January 8, 2025 • 29 mins
Relive the magic of baseball’s golden age through the incredible story of Jackie Brandt, a player who shared the field with legends like Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson and Eddie Mathews. With a career spanning 12 unforgettable years (1956–1967), Brandt played in some of the most iconic ballparks in history—Polo Grounds, Sportsman’s Park, Ebbets Field and Connie Mack Stadium. In this episode, Jackie, now 90, shares his unique experiences, colorful stories and what it was like to be part of an era that defined America’s pastime.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mike Koser (00:00):
In my research for this month's episode, I had to
check this piece of informationtwice, and you're welcome to
triple check it for me.
I I just thought it was crazy.
There is only one player inbaseball history who played on
teams with Stan Musial, WillieMays, Willie McCovey, Brooks
Robinson, and Eddie Matthews.
(00:20):
And that man is Jackie Brandt,who is now 90 years old and is
my guest on this month's episodeof the Lost Ballparks podcast.
Jackie Brandt.
Is now a good time?
Now's a good time.
Okay.
Let's do it then.
Announcer (00:36):
Podcast Open
Mike Koser (01:19):
From 1956 to 1967, Jackie Brandt spent time with
the Cardinals, New York Giants,San Francisco Giants, Orioles,
Phillies, and Astros, finishinghis career with more than a
thousand hits and more than ahundred home runs.
He was an all-star and a goldglover, and he's our guest on
(01:40):
this month's episode of the LostBallparks Podcast.
Jackie Brandt, how are you?
Jackie Brandt (01:44):
Um okay.
How are you doing?
Mike Koser (01:47):
I'm doing great.
Thanks for doing this.
I appreciate it, Jackie.
Let's go back to the very firstgame you ever attended.
Um, your first Major LeagueBaseball game.
Where was that?
When was that?
Jackie Brandt (01:57):
The first one I ever went to was my first one.
Mike Koser (02:00):
Was it really?
Jackie Brandt (02:01):
Yeah.
Mike Koser (02:02):
So that means the first time you walk into a
ballpark is your Major Leaguedebut in 1956 with the Cardinals
at uh Sportsman's Park.
Walk me through thatexperience.
Jackie Brandt (02:12):
I was lost.
I almost didn't find it.
Are you sure?
Is this me?
I don't know.
It's it was great.
It was unbelievable.
Gotta go to Oklahoma, Georgia,and New York before I can get to
St.
Louis.
Mike Koser (02:27):
Sure, yeah, in the minor leagues.
Jackie Brandt (02:29):
Yeah.
That was amazing because backin the 50s, you had to play in a
minor leages six or eight yearsbefore you got anywhere.
But I just happened to appealto somebody.
Went from Class D and got a Ccontract.
In spring training, I made an Ateam.
(02:51):
And the next year I went tospring training with an A
contract and made a AAA team.
And the next year I went tospring training with a triple A
contract and made the bigleagues.
Mike Koser (03:04):
And how much was your first major league contract
with the Cardinals?
How much did they pay you?
Jackie Brandt (03:08):
Six thousand dollars a year.
Mike Koser (03:10):
Did that feel like a lot of money at the time?
well, it was it was it wentpretty fast.
Yeah.
So back for a second to your first game.
Your major league debut is withthe Cardinals April 21st, 1956,
against Eddie Matthews, HankAaron, and the Milwaukee Braves
at Sportsman's Park.
So you make the trip to theballpark and you go into the
(03:33):
clubhouse.
Obviously, I mean this is yourfirst time in a major league
ballpark.
First time in a major leagueclubhouse.
Jackie Brandt (03:38):
I was on the cloud.
I made the Cardinals in springtraining.
I was on a triple A contract.
So I had a good spring.
So they told me the day theybroke spring training cap.
You're going to St.
Louis.
I don't know if I landed forthree days.
What am I doing?
(04:01):
What do I got Stan Musual'slocker next to me?
Oh boy.
Mike Koser (04:06):
You walk into the locker room and you discover
that you're right next to StanMusial.
Jackie Brandt (04:10):
Who's that sitting next to Jack?
I said, Oh, that's Stan.
He he he plays for theCardinals.
Mike Koser (04:20):
What did you think of Stan Musial, by the way?
Jackie Brandt (04:22):
Oh, he was just uh a leader.
Mike Koser (04:25):
I mean, you were there for a cup of coffee a
short period of time.
Did you enjoy the experience inSt.
Louis?
Jackie Brandt (04:30):
I didn't play much there.
Uh I got to watch a bunch ofthe other players, but then they
needed some uh help, I guess,so they sent me to polo grounds.
I was only there for a month ortwo.
Mike Koser (04:47):
Yeah, in the first couple months of the 1956
season, you spent a little timewith the Cardinals, and then
it's off to New York to play atthe polo grounds with the New
York Giants.
Jackie Brandt (04:55):
And I've now I'm living in New York City paying
$400 a month's rent, and onlymake $450 or something a month.
Mike Koser (05:04):
Yeah, so you're not you're not making a lot of
money, but on the other hand,you're playing at the polo
grounds in the outfield, rightnext to maybe the greatest
player of all time, Willie Mays.
Jackie Brandt (05:15):
Of course.
Announcer (05:16):
Back at the polo grounds in New York, going into
the last half of the secondinning, Willie Mays will lead
off with the Giants.
Mike Koser (05:22):
Jackie, for someone who is never able to see a game
at the Polo Grounds, can youdescribe what it was like to
play there?
Jackie Brandt (05:29):
I really liked it.
Boy, that's a crazy lookingballpark.
Announcer (05:34):
While we have time, let me tell you something about
this polo grounds layout.
It's a complete double-deckedaffair.
Our mutual broadcasting boothis in a swell spot here, right
back the home plate where we cansee those balls breaking over
the plate.
It's in a great spot to see theball game.
Jackie Brandt (05:48):
Willie was in center, and it was the only
thing there was center field.
It was 240 down the lines.
You just played against thewall and did whatever Willie
told you to do.
He was unbelievable.
Mike Koser (06:03):
Many describe Willie Mays as the greatest all-round
player in baseball history.
You, Jackie, had a front rowseat.
You played right next to him.
What do you think?
Jackie Brandt (06:14):
I think he was.
I think I I guess I got a goodreason because he was.
He could run, he could throw,he could hit, he could hit home
runs, he could steal bases, hecould field with anybody.
And what else is there?
Uh walking out to start thegame or something?
Mike Koser (06:33):
Yeah, and speaking of that, the clubhouses at the
polo grounds were out in centerfield.
Describe that area at the pologrounds.
Jackie Brandt (06:41):
In center field, let's say it's uh 400 to the
center field fence, which wedidn't have, it was open and it
went back probably a hundredfeet and uh steps going up, one
step going up to the Giants, andone step going up to the
(07:02):
visiting clubhouse.
It was up second floor.
And if you hit the ball incenter field over the center
field er's head, it'd go 500feet.
Announcer (07:12):
Uh in fact, it's one of the longest drives to the
center field fence of anyballpark in the majors.
It's something uh from here tothe center field wall is
something like 483 feet, andthat is really a wallop.
483 feet to the center fieldwall, so you can tell what a
poke that is.
Jackie Brandt (07:30):
But it was it was weird.
It was...
you come in from center fieldand you went home into center
field.
What is that?
70 years ago?
Mike Koser (07:40):
Having a short left field at the polo grounds and a
short right field, were hitterstempted to try to pull the ball
every time they were up?
Jackie Brandt (07:49):
Well, that's that's what they tried to do.
I tried to hit the ball tocenter field because that made
me wait longer.
And uh the walls were probablyoh, 25 or 30 feet high, and then
uh the stands were above thewalls down both sides.
It was every it was similar tothe Coliseum, but the Coliseum
(08:14):
in LA didn't have no walls.
They they had a big net inleft field, and the rest was
what 700 feet.
Announcer (08:22):
One thing that Mel and I get a big kick out of here
at the Coliseum is many of thepeople far off in the distance
bring their own binoculars tofollow the game.
Mike Koser (08:31):
At the polo grounds, after a game, players would
make their way to the centerfield clubhouses with fans
hanging over from the bleachers,try to get a high five from you
on your way into the clubhouse.
On a day where you win thegame, I'm sure they're happy and
a lot of high fives to goaround, and maybe a little less
hospitable on days where youlose.
Jackie Brandt (08:54):
I didn't see any high fives.
That's where we had to go andcome.
We uh finished in eighth placethat year.
So we didn't have very manypeople.
Mike Koser (09:05):
Your your first year in the big leagues, Jack.
You also played out inBrooklyn.
Vin Scully (09:10):
Here at Ebbets Field tonight, and I certainly hope
you'll be making your plans topay us a visit.
Come on out to the ballpark.
Mike Koser (09:17):
Tell me about Ebbet's Field.
Jackie Brandt (09:19):
Well, it was uh it was one of the tops! Yeah,
short right field, uh averageleft field and center field, and
it had a lot of people in it.
Mike Koser (09:31):
The Giants played their final year at the polo
grounds in 1957.
You missed that season becauseof service in the U.S.
Army.
You came back to the Giants in1958.
That was their first season atSan Francisco when they were
playing at SEALs Stadium.
What do you remember aboutSEALs Stadium in San Francisco?
Jackie Brandt (09:48):
Well, it was a good one to hit in.
It was uh right in the middleof town, and it held it only
held like 18 or 20,000 people.
There was no second tier or itwas just it was like a college
baseball stadium wasn't big Idon't know, but we packed it
(10:13):
because we were in first placetill uh week left in the season.
Mike Koser (10:17):
I'm sure there were some players on the Giants who
were not crazy about the movefrom New York to San Francisco,
but what did you think?
Did you like it?
Jackie Brandt (10:25):
How do you not like California?
I lived there, I bought a housethere and almost lived in a
year, and then I got traded.
Yeah.
Mike Koser (10:35):
Yeah.
You go from sunny California toto Baltimore, uh, traded to the
Orioles before the 1960 season,and you get there and you um
get to play with anotherall-time great Brooks Robinson.
Um, what did you think ofBrooks when you first met him?
Jackie Brandt (10:51):
He was um better than average fielder.
Mike Koser (10:56):
Yeah, you think?
Jackie Brandt (10:57):
And he uh he hit pretty good.
He had a little trouble with afastball, but he was
unbelievable.
I was there six years, and hewas amazing hitting and
fielding.
and he couldn't throw, and hewas he'd he'd get you by half a
step at first every time.
Couldn't run and couldn'tthrow, and he's an all-timer.
Mike Koser (11:20):
And what do you remember about Memorial Stadium
in Baltimore?
Jackie Brandt (11:24):
It was beautiful.
My house was two blocks overthe left field fence, and I
walked to the ballpark, that wasnice.
And then I had to walk throughthe people at the end and sign
about 500 autographs a day.
But I don't know why theywanted me because I they didn't
(11:45):
know who I was.
Mike Koser (11:48):
How did they pick you out of the crowd?
You would have had your streetclothes on.
Did they they just recognizedyou?
Jackie Brandt (11:53):
Well, they're they're right outside the gate
to get in the ballpark.
You have to go through them toleave.
Hundreds of people rightoutside the door, and you gotta
go out the door.
They got uh uh cards orpictures, or they know who's
who, but the the few fans wehad, then they knew everybody.
Mike Koser (12:16):
Were they bring you birthday presents?
Jackie Brandt (12:18):
They used to come up to the house because I lived
like two blocks from theballpark.
Geez whiz! You live right bythe ballpark.
Oh uh I had a fan club.
A bunch of teenagers or gradeschool kids used to come up and
it was quite good.
Mike Koser (12:36):
Would they want you to play catch with them?
Jackie Brandt (12:38):
I didn't have room.
I had a little bitty house anduh as a row house, if you know
what row house is.
Mike Koser (12:44):
Oh, sure, yeah.
Jackie Brandt (12:46):
Just a little bitty row house and uh just
enough yard for uh steps goingdown to the street, and you just
pack the sidewalk and uh curb.
Mike Koser (12:57):
In 1961, Jackie, at a big moment in your career,
you're elected to your firstall-star game.
There were two all-star gamesto be played that year, um, one
at Candlestick and the other atFenway.
Jackie Brandt (13:08):
Jimmy Dudley with Jerry Doggett from Candlestick
Park in San Francisco, the sceneof today's all-star game, the
first of 1961, the second to beplayed at Boston.
Mike Koser (13:18):
Your teammates were Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Al
Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, MickeyMantle, Roger Maris, Brooks
Robinson.
What do you remember aboutthose All-Star games in 61?
Jackie Brandt (13:28):
Well, uh, it was great in uh San Francisco
because I just left there and Iknew everybody, and uh, they let
me go to the ballpark.
I just sat..
I did pinch it.
Announcer (13:41):
Here's Jackie Brant coming up now as a pinch hitter
for pitcher Jim Bunning.
Mike Koser (13:46):
You took it to a full count, but ended up
striking out.
Jackie Brandt (13:49):
McCormick delivers 3-2.
A swing and a miss strikethree.
Mike Koser (13:54):
But you get your all-star game at bat, and then
hoping for more, the second gamewas to be played at Boston's
Fenway Park, but unfortunately,not exactly what you expected.
Jackie Brandt (14:05):
Rained out.
The game was rained out.
Everybody was there, but wedidn't play.
Mike Koser (14:10):
Did you guys hang out that night?
Jackie Brandt (14:12):
I didn't hang out.
Mike Koser (14:14):
No?
Jackie Brandt (14:14):
I was not a hangouter.
Well, I didn't I didn't drinkor...
I did smoke, but I didn't uh dowhat everybody else did.
I'd I get up, I was you know, Icome out of the army getting up
at three or four in the morningevery day.
(14:35):
Well, I get up at four or fivein the morning and I couldn't
keep a roommate.
Boy, you ain't roomin with thatguy.
He gets up at five or six inthe morning and he goes out,
walks around and well, theyweren't in the army.
I d I didn't mind room alone,but later on, and I got a little
lazier, then uh I got a coupleroomies.
Mike Koser (14:58):
You faced a lot of incredible pitchers.
Who was the toughest you everfaced?
Jackie Brandt (15:03):
Sam Jones.
Mike Koser (15:04):
Sam Jones, really.
Sam Jones, kind of uh uh ajourneyman pitcher.
Let's see, pitched for I thinkCleveland, Chicago, uh, I want
to say San Francisco, had agreat nickname, Toothpick, Sam
Toothpick Jones.
What made what made Sam sotough to face?
Jackie Brandt (15:21):
100 miles an hour, the best curveball you
ever seen, and wild.
One pitch behind you, and you,oh my god, what are you doing?
Next pitch you go behind you,but it would break four feet
over for a strike.
You didn't know where to stand.
I didn't know where I just I'min the box, but I don't know, is
the ball gonna hit me or what Ihad no trouble with him.
Mike Koser (15:45):
In 1966, when you played for the Phillies, you
faced Sandy Koufax.
Actually, you were the lastregular season hitter to face
Sandy Koufax, right?
Do I have that right?
Jackie Brandt (15:56):
I think uh I was.
I read that I was in a bunch ofbooks.
And uh ninth inning, pinchhitting, his last his last
inning.
Mike Koser (16:07):
He struck you out.
Jackie Brandt (16:08):
Yeah, I said that's why he retired.
Vin Scully (16:10):
Koufax takes a peak at first.
Now left hand's afastball in there that's got him
swinging, and that thing wasmoving.
Jackie Brandt (16:15):
Finally struck me out.
He gave up, he quit.
That's a bucket list.
Anyway, I got quite a few hitsoff of him, but it's a little
harder to pinch hit in the ninthinning after sittin the whole
game against Koufax.
He was awful good, he's hadawful good record, he's a nice
(16:37):
guy.
That's uh Sandy Koufax.
I don't know if he's the bestpitcher ever, but I probably
think there's a bunch of otherones you could put with him.
Mike Koser (16:48):
After more than a decade of the big leagues, you
finished your career with boththe Phillies and the Astros
spending time uh with thePhillies at Connie Mack Stadium
and the Astros at the Astrodome.
Announcer (16:59):
Most happy to have all of you with us tonight.
The Houston Astros are proud tohave NBC and all of you fans of
the Astrodome, the fabulousAstrodome, the eighth wonderful
world, played in air-conditionedcomfort.
Under a dome high enough toplace a 12-story building.
Jackie Brandt (17:14):
Well, let's see.
That was great, and I didn'tplay much, so ooh, I didn't
sweat, it was nice andcomfortable.
But then you had to go home in110.
Mike Koser (17:33):
Okay, so Philadelphia, then uh
Philadelphia's Connie MackStadium.
This city is rich in many ways.
Connie Mack Stadium, name for aman whose name will never be
forgotten in Philadelphia or theBaseball Hall of Fame.
Jackie Brandt (17:49):
I better not say nothing about Philadelphia.
My grandson lives there.
It was a one of the toughestparks to play for a opposing
team.
And even for it was they'd boothe players and then they'd get
a hit and then they'd cheerthem, then they strike out, and
(18:09):
then they'd boo them.
Their own players.
I gotta have an instance therethat was quite quite funny.
Let's see, I'm trying to thinkwho we're playing.
We're playing somebody.
A left-handed pitcher pitching.
Mike Koser (18:24):
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (18:25):
I think it was Atlanta.
Yeah, it was Atlanta.
Anyway, a left-handed pitcherpitching.
So Johnny Callison, who is avery good right fielder, he
didn't want to play.
Oh, I I don't know aboutplaying against that guy, you
know.
So they took him out and put mein right field.
(18:46):
And the game started, andeverybody runs out to the
position, and boy did I getbooed.
It was thunderous.
Oh, so I tip my hat.
I tipped my hat.
Sorry, here I am.
What am I gonna do?
So the first the first time up,I hit uh let's see, I think I
(19:07):
hit a triple up the center fieldfence and going out to right
field after the inning, silence,just complete silence, no boos,
no nothing.
The second time up, I hit ahome run to left field and a
thunderous applause when I ranout to the so I went from boos
(19:31):
to silence to applause in fourinnings.
That was so funny.
And I, what the hell, I'm goofyanyway.
Take my hat off. Sorry folks. I'mout of here.
Not nothing I can do.
That was well, I guess I guesssomewhere in your summation of
(19:55):
what we're talking about is theword flaky.
Mike Koser (19:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, your your nickname.
Jackie Brandt (20:00):
Yeah.
It was not flaky, it was justvery unorthodox.
Mike Koser (20:06):
You marched to the beat of your own drum.
Jackie Brandt (20:08):
I'd say I'd say things that nobody else would
ever say, but they'd be funny.
And I I do have a sense ofhumor, and I'm glad I did, or
else I'd be crying.
Mike Koser (20:19):
September 28th, 1960, you're in right field at
Fenway Park, and Ted Williamscomes to the plate in his final
at-bat of his major leaguecareer.
Curt Gowdy (20:29):
One and one to Williams.
Everybody quiet now here atFenway Park after they gave him
a standing ovation of twominutes, knowing that this is
probably his last time at bat.
One out, nobody on, last of theeighth inning.
Jack Fisher into his wind-up.
Here's the pitch.
Williams swings, and there's along drive to deep right...
Mike Koser (20:56):
And it sailed over your head.
Jackie Brandt (20:58):
Well, I never seen him hit a home run.
That was the Mr.
Williams.
It was Mr.
Williams.
Yeah, well, it it didn't, itwas just to my left a little
bit.
And I went to the wall andwatched it go in the stands.
And then I turned around andwatched him touch first, second,
(21:18):
third home and go to Florida.
He quit.
Mike Koser (21:23):
Yeah, that's right.
That was the last game he everwas in.
His whole career was greatness.
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (21:31):
You don't have to be in the American League to
know...
