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

01:25:38

Episode 355 - The Hall of Fame Ballot, 2025

This Week In Baseball History ·

2025/01/03

Either traveling or recovering from travel, Bill and Mike break format to run through the current Hall of Fame ballot, and each find themselves at least one vote short to accomodate all the deserving candidates. But will the agree on who those deserving candidates are?

en

01:08:39

Episode 98 (Re-Run) - Rickey Becomes the Greatest

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/12/25

In memory of his passing and in celebration of what would have been his 66th birthday, please enjoy this re-release of our episode focusing on the great Rickey Henderson: 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

en

58:55

Episode 80 (Re-run) - The Red Sox Let Fred Lynn and...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/12/20

Free agency doesn't seem that complicated, but 44 years ago this week, the Boston Red Sox made a colossal error, accidentally non-tendering two of their biggest stars, Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk. Mike and Bill trace the careers of two of the 1970s and 1980s best players, find out what went so wrong at the end of 1980, and sort through the fallout of one of baseball's biggest blunders. Plus, happy birthday to Andy Van Slyke and Moose Skowron.

en

01:13:13

Episode 354 - One Random Game IV

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/12/13

With the holidays on the horizon, Mike and Bill were feeling a little scrambled and decided, rather than focus on one prominent player or incident, they'd just pick a game at random and talk about it. They landed in Montreal on August 19th, 1974, as the Padres took on the Expos. In addition to an exciting back and forth game, they talk about Parc Jarry, Willie Davis, Ron Hunt, the Chuck Taylor All Stars and more! Plus, happy birthday to Jimmy "Pepper' Austin and Ernest "Spoon" Carter!

en

01:18:47

Episode 353 - Luis Aparicio Changes His Sox

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/12/06

Understandably underappreciated due to his complete inability to hit, Luis Aparicio fell into disfavor amongst new fans in the 21st century. But, on the 54th anniversary of his trade from the White Sox to the Red Sox, Mike and Bill discover that there was far more to Aparicio's game than meets the eye, including some of the best defense of all time and the blinding speed that brought the stolen base back to baseball after years of dormancy. Plus, happy birthday to Cookie Lavagetto and Gary Ward. And

en

01:09:04

Episode 352 - Crowning Prince Hal

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/11/29

The first thing most people think about when they think about Hal Newhouser is World War II. That's ironic, given that he was not allowed to serve. But his dominance during the war years led to the longstanding belief that he was some kind of mirage, created by the lack of talent in the American League in those years. But, as Mike and Bill found out as they traced his career on the 80th anniversary of winning his first of consecutive MVP awards, that's not remotely the whole story, as Newhouser

en

01:32:11

Episode 351 - The Red Sox Peel Rice Off

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/11/22

When he was elected to the Hall of Fame, he was touted as the most feared hitter of his era. But by the time the Red Sox released him 35 years ago, Rice was looking old before his time, hobbled from various injuries and poor eyesight. On the anniversary of the end of his career, Mike and Bill look back at a controversial Hall of Fame choice to figure out what all the fuss was actually about. Plus, happy birthday to Mitch Williams and Roosevelt Harris! And farewell to Doug Bird, Harry Chappas, Minnie

en

01:10:53

Episode 350 - The American League Tries to Ban Johnson

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/11/09

Prior to Babe Ruth and Judge Landis, perhaps no person was as synonymous with baseball as Ban Johnson, the visionary who founded the American League, outfought the National League, and ran the National Baseball Commission until the Black Sox scandal. But his tenure was not always a smooth one, and he was not well liked. So much so that 104 years ago this week, the Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox all tried to abandon the AL and form a super Senior Circuit with the NL teams. While that plan was

en

01:27:55

Episode 123 (Rerun) Buzzie Bavasi's New Job (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/11/01

Few men in baseball have been as universally beloved as Buzzie Bavasi, who took over the Dodgers front office 69 years ago this week. Joining Mike and Bill to discuss Buzzie's life and 45 year career is his son, Bob Bavasi of Japanball.com. Plus, happy birthday to Brad Radke and Mickey Rivers!

en

01:39:14

Episode 349 - The Red Sox Quit Cursing

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/10/26

The Red Sox's World Series road always seems, one way or another to run through New York. And most of the time, the Yankees have proven an effective road block. It certainly seemed that way 20 years ago this week, until the Sox complete the most improbable comeback in baseball history, toppling the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and their way to their first championship in 86 years. Mike and Bill look back at a historic team and its historic run for glory that is stiil so vivid in their memories. Plus,

en

01:34:40

Episode 226 (Rerun) - Fernandomania!

