They don't make 'em like Tommy Lasorda anymore. And we mean that in the both the best and worst way possible. One of the biggest characters in baseball history, the legendary Dodgers manager left this Earth at the age of 93, leaving behind a complicated legacy. Mike and Bill tease out his unlikely path to becoming possibly the most famous manager in the history of baseball, and the specter that hangs over a life that is, mostly, fondly remembered. Plus, happy birthday to Terry Forster and Richard Dotson!

Despite being nearly 40, with a family, and missing four toes on one foot, 83 years ago this week Red Ruffing was inducted into the US Army for World War II. It was unexpected to say the least. Mike and Bill kick off Season 5 by looking back on the life and career of a mostly forgotten great Yankee to find out how he went from disappointment to the Hall of Fame, and why the Army wanted him to begin with. Plus, happy birthday to Earl Battey and Gus Suhr!

To close out 2020, the strangest year in many of our lifetimes, Bill recounts the life and career of perhaps the strangest ballplayer in history, birthday boy Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Plus, happy birthday to Jim Tobin.

See you all in 2021!

It's the most wonderful time of the offseason, when we all scream at each other over who belongs, and especially who doesn't belong, in the Hall of Fame. To help us sort it out, we have on Jay Jaffe, of Fangraphs and The Cooperstown Casebook, and actual Hall of Fame voter! Plus, we give away some stuff and brainstorm topics for 2021!

It's often described as one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history, as the Reds sent a young Christy Mathewson to the Giants for former superstar Amos Rusie 120 years ago this week. Or did they? As Mike and Bill go through the lives of two of the greatest pitchers in early baseball history, they discover a lot more to the story than usually gets reported. Plus, happy birthday to Wild Bill Hutchison and Carl Erskine!

The trade for Gary Carter, 36 years ago this week, turned out to be the final piece that turned the mid '80s Mets into a juggernaut. Mike and Bill recount the career of one of the best catchers in history, and what he brought to the Mets that made them so great, and simultaneously led to Carter's rapid decline. Plus, happy birthday to Doc Medich and Stan Hack!

Jim Bunning was famously the first pitcher to win 100 games and pitch a no-hitter in each league. But the story of why he got traded to the Phillies 57 years ago this week is a classic tale of Detroit Tigers cutting off their nose to spite their face. Mike and Bill look back at Bunning's life and career and on the trade that, because of the statistical oddity it produced, probably led to his being added to the Hall of Fame. Plus, happy birthday to Firpo Marberry and Dick McAuliffe!

Bad teams will often bring home a prodigal son in an effort to gin up unearned fan enthusiasm. It usually ends badly. But for the Mets, the decision to bring Gil Hodges home to manage 53 years ago this week wound up working on both levels far beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Mike and Bill look back at how Hodges became an icon in New York long before leading the Mets, and how he cemented his legacy before his terrible and sudden death. Plus, happy birthday to Sixto Lezcano and Socks Seybold!

After skipping the last couple months, we're back with another Zoom hangout with our patrons and with our special guest, Michael Baumann of The Ringer (@MichaelBaumann) to talk about what promises to be a weird and possibly slow offseason, and what that might mean for whether we get baseball in 2022. We also talk a lot about college baseball and how that's changed in recent years.

Many people who saw him at his peak consider Sandy Koufax the finest pitcher who ever lived. But that incredible peak came to an abrupt end 54 years ago this week when, wracked with constant pain, Sandy decided he couldn't continue to pitch. Mike and Bill look back at the long road that Sandy took before he finally became the transcendent ace who inspired a generation of fans and marvel at his incredible five year stretch at the pinnacle of baseball excellence. Plus, happy birthday to Pat Ragan and Dick Schofield the Younger.