EPISODE · Jul 27, 2026 · 1H 4M
FULL SHOW: Jordan Barth (Augie, Canaries, Banana Ball), Theis turns it up in CFL, Jackson's first pitch with Canaries, Twins & Birds surging, Scottie Scheffler and rookie phenom in Twin Cities
from Happy Hour with John Gaskins · host John Gaskins
A year ago, Augustana baseball luminary Jordan Barth was in the midst of an All-Star season for Sioux Falls Canaries when he joined Happy Hour for a chat. The Birds eventually played for the American Association championship, with Barth playing a major role. The day after the season ended, he was already talking to manager Mike Meyer about returning for the 2026 season. Then, a phone call a couple months later in November changed everything. Things are a bit different now. Like, mind-blowingly, life-changingly different. Barth has joined the $500 million traveling baseball circus known as "Banana Ball," a barnstorming exhibition professional league similar to the Harlem Globetrotters and WWE. Like those other two operations, Banana Ball has scripted and choreographed entertainment moments that the athletes rehearse before their performances. But the baseball is real, and so is Barth's emergence as one of his league's best players... again. The shortstop known for his dazzling "web gem" fielding plays and "Barth Bomb" home runs is also top five hitter in the six-team league. But there is way more to this gig than playing ball. Barth hit a home run in front of over 102,000 fans in Texas A&M's football stadium, sang a Kendrick Lamar tune after hitting a walk-off home run in El Paso, and serenaded a full Chris Brown song to his wife on their four-year anniversary in Nashville. So, what is it like becoming a baseball celebrity in a skyrocketing league that has swept America by barnstorm? Barth takes us into that wacky world in a 28-minute Happy Hour reunion. Before the Barth chat, the Happy Hour host recaps a wild weekend of local and regional sports in the sweltering summer heat: * USD's all-time leading Div. I rusher Travis Theis is turning it up in Canada * USD's all-time track and field icon Chris Nilson won his seventh USA outdoors national championship. Why was this one special? * The entire SDSU football team took a trip to a Canaries game last week, with Dan Jackson throwing out two first pitches and an offensive lineman belting out "Sweet Caroline" * The Canaries and Twins heated up at home. How? * The world's No. 1 golfer gave the PGA Tour stop in the Twin Cities a much-needed shot in the arm, but a rookie phenom stole the show. * Oh, and perhaps you heard... LeBron James is not going to be a Minnesota Timberwolf. The Happy Hour host and video producer Cordell Wright break down The King's decision to take his talents to Philadelphia and if the Wolves can still win a title without him
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FULL SHOW: Jordan Barth (Augie, Canaries, Banana Ball), Theis turns it up in CFL, Jackson's first pitch with Canaries, Twins & Birds surging, Scottie Scheffler and rookie phenom in Twin Cities
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