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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
  • 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
  • Tim Raines; The Rock

    Tim Raines; The Rock
    Mar 23 2026
    While Rickey Henderson is universally and rightfully regarded as the greatest lead-off hitter in baseball history, this week I will do a deep dig into the baseball foundation laid down by arguably the second greatest lead-off stick of all time; " The Rock" Tim Raines. The Rock was a beautiful combination of speed, power, and high on-base percentage. The rarest of blends and qualities, achieved by only a few players before him or since. His blinding speed was on a whole other level. He stole 70 or more bases in a season six times in his career. His 808 stolen bases ranks him with the fifth most in the game's history, and his 84.7% success rate is the highest ratio for any player with 400 or more stolen bases, since caught stealing became an official stat in 1951. From the sandlots of Sanford, Florida, all the way to the Pantheon Of Immortals in Cooperstown, New York. This is "The Rock'. #TimRaines #SanfordFlorida #SeminoleHighSchool #MontrealExpos #AndreDawson #StolenBases #ChicagoWhiteSox #NewYorkYankees #OaklandAthletics #BaltimoreOrioles #FloridaMarlins #TimRainesJr #NationalBaseballHallOfFame
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    1 hr and 7 mins
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