Backwards K Pod

This week, BKP examines the life and times of Milwaukee Brewers radio and TV play by play announcer, Mr Baseball Bob Uecker. How does a former player who carries a -1 WAR a .200 batting average and 14 career home runs, in a six year mediocre career make it to the Baseball Hall Of Fame? By being one of the funniest, wittiest, storeytellers to ever grace the baseball universe, of course. The self de...

In 1966, the San Francisco Giants had a young, talented 27 year old pitcher, with unrealized potential, floundering as the eleventh man on a ten man man pitching staff. In his previous three seaons of big league ball, Gaylord Perry was mired in mediocrity with a 24-30 record and an ERA in the high fives. Thankfully, the Giants would trade for Braves pitcher, Bob Shaw, who taught the young Perry th...

Guaranteed Rate Field debuted as New Comiskey Park in 1991, and over the past 30 years, has seen multiple name changes and plenty of renovations. The facility is the last of it's kind and it stands as a symbol of a bygone era. The stadium construction was approved, literally at the stroke of midnight, give or take a few minutes, under the threat of the Sox leaving for St Petersburg, Florida, if th...

Over the years, baseball has produced many memorable famous teams. But this is the story of the games first infamous team, the 1919 Chicago White Sox. More than a century after the fact, the exact details of the affair known as the Black Sox Scandal remain to this day murky and subject to debate. But one central and undisputed truth endures. One of the most talented group of ballplayers, conspired...

This week we examine the life and career of one of the greatest ballplayers who ever lived, the Hammer Hank Aaron. The slew of awards won and records set, are but an underscore to his legacy. Here is a black man, who successfully challenged the record of a white player, who's baseball legacy borders on mythological. In the deep south, in the early 70's. And he did it under the threat of physical v...

In this Backwards K Pod Bonus Show, Jake Robinson sits down for an honest and poignant one on one interview with former MLB All Star Shea Hillenbrand. Listen in as Shea gives an account of his childhood, his rise through the Major Leagues, and his abrupt retirement with millions of dollars on the table. What Happened? What went wrong for this reluctant superstore? Afre a harrowing near death exper...

America is a melting pot and nowhere is it truer than Major League Baseball. More than a quarter of MLB players are of Hispanic heritage, and only the Dominican Republic produces more latino ballers than Puerto Rico. Baseball is rooted deeply in ther cultural DNA. Baseball is not just about the major leagues, it is their identity tied to being Puerto Rican. Their passion for the game, in many ways...

Still Called Skydome by Blue Jays fans around the world, The Rogers Centre is home of Canada's only Major League Baseball fanchise. As the only sports and entertainment venue of her size and design in Canada, Rogers Center has hosted some of the greatest music concerts, Wrestlemania events, religious figures and inspirational leaders as well as MLB and CFL games. A veritable, tecnological and engi...

On his way to the Majors, he outshined his teammates every step of the way. With the speed and power of a world class athlete, and a million dollar smile that could eclipse the sun, Kirby Puckett quickly established himself as one of the legends in Minnesota history, taking his place in the pantheon of Twins heroes like Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. His clutch skills on the diamond,...

While Kauffman Stadium may be the sixth oldest stadium in the Major Leagues, it has remained one of the most picturesque ballparks in all of baseball. Originally called Royals Stadium, the venue broke away from the multi-purpose, cookie cutter stadiums of the day, and proposed something that was outside of the box thinking. How about building two stadiums virtually across the street from one anoth...

As the season winds down on the 2022 season, the baseball universe says farewell, to arguably one of the greatest right hand sluggers to ever play the game. From his humble beginnings in the streets of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to his complete domination of Missouri High School baseball, to his journey through the pro ranks of baseball, Backwards K Pod presents the incredible story about...

No MLB icon, has a connection to his city, quite like Tony Gwynn. From his college days at San Diego University as a dominant two sport star in both basketball and baseball. To being drafted by the San Diego Padres in baseball as well as the San Diego Clippers of the NBA. To playing his entire 20 year career with the Friars and eventually returning to his college alma mater to coach baseball. This...

