Sports History Network

Sports History Network
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The Sports History Network was founded in May of 2020 to bring together podcasters and bloggers covering the history of sports. Our mission is to create the Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear by providing a “home field advantage” for our partners by helping them “fill their stadiums” with fans of their work.

  1. 4h ago

    Episode 402 - Interview with Long-Time NFL Sportswriter John McClain

    Today, we take a deep dive into the heart of Texas football history, tackling a massive question: Why are some of the game's greatest innovators and icons still locked out of Canton? To help us break it down, we are joined by the absolute blueprint of Texas sports journalism—legendary Hall of Fame sportswriter, John McClain. John spent decades in the trenches covering the Houston Oilers, and today, he’s helping us build a courtroom case for two men who defined an era but are still waiting on their gold jackets. First up, we talk about a man who didn't just break ankles on special teams—he fundamentally changed the culture of NFL showmanship. The father of the modern touchdown celebration, a member of the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, the legendary Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson. And later in the episode, we shift from the field to the front office to talk about the polarizing trailblazer who bucked the NFL monopoly, risked his fortune to co-found the AFL, and forever changed how professional football is played: K.S. 'Bud' Adams Jr. It’s a story of oil wealth, white cleats, the 'Luv Ya Blue' era, and the fight for football immortality. John McClain is in the building. Football Learning Academy Website: To learn more about the FLA, go to: https://www.football-learning-academy.com Social Media: Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootballLearn1 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footballlearningacademy/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@footballlearningacademy Music By: Jeff Nixon, Safety for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-82.

    Episode 402 - Interview with Long-Time NFL Sportswriter John McClain

  2. 18h ago

    The Unofficial 2nd Week of the CFL Playoffs is Upon Us

    Gridiron America is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. EPISODE SUMMARY With the Roughriders clinching a spot last week in what was basically the unofficial first round of the CFL playoffs, we now move on to the unofficial second round where all Winnipeg has to do is win and they are in. Should the Bombers lose, then Calgary is in, it is as simply as that. We also talk some USFL uniform and business history. GRIDIRON AMERICA BACKGROUND Gridiron America (formerly, the From the 55 Yardline podcast), is anchored by former sports executive David Cieslinski, former international professional football player Mike Tackett, and football nerd Greg St. James. All three are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen or tabletop. Gridiron America Radio is dedicated to both current and historical American football talk, including the “what if” questions that all sports fans ask and try to answer with the help of statistics, math and computer modeling provided by SportsMaster Simulation Games www.SportsMaster-Simulation.games. In addition to the gridiron game, the team will on occasion look at other sports through the same eyes of that of grown men who still remember their childhood and the thrill of rolling the dice or picking up a joystick. The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose sports writing can be found at www.Adamsonmedia.com. David, Mike and Greg, can be contacted directly via the podcast’s website at www.GridironAmerica.net, as well as: On X at https://x.com/GridironAMRadio On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironAmerica/ On Threads at https://www.threads.com/@gridironamerica On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gridironamerica

  3. 1d ago

    HSS Special: 2026 World Series Tale of the Tape

    With Game 1 of the 2026 World Series arriving this Friday, Historically Speaking Sports presents “The 2026 World Series: Historic Tale of the Tape!” Podcast co-host Dana Auguster takes a deep dive into the histories of the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, exploring their legendary players, defining seasons, unforgettable postseason moments, and journeys to the Fall Classic. Which franchise has the stronger baseball history, and which team is ready to make history of its own? Join us as we compare these two organizations and celebrate the stories that make October baseball so special! To contact the show, please e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@Gmail.com

  4. 1d ago

    Baltimore Sports Failures in the Clutch, Part 2

    StatMan and Robin is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. EPISODE SUMMARY Statman and Robin are in a mood this episode. They relive the pain of some excruciating losses. Statman talks about the Terps' agonizing basketball loss to Duke in 2001 when they lost a 10-point lead at home in the last 54 seconds. Robin looks at coaches not coming through in the clutch when the Ravens lost the 2011 AFC Championship Game at New England on a rushed missed last-second field goal and the Orioles lost the 2016 Wild Card game at Toronto with the best relief pitcher in history sitting in the bullpen. Also, listen to find out why StatMan had threatened to do bad things to a Terps souvenir cow. STATMAN AND ROBIN BACKGROUND The city of Baltimore has a rich sports history dating back to the “Hit ‘em where they ain’t” Orioles of the 1890’s. Since then, the Colts, Orioles, Ravens and nearby Maryland Terrapins have provided fans with thrilling victories and crushing defeats, and we’ve been there for them all going back to the 1966 World Series champion Orioles. We’ll bring you the stories of our teams through the years featuring not just the action on the field, but memories of the players, coaches, executives and the city itself. From the champs to the bad teams that make us appreciate the good ones even more, there are stories we want to share for posterity. We hope the younger fans learn, and older fans relive those memories and perhaps learn something they didn’t know. We’ll also occasionally add stories of some lesser-known Baltimore teams, in sports like indoor soccer, lacrosse, and even Canadian football. Also, don’t forget the Baltimore Bullets. We hope you will enjoy our bi-weekly shows as much as we will enjoy reliving these great times of our lives. HOSTS - JIM JOHNSON & ROBIN HAINES Jim Johnson bio: I’m Jim Johson (aka StatMan), one of the co-hosts of Baltimore Sports History. I escaped the doldrums of Washington, DC sports in the 1960s when I moved to the Baltimore area during the 1970 World Series, which the Orioles won, and met Robin Haines. We quickly bonded over sports, a bond that lasted past school years through families and careers. I have written about sports for various websites over the years. I did “The Courtmaster” column covering ACC and Maryland Terps men’s basketball (and a National Championship) in the early 2000’s. I also wrote about college football in the mid 2000’s. More recently, I wrote about Baltimore football history and the AFC North for Baltimore Sports and Life from 2021-2023. Now happily retired, I enjoy going back to the history of my favorite teams and sharing it with Robin, and you. Robin Haines bio: I'm Robin Haines, a retired R.N. and lifelong Baltimore area resident who grew up hearing my dad talk about the pre-1954 minor league Orioles. The seed was planted for my growth into a die-hard Baltimore sports follower (and when you're named after a baseball Hall of Famer-well, there's a story there). I met Jim Johnson when we were both around 12 years old, and we have shared the ups and downs (and many quirks) of the Baltimore sports scene for most of our lives. You know how a sports story or event you share with someone can instantly take you back to an earlier version of yourselves? That's how it is with Jim and me, and I hope to share that connection on this podcast.

