Shows
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1987 St. Louis CardinalsWe've got a real barn burner this episode. We talk about our fantasy football league -- especially topical now that football season is over. Thankfully that's it for the football talk, as we end up discussing the 1987 St. Louis Cardinals, which has NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL AT ALL WHATSOEVER.
2023-03-1145 min
Cheapseat BaseballPranks in BaseballThis week Tom and Josh discuss pranks -- including Josh pulling his own prank by not using his recording mic for this episode. While we start talking personal stuff, we spend most of our time talking about MLB pranks. We go over some of the old standards and tell one another about some more elaborate pranks that we came across. This is a fun, if a bit of a dumb one.
2023-02-2638 min
Cheapseat BaseballGlenn Burke and Billy BeanThis week Josh tells Tom about Glenn Burke and Billy Bean (not the one you're thinking of) who were two baseball players who after their playing days came out as gay. Both had very rough stories for very different reasons -- none of which had to do with them being mediocre players or Burke creating the high five (seriously). While we make a couple of jokes, we will warn you that this does get a bit heavy, but if we're a baseball history podcast, then it's a story to cover.
2023-02-2453 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe Bad News BearsWelcome to episode 75, where we finally get to Rickey Henderson... just kidding, we're covering the 1976 classic The Bad News Bears, not to ever be mistaken with the 2000's era Billy Bob Thornton-era cluster****. Walter Matthau pulls together a scrappy group of child rejects to SoCal Little League greatness. We admire the hardcore 70's nature of the movie, the wide variety of cheap beer, and are touched by the fact that it's an actual movie with an actual plot. Enjoy it with us!
2023-01-2658 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1986 Boston Red SoxWe talk Boggs, we talk the Rocket, we talk the curse, and we talk Buckner. This week Tom tells Josh about the 1986 Boston Red Sox, including the history of the franchise leading into this season, how they built a contender, and how they fell just short in the most agonizing way possible. Join us.
2023-01-1557 min
Cheapseat BaseballMinor League BasballApologies for ending 2022 with a fizzle -- between the holidays and other stuff in real life, we didn't post any new episodes, but we'll make it up for you in 2023! We discuss Nolan Ryan and Bo Jackson a bit more before launching into the meat of today's episode on the history of the minor leagues. Over time the minors have gotten more standardized and smaller. This episode was also recorded as the news broke of the MLB Players Association deciding to allow minor leaguers to join... so we kinda blew that one by not posting episodes forever....
2023-01-021h 17
Cheapseat BaseballThe All-90s ShowdownTom and Josh draft their 1990's all-decade teams, exercise veto powers for the first time, Tom jumps all over Pedro Martinez for the umpteenth time, but does Josh figure out Pedro this time? Let's find out...
2022-12-012h 04
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1955 Brooklyn DodgersIn this episode Josh tells Tom about 'dem Bums, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, first going through the sad-sack history of the team until that point -- including a discussion of their many questionable team names. Tom's dog Dalton makes an overdue cameo. The famed Boys of Summer finally put it together this season, and got past their crosstown rival Giants (who had taken them down previously via the Shot Heard Round the World) and the Final Boss of 1950's baseball -- the also-crosstown New York Yankees, who had defeated the Dodgers in the World Series the past five times they...
2022-11-1756 min
Cheapseat BaseballMoneyball (The Movie)As elder millenials, Josh and Tom decided to watch the movie rather than read the book, and that's what we did with the 2011 Bennett Miller / Aaron Sorkin movie Moneyball. It was based on a 2003 book by Michael Lewis about the 2002 Oakland Athletics. We dig into the movie a bit, we nitpick the baseball details because we're a baseball podcast. Though we do call out important details they got right, like the Royals' horrifying 2002 uniforms. Also, some dude named Brad Pitt was involved. Never heard of him, though.
2022-11-1050 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe Last Folk Hero with Jeff PearlmanFollowing up last week's episode with our own take on Bo Jackson, we welcome sports journalist and bestselling author Jeff Pearlman to discuss his new book The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson. Jeff tells us about some of his favorite Bo stories, how people are so willing to talk about their heroes and brushes with a legend like Bo. We also cover a few of the other topics he's covered over the years as well like the 86 Mets, Lyman Bostock and others. If you'd like to purchase The Last Folk Hero, it's no...
2022-10-2542 min
Cheapseat BaseballBo JacksonThis week Josh and Tom take turns telling some of the story of multi-sport legend Bo Jackson. While his star rose as a Heisman-winning football player, he shocked the world in the 1980's by refusing to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and instead choosing to sign with the Kansas City Royals. It was with the Royals and (eventually) the Los Angeles Raiders that Bo's legend took off before a horrible injury derailed his career, but led to one of the greatest comebacks in pro sports history. Join us for our take, before we have a special gu...
2022-10-181h 49
Cheapseat BaseballWe Continue Our Own PlayoffsThe Guardians, Mariners, Padres and Phillies may have advanced in the "real" playoffs, but in our simulation, we pick back up in the LCS series where the 84 Tigers take on the 90 A's and the 69 Mets take on the 16 Cubs. Who will advance? Who will win it all? Will Tom accept that the Royals lost? Let's find out.
2022-10-131h 26
Cheapseat BaseballWe do our own playoffsIt's playoff time, which means we decided to do our own playoffs, pitting all of the teams we've profiled so far against one another. What do we do with the 1919 Black Sox? Who can possibly stop the 1985 Kansas City Royals? Will the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers finally win it? Will the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals carry forward their black devil magic? Is it even possible to stop the Miracle Mets or the 2016 Chicago Cubs? Let's find out how the opening rounds go...
2022-10-071h 20
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1995 California AngelsJosh takes Tom to the OC in the mid-90's where we talk about No Doubt and the 1995 California Angels. We cover the origin story of the Angels, their move from Los Angeles proper to Orange County early in their existence, and the long run of mediocrity through their first 30-odd years -- a solid run in the late 70's to mid-80's notwithstanding. The 1995 Angels showed up after the strike, having rocked the worst record in baseball in 1994, and got off to a scorching 56-33 start and a 11 game lead in the AL West. Then things ha...
2022-09-2546 min
Cheapseat BaseballLarry WalkerJosh and Tom make fun of Canadian whiskey before discussing the career of Canadian baseball legend Larry Walker. We follow his journey from being a middling hockey prospect, his transition into baseball, his early career with the Montreal Expos, his star run with the Colorado Rockies, and his ring-chasing year and change with the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, the wonderful tv series Letterkenny comes up a lot for some reason.
2022-09-211h 00
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLB All-Star GameThis week Josh tells Tom the history of the MLB All-Star Game. The great moments, the not-so-great moments, the time it ended in the tie. The stretch of time that there were two of them a season for some reason. The time that the Royals justifiably made up the whole damn AL roster, which was a fine and correct decision (guess who's writing this episode summary...)
2022-09-131h 12
Cheapseat BaseballThe Battle of OhioWe fire up the Whatif? simulator to square off Josh's all-time Cleveland Bronchos / Naps / Indians / Guardians against Tom's Cincinnati Red Stockings / Reds / Redlegs / Reds. Can Bob Feller contain the Big Red Machine? Can Dolf Luque contain the Cleveland's stacked 90's outfield? Why does Whatif? love old timey players so much? Let's find out.
2022-08-311h 36
Cheapseat BaseballThe 2001 World SeriesWe pick up where we left off in the last episode, wrapping up the story of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, by talking about the Yankees dynasty they took on, the 9/11 attacks, and one of the greatest World Series ever played. The shambling corpse of Rudolph Giuliani is mentioned.
2022-08-2250 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 2001 Arizona DiamondbacksThis week Tom tells Josh the story of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the most quickly successful expansion franchises. We go over the origins of the franchise, its initial run, its going big and signing big names into the turn of the millennium, and then its magical 2001 run. We discuss expansion yet again, go into some big names, get into what a weird season 2001 was, Josh incorrectly says Alex Rodriguez was still with the Mariners that season, and tell the Diamondbacks story... up until the 2001 World Series, because that warrants its own episode. Join us.
2022-08-1556 min
Cheapseat BaseballTony GwynnThis week Josh tells Tom about San Diego Padres legend Tony Gwynn. We follow Gwynn as he developed from a multi-sports star into one of baseball's best pure hitters. One who drove fellow Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to curse his name, and who received a key piece of advice from Ted Williams to unlock a secondary peak later in his career. Come join us.
2022-08-051h 20
Cheapseat BaseballThe Deadball All-StarsWhat better way for Josh and Tom to celebrate being together and recording together for the first time than firing up the WhatIf simulator and drafting all-star teams out of the Deadball Era? Tom's voice is clearly dead from the Jawbreaker concert the night before, both of us are clearly hung over, and we had to dig deep and pull together some guys we'd never heard of to fill out a 25-man roster under our true backup and reliever criteria... Sit back and enjoy!
2022-07-201h 12
Cheapseat BaseballHomer the BatTom and Josh discuss the greatest episode about baseball (or more accurately, softball) ever created: The Simpsons' "Homer at the Bat." We fanboy out about the Simpsons, before getting into the episode, the premise to get so many athlete cameos into a single game, the stars featured, the stars not featured because they were long dead, we engage in a fierce debate about British history, and fanboy out about the Simpsons a bit more.
