Spring 2008 Volume 7 Number 1
Red Bird Stadium: A Comprehensive Early History 1932 - 1933
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, here are your starting lineups for this
afternoon's ball game... "
The public address announcer sent his richly hued baritone reverberating
through the humming grandstand on a sweltering late spring day at Columbus's
brand new ballpark. Calling fans to its attention, the resonant voice was
as welcoming as a lighthouse spotlight to a wayfaring ship. It beckoned baseball fans from near and far who were milling about the grandstand, settling into their seats, and waiting expectantly for the grand occasion of the day. It represented the start of a new and hopeful era in Columbus as played out upon a virgin sea of green.
Friday, June 3, 1932. The day had finally arrived. A heat wave engulfed the region. Temperature reports on city streets reached the mid-90's by midday, although the official high was 88? -- more like mid-July than early June. Dressed in flannel garb and seated in their respective dugouts were the members of the starting cast for the day's drama to be contested between the Columbus Red Birds and Louisville Colonels. They'd be fanning themselves into delirium on such a day, both on the field and off, on this festive occasion. A predicted storm heads for central Ohio, that should cool things down, just as long as it waits until the boys have put in their nine innings...This was one time when a hot day with a hot dog and a cool drink was the nearest thing to heaven.
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 7, No. 1, p. 1 ---
Autumn 2007 Volume 6 Number 3
A Tale of Two Seasons: the Minneapolis Millers 1910-1912
"Part 1 discussed various examples of how the offensive production of
the Minneapolis Millers helped the club capture the league championship in
1910 and 1911. This issue starts out with a look at offensive production
in the 1912 season, then will examine how pitching contributed to the Millers'
dominance during the early portion of the 20th century's second decade."
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 6, No. 3, p. 1 ---
Summer 2007 Volume 6 Number 2
A Tale of Two Seasons: the Minneapolis Millers 1910-1911
"The Miller offense showed a vast improvement over their 1909 performance when
the league batting average bottomed out at .237. Hitting .241 that year (a
league second), their team average rose 31 percentage points to .272 (first)
in 1910 while the league average climbed only six points to .243. The Millers
had seemingly discovered a secret while the other teams remained basically
baffled."
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 6, No. 2, p. 14 ---
Autumn 2006 Volume 5 Number 4
The American Association Ballparks of Columbus, Neil Park I: 1900-1904
"April 2, 1900 -- THIS JUST IN!
Work on the soon-to-be ball
yard at Neil's field has begun! Grading of the grounds began this morning.
A cavalcade of Columbusites turned out in force to show support for the workmen
busily attending to the task of creating President Riley's new ballfield
as their graders belched and groaned to break the sod and in the morning
stillness. It is clear that the location of the new park is closer to the
city center than any previous ball park i the Arch City."
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 5, No. 4, p. 1 ---
Spring 2007 Volume 6 Number 1
The American Association Ballparks of Columbus, Neil Park II: 1904-1932
"Act 1: The Curtain Rises
Just six weeks after center fielder/manager Bill Clymer's final Senator single
of the 1904 "base ball' season at Neil Park, a deal was in place which
would set the stage for the construction of a new baseball plant for President
Thomas Bryce's American Association ball club.
"
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 6, No. 1, p. 1 ---
Autumn 2006 Volume 5 Number 4
The American Association Ballparks of Columbus, Neil Park I: 1900-1904
"April 2, 1900 -- THIS JUST IN!
Work on the soon-to-be ball
yard at Neil's field has begun! Grading of the grounds began this morning.
A cavalcade of Columbusites turned out in force to show support for the workmen
busily attending to the task of creating President Riley's new ballfield
as their graders belched and groaned to break the sod and in the morning
stillness. It is clear that the location of the new park is closer to the
city center than any previous ball park i the Arch City."
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 5, No. 4, p. 1 ---
Summer 2006 Volume 5 Number 3
The 20 Win Pitchers of the Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints, 1902-1911
Perhaps the highlight of Young's season took place on July 13, 1909 when he worked both ends of a midsummer doubleheader. With his team at the top of the standings and a home crowd before him, Young had shut out the Brewers through five innings in the first game. When the Millers came up to bat in their half of the fifth, Young was due up. He launched one out of Nicollet Park to give the Millers the lead, 1-0.
That's how it stayed, and Minneapolis captured game one. He must have been energized by that event, because he pitched a nine-inning complete game shutout against the Brew Boys in the second game, putting a 5-0 sack over the tap handles and leaving nothing but gas in the Milwaukee kegs.
---The American Association Almanac, Vol. 5, No. 3, p. 16 ---
Spring 2006 Volume 5 Number 2
The 20-Win Pitchers of the Milwaukee Brewers & Toledo Mud Hens 1902-1911
During the course of the first decade of the American Association, numerous important developments took place which had an effect on the game of baseball, not only on how it was played but on how it was analyzed.
