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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

01:03:56

Episode 110 - Lefty Grove Hits His Target

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/07/24

Lefty Grove is one of the ten best pitchers of all time. But because of a late start to his major league career, 78 years ago this week, the A's and Red Sox legend won the last game of his career, his 300th. Mike and Bill look back at his legendary career and why it got started so late. Plus, happy birthday to Cliff Johnson and Roy McMillan!

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01:03:15

Episode 109 - Remembering Jim Bouton (with special...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/07/17

Very few players in the 20th century transformed the way baseball was perceived as much as Jim Bouton, the hotshot Yankees starter who, after arm injuries and a trade to the Seattle Pilots, wrote perhaps the greatest baseball book of all time. Bouton passed away last week, so Mike and Bill talk about his life, his book, and the legacy of both, along with special guest Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) of NBC Sports. Plus, happy birthday to Terry Pendleton!

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51:51

Episode 108 - Bowie Kuhn Eventually Gets It Right

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/07/10

We have spent a lot of time over 107 previous episodes making fun of former Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, but this episode we really take the time to catalogue what made him such an exceptionally frustrating boss of baseball on the 48th anniversary of Kuhn reversing course and deciding that Negro Leaguers would be full members of the Hall of Fame. We talk about the unlikely hero who popularized the idea and the tumultuous process by which it finally became a reality. Plus, happy birthday to Bill Melton

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01:06:12

Episode 107 - The Big Train Pulls Into No-Hit Town...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/07/04

Walter Johnson was probably the greatest pitcher of the first half of the 20th century until suddenly feeling his age in 1920. Weirdly, that was also when he threw one of the greatest games of his career, his only no-hitter, 99 years ago this week. Mike and Bill talk with Steven Goldman (@gostevengoldman) about The Big Train's career and legacy, and about how no one keeps a candle lit in the memory of those old Senators. Plus, happy birthday to Al Newman and Cesar Tovar, and farewell to Tyler

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35:05

Episode 106 - Ryne Sandberg Has a Game

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/06/26

Few second basemen could match Cubs great Ryne Sandberg, and, of those, few could match Sandberg's epic performance 35 years ago this week, when he singlehandedly brought his team back from the brink of defeat against Bruce Sutter and the Cardinals on national TV. With Bill off this week, Mike digs through Sandberg's life and career, including his strange retirement and comeback. Plus, happy birthday to Joe Kuhel!

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01:11:27

Episode 105 - Bo Jackson Joins the Royals

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/06/20

There may have never been an athlete as singular as Bo Jackson, a two sport star whose potential and flashes of brilliance tantalized the world until it all came crashing down. On the 33rd anniversary of him signing with the Kansas City Royals, Mike and Bill look back on Bo's careers, his downfall, his comeback, and his legacy. Plus, happy birthday to Wally Joyner and Doug Mientkiewicz!

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55:21

Episode 104 - The Shooting of Eddie Waitkus

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/06/12

Bernard Malamud's iconic novel The Natural has many inspirations, but its most iconic may be the shooting of Roy Hobbs. The inspiration for it occurred 70 years ago this week, when Eddie Waitkus was gunned down in his hotel by an obsessive fan. We go through the life of Waitkus, the tragic shooting that changed everything, its aftermath for both victim and perpetrator, and the seminal work it inspired. Plus, happy birthday to Dusty Baker and Dave Cash!

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01:24:52

Episode 103 - Charley Radbourn Wins 300 Games (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/06/05

There's a lot we don't know about Old Hoss Radbourn, including, as it turns out, exactly how many victories he had for Providence and Boston in the 19th century. But, 128 years ago approximately this week, he won his 300th game. Mike and Bill explore Radbourn's life, his historic 1884, and his downfall. Then they're joined by Old Hoss Radbourn himself, or his Twitter avatar (@OldHossRadbourn), for a discussion of his 10 year career channeling the long dead Rad. Plus, happy birthday to Todd Hundley

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31:54

Episode 102 - The Knuckling Niekros Face Off

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/05/29

Phil and Joe Niekro went head-to-head several times over the course of their long and illustrious careers. But in an utterly bizarre coincidence, 43 years ago this week, Joe hit the only home run in his big league career in more than 1200 plate appearances off of his big brother. In an episode abbreviated by the holiday weekend, Mike and Bill trace their careers from start to finish, pausing only to examine this truly weird moment.

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01:00:47

Episode 101 - The Mariners Get a Big Johnson

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/05/22

Few trades in the modern era have altered the course of two franchises like the deal 30 years ago this week that sent Mark Langston from the Seattle Mariners to the Montreal Expos for three pitchers, one of whom was a wild, 6'10" left-hander named Randy Johnson. Obviously, Johnson would go on to become one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, but Mike and Bill find that there was so much more to the deal than that one singular player. Plus, happy birthday to Joe Judge and Bobby Murcer!

