PODCAST · sports
Hooks & Runs
by A podcast about baseball, music and culture.
Hooks & Runs is a podcast about baseball, music and culture. Our podcast includes interviews with news makers in the sports and music world plus commentary from the co-hosts on interesting current and historical events. Hooks & Runs releases a new episodes every Thursday (more or less).
Episodes
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304 - Texans in the Hall: Nolan Ryan (We'll Meet Again)
This episode marks the end of not just the Texans in the Hall series but also the podcast, at least for now, says Rex. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. Nolan Ryan is a living legend with 324 career wins, 5,714 career strikeouts, 7 career no-hitters and enough stories to fill volumes. He closes the…
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303 - Bob Dylan Comes to Town: Dylan in Cincinnati w/ Graley Herren
Dr. Graley Herren is Professor of English at Xavier University and author of the new book, Dylan in Cincinnati (University Press of Mississippi, September 2026). He joins us this week to talk about the book and all things Bob Dylan. Dr. Herren at Xavier: https://tinyurl.com/herrenxavier Dr....
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302 - Never Enough Versions, Labor Wars and the First Immaculate Inning
Rex and Craig discuss the Grammy Award winning rock band Turnstile, released "Never Enough: Versions," remaking their most recent album "Never Enough" in collaboration with artists as diverse as Angel Du$t, Hayley Williams, and Shabaka. Also, a look at the MLB team owners unserious proposal for…
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301 - Celebrity Deaths, Kyle Tucker, George van Haltren, MTV Ridiculousness, and Baseball Cards
It's all in the title. Errata: This episode is late arriving - since recording and through September 5, Baez is 13-74 (.176) with 4 home runs and 27 strikeouts in 74 innings since hitting the historic three home runs. Kyle Tucker slashed .195/.293/,310 in August and in 5 game is slashing...
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300 - Take This Job and Shove It.
Craig and Rex take on the big issues of the day for episode number 300 - Joshua Baez's historic debut, Ritchie Blackmore's return to Deep Purple (for one song), Tommy John's passing causes reassessment of his Hall of Fame Credentials, and John Paycheck (Johnny's son) is a nepo-baby we can…
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299 - The Al Rosen Phenomenon: That One Glorious Season (or Two)
This week Craig and Rex take a look at players that led their league in home runs after 1920 but hit less than 200 career home runs. The list includes one Hall of Famer (George Kelly), some that came close (Jake Daubert) and some that leave all but the most fervent fans scrambling to Baseball...
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298 - Texans in the Hall: Louis Santop and Biz Mackey w/ Thomas Kern
This week we resume our series Texans in the Hall by looking at the lives and careers of two great Texan ballplayers - Louis Santop and Biz Mackey. Santop and Mackey were both born in the Texas in the late 19th Century and represent two of the four former Negro League catchers inducted into the...
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297 - Baseball on the South Side After the Black Sox, 1920-26 w/ Bruce S. Allardice
Bruce S. Allardice joins us this week to discuss the Chicago White Sox in the years immediately after the Black Sox scandal that tainted the 1919 World Series. Allardice is the author of After the Black Sox: The Chicago White Sox in Transition, 1920-1926 (McFarland Press 2026). The discussion...
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296 - The 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference w/ Willie Steele plus We Don't Like AI Music
Professor Willie Steele (Lipscomb) joins us this week to discuss the forthcoming 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference. Steele is a conference co-director and past editor of NINE: A Journal of Baseball History & Culture. Steele is also an expert on the works of W. P. Kinsella ("Shoeless Joe") so...
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295 - Baseball Back in the Day w/ John Ferling
Professor John Ferling (University of West Georgia) joins the podcast this week to talk about his new book, Baseball As It Was: Building Champions Before Free Agency Changed Everything (Tatra Press, May 2026). The book examines the period 1946-1957, the years after World War II, with particular...
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294 - Castle Rat, Truth About Ruth, Portland vs SLC, and Remembering LaSalle's Vacay to our County
This week on Hooks & Runs, the theatrical doom metal quartet Castle Rat gets a major article in Spin, Craig wanders into more Astro sign stealing controversy on social media, the truth about (Babe) Ruth (in 1922), Portland vs Salt Lake City as an expansion candidate, and remembering René-Robert…
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293 - Chicago, 1933: A Look at MLB's First All-Star Game w/ Randall Sullivan
Randall Sullivan, former contributing editor to Rolling Stone and author of The Price of Experience, and Untouchable, joins Hooks & Runs this week to discuss his latest book, The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR and America at the Crossroads (Grove Atlantic, June 2026). The First All-Star Game...
