Books and articles about Arlie Latham

The impish Latham laughed his way through baseball. A dandy third baseman and leadoff hitter for the St. Louis Browns of the then-major league American Association when they won four straight pennants in the 1880s, he scored 100 or more runs nine times, leading the AA in 1886 (152). In 1888 he led with 109 stolen bases under the more liberal scoring rules of the time.

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He was equally famous for his comedy in the coach's box, taunting rivals while amusing the crowd with his antics. He was probably the first clown in baseball to develop an act and certainly the first to be hired exclusively as a baseline coach, by John McGraw of the Giants.

Eventually he and his wife moved to England, returning only when WWII seemed imminent. The Giants made a place for him as an attendant in the press box, where the still spry Latham amused writers with his witty observations and reminiscences. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 8, 1896: The St. Louis Browns dismiss manager Harry Diddlebock for intoxication. Player Arlie Latham and owner Chris Von der Ahe manage two games apiece before Von der Ahe settles on Roger Connor. » August 11, 1909: John McGraw puts 50-year-old coach Arlie Latham at 2B in a 19-3 romp over St. Louis. Latham goes hitless but handles two assists. » August 18, 1909: Giants player-coach Arlie Latham steals 2B in the Giants' 14-1 laugher over the Phillies. At 50, he is the oldest player to swipe a base. » September 26, 1926: The Browns beat the Yankees twice, 6–1 and 6–2, in a total time of two hours, seven minutes, a major-league record for a twinbill. The 2nd game is the fastest in American League history: 55 minutes. The Yanks total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 in the two games. Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses two scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in game two and, when the Browns score four in the 8th, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers—twice the runnerup, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie Manush, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns coach Jimmie Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nitecap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th.