BaseballBiz On Deck

Baseball history through the lens of the 1959 Topps Baseball Card collection.

Phil Coffin, looks back at 1959 through the history of the complete 1959 baseball card collection. He revisits baseball players, managers & stories with short entertaining essays
Back in the Day

• Phil Coffin, Author & New York Times Editor
• Mark & Phil reflect on their early days at The Courier-Journal
• Phil’s journey from Louisville to The New York Times (1997)

When Baseball Was Still Topps

• One of the best baseball books of 2024 by Sports Collectors Digest
• Short Essays on each of the 1959 Topps baseball card set
• Growing up in Indianapolis as a baseball fan
• Watching 1959 World Series between the Dodgers & White Sox with his brothers

Baseball History

• Comparing reports of Mickey Mantle & Derek Jeter as young prospects
• Ted (Klu) Kruszewski, Al Lopez, & Sparky Anderson
• Beyond the stats

The 1959 Chicago White Sox

• Tampa Baseball Museum & Al Lopez
• White Sox integrating baseball, Larry Doby, Minnie Miñoso, & Al Smith
• Al Smith beer drenching of 1959 World Series
• Ted (Klu) Kluszewski’s sleeveless
• Harmon Killebrew
• Overlap of Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball history & Hank Aaron's journey from the Indianapolis Clowns to MLB

Building a collection

• Started with 6-card wax packs for a nickel with gum
• The elusive Milt Graff
• Childhood collection tossed out by mom
• Path to rebuild the collection
• In “Jersey” you got to know, a guy to get Mickey Mantle
• Bob Gibson rookie card

Inside When Baseball Was Still Topps

• Essays on all 572 cards from the 1959 Topps set,
• Ted Williams MIA in Topps collection due to exclusive contract with Fleer
• Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s Rookie card, one of the most valuable in the set
• Maury Wills, debuted in 1959 but was left out of the set due to doubts about his potential

Baseball’s History and Evolution:

• Stories of baseball legends like Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams
• The evolution of baseball cards, from Topps’ dominance in the 1950s to today’s competitive memorabilia market
• Eddie Gaedel’s one-game fame
• Endurance of catchers
• Challenges of following modern baseball with expanded rosters and teams compared to the 16-team era of 1959
• Baseball fans connect with the game through history, stories, & tangible memorabilia

Phil’s Upcoming Book:

• A Baseball Book of Days: 31 Moments That Transformed the Game, explores pivotal dates in baseball history
• Stories include Babe Ruth’s sale to the Yankees, Jackie Robinson’s first game, and the dominance of Dominican players in MLB

Where to Find Phil Coffin’s Books:

• When Baseball Was Still Topps: Available at McFarlandBooks com and on Amazon
• A Baseball Book of Days: Pre-order now for its upcoming release (just in time for spring training)

Mark is on Blue Sky at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social BaseballBiz On Deck is on iheart, apple, spotify, amazon music & at www.baseballbizondeck.com
Special Thanks to X-Take-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward

The Honourable Lou Schiff shares his wit & wisdom on the Marlins 2023 rise in the National League. Lou and Mark take a look at Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz & Jorge Soler

• Marlins learning how to win this year
• Marlins new manager, Skip Schumaker is making a difference
• Cy Sandy or Sigh Sandy who will show up at the mound
• Marlins are a sleeper team, surprise team just like the Baltimore Orioles were earlier
• Unexpected downfall of the St. Louis Cardinals
• Glory of the Oakland A’s Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers & Joe Rudy
• Oakland A’s fans that feel betrayed
• Jazz Chisolm what happens when he comes back. Marlins are winning without him
• Luis Arraez - Rises Up
• At this point Marlins have not missed him
• Yuli Gurriel a leader to the team
• Where do you make space for returning players on the roster
• Corey Kluber example in Boston, Cy Young award winner moved to the bullpen
• Marlins Davis is making a difference
• Soler now 2nd in the league for Home Runs, may climb higher as Pete Alonso is temporarily out due to injury
• Marlins Radio - Kyle Sielaff’s call at the Miami Marlins & Chicago Cubs game – https://twitter.com/MarlinsRadio/status/1667996125108879360?s=20
• Miami fans love the game but are fickle
• Excitement of the WBC
• South Florida incredible last few months in sports – Owls, Hurricaines, Heat & Panthers
• Northeast does not see Florida as a place for a strong baseball team
• How do you stop the Mets from winning . . . give them a baseball bat Will
• Will Marlins unload Jazz for new prospect
• Oakland A’s have been playing at a 500 level for the last few games
• Sixto Sanchez will he come back this year – the roster is full – no need
• Trades this season Will Marlins unload Jazz and Trevor Story for new prospects
• Oakland A’s have been playing at a 500 level for the last few games
• Mark picks 3 potential Tampa Bay Rays for All-Star game – Randy Arozarena, Shane McClanahan & Yandy Diaz
• Is Zach Eflin human? – how did he evolve to where he is. Local boy?
• Fans are perking up in Miami & ready to return to see the Marlins
• Lou teaches Baseball Law classes at Mitchell Hamline & the St. Paul Saints
• Discover Lou at @BaseballandLaw
• Sneak Peak of Upcoming @BaseballandLaw stories include:
  • Farewell to Babe Ruth
  • PeeWee baseball and parents lawsuits
  • Dodgers beat up Chicago Cubs fan lawsuit
  • Count of 2 balls & 1 strike
• You can find Lou's BaseballandtheLaw book at
  https://cap-press.com/books/isbn/9781611635027/Baseball-and-the-Law

Special Offer on Baseball and the Law book - June Sale!!!!
Use code BBALL2023 at check out & get 1/3 off the list price
Sale ends 7/1
"It's something every baseball/law nerd should own"
@craigcalcaterra

Follow Lou on Twitter @BaseballandLaw for daily insights into the game
BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple,Spotify & Google podcasts & @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter and of course on https://www.baseballbizondeck.com
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Thanks

Brandon & Mark take a BaseballBiz look back at 2021
Tommy & Jimmy return with their stories on Field of Dreams & Sticky Stuff

• Celebrating the New Year with our fans – top 10% of all podcast per Listen Notes
• People of Note
  • Shohei Ohtani
  • Kim Ng
  • Rob Manfred
  • Joe West
• Bad Umpires – Conforto HBP – Braves botched call
  
• Glorious Guests – Sara Sanchez, Phil Terrano, Mike Murawski, Nat Gordon, Jeff Brown, Bobby Bass, Judge Louis Schiff, Mat Germain, Coach Cobb, Bruce Voge, John Vampatella, Brent Cardy- The Cardy Show
  
• Blue Jays journey back to Toronto – Dunedin – Buffalo – Toronto
  
• Sticky Stuff – (calendar Bubba Harkins to enforcement to injury – Max Scherzer & Sergio Romo strip tease – instructions)
  
• Field of Dreams – what was the importance & value of this event
  
• Turkeys of the Year with Goofy Gobbler
  
• Rob Manfed Lockout
  
• Ken Rosenthal fired by MLB – role of MLB Network employees - spokespeople or shills for MLB – Ken is still a reporter for Athletic and ESPN
  
• Wrap – looked back – what we see looking forward – CBA – New Year, New Me – Resolutions – New Shows

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple & Google podcasts
You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

@Mat_Germain_ shares his insights into the Tampa Bay Rays organization

• Rays win the 3 game Yankees series at Home
• Real problem with Game 3 was Ji-man Choi in the #2 spot of the lineup
• Yandy Diaz let final call of the game to the umpire on 3 – 2 count
• David Peralta or Jonathan Aranda should have been moved up in the lineup
• Kevin Cash is loyal to his players to a fault
• Watching the Montgomery Biscuits
• Mat’s analysis with 3-D pitching models
• Tracking command with Corey Kluber
• Aggressively Attacking the Zone
• Stretching Corey as Rays head to the playoffs
• Kluber incognito on the bench extended to 7th
• Mat’s process in evaluating Tampa Bay Rays minor league players & teams
• Tracking players through the levels of the minor leagues
• Outfielders – competitive positions – Miles Mastrobuoni, Grant Witherspoon
• Infield Glut - Vidal Brujan & Xavier Edwards may be playing in the Outfield
• Taylor Walls – elite defender at SS or 2nd
• Will Rays trade Brandon Lowe in off season
• Josh Lowe may be keeping an eye on Jose Siri
• Wander Franco is warming up now with the Durham Bulls,
• Will Tyler Glasnow & Yonny Chirinos be back by playoffs
• MLB potential changes – number of pitchers on team rosters
• Umpires not giving the right calls & extending the pitch count
• RoboUmps & Pitch clock are on the horizon
• MLB takes over MiLB Operations in Vero Beach
• Double the camera angles to reduce human error on calls in baseball
• Orioles continue to fly higher this season
• Twins, Guardians & White Sox what is happening, AL Central banner “Nobody wants it.”
• Great Fans of the game – love your team – love the game – respect the competition
• How Rays move pitchers like Taj Bradley & Shane Baz through the Rays minor league farm system
• Rays have the extra boost and momentum to close the gap with the Yankees

