Fungos & Fastballs: Baseball History & Trivia

Jerry Dynes
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Join us on this podcast exploring baseball's history and lore, plus enjoy some fastball trivia all in under 30 minutes. Topics will be all over the place - players, traditions, baseball lingo, stadiums, baseball movies/books. Like you, we just want to talk baseball! 

  1. 3d ago

    E41: Sliding Billy Hamilton, Hall of Fame Speedster + 2026 MLB Update & What Makes a Save

    Send us Fan Mail The standings say one thing, the vibes say another. We start by going round the horn with our friend Edwin Nolan for a rapid-fire MLB update as of August 30, 2026, sizing up who looks real, who looks shaky, and which races might go down to the final week. The AL East is a traffic jam of contenders, Kansas City suddenly refuses to go away, the AL West can’t decide who wants the crown, and the National League picture features Milwaukee’s dominance, Atlanta’s pitching edge, and the Dodgers holding a firm grip out west while the wild card fight stays nasty. Then we pivot from “who’s hot” to “what counts” by cracking open the baseball rule book to explain the save. We walk through how the statistic came to be, why it became official in 1969, and what actually creates a save situation today. We keep it practical: the winning team requirement, why the closer cannot also be the winning pitcher, and the three official ways a reliever earns a save. The tying-run-on-deck rule gets special attention because it explains those head-scratching moments in fantasy baseball and late-game strategy. We even share a truly odd case where a pitcher gets a save without throwing a pitch. To close, we take the way-back machine to the 1890s for Hall of Famer Billy Hamilton, the original “Slidin’ Billy.” We dig into why his stolen base totals live in a different statistical universe, how equipment and scoring rules shaped the running game, and why his production still deserves respect even when comparisons get messy. Stick around for the trivia payoff too: the left-handed pitcher with the most career saves in MLB history. If you like smart baseball talk, clear rules explanations, and baseball history that actually connects to today’s game, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a quick review. What part of baseball scoring has always felt the most confusing to you? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E41: Sliding Billy Hamilton, Hall of Fame Speedster + 2026 MLB Update & What Makes a Save

  2. Aug 24

    E40: Billy Martin - Hirings, Firings, and Winning Baseball & Dusty Baker is Everywhere

    Send us Fan Mail Dusty Baker keeps popping up at the exact center of baseball history, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. We walk through the unbelievable reel: Baker connected to the Bartman NLCS chaos, Barry Bonds’ 73-homer season, the 1989 World Series earthquake, Reggie Jackson’s October fireworks, Nolan Ryan’s no-hit history, and even Hank Aaron’s 715th homer. It’s the kind of baseball trivia that feels like fate, and we have way too much fun stacking the evidence. We also pause to remember Tommy John, not just as a durable lefty, but as the name behind the surgery that transformed modern pitching and sports medicine. From Dr. Frank Jobe’s groundbreaking procedure to the way teams now talk about UCL injuries, recovery timelines, and pitcher usage, his legacy is stitched into the sport’s everyday language. Then we go deep on mercurial manager Billy Martin, the tactical genius who could flip a team’s record fast and the volatile figure who couldn’t stay out of his own way. We trace his rise under Casey Stengel, his iconic Yankees moments, the fights and firings, the Steinbrenner and Reggie Jackson blowups, and the lasting imprint of Billy Ball. Along the way, we end with a classic baseball stamps question: who was the first MLB player on a U.S. postage stamp? If you like baseball history, Yankees lore, and smart, weird stories that actually happened, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a baseball fan, and leave us a review so more listeners can find us. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E40: Billy Martin - Hirings, Firings, and Winning Baseball & Dusty Baker is Everywhere

