Media

I’m often asked to speak about all aspects of baseball — modern, historical, or statistical. If you’re a reporter working on a story, a student working on a paper, or a fan with a baseball question, please feel free to contact me. Here are a few recent interviews and clips:

How MLB is navigating the coronavirus pandemic to play ball

ESPN-logoBy Tonya Malinowski
May 19, 2020
ESPN examined the challenges facing MLB as it struggles to get back on the field. What emerges is like nothing that has been attempted in the history of American sport, less a baseball season than a military-style operation in which any number of variables could derail the plan, or, worse, contribute to the spread of the deadly disease. Click here to read the full article at ESPN.com.

Pro, college sports landscape about to go dark

AJC-logoBy Ken Sugiura
March 12, 2020
When Major League Baseball announced that it had immediately suspended its spring-training games and delayed the start of the season by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, the league was not acting without precedent. Click here to read the full article at AJC.com.

Cheating on America’s field of dreams is nothing new

The-Times-LogoBy Ben Hoyle
January 18, 2020
Almost a century after the most notorious fix in sport was exposed by a flurry of dramatic confessions, America’s “national pastime” is once again reckoning with scandal. By extraordinary coincidence baseball is involuntarily marking the centenary of the “Black Sox” scandal — centered on members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team — with another crisis that threatens the credibility of the sport. Click here to read the full article at TheTimes.co.uk.

The baseball obsessives correcting the record about the 1919 Black Sox Scandal

the-athletic-logoBy Zach Buchanan
October 4, 2019
To the extent that you know any of the real history of the Black Sox, it is because of SABR’s Black Sox Scandal Research Committee. They, more than anyone else over the last 20 years, have chipped away at the bastardized version of events popularized by “Eight Men Out” in print and on film. Together and individually, committee members have written at least a dozen books on the subject, examining the scandal from various angles. They are the authorities. And if you still believe the myths of “Eight Men Out,” well, they would like your attention. Click here to read the full article at TheAthletic.com (subscription required).

Joseph ‘Sport’ Sullivan’s Little-Known Role In The Black Sox Scandal

NPR-Only-A-Game-logoBy Shira Springer
October 18, 2019
Just weeks before the 1919 World Series began, gambler Joseph “Sport” Sullivan and White Sox first baseman Chick Gandil looked out at the same view from the same windows at the Hotel Buckminster near Fenway Park in Boston. But who was Sport Sullivan, the man who helped hatch the biggest scandal in baseball history? How did he get in the middle of it, then essentially get away with it? Click here to listen to the full interview at NPR’s Only A Game.

The Sunday Edition: Revisiting the 1919 Black Sox Scandal

cbc-radio-logoBy Michael Enright
October 12, 2019
One hundred years ago this past week, eight Chicago White Sox, players took bribes from gamblers to fix the World Series. The heavily favoured White Sox lost the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, the conspiracy was revealed, and the eight White Sox players — thereafter known as the Black Sox — were banished from baseball for life. Jacob Pomrenke joined The Sunday Edition‘s Michael Enright for a conversation about the 1919 World Series and how historical research has debunked a number of myths about the Black Sox scandal. Click here to listen to the full interview at CBC.ca.

Black Sox Scandal: How It Unfolded 100 Years Ago

Newsday-logoBy Steven Marcus
July 12, 2019
A century removed from Judge Landis’s decision to ban the Black Sox for life, some family members and supporters have remained determined to clear the names of players — Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver in particular — but no commissioner since Landis has come close to reversing that landmark ruling. Click here to read the full article at Newsday.com.

Effectively Wild podcast: The Black Sox Scandal

effectively-wild-logoBy Ben Lindbergh
March 26, 2019
In a bonus episode of EW, Ben Lindbergh talks to SABR’s Jacob Pomrenke about the centennial of the notorious 1919 White Sox, SABR’s new “Eight Myths Out” project, the persistent misconceptions about why the Black Sox threw the 1919 World Series, whether the scandal could have stayed secret, the complicated legacy of Eight Men Out, what Jacob wishes he knew about the Black Sox, the future of gambling and baseball, and more. Click here to listen at FanGraphs.com.

