Baseball History Podcast

William Walker Cooper was born January 8, 1915 in Atherton, Missouri. Cooper was a solid defensive catcher as well as a strong hitter, making the National League All-Star team every year from 1942 to 1950.

John Alexander “Andy” Messersmith was born August 6, 1945 in Toms River, New Jersey. Messersmith was a good pitcher who spent more than a decade in the majors, but his mound performances will forever be overshadowed by the role he played in the advent of free agency.

Lee Louis Mazzilli was born March 25, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York. He is most remembered as a member of the Mets, who selected him in the first round of the June 1973 draft. He was heavily promoted by the star-hungry Mets and was quite popular in New York, thanks not only to his talent, but his Brooklyn roots and matinée idol looks.

Frank Robinson was born in Beaumont, Texas, on August 31, 1935. His aggressive hitting style won the support of fans, with a plate-crowding stance that earned him frequent knockdowns and a hefty number of hit-by-pitcher passes to first.

Cecil Celester Cooper, nicknamed “Coop”, was born December 20, 1949 in Brenham, Texas. The smooth-fielding first baseman was one of the most consistent hitters of the late 1970s and early 1980s, always among the top batting and fielding leaders. But because he played at the same time as Rod Carew and George Brett, he never won a batting title.

Albert Leonard Rosen, nicknamed “Al” or “Flip, was born February 29, 1924 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Al’s strength and determination to overcome any and all obstacles was the key factor in his rise to becoming a star ballplayer and his success as a baseball administrator. Physical and mental toughness served Rosen well through all his many life challenges.

Joe Leonard Morgan was born September 19, 1943 in Bonham, TX. A fierce competitor renowned for his baseball smarts, Joe Morgan could single-handedly beat opposing teams with his multifaceted skills. He was a terror on the basepaths, topping the 40-steal plateau nine times during his career.

Dale Bryan Murphy was born March 12, 1956, in Portland, Oregon. When Murphy was playing in Atlanta, he was as beloved as any player in Braves history. Along with being one of the National League’s finest players, Murphy further endeared himself to his fans with the genuine dedication that he showed to his community.

Roger Lee Craig was born February 17, 1930 in Durham, North Carolina. In 1986 Sports Illustrated called Roger Craig “the acknowledged maestro of the split-fingered fastball.” He was best known as a player for being an original New York Met and was a stalwart of the legendarily bad team’s pitching staff, losing 24 and 22 games in those first two seasons. Remarkably during those two years, he completed 27 games while winning only 15, demonstrating that he was one of the best pitchers on the staff.

Michael Kendall Flanagan was born December 16, 1951 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Armed with a big-breaking curveball, an underrated fastball and a great pickoff move, Flanagan strung together a decade of formidable pitching after losing his first five major-league decisions. From 1977 to 1987, he started more games than any other American League pitcher and posted a .500 or better record each season from 1977 to 1984.