PODCAST · sports
Backwards K Pod
by Jake Robinson
An educational and biographical account of the personalities and moments, woven into the fabric of baseball.
Episodes
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Edgar Martinez
Edgar Martinez was one of the best right-handed hitters of his era. He retired at the conclusion of the 2004 season, after spending 18 distinguished and loyal years playing for the Seattle Mariners. He finished with a .312/,418/,515/,933 slashline, which places him in the company of some of the...
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Tommy Lasorda; The Godfather
It is not an overstatement to say that, Tommy Lasorda was the most important figure in the Dodgers organization since Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. He gave his life to the franchise, speaking endlessly about "Bleeding Dodgers Blue" and talking to the "Big Dodger In The Sky". For almost 80...
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Mike Mussina; Moose
Mike Mussina was a cerebral assassin and one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball history, excelling against some of the game's biggest sluggers during the "Steroid Era". Despite finishing his Hall Of Fame career with 270 wins, and an American League record of 17 consecutive seasons with...
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Wade Boggs; The Chicken Man
Wade Boggs was a meticulous and regimented artist,whose platform was the National Pastime. His tool of choice was a bat, and his canvas was Major League ballfields. A 12 time All Star third-baseman, Boggs ended his 18 year career with 3,010 hits, a lifetime batting average of .328 and a .414...
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The History Of Baseball In Venezuela
In the face of economic ruin and mass migration, baseball is woven and stitched into the fabric of Venezuelan culture. It's more than just the national sport, it's a national identity. A bridge to the past, and a hope for a brighter future. As the game has become a global commodity, Venezuelans...
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The History And Evolution Of Baseball Bats
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...
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Joe Mauer
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...
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Phil Niekro; Knucksie
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...
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Tim Raines; The Rock
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...
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Bill Mazeroski; Maz
Bill Mazeroski was the embodiment of stellar defense, winning 8 Gold Glove Awards, playing his entire 17 year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, while setting the record for the most double-plays turned and assists in baseball history. But he is most remembered for arguably the greatest home run...
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Rogers Hornsby; The Rajah
Off the field? Rogers Hornsby was undiplomatic, uncompromising, and outspoken. On the field? He is arguably the greatest all-around right-handed hitters to ever play the game. Hornsby, whose modern-era record of a.424 batting average in 1924, and his .358 lifetime mark after a 23 year career,...
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Tony Perez; Big Doggie
The return of the Cold War between the United States and Cuba has only exacerbated the tide of baseball defectors from the communist nation. In October of 2012, for the first time in over 60 years, two million baseball crazy Cubans could listen to a World Series game on the radio, just as Tony…
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Throwback Crib Bio; The House That Ruth Built
Since the time of it's opening over 100 years ago, Old Yankees Stadium housed the most prolific team in all of American team sport, and some of the games brightest stars. The Yankees did not have an auspicious beginning to their franchise. They were originally nicknamed the Highlanders, and from...
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Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph Piazza is the classic American underdog who carved out his niche and legacy, seemingly out of nowhere through hard-work, grit and determination. Taken in the 62nd round with the 1,390th overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the 1988 June MLB Amateur Draft; he wou;d go onto...
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Harmon Killebrew; Killer
Harmon Killebrew was one of, if not the most feared power bat of the 1960's. By the time he had hung up his spikes for good after the 1976 season, his 573 home-runs were the most ever amassed by a right-handed American League hitter in baseball history. Still here 50 years later, only Alex...
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Barry Larkin
Rare is the professional athlete who plays his entire Hall Of Fame career in his hometown. For 19 years, Barry Larkin did just that, playing for the Cincinnati Reds. His career path took him from a leadoff hitter setting the table, to an RBI man in the heart of the order, with stops up and down…
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Albert Belle
He was a fantastic hitter. Over a 162 game average in his 12 year career, he averaged a 4.2 WAR, 40 Home Runs, and 130 RBI. He scored 974 Runs for an average of 103 over 162 Games. The only thing more potent than his bat, was his pissed-off, surly disposition, which included throwing baseballs...
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”Shoeless” Joe Jackson
More than 70 years after his death, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson is finally eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. The legendary ballplayer was banned from the Major Leagues, 13 years into his career, for his role in the nefarious 1919 World Series scandal. On May 13th, 2025…
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Manny Being Manny; Manny Ramirez
During his prime years, the baseball universe was Manny's world, and other players were just mere mortals lucky to inhabit the same space. His dominant play and quirky personality would lead opponents and proponents alike to shrug and say, " That's just Manny being Manny." He was a hard-hitting...
