About Me
Brian McKenna was born, raised and lives in Baltimore County, not too far from the old Memorial Stadium. He has been an avid fan of the game since he was eight years old in 1974 trading Brooks Robinson cards.
His first book, Early Exits: The Premature Endings of Baseball Careers, offers small biographies and listings of ballplayers who had their careers shortened under unforeseen circumstances. His most recent full-length work, Clark Griffith: Baseball’s Statesman, was written on and off over a five year stretch.
He has also contributed over fifty entries for the Society for American Baseball Research’s Biography Project and an article on two-sport players that was published by both SABR and the Professional Football Researcher’s Association. He is currently working on several projects including a documentary and accompanying biography of Eddie Plank titled Gettysburg Eddie.
And, another work titled Baseball History Research 101: A How-toGuide to Producing Factual, Quality Work and Unearthing never-before-presented Material.
24 Responses to “About Me”
Leave a Reply
I agree on Mostil, much more can be presented. I’d also mention Ty Cobb as one little understood, especially considering all the misinformation about him that is presented as facts/characterizations over and over again.
Brian: “A Troubling Time” is a nice introduction to Johnny Mostil, although as arguably the best centerfielder in White Sox history, I believe he deserves a full-length treatment. I’ve already made that suggestion to Mike Lynch, who seems to like quirky baseball subjects, but I have no idea whether Mike will take me up on it.
I think one would be hard-pressed to find a MLB player of this stature about whom as little is understood. Waddell would be a very good example of someone whose eccentricities are fully documented. It’s now coming down to whether you want to use contemporary psychotherapeutic diagnostics or just the ones that were available at the time.
By contrast, it feels like nobody really knows what unhinged Mostil, and he was an important guy.
Best wishes, David Lawrence
Thanks, that’s great to hear Mr. Mandel, appreciate it, Brian
Brian, I bought your Research book and love it. I put in a plug for you on my blog. Best, Charles
Great site, Brian.
Stopped by after seeing your post on Baseball Fever regarding Hot Springs, Arkansas. Many of the ballplayers you’ve written about, and discussed here, will be commemorated at Hot Springs this Spring, as part of the new “Hot Springs Historical Baseball Trail”. Babe Ruth, Gettyburg Eddie, Clark Griffith, Jim Thorpe, Eddie Plank, Miller Huggins, Rube Foster, Charlie Grant, Fred Wickware, and hundreds of other Baseball legends. (All told, more than 45% of all Hall of Famers – and many other greats, including many of the game’s best sportwriters, who also helped popularize the town.)
Thanks, Brian, for this great site, and all you always-great research and writing.
I really loved reading your well-researched and nicely written blog. I was searching for info about Jim Thorpe in the Eastern Carolina league, hoping it would lead to something about my grandfather’s semi-pro career. His real name was Harry Galvin (from Boston) and he was a catcher with the Fayetteville Highlanders, probably in 1910 (because he had an art nouveau gold signet ring inscribed with the town and state that I assume commemorated the championship and also because of a picture of him in his uniform, which had a dark diamond on his chest with an F in it). My family has an ancient postcard from Jim Thorpe addressed to Friend Hooks. My brother says he got the nickname “because of his ability to hold onto (hook) foul tips and misplaced pitches” or else his boxing abilities (he did have huge “meathook” hands). Do you have any clues as to the aliases of the catchers around that time? Thank you so much.
Tom,
I sent you some attachments via email.
Brian
Hi Brian,
I found your site to be fascinating as I’m a big fan of baseball history. I co-write a blog with a slant on baseball history, so this is very near and dear to me. Although I’d love for you to check out the site, that’s not why I’m contacting you. My great grandfather and great great uncle were team doctor and team dentist of the Brooklyn Dodgers (before the move) according to family lore. I’ve seen some evidence of this through poems written by my uncle concerning Gil Hodges and umpire Artie Gore. Other than that, I can’t find much information citing their team involvement. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how I might go about researching it. My grandfather, team doctor, was named Dr. Daniel A. McAteer. My great great uncle was named Dr. John L. McAteer. Any advice you have would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Tom
O’Doul was managing San Francisco in the Pacific Coast League in 1942. He was essentially retired from playing at that point. The stamp you refer to is probably a Pacific Coast League stamp on the ball. Suggest you google along those lines. No book of stampings that I’m aware of. You should contact someone more familiar with memorabilia.
http://www.sportsartifacts.com/pcl49oakball.JPG
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=odoul-001fra
I have interest in 1940’s baseballs. I have a signed “caught” at the game in California 1942 era ball inherited from my great uncle who caught the ball. It is a “Lefty”O’Doul ball. I cannot read the stamp on the ball, it is very dirt covered..the signature is clear, but the black ink is not clear on the ball stamp.
Is there a book with photos of all types of stamps on baseballs that you know of? Or an online library of baseball manufacture history…that I could use to research my baseball?
thanks for any info on this. I have been searching encyclopedias of baseball, etc, but it is rare that the photo is of the stamp, and not just of the “famous” signature featured on balls to be auctioned or sold.
Michelle
Mark, thanks for the comment. The Research 101 book has been available for some time through the website. I’m trying to rework the trivia book as it’s not cost efficient. I want a low cover price for it but it doesn’t seem to be working out. I’ll continue to do what I can; if not, I’ll just release the questions another way. Brian
P.S. Sorry the comments don’t post right away. I get a lot of spam, so I set it up for comments to require my approval.