2022-07-0843 min
Cheapseat BaseballLyman BostockIn this episode Josh takes Tom on a journey that combines baseball history with true crime: the tragic story of Lyman Bostock. I'd offer a summary, but I wouldn't want to spoil our first true crime adventure...
2022-07-0259 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe College World SeriesJust in time for the real CWS, Josh tells Tom about the biggest annual sporting event that takes place in the city of Omaha, Nebraska: the College World Series. We discuss the ping of aluminum bats, it's evolution into a big annual event, various stars that made it into the majors, and the programs that have dominated the event. Unfortunately we recorded it early enough that we didn't mention jello shots. There's always next year.
2022-06-231h 17
Cheapseat BaseballAll-time Royals vs. All-time Blue JaysWe break out the WhatIf simulator with Tom assembling an all-time Royals roster and Josh an all-time Blue Jays roster. Two expansion teams, two two-time World Champions, two-time ALCS opponents, with all-stars and Cy Young winners (and shoulda been winners) up and down the rosters. Will Tom's Royals triumph (as a sign of all being right in the world) or will Josh's Blue Jays get revenge for '85 and '15?
2022-06-141h 56
Cheapseat BaseballJennie FinchThis week Josh tells Tom about arguably the greatest softball player ever, Jennie Finch. We talk about her absolute dominance of college and professional softball, how she was a trailblazer for women's sports, and we also make fun of what white people name their children and go down a few other diversion, because that's what we do.
2022-05-281h 14
Cheapseat BaseballThe Naked GunAfter a bit of a lull, Josh and Tom return to discuss the most baseball-packed baseball movie ever to feature baseball: the slapstick police parody The Naked Gun. We discuss Leslie Neilsen's performance, the totally-not-awkward-to-talk-about-now performance of O.J. Simpson, Encrico Pallazzo and the wealth of jokes in this great, great movie.
2022-05-2356 min
Cheapseat BaseballMerkle's BonerWe should probably apologize for the sheer amount of dick jokes at the top of this episode. You see, we're talking about Merkle's Boner -- boner in this instance being an old-timey word for blunder or mistake. That said, this was a major early incident in baseball history. It turns out that it's not exactly clear what REALLY happened, except that he made a horrible mistake that cost the New York Giants a pennant. Come join us as Tom goes into the various accounts of Merkle's Boner.
2022-04-3041 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1985 Kansas City RoyalsThis is without question the most important episode we've done yet. Tom revisits the Kansas City Royals and tells Josh about their momentous 1985 season. After nearly a decade of excellence that saw them repeatedly falling short, they finally broke through in 85, taking on an up and coming Blue Jays team in the ALCS and the evil St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. We talk about the team's early history, how an aging team finally put it together for a final run with a young pitching staff, how the Royals kept coming back against teams that appeared t...
2022-04-281h 31
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1992 Toronto Blue JaysJosh takes Tom to our great neighbor to the north, Canada, to tell us about the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays. We talk Gerry Ford, Exhibition Stadium, Letterkenny, and the Blue Jays' run of futility starting in the mid-80's and how it all came together for a magical run in 1992. Come join us!
2022-04-211h 26
Cheapseat BaseballAll-Time Yankees vs. All-Time Red SoxAfter moving up our four-part series on the MLBPA and labor relations... we kick off the episode by talking about a triumph of the Kansas City Chiefs and the imminent retirement of Tom Brady? Yeah, we recorded this one a while ago folks... After repeated losses in our WhatIf sports simulator, Josh finally bit the bullet and assembled an all-time Yankees team. Tom responded with their long-time rival and little brother, the Red Sox. Will the 26-time champion finally get Josh over on Tom (and Pedro Martinez)? Will Tom get Williams, Yaz, Foxx and Papi onto the sam...
2022-04-081h 28
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLBPA Pt. 4The conclusion of our series on MLB labor history brings us to the infamous 1994 strike, which cancelled the World Series, and was only brought to its resolution by court order of a future Supreme Court Justice. Josh also tells Tom about developments in labor relations up to just before the 2021-22 lockout, talking about the wonderful relationship between Brewer's owner / MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and MLBPA President Donald Fehr, and the gradual erosion of player protections through subsequent CBAs. We also welcome a pair of really great new sponsors.
2022-03-311h 33
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLBPA Pt. 3We talk St. Patrick's Day before launching into part three of our series on the MLBPA and baseball labor relations. This week Josh covers the first strike that cancelled a significant amount of games in 1981, the collusion scandal and the build up to the infamous 1994 strike. Tom makes wise@$$ comments.
