Professor Robert Ross, author of The Great Baseball Revolt: The Rise and Fall of the 1890 Players League (2016) joins us this week to discuss the first attempt at unionization by Major League players -- the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players which had formed in the mid 1880s. The Brotherhood joined forces with supportive capitalists to f…

Send us a Text Message. We're back! Releasing this exclusive content for you all to hear. In this episode, Jeff talks with first base coach of the 1969 Cubs, Joe Amalfitano. They discuss Joe’s first meeting with the infamous Leo Durocher, Ron Santo's prowess at the hot corner, the ride of ’69, and so much more. And Jeff crackerjack calls Christie's…

This week Craig and Rex take a deep dive into Houston's Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero contract fiascos and come away glad we're not the Angels. In Part 2, Ken Johnson did something on an April week night in 1964 that had never been done before in a Major League game - and hasn't been done since. Errata: Mike Trout, if healthy, could have played a p…

Journalist, author Dave Heller joins us this week to discuss his new book, "Parisian Bob Caruthers: Baseball's First Two-Way Star" (McFarland 2024). Caruthers played in the American Association and National League from 1884 to 1893 where he led the AA in wins twice and played with distinction in the outfield when he was not pitching. In this interv…

Craig reports on his short getaway to Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Progressive Field. The hosts speculate on stadium drama in Oakland, Tampa and Anaheim. The Mariners blew a 10-game lead in the American League West over a 24-game period, but will anyone remember in October if Seattle hangs on to win the division anyway? Craig and Rex…

Rex attended his first in-person Major League game this week - his Rangers beat Craig's Astros and Rex did an okay job suppressing the urge to be a sore winner. Also this week, a look at standings going into the All-Star Break, Wander Franco may be in big trouble, Randy Hennis had a short, brilliant career for Houston and Rex has a few things to sa…

Hurricane Beryl dealt a blow to our hometown but 36 hours after it passed Hooks & Runs is on schedule against all odds. This week, Craig and Rex riffing on the upcoming Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland and Joe Mauer (with an obligatory dig along the way on Journey and Bon Jovi from Craig), speculating about I…

In part one, Craig and Rex recall some memorable Fourth of July baseball fireworks featuring the ubiquitous Guy Hecker, the irrepressible Boom Boom Beck and the simply legendary Rick Camp. In part two, they discuss the three Expansion Era (1961-2024) pitchers who made an All-Star team then went on to lose 20 games in the season. Also, Bobby Bonilla…

Timothy Zarley has written a wonderful new book, "1901: The War of the Baseball Magnates." (Yelraz Publishing 2024) about the chaotic birth of what we now call baseball's modern era. We talked about some of the franchise movements, contract battles (and lawsuits) with players and the backroom dealings that brought competition to the National League…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff and Christie discuss The Bikeriders and new merch. Then Jeff speaks with actor Kevin Chapman about working for the Mayor of Boston, his early childhood with an alcoholic war veteran father and mother from the nuns in Biddeford, ME, his leap into acting and getting Mystic River, and more. And Jeff cracke…

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author William "Bill" Ecenbarger is our guess this week to discuss his latest book, "Work, Fight, or Play Ball: How Bethlehem Steel Helped Baseball's Stars Avoid World War I" (Temple University Press 2024). The book chronicles how Bethlehem Steel's "safe shelter" industrial league in 1917 and 1918 helped Major …

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff and Christie discuss the TV series Dark Matter. Then, Jeff talks with screenwriter Mike Skelton about their similar paths into Hollywood and the different roads from there forth, Mike selling scripts to studios and Jeff with his indie spirit. And Jeff crackerjack calls Bobby Biittner, son of Cubs Larry …

Darryl Rhoades has been entertaining audiences with his music and comedy for over half-a-century. As founder and leader of Hahavishnu Orchestra and later as a solo artist, Rhoades recorded several albums and toured across the United States. Rhoades once even opened for The Sex Pistols! He has been featured in Rolling Stone, Village Voice and High T…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, hockey legend Chris Chelios talks about his incredible journey through multiple continents, from taking a boat to Australia to learning how to fight in Canada to competing in the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo under armed watch to his recent honor of getting his number retired by the Chicago Blackhawks. Then Jeff…

Kimberly Ridley has written "Matagorda Magic: The Hidden Life of a Texas Bay" (Texas A&M University Press 2024) about our very own Matagorda Bay estuary right here in our home county on the Texas Gulf Coast. Kimberly joins the podcast this week to talk about the book and her experiences visiting our county and the Matagorda Bay estuary. "Matagorda …

Send us a Text Message. In the intro, Jeff and Christie get real about the struggle of the independent journey. Then Jeff chats with writer/producer/director Rob Weiss (Entourage, Ballers) about his trajectory into Hollywood, his hit TV shows, and writing Hells Angels together for Fox2000. Then, Jeff crackerjack calls Andy Masur, who worked in the …