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/10/23

Just 20 years old, Fernando Valenzuela took the world by storm in 1981, becoming an international superstar and spawning a phenomenon with his screwball. And 40 years ago this week, Fernandomania culminated in both the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, the only time a player has won both in the same season. Mike and Bill look back at that amazing season and Fernando's long subsequent career. Plus, happy birthday to Dick Stuart and Adam Dunn!

en

01:04:30

Episode 121 Rerun - The Mets Are Finally Amazin'

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/10/18

It was only seven years before the Mets won their first championship, but it must have seemed like 70, as they struggled to not to lose 100 games every year. But 50 years ago this week, they finally did, finishing off a miracle season by felling the mighty Orioles in five games. Mike and Bill go through the early history of the Mets and their amazin' championship season. Plus, happy birthday to Eddie Yost and Al Brazle!

en

01:29:56

Episode 348 - The Senators Win One For Once And For All

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/10/11

The Washington Senators' history has been virtually abandoned by major league teams, so you'd be forgiven if you didn't know that 100 years ago this week, thanks to a heroic effort by the great Walter Johnson, the Senators won their only World Series. Mike and Bill look back at this surprising championship club, the opposing and heavily favored New York Giants, and the Series that pitted them against one another. Plus, happy birthday to Alfredo Griffin and Ping Bodie! And farewell to Don Wert and

en

01:26:15

Episode 347 - Rose's Final Petal Falls

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/10/04

The proverbial "they" say that any hero who lives long enough sees himself become a villain. While that may or may not be true, no baseball player fully inhabited both roles as thoroughly as Pete Rose, whose death this week at the age of 83 marks the end of a turbulent life. Rose found himself at the top of the sporting world over and over, but his personal demons and abhorent conduct off the field left hiim permanently banned from the game and reviled by many. In recognition of his

en

02:08:23

Episode 346 - Joe Jackson, Who Almost Always Wore...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/09/27

Despite his career ending in ignomy 104 years ago this week, Joe Jackson remains a larger than life figure iin baseball and in American culture. But so much of how we picture Jackson is wrong, says former executive director of the Shoeless Joe Museum Dan Wallach (@shoelesspodcast). We talk with Dan about the man behind the myth and why it persists. Plus, happy birthday to Bernard Gilkey and Urban Shocker! And farewell to Jim Umbarger and Doug Creek.

en

01:19:20

Episode 345 - Wade Boggs Is A Hitmaker

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/09/20

The best hiitter of the 1980s is, beyond a doubt, either Tony Gwynn or Wade Boggs, two remarkably diifferent people and players who, nonetheless, both slashed singles and doubles all over every park they played in. Boggs, though, added tremendous patience to his game, making it remarkable that he was able collect his 200th hit for the sixth year in a row 36 years ago this week when he was also walking 100 times a year. On the anniversary of this impressive accomplishment, and in the wake of the news

en

02:02:46

Episode 344 - You Can't Keep A Good Woman Out (with...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/09/13

There are no reporters more integral to the actual history of how baseball is covered today than Melissa Ludtke (@MelissaLudtke on social media). Ludtke's brave fight against Bowie Kuhn and major league baseball opened clubhoouses to all reporters, regardless of gender, and made it possible for women to cover the game every day. Her new book, Locker Room Talk: A Woman's Struggle To Get Inside, chronicles how this crucial fight was won and its repercussions across sports, popular culture, and

en

01:14:56

Episode 166 (Re-run) - No-Nos No More!

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/09/06

When is a no-hitter not a no-hitter? When Fay Vincent decided, 36 years ago this week, that it shouldn't be. Specifically, he decreed that any no-hitters shorter than nine full innings or that was broken up after the ninth no longer counted, consigning 50 no-hitters to the dustbin of history. That's where Mike and Bill found them in this re-run from 2020, polished them up, and presented them for your enjoyment. Plus, happy birthday to Tug McGraw and Ed Konetchy!

en

01:22:31

Episode 343 - The Life and Legacy of Billy Bean

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/08/30

While they were away, baseball lost one of its most important and irreplaceable figures, Billy Bean, the second former MLB player to come out as gay. Mike and Bill look back at the Bean's short career, his struggle to accept his sexuality and keep it private, his decision to come out and what has (and hasn't) happened since. Plus, happy birthday to Oddibe McDowell and Tony González! And farewell to Danny Fife, Jimmy Hurst, Mike Brumley, and Hank Allen.

en

01:56:24

Episode 342 - Who's the Fastest? (with special guest...

This Week In Baseball History ·

2024/08/23

There are a number of unanswerable questions in baseball history, but none truly tantalizes like the question of which pitcher was the fastest of all time. So this week, on the 78th anniversary of Bob Feller setting a new record for recorded pitch speed AND the 50th anniversary of Nolan Ryan doing the same, Mike and Bill break a record of their own, turning in their longest episode yet, looking back at the various attempts to figure out exactly who was the fastest before we had radar guns to spoil

en

364 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