On this episode of the Baseball Book Club, we’ve got a full lineup of baseball history and storytelling.

We continue The Deadball Files with guest Justin Renaldi, diving into the life and legacy of 19th-century pitching legend John Clarkson—one of the most dominant and fascinating figures of early baseball.

Author Roger Lusby joins the show to discuss Searching for the Perfect Swing, a project originally started by his brother Steve Lusby, exploring the evolution and philosophy behind hitting.

Plus, we bring back the Baseball Terminology Series, featuring classic terms from Paul Dickson’s The Baseball Dictionary, and John adds another installment of Baseball’s Forgotten, uncovering a story lost to time.

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The Deadball era comes alive this week on The Baseball Book Club as John is joined by Justin Renaldi of Nostalgic Baseball Geezer to kick off a special four-part series: The DeadBall Files.

In this debut episode, the spotlight turns to the legendary and larger-than-life Old Hoss Radbourn—a workhorse pitcher whose feats feel almost mythical in today’s game. Just how dominant was Radbourn, and what made him such a defining figure of early baseball?

Plus, John and Leroy dig into one of the most bizarre and controversial moments in baseball history: the 1910 American League batting title race between Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie. From questionable scorekeeping to eyebrow-raising bunt tactics, it’s a story that still sparks debate more than a century later.

It’s history, controversy, and Deadball drama—just the way you like it.

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In this episode John and Leroy discuss the life and career of Yogi Berra, #43 on the Joe Posnanski 100. Plus, they will introduce a new book to the club, Tyler Kepner's K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches. 

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In this episode, John will sit down with Pittsburgh native and sports journalist Joe Landolina, a walking encyclopedia of Pittsburgh Pirates history. And we'll shine a light on the overlooked career of Jim Derrington—a name lost to time, but not without a story worth telling.

Plus, John and Leroy turn back the clock to the 1986 World Series—not just to revisit it, but to relive it, playing the audio of Mookie Wilson’s legendary 10th-inning at-bat in Game 6, the moment that cracked the series wide open. But this isn’t just about one at-bat—it’s about how history remembers it, and why Bill Buckner became the lasting symbol of it all.

Forgotten players. Defining moments. And stories that never get old. 

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Season 3 of The Baseball Book Club begins with a look at two of the greatest pitchers the game has ever known. John and Leroy continue their countdown of Joe Posnanski’s The Baseball 100, turning their attention to Tom Seaver and Cy Young—two legends separated by nearly a century but connected by dominance on the mound.

The guys explore what made Seaver the defining ace of his generation and how Young became the standard by which pitching greatness is still measured today. Along the way they dig into the numbers, the stories, and the historical context that shaped both careers.

Two pitchers. Two eras. One fascinating conversation about what greatness on the mound really looks like.

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 Before the new season gets rolling, we’re tipping our cap to two icons from opposite ends of baseball history. This Best Of episode revisits our conversations on the lightning-fast legend Cool Papa Bell and the smooth, steady greatness of Chipper Jones. From barnstorming brilliance to Hall of Fame consistency, it’s a reminder that baseball greatness wears a lot of different uniforms. One last rewind—then we’re back with brand-new stories. 

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In Part 5 of The Best of The Baseball Book Club, we revisit five moments of unlikely home runs and then talk about two monumental moments in World Series history, including a Bill Mazeroski home run for the ages. 

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The Best of The Baseball Book Club continues. Compiling segments from various shows, this episode features baseball terminology, five funny moments from Joe Posnanski's book Why We Love Baseball, plus Leroy's Hot Corner on the book "Ladies And Gentlemen The Bronx Is Burning."

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In the third installment of The Best of The Baseball Book Club, we talk about the long endured curse over the Chicago Cubs and the moment that ended it for them on a rainy night in Cleveland. 

Plus some classic baseball terminology and Leroy reviews a book on scorekeeping in baseball. 

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In this Best of The Baseball Book Club episode, we bring together some of our favorite conversations in baseball history and culture.

We talk about how the Deadball Era became the Liveball Era with rule changes, equipment, and strategy transforming the game forever. Then we spotlight Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt), his impact on modern hitting, and his place among the greatest power hitters in MLB history.

The episode also features five unforgettable pitching oddities—rare moments of unusual performances that show us just how weird and wonderful baseball can be.

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