2022-03-251h 11
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLBPA Pt. 2This week we continue our series on the MLBPA, which takes us through the first CBA in MLB history, the tragic story of Curt Flood, the first work stoppages in MLB history, and the advent of free agency. Along the way we talk about Ben Verlander, Gussy Busch, the owner's undying love of Marvin Miller (the term bosom buddies is used), and a handful of other diversions.
2022-03-181h 09
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLB Players' Association, Pt. 1A timely episode of a baseball history podcast? That's right, we're hitting hard here at Cheapseat Baseball. We call Rob Manfred Doug for some reason. The Josh tells Tom about the early history of the MLB Players' Association. At first there was no players' union, then failed efforts to unionize, failed efforts to form their own leagues (including a diversion into bad 1800s team names). After a while, there was a union in name only, before the owners overplayed their hand and drove the players to elect one Marvin Miller to be the President of the Players' Association. Th...
2022-03-081h 11
Cheapseat BaseballAbout the Lockout...So, we started recording a series of episodes on the history of MLB labor relations recently, and with the lockout actually coming to a head and cancelling games... we're airing episodes in a different order than we recorded them. So this is a way of saying sorry that there won't be a Yankees / Red Sox episode this week. Also, screw the owners and screw Rob Manfred.
2022-03-0701 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1991 Minnesota TwinsJosh tells Tom the story of the 1991 Minnesota Twins. How the Twins came to Minnesota after being the Washington Senators, how they won the 1987 World Series, only to fall back to last place by 1990 only to rebuild themselves into a World Series squad in 1991. The team was built with home grown stars like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbk, Dan Gladden and Chuck Knobloch as well as key acquisitions like Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani and Chili Davis. We also get sidetracked discussing a man named Dick Such... In the World Series they faced the Atlanta Braves in what's likely...
2022-03-011h 32
Cheapseat BaseballFrank RobinsonThis week Tom tells Josh about the Judge: Frank Robinson. We discuss his rapid rise to the majors, his time as a franchise player in Cincinnati, his being a cornerstone of Baltimore's 60s-70s dynasty, and him becoming the first black manager in MLB. Along the way he overcame racial prejudice, numerous injuries brought about his tough style of play, skeptical owners, and even a brush with death to become an MLB legend.
2022-02-271h 09
Cheapseat BaseballTom Buttry vs. Joshua KellerSometimes we fire up the Whatif? Sports simulator to have fun with great sports debates. Who's better all-time: The Dodgers or the Giants? Can you come up with the greatest team of base stealers? This is not one of those episodes. Josh assembles a team of people who share a name with him. As does Tom. Stupidity ensues. Join us.
2022-02-211h 28
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1982 Milwaukee BrewersThis week Josh tells Tom about the greatest triumph of his favorite team, the Milwaukee Brewers. A team with great facial hair, nicknamed after a shitty cocktail, and even though they didn't win it all, the city of Milwaukee loved them. Also, our theme of identity theft returns and we end this episode very abruptly -- but Josh does get to tell the full story. :)
2022-02-111h 11
Cheapseat BaseballYankee Appreciation NightWe're shooting the breeze in this one, fam. Josh talks about playing a computer game. We talk about how great the Yankees are with complete and utter sincerity. Seriously, Tom goes over franchise history, and we appreciates it very deeply. This is a 100% serious episode.
2022-01-2648 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 2016 Chicago CubsThe team that lifted the curse of the Billy Goat. We go through the history of the White Stockings became the Orphans became the Cubs. After a history-making season from 1906-08... the Cubs started losing. They lost some World Series until 1945... when they kicked a man and his billy goat out of Wrigley Field and never made a World Series ever again. Well, until 2016. Josh takes Tom on this journey. Won't you keep us company?
2022-01-201h 31
Cheapseat BaseballThe Waner BrothersPaul and Lloyd Waner. The men. The myths. The legends. Not only did the Waner Brothers star for Josh's Boggstars team, not only did they also star for the 1920's and 30's Pittsburgh Pirates, not only are they both Hall of Famers, they have some of the best nickname duos ever in Big Poison and Little Poison. Big Poison Paul brought home an MVP award and starred for the 1927 pennant winners. Little Poison Lloyd was also nicknamed "Scratch" for legging out scratch hits. They were also heroic drinkers. Particularly Paul, who has some of the best baseball...
2022-01-131h 24
Cheapseat BaseballField of DreamsIs this heaven? No. It's a podcast. In this episode, Tom and Josh discuss the classic 1989 film Field of Dreams. We talk Iowa, Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones' comedic chemistry, boomer hippie stuff, the choice to cast Ray Liotta as a left-handed southerner, daddy issues, and dead baseball players. Really everything that aging baseball fans love and hold dear. Come join us.
