A's Cast - A's Unfiltered - Ep. 314 Ft. Rollie Fingers

Speaker 20s - 29.84s

It's blazing hot outside. You get in your car to turn on the AC to get cold air pumping, but it blows hot air out. This issue is commonly caused by low refrigerant due to leaks in the AC system. You want an easy all-in-one solution that will restore the cold air in no time. AC-Pro PRODUCT recharge kits. Make restoring cold air easy for even those with zero DIY experience in less than 10 minutes.Save time and money versus going to a shop by picking up an AC Pro recharge kit today. Be a pro with ACPro.

Speaker 330.14s - 56.86s

This AESCast download is brought to you by LinkSol ORG. Go to linksole.com. And by Ness Betting ORG. Love where you sleep. Go to nestbedding.com. From baseball's top personalities.The Hall of Famer, one of the great TV broadcasters, Bob Kossis is here on A's ORG cast live. To the A ORG's legendary players. Five-time Major League Baseball ORG Home Run champ. Mark McGuire PERSON is with us here. You never know what stories you're going to hear.

Speaker 256.94s - 64.78s

You're looking at her to lunch and run with our shirts off. You would say it. This is A's Unfiltered with Chris Townsend ORG.

Speaker 367.94s - 120.82s

We do this edition of A's Unfiltered ORG with heavy hearts. Truly one of the great Oakland GPE athletics of all time and one of the premier left-handers of his time, Ken Holtzman PERSON has passed away. A ORGnd we want to remember a man that started so many big games for the A's, a three-time World Series champion. So in this edition of A's Unfiltered ORG, you're going to hearRaleigh Fingers, the great Dave Stewart, and our A's historian, Dave Feldman PERSON. But we'll start with one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Raleigh Fingers PERSON remembering not only his old teammate, Ken Holtzman PERSON. The great Raleigh Fingers is with us. Raleigh, I, I, I old teammate, his old roommate, Ken Holtzman. The great Raleigh Fingers PERSON is with us. Raleigh PERSON, I feel so bad for you guys as you lose one of your brothers today.I know Ken Holtzman PERSON meant a lot to you. He meant a lot to the club. It's a very tough day in the A ORG's family. For sure.

Speaker 0122.24s - 179.8s

You know, Kenny was probably one of the best trades that Charlie Finley PERSON ever made. He had a kind of a, really kind of a bad year in Chicago in 1971. I think he only won nine games. And he didn't get along real good with Leo DeRosha PERSON. He got upset with Leo PERSON all the time. So Charlie PERSON picked him up pretty, I guess for a pretty reasonableprice back in 1972. And I tell you what, he was one of the biggest parts of the puzzle that we had in Oakland GPE in those 72, 73, and 74 World Seriesyears. I mean, he won four World Series EVENT games for us in that time. And I think he won like almost 60 games in those three, in those three years that he pitched. So he was a, he was our number two guy behind Capfish Hunter PERSON. Him and Vida Blue PERSON were probably about the same comparable as far as pitching and getting wins and stuff.

Speaker 1179.96s - 184s

But Kenny PERSON, Kenny filled a big hole in the starting lineup that we have.

Speaker 5184.08s - 189.08s

He completed a lot of games and he's and he was a good friend of mine.

Speaker 1189.16s - 190.74s

He was my roommate for three years.

Speaker 0190.86s - 197.86s

So he was really bright, a great guy, like to joke around a lot. And he taught me how to play bridge.

Speaker 5198.08s - 198.42s

Yes.

Speaker 0199.34s - 225.14s

He loved to play bridge. And so when he got to the Oakland A's in 72, there was no one to play bridge. All we did was play spades and hearts. That was about it in a clubhouse. And so he taught me how to play bridge. And we got to the point where we would fly into other cities.And we'd pick up the newspaper and see where there was a bridge tournament. And we had it down. We'd go in and we were playing against all the gray-haired ladies and old men and beating the hell out of them.

Speaker 3226.36s - 250.48s

It's so funny you say that because Dietra Page PERSON, who's a longtime great Oakland Athletics employee, and she deals with all of you, ex-players, and Dieter PERSON told me to ask you about how Kenny PERSON taught you how to play bridge and how she said, you guys would play the old ladies. I mean, the bond that the bond that the two of you had was so special. Oh, yeah.

Speaker 0250.62s - 288.26s

No, we had a lot of fun doing it. I mean, we, and then we had to teach. We had to end up teaching three or four other guys on the A. I think we taught the Gene, or Dick Green PERSON and Chuck Dobson and a couple other guys how to play bridge. So we had someone to play with in the clubhouse.We'd go out to the ballparks on road trips, and we, for a night, we'd get there about noon, and we sat and play bridge for three or four hours before the game. We really got into it, and I mean, I think we had some master points. We'd beat the heck out everybody. We had a precision system of bidding,and we did real good at it. It was a lot of fun.

Speaker 3288.88s - 317.62s

You know, when you think of obviously Catfish Hunter and Vida Blue, who in 71 just became an American NORP sports star, you had yourself with the mustache and you're doing your thing coming out of the bullpen. And you got Reggie Jackson PERSON, who's an MVP. You had all these stars that are on the team but just talk about as you said him complimenting but really coming in and winning all those world series and playoff games how just instrumental he was to winning the three

Speaker 0317.62s - 360.16s

championships oh big you won uh i know he threw one shutout against baltimore GPE i think it was in the 73 uh uh playoffs through a shut out i think was i think was a 10 he threw one shutout against Baltimore. I think it was in the 73 playoffs. He threw a shutout. I think it was a 10 or 11 inning shutout. It was unbelievable. And then he did, he started, I think he started each of the World Series games in each year in 72, 3 and 4.I'm not sure about 70, maybe Cattis started in 72. But he had four wins in the World Series, four wins and one loss, and he pitched well. I mean, he couldn't have asked for a better guy. He wasn't overpowering, had a great curveball, an outstanding control, and he could blew the ball around.He knew what he was doing out there. He was a smart guy.

