From Speakeasy Owner to Pitcher

Today is the birthday of Heine Meine, born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1896. 

In an era where ball players had little-to-no leverage over their salaries, he was among the few that — thanks in large part to his illegal speakeasy — could truly negotiate. 

At just 14 years old, Meine began taking care of his mother and six siblings after his father, a blacksmith, died of pneumonia. By the time he was in high-school, he’d already completed his apprenticeship to become one himself but before he had an opportunity to go into the business he was sent off to serve in WWI as a part of the mounted cavalry.

He returned home in 1920, took over a tavern from a cousin who died in the war, and landed a contract to pitch for the Browns. While he impressed in the Texas League, his only real pitch — the spitball — had been outlawed in the Major Leagues after Ray Chapman was hit in the head and killed by one thrown by Carl Mays in 1920.  

Meine struggled to develop a new pitch in the minor leagues. Tired of getting demoted to lower ranking clubs, he eventually quit baseball to run his bar. He later recalled that, “It didn't look like I was going up, and I just retired. I had other income and didn't have to play baseball.”

After a year and a half of his patrons ribbing him about being a good pitcher, but not major league good, he came out of retirement and went to pitch for Kansas City. Within a year, he was signed by the Pirates. He made his rookie debut for the team at 33 years old. 

While his career would be a sporadic one marked by both shutouts, absolute drubbings, and another short-lived retirement, he never shied away from tough negotiating with clubs. His bar, which stayed open during prohibition — and was said to serve drinks so strong they could strip paint from a battleship  — provided him enough leverage to demand eye-watering sums from clubs, which he got. 

He’d retire for good in 1934. He continued running his bar for another three decades.

Oddities of April, Simpson Baseball, And That Varsho Catch

• The Rockies Had a Bad Month – How bad? Despite sitting at 5 and 25, maybe not as historically awful as one would think.

• Meanwhile, In Detroit…the Tigers the best team in the AL? – Russell Dorsey makes the case for the Detroit team. He calls out, in particular, their pitching; they rank third in baseball with a 3.09 starter ERA, and fourth for bullpen ERA with 2.79. Read his full take here.

• Fan Falls in Pittsburgh — A fan fell over the outfield wall at PNC Park and tumbled 20 feet to the field. They’re currently in the hospital in critical condition.

• Oddities of the Month – The MLB Film Room wraps up the wild and weird of April. Give the giant rabbit the giant Met’s hat.

• Jomboy Makes it to the Simpson – Your favorite baseball lipreader made it to the credits of the Simpson’s latest episode — their first on baseball in 15 years.

• Diamond Heroics – Daulton Varsho takes a tumble running to the warning track but still picks up the behind the back catch, Javier Báez hits a grand slam, and this young Phillies fan raises the old question — how can you not be romantic about baseball?

5/1/2025

Rickey Breaks the Record

• 1991 — Rickey Henderson steals his 939th career base, breaking Lou Brock’s all-time stolen base record.