John Thorn
@johnthorn.bsky.social
Official Historian, Major League Baseball. Since 2011, I have posted a story a week at ourgame.mlblogs.com. Views are my own, not those of MLB.
Tetradrachm, Athens, 480-420BC: The Owl of Athena, or SuperbOwl ... tip your waiter!
February 4, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Tetradrachm, Athens, 480-420BC: The Owl of Athena, or SuperbOwl ... tip your waiter!
On this day, 150 years ago, MLB began. ourgame.mlblogs.com/history-awak...
History Awakens: February 2, 1876 and the Founding of the National League
An Amazing New Discovery
ourgame.mlblogs.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:44 PM
On this day, 150 years ago, MLB began. ourgame.mlblogs.com/history-awak...
Who was MLB's first Black player? Not Jackie Robinson in 1947, not Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Weldy in 1884 … but William Edward White, in 1879. He passed for white for much of his life but, uniquely among MLB players, he was born a slave. ourgame.mlblogs.com/pioneers-wil...
PIONEERS: William Edward White
First in a season-long series
ourgame.mlblogs.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Who was MLB's first Black player? Not Jackie Robinson in 1947, not Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Weldy in 1884 … but William Edward White, in 1879. He passed for white for much of his life but, uniquely among MLB players, he was born a slave. ourgame.mlblogs.com/pioneers-wil...
When did baseball begin? 1833? 1845? 1857? ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 6, the 1850s
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:30 PM
When did baseball begin? 1833? 1845? 1857? ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Larry Lester and I will offer, on February 26 with New York State Library support, a zoom session on how Negro Leagues stats from 1920-1948 found their way into MLB's official record. nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/16236463
Negro Leagues Stats and MLB's Official Record
In 2024, MLB included Negro League statistics within its official record. Larry Lester and John Thorn, who were deeply involved in the process, will tell us how those stats came to...
nyslibrary.libcal.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Larry Lester and I will offer, on February 26 with New York State Library support, a zoom session on how Negro Leagues stats from 1920-1948 found their way into MLB's official record. nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/16236463
Took an hour off from scribbling about baseball in the 1850s to watch this 1986 documentary about Louise Brooks. Marvelous. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCsv...
A Documentary On Louise Brooks
YouTube video by Silver Screen Classics
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Took an hour off from scribbling about baseball in the 1850s to watch this 1986 documentary about Louise Brooks. Marvelous. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCsv...
1/2 Snagged this at auction today: a pen-and-ink by Thomas Nast that that I have not seen reproduced. It depicts Boss Tweed with the world in his hands, but the globe is depicted as a four-panel baseball. Tweed of course controlled the Mutual Base Ball Club of New York.
January 29, 2026 at 8:30 PM
1/2 Snagged this at auction today: a pen-and-ink by Thomas Nast that that I have not seen reproduced. It depicts Boss Tweed with the world in his hands, but the globe is depicted as a four-panel baseball. Tweed of course controlled the Mutual Base Ball Club of New York.
Reposted by John Thorn
On this day in 1847, George Wright was born in the Yorkville (Harlem) section of New York City. The best player in the game during his era, he revolutionized the shortstop position with his infield play. Here’s an in-progress painting (but almost there) of him with the Boston Red Stockings in 1871.
January 28, 2026 at 11:29 PM
On this day in 1847, George Wright was born in the Yorkville (Harlem) section of New York City. The best player in the game during his era, he revolutionized the shortstop position with his infield play. Here’s an in-progress painting (but almost there) of him with the Boston Red Stockings in 1871.
1/2 Twenty years ago I wrote a story about Ethel Reed, the "poster girl" of the 1890s, linked below. Today it has dawned upon me that she may be responsible for at least one unsigned cover for The Penny Magazine of Philadelphia, which ran to only nine issues in 1896 ...
January 28, 2026 at 6:20 PM
1/2 Twenty years ago I wrote a story about Ethel Reed, the "poster girl" of the 1890s, linked below. Today it has dawned upon me that she may be responsible for at least one unsigned cover for The Penny Magazine of Philadelphia, which ran to only nine issues in 1896 ...
A new photo has emerged, moments ago, of Jim Creighton ... the first in 160 years. It is only a snapshot but its provenance is impeccable (you'll have to trust me).
January 28, 2026 at 12:43 AM
A new photo has emerged, moments ago, of Jim Creighton ... the first in 160 years. It is only a snapshot but its provenance is impeccable (you'll have to trust me).
Before Madison Square Garden thought to present basketball or hockey, it was known as Gilmore's Garden and hosted a walking race, in 1879.
January 26, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Before Madison Square Garden thought to present basketball or hockey, it was known as Gilmore's Garden and hosted a walking race, in 1879.
From the 1860s to the 1960s, at Our Game. Remember this catch, by Reggie Smith? ourgame.mlblogs.com/another-of-t...
Another of “The Greatest Plays You Never Saw”
Reggie Smith, unseen but remembered by David Lawrence Reed
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:51 PM
From the 1860s to the 1960s, at Our Game. Remember this catch, by Reggie Smith? ourgame.mlblogs.com/another-of-t...
