Almost Cooperstown
458 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -We're a father & son who love to talk and argue about baseball! Baseball is the professional sport that has the longest history so there is a lot to talk about. We launched Almost Cooperstown noting that baseball contains a long history of players that, for whatever reasons, have been shunned by the electors of the Hall of Fame. Consequently here are many 'Almost' players still waiting their turn for induction. With less than 1.5% of the now more than 23,000 players in the HOF, we feel there should be more players included. In these podcasts we discuss the current season as well as the HOF. Please send any messages to [email protected].
Baseball articles can be found here: https://almostcooperstown.substack.com/publish/posts
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Episodes
There Are Many One Team Hall of Famers - Ep. 510
April 25, 2024 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MB58 of the 273 (21%) players elected to the Hall of Fame played only for one franchise. As Gordon pointed out, before baseball had free agency players did not move around nearly as much not because they didn't want to but because they were not allowed to! We talk about the only set of teammates that were elected to the HOF in the same year. There are 9 teams that lack a one team Hall of Famer. That number will drop to 8 once #Twins Joe Mauer is inducted this July. There are plenty. of Ha...
One Team Hall of Famers - Ep. 510
April 25, 2024 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MB58 of the 273 (21%) players elected to the Hall of Fame played only for one franchise. As Gordon pointed out, before baseball had free agency players did not move around nearly as much not because they didn't want to but because they were not allowed to! We talk about the only set of teammates that were elected to the HOF in the same year. There are 9 teams that lack a one team Hall of Famer. That number will drop to 8 once #Twins Joe Mauer is inducted this July. There are plenty. of Ha...
TWIB 4.22.24 - Will the Astros wake up? White Sox woes, Injuries abound - Ep. 509
April 22, 2024 11:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBThe Angels were 9-9 for a moment this week with Mike Trout leading the way. Could they possibly make the playoffs? Then they proceeded to lose 3 straight. Same old. AL West is a dogfight even with the Astros still mired in last place. The Twins have been having trouble scoring. They could use a good week coming up as the Guardians are sailing even without Shane Bieber and can that last? Royals hanging tough but the Tigers are treading water. Yankees without Gerritt Cole are neck and n...
Will Tony Clark be booted out as MLBPA President? - Ep. 508
April 18, 2024 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBHaving a discussion around MLB player union issues can easily make your eyes roll. So we sprinkled in a little Scott Boras since he's one guy everyone loves to hate. Except for his clients of course. When MLB brought in the MiLB players into the union 2 years ago it went kind of quietly but it's no small deal. Rumors of mutiny within the MLBPA have come around Harry Marino who's been termed an 'insurgent lawyer' looking to rankle players into thinking about what Tony Clark and his offic...
TWIB 4.15.24 - Ep. 507
April 15, 2024 11:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBAre the Pirates and Royals for real? Both teams have gotten off to great starts but we've seen it before. We're at nearly 10% of the 2024 season has been played and there are a bunch of things that are happening as predicted. But not everything! Shohei Ohtani is great as is Juan Soto. The Dodgers are good. So are the Yankees and Braves. But those teams have issues as all teams do. Just think in 3 weeks we will be 25% through the season and perhaps by then the surprise teams will have sh...
TWIB 4.15.24 - Hot starts for Pittsburgh & KC - can it last? - Ep. 507
April 15, 2024 11:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBAre the Pirates and Royals for real? Both teams have gotten off to great starts but we've seen it before. We're at nearly 10% of the 2024 season has been played and there are a bunch of things that are happening as predicted. But not everything! Shohei Ohtani is great as is Juan Soto. The Dodgers are good. So are the Yankees and Braves. But those teams have issues as all teams do. Just think in 3 weeks we will be 25% through the season and perhaps by then the surprise teams will have sh...
Pitchers chasing velocity is the big problem - Ep. 506
April 11, 2024 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBIf the expression 'chicks dig the long ball' is still true as it was in the 1990s when Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine did a TV spot about the baseball's obsession with home runs, today's pitchers love to light up the radar with triple digits or at least get as close to that as they can. Pitching labs are the newest tool to get the most out of a pitcher's repertoire. But is all this efficiency helping pitchers stay healthy? Why are more pitchers getting TJ surgery than they used to? Dr. Jam...
