In the summer of 1938, Satchel Paige’s arm, which had been working non-stop year-round for more than a decade, suddenly went dead. No longer able to ply the trade that had made him a star on the same par as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, Satchel Paige hit rock bottom. [...] Read More The post Satchel Paige: Hitting Rock Bottom appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

Since 2020 I have illustrated eight covers for the Baseball Research Journal. Since baseball's magic number is nine, this week I'll take you through the process of creating my ninth cover. This is Part 5 [...] Read More The post Bottom of the Ninth (cover) Part 5 appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

Since 2020 I have illustrated eight covers for the Baseball Research Journal. Since baseball's magic number is nine, this week I'll take you through the process of creating my ninth cover. This is Part 4 [...] Read More The post Bottom of the Ninth (cover) Part 4 appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

Since 2020 I have illustrated eight covers for the Baseball Research Journal. Since baseball's magic number is nine, this week I'll take you through the process of creating my ninth cover. This is Part 1 [...] Read More The post Bottom of the Ninth (cover) Part 1 appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

In 1922, the Morristown Colonials boasted a slugging first baseman by the name of "Lou Long" – in reality he was Lou Gehrig, and for the second summer in a row he was violating college rules by playing ball for money... [...] Read More The post Lou Gehrig: Rediscovering the mysterious “Lou Long” appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

An old piece I wrote about Pete Rose. [...] Read More The post Pete Rose: The Man in the Gasoline Suit appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

An old piece I wrote about Pete Rose. Rest in peace, Hit King, rest in peace. [...] Read More The post Pete Rose: The Man in the Gasoline Suit appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

The son of a Nez Perce tribal leader, Levi McCormack was a 3-sport star in college, often drawing comparisons to the great Jim Thorpe. However, a tragic accident on a mountain road ended his baseball dreams. [...] Read More The post Levi McCormack: Sideswiped! appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

Howard Drew was America’s fastest sprinter and was expected to bring home the Gold at the 1912 Olympics. But when an injury forced him to withdraw, Drew found himself playing on the first Olympic baseball “Dream Team.” [...] Read More The post Howard Drew: The first Olympic baseball “Dream Team” appeared first on Studio Gary C ..read more

Recently, I was reminded of the ballplayer whose story, more than anyone else’s, got me into researching obscure players and teams from baseball’s past and telling their stories. Way back when I was a kid, I remember asking my grandfather if he ever knew anyone who made it to the major leagues. My grandfather said yes, as a matter of fact he did know a major leaguer, and his name was Frankie Zak. Frankie was a buddy of my grandfather from the old neighborhood in Passaic, New Jersey, an industrial city a few miles west of Manhattan. Frankie, like everyone else on Fourth Street, was the son of ..read more