All About Baseball with Byron Copley

Ok. This podcast is a bit of an outlier. First off, I recorded it in my car as an experiment, so you will notice a difference in the audio. It's more compressed than the podcasts I record in my office/studio. You might need to boost the volume a little bit. But it's definitely audible. I liked the content, so I published this one. (With some prudent editing, I made it make sense.) I wanted to express the three qualities of baseball that I like and that make it different (and better) than other sports. Rather than give them away here, give this podcast a listen to see if you agree.

Comments: [email protected]

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

A listener asked me to provide more information about the story that I offered in the episode published on January 19, 2026, "Humility Personified," to fill in the details, add color and context, and clear up some questions she had about Lou Gehrig and Wally Pipp. So, this episode, called "Humility Personified (Continued)" hopefully does just that, as it focuses on the impact that Wally Pipp, the man Lou Gehrig replaced as the first basemen of the New York Yankees in 1925, had on his team, his teammate -- Gehrig -- and on his own family. This episode also reveals several conflicting accounts about the day that Gehrig replaced Pipp, the day Gehrig removed himself from the Yankee lineup after 2,130 consecutive games, and the day Gehrig revealed his vulnerability in front of 61,808 fans.

Wally Pipp was as premier player of his era and this podcast episode honors him and his accomplishments, on and off the field.

I thank this listener for inspiring me to delve deeper into a topic that I mistakenly thought was so familiar to my audience.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Inspired by a humble gesture of an unnamed High School baseball player, who recognized that his acceptance of a college baseball offer was in no small part due to the play of his catcher, I reflect on this stellar example of humility and also (finally) after more than 100 episodes of All About Baseball, offer a treatment of whom I consider to be the most humble player in MLB history. He also happens to be one of the best, who's significant life events as related to baseball are curiously connected to the Detroit Tigers.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Lou Gehrig, May 2, 1939, Briggs Stadium, the day his consecutive-game streak of 2,130 games ended.

Joe DiMaggio, Briggs Stadium, June 3, 1941, the day after Lou Gehrig died.

https://youtu.be/nNLKPaThYkE

I can see Ryan's house from my front yard, and I asked him if he'd be willing to share his experiences as a D1 college baseball player at Gardner Webb, a small Christian college near Charlotte, North Carolina. What came through the most was Ryan's gratitude and humility throughout the conversation. At the end of the podcast, I chronicle just a few of his numerous and substantial achievements during his four-year career at Gardner Webb University -- that he didn't mention in the interview.

www.byroncopley.com

https://byroncopley.com/

Baseball, unlike the other sports, has, in my opinion, more opportunities to reinforce important virtues, among them being accountability, humility, objectivity, and charity. This podcast presents what these virtues mean in the context of the game of baseball and how to express them. I also share an early memory from when I was 10 years old that helped to help me learn the importance of being accountable for one's actions. Thank you, Dad, for pointing to our front porch.

https://byroncopley.com/

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Podcasts should grow and evolve as they stick to their fundamental principles. That's what this episode reinforces, as it projects to expect in 2026. As I continue to cultivate a like-minded band of listeners who share my passion for the game of baseball, I also plan to make each episode more inspiring and more interactive, while covering the game in the same, eclectic way that I have for the past 18 months. From the bottom of my heart and soul, I thank you for your interest, attention, and input.

May 2026 be a year of joy, fulfillment, and peace to all.

Kind regards, Byron

In the spirit of Christmas Day, I thought it appropriate to offer a replay of a podcast from September 28, 2024, that tells the story of a man with a vision to give of himself 365 days a year.

From the original podcast description: "After a 16-year Major League career, Hank Aguirre established a company called Mexican Industries in 1979, with the intent of employing fellow Mexicans and other minorities who lived in an area of Detroit called “Mexicantown.” After several lean years, the company blossomed in to a $150,000,000 business by the time Hank died in 1994."

Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you, as always, for your interest and support

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

I want to share my recommendation for you to read the book, "Tinker to Evers to Chance -- The Chicago Cubs and The Dawn of Modern America." It's an excellent account of this famous shortstop (Tinker), second baseman (Evers), and first baseman (Chance) combination that helped the Cubs to dominate the National League for the first 10 years of the 20th century (1901-1910) and accelerate the popularity of Big-League baseball. But it's about so much more -- as you will discover when you open the cover and start reading. Be sure to not skip to the end!

www.byroncopley.com

"Baseball's Sad Lexicon: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46679/baseballs-sad-lexicon

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

To commemorate surpassing the 100-episode mark of All About Baseball, I wanted to actually do a podcast about how a Major League Baseball is made: the materials used, the manufacturing methods, and the standards that each baseball has to pass. Instead, I discovered something much more important to talk about -- the people who work at the. MLB-owned Rawlings plant in Turriabla, Costa Rica, who produce more than 2,000,000 baseballs a year in virtual anonymity. That needs to change, along with the way that they are compensated for their labor.

[email protected]

www.byroncopley.com

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

A listener asked me this question that I had not previously considered. I was comfortable just letting this scenario play out. His inquiry led me to respond with an answer that presents a specific plan gives the Tigers the best chance to responsibly sign Skubal or, more likely, receive the best possible and comparable value in a trade. Be alerted that this podcast delves into the granular numbers and metrics that I think are essential to examine and evaluate the Tigers' next best steps -- and it's a plan that I would initiate from Opening Day, 2026.

www.byroncopley.com

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin