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Backwards K Pod

Backwards K Pod

By: Jake Robinson
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About this listen

 An educational and biographical look, at the moments and personalities, that have been woven into the fabric of baseball. Backwards K Where We Collect Ballplayers And Their StoriesCopyright 2022 All rights reserved. Baseball & Softball Politics & Government World
Episodes
  • The History And Evolution Of Baseball Bats

    The History And Evolution Of Baseball Bats
    Apr 14 2026
    In the early years of baseball, Major League Teams had a " Bring Your Own Bat" policy. During this time, you may see some batters walking up to the plate with piano legs, axe handles, wagon tongues, tree limbs or even a rolling pin. Through trial and error, baseball bats have evolved from the primitive clubs used in the 1840's to the standardized and optimized high performance tools that the greatest hitters on the planet use today. Barreling up on a pitched baseball is arguably the hardest thing to do in all of sports, but having the right tool to do it, can make it slightly less difficult. This week I will profile the history and evolution of wood baseball bats, form the crude sticks used during the Dead-Ball era by the game's forefathers, to the Torpeedo Bat introduced in 2026 #TyCobb #BabeRuth #PeteBrowning #WeeWillieKeeler #JohnBudHillerich #HillerichAndBradsbyCompany #LouisvilleSlugger #HeinieGroh #BottleBat #RogersHornsby #TedWilliams #BarryBonds #Maple #Hickory #Ash #TorpedoBats #AaronLeadhardt #HankAaron #GeorgeBrett #PineTarGame
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Joe Mauer

    Joe Mauer
    Apr 7 2026
    In the last 50 years, only four catchers, under the age of 21, had been handed a Major League starting catcher's job; Bob Didier, Johnny Bench, Butch Wynegar and Ivan Rodriguez. That is until Opening Day 2005, when a certain St. Paul, Minnesota prodigy took the reigns for his hometown Minnesota Twins. Joe Mauer would establish his legendary status while playing catcher and first-base for the franchise. His strong mid-west roots and dedication to his craft would help him become one of the most respected players of his era. Known or his sharp baseball instincts, exceptional skills with a bat in his hand and his work behind the dish. Joe left a lasting legacy, not only for his achievements on the field, but also for his positive impact on his community and his dedication to giving back. Whether it was amassing three batting titles, or winning league MVP honors; the hometown hero didn't just join the ranks of all-time catchers, he was a revolutionary at his position, and created a class of his own. #JoeMauer #MinnesotaTwins #CretinDerhamHallHighSchool #TonyLessman #JakeMauer #BillyMauer #BobbyBowden #ToriiHunter #JustinMorneau #JeffCarter #BaseballAmerica #HubertHumphreyMetroDome #TargetField
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Phil Niekro; Knucksie

    Phil Niekro; Knucksie
    Mar 30 2026
    Legendary funnyman and former big league catcher Bob Uecker once said, "The Best way to catch a knuckle-ball, is to wait for it to stop rolling, and then pick it up." He also noted that catching Phil Niekro's knuckle-ball was a great experience. " It gave me a chance to meet all the important people sitting in the stands behind home-plate. Phil Niekro, or "Knucksie" as he was affectionately called, was an unapologetic one-pitch pitcher. He rode his rotation-less knuckle-ball pitch to amass 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts in his illustrious 24 year career. An amazing feat, considering he didn't collect his 100th win until his age 34-season in 1972, 9 years into his MLB career. That and the fact that he only had 596 strikeouts to his credit at the age of 30. With his one 77 miles per hour, butterfly pitch that seemed to giggle at you as it crossed the plate, he confounded the greatest hitters on the planet, all the way to Cooperstown, New York. #PhilNiekro #Knucksie #BlaineOhio #BridgeportHighSchool #JoeNiekro #JohnHavlicek #BillMazeroski #BillMaughn #HarryMinor #NancyFerrand #MilwaukeeBraves #AtlantaBraves #NewYorkYankees #ClevelandIndians #TorontoBlueJays #KnuckleBall #BobbyCox #JoeTorre #TedTurner
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    1 hr and 23 mins
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