Backwards K Pod

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 game's immortals. Over his career, he made seven All-Srar teams. won a pair of American League Batting Titles, five Silver Slugger Awards and five Most Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards. He is arguably one of the greatest Designated Hitters to ever swing a bat, as evidenced by the fact that Major League Baseball renamed the Most Outstanding Designated Hitter Award to the Edgar Martinez Award in his honor, upon his retirement. This week, we profile this man's amazing baseball journey from Dorado, Puerto Rico to Seattle, Washington and eventually to Cooperstown, New York, to rightfully take his place in the Pantheon Of Baseball Immortals; The National Baseball Hall Of Fame. #EdgarMartinez #CarmeloMartinez #MartyMartinez #HolliMartinez #SeattleMariners #JimLefbvr #KenGriffeyJr #RandyJohnson #JackMcDowell #IchiroSuzuki #MarianoRivera #PedroMartinez #BretBoone #DaveNiehaus

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 years, he was the face of Dodgers baseball and the embodiment of Dodgers Blue and their pristine whites. As a manager for the team. he won 1,599 games, the 22nd most victories by a Major League manager, 4 National League pennants, 2 World Championships, as well as a Gold Medal in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia. This week we delve into the baseball journey of the Hall Of Fame manager, and one of baseball's greatest ambassadors of the game in the history of the sport. #ThomasCharlesLasorda #SabatinoLasorda #CarmellaLasorda #JoanLasorda #BrooklynDodgers #LosAngelesDodgers #SteveGarvey #RonCey #BillRussell #DustyBaker #SandyKoufax #NewYorkYankees #KirkGibson

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 more than 10 wins, his career has been earmarked by near-misses and lost opportunity, both personally and for his teams. Always the best man, but never the groom, Moose would never win a Cy Young Award, but he would be a top 5 vote-getter 6 times in his career. He carried four no-hitters into the 8th or 9th inning, before coming up short, the most times for any pitcher who has never thrown a no-hitter. And he would neverf win a World Series ring. The closest he would come was 2001, when he would watch Luis Gonzalez hit a walk-off championship winning bloop single off Yankees teammate and closer Mariano RIvera, in Game Seven. He was a mad surgeon, applying small knicks from his scapel to his opponents, which on the surface seemed harmless. But if you took a step back and looked at yourself in the late innings. you'd be a bloody fucking mess. This week we follow his baseball journey from small=town America; Montoursville, Pennsylvania to a baseball legacy that ends in Cooperstown, New York, as one of the all-time immortals. #MikeMussina #Moose #MalcolmMussina #EllieMussina #MarkMussina #UniversityOfStanford #EdSprague #BaltimoreOrioles #CalRipkenJr #NewYorkYankees #MichaelKay #JoeTorre

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 on-base percentage. Of the 2,432 games he played in, he reached base in a staggering 85% of them. This week we dig into the legacy laid down by one of the games greatest pure-hitters ever; The Chicken Man, Wade Anthony Boggs. #WadeBoggs #WinfieldBoggs #SusanBoggs #HenryBPlantHighSchool #GeorgeDigsby #TedWilliams #BostonRedSox #NewYorkYankees #TampaBayDevilRays #JeanYawkey #NationalBaseballHallOfFame #FenwayPark

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 continue to be some of the game's most passionate of ambassadors, spreading their joys, values and rhythm to places never known before. The global impact of Venezuela baseball is no longer measured in wins and championships. It is seen in the classrooms, community fields and family traditions as many have migrated far from their homeland, and brought their passion for the game with them. Baseball in Venezuela has survived years of war, government corruption and civil unrest, because the game lives and manifests itself deep into the Venezuela DNA and soul of the game. This week we dig into the rich history of the game of Venezuelan baseball. From it's early beginnings when affluent boys came back from college in the United States in the 1890's, playing the game to the national phenomena it has become today in this country. #BaseballInVenezuela #AmendoroFranklin #CaracasBaseBallClub #GeneralJoaqinCrespo #EmeritoArgudin #USSMarietta #FrankMartin #BackStopBar #AntonioBenitez #MarinDiHigo #LuisAparicio #AlejandroCarrasquel #ClarkeGriffith #WashingtonSenators #EugenioSuarez #MiguelCabrera #EstadioMonumentalSimonBolivar #EstadioForum #HugoChavez #RonaldAcunaJr #CaracasVenezuela #PapaJoeCambria

