"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE EARL OF BALTIMORE.

WE BEGIN WITH ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL OUT OF WASHINGTON.

MARYLAND IS EXPECTING A BIG IMPACT FROM THE LAYOFFS OF FEDERAL WORKERS AND THE STOCK MARKET IS ALSO FEELING THE AFFECTS.

JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS Dr. DARAIUS IRANID CHIEF ECONOMIST OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STUDIES INSTITUTE AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

>> Jeff: A COINCIDENCE WE ASKED YOU TO COME OVER AND THE MARKETS SORT OF... >> IT WAS PROBABLY NOT UNEXPECTED GIVEN SORT OF THE UNCERTAINTY THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BID TARIFFS, NO TARIFFS.

MAYBE WE WILL HAVE A RECESSION, MAYBE WE WON'T, THE OUTPUT IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> Jeff: MARKETS PERIODICALLY DO THAT.

BUT THE UNCERTAINTY IS A BIG DEAL.

ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING I HEARD ONE OF YOUR FELLOW ECONOMISTS SAYING IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE UNITED STATES IS DUE FOR A RECESSION.

BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT THAT WASHINGTON D.C. THAT METRO REGION WAS ABSOLUTELY GETTING A RECESSION.

>> I KIND OF AGREE UNLIKE IN PAST RECESSIONS WHERE MARYLAND, VIRGINIA AND DC WHY INSULATED FROM ECONOMIC UPHEAVALS I THINK WE ARE GROUND ZERO FOR WHAT IS GOING ON IN TERMS OF THE DOGE AND UNCERTAINTY CREATED AROUND FUTURE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT, FUTURE FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.

GOING ON IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> Jeff: RADICAL CHANGE IN PRIOR RECESSIONS IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MARYLAND'S INSULATED.

THE NATION'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE GOES UP TO THIS MARYLAND'S GOES UP TO THAT.

BECAUSE OF THE STABILITY OF THE FEDS.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A HALLMARK FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS FOR MARYLAND.

WE HAVE ENJOYED THE STABILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT.

THEY ARE GOOD CONSUME OTHERS OF OUR GOODS.

MANY OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE GEARED TOWARDS SUPPORTING THEM.

WE SAW IN THE 1990s THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOWNSIZE AND SOME OF THAT WORK BECAME OUTSOURCED TO SUBCONTRACTORS.

AGAIN, WE HAVE SORT OF GROWN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THEM AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

>> Jeff: VIEWERS MAY FIND THIS MAP INTERESTING.

THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE LAST WEEK HAD DATA RELATED TO REVENUE FORECASTS FOR THE STATE AND THIS IS A MAP BY COUNTY AND THE LIGHTER COLORS HAVE SMALLER NUMBER OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

FAR WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE COUNTIES AROUND WASHINGTON THEY HAVE 10% OF THE WORKFORCE IS FEDERAL.

THE THING THAT SURPRISED ME SOUTHERN MARYLAND, CHARLES, CALVERT, ST.MARY'S 20% AND NORTH OF THAT PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE FEDS.

>> YES.

SO YOU HAVE NOT ONLY THE PAX RIVER INDIAN HEAD AND PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMUTING NORTH ON 5 INTO WASHINGTON D.C. ACROSS THE BRIDGE OVER INTO SOME OF THE SUBURBS TO FOR C.I.A.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYER IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND HAS HIGHER THAN AVERAGE INCOMES BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO ANY CHANGES IN THIS, WILL CERTAINLY IMPACT THEM PERHAPS MORE THAN, SAY, HOWARD COUNTY OR MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CUTBACKS IN WASHINGTON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT MARYLAND NATIONALLY MAYBE GLOBALLY SEND US AN E-MAIL LIVE QUESTIONS@MPT.ORG AND THAT BRINGS US TO TARIFFS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TARIFFS?

>> TARIFFS BLANKET WIDE ARE GOING TO CREATE A TRADE WAR AND ARE GOING TO RAISE CONSUMER PRICES.

