In Jane Leavy’s book, “Squeeze Play,” similar to her main character, Leavy recalled her 1st time in a men’s locker room, covering a New York Knicks game. Luckily for Leavy, a player by the name of Phil Jackson, helped her feel comfortable being with the other players. Leavy explained that at that encounter, it was Jackson, who fed her the story that she needed. The theme of the book throughout is fragility. Some players, Leavy explained, felt more comfortable talking about their infertility issues with Leavy, a woman sportswriter.

The sports essayist shares some of the observations that populate his book about baseball in the late 1970s and early 1980s - Late Innings: A Baseball Companion.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The writer sits down with Studs to discuss his most recent book, The Fight - about the heavyweight championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, which took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The game of baseball today is very different from when Bill Leonard was a young boy. Today, the last names of baseball players are on the backs of their uniforms. When Leonard was a boy, his father would tell him who was up to bat solely by the player's walk or his stance. The selling of players' contracts to other teams is when Leonard believes the business of baseball changed. This recording includes snippets of author Lawrence Ritter's interviews with early 20th century ballplayers Sam Crawford, Goose Goslin, Fred Snodgrass, Rube Marquard, and Chief Meyers.

Drugs, painkillers, football contracts, and survival are all covered in Pete Gent's book, "North Dallas Forty." Gent said the business of football meant players would take painkillers and abuse their bodies with drugs all in order to do whatever was necessary to win a game. An excerpt of an interview with George Allen is included.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Eliot Asinof, author, discusses his book, "Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series." Asinof talks about some of the Black Sox team members and their stories through the games, the sensation, and the trial. Early American baseball players such as Babe Ruth and Connie Mack and reporters such as Ring Larder are also mentioned.