Michael Hamel
@michaelhamel.net
Fan of American history, Boston sports, historical sports statistics, and interesting books. Occasionally post at https://www.michaelhamel.net/ and https://distantreplay.substack.com/
New on substack: Bill Russell vs. Bill Mokray distantreplay.substack.com/p/bill-russe...
Bill Russell vs. Bill Mokray
A Tale of Two Basketball Legends
distantreplay.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:06 PM
New on substack: Bill Russell vs. Bill Mokray distantreplay.substack.com/p/bill-russe...
Reposted by Michael Hamel
Shirley Povich writing in 1962, with the most immaculate burn conceivable of the Redskins awful, vile owner George Preston Marshall, the last NFL owner to insist on an all white roster: "Jim Brown, born ineligible to play for the Redskins, integrated their end zone three times yesterday." RIP WaPo.
February 4, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Shirley Povich writing in 1962, with the most immaculate burn conceivable of the Redskins awful, vile owner George Preston Marshall, the last NFL owner to insist on an all white roster: "Jim Brown, born ineligible to play for the Redskins, integrated their end zone three times yesterday." RIP WaPo.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
It's lovely that Nelson George, Common, Julius Erving, and everyone else didn't demand to be removed from the project after learning I'd be sharing time with them in the preview.
I'm at the :55 mark.
I'm at the :55 mark.
#SoulPower : The Legend of the American Basketball Association premieres February 12 on @PrimeVideo
Only 10 days to go !
I'll post some stories and some unpublished pictures and footage to tide you over until the documentary comes out!
Only 10 days to go !
I'll post some stories and some unpublished pictures and footage to tide you over until the documentary comes out!
February 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
It's lovely that Nelson George, Common, Julius Erving, and everyone else didn't demand to be removed from the project after learning I'd be sharing time with them in the preview.
I'm at the :55 mark.
I'm at the :55 mark.
And now the conclusion... Part 3: The Patriots win the 1985 AFC title game distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
January 12, 2026 at 10:54 PM
And now the conclusion... Part 3: The Patriots win the 1985 AFC title game distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
Part 2 available today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
January 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Part 2 available today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
New post, just in time for the playoffs... distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
Squish the Fish: Part 1
Revisiting the 1985 AFC Championship Game, 40 Years Later
distantreplay.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:47 PM
New post, just in time for the playoffs... distantreplay.substack.com/p/squish-the...
Reposted by Michael Hamel
This is so long overdue, kind of pathetic if you think about it.
With the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger approaching, it's time for the NBA to incorporate ABA statistics.
Reb Brownell wrote an excellent article on this subject. roybrownell.com/wp-content/u...
Reb Brownell wrote an excellent article on this subject. roybrownell.com/wp-content/u...
roybrownell.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 PM
This is so long overdue, kind of pathetic if you think about it.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
Today, we remember the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente.
A great person, baseball player, and humanitarian, his legacy lives on through compassion, courage, and service to others.
A great person, baseball player, and humanitarian, his legacy lives on through compassion, courage, and service to others.
December 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Today, we remember the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente.
A great person, baseball player, and humanitarian, his legacy lives on through compassion, courage, and service to others.
A great person, baseball player, and humanitarian, his legacy lives on through compassion, courage, and service to others.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
Bob Lobel as Rudolph. One of the great Boston Christmas traditions.
December 25, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Bob Lobel as Rudolph. One of the great Boston Christmas traditions.
New on Substack - The Celtics are not playing on Christmas this year, but the NBA's holiday tradition continues: distantreplay.substack.com/p/stocking-s...
Stocking Stuffers
The Boston Celtics on Christmas Day
distantreplay.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
New on Substack - The Celtics are not playing on Christmas this year, but the NBA's holiday tradition continues: distantreplay.substack.com/p/stocking-s...
"The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement!" 🦃 www.indystar.com/story/entert...
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
"The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement!" 🦃 www.indystar.com/story/entert...
Reposted by Michael Hamel
New post is up on Bill Russell ... with a link to new doc featuring box scores covering his college career, the 1956 Olympics trials, and more: distantreplay.substack.com/p/bill-russe...
Bill Russell vs. The World: 1956
The 70th Anniversary of Russell’s Transcendent Year
distantreplay.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
New post is up on Bill Russell ... with a link to new doc featuring box scores covering his college career, the 1956 Olympics trials, and more: distantreplay.substack.com/p/bill-russe...
Tough news to read …
This one's a gut punch.
