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Ted Simmons (born August 9, 1949, in Highland Park, Michigan) played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1968-80), Milwaukee Brewers (1981-85) and Atlanta Braves (1986-88). Simmons (nicknamed "Simba") was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.

In a 21-season career, Simmons compiled a .288 batting average with 2,472 hits, 248 home runs and 1389 RBI in 2456 games.
* 8-time All-Star (1972-74, 1977-79, 1981, 1983)
* Silver Slugger Award (1980)
* 7-time hit .300 or more (1971-73, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983)
* Caught two no-hitters (Bob Gibson in 1971, Bob Forsch in 1978)
* Twice led the National League in intentional walks (1976-77). He ranks 15th in the All-Time list with 188.
* After his playing days were over, Simmons continued in the game as a front office executive. He served two seasons (1992-93) as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but stepped down for health reasons. He also was Director of Player Development for both the Cardinals and San Diego Padres, and a scout for the Cleveland Indians. He was named the bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers starting with the 2008 season.

In 1993, only 17 baseball writers voted for Ted Simmons to get into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Being less than the 5% required to remain eligible, Simmons was taken off the ballot. Under the rules in effect at that time, he was thus permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame selection.

Ted Simmons had 2472 career hits, which was ranked # 1 all time for a catcher, until 2008, when he was surpassed by Iván Rodríguez.

This data was drawn from Wikipedia.

This episode was originally broadcast as a national radio syndication in June 1987.

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Charles Ray Knight (born December 28, 1952, in Albany, Georgia) was primarily a third baseman, although he did see some action at first base, second base, designated hitter, shortstop and in the outfield. He played for the Cincinnati Reds (1974–1981), Houston Astros (1982–1984), New York Mets (1984–1986), Baltimore Orioles (1987), and the Detroit Tigers (1988). He is now a studio analyst for MASN's coverage of the Washington Nationals.

While Knight is notable as being a very high quality hitter, making the Top 10 leaderboard in batting three times, he is mostly known for his role in the 1986 World Series, when he not only scored the winning run in Game 6 on Mookie Wilson's famous grounder through Bill Buckner's legs, but he also hit the tie breaking home run in Game 7. Due to his contributions Knight won the World Series MVP award, and then became the first player to join a new team the season after winning the award, signing with the Orioles in 1987. The Mets granted Knight free agency after it was decided that Howard Johnson would be the Mets' everyday third baseman. His all-time statistics in the postseason include a .279 BA, with 1 home run and 7 RBIs.

In 1986, Knight also won the Babe Ruth Award for the National League and The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award. He was also a winner of the Hutch Award in 1983.

In a 13-season career, Knight put together a .271 batting average with 84 home runs and 595 RBIs in 1495 games. He had 490 runs and 14 career stolen bases. He accumulated 266 doubles and 1311 hits in total, in 4829 at bats.

In Knight's managerial career, he is 125-137, managing the Reds from 1996-97 and in 2003 for one game. In 1997, he forgot how many outs there had been in a half-inning in which the Reds were at bat and called for a bunt at an inopportune time. He later fined himself $250 for the incident. The team's lack of success would lead to his eventual firing and his replacement with Jack McKeon.

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Pitcher Mike Krukow had a solid, if unspectacular career in the major leagues. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 8th round of the 1973 draft and Krukow played Major League baseball for the Chicago Cubs (1976–1981), the Philadelphia Phillies (1982) and the San Francisco Giants (1983–1989).

Krukow's best season was in 1986, posting a record of 20-9 with a 3.05 ERA pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Giants fans can not argue Krukow should have won the Cy Young Award in 1986 as he finished third behind Mike Scott and Fernando Valenzuela, each of whom had better statistics on the season. Krukow was selected to the National League All-Star team that season. He was awarded the Willie Mac Award in both 1985 and 1986 honoring his spirit and leadership. In 1987, Krukow helped lead the Giants to their first division championship in 16 years. His final game was June 4, 1989.

Krukow is currently a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants. He is a five-time Emmy award winner. "Kruk," who was named as the starting right-handed pitcher to the 1980s Giants All- Decade Team in a vote by Bay Area media in 1999, is noted for his deep knowledge of the game and tremendous sense of humor

This data was drawn from Wikipedia.

This episode originally was broadcast in April 1987.

Smarter Podcasts.com, Delivering Sound Advice.

Donald Howard Sutton (born April 2, 1945) was born in Clio, Alabama, a small town in Barbour County, and on the same date as former Dodger teammate Reggie Smith. Clio is also the birthplace of the late Alabama governor George Wallace. He was born to sharecroppers at the end of World War II, in a tar-paper shack. At the time he was born his father was 18 and his mother was 15. Sutton's father, Howard, gave him the strong work ethic that he had throughout his career. His father tried logging and construction work, and in looking for work, moved the family to Molino, Florida, just north of Pensacola.

A right-handed pitcher, Sutton played for the Sioux Falls Packers as a minor leaguer, and entered the major league at the age of 21. Don Sutton's major league debut was on April 14, 1966, the same day that future 300-game winner Greg Maddux was born. In the majors, he played 23 years for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels. He won a total of 324 games, 58 of them shutouts and five of them one-hitters, and he is eighth on baseball's all-time strikeout list with 3,574 K's. He also holds the major league record for number of consecutive losses to one team, having lost 13 straight games to the Chicago Cubs.

He was known for doctoring baseballs. His nickname was "Black & Decker"; legend has it that when Sutton met notorious greaseballer Gaylord Perry, Perry handed him a tube of Vaseline, and Sutton responded with a thank-you, then handed him a sheet of sandpaper.

A 4-time All-Star, Sutton was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. His candidacy and subsequent election were controversial, with critics pointing out that he had never won a Cy Young Award, had won 20 games only once, and had rarely led his league in any statistical category. However, supporters noted that no pitcher with either 300 victories or 3000 strikeouts had ever failed to be elected to the Hall of Fame

Bowie Kuhn served as the 5th commissioner of Major League Baseball between February 4, 1969 to September 30, 1984. In 1972, baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson's contribution on the 25th anniversary. Kuhn remembers working with Robinson and his impact.

This episode originally aired August 9, 1987.

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Don Newcombe was lucky to have both Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella as teammates and mentors when he first came up to the Major Leagues. No doubt in his mind that he never would’ve had a chance if it wasn’t for their impact on the game. Don Newcombe is a right-handed starting pitcher who played for […]

Bowie Kuhn served as the 5th commissioner of Major League Baseball between February 4, 1969 to September 30, 1984. In 1972, baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson's contribution on the 25th anniversary. Kuhn remembers working with Robinson and his impact.

This episode originally aired August 9, 1987.

SmarterPodcasts.com, Delivering Sound Advice

Hall of Famer Roy Campanella reflects on the quality of Jackie Robinson's character and his impact on American history.

This episode originally aired June 21, 1987.

Smarter Podcasts.com, Delivering Sound Advice.

Bowie Kuhn served as the 5th commissioner of Major League Baseball between February 4, 1969 to September 30, 1984. In 1972, baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson's contribution on the 25th anniversary. Kuhn remembers working with Robinson and his impact.

This episode originally aired August 9, 1987.

SmarterPodcasts.com, Delivering Sound Advice

Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider played in his first Major League game in 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was also the first big league game he ever saw. That day was also important in American History, and he tells why.