Classic Baseball Radio

It's the 1952 World Series with the Yankees and Dodgers taking it to Game 7. On the Yankees line-up is a certain Mickey Mantle, and his 1952 season is one for the record books. This was the year of the Topps Mickey Mantle Baseball Card… the most expensive baseball card in the world Although Topps' cards debuted in 1951, that year saw a pack more akin to playing cards. 1952 saw the cards we know an...

You expect to see the big names in any All-Star Game. But in 1971, the two rosters between them featured 21 players who would eventually reach the Hall Of Fame. Of the 16 position players, 10 would reach Cooperstown. Willie Mays opens up the batting; Roberto Clemente makes his last All-Star appearance; Hank Aaron reaches the fence for the first time in the Summer Classic; heck, even Pete Rose pops...

Who can steal bases? Luis Aparicio can steal bases. With nine consecutive years as the American League leader in stolen bases between 1956 and 1964, and over 500 in his career, Aparicio is one of the legendary base runners. And that's before you look at his record number career hits as a shortstop… only beaten by the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in 2009. Is it any wonder the Chicago White Sox ret...

After 61 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates said goodbye to Forbes Field in the middle of the season before moving to Three Rivers Park. Built in 1909 it was the home not only of the Pirates, but also the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, and the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Panthers. We join Bob Prince, Nellie King, and Gene Osborn on KDKA for the second game in the double-header. The Pirates took the fir...

As the regular season of 1962 comes to a close, the New York Mets have already claimed a daunting record… the most losses in a season. Having passed the Athletics 1916 record of 117 losses on September 23rd, the Mets headed to Wrigley Field for the final game of the season with a record of 40-119 (plus one tied game). Could the players find a bit of honor to close out the debut season with a win,...

Satchell Paige spent over forty years playing baseball at various levels, but his mark in history is a simple one… he was the first African-American to pitch in the American League, and the seventh player to integrate into the majors. He did that when he was 42, and he remains the oldest debutant in either league. He was also the first African-American to pitch in a World Series, and it's that gam...

The Baltimore Orioles won the 1970 World Series, but the 1971 campaign would match a pitching record that stands to this day. The four starting pitchers Pat Dobson (20-8), Dave McNally (21–5), Mike Cuellar (20–9), and Jim Palmer (20–10) all posted 20 or more wins. The only other team in the history of the majors to have four pitchers on 20-plus wins in a season are the 1920 White Sox. We join the...

1968 is known as ‘The Year Of The Pitcher’, and there was no finer pitcher than Bob Gibson of the St Louis Cardinals. Since then, no pitcher has come close to matching his ERA of 1.12. The Cardinals were not just one pitcher though, and the whole team worked together to top the American League and take on the Detroit Tigers in the World Series (1968 was the last year before the playoff system was...

1965 would be the last year that the Braves would play in Milwaukee. The plan had been to say goodbye to the city and move to Atlanta at the end of the 1964 season, but their stadium lease saw them play out one more year. The Braves maintained an impressive win record throughout their time in Milwaukee with two pennants and one World Series, and never once posting a losing record. We join the seco...

The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair saw what was planned to be a one-off "All Stars" exhibition game, with two rosters selected by the fans of each league. Following its success, including a significant charitable donation from ticket sales, the Midsummer Classic returned in 1934. Stepping up to the plate for the American League are five bona fide legends, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons...

It’s Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Pitching for the Yankees is Don Larsen. Following four walks and four unearned runs given up in Game 2 before the end of the second inning, there was little indication that Larsen was about to throw the only perfect game in World Series history.  Bob Wolff and Bob Neal call the game for MBS Radio, and as is tradition, never mention the no-hitter is on, le...

The 1965 season saw the opening of the Houston Astrodome, and the first Major League Baseball games to be played indoors. For Opening Day, the Yankees were invited to the Astros for an exhibition game to open the Dome. With recordings available for both team broadcasts we can contrast two different legends behind the microphone. In this episode, our second visit to this game, we can hear the Astro...

The 1965 season saw the opening of the Houston Astrodome, and the first Major League Baseball games to be played indoors. For Opening Day, the Yankees were invited to the Astros for an exhibition game to open the Dome. With recordings available for both team broadcasts we can contrast two different legends behind the microphone. In this episode, the Yankee’s broadcasting team of Red Barber, Phil R...

1971 was the last year of the Washington Senators, with the team moving to Arlington to become the Texas Rangers. It’s the Senators' third game as they welcome the New York Yankees to RGK Stadium for a four-game series. The box score can be found here . This game was played on April 9th, 1971.

Following a four-game series with a single day of rest, the Red Sox once more took to the field at Comiskey Park and faced the White Sox in a double-header.  With both teams chasing the New York Yankees for the pennant, this series was vital in setting up the Bronx Bombers’ challenger in the back half of the 1936 season. The box score can be found here . This is the second game of the double...

Following a four-game series with a single day of rest, the Red Sox once more took to the field at Comiskey Park and faced the White Sox in a double-header.  With both teams chasing the New York Yankees for the pennant, this series was vital in setting up the Bronx Bombers’ challenger in the back half of the 1936 season. The box score can be found here . This is the first game of the double h...

For the opening half of the 1969 season - the first season with the AL and NL having two divisions in each league - the Cubs were on .700, but would eventually fall to .568 and lose to the Mets’ .617 following a collapse in the back half. We join the Mets on the road to the Cubs as the season starts to turn its way The box score can be found here ( link ). This game was played on July 14 1969.

A regular season game with a pair of young Dodgers legends; Sandy Koufax, barely two years into his career, takes the mound, while up in the radio booth you have a 29-year-old Vin Scully calling the first three innings.  You can find the box score here ( Link ). This game was played on June 4 1957.

The Giants and Dodgers met in a special three-game playoff to decide the National League pennant in 1951. This is Game 3, the deciding game, and it would echo throughout baseball history. This game was played on October 3 1951.

The American League Pennant came down to the final day in 1949 The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox were deadlocked on 96 wins… and that final day saw the Yankees take on the Red Sox in a nerve-wracking title decider at Fenway Park. This game was played on October 2 1949.

The 1973 NLCS saw the defending National League champions Cincinnati Reds take on the New York Mets who struggled into the postseason with just 82 wins… and the Mets took the LCS to a deciding game at Shea Stadium. This game was played on October 10 1973.

The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, With a three game lead going in to Game 4, could the Dodgers sweep the Yankees to lift the World Series Pennant? This game was played on Sunday October 6 1963.

The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 3 saw the teams move to Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers taking a two-game lead over the Yankees to their home field for the game on Saturday, October 5 1963.

The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees are trailing in the Series after an opening game victory by the Dodgers the day before. Game 2 took place at Yankee Stadium, on the afternoon of Thursday October 3.

The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees won the American League by ten and a Half games, while the Dodgers won the National League by six games, Game 1 took place at Yankee Stadium, on the afternoon of Wednesday October 2.