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Park Bench Perspectives - Episode 23 - From Newport Beach to Little League Sponsors: Donuts, Old Teams, and Old Maps

Carlos Figueroa and co-host Mike Hammer open the Park Bench Perspective podcast with Hammer reporting from a bench in Newport Beach, describing crowded coffee and donut spots and local landmarks like Blackie’s and the pier. The conversation shifts to childhood baseball in St. Louis Park, recalling sponsored teams such as Winn Stevens Buick, Lupient Oldsmobile, Rudolph’s Barbecue, Roto-Rooter, Park National Bank, Burger King, Minnesota Rubber, and others, plus memories of working at Lupient and early Babe Ruth experiences. They trade donut and restaurant nostalgia (Krispy Kreme, Nelson Brothers, Toby’s, Monte Carlo and its missing open-face roast beef), discuss old-school navigation with AAA triptychs and map books versus exit numbers, note Colorado’s altered mile marker 420, and close by asking listeners about forgotten school and team nicknames while sharing an update that Carlos’s sister Michelle is walking again.

00:00 Theme Song Intro
00:31 Podcast Welcome
00:56 Newport Beach Report
02:04 Beach Town Memories
02:32 Little League Sponsors
04:30 Lupient Dealership Days
06:55 More Team Sponsors
08:53 Babe Ruth Bench Stories
13:52 Donut Shop Culture
15:44 Mister Donut Flashback
16:30 Cops And Donuts Bit
17:05 Slot Machine Nostalgia
18:02 Krispy Kreme Boom And Bust
19:25 Giant Donut Road Stops
20:03 Cranberry Fritter Sandwich
21:15 Monte Carlo Memories
22:54 Mavericks And Roast Beef Talk
24:06 School Mascot Debates
26:02 City Borders And District Lines
28:21 Old School Navigation
30:07 Exit Numbers And Mile 420
31:59 Remote Episode Wrap Up

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