Apologies for an extra re-run this month. Mike is dealing with a personal thing, and we will be back with a new episode next week.

Some people podcast about history. Some people witness it. Melissa Ludtke made it happen, successfully fighting back against Bowie Kuhn and Major League Baseball to ensure women in journalism could be on equal footing with male sportswriters. Mike, Bill and Mike Duncan (@MikeDuncan) talk with her about that experience, about the importance of representation for women in baseball, and about the book she was working on at the time. This book is now finished and is called Locker Room Talk: A Woman's Struggle To Get Inside. It's fantastic.

Perhaps nothing unites more baseball fans than the shared experience of playing Little League Baseball. But, until 1974, only boys were allowed to play. After that, it took until 1984, 41 years ago this week, before the first girl played in Little League's crowning jewel, The Little League World Series. On this auspicious anniversary, Mike and Bill look back at the origins and history of Little League Baseball, and of the Little League World Series itself. And, aside from a few significant bumps in the road, they find what's mostly a pretty feel-good story for once.

Plus, happy birthday to Buck Weaver and Diego Segui!

And farewell to Diego Segui, Bob Heffner, and Matt Murray.

Every now and again, Mike and Bill like to take a break from the exciting world of actual baseball history and delve into the much more relaxing regular season games where nothing historic happens to talk about whatever strikes their fancy. The randomizer this week chose September 11, 1987's contest between the Pirates and Phillies. In the process of talking about the game, they share about Kevin Gross, the MLB Corporate All Stars, the best platoons, all the guys the Yankees traded away in the '80s, and Juan Soto's walk rate.

Plus, happy birthday to Patron request Jose Cruz Sr and to Alex Fernandez!

And farewell to Johnny O'Brien and Ron Taylor.

With Mike on vacation this week, we dig once again into our archives to present a classic TWIB History. One of the best ballplayers and most incredible athletes in modern history, Dave Winfield's baseball career should speak for itself. Unfortunately, two figures get in the way of that: George Steinbrenner and a stupid seagull, which was accidentally killed by a Winfield warmup toss 42 years ago this week. Mike and Bill examine all Winfield's life, including the conflicts that came to overshadow so much of what he accomplished, but reserve time to marvel at what a singular talent Winfield was. Plus, happy birthday to Frank Howard and Tim Wakefield!

Some guys don't get mentioned on baseball history podcasts because they're underrated. This week's guys don't get mentioned on most baseball history podcasts because they are, in fact, properly rated. They, for one brief moment at least, stunk on ice. But they did so in a way that is monumentally rare. They all allowed runs without recording an out. On the 107th anniversary of Harry Heitmann becoming the fourth pitcher to join this exclusive club, Mike and Bill look back on the 14 infinauts who would otherwise never get mentioned by anyone, anywhere, ever.

Plus, happy birthday to Dan Driesen and Davy Force!

And farewell to Verle Tiefenthaler and Gary Boyd.

The 1986 Mets are one of the truly iconic teams in baseball history, with a roster full of unbelievable talent, unbridled machismo, and borderline criminal tendencies. And 39 years ago, several of the mildest mannered of those Mets were arrested in a Houston bar called Cooter's Executive Games and Burgers after a night of debauchery. With certified Mets sicko and Defector Editor David Roth (@davidjroth.bsky.social), who wrote about the incident this week, Mike and Bill look back at the incident, which is hilarious in retrospect, and the Mets as a whole, while trying to figure out exactly what an executive burger would be.

Plus, happy birthday to George Gibson and Mickey Stanley!

And farewell to Horace Speed and Scott Klingenbeck.

David's article can be found here: https://defector.com/39-years-ago-four-mets-fought-the-cops-at-a-houston-bar-named-cooters

For so long, we've thought that the 4,000 hit club was one of the most exclusive in baseball history, with just two members. But on the 98th anniversary of Ty Cobb's 4,000th hit, Mike and Bill are joined by Sports Reference's Executive Director of Design, Negro Leagues expert and Latin baseball researcher Adam Darowski (@adarowski.bsky.social) to talk about his presentation at SABR 53, and how much larger that club actually is. The answer, and the players on it, will surprise you and hopefully expand your horizons about what should count toward the record book of baseball.

Plus, happy birthday to Rubén Gómez and to Jesse Tannehill!

And farewell to Mark Esser, Jack Curtis, Rod Nichols, and Jason Conti.

Here's the link to the SABR 53 presentations, where you can find audio and slides from Adam's talk: https://sabr.org/convention/sabr53-presentations

The 1970s era cool just wafted off of Dave Parker, the gigantic Pirates slugger who was one of the best, if not THE BEST players in baseball in the last half of that decade. Parker's persona, his play, and his essence were all larger than life and are still clear almost 50 years later. That bigness, however, led to problems later in his career, both on and off the field, but ultimately set up a fine career denoument as a productive DH, and a Hall of Fame induction scheduled for later this month. Commemorating the passing of the great Cobra, Mike and Bill look back at a pretty impressive, though flawed, career and person. 

Plus, happy birthday to Cy Blanton and Gene Alley!

And farewell to Frank Johnson and Vic Harris.

With the boys still recovering from SABR last week in Dallas, it's a perfect time to revisit the great Larry Doby, who never gets nearly enough attention. 

It's probably fair to say that no more important player in baseball history has been talked about less than Larry Doby, the second African-American to break the color line as a player and a manager, which happened 73 and 42 years ago this week, respectively. Mike and Bill try to rectify that just a little, looking back at Doby's life before getting the chance to integrate the American League and the incredible contributions he made after it. Plus, happy birthday to Al Downing and Tony Armas Sr!

Back next week with a new episode.

Mike and Bill are off this week at SABR and are getting this classic episode up late. In that spirit, please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 298:

With the White Sox threatening to leave the Windy City and abscond to Tampa if they didn't get a new stadium 37 years ago this week, and with the Illinois legislative session winding down to the end of its session and the funding bill a few votes short, he weirdest thing happened. Time, on (and only on) the floor of the state legislature, stopped for three whole minutes, giving the Governor and House Majority Leader time to rally the support necessary to pass the bill. In honor of this miracle, of sorts, Mike and Bill look back at the history of the original Comiskey Park, and the hijinks that ultimately led to its replacement.

Plus, happy birthday to Alejandro Peña and Howie Pollett!