Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast

Episode 305 - Before Valenzuela, How Mel Almada Broke MLB’s Barrier

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, hosts Jeff and Mark start with humorous-ish banter and discuss various baseball history topics including a deep dive into the first Mexican-born MLB player, Mel Almada, and his significant contributions to the sport. They also explore the MLB MVP debate and recount a baseball game that caused a stir with international royalty. The hosts engage in a Thanksgiving-themed name game, exploring baseball player names related to the holiday. The episode concludes with the Wax Packs Heroes segment, featuring curated packs from a listener, before Jeff and Mark announce a break for Thanksgiving.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:56 Baseball MVP Debate03:50 World Series Anecdotes10:22 Thanksgiving Themed Name Game17:11 Mel Almada: A Baseball Pioneer29:48 Wax Pack Heroes50:49 Concluding Remarks and Thanksgiving Break
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 304 - Ted Kluszewski, Chuck Klein & Captain Kirk Walk Into a Bar

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark recount various intriguing baseball history stories. They discuss the recently concluded World Series that garnered the most viewers since 1991's thrilling series and listen to the funniest baseball joke ever told, according to William Shatner, while sitting atop a horse. Included is an exploration of historic player incidents involving Chuck Klein and Ted Kluszewski. The show touches on baseball's relationship with pop culture, mentioning appearances on The Simpsons and celebrity reputations. The episode concludes with Wax Packs Heroes, spotlighting nostalgic baseball cards and a friendly competition between Jeff and Mark.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:43 World Series Recap05:26 Dodgers' Position Players Pitching08:30 Contemporary Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion10:04 MLB's Competitive Golf Tournament11:06 Japanese TV Show and Shohei Ohtani13:58 Trivia Question and Mascot Weight16:34 Dave Winfield & Robin Givens….mom?27:09 Chuck Klien, consistant HOFer27:46 Snake Deal29:46 A Historic Baseball Game in 196034:31 Wax Packs Heroes: Baseball Card Showdown51:14 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 303 - Frank Pastore & John Beradino, They Left Baseball — And Got Famous Anyway

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark dive into a variety of engaging topics. They kick off by discussing baseball players who stand out due to their 6,7 height. Jeff quizzes listeners on Chicago White Sox mascot Southpaw's weight in baseballs. They transition to humorous Pantone color discussions and a potential new curse linked to Colonel Sanders. The hosts reminisce about various '80s baseball movies and reveal Frank Pastor and John Bernardino's surprising careers post-baseball. Wrapping up, they play Wax Pack Heroes with a focus on 1990 Donruss cards, including notable players like Tim Wallach and Jim Abbott.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:20 Richie Sexton Studio and Tall Players02:14 Trivia Time: South Paw's Weight03:14 World Series and Pantone Colors04:17 Colonel Sanders and a New Baseball Curse?05:24 Bull Durham: The Musical07:45 Lou Gehrig's Historic Jersey09:38 Seinfeld and Baseball Cards12:22 Players with Successful Post-Baseball Careers30:31 Wax Pack Heroes: Baseball Card Game44:42 Wrapping Up and Listener Engagement
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 302 - Mysterious Walker, Baseball's Mystery Man

This Halloween, Two Strike Noise digs into the eerie side of America’s pastime — haunted ballparks, ghostly players, and one pitcher who went by so many names they just called him Mysterious Walker.
Jeff & Mark unearth the weirdest stories ever to cross the foul line:
Boris Karloff playing baseball in full Frankenstein makeup
Night-shift ghosts at the Baseball Hall of Fame
Ghoulish player names and cursed team legends that feel too strange to be true
Then it’s back to reality — sort of — with another round of Wax Pack Heroes, opening vintage cards and revisiting cult favorites like Al Newman and Pete Incaviglia.
If you like baseball, Halloween, or stories that make you say “that can’t be real,” this is your episode.
00:00 Introduction and Halloween Special Announcement01:20 World Series Ring Raffle and Spooky Baseball Quotes02:56 Hollywood's Monsters Love Baseball08:23 Haunted Baseball Hall of Fame10:53 Spooky Baseball Names17:46 The Mysterious Life of Frederick Mitchell Walker33:01 Wax Pack Heroes: Opening the 1987 Tops Pack56:50 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 301 - Ryan Fagan: What Hall of Fame Voters Don’t Say Out Loud

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark cover the weird, the wonderful, and the downright unpredictable in baseball. Jeff pitches a Mariners World Series giveaway that’s either bold or a cruse, depending on your perspective, and the guys break down a marketing face-off between Seattle and Toronto.
They dig into the latest from Banana Ball — including new teams paying tribute to the Negro Leagues — and wonder if Trevor Bauer’s dominance in Japan is impressive or just a by-product of the league’s current beer shortage. There’s also an urgent public debate over whether the White Sox mascot Southpaw is due for a weigh-in.
The main feature: part two of Jeff’s conversation with Hall of Fame voter and veteran writer Ryan Fagan, diving into how ballots really get filled out, what voters wrestle with, and how the process could evolve. The episode wraps with another nostalgic pack of Wax Pack Heroes.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:18 Mariners World Series Ring Giveaway?03:03 Creative Promo Battles: Mariners vs. Blue Jays03:56 Savannah Bananas and Negro Leagues Collaboration09:07 Japanese Baseball Updates12:25 Trivia Time: How Much Does South Paw Weigh?15:02 Baseball writer and HOF voter, Ryan Fagan34:35 Wax Pack Heroes51:20 Wrap up and Goodbyes
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 300 - The Baseball Podcast About Nothing, But Also, the Seinfeld Episode

