Skip Nipper’s Nashville Baseball Podcast

John (Johnny) Andrew Beazley, born on May 25, 1918, was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves. As a rookie in 1942, Beazley went 21–6 with a 2.13 ERA for the Cardinals. His 21 wins and 2.13 ERA ranked him second in the National League. He completed his remarkable feat by pitching two complete-game wins in the team's World Series victory over the New York Yankees in five games, allowing three runs in Game Two and two in Game Fi...

Invited to a Nashville tryout, Morristown’s Warren “War” Sanders made the team and remained with the club for two seasons. Instrumental in Nashville’s first two Southern Association championships in 1901 and 1902 when the left-hander was 21-9 and 22-12, his contract was sold to the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1903 season. He did not have the same success in his later career; his baseball story is in this episode! #warsanders #skipnipper #baseballpodcast #nashvillebaseball Want to stay in touc...

The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team was established in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1978, after Larry Schmittou and a group of investors purchased the rights to operate an expansion franchise of the Double-A Southern League. The Sounds played their home games at Herschel Greer Stadium fromryschmittou #herschelgreerstadium #nashvillebaseball Want to stay in touch? Find me here: X: mrsulphurdell Instagram: @nashville_baseball Facebook: Skip Nipper Email me: 262downright@gmail.com All ...

I have had folks ask me how I came up with the handle “Mr. Sulphur Dell.” You may be surprised that I did not give it to myself. In this episode, I tell how it came about while filling you in on the importance of other baseball nicknames. #mrsulphurdell #nashvillebaseball #baseballnicknames #sulphurdell Want to stay in touch? Find me here: X: mrsulphurdell Instagram: @nashville_baseball Facebook: Skip Nipper Email me: 262downright@gmail.com All Skip’s Corner episodes ©2022-2025 by Skip Ni...

Nashville high school baseball goes way back, as far back as there have been school teams, helping to set the foundation of local sports. One of the more exciting years I have read about was in 1956, when a few of the high school teams that no longer exist have strong programs, excellent athletes, and paved the way for the continued love of baseball in Nashville. I often want to relive those days myself, and that post-season in 1956 was a good one to tell you about in this episode. Want to st...

To attract fans to Nashville's opening day in 1947, the Nashville Tennessean published a report on the history of Sulphur Dell by J. D. Brown. I read this article in the podcast; it gives a detailed account of when the ballpark was transformed into its present configuration at the time. Moreover, opening day marked a significant milestone in Buster Boguskie's career as a Vols player. His first home game was a hit with the fans, setting the stage for his illustrious career in Nashville! Want t...

In the final season of the Nashville Vols in 1963, general manager Ed Doherty declared August 30 as "George Archie Night" at the ballpark—a fitting tribute to a local hero. Archie was a coach for the Nashville Vols at the time, an unpaid position at home games, and that’s how he was dressed when he was honored that night: in his Vols uniform. In this episode you will learn about this dedicated baseball man's career from the majors, to serving in the military, and managing and coaching in loca...

My brother Jim ("Jimbo," to me, mostly shortened to just "Bo") and I learned everything there was to know about The Game from our Dad, Virgil Nipper: how to throw, indeed, and how to hit. Jim sent me one of his unique perspectives not long ago as a letter on our lives at the ballpark. Bo remembers many things better than I do, and his letter helped me recall an earlier, more peaceful time. I hope it does the same for you. #nashvillebaseball #baseballhistory #OptimistLittleLeague #jimnipper #v...

In what I have often termed, “the greatest coup in the history of the Southern Association”, on November 8, 1938, Nashville club owner Fay Murray shocked baseball fans, Southern Association moguls, and everyone in between by announcing he had convinced Larry Gilbert, the New Orleans Pelicans veteran manager, to become the Nashville Vols manager, replacing Chuck Dressen. In this episode, I tell about the special bond between Murray and Gilbert, and the tragic end of the owner's life just as th...

Will General is the marketing director for Music City Baseball, the initiative is to bring MLB to Nashville as the "Nashville Stars.” He joined me to tell me how he is leading efforts to grow the Stars brand and how honoring the Negro Leagues’ legacy Is an essential ingredient to that end. Another ingredient is a new design concept and brand partnership with New Era Cap, the leading headwear brand in the world. I hope you will listen to learn about the great things happening with the Nashvill...

On April 19, 1963, opening night in Knoxville before 2,827 fans to begin the season, Eddie Crawford stepped to the plate as the third batter in the first inning for Nashville, becoming the first Negro player to play in a regular season game for the Vols. Although he did not finish the year with the Vols, his claim to Nashville baseball history stands. In this episode you will learn about Crawford's five-year career in pro baseball. #eddiecrawford #nashvillevols #integration #nashvillebaseball...

Would you venture a guess as to which year was Nashville professional baseball’s first championship? The answer is 1895, and the team had an unusual name: Seraphs. Other members of the Southern League were Atlanta, Evansville, Little Rock, New Orleans, Memphis, Mobile, and Montgomery, and the pennant was not awarded until the season was over. What is a Seraph, you ask? In this episode, I’ll answer that question and tell about the decision to give Nashville the championship. Listen in! Wan...