Reading Baseball

(Jim Frey/Unsplash / UnSplash)

WSIU Radio commentator Pete Peterson is known for being a retired English professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and of course his long-running Reading Baseball essays and commentaries.

But, in his younger years, Pete had a job pumping gas, cleaning windshields and checking oil at a full-service gas station…stations that rarely exist throughout the country these days.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado swings at a pitch in a game at Busch Stadium.(Kirk Thornton/Unsplash / UnSplash)

Scientists believe climate change is leading to hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought and other risks to life on Earth.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at how climate change could be impacting something we may not have considered...more home runs in Major League Baseball.

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.

(cottonbro studio/pexels / Pexels)

Baseball players are among the most superstitious of any athletes.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson explains how fans of the National Pastime can be just as superstitious, including someone he knows very well.

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.

(Pete Peterson (provided))

Major League Baseball’s attempt to shorten the length of games this season seems to be working with the addition of a pitch clock.

But, in his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson looks at how quicker games have created a new problem for MLB teams.

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

(Pete Peterson (provided))

SIU-Carbondale alum Bob Odenkirk starred in the eight-episode series Lucky Hank, which recently concluded on AMC.

The TV series was based on the book Straight Man, written by former SIU-C English professor Richard Russo.

(Pete Peterson (provided))

WSIU’s Reading Baseball contributor Pete Peterson has this special commentary about Russo’s time in Carbondale and his disappointment that the TV series took little from the novel.

(Joshua Peacock/Unsplash / https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470755711115-961e80ee0284?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1470&q=80)

Fairy tales can be described as stories involving fantastic forces, most originating in folklore, mythology, and legend..

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us about the National Pastime’s own version of a fairy tale.

It happened recently when the Pittsburgh Pirates called up a player for his Major League debut after he spent more than a decade playing in the minor leagues.

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

Left to right: Anne, Pete and Anita Peterson(Provided by Anne Peterson / Anne Peterson)

Reading Baseball commentator Pete Peterson recently celebrated his 84th birthday.

In his latest commentary, Pete tells us about a special gift from his oldest daughter, Anne, which involved a Pittsburgh Pirates game in St. Louis…and lo and behold…a Pirates win.

The red jeep the Petersons took to Busch Stadium(Anne Peterson (provided))

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

The New Yorker cover with clocks highlighted on the players and the umpire(Pete Peterson (provided))

One of the new rule changes in Major League Baseball this season is the introduction of a pitch clock.

In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson explains how he believes this attempt to speed up games goes against the essence of the National Pastime.

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

PNC Park in Pittsburgh(Joshua Peacock/Unsplash / UnSplash)

The new Major League Baseball season kicked off Thursday.

In the latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson reminisces about his own Opening Day memories.

Pete also explains some Opening Day traditions that involve the Cincinnati Reds hosting the first game and presidents throwing out the first pitch.

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

(left) Pete in his high school baseball team picture as a junior in 1955 - Pete is 5th from the right on the bottom row; (right) a photo taken at the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Pete Peterson (provided))

We’re into the time of year known as March Madness as college basketball teams compete for the NCAA national championship.

In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson has the story of how he had his own version of March Madness nearly 70 years ago. It didn’t involve basketball, but his dream of playing professional baseball.

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