As a librarian when I come across a podcast like this I love to see how people use primary resources and do their due diligence with research. But what a great story/rumor to research! And the host are of course are in credible storytellers! Thank you! I have my brother hooked! No to hook my dad and son!

Whether or not you’re a baseball fan… it’s a must listen!

I listened to this months ago and it still keeps coming back in to my mind that I wasted so time listening to this awful thing. These 2 guys voices are worse than hearing nails on a chalkboard. Don’t waste your time!

I think I have a new favorite all-time podcast. The Rumor so perfectly captures the love of the game, the quest for the truth, and the struggle with finding the real story. Even the emotional beats were so well-crafted and presented that it pulled me further in and connected me even more. Absolutely loved every second of this show. Thank you so much for making it. (Go Braves.)

It seems the just drag it out to fit in commercials. Itgquirs being entertaining.

I can always listen to anything about baseball fandom of the Good Ol Days. This is a fun trip of friendship down memory lane!

This podcast took me back to a time during my younger teens. Not a fan of the Orioles, but Oriole park at Camden yards was always a magical place, even on tv.

Was really interested in this story and it is interesting. However, the two hosts absolutely demolish it with their constant blather about their feelings. Get out of the way and just tell the story.

This is interesting, and I grew up like these guys close to Baltimore following Cal, but these guys say if this story is true that Orioles tainted the streak. But Cal broke the streak 2 years earlier. This seems like fake drama on their part!

The Cal Ripken story was great, but there is too much clutter here. Pete Rose is a fascinating figure, but I consider Jake Brennan’s ‘Disgraceland’ storytelling irresponsible and sensationalized and it’s more of the same here. No interest in this skating interview, even in the run-up to the Olympics. So what is this feed? A destination for long-form pieces or a repository for odds and ends? Maybe I’ll check back in to see if it finds an identity.

I live in Baltimore so that might influence my interest in this story …. Either way, it’s just fantastic and so captures a lot that is unique to the Orioles and to this town 💕

This series is 6 episodes, which is about 2-3 too long. The personal journeys of the hosts are not really as interesting as they think they are, making this more of a slog than a fun trip down memory lane. What’s worse is that the “rumor” this show is based on is funny and was one of the things that used to make baseball interesting and worth following… but they frame it as disastrous and ruinous to the streak and the “integrity” of the sport. Like much of baseball in the 2020’s, this framing comes off as old-guard and boring.

Investigative journalism in the style of true crime, but having entirely to do do with a rumor involving baseball’s Cal Ripken Jr., actor Kevin Costner, and a mysterious power outage. What is the truth? Does it even matter? Presenting your new binge-worthy podcast.

LOVED this. As someone who grew up near Baltimore in the late 90s, I thoroughly enjoyed how the hosts captured the many complicated feelings and the (possibly unwarranted) hope and pride Orioles fans derived from Cal Ripken, Jr. during his streak to overcome Gehrig’s record.

I am also not a baseball fan but this story is intriguing and well done. Appropriate levels of host jokes and narratives, but they allow the story to have center stage.

Neither am I, but this is engaging storytelling. I am hooked. Fans in the stands. I love it. The writing, production, voices of the narrators, music, sound is👍

Throughly loved the adventure as you two did an amazing job of digging though the past to find the truth (and your own personal truths). PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ADDITIONAL SEASONS/RUMORS!!!

You don’t have to know Cal Ripken and his incredible streak, or even much about baseball at all, to find yourself enthralled with this 6-episode docuseries. Sam and Mac weave through twists and turns masterfully. I might even listen to this one again… Give the first episode a few minutes and I bet you’ll feel the same.

I love the storytelling for Sam and Mac! Although I am a baseball fan, you don’t have be one to enjoy this podcast.

Super interesting and entertaining!!

Wow…I didn’t think the story made it too far beyond Maryland! I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of two podcasters trying to pry into the personal lives of these folks in order to prove the rumor true, so I was relieved when I realized that wasn’t their angle at all. As a matter of fact, as the story progresses, it’s more about the passion for Cal and the O’s these two guys possessed as kids during “The Streak” and the role it all served in their lives as they both navigated adolescence and their teen years. I honestly don’t know if the two of them are journalists at all, but I was also impressed with their investigative endeavors detailed through out this podcast. They tracked down and interviewed the chief engineer employed to keep Oriole Park at Camden Yards’ facilities operating, but they also interviewed the electricians who actually inspected the light tower that evening. If you’re an O’s fan and you’re even vaguely familiar with the rumor, it’s totally worth your time. Even if you’re not, it was great to hear these guys talk about baseball and growing up.

Really am enjoying listening back to all these 90’s ballplayers names and events. Great baseball stories!!! Well done guys.

As a Baltimore native who attended the GAME, I was curious about where this would go. I’ve heard the rumor for years but have always dismissed. There were some interesting revelations but I’ll leave potential listeners to make their own conclusions. I’m glad it came up as the big hurdle convincing Baltimore fans that this was a conspiracy is that we were told the momentum-sapping light failure in the Super Bowl wasn’t. Maybe you can tackle that one next!

