Dani: Welcome back to the Codcast. This is the Cape Cod League's baseball podcast and I'm your host, Dani Wexelman. We are so excited to kick off the season and share stories about the rich history and the unique perspectives of those who have played, managed and covered the Cape Cod League. There is so much to talk about and get into, but a little bit about me. I am so thrilled to be a part of the Codcast. I spent the last decade covering amateur baseball at the high school level and the college level, learning who some of the best top draft prospects were in the sport. And my favorite part about covering baseball is storytelling and bringing people to life and moments to life and capturing the hearts of fans and teaching you something or telling you something that maybe you didn't know. So the last decade I covered amateur baseball. spent the last four years covering college baseball for ESPN every moment from the regular season to the postseason all the way to Omaha and the sidelines there. And I have been so lucky to be part of what makes baseball so great. And to me, that's amateur baseball. That's the stories that we are going to share here And I can't wait to do it with you all season long. I'll spend the season covering the St. Louis Cardinals and I'll be here with you bringing these stories to life. There's no one better to start this off with than Peter Gammon's. He's in the national baseball hall of fame. He's in the Cape Cod baseball hall of fame. He's a three time national sports writer of the year, and he has covered baseball for five decades. He is passionate ⁓ and loves to tell stories. He's preserved the history of the sport and I guarantee you he's going to share stories that you have never heard before. They're special, unique, and there's nobody better to
Dani Wexelman: Peter I am so to catch up. we are so happy to have you on this podcast. We we got a lot to talk about my friend
dani: An enormous thank you to Peter Gammons for sharing his wealth of knowledge and all of his stories about the Cape Cod League. We got a lot coming up this summer on the Codcast. Hall of Famer Billy Wagner will join us, as well as Nessen's Lou Merloney, and many more ⁓ guests here on the Codcast. And best of all, our summer on the Cape Cod League. Begins on June 13th. That's opening day on the Cape. We can't wait to see you out there. For my producer, Sarah Lang, I'm Danny Wexelman, and we'll talk to you soon on the CODCAS. ⁓
Peter Gammons: Okay.
Dani: hear these stories from than Peter Gammon's himself. So without further ado, let's bring in one of the best to ever do it, an absolute legend in Peter Gammon's.
Dani Wexelman: there's nobody better to talk about not only ⁓ Cape Cod, but the Cape Cod baseball league. And for those haven't had a chance to go out and experience the rich tradition and history and just the passion for baseball, what would you say to somebody who's never had the chance to do that?
Peter Gammons: Go to a couple of games. I would definitely go to Cotuit which is of the most beautiful ⁓ I've ever been to. I had to write a piece for my favorite ⁓ park for, ⁓ I don't even remember who I was writing it for, but ⁓ I picked out going to a game in Cotuit . It's a very special place. And ⁓ I had my aneurysm in 2006 and ⁓ friends of mine took me to the one place they thought I'd want to go to get out of the hospital. And that was I went to a Cotuit game.
Dani Wexelman: I listen, I think baseball heals. Baseball is so special. I mean, you've been covering sports and this sport for at least five decades, my friend. And we are so grateful for your voice and your words, your written words that are so impactful. I have loved reading your work, but what makes it so special?
Peter Gammons: It's just so much fun to see people come out with their lawn chairs and just the fans get so, so passionate. are stories there. I obviously, because I covered his grandfather for a long time, when Mikey Strumsky was playing there, it was really fun to see his mother. people all kind of buzzing, oh, his name is Yastremski. And, you know, and he actually had a great summer there and it really helped him to get drafted. And he's turning into a really good player. And I think it happens because it's not glamorous, but it's real baseball.
Dani Wexelman: it. that's the that's the key, right? It's real baseball. who else? did you see come through that stood out or that you have a favorite memory about?
