Apr 13, 2020
Industrial writer and fellow defunct sports enthusiast Tom Brucato (Major Sports Leagues) joins this week’s installment of the podcast to delve deep into his all-new update of what can only be described as the Encyclopedia Britannica of forgotten pro sports teams and leagues.
The ultimate reference work for the discriminating sports historian, the Second Edition of Major Sports Leagues features the most comprehensive listing of (over 1600) “major league” teams to have ever played across 100+ top-tier US/North American professional leagues in 22 distinct sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cricket, cycling, football (outdoor & Arena), golf, hockey (ice & roller), lacrosse (outdoor & box), martial arts, polo, rodeo, rugby, soccer (outdoor & indoor), softball, tennis, ultimate disc & volleyball.
Brucato walks us through some of the highs and lows of his 20+ year (and counting) odyssey of chronicling the seemingly impossible, including:
- The self-imposed criteria set out for the project – and the “tough calls” of who to include (and not) made along the way;
- How the historical sleuthing process has (and hasn’t) changed from 1990s-era microfiche to today’s broadband;
- A boundless continuum of sports history trivia – ranging from the obvious to the fascinatingly obscure; AND
- The inevitability of a Third Edition, as new discoveries about old/forgotten leagues and teams continue to be made.
PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of Major Sports Leagues for your own reference library!