<— NOV 13 NOV 15 —>

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1860 John Munyan

Munyan was a catcher for Cleveland and St. Louis in the late 1880s and early 1890s. He made a remarkable first impression with Cleveland when he first got to the big leagues – even though some refered to Munyan as a mascot. (He was short, thick, and energetic. Apologies, in advance, for the insensitive writing of the Cleveland Leader article cited here.)

“Of course Munyan made hits.  He is lucky enough to make anything.  If that dashing base ballist walked to the plate without a bat ten chances to one he would get around the bases and score a run.  Cleveland has a valuable player in him.  Mascots are much talked about and read of.  People imagine them in the shape of little negro boys, broken bats, pugs and poodles, and often they appear in the shape of a spectator among the gentler sex, but Munyan is a real live runmaking mascot.  He hits the ball to begin with, and then if he can’t steal a base somebody is bound to muff the ball.  His dash in the diamond makes his playing very pretty.  No chance is too desperate for him to take, and that is the reason so many errors are scored when he is on the bases.”

“Almost a Shut Out,” Cleveland Leader, July 17, 1887: 6.

Munyan’s play cooled over the next few weeks and he was released in August. and he was back to the minors for 1888 and 1889. With the extra league in 1890, Munyan was given an opportunity to catch for St. Louis in the American Association and was pretty good. He was a shade less good the next year and returned to the minors (and public life) after the 1891 season.

Munyan died February 18, 1945 while being treated at the Ideal Hospital in Endicott, NY.

Obit, Binghamton Press, February 19, 1945: 16.

1864 Otto Schomberg
1867 Sam Gillen
1876 Harry Howell
1881 Jim Wallace
1881 Fred Carisch
1884 Gene Cocreham
1885 Jack Lelivelt
1893 Joe Leonard
1895 Arnett Mitchell
1896 Eugene Anthony (Red) Sheridan
1898 Claude Willoughby
1901 Will Owens
1902 Gil Paulsen
1909 Felix Manning
1929 Jim Piersall

My Aunt Pat’s favorite player; she thought he was handsome and interesting and a wonderful player. She was right on all three accounts. Especially the interesting part… Mark Armour wrote his bio for SABR.

For those of us who grew up in Chicago, he is somewhat equally famous for his broadcasting. Piersall was paired with Harry Caray (and others) on the radio and he could be both insightful and entertaining – with an occasional comment that would raise eyebrows.

That said, Piersall was loved by many in Chicago – and White Sox broadcasts have never really been the same without him.

1932 Marty Kutyna
1937 Jim Brewer
1938 Johnnie Seale
1941 Darrell Sutherland
1943 Danny Lazar
1953 Kim Andrew
1954 Willie Hernandez
1962 Steve Peters
1966 Curt Schilling
1967 Paul Wagner
1968 Kent Bottenfield
1973 Ruben Rivera
1976 Tim Hamulack
1978 Xavier Nady
1980 Sean Tracey
1982 Angel Castro
1982 Fu-Te Ni
1983 Guillermo Moscoso
1983 Clete Thomas
1989 Freddy Galvis
1990 Yasmany Tomas
1990 Sam Selman
1991 Joely Rodriguez
1992 Daniel Castro
1992 Akeel Morris
1993 Francisco Lindor
1995 J. J. Matijevic
1997 Spencer Horwitz

OBITUARIES:

1905 John Connor

Connor died of paresis, which is a late stage problem associated with syphilis.  Connor is thought to be the first player traded straight up for another player – Tod Ramsey.  Bill Lamb wrote his bio for SABR.

1915 Art McGovern

One time Boston catcher Art McGovern was also known as “Terry,” which happened to be the same name as a boxer of some repute of the period. From what I gather, though, that despite his reputation for toughness this McGovern wasn’t much of a fighter.  He was generally known as kind and tolerant…

McGovern was heading to a Red Sox game in late August when he had a paralytic stroke. He was transferred to different hospitals during the last three months of his life when he died in Salem, MA at the age of 32.  He hadn’t married and left behind a mother and three brothers.

“Terry McGovern Dies Sunday Morning Early,” Lynn (MA) Daily Item, November 15, 1915: 6.
“Terry M’Govern Dead at Boston from Paralysis,” Fall River Evening Herald, November 15, 1915: 8.
“‘Terry’ M’Govern Dead,” The Sporting Life, November 27, 1915: 6.

