Backwards K Pod

Throughout the 1980's, the Cleveland Indians and their fan base, were eager to flee from the antiquated, concrete, multi-purpose monstrosity that was Municipal Stadium. For almost a decade, civic leaders and the Cuyahoga County citizens of Ohio, could not agree on the funding for a new domed baseball/football stadium. By 1992, a sin-tax is proposed, voted on and passed with the slimmest of margins...

In today's modern era of the game, the baseball universe has been rightfully amazed by the versatile brilliance of Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani. However many decades ago, there was a ballplayer that was even more versatile, doing things the great Ohtani could only dream of accomplishing. This week I dive into the shrouded mystery that is Martin Dihigo. The most decorated baseball player to ever p...

In 2003, Sports Illustrated compared Morganna Roberts' female measurements, to that of a first-place hockey team record, 60-24-39. In 1969, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio, she would begin one of the most endearing baseball traditions throughout the 70's, 80's and 90's, when she hopped the railing and ran out to Center Fielder Pete Rose, to give him a kiss on a $5 dare with her friends. The n...

For three decades, George Brett was the standard by which other hitters of his era were measured, as he seemingly mastered the art of barreling up line drive shots to the outfield gaps. He was the youngest of four brothers, who all played professional baseball, including his brother Ken, who pitched in the Major Leagues. Very few players, especially in the current free agency era, are synonymous w...

If Babe Ruth was the first rockstar of baseball, then Giants icon Willie Mays, was surely the second. It was Willie who is responsible for the term "five tool player", when his manager Leo "The Lip" coined him so, as baseball's first. Willie could hit, run, hit for power, field and throw. As Leo would say that is God Given This week BKP salutes the greatest living ballplayer on the planet, and his...

The New York Mets were the laughingstocks of baseball for most of the 1960's. By the end of the decade, a wave of talented prospects make the show, and perform an AMAZIN turnaround, that captures the hearts and imagination of the baseball universe, culminating with an eye-popping World Series performance against the mighty Baltimore Orioles. #NewYorkMets #CaseyStengal #GilHodges #TomSeaver #JerryK...

This week, Backwards K Pod takes a look at "Baseball's First Palace", the unforgettable Comiskey Park. In 1910. the throwback crib would change the evolutionary history of the game, with her cavernous playing field, symmetrical walls and history of light hitting White Sox teams, built on speed and pitching. It would be the site of the first All-Star Game in MLB history. The home of over 20 Negro L...

This week, we spotlight the life and times, of the Braves legend, the immortal, Chipper Jones. Chipper was the premier position player, for a dynastic Braves team, that was more or less. defined by their stellar pitching. But Chipper would make sure those Braves teams had a potent offense. One that would result in 11 straight NL East pennants under his stewardship, and a career that would place hi...

How in the world does a 5"10', 180 pound guy, with a fastball that couldn't break a pane of glass, dominate the numerous enhanced sluggers of the 1990's era? Apparently, it isn't that hard, as long as you have a baseball-savant mind, pinpoint fastball command, and a filthy two-seamer, that dances outside of the strike zone and at the last milli-second, it paints the black. All you need is those th...

Today we celebrate the 125th birthday of the great but oft-forgotten Tris Speaker born April 4th, 1888. The legendary dead-ball era player who still holds the MLB record in doubles and assists from a Centerfielder. The former Hall Of Famer played for the Red Sox, Indians, Senators and Athletics and was easily a top five players of his generation. This is the story of a small town boy, who failed a...

The Snake makes his return to the Captain Kirk Chair, five days removed from hernia surgery, to celebrate his birthday with the fans, Opening Day to a new baseball season, as well as draw for the third Annual LTBPN Manager's Death Pool, sponsored by Lapyreaux's Crab and Fish Handcleaners. Jake will draw names of audience members as well as names of the 30 current MLB managers... if the manager att...

In the first segment this week, International sports correspondent Abel Rosario calls in to talk second week of the World Baseball Classic. The Edwin Diaz drama, Japan's walkoff versus Mexico and the titanic matchup between Japan and the United States in the Championship Game. We will also give you the final power rankings of the Quarterfinal Field. THe second segment, we perform an autopsy on the...