Great site. when are your research and trivia books coming out?
Gary,
Sorry for the delay – just got back from vacation. Not sure where you live now but I guess your best option would be through the Baltimore City library system. Both Baltimore City and Baltimore County offer the Sun free digitally. You can access it via the internet 24/7/265 if you have a card. Be sure to check all references up to the present as old ballplayers may have been interviewed as they got older.
The Enoch Pratt main branch offers many other newspapers via microfilm. It’s best if you do your homework first to narrow down dates that you’re looking for. You should also check out the Maryland room there. It may contain some sort of publication that may help.
I’d also suggest contacting the Peerless Rug Company if they’re still in business. You could also go to the source of any Westport local newspapers that may have been printing at the time, if they’re not available at Enoch Pratt. They may let you search their database. The Babe Ruth Museum is also an option. Not sure if they have what you’re looking for but it can’t hurt to ask. Pull up their website and send an email to their archivist.
One of the best sources for this stuff would be the families of the ballplayers. They may have memorabillia and such or even a written record. Team pictures would be a prize.
If I can think of anything else, I’ll drop you another note. Any other questions – feel free to ask. Your search won’t be easy but it might prove rewarding.
Brian
Sir, I was born in the Westport area of Baltimore City. My uncle coached a team called the \"Young Americans\" in Westport. My father played for the Peerless Rug Co. baseball team out of Hamden area of Baltimore and that is how my parents met. I am looking for data about baseball during this time (early 1930\’s). Do you have any suggestions as to where to begin my search? Thank you.
Gary Donnelly
Thanks, I’ll check your site out. Brian
Brian, I just found your great site via Gary Ashwill. I have my own blog called The Infinite Baseball Card Set and I write about interesting guys from history and illustrate a card of them. I used to go to school in Baltimore and was the graphic designer on Oriole Park, so many of my guys featured are old Orioles or Black Sox or Elite Giants. Anyway, I thought you’d like some of the past articles I wrote on Ruth in Baltimore and one of my recent ones on Guy Zinn of the Terrapins. Again, your site is TERRIFIC and I even found a player I have been wanting to do for a long time, “Smoke” Justis of the Covington Blue Sox. I used to live right where the old stadium in Covington was. I am bookmarking this site!
Larry,
Sorry, my access to the Sentinel seems to be from 1872-1882. Keep up the good work. I’ve enjoyed it and I know others have as well.
Brian
Brian –
I arrived at your delightful site in search of an article, “Old Baseball,” from the Indianapolis Sentinel in April 1887. Couldn’t see it. But if it’s hiding in some corner, I’d love to find it.
The websites that I’m connected with are meant for active researchers, and may not interest your visitors. The include:
A set of chronologies of early base ball at
http://retrosheet.org/Protoball/chron.htm
A bibliography of Origins-related works at
http://retrosheet.org/Protoball/Biblio.htm
A glossary of some 200-plus safe-haven games at
http://retrosheet.org/Protoball/Glossary.htm
SABR’s Origins Commttee at
http://sabr.org/research/origins-committee
SABR’s “Spread of the NY Game” project at
http://sabrpedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_baseball_project
Best wishes,
Larry McCray
Enjoying your Blog. I\\\’m researching George Wood, my mother\\\’s 3rd cousin, and would like to get copies of Blog entries of 11 August 2010 – Best Game of 19th Century; 9 August 2010 – Pud Galvin No Hitter; and 18 May 2010 – Rochester Hop Bitters. Is it possible to email them to me? If not, how else might I get them?
My nomination is resulting in George Wood being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in June 2011.
Thanks.
Doug
You have a great site – really enjoyed it.
Note that for the colorized Del Howard photo – the Cubs colors in 1907 were black, not blue.
Brian: Your Edward G Saltzman biog has some interesting stuff that I haven’t seen elsewhere but it also has a few holes and plain errors. You are vague about a birth place and you have no death information.
richard tourangeau
SABR 1981– Boston
Brian — I enjoy your blog, and thought you might be interested in a new book I’ve co-authored, “What the Great Ate: A Curious History of Food and Fame” by Matthew Jacob and Mark Jacob. As baseball’s All-Star Game approaches, your blog readers might like the book’s stories about how Ken Griffey Jr. was allergic to the candy bar named after him, how Ted Williams timed his hotel room service with a stopwatch, and how Roberto Clemente nearly was killed by robbers but ended up with a box of takeout chicken. Go to this posting — http://www.whatthegreatate.org/journal/2010/7/8/rhubarbs-taters-and-cans-of-corn.html — at our website (whatthegreatate.org) for anecdotes about baseball greats and food. Feel free to use the anecdotes on your blog if you credit the book and/or link to the website. Thanks!
Hi Brian:
I like your site and am interested in your book on Griffith. I’m a historian of DC and wrote Capital Sporting Grounds: A History of Stadium and Ballpark Construction in Washington, D.C.
I would like to talk about your work and common interests.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Brett
Brian, do you do reviews of baseball books. We have a turn of the century, i.e., early 1900s, history of West coast baseball. It is in the words of the sports writers, which is interesting in-and-of-itself.
See: http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/Wide-Awakes-Invincibles-and-Smokestackers
Let me know and I will send you a copy. Also, we can write a brief post for you.