We welcome our Special Guest--Mark Littell, former MLB pitcher, Coach, the inventor of the Nutty Buddy, and Author of two books joins Campy and Lenny for a rip-roaring show of great stories and laughs.  What a blast!  Hear some of his minor league stories, big-league accomplishments, and the invention that has saved many a baseball player's most precious jewels.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Driving ‘em In with Jim Campanis Jr & Eric Lenaburg

Mark Littell, Former MLB Pitcher, Pitching Coach, Inventor, and Author With Fantastic Stories From His Pitching & Coaching Days and More from After Baseball. What A Blast!!

Big thanks to our special guest, Jim “The Rookie” Morris, for joining us for an interesting episode on a very unusual career. In case you missed it, Jim wrote an autobiography about his baseball career that was turned in to a Feature Film by Disney starring Dennis Quaid. Lenny and Campy discussed his “first” career, his teaching and coaching career, and then his “second career” coming back after nearly 10 years off to make it to the majors. Jim discusses his past and details his current career as a Motivational Speaker working with some of the top companies in the world. If you love a great come-back story, and who doesn’t then be sure to check out this episode of “Driving ‘Em In”. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Special Guest, Jim "The Rookie" Morris, Details His Incredible Story and His New Career Paths

Kirk Shrider, High School Head Coach, College Coach, High-Level Collegiate Summer Ball Manager, MLB Scout and a WEALTH of baseball knowledge discusses the importance of Summer ball at this WEIRD time.  Plus the conversation gets into speculation on where the 2020 season will go at levels of the game.  What about the HS Seniors? What about the College Juniors who had a shot get drafted?  What about the draft itself? So many unanswered questions but Kirk helps put everything into perspective with his vast experience and insider baseball information.  This show is must-listen for young players, their parents and baseball fans who love hearing the inside scoop. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Kirk Shrider, High School Coach, College Coach, High Level Collegiate Summer Ball Coach, MLB Scout and a WEALTH of Knowledge Discusses the Importance of Summerball at This WEIRD Time

Desi Relaford was a former teammate with Campy when they both played AA in Jacksonville, FL which is Desi's home town.  They've remained friends ever since.  Desi has more years in the game as anyone else we could think of so what a perfect guest to discuss the baseball topic of this episode--Spring Training!  Desi has 16 of them under his belt with many teams and in many venues.  He talks about the good, bad and ugly of Spring Training from the player's point of view.  What's better as a player--Florida or Arizona Spring Training?  Plus, he discusses his newest adventure--returning to pro baseball in France and getting into shape at 48 for Spring Training.  You'll enjoy this inside take on the kick-off to the season.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Desi Relaford, 17 Year Pro with 11 in the MLB, Discusses Spring Training and His New Adventure--Returning to Pro Baseball in France!

What a blast Campy and Lenny had interviewing the talented and very funny Seth Swirsky, who is a top-selling baseball author, and also a Grammy-nominated songwriter.  Plus, he is a WORLD CLASS baseball collector who has owned some very interesting items like the ball that squeaked through Boston Red Sox Bill Buckner's legs.  Listen to his fantastic stories from the music business like getting schmoozed by a Beatle, writing songs for legendary singers and making a documentary about the Beatles, but his love for baseball shines through this fun interview. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Seth Swirsky, Songwriter, Author, and World Class Baseball Collector is our Special Guest

 Angel's Legend, Bobby Grich, is one of Campy and Lenny's favorites.  He was a tough player that played the game with grit and determination throughout his 17 year MLB career but also liked to have a good time.  Listen to his AWESOME story about pouring a beer over the head of former President, Richard Nixon!  Plus, he details his role as the President of the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America also known as the APBPA including their upcoming fundraising dinner on Saturday, November 9th at the Diamond Club in Anaheim Stadium.  Tickets are still on sale at APBPA.org for just $80 and ANYONE can attend.  You don't need to be a former player or coach.  Join the fun and meet dozens of former players, scouts, and coaches telling the best baseball stories anywhere.   The APBPA helps former players, not on pensions, who are going through tough times.  Currently, 36 players are on a monthly stipend to help them through.  If you can't make the dinner, become an honorary member at APBPA.org and help the cause. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Bobby Grich, Angel's Legend, Tells Great Stories and Talks About the APBPA Dinner on November 9th at Anaheim Stadium

