Backwards K Pod

Don Drysdale; Big D

This week we do a deep archaeological dig into the baseball path laid down by the legendary Don Drysdale. At 6'5" tall and 190 pounds, he was an intimidating pitcher, who used brushback pitches to keep opposing batters off-balanced. Together with southpaw Sandy Koufax, the tandem would become one of the fiercest lefty/righty duos in the history of baseball. By the time Drysdale's career is in the books, he's a three-time World Champion, and a Cy Young Award winner, with a win/loss record of 209-166 and a sparkling 2,95 ERA. Not bad for a kid, who never threw a pitch from the mound until his senior year in high school, where the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited and signed him in 1954. #DonDrysdale #ScottDrysdale #VanNuysCalifornia #BrooklynDodgers #LosAngelesDodgers #WaltAlston #Dodgers StadiumAtChavezRavine #FrankRobinson #MickeyMantle #SandyKoufax #CyYoungAward

The History Of Baseball In Miami

When most people think of Miami's impact on the History of baseball, they may believe that the current Marlins team is the beginning of their baseball identity and story. But in reality, the city of Miami and the South Florida region possesses a rich history of organized baseball that crosses generations, leagues and color lines. This week I dig into the fascinating history between the city and the National Pastime. I unpack the story about the early stadiums in the city, I do a deep dive into the country's most successful and longest living Negro Leagues team; the Miami Ethiopian Clowns, who barnstormed their way around the nation until the late 1980's. And I detail the 32 year history of the city's current team; the Miami Marlins. #MiamiFlorida #MiamiMagicians #BabeRuth #HenryFlagler #TatumPark #OrangeBowl #LoanDepotPark #JoeRobbieStadium #BobbyMaduro #BillVeek #CarlBarger #WayneHuizenga #JohnHenry #JeffreyLoria #BruceSherman #DerekJeter

Frank Thomas; The BIG HURT

Frank Thomas looked more like an NFL Tight=End, looking to create space in the end zone to receive a touchdown, than he did a baseball player. But in many ways, the 6'5" 275 pound icon was ostensibly a contact hitter trapped inside of a slugger's body, with a judicious knowledge of the strike zone and quick hand-eye coordination. He was a dog on the hunt, looking to inflict pain on opposing teams, thus earning the well deserved moniker; The Big Hurt. Even in the context of playing in one of the greatest offensive eras in the game's history, Frank's raw production is staggering, From 1991 to 1997, he strung together seven consecutive seasons with 20 home runs. 100 or more walks, 100 or more RBI and a .300 average, No player before or since has equalled the feat. He is the all-time White Sox leader in home runs, doubles, walks, OBP and SLUG. Thomas would achieve these benchmarks through hard work, persistence, and never taking anything for granted. This week we do a deep archaeological dig into the baseball path laid down by the man. #FrankThomas #TheBigHurt #ColumbusGeorgia #BobbyHoward #AuburnUniversity #HalBaird #PatDye #WaltHriniak #BoJackson #OaklandAthletics #TorontoBlueJays #JeffTorborg #PamelaThomas

William Julius ”Judy” Johnson

The Negro Leagues produced some of the finest third-basemens in the history of the sport of baseball. Guys like Jud Wilson, Oliver "The Ghost" Marcelle and Ray Dandridge held down the Hot Corner. inspiring and challenging future generations to meet their standards. But many of the league historians consider Judy Johnson the finest of them all. He was Baryshnikov in cleats with his flawless footwork and stellar glove at third. At 5'10'. 150 pounds soaking wet, Johnson dominated the game with his solid defensive fundamentals, incredible base-running instincts, and a line-drive bat designed to find gaps in the outfield for extra bases. While Satchel Paige's game was a flamboyant display of athletic genius, Judy's was one of quiet exuberance and steely focus. While Josh Gibson game revolved around his sheer belligerent power, Johnson thrilled spectators with his finesse. While Cool Papa Bell was blessed with blazing speed, Johnson had intelligence and instincts. This week we do an archeological dig into the legends career that begins in Wilmington. Delaware and ends in the pantheon of immortals in Cooperstown. New York. #WilliamJuliusJudyJohnson #SnowHillMaryland #WilmingtonDeleware #EdBolden #HilldaleDaisies #HomesteadGrays #PittsburghCrawfords #PopLloyd #BrodieFrancis #JoshGibson #CumPosey #GusGreenlee #KansasCityMonarchs #ConnieMack #LeoDurocher #AnitaIrons

