Baseball by the Book: Recent Episodes
Justin McGuire
Author Steve Gietschier joins us to discuss his new book chronicling baseball history from the 1930s to the 1950s. We discuss how MLB survived the Depression, the rise of the radio, World War II, the end of the color barrier and arrival of big league baseball in California.
Award-winning author Joe Posnanski returns to the podcast to talk about 50 moments (and more) that tell the story of baseball history and why the sport means so much to so many.
Nobody doubts Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente are among the most important baseball players ever. But Dorothy Kamanshek? Dolf Luque? Masanori Murakami?
Author Lincoln Mitchell joins us to discuss how his selection of important baseball players differs from other such lists — and why so many Giants make the cut.
Tim Hagety, broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, takes us on a journey through 1,001 of the zaniest moments in minor league baseball history. Along the way, we'll meet wild bulls, sprinting weiner dogs, greased pigs and pitchers locked in bathrooms.
Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases. Cal Ripken Jr.'s legendary streak began, although no one knew it at the time. The Big Red Machine broke down as the Cincinnati Reds hit rock bottom while Steve Garvey and Tommy Lasorda found themselves immersed in controversy. And George Steinbrenner fired his manager — twice. At the end of it all, Whitey Herzog's speedy St. Louis Cardinals took on Harvey Keuenn's hard-hitting Milwaukee Brewers in a classic World Series.
J. Daniel joins us to discuss the memorable 1982 baseball season.
Ryan McGee spent the summer of 1994 working as a $100-a-week intern for the Class-A Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League. Three decades later, McGee —now a senior writer for ESPN — has written a memoir about his misadentures in the low minor leagues. He tells us why he loves Asheville's historic McCormick Field, recounts how he witnessed a comical on-field brawl and explains how he knows what it was like to kiss Elvis.
Let's remember some guys.
Author Bill Ballew joins us to discuss his new biographical dictionary of every MLB player who debuted in the 1970s — all 1,312 of them, from Don Aase to Richie Zisk. Ballew spent decades researching and writing this massive collection.
Steven Goldman joins us to discuss his collection of essays inspired by his podcast The Infinite Inning. From Pete Rose and Henry Aaron to Ski Melillo and Pee-Wee Wanninger, Goldman explores the interconnectedness of baseball and the greater world.
Author Tom Alecia joins us to discuss the remarkable life and career of Dave "Beauty" Bancroft, one of baseball's most unlikely Hall of Famers.
Author Andy McCue joins us to discuss how the American League mismanaged integration and expansion, allowing the National League to forge ahead in attendance and prestige.
Mark Armour joins us to discuss the history of cheating in baseball, from the 19th century to current issues like electronic sign stealing and Spider Tack.
In 1955, a group of Black Little Leaguers in South Carolina was denied a chance to play for the chamlpionship because of the color of their skin. Author Chris Lamb joins us to discuss the heartbreaking story of the Cannon Street All-Stars and youth baseball's civil war.
Raph Carhart joins us to discuss a new SABR collection that looks at how Jackie Robinson's legacy has been reflected and shaped by pop culture and literature. He gives his thoughts on "The Jackie Robinson Story," "42," plus a Broadway play, a comic book, children's books, TV movies and much more.
Author Peter Golenbock joins us to discuss his new oral history collection, which includes more than a dozen interviews with former baseball players conducted over the course of five decades. From Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Roy Campanella to journeyman like Ellis Clary and Kirby Higbe, the players, all now deceased, bring a long-gone era of baseball back to life.
We're in the catbird seat as author James R. Walker joins us to discuss his biography of legendary baseball broadcaster Red Barber.
For Jackie Robinson Day, we make this classic bonus episode from our Patreon page available to everyone. Adrian Burgos, Mark Armour and Lisa Alexander join us to take a deep dive look at "Baseball's Great Experiment," by Jules Tygiel.
In the early 20th century, Charlie Murphy was the most successful — and controverisal — owner in the major leagues. Author Jason Cannon joins us to discuss the iconoclast behind the Chicago Cubs dynasty.
Ted Sullivan, once known as "the Daddy of Baseball," is almost entirely forgotten today. Author Pat O'Neill joins us to discuss the life of the Irish immigrant who discovered Charles Comiskey, took baseball international and coined the word 'fan.'
We're back! Author Jacob Kornhauser joins us to discuss the remarkable and inspiring story of former Oregon State outfielder Max Gordon.
Where does Pete Rose rank on the list of baseball's all-time best players? Was Barry Bonds better than Henry Aaron? Where do players like Sadaharu Oh and Josh Gibson belong on a list of the top 100 players? Author Joe Posnanski joins us to discuss those questions and many more.
Now available for all. Dan Epstein, Josh Wilker and Willie Steele join us to discuss "The Bad News Bears," "Bang the Drum Slowly" and more baseball movies from the 1970s.
