Joe DiMaggio Show 49-xx-xx with Lou Effratt

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Joe DiMaggio Show 49-xx-xx with Lou Effratt
Date Released: January 6, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Main Theme:
A nostalgic dive into the Golden Age of Radio, featuring an episode of the classic "Joe DiMaggio Show." Listeners are treated to a unique blend of sports trivia, athlete Q&A, audience interaction, and storytelling from New York Times sportswriter Lou Effratt, all centered around legendary Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio. The show offers a snapshot of how radio once brought families together around American sports heroes, lively games, and colorful personalities.

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Episode Overview

The featured "Joe DiMaggio Show" brings together Joe DiMaggio, Jack Barry, Gus March, and Lou Effratt for a sports-centric radio hour. The episode begins with listener Q&A, transitions into the weekly sports trivia competition, features a memorable guest story from sportswriter Lou Effratt, and concludes with an audience Q&A segment about baseball and reporting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Q&A with Joe DiMaggio

Timestamps: 01:10 – 03:04

• Ballpark Safety:

  • Question: Why don’t ballparks use rubber padding on outfield walls to prevent injuries?
  • Joe DiMaggio: Brooklyn ballpark uses rubber padding, not common in the American League.
    • “To my knowledge, we don’t have any in the American League.” (01:40, Joe DiMaggio)
  • Lou Effratt adds that gravel before the wall serves as a warning.

• Players’ Expenses on the Road:

  • Teams cover most expenses, but players pay for laundry, cleaning, and phone bills.
    • “For our laundry and cleaning and phone bills, why we have to go for that ourselves.” (02:08, Joe DiMaggio)

• DiMaggio’s New TV Show:

  • Joe reveals he’s just launched his own TV show on NBC, airing Saturdays at 5:30 PM, sponsored by Lionel Trains.

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2. Sports Quiz: Civilians vs. Navy

Timestamps: 03:17 – 09:29

• Teams: Two Civilian contestants (Gene Carlin, Bill Lolly) vs. Two Navy servicemen (Edward Whitbread, Meade Kamengay).
• Quiz Format: Three innings of questions; correct answers score runs.
• Sample Questions:
  • Glenn Davis, the Army football star, is known as “Mr. Outside.” (05:33–05:53)
  • The Vanderbilt Cup is awarded for automobile racing, not hockey or football. (05:57–06:06)
  • Who holds the nickname “Red”? (Robert Roth, Charlie Ruffing, Harold Grange)
  • Which baseball man is known as the “traffic cop”? (third base coach)
• Memorable Moment:
  • Tie-breaking question on Bob Feller’s strikeout record. Closest guess by civilian Bill Lolly wins a portable RCA radio.
    • “Bob struck out three hundred and forty eight men and he set that record in 1946.” (09:10, Joe DiMaggio)

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3. Lou Effratt’s Sports Story: The Trainer Behind the Yankees

Timestamps: 10:02 – 20:00

• Lou Effratt recounts the career of Yankees trainer Gus March, highlighting the essential, often overlooked role of a sports trainer.
• Key stories:
  • Gus’s start as a NYU football trainer and a memorable misunderstanding involving George M. Cohan, the legendary actor.
  • Helping Johnny Lindell play in a crucial game despite a broken rib, keeping the injury secret for the player’s benefit.
    • “One game doesn’t matter a heck of a lot, Johnny.” (16:24, Gus March as told by Effratt)
  • The extraordinary 1949 Yankees injury streak and Gus’s humor in the face of adversity:
    • “I’m sick of keeping you guys together with chewing gum and Scotch tape...” (18:13, Gus March via dramatization)

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4. Interview with Gus March, Yankees Trainer

Timestamps: 20:00 – 23:51

• Football vs. Baseball:
  • Gus reveals that training baseball players is harder because there’s less time for recovery.
    • “If football were to be played every day, I would say football. But… in baseball, we play every day, we don’t have a whole week.” (20:07, Gus March)
• Most Common Baseball Injuries:
  • “Strawberries”—scrapes from sliding—are most common, with DiMaggio noted for collecting many.
    • “Joe has more strawberries from the slide than any man I know of.” (20:31, Gus March)
• Gus’s Trainer School:
  • Upcoming trainer school in Boston, Florida, runs January through early February, training future sports trainers.

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5. Audience Q&A (On Location with Jack Barry)

Timestamps: 24:04 – 29:16

• Medical Care for Players:
  • Immediate application of ice, and if unconscious, do not move the player.
    • “Ice is the first order, regardless of what the injury is.” (24:31, Gus March)
• Reporters’ Access to Games:
  • Reporters can get only a few free tickets; more would be problematic.
    • “If you get beyond that, you’re in trouble.” (26:58, Lou Effratt)
• Reducing Weight Advice:
  • Diet and exercise, especially cutting starches and doing light, fast workouts. Gus’s quip:
    • “The two exercises which are most important is to be able to shake your head from side to side and say no… And push yourself away from the table.” (25:57, Gus March)
• Can Baseball Players Take Pain or Are They Sissies?
  • “They’ve got to be pretty good rugged individuals to play any sport.” (27:23, Gus March)
• Anecdotes about Reporters’ Career Paths and Athlete Lifestyle:
  • Lou Effratt notes, “If I weren’t riding sports now, I don’t know what I’d be doing. I’d pay to get in.” (27:45)
• Charley Horse Treatment:
  • Ice first, then heat, massage, and stretching—“It’s nothing more but a contracted muscle.” (28:34, Gus March)
• DiMaggio’s Friend George Solitaire:
  • “George Solitaire happens to be a very good friend of mine... just dear friend of mine.” (29:01, Joe DiMaggio)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bob Feller’s Strikeout Record:
  “Bob struck out three hundred and forty eight men and he set that record in 1946.”
  — Joe DiMaggio [09:10]

• On Baseball Injuries:
  “Joe has more strawberries from the slide than any man I know of.”
  — Gus March [20:31]

• Lou Effratt’s Career Self-Assessment:
  “I was not a good athlete, but I was an athlete.”
  — Lou Effratt [25:01]

• On Taking and Refusing Food:
  “The two exercises which are most important is to be able to shake your head from side to side and say no… and push yourself away from that table.”
  — Gus March [25:57]

• On Athletes and Pain:
  “I don’t think that there’s a man that’s in any kind of sport could be classed as a sissy.”
  — Gus March [27:23]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Listener Letters & Q&A with Joe DiMaggio: 01:10 – 03:11
• Sports Quiz (Civilians vs. Navy): 03:17 – 09:29
• Lou Effratt’s Story about Gus March: 10:02 – 20:00
• Interview with Gus March: 20:00 – 23:51
• Audience Q&A & Panel Questions: 24:04 – 29:16

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Overall Tone and Style

Witty, friendly, and filled with mid-century radio warmth, the episode captures the camaraderie of athletes, the behind-the-scenes realities of sports, and old-fashioned humor delivered with ease and charm by DiMaggio, Barry, Effratt, and March.

Whether you’re a baseball buff, a radio nostalgia fan, or curious about the culture that surrounded America’s pastime, this episode offers authentic sports history and entertainment—as it was meant to be heard, before the age of television.

Transcript

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[Narrator/Announcer]

NBC presents the Joe DiMaggio show, starring the Yankee Clipper himself, Joe DiMaggio, featuring Jack Barry with the Kids vs. Grown Up Sports Quiz with Joe DiMaggio's personal answer to the listener, a reporter's exciting story about this week's famous guest. And now here he is, the star of our transcribed show, the center fielder of the world champion New York Yankees and one of baseball's all time greats. Here he is in person, Joe DiMagno.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Thank you and hello everyone. It's always a pleasure to spend this half hour here with you at NBC and I'm sure you'll enjoy the sports features we've lined up for you this week. As usual, my radio partner Jack Barry is going to help me keep things moving. The first thing we're going to do is answer some of those letters you folks have sent in. Who sent the first one, Jack?

[Jack Barry]

Ms. Elizabeth Goff of Mallon, Texas, who writes and says so many outfielders are injured as a result of crashing into the walls of ballpark that I've often wondered why they don't use rubber padding on the walls. Seems to me it would cut way down on painful injuries.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, that is very true, Jack. However, there is one ballpark that they have rubber paddings around the wall and that is in Brooklyn. To my knowledge, we don't have any in the American League.

[Lou Ephrat]

However, we also we have the gravel.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Road there, which signifies, of course, we're getting pretty close to the wall. When that happens, while we generally pull up.

[Jack Barry]

Thank you very much, Joe. A letter now from Mr. Samuel Hart of Phoenix, Arizona, who writes when a player is on the road, does his team foot the bill for all his expenses?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, they put the bill for quite a bit, however, for our laundry and cleaning and phone bills, why we have to go for that ourselves.

[Jack Barry]

You don't make too many phone calls then?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Not too many.

[Jack Barry]

Mr. Joseph Brownlee of Rochester, New York writes to you and says, I read in the papers that you're starting a new television show. Is it true?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Yes, as a matter of Fact, my first television show just went on a few hours ago on NBC. And I got a big kick out of doing it, Jack. And I guess I'll get a bigger kick maybe as the time goes by. Yes, indeed.

