This month on Lost Ballparks, our guest is Dennis Clotworthy, Al Kaline’s Last Bat Boy. Dennis grew up across the street from Tiger Stadium and eventually worked inside its walls. In our conversation, Dennis brings the old ballpark to life with incredible detail—describing everything from creaky trap doors to the magic of Gate 16, the heavy barn door that opened a hidden world below field level and the old, slick hardwood floors of the clubhouses, worn smooth and marked with metal spike impressions left by generations of legends. His journey, which began in the unlikely setting of Malta, takes him to Detroit, where he chases a dream that leads to jobs as a junior usher, clubhouse attendant, visiting team's bat boy, and ultimately, bat boy for the Tigers. Along the way, he rubbed shoulders with legends like Brooks Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan and, of course, Al Kaline. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a batboy at one of baseball’s most storied old ballparks, this episode is for you.

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In light of Pete Rose’s posthumous reinstatement to Major League Baseball and his renewed eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame, I’m re-releasing this short episode from last fall. It features the last message Pete left for me shortly before his passing.

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Before there was a SportsCenter… before ESPN became a juggernaut… there was George Grande—sitting behind a desk, ushering in a new era of sports television with some of the the very first words ever spoken on the network. But his story doesn’t begin there. He played alongside Tom Seaver at USC, interned for Vin Scully, called games for the Yankees, Cardinals, and Reds, and for 31 summers was the voice of baseball immortality as the host of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. He’s shared dugouts with legends, airwaves with icons, and memories with millions. This month, he shares them with us.

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He started as a batboy at old Seals Stadium in 1958 and spent the next 65 years inside the Giants clubhouse at Candlestick Park and beyond. Along the way, he became great friends with Willie Mays, found himself at a private dinner where a legendary singer answered the door, had an unexpected run-in with a Hollywood cowboy at spring training, "borrowed" something from Bob Uecker and even ran the clubhouse for the biggest band in the world. This month on Lost Ballparks, longtime Giants clubhouse manager Mike Murphy shares stories you won’t believe.

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Baseball is in Buddy Bell’s blood. Growing up, he spent his days at Crosley Field watching his dad, Gus Bell, play for the Reds and later roamed County Stadium when Gus was traded to the Milwaukee Braves. In this episode, Buddy shares stories of his childhood in the game, the special way his dad let him know he made a great play, a life-changing moment in the parking lot at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, his first All-Star Game in 1973, and the unforgettable highlight of his career when he finally put on a Reds uniform in 1985.

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Bob Uecker was more than just a baseball legend—he was a cultural icon, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, and one of the most beloved personalities in sports history. In this special tribute episode, MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, and Paul Molitor share their favorite Ueck stories. From his playing days to the broadcast booth, and of course, his unforgettable moments in pop culture, this is a celebration of “Mr. Baseball”.

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I’m thrilled to bring you one of our all-time most downloaded episodes: my interview with Cal Ripken Jr., originally released on January 4, 2022.

If you’re new to Lost Ballparks, this is the perfect chance to catch up on a conversation that has become a cornerstone of the show. Cal shares incredible stories about the American League ballparks he played in during his career, the advice Reggie Jackson gave him that pulled him out of his first big league slump, and what it was like to play under the watchful eyes of his father and Earl Weaver.He also talks about a memorable exchange with Johnny Bench on the back porch of the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, the two pieces of memorabilia he treasures most, and, of course, the streak that made him a baseball icon.

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Relive the magic of baseball’s golden age through the incredible story of Jackie Brandt, a player who shared the field with legends like Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson and Eddie Mathews. With a career spanning 12 unforgettable years (1956–1967), Brandt played in some of the most iconic ballparks in history—Polo Grounds, Sportsman’s Park, Ebbets Field and Connie Mack Stadium. In this episode, Jackie, now 90, shares his unique experiences, colorful stories and what it was like to be part of an era that defined America’s pastime.

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