On this episode of the Back It Up Binge Podcast, we sit down with former MLB catcher Kirt Manwaring for a conversation that takes us from a small town in upstate New York all the way to the biggest stages in baseball.

Kirt grew up in Horseheads, NY, playing baseball, football and lacrosse before being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round of the 1983 draft. Instead of signing, he chose the college route, eventually landing at Coastal Carolina, where he hit .400, and earned a place in the Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame.

A second-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 1986, Kirt made his major league debut just one year later and walked into a Giants clubhouse loaded with talent; Will Clark, Chili Davis, Matt Williams, Kevin Mitchell and more.

We talk about what it was like entering that clubhouse, playing for Roger Craig and Dusty Baker, getting his first major league hit off Rick Mahler, and experiencing the unforgettable 1989 World Series against the Oakland A’s in the “Earthquake Series.”

Kirt also takes us inside the craft of catching: controlling the running game, the mental side of the position, and eventually winning a Gold Glove in 1993 while leading the National League in caught-stealing percentage.

We also talk about his years with the Giants, Astros and Rockies, and what it was like playing for managers including Terry Collins, Don Baylor and Jim Leyland.

From small-town New York to the major leagues, from his first hit to the World Series, from the clubhouse to life after baseball, this is a great conversation with a catcher who saw the game from one of the most demanding positions on the field.

And, of course, we finish with a Binge Burner Round of rapid-fire questions!

00:00 Intro

00:28 Growing up in Horseheads NY

00:58 Kirt’s Favorite Baseball Team Growing Up

01:20 Kirt’s Favorite Sport to Play in High School

02:18 Drafted by the Red Sox Out of High School But Decided to Go to College Instead

02:53 Path to Coastal Carolina College

03:33 Position Played in High School

03:42 Batting in .400 in Coastal Carolina

04:33 Draft Day Experience

05:13 Moving Through the Minors

06:16 Walking Into the Giants Clubhouse for the First Time

06:55 The Clubhouse Leader

07:47 First Major League Hit

08:47 Playing for Roger Craig and Dusty Baker

10:10 1989 World Series Experience

11:03 1993 Gold Glove Season

12:08 What Happened to the Pitchout in Baseball?

12:55 Toughest Base Stealers

14:17 The Grind of Playing Catcher

15:49 The Art of Pitching Inside

17:04 Playing for Houston and Colorado

18:37 Playing for Terry Collins, Don Baylor and Jim Leyland

20:00 Pitcher’s Most Liked/Least Liked to Call a Game For

21:37 Mound Visits

24:04 New Baseball Rules

31:01 The Art of Hitting – Tony Gwynn

32:54 The Art of Hitting – Keith Hernandez

33:56 Batters Talking in the Box

34:53 Having a Son That Followed the Same Baseball Path

36:34 Post Career Happenings

38:20 Binger Burner Round (Bonds, Dravecky, Helton, Walker, Drabek, Hampton, Bagwell, Biggio, Hampton)

48:07 Outro

Thanks for tuning in and be sure to click FOLLOW for future episodes of the Back It Up Binge Podcast.

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All material used in this video fully complies with fair use law which permits the reuse of the Work in a non-commercial and transformative manner. It does not use the original more than necessary and does not negatively affect the market for the original work. If you do not agree with any material used in the video, just contact us and request the removal of the video, which we will remove immediately.

In this episode, we sit down with former Major League infielder Doug Flynn, a two-time World Series champion, Gold Glove winner and one of the most respected defensive players of his era.

Doug takes us on a journey from his days growing up in Kentucky, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball, to earning a dual scholarship at the University of Kentucky and playing for legendary coach Adolph Rupp. What started as a trip to an open Cincinnati Reds tryout with friends turned into an unlikely path to professional baseball and eventually a spot on one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the famed Big Red Machine.