I was in the National Leaguefor about 56, 7, 8, 9, 6, 7, 8,
and four years.
He hit .400 in the fiftiesand the greatest hitter going.
And of course you hear abouthim.
Mike Koser (21:52):
Right.
Jackie Brandt (21:53):
It's amazing, but here I am playing against him.
And I'm playing against JackieRobinson and Don Newcombe and
Duke Snider.
Wow.
I played with it against all ofthem, Eddie Matthews, Warren
Spahn.
Hank Aaron.
It was unbelievable.
(22:13):
It was great.
Mike Koser (22:14):
And probably Jack, a hard thing to do, but what uh
what is your favorite memoryfrom your career?
Jackie Brandt (22:19):
It was all so good that I'd hate to pick one
time.
I I don't know, maybe it's atime uh my wife had the first
child.
That's quite a a ways from theballpark though, but a fondness
with just being there.
Mike Koser (22:35):
Any keepsakes from your career, uh memorabilia that
that uh you've held on to allthese years?
Jackie Brandt (22:41):
Well, let's see.
I got a gold glove.
Giant pillows, I have Oriolepillows.
I didn't bring my Philly myPhilly...I didn't like Philly
very well but in Houston, Iwasn't there very long.
And I do have a memory ofHouston.
(23:02):
Uh you ready?
Mike Koser (23:04):
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (23:04):
The last four I didn't play very much there.
When somebody got sick orsomething, I play first or third
or I was on a pitching list.
I was I just did anything.
I pitched batting practiceevery day, anything to to do
something except watch.
(23:25):
So uh I was a pinch hit mostly.
The last four pinch hits wasNolan Ryan, Tom Seaver,
Phil Neikro, and Steve Carlton.
And I got a hit off each oneagainst four Hall of Famers in
(23:49):
different weeks or months orwhatever.
I mean wow, I was good.
Mike Koser (23:54):
Wait, that's incredible.
Uh you're talking about four ofthe greatest pitchers of uh in
baseball history.
Jackie Brandt (23:59):
Yeah, I think so.
I got a hit against each one ofthem.
Mike Koser (24:03):
Do you still have your baseball glove?
Jackie Brandt (24:05):
Glove?
Yeah.
It's somewhere.
I I got so much crap.
I got a catcher's glove becauseI had at warm-up pitchers at
Philadelphia.
You ever hear of Jim Bunning?
Mike Koser (24:17):
Oh yeah, of course.
Jim Bunning won over 200 gamesin his career, something like a
nine-time All-Star, Hall ofFamer.
Jackie Brandt (24:24):
He uh and I were bridge party.
We played bridge, you'regetting bridge clubs and stuff
in spring training and on uhplay on the planes and the first
year we took trains everywhere.
We didn't have no airplanes.
We were only two that uhplayed.
We had to hunt for people, butso we had to go to bridge clubs
(24:46):
and play for two hours.
And anyway, I guess I'd becalled a reserve that with
Philadelphia and play once in awhile and do this, but when he
pitched, I was his catcher towarm him up.
He didn't want nobody else tocatch him when he's warming up
to start the game.
So I did that, and then I wentto a bullpen, uh once in a while
(25:11):
I pinch ran, but I wouldn't Ihaven't run for so long.
I I wasn't very fast.
Mike Koser (25:16):
Yeah, but actually at uh at the beginning of your
career, you were one of thefastest players in the major
leagues.
Jackie Brandt (25:21):
In 1956, I was the second player in the
national league, the fastest uhplayer in the national league
from home to first and second.
I was the second fastest.
I think uh Vada Pinson or someleft-hand hitter that swings
(25:42):
while they're while they'rerunning.
I was second in the league.
I'd go there in three underfour seconds.
Uh and that year in pologrounds, I was the ninth leading
average in the National League.
Mike Koser (25:58):
Yeah, you hit .298.
Jackie Brandt (26:00):
Ah, rookie year, ninth in the National League.
Ooh, man.
Look out.
Mike Koser (26:08):
And by the way, I wanted to mention that you're
also tied to some Washingtonbaseball history, some
Washington ballpark baseballhistory.
Jackie Brandt (26:17):
I got the last hit in uh Griffith Stadium in
Washington, and they tore itdown.
Yeah, the home run of PedroRamos in the ninth inning in the
last game of the season.
Announcer (26:30):
A stadium was laid to rest yesterday, wrote Shirley
Povich in the Washington Post.
Not many showed up for theservices, and the deceased was
not much of a draw.
Abandoned since, GriffithStadium has sat passively
awaiting the final stroke, thesmash of the Wreckers iron ball
to make way for the newfacilities at Howard University.
Jackie Brandt (26:47):
Well, I'd I'd tear that one down, and and then
uh when I was in AAA atRochester and playing the Giants
in Minneapolis.
Mike Koser (26:57):
At Nicolette Park.
Jackie Brandt (26:59):
Yeah.
I made the last out, I made thelast out in the last game, and
they tore that stadium down.
They weren't gonna let me go instadiums anymore.
Minneapolis.
It was right downtown, yeah.
Yeah.
Nicolette and they tore itdown.
Mike Koser (27:16):
Well, as we mentioned before, you you got to
play with some of uh baseball'simmortals, Willie Mays, Brooks
Robinson, Stan Musial, EddieMatthews, and uh quite a career.
Over a thousand hits, a hundredhome runs.
You're a gold glover, uh, anall-star, and uh really enjoyed
spending some time talking withyou, Jackie.
(27:37):
Thanks so much.
Hope you have a great night.
Jackie Brandt (27:39):
Well, why didn't you say uh have a
nice ten years or something?
Mike Koser (27:44):
Yeah, yeah.
How many do you want?
Jackie Brandt (27:46):
Uh I'd say two.
Mike Koser (27:48):
Sounds great.
Jackie, thanks so much.
Thanks so much.
I appreciate it.
Jackie Brandt (27:53):
Well, I hope you got what you wanted.
Mike Koser (27:55):
I sure did, and let's uh let's make a plan to
talk in ten years for yourhundredth birthday.
Jackie Brandt (28:00):
Well, I hope so.
Yep.
Thank you, sir.
Mike Koser (28:05):
Jackie Brandt, one of the most colorful characters
in baseball history.
And there were a lot of storiesthat we just didn't even have
time to get to, like the timethat he was at a team party with
the Baltimore Orioles, andaccording to the Baltimore Sun,
he walked into a pool with uhwearing his alligator shoes, and
then turned right around andwalked out and acted like
(28:25):
nothing happened the rest of thenight.
Or the time in spring trainingthat he got caught in a rundown,
and uh to avoid the tag, he didthis acrobatic backflip.
And then of course there werehis words.