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292 - College Sports is Looking a Lot Like 19th Century Baseball w/ John A. Fortunato
Between players jumping contracts and entangling themselves in gambling scandals; the lack of a clear, consistent enforcement authority and conference (league) realignments, one could easily confuse current state of the NCAA with the chaotic state of 19th Century baseball. This week, John A....
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291 - Charlie Ferguson: "A Great Forgotten Star of the 19th Century" w/ Paul Hofmann
Chapter 1 - Paul Hofmann, Ph.D., Associate Provost for International Affairs at the University of Louisville and Society for American Baseball Research member, joins us this week to discuss Charlie Ferguson, a forgotten 19th Century baseball star. Ferguson played four seasons in his early 20s…
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290 - Baseball's First Worst to First: the 1890 Louisville Cyclones w/ Perry T. Cooper
Author Perry T. Cooper is our guest this week. Cooper's new book, "The 1890 Louisville Cyclones: Major League Baseball's Original Worst-to-First Team" (McFarland, March 2026). Louisville finished the 1889 American Association season with 27 wins, 111 losses, the first Major League team to lose…
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289 - The Battle of the Ratts: On Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani, Avatar Ozzy, New Music and More
This week it's Rex and Craig musing over baseball and music news of the day including: Wander Franco's legal troubles are not over; Shohei Ohtani's amazing year; Fernando Tatis, Jr.'s power outage; NL Central excellence; the Tampa Bay Rays are at it again; the trouble with Minor League Baseball…
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288 - Baseball and Busing in 1970s Boston w/ David Faflik
David Faflik, a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rhode Island has a new book titled "Segregation Games: Boston, Busing, and the Making of Red Sox Nation" (Univ. of Massachusetts Press 2026). The book examines the "surprising ties in 1970s Boston between the racial...
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287: An Historic 24 Innings in Boston w/ John McMurray plus Blue Dot Fever Hits the Music World
Our guest for Chapter 1 is John McMurray, chair of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)'s Deadball Era Research Committee. His essay, "September 1, 1906: A Pivotal Game Early in the Deadball Era," appeared in the Committee's newsletter, "The Inside Game," earlier this year. The game...
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286 - The Magical 1926 St. Louis Cardinals w/ Kevin J. Abing
Author and historian Kevin J. Abing is our guest this week to talk about the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, on the 100th Anniversary of the team's first World Series championships. Abing is author of "Baseball Magic and Mayhem in St. Louis: The 1926 Cardinals, World Series Champions" (McFarland Press,...
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285 - Texans in the Hall: Tris Speaker
Hooks & Runs returns to weekly episodes with this continuation of our series "Texans in the Hall." This entry examines the career of Tris Speaker, who played 22 years in the Majors hitting .345 with over 3,500 hits and a record 792 career doubles. He also re-wrote the book on how to play center...
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Talking Kansas City: Baseball, BBQ and Ballparks w/ Mike Czerniewski
Mike Czerniewski, host of This Podcast Is ... Uncalled For, joins us this week to talk about Kansas City baseball history - the Monarchs, the A's and the Royals, along with Kansas City BBQ and new digs for the Royals. Check out our episodes 280, "Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and...
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Musings from the Bleacher Seats: Ballparks and America's Pastime w/ Seth S. Tannenbaum (283)
Seth S. Tannenbaum, Ph.D. is assistant professor of sports studies at Manhattanville University and author of Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark (University of Illinois Press 2026). The book speaks to the fan experience at Major League...
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282 - On Baseball's First Superstar w/ Thomas W. Gilbert
Our guest this episode is Thomas W. Gilbert. His new book, "Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America's First Baseball Hero" (David R. Godine, 2026), is the story of James Creighton, a young pitcher who pitched for amateur clubs in Brooklyn and is credited for inventing modern pitching....
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281 - "A Most Dramatic Diamond Struggle"
On July 10, 1932, after playing 3 double headers in 3 days, Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's faced the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland's League Park. Craziness ensued. The game and players set records that have never been, and are unlikely to be, broken or even approached. This is the story of that...
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280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern
Pennsylvania native Thomas Kern has been a Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) member for over 40 years and has several biographical essays about Negro League stars during that time. Thomas joins us this episode to resume our series, "Texans in the Hall" to talk about three great...
