Episode 100: Eric Vickrey, author of "Season of Shattered Dreams"

Eric Vickrey chats with K.P. Wee and co-host Stan Markotich on The K.P. Wee Podcast, discussing his book Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything. This book came out in 2024, published by Rowman & Littlefield. To offer context for Eric's book, on June 24, 1946, a bus transporting the Spokane Indians baseball team fell into a deep ravine in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, leading to the deaths of nine players. This incident stands as the deadliest accident in the history of American professional sports. In Season of Shattered Dreams, Eric examines the events leading up to, during, and following the tragic accident. He explores the often-neglected effects of World War II's conclusion on both major and minor leagues, which were now filled with players returning from military service. The Spokane Indians were affected as well, with several top prospects and former major leaguers joining the team that season. The stories of three Spokane players—Vic Picetti, Ben Geraghty, and Jack Lohrke—highlight the impact of the war on their lives, the challenges of minor-league careers, and the profound effects of the devastating crash. Purchase Eric Vickrey's book "Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Shattered-Dreams-Baseball-Everything/dp/1538190729/ Also, check out "Runnin' Redbirds: The World Champion 1982 St. Louis Cardinals" (McFarland, 2023) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Runnin-Redbirds-World-Champion-Cardinals/dp/1476693641/