1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Is this great game or what? And our 2 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: guest this week is Ron Darling. Really good major league 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: pitcher in his day, World champion with the eighty six Mets. 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: Now one of the best color broadcasters in the game, 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: and he played a crucial role in maybe the craziest 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: game of all time forty years ago on July the fourth, 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: Mets and Braves. 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: We'll talk all about that in a minute. 9 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: Ron. 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 2: This is my son, Jeff. Hi, Jeff. Oh my goodness, 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 2: it must look like your mind. 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 3: You know. 13 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 4: I'm telling you right now the amount of times I 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 4: can't believe we started a podcast together, Ron, because people 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 4: don't know who's talking half the time. 16 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: Oh, I know, guys have very very similar voices. I 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: know your dad's probably told you this, but you know, 18 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: we'll just being out. Forty four years ago, around this time, 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: I was drafted by this little ball club, the Texas Rangers, 20 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 2: and the Dallas Morning News had a reporter who had 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: to interview me, and it ended up being your dad 22 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: was really one of the first guys I ever spoke 23 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: to as a professional ball player. 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 3: And now isn't true what he always said? 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: Ron? 26 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 3: Did he really look like he was sixteen? Working for 27 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 3: a real newspaper. 28 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, but you know it was really good. 29 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: I almost looked, Yeah, things have changed, and said so Jeff. 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: The Rangers traded Ron Darling and Walt Terrell to the 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 1: Mets for Lee Mozilly in one of the worst trades 32 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: in club history. And I called Joe Klein, the general 33 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: manager that night that afternoon to get a response on this, 34 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: and someone else picked up the phone and they said, sorry, 35 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: Joe Klein is dead. He jumped off the roof of 36 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: the holiday in after hearing about the trade. 37 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: That's how bad a trade it was. I got a 38 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 2: couple of stories about that trade. So the reason the 39 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: Rangers had to make that trade is because I believe 40 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: Mickey Rivers was their free agent. So he would come 41 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: every day to spring training sit outside and he had 42 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: a Cadillac with horns on it to sit on the front. 43 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: Car with the car that had horns had to know 44 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 2: me kind of wanting a job, but he wanted to 45 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: get paid a certain amount. The Rangers were going to 46 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 2: balk and that's why they ended up getting Lee Mazilli. 47 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: But I was traded on April Fool's Day, which is 48 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: not a cool day to be traded because you never know. 49 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: But day prior or a couple of days prior, Don Zimmer, 50 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: who was the manager, called me in his office in 51 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: spring training, as you very much do with young players, 52 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: and he brought me in the office and he said, listen, 53 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 2: you had a great spring training. You're going to go 54 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: down to Oklahoma City Triple A. You're going to make 55 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: a few starts, and you're going to be in the 56 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 2: big leagues in no time. So I drove from Pampino Beach, Florida, 57 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: which is on the east coast the Plant City, Florida, 58 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: where no one knows where that is, about three hours. 59 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: By the time I had talked to Zimmer, drove three 60 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: hours and got to my hotel room. The red light 61 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: was on your dad knows what that is, and a message, 62 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: and the message was that I had been traded. So 63 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: that's how fast things can work. 64 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: It was crazy, all right, Jeff, what do you want 65 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: to ask Ron? 66 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 4: Well, we got to start with the fact that we 67 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 4: have had your teammate Keith Hernandez on the podcast before. 68 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 3: And I'm not sure if you know this. 69 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 4: But the entire episode that we had Keith on Ron 70 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 4: was about my dad and Keith Hernandez, both being in 71 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 4: the stratomatic Call of Fame, agree we have who should 72 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 4: be a Hall of Fame first basin and all we 73 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 4: talked about was rolling out six y five the yeah. 74 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 2: But those two stratomatic Hall of Famers between them have 75 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: eleven Gold Glove so they well, you know, we had 76 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: a We had a ballplayer who was going to be 77 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: a great player, but injuries took away his career who 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: ended up being a great manager. Rod and garden Higher, 79 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 2: and we used to always make fun of him because 80 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 2: on the board at say stadium, they would have like, 81 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: for me, they would say what college I came from? 82 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 2: For Keith they would say he was the nineteen seventy 83 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: nine MVP. And for Ron garden Higher it would say 84 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: all district shortstopping that Hall of Famous. We love it. 85 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: Keith made a slab out loud a million times, which 86 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: was so good. 87 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 2: Now. 88 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: Keith was also on, of course, the eighty five Mets 89 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: team that played against the Braves on July the fourth, 90 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty five. The Mets won sixteen to thirteen. The 91 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: game lasted nineteen innings. Ron Darling pitched the nineteenth inning. 