I imagine there are some current players, having lived through the Angel Hernandez Era would like to resolve umpiring disputes with a post-game fistfight.
I have read all of your Substack work so far, and this is easily among the best. Turn-of-the-century baseball was really the last throes of America's Wild West mentality, huh?
I love to hear that--thanks for being here all this way!
The Butch and Sundance thing really surprised me. My brain doesn't put the Wild West alongside early baseball, but it was the same country at the same time, with the same people and attitudes. Train robberies in the west, cheating scandals in the east.
Jeff has the answer. This was akin (or maybe identical?) to the wiring and power behind modern-day doorbells. The power supply/connection would have been in the Phillies clubhouse.
I didn’t realize that sign stealing went back so far. The ol’ carnival workers excuse would never have worked for the Astros or the Red Sox. I really enjoyed this one, Paul, especially the ‘timestamp’ of Butch and Sundance!
I found one later account that said the amusement event being put on was themed around "the Destruction of Pompeii." Fun for the whole family.
I love calling the Butch/Sundance thing a "timestamp," Meg. Timestamps are important context, especially with these older stories, and I'll keep that term in my head now.
I imagine there are some current players, having lived through the Angel Hernandez Era would like to resolve umpiring disputes with a post-game fistfight.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be at the head of the line.
Jazz is rapidly becoming my fav Yankee!
I have read all of your Substack work so far, and this is easily among the best. Turn-of-the-century baseball was really the last throes of America's Wild West mentality, huh?
I love to hear that--thanks for being here all this way!
The Butch and Sundance thing really surprised me. My brain doesn't put the Wild West alongside early baseball, but it was the same country at the same time, with the same people and attitudes. Train robberies in the west, cheating scandals in the east.
I’m surprised that the 3rd base coach didn’t electrocute himself with his wet feet and the electricity buried below.
Jeff has the answer. This was akin (or maybe identical?) to the wiring and power behind modern-day doorbells. The power supply/connection would have been in the Phillies clubhouse.
Unfortunately it was low voltage. Now if they were using 2 or 3 thousand volts perhaps the outcome would’ve been different
My Philadelphia wife will love this, not! But I’ll definitely be sharing… then I will love it even more. Thanx Paul
I didn’t realize that sign stealing went back so far. The ol’ carnival workers excuse would never have worked for the Astros or the Red Sox. I really enjoyed this one, Paul, especially the ‘timestamp’ of Butch and Sundance!
I found one later account that said the amusement event being put on was themed around "the Destruction of Pompeii." Fun for the whole family.
I love calling the Butch/Sundance thing a "timestamp," Meg. Timestamps are important context, especially with these older stories, and I'll keep that term in my head now.
The destruction of Pompeii! Too funny!