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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

01:06:03

Episode 70 - Ernie Lombardi Takes a Nap

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/10/10

Ernie Lombardi might be the most singular player in baseball history, a slugging catcher who was beloved at the same time he was the target of incredible ridicule. This week, 69 years ago, Lombardi found himself blamed for the Reds' loss to the Yankees. What really happened at home plate and how did the best catcher in baseball become the butt of the joke? Mike and Bill look back on this game and his career to find out. Also, happy birthday to Gene Tenace and Bob Moose!

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01:09:25

Episode 69 - Frank Robinson Will Manage

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/10/04

While one of the most dominant players in three separate decades, one of Frank Robinson's biggest accomplishments took place 44 years ago this week, when he became the first African-American hired to manage a Major League club. Mike and Bill profile Robinson's entire incredible career, and look at his place as one of the greatest hitters of Baseball's Golden Age. Plus, happy birthday to Nap Rucker and Darren Oliver.

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57:49

Episode 68 - The 1959 Pennant Comes Down to the Wire

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/09/26

For the fourth time in baseball history, 59 years ago this week, a regular season pennant race ended in a tie, with the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at 86-68. To settle it, and decide who got to face the White Sox in the World Series, the clubs would have to play a best-of-three playoff series. Mike and Bill dig into this race and the series to see what went into one of the most exciting finishes in baseball history, and what separated the two contenders. Plus happy birthday to Johnny Sain and Rob

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01:04:33

Episode 67 - The Phillies Phold in 1964 (with special...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/09/19

The Phillies were printing World Series tickets and Vegas had stopped taking bets on the outcome of the National League race when the Phillies began an epic collapse 64 years ago this week that saw them blow a 6.5 game lead with 12 to play. Michael Baumann (@MJ_Baumann) joins Mike and Bill this week to catalogue Gene Mauch's descent into madness, and the reasons for the Phillies' phall from the top of the standings. Also, happy birthday to Frank Schulte and Dan Haren!

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46:38

Episode 66 - The Ballad of Glenn Burke

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/09/12

In a deviation from our regular format, after returning from the US Conference on AIDS, (with Bill's full support) Mike hijacks this episode to talk about the life and career of Glenn Burke, the first MLB player to come out as gay, who passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1995. Also, happy birthday to Alvin Davis and Rick Dempsey.

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01:00:44

Episode 65 - The Fall Classic Moves to September

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/09/05

There has only ever been one World Series in September, and it began 100 years ago this week between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. Why was it so early, why did Babe Ruth only play twice, and why was the series played under a cloud of controversy? Mike and Bill find those answers and more as they see what shenanigans contributed to the last Red Sox championship for 86 years. Plus happy birthday to Eddie Stanky and Monte Pearson!

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59:55

Episode 64 - Casey Stengel Finally Retires (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/29

While reportedly stepping off the sidewalk, 74 year old legendary manager Casey Stengel fell, breaking his hip. Fifty-three years ago this week, he announced he would not make it back into the dugout, retiring from professional baseball after 55 years. With special guest and Stengel biographer Steven Goldman (@gostevengoldman), Mike and Bill delve into who Casey was as a ballplayer, a manager, and a man. Plus happy birthday to Von Hayes, Doug DeCinces, and Tommy Hanson.

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Episode 63 (Redux) - A Boone Crop of Ballplayers

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/22

Baseball-playing families are hardly rare. The game has often been passed down from parents to children, with famous families like the Griffeys, Alous, and Fielders becoming baseball royalty. But 26 years ago this week, the Boone family topped these father-son duos, adding a third generation of big leaguers to the Majors for the first time. Mike and Bill look back at the Boones (Ray, Bob, Bret, and Aaron) aand their legacies, and other three-generation MLB families. Plus happy birthday to Gary

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52:35

Episode 63 - A Boone Crop of Ballplayers

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/22

Baseball-playing families are hardly rare. The game has often been passed down from parents to children, with famous families like the Griffeys, Alous, and Fielders becoming baseball royalty. But 26 years ago this week, the Boone family topped these father-son duos, adding a third generation of big leaguers to the Majors for the first time. Mike and Bill look back at the Boones (Ray, Bob, Bret, and Aaron) and their legacies, and other three-generation MLB families. Plus, happy birthday to Gary

en

50:59

Episode 62 - Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/15

The deal the Tigers made for Doyle Alexander, 31 weeks ago this week, cost them a future Hall of Famer in John Smoltz and has been subject to a lot of revisionist criticism. Nevertheless, it was one of the few trades that works out exactly as intended by both sides, and propelled the Tigers to the AL East title. Mike and Bill look back at that trade, as well as the career of Doyle Alexander, the quintessential journeyman veteran starter. Also, happy birthday to Harlond Clift and Mudcat Grant!

