The Thanksgiving holiday may always be marred for Americans of a certain age because of the late November assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

In this special commentary, WSIU contributor Pete Peterson recounts what it was like for him to live through what he calls the saddest Thanksgiving.

As the 2025 World Series ends this weekend, we look back at one of the craziest fall classics in history.
In the latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson remembers the 100th anniversary of the 1925 World Series, where the 7th and final game was played in a downpour, forcing officials to set the infield on fire with gasoline to dry it.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

The St. Louis Cardinals suffered through a rare losing season in 2025.

But, in his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson has a great book for St. Louis baseball fans with the baseball blues.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son, Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

The late Robert Redford had a long and distinguished movie career featuring films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men and The Sting.

But, in his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at another of Redford’s celebrated role as baseball player Roy Hobbs in The Natural.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

Increased streaming of NFL games is here, with major platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock now showing exclusive games, making it easier for fans to access content on their terms but also more expensive and fragmented for some to watch every game.

This caused WSIU contributor Pete Peterson to miss a playoff game last season involving his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

In his latest commentary, Pete tells us about another time — more than 50 years ago — when he almost missed another Steeler playoff game due to a totally different NFL broadcasting policy.

The Savannah Bananas have taken over Major League Baseball stadiums this summer with a unique style of playing the game.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at how this entertainment-focused brand of the game is nothing new.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

Major League Baseball players are some of the most gifted athletes in the world.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson pays homage to this summer’s NubAbility Camp in Du Quoin by looking at some of baseball’s limb-different players over the years.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard Pete Peterson, co-author, with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

A book entitled This Old Man is an account of what it’s like to be old.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson says it’s a book he can relate to as an 86-year-old man.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

Baseball fans love the game’s history.

Many books have been written on the subject.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us about a new edition of one of the game’s best history books.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.

A famous line from the hit film, A League of Their Own, claims there is no crying baseball.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us how he begs to differ, in part, thanks to a Father’s Day gift he received.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author, with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader.