Passed Ball Show

2-16-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this version of the program talking about what made Don Coryell a Hall of Fame Head Football Coach. In addition to being a successful college and professional football coach, he was innovator. Most importantly, he was the father or grandfather to the modern day pass happy NFL offense. John celebrates what he considers a great moment for football- one in which a Hall of Fame resume finally gets its due. John then talks about the situation going on in the NBA and the players being bought out of contracts so they can be free to sign with other teams. John explains his initial point of view, the turning point, and why he now has a completely different feeling when it comes to the players getting an opportunity that they were not getting with their parent (or contract paying) club. In what will now become the “Saving Sports History” segment of the show, John talks about Ted Williams crash landing a fighter jet, what Davey and Bobby Allison have in common and what that meant for Richard Petty and AJ Foyt, and when Wilt Chamberlain became the first player in NBA history to score his 30,000th point. He also honors the memories of Sliding Billy Hamilton, Gary Carter, and Dazzy Vance while it also being John McEnroe’s birthday.

2-13-2013 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by supporting the efforts of Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy that led to the Chiefs winning Super Bowl 57. John has believed all along that teams need to make more conscious effort to hire black Head Coach candidates and he believes there is less of an excuse of not hiring Bienemy based on his success as a two-time Super Bowl Champion Offensive Coordinator. John cites the rise of former KC OC's Matt Nagy and Doug Pederson to back his point that it has to do with race. John then shares his concerns for the future of the Philadelphia Eagles as he claims this was their best shot to win the Super Bowl. Because they have very good to great players on both sides of the ball, it is going to cost the organization a lot of money to bring back the same team. On the TDSH segment, John talks about the "start" of the Negro Leagues, the Renaissance, Boston Redskins, Rocky Marciano, Cool Papa Bell, Hal Chase, Eddie Robinson, and Randy Moss.

2-11-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about the real football championship history of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, not just in the “Super Bowl era.” John honors the Eagles NFL Championships in 1949, 1949, and 1960 while talking about greats like Steve Van Buren, Norm Van Brocklin, and Chuck Bednarik. John then talks about the 1962 AFL Champion Dallas Texans, led by Hall of Fame Coach Hank Stram and HOF QB Len Dawson. John then gets into his This Date in Sports History segment when he remembers Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson, the NHL Players Association forming and the Philadelphia 76ers losing their 20th straight game. Finally, John gives his Super Bowl 57 prediction as he hopes for a competitive and entertaining game.

PASSED BALL SHOW #131 5/7/2014 Part 2 WITH JIM PARQUE AND TIM LAUDNER; I start out by speaking with former White Sox LHP Jim Parque. We talk about his success in college and in the Olympics as well as his quick rise from being drafted to the big leagues and his experience pitching in the ALDS in 2000 against the Mariners. I then speak to former Twins catcher Tim Laudner about his 40 HR season in the minors in 1981 and his many stints as starting and backup catcher throughout the 1980s as well as his experience winning the 1987 World Series. I then talk about Cecil Travis, a very underrated Washington Senators SS who had his career shortened because he was injured in World War II. I finish off by talking about what is making the Miami Marlins so successful at home

PASSED BALL SHOW #131 5/7/2014 Part 1 WITH VAL PASCUCCI; I open up talking about what I think is the best solution to the Mets under talented bullpen and how it should not include Jenrry Mejia. I then talk about a team that has had an outstanding bullpen this season and few could have predicted the San Diego Padres could be that team. I then speak with former Mets and Expos 1B and current hitting coach for the Savannah Sand Gnats Val Pascucci from the visiting dugout at First Energy Park in Lakewood, NJ. I then spend a little time talking about the first African American pitcher in the history of MLB- Dan Bankhead- and question why his name seldom comes up during appreciation of Jackie Robinson. I finish off by calling out one who I feel was one of the most hateful and biggoted players on the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers

PASSED BALL SHOW #130 5/1/2014 Part 2 WITH JACK REED AND ROSS MOSCHITTO; I open up by talking about the last decade or so of Mickey Mantle's career and how he needed to have a caddy to play the OF in late innings due to his injured legs. My first guest of this hour is Jack Reed, who played the role of "Mickey's legs" from 1961-1963. Then, I speak with Ross Moschitto, who played the role of "Mickey's legs" in 1965 and 1967

PASSED BALL SHOW #130 5/1/2014 Part 1 WITH AL CLARK; I open the program up by talking about the fact that the level of competition in the American League and the fact that the talent in the AL's elite is about 8 deep where in the NL it started out to be just 3. Now, you can say it is 5 if you include the Atlanta and Milwaukee. I then recap the MLB debut of Mike Pelfrey, which happened to be against his current teammate Ricky Nolasco. I then mention the catcher who has caught the most games in professional baseball history (and it is not Ivan Rodriguez). I then welcomed in former AL Umpire Al Clark to talk about his book "Called Out But Safe, A Baseball Umpire's Journey" co-authored by Dan Schlossberg

PASSED BALL SHOW #129 4/23/2014 Part 2 WITH RANDY JOHNSON, GREG BLOSSER AND BILLY STAPLES; I start out by playing my interview with former Braves infielder and current minor league field coordinator for the San Diego Padres Randy Johnson. I then get into my frustration over the fact that the New York Mets refuse to give their major league team any depth and wonder whether the last of MLB depth is a simplle way to try to save money. I finish off by playing an interview I recorded in Sarasota, Florida with former Boston Red Sox OF Greg Blosser. Billy Staples and myself ask Greg a ton of questions. Just a reminder, the entire interview (about 55 minutes) can be found on my Passed Ball Show Interview page on this website

PASSED BALL SHOW #129 4/23/2014 Part 1 WITH DENNY MCLAIN; I start out by recapping the 100 year history of Wrigley Field in Chicago and in doing so, talking about the much longer hisrory of the Chicago Cubs which dates back to 1876. I then speak with the last 30 game winner in the history of MLB Denny McLain about playing the organ as a kid, how he learned how to throw the slider and curve ball and what he feels about baseball the way it is played today. He also talks about the satisfaction he had at his MLB debut as he defeated the Chicago White Sox, the team that told him he wasn't good enough when he pitched for the organization. I finish off my sending my respects to former MLB pitcher Connie Marrero, who passed away this week at the age of 102

PASSED BALL SHOW #128 4/17/2014 Part 2 WITH DON LEPPERT AND MATT NADEL; I start out by playing my interview with former MLB catcher and long time MLB coach Don Leppert. Don has some interesting views about the way the game has changed and the way some remember Jackie Robinson. Don hit a HR on his first MLB pitch against Curt Simmons. I then speak with 15 year old blogger Matt Nadel (@BaseballwMatt). He talks about what got him to study the history of MLB and the interviews he has done with President GW Bush, Billy Crystal and several Hall of Famers. I finish off by talking about the worst team in modern Boston history as well as some interesting facts about the history of baseball in Boston