I mean, Jackie Brandt had justhad a way with words.
They were quirky, profound, andalways original.
He said things like, It's hardto tell how you're playing when
(28:48):
you can't see yourself.
He also said, This year I'mgoing to play with harder
nonchalance
In my research for this month's episode, I had to
check this piece of informationtwice, and you're welcome to
triple check it for me.
I I just thought it was crazy.
There is only one player inbaseball history who played on
teams with Stan Musial, WillieMays, Willie McCovey, Brooks
Robinson, and Eddie Matthews.
(00:20):
And that man is Jackie Brandt,who is now 90 years old and is
my guest on this month's episodeof the Lost Ballparks podcast.
Jackie Brandt.
Is now a good time?
Now's a good time.
Okay.
Let's do it then.
Announcer (00:36):
Podcast Open
Mike Koser (01:19):
From 1956 to 1967, Jackie Brandt spent time with
the Cardinals, New York Giants,San Francisco Giants, Orioles,
Phillies, and Astros, finishinghis career with more than a
thousand hits and more than ahundred home runs.
He was an all-star and a goldglover, and he's our guest on
(01:40):
this month's episode of the LostBallparks Podcast.
Jackie Brandt, how are you?
Jackie Brandt (01:44):
Um okay.
How are you doing?
Mike Koser (01:47):
I'm doing great.
Thanks for doing this.
I appreciate it, Jackie.
Let's go back to the very firstgame you ever attended.
Um, your first Major LeagueBaseball game.
Where was that?
When was that?
Jackie Brandt (01:57):
The first one I ever went to was my first one.
Mike Koser (02:00):
Was it really?
Jackie Brandt (02:01):
Yeah.
Mike Koser (02:02):
So that means the first time you walk into a
ballpark is your Major Leaguedebut in 1956 with the Cardinals
at uh Sportsman's Park.
Walk me through thatexperience.
Jackie Brandt (02:12):
I was lost.
I almost didn't find it.
Are you sure?
Is this me?
I don't know.
It's it was great.
It was unbelievable.
Gotta go to Oklahoma, Georgia,and New York before I can get to
St.
Louis.
Mike Koser (02:27):
Sure, yeah, in the minor leagues.
Jackie Brandt (02:29):
Yeah.
That was amazing because backin the 50s, you had to play in a
minor leages six or eight yearsbefore you got anywhere.
But I just happened to appealto somebody.
Went from Class D and got a Ccontract.
In spring training, I made an Ateam.
(02:51):
And the next year I went tospring training with an A
contract and made a AAA team.
And the next year I went tospring training with a triple A
contract and made the bigleagues.
Mike Koser (03:04):
And how much was your first major league contract
with the Cardinals?
How much did they pay you?
Jackie Brandt (03:08):
Six thousand dollars a year.
Mike Koser (03:10):
Did that feel like a lot of money at the time?
well, it was it was it wentpretty fast.
Yeah.
So back for a second to your first game.
Your major league debut is withthe Cardinals April 21st, 1956,
against Eddie Matthews, HankAaron, and the Milwaukee Braves
at Sportsman's Park.
So you make the trip to theballpark and you go into the
(03:33):
clubhouse.
Obviously, I mean this is yourfirst time in a major league
ballpark.
First time in a major leagueclubhouse.
Jackie Brandt (03:38):
I was on the cloud.
I made the Cardinals in springtraining.
I was on a triple A contract.
So I had a good spring.
So they told me the day theybroke spring training cap.
You're going to St.
Louis.
I don't know if I landed forthree days.
What am I doing?
(04:01):
What do I got Stan Musual'slocker next to me?
Oh boy.
Mike Koser (04:06):
You walk into the locker room and you discover
that you're right next to StanMusial.
Jackie Brandt (04:10):
Who's that sitting next to Jack?
I said, Oh, that's Stan.
He he he plays for theCardinals.
Mike Koser (04:20):
What did you think of Stan Musial, by the way?
Jackie Brandt (04:22):
Oh, he was just uh a leader.
Mike Koser (04:25):
I mean, you were there for a cup of coffee a
short period of time.
Did you enjoy the experience inSt.
Louis?
Jackie Brandt (04:30):
I didn't play much there.
Uh I got to watch a bunch ofthe other players, but then they
needed some uh help, I guess,so they sent me to polo grounds.
I was only there for a month ortwo.
Mike Koser (04:47):
Yeah, in the first couple months of the 1956
season, you spent a little timewith the Cardinals, and then
it's off to New York to play atthe polo grounds with the New
York Giants.
Jackie Brandt (04:55):
And I've now I'm living in New York City paying
$400 a month's rent, and onlymake $450 or something a month.
Mike Koser (05:04):
Yeah, so you're not you're not making a lot of
money, but on the other hand,you're playing at the polo
grounds in the outfield, rightnext to maybe the greatest
player of all time, Willie Mays.
Jackie Brandt (05:15):
Of course.
Announcer (05:16):
Back at the polo grounds in New York, going into
the last half of the secondinning, Willie Mays will lead
off with the Giants.
Mike Koser (05:22):
Jackie, for someone who is never able to see a game
at the Polo Grounds, can youdescribe what it was like to
play there?
Jackie Brandt (05:29):
I really liked it.
Boy, that's a crazy lookingballpark.
Announcer (05:34):
While we have time, let me tell you something about
this polo grounds layout.
It's a complete double-deckedaffair.
Our mutual broadcasting boothis in a swell spot here, right
back the home plate where we cansee those balls breaking over
the plate.
It's in a great spot to see theball game.
Jackie Brandt (05:48):
Willie was in center, and it was the only
thing there was center field.
It was 240 down the lines.
You just played against thewall and did whatever Willie
told you to do.
He was unbelievable.
Mike Koser (06:03):
Many describe Willie Mays as the greatest all-round
player in baseball history.
You, Jackie, had a front rowseat.
You played right next to him.
What do you think?
Jackie Brandt (06:14):
I think he was.
I think I I guess I got a goodreason because he was.
He could run, he could throw,he could hit, he could hit home
runs, he could steal bases, hecould field with anybody.
And what else is there?
Uh walking out to start thegame or something?
Mike Koser (06:33):
Yeah, and speaking of that, the clubhouses at the
polo grounds were out in centerfield.
Describe that area at the pologrounds.
Jackie Brandt (06:41):
In center field, let's say it's uh 400 to the
center field fence, which wedidn't have, it was open and it
went back probably a hundredfeet and uh steps going up, one
step going up to the Giants, andone step going up to the
(07:02):
visiting clubhouse.
It was up second floor.
And if you hit the ball incenter field over the center
field er's head, it'd go 500feet.
