Sean and Eds Do Baseball

Eds throws a curveball on his way out of town and tells Sean the story of how a veteran ballplayer in the twilight of his career inadvertently started an underground competition by consuming an ungodly number of Philadelphia Cheesesteak sandwiches while riding the bench one weekend; and how since that day a few MLB personnel have gone to great lengths to claim the crown for themselves.     

Sean brings some heat with the story of Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd and his journey through the big leagues and beyond. Known for being a polarizing figure we dig into the racism and horrific experiences that made The Can who he is!

Eds makes his first start of the 2024 season with a changeup as he tells the life story of Wendell Smith. Smith was integral to the breaking of baseball's colour barrier in the modern era. Inspired to a life of activism by an unfair rejection by the Tigers as a teen, Smith's actions and awareness of societal conditions paved the way for Jackie Robinson and all those who would follow. "Puddin' Pie" credited to United Artists and Wendell Smith Jr. (1959)

We begin our season just like the MLB, with a trip to Korea!Sean goes to the hill for opening day 2024 and delivers the bloody origin story of the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) along with the anti-democratic authoritarian leader who wanted to use baseball to placate the South Korean people. 

On the momentous occasion of 100 episodes Sean toes the rubber as Eds and returning alumni and good friends Spencer Levon (pianotuners.ca / FACEPLANT) and Jean Poincelet (Stray Rebel Bullet) strap on the tools of ignorance to hear the story of Michael "Doc" Powers; a man whose defensive prowess as a catcher and his skills as a physician allowed him to have a long career in the majors as a back up catcher. However for some reason the Doctor ignored his own health issues causing him to enter the history books incorrectly as the first man to die from injuries he sustained on a baseball field.

Eds works from inside to outside on the hill as he tells Sean the life story of Ron LeFlore, who by sheer natural talent and a bit of luck managed to make it to the big leagues even though he'd never even played a game of baseball until he landed on the fields of Michigan's Jackson State Prison.

Sean delivers a gem as he tells Eds about the time that all the umps quit. Back in 1999 the umpires in both the National and American Leagues were frustrated enough that they dared to test the MLB brass by resigning en masse to force contract negotiations. The plan would backfire as the union crumbled; costing 22 umps their jobs.

Eds goes high and outside with the story of the 1999 Mets and their rollercoaster ride to the postseason. Bobby Valentine led a squad of ghosts on a magical revenge tour through October but they would run out of aces against a bitter rival in a most unfortunate fashion.

Sean goes up in the zone and tells Eds about the 1986 World Series and the man who took it upon himself to give his team a boost when they needed it the most - even if it meant breaking a lot of laws and endangering some lives.

In honour of Eds' absence in Nashville Tennessee, it's only fitting that we present a re-run of our 55th episode on Hall of Famer and former baseball superstar Charley Pride.Sean tells Eds the story of Black trailblazer Charley Pride. Pride grew up in the cotton fields of Mississippi and was inspired by Jackie Robinson to pursue baseball and to become a Hall of Famer. Pride succeeded and became a superstar with hits around the world; just not on the ball diamond.