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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Is this the week ESPN & DIsney finally gives equal time to a Democratic Senator opposing the disingenuously named "Protect College Sports Act?" Both TN Senators are Republicans, and both support the Act, of course, but I'm sure a Mark Kelly or an Elisa Slotkin would make the trip to Knoxville. #CFB

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

When Ryan Day went for his first cup of coffee at the office this morning. #cfb #collegefootball #ohiostate #texas #coffeeisforclosers

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

In two weeks, ESPN Game Day will likely be in Athens, Georgia for the Oklahoma at Georgia game. I'll be looking forward to the equivalent 10 minute segment during that Game Day with Senator Jon Ossoff or Senator Raphael Warnock.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

This week our guest is @wsteele9.bsky.social who talks with us about the upcoming 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference, the works of W. P. Kinsella ("Shoeless Joe") and being a Pirate fan with the Pirates above .500 (as of this writing). Banner pic by alpineinc via Wikimedia Commons, Lic: CC BY 2.0.

feeds.buzzsprout.com

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

This week on the #podcast, an interview with Professor John Ferling (West Georgia) about his book "Baseball As It Was: Building Champions Before Free Agency Changed Everything. Pictured in the banner are Brooklyn's Jackie Robinson (l) and Cleveland's Larry Doby (r) circa 1947. #Baseball #MLB

truefans.fm

TrueFans | Shows | 295 - Baseball Back in the Day w/ John Ferling

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I made a New Year's resolution to see 24 concerts in 2026. So far: Kathleen Edwards Municipal Bats Kurt Vile. It's not looking good.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Lew Burdette, the MVP of the 1957 World Series retired three future Hall of Fame hitters in order (marred only by an error) in his final Major League game on July 16, 1967. Burdette, pitching for the Angels, entered the game in the bottom of the 8th against Minnesota with the Twins leading 5-1.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

This week on the #podcast - Castle Rat rocks, more online sign stealing drama, Portland vs Salt Lake City, Rex is tracking Padre hit batsman and doesn’t like what he sees, La Salle’s vacation to our county, and Babe Ruth had a temper.

podcasts.apple.com

294 - Castle Rat, Truth About Ruth, Portland vs SLC, and Remembering LaSalle's Vacay to our County

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · July 6 · 35m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Hooks Wiltse became the first pitcher to throw a complete game, extra inning no-hitter on July 4, 1908. His NY Giants beat Philadelphia 1-0 on Al Bridwell's RBI single in the 10th. Wiltse lost a perfect game with 2 out in the 9th when he hit opposing pitcher George McQuillan on a 1-2 pitch. #MLB

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

On this day in 1913, Walter Johnson tied a Major League record by throwing a 15-hit, complete game shutout. His Senators beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 in 15 innings at Fenway Park on Howie Shanks’ RBI double. Johnson escaped a bases loaded, none out jam in the 9th to force the game to extras.

baseball-almanac.com

Box Score for Senators (1) vs Red Sox (0) on July 3, 1913 at Fenway Park

The box score of the game played on July 3, 1913 at the Fenway Park, between the Senators (1) and the Red Sox (0).

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Five Hundred Watch The Pittsburgh Pirates beat Philadelphia 6-1 today, running the Pirates' season record to 44 wins, 44 losses and the franchise's all-time record to 10,954 wins and 10,954 losses.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Hooks & Runs is a #podcast about baseball, music & culture. Coming on Monday we have our interview with Professor John Fortunato, Fordham's Gabelli School of Business, on current Name, Image & Likeness issues and the NCAA's future as a rule-making organization after the Brendan Sorsby litigation.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Happy Birthday, Lou Gehrig, b. June 19, 1903.