Speaker 3361.08s - 384.38s

Well, Ray Fosse always told me one of the things that made him so good and made the defense so good around him was how fast he worked. Like he was one of the fast. Pitch Clark wouldn't have been a problem for Ken Holtzman today. He wanted to get it, chuck it, and he wanted to be out of there. I mean, it's hard for baseball fans even think about this. Kenny Holtzman wanted to be out of there well before the two-hour mark.Oh, yeah.

Speaker 0384.88s - 390.48s

Yeah, when he got the ball back, when he hit the catchers glove, he knew what he was going to throw on the next pitch.

Speaker 3390.64s - 392.74s

I mean, he got it back, got on the mound, and threw it.

Speaker 5393.24s - 398.24s

He usually pitched real quick ball games, but he had great control.

Speaker 3398.6s - 400.24s

He knew what he was doing out there.

Speaker 0400.3s - 405.72s

He knew how to pitch. That's something you can't teach. You have to learn how to pitch, and he did it well.

Speaker 3406.48s - 431.76s

I know you and I did an event earlier this year down at Fantasy Camp ORG, and I know I asked you that question, but this is for the entire fan base. These guys meant so much to you. You guys grew up together. Your families grew up together. Just how tough is it, just the past few years, whether it's Vida or it's Ray PERSON and now it'scanned, just to lose these guys who have met so much to you in your life?

Speaker 0432.68s - 495.36s

Oh, yeah, without a doubt. I mean, the years that I spent in Oakland GPE with those guys, oh, geez, going back to 1968 when we first started, you know, we all came up through the minor leagues together. This was the four free agency. So me and Reggie and Joe Rudy, we came up from Birmingham, Alabama GPE, and Modesto, California.We played in the California League ORG. And all these guys went through the Midwest League ORG. I think Gene Tennis was in Iowa GPE. I mean, we all hit the big leagues just about the same time. We all hit the big leagues right around 69, 70, 71.And we played a couple of years, you know, together. And then everything just jelled in 1971. Getting Vita, Vita was just unbelievable in 1971. I mean, I would go down to the bullpenand just watch you warm up. And I would just walk back down to the dugout and say, game's over, boys. I mean, I would go down to the bullpen and just watch him warm up. And I would just walk back down to the dugout and say, game's over, boys. I mean, he's throwing the ball 97, 98 miles an hour, and he's moving in, out, up, down, and breaking big, I mean,

Speaker 1495.46s - 497.82s

there was no way no one's going to hit him that day.

Speaker 5498.12s - 498.86s

I just knew it.

Speaker 1499.36s - 502.36s

But, yeah, just, you know, and, you know, we've lost them, guys.

Speaker 0502.88s - 510.9s

You know, we just lost Vita Blue PERSON. And Ray Fossey, we lost Sal Bando PERSON.

Speaker 5511.36s - 514.54s

I mean, all these guys were great ballplayers,

Speaker 0514.54s - 519.74s

and they were a big part of that winning team in the 1972, 3 and 4 World Series EVENT.

Speaker 3520.3s - 527.12s

When you were throwing baseballs on the field at Charlie Finley PERSON, was that with Ken Holtzman PERSON, too? Oh, that was Kenny PERSON.

Speaker 0527.52s - 582.1s

Kenny and I hated Charlie PERSON. He gave us our World Series rings after the 1973 season, and he didn't put a diamond in. Everybody was upset. Everybody hated Charlie PERSON. And he never came down on the field. He knew because everybody hated it.And opening day in Oakland in 74, me and Kenner in right field, shagging balls during batting practice. And I look over in the dugout, third-based dugout. We're standing in right field at the Coliseum FAC. And I said, Holsey PERSON, look over there. There's Charlie PERSON. He's in the dugout.He's doing a TV interview. So I said, keep a couple balls in your pocket. So we got a couple balls in our pocket. And on the count of three, we wound up and threw two each right at him from right field. And then we laid down and started doing setups. By the time the ball's got the dugout, he had no idea where they came from.And nobody squealed on us. Everybody knew we did it, but no one said a word.

Speaker 3583.24s - 611.28s

The stories are legendary. And we'll end on this. I just said it before you came on. You can't tell the history of baseball without the athletics, obviously back in Philadelphia and the World Series EVENT championships. But the history of baseball, with you guys winning three straight, what does that mean to you?When you look at the timeline of baseball, you can't tell baseball's history without talking about your group. I mean, we just had a great team. We didn't

Speaker 0611.28s - 654.38s

make any mistakes. You know, fundamentally, we always backed up our bases. We threw to the right bags. We just did everything right. And we moved runners over. We didn't, you know, we didn't blow out a lot of teams. We didn't win ball games, 10 to, you know, 10 to. We didn't, you know, we didn't blow out a lot of teams. We didn't win ball games, 10 to, you know, 10 to 2. We were, you know, 4 to 3, 2 to 1, 1 to nothing. We won on our pitching because we had a great pitching staff.I mean, I think we had a team ERA of like 2.4. I mean, nobody could hit us. We just had a great pitching staff. But those three years looking back, you know, you don't think about it at it at the time, just how good you were. But, you know, we all look back now, say, dang, we won three in a row.

Speaker 5654.6s - 657.1s

And the only other team to do that has been the Yankees ORG.

Speaker 0657.58s - 663.82s

So we knew we were, we knew we had a good team. But I would put our ball club up against anybody.

Speaker 3664.16s - 694.94s

Well, it's always big when we're able to get you on and what you mean to this fan base, what you mean to the history of this franchise. I mean, we got to see it recently when you were with the team down in Vegas GPE, you and I at fantasy camp and doing that interview, how much everybody loved it. So it's always a treat to have you on. I wish it was under better circumstances.But, Raleigh PERSON, thank you for always being gracious with your time and coming on A's Cast Live and doing the things that we do, whether it's on this show or when we do other things. It's always really special.