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 primitive clubs used in the 1840's to the standardized and optimized high performance tools that the greatest hitters on the planet use today. Barreling up on a pitched baseball is arguably the hardest thing to do in all of sports, but having the right tool to do it, can make it slightly less difficult. This week I will profile the history and evolution of wood baseball bats, form the crude sticks used during the Dead-Ball era by the game's forefathers, to the Torpeedo Bat introduced in 2026 #TyCobb #BabeRuth #PeteBrowning #WeeWillieKeeler #JohnBudHillerich #HillerichAndBradsbyCompany #LouisvilleSlugger #HeinieGroh #BottleBat #RogersHornsby #TedWilliams #BarryBonds #Maple #Hickory #Ash #TorpedoBats #AaronLeadhardt #HankAaron #GeorgeBrett #PineTarGame

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

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

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

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 ever hit in the game. Almost every kid who has ever swung a bat at a competitive pitch has fantasized about coming up in the bottom of the ninth inning, during game 7 of the World Series, and hitting the championship clinching home run. Only one person in the long history of the game has ever realized this dream, and his name was William Stanley Mazeroski. This is his story #BillMazeroski #Maz #PittsburghPirates #BranchRickey #RalphTerry #ForbesField #NewYorkYankees #DickGroat #GeneAlley #DickSchoefield #DaveCash #WheelingWestVirgina #YogiBerra

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, firmly establishes him as a standard for right-handed hitters of any era. He won 7 National League Batting Titles, including a mind-numbing 5 year stretch of offensive prowess that has yet to be equalled or surpassed. From 1921 to 1926 he compiled a gaudy .402 BA during that span. The winner of two League MVPs with two Triple Crown seasons, he was all about the business of terrorizing National League pitching. This week we take a look at this self-made superstar and his incredible baseball journey. #RogersHornsby #EdHornsby #MaryRogersHornsby #Rajah #WintersTexas #BobConnery #StLouisCardinals #MillerHuggins #BranchRickey #SamBreadon #JohnMcGraw #FrankieFrisch #NewYorkGiants #BostonBraves #ChicagoCubs #StLouisBrowns #BaltimoreOrioles #SeattleRainers #FortWorthCats #DenisonRailroaders #KikiCuyler

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 and his father were able to listen to the 1955 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees, at the old sugar mill in Camaguay, Cuba. In 1960. Tony Perez took advantage of safe passage to the United States, as did 14,000 other Cuban children, over a two year period, during Operacion Pedro Pan, a reality that could never take place in today's political climate. The re-lowering of the Coconut Curtain, between the two nations, stunts youth and imagination on both sides of the 93 mile (150km) wide Straits Of Florida. This week we follow the improbable baseball journey of The Big Dog; Tony Perez from the streets of Havana, Cuba to the Pantheon Of Immortals in Cooperstown, New York. #AtanacioRegalPerez #TonyPerez #BigDog #Doggie #CincinnatiReds #BigRedMachine #LeeMay #JohnnyBench #PeteRose #JoeMorgan #SparkyAnderson #MayorOfRiverfront #GeorgeFoster #KenGriffeySr #CaesarGeronimo #MontrealExpos #BostonRedSox #TonyPacheco #BobbyMaduro

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 1903-1915, they never won a World Series and they had losing seasons in 8 of 13 years. All that changes when the rebranded Yankees buy Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox in 1919. At this time they are sharing the Polo Grounds with their landlord, the New York Giants, and with the star-power of Ruth, they routinely outdraw their inter-city rivals in their own crib. Yankees owner Jacob Rupert realizes that his superstar slugger needs a stadium of his own. After scouting areas throughout New York City, Rupert decides to build his cathedral in the Bronx, just a long fly ball over the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds. After Babe hits the first home-run in Yankees Stadium History in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox, sports writer Fred Lieb dubbed the new structure, The House That Ruth Built; a moniker that would last throughout it's 85 year history. This week we chronicle the construction, history, moments and all the legendary players who called the stadium home, and the indelible mark they left behind in baseball history. #YankeesStadium #TheHouseThatRuthBuilt #JacobRuppert #BabeRuth #JohnMcGraw #DeathValley #FredLieb #GeorgeSteinbrenner #MonumentPark #OldTimersGame #BronxNewYork

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 establish himself as arguably the greatest hitting catcher in baseball history and a Hall Of Fame career. From the sandlots of Norristown, Pennsylvania to the Pantheon Of The Immortals in Cooperstown, New York. This week we do a deep dig into the improbable baseball path laid down by the slugging backstop. #MikePiazza #VincePiazza #VeronicaPiazza #TommyLasorda #PhoenixvilleHighSchool #NorristownPennsylvania #MiamiHurricanes #BenWade #LosAngelesDodgers #FloridaMarlins #NewYorkMets #SanDiegoPadres #OaklandAthletics

