Baseball history help...

Guru · April 23, 2008 2:07AM

Hey guys. I just recently caught wind of some cool information about my family. I found out where my baseball genes come from. Apparently my great grandfather, Howard Blackwell, was the best left handed minor league pitcher out there during the 20's/30's. They called him "Blackie". I don't know much about him and I'm trying to get info to piece some things together. At one point in the 60's a radio announcer was interviewing someone who pitched for Reds and they were talking about the best pitchers in the majors and he told him on national radio or maybe it was TV that my great grandfather was the best pitcher he had ever seen.
So, as more info comes I will pass it on, but I was hoping that some people might want to help me track some info down. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

digicat · April 23, 2008 2:13AM

What was his birth and death date? Where was he born? Did he ever make it to the pros?

digicat · April 23, 2008 2:19AM

There was a Reds pitcher named Ewell Blackwell. His nicknames included "The Whip" and "Blackie". He was a righty though.

During a Mets broadcast in 2007, HoFer Ralph Kiner called him the greatest righty ever.

He was born in 1922, and died in 1996.

Wikipedia entry on Ewell Blackwell

BaseballReference.com entry on Ewell Blackwell

Guru · April 23, 2008 2:26AM

HOLY CRAP I WAS WRONG!!! My uncle Jeff just told me that was him!

OH MY GOD!!!!

THIS IS SO FREAKIN AWESOME!!!

There are literally tears of joy running down my face. You guys have no idea what this is like.

digicat · April 23, 2008 2:33AM

Glad to help.

Here are his rookie cards:

1948 Leaf #39..............................................................1948 Bowman #2

digicat · April 23, 2008 2:35AM

If ever there was a reason for doing a registry set, this is it.

Judging from past sales, if you wanted PSA 6s, you could probably pick up both for less than $100 total.

nam812 · April 23, 2008 2:45AM

Chris, I'm not trying to shatter your dream of being related to a baseball player, but since Ewell Blackwell was born in 1922 it would be very hard (not impossible) for him to be your GREAT grandfather. I'm 40 and my grandfather (deceased in 1988) was born in 1908. Logistically it is possible if they all became fathers at 18 or so making you about 32, but all the other info is also incorrect like playing ball in the 20s and 30s, and being a left handed pitcher. I hope I am incorrect, but don't start that registry set just yet until you get all the facts. If he is your great grandfather, then way to go.

Edited to add: His wife's name was Dorothy and he had two daughters. His daughter's names are Linda Myers and Debbie Whitehead. Hope this info helps you track stuff down.

Leiascards · April 23, 2008 2:52AM

I know a woman who is 35 and is about to become a grandmother. She had her daughter at 16 and her daughter is about to turn 19.

If I remember right Guru is not that old. Still in his teens or 20s. So 1922 is very possible. My great grandmother was born in 1922 and I am 34.

nam812 · April 23, 2008 2:59AM

<< I know a woman who is 35 and is about to become a grandmother. She had her daughter at 16 and her daughter is about to turn 19.

If I remember right Guru is not that old. Still in his teens or 20s. So 1922 is very possible. My great grandmother was born in 1922 and I am 34. >>

Hence the portion of my post that read (not impossible).

CDsNuts · April 23, 2008 3:05AM

My great uncle is Socrates.

Guru · April 23, 2008 3:17AM

Well, this has been a time of reconnecting with family that i haven't talked to or seen in 21 years. My Uncle Jeff is on IM with me right now and we are trying to get the story straight. As soon as I do, I will post and let everyone know what's going on.
Thanks!

P.S.: I'm 28.

Alfonz24 · April 23, 2008 3:20AM

My great grandfather was in charge of the icecubes on the Titanic.

JackWESQ · April 23, 2008 3:36AM

Guru,

Just as a guidestick, if you are 28, then your father could be 48 (born 1960), your grand-father could be 68 (born 1940) and your great-grand-father would be 88 (born 1920). Ewell Blackwell was born on 10.23.22 in Fresno, California. So time wise, everything could easily work out.

/s/ JackWESQ

P.S. Ewell Blackwell was a member of the 1952 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION New York Yankees. Hmm? Perhaps a ring lying around somewhere?

ROCKDJRW · April 23, 2008 3:39AM

<< My great uncle is Socrates. >>

Socrates Johnson?

CDsNuts · April 23, 2008 3:42AM

My step-brother is Mordecai 3-finger Brown. He got that name because of a tragic garbage disposal accident at my dad's house.

Pete14Rose · April 23, 2008 3:45AM

Guru,

I hope everything does match up and he winds up being your great grandfather. That would be incredible.....to have a relative who was in MLB.

Good luck!

Jay

fkw · April 23, 2008 4:49AM

You just found this info out?

Very strange you would just find this out since Blackwell is a well known Major Leaguer, and he passed away when you would have been in High School.

Youd think your greatgrandmother, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, etc. would have clued you in a bit sooner.

Pete14Rose · April 23, 2008 4:54AM

<< You just found this info out?

Very strange you would just find this out since Blackwell is a well known Major Leaguer, and he passed away when you would have been in High School.

Youd think your greatgrandmother, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, etc. would have clued you in a bit sooner. >>

Some families aren't as close as others. This past month I found out a lot about my grandfather (who I had never met) and I'm in my 30's. Don't automatically assume that he "should" have known these things his whole life.

Also, I for one have never heard of Blackwell.

vtbub · April 23, 2008 5:35AM

<< My great uncle is Socrates. >>

Did he make Hot Fries too?

digicat · April 23, 2008 6:59AM

<< Some families aren't as close as others. This past month I found out a lot about my grandfather (who I had never met) and I'm in my 30's. Don't automatically assume that he "should" have known these things his whole life. >>

True. I don't even know the names of my paternal grandparents. My dad never talks about them, and I only met my grandfather once, about 20 years ago.

Shoot, I don't even know what my dad's middle initial stands for!

Ironmanfan · April 23, 2008 7:32AM

<< 

<< You just found this info out?

Very strange you would just find this out since Blackwell is a well known Major Leaguer, and he passed away when you would have been in High School.

Youd think your greatgrandmother, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, etc. would have clued you in a bit sooner. >>

Also, I for one have never heard of Blackwell. >>

Obviously there are a lot of things you never heard of

Pete14Rose · April 23, 2008 10:52AM

<< 

<< 

<< You just found this info out?

Very strange you would just find this out since Blackwell is a well known Major Leaguer, and he passed away when you would have been in High School.

Youd think your greatgrandmother, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, etc. would have clued you in a bit sooner. >>

Also, I for one have never heard of Blackwell. >>

Obviously there are a lot of things you never heard of >>

If that little cutesie dig was meant for me (since you have me quoted at the end)....Thank you hero. Not looking to hijack Guru's thread or run it into the ground, as some of you like to do. If you'd like to continue this conversation please feel free to PM me. I'd be happy to converse with you further and give you every opportunity to run your mouth.

Jay

Guru · April 29, 2008 5:19AM

Okay, I got the DL over the weekend. Ewell was my great grandfathers first cousin. Apparently my great grandfather Howard was a left handed pitcher. He played in the minors, but decided he wanted to raise a family instead of playing baseball.
Sorry for all the excitement. I was cool for a bit and knowing that I'm still related to Ewell is pretty cool in itself. I took someones advice and didn't buy any cards to start a registry.

Baseball history help...

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