This Week In Baseball History

Dec 06 2024 100 ep. 79 mins 490
This Week In Baseball History Podcast artwork

This Week In Baseball History is a weekly podcast devoted to the history of baseball, hosted by Mike Bates and Bill Parker, the co-founders of The Platoon Advantage and writers on many fine websites.

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Episode 353 - Luis Aparicio Changes His Sox

Dec 06 2024 78 mins  
Understandably underappreciated due to his complete inability to hit, Luis Aparicio fell into disfavor amongst new fans in the 21st century. But, on the 54th anniversary of his trade from the White Sox to the Red Sox, Mike and Bill discover that there was far more to Aparicio's game than meets the eye, including some of the best defense of all time and the blinding speed that broug

Episode 352 - Crowning Prince Hal

Nov 28 2024 69 mins  
The first thing most people think about when they think about Hal Newhouser is World War II. That's ironic, given that he was not allowed to serve. But his dominance during the war years led to the longstanding belief that he was some kind of mirage, created by the lack of talent in the American League in those years. But, as Mike and Bill found out as they traced his career on the

Episode 351 - The Red Sox Peel Rice Off

Nov 21 2024 92 mins  
When he was elected to the Hall of Fame, he was touted as the most feared hitter of his era. But by the time the Red Sox released him 35 years ago, Rice was looking old before his time, hobbled from various injuries and poor eyesight. On the anniversary of the end of his career, Mike and Bill look back at a controversial Hall of Fame choice to figure out what all the fuss was actua

Episode 350 - The American League Tries to Ban Johnson

Nov 08 2024 70 mins  
Prior to Babe Ruth and Judge Landis, perhaps no person was as synonymous with baseball as Ban Johnson, the visionary who founded the American League, outfought the National League, and ran the National Baseball Commission until the Black Sox scandal. But his tenure was not always a smooth one, and he was not well liked. So much so that 104 years ago this week, the Yankees, Red Sox,

Episode 123 (Rerun) Buzzie Bavasi's New Job (with special guest Bob Bavasi)

Oct 31 2024 87 mins  
Few men in baseball have been as universally beloved as Buzzie Bavasi, who took over the Dodgers front office 69 years ago this week. Joining Mike and Bill to discuss Buzzie's life and 45 year career is his son, Bob Bavasi of Japanball.com. Plus, happy birthday to Brad Radke and Mickey Rivers!

Episode 349 - The Red Sox Quit Cursing

Oct 25 2024 99 mins  
The Red Sox's World Series road always seems, one way or another to run through New York. And most of the time, the Yankees have proven an effective road block. It certainly seemed that way 20 years ago this week, until the Sox complete the most improbable comeback in baseball history, toppling the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and their way to their first championship in 86 years. Mike

Episode 226 (Rerun) - Fernandomania!

Oct 23 2024 94 mins  
Just 20 years old, Fernando Valenzuela took the world by storm in 1981, becoming an international superstar and spawning a phenomenon with his screwball. And 40 years ago this week, Fernandomania culminated in both the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, the only time a player has won both in the same season. Mike and Bill look back at that amazing season and Fe

Episode 121 Rerun - The Mets Are Finally Amazin'

Oct 17 2024 64 mins  
It was only seven years before the Mets won their first championship, but it must have seemed like 70, as they struggled to not to lose 100 games every year. But 50 years ago this week, they finally did, finishing off a miracle season by felling the mighty Orioles in five games. Mike and Bill go through the early history of the Mets and their amazin' championship season. Plus, happ

Episode 348 - The Senators Win One For Once And For All

Oct 10 2024 89 mins  
The Washington Senators' history has been virtually abandoned by major league teams, so you'd be forgiven if you didn't know that 100 years ago this week, thanks to a heroic effort by the great Walter Johnson, the Senators won their only World Series. Mike and Bill look back at this surprising championship club, the opposing and heavily favored New York Giants, and the Series that

Episode 347 - Rose's Final Petal Falls

Oct 03 2024 86 mins  
The proverbial "they" say that any hero who lives long enough sees himself become a villain. While that may or may not be true, no baseball player fully inhabited both roles as thoroughly as Pete Rose, whose death this week at the age of 83 marks the end of a turbulent life. Rose found himself at the top of the sporting world over and over, but his personal demons and abhorent cond