[Jack Barry]

And as a matter of fact, your show will be on every Saturday from now on 5:30 in the afternoon for a long time. Sponsored by Lionel Trains. Well, I've taken care of our letter answering session for this week, but Joe will continue to answer the most interesting letters from our listeners on future programs. And so, if you have a question you'd like to ask Joe DiMaggio, send your letter to Joe DiMaggio care of NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, I always enjoy answering some of those letters, Jack, and I'd like to thank everyone who took the trouble in sending them in. Thank you very much.

[Jack Barry]

Thank you, Joe.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Once again it's time for our sports quiz. And in just a moment we'll find out who the experts are this week. But first, Jack, how about telling us.

[Lou Ephrat]

The rules of the game?

[Jack Barry]

Well, Joe, two teams are lined up on stage and they're going to play a short three inning baseball game. And for every question answered correctly, that team will score one run. At the end of the quiz, the team scoring the most runs is declared the winner. I'll fix the questions and Joe's. Suppose you umpire.

[Lou Ephrat]

Right, Jack.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Let's play ball.

[Jack Barry]

Today we're going to have a little change of pace, Joe. Instead of the kids versus the grown ups on stage was today are civilians versus the Navy. Representing the civilians, Ms. Jean Carlin. Representing the civilians too, Mr. Bill Lolley. And for the Navy, it's Edward Whitbread, hospital corpsman first class. And Meade Kamengay, Mineman second class. And here we go. Gene Carlin, you're up first for the civilians. Robert Roth, Charlie Ruffing and Harold Grange all have the same nickname. Can you tell us what it is?

[Gene Carlin]

I don't know, Joe.

[Joe DiMaggio]

They're all better known as Red.

[Gene Carlin]

Oh, yes.

[Jack Barry]

You know now, Gene? Yes, I do. Too bad. No score on. We continue now to the Navy. Edward Rutbread. Ed, in what sport would you find the terms catch, sloop, cutter and yawl? Our organist is going to play a song to help you. What do you say, Ed?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Sailing. Sailing is correct. And part the song was Red Sails in the Sunset.

[Jack Barry]

Boy, if you hadn't gotten that one, you'd been in bad shape.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I hit it before.

[Gus March]

Bill.

[Jack Barry]

Bill Lolly. Onto the civilians. Now, on what National League team would you find these players? Marty Marion, Del Rice and Ena Slaughter St. Louis Cardinals.

[Joe DiMaggio]

The St. Louis Connells is the answer.

[Jack Barry]

And now it's on to the second member of our Navy team, Meade Kamonier. Meade, who is the new men's amateur tennis champion? Is it Tom Brown, Budge Patty or Arthur Larson?

[Lou Ephrat]

Budge Patty.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Oh, I'm sorry. The answer's Arthur Larson.

[Jack Barry]

And the score at the end of the first inning of play is all tied up. The civilians have one run and the Navy has one run. Okay, here we go into the second inning of play. Let's see what happens in this inning.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Right back to you.

[Jack Barry]

Gene Carlin was Glenn Davis one of Army's famous touchdown twins known as Mr. Inside or Mr. Outside. And this song will help you. What do you say, Gene?

[Gene Carlin]

Outside.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Outside is right. And of course the song was Baby, It's Cold Outside.

[Jack Barry]

Right back to hospital. Corpsman First Class Edward Whitbread. Is the Vanderbilt cup awarded in hockey, football or automobile racing?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Automobile racing. Automobile racing is correct.

[Jack Barry]

Bill Lally for the civilians. Sandy Sadler and Willie Pep recently met for the third time to decide the featherweight championship of the world. Which of these fighters now holds the title?

[Lou Ephrat]

Sandy Sadler.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Sandy Sadler is the right answer.

[Jack Barry]

And the score is now 3 to 2 in favor of the civilians. And me can and Gates of the Navy. You can still tie it up. Imagine for a moment that you're at a baseball game. The count on the batter is 3 and 2. After hearing this next song, tell us what happens on the very next pitch. Does the batter get a hit? Does he walk or does he strike out? Here's the song. What do you say, Meade?

[Joe DiMaggio]

He takes a walk. He takes a walk. That's correct. And the song was let's take an old fashioned Walk.

[Jack Barry]

And the score at the end of the second inning of play, it's still all tied. Three for the Navy, three for the civilians. All right, here we go. This is the third and final inning. Now we're going to find out who knows more about sports today, whether it be the Navy or the civilians, right back to Gene Carlin. Gene, what man on the baseball field is known as the traffic cop? Is it the second baseman, the umpire behind the plate or the third baseman?

[Gus March]

Coach.

