Dizzy Dean 48-09-18 (12) Dizzy's All-Star Lineup

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Summary: Dizzy Dean 48-09-18 (12) Dizzy's All-Star Lineup

Date: October 24, 2025

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featuring: Dizzy Dean
Original Broadcast: September 18, 1948

---

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively, nostalgia-rich broadcast featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean in his role as radio host and baseball sage. Set in the golden age of radio, Dean blends baseball insights, colorful anecdotes, and homespun humor, focusing especially on advice for young pitchers, current (1948) rookies, his all-time all-star team, and the inside banter of big league life. The chemistry between Dean and his sidekick Frank Ashton is warm and playful, capturing the charm of mid-century sports radio.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Musical Introduction & Dean’s Mood

[01:10–01:51]

• Dizzy Dean opens the show by singing a snippet of “The Wabash Cannonball,” prompted by a burst of good spirits:

  “Maybe I can’t, Frank, but I’m especially happy today and I just busted out with it.” — Dizzy Dean [01:46]

2. Advice for Young Pitchers

[01:56–04:40]

• Dean delivers encouragement and practical tips, especially for up-and-coming pitchers, dividing his advice into two big buckets:
  • Control:
    • Practice pitching to precise spots, even during warmup.
    • Use contraptions like a window the size of the strike zone for training.
    • “Try half a dozen pitches at the low outside corner…don’t just throw to your catcher. Concentrate on every pitch.” — Dizzy Dean [02:30]
  • Pitching with Men on Base:
    • Learn to be effective pitching from the stretch.
    • “Many a pitcher…does all right until somebody gets on base. Then when he can’t take his wind up no more, he loses some of his stuff, especially speed.” — Dizzy Dean [03:28]
• Dean shares a memory with Gabby Hartnett about losing speed but not effort:

  “Gabby, I am throwing twice as hard as I ever thrown in my life…the only trouble is that I throw hard enough, but I can’t throw fast enough no more.” — Dizzy Dean [04:18]

3. Rookie of the Year Contenders

[04:58–06:03]

• Responding to a mailbag question, Dean names his 1948 top rookies:
  • National League:
    • Alvin Dark (Boston Braves): Key for tightening defense and contributing offense.
    • Richie Ashburn (Philadelphia Phillies): Would be a “cinch” for the honor with a pennant contender. “He’s been a great little outfielder all year.” [05:34]
  • American League:
    • Lou Brissie (Philadelphia Athletics)
    • Gene Bearden (Cleveland Indians): Race so close that the pennant outcome may decide.
    • “I don’t see anybody in the American League close to Bearden and Brissi.” — Dizzy Dean [06:01]

4. Dean’s All-Star Team

[07:55–10:27]
By popular request, Dean announces the best players he ever saw, with colorful explanations for each:

• First Base: Lou Gehrig — “I don’t think there’ll be any argument there.” [08:01]
• Second Base: Frankie Frisch — “Frank could win a game for you all by himself…Great man on bases, a good switch hitter, and a great defensive man.” [08:17]
• Shortstop: Lou Boudreau — “I really don’t think there ought to be no argument about Boudreau at shortstop.” [08:42]
• Third Base: Pie Traynor — “Great defensive man. You couldn’t get anything through him, and he had a great arm.” [08:55]
• Outfield:
  • Babe Ruth
  • Joe DiMaggio
  • Stan Musial
  • “I didn’t see Ty Cobb and I didn’t see Tris Speaker. But I have seen Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial and Babe Ruth should. Just couldn’t be left off a nobody’s ball club.” [09:34]
• Catchers:
  • Gabby Hartnett
  • Jimmy Wilson — “I am picking Gabby Hartnett and Jimmy Wilson, the two greatest catchers I’ve ever seen behind the plate. And I pitched them both.” [09:47]
• Pitchers:
  • Carl Hubbell (with “the greatest butterfly curve ever pitched”)
  • Lefty Grove (“tops in the American League as far as I could see”)
  • Himself (Dizzy Dean), after much prodding from Frank Ashton [10:12–10:27]

5. Baseball Storytime: Umpires and Antics

[10:30–13:39]