Reposted by John Thorn
You’ve forgotten Mike Herrera, who started in the Negro Leagues, went to the American League (Red Sox), then went BACK to the Negro Leagues!
January 21, 2026 at 3:14 PM
You’ve forgotten Mike Herrera, who started in the Negro Leagues, went to the American League (Red Sox), then went BACK to the Negro Leagues!
These two links represent spectacular research. Negro Leagues teams were not alone in playing games against outsiders among scheduled league contests. retrosheet.org/InSeasonExhi... and retrosheet.org/InSeasonExhi...
retrosheet.org
January 21, 2026 at 5:31 PM
These two links represent spectacular research. Negro Leagues teams were not alone in playing games against outsiders among scheduled league contests. retrosheet.org/InSeasonExhi... and retrosheet.org/InSeasonExhi...
Only two men began in the Negro Leagues, THEN played in MLB before Jackie Robinson's Dodger debut in 1947: Oscar Estrada pitched for the Cuban Stars East (ECL) in 1924, then for the Browns (AL) in 1929; Pedro Dibut pitched for the Cuban Stars West (NNL) in 1923, then for the Reds (NL) 1924-25.
January 20, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Only two men began in the Negro Leagues, THEN played in MLB before Jackie Robinson's Dodger debut in 1947: Oscar Estrada pitched for the Cuban Stars East (ECL) in 1924, then for the Browns (AL) in 1929; Pedro Dibut pitched for the Cuban Stars West (NNL) in 1923, then for the Reds (NL) 1924-25.
This week's story is about Jim Creighton, and the feud between the Atlantics and the Excelsiors. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 6, 1860
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:53 PM
This week's story is about Jim Creighton, and the feud between the Atlantics and the Excelsiors. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
I think I may have to revisit my 45-year-old list of baseball's ten greatest games to include not only the 2016 finale (I was there), but also Game 7 last year (I wish I had been present). ourgame.mlblogs.com/the-greatest...
The Greatest Game Ever Played?
No, not Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, though in the heat of battle and the immediate glow of victory, some were quick to call it that…
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I think I may have to revisit my 45-year-old list of baseball's ten greatest games to include not only the 2016 finale (I was there), but also Game 7 last year (I wish I had been present). ourgame.mlblogs.com/the-greatest...
In 2017 I sat for an interview with Nick Davis, director of the Ted Williams documentary on PBS. Snips were used in the broadcast film, but here is the longform interview: www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
John Thorn | Interview | American Masters Digital Archive | PBS
www.pbs.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:18 PM
In 2017 I sat for an interview with Nick Davis, director of the Ted Williams documentary on PBS. Snips were used in the broadcast film, but here is the longform interview: www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
Baseball during the Civil War years of 1861-1864, fifth in a new series that goes back, back, back. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 5, 1861-1864
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Baseball during the Civil War years of 1861-1864, fifth in a new series that goes back, back, back. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
Blacked out for TV, I listened to this thrilling game on radio at age 11. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkR5...
1958 NFL Giants 13 Browns 10 In the Snow
YouTube video by iprezent
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Blacked out for TV, I listened to this thrilling game on radio at age 11. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkR5...
A new post at Our Game by my old pal, Mark Rucker. ourgame.mlblogs.com/holy-smokes-...
Holy Smokes, Batmen!
A vexingly odd image
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:10 PM
A new post at Our Game by my old pal, Mark Rucker. ourgame.mlblogs.com/holy-smokes-...
"The stars of the Negro Leagues are now ensconced in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, but the bridge to Cooperstown was built by men who barbered and bootblacked, waited table and laundered linens, men who played baseball whenever they could." Revisited this today: ourgame.mlblogs.com/black-baseba...
Black Baseball, 1858–1900
My foreword to James Brunson’s monumental new history
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
"The stars of the Negro Leagues are now ensconced in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, but the bridge to Cooperstown was built by men who barbered and bootblacked, waited table and laundered linens, men who played baseball whenever they could." Revisited this today: ourgame.mlblogs.com/black-baseba...
Baseball in 1865, a monumental year. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: Part 4, 1865
A new series that goes back, back, back
ourgame.mlblogs.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Baseball in 1865, a monumental year. ourgame.mlblogs.com/a-pictorial-...
I had cause to read this old story of mine, again. Pretty good, I thought. gothamhistory.com/2015/06/15/m...
January 4, 2026 at 7:38 PM
I had cause to read this old story of mine, again. Pretty good, I thought. gothamhistory.com/2015/06/15/m...
Base Tender, from The Base Ball Player’s Pocket Companion. Published by Mayhew & Baker, Boston, 1859. In the Massachusetts Game of Base Ball, bases were marked by stakes. I once umpired a Massachusetts Game; note the base tender (and the smallish top hat provided by costume supply).
January 2, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Base Tender, from The Base Ball Player’s Pocket Companion. Published by Mayhew & Baker, Boston, 1859. In the Massachusetts Game of Base Ball, bases were marked by stakes. I once umpired a Massachusetts Game; note the base tender (and the smallish top hat provided by costume supply).