Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast

It's the final episode of the year, so we take a look back at the decade that was...30 years ago. Greenies, astroturf and speed were king in MLB. We review some of the greatest World Series from the 1980's, award winners, league leaders and future Hall of Famers. We're talking Kal Daniels here people! The Chattanooga Lookouts are this weeks minor league team MLB is threatening do away with and Wax...

Mark is out making a living, so it is just Jeff this week. Despite being sick, he displays Ripken-like perseverance covering baseball holiday books by a rotund, jolly pitcher, the history of the Athletics elephant mascot and a 1980’s baseball quiz to test your long term memory. Plus, he dives into the world of rack packs for a solo Wax Pack Heroes segment. Happy holidays, see you next year!   CC C...

Back by popular demand, another installment of Tales from the Dugout. Hawk Harrelson somehow wins the Ford C. Frick award. Mule Suttles hit a ton of homeruns, why haven’t you heard of him? Victory Faust won a World Series with the New York Giants by coning John McGraw and Eiji Sawamura blew away Japanese batters but how did he fair against The Babe, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Charlie Gehringer?...

This week we discuss just how many uniforms the Rangers are going to have next season? Speaking of the Rangers, we also discuss the dimensions of their new park and how they are honoring past players and teams. Black Friday baseball buys, more Larry Walker stats and we highlight one of the minor league teams MLB is trying to take away. Then longtime Mariners PA announcer Tom Hutyler joins us to ta...

We’re back from a week off and come back with a bang. Chris from the awesome Turn A Pair Baseball Podcast joins us to talk about his time working in the minor leagues, hanging out with Tommy Lasorda in Nashville and growing up a Cubs fan. Jeff & Mark talk some Japanese baseball pitching awards and walk up music, plus discuss who is the quintessential centerfielder; Mays, Griffey or Trout? And fina...

Despite Mark’s computer taking it’s last breath, we still managed to cover the history of stealing signs in MLB baseball. The Astros might be the latest to be accused but they are far from the first. From the Hartford Dark Blues to Ty Cobb to the Shot Heard Round the World, signs have been pilfered as long as they’ve been used. Mark also takes on the first round of the Great Nickname Quiz. Can you...

They aren’t written down but we’re talking about them anyways, baseball’s unwritten rules. When is it ok to bunt when you’re being no hit? How should you always approach home plate? What is the magic word that every ump will toss you for using? We’ll tell you about them, just don’t write them down for the love of all that’s holy! Also, what’s up with baseball bats? How did we get from using spokes...

We had so many shorter stories from last week, we did it again, Tales from the Dugout. This week we cover bats, no hats for bats, just bats. We've already covered how part of Tinker to Evers to Chance didn’t speak for 30 years, this week we discuss if they are really the best double play trio or just a catchy poem, And finally, if you thought the Reds and Phillies played the first night game in 19...

We're back for a second time this week! The World Series and the season have ended. Jeff and Mark put a bow on the Fall Classic where nobody enjoyed much advantage at home . MVP, free agency and a couple of World Series facts as we all start the long wait for pitchers and catchers to report. 

Tales from the Dugout returns with a compilation of short stories from the past including a baseball episode of The Twilight Zone and two members of the vaunted double play combination, Tinker to Ever to Chance, take a 33 year vow of silence. Mark and Jeff also discuss the old school/new school takes on this year’s World Series and of course Baby Shark. We play another round of Wax Pack Heroes wit...

Are you tired of Mark’s stories of when he was a bat boy back in the 90’s? This week we got somebody else to give us some udpated ones. Ronnie Jordan (@Reagan_Jordan1) joins the show to talk about being the Nashville Sounds batboy this past season. While stadiums and players have changed, the pranks played on batboys apparently remain the same. We find out which stains are harder to get out, pine...

For the second week in a row, Nap Lajoie gets screwed out of a batting award! This time it’s the Chalmers Award. What’s the Chalmers Award, we had no clue either but be sure we’ll break it down. Also, cheating in baseball. It happens. It happens alot actually, but to get caught is something different. Note to self, if you have a thumbtack on you to scruff the ball, don’t wipe the sweat from your f...

