Diamond Gems

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Apr 10, 2008 2:48 PM CDT

Has anyone else heard Diamond Gems? It's a syndicated radio show that features vintage--mostly from the sixties--baseball broadcasts. It's great stuff from a historical standpoint, and most of the shows feature bits from Cubs games with Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd, and Lou Boudreau. In the past, it also aired little biographical segments on the broadcasters, which were very interesting. In their day, Vince Lloyd and Jack Brickhouse were probably the hardest working guys in the business (and both deserve Wrigley Field statues more than Harry Carey, IMHO).

This year, Diamond Gems has also added a segment by Doug Glanville, but I haven't heard that yet. If anyone's interested, the URL is listed below, although I couldn't get some of the links, including the list of stations that carry it, to work (possibly a browser issue). I don't know if it's aired at the same time by all the stations that carry it, but I hear it at ten o'clock Sunday mornings on an eastern Iowa station.

http://diamondgemsbaseball.com/

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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What station?

I will be waking up earlier on Sunday's now that our baseball season is starting. I'm in eastern Iowa so I wouldn't mind hearing some talk about baseball before playing baseball.

by rambler19 on Apr 10, 2008 3:02 PM CDT reply actions

Rambler

What college did you go to?

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Two of them

University of Northern Iowa for a year, and Clarke College for the other three.

by rambler19 on Apr 10, 2008 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Cool

Did you go to one then the other for baseball? I was on the college team for exactly 1 DAY!!! I blew up my shoulder pretty good. The coach offered to get me into anoter/smaller school to rehab and play there and I told him no thanks------not that my college was great at all but I didnt want to leave.

The team needed a lefty that could throw hard and I was there guy I guess. ANyways 8.5 months of rehab later post surgery and Im on a throwing program again----when you havent thrown in a while its a huge step.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Clarke

I went to Clarke for baseball. I only played one year there. I had a decent year, but the head coach didn't really manage finances all that well, and whenever money is a problem, it often trickles down into other aspects of the program. After that, I decided I would just play semi-pro in the summer and work on school the other 9 months.

I believe you when you say it's a huge step. I pitched 3 innings in a game on Sunday. It wasn't the first time I'd thrown this year, but it was the first time I pitched in a game situation since last October. I was definitely sore the next couple days. For some reason, the second day after pitching is usually worse than the first for me. Anyway, it was good to get back out there on a mound, and it was good to step back into the batters box.

by rambler19 on Apr 10, 2008 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Station

It's KXIC 800 AM out of Iowa City. I don't know its range, but I think it's at least fifty miles if not more.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Apr 10, 2008 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Hard to say

I'm in Dubuque. I don't know if I'd be able to get it all the way up here. I get 720AM and 670AM out of Chicago, but I'm sure they are probably broadcasting with a little more power. I'll try to check it out though.

by rambler19 on Apr 10, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

FYI...

... the host of Diamond Gems is George Castle, who has written several books on the Cubs and who wrote the article about the 2007 Cubs for Wrigley Season Ticket. He was supposed to let me know when the site was/is going to be live, haven't heard from him yet.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 10, 2008 5:20 PM CDT reply actions