1968 was a traumatic year for most of the country. It was in Detroit as well, even as the Tigers did their best to bring a broken city back together, on their way to a world championship that they won 53 years ago this week. In response to a patron's request, we look back on how the Tigers flourished in The Year of the Pitcher, and how they managed to prevail against the single best pitcher alive, Bob Gibson. Plus, happy birthday to Sid Fernandez and Dmitri Young!  

This Week In Baseball History

Episode 223 - The Tigers Win It All!

Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca became inextricably linked 70 years ago this week when the former turned around a fastball from the latter and hit a three run walkoff homer that completed a Cinderella comeback to the game and season, and gave the Giants the 1951 National League pennant. Mike and Bill look back at both men, their lives, and the moment that they shared, including whether Thomson came by his homer fairly. Plus, happy birthday to Bob Skinner and Wally Moses!

Episode 222 - The Shot Heard Round the World

The Orioles of the late '60s and early '70s were one of the best teams in baseball, with a strong and stable rotation that peaked 50 years ago this week when Jim Palmer became the 4th Baltimore starter to win 20 games on the year. Mike and Bill discuss this staff and the epic run that fell just short of winning it all. Plus, happy birthday to Jelly Gardner and Hunky Shaw!

Episode 221 - The Orioles Draw Four Aces

The list of individual players who changed the game of baseball is a very short one. But 102 years ago this week, one of them did something previously thought impossible. When Babe Ruth hit his 28th home run, he ushered in a whole new era of power hitting and changed the course of both the rest of his life and of baseball history. Mike and Bill look back at the early part of the Babe's life, from the streets of Baltimore to the ballpark in Boston, and his first step toward immortality. Plus, happy birthday to Greg Hibbard and Ira Flagstaff!

Episode 220 - Baby Babe Breaks a Record

He is simply Stan the Man. One of the greatest players in the history of the game, and one of the most beloved. And he debuted 80 years ago this week. Mike and Bill give this episode over to his life and legacy, and try to figure out exactly why he was so dang lovable. Also, happy birthday to Luis Castillo (the first one) and Joe Rudi

Episode 219 - The Man, Stan

One of the most underappreciated superstars in baseball history, Minnie Miñoso straddled the pre and post-integration eras. But despite this, and a pro career that spanned seven decades in which he was brought back to get his final big league hit 45 years ago this week at the age of 50, Miñoso has been repeatedly snubbed for the Hall of Fame. Mike and Bill dig into why, and how Miñoso went from being one of the best players in the world to largely overlooked by fans today. Plus, happy birthday to Gene Bearden and Max Bishop!

Episode 218 - One Last Hit For Minnie

August trades used to be a big part of how teams would finalize their roster for the postseason. That option no longer exists, but 70 years ago this week, the Yankees made one of the most famous August deals in history when they sent $50,000 and Lew Burdette to the Braves for Johnny Sain, a deal that would ultimately come back to bite them. Mike and Bill look back on the careers of these incredibly similar pitchers and discuss which one of them should probably be in the Hall of Fame.

Episode 217 - The Yankees and Braves Lews Their Sainity

We shake things up a bit for our 17th Zoom Hangout, switching day and time and length of recording to attract more of you weirdos. And it was a successful experiment. We'll do more of it in the future. In honor of the change, we talk about ballplayers who switched positions and award some prizes.

Episode 216.5 - Zoom Hangout #17: Switching It Up Edition

For years, Johnny Mize was one of the most underrated sluggers in the game, in part because he missed three prime years to the war effort. But his trade to the Yankees 72 years ago this week helped push one of the greatest dynasties of all time to the first of five straight championships. Mike and Bill look back on the slugger's impressive career and how his service almost turned him into a forgotten man.

Episode 216 - Johnny Mize Joins a Winner

With Bill unavailable this week, Mike tries an experiment, choosing one game from this week at random from the 20th century to write about. What surprises are in store from August 21st, 1922 as the Browns took on the Athletics? Plus, happy birthday Don "Duffy" Dyer!

Episode 215 - One Random Game

Poised to potentially win their first championship, 27 years ago this week, the Montreal Expos were forced to stop playing when all of baseball ground to a halt. Mike and Bill look back at how the team was built, how it almost won, and how it was all torn apart. And they wonder how the story of baseball in Montreal may have been different if they'd been able to complete their season. Plus, happy birthday to Ken Raffensberger and Frank Howard!

Episode 214 - The Expos Finish Early

Every game Steve Carlton philosophically pitched boiled down, to him, to a game a catch between him and his catcher. It sounds so simple, but Carlton used that recipe to win 329 games and, 35 years ago this week, strike out his 4,000th hitter. Mike and Bill look back on the long and storied career of Carlton, as well as how his devotion to philosophy seemed to turn against him once he lost the magic in his left arm. Plus, happy birthday to Cleon Jones and Gregg Jefferies!

Episode 213 - Steve Carlton K's Number 4,000

Few players were traded as often, especially at the trade deadline as newly minted Hall of Famer Harold Baines, who was sent from the White Sox to the Rangers for Sammy Sosa and others 23 years ago this week in what future President George W Bush called the biggest mistake of his life. That's a lot to lay on a guy who was pretty dang good for a really long time, Mike and Bill discovered, as they looked back at his illustrious career.

Episode 212 - Harold Baines Gets Traded A Lot

For our latest Zoom Hangout, we are joined by the great Mike Duncan (@mikeduncan) of The History of Rome, The Storm Before the Storm, Revolutions, and the forthcoming biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds. Mike is an incredibly thoughtful historian and baseball fan who talks to us about the Negro Leagues, producing a history podcast, following baseball from France for the last two years, and living through historic times. Plus, it turns out he's pretty good at trivia.

Episode 211.5 - Zoom Hangout #16 - Hero of Two Podcasts Edition (with Mike Duncan)

We don't talk nearly enough about Fred McGriff, one of the most underrated and underappreciated sluggers of the late '80s and early '90s. Mike and Bill rectify that this week on the 28th anniversary of his trade to the Braves for the 1993 stretch drive, and talk about whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Plus, happy birthday to Tommy McCarthy and Mike Greenwell!

Episode 211 - Fred McGriff Goes To Atlanta

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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This Week In Baseball History

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