Announcer (07:12):
Uh in fact, it's one of the longest drives to the
center field fence of anyballpark in the majors.
It's something uh from here tothe center field wall is
something like 483 feet, andthat is really a wallop.
483 feet to the center fieldwall, so you can tell what a
poke that is.
Jackie Brandt (07:30):
But it was it was weird.
It was...
you come in from center fieldand you went home into center
field.
What is that?
70 years ago?
Mike Koser (07:40):
Having a short left field at the polo grounds and a
short right field, were hitterstempted to try to pull the ball
every time they were up?
Jackie Brandt (07:49):
Well, that's that's what they tried to do.
I tried to hit the ball tocenter field because that made
me wait longer.
And uh the walls were probablyoh, 25 or 30 feet high, and then
uh the stands were above thewalls down both sides.
It was every it was similar tothe Coliseum, but the Coliseum
(08:14):
in LA didn't have no walls.
They they had a big net inleft field, and the rest was
what 700 feet.
Announcer (08:22):
One thing that Mel and I get a big kick out of here
at the Coliseum is many of thepeople far off in the distance
bring their own binoculars tofollow the game.
Mike Koser (08:31):
At the polo grounds, after a game, players would
make their way to the centerfield clubhouses with fans
hanging over from the bleachers,try to get a high five from you
on your way into the clubhouse.
On a day where you win thegame, I'm sure they're happy and
a lot of high fives to goaround, and maybe a little less
hospitable on days where youlose.
Jackie Brandt (08:54):
I didn't see any high fives.
That's where we had to go andcome.
We uh finished in eighth placethat year.
So we didn't have very manypeople.
Mike Koser (09:05):
Your your first year in the big leagues, Jack.
You also played out inBrooklyn.
Vin Scully (09:10):
Here at Ebbets Field tonight, and I certainly hope
you'll be making your plans topay us a visit.
Come on out to the ballpark.
Mike Koser (09:17):
Tell me about Ebbet's Field.
Jackie Brandt (09:19):
Well, it was uh it was one of the tops! Yeah,
short right field, uh averageleft field and center field, and
it had a lot of people in it.
Mike Koser (09:31):
The Giants played their final year at the polo
grounds in 1957.
You missed that season becauseof service in the U.S.
Army.
You came back to the Giants in1958.
That was their first season atSan Francisco when they were
playing at SEALs Stadium.
What do you remember aboutSEALs Stadium in San Francisco?
Jackie Brandt (09:48):
Well, it was a good one to hit in.
It was uh right in the middleof town, and it held it only
held like 18 or 20,000 people.
There was no second tier or itwas just it was like a college
baseball stadium wasn't big Idon't know, but we packed it
(10:13):
because we were in first placetill uh week left in the season.
Mike Koser (10:17):
I'm sure there were some players on the Giants who
were not crazy about the movefrom New York to San Francisco,
but what did you think?
Did you like it?
Jackie Brandt (10:25):
How do you not like California?
I lived there, I bought a housethere and almost lived in a
year, and then I got traded.
Yeah.
Mike Koser (10:35):
Yeah.
You go from sunny California toto Baltimore, uh, traded to the
Orioles before the 1960 season,and you get there and you um
get to play with anotherall-time great Brooks Robinson.
Um, what did you think ofBrooks when you first met him?
Jackie Brandt (10:51):
He was um better than average fielder.
Mike Koser (10:56):
Yeah, you think?
Jackie Brandt (10:57):
And he uh he hit pretty good.
He had a little trouble with afastball, but he was
unbelievable.
I was there six years, and hewas amazing hitting and
fielding.
and he couldn't throw, and hewas he'd he'd get you by half a
step at first every time.
Couldn't run and couldn'tthrow, and he's an all-timer.
Mike Koser (11:20):
And what do you remember about Memorial Stadium
in Baltimore?
Jackie Brandt (11:24):
It was beautiful.
My house was two blocks overthe left field fence, and I
walked to the ballpark, that wasnice.
And then I had to walk throughthe people at the end and sign
about 500 autographs a day.
But I don't know why theywanted me because I they didn't
(11:45):
know who I was.
Mike Koser (11:48):
How did they pick you out of the crowd?
You would have had your streetclothes on.
Did they they just recognizedyou?
Jackie Brandt (11:53):
Well, they're they're right outside the gate
to get in the ballpark.
You have to go through them toleave.
Hundreds of people rightoutside the door, and you gotta
go out the door.
They got uh uh cards orpictures, or they know who's
who, but the the few fans wehad, then they knew everybody.
Mike Koser (12:16):
Were they bring you birthday presents?
Jackie Brandt (12:18):
They used to come up to the house because I lived
like two blocks from theballpark.
Geez whiz! You live right bythe ballpark.
Oh uh I had a fan club.
A bunch of teenagers or gradeschool kids used to come up and
it was quite good.
Mike Koser (12:36):
Would they want you to play catch with them?
Jackie Brandt (12:38):
I didn't have room.
I had a little bitty house anduh as a row house, if you know
what row house is.
Mike Koser (12:44):
Oh, sure, yeah.
Jackie Brandt (12:46):
Just a little bitty row house and uh just
enough yard for uh steps goingdown to the street, and you just
pack the sidewalk and uh curb.
Mike Koser (12:57):
In 1961, Jackie, at a big moment in your career,
you're elected to your firstall-star game.
There were two all-star gamesto be played that year, um, one
at Candlestick and the other atFenway.
Jackie Brandt (13:08):
Jimmy Dudley with Jerry Doggett from Candlestick
Park in San Francisco, the sceneof today's all-star game, the
first of 1961, the second to beplayed at Boston.
Mike Koser (13:18):
Your teammates were Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Al
Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, MickeyMantle, Roger Maris, Brooks
Robinson.
What do you remember aboutthose All-Star games in 61?
Jackie Brandt (13:28):
Well, uh, it was great in uh San Francisco
because I just left there and Iknew everybody, and uh, they let
me go to the ballpark.
I just sat..
I did pinch it.
Announcer (13:41):
Here's Jackie Brant coming up now as a pinch hitter
for pitcher Jim Bunning.
Mike Koser (13:46):
You took it to a full count, but ended up
striking out.
Jackie Brandt (13:49):
McCormick delivers 3-2.
A swing and a miss strikethree.
Mike Koser (13:54):
But you get your all-star game at bat, and then
hoping for more, the second gamewas to be played at Boston's
Fenway Park, but unfortunately,not exactly what you expected.
Jackie Brandt (14:05):
Rained out.
The game was rained out.
Everybody was there, but wedidn't play.
Mike Koser (14:10):
Did you guys hang out that night?
Jackie Brandt (14:12):
I didn't hang out.
Mike Koser (14:14):
No?
