Radio Stories That Won’t Let You Go

Stories so compelling you’ll stay in your car to hear them through -- even if you’re sitting in your own driveway. NPR's Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan presents tales about the big leagues and the little, the fans in the stands, the players, the history, and the lore.

Highlights include commentaries from some of the game’s most recognized authorities (Daniel Okrent, Frank Deford), a look back at some of baseball’s most important figures (Jackie Robinson, Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio), and colorful segments about the game’s unexpected delights, from the Hidden Ball Trick to the “All You Can Eat” option at Dodger Stadium.

Track Listing :

Disc 1

1. Introduction by Neal Conan (1:14)
2. A Baseball Tutorial (2:42) (Weekend Edition Saturday, July 7, 2007)
3. The Hidden Language of Baseball (9:40) (All Things Considered, August 7, 2003)
4. Dodger Fans Offered ‘All You Can Eat’ Option (3:44) (Day to Day, May 1, 2007)
5. Autumn Glory: Baseball’s First World Series (3:26) (Morning Edition, October 17, 2003)
6. Clemente: The Story of a True Baseball Hero (7:46) (Weekend Edition Sunday, April 30, 2006)
7. Baseball Has Been Very, Very Good To Him (3:36) (All Things Considered, April 30, 2007)
8. Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson, Pitching Pioneer (6:34) (Morning Edition, February 18, 2003)
9. For the Love of the Game (5:10) (Tell Me More, April 30, 2007)
10. The Mystery of ‘Sweet Caroline’ and the Sox (4:58) (Morning Edition, September 30, 2005)
11. ‘The Hidden Ball’ and Other Baseball Tricks (3:01) (Day to Day, April 6, 2007)
12. Neal Conan’s 'Play-by-Play' (2:46) (Morning Edition, September 22, 2000)

Disc 2

1. A Test of Courage: Jackie Robinson’s Rookie Year (6:31) (Weekend Edition Sunday, April 15, 2007)
2. StoryCorps Griot: Field of Dreams (2:34) (News & Notes, October 16, 2007)
3. Baseball, Apple Pie and Steroids (2:09) (Weekend Edition Sunday, April 2, 2006)
4. Braves Cheered On by Truly Brave Hospice Fans (6:20) (Weekend Edition Saturday, September 15, 2007)
5. Remembering Aaron’s Quiet, Courageous Chase (4:49) (Morning Edition, July 27, 2007)
6. ‘Three Blind Mice’ (3:43) (All Things Considered, September 9, 2003)
7. Ballpark Names Fail to Impress (3:49) (All Things Considered, March 15, 2001)
8. ‘Double Duty’ Radcliffe’s Busy Life (4:12) (All Things Considered, August 12, 2005)
9. Math in Baseball (3:40) (Weekend Edition Saturday, September 4, 2004)
10. Aren’t We Tired of Watching the Pitch Count? (3:14) (Morning Edition, June 13, 2007)
11. Yogi Berra’s ‘Ten Rings’ (7:08) (All Things Considered, September 5, 2003)
12. Ted Williams: An American Legend (7:23) (All Things Considered, July 5, 2002)

NPR Driveway Moments: Baseball program host Neal Conan is the host of NPR's Talk of the Nation. Conan brings three decades of news and radio experience to the show, which reaches nearly 3 million listeners a week on more than 280 NPR member stations. Conan has won both Peabody and duPont awards for his work.