Proudly brought to you by the fine folks at the Astonishing Legends Podcast- Not just another show but a place you can go: The Midnight Library. You alone, can climb the stairs of the strange, old Victorian mansion and be somewhat welcomed by your Hosts, Miranda Merrick & Mr. Darling. Curl up in a window seat or beside the grand fireplace and hear a tale of times long ago. Be transported to forgotten lands, learn about ancient customs and mysterious happenings… all in the company of your unu ...
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In the Midnight Library of Baseball, Ben Orlando offers a unique perspective to historic and modern aspects of the game. He does so with no loud music and no jarring sounds, so listeners can relax and enjoy a good show as they settle in for the night.
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Ep. 23: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 2 - Glove Affairs
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What began as an object of great shame eventually turned into the most intimate relationship between a ballplayer and an object. Come along on this fascinating journey of the baseball glove, from infamy to celebration, honor, and love.Por bendavidorlando
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S10 Ep2: DIVINATION - It's What's for Dinner!
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Greetings Spooky Lovelies! We assume you received your personal dinner invitation for tonight's reading? Maybe you missed it. It was written in the red veins of the Sorrel lettuce on The Hospitality Tray last week. Oh well. You're here now, so please take your favorite seat as your scrumptious host, Ms. Miranda fills you in on all of the sly and ea…
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Ep. 22: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 1
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In this episode, I explore the history of the baseball, and some surprising facts about what was initially used inside a baseball. I also discuss changes to the ball that greatly affected the game, and how a few additional simple changes could help evolve the game for the better.Por bendavidorlando
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Ep. 21: Three Home Run Races and How They Changed Baseball
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The three major home run races in baseball history were between six very different men. In this episode, I explore these mythic figures, and discuss how they were a product of their times and also instrumental in shaping what came next.Por bendavidorlando
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Tonight! The story so many of you have been asking to hear: The Birth of Irma! Just how did this little Sugar Booger come into being? From whence did she come? How did we all become so possessed by her? Join us tonight to hear the heated story of her Underworld origin! Special Thanks to Sounds Like an Earful Music Supply for the amazing music AND s…
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Bonus Episode: Mark Armour and Dan Levitt Stop By The Library
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I had the pleasure recently of sitting down with Dan Levitt and Mark Armour, authors of the book, Intentional Balk: Baseball’s Thin Line Between Innovation And Cheating. We dig into the gray areas of cheating, what cheating and innovation have meant to baseball, baseball fans, and Mark and Dan. We also discuss where the game is headed and what kind…
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Ep. 20: More core stats are lies? Say it ain't so, Joe
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In terms of traditional stats that have misled fans, players, and managers for decades, the pitcher win is a whopper. In this episode I discuss the origins and many examples and reasons why wins and saves have been so problematic, and also why we love them all the same.Por bendavidorlando
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S9: Season 10 Announcement & A Question: Are You A Midnight Library Missing Person?