In this milestone 300th episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark are joined by Ryan Fagan, longtime Sporting News writer, Hall of Fame voter, and noted Seinfeld/baseball connoisseur. Together they finally tackle the crossover we’ve all been waiting for — Seinfeld and baseball.
From Keith Hernandez’s legendary cameo to George Steinbrenner’s unseen hand, the crew breaks down how baseball became the show’s unofficial fifth character. Ryan shares insider context from both the press box and the writer’s room, while Jeff and Mark connect the dots between sitcom absurdity and real-life dugout drama.
Along the way they revisit the fantasy camp episode, debate which ballplayer cameo aged best, and decide whether the Keith Hernandez two-parter might just be the most enduring sports cameo in television history.
Episode Timeline
00:00 Introduction – Episode 300!03:10 Batting Practice – Baseball quirks, Operation Shut Down, and Miguel Montero09:45 Meet Ryan Fagan – Sporting News, Hall of Fame voter, Seinfeld fan13:20 When Baseball Met Seinfeld – Keith Hernandez, fantasy camp, and “The Boyfriend”23:40 The Yankees Era – Steinbrenner’s appearances and Costanza’s chaos33:25 Cameos & Callbacks – Jeter, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, and beyond42:05 Baseball’s Influence on Seinfeld – Competition, rituals, and superstition
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards
 

Episode 299 – Spahn vs. Marichal: Endurance, Willpower, and Willie

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark discuss a historic baseball matchup between Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn, known as the greatest game ever pitched. They dive into the specifics of the 16-inning game where Marichal and Spahn delivered a masterclass in endurance and skill. The episode also features listener e-mail, debut’s and odd baseball names, updates on the latest MLB season, and a Wax Pack Heroes segment that takes a nostalgic look at some classic 1992 baseball cards.
00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter00:33 Playoff Tensions and Mariners' Highlights04:15 Listener Feedback and Fun Nicknames11:05 Baseball Debuts and Retirements18:15 The Greatest Baseball Game Ever Pitched29:03 Wax Pack Heroes46:39 Wrapping Up and Announcements
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tom Foley or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 298 - Bo Belinsky, Pitcher, Playboy

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark kick off the show by discussing the sporadic schedule of their monthly baseball history podcast due to studio rentals. They dive into the history of Bo Belinsky, the Los Angeles Angels pitcher known as much for his Hollywood lifestyle as for his on-field performance. Belinsky's remarkable yet tumultuous career is explored, highlighting his brief success, off-field antics, and eventual downfall. The episode also features a detailed discussion on rankings of local TV and radio baseball announcers, with special attention to the Seattle Mariners team. Additionally, the duo engage in another round of Wax Packs Heroes, with Jeff ultimately taking the lead thanks to a lucky pull. They also talk about recent and nostalgic baseball anecdotes, making this episode a blend of history, humor, and friendly competition.
00:00 Introduction and Banter04:11 Baseball Announcers and Rankings09:48 Unique Baseball Moments and Trivia18:42 Bo Belinsky: The Hollywood Pitcher35:32 Wax Packs Heroes Game57:37 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Episode 296 - The Iron Man of the Mound: Mike Marshall’s 1974 Season

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark open in the Jesus Montero Studio, where an ice cream sandwich has never been more dangerous. From there, the guys dig into a card-collecting dad-and-son duo who cornered the market on Greg Briley, a record-shattering Hall of Fame induction program, and John Kruk’s musings on clocks, vegans, and sandwiches.They check in on the Little League World Series, where one Canadian kid has already labeled Juan Soto “overrated,” and highlight professional sluggers who quietly joined the 500-home run club outside MLB. Plus, anniversaries and debuts galore: Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout, Carmelo Martinez’s fly-ball “weakness,” Big Mac’s towel-wrapped sitcom cameo, and Dustin Pedroia’s Hall of Very Good candidacy.The main feature this week is Mark’s deep dive into Mike Marshall — not the Dodgers first baseman, but the 1974 Cy Young–winning reliever whose 106 appearances, 208 innings, and obsession with kinesiology made him one of baseball’s most fascinating arms.And as always, we wrap with another round of Wax Pack Heroes — where mullets, mustaches, and manager cards all come into play.
00:00 Introduction and Studio Banter03:17 Baseball Card Collecting Adventures06:00 Historic Baseball Memorabilia08:16 John Kruk's Hilarious Commentary10:00 Little League World Series Highlights11:51 500+ Home Run Club15:58 Baseball Debuts and Nostalgia21:05 Mike Marshall: The Iron Man Reliever32:46 Wax Pack Heroes Game48:35 Final Thoughts and Outro
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tom Foley or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

Episode 296 - The Babe You Forgot, Babe Phelps

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark cover some fresh headlines around the game — including Mariano Rivera going down at Yankees Old-Timers’ Day, Jen Pawol breaking barriers behind the plate, and Fernando Rodney still firing arrows in Canada at age 48.The main topic this week is Babe Phelps, one of baseball’s many “Babes,” but maybe the quirkiest of the bunch. From hitting .367 as a catcher, to Casey Stengel roasting his pitch-calling, to being nicknamed “The Grounded Blimp” after refusing to fly, Phelps collected as many roommate stories as base hits. Along the way, we meet a young Pee Wee Reese moving hotel furniture in his sleep, Tom Zachary hiding wallets on the floor, and even Babe Ruth bunking with Phelps on the road.The episode wraps up with another round of Wax Pack Heroes, tearing open some cardboard to see which stars and oddballs pop out this week.
00:00 Introduction and Banter01:13 Upcoming Milestone Episode01:52 Yankees Old Timers Game04:21 Jen Powel08:08 Fernando Rodney's New Chapter10:52 Baseball Players and Pokemon Cards13:51 Babe Phelps: The Forgotten Babe27:36 Wax Pack Heroes48:16 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com
We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tom Foley or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/
#podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards