Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in MLB history to throw two straight no-hitters in consecutive starts. As John Means attempts to tie that feat in Queens on Tuesday, we resurface an old interview with Mike, Chris, and Vander Meer from 1996. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike and the Mad Dog

Classic Mike & The Mad Dog: Johnny Vander Meer, 5/21/96

Then-Mets general manager Omar Minaya appeared on "Mike and the Mad Dog" on Jan. 25, 2006, just as the back pages were accusing him of showing preference toward signing Latino players. “I understand when you’re the first Hispanic general manager, there are going to be people that are going to look at everything that you do and try to analyze it or try to say, ‘He’s doing this because of that,'” Minaya said. “The fact is growing up in New York City, I never think about race. “The New York Mets, what we’re trying to do as an organization is put the best team on the field.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2006 Interview With Omar Minaya

Boomer Esiason and Dan Reeves were among the parade of big-name guests to wish the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show a happy 10th anniversary in November 1999. At the time, Reeves was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who were struggling a year after reaching their first Super Bowl, and Esiason was the color commentator for “Monday Night Football.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Reeves And Boomer Esiason

 Derek Jeter’s best season came in 2006, when he batted .343 with 14 homers, 97 RBIs and 118 runs. But he only finished second in American League MVP voting, being edge out by Minnesota’s Justin Morneau. Mike and the Mad Dog thought Jeter should have won, and on Nov. 21, 2006, the day the results were announced, they wanted answers. What was even more perplexing for Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is how one voter put Jeter sixth on his ballot. Mike and the Mad Dog tracked down that writer, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, and put him on the spot. “To me, you take Jeter out, are the Yankees as good a team? No. Are they a playoff team? Probably still a playoff team when you look at that lineup,” Cowley said. “So I mean, I base it a lot on that, and I talk to people. You grab some guys from around the American League and tell them: ‘Which guy do you think is the MVP? Which guy do you fear the most in that lineup?’ And I heard more people say they fear A-Rod and Cano more than they fear Jeter.” “They’re not watching Yankee games,” Russo fired back. Earlier in the show, the guys talked to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger about why he voted Morneau first and Jeter second. “Everybody has their own definition of MVP,” Price said. “That’s kind of the beauty of it is that it’s open to interpretation.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outrage Over Jeter MVP Snub In 2006

In this "Mike and the Mad Dog" clip, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo tries to call a horse race. There are only a couple of problems: Chris doesn’t have binoculars, and he’s not sure where the finish line is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russo Calls A Horse Race

On June 11, 2007, Yankees great Bill “Moose” Skowron appeared as a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." He reflected on his career, including playing for the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers team that beat the Yankees in the World Series -- it wasn't the cherished memory you might expect. The six-time All-Star also told tales of his time as a Yankee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2007 Interview With Moose Skowron

On Jan. 25, 2006, then-Mets manager Willie Randolph appeared on "Mike and the Mad Dog" to discuss the previous season and the one that was on the horizon. Randolph talked about Aaron Heilman, Kazuo Matsui, Xavier Nady, showdowns with the Phillies and more. The Mets, of course, went on to win the NL East in 2006 and came within one game of reaching the World Series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2006 Interview With Willie Randolph

The day after “The Great One” ended his legendary playing career with an emotional Madison Square Garden goodbye, Wayne Gretzky was a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." In the April 19, 1999, interview, Gretzky, who spent the final three seasons of his 21-year career with the Blueshirts said: “I’m going to miss all of it. Going to the rink for practice. I’m going to miss the games. I’m going to miss the fans. I’m going to miss sitting around on the road talking to the writers about hockey. … But most of all, I’m going to miss my teammates.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 1999 Interview With Wayne Gretzky

Eli Manning is calling it a career. In this installment of the "Best of Mike and the Mad Dog," we share an interview with Manning from Aug. 5, 2008. It was from when the guys stopped by Giants training camp. Of course, Big Blue's stunning upset of the previously unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII sixth months earlier was still a hot topic of discussion.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2008 Interview With Eli Manning

In this “Mike and the Mad Dog” clip from Aug. 5, 2008, Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, interview then-Giants coach Tom Coughlin during his first training camp after winning Super Bowl XLII. As it turned out, this was the last show Mike and Chris did together before their split was announced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2008 Interview With Tom Coughlin

As the 2006 NBA season was tipping off, then-Commissioner David Stern appeared as a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." In the interview, Stern, who died last week after suffering a brain hemorrhage, discussed the league's push to improve player behavior both on and off the court, the game's young superstars at the time, the Nets moving to Brooklyn and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2006 Interview With David Stern

On June 3, 2003, the Yankees held a news conference announcing that Derek Jeter was being named team captain. Neither Mike Francesa nor Chris “Mad Dog” Russo believed it was that big of a deal. “I guess it’s noteworthy because it’s the Yankee captain, but … to me, he’s been the captain since he got here,” Francesa said. “The Yankees gotta take a chill pill,” Mad Dog said. “Nobody cares. “It doesn’t mean anything who’s the silly captain on the Yankees,” he continued. “It means nothing whatsoever.” The Yankees then called in to dispute the assertion that they were calling it a “major” news conference, and Russo started to back down from his criticism of the team. Later in the show, Russo flipped his lid after seeing all the pomp and circumstance on TV. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yankees Name Jeter Captain, Russo Flips Out

There's nothing better than a passionate caller. In this classic segment from "Mike and the Mad Dog" from 2002, a caller, Jerome, gets all worked up about the Yankees' Jason Giambi, who was slumping at the time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Caller

In this “Mike and the Mad Dog” clip from March 23, 2005, Mike Francesa discusses some of his memories of Mickey Mantle, which leads to a discussion about Whitey Ford as well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mickey Mantle Memories, A Whitey Ford Discussion

As John Minko and two of his buddies turned 50 years old, they went on a Yankees road trip to relive their youth. Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo were bewildered by some of the details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Mike and the Mad Dog

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