Deborah Dando shares how her father had absolutely everything to do with her love of baseball, and how she has been able to continue sharing that love with her son and husband on their own journey to 30 ballparks. She also shares some great memories she made with her dad, a hilarious story about her son Ryan at the Field of Dreams, and what her husband Joe recommended the family do each summer to honor Deb’s late father.

Remember that Bucketheads will get 10% off plus free shipping on all orders through the end of January. Head to https://baseballbucketlist.com/shop and enter the code PODCAST at checkout.

Craig Smith  lives in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. He's been to over 200 ballparks including a handful overseas and seems to have an uncanny knack for running into ballplayers outside of the ballpark. We talk about some of those run-ins, as well as what it’s like to see a player hit 4 home runs in a single game. We also cover the time Craig saw a major league perfect game and a  AAA one-hitter in the same day. 

To kick off the new year, we’re running a promo in the Baseball Bucket List shop for our  listeners. Bucketheads will get 10% off plus free shipping on all orders through the end of January. Head to https://baseballbucketlist.com/shop and enter the code PODCAST at checkout.

Find Craig online;
Instagram: @baseballtravels
Twitter: @MLBBestBets

On this episode of the Baseball Bucket List podcast we speak with Gar Ryness who most will know as Batting Stance Guy. Gar is a master of imitating player’s batting stances and has been using his talent to make people laugh for  years. He’s been invited into locker rooms, been a guest on Letterman, and hosted team events for several teams throughout the league.

We chat about his favorite baseball memories, his process for learning imitations, and even a bit about locker room chemistry and how team leadership might look a little different than you'd expect.

View some of BSG's best imitations on the show notes page: https://baseballbucketlist.com/podcast/episode-027-batting-stance-guy/

Find Batting Stance Guy across the web:
Twitter: @BattingStanceG
Instagram: @battingstanceguy
YouTube: Batting Stance Guy

Shane Barclay owns and operates JapanBall, offering international baseball tours to Japan, the Dominican Republic, and other countries. We discuss some of his favorite trips, run-ins with players, best memories, and where he'll be headed next. We also chat about how Shane wrote his college admissions essay on Moneyball, what it was like to learn from Sandy Alderson, and some of the best ways to get a job in baseball.

Visit the show notes page for photos from JapanBall's latest trips and best moments: https://baseballbucketlist.com/podcast/episode-026-shane-barclay/

Find JapanBall online:
Twitter: JapanBall
Website: https://japanball.com/
Instagram: japanballtravel

Craig Calcaterra has been a full time baseball writer for more than 10 years and currently publishes a daily baseball newsletter called Cup of Coffee. We talk about pivoting from a career in law to sports journalism, the best baseball moments he’s covered in person, and a little bit about what the lockout means for the game.

Craig also has an upcoming book called Rethinking Fandom where he argues for a reevaluation on how to be a sports fan. We get into ways to combat toxic fandom, avoid being taken advantage of as a fan, and how to give sports a practical place in your life.

Find Craig Online:
Twitter: @craigcalcaterra
Substack: Cup of Coffee Newsletter
Pre-Order Rethinking Fandom: Belt Publishing

Johnny Bowlin is a Miami Marlins fan and the official Mississippi Ambassador for the Appalachian League's Danville Otterbots. We cover how the Marlins bought his allegiance with a once in a lifetime experience, his duties as a baseball ambassador, and what it's like to meet a player who was part of baseball's most historic moment. Johnny also shares stories about Rickwood Field - the oldest professional ballpark in America- and his "Field of Dreams experience" with Big Ed Stevens.

Find Johnny Online:
Twitter: @JohnnyMilbfan

Justin Moser is an owner and current GM of the Dub Sea Fish Sticks summer collegiate  league team in the West Seattle area. A life-time Mariner's fan, Justin shares his favorite baseball memories, how he developed a love for the game, and what's left on his baseball bucket list. We also speak about the business of baseball, what it takes to start a new team, and the process of working with one of the best sports branding agencies in the country.

Find the Justin across the web:
Twitter: @JustinMoser
Website: GoFishSticks.com

Glen & Emily Wieger are a husband and wife duo joining us from Jacksonville, Florida. We talk about Emily’s internship at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, their individual baseball stories, our thoughts behind a few of the recent minor league rebrands, and what it’s like to travel to different minor league ballparks as a family. They've been to 43 minor league parks and tell us their favorites, as well as share an incredible home run story about their son Teddy.

Be sure to check out the show notes page for some photos and a video of Teddy's home run! 

Find Glen & Emily Online:
Twitter: @Glentazman

Erik Mertens is the longest tenured employee and on-field host for the Tri-City Dust Devils. We talk about his favorite memories in his 20+ years with the organization. We also chat baseball road trips, how baseball is a lot like life, and what it's like to have a larger than life-sized bobblehead version of yourself outside of a minor league ballpark.

Find Erik Online:
Twitter: @ItsErikMertens
Instagram: @erikthepeanutguy
Facebook: @ErikthePeanutGuy

Mark Firkins lives in Rochester, NY, but became a Cleveland baseball fan as a young boy. We chat about the slew of amazing players to come from Rochester minor league teams, how the Cleveland fanbase is reacting to the name change, and all about his glove restoration business. Be sure to check out the show notes on the website to see before and after photos of some of Mark's glove restoration projects.

https://baseballbucketlist.com/podcast/episode-20-mark-firkins/

Find Mark Online:
Twitter: @thefirkster
Etsy: ThisOldGlove