[Gene Carlin]

Third base, Coach.

[Joe DiMaggio]

The answer is a third base coach. And believe me, he has to direct plenty of traffic.

[Jack Barry]

And the civilians are in the lead by a score of 4 to 3. Edward Whitbread, the professional football team of Los Angeles and the football team of Fordham University both have the same nickname. What is that nickname?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Rams. Rams is correct.

[Jack Barry]

The score is tied again at 4 to 4. Mr. Lolly. Bill Lolly for the Civilians. Giant pitcher Magaly recently pitched 45 consecutive scoreless innings. We want you to tell us his first name. It's a rather unusual name for a man. So here's a song which will help you. What do you say, Mr. Lally? Sal.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Sal is the name we're after and the song was My Gal. Sal.

[Jack Barry]

The Civilians are in the lead by a score of 5 to 4. Here is the final pitch of our last inning. Mead Kamin Gay for the Navy. It's up to you to decide. See if you can tie the score. What college football team does Herman Hickman coach?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yale.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Yale is correct.

[Jack Barry]

And so the score at the end of the third and final inning of play is all tied up. And we're going to have to go into a tie breaking question. Here's how we do it. We ask each member of each team to give one answer to a rather difficult question. And the team which comes the closest with the answer, the closest answer will of course win. Now here is our question for today. Bob Feller holds the major league record for the most strikeouts in one season. How many men did he strike out to set that record? Gene Carlin, what is your guess?

[Gene Carlin]

35.

[Jack Barry]

Edward Whitbread for the Navy, what do you think? 212. Bill Lally for the civilians. 258. And finally, Mead Kamengay for the Navy. 138. And now I'm going to ask Joe DiMaggio to give us the correct answer.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Bob struck out three hundred and forty eight men and he set that record in 1946.

[Jack Barry]

And so the closest score or the closest guess was given to us by Bill Lally. He said 258. He is representing the civilian team. The Civilians beat the Navy this week.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

Congratulations to each member of the civilian.

[Jack Barry]

Team for winning this hard fought victory today. And because you did win, we have wonderful gifts. Each of you on the winning civilian team will get a handsome RCA portable radio. And we got something for you losers too. In the Navy. Each of you will receive a year subscription to Sport magazine.

[Joe DiMaggio]

And I'd like to thank the members of both teams for being on the quiz. You all did a fine job and thanks for joining us.

[Jack Barry]

Each week Joe DiMaggio invites a famous writer to tell his favorite sports story on our program. This week's story will be told by Lou Ephrat, sportswriter of the New York Times. And here he is, Lou Ephrat. Hello, Lou. Lou, on your last visit to our.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Show you said you were going to take some singing lessons.

[Lou Ephrat]

How'd you make out?

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

Well, I still have the same old foghorn voice, Joe. Guess I'd better stick to sportswriting. But I really think I should take some lessons in how to make predictions for the baseball season.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Did you guess it wrong again this year, Lou?

[Gus March]

Did I?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Football season's just around the corner, you know, and so maybe you can redeem yourself.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

You mean you'd really like to hear my football predictions?

[Gus March]

Sure, Lou.

[Lou Ephrat]

Go right ahead.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

Well, get ready for another fiasco. You know, in baseball, I was fairly right, and I still think I'm right. About the Yankees. I said it would be the Yankees in a squeak, in a very tough squeak in the American League. And despite the fact that you're sitting right alongside of me, Joe, I still think I'm right. I think your club will win the American League pennant. I might have been right there. However, in the National League, I said on this very same NBC program that the Dodgers would win in a walk, and gosh, how wrong I've been there. However, let's go back to football. In the college ranks, I think in the east, it looks to me at this moment, from the point of vantage that I have, that it will be between army and Cornell for supremacy. In this section in the south, the SMU with Kyle Rote has a chance to be outstanding. In the far west, it looks like a toss up between California and Southern California.

[Joe DiMaggio]

That sounds pretty good to me, Lou. By the way, you hold some kind of record for covering football games, don't you?

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

That's right, Joe. In 1948, I believe it was. I covered 44 college and professional football games in a single season, as far as I know, and this might sound a little corny, but no other reporter can make that statement.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, that was really a marathon, Lou. And now we'd like to hear your favorite story, Joe.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

My favorite story is about Gus Mosh, the trainer for your club, the New York Yankees. You know, a trainer is almost as important to a ball club as a fleeting home run hitter. He's the first one to show up at the ballpark in the morning and the last one to leave at night. And he spends that long day dispensing psychology and wisdom as well as first aid. Gus has meant a lot to the Yankees, and he's regarded as one of the best in his difficult trade. And now, Joe, I'd like you to hear a few episodes from Gus March's career.

