Explore every episode of the podcast Lost Ballparks

85-year-old former MLB umpire Terry Tata spent 27 years in the big leagues (1973-1999) calling the action behind the plate. From 3 All-Star Games and 4 World Series to 5 no-hitters and one of baseball’s longest games, he’s here to pull back the curtain on the toughest—and most thankless—job in the game.

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This episode is especially meaningful for me. Years ago, I painted a portrait of my father-in-law’s favorite player, Juan Marichal, in his iconic high-kick windup. Today, that same painting hangs in Marichal’s home—and I had the honor of sitting down with him for this conversation.

From 1960–1975, Juan Marichal was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball: 243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, a lifetime 2.89 ERA, and 10 All-Star selections. He won more games in the 1960s than Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax, and Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Pete Rose all called him one of the toughest pitchers they ever faced.

In this episode, Marichal reflects on his childhood in the Dominican Republic, the racism he faced early in his career, unforgettable moments at Candlestick Park, racing frogs with teammates, the 1962 World Series against the Yankees, and his pride in becoming the first Dominican-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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It’s been 50 years since Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium was torn down—but thanks to longtime Phillies PR man Larry Shenk, "The Baron", it springs back to life in this episode. Larry spent decades behind the scenes with the Phillies, and his memory is an absolute time machine. A baseball encyclopedia. From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd in North Philly, Larry paints a vivid picture of what it was like inside one of baseball’s great lost ballparks. He also shares untold stories about the legends (Schmidt, Rose, Carlton) he worked with and the golden age of the game most fans never got to see. Sometimes the best storytellers aren’t the ones on the field—but the ones just beyond the dugout.

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Drafted in the 62nd round in 1988, Mike Piazza defied all odds to carve out a 16-year Hall of Fame career. In this episode (which originally aired in 2022, now re-released, remastered with new audio) Piazza shares stories of playing at Dodger Stadium, Shea, and Yankee Stadium, torching the Phillies, passing Johnny Bench, and the day the greatest hitter of all time showed up at his house for breakfast—and batting practice.

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Hip-hop icon and Rock N Roll HOFer Chuck D joins the podcast to remember baseball legend Dave Parker—The Cobra. Chuck reflects on Parker’s impact on the game, his cultural legacy, and what it meant to narrate Cobra at Twilight, the powerful documentary about Parker’s life and battle with Parkinson's.

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Dave Bristol just turned 92 on June 23rd—and he’s packed a lifetime of baseball into those years. A member of the Reds Hall of Fame, Bristol managed Cincinnati in the late ’60s before leading the Brewers, Braves, and Giants, and later coaching with the Expos and Phillies. Born in Macon, Georgia, he's one of the game's great storytellers, with decades of dugout memories to share. Enjoy this journey back to baseball's golden era.

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This month on Lost Ballparks, our guest is Dennis Clotworthy, Al Kaline’s Last Bat Boy. Dennis grew up across the street from Tiger Stadium and eventually worked inside its walls. In our conversation, Dennis brings the old ballpark to life with incredible detail—describing everything from creaky trap doors to the magic of Gate 16, the heavy barn door that opened a hidden world below field level and the old, slick hardwood floors of the clubhouses, worn smooth and marked with metal spike impressions left by generations of legends.  His journey, which began in the unlikely setting of Malta, takes him to Detroit, where he chases a dream that leads to jobs as a junior usher, clubhouse attendant, visiting team's bat boy, and ultimately, bat boy for the Tigers. Along the way, he rubbed shoulders with legends like Brooks Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan and, of course, Al Kaline. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a batboy at one of baseball’s most storied old ballparks, this episode is for you.

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In light of Pete Rose’s posthumous reinstatement to Major League Baseball and his renewed eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame, I’m re-releasing this short episode from last fall. It features the last message Pete left for me shortly before his passing. 