92 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: We'll get to that in a minute. The game started 93 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: at nine oh four because of a rain delay, and 94 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: with other rain delays, the game lasted a total of 95 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: six hours and ten minutes and ended at three point 96 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: fifty five in the morning. So Ron forty years later, 97 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: when you think about that game, what first comes to 98 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: your mind having played in maybe the craziest game of 99 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: all time. 100 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 2: Well, Atlanta at that time was not a great team. 101 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: They were going through that point trying to rebuild. Remember 102 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: their early eighty pretty good with Joe tory Dale, Murphy 103 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: and others. In fact, they went to the postseason. I 104 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: believe in eighty two Murphy was right in the middle 105 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: of winning MVPs. But their team was not very good then, 106 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: and we had the great Dwight Gooden was starting that game, 107 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 2: and Dwight was right in the middle of his eighty 108 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: five season where he went twenty four and four and 109 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: up with a one point five to three pretty automatic 110 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: win when Dwight pitched in those days, But because of 111 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: the rain and everything else and the game starting late, 112 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: I really took Dwight out of play. What I remember 113 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: about that game is two things. One is that at 114 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: some point, being on the bench, whether you were a 115 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: position player, this backup catcher, a pitcher. You had to 116 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: get into this game. It was just so remarkable. You 117 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: knew it was remarkable by being just on the bench 118 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: and seeing what was happening. People are being thrown out, 119 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: there were a million runs scored. All of that. You 120 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 2: had to get in, even if it was a pinch runner, whatever, 121 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: you needed to be in that box score. And the 122 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: second thing is that after I delivered the last pitch 123 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: to ironically strike out Rick Camp would hit the home 124 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 2: run to tie it. Earlier, we came in the clubhouse 125 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 2: and you know, when you're playing in the middle of 126 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 2: finishing a big league game, you have a certain adrenaline 127 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: that's running through your body, you know, your competitive nature 128 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: or whatever. And we come in and just most of 129 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: our team now has either been thrown out and is 130 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 2: watching the game on TV. And as I opened the doors, 131 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: reopened the doors, the entire locker room was littered with 132 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: bud light cans and chick pilate record. That's all I 133 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: can remember is that it was cans and rappers everywhere where. 134 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: Half of our team teammates were in a state of 135 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: annihilation and the rest of us were coming wearily off 136 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: the field trying to celebrate a win. It was mad. 137 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 4: Well, let's for the people who aren't familiar with the game, 138 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 4: let's put it into perspective. It finishes sixteen to thirteen, 139 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 4: but after nine it was eight to eight. So there 140 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 4: were thirteen runs that were scored in extra inning. So 141 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 4: this wasn't like a one to one game, and it 142 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 4: ended three to one or whatever it might be like. 143 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 4: There were thirteen runs, so every time someone would score 144 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 4: on the top of the inning, it would get matched 145 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 4: in the bottom of the inning and so on. That 146 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 4: is the unbelievable portion. And then, Dad, you famously talked 147 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 4: about how they fired off. 148 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 3: The fireworks in the front of the game. 149 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: Well, was that like fireworks at four am? 150 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: Well, it was kind of like for if you're a reader, 151 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: it was kind of like the War of the World 152 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: for folks in Atlanta. I'm sure that being woken that 153 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: had to be something like aliens were invading. It was 154 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 2: crazy that they had the audacity to let the fireworks go. 155 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: But you know, I'm sure everyone at that stadium felt 156 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 2: like we were all in our little world. Anyone who 157 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: stayed really was allowed to do just about anything as 158 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: we went along, and Jeff to answer your question about 159 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 2: the runs, it was Keith We mentioned Keith Ornandez before 160 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,239 Speaker 2: hit for the cycle. That was probably the worst offensive 161 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: game of all the players. Home runs and six RBIs 162 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 2: five for five games. It was just total madness. No 163 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: pitching was allowed, I guess on that night and it was. 164 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: It's a game that honestly will be remembered forever. John 165 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 2: Sterling had a great call in it. I know, the 166 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: great Ernie Johnson Senior was calling it from the Braves booth. 167 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: It. 168 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 2: It was just really remarkable. 169 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 4: Ron. I know things have changed for pitchers these days. 170 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 4: There and no disrespect to the time you played, but 171 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 4: now it's they need to know eleven days in advance 172 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 4: when they're going to be pitching. 173 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: They have it. 174 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: But for you, obviously, as a great major league pitcher, 175 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 4: you had rhythms that you had to get into the 176 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 4: night before, in the day of When then you're called 177 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 4: to go into the game at three o'clock in the morning. 178 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 4: Was there any sort of you knew you were going 179 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 4: to get in You mentioned before everybody was going to 180 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 4: have a chance to do something, But was there any 181 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 4: semblance of organization for you or you're like, all right, 182 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 4: let's let's do it. 183 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: No, you know, I think especially you know, it's only 184 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: my second year, so in today's game, I would be 185 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 2: much coveted. In those days, it was let's get a win. 186 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: And no, I never thought about it. I think I 187 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: pitched two days prior and then I pitched two days later. 188 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 2: I mean started a game two days prior and then 189 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: ended up starting a game two days later. So there 190 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 2: was no there. There certainly was caution and trying to 191 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 2: take care, but not to the degree it is. And 192 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 2: you also felt an obligation to your teammates that it 193 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 2: didn't matter what your rhythm was the game, that you 194 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: kind of had a win at some point and there 195 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 2: was no one else. And in those days it was 196 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: very very rare for a position player to take the mound. 197 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 2: That would you know, the old school managers that I 198 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: had played for, and I played for David Johnson, who 199 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: wasn't an old school manager, they just they did not 200 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: want to see an everyday player pitch. So I was 201 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 2: happy to be right. 202 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: Did you had thrown eight innings two days earlier, did 203 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: you have any trouble getting lose or at three forty 204 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: five in the morning, what was. 205 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 2: That like, well, we were all kidding, because you know, 206 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: those eighties Mets teams are kind of like the rolling 207 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: Stones of sports. You know, people want to be a 208 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: fly on the wall and what happened, but you know 209 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 2: the rolling Stones. While things were happening, they also were 210 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 2: writing some great songs. So that team was doing a 211 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 2: lot of winning in the eighties. It was no sorry 212 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 2: to repeat your question, Tim, I lost my chrain on. No, 213 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: what was it? 214 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: How did your arm feel having thrown eight innings two 215 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: days earlier? 216 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 2: No, I didn't. I didn't feel it at all. You know, 217 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: the adrenaline of going in there being apart just too 218 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: exciting not to be a part of. And it was 219 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: I couldn't wait to get out there. And it didn't 220 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: go easy that that ending either. 221 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: Right, So you struck out Rick Camp to end the game, Jeff. 222 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: If you remember, Rick Camp was an sixty lifetime hitter. 223 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: He hit one career home run and it was in 224 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: the eighteenth inning of this game to tie the game. 225 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: So Ron, you're on the bench. You guys are all 226 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: watching this game thinking we're gonna finally win. This guy, 227 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: there's no chance he in hit a homer, And then 228 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: he did what was the reaction when a pitcher hit 229 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: a home run to tie the game of the eighteenth. 230 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 2: Well, everyone on our bench knew that Rick could not 231 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: get the late. He was pitcher only today on travel teams, 232 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: so we were pretty safe that it was going to happen. 233 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 2: But we had a guy, Tom Gorman on the mound, 234 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: and funny things always happened to Tom Gorman. His nickname 235 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 2: on our team was Gorefax because he spoke like he 236 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: was Kofax. But his game was a little earlier. In 237 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: that season. Tom Gorman got a start in Philadelphia, and 238 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: he had always bred that at Gonzaga University a two 239 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 2: way player and that he was their best hitter. So 240 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 2: before the game started at Veterans Stadium, he was taping 241 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 2: up his bat for a half hour, telling us all 242 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,599 Speaker 2: how he was going to hit one out of the ballpark. 