Baseball In The Disco Era

The 1970s were groovy, man.

If you lived through them, you know exactly what we’re talking about. If you didn’t… well, you missed out on disco balls, polyester, shag carpet, and some unforgettable moments in baseball history.

It was a different era in America. People moved at a slower pace, spent their evenings watching the game, and baseball remained woven into the fabric of everyday life. The sport reflected the culture around it, from the music blasting through stadium speakers to the colorful personalities taking the field.

In this episode, David Krell joins Leroy Estep to discuss his fascinating book, 1978: Baseball & America in the Disco Era. Together, they revisit a season that was about much more than wins and losses, exploring how baseball intersected with the fashions, trends, headlines, and cultural shifts that defined an unforgettable year.

Whether you’re nostalgic for bell-bottoms and vinyl records or simply love discovering how America’s pastime has evolved alongside the country itself, this conversation offers a unique trip back in time. So cue up the Bee Gees, dust off those platform shoes, and join us as we look at baseball through the lens of one of the most colorful decades in American history.