<— OCT 07     OCT 09 —>

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1857 John Bergh
1858 Jim Conway
1862 Charlie Manlove

Briefly played for the Giants in the National League and Altoona in the Union Association in 1884. He got three hits with Altoona, but none in ten at bats for the Giants. From what it looks like, he was an infielder and occasional outfielder, despite what the clipping from 1925 says, or his obituary.

While still playing locally, Manlove had been added to the Pennsylvania League list of substitute umpires…

“Charlie Manlove will make a good umpire…”

“Some Newsy Notes.”, Altoona Tribune, 14 May 1892, Page 1.

Charlie Manlove arden [SIC] baseball booster and former catcher of the New York Giants is to assume the managerial reins of the Gables City League team, with the opening game of the second playing cycle. The selection of Mr. Manlove will prove a popular move as Charlie has never lost interest in the game which he, himself, played so deftly.

Since taking the defunct Irving-King franchise, Gables have been without official leadership. Red Plowman, catcher and captain, has satisfactorily performed this duty but the need of a capable business and bench manager has long been felt…”

“Charlie Manlove to Pilot Gable Crowd”, Altoona Tribune, 20 July 1925, Page 11.

Charles H. Manlove, 89, retired Altoona businessman and former professional baseball player, died Tuesday.

Manlove played baseball for Richmond, Va., and Reading and Altoona, Pa., before joining the New York Giants as a catcher in 1884. He entered the cigar business when his playing days ended. Manlove was a native of Philadelphia.

“Former Player Dies”, The Gazette and Daily (York, PA), 14 February 1952, Page 27.

1863 Jimmy Peoples
1870 Tom Colcolough

Thomas Bernard Colcolough was a Charleston, SC native (1870 to 1919) who pitched for the Pirates from 1893 to 1895 and got a second shot with the Giants in 1899.

1884 Larry McClure
1885 Johnny Lush
1887 James Otis “Doc” Crandall
1887 Larry Pratt
1887 Dennis Berran
1887 Frank Stephen “Ping” Bodie
1887 Owen Joseph “Donie” Bush

I can’t tell you how rare it is that five players born on the same date all played in the majors.  Today, of course, it would be less rare given that we have 30 teams and each team uses 40+ players in a given season anymore, so the chances – while still exceedingly slim – have improved somewhat.  For the dates starting in, say, the 1980s and 1990s, you are starting to see two or three names on that date happen more often.  The other nine dates that have five players born on that date came after expansion with the bulk of those being in the 1980s and 1990s.

That said – five guys born on the same date in 1887 is crazy odd/lucky.  There were (usually) only 16 teams and the rosters for each team rarely cleared 25 total players.  Now – this era had some help (though it didn’t need it).  The advent of the Federal League gave career minor leaguers an opportunity that didn’t exist a few years earlier (or later).  And, to date, MLB and the organizations that support it haven’t recognized any leagues featuring Black ballplayers in that era as having played in a well organized, top level league.  (That’s not to say there wasn’t major league talent, but rather there wasn’t top level organization.)

Anyway – five.  That’s a lot.  The most, in case you were curious, is six.  March 25, 1969 and January 17, 1995 have that record.  Dan Wilson and Travis Fryman were among the six born on March 25, 1969.  And I promise you that you have never heard of any of the six players born on January 17, 1995 unless you happen to be a big fan of those teams or a family member of a player.

Back to the list.

1890 Walter Tappan
1891 Monte Pfeffer
1891 Doug Neff
1895 Ed Wingo
1896 Tim Murchison
1902 Paul Schreiber
1910 Wally Moses
1913 Lee Rogers
1916 Joe Callahan
1916 Rex Cecil
1917 Hal Toenes
1917 Danny Murtaugh
1919 Bob Gillespie
1920 George Metkovich
1929 Bob Mabe
1934 Mickey Harrington
1942 Bill Landis
1943 Don Pepper
1944 Ed Kirkpatrick
1946 Mike Wegener
1946 Paul Splittorff
1946 Ralph Gagliano
1948 Rick Stelmaszek
1948 Bernie Williams
1949 Enos Cabell
1955 Jerry Reed
1956 Jeff Lahti
1957 Bob Skube
1957 Mike Chris
1959 Bryan Little
1959 Mike Morgan
1959 Jack Hardy
1965 Jimmy Kremers
1966 Jay Gainer
1967 J. T. Bruett
1970 Olmedo Saenz
1970 Sandy Martinez
1970 David Doster
1971 Joe Ayrault
1972 Willie Adams
1975 Andy Thompson
1978 Keith Reed
1983 Antoan Richardson
1985 Cody Eppley
1986 Adron Chambers
1986 Erik Davis
1988 Manny Barreda
1989 Taylor Featherston
1989 Albert Suarez
1990 Robbie Erlin
1993 Travis Bergen
1994 Cody Thomas
1994 Gosuke Katoh
1995 Colin Holderman
1996 Chris Roller
1996 Tim Herrin
1997 Brady Basso
1998 Nick Allen
1999 Hunter Goodman
2001 Joey Estes

