Classic Baseball Radio

Ewan Spence

Through recreations of the original radio broadcasts, the history of America's favorite pastime is retold, one classic game at a time. We use archived news reports, articles, and historical records to recreate the sound and style of the broadcasts. Listen and relive key moments, historical hits, and the legends of today taking to the field when they were at the peak of their career.

Add Classic Baseball radio to any podcast app or service; just copy "tinyurl.com/baseballpod" into the "Add RSS Feed" of your app.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

126 episodes
Updated July 4

Episodes126

Newest first

Aug 7, 2023 · 2 hr 26 min
The First Year Of The Saving Pitcher, Pilots at Angels, April 8th, 1969
Bill Singer picked up the first ever save for the Dodgers in their game against the Reds on April 7th 1969. Four more pitchers joined Singer on April 8th; the Red Sox's Juan Pizarro, the Expos' Carroll Sembera, the Pirates' Chuck Hartenstein, and the Pilots' Jack Aker. It's to the Seattle Pilots' game we head to this week. Not only is it one of the first games to have a saving pitchers, it's also the very first game for the Pilots in their one and only season. To keep the league numbers balanced, the team's introduction was brought forwards to bring them into America's game alongside Kansas City Royals. This caused significant problems on and off the field for the Pilots. The team would be declared bankrupt seven days before the 1970 season, a financial move which allowed the team to be acquired from the courts by a certain Bud Sellig; he relocated the team to Milwaukee, and renamed them the Brewers. That's for the future. Right now the Pilots are opening up the season against the California Angels, and while we're missing the third and fourth innings, let's head over to the booth with Dick Enberg, Don Wells and Buddy Blattner. You can find the boxscore here, https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL196904080.shtml This game was played on April 8th, 1969.
Jul 31, 2023 · 2 hr 38 min
Emmett Ashford, The Umpire Who Broke The Color Barrier, Yankees at Senators, July 3rd, 1966
Games can be important because of the players, of firsts, of society, or more. Today's classic baseball radio broadcast features an important first for umpiring that reflects society. In 1966 Emmett Ashford became the first African American umpire in the major league. Having umpired since the late 1930s (by virtue of being the volunteer when another umpire failed to turn up to a game), he made a name for himself with his flamboyant style as he worked up through the league. He made his debut on April 11, 1966. After a little bit of a search in our archives, we've got one of Emmett Ashford's earliest games in the MLB. Two months into the season Ashford finds himself manning first base in this mid-season clash between the Yankees (33-40) and the Senators (32-46)… and we're cutting straight to the first pitch. You can find the boxscore here. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS2/WS2196607030.shtml This game was played on July 3rd, 1966.
Jul 17, 2023 · 2 hr 47 min
Sandy Koufax Passes The Crown To Jim Palmer, Orioles at Dodgers, 6th October, 1966
Jim Palmer won a World Series ring in the sixties. Jim Palmer won a World Series ring in the seventies. Jim Palmer won a World Series ring in the eighties… and Jim Palmer is the only pitcher win rings in three different decades. It's also worth flagging up his six All-Star appearances, three Cy Young awards, a no-hitter in 1969, his career ERA of 2.856, plus the simple to say but hard to comprehend fact that nobody ever hit a Grand Slam from a Palmer pitch in the majors. And all that while being loyal and sticking with the Baltimore Orioles for nineteen years. Palmer is rightly seen as one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball and his ERA - fifth overall in the live-ball rankings - stands as testament to that. Just ahead of him on that list with a career ERA of 2.76 is Sandy Koufax. So how could we not head to Game 2 of the 1966 World Series. Sandy Koufax is taking his last start for the LA Dodgers, while Jim Palmer is in his second year with the Baltimore Orioles and his first World Series start. Bob Prince and Chuck Thompson are behind the mics for what we now know is a historic game of career bookmarks. You can find the boxscore here. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196610060.shtml This game was played on October 6th, 1966.
