Life At The Ballpark
by John Frost
For those who love baseball, Life At The Ballpark gives you an inside peek into the game with entertaining stories from those who play it, scout it, and broadcast it every single day.Life At The Ballpark is hosted by John Frost, a veteran broadcaster who has enjoyed over 20 years as the public address announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at their Spring Training home and minor league clubs in Jupiter, Florida.
Episodes
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S6:E2 Brad Thompson, former major league pitcher and now TV analyst for the St. Louis Cardinals
On this episode you'll hear stories from a former Cardinals' pitcher and current broadcaster who achieved the rare feat of going to the post season in his first two seasons in the big leagues and even winning a World Series. He share his perspective on the historic 2005 NLCS playoff game #5 as...
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S6E1: Bill Brown, broadcaster and author of "Baseball's Bizarre Season"
On this episode you'll hear stories from a 30 year broadcast veteran with the Houston Astros and member of that team's Hall of Fame, who as a boy growing up in central Missouri was mesmerized by the sounds of baseball on the radio and in 1964 followed his favorite team The St. Louis Cardinals...
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S5E5: In Memory of Hall of Fame sportswriter Rick Hummel
This podcast with Rick Hummel was recorded during Spring Training 2019. I'm reposting at the news of his passing because of how elequontly he reflects on his life. You'll hear Rick share about his love for baseball and how he became a sportswriter. You'll hear about his receiving the phone call...
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S5E4: Tom Ackerman, sports director at KMOX
Tom Ackerman, sports director for KMOX that has covered the St. Louis Cardinals for over 50 years. Tom shares about how his dad took him to Cardinals' games as a kid and encouraged him to pursue his dream of sports broadcasting.
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S5E3: St Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame sportswriter Rick Hummel Reminisces about his 50 year history
On this episode, you'll hear stories from a Hall of Fame sportswriter who has covered the St. Louis Cardinals for 50 years, through 7 World Series and 20 postseasons. You'll hear "The Commish's" opinions on the new rules in baseball, such as the pitch clock, bigger bases, and defensive shift...
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S5E2: St. Louis Cardinals' season preview with sport columnist Ben Frederickson
Sports Columnist Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post Dispatch shares his thoughts on the Cardinals' lineup as we begin the 2023 baseball season. How will rookie Jordan Walker impact the club? Is the starting rotation strong enough to compete? Can the fact that they are moving guys around at...
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S5E1: Stories from the Astrodome with Todd Kalas
On this episode, you'll hear stories from the son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas of the Philadelphia Phillies, who is now the voice of the team he grew up rooting for as a kid, the Houston Astros. Todd shares stories about growing up around the Astrodome while his dad called games when…
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S4E8 Pt 2: Texas Sports Radio and TV Legend Bill Mercer
Bill Mercer is the original announcer for the Texas Ranger. He also called games for the original Dallas Texans in the old AFL which eventually became the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Dallas Cowboys, including the Cowboy's first Super Bowl. Bill shares behind-the-scenes stories from the earliest...
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S4E7 Pt 1: Texas Sports Radio and TV Legend Bill Mercer
Bill Mercer was doing a newscast at Noon on Dallas radio station KRLD when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas on November 22nd, 1963. For the next several days Bill was one of the critical radio and television reporters at the Dallas police headquarters when Lee Harvey...
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S4E6: The Most Bizarre Stories from Baseball History with Tim Hagerty
Tim Hagerty is the play-by-play announder for the San Diego Padres' AAA affiliate in El Paso, TX. Tim shares some of the most bizarre stories in baseball history. In this episode you'll hear about a frantic call to the police from The Lake Erie Crusher who reported a missing head. That's right, a...
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S4E5: Mike Berger: Milwaukee Brewers Scout - 3rd Generation Baseball Lifer
In this episode of Life at the Ballpark you'll hear from 3rd generation baseball "Lifer" Mike Berger. Mike is currently a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers and previously was a Farm Director. He's played in every baseball league other than the American and National League. He was also offered the...
