Lost Ballparks

Legendary sportswriter Jane Leavy is my guest on this month's episode of Lost Ballparks. We’re gonna relive Sandy Koufax’s perfect game at Dodger Stadium in ’65 that was so expertly chronicled in her bestselling biography A Lefty’s Legacy, and hear some bold potentially game changing ideas from her latest book: Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It. Send us a text

85-year-old former MLB umpire Terry Tata spent 27 years in the big leagues (1973-1999) calling the action behind the plate. From 3 All-Star Games and 4 World Series to 5 no-hitters and one of baseball’s longest games, he’s here to pull back the curtain on the toughest—and most thankless—job in the game. Send us a text Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and follow the podcast. Want to access to photos, bonus content and exclusive merch? Visit LostBallparks.com and become a Patreon. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

This episode is especially meaningful for me. Years ago, I painted a portrait of my father-in-law’s favorite player, Juan Marichal, in his iconic high-kick windup. Today, that same painting hangs in Marichal’s home—and I had the honor of sitting down with him for this conversation. From 1960–1975, Juan Marichal was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball: 243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, a lifetime 2.89 ERA, and 10 All-Star selections. He won more games in the 1960s than Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax, and Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Pete Rose all called him one of the toughest pitchers they ever faced. In this episode, Marichal reflects on his childhood in the Dominican Republic, the racism he faced early in his career, unforgettable moments at Candlestick Park, racing frogs with teammates, the 1962 World Series against the Yankees, and his pride in becoming the first Dominican-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Send us a text Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and follow the podcast. Want to access to photos, bonus content and exclusive merch? Visit LostBallparks.com and become a Patreon. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

It’s been 50 years since Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium was torn down—but thanks to longtime Phillies PR man Larry Shenk, "The Baron", it springs back to life in this episode. Larry spent decades behind the scenes with the Phillies, and his memory is an absolute time machine. A baseball encyclopedia. From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd in North Philly, Larry paints a vivid picture of what it was like inside one of baseball’s great lost ballparks. He also shares untold stories about the legends (Schmidt, Rose, Carlton) he worked with and the golden age of the game most fans never got to see. Sometimes the best storytellers aren’t the ones on the field—but the ones just beyond the dugout. Send us a text Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and follow the podcast. Want to access to photos, bonus content and exclusive merch? Visit LostBallparks.com and become a Patreon. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Drafted in the 62nd round in 1988, Mike Piazza defied all odds to carve out a 16-year Hall of Fame career. In this episode (which originally aired in 2022, now re-released, remastered with new audio) Piazza shares stories of playing at Dodger Stadium, Shea, and Yankee Stadium, torching the Phillies, passing Johnny Bench, and the day the greatest hitter of all time showed up at his house for breakfast—and batting practice. Send us a text Support the show

Hip-hop icon and Rock N Roll HOFer Chuck D joins the podcast to remember baseball legend Dave Parker—The Cobra. Chuck reflects on Parker’s impact on the game, his cultural legacy, and what it meant to narrate Cobra at Twilight, the powerful documentary about Parker’s life and battle with Parkinson's. Send us a text Support the show

Dave Bristol just turned 92 on June 23rd—and he’s packed a lifetime of baseball into those years. A member of the Reds Hall of Fame, Bristol managed Cincinnati in the late ’60s before leading the Brewers, Braves, and Giants, and later coaching with the Expos and Phillies. Born in Macon, Georgia, he's one of the game's great storytellers, with decades of dugout memories to share. Enjoy this journey back to baseball's golden era. Send us a text Support the show

This month on Lost Ballparks, our guest is Dennis Clotworthy, Al Kaline’s Last Bat Boy. Dennis grew up across the street from Tiger Stadium and eventually worked inside its walls. In our conversation, Dennis brings the old ballpark to life with incredible detail—describing everything from creaky trap doors to the magic of Gate 16, the heavy barn door that opened a hidden world below field level and the old, slick hardwood floors of the clubhouses, worn smooth and marked with metal spike impressions left by generations of legends. His journey, which began in the unlikely setting of Malta, takes him to Detroit, where he chases a dream that leads to jobs as a junior usher, clubhouse attendant, visiting team's bat boy, and ultimately, bat boy for the Tigers. Along the way, he rubbed shoulders with legends like Brooks Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan and, of course, Al Kaline. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a batboy at one of baseball’s most storied old ballparks, this episode is for you. Send us a text Support the show

In light of Pete Rose’s posthumous reinstatement to Major League Baseball and his renewed eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame, I’m re-releasing this short episode from last fall. It features the last message Pete left for me shortly before his passing. Send us a text Support the show

