Nice Guys Finish Last
Summary
Lexicon Valley explores the origin of the phrase "nice guys finish last," tracing it to Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher. In 1946, Durocher ranted about "nice guys" after being baited by announcer Red Barber, famously mentioning cement mixers. Although he never used the exact phrase, a 1948 Cosmopolitan article attributed the sentiment to him, cementing his association with the idiom.
Topics discussed
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Introduction to Lexicon Valley and the episode theme
Context: The 'Nice' series and the 'Nice Guys Finish Last' idiom
Identifying Leo Durocher as the source of the phrase
Leo Durocher's reputation for fighting and ejections
The 1946 incident: Red Barber trolling Durocher in the dugout
Durocher's reaction to being called a 'nice guy'
Direct quotes from Durocher's diatribe about nice guys
Durocher pointing at the Giants and the cement mixer quote
Media coverage and the phrase going viral in 1946
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Sponsor: Gatorade (Spanish)
The Cosmopolitan article and the first use of the exact phrase
Attribution of the phrase to Durocher despite lack of original coinage
The truthiness of the sentiment and the Cosmopolitan article context
Durocher's autobiography and final attribution of the phrase
Conclusion and sign-off
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