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Arms and Armor - Conclusion
Safety caps decided the 1941 National League pennant, but squabbling inventors (and a world war) kept universal head protection off the market.
Dec 22
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Paul Jackson
9
3
2
Arms and Armor - Part 4
A dispute over the rights to the first modern batting helmet was obscured by a summer of beanball violence in the major leagues.
Dec 18
•
Paul Jackson
10
5
1
Arms and Armor - Part 3
The Brooklyn Dodgers all donned protective helmets at the start of the 1941 season without knowing how well they worked. Thanks to Pete Reiser, they…
Dec 15
•
Paul Jackson
15
4
1
Arms and Armor - Part 2
How the first modern “safety cap” was invented in the early 1940s. Just don’t call it a helmet.
Dec 11
•
Paul Jackson
15
9
3
Arms and Armor - Part 1
In 1941, baseball players started wearing helmets. All it took was an obsessive executive, a world-renowned neurologist, and a historic swarm of bean…
Dec 8
•
Paul Jackson
19
8
3
Programming Notes and Power Points
It’s really just one of each, but the plural sounded better.
Dec 5
•
Paul Jackson
13
3
3
Clash of the Gardeners
In the 1970s the ground of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium nourished a hypercompetitive friendship and the biggest tomatoes in sports.
Dec 1
•
Paul Jackson
19
10
2
November 2025
Jackie Robinson’s Bad Bounce
On a stormy night in 1954, a baseball hero let his temper (and his bat) get away from him.
Nov 24
•
Paul Jackson
25
9
4
Cash Grab - Part 2 of 2
The history of baseball’s “cash scramble” promotion, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.
Nov 17
•
Paul Jackson
14
4
2
Cash Grab - Part 1 of 2
When baseball’s popularity waned, a creative and determined promoter threw money at the problem...but only in small bills.
Nov 10
•
Paul Jackson
14
11
1
October 2025
The Year of the Squirrel
The postseason is full of strange champions, but in 2011 St. Louis went on a run with a commonplace critter.
Oct 27
•
Paul Jackson
18
12
5
Sacrifice Flies
In the 2007 MLB playoffs Cleveland got a boost from an unlikely fan: Pestilence.
Oct 20
•
Paul Jackson
23
6
4
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