After an absence of over six years and more than 300+ episodes, sportswriter extraordinaire Michael MacCambridge ("Lamar Hunt: A Life in Sports"; "America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation"; "Chuck Noll: His Life's Work") makes his triumphant return to the podcast - this time to celebrate the release of his brand new, instant sports history classic, "The Big Time: How the 1970s Transformed Sports in America."

It's just about everything you'd expect from the author of what is arguably the most definitive look yet at the decade that undeniably shaped the modern trajectory of sports in America - including (of course) a bevy of challenger leagues, defunct teams, one-of-a-kind events that only the Seventies could produce!

The Big Time: How the 1970s Transformed Sports in America - buy book here

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-43-23 u1778957.jpg (WEBP Image 720 × 480 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-42-36 reggie-mroctober-vaultjpg.jpg (JPEG Image 1200 × 900 pixels) — Scaled (79%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-15-46 333Ali-Frazier-620x403-3.jpg (JPEG Image 620 × 403 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-07-48 urnpublicidap.org273c215aacd395a97cf21de804e5aea0Pele-US_Soccer_16515.jpg (WEBP Image 780 × 515 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-26-21 Monday-Night-Football-good-again-GettyImages-457927402.jpg (WEBP Image 1024 × 783 pixels) — Scaled (91%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-29-42 1974-gordie-howe-001306717jpg.jpg (JPEG Image 1200 × 965 pixels) — Scaled (74%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-00-07 76iva.png (PNG Image 400 × 515 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-02-43 New York Nets Julius Dr J Erving in action making dunk vs Denver.png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-21-26 The Bourbons the Schlitz and the missing tapes -- the story of ESPN's first broadcast.png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-21-20 The Bourbons the Schlitz and the missing tapes -- the story of ESPN's first broadcast.png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-44-12 EJ443.jpg (JPEG Image 1125 × 750 pixels) — Scaled (95%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-05-38 1974-World-Football-League-Media-Guide.jpg (JPEG Image 400 × 554 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-59-19 ed.jpg (JPEG Image 1294 × 1800 pixels) — Scaled (39%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-09-49 GettyImages-MLB-Legend-Hank-Aaron.jpg (WEBP Image 2000 × 1333 pixels) — Scaled (53%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-35-25 133656-8884331RepFr.jpg (JPEG Image 500 × 144 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-57-16 b5edb64a-4f5e-44e1-8cef-d1ec8e5df626-Keith_furphy.jpg (WEBP Image 660 × 444 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-37-27 NickWaton3 OK.jpg (JPEG Image 854 × 536 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-47-09 wtt2.jpg (JPEG Image 543 × 364 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-06-45 b862efca3c973d13b192d23b1c38a972.jpg (JPEG Image 564 × 826 pixels) — Scaled (87%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-08-27 pele-1977.jpg (JPEG Image 600 × 375 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-23-58 8b1bf87f-2689-40eb-a92e-3a9866aa48ba-Obit_Meredith_Football_NYR101.jpg (WEBP Image 2808 × 2075 pixels) — Scaled (34%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-55-53 gettyimages-1239275177-1024x1024.webp (WEBP Image 1024 × 694 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-02-20 January 14 1974 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover ABA.png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 21-16-32 Jack-Nicklaus-hole-birdie-putt-round-1986-1986.jpg (WEBP Image 1279 × 1600 pixels) — Scaled (44%).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-42-53 59c5c048b88e2.image.jpg (JPEG Image 328 × 500 pixels).png

Screenshot 2023-10-15 at 20-56-52 Collage-Left.thumb.jpg.af1723819332a8f01a1e47a210e7e98a.jpg (JPEG Image 500 × 303 pixels).png

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!

The Big Time: How the 1970s Transformed Sports in America - buy book here

Major Sports Leagues - buy book here