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S4E4: What You Can Learn About Life from Baseball's Grinders
What does it take to persevere through the ups and downs of life? How do you make it in business through the setbacks that can leave you discouraged and feeling like giving up? In this episode, you'll hear from Mike Capps who's watched many young baseball players come up through the Minor Leagues...
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S4E3: 2022 Spring Training Stories with Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post Dispatch
Rick Hummel shares a wrap-up of the 2022 Spring Training for the Cardinals. Plus he shares his conversation with Albert Pujols and his concerns about returning to the Cardinals and how he'll be received by the club. Hear about the misunderstanding that started Rick's relationship with Lou Brock…
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S4E2: Ben Frederickson: St. Louis Cardinals Columnist
St. Louis Cardinals' fans will enjoy this conversation with St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Ben Frederickson as he shares stories about the Cardinals' offseason moves including a managerial change, the drama of the lockout, resigning Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, and then the explosive…
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S4E1: Bill Brown - Houston Astros Broadcaster
Take a walk through the 60-year history of the Houston Astros with veteran broadcaster Bill Brown, author of "Houston Astros' Golden Era" along with co-authors Mike Acosta and Phil Boudreaux. You'll hear about everything from the expansion franchise Colt 45's in 1962, to reaching the World Series...
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S3E8: Brant Hansen - Author & Syndicated Radio Host on Baseball & Autism
Syndicated radio personality and author Brant Hansen shares his love for baseball and the impact it has had on his life growing up on the Autism spectrum. Batting averages and wins and losses weren't just statistics for him, they became a refuge to escape a chaotic family situation and helped him...
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S3E7: Clint Hurdle & Dave Burchett - Launch Project on Leadership & Faith
Clint Hurdle played in the big leagues for 10 years and managed another 17 with the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. Hurdle began his professional career on a Sports Illustrated cover heralded as the "next big phenom". That unwanted and unexpected spotlight helped create enormous...
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S3E6: Robert Ford - Houston Astros Play-by-Play Announcer
Robert Ford has been doing radio play by play for the Houston Astros since 2013, when Astros were in the process of losing 100 games three years in a row. The team followed that with three consecutive 100 win seasons in the same decade, the only team to ever do that. Robert shares about growing…
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S3E5: Rob Rains - St. Louis Cardinals Sportswriter
The veteran of 40 years covering MLB shares insights on the Cardinals' upcoming season and tells stories from his 30 books about Cardinal legends like Ozzie Smith, Jack Buck, Albert Pujols, and Red Schoendienst.
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S3E4: Ben Frederickson - St. Louis Cardinals Columnist
Ben Frederickson shares his perspective on the trade that brought Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals. Perhaps the best trade in Cardinals' history? Ben assesses the Cardinals strengths and weakness as they prepare for Opening Day 2021. He also shares about how the pandemic affected baseball last…
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S3E3: Anne Rogers - MLB.com Sports Writer
Anne Rogers is one of a handful of female beat writers for MLB.com. She spent several seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and is in her first with the Kansas City Royals. In this episode, we talk about Anne's interviews with women in baseball sharing the significance of the hiring of MLB's first...
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S3E2: John "Boog" Sciambi - Chicago Cubs & ESPN Play-by-Play Commentator
Chicago Cubs & ESPN Play-by-play commentator Jon "Boog" Sciambi joins Life at the Ballpark to share stories about his career in the broadcast booth including with his encounters with the Phillie Phanatic, working with Rick Sutcliffe, and the one time he gave poor advice to Chipper Jones who let...
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S3E1: Tom Ackerman - Sports Director at KMOX in St Louis
KMOX Sports Director Tom Ackerman joins Life at the Ballpark to share some unique stories about St. Louis Cardinals' legends. Tom also revisits the time when his father passed away during his high school years and then receiving a call from Bob Costas who went through a very relatable situation.
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S2E14: Mike Claiborne - St. Louis Cardinals Broadcaster
Cardinals broadcaster Mike Claiborne joins John Frost to tell stories and reminisce about Cardinals legend and Hall of Famer Lou Brock.
