True Blue LA Podcasts

Podcast episode 2014: No spitting in baseball

Sorting out the various proposals to bring MLB back

By Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch May 18, 2020, 8:58pm PDT

MLB: NLDS-Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals

This week on the podcast, we have a reasonable amount of actual news, breaking down the reports of MLB safety protocols, a look at MLB’s financials, and California Governor Gavin Newsom hinting at the state being open for sports in June.

Please send any and all podcast questions to tblapodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us at @ericstephen or @jacobburch. We’re going to take next week off, but plan to be back with another episode in two weeks.

Dodgers rewind

Charlie Neal played six years for the Dodgers, and was a regular middle infielder in the team’s transition from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

Neal had the first hit in LA Dodgers history, in 1958, the same year he set a franchise record for home runs by a second baseman in a season (20 of his 22 came at the position that year), since passed by Davey Lopes and Jeff Kent.

Neal was the regular shortstop in the club’s final season in Brooklyn, when Pee Wee Reese moved to third base. In Los Angeles, Neal led National League second baseman in double plays in 1958 and 1959.

From 1957-59, Neal averaged 17 doubles, 18 home runs, and eight triples, hitting .272/.344/.440, a 102 OPS+.

He hit .370 (10-for-27) with two home runs and two doubles in the 1959 World Series, a huge factor in three of the four Dodgers wins.

See also: Neal’s SABR bio