STITCH X STITCH PODCAST

David Aardsma on the twists and turns of life as an MLB reliever

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:43:30 +0000

This week's guest on "Stitch x Stitch'' is David Aardsma, a 2003 first-round draft pick who pitched for eight MLB clubs and made 18 stops in the minors and independent ball during his professional career. "You fall in love with the grind,'' he told us. David shares some entertaining stories about how he met his wife, his days as Barry Bonds' teammate in San Francisco, and his experiences in the negotiating room during collective bargaining. His long and winding journey prompted him to take an active role in player leadership as a member of the Executive Subcommittee, and he gained an appreciated for the importance of the union in protecting the rights of players on issues big and (seemingly) small. He never lost sight of his responsibility to leave it better for the game or the players who followed.

Chapters

(00:00:04) - Introduction: David Aardsma, First Alphabetically
(00:02:05) - The Aaron Alphabet Trivia and Jeopardy Fame
(00:03:12) - Colorado Baseball Roots and High School Days
(00:04:03) - Penn State to Rice: College Career and Development
(00:05:50) - Draft Day Memories with the Giants
(00:08:17) - Minor League Life: Travel, Food, and Conditions
(00:10:28) - Major League Debut and First Win
(00:13:48) - Mentors and Veteran Influences
(00:17:51) - Barry Bonds and Clubhouse Relationships
(00:19:55) - Life Logistics: Moving, Family, and Marriage
(00:25:26) - Getting Involved with the Union
(00:26:38) - The Tokyo Series Incident and Union Awakening
(00:29:39) - Joining the Subcommittee and Union Philosophy
(00:32:53) - Salary Arbitration Experiences
(00:35:08) - Remembering Michael Weiner
(00:37:35) - Weiner's Style and Approachability
(00:39:00) - Inside the 2011 CBA Negotiations
(00:42:08) - Advice for the Next Generation of Players
(00:45:08) - Reflecting on Teammates and Hall of Fame Talent
(00:47:12) - Closing Credits

Todd Stottlemyre on Mickey Mantle, Monument Park and life in a baseball family

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:14:51 +0000

Our guest this episode is former big league pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. Todd and his brother, Mel Jr., grew up as self-described “baseball brats’’ who had a blast roaming Monument Park pre-game when their dad, Mel, was the lead dog in the Yankees’ rotation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Todd lived the dream over 14 seasons as a starter with the Blue Jays and four other clubs, and was a part of back-to-back World Championship teams in Toronto in 1992 and 1993. He received an education in baseball economics in 1994 when players went on strike to fend off a salary cap, commissioner Bud Selig canceled the World Series, and he joined dozens of other players at a camp for unsigned free agents in Homestead, Florida, the following spring. It was a career, a grind and an adventure, all rolled into one.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction to Todd Stottlemyre
(00:00:30) - Growing up as a Yankees baseball brat
(00:03:15) - Memories of Mickey Mantle and Mrs. Babe Ruth
(00:08:47) - Mel Stottlemyre's legacy and character
(00:11:46) - Family life split between Washington, Florida, and New York
(00:14:49) - Draft decisions and choosing college over the Yankees
(00:17:30) - Signing with the Blue Jays
(00:19:19) - Earning respect as a rookie in a veteran clubhouse
(00:22:33) - Breaking through and finding his groove in the majors
(00:25:37) - World Series memories and the Philly mayor incident
(00:27:55) - Working with Harvey Dorfman on mindset and focus
(00:32:31) - The 1994 strike and canceled World Series
(00:35:34) - Free agency limbo and signing with Oakland
(00:37:43) - Union solidarity and lobbying in Washington
(00:41:54) - Lessons from labor history and family perspective
(00:46:01) - Branch Rickey and Lou Gehrig Awards reflection
(00:49:19) - Closing credits

Mike Myers on Life in the Bullpen and Service to Players

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:06:28 +0000

In this episode we connect with Mike Myers, who logged 883 career appearances as a reliever with nine teams over 13 big league seasons. When the affable Chicago native and Iowa State University product wasn’t tasked with the thankless responsibility of facing Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Jim Thome or Ken Griffey Jr. in a tight spot, he was skillfully navigating the uncertainty of life as left-handed one out guy – aka “LOOGY.’’ Mike immersed himself in union leadership as a young player with the Tigers in the mid-90s and continues to serve the membership in his current role as a special assistant for player services with the MLBPA. Mike talks to a lot of players, and fields inquiries on everything from the pension and benefit plans to the whys and wherefores of moving expenses. If a player has a question, there’s a 99.9 percent chance he’s got the answer.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction to Mike Myers
(00:01:59) - Growing Up a Cubs Fan in Chicago
(00:02:52) - Cold Weather Pitching and High School Days
(00:04:38) - Iowa State and Coaching Influences
(00:05:37) - Getting Drafted by the Giants
(00:06:49) - Life in the Minor Leagues
(00:08:30) - Navigating Agents and the Business of Baseball
(00:09:32) - Rule 5 Draft and the 1994-95 Strike
(00:10:23) - Union Awakening in Marlins Camp
(00:12:09) - Major League Debut and Strike Aftermath
(00:13:59) - Replacement Players and Strike Pressures
(00:15:49) - The Orlando Union Meeting
(00:18:23) - Learning Union History
(00:19:50) - Becoming a Union Rep
(00:21:14) - The Value and Importance of the Pension
(00:23:50) - Pensions in Society and Union Dues
(00:25:42) - The 2002 CBA Negotiations
(00:28:28) - 2004 World Series with the Red Sox
(00:30:08) - Moving Around the League and Union Protections
(00:32:15) - Family Life on the Road
(00:33:57) - Al Kaline's Influence and Becoming a Sidearm Pitcher
(00:35:59) - Remembering Don Fehr, Gene Orza, and Michael Weiner
(00:38:26) - Working for the MLBPA Today
(00:40:27) - Legacy as a LOOGY and Career Pride
(00:42:43) - Closing Credits

Steve Rogers Reflects on a Lifetime of Service to Baseball

Major League Baseball Players Association — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:14:45 +0000

This week’s guest on “Stitch x Stitch’’ is Steve Rogers, a five-time All-Star who spent his entire 13-year career with the Montreal Expos. Steve was a true workhorse on the mound, ranking third in the major leagues behind Phil Niekro and Steve Carlton in innings pitched from 1974-83. He was also a respected player leader and a key advisor to Marvin Miller and Donald Fehr during a time of rapid change for the union and the game. Steve began working full-time for the Players Association in the late ‘90s and continues to contribute with his historical perspective and encyclopedic knowledge of the union’s pension and benefit plans. His passion for the game and the cause of players burns just as brightly today as it did when he threw his first big league pitch with the Expos in 1973.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Stitch by Stitch Podcast
(00:02:00) - Steve Rogers on The Yankees Drafting Him
(00:08:26) - Tim Rainey on Being Traded by the Expos
(00:14:47) - Rose on Becoming a Union Representative
(00:18:50) - Mike Myers on the Pension
(00:21:19) - Bob Boone on the Negotiations
(00:29:01) - Walter Payton on the Strike of 1981
(00:35:54) - The Free Agency Controversy
(00:41:54) - The Unions' Executive Director Michael Wiener
(00:44:37) - Steve Rogers on the Collective Bargaining Cycle
(00:49:13) - MLBPA: Stitch by Stitch

Buck Martinez on a baseball life well-lived

Major League Baseball Players Association — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:36:00 +0000

This week's guest on "Stitch x Stitch'' is John Albert "Buck'' Martinez, a beloved figure in Toronto and a baseball fixture for nearly 60 years as a player, manager, author and broadcaster. Buck spent 17 seasons as a backup catcher in the big leagues with the Blue Jays, Royals and Brewers, but his impact went well beyond statistics. He was a leader, a respected teammate, and a trusted ally of Marvin Miller and Donald Fehr through some bruising labor confrontations in the 1970s and ‘80s. As Buck awaits induction into the Blue Jays' Hall of Excellence, he reflects upon some of his most memorable moments on the field, in the dugout, in the broadcast booth and the negotiating room. For all that he’s accomplished in the game, he will always be a player at heart.