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S2E13: Mark Langill - Los Angeles Dodgers' Historian
Los Angeles Dodgers historian Mark Langill joins John Frost on the latest episode of Life at the Ballpark
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S2E12: Bob Carpenter - Washington Nationals Play-by-Play Announcer
Veteran play by play man Bob Carpenter shares stories about growing up a Cardinals' fan in St. Louis, about being mentored by Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, calling games for the World Champion Washington Nationals, and what it will be like for broadcasters and players in this unusual 60…
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S2E11: Jim Sundberg - Texas Rangers Hall of Famer
Texas Rangers Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg shares stories from his 16 seasons in the big leagues, including playing for Billy Martin, and catching Nolan Ryan. Jim also shares about his new "Legacy Playbook, 50 Days Of Encouragement To Pass On What Matters Most."
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S2E10: Bobby Richardson, part two
Missing baseball? Enjoy my conversation with New York Yankees' legend Bobby Richardson, 7 time all star, and the only World Series MVP to play for the losing team. He shares stories about the '61 home run race with Maris and Mantle, and about his relationship with The Mick which began when Bobby...
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S2E9: Bobby Richardson of the New York Yankees
On this episode of Life at the Ballpark you'll hear the story of a kid from South Carolina who at age 14 saw the movie "The Pride of the Yankees", the story of Lou Gehrig, and would one day stand on the very same spot at Yankee Stadium for Bobby Richardson Day where Lou gave his famous "I'm the...
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S2E8: Ben Frederickson (Pt. 2) - St. Louis Cardinals Columnist & Broadcaster
Ben Frederickson is a Sports Columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and broadcaster at The Big 550 KTRS where he covers the St. Louis Cardinals. Ben shares some great stories about Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa, and we kick around some ideas of what the Cardinals' lineup may look after the...
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S2E7: Ben Frederickson (Pt. 1) - St. Louis Cardinals Columnist & Broadcaster
What does a sportswriter write about when there are no sports? Ben Frederickson shares his insight into covering the St. Louis Cardinals during the COVID-19 shutdown of 2020.
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S2E6: Mike Capps - Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers AAA) Broadcaster
You'll hear the story a former CNN news correspondent who covered the Gulf War and the Branch Davidian siege, who now as a baseball broadcaster shares a perspective about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the sport he loves. You'll also hear from blind sportscaster Bryce Weiler whose...
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S2E5: Tommy Hutton - Los Angeles Dodgers Player & Miami Marlins Commentator
On this episode of Life at the Ballpark you'll hear the story of a high school phenom from Southern California, who signed his first professional contract at the age of 17 with the team he grew up rooting for and by one of the great characters in Dodger history. Hear how his major league debut...
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S2E4: Steve Sparks - Houston Astros Color Commentator
Enjoy some great baseball stories during our time away from the game. Astros' broadcaster Steve Sparks shares how he made the Top Ten list for goofiest sports injuries, how learning to throw a knuckleball became his ticket to the big leagues, and how he "died" three times after suffering a heart...
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S2E3: Tom Grieve (Pt. 2) - Texas Rangers Player, Manager, and Broadcaster
Veteran broadcaster Tom Grieve shares stories from his career as a player, GM, and broadcaster with the Texas Rangers. You'll hear of the early days of the franchise's move from Washington, D.C. to Texas, and what it was like to play for Ted Williams, Whitey Herzog, and Billy Martin. Tom shares…
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S2E2: Tom Grieve (Pt 1) - Texas Rangers Player, Manager, and Broadcaster
On this episode you'll hear Tom Grieve share about his life at the ballpark, from being a #1 draft choice, to player for one franchise in two different cities, to GM, to longtime broadcaster for the Texas Rangers. A member of the Texas Rangers' Hall of Fame Tom has been a witness to every major...
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S2E1: Bill "Brownie" Brown - Houston Astros Play-by-Play Broadcaster
On this episode, you'll hear the story of Bill Brown whose 30-year broadcast career with the Houston Astros gave him a unique peek into baseball history, including their 3 consecutive one hundred loss seasons followed by 3 one hundred win seasons, and the entire career of two Hall of Famers…
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S1E15: Mike Acosta (Pt. 2) - Houston Astros Historian
On this episode, you'll hear the story of a man whose knowledge of his team's history and his view of every game from right next to the dugout give him a unique perspective to the sights and the sounds of the ballpark. In the second part of our conversation Astros' team historian, Mike Acosta...
