Sports History Network

Gridiron Baltic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

Gridiron Baltic is a monthly podcast exploring connections between American football in the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. On the surface, America’s Game may seem to have little in common with three small-nation states in Eastern Europe. Basketball and ice hockey, however, are not the only North American sports intertwined with the histories of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian nations.

Among other things, nineteenth century immigration and the shifting political borders of the twentieth century created a multitude of connections and entanglements, both in the West and in the East. From immigrant players in the regional leagues of the United States to the first (un)official games on Soviet and post-Soviet fields, Gridiron Baltic traces how a distinctly American sport intersects with the complex and interconnected histories of the three modern Baltic nations.

Hosted by James Baxenfield, a historian, researcher, and chronicler of overlooked stories, Gridiron Baltic invites you on a unique journey through the history of American football—from its significance in immigrant communities to present-day teams and leagues across the Baltic region. Combining guest interviews with scholarship and archival research, Gridiron Baltic brings you the stories of star college players and celebrated coaches of yesteryear alongside Cold War-era gridiron legends.

New episodes drop on the first day of each month. Some highlight early pioneers who helped build the sport (both in the United States and the Baltic region); others focus on its diffusion and present-day developments in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Welcome to Gridiron Baltic!

In 1987, Lee Trevino won five skins on the par 3 17th to win the Skins Event featuring Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Fuzzy Zoeller and Trevino.

In 1980, Western Carolina Catamount Ronnie Carr hit the first three point shot in NCAA history.

In 1989, Oklahoma scored an NCAA record 97 points in the first half against US International.

In 1934, it was the first NFL game played on Thanksgiving Day.

In 1992, New York Jets defensive lineman Dennis Byrd was paralyzed during a game.

In 1972, the video game Pong was released.

In 1974, Clint Longley replaced an injured Roger Staubach and rallied the Dallas Cowboys for what NFL FIlms called 'The Greatest Thanksgiving Day game' ever.

In 1996, Kansas City running back Marcus Allen passed Walter Payton on the all-time rushing touchdown list. Allen scored another later in the game to lift the Chiefs to the win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

In 1895, the first auto race started in Chicago.

In 1929, Chicago Cardinals' Ernie Nevers scored an NFL record 40 points in a 40-6 over the Bears.

In 1925, Montreal Canadiens' goalie Georges Vezina collapsed during a game. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis a few days later and he died in March the following year.

And in 1981, Paul 'Bear' Bryant won his 315th game to become the all-time winningest coach in college football.

In 1980, the Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions in the first overtime game played on Thanksgiving.

In 1952, the Dallas Texans won their first and only game on Thanksgiving thanks to a guy named Tripucka.

In 1926, Carnegie Tech beat Notre Dame 19-0 in one of the great upsets in college football history.

In 1984, Dan Marino's 'fake spike' led to a Miami game-winning touchdown toss to beat the New York Jets.

In 1996, the Utah Jazz pulled off the greatest comeback in NBA history.

Welcome to the Pig Pen for our special Thanksgiving week edition of Big, Bold Predictions! The NFL schedule is bursting at the seams this week with games spread across four days—Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday—meaning no bye weeks and a full slate of football to digest alongside your holiday feast.

Hosts Darin Hayes and Ed Kleese checked in to review the tumultuous results of Week 12 and lay out their choices for Week 13, including the highly anticipated Thanksgiving MVP bonus picks. Before diving into the scores, Ed took a poignant detour down memory lane, reflecting on the shared cultural experience of Thanksgiving Day football, forever tied to the unmistakable voices of John Madden and Pat Summerall. Though Ed humorously recalled one infamous "Silent Thanksgiving" ruined by a 2002 Commanders loss to the Cowboys, the overall reverence for the holiday tradition—of family, food, and the gridiron—was clear.

Despite both hosts admitting to a generally poor Week 12 performance, the race for the season title tightened, with Darin managing to extend his narrow lead.

Darin & Ed

Bills over Texans

Texans won

0

Both hosts missed the Texans' dominant defensive performance (8 sacks).

_________________

Darin & Ed

Cardinals over Jaguars (Upset)

Jaguars won

0

Cardinals committed 4 turnovers but still lost, sinking both hosts.

________________

Darin & Ed

 Cowboys over Eagles (Upset)

Cowboys won

2

Both hosts correctly predicted the Cowboys’ second-half defensive shutout.

