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???