In the early 2000's baseball commissioner Bud Selig began thinking of ways to take Major League Baseball global. In May of 2005, he lays the groundwork for the ground breaking World Baseball Classic. It is the biggest international baseball tournament on the planet and it continues to grow bigger and bigger. This week we will examine the history of this baseball phenomenon, the WBC. Show Friend an...

This week I honor my good friend J.R. Richard, on what would have been his 73rd birthday on March 7th. His story, is the classic Greek tragedy, where our hero, at the height of his powers, is taken down by forces beyond his control. Standing on the precipice of greatness and immortality, The Biggest Lion In The Valley, was nothing short of shock and awe for poor National League batters, as he over...

This week, BKP picks up where we left off in our stadium shows to bring the history of the 10th oldest MLB ballpark, Orioles Park at Camden Yards. In order to save baseball from itself, Orioles President Larry Luchino, was convinced that the only way baseball was going to save itself, going into the 1990's, was by taking the game back to early 1900's, when baseball teams built majestic Jewel Box c...

This week, Backwards K Pod says good bye to former MLB catcher and Hall Of Fame Broadcaster Tim McCarver, who died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 16, 2023, at the age of 81.As durable a catcher as you will ever find, McCarver's playing career spanned over 4 decades. During his unsung baseball career, the two time All Star, two time world champion, was the trusted batterymate of som...

Going into the 1984 MLB season, the Detroit Tigers were optimistic about their chances, after falling just short of their goals a year before, when they finished seond in the AL East with 93 wins. After 12 years of middle of the road baseball, Sparky Anderson, the driving force behind the Big Red Machine Cincinnati teams of the 1970's, was now in Motown, putting his finishing touches on a whole ne...

This week we will be doing a deep dive into the life of former Royals closer Dan Quisenberry as we celebrate his 70th birthday posthumously on the date of this release. The soft throwing submarine pitcher, that resembled a falling flamingo when he pitched, would be a major component of the evolution of the closer role during the 1980's. But Quiz was so much more than that. He was a father, a husba...

This week we honor the great Jackie Robinson on his 104th birthday, with a biographical look at this true American patriot. Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth are probably the two most historically significant baseball players ever. While Ruth certainly changed the way the game would be forever played, Jackie change the way Americans thought, and set the country on course, to becoming the major superpo...

This week we begin BKP, with a posthumous salute to Sal Bando, who finally succombed to his five year battle with cancer, Friday January 20, 2023, at his home in Wisconsin. From his 1965 College World Series title and MVP, to his three consecutive MLB World Series crowns, with the A's from 1972-1974, Captain Sal was one helluva player. He also was the first Brewers free agent sign in 1977, and led...

Almost every single U.S President has some sort of connection to the game of baseball, whether it was good, bad or indifferent. From tossing the opening day first pitch, hosting teams in the Oval Office, or even receiving free lifetime passes, Presidents and baseball go together like America and apple pie. A smashing duo, that goes all the way back to the One... George Washington who was seen play...

The history of baseball mascots, goes all the way back to at least the 1880's. In those days, they weren't the cute, lovable, furry creations, we see in the modern game today. They were live humans or animals, and they were considered more like good luck charms. In 1964, baseball did away with live mascots, with the creation of Mr Met. The very first mascot as we understand them to be today. Soon...

At the end of the 1989 MLB season, and after 47 years of co-existence in the same baseball region. The San Francisco Giants were set to face off with the Oakland A's for baseball supremacy. With the A's jumping out to a quick two games to none advantage, the fans of the Giants were showing up in force at Candlestick Park, to support their team. Game three, October 17th, 1989, never got underway, a...

In 1968, songwriter Paul Simon asked the question, " Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" in the hit song, Mrs. Robinson. This week BKP host Jake Robinson, anectodotally re-ask the very same question, as Backwards K Pod does a deep dive into the history, and the mystique of Joltin Joe Dimaggio, the Yankee Clipper. He was one of those rare athletes like Babe Ruth, Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan, who...