Doug Flynn Behind the Stories
In this episode, we sit down with former Major League infielder Doug Flynn, a two-time World Series champion, Gold Glove winner and one of the most respected defensive players of his era. Doug takes us on a journey from his days growing up in Kentucky, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball, to earning a dual scholarship at the University of Kentucky and playing for legendary coach Adolph Rupp. What started as a trip to an open Cincinnati Reds tryout with friends turned into an unlikely path to professional baseball and eventually a spot on one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the famed Big Red Machine. We discuss Doug's rapid rise through the minor leagues, making his Major League debut with the Reds, winning back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976 alongside Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Tony Pérez, and his memorable first big-league hit against the Dodgers. Doug shares his perspective on the blockbuster 1977 trade known as the "Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the New York Mets in exchange for Tom Seaver. We also dive into his 1980 Gold Glove season, the historic game in Montreal where he became the first and only Met to hit three triples in a game, and his later stops with the Rangers, Expos, and Tigers. Along the way, Doug reflects on playing for legendary managers including Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, and Bill Virdon, and what life was like during the 1981 players' strike touring with the Oak Ridge Boys. From World Series celebrations to Gold Gloves, clubhouse stories, and lessons learned after baseball, this conversation offers a fascinating look at a player whose career intersected with some of the most iconic moments and personalities in baseball history. Whether you're a fan of the Big Red Machine, the Mets of the late 1970s and early 1980s, or simply love great baseball stories, you won't want to miss this episode with Doug Flynn. 00:00 Intro 00:26 High School Football 01:13 Favorite Athlete Growing Up 02:18 Going to Kentucky and Playing for Adolph Rupp 03:43 Open Tryout With the Reds 06:00 Minor League Career 09:04 Getting a Call From a Hall of Fame Teammate Live 13:26 Playing for the Big Red Machine 16:42 Hall of Fame Discussion 19:49 First Major League Hit and the Ball 21:28 Sacrifice Hits and the Bunt 23:47 Comparing the 1975 and 1976 Reds Teams 25:59 How Pete Rose Described Doug and Was Doug's Versatility and Asset? 27:49 The Midnight Massacre and Being Traded for Tom Seaver 32:30 1980 Gold Glove 35:33 Hitting Three Triples in One Game 38:05 Closing Out Doug’s Career Playing for the Rangers, Expos and Tigers. 42:51 Which Manager Was Best for Doug to Play For - Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, or Bill Virdon44:19 Facing Carlton, Seaver, Koosman and Grimsley 48:13 Who Did Doug Tour With During The Baseball Strike of 1981 51:18 Binge Burner Round 59:13 Outro Thanks for tuning in and be sure to leave a comment for Doug. Please click SUBSCRIBE for future episodes of the Back It Up Binge Podcast. Donate to Doug's Charity Here: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/donate/ #DougFlynn #BigRedMachine #CincinnatiReds #MLBHistory #BaseballHistory #WorldSeriesChampion #BaseballPodcastFYI All material used in this video fully complies with fair use law which permits the reuse of the Work in a non-commercial and transformative manner. It does not use the original more than necessary and does not negatively affect the market for the original work. If you do not agree with any material used in the video, just contact us and request the removal of the video, which we will remove immediately.
