Happy Birthday, Old Pete

February 26, 2008

Grover Alexander Cleveland was born this day in 1887. Old Pete, who was indicted into the Hall of Fame in 1938, has his signature moment when he came in to fan Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded and the Cardinals nursing a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 1926 World Series. This the day after Alexander pitched a complete game victory. History says he partied a little too hardy afterwards, but still “cowboy-ed up” to answer the call the next afternoon.

Ronald Reagan portrayed Alexander in The Winning Team. Seems society didn’t know which was more fearsome: epilepsy or alcoholism.

I always used to get him mixed up with President Grover Cleveland. I wonder who gets more search engine requests.

The Amazon Report:

Ol’ Pete: The Grover Cleveland Alexander Story

Wicked Curve: The Life and Troubled Times of Grover Cleveland Alexander

Grover Cleveland Alexander (Baseball Legends)Grover Cleveland Alexander (Baseball Legends)

Alexander the Great: The Story of Grover Cleveland Alexander

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