(WSIU) American Jewish leaders are concerned about a major increase in antisemitic incidents. While Jackie Robinson understandably received a lot of attention for the racial taunts and threats he received for breaking baseball’s color barrier, Hank Greenberg received his own version of anti-Semitic taunts as the game’s first great Jewish star. In the latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson examines Greenberg’s Hall of Fame career. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the St ..read more

The solar eclipse as seen from Carbondale, Il on August 21st 2017.(Brian Sevald / Getty Images) With the total solar eclipse coming up on Monday, April 8, we thought we would revisit Pete Peterson’s Reading Baseball segment from just before the 2017 eclipse where Pete looks at a novel that includes a story of an eclipse and America's favorite pastime. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

Bart Giamatti standing inside Wrigley Field in Chicago(WNYC) Paul Giamatti is an Oscar-nominated actor, best known for leading roles in the films American Splendor , Sideways and Barney's Version. But, in this edition of Reading Baseball, much to his surprise, Pete Peterson recently learned Giamatti’s father is the former commissioner of baseball who banished Pete Rose from the game. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(Brad Palmer) The newest inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame include longtime manager Jim Leyland, who may be most famous for a confrontation in spring training with home run king Barry Bonds. In this edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson examines the often-rocky relationship between Leyland and Bonds. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, the co-author, with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(<a href="https://unsplash.com/@mkbpix">Mike Bowman/Unsplash</a>) WSIU contributor Pete Peterson brings us his annual piece in honor of Black History Month. This year, Pete has the story of the American League’s Jackie Robinson. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(<a href="https://unsplash.com/@kaost">Kylie Osullivan/Unsplash</a>) WSIU commentator Pete Peterson has told us stories about his days of playing in adult softball leagues in southern Illinois. But, Pete also used to take part in lunch hour pick-up basketball games when he taught at SIU-Carbondale. In his latest commentary, Pete tells us how a recent article reminded him of those days of going at it on the hardwood at the SIU Arena, now the Banterra Center ..read more

Pete and his wife Anita(Pete Peterson (provided)) For years, Pete Peterson has regaled us with stories about past Christmas presents and even offered us suggestions on baseball-related Christmas gifts. But, this year, Pete has an extra special Christmas season commentary, one that changed his life forever. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(Jacob Rice/Unsplash) A new book could be a real treat for baseball fans. In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson tells us the book doesn’t focus on players, or even games, but special moments in the history of the National Pastime. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(WSIU) Two-sport athletes are not uncommon, think about Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, even back to Jim Thorpe. In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson remembers another two-sport athlete who passed away this year after playing professional basketball and excelling as a Major League Baseball player. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, co-author with his son Stephen, of The Slide: Leyland, Bonds and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates and the editor of The St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more

(<a href="https://unsplash.com/@kirkthornton">Kirk Thornton/Unsplash</a>) For the first time in 16 years, the St. Louis Cardinals finished the Major League Baseball season with a losing record. In his latest edition of Reading Baseball, Pete Peterson offers a letter to Cardinal fans on how to deal with their team’s struggles. Reading Baseball is a series of essays and commentaries by Richard “Pete” Peterson, author of Growing Up With Clemente and editor of the St. Louis Baseball Reader ..read more