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Before there was a SportsCenter… before ESPN became a juggernaut… there was George Grande—sitting behind a desk, ushering in a new era of sports television with some of the the very first words ever spoken on the network. But his story doesn’t begin there. He played alongside Tom Seaver at USC, interned for Vin Scully, called games for the Yankees, Cardinals, and Reds, and for 31 summers was the voice of baseball immortality as the host of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. He’s shared dugouts with legends, airwaves with icons, and memories with millions. This month, he shares them with us. 

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He started as a batboy at old Seals Stadium in 1958 and spent the next 65 years inside the Giants clubhouse at Candlestick Park and beyond. Along the way, he became great friends with Willie Mays, found himself at a private dinner where a legendary singer answered the door, had an unexpected run-in with a Hollywood cowboy at spring training, "borrowed" something from Bob Uecker and even ran the clubhouse for the biggest band in the world. This month on Lost Ballparks, longtime Giants clubhouse manager Mike Murphy shares stories you won’t believe. 

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Baseball is in Buddy Bell’s blood. Growing up, he spent his days at Crosley Field watching his dad, Gus Bell, play for the Reds and later roamed County Stadium when Gus was traded to the Milwaukee Braves. In this episode, Buddy shares stories of his childhood in the game, the special way his dad let him know he made a great play, a life-changing moment in the parking lot at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, his first All-Star Game in 1973, and the unforgettable highlight of his career when he finally put on a Reds uniform in 1985.

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Bob Uecker was more than just a baseball legend—he was a cultural icon, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, and one of the most beloved personalities in sports history. In this special tribute episode, MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, and Paul Molitor share their favorite Ueck stories. From his playing days to the broadcast booth, and of course, his unforgettable moments in pop culture, this is a celebration of “Mr. Baseball”.

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I’m thrilled to bring you one of our all-time most downloaded episodes: my interview with Cal Ripken Jr., originally released on January 4, 2022.

If you’re new to Lost Ballparks, this is the perfect chance to catch up on a conversation that has become a cornerstone of the show. Cal shares incredible stories about the American League ballparks he played in during his career, the advice Reggie Jackson gave him that pulled him out of his first big league slump, and what it was like to play under the watchful eyes of his father and Earl Weaver.He also talks about a memorable exchange with Johnny Bench on the back porch of the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, the two pieces of memorabilia he treasures most, and, of course, the streak that made him a baseball icon.

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Relive the magic of baseball’s golden age through the incredible story of Jackie Brandt, a player who shared the field with legends like Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson and Eddie Mathews. With a career spanning 12 unforgettable years (1956–1967), Brandt played in some of the most iconic ballparks in history—Polo Grounds, Sportsman’s Park, Ebbets Field and Connie Mack Stadium. In this episode, Jackie, now 90, shares his unique experiences, colorful stories and what it was like to be part of an era that defined America’s pastime. 

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Breaking news: Thrilled to announce tonight the Classic Era Baseball Committee has elected Dave Parker and Dick Allen to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be inducted next year!! Here is our interview with Parker from March of 2022. Hope you enjoy it and congratulations to the Cobra (and Allen) on an achievement that is long overdue!

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On this month's episode I’m honored to talk with a man who has been the heartbeat of Cleveland baseball for 35 years—Tom Hamilton, the legendary voice of the Cleveland Indians and Guardians. Hear his baseball beginnings, including the first game he ever attended as a kid, the quirks and character that made Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium one of a kind, and the city’s transformation with the opening of Jacobs Field in 1994.

And of course, we revisit those incredible Cleveland teams of the mid-‘90s—teams that had the whole city glued to their radios, with Tom’s iconic calls providing the soundtrack to those magical Ohio summers.

From the vast expanse of Municipal Stadium to the unforgettable debut of ‘The Jake,’ and the moments that united a city, this is one conversation I can't wait to share with you.

Update: 12/11/24 - Tom has been named the Ford C. Frick Award Winner and will take his place in the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame in 2025!!

