1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,600 Well, here he is again, folks. Dizzy Dean, brought to you by the makers of Johnson's 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:18,600 wax for Karnoo, the wax fortified auto polish that cleans and polishes your car in one easy 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:19,600 application. 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,800 Howdy, folks. Frank, how about you and me talking a little bit about Stan Musel, the 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:28,680 star hitter of the Cardinals? Ted Williams, a slugging hero for Boston Red Sox and their 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,480 respectable batting averages. 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,000 All right, Diz. Friends, this is Frank Eschen, very happy to collaborate with Jerome Herman 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,920 Dizzy Dean at a discussion of two great hitters. But, Dizzy, you mean Musel and Williams and 10 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,440 their respective averages, I daresay. 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,800 Go ahead and dare say all you want, Frank, but I'd like to ask you a question before 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,640 you start daresaying any more. 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,720 Shoot, Jerome, always eager to cooperate. 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:55,400 Well, Frank, the last time I looked, Musel was hitting.376 and Williams was hitting 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:56,400 .365. 16 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Frank, don't you think them as respectable averages? 17 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:05,000 Touche, Jerome, touche. Yes, I'll admit you were right the first time. Those are very 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:10,000 respectable averages. Now go even a little further along the Dizzy Dean rhetorical highway. 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,720 I'd say that those two batters have hit for a lot of respectable bases. 20 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,200 But what was the other point besides your sinister desire to catch me in a grammatical 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,200 trap? 22 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,160 I was going to say, Frank, that I guess most folks will admit that Williams and Musel is 23 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:28,040 about as good a pair of natural hitters that has come along in a long time. They both got 24 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,640 off to a great start, but they won't finish with that.400 average the baseball writers 25 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,840 and radio commentators was talking about early in the season. 26 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,000 A difficult objective to achieve, Jerome. 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:43,560 It's more than that, Frank. It's just doggone tough to hit.400. At one time they were both 28 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:49,320 over.400, as I remember, and it was really something to try to keep up that pace. And 29 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,920 any time they'd get only two out of five, which is hitting.400 for the day, they'd 30 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,600 drop a point or two. And that meant that in order to keep pace or maybe gain a little, 31 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:05,560 they'd have to get two for four, which is.500, or three for five, which is.600. 32 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:10,320 The point I want to make, Frank, is that anybody who ever hits.400 in the major leagues really 33 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,960 has something to be proud of. 34 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:17,680 And so to take a leap from your book, Diz, anybody who is hitting.376 or.365 can feel 35 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,280 comfortable in having a respectable batting average. 36 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:25,640 Now, Diz, we come to the mailbag department. We have two letters today. Mr. William Shamball 37 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:30,320 of Cincinnati writes about pitchers. He notes that so many of them were unable to hurl many 38 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:35,560 complete games, wilting after only four or five innings. And he recalls Rube Waddell, 39 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:40,000 who rarely reported at the park except on days when he was due to pitch. And almost 40 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,480 without exception, Rube was able to finish what he started. Mr. Shamball suggests that 41 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,320 it might be a good idea to give pitchers a couple of days off, Diz, so they'd have the 42 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,920 necessary rest, and perhaps they'd be able to pitch more complete games. 43 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:56,560 Frank, that idea probably will make a big hit with the pitchers. Boy, that would be 44 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,400 fine to have a couple of days off to go fishing or something without having to worry about 45 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,320 the ballpark. But I think the manager would raise a big kick about that. You see, Frank, 46 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,920 that is the matter of staying in condition. A pitcher has to run a lot. He ain't going 47 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:15,080 to keep his legs in shape setting on a riverbank with a fishing pole in his hand. 48 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,480 And here's another thing, Diz. Doesn't the average manager like to have his better pitchers 49 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,680 available for an occasional relief job? 50 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:25,400 Right you are, Frank. The year me and Paul won fifty games between us, I reckon we saved 51 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:30,240 maybe a dozen more, helping out now and then with an inning or two to stop a rally or protect 52 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:35,080 a small lead. Then I used to break in now and then as a pinch runner or a pinch batter 53 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:36,080 myself. 54 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,400 Ah, yes, yes. You were an asset of great versatility, Diz. 55 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,040 It wasn't so much that, Frank. I could get a hold of that old ball once in a while. Boy, 56 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,600 I loved a hit. I'll never forget one game when I went to hit for somebody. The other 57 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,680 club had walked Bill DeLancey, a good left-hand batter, to get at the pitcher. And Frankie 58 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:58,280 Frisk calls old Diz from the bullpen. He tells me the bases is loaded, but we're three runs 59 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,640 behind. Funny how managers always tell those things, when for pity sakes I was watching 60 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:09,200 as close as old Frankie was. Anyhow, he told me to try to get on. Well, the count gets 61 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,760 to three balls and nothing, and I don't look at third base at all. I know what the sign 62 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,040 is, though. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Mike Gonzalez was giving the 63 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:23,600 take sign. But I knew the pitcher was in the hole. He knew the take sign was on. I knew 64 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,280 he'd grew one for old Diz, trying to get back somewhere even on the count. Sure enough, 65 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:33,960 he grew one, a nice, fat fast ball. And, Frank, I couldn't hold back. I let her have it and 66 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:39,360 pounded that old ball far into the left field seats. As I passed third base, Mike Gonzalez 67 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:45,560 was having a fifth. Dizzy, he says, you crazy. Why you swing at that ball? Don't you know 68 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:51,480 the count? She is three and nothing, and we was three runs behind. And I says, keep your 69 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:57,160 shirt on, Mike. I know we was three runs behind, but we ain't no more. 70 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,200 What kind of a fit did Frisch have then, Diz? 71 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,840 Oh, he just shook his head and called me some kind of a dumb, lucky stiff. 72 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:08,240 Yes, but I daresay Frisch was glad you weren't taking a day off fishing that afternoon. 73 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:13,600 Yeah, Frank, see what I mean. Yes, I think you win that one for Mr. Shambaud, Diz. And 74 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,160 here's the other letter from the mailbag. Mr. Stuart Boggs of Philadelphia wants to 75 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:21,960 know something about the importance of jockeys in baseball. And did the old Gas House gang 76 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,360 go in much for that sort of stuff? First of all, Diz, you might explain what a jockey 77 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:31,640 is. Glad to, Frank. In horse racing, a jockey rides a horse. In baseball, the jockey rides 78 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:37,040 the other team. And while the baseball jockey don't use no spurs or no whip, he can sting 79 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:42,200 you plenty. Yes, I guess the dugout jockey always has been and always will be a part 80 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,560 of the game, Frank. And we used to break out in a little jockeying now and then in them 81 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,640 good old Gas House gang days. I'll tell you one time we really went to town, Frank, in 82 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,360 the 1934 World Series. 83 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,680 Yes, I seem to recall there were some sharp harpoons thrown during that October Classic 84 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:03,520 Jerome, remarks that were very, well, we might say ex cathedra, with authority, that is. 85 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:09,080 No, we never let religion get into our jockeying, Frank. But we had a lot of fun with them tigers. 86 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:13,280 We called them pussycats all through the series. And we got a little help from the tigers and 87 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:14,280 the Detroit papers. 88 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:16,200 How is that? That sounds like treason. 89 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,960 Well, for one thing, schoolboy Rowe did a little ad-libbing on the radio. He was on 90 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:25,400 a program and his heart was full of honeymoon at that particular time. And in a pause he 91 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:30,920 spoke a few words to his bride. He says, How am I doing, Edna? And, brother, I bet he was 92 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:35,560 many a time he'd never said that. He sure was miserable out there, trying to pitch with 93 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:41,080 Pat Crawford, our number one jockey, and all the others, asking out loud how he was doing 94 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:45,920 Edna. Then the Detroit papers give us some material. Mickey Cochran was injured in some 95 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:50,480 kind of a play, and of course, Detroit was all excited about that. One of the papers 96 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:55,520 came out with a big headline, flur across the top of the first page, which, with news 97 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,080 of Cochran's injury. And there was a big picture of Mike and under it, also in big type, it 98 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:07,120 said, Our Stricken Leader. Boy, we got knowledge out of that one. Mickey didn't show his nose 99 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:12,260 anywhere without some jockey starting a cheer for our stricken leader. 