As best as I can tell, 92 former major league players passed away in 2024, and there are some great names among them, such as Mike Cubbage, Billy Gardner (who played for the Nashville Vols in 1953), Rico Carty, Ed Ott, and Don Wert among them. But quite literally, an All-Star team could be built around some of these names.

In this episode, I call out some of the greats who passed away during the year, including perhaps the best all-around player of all-time, Willie Mays!

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Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
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Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

You may already know this, but "Donnie Baseball", the "Hit Man", is returning to Nashville for a special night in January. He will be the featured guest at the 87th Annual Old Timers banquet to be held on Sunday evening, January 19th, at the Sheraton Music City Nashville Airport.

He will join a long list of notable basball players, coaches, scouts, and dignitaries who were honored at the group's events over the years.

I am a proud member of Old Timers, an "old timer" myself, and in this episode I give a brief description of Mattingly's excellent career!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

My book was a labor of love for more than one reason. Dedicated to my father, Virgil Nipper, and supported in a special way by my mother, Dorothy, in this episode I talk about how the concept began and the encouragement I received to bring it to fruition!

If you wish to purchase a copy: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9780738543918/?queryID=416187572763b4f03044372473e88094&objectID=9780738543918&insightsIndex=arcadia-publishing_products

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

Word has come of the passing of one of Nashville’s best all-time pitchers, Bob Kelly. His obituary begins by saying, “Bob went to the diamond in the sky on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the age of 97.”

Kelly was a dynamic pitcher with the Nashville Vols during two seasons before his career ended in 1958. Kelly led the Southern Association in losses and hits allowed (289) in 1956, but also in games started and strikeouts In 1957, he led the league in wins, complete games, and innings pitched. He was the last surviving Major Leaguer managed by Rogers Hornsby and Frankie Frisch, both Hall of Famers.

Listen as I talk about Kelly's family and career!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

With the possibility of major league baseball coming to Music City, it begs the question: “where would a team play?”

A better question is, who’s going to build it?

In this episode, I compare special ballparks built in Nashville while looking forward to the next one!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

Let me tell you about someone from Nashville, a professional player, a pitcher, and a pretty good one, too. Frank George Hahn pitched for Cincinnati between 1899-1905, and the New York Highlanders in 1906. He pitched in 243 games, made 231 starts, had 212 complete games and pitched 25 shutouts.

And he was called “Noodles.”

He was born on April 29, 1879, in, can you guess where? Nashville, Tennessee. Hahn acquired his nickname as a child but said that he did not know how he had gotten it - but I let you in on the possibilities in the episode!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

I have been curious about why Tom Wilson moved his ballclub when he did. First, to Cleveland in 1931 (renaming them the Cubs), then back to Nashville that same year, then to Columbus and Detroit and back to Nashville in 1935, Washington, D.C. in 1936 and 1937, before settling in Baltimore beginning in 1938.

In this episode, I refer to Bob Luke's excellent book The Baltimore Elite Giants (2009 by John Hopkins University Press) and read portions that explain Wilson's rationale for each move.

Modern franchises have moved from city to city for various reasons. What was Wilson's logic? Listen and learn!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!

There are many side stories with a Nashville baseball connection. In this episodes, learn about how Boston, Nashville, and Cleveland were connected by a major league team owner who had his eye on a successful minor league manager he wanted to become his manager.

Had he achieved his objective, the Nashville Vols’ baseball trajectory might have not been one of Southern Association championships - nor would leadership have likely been of the same quality, either.

Listen as I tell about Indians owner Alva Bradley and his desire to bring Larry Gilbert to Cleveland!

Want to stay in touch? Find me here:

Twitter: Skip's Corner
Instagram: @skipscorner
Facebook: Skip Nipper
Email me: 262downright@gmail.com

All Skip’s Corner episodes © 2022-2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to my podcast producer David Nipper, who also wrote and performs the background music, "Sulphur Dell Sunset" © 2017 Black Train Records. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for listening!