John Eisenberg
@johneisenberg.bsky.social
Author. Sportswriter. Baltimore. Ravens and Orioles. Check out my latest at birdtapes.substack.com.
Reposted by John Eisenberg
Soccer is a global sport. Its center of gravity is arguably the UK and the Premier League.
Join the Povich Center in January 2026 as we explore the expanding role of Americans in the sport in the UK and around the world in the run up to World Cup ‘26.
Apply here:
myea.umd.edu/index.cfm?Fu...
Join the Povich Center in January 2026 as we explore the expanding role of Americans in the sport in the UK and around the world in the run up to World Cup ‘26.
Apply here:
myea.umd.edu/index.cfm?Fu...
American Soccer Abroad - Promo
YouTube video by Nathaniel Scott Stevens
m.youtube.com
August 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Soccer is a global sport. Its center of gravity is arguably the UK and the Premier League.
Join the Povich Center in January 2026 as we explore the expanding role of Americans in the sport in the UK and around the world in the run up to World Cup ‘26.
Apply here:
myea.umd.edu/index.cfm?Fu...
Join the Povich Center in January 2026 as we explore the expanding role of Americans in the sport in the UK and around the world in the run up to World Cup ‘26.
Apply here:
myea.umd.edu/index.cfm?Fu...
Beyond delighted to see Baltimore Magazine praise my work on the Bird Tapes, my Orioles history project on Substack, in the 2025 “Best of Baltimore” issue.
July 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Beyond delighted to see Baltimore Magazine praise my work on the Bird Tapes, my Orioles history project on Substack, in the 2025 “Best of Baltimore” issue.
New Bird Tapes post: In Part 2 of a classic interview, Bobby Grich, 76, dives into what it was like to play for Earl Weaver (spoiler: not easy) and other topics such as whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame - a longshot notion that has recently gained steam.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/bird-tapes...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/bird-tapes...
Bird Tapes Podcast: "He Wouldn't Even Say 'Welcome to the F**king Team.'"
Among the many subjects and stories he recounts In Part 2 of his classic interview, Orioles Hall of Famer Bobby Grich chronicles the testy start of his relationship with Earl Weaver.
birdtapes.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
New Bird Tapes post: In Part 2 of a classic interview, Bobby Grich, 76, dives into what it was like to play for Earl Weaver (spoiler: not easy) and other topics such as whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame - a longshot notion that has recently gained steam.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/bird-tapes...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/bird-tapes...
I interviewed Mike Mussina, a future Hall of Fame enshrinee, countless times when he was the Orioles’ ace in the ‘90s. My latest post at the Bird Tapes recalls the events that led me to ask him a question I knew was utterly ridiculous.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-time-i...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-time-i...
The Time I Asked Mike Mussina a Really Dumb Question
A protective screen on the field? During games? One of my newspaper readers was so convinced it should happen that I lost my mind and asked a future Hall of Famer if it made sense.
birdtapes.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I interviewed Mike Mussina, a future Hall of Fame enshrinee, countless times when he was the Orioles’ ace in the ‘90s. My latest post at the Bird Tapes recalls the events that led me to ask him a question I knew was utterly ridiculous.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-time-i...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-time-i...
ICYMI: My latest post at the Bird Tapes recalls a managerial hiring the Orioles botched in the early ‘60s. “The inmates were running the asylum,” one player told me years later.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/classic-ca...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/classic-ca...
Classic Card: Billy Hitchcock, 1967
His brief shot at managing the Orioles was a disaster, but even that couldn't turn the courtly Southerner's smile into a frown.
birdtapes.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
ICYMI: My latest post at the Bird Tapes recalls a managerial hiring the Orioles botched in the early ‘60s. “The inmates were running the asylum,” one player told me years later.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/classic-ca...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/classic-ca...
Thank you!
New Bird Tapes post from @johneisenberg.bsky.social which I very much enjoyed :) birdtapes.substack.com/p/he-invente...