This week Rex and Craig take on Ángel Hernández's retirement, interference & the infield fly rule, Jose Abreu's return, Austin Maddux's arrest and arraignment, Ranger Suarez's hot start, The Chicago White Sox' not-so-hot start, the half-marathon Mom & the pros and cons of embellishing the truth, and the Memorial Day standings and a new album from R…

Send us a Text Message. Cool insight and great stories in this episode. Jeff interviews Cubs catcher Jody Davis to discuss that great ’84 season. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Matt Boltz, the audio engineer for WGN when Ron Santo was in the booth. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If you enjoy what you hear and would li…

This week, Craig and Rex talk about closers who had one great year then -- nothing after that, along with anticipating Francis Ford Coppola's new film. -->Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/tT8d3pVUsN -->You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including the books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the li…

Send us a Text Message. In the intro, Jeff and Christie discuss being spoiled, and then Jeff discusses Hollywood, deal-making, and being a Cub fan with entertainment lawyer Scott Zolke. Lastly, Jeff crackerjack calls Karen Bonelli, a family friend whose father helped put together Ron Santo Pizzeria and Pro’s Pizza. Support the Show. Thanks for list…

Fred Frommer is an author, journalist, editor and sports and politics historian. He is a regular contributor to The Washington Post, where his stories often top the paper's "most read" sports and history sections. This week, for our 200th episode, Frommer joins us to discuss how Major League Baseball and its teams responded to the June 1968 assassi…

Send us a Text Message. Jeff interviews Jimmy Bank, the former traveling secretary for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Oakland A’s, who has so many stories he could write a book. He talks about how he became the youngest in his position in MLB history and his wonderful relationship with Ron Santo. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Arthur Pul…

This week Craig and Rex review three newish releases -- Beyonce's brilliant "Carter Country," Pearl Jam's not so bad "Dark Matter" and Motley Crue's ugly new single "Dogs of War." Also this episode, some trivia answers, how AI impacts music from both a creator and fan perspective, black light baseball, the Rangers' big inning, Astro woes continue, …

Willie Hood is here and this is a MUST listen. Does the MLB draft intimidate you? Do you struggle to understand slot values and bonus pools? Do you wonder how teams pick between college or guys from big name prep high schools? Because, we do too. Thankfully within our space as Guardians fans, we have people that love the draft and digest a TON of i…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff speaks with Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins about his incredible career, his time with the Cubs, and that 1969 team. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his nephew Spencer Brown, who’s studying Sports Business at the University of Oklahoma. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If…

Jerry Grillo, author of "Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize," (Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2024) joins us this week for a wide-ranging, fast-paced interview about this legendary Cardinal, Giant and Yankee first baseman. Grillo was an energetic guest and Mize's amazing life provides plenty of material to talk baseball. Grillo's boo…

Author Dan Helpingstine has written several books about baseball in Chicago, including, "South Side Hitmen: The Story of the 1977 Chicago White Sox," and "The Cubs and the White Sox: A Baseball Rivalry, 1900 to the Present." Helpingstine is a life-long White Sox fan - his 2023 essay about Bill Veeck's second tenure as the White Sox owner is the sub…

On this Rex and Craig agree -- Foreigner is a boring band. And it is an outrage that Foreigner is nominated for induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame while Iron Maiden and Soundgarden are not. Then again, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been a joke for a long time. Why stop now? Rex and Craig review this year's nominees and cast our (imaginary…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff and Christie discuss their top five favorite baseball films. Jeff interviews independent studio mogul Ira Deutchman (A Woman Under the Influence, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Sex Lies and Videotape, Hoop Dreams). They discuss Ira’s enduring career, distributing This Old Cub, and some insightful advi…

The Houston Colt-.45's started an all-rookie lineup on September 27, 1963, the one and only time in Major League Baseball history a team has done this. Houston eventually played a remarkable 16 rookies in the game, another MLB record unlikely to be challenged any time soon. Rex and Craig take a look this week at this lineup to see which rookies pan…

Kristin Cavness is the general manager of the Alpine Cowboys, the only truly independent team in the independent Pecos League (the other 15 teams are owned and operated by league). The Cowboys are owned and operated by a locally-controlled non-profit that keeps Alpine's strong baseball history alive. The team plays their home games at historic Koke…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff interviews center fielder Bobby Dernier about the incredible 1984 Cubs team and its success, which took Chicago by storm. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Gino’s East LA owner Dan Michaels. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If you enjoy what you hear and would like to support u…

Bayleigh Von Schneider co-hosts Soxy Chicks, a podcast about Red Sox and White Sox baseball. She returns this week to Hooks & Runs for our annual American League preview. Von Schneider also shared some thoughts on Jordan Montgomery's landing spot (we didn't know yet it would be Arizona), Shohei Ohtani's gambling woes and the perils trying to compet…

