Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe

12/17/2024

My latest book, "White Washing the Black Sox" would make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for all baseball fans on your Christmas list!

05/16/2024

My first attempt at novel writing! "White Washing the Black Sox" now available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Hpx77

11/28/2023

Such A Deal!

Free Baseball History Comes Alive Bookmarks!

You read that right!

To celebrate the success (hopefully!) of my new book, "Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe: One hundred ten baseball profiles of players NOT named Babe Ruth," I've had some custom-made bookmarks made up. I actually designed these myself, and I have to admit they came out pretty nice!

On the front is a neat pic of the book's cover, along with my name as editor of the site and the site's address: www.basebalhistorycomesalive.com.

On the reverse side, is a great photo of a baseball game being played during the Civil War era. It's the same photo I used for the backdrop of the website.

That's the good news. The bad news is that the minimum order was 250...so needless to say, I'm stuck with a heck of a lot more than I actually need. I'd have to write 50 more books to move all of these!

It's the Christmas season, right? So, to help celebrate this festive time of the year, and to show my appreciation for all the loyal support I've received around here over the years. I'd like to give away these neat bookmarks to whoever wants them. Just send me your name and address, and I'll get a couple of these babies in the mail right out to you FREE OF CHARGE. I'll answer each request with two free bookmarks.

You can leave your name and address in the comments section below, or if you'd prefer, just send to me in an email: [email protected]. I'll even pick up the charge for the stamp. And don't worry...if you lose these two, there's plenty more where these came from...but on the second time around, you'll have to pay for the stamp. Haha!

Now when you read your next baseball history book, you can think of us here on Baseball History Comes Alive with your neat bookmark reminder saving your place!

And while you're thinking about it, check out my website, Baseball History Comes Alive: https://www.baseballhistorycomesalive.com/

11/26/2023

As we are now firmly in what I call baseball's "no man's land," that is, the period between the last out of the World Series and until we hear the magic words: "Pitchers and Catchers Report," I thought this would be a good time to start posting profiles on "Baseball's Forgotten Stars."

Each profile I post is from a chapter in my new book, "Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe: 110 Baseball Profiles of ball players NOT named Babe Ruth." Each post will consist of a short introduction and then a link to the entire essay in case you'd like to read it in its entirety. Today I'll start with my essay on Sal Maglie: "Baseball's Demon Barber":

Let’s Recall Don Larsen’s Perfect Game Opponent, Sal “The Barber” Maglie

(Written in January 2020, at the time of the passing of Don Larsen)

With the passing of Don Larsen this week, the focus of the baseball world has understandably been on the Perfect Game gem he tossed for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series. It’s a feat that’s never been duplicated. The iconic photo of Yogi jumping into his arms after umpire Babe Pinelli rang up pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell for the 27th out is the stuff of baseball lore.

What is often overlooked amidst the tributes to Don Larsen is that he was in a tense pitching duel with his mound opponent, the Dodgers’ Sal Maglie. Completely overshadowed by Larsen’s historic performance was that Sal was tossing a pretty good game himself. In a losing effort, he went the distance, pitching a five-hitter and allowing just two runs, the first a home run by Mickey Mantle. Also overlooked is that Sal had himself recently thrown a no-hitter in the final week of the season.

All this gives me the opportunity to say a few words about Sal “the Barber" Maglie, who, after a late start in the majors, ended up with a fine career. I’m Facebook friends with his son Joe Maglie who occasionally checks in and visits our Old-Time Baseball Photos page.

Sal played ten years in the majors (1945, 1950-’58) with five different teams: Giants, Indians, Dodgers, Yankees, and Cardinals. He compiled a 119-63 record (.657), with a fine career ERA of 3.15. He also had the distinction of being one of the few players—and only pitcher—to play for all three New York teams.

In the featured photo, we see Sal being celebrated in the Dodger clubhouse after his victory in Game One of the 1956 World Series. He's with Roy Campanella, Coach Jake Pitler, and photographer Barney Stein. In the back looks to be a young Don Drysdale.

After breaking into the majors with the Giants in 1945 with a 5-4 record, he jumped to the Mexican League prior to the 1946 season. For this infraction, he was banned from baseball by Commissioner Happy Chandler. He was unable to return to the Giants until 1950. By then he was almost 33. Despite missing four seasons, he had an outstanding year in 1950, going 18-4. His .818 winning percentage led the league, as did his stellar 2.71 ERA. The two-time All-Star followed this with a breakout season in 1951, going 23-6 (.793), with a 2.93 ERA, leading the Giants to the 1951 pennant, climaxed by Bobby Thomson’s historic “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”...

(Click on the link to read the entire essay on Sal Maglie and to see a photo gallery from his life and career: https://wp.me/p7a04E-6ML)

Gary Livacari

11/26/2023

So happy that I've heard positive things from many who are reading my book! They seem to be enjoying it. A common theme I hear is that they are reading on player profile at a time, usually before bedtime. Glad they are putting the book to good use!

If you'd like to contribute to my "15 minutes of fame," I can send you an autographed copy at a reduced rate. Just let me know. You can send me an email and we can discuss details of getting it to you. ([email protected]). Thanks! Gary

10/30/2023

Link to Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe on Amazon:

As arguably the game’s greatest player, Babe — along with other “top tier” stars from baseball’s Golden ages — cast a long shadow over virtually everyone else who has ever played the game. Comparisons to the Babe are still commonplace today. A tape measure home run is a “Ruthian blast....

10/30/2023

Excerpt from the Introduction to my new book:

As arguably the game’s greatest player, Babe Ruth — along with other “top tier” stars from baseball’s Golden ages — cast a long shadow over virtually everyone else who has ever played the game. Comparisons to the Babe are still commonplace today. A tape measure home run is a “Ruthian blast.” Great player production is characterized as “Ruthian in scope.” His “Called Shot” in the 1932 World Series (did he or didn’t he?) is still one of most contested topics in all of baseball lore; as are his home runs for little Johnny Sylvester in the 1926 World Series, and his 1925 “bellyache heard ‘round the world.” These are just a small sampling of the influence he still exerts, 75 years after his death. Among his many records, one that may never be broken is his career .689 slugging average. It’s “off the charts,” and the only way to describe it is as, well, “Ruthian.”

Early on in this venture, I realized that many of the game’s lesser stars — hopelessly overshadowed by the great Bambino, and with accomplishments and stories of their own to tell — are in danger of being lost over the passage of time. As each year goes by, their memories fade a bit further into the recesses of history. I’ve decided to do my part to halt this seemingly inevitable process. Thus was the genesis of this my fourth book, "Out From Under the Shadow of the Babe, One hundred and ten baseball profiles of players NOT named Babe Ruth." This somewhat quirky title fully captures my intentions.Excerpt grom the Introduction:

"White Washing the Black Sox - A Tale of Gamblers, Gamers, Guilt, and Greed"
A Baseball History Novel