Journey with us into the little-known world of WWI baseball, where big-league stars like Christy Mathewson and Ty Cobb traded their uniforms for gas masks. In this episode, we sit down with historian and author Jim Leeke (author of ‘The Gas and Flame Men’) to uncover the incredible stories of major leaguers who bravely served in the Chemical Warfare Service, risking their lives on the front lines. You'll be amazed by the tales of sacrifice, courage and controversy that defined this unique chapter in baseball history.

Buy "The Gas and Flame Men" by Jim Leeke on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aFquyH

Listen to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3uqJYHQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/154Fztk...

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and guest background
01:56 - Jim Leeke's background and journey to becoming a baseball historian
03:24 - Jim's early interest in baseball history and collecting
05:46 - The inspiration behind Jim's new book "The Gas and Flame Men"
07:28 - What was the Chemical Warfare Service in WWI?
11:13 - How many MLB players served in WWI? Which notable players enlisted?
14:24 - Why did the Army want baseball players as officers in the Chemical Warfare Service?
16:34 - The controversy around Christy Mathewson and the YMCA
20:14 - The service and post-war career of pitcher Eppa Rixey
22:58 - The true story behind the Army's use of gas chambers in training
27:00 - How gas exposure may have contributed to Christy Mathewson's illness and death
29:45 - Why the author chose to focus on Gabby Street's service
32:24 - Jim's upcoming projects and future books
33:14 - Recap of key topics and closing thoughts
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Produced by Podcast Studio X.

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