🎙️ Jackie Mitchell: The Teen Who Struck Out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
The Pastball Podcast – Where Baseball’s Forgotten Legends Come Back to Life.
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In 1931, a 17-year-old girl named Jackie Mitchell stepped onto the mound to face two of baseball’s most feared hitters—Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig—and what happened next became the stuff of legend.
In this jaw-dropping episode of The Pastball Podcast, we tell the almost-too-wild-to-be-true story of the teenage phenom who struck out two Hall of Famers back-to-back during an exhibition game with the New York Yankees.
⚾ Was it real or a publicity stunt?
🎟️ What role did circus promoter and team owner Joe Engel play?
💔 Why did MLB ban women from signing contracts shortly after her appearance?
📜 How has Jackie Mitchell’s legacy been remembered—or forgotten?
🎧 You’ll hear:
A deep dive into the facts behind the fable.
Real newspaper headlines and rare commentary from the era.
Why Mitchell’s story still matters nearly a century later.
How this moment challenged gender roles in sports—and still inspires athletes today.
💪 Perfect for:
Baseball fans, women in sports advocates, history buffs, feminist trailblazer stans, and anyone who loves a David vs. Goliath story—except this time, David wore a ponytail and threw heat.
🟢 Stream it now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever legends live.
Some say it was staged. Others say it was history. You’ll have to decide for yourself.
🎙️ The Wildest Trade in Baseball: Kekich and Peterson Swap Wives
The Pastball Podcast – Baseball’s Strangest Stories, One Episode at a Time.
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This is the baseball story so strange, it sounds made up—except it’s 100% real.
In this episode of The Pastball Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most bizarre and talked-about off-the-field trades in Major League Baseball history: the 1973 wife swap between New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson. That's right—they literally traded families.
🎧 What went down behind the scenes?
💔 How did teammates, fans, and the media react?
👀 Did the swap stick, or was it a total train wreck?
⚾ What did this scandal mean for the Yankees and their careers?
We explore the chaos, consequences, and controversy of the Kekich-Peterson story—from spring training shockwaves to lifelong fallout—and break down how this unforgettable moment became a permanent footnote in baseball lore.
💥 Why You’ll Want to Listen:
True baseball weirdness that goes way beyond the game.
Unfiltered takes on how it changed MLB locker rooms forever.
Real quotes, rare interviews, and the lasting pop culture buzz.
The kind of story you won’t believe actually happened—until you hear it.
🧢 Ideal for:
Baseball fans, history junkies, Yankees loyalists, sports drama lovers, and anyone who thinks trades are just about stats and contracts.
This episode of the Pastball Podcast is all about "Fernandomania"—the electrifying phenomenon that swept through baseball in 1981. Host Matt explores the meteoric rise of Fernando Valenzuela, the 20-year-old Mexican phenom whose dazzling screwball and captivating presence ignited a cultural movement. From his remarkable 8-0 start with five shutouts and an ERA under 1.00, to the packed stands at Dodger Stadium filled with sombrero-wearing fans, Valenzuela transcended the game. Discover how he not only dominated on the field, winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season, but also became a powerful symbol of pride and representation for the Latino community, forever changing the landscape of baseball.
On this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt takes us back to 1993, a pivotal year that forever altered the landscape of Major League Baseball. After a 16-year hiatus, MLB expanded its reach, welcoming two new franchises: the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. Matt dives into the unique challenges and opportunities of this expansion, exploring how the wild expansion draft unfolded and the strategic choices made by both teams. From the Rockies' high-altitude sluggers like Vinny Castilla and Dante Bichette to the Marlins' quick ascent to a World Series title in just their fifth season with fan favorites like "Mr. Marlin" Jeff Conine, discover how these two ambitious newcomers quickly carved out their own identities and left an undeniable mark on the league.
This week on the Pastball Podcast, host Matt revisits one of baseball's most infamous unravelings: the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. On September 20th, with just 12 games left, the Phillies held a commanding 6.5-game lead in the National League, seemingly destined for the pennant. What followed was an unthinkable ten-game losing streak, as manager Gene Mauch relentlessly pitched aces Jim Bunning and Chris Short on short rest, ultimately costing the team the division title. Was it overmanaging, immense pressure, player fatigue, or simply bad luck that led to this monumental choke? Join Matt as he dissects the factors behind this epic collapse, a historical moment that left an indelible mark on both the Phillies franchise and the strategic handling of pennant races for years to come.