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CALLING ALL SPOOKY LOVELIES! We have an announcement about Season 10 for you! We also have a question- Are you one of our beloved missing ones? Find out in this short message from Miranda!Por Astonishing Legends Productions
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Ep. 19: When Stats Lie and We Have to Say Goodbye
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A few of the pillars of baseball statistics contain serious flaws, but it can be hard to turn away from them. In this episode, I discuss the historical reasons for trusting these stats, the consequences of this trust, and the reasons why so many closed their eyes to the truth for so long.Por bendavidorlando
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Ep. 18: Barnstorming and the Most Perfect Baseball
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Before there were leagues in baseball, there was barnstorming, and as major league baseball expanded, with its rules, revenue, and discrimination, barnstorming remained to remind players and fans what baseball was, when stripped down to nothing but the game.Por bendavidorlando
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Ep. 17: Substances in Baseball, Then and Now
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In this episode, I explore the origins and background of various popular substances in Major League Baseball, and the entertaining and heartbreaking stories that go with them. From Dock Ellis pitching a no-hitter on LSD, to the tragic end to one of the best players in the game in his prime, to the debate of performance enhancing drugs and some surp…
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Ep. 16: The Untold Story of Tobacco in Baseball
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There are a lot of surprising twists and turns in the history of tobacco in Major League Baseball. In this episode, I will answer why smokeless tobacco was so popular during the origins of baseball, why it then almost disappeared, and how it roared back despite its known dangers.Por bendavidorlando
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Ep. 15: The Natural Vs Field of Dreams
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I’ve written about both The Natural and Field of Dreams, so I thought it would be fun to compare the two films, based on a number of different criteria, to see, in the end, which film came out ahead.Por bendavidorlando
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Bonus Episode: Author Jason Turbow Visits the Library
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In this episode, I talk with Jason Turbow, author of “The Baseball Codes, the Unwritten Rules of America’s Pastime,” about his updated views on the code since writing the book and viewing the changes in baseball.Por bendavidorlando
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People think they know what they saw in 1993 between Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura, just like they think they know what they saw in the 1996 collision between Albert Belle and Fernando Vina. But they don’t, because behind the scenes, the code was dictating the behaviors and actions of players. In this episode, I break down some of the most important…
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Ep. 13: Searching for the Real Natural
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Before Roy Hobbs of “The Natural,” there was Eddie Waitkus, a star of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, whose forgotten true story was more fascinating than the fiction that came after.Por bendavidorlando
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S9 Ep9: The Murder of Durable Mike Malloy
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Greetings, My Dear... Lone... Guest, I thought I'd have you in for tea on this beautiful, early fall evening... to discuss... MURDER. But, not just any murder... a slow, plotting, gentle murder... at least at first. The clueless victim didn't even realize he was being murdered, so that's better, right? We think so. Please, make yourself comfortable…
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Ep. 12: The Strange and Wondrous Life of Rick Ankiel
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In this episode, I dive into the life and career of Rick Ankiel, whose unbelievable twists and turns are only surpassed by the amazing relationship he developed with a baseball team and baseball town.Por bendavidorlando
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Bonus Episode: Rounders Host Jeffrey Lambert Visits the Library
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In this episode, Jeffrey Lambert, host of the podcast, Rounders, stops by to chat with me about what makes baseball so different from other sports, and why we love it so much. We also discuss cultural shifts that have affected the game, as well as some of our favorite all-time baseball books.Por bendavidorlando
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RAVENOUS RAPTOR FANS REJOICE! Tonight, by special request, we celebrate OWLS!-- and all that they are amazingly capable of! Even if you have a fear of owls, we invite you to cozy up in The Reading Room to hear of their luscious history and alluring lore... and even what they're hungry for. Keep your eyes peeled for our Miss Harlow... if you have no…
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People who remember relief pitcher Donnie Moore often connect Moore’s role in what Al Michaels called “the most dramatic hour of sports I’ve ever seen," to Donnie Moore, three years later, shooting his wife and himself. In this episode, I explore the deeper story that sheds light on what happened on July 18, 1989.…
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In part 1 of a three-part series, I trace the echoed story of Bill Buckner and his infamous error back to the source, and back even before that, to get a full picture of what happened before, during, and after the game, so that we can understand what we lose when we begin to see the echo as the story.…
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S9 Ep7: The Victorian Obsession with Shrunken Heads
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My very dear guest, we have a rather unique and meaningful story as tonight's offering here in The Reading Room. It will undoubtedly pique your morbid interest, as the subject is "The Victorian Obsession with Shrunken Heads" But more than this, I believe it will touch, or even awaken, something with in you that will cause you to think differently a…
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In this episode, I'll explore the true story of Doc Moonlight Graham from Field of Dreams, and other men who could have been known for a major league baseball career, but ended up being known for something else entirely.Por bendavidorlando
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Welcome in Dear Guest! We know that some of you have been waiting for another visit to this beloved topic for quite some time, so tonight, we have a spritely telling of Fairies in Art! These enchanting creatures live in the hearts and minds of people all over the globe, and thanks to some magically gifted artists, now everyone can see them!... not …
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Ep. 8: Will a Female Ever Play Major League Baseball?
