Is this Lawrence Ritter? I remember reading The Glory of Their Times. I must have read that book six or seven times. IN MY OPINION, one of the best baseball books ever written. I would spend hours reading it. A wonderful book. If you have never read it, and truly love American history and love baseball, I highly recommend it.
From the audio edition of "The Glory of Their Times," c.1998 by Highbridge Audio. Produced and edited by Henry W. Thomas and Neal McCabe from Lawrence Ritter's original tape recordings.
Just discovered your channel. Very cool! I love baseball history. “Wahoo” Sam Crawford is one of the more underrated players ever. Great dead ball era legend.
No way was or is he underrated. He is considered one of the greatest hitters and outfielders in the history of the game and still to this day considered one of the greatest power hitters of the dead ball era by everyone who knows the history of the game.
@@jacksmith5692 yeah, I think so too. Whenever there is a baseball discussion Sam Crawford rarely is mentioned, even when you talk in reference to the dead ball era. Very underrated.
Great quality audio & an even better interview! Love these old stories! I wish times were still like those. Shouldn't be so stuck up these days. So what if a guy comes down through the grandstands & gets dressed on the field before a game after a few beers? He isn't hurting anyone!
Absolutely AMAZING story on how determined Lawrence was to find Crawford. I have the audio book and listen to it often as it's an awesome piece of history, yea you can read the book but to hear their voices is priceless
I hope I get this right (maybe mentioned in the video, which I haven't seen, yet); every ball player who played in the Western Association in the 1890's and then played in the currant major leagues were given credit for their stats as major leaguers as the Western Association (I might have the name wrong) was considered a major league back then. Except Crawford for some reason. If his stats were consolidated like everyone else's he would have been one of the first hitters with more than 3,000 hits.
The Western League never was a major league. Its commissioner renamed it as the “American League” in 1899. In 1900, the AL commissioner proclaimed the AL to be a major league. You may be confusing the Western League with the American Association. I believe the American Association was considered to be a major league during the 19th century. Furthermore, Crawford never played in the Western League. As he stated, he began his MLB career at age 19 in Cincinnati, which was a NL franchise even then in 1899.
I've been trying to figure this out for decades. Back in those days the greatest hitters of all time hit against the greatest pitchers of all time; the highest batting averages against the lowest ERA's (even looking at league averages). Today the best hitters in the major leagues, who couldn't bat boy for those guys back then, are mediocre against the best pitchers today, who couldn't carry the glove of the real great pitchers from the 1890's through the 1920's and into the thirties. A few pitchers for losing teams back then posted better stats than pitchers for winning teams today facing hitters who don't come close to hitting what mediocre "hitters" rung up back then. Does Walter Johnson come to mind? Grover Cleveland Alexander? Bob Feller even later? Do the numerous Yannigans who played the game back then and hit better than than most of the best today come to mind; Earl Smith with a lifetime .310 batting average nobody has ever heard of? I won't say that today bums are playing against bums. Because of the number of ML teams today, 75% of major league talent today wouldn't have played in the highest ranked minor leagues back then. There was major league talent abundant in the minors back then, but they were making more money than the major leagues offered them and so they stayed where they were.
@@dougmcelroy3780 I beg to differ. Doug, I agree that today's athletes are more physically intoned. However, the athletes back in the day woke up everyday to baseball. They would spend hours upon hours studying the intricacies of the game. Ty Cobb would spend 3-5 hours a day laying down a bunt. Pitchers would throw at hitters heads to back them off. The greatest players back in the day rarely struck out. They always made contact with the ball. I think that a modern day manager with imagination, could construct runs similar to the way they did back in the day. I truly believe that Ty Cobb's greatest lineup would smoke the greatest lineups of today. Btw Doug, Ty Cobb never said modern players were better than in his day. In fact, he stated the opposite. Do your research Doug;)
Hey--general message here...These videos are really awesome. I'm a big fan of old-time baseball and learning about these lesser known players is amazing. Let's see more videos about the "negro league" players, too!! Josh Gibson hit more home runs than Babe Ruth every season and no one even knows who he is!!