Did you know the gates of free agency in Major League Baseball swung open not with a bang, but with a lockout? Join host Matt on this episode of the Pastball Podcast as we journey back to 1976, a pivotal year in baseball history. Uncover the gripping story of MLB's first-ever owner-initiated lockout, a direct response to players challenging the iron grip of the reserve clause.
We'll delve into the groundbreaking efforts of figures like Curt Flood and Marvin Miller, trace the seismic 1975 ruling that paved the way for free agency with Andy Messersmith, and explore the owners' desperate attempt to slam the door shut. Discover how their lockout ultimately failed, ushering in an era of unprecedented player power.
Hear how superstars like Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter cashed in on groundbreaking contracts, forever altering the financial landscape of the game. This isn't just about dollars and cents; it's the story of a movement, a moment when players stood up and declared their worth beyond the diamond.
Tune in to understand the forgotten showdown of 1976 – the lockout that unexpectedly opened the gates to modern MLB.
Step back in time with Past Ball Podcast host Matt to September 1, 1971, a monumental day in baseball history. In Episode 135, we delve into the story of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the first Major League Baseball team to field a starting lineup comprised entirely of Black and Latino players. Discover the significance of Rennie Stennett, Gene Clines, the legendary Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillén, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Jackie Hernández, and the formidable Dock Ellis taking the field together.
Explore the social context of a nation grappling with racial division and how this seemingly unplanned act by manager Danny Murtaugh resonated far beyond the baseball diamond. We'll recount the Pirates' victory that night against the Phillies and their subsequent World Series triumph just a month later, underscoring the powerful message this diverse and talented team sent to the world: that talent knows no color. Join us as we honor this historic lineup and the enduring legacy of a team that demonstrated the potent combination of diversity and dominance in America's pastime. Tune in for a powerful and unforgettable chapter from baseball's rich history.
Relive the moment a single, catastrophic blown call in the 1985 World Series between the Royals and Cardinals didn't just cost St. Louis a game, but arguably the championship. Join Matt as we delve into the chaos of Game 6, the uproar over umpire Don Denkinger's safe call on Jorge Orta, and the devastating ripple effect that altered the series, impacted a franchise, and ultimately shifted how Major League Baseball viewed the integrity of the game. This is more than just a bad call; it's a story of heartbreak, controversy, and the slow march towards instant replay.
What happens when the baseball season splits in half—and your team has the best record but still misses the playoffs? Welcome to 1981. In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt unpacks the chaos of the MLB players' strike, the bizarre “split season” format, and how the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals got robbed. It's a wild ride through labor disputes, playoff confusion, and one of the weirdest years in baseball history.
🎧 Hit play to explore the season that nearly tore America’s pastime apart.
They dominated the regular season. They steamrolled the playoffs. They broke an 88-year curse. So why does no one talk about the 2005 Chicago White Sox? In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt takes you through the overlooked greatness of one of baseball’s most efficient and underappreciated World Series runs. From Ozzie Guillen’s fiery leadership to four straight complete games in the ALCS, this is a championship story that deserves to be remembered.
🎧 Press play and discover why history hasn’t been fair to one of MLB’s most dominant teams.
Was it hustle or was it havoc? In this explosive episode of the Pastball Podcast, host Matt dives into the unforgettable 1970 MLB All-Star Game collision between Pete Rose and Ray Fosse. Discover how a single play in an exhibition game ignited decades of debate, changed one career forever, and redefined the meaning of “playing to win.” If you're a fan of baseball history, legendary moments, or heated sports controversy, this is the story you need to hear.
🎧 Tune in now to relive the play that shook the baseball world—and still has fans talking.
Welcome back to Pastball Podcast, where we relive baseball’s weirdest, wildest, and most head-scratching moments. Today, we’re talking about a man who could launch a baseball into orbit—but when it came to base-running, things got... complicated.
In this episode, we break down Jose Canseco’s legendary mishaps on the basepaths, including:
⚾ How a six-time All-Star and 40-40 club member led the league in getting caught stealing in 1986.
