Talkin' 21 Podcast with Danny Torres

This week, 1971 World Series champion Dave Cash, who in his 12 year career, was a three-time All-Star, a lifetime .283 infielder for the Pirates, Phillies, Expos and Padres. But he will forever be linked to that fabled ball club in Pittsburgh playing alongside three future Baseball Hall of Famers: Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski and “Robbie” Clemente. To Dave Cash and a few others on the team, he...

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Enrique Zorrilla, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico (School of Dental Medicine) who had an extraordinary relationship with “The Great One.” His late father Don Pedro Zorrilla (1905-1981) owner of the Santurce Crabbers team (a Puerto Rican Winter League team), signed this future “Rule 5 Draft” pick to his FIRST professional baseball contract on the island....

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes former Dodgers’ executive Fred Claire who was the General Manager when his National League West team won the World Series in 1988. Thirty-two years later, he shares his excitement on seeing his former ballclub once again raise the Commissioner’s Trophy but most importantly what he looked for in creating a winning team. In baseball and life, it’s always about   character...

This week, we have the distinct honor to welcome 2000 Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Pérez who joins us for an up-close look at his extraordinary 23-year career. This Cuban native not only was a two-time World Series Champion, a seven-time All-Star but also shared with our listeners his upbringing in Cuba, his baseball idols Martín Dihigo/Minnie Miñoso and those dramatic homers in the 1967 All-Star G...

This week, we’re joined by former pitcher Jamie Moyer who played for numerous teams and accomplished so much on the field. Yet, it was winning the 2003 Roberto Clemente Award that meant so much to this former 25 year veteran in big leagues. Hear about his upbringing, the importance of the minor leagues, future Baseball HOF’ers who were his idols and instrumental in his long career. But, most impor...

Talkin' 21 chats with Pittsburgh, PA native Phil Dorsey about his relationship with the Clemente Family and Roberto Clemente being his dad's, "Best Friend."    Listen to Phil tell stories about his father's role in helping Roberto Clemente get acclimated to the city and about riding in the back of Clemente's Cadillac. 

As we once again remember “The Great One” on New Year’s Eve, The Talkin ’21Podcast welcomes Brooklyn native and a member of the 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates Joshua Palacios. Although he made his MLB debut in 2021, Joshua’s impact with the Buccos, during the 2023 season, made a huge difference in that lineup. Joshua talked about his beloved parents, his brother Ritchie, and favorite uncle Ray who actual...

Recorded live at the Paley Center for Media in NYC, Talkin’21 welcomed Paul Kutch Jr. (President of Clemente’s Clubhouse) and 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and New York native Fred Cambria. Both shared their earliest recollections on when they first heard about “The Great One” and how this legendary, Puerto Rican ballplayer impacted their lives. They also discussed Clemente’s legacy and how his...

These three words: character, charity and Clemente summarizes the life of this former Major League outfielder. Known as “CJ” to his immediate family and close friends, Curtis Granderson was a three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner who played for seven teams including the N.Y. Yankees and N.Y. Mets. But, for this Chicago native, not only his impact on the field but winning the Roberto...

Talkin’21 welcomes former MLB player and current San Diego Padres analyst/broadcaster Tony Gwynn Jr. Born into baseball royalty, Anthony “Tony” Jr. would eventually decide baseball would be his trajectory and continue in his father’s footsteps. Coincidentally, on July 19, 2006, he would collect his first Major League Baseball hit which fell on the exact date of Tony Gwynn Sr.’s first MLB hit in 19...

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes Washington native and hyper-realistic artist Keegan Hall. In this episode, Keegan shared how he survived a near-death experience and during his early years gravitated to drawing on a daily basis. In college, he majored in art but after his graduation worked in sales/marketing for his favorite team - Seattle SuperSonics. After his beloved mother lost her battle to cancer...

As a child in Puerto Rico, Edwin Rodríguez would meet Roberto Clemente and that brief interaction and handshake literally changed his life. Although he considered a career in engineering and accounting, it was baseball that impacted his life. Although he would eventually play in the big leagues it was managing that drove him incessantly. In 2010, he would become the first Puerto Rican manager in M...

