0204 - Alex Cheremeteff
Alex Cheremeteff is a writer, researcher, and historian who is an expert on the Philadelphia Athletics. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Me and Alex Cheremeteff after recording our interview in Philadelphia
Childhood Heroes
Alex was a Phillies fan growing up. His favorite players were Mike Schmidt, Garry Maddox, and Bob Boone.
Rochester Red Wings
Alex remembers seeing many future Major League stars when he used to go to Rochester Red Wings games. Some notable players were Cal Ripken, Jr., Steve Finley, and Brady Anderson.
Opposing teams’ came through town, as well, and many of their players were also on their way to the bigs. Some of those who stuck out in Alex’s memory include Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, and Jim Thome.
Total Baseball
Total Baseball is a baseball encyclopedia first compiled by John Thorn and Pete Palmer in 1989. The encyclopedia contains seasonal and career statistics in numerous categories for every Major League player, as well as historical, opinion, and year-by-year essays.
The Glory Of Their Times
The Glory of Their Times: The Story of Baseball Told By the Men Who Played It was written by Lawrence Ritter. Ritter was inspired by the death of Ty Cobb to preserve the oral histories of ballplayers, so, as a university professor, he used his summers to interview players from the turn of the century.
The audio recordings can be found online through the Library of Congress.
Charles Conlon
Baseball's Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon by Neal and Constance McCabe is an examination of the remarkable legacy of Charles M. Conlon who took thousands of photographs of the baseball heroes of his day, from 1904 to 1942. His work captures the drama, power and human emotion of the game.
Giamatti Research Center
The library is the foremost repository of baseball information, in all formats, in the world. Founded in 1939 along with the Hall of Fame itself, the library is a specialized research facility whose collections and services are available to all.
Ty Cobb and Frank Baker
This photo by William Kuenzel prevented Ty Cobb's suspension for life from baseball on charges that he intentionally spiked the arm of Home Run Baker. The photo proved that Cobb threw his body to the inside trying to evade Baker’s tag at third base.
Connie Mack’s Quote
Philadelphia’s manager did not take too kindly to Ty Cobb spiking his third baseman, calling him, among other things, a "pinhead" and "malefactor." Cobb replied, "If the man with the ball is in the way, he is apt to get hurt."
Wild Bill Donovan
9-30-1907: Detroit Tigers RHP Bill Donovan (center) poses in front of a floral horseshoe presented by his Philadelphia friends prior to a scheduled double-header at Columbia Park. A 20-year old Ty Cobb would belt a game-tying 9th inning HR.
Cartoon drawing by Jim Nasium, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 1907
Connie Mack is Hired
The Philadelphia Inquirer announces the hiring of Connie Mack as manager of the brand new Philadelphia Athletics of the American League on January 24, 1901.
White Elephant
The Athletics have John McGraw to thank for their mascot, the White Elephant.
Merchandising the White Elephant
The defending American League Champions incorporated the famous "white elephant" for the first time in 1903, using the image on pennants, banners, and even this 1903 Philadelphia Athletics score book.
Championship Parade
September 29, 1902: Scene along North Broad Street as the City of Philadelphia honored the American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics.
"It was a great night for Connie Mack and his victorious team... And the White Elephant!" - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Rube Waddell Leaves The Team
July 9, 1903: The mystifying Rube Waddellpacks up his belongings and informs Connie Mack that he is on the first train to California. Later that afternoon, he surfaces in Camden, New Jersey where he plays CF with a team of collegians from Atlantic City.
Ossee Schreckengost
If ever there were a battery that was bound together in life and in death, it was probably pitcher Rube Waddell and catcher Ossee Schreckengost.
Waddell's unpredictable and bizarre nature famously led to Ossee insisting on a "no crackers in bed" clause added to Waddell's contract. Schreckengost played without shin guards, and was one of the last major league catchers to do so.
1905 Philadelphia Athletics
A pin featuring the 1905 American League Champion Philadelphia Athletics. The 19 players pictured are the only players Connie Mack used the entire season.
1908 Philadelphia Athletics
1908 Philadelphia Athletics team photo featuring a 21-year old rookie named Shoeless Joe Jackson, pictured in the lower right corner. Connie Mack purchased Joe for $1,000 on July 30, 1908.
Shoeless Joe in Savannah
Joe Jackson warming up with the Savannah Indians of the South Atlantic League in 1909. He hit .358 in 118 games before be recalled.
