Harry Grayson
Encyclopedia
Harry Markey Grayson was an American sportswriter. He was the sports editor of the Newspaper Enterprise Association from 1934 to 1963.
Baseball
- Wagner and Mathewson Top National Loop's All-Time Greats (Honus WagnerHonus Wagner-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
/Christy MathewsonChristy MathewsonChristopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
), February 5, 1936 - Landis To Smash Cards Syndicate, March 18, 1938
- Scott Gives Gehrig Three More Seasons (Lou GehrigLou GehrigHenry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
), May 2, 1939 - He Wants To Be A Fireman: Eccentric Ted Williams Wants To Quit Baseball (Ted WilliamsTed WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
), May 28, 1940 - Feller May Win 30 As Indians Race Tigers Down Home Stretch (Bob FellerBob FellerOn December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
), August 19, 1940 - Scandal Broke Up "Greatest Team" (Black Sox ScandalBlack Sox ScandalThe Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
), December 3, 1944 - Rickey Is Running Dodgers, Accounting for All Confusion (Branch RickeyBranch RickeyWesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
), April 20, 1948 - Baseball World Mourns Passing of Most Glamorous Figure: Babe Pulled Game From Doldrums, Made Baseball What It Is Today (Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
), August 17, 1948 - Dodgers' 'Flying Ebony' Was Most Feared Man in Series (Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
), October 13, 1949 - Bad Pitches, Sulking Remain Mantle's Big Faults (Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
), February 28, 1957 - Cobb, Out of Baseball for 29 Years, Doubts Umps' Vision, July 27, 1957
- Berra Gets Rich Hitting 325 Foot Home Runs (Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
), June 25, 1962 - Help Wanted: Kaline Could Carry Club If He Had One To Carry (Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
), June 22, 1963 - American League Is Sick, Sick, Sick, June 21, 1964
"They Played The Game"
In 1943, Grayson published a series of profiles on the great figures in baseball history. The series was published in newspapers under the name, "They Played The Game." This section links to a number of those articles. The following year, the articles were compiled into a book having the same title.- Bad Loser Cobb Stands Alone As Fiery Genius of Baseball (Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
), March 28, 1943 - Johnson's Hurling An Open Book: Yet Big Train Threw Past Best of Hitters (Walter JohnsonWalter JohnsonWalter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
), March 31, 1943 - The Great Rajah! (Rogers HornsbyRogers HornsbyRogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
), April 28, 1943 - Baker's Home Runs Meant Something (Home Run Baker), April 1, 1943
- Ruth Drew $80,000 A Year And Was Grossly Underpaid (Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
), April 6, 1943 - Collins Calls Plank Greatest Pitcher; Kept Batters Waiting (Eddie PlankEddie PlankEdward Stewart Plank , nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 games and then 300 games, and now ranks third in all-time wins among left-handers with 326 career victories and first all-time in career shutouts by a...
), April 19, 1943 - Tinker To Evers To Chance: Names That Spelled Double (Baseball's Sad Lexicon), April 20, 1943
- Eddie Collins Simply Had To Be Doing Something (Eddie CollinsEddie CollinsEdward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
), April 21, 1943 - Black Sox Expunged From Records, But How They Could Play the Game! (Black Sox ScandalBlack Sox ScandalThe Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
), April 26, 1943 - Effortless, Matchless for 19 Years, Alex Picked Up Where Young Left Off (Grover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
), April 28, 1943 - Sisler, The Picture Player, Came Closest To Being a Cobb (George SislerGeorge SislerGeorge Harold Sisler , nicknamed "Gentleman George" and "Gorgeous George," was an American professional baseball player for 15 seasons, primarily as first baseman with the St. Louis Browns...
), May 5, 1943 - Ed Walsh, The Greatest Of Spitballers, Pitched His Arm Off For the White Sox (Ed WalshEd WalshEdward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
), May 9, 1943 - Quick-on-the-Trigger Kelly Played Ball Like Cobb 25 Years Before (King KellyKing KellyMichael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
), May 9, 1943 - Vance Was Violent Pitcher With Power, Speed To Burn (Dazzy VanceDazzy VanceCharles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance was a star Major League Baseball starting pitcher during the 1920s.-Biography:...
), May 26, 1943 - Watching Clam Shell Sail Gave Gave First Curve Ball To Cummings; They Said It Couldn't Be Done (Candy CummingsCandy CummingsWilliam Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...
), May 28, 1943 - Collins Third Base Stylist; Couldn't Hit Ball Past Him (Jimmy CollinsJimmy CollinsJames Joseph Collins was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century who was widely regarded as being the best third baseman prior to Brooks Robinson...
), June 2, 1943 - Huggins Excelled As Lead-Off Man (Miller HugginsMiller HugginsMiller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships....
), June 5, 1943 - Five Consecutive Shutouts Record Still Held by White (Doc WhiteDoc WhiteGuy Harris "Doc" White was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for two teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox, during his career which lasted from 1901 to 1913....