⚾ The infamous 1993 base-running blunder with the Rangers, where he got doubled off first base like a rookie.
⚾ His time in Oakland, where teammates and even Tony La Russa knew every trip around the bases was an adventure.
⚾ Why despite all the gaffes, Canseco’s power and larger-than-life personality kept him in the game (and in baseball lore).
When it came to home runs, Canseco was elite. When it came to base-running? Let’s just say he wasn’t exactly Rickey Henderson.
🎧 Listen now on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Your Preferred Platform]
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April 15, 1947. Jackie Robinson stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, forever changing baseball by breaking the color barrier. But while Robinson made history, Phillies manager Ben Chapman made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, we examine one of the ugliest yet most pivotal moments in baseball history—when Chapman and the Phillies taunted Robinson with relentless racial slurs. But here’s the twist: Chapman’s cruelty didn’t break Robinson. It backfired.
We’ll cover:
⚾ How Jackie Robinson’s composure under fire united his Dodgers teammates.
⚾ Why the Phillies’ actions forced Major League Baseball to take notice.
⚾ The infamous PR stunt where Chapman was forced to pose with Robinson—and how history truly judged them both.
⚾ The lasting impact of this moment on baseball and society.
Jackie Robinson is a legend. Ben Chapman? A cautionary tale. Baseball has a long memory, and this is one chapter it won’t forget.
🎧 Tune in now to the Pastball Podcast on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Your Preferred Platform]
🔗 Follow & Subscribe for more deep dives into baseball history!
Before the Mets. Before MLB expansion. There was The Continental League—a baseball league that never played a single game but reshaped the sport forever.
In this episode of the Pastball Podcast, we take a deep dive into the forgotten story of the Continental League, the brainchild of Branch Rickey in 1959. This ambitious attempt to create a third major league sent shockwaves through baseball, forcing MLB to confront the future of the game.
You’ll learn:
⚾ How Branch Rickey, the same man who broke baseball’s color barrier, led the charge for a new major league.
⚾ Why the Continental League posed a serious threat to the American and National Leagues.
⚾ How MLB responded—not by fighting it, but by expanding for the first time in decades.
⚾ The lasting impact of the league that never played, shaping the modern landscape of baseball.
Baseball could have looked very different without the Continental League. Want to know how it all went down? Tune in now to the Pastball Podcast!
🎧 Available on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Your Preferred Platform]
🔗 Follow & Subscribe for more deep dives into baseball history!
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Welcome back to the Pastball Podcast, the podcast where baseball's bigots moments live forever. Today we're going to rewind to October 17th, 2004, when Dave Roberts turned a stolen base into Red Sox immortality. It's game four of the ALCS Yankees. They're up three nothing in the series. Bottom of the ninth, the Sox are three outs away from being swept again. But then Kevin Millar walks. Enter pinch runner Dave Roberts.
Everyone in Yankee Stadium knows he's running. Mario Rivera, the best closer potentially ever, throws over once, throws over twice, three times to keep him close. Then on the first pitch, Roberts takes off. Orhepasata fires the second, too late, safe. Fenway erupts. Bill Mueller singles home, tying the game. The Sox go on to win an extra innings, then rattle off three more to complete the greatest comeback in baseball history. The curse of the Bambino erased, but for the Yankees, a new curse began. Since that collapse, they've won just one World Series. Meanwhile, the Sox, four. One stolen base changes everything. That's baseball history for you. This has been the Passball Podcast, where even every play has a past, and every past has a story. We'll see you next time.
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Welcome back to the Passball Podcast, where old grunges come back to haunt the diamond. And today we're going to rewind it back to May 29th, 2017, when Hunter Strickland finally got his revenge on Bryce Harper. Over something that happened three years earlier? Yes, back in 2014, the NLDS Harper took Strickland yard, not once, but twice. Both no doubt bombs. Strickland, then the Giants reliever.
He didn't forget. let's fast forward to 2017. Harper's on the national. Strickland still fuming and boom! First pitch, a 98 mile an hour fastball straight to Harper's hip. Guess what? Harper wasn't having it. He chucked his helmet pretty badly. Charged the mound, landed a couple of wild swings, benches cleared, chaos erupted and Strickland got six games while Harper, he sat for four. The kicker of it all, they weren't even in the same division.
