Sports' Forgotten Heroes (Warren Rogan)

There have been so many dominant teams in the history of professional football and, in particular, teams with dominant defenses. In recent times, the 2007 New England Patriots who went 16-0 before losing in the Super Bowl. This year (the 2023 season), the Baltimore Ravens defense has been somewhat dominant, and their teams of the early 2000s were as tough as nails. Back in the 80s there were the Chicago Bears of Mike Singletary and Richard Dent, the New York Giants with Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, in 70s you had the Doomsday Defense of the Dallas Cowboys, the Steel Curtain of the Pittsburgh Steeles and the no-name defense of the 1972 Miami Dolphins who went 17-0 and won the Super Bowl. There have been several. But as far as the most dominant defense in the history of professional football is concerned, you would hard-pressed to find one that was more dominant than the 1903 Franklin All Stars. They didn't just dominate, you basically couldn't move the ball against them at all. In fact, over the course of their 12-game season, only twice did the opposition cross over the 50-yard line. And, it's not like they were playing against the Little Sisters of the Bleeding Hangnail. They were playing against the very best. So, how did this team come together? What was the impetus for forming such an incredible conglomerate of talent? Darin Hayes, the host of the Pigskin Dispatch podcast recently authored the book, "The World's Greatest Professional Gridiron Team, The 1903 Franklin All Stars," and not only does he share with us the assembly of the team, but he makes a very compelling argument for this team being the greatest of all-time.

Chuck Foreman was one of the NFL's most feared fullback's of the 1970s. In fact, he might have been the best fullback in the game during those years. Drafted in the 1973 first round by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of Miami, Foreman was told by Vikings Head Coach Bud Grant that he would be the focal point of the Minnesota offense, but the way they would use him, despite the fact that he would rack up big numbers, he wouldn't get the recognition he deserved. Grant was right. Over the course of Foreman's 8-year career, he he combined to rush for and catch passes for 9,106-yards. He scored 76 touchdowns, in 1973 he led the NFL in receptions with 73. He was the 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Pro in 1975, Pro Bowl in 1973, 74, 75, 76. Led the Vikings to three NFC Championships and played in three Super Bowls. yet, with all of those accolades, somehow, Foreman's accomplishments got lost in the shuffle. Somehow, his numbers did not impress the right people and despite the fact that his numbers are better than such Hall of Famers as Terrell David, Marion Motley, Larry Csonka, and others, Foreman was never considered for the Hall of Fame. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Chuck joins for a discussion on his great career, the Hall of Fame and some very fun stories.

Jimmy Wynn was one of baseball’s most feared sluggers of the 1960s and early 1970s. Playing for the Houston Astros, however, muzzled just how powerful a hitter he was. Wynn and the Astros called the Houston Astrodome home, and it was by far one of the most difficult stadiums in baseball history to launch home runs in. Yet, Wynn, still put up remarkable numbers. In fact, Wynn produced nearly all of the power the Astros possessed. In 1967 he walloped 37 homeruns, while the rest of the Astros managed to hit just 56. In 1968 he hit 26 homeruns, while the rest of the team hit just 40; and in 1969, Wynn hit another 33 homeruns while the rest of his teammates hit 71. Wynn’s relationship with the team and manager Harry Walker was not exactly great. In fact, despite Wynn’s power, Walker tried to change Wynn’s approach at the plate which would have reduced his power and made him into more of a line drive and opposite field hitter. Wynn fought back and never acquiesced. Of course, this put a strain on the whole team and ultimately, the Astros fired Walker and eventually traded Wynn to the Los Angeles Dodgers … and it was with the Dodger where Jimmy Wynn enjoyed his happiest and best season. In 1974, Wynn hot a Los Angeles record 32 homeruns, a career-high 108 RBI and batted .271 to help lead L.A. into the World Series against the Oakland A’s. Wynn, by the way, also started the All Star game in 1974. Known as the “Toy Cannon” a nickname he did not appreciate at first, Wynn was small in stature (just 5-feet-9) but loomed large at the plate. For his career he slugged 291 homeruns, knocked in 964 and hit .250. By today’s standards, not overwhelming. But if you consider the fact that Jimmy Wynn played most of his games in the Houston Astrodome, the site where fly balls went to die, and the fact that he out homered his team at home on a routine basis, then you would understand just how dangerous a hitter the “Toy Cannon” was. Mark Armour, one of the founders of the baseball biography project for SABR, joins the podcast to talk about the great Jimmy Wynn.

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Zack Wheat was overlooked by the baseball Hall of Fame for years. In 1959, after a unanimous vote, Wheat was elected to the Hall – an honor long overdue, but an honor he was able to enjoy in person. When you look back at the history of the great Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers teams, their all-time team reads like a who’s who of baseball history. Names like Koufax, Campanella, Hodges, Robinson, Reese, Snider, Garvey, Cey, Lopes, are all names that fans of the Dodgers from coast-to-coast love to recall and reminisce about. But one name that is usually omitted from that all-time great’s list is that of Zack Wheat. A star for the Dodgers from 1909 through 1926, Wheat was a career .317 hitter and as late as 1925 when he was 37, playing a full season, Wheat hit .359! He was a hitting machine. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, author Joe Niese returns to the podcast for a wonderful conversation about a guy who challenged the system, won … and lost … and was named one of the 100 greatest to ever play the game. Niese, who has been on SFH previously to talk about Gus Dorais, Burleigh Grimes and Andy Pafko, just released a new book, “Zack Wheat”, brings his passion and knowledge about Wheat to make for another terrific discussion about one of the greats – Zack Wheat.

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On November 28, 1929, Ernie Nevers scored six touchdowns for the Chicago Cardinals and kicked four extra points. That’s 40-points in one NFL game by one player, and that’s still the record. And Nevers did NOT do this against a pushover franchise. He scored all of the Cardinals points in a 40-6 win over the Chicago Bears. That’s only part of the story. Ernie Nevers was a phenomenal athlete. Not only was he a cornerstone of two NFL franchises, the Duluth Eskimos and the Chicago Cardinals, but he also pitched for the St. Louis Browns in 1926, 1927 and a part of 1928. Nevers was also a terrific talent in track and actually signed a contract to play professional basketball. But, football is where he really excelled. In fact, the 40-points he scored on that Thanksgiving Day was the middle game on an incredible stretch in which he scored all of the Cardinals points in a 19-0 win over the Dayton Triangles just four days earlier, and three days after he scored the 40-points he put up all of the Cardinals 13-points in a narrow loss versus the New York Giants. So, in the span of just seven days, Ernie Nevers scored 72 points – a record that will likely stand forever. On the diamond, Nevers was a pitcher. He never firmly established himself at the Major League level and went just 6-12 in his brief career. He’s probably best remembered for giving up two of Babe Ruth’s 60 homeruns in the Babe’s record-setting year of 1927. But football is where Nevers really made a name for himself. Nevers, who spent just two seasons with Duluth and three with the Cardinals, played in a total of 54 games. But what he did in those 54 games was so remarkable, that in 1963, Nevers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in its inaugural class along with such greats as Red Grange, George Halas and Jim Thorpe among others. Lee Elder, a member of the Professional Football Researcher’s Association, returns to Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a wonderful discussion on one of football’s all-time greats.

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The New York Rangers are one of the NHL’s six original teams, and throughout their history, the one position the Rangers have been known for is goalie. They have had some of the most successful goalies in the game suit up for them, most recently Henrik Lundqvist. In fact, several who have worn the Rangers sweater have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, we’re going to go back in time and talk about three goalies in particular: Dave Kerr, Chuck Rayner and Lorne “Gump” Worsley. Sure, many might have heard of Gump, after all, his name is on the Stanley Cup several times as the man between the pipes for the Montreal Canadiens. But Gump first came up with the Rangers and he really never got along with management and New York traded him to Montreal. While with the Rangers, however, Worsley was the main reason why the team was competitive. Nonetheless, the Rangers still traded him. Long before Worsley played for New York, Dave Kerr was the man between the pipes and he famously led New York to a Stanley Cup Championship in 1940. After his playing days were over, Chuck Rayner played goalie for the Rangers. Chuck, however, never finished the season with a plus .500 record. Yet, Rayner was so good, he was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Three great goalies, three goalies many Rangers and hockey fans might not know much about. George Grimm, a Rangers historian, recently released a book, “Guardians of the Goal,” a historical look back at the men who minded the nets for New York, returns to Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a wonderful discussion about these three New York goalies: Dave Kerr, Chuck Rayner and Gump Worsley.

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Craig Wood was known to the golfing world as the “Blonde Bomber’ for his prodigious drives. He was also pretty dangerous with a putter in his hand. But, Wood, for all his big drives and magic on the greens was missing one thing when it came to a popularity contest – he was not flamboyant at all. In fact, he pretty much kept to himself. He figured he would let his game do his talking. And, his game was pretty darned good. In fact, with a bounce here, a putt made there, or just one other break, and Wood would be much better known, after all, Craig Wood was the first golfer in history (and one of just two overall) to lose each of golf’s four Major Championships in a playoff. In 1933, he lost in a playoff in the Open Championship to Denny Shute; in 1934, he lost the PGA Championship in extra holes to Paul Runyan; in 1935, he was the cruel victim to Gene Sarazen’s miraculous “Shot Heard Around The World” and then lost in a playoff to the Squire; and in 1939, Wood lost in a playoff to Byron Nelson. But Wood kept after it and finally broke through in 1941 when he won the Masters and the U.S. Open. A 2008 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Wood won 21 times on Tour. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, I take a look back at the career of one of golf’s forgotten heroes – Craig Wood – with Connor Lewis from the TalkinGolf podcast and George Petro who is a collector of Craig Wood golf memorabilia. As a bonus, Connor and George start the show by talking about the ins and outs of starting and building a golf memorabilia collection.

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There was a time when scoring 60 goals in a season in the NHL was rare. Dennis Maruk was one of the first to do it when scored 60 for the Washington Capitals in the 1981-82 season. And that came after scoring 50 the previous year! Yet, Dennis played in relative obscurity as he was a center for the California Golden Seals, the Cleveland Barons and the Minnesota North Stars – all teams that no longer exist! But his trade to a then awful Washington Capitals team was a blessing and helped turn Dennis Maruk from a good player into one the league’s most feared snipers. His just released book, “Dennis Maruk, The Unforgettable Story of Hockey’s Forgotten 60-Goal Man,” is a terrific book, very fun to read. And on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Dennis Maruk joins the podcast to take a look back on his career and talk about his book.

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Sometimes superstars of the game are forgotten. There’s no real explanation for this. They just fade away with time, and this is the reason I launched Sports’ Forgotten Heroes. To remember the stars whom time has forgotten and for this episode, episode No. 89, this certainly holds true – Dutch Clark. A member of the inaugural class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dutch was certainly on the of greats of the game – especially during his playing days which took place from 1931 through 1938. He took off the 1933 season to coach football on the collegiate level, but went back to the NFL in 1934. In six of his seven years, he was named first-team All-Pro playing quarterback. But he was also a terrific running back and led the NFL in touchdowns on three occasions. As a kicker, he was terrific as well kicking 72 extra points and 15 field goals. Clark broke into the NFL in 1931 after taking a year off from the game following a Hall of Fame college career for Colorado College. In fact, in Dutch’s first professional season, he was named first-team All-Pro for the Portsmouth Spartans. After his second season with Portsmouth, he stepped away from the game and returned to college to coach at the Colorado School of Mines. However, after a 1-5 campaign he returned to the NFL with the Detroit Lions (Portsmouth moved to Detroit) and Dutch picked up right where he left off. He led the Lions in scoring, passing and rushing, and was again named first-team All-Pro again at QB. His most celebrated season occurred in in 1935 when Dutch led the Lions to a 7-3-2 record and 26-7 win over the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game. But Dutch’s playing days were nearing an end. In fact, his final two season, Dutch worked as Detroit’s head coach while still playing! For the Lions, in his two seasons at the helm, he went 14-8. After leaving Detroit, Dutch took over the head coaching duties of the Cleveland Rams. Joining me on SFH to talk about the career of Dutch Clark is Chris Willis. Chris has been the head of research with NFL Films since 1996 and also authored the book, “Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions.”

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There was a time when  NFL  rosters were significantly smaller than they are today. Back in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, even into the 60s, teams did not carry as many players as they do today. Of course, less players means more playing time - and not just on one side of the line of scrimmage. In fact, most players played on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Not only that, several played on special teams as well. They were on the field for punt coverage, kickoff coverage, punt returns and kickoff returns. So many played every down of a game. Now, of course, they might not have done it every single game, but on occasion, they did. Regardless, if you played on both sides of the line of scrimmage, you were referred to as a 60-minute man. In episode 137, we discussed the career of Ace Parker. He played every down of every game on several occasions. Other players who are referred to as 60-minute men and whom I have done podcasts on include Dutch Clark (episode 89), Paddy Driscoll (episode 112), Ernie Nevers (episode 65) and Duke Slater (episode 39). On this episode of author Chris Willis, who is also the heard archivist at NFL Films, is back to discuss several others including the likes of Bronko Nagurski, Red Grange, Sammy Baugh and more. Chris recently released a new book (from McFarland Publishing) called, "The NFL's 60 Minute Men, All-Time Greats of the Two-Way Player Era, 1920-1945," and his knowledge runs deep as we explore the two-ways players of yesteryear and just how special they were.

In the 1940s and into the 1950s, the NFL had a troubled franchise. Originally known as the Boston Yanks, the team played in Boston (with a slight detour in 1945) from 1944 through 1948. They relocated to New York for the 1949 season and renamed themselves the New York Bulldogs. In 1950, they called themselves the Yanks and after the 1951 season, they called it quits. Now, the NFL could not move forward with an odd number of teams. So, they found themselves a buyer and took a chance on an entirely new region of the country, the Southwest. A hotbed for college football, the NFL thought it was a no-brainer. So, the Yanks moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Texans where they would play in the 75,000-seat Cotton Bowl. Well, it didn't go well. The first-ever game attracted just under 18,000 fans. They never reached that number again. Professional football in Dallas - at that time - was a colossal failure. In fact, it was so bad, the Texans didn't finish the season in Dallas. After four home games they had to relocate, and I get into that fiasco, among many other incredible and fascinating stories about this doomed franchise with my special guest, Mike Cobern. Mike stumbled across the Texans story and decided to dig deeper. In the end, Mike took all the information he could find, conducted some terrific interviews and authored a terrific book, "“Wards of the League, The Untold story of the first NFL team in Dallas,” which is due to hit the book stores this summer (July 2024). On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, we take a look back at an incredible story of an NFL team that so many - even in Dallas - have never heard about and why it was doomed before the team ever played its first game.