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S1E14: Mike Acosta (Pt. 1) - Houston Astros Historian
Mike's love for baseball was fueled by his childhood fascination with the 8th Wonder of the World; the Astrodome, an architectural innovation that forever changed the design of sports stadiums. Mike shares about his documenting of the historic moments in Astros' history, including this season's...
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S1E13: Pat Williams - Orlando Magic Founder and Lover of Baseball
Pat Williams, Senior Vice President and founder of the Orlando Magic, a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, and named one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history. Pat's love for baseball dates back to growing up with Ruly Carpenter, the son of the...
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S1E12: Curt Nelson (Pt. 2) - Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame Director
In part two of this interview with Curt Nelson, he will share the insightful stories recorded within the Negro League Hall of Fame. Discover how this talent-rich league of African-Americans helped shape even more than just baseball history, it shaped American history.
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S1E11: Curt Nelson (Pt. 1) - Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame Director
Curt Nelson has been with the Kansas City Royals since 1999. Curt isn't just the Director of the Royals Hall of Fame, he helped spearhead its development in 2009. Curt shares stories from their two World Series Championships as well as their four AL pennants.
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S1E10: Todd Pratt - Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins Minor League) Manager
The 14-year major league veteran shares what it was like to hit a walk-off home run in extra innings against Arizona in the 1999 NLDS playoffs. Todd was also on the bases for one of the rarest plays in baseball history—now referred to as Robin Ventura's walk-off "Grand Slam Single" in the '99 NLCS.
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S1E9: Ken Carson - Florida State League President
Ken shares stories spanning his career as an athletic trainer for Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, then for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays in 1977, then director of spring training for the Blue Jays in Dunedin, and ultimately to the president of the Florida State League. Ken reveals that he is also…
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S1E8: Dann Bilardello - Palm Beach Cardinals (St Louis Cardinals Minor League) Manager
Dann shares what it was like to have to step into the shoes of future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in his rookie year with the Cincinnati Reds. You'll also hear about the respect and friendship he developed with another Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn with the San Diego Padres. Dann is currently the...
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S1E6: Ricky Horton - St. Louis Cardinals Broadcaster and Former Pitcher
Ricky Horton pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angelos Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox before moving to the press box as a play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports Midwest. During his time on the field, Ricky Horton experienced some of the most dramatic moments in baseball history, including…
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S1E5: Joe Frisaro - Miami Marlins Beat Reporter at MLB.com
The veteran reporter shares stories from his 17 years covering the Marlins, from their World Series championship in 2003 to the sale to Derek Jeter's ownership group and the rebuilding process. Joe offers insight into the convergence of tradition newspaper sports reporting to the digital age of...
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S1E4: Dan McLaughlin - St. Louis Cardinals Play-by-Play Announcer
Mid-America Emmy award-winning Dan McLaughlin shares stories from his more than two decades of calling Cardinals' baseball, his first when he was only 23. Dan shares about his most embarrassing moments (involving A.J. Burnett's nipple rings), his friendship with Tim McCarver, advice given him by...
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S1E3: Rick Hummel "The Commish" - St. Louis Cardinals Columnist and Hall of Fame Inductee
Rick shares his observations about how spring training has changed over the 42 years he's covered the St. Louis Cardinals. He shares stories about Cardinal greats Red Schoendienst, Lou Brock, Albert Pujols, and gives insights to how roster decisions are made during spring training. Rick also…
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About this show
For those who love baseball, Life At The Ballpark gives you an inside peek into the game with entertaining stories from those who play it, scout it, and broadcast it every single day.Life At The Ballpark is hosted by John Frost, a veteran broadcaster who has enjoyed over 20 years as the public address announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at their Spring Training home and minor league clubs in Jupiter, Florida.
Hosted by
John Frost