February 10, 2012
Now Available for 2012 THT Essentials: Now Available The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2012, an annual "must buy" for all baseball fans, is now shipping. Read this article to learn more about it.
THT's latest book 
Lucas Apostoleris
Rich Barbieri John Barten Brian Borawski Vince Caramela Chris Jaffe Brad Johnson Mat Kovach Kevin Lai Myron Logan Chris Lund Bruce Markusen Jeff Moore Troy Patterson Harry Pavlidis Dave Studeman Steve Treder David Wade And here's the full roster. Dish TV Packages options for all televised baseball games.
Or you can search by:
Gear up for baseball season with Chicago White Sox tickets and New York Yankees tickets. LA Angels tickets, Houston Astros tickets, and Atlanta Braves tickets are hot sellers! You can get Boston Red Sox tickets, San Diego Padres tickets or Chicago Cubs tickets for your favorite baseball fan. Coast to Coast Tickets has the best MLB tickets like Minnesota Twins tickets, LA Dodgers tickets, Milwaukee Brewers tickets, New York Met tickets and St. Louis Cardinals tickets.  All content on this site (including text, graphs, and any other original works), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Part of the USA Today Sports Media Group |
About Steve TrederSteve Treder has presented papers to the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture, and to the SABR Annual Convention. His articles have been published in Nine: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture, as well as in The National Pastime. A lifelong San Francisco Giants’ fan, he is Vice President for Strategic Development for Western Management Group, a compensation consulting firm headquartered in Los Gatos, California.Note: This page displays up to 100 articles at a time. To view a subset of a writer's work, click on one of the following years: 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Steve Treder's ArticlesClick here to view an RSS feed of this writer's articles. The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 10: 1966-67)February 08, 2012And remember, if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 9: 1965-66)February 01, 2012Batman and The Monkees are on TV. In Cold Blood and Valley of the Dolls top the bestseller lists. How might our contenders gain notice? The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 8: 1964-65)January 24, 2012In Washington DC, marchers are protesting the Vietnam War. In San Francisco, the term "hippie" is being coined. In Los Angeles, Watts erupts into riot. What will our counterfactual trio be doing? The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 7: 1963-64)January 17, 2012The Beatles are invading, it's all the way with LBJ, and we understand that Brock kid might be available. THT Live: Is there an asterisk in Brandon’s future?January 14, 2012The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 6: 1962-63)January 10, 2012In a world in which Boyer is a Giant, Flood is a Red, and Alou is a Cardinal, who will reach The Fall Classic? The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 5: 1961-62)January 03, 2012Cue Wolfman Jack, baby. Our American Graffiti-era competitors are ready to deliver quite a show. The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 4: 1960-61)December 27, 2011In the fourth off-season of this scenario, let's just say the trading action gets quite serious. The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds and Cardinals (Part 3: 1959-60)December 20, 2011As Nixon and Kennedy seek the highest office in the nation, our three competitors seek the highest office in the National League. The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 2: 1958-59)December 13, 2011It's round two for the virtual triple-header. Are the Redlegs and Redbirds ready to keep pace with the orange and black? The virtual 1958-68 Giants, Reds, and Cardinals (Part 1: 1957-58)December 06, 2011Steve adds a new twist to the "Virtual Team" series, promising some epic competition. Offseason decisions: seeking offense in San FranciscoNovember 21, 2011What might Brian Sabean be doing to get more runs on the board in 2012? Postseason D-Backs: What makes the Snakes rattle?September 28, 2011Being overlooked and underestimated is the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks specialty. Perhaps it's time for that to stop. Countermanding the Colavito Curse: Part 4 (1966-67)September 27, 2011Our Tribe bagged a flag in 1965. Can they repeat those tricks in '66? Keep the fans in heaven in '67? Countermanding the Colavito Curse: Part 3 (1964-65)September 20, 2011The British are invading the pop music charts. The long struggle for American civil rights is taking decisive forward strides. Are our Indians ready to make this their moment too? Countermanding the Colavito Curse: Part 2 (1962-63)September 13, 2011Is our re-Rockified Tribe ready to make Chief Wahoo say, "Yahoo!"