Speaker 0695.76s - 698.2s

No, I have no problem. I enjoy doing it.

Speaker 3698.44s - 710.98s

Thank you. Take care, Raleigh PERSON. One of the great pitchers in the history of the game, Raleigh Fingers PERSON. Here on A's Cats Live, it's always an honor to have on one of the greatest Oakland A's ORG of all time.

Speaker 1711.1s - 730.42s

He's in the Oakland A's ORG Hall of Fame. He's a three-time World Series champion, one of the great, great big game pitchers. But he's done everything in this game, whether it's being an agent, it's being a coach, a terrific pitching coach. Dave Stewart PERSON is with us once again. Stu PERSON, it's been a while. How are you?I'm doing absolutely outstanding.

Speaker 3730.52s - 766.04s

How about you? I'm doing great, and I know you guys are going to have a special broadcast today on Jackie Robinson Day, NBC Sports, California coming up at 5 o'clock. Before we talk about that, though, truly one of the greats, Ken Holtzman PERSON, in this franchise's history, he won three World Series EVENT titles with the athletics. He pitched so many big postseason games. You grew up watching the left-hander pitch.He passes today very sad, but I think we will all remember him as truly. When you talk about you were a big game pitcher he also was a big game pitcher talk

Speaker 1766.04s - 772.2s

about ken holzman PERSON well it's really disappointed to hear the news and obviously my condolence is impressed

Speaker 3772.2s - 780.14s

to his family um i just got off the phone believe it or not with uh blue moon odum EVENT and that was

Speaker 1780.14s - 791.68s

the topic of our discussion we talked about ken holzman and what he meant to the teams, the 72, 73, 74 teams, how great of a teammate he was. And obviously, I got a chance to see

Speaker 0791.68s - 797.6s

him compete and how competitive he was from a fan standpoint. But Blue Moon PRODUCT said he was one of the

Speaker 1797.6s - 802.64s

best teammates he's ever had. And he started so many of the big games in the postseason.

Speaker 3802.64s - 811.2s

While everybody was talking about Catfish and Vida was a national star, so many of the big games in the postseason. While everybody was talking about catfish and Vita PRODUCT was a national star, so many of those big games were won and pitched by

Speaker 1811.2s - 831.56s

Ken Holtzman. That's right. He was right in the play. You had him, you had Catfish PERSON. Obviously, we had Blue Moon, Vita PRODUCT was a big piece of all of that. And, you know, we talk about how he pitched, but, you know, I was saying to you before we came on a show, he could swing the bat, too. Yeah. He could do it both ways.

Speaker 3833.02s - 838.94s

Yeah. All those guys could. That was great. Like, you look, Vida could hit, catfish could hit.

Speaker 1839s - 843.38s

We're going to play an interview a little bit later here on the program where Ray Fosse PERSON is talking to

Speaker 3843.38s - 865.94s

Ken Holtzman, how they both hit a home run in the World Series. And it's just so sad that we have lost so many. You know, we just lost recently Vida Blue PERSON. Now we're talking about Ken Holtzman PERSON. Of course, our own beloved Ray Fossi PERSON. I mean, these are guys that meant so much to you growing up.As a kid who grew up in Oakland GPE, you idolize these guys. They made you so proud to be from Oakland GPE watching all these championships.

Speaker 1866.56s - 902.58s

Yeah, I mean, they set a level of excellence that, you know, made it really difficult for the teams that came behind them. For a lot of teams, period, in baseball, to win back-to-back-to-back world championships to really, they were trendsetters in the game of baseball, those age teams. Their rotations, when you look at the guys in the amount of innings that they were putting up,the complete games, just the tenacity of those teams, you know, to be a part of that and to be a main cog of that, which Kenny Holsman PERSON was, it's just unbelievable, man.

Speaker 3903.26s - 951.3s

Yeah, he'll definitely be missed. I got to interview him a couple times. You could tell when man. Yeah, he'll definitely be missed. I got to interview him a couple times. You could tell when you interviewed him, he was a bright guy. He was a bright man, had a great sense of humor. He'll definitely be missed. Today at 5 o'clock, you guys are going to be doing a special pregame on A's pregame live, NBC Sports, California, to honor the great Jackie Robinson PERSON. And when you think about Jackie PERSON's significance, obviously we'll talk about baseball.We'll talk about being in the Hall of Famer. But truly what baseball and Jackie Robinson PERSON did, it helped change our country in a lot of ways. And a lot of people don't focus enough on that. Baseball broke the color barrier with Jackie Robinson PERSON. And it was after that. Then our own military would change because of Jackie Robinson PERSON.His significance was far greater, Dave, than just baseball.

Speaker 1952.3s - 953.6s

And you know, you're right, Tony PERSON.

Speaker 3953.6s - 966.04s

A lot of people don't really understand and recognize what he did in his part, the party played in social justice in a period of time when there was no social justice.

Speaker 1967.24s - 1002.94s

You know, standing up and being a spokesperson for equality was a difficult thing in that period of time. But he did it just as he did in the game of baseball. When he came into the game of baseball, he was one of one and endured so many things to be the example for all of the black players that would follow him. It's unbelievable what he did for the game, what he did for us socially,just his impact on our nation.

Speaker 31003.44s - 1010.46s

When you were a young man coming up in the game, how much did you think about Jackie Robinson and how much was he an inspiration to you?

Speaker 11010.96s - 1063.7s

You know, I came up in a bit where we were close enough. And what I mean by that is I came up, came into professional baseball in 1975. And so a lot of the people that I came into the game getting to know and was introduced to, knew Jackie Robinson, Don Newcomb, Roy Campanella PERSON were guys that knew him and teammates of his. You know, Bob Gibson PERSON, who had impact on my life, knew him.Willie Mays, who had a chance to meet when I was younger, knew and spoke of him. You know, Dusty Baker carried on conversations from Hank Aaron about Jackie Robinson PERSON. So I was surrounded by word of Jackie PERSON, knowledge of Jackie, and the man, Jackie, through the people that I played with, played against, or mentors.