Here are some other interviews I’ve done:

Television
“Phoenix man brings 100-year baseball scandal to life in new podcast.” ABC/15, Phoenix, AZ (October 22, 2019)
“100 years since Black Sox World Series, new details challenge long-held story.” PBS NewsHour (October 9, 2019)
“Eight Myths Out at the Mercantile Library.” Fox Sports Ohio, Cincinnati, OH (August 15, 2019)
“Arizona’s vintage baseball league opens new season.” Cronkite News, KAET/8, Phoenix, AZ (November 28, 2018)
“Jackie Robinson’s experience with racism in 1937.” Cronkite News, KAET/8, Phoenix, AZ (April 12, 2016)
“Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox.”Arizona Horizon, KAET/8, Phoenix, AZ (July 16, 2015)

Radio/Podcasts
“The Laurence Holmes Show” re: 1919 Black Sox Scandal with Laurence Holmes of The Score, 670-AM in Chicago (May 13, 2020)
“Our Tribe History” re: the 1919 White Sox and Indians rivalry with Jeremy Feador (April 16, 2020)
“Roller Out the Barrel” re: vintage baseball in Arizona with Matthew Barnard (April 12, 2020)
“SABRcast with Rob Neyer” re: roundtable discussion with Rob Neyer and guests Jason Turbow and Joe Sheehan on the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal (January 20, 2020)
“White Sox Talk” re: the Black Sox Scandal with Chuck Garfien and Chris Kamka of NBC Sports Chicago (October 14, 2019)
“This Week in Baseball History” re: the 1919 World Series with Mike Bates and Bill Parker (October 9, 2019)
“SABRcast with Rob Neyer” re: the 100th anniversary of the Black Sox Scandal with Rob Neyer (September 9, 2019)
“The Ringer MLB Show” re: reflecting on the Black Sox Scandal 100 years later with Michael Baumann (September 3, 2019)
“Behind the Numbers: Baseball SABR Style on SiriusXM” re: the Black Sox Scandal with Vince Gennaro (August 10, 2019) 
“Badder Beats” re: the 100th anniversary of the 1919 World Series with Brant James (June 27, 2019)
“WARP in Cincinnati” re: the 2019 Cincinnati Reds throwback weekend commemorating the 1919 World Series with C. Trent Rosecrans (June 3, 2019)
“Baseball PhD podcast: Black Sox Scandal” re: on SABR’s new Eight Myths Out project with Edward Kasputis (May 5, 2019)
“Baseball by the Book podcast: Scandal on the South Side” re: the 100th anniversary of the Black Sox Scandal with Justin McGuire (March 25, 2019)
“Sox Machine: Remembering the Black Sox” re: new developments in the Black Sox Scandal with Jim Margalus (February 4, 2019)
“This Week in Baseball History: The Black Sox Lose Their Appeal” re: a century’s worth of Black Sox reinstatement efforts with Michael Bates and Bill Parker (January 16, 2019)
“The Infinite Inning: Shoeless Joe Didn’t Floss” re: a wide-ranging discussion on the Black Sox Scandal with Steven Goldman (April 13, 2018)
“This Week in Baseball History: The Black Sox Go To Trial” re: continuing developments in the Black Sox Scandal story with Michael Bates and Bill Parker (July 19, 2017)
“The Narrative: My Grandfather, World War II, and Minor League Baseball” re: life as a young man who had to choose between pursuing his baseball dream and serving his country, with Harry Swartout of Sports Illustrated (May 25, 2017)
“How Your World Works” re: an intro to sabermetrics with Cameron Johnson, Popular Mechanics (March 25, 2016)
“The Show” re: Pete Rose’s continued ban from MLB with Steve Goldstein, KJZZ/Phoenix (December 15, 2015)
“Game On” re: Rob Manfred’s announcement on Pete Rose ban with Katie B. Davis, WDUN/Gainesville, Ga. (December 15, 2015)
“All Things Considered” re: historical feat of all 15 MLB home teams winning on same day, NPR (August 12, 2015)
“C Dot Show” re: Pete Rose and the 1919 Reds with C. Trent Rosecrans, Cincinnati.com (June 22, 2015)
“Game On” re: new book on the Black Sox Scandal with Katie B. Davis, WDUN/Gainesville, Ga. (June 15, 2015)
“MLB Roundtrip” re: Pete Rose and the Black Sox Scandal with Jeff Joyce and Mel Antonen, MLB Network Radio/SiriusXM (March 18, 2015)
“Game On” re: John Smoltz’ Hall of Fame induction with Katie B. Davis, WDUN/Gainesville, Ga. (January 5, 2015)
“Game On” re: firing of Braves GM Frank Wren with Katie B. Davis, WDUN/Gainesville, Ga. (September 22, 2014)
“Game On” re: the Braves’ 2014 Hall of Fame induction class with Katie B. Davis, WDUN/Gainesville, Ga. (July 21, 2014)
“London in the Afternoon” re: new developments in the Black Sox story with Al Coombs, CJBK/Toronto (April 9, 2013)
“The Nick D Show” re: new developments in the Black Sox story with Nick Digilio, WGN Radio (September 5, 2011)

Online
“Was a baseball game won by a score of 2½ to 2?” Snopes (May 6, 2020)
“Astros’ scandal as bad as Black Sox? Historian weighs in.” Bookies.com (January 17, 2020)
“How the sign-stealing investigation compares to a century-old scandal.” True Blue LA (January 15, 2020)
“Why does it look like Lou Gehrig is batting right-handed in this Yankee Stadium photo?” New York Daily News (August 5, 2019)
“You know the story of the 1919 Black Sox? Think again.” NPR Illinois (March 27, 2019)
“2018 NL batting title chase: Advanced metrics and Scooter Gennett.” Cincinnati Enquirer (September 22, 2018)
“Diamondbacks’ Descalso deserves to be an MLB All-Star.” Arizona Republic (June 28, 2018)
“Meghan Markle’s ancestor played on one of Negro Leagues’ greatest teams.” Daily Mail (May 18, 2018)
“Bat Left, Throw Right: Baseball Stardom?” HealthDay (October 26, 2017)
“David Vincent, the Sultan of Swat Stats, dies.” New York Times (July 6, 2017)
“The Exorcist: How Theo Epstein can banish Cubs’ demons.” New York Daily News (October 6, 2016)
“The religious sect that became baseball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters.”The Guardian (September 21, 2016)
“Uphill climb for St. John’s underhand-throwing ace Thomas Hackimer.” New York Daily News (May 20, 2016)
Game with Phoenix College brought Jackie Robinson face-to-face with racism at a young age. Cronkite News (April 15, 2016)
“Opening Day, baseball’s best day of the season.” Scripps Howard Foundation Wire (April 8, 2016)
“Baseball writers face moral dilemma in Hall of Fame vote.” Columbia Journalism Review (January 7, 2016)
“Moneyball, anyone? How Cubs rank in advanced sabermetric stats.” Chicago Tribune (October 7, 2015)
“Will Shoeless Joe Jackson ever get into the Baseball Hall of Fame?” The Sporting News (September 8, 2015)
“MLB Commissioner denies latest appeal for Buck Weaver reinstatement.” Chicago Tribune (July 29, 2015)
“For the first time, sensors and a computer play umpire in a pro baseball game.” Ars Technica (July 29, 2015)
“Buck Weaver’s family pushes to get ‘Black Sox’ player reinstated.” Chicago Tribune (July 3, 2015)
“How Baseball Has Spent 96 Years Punishing An Innocent Man For The 1919 Black Sox Scandal.” VICE Sports (July 2, 2015)
“The Forgotten Story of … Joe DiMaggio and the San Francisco Seals talent factory.” The Guardian (May 21, 2015)
“The Johnny Bench Mystery is Solved.” The Oklahoman (May 19, 2015)
“That Was the Strangest MLB Game Ever.” Wired (April 29, 2015)
“Baseball Fans Locked Out as Riots Rock Baltimore.” Agence France-Presse (April 28, 2015)
“With our MLB teams, it’s often a long-distance love affair.” Albany Times-Union (April 4, 2015)
“Expert: Rose situation is unprecedented as far as Hall.” Cincinnati Enquirer (March 17, 2015)
“Is Mort Rogers The Granddaddy Of The American Baseball Card?” Hauls of Shame (January 20, 2015)
“Decades later, ‘Orioles Magic’ still resonates.” Baltimore Sun (October 13, 2014)
“Sure as day follows night …” Baseball Prospectus (October 7, 2014)
“.394: Numbers game is ever evolving.” San Diego Union-Tribune (August 13, 2014)
“Rare footage of infamous 1919 ‘Black Sox’ World Series found in Yukon permafrost.” National Post (May 4, 2014)
“For SABR, Data Just Part of the Equation.” Associations Now (March 31, 2014)
“Ruben Tejada could be Terry Collins’ guinea pig in batting a position player ninth.” Newsday (March 16, 2014)
“Sabermetrics: Past, Present and Future.” Mets360.com (December 16, 2013)
“Hunting Shoeless Joe’s Holy Grail.” Wall Street Journal (August 2, 2013)
“Miguel Cabrera, the Triple Crown and the MVP Issue” MarketWatch.com (October 3, 2012)
“Cubs at Fenway should be worth the wait.” MLB.com (May 18, 2011)
“90 years later, experts still unraveling Black Sox mysteries.” USA Today (July 28, 2009)