? NL West: The snakebit GiantsSeptember 12, 2011Did you just see that? Did you see that rattler strike that bumbling oaf? Countermanding the Colavito Curse: Part 1 (1960-61)September 06, 2011What if Frantic Frankie didn't fumble the Rock and misspend the Cash? NL West: Soft Rockies, resilient Snakes and GiantsAugust 01, 2011As July turns to August, the clarity of the NL West finish is sharpening, and some emerging images are distinctly more flattering than others. THT Live: Surging SergioJuly 30, 2011THT Live: A bargain worth consideringJuly 22, 2011The virtual 1955-62 Kansas City A’s (Part 4: 1961-62)July 06, 2011It's Camelot in the White House, and Wagon Train on TV. Will there be joy in Kansas City? The virtual 1955-62 Kansas City A’s (Part 3: 1959-60)June 29, 2011It's out with the fifties, and in with the sixties. Will our version of the Athletics be entering a bold new era of competitiveness? THT Live: 2011 Interleague play: Same old, not-so-same old?June 27, 2011The virtual 1955-62 Kansas City A’s (Part 2: 1957-58)June 22, 2011In years three and four, will Steve's alternative Athletics be able to climb the stairs out of the basement? NL West: surprising showdownJune 20, 2011The season's still in its first half, but some late-season-style drama is unfolding in the Valley of the Sun. The virtual 1955-62 Kansas City A’s (Part 1: 1955-56)June 15, 2011Steve is going to Kansas City. Kansas City, here he comes. And he's asking: What if the Athletics hadn't been the "major league farm team"? THT Live: Busterless in San FranciscoJune 08, 2011NL West: Questions and, answers?May 08, 2011A month and change into the season, Steve inquires as to what sort of answers might be shaping up in response to pre-season questions regarding the National League West. THT Live: Brandon’s minor league beltingMay 04, 2011Marse Joe’s last hurrahApril 27, 2011One of the very greatest went out with a thunderous bang, and then a whimper. THT Live: Lucky EddieApril 09, 2011Five questions: San Francisco GiantsMarch 30, 2011The Giants stunned everyone by running the table in 2010. With the element of surprise now eliminated, can they repeat in 2011? THT Live: Spring Training results, 1945-1962 ... Update!March 28, 2011THT Live: Spring training results ... from 1945-1962March 07, 2011The virtual 1951-58 Pittsburgh Pirates (Part 4: 1957-58)February 22, 2011Little Rock is being desegregated. The Edsel is being laughed at. Will our Pirates have their Sputnik moment? The virtual 1951-58 Pittsburgh Pirates (Part 3: 1955-56)February 15, 2011James Dean is living fast and dying young. Elvis is causing an uproar on The Ed Sullivan Show. Can our Pirates get the heck out of seventh place? The virtual 1951-58 Pittsburgh Pirates (Part 2: 1953-54)February 08, 2011Our alternative version of the I Love Lucy-era Bucs enters its third season. How might our heroes fare? THT Live: The Havana Heat is on againFebruary 07, 2011The virtual 1951-58 Pittsburgh Pirates (Part 1: 1951-52)February 01, 2011Is it really true that Branch Rickey's Pirates were a whole lot worse than they had to be? Steve decides to try to find out. The virtual 1960s New York Mets (Part 5: 1968-69)January 11, 2011We've come a long way, and now we're ready to answer the big question: how brightly might our Mets shine in '69? The virtual 1960s New York Mets (Part 4: 1966-67)January 04, 2011The good news for our virtual Mets is that we've been better than the actual Mets, but that's an awfully low bar. Can we get something going this time? The virtual 1960s New York Mets (Part 3: 1964-65)December 28, 2010Our early Mets haven't been good, but neither have they been as terrible as the genuine article. In our third and fourth seasons, can we make the move to mediocrity? The virtual 1960s New York Mets (Part 2: 1962-63)December 21, 2010Finished with our alternative scenario of the first-ever NL expansion draft, it's time to get our Mets roster ready and find out how well we can do in '62. The virtual 1960s New York Mets (Part 1: The expansion draft)December 14, 2010Let's revisit the creation of that most inept among the early expansion teams, and see how things might have gone differently. Neutralizing Barry’s walksNovember 15, 2010When is the line crossed between prudence and foolishness? Sabean-based analysisNovember 02, 2010You've got your process, and you've got your results... including the World Series championship. The 10 most interesting World Series non-matchupsOctober 26, 2010We know all about who's playing. How about who might have been playing instead? THT Live: As Russ Hodges so aptly put it ...October 24, 2010THT Live: The greatest pitchers’ duel that never wasOctober 17, 2010THT Live: Exquisite tortureOctober 12, 2010Why the Giants will beat the BravesOctober 07, 2010One word: It starts with "p," and it ends with "g," and it rhymes with "itching." Book review: Home, AwaySeptember 14, 2010Steve considers a baseball novel that focuses on the hard stuff in the father-son relationship. THT Live: Baseball’s secret starAugust 25, 2010What if Tom Yawkey had bought the A’s? (Part 2)August 20, 2010That's right: holding the Foxx-Cochrane-Grove nucleus together, and adding Cronin, Ferrell, and Newsom to it ... how good would they be? What if Tom Yawkey had bought the A’s? (Part 1)August 13, 2010Thus transforming the Depression's most desperate seller