Peter Gammons: Well, I would say the first one, this first summer I was down here full time. A friend of mine, a scout called me and said, Peter, go over to Brewster. You got to see this guy. And it was Billy Wagner, who's still the best pitcher I've ever seen on the Cape. And I mean, he's, you know, like five, nine, five, eight threw so hard. I was there the night that he was a swallowed a mosquito in his delivery. spun around and threw up on the mound and just took five minutes, a lot of water, came back out and threw one hitter the rest of the way. And ⁓ the All-Star game that year, he threw pitches, not one foul ball. Nobody touched the ball. ⁓ and I love seeing his son play now in the big leagues. he he came back. It was so excited about about getting it. I was I was fortunate to present him. ⁓ And it just. I he was he was at the time. Ferrum College was not Division one. Nobody really knew who he was. And all of a sudden, here he is throwing him. 98 miles an hour and he's never forgotten the moment of all that. I mean, we've always stayed in touch and ⁓ I'm so proud of the Hall of Fame and also for the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame. But it was really important. ⁓
Dani Wexelman: that up to the so you're in the Cape Cod Hall of Fame. You're in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And you know, you've accumulated a lot of awards in your life, my friend, you've written a lot of words and, and we've had the pleasure of watching you talk about baseball on TV for a long time. And you're talking about Billy Wagner, we know that there are so many incredible coaches in Major League Baseball who have spent time on the Cape. There's other Hall of Famers who have come through the Cape as well.
Peter Gammons: Helton. He was in Cooperstown before he was here in the Cape League. And it was really great. It meant so much that he got into the Major League Hall of Fame. Ironically, then he gets into the Cape League. He never hit a home run on the Cape. He won the home running contest in the rain in Orleans, but ⁓ beating out Sean Casey. ⁓ But he the next year, I mean, he couldn't been what happened was when he got into the Cooperstown, he had called me and said, if I make it, ⁓ do you think I could find a host? loved it. My family's never been to the Cape. I said. ⁓ I think we can arrange to get your family. He said, well, I want to drive down for I want to drive from Cooperstown to to Orleans. And I thought it was so great. see, he was he and his family were so excited about this is where he really got see because he played more quarterback than he had been playing first base of the outfield. And again, he didn't hit a home run on the Cape ⁓ except for the. a home run hitting contest. But those are things that can happen. And he, you know, he was so good on the Cape because he knew what he needed to do. He needed to make contact. needed to play every day. And he did it. And I think most people thought he'd be in the first seven to nine players in the draft. And after he out of the Cape, But that was because he just thought about going out and hitting line drives. ⁓ it's a nice story. And he made the people in Orleans feel so great about giving him the chance. mean, he of course had a couple of nights where they had Todd Helton signing night both years. It's just, I think most players really respect what they had them in. Zach Gallagher drafted by... the Marlowe's originally. And he called and or maybe it was in Saint Louis. I'm not sure. But he asked him if he could come down a day. Yeah, because I'm thinking I keep on. It could be Jupiter. It was probably Jupiter. And he asked him if he could miss a day.
Dani Wexelman: I think you're right.
Peter Gammons: because he wanted to drive up from New Jersey to Boston, get a rental car, drive up, take the family out to dinner, drive back to the airport and fly to Drupal. And he hadn't forgotten. That's where it took off. It was a, I guess a third round pick, but he got drafted. He was really excited. And then...
Dani Wexelman: right? It's all about what you start and respecting that place, right?
Peter Gammons: just to know what families do for it. Some of the guys that go through it, ⁓ they live with the families, ⁓ have a great time, take them out to dinner and all that kind of stuff.
Dani Wexelman: want to ask you about that because it's the one of the most unique experiences I think that exists in our sport and at the amateur level is the the embracing of the player but then the player mutually embracing the family that takes care of them and brings them in and make sure that everything is going okay and I you know I have I have been able to tell some stories about guys staying with host families, but I was wondering if you had a great host family story.