Crawford had friends. He worked hard to get Crawford into the hof. I sense some resentment of Cobb. Smokey Joe Wood was friends of Cobb, Walter Johnson- he made many friends as he mellowed with age. It’s amazing how fascinating these stories are- wish to hell I could go back to those days as a visitor from another time. Rough group of men, but they had their code. No helmets- holy hell.
I don't think Cobb was quite the SOB of legend. They were ALL tougher, and Cobb had to be to be successful. Cobb lobbied hard to get Crawford into the Hall, despite a lot of friction between them.
My grandfather...I love these stories.
Really cool! I love hearing stories like this.
That’s fantastic! My father interviewed him when he lived in the SLO area. Very smart man
What an American treasure. A rare opportunity to interview a legend in the bygone years. Fantastic story.
This is a baseball fan's dream... especially a historian of the game ..
His triples record now seems much more unbreakable than any home run record. It's lasted over a century, and nobody comes remotely close.
Arguably the most exciting offensive play in baseball! Believe Crawford had 36 in a single season...
Most runs and most RBIS in a season have stuck around forever, as well.
The game is fundamentally different now.
Yeah that's true, no one will ever break the triples, the rbi, the hit streak, Cy Young's wins, etc
@@dougmcelroy3780
True. A bunch of candyasses, nowadays.
The book was awesome, but these interviews make it even better!
Tigers fan too. I was at 3 of the 1968 world Series games beat the Cardinals. Crawford was a stud
Is this Lawrence Ritter? I remember reading The Glory of Their Times. I must have read that book six or seven times. IN MY OPINION, one of the best baseball books ever written. I would spend hours reading it. A wonderful book. If you have never read it, and truly love American history and love baseball, I highly recommend it.
Get the Audio book it takes it to another level
Incredible conversation. Thanks for posting this.
Wonderful glimpse into a bygone era…
From the audio edition of "The Glory of Their Times," c.1998 by Highbridge Audio. Produced and edited by Henry W. Thomas and Neal McCabe from Lawrence Ritter's original tape recordings.
A fantastic collection available on Audible. I have no affiliation.
Pre internet these recordings were only available in Cooperstown at the Hall of Fame.
Just discovered your channel. Very cool! I love baseball history. “Wahoo” Sam Crawford is one of the more underrated players ever. Great dead ball era legend.
No way was or is he underrated. He is considered one of the greatest hitters and outfielders in the history of the game and still to this day considered one of the greatest power hitters of the dead ball era by everyone who knows the history of the game.
@@jacksmith5692 yeah, I think so too. Whenever there is a baseball discussion Sam Crawford rarely is mentioned, even when you talk in reference to the dead ball era. Very underrated.
@@jacksmith5692 exactly. He’s a legend. Just under appreciated
@@jacksmith5692 thank you! You too!
@@tonyt2588
He's underrated, pal.
Great quality audio & an even better interview! Love these old stories! I wish times were still like those. Shouldn't be so stuck up these days. So what if a guy comes down through the grandstands & gets dressed on the field before a game after a few beers? He isn't hurting anyone!
I played four innings with my fly open.
Absolutely AMAZING story on how determined Lawrence was to find Crawford. I have the audio book and listen to it often as it's an awesome piece of history, yea you can read the book but to hear their voices is priceless
Amazing love it, born and raised in Omaha Nebraska!
I hope I get this right (maybe mentioned in the video, which I haven't seen, yet); every ball player who played in the Western Association in the 1890's and then played in the currant major leagues were given credit for their stats as major leaguers as the Western Association (I might have the name wrong) was considered a major league back then. Except Crawford for some reason. If his stats were consolidated like everyone else's he would have been one of the first hitters with more than 3,000 hits.
The Western League never was a major league. Its commissioner renamed it as the “American League” in 1899. In 1900, the AL commissioner proclaimed the AL to be a major league.
