Effectively Wild Episode 1563: The Masked Swinger

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s editing activities, MLB’s COVID-19 intake testing results, Buster Posey and Michael Kopech opting out of the season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. switching positions, and the Blue Jays’ quarantine conditions. Then (19:08) they bring on Baseball Prospectus writer Shakeia Taylor to follow up on the podcast’s recent Negro Leagues coverage by explaining how she researches stories about the Negro Leagues and ties them to current events, some of the underexposed eras and aspects of Black baseball history, the women of the Negro Leagues, the significance of Moses Fleetwood Walker, what she recommends reading, and more. After that (53:32), SABR director of editorial content Jacob Pomrenke joins to discuss how the 1918 flu pandemic affected baseball, his research into a 1919 California Winter League game in which players (including a number of big leaguers) wore masks on the field, and the parallels between past and present pandemic responses in the United States. Lastly (1:18:39), Ben talks to veteran relief pitcher Jerry Blevins about his evolution into a LOOGY, what he thinks of MLB’s new three-batter-minimum regulation, how the rule change has affected his prospects as a player, and why he decided to take this summer off.

Audio intro: Guided By Voices, "Questions of the Test"
Audio interstitial 1: Bill Withers, "Stories"
Audio interstitial 2: Dawes, "Stories Don’t End"
Audio interstitial 3: Olivia Jean, "Shut Your Mouth"
Audio outro: Joseph Arthur, "Hold on Jerry"

Link to article about COVID-19 test results
Link to article about testing transparency
Link to article about Kopech opting out
Link to article about Posey opting out
Link to article about missed time and the Hall of Fame
Link to article about Guerrero’s position switch
Link to Shakeia on Effa Manley
Link to Shakeia on the Negro Leagues centennial
Link to Shakeia on the Civil War and Black baseball
Link to Shakeia on Tim Anderson
Link to SABR’s guide to researching the Negro Leagues
Link to SABR bio of Moses Fleetwood Walker
Link to article about Black players and baseball cards
Link to article about Hinchliffe Stadium
Link to After Jackie
Link to Shakeia’s website
Link to Jacob on the flu mask game
Link to article on Tatís and masks
Link to masked Trout baseball card
Link to article about McGwire’s mask comments
Link to book excerpt about Babe Ruth and the 1918 flu
Link to Jacob’s website
Link to Tom Shieber interview episode
Link to Ben on the the Waxahachie Swap

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