Classic Baseball Radio

The shadow of war hangs over the 1941 season, a season that historians call “the last pure summer of baseball” before the world is irrevocably changed. Club rosters will be weakened as the peacetime draft moved to a wartime footing, yet baseball served as a vital yet fragile distraction.

As the defending American League champions, the visiting Detroit Tigers are without star player Hank Greenburg, who was called up one week before tonight’s game against the Washington Nationals. The Tigers are hoping to prove that their 1940 pennant was not a one-hit wonder and are under pressure to perform.

The Nationals are fighting to escape the cellar of the American League. Shortstop Cecil Travis. Travis was in the midst of a historic breakout season, which would see him out-hit both Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. For Washington, this series against the defending champs was a chance to assert that speed and guile could usher in a new era of winning baseball in the capital.

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from May 14, 1941. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

** Links **

You can find the boxscore here.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1194105140.shtml

Baseball During World War 2.

https://www.baseballinwartime.com/baseball_in_wwii/baseball_in_wwii.htm

When Hank Greenberg went to war.

https://forward.com/culture/308100/when-hank-greenberg-went-to-war/ 

The life of Bucky Harris, Washington’s "Boy Wonder" manager.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bucky-harris/ 

Detroit Tigers' manager Del Baker, a master of sign-stealing who nearly guided Detroit to a title in 1940.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/del-baker/ 

Once Upon A Fractured Baseball Season: The Cecil Travis Story.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyblengino/2020/03/17/once-upon-a-fractured-seasonthe-cecil-travis-story/

A profile of the Nationals' durable second baseman Jimmy Bloodworth, who was traded to Detroit following the 1941 season.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jimmy-bloodworth/ 

The unique architecture of Griffith Stadium including the centre-field "jut" around residential houses.

https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/griffith-stadium/ 

The First Night Game at Griffith Stadium, May 28, 1941.

https://ghostsofdc.org/2012/07/16/griffith-stadium-first-night-game/

The Cleveland Indians' Big Four rotation served them well in 1954, delivering 111 wins and a ticket to the World Series. Yet their power is fading, and many worry that the AL pennant in the previous year was a high-water mark. They would rack up eight winning seasons in the decade, but only a sole defeat in the Fall Classic to show for it.

In tonight’s game the welcome the young and eager Chicago White Sox. Marty Marion's “Go-go” philosophy of speed and base-running would be key. 1955 showed where the gaps were, and some rapid trades (bringing in Larry Doby and clearing the shortstop position for future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio) would take them all the way in 1959.

All of that lies in the future. Tonight is a distillation of the Indians' power and the Go-Go White Sox. reflected in the pitching match-up. Chicago’s Billy Pierce is in the middle of a historic season where he will finish with an ERA of 1.97.

On the other side of the scorecard is Early Wynn, a future 300-game winner whose scowling, intimidating presence on the mound defined the era’s aggressive pitching ethos . Wynn would later win the Cy Young after joining the White Sox, but for now, he stands in the way of the White Sox’ first legitimate pennant run in 35 years .

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from July 1, 1955. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

** LINKS **

Boxscore:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE195507010.shtml 

A closer look at the four-way race in 1955’s American League pennant race.

https://thisgreatgame.com/1955-baseball-history/

Early Wynn biography and the philosophy of “The Office” and his willingness to knock down hitters to defend the plate.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/early-wynn/

A look at Wynn’s longevity, including his eventual move to the White Sox and his 1959 Cy Young Award.https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/early-wynn 

 A retrospective evaluation of Billy Pierce’s stats and pitching records.

https://www.cooperstowncred.com/billy-pierce-star-from-the-1950s-on-the-golden-days-hall-of-fame-ballot 

Recounting Gene Woodling’s journey from the Yankees to the 1955 Indians.

https://peanutsandcrackerjack.com/blog/gene-woodling-a-stellar-career-in-baseball  

How Larry Doby integrated the American League.

https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-5-1947-larry-doby-integrates-american-league-with-pinch-hitting-appearance-for-cleveland/ 

A look at Marion's managerial philosophy and his transition from Cardinal great to White Sox skipper.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Marty_Marion/ 

The history of Comiskey Park
https://ballparks.com/baseball/american/comisk.htm

The year of the pitcher is over. Following a league-wide ERA of 2.98, Denny McLain’s 31 wins, and Bob Gibson’s 1.12 ERA, the MLB took drastic action; the mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches, and the strike zone was reduced.