Peter Gammons: Well, I think actually the one of my favorites because it was so much like it was all the way back to 19, I'm guessing 75 when he played in the Cape League. It was an outfielder for Hyannis. But Butcher Walter, who still has the best one season batting average of anyone with a wooden bat. He's still the all time bad champion on the Cape League and he played for the Hyannis Mets and he still stays in touch managing in the big leagues, managing the Yankees. still, sometimes when things would get bad and he called me and said, is that Hyannis job open? Maybe I can get a managerial job there. But he, and he always talks about the family that and stayed in touch with him. he truly, Buck is such a purist that I think that that's part of why he loved it so much. But so did the guys back in the 60s and 70s. mean, people like Tom Grieve, Bobby Valentine, Carlton Fisk, there are a bunch of guys who played while they were still in high school. They had to be from New England. And Bobby Valentine always stayed very close and in touch with the family he stayed with. And it's I've always thought if Buck had a summer off like I I I wouldn't be surprised if he came up here and stayed for a week and sought out people he knew here because it meant so much to him. And he you know, he ended up to be He should be in the Hall of Fame, so hopefully he'll get there someday.
Dani Wexelman: I agree. I agree. And I think, I think what I love the big picture that you're talking about too, because we're talking about Buck Showalter, who managed at the big league level who played and also still is tied so tightly tied to a place that probably showed him a lot of love and he felt loved in the Cape. But I'm curious where you feel like the biggest impact the Cape Cod League has on the big picture of baseball, right? We've got the hall of fame, you have the sport itself, you have amateur baseball, travel, baseball, you've got a lot of different things going on. Where does the Cape Cod League fit into the big picture of baseball?
Peter Gammons: I think it's a very important thing to play every day, to ride the bus for probably an hour every day, to know what it's like to fail. mean, guys can, it's just like Todd Helton and never hit a home run there. And then there are other guys that hit 220, 230 once in a while, and they need to learn the discipline of playing every day and... not being ⁓ blown away by, you're less than a year away from being drafted or a year away from being drafted. In some cases now, you might get drafted a month later, but ⁓ it's a different system now. you still, you, I think you just, learn about failure with the opportunity to go out there ⁓ and make yourself better. you see it occasionally. mean, there are guys. Some people can walk in. There are two in last couple of years, Travis Bazana, where he played in Falmouth. And people would go, he's from Australia. How could he know so much about baseball? Well, he did. The people he played for in Australia were all people who played here and so forth. But he was one of the most ⁓ intensely and, ⁓ Also, he was really intense, but he also was, he had great instincts. I mean, there was a night, ended up Ted thinning, 2-2 or 3-3. so, whoever was up in front of him was Watt leading the inning. He bunted first pitch and beat it out easily. The first baseman didn't even bother. finished going to the bag. so the next day I said, because I have, we're in a non-bunting era. And he said, he said to me, well, no, I, did that. I could, I could bunt. That's one thing I could do very well. The first baseball was playing almost halfway between first and second. Well, if I, if we have runners at first and second, nobody out, we have a better chance to score and win the game. there in the bottom of the inning than we do with ⁓ a runner at second.
Dani Wexelman: right? That high baseball IQ that he has. And so many guys who have come through the Cape have had to, and you know what's incredible to me, Peter, is how the league has just withstood the test of time of every generation of player and analytics and stats and the way that these kids grow up, you know, this generation, they're able to train more. They take care of their bodies in different ways. They have trajectory machines. And, and if we look back, you know, 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, because this league has been around a hundred years but you know if we just go back two or three decades those things didn't exist why why has the Cape Cod League been able to withstand all the different generations of players and the evolution of the sport
Peter Gammons: it's not a bad place to spend summer either. I mean, it's pretty good. You're not going to the Dominican League. mean, you're in Orleans or Chattanooga or some place like that. And I think that the friendships are a little different than like the minor leagues and the pressure that goes on with that. I I have a good friend who's still in baseball, but he played in Brewster in 99 with Chase Utley. His first son is named Chase. because it was just so incredible. Chase wasn't that, he wasn't a great player when he was young. He just worked so hard. was, I mean, he would be at the park at two o'clock, one o'clock every day. And he would just take ground balls, all these things that he would do to improve his defense and do all these drills. One of my favorite stories about Chase was that there was a he he finally got over to the he was hitting third in the order. And so he had to race over to get get for the hit in the first inning. And the the the leadoff guy swung at the first pitch. The ⁓ second guy swung at the first pitch. Now, he hadn't eaten since he showed up at the park at one o'clock. So they used have ⁓ have ⁓ lobster rolls in ⁓ little baseballs. So he got the bat boy to go get him a lobster roll. He's eating the roll. ⁓ then this guy up first. So throws it down. gives the eating facility to the bat boy, went into the batter's box, hit the first pitch off the right field fence.
