Good Seats Still Available

“Good Seats Still Available” is a curious little podcast devoted to the exploration of what used-to-be in professional sports. Each week, host Tim Hanlon interviews former players, owners, broadcasters, beat reporters, and surprisingly famous "super fans" of teams and leagues that have come and gone - in an attempt to unearth some of the most wild and woolly moments in (often forgotten) sports history.

378: US Pro Soccer's "League 1 America" - With Jim Paglia 01/13/2025

378: US Pro Soccer's "League 1 America" - With Jim Paglia Spurred on by a penned last November by (as well as another by Guardian soccer writer Jack Williams ), we delve into the fascinating story of the visionary, yet controversial 1990s American pro soccer league that never was - League 1 America - with its mastermind Jim Paglia. Born in the wake of the 1989 awarding of the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States, League 1 America was an ambitious attempt to reimagine a post-Cup pro soccer league for an American audience that gravitated toward fast-paced, high-scoring sports like football and basketball. Paglia’s vision centered on blending traditional soccer elements with entertainment-focused innovations and dedicated mall-like facilities, aiming to build a league that prioritized marketability and fan engagement above all else. The league’s format featured radical rule changes, including shootouts to resolve ties, shortened match durations, and scoring modifications to encourage more goals and continuous action. Paglia also planned to lean heavily on corporate sponsorships, creating a business model that integrated entertainment and commercial viability, with aspirations of competing against America’s major sports leagues for both fans and television audiences. Despite its innovative ideas, League 1 America never materialized. The league faced a skeptical sporting landscape, with the demise of the North American Soccer League in the mid-1980s still fresh in the public’s memory and doubts about soccer’s viability as a mainstream American sport. Financial hurdles, coupled with resistance from soccer traditionalists and a lack of institutional support, doomed the project before it could get off the ground. Critics dismissed Paglia’s vision as an overly commercialized distortion of soccer’s essence, while fans of the global game balked at the Americanized rule changes. Yet, the story of League 1 America remains a fascinating “what if” in the history of U.S. soccer. A number of its ideas - especially the building of experience-driven soccer-specific stadiums - can be seen in today's Major League Soccer. Paglia’s efforts highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of growing soccer in the U.S., underscoring the tension between preserving the sport’s global traditions and adapting it to local tastes. Today, as soccer continues its steady rise in America, League 1 America serves as a reminder of the bold experimentation and resilience that helped lay the groundwork for the sport’s future. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: Blue Sky: Threads: X/Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/34825880

377: Baseball's Historical Concentricities - With Curt Smith 01/06/2025

376: The 5th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular! 12/30/2024

376: The 5th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular! It's our year-end Holiday Roundtable Spectacular - featuring a look back at the year's newest additions to "what used-to-be" in professional sports (RIP MLB's "Oakland" Athletics & the NHL's Arizona Coyotes), and a predictive glimpse into what might be in store for 2025 - with two of our favorite fellow defunct sports enthusiasts: Steve Holroyd (, & Episodes , , , & ); and Paul Reeths (, & ). Buckle up for our yearly mélange of amusement and bemusement at the fringes of the pro sports establishment, as we simultaneously marvel at and lament some of the most curious events of the past year, debate who and what might be next to stumble into oblivion, and conjecture about future scenarios for the next generation of defunct and otherwise forgotten pro sports teams and leagues - including: Spring football's unified UFL Arena Football League 2.0 RIP (and Arena Football One 2025) MLB's now-Sacramento-and-someday-Las Vegas (maybe) Athletics The NHL's Utah Hockey Club (fka Arizona [née Phoenix] Coyotes, via the WHA's original Winnipeg Jets) Major League Cricket Baseball's genre-bending Savannah Bananas - and its soon-to-launch Banana Ball Championship League Indoor soccer's new Baller League Premier League Lacrosse's pivot to city teams and a new women's division The new League One Volleyball (LOVB) takes on the 2nd-year Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) NWSL soccer PWHL hockey PLUS: Can Diamond Baseball Holdings (41 MiLB teams and counting!) be stopped? AND: Will Michael Jordan, et al. break up the NASCAR stock car monopoly? + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: Blue Sky: Threads: X/Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/34646460

375: NASL, MISL & MLS Soccer - With National Soccer Hall of Famer Johnny Moore 12/23/2024

374: The NFL's Providence Steam Roller - With Greg Tranter 12/16/2024

374: The NFL's Providence Steam Roller - With Greg Tranter We welcome pro football historian (and ) Greg Tranter ("") to our microphones this week for a look back at the oft-forgotten - which competed in the early-days National Football League from 1925-31. Based in Providence, RI, the Steam Roller holds a unique place in gridiron history as the first and only team from the Ocean State to win an NFL championship. The team's unusual name reflected the industrial character of the region and was derived from a local steamroller manufacturer. The Steam Roller played their home games primarily at the , an outdoor stadium primarily designed for bicycle races, which provided a distinctive playing venue. In inclement weather, the team occasionally used the Providence Auditorium, making them one of the few teams to ever host an indoor NFL game. The club was renowned for its tough, physical play -especially in 1928 when, under the leadership of player/coach , the Steam Roller achieved its greatest success by winning a closely contested (and ultimately board room-decided) NFL title over the Frankford (PA) Yellow Jackets. Despite their championship success, the Steam Roller struggled with the financial challenges common to early NFL teams, particularly during the Great Depression. In 1931, the franchise folded due to declining attendance and steepening losses at gate. Though short-lived, the Providence Steam Roller left a lasting legacy as a reminder of the NFL's early days, when the league was still establishing itself in small and mid-sized cities across the United States. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" (2024): https://amzn.to/3ZVBTb9 FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: Blue Sky: Threads: X/Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/34458150

373: The Once and Future Detroit Lions - With Bill Morris 12/09/2024

372: "Banned" - With Michael Ray Richardson & Jake Uitti 12/02/2024

371: The Cleveland Indians' Ray Chapman - With Scott Longert 11/25/2024

370: Basketball Jump Shot Innovator Ken Sailors - With Debbie Sorensen 11/18/2024

370: Basketball Jump Shot Innovator Ken Sailors - With Debbie Sorensen Author/biographer Debbie Sorensen () delves into the story of basketball pioneer Kenny Sailors (1921–2016), one of the most unheralded influencers in both the collegiate and pro game. Widely credited with popularizing the modern-day jump shot, Sailors first stunned audiences in the early 1940s when he elevated mid-air to shoot over taller defenders - a revolutionary move in an era dominated by set shots. His innovation not only expanded offensive possibilities but also became a fundamental skill in basketball at all levels. As a standout player for the University of Wyoming, Sailors led his team to the NCAA Championship in 1943, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. His game-changing jump shot helped transform basketball into the fast-paced, dynamic sport we recognize today. After serving in World War II, Sailors had a successful professional career in the ascendant Basketball Association of America (BAA) - most notably with the Cleveland Rebels and Providence Steamrollers - as well as in the first two years of the NBA (the original NBL-absorbed Denver Nuggets, and BAA-originated Boston Celtics & Baltimore Bullets). Beyond his contributions on the court, Sailors was an advocate for youth sports and the importance of education, spending decades mentoring young athletes. His legacy is celebrated not only for his role in evolving the sport but also for his character and sportsmanship. Inducted into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame in 2012, Kenny Sailors remains a towering figure in basketball history - though, criminally, still not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) (10% off promo code: SEATS): (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" (2024): https://amzn.to/3Vko1ob STREAM THE DOCUMENTARY (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" (2022): FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: Blue Sky: X/Twitter: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/33963432

