Illinois “Boys of Summer” – 3 Players- Born in Chicago, Danville and Atlanta, Illinois

  Previous entries Junior Thompson Eddie Gaedel   We continue to look at major league players that were born in Illinois and today is their Birthday.   Lee Dunham     He was born Leland Huffield Dunham in Atlanta, Il on June 9, 1902. He attended college at both the University of Illinois in Champaign…

Illinois “Boys of Summer” – Eddie Gaedel – Shortest Player in MLB History

Illinois “Boys of Summer” – Eddie Gaedel – Shortest Player in MLB History

Eddie Gaedel- Born June 8, 1925 in Chicago, Il. If you know baseball, then you have heard the story of Bill Veeck hiring a midget, Eddie Gaedel, to be a pinch hitter for his team. It all happened on August 19, 1951 as the St. Louis Browns were playing a doubleheader and it as the…

Illinois “Boys of Summer” – Eugene “Junior” Thompson- Born in Latham

Illinois “Boys of Summer” – Eugene “Junior” Thompson- Born in Latham

                      I am currently doing profiles on major league baseball players that were born in Illinois. I am attempting to highlight them on their birth date.   “Junior” Thompson was born Eugene Earl Thompson in Latham, Illinois on June 7, 1917. He was a right…

March 18, 1881 – A Tie Vote in the Senate

On March 18, 1881, early in a special session called to consider nominations received from newly inaugurated Republican President James Garfield, the vice president’s hands trembled as he reached for the roll-call-vote tally sheet. In a Senate Chamber packed with senators, House members, and even the chief justice of the United States, Republican Vice President…