[Lou Ephrat]

Gus Mauch, known him for years, ever since he was chief masseur at a famous health club here in New York. Matter of fact, that's where Chick Meehan of the New York University met him too. Chick realized that there was magic in Gus's hands. Magic that took the kink out of strained and painful muscles, straightened out twisted sacroiliac, healed ugly bruises and gave first aid and comfort to crack bones. So Chick went to him one day.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Gus, I'll put it to you straight. How would you like a new job? Well, I don't know. You like sports? Sure thing. I like sports fine. Almost as much as I like putting on minstrel shows. Being trainer for a football team is no minstrel show, Gus. But it's almost as much fun and a heck of a lot noise here. I'll guarantee that. Sounds interesting. In all fairness, Gus, I'd better warn you. Football players aren't easy to handle. They're temperamental, they're stubborn. And they're fond of collecting black eyes.

[Joe DiMaggio]

And broken collarbones for themselves.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, I guess I could take care of them. All right, then.

[Jack Barry]

It's the deal.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You've got yourself a new job, Gus. Well, let's shake on that. When do I start?

[Lou Ephrat]

Gus Motz was in sports now. And he was really devoted to that football team of his. Now, Gus isn't a doctor, but he always works with a doctor. And when the doc at NYU saw what he could do, he kept asking Gus to come downtown and treat a patient of his. Gus was so busy with his football team that he kept putting it off and making up one excuse after another until finally the doctor asked Chick me and to intervene. Sure enough, Chick did.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Wanna see me.

[Gus March]

Chick?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, Gus, I would be a nice fellow and see this patient of Doc's.

[Joe DiMaggio]

William.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, I've been meaning to, but I've been kind of busy. I know, but the doc's in here every half hour crying on my shoulder. Now, this patient of his has got a bad sacroiliac and can't work unless he gets some kind of relief. Guess I ought to see him then, huh?

[Lou Ephrat]

Do that, will you, Gus?

[Narrator/Announcer]

The guy some kind of big shot. And the doc says that you're the only one that can help him. Okay, I'll see him tomorrow. Today. Gus can't today.

[Jack Barry]

For crying out loud.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why not? Raining? What's that got to do with it? Listen, Chick, when it rains, my boys all come down with sore muscles. They got sore muscles, I gotta be around to take care of them. So I'll see Doc's patient tomorrow. The boys come first.

[Lou Ephrat]

So the next day, Gus treated the doc's patient. And Chickman was Curious. Who was this big shot who so urgently needed Gus's kid?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, I don't know, Chick. Some fellow by the name of cone. Used to put on minstrel shows. Nice fellow. Would you fix him up?

[Jack Barry]

Oh, sure.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's a lot of baloney, though, about this guy being a big shot. Oh, how come? Guy's just some kind of actor. Nice fellow, though.

[Joe DiMaggio]

What show is he in?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I think he said it was some play about President of the United States. Gus, this show, was it called I'd Rather Be Right?

[Jack Barry]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, that sounds like it. I guess he doesn't have any big part in it, but sure is a nice fellow. Gus, do you know who your patient is? Yeah, Mr. Cone. Cone?

[Jack Barry]

My father.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Your patient is just about the greatest actor in America. His name happens to be George M. Cohan. Is that a fact? Well, better be getting back to my boys, Chick. But as I said, that cone fella, he's sure a nice fella.

[Lou Ephrat]

I guess it wasn't a surprise to anyone when the New York Yankees signed Gus as their trainer in 1944. Gus liked the Yankees and the Yankees like Gus. Now, that's important. A player's got to have a lot of faith in his trainer. And the trainer. Well, you take the case of Johnny Lindell.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay, Johnny. On the table for a rub down. Take it easy around my ribs, huh?

[Lou Ephrat]

Gus?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Not a kid.

[Joe DiMaggio]

I don't know.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm just a little sore, that's all. Now, let's take a look. Oh, what is that, Gus? You got a broken rib, son. We gotta get you to the doctor. Oh, no, wait a minute, Gus, please, I gotta play that game tomorrow. I just gotta. Oh, no. Out of the question. Well, look, couldn't you just sort of strap me up temporarily just so I can play the one game? One game doesn't matter a heck of a lot, Johnny. Oh, but it does. This is awful important to me, Gus. Well, I suppose I could fix you up temporarily, Johnny, but you know I can't stop the pain. Oh, that doesn't matter. I can stand the pain, but I gotta play that game now. How about it, Gus? Oh, gone you, Johnny. I'm a dope for even listening to you. But you'll do it, won't you, Gus? Yeah, I'll do it if it's that important to you, Johnny. But as soon as you get off that field tomorrow, you go to the hospital here. Sure, sure, Gus. You won't tell anyone, huh? If I did, they'd have me up at the doctor's having my head examined. Hey, you know something, Gus? You're one swell guy. Ah, shut up and let me strap up that rib.

[Lou Ephrat]

Gus Martz kept his secret. Johnny Lindell played that game and played well. You see, Gus knew ball players, and he knew that playing that one game was better medicine than any doctor could prescribe for young Johnny. But last year. Oh, my aching Yankee back. What a nightmare was 1949 for Gus March and that brittle group of men who call themselves the New York Yankees.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hey, hey, hey, Gus.

[Jack Barry]

I twisted my ankle sliding. Second. You fixed me up, huh? Oh, no.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You're the 53rd guy that's come in here with something busted. What's the matter with you guys? Your bones made of glass or something?

[Lou Ephrat]

But the Yankee casualty list continued to Mount 65 injuries. 70, 71, 72. And finally, an angry Gus March assembled his players and laid down the law.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Listen, you blockheads, I've had enough. I'm sick of keeping you guys together with chewing gum and Scotch tape. From now on, no more accidents. And that's an order. The next guy that comes in here limping, I'll. I'll send him to the morgue, dead or alive. You hear me? No more accidents.

[Lou Ephrat]

And shortly after that, the troubled dreams of a certain Mr. Casey Stengel, occupation, manager of a certain baseball team, were interrupted by a telephone call from a frantic Gus March.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hello, Casey? This is Gus Casey. We got another injury. Yeah, another one. That makes it number 73. And this one's a beaut. You know what this dumb jerk does? He walks into a parking meter and breaks two ribs. Why, you'll tar and feather him.

[Joe DiMaggio]

You.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now, wait a minute, Casey. Don't get excited.

[Gus March]

What?

[Jack Barry]

Who is he?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm calling from the hospital. It's me.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

Well, Joe, that's my story.

[Joe DiMaggio]

And, Lou, we certainly enjoyed it.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

You know, Gus really played a big part in keeping the Yankees together last year. And I mean that literally. You know, Joe, we newspaper men drop in to see him pretty often, too. In fact, if my predictions don't improve, I'll be giving him plenty of my business.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, thanks for that story, Lou. And believe me, as one of his star patients, I can tell you how valuable Gus really is. And now I'd like to present the trainer of the New York Yankees, Gus March. Gus, welcome to our show.

[Gus March]

Thanks, Joe. It's nice to be here.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, Gus, you've trained football players as well as baseball players. Which job was toughest?

[Gus March]

Well, Joe, if football were to be played every day, I would say the football. Football would be the tough of the two we Have a man injured, we have a whole week to get him back in shape. Now you take baseball as you know, we play every day, we don't have a whole week. You only have a few hours to get the boys back in shape. So therefore I would think that baseball is tougher because you haven't got the time to do your work.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Uh huh. And what's the most common injury to baseball players got?

[Gus March]

Joe? You should answer that one. Joe has more strawberries from the slide than any man I know of. I would say the strawberry is the most common injury. Few people who don't know what a strawberry is, you just get the high torn off you every time you slide into base. Joe is full of them and believe.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Me, as many as sleepless night I've spent proven. I guess the Yankees kept you pretty busy last year, didn't they?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Guess?

[Gus March]

Well they sure did, Joe. As you know, we had 74 injuries. Now I'm not sure whether we can really count the last injury as being part of the season. You see, we had 73 injuries. I was the 73rd and I'm going to let it up to you to let me know whether 74th is really a season injury. You see, just as Tommy Hendrick caught that foul ball to end the bell game to wind up the season and we knew that we won the pennant, Bill Dickey was so delighted he jumped off a second, hit his head on the roof of the dugout and collapsed on the floor.

[Joe DiMaggio]

That's a true story too, ladies and gentlemen, as I happen to see it. So I would say that was far the season with you. That goes with the yell by, don't you think so, Gus?

[Gus March]

Yes, I guess we'll have to include old Bill and I. Gus, I always.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Enjoy hearing you tell about your Interview with Joe McConnell when you first came to work for the Yankees. How about letting the audience in on it?

