Introduction Although organized baseball continued to operate during World War II, the conflict had a tremendously disruptive impact on the game. Players enlisted voluntarily in the military or were drafted into the service. Others took jobs in defense industries. Older and even retired players found their baseball careers suddenly resuscitated as clubs scrambled to fill […]

“Joost to Suder to Fain” is well known to all A’s fans. Sadly, Pete Suder has departed this life shortly following the death of his wife Mimi. Pete Suder played mostly at second base for the A’s in Philadelphia and Kansas City from 1941 until 1955 with some time off for military service during World […]

(This is another of the interviews with wartime ballplayers conducted by A’s Society member Kit Crissey and included in his book, Teenagers, Graybeards and 4-F’s, vol. 2 (copyright 1982), and reprinted with Kit’s permission. Eddie Mayo played third base for the Athletics in 1943, after playing two and a fraction prewar seasons in the National […]

When the American League (AL) was created in 1900, Charles W. Somers, a Cleveland industrialist, fronted the money to support the formation of franchises in several cities. Under AL President Ban Johnson’s scheme developed in concert with Somers, as told by Bruce Kuklick in his book, “To Every Thing A Season: Shibe Park and Urban […]

Rube Waddell vs. Cy Young When it came to selecting his greatest game ever, pitcher Cy Young had a bunch from which to choose. But the all-time leader in wins, starts, and complete games surprised few, if any, baseball fans when he zeroed in on the perfect game he pitched at home against Rube Waddell […]