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In this episode, I’ll explore the reasons why there has not been a female at the highest level of baseball, and the factors involved in a female making it to the big leagues. And by the end of the episode, I will be asking a completely different question.Por bendavidorlando
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In this episode, I explore one of the most famous moments in baseball history, and how this moment might be the result of cheating. I also discuss the culture of cheating in baseball, and if there's a problem with cheating.Por bendavidorlando
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Do we "not" have a surprise for YOU, Dear Guests! Tonight your bewitching host has for you- the amazing story of Romulus, Remus, & Lupercalia, the ancient feast day, and in-the-buff frenzied frolic that brought romance and fertility to lovers for perhaps thousands of years... and we're totally "not" reviving the wild tradition...nor will we tell yo…
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Ep. 6: How Much Did They Actually Make?
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In this episode, I do a deep dive into the history of baseball salaries, how much players actually made compared to today, and the many ways players supplemented their income. I also discuss a new way for minor league prospects to cash in on the major league experience.Por bendavidorlando
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S9 Ep4: Of Ghost Ships and the Risen Dead
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All Aboard Dear Guests! Tonight, we are off on a dire and dreary seafaring adventure! First, there will be rumors of sightings of the Famous Ghost Ship, The Flying Dutchman. This ethereal ship has emerged out of the mists to strike fear and bestow doom upon its many beholders... and we are so here for it! Then, we will witness the building, sinking…
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Step right this way, Spooky Lovelies! Have we got just the thing for YOU! No matter what ails you, we have... something ...that will make you feel... differently than you do currently... perhaps... forever! Tonight, your Divine Host, Miranda Merrick, will tell you all about those shifty, snake-boiling sellers from days of yore! Where did they come …
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Ep. 5: Gambling: Savior And Destroyer Of Baseball
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Gambling was instrumental in the formation and spread of professional baseball, but it has also been a toxic part of the game. Today, we look at this love-hate relationship.Por bendavidorlando
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In this episode, we take a look at some current practices that separate baseball from other sports. We also discuss a few rules and realities that used to exist, like pitchers throwing the ball underhand, and players playing full seasons bare-handed.Por bendavidorlando
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Ep. 3: Why The Knuckleball Is So Successful And So Rare
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A few major league pitchers have found enormous success in the knuckleball, paving careers that outlasted most of their contemporaries. But for all its power and effectiveness, the knuckleball is almost nonexistent in today’s game, and has rarely been used by more than a handful of pitchers in any decade since its creation. In today’s episode, we f…
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Ep. 2: How Ray Chapman’s Death Saved Future Lives
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In 1920, Ray Chapman was killed by a pitch, the only major league player ever to be killed during gameplay. Many players owe their added safety to the obvious and not-so-obvious changes that took place following Chapman’s death. In this episode, we explore the events that led to Chapman’s death, and baseball’s grudging modernization.…
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Ep. 1: Did Lou Gehrig Have Lou Gehrig’s Disease?
