Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On March 18, 1981 Future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, signs a contract with the Chicago White Sox after then GM Hayward Sullivan made an apparent clerical error mailing the contract out late in December of 1980. 

He makes the season debut in 1981 vs the Boston Red Sox in fenway and in a scene out of the movies he slugs a 3 run homer in the 8th to give the White Sox a lead they would not relinquish. 

Here is the story. 

Highlighted in this podcast - 

Carlton Fisk 

Ron Leflore 

Our Youtube Channel and full length radio broadcasts - 

Thisdayinbaseball

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

April 9, 1981 Fernando Valenzuela was forced to start opening day for the Dodgers as Jerry Reuss injured himself 24 hours before the game. 

Fernando would unleash the second greatest pitching streak in baseball history and turn the Dodger fan base upside down with is incredible performance. 

As Vin Scully would say it was like a religious experience to see what he did. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

The role of a closer was not an officially role until the term Save came into play officially in 1969. Bill Singer of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the first to register a save when he pitched 3 nearly perfect games to open the 69 season at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. 

The actually stat was created by Jerome Holtzman after he got frustrated watched Elroy Face receive so much credit after his 18-1 season. He felt Face was far better in 1958 and the existing stats had no true way to capture it. 

Thus the save was born and he was paid a bonus by the Sporting News to calculate the stat unofficially from 1960 - 1969. 

We hope you enjoy the episode! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

April 6 1973 - Ron Bloomberg comes to the plate for the New York Yankees as the first officially DH in Fenway Park. It may surprise you though to know the DH debate was started all the way back in 1887 by Al Spaulding and the vote to have a DH narrowly failed and again it nearly took hold in 1928.

Here is the story behind the story! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On April 3, 1966, the New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC’s season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Indians and the Phillies in a lottery for Seaver’s services.

To celebrate listen to Seaver pitch the 10th inning of the 1969 World Series. 

Read more about Seaver on his page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tom-seaver-biography/

More about events on April 3 - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/april-3-this-day-in-baseball/

Listen to the full game here - https://www.youtube.com/user/ThisDayInBaseball/featured

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley for 3 minor league players to the Oakland A's. At one time trading "The Eck" would have been big news! However, at the time the Eck was a struggling pitcher heading towards the end of his effectiveness. 

Unknown to Oakland or Chicago the Eck had already taken incredible steps to turn his life around. 

Here is the story of the trade, what Oakland thought they were getting vs what they actually got. 

You can read all about Dennis Eckersley on This Day in Baseball.

If you are hungry for more baseball stories we have thousands of stories for all 365 days of the year on this day in baseball!  

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On April 2, 1976 the Oakland A's trade future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and World Series hero and Al Start Pitcher Ken Holtzman to the Baltimore Orioles for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. 

At the time Jackson had won an MVP, made 6 All-Star appearances, was a driving force in 3 Championships, and he was second all-time in home runs for the franchise and 4th in career RBI's. 

Holtzman was a workhorse pitching between 255 - 297 innings and winning 58% of his games. He made 2 All-Star games and won game 7 in the 1973 World Series. 

Don Baylor at the time was an evolving player and Mike Torrez had established himself as a good pitcher but not on Holtzman's level. 

We look into the trade and why it happened. 

