Illinois Born “Boys of Summer” – Irv Medlinger and Newt Halliday

Continuing with major league players that were born in Illinois. Please take time to look back and some of the other profiles written.    Irv Medlinger Born Irving John Medlinger on June 18, 1927 in Chicago, Illnois. He was a left-handed pitcher that made his debut on April 20, 1949 for the St. Louis Browns….

Illinois Born “Boys of Summer” Eccentric Joe Charboneau and Bill Zies

My series on Illinois born major league baseball players. The “Boys of Summer”   Bill Zies   William Zies was born on June 16, 1867 in Rock Island Illinois that played in two games (August 9-10, 1891 for the St. Louis Browns. He took three at bats in the major leagues and got one hit…

Illinois Born “Boys of Summer” – First Player to Die in Car Accident

Continue my series on Illinois Born Major League Players. Ray Sinclair Raymond Sinclair “Ray” Richmond (June 5, 1896 – October 21, 1969) in Fillmore, Illinois which is in Douglas County near Champaign. He was a Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in eight games for the St. Louis Browns in 1920 and 1921. He made…

Illinois Born “Boys of Summer” – Gerry Arrigo and George Kontos

I continue the series. Illinois Born Major League Players-   Gerry Arrigo Arrigo was born Gerald William Arrigo on June 12, 1941 in Chicago and attended Harrison High School. After his high school days, he was signed in 1960 by the Chicago White Sox in the amateur draft and then drafted away by the Minnesota…

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…