TWIB 4.8.24 - Ep. 505
April 08, 2024 11:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWhat was the signature moment of the past full week in MLB? Ronel Blanco's no hitter? The earliest date for a no-hitter in history! Or was it Bryce Harper's three home runs in a game last week? It might have been a few moments when star pitchers Eury Perez (Thursday), Shane Bieber (Friday) and Spencer Strider (Saturday) all went down with UCL injuries and face Tommy John surgery. On our next podcast we will talk about the constant chase of velocity by pitchers. The Braves look good as d...
TWIB 4.8.24 - A no hitter & pitcher injuries galore - Ep. 505
April 08, 2024 11:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWhat was the signature moment of the past full week in MLB? Ronel Blanco's no hitter? The earliest date for a no-hitter in history! Or was it Bryce Harper's three home runs in a game last week? It might have been a few moments when star pitchers Eury Perez (Thursday), Shane Bieber (Friday) and Spencer Strider (Saturday) all went down with UCL injuries and face Tommy John surgery. On our next podcast we will talk about the constant chase of velocity by pitchers. The Braves look good as d...
Baseball Pranksters have disappeared - Ep. 504
April 04, 2024 11:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBHow do you feel about Major League Baseball players giving each other a hot foot during the game? It was fairly commonplace for a long time but no longer. Being thought of as a character is not as cute as it once was either. Is it because MLB players make too much money? Are there still any good pranks being played in MLB? We talk about a few of the better pranks and others that turned out to be a bit mean. Intro & outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out o...
4.1.24 - This Week in Baseball - Ep. 503
April 01, 2024 11:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBMLB 2024 Opening Day has come and gone but there was drama in New York at 2nd base with new Brewer Rhys Hoskins and Mets Jeff McNeil. Each week of the season on Monday we will recap the week that was with games through Saturday and we will try to keep it to 30 minutes or less. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8taZmsDEp-I Thanks for the intro and outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music. Please subscribe to our podcast ...
4.1.24 - TWIB - Ep. 503
April 01, 2024 11:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBMLB 2024 Opening Day has come and gone but there was drama in New York at 2nd base with new Brewer Rhys Hoskins and Mets Jeff McNeil. Each week of the season on Monday we will recap the week that was with games through Saturday and we will try to keep it to 30 minutes or less. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8taZmsDEp-I Thanks for the intro and outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music. Please subscribe to our podcast ...
It's 2024 Opening Day! Author Michael Ortman returns - Ep. 502
March 28, 2024 11:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBWe had such a good time last year in Episode 401 talking with Author Michael Ortman who wrote 'Opening day 50 for 50' where he recounted attending 50 straight opening days. We talked about some of this year's opening day matchups, why some pitchers are declining to take the opening day start, which was unthinkable not that long ago! We also get serious and talk again about Curt Flood, Dick Allen, and that they both should be in the Hall of Fame and maybe will get there this winter when th...
2024 Season Predictions - Ep. 501
March 25, 2024 11:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBHere we are, the 1st episode in season 5 where we offer our predictions in order of finish of all the MLB teams. Who will be be the 2024 MVP in each league? Who will win the Cy Young in each league? Who will be Rookie-of-the-Year in 2024? Are the Dodgers really the class of the National League? How about the Texas Rangers? Can they repeat? Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7JEjE1cVsIQ Thanks for the intro and outro music this season which is. courtesy of Mercury Maid! Ch...
A taste of MLB - Former MLB pitcher Pat Ahearne shares his story - Ep. 484
March 21, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.8 MBWhen it comes to Pat Ahearne, it's a really interesting story. He was the NCAA CWS MVP in 1992 when his Pepperdine Waves went all the way. That effort surely helped Pat get his 1st MLB contract with the Detroit Tigers. He pitched 4 games for them in 1995 starting three of them, over a two week period in June. But he was not able to make it back to the big leagues. Yet he kept on persevering playing another 15+ years in various locations professionally all over the globe. These days Pat ...