Many MLB fans of his day, called Josh Gibson the Black Babe Ruth of his day. To which Josh's fans would retort back that Babe Ruth, was actually, the White Josh GIbson. This week, I do a deep case study on the great Negro League iconic power hitting catcher, Josh Gibson. An Apocryphal story blended with truth, myth and the word of baseball fans, who have refused to let the memory of the Negro Leag...

The Complex history of the Polo Grounds, is not only a story about the various incarnations of this quirky baseball cathedral from yesteryear. It is also the story about the rise of pro sports in New York City. From !884 to 1962, five versions of the Polo Grounds, housed not only the New York Giants, but also the New York Metropolitans, one of the earliest American League teams. She would also be...

This week we examine the life and times of Earl Weaver, who frequently preached his baseball gospel of pitching, defense and the three run home run, as his stated formula for winning baseball games. The Hall of famer brought a tenacious fighting spirit and pragmatism to the Orioles dugout, and led the team to five !00 win seasons. Four American League Pennants, and a 1970 World Championship, all t...

This week we will be cekebrating the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Going into the 1982 season, the Brewers had high hopes and and World Series aspirations, as their team of mostly homegrown talent, was showing signs of becoming an offensive juggernaut. However, a rough start to the season saw the Brew Crew sitting in sixth place in the American League East with a 23-24 record, 7 games behind the first p...

As long as Ted Williams could remember, his goal in life was to have people point at him one day and say, " There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived." And while the the debate over the greatest hitter of all time will forever be vociferously argued by baseball fans as long as the sport is alive, One thing is for sure, The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Kid, deserves incl...

The 1920 AL Pennant race was tighter than a bullfrog's ass. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox were in a virtual tie, while the New York Yankees are breathing down their neck a mere half game back in the standings. This would set the stage for the start of a pivitol three game series; Tribe vs the Yankees, at the Polo Grounds. Game one, August 16th, 1920, saw Indians Shortstop Ray Chapman...

This week, Backwards K Pod will be examining the history of The Big A; Angels Stadium of Anaheim. From her humble beginnings of rural farmland, that once produced oranges, corn and alfalfa sprouts, to the home of a major league franchise that now produces Salmon and Trout. The 56 year old structure is now the fourth oldest stadium in the majors and has a checkered past that includes two major face...

New York Yankees teammates and best friends, Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson would confide in one another that they were in love with each other's wives. In one of the most bizarre baseball press conferences ever, The two players would announce that their wives had officially agreed in principle, to trading them AND their dogs to one another to live as their significant other. This week's SHORT Sto...

When most people think of the Netherlands, they think Amsterdam, the Red Light District. the Devil's Lettuce and windmills. And while soccer is by far the number one sport in the country, the Dutch have become a powerful European baseball force. As more and more quality players arrive from the Kingdom every year to the majors, I take a historical look at the oldest baseball league outside of the A...

A bonus show, solemn tribute to arguably the greatest baseball play by play announcer who ever lived, Mr Vincent Edward Scully. With his golden throated delivery, powerful command of the English language and impeccable timing, he deployed his oratory skills in a true art form. With a 67 year Dodgers career on his impressive resume, nearly all living baseball fans today, can mark a passage of time...

In a career that spanned over decades and generations, and with the constantly evolving nature of baseball, Branch Rickey was an innovative mind that changed the game forever. He invented the Minor League farm system and batting helmets. He created the first Spring Training complex and advanced metrics like On Base Percentage and Total bases. Of course, he is most notably known for facilitating th...

The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, after a dreadful 4-10 start, makes some savvy trades and adopt the Sister Sledge hit song We Are Family as the team's motto. After a furious streak of winning baseball, the underdog Buccos, would work their way out of last place to finally overtake the Expos and Phillies for the NL East Pennant. After destroying the Reds in the 1979 NLCS, the Pirates would take on the...

The MLB All Star Game is an American Institution. It is rich in legend, folklore and history. It is a never ending story, where every year we get to see a whole new 9 inning chapter, written before our eyes. Every player in the game has the same opportunity to be the hero or the goat. Throughout time, every team has had their share of franchise superstars. Players that stood above the rest. They a...