Small Hall Baseball Podcast

This week we discuss the apparent shortening of careers. Is this just a phantom that has no merit or do careers really seem to be shortening as baseball goes on?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the 1968 Yaz Batting Title and if modern baseball is trending to lower averages. Will we see consistently lower batting title averages or will the cream always rise to the top?

Our Hall of Famer this week is Center Fielder Willie Mays. He is a Hall of Famer so just listen to us rave about the greatness of Mays and you'll hopefully enjoy it as much as we did.

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the poor fundamentals of current baseball play.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Willie Mays for Blasting Cap Caution, The Clean Air Fund, and Chrysler!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball -13:08

Hall of Fame Discussion - 27:09

Parting Shot - 44:12

This week we discuss the value of the baseball prospect. Have prospects become less valuable or more so, but in the sense of just being a commodity?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the legendary Earl Weaver argument with umpire Bill Haller. This segment speaks for itself. We play the audio, but if you'd like to see it in its full video glory, it can be found here: https://youtu.be/FrhmUGRaOwY?si=svKeez4SeUHrtzlK

Our Hall of Famer this week is RBI record holder Hack Wilson. His name is often remembered, but are his numbers on the field worthy of his inclusion in Cooperstown?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the less than admirable conduct of Astros pitcher Hunter Brown.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Earl Weaver for Coca Cola, tips about box scores, and local Baltimore car deals!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball -16:13

Hall of Fame Discussion - 34:17

Parting Shot - 49:24

This week we discuss the changing landscape of sports ownership. Have sports owners changed over the years or have they just become different for better or worse?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the firing of Danny Ozark. Would the Phillies have succeeded with him still at the helm or did Dallas Green have the necessary magic?

Our Hall of Famer this week is pitcher Addie Joss. The ten year eligibility requirement was waved for his induction, but were his numbers enough to warrant this waving or is this a head scratcher?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the career of Tommy John as well as his sport altering surgery.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Mel Allen for baseball cards, Baseball Hall of Famers for Mastercard, and Bugs Bunny and Sam for Post Cereal baseball cards.

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 21:21

Hall of Fame Discussion - 41:55

Parting Shot - 1:02:22

This week we discuss the usefulness of coaches in modern MLB. Have they lost their function in a game with millions thrown around or do they still have a purpose?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Richie Ashburn hitting the same fan with foul balls in the same at-bat. How much has safety changed for fans and how ridiculous is it that this happened?

Our Hall of Famer this week is Third Baseman Eddie Mathews. Not mentioned often when discussing all time Third Basemen, is he more of a laugher than most would imagine?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the bridge burning of MLB with choosing to focus more on streaming.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Tom Emanski Defensive Drills, Slice Soda, and Upper Deck cards!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 17:17

Hall of Fame Discussion - 34:25

Parting Shot - 48:39

This week we discuss the relevance of the trade deadline. Has the deadline become antiquated or does it still have a key roll in current MLB?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Tom Hughes hitting a solo HR for his team's only run and pitching a complete game. We talk about how much we miss hitting pitchers and which of those were our favorites.

Our Hall of Famer this week is Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. While he has a lot of mystique as Mr. Cub, was Banks a worthy addition to the HOF?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the terrible Netflix Home Run Derby.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Ernie Banks for baseball cards and Cubs Baseball as well as Cubs World Series hopes between Craig Robinson and Nick Offerman.

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 14:56

Hall of Fame Discussion - 32:07

Parting Shot - 48:39

This week we discuss the impact of the Rookie of the Year Award. Is this award actually significant on its own or should it only be looked back upon for further significance afterward or as missed potential?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Bill Haller umpiring behind the plate while his brother Tom Haller catches for the Detroit Tigers. Should this ever happen and what potential issues could arise?

Our Hall of Famer this week is pitcher Amos Rusie. He was a 500 innings pitched machine for a time, but does his 9 full season career survive our scrutiny?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses Bob Feller's "Little Black Book of Baseball Wisdom".

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Becky G for the WBC, Buck Martinez for Schneider's Hot Dogs, and Larry Walker for All-Star Baseball '99!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 16:25

Hall of Fame Discussion - 27:12

Parting Shot - 41:26

This week we discuss baseball performance oddities. Of the well known ones such as the Cycle or a Perfect Game are some more impressive than others and do any of them still deserve the reverence they get?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Phil Niekro's 3000th strikeout and the knuckleballer as a concept. How hard is it to be a good knuckleballer and is there any room for that kind of pitcher in modern baseball?

Our Hall of Famer this week is infielder Joe Sewell. His numbers are good, but in an era such as the 1920s, were they good enough to stand out and included in the HOF?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the ongoing tension between the players and the owners with the end of the CBA looming.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Sewell's Cleveland Indians with, "The Ball", Kenny Lofton for Taco Bell, and Jonathan Winters for Channel 43!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 21:22

Hall of Fame Discussion - 40:34

Parting Shot - 55:46

This week we discuss what makes good and bad managers in baseball. Is there a secret sauce to being a good manager and why do great players seem to make such bad ones?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the appearence of 15 year old Joe Nuxhall. He only pitched a single game in 1944, but why is it such a good thing kids that old are not allowed to play?

Our Hall of Famer this week is 19th Century First Baseman Roger Connor. His being elected by the Vet's Committee is a rare correction for them, but just how great was he?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses just what made Lou Gehrig such a wonderful anomaly in the history of baseball in terms of his quality of play, but also as a person.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Harold Reynolds for ESPN2, more Seattle Mariners, and Frank Howard for Nestle Quik!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 25:34

Hall of Fame Discussion - 41:38

Parting Shot - 59:16

This week we discuss the relevance of mascots in professional sports. Do they even have a place anymore and should they persist?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss Cy Young reaching 500 wins. This milestone is bonkers and will never be surpassed, but just how unreachable is it?

Our Hall of Famer this week is Cleveland Pitcher Bob Lemon. Was his good stretch good enough to warrant a place in Cooperstown next to his rotation mate?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the post-Thomson firing resurgence of the Phillies and if they dug themselves too big a whole to recover this season.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Barbasol, William Frawley for Major League Baseball, and Rafael Palmeiro for Viagra.

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 15:07

Hall of Fame Discussion - 29:13

Parting Shot - 45:54

This week we discuss the early season dismissal of Alex Cora and Rob Thomson. Should managers be let go this early and should it included scorched earth for their coaching staff if so?

For our This Week In Baseball, we discuss the incident that caused the sudden retirement of Jim Eisenreich in 1984. What is the line for heckling athletes and how hard would it be to bring oneself back to the game that caused them such stress?

Our Hall of Famer this week is third baseman and final Friend of Frankie Frisch, Freddie Lindstrom. Would this final member of the Triple F club be the only deserving inductee into Cooperstown?

In our singlular parting shot this week discusses the 1996 Phillies and their marvelous cascade into mediocrity and then into the abyss before rising back in the early 2000s.

Enjoy our new crop of weekly commercials featuring Baseball Fever, World Series Baseball 2, and Ryan Klesko for Fox Baseball!

Please join us as we discuss baseball topics and we continue our mission to make The Hall small. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.

Timestamps

This Week In Baseball - 22:14

Hall of Fame Discussion - 38:48

Parting Shot - 54:54