Chapters

(00:09:45) - Buck on the Strike of 1972
(00:15:44) - The Fight Over Salary Arbitration
(00:21:44) - The Strike of 1981

Bret Boone on his baseball education, and embracing the family legacy

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:02:00 +0000

In this episode of "Stitch x Stitch'' we feature Bret Boone, the product of an esteemed, three-generation family of major leaguers. His grandfather, Ray, was a World War II Navy veteran and a 13-year big leaguer. His father, Bob, was a World Champion and seven-time Gold Glove-winning catcher. Bret perpetuated the family legacy with his brother Aaron, making three All-Star teams and winning four Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards during a 14-year MLB career. Like his dad, Bret played an active role in union leadership, including a stint as the Cincinnati Reds' assistant player representative in 1994-95 during the longest strike in MLB history. He covers a lot of ground in this entertaining and informative sit-down.

Chapters

(00:00:04) - Brett Boone on His Grandfather's Contribution
(00:04:53) - Bob Boone on His Dad's Advice
(00:10:08) - Brett Jones on Donald Fear and His Leadership
(00:14:11) - Joey Factor on the Baseball Strike
(00:21:58) - George Springer on the Players' Strike
(00:29:24) - Former Mariners shortstop Yeri Flynn on the PA
(00:32:37) - Brett Boone on Baseball's Future
(00:34:19) - The MLBPA Stitch by Stitch Podcast

Ferguson Jenkins, Andre Dawson & Lee Smith on Legacy, MLBPA, and the Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

In part 2 of their wide-ranging conversation, Ferguson Jenkins, Andre Dawson and Lee Smith delve further into baseball economics and the changing landscape that paralleled the growth of the MLBPA. Jenkins had to fight for compensation befitting his stature as one of baseball’s elite and most durable starters, and Hawk emerged as a conquering hero from the collusion era when he hit 49 homers, drove in 137 runs and won the National League MVP award in 1987 after a bold gambit allowing the Cubs to fill in the number on a blank contract. The three Cubs discuss the impact of Jackie Robinson, Curt Flood and other trailblazers on the game, and reflect on their own paths from humble beginnings to baseball immortality in Cooperstown.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson and Lee Smith on the Players
(00:06:21) - Adam Dawson on His Free Agency
(00:13:38) - Andre Dawson on His Contract with the Cubs
(00:18:19) - Ferguson Jenkins on the Coalition Era
(00:26:11) - Buck O'Neill on the MLB Players' Association
(00:34:52) - Steve Carlton on Jackie Robinson's Death
(00:36:42) - Jimmy Lee on Playing in Wrigley Field
(00:43:11) - Stitch by Stitch

Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson and Lee Smith Share Their Baseball Journeys

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:59:00 +0000

In this episode, we’re privileged to sit down with three legendary Chicago Cubs with something very special in common: They all have plaques in Cooperstown. Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson and Lee Smith combined to make 18 All-Star Games while putting their impressive individual stamps on the game. Fergie: The staff ace and Cy Young winner with five 300-inning seasons to his credit. Hawk: The consummate blend of power and speed, with that cannon arm in right. And Big Lee, who cast an enormous shadow from the moment the bullpen door swung open in the seventh, eighth or ninth. In Episode 1 of this two-part conversation, the three friends share their baseball origin stories, and talk about their roads to the big leagues and their education in the economics of the game.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Stitch by Stitch Podcast
(00:02:13) - Hawk and Lee at the Cubs
(00:10:27) - smith on his six-sports career
(00:16:41) - Baseball Prospects Get First-Look
(00:23:14) - Fergie on the Baseball Uprising
(00:31:16) - Marvin Miller on the Strike
(00:37:13) - Veteran Influences on NFL Players
(00:40:52) - Stitch by Stitch

Rick Monday on the First MLB Draft, Dodger History, and Saving the American Flag

Major League Baseball Players Association — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:53:27 +0000