Photograph of Lou Gehrig while a student at Columbia University, wearing his Columbia Lion uniform

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Dave Winfield made his MLB debut on this day, June 19, in 1973. He went straight from the 1973 College World Series where he was named Most Outstanding Player to the Padres, skipping the minor leagues entirely. He was 1 for 4 in his debut, a 7-3 loss to Houston in San Diego before 5,338 fans.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Paul Hofmann is our guest on the podcast this week to talk about a great, forgotten star of 19th Century baseball, In 1887, Charlie Ferguson. Ferguson was 22-10 on the mound and hit .337, while leading the Philadelphia Quakers in RBI with 85. Ferguson died the following spring of typhoid fever.

podcasts.apple.com

291 - Charlie Ferguson: "A Great Forgotten Star of the 19th Century" w/ Paul Hofmann

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · June 15 · 50m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Pitcher Mike Kekich made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on this day, June 9, in 1965. He later pitched for the Yankees, Indians, Rangers and Mariners Kekich is fairly well remembered among 70s-era fans, given his 39-51 career record and 4.56 ERA.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Perry T. Cooper is our guest this week to talk about his book "The 1890 Louisville Cyclones: Major League Baseball's Original Worst-to-First Team" (McFarland, March 2026). Louisville went from 27-111 in 1889 to 88-44 in 1890.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I watched the Mississippi State at Georgia game today - Georgia won 13-12 - just a wild back and forth game.

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Reposted by Craig Estlinbaum

Baseball by BSmile @bsmile.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

82 Years Ago Today: All major league baseball games are cancelled in light of the D-Day Allied Invasion of Normandy (June 6, 1944) #MLB #DDay

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Reposted by Craig Estlinbaum

🇺🇸Boston Brian🇺🇦 @bostonbrian.com · 06/06/2026

On June 6, 1944, young men ran through artillery & machine gun fire on the beaches of Normandy to defeat fascism and free a continent.. To honor the heroes of D-Day isn’t just to remember what they did.. It’s to remain vigilant against the same hatred, authoritarianism and fascism..

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Red Lutz spent the entire 1922 season as the Cincinnati Reds' backup catcher, earning $450 per month. He got into one MLB game, on May 31, 1922, in Pittsburgh. He caught the bottom of the 8th then led off the 9th with a double. The Reds lost 11-2. He did not play in an MLB game again.

retrosheet.org

Retrosheet Boxscore: Pittsburgh Pirates 11, Cincinnati Reds 2

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

David Faflick was our guest on @hooksandruns.bsky.social in Episode 288 to talk about his new book, "Segregation Games: Boston, Busing, and the Making of #RedSox Nation." podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

podcasts.apple.com

288 - Baseball and Busing in 1970s Boston w/ David Faflik

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · May 25 · 1h 2m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

John McMurray, Chair of the #SABR Deadball Era Research Committee, joined @hooksandruns.bsky.social in Ep. 287 to discuss a 24-inning game played between the A's and Americans (Red Sox) in 1906, "a pivotal game early in the deadball era" podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

podcasts.apple.com

287: An Historic 24 Innings in Boston w/ John McMurray plus Blue Dot Fever Hits the Music World

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · May 18 · 56m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

On May 30, 2009, Texas defeated Boston College 3-2 in a 25-inning baseball game in the Austin Regional. Austin Wood came into the 7th and pitched 12.1 innings of no-hit ball before giving up a hit. BC lost the next afternoon to Army, then Texas dispatched Army to advance. #NCAARegionals

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Kevin J. Abing, author of "Baseball Magic and Mayhem in St. Louis: The 1926 Cardinals, World Series Champions" (McFarland Press, 1926) guests this week. The banner photo shows Pete Alexander warming up before a game. Pete was winning pitcher in Game 6 and earned a save in Game 7 to secure the title.

podcasts.apple.com

286 - The Magical 1926 St. Louis Cardinals w/ Kevin J. Abing

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · May 12 · 53m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Black Sox outfield Happy Felsh was born 135 years ago today (April 7) in Milwaukee. At age 29, he was enjoying the best year of his career year in 1920 when the confessions broke and suspensions fell. This is his final box score.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Our guest for our latest episode is Thomas W. Gilbert. His new book, "Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America's First Baseball Hero," is the story of James Creighton, a young pitcher for amateur clubs in Brooklyn credited for inventing modern pitching. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

podcasts.apple.com

282 - On Baseball's First Superstar w/ Thomas W. Gilbert

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · March 26 · 43m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Our guest this episode is Rob Miller, co-founder of the legendary Bloodshot Records in Chicago, and author of the new memoir, "The Hours Were Long but the Pay Was Low: A Curious Life in Independent Music" (3 Fields Books 2025). podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

podcasts.apple.com

276 - Long Hours, Low Pay and Legendary Music w/ Rob Miller, co-founder of Bloodshot Records

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · 01/12/2026 · 42m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Coaches in the Charlotte at Rice game are dressed in all black. What’s the occasion?