Speaker 31064.26s - 1078.44s

Yeah, people forget that you came up with the Dodgers ORG, and really the Dodgers ORG play such a big, and the Brooklyn Dodgers playing such a big part in the American NORP fabric with a lot of decisions that they make. They don't really get a lot of credit for that.

Speaker 11079.1s - 1095.96s

No, they don't. You know, a lot of it happens with just today's baseball and how the Dodgers ORG are and what they look like organizationally now. I think Mookie Betts and Hayward are the two lone American NORP players in their organization.

Speaker 01096.7s - 1102.92s

But baseball as a whole, as we know, the numbers are lower and lower when it comes to Afro-American NORP players.

Speaker 11103.64s - 1132.4s

And so, you know, when you look at the Dodgers ORG, you know, for that matter, you know, one of Jackie PERSON, Jackie's last words publicly was being able to see a black manager in the dugout, but it even goes further than that. The Dodgers broke the color barrier with Jackie PERSON. You know, when we speak of office management and upper, upper management, being able to make those decisions, you have to look at all organizations and see what are they really doing for minorities.

Speaker 31133.32s - 1163.4s

You know, another guy that I always like to bring up on this day is Larry Dobie PERSON. Larry Dobie PERSON was, had a terrific career, whether it was as a player, post player, manager. And Larry Dobie did basically what Jackie Robinson did in the American League just months after. career, whether it was as a player, post player, manager. And Larry Dobie did basically what Jackie Robinson did in the American League just months after. And we never talk enough about him. I wish we would talk more about Larry Dobie PERSON.Obviously, so much focus on Jackie PERSON, rightfully so. But I think we also missed the boat not talking about Larry Dobie PERSON enough because he went through the exact same thing in the American League ORG.

Speaker 11163.78s - 1164.22s

You're right.

Speaker 31164.32s - 1166.3s

You're right. Once again, we know who Larry Dobie enough because he went through the exact same thing in the American League ORG. You're right. You're right.

Speaker 11166.46s - 1202.88s

Once again, we know who Larry Dobie PERSON is. But most people, if you ask him, you know, what was his impact? They would minimize him in comparison to Jackie because Jackie was the first. But Jackie was the first in the American League ORG. Larry Dobie was the first in a, I'm sorry, Jackie was the first in the National League ORG. Larry Dobie was the first in the American League ORG.And the battles were the same. And what he stood for in his example was also a door opener for the rest of the Afro-American NORP players that would come behind.

Speaker 31203.38s - 1222.7s

And I think about even in your day, it's tough to stand for stuff, especially when you're a high-profile guy, you're a star player, you're an all-star player, you're a World Series EVENT champion. Just talk about when you're in that public spotlight, it's hard to stand up for something because there's a lot of criticism that comes with that.

Speaker 11223.44s - 1289.16s

Well, there's criticism. And, you know, a lot of players think about their livelihood being taken away from them, which you have every right to do that. You know, I'd like to think that we're in a better day and better time now. But in the 60s, the 70s, and even going into the 80s and the 90s, those things still remain in the game. Is the 70s, and even going into the 80s and the 90s, those things still remain in the game.Is the game better now? Yes. But are there still similarities? Yes, you have to be careful of the things that you stand for, the things that you represent in the game of baseball. And I guess the best way to put it is when you decide that you're going to take a stance, you're going to take a position,then you have to also know that you may be alone. And so if you're afraid to stand alone doing something, then you're not in the right place. But when you, they say, if you don't stand for something, then you're not in the right place. But when you, they say if you don't, if you don't stand for something, you stand for nothing.

Speaker 31290.18s - 1337.98s

Well, when you do, you get that thing called the Roberto Clementi Award, which is one of the great honors in our game, which you have won, obviously, for all the great work that you used to do and what you continue to do, not only in this community, but a lot of different communities. Let's end on this, because a little bit later on today, you're going to be doing what we're doing now is getting ready for ace baseball. They've won six of eight after that horrific start because Dave, we were down at springtraining and we were all buying what they're, hey, team's going to be different and trust us. And I was like, you know what? I think you're more athletic. I think this team's going to pitch better. But that horrific start, you had a bad taste in your mouth from last season. You're like, oh, boy, but all of a sudden winning three straight series, having won six of eight,there is some excitement around this team. I know it's an early start, but what do you see so far?

Speaker 11338.58s - 1401.62s

Well, Tony, you write early on they showed signs of exactly how they played early last year. Early last year, they couldn't cast the ball through to the wrong bases, weren't hitting very well. Pitching was not bad. Boopin was bad. It was just a combination of bad baseball, which equaled 100 plus losses.I don't see this team losing 100 plus games. I don't see them losing close to 100 games. I don't think that they're going to be a 500 team, but I think that they're going to make a big difference. They're going to have something that they can look on at the end of the year and say that this was a building block for where we want to be in 2025. And you never know. I mean, you've got a dugout full of kidsand you've got a pitching staff. They believe that they're capable of doing something great. And when you're ignorant, that's bliss, as they say. So to me, I love this baseball team. I love these kids.

Speaker 01401.76s - 1402.84s

I love their resistance.

Speaker 11403.54s - 1410.32s

I love how they're playing baseball right now. And I think that it's a character builder for them that could last throughout the season.

Speaker 31411.24s - 1418.18s

Yeah, always be aware of somebody who really believes. People who really believe can be dangerous.

Speaker 11419.46s - 1425.32s

It's tough to beat somebody when their belief in themselves is bigger than your belief

Speaker 31425.32s - 1426.32s

in yourself.

