Passed Ball Show

PASSED BALL SHOW #136 6/11/2014 Part 2 WITH DAVE GALLAGHER; I start out by speaking with longtime MLB OF Dave Gallagher about his hitting academy right here in Hamilton, NJ. We talk about the reasons he wanted to start the academy and what he is able to provide for the kids that attend. We also talk a little bit about his baseball playing career. I then talk about the sad passing of former Dodgers...

PASSED BALL SHOW #136 6/11/2014 Part 1 WITH JIM BUNNING; I open up by playing my interview with long time US Congressman and US Senator and Hall of Fame RHP Jim Bunning. We talk about his 100 wins in both the AL and NL as well as his 1000 Ks in each league and his Father's Day no hitter at Shea Stadium against the Mets in 1964. I then speak about the amazing comeback of OF Jason Lane as a LHP and...

PASSED BALL SHOW #135 6/4/2014 Part 2 WITH LUIS ROJAS, GAVIN CECCHINI, JOHN MINCONE, ROBERT WHALEN AND DOMINIC SMITH; I open up by talking about the baseball life of the late Don Zimmer and how he deserves to be remembered in many aspects of New York baseball history. I then start my series on the 2014 Savannah Sand Gnats and play my interviews with manager Luis Rojas, pitchers Robert Whalen and J...

PASSED BALL SHOW #135 6/4/2014 Part 1 WITH MICAH BOWIE; I open up by playing my interview with former MLB LHP Micah Bowie who talks about his baseball academy and his experiences with the 2002 moneyball Athletics, the Braves and Nationals. I then speak about the BBWAA and Veterans Committee voting process, its origin and what the "no player should get 100% of the vote" silliness came from. I talk...

PASSED BALL SHOW #134 5/28/2014 Part 2 WITH TIPPY MARTINEZ AND MATT MIESKE; I start out by speaking with former Yankees and Orioles LHP Tippy Martinez about his success as an Orioles reiever, his time in NY, his experience with Thurman Munson and "Tippys" Tweeters. After that I speak with former Brewers OF Matt Mieske about his minor league success early and what he thought about the Milwaukee Bre...

PASSED BALL SHOW #134 5/28/2014 Part 1 WITH CHRIS HAMMOND; I start out by speaking with 14 year MLB pitcher Chris Hammond about what got him interested in the game of baseball. It was the fact that it was fun and not about the competition. He also talks about his relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ. I then speak about the 1984 Cubs team and their GM Dallas Green and why he should have been cal...

PASSED BALL SHOW #133 5/22/2014 Part 2 WITH JIM MASON AND FRANK MALZONE; I open up by playing my interview with former Yankees and Rangers SS Jim Mason. Jim hit the only HR for the Yankees in their 1976 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. I then speak about a great example of unity in the eyes of the Detroit Tigers as they showed their support to their teammate in 1912, Ty Cobb. I tal...

PASSED BALL SHOW #133 5/22/2014 Part 1 WITH ART MAHAFFEY; I open up by teasing the rest of the program then get into my interview with former Phillies RHP Art Mahaffey. Art talks about growing up, being the tallest and strongest kid on his team and how he was the first MLB player to have played in the Babe Ruth League. He also talks about his pickoff move and his career with the Phillies which las...

PASSED BALL SHOW #132 5/15/2014 Part 2 WITH JERRY LUMPE AND TED WIEAND; I start out by speaking with former Yankees and Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe about being part of the AL Pennant winning 1957 and WS winning 1958 Yankees and then being traded to the Athletics, a less competitive team. It was with Kansas City that Jerry got the opportunity to play and establish himself as a top AL 2B. He made the 1...

PASSED BALL SHOW #132 5/15/2014 Part 1 WITH BARRY LYONS; I open up by speaking with former Mets catcher Barry Lyons. Barry talks about the late 1980s Mets and some of the bad decisions the players collectively made, including himself, which held the teams success back. Barry was also big in trying bring baseball back to Mississippi, had all his possessions lost in Hurricane Katrina, including his...

2-16-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this version of the program talking about what made Don Coryell a Hall of Fame Head Football Coach. In addition to being a successful college and professional football coach, he was innovator. Most importantly, he was the father or grandfather to the modern day pass happy NFL offense. John celebrates what he considers a great moment for football- one in whic...

2-13-2013 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by supporting the efforts of Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy that led to the Chiefs winning Super Bowl 57. John has believed all along that teams need to make more conscious effort to hire black Head Coach candidates and he believes there is less of an excuse of not hiring Bienemy based on his success as a two-time Super...

2-11-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about the real football championship history of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, not just in the “Super Bowl era.” John honors the Eagles NFL Championships in 1949, 1949, and 1960 while talking about greats like Steve Van Buren, Norm Van Brocklin, and Chuck Bednarik. John then talks about the 1962 AFL Champion Dallas...

