The Baseball Book Club
Baseball history isn’t just stats—it’s stories.
The Baseball Book Club brings the game’s past to life through baseball books, author conversations, and exploring forgotten players, iconic moments, and the stories that shaped America’s pastime.
Episodes
65 episodes
Jack Morris’ Masterpiece & The Show-Me World Series
This week on The Baseball Book Club, we revisit one of the greatest postseason pitching performances in baseball history: Jack Morris and his unforgettable 10-inning shutout in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. More than three decades l...
Carl Yastrzemski & Baseball's Timeless Wisdom
This week on The Baseball Book Club, we celebrate the legacy of Carl Yastrzemski — one of baseball’s most enduring icons, the last player to win the Triple Crown before the modern power era transformed the game. From Fenway Park lore to his rem...
Slider Broke Hitters, '51 Broke Hearts
Author Lenny Levine will be our guest as we discuss his murder mystery novel Diehard Fan, set during the final week of the 1951 season and the historic comeback by the New York Giants. The book tells the story of a boy who tries to figure out w...
Tim Keefe & Big Klu: Baseball Like It Oughta Be
In this episode of The Baseball Book Club, we close out our Deadball Files series. Joined by historian Justin Renaldi, we explore 19th century pitcher Tim Keefe and his dominance, staggering workload, and why his name still belongs amo...
1951: Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ’Round the World
This week, a question that might ruffle a few feathers: why isn’t Jim Thome in the top 100 players of all time? We take a closer look at the numbers, the narrative, and where he may (or may not) belong.The Deadball Files series is back f...
Brilliant, Difficult, Dominant: John Clarkson
On this episode of the Baseball Book Club, we’ve got a full lineup of baseball history and storytelling.We continue The Deadball Files with guest Justin Renaldi, diving into the life and legacy of 19th-century pitching legend John...
1910: Ty Cobb vs Nap Lajoie
The Deadball era comes alive this week on The Baseball Book Club as John is joined by Justin Renaldi of Nostalgic Baseball Geezer to kick off a special four-part series: The DeadBall Files.In this debut episode, ...
Yogi Berra: Life, Lore and Legendary Wit
In this episode John and Leroy discuss the life and career of Yogi Berra, #43 on the Joe Posnanski 100. Plus, they will introduce a new book to the club, Tyler Kepner's K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches.
Bill Buckner: The Error That Shook The '86 World Series
In this episode, John will sit down with Pittsburgh native and sports journalist Joe Landolina, a walking encyclopedia of Pittsburgh Pirates history. And we'll shine a light on the overlooked career of Jim Derrington—a name lost to time, but no...
Seaver and Young: Pitching Legends Across Generations
Season 3 of The Baseball Book Club begins with a look at two of the greatest pitchers the game has ever known. John and Leroy continue their countdown of Joe Posnanski’s The Baseball 100, turning their attention to Tom Seaver ...
Lightning and Line Drives
Before the new season gets rolling, we’re tipping our cap to two icons from opposite ends of baseball history. This Best Of episode revisits our conversations on the lightning-fast legend Cool Papa Bell and the smooth, stead...
Greatest Moment In Baseball History?
In Part 5 of The Best of The Baseball Book Club, we revisit five moments of unlikely home runs and then talk about two monumental moments in World Series history, including a Bill Mazeroski home run for the ages.
The Bronx Is Burning
The Best of The Baseball Book Club continues. Compiling segments from various shows, this episode features baseball terminology, five funny moments from Joe Posnanski's book Why We Love Baseball, plus Leroy's Hot Corner on the book "Ladies And ...
The Curse Of The Billy Goat
In the third installment of The Best of The Baseball Book Club, we talk about the long endured curse over the Chicago Cubs and the moment that ended it for them on a rainy night in Cleveland. Plus some classic baseball terminology a...
Eras Collide and The Big Hurt Rises
In this Best of The Baseball Book Club episode, we bring together some of our favorite conversations in baseball history and culture.We talk about how the Deadball Era became the Liveball Era with rule changes, equipment, and strategy tr...
Baseball Immortals: Bo Jackson's Arm and Sandy Koufax's Perfect Night in 1965
In this special Best Of episode, we revisit two unforgettable moments that helped shape baseball’s mythology.First, we look back at the legend of Bo Jackson—a once-in-a-generation athlete whose power, speed, and sheer presence s...
The Christmas Hot Stove
In this episode of The Baseball Book Club, John Cheslock and Leroy Estep look into the latest Hot Stove activity as teams shuffle rosters and prepare for a new baseball season. The conversation blends current baseball news with the his...
Baseball In The 90s
The crew is back together for a special, offseason episode. Leroy chimes in with a Hot Corner and John will speak with a guest as they discuss what may be the greatest decade of baseball.
The Greatness Of Mathewson, Maddux & Martinez
Few pitchers in baseball history combined intelligence, precision and dominance like Christy Mathewson, Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez. In the season finale, John and Leroy examine what set these three legends apart — from Mathewson...
Clemente The Great
The Great One, Roberto Clemente, is number 40 on the Posnanski 100 and we'll talk about the life and career of one of Pittsburgh's greatest. We will also do some baseball terminology - three terms from Paul Dickson's The Baseball Di...
Iron Man Cal Ripken
What does it take to show up every single day? In this episode, we'll look into the story of Cal Ripken Jr.—the Iron Man of baseball—who redefined durability and dedication by playing in 2,632 consecutive games. From his rookie days in...
Triple Play: Beltre, Boggs And Mathews
Still hovering around the Top 50, John and Leroy round out this group of third basemen with a 3-pack including Texas Rangers great Adrian Beltre, Boston Red Sox phenom Wade Boggs and Braves legend Eddie Mathews.
Feelin' Kinda Chipper: Braves Great Chipper Jones
John and Leroy discuss the chapter Five Pitching Oddities from Why We Love Baseball, looking at various momentous occasions from some of baseball's greats. Plus, they'll talk about Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, ranked 54th in The ...
Four Aces: The Epic Arms Of Feller, Ryan, Spahn & Gibson
John and Leroy talk about the legendary careers of Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn and Bob Gibson, four aces that shape baseball history. Plus, hear about wild trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles that is so rare, ...
Minor Leagues And Major Legends
Guest Zac Schmitz will join John and Leroy to talk about legend Ken Griffey Jr. who is #48 on the Posnanski 100. Plus Leroy will give us a Hot Corner segment about the feisty Salt Lake Trappers from 1987, a team that holds a professional baseba...