100 00:07:12,260 --> 00:07:16,280 Frankie sure was a lot of fun pitching with that old gas house gang. And, Frank, we got 101 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:17,280 paid for it, too. 102 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,880 Yes, and here's something that you'll get paid for in the form of extra special Sunday 103 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:26,120 satisfaction. Some advice, Dizzy, for those who like to get the utmost pleasure out of 104 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,640 their cars. You know, man, if you're going to drive a bright, keen-looking automobile, 105 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:35,720 one thing is certain. You've got to get rid of road film. You know, that sticky film made 106 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:40,640 up of exhaust fumes, oil, bugs, and a lot of other things. Now, water can't touch that 107 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:46,080 film, and so week after week it keeps collecting on your paint and chrome. Your car loses its 108 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:51,400 sparkle so gradually that you may even forget how bright and shiny it used to look. Well, 109 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:57,040 you can bring back that sparkle. You can bring it back in one easy application with Johnson's 110 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:03,320 wax-fortified car new. Johnson's car new contains five cleaning ingredients. That's why. Those 111 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:08,280 ingredients cut right through that road film, carry it away, let the real finish of your 112 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:15,280 car show through. And because car new is wax-fortified, car new polishes your car, too. It gives the 113 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,920 car finish the bright beauty it had the day it left the showroom. And remember, it's all 114 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:25,240 done in one application. You just rub car new on, let it dry to a white powder, and 115 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:31,240 wipe it off. Your car is cleaned and polished from bumper to bumper, from top to hubcaps. 116 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,480 So before this weekend is over, drop in on your service station owner or other dealer 117 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:42,880 and get some car new, C-A-R-N-U, Johnson's car new. Then just rub it on, wipe it off, 118 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,960 and see that brilliant shine come back, that Sunday shine you may have thought was gone 119 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,960 forever. Now, dear, without sound advice on its way, I agree with you that it must have 120 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,360 been a lot of fun traveling with those colorful Cardinals. That's what the baseball writers 121 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:02,360 used to say, Frank. They didn't get much sleep, but there never was a dull moment. Pepper 122 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:07,080 Martin and Rip Collins had a fancy Dan Pepper game they'd put on during practice. They always 123 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,840 wove the crowd. But don't forget there was a lot of baseball in that club, Frank. Terry 124 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,200 Moore, Leo DeRosier, Joe Medrick, Rip Collins, and Frankie Fritz. 125 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,240 And it was all good-natured fun, too, Diz. I mean, the boys always were in shape to play 126 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:20,320 a lot of baseball. 127 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:24,920 You said it, Frank. Baseball was them boys' life. That's all they thought about, outside 128 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:30,360 of having a little fun. But I know what you mean. There was no playboys on that ball club. 129 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,680 A playboy just couldn't stay long in that club. 130 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:34,680 And that sounds like a story, Diz. 131 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:39,240 I won't say what year this was or what club it was, Frank, because it's a true story, 132 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,760 and I don't want nobody to know exactly who I'm talking about. But there was one pitcher 133 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:48,800 who liked to stay up kind of late. He didn't know how to take care of his money, either. 134 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,360 And the manager, knowing this pitcher, had a family back home arranged with the front 135 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:57,800 office to send the pitcher's paycheck to his wife so the family would be sure to have some 136 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,440 money. You see, this pitcher was liable to give it all away. He was so big-hearted when 137 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,320 he got on the evening merry-go-round. 138 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:09,720 Still late in the season there was an important ball game coming up the next day. Maybe the 139 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,320 pennant would hang on it. And this pitcher, I'm telling you about, really could throw 140 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,520 that ball when he was right. So the manager tells him he's going to pitch that important 141 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:22,480 game the next day, and would he please get home early that night so he'd be in shape. 142 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,480 It didn't do no good, though. The pitcher got on the merry-go-round just the same that 143 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,720 evening and didn't get home till the sun was up. You could see when he checked in at the 144 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:36,080 ballpark that he hadn't been taking care of himself. The manager catches on right away, 145 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:41,600 and he's madder than a wet hint. He said to the pitcher, Joe, that was the pitcher's name, 146 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:47,560 wasn't the pitcher's name, Frank. I'm just using a tone guitar. I just call him Joe. 147 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:51,840 Anyhow, the manager says, Joe, I asked you to take care of yourself so you could pitch 148 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:57,280 this important game. And just look at you. But in shape or not, I said you were going 149 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:02,440 to pitch, and doggone you, you are going to pitch. And the pitcher crouched back, I'll 150 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:09,080 be doggone if I pitch, Mac. You send my paychecks to my wife. Let her pitch. 151 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,240 Well now, Diz, it's your turn to pitch. Coach Dean, will you give out now with your weekly 152 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:17,880 parcel of advice to young Americans to help them in their ambition to become big leaguers? 