Dani Wexelman: Wait, that was Chase Utley? ⁓ my gosh. Okay, okay.
Peter Gammons: That was Chase Utley ⁓ He is an incredible legend on the Cape.
Dani Wexelman: I mean, that is legendary. The story, you have preserved so many stories in the last half an hour, Peter. We have run through the gamut of stories. Is there any more stories that are your favorite or that people don't hear enough about that you'd like to share with us?
Peter Gammons: ⁓ This is another generation, but he was a Cy Young Award winner and ⁓ a great pitcher with the Orioles and Mike Flanagan. And he and another guy from the University of Massachusetts were playing in Falmouth for a rather eccentric coach who once got thrown out of a game and went out and let the air out of the tires of all the umpires. That's like, that wouldn't happen today, I don't think, but it happened in, let's see, early seventies when, before Flanning got to the Orioles. but, but one night he and another pitcher from UMass were laughing because a teammate of theirs was pitching for the other team. And I guess he was funny looking and They were laughing at him from the bench and their manager got really mad at them laughing during a game in which they were losing. So he told them after the game, stay around. You're going to have to shag flies. Well, they didn't know it was going to be in the dark either. So so they have to wait until they heard the ball hit a fence and they run and go get it and then run it in. And but. I remember going up to the field that Flanagan pitched on in high school in Manchester, New Hampshire after he won his Cy Young. I was working for the Globe at the time and it was a great story for the Globe for Flanagan, for UMass ⁓ and Manchester, New Hampshire. he told that story. He was so proud of that story. I mean, it he thought it was a great thing in his baseball career. for something so funny to happen. mean, not only did he have a manager who let the air out of the umpire's tires, but he was forced to go out there and chase fly balls for an hour in the dark. And he thought that was hilarious. And that's just the fun with playing baseball.
Dani Wexelman: is and the league right and the Cape Cod League and what it is. You know we're more than 100 years in which is kind of hard to believe and I am sure Peter we've got 100 more to go. I'm wondering what are you most excited about for this season and the future of the Cape Cod League?
Peter Gammons: sorry. I just want to see who's there and I hope that most of the players will stay for the year. you know, it's the whole college, the way the college rules have changed. know, assistant coaches from, think every school in the ⁓ Southeastern Conference are there on the Cape trying to get players to leave and go. I think that most of the coaches are so into it and so love the game that they really get something out of playing. are a lot of college coaches who make more than major league managers. It's a different world than coming from a high school or a prep school in Connecticut and coming to Falmouth or... a guy coming and who's coaching in college and comes to Chatham or Orleans.
