Reading Baseball

WSIU commentator Pete Peterson has told us stories about his days of playing in adult softball leagues in southern Illinois.

But, Pete also used to take part in lunch hour pick-up basketball games when he taught at SIU-Carbondale.

In his latest commentary, Pete tells us how a recent article reminded him of those days of going at it on the hardwood at the SIU Arena, now the Banterra Center.

For years, Pete Peterson has regaled us with stories about past Christmas presents and even offered us suggestions on baseball-related Christmas gifts.

But, this year, Pete has an extra special Christmas season commentary, one that changed his life forever.

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 new book could be a real treat for baseball fans.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us the book doesn’t focus on players, or even games, but special moments in the history of the National Pastime.

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.

Two-sport athletes are not uncommon, think about Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, even back to Jim Thorpe.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson remembers another two-sport athlete who passed away this year after playing professional basketball and excelling as a Major League Baseball player.

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.

For the first time in 16 years, the St. Louis Cardinals finished the Major League Baseball season with a losing record.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson offers a letter to Cardinal fans on how to deal with their team’s struggles.

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.

A rare season in which the St. Louis Cardinals finished in last place in their division has Reading Baseball commentator Pete Peterson remembering his childhood when the Pittsburgh Pirates often battled another rival for the basement.

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 Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals are battling it out for the basement of the National League Central Division standings with just over a week remaining in the regular season.

As Pete Peterson explains in his latest commentary, this is a familiar position for his Pirates, but unfamiliar territory for the Cardinals, who haven’t had a losing season since 2007.

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.

25 years ago, Mark McGwire was arguably the most recognizable and celebrated player in baseball after breaking Roger Maris’ single-season home run record.

In the latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us a story about how the steroid scandal interrupted the St. Louis Cardinals from celebrating McGwire’s records in a very public way.

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.

Pete Peterson and several members of his family gathered recently in Pittsburgh.

To no one’s surprise, part of the trip included a visit to PNC Park for a Pirates game.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete tells us about the highly charged atmosphere at the game between the hometown Pirates and the cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies.

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 teacher shortage is impacting school districts across the country with many instructors suffering from burnout, helping them to leave their jobs at record rates. On top of that, the pipeline of new teachers is growing smaller.

Commentator Pete Peterson and his wife, Anita, are both retired teachers.

In this special commentary, Pete examines some of the challenges teachers have faced for decades and some new obstacles they encounter in our highly divided society.