Hooks & Runs
Hooks & Runs is a podcast about baseball, music and culture. Our podcast includes interviews with news makers in the sports and music world plus commentary from the co-hosts on interesting current and historical events. Hooks & Runs releases a new episodes every Thursday (more or less).
Hooks & Runs
288 - Baseball and Busing in 1970s Boston w/ David Faflik
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David Faflik, a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rhode Island has a new book titled "Segregation Games: Boston, Busing, and the Making of Red Sox Nation" (Univ. of Massachusetts Press 2026).
The book examines the "surprising ties in 1970s Boston between the racial segregation of the city’s schools and the racial controversies expressed on and off the field of 'Red Sox Nation.'"
David Faflik's faculty page at URI.
https://web.uri.edu/english/meet/david-faflik/
"Segregation Games" at UMass Press
https://www.umasspress.com/9781625349286/segregation-games/
Episodes referenced: Episode 45A: "Shavermetrics w/ Scott Russell and Bill 'Spaceman' Lee (Radio Edit)"
Errata: Sam Jethroe was the first African American player to take the field for the Boston Braves - he did so on April 18, 1950. The Boston Braves signed Henry Aaron on June 14, 1952, by outbidding the New York Giants by $50.00 a month.
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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, 2026.