You can quote me: "California is a natural wonder and a man-made disaster."
You can quote me: "California is a natural wonder and a man-made disaster."
By Rick Reiff -- Fall 2024
What more is there to say about Clifford Carlton “Gavy” “Cactus” Cravath, the enigmatic Deadball Era slugger relegated to the dustbin of baseball history by George Herman Ruth? How about this: He was likely the first player to hit 200 home runs in affiliated baseball. Babe Ruth was, of course, the first to 200 homers in the majors (and first to 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700), but Cravath, whose 20-year career was split almost evenly between the majors and minors, was almost certainly the first to reach 200 counting all leagues. His numbers are there in the record book—119 homers in the majors, 107 in the minors, and seven in the 1903 “independent” Pacific Coast League.
By Rick Reiff -- Sept. 20, 2023 5:55 pm ET
San Francisco
It was quite a welcome. Less than three hours after arriving in the city, we were treated to a local speciality: a smash-and-grab theft.
My wife and I exited an exhibit on Tudor England at the Legion of Honor art museum in bucolic Lincoln Park to discover that our rental car’s backseat windows had been shattered and the satchel containing my iPad snatched.
“You were lucky,” a sympathetic local assured us as we surveyed the damage. It seems the thief—or thieves—had fled the scene in haste, abandoning an apparent attempt to steal our luggage and perhaps not even noticing my wife’s travel bag on the front passenger floor.
Author Mike Stockstill joins Rick to discuss how a sprawling Mexican land-grant rancho became one of America's most vibrant communities. Anchored by the masterplanned city of Irvine, the ranch today is the centerpiece of the Irvine Company and its owner Donald Bren is a multi-billionaire.
Native Americans weren't barred from early baseball but did face racial stereotyping. On Will Swaim's Radio Free California podcast, Rick discusses how "Chief" John Meyers of the Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians overcame prejudice while making his mark as the hardest-hitting catcher of the Dead Ball era and batterymate (as well as vaudville partner) of the immortal pitcher Christy Mathewson. The discussion begins at the 54:45 mark.
Rick joins Will Swaim's Radio Free California podcast to recount the California Winter League, which featured integrated ballgames beginning in 1910, decades before Jackie Robinson broke the major league color line; and Gavvy Cravath, the deadball-era slugger who became a judge.
In this special year-in-review episode, Rick joins Will Swaim on his Radio Free California podcast to discuss some of the biggest stories of 2023.
After scathing audits and member defections, the new leaders of a controversial "green power" cooperative discuss what went wrong -- and what they're doing to revamp the organization.
Delphine Channels interviews Rick about his career in journalism, how the profession has lost its way and what it can do to get back on track.
In this October, 2018 show, "Inside OC" looks back at three seasons of highlights, including conversations with Gavin Newsom, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Todd Marinovich and other celebrities, businesspeople, officials, academics, pundits and athletes.
Rick and David Nazar look back on 10 years of highlights: Placido Domingo, Art Laffer, Tippi Hedren, Christie Heffner, Peter Ueberroth, Pete Wilson, Jim Abbott, George Deukmejian, gun control, energy, the environment, racial unrest, politics and more.
Rick and Elizabeth Espinosa host officials, experts and other thought leaders to examine key issues impacting Southern California.
Copyright © 2021 Rick Reiff - Journalist, Commentator, Host - All Rights Reserved.
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