Backwards K Pod

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 #JerryKoosman #CleonJones #TommyAgee #RonSwaboda #TugMcGraw #NolanRyan #EarlWeaver #BaltimoreOrioles

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 League All-Star Games, an exploding scoreboard, heavyweight boxing matches, rock concerts and crazy promotional ideas like Disco Demolitian Night. This is the history of South Chicago and their rabid baseball fanbase, that would live in synergy with their communal baseball monument.

#ChicagoWhiteSox #CharlesComiskey #EdWalsh #ZacharyTaylorDavis #ComiskeyPark #BillVeek #DiscoDemolitianNight #CarltonFisk #OzzieGuillen #FrankLane #FrankThomas #EddieGaedel

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 him in the Pantheon, amongst the holy trinity, of power-bat switch-hitters.

This is his story.

#ChipperJones #AtlantaBraves #LarryJonesSr #JavyLopez #BobbyCox #ToddVanPoppel #GregMaddux #DavidJustice #TomGlavine #Mets #SheaStadium #HideoNomo #JohnSmoltz

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 three things, and you too can beat the best hitters on the planet. You can be the Mad Dog.

This week, at BKP, we take a look uner the hood, at the career, and life, of the great Greg Maddux, who is celebrating his 57th birthday on Friday.

#AtlantaBraves #ChicagoCubs #SanDiegoPadres #LosAngelesDodgers #TomGlavine #JohnSmoltz #SteveAvery #EddieMurray #ClevelandIndians #NewYorkYankees #OrelHershiser #KennyLofton #JimThome #MadDog #TheProfessor #PedroMartinez #RyneSandberg

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 as a pitcher but would become an immortal with his bat, glove and legs. One of the finest ballplayers who ever lived, is now in the collection.

#TrisSpeaker #BostonRedSox #ClevelandIndians #WashingtonSenators #PhiladelphiaAthletics #TyCobb #JoeWood #BabeRuth #DuffyLewis

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 attached to your name gets fired, quits or God forbid dies during the 2023 season first,, you will win the Trophy.

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 TV show from the 1960's, Home Run Derby. The concept was simple. Bring the best sluggers from the Major Leagues to Hollywood, and have them compete against each other, on TV, for a new concept called the Home Run Derby. The show became wildly popular and was destined to have a run, but tragedy would befall the show and it would only last one season. Even though the show was short-lived, it is still a cult classic today.

#MarkScott #HomeRunDerby #LouBreslow #WillieMays #MickeyMantle #Hollywood

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 and international sports expert Abel Rosario will call in the show, as we recap the current 2023 WBC tournament underway right now, and we give you our WBC Power Rankings from the first week of pool play.

#WorldBaseballClassic #WBC #BudSelig #MLB #NipponProfessionalBaseballLeague #KoreanBaseballOrganization

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 overpowered his contemporaries with a dazzling array of 100 MPH fastballs. a slider that topped out at 94 MPH, and a curveball with serious bite, destroying lineups.

Shortly after, his memorable start in the 1980 All Star Game, he would collapse on the turf of the Astrodome, the victim of a stroke. From there his life spiraled downward out of control. as he lost his wife, his cars, his home, his businesses and his pride. He hit rock bottom, when it is discovered, he is living under a highway bridge, just minutes away from the Astrodome, where he once thrilled so many fans with his exploits. Eventually, JR would find himself back to living a normal life before his death in 2021, through the power of God and the small circle of friends he trusted around him. I am proud to say, I was one of those people. We had a friendship I will never forget. This is his story.

#HoustonAstros #JRRichard #BlackAces