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Olson was the steady-fielding shortstop of the 1916 and 1920 pennant-winning Dodgers, adept at the hidden-ball trick. The cunning leadoff hitter led the NL in at-bats in 1919 and 1921 and in hits in 1919, when he batted a career-high .278. He later managed in the minors and coached for the Dodgers and Giants. He and Casey Stengel, teammates in Brooklyn, went to grade school together in Kansas City. Stengel said Olson, five years his senior, was the school bully. "They let him be the boss. He was the strongest boy in school." He became a tough competitor in pro baseball. Recounted Stengel, "If a man came in with his spikes high, Ivy would say, `The next time you come in like that, I'll put this ball down your throat.'" (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 11, 1913: With the score tied 5–5, Ivy Olson of Cleveland steals home in the top of the 15th for the winning run over the Red Sox. Jack Graney then steals home for an insurance run, marking the only time teammates would steal home in extra innings in the same game. Dutch Leonard watches on the mound for Boston. » May 28, 1914: Boston's Harry Hooper leads a successful triple steal against Cleveland that results in three players getting thrown out of the game. With Rip Hagerman on the mound in the 3rd inning, Dode Birmingham, Fred Carisch and Ivy Olson get tossed for protesting too vigorously. Tris Speaker, on the back end of the triple swipe today will be on the front end of another Red Sox triple steal.