Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Your Sports Question Box 46xxxx 01 An Umpire's Question"

Episode Details

• Title: Your Sports Question Box 46xxxx 01 An Umpire's Question
• Release Date: March 29, 2025
• Host: Leo Durocher, Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
• Co-Hosts: Ken and Frank Chase
• Description: Delving into the Golden Age of Radio, this episode features Leo Durocher answering listeners' sports-related questions, blending expert insights with engaging banter.

Introduction

The episode kicks off with Leo Durocher introducing himself in a friendly and approachable manner:

• Leo Durocher [00:42]: "Hiya, folks. Hello to all of you. Boy, what a wonderful world. It's sure great to be alive."

Ken and Frank Chase set the stage for the show, emphasizing the interactive nature of the program where listeners send in their sports questions for Leo to answer.

Question 1: An Umpire's Dilemma

Listener: H.A. Brown of Cleveland, Ohio – An Umpire
Timestamp: [01:03]

Scenario: Brown describes a situation from a schoolboy baseball game where a player missed second base while running home. After completing the circuit, Leo, acting as the umpire, called the play, leading to the opposing team's captain contesting the decision.

Discussion: Leo initially reacts defensively but then appreciates the initiative of the young umpire, suggesting a job opportunity with the Dodgers.

• Leo Durocher [02:05]: "There's a job waiting for him on the Dodgers when he grows up."

Ultimately, Leo rules in favor of Brown's captain, advocating that umpires should refrain from unnecessary interference unless the opposing team highlights the mistake.

• Leo Durocher [02:22]: "The umpire should have kept quiet. ... the run should have counted."

Conclusion: Mr. Brown earns a $5 reward for his question.

Question 2: Longest Swim Record

Listener: Mary Wallace of Oceanside, California
Timestamp: [02:42]

Question: What is the distance of the longest swim on record?

Response: Leo references a historical feat by Pedro Candisti, who swam 281 miles along the Parana River in Argentina back in February 1935.

• Leo Durocher [02:48]: "Pedro Candisti swam 281 miles between Santa Fe and Serique in the waters of the Parana river in Argentine South America."

Commentary: Leo humorously imagines supporting Candisti physically during the swim.

• Leo Durocher [03:02]: "I'm rowing the boat for the kid and handing him out hot coffee and axle grease."

Question 3: The Pitcher in "Casey at the Bat"

Listener: KL Chavisi of New York City
Timestamp: [04:21]

Question: What is the name of the pitcher who fanned Casey in the poem "Casey at the Bat"?

Response: Leo explains that the poet, Ernest Thayer, never named the pitcher, leaving him as an anonymous figure in baseball lore.

• Leo Durocher [04:35]: "baseball's unknown man."

Recitation: Chavisi requests Leo to recite the poem, leading to a heartfelt rendition of the final stanza.

• Leo Durocher [05:21]:

  "Oh, somewhere in this favorite land the sun is shining bright,
  The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light
  And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout
  But there is no joy in Mudville, mighty Casey had struck out."

Co-Hosts' Reaction:

• Frank Chase [05:37]: "Beautiful, Leo, beautiful."
• Ken [05:40]: "Superb, Frank, superb."

Question 4: Highest Automobile Speed

Listener: Mort Bloomberg of Washington
Timestamp: [05:46]

Question: What is the highest speed ever made in an automobile?

Response: Leo cites John R. Cobb's record from August 23, 1939, where Cobb averaged 369.7 miles per hour over two one-mile runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

• Leo Durocher [05:52]: "John R. Cobb... averaged 369 and seven 10 miles per hour."

Humorous Exchange:

• Frank Chase [06:10]: "Five dollars to Mr. Bloomberg and that ain't hay."

Question 5: Most Lucrative Sport in America

Listener: A gentleman from Havana
Timestamp: [06:18]

Question: On what sport do Americans spend the most money each year?

Response: Leo identifies fishing as the top spender, followed by hunting, golf, motorboating, and bowling. He contrasts these figures with the relatively low spending on attending live sports events.

• Leo Durocher [06:30]: "The answer is fishing. Pre-war figures show that Americans spent about $1,200,200,000,000 a year on their rods and reels."

Insight: Leo highlights that attendance sports generate significantly less revenue compared to recreational sports activities.

• Leo Durocher [07:01]: "Sports fans spent only a measly $260 million on paid admissions to sporting contests according to the most recent figures."

Humorous Note:

• Leo Durocher [07:16]: "He never asked me, so I never told him."

Question 6: The Four Kings of Playing Cards

Listener: R.M. Bell of Las Vegas, Nevada
Timestamp: [09:02]

Question: Who are represented by the four Kings in a deck of ordinary playing cards?

Response: Leo identifies the four Kings as historical monarchs: David, Alexander, Caesar, and Charlemagne.

• Leo Durocher [09:19]: "The four Kings are supposed to be four real kings of olden times. They're David, Alexander, Caesar and Charlemagne."

Question 7: Record for Consecutive Scoreless Innings

Listener: Mrs. T.S. Atkins of Westerly, Rhode Island
Timestamp: [10:51]

Question: What is the record for consecutive scoreless innings?

Discussion: Leo first acknowledges a 19-inning scoreless tie between the Dodgers and the Reds mentioned by Mrs. Atkins but clarifies that a longer record exists.

Historical Insight: Leo recounts the 1918 game between the Pirates and the Braves, which went 21 innings with only two runs scored in the final inning.

• Leo Durocher [11:24]: "It was on August 1, 1918, that the Pirates beat the Braves in the 21st inning when they scored two runs, the only scoring of the game."

Further Clarification: He reveals an even longer game from 1893 between Washington and St. Louis, lasting 27 innings with the first 26 being scoreless before Washington secured a 1-0 victory.

• Leo Durocher [12:05]: "The official scores marked it down as a single game. It lasted 27 innings, and the first 26 of them were scoreless."

Conclusion: Mrs. Atkins' question garners the $50 award for being the most interesting of the week.

Closing Remarks

Leo wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to continue sending in their questions, emphasizing the interactive and rewarding nature of the show.

• Leo Durocher [13:04]: "This is Leo Durocher saying. See you next week, same time, same station..."

Co-host Ken reiterates the instructions for submitting questions and highlights the monetary rewards for participation.

Final Quote:

• Leo Durocher [13:21]: "In life, as in baseball, a sacrifice never hurts your batting average."

Notable Quotes

• Leo Durocher on Umpiring [02:22]: "In a baseball game, every player is supposed to be wide awake and on his toes every minute of the game."
• Leo on "Casey at the Bat" [05:21]: > "But there is no joy in Mudville, mighty Casey had struck out."
• Leo on Automotive Speed Records [05:52]: "Cobb averaged 369 and seven 10 miles per hour."
• Leo on American Sports Spending [06:30]: "Americans spent about $1,200,200,000,000 a year on their rods and reels."
• Leo on Playing Cards [09:19]: "They're David, Alexander, Caesar and Charlemagne."
• Leo on Scoreless Innings [12:05]: "The official scores marked it down as a single game. It lasted 27 innings, and the first 26 of them were scoreless."

Conclusion This episode of "Your Sports Question Box" showcases Leo Durocher's extensive knowledge and personable demeanor as he navigates a variety of sports inquiries. From the intricacies of baseball rules to historical sports records, Leo provides insightful and entertaining responses, making the show both informative and engaging for listeners.