Sports' Forgotten Heroes
by Warren Rogan
Sports' Forgotten Heroes is a tribute to the stars who shaped the games we love to watch and the games we love to play. Sports' Forgotten Heroes is not about reliving the careers of superstars we talk about every day like Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, Babe Ruth or Michael Jordan. Rather, Sports' Forgotten Heroes is about the stars who have faded away with time. Some were elected to their respective Hall of Fame, others might have had one great season, or just one great game that will live in infamy. Guys like Billy Cannon, Ed Delahanty and Bill Barilko - stars whom time has forgotten.
Episodes
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176: Behn Wilson - NHL/Flyers & Blackhawks
Behn Wilson was known as one of the NHL's most intimidating bruisers during his 9-year career with the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks. But his story is much more than that of a bruiser. From his early days learning the game on a rink his father built every winter in the Wilsons'...
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175: Terry Hanratty - Notre Dame & NFL
I recount Terry Hanratty's remarkable career path from Notre Dame national champion to a Steelers backup who earned two Super Bowl rings and then to an expansion Tampa Bay team that lost every game. I speak with Terry about the highs and the lows of that journey. We discuss the 1966 Notre Dame...
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174: Steagles - NFL
The NFL in 1943 was in an unusual spot. The Cleveland Rams- yes, the Rams played in Cleveland and won an NFL Championship before journeying west to Los Angeles - asked to pause operations for a year. The team's two owners, Dan Reeves and Frederick Levy, Jr., both were heading overseas to serve in...
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173: Seth Wickersham - Special Episode
This episode meticulously delves into the often-overlooked narratives surrounding prominent figures in the realm of football, specifically focusing on the stories of Andrew Luck, Tom Brady, and YA Tittle. It is imperative to acknowledge that while these athletes are not forgotten in the...
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172: Charlie Conerly - NFL
Links referenced in this episode: sportshistorynetwork.com x@SportsFheroes facebook.com instagram.com Takeaways: This podcast episode delves into the remarkable career of quarterback Charlie Connerly, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 1945 NFL Draft. Connerly played a pivotal role in…
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171: Preacher Roe - MLB
Preacher Roe had a cup of coffee with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1938, appearing in just one game. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and didn't see another #MLB game until 1944 after being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. But once he got to Pittsburgh, he became one of the National League's most...
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170: 1917 All-Star Game/Tim Murnane - MLB
Yes, there was an All-Star game in Major League Baseball in 1917. In fact, before the All-Star Game became a regular fixture on the baseball calendar in 1933, it wasn't unusual to see some sort of All-Star game, or an exhibition game featuring stars from around baseball. But this game, in 1917…
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169: The Sports Tavern - MLB/NFL/NHL/NBA, All Sports
Links referenced in this episode: sportshistorynetwork.com mcfarlandbooks.com sportsfh.infomail.com Takeaways: The inaugural episode of Sports Tavern introduces a new format for discussing sports history topics. In this episode, we explore players deserving of Hall of Fame induction, highlighting...
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168 - Bert Sproston - Premier League
The name Bert Sproston might not ring a bell to many. But his heroics off the pitch are extraordinary. As we celebrate the 2026 World Cup, there isn't a better time to bring Bert's story to the fore than now. Sproston was a star defender for the English National Team when it paid Berlin a visit…
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167: Chuck Klein - MLB
When Chuck Klein broke into Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928, few knew about the power he possessed. In just 64 games, he connected for 11 home runs and hit .360. A great debut. What followed was six of the most prolific seasons in not just Phillies history, but MLB...
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166: Baseball & The Korean War - MLB
Baseball’s golden age collided with one of the most turbulent periods in American history when war broke out on the Korean Peninsula in 1950. In this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, author Steven P. Gietschier joins the show as we discuss his book, "Warm Summers and Cold Winters," and…
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165: Bill Mazeroski - MLB
The focal point of this podcast episode is a comprehensive examination of the illustrious career of Bill Mazeroski, a Hall of Fame second baseman renowned for his unparalleled defensive prowess and memorable World Series accomplishments. Throughout our discussion, we delve into the profound…
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164: Al Rosen - MLB
Al Rosen wasn’t just the American League MVP in 1953, he was one of the most dominant, driven, and intellectually fascinating figures the baseball has ever seen. In this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, we take a deeper look at the life and career of the “Flip,” a man whose peak was as…
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163: Bill Virdon - MLB
The focus of this podcast episode centers around the illustrious yet often overlooked career of Bill Virdon, a distinguished figure in the annals of baseball history. We delve into the remarkable trajectory of Virdon, who transitioned from a talented player, securing the National League Rookie of...
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162: Unsung Olympic Heroes
Not all Olympic heroes win the gold. In fact, there are so many heroes who never stepped onto the medal podium. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, we're going to look back at some very unique heroes from several past Olympics, summer and winter. We shine a spotlight on a different kind…
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161: Cleveland CryBabies - MLB
This episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes dives into the intriguing saga of Ossie Vitt, manager for the Cleveland Indians from 1938 to 1940, exploring his tumultuous tenure which ultimately led to the team's notorious nickname, the 'Cleveland Crybabies.' Vitt, who had a terrific record in the…
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160: Ernie Lombardi - MLB
Ernie Lombardi retired from Major League Baseball in 1947 and was not enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1986. Many theories abound as to why it took Lombardi so long to get in. But, facts are facts, and his enshrinement was way over due, after all, Lombardi did things as a catcher that...
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159: Charlie Berry - MLB/NFL
Charlie Berry is one of the most unique individuals in the history of sports. Not only did he play Major League Baseball for 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox, he also played in the NFL with the Pottsville Maroons in 1925 and 1926. Pottsville, which...
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158: Pottsville Maroons - NFL
As NFL training camps get underway and the 2025 NFL Football Season commences, what better time than now to take a look back at the incredible story of the 1925 Pottsville Maroons, This team is listed as the No. 1 team atop the NFL standings in 1925 by NFL.com. Yet, even though they were…
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157: Paul Runyan - PGA TOUR
Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, some of golf's most legendary names strolled and dominated the fairways. Superstars like Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Sam Snead. These were the stars golf fans came out to see play. They were the golfers who grabbed the…
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156: Johnny Mize - MLB
Johnny Mize is the answer to one of baseball's great trivia questions. You have to listen to find out what it is, but trust me, it's one of Major League Baseball's great statistics, something not even legends such as Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, or Willie Mays can lay claim to. Mize had a terrific eye...
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155: Danny Gardella - MLB
A name so few know ... Danny Gardella. Gardella played for the New York (baseball) Giants (now the #SFGiants) in 1944 and 1945. Then he battled management about his salary. Instead of accepting what the Giants offered, he challenged the reserve clause and lost. Rather than accept the terms, he...
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154: Roger Bresnahan - MLB
n the early 1900s Roger Bresnahan was one of MLB's best catchers. He played for the New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) and later was player-manager for the St. Louis Cardinals. While with the Giants, Bresnahan was beaned. It was a very scary instance in which Bresnahan's last rites were...
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153: Maybelle Blair - MLB
Maybelle (May) Blair is a baseball pioneer. In the movie, "A League of Their Own," Madonna's character was named after Maybelle, Mae Morabito. However, the character Madonna played was nothing like the real May. May did not join the AAGPBL (All-America Girls Professional Baseball League) until it...
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152: Pete Browning - MLB
Going way back in history, sometimes you uncover incredible stories. This is one of them. Long before Louisville Slugger became synonymous with @MLB , baseball players did whatever they could to make their own bats or have someone else make a bat for them. Pete Browning turned to an acquaintance...
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151: 1924 Washington Senators - MLB
In 1924, the Washington Nationals (they were the Nationals, but also referred to as the Senators) won their first-ever World Series. It was a remarkable season for the Nationals. Owner Clark Griffith dismissed manager Donnie Bush just after the 1923 campaign and named Bucky Harris player-manager....
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150: Connie Hawkins - NBA
Connie Hawkins, simply stated, was a phenomenal basketball player. Inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, his career was robbed of five years of his NBA career. And not just any five, the first five. Hawkins was a legend on the playground in New York City. Recruited to play…
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149: Jim Gilliam - MLB
Jim Gilliam was a terrific infielder for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers for 17 years. After starting his career in the Negro Leagues, he followed in the footsteps of his idol, Jackie Robinson. Signed by the Dodgers, like Robinson, he was sent to Montreal to play for the Royals. After a few...
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148: Frank Gifford - NFL
Frank Gifford was one of the great football broadcasters. A staple on Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith, it's fair to say that most people remember Gifford for calling a game. But how many remember him for what he did on the field, or even know that he was one of the best…
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147: Arch Ward - NFL/MLB
Arch Ward was a visionary. Sports editor of the Chicago Tribune during the 30s and 40s, Ward is the founder of several marquee sporting events. He created the MLB (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game, he launched the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game, a series that last 42 years where a…
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Byng, Hart, Calder - NHL
The NHL has a catalog of trophies that can rival any of the professional sports leagues from around the world. The MVP Award is called the "Hart Memorial Trophy," the Rookie of the Year Award is called the "Calder Memorial Trophy,", the trophy awarded to the NHL's best defenseman os called the...
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The Untold Journey of George Allen: From Coach to Legend
George Allen is one of the NFL's legendary coaches. So, to call him a "forgotten hero" is not exactly accurate. Certainly, most avid football fans know about his colorful career as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, and some might even remember him as the head coach of the Los Angeles…
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144: Brooklyn FOOTBALL Dodgers - NFL
In 1930 the NFL moved one of the original franchises from Dayton, Ohio to the borough of Brooklyn, New York and re-branded the "Triangles" to a very familiar name - Dodgers. Yes, that's right. From 1930 through the 1944 NFL season, the NFL placed a team in Brooklyn, Ebbets Field. Looking to...
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143: Bucky Lew - NBA
Before there was an NBA, before there was a BAA, professional basketball looked a lot different than it does today. Back in the early 1900s, professional basketball was largely made up of regional leagues spread out across the country. A particular hotbed for these regional leagues was the...