• Dean shares classic ballpark stories about umpire-player antics, focusing on Frankie Frisch:
  • Boston Incident:
    • Frisch, coaching third, is ejected after joking to umpire Larry Getz, likening him to a cigar store Indian.
    • “‘Have you a couple of cigars in your pocket?’…‘Because Lawrence you look so much like a cigar store Indian.’” — Dizzy Dean [11:29]
  • Brooklyn Flashlight Trick:
    • Frisch fetches a flashlight to show he can find the bullpen in the dark—prompting another ejection.
  • Rain Delay Umbrella:
    • Frisch parades in front of the dugout with a wagon umbrella, attempting to draw a rainout call—and gets tossed again.
  • Dean on Frisch’s rapport with umpires:

    “Frisch never gets vicious. It's all good, clean. And the umpires have to laugh, too. But, of course, them umpires got dignity, and they got to protect that.” [12:30]

• Grounds Crew Joke:
  • Dean tells of a blowout game in Philadelphia where a persistent group of “fans” turn out to be the grounds crew, waiting to finish their job. [13:05]

6. Pennant Race Prognostications

[13:59–14:45]

• On the National League:

  “The Braves have a comfortable lead and Billy Southworth has put the job on of protecting that lead into the hands of his two pitching stars…Johnny Sain and Warren Spahn…” [14:09]

• On the American League:

  “That may go right down to the wire, Frank, but the Yankees are within easy striking distance... If those Yankees ever get ahead, the Red Sox won’t catch them again.” [14:31]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the importance of pitching control:

  “Control, I believe everybody will agree, is the most important asset to a pitcher can have. In fact, you just have to have it.” — Dizzy Dean [02:07]

• Playful banter on his own pitching velocity:

  “Gabby, the only trouble is that I throw hard enough, but I can’t throw fast enough no more.” — Dizzy Dean [04:33]

• On picking himself for his all-star team:

  “I just can’t seem to think of any good right hander, Frank.” — Dizzy Dean, feigning modesty [10:16]

• Classic umpire quip:

  “Lawrence, have you a couple of cigars in your pocket? ...Because Lawrence you look so much like a cigar store Indian.” — Dizzy Dean (retelling Frankie Frisch’s words) [11:29]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:10] – Dizzy Dean sings “Wabash Cannonball”
• [01:56] – Advice for young pitchers on control and pitching from the stretch
• [04:58] – Dizzy’s rookie of the year picks for 1948
• [07:55] – Dizzy Dean announces his all-star team by position
• [10:30] – Humorous umpire/player stories from Dean’s playing days
• [13:59] – Dizzy Dean’s pennant race predictions

---

Episode Tone & Spirit

Dizzy Dean’s folksy, candid voice defines the tone: warm, funny, down-to-earth, and engaging. The camaraderie with Frank Ashton ties the show together with good-humored give-and-take.

---

Summary

For anyone yearning for the sights and sounds of classic baseball, this episode provides plenty: practical advice, sincere nostalgia, legendary names, and a dash of good-natured mischief. Whether detailing the subtleties of throwing a strike or recounting dugout shenanigans, Dizzy Dean brings to life an era where baseball, radio, and Americana were intertwined.

Transcript

[A]

Hiring isn't just about finding someone willing to take the job. You need the right person with the right background who can move your business forward. If you want candidates who truly match what you're looking for, trust Indeed Sponsored Jobs With Indeed Sponsored Jobs, your post stands out to quality candidates who actually fit the role. According To Indeed data, 90% are more likely to be hired and trusted by 1.6 million companies. Spend more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. Now with Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves@inn Indeed.com arts. Just go to Indeed.com arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com Arts terms and conditions apply. Hiring do it the Right Way with.

[B]

Indeed Again, folks, Dizzy Dean, brought to you by the makers of Johnson's Wax for Carnu, the wax fortified auto polish that cleans and polishes your car in one easy application.

[C]

Howdy, folks. Oh, listen to the jingles, the rumble and the roar as she travels on the highway and down by the shore she's mighty tall and handsome she's known quite well by all She's a combination on Wabash Cannonball.

[B]

Diz that, folks, was Dizzy Dean in a new role. And this is Frank Ashton to inform you that you have just heard a special arrangement of the Wabash Cannonball by J. Hannah Dean, the Dean of the J.H. dean Conservatory of Music. Jerome, I didn't know you could.

[C]

Maybe I can't, Frank, but I'm especially happy today and I just busted out with it.

[B]

Well, now you can bust right out with your weekly parcel of advice for young ball players.

[C]

Coach Dean that's fine, Frank. You know, I have kind of neglected the pitchers in these here advice departments, but I'm talking to the young pitchers today. Gather round, boys, and listen. Maybe I hope this will help you. I'm dividing the advice into two parts today. Number one, control. And number two, learn to pitch with men on bases. Control, I believe everybody will agree, is the most important asset to a pitcher can have. In fact, you just have to have it. And it's the old story of practice, fellows. But the thing to do is to start from the beginning trying to throw every pitch at a particular target. Even when you warm up before a game, have your catcher hold his glove for a target. Try half a dozen pitches at the low outside corner out the strike zone, how the catcher hold the glove low and on the outside Corner. Then aim half a dozen at the lower inside corner. Then pitch high and inside and then high and outside. Don't just throw to your catcher. Concentrate on every pitch, trying to put it where you want it. You can build a strike zone if you want to. Make a little window as wide as the plate and extended from the knees to the shoulders. Rig that up on a platform, may be held in place by a rope. Then see how many pitches you can throw through that window. If you go through that trouble, I believe you'll get a big kick out of the fun you'll have throwing at the strike zone window. And now we come to number two again. Learn to pitch with men on base, you see, when there's nobody on base, you take your full wind up. With a man on base, you've got to pitch from a stretch. Many a pitcher who breaks into the big leagues does all right until somebody gets on base. Then when it can't take his wind up no more, he loses some of his stuff, especially speed. It's a matter of practice Again, it's a little harder to get all your power into your pitching when you can't take a wind up, so you'll need a little more practice sewing that way.

[B]

Well, can you throw about as hard from the stretch as with a full wind up biz?

[C]

Yes, just about, Frank. Although I believe our old friend psychology figures in that when a pitcher goes through one of them long, fancy pump handle windups, it kind of scares the hitter a little and makes it look like you're throwing harder than you really are. Of course, there comes a time when you can't throw as hard as you used to. I remember when I was with the Cub and old Gabby Harden come running out to the mound and says, diz, now try to throw this one a little harder. And I says, gabby, I am throwing twice as hard as I ever thrown in my life. And Gabby looks at me kind of funny and I says, gabby, the only trouble is that I throw hard enough, but I can't throw fast enough no more.

[B]

But Diz, with everything even that is with two men with equal strength, the form, the rhythm does make a difference.

[C]

Just like in golf, Frank. Ben Hogan ain't very big, but how he can send them a mile down the fairway.

[B]

Well, this little discussion leads right into an item from the mailbag. Jerome.

[C]

Okay, let's have it.

[B]

James Stewart of Boston wants to know if you formed any definite opinion about who deserves the Rookie of the year honors for 1948.

[C]

Yes, I've been watching a Lot of good looking young ballplayers this season, Frank. Now give Mr. Stewart a couple of candidates in each league. That ought to be definitely enough. In the National League, I'll name Alvin Dark of the Boston Braves and Richie Asburn of the Phillies. Dark has made a big difference in the Braves. He's tightened that infield offense. He's helped turn double plays and he's helped with his hitting. Asburn probably would be a cinch for that honor if he come up with the Braves of the Cardinals. But it hurts a fellow to be with a club that ain't in the punnett race. But that Asburn has been a great little outfielder all year. He started by crowding Harry Walker to the banks and he's up with the leaders at hitting.

[B]

Well, Diz, now about the American League's outstanding rookies.

[C]

There are pitchers, Frank. One is Lou Bressy off the Athletics, and the other is Gene Bearden of the Cleveland Indians. And it's been such a close race between the two that the pennant races may decide it. But I don't see anybody in the American League close to Bearden and Brissi.

[B]

Well, Diz, there's another thing that nothing is close to.

[C]

I reckon you're hoarding to talk about that pet subject of yours.

[B]

You mean the best way to make a car shine like new?

[C]

That's what I mean, Frank. By the way, did you ever have to rub down a horse, soap the harness and shine the buggy? Now that there was real work.

[B]

Well now, cleaning and polishing a car was real work too, until they invented Johnson's Carnu.

[C]

Uh huh. But there ain't no horse hair tail on that car that you got to pull burrs out of.

[B]

Well, that's right, Diz. But there is road film on a car finish road fill made up of exhaust fumes, tree SAP, road oil, all kinds of things. And no amount of water will take it off. Now, Carnoo not only cuts through that road film so that you can get your car beautifully clean, Carnu also polishes your car till it shines like a blue ribbon trotter. Yes, man, right there you've got the important point about Johnson's Carnu. It contains five cleaning ingredients plus wax. So it cleans and polishes your car in one easy application. Just rub it on, let it dry to a white powder, then wipe it off. Your car is as clean as a tabletop and bright and shiny as a mirror.

[C]

That's the kind of a car I like to roll down the main drag in, Frank.

[B]

That's the kind of car we all like and we all get with Johnson's Carnue. So, men, if you want to give your car a Sunday shine, if you want to do it in one easy application, ask at your service station or other dealer for Johnson's Carnue. That's C A R N U car, new and is. Here's another letter before we finish with the mailbag department. Mr. Ralph Adams of Pasadena, California wants you to name Dizzy Dean's All Star big league team. That is, the best players in each position that you've played against or seen during your years as player and observer of big league baseball.

[C]

I'll be glad to accommodate, Mr. Adams. Mind you, I don't say these are the greatest ever, just the best I've ever seen in action. I'll start with the infield. Lou Gehrig is my first baseman. I don't think there'll be any argument there. And at second base, which wasn't so easy, I'll take old Frankie Frase. Frank could win a game for you all by himself. He'd beat out an infield hit, steal second and third if he had to. Then he'd score on an infield out. A great man on bases, a good switch hitter and a great defensive man. I know there'll be a lot of votes for Roger Hornsby, but I'll take Freest because there wasn't anything Frankie couldn't do. Playing next to Frankie on my team is Lou Boudreau. He's shown me a lot of shortstop this season and the last few seasons. He's been right up there near the top and hitting all year and all the time he's been managing the Cleveland Indians. I really don't think there ought to be no argument about Boudreaux at shortstop at third base. I guess we'll all vote together. Pie Trainer. Now, there was a third baseman, tall, able to grab those high line drives. Trainer was a great defensive man. You couldn't get anything through him. And he had a great arm. How do you like my infield, Frank?

[B]

Well, sounds like a great help to the pitcher, Diz. I don't think many would filter through that defensive line. Now, how about your outfield?

[C]

I know I'm going to hear a lot of squawks on this department, Frank. Maybe we ought to drop the whole thing.

[B]

Oh, no, no, no, no, Diz. Let's be brave about this. Let's have your outfield.

[C]

All right. Babe Brew, Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musil. I know the first question will be, how about Ty Cobb? Well, I didn't see Ty Cobb and I didn't see Tris Speaker. But I have seen Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musil and Babe Ruth should. Just couldn't be left off a nobody's ball club.

[B]

Well, that's not a bad outfield, Dizzy. Now, how about your catchers?

[C]

I'm going to pick two, Frank. With either one, I wouldn't need anybody else. But I am picking Gabby Hartnett and Jimmy Wilson, the two greatest catchers I've ever seen behind the plate. And I pitched them both.

[B]

Now we have everything but a pitching staff.

[C]

Jerome Carl Hubble and Lefty Grove. Frank Hubble's one of the greatest I ever seen anywhere. He had the greatest butterfly curve ever pitched. And Grow was tops in the American League as far as I could see.

[B]

Say, but you've named only left handers, Jerome. How about a good right hander now?

[C]

I just can't seem to think of any good right hander, Frank.

[B]

Well. Well, I tell you what I'll think for you, Dizzy. How about Jerome Herman Dean? Do you think you could stand to have him on your team?

[C]

Well, always this Frank.

[B]

Now, Dizzy Dean, how about you becoming the storyteller?

[C]

I got a couple about umpires, Frank. Baseball fans seem to be interested in what goes on down on the ball field. Things that occasionally cause rows between umpires and players.

[B]

Sounds interesting. Go on.

[C]

And, of course, when you think of umpires and their rows, Frank, you think right quick of Frankie Friggs. He had many a row with the boys in blue. There was a time in Boston we was playing the Braves, and it did seem that a lot of close plays was going against us. But Frank was in pretty good humor that day, and he wasn't raising no fuss. Then all of a sudden, Larry Getz gets red in the face and chases Frank off the field. Nobody could figure what had happened, but.

[B]

I'm sure Frisch regaled you with the details as he hid in the back of that dugout.

[C]

He sure did. Getz was calling them at first base while Frank was coaching over third. Well, after the third or fourth closeman call against us, Frank walks past Getz on the way to our dugout. He stops and says, getz, it's a nice day, isn't it, Lawrence? And get says, yes, Frank, a beautiful day. And Frank says, by the way, Lawrence, have you a couple of cigars in your pocket? And get says, no, Frank, why would you think I'd have cigars in my pocket? And Frisk says, because Lawrence you look so much like a cigar store Indian.

[B]

And Frisk got bounced just for that.

[C]

He sure did. Guest didn't waste no time. That Frisk knew more ways of getting the umps mad. One day in Brooklyn, it was getting dark, and Frank thought the game ought to be called. You see, we was a run ahead anyhow. Our pitcher got into a little trouble, and Frank sent the groundkeeper after a flashlight and started down to the bullpen, flashing the lights so he could find his way.

[B]

Well, did Frank get bounced for that one?

[C]

Yes, George. Major Kirk showed Frank the way to the clubhouse that time. And another time, when Frank thought the game ought to be called on account of rain, he got a big wagon umbrella and walked back and forth in front of the dugout. And he got bounced again.

[B]

And yet, Diz, they tell me Frisch and the umpires are the very best of friends.

[C]

They are, Frank. You see, Frisch never gets vicious. It's all good, clean. And the umpires have to laugh, too. But, of course, them umpires got dignity, and they got to protect that.

[B]

Yes, and they have a job to do.

[C]

That's right, Frank. Just like everybody else in baseball. Like today. We was playing the fellas at the old Baker bowl late in September. The fellas was down in last place, and we got off to an early lead. It wasn't much of a ball game, and the small crowd kept getting smaller and smaller. But we noticed one crowd of people down the right field stands. And they stayed inning after inning, and not one of them left the ballpark. Finally, we got curious, and I says, I'm going to the bullpen to warm up a little, and I'm going to find out what them people are staying to the finish of this ball game. So I go to the bullpen in the right field corner of the park. And when I pass the group that was sticking to the finish, I asked how come that they should stay so faithfully with us leading the Phillies 17 to 2. But they told me, dizzy, they said, we know this is a pretty bad ball game and we'd like to go home like everybody else is doing. But we can't, you see. We're the ground crew.

[B]

Well, now, Diz, before your last job on this series of programs for Johnson's Carnu Dog Gone.

[C]

That's right. This is my last program for Carnar this summer.

[B]

And we should say thank you for.

[C]

Listening and thanks for all them letters.

[B]

And we hope we'll be back again for Carnu next summer.

[C]

Stop, Frank, or you'll have me crying. I Don't like to say goodbye.

[B]

Neither do I, Diz. So before we sign off for the summer, let's have Dizzy Dean the reporter give us the picture as you see it on the pennant races as they go into that final stretch.

[C]

Well, Frank, one of the the races is about over. The Braves have a comfortable lead and Billy Southworth has put the job on of protecting that lead into the hands of his two pitching stars. That's a smart move. Johnny Sane and Warren Spann can do a little extra work till that flag is cinched and then have time to rest before the World Series.

[B]

All right. And how about the American League, Diz?

[C]

That may go right down to the wire, Frank, but the Yankees are within easy striking distance. They may be some World Series games at Yankee Stadium in October. Watch them, Frank. If those Yankees ever get ahead, the Red Sox won't catch them again.

[B]

Ah, those are words of wisdom, Jerome. Words of wisdom indeed. Now, friends, before closing, just a brief rundown of Dizzy Dean's all star team. Pick to drive, first base, Lou Gehrig. Second, Frankie Frisch. Shortstop Lou Boudreau. Third base, pie trainer in the outfield, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. The catchers, Gabby Hartnett and Jimmy Wilson. And the pitchers, Carl Hubble, Lefty Grove and of course, the one and only Dizzy Dean. He's been brought to you by Johnson's Car New a wax fortified auto polish that cleans and polishes your car in one easy application. Rub it on and wipe it off. That's all there is to it. Rub it on and Carnue cleans your car. Loosens up that sticky, stubborn road film that water won't touch. Wipe it off and Carnue polishes your car. Ask for Johnson's Wax Fortified Carnu Today you will save your arms. You will save your time while you're making your car sparkle like new. Because remember to give your car that Sunday shine. Rub it on and wipe it off is all you do with Carnu.

[C]

This is Old Deer saying goodbye for now. I've had a lot of fun pitching across for Johnson's Carnue.

[B]

This is Frank Ashens saying the same thing for the makers of Johnson's Wax Fortified Auto Polish Carnue. This program came to you from KSD St. Louis. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.