We jump into the way back machine this week. Jorge Pasquel, possibly more than Branch Rickey, pushed MLB into integration. Learn about the man you’ve probably never heard of that lead the way for baseball to finally be welcome to all. Big Ed Delahanty was the Mike Trout of the 1890’s. A 5 tool player, this Hall of Famer died under mysterious circumstances at Niagara Falls. Hear about one of baseba...

How long do you think walk up music for batters has been around? A decade? Maybe two? Try a century! We explore the Royal Rooters of Boston. Mazel tov! The Israeli team has become the first team to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics baseball tournament. A former member of the Israeli national team, Adam Greenberg faced only a single pitch in his MLB debut in 2005. Unfortunately it hit him in the...

We made it to show 34, so we HAD to talk about Mark’s all time favorite player, Nolan Ryan. So many strikeouts, and we recap every one of them! Just kidding, but we do talk about his numerous records, achievements and a couple of Rickey Henderson-related feats. We also talk about the end of a couple of era’s as the regular season winds down as well as some post-season legends who made their debuts...

Drones, ice packs and tanning beds. Pretty innocuous objects to most, but not to baseball players! Baseball has to have the strangest injuries of any sport. This week we dive into some of the strangest that have kept players on the DL. We also talk about the Colorado Silver Bullet. This all women’s barnstorming team took the country by storm during the early 90’s doing baseball things. So much so...

It's the penultimate episode of our look at current MLB coaches and their playing careers. This week it's the AL & NL East's turn. Will the Yankees and Red Sox dominate like they do everything else? We also look at the tragic history of players in the MLB named Aurelio as well as why one of them has a famous 1969 Topps card. Also, our best crop of debuts, maybe ever. Finally, we revisit Second Bes...

Week 2 of the critically acclaimed “Before They were Coaches” series. This week we take a look at the career stats of the managers and coaches of the AL& NL Central teams. Who had the most success on the field before hanging them up? Did that success follow them to the dugout? Did somebody ask about triple plays? Irrelevant, we have more triple play factoids than Brett Gardner has temper tantrums....

Before they were setting lineups and challenging plays from the dugout, managers and coaches (almost) all played the game. This week we take a look at the career stats of the managers and coaches of the AL& NL west teams. Who had success on the field before hanging them up? Did that success follow them to the dugout? Also, what former major leaguers relished in shaving Mark’s head after a bet? And...

Would you rather see a game at the Field of Dreams or the Polo Grounds? Who do you want calling that game? Vin Sculley or Bill Walton (we thought it was weird too but that White Sox-Angels game was really fun)? What level of rock star do you have to be to leave a game, do a show, then go back to your seat to catch the end of a 14 inning game? And can either of us pronounce the name of said rock st...

What 3 time All Star was once traded for 500 Teddy Ruxpins? What former Athletics and Reds pitcher game Mark his TV when he was called up to the big leagues? If you round up all the major league baseball players, ever, what percentage of Dodger Stadium would they fill up? Impress your friends with these topics that only we are brave enough to talk about. Also, Curt Flood. Every player to ever put...

Billy Martin loved being a Yankee so much, that despite being fired 4 previous times, he still went back for a fifth time! The yelling, the bar room brawls and the dirt kicking were all part of the package. But Billy Martin got results. They might not have lasted long, but atleast you knew what you were getting when you hired the fiery Martin. More Wax Pack Heroes. We can’t possibly pull two worse...

Position players pitching is becoming more and more common, But what about permanently? This week we look at players who have successfully switched positions. Plus, Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker. What he lacked on the diamond he has more than made up for on the small and big screen. The colorful and amusing career of Wisconsin’s favorite son. Can we top last week’s Wax Pack Heroes where we raked in wel...

This week we track the history of the Hall of Fame from a single room to the expansive showroom it is today. This year boasted the first unanimous selection, ever. 83 years and countless immortals but the BWAAA finally broke the seal. Plus, we look forward to next year and beyond. Who will get in and will there be another unanimous selection? Plus our most successful Wax Pack Heroes ever!

Tales from the Dugout returns! Short stories about the awesomeness that was Tony Gwynn. A 9-inning major league game in 31 minutes? But how you say, we tell you! Plus a minor leaguer smokes Griffey, Jr. And A-Rod in a HR contest and Yogi Berra. If we need to say more than Yogi Berra you must not know who Yogi Berra is, so listen and find out. Plus more Wax Pack Heroes! Arias HR Derby -  https://ww...