Birth of the Oriole Bird
Dick Armstrong, an innovative young publicist, and Jim Hartzell, a newspaper cartoonist, were the key figures in introducing an image for the Orioles that still resonates seven decades later.
birdtapes.substack.com
May 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Thank you!
New at the Bird Tapes: Part 1 of my recent interview with Jon Miller, the legendary broadcaster who ruled in Baltimore in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He discusses Earl, Eddie, Cal, EBW, 0-21, Jeffrey Maier, his departure for SF and much more. It's a riveting history lesson.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
Bird Tapes 2025: An Interview with Jon Miller (Part 1)
In our recent interview, the legendary broadcaster spoke at length, and with keen insight, on Earl, Eddie, Cal, EBW, 0-21, Jeffrey Maier, the importance of Camden Yards and, yes, his departure.
open.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New at the Bird Tapes: Part 1 of my recent interview with Jon Miller, the legendary broadcaster who ruled in Baltimore in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He discusses Earl, Eddie, Cal, EBW, 0-21, Jeffrey Maier, his departure for SF and much more. It's a riveting history lesson.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Remembering the Orioles' Paul Bunyan, a gigantic farm boy from Wisconsin whose one-of-a-kind persona and antics were more memorable than his pitching.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
Classic Card: Gene Brabender, 1968
A mammoth pitcher, he posted solid numbers for the Orioles over three seasons in the 1960s. But his larger-than-life persona and one-of-a-kind antics were more memorable than his pitching.
open.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Remembering the Orioles' Paul Bunyan, a gigantic farm boy from Wisconsin whose one-of-a-kind persona and antics were more memorable than his pitching.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
New at the Bird Tapes: My conversation with Fred Lynn, a nine-time All-Star who is recalled as a Red Sox star but also played for the Orioles from 1985-88. He signed with them because he wanted to play behind their stellar pitching. But his timing was unfortunate.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
Bird Tapes 2025: An interview with Fred Lynn
A nine-time All-Star, he battled the Earl Weaver-era Orioles for a decade before joining them with the idea of playing behind their stellar pitching. But his timing was unfortunate.
open.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 1:14 PM
New at the Bird Tapes: My conversation with Fred Lynn, a nine-time All-Star who is recalled as a Red Sox star but also played for the Orioles from 1985-88. He signed with them because he wanted to play behind their stellar pitching. But his timing was unfortunate.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
New at the Bird Tapes: A kid once wrote to Moe Drabowsky that “baseball needs more nuts like you.” Indeed. The one-and-only Moe is remembered today as the game's greatest-ever practical joker, but he was also a World Series hero for the Orioles.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
Spirit of '66: Moe Drabowsky
Born in Poland, he was a World Series star and perhaps baseball's greatest-ever prankster. The post includes my narration of a feature article I wrote about him after I interviewed him years ago.
open.substack.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
New at the Bird Tapes: A kid once wrote to Moe Drabowsky that “baseball needs more nuts like you.” Indeed. The one-and-only Moe is remembered today as the game's greatest-ever practical joker, but he was also a World Series hero for the Orioles.
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
open.substack.com/pub/birdtape...
Reposted by John Eisenberg
(2)
How the Oriole Way continues to shape baseball, check out my biography of Harry Dalton, @jmjournalist.bsky.social best selling bio of the Earl of Baltimore, and subscribe to the Bird Tapes on Substack.
#Birdland
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
How the Oriole Way continues to shape baseball, check out my biography of Harry Dalton, @jmjournalist.bsky.social best selling bio of the Earl of Baltimore, and subscribe to the Bird Tapes on Substack.
#Birdland
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
March 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
(2)
How the Oriole Way continues to shape baseball, check out my biography of Harry Dalton, @jmjournalist.bsky.social best selling bio of the Earl of Baltimore, and subscribe to the Bird Tapes on Substack.
#Birdland
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
How the Oriole Way continues to shape baseball, check out my biography of Harry Dalton, @jmjournalist.bsky.social best selling bio of the Earl of Baltimore, and subscribe to the Bird Tapes on Substack.
