Since almost the beginning of baseball, they have been there, perched atop the domes of American athletes. The hat. The cap. The lid. But it wasn't always thus, and it wasn't always the caps we see on the field today. Special guest Michael Clair (@michaelsclair), of MLB.com, joins Mike and Bill to talk about his recent article, The Long Strange History of the Baseball Cap, and about how ballplayers' oldest accessory (other than the bat itself) was introduced and changed over time. Plus, happy birthday to Jim Sundberg and Barry Zito!

Episode 293 - A Ballplayer Wears Many Hats (with special guest Michael Clair)

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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While his name is familiar to baseball history fans, the life of Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first acknowledged African-American man to play Major League Baseball, is not. On the 137th anniversary of his debut, Mike and Bill look back on that life, at the efforts of Cap Anson and other bigots to stop his career and ban other black players from the pro ranks, and the effect that treatment had on Fleet in his later years. Plus, happy birthday to Granny Hamner and Russ Ford!

Episode 199 (Rerun) - Fleet Week

Last week, we learned of the deaths of Whitey Herzog and Carl Erskine, both icons within the game of baseball and beyond, but for vastly different reasons. This week, Mike and Bill look back at their incredible lives and the impact those lives had on the sport and the world at large.  

Episode 331 - Two Titans Fall

How many rakes do you have to step on before the spectacle of it goes from funny to unfunny to hilarious again? Unfortunately for Baltimore fans, the Orioles put this to the test 28 years ago this week when the allowed 16 runs in the 8th inning to the Texas Rangers. As they sometimes do, Mike and Bill dig into this extraordinary inning on a granular level, talking about the players and events that made it so bonkers. Plus, happy birthday to Jim Lonborg and Dan Cotter!

Episode 330 - The Rangers' Big Inning

Was Nellie Fox overrated by old school types who voted him into the Hall of Fame? Or is he undervalued by today's modern metrics that rank him as one off the weakest members of that exclusive club of players? The answer, most likely, is yes to both questions. But he was never more valuable than he was 65 years ago this week, when he collected five hits, including an uncharacteristic homer on Opening Day, kicking off the White Sox drive for the AL pennant in style. Mike and Bill look back at one of the more perplexing players in baseball history. Plus, happy birthday to Pythias Russ and Hippo Vaughn! And farewell to José DeLeón and Héctor Ortiz.

Episode 329 - Fox On The Sox

Overshadowed by the greatness of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, the third of the holy trio of Golden Age, New York-based center fielders, Duke Snider, was a marvel in his own right. A five tool player whose short peak rivaled Willie's for the title of the best player in the National League and pushed the Dodgers to their first championship. But all good things come to an end and, 61 years ago this week, the Dodgers sold him to the Mets. Mike and Bill look back at the incredible career of the Duke of Flatbush and his indelible imprint on baseball history. Plus, happy birthday to Jeff Heath and Jack Stivetts! And farewell to John Oldham and Larry Demery

Episode 293 - A Ballplayer Wears Many Hats (with special guest Michael Clair)

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