Thomas W. Gilbert is an acclaimed baseball historian and author whose books explore the origins, personalities, and cultural history of America’s national pastime. His previous works include How Baseball Happened, winner of the Casey Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year, as well as Baseball and the Color Line, Roberto Clemente, and Playing First.

This time, Tom returns with a remarkable baseball mystery: Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America’s First Baseball Hero. His latest book uncovers the extraordinary story of James Creighton, the young Brooklyn pitcher who became baseball’s first national superstar in the years before the Civil War. Widely credited with revolutionizing pitching, Creighton was so dominant that he helped transform the way baseball was played. His influence was so profound that his story is connected to the development of the strike zone itself. But Creighton’s story took a tragic turn. At just 21 years old, he collapsed after a game and died four days later in 1862. What happened to this pioneering pitcher? Was his death the result of a freak injury, the physical demands of his revolutionary pitching style, or something more mysterious? And why has a player who helped shape the game remained largely forgotten by generations of baseball fans?

In Death in the Strike Zone, Tom combines meticulous historical research, baseball detective work, and the colorful world of 19th-century America to bring Creighton’s story back to life. Along the way, he explores the origins of modern pitching, the early business of baseball, and the myths and mysteries surrounding the birth of America’s national pastime. Go to https://howbaseballhappened.com/ for more information on Thomas and his books.

We are revisiting our conversation with Malcom, a competition pitmaster who knows what it takes to turn out championship-quality barbecue. From ribs and pulled pork to brisket and all the techniques that make outdoor cooking special, he brings plenty of experience, enthusiasm, and personality to everything he does. He also shares his knowledge through his HowToBBQRight podcast and the Killer Hogs line of BBQ products.

On this replay, we’re bringing back our conversation with Malcom to celebrate the food, traditions, and passion that bring people together around the grill. Whether you're an experienced pitmaster or someone just getting started with a smoker, Malcom's passion for barbecue makes this a conversation worth revisiting. For more information on Malcom and How To BBQ Right, go to https://howtobbqright.com/

We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves, Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to https://billchuck.substack.com/

We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky.

If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you.

Call the show: (516) 855-8214
Email: baseballandbbq@gmail.com
Twitter: @baseballandbbq
Instagram: baseballandbarbecue
YouTube: baseball and bbq
Website: https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com
Facebook: baseball and bbq

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Jeff Frye is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played eight seasons in the big leagues from 1992 to 2001. Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the 1988 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut with Texas in 1992 and went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Toronto Blue Jays.

A versatile player known for his hitting ability and speed, Frye finished his MLB career with a .290 batting average, 626 hits, 16 home runs, 194 RBIs, and 56 stolen bases. His standout season came in 1997 with the Red Sox, when he batted .312 in 127 games. One of the defining moments of his career came on August 17, 2001, when he hit for the cycle as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming just the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Following his playing career, Frye became a certified Major League Baseball player agent in 2002, representing professional players and remaining connected to the game from a different perspective. He has also participated in speaking engagements, baseball camps, and charitable events.

Garett has also built a presence in the barbecue community through social media, sharing his cooking, flavor experiments, and enthusiasm for the craft. With a hands-on approach to product development and a commitment to bold, distinctive flavor, Garett continues to grow the Uncle Hemmy BBQ brand while connecting with barbecue fans, home cooks, and fellow pitmasters.

From backyard beginnings to building a recognizable name in the barbecue world, Garett Hemstock's story is about following a passion, trusting your creativity, and making great food that people remember. Learn more about Garett and his seasonings at https://unclehemmybbq.com/

We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves, Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to https://billchuck.substack.com/

We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky.

If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you.

Call the show: (516) 855-8214
Email: baseballandbbq@gmail.com
Twitter: @baseballandbbq
Instagram: baseballandbarbecue
YouTube: baseball and bbq
Website: https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com
Facebook: baseball and bbq

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ken Singleton was selected by the New York Mets with the third overall pick in the 1967 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 1970 and went on to enjoy a 15-year career with the Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles. Singleton was a switch-hitting outfielder and designated hitter. A three-time All-Star, Singleton enjoyed some of his finest seasons with Baltimore, including 1977, when he hit .328 with 24 home runs and finished third in American League MVP voting, and 1979, when he hit a career-high 35 home runs with 111 RBI and finished second in MVP voting. He was a key member of the Orioles' American League championship teams in 1979 and 1983, winning a World Series championship in 1983. In 1982, Singleton was also honored with the Roberto Clemente Award for his contributions both on and off the field.

Following his playing career, Singleton embarked on an equally distinguished career in broadcasting. He began working in television with the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos and became a longtime broadcaster for the Expos through The Sports Network in Canada. He began working in television with the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos and became a longtime broadcaster for the Expos through The Sports Network in Canada. After that, and for more than two decades, he called Yankees games and numerous memorable moments before retiring from broadcasting in 2021. Singleton was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1986, and his career stands out for the unique perspective he brought to the game—having experienced Major League Baseball as a player, World Series champion, and longtime broadcaster. From his days as a highly regarded prospect with the Mets to his years as an All-Star in Montreal and Baltimore and his decades behind the microphone, Ken Singleton has spent virtually his entire professional life around the game he loves.

Jason Cottingham is the founder and pitmaster behind Trauma Hogs BBQ, based in Brookland, Arkansas. Jason’s background in emergency services has played an important role in shaping his approach to barbecue and the identity of Trauma Hogs. The experience he gained as a first responder—preparation, teamwork, staying calm under pressure, and being ready to perform when it matters—has translated naturally into the demanding world of competition barbecue and running a food business. Over the years, Jason has developed Trauma Hogs into a barbecue brand that has included competition cooking, a food-truck operation, restaurant ventures, and a line of BBQ rubs.

Jason’s story is one of passion, hard work, and a willingness to continually learn and adapt. From competing in barbecue to serving customers, he has experienced many different sides of the BBQ business and has built Trauma Hogs around his love of great food and the lessons learned throughout his journey. His combination of first-responder experience and barbecue expertise gives him a unique perspective on leadership, preparation, and performing under pressure.

We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky.

If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you.

Call the show: (516) 855-8214
Email: baseballandbbq@gmail.com
Twitter: @baseballandbbq
Instagram: baseballandbarbecue
YouTube: baseball and bbq
Website: https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com
Facebook: baseball and bbq

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.