243 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 2: He lasted one third of an inning ever got in 244 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 2: that bat at Veterans Stadium, and the Mets that night 245 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: lost twenty six to seven. So the craziness followed him 246 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 2: all season long. And if it was going to happen 247 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: that a picture of an sixty batting average was going 248 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 2: to hit a home run, it was going to be 249 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: against time. 250 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: And you mentioned, Sorry, Jeff, you mentioned John Sterling. John 251 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: Sterling said before the Rick Camp at bat, if Rick 252 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: Camp hits a home run here, it will officially be 253 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: the craziest game in Major League. And then he hit 254 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: a home run. I mean, John Stirley was way ahead 255 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: of things on this. 256 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: You know, sometimes you get in a game, Tim You've 257 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 2: seen so many games I'm sure you have with your 258 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: dad job. There are certain games that are happening in 259 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 2: front of your eyes that you know this much more 260 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 2: to come, know that it can't end this way. There's 261 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 2: going to be something else that's going to happen that's 262 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: going to take it to the next level. And that 263 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: game was like that. Not that you thought Rick Camp 264 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: or could predict that Rick was going to hit one 265 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: out of the ballpark, but you never ever thought that 266 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 2: the game was over until they shut the lights off. 267 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 3: Ron. This is not going to surprise you. 268 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 4: But I have a fascination with box scores, right, so 269 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 4: I encourage everybody listening to just look up the July fourth, 270 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 4: nineteen eighty five game. And as we're talking this whole time, 271 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 4: I can't get over so many different things. Three blown saves, right, 272 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 4: Tom Gorman ends up actually getting the win from it all. 273 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 4: And my favorite part about it might be that twenty 274 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 4: nine runs were scored. 275 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 3: Only four home runs. 276 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 4: Were hit when twenty nine runs were scored, and one 277 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 4: of them was Rick Camp. It just it can't happen. 278 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 4: It doesn't happen in twenty twenty five. 279 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 2: I mean, it's a lost art, isn't it to enjoy 280 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 2: a four and try to regame from the box score 281 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: as one of my favorite things to do. The field 282 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: was unplayable. I guess we should say that because of 283 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 2: the rain they did start the game, But you have 284 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 2: to remember baseball in those days wasn't as popular as 285 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: it is right now, especially in Atlanta. If they were 286 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 2: to get ten thousand people to come to a game, 287 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: that was a lot and it was a July third 288 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 2: fourth game because it was July third slash fourth, I 289 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 2: think is how it worked out. So this was a 290 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 2: big moneymaker for the home team. So you knew as 291 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 2: a ballplayer in the mid eighties, on certain holidays you 292 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 2: were playing, it doesn't matter how much it was raining. 293 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 2: It didn't matter how bad the field was, and that 294 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 2: field was underwater, it was unplayable. Should not have been played, 295 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 2: so a lot of the hits were results of guys 296 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: sploshing in the mud, water out in the field, retrieving 297 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: balls out of puddles. It was just it was nonsensical, 298 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 2: but it was sure was fun. It was the equivalent 299 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 2: of being a little boy and playing in mud puddles. 300 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 2: That's really what the game. 301 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: You guys got twenty eight hits in that game. Seven 302 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: guys had three or more hits. You're right, Keith hit 303 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: for the cycle and a bunch of other guys had 304 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: a better night. 305 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 2: It was amazing. It was It was just no one 306 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: could get anyone out. It was one of those games. 307 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 2: And it's ironic, those kind of games. You ask any 308 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: pitcher and they'll tell you, I hope the phone doesn't 309 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 2: ring for me. It's just one of those games where 310 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 2: no one's getting anybody out. And ironically it turned later 311 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 2: because I got in, because I really wanted to get in. 312 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 2: It had to be part of the game. 313 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: David Johnson got thrown out of the game early. Do 314 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: you know what he did for the rest of the game. 315 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: Where he was and what he was doing. 316 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 2: I think I mentioned, didn't I the bud lights and 317 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: the Chick fil a earlier. No, no, it was you've 318 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 2: been around Davy and Davey. One of the great things 319 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 2: about Davy not only his great baseball aman, not only 320 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 2: his intelligence, but Davy's kind of a free spirit, you know, 321 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 2: kind of marches to the beat of his own drum. 322 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 2: And I'm sure that Davy and the rest of the 323 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 2: team had a blast in that clubhouse. I'm sure they 324 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 2: are working on their golf game with chipping and putting. 325 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 2: I'm sure that they were sent them watching the games. 