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Don Drysdale; Big D
This week we do a deep archaeological dig into the baseball path laid down by the legendary Don Drysdale. At 6'5" tall and 190 pounds, he was an intimidating pitcher, who used brushback pitches to keep opposing batters off-balanced. Together with southpaw Sandy Koufax, the tandem would become one...
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The History Of Baseball In Miami
When most people think of Miami's impact on the History of baseball, they may believe that the current Marlins team is the beginning of their baseball identity and story. But in reality, the city of Miami and the South Florida region possesses a rich history of organized baseball that crosses...
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Frank Thomas; The BIG HURT
Frank Thomas looked more like an NFL Tight=End, looking to create space in the end zone to receive a touchdown, than he did a baseball player. But in many ways, the 6'5" 275 pound icon was ostensibly a contact hitter trapped inside of a slugger's body, with a judicious knowledge of the strike…
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William Julius ”Judy” Johnson
The Negro Leagues produced some of the finest third-basemens in the history of the sport of baseball. Guys like Jud Wilson, Oliver "The Ghost" Marcelle and Ray Dandridge held down the Hot Corner. inspiring and challenging future generations to meet their standards. But many of the league…
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Reggie Jackson; Mr October
At the height of his powers, Reggie Jackson was a box-office spectacle, who's on-field exploits were matched by his larger than life personality, and his fearless ability to speak his truth to power. Whether you watched him strikeout, a record setting 2,597 times, or watched him hit one of his…
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Steve Carlton; Lefty
By the time Steve Carlton's 24 year Major League Baseball career was in the books, he had more pickoffs than any pitcher who ever played the game at the highest level, the second most strikeouts ever behind only Nolan Ryan, and the ninth most wins in the long history of the National Pastime.…
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Joe Morgan; The Little General
This week we profile the baseball life of the immortal Joe Morgan, who at 5'7", and 150 pounds, dominated the game and the second-base position like very few before him or since. Morgan develops a love for the game, cutting his teeth on the talented Oakland sandlots, and influenced by his…
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Warren Spahn
This week i detail the baseball journey of pitching great Warren Spahn. By the time, his long and prolific career was in the books, he had amassed the most victories (363) in the game's history for a left-handed pitcher, the sixth most wins of all time and the most wins ever by a pitcher who...
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The History Of Baseball In Minnesota
This week, i do an archaelogical dig into 160 years of baseball history in Minnesota. In many ways, Minnesota was an early leader in team sports being played before large crowds, when the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes would play native lacrosse games, as far back as the 1600's, long before European...
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Carlton Fisk; Pudge
Carlton Fisk will probably always be most notably be remembered for his game-winning home-run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, but it would be his durability over the long haul, that would cement his Hall Of Fame resume. The 11 time All Star would become known for his in-your-face intensity.…
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Andre Dawson; The Hawk
Andre Dawson, also known as "The Hawk", was one of the most dynamic and all-around polished players of hia generation. He was a legitimate five-tool player, even when his knees were screaming at him to hang em up. Over a career that spanned 21 major league seasons, he made an indellible mark,...
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Vlad ”The Impaler” Guerrero
In an era dominated by sluggers putting up prodigious video game power-numbers, Vladimir Guerrero becomes one of the game's most electrifying players, in defiance of the baseball Gods with his five-tool arsenal of hitting for average, power, baserunning insticts, defense and the intercontinetal...
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Rockin Robin Yount; The Kid
This week's biopic is on the greatest player in Brewers history, Robin Yount. Robin played on the competitive edge, and left everything on the field during his 20 year playing career. In fact, Yount left it all over the field, winning the American League MVP, at two different positions, 6 years...
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Yogi Berra
This week we take an introspective look at the life and baseball journey of one Peter Lawrence "Yogi" Berra, who would become one of baseball's greatest characters and catchers. The World War II veteran and unprecedented 13 time World Champion as a player. was best described by his manager Casey...
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Throwback Crib Bio: Griffith Stadium
When a plumber's blowtorch accidentally causes Washington D.C's Boundary Field to burn to the ground in 1911. engineers from the Cleveland based Osborne Company quickly construct Griffith Stadium inside the skeletal remains of Boundary Field. and it would serve as the Senators home park from 1911...
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Willie McCovey; Stretch
Whenever Willie McCovey had a bat in his hands, he meant business. Whether it's a tight pennant race game in September against the Dodgers or a batting practice in May, his focus was to cut the ball in half and smoke line drives. His path to Major League immortality was oddly uneven, mostly due…
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Bobby Cox
This week we profile the baseball life and journey of the legendary skipper Bobby Cox, who was became one of the most successful managers in the game's history, chartering the course for the Braves' dominanace during the 1990's and early 2000's. His teams would hold the unique distinction of...
