Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe

Tim Flannery’s life has revolved around three constants: family, baseball, and music. Thesethree simple things have become a kind of a holy trinity for Flannery, or Flan as most folks callhim. This triad has fortified him since he could swing a bat. He found his calling(s) among them,and he’s carved out legacies. When asked which one means more to him, he’ll ask you tochoose air, water, or food. For Flan, it’s all or nothing.

Early Years- Flan was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1978. A successful first year in the minors got himcalled up to the big leagues in 1979, but he spent the next few years bouncing back and forthbetween the Padres and their triple A affiliate. Before his first full season with the Padres in1982, Flan married and he and wife, Donna, started a family. He was with the Padres when theywent to their first World Series in 1984, and he retired from the team in 1989. He remains a fanfavorite for his all-out hustle. During those days, it was not uncommon to see Flan with his guitar in hand. He was listening toand playing the music of Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, and Emmylou Harris. His uncle, HalSmith – hero of the 1960 World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates – was one of Flan’s earliestbaseball and musical influences. “My uncle Hal was also a songwriter and carried a Gibson J 35everywhere. I grew up never knowing you couldn’t do both.”

Flan did some broadcasting but was soon drawn back to the game as a manager in the minorleagues while his growing family established roots in San Diego. In 1996, he became the third-base coach for the San Diego Padres; a new chapter in his baseball career began and his musicalcareer was just starting to blossom.

Middle Years- Between 1997 and 2002, Flan released five albums of his original music, and the Padres went tothe World Series again in 1998. During these years for Flan, his routine become predictable:baseball season, off-season, record, play gigs, repeat. He came to call his baseball off-seasonshis music seasons. As a songwriter, Flan writes about what he knows: his family roots, love, andhe surrender that comes when you understand some things are out of your control. He writesabout baseball and being on the road, the call of the highway, and the beacon of home. Overthe years he assembled an ace band, the Lunatic Fringe, that bring his songs roaring to life invarious musical genres like bluegrass, country, and rock.

In 2002, after leaving his coaching position, Flan turned again to broadcasting, doing Padres’pre- and post-game shows on TV and radio. And he consistently made more music. He releasedalbums in 2004 and 2005, building a loyal fan base through multiple performances with hisband.In 2007, he joined the coaching staff of the San Francisco Giants under the leadership of BruceBochy, with whom he’d worked in San Diego. This decision would lead Flan to baseball glory asthe Giants would go on to win the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014 further endearing himto baseball fans, many of whom also became fans of his music. He released four albums duringhis time with the Giants. He retired from coaching shortly after the final World Series win in our world 2014.

Flan not only continued to make music, but he also made a difference. After a horrific incidentafter the Opening Day game in 2011, Giants fan Bryan Stow was in critical condition. Thisviolence spurred Tim Flannery to action. He and his wife, Donna, founded the Love Harder Project, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to educating the masses and putting a stop to the atrocities born from bullying and acts of violence. He raises funds for this effort with the proceeds he makes from his performances, and the 501(c)3 organization also takes donations from the public.

Recent Years- After retiring from coaching, Flan did pre- and post-game shows for the Giants and was also an analyst for the MLB Network. He released Three Ring Circus in 2015, Last of the Old Dogs in 2017 and, in 2019, The Light, made its way into the world. In the fateful year of 2020, when all the world shut down, Flannery retreated to his ranch on the central coast of California. He was now a grandfather, and he spent much of his time with his family. But 2020 still had surprises in store for Flan. In October, he was rushed to the hospital and was ultimately diagnosed with a life-threatening staph infection. After nearly two months in the hospital, where he faced some of his darkest moments, he was released to the care of his ever-loving family who nursed him back to health over the next six months. As ever, he relied on those constants: family, music, and baseball to get him through. His family helped throughout his illness and recovery and continue to raise him up; he slowly began strumming his guitar and writing; and although he is no longer on the field, he still follows the sacred game.

Now- In 2021 and beyond, Tim Flannery is ready to get back to playing shows with his band. “I am soexcited. The Lunatic Fringe is made up of my best friends who happen to be world class musicians. Jeff Berkley, Shawn Rohlf, Chris Grant, and when we can get him, Doug Pettibone. It’s the best team I’ve ever been on.” the Tim Flannery wrote a collection of new songs inspired by his recent experiences for his 15th album, Waiting On A Miracle which was released in 2022.

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