326 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 2: And I know that Davy when he was the mainateur, 327 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 2: and I you know, this is my feeling. I don't 328 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 2: know if it's correct. A lot of managers today might 329 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 2: relay what they would like to have done in the game. 330 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 2: If you threw Davy out, he's out, you know someone else. 331 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: So that the clubhouse guys that night in Atlanta, UH 332 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: deserved the biggest rays ever because you know, they had 333 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 2: a clubhouse full of guys literally from midnight to four 334 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 2: o'clock in the morning, and when the game was over. 335 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: I'll never forget this. So in Atlanta, Atlanta has this 336 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 2: was it Marta mass the mass Atlanta rapid Transports whatever 337 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: it is, so they it was it was just local 338 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 2: buses that would take us back to the hotel. And 339 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 2: this one bus, I don't know if you guys don't 340 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 2: you don't want two bunches. Buses are attached with kind 341 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: of that rubber in between both of buses. So the 342 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 2: bus takes us back. But it had been raining all day. 343 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 2: We hit a low spot and water came up to 344 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: shin high in the they had we just won the game, 345 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 2: but now everyone was wet as we As we kind 346 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 2: of walked into this beautiful hotel that we're staying at, 347 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 2: all the players was wet as well. 348 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 3: And what was the scene like the next day? 349 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 4: So that was a Thursday night, and then you go 350 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 4: into a day on Friday, July fifth, and you are 351 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 4: if I'm looking at the box score now, ron, because 352 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 4: this is all I do because of my dad has 353 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 4: cursed me with this. 354 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 3: And Rick Aguilera, he threw a complete game. 355 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 4: So here we are using all these pitchers and all 356 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 4: these players, and the next. 357 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:40,919 Speaker 3: Day you get a guy to go out there to 358 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: throw nine innings. 359 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 2: Well, your dad will remind you eighties baseball if there 360 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,719 Speaker 2: was a game that went extra innings the night before 361 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 2: the next guy owned it and wore it so if 362 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: Rick had an option to throw a complete game, great game, 363 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 2: or the other option was to give up eleven runs 364 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: and be out there for a complete as well. Out 365 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 2: there and Rick, you know, he had elbow issues with us, 366 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 2: but we always knew he was going to be great. 367 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 2: And I'm glad he found his niche as a reliever 368 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 2: with the Twins because he was going to be as 369 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 2: good as all the other young pitchers that we had there. 370 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, back to Davey Johnson for a minute, just to 371 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: show you how things work. Bob Clappish, who covered the team, 372 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: good friend of Ronnie, good friend of mine. He told 373 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: me that he was once in the Mets clubhouse at 374 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: six thirty for a seven o'clock game. Now they wish 375 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: you know, they get rid of you at like three 376 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: forty five, and you're not allowed back in. He's in 377 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: at six thirty and they're having a team meeting and 378 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: Davy looks at Clap and says, Clap, you got to 379 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: get out of here. We're having a team meeting. And 380 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: then he said, oh, never mind, you could stay. So 381 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: a writer stayed in a team meeting at six thirty 382 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: before a seven o'clock game. That's the way it worked 383 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: right ron. 384 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 2: The way it worked. Davy On really believed in the 385 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 2: day of rest. He never got to the ballpark before 386 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: twelve o'clock for a one o'clock game. So our clubhouse 387 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: literally would be everyone in front of where the lineup 388 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 2: card would be kind of complaining about davy being late, 389 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 2: and they would just stand there waiting for him to 390 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: come in office. The lineup would come out and guys 391 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 2: would go, Hey, I'm in there, all right, let's go. 392 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 2: It was literally like you know when kids are freshmen 393 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 2: and their freshman year and they try out for the 394 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 2: basketball team and they want to see if they make 395 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 2: the cut. That's what Sundays were like. 396 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, Jeff, the Mets had a crazy reliever who was 397 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: very good, Roger McDowell. Now I read this round, but 398 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: I never confirmed with Roger, even though I love talking 399 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: to him. It said somewhere that he ate seven cheeseburgers 400 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:50,959 Speaker 1: during that game. Is that a true? And is that 401 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: part of the litter that was in there when you 402 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: rolled in at four am? 403 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 2: Now, one hundred percent. We had guys on that team 404 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 2: that could eat like I've never seen guys eat, and 405 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 2: Roger was one of them. Seven to me is if 406 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:10,719 Speaker 2: you had said ten, I would have believe. I remember 407 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 2: the first time I took Dwight Gooden at nineteen years 408 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 2: old to a steakhouse in Chicago, Morton's. I'm sure you've 409 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 2: been there. To him, we went there and we all 410 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 2: ordered our meal like anyone would order. You order steak 411 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 2: and a baked potato, maybe some broccoli or whatever. And 412 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 2: the order went to Dwight, and Dwight said he'd have 413 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 2: a steak as well, baked potato, broccoli. I'll have an 414 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: extra steak and then can we share a lobster. I 415 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 2: mean that was his order at nineteen years old, but 416 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: he could eat ten thousand. That's just unbelievable. 417 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: So Ron Also, Terry Tata worked the play that night, 418 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: and I read somewhere that he told Howard Johnson on 419 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 1: a questionable strike call, he said, Hey, it's you know, 420 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: thirteenth dinning. 421 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: It's three o'clock in the morning. 422 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: Everything is a strike that indeed happen. 423 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 2: That definitely did happen. Terry after what kind of related 424 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:11,239 Speaker 2: to both sides that just swing the bat? When you 425 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: get deep into that box score and you want to 426 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 2: look at pitches thrown you'll find that most of the 427 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,439 Speaker 2: time the ball was put in play or someone struck 428 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: out within three pitches, all the hitters on both sides 429 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 2: knew swing the bat Terry's tired, so let's get out 430 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 2: of here. But getting out of there was the tough 431 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: part ron. 432 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 4: That I was a little league umpire for years. It 433 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 4: was one of my favorite jobs of all time. And 434 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 4: I can't even begin to tell you that the amount 435 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 4: of times I told coaches of a twelve U rec league, Hey, 436 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 4: you see those clouds. 437 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 3: We got to hit this game in. 438 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 4: So everybody's throwing strikes and everybody's swinging, and they'd say, Blue, 439 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 4: where was that? And I said, it's a strike. I 440 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 4: don't care where it was. 441 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 3: We got to get this game done. The thought that an. 442 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 4: Umpire was saying that about a major league baseball game 443 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:01,199 Speaker 4: is just iconic. 444 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 3: That's unbelievable. 445 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 2: Well, the one of the great nuances of playing baseball 446 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 2: in the fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, before they started giving 447 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 2: a report card to these poor umpires now, is that 448 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 2: every umpire was nuanced. You would go into a game, 449 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: I would look on the board, I'd see that so 450 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 2: and so was going to be the umpire. I knew 451 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 2: his exact strike zone. I knew where to get a strike. 452 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 2: I knew where he wasn't going to call a strike. 453 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 2: I knew how far I could go as far as 454 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 2: questioning his strike zone. It was a fun back and forth, 455 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 2: you know it really it really personalized all the umpires 456 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 2: to all of us. And I missed that. 457 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 4: You wouldn't even just prep for the batters you were 458 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 4: going up against. 459 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 3: You would also prep. 460 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 4: Knowing, Okay, I know I can get that inside fastball 461 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 4: on this umpire because he loves calling an inside fastball 462 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 4: as a strike. 463 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it's crazy. You know, there's a phrase that 464 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 2: that analysts used now. They'll say an umpire's hunting for strikes. 465 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 2: So a guy who was not going to call a strike, 466 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 2: So that means contact night. If you're a pitcher, you're 467 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 2: gonna make the guys put the ball in play and 468 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 2: hopefully your fielders make the play, or tonight could be 469 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: one of those strikeout nights because it's a guy hunting 470 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: strikes and he's gonna give you a little off the edges. 471 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 2: So it was it was fun. It was like it 472 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 2: was like an advanced chess game. 473 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: Ron how many people were left out of the in 474 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: the crowd at four o'clock in the morning. 475 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: It must have been a. 476 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: Sellout to begin with, because it's July the fourth. Did 477 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: most of the people stay for. 478 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 2: The end of the game? I wouldn't say most of 479 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 2: the people, but I remember looking into the crowd around 480 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 2: maybe the fourteenth fifteenth inning, and my one thought was, Wow, 481 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 2: there's still a lot of people. I mean, so there 482 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 2: had to be a significant crowd, you know, maybe you know, ten, 483 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 2: twelve thousand. I mean, that's a lot of people to start. 484 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 2: You know, they probably got there at four for the 485 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 2: six o'clock game where it start at six, and it 486 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 2: was four when the game amended, so they spent a good, 487 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 2: hearty twelve hours downtown Atlanta. 488 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: Have you noticed, by the way, that I'm wearing an 489 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: a Hawaiian shirt in your honor? 