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 depricating funnymen, who is almost always the butt of his own jokes, has forged a 50 year broadcasting career, for his beloved Brew Krew.

During that time, he has entertained us with his comedy through TV shows like Mr Belvedere during the 1980's and the movie Franchise Major Leagues as the unforgettable Harry Doyle. He had memorable spots on the Johnny Carson Late Night Show, WWE Wrestlemania III, Miller Lite, Taste Great, Less Filling Campaign and so much more. The man has even had an impact on the baseball lexicon of languge. All these things in itself, are impressive, and were well earned by Uek. As hilarious as Uecker is, the man is baseball through and through and he has honed his skills to become one of the greatest baseball broadcasters who has ever lived.

I also have soccer guru, Abel Rosario call in and wrap up what went down in the 2022 World Cup in Quatar.

#BobUecker #MilwaukeeBrewers #BudSelig #DickGroat #SandyKoufax #ArtMahaffey #HankAaron #TimMcCarver #GaylordPerry #FergusonJenkins

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 the ways of the infamous spitball. There were so many spitball pitcher in the 1960's, but no pitcher in the history of the game, threw it with Perry's accuracy and control. With two sliders, a four seam fastball, a changeup, a curve, a forkball and the nefarious spitball in his arsenal, Gaylord would turn around his stagnant career and pitch his way all the way to the Baseball Hall Of Fame. In Gaylord's own words, getting away with it, is the easy part. Learning to pitch loaded balls with velocity and accuracy, is the hard part and demands constant practice.

This is a tribute to the icon who passed away 13 days ago. Rest In Peace Gaylord. Godspeed. Time will not dim the glory of your deeds'

#GaylordPerry #SanFranciscoGiants #ClevelandIndians #TexasRangers #SanDiegoPadres #SeattleMariners #AtlantaBraves #NewYorkYankees #KansasCityRoyals #BobShaw #BillyMartin #SpitBall

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 the deal wasn't approved.

After years of intense criticism, the White Sox brass has worked hard to renovate the building, to ensure that White Sox fans have an enjoyable baseball experiance.

#ChicagoWhiteSox #JerryReinsdorf #PaulKonerko #USCellular #GuaranteedRatePark #NewComiskey #FrankThomas #GovernorJimThompson #HaroldWashington

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 with professional gangsters and mobsters to rig the outcome of the 1919 World Series.

#ChicagoBlackSox #BuckWeaver #ShoelessJoeJackson #ChickGandhil #EddieCicotte #LeftyWilliams #SwedeRisberg #FredMcMullin #HappyFelsch #CharlesComiskey #ChicagoWhiteSox

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 violence, with a poise so unshakeable, it still remains to this day, a study in professionalism.

Dignity, pride, courage... these are words we use to describe heroes. Those are also the same words you can use to describe Henry as well. Perhaps, that isn't a coincidence.

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 experience in a van, Shea was forced to do a judicious, self-inventory which has led him to be a better husband, father, and overall person. The former slugger now is reaching out to lost souls around the globe, in an effort to help everyday people tap into their maximum potential. This is an interview you are not going to want to miss, this IS NOT your everyday baseball interview.

#SheaHillenbrand #BostonRedSox #ArizonaDiamondBacks #TorontoBlueJays #MikeMussina #RoyHalladay #OrlandoHernandez #DavidWells #AndyPettite #HideoNomo

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 is a testament to the way the Puerto Rican flag tugs on the hearts of Island residents, as well as Puerto Ricans around the globe.

This week we examined the baseball cultural of the tiny Island and I tell the inspiring but tragic story, of the first Puerto Rican to play in the bigs, Hiram Bithorn.

#BaseballInPuertoRico #HiramBithorn #RobertoClemente #OrlandCepeda #RobertoAlomar #CarlosBeltran #PuertoRicanWinterBall #Santurce #SanJuanSenators #ChicagoCubs #ChicagoWhiteSox

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 engineering marvel at the time of it's opening, as it was the first retractable roof stadium, allowing events to be held year round, without the prevailing winds and cold fronts off of Lake Ontario, having an impact.

33 years later, here in 2022, she is now the seventh oldest crib in the majors and is currently undergoing a $300M facelift.

This show is dedicated to one of my biggest fans and the biggest Jays fan I ever met....The late Brayden Berberich. I miss you brother, this one is for you....

#BraydeBerberich @TorotntoBlueJays @JoeCarter #PaulGodfrey #MontrealExpos #WilliamDavis #Labatt #BowieKuhn #ExhibitionStadium #CNTower #RodRobbie #MichaelAllen #RogersCommunication

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, made him one of the best all around players in the game, until glaucoma robbed him of his career and set the lovable player on a dark path.

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 another? One stadium to house the Royals baseball team and one to house the NFL Chiefs.... What a concept?

This is the in-depth history of a baseball stadium that has stood the test of time and has influenced the way we watch sports live today.

#HarrySTruman #TrumanSportsComplex #KansasCityAthletics #KansasCityRoyals #EwingKauffman #RoyalsStadium #KauffmanStadium #NewYorkYankees #JackieJensen #MickeyMantle #GeorgeBrett #BretSaberhagen #CharlesFinley #ConnieMack