Back When There Was Baseball
111 episodes Last Updated: Dec 19, 24
Step into the golden era of America's Pastime with "Back When There Was Baseball." Uncover the untold stories, thrilling triumphs, and heart-wrenching trials of the sport's most iconic figures, spanning from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s - a transformative era when the baton was gracefully handed from titans like Hank Aaron, Orlando Cepeda, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays to the new generation of legends like Johnny Bench, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan.
Each episode of "Back When There Was Baseball" is more than a mere retrospective; it's a journey through time. We weave together the intricate narratives of these athletes' careers, personal lives, and the broader socio-political context of their times. This is where you'll find the real drama, the human stories behind the home runs and record-breaking performances.
But our journey won't stop there. We'll occasionally veer off the beaten path, reaching back into the 1950s - a time many argue was the apex of Major League Baseball. Expect special episodes dedicated to this remarkable decade, spotlighting its most distinguished players and most memorable games.
"Back When There Was Baseball" is more than a podcast; it's your ticket to the front row of history. Whether you're a baseball enthusiast, a history buff, or simply someone who loves a good story, this podcast is your gateway to an era of baseball that shaped the game we know and love today. So, grab your cap, dust off your mitt, and join us for a fascinating journey into the heart of baseball's most legendary moments.
Episodes
Dec 19, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Mark Littell
Mark Littell passed away on September 5, 2022. We re-air this podcast in honor of him: Our guest this week is Mark Littell, relief pitcher with the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. Mark was involved in several great moments in baseball history. He is unfortunately recognized as the pitcher who gave up the home run to Chris Chambliss in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS which allowed the Yankees to advance to the World Series. However, Mark was the winning pitcher in both ends of a doubleheader, was the winning pitcher the night Lou Brock got his 3,000th hit, and also surrendered Pete Rose's 3,631st hit, which set the National League record. He averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings in 1978, which is a Cardinals record. Mark Littell had 4 outstanding seasons in a row: 1976/1977 (K.C. Royals) and 1978/1979 (St. Louis Cardinals). Mark shares some funny stories about his career as we look Back When There Was Baseball.
Dec 12, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Jon Matlack
Our guest this week on Back When There Was Baseball is the 1972 National League Rookie of the Year, pitcher Jon Matlack. Jon was a member of the 1973 New York Mets which made it to the World Series. He started four games in the 1973 postseason with an outstanding ERA. He pitched in both the National and American Leagues during his career. Jon Matlack is one of those pitchers who will surprise you when you look at his stats. He has a career record of 125-126, but an ERA of 3.18 for his 13 year MLB career. Enjoy this conversation with one of the best left-handed pitchers of the 1970s through the early 1980s.
Dec 05, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Larry Barnett
The 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox was voted as the best World Series in history. There is only one umpire remaining from that series and he is our guest this week on Back When There Was Baseball. Larry Barnett joins us and he talks about his storied career. Larry umpired from 1969-1999 which totaled 4,281 games. He umpired 4 All-Star games, 7 ALCS and 4 World Series. We discuss the Ed Armbrister non-interference call in Game 3 of the 1975 World Series along with his umpiring behind-the-plate when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record. Let's go Back When There Was Baseball and listen to one of the best umpires the game has known.
Nov 28, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Johnny Grubb
Join us as we go Back When There Was Baseball to the 1970s and 1980s with our guest, Johnny Grubb. Johnny played in the Majors from 1972-1987 with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. He was signed out of Florida State University and got to the Big Leagues in his 2nd season. Johnny hit .311 in his first full season with the Padres (1973). He was a solid player who could hit and also field. His career batting average is .278 and he was around that average each season which is a measure of his consistency. Johnny finally got a chance to play in the postseason in 1984 with Detroit and he talks about his experiences in the ALCS and World Series.
Nov 21, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Eric Soderholm
Eric Soderholm joins us this week. Eric played in the Majors from 1971-1980 with the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. He had a career batting average of .264 with 102 home runs and 383 RBIs. Eric was a solid player at 3rd base for every team he played for. He had to sit out the 1976 season with a knee injury which led him to be a Designated Hitter in the latter part of his career. A freak knee injury ended his Major League career after he hit .287 with the Yankees in 1980. Eric shares some great stories Back When There Was Baseball.
Nov 14, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Lenn Sakata
Lenn Sakata joins us on the podcast this week. Lenn was the 2nd Asian American to play Major League Baseball and his career spanned from 1977-1987. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers but played most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was instrumental in the 1983 regular season which led to the Orioles World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Lenn could play multiple positions in the infield and even caught in a game that went extra innings. He started out in the Brewers organization and had to compete with the likes of Jim Gantner, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. In the Orioles organization, he competed with Rich Dauer and Cal Ripken, Jr. We take the time machine back to the late 1970s through the late 1980s, Back When There Was Baseball, with our guest Lenn Sakata.
Nov 07, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Eric Raich
Eric Raich joins us this week. Eric played his college baseball at USC coming out of Compton, CA. He was involved in the middle of that great Rod Dedeaux run at Southern Cal where they won the National Championship in 1968 and from 1970-1974. Eric was drafted 1st overall in the 1972 MLB January Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He was a big pitcher standing at 6'4" and weighing between 240-250 lbs. Eric worked his way through the Minor Leagues quickly and was at the Major League level in 1975. He had a solid year in 1975, but arm problems hampered him throughout the rest of his career. One must think, what would Eric have done had he been healthy. Join us Back When There Was Baseball and listen to Eric Raich share his Major and Minor League experiences with us.
Nov 01, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Chris Wheeler
Former long-time Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler joins us this week. "Wheels" was behind the mic for 37 years of Phillies baseball which included their only 2 World Series championships (1980 and 2008). The Phillies have only appeared in 7 World Series and Chris was a part of 5 of those events. Wheels shares a lot of great stories from his time with the Phillies, which started in 1977, and includes some surprises Back When There Was Baseball.
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ten Cent Beer Night which occurred on June 4, 1974, in Cleveland. The game featured the visiting Texas Rangers, with manager Billy Martin, up against the home Cleveland Indians. Our guests are Steve Foucault and Tom Grieve who played for the Rangers, and Jack Brohamer and Dick Bosman who played with Cleveland. This was a promotion that went wrong. Streaking, women bearing their bare breasts and other raucous behavior occurred, which culminated in the fans storming the field and the game being forfeited to the Rangers. We go Back When There Was Baseball this week to revisit one of the craziest games in MLB history.
Oct 17, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Jim Sundberg
We are privileged to host one of the best catchers in MLB during the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s. Jim Sundberg joins us to talk about his career. He came out of the University of Iowa and was told by a scout that he was not very good. That "insult" propelled Jim to become the best catcher he could be, and what a successful adventure that was. Jim played 16 seasons in the Majors (1974-1989) with the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs. He won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves (1976-1981) which is unreal considering he caught in the heat of Texas during those seasons. Jim is also famous for his great slide in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. We hope you enjoy this look Back When There Was Baseball at one of the best catchers in that time-period, Jim Sundberg.