Episode 16 -- Stephen Fife

Stephen Fife never wanted to pitch and was never good enough to pitch regularly as a kid. He was a second baseman on the first team from Idaho to reach the Little League World Series. But an injury in high school led him to the mound, and he ended up pitching 10 years as a professional. 

On Episode 16 of the "Life Around the Seams" podcast, we trace some of the fascinating moments from Fife's career. Projected to be about a 10th round pick, one fateful collegiate start against future first overall pick Stephen Strasburg launched him into the third round. Fife was usually "the dad" to his minor league teammates, outdueled Roy Halladay in his major-league debut, and made 18 appearances in the major leagues around 809 innings in the minor leagues.

Fife missed one season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery and slung drinks at a Melting Pot to help pay bills. He tells us the story of talking curveballs with Sandy Koufax, life lessons with Don Newcombe, the injury that cost him a chance at going to Japan, later going to Japan, and when he knew it was time to retire.