The podcast delves into the remarkable career of Mel Hein, a legendary figure in NFL history known for his exceptional skills as both a center and a linebacker. Celebrated as one of the greatest centers of all time, Hein is the only offensive lineman to ever win the NFL MVP award, a testament to his extraordinary impact on the game. He played 15 years with the New York Giants, earning accolades such as being named to multiple All-Pro teams and being part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's inaugural class. The discussion highlights Hein's athleticism, football IQ, and leadership qualities, which set him apart from his peers. Listeners will also learn about his unique journey, including how he transitioned from a player to a respected coach and official, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.

When you think of NFL MVP's, you think of guys like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, great quarterbacks, great running backs and, every once in a while, a great defensive player. But, an offensive lineman? They're never part of such conversations. Well, in 1938, center Mel Hein of the New York Giants was named as the league's MVP. He was that good! Hein joined the Giants after a terrific career at Washington State. From 1931 through 1945, Hein played center for the Giants and linebacker as well. In fact, not only was Hein a great center, Bronko Nagurski said Hein was the best linebacker he ever faced. Hein's game set the standard. Other centers, future Hall of Fame players, watched and learned from Hein. As early as his childhood, Hein was working on his craft, snapping the ball to his older brothers. Little did Hein know it would lead to a Hall of Fame career. Hein was part of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1963, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954, he was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team; and is listed as the Giants 3rd Greatest player on their 100th Anniversary Team. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, author Chris Willis, Archivist at NFL Films, is back for a wonderful and fun discussion of one of football's forgotten - but - all-time greats, Mel Hein.

The American League was founded by a few men, but two are largely given most, if not all, of the credit: Charles Comiskey and Byron Bancroft “Ban” Johnson. Despite what history tells us, there was a third gentleman who deserves just as much credit; and if Comiskey and Johnson were alive today, they would most likely concur – Tom Loftus. The three men spearheaded the idea of taking on the National League at a time when several leagues were trying to make a “go” of it. The Players League, the American Association and the Western League were the most noteworthy. With the exception of the Players League which lasted just over a year, all other comers were regarded as “minor” leagues, that is until the American League was hatched. In fact, the National League agreed to recognize the American League as a “major” instead of a minor league. But there was a lot of work to be done. Johnson, who wanted to create a league that would play a more fan-friendly style of baseball instead of the rough-and-tumble National League, needed help. Comiskey and Loftus also wanted to create something bigger than the lightly regarded circuits they were working with. So, with Johnson in tow, the three went about their business and worked on securing teams in cities with large populations. Instead of building teams in places like St. Paul, Minnesota or Dubuque, Iowa or other cities where filling the stands with thousands of people on a nightly basis would be a huge challenge, the triumvirate went about establishing teams (with the permission of the National League) in such places as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Chicago to name a few. Loftus was there every step of the way. He owned teams, managed the 1903 Washington Senators and actually led the American League contingent when both leagues sat down to establish rules that would be played in both leagues such as no designated hitter, a pitcher’s mound that was the same height in all parks and abolishing the rule in which a foul ball never counted as a strike. But Tom also grew tired of the game and the grind it presented and walked away shortly after the inaugural season of 1903. He was approached a few times thereafter to take control of a team or, in some cases, manage a team. But Tom, who had a terrific reputation as a manager, turned down all offers and stayed home in Dubuque. And it was that decision that played a huge and negative role in his legacy as one of the American League founders. Both Comiskey and Johnson were enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Loftus, well, he is barely mentioned anywhere in the annals of baseball history. On this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, John Pregler, a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) joins to talk about Loftus. Pregler just published an in-depth article about Loftus for SABR’s Baseball Research Journal and shares what he wrote and more.

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When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

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HIGHLIGHTED SHOW

I am Chad Cain your host of One Guy with a Mic Presents: History of Dingers and Dunks. I am going to be bringing the history of baseball and basketball to life. For every one of you that doesn’t know anything about the history of baseball or basketball, this is your place to learn.

If you know some knowledge about baseball and basketball this is your place to know more. If you have more knowledge than others around you this is your safe space. I can always learn from each and every one of you as well.

Learn more about the show on the Sports History Network.

The Los Angeles Clippers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary on the west coast. But, long before they were the Clippers, they were the Buffalo Braves. And what a legacy they left! In just eight years in Buffalo, three players won Rookie of the Year honors (Bob McAdoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Adrian Dantley), Randy Smith became a fan favorite, coaches like Dr. Jack Ramsay and Cotton Fitzsimmons led the team, and the Braves were a thrilling run-and-gun team to watch. They were showtime before the Lakers were. But, the Braves played at a time when Buffalo adored three college basketball teams and the NHL’s Sabres grabbed the headlines and prime dates at the Aud too. This left the Braves with very few marquee dates to play their home games, and Buffalo sports’ fans just didn’t fill the seats when the Braves played. With an owner who wanted a team in his home state of California a most interesting swap of franchises took place, and the city of Buffalo came out on the short end. Tim Wendel, author of “Buffalo, Home of the Braves”, joins the podcast for a terrific conversation about a team and its long-lasting legacy.

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Teofilo Stevenson was one of the most powerful heavyweights of all time. Although he never fought professionally, he is still regarded as one of the best ever. He is the only boxer to ever win three-straight Gold Medals in the Olympics. He did it in 1972, 1976 and 1980. Some think he would have won a fourth straight Gold in 1984, however, this Cuban superstar didn't fight in 1984 because Cuba boycotted the L.A. Games in support of Russia. Tom Clark, a noted author, joins Warren Rogan to take a look back at the career of Stevenson and what might have been had he turned professional.

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When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

HIGHLIGHTED SHOW - MINNESOTA SPORTS HISTORY SHOW

Each episode explores the rich history of Minnesota sports and considers its impact on the current cultural zeitgeist. The Minnesota Sports History Show strives to entertain as well as inform, tickle the sense of nostalgia, and share the joy and hardships of triumph and heartbreak. Episodes will range from musings about the Dome Dog era to interviews with athletes and sports personalities.

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The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin were one of the most controversial in history. As World War II was about to explode, there was much debate as to whether or not the 1936 Olympic Games should even be held. In fact, there was a lot of talk as to whether or not the U.S. should attend or boycott. After much deliberation, the U.S. decided not to boycott and off to Berlin the U.S. contingent went including the first-ever U.S. Men’s Basketball Team. Basketball was making its debut as an official Olympic event, and the U.S., as one might expect, was favored to win gold. Not only did the U.S. win gold, but it dominated the tournament. But that was only part of the story. Sure, with Berlin and Nazi Germany serving as a backdrop, there was no doubt that controversy would abound. But there was so much more. From the way the team was selected, to determining who would suit up for each game, to the Gold Medal Game and the awarding of the Gold Medals, this Olympic story is filled with controversy. Capturing it all was author Andrew Maraniss who just recently published a new book, “Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Germany.” On this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Andrew joins the podcast to discuss the story about this fascinating team. We’ll cover how the team was selected, who the players were, and the fact that the man who invented the game, Dr. James Naismith, was not only in attendance, he was there to award the medals. We’ll also talk about the fact that the U.S. strongly considered boycotting and how one man persuaded the U.S. not to boycott. And let’s not forget, not only was this version of the Olympic Games held in a most controversial place, the basketball tournament was played outdoors, and the Gold Medal game didn’t come close to resembling what a Gold Medal game looks like today.

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When you think of the greatest defensemen to ever play in the NHL, a few names come immediately to mind: Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey, Ray Borque and Denis Potvin. But one of the most overlooked names is Pierre Pilote and he deserves to be mentioned in any conversation when it comes to who was the greatest blueliner to ever play. Some of the reasons Pilote might be overlook, and even forgotten, are: his name only appears once on the Stanley Cup, he didn’t start playing in the NHL until he was 24, and he never scored at the pace of an Orr, Borque or Potvin. When Pilote played the game, defensemen were not known as big-time scorers. Yet, Pilote led the Blackhawks in scoring during their incredible run to the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship. Pierre was as tough as nails. He never won a Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship, but he won the Norris Trophy three times. The NHL started to track plus/minus during the 1959-60 season, and in the 10 years that followed, twice Pilote led the league. In 1963-64 he was a plus 31 and in 1966-67 he was a plus 54. Only twice did he end a season minus. The Blackhawks were not a very good team when Pierre joined them having qualified for the playoffs just twice for the post season in the 10-years prior to his arrival. In his final 10-season with Chicago, the Blackhawks made the post season every year, three times making it to the Stanley Cup Finals and they won it 1961. Despite starting the game at such an advanced age, his mid-teens, Pierre Pilote made up for lost time quickly and ultimately wound up in the Hall of Fame. Waxy Gregoire, a terrific writer who co-authored the book, “Heart of the Blackhawks,” with Pilote is on SFH for an in-depth discussion about the man who helped turn the Blackhawks fortunes around.

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Unpopular Essays on Sports History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

HIGHLIGHTED SHOW

Unpopular Essays on Sports History

Supposition. We live in a golden age of sports.

I mean this not in the sense of athletes becoming stronger, speedier, savvier and smarter than ever before, nor in terms of the amazing access we have to live streams and stat feeds, instant insights and opinionating, the quirks and personalities of our celebrity heroes.

This, rather, is a golden age of sports in humanistic, historical terms. The truth is that the great majority of people today, willingly or not, have a direct and regular connection to organized and/or participatory sports in their everyday lives than anyone born before the 20th century.

In the United States, not a person alive can recall a time when sports was not a staple of the daily newspaper. For four generations, the notion that nightly news programs should devote up to one-quarter of their airtime to sports is taken for granted. Why do we take this for granted?

At Unpopular Essays on Sports History, everything is questionable.

Supposition: Those who play the games have ascended in the public eye to heights unimaginable in times past. Playing top-level sports can get today’s athlete into business, TV production, national politics – and just how did this happen?

At Unpopular Essays on Sports History, everything is up for examination.

Supposition: Sports – wherever they are played but particularly in these places where they are invented – effect culture, even pace it. One could argue that sports are more important than ever.

Corollary: Sports history, too, should be more important, yet is probably more disrespected and disavowed than ever.

At Unpopular Essays on Sports History, we love the past while marveling at the present, and wondering about the future.  

The “unpopular essays” of the title is a nod to Bertrand Russell, the logical positivist and my favorite philosopher. (Plus it’s a great excuse to get my BA degree to finally pay off.) And as we’re taught in philosophy, It’s not about answering the questions; it’s about making them clearer.

Three days a week, Unpopular Essays on Sports History will examine a moment in sports history, probe some modern ethos of our games, or speculate on what the past can teach the future – and all in 500 words or less – though probably occasionally throwing in the occasional longer interview. We’ll tour the spaces and times of the whole wide world of sports history about as quickly as Secretariat ran the Belmont Stakes.

Supposition: Sports history is fascinating, illuminating and fun. Join me, Os Davis, in making the questions of sports history clearer right here an Unpopular Essays on Sports History, an SHN production. 

Os Davis, host of Unpopular Essays on Sports History 

Os never played the games but has enjoyed a nearly 30-year career in sports writing, reporting, blogging, and podcasting. He has hosted/co-hosted and produced/co-produced podcasts on NFL football, CFL football, European basketball and sports movie review. For the Sports History Network, he currently writes and co-produces the historical fiction audiodrama Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer and will return soon with more episodes of Truly the GOATs (promise).

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Charley Trippi is not a name most NFL fans are familiar with. And that’s a shame, because Charley Trippi was one of the game’s most outstanding players during his nine years from 1947 through 1955. Trippi was a star for the Chicago Cardinals beginning on the day he arrived in 1947. A runner-up to Glenn Davis for the Heisman Trophy, winner of the Maxwell Award and the leader of a very formidable Georgia Bulldogs team that won the 1943 Rose Bowl, Trippi was the first overall pick in the 1946 NFL Draft. But he was also being courted by the New York Yankees. Yes, Trippi was not only a talented, all-purpose football player, he also swung a might bat and the Yankees wanted him. However, then-Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell told Trippi to visit the Yankees, get their offer and no matter what they offered him, he would beat it. And that’s exactly what Bidwell did. So, Trippi turned down the Yankees, signed with the Cardinals and led Chicago to the 1947 NFL Championship. In fact, in the championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Trippi rushed for a touchdown and scored another on a 75-yard punt return. Trippi was part of Chicago’s famous, “Million Dollar Backfield”. The Cardinals were an NFL power, but shortly after their second trip to the NFL Championship game in 1948, a 7-0 loss to the Eagles, the Cardinals fell on hard times and went through one of the worst 10-years periods in NFL history. But, it had nothing to do with Trippi who finished his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in yards from scrimmage and is still the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who has rushed for at least 1,000-yards, has more than 1,000-yards receiving and has thrown for more than 1,000-yards. Joe Ziemba, author of the terrific book, “When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL,” returns to Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a wonderful discussion about one of the NFL’s greatest – Charley Trippi.

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© 2020 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Kiki Cuyler was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1968, but so few can recall his career – and what a career it was! Cuyler, whose birth name is Hazen Shirley Cuyler, made it to the big leagues for good in 1924 and hit .354 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1925, Cuyler upped his average to .357 and set two records that still stand today for Pittburgh, most runs scored in a season with 144, and 369 total bases. But, after just four years a World Series Championship in 1925 and a second trip to the World Series in 1927 (although he didn’t play), Cuyler had worn out his welcome with the Pirates for a myriad of reasons. So, the Pirates shipped him to the Chicago Cubs whom Cuyler helped lead to World Series appearances in 1929 and 1931. Although the Cubs came up empty-handed, it wasn’t for a lack of Cuyler’s contribution to the team. In fact, in 1929, Cuyler hit .360 for the Cubs and for his career with Chicago, hit .325. Yet, again, despite leading the Cubs to two World Series appearances and leading the Pirates to a World Series win, so few know the name Kiki Cuyler. Joining the podcast for a look back at the career of Kiki Cuyler, and to help bring his name to the fore is Gregory Wolf, co-director of the biography project for SABR.