TARIFFS TARGETED TARIFFS IN SOME CASES WE FIND THAT SOME STEEL PRODUCERS ARE SUBSIDIZED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THEY HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS.

IN THAT CASE A TARIFF MAKES SENSE YOU WANT TO EQUALIZE THE PRICE SO THAT THE FOREIGN SEAL IS NOT COMING IN AT A LOW PRICE THAT IT PUSHES OUT AMERICAN STEEL WHICH WE DID SEE.

>> Jeff: IF YOU OWN THE DOMESTIC STEEL MAKING FACILITY, IT'S GOOD NEWS WHAT YOU ARE COMPETING AGAINST THE PRICE GOES UP.

A STEELWORKER IRON WORKER IT'S GOOD NEWS.

>> IT IS.

SOME OF THE UNIONS STEEL UNION HAS ABOUT 235,000 MEMBERS IN CANADA THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT UPSETTING THEM.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, CHINA HAS BEEN GUILTY OF THIS SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM PROION SUCH THAT THEY COME IN AT AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

AND THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY.

AND IN SOME CASES STEEL AND ALUMINUM AND OTHER IRONS ARE NATIONAL DEFENSE RELATED MATERIALS.

IT IS IMPERATIVE WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE.

PART OF THIS TARIFFS TO TO ENSURE A SCALPEL BUT WE'RE SEEING A BROAD BRUSHED STROKE WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE A BIT OF A PANIC AND UNCERTAINTY AND NO ONE LIKES UNCERTAINTY ESPECIALLY THE MARKETS WE ARE SEEING THE OUTCOMES IN THE MARKETS.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE TAP THE BRAKES IN UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE THEY GOING TO TAP THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH THAT WE GET INTO A RECESSION?

>> I THINK THEY WILL SLOW DOWN THE CAR THEY MAY SLOW DOWN HIRING.

WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE JOBS REPORT.

ONE POINT DOESN'T A STORY MAKE.

WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE REPORT THAT COMES OUT IN APRIL AND MAY AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

HAVING THIS UNCERTAINTY DOES MAKE BUSINESSES PAUSE ABOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT EXPENDITURES, HIRING NEW PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WE'LL SLOW DOWN UNTIL WE ARE SURE WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> Jeff: MARIA ASKED THE PRESIDENT IF HE SEES A RECESSION AHEAD.

AND TYPICALLY A PRESIDENT WOULD SAY NO, ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE ALL GREAT.

BUT SAID THERE IS A PERIOD OF TRANSITION BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS VERY BIG.

SO AND THE MARKET CLEARLY DIDN'T LIKE THAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY GOING FORWARD.

IF YOU THINK THAT ITSELF HAS AN IMPACT?

AND A FEEDBACK LOOP THERE?

>> YES.

100%.

AGAIN, WE DID SEE VOLATILITY LAST WEEK WITH SORT OF THE ON THE TARIFFS ON THE TARIFFS OFF.

BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES THAT THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A RECESSION IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD THAT DOES SPOOK THE MARKET WE SAW A HUGE DROP-OFF IN EQUITIES TODAY.

AGAIN, PART OF THIS IS ALSO PART OF THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IS TO BE THE CHIEF CHEERLEADER FOR THE U.S. AND PROVIDE CONFIDENCE AS WE GO FORWARD AND IT'S CONCERNING THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID, HEY, IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGH WATERS AHEAD.

AND PART OF THAT IS SELF IMPOSED.

WE HAVE DONE THIS TO OURSELVES.

>> Jeff: THINK BEING PEOPLE WATCHING WHO MAY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP MAY SOON BE CAUGHT UP IN THE FEDERAL LAYOFFS, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT MARYLAND'S ECONOMY IS MEDS, EDS, FEDS AND BEDS.

SO IF THE FEDS ARE OFF THE TABLE FOR A BIT WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR A JOB?

>> WELL, SO MANY OF THE COUNTIES AGAIN WE'RE ALSO FACING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES PRIOR TO THIS THE NEW YEAR.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT WORKERS.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MANAGERS.

POLICY EXPERTS.

SO I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COUNTIES.

