Rounding Third | Presented by BadderSports

A Lousy Poem Puts People in the Hall of Fame

15 min · 4. okt. 2025
episode A Lousy Poem Puts People in the Hall of Fame cover

Description

A poem shouldn’t decide Cooperstown… right? In this episode of Rounding Third, Peter Lemieux digs into the Chicago Cubs’ famous double-play combo—Tinker, Evers, and Chance—and asks whether a catchy 8-line verse helped carry three good players into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Along the way, we revisit the 1908 Merkle game, the Cubs’ World Series run, and why debates over who belongs in Cooperstown never die. What you’ll get: • The real story behind “Tinker to Evers to Chance” and the 1908 Cubs • Why narrative vs. numbers still shapes Hall voting • Quick hits on Kenny Lofton, Keith Hernandez, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, and Shoeless Joe 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:16 The Baseball Hall of Fame: A Tradition of Debate 01:15 Controversial Figures in the Hall of Fame 01:54 Today's Focus: Questionable Hall of Fame Inductees 03:10 The Chicago Cubs: A History of Highs and Lows 06:02 Tinker, Evers, and Chance: The Poem That Made Them Famous 10:30 Analyzing the Stats: Do They Belong in the Hall of Fame? 13:48 Conclusion: The Hall of Fame Debate Continues If you love baseball history and smart Hall of Fame debates, you’ll enjoy this one. 👉 Subscribe for more baseball stories from Rounding Third on BadderSports. 💬 Drop your take: Who’s in the Hall but shouldn’t be—and who’s out but should be in? #RoundingThird #BadderSports #MLBHistory #ChicagoCubs #HallOfFame 🔔 Subscribe for powerful stories of forgotten legends, iconic moments, and the untold heart of baseball — only on BadderSports. 🎙️ More from BadderSports: @swingbadderpodcast @hoopandtheharm @RoundingThirdPodcast @CampusToContracts @TheToddPod @ShortHandedPodcast ⚾ Discover more at https://www.baddersports.com [https://www.baddersports.com]

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28 episodes

episode Bobby Valentine: Champion Dancer, Controversial Manager artwork

Bobby Valentine: Champion Dancer, Controversial Manager

The New York Mets just put Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli into the Mets Hall of Fame, and most fans still know Bobby for one thing: the fake mustache. Peter Lemieux of Rounding Third tells the rest of the story, the parts most people have no idea about. Yes, we cover the famous Mustache Game from June 9, 1999, when Valentine was ejected against the Blue Jays at Shea Stadium and snuck back into the dugout wearing eye black and fake glasses. But that is where most people stop, and that is where the real story begins. Long before the majors, Bobby Valentine was an all state high school star in football, baseball, and track at Rippowam in Stamford, Connecticut, setting state records that still stand. He was also a champion ballroom dancer who performed at the opening of the 1964 World's Fair. He went on to USC, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, won minor league MVP honors two seasons running, and built a lifelong friendship with manager Tommy Lasorda. His playing days were those of a respected journeyman, but his time as a manager was anything but quiet. From the Texas Rangers to the New York Mets, to a championship in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines, to a turbulent season with the Boston Red Sox, his drive to win followed him everywhere. He later became athletic director at Sacred Heart University, where a 57,000 square foot recreation center now carries his name, and in 2021 he ran for mayor of Stamford and came up just short. Bobby Valentine is a lot more than the mustache guy. This is the fuller story, and a tip of the hat to an extraordinary athlete and human being. CHAPTERS 0:00 Why tell the Bobby Valentine story now 0:36 The Mustache Game, June 9, 1999 1:54 The side of Bobby most people never knew 2:06 All state star at Rippowam High School 3:09 Champion ballroom dancer 3:43 USC and signing with the Dodgers 4:01 A respected journeyman in the majors 4:24 Minor league MVP and Tommy Lasorda 5:18 Injuries 5:31 Managing: Rangers, Japan, and the Mets 6:00 Controversy with the Mets and Red Sox 7:23 Sacred Heart and the Bobby Valentine Center 8:55 Running for mayor of Stamford 9:31 More than the Mustache Man If you love baseball stories like this one, hit like and subscribe to Rounding Third for more. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RoundingThirdPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@RoundingThirdPodcast] Listen to the podcast: [paste your Apple Podcasts / Spotify / website links here] #BobbyValentine #Mets #BaseballHistory

Yesterday11 min
episode Moe Berg’s Amazing Hidden Life Revealed! artwork

Moe Berg’s Amazing Hidden Life Revealed!

In this Veterans Day episode of Rounding Third, Peter Lemieux from BadderSports shares the incredible story of Moe Berg — a Major League Baseball catcher, Ivy League graduate, and multilingual genius who secretly served the United States as a spy during World War II. Berg’s story bridges two worlds: the ballpark and the battlefield. From catching knuckleballs for the Chicago White Sox to filming the skyline of Tokyo and reporting on Germany’s nuclear progress, Moe Berg’s intelligence and courage left a lasting mark on both baseball and American history. This story honors not only Berg, but every veteran who has given part or all of their lives to defend freedom. 👉 Subscribe for more baseball stories that reveal the heart, history, and humanity behind the game. 📺 Watch more episodes of Rounding Third on the BadderSports network: https://www.baddersports.com [https://www.baddersports.com] 00:00 Intro 00:39 Early Life and Education of Moe Berg 02:26 Moe Berg’s Baseball Career 06:40 Moe Berg’s Intelligence Work During WWII 08:05 Legacy and Final Years of Moe Berg 10:19 Tribute to Veterans 🔔 Subscribe for powerful stories of forgotten legends, iconic moments, and the untold heart of baseball — only on BadderSports. 🎙️ More from BadderSports: @swingbadderpodcast @hoopandtheharm @RoundingThirdPodcast ⚾ Discover more at https://www.baddersports.com [https://www.baddersports.com]

7. nov. 202511 min
episode The Day Pittsburgh Shocked the Yankees artwork

The Day Pittsburgh Shocked the Yankees

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31. okt. 202517 min
episode Roy Campanella’s Message That Still Matters Today artwork

Roy Campanella’s Message That Still Matters Today

Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, baseball history, racial integration, and Cooperstown. In this Rounding Third episode from BadderSports, host Peter Lemieux shares a profoundly personal baseball story from August 4, 1979 — the day he met Roy Campanella in Cooperstown, New York. In this episode, Peter recounts his trip to Cooperstown, New York, the day before Willie Mays’ Hall of Fame induction, and an unforgettable meeting with Roy Campanella. What began as a chance encounter became a lesson in bravery, grace, and the power of sport to lead cultural change. 00:00 – Introduction and Personal Connection 00:20 – A Trip to Cooperstown 02:50 – Meeting Roy Campanella 03:29 – Roy Campanella’s Story 06:24 – The Impact of Baseball on Segregation 10:40 – Reflection and Conclusion 🔔 Subscribe for powerful stories of forgotten legends, iconic moments, and the untold heart of baseball — only on BadderSports. 🎙️ More from BadderSports: @swingbadderpodcast @hoopandtheharm @RoundingThirdPodcast @CampusToContracts @TheToddPod @ShortHandedPodcast ⚾ Discover more at https://www.baddersports.com [https://www.baddersports.com]

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