x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

This Week In Baseball History

Mike Bates and Bill Parker

This Week In Baseball History is a weekly podcast devoted to the history of baseball, hosted by Mike Bates and Bill Parker, the co-founders of The Platoon Advantage and writers on many fine websites.

history

All Episodes

01:54:39

Episode 378 - One Random Game VI

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/08/15

Every now and again, Mike and Bill like to take a break from the exciting world of actual baseball history and delve into the much more relaxing regular season games where nothing historic happens to talk about whatever strikes their fancy. The randomizer this week chose September 11, 1987's contest between the Pirates and Phillies. In the process of talking about the game, they share about Kevin Gross, the MLB Corporate All Stars, the best platoons, all the guys the Yankees traded away in the '80s,

en

01:23:43

Episode 162 (Re-run) - Dave Winfield Commits Murder...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/08/07

With Mike on vacation this week, we dig once again into our archives to present a classic TWIB History. One of the best ballplayers and most incredible athletes in modern history, Dave Winfield's baseball career should speak for itself. Unfortunately, two figures get in the way of that: George Steinbrenner and a stupid seagull, which was accidentally killed by a Winfield warmup toss 42 years ago this week. Mike and Bill examine all Winfield's life, including the conflicts that came to overshadow so

en

01:26:12

Episode 377 - To Infinity, But Not Beyond Because...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/08/02

Some guys don't get mentioned on baseball history podcasts because they're underrated. This week's guys don't get mentioned on most baseball history podcasts because they are, in fact, properly rated. They, for one brief moment at least, stunk on ice. But they did so in a way that is monumentally rare. They all allowed runs without recording an out. On the 107th anniversary of Harry Heitmann becoming the fourth pitcher to join this exclusive club, Mike and Bill look back on the 14 infinauts who

en

01:37:18

Episode 376 - The Mets Get Caught At Cooter's (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/07/25

The 1986 Mets are one of the truly iconic teams in baseball history, with a roster full of unbelievable talent, unbridled machismo, and borderline criminal tendencies. And 39 years ago, several of the mildest mannered of those Mets were arrested in a Houston bar called Cooter's Executive Games and Burgers after a night of debauchery. With certified Mets sicko and Defector Editor David Roth (@davidjroth.bsky.social), who wrote about the incident this week, Mike and Bill look back at the incident,

en

01:35:48

Episode 375 - The New 4,000 Hit Club (with Adam...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/07/18

For so long, we've thought that the 4,000 hit club was one of the most exclusive in baseball history, with just two members. But on the 98th anniversary of Ty Cobb's 4,000th hit, Mike and Bill are joined by Sports Reference's Executive Director of Design, Negro Leagues expert and Latin baseball researcher Adam Darowski (@adarowski.bsky.social) to talk about his presentation at SABR 53, and how much larger that club actually is. The answer, and the players on it, will surprise you and hopefully

en

01:32:25

Episode 374 - The Cobra

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/07/11

The 1970s era cool just wafted off of Dave Parker, the gigantic Pirates slugger who was one of the best, if not THE BEST players in baseball in the last half of that decade. Parker's persona, his play, and his essence were all larger than life and are still clear almost 50 years later. That bigness, however, led to problems later in his career, both on and off the field, but ultimately set up a fine career denoument as a productive DH, and a Hall of Fame induction scheduled for later this month

en

01:08:24

Episode 157 (Re-run) - Larry Doby Is First and Second

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/07/04

With the boys still recovering from SABR last week in Dallas, it's a perfect time to revisit the great Larry Doby, who never gets nearly enough attention. It's probably fair to say that no more important player in baseball history has been talked about less than Larry Doby, the second African-American to break the color line as a player and a manager, which happened 73 and 42 years ago this week, respectively. Mike and Bill try to rectify that just a little, looking back at Doby's life before

en

01:23:15

Episode 298 (Re-run) - Chicago Chicanery, or It's 3...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/06/28

Mike and Bill are off this week at SABR and are getting this classic episode up late. In that spirit, please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 298: With the White Sox threatening to leave the Windy City and abscond to Tampa if they didn't get a new stadium 37 years ago this week, and with the Illinois legislative session winding down to the end of its session and the funding bill a few votes short, he weirdest thing happened. Time, on (and only on) the floor of the state legislature, stopped

en

01:31:31

Episode 373 - The Big Poison Podcast

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/06/20

While his nickname suggested otherwise, Paul Waner was good for whatever was ailing the Pirates for 15 of his 20 big league seasons. But 83 years ago this week, after moving on from the Bucs, Big Poison would cement his Hall of Fame legacy by becoming the seventh player to reach 3,000 career hits. Mike and Bill look back on a deserving Hall of Famer and find are surprised to find that his nickname was a misnomer on both ends. He was neither big, nor dished out more poison than he ingested. Plus,

en

01:25:33

Episode 372 - Don Drysdale Dominates

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/06/13

Don Drysdale was one of the most intimidating pitchers to ever take a big league mound, and his career seemingly reached its peak 57 years ago this week when he broke the record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched just before having the record snapped at 58 2/3 innings. Mike and Bill look back at this icon of the 1960s and are surprised to find out, while he became an ace almost immediately, it took a few years for Big D to pick up his enduring reputation as a brushback artist. Plus, happy

