Episode 162 (Re-run) - Dave Winfield Commits Murder Most Fowl
With Mike on vacation this week, we dig once again into our archives to present a classic TWIB History. One of the best ballplayers and most incredible athletes in modern history, Dave Winfield's baseball career should speak for itself. Unfortunately, two figures get in the way of that: George Steinbrenner and a stupid seagull, which was accidentally killed by a Winfield warmup toss 42 years ago this week. Mike and Bill examine all Winfield's life, including the conflicts that came to overshadow so much of what he accomplished, but reserve time to marvel at what a singular talent Winfield was. Plus, happy birthday to Frank Howard and Tim Wakefield!
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Episode 377 - To Infinity, But Not Beyond Because That Is Impossible
Some guys don't get mentioned on baseball history podcasts because they're underrated. This week's guys don't get mentioned on most baseball history podcasts because they are, in fact, properly rated. They, for one brief moment at least, stunk on ice. But they did so in a way that is monumentally rare. They all allowed runs without recording an out. On the 107th anniversary of Harry Heitmann becoming the fourth pitcher to join this exclusive club, Mike and Bill look back on the 14 infinauts who would otherwise never get mentioned by anyone, anywhere, ever. Plus, happy birthday to Dan Driesen and Davy Force! And farewell to Verle Tiefenthaler and Gary Boyd.
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Episode 376 - The Mets Get Caught At Cooter's (with special guest David Roth)
The 1986 Mets are one of the truly iconic teams in baseball history, with a roster full of unbelievable talent, unbridled machismo, and borderline criminal tendencies. And 39 years ago, several of the mildest mannered of those Mets were arrested in a Houston bar called Cooter's Executive Games and Burgers after a night of debauchery. With certified Mets sicko and Defector Editor David Roth (@davidjroth.bsky.social), who wrote about the incident this week, Mike and Bill look back at the incident, which is hilarious in retrospect, and the Mets as a whole, while trying to figure out exactly what an executive burger would be. Plus, happy birthday to George Gibson and Mickey Stanley! And farewell to Horace Speed and Scott Klingenbeck. David's article can be found here: https://defector.com/39-years-ago-four-mets-fought-the-cops-at-a-houston-bar-named-cooters
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Episode 375 - The New 4,000 Hit Club (with Adam Darowski)
For so long, we've thought that the 4,000 hit club was one of the most exclusive in baseball history, with just two members. But on the 98th anniversary of Ty Cobb's 4,000th hit, Mike and Bill are joined by Sports Reference's Executive Director of Design, Negro Leagues expert and Latin baseball researcher Adam Darowski (@adarowski.bsky.social) to talk about his presentation at SABR 53, and how much larger that club actually is. The answer, and the players on it, will surprise you and hopefully expand your horizons about what should count toward the record book of baseball. Plus, happy birthday to Rubén Gómez and to Jesse Tannehill! And farewell to Mark Esser, Jack Curtis, Rod Nichols, and Jason Conti. Here's the link to the SABR 53 presentations, where you can find audio and slides from Adam's talk: https://sabr.org/convention/sabr53-presentations
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Episode 374 - The Cobra
The 1970s era cool just wafted off of Dave Parker, the gigantic Pirates slugger who was one of the best, if not THE BEST players in baseball in the last half of that decade. Parker's persona, his play, and his essence were all larger than life and are still clear almost 50 years later. That bigness, however, led to problems later in his career, both on and off the field, but ultimately set up a fine career denoument as a productive DH, and a Hall of Fame induction scheduled for later this month. Commemorating the passing of the great Cobra, Mike and Bill look back at a pretty impressive, though flawed, career and person. Plus, happy birthday to Cy Blanton and Gene Alley! And farewell to Frank Johnson and Vic Harris.
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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