The year was 1977 and the Eagles were riding high on their career. Joe Walsh just released his first solo album and the band had taken much-needed vacation from their careers. During their time off, the Eagles played softball games against various local radio station staff. The musicians proved they weren’t just talented in the studio and on the stage; they could also hold their own athletically on the field. That athleticism combined with a snarky critique by a Rolling Stone writer led the band to an all-out softball face off against Rolling Stone in 1978.
The story leading up to the infamous softball game started out seemingly innocent enough.
Charles M. Young, Rolling Stone’s gossip writer at the time, wrote a critique of the Eagles losing a softball game to a local radio station in 1977 in the Random Notes column. Young’s note was in reference to both Joe Walsh’s solo album and the loss on the field “The rest of the Eagles, on their first vacation in three years, seem more interested in finding a softball team they can beat – having lost in recent weeks to teams fielded by Andrew Gold, Jimmy Buffett, employees of several San Francisco radio stations and their own road crew (rollingstone.com).” The writer was very surprised to receive a letter from Glenn Frey firing back. The singer-songwriter challenged the group to a game and said “What you have failed to mention is that the Eagles won two out of three games against Jimmy Buffett. Anytime you pencil-pushing desk jockeys want to put on your spikes, we’ll kick your ass, too (rollingstone.com).” According to Young, the insulting banter went back and forth for some time before they finally set up a date to play against one another. Played in May 1978, the game pitted writers and editors of the magazine against the Eagles.
The game was on and stakes were high. A bet of $5,000 donated to UNICEF was on the table, as well as, bragging rights. Rolling Stone’s team consisted of Charles M. Young, Cameron Crowe, Ben Fong-Torres, and Joel Klein dubbing themselves the Gonzos from New York. The Eagles team had all five band members plus road crew, and they showed up wearing metal cleats. Jann Wenner complained to manager Irving Azoff before the game and Azoff fired back while wearing an equally sarcastic t-shirt about Jann Wenner. The crowd was full of celebrities; all in support of the Eagles. Jerry Brown, the governor of California at the time, was also in the crowd and supporting the band. Everyone wanted to see the journalists go down. Go down they did.
The Eagles were a far better team than Rolling Stone. The band beat out the magazine 15-8. The teams made peace at a restaurant after the game. Later, Henley and Frey wrote in Rolling Stone “In the end, it was the errors that cost RS the game. Their first error was to call the Eagles sissies in Random Notes (rollingstone.com).” When it was all said and done the Eagles not only won over their critics, but also proved they could hold their own on the field.
The seventies were a very successful time for the Eagles. When they finally had the opportunity to take a vacation, they played softball against various teams including local radio stations. After a critique from Charles M. Young in Rolling Stone ignited a bantering challenge, the magazine and the band fought it out on the softball field. The Eagles won the game that day, and also won over their critics.
Wanna watch a short video on the game? Hit it up here.
Jenna Jakes, WOGB
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