Columbia Park
Umpires and members of the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants meet at home plate during a 1905 World Series game at Columbia Park in Philadelphia's Brewerytown neighborhood.
Shibe Park
The beautiful edifice at the corner of 21st Street & Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia, 1909. Shibe Park's construction had just been completed, and was a marvel of architecture at the time.
Opening Day at Shibe
April 12, 1909: Resplendent in their brand new uniforms and sweaters, the Athletics line up in their dugout prior to the inaugural game at their sumptuous new palace.
Doc Powers
Doc Powers was Eddie Plank's personal catcher and one of Connie Mack's favorite players.
After he passed away, the Athletics honored him in multiple ways. Ultimately, “Doc Powers Day” was organized by the American League and hosted by the A’s to raise funds for his widow and children, an extraordinary effort for its time.
$100,000 Infield
"ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THE HOOF"
1B Stuffy McInnis, 2B Eddie Collins, SS Jack Barry, and 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker pictured here in 1913.
Harry Davis
The 1910 season was Harry Davis' final season as a major league regular. He was team captain and performed all of Connie Mack's on-field duties, including taking out the lineup card, going over the pregame ground rules, and pitching changes.
1910 Athletics
(Left to Right) 1B Harry Davis, RHP Jack Coombs, and LHP Eddie Plank take a breather during spring training in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910. 7 months later, they would capture their first World Series. Coombs tossed 13 shutouts that season, an AL record to this day.
Start of a Dynasty
The 1910 Philadelphia Athletics finished the season 102-48 and rolled to a World Series title over the Chicago Cubs. Connie Mack used just TWO pitchers during the entire World Series - Chief Bender and Jack Coombs, who pitched all 45.2 innings over 5 games.
Competitive Drive
The New York Giants led the NL with 296 stolen bases in 1913. Note the excessive amount of moisture around the first base bag in this photo. It was ordered by Connie Mack to slow down the Giants' running game. It worked; the Giants stole just two bases in two games at Shibe Park.
1913 World Series
Prior to Game 3 of the 1913 World Series, Connie Mack tried to make his way to the field when he was stopped by an NYPD officer.
Mack: "I want to get to the visitors' bench."
Officer: "Do you belong to the club?"
Mack: "No, you blockhead. The club belongs to me."
Resplendent in their new uniforms and sweaters, the 1909 Athletics line up for a photo.
Single Elephant Sweater
Proudly worn here by Chief Bender. After seeing this close up photo of the elephant silhouette, Alex was able to make his own version.
Alex’s Sweater
Alex found a clearance sale, shawl collar sweater with brown buttons. He swapped the brown buttons for white ones, made a cardboard elephant template based on the 1909-12 sweater shown above, got some premium white felt, a good pair of titanium scissors, and voila!
Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins receives a Chalmers automobile for winning the AL MVP award. He is presented with his prize prior to Game 1 of World Series at Shibe Park on October 9, 1914.
1914 Athletics
Following their stunning collapse in the World Series, and attendance dropping from 2nd to 5th, Connie Mack took action. After the season, gone were Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, & Chief Bender.
Connie’s Office
A fierce negotiator, the walkway leading up to Mack’s office was dubbed “The Bridge of Tears” by his players. Here he is in 1949, at the age of 87.
Frank “Home Run” Baker
"Home Run" Baker at Comiskey Park in 1913.
Baker’s stats that year were unbelievable:
.337/.413/.493, 167 OPS+, 12 HR, 117 RBI, 116 R, 34 SB, 34 2B, 9 3B.
He also batted .450, with one HR and 7 RBI in the World Series - leading the A's to their 3rd title in 4 years.
Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx was a 16-year old catcher with the Easton (Maryland) Farmers (Eastern Shore League) in 1924. In 76 games with Easton, Foxx hit .296, slugged .469, and knocked 10 home runs.
After Miller Huggins passed on him, Connie Mack purchased him for $2,000 on July 30 based on the recommendation of Easton's manager: Frank “Home Run” Baker.
With the emergence of Mickey Cochrane as a catcher, Mack moved Foxx to first base, a move that would lead to the HOF for both players.
Max “Camera Eye” Bishop
Max Bishop at Comiskey Park in 1925. "Camera Eye" was the leadoff hitter for Connie Mack's second dynasty.