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes former seven-time All-Star third baseman, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and Mets legend David Wright. Drafted in 2001 in the First Round by the N.Y. Mets, he made his MLB debut on July 21, 2004. And he was only 21. Although his phenomenal career was cut short due to spinal stenosis, he would play for 14 seasons. In this first episode of Season 3, he discussed his mlb...

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes former MLB infielder Fernando González. Originally signed by the Seattle Pilots in 1968, González played six seasons in the big leagues. He shared who was responsible for introducing him to the game of baseball. Surprisingly, he credits himself. He listened to games on the radio, became a batboy and during a brief period in the minors finally made his MLB debut on with t...

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes 1970 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh pitcher Fred Cambria. Born and raised in Cambria Heights, Queens, this New York native dreamed of playing in the big leagues. Although he hoped the N.Y. Mets, his childhood team, would have signed him it would be a total surprise the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in 1969. And although his baseball career would be short-lived, his unforgettable...

Talkin’21 podcast welcomes All-Star switch-hitter and 2009 World Series champion Nick Swisher. Known for his infectious personality and charisma, Swisher talks about his upbringing in Ohio, his father Steve, who played in the majors, his late grandmother and the impact of select teammates who would eventually become Baseball Hall of Famers. But in his post-playing career, Swisher is a devoted husb...

The Talkin’21 podcast welcomes South Central LA native and 2005 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis. If you followed his phenomenal career, during the mid-1980s and 1990s, he literally DEFINED what a five-tool player is in Major League Baseball. He was phenom. And he listened and learned from some of the best ballplayers in the history of game. They mentored him on every facet of the sport. B...

The Talkin’21 podcast welcomes Minnesota Twins legend Tony Oliva. His stats speak volumes. Not only was he a lifetime .304 hitter, but this 1964 AL Rookie of the Year, 8-time All-Star and 3-time AL Batting Champion from Pinar del Cuba truly personified class on and off the field. In this podcast, he spoke about his love of Cuba, the extraordinary scout who signed him, a memorable 1965 All-Star Gam...

The Talkin’21 podcast celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Pirates winning the 1971 World Series with a special episode dedicated to that historic franchise. On July 17, 2021, Talkin’21 host Danny Torres traveled to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to interview those players who played an important role in defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. HEAR their thoughts about a particular m...

"The Great One" slapped a double off Mets' All-Star pitcher Jon Matlack. It would be historic.  Hear the conversation with Jon and his son, Danny Matlack, on their special bond with baseball and the 3,000th hit.

Along with her sister Judith, Jannette Clemente Santana has continued to honor her Uncle Roberto “Tio Momen” who not only impacted the baseball world as an extraordinary athlete/ humanitarian but will continue to live in her heart forever. Their father Don Justino Clemente Walker, who is Roberto’s oldest brother shared countless stories with daughters about their favorite uncle. In this episode, J...

Although Willie Randolph praised Gene Baker, his first MLB coach with the Pirates, who taught him the fundamentals of the game, but he also shared a powerful message from his teammate and mentor Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Stargell. And the joy of being around his roommate Dock Ellis. Our guest interacted with a number of Baseball Hall of Famers who passed away but it was the late Bob Gibson and...

Although he was born in South Carolina, Willie Randolph’s childhood was deeply rooted in New York City. This Yankees all-star infielder played 18 seasons and in 2004, he received “The Call” to become the first African-American manager for the N.Y. Mets. This was an extraordinary moment considering the Mets were the team he actually rooted for while playing sandlot ball as a kid in Brooklyn. In 197...

In Part II of his conversation with Danny Torres, Adam Wainwright spoke passionately about his unwavering faith, on his close relationship with Yadier Molina and how in their 14 years playing with the St. Louis Cardinals watching how their brotherhood evolved into a true friendship. Waino’s thoughts on receiving “The Call” that he won the Roberto Clemente Award and the phenomenal work of Big Leagu...

As fans slowly return to the ballparks for the 2021 season, it was 21 years ago, Adam Wainwright was drafted by the Atlanta Braves, his hometown team. Along with an extraordinary career that includes a World Series Championship title in 2006, this all-star pitcher will be forever linked to the St. Louis Cardinals. But of all the baseball highlights including a memorable 2006 NLCS Game 7 against th...