ObscureBall

Today the World Series is one of the most recognizable institutions in all of sports. When it debuted in 1903 it was met with widespread acclaim from sports writers and baseball fans all over America. For all of its successful, the World Series was almost dead on arrival. Petty grudges, cut throat business practices and difficult personalities almost derailed the whole thing. LINKS Support the Show Don Jensen's McGraw Bio for SABR "Called Out" A Novel of Baseball and America in 1908 by Floyd Sullivan Cindy Thomson's Website Audience by Castos MUSIC Blue Dot Sessions Storyblocks Sources https://newspaperarchive.com/waterbury-evening-democrat-oct-07-1904-p-9/ https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-post-oct-14-1903-p-5/ https://web.archive.org/web/20061206071020/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Brush_John_T.stm https://archive.ph/20080617183524/http://www.athomeplate.com/alforms.shtml https://thisgreatgame.com/1902-baseball-history/ https://thisgreatgame.com/1904-baseball-history/ https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-28-1902-little-napoleon-vs-the-czar-john-mcgraw-suspended-by-ban-johnson-after-outburst/ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/frank-farrell/ https://newspaperarchive.com/oneonta-daily-star-feb-11-1926-p-1/ http://www.sportsology.com/not-how-you-start-yankee-beginnings/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-tribune-aug-01-1904-p-18/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-oct-04-1904-p-6/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-oct-07-1904-p-7/ https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/06/21/issue.html https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-sep-18-1904-p-16/

On April 29, 1904 Barbados Joe Walcott and Dixie Kid met for what was a historically significant boxing match. It was only the second time two black fighters competed for the Welterweight title. For 20 rounds, spectators watched as the two fighters duked it out. Then Referee Dick Sullivan did something that was truly baffling... Links: Knuckles and Gloves Patrick Connor on Twitter ObscureBall on Twitter Obscureball Websites Storyblocks Sources: http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/21091 https://boxrec.com/en/referee/569900 http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/walcott-j.h http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/dixiekid.htm https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-08-sp-2705-story.html https://www.thefightcity.com/the-barbados-demon/ https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-sun-may-01-1904-p-13/ https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-daily-californian-apr-30-1904-p-5/ https://epdf.pub/hitters-dancers-and-ring-magicians-seven-boxers-of-the-golden-age-and-their-chal.html https://newspaperarchive.com/san-francisco-call-apr-30-1904-p-11/

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On August 30, 1904 32 runners set off to compete in the Olympic Marathon in St. Louis. Only 13 would finish. This poorly planned event would be one of the worst sporting events of all time. Cramps, dehydration, wild dogs, hallucinatios, stomach hemorrrages, car wrekcs and scandal all took place that afternoon. In fact, it was just one of several sporting events in 1904 marked by scandal and trechary. And in this three part serires we'll explore three of those events. In this episode Dr. Peter Kastor, Author and Professor of History and American Cultural Studies discusses how the legacy 1904 World's Fair, how white supremecy influenced the event and the legacy it's left. David Gunn shares his epxerience running in marathons juxtaposed with the 1904 race. Support the Show Sources: Sports-Reference https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171704/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1904/ATH/mens-marathon.html Jon Bois Video Essay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4AhABManTw Abott Kahler (Karen Abbot) Smithsonian Article https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ The 1904 Anthropology Days and Olympic Games edited by Susan Brownnell

As work on new stories continues you can check out Obscure History. Hosted by Josh, it's a weekly podcast that explores obscure historical events. On this episode, which first aired on August 23, 2021, Josh explores what he calls, 'The worst game ever played.' All other episodes of Obscure History can be found anywhere you get your podcasts.

To help support this effort to tell great audio stories, please consider donating by clicking HERE Listen to previous episodes at obscureballpod.com More About Adam darowski.com @adarowski Sports-Reference sports-reference.com Seamheads seamheads.com

The 1914 Giro D'Italia was by virtually every metric, the worst bike race in history. 81 Riders entered the race. Only eight finished. There were floods, mud, rain, blizzards, injuries, sabotage, cheating, attempted bribery and all manner of insanity during a brutal 2,000 mile race lasting 15 days. Links ObscureBall Website Girnimo! Riding the Bery Terrbile 1914 Tour of Italy by Time Moore Podium Cafe Article by Fergal McKay Small League Productions 3 Clips

Viewed through a certain lens, the Indianapolis Clowns can be seen as an inpsiring success story. As a black team in the segregated south they managed to endear fans of all races and all walks of life to their uniuqe fusion of comedy and baseball. But in reality, the their story is far more nuanced, complicated and misunderstood. Small League Productions Larry Tye Negro League Baseball Museum Brian Carroll Story Blocks Hyped Podcast Castos Mobil App Image Credit: Kansas Hstorical Society, Fair Use Image

The story of how one base running mistake in September of 1908 led to a bizarre chain of events that changed baseball forever.

1908 was a tumultuous year in baseball. It was a tumultuous year in America. On September 23, a single base running error set off one of the most bizarre chain of events in sports history. Bribery, arson, blackmail, forbidden romance, attempted kidnapping, organized Crime, and two of the best pennant races of all time all collided in just a few weeks. Links National Suicide Prevention LifelineSmall League ProductionsAlexander's Wood EmporiumStoryblocks Contributors Stew ThornleyFloyd Sullivan, Author of Called Out Olivia Carteaux David Gunn Sources: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/harry-pulliam/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/merklfr01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1190810080.shtmlhttps://goldenrankings.com/baseballmemorablegamesarticle.htmhttps://thisgreatgame.com/1908-baseball-history/

When a plane carrying 11 members of the VVS Moscow Hockey Club crashed, everyone on board died. Then came the cover up...

