From 1976 to 1992, the San Francisco Giants were mostly mediocre, rarely loved in their own city and constantly looking for a way to get out of frigid Candlestick Park. But, author Lincoln Mitchell says, this forgotten era helped lay the groundwork for all the success the team has experienced in the 21st century. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Greg Larson spent two years as a clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds. Along the way, he encountered future major leaguers like Trey Mancini and Josh Hader and found out some harsh truths about life in the minor leagues. The author joins us to discuss his experiences and why he thinks baseball needs to treat its players better. Here's a link to the Slate article about Blake Bailey mentioned during the interview: https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/blake-bailey-lusher-journals-teacher.htm...
The Minnesota Twins of the 1960s featured a slew of stars who ended the long run of American League dominance by the New York Yankees in 1965. Author Thom Henninger joins us to discuss how Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Billy Martin and Co. navigated America's most turbulent decade. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Tony Lazzeri was baseballs first Italian-American star and a key member of the legendary Murderers' Row Yankees of the 1920s. But today the Hall of Fame second baseman is mostly remembered for one moment of failure. Lawrence Baldassaro joins us to explain why Lazzeri's legacy goes far beyond striking out in the 1926 World Series. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Award-winning author Steve Steinberg returns to the podcast to discuss the remarkable careers of Jack Quinn and Howard Ehmke, two mostly forgotten pitchers from the early 20th century.
When baseball free agency began in the late 1970s, many owners predicted doom for the national pastime. Instead, the game entered an era of sky-rocketing attendance, growing popularity and small-market World Series winners. Paul Hensler joins us to discuss how baseball fever gripped the nation from 1977 to 1989. Support the pod: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson may have seemed like an odd couple, but the gregarious kid from Georgia and the grumpy All-Star catcher were the best of friends on the Yankee squads of the early 1970s. Author Dan Epstein joins us to explain how he and Blomberg got together to tell the story of an unlikely friendship that ended in tragedy. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
What's it like to be on the losing end of one of the most famous World Series in baseball history? Author Erick Sherman talked to Bill Buckner, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and other members of the 1986 Boston Red Sox to find out. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore
Before World War I, Grover Cleveland Alexander was "The Great Alexander," a superstar pitcher who dominated the National League. After the war, Ol' Pete's life began to spiral out of control as he struggled with alcoholism, PTSD and epilepsy. Author Jim Leeke discusses the remarkable story of a man who went from the heights of the national game to dying alone in a rented room. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Katie Casey is baseball mad, and so are we! It's Opening Day AND it's the 300th episode of Baseball by the Book, so we're celebrating by taking an in-depth look at "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Author Tim Wiles joins us to discuss how a hit 1908 song became an American classic. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
In 1948, the Cleveland Indians became the first integrated major league team to win the World Series. Author Luke Epplin joins us to discuss Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, Bob Feller, Bill Veeck and the rest of the history-making squad that has been overshadowed by Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Author Andrew Forbes joins us to discuss his new collection of essays on Ichiro Suzuki and other baseball topics, including the 2003 Tigers, Tris Speaker and Pedro Guerrero. Plus, we chat about baseball under the shadow of COVID and nuclear annihilation. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Dave Parker was one of baseball's brightest stars in the late 1970s, a batting champion with power and a deadly right arm. But injuries and drugs derailed his All-Star career before he found redemption and happiness in his hometown of Cincinnati. Author Dave Jordan joins us to discuss the autobiography he co-authored with Parker. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
The Hollywood Stars were the team of, well, Hollywood stars. For two decades, Gilmore Field in Los Angeles was the place to be for celebrities from Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart to Barbara Stanwyck and Groucho Marx. Author Dan Taylor joins us to discuss the remarkable run of the Pacific Coast League franchise that pioneered air travel and TV and introduced the world to baseball uniform shorts. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballby...
From Dolf Luque to Fernando Valenzuela to Pedro Martinez, Latin Americans have long played baseball in the United States — and faced significant racism and cultural barriers along the way. Samuel Regalado joins us to discuss his efforts to chronicle the experiences of Latin major league players. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore
Carlton Fisk hit one of baseball's most legendary home runs, but his long career was much more than that. Doug Wilson joins us to discuss the hard-nosed catcher who became a star in his native New England before an acrimonious split with the Red Sox led him to Chicago's South Side. Along the way, he became one of baseball's most respected — and hated — players. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
In a little more than a decade, Glenn Burke went from starting in the World Series to living on the streets of San Francisco, addicted to drugs and suffering from the disease that would eventually kill him. But Burke's role as the first openly gay player in MLB — and the inventor of the high five — has ensured his legacy will live on. Author Andrew Maraniss joins us to discuss the remarkable life and tragic death of a baseball pioneer. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merch...