into its most prolific buyer. THT Live: Panda month-by-month: What the fudge?August 11, 2010The virtual 1971-1980 St. Louis Cardinals (Part 2)July 16, 2010In real life, first place was entirely beyond the Cardinals' reach in these years. Let's see how many St. Louis flags might have flown in our scenario. The virtual 1971-1980 St. Louis Cardinals (Part 1)July 09, 2010What do you say we banish the Birds' Bing-and-Busch boo-boos? THT Live: David Berner and the game-ending triple playJuly 04, 2010The virtual 1985-1989 New York Yankees (Part 2)July 02, 2010Let's reminisce about those great Yankees teams of McGee and McGriff, and Drabek and Deshaies. THT Live: Interleague play: AL makes it six straightJune 28, 2010The virtual 1985-1989 New York Yankees (Part 1)June 25, 2010Let's see what might have happened if someone had managed to slip George Almighty some chill pills. THT Live: Interleague play: The empire strikes backJune 21, 2010Fred Stein: 1924-2010June 18, 2010And we were blessed to know him. THT Live: Interleague play: Round twoJune 14, 2010THT Live: It will be “The Galarraga Game”June 03, 2010Book reviews: 1921 and Reggie JacksonJune 01, 2010Across half a century, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Two ambitious new volumes examine a couple of the more dramatic angles of baseball history. The virtual 1962-69 Cincinnati Reds (Part 2)May 28, 2010You know, The Massive Scarlet Mechanical Apparatus would be great name for a 1960s psychedelic rock band. And if they were anything like this ball club, they'd be much more than a one-hit wonder. THT Live: Interleague play: A change in the tide?May 24, 2010The virtual 1962-69 Cincinnati Reds (Part 1)May 17, 2010The might-have-been prequel to that '70s classic, The Big Red Machine. THT Live: Braden perfecto: Up close and personalMay 09, 2010THT Live: San Francisco StartsMay 08, 2010Talking baseball with Fred Stein (Volume 2)April 26, 2010Careful! This octogenarian is so sharp, you gotta wear gloves. Talking baseball with Fred SteinApril 06, 2010The name is Stein ... Fred Stein. Five questions: San Francisco GiantsMarch 25, 2010Let's face it, the Giants are good. That said, they're also, well, special. Book review: Joe CroninMarch 05, 2010Steve considers a new book that examines an historic figure we tend to take for granted. THT Live: Cubaball 2010January 26, 2010Historic Comparables (Volume 2)January 25, 2010Matthew and Steve are back, this time with a passel of pitcher pairings, from Pennock-Pettitte to Dickson-Darwin. The virtual 1956 New York Yankees (Part 2)December 14, 2009It's time to get our kicks with the might-have-been Yankees of '56. The virtual 1956 New York Yankees (Part 1)December 08, 2009Think the Eisenhower-era Bronx Bombers couldn't have been much better? Think again. The virtual 1961 Cleveland Indians (Part 2)August 18, 2009In which we witness the unloading of some very big lumber near the Lake Erie shore. The virtual 1961 Cleveland Indians (Part 1)August 11, 2009What if Frankie hadn't been quite so frantic in Cleveland? THT Live: Warren’s WizardJuly 15, 2009Great news: I was wrongJuly 14, 2009The 2009 Giants are a good ball club. Who knew? THT Live: The Vi flies foreverJuly 06, 2009Historic comparables (Volume 1)June 09, 2009Discover the distant-decade dopplegangers. Don McMahon (Part 3)June 02, 2009Let's catch up with this most congenial big fellow as he continues to chuck heaters past hitters well into his 40s. Backstopping and roaming wide (Part 3: 1970-2008)May 26, 2009Get acquainted with this most unusual breed of catchers, right up to the most current cohort. Don McMahon (Part 2)May 19, 2009We're ready for round two with this memorable heavyweight. Backstopping and roaming wide (Part 2: 1935-1970)May 12, 2009It's time for round two with the most peculiar of defensive hybrids. Don McMahon (Part 1)May 05, 2009Let's see, how to describe him ... the pitching equivalent of roast beef and potatoes. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, but substantial, satisfying, and just doggone good. THT Live: Strasburg live!May 02, 2009Backstopping and roaming wide (Part 1: 1890-1935)April 28, 2009Come along with Steve as he explores the most extraordinary of all defensive versatility. The Branch Rickey Pirates (Part 6: 1954-1955)April 21, 2009In his 37th and final season as a big league GM, did The Mahatma go out with a bang, or a whimper? The Branch Rickey Pirates (Part 5: 1953-1954)April 14, 2009Onto the fourth year of his five-year rebuilding plan, was Mr. Rickey ready to show any progress? Any? The Branch Rickey Pirates (Part 4: 1952-1953)April 07, 2009How did The Mahatma go about cleaning up the mess of his own making? The Branch Rickey Pirates (Part 3: 1951-1952)March 31, 2009As an art historian might say when discovering Michelangelo's unfortunate "Dogs Playing Poker" period ... what was that all about? Five questions: San Francisco GiantsMarch 30, 2009Maybe it's just that they got rid of the wrong Barry ... The Branch Rickey Pirates (Part 2: 1950-1951)March 17, 2009It's year one for Mister Rickey in Pittsburgh. What kind of a start does he pull off? | ||||