Backwards K Pod

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.

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

America is a melting pot and nowhere is it truer than Major League Baseball. More than a quarter of MLB players are of Hispanic heritage, and only the Dominican Republic produces more latino ballers than Puerto Rico.
Baseball is rooted deeply in ther cultural DNA. Baseball is not just about the major leagues, it is their identity tied to being Puerto Rican. Their passion for the game, in many ways is a testament to the way the Puerto Rican flag tugs on the hearts of Island residents, as well as Puerto Ricans around the globe.
This week we examined the baseball cultural of the tiny Island and I tell the inspiring but tragic story, of the first Puerto Rican to play in the bigs, Hiram Bithorn.
#BaseballInPuertoRico #HiramBithorn #RobertoClemente #OrlandCepeda #RobertoAlomar #CarlosBeltran #PuertoRicanWinterBall #Santurce #SanJuanSenators #ChicagoCubs #ChicagoWhiteSox

Still Called Skydome by Blue Jays fans around the world, The Rogers Centre is home of Canada's only Major League Baseball fanchise. As the only sports and entertainment venue of her size and design in Canada, Rogers Center has hosted some of the greatest music concerts, Wrestlemania events, religious figures and inspirational leaders as well as MLB and CFL games.
A veritable, tecnological and engineering marvel at the time of it's opening, as it was the first retractable roof stadium, allowing events to be held year round, without the prevailing winds and cold fronts off of Lake Ontario, having an impact.
33 years later, here in 2022, she is now the seventh oldest crib in the majors and is currently undergoing a $300M facelift.
This show is dedicated to one of my biggest fans and the biggest Jays fan I ever met....The late Brayden Berberich. I miss you brother, this one is for you....
#BraydeBerberich @TorotntoBlueJays @JoeCarter #PaulGodfrey #MontrealExpos #WilliamDavis #Labatt #BowieKuhn #ExhibitionStadium #CNTower #RodRobbie #MichaelAllen #RogersCommunication

On his way to the Majors, he outshined his teammates every step of the way. With the speed and power of a world class athlete, and a million dollar smile that could eclipse the sun, Kirby Puckett quickly established himself as one of the legends in Minnesota history, taking his place in the pantheon of Twins heroes like Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. His clutch skills on the diamond, made him one of the best all around players in the game, until glaucoma robbed him of his career and set the lovable player on a dark path.

While Kauffman Stadium may be the sixth oldest stadium in the Major Leagues, it has remained one of the most picturesque ballparks in all of baseball.
Originally called Royals Stadium, the venue broke away from the multi-purpose, cookie cutter stadiums of the day, and proposed something that was outside of the box thinking. How about building two stadiums virtually across the street from one another? One stadium to house the Royals baseball team and one to house the NFL Chiefs.... What a concept?
This is the in-depth history of a baseball stadium that has stood the test of time and has influenced the way we watch sports live today.
#HarrySTruman #TrumanSportsComplex #KansasCityAthletics #KansasCityRoyals #EwingKauffman #RoyalsStadium #KauffmanStadium #NewYorkYankees #JackieJensen #MickeyMantle #GeorgeBrett #BretSaberhagen #CharlesFinley #ConnieMack

As the season winds down on the 2022 season, the baseball universe says farewell, to arguably one of the greatest right hand sluggers to ever play the game.
From his humble beginnings in the streets of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to his complete domination of Missouri High School baseball, to his journey through the pro ranks of baseball, Backwards K Pod presents the incredible story about the Rise Of The Machine.... Albert Pujols
#AlbertPujols #StLouisCardinals #AnaheimAngels #TonyLaRussa #MarkMcGwire #OdalisPerez #LosAngelesDodgers #JordanZimmerman #PhilBickford

No MLB icon, has a connection to his city, quite like Tony Gwynn. From his college days at San Diego University as a dominant two sport star in both basketball and baseball. To being drafted by the San Diego Padres in baseball as well as the San Diego Clippers of the NBA. To playing his entire 20 year career with the Friars and eventually returning to his college alma mater to coach baseball.
This is the story of the late great Tony Gwynn, who would go onto become the greatest contact hitter of his era, in a decade defined by the longball.
#TonyGwynn #AliciaGwynn #SanDiegoPadres #SanDiegoStateAztecs #MrPadre