en

01:26:32

Episode 371 - Lou Gehrig, Early Streaker

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/06/06

When we think of Lou Gehrig, we usually think about one of two things: his tragic early death or his record breaking consecutive games played streak, which began this week 100 years ago. This week, we celebrate the happier of those two aspects of his life and career, looking back at the 2,130 games that made up Gehrig's incredible accomplishment. Through it, you get a sense of just how determined, exceptional, and lucky Laruppin' Lou was until the moment his luck and body gave out. Plus, happy

en

51:49

Episode 51 (re-run) - Eddie Grant Goes to War

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/05/30

Due to a personal conflict, Mike was unable to help with a new episode this week. So, in honor of Memorial Day, we are re-running a very early episode of TWIB History, in which Mike and Bill celebrate the life and career of Eddie Grant, an underappreciated Phillies, Reds, and Giants third baseman who gave his life in the Argonne Forest in the closing days of World War I. Grant's sacrifice was commemorated by the Giants 104 years ago this week with a touching memorial at the Polo Grounds, which was

en

01:09:00

Episode 370 - The Red Sox Close the Doerr On Number One

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/05/23

Bobby Doerr is not talked about much outside of Boston these days, but was a pretty big deal back in the 1940s, when he suddenly elevated his game to become a perenial All Star and a Hall of Fame caliber player. The Red Sox recognized that 37 years ago this week, when they made him just the third player to have his number retired by the club. Mike and Bill look back on the career of this largely silent Hall of Famer, finding one of the biggest prospects of all time, a surprising and mysterious

en

01:10:24

Episode 201 (Re-run) - Joe DiMaggio Goes Streaking

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/05/16

It's one of the most iconic records in sports, Joe DiMaggio's unbelievably improbable 56 game hitting streak, that began 84 years ago this week. With Kyle Schwarber's 47 game on-base streak now snapped, Mike and Bill thought it was appropriate to revisit the greatest streak of them all, going step by step through this incredible accomplishment and marvel at the talent and luck it took to ultimately pull it off. Plus, happy birthday to Chicken Wolf and Gentleman Jim Hickman!

en

01:19:49

Episode 369 - The Kerry Wood Game

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/05/09

Sometimes it takes a while for a prospect to reach his full potential. Sometimes, all it takes is five starts. That's what happened with Kerry Wood, who not only pitched the game of his life 27 years ago this week, but possibly the greatest game anyone has ever pitched, striking out 20 Astros batters while walking zero and allowing one scratch hit. Mike and Bill look back on this game, the phenomenon Wood caused, and on his surprisingly impressive career, even though it was derailed by injuries.

en

01:27:58

Episode 368 - This Podcast Is Rated Double-X

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/05/02

One of the most awe-inspiring superstars of all time, Jimmie Foxx didn't start out that way, joining Connie Mack's Athletics at the age of 16. Foxx spent three years mostly ridiing the bench while he matured, during which, 100 years ago this week, he collected his first hit. Mike and Bill look back on The Beast's incredible career and sad end and find a lovable good-natured man who turned into a monster with a bat in his hands. Plus, happy birthday to Chris Carpenter and Nip Winters! And farewell to

en

01:21:59

Episode 367 - Talking Talking To Sadaharu Oh (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/04/25

Every great story begins somewhere, and the world home run king's journey to 868 career home runs began 66 years ago this week, when Sadaharu Oh hit his first career home run. To celebrate that, and the man who became a baseball god on the other side of the globe, Mike and Bill talk to MLB.com's Michael Clair. During the Tokyo Series to kick off the 2025 regular season, Michael scored a rare interview with the great Oh-san, and has lots to say about what it's like to meet a living legend. Plus,

en

01:22:07

Episode 366 - Smith Realee Smashes the Saves Record

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/04/18

Between the generations of three inning late game relievers like Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage and the one inning high leverage relievers like Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, there was Lee Smith. Smith bridged the gap between these groups, starting his career as a stopper and ending it as a closer. Along the way, 32 years ago this week, Smith set the major league record for career saves, which lasted until Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera blew past him in the 2000s. Mike and Bill look back at

en

01:04:14

Episode 365 - Homer Race, 2000

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/04/11

The Joker famously believed that all it took to drive someone insane was one bad day. But Gordon didn't have to go through what MLB pitchers did 25 years ago this week, on April 7, 2000, when batters hit a combined 57 home runs around the league, setting a new record. Mike and Bill look back on this absolutely wild day and the players who made it so, finding significant milestones, the start and end of careers, and a whole lot of weirdness. Plus, happy birthday to Red Smith and Fred Frankhouse! And

en

01:20:07

Episode 194 (Re-run) - The Pilots Crash and Burn

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/04/04

55 years ago this week, if the story is to be believed, a truck waited at a rest area in the middle of Utah, waiting to find out if it should travel west or east. In the balance hung the hopes of two cities that each wanted a big league baseball team. In Part 1 of a two part episode, Mike and Bill look at the troubled first year of the Seattle Pilots and the messy process that left them on the verge of moving to Milwaukee. Plus, happy birthday to Gary Pettis and Tommy Holmes! Part 2: Bud Selig and

en

357 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Biography Flash

Inception Point Ai