Past Ball Podcast

There was professional baseball in the area as long ago as April 15, 1876, when the Pittsburgh Alleghenys first played at Union Park. That club was named for Allegheny City, the former municipality across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh that’s now known as the city’s North Side.

Star second baseman Lou Bierbauer, who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in the American Association before spending a year with the Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders in the Players League, never signed a contract to return to Philadelphia. That effectively made him a free agent, and the Alleghenys pounced to sign him to a contract with Pittsburgh for the next season. The outcry among the lead was crazy and everyone said they were pirating this guy from the Philadelphia Athletics. Pittsburgh officially nicknamed itself the Pirates for the 1891 season and it stuck. It was actually a later influx of players, though, that turned the Pirates from a struggling team into a club that made two World Series appearances in the first decade of the 1900s.

The Past Ball Podcast is a podcast that gives you a quick story on some of the craziest, wildest, funnies, or just plain informative on America's Past Time. Unlike a catcher in a passed ball, we will not drop the ball on give you the past.

Do you have a topic or story you want us to cover? Feel free to email us at [email protected].

Shoutout to Collin Wood at Artota Records for the tunes you hear in this episode. If you are looking for custom tunnage email him at [email protected]

Check out everything Past Ball Podcast at https://beacons.ai/pastball

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In the nail-biting Game 6 of the 1991 World Series, Kirby Puckett, the legendary Minnesota Twins outfielder, delivered a performance for the ages. With the Atlanta Braves leading 3-2 in the series, Puckett knew the Twins' dreams of a championship were hanging in the balance.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, facing Braves pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, Puckett stepped up to the plate. With the count at 2-1, he unleashed a powerful swing that sent the ball soaring over the left-centerfield wall. The Metrodome erupted in jubilation as Puckett rounded the bases, securing a dramatic walk-off home run.

Puckett's heroics not only forced Game 7 but also etched his name in World Series history. His infectious enthusiasm and undeniable skill were emblematic of his impact on the game. Join us in reliving this unforgettable moment as Kirby Puckett's heroics propel the 1991 World Series to a thrilling conclusion. ⚾🌟 #KirbyPuckett #WorldSeries1991 #BaseballHistory

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The ivy that adorns the outfield walls at Wrigley Field in Chicago is primarily common Boston ivy, a clinging woody vine of the grape family. Native to eastern Asia, this import is the ivy that covers the walls of many colleges. It is the ivy of the Ivy League. The story of how the ivy got planted began when Bill Veeck was hired to work for the Chicago Cubs. Veeck’s father, William Veeck, Sr. had been the President of the Cubs and young Bill grew up working for and with the Cubs during school vacations. When his father died unexpectedly in 1933, Bill dropped out of college and was hired by Phil Wrigley, who had taken over the club after his father, William Wrigley, died in 1932. His role with the Cubs was more and more directed at putting fans in their seats and making them happy. One of his early jobs was to roam the stands and talk with fans to determine their wishes and bring back suggestions that would make coming to the ballpark more enjoyable. New seats, new concessions, and new ivy. Veeck wanted to plant the ivy for the 1938 season but his assistants decided to plant the ivy against the red brick immediately. They strung five strands of copper wire, draped with Boston ivy, 1.5 feet apart across the wall. The outfield wall covered 1,003 feet so they used 5,015 feet of wire. They then planted more ivy at the base of the wall inter-mixed with faster-growing Japanese bittersweet vines. This is Past Ball Podcast and as the Great Bob Uecker said Get Up Get Outta Here!

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Playing a prank on the new guy is no new thing in baseball. This one was a good one. Jerry Hairston Jr. played one of the cruelest jokes on catcher Gerald Laird during the spring of 2007, even getting approval from Rangers manager Ron Washington before doing so.

Hairston arranged for two police officers to show up in the clubhouse and issue a warrant for Laird's arrest on charges of unpaid child support. Laird lost it as the officers cuffed him, removed him from the clubhouse, and even placed him in the back of the squad car before those in on the prank would finally come clean. So fellas remember always pay your child support and watch out for those MLB pranks. This is Past Ball Podcast and as the Great Bob Uecker said Get Up Get Outta Here!

The Past Ball Podcast is a podcast that gives you a quick story on some of the craziest, wildest, funnies, or just plain informative on America's Past Time. Unlike a catcher in a passed ball, we will not drop the ball on give you the past.

Do you have a topic or story you want us to cover? Feel free to email us at [email protected].

Shoutout to Collin Wood at Artota Records for the tunes you hear in this episode. If you are looking for custom tunage email him at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jorge Posada the great Yankee catcher was a bit of a tough guy and refused to wear batting gloves. Not wearing gloves and catching takes a toll on the hands and he wanted to toughen up the skin. He used an all-natural home remedy of urine. That’s right Jorge Posada would piss all over his hands during the winter and spring training to keep his hands hard. He was quoted saying you don’t want to shake my hand during spring training before practice. His wife found out about this and he was forced to stop and use whatever the trainer would give him. Another reason to not be a Yankees fan.

The Past Ball Podcast is a podcast that gives you a quick story on some of the craziest, wildest, funnies, or just plain informative on America's Past Time. Unlike a catcher in a passed ball, we will not drop the ball on give you the past.

Do you have a topic or story you want us to cover? Feel free to email us at [email protected].

Shoutout to Collin Wood at Artota Records for the tunes you hear in this episode. If you are looking for custom tunage email him at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.