Rounders: A History of Baseball in America

To some, he was the greatest defensive catcher of all time. To others, he deserved a hall of fame induction. To his teammates, he was nothing but trouble. To history, he is the first household name in professional baseball to have committed murder. What drove him to such a heinous crime? And how should baseball remember him? We’ll discuss, on today’s episode of Rounders: A History of Baseball in A...

In 2004 the Red Sox made history, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the NY Yankees. They were so many memorable moments in that series - but the one that gets overlooked too often are the events that occurred in Game 5. Author John Vampatella stops by to tell us why we should all take time to remember this “forgotten game” in baseball history. Today, on Rounders: A History of Baseball in Am...

Ah, the number nine. It's the number of lives for cats.  Cloud 9 is the happy place we all want to be. In a courtroom, possession is 9 tenths of the law. And of course, there are 9 innings in a baseball game. But why? The story is more interesting than you might think. Today, on Rounders a History of Baseball in America. Episode Notes: Buy John Thorn's "Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Sec...

Welcome to our monthly mailbag - where I answer questions you submit about baseball history. Today's theme? Submissions about team names - today on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America. Questions in the Episode: Why The Cleveland Naps? The reason behind the Guardians name What's the Worst Pro Club Name of all time? Liked the Show? Leave Me a One-Time "Good Game" Tip! Tip on Cash App Tip on P...

MLB games happen in MLB stadiums, right? Well - mostly yes. But sometimes, whether it's due to political, environmental, or promotional reasons, teams have played regular-season games in some very unique spots across the globe.  Let's look at five unexpected MLB game locations on today's episode of Rounders: A History of Baseball in America. Liked the Show? Leave Me a One-Time "Good Game" Tip...

Baseball has a rich history of clubs with amazing wins, crushing defeats, and even more interesting behind-the-scenes management stories.   Not all clubs are still with us today, though.  So to keep their memory alive Rounders will share their history.   Today, we're examining the Houston Colt 45's.    Learn more about the Astrodome's...design issues in the episo...

We celebrate players who excel in their professional careers at an early age. But what about the players that took just a little bit longer to find that same success? We look at 5 of baseball's greatest players who didn't become stars until after turning 30 years old. Support the Show Follow on YouTube Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram  Follow on Twitter

Season 3 kicks off with a look at baseball's little-known era of human mascots...with unusual physical attributes. Author Allen Abel stops by to discuss his new book about Hughie McLoon, a child with a hunched back who became one of the biggest names in Philadelphia during the 1920s. That is - until his untimely murder at just 20 years old.   Watch our conversation on YouTube and see pho...

Watching an athlete break a major sports milestone is amazing to watch. And yet, for Hank Aaron, his accomplishment of hitting the most career home runs was met with racism and multiple threats of violence against both him and his family.   In the years and months leading up to this event, Hank had to endure what no fellow human ever should. Here's his story. Today, on Rounders: A Histor...

Imagine  any of the top superstars of the past 20 years. You know, the kind of player who's headlined multiple all-star games, won season awards, and are sure locks for entry into the Hall of Fame.  Now imagine that same player, in the prime of their life, is suddenly swept up by a tornado. Crazy right? That sort of thing just doesn't happen to sports superstars. Well...it did in 1903 to...

Umpires. We don't notice them...until we notice them. These arbiters of baseball safeguard the integrity of the game in even the most chaotic scenarios.  So what's it like behind the mask?  Author and historian Bill Nowlin stops by to discuss what he learned about the daily lives of umpires - both on and off the field.  Today, on Rounders - a History of Baseball in America. Connect...

The drive to achieve success, to reach the top of the ladder, requires daily commitment. To achieve success in the face of constant roadblocks requires even more of the human spirit. Bob Gibson is one such individual, a man who didn’t let a life surrounded by racism stop him from becoming one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Bob Gibson: Determination Defined. Today on Rounders: A History of Baseba...

