A poem shouldn’t decide Cooperstown… right? In this episode of Rounding Third, Peter Lemieux digs into the Chicago Cubs’ famous double-play combo—Tinker, Evers, and Chance—and asks whether a catchy 8-line verse helped carry three good players into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Along the way, we revisit the 1908 Merkle game, the Cubs’ World Series run, and why debates over who belongs in Cooperstown never die.

What you’ll get:

• The real story behind “Tinker to Evers to Chance” and the 1908 Cubs

• Why narrative vs. numbers still shapes Hall voting

• Quick hits on Kenny Lofton, Keith Hernandez, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, and Shoeless Joe

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:16 The Baseball Hall of Fame: A Tradition of Debate

01:15 Controversial Figures in the Hall of Fame

01:54 Today's Focus: Questionable Hall of Fame Inductees

03:10 The Chicago Cubs: A History of Highs and Lows

06:02 Tinker, Evers, and Chance: The Poem That Made Them Famous

10:30 Analyzing the Stats: Do They Belong in the Hall of Fame?

13:48 Conclusion: The Hall of Fame Debate Continues

If you love baseball history and smart Hall of Fame debates, you’ll enjoy this one.

👉 Subscribe for more baseball stories from Rounding Third on BadderSports.

💬 Drop your take: Who’s in the Hall but shouldn’t be—and who’s out but should be in?

#RoundingThird #BadderSports #MLBHistory #ChicagoCubs #HallOfFame

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Get to know Smokey Joe Williams—the 6’4” right-hander whose fastball terrified hitters, whose barnstorming record humbled MLB greats, and whose legend grew despite baseball’s color line. In this Rounding Third story episode, Peter Lemieux walks through Smokey Joe’s meteoric rise, his duels with stars like Walter Johnson, and the road that ended with a 1999 Hall of Fame induction.

00:00 Today's Story

00:25 The Historic First Pitch by President Taft

02:24 Walter Johnson: The Big Train

04:02 Introducing Smokey Joe Williams

05:17 Smokey Joe's Legendary Career

07:57 Legacy and Recognition

10:11 Conclusion and Call to Action

What you’ll learn

• How Opening Day 1910 (President Taft’s first pitch) sets the stage for Walter Johnson vs. Smokey Joe. 

• Why contemporaries said the ball “exploded” out of Smokey Joe’s hand (Ty Cobb’s praise). 

• Barnstorming receipts: wins vs. Grover Cleveland Alexander, Chief Bender, Rube Marquard, and even a 1–0 loss while throwing a no-hitter. 

• Smokey Joe vs. Satchel Paige (1–0 classic) and his late-career perspective when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. 

Why this matters

Baseball history isn’t complete without the Negro Leagues. Williams’s dominance—strikeouts, complete games, and success against championship MLB teams—puts him in the conversation with the greatest pitchers ever.

🔔 Subscribe for powerful stories of forgotten legends, iconic moments, and the untold heart of baseball — only on BadderSports.

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Billy Martin wasn’t a star bat—he was a force. From Casey Stengel’s trust to an unlikely friendship with Joe DiMaggio, bar‑fight headlines, and a debut that sparked a 15–10 comeback, this is how Billy Martin became unforgettable in Yankees lore.

00:00 Introduction to Baseball Stories

00:42 The Irrepressible Billy Martin

02:29 Billy Martin's High School and Minor League Days

05:18 Billy Martin's Major League Debut

07:46 Billy Martin and Joe DiMaggio's Unlikely Friendship

12:16 Billy Martin's Love for the Yankees

13:27 Billy Martin's Memorable First Game

15:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

🔔 Subscribe for powerful stories of forgotten legends, iconic moments, and the untold heart of baseball — only on BadderSports.

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@swingbadderpodcast

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On June 21, 1964 — Father’s Day — I witnessed one of baseball’s rarest feats: Jim Bunning’s perfect game for the Phillies against the Mets. That moment sent me down a rabbit hole of no-hitter and one-hitter history, from legends like Nolan Ryan and Bob Feller to pitchers who suffered heartbreaking near-misses.

In this episode of Rounding Third, we dive into:

- The story of Jim Bunning’s perfect game and its historic significance

- The rarity of no-hitters and why perfect games are even more special

- Nolan Ryan’s mind-blowing 7 no-hitters and 12 one-hitters

- Forgotten feats like back-to-back one-hitters and near-perfect heartbreaks

Baseball history is filled with remarkable pitching performances — but some are so rare they’re almost mythical. Let’s talk about them.

00:00 Intro

00:59 The Perfect Game by Jim Bunning

02:36 The Rarity of No-Hitters

03:43 Nolan Ryan's Extraordinary Record

04:22 Heartbreaking One-Hitters

06:02 Successive One-Hitters

08:04 Conclusion

🔔 Subscribe for more baseball storytelling and deep dives — only on BadderSports.

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In this episode of Rounding Third from BadderSports, Peter Lemieux dives deep into the remarkable story of Minnie Miñoso — the first Latin American player in Major League Baseball and a Chicago White Sox legend.

From his early days in Cuba and the Negro Leagues to breaking barriers in MLB and becoming one of the best all-around players of his era, Miñoso’s story is one of talent, perseverance, and history-making impact. We’ll also explore the highs and lows of the White Sox franchise, the infamous Black Sox scandal, and the long road to Miñoso’s long-overdue Hall of Fame induction.

Whether you’re a die-hard White Sox fan, a baseball history buff, or someone who loves stories about overcoming the odds, this is one you can’t miss.

00:00 Intro

00:25 The Early Days of the Chicago White Sox

02:29 The White Sox in the World Series

03:14 The Scandal and Its Aftermath

05:49 Introducing Minnie Minoso

07:15 Minoso's Journey in Major League Baseball

11:32 Minoso's Legacy and Recognition

14:00 Conclusion

🔔 Subscribe for more baseball stories that connect stats, history, and the players who defined the game — only on BadderSports.

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🎉THANK YOU TO MY SUBSCRIBERS on helping this channel reach 500!

In this episode of Rounding Third, Peter Lemieux dives into one of baseball’s darkest ownership stories — the infamous Marge Schott era with the Cincinnati Reds. From letting her dog p00p on the field to openly racist and offensive comments, Schott became one of the most controversial and hated figures in Major League Baseball.

While she gave generously to local charities and built a philanthropic legacy in Cincinnati, her behavior as a team owner was beyond problematic — from refusing to pay for celebrations to forcing players to clean up after her dog Shotzi. She disrespected staff, players, and even the legacy of Reds legends.

Why did the league allow it? What finally ended her time in baseball? And how should we remember the legacy of someone so complicated — and so destructive?

Tune in for a jaw-dropping tale from baseball history.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into how money, characters, and chaos shape MLB history — only on BadderSports.

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00:00 Introduction

00:23 Introducing Marge Schott

01:06 Marge Schott's Philanthropy

02:34 Marge Schott's Ownership of the Reds

04:30 Controversies and Scandals

07:26 Racial and Offensive Remarks

12:59 Final Years and Legacy

15:16 Conclusion

Peter Lemieux from Rounding Third Batter Sports shifts gears to share a more somber baseball story, exploring a darker side of the sport. This episode spotlights one of baseball's most notorious figures, a departure from the usual uplifting tales. Tune in for a shocking and thought-provoking deep dive!

Rocky Colavito wasn’t just a ballplayer—he was a symbol of hope for an entire city. In this episode of Rounding Third, Peter Lemieux dives deep into the incredible rise, shocking trade, and enduring legacy of Rocky Colavito, one of Cleveland’s most beloved figures in sports history.

From launching 40+ homers to throwing absolute lasers from the outfield, Colavito had the power, the arm, and the charm. But in 1960, “Trader Frank” Lane sent him packing in one of the most infamous trades in baseball history—sparking decades of heartbreak and what some still call “The Curse of Rocky Colavito.”

📚 Plus: The wild story of his 500-foot throw, his perfect ERA, and why he still has a statue in Cleveland.

⚾ Got a childhood hero like Rocky? Tell us in the comments.

00:00 Intro

00:58 The Rise of Rocky Colavito

02:31 Rocky's Peak Performance

04:05 The Shocking Trade

07:34 Rocky's Return and Legacy

09:00 Rocky's Legendary Arm

10:36 The Curse of Rocky Colavito

12:32 Conclusion

🔔 Subscribe for more baseball storytelling that captures the heart of the game — only on BadderSports.

🎙️ More from BadderSports:

@swingbadderpodcast

@hoopandtheharm

@RoundingThirdPodcast

@CampusToContracts

@TheToddPod

@ShortHandedPodcast

⚾ Discover more at https://www.baddersports.com