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Lou Gehrig is one of the most famous and well-loved baseball players of all time. In the United States and other countries, Gehrig is also the namesake for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurodegenerative disease. In this episode, we examine the possibility that Gehrig did not have the disease, and the ramifications of this possibility.…
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Welcome to Part 2 of The Midnight Market, Spooky Lovelies! We promise this will be a night for you to remember… however, we cannot promise that you will be able to. Come as you are or dress in your finery! Bring your children… we insist. You’ll see your friends and meet new ones– Oh! and the goods we will have on offer are sure to charm you… foreve…
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Come one! Come all! To: The Midnight Market! 100% safe and enjoyable food & fun for your entire family! Our permit was secured via YOUR VOTE at The Village Council meeting, and we Thank You for making it all possible! After your evening… rest, visit our cheery marketplace just beyond the county line in the huge clover field at the edge of The Villa…
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S9: Bonus - Season 9 Announcement and Miranda's Way
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When will the Reading Room reopen? What will be on the Hospitality Tray? Can you help me find my other eye? We get SO MANY questions this time of year… there must be something in the air… that makes human people crave the unique atmosphere of The Midnight Library! To put your fears at rest… for the most part, here we have a reassuring Season 9 Anno…
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S8 Ep9: Bonus Tea with Miranda - Circus Tattoos
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Greetings My Dear Guest! Maybe you recall ...in our previous reading on Sacred Tattoos, I lamented the fact that there were just too many wonderful tattoo tales to choose from-- and the story of the first tattooed circus performers is one of them! So please join me now to hear about these daring and "colorful" characters! Now, won't you take a seat…
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Greetings, Dear Guest! Please dash in quickly before the crows get you-- I mean before the crows get IN!! They've paid us a completely unexpected visit that's coincidentally collided with your lovely visit! We have no idea how this has happened! Perhaps they heard that they're the star of tonight's reading: As The Crow Flies. Please walk calmly to …
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Welcome, Lovely Guest! We hope you're in the mood for romance because tonight's reading is all about ancient and sometimes forbidden love spells and potions! So, why don't you slip into something more comfortable while we pour a little wine … and gather up some sacred rings, various animals,... and a little blood and fingernail clippings, and such.…
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Greetings, Dear Guest! You are in for such a colorful treat this evening, as your host, the other Divine Ms. M., tells you all about the little-known art of Hand-Painted Human Skulls! Most of them are ancient, but there are certainly some more recent painted-up dead heads, too. Oh, and the best part is-- many of them are on display for you to see! …
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Right this way, Dear Guest! What if we told you that tonight, we're going to be doing a little spelunking or cave-dwelling? And not just so we can pet the bats, but because it is the birthplace of a very famous WITCH: Mother Shipton, "The Yorkshire Prophetess." Ms. Merrick will take you from her humble cave birth, through her eerily dramatic predic…
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Greetings, Dear Guest! In tonight's dire reading, we will reminisce about the many splendid ways people used to kick the bucket... or uh... pass away. There was once so much unpredictable variety! Folks used to be forced to meet their maker by fickle fairies, chancy chickens, and even wily wallpaper! Please curl up in your favorite spot and join us…
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Welcome, Dear Guests! Back by popular demand, an art special! This wicked reading will feature 3 hotter than Hades paintings starring His High Hotness: The Devil! Each fiery work of fine art portrays Big D in a distinctly different style, from mild to wild! There's sure to be something to suit everyone's taste. Please make your selections from The …
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S8 Ep2: Walpurgis Night! A Witches Shindig!
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Welcome Spooky Lovelies! Gather ye, Witches, for this Halfway to Halloween Celebration!! April 30th is Walpurgisnacht, Walpurgis Night, or WITCH'S NIGHT! A Devil's delight like no other! -- With a centuries-old dead nun included that only helps to stoke the fire and fan the flames! If you didn't know before that there 2 wild nights for the wicked e…
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S8 Ep1: The Tale of Natasha Boomslang
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Welcome back to The Reading Room, Spooky Lovelies! Oh how we've missed you! And what a treat you're in for this evening! I am so pleased and proud to be telling you the oddly touching Tale of Our Natasha Boomslang, complete with new characters for you to meet, as well as old friends for you to greet! There will be no spoilers about coilers here, so…
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A Guide to the Unknown Crossover Promo
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The Midnight Library is pleased to introduce Guide to the Unknown: A podcast for horror fans and the paranormal-curious.Por Astonishing Legends Productions
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Season 8 Announcement - A Message from Miranda Merrick
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Why are the gates to The Midnight Library closed? Will they reopen? If so, when?! Why can I still taste the last thing I ate from The Hospitality Tray? Most of these questions will happily be answered in this short message from your Heavenly Host: Miranda Merrick (Besides, who else would tell you the truth?)…
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