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 Rodriguez has hit more dingers as a right-handed hitter in the American League. Even though he was nicknamed Killer by teammates and foes alike, and he had the ability to wreak havoc with a bat in his hand, he was giant, gentle soul on and off the field. A personality that belied the looming presence of his larger than life shadow, he cast at the plate. It was never lost on Killer that the name across the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back. It's been said that to know Harmon Killebrew was to be a lifelong fan of the man. This week we dig into his Hall Of Fame legacy. #HarmonKillebrew #Killer #PayetteIdaho #PayetteHighSchool #ClarkeGriffith #HermanWelker #OssieBluege #WashingtonSenators #MinnesotaTwins #KansasCityRoyals #JimKatt #TonyOliva #RodCarew #MikeCuellar #MudcatJimGrant

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 the lineup. Along the way Barry Larkin was selected to 12 All Star games, won 9 Silver Slugger Awards, three Gold Gloves, a National League MVP, an Olympic Silver Medal and a World Championship. He was a key ingrediant in the evolution of the Shortstop position, particularly in the National League before inter-league play, combining steady hitting, power, speed and stellar defense. This week we will be discussing one of the revolutionary Shortstops in the game's history; the great Barry Larkin. #BarryLarkin #CincinnatiReds #UniversityOfMichigan #GeneBarrett #KurtStillwell #DaveParker #EricDavis #PeteRose #MargeSchott #BoSchembechler #DaveConcepcion #ChrisSabo

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 purposefully at hecklers in the stands, running down trick-or-treaters in his SUV who vandalized his home, as well as his strong dislike for the media, and the the abrasive bullying tactics he employed against them. As talented as he was, Albert Belle could never shake his anger or his drive for perfection. And the indignity of never being able to find that perfection made Belle's blood boil. His career ended prematurely as one of the games best sluggers, with more stats to give, left on the diamond, Because of his petulant behavior, he has never been seriously considered for induction into the Hall Of Fame. This is his story. #AlbertBelle #CarrieBelle #TerryBelle #SkipBertman #LSUTigers #ClevelandIndians #ChicagoWhiteSox #BaltimoreOrioles #OmarVizquel #JasonGrimsley #HuntingtonHighSchool #CapeCodLeague #FernandoVina

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, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced he would be officially removing Jackson from the sports ineligible list. With the stunning, historical amendment, Jackson who is considered one of the game's earliest superstars prior to his 1921 ban, will be given consideration by Hall Of Fame electors for the 2028 class. Notorious November rolls on as I give a deep character profile on the man, detailing his MLB journey from humble beginnings in Greenville, South Carolina, to his meteoric rise through the baseball universe and ultimately his demise. #ShoelessJoeJackson #GeorgeJackson #MarthaJackson #BrandonTextileMill #CharlieFerguson #TomSlouch #ConnieMack PhiladelphiaAthletics #ClevelandNaps #ChicagoWhiteSox #ChickGandil #EddieCollins #LeftyWilliams #EddieCicotte #RedFaber #BlackSox #1919WorldSeries

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 baseball savant, with a bat in his hands and runners in scoring position. And in conjunction with his long flowing dreadlocks, his baggy uniform, his mighty bat, and his base-running and fielding flaws, the public was left with a caricature profile of Manny, as as carefree goofball and spoiled superstar, who could mash like one of the all time greats. As amazing as he was on the field, it was his judgement off the field that would come into question. This week we kick off Notorious November, where we profile some of the more controversial topics in baseball, with a deep dig into the baseball path laid by Manny Ramirez. #MannyRamirez #MannyBeinManny #MannyWood #ClevelandIndians #BostonRedSox #LosAngelesDodgers #OaklandAthletics #TexasRangers #ChicagoCubs #TampaRays #CarlosFerreria #JoeDeLucca #DavidOrtiz

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 of the fiercest lefty/righty duos in the history of baseball. By the time Drysdale's career is in the books, he's a three-time World Champion, and a Cy Young Award winner, with a win/loss record of 209-166 and a sparkling 2,95 ERA. Not bad for a kid, who never threw a pitch from the mound until his senior year in high school, where the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited and signed him in 1954. #DonDrysdale #ScottDrysdale #VanNuysCalifornia #BrooklynDodgers #LosAngelesDodgers #WaltAlston #Dodgers StadiumAtChavezRavine #FrankRobinson #MickeyMantle #SandyKoufax #CyYoungAward