2021-12-301h 10Cheapseat BaseballThe Integration All-StarsJosh and Tom fire up the WhatIf Sports simulator again as a follow-up to our episode on integration. We draft teams of players that wouldn't be in MLB if it weren't for integration and put match-up in another best-of-seven series. See who gets drafted first in center: Willie Mays or Ken Griffey Jr.; at second Joe Morgan or Jackie Robinson; in left Rickey Henderson or a steroid addled monster named Barry Bonds.
2021-12-191h 32
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1919 Chicago Black SoxWe discuss the 2021 World Series briefly before Josh tells Tom about the 1919 Chicago White Sox... a team notorious for eight of its players taking money from gamblers to throw the world series. Their story was kept alive by the movie Eight Men Out and star leftfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson was further immortalized in the movie Field of Dreams. Josh digs more into the story, highlighting more of the roster, the sad story of Buck Weaver who got suspended with the gamblers because he wasn't a snitch, and how the scandal brought about the tenure of legendary baseball villain Kennesaw Mo...
2021-12-081h 03
Cheapseat BaseballMLB IntegrationWhile Jackie Robinson is rightfully remembered as a groundbreaker, MLB integration is a story that spans almost a century, involving Moses Fleetwood Walker, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, a gentleman's agreement, and the players who integrated every single MLB franchise of the era. Josh takes Tom through one of the most important chapters in MLB history and highlights those stories.
2021-12-011h 28
Cheapseat BaseballArtie Lange's Beer LeagueWe watched Artie Lange's Beer League so you don't have to. It's tempting to have that be the entire episode's description, but hopefully our misery about having to watch this is amusing to all of you. Artie Lange decided to make a movie with Ralph Macchio and a bunch of bit players from the Sopranos who all played bad Italian stereotypes. And it had something to do with softball. It's bad. It's really bad. I'm still in pain over this...
2021-11-2340 min
Cheapseat BaseballMario Mendoza Y The Mendoza LineWe discuss identity theft, mention the greatest player of all time, and look at the embodiment of mediocrity before stat geeks turned us onto the fictional "replacement player" -- Mario Mendoza. Mendoza was a glove-first shortstop who made it to MLB from the Mexican Leagues but was most famous for eternally flirting with the .200 batting average for his big league career. Come join us on our journey.
2021-11-1649 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe All-Suck TeamsFriends of the pod Todd Van Popple and Bob Uecker! Cliff Politte! Jim Levey! Pat Rockett! These are just a few of the luminaries of the absolute worst rosters Josh and Tom could throw together in an effort to see who could lose a series in the WhatIf Sports simulator, the last of which I promise was not made up. Come join us as we dredge up players best left forgotten in baseball history, pit them against one another just awful ballgames and see if Josh can finally win another simulation and in the process lose, because w...
2021-11-101h 47
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1980 Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies were the last of the original 16 MLB teams of the World Series era to win a World Series. They were beaten to that achievement by one expansion franchise and was pitted against another in their pursuit of a world title. Join Josh as he tells Tom the story of the 1980 Phillies -- a team anchored by two Hall of Famers and a would-be Hall of Famer (if it weren't for gambling). Join us on our journey and be sure to @ josh on Twitter to weigh in on a future team profile.
2021-11-011h 28
Cheapseat BaseballFan Appreciation NightWith the end of the baseball season in sight, we decided it was time for Fan Appreciation Night at the 'ol podcast. We celebrate with some Old Crow and telling stories of ballplayers being total dicks to fans. Some of these incidents are notorious, some have been forgotten, all utterly fail to live up to the spirit of fan appreciation night. Ty Cobb stars, with supporting tales from Albert Belle, Bobby Bonilla, Jonathan Papelbon and a special appearance from Kyle Farnsworth with arguable the funniest player / fan confrontation. Here's the boxscore from the Detroit Tigers game from when th...
2021-10-1954 min
Cheapseat BaseballBob UeckerWith the Brewers in the playoffs, Josh tells Tom about their legendary announcer: Mr. Baseball himself, Bob Uecker. We honor a legendary yarn spinner by spinning a few of our own yarns, relating a few of his best yarns, reliving his legendary baseball career, and him leveraging that legendary career into a guy who'd sell us beer, appear on Carson, show up at WrestleMania, star on Mr. Belvedere, call the World Series, and eventually, settle in as the voice of the Brewers. Go Brew Crew! Uecker's HoF induction speech Uecker hawking beer Uecker hawking more beer Uecker on C...