Jackie Brandt (14:14):
I was not a hangouter.
Well, I didn't I didn't drinkor...
I did smoke, but I didn't uh dowhat everybody else did.
I'd I get up, I was you know, Icome out of the army getting up
at three or four in the morningevery day.
(14:35):
Well, I get up at four or fivein the morning and I couldn't
keep a roommate.
Boy, you ain't roomin with thatguy.
He gets up at five or six inthe morning and he goes out,
walks around and well, theyweren't in the army.
I d I didn't mind room alone,but later on, and I got a little
lazier, then uh I got a coupleroomies.
Mike Koser (14:58):
You faced a lot of incredible pitchers.
Who was the toughest you everfaced?
Jackie Brandt (15:03):
Sam Jones.
Mike Koser (15:04):
Sam Jones, really.
Sam Jones, kind of uh uh ajourneyman pitcher.
Let's see, pitched for I thinkCleveland, Chicago, uh, I want
to say San Francisco, had agreat nickname, Toothpick, Sam
Toothpick Jones.
What made what made Sam sotough to face?
Jackie Brandt (15:21):
100 miles an hour, the best curveball you
ever seen, and wild.
One pitch behind you, and you,oh my god, what are you doing?
Next pitch you go behind you,but it would break four feet
over for a strike.
You didn't know where to stand.
I didn't know where I just I'min the box, but I don't know, is
the ball gonna hit me or what Ihad no trouble with him.
Mike Koser (15:45):
In 1966, when you played for the Phillies, you
faced Sandy Koufax.
Actually, you were the lastregular season hitter to face
Sandy Koufax, right?
Do I have that right?
Jackie Brandt (15:56):
I think uh I was.
I read that I was in a bunch ofbooks.
And uh ninth inning, pinchhitting, his last his last
inning.
Mike Koser (16:07):
He struck you out.
Jackie Brandt (16:08):
Yeah, I said that's why he retired.
Vin Scully (16:10):
Koufax takes a peak at first.
Now left hand's afastball in there that's got him
swinging, and that thing wasmoving.
Jackie Brandt (16:15):
Finally struck me out.
He gave up, he quit.
That's a bucket list.
Anyway, I got quite a few hitsoff of him, but it's a little
harder to pinch hit in the ninthinning after sittin the whole
game against Koufax.
He was awful good, he's hadawful good record, he's a nice
(16:37):
guy.
That's uh Sandy Koufax.
I don't know if he's the bestpitcher ever, but I probably
think there's a bunch of otherones you could put with him.
Mike Koser (16:48):
After more than a decade of the big leagues, you
finished your career with boththe Phillies and the Astros
spending time uh with thePhillies at Connie Mack Stadium
and the Astros at the Astrodome.
Announcer (16:59):
Most happy to have all of you with us tonight.
The Houston Astros are proud tohave NBC and all of you fans of
the Astrodome, the fabulousAstrodome, the eighth wonderful
world, played in air-conditionedcomfort.
Under a dome high enough toplace a 12-story building.
Jackie Brandt (17:14):
Well, let's see.
That was great, and I didn'tplay much, so ooh, I didn't
sweat, it was nice andcomfortable.
But then you had to go home in110.
Mike Koser (17:33):
Okay, so Philadelphia, then uh
Philadelphia's Connie MackStadium.
This city is rich in many ways.
Connie Mack Stadium, name for aman whose name will never be
forgotten in Philadelphia or theBaseball Hall of Fame.
Jackie Brandt (17:49):
I better not say nothing about Philadelphia.
My grandson lives there.
It was a one of the toughestparks to play for a opposing
team.
And even for it was they'd boothe players and then they'd get
a hit and then they'd cheerthem, then they strike out, and
(18:09):
then they'd boo them.
Their own players.
I gotta have an instance therethat was quite quite funny.
Let's see, I'm trying to thinkwho we're playing.
We're playing somebody.
A left-handed pitcher pitching.
Mike Koser (18:24):
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (18:25):
I think it was Atlanta.
Yeah, it was Atlanta.
Anyway, a left-handed pitcherpitching.
So Johnny Callison, who is avery good right fielder, he
didn't want to play.
Oh, I I don't know aboutplaying against that guy, you
know.
So they took him out and put mein right field.
(18:46):
And the game started, andeverybody runs out to the
position, and boy did I getbooed.
It was thunderous.
Oh, so I tip my hat.
I tipped my hat.
Sorry, here I am.
What am I gonna do?
So the first the first time up,I hit uh let's see, I think I
(19:07):
hit a triple up the center fieldfence and going out to right
field after the inning, silence,just complete silence, no boos,
no nothing.
The second time up, I hit ahome run to left field and a
thunderous applause when I ranout to the so I went from boos
(19:31):
to silence to applause in fourinnings.
That was so funny.
And I, what the hell, I'm goofyanyway.
Take my hat off. Sorry folks. I'mout of here.
Not nothing I can do.
That was well, I guess I guesssomewhere in your summation of
(19:55):
what we're talking about is theword flaky.
Mike Koser (19:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, your your nickname.
Jackie Brandt (20:00):
Yeah.
It was not flaky, it was justvery unorthodox.
Mike Koser (20:06):
You marched to the beat of your own drum.
Jackie Brandt (20:08):
I'd say I'd say things that nobody else would
ever say, but they'd be funny.
And I I do have a sense ofhumor, and I'm glad I did, or
else I'd be crying.
Mike Koser (20:19):
September 28th, 1960, you're in right field at
Fenway Park, and Ted Williamscomes to the plate in his final
at-bat of his major leaguecareer.
Curt Gowdy (20:29):
One and one to Williams.
Everybody quiet now here atFenway Park after they gave him
a standing ovation of twominutes, knowing that this is
probably his last time at bat.
One out, nobody on, last of theeighth inning.
Jack Fisher into his wind-up.
Here's the pitch.
Williams swings, and there's along drive to deep right...
Mike Koser (20:56):
And it sailed over your head.
Jackie Brandt (20:58):
Well, I never seen him hit a home run.
That was the Mr.
Williams.
It was Mr.
Williams.
Yeah, well, it it didn't, itwas just to my left a little
bit.
And I went to the wall andwatched it go in the stands.
And then I turned around andwatched him touch first, second,
(21:18):
third home and go to Florida.
He quit.
Mike Koser (21:23):
Yeah, that's right.
That was the last game he everwas in.
His whole career was greatness.
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (21:31):
You don't have to be in the American League to
know...
I was in the National Leaguefor about 56, 7, 8, 9, 6, 7, 8,
and four years.
He hit .400 in the fiftiesand the greatest hitter going.
And of course you hear abouthim.
Mike Koser (21:52):
Right.
