Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast

Hawaiian shirts are a regular fixture of Charlie Manuel’s wardrobe. They fit his vibe perfectly since he spends much of his year in Florida. It was during our conversation with the World Series winning Manager that he and his wife, Missy, argue over colors. He prefers the monochrome color pallets, while she likes to pick out brighter patterns for him to wear. That’s where our conversation with Charlie at Phillies Spring Training begin. He’s been in Clearwater since Pitchers and Catchers reported to the facility. We flashed back to the evolution of Spring Training. Charlie’s first major league camp was in 1968, and back then, it was intended for getting all players the out-of-shape players game ready again. Charlie recalled having to go to the hospital during his first camp. Conditioning is a lot lighter nowadays. Then there was the Tony Bennett story. After a game in Toronto, Charlie met Tony in a hotel elevator. He blurted out, “Hey Tony Bennett, sing us a song.” Tony’s reaction – and the way Charlie recalle