Baseball History Podcast

Clyde Wright was born February 20, 1941 in Jefferson City, Tennessee. A left-hander, he was a star pitcher at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee. He went on to pitch the California Angels from 1966 through 1973, Milwaukee Brewers in 1974, and Texas Rangers in 1975.

Fred Clifford Clarke was born October 3, 1872 on a farm near Winterset, Iowa. One of baseball’s toughest competitors, a top hitter and daring baserunner, Clarke was the first successful boy manager. Discovered by Louisville owner Barney Dreyfuss in the minors, the lefthanded batter quickly dominated National League pitching to become one of the game’s early stars.

Harmon Clayton Killebrew was born June 29, 1936 in Payette, Idaho. He was a stocky 5ft 11in hitter with a short, compact swing that generated tremendous power.

Carlton Ernest Fisk, nicknamed Pudge was born December 26, 1947 in Bellows Falls, Vermont but is quick to point out that he is actually from Charlestown, New Hampshire, just across the Connecticut River from Bellows Falls, Vermont. In Fisk’s long career, he caught 2,226 games, more than any other catcher in history. He was an 11-time All-Star and hit 376 career home runs.

Frederic Michael “Fred” Lynn was born February 3, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. Despite ten 20-Home Run seasons, one batting title, and All-Star appearances in each of his first nine seasons, Fred Lynn always fell short of expectations–betrayed by a fragile body and burdened with one of the finest rookie seasons in Major League history.

Dennis Dale “Denny” McLain was born March 29, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season.

John Samuel Vander Meer was born November 2, 1914 in Midland Park, New Jersey. He was a left-hander that pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians.

Robert James Monday, Jr., nicknamed Rick, was born November 20, 1945 in Batesville, Arkansas. In a 19-season career, Monday compiled a .264 batting average with 241 home runs and 775 Runs Batted In. He was selected an All-Star in 1968 and 1978.

Walter Emmons Alston was born December 1, 1911 in Venice, Ohio. Alston was briefly a first baseman with the St Louis Cardinals in the 1936 season. He played in his only major league game on September 27, 1936, as a substitute for future Hall of Famer Johnny Mize, who had earlier been ejected from the game. He struck out in his only major league at bat.