Articles by Matt Albertson (98)
Embed from Getty Images Edward James "Big Ed" Delahanty was one of the most fearsome hitters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During his 16-year career (1888-1903), 13 of which he spent with the Phillies, ''Big Ed'' amassed a .346 batting average – including three seasons where he batted over .400. He also […]
On Monday April 4, 2016 – one day after Opening Day 2016, Major League Baseball's oldest living major leaguer, Mike Sandlock, died at his home in Cos Cob, Connecticut at the age of 100. The title of oldest living major leaguer now transfers to 99-year-old Eddie Carnett. Former Philadelphia Athletic's pitcher Carl Miles is now […]
Embed from Getty Images This article concludes the short series on race and baseball in Philadelphia. The previous two pieces focused on how African-Americans used baseball as a way to integrate society. Octavius Catto and his Pythian Base Ball Club used the game as an engine for racial equality during the late 19th century. […]
Embed from Getty Images In February, ESPN Senior Writer Jayson Stark published an article about the Philadelphia Phillies' youth movement. In the article, Stark mentioned that if manager Pete Mackanin announced 22-year-old Aaron Nola as the Phillies Opening Day starter, Nola would be the youngest Opening Day starter for the Phillies in the live […]
Embed from Getty Images In Race and Baseball in Philadelphia, Part 1, I reviewed the importance of Octavius Catto and the Philadelphia Pythian Base Ball Club in the grand scheme of race in baseball history. Catto and the Pythian Club pressed for racial integration in baseball during the 19th century as a way to press for […]
Embed from Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies released the names of former players who are eligible for the Wall of Fame induction this August last week. Two names - Scott Rolen and Jim Thome - have garnered quite a bit of buzz and rightly so. Both men were integral to the Phillies process during their tenure […]
Embed from Getty Images Baseball is reflective of American society; from ideas of masculinity in the 1860's-1870's to baseball as a labor struggle during the 1880's and up to the present day. Baseball has always been, and probably will remain, a microcosm of American society. But arguably the largest societal issue to impact the game was race. […]
On February 1, 2016 the Philadelphia Phillies unveiled a new home alternate jersey to be worn during all six business person special games this season — an all red top with the current red "Phillies" script outlined in white across the chest. The Phillies social media outlets noted that this would be the first time […]