Strickland had to wait three years just to settle the score. Some call it payback, others, well, they call it petty. So let me know, what do you think? And ladies and gentlemen, that's the Passball Podcast of the day where baseball grudges, well, they never die.
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Beard Laws (00:14)
Welcome back everybody to the Passball Podcast, a podcast where history steps up to the plate. And today we're going to dive into a baseball legal battle that changed the game forever. The Federal League's fight against Major League Baseball. The Federal League, which was a short-lived third major league, as called by some people, that was from 1914 to 1915 and it actually dared to challenge the national and American leagues. They offered higher salaries, they poached players and operated as
arrival. But after just two seasons, financial struggles and legal battles forced most teams to fold. 1915, the Federal League filed an antitrust lawsuit against Major League Baseball, accusing it of a monopolizing professional baseball. The case, Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v National League, made it all the way to Supreme Court. The 1922 court, led by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, ruled that baseball was not
interstate commerce and therefore wasn't subject to federal antitrust laws. This decision gave MLB a unique legal shield that still exists today. The federal league disappeared, but its challenge shaped baseball's business forever. A legal swing and a miss, or the biggest missed call in sports history. I'll let you make the call. But that's it for the Passball Podcast. Feel free to subscribe and stay tuned for more history from the diamond.
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🚨 Injuries happen in baseball—but a sneeze? In this episode of Pastball, we dive into one of the strangest DL stints in MLB history. It was 2004, and Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, known for launching baseballs into the stratosphere, found himself sidelined by an unexpected foe… his own sneeze.
💨 One mighty achoo! and Sosa strained his back so badly he had to miss games. How does something like that even happen? What’s the science behind a “sneeze strain”? And is this the weirdest baseball injury ever—or does Pastball have an even stranger one up its sleeve?
⚾ Tune in as we break down the absurdity, the aftermath, and where this ranks among baseball’s wildest, most bizarre injuries.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to subscribe, review, and share—but maybe cover your mouth when you sneeze.
#SammySosa #MLB #WeirdBaseball #PastballPodcast #BaseballHistory #SportsInjuries #ChicagoCubs
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Pastball Podcast – Episode 123: Glenallen Hill’s Arachnophobia Nightmare
What happens when one of baseball’s most feared sluggers comes face-to-face with his greatest fear? In Episode 123 of Pastball, we dive into one of the strangest, most terrifying injuries in MLB history—the time Glenallen Hill literally ran from a nightmare… and ended up on the injured list.
Hill, a power-hitting outfielder, suffered a freak accident in 1990 when a sleep-induced panic over his severe arachnophobia (fear of spiders) sent him crashing through a glass table—while unconscious! He woke up with cuts, bruises, and a trip to the disabled list, earning him the legendary nickname “Spiderman.”
How did this bizarre incident impact his career? What did his teammates and the media think? And was this truly the weirdest baseball injury of all time? We break it all down with humor, history, and some wild facts you won’t believe.
Subscribe to Pastball for more unbelievable baseball stories, and don’t forget to share this episode with a fellow baseball fan—unless they’re afraid of spiders. 🕷️😱
#BaseballHistory #MLBStories #PastballPodcast #GlenallenHill #Arachnophobia #WeirdBaseball
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Pastball Podcast – Episode 122: Marty Cordova’s Tanning Bed Mishap
Baseball injuries are common—pulled hamstrings, sore shoulders, even the occasional fastball to the ribs. But getting benched because of a tanning bed? That’s a whole different ballgame.
In Episode 122 of Pastball, we dive into the sunburnt saga of Marty Cordova, the former MLB Rookie of the Year who made headlines for an off-the-field injury that still has baseball fans shaking their heads. One fateful morning in 2002, Cordova dozed off in a tanning bed, only to wake up with burns so bad the team doctors had to sideline him—because sunlight would make it worse.
How does this rank among baseball’s weirdest injuries? And was this just bad luck, or the universe’s way of telling him to stick to the dugout and not the tanning salon?
Join us as we relive this bizarre baseball moment, compare it to other legendary sports mishaps, and ask the ultimate question—was Marty Cordova the victim of bad judgment, or did the baseball gods simply have a twisted sense of humor?
⚾️ Hit play and let’s talk Pastball!
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