AGAIN MANY COMPANIES WERE LOOKING FOR SIMILARLY SKILLED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE BOARD.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES.

THERE MAY NOT BE A ONE TO ONE MATCH FOR EVERY FEDERAL EMPLOYEE THERE IS A JOB IN MARYLAND BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.

I THINK MANY AGENCIES MANY COMPANIES WILL SEE THAT MANY OF THE WORKERS ARE FABULOUS WORKERS ARE HIGHLY SKILLED, HIGHLY DEGREED AND MOTIVATED TO HELP MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE GIVING A SPEECH NEXT WEEK.

BALTIMORE COUNTY ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> YES.

>> Jeff: IF ANYBODY WANTS TO HEAR THIS ASK A QUESTION.

>> CERTAINLY, WE ARE AT THE ARMORY SO IT WILL BE NICE EASY SPACE.

AND JUST SIGN UP WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY CHAMBER.

>> Jeff: ANECDOTALLY IN WHAT YOU DO, YOU HIRE PERSONALLY HIRE PEOPLE AND YOU TOLD ME BEFORE THE SHOW, YOU ARE SEEING MORE RESUMES COME IN.

>> YES, WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE RESUMES INDIVIDUALS FROM THE AGENCIES THAT WERE IMPACTED BY DOGE.

AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE AS A UNIVERSITY WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT THESE INDIVIDUALS LIKE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM.

THE CHALLENGES ARE WE FACE OUR OWN CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF BUDGETS.

BUT THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGHLY SKILLED OUT IN THE JOB MARKET AND I HOPE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Jeff: VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WILL ALL THE FIRINGS AFFECT MARYLAND PENSIONS?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT OF PENSIONS.

YOU WOULD THINK THE FED WORKERS' PENSIONS ARE SECURE.

BUT IT DOES BRING US MAYBE YOU MAY HAVE AN ANSWER BUT THINKING ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET SITUATION IS A PLACE WE COULD GO LOW UNEMPLOYMENT BUT WE HAVE A BUDGET CRISIS WHICH UNFORTUNATELY COULD GET WORSE.

>> YEAH.

SO I DO NOT ENVY GOVERNOR MOORE IN THIS SITUATION.

HE INHERITED A BIT OF A BIT OF A MESS FROM THE PREDECESSOR AND HE FIGURED OUT HOW TO BEST MANAGE THIS AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY SOLUTION THAT EVERYONE WILL HATE ANY SOLUTION HE PROPOSES.

>> Jeff: TALKS ABOUT MARYLAND NOT -- MARYLAND'S ECONOMY NOT GROWING.

YOU AGREE?

AND WHY?

>> I THINK PART OF THIS CHALLENGE HAS BEEN WE HAVE ALL THE ASSETS AND NO STRATEGY PART OF THIS IS ALSO I KNOW HE WANTS TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE GROWTH AREAS CYBER, QUANTUM, AS WELL AS DEFENSE AS WELL AS BIOTECHNOLOGY AGAIN, THESE INDUSTRIES THAT MAY HAVE SOME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TIES BUT MAYBE MUCH MORE FOCUS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> Jeff: WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE PORT WHICH HAD A ROUGH TIME A YEAR AGO WHEN THE KEY BRIDGE CAME DOWN WAS BOUNCING BACK.

TARIFFS CAN'T BE GOOD, RIGHT?

>> NO.

BECAUSE THE PORT RELIES ON VOLUME.

ONCE YOU REDUCE THE VOLUME YOU REDUCE THEIR REVENUE.

THAT REALLY IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL FACTOR.

AND THE OTHER THING IS WILL THIS TARIFF CREATE A TRADE WAR WHICH WILL SLOW THE WORLD ECONOMY WHICH WILL CREATE A SLOWDOWN IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE.

THE PORT, AGAIN, COME BACK MUCH LIKE BALTIMORE HAS COME BACK IN MANY INSTANCENESS AND NOW FACES ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

>> Jeff: SPEAKING OF CHALLENGES, YOU WONDER WHAT THIS DOES TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE WEATHER WAS AWESOME TODAY AND TOMORROW, MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT THE SPRING SELLING SEASON FOR HOMES.

