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A lot happened in the two weeks since Jacob and Eric recorded a podcast, including Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger both getting hurt and completing their injured list stints.
We also chronicled the arrivals of 30-somethings Andy Burns and Steven Souza Jr., as well as 2017 Dodgers draftee Zach Reks for his major league debut. There is plenty of trivia as usual, this week heavily focused on Dodgers first halves, and we make lemonade out of food talk.
It should be noted that this was recorded before the final game in San Diego, so we missed out on that sweep by the Padres, and of course the Dodgers getting no-hit by the Cubs the next night.
Send us any questions you might have by email to tblapodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us at @ericstephen or @jacobburch. Thanks again to producer Brian Salvatore for his audio magic behind the scenes.
Dodgers rewind
A recent purchase of 2021 Topps Heritage cards got me comparing Dodgers cards to originals from the 1972 Topps set. Among the reasonably similar poses were Justin Turner and Wes Parker, which gave us an opportunity to look back at the former first baseman and ‘Brady Bunch’ guest star.
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The Dodgers signed Parker out of USC a few years before the draft came into existence. By 1964 he was a regular. Not only did Parker play an excellent first base — later winning six Gold Gloves at the position — but he played all three outfield spots as well. That gives him a Cody Bellinger comp, as does the fact that Parker and Bellinger have two of the three cycles in Los Angeles Dodgers history.
Parker was an above-average hitter (111 career OPS+) who peaked in 1970, when he hit for the cycle and also led the majors with 47 doubles, one of only two LA Dodgers to led his league in two-baggers.
Parker retired at age 32 after only nine seasons, saying — per his SABR bio, written by David Krell — “My main reason for concluding my career is to allow myself time to enjoy the many interests which I have in life while I’m still young.”
Podcast links
Episode link (time: 1:03:45)