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

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Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

When you are competing for notoriety against the likes of Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg, you have to be really good … great … to grab headlines. You need to hit a ton of homeruns. You need to rack up the RBI’s and you better have a terrific batting average to go along with all of that. Well, that’s exactly what Hal Trosky of the Cleveland Indians did. In fact, in his first four full years for the Indians, he averaged 33+ homeruns a season, over 136 RBI a year and his batting average over his first four years was .310. The guy could flat-out rake! In 1936, his best year, he hit .343 with 42 homeruns, 162 RBI and 405 total bases! His OPS was 1.026. In his first two full seasons, he played every inning of every game. Yet, he was a virtual unknown. Playing for a team that never contended, Trosky was relegated to playing in obscurity. At a time when baseball staged two all-star games a year, Trosky was never invited – a terrible injustice. How could a guy who hit the way he did, a guy who other teams had to plan for, a guy averaged 27 homeruns and 122 RBI a year for his career to go along with a yearly average of .302 be so overlooked? Hal Trosky is the true definition of what this podcast is all about – a forgotten hero. Perhaps, even more amazing is this, very few fans of the Cleveland Indians know his name. Well, on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, we recall the career of Hal Trosky and remind fans of the Indians just how great he was; and here to help us do that is William H. (Bill) Johnson who wrote the terrific book, “Hal Trosky: A Baseball Biography.”

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© 2019 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

One of the fastest players to ever grace the gridiron was the 5-foot-4 Buddy Young. A native of Illinois, Young played for the Illini before joining the AAFC (All America Football Conference) and later the NFL where he enjoyed great success with the then Baltimore Colts. Buddy’s speed and quickness is what made him a threat on the field. At Illinois, the first time Buddy ever touched a football, he ran 64-yards for a touchdown. The second time he got a hold of the ball, he ran 30-yards for a touchdown. In fact, his first year with Illinois, he scored 10 touchdowns to tie the team record of the legendary Red Grange. In the pros, during Buddy’s 9-year career, he scored 17 touchdowns on the ground, caught passes for another 21 touchdowns, scored two touchdowns on punt returns and four on kickoffs, including a return of 104-yards. While Buddy was making a name for himself on the football field, one can only wonder how much more notoriety he would have garnered had he decided to stick with a different sport, one in which he excelled at immensely – track. He was simply a star on the track. He won the 100-yard dash and the 220-yard dash at the National Collegiate Championships, was the AAU’s 100-meter champion and he set world records in the 45-yard dash and the 60-yard dash. However, like so many others, Buddy’s shot at the Olympics was never a reality because of World War II. The games of 1940 and 1944 were cancelled, and by the time the 1948 games in London took place, Buddy was causing a lot of trouble for opposing defenses in the AAFC as a member of the New York Yankees. Buddy played three years in the AAFC with the Yankees, stuck with the team in its first year when it moved to the NFL and eventually found his way to the Baltimore Colts where he spent his final three years. After the 1955 season, Buddy retired from the game. He was just 29. Unfortunately, his years as an executive with the team were not without controversy … in a most unusual way – and I’ll talk about that controversy as well in this retrospective look at a terrific career on the field with Andy Piascik of the Professional Football Researcher’s Association.

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© 2020 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

A star at Cal-Berkley, Joe Kapp led the Bears to a Rose Bowl victory and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 18th round of the 1959 NFL Draft. However, Washington and Kapp squabbled over terms, and Kapp decided to take his game north to the Canadian Football League and the Calgary Stampeders. After spending two years with Calgary, Kapp was traded to the British Columbia Lions (in 1961) and led them to a Grey Cup Championship in 1964. But winning in Canada wasn’t enough for Kapp. A native of New Mexico, he wanted to play in the U.S. and after the 1966 season made his intentions known. Somehow, some way, Jim Finks, the General Manager of the Minnesota Vikings engineered an incredible trade, and tricky transaction that involved trading players, waiving players and four teams: the Vikings, the expansion New Orleans Saints, the CFL’s BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts. But the move paid off for the Vikings and in just three years, Kapp led Minnesota to an NFL Championship. But … his career in Minnesota was short-lived. He only played for the Vikings for three years, and just one year for the Patriots before his career was over. But what a career it was.  Edward Gruver who has written several articles for the Professional Football Researcher’s Association, and who has a new book coming out about the great rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders called, “Hell With the Lid Off: Inside the Steelers-Raiders Rivalry That Changed Pro Football,” joins the podcast for a look back at the fabulous career of Joe Kapp.

Links:

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©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

When the World Football League launched its inaugural season in 1974, all of the leagues 12 teams had very high hopes. But one team in particular thought it was going to do much better than it did – the Detroit Wheels. But, in reality, this team never stood a chance. After all, how can team expect to succeed when it’s operated with a pay-as-you-go mentality? The Wheels had 33 owners and none of them stepped forward to become the face of the team and actually run the franchise. Sure, the Wheels had a team president, general manager and a head coach. But none of them had a budget to run the franchise. The team president and general manager couldn’t sign any players while they sat idly by watching other WFL teams sign players. The team couldn’t find a place to play in Detroit, so it had to turn to Ypsilanti and Eastern Michigan University for a home. Fans didn’t show up. In fact, much to the embarrassment of the team, they thought they were going to sell out games, so they brought in auxiliary stands and at one particular game just one person could be seen sitting in one of the auxiliary stands. Not good. The coach didn’t have any professional coaching experience and that led to some very poor in-game decisions. Worse, the Wheels won just one of their first 14 games, and then they ceased operations with six games still to play! Truly an after thought, the WFL rushed the team into the field, and it probably should have waited until the league’s second season before launching in Detroit. Doomed from the beginning, the Detroit Wheels were, perhaps, the most poorly run franchise in the history of sports. Mark Speck who has written several papers, articles and books about the WFL and its teams including, “Nothing But A Brand New Set of Flat Tires,” visits Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for an in-depth discussion about this ill-fated franchise.

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

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Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

© 2019 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Talkin' Two Tone is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

HIGHLIGHTED SHOW

Please join me in welcoming Asher and Tyler to the Sports History Network. They bring to us their podcast, "Talkin' Two Tone: A Titans Podcast," where they talk all things revolving around their beloved Tennessee Titans. You'll of course get some up to date stuff with the current season, but they also take you back in time to reminisce some of the greatest moments in Titan history.

Learn more about the show on the Sports History Network.

While Jackie Robinson is known to so many for being the first man to cross the color barrier in Major League Baseball, few, very few, know who the first African-American was to be drafted by an NFL Team. George Taliaferro, a record-breaking running back who played ball at Indiana University, was drafted in the 13th round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, thus becoming the first African-American drafted to play in the NFL. But, he never suited up for the Bears. Instead, Taliaferro opted to play with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC. Dawn Knight, a school teacher in Indiana, was a student of George’s at Indiana University long after he retired from the game. Knight formed a life-long friendship with Taliaferro and early-on learned of his phenomenal exploits on the field for the Hoosiers. Having always wanted to write a book, Knight couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell George’s life story … and what a story it is. So, she wrote a biography about George called, “Taliaferro: Breaking Barriers From the NFL Draft to the Ivory Tower,” and Dawn is featured on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, for a terrific look back on a man and a career that so few know, but should. From his time on the field at Indiana, to his being drafted into the Army under very unique circumstances, to his NFL career and his life after football, we talk about it all; including the fact that he started and played significant time at seven different positions in the NFL.

Links:

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Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Roy Sievers was one of the most clutch hitters in baseball history. In fact, Sievers, who won the 1949 American League Rookie of the Year with the St. Louis Browns, hit nearly a quarter of his 318 career homeruns in the eighth inning or later. But, becoming a clutch hitter almost didn’t happen. After winning the ROY in 1949, Sievers fell into a slump and that was followed by a devastating right-shoulder injury that almost cost him his career. In fact, during the four-year stretch of 1950 through 1953, Sievers played in just 247 games and hit just 19 homeruns. But, Browns owner Bill Veeck worked hard with Sievers to help him overcome the injury, and Sievers did just that. After Veeck sold the Browns, the team moved to Baltimore and Sievers was traded to the Washington Senators. Great news for Washington, not so good for the new Baltimore Orioles. Sievers, not only recovered, he became one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. Over the course of the next 10-years, Sievers connected for 275 homeruns including an American League leading and career best 42 in 1957 to go along with 114 RBI. Sievers was named to five all-star teams and three times finished in the top-5 for MVP voting. Greg Wolf, the co-Director of the BioProject for SABR, and a frequent guest on Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, returns to the podcast for a wonderful discussion on Sievers, the Browns, Bill Veeck and more. Wolf, by the way, just finished working on a new book, “Wrigley Field, The Friendly Confines at Clark and Addison” and you can pick up a copy by visiting SABR.org or Amazon.

Links:

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©2019 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Bill Barilko was a young hard-hitting defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was called up to the Leafs towards the end of the 1946-47 season and helped Toronto win the Stanley Cup. He helped the Maple Leafs win the Cup again in 1948 and 1949. Toronto became the first team to win the Cup three straight years. After failing to make it to the finals in 1950, the Leafs returned in 1951 and Barilko scored the Cup-clinching goal in overtime of Game 5. The Leafs had won 4 Stanley Cups in 5 years. But tragedy struck shortly thereafter and Barilko disappeared on a fishing trip never to be seen alive again! In the first of this two-part series join me along with hockey historian and author Kevin Shea for a look back at the incredible story of Bill Barilko.

Links:

http://www.sportsfh.com

http://www.patreon.com/sportsfh

http://www.twitter@sportsfheroes

©2017 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Dave DeBusschere was, simply stated, remarkable. A world class two-sport star who was raised just outside of Detroit, DeBusschere was a stud pitcher and an even better basketball player. Taken by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA’s territorial draft, he was also selected by the Chicago White Sox … and he played professionally for both teams. On the hardwood, DeBusschere quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s premier forwards. For the White Sox, however, he bounced back-and-forth between the minors and the majors. The Pistons, though, knew he was something special and to convince him to forego his career as a Major League pitcher, Detroit named DeBusschere player/coach when he was just 24-years old! Bill Pruden, who has written several biographies for SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) including a bio on DeBusschere is this week’s guest as we look back on a simply remarkable career.

Links:

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©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

When the United States entered World War I, it signaled the end, for a while, to the landscape of college football. So many of the young men playing the game, put their college careers on hold, withdrew from school and joined the military to fight for their country. They left school and found themselves in “training camps” across the U.S., learning how to fight and preparing for deployment to help defeat Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, the Ottoman Empire. Thankfully, a majority of these men, young and older, never left the U.S. as the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. But, while they were training, the college stars of the day, and college stars who had preceded them still had a thirst to play the game. So they formed teams, challenged other camps and, ultimately, schedules were created, games were played, playoffs staged and championships won. War Football was a “thing”. Games between military bases were highly contested and replaced America’s thirst, for the time-being, to watch college football. In fact, fans from across the land came out in huge numbers to watch. The success of War Football couldn’t be understated. In fact, when money was needed for various types of funds to help the military, fans turned out in big numbers. The games were so well played, the competition was so strong that men like renowned football reporter Walter Camp started writing about them. All-America teams were named. Games between the best were contested, even the 1918 Rose Bowl was contested by two military teams, with the Mare Island Marines beating the Camp Lewis Army, 19-7. All of this led to such men as George Halas recognizing the fact that a professional game, with the right organization managing it, could be created and just two years after the armistice was signed, the American Professional Football Association was created. Two years later, 1922, it was renamed, the National Football League. Chris Serb, who wrote the book, “War Football: World War I and The Birth of The NFL,” joins Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a most interesting topic on the world of football prior to the formation of the NFL.

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© 2020 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Dean Chance pitched for the then Los Angeles Angels in the early 1960s. The Angels were a so-so team, but in 1964, Dean turned in one of the most dominant seasons in Angels history. He went 20-9 with a 1.65 ERA for a team that went just 82-80. But that was only half the story. Dean won the Cy Young Award that year to interrupt Sandy Koufax’s string of three Cy Young’s in four years. Denny McLain, the last man to win 30 games in a single year and a 2-time Cy Young Award winner joins the podcast to talk about Dean’s career on the diamond … while boxing Hall of Famers Bill Caplan and Don Chargin join the podcast to talk about Dean’s love for boxing and the fact that Dean created the International Boxing Association.

Links:

http://www.sportsfh.com

http://www.patreon.com/sportsfh

http://www.sportsFhereos@twitter.com

©2017 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Back in the early 1900s, the National League was the only game in town. It was Major League Baseball, thus the name the "Senior Circuit". In 1901, Ban Johnson, and others, joined the game with the American League and it was granted Major League status in 1903. Both leagues operated as separate entities, but met every year in the World Series. In 1913, the Federal League was a minor league, but it wanted to join the party and in 1914 and 1915 it called itself a Major League as well. The Federal League, however, did not gain widespread acceptance. Despite going to head-to-head in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Brooklyn and St. Louis with established NL and AL teams, it couldn't gain a foothold. It also played in Buffalo, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Baltimore, it struggled in those cities as well. Poor attendance and high salaries for the players it poached from its NL and AL rivals, the Federal League didn't make it. In fact, very - very - few have challenged MLB. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, baseball historian and author Dan Levitt joins the podcast to discuss the Federal League. Its teams, players, the court cases and so much more. Dan is an expert on the Federal League having written the book, "The Outlaw League And The Battle That Forged Modern Baseball."

Think about this. You’re a Major League pitcher and you pitch in the World Series four times. You start four games and complete three of them. The game you didn’t complete, you pitch 8 2/3 innings. One of those four games, you pitch a 2-hit shutout and your overall ERA for those games is 1.01. You would certainly be one of the more talked about “great” pitchers each year when the post-season comes along. Well, that’s not the case for Monte Pearson. Those are his numbers and so few people can tell you much about Pearson. He was traded to the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians … actually, he was a “throw-in”. During his five years with the Yankees, in which he faced several injuries, he went 63-27. There were times management thought he wouldn’t be able to take the ball in the World Series, but when his spot in the rotation came up, Pearson was always ready. And his stats prove it. A terrific pitcher, Pearson was the subject of a new bio written for the SABR (Society of Baseball Research) bioproject by Dan Schoenholz, and on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Dan and I talk about the remarkable career of Pearson, his extraordinary World Series career, and the unfortunate incident after his playing days were over that might have affected his notoriety.

