Overcoming Racism in Baseball
Frank Robinson, Assistant General Manager of the Baltimore Orioles. In 1975, he became the first black manager in baseball, As a player, Robinson was legendary -- he is the only person to ever to win the Most Valuable Player award in both leagues. (Rebroadcast)
Other segments from the episode on April 21, 1995
Getting to Know "The Mick"
Baseball legend Mickey Mantle. Terry talks with the Yankees' slugger, whose father had his career in pro baseball planned before he was born. Mantle played his entire 17-year career with one team, the New York Yankees. This was recorded in 1985.
A Seedy, Behind-the-Scenes Look at America's Pasttime
A 1986 interview with former Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton. In 1970, his memoir Ball Four was published. Those who wanted to maintain major league baseball's image as the home of heroes were scandalized by the book; others thought it was about time someone revealed that baseball is full of real people and real problems. Ball Four made an enemy for Bouton of baseball legend Mickey Mantle by reminiscing about Mantle's on- and off-field drunkenness.
A Stylish, Contemporary Film Noir
Film Critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Kiss of Death." It stars David Caruso, Samuel Jackson, and Nicolas Cage.
Record-Breaking Pitcher Bob Gibson
The former Cardinal was a record-breaking baseball player in the 1960's, and was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. (Rebroadcast)
Former Major Leaguer Keith Hernandez
Called by some baseball purists the finest first baseman in the game, Hernandez played with the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Mets, and the Cleveland Indians. He is the winner of eleven consecutive Golden Glove Awards for fielding, and played in two World Championships. He is author of Pure Baseball, an analysis of two 1993 match-ups, with play by play commentary, based on his seventeen years in the game. (Rebroadcast)
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Overcoming Racism in Baseball.
Frank Robinson, manager of the Baltimore Orioles. In 1975, he became the first black manager in baseball, and today he is the only one. As a player, Robinson was legendary. He is the only player ever to win the Most Valuable Player award in both leagues; and his 586 home runs place him behind Hand Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays on the all-time list.
Empty Stands, No Spitting: The New Rules Of Baseball During The Pandemic
About half of the Miami Marlins' roster has tested positive for COVID. ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian explains the challenges Major League Baseball faces as play resumes amid the pandemic.
Remembering Major League Pitcher Jim Bouton, Author Of 'Ball Four'
Bouton, who died Wednesday, spoke to Fresh Air in 1986 about his 1970 tell-all memoir, in which he drew on his seven years with the New York Yankees to offer an insider's guide to baseball.