Two baseball legends together with their classic poses circa 1989: Cubs manager Don “Popeye” Zimmer (left) with a semi-scowl and Jerome Holtzman with his trademark dirigible-sized cigar. Soon smoking would be banned in pressboxes and almost all parts of the ballparks.
By George Castle – CBM Historian on January 15, 2017
The Chicago Baseball Museum is presenting classic interviews from the archives of CBM historian George Castle’s “Diamond Gems” syndicated weekly baseball radio show, which aired from 1994 to 2010.
This edition features a 1995 interview in which legendary baseball writer Jerome Holtzman was among a series of guests who dropped by as “Diamond Gems” was taped entirely in the Cubs’ home dugout at Wrigley Field before a game. Holtzman’s thoughts ranged from the 1950 All-Star Game at old Comiskey Park he attended to the prospect of inter-league play, which began two years later. Holtzman had covered baseball for the Chicago Sun-Times, then the Chicago Tribune, starting in 1957. He died at 82 in 2008.
The Chicago Baseball Museum now possesses the Jerome Holtzman Library, complete with his notes, one-of-a-kind baseball documents and scores of publications he accumulated over the decades. The museum also issues the Jerome Holtzman Award in recognition of contributions to Chicago baseball history. The 2014 award, to be presented at the Pitch and Hit Club annual banquet Jan. 26, will go to David Kaplan, Sarah Lauch and Ryan McGuffey, the three producers of “5 Outs,” the superb Comcast SportsNet Chicago documentary on the star-crossed 2003 Cubs. For tickets, please contact Bill Motluck at or 708/805-1928.
“The Diamond Gems Flashback” also features photos of the interviewees from the one-of-a-kind Leo Bauby Photo Collection, emphasizing Chicago baseball. Many photos are available to the general public directly on Ebay via seller name Soxphotos soxphotos | eBay.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Category Vintage Baseball Radio Interviews Tags