153 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,480 Yes, Frank, and maybe sometime we'll get some organized hip from this idea out for the young 154 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,800 ball players. I am talking about the hip young ball players can get from good coaching. Up 155 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,720 to a certain stage, boys can go along on their own. They can learn to hit by praxis. They 156 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,200 can learn to catch flies and handle grounders the same way. But when they get a little older 157 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,280 and are thinking about getting a tryout in a year or two, it's time to polish up their 158 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:45,480 baseball. In other words, there's a right and a wrong way to do many important things 159 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:50,600 in baseball. That's where it would help if the boys could arrange to have some expert 160 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:56,560 coaching. In almost every city in the country, there are a few old ball players retired but 161 00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:01,280 still interested in the game. Why not try to find such an old ball player in your town 162 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:06,160 or a neighborhood? I'll bet he'd be tickled to death to have you call on him and ask if 163 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:10,320 he wouldn't give you a couple of hours of his time each week. He can show you how to 164 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:15,360 tag runners. He can show the first baseman how to shift. He can show the start-stop and 165 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:20,520 second baseman how to work double plays. You've got to know how to do them things right. And 166 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:25,320 it wouldn't take much work to put a little sliding pit in how some old-time ball players 167 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:30,000 learn you how to slide properly. Many a game in the big leagues is won by a hook slide 168 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:36,760 or a quick double play. Baseball now has a fine-tension plan. Old ball players can retire 169 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:42,520 with some security. And my idea is to have baseball do something about this. And I am 170 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:48,000 talking right now to Mr. Ford Frick and Mr. Will Harris, the two big-legged presidents. 171 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,240 If they don't include some kind of a coaching project in that fair-pinching plan, Mr. Frick 172 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:57,240 and Mr. Harris, it'll give the old players something to do in the game they lack so well. 173 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,360 And it will do an awful lot for the kids. And it will help to develop more and better 174 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,560 ball players to make the big leagues bigger and better. 175 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:09,440 Say, those are words of profound wisdom, Coach Dean. And now if you'll grab that crystal 176 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:14,920 ball, you are now Dizzy Dean the reporter. How about the big league setup, Diz, as you 177 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:19,120 see it entering the head of the stretch? And what's going to be the deciding factor in 178 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,120 the two races? 179 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,760 Pitching, as I see it, Frank. For instance, the Yankees have been doing all right lately. 180 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:30,040 Frank Shea, who was off-form early in the year, seems to be OK now. That added hip down 181 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,480 the stretch could give the Yankees a big advantage. And in the National League, George Munger 182 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:39,520 could make a big difference for the Cardinals. The Braves need some help for Spahn and Sane. 183 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:44,080 Two men can carry the load for a while, but they get tired. If either should crack, it 184 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,520 would be too bad for the Braves. 185 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,880 Diz, do you think the schedule favors any particular club? 186 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,440 Well, most people think it does, Frank. For instance, the Yankees and Red Sox will close 187 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:58,160 the season playing each other. The strength of the league is in the East. Some believe 188 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,400 it gives Cleveland an edge down the stretch. In the National League, the Cardinals will 189 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:07,600 have the tough Cubs and Pirates to play in the last few days. But the Dodgers and Braves 190 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,060 play a late September series. 191 00:14:10,060 --> 00:14:13,840 The way I see it, Frank, you've got to win those games down the stretch. And the second 192 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,040 division clubs may be tougher than the ones up near the top. 193 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,480 Well, folks, we hope you'll be right back with us at this same time next week to listen 194 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:27,240 to Dizzy Dean. He's brought to you by Johnson's Carnu, the wax-fortified auto polish that 195 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:34,080 cleans and polishes your car in one easy application. Carnu cleans when you rub it on, loosens road 196 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:39,360 film and carries it right off your car. Then Carnu polishes when you wipe it off, makes 197 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:46,160 your car sparkle almost like new. Ask for Johnson's Carnu today. Save time, save work 198 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:51,520 while making your car as bright as a dollar. Remember to give your car that Sunday shine, 199 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:55,840 rub it on, wipe it off, is all you do with Carnu. 200 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,560 And this is Old Day. I hope all you folks are on the stand this time next Saturday. 201 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:03,080 I'll be pitching across again for Johnson's Carnu. 202 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:07,380 This is Frank Eschen saying goodbye until next Saturday for the makers of Johnson's 203 00:15:07,380 --> 00:15:20,040 wax-fortified auto polish, Carnu. This program came to you from KSD St. Louis. This is NBC, 204 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,920 the national broadcasting company. 205 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:42,920 WMAQ, NBC in Chicago.