34-10-09
St Louis Cardinals at Detroit Tigers
World Series Game 7
[2.23.08]
36-07-30 Philadelphia Athletics at Chicago White Sox
[1.58.07]
36-08-02
Boston Red Sox at White Sox
[2.14.05 1st of Doubleheader]
36-10-02
Chicago Cubs at White Sox
[2.21.24]
36-10-03
N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Yankees
World Series Game 3
[1.48.07]
38-10-06
Yankees at Chicago Cubs
World Series Game 2
[2.10.38]
39-09-21
Indians at Senators
[2.01.12 - Begins at 4th Inning]
40-07-09
All-Star Game
[2.16.47]
41-07-08
All-Star Game
[2.32.03]
42-10-01
N.Y. Yankees at St Louis Cardinals
World Series Game 2
[2.11.29]
48-10-06
Indians at Boston
World Series Game 1
[2.01.03]
48-10-08
Boston Braves at Cleveland
World Series Game 3
[2.09.42]
48-10-10
Boston Braves at Cleveland
World Series Game 5
[2.59.33]
48-10-11
Cleveland Indians at Boston
World Series Game 6
[2.41.15]
49-10-02
Boston Red Sox at N.Y. Yankees
A.L.C. Pennant
[2.48.46]
49-10-07
N.Y. Yankees at Brooklyn
World Series Game 3
[2.55.35]
49-10-08
N.Y. Yankees at Brooklyn
World Series Game 4
[2.49.52]
49-10-09
N.Y. Yankees at Brooklyn
World Series Game 5
[2.58.50]
51-10-03
Giants at Dodgers
N.L.C. Pennant Sudden Death Game 3
54-09-29
Cleveland Indians at Giants
World Series Game 1
Willie Mays Catch
[3.37.49]
54-09-30
Cleveland Indians at Giants
World Series Game 2
[3.07.36]
54-10-01
N.Y. Giants at Indians
World Series Game 3
[2.41.48]
54-10-02
N.Y. Giants at Indians
World Series Game 4
[3.29.02]
56-07-10
All Star Game
[2.17.11 No intro or wrap-up]
56-10-08
N.Y. Yankees at Dodgers
World Series Game 5
Don Larsen's Perfect Game
[1.59.14]
57-06-04
Chicago Cubs at Brooklyn
[3.02.04]
57-07-28
Brooklyn Dodgers at Reds
[2.14.10]
57-08-31
Brooklyn at New York Giants
[2.31.37]
58-08-16
N.Y. Yankees At Boston
[2.44.01]
59-10-01
L. A. Dodgers at White Sox
World Series Game 1
[2.58.15]
59-10-06
White Sox at L. A. Dodgers
World Series Game 5
[2.48.42]
60-10-13
N.Y. Yankees at Pirates
World Series Game 7
[2.04.55]
61-10-01
New York at Boston
Maris Hits No 61
[Excerpts]
62-04-11
NY Mets v. Cardinals
[3.02.27 - 1st Mets Game]
62-10-16
Yankees at S. F. Giants
World Series Game 7
[2.40.49]
63-07-09
All-Star Game
[2.50.06]
63-10-02
Dodgers at Yankees
World Series Game 1
[2.34.22]
63-10-03
Dodgers at Yankees
World Series Game 2
[2.40.16]
63-10-05
Yankees at Dodgers
World Series Game 3
[2.39.44]
63-10-06
Yankees at Dodgers
World Series Game 4
[2.30.00]
64-10-15
St Louis at New York Yankees
World Series Game 7
[2.51.13]
66-05-18
Reds at Mets
[2.47.04]
66-07-12
All-Star Game
[2.47.28]
66-07-31
Cubs vs Mets
[2.43.22]
66-09-04
Philles at Mets
[2.46.24]
66-09-24
Mets at Reds
[2.33.53]
66-10-09
Dodgers at Baltimore
WS Game 4
[2.14.50]
67-09-02
White Sox at Red Sox
[2.59.15]
69-05-13
Yankees at Seattle Pilots
[2.57.19]
71-07-13
All-Star Game
[2.38.11]
71-09-30
Yankees at Senators
[2.54.01 - Senators' Last Game]
76-10-12
Phillies at Reds
N.L.C. Pennant Game 3
[3.02.27]
Who's On First?