California's East Bay Area, where I grew up and live currently, gave me the opportunity to root for the winning Oakland As of the 70s and the amazing SF Giants of the 2010-14 era. That said, I wasn't sure I would dig a podcast about an East Coast baseball team. But, surprise, I loved it all - the juicy gossipy bits, the insightful interviews, the heart-wrenching personal stories shared by the hosts, Mac and Sam's banter and, mostly, their obviously love of the game. Bravo, boys!

It quickly became a podcast too focused on these guys talking about their feelings and childhoods.

Five stars! Great hosts! Great story!

Despite my lack of sports knowledge and interest, really… I found this story so compelling. Thank you for telling it.

I will give major props to Sam and Mac for creating multiple episodes without any new or interesting information about the actual premise of the podcast. If you are going to listen in hopes of learning something earth shattering about the actual rumor you will be disappointed. What is interesting is how Sam and Mac have skillfully produced and packaged this total failure to uncover anything really noteworthy into a podcast that actually got released. I can only imagine what they could do with better subject matter.

I’m surprised by how much I am enjoying this podcast. The exploration of the rumor is fascinating and I love how much finding out the truth means to them as Oriole fans.

I do remember following Cal Ripken Jr. back in the 90’s although I don’t really follow baseball. I do however love a good conspiracy story and all the side stories that go along with it. keep up the good work.

I’m not even into sports and loved it! GREAT JOB GENTLEMAN!

Spoiler: there’s no real story here. They chase a salacious rumor that fairly quickly reveals itself to be false to anyone who doesn’t desperately want it to be true. Then they struggle to impart meaning to the rather dull journey they’re on. By the last episode, this descends into parody. The whole series could be edited down to 90 minutes that would be of interest to Orioles fans.

The Rumor is a podcast about two O's fans who repeatedly state: "We're looking for the answer" to the rumor about Cal Ripken, the Streak, and a night in August of 1997 when a game was called due to a light bank outage. But they're not looking for "the answer". They're looking for "an answer"; specifically, they're looking for an answer that proves the truth of The Rumor. And so, even though they're told by witnesses in the park that night, by lighting techs, by players even -- that the rumor isn't true, these two morons react to this by saying "Gosh, this is all so inconclusive..." No, it really isn't, my dudes. And then by the end of the cast when they FINALLY get a very plausible series of events that explains why the game was called, they even screw that explanation up. Skip this nonsense.

I’m a sucker for sports conspiracy theories and when I found this one from listening to your bears podcast I fell in love with it. Keep up the great work and also if you guys finish this at some point maybe you guys could do a podcast on all of the different sports conspiracy theories and investigate them a little. I would love it

I HATE baseball. I am known for making jokes about how much I hate baseball. But I LOVED this podcast. The podcasters are great story tellers and effective but hilarious investigators. Their authenticity about their emotional connection to the game and their ability to communicate it really resonated with me. I hope they do another one.

Yes, I love baseball, and yes, I love gossip and chasing down rumors, just like many of us. But this is just purely delightful and fun. Highly recommend.

As a diehard fish fan, I found that u guys nailed it on what it is like to be a true fan Great story… I enjoyed it immensely

This is truly inside baseball.

Interesting show

For someone in their 30s reckoning with the changes in baseball this is the perfect podcast. From JFK conspiracy discussions to electrical expertise to Hollywood gossip, the podcast also has plenty for non baseball fans

As an avid 1990’s Cleveland Indians fan I remember watching Cal Ripken break the record. This podcast is great!!

Don’t miss this podcast just because it’s sports related; it’s fantastically done and well worth your time. Enjoy.

Guys, I so enjoyed your telling of this story! You thoughtfully, thoroughly and suspensefully shared this amazing story about a man who is a legend to so many of us from Baltimore! 💕

I don’t even like baseball and I loved this podcast. I cried while listening to the last episode. Such a great story!! ❤️

No need to be a baseball fan, I’m not! But I am a huge fan of mysteries, and I’m definitely an armchair detective! Extremely well done , thorough 💛

Enjoy the show and need more stories like this!

By episode four, there is no doubt that you’re listening to a tall tale of half-truths, conjecture and speculation, and the conclusion will be a statement that we already know: “The rumor is false.” It’s one option to kill some time on a long road trip. 1 star because it is a classic example of how to keep a dumb story still circulating.

The “subject” doesn’t matter,‘it’s all the other aspects of this podcast that makes this podcast worth listening to! I’m not a baseball fan, but, I love tagging along with Sam and Mac as they investigate a “Rumor.” As I set out each day for my daily walk, I look to see if they’ve dropped another episode, their voices transport me to their world and soon my walk is over! Thanks guys, you both have amazing “radio” voices that I can listen to forever, add in the interesting stories and your show is a definite winner!

I stumbled across this podcast while searching for a new listen and it’s by far my favorite podcast of the year! If you like baseball and entertainment news, you’ve got to check out The Rumor!

I’m a habitual binger who doesn’t care about baseball — nor do I have strong feelings about Kevin Costner — but I love this podcast. It has me waiting for Monday to hear the next one. This is a big deal for me since I also do not like waiting or Mondays. Mac and Sam have a great rapport and make me feel like we’re all friends and amateur sleuths trying to get to the bottom of the night the lights went out at Oriole Park. It’s sort of like “Only Murders in the Building” but there’s no murder … or building. I also love the song played at the end of each episode. Well done, Mac and Sam.