Welcome to back to Sportsnaut Unfiltered the Podcast! Today TC welcomes author Dan Epstein to talk about his new book: Stars and Strikes Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of ’76. We are taking a look back at a few of the significant things that happened to baseball in America in 1976 highlighting our favorite moments. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane. Listen now…
Stars and Strikes Baseball in the Summer of ’76
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144686295″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Connect with Sportsnaut Unfiltered show:
- iTunes on iPhone/iPad – Listen & Subscribe to the show
- Stitcher on Android devices – Listen & Subscribe to the show
Connect with Dan Epstein:
- Follow @BigHairPlasGras
- Dan’s Website
- Stars and Strikes Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of ’76
Connect with TC:
Stars and Strikes Baseball in the summer of ’76:
- How did Reggie Jackson end up in Baltimore in 1976
- What did Billy Martin tell Oscar Gamble when he showed up to play for the Yankees?
- Do you remember Rick Mondays famous play?
- Listen in to find out more
TC and Dan Epstein sit back and discuss America’s favorite national pastime Baseball! Back in 1976 there was a lot of celebrating going on with the bicentennial of America. Some people didn’t know that it was a big year in baseball as well. Our guest today tells us about some of the big name players like Reggie Jackson, Bake McBride, and Mark Fidryoh. We find out where they were and what they were doing other than loving what they were doing out on the field. We also talk about the fact that December of 1975 was the first time they started allowing free agency in the MLB, which meant the 1976 season was the first year to feel the effect of this change. This meant players like Reggie Jackson became even more of a commodity and they needed to become strategic about getting to where they wanted to play.
Listen in as Dan tells us what Reggie did to ensure he wasn’t going to end up stuck somewhere he would be miserable. Do you remember that 1976 was also the year of possibly the most Patriotic play in baseball made by none other than Rick Monday. Listen in as Dan tells us the story of Rick’s famous snatch and grab that restored the stadiums faith in humanity.
If the play by play that Dan gives ys wasn’t enough here is a clip we found that gives us the chills!
If all that weren’t enough, TC gets put to the test. Each of the chapters in Dan’s book Stars and Strikes Baseball in America are song titles! Chuckle along as TC’s brain is tested for musical knowledge! I wonder if he will make it out alive!
[polldaddy poll=7970436]
Photo: Dan Epstein- Stock Photo