Fred Frommer
@ffrommer.bsky.social
Regular contributor to Washington Post, with speciality in historical deep dives in politics and sports. Former stops: AP, CNN. Author of several books on baseball history.
80 years ago this spring, Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Dodgers' top minor league team, on his way to breaking the color barrier in 1947. My @contrariannews.org story ... contrarian.substack.com/p/jackie-rob...
Jackie Robinson Found Acceptance in Montreal
Eighty years ago, the man who broke baseball's color barrier suffered abuse in U.S. cities.
contrarian.substack.com
Check out my story in @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social on how Nixon appealed to the idealistic side of youngsters 55 years ago, telling them America didn't have expansionist designs ...
Peter Baker@peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 8mo agoRemembering back when another American president disavowed territorial conquest. "The United States of America doesn’t want an acre of territory," Nixon told a youth group back in 1971. @ffrommer.bsky.social thedispatch.com/article/nixo...
My story about Jackie Robinson's pointed letter to Eisenhower after the president counseled patience: “I respectfully remind you sir, that we have been the most patient of all people ... We want to enjoy now the rights that we feel we are entitled to as Americans."
The Contrarian@contrariannews.org · 9mo ago“Jackie Robinson was taken aback when he heard President Dwight D. Eisenhower urge Black leaders to have patience in the battle for civil rights.”
80 years before Trump called VP Pence a "wimp," as FDR's own veep, John Garner Nance, challenged him for the 1940 Democratic nomination - angered at FDR's quest for a 3rd term. My story... contrarian.substack.com/p/80-years-b...
80 years before the Trump-Pence fallout, FDR’s VP challenged him for the nomination
Roosevelt ran, of course, and easily defeated his No. 2.
contrarian.substack.com
When newspapers had guts. Frederic J. Frommer: A half-century ago Wednesday, President Gerald Ford bluntly announced that New York City, which was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, would not be getting a federal bailout. Or, as the New York Daily News
50 years ago, Ford told New York to drop dead—in so many words
The city was on the brink of bankruptcy. But Gerald Ford was reticent about helping.
open.substack.com
My story for @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social on how Richard Nixon resolved a threatened umpires strike #OTD 40 years ago. He compared umps to judges and praised them for maintaining "the integrity of the game." thedispatch.com/article/rich...
A Disgraced President and America’s Pastime
How Richard Nixon headed off an umpires’ strike 40 years ago.
thedispatch.com
My story on Game 7 of the 1925 #WorldSeries - when cold rain, fog, dark skies, and thick mud made for the worst possible conditions. The Pirates pounded Walter Johnson for 15 hits in a come-from-behind 9-7 win. ⚾ @contrariannews.org contrarian.substack.com/p/the-wettes...
The ‘wettest, weirdest and wildest’ baseball game that win the World Series
A hundred years ago, the Pirates stunned the Senators in the Fall Classic.
contrarian.substack.com
"The Los Angeles Dodgers start the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday, and no one will be shocked if LA wins and goes on to repeat as World Series champions." 70 years ago, it was a different story. Frederic J. Frommer reflects.
70 years ago, it was finally “This Year” for the Brooklyn Dodgers
After a string of losses, the Flock finally beat the Yankees to win the World Series.
contrarian.substack.com
#OTD 50 years ago, President Ford escaped the second of 2 assassination attempts in 2 ½ weeks, in an era of heightened political violence. My story in @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social today ... thedispatch.com/article/gera...
When Political Violence Threatened Gerald Ford’s Life
The former president escaped two attempted assassinations in just over two weeks.
thedispatch.com
Rock was running out of steam. Then came a 25-year-old from Jersey with an album that put its heart back on fire. Frederic Frommer on the legacy of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’.
50 years ago, Springsteen resisted the hype around his seminal album, Born to Run
The hard-charging, kinetic album lifted The Boss to the echelons of rock.
contrarian.substack.com
In 1992, a fatal attack on a congressional staffer provoked a response from the federal government, when a senator who called DC a "war zone" tried to impose the death penalty on the city. My story in @theguardian.com today... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump’s DC takeover harkens back to a dark incident 33 years ago – when crime was far worse
A violent event in 1992 prompted a response – not from the president, but Congress – with similarly dystopian language
theguardian.com
#OTD 50 years ago, George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin began one of the most contentious baseball marriages. Their famous 1978 Miller Lite commercial was actually filmed BEFORE any of the multiple times The Boss fired Martin...
The Contrarian@contrariannews.org · last yr.Fifty years ago, the Yankees hired Billy Martin, launching a saga of five firings, public feuds, and one infamous beer ad that blurred the line between parody and prophecy. Frederic J. Frommer tells the story.
My story today, on the eve of Dave Parker's Hall of Fame induction, on his pair of throws at the 1979 #AllStarGame that helped NL to 7-6 win - the same score as this year's, but sans the home run "swing-off."
The Contrarian@contrariannews.org · last yr.Dave Parker's cannon arm stole the show at the '79 All-Star Game, earning him MVP honors with two jaw-dropping throws. Frederic J. Frommer looks back as Parker enters the Baseball Hall of Fame.
My story on the only time two Black pitchers went head-to-head in an All-Star Game ... contrarian.substack.com/p/the-mlb-al...
The MLB All-Star Game that featured two Black starting pitchers – for the first and only time
By Frederic J. Frommer
contrarian.substack.com
My @contrariannews.org story on how JFK created #USAID.... contrarian.substack.com/p/jfk-cited-...
