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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
Baseball History
Lou Gehrig
The Natural
Father-Son Relationships
Cal Ripken Jr.
Phil Alden Robinson
The Baseball Codes
The Code
Chuck Klein
Baseball Gloves
Negro Leagues
Jackie Robinson

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes120Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BaseballHistorySports

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Artwork for Midnight Library of Baseball

Latest Episodes

We've been talking about how Jim Creighton broke the game of baseball. In this episode, we pull back the curtain and see exactly how he did something no other player could do.

YouTube

If you lived in New York in the 1850s, you would have heard of a game catching on that was extremely fast-paced. Blink and you'll miss it. What was this lightning-quick game? Baseball. Hard to believe, but this was the reality at the time. And then, ... more

YouTube

In this episode, I begin to explore the strange and still familiar game of baseball during Jim Creighton's day, and how the restrictions paved the way for his rebellion. Also, beyond the historical story is often the incredible work of the investigat... more

YouTube

There are stories that come along once in a while that send sparks flying inside your brain. That's what happened to me when Tom Gilbert first told me about Jim Creighton, this young ballplayer alluded to in The Simpsons' episode, Homer at the Bat. O... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Warren Goldstein
Lifelong baseball fan and author of Playing for Keeps
Author, Playing for Keeps; academic baseball historian
Episode: E3: The Lightning-Fast Game Called Baseball
Barry Weinberg
Athletic trainer with World Series experience
Author of Eating My Way Through Baseball (forward by Joe Buck)
Episode: E3: The Lightning-Fast Game Called Baseball
Tom Gilbert
Author referenced for sleuthing on Creighton's era
Author of Death in the Strike Zone
Episode: E3: The Lightning-Fast Game Called Baseball
Richard Hirschberger
Baseball historian and Sabre contributor, author of Strike 4, The Evolution of Baseball
Sabre
Episode: E2: The Day The Pitcher Defied The Game
Callie Mitchell
Regional Director of Baseball in Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem Baseball
Episode: E2: The Day The Pitcher Defied The Game
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
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

Host

Ben Orlando
Host of the Midnight Library of Baseball; main narrator and driving creative force with a deep focus on research-driven, narrative baseball history.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 353 ratings
  • The best baseball podcast, something different

    I've just been turned on to this podcast, listening to season four, the history of baseball broadcasting. I'm hooked! I've learned quite a few things I did not know. The format is different from other baseball podcasts. The host covers historical events from a different angle, focusing more on emotional aspects. I also really appreciate that each episode ends with a listener's baseball memory.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    crunchyjax
    United Statesa month ago
  • Incredible

    Thank you Ben!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bart West 79
    Canada2 months ago
  • Touch ‘em all time

    Like a home run , this podcast hits just right. Great conversations, stories I never knew. I love it. Give the Midnight Library of Baseball a try. You will see why it’s “touch ‘em all time”.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dailey Commentary
    United States4 months ago
  • 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
    Canada5 months 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the thoughtful, quiet storytelling and deep historical context.
Fans appreciate the emotional resonance and fresh angles on familiar topics.
Many say it's a standout for serious baseball history fans and storytelling enthusiasts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#96
United States/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#32
Canada/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#101
United Kingdom/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#34
France/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#69
Germany/Sports/Baseball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

E2: The Day The Pitcher Defied The Game
Q: Why is Jim Creighton considered a pivotal figure in the history of pitching?
His pitching style and the legal-then-illegal perception of it show how early baseball experimented with what was possible, ultimately redefining pitching's boundaries and influencing rule interpretation.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Midnight Library of Baseball

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

The series centers on baseball history told through calm, meticulously researched storytelling. Episodes explore era-spanning figures, forgotten players, broadcasting evolution, and the human side of the game—often blending memory, myth, and data to illuminate how baseball shaped culture. Notably, emphasis on long-form history, narrative craft, and thoughtful interviews with historians, players, broadcasters, and organizers set this show apart from typical sports coverage, making it a rich resource for listeners who crave depth and nuance in baseball lore.

Where can I find podcast stats for Midnight Library of Baseball?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Midnight Library of Baseball. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Midnight Library of Baseball and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. Press Box Chronicles
2. WHAT WENT WRONG
3. Stuff You Should Know
4. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
5. Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio - Fake Baseball for Sleeping

How many episodes of Midnight Library of Baseball are there?

Midnight Library of Baseball launched 3 years ago and published 120 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. Warren Goldstein
2. Barry Weinberg
3. Tom Gilbert
4. Richard Hirschberger
5. Callie Mitchell
6. Gaines Johnson
7. Nate Fish
8. Peter Kurtz

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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