Latest / Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History / 1948 • Baseball Clip • Dizzy Dean & Bucky Walters - Radio

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1948 • Baseball Clip • Dizzy Dean & Bucky Walters - Radio · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

• 0:00
  This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history.
• 0:07
  Here he is again, folks. Dizzy Dean, brought to you by the makers of Johnson's wax for Karnoo.
• 0:14
  A wax fortified auto polish that cleans and polishes your car in one easy application.
• 0:20
  Hi everybody. Front and center you out, uh, fielders.
• 0:24
  I'm gonna have some advice for you fire chasers today.
• 0:27
  So relax and get ready to do some remembering, what I tell you.
• 0:30
  Yes, and that's just one of the things Dizzy Dean will tell you today and every Saturday at this time.
• 0:35
  This is Frank Eschen who knows that Dizzy Dean knows what he's talking about.
• 0:40
  Dizzy will answer letters from the mailbag, he'll spin a few baseball yarns,
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  he'll do some prognosticating, and he'll tell you of the big league picture as he sees it.
• 0:48
  And first off today we have the mailbag, Diz.
• 0:51
  What did the postman bring this time, Frank?
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  Well, it was a very hemmic of Seattle. Mr. McCormick was interested in your comment on Bob Lemon.
• 0:58
  He's been in the Indians in a recent broadcast.
• 1:01
  He wants to know if you think many ballplayers start out in the wrong position
• 1:05
  and how it happens that occasionally some manager does see unsuspected talent and put a player on the right path.
• 1:11
  To get right down to the point, Diz, have there been many cases like that of Bob Lemon?
• 1:16
  Frank, I guess Mr. McCormick's right.
• 1:18
  I reckon there's been lots of ballplayers who never made it in the big leagues
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  because they picked the wrong job in the first place.
• 1:24
  But I can think of several who got straightened out.
• 1:27
  Take Bucky Walters for instance.
• 1:29
  He came up as an infielder, but he wasn't much of a hitter.
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  I guess he'd have drifted out of the big leagues without ever getting into the big dough.
• 1:36
  If that great little catcher, Jimmy Wilson, hadn't seen that Bucky could become a great pitcher.
• 1:40
  And what was it, Diz, that first attracted Jimmy's attention to Bucky Walters' potentialities as a pitcher?
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  What was that word, Frank, potentialosities?
• 1:49
  It was potentialities, Diz. You know, the qualifications that led Wilson to believe that Walters,
• 1:54
  the mediocre infielder, might become a pitcher.
• 1:56
  Well, why didn't you say that in the first place?
• 1:58
  It was this way. Walters was playing the infielder and Jimmy was using him at third base.
• 2:03
  Jimmy noticed that the first baseman was having trouble with Bucky's throws.
• 2:07
  And when he asked the first baseman, he told Jimmy that Bucky's throw was taking off.
• 2:11
  Doing what? Taking off?
• 2:13
  Yes, Frank, taking off. You know, one throw would rise, another would curve.
• 2:18
  That's what they call taking off, Frank. The trade calls it throwing a live ball.
• 2:22
  Well, why didn't you say so in the first place, Diz? But go ahead, go on.
• 2:26
  Well, the rest of the story was just a matter of time, Frank. I mean until Walters got control.
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  And when he got it, boy, he was hard to beat.
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  All he had to do when he pitched against the Cardinals was to walk out there on the mound,
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  use the cards, and was beat right there.
• 2:39
  Well, Diz, did Walters have trouble with his control?
• 2:42
  I'll say he did. He was pitching an exhibition game against us in Florida.
• 2:46
  His first swing as a pitcher. And I'll never forget it.
• 2:50
  He walked two men, hit one, and then clurred the bases with two wild pitches.
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  Boy, the batters wasn't digging in at that there plate when Bucky's pitching.
• 2:59
  When I went to bat it, he liked to took off the peak of my cap with the first one.
• 3:03
  Then by some chance he got two strikes on me.
• 3:06
  But I had enough of hitting against Walters for that time.
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  And when the umpire said, ball two, I said, ball two nothing.
• 3:16
  That ball was right in there and I am out.
• 3:19
  Glad to get out, huh?