2021-10-121h 21
Cheapseat BaseballThe 2011 St. Louis CardinalsThe 2011 St. Louis Cardinals were such a remarkable story that two people who don't particularly care for them could tell the story without dwelling upon the phrase "devil magic." Their late season and postseason run conquering foes who appeared to be clearly superior on paper is the stuff of legend. They featured future Hall of Famers, grizzled veterans, young up-and-comers, and a few postseason legends who will never have to buy a beer ever again in St. Louis.
2021-10-051h 36
Cheapseat BaseballAll-Time Nationals vs. All-Time BrewersYouppi vs. Bernie! Two of the best logos ever! We follow-up our 69 expansion episodes by firing up the WhatIf Sports simulator to square off all-time teams for two franchises from the class of '69 -- the Nationals/Expos and the Brewers/Pilots. We assemble 25-man rosters of all-time players in their best seasons and square off at Nats Park, Miller Park, County Stadium and Stade Olympique. Will the Natspos rotation dominate? Will the Brewlots avenge the 2019 Wild Card defeat? Did we even assemble the right teams? Feel free to tell us how we messed up @cheapseatbaseb1 on...
2021-10-011h 44
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1969 MLB ExpansionWhat happens when you have an MLB Commissioner who seems to have no clue about baseball, a meddling U.S. Senator, and a stadium so ill-prepared for an expansion team that it could be described as "Sick?" Well, you have the 1969 MLB Expansion. Josh tells Tom about some of the butterfly effect that led into and through the 69 expansion. Tom makes obligatory references Anchorman and The Simpsons, we discuss how the "Royals" almost became the MLB equivalent of "Wildcats," among other things. It was ...nice...
2021-09-201h 17
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1984 Detroit TigersAfter a short discussion at the beginning of the episode that frankly SUX, Tom tells Josh about the 1984 Detroit Tigers. Going over a bit of Tigers history, a bit of Detroit history, and chronicling the formulation and journey of a team that had one of the great starts and great finishes in MLB history. Here's a link to the Billy Martin episode of the Dollop Here is the baseball reference page for the '84 Tigers
2021-09-131h 22
Cheapseat BaseballNolan RyanA Texas-sized episode for a Texas-sized legend: Nolan Ryan. A young fireballer from Texas came up with a championship Mets squad, but really made his mark in his long career as an Angel, Astro and Ranger. Along the way he set MLB records in strikeouts, walks, no-hitters and a few others. He also kicked some butt and took some names (namely Robin Ventura's). Josh takes Tom along for a ride as we flesh out his story a bit.
2021-09-072h 00
Cheapseat BaseballBull DurhamIn this episode Tom and Josh discuss the great baseball movie Bull Durham. We question whether Durham is a A or AAA team in this movie (Josh was right). We discuss several Kevin Costner monologues, playing in the sprinklers, minor league promotions, mound conversations, romance, and other fun things this movie brings up. Note: Hunter Strickland is now the enemy of Cheapseat Baseball. Here's video of him shouting at Salvador Perez because Strickland is a piece of garbage.
2021-08-301h 14
Cheapseat BaseballThe BoggstarsWe fire up the WhatIf Sports simulator again, but we aren't going with speed. We aren't going with power. We're going with a dearth of both -- the best rosters we can assemble of players who in a given season did not hit more than 15 home runs and stole no more than 15 bases. Something that defines nearly every season in the career of Wade Boggs -- so they're called the Boggstars. Find out who we drafted and how they do in the sim, and there's a special prize for whoever figures out which player drove in 16 runs thr...
2021-08-231h 51
Cheapseat BaseballWalk-up and Entrance MusicDuring the summertime podcast lull, we're taking a bit of a break with an episode about MLB's use of walkup and entrance music, going over some of our favorites, some of our least favorites (including a long sidetrack on the TV show Friends) and then decide that we should make our own lists of walkup songs and threw them all on Spotify. Here's the link to our Spotify playlist for the episode. Nancy Faust was the White Sox organist who started playing walkup songs for batters that I couldn't remember. Tom would like to note that "Baby Shark"...
2021-08-161h 34
Cheapseat BaseballThe MLB Amateur Player DraftThis week Josh takes Tom on a deep dive of the MLB Amateur Player Draft (the drama with the Kumar Rocker signing this week is totally coincidental). Looking in particular at the 1987, 1988 and 1989 drafts, we see how much dumb luck drives the draft. Some Hall of Famers were taken early in those drafts, but there were some taken very late in those drafts as well. There were also a lot of busts, including a famous friend of the pod. Come join us on our journey. Tom also unfavorably compares Albert Belle to Trevor Bauer... this was recorded...