(Click for larger Image)
Golden Age Era Sports--Baseball
The Knickerbocker Nine
First Baseball Team 1864
Cinncinati Red Stockings
First Professional Team 1869
Who doesn't love American Baseball? It's truly America's Game and as unique to America as Jazz--and it's spread all over the world now. Baseball's popularity grew exponentially with the advent of Golden Age Radio broadcasts of professional baseball games across the nation.
One of the earliest regular, Golden Age Radio programs was "Coca-Cola Top Notchers", beginning in 1930, with Baseball's legendary sportswriter, Grantland Rice, and sponsored by Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola, Grantland Rice, and Baseball. Just add a hotdog, some roasted peanuts, and you have the very essence of the American Ideal -- for males and females, young and old alike. What feels better than a full-speed running catch, a foot planted from the outfield, and a 'frozen rope' strike to home plate for the out? . . . one of Life's cosmic experiences for sure.
In the background of many popular shows of the era, one can hear sporting events of the era, often incorporated into the episode or used as material for a monologue. And who hasn't heard Abbott and Costello's unforgettable "Who's On First?"routine?
Enjoy this Golden Age Radio-specific Chronology of Major League Baseball, Negro Leagues, and All-American Girls Professional Baseball as a point of reference as you listen to your favorite programs or games. Many of the more notable baseball games of the era were recorded for rebroadcast and are still available to collectors and baseball fans alike.
[All insignias, logos, trademarks, and mascots are the exclusive property of their respective sports organizations and are presented for their historical significance only, all rights reserved by the respective holders.]
Los Angeles Angels The Anaheim Angels were called the California Angels from September 1965 until November 19, 1996, and were named the Los Angeles Angels when they came into the American League in 1960, named after the City of Angels
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox entered the league in 1901 as the Somersets after the owner, Charles Somers. At various times they were called the Puritans, Pilgrims and Plymouth Rocks. It was as the Pilgrims that they won the first-ever World Series between the American and National leagues. In 1907 they became the Red Sox when the National League Boston team switched its stockings from red to white.
St Louis Browns The present Baltimore Orioles were named after the state bird of Maryland. Many other major and minor league clubs have also been known as Orioles. The ML Orioles began life in St. Louis as the Browns, moving to Baltimore in 1954.
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians began in the 1890s as the Spiders and were later called the Blues, as well as the Babes or Broncos around the turn of the century. When Napoleon Lajoie became manager in 1902, the team was called the Naps in his honor. In 1909 under manager Jim McGuire, they were tabbed the Molly McGuires. In 1915, a newspaper contest for a new nickname was held and Indians won, after the famous Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian from Maine, who was then a star on the team.
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox began life in 1900 as the White Stockings and changed a year later to White Sox to prevent confusion with the old Chicago White Stockings in the National League.
New York Yankees The New York Yankees were not always called Yankees, nor were they always in New York. They began life as the original Baltimore Orioles back in 1901 and moved to New York in 1903. They were first called the Highlanders after Hilltop Park in Washington Heights, where they played their games. The nickname proved to be too long for newspaper headlines, so sportswriter Mark Roth began calling them Yankees in 1913, and the name has stayed since.
