Talking Baseball With Ed Randall

Every summer in Cooperstown, the greats of baseball are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The players are famously immortalized with plaques that hang in the museum. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall discusses the story of where those plaques are from and how they're made with Michael Slack, the president of the architectural products division with Matthews International. They also talk about how they keep the plaques under wraps so the public doesn't see the finished product until induction day.

Dick Allen accomplished an impressive list of accolades during his 15 year playing career, including winning the Rookie of the Year, MVP and being named to the All-Star Game seven times. But what he accomplished in 1963 as a minor leaguer was even more impressive. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall talks with Jacob Goldfinger about Allen's minor league assignment to the Arkansas Travelers in 1963, as Little Rock was in the midst of a heavy segregation and Dick being a standout African American prospect.

As a 32 year old, Dr. Rock Positano met Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio for the first time. What would come after that meeting still amazes Dr. Positano; a friendship with the Yankee Clipper. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall spends some time with Rock discussing his relationship with Joltin' Joe and his new book that was written about his friendship "Dinner With DiMaggio."

Justin Verlander is no stranger to battles fought on the diamond. The All-Star pitcher has been in a number of tough games throughout his career on the field, but what he's doing off the field is something that he's just as proud of. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall sits down with the Cy Young Award winner to discuss his Wins For Warriors Foundation and what gave him the idea to start it. The Foundation works to empower veterans and helps connect them with organizations once they return back home, as well as helping raise awareness of the poppy flower.

When Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris experienced a dead-arm period while pitching in 2015, he underwent numerous tests to properly diagnose his issue. It was discovered during these test, unknown to Daniel, that he had thyroid cancer. The pitcher was operated on at the end of the season and is currently in remission. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall discusses this experience with Daniel and how it's changed his perspective of life. They also discuss his desire to learn how to surf and Shaggy, a 1978 Volkswagon van that Norris notoriously lived out of during Spring Training.

During a game in June versus the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers catcher Victor Martinez experienced a scary situation. While on the basepaths, he noticed he didn't feel right, with his heart beating a little differently than normal. Victor was later hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall sits down to talk with the Tigers catcher about how his life has changed since his hospitalization and if he's done anything differently since returning to the game.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham is having the best year of his Major League career, but his journey to the big club wasn't always easy. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall speaks with Tommy about how he almost walked away from the game of baseball during his Minor League days, as well as how he's managed to be successful despite being legally blind in his left eye. They also discuss the personal goals he has for himself and how he would spend his summers as a child.

The 1977 Chicago White Sox team was one of most beloved and exciting in franchise history. That team would come to be known as the South Side Hitmen. Don Zminda, a longtime baseball fan and a member of STATS LLC for over two decades, joins Talking Baseball's Ed Randall to discuss the 40th anniversary of the South Side Hitmen, the unusual collared uniforms worn by the team and how owner Bill Veeck found ways to instill excitement into a club that could not compete financially with some of the wealthier teams of the league.

United States Air Force 1st Lt. Ali Joseph estimates she has helped bring close to 240 babies into this world as a labor and delivery nurse. All of that along with being married to a Major League Baseball player leads to a fulfilling yet sometimes very demanding lifestyle. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall took time to speak with Joseph about her career in the military, how she managed a long distance relationship with husband Tommy Joseph of the Philadelphia Phillies and the interesting way she witnessed his Major League debut.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards has become one of the most iconic ballparks of it's time. As the city of Baltimore celebrates the ballpark's 25th anniversary this season, architect and urban planner Janet Marie Smith joins Ed Randall to discuss how Camden Yards started the old time feel in a new park renaissance, how it helped to revitalize the heart of the city and the fight to keep the old B&O Warehouse from being torn down.

One of the greatest sports movies of all-time, "The Pride of the Yankees," is celebrating it's 75th anniversary this year. New York Times writer and author Richard Sandomir joins host Ed Randall to talk about his new book "The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper, and the Making of a Classic." The book gives an inside look into how closely the movie followed the real life of Lou Gehrig, why producer Samuel Goldwyn decided he had to make this film, Gary Cooper's performance as Gehrig and why Gehrig's widow Eleanor, was not a fan of Babe Ruth being in the movie.

Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader Barry Bonds is set to be honored by the San Francisco Giants during a ceremony on July 8. The 14-time All-Star will have a plaque placed into AT&T Park's Wall of Fame, becoming the 49th player to receive this honor. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall spoke to Bonds about his current role with the Giants, where he places among the all-time greats and how he almost became a New York Yankee.

When Major League Baseball partnered last year with WHOOP, a performance optimization technology company, many were intrigued to find out what results the largest performance study ever in sports would determine. At the conclusion of the study, it was showed that evidence may suggest a positive relationship between recovery levels in athletes, where fastball velocity is up and hitters have higher exit speed. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall speaks with one of the founders and CEO of WHOOP Will Ahmed about the study and how WHOOP may change the future of sports.

When Fred Claire joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was an unlikely choice at the time to run the club. Those doubters were quickly quieted when they won the 1988 World Series, delivering the club's 6th championship in franchise history. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall spends time with the Dodgers' former general manager as he discusses his time running the club, where he was during Kirk Gibson's famous walk-off home run and being the first baseball executive to hire an analytical expert.

Rick Ankiel was a promising young starting pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. His success prompted the club to promote him to the big club at age 19 in 1999. He would remain in the rotation during the 2000 season. However, that all changed during the 2000 Postseason, when Ankiel lost control of his pitches. He went to Single-A ball to convert his career from pitcher to outfielder, and it worked. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall talks with the former big leaguer about his career, his new book and his life growing up that formed him into the man he is today.

Troy Percival spent over 14 seasons in the Majors and was on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels when he recorded the last three outs of their 2002 World Series championship. Now, he spends his time as the head coach for the University of California Riverside baseball team, his alma mater. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall speaks with the former fireballer about his career that saw Troy rack up 358 saves and four trips to the All-Star Game, as well as how he's adapted into being a baseball head coach.

Former MLB umpire Steve Palermo passed away at the ager of 67 this past week and although his time in baseball was cut short when he was shot in 1991, his legacy upon his friends and peers remained intact. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall and former MLB umpire Richie Garcia spend some time reminiscing and telling stores about their old buddy.

Nobody can ever doubt that Casey Stengel is one of baseball's greatest characters. The success that Stengel had on the field is only matched by the memorable stories that surrounded Casey off it. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall recalls some of the lesser-known tales about the late manager's career with New York Yankees historian Marty Appel who has recently released a book on the subject of Stengel.

As one of four umpires who retired prior to the 2017 season, Jim Joyce has been involved in some of baseball's biggest moments. Joyce was on the crew for the emotional 2001 World Series, Nolan Ryan's 5000th strikeout, Robin Yount's 3000th hit and three All-Star Games, as well as being involved with the Armando Galarraga near-perfect game. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall talks with Jim about his remarkable career in baseball, how he got into umpiring and his deep interest in Christmas lighting.

With the Miami Marlins reportedly still up for sale, the club has drawn interest from multiple groups including one featuring a former Cy Young Award winner, Tom Glavine. Talking Baseball's Ed Randall speaks with the Hall of Famer about his group's interest in purchasing the Marlins and how he became involved, as well as if he ever envisioned himself as an owner of a baseball club.