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© 2021 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

In the movie, "The Natural", Roy Hobbs is a baseball prodigy. On his way to the minor leagues, he gets sidetracked and is shot by an obsessed fan. Years later, Hobbs surfaces and becomes a star for the fictional New York Knights. There is no definitive answer of whom the life of Roy Hobbs is based upon. However, speculation has always revolved around the careers of Eddie Waitkus who was shot by a woman while he was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. But there's also the career of Billy Jurges who was dating a showgirl, Violet Valli. After breaking up with Valli, she was upset and ultimately shot Jurges in the hotel he was living in. So, whose life is Hobbs based upon? the answer might never be revealed. And while many think it's about Jurges, one thing is certain, while there are similarities, Jurges's career had many more interesting moments. He was a central figure in Babe Ruth's called shot. He is partially responsible for the batting helmet, partially responsible for the nets on the foul poles and he came very close to breaking the MLB record for most hits in a row. He had nine. Jack Bales put pen to paper and took on the task of writing a book about the career of Jurges, "The Chicago Cub Shot For Love." On this episode of SFH, Bales stops by for a terrific conversation about Jurges, The Natural and so much more.

Frank Ryan, the last man to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL Championship, joins the podcast to talk about his career and the magical year of 1964 when the Browns beat the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 27-0 to win the title. Ryan was the Browns starter for most of the mid-1960s and Bleacher Report named Ryan as the most underrated player in the history of the NFL. As terrific as he was on the field, his life off is also quite remarkable, especially when you consider what he did for the U.S. House of Representatives. Also joining the podcast to talk about Ryan and the 1964 season is Roger Gordon who has written several books on the Browns. 

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

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Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Blanton Collier was the last coach to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL Championship; and he did so in 1964. Amazingly, if you ask most Browns fans who the last coach was to lead the team to a Championship most will say Paul Brown. Of course, Brown, for whom the team is named, was at the helm for a combined seven AAFC and NFL Championships. But his last title with Cleveland came in 1955. Sure, he led the Browns to a championship appearance in 1956, but that was the end of Paul Brown’s championship run. He was let go after the 1962 season and in stepped Blanton Collier who had the tall task of replacing a legend and rebuilding a championship pedigree. It didn’t take long. After the Browns had gone 7-6-1 in Paul Brown’s last year, Collier immediately restored Cleveland’s winning ways by leading the team to a 2nd Place finish in the Eastern Conference with a 10-4 mark. In 1964, Collier and the Browns went 10-3-1 and shutdown the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in the championship game 27-0. In all, Collier served as the head coach of the Browns for eight years, his worst season was his last when Cleveland went 7-7. But from 1964 through 1969, Cleveland was a threat to win the NFL Championship every year as Blanton Collier had the team rolling on all cylinders despite dealing with a major disability, management’s interference that led to the retirement of Jim Brown, and the fact that he was continually compared to his legendary predecessor. Despite Collier’s success, so few Cleveland fans recall the championship years of Blanton Collier and most would have trouble naming the coach of the last Browns team to win a championship. Roger Gordon who has written several books on the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers, including the recently released, “Blanton’s Browns” returns to Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for an in-depth discussion on a coach whom all players loved.

Links:

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Sports' Forgotten Heroes Patreon Page

Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

© 2019 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

There are figures in sports who are larger than the game whom people know so little about. One of the biggest of those names is Chuck Taylor. In fact, almost everyone who has ever laced up a pair of sneakers has worn a pair of Chuck All Stars, Converse’s best-selling shoe. Interestingly, very few people can tell you anything about Chuck Taylor. Many think Chuck Taylor is a fictional character, a person Converse created. Well, not only did Converse not make up the name Chuck Taylor, he was very real. Chuck Taylor was an extraordinary salesman who created an incredible brand. Once the good folks at Converse saw what Taylor could do, they turned the keys over to him and said “go”. Taylor put on basketball clinics around the country that were “must-see” events. Sold out gymnasiums were par for the course. He created an annual yearbook in which he named the best players and best teams in the country. If your name appeared, that was HUGE! It wasn’t some sort of non-sensical promotional tool, it was the real deal. Chuck wrote instructional pieces in the yearbook as well that helped tens-of-thousands of basketball players improve their game. Chuck Taylor rubbed shoulders with greats like Knute Rockne and John Wooden. If you knew Chuck Taylor, if you hosted one of his basketball clinics, your team was virtually guaranteed pairs of Chuck Taylor All Stars. That was a BIG deal! They were the best basketball shoes of their time. Today, while technological advances have surpassed these canvas shoes, they have now become a fashionable statement. More than 100-million pairs of Chuck Taylor All Stars are still sold every year. How did this all come about? Abe Aamidor who worked as a reporter for the Indianapolis Star, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and other newspapers as well, and who has written several books, took on the task of writing a biography on one of the biggest and, perhaps, least known figures in basketball history – Chuck Taylor. Abe’s book, “Chuck Taylor All Star, The True Story of the Man Behind the Most Famous Athletic Shoe in History,” published by Indiana University Press, is a wonderful account of how Taylor did it all. Abe joins us on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a terrific discussion about Chuck Taylor.

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

Sports' Forgotten Heroes Patreon Page

Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

© 2019 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Thanksgiving Day, 1924. The recently-established tradition of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team hosting the Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions on the afternoon of the national autumnal holiday continues.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is sent to cover the Pitt-Penn State “Keystone Classic” of 1924; in so doing, he discovers a throughline of the football-on-Thanksgiving tradition going back to 1621 (okay, actually, that’s going back to 1869) and reminds us that high-level football games on Thanksgiving are nearly as old as the official Thanksgiving holiday itself.  

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network.

Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) script & story by Os Davis.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) co-stars, in order of appearance, Caedmon Holland, Forrest Hartl and Wayne Brett.

Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver.

The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith. 

Other tracks in this episode include

•  “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org);

•  “Litany of the Street” by Silverman Sound Studios;

•  “Bimini Bay” (1921) by the Benson Orchestra of Chicago; and

•  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

In the early 1900s, Ed Delahanty was the biggest star in baseball. Regarded, by some, as baseball’s first 5-tool player, he hit over .400 three times, and was the game’s most powerful hitter. But he was struggling financially and, essentially, had to pay his team to continue playing. Big Ed was caught up in a battle between the well-established National League and the upstart American League. He was so distraught over his situation that he left his team in the middle of a road trip and was never to be seen again. John Saccoman, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) joins me on Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a conversation about Ed Delahanty – his hall of fame career, and the tragedy that followed.

Links:

http://www.sportsfh.com

http://www.patreon.com/sportsfh

http://twitter@sportsfheroes.com

©2017 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

1938 marks the 80th anniversary of the improbable … the year in which Don Budge, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, became the first (and just one of two) players to win the Grand Slam of tennis (Australian, French, Wimbledon, U.S.). Budge actually won six straight Grand Slam events to go along with a number of doubles, mixed-doubles, and Davis Cup Championships as well. Budge, who took up the game after a challenge from his brother, possessed a heavy ball, one of the greatest backhands of all time and used one of the heaviest racquets of his time to become the No. 1 player in the world. But, with the drop in popularity of the game, Budge’s career and incredible accomplishments continue t fade away. Marshall Jon Fisher, author of “A Terrible Splendor” a terrific book about one of the greatest tennis matches ever played, is the guest on this edition of SFH to talk about the terrific career of this forgotten hero.

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

Sports' Forgotten Heroes Patreon Page

Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter

©2018 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Roberto DeVicenzo won 231 golf tournaments around the world, and that includes the 1967 British Open. But it was his signing of an incorrect scorecard after the 4th round of the 1968 Masters for which he is most remembered. That “little” gaffe cost DeVicenzo an opportunity to win a second straight major, and one of golf’s most cherished tournaments. Instead of squaring off against Bob Goalby in an 18-hole playoff for the Green Jacket, DeVicenzo could only say, “What a stupid I am.” Golf historian and former host of Golf Talk Live, Peter Kessler, is our special guest as we recall the events of that day, what happened, how it affected DeVicenzo, Goalby and the man who wrote down the wrong score, Tommie Aaron … and we also examine the forgotten career of Roberto DeVicenzo.

Links:

Sports' Forgotten Heroes website

Sports' Forgotten Heroes Patreon Page

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The NHL expanded to two cities for the 1974-75 season: Kansas City and Washington. Washington, of course, has turned into one of the National Hockey League’s marquee teams having won the 2017-18 Stanley Cup Championship. Kansas City, however, is one of the least-known teams in the history of sports. The Scouts, a team that lasted just two years, were moved to Colorado and played six years as the Rockies before moving again to New Jersey where, as the Devils, they have won three Stanley Cup Championships. But long before they were the Devils, the Scouts played in Kansas City – and they played to an empty house almost every night they took the ice at the Kemper Arena. The Scouts, as managing general partner Ed Thompson noted, were virtually doomed from the beginning. The NHL expansion draft was not set up like it is today, where a new team like the Vegas Golden Knights could be competitive right from the start, the Scouts had to play their first eight games on the road because their building wasn’t ready, ownership did not have deep pockets and tragedy struck very early. There was some good, like two victories against the Boston Bruins, a win over the Montreal Canadiens, but the good was too few and too far between as Kansas City won just 15 games in its first year and 12 in its final year. The Scouts endured winless streaks of 16 games and 27 games … and there were too few stars, but the ones they did have were pretty good: Simon Nolet, Guy Charron (via trade), Wilf Paiemont, Dennis Herron (via trade), Gary Croteau … but there just wasn’t enough depth to help them sustain any sort of consistent attack. Troy Treasure who recently released the book, “Icing on the Plains – The Rough Ride of Kansas City’s NHL Scouts,” joins the podcast to discuss the Scouts and brings along some terrific and unreal stories about their two-year existence.

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Andy Pafko was a household name in Chicago for much of the 1940s. He made his debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1943 and became a fixture in their lineup until he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers midway through the 1951 season. Pafko represented the Cubs in the classiest of ways and helped Chicago win the National League Pennant in 1945. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost in seven games to the Detroit Tigers and would not return to the World Series until 2016. A return to trip the World Series was certainly not the fault of Pafko. He was an All Star for the team in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950. He enjoyed his two best years of his 17-year career while playing for the Cubs. In 1948, he hit .312 with 26 homeruns and 101 RBI; and in 1950 he hit .304 with 36 homeruns and 92 RBI. But, the Cubs couldn’t find a way back to the top of the standings with Pafko in the lineup, so they traded him to the Dodgers midway through 1951, and playing for the Dodgers, albeit just for 1 ½ years, might be where Pafko is best remembered. He was a part of the Dodgers historic collapse in 1951, was the leftfielder who watched the famous Bobby Thomson homerun sail over his head, and in 1952 put together a terrific season to lead the Dodgers into the World Series against the New York Yankees. Pafko hit .287 that year with 19 homeruns and 85 RBI. But the Dodgers lost the series in seven games and Pafko was traded to the Milwaukee Braves after the season had concluded. With Milwaukee, Pafko was a key cog in the Barves two World Series appearances – a seven-game series win over the Yankees in 1957 and a seven-game series loss to the Yankees in 1958. The fact that Pafko does not get more notoriety for his career is a head-scratcher. Perhaps it was because he spent so much time on the bench hurt because of his reckless abandon play that made him one of the game’s best defensive outfielders, and we’re going to explore that and more with Joe Niese who wrote the book, “Handy Andy” on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes.

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In 1941, the USGA cancelled the U.S. Open because of World War II. But the strange thing about the cancellation is the fact that the USGA still staged a tournament, the Hale America National Open. Now, while it was moved from Interlachen in Minnesota to the new Ridgemoor Country Club just outside of Chicago, there were very few differences between the Hale America and a U.S. Open. Ridgemoor was an easier course. The U.S. Open Championship trophy was not awarded. But consider this: there was qualifying, just like today; guys like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, Lloyd Mangrum and Bobby Jones all entered, a medal very similar to the one handed to winner of the U.S. Open was handed to the winner of the Hale America, and the list goes on. So, why did/does the USGA not consider the Hale America National Open a U.S. Open? Peter May, author of the book, "The Open Question" is here to explore that question. We discuss the many similarities. If the Hale America was considered to be a U.S. Open, amazingly, it would have been the first Major Championship won by Ben Hogan and, in total, Hogan would have won the U.S. Open five times! As it is, only Hogan, Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus won the U.S. Open four times. Should Hogan be credited with a fifth? Well, of course he thought so. Listen to today's podcast about this forgotten tournament, one of which the USGA has basically stricken from the record books, and decide for yourself.

One of the NBA’s original teams was the Rochester Royals. In fact, the Royals won an NBA Championship in 1951. But, Rochester was not an ideal location as the NBA was trying to grow and establish itself in larger cities. So, after the 1956-57 season, the Royals packed up and left for Cincinnati. Cincinnati welcomes the Royals with open arms – at least at first. Tragedy struck the team early on as young and upcoming star Maurice Stokes suffered a devastating head injury and that certainly affected the Royals performance on the floor. And while the tragedy of Stokes is a huge part of the Royals legacy in Cincinnati, they did enjoy some success on the court, particularly in the mid-1960s when they were led by one of the NBA’s all-time greats: Oscar Robertson. However, not even the “BIG O” could get the Royals over the hump and into the NBA Finals. The Royals made the Conference Finals in back-to-back season, 1963 and 1964, but like every other team in the NBA, they couldn’t get past the Boston Celtics. The Royals last appearance in the playoffs was 1967, and by the time 1972 rolled around, it was basically a forgone conclusion that NBA basketball, at least in the form of the Royals, would not make it in Cincinnati and the team relocated to Kansas City (splitting time, at first, in Omaha) and is now known as the Sacramento Kings. Of course, there’s a lot more to the Royals history in Cincinnati and joining Sports’ Forgotten Heroes to talk more about the short history of the Cincinnati Royals is Gerry Schultz the author of, “Cincinnati’s Basketball Royalty: A Brief History: A LOOK BACK at 15 years of Cincinnati Royals NBA Basketball”.

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Ernie DiGregorio was the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1973-74 season. The No. 3 pick out of Providence after leading the Friars to 27-4 mark during his All-America senior season, Ernie was as exciting as they come. Standing just 6-feet tall and weighing all of 180-pounds, he was a magician on the court. If you were open, Ernie would find a way to get the ball to you. In fact, he set the rookie record for most assists in a game (25) and led the NBA during his rookie campaign in assists with an average of 8.2 per game to go along with 15.2 points-per-game. And, in his rookie year he led the Buffalo Braves to their first-ever playoff appearance. But, a knee injury cut Ernie’s career short. Tim Wendel, author of “Buffalo, Home of The Braves”, makes his second visit to the podcast as we take a look back at the career of Ernie DiGregorio.

