Cherokee Hall of Famer Early Wynn and the 1959 White Sox – A Conversation with Author Lew Freedman

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, we sit down with award-winning sportswriter and author Lew Freedman to talk about one of baseball’s overlooked legends — NDN All-Star #23 Early Wynn (Cherokee), a Hall of Fame pitcher and 300-game winner who helped lead the 1959 Chicago White Sox to the World Series. Lew shares what inspired him to write about this gritty, blue-collar team and its underappreciated ace, and why Wynn's name deserves to be remembered alongside the all-time greats.

We dive into:

• Wynn’s Alabama upbringing and early dreams of playing football
• His dominance with the Cleveland Indians and standout 1959 season with the White Sox
• The evolution of pitching, the rarity of 300 wins, and why it’s unlikely we’ll see another
• Anecdotes about Wynn’s no-nonsense attitude on the mound — including legendary quotes about brushing back hitters, even his own mother
• The legacy of the 1959 White Sox, featuring Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, and more
• Why some baseball greats fade from public memory — and why they shouldn’t

Lew also gives us a sneak peek at his upcoming book on Yankees catcher Bill Dickey, and talks about the challenges of researching forgotten sports legends.

• 0:02 – Why Lew Freedman chose the 1959 White Sox
• 4:10 – Early Wynn’s Cy Young season and influence
• 10:00 – Wynn’s playing style and mound presence
• 18:45 – Remembering the overlooked stars of the era
• 24:00 – The rarity of 300-game winners
• 31:50 – Researching Early Wynn at the Baseball Hall of Fame
• 38:00 – New project on Yankees Hall of Famer Bill Dickey

Lew Freedman is an award-winning journalist and the author of over 100 books, many on baseball, Native American athletes, and sports history. A lifelong researcher and storyteller, his work helps preserve the stories of sports figures often forgotten over time. Learn more about Lew and his books here.

• Buy the Book: Early Wynn, the Go-Go White Sox and the 1959 World Series by Lew Freedman
• NDN All-Stars Blog: Stories about Native athletes like Early Wynn
• Follow us on Instagram: @ndnallstars

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