Backwards K Pod

During the seasons of of 1982 through 1998, there were only three things that the good citizens of Baltimore could count on. Death, Taxes and Cal Ripken Jr would be in today's lineup.
This is the story of the hometown kid, who best exemplified the blue collar roots and work ethic of his city, by just showing up to work and doing your best day in and day out. This is the story of the Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr.
#IronMan #CalRipkenJr #IronBird #CalRipkenSr #BaltimoreOrioles #EarlWeaver #DougDeCinces #EddieMurray #BobbyBonilla #OrioleParkAtCamdenYards #LouGehrig

The Braves can lay claim to being the oldest, continuously, playing team in all of American professional sports. This week, Backwards K Pod will be dissecting the rich tradition and history of the defending World Champions. A team who's ancestral lineage dates all the way back to 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts.
From their 84 years in Beantown, to their brief but successful stint in Milwaukee, to playing it pretty for Atlanta. THe Braves have been a consistent foundation cornerstone to the National League and Major League Baseball. for 151 years and still counting.
#BostonBraves #MilwaukeeBraves #AtlantaBraves #BabeRuth #HankAaron #EddieMatthews #TedTurner

Michael Jordan was on top of the world. He was one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, and arguably the greatest basketball player who ever lived. He had championship rings, two Olympic gold medals, and massive endorsements. After the tragic death of his best friend, his father. Michael suddenly retires from the sport he has dominated for the past nine years, to chase his father's dream for him. To become a Major League Baseball player....
#MichaelJordan #JamesJordan #BirminghamBarons #ChicagoWhiteSox #ChicagoBulls #TitoFrancona #WaltHriniak #BackwardsKPod #MLB

In 1908, Philadelphia was a two baseball team city. It was not only home to the established Phillies, it was also where the upstart American League team, the Athletics played under the watchful eye of club owner Ben Shibe and his right hand man, Connie Mack. The A's quickly became the team of choice as they almost immediatly found success and pennants in the City of Brotherly Love. Because of the team's accomplishments on the field and at the gate, the club began construction on the first all concrete and steel baseball stadium, they would eventually name Shibe Park. The ballpark would revolutionize baseball from the all wood tinder boxes to a state of the art baseball palace. And their incredible feats of engineering would serve as a template for baseball stadiums in the future. The A's were the hottest ticket in Philly... that is until Jack Shibe did something that altered the relationship between ballclub and the surrounding neighborhood.
#ShibePark #BenShibe #ConnieMack #PhiladelphiaAthletics #ConnieMackStadium #PhiladelphiaPhillies #NegroLeagues #PhiladelphiaStars

Before 2001, there had never been a Japanesse position player make it to Major League Baseball. This is the story about one of the greatest pure hitters the game has ever seen. His rise to and through the majors, is unlike any other story in baseball. The player shrouded in mystique, would open the door for his countrymen proving once and for all, that Japanese players could not only play in Major League Baseball, they can excell and shatter records. A true game changer in the history of the game.

Of all the wacky promotions baseball has used in their storied history to bring fans to the ballpark, Disco Demolition Night will forever live in infamy. The brainchild of Mike Veeck from the White Sox front office and a local Chicago rock and roll disc jockey, would declare war on the popular genre of disco music. For 98 cents and a disco album, fans could get a ticket to watch both games of a Tigers/White Sox double header. Between games, the plan was to take all the records collected at the turnstiles, and blow them up in centerfield with dynamite. What could possibly go wrong? #SteveDahl #GerreMeier #WDAI #WLUP #MikeVeeck #BillVeeck #ComiskeyPark #RonLeflore #KenKravic #JimmyPiersall #HarryCarey #DiscoDemolitionNight

This week, I dig into the fascinating history of Wrigley Field. From it's birth in 1914, and all of her renovations through the years. One of only two jewel box stadiums left in the major leagues, Wrigley still stands as a testament to the way baseball used to be played. After 108 years of incredible baseball stories, Wrigley in all her magnificence, is poised to shine for yet another century.

**** Spoiler Alert**** This week, we will try something we have never done before at Backwards K Pod, and give a reveiw and the backstory of the 1993 baseball comedy classic. The Sandlot. The coming of age story of young teenage boys in 1962, who together would learn the valuable lessions in life such as S'mores, friendship, kissing a girl and baseball. A podcast chock full of unforgettable scenes, whatever happen to that actor as well as behind the scene nuggets of info. The movie is just shy of 30 years old. But does it still hold? #ScottieSmalls #BennyTheJet #JamesEarlJones #TheBeast #Sandlot #HamPorter #YeahYeah #JakeRobinson #LetsTalkBaseballPodcastNetwork #BackwardsKPod