Fungos & Fastballs: Baseball History & Trivia

Send us Fan Mail One inning from a fifth championship in six years, the 2001 Yankees watch the unthinkable happen and it still stings. We dig into the World Series that felt prewritten for a New York dynasty, then swerved hard when the Arizona Diamondbacks refused to play the part of overmatched newcomer and turned Game 7 into a baseball gut punch. We walk through why this matchup was so charged: the Yankees’ veteran core and Mariano Rivera’s near-perfect postseason record, Arizona’s rapid expansion-team build, and the post-September 11 backdrop that wrapped Yankee Stadium in emotion. Along the way we hit the key storylines that define the 2001 World Series: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling as a two-ace nightmare, New York’s quiet bats early, and the remarkable swing when the series returns to the Bronx. Then we relive the moments people still argue about. Games 4 and 5 deliver back-to-back, last-out, two-run tying homers off the same closer, turning October drama into legend. Game 6 flips the script again with a Diamondbacks pounding that forces a winner-take-all Game 7. Finally, we break down Rivera’s ninth inning, the key defensive mistake, Tony Womack’s tying hit, and Luis Gonzalez’s broken-bat walk-off that ends a would-be four-peat in seconds. If you love baseball history, great pitching, and the anatomy of a collapse, hit play, subscribe on your favorite platform, and share the episode with a friend. After you listen, what’s your single most shocking World Series moment? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A lightning bolt knocks a pitcher unconscious and he still demands the final out. A Hall of Fame manager argues in a downpour while holding an umbrella and gets tossed on the spot. A big leaguer takes a swing at a racing sausage mascot and it somehow ends with fines, a suspension, and a story that will live forever online. If you love baseball history, weird MLB trivia, and the kind of true tales you would swear were fiction, this one is for you. We jump from Ray Caldwell’s shocking 1919 moment to a very personal memory of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland, when the “confetti” turned out to be actual snow. From there we dig into Frankie Frisch’s rain-soaked sarcasm, plus the Milwaukee Brewers sausage race, including the lore, the costume chaos, and the infamous Sausage Gate incident. These aren’t just funny detours. They’re reminders that baseball is a public stage where weather, ego, timing, and a little theater can turn a regular game into a permanent headline. We also pay off our opening trivia question: only one baseball player has ever appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, and the answer leads straight into our featured player profile of Detroit Tigers phenomenon Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. We talk about his joyful mound rituals, instant celebrity, the pressures that came with it, and the injuries that changed the arc of his career, plus the legacy that kept showing up decades later in the hearts of Detroit fans. If you enjoy stories that capture the soul of the sport, subscribe, share this with a baseball friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find Fungos and Fastballs. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail The standings say one thing, the vibes say another. We start by going round the horn with our friend Edwin Nolan for a rapid-fire MLB update as of August 30, 2026, sizing up who looks real, who looks shaky, and which races might go down to the final week. The AL East is a traffic jam of contenders, Kansas City suddenly refuses to go away, the AL West can’t decide who wants the crown, and the National League picture features Milwaukee’s dominance, Atlanta’s pitching edge, and the Dodgers holding a firm grip out west while the wild card fight stays nasty. Then we pivot from “who’s hot” to “what counts” by cracking open the baseball rule book to explain the save. We walk through how the statistic came to be, why it became official in 1969, and what actually creates a save situation today. We keep it practical: the winning team requirement, why the closer cannot also be the winning pitcher, and the three official ways a reliever earns a save. The tying-run-on-deck rule gets special attention because it explains those head-scratching moments in fantasy baseball and late-game strategy. We even share a truly odd case where a pitcher gets a save without throwing a pitch. To close, we take the way-back machine to the 1890s for Hall of Famer Billy Hamilton, the original “Slidin’ Billy.” We dig into why his stolen base totals live in a different statistical universe, how equipment and scoring rules shaped the running game, and why his production still deserves respect even when comparisons get messy. Stick around for the trivia payoff too: the left-handed pitcher with the most career saves in MLB history. If you like smart baseball talk, clear rules explanations, and baseball history that actually connects to today’s game, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a quick review. What part of baseball scoring has always felt the most confusing to you? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail Dusty Baker keeps popping up at the exact center of baseball history, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. We walk through the unbelievable reel: Baker connected to the Bartman NLCS chaos, Barry Bonds’ 73-homer season, the 1989 World Series earthquake, Reggie Jackson’s October fireworks, Nolan Ryan’s no-hit history, and even Hank Aaron’s 715th homer. It’s the kind of baseball trivia that feels like fate, and we have way too much fun stacking the evidence. We also pause to remember Tommy John, not just as a durable lefty, but as the name behind the surgery that transformed modern pitching and sports medicine. From Dr. Frank Jobe’s groundbreaking procedure to the way teams now talk about UCL injuries, recovery timelines, and pitcher usage, his legacy is stitched into the sport’s everyday language. Then we go deep on mercurial manager Billy Martin, the tactical genius who could flip a team’s record fast and the volatile figure who couldn’t stay out of his own way. We trace his rise under Casey Stengel, his iconic Yankees moments, the fights and firings, the Steinbrenner and Reggie Jackson blowups, and the lasting imprint of Billy Ball. Along the way, we end with a classic baseball stamps question: who was the first MLB player on a U.S. postage stamp? If you like baseball history, Yankees lore, and smart, weird stories that actually happened, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a baseball fan, and leave us a review so more listeners can find us. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A shutout in under 100 pitches feels like a glitch in modern baseball. We start by unpacking the “Maddox,” a rare pitching feat named for Greg Maddux that combines dominance with ruthless efficiency, and we talk through why the stat matters, how it’s tracked, and what a recent gem from Brewers flamethrower Jacob Miszrowski tells us about command, pace, and the thin line between power and precision. Then we step into the part of baseball that refuses to be measured: superstition. From Wade Boggs-style routines to Justin Verlander’s repeatable pregame habits and the fan tradition of rally caps, we explore why players and crowds cling to rituals when the sport gets weird. That sets the table for the episode’s main course: the curse stories fans use to explain decades of pain. We revisit the Curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago, including the competing versions of what happened in 1945 and the infamous moments that kept the legend alive until the Cubs finally broke through in 2016. We also dig into the Curse of the Bambino and the way the Babe Ruth sale became a catch-all explanation for an 86-year drought, plus quick hits on other long-haul heartbreak myths, including the Black Sox shadow, Cleveland’s Rocky Colavito trade, and Japan’s wonderfully strange Curse of the Colonel involving a life-size Colonel Sanders statue and the Hanshin Tigers. Stick around for the MLB trivia payoff on the first designated hitter, then tell us what you think: are curses just stories, or do they shape how we watch the game? Subscribe, share with a baseball friend, and leave a review so more fans can find Fungos and Fastballs. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A 20-game winning streak feels untouchable until you ask one question: what’s the longest winning streak in Major League Baseball history, and what does it say about how teams actually win? We use Billy Beane and Moneyball as our launchpad, starting with a straight-up review of the 2011 film and why it works even if you aren’t a “stats person.” Then we compare it to Michael Lewis’s book, including what the movie changes, what it leaves out, and how real-life figures like Paul DePodesta get reshaped for the screen. From there, we zoom out to the bigger story: the rise of baseball analytics and sabermetrics. We talk about how small market teams like the Oakland Athletics look for undervalued players, how the MLB draft and farm system quietly drive everything, and why making smart trades is as much about leverage and timing as it is about scouting. We also trace the roots of stats in baseball, from early box scores to the influence of Bill James and the long road from outsider ideas to front-office orthodoxy. We keep the math light and the meaning heavy: why “he gets on base” becomes a philosophy, why a walk is powerful because it avoids an out, and how a run expectancy matrix can challenge old instincts like the sacrifice bunt. We also get honest about the fan experience, including how on-screen probabilities and gambling-driven graphics can add context while pulling you out of the moment. Subscribe, share this with a baseball friend, and leave a review, then tell us: has analytics made baseball better to watch or just easier to manage? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A frying pan in the bleachers, a cowbell that becomes baseball folklore, and a closer who lives and dies by three outs. We tell the story of Hilda Chester, the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers fan known as Howling Hilda and the Queen of the Bleachers, whose voice and presence at Ebbets Field became so big that players, managers, and even the Hall of Fame couldn’t ignore her. If you love baseball history, vintage Dodgers stories, and the weird little details that make the sport feel alive, this one hits deep. Then we shift from the stands to the mound for Hall of Fame relief pitcher Billy Wagner, a fireballing lefty closer whose career helps explain how modern bullpen dominance took over Major League Baseball. We talk through Wagner’s hard upbringing, the childhood arm injury that pushed him to throw left-handed, and the chip-on-the-shoulder drive that turned an undersized pitcher into a strikeout machine. We also dig into the closer mindset: anxiety, negativity, pressure without a pitch clock, and how even the greats quietly wrestle with the same doubts. We spotlight signature moments like Wagner closing out a combined no-hitter against the Yankees, the history behind relievers being called “firemen,” and why reliever awards evolved from brand-sponsored trophies to MLB’s named honors. And yes, we bring the trivia: who was the first relief pitcher inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Subscribe for more baseball trivia and storytelling, share this with a friend who lives for the ninth inning, and leave a review. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail (this is an edited version) The trade deadline is coming, the standings are shifting fast, and baseball history is giving us a brand-new reason to pay attention. We start with a rapid-fire MLB update around the horn with our returning baseball guru Edwin Noland, tracking the teams surging at the right time and the ones starting to wobble. From the AL East chaos to a tight AL West race, we talk streaks, contenders, and the kinds of moves that can flip a season in a week. Then we turn to a milestone that deserves more spotlight: professional women’s baseball is back. We connect the dots from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to the new Women’s Pro Baseball League debut, including how the season works, what’s different on the field, and what it means in a country where women’s baseball programs are still rare. If you’ve been searching for WPBL info, women’s baseball history, or how to follow women’s pro baseball, we lay out the essentials and the bigger stakes. The second half goes deep on Roy Campanella, a Brooklyn Dodgers legend and one of the greatest catchers ever. We cover his rise through the Negro Leagues and international leagues, the slow grind of MLB integration, and how he packed three MVP awards into just 10 major-league seasons. We also talk about the catcher’s mental and physical workload, why Campanella’s defense and leadership stand out, and how his tragic 1958 accident reshaped the rest of his life without erasing his impact. Stick around for our catcher-themed trivia payoff on the record for most no-hitters caught, then tell us where you land on the debate. Subscribe, share the episode with a baseball friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the show. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail Cooperstown is about to get loud, crowded, and emotional and we couldn’t wait until Monday to talk about it. With Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Sunday here, we take a bonus lap through baseball history, starting with a trivia question every fan should have in their back pocket: who made up the original Hall of Fame class in 1936? Then we dig into the 2026 inductees and why each one sparks real Hall of Fame debate. Jeff Kent finally gets his call through the Eras Committee after falling short on the BBWAA writers ballot, and we unpack how you can be the all-time home run king at second base and still wait years for Cooperstown. Andruw Jones earns his spot as one of the greatest defensive center fielders ever, which lets us talk about how defense, WAR, Gold Gloves, and late-career drop-offs shape a player’s legacy. Carlos Beltran rounds out the class as a true five-tool star, but his résumé also forces the uncomfortable conversation about the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal and how voters weigh greatness against controversy. To keep it fun, we also count down Jerry’s five baseball pet peeves, from calling RBIs “ribbons,” to metal bats, to shaky umpire cams, to the ghost runner in extra innings, to the rising trend of mic’d up players during live action. If you’ve ever yelled at your TV during a broadcast, you’ll have opinions here. Listen now, then subscribe, share the show with a baseball friend, and leave a review. What’s your biggest baseball pet peeve? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A movie cast quietly buying a minor league baseball team sounds like a punchline, until you hear the name Richmond Flying Mummies and realize baseball is still the best sport for pure, delightful weirdness. We start there, digging into why the team name exists, how fans show up for the spectacle, and what this kind of ownership says about the community heartbeat of minor league baseball. Then we shift from quirky baseball culture to a pitching feat that feels impossible in any era: back-to-back no-hitters. We break down what counts as a no-hitter versus a perfect game, why control is not always the deciding factor, and how Johnny Vander Meer ends up owning a record that may never be touched. Along the way, we add bonus baseball history and trivia, including a look at the Boston Bees and the kind of odd team naming debates that would never fly today. From there, we open the baseball dictionary for a modern term with a very exact meaning: the ultimate grand slam. We explain the rule clearly, why it is so rare, and why it hits fans like a lightning bolt when it happens. We also detour into a nostalgia story that turns into an accidental collectible, before closing with a true-crime-tinged chapter on Eddie Waitkus and one of the earliest notorious cases of celebrity stalking in American sports. If you like baseball history, smart trivia, and stories you cannot wait to repeat, hit play, subscribe, and share the show with a friend, then tell us which moment surprised you most. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail Rankings bring out the real baseball opinions, especially when the position is catcher, where greatness is part statistics and part survival. We put on the backwards cap, crack open Baseball Reference, and take on an impossible question: who are the best catchers of all time in Major League Baseball history? Jordan Dove joins me for our first ever rankings show as we each build a top 10 list, compare notes, and defend the choices. We dig into what matters at catcher beyond the box score: pitcher handling, leadership, durability, and the kind of defense that makes runners think twice. We also talk openly about the limits of modern metrics like WAR and JAWS, how they can favor offense, and why intangibles still belong in the conversation. Along the way we hit the hard historical question of Josh Gibson and why incomplete Negro Leagues records make all-time lists both necessary and imperfect. From Yadier Molina and Buster Posey to classics like Mickey Cochrane, Gabby Hartnett, Thurman Munson, Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk, Roy Campanella, and Gary Carter, the arguments get sharper as we climb toward the top. Then we step into the heavyweight debate: Yogi Berra vs Johnny Bench vs Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, with rings, MVPs, Gold Gloves, and all-around impact all on the table. We also pay off the trivia question: the only catcher to catch two perfect games. Listen, then tell us what we missed, share the episode with a baseball friend, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. If you’re enjoying the show, leave a rating and review and help more fans find Fungos and Fastballs. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail One random found ball near Cooperstown turns into an eight-year mission that sends a baseball fan deep into cemeteries, card shows, and the awkward seconds of face time you get with living legends. We sit down with baseball historian and SABR contributor Ralph Carhart to unpack the Hall Ball Project: photographing a single baseball with every National Baseball Hall of Fame member, whether they are memorialized by a headstone or standing right in front of you holding a pen and wondering what your deal is. We talk about the origin story behind the idea, including Ralph’s love of genealogy and historic cemeteries, and how that quiet world collides with the loud machinery of modern baseball memorabilia culture. Ralph explains the practical problems nobody thinks about at the start: restricted access, different cemetery “personalities,” players who are hard to reach, and the strange moment when Cooperstown will not help you connect with Hall of Famers even when your end goal is a museum-worthy donation. The most surprising choice is also the most revealing: Ralph does not want autographs. He wants photos only, so every member of the Hall is united by the same object instead of separated by ink. That decision leads to hilarious and human reactions from icons like Yogi Berra, Ernie Banks, Lou Brock, Reggie Jackson, and Johnny Bench, plus a deeper question about respect, legacy, and the point where a tribute can start to feel ghoulish. We also share what happened when the Hall of Fame declined the Hall Ball, and why the Baseball Reliquary ultimately became its home. If you care about baseball history, Cooperstown, the Hall of Fame, and the meaning behind collecting, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a baseball friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the story. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A baseball game that starts at 10 p.m. with no stadium lights sounds impossible, yet Fairbanks pulls it off every year. We kick things off with the Midnight Sun Game, a summer solstice tradition that has been running since 1906, and the Alaska Goldpanners, a legendary college summer team with an alumni list that includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and more. If you love baseball travel, weird history, and the parts of the sport that still feel handmade, this story is a perfect entry point. Then we bring in our friend Edwin Nolan for a tight, energetic spin around MLB. We hit each division with the headlines that matter right now: surges, slumps, injuries that change the math, and the questions that are already shaping the trade deadline. It’s a quick way to recalibrate your baseball brain without drowning in hot takes. The main event is our deep dive into Hall of Fame Orioles manager Earl Weaver, guided by John W. Miller’s Casey Award winning book The Last Manager. We talk about Weaver’s winning track record, his famous philosophy (pitching, defense, and the three-run homer), and the surprising ways he looked like a modern analytics manager decades early, from matchup index cards to radar-gun obsession. And yes, we get into the legendary blowups: 96 career ejections, umpire theatrics, and the kind of dugout character baseball rarely produces anymore, plus the trivia answer that tops even Weaver. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a baseball friend, and leave us a review so more fans can find Fungos and Fastballs. What’s your favorite piece of baseball history that sounds made up but is 100% true? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A World Series disappears from baseball history, and it has nothing to do with war. We start with the odd, dramatic story of 1904, when the New York Giants refuse to face the Boston Americans, turning the sport’s biggest prize into a feud about leagues, rivals, and pride. It’s a reminder that MLB history isn’t just stats; it’s people making stubborn decisions that end up shaping the rules for everyone else. From there, we get obsessive about one of the most fun corners of baseball trivia: the hitting streak. We break down what officially counts, why a day off doesn’t kill a streak, and why 30 games is the unofficial line where the record books start paying attention. Then we walk through the names that held the crown before 1941, including the strange one-season rules that created “records” that don’t really belong in modern lists. The heart of the show is the gold standard for baseball records: Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. We track how it starts, when the country catches on, how pitchers try to work around him, and why the streak becomes a daily headline. Then we relive the closest true chase in the modern era, Pete Rose’s 44-game run, complete with bunts, bad blood, and the kind of competitiveness that doesn’t quit even after the streak ends. We close by asking the big question: with today’s strikeouts, elite bullpens, scouting reports, and nonstop media pressure, will anyone ever touch 56? If you love baseball history, MLB records, and the stories behind the numbers, subscribe, share this with a friend who argues about stats, and leave us a review. What do you think is the most unbreakable record in baseball? Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail The warning track sits in every ballpark like background scenery, yet it has a darker origin story than most fans realize. We start by pulling the camera into the outfield dirt and unpacking why Major League Baseball mandated the warning track in 1949 after a run of frightening wall collisions. We talk about what it’s made of on natural grass versus artificial turf, how wide it’s “supposed” to be, and why the color and texture change is meant to protect outfielders who are sprinting full speed with their eyes locked on the sky. After the ballpark deep dive, we shift into baseball history and a full career look at Brooks Robinson, the Baltimore Orioles icon often called the greatest defensive third baseman ever. We use WAR and the JAWS stat to frame how Hall of Fame debates happen, then balance the numbers with what opponents actually said and felt when they watched him play. We hit the big milestones, including 16 Gold Gloves, an MVP season, the Orioles’ championship years, and the 1970 World Series defensive highlights that turned the national broadcast into what some called the “Brooks Robinson show.” We also spend time on what made him bigger than baseball: the Roberto Clemente Award, philanthropy, and a Baltimore legacy built on decency as much as greatness. We wrap with our MLB trivia answer on the most recent perfect game and why it still sticks in our memory. If you like baseball trivia, baseball history, and smart debates about how we measure greatness, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more fans can find Fungos and Fastballs. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail The baseball is the only “player” guaranteed to show up for every pitch, and it has a bigger impact on the game than most fans realize. We start with a quick curveball: the switch pitcher, one of the rarest roles in MLB, and the hilarious logic trap that led to the Venditte Rule when a pitcher and a switch hitter kept countering each other. It’s a perfect reminder that baseball’s rulebook often follows the strangest real-world moments. From there, we follow the ball itself through baseball history, from homemade mid-1800s designs with inconsistent sizes and bizarre cores to the push for standardization once the National League formed in 1876. We dig into the Spalding era, why dead ball conditions happened when soft balls stayed in play too long, and how changes like cork centers and tighter wool winding helped fuel higher offense and the infamous “rabbit ball” feel. We also get specific about modern MLB baseball manufacturing: Rawlings’ official factory in Turrialba, Costa Rica, the multi-state supply chain that feeds it, and why the iconic 108 double stitches are still done by hand. Then we connect safety and fairness to the ball’s condition, including the Ray Chapman tragedy that accelerated cleaner ball practices, the league’s crackdown on sticky substances like Spider Tack, and the one old-school exception that’s still required, Lena Blackburne’s baseball rubbing mud. Finally, we talk humidors, why every stadium now locks balls up underground, and the lawsuit that helps explain why a caught foul ball can stay in your hands. If you like baseball trivia, MLB rules, and the hidden engineering behind every game, subscribe, share this with a baseball friend, and leave us a review so more fans can find the show. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail You can measure Wade Boggs with numbers, but you can’t really understand him without the stories. We start by checking the current MLB landscape with our friend Edwin Noland, moving division by division and hitting the surprises, the contenders, and the little controversies that make a long season feel alive. Then we pivot hard into baseball history and trivia with one of the most fascinating profiles we’ve done: Boggs as both a Hall of Fame hitter and a walking collection of routines, rules, and legends. We talk through his path from a military-family childhood to becoming the centerpiece of elite Red Sox hitting in the 1980s, built on plate discipline, line drives, and getting on base. We trace the contract fallout that pushed him to the Yankees, the championship payoff in 1996, and the late-career homecoming with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he joined the 3,000-hit club in the most unexpected way. Along the way, we dig into why his game still matters in modern conversations about contact hitters, on-base percentage, and consistency as a superpower. And then there’s the mythos: the chicken ritual, the 7:17 timing, the symbols in the batter’s box, the TV cameos, and the legendary “how many beers could a human possibly drink on a flight” tale. We also pay off our opening trivia with the unbelievable true story behind the longest professional baseball game ever played and Boggs’ place in it. Subscribe, share the show with a baseball fan who loves weird history, and leave us a review with your favorite Wade Boggs legend or your own game day superstition. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail Seventeen ejections in one night should be impossible, yet baseball found a way. We start with the 1984 Braves Padres beanball brawl, where one hit-by-pitch spirals into pitcher retaliation, managers getting ejected, and a benches-clearing pileup that somehow doesn’t even end the game. We walk through how “beaning” worked as baseball’s old language of payback, why umpires kept tossing players and coaches, and how the chaos spreads from the field to the stands with fans throwing objects, pouring drinks, and pushing the night toward real danger. Then we flip the calendar back a century to meet Michael Joseph “King” Kelly, the late-1800s phenomenon who helps invent what a baseball celebrity looks like. We talk through the record-breaking $10,000 contract sale, the crowds that follow him across cities, and the mix of skill and swagger that makes him must-see entertainment. Along the way we dig into 19th century baseball strategy and tactics that still matter today: the hook slide, daring steals, the hit-and-run, and early ideas that resemble modern defensive shifts. We also get into the trickster side of early pro ball, when fewer umpires and looser enforcement made rule bending tempting, and legends like Kelly helped force the sport to tighten its rules. We cap it all off with a Hall of Fame trivia answer about how many women are in Cooperstown. If you like baseball history, MLB fights, forgotten legends, and sharp trivia, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail Link to the National Assoc of Historic Base Ball Clubs Baseball changes completely when you strip away gloves, modern habits, and the assumptions we’ve all carried since Little League and it becomes Base Ball (two words!). We sit down with Tom “Big Bat” Fesolowich, a 30-year veteran of vintage 19th century baseball, coordinator at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in New York, and the longtime force behind the New York Mutuals. He walks us through how “vintage baseball” isn’t theater, it’s competitive ball played under carefully researched rules from a specific year, often 1864, with teams working hard to keep the language, uniforms, and on-field behavior historically accurate. We get into the fan experience first: old benches, blankets, picnics, and a rare setting where you can look around and see almost nothing modern. Then we hit the big shockers, like playing without gloves (Tom has the broken fingers to prove it), using a softer “lemon peel” baseball, and even playing with rules that feel upside down today. One bounce can be an out. You can’t overrun first base. Fair or foul depends on where the ball first hits the ground. Even the umpire’s approach to balls and strikes can start with a warning before anything is called. Along the way we trade nickname stories, talk about keeping anachronisms off the field, and hear an all-time tale featuring Bill “Spaceman” Lee that captures how funny and fiercely competitive this game still is. If you’ve ever wanted a hands-on way to connect with baseball history, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a baseball fan who loves the old game, and leave a review with the strangest vintage rule you’d want to bring back. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail A single baseball episode can feel like four different road trips, and that’s exactly the point here. We’re clearing out a backlog of “first pitches” with a grab bag of baseball history, MLB trivia, and the kind of oddball stories you only hear when fans start swapping favorites. Before we dive into the time capsule, our friend Edwin Nolan calls in with a sharp MLB rundown, including what’s happening across the AL and NL, plus a quick moment to remember two huge losses in the baseball world: legendary Yankees broadcaster John Sterling and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. From there, we hit the baseball dictionary with “Loogie” (the left-handed one-out guy) and explain why the tactic thrived, why it slowed games to a crawl, and how the three-batter minimum rule basically pushed it into extinction. Then we step straight into baseball folklore with Morgana Roberts, the Kissing Bandit, whose cheek-kiss field invasions turned into a strange, very real piece of 1970s and 1980s sports culture and earned her a place in conversations about the Shrine of Eternals and baseball’s broader lore. We also go high culture in our own way with a review of the film Ephus, a quiet, quirky baseball movie that ditches the usual underdog formula and instead nails what it feels like to hang onto a field, a team, and a night you don’t want to end. Finally, we tell the story of the 1970 East-West Major League Baseball Classic, a powerful charity game organized in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that featured an unbelievable lineup of legends, meaningful symbolism, and no known video record. We wrap by answering the Hall of Fame trivia question: the only player inducted without the five-year wait. Subscribe, share with a baseball-loving friend, and leave a quick review if you want more deep cuts like this. Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com