Dani Wexelman: I'll tell you this my friend I can't you how lucky we are to spend time with you ⁓ and hear these stories ⁓ and relish in how the Cape Cod baseball is because I know how special it is to you ⁓ and to be able to ⁓ let people inside your stories and the time you've spent out there and Your reporting means so much to us and I can't thank you enough for this time
Peter Gammons: I appreciate it. really do because it's anything that's good for the Cape League is important. I love so much. I'll tell you also, it's not just the players. mean, there are guys, they're getting your broadcasting training while watching Cape League baseball game is a great way. And there are a lot of people out there now that are getting their chances. they're learning at 18 and 19 to 20 years old ⁓ broadcast games. And ⁓ know it's fun, but I also think it's just great. ⁓ we're all ⁓ journalists. You and I do the same thing for a living. ⁓ great for that opportunity. There are kids who learn the business of the game. They come here and they work for the teams. and somehow they end up working for some team, major leagues, minor leagues. And that's great too. It's a fully, ⁓ it's an opportunity league. And I think that's the way to look at it and have a lot of fun at the same time.
Dani Wexelman: Peter, thank you so much.
Peter Gammons: so glad you're doing this is fun.
Dani Wexelman: Peter I am so to catch up. we are so happy to have you on this podcast. We we got a lot to talk about my friend
dani: An enormous thank you to Peter Gammons for sharing his wealth of knowledge and all of his stories about the Cape Cod League. We got a lot coming up this summer on the Codcast. Hall of Famer Billy Wagner will join us, as well as Nessen's Lou Merloney, and many more ⁓ guests here on the Codcast. And best of all, our summer on the Cape Cod League. Begins on June 13th. That's opening day on the Cape. We can't wait to see you out there. For my producer, Sarah Lang, I'm Danny Wexelman, and we'll talk to you soon on the CODCAS. ⁓
Peter Gammons: Okay.
Dani: hear these stories from than Peter Gammon's himself. So without further ado, let's bring in one of the best to ever do it, an absolute legend in Peter Gammon's.
Dani Wexelman: there's nobody better to talk about not only ⁓ Cape Cod, but the Cape Cod baseball league. And for those haven't had a chance to go out and experience the rich tradition and history and just the passion for baseball, what would you say to somebody who's never had the chance to do that?
Peter Gammons: Go to a couple of games. I would definitely go to Cotuit which is of the most beautiful ⁓ I've ever been to. I had to write a piece for my favorite ⁓ park for, ⁓ I don't even remember who I was writing it for, but ⁓ I picked out going to a game in Cotuit . It's a very special place. And ⁓ I had my aneurysm in 2006 and ⁓ friends of mine took me to the one place they thought I'd want to go to get out of the hospital. And that was I went to a Cotuit game.
Dani Wexelman: I listen, I think baseball heals. Baseball is so special. I mean, you've been covering sports and this sport for at least five decades, my friend. And we are so grateful for your voice and your words, your written words that are so impactful. I have loved reading your work, but what makes it so special?
Peter Gammons: It's just so much fun to see people come out with their lawn chairs and just the fans get so, so passionate. are stories there. I obviously, because I covered his grandfather for a long time, when Mikey Strumsky was playing there, it was really fun to see his mother. people all kind of buzzing, oh, his name is Yastremski. And, you know, and he actually had a great summer there and it really helped him to get drafted. And he's turning into a really good player. And I think it happens because it's not glamorous, but it's real baseball.
Dani Wexelman: it. that's the that's the key, right? It's real baseball. who else? did you see come through that stood out or that you have a favorite memory about?
Peter Gammons: Well, I would say the first one, this first summer I was down here full time. A friend of mine, a scout called me and said, Peter, go over to Brewster. You got to see this guy. And it was Billy Wagner, who's still the best pitcher I've ever seen on the Cape. And I mean, he's, you know, like five, nine, five, eight threw so hard. I was there the night that he was a swallowed a mosquito in his delivery. spun around and threw up on the mound and just took five minutes, a lot of water, came back out and threw one hitter the rest of the way. And ⁓ the All-Star game that year, he threw pitches, not one foul ball. Nobody touched the ball. ⁓ and I love seeing his son play now in the big leagues. he he came back. It was so excited about about getting it. I was I was fortunate to present him. ⁓ And it just. I he was he was at the time. Ferrum College was not Division one. Nobody really knew who he was. And all of a sudden, here he is throwing him. 98 miles an hour and he's never forgotten the moment of all that. I mean, we've always stayed in touch and ⁓ I'm so proud of the Hall of Fame and also for the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame. But it was really important. ⁓
Dani Wexelman: that up to the so you're in the Cape Cod Hall of Fame. You're in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And you know, you've accumulated a lot of awards in your life, my friend, you've written a lot of words and, and we've had the pleasure of watching you talk about baseball on TV for a long time. And you're talking about Billy Wagner, we know that there are so many incredible coaches in Major League Baseball who have spent time on the Cape. There's other Hall of Famers who have come through the Cape as well.