2024 NL West Primer - Ep. 483
March 18, 2024 11:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThe last of our 6 division previews. It might be saving the best for last although the AL East might tip the scales. Dylan Cease to the Padres will make a difference and the Padre lineup is formidable, but who can top Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman as a top three in the lineup. The D'Backs will not catch anyone by surprise this year and their additions of Eugenio Suarez and Eduardo Rodriguez are important. The Giants think they can compete and the Rockies know they can't. Watch on YouTube:...
2024 NL Central Primer - Ep. 482
March 14, 2024 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBThe NL Central is better than the AL Central. But that's about it. The Cubs with new manager Craig Counsell will be a top division contender with the Reds being heard from as well. The Brewers, Cardinals, and Pirates have some issues. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RBe0xEchXxs Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected]. You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop ...
2024 NL East 2024 Primer - Ep. 481
March 11, 2024 11:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBOur 4th division primer on the NL East. The Braves and Phillies are the class of the division with the Mets, Marlins and Nationals all hoping that they are the team that will surprise. We talk about all 5 teams 40-man rosters, and who the best players are in the division. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WcpmH0kB3jc Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected]. You can a...
2024 AL West Primer - Ep. 480
March 07, 2024 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBWe noted that Rangers are under-appreciated. The Astros are still formidable and the Mariners not to be ignored. The AL West will be fun to watch this season unless you're a fan of the Angels or A's. The 3rd of our 6 division breakdowns. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gkUf2J4Wjco Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected]. You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almos...
2024 AL Central Primer - Ep. 479
March 04, 2024 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBJose Ramirez is one of the best players fans under-appreciate. The Guardians are not at the top of the list of AL Central favorites but should not be ignored either. We talk about the rosters of all 5 teams in what will be a dogfight of teams all lacking a key ingredient. This is the second of what will be 6 consecutive podcasts doing division primers. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XxmiwUBJe84 Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for a...
2024 AL East Division Primer - Ep. 478
February 29, 2024 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBWhile we didn't pick the teams which we will do in our season preview episode, we did dig deep into each team's 40 man roster. The AL East is the best division in baseball and yet we had trouble picking more than 3 top starting pitchers! This is the first of what will be 6 consecutive podcasts doing division primers. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mlgaQiltFAY Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via...
MLB Rookies of the Year - Some are hot then not - Ep. 477
February 26, 2024 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB2024 MLB Spring Training has begun and would-be rookies impact teams ultimate performance (think Corbin Carroll and Evan Carter last year) more and more frequently . But some Rookie's of the Year never reach the heights they touched in their first campaign. That doesn't mean they don't have a career and flame out after a couple of years, although that can happen too. We also cover this year's crop of rookies that might be in the running for 2024 Rookie of the Year. Mark mentioned Royce ...
Stealing signs & the unwritten Rules of Baseball - Ep. 476
February 22, 2024 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBWe hear about the unwritten rules of baseball all the time. Don't walk the leadoff hitter. Don't bunt in a no-hitter. Some of the unwritten rules are more strategic preferences than unwritten rules. We discuss that as well as how stealing signs has evolved over the years and if it can still be done today. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oI4MlUFDj2M Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almos...
Team Deep Dive #30 - New York Yankees - Ep .475
February 19, 2024 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBThis is it! The last of our MLB teams deep dives. The Yankees are saved for last since they are first in World Series wins. They have 3x or more as many World Series titles compared to any team but the St. Louis Cardinals who have 11 WS titles. The greatest Yankees is a long list indeed as well as the list of retired numbers. The Bronx Bombers were the first team to retire a number. We talk about who that was and all the great HOF players and managers that populate the greatest franchise ...
Summary of Off-Season Free Agent Signings - Ep. 474
February 15, 2024 12:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThis is our 200th episode and we are so grateful that we have listeners that are interested in hearing us talk about baseball. So THANK YOU to all who take a few minutes here and there to listen and engage with Almost Cooperstown! Since we recorded this podcast Jorge Soler signed with the Giants. Finally. The Marlins are still the only team to not sign a free agent this off-season with the Dodgers and Mets signing 9 each. We talk about all 30 teams, who they signed and what it might m...
Team Deep Dive #29 - St. Louis Cardinals - Ep. 473
February 12, 2024 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBThe 11-time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals actually won an American Association championship in 1882. Besides winning in 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, and 1946 - 6 championships in 21 seasons, they also won in 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, and most recently in 2011. There are amazing Hall-of-Fame players spread out throughout their history and we talk about all of them as well as some of the less heralded Cards. Ozzie Smith had 28 career home runs. Enos Slaughter stole home on the 'made da...
Baseball's Bad Apples - Ep. 472
February 08, 2024 12:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBWe don't often focus on the negative aspects of baseball in the Major Leagues. But there have been some bad people who've made it to the game's grandest stage. Some of the things these heinous characters did during and after their playing career are almost unbelievable. We should have mentioned that Ben Chapman was portrayed as horribly racist in the movie about Jackie Robinson '42'. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: Please subscribe to our podcast an...
Team Deep Dive #28 - The Athletics - Ep. 471
February 05, 2024 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBThe nine time champion A's won 5 World Series before 1931. They won three in the 1970s. And one more in 1989. That's it. Nine WS is 2nd all-time tied with The Red Sox and Cardinals who we will deep dive on next week. The Athletics turned A's (thanks to Charlie O. Finley) have fallen on desperate times. But there are many great players and Hall-of-Famers and we talk about all of them! Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JoYvOFjTFQY Please su...
New baseball book 'The Fireballer' with Author Mark Stevens - Ep. 470
February 01, 2024 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBAuthor Mark Stevens joins the podcast to discuss his terrific #baseball novel - The Fireballer. Ever think what would happen if a pitcher could regularly throw 110 MPH? Batters wouldn't have a chance! What if one of those pitches got away from him? We had a great time talking with Mark and are keen to find a way to make the next great baseball movie from this award winning book from 2023. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OsBy5LROXhk Please ...
Team Deep Dive #27 - Boston Red Sox - Ep. 469
January 29, 2024 12:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBAnother original AL team, the 9-time World Champion Red Sox won the 1st World Series as the Boston Americans. They have been a streaky World Series team and we tell you why. Who's the best pitcher in Red Sox history? How about shortstop or manager? We discuss it all in this quick hitting podcast. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_b77kQylfWM Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode pl...
Team Deep Dive #27 - Boston Red Sox - Ep .469
January 29, 2024 12:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBAnother original AL team, the 9-time World Champion Red Sox won the 1st World Series as the Boston Americans. They have been a streaky World Series team and we tell you why. Who's the best pitcher in Red Sox history? How about shortstop or manager? We discuss it all in this quick hitting podcast. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_b77kQylfWM Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode pl...
The Athletic's Dan Brown discusses his Hall of Fame Ballot - Ep. 468
January 25, 2024 12:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBFor the 2nd straight year we were lucky enough to have Daniel Brown join the podcast. Dan is a Staff Editor and Writer for the Athletic and is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and votes each year for the Hall-of-Fame. We discuss who he voted for and who he did not and why. We also preview the 2024 Ballot likely candidates and their likelihood they may join this year's inductees - Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, and Joe Mauer. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers! Watch on YouTube: ...
Team Deep Dive #26 - San Francisco Giants - Ep. 467
January 22, 2024 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MB8 World Series Titles. 10 World Series losses. The Giants began playing in 1883 in the Polo Grounds and never played in another stadium in New York. They went to the Bay Area in 1958 and appeared in the World Series in 1962 but not again until 1989, finally winning their 1st WS in 56 years in 2010? Hall of Famers abound in Giants history particularly in the outfield. But not as much outside of 1st base in the infield. We also discuss HOFers that were Giants but not for very long. Than...
Greatest MLB Players by Decade - Ep. 466
January 18, 2024 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBWe thought we were going to do an episode on the greatest players of each decade starting with Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. It was more difficult to do that but we did compare several sets of Hall-of-Famers like Ted and Joe (we added in Stan the Man just for fun) as well as others from later decades. Let us know if you'd like to hear us do more of this. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We appreciate you! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kEwMMmhfWmU Please subscribe t...
Team Deep Dive #25 - Los Angeles Dodgers - Ep. 465
January 15, 2024 12:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBThe Dodgers have won 7 WS titles and appeared in the playoffs 37 times. Their list of players include some of the best who've ever played baseball. We go position by position picking the greatest Dodger at each including relief pitchers. A few corrections: Gary Sheffield played 4 seasons for the Dodgers not 7. The Dodgers also won the WS in 1965. And while the Dodgers played in more WS while in Brooklyn they've won 6 of their 7 titles while in Los Angeles. They played in the L.A. Col...
Decade by decade best baseball rivalries - Ep. 464
January 11, 2024 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBThinking about the great baseball rivalries over the years many come to mind. But most of them are within either the National League or American League. Sure the Brooklyn now Los Angeles Dodgers had nearly annual World Series tilts with the Yankees (losing them all until 1955), but generally the big rivalries are inter-league and not intra-league. Divisional play began in 1969 and once there was more than one playoff team from each league it became even more difficult to have an annual Wor...
Team Deep Dive #24 - Pittsburgh Pirates - Ep. 463
January 08, 2024 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBThe Pirates like the nearby Reds, have won five World Series and lost only two. In their history they've had a bunch of Hall of Famers play all over the field but often those players did not get the satisfaction of winning it all! We talk about the players, the managers - HOF Jim Leyland actually had a losing record while managing the Bucs. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We appreciate you! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oNdEHtKRRxU Please subscribe to our podcast and...
Team deep dive #23 - Cincinnati Reds - Ep. 462
January 04, 2024 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBThe first of our 5-time World Series winners the Cincinnati Reds began in 1882 in the American Association and won their first WS in 1919 vs. the Black Sox. We think of the 'Big Red Machine' but there have been some other great Reds teams and players that we talk about. Should have mentioned Eppa Rixey holds most of the Reds pitching records. Bid McPhee was an original Red and was a second baseman not a pitcher. Thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We appreciate you! Watch ...
Happy New Year looking back & forward in MLB - Ep. 461
January 01, 2024 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBWe've not been doing our 'This Week in Baseball' Episodes but thought that New Year's Day would be the perfect time to summarize where things are in baseball halfway through the off-season. There are still a bunch of free agents to be signed, players to be traded and rosters to be filled out. We talk about which teams have done well and might be winning this off-season. The Royals also signed Michael Wacha. The 2024 season opens March 20 in Korea! We want to wish everyone a Happy and He...
The continuing evolution of baseball scouting - Ep. 460
December 28, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBWe read some of the 1950's scouting reports on famous players and they are both hilarious and entertaining. Baseball scouting movies are plentiful with Moneyball being one of the most important baseball stories regarding the scouting of players. From being a '5-tool' player to the 20-80 evaluation system for players things have come a long way. Is scouting today easier or more difficult before technology and data came into playing such an important part? We discuss it all and had great ...
Team Deep Dive #22 - Detroit Tigers - Ep. 459
December 26, 2023 12:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBThe 'D' on the Tigers cap is one of the most iconic logos in all of sports. Ty Cobb holds most of the all-time hitting offensive categories. Yet the Tigers have an amazing amount of Hall of Famers around the diamond. Harry Heillman, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer, Alan Trammel, and George Kell all were Tigers through and through. They've won 4 World Series and lost 7. We talk about the other great Tigers and the greatest manager in Tiger history. Lance Parrish had a career bWAR of 39.5. ...
Which cap to wear going into the Baseball Hall of Fame - Ep. 458
December 21, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBA listener Chris S. suggested we talk about the HOFers who wore team caps on their plaque in Cooperstown, and those that did not. This year HOFer Andre Dawson again petitioned to have his HOF plaque changed to have him wear a Cubs cap instead an Expo cap which the Baseball Hall of Fame mandated. Sometimes a HOFer had an unusual reason for not going in wearing a logo on his cap at all. We discuss all the teams HOFers and only the Rays and the Marlins have zero players wearing that team's c...
Team Deep Dive #21 - Atlanta Braves - Ep. 457
December 18, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBThey are 4 time World Series Champions - the Braves. First in Boston, then to Milwaukee and since 1966 in Atlanta. The Braves have dominated the NL East for more than 30 years. It wasn't always like that and when they were in Boston from 1912-1952 they won 1 WS and were only in 1 other. We talk about their triumphs as well as their years of lousy baseball. Tommy Holmes fell short of 2,000 hits not 3,000. And the Braves did win the NL East in 1982 but lost the NLCS. As always thanks to...
Straight to the Majors - Ep. 456
December 14, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBIn addition to pitching in MLB having only one arm, Jim Abbott was one of the players to go straight to the Major Leagues without ever playing in the minors. There are many interesting players who skipped the minors entirely. We also discuss a list of 10 year or more players who went straight to the bigs before the MLB draft was instituted in 1965. It does not happen much anymore and we talk about the reasons for that. As always thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We apprecia...
Team Deep Dive #20 - Chicago White Sox - Ep. 455
December 11, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBLast week we did the 3x champion Cubs and this week the 3x champion White Sox. The Pale Hose have the 2005 improbably championship to live off of since the other two were before 1918! Lots of great ChiSox to talk about given the long 50 year drought between WS appearances - 1919 to 1959! Mark was wrong - Luis Aparicio is a HOFer but did not ever win the MVP although he was Rookie of the Year. Again thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We appreciate that you listen and like our...
It's getting crowded in the dugout - Bench Coaches abounding - Ep. 454
December 07, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBCorrection - The Dodgers will open the 2024 season in South Korea vs. the Padres. Have you noticed that MLB dugouts are getting crowded? With all the coaches old and new beyond the manager? Bench coaches have not been a regular thing in baseball history but they are now and have been since the late 1980s. We discuss coaches, The HOF Contemporary Committee and Ford Frick Award votes AND talk about baseball winter meetings. We do wish we were there! Again thanks to all of our listeners...
Team Deep Dive #19 - Chicago Cubs - Ep. 453
December 04, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MB2016 slayed a lot of demons for the Cubs. Considering that their prior WS championships were back-to-back in 1907 and 1908. They have a winning record all-time and 11 pennants since 1901. Born as the Chicago White Stockings (but not the White Sox) the Cubs have fewer all-time great players than you might think for a 148 year old franchise! Again thanks to all of our listeners and followers. We appreciate that you listen and like our podcast! Listen or watch as we've added a YouTube Cha...
MLB Forfeits, Suspensions & Rain Outs - Ep. 452
November 30, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBThe 2020 Pandemic season changed (finally) baseball forever with the ending of rained out games. No longer were legitimate accomplishments expunged when games were less than 4 1/2 innings. Forfeited games are more rare today but surprisingly there have been a few since 1970. Babe Ruth would have had 716 home runs. Al Kaline would have surpassed 400 homers. But rained out games took those few extra homers away. Gordon wishes all stadiums had retractable roofs so there'd be even fewer sus...
Team Deep Dive #18 - Baltimore Orioles - Ep. 451
November 27, 2023 12:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBThe Orioles were born the Milwaukee Brewers as an original AL franchise in 1901. They left for St. Louis after one year and became the St. Louis Browns for the next 52 years before finally decamping for Baltimore in 1954. They never won a World Series in in St. Louis although they did reach the Fall Classic in 1944 losing the 'Streetcar' or 'Trolley' Series to their archrivals the Cardinals. But once the Orioles got started they became a force and won three WS between 1966 and 1983. We t...
2024 Hall of Fame Ballot is set - Ep .450
November 24, 2023 12:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBWe hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! The 2024 HOF ballot came out this week and there are some very compelling names that are appearing on ballots. Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer are strong 1st year candidates and holdovers like Todd Helton and Billy Wagner are hoping this is their year. We also discuss how numbers like 400 career home runs don't mean certain enshrinement. Which players won't get at least the 5% of the votes needed to stay on the ballot? Again thanks to all of our...