Jon Huizinga, AKA Coach Zinger, believes in a holistic approach to baseball training. That means nutrition, mechanics/technique, approach, preparation, physical conditioning, mental conditioning, are all equally important for the athlete. Nutrition is where it all starts. Without the proper fuel, it would be silly to think you will have peak performance.  Listen as Jon talks about details of his training and how his approach is helping players get to the next level including a first-round pick from 2018. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Jon Huizinga, Pitching Guru, Talks about Training, Diet, Mechanics and the Mental Approach

Perry Barber, Woman Umpire, who umpired at every level of baseball, PLUS, shared the stage with Rock Music legends shares her awesome stories.  Listen to her passionately describe how she calls balls and strikes and keeps the game moving.  Then she describes her time as a singer/songwriter sharing the stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar and more!  Very interesting interview from a Trailblazer! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Perry Barber, Woman Umpire, Who Umpired At Every Level Of Baseball, Shares Her Stories

Author, Ian Kahanowitz, talks about his new book, "Baseball Gods in Scandal" .   On September 25, 1919, a seemingly meaningless game was played between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, a game that should have faded to a tiny line item on MLB’s historical ledger. But Herbert "Dutch" Leonard had other ideas, and nearly seven years later the at-times brilliant and always irratic left-hand pitcher presented letters written by Ty Cobb and Smoky Joe Wood to baseball's powers that be, implicating the Baseball Gods in the fixing of and wagering on that game. Leonard's actions set off a chain of accusations, denials, resignations, player transactions, and a power struggle at the top of baseball’s power hierarchy that would change the game forever. Baseball Gods in Scandal is three stories in one, and author Ian Kahanowitz tells them all with the art of a storyteller and the precision of an historian: The pervasiveness of gambling and crooked dealings in the early days of baseball, all the way through to the Black Sox Scandal The relationship between the affair’s complex protagonists—Cobb, Tris Speaker, Smoky Joe Wood, and Dutch Leonard—with detailed profiles and ample color from baseball’s rough-and-tumble Dead Ball Era The epic battle for control of the game between the long-time Czar of Baseball, Ban Johnson, and the game’s new sheriff in town, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who cared not to share even a whiff of power with anyone Capping off Baseball Gods in Scandal is a never-before-published interview with Smoky Joe Wood (told to Lawrence Ritter for The Glory of Their Times) in which Wood recounts a very different version of the affair from his original testimony. It is safe to say that had Wood's original testimony been consistent with his revised account, the fates of Baseball Gods Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker may have turned out very differently. https://www.summergamebooks.com/titles/upcoming/baseball-gods-in-scandal-ty-cobb,-tris-speaker,-and-the-dutch-leonard-affair-detail  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Author, Ian Kahanowitz, talks about his new book, "Baseball Gods in Scandal" . You'll love the interesting stories from the Dead Ball Era with legends like Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker

Lenny and Campy had a blast discussing how Author, Eric Gray, got the idea for his new book, "Bases to Bleachers", featuring stories written by baseball fans he met all over the world.  Listen as he tells us the process and then reads a number of these short stories ranging from their favorite games to watching baseball in another country to his own family's experiences going to SF Giants games over the years.  Awesome stories!! Here's a book description from the site:  BasesToBleachers.com One day during an afternoon at the ball park, author Eric Gray asked his wife, daughter, and friend to identify their favorite game that they had been to.  Little did he know, that simple question would soon take on a life of its own. As the question made its way to family members, friends, friends of friends, strangers and beyond, it gave way to a surprising collection of incredibly diverse stories and perspectives. Thus, Bases to Bleachers was born. Much more than your average baseball book, the many special and unique stories shared with readers here, whether they’re about watching or playing, either at the Major League level or Little League, represent a wide gamut of experiences. Some entail meeting the stars or attending famous games—and some offered are personal, intimate moments involving family connections and the importance of baseball in people’s lives. Unlike most baseball books, this is not a biography, or a discussion of a team, or analysis of a season. Baseball here is a setting in which both astounding feats and some of the most beautifully touching moments in peoples’ lives have happened. Whether it’s the first game, falling in love at the park, or even a beloved baseball glove that survived World War II, these stories are about more than just baseball. They reflect the joys, triumphs, and disappointments of the human condition, and often illustrate what’s truly important in life—those things we hold most dear in our hearts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Author, Eric Gray, Talks About His New Book, "Bases To Bleachers", With AWESOME Baseball Stories Written By Fans

