Chili Davis #15/32T

 

This week we spoke with the Diamond King himself, the legendary Dick Perez and director of the Diamond King documentary Marq Evans! Go find the Diamond King documentary on VOD starting on April 25, 2025!

Dick's all time favorite Diamond King is the 1995 Chili Davis, so why not talk about Chili Davis too! Chili Davis was the first Jamaican born player in the AL/NL. He moved to the US as a youngster and immediately fell in love with baseball. He was a solid switch hitting outfielder for the Giants, playing in two all star games and helping the Giants make the 1987 playoffs. He then went to the Angels before helping the Twins win the 1991 World Series. Late in his career he won 2 more rings as the Yankees DH in 1998 and 99. 

Topics: Chilis/Chillis, Mullet Man, Diamond Kings, RBI Corner

Listen:

 

Links:

• Card 15 on ⁠Beckett⁠
• Card 32T on ⁠Beckett⁠
• Watch ⁠The Diamond King⁠, opening April 25, 2025!
• JD Davis: "⁠Chili is my Dog⁠"⁠
• SABR Bio by ⁠Rory Costello⁠
• Chili signs with the ⁠Angels in 1987⁠
• Chili's 1991 ⁠World Series Homer:

⁠

• ⁠Chili Bowl Mullet Man⁠ at the Video Store:

 

• ⁠Diamond King trailer: 

Lloyd McClendon #172

 

This week, a guy named Legendary Lloyd at 12 years old...it's Lloyd McClendon! Lloyd went 5-5 with 5 homers in the 1971 Little League World Series for the Anderson team from Gary, Indiana, earning that nickname. He then went to nearby Valparaiso University and was drafted by the Mets. He didn't make the big leagues until he was 28, but played 8 seasons for the Reds, Cubs, and Pirates. With Pittsburgh he had one of the greatest playoff series in history, hitting .727 with a 1.932 OPS against Atlanta in 1992. He then was a successful hitting coach and managed the Pirates, Mariners, and briefly the Tigers. His managerial career was marked by some entertaining umpire incidents.

Listen:

Links: 

• SI Vault article about Legendary Lloyd
• Valpo Mag feature on Lloyd
• Seattle Times Little League Lloyd
• Indiana Story about Lloyd
• Playoff Stathead search
• Full 1971 LLWS Final on Facebook
• Grandma’s Scorebook Lloyd’s debut
• Grandma’s Scorebook Lloyd’s first hit
• Little League Hall of Excellence
• Lloyd literally steals the bag:

• ESPN video of Lloyd at the LLWS:

Cookie Rojas #97T

 

This week, a Phillies and Royals All Star turned brief Angels manager...Cuban legend Cookie Rojas! Octavio Rojas was called "Cuqui" as a youngster in Havana, when he was playing in the minors in the US, that morphed into "Cookie" much to the delight of young baseball fans! Rojas was an all star 2B for the Phillies and was sent to STL as part of the Curt Flood trade. After a few months he was traded to the Royals and considered quitting the game. Instead he made 4 straight All Star Games and was an early star for the expansion Royals. After his career he went into scouting, coaching, and broadcasting. Altogether, he spent nearly 60 years in professional baseball!

Listen:

Links:

• ⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠, especially when we're sick
• Card #97T on ⁠Beckett
• SABR Bio by ⁠Peter Gordon⁠
  
• The ⁠questionable⁠ hats
• Stathead Search: ⁠WAR 2B 1971-1973⁠
  
• Gene Mauch⁠ talks about Cookie
• Cookie and His Cupcakes: ⁠Mathilda:
• Cookie's 1972 ⁠All-Star Homer:⁠
  
• Cookie ⁠shoves an ump:

Bob Melvin #41

This week, a 10 year backup catcher with a 20+ year managerial career...it's Bob Melvin! Melvin was a career .233 hitter with a .268 OBP, but he was a very good defensive catcher so he always had a roster spot. Since 2003 he has managed the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Padres, and Giants, winning 3 Manager of the Year awards and compiling 1597 wins. 

