Back When There Was Baseball: Tom Bruno

January 24, 2024 Podcasts Baseball

Tom Bruno joins us this week.  Tom was a pitcher from 1972-1979.  He was childhood friends with Randy Poffo (the infamous Macho Man Randy Savage) and they played a lot of baseball together.  Tom was in the Kansas City Royals…

Back When There Was Baseball: Bob Coluccio

January 17, 2024 Podcasts Baseball

Bob Coluccio is our guest this week. Bob played in the Majors from 1973-1978 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. He is an interesting subject as he fell 35 games short of an MLB pension according to…

Back When There Was Baseball: Chris Speier

January 10, 2024 Podcasts Baseball

Our guest this week holds a special place in host Rex Naylor's heart.  Rex was presented a Wilson A2150 baseball glove at 10 years of age by his stepfather, with Chris Speier's autograph on the glove.  This inspired Rex to follow our guest this week…

Sports Authors Showcase: Swinging ‘73: Baseball’s Wildest Season by Matt Silverman

January 8, 2024 Podcasts Baseball

This week we look at the book Swinging '73:  Baseball's Wildest Season.  Author Matt Silverman joins us to talk about that season and what made it the "Wildest Season".  The book takes a look not only at that season, but the…

Back When There Was Baseball: Billy Sample

January 3, 2024 Podcasts Baseball

Our guest this week is Billy Sample. Billy came out of James Madison University and was drafted in the 10th round of the free agent draft in 1976 by the Texas Rangers. He was a career .270 hitter for the Texas Rangers…

Back When There Was Baseball: Frank Carpin

December 27, 2023 Podcasts Baseball

Frank Carpin joins us this week.  Frank played baseball at Notre Dame and was signed into the New York Yankees organization in 1959.  The Yankees were known for their great farm system, but at this time (early 1960s) they stripped…

Sports Authors Showcase: Finley Ball by Nancy Finley

December 25, 2023 Podcasts Baseball

This week we discuss Finley Ball:  How Two Outsiders Turned the Oakland A's Into A Dynasty and Changed the Game Forever by Nancy Finley.  Nancy is the niece of Charlie O. Finley and daughter of Carl Finley…

Back When There Was Baseball: Bobby Bonner

December 21, 2023 Podcasts Baseball

This is one of the most inspirational stories you will ever hear. The subject of our podcast today is Bobby Bonner. He was a great prospect for the Orioles, drafted in the 3rd round of the 1976 MLB draft behind Cal Ripken, to replace…

Back When There Was Baseball: Bump Wills

December 13, 2023 Podcasts Baseball

Bump Wills joins us on the podcast this week.  Bump is the son of Maury Wills and had a successful career along with his father.  Bump signed his MLB contract with the Texas Rangers after playing for Bobby Winkles at Arizona State. …

Back When There Was Baseball: Gary Ryerson

December 6, 2023 Podcasts Baseball

There are two MLB pitchers that were inflicted with polio that we know of. We had Rich Hand on this podcast a few weeks ago and now we have the second, Gary Ryerson. Gary talks about pitching with polio and doing so…