The Infinite Inning #028: When the Shortstop Made the Pitcher Cry

Author Paul Dickson joins Steve to discuss his new book, Leo Durocher: Baseball’s Prodigal Son. Plus, the Dodgers bullpen at Jutland and a note on eternal World Series goat Roger Peckinpaugh.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Jutland*Roger Peckinpaugh’s first World Series*Paul Dickson: How do you write 60 books?*The demise of the slicks*Durocher wasn’t a nice guy, but was he a good guy?*Slapping Babe Ruth*The 1947 suspension*Leo and money*Leo and race*Leo vs. Ernie Banks*Leo vs. Ron Santo*Leo lies about his childhood and Nice Guys Finish Last*Durocher as Branch Rickey’s Prodigal Son*The Dodgers 1943 clubhouse rebellion*Bookies in the dugout*What made Durocher a great manager?*Haunted by Casey and Bill Veeck*The Bonus Army*“Wikipedia conspires against the truth”*Goodbyes.

WARNING: One cussword is said this week. It’s a historical quotation and therefore unavoidable. Please warn the children that adults sometimes say things like this and they’re just sounds.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?