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This month on Lost Ballparks, Ken "Hawk" Harrelson joins us with stories as colorful as his career.  From meeting Mickey Mantle as a kid to helping save Fenway, playing with Satchel Paige, and even catching the eye of Frank Sinatra, Hawk's stories are legendary. Hear how a twist of fate before Game 7 of the ’67 World Series might have cost the Red Sox their title, and relive highlights from his 9-year big league career and 33 years in the White Sox broadcast booth. Grab some peanuts and cracker jack—Hawk Harrelson joins us on Lost Ballparks!

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On this episode, I'm joined by Ernie Whitt, catcher from the 1977 inaugural Toronto Blue Jays team. He shares stories about some of the historic minor league ballparks he played in, the American League ballparks of the 70s and 80s, his first MLB hit, and the early days of the Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium. Plus, Ernie reflects on two unforgettable things Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk did for him that he'll never forget.

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Pete Rose has passed away at the age of 83. Just a few weeks ago, he left me a message that I'd like to share with you. Rest in peace, Pete.

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Jerry Schwab is my guest on this months Lost Ballparks podcast. From 1946-1957, Jerry and his family lived in an apartment underneath the LF grandstands at the Polo Grounds. His Dad, Matty was the head groundskeeper for the New York Giants. His story is a rare glimpse into a world that few have ever seen; personal relationships with legends of the game, hidden passages, tunnels beneath the stands and the dugouts and clubhouses where history was written.

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Denny Matthews, the Royals Hall of Fame Voice, has been calling games in Kansas City since the team's first game in 1969! This is his 56th year with the Royals. He joins me on this month's episode of the Lost Ballparks podcast to talk about K.C.'s Municipal Stadium, The "K",  all things Royals, the first MLB game he ever attended and the ingenious strategy he used to get the Royals job!

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Denny McLain, 2X Cy Young Award winner, 3X All-Star, AL MVP, 1968 World Champion and the last pitcher in the big leagues to win 30 games in a season, is my guest on this month's episode. Wait 'til you hear why his Mom chose not to let him sign with the Yankees! We're also talking about his first hand experiences in some of baseball's iconic ballparks and of course that magical 1968 season for the Detroit Tigers!

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At 99 years old (he'll turn 100 in September), The Reverend William "Bill" Greason is the oldest living member of the Negro Leagues. From his heroic service in World War II to his career in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball, Greason's journey is one of courage, determination, and a remarkable, unwavering spirit of gratitude.  Enjoy my conversation with a true American hero!

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Pat Hughes, who was elected to the broadcast wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame last year has broadcast more than 6,000 games over a 40+ year career. The longtime radio voice of the Chicago Cubs joins me on this month's episode to reminisce about the first big league game he ever attended and to share his many vivid ballpark memories of Candlestick, Yankee Stadium, Comiskey Park, Tiger Stadium, the Metrodome, County Stadium, Municipal Stadium and Wrigley Field.

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From the dusty sandlots of Pottstown, PA to the storied ballparks that served as the backdrop to his remarkable career, 98 year old baseball legend and 1952 AL MVP Bobby Shantz looks back on his improbable path to the major leagues. Grab your peanuts and cracker jack and listen to one of the great stories from the golden age of baseball. 

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Several months ago, I recorded an interview with the late Larry Lucchino. In addition to being an executive for the Orioles, Padres and Red Sox, Lucchino was a ballpark design revolutionary who ushered in the wave of retro ballparks beginning with Camden Yards. On this week's special episode of the Lost Ballparks podcast, Lucchino tells how the park of his youth, Forbes Field, inspired him to build Camden Yards and Petco Park. Listen now at lostballparks.com or search "Lost Ballparks" wherever you stream podcasts.

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Steve Vucinich spent 54 years with the Oakland A’s working as a peanut vendor, a ballboy, and eventually the clubhouse manager.  The much beloved member of the Athletics was inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame in 2022. He was a part of the team for 7 different decades and has many stories to tell on this month's episode!

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Rocky Colavito finished his career with 374 HR's and he played in 9 All-Star Games. Now 90 years young,  Rocky joins me on this episode to talk about his 1st game at the Polo Grounds, his tryout at Yankee Stadium, his love for Cleveland & the wedding gift the team gave him & his wife that he'll never forget!

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Pete Weber, the voice of the minor league Buffalo Bisons (1983-1995),  called many games at historic War Memorial Stadium. He was there while they filmed "The Natural" and joins me on this episode to offer behind the scenes details about that all-time great baseball movie. We also spend time remembering some of the quirks and oddities of baseball's lost minor league ballparks.

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Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins joins me to recount the "when" and "where" of attending his first MLB game, the unconventional method his Dad used to make him a strong pitcher, the trials of playing  in minor league ballparks of the segregated south in the early 1960's, the baseball legend he admired growing up who would become his roommate and surviving 10 cent beer night at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium!

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Jon Miller, the longtime voice of the San Francisco Giants makes his return visit to Lost Ballparks. His first appearance on the podcast quickly became the most downloaded episode in LB podcast history. He is gracious enough to join once again sharing more of his first hand experiences of broadcasting at some of baseball's iconic lost ballparks.

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Mike McDermott began his career at Dodger Stadium as the visiting team batboy in the mid 1960's. He later transitioned to batting practice pitcher for the Dodgers; a position he held for 30 years! He joins me on this episode to talk about a Hall of Famer whose kindness he'll never forget, the time at Candlestick where he caused the game to be stopped and memories of many old, lost ballparks, including a particular goose bump inducing moment at Yankee Stadium.

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Hall of Famer Ted Simmons joins me on this episode to talk about the first big league game his Dad took him to at Briggs Stadium (later named Tiger Stadium), coming back to play there as a major leaguer, catching Bob Gibson's only no-hitter at Three Rivers Stadium and the day he hitched a ride with a rock-n-roll legend.

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Warren Brown's first job was working in the Red's clubhouse at Crosley Field. When the Reds moved into Riverfront Stadium in the middle of the 1970 season, he became one of their batboys. "Brownie" has great stories and wonderful memories to share of both ballparks, Sparky Anderson and the Big Red Machine.

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Rick Dempsey, a member of the Orioles HOF,  joins me on this episode to talk about some of the great Lost American League ballparks of the 70's and 80's, his little league manager who turned out to be ______!!! the stadium where he nearly lost his life, and of course the '83 World Series (he was MVP) and the goose bump inducing '88 World Series! This is one of my all-time favorite interviews. Hope you enjoy it!

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On this Extra Innings episode, Steve Garvey talks about the day he became a Brooklyn Dodger batboy in 1956, the first MLB game he attended as a teenager at Tiger Stadium and his walk off home run to win game 4 of the '84 NLCS that made him a San Diego legend!

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On this episode of the Lost Ballparks podcast, Kent Hrbek, a member of the Twins Hall of Fame, joins me to talk about growing up a short bike ride away from Metropolitan Stadium, what it was like playing for the Twins in the ballpark he grew up going to, the challenges and joys of playing in the Metrodome, his practical joking teammates and of course, being a part of the first Twins championship.

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7X Emmy Winner and longtime ESPN host (Sports Look/Up Close), Roy Firestone joins me on this episode to talk about his love for Old Miami Stadium, his days as a Baltimore Orioles batboy, his lifelong friendship with Brooks Robinson, the day he walked through an abandoned Memorial Stadium with Johnny Unitas and his once-in-a-lifetime interview with members of the 500 HR club (Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt and Frank Robinson).

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George Toma, 94, has been doing groundskeeping since he was 12 years old. That’s 82 years! The man nicknamed, the "Sodfather" and "the Nitty Gritty Dirt Man" joins me on this episode to talk about being the head groundskeeper in Kansas City at Municipal Stadium for colorful owner Charlie Finley (in the 1950's and 60's), then Royals Stadium.  He has advised and been a part of the grounds installation and upkeep at the past 50 some Super Bowls, more ballparks and stadiums than we have time to mention, the '84 and ’96 Olympics and the 1994 World Cup. And well into his 9th decade of living, he still consults.

