The Baseball and Business Podcast

With the MLB Draft in less than 2 weeks, we've compiled 42 years of MLB playing experience wisdom and condensed it into 10 minutes. These 3 former players together have a trophy case full of accolades but are much more than just great players. They are all great people which is demonstrated by their willingness to selflessly share from their playing journey on the podcast.

We've pulled out the best couple minutes from past guests to make this unique episode. Here is a quick summary from each clip...

1. Dale Murphy shares 3 necessary elements he believes need to come together in order to have a long big league career. 

Over his 18 year big league career, he hammered 398 home runs while winning back to back NL MVPs, making 7 All-Star game appearances, winning 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Slugger Awards. A beloved Brave, his number 3 is retired and still holds 13 franchise records. To listen to the entire episode with Dale, you can listen to Episode 66.

2. Michael Barrett shared the importance of developing beyond the mechanics of baseball in order to become the best player possible and give yourself the best chance at having a long career. He also shares a humbling story from a Home Opener while playing with the Expos which demonstrates why resilience is a must have skill.

Over his 12 year big league career, he was the battery mate of Greg Maddux, Jake Peavy and Kerry Wood among many others. He also was an offensive weapon winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2005 while collecting 925 career hits. To listen to the entire episode with Michael, you can listen to Episode 68.

3. Russ Ortiz shared some wisdom from his baseball journey where he won a College World Series at the University of Oklahoma in 1994 before going on to a successful big league career where he would pitch in the World Series in 2002 with the San Francisco Giants.

He developed from a prospect in the Giants organization after being drafted in the 4th round to a successful 12 year MLB career. This included winning 113 games over his career and was named an All-Star in 2003 while taking home the NL win title with a 21 game win season. To listen to the entire episode with Russ, you can listen to Episode 52.

Former pro player Rickey Hill shares from his incredible story which has been turned into a movie called The Hill releasing August 25 starring Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford.

He shares of being born with a degenerative spinal disease yet went on to play four seasons in the minor leagues with the Montreal Expos on Episode 70. 

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation with Rickey as well as producer Jeff Celentano…

1. How Rickey and producer Jeff Celentano persevered over 17 years in the ups and down to fund the production and what led to the breakthrough moment to be able to get this story out for all to see

2. How Rickey earned a second chance at a pro tryout which ultimately led to getting signed by the Expos

3.  Why you should go see the movie opening weekend August 25-27

Rickey's story shows that the obstacle which work against you can ultimately be used for a purpose bigger than yourself by inspiring others to reimagine what is possible when they face seemingly impossible scenarios.

To learn more about the movie, you can visit thehillmov.com or the Instagram page.

Former D1 college player Willie Shaw shares from his journey launching his career with NASA to currently living in Nashville working for a VC backed tech startup while songwriting and singing on Episode 69. 

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

1. Why he chose to get a knowledge based Bachelor's degree and combined it with a specific skill based Master's degree in Accounting 

2.  How he used networking to get his foot in the door to launch his career working with NASA

3.  He pivoted by taking a risk moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting and singing, why he turned down being on the hit show The Voice and how this led to getting signed by CAA 

4. Willie shares about his role at Remedy Technology, a VC backed tech firm, which is solving a niche challenge in the music industry and has landed Big Machine and Big Loud Records as clients 

Willie's story shows how taking calculated risks allows pursuing dreams to happen now versus hoping to go for it one day.

To connect with Willie, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at willieshawmusic.com.

Former big league vet and Silver Slugger Award winner Michael Barrett shares from his 12 year MLB playing career, coaching in the Nationals organization and getting into business afterwards on Episode 68.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

1. The setbacks he faced in the initial years after making it to big leagues by 21 after being a 1st round pick out of high school and how he overcame them to have a long big league career. He includes the detailed story of making two costly errors on Opening Day 2000 in front of 52,000 fans as well as being demoted to AAA later in the season.

2. How current players can navigate playing in an analytics driven world without selling out who they naturally are as a baseball player

3. While Michael eventually established himself as a catcher, he played between third and catching in the early days of his big league career. He shares how he finds himself in a similar spot today in business wearing multiple hats running the Georgia Roadrunners travel ball program and acquiring his real estate and insurance license only a few years removed from coaching for the Nationals.

4. The trap of comparison and why it is imperative to focus on running your own race whether it be in baseball or business

Michael's story shows how to go beyond simply realizing a dream by achieving long term success within that dream. 