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279 Five future generals and 1915 Army baseball w/ Dr. Stephen V. Rice, plus Ferris Fain was a gangster
Dr. Stephen V. Rice joins us in the first chapter to talk about his recent article in the Baseball Research Journal, "The 1915 Army Baseball Team at West Point: Five Future Generals and an 18–3 Record." In the second chapter, a look at two-time American League batting champion Ferris Fain and his...
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278 -- The one and onlys, the Grammy Awards and Rex pulls a HOF rookie card!
Craig and Rex marvel over things that have happened only once in MLB history, plus comments about the recent Grammy Awards and a baseball card pull. Errata - Pat Kelly never managed in the Major Leagues. There was only one José Vizcaíno in the Majors. Notes -Khaby Lame sold his likeness for $975...
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277 - Buried by History: the 1941 Philadelphia Phillies w/ Justin Klugh
Justin Klugh is author of the new book, "Summer of the Cheap Wieners: What the 1941 Phillies Were Up To While Joe DiMaggio Was Making History," (Brookline Books, 2026). There are not too many books about teams that lose 111 out of 154 games, but here's one and it's a good one. Justin joins us…
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276 - Long Hours, Low Pay and Legendary Music w/ Rob Miller, co-founder of Bloodshot Records
In this episode, we talk with Rob Miller, co-founder of Bloodshot Records and author of The Hours Were Long, but the Pay Was Low (3 Fields Books, 2025). Rob shares stories from the early days of building an influential indie label, the realities of DIY music culture, and what it really took to...
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275 - Wolverines, Free Agents and the Hooks & Runs Best Albums of 2025
What's going on with Michigan football? Craig and Rex look at random baseball news. Also, the Hooks & Runs year-end music review, featuring our favorite albums of 2025. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our...
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274 - "I Thought I'd Given Up the Circus:" Baseball Promotions w/ Joseph Natalicchio
Joseph Natalicchio is the author of "Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions: From Wedlock and Headlock Day to Disco Demolition Night" (McFarland 2025), released earlier in December. This is a wonderful book - we discuss everything from Disco Demolition Night to the night fans tore apart a ballpark...
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273 - Podcast News, Baseball Moves, Guns & Roses
Big news about the podcast, a look at some early baseball moves and Guns & Roses is going on tour. Errata: The Houston Astros missed the playoffs twice since 2015 - in 2016 and in 2025 - not once. Nacagdoches is a town in East Texas, home of Stephen F. Austin University. Guns & Roses' record…
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272 - The Spirit of Radio w/ Dave South
Dave South was the radio voice of Texas A&M Athletics from 1985 to his retirement in 2018. He is the author of "You Saw Me on the Radio: Recollections and Favorite Calls as the Voice of Aggie Athletics" (Texas A&M Univ. Press 2019), which was released in paperback in August. "You Saw Me on the...
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271 - Hard Caps, Soft Caps, Salary Floors and Baseball Cards
This week on the podcast - a bizarre ending to a high school football game, the soon to be expired Collective Bargaining Agreement has baseball fans scrambling to learn about salary caps, and we open another set of baseball cards. Errata: Greg Maddux finished his career with 355 wins. The…
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270 - "Second Base? That's My Best Position!" w/ Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Hubbard played 10 Major League seasons in a 19-year professional baseball career. A Chicago native, Hubbard played college ball at Southern University, was drafted by Houston in the 12th round in 1986, and climbed through the ranks to make his Major League debut in 1993 with Colorado. We...
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269 - Ralph Branca: Baseball's Everyman w/ Bob Mitchell
Bob Mitchell is a retired professor, award winning advertising creative and tennis teaching pro. He has published 13 books and countless essays and articles, including his most recent book, "Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life" (McFarland Press 2025). Join us this episode as we take our time...
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268 - Baseball & Music w/ Bill Nowlin
Bill Nowlin was a co-founder of Rounder Records in the early 1960s and is a co-founder of Down the Road Records. He most recently co-edited "Native American Major Leaguers," (Society for American Baseball Research, 2025), with Rob Daugherty. Also this episode, MTV is closing it's music stations,...
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267 - The 1971 Astros and the Art of What If w/ Samuel Barrett
Samuel Barrett is author of "Orange Crush: The Neglected 1971 Houston Astros" (Huntsville Independent Press 2025). Barrett examines the series of questionable player deals Houston GM Spec Richardson orchestrated during his tenure and attempts to undue the damage to show that with merely competent...
