Episodes

  • 238 - Artie Shaw's Nightmare: The Big Band Sound Goes to War w/ Michael Doyle
    Feb 21 2025

    Author and journalist Michael Doyle's new book, Nightmare in the Pacific: The World War II Saga of Artie Shaw and His Navy Band (Univ. of North Texas Press, 2025) is an adventurous tale and a must read. Shaw, a leading big band leader into the early 1940s, joined the Navy a few months after Pearl Harbor. He formed a Navy big band of accomplished and to varying degrees roguish musicians and led them across the Pacific during the war, entertaining troops, finding trouble and dealing with grueling hardships. Michael Doyle joins us this week to give a preview of this book and musicians at war.

    Michael Doyle's website: www.doyleauthor.com

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link.
    https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

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    54 mins
  • 237 - Bugs Raymond, the Overlooked for Cooperstown, Kendrick's Halftime & Beyonce's Grammy
    Feb 15 2025

    Bugs Raymond battled alcoholism while pitching for the Tigers, Cardinals and Giants as well as several minor league teams during the early Deadball Era -- this week we discuss Raymond's difficult and tragic life in baseball and afterwards. In Chapter 2, Craig and Rex have six players they believe ought to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame but are not. They'll tell you who those players are. They also have some thoughts on Kendrick Lamar's halftime show and Beyonce's Best Country Album GRAMMY Award (like everyone else, apparently).

    Bugs Raymond Sources
    Baseball-Reference.com
    Society for American Baseball Research (www.sabr.com) ("Looking Back at the End of Bugs Raymond’s Career" and "Bugs Raymond")
    Newspaper articles accessed via newspaper.com
    CenterfieldMaz.com ("The Wild Story Of the Heavy Drinking New York Giants Pitcher: Bugs Raymond (1908-1910)")

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.






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    52 mins
  • 236 - Jim Gilliam: Replaceable in March, Irreplaceable in October w/ Stephen W. Dittmore
    Feb 6 2025

    Stephen W. Dittmore's book, "Jim Gilliam: The Forgotten Dodger," (August Publications, 2025) hit bookstores this week and it's a good one. Dittmore joins us this week to talk about the man who won the 1953 National League's Rookie of the Year Award and who played key roles on four World Series championship teams for the Dodgers. Gilliam later coached the Dodgers on Managers Walter Alston's and Tommy Lasorda's staffs until he passed away in 1978.

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

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    45 mins
  • 235 - Texans in the Hall: Ross Youngs w/ David King
    Jan 31 2025

    Journalist and author David King joins us in part 1 to talk about Ross Youngs, who was born in Shiner, Texas, in 1897, and later played 10 seasons for John McGraw's New York Giants. In that time he was a key player on four National League pennant and two World Series title teams. A career .322 hitter, Youngs fell ill during the 1926 season and later died at age 30 from kidney disease. The Veterans' Committee elected Youngs to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

    King is author of Ross Youngs: In Search of a San Antonio Baseball Legend (History Press 2013).

    In part two, Craig and Rex talks about some musical artists that are not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but should be (or so they think). They are:

    Iron Maiden (listen to "Phantom of the Opera")
    The B-52s (listen to "Rock Lobster")
    Anthrax (listen to "Bring the Noise")
    Soundgarden (listen to "Fell On Black Days")
    Motörhead (listen to "Ace of Spades")
    Sonic Youth (listen to "Teen Age Riot")

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

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    54 mins
  • 234 - The Miracle Braves of 1914, part 2
    Jan 23 2025

    This week concludes our two-part series about the Miracle Braves of 1914 and concludes with Rex and Craig discussing Billy Wagner and the recent Hall of Fame balloting results.

    Episodes mentioned:
    157 - R.E.M.'s Murmur at 40 w/ Tony Fletcher.

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

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    45 mins
  • 233 - The Miracle Braves of 1914, Part 1
    Jan 20 2025

    This week Craig and Rex begin a two-part series on the Miracle Braves of 1914.

    The early 20th Century was not kind to the Boston Braves (previously, the Beaneaters, the Doves and the Rustlers). Mired in the second division for years with frequent ownership changes, an outdated ballpark and few prospects, Boston entered the 1914 season with second year manager George Stallings, some promising new ballplayers and faint hopes to crack the National League's first division. However, after being swept in July 4th double header, the Braves were back in familiar territory - deep in last place, 15 games behind the mighty New York Giants.

    What happened next resulted in baseball's greatest come from behind story ever. The Braves caught fire and made a mockery of the National League West, wining by 10 games over the Giants, the league's three-time defending champions. Part One of this two-part series looks at the Braves remarkable season and sets the stage for the World Series against the American League powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics.

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew Eckhoff on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

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    39 mins
  • 106 - Baseball Rebels w/ Professor Peter Dreier (From the Vault)
    Jan 9 2025

    Rex and I are taking two weeks to recover from the holidays and holiday travel and will be back January 16 with the first episode of Season Six. Here are the show notes from our Episode 106:
    -------------------------------------------
    This week Professor Peter Dreier (Occidental College) joins Hooks & Runs to discuss his new book, "Baseball Rebels: The Players, People and Social Movements That Shook Up the Game and Changed America" (Univ. Nebraska Press, 2022), co-authored with Prof. Robert Elias. The conversation covers not only well known names in baseball history like Bill Veeck and Larry Doby but also little known players almost forgotten by history. You'll hear amazing stories about people like Octavius Catto, Sam Nahem, Jackie Mitchell and more. This is a highly recommended book.

    Dreier and Elias, incidentally, also released a companion book, "Major League Rebels: Baseball Battles Over Workers' Rights and American Empire" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022).

    "Previously on Hooks & Runs" - Professor Jeremi Duru on Curt Flood (Ep. 104).

    Check It Out:
    Prof. Dreier
    recommends The History Channel's documentary, "After Jackie"
    Rex recommends the new single from Megadeth, "We'll Be Back."
    Andrew recommends "Operation Mincemeat," starring Colin Firth and available on Netflix.
    Craig recommends the new album from a reunited Porcupine Tree, "Closure/Continuation." This is "Of the New Day."

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Opening and closing music, "Caroline" by Craig Estlinbaum. All rights reserved.
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2022, 2025, all rights reserved.

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    56 mins
  • 46/50 - From the Vault: Our Interview with Larry Lester and the Best and Worst Super Bowl Halftime Performances (From the Vault)
    Jan 2 2025

    Craig and Rex are taking two weeks off so we reached into the vault this week to present two segments from shows past.

    The first segment is our January 2021 interview with Larry Lester, baseball historian and co-founder of the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. This interview took place just a few short weeks after MLB officially recognized seven leading Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1948 as Major League Baseball. We talked about the process for researching and certifying Negro League statistics and snapshots of Negro League stars like Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.

    In the second segment, Eric and Craig presented their favorite and least favorite Super Bowl half-time performances. This segment ran in February 2021, just after The Weeknd's performance at Super Bowl LV in Tampa.

    You can support Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including books featured in this episode, through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns

    Hooks & Runs - www.hooksandruns.com
    Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
    Hooks & Runs on Twitter
    Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
    Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
    Hosts Emeriti:
    Andrew on Tik Tok
    Eric on Facebook
    Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
    This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.


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    56 mins