Baseball By The Book

In 1948, the Cleveland Indians became the first integrated major league team to win the World Series. Author Luke Epplin joins us to discuss Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, Bob Feller, Bill Veeck and the rest of the history-making squad that has been overshadowed by Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

Author Andrew Forbes joins us to discuss his new collection of essays on Ichiro Suzuki and other baseball topics, including the 2003 Tigers, Tris Speaker and Pedro Guerrero. Plus, we chat about baseball under the shadow of COVID and nuclear annihilation. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

Dave Parker was one of baseball's brightest stars in the late 1970s, a batting champion with power and a deadly right arm. But injuries and drugs derailed his All-Star career before he found redemption and happiness in his hometown of Cincinnati. Author Dave Jordan joins us to discuss the autobiography he co-authored with Parker.  Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore

The Hollywood Stars were the team of, well, Hollywood stars. For two decades, Gilmore Field in Los Angeles was the place to be for celebrities from Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart to Barbara Stanwyck and Groucho Marx. Author Dan Taylor joins us to discuss the remarkable run of the Pacific Coast League franchise that pioneered air travel and TV and introduced the world to baseball uniform shorts.  Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

From Dolf Luque to Fernando Valenzuela to Pedro Martinez, Latin Americans have long played baseball in the United States — and faced significant racism and cultural barriers along the way. Samuel Regalado joins us to discuss his efforts to chronicle the experiences of Latin major league players. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore

Carlton Fisk hit one of baseball's most legendary home runs, but his long career was much more than that. Doug Wilson joins us to discuss the hard-nosed catcher who became a star in his native New England before an acrimonious split with the Red Sox led him to Chicago's South Side. Along the way, he became one of baseball's most respected — and hated — players. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

In a little more than a decade, Glenn Burke went from starting in the World Series to living on the streets of San Francisco, addicted  to drugs and suffering from the disease that would eventually kill him. But Burke's role as the first openly gay player in MLB — and the inventor of the high five — has ensured his legacy will live on. Author Andrew Maraniss joins us to discuss the remarkable life and tragic death of a baseball pioneer. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

For a period in the early 1920s, Ken Williams rivaled Babe Ruth as the top slugger in baseball — kind of.  Author Dave Heller returns to the podcast to talk about the brief but memorable career of the St. Louis Browns star who became MLB's first 30-30 man and ignited a Hall of Fame debate that continues to this day. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

Gene Moore was a teenage baseball phenom with big league dreams before World War II derailed his plans. But when his second chance came along years later, he wasn't sure he wanted to take it. Author Gary W. Moore (Gene's son) joins us to discuss the story of one man's hopes and disappointments amid the bloodiest conflict of the 20th century.  Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

"Don't be like me," Mickey Mantle told the world toward the end of his life. Emerging from a troubled childhood in Oklahoma, the Mick became baseball's biggest star under the bright lights of New York. But alcoholism and other personal demons trailed him throughout his life, overshadowing his prodigious home runs and World Series rings. Acclaimed author Jane Leavy returns to the podcast to discuss her biography of Yankee legend. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

Even the pros were once kids on the sandlot. Author Kelly G. Park talked to 18 former ballplayers about their experiences playing youth baseball. He joins us to discuss what he learned from his interviews with Boog Powell, Lou Piniella, Lou Whitaker, Fergie Jenkins and many others. Park's website: www.justlikemethebook.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore    

From "The Odd Couple" to "City Slickers" to "The West Wing," the Amazin' Mets have been at the center of pop culture. Author David Krell joins us to discuss Dave Kingman, Casey Stengel, the Beatles' legendary Shea Stadium concert and more. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore  

Zack Wheat was among the greatest players in the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of baseball's most storied teams. So why has the Hall of Fame outfielder been largely forgotten? Author Jon Niese joins us to discuss the life and career of the hard-hitting lefty. Support Baseball by the Book on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook  

Triple-A baseball. So close the Show, yet so far away. Best-selling author John Feinstein spent the 2012 season traveling to Durham, Pawtucket, Lehigh Vally, Norfolk and points in between to tell the story of a group of men living on the cusp of a dream. Feinstein joins us to discuss former World Series hero Scott Podsednik; veteran manager Charlie Montoya; career minor leaguer Jon Lindsey; one-time All-Star Nate McLouth and more.  Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy Baseball by the Book merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore    

For generations of fans, Tom Seaver was the Mets: A charismatic superstar pitcher who led the franchise to the heights of glory. Despite that, the Hall of Famer had a strained relationship with the team that twice let him go under controversial circumstances. Veteran journalist Bill Madden joins us to discuss the remarkable life of the man called Tom Terrific.  Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Buy merchandise at www.teespring.com/store/baseballbythebookstore  

Sandy Koufax or Hank Greenberg? Or maybe Lou Boudreau? It's a special Hanukkah episode as author Howard Megdal joins us to debate the greatest Jewish baseball players of all time, from Lip Pike to Alex Bregman. Find out why Ryan Braun has hurt his standing, why Rod Carew doesn't make the list and why one former player belongs in the International Clown Hall of Fame. Patreon: www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook Merchandise: www.teespring.com/stores/baseballbythebookstore    

In February 1947, as the Cuban League pennant race culminated in a dramatic showdown between bitter rivals Almendares and Habana, Brooklyn Dodgers minor leaguer Jackie Robinson arrived on the island with his teammates for spring training. César Brioso joins us to discuss the remarkable confluence of historic events in baseball-mad Old Havana.  Support Baseball by the Book at www.Patreon.com/baseballbythebook 

Inspired by "The Glory of Their Times," Danny Peary spent two years in the early 1990s traveling the country searching for retired baseball players. The result was a massive oral history featuring interviews with 65 former stars, journeymen and bench warmers from "Baseball's Greatest Era, 1947-1964." Peary joins us to discuss his classic book. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook. 

Dick Lundy. Chino Smith. Cannonball Redding. These men are among the greatest baseball players who ever lived, author Steven Greenes says, yet they are not in the Hall of Fame. Using newly discovered statistics and long-forgotten expert polls, Greenes makes the case that these three and 21 other pre-integration Black players belong in Cooperstown.  Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook.  

Every day for a year, Ethan Bryan played catch. Along the way, he met former big leaguers, inspirational children, international stars and everyday Joes. The author joins us to discuss what he learned from a journey that took him to an Iowa cornfield, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and countless places in-between. Support Baseball by the Book at www.patreon.com/baseballbythebook.