Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast

Episode 37 - Chalmers Award & Cheating

For the second week in a row, Nap Lajoie gets screwed out of a batting award! This time it’s the Chalmers Award. What’s the Chalmers Award, we had no clue either but be sure we’ll break it down. Also, cheating in baseball. It happens. It happens alot actually, but to get caught is something different. Note to self, if you have a thumbtack on you to scruff the ball, don’t wipe the sweat from your forehead with that hand! That’s how you get caught! More stories of how players have been busted bending the rules. Plus, our first ever Two Strike Noise Useless Baseball Quiz. Can you beat Mark’s score?
Jomboy Mike Fiers breakdown - https://jomboymedia.com/2019/05/09/mike-fiers-throws-a-no-hitter-a-breakdown/
TWO STRIKE NOISE USELESS BASEBALL QUIZ  Vol. 1
How many former catchers started the 2019 season as managers? 
How many teams don’t wear their last names on the back of their home whites or road grey jerseys (alternates ignored)? Bonus - How many teams have no alternate jerseys?
This White Sox center fielder was nicknamed the “One Dog”. 
There are only 2 MLB franchises to never appear in the World Series as of 10-15-19. Name them. 
Which player was not named ROY? Mike Trout (2012), Albert Pujols (2001), Chipper Jones (1995), or Scott Rolen (1997) 
There were 31 no hitters thrown in the 1990’s. Which of these pitchers did not throw one of them? Dwight Gooden, Roger Clemens, Bob Milacki or Francisco Cordova .
Name as many 1990’s nicknames with "Big" in them as you can.  
In the decade of the 80’s, Rickey Henderson lead the league in steals 9 times. Who bested him in the 1987? 
Besides The Sultan of Swat, name Babe Ruth’s other 3 nicknames. 
In their most productive 5 year span, who hit more HR’s? Babe Ruth, McGwire, Barry Bonds or Griffey Jr.?
 

Episode 36 - Pasquel Delahanty

We jump into the way back machine this week. Jorge Pasquel, possibly more than Branch Rickey, pushed MLB into integration. Learn about the man you’ve probably never heard of that lead the way for baseball to finally be welcome to all. Big Ed Delahanty was the Mike Trout of the 1890’s. A 5 tool player, this Hall of Famer died under mysterious circumstances at Niagara Falls. Hear about one of baseball’s most tragic figures. We visit a couple of rules from baseball’s infancy and discuss how they would play today. Plus, more wax pack heroes!
Ed Delahanty resources:
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/d835353d
http://baseballegg.com/2017/09/06/was-ed-delahanty-murdered/
2019 Exit Velo: http://m.mlb.com/statcast/leaderboard#exit-velo,r,2019
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/

Episode 35 - Tales from the Dugout v6

How long do you think walk up music for batters has been around? A decade? Maybe two? Try a century! We explore the Royal Rooters of Boston. Mazel tov! The Israeli team has become the first team to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics baseball tournament. A former member of the Israeli national team, Adam Greenberg faced only a single pitch in his MLB debut in 2005. Unfortunately it hit him in the head. Thanks to a fan sourced effort, he made it back for another AB in 2012! And it was bound to happen! A coach was tossed for arguing automated balls and strikes in the Atlantic League. Wait until you hear who it was. Plus, we pull our most valuable card ever in wax pack heroes!
Adam Greenberg At Bats:
2005 Debut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBUHLQGV9MA2012 At Bat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBCtSzpAjrs
History of Walk Up Music - https://www.mlb.com/cut4/the-complete-history-of-the-walk-up-song
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/

Episode 34 - Nolan Ryan

We made it to show 34, so we HAD to talk about Mark’s all time favorite player, Nolan Ryan. So many strikeouts, and we recap every one of them! Just kidding, but we do talk about his numerous records, achievements and a couple of Rickey Henderson-related feats. We also talk about the end of a couple of era’s as the regular season winds down as well as some post-season legends who made their debuts this week. Plus, wax pack heroes!
Mike Feirs' beard google results. See what inspired him. https://i.imgur.com/9h5zHfS.jpg
Nolan Ryan for the next generation. Spittin' verses like 99 MPH fastballs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMu1wr7FlCQ&feature=share
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/

Episode 33 - Strange Injuries & Silver Bullets

Drones, ice packs and tanning beds. Pretty innocuous objects to most, but not to baseball players! Baseball has to have the strangest injuries of any sport. This week we dive into some of the strangest that have kept players on the DL. We also talk about the Colorado Silver Bullet. This all women’s barnstorming team took the country by storm during the early 90’s doing baseball things. So much so they even had a bench clearing brawl! We’ve got the blow by blow details. Plus, wax pack heroes returns!
Jeff Francoeur prank video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llUpTmIkdc&feature=youtu.be
No Crying In Baseball podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-crying-in-baseball/id1302035601
Diamonds & Roses podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diamonds-and-roses-podcast/id1435032487
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/

Episode 32 - AL-NL East Coaches

It's the penultimate episode of our look at current MLB coaches and their playing careers. This week it's the AL & NL East's turn. Will the Yankees and Red Sox dominate like they do everything else? We also look at the tragic history of players in the MLB named Aurelio as well as why one of them has a famous 1969 Topps card. Also, our best crop of debuts, maybe ever. Finally, we revisit Second Best with a new topic, baseball pranks. 
Aurelio Rodriguez - http://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2014/10/06/baseball-card-error-aurelio-rodriguez-the-bat-boy/
Tim Wallach baseball cards, like all of them. Ever. - https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/2/6/5383616/the-tim-wallach-market
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/
 
 

Episode 31 - AL-NL Central Coaches

Week 2 of the critically acclaimed “Before They were Coaches” series. This week we take a look at the career stats of the managers and coaches of the AL& NL Central teams. Who had the most success on the field before hanging them up? Did that success follow them to the dugout? Did somebody ask about triple plays? Irrelevant, we have more triple play factoids than Brett Gardner has temper tantrums. And we set the way back machine to 1992 for this week’s Wax Pack Heroes.
SABR - Triple Play Database - https://sabr.org/tripleplays
MAC Football schedules - https://fbschedules.com/mac-football-schedule/
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/
 
 

Episode 30 - AL-NL Coaches Playing Stats

Before they were setting lineups and challenging plays from the dugout, managers and coaches (almost) all played the game. This week we take a look at the career stats of the managers and coaches of the AL& NL west teams. Who had success on the field before hanging them up? Did that success follow them to the dugout? Also, what former major leaguers relished in shaving Mark’s head after a bet? And Player’s Weekend? Can we not do it in uniforms that everybody hates next time? Plus a game changer in this week’s Wax Pack Heroes.
We been 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/
 

Episode 29 - Changing the Rules

Would you rather see a game at the Field of Dreams or the Polo Grounds? Who do you want calling that game? Vin Sculley or Bill Walton (we thought it was weird too but that White Sox-Angels game was really fun)? What level of rock star do you have to be to leave a game, do a show, then go back to your seat to catch the end of a 14 inning game? And can either of us pronounce the name of said rock star’s band? Also, changing the rules of baseball is a tedious process with hits and misses. We discuss whether the latest proposals being tested in the minors will ever see the light of day in the majors after Mark witnesses some in person. Plus more Wax Pack Heroes.
 
We've been pulling ALOT of commons lately in Wax Pack Heroes. If you got those Tom Foley Expo 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/

Episode 28 - Curt Flood

What 3 time All Star was once traded for 500 Teddy Ruxpins? What former Athletics and Reds pitcher game Mark his TV when he was called up to the big leagues? If you round up all the major league baseball players, ever, what percentage of Dodger Stadium would they fill up? Impress your friends with these topics that only we are brave enough to talk about. Also, Curt Flood. Every player to ever put on a Major League uniform owes him a great debt. He gave up his own career to help those who came after him, forcing the MLB to give up its Reserve Clause and grant p[layers free agency. Plus more Wax Pack Heroes.