Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast

Jeff and Mark return and open with BP topics including Bobby Witt Jr.’s inside-the-park homer and a minor-league inside-the-park home run created when a fielder slid on a ball and unknowingly plugged it under the turf. They discuss Cal Raleigh ending an 0-for-38 slump by showering in full uniform, then going on the IL, and debate complaints about constant in-stadium audio at Yankee Stadium, including claims Aaron Judge wants Madison Square Garden-style energy and even signals the production booth. In Tales from the Dugout, Mark explains “Eddie Sissons Syndrome” for exaggerated baseball biographies, while Jeff shares an 1883 carrier-pigeon score delivery system and the story of Clarence “Climax” Blethyn’s dentures biting him during a slide. The show ends with Wax Pack Heroes from 2003 Topps, and there's a manager card!.
 
00:00 BP Weird Baseball Moments
15:04 Grounds Crew to Dugout Tales
16:36 Eddie Sissons Syndrome
20:43 Pigeon Scoreboard in 1883
23:30 Dentures Bite Back Story
30:34 Wax Pack Heroes
46:58 Streams and Signoff
 
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Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
 
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark kick off their opening day episode of Two Strike Noise by mocking the Giants’ version of the viral 9-9-9 challenge (mini hot dogs and one beer split into flight glasses) and complaining about MLB games being scattered across too many streaming platforms. They share quirky baseball items and stories, including a Royals rookie oversleeping, an MLB/Mountain Dew promo tied to 420-foot homers, Rays jerseys containing pieces of Tropicana Field’s hurricane-damaged roof, and a collector seeking ticket stubs from all 2,499 Carlton Fisk catching games. They then run through notable opening day history: Ruth homering at the first Yankee Stadium game (1923), Walter Johnson’s 15-inning shutout (1926), Bob Feller’s opening day no-hitter (1940), painted-stand suit stains in Boston (1946), Jackie Robinson’s debut (1947), the Seattle Pilots’ makeshift stadium (1969), Hank Aaron tying Ruth (1974), and umpire John McSherry’s fatal on-field heart attack and Marge Schott’s reaction (1996). And an episode wouldn't be complete without ripping some old baseball cards and playing Wax Pack Heroes.
 
00:00 Show Intro and Banter
01:15 Opening Day Vibes
01:37 Giants Botch 999
05:35 Baseball Streaming Chaos
09:00 MLB Seinfeld Style Oversleep
10:08 Mountain Dew 420 Promo
11:20 Rays Roof Jersey Patch
12:28 Carlton Fisk Ticket Hunt
13:50 First Pitch Record Story
17:26 Rolling Out Opening Day History
17:38 Yankee Stadium Ruth Homer
18:40 Walter Johnson 15 Innings
20:05 Feller Opening Day No No
22:44 Braves Green Paint Disaster
24:24 Jackie Robinson Debut
25:10 Seattle Pilots First Game
25:43 Stadium Chaos Opener
26:33 Hank Aaron Ties Ruth
28:13 Umpire Tragedy 1996
33:45 Wax Pack Heroes
47:40 Outro And Plugs
Connect With Us
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoise
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoise
BlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.social
Email: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
 
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
 
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark open discussing Hideki Matsui’s scheduled lecture at the Japan Society of Fertilization and Implantation and how he became an ‘expert’ on the subject. They review minor-league rule experiments, including moving second base again, check-swing challenges, limiting batter timeouts, counting PitchCom issues as mound visits, reducing disengagements, and allowing starters to re-enter, plus a DH-related idea. They cover an NPB postseason rule expanding “ghost wins” in the Climax Series and MLB’s spring training re-measurements to calibrate automated strike zones, noting several players’ height changes. In “Tales from the Dugout,” they recount 1900 Giants players rescuing people from a fire before a game that ended in a stalled tie, a 1944 Reds-Braves game finished in 1:15 on 58 pitches, and odd baseball card stories involving Mike Proly’s empty-bench card and forged Little Sun autographs. The episode ends with a 2003 Topps Wax Pack Heroes matchup.
 
00:00 Podcast Cold Open
00:51 Matsui Fertility Lecture
02:35 Minor League Rule Experiments
07:06 NPB Ghost Wins Debate
08:33 Measuring Strike Zones
13:45 1900 Fire Rescue Antics
18:19 1944 Speedrun Game
22:51 Mike Proly is Missing Card
26:48 Little Sun Set Tease
27:47 Roper Over Jeter Chase
29:46 Backdoored Autograph Scandal
31:10 Mystery Card Hunt Segment
32:44 Wax Pack Heroes Begins
52:01 Wrap Up and Listener Teams
Connect With Us
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoise
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoise
BlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.social
Email: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
 
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
 
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark open this week’s episode with some unique baseball history notes, including Andre Dawson’s Hall of Fame plaque, Ramon Laureano’s scratched spring start due to his new best boy, a forgotten Jay Johnstone’s prank, a “Very Reverend” arrested for stealing baseball card packs, and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp using “Honey Drippers” as an alternate identity. The main story spotlights Browns outfielder Ken Williams’ remarkable 1922 season during Babe Ruth’s early suspension, detailing his league-leading power, 30–30 milestone, record feats, lack of MVP votes, a corked-bat controversy, and head injuries that helped end his career. The episode closes with Wax Packs Heroes from a 2003 Topps pack featuring some Hall of Famers and some not even close Hall of Famers.
 
00:00 Podcast Intro and Banter
01:24 Hall of Fame Cap Debate
03:41 Weird Spring Training Injuries
05:14 Jay Johnstone Prank Story
06:26 Reverend Card Theft Bust
09:20 Honey Drippers Name Revival
10:57 Main Story Ken Williams Begins
34:29 Wax Pack Heroes Returns
47:36 Wrap Up Plugs Farewell
Connect With Us
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoise
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoise
BlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.social
Email: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
 
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
 
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark open with BP updates including Ben Davis cutting his kneecap to the bone with a chainsaw and Matt Waldron being hospitalized after hemorrhoid surgery, plus an immaculate-grid note that Josh Gibson pitched once and Cool Papa Bell pitched extensively with a winning record. They discuss Mets pitcher Ryan Lambert boosting velocity by eating up to 30 raw eggs a day and debate how baseball phrases dominate everyday language. The main topic covers the Indianapolis Clowns, a Negro American League team that blended high-level play with choreographed comedy (including the “magic circle,” a first baseman on stilts, and barnstorming life under segregation) while still winning, including the 1950 pennant, and featuring a brief 1952 stint by Henry Aaron before the Braves bought his contract for $10,000. They add that the Clowns signed women players like Toni Stone and inspired the film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, then finish with a 2003 Topps Wax Pack Heroes round featuring players like Hideo Nomo, Alfonso Soriano, Orlando Hudson, Roberto Alomar, Larry Walker, and “Young Bong.”
 
00:00 Podcast Cold Open
00:54 Ben Davis Chainsaw Massacre
03:41 Dude Wipes and Waldron
05:33 Immaculate Grid Oddities
08:38 Raw Eggs for Velocity
11:28 Baseball Phrases Everywhere
15:16 Meet the Indianapolis Clowns
34:25 Wax Pack Heroes 
50:13 Wrap Up And Plugs
Connect With Us
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoise
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoise
BlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.social
Email: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
 
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
 
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark open the episode by diving into some Pacific Northwest baseball deep-cuts, starting with the 14-year career of Darnell Coles and the search for his possible lone existing mural. They cover a run of opening day oddities, including Tuffy Rhodes’ three-homer barrage against Doc Gooden in '94 and Harry Caray’s confusion over fans spending their honeymoon at Wrigley Field. The guys also look at the current state of Rookie of the Year droughts for the Padres and Guardians and mourn the loss of the MLB.tv discount to the "ESPN corporate machine."
The main feature covers the complex life of Jackie Jensen, the only man to play in a Rose Bowl, a World Series, and an MLB All-Star Game. From his "Golden Boy" status at Cal to being the hand-picked successor to Joe DiMaggio—only to be usurped by Mickey Mantle—the story follows Jensen's MVP peak in Boston and the paralyzing "AV-Phobia" that eventually forced him out of the game. The episode closes with a high-stakes Wax Pack Heroes battle featuring 2003 Topps.
00:00 Welcome01:23 The Darnell Coles Deep-Dive04:59 Opening Day '94: Tuffy Rhodes vs. Doc Gooden07:59 Harry Caray Questions the Youth of America11:30 ROTY Droughts15:07 RIP MLB.tv Discounts and Sunday Night Local Broadcasts18:39 Main Story: The Life and Legend of Jackie Jensen44:36 Wax Pack Heroes: Big Hurt, Albert Pujols, and a Chris Snelling55:36 Wrap-Up
Connect With UsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialEmail: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
#baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #Yankees #RedSox #Cal #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise

Jeff and Mark open the episode with early-season baseball energy (NCAA baseball starting, spring training nearing, and WBC chatter) before noting the passing of relief legend Elroy “Roy” Face and revisiting stories tied to Ralph Terry. They share a run of baseball oddities and news, including the White Sox adding bidets at a Japanese player’s request while misspelling his locker name, Hideo Nomo sausage race, and former Yankees pitcher Kei Igawa’s acting debut. They also discuss Puerto Rico WBC insurance issues, including Bad Bunny offering to cover premiums for Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor, plus the Rangers’ planned Nolan Ryan bloodied-jersey replica giveaway tied to the Bo Jackson line drive.
The main feature is a career-focused tribute to recently deceased Tigers legend Mickey Lolich, from his childhood accident that helped turn him into a left-hander to his workhorse peak to his iconic 1968 World Series performance. The episode closes with the Wax Pack Heroes game from a 2003 Topps pack, along with show plugs and contact info.
00:00 Welcome Back to Two Strike Noise + Baseball Is Back01:23 RIP Elroy “Roy” Face: The Baron of the Bullpen04:59 Square-Dance Caller Dad & Other Roy Face Oddities05:56 Japan Notes: Murakami, White Sox Bidets & a Name-Tag Fail07:59 Baseball Players Are Children: NoMo’s Sausage Race & More09:10 More Japan: Iga’s Acting Debut + Kuroda as TV Murderer11:30 WBC Injuries & Insurance: Hamate Bones and Bad Bunny Steps In13:07 Nolan Ryan Bloodied Jersey Giveaway (And the Ventura Mix-Up)14:39 Main Story: The Life and Legend of Mickey Lolich31:06 Time for Wax Pack Heroes: Mitch Roasted, Scoreboard Update & New Topps Hunt49:36 Wrap-Up: Final Score, Where to Find the Show, Streams, Email & Baseball’s Back
Connect With UsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialEmail: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
#baseballhistory #mlb #AddieJoss #MickeyLolich #AllStarGame #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise #DeadBallEra