Charlotte 49er basketball coaches, at Rice, January 11, 2026.

Rob Lanier, Rice Head Basketball Coach, at Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse, January 11, 2026.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Guest - Joseph Natalicchio, the author of "Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions: From Wedlock and Headlock Day to Disco Demolition Night" (McFarland 2025) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

podcasts.apple.com

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Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · 12/12/2025 · 46m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Way above average; knowing obscure Black Sox helped. ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 972 9/9: 🗄️ (from the archives) Rarity: 2 IMMACULATE! 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 Play at: www.sports-reference.com/immaculate-g...

sports-reference.com

Immaculate Grid: Baseball

Put your baseball knowledge to the test! Immaculate Grid is a daily trivia game powered by Sports Reference. Want to play infinite Immaculate Grid? You can now go all the way back to Grid #1.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

I haven’t seen such bad clutch pitching and hitting by a home team in a Game 7 since the 2019 Houston Astros. May the Dodgers henceforth meet the same fate as the 2020+ Nationals.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Let’s see what the Dodgers can do with the bases loaded and 1 out.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan. Morgan won 2 MVP Awards from the heart of the Big Red Machine lineup. His name also causes Astro fans of a certain age to cringe. The point of baseball is to acquire players like Joe Morgan - not to trade them away. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

podcasts.apple.com

264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan

Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · 09/25/2025 · 51m

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

The #Astros have set some perverse record for most time lost to injuries, but most teams have had tons of injuries, especially to their pitching staffs. So where exactly will MLB find the extra 70-75 MLB-quality pitchers it will need to field two expansion teams? Do pitchers grow on trees?

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

We do not need is a 24-28 team FBS playoff. Instead, let's expand the regular season from 12 to 13 games and play them over 15 weeks. Let's require every team to play at least one non-conf. game on the road (not on neutral) as a qualifier for any playoffs or bowls. www.cbssports.com/college-foot...

cbssports.com

Big Ten discussing College Football Playoff expansion proposal to 24, 28 teams

The Big Ten developed new models it may soon communicate with other FBS commissioners, sources tell CBS Sports.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

No offense to Jason Alexander, but if you’re running Jason Alexander, barely a AAAA pitcher, out there in a late September game that matters, you’re kidding yourself. Undrafted FA, 32 years old, 142 MLB IP coming in, began the season in Las Vegas.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Banner - From left to right, Lou Gehrig, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth; photo taken in April 1928 by International Newsreel. Speaker and Cobb were at the center of a major gambling scandal following the 1926 season that saw both players forced to resign as manager of their respective teams.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

New Episode! 263 - The Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker Gambling Scandal of 1926 w/ Dan Taylor podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Banner: Rube Foster, Chicago American Giants with an unidentified white player from a Joliet, IL, team. Foster, 37, managed the American Giants and occasionally pitched. He was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Since June 30, the Astros are 25-28. The Astros have scored 47 runs in 16 games, August 15-31 (2.93 r/g) - 26 came in the first 3 games in the Oriole series at Camden.

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

‪ The Rick Wise Interview - Wise once pitched an official CG no-hitter and hit two HRs in the same game. He is the only player in big league history to accomplish this incredible feat. Do you think there is even a slim chance a big league player someday, somehow, repeats Wise's accomplishment. ‪

iheart.com

258 - "I Was a Kid Too Back Then" w/ Rick Wise - Hooks & Runs | iHeart

<p>Rick Wise pitched 18 seasons in the big league, beginning with is rookie year for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. He won 188 games in that span and achieved some notable milestones, including becom...

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Craig Estlinbaum @craigest.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Episode 258 - “‘I Was a Kid Too Back Then’ w/ Rick Wise Rick Wise won 188 games in an 18-yr big league career. He joined us this week to talk no-hitters, World Series, old ballparks and more. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

podcasts.apple.com

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Podcast Episode · Hooks & Runs · 08/14/2025 · 54m

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