Fun fact: at least three of these players are not in the HOF that should be

Fun fact. In Ball Four, Jim Bouton was miffed when Bates was called up to Seattle instead of him in April 1969. Bates pitched in only one MLB game.

Fun facts: Carmen Berra was pregnant as she watched end of Don Larsen’s perfect game and vowed to name her child after the player who made the last out. Dale Berra was born 9 weeks later. Mitchell, remembered chiefly for that at-bat, his last mlb, had a .312 average across 11 years with Cleveland.

Fun facts: Koback was a “bonus baby” who went straight from Hartford Public High to the Pirates in 1953 … Blowers once made four errors in the last three innings of a game.

Fun fact: Called up in August 1975, Vail had a rookie-record 23-game hitting streak for the Mets.

Spent a day in Greenfield, or Braylontown, Indiana ... www.courant.com/2026/04/03/d...

Fun facts: Denehy, from Middletown, CT, appeared on Tom Seaver’s rookie card in 1967. Dick Young wrote that spring that Denehy was more promising prospect! Mets later sent Bill to Senators as compensation for poaching manager Gil Hodges. Seaver (311), Denehy (1) went on to win 312 MLB games.

Fun fact: Vince DiMaggio (1943) and brother Joe (1939) both homered in All-Star Games.

Fun fact: in 14 seasons, 1903 games, 8333 PAs, Sewell struck out 114 times, one K per 73 times up. Several times in single digits over a full season.

Fun fact: Denied a raise after the 1929 season, Durocher cussed out NYY GM Ed Barrow. The next day he read in the newspaper he had been sold to the last place Reds.

Fun fact: The Mets traded Amos Otis to KC for Foy in one of their many attempts to find longterm solution at 3B.

How Silas Demary Jr. played through the pain and held UConn together vs UCLA www.courant.com/2026/03/23/d...

Fun facts. Cuyler’s real name was Hazen Shirley Cuyler. … Canpaneris was Dagoberto, Stirnweiss was George Henry, Maranville’s was Walter James Vincent, Hafey was Charles James

Fun fact: though he was best first baseman in the game, Pepitone moved to CF in 1967, 68 so Mickey Mantle could play 1B. How many all-stars, gold glovers would do thst today?

Fun fact: La Sorda, with Kansas City in 1956, threw two pitches behind Billy Martin’s head, touching off a major brawl. They later became friends.

Fun fact: Boisclair, from Putnam Ct, once ignored a bunt sign and swung away. When mgr Joe Torre asked if he missed the sign, he said, “I didn’t think you meant it.” Have a Gr8 day!

Fun fact: Thomas, a catcher, with a ghost writer, authored syndicated columns during 1911 World Series, detailing A’s successful approach to hitting Christy Mathewson. Once had an old newspaper clip of it

Fun fact: a grid with Celerino Sanchez is a good grid

“I don’t think our goalie is going to let us lose..” www.courant.com/2026/03/08/d...

Fun fact: shot by a crazed fan, Waitkus was part of the inspiration for The Natural

Not so fun fact: Grief in three years as a starter, 1972-74, was 24-52, but did get 10 wins in ‘73.

Fun fact: Williams had the nickname “No Neck.”

Fun fact: Paige threw three scoreless innings for KC at age 59 in 1965

Fun fact: As Hall of Fame shifts to peak dominance vs longevity, Vets committees owe Smoky Joe and Lefty O another look: