Episode 4: Tigers Burning Bright

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In 1936, Mickey Cochrane was on top of the world. He was the catcher, manager, and vice president of the world champion Detroit Tigers. He had a roster packed with stars that looked poised to win back-to-back titles. But in the middle of the season, Cochrane simply walked away from baseball. Was it a nervous breakdown, or possibly a darker secret? With special guest Tom Stanton (author of the new book Terror in the City of Champions), Episode 4 of Fadeaway examines the 1930s Tigers amid the backdrop of the Black Legion, a secret society that was torturing and murdering Detroiters at the same time the Tigers were winning pennants. Other characters involved in this story of a troubled city include Hank Greenberg, Henry Ford, Joe Louis, Schoolboy Rowe, and Humphrey Bogart.

Mickey COCHRANE, TIgers catcher, manager, and vice president

SCHOOLBOY ROWE and his famous sweetheart, edna.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTs posing with confiscated black legion costumes and weapons.

HUMPHREY BOGART STARRED in the 1937 warner brothers film black legion.

SCHOOLBOY ROWE CElebrates his record-tying 16th consecutive win in 1934.

Twelve black legion members leave the courtroom after being found guilty of murder.

EPISODE 4 BOX SCORE

BOOKS

Bevis, Charlie. Mickey Cochrane: The Life of a Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher. McFarland Books, 1998.

Greenberg, Hank. The Story of My Life. Ivan R. Dee, 2009.

Santas, Constantine. The Essential Humphrey Bogart. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.

Stanton, Tom. Terror in the City of Champions: Murder, Baseball, and the Secret Society That Shocked Depression-Era Detroit. Lyons Press, 2016.

ARTICLES

Bevis, Charlie. “Mickey Cochrane.” Published online by the SABR Baseball Biography Project.

Dow, Bill. “Life’s Greatest Regret of Detroit Tigers’ Legend Mickey Cochrane.” Published online by Detroit Athletic Co., September 23, 2011.

Lay, Shawn. “Ku Klux Klan in the Twentieth Century.” Published online by New Georgia Encyclopedia, October 15, 2015.

Rothman, Lily. “The Long History Behind Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ Foreign Policy.” Published online by Time Magazine, March 28, 2016.

“Scribbled by Scribes.” The Sporting News, June 18, 1936.

Vitty, Cort. “Bump Hadley.” Published online by the SABR Baseball Biography Project.

SONGS

Fadeaway’s opening theme is “Under Suspicion” by Lee Rosevere. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Just Watching” by Podington Bear. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Streets at Night” by Dave Depper. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Hungaria” by Latché Swing. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Guatemala-Panama March” by Heftone Banjo Orchestra. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Shir Hapalmach (Song of the Palmach)” by Lishner and Friends. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Improvisation: Fast Blues in A” by Reverend Gary Davis. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Sorry” by Comfort Fit. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“No Payday in Detroit” by Roger McGuinn. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“The Edge of Night” by Montana Skies. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Evil Slow Us” by Apple From Earth. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Please Bring Me Shelter” by Cullah. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Evil Eye/The Stranger Rides Tonight” by Daddy Long Legs. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Only the Crows Listen” by Laszlo Harsanyi. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Detroit” by Podington Bear. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Dirt Rhodes” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Detroit” by The Moaners. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

“Strange Fruit” written by Abel Meeropol and performed by Tibo-Lieby. Licensed through Creative Commons, courtesy of Soundcloud.

VALEDICTION

Today's closing quote is by Schoolboy Rowe.