Small Hall Baseball Podcast

This week we discuss baseball performance oddities. Of the well known ones such as the Cycle or a Perfect Game are some more impressive than others and do any of them still deserve the reverence they get? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Phil Niekro's 3000th strikeout and the knuckleballer as a concept. How hard is it to be a good knuckleballer and is there any room for that kind of pitch...

This week we discuss what makes good and bad managers in baseball. Is there a secret sauce to being a good manager and why do great players seem to make such bad ones? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the appearence of 15 year old Joe Nuxhall. He only pitched a single game in 1944, but why is it such a good thing kids that old are not allowed to play? Our Hall of Famer this week is 19th C...

This week we discuss the relevance of mascots in professional sports. Do they even have a place anymore and should they persist? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Cy Young reaching 500 wins. This milestone is bonkers and will never be surpassed, but just how unreachable is it? Our Hall of Famer this week is Cleveland Pitcher Bob Lemon. Was his good stretch good enough to warrant a place in...

This week we discuss the early season dismissal of Alex Cora and Rob Thomson. Should managers be let go this early and should it included scorched earth for their coaching staff if so? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the incident that caused the sudden retirement of Jim Eisenreich in 1984. What is the line for heckling athletes and how hard would it be to bring oneself back to the game t...

We present to you Part 5 of  "The Smörgåsbord" This episode we will be reviewing yet another set players that are not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but were suggested by folks on social media as players who should have their case reviewed. We took a look at each player and gave our thoughts on their case. Do we think any of them were oversights and should be in the HOF? Have a listen won't you? Th...

This week we discuss the removal of Harry Kalas' name from an establishment in Citizen's Bank Park. Is this a big deal, little deal, or no deal? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the debut and career of pitcher Jim Abbott. Its hard enough being a pitcher in MLB, but how much more respect and admiration does one deserve for doing it with a single hand? A lot! Our Hall of Famer this week is...

This week we discuss the second suspension of Jurikson Profar for a banned substance. How can MLB combat these players continuing to skirt the rules and is the system in place the best we can expect? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the lifting of the permanent ban for Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle for being casino greeters. The ban was a contentious one in the first place, but do we unde...

This week we discuss the media landscape of Major League Baseball going into the future. What really is the best model for baseball and will the owners and players be able to pick one that works for everyone? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1901 rule changes heading into the Modern Era of baseball. The rule changes that occurred have been evergreen and have stuck around until today,...

This week we discuss the whether or not a team should allow their players to participate in international competitions. Teams from MLB or other leagues drag their feet on this idea, but should they just allow these players to go compete? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1920 rule change prohibiting alterations of the baseball. We discuss how effective this change has been, but also ho...

Once Again, that time of year has arrived, the new Baseball Hall of Fame announcement! This episode is dedicated entirely to discussing the results of the most recent BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. We discussed the 2 BBWAA electees in great detail as well as those who fell short or fell off the ballot entirely. Time Stamps for each section are below: Ichiro: 2:50 C.C. Sabathia: 14:54 Andruw Jones: 13:...

This week we discuss the whether or not a team in the current baseball landscape can construct a winner without a superstar player. We have seen teams do it in the past such as the 1969 Mets or the 1991 Twins, but do we think its possible now or a dream of a bygone era? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss FDR's 1942 proclamation that baseball should continue during the war. We talk keeping u...

This week we discuss the Modern Era HOF Committee results for this year. Only one selection for the Hall from the committee, but were we surprised by that selection and should he have been the only one? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the standardization of baseball in 1933. It took many years into MLB's existence to make this change and we talk about the difference and the change itself...

We present to you Part 4 of  "The Smörgåsbord" This episode we will be reviewing yet another set players that are not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but were suggested by folks on social media as players who should have their case reviewed. We took a look at each player and gave our thoughts on their case. Do we think any of them were oversights and should be in the HOF? Have a listen won't you? Th...

This week we discuss whether or not a Desginated Hitter can be considered the GOAT in baseball. Do we think a player that only plays half of the game can be considered for being the greatest in his sport? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss two relievers who won the Cy Young in 1987 and 1989. Those relievers won, but should they have and should a reliever ever be considered for the award? Ou...

This week we discuss the 2025 Phillies season and result. The Phillies won the division again, but despite the early exit, was it a successful season in any sense? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1990 World Series loss for the Oakland A's and its ending of the run for those A's teams. Those teams went to three straight World Series, but since they only won the single title, do we con...

This week we discuss the AL and NL CYA and MVPs for the 2025. Are they difficult discussions this year or are they sneakily a forgone conclusion? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1945 Billy Goat Curse on the Chicago Cubs. The curse was an excuse for the Cubs for many years, but do we actually even know what happened? Our Hall of Famer this week is outfielder Roberto Clemente. A Hall o...

This week we discuss modern pitching and modern hitting and what the problem seems to be? Is it time to just pack in baseball if hitting is "too difficult" or do the hitters need to adjust their approach? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss "Merkle's Boner" in 1908. Was it right call and was it fair for all of the grief to be given to Merkle over this incident. Our Hall of Famer this week is...

This week we discuss Rob Manfred's plan for expansion and "Geographic Divions". We don't think much of it, but it there any actual altruism in this plan or is Manfred just helping to pinch pennies? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the leasing of the Polo Grounds in 1880 and the stadium's significance. The stadium had 4 permutations and hosted several sports over its years with some wonder...

This week we discuss the changing landscape of player health. Players no longer crawl and scrape to be on the field like they once did before guaranteed contracts, but do we think that's necessarily a bad thing? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Rickey breaking the single season stolen base record and stolen bases as a concept. Have stolen bases simply fallen out style in recent years or h...

This week we discuss the importance of milestones. Have milestones lost their luster? If so, which ones? Also, should they be an automatic in or have the bars been moved in recent years? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the overturning of the the height of the Dodger's lead over the Giants in 1951 and then their collapse. The comeback was quite impressive, but did the later admitted sign...

This week we discuss "The Prospect Paradox". Should a team call up prospect and disrupt a successful team's chemistry or are prospects only going to get regular playing time in losing environments? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the overturning of the "Pine Tar Game" ruling against George Brett. Should MacPhail have overturned the rule? Who knows, but this was a very heated discussion f...

We present to you Part 3 of  "The Smörgåsbord" This episode we will be reviewing yet another set players that are not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but were suggested by folks on social media as players who should have their case reviewed. We took a look at each player and gave our thoughts on their case. Do we think any of them were oversights and should be in the HOF? Have a listen won't you? Th...

Welcome to "The Sandy Koufax Show" where all of our topics are related to Sandy Koufax is celebration of reaching our toughest Hall of Fame Discussion...possibly ever. We discuss the rthe "Bonus Baby Rule" that began Koufax's career. Was it good and how responsible was it for how long it took him to blossom? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the first no-hitter thrown by Koufax in 1962. It...

This week we discuss the removal of Pete Rose from the ineligible list for baseball and his potential inclusion. Do we ultimately think he deserves a spot or should his punishment remain in perpetuity? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the Joe Cronin hitting his 3rd three-run home run in 4 pinch hit at-bats in 1943. We use this a segue to speaking about player mangers, their history, how i...

This week we discuss the the evolution of Starting Pitchers and the "Starting Rotation". Is the 6-man rotation coming soon and what has led us to this point in baseball to warrant it? For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1959 Roy Campanella Night. The outpouring of support was tremendous, but could this happen today and would it even be warranted? Our Hall of Famer this week is right fiel...