We are making available to everyone for the first time our All-Star panel discussing "The Glory of Their Times." Rob Neyer, Jon Leonoudakis and Skip Desjardin join Justin McGuire to discuss Lawrence Ritter's classic oral history.
Andy Strasberg turned 13 in 1961, the same year his hero Roger Maris made baseball history. Strasberg joins us to discuss how that remarkable year changed his life and led to an enduring bond with the Maris family.
In honor of the upcoming "Field of Dreams" game, we are making this patron-only bonus episode available to everyone.
No decade had as many beloved baseball movies as the 1980s. From "The Natural" in 1984 to "Field of Dreams" in 1989, Hollywood loved the National Pastime.
So grab some popcorn and listen as our All-Star panel discusses the controversial ending to the "The Natural," the inaccuracies of "Eight Men Out" and whether Crash Davis could take Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn deep. Justin McGuire is joined by J Daniel, Jason Foster and Willie Steele.
The St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 World Series, but perhaps none is as special to its fans as the miracle 2011 title. Author Benjamin Hochman joins us to discuss David Freese, Tony La Russa, Albert Pujols and a legendary Game 6.
For four decades, Giants owner Horace Stoneham was a pivotal figure in baseball. He brought Willie Mays to the majors, pioneered player development in Latin America and Asia and helped bring baseball to the West Coast. So why has he been largely forgotten? Author Steven Treder joins us to discuss Stoneham's life and legacy.
For a short time in the 1950s, tiny Crowley, La. was the toast of the baseball world as its Class C Millers drew enormous crowds and won multiple pennants. Then it all ended as quickly as it began. Author Gaylon White joins us to discuss a remarkable tale of murder, mystery and tragedy.
In 1920, as rumors about the previous World Series swirled, the White Sox battled the Indians and Babe Ruth's Yankees for the American League pennant. All the while, questions abounded: How much did baseball know about the 1919 fix? Why were the crooked players allowed to play? Were they still throwing games? Don Zminda joins us to discuss a remarkable baseball season.
Walter Alston lacked the flash of fellow managers like Casey Stengel, Leo Durocher or Tommy Lasorda. But the Ohio native was one of the most successful skippers in major league history with more than 2,000 wins, seven pennants and four World Series titles. Author Alan Levy joins us to discuss how a career minor leaguer forged a Hall of Fame managerial career.
Major league baseball came to Texas and returned to New York. Maury Wills and Don Drysdale dominated, but the Dodgers lost the pennant to the hated Giants. Meanwhile, John Glenn orbited the Earth, Americans did the Twist and JFK faced down the Soviets. Author David Krell joins us to discuss the momentous year of 1962.
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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.
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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.html
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
From the MLB Draft to international academies, the role of scouting in baseball has evolved considerably since the days of "Moneyball." Kiley McDaniel and Eric Logenhagen take us on a deep dive into the modern world of talent evaluation and player development.
From the streets of St. Louis to the beaches of Normandy to a spot behind home plate at Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra became a baseball immortal and an American icon. Author Jon Pessah joins us to discuss his new, definitive biography of the legendary Bronx Bomber catcher.
Brad Balukjian opened a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards and then embarked on a road trip across the United States to search for the players on the cards. Join us as the author describes his quest to find stars like Carlton Fisk and Dwight Gooden as well as lesser lights like Rance Mullinicks and Jaime Cocanower.
In 1980, baseball's most controversial and colorful manager took over the lowly Oakland A's. The result was a tumultuous three-season reign that may well have saved baseball in Oakland. Author Dale Tafoya joins us to discuss the era of Billy Martin, Rickey Henderson and Charlie Finely.
Baseball fans are living in the age of the home run, with new records being obliterated seemingly every year. Author Jared Diamond joins us to discuss how a revolutionary rethinking of the traditional baseball swing has transformed the way the game is played, with more strikeouts, longer games and fewer balls in play.
Author Jacob Kornhauser joins us to discuss the stories of eleven men who played in just a single major league baseball game and how it affected their lives. From Larry Yount to Jeff Banister to Ron Wright, here are the heirs to Moonlight Graham.
What's in a name? To author D.B. Firstman, everything. From Johnny Dickshot and Drungo Hazewood to Biff Pocoroba and Dorsey Riddlemoser, Firstman takes us on an magical moniker tour of baseball's best and most unusual names.
For the first time, Baseball by the Book goes on the road. Host Justin McGuire moderates a three-author panel at the NINE Conference in Tempe, Ariz. Joins authors James Brunson, Jeremy Beer and Ron Rapoport as they discuss the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues and talk about the best books on black baseball.
You've seen "A League of Their Own," now get the rest of the story. Author and illustrator Anika Orrock shares with us the amazing story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Find more of the author's work at anikaorrock.com.
