Claim OwnershipThis Week In Baseball History
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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.
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Happy episode 400, everybody! Can you believe it? We certainly can't. It's time to celebrate, and there's no better way to do that than with some music. So, on the 63rd anniversary of the release of Meet the Mets, Mike and Bill look back at that classic, and other famous baseball fight songs, like Tessie, Ok Blue Jays, and Go Cubs Go. Here's to the next 400! Plus, happy birthday to Harry Lord and Denny Lyons! And farewell to Ron Teasley, Dave Schmidt, Rob Maurer and Rick Renick.
With so many meaningless exhibitions going on before the WBC gets going in earnest and the regular season follows, Mike and Bill were interested in talking about a game that actually counted for something. So they fired up the ol' randomizer and it landed on...well, it's hard to say the game on June 12th, 1933 between the Browns and the White Sox counted for much. But there were sure a lot of fun avenues to explore as the fellas stealthily approach their 400th episode. Plus, happy birthday to Paul Hines and Johnny Ray! And farewell to Zach Monroe and Chris Krug.
Last week, we lost the great Pirates second baseman, Bill Mazeroski. He was perhaps the best defensive player to ever man the keystone, a magician on the double play, and the author of the greatest moment in Bucs history. He was beloved by his teammates and by the city of Pittsburgh. And, in honor of his passing, Mike and Bill look back at an incredible career that, eventually, led to one of the greatest Hall of Fame induction speeches of all time. Plus, happy birthday to Steve Barber and Ron Hunt! And farewell to Stu Tate and Ray Crone.
You might have assumed that Sparky Anderson was born at 60 years old and stayed that way for the rest of his life. But Mike and Bill were surprised to find that was not the case as they celebrated his decision, 31 years ago this week, not to manage the replacement players Tigers owners had hired during the 1994/1995 work stoppage. Sparky had a remarkable run over 26 years and, as the first person to win a World Series for a team in each league, became lauded as a genius and, eventually, a Hall of Famer. Plus, happy birthday to Dom DiMaggio and George Earnshaw! And farewell to Jim Willis, Dave Giusti, and Andy Kosco.
Mickey Lolich was great Tiger, whose World Series heroics were only the start of his legendary run in Detroit that unexpectedly made him one of the best pitchers in baseball. Through it, the everyman's athlete became beloved in The Motor City for the rest of his life, which ended last week. In tribute, Mike and Bill look back at Lolich's unlikely life and career path that seemed to bring him as much joy as it brought the city of Detroit, and that almost took him to the Hall of Fame. Plus, happy birthday to Joe Black and Clete Boyer! And farewell to Albert Hall and Bart Shirley.
William Hulbert had an idea. I mean, probably more than one, but one that really took off. And he made that idea a reality 150 years ago this week when he and seven other owners got together and founded the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs to replace the National Association of Baseball Players. It wasn't felt at first, but Hulbert's innovation was seismic, transforming baseball from a pasttime into big business. On this auspicious anniversary, Mike and Bill look back at Hulbert's life and his brainchild, and how he nursed the league through its infancy. Plus, happy birthday to Bake McBride and Candy Jim Taylor! And farewell to Steve Hertz, Tim Harkness, Mike Campbell, and Greg Thayer.
This week, Mike and Bill welcome five-time SABR Research Award winner Rob Fitts to talk about his latest book, In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball. Fitts's book is a terrific point of entry for anyone interested in learning more about the unique and raucus experience of attending a Japanese ballgame. From beer vendors to front office executives to players to commissioners, Rob interviews those who work diligently to produce the most popular sport in Japan in this accessible and exceptional book. Mike and Bill talk with him about the research process, some of what he learned, and what has changed over the years in the Japanese game. Plus, happy birthday to Hank Aguirre and George Blaeholder! And farewell to Jim Duckworth, Tom Timmermann, Dave Morehead, and George Altman.
We were already way behind on memorials even before we took an extra week off over the holidays, but because the backlog was getting ridiculous, Mike and Bill decided it was best to devote almost an entire episode to ballplayers who have left us recently. It doesn't catch us all the way up, but it's a lot closer. So join us to say farewell to Sandy Alomar Sr, Craig Eaton, Larry Burright, Mickey McGuire, Bill Pleis, Yoervis Medina, Jesús Montero, John Morris, Rob Mallicoat, Bob Oldis, Steve Hargan, and Bernie Smith. And happy birthday to Len Koenecke and Mike Krukow!
As foretold in the updated descriptions of our reruns, this week it is time to return to the realm of siblings. But not just any siblings. The siblings that got forgetten about along the way. The siblings who had no business being mentioned in the company of their superstar bros. The siblings who would be saved second by their parents in a house fire. It is time for Our Idiot Brothers 3: Tokyo Drift. Please enjoy this tale of the less talented of the Clarksons, Ripkens, Murrays, Dickeys, Nettles and Wrights. Plus, happy birthday to Chet Brewer and Silver King! And farewell to Tom Patton, Jim Dickson, Ted Ford, and Ed Acosta.
Aside from "The Babe," there's probably no more recognizable nickname in baseball than "Catfish." But Jim Hunter proved easy to catch and hard to keep for Athletics owner Charlie Finley 51 years ago this week, when Finley's negligence led to an arbitration decision that freed Hunter from his contract with Oakland. As baseball's first modern free agent, Hunter served as an excellent test case for ballplayers who were eager to see what their prices were on the open market, and the answer to that was: a lot! Mike and Bill look back at Hunter's career and the mistake that was an important mile marker on the road to the modern free agent era. Plus, happy birthday to John Anderson and Adolfo Phillips! And farewell to Carlos Lezcano, Terry Ley, Brian Dayett and Jim Marshall.
