274 - "I Thought I'd Given Up the Circus:" Baseball Promotions w/ Joseph Natalicchio

Joseph Natalicchio is the author of "Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions: From Wedlock and Headlock Day to Disco Demolition Night" (McFarland 2025), released earlier in December. This is a wonderful book - we discuss everything from Disco Demolition Night to the night fans tore apart a ballpark while game played on to why baseball promotions have gotten so boring! 

Joseph was a gracious guest and we hope you enjoy this chat.

Here is the link to the book at McFarland (link above):
https://tinyurl.com/promotions121125
...or buy the book at the affiliate link below.

Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns 

Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com
Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
Hosts Emeriti:
Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest
Eric on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/
Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)   
www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks
This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:05 Why are baseball promotions different
• 3:14 Origins of "Outrageous Baseball Promotions"
• 8:19 The Era of the Barnums
• 10:32 Bill Veeck and Eddie Gaedel
• 20:04 Bill Veeck's "College of Fans"
• 24:18 Disco Demolition Night
• 28:48 Connie Mack Stadium's Final Game
• 33:38 Baseball Promotions After the Era of the Barnums
• 36:47 Fiction vs Non-Fiction
• 43:37 Coda: "I Thought I'd Given Up the Circus"