Guest author
Josh Chetwynd
Summary
This article presents an All-Star team of Major League players who, at some point, played baseball on British soil.
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Please leave comments on the article below.
Guest author
Josh Chetwynd
Summary
This article presents an All-Star team of Major League players who, at some point, played baseball on British soil.
Access the PDF
Click here
Please leave comments on the article below.
Interesting to read that were exhibition games held at the Oval in 1993 and 2000. I had never heard of this before and wonder whether there is further resource out there that records these special events?
For the 1993 game:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/baseball-oval-turns-diamond-for-the-day-new-york-produce-tale-of-the-unexpected-to-beat-the-red-sox-1508658.html
For the 2000 exhibition:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/baseball/2993178/Baseball-Sosa-a-big-hit-at-the-sales-pitch.html
Another great article. Thanks Joe for publishing it and, of course, Josh for writing and researching it.
I remember Sammy Sosa coming over that year. I seem to recall him turning up on the BBC’s Question of Sport.
Great to read about John Foster,; someone who has a relatively recent link between playing in the UK and then making it to Majors.
Bob Feller is an interesting one as he inspired the formation of the Old Timers Baseball Club here in the UK, and is their Honoray President. He visited the country in 1988 one year before coming across as part of the Major League Alumni team:
http://www.oldtimersbc.co.uk/
Any newcomers keen to learn more about Roland Gladu should buy a copy of Josh’s excellent first book: British Baseball and the West Ham Club.
Really interesting stuff! Thanks for posting.
Brilliant article thanks Josh.
My personal recommendation for consideration for inclusion in an extended list is Arlie Latham former 3rd baseman for the St Louis Browns.
A pot shot of his career: was a part of the 1885-1888 championship teams, holds the unofficial record for stolen bases in a single season of 129(his record was prior to the redefinition of stolen bases and is therefore not recognised), has 200+ more career errors in his position than anyone else (not a positive obviously), was a renowned ‘character’ in the game, is credited to be Baseballs first full-time coach, and on account of his running up and down the third base line during the pitchers wind-up is considered somewhat responsible for the introduction of dugouts, moved to England in 1912 for a period of 17 years to promote the game and was involved as a coach in various services games in World War One (my area of interest).
MLB debut 1880 Buffalo Bisons
MLB last appearance 1909 NY Giants
Career Batting Average .269
1833 hits
1478 runs
As Player
* Buffalo Bisons (1880)
* St. Louis Browns (1883-1889)
* Chicago Pirates (1890)
* Cincinnati Reds (1890-1895)
* St. Louis Browns (1896)
* Washington Senators (1899)
* New York Giants (1909)
As Manager
* St. Louis Browns (1896)
Career highlights and awards
* 8th all time for stolen bases in a career (739)
* Led the American Association for most runs scored (1886, with 152)
* Led the Major Leagues for most stolen bases (1888, with 109)
* Oldest Player in the Major Leagues (1909, at 49)
That’s fascinating Andrew. Many thanks for sharing this.
I hope your World War I research is continuing to prove enjoyable.
I remember going to the Oval in the late 80’s for the National Finals and Hank Aaron was a guest and hit a home run Derby with Graham Gooch. I have a picture somewhere of me and a team mate with both of them and another picture of me sitting with Hank Aaron’s wife. Only sitting with her, don’t worry guys!