May 25, 1919 – There are hidden talents to many of the athletes we celebrate that go beyond what they do while playing their particular sport. Former right-fielder of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Casey Stengel caught the attention of not only those in attendance at the game at Ebbett’s Field in Brooklyn where the Pirates were the battling Stengel’s former club the Dodgers but the national media was dazzled too.
When this mighty Casey came up to bat in the seventh inning, the Brooklyn crowd cheered their former star. Stengel then stepped up near the plate and tipped his hat to the fans and as he did he released a sparrow from under his baseball cap that flew agitated into the New York sky. Apparently, the right fielder had caught the bird while out in the field during the bottom of the sixth.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Every Ball Can Change the Odds: Why Cricket Is Built for Live Betting
A sport where the game can change 240 times in a match Six months
Seahawks Remain the NFC West’s Measuring Stick After Wild Openers to 2026 Season
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the site of the Rams’ Week 1 stunner – Source: Unsplash
What Actually Makes a FUT Card a Smart Long-Term Hold
EA Sports FC 27 is a football video game, and its most popular mode,
5 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash Golf simulators are a serious investment, and there’s
Ontario’s Long History of Betting on Its Own Games
Ontario’s long history of betting on its own games. Long before anyone in Ontario
Chuck Bednarik: The Legacy of NFL’s Last Two-Way Player
Just say the name Chuck Bednarik (bed-nare-ick) and you can be certain you’re not talking
Mark Morthier’s Favorite Sport Cards (1972 – 1989)
Although I was never a big hockey fan, I would consider myself a NY
NFL Over/Under Lines: What Past Scoring Trends Could Mean for 2026
NFL scoring patterns rarely stay the same from one season to the next. Offensive