Reading Baseball

50 years ago: A sports triumph and a tragedy 16.12.2022 5:37 ↓

WSIU's Pete Peterson remembers the holiday season 50 years ago that featured an exhilarating football moment and an unimaginable tragedy for a Hall of Fame baseball player.

Baseball and Jim Thorpe 04.11.2022 5:19 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at Jim Thorpe's lesser known baseball career.

Reading Baseball: A Great Baseball Story, Almost 21.10.2022 5:18 ↓

Pete Peterson looks back at the 2022 St. Louis Cardinals baseball season and how all it lacked was a storybook ending.

To Run or Not to Run 07.10.2022 5:24 ↓

Pete Peterson provides a commentary on how the organizers of the Pittsburgh Marathon continue to seek his participation in the event.

Reading Baseball: Kill the umpire? 23.09.2022 5:27 ↓

Pete Peterson talks about how baseball umpires are among the most abused sports officials.

Reading Baseball: Is baseball or football America's game? 09.09.2022 5:23 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at the debate and tries to explain why the game’s rich history still leads him to call baseball America’s game.

Reading Baseball: When Ron Shelton met Ron Shelton 26.08.2022 5:28 ↓

Pete Peterson has the unusual story about when two men — both named Ron Shelton — ended up on the same minor league baseball team.

Reading Baseball: 100 Years Ago, St. Louis became a baseball town 12.08.2022 5:31 ↓

Pete Peterson's commentary explains how baseball took over St. Louis in 1922.

Goodbye Heinz Field, Hello Acrisure Stadium 29.07.2022 5:42 ↓

In this special commentary, Pete Peterson says the latest name change of a stadium has fans of one NFL team up in arms.

Reading Baseball: Bob Gibson's Angell 15.07.2022 5:24 ↓

Pete Peterson examines how Hall of Fame writer Roger Angell got a unique glimpse into the life of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson for a renowned essay.

Reading Baseball: Love of the Game 01.07.2022 5:22 ↓

Pete Peterson talks about how his days as a sore loser fueled his love for the game.

Reading Baseball: Remembering Cardinals Rookie of the Year Bill Virdon 17.06.2022 5:29 ↓

Pete Peterson says Virdon inspired him to be a centerfielder as a youth.

On the road again 03.06.2022 5:32 ↓

Pete Peterson and his wife Anita recently returned to their hometown of Pittsburgh for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reading Baseball: When Itchy became a cover boy 20.05.2022 5:14 ↓

Pete Peterson remembers the time Jones became a cover boy when the SIU Press reprinted a critically-acclaimed baseball book.

Reading Baseball: In the wake of Jackie Robinson 06.05.2022 5:27 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at the ramifications of Jackie Robinson’s breaking of baseball's color barrier on several of his teammates.

Reading Baseball: Angels in the Outfield 22.04.2022 5:25 ↓

Pete Peterson talks about how a classic baseball film helped him get over the Pittsburgh Pirates' season opening loss in St. Louis.

Reading Baseball: The end of baseball's longest controversy 08.04.2022 5:22 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at the origin of the designated hitter as the National League joins the American League in utilizing a hitter for the pitcher.

Reading Baseball: Pirates hire another former Saluki 25.03.2022 5:28 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at how two former Saluki baseball stars will try to turn around the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Pete Peterson remembers his ethnic heritage 11.03.2022 5:37 ↓

WSIU Radio contributor Pete Peterson remembers his eastern European ethnic heritage as the world watches Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Reading Baseball: Does Barry Bonds Belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame? 25.02.2022 5:24 ↓

Pete Peterson looks at Barry Bonds' growing support for his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Reading Baseball: The Negro League's Vic Harris-Baseball's Winningest Manager 11.02.2022 5:31 ↓

In his annual Black History Month commentary, Pete Peterson has the story of a notable Negro League player and manager who has yet to make the Hall of Fame.

Reading Baseball: A Baseball Christmas Miracle - Twice 28.01.2022 5:03 ↓

Pete Peterson recalls his favorite Christmas gift as a child and his effort to track it down.

Reading Baseball: The Baseball 100 for the Holidays 17.12.2021 5:29 ↓

Reading Baseball's Pete Peterson has a gift idea for the baseball fan on your Christmas shopping list.

Reading Baseball: Mike Shildt and the Cardinal Way 19.11.2021 5:29 ↓

Reading Baseball's Pete Peterson looks at the history of the St. Louis Cardinals organization getting rid of successful managers in light of the Mike Shildt firing.

Reading Baseball: 50 Years Ago, Roberto Clemente Proved His Greatness in the World Series 05.11.2021 5:27 ↓

Pete Peterson looks back on the 50th anniversary of one of the finest individual performances in World Series history.