__________________

Darin Only

Chiefs win by 7+ vs. Colts

Chiefs won by 6

1 point

Chiefs won but missed the margin by one point, earning Darin partial credit.

_________________

Darin Only

Bucs over Rams

Rams won big

0 points

The Rams dominated, proving Darin wrong on the late-season surge.

__________________________

Ed Only

Seahawks win by 20+ vs. Titans

Seahawks won by 6

0 points

Ed's bullish pick failed to reach the 20-point margin.

______________

Ed Only

Steelers over Bears

Bears won

0 points

Steelers lost, leaving Ed stuck on 2 points for the week.

Week 12 Score:

• Darin Hayes: 3 Points
• Ed Kleese: 2 Points

The difference remains razor-thin heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Total Season Points (Week 12 Complete)

Darin Hayes: 56 Points

Ed Kleese: 54 Points

For Week 13, Darin and Ed introduced three bonus picks: selecting the MVP of each of the three Thanksgiving Day games, worth three extra points apiece.

• Darin’s MVP Pick:Jameer Gibbs(Lions RB)
• Darin is betting on the Lions' versatile running back to break out in the traditional early slot.
• Ed’s MVP Pick:Jordan Love(Packers QB)
• Ed believes Love, who has been shaky all year, will have a pivotal breakout game, leading the Packers to a late comeback victory.

• Darin’s MVP Pick:Nick Bolton(Chiefs LB)
• Darin picks a defender, believing the Chiefs’ middle linebacker will have a big performance helping shut down the explosive Cowboys offense.
• Ed’s MVP Pick:George Pickens & CeeDee Lamb(Cowboys Receivers - Shared Award)
• Ed anticipates the Cowboys' receiving corps to dominate, sharing the MVP award on their home turf in Dallas.

• Darin’s MVP Pick:Joe Burrow(Bengals QB)
• Darin expects Burrow to return from his minor injury with little rust and carry the Bengals to a win over their AFC North rivals.
• Ed’s MVP Pick:Derrick Henry(RB)
• Ed is betting on a running back to exploit the opposing defense, declaring Henry will simply "run them over" on a chilly Thanksgiving night in Baltimore.

Here are the complete Week 13 Standard Picks:

Darin

 Chiefs over   Cowboys

KC vs. DAL

Darin believes the KC defense will be the hero, holding Dallas to 27 points or less, while Mahomes scores enough to secure the win. He also cites historical animosity from the "Dallas Texans" era.

Darin

 Bengals over  Ravens

CIN vs. BAL

Darin expects Joe Burrow to shake off injury concerns and lead a high-scoring Bengals offense (potentially 38-35) past the Ravens, despite Baltimore's strong running game.

Darin  

Eagles over Bears

PHI vs. CHI

Darin agrees with Ed that the Bears' win streak ends. He highlights weather as a major disruptive factor for the Bears' precision passing game, favoring the Eagles' run-heavy approach with Hurts and Barkley.

Darin 

Steelers over Bills

PIT vs. BUF

Darin makes a bold pick for his Steelers, citing key injuries on the Bills' offensive line (both tackles potentially out) which will allow Pittsburgh's pass rush to keep Josh Allen under siege. He believes the Steelers pull out the home win.

Darin

Texans over Colts

HOU vs. IND

Darin sees the Texans on the rise and the Colts' armor showing "chinks" recently. He picks the Texans to take out the Colts by a score of seven points or less.

___________________

Ed

Packers over Lions (Upset)

GB vs. DET

Ed is picking against the Lions, believing they are "just not that great anymore." He thinks Jordan Love is due for a big game and will lead the Packers to a close victory on Thanksgiving.

Ed

Ravens over Bengals

BAL vs. CIN

Ed hints strongly at this pick, reinforcing his Derrick Henry MVP pick. He believes the Ravens' running attack will dominate the Bengals' "porous" defense.

Ed

Eagles over Bears

PHI vs. CHI

Ed believes the Bears' luck runs out on Black Friday. While he isn't bullish on the Eagles' offense, he thinks their defense will "bottle up" Caleb and the Bears, holding them to 17 points or fewer.

Ed

Bills over Steelers

BUF vs. PIT

Ed agrees the game will be close, but ultimately believes Josh Allen will bounce back and lead a late, final-drive victory in Pittsburgh, though the Steelers will cover the spread.

