Sean and Eds Do Baseball

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. 

In celebration of 90 episodes (the toilet paper anniversary) Sean and Eds put their feet up and welcome award winning author and SABR member Justin McKinney to the show for a highly anticipated spot start. Justin takes to the mound and delivers a short summary of his book; "Baseball's Union Association: The Short, Strange Life of a 19th-Century Major League." (winner of SABR's 2023 Baseball Research Award.)  In just one season the Union Association came and went, had some serious trials and tribulations, and a colourful cast of characters; its a wonder they made it one full season at all, and thankfully Justin is here to tell us most of the story.