MLB Network host Bill Ripken is not a fan of analytics, to say the least. The former major league infielder joins us to discuss his thoughts on WAR, OPS, pitcher wins, launch angle and more. Plus, Ripken discusses his late father, legendary Orioles coach Cal Ripken Sr.
Smoky Joe Wood was one of the most remarkable players of baseball's deadball era, putting together a legendary career as a pitcher and outfielder in just 11 seasons. Author Gerald Wood joins us to discuss his award-winning biography of Wood.
Over the course of 25 years, Cumberland Posey transformed the Homestead Grays from a semi-pro team into a juggernaut that won nine straight Negro National League pennants. Author James Overmyer joins us to discuss the Hall of Fame owner's lasting legacy on black baseball.
On July 2, 1963, future Hall of Famers Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal faced off in an epic pitcher's duel that lasted 16 innings. In a game full of stars and decided by one run, each hurler tossed more than 200 pitches. Jim Kaplan joins us to discuss a game that has attained legendary status over the years.
In 1910, the race for the American League batting race between superstars Ty Cobb and Napoleon Lajoie became a national obsession. Author Rick Huhn joins us to explain why the bizarre ending of the race remains controversial 110 years later.
Author and legal expert Howard Wasserman joins us to discuss the history and controversy of baseball's most misunderstood rule, the Infield Fly Rule. Drawing on interviews with experts, legal arguments and a study of every infield fly play in eight Major League seasons, Wasserman tells the complete story of the rule.
Author Jane Leavy joins us to talk about her classic biography of Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax. Leavy discusses the legendary lefty's Hall of Famer career, his aversion to the spotlight, his Jewishness, his 1965 perfect game and more.
The Houston Astros are paying a big price for stealing signs, but author Paul Dickson says sign stealing has been going on since baseball's earliest days. Dickson joins us to discuss the rich legacy of baseball's oft-controversial hidden language.
Chief Bender, the greatest Native American in baseball history, played his Hall of Fame career facing a kind of pressure few other players could even imagine. Author Tom Swift joins us to discuss his award-winning account of Bender's remarkable life.
Forty years ago, Sparky Lyle and Peter Golenbock caused a sensation with "The Bronx Zoo," a rowdy, foul-mouthed look at the Yankees' tumultuous 1978 season. Golenbock joins us to look back at the classic book and its enduring legacy.
Featured song: "Go Mental," the Ramones.
Author Chris Zantow joins us to discuss how car dealer Bud Selig and a group of Milwaukee citizens led the effort to bring a major league team back to the city following the departure of the Braves for Atlanta. Along the way, Selig & Co. ran into stiff opposition from baseball's power brokers, who didn't see Milwaukee as a viable market.
In 1978, San Francisco was shaken by the assassination of George Moscone and Harvey Milk and the massacre at Jonestown. Meanwhile, the city's punk rock scene exploded and Vida Blue, Jack Clark and the Giants provided an unexpected pennant race. Lincoln Mitchell joins us to tie it all together.
Although few fans in the United State may know it, baseball has a long and culturally important history in Europe. Author Josh Chetwynd joins us to discuss the impact of the game in the Netherlands, Italy, Great Britain and more than 40 other European countries.
In the summer of 1911, a group of murderers, rapists and other hardened convicts at the Wyoming State Penitentiary garnered national attention through their prowess at baseball. Author Chris Enss joins us to discuss a remarkable tale of corruption, politics, violence and home runs in a state that was transitioning from the Old West into the modern world.
Find out more about the author at chrisenss.com.
The 1948 American League pennant race was one of the greatest in history, featuring legendary stars, an iconoclastic owner and a one-game playoff to determine which team would advance to the World Series. Author David Kaiser joins to discuss Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, Satchel Paige, Bill Veeck and more.
Many experts believe Oscar Charleston is among the handful of best players in baseball history. So why is the former Negro Leagues star virtually forgotten today? Jeremy Beer joins us to discuss the life and legacy of the man who dominated black baseball in the 1920s and 1930s.
Jean Fruth has photographed amateur baseball players from Cuba to Oakland, from Japan to the Bronx and other baseball hotbeds throughout the world. Fruth and former Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson join us to discuss her book of more than 250 photos, as well as their efforts to grow amateur baseball around the globe.
In 2018, the Red Sox won the World Series with perhaps the best team ever in the franchise's storied history. Author Alex Speier joins us to explain how Boston spent years methodically developing a generation of elite prospects who led the team to the promised land.
Over the past two decades, Major League Baseball has put a lot of effort into honoring Jackie Robinson as a heroic man who broke the color barrier. But Robinson's legacy has been sanitized and oversimplified, says author David Naze. Robinson was a complex man who engaged in controversial political activity, had public clashes with other prominent African-Americans and didn't hesitate to criticize MLB.
Featured song: "This is My Country," the Impressions.