One of the things we love about baseball is how new things happen all the time. Last week, we saw Kris Bryant do something that’s never been done before, Bruce Bochy hit a milestone that only one other has accomplished, and Joe Maddon pull off some rather unorthodox moves with his pitching staff playing the outfield. Joe Hojnacki and Greg Hessen discuss these baseball milestones and firsts.
Also, the government is sticking its nose in baseball in an awful way while trying to limit the earnings of minor league ballplayers. Why do they want to get in the way and for more hardships on aspiring major leaguers? In more positive and inclusive news, the independent Sonoma Stompers have signed a 17 year old girl to pitch and play in the outfield. Kelsie Whitmore will be the first woman in professional baseball in four years and only the second since the 50s.
Finally, the old debate of Barry Bonds to the Hall of Fame gets rehashed. This time, there’s a Pete Rose themed twist to the argument, though.
Crowding the Plate Episode 14: Baseball Milestones and Firsts
Music in this episode:
Intro/Outro: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sung by Edward Meeker and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by The Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club
Break 1: “Bamboo” by The Hard Lessons and a quote from the Seinfield episode “The Visa“.
Break 2: “Take Me Home” by After Midnight Project and a quote from A League of Their Own.
Hosted by Joe Hojnacki and Greg Hessen, Crowding the Plate is a weekly baseball podcast here on Last Word on Sports. It aims to cover the fun, yet analytical, side of baseball once a week.
Joe Hojnacki writes about soccer for Last Word on Sports and is also co-host of the Crowding the Plate Podcast. An avid Red Sox fan, Joe idolizes Bryce Harper and feels that his fun showmanship is the way to save baseball from becoming overrun by old folks, and from dying out.
Greg Hessen is the resident Tigers fan on Crowding the Plate. As somewhat more of a traditionalist, Greg longs for the days of pitchers hitting in the American League and a landscape that doesn’t include things like bat flips and PEDs tarnishing the greatest of all games.
Main Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images
