Podcast
Lost Ballparks
Hosted by Mike Koser · EN
Lost Ballparks with Mike Koser is a podcast that transports you back to the golden age of baseball—through the voices of those who lived it. Hear firsthand stories from players, broadcasters, batboys, clubhouse managers, groundskeepers, umpires, and fans who vividly recall what it was like to spend a summer afternoon at Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, Yankee Stadium, Comiskey Park, Crosley Field, and many more beloved ballparks now lost to time.
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Episodes
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Juan Marichal (HOF 1983)
Dec 500:41:03Tap to summarizeThis 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.Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Jon Miller (HOF 1998)
Dec 400:29:53Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!Jon Miller, the longtime voice of the San Francisco Giants has been broadcasting major league baseball games for nearly 50 years. For 2 decades he and Joe Morgan called the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week. Naturally, after a career of that length, he has been to many old Lost Ballparks and he is sharing his first hand experiences on this week's episode. Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Cal Ripken Jr. (HOF 2007)
Dec 300:45:03Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!As a 15 year old freshmen, he stood 5’7 and weighed 128 pounds. He batted 9th on his Aberdeen High School Team and finished the season hitting .128. Who would have believed that he would one day grow into a 6’4, 225 pound Baseball Hall of Famer?! Cal Ripken, Jr. finished his career a 19 time All-Star, AL Rookie of the Year, 2x AL MVP. He collected 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, was a 2x Gold Glove winner, 8x silver slugger, World Champion, played in the most consecutive games (2,632) and was a 2007 inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame.Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Bobby Shantz (1952 AL MVP)
Dec 200:33:51Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2024). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!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. Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Carl Erskine (1955 Brooklyn Dodgers)
Dec 100:27:45Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2021). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!There are only 2 living members of the Brooklyn Dodgers who played in and won the 1955 World Series; pitchers Roger Craig and Carl Erskine. Erskine, our first guest on Lost Ballparks, won 122 games for the Dodgers between 1948-1959. He was an All-Star, World Champion and author of 2 no-hitters. Oh, by the way, he struck out Mickey Mantle 4 times. In one game! He also played at Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium and he's here, at 95 years young, to talk about it all! Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Bob Costas (HOF 2018)
Nov 3000:39:13Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!Bob Costas has hosted 12 Olympics, 7 Super Bowls, 7 World Series, 10 NBA Finals, has won 29 Emmys (more than any other sportscaster in history) and a Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick winner. What a thrill it was to talk old ballparks with him!Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Jim Palmer (HOF 1990)
Nov 2900:27:53Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!Jim Palmer won 268 games in his big league career. He appeared in 6 World Series and won 3. He was a 3x Cy Young Award winner, 4x Gold Glove winner, won at least 20 games in 8 different seasons and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. And oh by the way, he is the only pitcher in baseball history to win a World Series game in 3 different decades! Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Dave Parker (HOF 2025)
Nov 2800:30:30Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022 and re-released when Dave Parker was elected to the Hall of Fame). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!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!Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Dale Murphy (Braves HOF)
Nov 2700:38:06Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!Dale Murphy was a 7X All-Star, 2X NL MVP, 5X Gold Glove winner, 4X silver slugger award winner. He finished his 18 year career with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs and is a member of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.Send a text
Transcribe →Best of Lost Ballparks: Billy Williams (HOF 1987)
Nov 2600:38:14Tap to summarize(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!On this episode Hall of Famer and Chicago Cub legend Billy Williams joins me to talk about the day in 1956 he found out he was going to be signed by the Cubs, the life changing comment that Rogers Hornsby made to him and Ron Santo, his incredible experiences with Buck O'Neil and Satchel Paige and his first hand account of playing in baseball's great old, lost ballparks.Send a text
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