
Advertise on podcast: Rounders: A History of Baseball in America
Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
119 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Shaker Road Media, LLC.Explicit
No
Date created
2018/07/20
Latest episode
2025/12/23
Average duration
26 min.
Release period
19 days
Description
Rounders: A History of Baseball in America examines baseball's journey from a diversion played on the outskirts of small towns to a pastime continually shaping this country's cultural identity. This sport isn't just about a ball-and-stick. It's a snapshot of ourselves, our nation, and our world. Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rounders/subscribe
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Check latest episodes from Rounders: A History of Baseball in America podcast
Lights, Camera, Fastball: Nine MLB Players Who Became Actors
2025/12/23
Moving from a pro baseball diamond to a Hollywood set is a rare occurrence. The examples start in the early 1900s, when vaudeville and silent films were a natural spot for sports heroes. The pattern continues all the way to modern Hollywood studios and the current media scene.
We’re going to examine the stories of nine professional baseball players who leveraged their athletic careers to start new ones as on-stage or on-screen actors. Some were fueling a second passion, some did it for survival after playing days were done, and some used their skills on the field to build legacies that still exist in Hollywood today.
It’s been a fascinating topic to study. If you’re interested in learning more about the baseball to Hollywood pipeline, I highly recommend you check out:
- From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors which is an ebook produced by the Society for American Baseball Research and edited by Rob Edelman and friend of the show Bill Nowlin.
- The Hall of Famer Filmography assembled by the National Baseball Hall of Fame
- The book Bats, Balls, and Hollywood Stars: Hollywood’s Love Affair with Baseball by Joe Siegman.
- Make sure to check out the episode about John McGraw to learn more about his life and accomplishments.
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Did the 1951 New York Giants Steal a Pennant?
2025/12/08
"The Giants win the pennant!" is the most famous call in sports history. For 50 years, the 1951 National League pennant race was celebrated as the ultimate miracle—a 13.5-game comeback that shouldn't have been possible.
But it wasn't just a miracle. It may have been a heist.
In this episode, we break down the elaborate, high-tech cheating scheme the New York Giants ran out of the center-field clubhouse at the Polo Grounds.
We’re talking telescopes, hidden wires, and a buzzer system installed by an electrician who—in a cruel twist of irony—was a die-hard Brooklyn Dodgers fan.
We dive into:
The Scheme: How the "Polo Grounds Plot" actually worked.
The Stats: Did the buzzer actually help them hit? (The answer will surprise you).
The Confessions: Why the players weren't sorry, but proud of their "treachery."
Was Bobby Thomson’s "Shot Heard 'Round the World" tainted? Let’s dig into the details.
Celebrating Baseball’s Labor Hero: Curt Flood
2025/09/01
Curt Flood's name might not be as widely recognized as other baseball legends, but his impact on professional sports, particularly Major League Baseball, is immeasurable and continues to resonate today.
A stellar center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, Flood made history not just with his glove and bat, but with his courageous stand against baseball's oppressive "reserve clause". Let’s look at the sacrifice and toll of being the prominent player to stand up for his peers.
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The Top 5 Biggest Trade Deadline Deals in MLB History
2025/08/04
Every July, contenders trade away top prospects for a two-month rental and a prayer. Most of the time, it doesn't work out. This week, we're digging into the rare exceptions—the five biggest deadline deals that actually paid off, and the ones that looked like genius but were secretly a disaster.
Today, we’re counting down the top five biggest trade deadline deals of all time. Today, on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America.
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From Last Place to World Series Champs: The 1914 Boston Braves (w/ Martin H. Bush)
2025/07/28
How does a team of losers, buried in last place in the middle of July, turn around and win the World Series?
That’s not a hypothetical question. It’s the true story of the 1914 Boston Braves. Today, I’m joined by author and historian Martin Bush to talk about his fantastic new book about this team who went from misfits to champions.
Grab a copy of Martin’s book “Deadbeats, Dead Balls, and the 1914 Boston Braves.”
Visit Martin’s publisher website at kentstateuniversitypress.com
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This Week in Baseball History: July 21-27
2025/07/23
Explore Hank Aaron's landmark 700th home run, the infamous 'Pine Tar Incident' that sparked an on-field explosion, and the courageous Hall of Fame speech that changed baseball forever.
(FREE PREVIEW) This Week in Baseball History: July 14-20
2025/07/17
Revisit the dramatic end of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game streak, Hank Aaron's 755th and final home run, a perfect game on a legendary day, and the most controversial play in All-Star Game history.
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Foul Play Files: Death at 13,000 Feet
2025/07/14
The story of Leonard George Koenecke, an outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, is mostly etched into baseball history books not because of his incredible plays, but because of the absolutely shocking and bizarre way he died.
His death, which happened violently mid-flight, immediately grabbed public attention. It took what was a pretty promising career and, as one history writer put it, turned it into "a footnote, a trivial oddity."
Imagine the chaos on a small plane, leading to a fatal blow from a fire extinguisher – it paints a picture so tragic that it forever overshadowed Leonard’s on-field achievements.
This episode is all about the complete story of Koenecke's life and his tragic death. We'll even dig into whether his death could have been ruled as foul play. Let’s peel back the layers and explore the man behind those wild headlines and the unanswered questions that still define his legacy today.
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How Tobacco Created Baseball's First Collectibles (w/ @BrewingCards)
2025/06/09
Picture this: It's the 1900’s and you bought a pack of cigarettes.
Inside is a little rectangle of cardboard.
There’s no stats on the back, no holograms. Just a hand-drawn image. It's a ballplayer (and maybe some tobacco dust that's still stuck to the edges.) Today, those cards are like gold to collectors.
My guest Brent, from the Instagram and Tik Tok channel at @BrewingCards, has been making videos about one of the most iconic sets in baseball history: The T206 Set.
If you've never heard of it, don't worry, you will. And if you have, get ready to learn more! Let's explore tobacco cards and the stories hidden in century old cardboard.
WATCH the video companion on YouTube to see these tobacco cards for yourself
Dive deeper into the episode, and access the FREE bonus show at rounders.substack.com
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1963: Baseball's Civil Rights Summer
2025/05/26
Imagine America in the spring of 1963. The United States was in the thick of experiencing significant social unrest due to its growing Civil Rights Movement.
Brutal police actions against protesters in Birmingham, AL led to a historic march on Washington. This is where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.
Baseball’s teams reflected more diverse rosters than ever - so how did the sport reflect and react to the simmering tensions about to boil over?
Let’s explore - today on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America.
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How Two Visionaries Turned Baseball Into a National Pastime (w/ Jeffrey Orens)
2025/05/19
I sat down with author Jeffrey Orens, who wrote Selling Baseball: How A.G. Spalding Built America’s Game.
This episode is all about the unsung architects of America’s pastime—A.G. Spalding and George Wright. These two names might not be as famous as Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson, but their impact on baseball’s transformation from a simple game to a nationwide business powerhouse is huge.
We’ll explore how Spalding’s marketing genius and Wright’s pioneering play helped shape baseball into the beloved sport we know today. You’re not going to want to miss this deep dive into baseball history.
(Ad-Free) How Two Visionaries Made Baseball America’s Game
2025/05/18
I sat down with author Jeffrey Orens, who wrote "Selling Baseball: How A.G. Spalding Built America’s Game."
This episode is all about the unsung architects of America’s pastime—A.G. Spalding and George Wright. These two names might not be as famous as Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson, but their impact on baseball’s transformation from a simple game to a nationwide business powerhouse is huge.
We’ll explore how Spalding’s marketing genius and Wright’s pioneering play helped shape baseball into the beloved sport we know today. You’re not going to want to miss this deep dive into baseball history.
When Baseball History Meets Gaming: Inside MLB The Show 25
2025/05/01
I sat down with the director of product development comms and brand strategy at Sony Interactive’s San Diego Studio to talk about MLB The Show 25 - but don’t worry, we’re not just talking button-mashing and graphics.
We’re digging into how baseball’s rich history shows up in the game: from recreating classic stadiums to rating Hall of Famers and telling the stories of baseball legends.
Learn more about how baseball’s past gets preserved—and played with - on today’s episode!
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7 Times the IRS Brawled With Major League Baseball
2025/04/14
Today I’m breaking down seven moments when the IRS stepped off the sidelines and went head-to-head with some of pro baseball’s biggest names. From Hall of Famers to World Series champs to obscure role players, nobody was too big (or too forgotten) to get a visit from Uncle Sam.
Let’s take a look at what happened when the tax man came calling for pro baseball players.
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Dive deeper into the episode, and access to the FREE bonus show at: https://rounders.substack.com
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Beyond the Boys’ Club: The Women Rewriting Baseball’s Playbook
2025/04/07
Today's episode is about women in baseball. I sat down with author Al Lautenslager to talk about his new book, Leveling the Playing Field: Women Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball Coaching and Leadership.
This conversation digs into how we went from zero women on MLB coaching staffs in 2011 to over 40 today, and what that tells us about the future of the game.
Al shares insights from his interviews with front office executives, scouts, and coaches—people who aren’t just breaking ground, they’re building something bigger.
Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter
Dive deeper into the episode, and access to the FREE bonus show at: https://rounders.substack.com
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Podcast reviews
Read Rounders: A History of Baseball in America podcast reviews
dgarr931 2026/02/23
Clean show with great information.
I have been listening since day one and this show has great history lessons that are delivered so the whole family can enjoy. Great job
jljohnstone 2025/07/04
My favorite story time baseball podcast
Been listening for years! Love the way he digs deep into to stories I’ve never heard about baseball before. Please listen! Go back and listen to all t...
dfrcomp 2024/12/29
Excellent
Excellent resource for baseball history fans. I especially enjoyed the Baseball Team Autopsy series. Incredibly well researched and presented. Thank Y...
JeremyMarlinsFan 2024/10/06
Worth your time
A fun listen. A good job extracting interesting anecdotes. One star off for some glaring fact errors.
CJ7680 2024/09/27
Egregious Factual Inaccuracies
This podcasts information should not be accepted as true. In the episode about the St. Louis Browns there were at least three statements that were inc...
BradyD 86 2024/08/12
It’s great!!
This is a podcast that is great for baseball fans. The only thing is is it takes a while to get new episodes. But really good podcast.
Thanks123$&@" 2024/07/10
Thoughtful, informative, and fun
If you enjoy history, baseball, or both, you will enjoy this podcast. The information shared is researched, formatted, and delivered with high quality...
JC Cart 2024/04/03
Great Show
First off, I’m a huge baseball! This is one of the best baseball history podcasts I’ve listened to. I’m only 20 episodes in, but I love the context, a...
Pod Afficianodo 2023/07/11
Great Show
Great show. The new episode is fantastic, thanks! Glad you are back. Please watch the mouth clicks! You know, the tongue clacking, smacking of the lip...
WV Wiffle 2022/11/18
Very good baseball history show!
I just recently found this show and I have really enjoyed the deep dives into the topics chosen, particularly the team autopsies. Very well done!
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