Almost Cooperstown
We're a father and son who love to talk and argue about baseball! Baseball is the professional sport that has the longest history so there is a lot to talk about! We launched Almost Cooperstown noting that baseball contains a long history of players that, for whatever reasons, have been shunned by the electors of the Hall of Fame. Consequently here are many 'Almost' players still waiting their turn for induction. With less than 1.4% of the now more than 23,000 players in the HOF, we feel there should be more players included. In these podcasts we also discuss current seasons & trends. Please send any messages to almostcooperstown@gmail.com. Baseball articles can be found here: https://almostcooperstown.substack.com/publish/posts
Almost Cooperstown
We're father and son who love to talk and sometimes argue about baseball. We're huge fans not just of the Mets, but of baseball old and current. Since baseball is the professional sport that has the longest history so there is a lot to discuss!
Ask us a question, send us a note, connect and follow. Join us and be a part!
Baseball articles at almostcooperstown.substack.com
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Oct. 19, 2026
31 Moments That Changed Baseball: Author Phil Coffin Joins Almost Cooperstown
Baseball history is filled with remarkable moments—and even more remarkable stories behind them. In Episode 728, Author Phil Coffin joins Mark and Gordon on Almost Cooperstown to discuss A Baseball Book of Days: 31 Moments That Transformed the Game. From Jackie Robinson's first game and the Negro Leagues' All-Star tradition to Moonlight Graham, Dave Winfield's seagull incident, the spitball ban and Bill Veeck's winter meetings, we explore the surprising details behind baseball's familiar and f
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Oct. 19, 2026
31 Moments That Changed Baseball: Author Phil Coffin Joins Almost Cooperstown
What do Jackie Robinson's historic debut, baseball's first All-Star Game, Moonlight Graham, the spitball and Dave Winfield's unfortunate encounter with a seagull have in common? They're all part of baseball's remarkable history—and the stories behind them are often more surprising than the events themselves. In Episode 728, Mark and Gordon welcome author Phil Coffin to discuss his book, A Baseball Book of Days: 31 Moments That Transformed the Game. Coffin takes a different approach to basebal...
Oct. 15, 2026
Openers have replaced too many starting pitchers in the #MLB playoffs
Playoff teams apparently don't trust their own starting pitchers - except for the #dodgers. Are you tired of watching openers pitch to begin critical playoff games? Even if it makes sense it's....meh. A short from out podcast this week.
Oct. 13, 2026
The Art of Taking pitches and the Un-hittable Strike
Players (except for pitchers) and fans hate strikeouts on a called third strike. So as a result batters swing a pitches with two strikes differently. A short from our podcast this week.
Oct. 12, 2026
Can Taking a Called Third Strike Make You a Better Hitter?
Can the Dodgers win a third consecutive World Series, or will the Brewers, Guardians, or Rays pull off the upset? In Episode 727 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon Kolier examine baseball's final four, the role of payroll in building a championship team, and why the Dodgers may be more dangerous than some fans believe. We also discuss MLB's reported proposal to shorten the regular season from 162 to 154 games, expand the Division Series, and introduce opponent selection for higher-seeded p
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Oct. 12, 2026
Can Taking a Called Third Strike Make You a Better Hitter?
We've been taught since Little League that taking a called third strike is one of baseball's cardinal sins. But Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges has challenged that thinking—and his change in approach raises some fascinating questions. In Episode 727 of Almost Cooperstown, we examine the statistics behind called third strikes, walks, and on-base percentage. Plus, remember Carlos Beltrán watching Adam Wainwright's curveball end the 2006 NLCS? Was swinging really the better option?
About the Hosts
Mark Kolier
Co-founder of Almost Cooperstown podcast and writer of Almost Cooperstown content.
Gordon Kolier
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