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55:23

Episode 61 - Frank Lane Trades His Manager

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/08

Frantic Frank Lane was one of the most influential figures in the Major Leagues during the 1950s, shaping two of the decade's powerhouse franchises and exchanging nearly 700 players with other organizations. But he didn't limit himself to just players, as 58 years ago this week, he sent his manager to the Tigers for their skipper. Mike and Bill look at how this trade came about, how it played out, and whether, for all his activity, Lane was good at his job. Also, happy birthday John Olerud and Ken

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01:05:46

Episode 60 - No One Believes J.R. Richard

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/08/01

J.R. Richard was on a Hall of Fame track, when his arm began to feel tired. When he complained, no one in Houston believed him, accusing him of faking it until he collapsed from a stroke 38 years ago this week. The story of why people didn't listen to Richard and what happened to him as he struggled to recover is not a happy one, but his ultimate triumph off the field is one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history. Also, happy birthday to Chief Meyers and Leon Durham.

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55:55

Episode 59 - Gene Conley and Pumpsie Green Go On...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/07/25

In one of the stranger incidents in modern baseball history, sixty-six years ago this week, Gene Conley and Pumpsie Green walked off the Red Sox team bus in the middle of a traffic jam and disappeared into NYC. Why? And what happened to them? Mike and Bill examine this incident, as well as the lives of two of the most interesting men in baseball history. One as a star in two pro sports, and the other who broke the Red Sox's color line. Also, happy birthday Norm Siebern and Jack Glasscock (stop

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53:16

Episode 58 - Home Runs Are Derbied

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/07/18

In honor of this week's exciting Home Run Derby, Mike and Bill look back 33 years to the first Derby of the modern era, at the otherwise hilariously disappointing 1985 All Star Game in Minneapolis, as well as the television show on which the Derby was based. Also, happy birthday to Pedro "Tony" Oliva and Harry "No Middle Name" Davis. Finally, Mike and Bill feel compelled to issue a correction about shifts.

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54:24

Episode 57 - Ted Williams Hits Into a Shift (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/07/11

The biggest change in baseball over the last five years has been the increase in defensive shifts employed by every franchise across the game. This week, 72 years ago, Ted Williams faced one of the first of such shifts, which were then named after him. Mike and Bill talk about the development of this innovation over the years and then are joined by the Senior R&D Analyst for Sports Info Solutions (@SportsInfo_SIS) and former ESPN analyst, Mark Simon (@MarkASimonSays) to talk about whether shifts

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01:03:22

Episode 56 - A League Almost Their Own (with special...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/07/04

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League gave women an unprecedented chance to organize and play professional baseball. But, as special guest Britni de la Cretaz (@Britnidlc) points out, it also worked to obscure its queer players with rigid "femininity standards" and rules against fraternization. Using obituaries and an amazingly timed interview, Britni was able to recover some of that lost history before it's gone forever, and discusses it with Mike and Bill. Also, happy birthday to

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54:20

Episode 55 - Spokane's Deadly Bus Crash

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/06/27

The safety record of teams in both the Major and the Minor has actually been pretty exemplary in almost a century and a half of professional baseball. But 72 years ago this week, a minor league team out of Spokane suffered the most deadly wreck in baseball history. Mike and Bill discuss the tragedy and it's aftermath, as well as recount Mike's trip to SABR over the weekend. Also, happy birthday to Bobby Veach and Don Mincher, and a very special memorial.

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49:42

Episode 54 - Baseball Under the Midnight Sun (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/06/20

For more than a century, every solstice, for the residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, has revolved around baseball. The Midnight Sun Game, as it's come to be known, is an annual tradition that has drawn some of the greatest ballplayers of the modern era. Even the great Barry Bonds, who was deemed not good enough to play in the game in 1983. Alaska native Henry Cole (@Phrozen_) takes us through the history and rituals of the game, as well as some of the exciting new opportunities for fans above the 51st

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35:35

Episode 53 - Johnny Vander Meer's Doubles Up On...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/06/13

For a very short time, Johnny Vander Meer was the biggest sports star in America when he no hit first the Boston Bees and then the Brooklyn Dodgers in successive starts 80 years ago this week. With Bill tending to family matters, Mike looks at Vander Meer's rapid rise, the expectations he could never meet, and how the rest of his career played out. And after wishing a happy birthday to the original Frank Thomas, we say goodbye to Red Schoendienst, Bruce Kison and Chuck Taylor.

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34:26

Episode 52 - Casey Comes To Bat

This Week In Baseball History ·

2018/06/06

With Mike mostly sidelined by a move, Bill presents the history of Casey At the Bat, perhaps one of the greatest baseball stories ever told, which was published for the first time 130 years ago this week. Come for the history, stay for the dramatic readings! Also, happy birthday to Dave Bergman and Frank McCormick!

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