Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker Jr. joins Lost Ballparks to discuss his new book, Crossroads, and reflects on his early years with the Atlanta Braves, being mentored by Hank Aaron, sitting in hotel rooms with "the hammer" and Satchel Paige listening to unforgettable stories. He also takes us inside one of the most iconic moments in sports history, standing on deck as Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in Atlanta in 1974. Dusty offers a deeply personal perspective on Aaron's historic achievement, the racism and death threats Aaron endured during the chase, and one unforgettable moment that happened as Aaron crossed the plate.

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This episode is especially meaningful for me. Years ago, I painted a portrait of my father-in-law’s favorite player, Juan Marichal, in his iconic high-kick windup. Today, that same painting hangs in Marichal’s home—and I had the honor of sitting down with him for this conversation.

From 1960–1975, Juan Marichal was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball: 243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, a lifetime 2.89 ERA, and 10 All-Star selections. He won more games in the 1960s than Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax, and Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Pete Rose all called him one of the toughest pitchers they ever faced.

In this episode, Marichal reflects on his childhood in the Dominican Republic, the racism he faced early in his career, unforgettable moments at Candlestick Park, racing frogs with teammates, the 1962 World Series against the Yankees, and his pride in becoming the first Dominican-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Jon Miller, the longtime voice of the San Francisco Giants has been broadcasting major league baseball games for nearly 50 years. For 2 decades he and Joe Morgan called the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week. Naturally, after a career of that length, he has been to many old Lost Ballparks and he is sharing his first hand experiences on this week's episode.

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