Sean and Eds Do Baseball

Eds throws a curveball in a fastball count and brings an old player back onto the roster with a more in depth covering of the life of Randy Bass; the NPB's first American superstar, who due to some poor foresight by his club was railroaded out of town in the most despicable of circumstances. Listen to how those circumstances left a sour taste in the mouth of the Tigers legend and how they created an awful dilemma for the Hanshin GM.

Sean winds up for back to back starts with the tale of two friends brought together by baseball and connected forever by one tragic day on the diamond.

Sean throws a strike with the story of James "Pud" Galvin; a small but mighty pitcher and MLB's first 300 game winner. Galvin's career would be overshadowed by other stars of the 1880's but a revelation from the early 2000's would embroil him in a modern scandal.

Eds returns to the mound with the story of Benny Meyer, a man that Babe Ruth called “the noisiest coacher in either league," who as a young man was given an ultimatum by his father that set him on a path toward a life of baseball.

Sean's on the bump with the story of Wild Bill Hagy. One of the original Superfans who led a section of rowdy fans in the bleachers of Baltimore in the late 1970's. Wild Bill's cheers and dancing made him famous before a falling out with the team led to his arrest. His story even inspired an early episode of the Simpsons.

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.

Sean spins a curveball, telling Eds about the life and tragic death of George 'Win' Mercer who was one of the best pitchers of the 1890's. On top of that he was a two-way player and a handsome one at that; becoming a fan favourite with the ladies of Washington whose admiration for the young hurler birthed a famous baseball legend.

As the season winds down Eds steps to the rubber and delivers a story inspired by recent events, with the tale of Coaker Triplett, who spent a lifetime on the fringes of major league baseball. A quad-A player who tore the cover off the ball and cemented his name into the history books with one explosive week that would go unmatched for another 85 years.

On the 120th anniversary Sean throws Eds the story of baseball's deadliest day; August 8th, 1903. During a two game double header between the Boston Beaneaters and the home Phillies, an incident outside the stadium would create a chain reaction of events that ended with a dozen tragically killed and hundreds more injured.

With a very special guest in Blake Murphy; Sportsnet Personality and Host of Blue Jays Talk Plus, 10am to 12pm EST and after every Jays game on Sportsnet FAN590, Eds takes to the mound and delivers a performance that goes into extras, as he tells the story of an early 20th-century squad born within the walls of a Wyoming State Prison, and the reason that area politicians kept a very watchful eye.

Sean throws a strike with the story of Sam Crane. A glove first shortstop who kept getting chance after chance to stick in the big leagues. Even after Crane committed a heinous crime, one of baseball's elite continued to go to bat for him.