I can honestly say there would be no Beauty of a Game without UW. Kudos to Paul and Phil for what they created and have done over the years. To say they will be sorely missed is an understatement.
uni-watch.com/2025/10/31/u...
I can honestly say there would be no Beauty of a Game without UW. Kudos to Paul and Phil for what they created and have done over the years. To say they will be sorely missed is an understatement.
uni-watch.com/2025/10/31/u...
Uni Watch: 1999–2025
After a long run, Uni Watch’s coverage of athletics aesthetics is coming to a close.
uni-watch.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Tough news to read …
Just in time for the World Series, a look at a World Series Encyclopedia from 1961: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-world-...
The World Series Encyclopedia
A Time Capsule from 1961
distantreplay.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Just in time for the World Series, a look at a World Series Encyclopedia from 1961: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-world-...
Reposted by Michael Hamel
50 years ago tonight, as the only kid at Mennen Hall at Cornell with a TV in his room, I had a LOT of guests. We marveled (Sox fans, one Red fan, neutrals) at Carlton Fisk's instantly historic homer to win Game 6
Kinda wild that half a century on, the Fisk HR ball is now in my "Hallway Of Fame"😃
Kinda wild that half a century on, the Fisk HR ball is now in my "Hallway Of Fame"😃
October 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
50 years ago tonight, as the only kid at Mennen Hall at Cornell with a TV in his room, I had a LOT of guests. We marveled (Sox fans, one Red fan, neutrals) at Carlton Fisk's instantly historic homer to win Game 6
Kinda wild that half a century on, the Fisk HR ball is now in my "Hallway Of Fame"😃
Kinda wild that half a century on, the Fisk HR ball is now in my "Hallway Of Fame"😃
Reposted by Michael Hamel
Today is the 50th anniversary for baseball's greatest game story, penned by the Boston Globe's Peter Gammons in just a few minutes. “And all of a sudden the ball was there, like the Mystic River Bridge, suspended out in the black of the morning." Forgive my choking up.
October 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Today is the 50th anniversary for baseball's greatest game story, penned by the Boston Globe's Peter Gammons in just a few minutes. “And all of a sudden the ball was there, like the Mystic River Bridge, suspended out in the black of the morning." Forgive my choking up.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
64 years ago 📅
7 Afro-American professional basketball players refused to play an exhibition game after five of them said they were denied service at the coffee shop of a Lexington hotel. #BlackHistory
7 Afro-American professional basketball players refused to play an exhibition game after five of them said they were denied service at the coffee shop of a Lexington hotel. #BlackHistory
October 17, 2025 at 6:36 PM
64 years ago 📅
7 Afro-American professional basketball players refused to play an exhibition game after five of them said they were denied service at the coffee shop of a Lexington hotel. #BlackHistory
7 Afro-American professional basketball players refused to play an exhibition game after five of them said they were denied service at the coffee shop of a Lexington hotel. #BlackHistory
The conclusion of my four-part series on the 1927 Ryder Cup now available: substack.com/inbox/post/1...
September 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The conclusion of my four-part series on the 1927 Ryder Cup now available: substack.com/inbox/post/1...
This year's Ryder Cup is six days away. Part three of my series on the 1927 Ryder Cup posted today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-1927-r...
September 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This year's Ryder Cup is six days away. Part three of my series on the 1927 Ryder Cup posted today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-1927-r...
Watched re-runs in the 80s ... this series was my introduction to the amazing talent of John Cleese.
September 19, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Watched re-runs in the 80s ... this series was my introduction to the amazing talent of John Cleese.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
On this date in 1986, Boston Red Sox legend Tom Seaver pitches the final game of his major league career.
September 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
On this date in 1986, Boston Red Sox legend Tom Seaver pitches the final game of his major league career.
Reposted by Michael Hamel
🔥⚾️🎨 1960 Washington Senators Yearbook. Harmon Killebrew cover illustration by Zang Auerbach, brother of legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.
#BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist
#BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist
September 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
🔥⚾️🎨 1960 Washington Senators Yearbook. Harmon Killebrew cover illustration by Zang Auerbach, brother of legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.
#BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist
#BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist
Reposted by Michael Hamel
“Sometimes when I walk down the street I bet people will say there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in the game.” - Bernard Malamud
RIP, Robert.
RIP, Robert.
September 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
“Sometimes when I walk down the street I bet people will say there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in the game.” - Bernard Malamud
RIP, Robert.
RIP, Robert.
Part two posted today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-1927-r...
September 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Part two posted today: distantreplay.substack.com/p/the-1927-r...