In 12 seasons, he had a .423 OBP, 966 Runs, and 1,156 BB. He had 8 consecutive seasons of 100+ BB, and 7 consecutive seasons of 80+ Runs.
1929 Athletics
Alex thinks the 1929 Athletics may be the best team of all time.
1929 World Series Game 4
Thousands of Philadelphians pack the rooftops along 20th Street on October 12, 1929 to watch Game 4 of the World Series. Trailing the Cubs 8-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Athletics mounted a historic comeback to ultimately win 10-8.
Howard Ehmke
Howard Ehmke is on the mound for Game 1 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on October 8, 1929. He struck out a then-World Series record 13 batters that day, as the A’s won 3-1.
1931 Athletics
They were a Game 7 loss away from being the first team to ever win 3 straight World Series.
They went 107-45 (.704, including 60-15 at home), and scored 5.6 runs per game. They had FIVE Hall of Famers on their roster, six if you count Connie Mack.
The “Spite Fence”
Rooftop owners in the neighborhood started constructing proper bleachers to sell tickets and capitalize on the success of the Athletics in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
To prevent the neighborhood from profiting off of their product, John Shibe and the Athletics built the "Spite Fence" along the right field wall in 1935.
Triple Crown Foxx
After making only $16,000 for winning the Triple Crown in 1933, Jimmie Foxx wanted $25,000 for 1934. Connie Mack's initial counter offer to that suggestion was $11,000. Mack then offered a compromise of $15,000 (plus attendance bonuses) for the '34 season. Foxx refused and held out. On March 9, 1934, Foxx signed for $20,000 - a $4,000 raise from the year before. Here, they sit next to each other during 1934 Spring Training.
Night Baseball
Despite objections from neighbors, the A's installed 8 light towers in 1939. The "spite fence" ended the goodwill the Athletics had with their neighbors. The light towers and penny-pinching ways essentially spelled the end.
Lena Blackburne
Connie Mack's long time coach was the founder and purveyor of "Lena Blackburne Original Baseball Rubbing Mud." The mud has been used for generations to remove the glossy sheen from brand new baseballs.
Matt Kilroy
Matt Kilroy, a native Philadelphian, was Connie Mack's unofficial pitching coach during the A's early years. His specialty was teaching how to hold runners at first base. In 1901, at Mack's behest, he took Eddie Plank under his wing.
On August 20, 1971, two boys set fire to Shibe Park. The resulting 5-alarm fire gutted the entire upper deck. This was the gruesome result.
Shibe Park in 1973
Even after it had been gutted by fire and abandoned, Shibe Park still maintained its grandeur. There will never be another ballpark like it.
Connie Mack
Despite his flaws, Alex still thinks Connie Mack is “The Father of Modern Baseball.”
The 1910-1914 Athletics & 1929-1931 Athletics pose with their manager, Connie Mack, in front of 23,235 fans on September 10, 1939 at Shibe Park. Dynasty #1 defeated Dynasty #2, 6-4 in 2.5 innings.
Scoreboard
A view inside the manually-operated scoreboard at Shibe Park.
Alex’s Website
Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants were an Independent team who won 5 titles in 6 years from 1904-09. The great Rube Foster (back row, 2nd from L) won 20 games for the 1904 team, pictured here.
Dick Allen
The great Dick Allen (15) waits on-deck during a game at Connie Mack Stadium on June 26, 1966. Connie Mack Stadium had previously been known as Shibe Park, but was renamed in Febraury of 1953. Notice the “Spite Fence” in right field.
Babe In Philly
Babe Ruth LOVED playing in Philadelphia. In fact, he loved it so much that one time he played an exhibition game after the Yankees had played the Athletics earlier in the day, because the game was going to raise money for a church to build a baseball field.
Babe at Shibe
When I said Babe Ruth loved playing in Philadelphia, I wasn’t joking. Alex compiled Babe’s career stats at Shibe Park. Check this out:
171 career games / .357 / .472 / .753 / 1.225 OPS / 68 HR / 175 RBI / 164 R / 220 H / 132 BB / 464 TB
Double X
Jimmie Foxx is one of Alex’s favorite players of all time. Here he is at spring training in Fort Myers, Florida during March of 1931.
The 23-year old had a solid season that year (.291/.380/.567, 30 HR, 120 RBI) helping the Philadelphia Athletics to their third consecutive American League pennant.