), June 5, 1943 - Anson An Idol Who Never Fell; Real Leader In Every Respect (Cap AnsonCap AnsonAdrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
), June 8, 1943 - Southpaw Rube Waddell Eccentric But How He Could Throw a Ball (Rube WaddellRube WaddellGeorge Edward Waddell was an American southpaw pitcher in Major League Baseball. In his thirteen-year career he played for the Louisville Colonels , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Orphans in the National League, and the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns in the American League...
, June 15, 1943 - Trouble Followed Storm-Center Mays; Sore Arm Made Him Pitch Underhand (Carl MaysCarl MaysCarl William Mays was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1929. Despite impressive career statistics, he is primarily remembered for throwing a beanball on August 16, 1920, that struck and killed Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians, making Chapman one of two people to die...
), June 16, 1943 - Altrock Wasn't Always A Clown; Was Great Pitcher (Nick AltrockNick AltrockNicholas Altrock was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Altrock was one of the better pitchers in baseball for a brief period from to with the Chicago White Sox...
), June 20, 1943 - Scott Padded Shoes To Escape Being Cut; Played 1307 Straight Games At Short (Everett ScottEverett ScottLewis Everett Scott , nicknamed "Deacon", was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Scott batted and threw right-handed...
), June 21, 1943 - Zack Wheat Claimed Honor As Brooklyn's Most Popular (Zack WheatZack WheatWheat played his first full season in . He played every game for the Superbas that season as the regular left fielder, leading the league in games played. He batted .284 that season, the second-lowest average of his career, which led the team, and was among the league leaders in hits, doubles, and...
), June 29, 1943 - Griffith Gained Tag, Old Fox, as Mound Ace for Cap Anson (Clark GriffithClark GriffithClark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
), July 8, 1943 - Sockalexis Socked Like Ruth, Was Faster Than Cobb, Threw a la Meusel (Louis SockalexisLouis SockalexisLouis Francis "Chief" Sockalexis , nicknamed The Deerfoot of the Diamond, was an American baseball player...
), August 5, 1943
Football
- Rose Bowl Game Needs Huey Long: Kingfish Would Make Tilt Really 'Greatest Show on Earth' in 1935, November 6, 1934
- Rose Bowl Battle A Classic Despite Criticism (Rose BowlRose Bowl GameThe Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
), December 26, 1934 - Redskins Meet Packers Sunday (1936 NFL Championship Game), December 9, 1936
- Army-Navy Is Great Show Regardless of Records, December 6, 1963
Hockey
- Ice Hockey's Growth as Fast as Contest Itself, December 27, 1935
- Detroit Favored To Retain Title, November 17, 1936
- Hockey Teams Take Aim at Detroit's 7-Year Run, November 14, 1955
- Records Made To Be Broken But Not Richards' 500 Goals, October 26, 1957
- Maple Leafs' Star Learns His Lesson (Frank MahovlichFrank MahovlichFrancis William "The Big M" Mahovlich, CM is a Canadian Senator, and a retired NHL ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Big M." He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Playing career:...
), December 25, 1960 - Canadiens' Line After All-Time Scoring Record, January 15, 1961
- Stylish Harvey Organizes Rangers' Sustained Attack, December 7, 1961
- All-Time Greatest in Hockey? Those Who Know Say Howe, October 26, 1963
Basketball
- The Scoreboard (Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
), April 12, 1956 - Robertson Runs Bearcats While Leading Scorers (Oscar RobertsonOscar RobertsonOscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
), January 2, 1960 - Lucas Could Have Own Way As Pro or In Business -- Now!, January 2, 1961
- Pro Basketball Grows As Big As Its Players, November 3, 1961
- Lucas and Robertson Give Pro Basketball Another Big Show, November 11, 1963
Boxing
- Louis' Hammering Fists 'Elixir' to Dying Fight Game (Joe LouisJoe LouisJoseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
), December 20, 1935 - Louis Old Dog Learning New Tricks for Marciano Match, October 22, 1951
Golf
- More Golfers Should Have Yips Like Hogan, June 7, 1957
- Palmer's Open Win Gives Golf First Big Name Since Hogan, July 3, 1960
- Nicklaus Compared With Jones With No Apologies, June 19, 1962
- Arnie a One-Man Peace Corps (Arnold PalmerArnold PalmerArnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
), November 17, 1962 - Magic of Bobby Jones, April 8, 1964
Other
- Sonja Henie Makes Country Ice Conscious and Rescues Arenas (Sonja HenieSonja HenieSonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion . Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater...
), January 21, 1938 - Big Bill Tilden Picks Don Budge As Greatest of Tennis Players (Bill TildenBill TildenWilliam Tatem Tilden II , nicknamed "Big Bill," is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. An American tennis player who was the World No. 1 player for seven years, he won 14 Majors including ten Grand Slams and four Pro Slams. Bill Tilden dominated the world of...
), February 22, 1945 - Bobby Riggs Has Become No. 1 Tennis Promoter (Bobby RiggsBobby RiggsRobert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs was a 1930s–40s tennis player who was the World No. 1 or the co-World No. 1 player for three years, first as an amateur in 1941, then as a professional in 1946 and 1947...
), September 28, 1949