The Road to Cooperstown

Hall of Famer, Jack Morris, class of 2018, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the evolution of his game and his focus along his path to Cooperstown. Morris discusses his journey from position player to pitcher, the ongoing struggles he faced with his command while pitching in the Minors, overcoming doubt to become one of the best big game pitchers ever, the long-lasting impact...

Hall of Famer, Joe Mauer, class of 2024, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the challenges he faced on his journey to Cooperstown. Mauer discusses his childhood growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, the uncertainty he faced on Draft day in 2001, the disappointment resulting from the 2006 Twins postseason, and how a 2013 concussion changed the trajectory of his baseball career. Vi...

Hall of Famer, Adrian Beltre, class of 2024, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the resilience and consistency that led him to Cooperstown. Beltre discusses growing up in the Dominican Republic, overcoming the initial culture shock in the minor leagues, battling through various injuries throughout his career, working to unify American & Latin players in the clubhouse, and what...

Hall of Famer, Jim Leyland, class of 2024, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the pivotal managerial decisions that led him to Cooperstown. Leyland discusses teaching tough lessons to all-time greats, learning from heartbreak, accepting the harsh reality that he wouldn’t be a big league player, the one ballpark he just couldn’t manage in, his emotional Hall of Fame speech and...

Hall of Famer, Todd Helton, class of 2024, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the physical and mental hurdles he overcame on his path to Cooperstown. Helton discusses his father’s influence, the comment that drove him to become a Gold Glove 1B, the time he was almost traded to the Red Sox, the lessons he learned through the heartache of losing the 2007 World Series and navigat...

Hall of Famer, Trevor Hoffman, class of 2018, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the pivotal choices he made on his path to Cooperstown. Hoffman discusses his transformation from shortstop to pitcher, the lessons he learned thru the heartache of losing the 1998 World Series, his perseverance in reaching 600 saves and how a day at the beach robbed him of his velocity. Visit the...

Hall of Famer Jim Thome, class of 2018, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the challenges he faced on his road to Cooperstown. Thome discusses the heartbreak of not bringing a World Series title to Cleveland, overcoming personal loss and relying on a strong support system to hit over 600 home runs and how the movie “The Natural” had a tangible impact on his career.  Visit the...

Hall of Famer, Fergie Jenkins, class of 1991, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about the numerous hardships and heartbreaks he endured to reach Cooperstown. Jenkins discusses the sacrifices of his father that made his own Hall of Fame journey possible, how he was discovered playing baseball in the hockey hotbed of Canada, and the segregation and racism he encountered while in the...

Hall of Famer Alan Trammell, class of 2018, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi for a conversation about his long overdue path to Cooperstown. Trammell discusses how he excelled and endured for two decades in Detroit, the MVP vote that likely delayed his induction, the influence Sparky Anderson and Lou Whitaker had on his career and how a Halloween costume lead to a nightmarish nagging injury.  Visit t...

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., class of 2007, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his disciplined and resilient path to Cooperstown. Baseball's Iron Man shares how The Streak almost came to a premature end due to an on-field brawl, his ability to overcome pressure and expectations to perform in the game’s biggest moments and how the Yankees once tried to recruit him to The Bronx.  Visit the N...

Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, class of 2014, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss the challenges he faced and overcame on his road to Cooperstown. From losing 17 games in his first full season to facing three straight future Hall of Famers as the starting pitcher in his first All-Star Game to his legendary performance in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series, Glavine details the mentality that led him...

A day after being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer and Jim Leyland sit down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss their roads to Cooperstown. Hear some great stories and plenty of laughs as Beltre discusses trash-talking with Felix Hernandez, Mauer talks about his ability to break up no-hitters, Helton celebrates being the first Tennessean in the Hall of Fame and Ley...

Hall of Famer Joe Torre, class of 2014, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his long and winding road to Cooperstown. In part two of their conversation, Torre talks about his first impressions of Derek Jeter, his most painful defeats--the 2001 World Series and 2004 American League Championship Series--and the one game from his Yankees tenure that he would like a second chance to manage. Here...

Hall of Famer Joe Torre, class of 2014, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his long and winding road to Cooperstown. In part one of their conversation, Torre talks about getting hired by George Steinbrenner after being fired from his three previous managerial jobs, the lessons he learned playing with Hank Aaron and the mistake he made when he caught for Bob Gibson in the 1965 All-Star Game...

Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, class of 2015, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his "up and down" road to Cooperstown. From his decision to play baseball over football to becoming an accomplished catcher, infielder and outfielder, hear how Biggio willed his way to the Hall of Fame. Plus, you will not believe how close this Astros legend came to joining another team in the prime of his career!...

Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, class of 2002, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to explain why he says his road to Cooperstown was "paved in yellow gold." From growing up in the middle of the Watts riots to nearly leaving school during his freshman year of college and constantly being reminded of his size (or lack thereof), "The Wizard" discusses the many obstacles he backflipped over on his way to Hall...

Hall of Famer George Brett, class of 1999, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his journey to Cooperstown. From having surgery in the middle of his first World Series to his infamous connection to pine tar and making history by winning batting titles in three different decades, Brett discusses how he became one of the most feared and respected hitters of his generation. Visit the National Ba...

Hall of Famer John Smoltz, class of 2015, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss his "roller coaster" ride on the road to Cooperstown. From dominant starting pitcher to record-setting closer to dominant starting pitcher yet again, one of baseball's best big-game performers shares stories you will not want to miss! Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame - BaseballHall.org   Follow the Nat...

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, class of 1989, sits down with Jon Paul Morosi to discuss the obstacles and challenges he overcame on his road to Cooperstown. From surviving a bus accident that killed two of his high school teammates to dozens of broken of bones to lung surgery, it's a story a stat line could never tell.   Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame - BaseballHall.org   Follow the Na...

Jon Paul Morosi talks to the greatest players in baseball's rich history about their struggles, their triumphs, and their paths to immortality, on the official podcast of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.   Subscribe today so you never miss a moment. Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame - BaseballHall.org   Follow the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Twitter/X - @BaseballHal...