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Ray Billows was one of golf’s greatest players of his generation. But, instead of trying to make a living as a professional, Billows decided to remain an amateur and compete as such. Of course, this was at a time when amateur golf was considered a bigger game than professional golf and when the U.S. Amateur was much larger in stature than it is today. In fact, over the years some of the game’s most legendary names have won the U.S. Amateur, guys like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Guys on the losing side of the final match are also quite historic: Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite and John Cook. Making it to the finals of the U.S. Amateur is an accomplishment in itself. After days of surviving 36-hole stroke-play rounds and 36-holes of match play rounds, the last two men standing tee it up for a final day of 36-holes of match play. Ray Billows, who won 74% of all the U.S. Amateur match-play events he played, made it to the finals three times. Unfortunately, however, Billows never came out on top and is the only man in history to lose the U.S. Amateur three times. How good was Billows? Byron Nelson said Ray Billows was best the long-iron player in the world. Bobby Jones said Ray executed certain shots better than anyone in the world. He played on two Walker Cup teams. Billows, who played in the Masters a few times, recorded a hole-in-one on No. 16. In fact, Billows was so well thought of, and so respected, that the USGA Museum in Far Hills, NJ created an exhibition honoring Billows. But never winning the U.S. Amateur was the biggest disappointment in Ray’s career. Tom Buggy, who played golf with Ray in the early 1970s, wrote a book about Ray, “Ray Billows, The Cinderella Kid,” and joins Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for a wonderful conversation about a golfer who dominated the amateur ranks everywhere he went, but could never win the game’s biggest event.

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On September 17, 1920 at a car dealership in Canton, Ohio, a meeting took place between a group of men who loved football. All of these men, a group that included Jim Thorpe and George Halas – amongst others, had a passion for the game and there they created the American Professional Football Association (two years later it would change names to the National Football League). Another of the 12 men in attendance was Leo Lyons. Amazingly, Leo’s name, as one of the founding members of the NFL, is not documented anywhere in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. That will be corrected in June 2020 when the HOF dedicates a new exhibit about the found of the league. Leo, from Rochester, N.Y. started to dream of professional football when he was just 16-years-old. He told family and friends about his dream and goal of creating professional football, but they all laughed at him. Nonetheless, Leo never gave up on his dream, bought his own team, the Rochester (N.Y.) Jeffersons and years later, after striking up a friendship with Thorpe, was invited to that meeting and helped found the league which is now celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The hurdles and hardships, the passion and determination, and the bitter conclusion to Leo’s dream is all being documented in a new book, “A Journey From The Sandlots To The National Football League,” written by Leo’s great-grandson, John Steffenhagen. Steffenhagen, who was fortunate to know his great-grandfather, really didn’t understand who Leo was until after Leo’s death in 1976, has spent years collecting information, researching, writing and interviewing people about his great-grandfather, and he joins SFH for an in-depth discussion about one of the co-founders of the NFL, a man whom time has forgotten, but whom professional football owes so much – Leo Lyons.

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In 1920, the Negro National League started play and the historic Kansas City Monarchs took the field for the first time. Leading the way was a 5-foot-7 two-way ballplayer who was about to embark on a journey that didn't end until 1938 - Bullet Joe Rogan. What no one knew then was that Rogan was going to put up numbers that ultimately led him into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Rogan is considered by many to be one of the top 5 baseball players of all time. In fact, some say he is the greatest. On the mound, in the Negro National League he was 120-52 with an ERA of 2.65. But, when you combine the barnstorming tours and other leagues that Bullet played in, there is evidence that he won more than 350 games and struck out more than 2,000 batters. And, he did all of this without a windup. He just stood on the mound reared back and fired the ball. But, that's only half the story. Bullet was a star in the batter's box too. He hit cleanup for the Monarchs and for his NNL career, he hit .338 with an OPS of .934, connected for 50 home runs, drove in 419. He was an all-around superstar. But there is so much more to the Bullet Joe Rogan story and joining me on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes is a very special guest - The President of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick. Bob shares some very fascinating stories with us, talks about how spectacular Bullet was and recalls so much more about the Negro Leagues and who Bullet compares to today ... and that might surprise you.

In 1986, Amos Otis was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. A three-time Gold Glove winner and five-time all-star, Amos Otis played for the Royals from 1970 through the 1983 season and is still top-3 in several all-time offensive categories for the Royals including: hits (3rd, 1977), HR (3rd, 193), runs (2nd, 1074), triples (3rd, 65) and RBI (3rd, 992). Acquired from the Mets for Joe Foy, Otis helped the Royals become one of the most consistent winners in the mid and late 1970s and led the Royals to their first World Series appearance in 1980. Bill Lamberty of the Society for American Baseball Research joins the podcast to talk more about this forgotten hero.

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Tony Lema was one of the best golfers in professional golf. In 1964 he won the British Open, and was knocking at the door of the Big 3 of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. He was as tough as the came, as evidenced by his 8-1-2 record in Ryder Cup play. But he was also one of the most fun-loving guys on the PGA TOUR, and the media loved him too! They loved the fact that they were treated to a round of champagne after every one of his victories. Injuries affected his play in 1965 and early on in 1966. But as the 1966 season progressed, Lema got his game back on track and then tragedy struck. He was killed, along with his wife, on a chartered flight from Akron, OH to just outside Chicago. Bill Roland a close friend of the Lema family, and the author of “Champagne Tony Lema; Triumph to Tragedy” joins the podcast for a look back at the terrific life and career of Tony Lema.

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Jake Daubert was a star for the Brooklyn Robins and Brooklyn Dodgers during the early 1900s and finished his career with the Cincinnati Reds. He played during baseball's deadball era and was about as good as anyone. His play at first base was second-to-none and, at the plate, you would be hard-pressed to find many who could handle the bat as well as he did. In fact, when Daubert's career came to a tragic end in 1924, not only did he have a career batting average of .303, he was also 7th all-time in hits with 2,326. Now, back in those days, numbers like 3,000 hits weren't discussed. And, this was long before there was a Hall of Fame. However, had Daubert started his career earlier (he didn't break in until he was 26), perhaps he could have amassed 3,000 hits and his name would be much more familiar to baseball fans. As it is, though, he hit .300 or better 10 our of 12 years (including 6 in a row from 1911 through 1916) including 1913 when he hit .350 to lead the Majors and win the Chalmers Award. The Chalmers Award is what was given to the league's MVP at that time. Daubert holds the record for most sacrifices in one year, which was very important to Jake as he was a total team player. Daubert also fught hard for player's right and after the 1918 season in which baseball ad to shut down early because of the flu epidemic and World War I, Daubert fought for his pay. He ultimately won the battle, but was shipped by Charles Ebbets from Brooklyn to Cincinnati for his efforts. With the Reds, Daubert hardly missed a beat, helping Cincy to a World Series Championship over the White in the famous 1919 Series, and he continued to hit. In fact, in 1922, Jake hit .336 and played in all but 14-innings the whole year. Two years later, however, tragedy struck and Jake's career and, more importantly, his life ended tragically. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes I discuss it all with author/sports writer Harry Deitz who recently published a book about the life of Jake Daubert, "Gentleman Jake."

Sam Byrd had a bright future ahead of him in baseball. A solid hitter and an even better outfielder, he had one huge issue facing him. He played for the New York Yankees and there was guy named Babe Ruth ahead of him. So, Byrd took his seat on the bench and patiently waited for an opportunity. When he got a chance to play, he did well. But never enough to supplant Ruth. In his spare time, Byrd not only worked to improve his game at the plate, but he also continued to refine his skills on the golf course. In fact, he was so good on the links, that guys like Ruth never stood a chance against him. Sam would enter a tournament, here and there, and win. He toyed with the idea of playing highly competitive golf on the PGA TOUR, but baseball paid the bills. When Sam finally got a chance on the diamond, he got hurt and when he returned he again had to take a seat on the bench. After trying to breakthrough with the Yankees for six years, Sam finally realized his dream of taking the field every day by virtue of a trade to the Cincinnati Reds. Now 27-years old, Sam was the team's regular right fielder. He hit a respectable .262 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. But it wasn't enough to earn the starting job the following season, 1936, and Sam once again found himself on the bench. At the end of the 1936 season, Sam was released by the Reds and claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals. However, Sam had had enough. All along, he continued to work on his golf game and decided to make the PGA TOUR his full time vocation (he actually joined the TOUR in 1933). What a great choice. Instead of riding the pine and playing second-fiddle in MLB, Sam walked the fairways with the likes of Hogan, Nelson and Snead. Over the course of a career that wound down in 1949, Sam won 11 times, finished as high as 3rd in The Masters (1941), 2nd in the PGA Championship and 16th in the U.S. Open. He won the Greater Greensboro Open, the Chicago Victory National Open and The Texas Open in 1945. A solid career as a professional golfer, Sam is the only person to have appeared in a baseball World Series and The Masters. Stephen Rice, who penned a terrific biography about SAM for the BioProject for SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) is on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes to talk about the great dual career of Samuel Byrd.

In 1967, a new basketball league was born, the ABA (American Basketball Association) with teams in 11 cities including Indianapolis, Oakland, New Orleans, Denver and Dallas. The ABA also put a team in Pittsburgh, the Pipers. After a slow start, the Pipers got it going and twice won as many as 14 games in a row. In fact, the Pipers finished the season with a record of 54-24. They won the Eastern Conference and then worked their way through playoffs. In the first round, they swept the Indiana Pacers 3-0. In the Eastern Finals, they took out the Minnesota Muskies 4-1 and in the championship, in seven games, the Pipers outlasted the New Orleans Buccaneers 4-games-to-3. The Pipers were good. real good. In fact, they might have been good enough to qualify for the NBA playoffs. They were led by a budding superstar - Connie Hawkins. Blackballed by the NBA for his alleged involvement in a point shaving scandal, Hawkins was named the ABA's regualr season MVP and playoff's MVP. He averaged 26.8 ppg during the regular season and 29.9 ppg in the playoffs. Of course, later in hi career, he was finally granted entry into the NBA where he continued to excel and was ultimately elected into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. Back to the Pipers. Despite winning the East, the team's fanbase was minimal at best. So, the Pipers, after just one year in Pittsburgh, packed up and headed north to Minneapolis. The Muskies left for Florida. Ironically, the Muskies couldn't draw fans and the Pipers, after relocating to Minnesota, couldn't draw fans in Minneapolis either. So, they packed up and headed back to Pittsburgh. Without a doubt, the Pipers had quite a unique history and on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, basketball historian and author Mark Whited stops by for a lively discussion about the Pipers, the ABA and Connie Hawkins.

Ace Parker was a terrific multi-sport star - especially football and baseball. Baseball, though, was his first love and he tried to make it as a Major League Baseball player with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 and 1938. However, as good as he was throughout his college career at Duke University and in the minor leagues, he just couldn't crack through only hitting .179 during his two seasons. However, football was another story. Parker was a stud, an eventual Hall of Famer. He played, quarterback, tailback, defensive back. He kicked. He punted. He returned kicks. He returned punts. He did it all. A true 60-minute man. In fact, he once led the NFL in passing and co-led in interceptions. Playing for the NFL's version of the Brooklyn Dodgers, however, was like playing in obscurity and the career of Ace Parker is not as well-known as some of his contemporaries. Ace played just five years in the NFL before serving in WWII and returning for one final season, his sixth, with the Dodgers (they had moved to Boston and were renamed the Boston Yanks), and then moved to the All America Football Conference (AAFC) and the football version of the New York Yankees. It was with the Yankees that Ace played in his only Championship Game, a loss to the powerful Cleveland Browns. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, the President of the Professional Football Researcher's Association (PFRA), George Bozeka, joins as we take a look back at the career of two-sport star Ace Parker a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame ... and, if you're interested in knowing more about the PFRA, please check out www.profootballresearchers.com.

The 1920s featured several legendary names in the NFL. Guys like Red Grange, Curley Lambeau ,Jim Thorpe, George Halas and a host of others. But one name that if often overlooked is that of Paddy Driscoll. The first-ever All-Pro QB, Driscoll was one of the game's most dominant forces. Originally a member of the then "Chicago" Cardinals, Driscoll also played halfback, would line up on defense, and was also a terrific dropkicker. In fact, over the course of his career, not only did Driscoll pass for 18 touchdowns (according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame), he also rushed for 25, caught four touchdown passes, returned a punt for a touchdown, returned a fumble for touchdown and he kicked 63 extra points and added 51 field goals. On this edition of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, I take a look back at the Hall of Fame career of Driscoll with one of the foremost experts on the Cardinals - Joe Ziemba. We cover it all, from Driscoll's early days as star with Northwestern and the Great Lakes Naval team that won the Rose Bowl, to his days in the NFL with the Cardinals, his trade to their crosstown rivals, the Chicago Bears, his stint as a head coach, and his later years as an executive with the Bears as well.

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On July 12, 1910, New York Evening Mail reporter Franklin Pierce Adams filed his article after a game between the Chicago Cubs and New York Giants. Little did he or anyone know it would become one of the most famous pieces of work to ever be written about baseball, a little poem in which he proclaimed, “These are the saddest possible words, Tinker to Evers to Chance”. Those three, Tinker, Evers and Chance just might be the most famous double-play combination in MLB history and on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes we take a look back at who these the Hall of Fame baseball players were. Sure, many know the names Tinker and Evers and Chance, but very few know their first names or anything else about them with the exception that Adams wrote about them. Who were they? Just how good were they? How good was the team they played for, the Chicago Cubs? Hint, they put together the greatest stretch of baseball ever recorded. Author David Rapp who wrote the book, “Tinker to Evers to Chance,” and author Dennis Snelling who wrote the book, “Johnny Evers, A Baseball Life,” are here to talk about the trio on this special edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes.

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The story of Gottfried von Cramm is truly remarkable. While most have probably never heard of him, von Cramm was once the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world. A German, von Cramm played during the time Adolf Hitler was rising to power; and while most Germans knew what Hitler was about and was about to do, the rest of the world had no idea. On this episode of SFH we take a look back at the career and life of Gottfried von Cramm and concentrate on one match in particular, a 1938 Davis Cup Final match between he and Don Budge that was played on center-court at Wimbledon just two weeks after the Wimbledon Championships. The pressure on von Cramm was enormous. Not only was he German, but he was Jewish and homosexual. If he won, all would be ok. A loss, however, and he would have to face the gestapo and possibly Hitler himself – and who knows what would happen after that encounter. Marshall Jon Fisher returns to SFH for this podcast. Author of the book, “A Terrible Splendor,” Fisher talks about the match, those in attendance, and how von Cramm’s life changed afterwards.