Rick Monday joins the MLBPA's "Stitch x Stitch'' podcast and shares stories from six eventful decades in professional ball. Rick made history as the No. 1 pick in MLB's first-ever amateur draft in 1965, and played 19 seasons as an outfielder with the Athletics, Cubs and Dodgers before transitioning to a distinguished career as a broadcaster in LA. He reflects on his interactions with Dodger legends Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully, his military service, and that memorable day in 1976 when he rescued the American flag from protestors intent on burning it in the Dodger Stadium outfield. He got the baseball bug as a kid in Southern California, and that passion for the game has never waned.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Rick Munday on the Players' Association
(00:07:23) - Tommy Lasorda on Becoming a Major Leaguer
(00:12:17) - The Draft 1st Pick
(00:19:21) - Charlie Finley During the Strike
(00:25:08) - The Chicago Cubs' Leo Durocher
(00:31:52) - Tommy Lasorda on desecrating the American flag
(00:39:44) - The Battle of San Diego
(00:40:28) - Vin Scully on His Turnaround
(00:44:50) - Vin Scully on Baseball's Future

Dick Bosman on the 1972 strike, Charles O. Finley and life as a snowmobile salesman

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:24:16 +0000

Dick Bosman, this week’s guest on Stitch x Stitch, won an American League ERA title in 1969 and threw a 79-pitch no-hitter against Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando and the World Champion Oakland A’s in 1974, while armed with a fastball that topped out in the mid-80s. He was also a steadfast ally of Marvin Miller, at a time when taking a strong stance on labor matters could be hazardous to a player’s career aspirations. Dick weathered the 1972 strike as the Texas Rangers’ player representative, but he remains convinced that his union advocacy led to him being blackballed from the game at age 32. Fifty years later -- after a long and successful run as a pitching coach and mentor to many -- he shares his memories of a momentous time for baseball labor and the game.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Duane Bosman on the Players Association
(00:07:06) - Strike 1, 1972
(00:13:25) - Baseball Player in Labor
(00:14:23) - Tim Rainey on Working Two Jobs
(00:20:43) - Bob Kennedy on Being Blackballed by the Indians
(00:25:41) - Tom Leyland on the Fight for Pension
(00:31:24) - Stitch by Stitch

Larry Dierker on Willie Mays, the Astros & Baseball’s Union Revolution

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:05:21 +0000

Larry Dierker, our latest guest on Stitch x Stitch, broke into the big leagues as a “bonus baby’’ with the Houston Colt .45s in 1964 and celebrated his 18th birthday with a first inning strikeout of Willie Mays. Over the next four decades, he became synonymous with Houston baseball as a two-time All-Star pitcher, Astros manager and team broadcaster. In this episode, Dierker reflects on the formative years of the union and the partnership between Marvin Miller and players that forever changed the game. His memories run the gamut -- from Leo Durocher scattering players with fungoes as they assembled for a union meeting in the outfield to an awkward encounter with a general manager who responded to his request for a raise with silence and a puff of cigar smoke. Dierker shares his story with an eye for detail, a wry sense of humor, and an enduring commitment to the player fraternity and the game he loves.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Larry Durker on His 18th Birthday
(00:07:40) - Marvin Miller on Starting a UAW
(00:15:36) - Joe Morgan on the Baseball Players' Union
(00:17:18) - George Steinbrenner on the Strike
(00:26:12) - Marvin Hall on His Pension

Woody Woodward on Hank Aaron, the Big Red Machine & Baseball’s Economic Revolution

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:43:25 +0000

Woody Woodward on Hank Aaron, the Big Red Machine & Baseball’s Economic Revolution

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Woody Woodward on the Players' Association
(00:04:13) - Henry Aaron's Relationship With His Teammates
(00:10:49) - Tom Ley on the Players Association
(00:19:45) - Marvin Miller on the Players Association
(00:26:39) - Woody Cloninger on the CBA
(00:33:55) - Phil Jackson on Marvin Miller and the Players Association
(00:39:50) - Woody Woodward on the MLBPA and the Game

Sam “Sudden Sam” McDowell on the Birth of the MLBPA and Baseball’s Pre–Free Agency Battles