    Baltimore Sports Failures in the Clutch, Part 2

  5. 1d ago

    We Pick 49ers, Browns, and Key Covers for Week Seven

    We present our Week Seven NFL predictions and picks and lead with the main point that we are issuing game-by-game forecasts and tracking both straight-up and against-the-spread results. I state that Ed holds a one-game lead in straight-up picks and that our against-the-spread tracking shows Ed would be up $920 while I would be down $1,810. We go through individual game picks, including Bears over Patriots, Steelers over Saints, 49ers over Falcons, Browns over Titans, Vikings over Colts, Jets over Dolphins, Panthers over Bucs, Bengals over Ravens, Texans over Giants, Broncos over Cardinals, Lions over Packers, Rams over Raiders, Chiefs over Seahawks, and conflicting calls on Eagles vs Cowboys. I note broader themes and concerns such as trouble in the NFC West, the impact of injuries to key wide receivers, and how thin margins can change team fortunes. We invite listeners to follow our picks and to return next week for results and new predictions. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

  6. 2d ago

    We Recap Week Six: Upsets, Records, and Injuries

    We report that Week Six featured significant upsets, multiple record-setting performances, and a wave of injuries, and notably the Buffalo Bills became the first team ever to win four of their first six games while conceding 30 or more points in four separate contests. I emphasize that this anomaly underscores Josh Allen’s extraordinary influence on the Bills’ offense and the extent to which his play forces high-scoring contests. We also review historic trends, including an unprecedented back-to-back winless stretch for an entire division and the Jets’ prolonged futility in New England. We note franchise milestones such as Caleb Williams surpassing the Bears’ previous passing record and individual achievements like Kenneth Walker’s recent scoring run. We record the Eagles’ sudden slide amid injuries and the emergence of rare final scores, including a 25–14 Panthers victory that ranked among the week’s least common outcomes. We will reconvene to offer week seven predictions and further analysis. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

  7. 3d ago

    Official PFRA Podcast welcomes Paul Maguire

    The Official PFRA Podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. LINKS The Official PFRA Podcast Website The Professional Football Researchers Association Website EPISODE SUMMARY Former Broadcaster & Charger/Bill Paul Maguire joins the Pod! THE OFFICIAL PFRA PODCAST BACKGROUND The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) was founded in Canton, Ohio in 1979 to foster the study of professional football as a significant and athletic institution; to establish an accurate historical account of professional football; and to disseminate research information. In each episode of The Official PFRA Podcast, co-hosts George Bozeka and Jon Bozeka will discuss the storied history of pro football, including interviews with prominent pro football historians and authors, and former players. Born in Canton within walking distance of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, George is the current President of the PFRA. He has had a number of articles published in the PFRA’s official magazine The Coffin Corner and he is the lead editor for the PFRA’s Great Teams in Pro Football History book series. Jon has been a radio broadcaster in the Canton area since 2014. He has been involved in every facet of radio sports coverage including play-by-play and color commentary for local high school and college football broadcasts. He is also a stringer for CBS Radio’s Eye on Sports show covering all Cleveland Browns Sunday home games.

  8. 3d ago

    175: Terry Hanratty - Notre Dame & NFL

    I recount Terry Hanratty's remarkable career path from Notre Dame national champion to a Steelers backup who earned two Super Bowl rings and then to an expansion Tampa Bay team that lost every game. I speak with Terry about the highs and the lows of that journey. We discuss the 1966 Notre Dame team, the Michigan State game, and his early years as a college starter. I ask about his time in Pittsburgh, the arrival of Terry Bradshaw, and the contrast between championship teams and struggling clubs. We also cover his recent diagnosis of stage four small cell lung cancer, his treatment at leading cancer centers, and his outlook. I thank Terry for his time and urge listeners to follow Hanratty's Huddle for further reflections. Links referenced in this episode: sportshistorynetwork.comsportsfh.infomail.comsportsfh.info

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The Sports History Network was founded in May of 2020 to bring together podcasters and bloggers covering the history of sports. Our mission is to create the Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear by providing a “home field advantage” for our partners by helping them “fill their stadiums” with fans of their work.

Information

  • Creator
    Sports History Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Sports History Network
  • Show Website
    Sports History Network