369: The AAGPBL's South Bend Blue Sox - With Jim Sargent 11/11/2024

368: Soccer's "Tinpot" Cups - With Simon Turner 11/04/2024

367: Myron Cope: Voice of the Steelers - With Dan Joseph 10/28/2024

367: Myron Cope: Voice of the Steelers - With Dan Joseph Voice of America news editor and Pittsburgh native Dan Joseph ("") joins the podcast this week for a deep dive into the legacy of one of pro football's most unique broadcast voices. Myron Cope (1929-2008) served as the radio color commentator for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 2005, becoming an irreplaceable voice in NFL broadcasting. Known for his distinctive, gravelly tone and catchphrases like “Yoi!” and “Okle-dokle,” Cope's excitement and unapologetic support for the Steelers led fans to mute their TVs and tune into his radio broadcasts. His career extended beyond game days, with his pioneering evening talk show dominating Pittsburgh’s airwaves for over two decades and earning him the honor of being the first pro football announcer inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Pittsburgh to Lithuanian Jewish parents, Cope initially pursued journalism, writing for publications such as Sports Illustrated. But it was through the airwaves that he truly captured fans’ hearts. In 1975, Cope created the "Terrible Towel" - a gold towel Steelers fans waved in support of their team - which became a powerful emblem of Steelers Nation. His contributions to the team’s lore also include co-naming 1972's “Immaculate Reception,” forever tying him to one of the NFL’s most iconic plays. Beyond broadcasting, Cope’s legacy reflects his dedication to his family and community. He donated all Terrible Towel royalties to the care facility where his son, born with brain damage, still resides. Over his lifetime, Cope raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for children with disabilities, underscoring the kindness and loyalty that endeared him to Pittsburgh and solidified his place in sports history. + + + SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" (2024): https://amzn.to/3O2CbWZ FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/33630257

366: "Mornings With Madden" - With Stan Bunger 10/21/2024

366: "Mornings With Madden" - With Stan Bunger John Madden (1936-2021) was more than a football icon - he embodied the sport itself. As the unmistakable voice of the NFL for nearly 30 years, he brought America’s game into TV living rooms across the country. His name became synonymous with football, not just through his legendary broadcast career, but also as the face of his eponymous "Madden" video game franchise. On the field, he was a coaching mastermind, holding the highest career winning percentage of any NFL coach - achieved exclusively with one club, the AFL-then-NFL Oakland Raiders (1969-78). Madden’s influence reshaped how fans experienced football, both on screen and in person. But there was another side to Madden, known only to those in the San Francisco Bay Area - where he not only grew up and resided, but also where he shared a daily ritual for nearly four decades - a morning chat with his local radio station. To the nation's fans, Madden was the booming voice of Sunday pro football, but to Bay Area listeners, he was also their neighbor, engaging in lighthearted, often profound conversations about life beyond the gridiron. These radio segments offered him a break from the spotlight, where he revealed a more personal and down-to-earth side to his personality. In ," former KCBS-AM/FM morning news anchor Stan Bunger—the radio host who spent over fifteen years in daily conversation with Madden - presents a rare, intimate look at the man behind the legend. Drawing from thousands of recordings and personal memories, Bunger reveals a different Madden: a devoted father, loving husband, bad golfer, dog owner, and fan of roadside diners. Off-screen, Madden pondered life’s simple joys and frustrations with the same humor and passion that captivated millions on TV. + + + SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (promo code: GOODSEATS) (promo code: SEATS): BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" (2024): https://amzn.to/3UhWG5l FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/33514827

