Baseball’s progression from an amateur activity to a professional sport is full of great stories. Hear about the myths and legends of early baseball; the pioneers and the inventors; the moguls and the superstars. And the gamblers. It all leads to the formation of the 1919 Chicago White Sox and sets in motion the elements of one of the most infamous scandals ... Show More
Aug 2019
BLACK SOX Ep. 2 | "A Turbulent Year"
In a time of great upheaval around the world, America experiences outbreaks of violence and fear. Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and the other stars of the Deadball Era rise to prominence. The Chicago White Sox navigate the 1919 season and by the end of the year, they are on the verge o ... Show More
42m 45s
Sep 2024
The NFL: A Dead Owner, A Dead Gangster, A League Founded on Gambling
The image of the National Football League is one of integrity. It’s a squeaky clean brand that NFL commissioners have gone to great lengths to protect. This episode tells the story of a different NFL; the mystery of a dead team owner, gambling, mob-adjacent hall of fame league fo ... Show More
41m 18s
Sep 2024
166: A Conversation on Negro Leagues Baseball History with Bob Kendrick
As a follow up to episode 165 America’s Favorite Pastime: Baseball, we’re proud to share an interview with Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO. Founded in 1990, the NLBM is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebra ... Show More
50m 58s
Apr 2025
Meet The Chicago Outfit's Most Infamous Hitman
Kurt Calabrese grew up in the Chicago mafia known as The Outfit. His father, Frank Calabrese Sr, was the premier hitman, known for strangling his victims with his bare hands. But Frank didn't just leave the violence at work. He trained his sons Kurt and Frank Jr in the mob enforc ... Show More
42m 8s