An Experiment In Greatness: Third Baseman Eddie Murray

This year, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles are unveiling in their new Legends Garden six larger-than-life statues of the greatest Orioles of all time. I’ve been fortunate to attend the ceremonies. Having already honored Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver and Jim Palmer, and with Cal Ripken, Junior and Brooks Robinson […]

Fireworks in the Steel City

With the Pittsburgh Pirates resurgence this summer, I’m reminded of one of the most abysmal pitching performances I’ve ever come across in all my years as a baseball fan. Unfortunately, it happened to my grandfather, Nelson Greene, in the only game he ever pitched in the Steel City. It’s difficult to imagine any modern day […]

Baby Birds Show Early Signs of Life

This afternoon, in their home opener, the Orioles won again. Wow, 4-0; who would have thought it? Now, I know the season just started and the Os still have 158 more games to go, but at least allow me to savor this moment. After all, as a long-suffering Orioles fan, their start is a like […]

A Small World

So I read the other day that the Nationals designated Justin Maxwell for assignment. That reminds me of my favorite baseball story, a very personal and ironic one. It’s not about Justin Maxwell per se; in fact, it’s not about him at all, although there’s a loose connection… very loose, as a matter of fact. […]

Happy Birthday Ted Beard

Today, Ted Beard turns 90 years old. For those not familiar with his body of work, let me tell you something about him and his life growing up on a farm in Frederick County, Maryland. He’s not the only big-leaguer from around these parts. Over in the tiny town of Woodsboro, where Ted’s from, there […]

“Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain”

In January 1977, shortly before resigning as Director of Public Relations for the New York Yankees, Marty Appel approached team captain Thurman Munson about collaborating on the catcher’s autobiography. Initially, Munson, who had recently been named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, was reluctant. “I’m only twenty-nine,” Munson said. “No one does an autobiography at […]

A Trip To Last a Lifetime

In a little less than a year and a half, January 2012, to be exact, I’ll be 50 years old. Sometime around then, too, Fenway Park will turn 100. It’s strange that with all our accumulated years we’d never before had the chance to meet- until last week, that is.    While living my whole life […]

A Small Town Tale: Phil Paine

When he was six or seven years old, my grandfather, Nelson Greene, who grew up to briefly pitch in the major leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers, moved with his family from the Philadelphia suburb of Roxborough, to the small town of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. For the rest of his life, despite long periods of absence, Nelson […]

When Charlie Keller Tried to Come Back

In the spring of 1947, the Yankees’ Charlie Keller was at his peak as a power hitter. Now 30 years old, he’d long ago mastered the kind of left-handed swing New York management had envisioned when they signed Keller off the University of Maryland campus; he was the consummate pull-hitter, routinely muscling the ball into […]

Nelson, How Could You Forget?

Back in the mid-70s, when I was perhaps 11 or 12 years old, I vividly recall asking my grandfather if he ever pitched to Babe Ruth. At the time, it seemed like a logical question; not knowing much about baseball history, nor about granddad’s career, I simply pulled from thin air the most famous old-time […]