Backwards K Pod

The 1989 Earthquake Series

At the end of the 1989 MLB season, and after 47 years of co-existence in the same baseball region. The San Francisco Giants were set to face off with the Oakland A's for baseball supremacy. With the A's jumping out to a quick two games to none advantage, the fans of the Giants were showing up in force at Candlestick Park, to support their team.
Game three, October 17th, 1989, never got underway, as the baseball crazy region of Oakland and San Francisco, were rocked by an earthquake, measuring 6.9 on the richter scale. The wave of excitement going into the series between the two geographic rivals, quickly becomes secondary, as ordinary citizens in both cities began doing extraordinary things to save lives.
This is the story of sadness, heroes and the most anti-climatic Series in baseball history, because of a confluence of once in a lifetime events.
#OaklandAthletics #SanFranciscoGiants #BayBridge #CypressAquaduct #LomaPrietaEarthquake #SanAndreasFault #WillClark #KevinMitchell #JoseCanseco #RickeyHenderson #MarkMcGwire #TimPeterson #BenjyYoung

The Yankee Clipper; Joltin Joe DiMaggio

In 1968, songwriter Paul Simon asked the question, " Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" in the hit song, Mrs. Robinson. This week BKP host Jake Robinson, anectodotally re-ask the very same question, as Backwards K Pod does a deep dive into the history, and the mystique of Joltin Joe Dimaggio, the Yankee Clipper.
He was one of those rare athletes like Babe Ruth, Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan, who trancended sports, and became a part of the American conscience during the 20th Century. He was the end of a bygone era. During the days when men wore suits and a hat.
On the field and in the public eye, Joe displayed the elegance and grace that made him special. From his youth in San Francisco, to his amazing baseball career with the New York Yankees, to his marriage to glamour girl Marilyn Monroe. Backwards K Pod brings this icon back to life, with his amazing story.
#JoeDiMaggio #NewYorkYankees #PacificCoastLeague #BabeRuth #MarilynMonroe #HitStreak #Dodgers #RedSox #TedWilliams

Mr Baseball Bob Uecker

This week, BKP examines the life and times of Milwaukee Brewers radio and TV play by play announcer, Mr Baseball Bob Uecker.
How does a former player who carries a -1 WAR a .200 batting average and 14 career home runs, in a six year mediocre career make it to the Baseball Hall Of Fame? By being one of the funniest, wittiest, storeytellers to ever grace the baseball universe, of course. The self depricating funnymen, who is almost always the butt of his own jokes, has forged a 50 year broadcasting career, for his beloved Brew Krew.
During that time, he has entertained us with his comedy through TV shows like Mr Belvedere during the 1980's and the movie Franchise Major Leagues as the unforgettable Harry Doyle. He had memorable spots on the Johnny Carson Late Night Show, WWE Wrestlemania III, Miller Lite, Taste Great, Less Filling Campaign and so much more. The man has even had an impact on the baseball lexicon of languge. All these things in itself, are impressive, and were well earned by Uek. As hilarious as Uecker is, the man is baseball through and through and he has honed his skills to become one of the greatest baseball broadcasters who has ever lived.
I also have soccer guru, Abel Rosario call in and wrap up what went down in the 2022 World Cup in Quatar.
#BobUecker #MilwaukeeBrewers #BudSelig #DickGroat #SandyKoufax #ArtMahaffey #HankAaron #TimMcCarver #GaylordPerry #FergusonJenkins

Gaylord Perry

In 1966, the San Francisco Giants had a young, talented 27 year old pitcher, with unrealized potential, floundering as the eleventh man on a ten man man pitching staff. In his previous three seaons of big league ball, Gaylord Perry was mired in mediocrity with a 24-30 record and an ERA in the high fives.
Thankfully, the Giants would trade for Braves pitcher, Bob Shaw, who taught the young Perry the ways of the infamous spitball. There were so many spitball pitcher in the 1960's, but no pitcher in the history of the game, threw it with Perry's accuracy and control. With two sliders, a four seam fastball, a changeup, a curve, a forkball and the nefarious spitball in his arsenal, Gaylord would turn around his stagnant career and pitch his way all the way to the Baseball Hall Of Fame. In Gaylord's own words, getting away with it, is the easy part. Learning to pitch loaded balls with velocity and accuracy, is the hard part and demands constant practice.
This is a tribute to the icon who passed away 13 days ago. Rest In Peace Gaylord. Godspeed. Time will not dim the glory of your deeds'
#GaylordPerry #SanFranciscoGiants #ClevelandIndians #TexasRangers #SanDiegoPadres #SeattleMariners #AtlantaBraves #NewYorkYankees #KansasCityRoyals #BobShaw #BillyMartin #SpitBall

New Comiskey Park/Guaranteed Rate Field

Guaranteed Rate Field debuted as New Comiskey Park in 1991, and over the past 30 years, has seen multiple name changes and plenty of renovations. The facility is the last of it's kind and it stands as a symbol of a bygone era. The stadium construction was approved, literally at the stroke of midnight, give or take a few minutes, under the threat of the Sox leaving for St Petersburg, Florida, if the deal wasn't approved.
After years of intense criticism, the White Sox brass has worked hard to renovate the building, to ensure that White Sox fans have an enjoyable baseball experiance.
#ChicagoWhiteSox #JerryReinsdorf #PaulKonerko #USCellular #GuaranteedRatePark #NewComiskey #FrankThomas #GovernorJimThompson #HaroldWashington

The Chicago 8 And The 1919 World Series

Over the years, baseball has produced many memorable famous teams. But this is the story of the games first infamous team, the 1919 Chicago White Sox. More than a century after the fact, the exact details of the affair known as the Black Sox Scandal remain to this day murky and subject to debate.
But one central and undisputed truth endures. One of the most talented group of ballplayers, conspired with professional gangsters and mobsters to rig the outcome of the 1919 World Series.
#ChicagoBlackSox #BuckWeaver #ShoelessJoeJackson #ChickGandhil #EddieCicotte #LeftyWilliams #SwedeRisberg #FredMcMullin #HappyFelsch #CharlesComiskey #ChicagoWhiteSox

The Hammer; Hank Aaron

This week we examine the life and career of one of the greatest ballplayers who ever lived, the Hammer Hank Aaron.
The slew of awards won and records set, are but an underscore to his legacy. Here is a black man, who successfully challenged the record of a white player, who's baseball legacy borders on mythological. In the deep south, in the early 70's. And he did it under the threat of physical violence, with a poise so unshakeable, it still remains to this day, a study in professionalism.
Dignity, pride, courage... these are words we use to describe heroes. Those are also the same words you can use to describe Henry as well. Perhaps, that isn't a coincidence.

One On One interview W/ Shea Hillenbrand Bonus Show

In this Backwards K Pod Bonus Show, Jake Robinson sits down for an honest and poignant one on one interview with former MLB All Star Shea Hillenbrand. Listen in as Shea gives an account of his childhood, his rise through the Major Leagues, and his abrupt retirement with millions of dollars on the table. What Happened? What went wrong for this reluctant superstore?
Afre a harrowing near death experience in a van, Shea was forced to do a judicious, self-inventory which has led him to be a better husband, father, and overall person. The former slugger now is reaching out to lost souls around the globe, in an effort to help everyday people tap into their maximum potential. This is an interview you are not going to want to miss, this IS NOT your everyday baseball interview.
#SheaHillenbrand #BostonRedSox #ArizonaDiamondBacks #TorontoBlueJays #MikeMussina #RoyHalladay #OrlandoHernandez #DavidWells #AndyPettite #HideoNomo