Peter Gammons: Helton. He was in Cooperstown before he was here in the Cape League. And it was really great. It meant so much that he got into the Major League Hall of Fame. Ironically, then he gets into the Cape League. He never hit a home run on the Cape. He won the home running contest in the rain in Orleans, but ⁓ beating out Sean Casey. ⁓ But he the next year, I mean, he couldn't been what happened was when he got into the Cooperstown, he had called me and said, if I make it, ⁓ do you think I could find a host? loved it. My family's never been to the Cape. I said. ⁓ I think we can arrange to get your family. He said, well, I want to drive down for I want to drive from Cooperstown to to Orleans. And I thought it was so great. see, he was he and his family were so excited about this is where he really got see because he played more quarterback than he had been playing first base of the outfield. And again, he didn't hit a home run on the Cape ⁓ except for the. a home run hitting contest. But those are things that can happen. And he, you know, he was so good on the Cape because he knew what he needed to do. He needed to make contact. needed to play every day. And he did it. And I think most people thought he'd be in the first seven to nine players in the draft. And after he out of the Cape, But that was because he just thought about going out and hitting line drives. ⁓ it's a nice story. And he made the people in Orleans feel so great about giving him the chance. mean, he of course had a couple of nights where they had Todd Helton signing night both years. It's just, I think most players really respect what they had them in. Zach Gallagher drafted by... the Marlowe's originally. And he called and or maybe it was in Saint Louis. I'm not sure. But he asked him if he could come down a day. Yeah, because I'm thinking I keep on. It could be Jupiter. It was probably Jupiter. And he asked him if he could miss a day.
Dani Wexelman: I think you're right.
Peter Gammons: because he wanted to drive up from New Jersey to Boston, get a rental car, drive up, take the family out to dinner, drive back to the airport and fly to Drupal. And he hadn't forgotten. That's where it took off. It was a, I guess a third round pick, but he got drafted. He was really excited. And then...
Dani Wexelman: right? It's all about what you start and respecting that place, right?
Peter Gammons: just to know what families do for it. Some of the guys that go through it, ⁓ they live with the families, ⁓ have a great time, take them out to dinner and all that kind of stuff.
Dani Wexelman: want to ask you about that because it's the one of the most unique experiences I think that exists in our sport and at the amateur level is the the embracing of the player but then the player mutually embracing the family that takes care of them and brings them in and make sure that everything is going okay and I you know I have I have been able to tell some stories about guys staying with host families, but I was wondering if you had a great host family story.
Peter Gammons: Well, I think actually the one of my favorites because it was so much like it was all the way back to 19, I'm guessing 75 when he played in the Cape League. It was an outfielder for Hyannis. But Butcher Walter, who still has the best one season batting average of anyone with a wooden bat. He's still the all time bad champion on the Cape League and he played for the Hyannis Mets and he still stays in touch managing in the big leagues, managing the Yankees. still, sometimes when things would get bad and he called me and said, is that Hyannis job open? Maybe I can get a managerial job there. But he, and he always talks about the family that and stayed in touch with him. he truly, Buck is such a purist that I think that that's part of why he loved it so much. But so did the guys back in the 60s and 70s. mean, people like Tom Grieve, Bobby Valentine, Carlton Fisk, there are a bunch of guys who played while they were still in high school. They had to be from New England. And Bobby Valentine always stayed very close and in touch with the family he stayed with. And it's I've always thought if Buck had a summer off like I I I wouldn't be surprised if he came up here and stayed for a week and sought out people he knew here because it meant so much to him. And he you know, he ended up to be He should be in the Hall of Fame, so hopefully he'll get there someday.
Dani Wexelman: I agree. I agree. And I think, I think what I love the big picture that you're talking about too, because we're talking about Buck Showalter, who managed at the big league level who played and also still is tied so tightly tied to a place that probably showed him a lot of love and he felt loved in the Cape. But I'm curious where you feel like the biggest impact the Cape Cod League has on the big picture of baseball, right? We've got the hall of fame, you have the sport itself, you have amateur baseball, travel, baseball, you've got a lot of different things going on. Where does the Cape Cod League fit into the big picture of baseball?
Peter Gammons: I think it's a very important thing to play every day, to ride the bus for probably an hour every day, to know what it's like to fail. mean, guys can, it's just like Todd Helton and never hit a home run there. And then there are other guys that hit 220, 230 once in a while, and they need to learn the discipline of playing every day and... not being ⁓ blown away by, you're less than a year away from being drafted or a year away from being drafted. In some cases now, you might get drafted a month later, but ⁓ it's a different system now. you still, you, I think you just, learn about failure with the opportunity to go out there ⁓ and make yourself better. you see it occasionally. mean, there are guys. Some people can walk in. There are two in last couple of years, Travis Bazana, where he played in Falmouth. And people would go, he's from Australia. How could he know so much about baseball? Well, he did. The people he played for in Australia were all people who played here and so forth. But he was one of the most ⁓ intensely and, ⁓ Also, he was really intense, but he also was, he had great instincts. I mean, there was a night, ended up Ted thinning, 2-2 or 3-3. so, whoever was up in front of him was Watt leading the inning. He bunted first pitch and beat it out easily. The first baseman didn't even bother. finished going to the bag. so the next day I said, because I have, we're in a non-bunting era. And he said, he said to me, well, no, I, did that. I could, I could bunt. That's one thing I could do very well. The first baseball was playing almost halfway between first and second. Well, if I, if we have runners at first and second, nobody out, we have a better chance to score and win the game. there in the bottom of the inning than we do with ⁓ a runner at second.
Dani Wexelman: right? That high baseball IQ that he has. And so many guys who have come through the Cape have had to, and you know what's incredible to me, Peter, is how the league has just withstood the test of time of every generation of player and analytics and stats and the way that these kids grow up, you know, this generation, they're able to train more. They take care of their bodies in different ways. They have trajectory machines. And, and if we look back, you know, 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, because this league has been around a hundred years but you know if we just go back two or three decades those things didn't exist why why has the Cape Cod League been able to withstand all the different generations of players and the evolution of the sport
Peter Gammons: it's not a bad place to spend summer either. I mean, it's pretty good. You're not going to the Dominican League. mean, you're in Orleans or Chattanooga or some place like that. And I think that the friendships are a little different than like the minor leagues and the pressure that goes on with that. I I have a good friend who's still in baseball, but he played in Brewster in 99 with Chase Utley. His first son is named Chase. because it was just so incredible. Chase wasn't that, he wasn't a great player when he was young. He just worked so hard. was, I mean, he would be at the park at two o'clock, one o'clock every day. And he would just take ground balls, all these things that he would do to improve his defense and do all these drills. One of my favorite stories about Chase was that there was a he he finally got over to the he was hitting third in the order. And so he had to race over to get get for the hit in the first inning. And the the the leadoff guy swung at the first pitch. The ⁓ second guy swung at the first pitch. Now, he hadn't eaten since he showed up at the park at one o'clock. So they used have ⁓ have ⁓ lobster rolls in ⁓ little baseballs. So he got the bat boy to go get him a lobster roll. He's eating the roll. ⁓ then this guy up first. So throws it down. gives the eating facility to the bat boy, went into the batter's box, hit the first pitch off the right field fence.