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SFH 142: Mel Hein - NFL
The podcast delves into the remarkable career of Mel Hein, a legendary figure in NFL history known for his exceptional skills as both a center and a linebacker. Celebrated as one of the greatest centers of all time, Hein is the only offensive lineman to ever win the NFL MVP award, a testament to...
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141: Chuck Foreman - NFL
Chuck Foreman was one of the NFL's most feared fullback's of the 1970s. In fact, he might have been the best fullback in the game during those years. Drafted in the 1973 first round by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of Miami, Foreman was told by Vikings Head Coach Bud Grant that he...
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140: Marion Motley -NFL
In 1946, a new professional football league launched - The All America Football Conference (AAFC) and the strongest team created was the Cleveland Browns. It was filled with superstars and an eventual legend at coach - Paul Brown. In the backfield was another budding superstar, Marion Motley....
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139: Fritz Pollard - NFL
Fritz Pollard is not a name most football fans are familiar with. Yet, his place in NFL History is about as iconic as any. Pollard is the first African-American to coach and NFL team. To be fair, he was a co-head coach. In 1920, with the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football…
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138: NFL's 60-Minute Men - NFL
There was a time when NFL rosters were significantly smaller than they are today. Back in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, even into the 60s, teams did not carry as many players as they do today. Of course, less players means more playing time - and not just on one side of the line of scrimmage. In…
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137: Ace Parker - NFL/MLB
Ace Parker was a terrific multi-sport star - especially football and baseball. Baseball, though, was his first love and he tried to make it as a Major League Baseball player with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 and 1938. However, as good as he was throughout his college career at Duke…
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136: Bullet Joe Rogan - MLB
In 1920, the Negro National League started play and the historic Kansas City Monarchs took the field for the first time. Leading the way was a 5-foot-7 two-way ballplayer who was about to embark on a journey that didn't end until 1938 - Bullet Joe Rogan. What no one knew then was that Rogan was...
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SFH 135: Wahoo Sam Crawford - MLB
The name "Wahoo Sam Crawford" might not sound familiar to many Major League Baseball fans. But, it's probably quite familiar to fans of the Detroit Tigers. Wahoo Sam played for the Tigers back in the early 1900s. He was a phenomenally good hitter. In fact, if not for Ty Cobb, one could argue that...
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134: The Federal League - MLB
Back in the early 1900s, the National League was the only game in town. It was Major League Baseball, thus the name the "Senior Circuit". In 1901, Ban Johnson, and others, joined the game with the American League and it was granted Major League status in 1903. Both leagues operated as separate...
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133: Jake Daubert - MLB
Jake Daubert was a star for the Brooklyn Robins and Brooklyn Dodgers during the early 1900s and finished his career with the Cincinnati Reds. He played during baseball's deadball era and was about as good as anyone. His play at first base was second-to-none and, at the plate, you would be...
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132: Jack Fleck - PGA
The 1955 U.S. Open Golf Championship was supposed to be the crowning achievement to one of the greatest careers in the history of sports. Golf enthusiasts and sports fans all thought the U.S. Open, staged at San Francisco's Olympic Club, was a virtual lock for Ben Hogan to win. In fact, Hogan...
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131: Shoeless Joe - MLB
The name "Shoeless Joe Jackson" is one of the most famous in baseball history. A key figure to the dominant Chicago White Sox of the late 19-teens, Joe led the team to the World Series Championship in 1917 when he hit .304 in the 6-game series. However, we all know the story of what happened…
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130: Jim Bottomley - MLB
Jim Bottomley played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1922 to 1933. During his 11 years with the Redbirds, Bottomley just might have been the best first baseman in the National League. If he wasn't you'd be hard-pressed to find another first baseman who was better. During that 11 year span,...
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129: Sid Gordon - MLB
Sid Gordon broke into the Majors in 1941 with the New York "baseball" Giants, bounced back-and-forth between the minors, served for two years during World War II and then made it back to the big league club in 1946; and proceeded to put together a terrific career. In fact, from 1948 through 1952…
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128: Otto Graham-NFL
He is the only quarterback - ever - to only play for 10 seasons and lead his team into the championship game every year of his career. He won the championship seven (7) times. And, yet, when the discussion about who is the greatest QB of all-time comes up, very few football fans mention the name...
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127: Pittsburgh Pipers - ABA
In 1967, a new basketball league was born, the ABA (American Basketball Association) with teams in 11 cities including Indianapolis, Oakland, New Orleans, Denver and Dallas. The ABA also put a team in Pittsburgh, the Pipers. After a slow start, the Pipers got it going and twice won as many as 14...
Topics in this show
About this show
Sports' Forgotten Heroes is a tribute to the stars who shaped the games we love to watch and the games we love to play. Sports' Forgotten Heroes is not about reliving the careers of superstars we talk about every day like Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, Babe Ruth or Michael Jordan. Rather, Sports' Forgotten Heroes is about the stars who have faded away with time. Some were elected to their respective Hall of Fame, others might have had one great season, or just one great game that will live in infamy. Guys like Billy Cannon, Ed Delahanty and Bill Barilko - stars whom time has forgotten.
Hosted by
Warren Rogan