The annual arrival of Jackie Robinson Day brings tales of an early series between Rube Foster’s Giants and Ty Cobb’s Tigers, one that proved a point without changing anything, while a Hall of Fame pitcher levels a strange accusation against the National League regarding Robinson receiving preferential treatment—but even if it were true, would it have been wrong? Plus notes on the abandonment of A’s history and more. The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind.

Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?