Mickey Cochrane
In one of the most famous baseball photos of all time, Phillies 3B Pinky Whitney is tagged by Athletics C Mickey Cochrane while trying to score in the top of the 4th inning during the annual "City Series" exhibition on April 1, 1933 at Shibe Park.
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Sgt. Grover Cleveland Alexander of the 342nd Field Artillery, 89th Division, departs New York on June 28, 1918. He spent seven weeks in the trenches, and was never the same.
Jimmie and Ted
When the Red Sox acquired Jimmie Foxx on December 10, 1935, he was 2nd on the all time home run list with 302. He would hit another 222 in his 7 seasons in Boston, teaming with Ted Williams from 1939-1942.
My Mom and I
Here we are, masked up, standing at the site where Shibe Park once stood. Photo by the incredibly talented Ryan Lawrence.
The Sign at Shibe Park
Some baseball once happened there, apparently. At least, according to the sign.
Shibe Park’s Row Homes Today
While the ballpark is no longer there, the homes that once saw hundreds and thousands of fans sitting atop them remain.
Conlon’s Cobb
Ty Cobb’s fierce slide at the end of a steal of third base in 1910 is considered Charles M. Conlon’s most famous image. It was a different slide than the Frank Baker incident Alex and I discussed during this interview.
Kuenzel’s Cobb
Here, again, is William Kuenzel’s photo of Cobb sliding into third base. This photo exonerated Cobb, who was clearly avoiding Frank Baker when you see the action from this angle. The Tigers and Athletics were fierce rivals.
Mack, The Player
Connie Mack’s 65 years in baseball began as a catcher with the Washington Nationals in 1886. Throughout his playing career, he survived more on guile than raw ability. He led the league in 1890 by being hit by 20 pitches while batting.
Mack was one of the first catchers to play directly behind home plate instead of setting up by the backstop. He was also famous for his abilities to fake the sound of a foul tip with his mouth and “tip” opposing players’ bats during their swings.
Preserving History
A very fancy way of saying “collecting dirt” from where the outfield would have been at the site of Shibe Park. As an Athletic in 1909, and as a visitor until 1920, Joe Jackson surely stood in this exact spot at some point.
Columbia Park’s Row Homes Today
Imagine all of the great players and great games at Columbia Park that were viewed from these very rooftops…
Manager Foxx
By all accounts, Jimmie Foxx’s time as manager of the 1952 Ft. Wayne Daisies of the AAGPBL was an enjoyable one. With daughter Nanci helping out as a batgirl, the team went 67-42 and made the playoffs.
A Window To The Past
In 1991 Deliverance Evangelistic Church built a church on the site where Shibe Park once stood. The arches in the windows were meant to pay homage to the great stadium.
1910 World Series
Thousands of fans who couldn’t fit inside Shibe Park were still able to watch the games by sitting on top of the roofs across the street.
From 1903 to 1953, the league featured all the same clubs without change. In the early 50s, however, three different two-team cities lost the weaker of their clubs, as the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Athletics, and St. Louis Browns moved to towns without franchises.
Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop
Founded in 1949 in Northeast Philadelphia, it was only fitting that we got cheesesteaks from a place named Joe’s while we were in town.
The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club chose Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ as their practice site, and began intrasquad play October 6 1845, playing 15 such practice matches before the end of the year. On June 19, 1846, they played their first game against another club, hosting the New York Baseball Club.
Hotel Buckminster
On September 19, 1919, bookmaker and gambler Joseph "Sport" Sullivan went to the Hotel Buckminster room of Arnold "Chick" Gandil, first baseman for the Chicago White Sox. It was there where they conspired to fix the 1919 World Series, which was to take place thirteen days later.
Room 615
Little is known about the meeting or the exact room where it took place. The speculation over the years is that the meeting took place in Room 615, where Sullivan would have been able to sit and look out the window, over what is now the Massachusetts Turnpike, and watch his accessories play at Fenway Park.
To Every Thing A Season
"[Kuklick] shows what a ballpark can mean to a neighborhood: 'Shibe Park was a place where uncommon deeds gave people a sense of commonality. In this, its special beauty, the game at Shibe Park rose above the flaws of its businessmen, its players, and its fans.'" ― Sports Illustrated
Duncan Park
Duncan Park is the oldest ballpark in South Carolina, and one of the oldest wooden grandstand baseball stadiums in the nation. It also happened to receive 582 original wooden seats from Shibe Park.