[Gus March]

Gus, he says, what do you know about psychology? Well I said Joe, I said I'd study it in college and I've applied it during the years I've been training. Okay, he said, I'm gonna see how good you are. Now I'm gonna tell you a little story. One day he said, I get a hold of Pine Crusade. And I said crow, Garrick is dying over there face base. He hasn't got any Pepsi's lackadaisical. He's phlegmatic in his movements. He said, I want you to wake him up. Now this was the time that Garrick was in the prime of life. He says, okay Joe, tell me what to do and I'll be glad to do it. He said, okay. He said, I'll tell you what I want you to do. Every time he says, you see a ball come to you, grab a hold of that ball. He says, throw it to face base. Throw it as hard as you can. He says, knock Gehrig off the bag with her. See another ball coming, pick it up. He says, throw it high, throw it low. I don't care how you throw as long as you throw it hard. So he says, okay, Joey, so I'll be glad to do it. He said, but supposing Garrett gets mad at me? He says, what do we care if he gets mad? He says, as long as we wake him up. So he says, are you okay? Do you get the point? I said, well, sure. I said, if I was Gehrig, I'd get angry myself and I'd throw the ball back out to Cosetti. Oh, he says, you've missed the point entirely. There was nothing wrong with Gehrig. Corsetti was the guy that was dying.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Gus, besides being a trainer, you've also done some coaching, haven't you?

[Gus March]

Yes, I coached swimming at Manhattan College. I coached up there for about 12 years. During the time I trained the other sport.

[Joe DiMaggio]

How'd your teams make up?

[Gus March]

Well, we won the Catholic College championships one year and had two individual champions in the Eastern Collegiate Swimming association meet.

[Joe DiMaggio]

And now, Gus, tell us something about your new school for trainers.

[Gus March]

Joe, I'm very proud of that school. This will be my third year. This school will open January 4th in Boston, Florida, and we run through to February 8th. It's in conjunction with a baseball school down there run by Ed Loart. Our pitcher from New York Yankees. Art Passarella has an umpire school, and I conduct a trainer school.

[Joe DiMaggio]

We hope your school is predicted and I'd like to thank you for being with us this week. But don't go away because we're going to need you again in just a moment. Thanks again, Gus.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

March.

[Jack Barry]

Well, Joe, at the start of the program you answered all those letters which our listeners were nice enough to send in. Now I'm going out into the studio with a portable microphone and give the.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Audience here a chance to pitch their.

[Jack Barry]

Questions at you and at Gus Marsh and at Lou F. Rat.

[Joe DiMaggio]

We'll start pitching. Jack, we're ready.

[Jack Barry]

Your name, sir? My name is William Fine. Where are you from, Mr. Fine? I'm from Flushing, New York, sir. Who is your question for?

[Narrator/Announcer]

My question is for Gus Moore.

[Jack Barry]

What's the question?

[Lou Ephrat]

What's the procedure when a player is.

[Jack Barry]

Injured, what's the first thing that's done?

[Gus March]

Well, it depends, of course, what the injury is. If a man is unconscious when I get on the field, we don't move him. We don't know whether he has a broken neck, which could be. So we try to bring the consciousness first. And we're always safe in applying ice. Ice is the first order, regardless of what the injury is.

[Lou Ephrat]

Thank you very much, Gus.

[Jack Barry]

Your name, sir?

[Joe DiMaggio]

George Hall.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from, sir?

[Lou Ephrat]

Brockville, Canada.

[Jack Barry]

Who's your question for, Lou? Effort. What's the question? Were you ever an athlete?

[Gus March]

Louis.

[Jack Barry]

Maggio must have put you up to that one.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

I made every second team in the history of Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. Second team. F rat they called me. I played baseball, football, soccer, swimming. I was not a good athlete, but I was an athlete.

[Jack Barry]

Thank you, Lou. Your name, sir?

[Joe DiMaggio]

James O'.

[Gus March]

Dell.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from?

[Joe DiMaggio]

St. Louis. And who's your question for our baseball players? Prohibited from flying in the airplanes during the season? No, they are not prohibited.

[Jack Barry]

As a matter of fact, there are.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Several ball clubs that fly today. However, if an individual wants to fly, he can do that on his own. He should get the consent of the management. That is the front office.

[Jack Barry]

Thank you, Joe. Your name, please?

[Gene Carlin]

Mrs. El Dagno.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from?

[Gene Carlin]

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

[Jack Barry]

Who's your question for?

[Gene Carlin]

Gus Martin.

[Joe DiMaggio]

What's the question?

[Gene Carlin]

I'd like to know what's the best way to reduce.

[Jack Barry]

Well.

[Gus March]

Reducing. It depends, of course, on the patient's age. We would advise both exercise and diet in the dial. I would cut out all starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, noodles and so on. I would do enough walking and if you were young enough, I would do a little light exercises. Fast, light exercises reduces slow, heavy exercises increase weight. And of course, the two exercises which are most important is to be able to shake your head from side to side and say no. To refuse that last portion and take your two hands, push it against the table and get yourself away from that table.

