
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
It's baseball season! So, it seems only fitting that episode 14 is about Past Prime Pastime! Matty is joined by Past Prime baseball correspondent, Kevin H. Blake to discuss the greatness of former Baltimore Orioles great, Edward Clarence Murray -- specifically his abominable final season, with the Angels and Dodgers in 1997, wherein he bounced between the Majors and AAA. After a Hall of Fame career defined by uncanny consistency, "Steady Eddie" had nothing left in the tank at the age of forty-one. His body was finally breaking down, he struggled to bat .200 and he'd been left merely with "warning track power." For a quarter of a century, Matty -- a lifelong Eddie Murray fan -- has been scarred by his hero's feeble last stand. Matty had once been so inordinately invested in Murray's great career that, in school, if his (so called) friends wanted to insult him, they would simply shout "Murray sucks" in his general direction.
Fortunately, Kevin is here to help provide counsel through the rupture of fandom. With one psych class under his belt but an honorary PHD in neuroses, Dr. (he's a lawyer) Blake gently helps Matty understand "why Eddie" and what those final few weeks that the great, middle-aged ballplayer spent in the minor leagues actually signify. This is a podcast about professional baseball in middle age and the attachments we make and break with our heroes. Also, it's completely funny.
So, oil up your gloves. Throw some pine tar on those bats. And get ready for "Steady Eddie." To read more about Eddie Murray, check out the full essay at Past Prime.
4.5
88 ratings
It's baseball season! So, it seems only fitting that episode 14 is about Past Prime Pastime! Matty is joined by Past Prime baseball correspondent, Kevin H. Blake to discuss the greatness of former Baltimore Orioles great, Edward Clarence Murray -- specifically his abominable final season, with the Angels and Dodgers in 1997, wherein he bounced between the Majors and AAA. After a Hall of Fame career defined by uncanny consistency, "Steady Eddie" had nothing left in the tank at the age of forty-one. His body was finally breaking down, he struggled to bat .200 and he'd been left merely with "warning track power." For a quarter of a century, Matty -- a lifelong Eddie Murray fan -- has been scarred by his hero's feeble last stand. Matty had once been so inordinately invested in Murray's great career that, in school, if his (so called) friends wanted to insult him, they would simply shout "Murray sucks" in his general direction.
Fortunately, Kevin is here to help provide counsel through the rupture of fandom. With one psych class under his belt but an honorary PHD in neuroses, Dr. (he's a lawyer) Blake gently helps Matty understand "why Eddie" and what those final few weeks that the great, middle-aged ballplayer spent in the minor leagues actually signify. This is a podcast about professional baseball in middle age and the attachments we make and break with our heroes. Also, it's completely funny.
So, oil up your gloves. Throw some pine tar on those bats. And get ready for "Steady Eddie." To read more about Eddie Murray, check out the full essay at Past Prime.