The Grand Illusion🪞 - 1982 CWS - Are the Big Leagues Possible for Working Class Players? 

Come for the obscure baseball stories, stay for the well-reasoned social commentary. I dig it.

This channel is so good for so many reasons, but the Styx reference really nailed it for me. Sir, you have absolutely won me over.

HatBilly! Thoughtful stuff, as always. A meandering walk through Appalachia is a fine one, indeed. I appreciate your ability to tie seemingly disparate elements into a cogent and meaningful message.

Professor Hatbilly! You sure bring a depth into the discussion of baseball. Sure good to see your pieces again. And for bringing up the subject to us of how baseball accessibility has decreased. Your comments “shines brightly in such a weary world” -Bill Shakespeare

This. This right here dude. You nailed it and in such a thought inspiring way. Thank you man. I have been lamenting the decrease in black players over the years, kind of blaming travel ball and the high cost barrier of entry. This was more than just baseball. Always root for the underdog.

Very well done. I agree with you, being a product of rural Pennsylvania, opportunities in baseball for those in Appalachia are hard to come by. When a player is able to gain an opportunity, he usually flourishes. Coaches at the college and professional levels don't look at talent, they are interested in a near finished product. The talent is there, but the opportunities aren't easy to find.

Hatbilly, you're too intelligent for RU-vid. Thanks for classing-up the joint!

John Kruk had a book called "I Ain't an Athlete, Lady" based on a real life encounter with a fan that was surprised to see him smoking. She said "Aren't you an athlete?" He said " I ain't an athlete , lady. I'm a baseball player"

Another great piece. ... I grew up in a low-income housing, and baseball was my only reason to get decent grades. In high school, American Legion ball was free and the best summers ever. It's really tough, now, to see kids who can't afford summer travel teams dropping out. It's more than athletics, it's education and their entire future. It's not fair.

This is really good stuff man, keep it up

He’s back! Looking forward to some new content from ya man. Styx, such an underrated band

Everyone used to be working class because everyone had to work. Honus Wagner worked in mines at age 12. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Bob Feller and dozens of others were farm boys. Hank Aaron and Johnny Bench picked cotton. A few came from middle class families. Lou Gehrig dropped out of Columbia to play ball. Jackie Robinson did jr college then UCLA. Population shifted from rural to urban. The same collective bargaining which created a huge middle class also enriched baseball players when they were freed from the slavery of the reserve clause. Rural or urban, across the board kids from low income families continue to face disadvantages. It's an unfortunate economic reality caused by the destruction of the middle class and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.

Great video as always! Glad you're back!

Great video essay. I am now rooting for Appalachia, Billy Wagner and a sudden resurgence of poor black and white kids to take over baseball.

Glad to see you back to uploading vids again. A great one as always!

A styx album? French war films? You're putting out some of the best stuff on youtube.

Great video !!! And you have many. This was relatable as a kid who played soccer in a working class neighborhood of the midwest in the 80s. The club ball kids used us a practice for other teams with club player stock.

great video and the answer is unfortunately no

dude. great content. Billy Wags was the man. Keep up the good work.

Not sure how I missed Kruk’s backstory living in Philly 91-93 and going to games at the Vet! Thanks for filling me in. And yeah, there are probably a ton more Latino kids playing, but baseball needs to step it up. Thanks for - as others have said - connecting the dots.

I was literally wondering where Billy had been two days ago. Great content per usual 👏🏽 👌

Glad to see you back.As usual hit this one out of the park.Btw my father is still hanging in there.I don't get much free time,but certainly would like to do some trout fishing or catch a Baysox,or Orioles game this year.Always have an invite half hour from both ballparks.

You know brother you hut it right on the head man. I'm not black or from Appalachia, but I did grow up in a poor white immigrant family, and even though I'm not athletic at all, and my hand eye coordination was always bad, I knew and my brother knew as well, not even to ask about our mom and dad about little league, because we know we couldn't afford it. Honestly, don't even know how we could have survived nowadays as kids need phones and all this other stuff.

Absolutely brilliant. Bravo.

You make some really good content. Keep it up. BZ

Great video, from one Appalachian to another.

Phil Stephenson was supposed to be a big league star

This is my fav video yet man keep up the great work!

Dang. You covered some serious ground in that one. Your content is insightful and entertaining. There is a lot of truth there. Being a baseball man from upstate NY (also part of the Appalachian range and very similar to places you described), and now in prime baseball land, middle Tennessee, I acknowledge your viewpoints on youth baseball. But even from modest (poor) beginning to still modest existence now, we have experienced and now try to help provide opportunity through baseball despite monetary limitations - maybe as an anomaly. Overall, you make great points and historical allusions. 🤞Long live baseball as a working man's game.

HEEEEEEEYYYYY!!! You're back!!!

this video is so good. loved the story telling and showcasing some really cool baseball from the past. good luck!

Juxtaposition, which Is the worst word ever.

Great stuff.