One can almost hear the voices of 10 year-old boys repeating the name “MEMO LUNA!” as they expectantly thumbed through a freshly opened pack of the new 1954 Bowman bubble gum cards. While coming across a Ray Katt, Gil Coan or Mel Hoderlein would have merited merely a grunt or groan, even the most jaded 10 year-old boy had to admit that “Memo Luna” had an alluring ring to it. […]
As one of the first Puerto Ricans to play in the minors, Luis Olmo knew he’d face many obstacles – but he had no idea they would include kidnapping, a Harlem safe house and contract hijinx by the most powerful men in the game. […]
Wild Bill Wright’s contemporaries called him the Negro League’s “most complete ball player.” Built like an NFL linebacker, the 6’-6” outfielder had blinding speed on the base paths, fielded with grace and was a line-drive hitting machine. […]
As so often happens, I was on my way to something else when I inadvertently unearthed a pretty interesting fellow who used his baseball talent to not only play professional ball, but see a bit of the world as well. […]
One can almost hear the voices of 10 year-old boys repeating the name “MEMO LUNA!” as they expectantly thumbed through a freshly opened pack of the new 1954 Bowman bubble gum cards. While coming across a Ray Katt, Gil Coan or Mel Hoderlein would have merited merely a grunt or groan, even the most jaded 10 year-old boy had to admit that “Memo Luna” had an alluring ring to it. […]
Mexico City, July 25, 1946.
Mickey Owen, former catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, warily watched the big Cuban standing 90 feet away on third base. Before putting his mask back on he wiped the sweat from his forehead and eyeballed the man they called “El Gigante” – “The Giant”. […]