Rephonic
Artwork for Midnight Library of Baseball
Baseball
Field Of Dreams
Major League Baseball
Babe Ruth
Nostalgia
Shoeless Joe
1919 Black Sox Scandal
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
The Natural
Father-Son Relationships
Lou Gehrig
Baseball History
Cal Ripken Jr.
The Baseball Codes
The Code
Phil Alden Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Baseball Gloves
Negro Leagues
Television

Midnight Library of Baseball is a documentary-style baseball history podcast for listeners who want something deeper, quieter, and more reflective than the typical sports show.

Hosted by Ben Orlando, the series blends immersive storytelling with deep research to explore the game’s most iconic figures, like Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, and Honus Wagner, alongside forgotten players and unlikely stories ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes109Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryBaseballSports

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Artwork for Midnight Library of Baseball

Latest Episodes

In this episode, I debate with Matt Collins the merits of comparing players from different eras, and we discuss our own experiences with broadcasting and deeper takeaways from Season 4.

In this episode, Matt Collins and I explore the three-part 1919 Black Sox Scandal series from Season 3, to see what fresh questions and insights we can bring to this endlessly fascinating story. And there are many!

YouTube

In this special “Best Of” edition of Midnight Library of Baseball, host Ben Orlando sits down with producer and collaborator Matt Collins to revisit the episodes listeners chose as their favorites. Together, they explore the hidden stories behind the... more

YouTube

A chance encounter involving the Hall of Fame plaque of Willie Mays leads to an audacious idea: reinvent baseball. In this episode, with the help of Gaines Johnson, I explore the strange and fascinating story behind the World Baseball League, and the... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gaines Johnson
Business strategist and founder of the World Baseball League
World Baseball League
Episode: What the Heck is the World Baseball League?
Nate Fish
Former player and manager of the Israel National Team, poet, artist
Israel National Team / WBC
Episode: More Than Just a Game
Barry Weinberg
Physical trainer for World Series champions and longtime Israel Baseball contributor
Israel Baseball / Wooden Bat League
Episode: More Than Just a Game
Peter Kurtz
Founder/early advocate of professional baseball in Israel
Professional Baseball in Israel (IBL)
Episode: More Than Just a Game
Bruce Adams
Founder of the Bethesda Big Train wooden-bat league
Bethesda Big Train / Cal Ripken Senior Collegiate Baseball League
Episode: More Than Just a Game
Rick White
President of the Atlantic League, known for promoting community and connection in baseball.
Atlantic League
Episode: Ep7: The Voices We Carried
Emily Hawkes
Writer and editor for the Sabre Bio Project
Society for American Baseball Research
Episode: Ep6: Homer at the Bat
Ethan Bryan
Author and mentor who initiated a year-long project of playing catch every day.
Episode: Ep. 19: What if They Lived in Each Other's Time?
Robert Elias
Professor and author of several baseball-related books
Episode: Bonus Episode: Robert Elias Stops By the Library

Host

Ben Orlando
Host of the podcast; focuses on deep baseball history with a calm, narrative approach.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 321 ratings
  • A Thoughtful and Fun Listen

    Ben provides a detailed review of specific baseball events in a measured, deliberate manner. I look forward to each new episode as an opportunity to learn more about the history of the game we all love. I specifically appreciate the episodes about the players from the golden age. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nick from TO
    Canada19 days ago
  • Worth listening to!

    Great storytelling and really insightful about baseball’s past, present, future! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alex Sanfilippo | PodMatch.com
    United States2 months ago
  • Fantastic baseball stories

    Every true baseball fan should listen to this podcast. It’s just wonderful - if u enjoy the inside aspect of baseball and the history/stats/stories/universal wonder then this is for you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tennis4Ever&Ever
    United States4 months ago
  • Genius

    I love the approach Ben takes with this podcast. I listen to a variety of baseball podcasts and each has its appeal, but very few come through with the same consistency as Midnight Library of Baseball. The attention to detail in the history relayed is perfectly delivered with all of the nuance of the game itself.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MJW511
    United States4 months ago
  • A Love Letter to the Game

    Midnight Library of Baseball is the most romantic podcast on iTunes. It is nostalgic without being sentimental, thoughtful without ever feeling heavy. Each episode blends rich baseball history with genuine curiosity, making the past feel alive and meaningful. It’s educational, quietly entertaining, and a reminder of why the game resonates with our souls.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Samboy Rob
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Praised for high-quality storytelling that blends anecdotes with rigorous context.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful, research-driven storytelling and the calm delivery.
Fans praise the show for its deep dives into baseball history and lesser-known stories.
Many say the episodes feel intimate and human, making history engaging rather than didactic.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#57
United States/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#75
Canada/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#241
United Kingdom/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#3
Italy/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#52
Australia/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#97
France/Sports/Baseball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What the Heck is the World Baseball League?
Q: How does match play scoring work and why does it make the game more exciting?
Each inning yields one point to the team that wins the inning, which creates higher stakes, speeds up the game naturally, and allows for dramatic walk-off moments without a traditional blowout.
What the Heck is the World Baseball League?
Q: What problem is the World Baseball League trying to solve beyond creating a new competition?
To expand the baseball ecosystem by widening the talent funnel, keeping games affordable to build trust with fans, and integrating entertainment to attract a broader audience while maintaining the sport's core essence.
More Than Just a Game
Q: But where did the World Baseball Classic come from, and why was it created when Olympics baseball was removed?
The WBC emerged after Olympic baseball was dropped in 2012, filling a gap by allowing players to compete for heritage or country while avoiding a clash with MLB schedules, ultimately creating a global stage that amplified national pride and crossover talent.
E13: Ed Randall, The Makings of a Broadcaster
Q: Was that always your intention as you were, you know, you had this obsession, this drive, and you're doing the play-by-play to move in that direction, or was it a matter of opportunity and luck?
Randall reflects that while luck played a role, broadcasting was largely an accident, influenced by his passion and the friendships he formed.
E13: Ed Randall, The Makings of a Broadcaster
Q: Did you, were you a baseball fan your whole life?
Ed Randall describes being baseball-obsessed from a young age, always carrying a transistor radio and listening to games, which became an addictive experience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Midnight Library of Baseball

What is Midnight Library of Baseball about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers a calm, documentary-style exploration of baseball history, blending deep research with intimate storytelling. Episodes often center on long-form narratives—covering legendary myths, landmark events, and cultural moments—while highlighting how memory, storytelling, and context shape our understanding of the game. A notable strength is its quiet, reflective presentation that makes complex histories approachable without relying on flashy production. Long-form investigations into topics like the Black Sox saga, iconic broadcasting eras, and the evolution of major storytelling moments (e.g., Field of Dreams) give listeners a thoughtful lens on how baseball's past informs its present and future.

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How many listeners does Midnight Library of Baseball get?

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How many subscribers and views does Midnight Library of Baseball have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Midnight Library of Baseball has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Midnight Library of Baseball?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Midnight Library of Baseball:

1. History That Doesn't Suck
2. Travel with Rick Steves
3. Best Podcast in Baseball
4. The Rest Is History
5. My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

How many episodes of Midnight Library of Baseball are there?

Midnight Library of Baseball launched 3 years ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Midnight Library of Baseball?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Midnight Library of Baseball?

Recent guests on Midnight Library of Baseball include:

1. Gaines Johnson
2. Nate Fish
3. Barry Weinberg
4. Peter Kurtz
5. Bruce Adams
6. Rick White
7. Emily Hawkes
8. Ethan Bryan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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