Chuck Dressen stuck by his players and taught them to win. He studied them, and he played situational baseball. In Nashville he won over 200 games in parts of four seasons and led the Vols to a fourth-, third-, and two second-place finishes. He became a well-loved, no nonsense Nashville manager.

In this episode you will hear about the career of Chuck Dressen.

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!

The first ceremonial opening day “first pitch” took place in National Park, later to be named Griffith Stadium, on April 14, 1910, by William Howard Taft, preceding the game between the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Nationals.

It began a tradition by presidents, dignitaries, entertainers, and other special guests before games in the major leagues. Many teams have started games throughout the season with the custom, including Nashville’s minor league teams.

On April 8, 1961, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson came to town for a speaking engagement. After a parade to Sulphur Dell upon his arrival, he threw out the first pitch before an afternoon game between the Vols and Chattanooga Lookouts!

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!

Scrolling through online sources for baseball games (whether one word, “baseball,” or two “base ball,” every once in a while I come across something with added interest.

I am going to take you back to October of 1868, Saturday, the 3rd, and then fast-forward to an article in the Sunday, July 10, 1927 edition of the Nashville Banner, entitled “C. S. Caldwell Relates Baseball Happenings of 59 years Ago.”

You see, Caldwell played in the game in 1868, and you will learn about his recollection of the game played three years after the Civil War ended!

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!

Before Dick Sisler was Nashville Vols manager, his claim to fame was secured several years before as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

In a previous episode I told about his career and events during his Nashville tenure. But his feat on October 1, 1950, his home run that sealed the National League pennant, broke the spell of expectations for the son of a Hall of Famer, and I felt more needed to be said.

Sisler’s story continues beyond his minor and major leagues managing career until he returned to Nashville where died. I hope you will listen!

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!

Tom Wilson built a ballpark for his Nashville Elite Giants and opened it in time for the 1929 Negro Southern League season. It became an venue for not only baseball, but family gatherings, festivals, and all sorts of events for all people, Black or White.

In this episode, I give background about Tom Wilson's life, including when he demolished his ballpark and built the Paradise Ballroom to his passing in 1947.

Listen as I give you the precise location of Tom Wilson Park!

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 want to tell you about a great baseball player who came out of the ranks of the Nashville Interscholastic League and made his way to the major leagues for nine seasons and had about as much talent as anyone who came out of Nashville.

That player was Bobby Tillman, a 6’4” right-hander, signed out of Middle Tennessee State College by Red Sox scout, George Digby in 1958. Tillman passed away on June 23, 2000, of a heart attack at the age of 63; but his legacy in sports, especially baseball, lives on. Listen as I tell about his his school and professional career in baseball!

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!

Even though the Nashville franchise would exist until the demise of the Southern Association after the 1961 season, the handwriting was on the wall. The excitement of a new era of Nashville baseball possibly being ushered in for 1955 seemed fleeting, even with a new Vols/Reds affiliation.

Were the opening-day rainouts the precursor to the last years of a storied franchise?

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!

Negro Leaguers statistics for past years have been elevated equal to that of Major League players. Not all years, but in particular, seven leagues for various seasons. No easy task for researchers and historians who have been working on this project, it now brings to light the on-the-field efforts of many Black baseball players, as the stats now change leaderboards in many categories.

Two native Nashville players, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and Henry Kimbro, recognized for the talents but not within the comparisons of other major leaguers, now are considered among the best of all time. Josh Gibson, another Negro Leagues great, has now become the leader in some yearly and career statistics overcoming Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.

In this episode, I highlight the reasoning behind the initiative, and call attention to two of Nashville's favorite baseball sons. Be sure to listen!

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!