Ring the Bell Podcast - Come Enjoy Philly Baseball History with Me!

Step Up to the Plate: 'Ring the Bell' Podcast Explores the Rich Legacy of Philadelphia Baseball

Ring the Bell: A Journey Through Philadelphia Baseball History

Philadelphia's baseball story isn't just about the Phillies. It's a saga that stretches back nearly two centuries, filled with forgotten heroes, fierce rivalries, and social revolution. Now, a new podcast, Ring the Bell: A Journey Through Philadelphia Baseball History, invites you to rediscover this remarkable past in a documentary series like no other!

The first three episodes are live and available wherever you get your podcasts:

Episode 1: "Townball to the Dolly Vardens" Step back to the early 19th century when Philadelphia's fields echoed with the clack of bats in townball games—the precursor to modern baseball. Discover how the Dolly Vardens, one of the first Black women's teams, challenged expectations and helped shape the future of the game.

Episode 2: "Beer Brawls and Boomtown Ball: Philly Baseball in the 1880s" Dive into the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Philadelphia, where baseball clubs were often as rowdy as their fans. Learn how beer magnates, brawling ballplayers, and booming urban crowds helped launch the professional era and turn the sport into a local obsession.

Episode 3: "The Philadelphia Pythians: Baseball Brotherhood and Octavius Catto" Celebrate the legacy of the Philadelphia Pythians and their visionary co-founder, Octavius Catto. This episode explores the intersection of sport and civil rights, as the Pythians utilized baseball as a platform for Black excellence and equality during Reconstruction.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the city’s baseball lore, Ring the Bell is your front-row ticket to the stories that shaped the game in the City of Brotherly Love. Subscribe today and uncover the legends, landmarks, and legacies that made Philadelphia a cornerstone of America's pastime.

Subscribe now to keep up with upcoming episodes on the Philadelphia Bobbies, the Hilldale Club, the Phillies, the ballparks (Jefferson Street, Baker Bowl, and more!) on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Click here to jump into the story!

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Bruce holds degrees in Computer Science, Biblical History, and American History from Temple University and Liberty University; he has also completed a Doctorate in Educational Organizational Leadership at Abilene Christian University. He is a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society, the Golden Key Honor Society, the Historical Studies Honor Society, and the Saber and Scroll Society. He has worked in educational technology for 30 years and specializes in building infrastructures for schools that work to support the mission of technology in education in the classroom. He has also served as a classroom teacher in computer science, history, and English classes at both the high school and College levels. His baseball career spanned nearly 15 years, from high school through Division I college ball and a stint in professional ball. He is currently a co-host on the Romantic About Baseball podcast and host of Ring The Bell: A Journey Through Philadelphia Baseball History.

Bruce is also the author of several books, including Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One: Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel, and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel