ObscureBall

In the mid-late 19th century, people were playing a few different bat and ball games. Baseball eventually emerged as fan favorite and this is the story of how that happened. This episode played out over a two and a half year period. Through conversations, research, and some field work, Origins tells three different stories in a single episode. To support future ObscureBall stories, please consider making a donation. DONATE INSIDE THE EPISODE How Baseball Happened by Tom Gilbert 21st Century Townball 21st Century Townball Podcast Duke Homestead Wyhteville Statesman In the News Some Bio on Abner Doubleday MUSIC Blue Dot Sessions Storyblocks

As work on new episodes continue, here's an episode from a show I produce for Castos called Audience. My work with castos takes me behind the scenes of all different kinds of cool audip projects and a while back I got to profile a really cool podcast called Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio. So with the permission of Castos, I'm sharing that episode with you here. It was first published on August 4, 2022 and was produced, narrated and editied by me. If you enjoy behind the scenes looks at creative work, then Audience is worth checking out. Full spidoes can be found at the link below audiencepodcast.fm sleepbaseball.com

Today the World Series is one of the most recognizable institutions in all of sports. When it debuted in 1903 it was met with widespread acclaim from sports writers and baseball fans all over America. For all of its successful, the World Series was almost dead on arrival. Petty grudges, cut throat business practices and difficult personalities almost derailed the whole thing. LINKS Support the Show Don Jensen's McGraw Bio for SABR "Called Out" A Novel of Baseball and America in 1908 by Floyd Sullivan Cindy Thomson's Website Audience by Castos MUSIC Blue Dot Sessions Storyblocks Sources https://newspaperarchive.com/waterbury-evening-democrat-oct-07-1904-p-9/ https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-post-oct-14-1903-p-5/ https://web.archive.org/web/20061206071020/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Brush_John_T.stm https://archive.ph/20080617183524/http://www.athomeplate.com/alforms.shtml https://thisgreatgame.com/1902-baseball-history/ https://thisgreatgame.com/1904-baseball-history/ https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-28-1902-little-napoleon-vs-the-czar-john-mcgraw-suspended-by-ban-johnson-after-outburst/ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/frank-farrell/ https://newspaperarchive.com/oneonta-daily-star-feb-11-1926-p-1/ http://www.sportsology.com/not-how-you-start-yankee-beginnings/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-tribune-aug-01-1904-p-18/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-oct-04-1904-p-6/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-oct-07-1904-p-7/ https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/06/21/issue.html https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-sep-18-1904-p-16/

On April 29, 1904 Barbados Joe Walcott and Dixie Kid met for what was a historically significant boxing match. It was only the second time two black fighters competed for the Welterweight title. For 20 rounds, spectators watched as the two fighters duked it out. Then Referee Dick Sullivan did something that was truly baffling... Links: Knuckles and Gloves Patrick Connor on Twitter ObscureBall on Twitter Obscureball Websites Storyblocks Sources: http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/21091 https://boxrec.com/en/referee/569900 http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/walcott-j.h http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/dixiekid.htm https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-08-sp-2705-story.html https://www.thefightcity.com/the-barbados-demon/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-sun-may-01-1904-p-13/ https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-daily-californian-apr-30-1904-p-5/ https://epdf.pub/hitters-dancers-and-ring-magicians-seven-boxers-of-the-golden-age-and-their-chal.html https://newspaperarchive.com/san-francisco-call-apr-30-1904-p-11/

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On August 30, 1904 32 runners set off to compete in the Olympic Marathon in St. Louis. Only 13 would finish. This poorly planned event would be one of the worst sporting events of all time. Cramps, dehydration, wild dogs, hallucinatios, stomach hemorrrages, car wrekcs and scandal all took place that afternoon. In fact, it was just one of several sporting events in 1904 marked by scandal and trechary. And in this three part serires we'll explore three of those events. In this episode Dr. Peter Kastor, Author and Professor of History and American Cultural Studies discusses how the legacy 1904 World's Fair, how white supremecy influenced the event and the legacy it's left. David Gunn shares his epxerience running in marathons juxtaposed with the 1904 race. Support the Show Sources: Sports-Reference https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171704/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1904/ATH/mens-marathon.html Jon Bois Video Essay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4AhABManTw Abott Kahler (Karen Abbot) Smithsonian Article https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ The 1904 Anthropology Days and Olympic Games edited by Susan Brownnell

As work on new stories continues you can check out Obscure History. Hosted by Josh, it's a weekly podcast that explores obscure historical events. On this episode, which first aired on August 23, 2021, Josh explores what he calls, 'The worst game ever played.' All other episodes of Obscure History can be found anywhere you get your podcasts.

To help support this effort to tell great audio stories, please consider donating by clicking HERE Listen to previous episodes at obscureballpod.com More About Adam darowski.com @adarowski Sports-Reference sports-reference.com Seamheads seamheads.com

The 1914 Giro D'Italia was by virtually every metric, the worst bike race in history. 81 Riders entered the race. Only eight finished. There were floods, mud, rain, blizzards, injuries, sabotage, cheating, attempted bribery and all manner of insanity during a brutal 2,000 mile race lasting 15 days. Links ObscureBall Website Girnimo! Riding the Bery Terrbile 1914 Tour of Italy by Time Moore Podium Cafe Article by Fergal McKay Small League Productions 3 Clips

Viewed through a certain lens, the Indianapolis Clowns can be seen as an inpsiring success story. As a black team in the segregated south they managed to endear fans of all races and all walks of life to their uniuqe fusion of comedy and baseball. But in reality, the their story is far more nuanced, complicated and misunderstood. Small League Productions Larry Tye Negro League Baseball Museum Brian Carroll Story Blocks Hyped Podcast Castos Mobile App Image Credit: Kansas Hstorical Society, Fair Use Image

1908 was a tumultuous year in baseball. It was a tumultuous year in America. On September 23, a single base running error set of one of the most bizarre chain of events in sports history. Bribery, arson, blackmail, forbidden romance, attempted kidnapping, organized Crime, and two of the best pennant races of all time all collided in just a few weeks. Links National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Small League Productions Alexander's Wood Emporium Storyblocks Contributors Stew...

1908 was a tumultuous year in baseball. It was a tumultuous year in America. On September 23, a single base running error set off one of the most bizarre chain of events in sports history. Bribery, arson, blackmail, forbidden romance, attempted kidnapping, organized Crime, and two of the best pennant races of all time all collided in just a few weeks. Links National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Small League Productions Alexander's Wood Emporium Storyblocks Contributors Stew Thornley Floyd Sullivan, Author of Called Out Olivia Carteaux David Gunn Sources: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/harry-pulliam/ https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/merklfr01.shtml https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1190810080.shtml https://goldenrankings.com/baseballmemorablegamesarticle.htm https://thisgreatgame.com/1908-baseball-history/

Contributions from: Brendan Daniel James Nickles Links: Russian Football News Small League Productions Storyblocks

When a plane carrying 11 members of the VVS Moscow Hockey Club crashed, everyone on board died. Then came the cover up... Contributions from: Brendan Daniel James Nickles Links: Russian Football News Small League Productions Storyblocks

The Negro League Baseball Museum nlbm.com Terry Bohn's SABR Page sabr.org/authors/terry-bohn/ Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral Histories, University of Kentucky Libraries https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ Chandler, Albert Benjamin, interview by William J. Marshall. September 03, 1980, A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. Small League...

The backstory of how a folksy, quick witted, singing politician from rural Kentucky helped integrate professional baseball The Negro League Baseball Museum nlbm.com Terry Bohn's SABR Page sabr.org/authors/terry-bohn/ Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral Histories, University of Kentucky Libraries https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ Chandler, Albert Benjamin, interview by William J. Marshall. September 03, 1980, A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. Small League Productions smallleaguestu.com StoryBlocks storyblocks.com

smallleaguestu.com

smallleaguestu.com

As Baseball stadiums go, The Metrodome was quirky as they come. But did The Minnesota Twins manipulate the conditions to their advantage? Small League Productions Alexander's Wood Emporium Music for this episode was provided by Storyblocks

Small League Productions Alexander's Wood Emporium Music for this episode was provided by Storyblocks