Past Ball Podcast

🎙️ Jackie Mitchell: The Teen Who Struck Out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig

The Pastball Podcast – Where Baseball’s Forgotten Legends Come Back to Life.

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In 1931, a 17-year-old girl named Jackie Mitchell stepped onto the mound to face two of baseball’s most feared hitters—Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig—and what happened next became the stuff of legend.

In this jaw-dropping episode of The Pastball Podcast, we tell the almost-too-wild-to-be-true story of the teenage phenom who struck out two Hall of Famers back-to-back during an exhibition game with the New York Yankees.

⚾ Was it real or a publicity stunt?

🎟️ What role did circus promoter and team owner Joe Engel play?

💔 Why did MLB ban women from signing contracts shortly after her appearance?

📜 How has Jackie Mitchell’s legacy been remembered—or forgotten?

🎧 You’ll hear:

A deep dive into the facts behind the fable.

Real newspaper headlines and rare commentary from the era.

Why Mitchell’s story still matters nearly a century later.

How this moment challenged gender roles in sports—and still inspires athletes today.

💪 Perfect for:

Baseball fans, women in sports advocates, history buffs, feminist trailblazer stans, and anyone who loves a David vs. Goliath story—except this time, David wore a ponytail and threw heat.

🟢 Stream it now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever legends live.

Some say it was staged. Others say it was history. You’ll have to decide for yourself.

🎙️ The Wildest Trade in Baseball: Kekich and Peterson Swap Wives

The Pastball Podcast – Baseball’s Strangest Stories, One Episode at a Time.

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This is the baseball story so strange, it sounds made up—except it’s 100% real.

In this episode of The Pastball Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most bizarre and talked-about off-the-field trades in Major League Baseball history: the 1973 wife swap between New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson. That's right—they literally traded families.

🎧 What went down behind the scenes?

💔 How did teammates, fans, and the media react?

👀 Did the swap stick, or was it a total train wreck?

⚾ What did this scandal mean for the Yankees and their careers?

We explore the chaos, consequences, and controversy of the Kekich-Peterson story—from spring training shockwaves to lifelong fallout—and break down how this unforgettable moment became a permanent footnote in baseball lore.

💥 Why You’ll Want to Listen:

True baseball weirdness that goes way beyond the game.

Unfiltered takes on how it changed MLB locker rooms forever.

Real quotes, rare interviews, and the lasting pop culture buzz.

The kind of story you won’t believe actually happened—until you hear it.

🧢 Ideal for:

Baseball fans, history junkies, Yankees loyalists, sports drama lovers, and anyone who thinks trades are just about stats and contracts.

This episode of the Pastball Podcast is all about "Fernandomania"—the electrifying phenomenon that swept through baseball in 1981. Host Matt explores the meteoric rise of Fernando Valenzuela, the 20-year-old Mexican phenom whose dazzling screwball and captivating presence ignited a cultural movement. From his remarkable 8-0 start with five shutouts and an ERA under 1.00, to the packed stands at Dodger Stadium filled with sombrero-wearing fans, Valenzuela transcended the game. Discover how he not only dominated on the field, winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season, but also became a powerful symbol of pride and representation for the Latino community, forever changing the landscape of baseball.

On this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt takes us back to 1993, a pivotal year that forever altered the landscape of Major League Baseball. After a 16-year hiatus, MLB expanded its reach, welcoming two new franchises: the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. Matt dives into the unique challenges and opportunities of this expansion, exploring how the wild expansion draft unfolded and the strategic choices made by both teams. From the Rockies' high-altitude sluggers like Vinny Castilla and Dante Bichette to the Marlins' quick ascent to a World Series title in just their fifth season with fan favorites like "Mr. Marlin" Jeff Conine, discover how these two ambitious newcomers quickly carved out their own identities and left an undeniable mark on the league.

This week on the Pastball Podcast, host Matt revisits one of baseball's most infamous unravelings: the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. On September 20th, with just 12 games left, the Phillies held a commanding 6.5-game lead in the National League, seemingly destined for the pennant. What followed was an unthinkable ten-game losing streak, as manager Gene Mauch relentlessly pitched aces Jim Bunning and Chris Short on short rest, ultimately costing the team the division title. Was it overmanaging, immense pressure, player fatigue, or simply bad luck that led to this monumental choke? Join Matt as he dissects the factors behind this epic collapse, a historical moment that left an indelible mark on both the Phillies franchise and the strategic handling of pennant races for years to come.

Did you know the gates of free agency in Major League Baseball swung open not with a bang, but with a lockout? Join host Matt on this episode of the Pastball Podcast as we journey back to 1976, a pivotal year in baseball history. Uncover the gripping story of MLB's first-ever owner-initiated lockout, a direct response to players challenging the iron grip of the reserve clause.

We'll delve into the groundbreaking efforts of figures like Curt Flood and Marvin Miller, trace the seismic 1975 ruling that paved the way for free agency with Andy Messersmith, and explore the owners' desperate attempt to slam the door shut. Discover how their lockout ultimately failed, ushering in an era of unprecedented player power.

Hear how superstars like Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter cashed in on groundbreaking contracts, forever altering the financial landscape of the game. This isn't just about dollars and cents; it's the story of a movement, a moment when players stood up and declared their worth beyond the diamond.

Tune in to understand the forgotten showdown of 1976 – the lockout that unexpectedly opened the gates to modern MLB.

Step back in time with Past Ball Podcast host Matt to September 1, 1971, a monumental day in baseball history. In Episode 135, we delve into the story of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the first Major League Baseball team to field a starting lineup comprised entirely of Black and Latino players. Discover the significance of Rennie Stennett, Gene Clines, the legendary Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillén, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Jackie Hernández, and the formidable Dock Ellis taking the field together.

Explore the social context of a nation grappling with racial division and how this seemingly unplanned act by manager Danny Murtaugh resonated far beyond the baseball diamond. We'll recount the Pirates' victory that night against the Phillies and their subsequent World Series triumph just a month later, underscoring the powerful message this diverse and talented team sent to the world: that talent knows no color. Join us as we honor this historic lineup and the enduring legacy of a team that demonstrated the potent combination of diversity and dominance in America's pastime. Tune in for a powerful and unforgettable chapter from baseball's rich history.

Relive the moment a single, catastrophic blown call in the 1985 World Series between the Royals and Cardinals didn't just cost St. Louis a game, but arguably the championship. Join Matt as we delve into the chaos of Game 6, the uproar over umpire Don Denkinger's safe call on Jorge Orta, and the devastating ripple effect that altered the series, impacted a franchise, and ultimately shifted how Major League Baseball viewed the integrity of the game. This is more than just a bad call; it's a story of heartbreak, controversy, and the slow march towards instant replay.

What happens when the baseball season splits in half—and your team has the best record but still misses the playoffs? Welcome to 1981. In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt unpacks the chaos of the MLB players' strike, the bizarre “split season” format, and how the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals got robbed. It's a wild ride through labor disputes, playoff confusion, and one of the weirdest years in baseball history.

🎧 Hit play to explore the season that nearly tore America’s pastime apart.

They dominated the regular season. They steamrolled the playoffs. They broke an 88-year curse. So why does no one talk about the 2005 Chicago White Sox? In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt takes you through the overlooked greatness of one of baseball’s most efficient and underappreciated World Series runs. From Ozzie Guillen’s fiery leadership to four straight complete games in the ALCS, this is a championship story that deserves to be remembered.

🎧 Press play and discover why history hasn’t been fair to one of MLB’s most dominant teams.