OLD WELL WELL BY ZANE GRAY   A BASEBALL STORY

OLD WELL WELL BY ZANE GRAY A BASEBALL STORY

Author: Jon Hagadorn February 21, 2026 Duration: 28:21

Old Well-Well" is a classic baseball short story by Zane Grey, first published in the July 1910 issue of Success magazine. 
Summary
The story follows the legendary figure of "Old Well-Well," an elderly man famous throughout the East as the ultimate baseball fan. He is recognized by his unique, thunderous yell of "Well, well, well!" which he bellows at critical moments in games. 
The narrative focuses on a high-stakes professional game where a young, unproven player named Burt faces off against an experienced veteran pitcher, Duveen. As the game reaches a fever pitch and the crowd erupts in "bedlam," Old Well-Well's iconic cry serves as a unifying force for the spectators. The story is less about the technical play-by-play and more about the vibrant culture and spirit of early 20th-century baseball, portraying it as a "national game" that connects people across generation

Enjoy all the Zane Gray baseball stories at 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales at your favorite host or at www.bestof1001stories.com. Reviews appreciated and so is sharing !


Step into a world where every episode is a journey into a different time and place, guided by the voices of literary masters. 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales, curated and narrated by Jon Hagadorn, is a quiet sanctuary for those who appreciate the crafted prose of a bygone era. This podcast focuses exclusively on the golden age of short fiction, pulling masterful works from the period between 1850 and 1930. Each selection is chosen for its enduring power to connect, offering narratives that resonate with emotional depth and timeless human experience. You’ll hear the suspenseful twists of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, the poignant social observations of Edith Wharton, the rugged adventures of Jack London, and the finely drawn characters of O. Henry. The collection also includes the gothic intensity of Edgar Allan Poe, the economic storytelling of Ernest Hemingway, and the heartfelt tales of Henry Lawson, among many others. Hagadorn’s narration is clear and considered, designed to let the authors' original language shine. It’s an archive built for repeated listening, whether you’re discovering these stories for the first time or revisiting old favorites. For anyone seeking a break from the modern noise with a truly classic tale, this consistently updated podcast provides a deep and rewarding library of fiction’s finest moments.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales
Podcast Episodes
THE RUBE by ZANE GREY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:57
⭐ Show Notes Summary — "The Rube" by Zane Grey Zane Grey's "The Rube" is a lively, character‑driven baseball tale that blends humor, heart, and the classic American love of the underdog. The story follows a small‑town co…
THE PRETTY GIRL IN THE ARMY by HENRY LAWSON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:01
"That Pretty Girl in the Army" by Henry Lawson In this light, good‑humored tale, Henry Lawson turns his attention to the small misunderstandings and quiet vanities that make everyday life so entertaining. The story follo…
THE LAST FIGHT IN THE COLISEUM by CHARLOTTE YONGE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:06
"The Last Fight in the Coliseum" — Charlotte Yonge Episode Summary In this episode, we bring you Charlotte Yonge's powerful historical tale "The Last Fight in the Coliseum," a story that blends imagination with the fadin…
THE CHEST OF BROKEN GLASS and FEDERALIST No. 55 by JAMES MADISON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:00
The Chest of broken Glass is an old folk tale about a father who has grown old- to old to care for himself, and in order to gain more time from his three sons who only visit now and then, fills an old locked chect with b…
AN O.HENRY DOUBLE PLAY!  AFTER TWENTY YEARS and BRICKDUST ROW [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
"After Twenty Years" — Summary Set on a quiet, rain‑slicked street in early‑20th‑century Manhattan, After Twenty Years explores loyalty, fate, and the unexpected turns life can take. Two friends—Jimmy Wells and Bob—made…
BURIED TREASURE by O.HENRY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:32
Two men try to outwit and outclass each other for the love of Martha May Mangum but she scores a win when her father, jealous of the attention she is getting, picks up and moves away. That's when a treasure map shows up…
MIX WAR, ART, AND DANCING and CAT IN THE RAIN by ERNEST HEMINGWAY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:50
AN ERNEST HEMINGWAY DOUBLE PLAY 🎙️ Mix War, Art, and Dancing Hemingway's early newspaper sketch drops listeners into a Kansas City Y.W.C.A. ballroom during World War I, where soldiers on leave mingle with art students in…
HOT POTATOES by ARNOLD BENNETT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:11
Hot Potatoes by Arnold Bennett Arnold Bennett's Hot Potatoes is a gentle comedy of good intentions gone wrong, centered on a devoted mother, her musically gifted son, and two very ill‑timed potatoes. On a bitterly cold e…
ZERO HOUR by RAY BRADBURY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:23
🕒 Summary of "Zero Hour" "Zero Hour" follows a seemingly ordinary suburban day in the Morris household, where seven‑year‑old Mink and the neighborhood children are wildly excited about a new game they call "Invasion." Mi…
THE FIRST CLASS PASSENGER by ANTON CHEKHOV [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:30
The First‑Class Passenger unfolds during a winter train journey, where a modest, observant narrator finds himself seated vis‑à‑vis a well‑dressed stranger. The man, eager for an audience, begins talking about his life—bo…