Dani Wexelman: Wait, that was Chase Utley? ⁓ my gosh. Okay, okay.
Peter Gammons: That was Chase Utley ⁓ He is an incredible legend on the Cape.
Dani Wexelman: I mean, that is legendary. The story, you have preserved so many stories in the last half an hour, Peter. We have run through the gamut of stories. Is there any more stories that are your favorite or that people don't hear enough about that you'd like to share with us?
Peter Gammons: ⁓ This is another generation, but he was a Cy Young Award winner and ⁓ a great pitcher with the Orioles and Mike Flanagan. And he and another guy from the University of Massachusetts were playing in Falmouth for a rather eccentric coach who once got thrown out of a game and went out and let the air out of the tires of all the umpires. That's like, that wouldn't happen today, I don't think, but it happened in, let's see, early seventies when, before Flanning got to the Orioles. but, but one night he and another pitcher from UMass were laughing because a teammate of theirs was pitching for the other team. And I guess he was funny looking and They were laughing at him from the bench and their manager got really mad at them laughing during a game in which they were losing. So he told them after the game, stay around. You're going to have to shag flies. Well, they didn't know it was going to be in the dark either. So so they have to wait until they heard the ball hit a fence and they run and go get it and then run it in. And but. I remember going up to the field that Flanagan pitched on in high school in Manchester, New Hampshire after he won his Cy Young. I was working for the Globe at the time and it was a great story for the Globe for Flanagan, for UMass ⁓ and Manchester, New Hampshire. he told that story. He was so proud of that story. I mean, it he thought it was a great thing in his baseball career. for something so funny to happen. mean, not only did he have a manager who let the air out of the umpire's tires, but he was forced to go out there and chase fly balls for an hour in the dark. And he thought that was hilarious. And that's just the fun with playing baseball.
Dani Wexelman: is and the league right and the Cape Cod League and what it is. You know we're more than 100 years in which is kind of hard to believe and I am sure Peter we've got 100 more to go. I'm wondering what are you most excited about for this season and the future of the Cape Cod League?
Peter Gammons: sorry. I just want to see who's there and I hope that most of the players will stay for the year. you know, it's the whole college, the way the college rules have changed. know, assistant coaches from, think every school in the ⁓ Southeastern Conference are there on the Cape trying to get players to leave and go. I think that most of the coaches are so into it and so love the game that they really get something out of playing. are a lot of college coaches who make more than major league managers. It's a different world than coming from a high school or a prep school in Connecticut and coming to Falmouth or... a guy coming and who's coaching in college and comes to Chatham or Orleans.
Dani Wexelman: I'll tell you this my friend I can't you how lucky we are to spend time with you ⁓ and hear these stories ⁓ and relish in how the Cape Cod baseball is because I know how special it is to you ⁓ and to be able to ⁓ let people inside your stories and the time you've spent out there and Your reporting means so much to us and I can't thank you enough for this time
Peter Gammons: I appreciate it. really do because it's anything that's good for the Cape League is important. I love so much. I'll tell you also, it's not just the players. mean, there are guys, they're getting your broadcasting training while watching Cape League baseball game is a great way. And there are a lot of people out there now that are getting their chances. they're learning at 18 and 19 to 20 years old ⁓ broadcast games. And ⁓ know it's fun, but I also think it's just great. ⁓ we're all ⁓ journalists. You and I do the same thing for a living. ⁓ great for that opportunity. There are kids who learn the business of the game. They come here and they work for the teams. and somehow they end up working for some team, major leagues, minor leagues. And that's great too. It's a fully, ⁓ it's an opportunity league. And I think that's the way to look at it and have a lot of fun at the same time.
Dani Wexelman: Peter, thank you so much.
Peter Gammons: so glad you're doing this is fun.
