Rounders: A History of Baseball in America

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...

"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...

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&q...

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 Rou...

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 191...

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.

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. Get Deeper Into the Episode ⁠Subscribe to the FREE Substack newsletter⁠ for videos, photos, and other content related to this episode. Liked the Show? Leave Me a One-Time "Good Game" Tip! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 in...

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...

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 tha...

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 expl...

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...

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. Sign Up for the FREE Newslette...

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...

This week, we're diving into a forgotten chapter of baseball history— the heartbreaking story of the 1946 Spokane Indians bus crash.

Baseball in Ireland? Yeah, it’s a thing—and it’s got a history that might surprise you. This week, we’re heading across the Atlantic to explore how America’s pastime found its way onto the Emerald Isle. We’ll talk about the pioneers, the setbacks, the unlikely heroes, and how baseball carved out a niche in a country better known for hurling and Gaelic football. So grab a pint, settle in, and let’s...

Baseball isn’t just a game—it’s a reflection of America itself. And nowhere is that more true than in small towns and cities, where the sport isn’t just played—it’s part of the community’s identity. This week, I sit down with author Will Bardenwerper to talk about his new book,  Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America.  We dive into what baseball means to small-town li...

Before the modern Orioles, there was a National League dynasty that changed baseball forever—then disappeared. This week, I sit down with authors and historians Tom Delise and Jay Seaborg to talk about the 1890s Orioles, the wild tactics of “Foxy” Ned Hanlon, and why this team left a permanent mark on the game—despite being erased from the league. Purchase Jay and Tom's book, " Foxy Ned H...

Author and historian Paul D. White joins the show to expose the barriers that kept Negro League legends out of Cooperstown for so long —and why work isn't done yet. Check Out Paul's Work: Buy his book "Cooperstown's Back Door: A History of Negro Leaguers in the Baseball Hall of Fame” ⁠Amazon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠ ⁠⁠McFarland⁠⁠ Subscribe to Paul on Substack ( ⁠Lost in Left Field...

A century before Pete Rose and the Black Sox, one man made history for all the wrong reasons. Dick Higham—a former player turned respected umpire—was banned from baseball in 1882 over a supposed gambling scheme. But was the evidence legit? Or was he a scapegoat in baseball’s early war on corruption? Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter Dive deeper into the episode, and access to the FREE bonus show at:...

Ichiro Suzuki. Billy Wagner. CC Sabathia. These baseball greats are headed to Cooperstown as the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. Join us as we rate if the writers made the right picks, who missed selection this year, and our personal choices for players that deserve enshrinement in the Hall. Don’t forget to grab your order of Magic Mind by heading to magicmind.com/JANrounders, with discount...

A rising star in Major League Baseball, an All-Star career ahead of him, and a senseless act of violence that shocked the sports world . In this episode of Foul Play Files, we look at the tragic murder of Lyman Bostock—a player who was just hitting his prime when his life was taken far too soon. Note: This episode is part of an ongoing series entitled “Foul Play Files." Each episode re-examines a...

Imagine a world where the MLB had teams like the Orlando Sun Rays or the Indianapolis Arrows. What about a franchise in Mexico City or a Toronto team that isn’t the Blue Jays? Today, we’re diving into the stories of nine MLB expansion teams that almost happened but didn’t. Note: There's even more 'listicle' episodes where you can hear my top rankings for baseball history-related topics. Check out...

What if I told you there’s a pitch so unpredictable, it defies physics and leaves even the best hitters guessing? This week, we’re diving into the wild, weird, and wonderful world of the knuckleball—an innovation that changed pitching forever. Stick around, because this is one ride you don’t want to miss. Note:  This episode is part of an ongoing series entitled “Baseball Innovations." Each episod...

Every month I share a preview of our bonus show to the general public. Learn about this week's top events in baseball history! If you like what you hear, head on over to rounders.substack.com to sign up for future bonus shows FOR FREE. Note: Interested in the episode about the Astrodome and Houston Colt 45's? Here's the link.