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He is the only quarterback - ever - to only play for 10 seasons and lead his team into the championship game every year of his career. He won the championship seven (7) times. And, yet, when the discussion about who is the greatest QB of all-time comes up, very few football fans mention the name Otto Graham. He played for the Cleveland Browns when they were "born" as an AAFC (All America Football Conference) team. The Browns, simply stated, were the best team in the league. In fact, Graham led the Browns to the AAFC title every year of the league's existence: 1946, 47, 48, 49. When the Browns (along with the San Francisco 49'ers and Baltimore Colts) moved into the NFL, most thought they had no chance to compete. Well, not only did the Browns compete, Graham led them to the NFL Championship in 1950. Graham played with the Browns, NFL-style, in 1950, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. He won the Championship withe Bowns three times. The four years he didn't win the Championship, the Browns made the title game, but lost. Graham won the NFL MVP in 1951, 1953 and 1955. In his six years in the NFL, he led the league in passing yards twice, QBR twice and completion percentage three times. Yet, Graham is one of the most overlooked superstars in the history of the game. On this episode of SFH, Ken Crippen from the Football Learning Academy, a football historian, author and expert on the AAFC joins the podcast as we discuss the career of Otto Graham and so much more.

One of the most obscure teams in the history of the NHL is the Cleveland Barons. In existence for just two years, the Barons moved to Cleveland from Oakland where they were first known as the California Golden Seals and ultimately merged with the Minnesota North Stars who are now the Dallas Stars. After playing in front of few fans and experiencing financial hardships in Oakland, the Seals packed up during the summer of 1977 and headed east to Cleveland. Ownership thought it had uncovered a great location for the team. Cleveland's AHL team had once been invited to join the NHL - although that version of the Barons turned down the offer. Now, the NHL was coming. Cleveland had a new arena, and 18,000-seat palace known as the Richfield Coliseum. But, the location of the Coliseum, the fact that the Seals owner, Mel Swig, had never been to Cleveland, failed to research the region's appetite for hockey, failed to market the team in any meaningful way, and the failed to study the issues that the previous barons faced and the difficulties the Cleveland Crusaders of the WHA experienced all spelled doom for the Barons. What followed were two incredibly disappointing seasons. The Barons played in front of empty seats. In their first year (1977-78), average attendance was just 6,194 per game, and in their second season attendance fell to 5,676 per game. A television contract could not be found and radio coverage was barely adequate. The team did have a few stars in Dennis Maruk (Dennis joined SFH for episode 18), Jim Neilson and Gilles Meloche, but there wasn't enough depth on the team and they struggled to score goals and win games. The lack of marketing and fan support led to more financial hardships and the team was thisclose to missing payroll and shutting down in the middle of the season. Gary Webster returns to SFH for an in-depth conversation on all that went wrong in Cleveland. He recently authored a book, published by MacFarland and Company called, "The NHL's Mistake By The Lake: A History of the Cleveland Barons." Gary covers it all, from the original Barons and Crusaders, to the dysfunction of Swig's ownership group, the team's performance on the ice, the want to save the team and the eventual merger with Minnesota. Amazingly, Gary even notes that very few who lived in Cleveland at the time - and still live there - even know that the Barons existed.

Frank Gifford was one of the great football broadcasters. A staple on Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith, it's fair to say that most people remember Gifford for calling a game. But how many remember him for what he did on the field, or even know that he was one of the best to ever play? As a halfback and flanker, Gifford combined to score 77 touchdowns during his Hall of Fame career with the New York Giants. An all-around star, he also kicked (on occasion), played in the defensive backfield where he also scored a touchdown, and he holds the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a career by a non-quarterback with 14. Yes, Gifford could burn you in so many ways. His career at the University of Southern California was also spectacular. In fact, two years prior to his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gifford was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame. His No. 16 is retired by the Giants as well. On this episode of SFH, Chris Willis, Head Researcher at NFL Films, returns to the show for a wonderful discussion about on eof the game's all-time greats - Frank Gifford.

Jim McCormick might not be a name familiar to most baseball fans, but it should be. After all, how many pitchers have tossed over 500-innings in a season five times AND 657 2/3 innings in one year? McCormick had seasons of 45, 40, 36 and 31 wins. He started 485 games and completed 466 of them. He won 265 games over his 10-year career (average of 26 per season) and posted an ERA of 2.43. But those numbers, as impressive as they are, pale in comparison to the other numbers that Jay Wiley has discovered when it comes to Jim McCormick. Wiley is on a mission and believes the fact that Jim McCormick not being a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is one of baseball’s biggest injustices. His arguments made it hard to disagree. In fact, Wiley created a website documenting all of this – mccormickforthehall.com – and he posts daily about the career of McCormick on twitter. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, I welcome Jay to the show for a terrific discussion about a pitcher whom time has forgotten and a guy who hasn’t been considered for the Hall since 1950, despite several of his contemporaries, guys whose stats don’t measure up to Jim’s, gaining induction.

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Archie Clark broke into the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakes in 1966. He came off the bench his first season (1966-67) and averaged 10.5 PPG. Over the course of the next few seasons, Archie brought two new moves to the game that so any players use today, the “Shake and Bake” and the “step-back”. And while Archie was an innovator on the floor with such moves, it was what he did off the court that has made the most important and lasting impression for the NBA stars of today – he challenged management when it came to contract negotiations. Very few players whose names weren’t Chamberlain, Russell, Baylor, etc. saw the big dollars of the day. But Archie fought and won. It was his determination that paved the way for today’s “supporting” players. But, Archie was more than a supporting player. He was a star, albeit, for teams that weren’t so great. After spending the first two years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Archie was traded to the Philadelphia Warriors (before they moved to San Francisco) for Wilt Chamberlain. He was also traded to the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) and spent time with the Detroit Pistons and the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder). Archie enjoyed a terrific career and is on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes to talk about it all. Also on this episode of SFH is Bob Kuska who just released a new book about Archie, “Shake and Bake, The Life and Times of NBA Great Archie Clark.” Archie and Bob talk in great detail about Archie’s “battles” with management and how the game differs from what it is today, including the incredible demands placed on NBA players back in the late 60s and early 70s when it came to travel, the arenas they played in, three and four games in a row in different cities and the incredible pressure to play even if you couldn’t walk or shoot for fear of being cut.

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Dolph Schayes played in the NBA for 15 years, and when he retired he was the league’s all-time leading scorer and all-time leading rebounder. Yet, many basketball fans don’t recall Schayes at all, or mistake him for his son, Danny, who spent 20-years in the NBA. Why do so many not recall Dolph? Perhaps it’s because he spent 14 of his 15 years playing for a team that no longer exists, the Syracuse Nationals. And, Syracuse was good. In fact, the Nats made the playoffs every year Dolph was there and won the NBA Championship in 1954-55. But, putting fannies in the seats was always an issue for this team and after the 1962-63 season they moved t Philadelphia and became the 76’ers. That first year in Philly was not easy and Dolph actually served as the team’s player/coach. After an unsuccessful first season, Dolph retired as a player to solely concentrate on coaching, and while he won 129 games and lost just 111, after three years he was let go. Dolph resurfaced years later as the coach of the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), but only made it through one full year. Joining SFH to talk about Dolph Schayes is Dolph Grundman, author of the book, “Dolph Schayes and The Rise of Professional Basketball.” Schayes’s contributions to the game are many, and Grundman discusses, in detail, just how good Schayes was and what he meant to the game.

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One of just four former Green Bay Packers to be immortalized with a statue, Johnny “Blood” McNally is also a member of the inaugural class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Along with such legends as Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe, Sammy Baugh, George Halas, Tim Mara and Don Hutson, Johnny was inducted into the Hall in 1963. One of the toughest players to tackle, Johnny still holds the record for most touchdowns caught in one season by a halfback. Ralph Hickok, who wrote the book, “Vagabond Halfback, The Saga of Johnny Blood McNally,” after spending three years on the road with Johnny to write this biography, shares great stories with us about Johnny, including how he got the name “Blood”.

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He was one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and had it not been for Benny Friedman there might not be an NFL! That’s how key he was to the development of the game. Friedman turned the pro game from a running game to a passing game. In fact, he was throwing for more touchdown passes in a season than the rest of the league combined! Friedman set the record with 20 TD passes in 1929, a mark that wouldn’t be equaled until 1977. As a college QB he led Michigan to back-to-back Big Ten championships and was ultimately elected to the Pro Football hall of Fame in 2005. Join Warren Rogan and Lee Elder of the Professional Football Researcher’s Association for the story of Benny Friedman, one of football’s forgotten heroes.

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On August 5, 2020, just a short time ago, Horace Clarke passed away. During the peak of his playing days (1965-1974) one could argue that Clarke was one of the faces of the New York Yankees. Sure, whenever you’re on a team with the legend – Mickey Mantle – you’d be hard-pressed to say anyone but The Mick was the face of the franchise. But, there was much fanfare around Clarke. While he wasn’t the greatest, he personified what the Yankees were during this down time in their illustrious history. In fact, in 1966, the Yankees finished last for the first time since 1912 when they were known as the New York Highlanders. Clarke first learned to play the game in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands; and it’s there, Frederiksted, where Horace Clarke is best known as a hero. After all, so few Major League baseball players hail from the tiny island. Clarke caught the eye of scouts in his early 20s and worked his way through the Yankees minor-league system in short fashion and in order moving from Class D, to Class C, and on to A, AA and finally AAA. The Yankees were a team going through a transition and Clarke wound up replacing Bobby Richardson in the lineup. Horace had speed, swung a consistent bat, and didn’t strike out much. He was a decent infielder too. Some of the highlights of his career included hitting a grand slam as his first home run and then a grand slam for his second home run. (he is the only player in history to do that). In 1970, in less than a month, Horace broke up three no-hitters in the ninth inning with hits off Jim Rooker, Sonny Siebert and Joe Niekro. So, while Horace was a good ballplayer, you might be wondering why Horace Clarke is classified as a forgotten hero. There are two reasons: 1.) In his native Frederiksted, he was a hero based on all the work he did with recreational baseball after his playing days ended and 2.) selfishly, he was one of my favorite Yankees when I watched the team. I was always curious as to why he wore a helmet in the field and at my very first bat day, I got a Horace Clarke bat. Rory Costello who has written numerous bios for the SABR Bio Project, is my guest on this edition of SFH as we talk about the career of Horace Clarke.

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Every December college football heroes gather in New York City and are on hand for the announcement of the winner of one of the most, if not the most, iconic trophies in all of sport – The Heisman Trophy. Who was the man for whom the trophy is named, and what made him so special? John M. Heisman, the great-nephew of the man for whom the trophy is named – John W. Heisman, joins the podcast. John M. Heisman, along with Mark Schlabach, co-wrote a book, “Heisman, The Man Behind The Trophy”, and he shares many stories about John W. with me on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, including his on-the-field innovations, and some incredible stories from off-the-field too!

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Denny Shute won 16 PGA TOUR events including the 1936 and 1937 PGA Championships. In 1933, Shute outlasted Craig Wood in a 36-o playoff at St. Andrew’s to win the Open Championship. Largely forgotten, Shute had a marvelous career. In fact, it wouldn’t be until 2000 when another golfer, Tiger Woods, would win back-to-back PGA Championships (1999 and 2000). Shute played during the 30s and 40s when the fairways were largely ruled by guys like Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour and the game was just getting ready for the famous trio of Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. And, despite the notoriety and fame that all of the aforementioned received, Shute just kept going about his business. He recorded at least one victory every year from 1929 through 1934, finished second in the Masters in 1935, and then went out and won twice in 1936 and recorded wins in 1937 and 1939. But it was those three Majors that really vaulted Shute to the top of the game and he also finished second in the 1941 U.S. Open. Shute’s accomplishments on the golf course were finally recognized in 2008 when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, 34-years after his death. On this episode of SFH, I welcome back golf historian Tony Parker to talk about the marvelous and forgotten career of Denny Shute.

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In 1969, Major League Baseball expanded to four cities: San Diego, Montreal, Kansas City and Seattle. Montreal moved to Washington and became the Nationals and Seattle moved as well. Yes, there was a team in Seattle before the Mariners – the Seattle Pilots. The Pilots played in Seattle for just one season – 1969 – and at the end of spring training, 1970, they were officially sold and relocated to Milwaukee. But that one year in Seattle was a most interesting time. The Pilots were/are a study in what not to do when trying to establish a new team in a new city. Ownership of the team was not committed, the Stadium was ancient and not meant to host Major League Baseball, many of Seattle’s politicians and residents did not want a team and, getting back to the stadium, finding a location was utter chaos. The team itself was a typical expansion team going 64-98 in its first season. But they had a few players who people thought they could build around: Tommy Harper, Tommy Davis, Lou Pinella and Mike Hegan. But, before the season started, Pinella was traded to Kansas City where he went on to win Rookie of the Year. That trade of Pinella for John Geinar and Steve Whitaker proved to be one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, and it was orchestrated by Seattle’s GM Marvin Milkes, who also thought the team was much better that it was and talked about the Pilots finishing as high as third. That was a problem too as he did everything he could to help the team play better ball. Well, that backfired as the Pilots had a revolving door of players and according to Bill Mullins, author of the book, “Becoming Big League, Seattle, the Pilots, and Stadium Politics,” and who is our guest on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Seattleites regarded the Pilots as nothing more than a glorified minor league team because of the constant player movement, just like a minor league team. Join Bill Mullins now on Sports’ Forgotten Heroes as we take a look back at the fascinating story of the Seattle Pilots.

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Three golf champions. Three remarkable championships. Three very unique stories about three guys who had never won before: Mungo Park, 1874 Open Championship; David Brown, 1886 Open Championship; Jack Fleck, 1955 U.S. Open. Each have very unique stories and joining Sports’ Forgotten Heroes to help tell their stories is Connor Lewis from the TalkinGolf History podcast. Connor is one of the foremost golf historians around, created the Society of Golf Historians and is absolutely enthralled with the game and its history. His knowledge is second-to-none and the stories he recalls and relates are absolutely terrific. Mungo Park won the 1874 Open Championship after spending 20-years at sea. David Brown won the 1886 Championship after he had given up the game to become a roofer. More remarkable is the fact that he was actually working on a roof when he was convinced to come down, tee it up, and then went on to capture the Claret Jug. Jack Fleck, who was in Normandy on D-Day, ultimately became a professional golfer, qualified for the 1955 U.S. Open, found himself 9-strokes back after the first round, climbed into contention, tied Ben Hogan on the 72nd hole and beat Hogan in an 18-hole playoff to win! In the episode of SFH, we take a look back at all three championships and talk about the careers of all three golfers.

