Episode 49 -- Tom Drees

Tom Drees pitched three no-hitters in 1989 for Triple-A Vancouver, including back-to-back starts. He pitched three no-hit innings in the Triple-A All-Star Game. He was an integral part of the team that won the Pacific Coast League title. But the Chicago White Sox never called him up to the majors and many believe there was an ulterior motive.

On July 6 of that year, when their paychecks had not arrived, the Vancouver Canadians players staged a walkout and refused to play a game, citing it wasn't the first time checks were late. The story became national news, the White Sox were livid, and the organization took it out on the players the rest of the season.

We reflect on Drees' no-hitters, waiting two more years to finally get called up to the major leagues, and how his teammates set the stage three decades ago for publicizing the inequities for minor league baseball players that exists to this day.