Midnight Library of Baseball

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis is known in baseball history as the man who saved baseball, the man who took charge, and acted. But he is also known as the man who did nothing in some of the biggest issues to ever occur in the major leagues? Was he a man who intentionally stood in the way of human rights and progress, or was he simply a man of his time?

For all the known controversies and unbelievable stories surrounding Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, there are just as many mysteries. In this episode, I dig into the origin story of the man who shaped baseball like no other commissioner in the history of the game.

I sit down with Scott Miller to discuss his new book about the relevance of managers, fifty years ago, and today. I love the overlooked and misunderstood parts of the game, and during our conversation, Scott Miller does not disappoint.

In this episode, I uncover some hidden stories and unforeseen outcomes of night games in Major League Baseball, including a son who learned, after his father’s death, how integral his father had been in the development of lights in the game.

In this episode, I dig into the question, why did it take Major League Baseball 55 years to introduce the night game, when the first night game actually occurred in 1880? I’ll explore the reasons, and the overlooked consequences to millions of fans.

What do hauntings look like in baseball, and where are ghosts most entrenched? In this episode, I answer these questions, and I explore some of the fascinating, overlooked elements of the most well known curse in baseball history.

In this episode, I try to solve the mystery of why Larry Luebbers spent the equivalent of $300,000 to rebuild Crosley Field on his farm, ten years before a fictional character named Ray Kinsella would decide to accomplish a similar feat.

In this episode, I dive deep into the story of a baseball museum described as both a compliment to and antithesis of Cooperstown, a place where players and people are recognized for their contributions and character, not their statistical accomplishments. A place that has been overlooked and undersold. A place that deserves more attention.

In this episode, I dive into the extraordinary life and career of Lefty O’Doul—a baseball legend whose impact on the game goes far beyond his unorthodox playing days. Despite his remarkable contributions both on and off the field, he remains absent from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Why has he been overlooked, and what can we learn from this amazing story?

Chuck Klein put together one of the greatest five seasons in Major League history, and yet he was forgotten for thirty years, until an unlikely intervention by President Richard Nixon. In this episode, I’ll discuss Klein’s many miraculous feats, including nearly hitting five home runs in one game. I’ll also explain why he was forgotten, and what happened to change people’s minds.

When I came across the article on Sports Illustrated titled, “Don’t Kid Yourself, Field of Dreams is a Bad Movie,” I had to talk with Jerry Blevins to hear his story. And it’s not what you think. We also talk about his incredible journey from a college walk-in to a long major league career. And see his hat? That’s connected to a surprise I didn’t see coming.

In the finale of this 3-part series, I dive into the myths and misconceptions about Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the most well-known ballplayers to fans and non-fans around the world, including his actual role in the 1919 World Series fix, contradictory evidence about his performance in the series, and insights into the question: did Joe Jackson pull off one of the greatest long cons in baseball history?

In this episode, I explore the nature of the dysfunctional relationship between White Sox teammates, and the bitterness of one player that may have cost his teammates their baseball careers. Also, I’ll have some fun discussing the extraordinary history that might have been written if not for this life-changing scandal.

Here's a brief teaser for season 3, where I open with a 3-part series on the fascinating 1919 Black Sox scandal and the endless myths that surround the event. I also describe a review contest and some of the prizes I'll be giving away. 

In the finale of Season 2, I talk with hall of fame historian Tim Wiles about a real-life Field of Dreams story that predated W.P. Kinsella’s book by ten years. Did Kinsella know about this field and draw inspiration from it? I’ll also share some final thoughts about this film, and discuss my own story around Field of Dreams, and baseball overall.

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating collision of fantasy and reality surrounding the iconic field in Dyersville, Iowa. Truth is often stranger than fiction—and this magical ballfield is no exception. Join us as we uncover extraordinary stories and remarkable occurrences that have unfolded on this small farm long after the cameras stopped rolling.

In this episode, we reveal the pivotal edits made just before the film’s release, including a bold title change that angered many involved. We also examine how audiences across the country responded to a small-scale debut that ended up catching fire.