#Birdland
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
Reposted by John Eisenberg
@johneisenberg.bsky.social has a great interview up on the Bird Tapes with former #Orioles GM and Dalton Gang member and my friend Dan Duquette.
Dan has a great sense of the Orioles history and a wonderful understanding of the modern game.
If you want more on Dalton, Earl Weaver, and (1)
Dan has a great sense of the Orioles history and a wonderful understanding of the modern game.
If you want more on Dalton, Earl Weaver, and (1)
March 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
@johneisenberg.bsky.social has a great interview up on the Bird Tapes with former #Orioles GM and Dalton Gang member and my friend Dan Duquette.
Dan has a great sense of the Orioles history and a wonderful understanding of the modern game.
If you want more on Dalton, Earl Weaver, and (1)
Dan has a great sense of the Orioles history and a wonderful understanding of the modern game.
If you want more on Dalton, Earl Weaver, and (1)
As a new baseball season nears, a new season of the Bird Tapes begins! In Year 2 of my Orioles history project, I’ll post new interviews with legendary former players, broadcasters and beat writers, and continue to explore the club’s history. Check it out!
birdtapes.substack.com/p/introducin...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/introducin...
Introducing Bird Tapes 2025
In Year Two of my one-of-a-kind exploration of Orioles history, I'll post new interviews with legendary players, broadcasters and beat writers. And I'll continue to find new angles to write about.
birdtapes.substack.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
As a new baseball season nears, a new season of the Bird Tapes begins! In Year 2 of my Orioles history project, I’ll post new interviews with legendary former players, broadcasters and beat writers, and continue to explore the club’s history. Check it out!
birdtapes.substack.com/p/introducin...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/introducin...
Reposted by John Eisenberg
Probably only one day in my life when I wake up to a rave review of my book in the New York Times and that day is today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/b...
Book Review: “The Last Manager,” by John W. Miller
The famous Baltimore Orioles manager gets a vivid new biography, the book equivalent of “a screaming triple into the left field corner.”
www.nytimes.com
February 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Probably only one day in my life when I wake up to a rave review of my book in the New York Times and that day is today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/b...
Isn’t this when the lights go out?
February 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Isn’t this when the lights go out?
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Commemorating Black History Month, here’s the story of the obscure pitcher who integrated the Baltimore Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-oriole...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-oriole...
The Orioles' First Black Player
Unlocked for all subscribers: Commemorating Black History Month, here's the story of the obscure pitcher who integrated the Orioles. Post includes my narration of my Baltimore Sun article about him.
birdtapes.substack.com
February 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Commemorating Black History Month, here’s the story of the obscure pitcher who integrated the Baltimore Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-oriole...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-oriole...
Looking forward to this!
Just started @johneisenberg.bsky.social's "Rocket Men: The Black Quarterbacks Who Revolutionized Pro Football."
With Mahomes and Hurts squaring off for the second time, it's a great book to pick up.
Emergency podcast coming soon! 🚨
With Mahomes and Hurts squaring off for the second time, it's a great book to pick up.
Emergency podcast coming soon! 🚨
January 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Looking forward to this!
My latest at the Bird Tapes: If Bobby Grich had come a long just a few years earlier, he would have spent his entire career with the Orioles - and what a fine career it was. But free agency came along, and he left Baltimore.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/lost-voice...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/lost-voice...
Lost Voices: Bobby Grich
He lived up to his billing as a first-round draft pick, playing at a high-level in the major leagues for 17 years. But when free agency gave him more control over his career, he left the Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com
January 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: If Bobby Grich had come a long just a few years earlier, he would have spent his entire career with the Orioles - and what a fine career it was. But free agency came along, and he left Baltimore.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/lost-voice...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/lost-voice...
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Recalling the greatest mythological figure in the history of the Baltimore Orioles. No one threw harder or lived harder than Steve Dalkowski.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-legend...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-legend...