FORMER PHILLIES GROUNDSKEEPER, MARK CARFAGNO, HAS BEEN ON A MISSION TO INFORM BASEBALL FANS ON WHY 60'S AND 70'S ALL STAR, DICK ALLEN, DESERVES TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.  IN 2014, DICK ALLEN MISSED BEING INDUCTED BY ONE VOTE!  HE IS BACK ON THE BALLOT FOR 2020 AND MARK GIVES US SOME FANTASTIC STATISTICAL PROOF AS TO WHY DICK SHOULD BE ELECTED.  AFTER HEARING THIS SHOW, YOU TOO WILL AGREE THAT THE GREAT DICK ALLEN SHOULD BE ENSHRINED IN THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

MARK CARFAGNO, FORMER PHILLIES GROUNDKEEPER, IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO GET DICK ALLEN INTO THE HOF!

This episode is like a history lesson in early baseball.  To hear how fragile the beginning of organized baseball was from a great granddaughter of Doc Adams, the inventor of modern baseball is amazing!  Consider this--without Doc's tireless efforts to unite various regions with the same rules, field dimensions and even baseballs and bats, America's Pastime could have never materialized into anything more than a kid's game.  Hear Marjorie proudly talk about her relative with keen knowledge and passion especially the effort to get Doc Adams inducted into the Hall of Fame.  If you think you know baseball's early history, this show will teach you a few things.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Marjorie Adams, a Great-Granddaughter of Doc Adams, the Inventor of Modern Baseball Discusses His Contributions to the Game

Jon Leonoudakis, a friend of both Campy and Lenny, talks about his really cool baseball themed projects like "The Sweet Spot" that featured an episode with Campy and his dad, Jimmy Sr.  This was like a conversation hanging out at a Sports Bar.  Lots of fun discussion on interesting topics Jon has presented in his movies.  Plus, a list of his favorite baseball movies of all time and he rattled off several we'd never heard of.  Any baseball fan will love this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Jon Leonoudakis, Movie Producer, talks about his baseball theme projects and his favorite rare baseball movies

Rick Burleson, 13 year MLB veteran and 4X All-Star Shortstop talked to Campy & Lenny about the thrill of being selected by the fans for the Mid-Summer Classic.  It was so cool as he described each game and how he was a part of it--even the game on crutches.  You'll love his baseball stories from the 70's and 80's especially the memories from the roster of his former teammates with the Red Sox and Angels.  Great stuff! Plus, Lenny asks him where he got his famous nickname, "Rooster".  Interesting answer! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Rick Burleson, 13 year & 4X MLB All-Star Talks About the Thrill of Being Selected By the Fans and Much More

When you have the opportunity to speak with a baseball lifer like Coach Tom Gamboa, you realize how drastically things in the game have changed.  Tom talked about scouting future first round picks armed with a back notebook and stop watch.  He talks about managing in the low minors with NO OTHER COACHES!  Just himself throwing 3 full rounds of batting practice everyday, working with pitchers and catchers and also running the game ALONE.  Amazing!  He discusses winter ball in Puerto Rico, analytics and why he's happy he retired when he did plus he talks about his recent book, available on Amazon called, "Tom Gamboa, My Life In Baseball".  Super interesting conversation every fan will enjoy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

Tom Gamboa, 44 year MLB Coach & Scout Talks About the Changes in Baseball Over the Years

“Driving ‘em In with Jim Campanis Jr & Eric Lenaburg” is a baseball themed podcast recorded while Campy is driving home, through the parking lot of LA’s freeway system, from his job at an ad agency that specializes in podcast advertising. Listen as Campy and Eric discuss all things baseball with their former teammates, former players, announcers, expert analysts, superfans, and lots of surprises. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-campanis-jr/support

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Driving ‘em In with Jim Campanis Jr & Eric Lenaburg

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