Speaker 11427.12s - 1432.4s

Stu, you're the best. We always appreciate your time. Obviously, today is going to be a very

Speaker 31432.4s - 1439.58s

special pregame show on NBC Sports, California at 5 o'clock. Have a great broadcast, and we'll talk soon.

Speaker 11440s - 1445.5s

Take care, Tommy PERSON. Thank you. The great David Feldman PERSON joins us here.

Speaker 31445.62s - 1448.9s

Hi, Towney PERSON. How are you? A little bummed, a little sad.

Speaker 41449.62s - 1449.74s

Yeah.

Speaker 31449.98s - 1471.6s

And our resident Ace historian, I mean, on this day, we're honoring Jackie Robinson PERSON, and we talk about everything that Jackie Robinson PERSON. I always like to talk about Jackie PERSON the way he changed society, the way he changed the United States of America GPE and baseball, to give you a little history, Jackie Robinson and his first at bat grounded out to my grandfather.

Speaker 21471.76s - 1478.66s

Wow. That's a boss of braves. But just the history and what Jackie Robinson PERSON did for this country,

Speaker 51479.18s - 1485.2s

but obviously on today we're going to honor Ken Holtsman, who is one of the great A ORG's of all time.

Speaker 21485.38s - 1486.72s

There's no denying it.

Speaker 51486.8s - 1491.18s

No, he was part of the original big three of A's starters with Catfish and Vida PERSON,

Speaker 21491.3s - 1496.02s

and it breaks my heart to think they're all gone now and Ray PERSON.

Speaker 41498.04s - 1591.82s

Yeah, it's sad. And, you know, this year with what's happening and the A's leaving the Colise FAC, and just being down on the field and looking out of this field and all these players that did these marvelous feats on this same field. And it's just sad that those are disappearing, you know, that they're going to leave because I can look down the left field line here.That's where Ken Holtzman had a home run in the World Series. And that hasn't changed. Yes, Mount Davis LOC has changed. But where the foul poles are, that's the same. That's the Ken Holtzman had a home run in the World Series. And that hasn't changed. Yes, Mount Davis has changed. But where the foul poles are, that's the same. That's the same place. And it's, you know, we're losing this.We're losing a little bit of our history. And that's why I'm glad that we're able to talk about them and you're able to talk about them with other players to keep their memories alive because they need to be. People need to know about these players that came before. And Ken Holtzman maybe didn't his due, like Catfish and Vida PERSON.But for his four seasons with the A's, he never won less than 18 games. He pitched almost 300 innings every season. He made between 37 and 40 starts every season. 37 to 40. Look up baseball reference. He started game one of all three World Seriesin the 70s, 72, 73, 74. Started game one. Started game 7 and 73, won game seven. The things that he did, and you look back at his numbers in that era, and then you gohe never received one Sy Young PERSON vote. Never won. How is that even possible? You talk about somebody who was just not thought of as this great pitcher, and the A's don't win three World Series EVENT championshipswithout Ken Holtzman PERSON.

Speaker 31592.72s - 1594.04s

There's no

Speaker 41594.04s - 1595.44s

question. And

Speaker 31595.44s - 1642.12s

it's happened before in our game where you can be an outstanding player, but the players around you, their celebrity, their stardom, because people do need to remember by this point 71, Vita Blue becomes an American NORP sport star.Reggie Jackson PERSON's Reggie Jackson. I mean, he's coming into his prime. He's winning an MVP WORK_OF_ART. Sal Bando PERSON's an all-star player. Catfish Hunter's known as one of the best pitchers. You got Raleigh Fingers PERSON in the mustache. I mean, there's stars around him, And it's happened with other teams before. There's been great players. I justthink of the last Yankee when they were winning those World Series. You could be someone like, I don't know, Bernie Williams PERSON, you're a great player, maybe a Hall of Fame ORG player, but you're not because you had all these other guys around

Speaker 41642.12s - 1646.94s

yet. You have these huge personalities that you're surrounded by, and you're just the guy who took the ball every fourth day.

Speaker 51647.5s - 1648.34s

Every fourth day.

Speaker 41648.8s - 1650.26s

A ORGnd gave the A's a chance to win.

Speaker 51650.62s - 1653.04s

And the other thing, you know, Ray Fosse PERSON would talk about it,

Speaker 41653.12s - 1670.32s

that Holtzman PERSON loved to work fast. Yeah. He loved to throw fastballs and work fast. Ray PERSON would, you know, start giving signs. And Ken would say, no, no, no, no, no. I'm throwing fastballs.Just sit back there. Just sit back there. And he would try and get out an hour and 36 minutes. That was his goal every game. You know, when he was with the Cubs, he threw two no-hitters.

Speaker 01670.58s - 1676.82s

He comes to Oakland. He almost throws a third in 1975. Two outs in the ninth against the Tigers ORG.

Speaker 41677.52s - 1781.98s

At this point, only Sandy Kofax, I believe, had thrown three or more no-hitters. Fly ball to center. Now, depending on who you talk to, Billy North PERSON, the center fielder, either lost it in the sun, or he took a step in and misjudged it, and the ball flew over his head.Most people think he screwed up the play. As an official score, how do you rule it? Unfortunately, misjudgments are not errors. So it would be a hit, but it cost him a third no-hitter. Two outs in the ninth.Looking at some younger Ken Holtzman PERSON, when he first got called up in his first year, he went up against Sandy Kofax PERSON. This is a big deal. Sandy Kofax is the Jewish NORP left-handed pitcher. The greatest really Jewish NORP player, Jewish pitcher,and Greenberg PERSON was for him as a hitter. Sandy Kofx PERSON as a pitcher. He went up against Sandy and took a no-hitter in the ninth in that game before losing but still beating Sandy Kofax PERSON. And I think on this day, of all days with Jackie Robinson PERSON and representation, and I know, what's a white kid from the suburbs talking about representation?But I was a white Jewish NORP kid in the suburbs, and we didn't have a lot of sports heroes. You know, and I was, Sandy Kofax had already retired. I had heard stories. I didn't know. But Ken Holtzman PERSON was real. And I knew about Ken Holtzman. I met Ken Holtzman when I was five years old. He came to our synagogue in Walton Creek GPE. He was not ashamed of his Jewishness. He wasn't, you know, a devout religious person, but he was Jewish NORP. And that was part of who he was. And for me, it was like, wow, that's a Jewishmajor league player. There's a chance. Right? And now it's definitely much more common. But representation, and we talk about it a lot, and even for, like I said, a little white kid in the suburbs, it meant something to me. You know, I think

Speaker 31781.98s - 1844s

about yesteryear players, I don't know how much we do it now, but they used to do it a lot, especially when we were kids. You'd have a great player from yesterday year. It was always going to be who's the next Willie Mays, right? And if you're a young African-American player, let's say like an Eric Davis, is he the next Willie Mays? So here you have Ken Holtzman PERSON.I remember I did the interview with him. I did two interviews with him. One in the dugout. This was not that long ago because he wasn't doing well. I don't remember what probably was around 13, 14,somewhere in there. We were honoring them. And you could tell by the interview, he's a super bright guy. He had great personality. And I remember talking to him. We did this long interview.And he talked about the pressure of being Jewish NORP and being a pitcher and having to be the next Sandy Kofax PERSON. So, I mean, the thing about the pressure of being the next Willie Mays. He has this on him to be the nextSandy Kofax PERSON. And he felt that when he

Speaker 41844s - 1880.6s

was in Chicago. How could you not, right? I mean, Sandy Kofax PERSON was so unbelievably good, right? And his career gets cut short because of injuries, and he goes off on this high note. And now you're a left-handed pitcher or happens to be Jewish NORP. You're going to get compared to Sandy Kofax PERSON. And Ken Holtzman PERSON was really good.He was good for the Cubs ORG. He was part of that 69 Cubs team that unfortunately blew the NLE East LOC, but he was part of that and he had a really good season. But the pressure to feel that, I think part of that getting tradedubs team that unfortunately blew the NL East LOC, but he was part of that and he had a really good season. But the pressure to feel that, I think part of that getting traded to the A ORG's before the 72 season, he didn't feel that here. I don't think that was ever really a thing as much as it was in Chicago because, as you talked about, he came into this team with all these huge

Speaker 01880.6s - 1887.56s

personalities already, and he could just kind of sneak in. If you watch the 72 World Series EVENT highlight film, right?

Speaker 41887.8s - 1895.4s

Everybody's got mustaches and the beers. That's where it all started. Ken Holstman was clean-shaven in 72. Now, he grew his mustache to get the $300 for mustache day.

Speaker 01895.4s - 1896.28s

They're not going to be wrong.

Speaker 31896.6s - 1898.32s

But he did shave it after that.

Speaker 01898.36s - 1903.62s

It wasn't until the next year where he grew it. And it was a damn fine mustache that he sported in the following seasons.

Speaker 31904s - 1916.92s

Now, I learned something today. So when we were going to have Raleigh PERSON on, because she makes that happen, teacher page, and she goes, you got to ask him about Ken Holtzman PERSON teaching Raleigh fingers how to play bridge.

Speaker 51917.3s - 1919.96s

So I didn't even bring it up yet.

Speaker 31920.22s - 1933.26s

Raleigh PERSON brought up, because they were roommates. And Raleigh talked about Ken taught him out of play bridge and that they would actually look in the paper to see where bridge groups would meet and they would go beat up on old

Speaker 41933.26s - 1936.2s

ladies playing bridge. I mean, you can't make this up.

Speaker 31936.4s - 1938.5s

The 70s was just a different world.

Speaker 41939.2s - 1970.94s

You know what other favorite Ken Holtzman PERSON thing? We'll talk about World Series EVENT films again. Go back and look at the 74 World Series film, Game 4, where Ken Holtzman PERSON, it's we'll talk about World Series films again. Go back and look at the 74 World Series film, Game 4, where Ken Holtzman hits that home run, I mentioned earlier. The last American League pitcher did a home run in the World Series, Ken Holtzman PERSON. Now, Ken Holtsman threw left-handed. But he batted right-handed. It's like Ricky PERSON. Through left, bat right. Now, the DH was already in there, the second year of the DA, so Ken Holtzman PERSON neverbatted during the regular season. He comes up to bat because the helmet manufacturers thought he was a left-handed hitter. His ear flap is on his right ear.

Speaker 51971.84s - 1973.74s

And this was like the first year ear flaps from the ender.

Speaker 41973.74s - 1983.08s

He's batting up there, right-handed, and the ear flaps on the wrong ear. And you watch him hit the Homer PRODUCT and run the bases, and you know something's looking odd. You know, homers. Unbelievable.

Speaker 31983.96s - 1997.2s

Coming up here, Nays Total Access ORG, we will replay an interview. Obviously, very emotional with Ray PERSON being gone. We're going to play Ray interviewing Ken Holtzman PERSON and how they both homered in the same World Series EVENT.

Speaker 01997.38s - 2008.46s

We will have that for you coming up here on A's Total Access PRODUCT. We're going to honor the 74 team. What's sad, I mean, I don't know how many times we'll honor this group of players again. Yeah. I think, by the way, we did Viase Total Access. We're going to honor the 74 team, and what's sad, I mean, I don't know how many times we'll honor this group of players again. Yeah.

Speaker 42008.64s - 2011.12s

I think, by the way, we did Vida-Baloo's PERSON last interview.

Speaker 02011.24s - 2018.06s

Yes. Because he was here for, we did the interview here on Ace Cast Live WORK_OF_ART, and it was just after that that he passed. I mean, it's hard to believe. It is.