The Legend of All Legends
So many former teammates told tales about Steve Dalkowski that I devoted an entire chapter to him in my Orioles history book even though he never played for the Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com
January 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: Recalling the greatest mythological figure in the history of the Baltimore Orioles. No one threw harder or lived harder than Steve Dalkowski.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-legend...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-legend...
Now up at the Bird Tapes: Remembering when Brooks Robinson fact-checked my book on the Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/from-the-a...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/from-the-a...
From the Archive: My Hall of Fame Fact-Checker
When Brooks Robinson passed away last year at age 86, it seemed everyone had a story about their interactions with him. This is mine.
birdtapes.substack.com
December 27, 2024 at 2:16 PM
Now up at the Bird Tapes: Remembering when Brooks Robinson fact-checked my book on the Orioles.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/from-the-a...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/from-the-a...
My latest at the Bird Tapes: When I went through my decades-old baseball card collection, searching for Orioles to use to illustrate posts at the Bird Tapes, I discovered I had pretty much cornered the market on the cards of a couple of long-forgotten Birds.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-baseba...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-baseba...
The Baseball Cards I Don’t Need
When I dug into my collection from decades ago, searching for Orioles cards to use here at the Bird Tapes, I discovered that I had cornered the market on cards of a couple of long-forgotten Birds.
birdtapes.substack.com
December 20, 2024 at 1:59 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: When I went through my decades-old baseball card collection, searching for Orioles to use to illustrate posts at the Bird Tapes, I discovered I had pretty much cornered the market on the cards of a couple of long-forgotten Birds.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-baseba...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/the-baseba...
You’ve got until Saturday to vote in the finals of the Bird Tapes Holiday Gift Contest. On Monday 12/23 I’’ll post my interview with either Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson or Mike Flanagan — depending on who prevails in the voting.
birdtapes.substack.com/publish/post...
birdtapes.substack.com/publish/post...
Final Voting in the Bird Tapes Holiday Gift Contest
One vintage interview from my archive will be unlocked and available to all subscribers on Monday, December 23. Last week, voters selected five finalists. Now it's time to pick a winner.
birdtapes.substack.com
December 18, 2024 at 8:42 PM
You’ve got until Saturday to vote in the finals of the Bird Tapes Holiday Gift Contest. On Monday 12/23 I’’ll post my interview with either Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson or Mike Flanagan — depending on who prevails in the voting.
birdtapes.substack.com/publish/post...
birdtapes.substack.com/publish/post...
From the Bird Tapes, at BaltimoreBaseball.com
He Taught Earl Weaver How to Argue #Orioles
He Taught Earl Weaver How to Argue
It seems like the easiest trivia question ever posed: Which manager of the Orioles barked and ranted at umpires so profanely and so relentlessly that he set records for being ejected from games? It’s Earl Weaver, of course. Right? The Orioles’ legendary…
dlvr.it
December 18, 2024 at 4:19 PM
From the Bird Tapes, at BaltimoreBaseball.com
My latest at the Bird Tapes: As they rose to prominence and began to dominate the American League in the 1960s, the Orioles didn’t have hard-throwing youngsters at the back end of their bullpen. They had the Sunshine Boys.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/when-old-g...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/when-old-g...
When Old Guys Ruled on the Mound
As they rose to prominence in the 1960s, the Orioles were unafraid to populate their pitching staff, and especially their bullpen, with crafty veterans who'd made their names elsewhere.
birdtapes.substack.com
December 13, 2024 at 2:02 PM
My latest at the Bird Tapes: As they rose to prominence and began to dominate the American League in the 1960s, the Orioles didn’t have hard-throwing youngsters at the back end of their bullpen. They had the Sunshine Boys.
birdtapes.substack.com/p/when-old-g...
birdtapes.substack.com/p/when-old-g...
Thanks for the kind words, Daniel.
finally finished “The League” by @johneisenberg.bsky.social after receiving it as a Christmas gift last year. it’s a great portrait of the NFL in its early years & of the big personalities who shaped it. one of the more entertaining history books I’ve read.
December 11, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Thanks for the kind words, Daniel.