There Must Come a Change

the triumph and tragedy of Octavius Valentine Catto

Octavius Valentine Catto was a man for all seasons. He could have been the leader Philadelphia needed... if he hadn't been murdered.

Categories: Biography, History, Series 15

Tags: African-Americans baseball Chicago, IL Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Presented by #13 racism Washington, DC

Published: April 28, 2025

A Month of Billys

was Billy Sunday good at baseball?

Billy Sunday was America's foremost evangelist, whose admirers included young men, ex-presidents, and titans of industry... but how was his baserunning?

Categories: Biography, Series 13, Sports & Leisure

Tags: baseball Chicago, IL Christianity Iowa National League Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, PA Presented by #13 religion

Published: April 3, 2023

The Buzzer Brigade

a shocking scandal in the world of sport

Years before baseball played its first game under electric lights, the 1900 Philadelphia Phillies used electricity at the Baker Bowl... to steal signs.

Categories: Bonus Episodes, Man's Amazing Inventions, Sports & Leisure

Tags: baseball Colonel John Ignatius Rogers Ed Delahanty Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Presented by #13

Published: June 13, 2022

Errata #2

in which we own up to some more mistakes

Errata for The Hot House; French Leave; The Icelander; "I'm the Naughty Boy"; What-Is-It?; Moron or Madman?; Suffer Little Children; and more.

Categories: Bonus Episodes, Errata

Tags: baseball Bayard Pfundtner Peakes civil law Colonel John Ignatius Rogers Colonel Joseph H. Wood communism dime museum Dr. Cyrus Reed Teed "Koresh" Dr. Dicran Hadjy Kabakjian Dr. Dinshah Pestanji Framji Ghadiali Dr. John Ballou Newbrough Ed Delahanty Elizabeth Rowell Thompson Fairmount Park Henry M. Bennett Ira Colver Sparks Jersey Devil Laura Biggar Oahspe Olaf Strandwold Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Pontifacts Presented by #13 Silver Lake Tales from Aztlantis The Constant Thorfinn Karlsefni Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Walter Wanger

Published: November 1, 2021

The Graveyard of Baseball

October 1, 1970 was a day that would live in infamy

It was supposed to be a celebration of sixty years of baseball... and instead, well, Philadelphia fans did what Philadelphia fans do best.

Categories: Most Popular, Series 8, Sports & Leisure

Tags: baseball Colonel John Ignatius Rogers Cornelius "Connie Mack" McGillicuddy Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Presented by #13

Published: September 20, 2021

Triple Jumper

the mysterious death of baseball superstar Ed Delahanty (1867-1903)

On July 2, 1903 Washington Senators outfielder Ed Delahanty walked out of the team's hotel in Detroit and disappeared.

Categories: Intriguing & Unsolved Mysteries, Series 7, Sports & Leisure

Tags: American League baseball Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson Cleveland, OH Colonel John Ignatius Rogers Detroit, MI Ed Delahanty National League New York Giants Niagara Falls, NY Niagara Falls, ON Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Presented by #13 Washington, DC

Published: June 21, 2021

Exceeding Great

that's Ezekiel 9:9 for those of you reading along at home

How many times will folks fall for the same old tricks? You might be surprised. The story of Prince Mike, King Ben, and the Houses of Israel and David.

Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, Least Popular, People & Places, Series 5

Tags: "King" Benjamin Franklin Purnell "Prince" Michael Keyfor Mills 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition Ann O'Delia Diss Debar baseball Canada communism crime cult David Livingston Mackay Detroit, MI Messiah Michigan Presented by #13 Protestantism religion United Kingdom Windsor, ON

Published: November 23, 2020

French Leave

a baseball superstar, an irate owner, and a clever workaround

In 1902 baseball player Nap Lajoie was prohibited by law from entering the state of Pennsylvania. How did this weird state of affairs come to pass?

Categories: Series 4, Sports & Leisure

Tags: American League baseball Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson civil law Cleveland, OH Colonel John Ignatius Rogers Cornelius "Connie Mack" McGillicuddy Ed Delahanty Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie National League Oakland Athletics Pennsylvania Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, PA Presented by #13

Published: June 15, 2020

Herb Washington

We've shared this on social media but not on the web site. Here it is... the first (and so far only) thing we've ever purchased off eBay.

Categories: Sports & Leisure, Supplement

Tags: baseball Herbert Lee Washington Oakland Athletics

Published: May 25, 2020

Hurricane Coming Through

the astonishing career of Herbert Lee Washington, baseball's only designated runner

In 1974, Herb Washington was the world's fastest human... but could he turn raw speed into a professional baseball career?

Categories: Biography, Series 2, Sports & Leisure

Tags: baseball Herbert Lee Washington McDonald's Oakland Athletics Presented by #13

Published: December 30, 2019

The Ugliest Man in Baseball

big, rugged, and in his way, beautiful

He may have had the best worst nickname in baseball, but "Ugly" Johnny Dickshot was more than just a pretty face. He was also a character.

Categories: Biography, Series 1, Sports & Leisure

Tags: baseball Chicago, IL New York Giants New York, NY Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, PA Presented by #13

Published: September 9, 2019