The 1970s era cool just wafted off of Dave Parker, the gigantic Pirates slugger who was one of the best, if not THE BEST players in baseball in the last half of that decade. Parker's persona, his play, and his essence were all larger than life and are still clear almost 50 years later. That bigness, however, led to problems later in his career, both on and off the field, but ultimately set up a fine career denoument as a productive DH, and a Hall of Fame induction scheduled for later this month. Commemorating the passing of the great Cobra, Mike and Bill look back at a pretty impressive, though flawed, career and person. 

Plus, happy birthday to Cy Blanton and Gene Alley!

And farewell to Frank Johnson and Vic Harris.

With the boys still recovering from SABR last week in Dallas, it's a perfect time to revisit the great Larry Doby, who never gets nearly enough attention. 

It's probably fair to say that no more important player in baseball history has been talked about less than Larry Doby, the second African-American to break the color line as a player and a manager, which happened 73 and 42 years ago this week, respectively. Mike and Bill try to rectify that just a little, looking back at Doby's life before getting the chance to integrate the American League and the incredible contributions he made after it. Plus, happy birthday to Al Downing and Tony Armas Sr!

Back next week with a new episode.

Mike and Bill are off this week at SABR and are getting this classic episode up late. In that spirit, please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 298:

With the White Sox threatening to leave the Windy City and abscond to Tampa if they didn't get a new stadium 37 years ago this week, and with the Illinois legislative session winding down to the end of its session and the funding bill a few votes short, he weirdest thing happened. Time, on (and only on) the floor of the state legislature, stopped for three whole minutes, giving the Governor and House Majority Leader time to rally the support necessary to pass the bill. In honor of this miracle, of sorts, Mike and Bill look back at the history of the original Comiskey Park, and the hijinks that ultimately led to its replacement.

Plus, happy birthday to Alejandro Peña and Howie Pollett!

While his nickname suggested otherwise, Paul Waner was good for whatever was ailing the Pirates for 15 of his 20 big league seasons. But 83 years ago this week, after moving on from the Bucs, Big Poison would cement his Hall of Fame legacy by becoming the seventh player to reach 3,000 career hits. Mike and Bill look back on a deserving Hall of Famer and find are surprised to find that his nickname was a misnomer on both ends. He was neither big, nor dished out more poison than he ingested.

Plus, happy birthday to Sandy Alomar Jr and Brett Butler!

And farewell to Chito Martinez and Tom Brown.

Don Drysdale was one of the most intimidating pitchers to ever take a big league mound, and his career seemingly reached its peak 57 years ago this week when he broke the record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched just before having the record snapped at 58 2/3 innings. Mike and Bill look back at this icon of the 1960s and are surprised to find out, while he became an ace almost immediately, it took a few years for Big D to pick up his enduring reputation as a brushback artist.

Plus, happy birthday to Van Lingle Mungo and Ken Singleton!

And farewell to Tommy Helms and Marshall Edwards.

When we think of Lou Gehrig, we usually think about one of two things: his tragic early death or his record breaking consecutive games played streak, which began this week 100 years ago. This week, we celebrate the happier of those two aspects of his life and career, looking back at the 2,130 games that made up Gehrig's incredible accomplishment. Through it, you get a sense of just how determined, exceptional, and lucky Laruppin' Lou was until the moment his luck and body gave out.

Plus, happy birthday to Terry Kennedy and Johnny Mostil!

And farewell to Billy Smith, Tony Blanco, Octavio Dotel and Nate Oliver.

Due to a personal conflict, Mike was unable to help with a new episode this week. So, in honor of Memorial Day, we are re-running a very early episode of TWIB History, in which Mike and Bill celebrate the life and career of Eddie Grant, an underappreciated Phillies, Reds, and Giants third baseman who gave his life in the Argonne Forest in the closing days of World War I. Grant's sacrifice was commemorated by the Giants 104 years ago this week with a touching memorial at the Polo Grounds, which was stolen after the Giants' final game there and disappeared from the historical record. Also happy birthday to Larry Jackson and Eric Davis.

Bobby Doerr is not talked about much outside of Boston these days, but was a pretty big deal back in the 1940s, when he suddenly elevated his game to become a perenial All Star and a Hall of Fame caliber player. The Red Sox recognized that 37 years ago this week, when they made him just the third player to have his number retired by the club. Mike and Bill look back on the career of this largely silent Hall of Famer, finding one of the biggest prospects of all time, a surprising and mysterious mid-career improvement, and a long legacy of not being talked about, which is probably how Doerr liked it.

Plus, happy birthday to Jack Sanford and Joe Harris!

And farewell to Tommie Reynolds and Rich Rollins.

It's one of the most iconic records in sports, Joe DiMaggio's unbelievably improbable 56 game hitting streak, that began 84 years ago this week. With Kyle Schwarber's 47 game on-base streak now snapped, Mike and Bill thought it was appropriate to revisit the greatest streak of them all, going step by step through this incredible accomplishment and marvel at the talent and luck it took to ultimately pull it off. Plus, happy birthday to Chicken Wolf and Gentleman Jim Hickman!

Sometimes it takes a while for a prospect to reach his full potential. Sometimes, all it takes is five starts. That's what happened with Kerry Wood, who not only pitched the game of his life 27 years ago this week, but possibly the greatest game anyone has ever pitched, striking out 20 Astros batters while walking zero and allowing one scratch hit. Mike and Bill look back on this game, the phenomenon Wood caused, and on his surprisingly impressive career, even though it was derailed by injuries. 

Plus, happy birthday to Victor Starffin and Larry Hisle!

One of the most awe-inspiring superstars of all time, Jimmie Foxx didn't start out that way, joining Connie Mack's Athletics at the age of 16. Foxx spent three years mostly ridiing the bench while he matured, during which, 100 years ago this week, he collected his first hit. Mike and Bill look back on The Beast's incredible career and sad end and find a lovable good-natured man who turned into a monster with a bat in his hands.

Plus, happy birthday to Chris Carpenter and Nip Winters!

And farewell to Jim Breazeale and Art Shallock.