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266 - Benny Kauff: "An Apparent Injustice Has Been Done"
Ohio native Benny Kauff made his Major League debut in 1912. He jumped to the Federal League in 1914 where he emerged to stand among that circuit's best hitters. After the Federal League folded, Kauff signed with John McGraw's New York Giants and claimed the team's center field position. Kauff…
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265 - "They All Though I Was Crazy Anyway" w/ Scipio Spinks
Scipio Spinks rose from junior college ball in Chicago to the Major Leagues with Houston and St. Louis. He pitched 5 seasons before injuries derailed his promising career. Spinks talks about his pitching in the late 60s and early 70s, the wind at Candlestick, the heat at Busch and hitting his one...
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264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan, a native of Bonham, Texas, a small town near the Oklahoma border, is generally regarded as baseball's greatest second basemen in the post-World War II era. Originally Colt-.45 then Astro, Houston traded him to Cincinnati after the 1971 season is perhaps Houston's most ill-fated (and...
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263 - The Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker Gambling Scandal of 1926 w/ Dan Taylor
The fallout from the 1919 World Series gambling scandal rocked the baseball world when the affair broke into the public's view late in the 1920 season. Just when baseball emerged from that threat, two of baseball's biggest stars, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, found themselves immersed in betting...
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262 - Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall
Andrew "Rube" and William "Bill" Foster were half-brothers born in Calvert, Texas, 25 years apart. Rube (b. 1879) left home in the late 90s to pitch for barnstorming teams deep into the late teens. He established his name as a top pitcher in the circuit as well as a savvy businessman. In 1920, he...
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261 - The Bill Bevens Story: As Close as you Can Get
Bill Bevens came within one out of throwing the first World Series no-hitter in Game 4. Also, a look at the pennant and wild card races plus some 1988 Topps baseball cards. Errata: The Giants were 14-14 in August, 9-15 in July. In the second half so far, Texas is 24-19, Seattle is 22-21 and…
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260 - Bo Belinsky: Everything Has a Price w/ David Krell
David Krell is a returning guest and the author of "Bo Belinsky: The Rise, Fall and Rebound of a Playboy Pitcher," (McFarland & Co., 2025) the first full-length biography of Bo Belinsky. David Krell's official website (https://www.davidkrell.com) David Krell's Twitter (https://x.com/davidkrell)...
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259 - Texans in the Hall: Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews played 17 seasons in the big leagues and is the only player to play for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. He hit 512 home runs in his career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978. This week Hooks & Runs continues its series, Texans in the Hall, by looking back at...
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258 - "I Was a Kid Too Back Then" w/ Rick Wise
Rick Wise pitched 18 seasons in the big league, beginning with is rookie year for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. He won 188 games in that span and achieved some notable milestones, including becoming the only pitcher in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter and hit 2 home runs in the same...
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257 - MLB's Microbet Investigation Snares an All-Star.
Colorado of all teams highlights the week with a wild come-from-behind win at home against Pittsburgh. Hooks & Runs' favorite teams made big splashes at the trade deadline. MLB's microbets investigation snares Cleveland All-Star pitcher Emmanuel Clase - lockers have been cleared out, so this…
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256 - Southwest Conference Baseball w/ Bo Carter
Bo Carter is the Executive Director for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and an inductee into the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame. He was media relations director for the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Big 12 Conference for a combined 22 years. His essay, "Southwest...
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255 - Major League Baseball Needs to Think Globally
Topics this week: Tampa Bay Rays sale; A Shoeless Joe's Hall of Fame promotion; The All-Star Game; The USA vs. The World; Late Night TV is in trouble; BananaBall may entertain some, but it isn't baseball; Manfred wants a salary cap; MLB's tickets are overpriced for a reason; an Ozzy Osbourne...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hooks & Runs is a podcast about baseball, music and culture. Our podcast includes interviews with news makers in the sports and music world plus commentary from the co-hosts on interesting current and historical events. Hooks & Runs releases a new episodes every Thursday (more or less).
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A podcast about baseball, music and culture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hooks & Runs have?
Hooks & Runs currently has 256 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Hooks & Runs about?
Hooks & Runs is a podcast about baseball, music and culture. Our podcast includes interviews with news makers in the sports and music world plus commentary from the co-hosts on interesting current and historical events. Hooks & Runs releases a new episodes every Thursday (more or less).
How often does Hooks & Runs release new episodes?
Hooks & Runs publishes regularly with 256 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Hooks & Runs?
You can listen to Hooks & Runs on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Hooks & Runs?
Hooks & Runs is created and hosted by A podcast about baseball, music and culture..
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