...that
there were loads of Irish born players in
The Early Days of the Major Leagues?
There
have been 40 players in the Major Leagues
that were born in Ireland! The most recent,
and indeed the only one to have been born
in the 20th Century, was Joe Cleary from Cork.
In his only appearance in the Major Leagues
for the Washington Senators in 1945, Joe allowed
7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks and recorded
his only out by strikeout!
The
Irish were a dominant force in 19th Century
baseball with stars such as Tommy Bond (Granard),
Patsy Donovan (Cork), Tony Mullane (also from
Cork) and Dirty Jack Doyle (Killorglin).
Click
this link - http://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Ireland_born.shtml
- to see the Irish that played in the Major
Leagues.
...there
have been five numbers officially retired by
Baseball Ireland?
Can
you name the five individuals AND their respective
numbers? First ten correct answers get a hearty
congratulations and a pat on the back from
yours truly. Send your answers to mike@baseballireland.com
...that
Ireland has a special place in Little League
History?
Little
League Baseball was founded in 1939, in Williamsport
Pennsylvania by a gentleman by the name of
Carl Stotz and his two neighbourhood friends,
Irish-American brothers George Bebble and
Bert Bebble.
George and Bert were semi-pro baseball players
at the time and the first Little League games
had to be scheduled around their playing agenda.
Carl Stotz did not play ball but was a good
promoter. The Bebble brothers grandparents
were from County Cork, Ireland and the Bebbles
still have relatives in Ireland.
You
can look it up...