Topics: Illinois Whiskey, leather flashing, optical illusions

Listen:

Links: 

⁠

• Card 41 on ⁠Beckett
• ⁠Star Union Spirits⁠
• SABR Bio by ⁠Malcolm Allen⁠
• The State: $⁠240 worth of pudding⁠
• Bob's ⁠childhood friends reflect
• Nice catch, ⁠questionable announcing⁠???

Guy Hoffman #496

 

This week, James from the Remember That Guy podcast joins us to talk about a Guy! It's Guy Hoffman! Hoffman played baseball at Bradley University and had an interesting discovery story that involved Harry Caray and a future Illinois Senator. Guy quickly rose through the White Sox system and was called up in 1979, bounced between AAA and Chicago, and played briefly for the 1983 AL West Champs. He later signed with the Cubs and was traded to Cincinnati putting together decent seasons in 1986 and 87. Guy later played in NPB for Oryx. 

Topics: Mike Lange, Bradley University, the Shadid family, Guys!

Listen: 

 

 

Links:

• Card 496 on ⁠Beckett⁠
• ⁠Remember That Guy Podcast⁠
• ⁠RTG podcast Episode⁠ with David and Matt⁠
• Guy Hoffman inducted into local ⁠Hall of Fame⁠
• Joe Labek and his ⁠40 K game⁠
• 1980 Topps Guy Hoffman ⁠Future Star⁠
• Grandma's Scorebook and ⁠Marilyn Monroe connection⁠!
• Guy and Guyette ⁠numbers retired
• Mike Lange highlights:  

Dave Palmer 732/79T

 

This week, a guy who overcame a lot of injuries to put together a 10 year career for Montreal, Atlanta, Phillies, and Tigers...it's David Palmer! Palmer grew up a couple hours from Montreal in Glens Falls, New York. He came up and started fast, but multiple surgeries took a couple full years from Palmer. He missed out on 1981 and didn't get a chance to help the Expos in their only playoff appearance. When he went to Atlanta, pitched a 5 inning perfect game in 1984 and was the team's best pitcher in 1986. He also had a couple notable lowlights like starting a brawl against the Mets and falling on his face for the Phillies.

Listen:

Links:

• Card 732 on ⁠Beckett⁠
• Card 79T on ⁠Beckett⁠
• SABR Bio by ⁠Norm King⁠
• Palmer's Perfect* Game SABR ⁠Game Story⁠
• ⁠15 of 15 Cardinals outs⁠ of the game
• ⁠Dave Palmer Day⁠!
• Braves/Mets ⁠Brawl:⁠

• ⁠Face Plant: 

Buddy Bell 130/13T

 

This week, one of the best defensive third baseman of all time...it's Buddy Bell! Buddy (David Gus Bell) was the son of a big leaguer and he had a quick path to the majors. He had a decent bat, but a fantastic glove, winning 6 straight Gold Gloves and finishing his career with the 3rd best defensive WAR ever among third basemen. Buddy played 18 seasons and never made the playoffs, spending the bulk of his best years in Cleveland and Texas. He finished his career with 2500 hits and has one of the highest WAR totals of any player not in the Hall of Fame. He went on to manage three teams and spent 54 years in baseball before retiring. Two of his sons played in MLB and one managed, making the Bell family one of four three-generation MLB families. 

Listen:

Links:

• ⁠Card 130⁠ on eBay
• ⁠Card 13T⁠ on eBay
• SABR Bio by ⁠Joe Wancho⁠
• Buddy Bell asks "⁠What Would Gus Do⁠"
• ⁠Hall of Fame Card Corner⁠ - 1986 Topps
• ⁠Levi Weaver⁠ case for Buddy in the Hall
• Third base is underrepresented⁠ in the Hall
• Stathead Search:⁠1978-1984 Position Players by WAR⁠
• Stathead Search:⁠Top WAR not in Hall of Fame
• Buddy Miles - "Them Changes"
• Carbo vs Bell⁠ scrappin⁠':