ONE POSITIVE WOULD BE LONG-TERM INTEREST RATES COMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING LAID OFF THEY MIGHT LEAVE THE AREA AND SELL?

>> YEAH, THE FED HAS PAUSED ITS INTEREST RATES DECISIONS AND WE'VE SEEN MORTGAGE RATES HOVER HIGHER THAN THEY WERE IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS DECADE.

YOU MIGHT SEE SOFTENING OF HOME PRICES BUT I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO COLLAPSE ENTIRELY.

BUT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE SOMEONE TO AFFORD THE MORTGAGE NOTE.

>> Jeff: AND LONG-TERM RESET, I HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHAT SHOULD MARYLAND?

>> MARYLAND SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE KEY INDUSTRIES THE GOVERNOR PUT INTO THE BUDGET PLAN, CYBERSECURITY, QUANTUM, AIR AND SPACE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY.

>> Jeff: WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK TO EXPLAIN QUANTUM COMPUTING AS SOON AS WE CAN.

Dr. DARAIUS IRANI TOWSON'S REGIONAL ECONOMIC STUDIES INSTITUTE.

I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NEXT WEEK MPT WILL PREMIER A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRANK SESNO WHICH HAPPENED -- FRANK FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE.

WE SPOKE WITH PAUL WIEDEFELD ON FRIDAY.

>> WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PORT WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES EARN A LIVING?

THERE WAS FEAR AFTER THE BRIDGE CAME DOWN BLOCKED THE CHANNEL FOR WEEKS THAT THE SHIPPING BUSINESS MIGHT MIGRATE ELSEWHERE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF CARGO LEVELS?

>> THAT HAS BOUNCED BACK VERY WELL.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THERE WAS WEEKS OUT.

BUT THAT'S BOUNCED BACK WELL.

THE CRUISE BUSINESS BOUNCED BACK EXTREMELY WELL BECAUSE WE FOUND IS THAT PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE THAT USE THE CRUISE TERMINAL THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO BALTIMORE QUICKLY.

THE QUALITY OF THAT EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PORTS THEY WERE USING.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

AND THERE WAS AN IMPACT FOR PEOPLE THAT THEIR INCOMES AND BUSINESSES DEPENDED UPON WORKING THE PORT.

THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR LED AN EFFORT LAST YEAR TO EASE THAT PAIN.

BUT, I THINK, THAT IS ALL BACK IN STRIDE.

THOSE ARE ALL GOOD SIGNS FOR THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK WE'RE JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM REALLY BIG THINGS HAPPENING AT THE PORT OF BALTIMORE PARTICULARLY WITH THE DOUBLE STACKED TUN WILL.

WHEN THAT OCCURS AND THE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING IN TRADE PORT ATLANTIC AND PORTS AMERICA ALL GOOD SIGNS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PORT OF BALTIMORE.

>> THE KEY BRIDGE WAS A GATEWAY >> THAT BRIDGE WAS OUR CONNECTION.

>> THEN IT VANISHED IN SECONDS.

>> THE WHOLE BRIDGE COLLAPSED.

>> MEET THE FIRST-RESPONDERS.

>> WE WERE ALLnd HANDS ON DECK.

>> EXAMINE THE CHALLENGES.

>> IT IMPACTED THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD.

>> AND LEARN HOW OUR STATE MOVES FORWARD.

>> WE ARE MARYLAND TOUGH.

AND WE ARE BALTIMORE STRONG.

>> THE KEY BRIDGE DISASTER.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON MPT.

>> Jeff: AND YOU CAN WATCH IT NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE 19TH AT 8:00 P.M. ON THE BOOK BEAT THIS WEEK WE'RE JOINED BY JOHN MILLER THE AUTHOR OF THE LAST MANAGER OUT HOW EARL WEAVER TRICKED, TORMENTED AND REINVENTED BASEBALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I LOVE THIS BOOK AND I LOVE THE IDEA.

