Baseball by the Book

Justin McGuire

A veteran baseball journalist interviews today's best baseball authors about their books.

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100 episodes
Updated Nov 22, 2023

Episodes100

Newest first

Jun 16, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 260: "Let's Play Two"
Author Ron Rapoport had numerous conversations with Ernie Banks in anticipation of collaborating on an autobiography with the Hall of Fame slugger. That book never materialized, but Rapoport was able to put those interviews — and more than 100 others — to to use in writing the definitive account of a complicated man who hid behind the legend of Mr. Cub.
Jun 9, 2020 · 48 min
Episode 259: "One Tough Out"
Rod Carew joins us to discuss his legendary career, his troubled childhood and how he was persevered through family tragedy and life-threatening medical problems. The Hall of Famer also gives his thoughts on the state of today's game, racism in baseball and the Cooperstown case for his longtime teammate Tony Oliva.
Jun 2, 2020 · 59 min
Episode 258: "The Called Shot"
Did Babe Ruth really call his shot? Author Thomas Wolf takes us back to the baseball season of 1932, which included an off-field shooting, a spectacular pennant race and one of the most storied events in baseball history — which may not have happened at all.
May 27, 2020 · 56 min
Episode 257: "Isabel 'Lefty' Alvarez"
Author Kat Williams joins us to discuss the remarkable life of Isabel "Lefty" Alvarez, who came to United States at fifteen, speaking no English, to play professional baseball. Williams take us on a journey from Cuba to the AAGPBL and through years of anonymity and alcoholism before baseball once again gave her life meaning.
May 19, 2020 · 59 min
Episode 256: "A Fan's Guide to Baseball Analytics"
Baseball's advanced statistics can be confusing. WAR. FIP. wOBA. wRC. What does it all mean? Anthony Castrovince joins us to discuss how to make sabermetrics accessible to all fans, even those who are most comfortable with traditional metrics like wins, batting average and RBIs.
May 12, 2020 · 42 min
Episode 255: "Issei Baseball"
In the early days of the 20th century, a group of young immigrants formed the first professional and semi-professional Japanese baseball teams on either side of the Pacific. But for more than a century, the story of these trailblazers had been lost to history. Robert K. Fitts joins us to explain how he unearthed the fascinating tale of Harry Saisho, Ken Kitsuse, Tom Uyeda and others who made baseball an integral part of the Japanese-American experience.
May 5, 2020 · 46 min
Episode 254: "Stealing Home"
Three lively Mexican-American communities once stood in the hills that are now home to Dodger Stadium. Author Eric Nusbaum joins us to discuss an incredible story of impassioned immigrants, Red Scare politics and how the dream of baseball in Southern California affected countless lives.
Apr 28, 2020 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode 253: "Bouton"
Jim Bouton was a true baseball revolutionary, challenging a conservative baseball establishment that was desperately trying to keep a changing world at bay. Mitchell Nathanson joins us to discuss the extraordinary life and legacy of the man who wrote "Ball Four" and did so much more.
Apr 24, 2020 · 50 min
Episode 252: "The Inside Game"
The anchoring effect. Outcome bias. The sunk-cost fallacy. Keith Law, senior writer for The Athletic, joins us to discuss how psychological and economic principals can help us understand baseball — and vice versa.
Apr 21, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 251: "Buzz Saw"
After the Nationals started the 2019 season 19-30, nobody gave them much of a shot to even make the playoffs. But led by a veteran pitching staff and some exciting young stars, Washington rebounded to win the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Washington Post reporter Jesse Dougherty, who was there to see it all, joins us to discuss the Nats' improbable run.
Apr 17, 2020 · 54 min
Episode 250: "Summer Baseball Nation"
From Cape Cod to Alaska and many places in between, Will Geoghegan spent a summer visiting the nation's wood bat collegiate leagues. The author joins us to discuss his journey and explain why so many fans fall in love with baseball at this level.
Apr 14, 2020 · 46 min
Episode 249: "Future Value"
From the MLB Draft to international academies, the role of scouting in baseball has evolved considerably since the days of "Moneyball." Kiley McDaniel and Eric Logenhagen take us on a deep dive into the modern world of talent evaluation and player development.
Apr 10, 2020 · 57 min
Episode 248: "Yogi"
From the streets of St. Louis to the beaches of Normandy to a spot behind home plate at Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra became a baseball immortal and an American icon. Author Jon Pessah joins us to discuss his new, definitive biography of the legendary Bronx Bomber catcher.
Apr 7, 2020 · 50 min
Episode 247: "The Wax Pack"
Brad Balukjian opened a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards and then embarked on a road trip across the United States to search for the players on the cards. Join us as the author describes his quest to find stars like Carlton Fisk and Dwight Gooden as well as lesser lights like Rance Mullinicks and Jaime Cocanower.
Apr 3, 2020 · 45 min
Episode 246: "Billy Ball"
In 1980, baseball's most controversial and colorful manager took over the lowly Oakland A's. The result was a tumultuous three-season reign that may well have saved baseball in Oakland. Author Dale Tafoya joins us to discuss the era of Billy Martin, Rickey Henderson and Charlie Finely.
Mar 31, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 245: "Swing Kings"
Baseball fans are living in the age of the home run, with new records being obliterated seemingly every year. Author Jared Diamond joins us to discuss how a revolutionary rethinking of the traditional baseball swing has transformed the way the game is played, with more strikeouts, longer games and fewer balls in play.
Mar 27, 2020 · 45 min
Episode 244: "The Cup of Coffee Club"
Author Jacob Kornhauser joins us to discuss the stories of eleven men who played in just a single major league baseball game and how it affected their lives. From Larry Yount to Jeff Banister to Ron Wright, here are the heirs to Moonlight Graham.
Mar 24, 2020 · 42 min
Episode 243: "Hall of Name"
What's in a name? To author D.B. Firstman, everything. From Johnny Dickshot and Drungo Hazewood to Biff Pocoroba and Dorsey Riddlemoser, Firstman takes us on an magical moniker tour of baseball's best and most unusual names.
Mar 16, 2020 · 1 hr 8 min
Episode 242: "Live! From the NINE Conference"
For the first time, Baseball by the Book goes on the road. Host Justin McGuire moderates a three-author panel at the NINE Conference in Tempe, Ariz. Joins authors James Brunson, Jeremy Beer and Ron Rapoport as they discuss the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues and talk about the best books on black baseball.
Mar 10, 2020 · 50 min
Episode 241: "The Incredible Women of the AAGPBL"
You've seen "A League of Their Own," now get the rest of the story. Author and illustrator Anika Orrock shares with us the amazing story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Find more of the author's work at anikaorrock.com.