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American Heroes
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William 'Buck' Ewing
Catcher, Infielder & Outfielder; Troy Trojans 1880-82; N.Y. Giants 1883-1892; Cleveland Spiders 1893-94; Cincinnati Reds 1897 Manager - Giants 1890 & 1900, Reds 1895-99.

Buck Ewing was called the greatest player according to Francis Richter, a sports writer. Richter wrote in 1919 that Ewing, Cobb, Wagner were the three best but "Ewing was the best of all with his supreme excellence in batting, catching, base running, throwing and baseball brains; a player without any weakness".

Ewing was the first catcher to study hitters weaknesses and share this information with his pitchers. Sports' writers wrote, "...as a thrower to bases, Ewing never had a superior". Another write wrote the following about this great catcher's powerful throwing, "...it look like he handed the ball to the second baseman from the batters box".

In this era, the catchers position was so taxing that most catchers played half the time. "Buck" Ewing would play either outfielder or infielder when he wasn't behind home plate. Ewing led the league in home runs in 1883 and in 1884 he led the league in triples.

Buck Ewing career stats are: played in 1315 games, scored 1129 runs, hit 178 triples and 70 homers. He batted .303 and stole 336 bases. This Hall of Famer was honored with gold medals for his fielding as a catcher and as a first baseman.

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Chuck Klein
Outfielder, Bats Left, Throws Right, Philadelphia Phillies 1928-1933 & 1936-1940; Chicago Cubs 1934-1935.

Chuck Klein had five fantastic seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, from 1928 thru 1933. Playing in the 'Baker Bowl' where home-plate to the fence in right field was a cozy 280 feet down the line, Klein averaged 36 HR's, 139 RBI's and a .359 batting mark. In 1928, playing in only 64 games, Klein hit 11 HR's and batted .360.

In his first full season with the Phillies, he led the NL with 43 HR's and batted .356. In his best season, 1930, Chuck Klein hit .386, 59 doubles, 40 home runs, scored 158 runs, 170 RBI's and had a .687 slugging pct. During this season, Klein, an outstanding fielder set a major league record with 44 assists and led the NL with ten outfield double plays. He led the NL in runs scored three times and four times he led the NL in home runs.

In 1932, he was voted the NL Most Valuable Player as he hit 50 doubles, stole 20 bases, 152 runs scored, 137 RBI's and only fanned 49 times in 650 at bats.

In 1933, Klein won the Triple Crown, a feat so rare that only eight other players have performed in this century. Towards the end of the season, he was plagued with injuries and in November he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He never played a full season again and in 1936, Klein was traded back to the Phillies, where he was a playing coach.

Chuck Klein was voted into the 'Hall of Fame' in 1980. Klein's career: .320 batting mark, 2076 hits, 398 D, 74 triples and 300 HR's. He played 12 1/2 years and scored 1168 runs with 1201 RBI's. The History of Baseball

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Old Baseball Cards Frank Frisch
Goudey Big League Chewing Gum Baseball Cards - 1933 Set Has 240 Cards - Looking Over Old Copies. Here's what is printed on back side of card:

Frank Frisch - "Called the Fordham Flash because of his speed. Plays second base for the St. Louis Cardinals . A great fielder, a fine batter and one of the leading base runners. He played eight years with the Giants and is now in his seventh season with the Cardinals. Frisch took part in seven World Series.

He was born in New York City, September 9, 1898. Is five feet 11 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He bats right and left-handed, but throws right-handed. Batted .292 in 115 games." Baseballhistorian.com Archives - Old Baseball Cards

Frankie Frisch
Switch Hitter, 2nd Baseman, Player Manager; N.Y. Giants 1919-26; St. Louis Cardinals 1926-37.

Second baseman Frankie Frisch was one of the best to ever play the keystone position. Baseball Historian

The Fordham Flash joined the Giants in 1919 directly from the campus of Fordham University where he also starred in track, football and basketball. He went to the Cardinals after the 1926 season in a trade for Rogers Hornsby. Frisch was noted for his lightning-quick relays while turning the double plays.

He set the NL season record for total chances and assists. This great hitter and team captain helped the Giants win 4 straight pennants, 1921-1924. Frankie Frisch's clutch hitting helped the Cardinals win the pennant in 1928 and he was voted the Most Valuable Player in 1931 as the Cardinals won another pennant.

In 1933, Frisch became a player-manager, his team became known as the 'Gas House Gang' and they won the World Championship. Frankie Frisch, Hall of Famer, had a .316 lifetime batting average, with 2880 hits, scored 1532 runs and knocked in 1244. In 9112 at bats he struckout only 272 times. baseballhistorian.com archives - All Rights Reserved - Frankie Frisch

MLB History

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2001... White Sox Pitching Staff... Preview

Starters poise question marks ??? Bullpen rates 5-Stars

By manager@baseballhistorian.com - March 2, 2001

Despite the Chicago White Sox compelling success last year, their starting pitching staff must stay injury-free if they are to contend in year 2001. Big, 6' 4", Cal Eldred and James Baldwin combined to go 21-6 before the All-Star break, however both were smitten by injuries in the second half - and went combined 3-3 thereafter. Although, Eldred has been plagued by major injuries throughout his career, both right-handers are expected to be 100%.

Sox management went all out for 2001 by obtaining lefty David Wells, 37-years-old, from Toronto for right-hander Mike Sirotka. No doubt, Wells (20-8, 4.11 ERA) will provide the Sox with leadership if he has plenty of innings left in his aging arm. The White Sox are hoping Wells can get the team back into the playoffs - where he is a resounding 8-1!

Sirotka, only 29-years-old, went 15-10 in year 2000 and his 3.79 ERA was 4th lowest in the league.

Anchoring the staff is left-hander Jim Parque (13-6, 4.28 ERA). Only 25-years-old Parque's got an old-fashioned pitching motion - not much windup - just goes right at the batters. Parque started 33 games in year 2000, pitched 187 innings, allowed 208 hits, fanned 111, walked only 71.

The 5th spot in the rotation will be manned by 21year-old Jon Garland or 23-year-old Kip Wells. Garland (4-6, 6.46 ERA) had compelling stuff in a few of his 13 starts - but often ran into problems with his control, walking 40 in 69 innings. Wells showed some flashes of brilliance in the first months of 2000, but then slipped down the ladder. Wells posted numbers of 6-9, 6.02 ERA.

Waiting in the wings is Jon Rauch, 6', 11", who could be brought up from the minors as the year plays out.

BULLPEN - The White Sox bullpen ranks with the best in baseball. Manager Jerry Manuel uses two closers - Keith Foulke and Bob Howry, and combined they collected 78 saves over the past two years. Manuel indicates he'll continue that pattern. Foulke's work late last year certainly was resounding - his changeup looked unhittable. Howry, a flame-thrower, could become the team's set-up man.

Sean Lowe was impressive in middle relief, going 4-1 in 70 innings. With Bill Simas out for the year due to arm surgery in December, Kelly Wunsch, a left-hander, or Mark Buehrle will see a lot of innings in year 2001. And, Lorenzo Barcelo, who management thinks is the pitcher of the future, is waiting in the wings.

Wunsch was 6-3, 2.93 ERA, in 61 innings last year.

Buehrle hurled some strong innings after being brought up late last year. The left-hander caulked up 37 Ks in only 51 innings, and collected a 4-1 record.

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