Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast

On this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark cover recent baseball chatter (Jazz Chisholm borrowing gear, a new baseball rom-com, and the 1986 Wally Joyner knife incident) before welcoming Baseball-Reference’s Adam Darowski for a deep dive on Julio Franco, from his Dominican upbringing and Phillies signing through stints with Cleveland, Texas, the White Sox, and extensive play in Japan, Mexico, Korea, and back in MLB with Atlanta and the Mets, highlighting his longevity, unique batting stance, training regimen, and age-related MLB records. They discuss Franco’s production peaks (including a 1991 AL batting title), his global hit totals and Darowski’s conservative “gap-filling” 4,000-hit-club research projecting Franco past 3,000 MLB hits, plus context from Negro Leagues/Latin American history and Hall of Fame considerations. The episode also closes with a 1987 Topps Wax Pack Heroes card pull and Adam’s Immaculate Grid favorites. Awesome shot of Julio and other DR players looking fly AF - https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-mlb-shortstops-rafael-santana-julio-franco-news-photo/957081864?adppopup=true Connect With UsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBlueSky: @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialEmail: twostrikenoise@gmail.com Support a Great Cause: Don't let your common cards collect dust! Donate them to help spark a child's interest in the game at http://commons4kids.org/. #baseballhistory #mlb #baseball #BaseballCards #TwoStrikeNoise #JulioFranco #DominicanRepublic #ImmaculateGrid #popculture

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark celebrate being "back from the dead" after the holiday break with a look at the chaotic start to 2026. Discussing the weirdly specific reason why Kyle Farnsworth is the king of Iowa baseball searches, and a generous but suspicious offer of "steak for life" in Toronto. In the ‘Same Year, Same Disaster’ category, perennial idiots re-emerge. Lenny Dykstra’s Pennsylvania traffic stops and John Rocker’s latest crusade against hotel bar staff in Columbus. The main event features a debate on King Felix’s Hall of Fame credentials—measuring peak dominance against a lack of help—and a legendary locker room confirmation regarding Greg Maddox’s specific brand of "sanitary" pranks. The episode wraps up with a curated edition of Wax Pack Heroes decide the first victory of the new year. 00:00 Welcome Back to Two Strike Noise00:45 Mike Kingery and College Memories01:11 Tombstone: A Western Classic03:21 Lenny Dykstra's Latest Shenanigans04:26 John Rocker's Controversial Antics08:29 Tales from the Dugout: Light Edition10:21 Daniel Vogelbach: From Player to Coach14:08 Felix Hernandez: Hall of Fame Debate22:05 Greg Maddux's Infamous Pranks26:07 Bo Bichette's Steak for Life Offer28:53 Kyle Farnsworth: Iowa's Most Searched Pitcher31:34 Boomer Boosts Kyle Farnsworth's Popularity32:55 Most Hated Players in Franchise History37:43 Wax Pack Heroes: The Game Begins54:36 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark bring listeners the extraordinary story of Sig Jakucki, a talented yet troubled pitcher whose career was marred by alcoholism. Despite his struggles, Jakucki played a crucial role in the St. Louis Browns' only pennant win in 1944. The duo dives into fascinating anecdotes from Jakucki's career, including his minor league antics and his legendary performance in the World Series. The episode rounds off with a competitive session of Wax Packs Heroes, featuring standout baseball cards from the 1998 Upper Deck series. 00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Recap01:41 Thanksgiving Baseball Name Game02:39 Contemporary Music and Baseball07:27 Hall of Fame Voting Discussion12:58 Historical Baseball Stats16:57 Sig Jakucki: The Browns' Unlikely Hero37:06 Wax Pack Heroes01:06:54 Wrapping Up and Farewell YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark recount various intriguing baseball history stories. They discuss the recently concluded World Series that garnered the most viewers since 1991's thrilling series and listen to the funniest baseball joke ever told, according to William Shatner, while sitting atop a horse. Included is an exploration of historic player incidents involving Chuck Klein and Ted Kluszewski. The show touches on baseball's relationship with pop culture, mentioning appearances on The Simpsons and celebrity reputations. The episode concludes with Wax Packs Heroes, spotlighting nostalgic baseball cards and a friendly competition between Jeff and Mark. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:43 World Series Recap05:26 Dodgers' Position Players Pitching08:30 Contemporary Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion10:04 MLB's Competitive Golf Tournament11:06 Japanese TV Show and Shohei Ohtani13:58 Trivia Question and Mascot Weight16:34 Dave Winfield & Robin Givens….mom?27:09 Chuck Klien, consistant HOFer27:46 Snake Deal29:46 A Historic Baseball Game in 196034:31 Wax Packs Heroes: Baseball Card Showdown51:14 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

