Jul 30, 2022·edited Jul 30, 2022Liked by Matt Welch
I actually went to a game involving Buck O’Neil’s former team, the KC Monarchs, and while it would obviously be a similarly divisive episode along baseball fan/non-fan lines, there is tremendous “Rabbit Hole: The Podcast” potential at an event like that.
There are players who are fully into the Crash Davis portion of their careers, but whom you recognize immediately with “hey, didn’t that guy hit 30 HRs with the Cardinals back in 2012?” There are players who semi-retired because they wanted to spend less time on the road and already made more money than they could ever spend, now just keeping busy playing for 15k a season. There are guys who went undrafted because their high school disbanded the baseball team due to Covid policy, or in one case, a coaching scandal; guys who had legal trouble and became untouchable to other teams; “red-ass” guys who wore out their welcome in the majors because no-one wants a 25th man bench player type to be that abrasive (they tend to be described in scouting reports euphemistically as “intense, driven competitors” but everyone knows that just connotes “asshole”).
I watched about an inning of actual game action (such as it was) and spent the next eight on my phone deep within the warren delving into all this history. Independent league baseball has incredible rabbit hole potential, and the least interesting thing about it is what goes on out on the diamond.
Just wanna flag for anyone and everyone—baseball fan or not—that the Joe Posnanski piece Matt linked to, about Buck O’Neil, is absolutely beautiful, definitely capable of moving a grown man to tears, and 1,000% worth your time. It seems like it was the product of a guy really writing his heart out for his dead friend, and, in the best possible way, it shows.
I don't watch baseball but I have great memories of attending Giants games at Candlestick. In the late 80's, Brett Butler saved my life during pregame in the nearly empty ball park.
I don't mind the baseball digressions, yours are usually not arcane baseball asides, either. For instance, the bit about Buck O'Neil always finding a way to be understanding of people (angry dads at ball games) who most would write off, punch out, and vilify--was lovely. The whole audience is the better for hearing about someone like O'Neil; no one needs to know a stitch about baseball to have enjoyed that story. I had never heard of him, I am pleased to know of him now.
I live in Berks County PA which in the 80's was home to retired MLB players Carl "The Reading Rifle" Furillo (of Boys of Summer fame for those too young to remember him. and Whitey Kurowski who llayed 3rd base for the Cardinals after WW2 with Musial and others. It is easy to forget how sucessful the Cardinals were in the NL for decades. I got to know them as Furillo was a patient in the hospital where I worked (I am a retired physician) and Whitey's brother was a patient of mine (and had scouted for the Red Sox. I also met Rocky Colavito and got to spend a couple of hours talking to him when he was waiting for his wife to get out of surgery. He was the hitting coach for the Royals then and despite his grey hair looked like he could don a uniform and play. He had played minor league ball in Reading and married a local woman.
Carl in retirement was a Yankees fan as he felt that the Dodgers had treated him poorly. He and Whitey were in the hospital once at the same time and I have a picture taken of me between the two of them. I am 5'5" tall and of average build so I looked like a twig between two huge beach balls.
I had some great conversations with all of them. Good times.
Matt, I am a huge baseball fan but generally tune out when you start talking 1970s Angels baseball. However, being a Houston native that was born in the 80's Nolan Ryan was and still is a legend. Not knowing anything about his days with the Angels I had to help myself to the Nolan Ryan documentary, Facing Nolan. If you have seen it, I wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on it.
I can appreciate some self-conscious obsession. Would love to hear Kat on the show. I like her podcast https://femchaospod.substack.com/
I actually went to a game involving Buck O’Neil’s former team, the KC Monarchs, and while it would obviously be a similarly divisive episode along baseball fan/non-fan lines, there is tremendous “Rabbit Hole: The Podcast” potential at an event like that.
There are players who are fully into the Crash Davis portion of their careers, but whom you recognize immediately with “hey, didn’t that guy hit 30 HRs with the Cardinals back in 2012?” There are players who semi-retired because they wanted to spend less time on the road and already made more money than they could ever spend, now just keeping busy playing for 15k a season. There are guys who went undrafted because their high school disbanded the baseball team due to Covid policy, or in one case, a coaching scandal; guys who had legal trouble and became untouchable to other teams; “red-ass” guys who wore out their welcome in the majors because no-one wants a 25th man bench player type to be that abrasive (they tend to be described in scouting reports euphemistically as “intense, driven competitors” but everyone knows that just connotes “asshole”).
I watched about an inning of actual game action (such as it was) and spent the next eight on my phone deep within the warren delving into all this history. Independent league baseball has incredible rabbit hole potential, and the least interesting thing about it is what goes on out on the diamond.
I fully support the pod becoming over 50% about baseball and baseball related conversations.
Just wanna flag for anyone and everyone—baseball fan or not—that the Joe Posnanski piece Matt linked to, about Buck O’Neil, is absolutely beautiful, definitely capable of moving a grown man to tears, and 1,000% worth your time. It seems like it was the product of a guy really writing his heart out for his dead friend, and, in the best possible way, it shows.
Nice, Moynihan’s smoking price is out on Common Sense:
https://www.commonsense.news/p/juul-saved-my-life?r=7rn1&utm_medium=ios
Haven’t followed baseball in years but I for one really enjoyed that portion of the last podcast. It felt on theme for TFC.
I don't watch baseball but I have great memories of attending Giants games at Candlestick. In the late 80's, Brett Butler saved my life during pregame in the nearly empty ball park.
I don't mind the baseball digressions, yours are usually not arcane baseball asides, either. For instance, the bit about Buck O'Neil always finding a way to be understanding of people (angry dads at ball games) who most would write off, punch out, and vilify--was lovely. The whole audience is the better for hearing about someone like O'Neil; no one needs to know a stitch about baseball to have enjoyed that story. I had never heard of him, I am pleased to know of him now.
I live in Berks County PA which in the 80's was home to retired MLB players Carl "The Reading Rifle" Furillo (of Boys of Summer fame for those too young to remember him. and Whitey Kurowski who llayed 3rd base for the Cardinals after WW2 with Musial and others. It is easy to forget how sucessful the Cardinals were in the NL for decades. I got to know them as Furillo was a patient in the hospital where I worked (I am a retired physician) and Whitey's brother was a patient of mine (and had scouted for the Red Sox. I also met Rocky Colavito and got to spend a couple of hours talking to him when he was waiting for his wife to get out of surgery. He was the hitting coach for the Royals then and despite his grey hair looked like he could don a uniform and play. He had played minor league ball in Reading and married a local woman.
Carl in retirement was a Yankees fan as he felt that the Dodgers had treated him poorly. He and Whitey were in the hospital once at the same time and I have a picture taken of me between the two of them. I am 5'5" tall and of average build so I looked like a twig between two huge beach balls.
I had some great conversations with all of them. Good times.
Sports ain’t just the back pages, so enjoyed the content.
Matt - has that Field of Dreams podcast you mentioned somewhere come out yet?
The rabbit hole idea was the most Michael thing ever.
Happy Birthday Matt
I second Gabrielle G. You guys need to have Kat on as a guest.
Oh, and a great weekend treat when I saw Moyn's article in Common Sense in my inbox. Great writing Michael! It was worth the wait.
Matt, I am a huge baseball fan but generally tune out when you start talking 1970s Angels baseball. However, being a Houston native that was born in the 80's Nolan Ryan was and still is a legend. Not knowing anything about his days with the Angels I had to help myself to the Nolan Ryan documentary, Facing Nolan. If you have seen it, I wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on it.
Does the Page 2 link still exist???
Is Ohtani the first billion dollar contract in sports Matt?