365: NBC Sports Broadcaster Tom Hammond 10/14/2024

364: The Original "Louisville Slugger" - With Tim Newby 10/07/2024

363: Sports Promotion Pioneer Abe Saperstein - With Mark & Matt Jacob 09/30/2024

362: "Kiner's Korner" - With Mark Rosenman 09/23/2024

362: "Kiner's Korner" - With Mark Rosenman With the Mets th-i-i-i-i-s close to a rare MLB playoff berth this season, we do our best not to jinx their chances with a look back at the local New York post-game TV show synonymous with the club's first 32 years in Gotham with sports reporter/author Mark Rosenman (""). "Kiner's Korner" was a beloved postgame interview show that became a staple of New York Mets broadcasts from the team's inception in 1962 through the 1990s. Hosted by Hall of Fame player and broadcaster , the show aired on WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) after Mets games and occasionally before them. Known for its relaxed and casual style, "Kiner’s Korner" gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite players, with Kiner interviewing the star of the game, reviewing key highlights, and updating scores from other games. The show was both informative and lighthearted, often showcasing Kiner’s warmth, humor, and legendary on-air in-game malapropisms. The name "Kiner's Korner" was a nod to the left-field seats at Forbes Field, where Kiner hit many of his home runs during his Hall of Fame career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. These seats, once known as "Greenberg's Gardens" for Kiner's predecessor Hank Greenberg, were renamed "Kiner's Korner" after Kiner's meteoric rise in baseball. The show maintained a simple, intimate format, with players reflecting on their performances, sharing stories, and connecting with fans on a personal level, which helped strengthen Kiner’s bond with baseball enthusiasts across generations. Despite its low-key production, the show became a cherished part of Mets culture, especially as it captured memorable moments from New York baseball history. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: (from ): https://bit.ly/3ZRZo5l (from ): https://bit.ly/4gAFDF5 (from ): SPONSOR THANKS: (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) READ EARLY AND OFTEN: "" (2016): https://amzn.to/3MUcszb FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/33148767

361: ABA Memories & Life Lessons - With George Tinsley 09/16/2024

360: The NFL's 1952 Dallas Texans - With Mike Cobern 09/09/2024

359: The Making of the Super Bowl - With Dennis Deninger 09/02/2024

358: The Cleveland Indians' "Ten Cent Beer Night" - With Scott Jarrett 08/26/2024

357: "The Stadium" - With Frank Guridy 08/19/2024

356: "Sex, Drugs, Pucks, and Souls" - With Bobby Robins 08/12/2024

355: Baseball's "Uncommon" Danny O'Connell - With Steve Wiegand 08/05/2024

355: Baseball's "Uncommon" Danny O'Connell - With Steve Wiegand We head back to the diamond this week for a look into the "extraordinarily ordinary" baseball life of 1950s-era infielder with biographer Steve Wiegand (""). Wiegand's story is a rich exploration of a player often overlooked in history due to his status as a "common" card in the world of sports memorabilia. However, the book delves far deeper than his on-field statistics, offering a comprehensive look at his life and contributions. O'Connell's story spans from his upbringing in Paterson, NJ, through his professional baseball career during the sport's "Golden Era" - including notable stops with forgotten franchises like the Milwaukee version of the Braves, the New York Giants (including the franchise's move to San Francisco in 1958), the first two seasons of the second version of the Washington Senators (now today's Texas Rangers), and even a 1963 managerial stint with the long-forgotten minor league York (PA) White Roses - to his varied endeavors beyond the field, including singing, shuffleboard, and public speaking. Wiegand paints a vivid picture of O'Connell's life, contextualizing it within the broader landscape of post-war America and the evolution of baseball card collecting. The narrative challenges the notion of what it means to be "average" - highlighting O'Connell's "ordinary" baseball achievements and the human spirit embodied in his journey. It critiques the reduction of lives to mere statistics or collectible items and celebrates the overlooked heroes of baseball, urging readers to reevaluate what makes a life truly extraordinary. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : SPONSOR THANKS: (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) READ EARLY AND OFTEN: (2024): https://amzn.to/3WNrtIO FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/32429442

354: Sports Phone - With Scott Orgera and Howie Karpin 07/29/2024

353.7: The NHL’s Atlanta Flames (& More!) – With Dan Bouchard [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 07/22/2024

353.7: The NHL’s Atlanta Flames (& More!) – With Dan Bouchard [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] [One last dip into the vault before a flood of new episodes beginning next week; from 2020, our revealing conversation with a pro hockey great - and Atlanta Flames original!} For 1970s-era NHL hockey fans who remember the eight-year adventure known as the Atlanta Flames, few are likely to forget Dan Bouchard. A tenacious, slightly eccentric and occasionally fight-prone French-Canadian goalie, “Bouch” was an immediate standout between the pipes for the NHL’s first-ever Deep South franchise (platooning with fellow Quebecois & expansion draftee Phil Myre during the club’s first five seasons) – and a survivor in a league where hard-nosed hockey was the norm and where good goalies were at a premium. Bouchard’s big-league call-up to the Flames in 1972 came amidst a frantic period of NHL franchise expansion and relocation driven in large part by the arrival of the challenger World Hockey Association – which debuted alongside Atlanta (and the NY Islanders) that season. And while the collective memory of the original Flames remains muddied by a woeful post-season record (reliably exiting the playoffs in the first round, despite qualifying six out of their eight seasons), as well as a then (and still?) persistent narrative of Southerners’ native distaste for ice hockey – Bouchard and Atlanta were actually more competitive and popular than many of the NHL’s other 1970s forays in places like Kansas City, Oakland, Denver, and Cleveland. When Nelson Skalbania bought the Flames and moved them to Calgary in 1980, most in Atlanta and around the league assumed that the well-publicized financial struggles of the team and owner Tom Cousins (who also controlled the Omni arena and the NBA Hawks) were to blame. But as Bouchard outlines in this revealing conversation, an explosive league-wide issue was festering behind the scenes – of which he was uniquely aware and determined to address – regardless of the potential consequences to his playing career. Bouch walks us through an eye-opening story that wends its way through the defunct Quebec Nordiques (including the infamous “Good Friday Massacre” vs. the Montreal Canadiens in 1984), the original Winnipeg Jets, the scandalous downfall of a pro hockey Hall of Famer, and fighting for legendary player/coach Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion both on – and off – the ice. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW : SPONSOR THANKS (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) FIND & FOLLOW Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/32234497

353.6: NASL Soccer's Chief Architect Clive Toye [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 07/15/2024

353.6: NASL Soccer's Chief Architect Clive Toye [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] [By popular request, an archive re-release from August 2018, featuring our extraordinary conversation with one of the central figures of the original North American Soccer League - from its chaotic formation in 1968 to its untimely demise in 1985.] + + + Soccer America columnist (and guest) Paul Gardner summed up this week's National Soccer Hall of Fame guest in his May 2015 commentary: “The debt owed by American soccer to Clive Toye is a vast one. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say, flatly, that without Toye’s blind faith in the sport in the 1970s, pro soccer in the USA would have withered and died. Yes, Phil Woosnam and Lamar Hunt and Bob Hermann were there too. But in those unpromising years it was Toye’s voice -- it came in a steady flow of ridiculously optimistic press releases and grandiose plans for a future that few others even dared to ponder -- that called loudest. “The New York Cosmos general manager credited with turning that league’s fortunes around when he signed Pele to a contract in 1975. Toye, who was born in England and came to the United States in 1967 at the age of 33, was president of three North American Soccer League teams – the Cosmos, Chicago Sting and Toronto Blizzard – and general manager of the [original National Professional Soccer League and subsequent NASL] Baltimore Bays. [He] was an official of the NASL in helping it through its crisis year of 1969 and in its final months in 1985 – and helped to found the third American Soccer League in 1988. “There has always been the spirit of a showman in Toye, and surely it was that spirit that enabled Toye to overlook the virtual collapse of the old North American Soccer League and to see instead a glittering future for the sport in the USA, even to declare to anyone who was listening -- and not many were in those days -- the preposterous notion that the USA should begin preparing to stage the World Cup. “And when the NASL, by the skin of its teeth and by the mad devotion of Toye et al., did survive, it was Toye who gave the reborn league its glittering image with his invention of the Cosmos, with his canny maneuvering and dealing, who brought Pele and Beckenbauer to New York. Showmanship indeed.” Toye (; ) joins host Tim Hanlon for a lyrical and anecdote-filled journey through the pro league that he helped create, later put to rest, and which ultimately shored up the long-term foundation of the “beautiful game” in America. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: (2006): (2015): SPONSOR THANKS: (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) FIND & FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/32131692