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:58:00 +0000

Six-time All-Star Sam “Sudden Sam” McDowell joins Stitch x Stitch for an unfiltered look at the early years of the MLBPA and the uphill battles Players faced long before free agency reshaped the game. Raised in a Pittsburgh union household, McDowell first encountered Marvin Miller as a child attending a steelworkers’ meeting with his father. He immersed himself in union leadership as a young strikeout machine with the Cleveland Indians in the 1960s, and never hesitated to make his voice heard or his presence felt during the formative years of the MLBPA.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Sam McDowell on The Players Association Podcast
(00:08:35) - Sam Clemens on Gabe Paul Ratted Me Out
(00:10:52) - Marvin Miller on His Contract
(00:17:24) - Marvin Gay Paul on His Early Years as Baseball Representative
(00:27:19) - Kirk Flood on the 1972 Strike
(00:36:13) - Sandy Koufax on His First Year
(00:36:53) - Marvin Hall on Baseball's History

Dave Stewart on Black Aces, 1981 Strike and Growing Up in Oakland

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:58:00 +0000

Dave Stewart joins the MLBPA's Stitch x Stitch Podcast with a rare, full spectrum view of baseball’s labor history, shaped by his years as a World Series MVP, Roberto Clemente Award winner, and one of baseball's famed "Black Aces.'' He reflects upon his Oakland roots, the influence of veterans like Dusty Baker, Davey Lopes and Reggie Smith during his formative years with the Dodgers, and the lessons he learned from the 1981 strike. Stewart carried that same passion into his post-career stints as a Player agent and big-league general manager, and he continues to embrace his role as a guardian of the game.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Dave Stewart on the Baseball Players Association
(00:07:25) - Dusty Baker, and the Strike of 1981
(00:12:45) - The Business of Baseball
(00:19:32) - Black Aces on Baseball

Reggie Smith on Civil Rights, Labor Battles, and the Rise of the MLBPA

Major League Baseball Players Association — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:53:11 +0000

Seven-time All-Star and 1981 World Series champion Reggie Smith joins Stitch x Stitch for a powerful, firsthand look at baseball’s labor history and the civil rights struggles woven into his early career. From confronting racism in minor league towns to absorbing the lessons he learned from Marvin Miller, Jackie Robinson and other influential figures, Smith explains how his experiences shaped his commitment to the MLBPA and the advancement of Players who would come after him.

Chapters

(00:00:05) - Reggie Smith on the Baseball Players Association
(00:05:38) - Reggie Smith on Jackie Robinson
(00:11:47) - Marvin Davis on the Baseball Players' Union
(00:17:17) - Being a player rep is an honour
(00:18:16) - Tommy John on the Strike of 1972
(00:26:57) - Reggie Smith on Kurt Flood's Reserve Clause Challenge

Phil Garner on Curt Flood, Free Agency & the Rise of Player Power

Major League Baseball Players Association — Mon, 18 May 2026 06:30:00 +0000

Phil Garner, the hard-nosed infielder known as “Scrap Iron,’’ joined Stitch x Stitch for a colorful look at the battles that shaped modern baseball, from the early fights over the reserve clause to the birth of free agency, the chaos of collusion, and the replacement spring of 1995. He explained how young Players learned to navigate an all-powerful ownership class, why pioneers like Curt Flood and Andy Messersmith changed the entire sport, and how Marvin Miller’s steady leadership taught Players to debate, organize and stand together.

Chapters

(00:00:06) - A message on unity
(00:00:27) - Phil Garner on the Players Association
(00:09:53) - Phil Garner on Marvin Miller
(00:19:15) - The 1981 MLB Players Strike
(00:24:22) - Phil Garner on the rise of Player Power

COMING SOON: STITCH x STITCH PODCAST

Major League Baseball Players Association — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:17:45 +0000

COMING SOON: The Major League Baseball Players Association has a rich history dating back to its inception under founding executive director Marvin Miller in 1966. The MLBPA's Stitch x Stitch Podcast seeks to tell that story through the eyes of Players, who share their personal recollections of the union's early growth, nine strikes and lockouts, and the contributions of Miller, Curt Flood, Andy Messersmith, and so many other groundbreaking figures.

For this project we've interviewed Players whose careers cover a span of seven decades, and collected an oral history that charts the union's path and the bonds that unite Players across generations.

Chapters

(00:00:03) - MLBPA Stitch by Stitch Podcast