Reggie Jackson; Mr October

At the height of his powers, Reggie Jackson was a box-office spectacle, who's on-field exploits were matched by his larger than life personality, and his fearless ability to speak his truth to power. Whether you watched him strikeout, a record setting 2,597 times, or watched him hit one of his 563 home runs, fans and haters alike, couldn't take their eyes off of him, as he was surely one player worth the price of admission. His complex profile study, is but an evolutionary link in the chain of black baseball players that have performed on the Major League level. Unlike many of the black players that came before him, who kept their heads down and played the game with a quiet grace, Reggie was outspoken, brazen and arrogant. He played with a chip on his shoulder, and he is one of the few professional athletes who could produce at a high level, while playing angry. #ReginaldMartinezJackson #MartinezJackson #MrOctober #OaklandAthletics #CharlesOFinley #RollieFingers #SalBando #JoeRudi #BaltimoreOrioles #NewYorkYankees #GeorgeSteinbrenner #BillyMartin #ThurmanMunson #CaliforniaAngels #JohnMcNamera #ReggieBar

Steve Carlton; Lefty

By the time Steve Carlton's 24 year Major League Baseball career was in the books, he had more pickoffs than any pitcher who ever played the game at the highest level, the second most strikeouts ever behind only Nolan Ryan, and the ninth most wins in the long history of the National Pastime. Armed with a devastating, mind-bending slider, the man known as "Lefty" seemingly toyed with the best hitters on the planet. This week's archeological dig is into the path laid by the quirky left-hander from his beginnings as an athletic kid in Miami, Florida, to his annoiting as an immortal with his 1994 induction in to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown. New York. #SteveCarlton #Lefty #St Louis Cardinals #BobGibson #TimMcCarver #TimWise #PhiladelphiaPhillies #1980WorldSeries #CyYoungAward #ChicagoWhitesox #SanFranciscoGiants #ClevelandIndians #MinnesotaTwins #NationalBaseballHallOfFame

Joe Morgan; The Little General

This week we profile the baseball life of the immortal Joe Morgan, who at 5'7", and 150 pounds, dominated the game and the second-base position like very few before him or since. Morgan develops a love for the game, cutting his teeth on the talented Oakland sandlots, and influenced by his farher's encouragement. Despite his diminutive stature, which made him overlooked throughout his youth, he displayed impressive talents, and confidence throughout his career. He plays ten years for the Houston Colt 45's, and establishes himself as a rising star in the National League, but it would be a career altering trade to the Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine teams of the 1970's where he would attain legendary status as the team's sparkplug catalyst, He contributed to two Reds World Championships in 1975 and 1976, with back to back MVP seasons. His legacy in the game is not only earmarked by his on-field contributions, but his positive influence on younger players and his commitment to the sport until his passing in October of 2020. #JoeMorgan #CastlemontHighSchool #BobWright #BillyGoodman #HoustonColt45s #HoustonAstros #CincinnatiReds #BigRedMachine #TonyPerez #PeteRose #JohnnyBench #PhiladelphiaPhillies #SanFranciscoGiants #OaklandAthletics

Warren Spahn

This week i detail the baseball journey of pitching great Warren Spahn. By the time, his long and prolific career was in the books, he had amassed the most victories (363) in the game's history for a left-handed pitcher, the sixth most wins of all time and the most wins ever by a pitcher who pitched exclusively in the live-ball, modern era. All of his brilliance is magnified by the fact that he doesn't record his first win until he is 25 years old. He misses three years of Major League baseball in service to the United States during World War II. During the war, he is a hero at the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium. His exploits defending the Ramagen Bridge in Germany, earns him a battlefield promotion, a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Presidential Citation, making him the most decorated Major League player during World War II. From humble beginnings in blue-collar Buffalo, New York during the Great Depression to the pantheon of of immortals in Cooperstown, we follow his long, amazing career. We also say our solemn goodbyes to "The Cobra" Dave Parker who succombed to his 10 year battle with Parkinson's Disease. #WarrenSpahn #MilwaukeeBraves #BostonBraves