[Jack Barry]

And if that doesn't work, I recommend a good strong girdle. Your name, sir?

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

Eddie Condon.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from, Mr. Condit?

[Joe DiMaggio]

New York City.

[Jack Barry]

And what instrument do you play? I mean, none whatsoever. Who's your question for, Lou?

[Gus March]

Effort.

[Jack Barry]

What's the question, Lou?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Is it true that reporters get a.

[Jack Barry]

Lot of free tickets for baseball games?

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

No, it's not true. We don't get a lot of free tickets. Within reason, the front officers will let us have what we want. By that I mean two or Four. If you get beyond that, you're in trouble.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Thank you, Luke.

[Jack Barry]

Your name, please?

[Narrator/Announcer]

George Wilde.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from?

[Lou Ephrat]

Los Angeles, California.

[Jack Barry]

And who's your question for, Mr. Mr. Marsh? What's the question? Can baseball players take a lot of pain or are they a lot of sissies?

[Gus March]

No, I don't think that there's a man that's in any kind of sport could be classed as a sissy. They've got to be pretty good rugged individuals to play any sport.

[Jack Barry]

Thank you. Your name, sir?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Jerry laberge.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from? Montreal, Canada. And who's your question for, Lou?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Effort.

[Jack Barry]

What is it? Where can you go after the. You become a sports reporter?

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

That depends on the individual. As far as I'm concerned. I'm very happy where I am now. If I weren't riding sports now, I don't know what I'd be doing. I'd be going to these sports events myself. I'd pay to get in.

[Jack Barry]

I'd sit in the back.

[Lou Ephrat (continued)]

I'm doing all these things and I'm right up there in front.

[Jack Barry]

I love it. Thank you.

[Lou Ephrat]

Love.

[Jack Barry]

Your name, sir?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Frank Hall.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from, Frank?

[Joe DiMaggio]

Alex.

[Jack Barry]

And who's your question for, Mr. Morris? How do you handle a charley horse?

[Gus March]

Well, a charlie horse is a contracted muscle with a hemorrhage underneath it. Now, the first thing we do for charlie horses to apply ice. As I said before, 24 hours later, we apply heat and mild massage and we go through a stretching motion. We stretch the muscle, you see, and the heat and the mild massage gets away, that hemorrhage and the charlie horse reduces.

[Jack Barry]

It's nothing more but a contracted muscle. Last charlie horse I had came in third and paid 220.

[Gus March]

As long as you don't get those charlie horses between the years, it's okay.

[Jack Barry]

Your name, please?

[Gene Carlin]

Margaret Herny.

[Jack Barry]

Where are you from?

[Gene Carlin]

Newton, Massachusetts.

[Jack Barry]

Who's your question for?

[Gene Carlin]

Joe DiMaggio.

[Jack Barry]

What's the question?

[Gene Carlin]

I've often seen your name in the columns linked with a man named George Solitaire. Who is he?

[Joe DiMaggio]

You mean you said a man?

[Gene Carlin]

Yeah.

[Joe DiMaggio]

That'S certainly a different twist. But George Solitaire happens to be a very good friend of mine. This here in New York City. We live together. We have an apartment, one of the hotels. And he happens to be in the ticket agency business. Just dear friend of mine.

[Jack Barry]

Joe, is there any truth to the rumor that George Salter is sometimes called the yogi bearer of the ticket brokers? Joe, it's about all the time we have for questions in the studio audience.

[Gus March]

Today.

[Joe DiMaggio]

Well, thanks for your questions, folks. We certainly enjoyed answering them.

[Gus March]

And Lou Ephrat reporting that story about Gus Marsh.

[Jack Barry]

We'd like you to accept this wonderful million proof 12 and a half inch RCA television set.

[Joe DiMaggio]

And I'd like to thank Gus Marsh and Lou Ephrap for joining us this week. Many thanks for coming down. I'm afraid we'll have to wrap our show for this week, but I hope you'll all be able to join us again next week and we'll have our sports quiz. A report is exciting story about our sports guest interviews and answers to you, our listeners. So until then, this is Joe DiMaggio reminding you to be a good sport.

[Lou Ephrat]

Goodbye.

[Narrator/Announcer]

NBC has presented the Joe DiMaggio show starring one of baseball's all time greats, Joe DiMaggio and featuring Jack Barry. Join us again next week at the same time over the same NBC station for another entertaining and interesting half hour of sports. In this week's dramatic cast, you heard Charles Irving, Mandel Kramer and Jackson Beck. Music was by Arlo sports consultant Gene Shore. The transcribed Joe DiMaggio show is written by Mike Oppenheimer and Gene Gurley and directed by Dan Enright. This is Lionel Rico speaking.