August 8 is national baseball card day. This hobby was a big part of my fan experience as a child - as it’s been for generations of fans. From simple images in packs of gum  to digital, motion-enabled options today, baseball cards continue to let us collect our favorite players, teams, and moments. When did these items first come into existence? The origin story is not what you’d expect. The...

Was Cleveland, not Williamsport, PA, the true home of Little League?   This is the argument presented in the book  "MRS. MORHARD AND THE BOYS"  But this work is about more than the origins of youth baseball, its the story of a single mother, Josephine Morhard and how, during the Great Depression, this hard-working mother built an organization focused on fostering meaningful growth f...

I was honored to sit down with Jeff Fields, a former MLB draft pick, amateur historian, and vintage catcher's equipment collector. We discuss the history behind the "tools of ignorance" and items from Jeff's personal collection of vintage gear. Follow Jeff Fields on Social Media:  Instagram: @mask_and_mitten Email: maskandmitten@icloud.com  maskandmitten.com   Follow Rounders on Soc...

Sometimes history remembers individuals in an unfair light. Sometimes there’s more to the story. Sometimes we should reassess our perspectives. Let’s discuss today’s subject - Smead Jolley. Follow Rounders on Social Media Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter

Baseball historian Sam Gazdziak stops by to discuss five players who had one shot in a pro game. Here are their stories.  Follow Sam Gazdziak RIPbaseball.com Facebook Instagram Twitter Follow Rounders on Social Media Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter

From a young age we learn to throw a baseball with our dominant hand. It becomes second nature, a part of our athletic muscle memory. Imagine losing that all of a sudden. In an instant. Would you still continue playing baseball? Pete Gray did. Here’s his story. Link to Pete Gray's Autobiography Link to TV movie based on Pete Gray Follow Rounders on Social Media Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagr...

This isn’t the first time a worldwide pandemic has struck baseball. In fact, history shows us how bad the situation got - and provides us hope for our own future. Book Links: War Fever September 1918: War, Plague, and the World Series Follow Rounders on Social Media Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter

I sit down with three team owners from the Mid Atlantic Vintage Baseball League to discuss vintage baseball East Coast style! Follow and Join the Mid Atlantic Base Ball League League Website League Facebook Page Follow Rick and the Brandywine Base Ball Club Follow Jeff and the Diamond State Base Ball Club Follow Tom and the Mutual Base Ball Club of New York Follow Rounders on Social Media Follow o...

As Hurricane Dorian made its way across Florida, I saw how life can just...stop in the face of a natural disaster. So when storms and unexpected disasters struck, how has baseball responded?  We’ll look at some examples throughout history on today’s episode of Rounders: A History of Baseball in America. Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter

I sit down with some of the organizers of the Central Valley Vintage Base Ball Association from California to discuss their work in establishing and popularizing baseball according to 1864 rules. Follow the CVVB: Website: CVVBB.org Facebook: @CVVBB64 Instagram: @centralvalleyvintagebaseball Twitter: @CVVBB64 Email: CentralValleyVintageBaseBall@gmail.com Sacramento BBC Facebook: @sacramentovbbc Aet...

A Linguist. An attorney. A professional baseball player. A war hero. The story of Moe Berg, the MLB catcher who also served as a spy in World War II. Today, on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America.   Support the podcast financially by visiting anchor.fm/rounders Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter “The Catcher was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg” by Nicholas...

Mud. Sunscreen. Saliva. Vaseline. One of baseball’s oldest junk pitches has survived rule changes, player accusations, and umpire searches to continue as a pitcher’s secret weapon. Where did this doctored ball originate, who threw it best, and what is it’s future in today’s MLB? The Tale of the Spitball. Today, on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America. Support the podcast financially by visit...

Baseball, more than any other sport, has a rich history of slang and terminology that continues even to this day. Who needs Tolkien when you have linguists like Casey Stengel and Dennis Eckersley? So let’s learn about some familiar and forgotten terms throughout baseball history!  Support the podcast financially by visiting anchor.fm/rounders Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on T...