2021-08-021h 25
Cheapseat BaseballMike MarshallThis week Tom tells Josh about one of baseball's more obscure record holders: Mike Marshall. He used his knowledge of kinesiology to become a famously durable "bullpen ace" in the 1970's. Marshall eventually faded into obscurity as he had a famously prickly personality, he spent some time getting a Ph.D, and was a labor activist (which potentially led to him getting blackballed). After his MLB career, he released a bunch of poorly produced YouTube videos where he extolled a super funky pitching motion that he insisted would eliminate arm injuries altogether. Marshall's baseball reference page A sample...
2021-07-2648 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1998 Florida MarlinsThe 1997 Florida Marlins became the quickest MLB expansion franchise to win a World Series, and then... they blew it all up. Josh tells Tom the story, diving into the 1990's rounds of expansion, the spending spree that built a World Championship in their fourth season of existence, and the utter demolition / fire sale of the 1998 season. Along the way we talk about Wayne "Mr. Sinister" Huizenga, Jim "Chain Smokin'" Leyland and Marlins' legend Mike Piazza, among others. The 1998 Florida Marlins on Baseball Reference
2021-07-191h 12
Cheapseat BaseballAll-Time Dodgers vs. All-Time GiantsTwo archrivals who followed each other from east coast to the west coast. Out of the Dodgers and the Giants, which franchise is the best? Two podcasters who aren't really fans of either team have decided to settle the score with a totally realistic online simulator. We pick rosters of the best players who've had the best seasons for them and play a best of seven series. As the simulated series unfolds, Tom tortures Josh by constantly changing lineups and we anxiously wait to see if Willie McCovey will hit one into McCovey Cove. Tom also lets...
2021-07-121h 48
Cheapseat BaseballRoberto ClementeJosh tells Tom the story of the legendary Roberto Clemente, the first Latin American player inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. From his roots in Puerto Rico to grabbing two World titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente was famed for his abilities in the field and became a threat at the plate as well. Along the way, we find out how the Brooklyn Dodgers blew their chance to have Clemente,;when he teamed up with Willie Mays in the same outfield; hit a walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam; and his tragic death when he was still a great player...
2021-07-051h 23Cheapseat BaseballAbout Trevor Bauer...Tom here. I make fun of Trevor Bauer a lot in this podcast, so I just wanted to post this quick message about how nothing that's come to light this week is funny. We record our full episodes a few weeks in advance because baseball history is pretty static, so I just wanted to say really quickly that none of what used to be casual smack-talk about Bauer was made with knowledge of these accusations and that they shouldn't be construed as making light of them. What he's accused of his legitimately horrifying, and we're not going to joke abo...
2021-07-0201 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1957 Milwaukee BravesSorry to be late to post this week's episode. This week we examine the only baseball team so far to bring a World Championship to the great city of Milwaukee -- the 1957 Braves. We draw their history starting in Boston, do a deep dive on their magical 1957 run -- powered by Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn. They took down -- at least for one season -- the greatest dynasty in American sports history. Josh also goes full Milwaukee towards the end of the episode.
2021-06-3050 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueSetting what's likely to be a longstanding record for longest episode title, the AAGPBL was a short-lived but significant baseball league featuring women players which started during WWII and survived into the 1950s. Perhaps most famously remembered by the Penny Marshall film A League of Their Own, Josh dives in, finding some great stories of great players and great teams... as well some of the BS these ballplayers had to deal with as women. Note: While the audio is now great thanks to Josh's editing, Tom had a hard time hearing Josh while recording. Apologies for any awkwardness...
2021-06-211h 06
Cheapseat BaseballThe Pine Tar GameThis is perhaps the most important work of Tom's life. Digging into the truth behind the legendary Pine Tar Game. This game is best known for George Brett's absolute meltdown after getting called out for excessive use of pine tar on the bat after hitting a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning against their rival, the New York Yankees. But there's so much more to the story, as we'll find out... Here's video of the actual incident itself. Here are several other sources of information Tom pulled from for this episode. Here's the box score of the...
2021-06-1458 min
Cheapseat BaseballIchiroThis week Josh tells Tom about the career of the legendary Ichiro Suzuki, from the start of his career in Japan and his time in MLB with our typical digressions along the way (including Todd Marinovich, Kansas City in August, and Rob Dibble literally showing his backside). We also butcher a bunch of non-English words (though not as bad as the Ted Kluszewski debacle of last week). Robert Whiting's The Meaning of Ichiro was one of the main sources of information for this episode. Ichiro's stats, including his time in NPB The Dorktown episode on the history of...
2021-06-081h 40
Cheapseat BaseballWe Dig the Long BallIt's time for our second fantasy draft. This time we're talking the longball. We reminisce about our personal favorite longballs before each drafting a team of sluggers -- with the caveat that we can only draft one player from a given decade. We clearly overthought it and didn't draft Hank Aaron. Tom flubbed a draft pick and replaced it with someone whose name he didn't learn to pronounce. We then dropped our sluggers into Ebbets Field against poor Todd Van Popple and Darren Oliver. Dingers ensue. Once again we used What If Sports to run the simulation. Which is h...
