Back When There Was Baseball
106 episodes Last Updated: Nov 14, 24
Step into the golden era of America's Pastime with "Back When There Was Baseball." Uncover the untold stories, thrilling triumphs, and heart-wrenching trials of the sport's most iconic figures, spanning from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s - a transformative era when the baton was gracefully handed from titans like Hank Aaron, Orlando Cepeda, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays to the new generation of legends like Johnny Bench, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan.
Each episode of "Back When There Was Baseball" is more than a mere retrospective; it's a journey through time. We weave together the intricate narratives of these athletes' careers, personal lives, and the broader socio-political context of their times. This is where you'll find the real drama, the human stories behind the home runs and record-breaking performances.
But our journey won't stop there. We'll occasionally veer off the beaten path, reaching back into the 1950s - a time many argue was the apex of Major League Baseball. Expect special episodes dedicated to this remarkable decade, spotlighting its most distinguished players and most memorable games.
"Back When There Was Baseball" is more than a podcast; it's your ticket to the front row of history. Whether you're a baseball enthusiast, a history buff, or simply someone who loves a good story, this podcast is your gateway to an era of baseball that shaped the game we know and love today. So, grab your cap, dust off your mitt, and join us for a fascinating journey into the heart of baseball's most legendary moments.
Episodes
Nov 14, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Lenn Sakata
Lenn Sakata joins us on the podcast this week. Lenn was the 2nd Asian American to play Major League Baseball and his career spanned from 1977-1987. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers but played most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was instrumental in the 1983 regular season which led to the Orioles World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Lenn could play multiple positions in the infield and even caught in a game that went extra innings. He started out in the Brewers organization and had to compete with the likes of Jim Gantner, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. In the Orioles organization, he competed with Rich Dauer and Cal Ripken, Jr. We take the time machine back to the late 1970s through the late 1980s, Back When There Was Baseball, with our guest Lenn Sakata.
Nov 07, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Eric Raich
Eric Raich joins us this week. Eric played his college baseball at USC coming out of Compton, CA. He was involved in the middle of that great Rod Dedeaux run at Southern Cal where they won the National Championship in 1968 and from 1970-1974. Eric was drafted 1st overall in the 1972 MLB January Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He was a big pitcher standing at 6'4" and weighing between 240-250 lbs. Eric worked his way through the Minor Leagues quickly and was at the Major League level in 1975. He had a solid year in 1975, but arm problems hampered him throughout the rest of his career. One must think, what would Eric have done had he been healthy. Join us Back When There Was Baseball and listen to Eric Raich share his Major and Minor League experiences with us.
Nov 01, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Chris Wheeler
Former long-time Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler joins us this week. "Wheels" was behind the mic for 37 years of Phillies baseball which included their only 2 World Series championships (1980 and 2008). The Phillies have only appeared in 7 World Series and Chris was a part of 5 of those events. Wheels shares a lot of great stories from his time with the Phillies, which started in 1977, and includes some surprises Back When There Was Baseball.
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ten Cent Beer Night which occurred on June 4, 1974, in Cleveland. The game featured the visiting Texas Rangers, with manager Billy Martin, up against the home Cleveland Indians. Our guests are Steve Foucault and Tom Grieve who played for the Rangers, and Jack Brohamer and Dick Bosman who played with Cleveland. This was a promotion that went wrong. Streaking, women bearing their bare breasts and other raucous behavior occurred, which culminated in the fans storming the field and the game being forfeited to the Rangers. We go Back When There Was Baseball this week to revisit one of the craziest games in MLB history.
Oct 17, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Jim Sundberg
We are privileged to host one of the best catchers in MLB during the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s. Jim Sundberg joins us to talk about his career. He came out of the University of Iowa and was told by a scout that he was not very good. That "insult" propelled Jim to become the best catcher he could be, and what a successful adventure that was. Jim played 16 seasons in the Majors (1974-1989) with the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs. He won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves (1976-1981) which is unreal considering he caught in the heat of Texas during those seasons. Jim is also famous for his great slide in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. We hope you enjoy this look Back When There Was Baseball at one of the best catchers in that time-period, Jim Sundberg.
Oct 10, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Eddie Watt
We look back at the great Baltimore Orioles teams from 1969-1971 with our guest this week. Eddie Watt was a valuable member of the Orioles pitching staff. He was a right-handed stopper coming out of the bullpen during those years with outstanding numbers. He had an ERA under 2.00 in 1969 and 1971. He also was 15-10 during those 3 years (1969-1971) which is outstanding for a relief pitcher. Eddie shares some great stories about those years and his career Back When There Was Baseball.
Oct 04, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Kent Tekulve
We take a look back this week into the mid-1970s through the late 1980s with one of the best relief pitchers of that era. Kent "Teke" Tekulve joins us to discuss his career which spanned from 1974-1989. He talks about how he was signed by the Pirates on a somewhat fluke situation. Teke had 3 years where he appeared in 90 games or more, with the final one happening when he was 40 years old as the setup man for Steve Bedrosian which helped Bedrock win the NL Cy Young Award. He was one of the first "submarine" pitchers and you will be hard pressed to find one who pitched better, especially over the length of his career. Enjoy this look Back When There Was Baseball with Kent Tekulve.
Sep 26, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Bob Dernier
We look back to the 1980s this week with our guest Bob Dernier. Bob started in the Phillies organization (1980-1983), then finished his career in Philadelphia (1988-1989). His career took off when he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs (1984-1987) where he was their leadoff man/center fielder. He led off the bottom of the 1st inning of Game 1 in the NL Playoffs (1984) with a home run against the San Diego Padres, to propel the Cubs to victory. As a Phillies fan, Bob was one of my favorite players. I loved his speed, hustle and defensive ability in center field. He also had some years where he flirted with .300 at the plate. Enjoy this interview as Bob shares some great stories Back When There Was Baseball.
Sep 19, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: Barry Foote
We have Barry Foote as our guest on the podcast this week. Barry was signed out of high school in North Carolina by the Montreal Expos. He had the privilege of playing for Gene Mauch while being the Expos starting catcher from 1974-1976. Barry was traded to the Phillies and was part of their NLCS run in 1977-1978. He then became a starter with the Cubs and later played with the Yankees during their post-season run in 1981. Barry discusses his trade to Philadelphia which took him from a starter in Montreal to a back-up-catcher who didn't play much. His career was rejuvenated in Chicago and he started that infamous game against the Phillies in 1979 (a 23-22 loss). He left baseball and started scouting and coaching, which led to his being named Manager of the Year in the Florida State League with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees. Sit back and enjoy this interview with one of my favorite Phillies during that NLCS run in the late 1970s.
Sep 12, 2024
Back When There Was Baseball: George Culver
We look back to the late 1960s to the early 1970s this week with former MLB pitcher George Culver. George pitched in the Big Leagues from 1966-1974 with many teams and some great pitching staffs. He was part of the great staff in Cleveland in 1967, Cincinnati in 1968/1969 and the Astros in the early 1970s. George had a no-hitter in 1968 against the Phillies when he was with Cincinnati. Take a look Back When There Was Baseball this week with George Culver.