Mike Boddicker #725

 

This week, the Orioles last 20 game winner, a 1983 champ...Mike Boddicker! Boddicker was a dominant pitcher in the baseball hotbed of Norway, Iowa and was a two way star for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He stepped into the rotation in 1983 and was a huge part of the Orioles run to the World Series title. He had his best individual season in 1984, winning 20 and making the All Star team. After a few years as the best pitcher on a bad team he was traded to Boston for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. It seems lopsided, but Boddicker was solid and helped the Red Sox make the playoffs twice. In retirement he has started the Boddicker Foundation helping families fighting childhood cancer. 

Topics - Norwegians, bourbon raffles, foshballs

Listen:

Links:

The Mike Boddicker Foundation 

SABR Bio by Bill Johnson

SABR Game story about Boddicker’s World Series win 

Baseball Prospectus interview 

Hawkeye Hall of Fame 

Baseball Hall of Fame Card Corner 

Boddicker ends 1983 ALCS Game 2:   

Boddicker Ks Schmidt to end World Series Game 2: 

Bob Knepper #151

This week, a guy who got into trouble for his opinions off the field while putting up some solid numbers on the field. Bob Knepper was a two time all star and won 146 games for the Giants and Astros. He also was once named "Neanderthal of the Year" by the National Organization of Women for his comments about a female umpire and generally about gender relations. What better time to revisit these statements than in the aftermath of Jen Pawol appearing behind the plate in an MLB game, finally breaking the glass ceiling for female umpires! 

Listen:

Links:

• SABR Bio by David E. Skelton
• Hall of Fame Card Corner 1989 Topps
• Where did all the MLB Bobs go?
• "Careless and Insensitive" comments
• Knepper apologizes 
• Bob in the SI Vault 
• Bob Breaks up a Perfecto! 
• SABR Article about Female Umpires