490 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: I man, I look terrible in it. 491 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: But do you notice I'm wearing that just for you. 492 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 2: Not for everybody. Pretty funny. We had a summer event 493 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 2: for our local broadcast in the Mets and we had 494 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 2: to wear Hawaiian shirts and one of the analysts said, boy, 495 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 2: you look greater than an Hawaiian shirt. I said, you 496 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 2: do know people run look good in a Hawaiian shirt. 497 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 2: It's gotta be my dad. 498 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 4: We got on a little bit before you did, and 499 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 4: he said, I'm gonna go change into my Hawaiian shirt. 500 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 3: Jeff, do you think that's a good idea? I said, Dad, 501 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 3: I've never met Ron Darling in my life. You've known 502 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,639 Speaker 3: him for forty four years. You're gonna ask me. I 503 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 3: think he's going to take it offensively. I don't know 504 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 3: what to tell you, Dad. 505 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 2: Every man owns one Hawaiian shirt from their one trip 506 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: to Hawaii to the Lua. They went right, Ron. 507 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 4: I want to say I lived in Las Vegas for 508 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 4: five years, which is commonly known as the Ninth Island, 509 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 4: and it has a heavy Hawaiian influence, everything from obviously 510 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 4: the people, but the food. And I remember our promotions 511 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 4: director at my radio station that I worked at there. 512 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 4: His name is Ryan Kowamoto and he's from Hawaii, and 513 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 4: he would teach me all of these slang words and 514 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 4: so we would always and it's I'm only going to 515 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 4: say this to you, but he would always say we 516 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 4: would say, hey, Sah, you know what's up bra? 517 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 3: Like we would he would He was letting me in 518 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 3: the fold. 519 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 4: But if I ever did something very like white Boy, 520 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 4: he would say, oh, Holley Boy, you can't do. I'd 521 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 4: be sitting there saying, oh, I just got a cheeseburger 522 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 4: from McDonald's. 523 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 3: He said, Holly boy, come on. 524 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 2: What's so funny is that, to this day my parents 525 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 2: were both alive, and my mom's Hawaiian Chinese, and my 526 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 2: dad is so the whitest man call them. She calls 527 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 2: him Howley, and he calls her what's not So they 528 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 2: still speak pigeon to each other. 529 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 1: So that's right, Ronie. When we had keith On, we 530 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: had to ask the gratuitous question about being in Sidefeld 531 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: and all that. But you were in one of Jeffrey's 532 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: favorite movies and my favorite movie, one of my favorite 533 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: Day After Tomorrow, and tell us about that role and 534 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: the role that you played. 535 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 2: Well, there was a certain amount of time, for whatever reason, 536 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 2: people wanted me in movies, and I did like three 537 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 2: right in a row. After Tomorrow is a really good movie. 538 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 2: I did Shallow hal as well, Early brother and the 539 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 2: Shallow how One is pretty funny because the Fairly brothers 540 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 2: were in Hawaii. They were writing the script for this movie, 541 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 2: and every day there was a Hawaiian kid who sold 542 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 2: juice on the side of the road. And as they 543 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 2: started write this Shallow House story, they incorporated this kid 544 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 2: who's writing the hepled the idea of an alternate world. 545 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 2: You know, people that look a certain way, but you 546 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 2: see them as as supermodelors or whatever. They incorporated the script. 547 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,719 Speaker 2: They got back to Rhode Island, where they're from, and 548 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 2: they said, boy, this is great, but you know we're 549 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: gonna need like a Hawaiian guy who's kind of the 550 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 2: alternate universe. And they go, I don't know, an Haline guy. 551 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 2: Do you know what he goes? Isn't that Ronnie Dolland 552 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 2: from from Matt's who played the Socks And like a dude, 553 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 2: that is so great? And you played you played. 554 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: A broadcaster of the Day after Tomorrow, didn't you? 555 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,479 Speaker 2: I did. I was like a weather broadcast weathermen, so uh, 556 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 2: you know, Bob Murphy, the great radio announcer for the 557 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 2: Mats for all those years, was a weatherman in the Navy. 558 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 2: So I made sure that I tried to hold his 559 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 2: crowd as a weatherman in a movie. But what's funny 560 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 2: about these movies is that they always say to me, 561 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 2: say okay, so you're gonna be a weatherman from Hawaii, 562 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 2: so you know, kind of used the vernacular that they 563 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 2: used there. I lived in Hawaii for three years. I 564 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 2: was raised in Worcestern, Massachusetts. I've dropped my rs until 565 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 2: I started TV. I know bubblers, I know the grinders, 566 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 2: I know I'm a Massachusetts kid. So whenever anyone asked 567 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 2: me to really go overly Hawaiians, I'm always like. 568 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 4: Well, Ron, I wish my dad had consulted you before 569 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 4: he made his big acting debut on Brockmeier, where he 570 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 4: had he had like three lines and the one big 571 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 4: line and we've told this on the podcast before. 