Grover Cleveland Alexander Is Born in Nebraska

Grover Cleveland Alexander was born on February 26, 1887, in Elba, Nebraska, one of eight children in a family that named him after the sitting President. Alexander pitched 20 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals, winning 373 games, tied with Christy Mathewson for third all-time. His rookie year with the Phillies in 1911 produced 28 wins, and from 1915 to 1917 he won 30 or more games three consecutive seasons, a feat no pitcher has matched since.

Alexander's life beyond the diamond was hard. He suffered from epilepsy, and his service in World War I left him with shell shock and hearing loss. Alcoholism followed him through his later years. Despite all of that, he delivered one of the most famous performances in World Series history. In Game 7 of the 1926 Series, pitching for the Cardinals against the Yankees, the 39-year-old Alexander entered in relief and struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded to preserve the lead. He shut out the Yankees through the final two innings to clinch the championship.

Alexander was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1938. His story later became a Hollywood film, "The Winning Team" (1952), with Ronald Reagan portraying him.

February 26 also marks an early rule change in the game's history. In 1894, the National League adopted a series of adjustments designed to help pitchers and speed up play. Foul bunts would now count as strikes, and the infield fly rule was instituted for the first time. Both rules remain in effect today, and the infield fly rule continues to generate debate among fans more than 130 years later.