Jul 10, 2023 · 2 hr 39 min
Don Newcombe's World Series Rookie Start , Dodgers at Yankees, October 5, 1949
When someone picks up awards for Rookie fo the Year, Most Valuable Player, and the Cy Young Award during their career, you know they are something special. And yes, pitcher Don Newcombe was something special. For today's classic game, let's go back to one of the many firsts that Newcombe had in his career, namely becoming the first black pitcher to start a game in the World Series. It's October 5th, and Newcombe is going to throw one of the memorable pitcher duels in the Fall Classic, as he faces the Yankees’ Allie Reynolds. Red Barber and Mel Allen take us through nine innings towards history. You can find the boxscore here, https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA194910050.shtml This game was played on October 5th, 1949.
Jun 26, 2023 · 2 hr 21 min
Bob Friend's New York State Of Mind, Astros at Mets, July 17, 1966
A key pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late fifties and early sixties, Bob Friend still holds the Pirates' career records for innings pitched (3480), strikeouts (1682), and batters faced (14,644). The four-time All Star played with Pittsburgh for fifteen years, but the last year of his MLB career saw him play in New York… adding delightful footnote. He played the first half of the season with the New York Yankees, and the second half of the season with the New York Mets. Truly a friend of the Big Apple. For today's classic game, the Houston Astros are visiting the Mets at Shea Stadium. Bob Friend is on the mound, and is preparing to throw nine straight innings. We join Mets Radio and the original team of Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner, for the second game in this double header. You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196607172.shtml This game was played on July 17th, 1966.
Jun 19, 2023 · 2 hr 22 min
The Best Leftie In The World Is Warren Spahn, Yankees at Braves, October 1, 1958
Warren Spahn has finished out the 1958 season with 22 wins. That's an important stat, as it marks him out as the first left-handed pitcher to have nine 'twenty win seasons' in the Majors. He will eventually record 363 wins in his career. It should come as no surprise that the best left-handed pitcher each year wins The Warren Spahn Award. His 22 wins in the 1958 season have brought the Milwaukee Braves to the World Series. Facing the New York Yankees, both teams have a 92-62 record from the season. Spahn is set to pitch the opening game. We join Bob Wolff and Earl Gillespie on NBC radio at the top of the first. You can find the boxscore here: This game was played on October 1st, 1958.
Jun 12, 2023 · 2 hr 43 min
The Afternoon The Singing Cowboy Saw His Angels Arrive, Angels at Orioles, April 11, 1961
Founded by the American Actor Gene Autry, the Los Angeles Angles was one of the the first expansion clubs (the other being Washington). The first year they played at the Los Angeles Wrigley Field - home of the previous LA Angels who had played in the PCL league. Four years as tennants of the Dogers followed, before Angel Stadium was opened. The team may not be as storied or as rewarded as the original teams (for example, the Angles are one for one in World Series apperances, the sole apperance and victory coming in 2002), but the their heart has aleays been in baseball, the And they've never forgotten their "26th man", the singing cowboy himself, Gene Autry. So let's go back to the beginning, and the first game of the Angles. They were on the road and visting Baltimore. Opening the season, and opening the history books, Eddie Yost steps up to swing the Angels bat for the very first time. Bob Kelly, with Don Wells and Steve Bailey, are on KMPC to take you through the game. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on April 11th, 1961.
Jun 5, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
Small Wins Add Up To Huge Career, Milt Pappas' 209 Wins, Dodgers vs Cubs, June 17th, 1972
Milt Pappas made the All-Star Game three times, had a 10-year streak over .500 wins, an eleven year streak of double digit wins, pitched for 209 wins in his career… and never managed more than 17 wins in a season. That might feel about right for a pitcher in 2023, but back in 1972 Pappas was the epitomy of a long, slow burn into the history books. June 17th 1972 saw the Los Angeles Dodgers are visting Wrigley Field, and Pappas is on the mound for the Cubs. We join the game during the top of the first innings. Pappas has struck out Billy Grabarkewitz, and Bobby Valentine steps up. You can find the boxscore here. * This recording is missing the ninth inning so here's a slight spoiler... nobody scores any runs * This game was played on June 17th, 1972.
May 1, 2023 · 2 hr 38 min
Steal and Hit and Steal and Hit, Bobby Bonds thirty-thirty record, Giants vs Expos, May 10th, 1972
As the MLB works to bring the stolen base back into the game, let's remember one of the great power hitters who combined the hits with the speed. Bobby Bonds was the first player have two season with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, setting the record of five thirty-thirty seasons… a record that has never been beaten, although he now shares the five season ticket with his son Barry Bonds. By the end of his career - a career that saw him play for eight different teams before returning to the Giants as a coach in 1993. - he had gathered 461 stolen bases. We join Bonds on the field in 1972, a season that would end with 26 home runs and 44 stolen bases. Unsurprisingly, Bonds is batting third for the Giants. Taking us through the game are Lon Simmons and Bill Thompson on The Golden West Radio Network You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on May 10th, 1972.
Apr 24, 2023 · 1 hr 54 min
From Philadelphia, through Kansas City and Oakland, to Las Vegas. Athletic vs White Sox, July 28th, 1936.
With the news that the Athletic are set to leave Oakland for the shiny bright lights of Las Vegas, it's worth remembering just how often the club has moved around. Way back in 1901, a new Philadelphia team was founded, and it joined the nascent American League, winning the Pennant six times and the World Series three times in the first twelve years. Their next period of dominace was during the Great Depression, with three Pennans and two more World Series. But that was the last glory for the Athletic in Philadephia as a lack of finance and poor management saw success fade away. The Athletic then moved to Kansas City. The move did not change the fortunes of the team with their best year a 73-81 record. A new owner, Charlie Finlay, bought the team in 1960 with grand promsies, but was quick to start shopping the franchise around. After thirteen years (and an overal .404 record), the Athletic moved once more ahead of the 1968 season. Oakland was its new home and the team broke .500 in that first year, and the early seventies saw success return, with a World Series win in 1973. The franchise was linked with moves to Chicago, Denver, and New Orleans in the 70s. As the 21st centruy dawned, the Athletic contineud to look to move out of the Oakland Colosseum and into San Jose, but that territor belonged to cross-bay rivals the San Francisco Giants, and the Giants were never ready to accommodate a move. So we come to 2023, and the Athletic are ready to move again. A new stadium will be built in Las Vegas, and Nevada will have a new baseball team in 2027. With such a long history, let's go back as far as we can in the current archive to listen to the Philadephia Athletic take on the Chicago White Sox. It's 1936, and the Athletic are in the first years of a decades long slump. Russ Hodges is in the studio, and we join the game early in the top of the first. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on July 28th, 1936.
Apr 16, 2023 · 3 hr 43 min
Orlando Cepeda, The Unanimous MVP With Incredible Power, May 20th, 1967
If you wanted someone who could hit for power in the expansion era, you wanted Orlando Cepeda. The so-called 'Baby Bull' would be in contention for the leading batting, home run, RBI, slugging, and total bases awards every year for his first five years. He would alos be the first Puerto Rican All-Star, taking to the field in 1959. His first nine years saw him play first base for the San Francisco Giants (at the same time as Willie McCovey was also staking his claim to the same position). At the time he was second in the Giants' all time right-hand slugging list, just behind Willie Mays. The forever Giant saw his #30 retired in 1999, and he is one of only four Giants immortalised with a bronze statue at Oracle Park. He wasn't always on the Giants roster though, having played for six different teams. Following injuries in 1965, he was traded to the St Louis Cardinals. Once settled, it was time to rack up some more records. 1967 saw Cepeda unanimously voted the National League's MVP. He was only the second player to achieve this distinction following the New York Giants' Carl Hubbell achieving a clean sweep of the votes in 1933; he's also one of only five players to win both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP unanimously; and the first Latin player to win RBI and Home Run titles. For today's classic, we join Cepeda early in that key 1967 season. The Cardinals are visiting Shea Stadium to take on the New York Mets. Cepeda is batting fourth, and he's going to have a rather productive game. So will the Mets… The team of Lindsey Nelson, Ralph Kiner & Bob Murphy take you through the various innings on the Mets Radio Network. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on May 20th, 1967.
Apr 10, 2023 · 2 hr 34 min
The Man Who Invented Our Favorite Donut, July 26th, 1955
Elston Howard was the first African American player on the New York Yankees roster, he was the first black player to win the American League MVP award, and he held the fielding percentage record as a catcher (a career .993) for seven years. He also invented the batter's donut. The now ubiquitous warm-up aid debuted in 1955 - with the St Louis Cardians the first to invest in it. Unfortunatly a lack of funds meant Howard and his partners struggled to combat copycat manufacturers. The Yankees retired Howards' #32 jersey in 1984 in honor of his playing career in the pinstripes, but aslo for his ten years as first base coach (the first black coach in the AL) and then working for the clubs adminsistration. But let's go back to 1955, and Elston Howard's debut in the majors. The Yankees have welcomed the White Sox, and our donut making legend is playing in right field - his time as catcher will come. Besides, nobody's moving Yogi Berra away from the plate until Berra's ready. Bob Elson takes you through the first half of the game for White Sox Radio, with Don Wells on microphone clean-up duty. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on July 26th, 1955.
Apr 3, 2023 · 2 hr 16 min
Fifty Hit By Pitches In A Single Season, June 11th, 1971
Ron Hunt can rightly be described as loving the ball more than any batter in the 1971 season, when he became the first batter to be hit by fifty pitches in a single year. It wasn't an aberration either; in the last seven years of his twelve year career he led the Hit By Pitch counter in the National League. His all-time count of 243 HBPs was the record in the live-ball era, and would not be overtaken for sixteen years. We join Ron Hunt as he leads off for the Expos as the Dodgers visit Canada for a double-header. Behind the microphone, who else, but Vin Scully. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on June 11th, 1971.
Mar 27, 2023 · 2 hr 22 min
Jim Bunning's Perfect Game, Phillies at Mets, 21st June 1964
It's Father's Day, and Jim Bunning steps up on the mound to start the first game of a double-header for the Phillies and the Mets in Shea Stadium. He's going to throw 89 pitches that will burn his name into the history books. He'll be number seven in an incredibly exclusive club that has only 23 members. He'll be the first National League pitcher to join the club since 1880. This is Jim Bunning's Perfect Game. Matt Murphy, Lindsay Nelson, and Ralph Cainer on Mets Radio call the game. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on June 21st, 1964.
Mar 20, 2023 · 2 hr 47 min
Ted Williams, The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived, 10th July 1960
Ted Williams sits alongside the likes of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron in the pantheon of baseball hitters. He spent his entire time in the Majors with the Boston Red Sox. Over 19 years he averaged .344/.482/.634. He was the last player to average over .400 in a single season, and to this day that .482 on base percentage is highest of all time. It's 1960, and Ted Williams is in his last season. Naturally the Boston Red Soxs have put him in the three-hole as the team faces Ralph Terry of the New York Yankees. Mel Allen and Phil Rizzuto for Yankees Radio take you through the game. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on July 10th, 1960.
Mar 13, 2023 · 1 hr 32 min
Goodbye New York, 8th September, 1957
The New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers played their final game together on 8th September, 1957. 22,376 crowded into the Polo Grounds to say goodbye to the rival teams. Of course the Giants and the Dodgers weren't leaving baseball, they were both heading out to California to establish Major League Baseball on the West Coast where they play to this day. But this would be it for the classic New York rivalry. We head into the final game of a three game series. The Dodgers have already taken the Series with two wins; can the Giants avoid the sweep and win the very last game? We join Dodgers Radio for the game, with Jerry Doggett and Vin Scully behind the microphones. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on September 8th, 1957.
Mar 6, 2023 · 2 hr 25 min
Miracle Mets Reach The First NL Divisional Series, 6th October, 1969
Thanks to the expansion teams, 1969 saw the AL and NL both split into two divisions. That resulted in the first divisional championship games ahead of the World Series. In the National League the Atlanta Braves picked up the first NL West pennant, and faced an unexpected opponent in the NLCS. For the first seven years of the Mets, this expansion team never climbed higher than ninth place, and in five of the seven years lost more than 100 games each season. 1969 was the eighth year of the Mets, and they went on a tear that saw a 100-62 record and the top spot in the NL East with a 9-1 record to close out the season. With two wins on the road, the Mets return to Shea Stadium and the first chance to win the first NLDS. We join Bob Murphy, Lindsay Nelson, and Ralph Kiner for the NY Mets Baseball network. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on October 6th, 1969.
Feb 27, 2023 · 2 hr 16 min
Two St Louis And One World Series, 9th October, 1944
The world had other things on its mind during 1944, but baseball was there when America needed to take a break from the horrors of war. It wasn't pretty baseball; the fittest men were on the front lines, others were pulling double and trip shifts in factories, and that left a depleted pool of players. But it was baseball nonetheless, and it added another line to the history of the game, with the only World Series appearance of the St Louis Browns; in part due to an older roster who were ineligible for the draft and some strong players who were ineligible for service. Standing against the St Louis Browns were the St Louis Cardinals, on their third straight pennant victory. As for the Browns, they had stumbled to an 89-65 that somehow gave them their first pennant and appearance. We join the commentary team of Don Dunphy and Bill Slater for Game 6. The Cardinals have rallied from 1-2 to 3-2 in the series, and the Browns face a "win or go home" against their neighbours. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on October 9th, 1944.
Feb 20, 2023 · 2 hr 33 min
Remembering Tim McCarver, Cardinals at Mets, 8th June, 1963
Legendary catcher and broadcaster Tim McCarver died this weekend, aged 81. Here at Classic Baseball Radio, we'd like to take a moment to remember his career with one of his earliest appearances as Catcher for the St Louis Cardinals. As a player, he won two World Series, appeared in two All-Star games, and is a member of the Cardinals' Hall of Fame. He is one of just 31 players to have played in four different decades of baseball in a career spanning 41 years. In total had a batting average of .271, 97 home runs, and 645 RBIs. As a broadcaster, he called 23 World Series and 20 All-Star games, as well as winning three Emmy Awards for excellence in the arts. To remember him, we're going back to 1963, his first full year in the Majors (following a few call-ups in 1961 and 1962). He's behind the plate, catching for his beloved St Louis Cardinals as they visit the New York Mets at the Polo Grounds. It's over to Mets Baseball Radio. Gaps in the recording (presumably to change the tape) have been trimmed. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on June 8th, 1963. James Timothy McCarver, (October 16, 1941 – February 16, 2023).
Feb 13, 2023 · 1 hr 50 min
Denny McLain Chases 30 Wins, Athletic at Tigers, 14th September, 1968
1968 is known as 'The Year Of The Pitcher', and no other pitcher stood out more than the Detroit Tigers' Denny McLain. With a winning record for the last three years, his achievement in the '68 season would become one of the greatest pitching performances in history. Because the wins just kept coming. It's September 14th, and the Tigers welcome the Oakland Athletic to Detroit. McLain is first up at the mound, sitting on a 29-5 record. The last pitcher to hit 30 wins was Dizzy Dean of the 1934 St Louis Cardinal. We join Ernie Harwell and Detroit Tigers Baseball Radio as McLain chases one more win to reach the historic high-water mark. You can find the boxscore here. This game was played on September 14th 1968.