2021-05-311h 58
Cheapseat BaseballSatchel Paige (Part 2)Part two of our examination of Satchel Paige. We cover his career in Latin America, his time with the Kansas City Monarchs, and how he finally broke into the majors at the age of 42, his final major league game at the ripe 'ol age at 59, and some of the absurd stats he assembled over the course of thousands of starts around the world. Larry Tye's biography of Satchel Paige -- the largest source of this episode. Paige's Negro Leagues stats on Seamheads Paige's MLB stats on Baseball Reference The gofundme fundraiser to restore Paige's home in Kansas City
2021-05-2456 min
Cheapseat BaseballSatchel Paige (Part 1)We cover the nearly mythical legend of Satchel Paige this week. But Paige was very real, and thanks to the work of actual historians, we have the chance to discuss Satchel's early career, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, his legendary barnstorming, as well as how he was received by the 1940's version of Skip Bayless, Ted Shane. Larry Tye's biography of Satchel Paige (also the main source of information of this episode) Paige's Negro Leagues stats on Seamheads We released this the exact same week that Bob Kendrick's far superior Black Diamonds podcast did an episode on Paige, where he i...
2021-05-2437 min
Cheapseat BaseballMajor LeagueTom and Josh talk the 1989 comedy classic Major League. We discuss the movie, look at the real life parallels of the characters in the movie, ask whether the movie would still be about Cleveland if it were made today (yes, yes it would), nitpick the movie a bit, more than nitpick the romantic subplot, and make fun of actors trying to look like professional athletes. Notes: There were a handful of audio issues again. Still figuring it out. I misremember some John Rocker trivia, which will be corrected in the next episode. Here's Bob Uecker tal...
2021-05-171h 05
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1990 New York YankeesJosh tells Tom about the most storied franchise in American sports greatest failure: the New York Yankees' 1990 season. Not only were the Yankees losers in 1990, they had traded most of their cornerstone players, Donny Baseball was injured, lost a game where their pitcher didn't surrender a hit and their owner George Steinbrenner got suspended by MLB for trying to dig up dirt on straight arrow Dave Winfield. We also dive down Royals, Pete Rose and Rickey Henderson rabbit holes. Here's the boxscore of the famous no-hit loss: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA199007010.shtml Here's an SB...
2021-05-1051 min
Cheapseat BaseballThe Whitey Herzog Fantasy DraftTom and Josh decided to change things up and have a bit of fun this week drafting squads of position players based on the sort of MLB legends who appealed to retired MLB manager Whitey Herzog -- teams full of players that ran well, defended well and got on base. Then we ran a totally realistic simulation of our lineups in a seven game series against mediocre MLB journeyman Darren Oliver and famous MLB bust Todd Van Popple and forgot to track stolen bases until midway through the series. Notes: Tom's dog Dalton makes a few cameo a...
2021-04-301h 14
Cheapseat BaseballThe Bash Brothers A'sJosh tells Tom about the history of the A's with a focus on a would-be dynasty in the late 80's and early 90's. We discuss hated owners, pharmacology, a stacked roster that dominated baseball but only won a single championship which was overshadowed by a natural disaster. We also talk too much about Kansas City and Chicago. *Notes and corrections: Tom has a mic issue in this episode. While Jeffrey Luria owned the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins, Wayne Huizenga owned the 1997 Champion team. Here's Canseco's poop tweet: https://twitter.com/JoseCanseco/status/1365826972346064899 Here's Ca...
2021-04-291h 30
Cheapseat BaseballThe 1969 Miracle MetsOne of the greatest seasons by one of the unlikeliest teams ever. Tom tells Josh about the Miracle Mets, how they came about due to the westward (??) expansion of baseball, how they built a roster in an era when expansion teams were squeezed (including the origin of the band name "Yo La Tengo"), and the details of their unexpected run to a championship. We're still figuring out how to do this, so apologies for how raw this is. Josh didn't properly connect his mic this episode, but Tom does most of the talking this episode. So...
2021-04-291h 01
Cheapseat BaseballWade BoggsIn the inaugural episode, Josh tells Tom about legendary third baseman / drinker Wade Boggs, the longest baseball game ever played -- which was not a Yankees / Red Sox game, how he got the nickname "chicken man," and other odds and ends from a legendary career. We also discuss Rickey Henderson. We will always discuss Rickey Henderson. We're still figuring this stuff out, so please be nice to us. We'll do better about citing our sources in future episodes. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boggswa01.shtml
2021-04-291h 16