296 - The 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference w/ Willie Steele plus We Don't Like AI Music

Professor Willie Steele (Lipscomb) joins us this week to discuss the forthcoming 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference. Steele is a conference co-director and past editor of NINE: A Journal of Baseball History & Culture. Steele is also an expert on the works of W. P. Kinsella ("Shoeless Joe") so naturally, the conversation veered that direction.

Also this episode, some thoughts on AI music and the return of vinyl.

Willie Steele at Lipscomb: https://lipscomb.edu/directory/steele-willie
Willie Steele on Bluesky: https://tinyurl.com/wsteele071926
The 9-Online Conference: https://nine-baseball.com/9-online/
NINE Journal: https://tinyurl.com/nine071926

Chapter Two sources: Rowan Davies, "Deezer says nearly half of all new music uploaded to its site is AI generated - and it's calling on Spotify and other streaming giants to do more about it," (techradar.com/April 20, 2026); Colin Toh, "The CD Comeback Story Crashes While Vinyl Hits $1B Because of One Brutal Reality Check," (headphonesty.com/March 19, 2026).

Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns.

Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com
Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com
Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social)
Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/
Hosts Emeriti:
Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest
Eric on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/
Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)   
www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks
This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.