Barrel It Up

Why do some baseball players still play baseball, not softball, into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s? Welcome to Barrel It Up. I'm your host, Jay Ciambrone. This show will delve into the reasons that these individuals still find the game irresistible. After being involved in the world of baseball for decades, I've discovered that many of these players have fascinating stories to share, stories that should be heard by our wider audience and not just their fellow players. Come join us and find out what's so compelling about these personal journeys. Follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Loun Part 1 02/07/2025

Loun Part 1 A chance to explore Don's new book "Major League Shutout Debut". Find out how a player was found in 1960 since the wasn't a draft like today. What is the path to the majors through all the minor league levels. Don met many of the greats from that era as he rose the ladder. Please leave comments at [email protected]. Don's book is available through Amazon. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/35177700

Ribbecki Part 3 01/31/2025

Ribbecki Part 3 There was just so much more to talk to Tom about a third show was needed. We learn what music Tom plays now and what he started playing. How long does it take to make one of his guitars and who are some of those that play them. Comments to /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/35033520

Ribbecki Part 2 01/24/2025

Ribbecki Part 2 We have a chance to delve into Tom's other passion of makeing Arch Back Guitars. He tells us about creating the Hafling guitar. Most of all we learn what it is to be a Lutherie! In addition Tom has been able to help a lot of young people along the way. If you want to find out how to reach Tom let us know at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34900890

Ribbecki Part 1 01/17/2025

Ribbecki Part 1 Tom talks to us about what it is like start playing baseball after playing softball for about 30 years. What does it take to make that transition and those that helped him along the way. Why in your 70's decide you want to pitch. Does he have a mentor to make it happen? Please send comments to [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34889235

Williams Part 2 01/10/2025

Williams Part 2 Much more this time on why Tim's book was written and the people who inspired it. Also another poem and a reading from the book. Tim lets us in on why writing and when it started. His book is available from Amazon (Baseball: In and Out of Time). If you go to [email protected] you can find out about his other writing and other works his company publishes. Comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34611230

Williams Part 1 01/03/2025

Williams Part 1 Awesome description from Tim on why we still get to play as we age. He shares why he stopped playing in high school. Then why he started playing again. Plus we got to hear one of Tim's poems from his book (Baseball: In and Out of Time). Please leave comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34611215

Recap show 12/27/2024

Recap show Recap of all the great people that we have had on the podcast for 2024. Please leave comments at [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34611210

Wright Part 2 12/20/2024

Wright Part 2 Much more in depth this time about how softball changed so quickly at UCLA. A Club sport when she started to a varsity sport with full time coaching by the time she left. Hear from her about playing on the same team with Ann Meyers. Check out the International Women's Baseball center. . please leave comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34204310

Wright Part 1 12/13/2024

Wright Part 1 It's not just the guys still playing baseball as seniors. We hear from Charlene about how she got started in softball at UCLA when it was just a club sport. Baseball didn't come until much later in life. Please leave comments at [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34204265

Prendergast Part 2 12/06/2024

Prendergast Part 2 Get a taste of what it's like to run a 3 week baseball tournament. Find out the issues that most often arise. Hear about those that have been a great part of the 37 year run of the tournament that are no longer with us. Contact the organization at . Please leave comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/34204205

Jeffrey Lowery 11/29/2024

Jeffrey Lowery Jeff provides videos with play by play for teams playing in major baseball tournaments. He takes us through the journey of doing his own announcing of major league games as a child to his career at Apnvideo today. Would you like him to do your game? reach him at . Please leave comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33839137

Prendergast Part 1 11/22/2024

Prendergast Part 1 Hear from Tom about youth baseball but also being into hockey. A gap from baseball until senior baseball came along. What is it like to play hockey on the same team with your children both male and female? Please leave comments at [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33673997

Weinstein Part 2 11/15/2024

Weinstein Part 2 Find out how someone gets to go to both MIT and Harvard. Not only that but evidentually Stanford. In between the pluses and minuses of work on a secret government project. Details still secret to this day. Hear about Joel's involvment with the Sierra Club. How did they stop a big project that had big name backing. Please leave comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33287217

Weinstein Part 1 11/08/2024

Weinstein Part 1 Joel tells us what its like to go to that first fantasy camp. it didn't go well. the second one went much better. Then finding senior base ball that he still does at 85. Find out the differences between two major senior leagues. Comments at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33287172

Spelman Part 2 11/01/2024

Spelman Part 2 Steve shows us the path to decide between being a doctor and a dentist. Why the decision to practice as a dentist in Las Vegas. He will explain how he became the number one dentist in Las Vegas for so many years. An honor bestowed by his fellow dentists. How should a dentist treat their patients. Please send comments to [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33224522

Spelman Part 1 10/25/2024

Spelman Part 1 growing up in the north bay area Steve tells us about the competition for a place on the roster in several sports. Playing alongside others destined for a professional career. What it was like playing Softball (fast and slow) until Senior baseball came along. Baseball is not his only sport! Please leave a comment if you can at [email protected]. See the schedule of upcoming podcasts on page 5 of . /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33224397