Before there was a SportsCenter… before ESPN became a juggernaut… there was George Grande—sitting behind a desk, ushering in a new era of sports television with some of the the very first words ever spoken on the network. But his story doesn’t begin there. He played alongside Tom Seaver at USC, interned for Vin Scully, called games for the Yankees, Cardinals, and Reds, and for 31 summers was the voice of baseball immortality as the host of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. He’s shared dugouts with legends, airwaves with icons, and memories with millions. This month, he shares them with us. Send us a text Support the show

He started as a batboy at old Seals Stadium in 1958 and spent the next 65 years inside the Giants clubhouse at Candlestick Park and beyond. Along the way, he became great friends with Willie Mays, found himself at a private dinner where a legendary singer answered the door, had an unexpected run-in with a Hollywood cowboy at spring training, "borrowed" something from Bob Uecker and even ran the clubhouse for the biggest band in the world. This month on Lost Ballparks, longtime Giants clubhouse manager Mike Murphy shares stories you won’t believe. Send us a text Support the show

Baseball is in Buddy Bell’s blood. Growing up, he spent his days at Crosley Field watching his dad, Gus Bell, play for the Reds and later roamed County Stadium when Gus was traded to the Milwaukee Braves. In this episode, Buddy shares stories of his childhood in the game, the special way his dad let him know he made a great play, a life-changing moment in the parking lot at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, his first All-Star Game in 1973, and the unforgettable highlight of his career when he finally put on a Reds uniform in 1985. Send us a text Support the show

Bob Uecker was more than just a baseball legend—he was a cultural icon, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, and one of the most beloved personalities in sports history. In this special tribute episode, MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, and Paul Molitor share their favorite Ueck stories. From his playing days to the broadcast booth, and of course, his unforgettable moments in pop culture, this is a celebration of “Mr. Baseball”. Send us a text Support the show

I’m thrilled to bring you one of our all-time most downloaded episodes: my interview with Cal Ripken Jr., originally released on January 4, 2022. If you’re new to Lost Ballparks, this is the perfect chance to catch up on a conversation that has become a cornerstone of the show. Cal shares incredible stories about the American League ballparks he played in during his career, the advice Reggie Jackson gave him that pulled him out of his first big league slump, and what it was like to play under the watchful eyes of his father and Earl Weaver.He also talks about a memorable exchange with Johnny Bench on the back porch of the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, the two pieces of memorabilia he treasures most, and, of course, the streak that made him a baseball icon. Send us a text Support the show

Relive the magic of baseball’s golden age through the incredible story of Jackie Brandt, a player who shared the field with legends like Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson and Eddie Mathews. With a career spanning 12 unforgettable years (1956–1967), Brandt played in some of the most iconic ballparks in history—Polo Grounds, Sportsman’s Park, Ebbets Field and Connie Mack Stadium. In this episode, Jackie, now 90, shares his unique experiences, colorful stories and what it was like to be part of an era that defined America’s pastime. Send us a text Support the show

Breaking news: Thrilled to announce tonight the Classic Era Baseball Committee has elected Dave Parker and Dick Allen to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be inducted next year!! Here is our interview with Parker from March of 2022. Hope you enjoy it and congratulations to the Cobra (and Allen) on an achievement that is long overdue! Send us a text Support the show

On this month's episode I’m honored to talk with a man who has been the heartbeat of Cleveland baseball for 35 years—Tom Hamilton, the legendary voice of the Cleveland Indians and Guardians. Hear his baseball beginnings, including the first game he ever attended as a kid, the quirks and character that made Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium one of a kind, and the city’s transformation with the opening of Jacobs Field in 1994. And of course, we revisit those incredible Cleveland teams of the mid-‘90s—teams that had the whole city glued to their radios, with Tom’s iconic calls providing the soundtrack to those magical Ohio summers. From the vast expanse of Municipal Stadium to the unforgettable debut of ‘The Jake,’ and the moments that united a city, this is one conversation I can't wait to share with you. Send us a text Support the show

This month on Lost Ballparks, Ken "Hawk" Harrelson joins us with stories as colorful as his career. From meeting Mickey Mantle as a kid to helping save Fenway, playing with Satchel Paige, and even catching the eye of Frank Sinatra, Hawk's stories are legendary. Hear how a twist of fate before Game 7 of the ’67 World Series might have cost the Red Sox their title, and relive highlights from his 9-year big league career and 33 years in the White Sox broadcast booth. Grab some peanuts and cracker jack—Hawk Harrelson joins us on Lost Ballparks! Send us a text Support the show

On this episode, I'm joined by Ernie Whitt, catcher from the 1977 inaugural Toronto Blue Jays team. He shares stories about some of the historic minor league ballparks he played in, the American League ballparks of the 70s and 80s, his first MLB hit, and the early days of the Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium. Plus, Ernie reflects on two unforgettable things Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk did for him that he'll never forget. Send us a text Support the show

Pete Rose has passed away at the age of 83. Just a few weeks ago, he left me a message that I'd like to share with you. Rest in peace, Pete. Send us a text Support the show