• 3:20
  Yes, sir.
• 3:21
  But Diz, when Walters got that valuable thing control, he really had it, didn't he?
• 3:25
  Yes, Frank. And after you get control, unless you can just throw a pile of hitters,
• 3:29
  you've got to learn to throw that ball where you want.
• 3:31
  You've got to mix up your pitches, wasting one now and then.
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  Like one game Walters pitched against us after he was beginning to find himself,
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  we decided in the clubhouse that Walters would be trying to get that first ball in there.
• 3:43
  So we went out to swing at the first pitch and we got off to a good start.
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  Pepper Martin hits the first pitch for a single.
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  Jack Routrock hits the next pitch for an infield hit.
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  And Frankie Freish doubles on the next one.
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  And then Joe Medwick hits the fourth pitch right out of the bark.
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  Four pitches and we got four runs.
• 4:03
  Jimmy Wilson managed the fillers, fillers, run out and says to the young catcher,
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  Bill Atwood, what's the matter? Ain't Bucky got his stuff?
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  And the young catcher cracks back at Wilson.
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  How the world should I know, Jimmy? I ain't caught a ball yet.
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  Well, Diz infielders seem to make good pitchers.
• 4:21
  Now there was Bob Lemon you told us about a couple of weeks ago and Bucky Walters today.
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  Does it ever work the other way?
• 4:27
  Yes, Frank. Occasionally a pitcher throws away the toe plate and plays every day.
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  You heard of a fellow named Bay Brook.
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  Ah, the best example yet, Diz.
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  Then there was Chick Haypea, the old Cardinal.
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  Chick was taking part in batting practice at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis with a lot of other rookies.
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  He kept slamming the ball against the fences.
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  Vance Rickey was in the stands and he says to one of the scouts,
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  who is that boy that just hit that ball?
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  And the scout says, that's Chick Haypea, a pitcher.
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  And Rickey says, you mean he was a pitcher?
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  Tell him he's an outfielder now.
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  And Chick became one of the best outfielders because he could hit that ball in a mile.
• 5:04
  Well, Diz, I'd like to tell the men now how they can make a hit with their families.
• 5:09
  On Sunday, I guess all of us like to drive down the street in a clean, sparkling car.
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  But when it comes to cleaning it, well, there's always a temptation to stall and putter around the house
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  and do anything rather than face that tough job.
• 5:22
  Well, if anybody ain't using car new, I'll say you ain't really pitching.
• 5:26
  I'm doing my best, Diz, doing my best to let everybody know that Johnson's wax-fortified car new
• 5:32
  solves the auto-cleaning problem.
• 5:34
  No doubt about it, men.
• 5:35
  Car new makes that job much easier because it cleans and polishes in one application.
• 5:41
  First, the special cleaning ingredients in Johnson's car new soften up and carry away
• 5:46
  that stubborn road film that collects on your car.
• 5:49
  Water can't touch that film, but car new gets it quick.
• 5:53
  And second, car new polishes your car so it shines from radiator to taillight.
• 5:58
  That's because car new is wax-fortified.
• 6:01
  All you do is apply Johnson's car new, let it dry to a white powder, and then wipe it off.
• 6:07
  Rub it on, wipe it off.
• 6:09
  That's all there is to it.
• 6:11
  So as soon as this program is over, why not drop in on your dealer or the nearest filling station
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  and get some Johnson's wax-fortified car new?
• 6:19
  Car new works so quickly you can easily do the job before sundown.
• 6:23
  And how will your car look?
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  Say, that paint job will sparkle like new.
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  The chrome trim will glisten and glean.
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  Your whole car will have that Sunday shine.
• 6:34
  Now it's time for Dizzy Dean the coach.
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  Are you ready to tell those outfielders about chasing flies, Diz?
• 6:40
  All set, Frank.
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  And right off, I'll set it up in four main points.
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  First, learn to play the hitters.
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  Second, be ready to do the right thing when the ball is hit your way.
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  Third, have in mind exactly what the situation is.
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  And fourth, learn to play with sunglasses before you break into a league where you may have to play the sun field.
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  And now I'll take up them points.
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  First again, most hitters have a habit of hitting to a certain field.
