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Barry Petchesky

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 20: George Valera #35 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of game one of a doubleheader at Target Field on September 20, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

What In The Hell Is Going On In The AL Central?

Sean Kuhn

An Immaculate Grid filled in with the most-remembered people from the Defector/Immaculate Grid collaboration week.

Let's Remember Some Guys

Who Gets Remembered? Crunching The Numbers From 36,000 Immaculate Grids

Kathryn Xu

Never Try To Catch A Baseball

Robert Weintraub is the author of four books, including The Divine Miss Marble, now <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Miss-Marble-Tennis-Mystery/dp/1524745367/ref=asc_df_1524745367/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=459515946640&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=6202131795131082661&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9010752&amp;hvtargid=pla-926582175995&amp;psc=1">out in paperback</a>. He has also written for the New York Times, ESPN/Grantland, Slate, Columbia Journalism Review, the Guardian, Football Outsiders, and many other outlets. Follow on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/robwein" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@robwein</a>.

Robert Weintraub

Bubblegum card (from the Bowman Gum Company) features baseball player Hank Thompson, of the New York Giants, 1955.

Hank Thompson Lived A Wild, Tragic, Forgotten Life In Baseball

David Roth

of the New York Mets heads to home plate to celebrate with teammates after hitting a home run for a walk off win in the bottom of the 10th against the Texas Rangers at Citi Field on September 14, 2025.

How To Go To A Mets Game

Seattle Mariners (L-R) Leo Rivas #76, Eugenio Suarez #28, Josh Naylor #12 and Harry Ford #5 at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

The Seattle Mariners Are In Their Etsy Witch Era

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, in his trademark yellow suit and top-hat.

Life's Rich Pageant

The Official Charity Of The Savannah Bananas Has A Hard Time Explaining How Its Money Is Spent

Kelsey McKinney

Fernando Tatis Jr. extends up over the right field wall to steal a home run.

The Robbin’ Padres Are On A Crime Spree!

Tom Ley

Yankees Honor Slain Anti–Free Speech Activist

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Kerry Carpenter #30 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a two-run triple in the seventh inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

I Am Writing This Yankees Blog Under Duress

Lauren Theisen

Emmanuel Rivera #26 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after walking off the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland

[Affecting A Maryland Accent] “Whoa! Go O’s!”

The New York Yankees against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 2, 2025 in Houston, TX.

Catching A Pissed-Off Framber Valdez Should Come With Hazard Pay

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

Ray Ratto

2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kyle Schwarber Had A Real Shot At Home Run History

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Reese McGuire #20 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on August 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“Pitcher” Is A State Of Mind

Samer Kalaf

Samer Kalaf in a Hell Gate hat at the Mets game

TNT Sports Airs Guerrilla Marketing For Worker-Owned Website That Isn’t Defector

Alec Bohm Initiates Confusing Delay Because He Saw A Weird Little Thing

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners receives high fives in the dugout after hitting his 49th home run of the season setting the record for most home runs during a single season by a catcher.

Cal Raleigh Breaks The Catcher Homer Record In A Big (Dumper) Way

Heckler Achieves Impossible Task Of Making Shohei Ohtani Even Cooler Than He Already Was

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A brown leather couch covered, almost completely on the seats and up the seatbacks, with Greg Briley Topps baseball cards

Here’s How A Man Accidentally Bought 10,400 Greg Briley Rookie Cards

Andruw Monasterio #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers doused with liquid after the game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Milwaukee Brewers Weird (Nerd Version)

William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds first base after hitting a two run homer against the New York Mets at American Family Field on August 10, 2025 in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Brewers Are Baseball’s Weirdest Winners

David Brooks making a surprised face while being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Netwrok.

Journalismism

David Brooks: Wearing A Mets Hat Might Just Save Our Democracy

Soda packaging are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023.

Podcasts

A Very Fine Cheerwine, With Emma Baccellieri

Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run.

MLB