572 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 3: Was he You gotta give it to him, Dad. 573 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 2: He was so bad. 574 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: Ron. I was in Brockmeyer one episode we had one 575 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 1: shooting date. I had like five lines. Three of that 576 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: four of them were like, hey, Jim, how's it going. 577 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: And the one that I had to say properly was 578 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: Barbara streisand I loved her in Yentl And I of 579 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: course said Barbara streisand I loved her in Lentil instead 580 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: of Yentel. So it was just so galactically bad of 581 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: a mistake that they ran it in the show because 582 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: it made me look so stupid. 583 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 2: So that was my acting debut. You were way better 584 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 2: than I was. 585 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 3: An Hanks area. 586 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 4: Ron he picked it up like that and said, Tim, 587 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 4: you mean yental, Yes, and that's reaction and his laugh 588 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 4: is in the show and it really is like like 589 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 4: a Dunce moment. 590 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 3: He couldn't believe he did. 591 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: That, right. 592 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 2: I don't know much about comedy and TV, but if 593 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 2: you ask the March Brothers soup always. 594 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely all right, Rob, Before we let you go, 595 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 1: every every episode, we have at what we call a 596 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 1: team Tim, where I come up with a team team 597 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: of baseball players based on whatever, you know, when we 598 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: had when we had we have all sorts of names 599 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: for things. So when we had the Eclipse, I came 600 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: up with the All Eclipse Team, Wally Moon, things like that, 601 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: you know. So since you're on Ron, I'm going to 602 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: present the All Romance Team in honor of you. Okay, 603 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: So our catcher and you'll know most of these guys. 604 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: Rick Sweet is the catcher. Ryan Court at first is 605 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 1: our first basement. Back when Ron and I were young 606 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: used to well maybe we were a little too young, used. 607 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 2: To court a woman. 608 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: So that's where Ryan Court came in. Ryan Bliss is 609 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: the second baseman. Jonah Bride, still active, is our third baseman, 610 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: which I love. Joe Sparks is the short stop. Bobby 611 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: Valentine of course, who Ron knows exceptionally well. 612 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 2: Bo Aldred spelled b. 613 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: E a U. And there's a guy, of course I 614 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: didn't cover him name Beauty McGowan. So he he's one 615 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 1: of our outfielders. And our pitching staff is led by 616 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 1: Ron Darling. We had Slim Love, We have Richard Lovelady 617 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: who is still active. We had Bron Bryan wu who 618 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 1: pitches for the Mariners. And my and my favorite is 619 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: Buddy Groom. I just wish that Buddy Groom was still 620 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: pitching because if he faced. 621 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 3: Jonah Bride in a game, Jonah. 622 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 1: Bride against Buddy Groom, it would be the greatest at 623 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 1: bat in baseball history. 624 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 2: I love the all Romance team. I'm happy to be 625 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 2: part of it. They don't start playing the music while 626 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 2: I speak here, but maybe on the on the bench. 627 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 2: Since we had Bobby starting, Bobby Valentine, will put Ellis Valentine. 628 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: Yes, and Ellis was on he didn't make the cut. 629 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 1: I just figured there was more of a connection to 630 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: former Mets manager Bobby Valentine than Ellis Valentine, who, by 631 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: the way, Ronnie you remember, played for the Rangers and 632 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: I covered him. And famously, Ellis Valentine looked at me 633 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 1: one day and said, I got more talent in my 634 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: pinky finger than most of these guys have in their 635 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:08,800 Speaker 1: entire body. 636 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 2: You can see him saying that right, end up being 637 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 2: an indictment of him as opposed to a great word. 638 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Rob, that was tremendous fun. Thanks for playing along 639 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:28,359 Speaker 1: with all this nonsense, and thank you for your amazing 640 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: recall on that game forty years ago. 641 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 2: Well, the next time we get together, let's do it 642 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 2: in person. We got to have a cold beer or 643 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,239 Speaker 2: something together, Jeff, because I have to walk and see 644 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 2: you guys together speaking at the same time. 645 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 4: Are you sure this might be an Ai filter and 646 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 4: we're really the same person. 647 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 2: If we find if we find out, you know, one 648 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 2: hundred years from now that a Sho Hail Tani was Ai, 649 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 2: would you be surprised? Wouldn't be? 650 00:34:58,160 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: Would not? 651 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:00,839 Speaker 2: Either's nothing like him ever? 652 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:02,719 Speaker 1: All right, Thanks again, Roun