favorite son. #RIP Bob
OF Izzy Hoffman, born #OTD 125 years ago. 2 years in MLB, 1904 Washington, 1907 Boston (NL), .279 in ‘07. More colorful career in minors (1900-1923; 1906, 1913 below); deserted teams, also fought on field often, removed by police on more than one occasion. Best year was .344 for Montreal, age 48
January 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
OF Izzy Hoffman, born #OTD 125 years ago. 2 years in MLB, 1904 Washington, 1907 Boston (NL), .279 in ‘07. More colorful career in minors (1900-1923; 1906, 1913 below); deserted teams, also fought on field often, removed by police on more than one occasion. Best year was .344 for Montreal, age 48
Negro Leagues star hurler Webster McDonald, born #OTD 125 years ago. 2 titles with Chicago American Giants in 1926 & 1927 & NNL best WHIP in ‘27; also on integrated Little Falls, MN team 1928-32 (below) with 98-8 W-L record, & 14-2 vs MLB in exhibitions, beating Dizzy Dean 4 times
January 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Negro Leagues star hurler Webster McDonald, born #OTD 125 years ago. 2 titles with Chicago American Giants in 1926 & 1927 & NNL best WHIP in ‘27; also on integrated Little Falls, MN team 1928-32 (below) with 98-8 W-L record, & 14-2 vs MLB in exhibitions, beating Dizzy Dean 4 times
Ted Gray, Detroit native and #Tigers hurler for 8 seasons, born #OTD 100 yrs ago. A strikeout whiz on WWII Navy All Star teams, he won 10 (career best 3.51 ERA) in 1949 and in 1950 won 10 starts before the break for his only All-Star nod, but blisters and the long ball resulted in sub-.500 career
January 1, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Charlie Maxwell, oldest living alum of #Tigers, #RedSox & #WhiteSox, passes at 97. 2x All-Star; best year in ‘56 (28-87-.325, .534 SLG, .948 OPS). Hit 4 HRs in a row in DH vs Yanks 5/3/59. Was also the last surviving player to homer off Satchel Paige (1951 w/Boston)! #RIP
December 29, 2024 at 3:33 AM
#RIP Ron Locke of the 1964 #Mets, his only year in MLB (1-2, 3.48 ERA in 25G). Only victory was Aug 2; 7IP, 5H, 2ER for a 4-2 win over Colts. “…the kid pitched 7 beautiful innings…(and) has two assets that are rare on the Mets’ pitching staff. He has control and he has poise.”
December 27, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Most stolen bases ever (1406, no one else over 1000), most runs ever (2295), 111 WAR (top 20 all time), 25 year career. #RIP Rickey Henderson
December 21, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Most stolen bases ever (1406, no one else over 1000), most runs ever (2295), 111 WAR (top 20 all time), 25 year career. #RIP Rickey Henderson
Blue skies ahead.
November 30, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Blue skies ahead.