Baseball Journeys

Mike and Scott conclude their conversation with the Reed family, brothers Jeremy and Mark and their dad Dennie. The Reeds make the transition from professional baseball players to Major and Minor League coaches. Along the way they find a passion for investing in others and work along side some of the greatest players managers and coaches in the game while never losing their strong family values and appreciation for the relationships their involvement in the game has brought their way.

Meet the Reed Family. The Bell Boys finally catch up with their life-long friends who share their baseball journey in the first of a two-part series. Jeremy and Mark Reed have made a career of professional baseball as players and coaches in the minor and major leagues. Their bond with their older brother and parents runs far deeper than the brickdust of a ballfield. Throughout the roller coaster ride of a baseball life their strength comes from their faith and their deep love for one another.

Rejoin the Bell Boys as they complete a two part interview with Andy Strasberg who realized a lifelong dream of working in Major League Baseball. Andy continues his special relationship with Roger Maris and his family and embarks on a long career in baseball that left a lasting impact on how we all experience the game.

Meet Andy Strasberg, a Bronx-born baseball fan who, in the early 1960's bucked the Mickey Mantle band wagon for his lesser known teammate Roger Maris which led to a lifelong friendship with the quiet home-run hitter and his family. Andy has told this and many other great stories from his life in baseball at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and many other venues across the country.

Author Brad Balukjian joins the Bell Boys to discuss his baseball journey tracking down the players he found in a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, including his all-time favorite, Phillies left-hander Don Carman. A college professor by trade, Brad ventured out in the summer of 2015 finding and speaking with most of the players in his pack of cards. He chronicled the adventure in the book, Wax Pack, a great baseball read which reminds us all that ballplayers are human like the rest of us, especially once the lights go out on the game of summer.

Join Baseball Journeys for Part two of Chad Zerbe's amazing career as he ascends the minor league ranks for the San Francisco Giants just time to be part of the 2002 World Series team where he not only gets into three games but comes away with a Game 5 victory. A very special guest joins Chad as he recounts his time with Dusty Baker's Giants.

Relive the emotional baseball journey of Chad Zerbe, a crafty left-handed pitcher from Florida who endured a nine-year minor league odyssey before realizing his dream of pitching in the big leagues for Dusty Baker's San Francisco Giants.

The Bell Boys, along with some special guests pay tribute to the legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. Growing up in Southern California gave the boys an opportunity to listen to Vin night after night, forging deep and meaningful memories that have lasted a lifetime. So pull up a chair and recall your own Vinny memories with the Bell Boys.

Join the Stevens family; Dad, Nolan and Luke, as they describe an epic summer road trip that took them and their entire baseball team across the country to play in Iowa at the Field of Dreams and New York at the Cooperstown Dream Fields...a 27-day, 8000 mile journey they'll never forget.

For Dan Henley the game was literally in his DNA. His dad Gail was a baseball lifer as a player, scout and minor league manager. In a career that spanned 40 years, Dan etched his own legacy, playing with and for some legends of the game before leaving his imprint on generations of Southern California students and athletes in the classroom and on the field.

Take a trip back in time to post-war Cleveland, where a 13-year old farm girl sees the heroes she had only heard before, who, while on their way to the last World Series Championship the city has ever seen forged a story that left an indelible mark on the game and the country.

in Part 2, Connie has an epic encounter with the Boys of Summer at Vero Beach, a life changing detour courtesy of Uncle Sam, a great comeback in '61, then makes a decision that sets the course for realizing his true passion....along the way, he befriends hall-of-famers and bus-driving minor league managers, with a final defining moment on a ball field in Mexico City. You will never forget Connie Muñatones, the power-hitting prospect from East L.A.

Meet Conrad "Connie" Muñatones. Born in 1930's Aliso Village in East. L.A., he played ball at fabled Evergreen Park, Roosevelt High School and UCLA before becoming the first local Latino to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers after their move from Brooklyn in 1958. In Part 1 Connie recalls the impact of a coach and a community that shaped his early baseball journey and prepared him for many big moments on the diamond and in life.

Chuck's baseball journey does not stop after his pro ball days. The game takes him to three continents and back to his beloved Cal Poly Pomona where he assumes the coaching reigns from his mentor John Scolinos, only to embark once more into a mission of service that continues to guide his steps to this day.

Chuck Belk overcame early baseball setbacks to forge a path from high school bench warmer to college and professional champion, college coach and baseball emissary. In Part 1 of his story, Chuck recalls legendary coaches and a persistent belief in his ability to compete at a high level helped him beat the baseball odds and accomplish much more in the game than even he thought was possible.

Our first non-family guest on Baseball Journeys went from an unsigned NAIA infielder, to an international collegiate all-star to St. Louis Cardinal farmhand in the span of a few furious weeks of baseball in 1978. Join Mike as he interviews good friend Pat Proulx who, after a stellar college career spent five years in the Redbirds system.

A very special guest steals the show in Part 2 of Mike's Journey. A life-changing encounter, a legendary college coach, lean times, a moment in the sun and a midnight finale in the desert completes Mike's journey...at least for now.

Brad interviews Uncle Mike who fills in the gap in the the Bell Boys Baseball Journey. Inspired by the "Pioneer" and a great coach, Mike's love of the game was forged behind the plate and on the hill. A sandlot fusion of the "wild thing" and "pig pen", win or lose, this character leaves it all on the field.

Scott returns to share the details of his pioneering baseball journey. As the elder statesman of the Bell Boys he ventured out from the backyard sandlot into the uncharted waters of organized ball. Scott went from a two-inning per game rookie to a perennial all-star during his 11-year career and eventually circled back to coach kids who would go on to play college and pro ball. The Bell Boys baseball journey may have never happened if Scott had not overcome some initial adversity and stuck with a game both fraught with failure, and wrapped in joy. He truly paved the way.

Retrace the baseball journey of Joe and his son Brad. Epic Little League bombs, high school heroics, baseball in Big Sky Country and a Mickey Mantle thread from beginning to end. Their story may remind you of your own.

Follow the incredible pioneering Bell Boy baseball road trip with brother Scott who at 15 decides to ride his ten speed 30 miles to just be near the 1974 World Series at Dodger Stadium....he and his friend are rewarded for their daring deed in a most unexpected and unforgettable way.

Join Brad and his Dad Joe as they recount an epic 2005 baseball road trip through the midwest. Four games, big stars, memorable moments, a baseball angel and a permanent scar as a Wrigley souvenier.

Explore and relive your own baseball journey and the connections made through the game as Uncle Mike and Brad discuss baseball stadium road trips in this debut episode. (Note: the title has changed from Baseball Connections to Baseball Journeys, hang in there as we learn the podcasting workflow...thank you for listening)