Chatter Up, presented by Extra Innings Travel, explores baseball’s international reach, the connections it creates, and the stories that make the game so special. Join Shane Barclay for conversations with amazing members of our global baseball community.

In our second episode, Shane is joined by JapanBall founder Bob Bavasi to trace the company’s origins. Bob reflects on growing up in one of baseball’s most prominent families, discovering Japanese baseball, launching the first JapanBall tours, and eventually passing the business on to Shane.

Extra Innings Travel: https://extrainningstravel.com/
JapanBall: https://japanball.com/
Bob Bavasi: https://www.bavasisports.com/

0:00 - Introducing Bob Bavasi
2:37 - Growing Up in a Baseball Family
6:37 - Discovering Japanese Baseball
14:28 - The Origins of JapanBall Tours
24:00 - Passing JapanBall to Shane
38:11 - Show and Tell

Chatter Up, presented by Extra Innings Travel, explores baseball’s international reach, the connections it creates, and the stories that make the game so special. Join Shane Barclay for conversations with amazing members of our global baseball community.

In the first episode of Chatter Up, Shane and Mark Jent discuss the story behind Extra Innings Travel, Shane’s journey through the baseball industry, and the global experiences that shaped his love of the game.

⚾ Extra Innings Travel: https://extrainningstravel.com/
⚾ JapanBall: https://japanball.com/
⚾ Mark Jent's Simply A Fan: https://simplyafan.com/

0:00 - Introducing Chatter Up
3:12 - The Podcast’s Origins and Vision
7:29 - What Is Extra Innings Travel?
13:25 - Shane’s Background and Love of Baseball
23:53 - From MLB to JapanBall
43:45 - Show and Tell