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The History Of Baseball in Queens, New York
This week we take an introspective look at the fascinating History Of Baseball In Queens, New York. A story that begins in 1886, when Queens was the only municipalty in New York City that disregarded the Sunday Blue Laws, which prohibited commerce and personel ammusement on Sundays. The borough's...
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Billy ”The KId” Martin
As a player, Billy Martin was a fundamentally sound second basemen with a .257 batting average over an 11 year playing career, most notably for the Yankees fom 1950 to 1957. On the World Series stage, he was a clutch beast with a .333/.371/.369 slash-line, 5 Home Runs and 19 runs driven in, with...
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The Dominican Dandy; Juan Marichal
San Francisco Giants right-handed ace Juan Marichal was among the elite pitchers during the "The Golden Age Of Pitching" of the 1960's, but he always seemed to live in the shadows of Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson during that era. He was the winningest pitcher of the decade, and his 2.57 era during...
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Ferguson Jenkins; Fergie
This week's focus is on the legendary pitching icon Ferguson Jenkins, who is arguably the greatest ballplayer that Canada has ever produced (with all apologies to Larry Walker) and indeed one of the country's finest all-around athletes ever. During a time that many consider "The Golden Age Of...
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Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson accomplished as much in the game of baseball, as anyone ever has; National League Rookie Of The Year, An MVP in both leagues, MVP of a World Series. MVP of an All-Star game, a Gold Glove Winner, American League Manager Of The Year, a Triple Crown winner, and a recipient of the...
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The History Of Baseball In Oakland
The game of baseball is introduced to the East Bay region as far back as the 1840's when entrepreneurial, risk-takers from the east move to Neuva Claifornia in search of gold, and bring the game with them, in their westward expansion of the young country. By 1866, the city is gripped with…
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Willie Stargell; Pops
This week we profile the baseball life of the iconic Willie Stargell. Willie, the feared power-hitting slugger and clubhouse leader on and off the diamond, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1958, and will forever be associated with the franchise. The seemingly larger...
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Mickey Mantle; The Commerce Comet
Yankees former Hall Of Fame Manager once said of Mickey Mantle. " He has more speed than any slugger, I've ever seen, and more slug than any other speedster. Nobody has ever had more of both of them together. This kid aint logical. He's too good and it's very confusing. This week we profile the…
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Sadaharu Oh
This week I profile the Japanese slugger who rewrote the Japanese and international baseball record books in his image, during his 22 year Nippon Baseball League career. No player outside of the great Babe Ruth ever dominated the game for so long, in any of the game's top professional leagues...
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Roberto Alomar
At the height of his powers, Roberto Alomar could beat you in a myriad of ways. The five-tooled freak could beat you with a timely bunt. He had the ambidextrous power to yank a home-run from both sides of the dish. He could hit an opposite field double seemingly at will, and he had the speed to...
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Bob Feller; The Heater From Van Meter
This week I do an introspective dive into the life and baseball journey of Bob Feller. A major league journey that begins at the age of 17, as Feller is the youngest pitcher in big-league history to both win and lose a game. From humble beginnings, the Iowa farm boy and his Heater From Van Meter...
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The History Of Baseball In Washington D.C.
This week I examine the city of Washington D.C., and it's connection with the national pastime. A connection with the game, that goes back to the first game in the District's recorded history of July 2, 1860. It was the shared home of one of the most legendary Negro National League teams, as well...
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Rickey Henderson; Run Rickey Run
Rickey Henderson used the ultimate combination of power and speed to break numerous Major League records during his career. But what solidifies his place in baseball history was his unbridled passion to his craft and the game. He is the all-time stolen base king in the history of baseball. The...
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Curt Schilling
This week we profile the baseball journey of right-handed power pitcher Curt Schilling who's 3,116 career strikeouts is the 17th most ever in baseball history. He is the only pitcher to ever win a World Series game for three different teams. His 11-2 postseason win/loss record is the highest...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Backwards K Pod have?
Backwards K Pod currently has 205 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Backwards K Pod about?
An educational and biographical account of the personalities and moments, woven into the fabric of baseball.
How often does Backwards K Pod release new episodes?
Backwards K Pod publishes regularly with 205 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Backwards K Pod?
You can listen to Backwards K Pod on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Backwards K Pod?
Backwards K Pod is created and hosted by Jake Robinson.
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