Reading Baseball

Reading Baseball first aired on WSIU Radio in May 2004.

Pete Peterson looks back at what's happened in baseball and in his own life since then with his 250th edition of Reading Baseball.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.
 

Tis the season for gift-giving and celebrating with family and friends.

In this holiday edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson has some ideas on what gifts NOT to give.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.
 

The Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture recently opened in Washington D.C.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson talks about baseball's connection to the museum.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.
 

The Chicago Cubs are favorites to win their first World Series championship since 1908.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us how the Fall Classic came about, just a few years before the Cubs last title.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.
 

Injuries are an inherent risk of athletic competition.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson remembers his scars of yesteryear.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.

Racism is a hot topic in the United States.

Jackie Robinson made history in 1947 when he broke baseball's color barrier. In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us about a man, who was a good ballplayer in his day, but is remembered more for his hatred of Robinson.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.

As the Major League Baseball season starts up again following the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs are one of the favorites to reach the World Series.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson remembers the last time the Cubs were in the Fall Classic... over 70 years ago.

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.

The National Hockey League champions this season reside in Pittsburgh.

In this special commentary, Pittsburgh native Pete Peterson talks about his life as a hockey fan, long before the 2016 Stanley Cup champion Penguins ever existed.

Richard "Pete" Peterson is a retired English professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is a regular contributor to WSIU Radio with his Reading Baseball essays and commentaries.

Pete will return with his next Reading Baseball segment on July 15.
 

The recent death of Muhammad Ali - who some consider the most charismatic and controversial sports figure of the 20th century - showed how the former boxing champion overcame the controversies of his past to become a beloved figure across the world.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at how Ali and baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente helped him overcome his own racial intolerance by being more than the sum of their athletic gifts.
 

Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard "Pete" Peterson, the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente.
 

Richard "Pete" Peterson is a retired English professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the author of Pops: The Willie Stargell Story and Growing Up With Clemente. He also contributes to WSIU Radio through his Reading Baseball series.