In this episode of The Baseball Book Club, John Cheslock and Leroy Estep look into the latest Hot Stove activity as teams shuffle rosters and prepare for a new baseball season. The conversation blends current baseball news with the historical perspective that defines the show.

Leroy brings a Hot Corner spotlight on Kirby Puckett, examining the good, the bad, and the complicated legacy of one of Minnesota baseball’s most beloved figures. He'll take a look at Puckett’s on-field greatness, his place in baseball history, and how time reshapes the way we remember icons.

John then reflects on baseball on the radio—why it still matters, how it connects generations of fans, and why the sound of a ballgame on the AM dial remains one of the sport’s most enduring traditions. Along the way, there’s plenty of classic Baseball Book Club banter and a little extra fun stuff mixed in.

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The crew is back together for a special, offseason episode. Leroy chimes in with a Hot Corner and John will speak with a guest as they discuss what may be the greatest decade of baseball.

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Few pitchers in baseball history combined intelligence, precision and dominance like Christy Mathewson, Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez.

In the season finale, John and Leroy examine what set these three legends apart — from Mathewson’s artistry with his fadeaway pitch, to Maddux’s unmatched command, to Pedro’s electric presence in the 1990s and early 2000s. Each man defining greatness and showing why their names still stand as the gold standard for pitching mastery.

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The Great One, Roberto Clemente, is number 40 on the Posnanski 100 and we'll talk about the life and career of one of Pittsburgh's greatest.

We will also do some baseball terminology - three terms from Paul Dickson's The Baseball Dictionary.

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What does it take to show up every single day? In this episode, we'll look into the story of Cal Ripken Jr.—the Iron Man of baseball—who redefined durability and dedication by playing in 2,632 consecutive games. From his rookie days in Baltimore to the night he broke Lou Gehrig’s legendary record, Ripken’s career was more than just his streak and we’ll explore what his legacy meant for baseball.

We'll also discuss five poignant stories that transcend the game.

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Still hovering around the Top 50, John and Leroy round out this group of third basemen with a 3-pack including Texas Rangers great Adrian Beltre, Boston Red Sox phenom Wade Boggs and Braves legend Eddie Mathews.

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John and Leroy discuss the chapter Five Pitching Oddities from Why We Love Baseball, looking at various momentous occasions from some of baseball's greats. Plus, they'll talk about Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, ranked 54th in The Baseball 100.

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John and Leroy talk about the legendary careers of Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn and Bob Gibson, four aces that shape baseball history. Plus, hear about wild trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles that is so rare, it's only happened twice in MLB history.

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