Latest / Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History / 1960 • Baseball Clip • Jackie Robinson & Monte Irvin - Radio Interview

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1960 • Baseball Clip • Jackie Robinson & Monte Irvin - Radio Interview · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

• 0:00
  This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history.
• 0:07
  Today my guest will be Monty Irvin, an outfielder who swung a big bat for the Giants back in the days when the Giants called the Polar Grounds in New York home.
• 0:18
  I'll begin my interview with Monty Irvin right after we hear this important message.
• 0:23
  Monty Irvin, I think one of the big unfortunate things in this whole situation as far as baseball is concerned, is a guy like Monty Irvin didn't get a chance to get into baseball earlier.
• 0:38
  How old were you when you first started?
• 0:40
  Well, I got started late, Jackie. I was 31 when I started. And, of course, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get started at an earlier age.
• 0:51
  I think that most people in baseball say that a guy reaches his peak at about 28, 29 years of age.
• 0:57
  You started at 31. Again, I say it's a real shame.
• 1:00
  Monty, I think in 1951 that was perhaps your greatest year. And you led the league, didn't you, and RBI's?
• 1:06
  And you came very close. And, well, matter of fact, there have been many, there were many people who thought that you were the most valuable player.
• 1:12
  What do you think about the voting for the most valuable player?
• 1:16
  Well, I think that there should be a new system, of course, devised to select or choose the most valuable player.
• 1:26
  Back in the 1951 season, as I can remember, I thought I had a pretty good year, and also Sal Magley.
• 1:34
  And we were real disappointed, of course, that Sal had won a week because he pitched a great ball.
• 1:40
  And we just thought that Sal would be an automatic shoe-in. But, of course, Campy had a tremendous season, and he was selected.
• 1:50
  There's no question about Roy having a great year.
• 1:54
  There was certainly no question about that if it was going to be a giant, it was going to be either you or Sal.
• 2:00
  I think perhaps there should be a change in the balloting. I don't know what the answer is, and I don't think it's our position to say.
• 2:06
  But I think there's something wrong with it because if a fellow is not liked by one writer, or he has a vote, he will exclude him from all of his ten selections.
• 2:17
  And I don't think this is fair, really.
• 2:19
  Right. I can think of, I think it was the 1950 season when Robin Roberts had a tremendous year,
• 2:24
  and I think everyone thought that he won the most valuable player that year. And I think someone else was selected.
• 2:30
  I think Hank Sauer won it that year, to the amazement of all the Eastern fans, and particularly the Philadelphia Philly fans.
• 2:38
  Monty Irvin, as I said earlier, I'm awfully sorry because I think Monty could have written a lot of records into the book had he been given an opportunity to, say, start playing when he was, say, 20 years of age.
• 2:51
  We're also happy that you were able to drop by and chat with us. Appreciate a lot, Monty.
• 2:55
  Always enjoyed talking to you.
• 2:57
  Well, that just about does it for now, fans. See you soon.