Things I Didn't Know About Baseball Until I Learned in 2018

[Edgy MD]

Pete LaCock, Doobie Brothers-era firstbaseman and outfielder for the Cubs and Royals, is the son of longtime Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall.

[fimg=250]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0qDKRsrWVo/S7Pqke-5qmI/AAAAAAAAGXI/Qi8I4phledA/s1600/SSPC+1976+LaCock.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=250]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Peter_Marshall_game_show_host.JPG[/fimg]

[Guest cooby]

Wow I knew that but I'm a lot older than you

[Edgy MD]

I love how that photo shows the forward thinking Cubs adhering a stitched insignia to their helmets instead of painting on a replica.

The Cubs still do this four decades later, although it isn't raised as much so it's not so noticeable unless you're looking for it. I think the Mets would be sartorially wise to experiment with this.

[MFS62]

cooby wrote: Wow I knew that but I'm a lot older than you

I did (know that) , and
I am, too (older).

Later

[dgwphotography]

Edgy MD wrote: Pete LaCock, Doobie Brothers-era firstbaseman and outfielder for the Cubs and Royals, is the son of longtime Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall. [fimg=250]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0qDKRsrWVo/S7Pqke-5qmI/AAAAAAAAGXI/Qi8I4phledA/s1600/SSPC+1976+LaCock.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=250]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Peter_Marshall_game_show_host.JPG[/fimg]

I knew that - I think it was on the back of his 1974 Topps card.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I knew it too. It used to get mentioned a lot on those old WOR broadcasts. I think it was a favorite "fun fact" of Ralph, Lindsey, and Bob.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Yeah, I thought every baseball fan from my generation knew that. I even remember watching an episode of Hollywood Squares where Peter Marshall was very proud because LaCock had homered the night before.

[Zvon]

I knew that once.


For TMF: "Only once!" Just once?

[Edgy MD]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Yeah, I thought every baseball fan from my generation knew that. I even remember watching an episode of Hollywood Squares where Peter Marshall was very proud because LaCock had homered the night before.

All I remember about Pete was getting Diamond Mind (or Out of the Park) a decade or more ago, and the first game I played was from the 1980 World Series where I played KC against the computer playing Philly, and I was so delighted that I came back here and posted the box score and play-by-play. I figured folks would take an impression but I didn't think anybody would read the whole thing.

But JC Lunchbucket scanned down to a the seventh inning where I had executed a double switch and put Pete in the outfield, and he LOL'd at the play-by-play phrasing: "LaCock is inserted."

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: "LaCock is inserted."

You're waterin' me down bro!

[Guest sharpie]

I knew that as well. It was also mentioned in the play "Bleacher Bums" which I saw in the early '80's. I remember the line "guess which one of them changed his name."

[RealityChuck]

Speaking of relatives: Randy Moffitt -- a pitcher for the Giants in the early 70s.

Was the younger brother of Billie Jean King.


(I did know that back then, so it's not new.)

[Guest cooby]

But I did forget about that!

[RealityChuck]

I just happened to look up a bit more about a player I've liked since I heard of him: Ned Garver.

What I knew before:
Garver was a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns in 1950. He did something quite remarkable: he won 20 games for a team that lost over a hundred games, only one of two pitchers who managed that. He was responsible for 38% of the team's wins; Steve Carlton in 1972 was probably the only pitcher to have a higher percentage.

Garver finished second in the MVP voting to Yogi Berra. If there had been a Cy Young Award back then, he probably would have won it.

What I learned:
Garver hit .305 that year, with an OPS of .786, leading all regular batters on the team (yes, the Browns stunk, but that's still pretty remarkable). He batted as high as third in the lineup.

Garver also had hit .286 the previous year.

This was probably the best year for a pitcher and hitter since Babe Ruth.

[stevejrogers]

Bob Costas will be the second Frick Award winner not to put in any time with a specific MLB team’s broadcast booth(s)

The other is a recent recipient, Graham McNamee who was a radio broadcasting pioneer, who died in the early days of teams having their own broadcast teams.

[Edgy MD]

Most national broadcasters cut their teeth on local broadcasts, but Bob broke nationally doing other sports and came over from there.

[Fman99]

Pete LaCock is my "working name."

[Guest cooby]

Guess this goes here.

Kiners Korner's theme music is called Victory Flag Waltz

[MFS62]

Fman99 wrote: Pete LaCock is my "working name."

Delusions of glandeur?

Later

[stevejrogers]

Edgy MD wrote: Most national broadcasters cut their teeth on local broadcasts, but Bob broke nationally doing other sports and came over from there.

Well, he did cut his teeth on ABA Spirit of St Louis hoops!

[Edgy MD]

Casey Candele's mother played in the AAGPBA.

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: Casey Candele's mother played in the AAGPBA.

I knew that! I believe I learned that from one of his baseball cards back in the day.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I remember the Mets announcers talking about that back during his playing days.

[Edgy MD]

As if the skirt wasn't enough of a handicap, she doesn't even come to the plate with a baseball cap, and instead has to use her perm to create a brim over her eyes.

I feel like baseball-reference should include AAGPBL statistics.