S6E1: Bill Brown, broadcaster and author of "Baseball's Bizarre Season"
Life At The Ballpark
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 through one of baseball’s most bizarre seasons with three teams tied for first place one week to go. Bill Brown shares how the Cardinals’ championship year of 1964 fueled his love for baseball, and how listening to Harry Caray and Jack Buck on KMOX inspired his dream of becoming a...
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S5E5: In Memory of Hall of Fame sportswriter Rick Hummel
Life At The Ballpark
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 informing him that he had been elected the the writer's wing at the Baseball Hall of Fame, the year that Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. were inducted. He shares stories from his (then) 42 years of Cardinals' Spring Trainings, first in St. Peterburg, then when they...
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S5E4: Tom Ackerman, sports director at KMOX
Life At The Ballpark
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
Life At The Ballpark
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 restrictions. The Hall of Fame sportswriter also reminisces about a couple of Cardinals' Hall of Famers that we've lost in the last year, Tim McCarver and Bruce Sutter.
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S5E2: St. Louis Cardinals' season preview with sport columnist Ben Frederickson
Life At The Ballpark
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 various positions actually be a strength? Ben also reflects on last season's impact of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols on the team and the city of St. Louis.
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S5E1: Stories from the Astrodome with Todd Kalas
Life At The Ballpark
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 the Astros began play in 1965. Harry Kalas was honored with the Ford C. Frick award as lead play-by-play announcer for Philadelphia Phillies, a position he held for 39 seasons. Todd began his MLB career with the New York Mets, then spent three seasons with the Phillies where he got to be near his...
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S4E8 Pt 2: Texas Sports Radio and TV Legend Bill Mercer
Life At The Ballpark
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 days of the Texas sports world. You'll hear Bill talk about what it was like to announce the historic Cowboys/Packers "Ice Bowl" in 1967 in Green Bay where it was 30 below zero. It was so cold the inside of the glass in the press box was iced over and they couldn't see the field. You'll love...
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S4E7 Pt 1: Texas Sports Radio and TV Legend Bill Mercer
Life At The Ballpark
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 Oswald was brought in. In this podcast, Bill shares the story of being the first person to tell Oswald that he had been charged with the murder of the president. He called football play-by-play for the Dallas Texans and the Dallas Cowboys, including their second Super Bowl in 1972 and the legendary Ice...
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S4E6: The Most Bizarre Stories from Baseball History with Tim Hagerty
Life At The Ballpark
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 missing head. The day the New Orleans Pelicans' official mascot Henry the Chimpanzee got loose and chased players around the field, eventually heading to the stands and causing pandemonium for the fans. How a low line drive by the Milwaukee Brewers went down the right field line...
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S4E5: Mike Berger: Milwaukee Brewers Scout - 3rd Generation Baseball Lifer
Life At The Ballpark
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 manager's job for the Florida Marlins but turned it down because he thought he wasn't ready for that level yet. Mike’s father worked for the legendary Branch Rickey who created the baseball farm system, was minor league general manager, and PR director for the Pirates, and was involved with the...
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