Sean and Eds Do Baseball

Sean toes the rubber and tells Eds the story of Clarence “Brick” Owens - After a 4th of July mishap. Brick Owens' life would change course as he decided to pursue a Major League umpiring career instead of one as a player. He would somehow survive scandal and many violent incidents eventually making it to the big leagues (where he then got punched by Babe Ruth.)

Eds steps to the slab and delivers a slow ball with the story of Carlos Paula. From humble beginnings in Havana, Cuba where Paula took any job that would help put food on the table for his family, he rose to the big leagues and became the first black man to play for the Washington Senators. His major league career was not long but Carlos was undeniably great and left no more excuses to an organization seemingly reluctant to integrate. 

Frank Oakley was born in Europe but would bring America's pastime to millions of people across the United States. Oakley never played professionally, he wasn't an executive or an umpire. No, he was a clown and his one man baseball pantomime made him more rich and famous than any player of the day could possibly imagine.   

Eds and Sean make a call to the bullpen and invite award winning author Justin McKinney to make a spot start. Justin gives the boys a glimpse at the life and career of Billy Geer. Geer networked his way to the majors during the early days of baseball and later lived a life on the road; seeing almost every country in the world. Sure it sounds like a lavish lifestyle and it could have been if he didn't spend it outrunning the law.Check out the full story and all the criminal details in Justin's book, "The Shortstop Was a Crook: The Sordid Baseball Life and Crimes of Billy Geer." available for pre-order wherever books are sold.https://www.amazon.com/Shortstop-Was-Crook-Sordid-Baseball/dp/1476699895https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-shortstop-was-a-crook-the-sordid-baseball-life-and-crimes-of-billy-geer_justin-mckinney/55999963/?srsltid=AfmBOorHgtcA9yJJ1PctYBfL4ci2QiPs5yZStNNoZucxaq3xwE6tYA2L#edition=73689031&idiq=85540715
 

Eds steps back to the bump and delivers the story of Lip Pike; the first Jewish star of baseball. One of the 19th century's brightest stars, Pike set the pace for all sluggers of the day. He never stayed in one place for long but his consistency at the dish was unmatched in both average and slug; at one time accounting for almost 1 in 5 home runs hit in one season. Lip Pike displayed incredible powers on the field and helped usher early baseball into a new age. He even bested an equine foe in an incredible display of speed.

Sean throws a curveball for our 150th episode! Charlie Dexter started his career in the 1890’s as a can’t miss prospect but in the end he’d be better known for two days off the field than his play on it. Dexter was hailed a hero and then a short time later made headlines for a shocking crime.

In a re-run from June 2023 Eds returns to the bump with a story of a man whose biographer described him as "the least athletic person apart from Eddie Gaedel to play in the major leagues." Charlie grew up seemingly destined to work the land under the watchful eyes of his younger brothers back home in Kansas, but a trip to the county fair would change not only Charlie's life, but spur the Giants to one of their greatest stretches in team history.

sean winds up and delivers a pitch with some late break to Eds with the story of Don Wilson. An elite pitcher for the early Astros teams; Wilson would etch his name into the record books - twice - and become an All-Star in Houston. Sadly, his story would end abruptly and tragically with more questions than answers.

Eds gets on the bump and delivers a screwball of his own with the story of Italian baseball pioneer Ping Bodie. Born Francesco Stephano Pezzolo between the hills of San Francisco, Ping Bodie would make a name for himself in the independent and minor leagues of the west coast before rising to the big leagues. Bodie was known early on for his powerful swing but over time he became better known for his fowl play off the field.

Sean throws a screwball with the tale of a wild, weird and wacky hurler, Cletus Poffenberger. Boots - as he wanted to be called - had a short but extremely eventful career making headlines on and off the field. He beat Hall of Famers on the bump but his undisciplined lifestyle and drunken antics cost him in the end.