Philadelphia Athletics The Oakland Athletics were once in Kansas City before the Royals; they had departed Kansas City for Oakland in 1968. They had moved to Kansas City in 1954 from Philadelphia, where their nickname was the Athletics, which came from the original name of the club: the Philadelphia Athletic Club. <back to top
Boston Braves
The Atlanta Braves, once in Boston, were called The Doves around the turn of the century for its owners, the Dovey Brothers. They were also known as The Beaneaters and The Red Caps at various times until tabbed The Braves by John Montgomery Ward in 1912. They stayed the Braves until 1936, when a fan poll was held and the name was changed to The Bees. In 1941 they returned to their more popular name and have remained so through moves of the franchise to Milwaukee in 1953 and in 1966 to Atlanta. <back to top
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs have the distinction of being the only club in the league to have retained continuous membership since 1876. They were first called The White Stockings, however, and later they became The Colts because their manager Cap Anson had appeared in a film titled "The Runaway Colt." They were called The Orphans for a year, but after Anson retired in 1899, a newspaper contest for a new name was held and The Cubs won <back to top
Cinncinati Reds The Cincinnati Reds were named after the legendary Red Stockings, the very first professional baseball team back in 1869. <back to top
Houston Astros The Houston Astros entered the league in 1962 as The Colt .45s in honor of the six shooter widely used in the American Frontier, but a trademark problem with Colt Firearms Co. necessitated a name change. A contest was held and Astros won, naming the team after the Home of The Astronauts in 1965. Oddly enough, most people think the Astros were named after the Astrodome, the world's first enclosed sports stadium, but in fact, it was the other way around. The official name of the ballpark is the Harris County Domed Stadium and derives its nickname from the Astros. <back to top
Brooklyn Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers began their baseball history in Brooklyn back in the 1880s with the American Association (then a major league). They were called The Bridegrooms at first because so many of the players were married. They then became Ward's Wonders after manager Montgomery Ward, later Foutz's Fillies for manager Dave Foutz. They became known as the Trolley Dodgers for a while, after the fans who had to dodge trolley cars to get to the ballpark. When the team entered the National League they were called The Superbas by manager Ned Hanlon, after a popular vaudeville act of jugglers and in 1910, they were called The Robins for manager Wilbert Robinson. In 1911 the nickname returned to The Dodgers.
New York Mets The New York Mets almost became the New York Burros when they came into the league in 1962. A number of names were suggested by fans, but Mets won out, named after the old New York Metropolitans team of the 1880s. <back to top
Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports. The Philadelphia Athletics began life in 1866 but were suspended in 1876 for failing to meet their schedule and Philadelphia went unrepresented through 1882. The Worcester, MA 'Ruby Legs' were an N.L. franchise since 1880, but suffering financially by the end of the1882 season. In 1883, the league shifted its Worcester, Mass., team to Philadelphia and adopted the nickname Phillies, short for Philadelphians. <back to top
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates had to go through two other leagues before settling in the NL in 1887. They started in the National Association, shifted to the American Association, then finally moved to the NL. They were first called The Alleghenies, but in 1890, the nickname 'The Pirates' stuck after the team pirated second baseman Louis Bierbauer away from Philadelphia. <back to top
New York Giants The San Francisco Giants started playing in New York in 1883 as the New York Gothams and were first called Giants in 1885 by another newspaperman, Joe Pritchard, probably due to two very tall players: Roger Connor and Del Gillespie. They began the 1886 season as The New York Giants. <back to top
St Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals were once birds of a different color--brown. They were known as the St Louis Browns since 1892, but when Frank Robison bought the club, he changd their uniforms from brown to white with red trim and sportswriter Willie McHale dubbed them the Cardinals in his daily column. The name stuck. In 1900 an A.L. team took the name St Louis Browns and the St Louis team has been 'The Cardinals' ever since. <back to top
Enjoy 'The Jackie Robinson Story' from 1950
Atlanta Black Crackers The Black Crackers played against teams located in Birmingham, Ala. Nashville, Little Rock, Ark, New Orleans, Mobile, Ala., Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn. They played in Atlanta's historic Ponce de leon Park when the white Minor League Atlanta Crackers were out of town.