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark explore the career of one of the most efficient pitchers in baseball history: Addie Joss. Known for his "corkscrew" delivery and a career ERA that remains the second-lowest of all time, Joss's life was cut short at just 31. The hosts detail the incredible 1911 Addie Joss Benefit Game, which brought together icons like Ty Cobb (in a borrowed jersey), Walter Johnson, and Cy Young for a cause that predated the official MLB All-Star Game by over two decades.Before the history lesson, the BP segment covers the recent passing of Tigers legend Mickey Lolich, a strange trivia bit about Ozzy Smith’s fashion sense, and a look at Hall of Famers categorized by their home states. The episode concludes with a high-stakes round of Wax Pack Heroes, where Frank Robinson leads a 2003 Topps pack.
00:00 Intro: The Domingo Ramos Studio & "Ham Gravy" Origins02:15 Non-Baseball Fact: Olive Oil and the Usurping of Popeye04:30 BP Segment: Remembering Mickey Lolich (The Beer Drinker’s Idol)08:50 1987 Tops Trivia: Ozzy Smith, Best Casual Dresser?11:15 The "Other" Ozzy: Canseco’s Stint with the Cardinals14:40 Hall of Famers by State: New York vs. California19:20 WBC Woes: Insurance Issues and Javi Baez’s Suspension23:05 The Human Hairpin: The Dominance of Addie Joss38:40 Wax Pack Heroes: 2003 Topps Mega Pack Battle54:20 Wrapping Up: Mickey Lolich Deep Dive Tease
Connect With UsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialEmail: twostrikenoise@gmail.com
Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/.
#baseballhistory #mlb #AddieJoss #MickeyLolich #AllStarGame #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise #DeadBallEra

Dust off your spurs and grab your table-leg bats! In this episode, Jeff and Mark bridge the gap between the Old West and the diamond. We discuss why Wyatt Earp is buried in a San Francisco suburb and hunt for the best "Western" names in baseball history—from Hoot Gibson to the legendary Tony Tombstone.
Then, we dig into the career of the original Billy Hamilton. Long before Rickey Henderson or Lou Brock, there was a 5'6" powerhouse from a Massachusetts cotton mill who invented the headfirst slide and averaged over a run per game. We settle the score on his "lost" stolen base records and his fuming retirement letters to the Sporting News.
Finally, we travel back to the 1920s-40s for a special "Conlon Collection" version of Wax Pack Heroes, featuring a third baseman who could hold seven baseballs in one hand and a World Series riot involving flying bananas.
Show Chapters & Timestamps[00:00] Intro:[03:15] BP Segment: Truck Day, Blue Sky baseball, and watching 80s games.[08:42] Rick Rizzs: Celebrating the legendary Mariners voice.[11:20] Tombstone Connections: Why Wyatt Earp is buried near "High Pockets" Kelly.[16:45] Western Baseball Names: From Doc Halladay to Dusty Baker and Pat Corrales.[24:10] The Legend of Sliding Billy Hamilton[42:30] Wax Pack Heroes (Vintage Edition)
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

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark celebrate being "back from the dead" after the holiday break with a look at the chaotic start to 2026. Discussing the weirdly specific reason why Kyle Farnsworth is the king of Iowa baseball searches, and a generous but suspicious offer of "steak for life" in Toronto. In the ‘Same Year, Same Disaster’ category, perennial idiots re-emerge. Lenny Dykstra’s Pennsylvania traffic stops and John Rocker’s latest crusade against hotel bar staff in Columbus. The main event features a debate on King Felix’s Hall of Fame credentials—measuring peak dominance against a lack of help—and a legendary locker room confirmation regarding Greg Maddox’s specific brand of "sanitary" pranks. The episode wraps up with a curated edition of Wax Pack Heroes decide the first victory of the new year.
00:00 Welcome Back to Two Strike Noise00:45 Mike Kingery and College Memories01:11 Tombstone: A Western Classic03:21 Lenny Dykstra's Latest Shenanigans04:26 John Rocker's Controversial Antics08:29 Tales from the Dugout: Light Edition10:21 Daniel Vogelbach: From Player to Coach14:08 Felix Hernandez: Hall of Fame Debate22:05 Greg Maddux's Infamous Pranks26:07 Bo Bichette's Steak for Life Offer28:53 Kyle Farnsworth: Iowa's Most Searched Pitcher31:34 Boomer Boosts Kyle Farnsworth's Popularity32:55 Most Hated Players in Franchise History37:43 Wax Pack Heroes: The Game Begins54:36 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 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