Peter Funt Part 2 10/18/2024

Peter Funt Part 2 Peter Funt tells us what is like to be involved in the family business from the age of 3. The family business is Candid Camera. So many stories to tell us about meeting childhood heroes. We are also priviliged to here about interviews with such people as OJ Simpson, beauty queens, and especially The Reverand Martin Luther King. Find out about his most recent book Inside Fantasy Football that just came out. Find out about that book and others at . Any questions or comments on our podcasts at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33224382

Peter Funt Part 1 10/11/2024

Peter Funt Part 1 growing up in New York and seeing Yankee games with your Dad can help create a lifetime love of the game. There can be difficulties though when there is another sport that is competing for your time. Why does baseball eventually win out? Comments please at [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/33224347

Steve LaMontia Part 2 10/04/2024

Steve LaMontia Part 2 Steve LaMontia is back to show us where baseball has led him. An occupation where he interviews those players that have not been able to give up the game like himself. A brief glimpse into the work its takes to keep a large baseball organization operating. Some great baseball stories. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32934577

Steve LaMontia Part 1 09/27/2024

Steve LaMontia Part 1 Steve LaMontia talks to us about how a baseball life is not always a straight line. He talks about how work and family can delay but not stop the desire for the game. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32934562

Player, Manager, Umpire Part 2 09/20/2024

Player, Manager, Umpire Part 2 Baseball leads to other persuits. Ted has added baseball and softball umpiring. Plus football and basketball refereeing. Hear the why and the relationship with players, coaches and fans. Ted talks to us about working during baseball Hall of Fame festivities for several years. Hear about those that attend the gala weekend. Please send comments to [email protected]. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32802282

Reimbold Player, Manager 09/13/2024

Reimbold Player, Manager baseball was always there even when only softball was available. However, softball led to baseball again. Bill shows us what it takes to run a successful adult team. See how running a successful business and a team go hand in hand. send comments to [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32768312

Player, Manager, Umpire Part 1 09/06/2024

Player, Manager, Umpire Part 1 Your pro player Dad is your first coach. That propells you to a life in Baseball. One thing leads to another and now you are a team manger. Then that leads to managing tournament teams for many years even though you have moved from coast to coast. Thats the journey of Ted Poleto. Please leave comments about Barrel it Up at [email protected] /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32766717

The Learakos Brothers Part 2 08/30/2024

The Learakos Brothers Part 2 As with all our guests these brothers have led very interesting lives outside of baseball. For Ted we explore becoming a chef and working in the family restaurant business. Then moving to a career in the mortgage field for forty four years now. We ask about where the market is now and how it got that way. For Mike we find out about the family restaurants and how they worked together. Mike's experience runs the gamut of the food business. Listen to a facinating story of the familys experience providing food for the LA Angels. Plus how a many years charity baseball game came out of a tournament game played in Las Vegas. Mike tells us about the food recovery group that he has been involved with for a number of years Abound Food Care. Find out mre about Abound Food Care at . Contact Ted through . The charity game at Angel Stadium through . /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32500812

The Learakos Brothers Part 1 08/23/2024

The Learakos Brothers Part 1 The beginning of our conversation with Ted and Mike about how their whole life in baseball began. We get their views on why they have continued to play and what the game has meant to them. We find out who the mentors were that guided their journey. Plus we get to enjoy their relationship through the years and how it involved the game of Baseball. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32500767

Music in the life of a senior baseball player 08/16/2024

Music in the life of a senior baseball player The second part of our discussion with Jeryl Thompson. Here we delve into his life in music. Starting with hitting those drums at age 3. Out of high school he started playing with more professional bands. Eventually landing at Motown records as a producer and song writer. You have heard many of his songs on TV and the movies. He is also involved with an organization his mother started in Florida. An organization That continues to provide disadvantaged youth an oppertunity at a better life. That organization is the Gifford Youth Orchestra. Her name is Rev. Dr. Crytal Bujol. You can find more about the Orchestra at or . /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/31889752

A baseball life starting at age 3 08/09/2024

A baseball life starting at age 3 The start of our discussion with Jeryl Thompson about his progress in baseball starting at age 3. Baseball came back in his life over 30 years later. He talks about how baseball affects a life. Baseball teaches how to overcome adversity. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32447422

From Player to League President Part 2 08/02/2024

From Player to League President Part 2 Continuing with Jef Brown on what it is like to be a league President? Exploring how a senior league works and what kind of players are part of it. Also the positives and negatives of operating a league. Plus a few of the many funny stories amassed over the years. Senior players can be interesting!!!! /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32099912

From Player to League President Part 1 07/26/2024

From Player to League President Part 1 We are exploring the journey of Jef Brown from Little Leaguer to a Senior league President. Who were the mentors that paved the way. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/32099757

The World of Coaching High School Baseball 07/19/2024

The World of Coaching High School Baseball In this episode we explore Donn Johnson's experiences as a High School Freshman coach. What are the relationships with both Players and parents in todays game? How have those relationships changed over the years. We also discuss a topic very much in the news of late. The loss of game officials like umpires due to the abuse they recieve both during and after games. /episode/index/show/889a038a-0f1b-4a4c-b401-0c5bce9ccb75/id/31870192

Barrel It Up

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