Baltimore Black Sox The Sox were charter members of the Eastern Colored League in 1923. In their first season, they finished last with a 19-30 record, but they turned it around the following season for a second-place finish with 30-19 record.
In 1929, the Baltimore Black Sox boasted the "Million Dollar Infield" of Jud "Boojum" Wilson (first base), Frank Warfield (second base), Oliver "Ghost" Marcelle (third base) and Sir Richard Lundy (shortstop). They were given the name by the media because of their prospective worth had they been white players. In 1929, they won more than 70 percent of their games to capture the American Negro League Championship.
Baltimore Elite Giants The Sox were charter members of the Eastern Colored League in 1923. In their first season, they finished last with a 19-30 record, but they turned it around the following season for a second-place finish with 30-19 record.
In 1929, the Baltimore Black Sox boasted the "Million Dollar Infield" of Jud "Boojum" Wilson (first base), Frank Warfield (second base), Oliver "Ghost" Marcelle (third base) and Sir Richard Lundy (shortstop). They were given the name by the media because of their prospective worth had they been white players. In 1929, they won more than 70 percent of their games to capture the American Negro League Championship.
Birmingham Black Barons The Birmingham Black Barons played their games at historic Rickwood Field and they were the Negro American League Champions in 1943, 1944 and 1948. Their last championship team featured a 17-year old named Willie Mays.
Other Barons of Major League caliber included Lorenzo "Piper" Davis, Lloyd "Pepper" Bassett, Nat Rogers and Ulysses Hollimon. Future New York Giant Artie Wilson and Chicago White Sox star Sam Hairston also played for the Barons.
Brooklyn Royal Giants The Brooklyn Royal Giants were one of the premier professional teams before World War I. At times their pitching staff featured the unstoppable duo of "Smokey" Joe Williams and "Cannonball" Dick Redding. Another ace, Frank Wickware, defeated Hall of Famer Walter Johnson twice. War hero Spottswod Poles, a Ty Cobb prototype, batting champion Charles "Chino" Smith, and ageless John Henry "Pop" Lloyd were other stars for the Royal Giants team..
Chicago American Giants The team was owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by the masterful Andrew "Rube" Foster, the father of Negro League Baseball and who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
Along with the New York Lincoln Stars and the Indianapolis ABC's, the 1917 edition of the Chicago American Giants was one of the premier teams during World War I. Legendary greats such as Bruce Petway, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, Pete Hill, Frank Wickware, and "Cannonball" Dick Redding were on the squad.
The Giants won Negro National League titles in 1920, 1921 and 1922. Managed by "Gentlemen" Dave Malarcher, they beat the Bacharach Giants of Atlantic City in the Colored World Series in 1926 and 1927. The Giants dominated black professional baseball during the Roaring Twenties.
On the roster during the 1920s were Rube Foster's brother, Willie, "Colonel" Jimmie Crutchfield and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. The Giants under Foster played in the 5,000 seat stadium at 39th and Wentworth that White Sox owner Charles Comiskey gave up when he built the Baseball Palace of the World in 1910.
Detroit Stars They played their games at Mack Park -- until it burned down in 1929 -- and then in Hamtramack Stadium. The Stars were one of the original members of the Negro National League in 1920. They spotlighted one of the great home run hitters in baseball history, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes. Another star was catcher Bruce Petway who twice threw out Ty Cobb attempting to steal bases in a Cuban game. The notorious streak hitter Pete Hill also was on the squad in 1919.
Hilldale Daisies Years in the Negro Leagues: Seven, 1923-27, 1929, 1932 The Hilldale Daisies were the powerhouse team of the short-lived Eastern Colored League. Their home base was Darby, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. In 1923, they captured their first league championship.
The next year the Daisies lost the first Colored World Series to the Kansas City Monarchs in a 10-game series, but avenged their defeat the following year, beating KC in six games.
At times, their infield was anchored by future Hall of Famers John Henry "Pop" Lloyd and Judy Johnson. Giants fans also had the pleasure of watching the battery of lefty "Nip" Winters and the jovial "Biz" Mackey, the dean of catchers
Homestead Grays Located first in a small steel town outside of Pittsburgh, they dominated the Eastern baseball scene. From 1937 to 1945, the Grays won nine consecutive league pennants. They were led by future Hall of Famers Josh Gibson (catcher), "Cool" Papa Bell (outfield), Judy Johnson (third base), Buck Leonard (first base) and Cuban great Martin Dihigo (second base, pitcher, outfielder). Their ace pitcher was "Smokey" Joe Williams, who once struck out 27 batters in a 12-inning game.
During World War II, the Grays played their home games at both Forbes Field (Pittsburgh) and Griffith Stadium (Washington, D.C.) when the white Major League clubs were on the road. The Grays traditionally outdrew their white counterparts, the cellar-dwelling Washington Senators.
Unheralded greats included Vic Harris (outfield), Jerry Benjamin (outfield), Howard Easterling (third base), Luke Easter (outfield, first base) and Sam Bankhead (shortstop, second base, outfield). In fact, Bankhead became the first black manager in Minor League Baseball in 1951
Indianapolis ABC's Named after their sponsor, the American Brewing Company, the ABC's were founded and managed by the great disciplinarian C.I. Taylor.
Before World War I, they were the bedrock of black baseball, giving players like Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston, Elwood "Bingo" DeMoss, "Biz" Mackey, Ben Taylor and flame thrower "Cannonball" Dick Redding their initial claim to fame.
The 1922 season was the best-ever for the club in the Negro National League, finishing second with a 46-33 record.
Indianapolis Clowns Better known for their colorful antics, the Clowns were also a sound baseball team. In 1952, they won the Negro American League championship with a young cross-handed slugger from Mobile, Ala., named Hank Aaron.
The Clowns fielded such stars as Buster Haywood, DeWitt "Woody" Smallwood, showman "Goose" Tatum, and future Major Leaguers John Wyatt (A's), Paul Cassanova (Senators), and "Choo-Choo" Coleman (Mets)
Kansas City Monarchs The longest running franchise in Negro League history is the Monarchs from Kansas City, Mo. They were charter members of the Negro National League in 1920.
Winners of more than a dozen league championships, the Monarch name became the Negro League's answer to the New York Yankees. They won their first World Series title in 1924, defeating the Hilldale Daisies, from Philadelphia, in a thrilling ten-game series. Their last World Series title came in 1942, when they swept the powerful Homestead Grays, featuring Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard, in four games.
Some of black baseball's best players wore the Monarch uniform -- Cool Papa Bell, Turkey Stearnes, Newt Allen, Jesse Williams, Bonnie Serrell, Wilber Rogan, and a fellow they called Skip, Buck O'Neil.
The Monarchs sent the most players into Major League Baseball after the color barrier was broken. Some players from this elite group were Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, Elston Howard, Hank Thompson and Willard "Home Run" Brown
Memphis Red Sox Owned by Dr. W.S. Martin, this solid franchise sent four players into the big leagues -- pitchers Dan Bankhead (Dodgers), Jehoise Heard (Orioles), Marshall Bridges (Cardinals) and first baseman Bob Boyd (White Sox and Orioles).
Other Major League prospects were Verdell Mathis, Marlin Carter, Joe Scott, Frank Pearson and country western singer Charley Pride. The franchise enjoyed its' greatest success in 1938, when they won the Negro American League first half with a 21-4 record
Newark Eagles The Newark Eagles had many standout players, but two entered the baseball history books: Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League (Cleveland Indians), and Don Newcombe, the Brooklyn Dodgers' Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young award winner.
The Eagles were the first professional team owned and operated by a woman, Effa Manley.