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Vic Hadfield was the first man to score 50 goals in a season for the New York Rangers. Named captain of a team that included the likes of Jean Ratelle, Brad park and Rod Gilbert, some say Hadfield just might have also been the heart and soul of the team. When Hadfield was placed on the No. 1 line to protect Ratelle and Gilbert the Rangers took off, and that line was quickly nicknamed the “GAG Line” as in a goal-a-game … and sometimes the “TAG Line” because it would go on streaks of two-goals-a-game. The author of the book, “We Did Everything But Win,” George Grimm joins host Warren Rogan for a look back at the career of Vic Hadfield.

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Not only is Lefty O’Doul one of baseball’s forgotten heroes, he is actually one of America’s forgotten heroes as well. In fact, General Douglas MacArthur said what O’Doul did after World War II to help ease tensions between the U.S. and Japan was one of the greatest acts of diplomacy in the history of the U.S. O’Doul is one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball as his .349 career batting average can attest to as it’s the 4th highest ever, his 1929 season is one of the greatest ever – a .398 average and an NL record 254 hits. But O’Doul wanted to make it as a pitcher and he wasted away on the bench of the New York Yankees and later the Boston Red Sox while trying to figure out how to get Major League hitters out. In the minors with the San Francisco Seals of the PCL, he met with great success as a pitcher. But it just didn’t translate to the majors. Finally, O’Doul took the advice of the Salt Lake City Bees, a team he played for in the mid 1920s and focused solely on hitting. When he finally got called up to the New York Giants for the 1928 season he broke through hitting .319 and followed that with his incredible 1929 season. But O’Doul only played six full seasons because when he finally made it he was already 33. Nonetheless, his contributions to the game, particularly in Japan earned his enshrinement into Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame. Author Dennis Snelling who wrote the book, “Lefty O’Doul: Baseball’s Forgotten Ambassador” joins the podcast for a terrific look back on one of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes.

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Nate Colbert played first base for the San Diego Padres during the early 1970s. Very few fans turned out to see him play. The Padres weren’t that good. In fact, they were one of the worst teams the game has ever seen. But, the few fans that did go out to see Nate Colbert play saw one of the game’s most feared sluggers. In fact, he is still the team’s all-time leader in home runs. But it was one day, August 1, 1972, that catapulted Colbert into the same conversation as one of baseball’s all-time greats – Stan Musial. Playing a in a doubleheader in Atlanta against the Braves, Colbert hit five home runs, knocked in 13 runs and had 22 total bases. A day for the ages, only Musial, who hit five home runs in a doubleheader back in 1952, had a day to rival that of Colbert. Joining host Warren Rogan on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes is San Diego baseball historian Bill Swank as they talk about that special day and the career of Nate Colbert.

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Hank O’Day is one of the most unique and important figures in the history of Major League Baseball. He broke into the game as a pitcher in the American Association for Toledo in 1884. He finished his career seven years later with the New York Giants. During his career, on occasion, O’Day stepped out onto the field as an umpire and when his playing days concluded, he turned to umpiring permanently. Well, sort of. In 1912, O’Day stepped back into the dugout as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds and went 75-78. He was let go after that one season. In 1914, the Chicago Cubs hired O’Day to be their manager and he went 78-76 and was again let go after just one season. So, O’Day put his mask back on and went back out on the field as a manager and ultimately spent the better part of three decades calling games. Major League Baseball officials consulted O’Day throughout his career and after his days on the field were over to discuss the rules of the game, what new rules should be instituted, which rules should be tweaked and which rules should be abolished. Sometimes they agreed with Hank and on other occasions they didn’t, which of course, disturbed O’Day greatly. O’Day was also on the field to make one of the most famous calls in baseball history, the call that led to the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs tying 1-1 in the heat of the 1908 pennant race … the famous “Merkle Boner” game. O’Day dedicated his life to the game he loved so much probably to the detriment of enjoying a normal personal life. He was basically a hermit. Dennis Bingham, who umpires games in the Chicago-area, and is a member of SABR, is one of the most foremost authorities on the career of Hank O’Day and he joins Sports’ Forgotten Heroes for an in-depth conversation on one of the most interesting and unique figures in baseball history.

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One of the most flamboyant soccer players to ever play here in the U.S. was Giorgio Chinaglia. He was a star on a team filled with some of the world’s best, the New York Cosmos. He played with Pele, Beckenbauer, Alberto and so many others. And while he might not have been as skilled as them, the one thing he did better than anyone was score goals. In fact, he was, for lack of a better term, a goal-scoring machine. In 213 games in the NASL, America’s premier soccer league before the MLS, Chinaglia scored 193 goals. He led the Cosmos to four championships in five appearances. He once scored seven (7) goals in one game. And, while New Yorker’s loved him, many opponents – and their fans – despised him. He was a star in a city filled with stars at a time when the likes of Reggie Jackson ruled the roost. Before he came to New York, his career in Italy and elsewhere was anything but rosy. Kartik Krishnaiyer from World Soccer Talk returns to SFH to take a look back at one of the most polarizing players in the history of U.S. soccer – Giorgio Chinaglia.

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Fritz Pollard is not a name most football fans are familiar with. Yet, his place in NFL History is about as iconic as any. Pollard is the first African-American to coach and NFL team. To be fair, he was a co-head coach. In 1920, with the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association, the APFA, later to re-brand itself as the NFL, Pollard led the Pros to an 8-0-3 season and the APFA Championship. Art Shell, who many consider to be the first, certainly deserves his share of such recognition as well, only his historic standing is that of the first African-American Head Coach in modern NFL history. Pollard coached in a totally different time in American history. In fact, he coached before minorities such as African-Americans were "banned" from the game. Pollard was also a player. A dual role as player-coach, which wasn't totally unusual during that period of time. A terrific tailback, Pollard rushed for 16 touchdowns during his playing days and also caught two touchdown passes. The game was played much differently than it is today and those numbers, 18 touchdowns, were quite impressive during that era. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Dr. Charles Ross, Professor of History and African American Studies at Ole Miss joins the podcast for a terrific discussion about one of the most important figures in American Sports History - Fritz Pollard.

Description of Sports' Forgotten Heroes. This summary outlines the fact that a new podcast of Sports' Forgotten Heroes will be released every other Tuesday. Additionally, it details some of the great heroes we will be discussing like Billy Cannon, Bill Barilko, Ed Delahanty, and Dean Chance.

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In 1950, the residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin were given hope. Hope that with the building of a new stadium, professional sports would follow. Well, it didn’t happen right away, but it didn’t take too long before Lou Perini moved his Boston Braves of the National League to Milwaukee. On, April 6, 1953, the Milwaukee Braves took the field for the first time in County Stadium and a love affair between a city and its team was born. In fact, even today, there are those who can’t get over the fact that the Braves packed up after the 1965 season and left for Atlanta. Even with the Seattle Pilots moving to Milwaukee in 1970, there are those who felt so betrayed, they have watched baseball since. They enjoyed the experience of going to County Stadium and watching their beloved team featuring the likes of Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews and so many others win the World Series in 1957. They came out in record-breaking numbers … over two-million packed the Stadium in 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 – they were the first team to cross that threshold. The Brewers moved into the old ballpark in 1970 and stayed through the 2000 season; and the Green Bay Packers played anywhere from two to four games there every year between 1953 and 1994. Even the Chicago White Sox played a few “home” games there during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Was the stadium a palace? Nope. Did it have phenomenal, ultra-modern features? Nope. It was just a structure. A building where people could go to watch the favorite baseball players, their favorite football players, grab a hot dog and a drink, sit back and take it all in. In his new book, “On Story Parkway,” author Jim Cryns recalls the events that led up to the building of the stadium, the determination of Bud Selig to get another baseball franchise in Milwaukee after the Braves left and the great memories and stories so many had in relation to the stadium on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes. Join me and Jim as we talk about the history of Milwaukee County Stadium, some of the great events that happened there, its birth and its final stand.

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Baseball outlawed the spitball in 1920. However, each team was allowed to designate two pitchers (if they already threw the spitter) to throw it until they retired. Burleigh Grimes of the Brooklyn (Dodgers) Robins was one of those pitchers. His spitball was quite unique in that he “coated” the ball with a special sap from a type of tree in Polk County, Wisconsin. Grimes continued to use his spitter, whenever he felt necessary throughout his career which ended after the 1934 season. Overall, Grimes won 270 games and was enshrined in baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York by the Veteran’s Committee in 1964. A fierce competitor, Grimes never backed down from anyone and even let his teammates know it when he was unhappy with them. This trait - “fierceness” - might also be why so many baseball fans know the name Burleigh Grimes, but so few can tell you much about his career. It was Burleigh’s intense desire to win that actually proved to be a detriment to his career as he was shipped from team to team to team. In fact, Grimes changed addresses nine times during his 19-year career that saw him play for the Pirates (three times) the Dodgers (who were also known as the Robins, and we talk about that in this episode of SFH), the Giants, the Braves, the Cardinals (twice), the Cubs and the Yankees. In fact, after going 1908 in his lone season for John McGraw and the New York Giants, Grimes was traded because he just couldn’t get along with a few of his teammates. Well, maybe “getting along” is too strong, but he let it be known if he wasn’t happy with their play behind him when he was on the mound. And that’s too bad, because Grimes could pitch. He won 270 games during his career and helped four of his teams reach the World Series, coming out on the winning side once, 1931, when he went 2-0 for the Cardinals in the Redbird’s win over the Philadelphia Athletics. Author Joe Niese wrote a terrific biography on Grimes, “Burleigh Grimes, Baseball’s Last Legal Spitballer,” and is here to discuss the terrific career of Grimes and also talks about the unique spitball that Grimes threw.

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So many baseball players have had their careers cut short by injury. Some of those careers might be considered marginal, and others might be considered a tragedy based on the fact that the career was on an upward trajectory and headed for greatness. Ray Collins, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 1909 and into the 1915 season had one of those careers. His last full season, 1914, at the age of 27, Collins went 20-13 – this followed a campaign in which he went 19-8. But, 1915, Collins developed shoulder issues, went 4-7 and never pitched in the Majors again. And that’s a shame because Collins was a stalwart on the Boston pitching staff. He was a key ingredient in Boston’s 1912 World Series win over the New York Giants, and was able to hold his own against opposing pitchers the likes of Cy Young and opposing hitters the likes of Ty Cobb. Collins, who hails from Vermont, is also regarded as one of the best ever to suit-up for the University of Vermont. In fact, Collins was enshrined into the University’s Hall of Fame. While pitching for Vermont, Collins also pitched in Class D minor league baseball, something you could do back in the early 1900s, and he was a dominant force. Several major league teams took notice of Collins and wanted to sign him. But, it basically came down to two: the  New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Collins decided on the latter, mostly because they played closest to his home state of Vermont. Tom Simon, somewhat of an expert when it comes to baseball players who grew up in Vermont, and a member of SABR, joins the podcast for a wonderful discussion on a career that was cut short by injury, the career of Ray Collins.

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The NHL expanded to Atlanta for the 1972-73 season with the Flames. The team quickly became a perennial playoff team qualifying for the post-season in just its second season. In fact, in the eight years that the Flames called Atlanta home, they made the playoffs six times (although they never advanced past the first round). After the 1979-80 season, the Flames packed up and left the south for Calgary where they have enjoyed sellouts and a Stanley Cup Championship in 1988-89; and made it to the Finals in two other seasons. The NHL, however, was not done in Atlanta. The expansion Thrashers took the ice for the 1999-2000 season. But they never experienced the on-ice successes as their predecessors did. In fact, in 11 seasons, the Thrashers only made the playoffs once (2006-07) when they won the Southeast Division and lost in the first round to the New York Rangers. After the 2010-11 season, the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg where they have enjoyed sellout crowds and a modicum of success in the playoffs. So, what went wrong in Atlanta for the Thrashers? On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Curtis Walker, author of the book, "Broken Wings" joins the podcast to talk about the team's failures off the ice, which led to its eventual departure. Walker's book goes into great detail about Thrasher's General Manager Don Waddell and his continual misses in the draft, poor trades and the problems with ownership. Should the NHL have expanded to Atlanta? What lessons were learned? And, should the NHL give Atlanta another chance? I explore it all with Curtis in the in-depth episode the chronicles a team that had decent success at the gate, but anything other than success on the ice.

Jim Gilliam was a terrific infielder for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers for 17 years. After starting his career in the Negro Leagues, he followed in the footsteps of his idol, Jackie Robinson. Signed by the Dodgers, like Robinson, he was sent to Montreal to play for the Royals. After a few seasons, he found his way to Brooklyn and was named Rookie of the Year in 1953. Gilliam, a favorite of Dodger manager Walter Alston, was called the ultimate team player. No matter where Alston needed him to play, Gilliam was up to the task. He was a terrific fielder and a career .266 hitter. Interestingly, though, Gilliam was always on the trading block and rarely got an opening day start because the Dodgers always thought they had someone better. But they didn't, and through it all, Gilliam was one of the most reliable infielders the team ever had. He played in seven World Series for the Dodgers and won four of them. He was so integral to the Dodgers' success that twice he was called out of retirement to help the team. After his playing days were over, Gilliam stayed a part of the organization by serving as a coach and was a member of three other Dodger teams that went to the World Series. In fact, Gilliam was so important to the franchise that his No. 19 was retired by the team. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Steve Dittmore, author of "Jim Gilliam: The Forgotten Dodger," joins for a wonderful discussion about Gilliam, the challenges he faced, his career, and so much more.

