Thursday • March 28
CST 8:00 | EST 9:00 | MST 7:00 | PST 6:00 | GMT 13:00
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MK, Jim and Gary
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This week, Elliott & David bring you the remarkable self-transformation success story of Mary Kay Valenti, who overcame a lifetime of low self-esteem to lose almost 100 pounds and went on to compete as a figure body builder. Plus, former big league players Gary Peters and Jim Wynn.
Episode Segments:
 
Sports & Torts: Mary Kay Valenti
MK joins us in studio to share her personal story of self-transformation. Find out how she lost over 100 pounds to become a fitness competitor, model & motivational speaker.
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Sports & Torts: Gary Peters
Gary talks about his long road to the majors, playing with the White Sox in the ’59 World Series, and his later years with the Red Sox. We’ll also get into player salaries, pitcher injuries, and how he managed to keep his ERA so low.
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Sports & Torts: Jimmy Wynn
The Toy Cannon tells us how he got his nickname, and talks about his years playing in the Astrodome. Also – why players today have no sense of history.!
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Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode
Mary Kay Valenti
I'm a self transformation success story. I lost almost 100 pounds and went on to compete as a figure body builder. I now want to give back and show by example what is possible when you believe in yourself. I have struggled all my life with my weight until, I changed my mind, body and spirit. I started a website that others can go to for support, information, inspiration and motivation. I'm working on a book and a program for others to use to begin their journey to health and wellness. I do motivational speaking. My hopes and dreams are to help others change their mind, body and spirit. I have set my own goals for myself and I work towards those daily.

Read more aboout MK on her website


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Gary Peters
The Chicago White Sox drafted Peters as an amateur free agent in 1956 after he graduated from Grove City College. He joined the major league club for keeps in 1963 and proceeded to win Rookie of the Year honors that year. He stayed in the White Sox organization until 1969, when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for the last three years of his career. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 1964 and 1967, and finished in the top 10 in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1963, 1964 and 1967. Peters led the American League pitchers in earned run average twice while with the White Sox, with a teammate finishing runner-up both years. In his rookie season of 1963 his 2.33 ERA edged out Juan Pizarro's 2.39; in 1966 his 1.98 ERA was nearly a half-run ahead of Joe Horlen's 2.43. The latter led the league in earned run average in 1967 at 2.06; Peters was second at 2.28. Peters was also one of the best hitting pitchers of his era, with 19 career home runs, and a .222 career batting average. He was used occasionally as a pinch hitter, even winning a game with a pinch hit home run on one occasion. On May 5, 1968, Peters hit a grand slam in Comiskey Park, helping the White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

Gary's Career Stats

 
Jimmy Wynn
During a 15-year baseball career, he played from 1963-1977 for five different teams: the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers. His career started in 1962 when the Cincinnati Reds signed him as an amateur free agent. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted by the then Houston Colt .45s in the 1962 first player draft. He came up as a shortstop through the minor leagues. In his debut major league season of 1963 he also primarily played shortstop. However, he struggled with the position defensively and was moved to center field, where he played most of the rest of his career. He fielded that position fairly well. For eleven years, he was a fixture in the Astros' outfield. A power hitter, it has been speculated that he may have lost a substantial number of home runs to the lengthy fences in the Astrodome. In fact, after his career-high 37 home runs in 1967 were edged out by Hank Aaron's 39 in the final days of the season, Aaron, whose Atlanta Braves played their home games in the more homer-friendly Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, commented that he considered Wynn the season's home run champion. Wynn's nickname was "the Toy Cannon" for his small size (5'8" 170 lbs.) but his bat had a lot of "pop." After being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Claude Osteen before the 1974 season, he helped the Dodgers win the N.L. pennant by batting .271 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI and earning the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award. He started off 1975 well, but a bad shoulder injury limited his effectiveness at the plate and making throws from center field. He had to move to left field, and was traded by the Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves for Dusty Baker. He spent the final year of his career (1977) mainly as a designated hitter for the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. His number 24 was retired by the Astros on June 25, 2005, when the Astros played the Texas Rangers. Jason Lane, who wore Wynn's 24 before the ceremony, changed his number to 16 as a result. Wynn currently serves as a post-game analyst on Houston Astros television broadcasts on FSN Houston. He also serves as a community outreach executive for the team. Wynn was a player who walked a lot, giving him a very high on-base percentage. Moreover, he played in the 1960s, a low run-scoring era, as well as in the Astrodome, a low run-scoring park. This has led to many statistical analysts (or proponents of sabermetrics) to argue that Wynn was a very underrated player who might even deserve the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Get Jim's stats & more on his website