You may be confusing the Western League with the American Association. I believe the American Association was considered to be a major league during the 19th century.
Furthermore, Crawford never played in the Western League. As he stated, he began his MLB career at age 19 in Cincinnati, which was a NL franchise even then in 1899.
Great story. Thank you for posting.
What a character.. Reminds me of a few of the old old school pool legends I met and the stories they tell.. Told, unfortunately..
309 triples!!! 🤩 Old ballparks must have been configured in a way to induce extra base hits? He must have been extremely fast rounding the bases.
Just a powerful hitter. Like today so many more right handed pitchers than left.
Outfields were much bigger. If it'd go between outfielders it wouldn't carame off the wall back to them.
Plus the ball was squishier. Much harder to clear the fence. But if you could run fast, you might get a triple or an inside-the-park home run.
Thanks for posting.
Amazing video!!
Hey new content on horizon
Just makes you wonder... How good would some of those old-timers been in today's league? I think quite a few of them would've done just fine.
I've been trying to figure this out for decades. Back in those days the greatest hitters of all time hit against the greatest pitchers of all time; the highest batting averages against the lowest ERA's (even looking at league averages). Today the best hitters in the major leagues, who couldn't bat boy for those guys back then, are mediocre against the best pitchers today, who couldn't carry the glove of the real great pitchers from the 1890's through the 1920's and into the thirties. A few pitchers for losing teams back then posted better stats than pitchers for winning teams today facing hitters who don't come close to hitting what mediocre "hitters" rung up back then. Does Walter Johnson come to mind? Grover Cleveland Alexander? Bob Feller even later? Do the numerous Yannigans who played the game back then and hit better than than most of the best today come to mind; Earl Smith with a lifetime .310 batting average nobody has ever heard of? I won't say that today bums are playing against bums. Because of the number of ML teams today, 75% of major league talent today wouldn't have played in the highest ranked minor leagues back then. There was major league talent abundant in the minors back then, but they were making more money than the major leagues offered them and so they stayed where they were.
@@tonyt2588 Yeah, I highly doubt what you're saying. They'd be good but they wouldn't be better than today's athletes.
According to Ty Cobb, modern players are better than in his time.
@@dougmcelroy3780 I beg to differ. Doug, I agree that today's athletes are more physically intoned. However, the athletes back in the day woke up everyday to baseball. They would spend hours upon hours studying the intricacies of the game. Ty Cobb would spend 3-5 hours a day laying down a bunt. Pitchers would throw at hitters heads to back them off. The greatest players back in the day rarely struck out. They always made contact with the ball. I think that a modern day manager with imagination, could construct runs similar to the way they did back in the day. I truly believe that Ty Cobb's greatest lineup would smoke the greatest lineups of today. Btw Doug, Ty Cobb never said modern players were better than in his day. In fact, he stated the opposite. Do your research Doug;)
@@marcoslaureano5562
They'd trash today's Nancy boys.
Hey--general message here...These videos are really awesome. I'm a big fan of old-time baseball and learning about these lesser known players is amazing. Let's see more videos about the "negro league" players, too!! Josh Gibson hit more home runs than Babe Ruth every season and no one even knows who he is!!
I wish there were more quality interviews. That is why it is so important to record and talk to any persons involved with events in history.
Sam Crawford was 10x better human being than Ty Cobb.
Not quite. Maybe 2 or three times. 2.5.
Crawford had friends. He worked hard to get Crawford into the hof. I sense some resentment of Cobb. Smokey Joe Wood was friends of Cobb, Walter Johnson- he made many friends as he mellowed with age. It’s amazing how fascinating these stories are- wish to hell I could go back to those days as a visitor from another time. Rough group of men, but they had their code. No helmets- holy hell.
I don't think Cobb was quite the SOB of legend. They were ALL tougher, and Cobb had to be to be successful. Cobb lobbied hard to get Crawford into the Hall, despite a lot of friction between them.