1919 Vince Dailey

Dailey spent most of his baseball days in the minors, but with a extra league in 1890, he got a shot with Cleveland and wasn’t half bad. At 56, he fell off the roof of the Erie Railroad roundhouse and died from his injuries.

“Vince Dailey Dead,” Buffalo Courier, November 15, 1919: 10.

1922 Doc Oberlander

Hartman Oberlander had an interesting life – born in Illinois to a minister and his wife, educated in medicine at Syracuse. He later served as a doctor to various Native American tribes, winding up in Montana where he lived for some twenty years until passing away of heart trouble at 58. Jeremy Watterson’s SABR bio of Doc Oberlander is wonderful, really. But it also says he died on November 16th…

1924 Joe Quest

I’m surprised that this baseball pioneer (and allegedly the man who coined the term “Charley Horse”) didn’t have an full obituary when he died. I found the basic obit in the San Diego Union, but I haven’t seen a news story that tells more about Quest’s life.

1928 Herb Juul

Former Cubs and Reds player – seventeen years removed from his lone pitching performance (and another appearance) Juul was working an election circuit for the 35th ward in Chicago when he fell ill. (Juul’s father was a congressman.) Days later he had surgery and he died from complications of that procedure at 42. (He was a member of the first University of Illinois basketball team and coached the team for three seasons, too.)

“Herbert V. Juul, Ex-Ball Player, Dies Suddenly,’ Chicago Tribune, November 15, 1928: 38.
“Former Illinois Cage Star Dies in Chicago,” Daily Illini, November 17, 1928: 8.

1929 Joe McGinnity

Never recovered from surgery to remove a tumor. The man pitched into his 50s in various lower level leagues (professional and semi-pro) and was successful then.

“‘Iron Man’ Joe Loses Long Fight Against Death,” New York Daily News, November 15, 1929: 62.

1932 Boss Schmidt

Catcher of the first great Tigers teams of the AL, and I believe he was the first player to make the final out of a World Series in consecutive seasons. Schmidt died of an acute intestinal obstruction.

“‘Boss’ Schmidt Dies at Age 52,” Atlantic City Press, November 15, 1932: 10.

1937 Jack O’Connor

Learned the O’Connor story (at least the end of his MLB experience) while writing about Rube. Local St. Louis guy, rose through the ranks, tough as nails catcher with the scars and bruises to prove it, and then lost his career by letting Nap Lajoie get a bunch of bunt hits to win a batting title in 1910. He died in his sleep at 70.

1938 Les Nunamaker
1940 George Clark
1942 Scrappy Carroll
1947 Jack Hoey
1947 Stub Smith
1949 Artie Clarke
1950 Jack McAleese
1956 Ed Hilley
1958 Jack Owens
1962 Dick Hoblitzell
1963 Ski Melillo
1965 Dixie Walker
1968 Bill Sherdel
1969 Curt Roberts
1973 Gene Bailey
1975 Garland Buckeye
1976 Fred Baczewski
1985 Luke Nelson
1985 Oscar Harstad
1987 Hod Lisenbee
1996 Jim Baxes
2000 Len Gabrielson
2004 Jesse Gonder
2006 Pete Suder
2010 Hal Bamberger
2012 Gail Harris
2020 Lindy McDaniel

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!

1961 John Fetzer buys out the estate of the late Fred Knorr to gain complete ownership of the Detroit Tigers.

1986 Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday purchase the Mets from the Doubleday Publishing company for $80.75 million.

TRANSACTION WIRE:

1894 Boston purchases Jimmy Collins from Buffalo of the Eastern League for $500.

1895 Boston acquires Billy Hamilton from the Phillies for the low price of Billy Nash…

1929 Boston sends Art Delaney and George Harper and cash to Los Angeles of the PCL for Wally Berger.

1955 The Giants signed amateur outfielder Felipe Alou.

1969 Cincinnati signs amateur pitcher Joaquin Andujar.

1973 The Cubs give up on Larry Gura and send him to the Rangers for Mike Paul.

2003 Minnesota sends A. J. Pierzynski and spending money to the Giants for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser.