Steve Dalkowski may have been the fastest pitcher in the history of baseball. So why did the legendary lefty never play an inning in the major leagues? Author Brian Vikander joins us to discuss the mythic career and troubled life of the real Nuke LaLoosh. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
From Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to Tom Seaver and Derek Jeter, New York has produced more legendary baseball players than any other city. Author Mark Healey joins us to discuss his all-time New York team. Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle? Yogi Berra or Mike Piazza? The debates are endless and will start countless arguments. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Eddie Cicotte was a stocky right-hander who used a dizzying array of junk pitches to become one of the Deadball Era's top hurlers. Then he threw it all away. Author David Fleitz joins us to discuss the sad tale of "Knuckles," the man who played a key role in fixing the 1919 World Series ― and a key role in exposing the scandal. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Arky Vaughan was one of baseball's greatest shortstops, a nine-time All-Star who dominated in the high-scoring 1930s. So why did it take him more than three decades to get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame? Author Frank Garland joins us to discuss the remarkable life and tragic death of the forgotten Pirates great. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Baseball has been lying about its own origins for more than 150 years, author Thomas W. Gilbert says. Half-truths, exaggerations and outright lies have been the order of the day from Alexander Cartwright to Abner Doubleday to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The real story of how baseball emerged as the national game in the 19th century is far more fascinating than the officially sanctioned myths, Gilbert says. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbytheboo k...
On the surface, legendary general manager Buzzie Bavasi and journeyman outfielder Al "The Bull" Ferrara wouldn't seem to have much in common. But Ken LaZebnik says Ferrara embodied the "intangibles" Bavasi valued as he put together his championship Dodgers teams. The author traces the relationship of the two friends in 1965, a season that saw Los Angeles win the World Series but also saw the Bull banished to the minors. To support Baseball by the Book, go to www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook...
The Society for American Baseball Research is celebrating its 50th year. Mark Amour joins us to discuss this collection of 50 essential SABR articles from legendary baseball thinkers and writers like Bill James, Pete Palmer, Lawrence Ritter and John Thorn. Become a Baseball by the Book patron at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Since the earliest of big league baseball, deaf players have been part of the National Pastime. Author R.A.R. Edwards joins us to share the stories of "Dummy" Hoy, "Dummy" Taylor, Curtis Pride and other hearing-impaired players who had an impact on the game both on and off the field. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook.
Twenty years ago this month, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda led a group of minor leaguers to an improbable Gold Medal win over the mighty Cubans at the Summer Olympics in Australia. Author David Fanucchi, who was there to see the whole thing, joins us to discuss how Ben Sheets, Doug Mientkiewicz and the rest shocked the world. Support Baseball by the Book on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythe book
An Ohio farm boy who never finished high school, Cy Young went on to win more games than any pitcher in history and become synonymous with pitching excellence. Along the way, he helped establish the American League, threw the first World Series pitch and bridged the gap between 19th and 20th century baseball. Lew Freedman joins us to discuss the remarkable story of the legendary Hall of Famer.
The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords, featuring Hall of Famers like Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell, are considered by many to be the greatest team in the history of the Negro Leagues. Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin join us to discuss the legendary squad, its racketeer owner and the star who was missing that season.
In 1995, the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees met in something called the American League Division Series, a new round of postseason play necessitated by the addition of a wild card. The result was an epic clash that changed the course of baseball history. Author Chris Donnelly joins us to discuss Don Mattingly, Ken Griffey Jr., Buck Showalter and more.
For four decades, Jay Horwitz was the beloved PR director of the New York Mets. Horwitz joins us to tell tales of Gary Carter, Daryl Strawberry, Mike Piazza, Sidd Finch and more. Plus, he explains why he finally decided to go public with a longtime healthcare secret.
After nearly nine decades on the planet, baseball legend Willie Mays has plenty of stories to tell and life lessons to impart on younger generations. We are joined by author John Shea, who spent countless hours interviewing Mays and a host of others, including Hank Aaron, Barack Obama and Barry Bonds, to produce a memoir of the Say Hey Kid's life and legacy.
For eight years, "the Hall Ball" went on a journey to have a picture taken with every member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, living and dead. Author Ralph Carhart joins us to discuss why he set out on this epic quest and describes the challenges, chuckles and unmarked graves he found along the way.
In 1995, the once-lowly Cleveland Indians dominated the American League and slugged their way to the World Series for the first time in four decades. Author Zack Meisel joins us to discuss Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton and the rest of team that captured the heart of a generation of Cleveland baseball fans.
A phenom at 22, nearly out of baseball at 23, Roy Halladay bounced back to become one of the dominant pitchers of the 2000s before injuries derailed his career. Along the way, he earned two Cy Young awards and pitched a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter. Todd Zolecki joins us to discuss the remarkable, tragic story of a pitcher who was groomed for greatness.
Emily Nemens joins us to discuss her debut novel, which tells the story of one spring training for the fictional Los Angeles Lions. From superstar slugger Jason Goodyear to a middle-aged divorcée Tamara Rowland and aging organist Lester Morrow, meet the people whose lives revolve around the national pastime each February and March.
Before there was the Little League World Series, there was the Little World Series, played at Cleveland's League Park in 1941. Author Ruth Hanford Morhard joins us to talk about the remarkable story of a single mother who pioneered youth baseball in the years before World War II. Click here to see "Bringing Up Baseball," the movie mentioned in the episode.
Author Ron Rapoport had numerous conversations with Ernie Banks in anticipation of collaborating on an autobiography with the Hall of Fame slugger. That book never materialized, but Rapoport was able to put those interviews — and more than 100 others — to to use in writing the definitive account of a complicated man who hid behind the legend of Mr. Cub.
Rod Carew joins us to discuss his legendary career, his troubled childhood and how he was persevered through family tragedy and life-threatening medical problems. The Hall of Famer also gives his thoughts on the state of today's game, racism in baseball and the Cooperstown case for his longtime teammate Tony Oliva.
Did Babe Ruth really call his shot? Author Thomas Wolf takes us back to the baseball season of 1932, which included an off-field shooting, a spectacular pennant race and one of the most storied events in baseball history — which may not have happened at all.
Author Kat Williams joins us to discuss the remarkable life of Isabel "Lefty" Alvarez, who came to United States at fifteen, speaking no English, to play professional baseball. Williams take us on a journey from Cuba to the AAGPBL and through years of anonymity and alcoholism before baseball once again gave her life meaning.
Baseball's advanced statistics can be confusing. WAR. FIP. wOBA. wRC. What does it all mean? Anthony Castrovince joins us to discuss how to make sabermetrics accessible to all fans, even those who are most comfortable with traditional metrics like wins, batting average and RBIs.
In the early days of the 20th century, a group of young immigrants formed the first professional and semi-professional Japanese baseball teams on either side of the Pacific. But for more than a century, the story of these trailblazers had been lost to history. Robert K. Fitts joins us to explain how he unearthed the fascinating tale of Harry Saisho, Ken Kitsuse, Tom Uyeda and others who made baseball an integral part of the Japanese-American experience.
Three lively Mexican-American communities once stood in the hills that are now home to Dodger Stadium. Author Eric Nusbaum joins us to discuss an incredible story of impassioned immigrants, Red Scare politics and how the dream of baseball in Southern California affected countless lives.
Jim Bouton was a true baseball revolutionary, challenging a conservative baseball establishment that was desperately trying to keep a changing world at bay. Mitchell Nathanson joins us to discuss the extraordinary life and legacy of the man who wrote "Ball Four" and did so much more.
The anchoring effect. Outcome bias. The sunk-cost fallacy. Keith Law, senior writer for The Athletic, joins us to discuss how psychological and economic principals can help us understand baseball — and vice versa.
After the Nationals started the 2019 season 19-30, nobody gave them much of a shot to even make the playoffs. But led by a veteran pitching staff and some exciting young stars, Washington rebounded to win the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Washington Post reporter Jesse Dougherty, who was there to see it all, joins us to discuss the Nats' improbable run.
From Cape Cod to Alaska and many places in between, Will Geoghegan spent a summer visiting the nation's wood bat collegiate leagues. The author joins us to discuss his journey and explain why so many fans fall in love with baseball at this level.