Ed

Jets over Falcons (Upset)

NYJ vs. ATL

With a jam-packed schedule and nine total points up for grabs this week, Thanksgiving promises to be one of the most consequential weeks of the year for Darin and Ed. Will Darin hold onto his narrow 56-54 lead, or will Ed use the bonus points to finally take the season lead? Tune in next week for the dramatic results!

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

In 1976, Oklahoma beat Nebraska 20-17, scoring on two trick plays on the final drive.

In 2016, Syracuse and Pitt combined to score 137 points to set a new FBS record for points in a regulation four quarter game in the modern era. It's now second on that list.

In 1998, Phil Luckett misheard Jerome Bettis' call of 'Tails' on the coin flip prior to overtime preventing the Pittsburgh Steelers from getting the football. Detroit took advantage and won the game.

In 2010, Cam Newton led Auburn to a comeback against Alabama in the Iron Bowl but it's what happened after that makes this edition stand out.

In 1998, Minnesota WR Randy Moss exacted revenge against the Dallas Cowboys for skipping him in the previous draft.

The Pro Football Time Machine is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

John Henry Johnson combined size and speed as a runner with toughness, meanness and grit as a blocker to carve out a reputation as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and earn his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside his Million Dollar Backfield teammates.

THE PRO FOOTBALL TIME MACHINE BACKGROUND

PRO FOOTBALL TIME MACHINE WEB PAGE

Every two weeks, you’ll take a trip with me and Zo-Zo the cat to discover events and people who contributed, each in their own way, to building a league that has become the king of professional sports. Sometimes we will visit an event or star player, but to hopefully bring to light something that has always flown under the radar that is an important part of their story.

More often though, we’ll find events and people who’ve been missed by documentaries and books but have stories that need telling. Those are the destinations that are the most fun to discover.

Join me, Tom Pollin, and Zo-Zo the cat as we have fun on our journeys.

HOST - TOM POLLIN BIO

I grew up in the Chicagoland area, Waukegan to be specific and now make my home in Chicago. I’ve been a fan of football, and the Chicago Bears, since I first became aware of the existence of both. Of course, in those years the Bears dwelled at the bottom of the NFL standings but I grew to love the team more as I began to read everything about their storied history that I could get my hands on.

The diving into the Bears history spread into a need to know more about the NFL from the times before its birth, through its formation and growing pains, to the present day.

Writing and talking about pro football history is a labor of love for me. Since I began writing about the NFL in 2011, I’ve written hundreds of articles on teams, games and opinion pieces but the pieces I’ve written about teams, games and players gone by have been the most satisfying of the work I’ve published.

The 2025 college football season has emerged as a remarkable chapter in the annals of the sport, particularly spotlighting the impressive performances of true freshman quarterbacks. We delve into the extraordinary achievements of these young signal callers, who, only recently removed from high school, are now competing at the highest collegiate level. Throughout this episode, we will explore the statistics and contributions of six standout quarterbacks, including Bryce Underwood of Michigan and Bear Bachmeier of BYU, as they navigate the challenges of a pivotal season. The significance of their roles is underscored by the impending college football playoffs, which promise to further define their legacies. Join us as we reflect on the historical context of their accomplishments and the potential future they hold within the sport.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

A committee member recently asked me my opinion on inducting former Washington Redskins running back Larry Brown into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

First, I want to say it’s an honor that this committee member values my opinion enough to ask me to contribute to this discussion.

I have the utmost respect for Larry Brown, his achievements, and his approach to playing the game. He played with a mindset of giving 100% effort on every play, a quality not often seen in today's game. Despite his small size, he possessed the courage and fearlessness of a giant. 

Larry often said that his mental toughness came from growing up in the tough Hill District of Pittsburgh.....

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

In 1993, Dallas' Leon Lett committed his second blunder in 10 months. This one cost his Cowboys the game.

In 1971, undefeated and top-ranked Nebraska beat #2 Oklahoma in college football's 'Game of the Century.'

In 2023, Alabama converted a fourth and goal from the 21 to score the game winning touchdown to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

In 1950, a blizzard and brutally cold temperatures provided a stark backdrop for two football games. First in Knoxville in a game between #3 Kentucky and #5 Tennessee. It also had an effect on the Michigan-Ohio State game.

And in 1953, an international friendly between Hungary and England changed the game for good.