Backwards K Pod

J.R. Richard: The Biggest Lion In The Valley

This week I honor my good friend J.R. Richard, on what would have been his 73rd birthday on March 7th.
His story, is the classic Greek tragedy, where our hero, at the height of his powers, is taken down by forces beyond his control.
Standing on the precipice of greatness and immortality, The Biggest Lion In The Valley, was nothing short of shock and awe for poor National League batters, as he overpowered his contemporaries with a dazzling array of 100 MPH fastballs. a slider that topped out at 94 MPH, and a curveball with serious bite, destroying lineups.
Shortly after, his memorable start in the 1980 All Star Game, he would collapse on the turf of the Astrodome, the victim of a stroke. From there his life spiraled downward out of control. as he lost his wife, his cars, his home, his businesses and his pride. He hit rock bottom, when it is discovered, he is living under a highway bridge, just minutes away from the Astrodome, where he once thrilled so many fans with his exploits. Eventually, JR would find himself back to living a normal life before his death in 2021, through the power of God and the small circle of friends he trusted around him. I am proud to say, I was one of those people. We had a friendship I will never forget. This is his story.
#HoustonAstros #JRRichard #BlackAces

Orioles Park at Camden Yards

This week, BKP picks up where we left off in our stadium shows to bring the history of the 10th oldest MLB ballpark, Orioles Park at Camden Yards. In order to save baseball from itself, Orioles President Larry Luchino, was convinced that the only way baseball was going to save itself, going into the 1990's, was by taking the game back to early 1900's, when baseball teams built majestic Jewel Box cathedrals, instead of multi-purpose monstrosities and artificial turf cookie cutters. Luchino was intent on making a ballpark that held all the modern technological advances, with a heavy dose of throwback idiosyncrisies and quirky playing surface.
And with that vision in mind, Orioles Park at Camden Yards was given birth and would change not only the way baseball fans would forever consume baseball live, but set the standard for every single ballpark made after her. Not only would the Yard set trends, but she sits on hallowed ground, as Babe Ruth's father once owned a bar where Center Field now stands. His father would also be murdered in Center Field. The only thing that rivals her charm and magnificence, is the story of the ground she sits on.
#BaltimoreOrioles #LarryLucchino #EdwardBennettWilliams #CalRipken #EddieMurray #OriolesParkAtCamdenYards #MemorialStadium

Honus Wagner: The Flying Dutchman

This week, Backwards K Pod says good bye to former MLB catcher and Hall Of Fame Broadcaster Tim McCarver, who died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 16, 2023, at the age of 81.As durable a catcher as you will ever find, McCarver's playing career spanned over 4 decades. During his unsung baseball career, the two time All Star, two time world champion, was the trusted batterymate of some of the finest pitchers in baseball history, including two of the best in Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton. He would then transcend baseball time, by transistioning to broadcasting when his career was over. Armed with his high baseball acumen and witty command of articulating the intracacies of the sport, McCarver became one of the most respected color analysist in baseball broadcasting, winng the Ford C Frick Award in 2001 for his induction into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame.
Afterwards, we dig into the life and times of the first MLB superstar; The Flying Dutchman, Honus Wagner.
Honus would become the embdoiment of the American Dream, at the turn of the century, in a young country, still finding her way in a quickly changing world. The son of German immigrants, from meager roots, in the coal country of west Pennsylvania. Honus would discover the still young sport of baseball, and dominate the game like no one before him and very few have done since.

Bless You Boys; 1984 Detroit Tigers

Going into the 1984 MLB season, the Detroit Tigers were optimistic about their chances, after falling just short of their goals a year before, when they finished seond in the AL East with 93 wins. After 12 years of middle of the road baseball, Sparky Anderson, the driving force behind the Big Red Machine Cincinnati teams of the 1970's, was now in Motown, putting his finishing touches on a whole new baseball machine.
With a balanced roster, a rock solid trio of starting pitchers and an offensive attack built around three players under the age of 28, Sparky, asked the front office to trade for a specific pitchers from the Phillies roster that he had a keen interest of through the years, even though his numbers were mediocre at best. He promises Tigers GM Bill Lajoie, if you trade for this guy, we will win it all. The front office captitulates to what Anderson is selling, and Willie Hernandez made Sparky look like the baseball savant, that we all know him to be.
This is the story of the Bless You Boys, 1984 Detroit TIgers. one of the most dominant single season teams in the history of baseball. With their vulgar display of productive bats and shutdown pitching, the Tigers would win their first nine games of the season, with one of those victories being a no-hitter on the NBC Game of the Week. Next think you know the Tigers are 16-1. Then they are 18-2.. On May 21st, they are 32-5. After sweeping the Angels, the Tigers are 35-5 after 40 games and they have won a record tying 17 consecutive road games. No team in the history of baseball before or since has ever seriously approached that 40 game record to start a season. But this team didn't just start strong. They ended strong. A team for the ages, that is oft-forgotten.
#SparkyAnderson #KirkGibson #AlanTrammel #ChetLemon #LouWhittaker #DetroitTigers #BlessYouBoys #AlAckerman #WillieHernandez #AurelioLopez #DarrellEvans #JackMorris #DanPetry #MiltWilcox #DetroitTigers #TigersStadium #DickWilliams #TonyGwynn #GooseGossage

Dan Quisenberry; The Quiz

This week we will be doing a deep dive into the life of former Royals closer Dan Quisenberry as we celebrate his 70th birthday posthumously on the date of this release.
The soft throwing submarine pitcher, that resembled a falling flamingo when he pitched, would be a major component of the evolution of the closer role during the 1980's.
But Quiz was so much more than that. He was a father, a husband, a poet, a humanist, a funnyman, a player-rep, a man of faith, the inspiration on some very good Royals teams, and he was unfairly taken from the baseball universe way to soon.
Undrafted and signed on a whim, Dan Quiseberry, for a six year period, was the dominant closer in the American League, even though he couldn't break glass with his fastball.
This is the story of the Quiz
#DanQuisenberry #KansasCityRoyals #DickHowser #GeorgeBrett #JimFrey #KentTekulve #FrankWhite #WillieWilson #WhiteyHerzog #JanieHowardQuisenberry #StLouisCardinals #SanFranciscoGiants

Jackie Robinson

This week we honor the great Jackie Robinson on his 104th birthday, with a biographical look at this true American patriot. Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth are probably the two most historically significant baseball players ever. While Ruth certainly changed the way the game would be forever played, Jackie change the way Americans thought, and set the country on course, to becoming the major superpower on the planet.
#JackieRobinson #MacRobinson #AdolfHitler #KansasCityMonarchs #JoeLouis #MontrealRoyals #BrooklynDodgers #BranchRickey #RachelRobinson

Ernie Banks; Let’s Play Two

This week we begin BKP, with a posthumous salute to Sal Bando, who finally succombed to his five year battle with cancer, Friday January 20, 2023, at his home in Wisconsin. From his 1965 College World Series title and MVP, to his three consecutive MLB World Series crowns, with the A's from 1972-1974, Captain Sal was one helluva player. He also was the first Brewers free agent sign in 1977, and led the Krew to their first winning season in 1978, as well as the franchise's first post season appearance in !981. He would later serve nine years as a Brewers GM.
We will miss you Cap. Rest in peace, godspeed and time will not dim the glory of your deeds.
Then we will break down the story of Mr Cub, Let's Play Two, Ernie Banks. From his humble beginnings in Dallas, Texas, to his tours in the Negro Leagues, to his life as a North Chicago icon, he lived an amazing life. He is arguably one of the most humble, loyal and optimistic baseball player who ever lived. Today, on the 8 year anniversary of his death, we celebrate his life at Backwards K Pod.
#ErnieBanks #ChicagoCubs #RonSanto #BillyWilliams #PhillipWrigley #FergusonJenkins #BillHand #NewYorkMets #PatJarvis #LeoDurocher #JackieRobinson

U.S Presidents and Baseball

Almost every single U.S President has some sort of connection to the game of baseball, whether it was good, bad or indifferent. From tossing the opening day first pitch, hosting teams in the Oval Office, or even receiving free lifetime passes, Presidents and baseball go together like America and apple pie. A smashing duo, that goes all the way back to the One... George Washington who was seen playing, the adopted English game of Rounders, in camp, while his colonial militia rebels were trapped by British forces at Valley Forge.
This week i examine the connection between baseball and U.S Presidents, as well as the rise of a young country.....
#GeorgeWashington #JohnAdams #AbrahamLincoln #WilliamTaft #CalvinCoolidge #HarryTruman #DwightEisenhower #JohnKennedy #RichardNixon #RonaldReagan #GeorgeHWBush #GeorgeWBush