This Week In Baseball History

There is no arguing that Stan Musial is one of the finest players, and people, in baseball history, and this week marks the 66th anniversary of Baseball's Perect Knight collecting his 3,000th hit. Mike and Bill look back at one off the least controversial inner-circle hall of famers of all time, and document his Horatio Alger-esque journey to achieving the American Dream. Plus, happy birthday to Lave Cross and Hank Borowy! And farewell to U.L. Washington and Ed Ott

With our heroes sidelined this week for one last time, why don't we all kick back, relax, and take in a show. Baseball has inspired dozens of films, but thusfar only one major Broadway musical, the classic Damn Yankees, which debuted 65 years ago this week. Mike and Bill, both theater fans, dig into its history, and the legendary artists who brought it life on stage and screen. Plus, happy birthday to Mike Cuellar and Patron request Lennie Merullo!

While his name is familiar to baseball history fans, the life of Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first acknowledged African-American man to play Major League Baseball, is not. On the 137th anniversary of his debut, Mike and Bill look back on that life, at the efforts of Cap Anson and other bigots to stop his career and ban other black players from the pro ranks, and the effect that treatment had on Fleet in his later years. Plus, happy birthday to Granny Hamner and Russ Ford!

Last week, we learned of the deaths of Whitey Herzog and Carl Erskine, both icons within the game of baseball and beyond, but for vastly different reasons. This week, Mike and Bill look back at their incredible lives and the impact those lives had on the sport and the world at large.

How many rakes do you have to step on before the spectacle of it goes from funny to unfunny to hilarious again? Unfortunately for Baltimore fans, the Orioles put this to the test 28 years ago this week when the allowed 16 runs in the 8th inning to the Texas Rangers. As they sometimes do, Mike and Bill dig into this extraordinary inning on a granular level, talking about the players and events that made it so bonkers. Plus, happy birthday to Jim Lonborg and Dan Cotter!

Was Nellie Fox overrated by old school types who voted him into the Hall of Fame? Or is he undervalued by today's modern metrics that rank him as one off the weakest members of that exclusive club of players? The answer, most likely, is yes to both questions. But he was never more valuable than he was 65 years ago this week, when he collected five hits, including an uncharacteristic homer on Opening Day, kicking off the White Sox drive for the AL pennant in style. Mike and Bill look back at one of the more perplexing players in baseball history. Plus, happy birthday to Pythias Russ and Hippo Vaughn! And farewell to José DeLeón and Héctor Ortiz.

Overshadowed by the greatness of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, the third of the holy trio of Golden Age, New York-based center fielders, Duke Snider, was a marvel in his own right. A five tool player whose short peak rivaled Willie's for the title of the best player in the National League and pushed the Dodgers to their first championship. But all good things come to an end and, 61 years ago this week, the Dodgers sold him to the Mets. Mike and Bill look back at the incredible career of the Duke of Flatbush and his indelible imprint on baseball history. Plus, happy birthday to Jeff Heath and Jack Stivetts! And farewell to John Oldham and Larry Demery

The Cubs might not be willing to acknowledge it today, but it was 32 years ago this week that they acquired one of the greatest players in franchise history, trading away aging slugger George Bell for a dynamic, young Sammy Sosa. Sosa would go on to challenge for the single season home run record, club more than 600 career bombs, and win an MVP. Mike and Bill look back at Sosa's incredible rise, somewhat inexplicable fall, and try to figure out why the Cubs still pretend that he never existed. Plus, happy birthday to Kip Selbach and Travis Fryman! And farewell to Tom Qualters and Jim Hannan

It was the most expensive trade in Negro League history. It was also specificallly designed to be the killing strike that finished off the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Finally, it ended the career of Hall of Fame third baseman Judy Johnson, who refused to report to the Homestead Grays when he and Josh Gibson were traded there 87 years ago this week. Mike and Bill look back at the Hall of Fame lives of Judy Johnson and Cumberland Posey, and the history of the Grays that brought about this historic deal. Plus, happy birthday to Vern Law and Hank Sauer! And farewell to Brant Alyea and Al McBean.

From the very beginning of the National League, baseball's overlords have attempted to grow the sport beyond America's borders. These efforts have met with varying levels of success over the years, but it's clear that baseball has never been more popular abroad than it is in 2024. Our guest this week, MLB.com's manager of storytelling Michael Clair, has a new newsletter that highlights the international game wherever it's being played and is making sure we'll know where the next generation of great major league players is going to come from. Plus, happy birthday to Paul Schaal and Jeff Pfeffer! And farewell to Jimy Williams and John Pregenzer.

For as long as it has existed, baseball has been intertwined with New York City, with the two developing alongside one another into American institutions. With special guest Kevin Baker, author of The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City, Mike and Bill trace the history of the sport in the greatest city in the world, how New York politics shaped it, and how some of the greatest players and managers in history found their way to New York and made it their own. Plus, happy birthday to Danny Cater and Shannon Stewart! And farewell to Don Lassetter and Steve Skaggs.

Major League Baseball rarely faces a realistic challenge to its hegemony, but, 72 years ago this week, Danny Gardella became the first American-born player to sign with Jorge Pasquel's Mexican League, touching off a short war that challenged the reserve clause, increased salaries at home and abroad, and wound up ending both Gardella's career and the Mexican League's independence. Mike and Bill examine Gardella's life, Pasquel's insurgency, MLB's response, and the court battle that followed.

Compared to some of the other Japanese pitchers who have transitioned to the United States, Hideo Nomo's American career seems relatively short and underwhelming. But the impact it had on two nations, how players move between leagues, and what fans can expect is immeasurable. After signing with the Dodgers 29 years ago this week, Hideo Nomo went on to prove that Japanese players could indeed thrive in the US, and paved the way for everyone who came affter. Mike and Bill look back at the Tornados life and career. Plus, happy birthday to Jimmy Ryan and Chet Lemon! And farewell to Red Swanson and Billy Gardner.

With Mike's attention divided this week, Bill suggested a scaled down episode where the boys focus on birthdays and memorials for the recently departed. And so, happy birthday to Smoky Burgess and Germany Schaefer! And farewell to Chuck Harrison, Dick Thoenen, Ryan Minor, and Carlos Pulido.

Despite being acknowledged as one of the all time greats and a very deserving Hall of Famer, Roy Campanella's career doesn't get the appreciation it deserves because of its late start due to segregation and early finish due to an auto accident 61 years ago this week that left him paralyzed. Mike and Bill dig into his career and life at all its stages and come to love the man as much as it seems everyone else did. Also, happy birthday to George Burns and Tony Mullane.

With Bill on vacation, Mike welcomes walking baseball encyclopedia Steven Goldman (@gostevengoldman) in for a chat. They talk about Steve's podcast, The Infinite Inning, returning to a weekly format, what makes a great baseball story, the worst teams in history and, of course, Casey Stengel. Steve also plays Yankees roullette with some fun names from the past. Plus, happy birthday to Blix Donnelly! And farewell to Bob Allen and Ken MacKenzie.

When Cecil Fielder returned from a year in Japan, 34 years agoo this week, it was without fanfare. But by the end of 1990, after slamming 51 homers, Fielder had become one of the most iconic faces in baseball. His time at the top of the spoort would be short, however, and Mike and Bill look back at why. Plus, happy birthday to Delino DeShields and Smead Jolley. And farewell to Larry Miggins, Dave Wehrmeister, Joe Hicks and Vic Davalillo

It's still Hall of Fame season for, like, one more week, so Mike and Bill sit down with Fangraphs Senior Writer Jay Jaffe, inventor of JAWS, the preeminent tool to evaluate potential Hall of Famers, to talk about the current ballot, the chances of the first time candidate, and how the process has changed as its become more transparent and contentious. They also discuss Jay's own choices, as he has long been deemed a responsible adult worth of a vote. Plus, happy birthday to Topper Rigney and Stan Javier! And farewell to Preston Hanna, Don Dobbek, Mike Corkins, and Ron Hodges.

One of the greatest and one of the ornriest players in baseball history, Rogers Hornsby presents a conundrum. Too good not to want on your team, but so disruptive that he was traded in three straight offseasons and wore out his welcome quickly, even for teams that desperately needed him. What was his deal? Mike and Bill look back at his controversial life and career to try to figure that out.

With their scheduled guest ailing, Mike and Bill take a thorough look at all the candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot and decide they're probably going to need more votes. Plus, happy birthday to Cy Williams and Leo Cardenas!