Lost Ballparks

Lost Ballparks

Lost Ballparks with Mike Koser is a podcast that transports you back to the golden age of baseball—through the voices of those who lived it. Hear firsthand stories from players, broadcasters, batboys, clubhouse managers, groundskeepers, umpires, and fans who vividly recall what it was like to spend a summer afternoon at Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, Yankee Stadium, Comiskey Park, Crosley Field, and many more beloved ballparks now lost to time.

Episodes

December 5, 2025 41 mins

This episode is especially meaningful for me. Years ago, I painted a portrait of my father-in-law’s favorite player, Juan Marichal, in his iconic high-kick windup. Today, that same painting hangs in Marichal’s home—and I had the honor of sitting down with him for this conversation.

From 1960–1975, Juan Marichal was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball: 243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, a lifetime 2.89 ERA, and 10 All-St...

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(This episode was recorded in 2022). We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Jon Miller, the longtime voice of the San Francisco Giants has been broadcasting major league baseball games for nearly 50 years.  For 2 decades he and Joe Morgan called the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week. Naturally, af...

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(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

As a 15 year old freshmen, he stood 5’7 and weighed 128 pounds. He batted 9th on his Aberdeen High School Team and finished the season hitting .128. Who would have believed that he would one day grow into a 6’4, 225 pound B...

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(This episode was recorded in 2024). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

From the dusty sandlots of Pottstown, PA to the storied ballparks that served as the backdrop to his remarkable career, 98 year old baseball legend and 1952 AL MVP Bobby Shantz looks back on his improbable path to the major...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2021). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

There are only 2 living members of the Brooklyn Dodgers who played in and won the 1955 World Series; pitchers Roger Craig and Carl Erskine. Erskine, our first guest on Lost Ballparks, won 122 games for the Dodgers between 1...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Bob Costas has hosted 12 Olympics, 7 Super Bowls, 7 World Series, 10 NBA Finals, has won 29 Emmys (more than any other sportscaster in history) and a Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick winner. What a thrill it was to talk ...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Jim Palmer won 268 games in his big league career. He appeared in 6 World Series and won 3. He was a 3x Cy Young Award winner, 4x Gold Glove winner, won at least 20 games in 8 different seasons and was inducted into the Bas...

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(This episode was recorded in 2022 and re-released when Dave Parker was elected to the Hall of Fame). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Breaking news: Thrilled to announce tonight the Classic Era Baseball Committee has elected Dave Parker and Dick Allen to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Dale Murphy was a 7X All-Star, 2X NL MVP, 5X Gold Glove winner, 4X silver slugger award winner. He finished his 18 year career with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs and is a member of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.

Send us a t...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in December, 2024). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

On this month's episode I’m honored to talk with a man who has been the heartbeat of Cleveland baseball for 35 years—Tom Hamilton, the legendary voice of the Cleveland Indians and Guardians. Hear his baseball...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

On this episode Hall of Famer and Chicago Cub legend Billy Williams joins me to talk about the day in 1956 he found out he was going to be signed by the Cubs, the life changing comment that Rogers Hornsby made to him and Ro...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

From 1970-2010 Nancy Faust was the organist for the Chicago White Sox. She was a trailblazer who made music an integral part of the ballpark experience. When Harry Caray first sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2024). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Rocky Colavito finished his career with 374 HR's and he played in 9 All-Star Games. Now 90 years young,  Rocky joins me on this episode to talk about his 1st game at the Polo Grounds, his tryout at Yankee Stadium, his ...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Bobby Richardson joins me on this week's episode of the Lost Ballparks podcast. Richardson was the 2nd basemen for the NY Yankees from 1955-1966. He was selected to 7 All-Star teams, played in 7 world series (winning 3...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2023). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Extra Innings Episode: Johnny Bench  joins me on this episode to talk about the first MLB game he ever attended, memories of Cincinnati's Crosley Field, what Willie Mays told him at the Astrodome in 1968, his 1971 All-...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2023). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Ozzie Smith, "The Wizard of Oz" was a 15X All-Star, World Champion, 13X Gold Glover, NL Silver Slugger and a first ballot baseball Hall of Famer! And on the season 4 premiere of the LB podcast he is talking about ...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Red Sox Hall of Famer Rico Petrocelli joins me on this episode to talk about the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox, his memories of growing up in Brooklyn going to Dodger games at Ebbets Field and the story o...

Mark as Played

(This episode was recorded in 2022). 

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

John Asalon was a member of the Cincinnati Reds grounds crew at Riverfront Stadium from 1972-1979. He had a front row seat for some of the biggest games in baseball history. This week, he gives us an inside look at Crosley ...

Mark as Played

Originally recorded in 2023.

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Fred Lynn was a 9X All-Star and the first player in baseball history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP and a Gold Glove in the same year! He joins me on the season finale to talk about the first game he attended as a kid, all things Fe...

Mark as Played

Originally recorded in 2023.

We’re curating the most downloaded episodes for new listeners discovering Lost Ballparks. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being part of this incredible community!

Jon Miller, the longtime voice of the San Francisco Giants makes his return visit to Lost Ballparks. His first appearance on the podcast quickly became the most downloaded episode in LB podcast history. He is gracious enough to join...

Mark as Played

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