After accidentally excising Bill's memorial segment last week, Mike sheepishly presents it here, on the life and career of Gary Gray.
Life is hard. Life with a mental illness is harder. Life as a celebrity with a known mental illness is harder still, as Jim Piersall discovered. But Piersall's illness was also hard for others, including the Boston Red Sox, who decided life was simpler without him 67 years ago this week and traded him to Cleveland. On this anniversary, Mike and Bill look back at the first ballplayer to speak openly about his mental health struggles, how they affected his life and career positively and negatively, and how he both succeeded and failed to stay on top of them in a time where there was little support or understanding available. Plus, happy birthday to Marty Marion and Ray Durham! And farewell to Gary Gray and Randy Moffitt.
One of the most feared sluggers in history, Jim Thome is universally regarded as possibly the nicest. On the 20th anniversary of his trade from the Phillies back to the American League Central, Mike and Bill look back at career of the gentlest giant in baseball history and come away with exactly the same picture that hoped to. Plus, happy birthday to Clint Thomas and Jimmy Sheckard. And farewell to Darryl Patterson and Mike White.
After nearly hitting .400, you'd think that George Brett would be an easy choice for AL MVP in 1980. And, while he'd snag the award 45 years ago this week, it was over some pretty hilarious objections by Yankees writers. Mike and Bill look back at Brett's incredible career that defined more than a decade of Royals baseball and come away with an incredible appreciation not just for his abilities, but his flair for the dramatic. Plus, happy birthday to Cristóbal Torriente and Everett Scott! And farewell to Phil Meeler and Marc Hill.
It's impossible to talk about the American League's early years without talking about Clark Griffith, the former pitcher and manager who, this week 106 years ago, finally completed his quest to become a big league owner. Griffith's Senators would eventually become a laughingstock, and his legacy complicated by his complicity in perpetuating the color line, but his early years were filled with success. Mike and Bill look back on one of the longest baseball lives, a 75 year span in which Griffith was an integral part of the game, for better and for worse. Plus, happy birthday to Pat Hentgen and Jack Crooks! And farewell to Félix Torres and Bill Hepler.
Darryl Strawberry looked to be on a Hall of Fame path when he signed the second biggest contract in big league history with the Dodgers. But his homecoming to Los Angeles would prove to be bitter fruit, as injuries, legal, and personal problems short circuited his career. Strawberry's story is a complicated one, full of condemnable behavior and moments of what seemed like hard-earned redemption. But, ultimately, it's a cautionary tale of how not to treat a sensitive person and how that sensitive person should not treat others, and how that sensitive person eventually learned those lessons. Mike and Bill look back at one of the most talented and most controversial players of the 1980s and '90s and find a man not easily categorized. Plus, happy birthday to Jesse Flores and Willie McGee! And farewell to Bill Hepler and Jim Clancy.
Oh Lord, what a few weeks it's been on the podcast, with problems both technical and personal getting in the way and forcing a truncated episode this week. But don't worry, because 50 years ago this week, the Reds and Red Sox squared off in one of the greatest World Series of all time. And Mike and Bill have a lot to say about it as they recount the titanic battle between two exceptional teams - the triumphs, the heroism and the heartbreaks of what surprisingly turned into a very evenly matched showdown.
We've talked about the 1985 World Series before on this podcast, but never with the guy who literally wrote the book on it. Marshall Garvey joins Mike and Bill for the 40th anniversary of when the teams clinched their respective pennants, setting up the second all-Missouri World Series matchup. Garvey's new book, Interstate '85: The Royals, The Cardinals, and the Show-Me Series relies heavily on player interviews with more than 25 of the players who took the field in that showdown, as well as Don Denkinger, whose infamous call in the 9th inning of Game 6 Garvey thinks is wildly blown out of proportion. It's a great talk and a great book, so check them both out! Plus, happy birthday to José Valentín! And farewell to Jeff Bittiger and Jim Bethke.
There are so many ways in which Edgar Martinez's career might not have happened. He could have missed the open tryout where he was discovered. He might have become disheartened by his extended minor league apprenticeship. The Mariners might have been dissuaded by the potentially debilitating vision problems he fought hard to overcome. But it did, fortunately for Seattle, because 30 years ago this week, the first truly great designated hitter in baseball history lined The Double down the left field line in the ALDS against the Yankees, sending Seattle to the ALCS for the first time. In celebration, Mike and Bill look back at Edgar's Hall of Fame career and find maybe the most unlikely franchise icon of all time. Plus, happy birthday to Oil Can Boyd and Jim Bagby Sr! And farewell to Lee Elia and Joe Coleman.
The decades of baseball in Brooklyn were mostly marked by one failure after another until the club got their act together in the 1940s. Still, the Dodgers seemed uniquely capable of breaking their fans' hearts until 70 years ago this week, when they finally beat the Yankees to claim their one and only World Series in their original home. That moment in the sun was all too brief, however, as they'd pack up and move to the West Coast just two years later. This week, Mike and Bill look back at that one perfect moment in Brooklyn, when all seemed right with the world and the Dodgers were finally world champs. Plus, happy birthday to Eddie Murphy and Johnny Podres! And farewell to Bill Denehy and Bobby Jenks.
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great show guys!
now you're going to make me research Ban Johnson. In Marietta, Ohio we have the Ban Ban Johnson Field House.