To connect with Michael, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at barrettbaseball.com.

Former pro baseball player Bob Wheatley shares from his journey to becoming an author and specializing in working with individuals on their personal brand after his playing career at USC and in the minor leagues on Episode 67.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

1. What Bob did to go beyond what was required which allowed him to maximize his potential and get drafted by the Blue Jays out of college despite not being an All-American or All-Conference pitcher

2. Why Bob turned what could be deemed failure in not achieving his ultimate dream to become a big leaguer into the foundational idea for writing his book, Our Hearts' Desire

3. The outline of the three main acts of storytelling and why he referenced hit movies to demonstrate how this common storyline can be found in our own life  

4. The key formula to attracting attention in order to create fans of you and/or your business

Bob's story shows the power of vulnerability and finding a lesson to learn from every situation on and off the field.

To connect with Bob, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at bobwheatley.com.

2x NL MVP and 7x All-Star Dale Murphy shares from his 19 year big league career, leading his family and using his story to help corporations implement the success principles he's lived out on Episode 66.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

1. How Dale and his wife Nancy were highly intentional in their relationship and parenting which led to success not just on the field but also raising their 8 children 

2. A story of a big league vet having a difficult conversation with him early in his career during a slump and the importance of leaders speaking up

3. Why Dale has not gone at it alone in his business ventures whether it be his restaurant, speaking engagements or MVP experiences

4. The unique MVP experience he is co-leading tailored specifically for business leaders

Dale's story shows that winning in one aspect of life doesn't have to come at the expense of others.

To connect with Dale and learn more about his ventures, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at dalemurphy.com.

Former pro baseball player Dylan Rheault shares from his time on the mound and afterwards working for an athlete centric company along with starting his own company on Episode 65.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

1. How treating baseball like a job led to Dylan to adding velocity in pro ball which topped out at 99 mph

2. Why the fastest way to turning the page as a pro athlete is to understand you can develop into being a professional in a different aspect within business

3. How Shift Group is helping former pro, Olympic and college athletes land sales jobs with companies nationwide interested in the innate skills of a high level athlete

4. The problem Dylan faced trying to get clothes as a lean 6'9" guy and the solution he created for himself which led to starting a niche company helping others with 6 foot plus lean bodies

Dylan's story shows the value of creating a solution to address a specific problem.

To connect with Dylan, you can find him on LinkedIn.

This month's episode will give you the chance to hear a recent conversation between current & former pro & college baseball players discussing the future of Baseball and Business heading into 2023 on Episode 64.

Here are key sections from our conversation…

1. The unique challenges baseball players face in business

2. The quick history of Baseball and Business

3.  The future of Baseball and Business

4.  How you can get involved by joining this exclusive network of current & former pro & college baseball players

If you prefer to watch this conversation, go to BaseballtoBusiness.com to see the video and presentation.

Former big leaguer Brandon Beachy shares how switching to pitching led to making it to the highest level and what led to starting a business through the franchise model as his next step after playing on Episode 63.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

1. How Brandon's decision to pivot from a being .300 hitter in college to exclusively focusing on pitching led to getting signed by the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent and ultimately a big league career

2.  The biggest leadership lesson he learned playing under Hall of Fame Manager Bobby Cox

3.  How the characteristics of a high level athlete aligned for him to pursue a path in starting a business through the franchise model as well as a consulting practice to help others especially athletes interested in finding the right franchise business 

4.  What baseball players need to perceive from their playing experience to communicate their value when making the transition into business

Brandon's story shows the power of an opportunity and going all in on it.

To connect with Brandon, you can find him on LinkedIn or can email him at [email protected].

Former college player Kevin Kowalke shares how after building a successful mortgage business for 20 years he made a cross country move and teamed up with a long time friend to pivot into consulting on Episode 62.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

1. Kevin and Luke chat about their paths crossing about a decade ago and how this sparked Baseball and Business to launch

2.  Kevin shares why the traditional definition of success is often limiting and how through his journey he's been able to get better clarity on what is possible in the big picture

3.  Kevin talks about the toughest challenge he faced going through a painful divorce and how he was able to be better after going through it not only in business but now as a husband and father to two children after getting remarried 

4.  Kevin explains why he decided to pivot into consulting after 20 years in the mortgage industry and his advice for anyone else who is considering making a career transition

Kevin's story shows that life is a journey of peaks and valleys which have lessons to learn in both places.

To connect with Kevin, you can find him on LinkedIn or text him at 414-315-5555.