  3. Aug 17

    E39: The Curse of the Billy Goat, MLB’s Famous Curses & Maddux Explained

    Send us Fan Mail A shutout in under 100 pitches feels like a glitch in modern baseball. We start by unpacking the “Maddox,” a rare pitching feat named for Greg Maddux that combines dominance with ruthless efficiency, and we talk through why the stat matters, how it’s tracked, and what a recent gem from Brewers flamethrower Jacob Miszrowski tells us about command, pace, and the thin line between power and precision. Then we step into the part of baseball that refuses to be measured: superstition. From Wade Boggs-style routines to Justin Verlander’s repeatable pregame habits and the fan tradition of rally caps, we explore why players and crowds cling to rituals when the sport gets weird. That sets the table for the episode’s main course: the curse stories fans use to explain decades of pain. We revisit the Curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago, including the competing versions of what happened in 1945 and the infamous moments that kept the legend alive until the Cubs finally broke through in 2016. We also dig into the Curse of the Bambino and the way the Babe Ruth sale became a catch-all explanation for an 86-year drought, plus quick hits on other long-haul heartbreak myths, including the Black Sox shadow, Cleveland’s Rocky Colavito trade, and Japan’s wonderfully strange Curse of the Colonel involving a life-size Colonel Sanders statue and the Hanshin Tigers. Stick around for the MLB trivia payoff on the first designated hitter, then tell us what you think: are curses just stories, or do they shape how we watch the game? Subscribe, share with a baseball friend, and leave a review so more fans can find Fungos and Fastballs. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E39: The Curse of the Billy Goat, MLB’s Famous Curses & Maddux Explained

  4. Aug 10

    E38: Billy Beane, Moneyball Review (Film and Book) & A Brief History of Stats in Baseball

    Send us Fan Mail A 20-game winning streak feels untouchable until you ask one question: what’s the longest winning streak in Major League Baseball history, and what does it say about how teams actually win? We use Billy Beane and Moneyball as our launchpad, starting with a straight-up review of the 2011 film and why it works even if you aren’t a “stats person.” Then we compare it to Michael Lewis’s book, including what the movie changes, what it leaves out, and how real-life figures like Paul DePodesta get reshaped for the screen. From there, we zoom out to the bigger story: the rise of baseball analytics and sabermetrics. We talk about how small market teams like the Oakland Athletics look for undervalued players, how the MLB draft and farm system quietly drive everything, and why making smart trades is as much about leverage and timing as it is about scouting. We also trace the roots of stats in baseball, from early box scores to the influence of Bill James and the long road from outsider ideas to front-office orthodoxy. We keep the math light and the meaning heavy: why “he gets on base” becomes a philosophy, why a walk is powerful because it avoids an out, and how a run expectancy matrix can challenge old instincts like the sacrifice bunt. We also get honest about the fan experience, including how on-screen probabilities and gambling-driven graphics can add context while pulling you out of the moment. Subscribe, share this with a baseball friend, and leave a review, then tell us: has analytics made baseball better to watch or just easier to manage? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E38: Billy Beane, Moneyball Review (Film and Book) & A Brief History of Stats in Baseball

  5. Aug 3

    E37: Hall of Fame Closer Billy Wagner & Famed Dodgers Fan Hilda Chester

    Send us Fan Mail A frying pan in the bleachers, a cowbell that becomes baseball folklore, and a closer who lives and dies by three outs. We tell the story of Hilda Chester, the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers fan known as Howling Hilda and the Queen of the Bleachers, whose voice and presence at Ebbets Field became so big that players, managers, and even the Hall of Fame couldn’t ignore her. If you love baseball history, vintage Dodgers stories, and the weird little details that make the sport feel alive, this one hits deep.  Then we shift from the stands to the mound for Hall of Fame relief pitcher Billy Wagner, a fireballing lefty closer whose career helps explain how modern bullpen dominance took over Major League Baseball. We talk through Wagner’s hard upbringing, the childhood arm injury that pushed him to throw left-handed, and the chip-on-the-shoulder drive that turned an undersized pitcher into a strikeout machine. We also dig into the closer mindset: anxiety, negativity, pressure without a pitch clock, and how even the greats quietly wrestle with the same doubts.  We spotlight signature moments like Wagner closing out a combined no-hitter against the Yankees, the history behind relievers being called “firemen,” and why reliever awards evolved from brand-sponsored trophies to MLB’s named honors. And yes, we bring the trivia: who was the first relief pitcher inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame?  Subscribe for more baseball trivia and storytelling, share this with a friend who lives for the ninth inning, and leave a review. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E37: Hall of Fame Closer Billy Wagner & Famed Dodgers Fan Hilda Chester

  6. Jul 29

    E36: Hall of Fame Catcher Roy Campanella, 2026 MLB Update & Women’s Pro Baseball Is Back!

