253 - Microbets, 1980's Baseball Cards, and Fare Thee Well to Ozzy

This week on the show, baseball's microbets scandal, another Topps pack - this time from 1986 - and Ozzy's "farewell" concert.

See the two Luis Ortiz pitches in question here: Cody Williams, "These are the two pitches that got Luis Ortiz investigated for gambling by MLB," July 3, 2025, Fansided.com (accessed July 9, 2025). https://tinyurl.com/hooks253

Errata: Whitey Herzog was not the Royal's manager in 1983's Pine Tar Game. The team's manager was Dick Howser. Len Dykstra never played for the Red Sox. He was a Met, then a Phillie. Fernando Valenzuela pitched his only career no-hitter in his final season with the Dodgers. Dwight Evans played one season for Baltimore.

Not an errata, but Len Dykstra suffered a stroke in early 2025 - Hooks & Runs hopes his troubles are behind him and that his recovery is quick and complete.

Past Episodes Referenced
154 - Fernandomania Revisited w/ Erik Sherman
https://www.buzzsprout.com/875794/episodes/12920115
165 -Suds Series Stories w/ J. Daniel
https://www.buzzsprout.com/875794/episodes/13382724

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https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

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This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.