To read more check out - This Day in Baseball 

You can find more April 2 events HERE

Learn more about Reggie Jackson

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Happy Birthday, Luke Appling!   Born in High Point, North Carolina on April 2, 1907, Lucius Benjamin Appling moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family as a child. After graduating from Fulton High School, where he played baseball and football, Appling attended Oglethorpe College in Georgia for two years. Appling starred on the university's baseball team, while also playing fullback on the football team, before leaving school during his sophomore year to pursue a career in professional baseball. He signed a contract with the Southern League Atlanta Crackers in 1929 and spent one year with the team, experiencing success at the plate but also committing 42 errors in only 104 games at shortstop. Despite his early difficulties in the field, Appling remained determined to make a successful career out of playing shortstop. He later recalled, "My Daddy was lefthanded, and I was lefthanded when I was little. In fact, I was lefthanded all the way to high school. Then I switched over to righthanded 'cause I wanted to play shortstop."   Check out his page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/luke-appling-page/   Hall of Fame Interview - https://collection.baseballhall.org/PASTIME/luke-appling-oral-history-interview-1987-april-10-4   An interview of Luke Appling that was conducted by Rod Roberts on the behalf of the Baseball Hall of Fame on April 10, 1987 in Greenville, South Carolina. Content of the interview includes: Side Two -- Track 1 - On breaking a finger in 1930, working out at 10 a.m. fielding 154 ground balls, 32 pop-ups plus batting practice; having arthritis (00:00:00 to 00:01:36) Track 2 - On playing 21 seasons until 1950; manager Paul Richards wanting him to stay; Appling managing in Memphis (00:01:36 to 00:02:33) Track 3 - On barnstorming with Mickey Harris and (Birdie?) Tebbetts; Appling talking to Yankees Casey Stengel and Phil Rizzuto (00:02:33 to 00:04:24) Track 4 - On watching the Cubs play in World Series and playing against them in spring training; good catchers (Mickey) Cochrane, (Bill) Dickey (00:04:24 to 00:05:29) Track 5 - Interviewer Roberts talking about Leo Durocher picking a fantasy team; more on Cochrane and Dickey; Tebbetts being a good catcher (00:05:29 to 00:06:59) Track 6 - On good first basemen Jimmie Foxx, (Hank) Greenberg, Moose Skowron (00:06:59 to 00:07:58) Track 7 - On good second basemen (Tony) Lazzeri, Charlie Gehringer; (Gil?) Gordon; (Bobby) Doerr (00:07:58 to 00:09:11) Track 8 - On good third basemen Ossie Bluege, Pie Traynor (00:09:11 to 00:10:03) Track 9 - On good shortstops Joe Cronin, (Phil) Rizzuto, a player from the Browns, (Luis) Aparicio, Marty Marion; Appling playing with older brother Johnny “Red” Marion; Marty getting Appling’s #4; shortstops need to be intelligent and learn the hitters and the pitchers; giving signs in the field; (Ted) Kazanski and Joe Lonnett using word signs; knowing Tommy Bridges curve ball; Mule Haas talking about the curve ball (00:10:03 to 00:16:52) Track 11 - On good outfielders (Joe) DiMaggio, (Ted?) Williams as a great hitter, DiMaggio’s brother a good fielder, on seeing Babe Ruth play (00:17:27 to 00:18:48) Track 12 - On Babe Ruth’s character; on changes in the game and equipment; Appling liking Spaulding featherweight shoes with spikes, getting custom shoes for $25 a pair; always changing shoes; putting feet on metal vibrator after games, still using it (00:18:48 to 00:22:57) Track 13 - On people who should be in Hall of Fame; on writers changing too rapidly; Appling being surprised at being voted into Hall of Fame; (Lefty) Grove being fast pitcher (00:22:57 to 00:25:38) Track 14 - On pitchers throwing at batters, formerly fair game, now not being allowed; hitter (?) Murphy (00:25:38 to 00:28:50) Track 15 - Interviewer Roberts taking photos of Appling; Appling enjoying the game (tape runs out) (00:28:50 to 00:30:35)   Bonura never getting married; dating Comiskey’s daughter (00:00:0 to 00:02:20) Track 2 - On Jimmy Dykes; on hit, run and steal signs; hitting plate with the bat as a sign; talking to the catcher about signs; batting practice in Yankee Stadium; catcher (George) Dickey; slider pitcher (?) Shea; watching the pitcher carefully to anticipate the pitch; underhanded pitchers; first manager for Atlanta Crackers told him he’d better remember what he said the first time (00:02:20 to 00:09:55) Track 3 - On Chicago paying to get Al Simmons, Jake Miller, Mule Haas, all at once from Philadelphia; on signing high school kids (00:09:55 to 00:12:14) Track 4 - On Simmons; on Philadelphia hecklers (00:12:14 to 00:14:03) Track 5 - On outfielder Frenchy Bordagaray; traded to Brooklyn; Jackie Hayes losing his eye, irrigating sinuses and possibly damaging eyes; eventually losing sight in both eyes; outfielder Moose Solters going blind (00:14:03 to 00:16:28) Track 6 - On center fielder Jocko Conlan becoming an umpire (00:16:28 to 00:17:20) Track 7 - On Muddy Ruel, dad-gum-it expression (00:17:20 to 00:17:48) Track 8 - On Monty Stratton, pitcher; being good friends with Lyons, “Gander” nickname; buying pistol in El Paso to shoot pheasants; shooting jackrabbits; Stratton shot himself in the leg, lost the leg and nearly died (00:17:48 to 00:21:17) Track 9 - On Lou Brissie being wounded in the war (00:21:17 to 00:21:45) Track 10 - On greatest day in baseball being when he was elected to Hall of Fame; on Red Ruffing, getting his kneecap busted by Sloan Vernon "George" Washington, left-handed hitter (00:21:45 to 00:24:07) Track 11 - Greatest fielding, (Bob) Feller was pitching, Sam West caught line drive in right-center (00:24:07 to 00:25:58) Track 12 - On George Case; fastest runner hard to say; player Ossie (?); on going against (Lefty) Grove pitching; Appling getting a couple of hits; pinch-hitter came up; getting ribbed in spring training (tape runs out) (00:25:58 to 00:30:11)   The copyright for this item is held by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. NBHoF welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by intellectual property law and with proper acknowledgement.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On today's rewind brings us too, April 1, 1914, that day future Hall of Famer George Edward Waddell, better known as “Rube” dies from tuberculosis in San Antonio, TX. 

Sponsor Waddell's Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rube-waddell-page/

We review his oddities and tremendous pitching career. Such as his love for fire engines, wrestling alligators and never collecting a regular salary. 

Today's trivia question involves a quote Pedro Guerrero gave about a fellow Dodger teammate.

You can read more this day at This Day In Baseball 

You can also read about more events the happened on April 1 here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On March 30 , 2000 —  Enron Field officially opens with a 6-5 exhibition win over the A.L. Champion New York Yankees, paralleling the feat that occurred when the Astrodome opened in 1965. Daryle Ward’s two-run homer caps a four-run eighth-inning rally to open up the Astros’ new home in style.

Enron Field - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/enron-field/

Jeff Bagwell -  https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/jeff-bagwell/

Roger Clemens - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/roger-clemens/

Strat O Matic Day 5 replay - Only 1 team remains undefeated! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts