Baseball has been lying about its own origins for more than 150 years, author Thomas W. Gilbert says. Half-truths, exaggerations and outright lies have been the order of the day from Alexander Cartwright to Abner Doubleday to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The real story of how baseball emerged as the national game in the 19th century is far more fascinating than the officially sanctioned myths, Gilbert says.
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On the surface, legendary general manager Buzzie Bavasi and journeyman outfielder Al "The Bull" Ferrara wouldn't seem to have much in common. But Ken LaZebnik says Ferrara embodied the "intangibles" Bavasi valued as he put together his championship Dodgers teams. The author traces the relationship of the two friends in 1965, a season that saw Los Angeles win the World Series but also saw the Bull banished to the minors.
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The Society for American Baseball Research is celebrating its 50th year. Mark Amour joins us to discuss this collection of 50 essential SABR articles from legendary baseball thinkers and writers like Bill James, Pete Palmer, Lawrence Ritter and John Thorn.
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Since the earliest of big league baseball, deaf players have been part of the National Pastime. Author R.A.R. Edwards joins us to share the stories of "Dummy" Hoy, "Dummy" Taylor, Curtis Pride and other hearing-impaired players who had an impact on the game both on and off the field.
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Twenty years ago this month, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda led a group of minor leaguers to an improbable Gold Medal win over the mighty Cubans at the Summer Olympics in Australia. Author David Fanucchi, who was there to see the whole thing, joins us to discuss how Ben Sheets, Doug Mientkiewicz and the rest shocked the world.
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