Special Thanks to Mat Germain @Mat_Germain­_ on Twitter for his insights, analysis and news on the Tampa Bay Rays
BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Tommy & Jimmy- baseball jobs lost, offered & pizza

1:45 - Germain gives us a deep dive into the Tampa Bay Rays farm system & who is coming up

2:50 – MiLBy awards – Rays Winners, Taj Bradley –
3:22 Taj Bradley has strong mound presence
Bradley reminds Mat of Shane Baz
xFIP explained - (Fielding Independent Pitching)

5:25 – Colby White ascends the Rays farm ladder through 4 levels in 2021. Could make a strong difference with the Rays pitching in next year.

6:04 – Depth of the Farm system reduces dependence on paying top dollar to experienced players.

6:45 – Most teams need a plethora of pitchers. Rays were strong with their pitcher depth compared to other teams. Not overtaxing the arms.

8:22 – Shane McClanahan – big ask to perform again so quickly in postseason

9:20 – Durham Bulls – MiLB Team of the Year. Mat takes on Baseball America staff on value of the Durham Bulls.

10:40 – Braves, their GM was courageous

11:00 – Arizona Fall League (AFL) – Scorpions – great games but not available to be seen. Why not?“ . . . a 6 team All-Star League”

12:00 - Curtis Mead, very close to being a major league hitter. Will the Rays trade him?

13:00 – Matt Dyer & Rich Hill trades with the Mets.

13:30 – TB Rays, Carlos Garcia – made AFL All-Star game

14:15 – How to break into the Rays Pen

14:45 – Joey Wendle – will the Rays keep this high quality and versatile player?
Other options – Keep Taylor Walls & possibly trade Vidal Brujan.
Joey Wendle brings the work ethic and commitment to the job.
Kevin Kiermaier, shouldn’t he be awarded thee Golden Glove award this year. Was something slowing him down early last season.

18:00 – CBA status – Collective Bargaining Agreement expires soon. How is this impacting team ownership on their decisions to sign, extend or trade this week. What are the Rays doing to the exterior of the Trop.

18:35 – Rays have taken down the images of the Rays on the outside of Tropicana Field. Dark dirge being played early? Let’s avoid the 1994 & 1995

20:00 – Truly – “Who’s on First?”
Where is First Base Coach Ozzie Timmons?
Third Base Coach Rodney Linaires is managing a Dominican League team that has Pujols as a team player.

22:00 – Rays need a seasoned veteran player leader with the team like Nelson Cruz, Albert Pujols, Rich Hill.

24:45 – Tampa Bay Rays Free Agents who should the front office bring back? Collin McHugh, Michael Wacha.
Loss of Charlie Morton cost the Rays money, wins and leadership for young arms.
Shane McClanahan – “I’m a Rookie” - sounded like a need for help.

28:30 – Stu’s tight purse strings restricted Erik Neander from building a stronger team

29:50 – Mat’s Favorite GM’s – Alex Anthopoulos & Erik Neander – courage to change the face of the franchise to empower your team.

32:00 – Mark’s Rays team – who he wants back. Nate Eovaldi, Charlie Morton, Hunter Renfroe, d’Arnaud

34:25 – Mike Zunino – Rays rather smartly re-signed Zunino. He is the forgotten man when it comes to catchers across MLB. “Zunino behind the plate . . he calls a great game” Will the Rays bring up Pinto this year to study under Zunino.

38:30 – Rookie of the Year, Randy Arozarena and Wander Franco are nominees. Franco is the best switch hitter since Chipper Jones.
Thanks to Mat Germain for visiting us on BaseballBiz
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"
You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, spotify, apple & google podcasts
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
Max is @Mat_Germain_ on Twitter.
#RaysUp