Sara Sanchez, who writes and podcasts at Bleed Cubbie Blue, BaseballHQ and the Fantasy Feud podcast, returns to be Hooks & Runs' first three-time guest for our 2024 National League outlook. Sara is a talented, engaging baseball journalist and analyst who deserves your attention. She always delivers the goods. A lot happened between the recording on…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff and Christie talk about luck. Jeff interviews Dodger/Cub Nate Oliver about that Cubs 1969 team, singing Pennant Fever, and the Koufax no-hitter in ’65. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Joey Hickman, son of Cubs slugger Jim Hickman. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If you enjoy…

Dr. Ben Wynne, Ph.D. (Univ. of N. Georgia) is our guest this week to talk about his latest book, "A Hound Dog Tale: Big Mama, Elvis and the Song that Changed Everything" (Louisiana State Univ. Press 2024). This is a fascinating interview about a song that was a major rhythm & blues hit for Big Mama Thornton and a ground-breaking success for Elvis P…

Chuck and Zac are back with special guest Jeff Ellis to talk about all the storylines that have prevailed through spring training so far. Angel Martinez, Chase DeLauter, Gavin Williams' injury scare, the organizations continuing middle infield clutter, and more! Plus, things to continue to look for as spring training comes to a close. You can find …

Former Houston Astro Jason Lane is one of 21 pitchers in MLB history that have pitched or pitched at least 10 innings in the big leagues with a career ERA below 1.00. The list includes both Negro League players and players that played in the National Association (1871-75). We are looking at the background and history for all 21 players in this epis…

Send us a Text Message. Jeff and Christie discuss regret. The earnest Barry Rozner talks about how he went from a vender to an award-winning sports journalist, his relationship with Ron Santo, writing Ron’s Hall of Fame speech, and more. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his nephew, Sam Brown. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and sha…

This week's guest is Jim Leeke, author of the new book, "The Gas and Flame Men: Baseball and the Chemical Warfare Service during World War I" (Potomac Books, 2024). This is the Leeke's fifth book about baseball and the Great War authored by Leeke, a retired journalist, copywriter and U.S. Navy Veteran. We thoroughly enjoyed this chat. This intervie…

Life got in the way this week so we reached back into the archives for this interesting interview with Prof. Levy in January 2022. Here are the show notes from that episode: This week we discuss Hall of Fame southpaw, Rube Waddell with his biographer, Professor Alan Levy. Levy, a professor of history at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, pub…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Jeff talks with the masterful biographer/reporter Ron Rapoport about his book on Ernie Banks and that Cubs 1969 team. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his childhood friend and armchair GM, Peter Nestos, to discuss the Cubs’ upcoming season. Support the Show. Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If you e…

Rex and Craig are on the case, from Luke Combs' "Fast Car" cover and performance at the Grammy Awards Show with songwriter Tracy Chapman; to our review of this year's Super Bowl halftime show starring Usher and friends; to our inquiring why some people get so triggered by Taylor Swift to Houston Astros pitchers and catchers reporting. Also, Craig h…

Harris Cooper, Ph.D. is the Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University and for our more immediate purposes author of "Finding America in a Minor League Ballpark: A Season Hosting for the Durham Bulls" (Skyhorse, 2024). He is our guest this week to talk about his book and the joys of baseball…

This week Craig and Rex conclude the three-part series ranking the first generation concrete and steel ballparks build prior to the Great Depression. This episode includes the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium in New York City, Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston. Episodes Mentioned 127 - The Old Ballparks Project, Pa…

Professor Katherine Rye Jewell (Fitchburg State) joins us this week to discuss her new book "Live from the Underground: A History of College Radio" (Univ. North Carolina 2023). Jewell relates in her wonderful book and this interview how college radio progressed from a sleepy "left of the dial" collegiate training ground to a major force in the popu…

It's been a minute but Rex and Craig this week pick up the old ballparks project started in Episode 127. Andrew, Craig and Rex ranked the 14 brick, concrete and steel ballparks build between 1909 and 1923 (with the Baker Bowl, built in 1895 thrown in for good measure) based upon several factors we don't remember and didn't exactly follow. This epis…

Zac and Chuck are back after the new year and they’ve got Quincy(@QuincyWheeler1) from the Guardians Fancast and Covering the Corner with them! A relatively mundane off-season has led the us to talk about the moves so far, the impending storylines of pitching, the outfield and a 20-year old rookie rule 5 pick who may not be a Guard much longer? We …

Bill Lamb is our guest this week to discuss the sad and tragic Len Koenecke. Koenecke played three seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the Great Depression. The Dodgers released Koenicke in September, 1935 while the team was in St. Louis and sent him home to New York by plane with two other players. Koenecke never made it home in a story filled…

Part 2 of our Lefty O'Doul series follows the Californian as he reaches the height of pro baseball and, for the first time, the shores of Japan. Support the Show.Av Andy Francis