TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

February 15, 2005 Lawrence Ritter passed away. He was the author of Glory of Their times.

The Glory of Their Times: A Timeless Baseball Classic

Few books in the vast library of baseball literature hold the revered status of The Glory of Their Times by Lawrence Ritter. Published in 1966, this groundbreaking work captures the essence of early 20th-century baseball through the voices of the men who played the game. Hailed as one of the greatest books ever written about baseball, it remains a cherished piece of sports history, offering readers an intimate look at the sport's formative years.

A Journey Inspired by History

Ritter's inspiration for the book struck in 1961 with the death of Ty Cobb, a legendary figure in baseball history. Motivated by the realization that the game's pioneers were aging and their stories at risk of being lost, Ritter embarked on an ambitious journey. Drawing influence from folklorists John and Alan Lomax, who traveled the country preserving American folk songs, Ritter sought to capture the oral histories of baseball's early stars.

Armed with a tape recorder and an unwavering passion, Ritter traveled over 75,000 miles, sitting with players in their homes, listening to their firsthand accounts. The result is a collection of vivid, first-person narratives that bring to life the sights, sounds, and spirit of baseball's golden era.

From Interviews to Iconic Publication

Between 1962 and 1966, Ritter conducted extensive interviews, culminating in the book's publication in September 1966. Despite not making the best-seller list, a glowing review by Wilfred Sheed in The New York Times Book Section propelled the book to critical acclaim. An expanded edition in 1984 introduced new voices, including George Gibson, Babe Herman, Specs Toporcer, and Hank Greenberg.

Remarkably, Ritter shared the book's royalties with the 22 players featured in the original edition and their estates, a testament to his respect for their contributions. Over the years, The Glory of Their Times has sold over 360,000 copies, with Ritter earning modestly from this literary classic.

Voices of the Game's Pioneers

The book features interviews with legendary players such as Sam Crawford, Hank Greenberg, Edd Roush, and Paul Waner, some of whom were Hall of Famers at the time of publication. Others, like Goose Goslin and Rube Marquard, credited the book for boosting their Hall of Fame candidacies. The stories are rich with personal anecdotes, offering readers a direct connection to baseball's past.

Legacy Beyond the Pages

The Glory of Their Times transcended the written word, inspiring a vinyl album in the 1970s featuring actual interview recordings. With the advent of audiobooks, extended versions of these recordings became available on cassette and CD, allowing new generations to hear the players' voices.

In 1971, Ritter, alongside Bud Greenspan, produced a documentary film based on the book, combining vintage footage, photographs, and the original audio interviews. Though initially overlooked by commercial networks, the film found its audience on PBS in 1977, further cementing the book's place in baseball lore.

Why It Still Matters

Decades after its release, The Glory of Their Times continues to resonate with baseball fans and historians alike. Its enduring appeal lies in its authenticity—real stories told by real players, unfiltered and heartfelt. For anyone passionate about baseball, history, or storytelling, Ritter's work is more than a book; it's a time capsule preserving the soul of America's pastime. (Listen below)

Historic Days!

February 15, 1916, a Hall of Fame owner sells a Hall of Fame player. Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack sends third baseman Frank “Home Run” Baker to the New York Yankees for $37,500. Baker had refused to play for Mack in 1915.

February 15 1940 — The Detroit Tigers’ roster lists Hank Greenberg as an OF. The willingness of the team’s leading power hitter to switch, at a contract boost, from 1B allows manager Del Baker to find a position for Rudy York. Also on the list are Dick Bartell, picked up from the Chicago Cubs for Billy Rogell and Pinky Higgins, who had been shopped around. The four, along with Barney McCosky and Charlie Gehringer, produce the stuff that will move the Tigers from fifth to first, although its .588 mark will be as low as that of any pennant-winner yet.

Greenberg Will make baseball history when they moved him from first base to the outfield. The Detroit slugger went on to becomes the first player to earn MVP awards at two positions. Greenberg played on 4 WS teams in 34, 35, 40and 45.

Born: February 15, 1948 in Tacoma, WA Ron Cey, Part of the Los Angeles Dodgers infield of the 1970s and early 1980s that remained together as starters longer than any other major league infield, Ron Cey made key contributions to five division-winning teams and one world championship club during his 17-year career.

February 15 1957 — A Boston newspaper claims that Ted Williams never paid his $5,000 fine for spitting at the crowd. It refers to him mockingly as the “Splendid Spitter.”

February 15, 1973 — In a national poll, Phillies’ southpaw Steve Carlton beats out golf legend Jack Nicklaus to win the $15,000 diamond-studded gold buckled Hickok Belt, an award given to the top “Professional Athlete of the Year.”

February 15, 1980, the San Diego Padres trade future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, Tucker Ashford and Joe Carroll Texas Rangers for first baseman Willie Montanez. Perry won 12 games for the Padres in 1979, posting an ERA of 3.06.

February 15, 2011 Stan Musial receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award in which the honorees are selected by the sitting president, from Barack Obama. The Cardinals’ legend, who benefitted from the local grass-roots effort on his behalf, joins major leaguers Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Ted Williams, as a recipient of the most prestigious honor given to a United States civilian.

Todays featured clip:

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Hank Greenberg became the first AL MVP Award winner at two different positions, can you name the other three?

A. A Rod

B. Jimmie Foxx

C. Joe DiMaggio

D. Robin Yount

E. Yogi Berra

F. Cal Ripken, Jr

G. Frank Thomas

H. Mickey Mantle

I. Reggie Jackson

Answer in tomorrows newsletter

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Birthday Boys!

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Jim Fregosi by 1971 was a 6 time All Star, finished in the top 10 MVP voting in 1967, and won a Gold Glove, he could be considered the best SS of the 60s,  yet the California Angels traded him for four players including a strong armed prospect. Name the prospect.  

Trivia Answer: Nolan Ryan was traded along with Frank Estrada, Don Rose and Leroy Stanton to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. Ryan at the time was 29-38 with a WHIP near 1.4 and era at 3.50. He had walked 344 batters in 510 innings pitched. He turned it around in 1972, going 19016 with a 2.28 ERA.

Passings.

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