From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson, and this is Unfictional.

Unfictional is KCRW's program of stories and original documentaries. It's a part of KCRW's independent

producer project, a laboratory for independent radio producers, writers, and performers.

And today on the program, The Ballad of Doc Ellis.

Even if you don't like baseball, you're going to like this baseball story.

Today's unfiction is devoted to one player named Doc Ellis, a pitcher who played in the 1970s, a guy so

colorful, so complex, so unusual, and it's going to take this whole episode just to do him justice.

Keeping in mind that the 70s are already one of the most colorful eras of Major League

Baseball, literally, some of the godiest most psychedelic uniforms are worn during literally. and guys named Doc, Sipio, and Mudcat.

Doc Ellis made his mark, started the All-Star game in 1971.

He was born and grew up here in Los Angeles.

In describing Doc Ellis, you find yourself explaining him

with stories and anecdotes like the time he intentionally hit the first three

Cincinnati batters at the start of a game in 1974 or the time he wore curlers on the field, or the time he was being heckled

from the stands and talked the heckler's kids into inviting him over to their house for dinner,

or when he got maced by a stadium security guard because the guard wouldn't accept

Doc's World Series Ring as proper ID.

He was controversial and complicated.

He was fiercely competitive and crafty. He was loved in the black community, but to the

white press he was a militant. And he had an incredible sense of style.

Doc Ellis pitched baseball in the 70s largely for the pirates.

She pitched when the age one, Walt Frazier, Dr. Jay,

...