Former Big Leaguer Doug Flynn Joins Good Friday Breakfast
April 7, 2023 at 10:44 p.m.
Former Big Leaguer Doug Flynn Joins Good Friday Breakfast
By Connor McCann-
Full of topics to discuss, Flynn began his speech by focusing on his unorthodox journey to the major leagues.
“When I was young, I was small. I never hit .300 in Little League. I never hit .300 in high school. Everybody hits .300 in high school,” Flynn joked. “I played three sports in high school, never made an all-city or all-conference team. I had nine at bats at the University of Kentucky before they told me I probably wasn’t cut out for the Division I level.”
Undrafted and having moved on to slow-pitch softball while attending summer school, Flynn got word from a group of friends that the Cincinnati Reds were holding an open tryout. He showed up to the tryout in a tank top, cutoff jeans and a headband. He was asked to come back in a couple of weeks, but to bring a baseball uniform with him.
After a few more tryouts over the span of a couple of weeks, including one at the historic Riverfront Stadium, Flynn was finally asked the question “What would it take to make you a professional ballplayer?”
He wasted no time responding.
“A Coke and a hotdog,” he said.
He ended up getting $2,500 and the opportunity to minor league camp. In his three years with Cincinnati, Flynn would win two World Series titles as a part of the “Big Red Machine” teams that featured baseball’s all-time hit leader Pete Rose as well as hall of famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Pérez.
In 1977, Flynn’s role decreased dramatically as he battled a personal tragedy that still haunts him to this day. His younger sister Melanie went missing at 24 years old and to this day has not been found. The case is heavily featured in the 1990 book The Bluegrass Conspiracy.
“I was bitter. It was the one thing I wish was put to rest before my parents passed away,” Flynn said. “We went to spring training that year and I told the club I wanted my parents to come with me in case something broke.”
The Reds declined, so Flynn quit.
Not long after, Flynn was traded to the New York Mets for perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, Tom Seaver. In 1980, Flynn tied the major league record with three triples in a game and went on to win a Gold Glove at second base for the year.
During his time in New York, Flynn was introduced to his wife of 41 years by Rose, who was now playing with the Phillies. After reaching first base while playing against each other, Flynn was alerted by Rose that he had found him a date for later that night. They were married eight months later.
Flynn would go on to play until 1985, spending a season with the Texas Rangers, three with the Montreal Expos and his final year with the Detroit Tigers.
Besides baseball, Flynn loves to sing and even toured with the Oak Ridge Boys during the 1981 strike. He battled thyroid cancer in 2010, lost his thyroid but won the battle.
Along with stories about his career, Flynn talked deeply about his relationship with God, finishing his speech with the top 10 lies that Satan tells and imploring the audience to fight through them and find their faith.
Full of topics to discuss, Flynn began his speech by focusing on his unorthodox journey to the major leagues.
“When I was young, I was small. I never hit .300 in Little League. I never hit .300 in high school. Everybody hits .300 in high school,” Flynn joked. “I played three sports in high school, never made an all-city or all-conference team. I had nine at bats at the University of Kentucky before they told me I probably wasn’t cut out for the Division I level.”
Undrafted and having moved on to slow-pitch softball while attending summer school, Flynn got word from a group of friends that the Cincinnati Reds were holding an open tryout. He showed up to the tryout in a tank top, cutoff jeans and a headband. He was asked to come back in a couple of weeks, but to bring a baseball uniform with him.
After a few more tryouts over the span of a couple of weeks, including one at the historic Riverfront Stadium, Flynn was finally asked the question “What would it take to make you a professional ballplayer?”
He wasted no time responding.
“A Coke and a hotdog,” he said.
He ended up getting $2,500 and the opportunity to minor league camp. In his three years with Cincinnati, Flynn would win two World Series titles as a part of the “Big Red Machine” teams that featured baseball’s all-time hit leader Pete Rose as well as hall of famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Pérez.
In 1977, Flynn’s role decreased dramatically as he battled a personal tragedy that still haunts him to this day. His younger sister Melanie went missing at 24 years old and to this day has not been found. The case is heavily featured in the 1990 book The Bluegrass Conspiracy.
“I was bitter. It was the one thing I wish was put to rest before my parents passed away,” Flynn said. “We went to spring training that year and I told the club I wanted my parents to come with me in case something broke.”
The Reds declined, so Flynn quit.
Not long after, Flynn was traded to the New York Mets for perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, Tom Seaver. In 1980, Flynn tied the major league record with three triples in a game and went on to win a Gold Glove at second base for the year.
During his time in New York, Flynn was introduced to his wife of 41 years by Rose, who was now playing with the Phillies. After reaching first base while playing against each other, Flynn was alerted by Rose that he had found him a date for later that night. They were married eight months later.
Flynn would go on to play until 1985, spending a season with the Texas Rangers, three with the Montreal Expos and his final year with the Detroit Tigers.
Besides baseball, Flynn loves to sing and even toured with the Oak Ridge Boys during the 1981 strike. He battled thyroid cancer in 2010, lost his thyroid but won the battle.
Along with stories about his career, Flynn talked deeply about his relationship with God, finishing his speech with the top 10 lies that Satan tells and imploring the audience to fight through them and find their faith.
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