353.5: The Senior Professional Baseball Association - With David Whitford [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 07/08/2024

353.5: The Senior Professional Baseball Association - With David Whitford [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] [An archive re-release favorite from September 2017, featuring one of professional baseball's most enigmatic leagues!] Inc. Editor-at-Large David Whitford () joins host Tim Hanlon to retrace his journalistic odyssey covering the inaugural season of the short-lived, Florida-based Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA) in the winter of 1989-90. Whitford recalls the early-career events leading up to his plum writing assignment, and the process by which he went about chronicling this unique, but ultimately ill-fated eight-team circuit for former pro players over the age of 35 (32 for catchers). Despite half the franchises folding after the first 72-game season (and the rest of the league mid-way through the second), the Senior League afforded dozens of former big-league players and managers what Whitford dubbed a "life-after-death fantasy" – one that attracted both stars and journeymen alike for a chance to either stay fresh for one last shot in the Show, recapture past on-field glories, or simply earn some needed money. Whitford highlights a wide array of characters he met while covering the SBPA, including: Founder Jim Morley, the thirty-something hustler who erroneously believed a senior league could generate cash flow sufficient to sustain his debt-ridden real-estate empire; Commissioner Curt Flood, the indefatigable player’s union representative who broke Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, but sacrificed his career in the process; Pitcher Wayne Garland, the former Cleveland ace and early free-agent beneficiary who risked permanent shoulder damage by coming back to play pro ball after a five-year layoff; Ex-Padres/Astros fastballer (and pioneer descendant) Danny Boone, who reinvented himself into a knuckleball specialist, and improbably made it back to the bigs with Baltimore in 1990 following the SPBA season; AND A veritable who’s who of former big-name major league stars – each with their own personal reasons for returning to the diamonds: Bobby Bonds, Joaquin Andujar, Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins, Dave Kingman, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Graig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, and even manager Earl Weaver – just to name a few. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : SPONSOR THANKS: (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: (2024): https://amzn.to/4cfkRbs FIND & FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/32040217

353: The NASL v. US Soccer/MLS Case - With Steven Bank 07/01/2024

352: An Appreciation of Vin Scully - With Tom Hoffarth 06/24/2024

352: An Appreciation of Vin Scully - With Tom Hoffarth We celebrate the legendary career and outsized influence of one of baseball's most recognized voices, with veteran LA sportswriter Tom Hoffarth (). From the "Early Days" dustjacket: "When Vin Scully passed away in 2022, the city of Los Angeles lost its soundtrack. If you were able to deliver a eulogy for him, what might it include? What impact did he have on you? What do you carry forward from his legacy? "Sixty-seven essayists—one representing each season of his career calling games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1950 through 2016—reflect on the ways his professional and private life influenced them. The contributions include a range of stories and remembrances from those who knew and followed him. The consensus of the contributions is that Scully’s actions spoke louder than his well-recognized words. "This collection includes fellow broadcasters as well as historians, players, journalists, celebrities, and others connected to the game of baseball, with each piece introduced by sports journalist Tom Hoffarth. Readers can consider Scully’s life through common themes: his sincerity, his humility, his professionalism, his passion for his faith, his devotion to his family, his insistence on remembering and giving context to important moments in the history of not just the game but the world in general, all wrapped up in a gift for weaving storytelling with accurate reporting, fellowship with performance art, humor, and connection." [P.S. - As mentioned in this week's episode, check out this amazing 2016 conversation , who passed away last week at the age of 93.] + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : SPONSOR THANKS: (promo code: SEATS): (promo code: GOODSEATS) BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: (2024): https://amzn.to/4cfkRbs FIND & FOLLOW: Website: X/Twitter: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: YouTube: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/31841182

Good Seats Still Available

TOPICS