Hooks & Runs
A Podcast About Baseball, Music & Culture
-
Roger Metzger, long-time Houston Astro shortstop appeared on the locally produced podcast Hooks & Runs last week.
“Roger Metzger, the Houston Astros’ Gold Glove winning shortstop in the 1970s, appeared on the locally produced podcast, Hooks & Runs’ most recent episode last week.”
The Astros acquired Metzger, a Fredericksburg, Texas native, prior to the 1971 season and he became the team’s shortstop that year.
Metzger won the National League Gold Glove Award in 1973 and twice led the National League in fielding percentage at the position.
Metzger also lead the Major Leagues in triples two times in his career.
Metzger played in more than 1,000 games for Houston over seven seasons.
He finished his career in 1980 with the San Francisco Giants.
Metzger recalled the only rainout in Astrodome history on the show.
This happened on June 15, 1976, when eight inches of rain fell in the hours prior to the game creating dangerous flood conditions in South Houston.
Officials postponed the game after determining some players and umpires could not reach the ballpark due to the flooded streets.
“We weren’t rained out,” Metzger said about the experience, “we were rained in.”
Metzger also discussed his rise from walk-on at St. Edwards University to becoming the Chicago Cubs’ first-round draft pick in the 1969 MLB draft.
He talked about Astro teammates like César Cedeño, Tommy Helms, J.R. Richard and Larry Dierker.
He also talked about Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson, against whom Metzger hit his first career home run.
Hooks and Runs’ co-hosts are Bay Citians Craig Estlinbaum and Rex von Pohl and Andrew Eckhoff, a Bay City native who resides in Fredericksburg.
The podcast topics are baseball, music and culture.
The podcast began in March 2020 and has featured numerous well-known guests including authors, musicians, film directors, sports writers and historians.
Former Red Sox and Expo pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee appeared on the podcast as a surprise guest in 2021.
“We were so happy to have Roger Metzger on our podcast,” said Estlinbaum.
“Metzger was a fixture for the Astros for many years and his memories from those years are special to long-time Astro fans.”
Hooks and Runs is a weekly podcast with new episodes released each Thursday.
Find out more at hooksandruns.com or listen by searching “Hooks and Runs” on most major podcast platforms.