This Halloween, Two Strike Noise digs into the eerie side of America’s pastime — haunted ballparks, ghostly players, and one pitcher who went by so many names they just called him Mysterious Walker. Jeff & Mark unearth the weirdest stories ever to cross the foul line: Boris Karloff playing baseball in full Frankenstein makeup Night-shift ghosts at the Baseball Hall of Fame Ghoulish player names and cursed team legends that feel too strange to be true Then it’s back to reality — sort of — with another round of Wax Pack Heroes, opening vintage cards and revisiting cult favorites like Al Newman and Pete Incaviglia. If you like baseball, Halloween, or stories that make you say “that can’t be real,” this is your episode. 00:00 Introduction and Halloween Special Announcement01:20 World Series Ring Raffle and Spooky Baseball Quotes02:56 Hollywood's Monsters Love Baseball08:23 Haunted Baseball Hall of Fame10:53 Spooky Baseball Names17:46 The Mysterious Life of Frederick Mitchell Walker33:01 Wax Pack Heroes: Opening the 1987 Tops Pack56:50 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

In this milestone 300th episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark are joined by Ryan Fagan, longtime Sporting News writer, Hall of Fame voter, and noted Seinfeld/baseball connoisseur. Together they finally tackle the crossover we’ve all been waiting for — Seinfeld and baseball. From Keith Hernandez’s legendary cameo to George Steinbrenner’s unseen hand, the crew breaks down how baseball became the show’s unofficial fifth character. Ryan shares insider context from both the press box and the writer’s room, while Jeff and Mark connect the dots between sitcom absurdity and real-life dugout drama. Along the way they revisit the fantasy camp episode, debate which ballplayer cameo aged best, and decide whether the Keith Hernandez two-parter might just be the most enduring sports cameo in television history. Episode Timeline 00:00 Introduction – Episode 300!03:10 Batting Practice – Baseball quirks, Operation Shut Down, and Miguel Montero09:45 Meet Ryan Fagan – Sporting News, Hall of Fame voter, Seinfeld fan13:20 When Baseball Met Seinfeld – Keith Hernandez, fantasy camp, and “The Boyfriend”23:40 The Yankees Era – Steinbrenner’s appearances and Costanza’s chaos33:25 Cameos & Callbacks – Jeter, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, and beyond42:05 Baseball’s Influence on Seinfeld – Competition, rituals, and superstition YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tim Foli or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark kick off the show by discussing the sporadic schedule of their monthly baseball history podcast due to studio rentals. They dive into the history of Bo Belinsky, the Los Angeles Angels pitcher known as much for his Hollywood lifestyle as for his on-field performance. Belinsky's remarkable yet tumultuous career is explored, highlighting his brief success, off-field antics, and eventual downfall. The episode also features a detailed discussion on rankings of local TV and radio baseball announcers, with special attention to the Seattle Mariners team. Additionally, the duo engage in another round of Wax Packs Heroes, with Jeff ultimately taking the lead thanks to a lucky pull. They also talk about recent and nostalgic baseball anecdotes, making this episode a blend of history, humor, and friendly competition. 00:00 Introduction and Banter04:11 Baseball Announcers and Rankings09:48 Unique Baseball Moments and Trivia18:42 Bo Belinsky: The Hollywood Pitcher35:32 Wax Packs Heroes Game57:37 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of Two Strike Noise, Jeff and Mark cover some fresh headlines around the game — including Mariano Rivera going down at Yankees Old-Timers’ Day, Jen Pawol breaking barriers behind the plate, and Fernando Rodney still firing arrows in Canada at age 48.The main topic this week is Babe Phelps, one of baseball’s many “Babes,” but maybe the quirkiest of the bunch. From hitting .367 as a catcher, to Casey Stengel roasting his pitch-calling, to being nicknamed “The Grounded Blimp” after refusing to fly, Phelps collected as many roommate stories as base hits. Along the way, we meet a young Pee Wee Reese moving hotel furniture in his sleep, Tom Zachary hiding wallets on the floor, and even Babe Ruth bunking with Phelps on the road.The episode wraps up with another round of Wax Pack Heroes, tearing open some cardboard to see which stars and oddballs pop out this week. 00:00 Introduction and Banter01:13 Upcoming Milestone Episode01:52 Yankees Old Timers Game04:21 Jen Powel08:08 Fernando Rodney's New Chapter10:52 Baseball Players and Pokemon Cards13:51 Babe Phelps: The Forgotten Babe27:36 Wax Pack Heroes48:16 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up YouTube - www.youtube.com/@twostrikenoiseTwitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twostrikenoiseBluesky - @twostrikenoise.bsky.socialFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/TwoStrikeNoise/Instagram - @twostrikenoiseE-mail - twostrikenoise@gmail.com We pull ALOT of commons in Wax Pack Heroes. If you've got those Tom Foley or Ernest Riles cards just sitting around you can donate those commons to charity and maybe spark a child's interest in baseball and collecting. Find out more here: http://commons4kids.org/ #podernfamily #podnation #baseball #mlb #history #podcast #baseballcards