JFK cited America’s ‘moral obligations’ in urging creation of USAID
'A program of assistance to the underdeveloped nations must continue because the nation's interest and the cause of political freedom require it,' President Kennedy said.
contrarian.substack.com
My story for @contrariannews.org about the NBA's Black deputy commissioner, Simon Gourdine, who was the favorite to land the top job in 1975, but was passed over in favor Larry O'Brien. contrarian.substack.com/p/50-years-a...
50 years ago, NBA bypassed a Black candidate for commissioner, spurring boycott call
Although the boycott didn’t catch on, the struggle helped to open the door for Black NBA executives.
contrarian.substack.com
Fifty years ago, two Black coaches made history in the NBA Finals. K.C. Jones and Al Attles led from the front in a league finally opening doors while baseball and football were still decades behind. Fred Frommer explains.
50 years ago, two Black coaches faced off in historic NBA Finals
'You didn’t need to beat your chest, you were there.'
contrarian.substack.com
I wrote this @PostSports story in 2023 when the Knicks’ championship drought hit a half-century. Sadly it is now 52 years… wapo.st/4kKkWYD
My story for @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social recounting how some US House members were furious when Montreal - "a foreign city" as they called it - got a ⚾️team in 1969. In 2005, MLB "reshored" the Expos by moving them to Washington. Now Trump wants the whole country. thedispatch.com/article/trum...
Before Trump Sought to Annex Canada, Washington Took the Expos
How baseball ‘reshored’ the team that became the Nationals 20 years ago.
thedispatch.com
My story for @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social recounting how some US House members were furious when Montreal - "a foreign city" as they called it - got a ⚾️team in 1969. In 2005, MLB "reshored" the Expos by moving them to Washington. Now Trump wants the whole country. thedispatch.com/article/trum...
Before Trump Sought to Annex Canada, Washington Took the Expos
How baseball ‘reshored’ the team that became the Nationals 20 years ago.
thedispatch.com
My essay in today's @BostonGlobe on how the Knicks are like the pre-2004 Red Sox, taking on the Goliath Celtics, who have been the Yankees of the NBA for more than 65 years.
I wrote a column for the @bostonglobe.com today on how the Celtics have been the Yankees of the #NBA - while the knicks have mirrored the pre-2004 Red Sox. Have the Knicks flipped the script after two big wins in Boston? ·https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/08/opinion/knicks-celtics-yankees-red-sox/
Boston, hold a little room in your heart for tormented Knicks fans like me - The Boston Globe
The Knicks have a lot in common with the pre-2004 Red Sox, haunted by the same foe over and over.
bostonglobe.com
I spoke with showrunner Paul William Davies for my @washingtonpost.com story on how the detective on the @netflix.com series "The Residence" used bird qualities such as stealthiness and silence to help solve a White House mystery. wapo.st/431fM34
“I don’t work for acceptance. I am what I am.” @ffrommer.bsky.social on Celtics legend Bill Russell's protest
Bill Russell's Hall of Fame no-show
50 years ago, he skipped enshrinement as first Black NBA player in Hall of Fame.
contrarian.substack.com
Starting now!
Fred Frommer@ffrommer.bsky.social · last yr.I'll be participating in the #DCHistCon Authors' Corner tomorrow (Saturday), signing copies of my book on DC baseball history from 1:15 to 3:15 at @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social, 901 G Street NW. Hope to see you there! conference.dchistory.org www.amazon.com/You-Gotta-Ha...
I'll be participating in the #DCHistCon Authors' Corner tomorrow (Saturday), signing copies of my book on DC baseball history from 1:15 to 3:15 at @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social, 901 G Street NW. Hope to see you there! conference.dchistory.org www.amazon.com/You-Gotta-Ha...
You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals
You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals [Frommer, Frederic J., Todd, Chuck] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals
amazon.com
My @washingtonpost.com story today about how #MLB teams used to require fans to give up foul balls - and had "derelicts" who refused to jailed for larceny (including an 11-year-old boy). @dcsportsbog.bsky.social @jaconi.bsky.social wapo.st/3RiXt3U
MLB’s forgotten campaign against the ‘derelicts’ who pocket foul balls
Foul balls are now a lucky souvenir for fans at Major League Baseball games. But 100 years ago, taking that ball home could land you in jail.
wapo.st
My @washingtonpost.com story today about how #MLB teams used to require fans to give up foul balls - and had "derelicts" who refused to jailed for larceny (including an 11-year-old boy). @dcsportsbog.bsky.social @jaconi.bsky.social wapo.st/3RiXt3U
MLB’s forgotten campaign against the ‘derelicts’ who pocket foul balls
Foul balls are now a lucky souvenir for fans at Major League Baseball games. But 100 years ago, taking that ball home could land you in jail.
wapo.st
Jackie Robinson, a DEI hire? That's essentially what the publisher of The Sporting News called him 80 years ago, predicting that Robinson wouldn't even cut it in the minor leagues. My story for @contrariannews.org ... @jenrubin.bsky.social contrarian.substack.com/p/when-baseb...
When baseball’s top newspaper called Jackie Robinson unqualified
The Sporting News predicted that Robinson wouldn’t be able to handle even White, minor-league competition.
contrarian.substack.com
My @washingtonpost.com story on how Kurt Warner went from stocking shelves at an Iowa grocery to #SuperBowl MVP after the St. Louis Rams gave him a shot ...
Kurt Warner’s implausible Super Bowl tale still resonates after 25 years
Warner’s Super Bowl win with the St. Louis Rams came just five years after he was stocking shelves at an Iowa Hy-Vee.
washingtonpost.com