TELL ME WHY SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY REGION SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN SOMEBODY WHO LAST MANAGED BACK IN THE 80s?

>> WELL, TWO REASONS.

IF YOU ARE A BASEBALL FAN HE IS A TRANSFORMATIVE FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL.

EARL WEAVER WAS THE FIRST MANAGER TO USE A RADAR GUN, THE FIRST TO USE DATA IN THE DUGOUT.

THE ARCHITECT OF THE POWERFUL MANAGER OF YESTERYEAR.

WHO COULD ELECTRIFY STADIUMS TO SHOUT AT UMPIRES.

IF YOU ARE NOT A FAN THIS IS AN AMERICAN STORY.

EARL WEAVER WAS FAMOUS IN THE 1970s.

HE GAVE A PLAYBOY INTERVIEW IN '73, AND THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNING WRITER AN SELL ADAMS, STEVEN KING, TED TURNER THAT IS THE CELEBRITY HE HAD.

LIKE THE COWBOY, THE ASTRONAUT, THE BASEBALL MANAGER IS AN AMERICAN FIGURE, FROM THE AGE OF TRAIN TRAVEL.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] THROUGH THE STORY I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND ABOUT THE PARTISAN WHO LEARNED FORT D WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF COMPUTERS.

HE STANDS FOR THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD BEFORE COMPUTERS.

>> Jeff: THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK ABOUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HE WAS EARLY ON ANALYTICS AND DATA WHEN THAT MEANT A STACK OF INDEX CARDS.

AND THAT HE WAS ALSO HAD JUST KNOWLEDGE OF PROFANITY AND FOUR LETTER WORDS?

>> HE WAS A BRIGHT GUY.

AND WAS NOT GOING TO DO THE BOOK UNLESS I FOUND NEW MATERIAL.

HE IS A FAMOUS BASEBALL HISTORY IS QUITE FAMOUS.

I WANTED TO FIND NEW STUFF.

WHAT EXPLAINS BOTH HIS SMARTS HIS INTELLIGENCE AND HIS TOUGHNESS HIS COARSENESS IS UPBRINGING.

HE GREW UP IN ST. LOUIS HIS FATHER FIGURE WAS A MOBSTER HIS UNCLE BUD WHO TOOK HIM TO GAMES AND RAN ILLEGAL BASEBALL OPERATIONS.

AND HE GREW UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A MAJOR LEAGUE STADIUM THAT HAD THE BROWNS BEFORE THEY MOVED TO BALTIMORE AND THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.

EARL BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER THERE WAS A GAME EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE WOULD GO TO THE GAMES WITH UNCLE BUD AND WATCH HIM TAKE BETS ON BASEBALL AND GAMBLERS HAD A SOPHISTICATED UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANICS OF BASEBALL.

THEY WERE PROTO ANALYTICS.

HIS TOUGHNESS AND DARK SIDE AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS AUTHORITY FIGURES CAME FROM THE STREETS OF ST. LOUIS AND THIS ROUGH UPBRINGING ALONG WITH HIS BRAINS HIS HUSTLER IS CRAVING FOR AN EDGE.

>> Jeff: LET'S STAKE A MOMENT TO LISTEN TO EARL WEAVER SWEET TALKING A MEMBER OF THE UMPIRING CREW.

>> THIS CREW IS JUST A MESS.

>> Jeff: JOHN, HE DID JUST NOT LIKE UMPIRES OR MAYBE A DEGREE OF SHOWMANSHIP AT WORK HERE?

>> SO, AGAIN HIS UP BRING WAS IN THE ST. LOUIS IN THE 30s.

HIS DAD DID THE LAUNDRY FOR THE CARDINALS AND THEY HAD ONE OF THE GREAT ACTS OF ALL TIME IN BASEBALL.

THEY HAD THEIR OWN COUNTRY COWBOY BAND AND TOURED VAUDEVILLE.

HE GREW UP ARGUING WITH UMPIRES WAS PART OF THAT SPECTACLE.

HE HAD A TEMPER AND DARKNESS.

HE HAD THIS TERROR OF LOSING BASEBALL GAMES THAT LED HIM TO RUN OUT THERE AND LOSE HIS TOP.

THIRDLY THERE WAS A STRATEGIC ELEMENT HE WOULD TAP A COACH ON THE SHOULDER AND SAY WATCH THIS AND JAM HIS HAT ON HIS HEAD TO POKE THE UMPIRE IN THE CHEST AND ELECTRIFY STADIUMS.

ONE WRITER SAID IT WAS LIKE WATCHING ELVIS PLAY VEGAS.

>> Jeff: PART OF IT WAS HE WAS SHORT SO YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO A NAPOLEONIC THING WAS THAT THE CASE?

>> YES.

JIM PALMER SAID THAT EARL WOULD WALK TO THE TOP OF THE POUND FOR A VISIT SO HE WOULDN'T BE TOO DIMINISHED.

EARL UMPIRES HIS HORRIBLE NICKNAMES LIKE SON OF SAM, THE SERIAL KILLER FROM THE 70s.

THE ONLY ONES HE HATED DESCRIBED HIM AS SHORT.

HE HATED MICKEY ROONEY AND THE FRENCH PAINTER.

HE COULDN'T STAND THAT.

THAT COMPLEX AND HE WAS A BRILLIANT PLAYER AND SUFFERED A REJECTION FROM THE MAJOR LEAGUES PROBABLY BECAUSE HE WAS SHORT IN THE 50s THEY DIDN'T THINK SOMEBODY THAT SHORT COULD PLAY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

THAT WAS A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER AND HE HAD THAT VULNERABILITY AND CHARMING FOR PLACES LIKE BALTIMORE AND ST. LOUIS, UNDER DOG CITIES.

HE HAD THAT UNDERDOG CHARM.

AND THAT IS WHY HE IS A FOLK HERO IN MARYLAND STILL.

>> Jeff: HE DIDN'T PLAY IN THE MAJORS.

HE PLAYED IN THE MINORS AND THEN BECAME A MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER REALLY YOUNG, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AGE 25.

ONE OF THE BIG REVEALS IN MY BOOK HE WAS WAY CLOSER TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES THAN ANYBODY REALIZED.

HE SIGNED AT AGE 17 HAD FOUR SEASONS AND THREE HE WAS TEAM'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER WITH THE CARDINALS.

IN 1952 HE WAS INVITED TO SPRING TRAINING AND PLAYS WITH SLAUGHTER WITH HIS BALTIMORE IN THE 90s PLAYING WITH CAL RIPKEN.

AND HE PLAYED WELL.

HAD A COUPLE HOME RUNS SECOND IN THE TEAM ON RBI AND CUT ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY BY THE MANAGER WHO WANTED THE BACK OF THE INFIELD SPOT FOR HIMSELF.

SO IT'S ARGUABLE WHETHER EARL DESERVED THAT PROMOTION AND HE THOUGHT HE DID.

IT DROVE HIM INTO DEPRESSION AND BROUGHT HIM INTO MANAGING.

HE WAS THE BAR.

>> Jeff: HE MANAGED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ADD VENT OF FREE AGENCY.

HOW DID THAT CHANGE THINGS IN BASEBALL AND HOW DID IT CHANGE THINGS FOR EARL.

>> WHEN HE REACHED THE MAJOR LEAGUES THE SALARY WAS $7,000 A YEAR.

THE AVERAGE SALARY WAS 20,000 BY 76.

THERE WAS FREE AGENCY AND MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS WITH CATFISH HUNTER AND REGGIE JACKSON.

EARL WAS A COMPANY MAN HE RESISTED THE UNIONIZATION TO THE POINT OF MARVIN MILLER THREATENING A LABOR COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM.

AND HE EVOLVED.

THIS IS THE CAPACITY HE HAD WAS TO EVOLVE HE EMBRACED FREE AGENCY HE THOUGHT IT LED TO BETTER BASEBALL AND PLAYERS BEING MOTIVATED AND THOUGHT THE PLAYERS DESERVED THE MONEY.

HE WISH THE OWNERS SPENT MORE MONEY THEY WOULDN'T KEEP DON BAYLOR OR REGGIE JACKSON.

AND HE IS THE ONLY MANAGER WITH HIS TEAM FOR THE FIVE YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER FREE AGENCY.

THE BOOK IS AN, EMPLOYERRATION OF LABOR CONDITIONS.

HE CAME UP HE WAS MAKING 400 A MONTH.

HE WAS IN BASEBALL FROM THE TIME IT WAS POVERTY WAGES TO THE TIME WHERE HE WAS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY BY THE TIME HE RETIRED.

>> Jeff: HIS WIN-LOSS RECORD, OF COURSE, WAS TERRIFIC.

HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE TO HAVING GREAT PLAYERS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK OR MAYBE HIS SKILL?

>> SO THERE'S NO BOOK UNLESS HE WAS A WINNER.

THE ORIOLES AVERAGED 97 WINS WITH EARL WEAVER.

THEY WON SIX DIVISION TITLES AND THEY WON FOUR OF THOSE AND WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES FOUR TIMES.

HE WAS A WINNER IN FACT, THE MANAGER SINCE 1969, WITH OVER A THOUSAND WINS.

HE HAS THE HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE.

A GOOD CASE FOR HIM BEING THE GREATEST MANAGER OF THE MODERN ERA.

HE HAD, THE FIRST FEW YEARS HE HAD SUPER TEAMS WITH FRANK AND BROOKS A LOT OF PEOPLE COULDN'T MANAGE THOSE TEAMS.

THE PLAYERS CHANGED HE STAYED AND KEPT WINNING AND FEW MANAGERS HAVE STAYED WITH THE SAME TEAM FOR 14 YEARS AND FEW HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT TEAMS A SUPER TEAM AND PITCHING AND DEFENSIVE TEAM AND A TEAM AFTER FREE AGENCY WHERE THE ORIOLES WOULD NOT SPEND MONEY.

WITH EARL THEY KEPT WINNING BECAUSE HE KNEW HOW TO PUT TOGETHER TEAMS AND I ARGUE HE IS SECOND TO NONE IN BUILDING TEAMS I GIVE HIM A LOT OF CREDIT FOR HOW GOOD THE ORIOLES WERE.

AND LOOK AT THE RECORD BEFORE AND SINCE.

>> Jeff: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN THIS?

YOU GREW UP PARTIALLY WERE RAISED IN EUROPE BUT WITH BALTIMORE ROOTS?

>> YES, MY MOM IS FROM INDICATE CONTINUESVILLE AND MY DAD FROM BOWIE MARYLAND AND THEY MOVED TO EUROPE IN 1976 TO PLAY CLASSICAL MUSIC.

YOU GROW UP IN A FRENCH ENVIRONMENT WITH PARENTS WHO ARE MUSICIANS YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH BASEBALL.

ME IT WAS ON A SUMMER TRIP TO THE U.S.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ORIOLES AND I HAD A GRANDFATHER SENDING ME CASSETTES OF GAMES.

SO I WAS SMITTEN AND READ EVERYTHING I COULD.

THE ORIOLES WHEN I WAS COMING-OF-AGE WERE NOT VERY GOOD I WAS FASCINATED BY EARL WEAVER LIKE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE FASCINATED ABOUT READING ABOUT JULIUS CAESAR.

WHEN I WAS RECRUITED TO PLAY IN MARYLAND AND IN MY 20s I COACHED A LOT I BECAME FASCINATED WHAT MADE EARL WEAVER A GREAT MANAGER AND THE MECHANICS AND CRAFT OF BASEBALL.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] MANUAL IN THE HALL OF FAME IN COOPERSTOWN AND READING THROUGH IT AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EARL WEAVER BROUGHT TO THE TABLE I LEARNED A LOT AND I APPLY AS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH HERE IN PITTSBURGH.

>> Jeff: HOPE YOU HAVE A TERRIFIC SEASON IN PITTSBURGH.

JOHN MILLER THANK YOU.

THE BOOK IS THE LAST MANAGER.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]