Bernard Malamud's iconic novel The Natural has many inspirations, but its most iconic may be the shooting of Roy Hobbs. The inspiration for it occurred 70 years ago this week, when Eddie Waitkus was gunned down in his hotel by an obsessive fan. We go through the life of Waitkus, the tragic shooting that changed everything, its aftermath for both victim and perpetrator, and the seminal work it inspired. Plus, happy birthday to Dusty Baker and Dave Cash!