By far the most successful attempt to create a third major league began in earnest 107 years ago this week in a hotel in Indianapolis. It fizzled out after two years, but left a legacy that still governs the professional game today. Mike and Bill leaf through the short life of the Federal League, and…

In a slight departure this week, Mike and Bill take a listener suggestion to focus on the influenza epidemic that swept across the globe in 1918 and lingered into 1920. That epidemic did have some effects on the game and played a role in further driving a wedge between the players and the owners that…

There is no denying that Pete Rose is one of the biggest figures in baseball history, and one of the greatest players of all time. There is also no denying, 31 years after Sports Illustrated revealed that he had gambled on his own team multiple times over multiple seasons, that he is one of the…

Baseball is vastly richer because of the characters who have become part of the game’s legend. And no one was more of a character than Mets pitcher Hayden “Sidd” Finch, who was unveiled by Sports Illustrated 35 years ago the day this episode drops. Mike and Bill go through the mysterious and surprising career of…

Baseball does not belong to one country or to one people, and hasn’t since the game was exported to and adopted by Japan in the late 19th century. With special guest Robert Fitts (@robfitts), author of the new book Issei Baseball, Mike and Bill trace its movement across the Pacific and back again to the…

The world is hard to deal with right now, so Mike and Bill decided to stop being lonely and meet new friends. This episode is the audio from a Zoom hangout with the two of them and 14 of their closest Patreon supporters to talk about baseball and drink various adult beverages. If you like…

It’s no secret that your hosts, Mike and Bill, have a strong connection to Minnesota baseball. So, in what’s probably the second most self-indulgent episode to date, they recount the history of the sport in their home state, of the Washington Senators and the move that quickly provided their new fan base with a pennant…

Willie Mays is, undisputedly, one of the top two or three players in baseball history, a breathtaking blend of power, average, and defense that often defied description. One such day was 59 years ago this week, when Willie hit four home runs in one game against the Braves. But Willie was just getting started, and…

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…