When a plane carrying 11 members of the VVS Moscow Hockey Club crashed, everyone on board died. Then came the cover up... Contributions from: Brendan DanielJames Nickles Links:Russian Football News Small League Productions Storyblocks

The backstory of how a folksy, quick witted, singing politician from rural Kentucky helped integrate professional baseball

The backstory of how a folksy, quick witted, singing politician from rural Kentucky helped integrate professional baseball The Negro League Baseball Museum nlbm.com Terry Bohn's SABR Pagesabr.org/authors/terry-bohn/ Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral Histories, University of Kentucky Librarieshttps://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ Chandler, Albert Benjamin, interview by William J. Marshall. September 03, 1980, A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. Small League Productionssmallleaguestu.com StoryBlocksstoryblocks.com

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As Baseball stadiums go, The Metrodome was quirky as they come. But did The Minnesota Twins manipulate the conditions to their advantage? Small League Productions Alexander's Wood Emporium Music for this episode was provided by Storyblocks

As Baseball stadiums go, The Metrodome was quirky as they come. But did The Minnesota Twins manipulate the conditions to their advantage?

To the average baseball fan Mel Hall was a mediocre ballplayer with an outsized ego. To his victims, he was sexual predator and destructive figure.

To the average baseball fan Mel Hall was a mediocre ballplayer with an outsized ego. To his victims, he was sexual predator and destructive figure. ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks Greg Hanlon's piece, The Many Crimes of Mel Hall RAINN, Sexual Assault Hotline

In 1900, more than a century before The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox got in trouble for electronically stealing signs, a man named Pearce Chiles orchestrated a complex scheme to steal signs from opposing teams. Also, he went to jail for another thing he did THEN busted out and tried to play baseball again. Classic stuff. Bob LeMoine from The Society For American Baseball Research also helped out with this episode. ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by StoryblocksBob LeMoine also contributed to this episode and you can read more about his research by visiting his SABR articles Other references: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/038d8ca7

In 1900, more than a century before The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox got in trouble for electronically stealing signs, a man named Pearce Chiles orchestrated a complex scheme to steal signs from opposing teams. Also, he went to jail for another thing he did THEN busted out and tried to play baseball again. Classic stuff. Bob LeMoine from The Society For American Baseball Research also helped out with this episode.

As one of baseball's most prolific alcoholics, Ray "Slim" Caldwell was also a low-key talented player. But the right-handed pitcher is perhaps best known for the bizarre events of August 24, 1919. ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks

As one of baseball's most prolific alcoholics, Ray "Slim" Caldwell was also a low-key talented player. But the right-handed pitcher is perhaps best known for the bizarre events of August 24, 1919.

This episode is an abbreviated and by no means an all inclusive history of The Oakland Raiders

This episode is an abbreviated and by no means an all inclusive history of The Oakland Raiders ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by StoryblocksClosing music credits: Doug Hoyer via Audioblocks

Before he was the high kicking, heavy drinking, prolific song writing front man of Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard was a star athlete who once threw a no hitter at Wright State.

Before he was the high kicking, heavy drinking, prolific song writing front man of Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard was a star athlete who once threw a no hitter at Wright State. ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks

Scoring 100 points in a basketball game seems impossible. But there's a formula that can help a player do just that ObscureBall is produced by Small League Productions

Scoring 100 points in a basketball game seems impossible. But there's a formula that can help a player do just that

When Bob Short decided to move the Washington Senators from D.C to Texas...fans didn't take it particularly well Writer and journalist Dan Epstein is featured on this episode and you can visit his website here. His book, Big Hair Plastic Grass is also available on audiobook via Blackstone Audio. Music for this episode was provided by Audioblocks and broadcast clips can be found here. ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks Closing Music Credits: Doug Hoyer via Audioblocks

When Bob Short decided to move the Washington Senators from D.C to Texas...fans didn't take it particularly well

Bill Lee, or "Spaceman" as he was known, was an oddball for sure. He was also pretty good at baseball. This episode is all about him

Bill Lee, or "Spaceman" as he was known, was an oddball for sure. He was also pretty good at baseball. This episode is all about him ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks

Some promotions in sports work. Some don't. Here's a story about one that didn't Be sure to check out The ConspiraTea Podcast I mentioned at the beginning. Listen here ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks

Some promotions in sports work. Some don't. Here's a story about one that didn't. Also, be sure to check out The ConspiraTea Podcast I mentioned at the beginning. Listen on Spotify Also check out my website at http://smallleaguestu.com/

At the time of this publishing, MLB has recognized 300 no hitters. 23 of those are perfect games. Only one of those (that we know of) was thrown by a person on LSD

Big Ed Delahanty was one of baseball's earliest home run hitters. But on July 2, 1903 he died under bizarre circumstances. What actually happened?

At the time of this publishing, MLB has recognized 300 no hitters. 23 of those are perfect games. Only one of those (that we know of) was thrown by a person on LSD ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks

Big Ed Delahanty was one of baseball's earliest home run hitters. But on July 2, 1903 he died under bizarre circumstances. What actually happened? ObscureBall is produced by Small League ProductionsMusic for this episode is brought to you by Storyblocks