Speaker 42018.12s - 2099.9s

You know, for the longest time, the 89 team actually had lost more players than the early 70s teams. It was just, you know, with Dave Henderson and Tony Phillips and Bob Welch. It was just so sad. And unfortunately, the guys in the 70s are now getting older and they're getting to that age. So it's so important that this year, especially for the 74 team, that we honor them and really bask in the glory that what they did and what they brought to Oakland GPE.And that's 74 team, my opinion, that was the best A's ORG team. That is when they were rolling at their best by the postseason. They were all healthy. And they had injuries in 72. No Reggie in 72. 73, they had no Billy North PERSON.74, they were healthy. You know, that season in 74, they used nine pitchers for all but 11 and two-thirds innings. The entire season, nine. We sometimes use nine in a game now. In the postseason, they used five pitchers for the entire postseason.Five. It was incredible, but that team just rolled. That was your classic A's ORG team. Catfish, Vida, Ken Holtzman, Blue Moon, Raleigh PERSON, Gene Tennis, Ray Fosse, Dick Green, Burke Campanaris, Sal Bando, Joe Rudy, Billy North, Reggie Jackson, a very young Claudel Washington PERSON. And this was the team.And I think it's going to be great to honor them. And we really, in this last year at the Coliseum FAC, we have to soak it all in and take every moment of it.

Speaker 32100.24s - 2108.76s

That's why we wanted to have Dave Stewart on today and have you on because both of you guys, these guys were your team growing up?

Speaker 42109.42s - 2109.54s

That was it.

Speaker 32111.58s - 2111.66s

I mean, I was just being down here again.

Speaker 42112.64s - 2112.9s

I hate to get emotional again, but.

Speaker 32114.52s - 2114.62s

It's going to be emotional, my friend.

Speaker 42115.62s - 2117.28s

It's going to be emotional. Have you heard the post game?

Speaker 32117.38s - 2119.32s

I've got people crying on post game these days.

Speaker 42119.46s - 2146.78s

I've spent my whole life here. You know, when I was five years old, when I came to my first game in 1973, when that's where my baseball consciousness began, right? And it's never left. And I come here, I mean, how many home games have I missed in 50-some years? Very few. And this is where I go every day. And to think that we're not, or I'm not going to be able to come here, it's hard to take to take yeah I've spent a lot of time

Speaker 32146.78s - 2162.96s

here myself and I thought you know doing the last Raider ORG game was tough I can't imagine what the last A's ORG game's going to be tough and to go through it I thought you know I didn't think I'd go through it again and now here we are we're about to do it all over again you know and I know this

Speaker 42162.96s - 2188.36s

the stadium and the Coliseum FAC gets a bad rap. There doesn't get talked about like Fenway and Wrigley Field FAC. But you're talking about the fifth oldest baseball stadium being used right now and how many of the great players since 1968 have played here.They have all played here. And there was all these great moments. And that's part of it. I mean, we used to talk about when you went to Fenway FAC, right? You'd walk up the little runway to the field. Babe Ruth walked on these same steps. Luke Gehrig walked on the same. Ty Cobb. You know? And then we part of it. I mean, we used to talk about it when you went to Fenway FAC, right? And you'd walk up the little runway to the field. Babe Ruth PERSON walked on these same steps.Luke Garrig PERSON walked on the same.

Speaker 22189.18s - 2197.46s

Ty Cob PERSON. You know? And then we talk about here, that was every Hall of Famer. He says, you know, Mickey Mantle walked down this visiting walkway in 1968 with the Yankees ORG.

Speaker 42199.08s - 2220.94s

We was playing first base for the Yankees in 1968. But starting from there, Willie Mays in the World Series, walked down these steps. Every great player, every Hall of Famer from 1968 has walked in this field. And it's just, it needs more love. It needs to get the attention to that that it's not getting. Because greatness has happened here, and we've seen it all over the last 50-some years.And all the great football players. Football players, incredible football players. Some of the greatest football games.

Speaker 32221.24s - 2222.84s

The moments, right? See your hands.

Speaker 42223.34s - 2228.92s

Unreal. Happened right over here. Right over here. Unbelievable to think about. Yeah.

Speaker 32229.42s - 2242.22s

It's going to be, like right now, I want to sell this team doing well. I want to sell the excitement, and I know I get to be, that's early. Well, you know what?Screw you, it's early.

Speaker 52242.38s - 2278.5s

I had to go through some really bad years the past couple years. I want to enjoy it. This is the entertainment business. We should be able to enjoy it. I enjoy these kids. It's been fun watching them grow. It wasfun to be down there at spring training with their energy. It's good to see them playing good again. And hopefully they keep this going and entertain us throughout the season so we know what the future is going to look like. But there's going to be, you know, that that first post-game show after the Sacramento announcement,we had people crying on the air. I mean, it's going to be, and it's going to be like that throughout the year, the people like yourself, you're going to choke up, it's going to be tough. We're going to do with that throughout the entire year.

Speaker 32278.5s - 2285.82s

But there can be the memories, there can be joy, there can be hurt. There can be a lot of, but there's going to be a lot of emotions, no question.

Speaker 42285.86s - 2310.84s

A lot of emotions, and I'm happy for the way the team is playing now and looking to go on the upside, and that's the history of the A ORG's. Right, they're either the worst team or they're one of the best teams. A ORGnd we're starting to see, hopefully, this is leading the A's back to where they deserve to be. And that's fun, and that's going to make this year a lot easier, I think, if they're winning. More than, I know sometimes it's mixed emotions for sure.And I understand people who don't want to come out to the ballpark.

Speaker 02311.1s - 2312s

I 100% get it.

Speaker 42312.4s - 2345.86s

But the people who do come out here, they're out here because they want to be. And I'm hoping they're going to see a good product the rest of the summer. They're going to be excited by what they're seeing. They're seeing Major League Baseball ORG played at a high level, which we've seen so far in the last three series. This A's ORG team, when you get starting pitching,you always play a lot better when you get good starting pitching. And that's what they're getting for the most part, and they're playing hard, the errors have gone away. That first homestand, I heard you talk about it before, hopefully it's just gone. We can just wipe that away,and this can be a very competitive team the rest of the way, and that's going to make this year a little easier to take.

