This Week In Baseball History

Mike Bates and Bill Parker
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This Week In Baseball History Podcast

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.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Episode 345 - Wade Boggs Is A Hitmaker

    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 that Boggs is battling prostate cancer, Mike and Bill look back at the singular career of one of baseball's best third basemen. Plus, happy birthday to Mickey Tettleton and George Uhle! And farewell to Mike Ferraro, Gary Dotter, Reyes Moronta, and Denny Lemaster.

    1h 19m

  2. 13 SEPT

    Episode 344 - You Can't Keep A Good Woman Out (with special guest Melissa Ludtke)

    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 Ludtke's personal life. It's a great conversation with a true pioneer, whose heroism and sacrifice made today's media landscape possible. Plus, happy birthday to Ken Forsch and Roger Maris! And farewell to Nelson Chittum, Mel Held, Bob Chlupsa, and Jerry Walker.

    2h 3m

  3. 6 SEPT

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

    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!

    1h 15m

  4. 30 AUG

    Episode 343 - The Life and Legacy of Billy Bean

    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.

    1h 23m

  5. 23 AUG

    Episode 342 - Who's the Fastest? (with special guest Adam Darowski)

    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 all the fun. And they even rope in Sports Reference guru Adam Darowski (@baseballtwit) to help them. Plus, happy birthday to Wild Bill Hallahan and Max Lanier!

    1h 56m

  6. 16 AUG

    Episode 11 Rerun - Mashi Murakami Mania! (with special guest Rob Fitts)

    Major League Baseball, like America, is at its best when it's diverse and reflective of the countries that play the game. So this week, 59 years after the anniversary of Masahiro Murakami Day at Candlestick Park, Mike and Bill, along with special guest and Murakami biographer Rob Fitts (robfitts.com), remember the first player of Japanese descent to play in the Big Leagues. Mashi's career took him from Japan to Phoenix to Fresno and San Francisco before finally returning to Japan in 1966. Along the way they discuss how the 20 year old came to be a Giant, why he was exactly what the club and San Francisco needed in 1964 and 1965, why he went back to his homeland, and why it took 30 years for another Japanese player to play in the Majors.

    1h 8m

  7. 2 AUG

    Episode 341 - Ott's Got A Lot (Of Home Runs)

    Why is Mel Ott such an enigma? For all of his accomplishments, we really know very little about the stocky little right fielder who made hittiing at the Polo Grounds an art. So, on the 79th anniversary of his 500th homer, Mike and Bill go looking for the best hitter no one talks about today. Plus, happy birthday to Freddie Fitzsimmons and Larry Doyle! And farewell to Hank Foiles and John Upham.

    1h 13m

  8. 26 JUL

    Episode 340 - The Hall's Molitor

    In honor of Joe Mauer going into the Hall of Fame, Mike and Bill look back at another Minnesotan who was inducted 20 years ago this week, the great Paul Molitor. The fellas look back at his career's rough start, the injury problems and personal demons that almost sunk him, and the late career, DH-fueled revival that ultimatel paved his path to the Hall.  Plus, happy birthday to patron request Dave Stieb and Moe Drabowsky!

    1h 25m
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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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