388: "1978: Baseball & America in the Disco Era" - With David Krell

Good Seats Still Available

Content provided by Tim Hanlon. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tim Hanlon or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

28d ago 1:20:03

MP3•Episode home

We boot up our trusty Flux Capacitor this week for a trip back to 1978 -- a year when baseball provided a much-needed escape for a nation in flux. We sit down with David Krell, author of "1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era," to relive one of Major League Baseball’s most unforgettable seasons — one filled with historic milestones, dramatic showdowns, and larger-than-life personalities.

From Bucky Dent’s legendary home run that crushed Red Sox fans’ hearts to Reggie Jackson’s World Series heroics, 1978 was a year of baseball drama at its finest. We discuss Ron Guidry’s dominance (25-3, 1.74 ERA), Pete Rose’s 44-game hit streak, Tom Seaver’s one-and-only no-hitter, and Willie McCovey’s 500th home run — all set against the cultural backdrop of disco fever, bell-bottoms, gas-guzzling cars, and Hollywood 1950s-era escapist nostalgia.

Beyond the ballpark, America found itself beset with post-Watergate political disillusionment, confronted with rapidly rising economic inflation, and mired in a stubbornly persistent energy crisis. Krell takes us on a deep dive into how baseball intertwined with the era’s biggest moments, making 1978 not just a great season, but a reflection of the times.

So, dust off your turntable, crank up some Bee Gees, and join us for a conversation that captures the magic, madness, and milestones of 1978 — both on and off the field.

+ + + SUPPORT THE SHOW:

SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!):

Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2
Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats
417 Helmets (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://417helmets.com/?wpam_id=3

BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!):

"1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era": https://amzn.to/43z1yIW

FIND AND FOLLOW:

Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/

426 episodes

#Baseball #Basketball #Defunct #Football #Hockey #Nostalgia #Soccer #Volleyball #Tim Hanlon #History #Society #Sports