PASSED BALL SHOW #131 5/7/2014 Part 2 WITH JIM PARQUE AND TIM LAUDNER; I start out by speaking with former White Sox LHP Jim Parque. We talk about his success in college and in the Olympics as well as his quick rise from being drafted to the big leagues and his experience pitching in the ALDS in 2000 against the Mariners. I then speak to former Twins catcher Tim Laudner about his 40 HR season in t...

PASSED BALL SHOW #131 5/7/2014 Part 1 WITH VAL PASCUCCI; I open up talking about what I think is the best solution to the Mets under talented bullpen and how it should not include Jenrry Mejia. I then talk about a team that has had an outstanding bullpen this season and few could have predicted the San Diego Padres could be that team. I then speak with former Mets and Expos 1B and current hitting...

PASSED BALL SHOW #130 5/1/2014 Part 2 WITH JACK REED AND ROSS MOSCHITTO; I open up by talking about the last decade or so of Mickey Mantle's career and how he needed to have a caddy to play the OF in late innings due to his injured legs. My first guest of this hour is Jack Reed, who played the role of "Mickey's legs" from 1961-1963. Then, I speak with Ross Moschitto, who played the role of "Mickey...

PASSED BALL SHOW #130 5/1/2014 Part 1 WITH AL CLARK; I open the program up by talking about the fact that the level of competition in the American League and the fact that the talent in the AL's elite is about 8 deep where in the NL it started out to be just 3. Now, you can say it is 5 if you include the Atlanta and Milwaukee. I then recap the MLB debut of Mike Pelfrey, which happened to be agains...

PASSED BALL SHOW #129 4/23/2014 Part 2 WITH RANDY JOHNSON, GREG BLOSSER AND BILLY STAPLES; I start out by playing my interview with former Braves infielder and current minor league field coordinator for the San Diego Padres Randy Johnson. I then get into my frustration over the fact that the New York Mets refuse to give their major league team any depth and wonder whether the last of MLB depth is...

PASSED BALL SHOW #129 4/23/2014 Part 1 WITH DENNY MCLAIN; I start out by recapping the 100 year history of Wrigley Field in Chicago and in doing so, talking about the much longer hisrory of the Chicago Cubs which dates back to 1876. I then speak with the last 30 game winner in the history of MLB Denny McLain about playing the organ as a kid, how he learned how to throw the slider and curve ball an...

PASSED BALL SHOW #128 4/17/2014 Part 2 WITH DON LEPPERT AND MATT NADEL; I start out by playing my interview with former MLB catcher and long time MLB coach Don Leppert. Don has some interesting views about the way the game has changed and the way some remember Jackie Robinson. Don hit a HR on his first MLB pitch against Curt Simmons. I then speak with 15 year old blogger Matt Nadel (@BaseballwMatt...

PASSED BALL SHOW #128 4/17/2014 Part 1 WITH JIM GENTILE; I start out the program by talking about April 15th and how it is remembered for being the anniversary of Jackie Robinson making his MLB debut. It is also the 1 year anniversary of the terrorist activity at the Boston Marathon and April 15th is also the anniversary of the MLB debut of Hiram Bithorn, the first Puerto Rican player in MLB histo...

PASSED BALL SHOW #127 4/9/2014 Part 2 WITH JOSE CARDENAL AND STEVE KORCHECK; I start out by playing my interview with former Cubs, Giants and Phillies OF Jose Cardenal. Jose talks about being signed by the San Francisco Giants and who he looked up to (listen closely to who he leaves out). He also coached for several seasons in the big leagues which includes three World Series Championships for the...

PASSED BALL SHOW #127 4/9/2014 Part 1 WITH RICK REICHARDT AND CHUCK CHURN; I open up with my interview with former Angels OF Rick Reichardt. Rick was the last player that MLB teams bidded over before they instituted the draft in 1965. I then talk about the foolish overreactions over good or bad starts teams get off to within the first week. I then play my interview with 1959 World Series Champion...

PASSED BALL SHOW #126 4/2/2014 Part 2 WITH MILT WILCOX AND LARRY JASTER; I start out by playing my interview with former Reds and Tigers RHP Milt Wilcox (recorded in Jacksonville, Fl). We talk about his experience in the 1970 World Series; he had pitched in just 5 MLB games in his career to that point. He had a devastating arm injury that nearly ended his career, but he recovered to become one of...

PASSED BALL SHOW #126 4/2/2014 Part 1 WITH TIM MCCARVER AND DESI RELAFORD; I open up the program by talking about the terrible injury suffered by Angels hitting coach Don Baylor. I go over his long MLB career both as a player and coach and mention his diagnosis of bone cancer in 2003. I then speak with long time MLB broadcaster and 20+ year MLB catcher Tim McCarver about playing baseball as a kid,...