In 1964, Skip Lockwood was being looked at by several Major League Baseball teams. The Kansas City A’s and their general manager Pat Friday offered Lockwood a signing bonus of $35,000. Lockwood wrote a “1” in front of the 35 and convinced Friday and A’s owner Charlie Finley he was worth every penny. Finley agreed and Lockwood’s career was underway. A third baseman, one week out of high school, Lockwood joined the A’s on the road for some batting practice before he was to be assigned to a minor league team. The A’s batting practice pitcher didn’t care too much for Lockwood and beaned him. Quite a rude welcome; and that’s just one of the many stories Lockwood tells us on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes. Converted to a pitcher after not succeeding as a hitter, Lockwood was the No. 1 man out of the pen for the New York Mets of the mid-1970s closing out games for the likes of Seaver, Koosman and Matlack. He threw in the mid- to upper-90s and stared down some of the game’s best, guys like Aaron, Reggie, Schmidt, Stargell, Parker and more. Lockwood who just released his first book, “Insight Pitch”, shares many stories with us, like the time he was credited with his first stolen base due to a prank made by Max Patkin, the time he walked into the wrong bullpen, and having to travel with his Class A team in a caravan of three station wagons – a whole team in three station wagons! Join Skip Lockwood for these stories and more on this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes.

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When it comes to firsts, Larry Doby just misses the mark. Jackie Robinson was the first to cross the color line when he did so for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Larry Doby was second (but the first in the American League to do so) when he made his debut for the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947. Frank Robinson was the first black manager in baseball history when he was named player-manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1975. Doby was the second black man to be named manager of a team when he was picked to do so for the Chicago White Sox in 1978. When you’re second, it just doesn’t come with the same notoriety. But being second is not a knock on Doby. In fact, Larry Doby was a star for Cleveland, and later the White Sox. In fact, he was the first black man to be part of a World Series champion when he led Cleveland to a 4 games to 2 win over the Boston Braves in 1948. He actually garnered regular season MVP consideration in his first full year with the team. He made the all-star team seven straight years from 1949 through 1955. He had a career batting average of .283, hit 253 homeruns and knocked in 970. In 1954 he led the American League with 32 homeruns and 126 RBI. Doby was a star and in 1998 received the ultimate honor with his induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame. On this edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, I welcome special guest, Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro League’s Baseball Museum, as we talk about the marvelous career of the first man to cross the color line in the American League – Larry Doby.

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The name "Wahoo Sam Crawford" might not sound familiar to many Major League Baseball fans. But, it's probably quite familiar to fans of the Detroit Tigers. Wahoo Sam played for the Tigers back in the early 1900s. He was a phenomenally good hitter. In fact, if not for Ty Cobb, one could argue that Wahoo Sam might be the greatest to ever play for the Tigers. He had a career batting average of .309 to go along with a career OPS of .814. He averaged 191 hits a year as well. Not known for blazing speed, perhaps the most surprising of all when it comes to Wahoo Sam is this - he holds the record for most triples in a Major League career with 309 ... and ... he also holds the record for most inside-the-park home runs in a year with 12! But, the fact that he played during the same period as Ty Cobb stifled Crawford's popularity. Along with Cobb, however, Wahoo Sam helped the Tigers to three straight American League pennants: 1907, 1908, 1909. Unfortunately, Detroit never came out on top of any of those World Series. And the fact that this was the early 1900s also contributes to the fact that Wahoo Sam is not widely as known as he should be. However, the Veteran's Committee, at the constant urging of Cobb, elected Crawford to the Hall of Fame in 1957; and honor that was long overdue. Joining me on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes to talk about Sam is author Kent Krause. Kent's book "Wahoo Sam Crawford, The King of Sluggers" is a must read for any fan of baseball, particularly fans of the Detroit Tigers. Kent shares so much with us, from Sam's upbringing, to his days working in a barber shop, through his career in the Majors, to his days playing in the Pacific Coast League.

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HIGHLIGHTED SHOW

Hello everyone, my name is Zach, and this is my co-host Jarod, and we are The Playbook Podcast. Where we are here to talk about the Past, Present, and Future of the Gridiron, The Hardwood, and even all the way out to the Octagon.

We are just two fans who not only love our sports teams but the play of the game and how it evolved from past to now. So get ready to open them playbooks with us and we hope you enjoy it.

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Steve Wright played 12 years in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and a two detour into the USFL with Oakland Invaders. His story is quire remarkable considering how he wound up a starter despite being undrafted out of the University of Northern Iowa. But his determination and persistence not only helped him make the Cowboys in 1981, but become a fixture on the O-Line. He played with and against some of the game's greatest and played under three unique coaches: Tom Landry, Frank Kush and Art Shell. His story is filled with the highs and lows you would expect. But it's also filled with magnificent stories as well, three of which are among the most historic in history. In his rookie year, he thought he was on his way to the Super Bowl until Dwight Clark caught a pass from Joe Montana to vault the 49'ers and end the dreams of Cowboy fans everywhere. He was on the field for the longest TD run in NFL history, 99 1/2 yards by Tony Dorsett and he was on the Baltimore Colts when they packed up and left overnight for Indianapolis. But Steve's exploits on the field are only a part of his story. What he did off the field while playing and after his playing days are a huge part of who Steve Wright is. Introducing Cloudburst (misting machines) to the NFL and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, his charity around the world, his appearance on Survivor and so much more. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Steve joins the podcast to talk about his career and his life after football in this most entertaining discussion.

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I am Chad Cain your host of One Guy with a Mic Presents: History of Dingers and Dunks. I am going to be bringing the history of baseball and basketball to life. For every one of you that doesn’t know anything about the history of baseball or basketball, this is your place to learn.

If you know some knowledge about baseball and basketball this is your place to know more. If you have more knowledge than others around you this is your safe space. I can always learn from each and every one of you as well.

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Ron McDole had the great fortune of playing for two of football’s greatest defensive minds: Lou Saban and George Allen. McDole, who graduated from Nebraska before the Cornhuskers became such an elite program, played 18 years of professional football. He started off with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961 and then moved on to the Houston Oilers in 1962. However, he suffered from migraine seizures while playing with Houston. The Oilers, fearing the worst, put McDole on the shelf and later cut him. After a failed tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, McDole wound up with Lou Saban and the Buffalo Bills in 1963 and became All-AFL. After eight seasons with the Bills, however, and after a falling out with their coach at the time, John Rauch, McDole was traded to the Washington Redskins and wound up playing for George Allen and the Skins for another eight seasons. McDole still holds the record for most interceptions by a defensive end, with 12, recovered 14 fumbles, scored two touchdowns and recorded three safeties. McDole is very proud of his career and is considered, by many, to have been a Hall of Fame-caliber player. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, the man known as the “Dancing Bear” and who just recently released his book, “The Dancing Bear, My 18 Years in the Trenches of the AFL and NFL,” Ron McDole is here to talk about his terrific career.

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Duke Slater is not a common name amongst football fans, but it should be. While he played in the NFL prior to what we know it as now, Slater was still one of the greatest to ever play the game, particularly as a lineman. In fact, when the great Red Grange was asked to name the greatest players of all time (up until that point), Grange did not name himself as one of the greats. In fact, he named 13 players, 12 of whom wound up in the Hall of Fame. The only one who didn’t was Duke Slater. Somewhat a victim of circumstance, all of the voters said Slater should be in, but they always voted for other players and ultimately Slater fell by the wayside. Perhaps, one day he will be enshrined. And why not, it would take some teams as many as 3 or 4 players to block Slater. He started 96 of a possible 99 games. He played every second of 90 of those games. Every second! That’s offense, defense and special teams. In a college game against Notre Dame, a photo of Slater, who played for Iowa, was taken that showed him holding off four would-be tacklers with arm, and waving his running back through the hole with the other. Slater was the last African-American to play in the NFL before it’s “unofficial” ban of African-American’s went into effect. Actually, it was already in effect as Slater was winding down his career with the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals. But no one wanted to ban him, because he was so good. After his playing days were over, Slater coached several teams that were filled with minority players, but ultimately put his college education to work as a Judge in Chicago. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Neal Rozendaal who authored the book – Duke Slater: Pioneering Black NFL Player and Judge – joins us for a terrific look back at a legendary career that was not nearly as highly rewarded as it should have been.

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Urban Shocker was regarded by many as the best pitcher of his time. In fact, Babe Ruth said he was the best pitcher he faced. Other pitchers said that Urban was the best. Writers of the day, such as Damon Runyon, and others called Urban the best too. He started his career with the New York Yankees was traded to the St. Louis Browns and then several years later, the Yankees reacquired him. He was the one player of whom the Yankees said they made a mistake in trading. Over the course of his career he won 187 games. Yet, so few have ever heard of Urban Shocker. He played from 1916 through 1928 – and it was towards the end of the 1928 season in which Shocker succumbed to mitral valve failure, a condition he was able to hide from his teammates and his wife. He struggled with this condition for the last half of his career, and despite it, he was still baffling hitters with a variety of pitches. Steve Steinberg, author of “Urban Shocker, Silent Hero of Baseball’s Golden Age,” joins SFH to talk about Urban, how revolutionary parts of his game were, how dominant he was, and just who was Urban Shocker.

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Arch Ward was a visionary. Sports editor of the Chicago Tribune during the 30s and 40s, Ward is the founder of several marquee sporting events. He created the MLB (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game, he launched the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game, a series that last 42 years where a team of college all-stars played a "serious" exhibition game against the defending NFL Champion. He also created the AAFC (All-American Football Conference) which challenged the NFL from 1946 to 1949. Three teams from the AAFC still play today: the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers. He also created the Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament. Ward was also a terrific writer and author. He got his start at his alma mater, Notre Dame, where he worked as a publicity man for the legendary Knute Rockne. Ward wielded power unlike many of his contemporaries, and made long-lasting contributions to the world of sports. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, I take a look back at his amazing career with author/radio host/sports' historian Gary Webster. Gary has written books on the AAFC, the NHL's Cleveland Barons, the Browns and the Cleveland Indians (Guardians).

Darel Carrier is one of the greatest players to ever play in the ABA, the American Basketball Association and he joins me on this edition of Sports Forgotten Heroes. A prolific shooter from 3-point territory, Darel was named to the ABA’s All-Time team and is the leagues career leader in field goal percentage from downtown. In fact, for his career, Darel averaged exactly 20 points-per-game. Darel was a terrific high school basketball player who was offered scholarships by the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University. A home-body, as he explains on today’s show, Darel chose WKU over UK and became the Hilltoppers go-to guy almost immediately. His skill on the court caught the eye of the then St. Louis Hawks and Darel was drafted by the team in the 9th Round of the NBA Draft. However, rather than try the NBA, Darel received (as he said) a better offer from the Phillips 66’ers (then one of the greatest Industrial League teams) with the promise of a job. So, off to Oklahoma Darel went and goodbye to the NBA. After three years with Phillips, a new professional basketball league was launching and it was placing a team near Darel’s home in Kentucky. So, Darel opted to try his game on the professional level with the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA (American Basketball Association) and he, along with Louie Dampier, formed one of basketball’s greatest backcourt tandems. The two of them were deadly from downtown and helped build one of the ABA’s most dominant teams. But injuries (a herniated disk and later a torn Achilles) ended Darel’s career after just six seasons. On this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Darel talks about his career and the decisions he made that ultimately shaped his career.

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Art Ross is a true hockey legend. Not only was he a superb player before and during the formative years of the NHL, but he was also an innovator. In fact, many of Ross's innovations are still evident in today's game, beginning with the puck. But, it was on the ice where Ross made a name for himself. A tough and rugged defenseman, Ross was one of the top 2 or 3 players on the ice when hockey was in its pre-NHL days. Ross bounced around from team to team (many factors went into his choice on where to play every year) in Western Canada and in the East as well. The most recognizable team he played for was the Montreal Maroons. And, while Ross did play in the NHL, it wasn't for long (1917-1818 with the Montreal Wanderers) as he was ready to retire just as the NHL got going. But, Ross was still very much associated with the league as he became coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1924-25 season - and that's where a majority of his legend was born. Ross coached the Bruins for 17 different seasons and won the Stanley Cup with Boston twice (1928-29 & 1938-39). He also made major contributions to the game and the Bruins in upper management. Hockey was Ross's life and in the book, "Art Ross, The Hockey Legend Who Built The Bruins," author Eric Zweig covers it all. On this episode of SFH, Eric joins the podcast to talk about Art's innovations, his career on the ice, behind the bench and much of his life (whatever there was of it) off the ice.

Edd Roush was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. A star for the Cincinnati Reds of the 19-teens and the 1920s, Roush also played in one of the most famous World Series of all time, the 1919 Series between the White Sox and the Reds. While so many players from Chicago have been written about and are well-known, especially Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Kid Gleason and Eddie Cicotte; so few know about the stars of the 1919 Reds, such as Roush. A .323 career hitter, Roush spent 12 years with Cincinnati batting .325 with 199 stolen bases, 260 doubles, 152 triples and he hit 47 homeruns too! Edd’s granddaughter, Susan Dellinger, wrote a terrific book about the 1919 series and included a great deal of background on her grandfather. Susan also dives into the 1919 scandal from the Reds perspective. Titled, “Red Legs and Black Sox,” Dellinger joins the podcast to talk about the career of Edd, his few years in the rival Federal League, the 1919 series – from the standpoint of the Reds, and so much more including: how “shady” characters were hanging around the team, how Hal Chase tried to fix games in 1918 and 1919, and Edd’s hitting lessons from the great Ty Cobb … lessons that turned him from an average hitter into one of the game’s best. In fact, if not for two protests, Roush would have won three-straight batting titles.

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For four years, 1946 through 1949, the NFL faced stiff competition from an upstart league, the All America Football Conference. The AAFC was the real deal. Rosters featured such stars as Otto Graham, Joe Perry, Frankie Albert and Y.A. Tittle. It’s champion team, the Cleveland Browns, could compete with any NFL team and its coach, Paul Brown, created a passing attack that NFL teams just couldn’t defend. The AAFC introduced professional football to areas of the country that had never seen such a brand of football before. Of course, as with anything new, there were growing pains, and combined with dwindling attendance and rising player salaries, the AAFC - along with the NFL – was in danger of going under. But, the AAFC refused to give in. So, the larger league, the NFL, agreed to take in two of the AAFC’s best teams in 1950 - the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49’ers; and a third team in 1951 – the Baltimore Colts. The AAFC gave football so much, including teams to areas such as Miami, L.A. and San Francisco. The AAFC gave us unlimited substitutions, and it also gave us football’s first unbeaten team, the Browns. But why was there a need for a second league, and who was behind it all? Gary Webster who wrote a terrific book, “The League That Didn’t Exist: The All America Football Conference, 1946-1949,” discusses all this and more on this special extended edition of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes.

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