The 1946 team won the Negro World Series. Featuring the fierce double-play combination of Doby (second base) and Monte Irvin (shortstop), the Eagles upset the Kansas City Monarchs in a seven-game series. They featured the great battery of Biz" Mackey (catcher) and Leon Day (pitcher). Another star was Hall of Famer Ray Dandridge, who was quick as a cat while patrolling third base
New York Black Yankees The New York Black Yankees were co-owned by financier James "Soldier Boy" Semler and famed toe-tapper Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. The Black Yankees originated in Harlem and eventually settled in Albany, New York.
Some of the great Yankes were Clint Thomas, Fats Jenkins, DeWitt "Woody" Smallwood, Barney Brown, "Crush" Holloway and the powerful George "Mule" Suttles".
New York Cubans In 1947, the Cubans beat the Cleveland Buckeyes for the Negro World Series Championship. Their pitching staff was lead by junk baller Luis Tiant, Sr. And leading their offensive attack was future American League All-Star Minnie Minoso.
Perhaps their greatest all-time performer was Martin Dihigo, versatile at all nine positions. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in three nations: the United States, Cuba and Mexico
Philadelphia Stars The Stars won their only Negro National League flag in 1934 by defeating the Chicago American Giants. This team, owned by Ed Bolden, starred "Biz" Mackey, Dick Lundy, Jud Wilson, and "Slim" Jones
Pittsburgh Crawfords Originally, the Pittsburgh Crawfords team was composed of amateurs from the sandlots of the city's Hill district. Later, they became one of the most formidable and dominating teams of the mid-1930s. They won the 1935 Negro National League championship with five future Hall of Famers: James "Cool Papa" Bell, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, and the legendary Satchel Paige.
In 1937, Dominican Republic dictator Gen. Rafael Truijillo signed several players from the Crawfords including Bell, Gibson and Paige. The Crawfords were never the same after that. They were sold by 1939 and moved to Toledo
St Louis Stars Owned by Richard Kent, they reigned as Negro National League champions in 1928, 1930 and 1931. Their first championship team was managed by the masterful "Candy" Jim Taylor.
The Stars boasted two of the fastest men to ever play the game, James "Cool Papa" Bell and George Giles. Other bright Stars included Ted "Highpockets" Trent, George "Mule" Suttles and one of the slickest shortstops in baseball history, Willie "Devil" Wells
Kenosha Comets
One of the original four AAGPBL Teams, from Kenosha, WI. Team Color - Dark Green/Gold. Playing fields: Lake Front Stadium (1943-1947) and Simmons Field (1948 - 1951). <back to top
Racine Belles
One of the original four AAGPBL Teams, from Racine, WI. Team Colors - Brown/Gold/White. Playing fields: 1943 - 1950 Horlick Athletic Field (Racine), 1951 - 1952 Bailey Park (Battle Creek) and 1953 Marsh Field
South Bend Blue Sox
One of the original four AAGPBL Teams, from South Bend, IN. Team Color - Blue/White. Playing fields: 1943 - 1945 Bendix Field and 1946 - 1954 Playland Park
Milwaukee Chicks From Milwaukee, WI. Team Colors - [Unkown]. Playing fields: 1944 Borchert Field (Milwaukee), 1945-49 and 1953-54 South High School Football Field, and 1950 - 1952 Bigelow Field (Wyoming Township, Grand Rapids)
Muskegon Lassies From Muskegon, MI. Team Color - Green/Maroon. Playing fields: 1946 - 1950 Marsh Field (Muskegon), 1950 Lindstrom Field, and 1951 - 1954 Catholic Athletic Association Field
Atlanta Tomboys (1948?) (Little is known about the Tomboys' participation. If anyone has any information about this team, please contact us with the 'Comment' Button.) <back to top
Right-click the 'Listen' icon to download, or use the player: The 1956 World Series Game 5, Pt4, 'Don Larsen's Perfect Game'Yanks v Dodgers