Advertise on podcast: This Week In Baseball History

It is exceptionally hard to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Now imagine if you had to do it with one hand or arm. Or with one leg. Or while battling a dibilitating disorder. Mike and Bill were thinking about that alot this week when they realized it was the 81st anniversary of Pete Gray's debut for the Browns. So they look back at the short career of the outfielder with one arm, and the careers of three other players who overcame incredible challenges to play in the big leagues. Plus, happy birthday to Jeromy Burnitz and Woodie Fryman! And farewell to Tony Balsamo and Gary Wagner.

It is rare for a Hall of Fame player to be traded in the middle of his peak away from a contending team, but that's just what happened to Tris Speaker 110 years ago this week, when the Red Sox dealt him to Cleveland. Mike and Bill take the opportunity to look back at one of the inner circle Hall of Famers they haven't covered yet, and find a great player and leader whose personal beliefs and associations have almost come to overshadow his accomplishments on the field.  Plus, happy birthday to Ron Hansen and Happy Felsch! And farewell to Wayne Granger and Roy Face.

Baseball is vastly richer because of the characters who have become part of the game's legend. And no one was more of a character than Mets pitcher Hayden "Sidd" Finch, who was unveiled by Sports Illustrated 41 years ago the day this re-run (first aired on April 1, 2020) drops. Mike and Bill go through the mysterious and surprising career of a true phenom, including his downfall and mysterious disappearance, and the lives he touched. Plus, happy birthday to Tommy Herr and David Dahl.

If you love baseball like Bill and Mike love baseball, you love watching other people love baseball too. And no one has made anyone love baseball more than the Czech Republic national team did in 2023 when they appeared in the World Baseball Classic. That's the subject of special guest Michael Clair's new book, We Sacrifice Everything To Baseball, an incredible story about a nation of baseball underdogs who, when they weren't working as engineers, neurologists and firefighters, advance to baseball's biggest international stage and prove they belong there. It's a fantastic story, a terrific book, and a fun discussion between friends. Plus, happy birthday to Dick Ellsworth and Woodie Held! And farewell to Bobby Henrich, Gary Blaylock, Terrance Gore, and Joe Nossek.

Perhaps the greatest father/son pitching duo in baseball history, Luis E. and Luis C. Tiant pitched at least a total of 29 years at the big league level, and an unknown number of other seasons in the Caribbean and for high quality barnstormers. While they could not be more different on the mound, they were both exceptional, as the St. Louis Cardinals found out 87 years ago last week (we're a week late with this episode), when Luis Sr. beat them in Cuba in an exhibition contest. Mike and Bill look back at the long and exceptional career of two pitching geniuses, neither of whom are given nearly enough credit today. Plus, happy birthday to Johnny Callison and Elmer Valo!

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.

Bill and Mike are both still recovering from holiday colds that their adorable nephew and niece shared with them, respectively. So this week's episode is a re-run of the second in our Idiot Brothers series to get you ready for next week, when your intrepid hosts will return with Part III. Until then:  It remains hard, at times to be brothers. We covered that back in January, 2023 with a set of siblings who fell well short of their illustrious kin. But there are still so many bad (or just mediocre) brothers out there! So Mike and Bill go back to the well to find more stories of those who just never could measure up. On the anniversary of Larry Yount not actually throwing a pitch in his one and only game, get ready for Cansecos, Boyers, Torres, O'Connors, Delahantys and, yes, Younts.  Plus, happy birthday to Stan Lopata and Ted Kluszewski!