Speaker 32346.5s - 2359.66s

Since April 3rd, the athletics have the six best ERA for starters at 2.91 for the bullpen. It's the third best ERA at 2.16. Just the way, Ken Holtzman PERSON would have loved it.

Speaker 02359.72s - 2364.02s

Good pitching and Deavits ORG. By the way, I went to Eric Martins today, and I just went up to him.

Speaker 32364.08s - 2369.96s

I said, hey, do you know who has turned the most double plays in Major League Baseball ORG? He had no idea. I want you.

Speaker 42370.42s - 2400.94s

I will tell you this. And people we talk about, what's the biggest difference in these teams? And I was saying it a week ago, it's turning double plays. Last year, they could not turn a double play to save their lives. There was Tony Kemp or Ledness Diaz PERSON. They could not turn double plays. And now they're doing it on the regular. And what a difference it makes, right?So many less batters you have to face because you're getting out. Yeah, simply well, they're turning a lot of double plays. There's a lot of base runners. Sure. But they're getting out of those innings because they're able to make the defensive plays. To me, that is by far the biggest difference of this team to last year.

Speaker 32401.24s - 2412.92s

Yeah, you know, I look at the Marlins and the White Sox and their start this year, and I heard I watched on MLB Network today them just ripping the White Sox ORG. I know exactly what that feels like. That was us last year.

Speaker 52413.36s - 2417.14s

So it's like, let's have some fun with this right now.

Speaker 32417.52s - 2435.08s

Cody, how much time do we have left? I have completely lost track. We have about 10 minutes. We have 10 minutes. I just thought of the last top 10list of the season should be the top 10 moments in Coliseum FAC history.

Speaker 42435.8s - 2438.12s

Wow. Having to keep it to 10

Speaker 32438.12s - 2439.66s

is going to be tough.

Speaker 42440.76s - 2440.94s

Right?

Speaker 32441.82s - 2444.42s

Bob Melvin would say Day on the Green.

Speaker 42444.6s - 2446.52s

Yeah, exactly. exactly i mean top 10

Speaker 32446.52s - 2448.04s

well you'll have your honorable mention

Speaker 42448.04s - 2461.4s

yeah we have a lot of our maybe that would be a whole show the ones that didn't make the top 10 your top 10 man the days on the green that's a good call there's a lot of great days in the green here the posters these probably got photos of all of them somewhereyou can bring those out

Speaker 32461.4s - 2463.86s

seeing ruiz here today

Speaker 42463.86s - 2465.98s

top 10 controversial moves.

Speaker 32467.1s - 2482.34s

This is a controversial move. Like the fan base, it's a head scratcher because is he a perfect player? No. Very few players are. But he can help you win. And if you're saying you're in the business to win some games, it's an interesting call.

Speaker 42482.4s - 2497.86s

Yeah, are they A ORG's holding him to a higher standard than they are to other players? Yes, his skill is running in speed and he has to get on base for that to happen. But if you're another player, don't want to mention names, not getting on base, well, what goodare you? And have no speed. And have no speed.

Speaker 32498.06s - 2499.98s

I mean, why are we holding Ruiz

Speaker 52499.98s - 2501.66s

to this? You know, and I heard Mark

Speaker 42501.66s - 2503.46s

Cote say today on the Mad Dog

Speaker 52503.46s - 2509.66s

today talking about Ruiz PERSON and talking about, well, we didn't like his swing. We made some changes. I watched every at bat.

Speaker 42511.12s - 2553.46s

You know what? And from me, just watching him play when he was up here, he was giving you that extra element that this team could use. Now, I'm not a big fan that stolen bases lead to winning.They don't. That's been proven. Ricky A ORGnderson stole 130 bases for the 1982 A's. 19802 A ORG's did not win. But what they do do is put pressure on the defense. And they bring excitement to the team, and there is energy that they bring. And they can help lead, not by the stolen base itself, but the threat of the stolen baselead to success. And with the team, having an athletic team, we saw it with the Red Sox ORG. They're much more athletic now. I think that's something that the A ORG's lack a little bit and it would be a welcome addition if Ruiz PERSON is back in the lineup.

Speaker 32554.08s - 2566.24s

Well, this is going to be the last year at the Coliseum for the A's ORG and the last year that we know at NFL and Major League Baseball ORG, it's going to be important for you as our historian to give us a lot of good lists on the way out.

Speaker 02566.4s - 2572.54s

Yeah. To do it because people are going to wait till the very end.

Speaker 32573.06s - 2576.78s

And I think we should do more than that. I think our fan base deserves more than that. Yeah.

Speaker 42576.92s - 2601.86s

And you know, for me, it's very cathartic for me to talk about it and remember it. I remember experiencing things here and the feelings I've had here and a lot of emotions in this ballpark. 1988, game five, I'm crying in the left field bleachers. Gone. Just lost it all. Couldn't handle it.And then you go to other games like 2012 when they celebrate on Monday night and they celebrate on Wednesday and Hamilton PERSON drops the ball. And that's just an unbelievable feeling of bliss.

Speaker 32602.04s - 2604.08s

So, yeah, let's relive it.

Speaker 42604.8s - 2606.08s

I'm so glad we honored

Speaker 32606.08s - 2607.48s

truly one of the great pitchers

Speaker 42607.48s - 2609.74s

and one of the great A ORG's of all time.

Speaker 32609.84s - 2620.82s

We want to thank Raleigh Fingers PERSON, baseball Hall of Famer, A's Hall of Famer, Dave Stewart PERSON, and our A's historian, Dave Feldman PERSON, for remembering the great Ken Holtzman PERSON. Now back to AES cast, powered by IHeartRadio.

Speaker 22621.36s - s

This has been a presentation of the Oakland Athletics ORG.