Rounders: A History of Baseball in America

Baseballs serve as links between people - that’s never changed. But the physical baseball has. In size, weight, and material. So how is a baseball from 1899 different from a baseball in 2019? Support the podcast financially by visiting anchor.fm/rounders Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter

Today is a special day everyone. It’s opening day 2019! Baseball is officially back, and our 162 game journey to the postseason will soon be underway. Fans have celebrated this moment in major league baseball for 143 years. Over that time, there have been memorable contests and storylines that emerged on opening days. Let’s look at some of them today on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America....

On today’s episode we look at a player who boasted a 17-year career in professional baseball, participated in multiple all-star team appearances, and was the first person to play on both American and National league teams. She’s also, most importantly, the first woman to play professionally. The Queen of Baseball. Today on Rounders: A History of Baseball in America. Follow on Facebook Follow on In...

Learn about how fans have disrupted major league baseball games in...unique ways throughout the years on this episode of 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

Chris, Travis and Wes from the SoCal Vintage Baseball League stop by to talk game differences between then & now, the roots of baseball in Southern California, and how you can get involved in supporting their league and vintage baseball across the United States! How to Follow: SoCal Vintage Baseball League Web: https://www.scvbb.com/ Instagram: @socalvintagebaseball Facebook: @SoCalVBB Twitter...

Imagine I could put you in a time machine, transport you to 1927, and give you a ticket to watch one of the greatest baseball players ever: This athlete could play any position, thanks to a cannon arm and unnatural swiftness His combination of speed and control made him one of the most feared pitchers of his day. His bat was just as dreaded, most seasons he finished with a batting average over .30...

It's a warm Wisconsin summer evening in June, 1996. You and your family are sitting behind the plate to see your beloved single-A club the Timbler Rattlers play an exhibition game against their MLB affiliate, the Seattle Mariners. As you eagerly wait for the umpire to yell "play ball!" you notice storm clouds gathering in the distance. In the blink of an eye, the rain begins, and it doesn't let up...

What do cornflakes, nylon stockings, exploding scoreboards, baseball jerseys, and disco all have in common? Bill Veeck used them all to get fans into ballparks. And he changed baseball thanks to his visionary marketing and promotional strategies. But he wasn't just a showman. Bill's advocacy of African Americans in the MLB, along with his support for player rights, guarantees his status as one of...

Florida has become a baseball Mecca, from it’s local amateur leagues all the way to the booming stadiums of their major league teams. They’ve become synonymous with one another, and baseball would be a very different sport without the influence of the Sunshine state. Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter Get the weekly digest AND access to the FREE bonus show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rounders.subs...

In a new segment entitled “Pastgame Interviews” I sit down with other members of the baseball community to discuss their contributions to the sport. On this episode I sat down with Sam Gazdziak, (@RIP_MLB) to discuss his work in chronicling the lives of deceased baseball figures. We had a great conversation about baseball history! Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter Get the weekly digest AND access to...

Uniforms, from their purpose to their design, have changed dramatically since baseball’s early days in the mid 1800’s. No more bow ties, collared shirts, or wool pants. But even with these changes, baseball uniforms are an always intriguing mix of design and functionality, a continual give and take of form and function. Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter Get the weekly digest AND access to the FREE b...

Did you know all 30 Major League Baseball games host Sunday chapel services for players? Did you know many teams keep a chaplain on payroll to travel with the team, to look after the spiritual well-being of its players? Did you know, that littered throughout baseball history, we find examples of athletes, at great expense to their careers, put faith before fastballs? Find out more on today's episo...

Sign Up for the FREE Newsletter Get the weekly digest AND access to the FREE bonus show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rounders.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up as a premium subscriber and get this show ad-free PLUS access to several other perks! Liked the Show? Leave Me a One-Time "Good Game" Tip! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tip on Stripe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The year is 1945. Germany has surrendered. Thousands of Allied troops occupy Western Europe. A stadium in the heart of Nazi Germany,  where hundreds of rallies were once held, is filled to the brim again with 50,000 people. This time, no swastikas or bronze eagles adorned the walls. Instead, a baseball field was the focus. So what happened? We'll cover this amazing piece of baseball history on tod...

Baseball is a game of rules. 169 pages of rules to be exact. Three strikes, you’re out. Four balls? Take your base! The ball bounced in the outfield and went into the stands? Ground rule double. Arguing with the umpire about balls and strikes? Ejected.  Baseball’s long history means rules have been around for a LONG time. Some have stuck and some have disappeared into history. Let's look at some o...

Attending Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, has an almost religious feel for any baseball fan. These walls watched Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Mookie Betts, and so many more fill its stands with loyal fans night after night. So how did it become the baseball icon as we know it today? Let's find out! Sign Up for the FREE Newslet...

It’s the second inning and you’ve just been called from the bullpen as a reliever. The starting pitcher just gave up a double and a single to start the game, and your manager needs you to get out of the inning. As you take the mound you look at the upcoming batters for your opponent, the New York Yankees. Next up? The legendary Babe Ruth. If you somehow get around him, the great Lou Gehrig is on d...

The saying “as American as baseball and apple pie” illustrates how connected baseball is with the idea of being an “American.”  But how did baseball become the national pastime? Was it an American invention or an import from our “melting pot” nation of immigrants? And if baseball is indeed an established game from another country, what are it’s true roots? We’ll look at baseball’s origins on today...