As the season begins, pitchers are coming to terms with a brand new game, none more so than this match-up between the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Don Sutton and the Cincinnati Reds’ Jim Maloney. Sutton is looking to refine his precision pitching, and Maloney the new target for the firepower of his fastball.

Looking back, it’s the Reds’ lineup card that’s impressive. Reading like a Hall of Fame Induction, you have Johnny Bench behind the plate, Tony Perez and Lee May offering muscle in the middle of the order, Wayne Granger ready to come in as the fireman, and the reigning batting champion of Pete Rose (okay, so maybe not everyone is going to be inducted).

The Dodgers leaned into pitching to find success in the sixties, but here comes the Reds with a new approach of churning runs while on offense. It’s not quite complete, but the genesis of the Big Red Machine is here. 

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from April 9, 1969. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

** LINKS **

Boxscore:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN196904090.shtml

Jim Maloney looks back on his career (Interview).

https://irontontribune.com/2025/06/18/reds-pitching-great-maloney-still-going-strong/

How Don Sutton became a Los Angeles Dodgers legend.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/don-sutton/

The Big Red Machine’s Spring Breaks At Pacetti Hotel

https://www.ponceinlet.org/history-and-education/pacetti-hotel-history/the-big-red-machine/ 

The high-speed impact of Bobby Tolan's arrival in Cincinnati.

https://www.redlegnation.com/2017/04/02/the-enigma-of-bobby-tolan/ 

Pete Rose returns to the Hall conversation as baseball embraces his original sin.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/15/pete-rose-hall-of-fame-baseball 

A history of the Dodgers' $100,000 "bonus baby" Willie Crawford.

https://ladodgerchronicles.com/remembering-willie-crawford/

Remembering 1968, the year of the pitcher.

https://thisgreatgame.com/1968-baseball-history/ 

A Brief Historical Analysis Of Baseball's Divisional Era (1969-1995)

https://notesironbound.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-brief-historical-analysis-of.html

The ageing empire of Casey Stengel’s Yankees is in a desperate three-way street fight for the American League against the Chicago White Sox (the defending champions) and the ‘Kiddie Krops’ of the Baltimore Orioles. With only half a game separating them in the loss column, every game is a make-or-break.

In tonight’s game, the Yankees welcome the Orioles into the cauldron of the House that Babe Built. Stengel’s Yankees are still playing as they did during their dominant fifties with a platoon full of power that will reach the fence or fall short over nine innings. The team crumbled in 1959. Can the old ways still work?

Meanwhile, Orioles manager Paul Richards has young arms aplenty, and playing small ball built around bunts, singles and aggressive base running. Will that take them through September and beyond? 

The Orioles have their own aged war-horse. Hoyt Wilhelm, in his ninth year in the majors, is back where he belongs, pitching in relief with a knuckleball that seems to defy the laws of physics. It's paired with the comically oversized glove of Clint Courtney, because it's the only way any catcher has a hope of getting the ball into the back of the leather.

Stengel is watching the sun set on his pinstripes, and Richards is welcoming the sun rise over his baby birds. Only one will stamp their authority in the race for the pennant…

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from September 28, 1950. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

** LINKS **

Boxscore:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196008150.shtml

1960 Major League Baseball season

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Major_League_Baseball_season 

Ron Hansen, by Jimmy Keenan for SABR

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ron-hansen/

Brooks Robinson at the Baseball Hall Of Fame

https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/robinson-brooks

Who Was the Better Third Baseman, Brooks Robinson or Clete Boyer?

https://www.baseballhistorycomesalive.com/who-was-the-better-third-baseman-brooks-or-clete/ 

Hoyt Wilhelm’s Knuckleball (The Inside Pitch, with Bob Wolff)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5kdNI_gKLg 

So long, 45-inch catcher's glove

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/happy-anniversary-so-long-45-inch-catchers-glove/ 

Art Ditmar Obituary

https://ripbaseball.com/2021/06/19/obituary-art-ditmar-1929-2021/ 

Casey Stengel: The Most Colorful Manager in Baseball History

https://www.cmgworldwide.com/2023/07/05/casey-stengel-the-most-colorful-manager-in-baseball-history/ 

Once upon a time, the Orioles had the ‘Kiddie Korps’

https://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/sports/2018/06/22/once-upon-a-time-the-orioles-had-the-kiddie-korps/

Welcome to Classic Baseball Radio’s Clubhouse, where we step back from the hectic pace of the games and take some time to talk about the history of baseball. Consider these bonus episodes as the pre-recorded explainers and profiles you normally see on sports broadcasts. As always, we look forward to your feedback.

