- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: Boston
- Team: Braves
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Walter James Vincent Maranville (1891-1954) played 23 ML seasons as a madcap shortstop, catching pop-ups like a circus performer and hitting in the clutch often enough to make the Hall of Fame with a .258 lifetime average. Along the way, “Rabbit” became the smallest 20th Century inductee and the only one to be demoted to the minors mid-career. His endurance and eventual recognition among the pantheon of the sport are tributes to his effervescent spirit and dogged work habits. He partied as hard as he worked, witnessed by his pivotal HR on 8/6/14 that sparked the Boston Braves’ “miracle” comeback to take the pennant and Series — he never saw Babe Adams’ pitch. He was way too hung over. A broken ankle in an exhibition game with the Yankees effectively ended his long career in 1934.
- In retirement, Rabbit mentored many young players in NY, including Whitey Ford & Billy Loes
- His record of most MLB seasons wasn’t eclipsed until Pete Rose in 1986
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1954
- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Phillies
- League: National League
Sherwood Robert Magee (1884-1929) was a brawling rogue and one of the best outfielders in Philadelphia history. Fans with long memories smiled when this man who had once been suspended for cold-cocking an ump turned to officiating games upon his retirement as a player. Magee began a decade-long streak as the Phillies’ left fielder as a 19-year-old rookie. He had great years at the plate but none better than in 1910, the year before he knocked out Bill Finneran and suffered the worst sanction dealt by the NL since 1877. In ’10 Sherry bested even Honus Wagner, winning the NL batting title and leading in runs and RBI.
- Magee played minor league ball until age 40, then turned to umpiring. The NL put him under close watch due to his prior history but he established himself as a fine arbiter
- Struck down by pneumonia at 44, Magee was lauded in the press as “one of baseball’s most colorful figures,” and “one of the greatest natural batsmen in the game”
- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
William Joseph Klem (nee Klimm) (1874-1951) was the great founding-father of baseball umpiring. He brought a level of expertise and dignity that helped transform officiating and the game itself. And he was colorful: “It ain’t nothin’ till I call it;” “Gentlemen, he was out because I said he was out;” and “Son, when you pitch a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you know.”
- Joined the NL crew in 1905, worked a record 18 World Series (no one else did more than 10)
- Was the longest-tenured and oldest umpire until exceeded in both by Bruce Froemming
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1953
- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: Boston
- Team: Braves
- League: National League
William Lawrence James (1892-1971) had a season for the ages in 1914. His woeful Boston Braves hadn’t seen a winning campaign in over a decade and for years had been trapped in the all-too-public hell reserved for teams that can’t get within 50 games of the leaders. No one could have imagined the year that followed James’ rookie season where he had gone 6-10. No one to this day can completely fathom the wonder that became the “Miracle Braves.” The lowliest of teams won it all, pennant and Series. And Seattle Bill James eclipsed his fellow ace Dick Rudolph. His sophomore year produced a 26-7 record, .788 winning percentage, 1.90 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 332 innings. He won two Fall Classic games in three days. He was on fire. Yet, he lacked the fire in the belly that might have led to a great career. He tired of the travel rigors, complaining of it as “hard and disagreeable work.” After winning 32 games in two years, he and his brilliant arm were done. He soon returned to the west coast for minor league assignments, a stint in the wartime infantry and retirement.
- James was stunning with the Seattle Giants in 1912, winning 29 and a ticket to Beantown
- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
Henry Knight Groh (1889-1968) was one of the best all-around third baseman in baseball. He is considered the National League’s premier specialist at the hot corner during the Deadball Era in which he starred for the Giants and Reds. Groh set fielding records in numerous categories, some of which have never been exceeded in the long history of the Senior Circuit. As good as he was at his position, the diminutive Groh was even more effective at bat, wielding an unusual “bottle bat” to enable his small hands to bunt and hit-and-run with the best. Heinie came up with McGraw’s Giants in 1912 but was soon shipped to Cincinnati where he emerged as a talented lead-off-hitting second-baseman. When manager Buck Herzog moved Groh to third, his career skyrocketed. He chafed under the Reds’ leadership, holding out, getting a chance to return to NY, then having Judge Landis veto the deal lest a player gain actual leverage over ownership. In 1922 Groh finally rejoined his original team and helped them to the pennant.
- His performance in the Series that year was sensational, including a .474 average that Groh kept on his Ohio license plate the rest of his life
- Led the NL in double plays six times and fielding % five times, both still records
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