    Send us Fan Mail (this is an edited version) The trade deadline is coming, the standings are shifting fast, and baseball history is giving us a brand-new reason to pay attention. We start with a rapid-fire MLB update around the horn with our returning baseball guru Edwin Noland, tracking the teams surging at the right time and the ones starting to wobble. From the AL East chaos to a tight AL West race, we talk streaks, contenders, and the kinds of moves that can flip a season in a week. Then we turn to a milestone that deserves more spotlight: professional women’s baseball is back. We connect the dots from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to the new Women’s Pro Baseball League debut, including how the season works, what’s different on the field, and what it means in a country where women’s baseball programs are still rare. If you’ve been searching for WPBL info, women’s baseball history, or how to follow women’s pro baseball, we lay out the essentials and the bigger stakes. The second half goes deep on Roy Campanella, a Brooklyn Dodgers legend and one of the greatest catchers ever. We cover his rise through the Negro Leagues and international leagues, the slow grind of MLB integration, and how he packed three MVP awards into just 10 major-league seasons. We also talk about the catcher’s mental and physical workload, why Campanella’s defense and leadership stand out, and how his tragic 1958 accident reshaped the rest of his life without erasing his impact. Stick around for our catcher-themed trivia payoff on the record for most no-hitters caught, then tell us where you land on the debate. Subscribe, share the episode with a baseball friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the show. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E36: Hall of Fame Catcher Roy Campanella, 2026 MLB Update & Women’s Pro Baseball Is Back!

  7. Jul 23

    E35: 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees & Jerry’s Five Baseball Pet Peeves

    Send us Fan Mail Cooperstown is about to get loud, crowded, and emotional and we couldn’t wait until Monday to talk about it. With Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Sunday here, we take a bonus lap through baseball history, starting with a trivia question every fan should have in their back pocket: who made up the original Hall of Fame class in 1936? Then we dig into the 2026 inductees and why each one sparks real Hall of Fame debate. Jeff Kent finally gets his call through the Eras Committee after falling short on the BBWAA writers ballot, and we unpack how you can be the all-time home run king at second base and still wait years for Cooperstown. Andruw Jones earns his spot as one of the greatest defensive center fielders ever, which lets us talk about how defense, WAR, Gold Gloves, and late-career drop-offs shape a player’s legacy. Carlos Beltran rounds out the class as a true five-tool star, but his résumé also forces the uncomfortable conversation about the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal and how voters weigh greatness against controversy. To keep it fun, we also count down Jerry’s five baseball pet peeves, from calling RBIs “ribbons,” to metal bats, to shaky umpire cams, to the ghost runner in extra innings, to the rising trend of mic’d up players during live action. If you’ve ever yelled at your TV during a broadcast, you’ll have opinions here. Listen now, then subscribe, share the show with a baseball friend, and leave a review. What’s your biggest baseball pet peeve? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E35: 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees & Jerry’s Five Baseball Pet Peeves

  8. Jul 20

    E34: Kitchen Sink II: Back-to-Back No Hitters, Ultimate Grand Slams, the Eddie Waitkus Shooting & More

    Send us Fan Mail A movie cast quietly buying a minor league baseball team sounds like a punchline, until you hear the name Richmond Flying Mummies and realize baseball is still the best sport for pure, delightful weirdness. We start there, digging into why the team name exists, how fans show up for the spectacle, and what this kind of ownership says about the community heartbeat of minor league baseball. Then we shift from quirky baseball culture to a pitching feat that feels impossible in any era: back-to-back no-hitters. We break down what counts as a no-hitter versus a perfect game, why control is not always the deciding factor, and how Johnny Vander Meer ends up owning a record that may never be touched. Along the way, we add bonus baseball history and trivia, including a look at the Boston Bees and the kind of odd team naming debates that would never fly today. From there, we open the baseball dictionary for a modern term with a very exact meaning: the ultimate grand slam. We explain the rule clearly, why it is so rare, and why it hits fans like a lightning bolt when it happens. We also detour into a nostalgia story that turns into an accidental collectible, before closing with a true-crime-tinged chapter on Eddie Waitkus and one of the earliest notorious cases of celebrity stalking in American sports. If you like baseball history, smart trivia, and stories you cannot wait to repeat, hit play, subscribe, and share the show with a friend, then tell us which moment surprised you most. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

    E34: Kitchen Sink II: Back-to-Back No Hitters, Ultimate Grand Slams, the Eddie Waitkus Shooting & More
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About

Join us on this podcast exploring baseball's history and lore, plus enjoy some fastball trivia all in under 30 minutes. Topics will be all over the place - players, traditions, baseball lingo, stadiums, baseball movies/books. Like you, we just want to talk baseball! 

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