OBITUARIES:

1905 Bill Sullivan
1912 Heinie Heitmuller

Heitmuller was still an active player with the Los Angeles Angels of the PCL when he was struck by typhoid fever.  At least six other players, notably Bill Tozer, also came down with it and, when Heitmuller died, it put quite the scare into the rest of the team.  I looked at the roster for that team – and only Heitmuller was felled by the disease and the rest lived at least 20 years beyond this season.

“Typhoid Epidemic Hits Ball Team,” Buffalo Enquirer, October 14, 1912: 2.

1913 Elmer Cleveland

According to the news note, the Zimmerman (PA) hotel owner had been sick about a week when he passed away.  His PA death certificate says he died of pneumonia.

“Elmer Cleveland Dead,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 9, 1913: 10.

1934 Bill Snyder

Snyder’s baseball life involved pitching in the industrial leagues in Akron and later Kalamazoo, except for a brief period when his manager, former Senator Mike Kahoe, got Snyder a tryout with Washington.  He returned to the industrial leagues after he hurt his arm and played first base instead.  Anyway – Snyder was just 32 when he came down with pneumonia and it took him to the next league.

“Bill Snyder, Former Diamond Star, Dies at Kalamazoo, Mich.,” Akron Beacon Journal, October 9, 1934: 28.

1936 Red Ames
1945 Al Klawitter
1948 Al Orth
1952 Joe Adams
1957 Paul Russell
1962 Ralph Head
1969 Willie Ramsdell
1971 Murray Wall
1973 Raymond Haley
1976 John Bottarini
1978 Jim Gilliam
1980 Lloyd Johnson
1981 Bill Nagel
1982 Bill Meehan
1985 Subby Byas
1986 Max Surkont
1988 Boob Fowler
1988 Bob Boken
1991 Ed Hanyzewski
2002 Jodie Beeler
2004 Johnny Sturm
2004 Tony Giuliani
2005 Swede Larsen
2006 Ivan Murrell
2008 Les McCrabb
2010 Dale Roberts
2013 Andy Pafko
2017 Don Lock
2019 Sammy Taylor
2020 Whitey Ford
2020 Kim Baptiste
2023 Jeff Peterek
2024 Luis Tiant, Jr.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!

1908 The Cubs top the Giants, 4 – 2, in a make up game to win the National League Pennant.

1922 The Giants top the Yankees in game five to win the World Series.

1927 The Yankees clobber the Pirates in game four – sweeping the World Series.

1929 Howard Ehmke was a surprise starter, and Mack’s decision worked as Ehmke fanned 13 Cub batters in a 3 – 1 victory.

1939 The Yankees sweep the Reds – in the tenth inning, Ernie Lombardi is run over by Charlie Keller as he scored on the play, and then Joe DiMaggio scored while Lombardi was shaking out the cobwebs.

1956 Don Larsen throws a perfect game, topping the Dodgers, 2 – 0.

1959 Los Angeles finishes off the White Sox in six games.

1977 Tommy John tops Steve Carlton and the Phillies for a series clinching win for his Los Angeles Dodgers.

1995 Edgar Martinez doubles home Ken Griffey, Jr. to complete a comeback to beat the Yankees in the ALDS.

TRANSACTION WIRE:

1936 St. Louis sends Ripper Collins and Roy Parmalee to the Cubs for Lon Warneke.

1963 St. Louis signs amateur pitcher Steve Carlton.

2008 Kansas City signs amateur pitcher Yordano Ventura.