The return of the Cold War between the United States and Cuba has only exacerbated the tide of baseball defectors from the communist nation. In October of 2012, for the first time in over 60 years, two million baseball crazy Cubans could listen to a World Series game on the radio, just as Tony and his father were able to listen to the 1955 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees, at the old sugar mill in Camaguay, Cuba. In 1960. Tony Perez took advantage of safe passage to the United States, as did 14,000 other Cuban children, over a two year period, during Operacion Pedro Pan, a reality that could never take place in today's political climate. The re-lowering of the Coconut Curtain, between the two nations, stunts youth and imagination on both sides of the 93 mile (150km) wide Straits Of Florida. This week we follow the improbable baseball journey of The Big Dog; Tony Perez from the streets of Havana, Cuba to the Pantheon Of Immortals in Cooperstown, New York. #AtanacioRegalPerez #TonyPerez #BigDog #Doggie #CincinnatiReds #BigRedMachine #LeeMay #JohnnyBench #PeteRose #JoeMorgan #SparkyAnderson #MayorOfRiverfront #GeorgeFoster #KenGriffeySr #CaesarGeronimo #MontrealExpos #BostonRedSox #TonyPacheco #BobbyMaduro

Since the time of it's opening over 100 years ago, Old Yankees Stadium housed the most prolific team in all of American team sport, and some of the games brightest stars. The Yankees did not have an auspicious beginning to their franchise. They were originally nicknamed the Highlanders, and from 1903-1915, they never won a World Series and they had losing seasons in 8 of 13 years. All that changes when the rebranded Yankees buy Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox in 1919. At this time they are sharing the Polo Grounds with their landlord, the New York Giants, and with the star-power of Ruth, they routinely outdraw their inter-city rivals in their own crib. Yankees owner Jacob Rupert realizes that his superstar slugger needs a stadium of his own. After scouting areas throughout New York City, Rupert decides to build his cathedral in the Bronx, just a long fly ball over the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds. After Babe hits the first home-run in Yankees Stadium History in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox, sports writer Fred Lieb dubbed the new structure, The House That Ruth Built; a moniker that would last throughout it's 85 year history. This week we chronicle the construction, history, moments and all the legendary players who called the stadium home, and the indelible mark they left behind in baseball history. #YankeesStadium #TheHouseThatRuthBuilt #JacobRuppert #BabeRuth #JohnMcGraw #DeathValley #FredLieb #GeorgeSteinbrenner #MonumentPark #OldTimersGame #BronxNewYork

Michael Joseph Piazza is the classic American underdog who carved out his niche and legacy, seemingly out of nowhere through hard-work, grit and determination. Taken in the 62nd round with the 1,390th overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the 1988 June MLB Amateur Draft; he wou;d go onto establish himself as arguably the greatest hitting catcher in baseball history and a Hall Of Fame career. From the sandlots of Norristown, Pennsylvania to the Pantheon Of The Immortals in Cooperstown, New York. This week we do a deep dig into the improbable baseball path laid down by the slugging backstop. #MikePiazza #VincePiazza #VeronicaPiazza #TommyLasorda #PhoenixvilleHighSchool #NorristownPennsylvania #MiamiHurricanes #BenWade #LosAngelesDodgers #FloridaMarlins #NewYorkMets #SanDiegoPadres #OaklandAthletics

Harmon Killebrew was one of, if not the most feared power bat of the 1960's. By the time he had hung up his spikes for good after the 1976 season, his 573 home-runs were the most ever amassed by a right-handed American League hitter in baseball history. Still here 50 years later, only Alex Rodriguez has hit more dingers as a right-handed hitter in the American League. Even though he was nicknamed Killer by teammates and foes alike, and he had the ability to wreak havoc with a bat in his hand, he was giant, gentle soul on and off the field. A personality that belied the looming presence of his larger than life shadow, he cast at the plate. It was never lost on Killer that the name across the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back. It's been said that to know Harmon Killebrew was to be a lifelong fan of the man. This week we dig into his Hall Of Fame legacy. #HarmonKillebrew #Killer #PayetteIdaho #PayetteHighSchool #ClarkeGriffith #HermanWelker #OssieBluege #WashingtonSenators #MinnesotaTwins #KansasCityRoyals #JimKatt #TonyOliva #RodCarew #MikeCuellar #MudcatJimGrant

Rare is the professional athlete who plays his entire Hall Of Fame career in his hometown. For 19 years, Barry Larkin did just that, playing for the Cincinnati Reds. His career path took him from a leadoff hitter setting the table, to an RBI man in the heart of the order, with stops up and down the lineup. Along the way Barry Larkin was selected to 12 All Star games, won 9 Silver Slugger Awards, three Gold Gloves, a National League MVP, an Olympic Silver Medal and a World Championship. He was a key ingrediant in the evolution of the Shortstop position, particularly in the National League before inter-league play, combining steady hitting, power, speed and stellar defense. This week we will be discussing one of the revolutionary Shortstops in the game's history; the great Barry Larkin. #BarryLarkin #CincinnatiReds #UniversityOfMichigan #GeneBarrett #KurtStillwell #DaveParker #EricDavis #PeteRose #MargeSchott #BoSchembechler #DaveConcepcion #ChrisSabo

He was a fantastic hitter. Over a 162 game average in his 12 year career, he averaged a 4.2 WAR, 40 Home Runs, and 130 RBI. He scored 974 Runs for an average of 103 over 162 Games. The only thing more potent than his bat, was his pissed-off, surly disposition, which included throwing baseballs purposefully at hecklers in the stands, running down trick-or-treaters in his SUV who vandalized his home, as well as his strong dislike for the media, and the the abrasive bullying tactics he employed against them. As talented as he was, Albert Belle could never shake his anger or his drive for perfection. And the indignity of never being able to find that perfection made Belle's blood boil. His career ended prematurely as one of the games best sluggers, with more stats to give, left on the diamond, Because of his petulant behavior, he has never been seriously considered for induction into the Hall Of Fame. This is his story. #AlbertBelle #CarrieBelle #TerryBelle #SkipBertman #LSUTigers #ClevelandIndians #ChicagoWhiteSox #BaltimoreOrioles #OmarVizquel #JasonGrimsley #HuntingtonHighSchool #CapeCodLeague #FernandoVina

More than 70 years after his death, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson is finally eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. The legendary ballplayer was banned from the Major Leagues, 13 years into his career, for his role in the nefarious 1919 World Series scandal. On May 13th, 2025, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced he would be officially removing Jackson from the sports ineligible list. With the stunning, historical amendment, Jackson who is considered one of the game's earliest superstars prior to his 1921 ban, will be given consideration by Hall Of Fame electors for the 2028 class. Notorious November rolls on as I give a deep character profile on the man, detailing his MLB journey from humble beginnings in Greenville, South Carolina, to his meteoric rise through the baseball universe and ultimately his demise. #ShoelessJoeJackson #GeorgeJackson #MarthaJackson #BrandonTextileMill #CharlieFerguson #TomSlouch #ConnieMack PhiladelphiaAthletics #ClevelandNaps #ChicagoWhiteSox #ChickGandil #EddieCollins #LeftyWilliams #EddieCicotte #RedFaber #BlackSox #1919WorldSeries

During his prime years, the baseball universe was Manny's world, and other players were just mere mortals lucky to inhabit the same space. His dominant play and quirky personality would lead opponents and proponents alike to shrug and say, " That's just Manny being Manny." He was a hard-hitting baseball savant, with a bat in his hands and runners in scoring position. And in conjunction with his long flowing dreadlocks, his baggy uniform, his mighty bat, and his base-running and fielding flaws, the public was left with a caricature profile of Manny, as as carefree goofball and spoiled superstar, who could mash like one of the all time greats. As amazing as he was on the field, it was his judgement off the field that would come into question. This week we kick off Notorious November, where we profile some of the more controversial topics in baseball, with a deep dig into the baseball path laid by Manny Ramirez. #MannyRamirez #MannyBeinManny #MannyWood #ClevelandIndians #BostonRedSox #LosAngelesDodgers #OaklandAthletics #TexasRangers #ChicagoCubs #TampaRays #CarlosFerreria #JoeDeLucca #DavidOrtiz

This week we do a deep archaeological dig into the baseball path laid down by the legendary Don Drysdale. At 6'5" tall and 190 pounds, he was an intimidating pitcher, who used brushback pitches to keep opposing batters off-balanced. Together with southpaw Sandy Koufax, the tandem would become one of the fiercest lefty/righty duos in the history of baseball. By the time Drysdale's career is in the books, he's a three-time World Champion, and a Cy Young Award winner, with a win/loss record of 209-166 and a sparkling 2,95 ERA. Not bad for a kid, who never threw a pitch from the mound until his senior year in high school, where the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited and signed him in 1954. #DonDrysdale #ScottDrysdale #VanNuysCalifornia #BrooklynDodgers #LosAngelesDodgers #WaltAlston #Dodgers StadiumAtChavezRavine #FrankRobinson #MickeyMantle #SandyKoufax #CyYoungAward

When most people think of Miami's impact on the History of baseball, they may believe that the current Marlins team is the beginning of their baseball identity and story. But in reality, the city of Miami and the South Florida region possesses a rich history of organized baseball that crosses generations, leagues and color lines. This week I dig into the fascinating history between the city and the National Pastime. I unpack the story about the early stadiums in the city, I do a deep dive into the country's most successful and longest living Negro Leagues team; the Miami Ethiopian Clowns, who barnstormed their way around the nation until the late 1980's. And I detail the 32 year history of the city's current team; the Miami Marlins. #MiamiFlorida #MiamiMagicians #BabeRuth #HenryFlagler #TatumPark #OrangeBowl #LoanDepotPark #JoeRobbieStadium #BobbyMaduro #BillVeek #CarlBarger #WayneHuizenga #JohnHenry #JeffreyLoria #BruceSherman #DerekJeter