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  Learn about that every time you get a new hitter comes to bat.
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  Move where you think he's most likely to hit the ball.
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  And second, on each hitter, make up your mind where you'll throw the ball if you catch a fly or feel a base hit.
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  And don't put off your thinking till the ball is in your hand.
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  If you do that kind of thinking, after you get the ball, you'll weaken your ball club.
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  And third, keep in mind the score and how many are on base and what bases they're on.
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  If your team has a good lead, you may let a run score to keep a man from going to third.
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  If you're only one run ahead, you'll play in close and make a throw to the plate to cut off that tying run if it's all possible.
• 7:51
  I can't sum that up better than to say, keep the situation in mind at all times.
• 7:56
  And about number four, and them sunglasses.
• 7:59
  You'll be glad you take that advice.
• 8:01
  I've seen many outfielder come up from the minors without even having worn sunglasses.
• 8:06
  It's true they play most of their games in the minors at night.
• 8:09
  But learn to wear sunglasses just the same.
• 8:12
  Get yourself a pair of sunglasses, you young outfielders, and learn to use them.
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  They may keep you from making an extra trip for those bush leagues.
• 8:20
  Ah, that's very fine advice, Diz, but I think you've been unusually serious today.
• 8:25
  How about one of those inimitable baseball stories? Dizzy Dean the storyteller, huh?
• 8:29
  Okay, Frank, how about an umpire story?
• 8:32
  That's fine, go right ahead.
• 8:33
  Well, this is about me and a veteran umpire named Cy Fairman.
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  He was in close game with the Giants, and I was on first base when Frankie Frisch hit a clean single to the right.
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  I was a pretty good baserunner, Frank, if I do say so myself.
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  And I really took off.
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  I rounded second, tore for third, and me and the cloud of dust and the ball all arrived at third at the same time.
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  I thought I'd made it, but umpire Fairman called me out.
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  But before I could get up and squawk about the decision, Fairman started talking and brushing me off.
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  He brushed the dust off my shoulders, and he said,
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  Diz, that was a great piece of baserunning.
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  Frisch couldn't have run no faster, and that slide Dizzy Ty Cobb couldn't have done no better.
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  But Dizzy, Ott made a great throw on the play, and you're out.
• 9:22
  I didn't have the heart to say no more to Fairman.
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  But on the way to the dugout, I passed Bill Clem, who was working at the plate, and I said, Bill, did you see that play?
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  And Bill said, Yes, Jerome, I seen it.
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  Well, I started telling Bill that I was safe and that Jackson hasn't tagged me.
• 9:40
  And I beat the throw when Bill broke in and said, Jerome, remember me?
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  I am Bill Clem behind the plate.
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  If you want to get on somebody about that play at third, talk to Mr. Fairman.
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  And I said, No, sir, Bill. I couldn't say nothing to Cy.
• 9:56
  You know he was so nice to me that if I'd had a quarter in my pocket out of tiffin.
• 10:01
  Always the kind-hearted, generous Dizzy Dean.
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  Right now, though, it's Dizzy Dean, the reporter.
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  And what has your rapt attention right now, Diz?
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  What do you see in that crystal ball?
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  You mean you want me to do some promiscicating, Frank?
• 10:15
  If you care to, Diz. But first of all, let's take a look at that big league picture.
• 10:20
  Well, I'd say that right now, Frank, Lou Boudreau and Connie Mack is on the spot.
• 10:24
  What I mean is that two hot clubs are barking at the heels of the Cleveland Indians and the Athletics.
• 10:29
  The Red Sox are the hottest club, and the way things is right now,
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  it looks like it might be an all-Boston series next October.
• 10:36
  But the Yankees are staying up close enough.
• 10:39
  I wouldn't be surprised if the situation is turned around in another couple of weeks.
• 10:43
  I mean, I expect the Red Sox and the Yankees to be fighting it out soon for the first spot in the American League.
• 10:48
  Diz, what do you think has been responsible for the upsurge of the Red Sox?
• 10:52
  It ain't any one thing, Frank.
• 10:54
  It takes power, defense, and pitching to keep a club going at top speed.
• 10:59
  It looks like a case of everything starting to click for the Red Sox.
• 11:02
  And here's the funny thing about it, Frank.
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  Everybody figured Ted Williams would have to carry that ball club.
• 11:08
  But Ted's been out for about 15 games, and the Red Sox kept on winning.
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  Nine straights up to the day.
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  And Stan Spence hasn't been doing too much hitting.
• 11:18
  But even with Williams out and Spence in the slump, Boston's been moving right along.
• 11:23
  You know, Frank, most of the experts figured the Yankees would win this year.
• 11:27
  They figured New York would have better pitching.
• 11:29
  But right now the Yankee pitcher is not so hot, while Boston's pitching has been getting better.
• 11:35
  Jack Kramer has been a big help.
• 11:37
  Vern Stevens has been pounding that ball.
• 11:39
  Ellis Kinder won another one the other day.
• 11:41
  Frank, that big winner deal with the Browns is paying off at last.
• 11:45
  And it seems to me, too, that Joe McCarthy rates a hand for getting that club going.
• 11:49
  You said it, Frank.
• 11:51
  It would have been easier for Joe to get panicky the way the Red Sox started.
• 11:56
  But he just kept quiet.
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  He knew he had the power.
• 11:59
  He knew he had a good ball club.
• 12:01
  He stayed with the boys, and now they're coming through.
• 12:04
  But you think the Yankees will fight it out for first place.
• 12:07
  You expect the Yankee pitching to improve this?
• 12:09
  It could, Frank.
• 12:10
  Bucky Harris has pitching who might start clicking any day.
• 12:14
  Rashee, Reynolds, and Lopat could put together a winning streak if Frank Shea could find himself.
• 12:21
  And in the National League?
• 12:23
  That won't get exciting, Frank, until somebody cuts down that wide space between the Boston Braves and second place.
• 12:30
  Billy Southworth's got himself a pretty fat cushion right now, Frank.
• 12:34
  He looks like a winner to me.
• 12:36
  Well, so much for the Swami reporter.
• 12:38
  But now, Diz, would you care to say something about that Cleveland-Washington row the other night?
• 12:42
  You know, the one that resulted in the sort of a man-bite-dog news that an umpire had been suspended?
• 12:48
  Well, go ahead, Frank. Put me on the spot.
• 12:51
  Don't you know there ain't never been no open season on umpires?
• 12:55
  Seriously, though, Frank, here's an idea.
• 12:58
  Them umpires take a lot through a season.
• 13:00
  Pitchers beef if a close one has called a ball.
• 13:03
  The batter beefs if it's called a strike.
• 13:06
  I imagine if even old deers would get fed up on that if I were an umpire.
• 13:10
  But let's suggest one big free day for the umpires.
• 13:13
  On that day, let the umpires beef at the ball players.
• 13:17
  Let them ball them out if they strike out or if they get caught off a base.
• 13:21
  Let the umpires sow dust and kick masks and raws them bags.
• 13:25
  Frank, I believe the umpire's got a day of freedom coming to him.
• 13:29
  Diz, I certainly second that motion.
• 13:31
  And if the umpires learn about this, they'll be coming right back to you for more help.
• 13:35
  And folks, we hope you'll be right back with us at this same time next week to listen to Dizzy Dean.
• 13:41
  He's brought to you by Johnson's Carnu,
• 13:44
  a wax-fortified auto-polish that cleans and polishes your car in one easy application.
• 13:50
  Rub it on. Carnu cleans your car.
• 13:53
  Gets the road film that water won't touch.
• 13:56
  Wipe it off and Carnu polishes your car.
• 13:59
  Makes it shine like new.
• 14:01
  So zip over your car with Johnson's Carnu and make it shine like a new dollar.
• 14:06
  Remember to give your car that Sunday shine.
• 14:09
  Rub it on. Wipe it off is all you do with Carnu.
• 14:14
  This is old Diz. Hope all you folks understand this time next Saturday.
• 14:19
  I'll be pitching McCross again for Johnson's Carnu.
• 14:22
  This is Frank Ashen saying goodbye until next Saturday
• 14:26
  for the makers of Johnson's wax-fortified auto-polish, Carnu.
• 14:31
  This program came to you from KSD St. Louis.
• 14:36
  This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.
• 14:41
  Music