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Lost Ballparks Extra Innings: In this extra innings episode HOFer Reggie Jackson shares details of the first major league game he ever attended as a kid; where it was, who he was with, the teams playing that day and who his favorite player was.

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Steve Stone was an All-Star, a Cy Young award winner (He won 25 games in 1980!), and for the past 4 decades has worked in the broadcast booth; first for the Cubs alongside Hall of Famer Harry Caray and since 2005 he has been calling games for the White Sox. He shares vivid details of Comiskey, Wrigley Field, Memorial Stadium, Candlestick and Municipal Stadium and of course some of the best Harry Caray stories I've ever heard! Click here to check out Steve's book.

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Art Shamsky was a key member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. He joins me on this episode to talk about that magical year and what it was like playing with Tom Seaver, Pete Rose and Frank Robinson in those Lost Ballparks of the 60's - Forbes Field, Connie Mack Stadium, Crosley Field, the Astrodome and Shea Stadium.

Click here for Art Shamsky's book: After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the '69 Mets 

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Extra Innings Episode: Rollie Fingers, a 7X All-Star, 3X World Champion, MVP, Cy Young winner and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, joins me on this episode to talk about the first MLB game he attended as a kid, his 2 favorite ballparks to pitch in, "Harvey" the mechanical rabbit, historic Rickwood Field, and the 3 days he spent as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

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Andy Strasberg is the author of My 1961. Andy grew up in the Bronx and unlike all of his friends who were Mickey Mantle fans, Strasberg loved Roger Maris. In 1961 he began to make daily journal entries that chronicled his life as a 13 year old Yankee fan, trips to Yankee Stadium with his Father and friends and vivid details of his dreams to 1. Meet Roger Maris. 2. Be given a game used bat by Roger Maris. 3. Be given one of Roger's home run balls. What followed that year and beyond, greatly exceeded even Strasberg's wild expectations. If there was ever a story that should be made into a movie, this is it!

Click here to view Strasberg's book My 1961

Click here to view Strasberg's book Home Runs: Tales of Tonks, Taters, Contests and Derbies

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Rick Rizzs has been calling Seattle Mariners baseball games since 1983! On this episode he talks about growing up in Chicago attending games at Comiskey Park, paying dues in minor league broadcasting, feeling like he could die at any minute calling games at old Cleveland Stadium, the unique peculiarities of Tiger Stadium and the Mariners historic run in 1995. 

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Extra Innings Episode: Johnny Bench  joins me on this episode to talk about the first MLB game he ever attended, memories of Cincinnati's Crosley Field, what Willie Mays told him at the Astrodome in 1968, his 1971 All-Star game home run at Tiger Stadium and obeying his Mom during the 1972 NLCS at Riverfront Stadium.

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Jack Morris was 254 game winner, a 5x All-Star, 4X World Champion, 1991 World Series MVP and a 2018 inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. On the premiere episode of season 5, Morris joins me to talk about growing up going to Metropolitan Stadium, his love for the most terrifying sport in human history, pitching at Comiskey Park, Jack Murphy, Tiger Stadium, that magical 1984 season and his return to Minnesota to play for his hometown Twins.

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Fred Lynn was a 9X All-Star and the first player in baseball history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP and a Gold Glove in the same year! He joins me on the season finale to talk about the first game he attended as a kid, all things Fenway Park, that special 1975 Red Sox team, his first All-Star game at County Stadium in Milwaukee, the crazy event that probably cost the Angels the '82 ALCS and much more!

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Tommy John, a 4X All-Star, played 26 seasons in the big leagues racking up 288 wins! He joins me on this week's episode to talk about attending games at Crosley Field as a kid, pitching at Municipal Stadium when he was 18, funny stories of Tommy Lasorda and the surgery that bears his name and revolutionized the pitching position forever!

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Author Rick Vaughn spent more than 30 years working as a baseball executive for the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays. I just finished his new book "100 years of Baseball on St. Petersburg's Waterfront", a fascinating account of Florida's west coast city (Al Lang Field/Stadium) hosting some of baseball's all-time greats, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson and so many others. Click here for more info on the book.

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