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56:08

Episode 100 - Detroit Gets The Bird

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/05/15

For the 100th fabulous episode of TWIBH, Mike and Bill look at the short but fabulous career of Mark Fidrych, who won his first game 43 years ago this week. Birdmania swept America in 1976, reminding the country that baseball could be and should be fun. Plus, happy birthday to Stubby Overmire and Ed Wright!

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01:01:46

Episode 99 - Herb Score Gets Hit

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/05/09

There have been few pitching prospects as exciting as Herb Score, and few downfalls that have been disappointing. This week, 62 years ago, Score was struck by a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald, knocking him out of the rest of the season and, supposedly, ruining his career. But the truth is more complicated, as Mike and Bill find as they examine the rest of his comeback. Plus, happy birthday to Prince Fielder and Rip Sewell!

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01:07:11

Episode 98 - Rickey Becomes the Greatest

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/05/01

One of the most dynamic players of all time, Rickey Henderson still has many fans polarized. But everyone seems to agree that he was the best leadoff man and base stealer in baseball history. And, it was 28 years ago this week that he cemented those titles with his 939th career steal, breaking Lou Brock's all time record. Mike and Bill dig into Rickey's past and his path to becoming, in his words, "The Greatest," as well as his excellent and unexpectedly extended denouement. Plus, happy birthday to

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01:07:50

Episode 97 - Kevin Mitchell's Catch

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/04/24

Kevin Mitchell was not exactly known for his defense, but 30 years ago this week, he made one of the more amazing catches in baseball history at the beginning of his MVP year. Mike and Bill look back at Mitchell's performance on and off the field, as well as other unlikely MVP seasons. Plus, happy birthday to Mike Scott and Bob Smith.

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56:24

Episode 96 - Babe Ruth's Bad Bellyache

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/04/17

In the spring of 1925, Babe Ruth suddenly collapsed in the arms of a teammate, sparking ridicule in the New York press for what became known as "The Bellyache Heard Round the World." Stomach surgery 94 years ago this week would keep the Babe out for two months and tank the Yankees' hopes that year. Mike and Bill look at Ruth's tumultuous offseason, what really happened to the Babe that spring, and how the resulting controversy may have helped set him and the Bombers up for their run of dominance for

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52:10

Episode 95 - 715

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/04/11

You already know about Hank Aaron, but Mike and Bill zoom in on the Hammer's 1973 and 1974 chase of Babe Ruth's career home run record, which culminated 45 years ago this week, to examine how the new Home Run King pulled away from Willie Mays, dealt with a steady stream of death threats, and endured a meddling commissioner who demanded he play and put him in an unwinnable position. None of which, of course, would stop him. Plus, happy birthday to John Hiller and Charley Maxwell.

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54:24

Episode 94 - Dennis Eckersley Gets a New Job

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/04/03

Once one of the best starters in baseball, 32 years ago this week Dennis Eckersley began a new chapter in what would become a Hall of Fame career when he was traded to the Oakland A's and became the first modern closer. Mike and Bill cover both halves of Eckersley's long and impressive career, and his fight against the bottle that almost prevented him from having a second act. Also, happy birthday to Ron Perranoski and Jim Fregosi.

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01:09:59

Episode 93 - Melissa Ludtke Wins (with special guest...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/03/27

During the World Series in 1977, Melissa Ludtke, a credentialed writer for Sports Illustrated, was denied entrance to the teams' clubhouses in the wake of Game 6, while her male colleagues were invited in with open arms. This touched off a legal battle that ended 40 years ago, when the courts ordered MLB to provide equal access for reporters who are women. Yahoo! Sports's Liz Roscher (@lizroscher) joins Mike and Bill this week to talk about Ludtke and her fight, and the uphill battle women still

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01:07:05

Episode 92 - The Owners Cave In '76 (with special...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/03/20

The road to end the reserve clause was a long one that got a little easier 43 years ago this week, when the owners ended the lockout they'd imposed to protest the oncoming free agency. Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) joins us to discuss the lockout, the contentious labor history between players and owners, and his latest article for Deadspin, "An MLB Strike Threat Might Be the Players' Only Leverage." Plus, happy birthday to Gavy Cravath and Dwayne Murphy.

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01:05:39

Episode 91 - The Secret History of Batting Helmets

This Week In Baseball History ·

2019/03/13

Batting helmets have become such an entrenched part of baseball that it's easy to forget not only that they once weren't required, but that making them mandatory was a fifty year process, full of fits and starts. One of those starts took place 78 years ago this week, when the Dodgers announced they'd require their batters to wear a helmet invented by Lee MacPhail. Did it succeed? Mike and Bill look back at the history of helmets and the struggle to prioritize player safety in the face of tradition

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