What took the Cubs so long to install lights at Wrigley Field?

Wrigley Field, the cherished home of the Chicago Cubs, stands as a historical landmark in the world of baseball. However, it wasn’t until August 8, 1988, that this iconic stadium hosted its first game under the lights. This shift to night games occurred more than 50 years after the first Major League Baseball (MLB) night game, which took…

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The 1970s at Arlington Stadium

At the beginning of the 1970s the struggling second incarnation of the Washington Senators announced their intentions to move to the Metroplex under the banner of the Texas Rangers. The stadium was expanded to seat over 35,700 people, and was renamed Arlington Stadium. It was the fifth former minor league park converted for use by a major-league team…

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Welcome to RetroSeasons

We’ve been building RetroSeasons for several years, searching and sorting through endless old sports books, magazines, guides, and websites in order to accurately depict the season by season history of professional baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues. There…

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Top 3 Quarterbacks of the 1930s & 1940s

As the NFL migrated towards forward-pass oriented offenses in the 1930s and 1940s, Benny Friedman, Sid Luckman, and Sammy Baugh defined the new role of the passing quarterback. Benny Friedman Benny Friedman played college football as a halfback and quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1924 to 1926. Friedman played in the backfield on both offense and defense, handled kicking and return duties, and was known for his passing game. He…

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Coach Lambeau hired by Chicago Cardinals

After resigning from the Packers, Coach Curly Lambeau filled the open head coach position of the Chicago Cardinals. In addition to the position of head coach, Lambeau also was named vice president and was given complete control of personnel choices. The 1950 season was Lambeau’s first in Chicago. The team ended the season 5–7, failing to improve upon its…

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President Woodrow Wilson Opening Pitch

In the 1917 congressional baseball game at National Park, President Woodrow Wilson had to throw the opening pitch twice as Washington Senators Owner, Clark Griffith was unable to catch it.  The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity is an annual baseball game played each summer by members of the United States Congress. The game began as a casual event among colleagues in 1909 and eventually evolved into…

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1882 New York Metropolitan Nine baseball club

The upstart American Association saw a significant opportunity when it invited the New York Metropolitan baseball team to join the new league for its 1882 inaugural season. The National League had expelled the Mutual Club of New York following the 1876 season for failing to make their final road trip of the year. By 1881 had still not replaced them…

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Oyster Joe Martina of the Washington Senators

Joe Martina, known as “Oyster Joe”, was a right-handed pitcher and a native and lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent 22 seasons in baseball, but only one year—1924—in the Major Leagues as a member of the world champion Washington Senators. Oyster Joe Martina began his career at age 20 in 1910 and by the time he hung up his spikes in…

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Johnny Unitas with the San Diego Chargers in his final season

Johnny Unitas was traded from the Baltimore Colts to the San Diego Chargers on January 20, 1973, in a transaction that originally had future considerations returning to Baltimore. The deal’s only obstacle was the personal services contract he had signed with the Colts in 1970 which would’ve kept him employed within the organization on an annual salary…

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1940-41 Sheboygan Redskins

Sheboygan Redskins Entered In 1941 Basketball Tournament

The Sheboygan Redskins have again accepted the invitation to enter the World’s Championship Professional Basketball Tournament (WPBT) at the International Amphitheater, Chicago, from March 15 to 19. Eleven teams have entered the tournament so far. They are the Sheboygan Redskins, the Oshkosh All-Stars, the Detroit Eagles, and the Chicago Bruins of the National Basketball League,…

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Fernando Valenzuela, Rookie of Year and Cy Young Award

After the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Fernando Valenzuela in the summer of 1979, the Dodgers pitcher Bobby Castillo taught him to throw the screwball. During the 1980 season, Valenzuela was promoted to the Double-A level where he led the Texas League with 162 strikeouts. Valenzuela was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen in September 1980. In the last month…

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William Bill Craver from 1866 Troy Haymakers Lansingburgh Union Baseball Team Players

Union of Lansingburgh 1866 Baseball

These discovered photo cards are recognized as some of the first baseball cards, issued in 1866 for the Union Base Ball Club of Lansingburgh. The team was established in 1860 in Lansingburgh, New York. By 1868 the “Troy Haymakers” nickname for Union of Lansingburgh was common, although the team was sometimes called the Trojans. Members of the…

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1934 Chicago Bears Game Day NFL Program and Schedule

1934 Chicago Bears…almost perfect

Chicago Bears versus La Crosse Old Style Lagers NFL pre-season game program from September 12, 1934. Features 15 signatures including: Bronko Nagurski, Beattie Feathers, Link Lyman, Paul Franklin, Zuck Carlson, Art Buss, Dick Davis, Vincent Zizack, Gene Ronzani, Jack Manders, Bill Hewitt, Joe Kopcha, George Nusso, Ray Richards and Art Krueger. The 1934 NFL season began with success, as the Bears reeled off nine straight wins in which they scored 20…

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