This week, we're catchin' Knuckleballs and throwin' out runners!

Butch Wynegar shares stories from his two seasons as Hall of Famer Phil Niekro's teammate with the New York Yankees.

It was an eventful couple of years, as Butch was behind the plate for the knuckleballer's 300th win AND his 3,000th strikeout!

We also hear from Butch about trying to catch the basestealing GOAT, Hall of Fame Outfielder Rickey Henderson, and the impact that Rickey had on every game he played in.

-Learn how facing Rickey Henderson made Butch a better catcher, and his impact on the game.

-Chat about the best catchers in MLB today.

-Get a close-up view of Butch's scouting trip to see Joe Mauer before the 2001 draft.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhQOd4kuxR8

Butch shows us the (now-signed) oversized "knuckleball glove" that he used while catching Niekro every 5 days, including the days of his 300th W and 3000th K.

Join us on this week's Significant Step Forward: A Baseball Podcast for a second episode with former Yankees All-Star Dave "Rags" Righetti.

Last week, we discussed Rags' July 4th, 1983 no-hitter and the events surrounding the historic day. Podcast co-host Butch Wynegar was behind the plate during that game, catching for the Yankees. Fortunately for us, Dave stuck around for a long chat covering:

-his playing career,

-post-playing/coaching legacy as a 3-time World Series winning pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants

-the impact of analytics on today's game, and how to integrate data alongside player development and coaching

-great players of the 1980s, his peers

-playing for iconic managers Yogi Berra and Billy Martin

We hope you enjoy it. Please subscribe!

For any inquiries about the show, please email co-host Josh Flowerman at [email protected]

#yankees #mlb #baseball #milb #podcasts #baseballpodcasts #1980sbaseball #righettisnohitter #baseballhalloffame #yogiberra #daverighetti #butchwynegar #sanfranciscogiants #butchwynegar #ournationalpasttime #baseballstories #baseballmemories

40 years ago this week, on July 4th, 1983, New York Yankees' left-hander Dave "Rags" Righetti threw a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Significant Step Forward co-host, Butch Wynegar, was behind the plate at catcher for the Yankees that day.

On this week's episode of Significant Step Forward, Butch and Josh welcome "Rags" to the show as our first-ever guest. Join us as we talk about the no-hitter and share other stories from Butch and Dave's playing days. Next week, we'll have the second half of our chat, as we talk about Rags' career, great players from the 1980s, winning three World Series as the San Francisco Giants pitching coach and his current role in player development.

#yankees #mlb #redsox #baseballpodcasts #milb #baseballhalloffame #daverighetti #nohitter #yankeesredsoxrivalry #baseballstories #yankeestadium #wadeboggs #jimrice #summerbaseball #nationalpastime #sfgiants #minnesotatwins #angelsbaseball #mlballstargame #butchwynegar #mlbpitchers #mlbcatchers #majorleaguebaseball #daverighettinohitter #nohitterdaverighetti #july4thbaseball #july4th #yankeestadium #davewinfield #donmattingly #1980sbaseball #1990sbaseball #mlbnostalgia #mlb #baseballnostalgia

Episode 2 of Significant Step Forward: A Baseball Podcast with 13-year MLB veteran/26-year pro coach Butch Wynegar and Coach/Analyst Josh Flowerman.

Join us this week on Significant Step Forward: A Baseball Podcast

Butch and Josh break down:

-Crafting hitter plans in professional baseball

-A mental approach to hitting

-Data-driven player development

-Keeping a player's positives while making adjustments

-Butch's stories from Robin Yount and Prince Fielder

-Feeling comfortable at the plate

In this episode, I chat with 13-year Major League catcher Butch Wynegar about a wide range of baseball topics, including his early days as a pro player, the development of his coaching philosophies, and his interactions with baseball legends.

Part I:

In the first part of this episode, Butch and I talk about:

Working together in the Yankees’ minor league system

His initial development into a ballplayer and early pro career

An introduction to his coaching philosophy, and his expectations of players.

How he became a switch hitter, what he wishes he had known at the beginning of his big league career, and making adjustments as an MLB hitter.

For Seinfeld fans, Butch talks about how channeling his inner George Costanza helped him with adjustments at the plate (26:50).

Finally, Butch recalls the day he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins.

Part II:

0:00-8:30 How Butch became a catcher

8:35-     Orioles teams from the 60s and 70s, Watching Baseball in York (hometown)

11:00-when he realized he might play in the big leagues

11:15 knocking down his mom

11:30—Coming to Baltimore as a visiting player

12:45 when he felt he had “arrived”…big league routine

14:00 The importance of great teammates

17:00 having his parents in the stands and his 2 all star games

25:00 first spring training

28:30 winning a batting title as a first year player and a discussion about minor league life

32:15 Minor League Home Run Contest and Josh’s Bob Feller run-in

34:15 Butch’s Joe Dimaggio story