Jackie Brandt (21:53):
It's amazing, but here I am playing against him.
And I'm playing against JackieRobinson and Don Newcombe and
Duke Snider.
Wow.
I played with it against all ofthem, Eddie Matthews, Warren
Spahn.
Hank Aaron.
It was unbelievable.
(22:13):
It was great.
Mike Koser (22:14):
And probably Jack, a hard thing to do, but what uh
what is your favorite memoryfrom your career?
Jackie Brandt (22:19):
It was all so good that I'd hate to pick one
time.
I I don't know, maybe it's atime uh my wife had the first
child.
That's quite a a ways from theballpark though, but a fondness
with just being there.
Mike Koser (22:35):
Any keepsakes from your career, uh memorabilia that
that uh you've held on to allthese years?
Jackie Brandt (22:41):
Well, let's see.
I got a gold glove.
Giant pillows, I have Oriolepillows.
I didn't bring my Philly myPhilly...I didn't like Philly
very well but in Houston, Iwasn't there very long.
And I do have a memory ofHouston.
(23:02):
Uh you ready?
Mike Koser (23:04):
Yeah.
Jackie Brandt (23:04):
The last four I didn't play very much there.
When somebody got sick orsomething, I play first or third
or I was on a pitching list.
I was I just did anything.
I pitched batting practiceevery day, anything to to do
something except watch.
(23:25):
So uh I was a pinch hit mostly.
The last four pinch hits wasNolan Ryan, Tom Seaver,
Phil Neikro, and Steve Carlton.
And I got a hit off each oneagainst four Hall of Famers in
(23:49):
different weeks or months orwhatever.
I mean wow, I was good.
Mike Koser (23:54):
Wait, that's incredible.
Uh you're talking about four ofthe greatest pitchers of uh in
baseball history.
Jackie Brandt (23:59):
Yeah, I think so.
I got a hit against each one ofthem.
Mike Koser (24:03):
Do you still have your baseball glove?
Jackie Brandt (24:05):
Glove?
Yeah.
It's somewhere.
I I got so much crap.
I got a catcher's glove becauseI had at warm-up pitchers at
Philadelphia.
You ever hear of Jim Bunning?
Mike Koser (24:17):
Oh yeah, of course.
Jim Bunning won over 200 gamesin his career, something like a
nine-time All-Star, Hall ofFamer.
Jackie Brandt (24:24):
He uh and I were bridge party.
We played bridge, you'regetting bridge clubs and stuff
in spring training and on uhplay on the planes and the first
year we took trains everywhere.
We didn't have no airplanes.
We were only two that uhplayed.
We had to hunt for people, butso we had to go to bridge clubs
(24:46):
and play for two hours.
And anyway, I guess I'd becalled a reserve that with
Philadelphia and play once in awhile and do this, but when he
pitched, I was his catcher towarm him up.
He didn't want nobody else tocatch him when he's warming up
to start the game.
So I did that, and then I wentto a bullpen, uh once in a while
(25:11):
I pinch ran, but I wouldn't Ihaven't run for so long.
I I wasn't very fast.
Mike Koser (25:16):
Yeah, but actually at uh at the beginning of your
career, you were one of thefastest players in the major
leagues.
Jackie Brandt (25:21):
In 1956, I was the second player in the
national league, the fastest uhplayer in the national league
from home to first and second.
I was the second fastest.
I think uh Vada Pinson or someleft-hand hitter that swings
(25:42):
while they're while they'rerunning.
I was second in the league.
I'd go there in three underfour seconds.
Uh and that year in pologrounds, I was the ninth leading
average in the National League.
Mike Koser (25:58):
Yeah, you hit .298.
Jackie Brandt (26:00):
Ah, rookie year, ninth in the National League.
Ooh, man.
Look out.
Mike Koser (26:08):
And by the way, I wanted to mention that you're
also tied to some Washingtonbaseball history, some
Washington ballpark baseballhistory.
Jackie Brandt (26:17):
I got the last hit in uh Griffith Stadium in
Washington, and they tore itdown.
Yeah, the home run of PedroRamos in the ninth inning in the
last game of the season.
Announcer (26:30):
A stadium was laid to rest yesterday, wrote Shirley
Povich in the Washington Post.
Not many showed up for theservices, and the deceased was
not much of a draw.
Abandoned since, GriffithStadium has sat passively
awaiting the final stroke, thesmash of the Wreckers iron ball
to make way for the newfacilities at Howard University.
Jackie Brandt (26:47):
Well, I'd I'd tear that one down, and and then
uh when I was in AAA atRochester and playing the Giants
in Minneapolis.
Mike Koser (26:57):
At Nicolette Park.
Jackie Brandt (26:59):
Yeah.
I made the last out, I made thelast out in the last game, and
they tore that stadium down.
They weren't gonna let me go instadiums anymore.
Minneapolis.
It was right downtown, yeah.
Yeah.
Nicolette and they tore itdown.
Mike Koser (27:16):
Well, as we mentioned before, you you got to
play with some of uh baseball'simmortals, Willie Mays, Brooks
Robinson, Stan Musial, EddieMatthews, and uh quite a career.
Over a thousand hits, a hundredhome runs.
You're a gold glover, uh, anall-star, and uh really enjoyed
spending some time talking withyou, Jackie.
(27:37):
Thanks so much.
Hope you have a great night.
Jackie Brandt (27:39):
Well, why didn't you say uh have a
nice ten years or something?
Mike Koser (27:44):
Yeah, yeah.
How many do you want?
Jackie Brandt (27:46):
Uh I'd say two.
Mike Koser (27:48):
Sounds great.
Jackie, thanks so much.
Thanks so much.
I appreciate it.
Jackie Brandt (27:53):
Well, I hope you got what you wanted.
Mike Koser (27:55):
I sure did, and let's uh let's make a plan to
talk in ten years for yourhundredth birthday.
Jackie Brandt (28:00):
Well, I hope so.
Yep.
Thank you, sir.
Mike Koser (28:05):
Jackie Brandt, one of the most colorful characters
in baseball history.
And there were a lot of storiesthat we just didn't even have
time to get to, like the timethat he was at a team party with
the Baltimore Orioles, andaccording to the Baltimore Sun,
he walked into a pool with uhwearing his alligator shoes, and
then turned right around andwalked out and acted like
(28:25):
nothing happened the rest of thenight.
Or the time in spring trainingthat he got caught in a rundown,
and uh to avoid the tag, he didthis acrobatic backflip.
And then of course there werehis words.
I mean, Jackie Brandt had justhad a way with words.
They were quirky, profound, andalways original.
He said things like, It's hardto tell how you're playing when
(28:48):
you can't see yourself.
He also said, This year I'mgoing to play with harder
nonchalance
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