Joining us in the Clubhouse is Liz Thompson from Diamond Scorecard Designs. Her mom taught her to score at an early age, and since then, she has tried various scorecards and books to find the right one. Finally, she decided to stop trying to settle and design the scorebook she always wanted. 

Those scorebooks, and the opportunity to have a custom designs scorebook, are available through the Diamond Scorecard Designs website.

As part of her personal mission to get people to keep score again, she visits the Classic Baseball Radio Clubhouse to talk with Ewan Spence on the beauty and history of our scorecard.

FEATURING…

Scorecards as a fundamental part of Baseball’s history.

Learning Baseball through scoring and scorecards.

The archaeology of scorecards.

The earliest scorecard (Atlantics at Athletic, Oct 11, 1866).

Various scoring systems from the 19th century to the present day.

Why there’s no wrong way to score a game.

A warning… keeping score may be habit-forming.

LINKS

Liz Thompson’s Diamond Scorecard Designs

https://diamondscorecarddesigns.com/ 

​​Baseball Basics: How to Keep Score (MLB)

https://www.mlb.com/official-information/basics/score 

Skeleton Key Unlocks Game (Washington Post, 1979)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/08/17/skeleton-key-unlocks-game/979879db-0465-46d4-8d4d-471b26191546/ 

Brooklyn Atlantics at Philadelphia Athletics, October 11th, 1866.

https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-1866-a-return-on-their-investment/ 

The tiny scorecard ballyhooing "The Great Game for the Championship of the United States"

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110914_A_chance_to_own_a_bit_of_baseball_history.html 

Henry Chadwick, the Father of Baseball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chadwick_(writer) 

The Man Who Made Baseball's Box Score A Hit.

https://www.npr.org/2009/07/30/106891539/the-man-who-made-baseballs-box-score-a-hit 

A. G. Spalding & Bros: Spalding Scorebook.

https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A132213 

Joe Posnanski’s Blog

https://www.joeposnanski.com/ 

Stratomatic’s Baseball Board Game.

https://www.strat-o-matic.com/baseball-board-games/ 

Harry Wright scorecard example.

https://lelands.com/bids/1881-boston-scorecard-signed-by-scorer-harry-wright--psa 

Cricket scorecards by Andy Zaltzman.

https://thesportscommentators.com/collections/andy-zaltzman 

SABR: Official Scoring Research Committee.

https://sabr.org/research/official-scoring-research-committee/ 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

If you’d like to get in touch with us, visit www.classicbaseballradio.com.
Follow us online at BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/classicbaseball.bsky.social

The Philadelphia Phillies were meant to have the 1950 National League sewn up. With two weeks left in the regular season, they were seven and a half ahead of the Red Sox and nine ahead of the Dodgers. Then they collapsed.

In the second-last series of the season, the Phillies travel to the Polo Grounds to take on a rampaging New York Giants who have won 15 of their last 25 games. The Phillies? Just three wins in the last ten games. The Giants are one win away from the sweep, which would force the Phillies into a win-or-go-home deciding series against the Dodgers.

Things are going no better for pitcher Robin Roberts. This is the third game he has started with nineteen wins. No Phillies pitcher has won 20 games since 1917, and Roberts can’t get himself over the line. He lost 1-0 to Chicago, then 3-2 to the Dodgers. 

Roberts is running out of starts, the Whiz Kids are running out of time, and Philadelphia is running out of patience.

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from September 28, 1950. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

(Editor's note: Our commentary notes listed the Giants as winning 20 of the preceding 25 games; it is, in fact 15 from the last 25).

LINKS

Boxscore:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197306190.shtml 

Philadelphia Phillies in 1950

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_Philadelphia_Phillies_season

New York Giants in 1950

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_New_York_Giants_(MLB)_season 

Robin Roberts profile:

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/robin-roberts/ 

The Whiz Kids

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/whiz-kids/ 

The Whiz Kids at 75

https://ballnine.com/2025/06/19/whiz75/ 

The Ballparks: Polo Grounds

https://thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-polo-grounds/ 

The colorful career of Wes Westrum, Bemidji State’s only World Series winner

https://bsualumni.org/the-colorful-career-of-wes-westrum-bemidji-states-only-world-series-winner/ 

Eddie Stankey profile

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/eddie-stanky/  

Bobby Thompson at the Scottish Sports Hall Of Fame

https://sshf.sportscotland.org.uk/inductees/bobby-thomson/index.html

The San Diego Padres have lost their last nine games, and with rumours of the franchise moving to Washington, the management is looking for anything to bring the winning ways, and the fans, back to San Diego Stadium.