For a period in the early 1920s, Ken Williams rivaled Babe Ruth as the top slugger in baseball — kind of. Author Dave Heller returns to the podcast to talk about the brief but memorable career of the St. Louis Browns star who became MLB's first 30-30 man and ignited a Hall of Fame debate that continues to this day. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
Gene Moore was a teenage baseball phenom with big league dreams before World War II derailed his plans. But when his second chance came along years later, he wasn't sure he wanted to take it. Author Gary W. Moore (Gene's son) joins us to discuss the story of one man's hopes and disappointments amid the bloodiest conflict of the 20th century. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
"Don't be like me," Mickey Mantle told the world toward the end of his life. Emerging from a troubled childhood in Oklahoma, the Mick became baseball's biggest star under the bright lights of New York. But alcoholism and other personal demons trailed him throughout his life, overshadowing his prodigious home runs and World Series rings. Acclaimed author Jane Leavy returns to the podcast to discuss her biography of Yankee legend. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespri...
Even the pros were once kids on the sandlot. Author Kelly G. Park talked to 18 former ballplayers about their experiences playing youth baseball. He joins us to discuss what he learned from his interviews with Boog Powell, Lou Piniella, Lou Whitaker, Fergie Jenkins and many others. Park's website: www.justlikemethebook.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
From "The Odd Couple" to "City Slickers" to "The West Wing," the Amazin' Mets have been at the center of pop culture. Author David Krell joins us to discuss Dave Kingman, Casey Stengel, the Beatles' legendary Shea Stadium concert and more. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore
Zack Wheat was among the greatest players in the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of baseball's most storied teams. So why has the Hall of Fame outfielder been largely forgotten? Author Jon Niese joins us to discuss the life and career of the hard-hitting lefty. Support Baseball by the Book on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Triple-A baseball. So close the Show, yet so far away. Best-selling author John Feinstein spent the 2012 season traveling to Durham, Pawtucket, Lehigh Vally, Norfolk and points in between to tell the story of a group of men living on the cusp of a dream. Feinstein joins us to discuss former World Series hero Scott Podsednik; veteran manager Charlie Montoya; career minor leaguer Jon Lindsey; one-time All-Star Nate McLouth and more. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy Base...
For generations of fans, Tom Seaver was the Mets: A charismatic superstar pitcher who led the franchise to the heights of glory. Despite that, the Hall of Famer had a strained relationship with the team that twice let him go under controversial circumstances. Veteran journalist Bill Madden joins us to discuss the remarkable life of the man called Tom Terrific. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy merchandise at www.teespring.com/store/baseballbythebookstore...
Sandy Koufax or Hank Greenberg? Or maybe Lou Boudreau? It's a special Hanukkah episode as author Howard Megdal joins us to debate the greatest Jewish baseball players of all time, from Lip Pike to Alex Bregman. Find out why Ryan Braun has hurt his standing, why Rod Carew doesn't make the list and why one former player belongs in the International Clown Hall of Fame. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore...
In February 1947, as the Cuban League pennant race culminated in a dramatic showdown between bitter rivals Almendares and Habana, Brooklyn Dodgers minor leaguer Jackie Robinson arrived on the island with his teammates for spring training. César Brioso joins us to discuss the remarkable confluence of historic events in baseball-mad Old Havana. Support Baseball by the Book at www.Patreon.com/baseballbythebook
Inspired by "The Glory of Their Times," Danny Peary spent two years in the early 1990s traveling the country searching for retired baseball players. The result was a massive oral history featuring interviews with 65 former stars, journeymen and bench warmers from "Baseball's Greatest Era, 1947-1964." Peary joins us to discuss his classic book. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook .
Dick Lundy. Chino Smith. Cannonball Redding. These men are among the greatest baseball players who ever lived, author Steven Greenes says, yet they are not in the Hall of Fame. Using newly discovered statistics and long-forgotten expert polls, Greenes makes the case that these three and 21 other pre-integration Black players belong in Cooperstown. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook .
Every day for a year, Ethan Bryan played catch. Along the way, he met former big leaguers, inspirational children, international stars and everyday Joes. The author joins us to discuss what he learned from a journey that took him to an Iowa cornfield, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and countless places in-between. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook.
