Every game Steve Carlton philosophically pitched boiled down, to him, to a game a catch between him and his catcher. It sounds so simple, but Carlton used that recipe to win 329 games and, 35 years ago this week, strike out his 4,000th hitter. Mike and Bill look back on the long and storied career of Carlton, as well as how his devotion to philosophy seemed to turn against him once he lost the magic in his left arm. Plus, happy birthday to Cleon Jones and Gregg Jefferies!

Few players were traded as often, especially at the trade deadline as newly minted Hall of Famer Harold Baines, who was sent from the White Sox to the Rangers for Sammy Sosa and others 23 years ago this week in what future President George W Bush called the biggest mistake of his life. That's a lot to lay on a guy who was pretty dang good for a really long time, Mike and Bill discovered, as they looked back at his illustrious career.

For our latest Zoom Hangout, we are joined by the great Mike Duncan (@mikeduncan) of The History of Rome, The Storm Before the Storm, Revolutions, and the forthcoming biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds. Mike is an incredibly thoughtful historian and baseball fan who talks to us about the Negro Leagues, producing a history podcast, following baseball from France for the last two years, and living through historic times. Plus, it turns out he's pretty good at trivia.

We don't talk nearly enough about Fred McGriff, one of the most underrated and underappreciated sluggers of the late '80s and early '90s. Mike and Bill rectify that this week on the 28th anniversary of his trade to the Braves for the 1993 stretch drive, and talk about whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Plus, happy birthday to Tommy McCarthy and Mike Greenwell!

Proving he was perhaps the best player ever to don the tools of ignorance, Johnny Bench surpassed Yogi Berra 41 years ago this week to hit the most homers ever by a catcher. He's since been surpassed, but there's no denying that The Little General was a peerless leader on the field and a fearsome slugger at the plate. And, this week, Mike and Bill look back at what made him tick. Plus, happy birthday to Lee Meadows and Larry Jansen!

Today, few Hall of Famers are as forgotten in the public imagination as Bill Dickey. One man who probably would've liked to forget him far sooner was Carl Reynolds, the Senators outfielder who the usually subdued Dickey flattened with one sucker punch 89 years ago this week. Mike and Bill look back on both their lives and careers and where they went once the dust cleared. Plus, happy birthday to Bump Hadley and Wally Post!

One of the most successful and controversial managers of all time, Tony La Russa was first hired to manage by the Chicago White Sox 42 years ago this week. Now that he's back where it all started for the 2021 season, Mike and Bill look back on his long and storied career at the helm. Plus, happy birthday to Gus Zernial and Corey Koskie!

Despite winning 373 games, tied for most in NL history, Pete Alexander is often overlooked and underappreciated when people talk about the best pitchers of the early 20th century. 95 years ago this week, the Cubs sent him to St. Louis, setting Pete up to become one of the biggest clutch heroes in World Series history. Mike and Bill look back at what made Pete so great, and the personal demons that brought him down. Plus, happy birthday to Aaron Robinson and Billy Werber! 

At an extremely opportune moment, we welcome Sports Reference creator, owner, and president Sean Forman on to discuss Baseball Reference's decision to recognize that the Negro Leagues were the equivalent of their American and National League contemporaries, and the steps they took to make that clear across the site. It's an important step toward correcting the historical record, even if the injustice done to those players can never be rectified. Plus, we give away a bunch of stuff related to the 1965 World Series that wasn't.

The details surrounding the origins of baseball will always be somewhat obscured by the fog of the 180 or so years that have passed since games like town ball and rounders evolved into baseball. But there is one thing we do know. 175 years ago this week, a game was played by the Knickerbockers, a group of New York white collar workers who have as good a claim as anyone to the sport's originator. Mike and Bill talk about what is known about this game and team, and the man who has gotten the credit as the father of baseball, Alexander Cartwright. Plus, happy birthday to Lance Parrish and Bill Bergen!