Is the answer Dave Winfield?

San Diego picked Winfield with the fourth overall pick in the first round draft. Winfield was a pitcher, but the Padres needed bats in the lineup, so they not only put Winfield out to left field, they also brought him straight into The Show. Winfield remains one of the handful of players to accomplish this feat.

Winfield developed into an All-Star with San Diego before moving to the Yankees for a then-record 10-year, $23 million contract, popping up next with the Angels, before heading to the Blue Jays to get a World Series ring in 1992.

We’re winding the clock all the way back to what is Dave Winfield’s first game. The Padres are anchored at the bottom of the National League, 20 games back behind the top spot held by the Dodgers. The Houston Astros are faring much better - third in the League and 4 and a half games back. 

Can Winfield’s bat be the spark that lights up the Padres' season?

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from 1973. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197306190.shtml 

This game was played on June 19, 1973..

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

LINKS

Box Score:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197306190.shtml 

Dave Winfield Profile, by Doug Skipper

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dave-winfield/

We Are, We Can, We Will: The 1992 World Champion Toronto Blue Jays; Foreword, by Dave Winfield.

https://sabr.org/journal/article/foreword-1992-world-champion-toronto-blue-jays-by-dave-winfield/

No, Dave Winfield wasn’t traded for a dinner.

https://www.mlb.com/news/dave-winfield-traded-for-dinner 

Cito Gaston's contributions left a mark on the game; First African-American skipper to win the World Series built a strong legacy:

https://www.mlb.com/news/cito-gaston-left-his-imprint-on-the-game-c215951760 

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Reuss:

https://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees/jerry-reuss/

The 50-20 Club:

https://tht.fangraphs.com/tht-live/the-50-20-club/

Looking back at… Cesar Cedeno:

https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/cedeno.html

Following an injury at the 1937 All-Star Game, Dizzy Dean lost his fastball, and the St Louis Cardinals traded away one of the leading lights of The Gashouse Gang. The Chicago Cubs picked up Dean in exchange for three players and the then-legendary sum of $185,000, convinced that his arm would recover.

The fastball never returned, but Dean equipped himself with a new arsenal of knuckles, screws and junkballs ahead of the 1938 season. Six games into the year, and the Cardinals visit the Cubs. 

Everyone wanted Dizzy Dean on the mound to face his old team, and Cubs manager Charlie Grimm did not disappoint a Wrigley Field crowd of over 34,000. Facing Dean were familiar faces from the Gashouse Gang, including Pepper Martin and Johnny Mize.

It’s time for a reckoning.

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from 1938. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN193804240.shtml 

This game was played on April 24, 1938.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.

1956 is a year that Yankees fans have fond memories of... Mickey Mantle will take the triple crown, Don Larsen will pitch a perfect game in the World Series, and Whitey Ford will lead the American League in ERA and winning percentage.

Today, let's listen to Ford in action. The Chicago White Sox are visiting the Bronx for a doubleheader. Ford will face a line-up that includes a young Luis Aparicio and the hot bat of Minnie Miñoso, and he's going to use his mix of calm efficiency and ruthlessness that will lead the Yankees to the World Series.

Bob Elson is behind the microphone to take you through the game.

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA195605061.shtml

This game was played on May 6, 1956.

The Boston Red Sox are in trouble. They are 36-37 at home, and have three games left to avoid the losing record; and they've just lost the first game in a two-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Locked in fourth place, they are playing for pride and to avoid a losing season in Fenway Park.

But they have an ace in the line-up. Ted Williams, returning from military service in Korea, is coming back into the Boston lineup and batting .400 for the season. Ahead of him in he line-up is Jim Piersall, finding his form after spending most of 1952 being treated for bipolar disorder.

In the Red Sox way is soon to be crowned Rookie of the Year Harvey Kuenn, and Mr Tiger himself Al Kaline… however, at this point in his storied career, Kaline is a rookie who’s only been playing in the Majors for three months.

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from 1953. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS195309170.shtml

This game was played on September 17, 1953.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.