Buzz
These images were selected and ranked based on their historical importance, visual artistry, the intensity of the action, and the prominent individuals featured. Some nicknames for the photographs were assigned by the curator.
10. The Impact
Caption: Pete Rose Slams into Ray Fosse
One of the most legendary collisions in baseball history took place during the final moments of the 1970 All-Star Game. Pete Rose of the Reds, positioned on third base, sprinted toward home plate at full speed. Instead of sliding, he barreled into Ray Fosse with full force. Both players weighed over 200 lbs, and Rose emerged victorious, tagging the plate while Fosse was sent tumbling. The impact was so severe that it dislocated Fosse’s right shoulder, an injury some believe led to the decline of his career.
Rose faced significant backlash for what many deemed excessive aggression, especially since the All-Star Game’s outcome held little consequence. Rose, however, refused to apologize, defending his actions as a desire to win, a testament to his moniker, “Charlie Hustle.” Critics of his aggression might want to reconsider after examining the next entry.
9. The Bold Dash
Caption: Cobb Makes a Daring Steal of Home
This image vividly illustrates the fierce and combative nature of Ty Cobb, as described in countless biographies. Cobb didn’t merely play to win; he played with a ruthless intensity. The incident, captured on July 4, 1912, depicts Cobb “stealing home” in a brutal manner—by dropkicking the catcher in the groin instead of sliding. At the time, baseball cleats featured sharp iron spikes, not the dull plastic ones used today. Cobb, known for his speed, could sprint 100 meters in 10 seconds despite his loose uniform. Before charging, he sharpened his spikes with a steel file, ensuring maximum impact. Though controversial, his actions were within the rules, and he was declared safe while the catcher lay in agony. This relentless aggression contributed to Cobb’s record of 54 career steals of home, far surpassing Max Carey’s 33. The catcher in the photo is Paul Krichell.
8. The Frustration
Caption: Mickey Mantle Hurls His Helmet in Disgust
Mantle was renowned for his extraordinary power at the plate and his remarkable speed on the bases, despite chronic knee issues. He could dash from home to first in just 3.4 seconds and retired with an impressive .298 batting average and 536 home runs, many of which were colossal. One legendary homer traveled 565 feet, and another might have reached 634 feet had it not hit Yankee Stadium’s upper deck. While Mantle brought immense joy to fans, he was equally hard on himself when he underperformed. This 1965 photo captures him moments after striking out, visibly frustrated as he tosses his helmet. John Dominis waits in the background to bat. The image artistically conveys the emotional lows of the game, contrasting with its highs. Mantle’s massive forearms, almost cartoonishly large, highlight the source of his legendary power and precise bat control.
7. Soaring Through the Air
Caption: Honus Wagner Suspended Mid-Leap
Wagner, often called “the human vacuum cleaner” and more famously “the Flying Dutchman,” hailed from Pennsylvania Dutch country—a term derived from “Pennsylvania Deutsch,” referring to the region’s German immigrant heritage. Born Johannes Peter Wagner, he was one of the fastest base runners in baseball history. This photo captures his incredible speed and agility as he leaps to tag home plate after sprinting from third base. Both feet are a foot off the ground, showcasing his effortless grace, akin to a trapeze artist. Unlike his rival Ty Cobb, Wagner was known for his kindness and sportsmanship, though he was equally skilled at stealing bases. He matched Cobb’s record for most single-inning steal cycles, achieving the feat four times by stealing second, third, and home in the same inning.
6. The Call
Caption: The Umpire’s Call – Out!
This iconic image captures Jackie Robinson, the pioneering black major league player, stealing home against Yogi Berra, arguably the greatest catcher of all time. The moment occurred during Game 1 of the 1955 World Series, which Robinson’s Dodgers ultimately won, marking their first championship. The photo is part of a sequence showing Robinson sprinting the baseline and Berra positioning himself to block him. The umpire ruled that Robinson’s foot slid under Berra’s glove, touching the plate before Berra could make the tag. While the photo was already notable, it gained legendary status years later when a fan approached Berra with a copy for an autograph. Berra signed it, “He was out! Yogi Berra,” and explained that his glove had grazed Robinson’s shoe, though the umpire, positioned behind him, missed it. Since then, the photo has become a cherished collectible, with Berra consistently signing copies with his famous phrase, even for President Lyndon Johnson.
5. The Embrace
Caption: Yogi Berra Embraces Don Larsen
Don Larsen may not be remembered as one of baseball’s all-time greatest pitchers, but his perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series secures his place in history. This remains the only perfect game in World Series history, an unparalleled feat of skill and precision. The excitement and joy of that moment were unmatched. A perfect game is the pinnacle of pitching achievement, with only 23 ever recorded. Larsen’s game included tense moments, like Gil Hodges’s powerful line drive, which Mickey Mantle miraculously caught with a diving effort. The final batter, Dale Mitchell, a career .311 hitter, was struck out on a called third pitch, sealing the game. Yogi Berra’s immediate reaction—leaping into Larsen’s arms—captured the pure elation of the moment, making it one of baseball’s most unforgettable celebrations.
4. Legacy in Silver
Caption: Lou Gehrig Reflects on His Trophies
One of baseball’s most heart-wrenching moments was captured in numerous photographs, as every major newspaper dispatched photographers to document the event. By the time Lou Gehrig retired, fans were aware something was gravely wrong. When news of his rare and fatal illness spread, the entire nation rallied behind him. On July 4, 1939, during a doubleheader, 61,808 fans, alongside Babe Ruth, the Yankees, and the Senators, honored Gehrig in a moving farewell ceremony. He was gifted over two dozen trophies from various groups and individuals. The photograph depicts Gehrig, head bowed, surrounded by both teams and others, all holding their hats in respect as Mayor Fiorello La Guardia addresses the crowd. The trophies rest on the ground because Gehrig no longer had the strength to lift them.
3. The Bold Dash to Third
Caption: Cobb Makes a Daring Steal of Third
This photograph stands as one of the finest in baseball history, encapsulating the ferocity and relentless drive of the game’s most aggressive player. Capturing motion in Cobb’s era was nearly impossible, and still images rarely conveyed the raw speed and tenacity he was known for. Charles Conlon took this iconic shot on July 23, 1910, using a tripod-mounted Graflex camera. Positioned behind third base in foul territory, Conlon anticipated Cobb’s notorious baserunning tactics and was ready when Cobb took off from second.
In typical fashion, Cobb stole second base, exploiting the catcher’s weak throw and forcefully shoving third baseman Jimmy Austin aside. He intentionally tripped Austin with his shoulder, causing him to leap out of position and miss the throw. While the photo doesn’t capture it, Cobb then sprang up and stole home as the left fielder scrambled to retrieve the ball.
2. The Final Farewell
Caption: Ruth’s Last Goodbye
While most remember Ruth for his iconic poses, gazing skyward after launching monumental home runs, this image reveals a more human side. It shows an aging Ruth, worn down by decades of hard living, being honored by his former team and thousands of fans at Yankee Stadium. Taken by Nat Fein on June 3, 1948, just two months before Ruth’s death from cancer, the photograph earned Fein the Pulitzer Prize in 1949. Ruth, renowned as the most formidable hitter of his era, continues to be revered with awe by players today.
Many believe Ruth was a natural phenomenon, excelling on the field while living a wild lifestyle without compromising his performance. He consistently hit baseballs over 550 feet, a feat that defies belief. His longest recorded hit came in 1926 against Ty Cobb’s Detroit Tigers, sending the ball out of Navin Field and onto the roof of a stable across the street, a distance of at least 625 feet. Ruth cleared the fences of every stadium he played in except Yankee Stadium, though he frequently achieved this at the Polo Grounds, an incredible accomplishment before Yankee Stadium’s construction. The photograph depicts a weary man leaning on his bat, his identity revealed only by the iconic number 3 on his back. While many view him as a legend, this image reminds us he was human, making his achievements even more extraordinary.
1. The Iconic Grab
Caption: Willie Mays’ Legendary Catch
This iconic moment was captured in a still frame from the televised broadcast of Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between Willie Mays’ Giants and the Cleveland Indians. Victor Wertz hit a 450-foot fly ball to deep centerfield at the Polo Grounds, a shot that “would have been a home run in any other park, even Yellowstone,” as one sportswriter noted. Mays, positioned shallow, sprinted backward, tracking the ball over his shoulder. A series of photos documents the play, culminating in the unforgettable image of the ball just inches from his glove, mere feet from the wall. Mays made a flawless basket catch at full speed, then spun and fired the ball to third base with such force that his hat flew off—a signature Mays moment.