We discuss Doug's rapid rise through the minor leagues, making his Major League debut with the Reds, winning back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976 alongside Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Tony Pérez, and his memorable first big-league hit against the Dodgers.

Doug shares his perspective on the blockbuster 1977 trade known as the "Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the New York Mets in exchange for Tom Seaver. We also dive into his 1980 Gold Glove season, the historic game in Montreal where he became the first and only Met to hit three triples in a game, and his later stops with the Rangers, Expos, and Tigers.

Along the way, Doug reflects on playing for legendary managers including Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, and Bill Virdon, and what life was like during the 1981 players' strike touring with the Oak Ridge Boys.

From World Series celebrations to Gold Gloves, clubhouse stories, and lessons learned after baseball, this conversation offers a fascinating look at a player whose career intersected with some of the most iconic moments and personalities in baseball history.

Whether you're a fan of the Big Red Machine, the Mets of the late 1970s and early 1980s, or simply love great baseball stories, you won't want to miss this episode with Doug Flynn.

00:00 Intro

00:26 High School Football

01:13 Favorite Athlete Growing Up

02:18 Going to Kentucky and Playing for Adolph Rupp

03:43 Open Tryout With the Reds

06:00 Minor League Career

09:04 Getting a Call From a Hall of Fame Teammate Live

13:26 Playing for the Big Red Machine

16:42 Hall of Fame Discussion

19:49 First Major League Hit and the Ball

21:28 Sacrifice Hits and the Bunt

23:47 Comparing the 1975 and 1976 Reds Teams

25:59 How Pete Rose Described Doug and Was Doug's Versatility and Asset?

27:49 The Midnight Massacre and Being Traded for Tom Seaver

32:30 1980 Gold Glove

35:33 Hitting Three Triples in One Game

38:05 Closing Out Doug’s Career Playing for the Rangers, Expos and Tigers.

42:51 Which Manager Was Best for Doug to Play For - Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, or Bill Virdon

44:19 Facing Carlton, Seaver, Koosman and Grimsley

48:13 Who Did Doug Tour With During The Baseball Strike of 1981

51:18 Binge Burner Round

59:13 Outro

Thanks for tuning in and be sure to leave a comment for Doug.

Please click SUBSCRIBE for future episodes of the Back It Up Binge Podcast.

Donate to Doug's Charity Here:

https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/donate/

#DougFlynn #BigRedMachine #CincinnatiReds #MLBHistory #BaseballHistory #WorldSeriesChampion #BaseballPodcast

FYI

All material used in this video fully complies with fair use law which permits the reuse of the Work in a non-commercial and transformative manner. It does not use the original more than necessary and does not negatively affect the market for the original work. If you do not agree with any material used in the video, just contact us and request the removal of the video, which we will remove immediately.

Doug Plank — “The Original 46” — joins the show for an incredible deep dive into football, toughness, leadership, and life after the game. From growing up in Irwin, Pennsylvania and becoming an All-State running back, to starring at Ohio State Buckeyes football alongside 2x Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Doug shares stories from every stage of his football journey.

Doug talks about overcoming injuries early in college, fighting his way back to the pros, and what it was like walking into the legendary Chicago Bears locker room for the first time. He also reflects on playing under coaches Jack Pardee, Neill Armstrong, and the iconic Mike Ditka.

The conversation dives into the legendary “46 Defense,” how Doug studied quarterbacks as a free safety, the hardest hitters he faced, trash talk on the field, and the famous divide between the Bears’ 1985 offense and defense featured in ESPN’s 30 for 30 coverage.

Doug also opens up about retirement from the NFL, playing in the USFL, coaching in the Arena Football League, and life after football. Plus, we wrap things up with our signature Binge Burner Round.

This is an awesome conversation filled with old-school football stories, NFL history, and behind-the-scenes insight from one of the toughest players of his era.

0:00 Introduction

0:49 All State RB in High School

3:26 High School Baseball Experience

4:59 Destination Ohio State & Irwin, PA Roots

8:03 Doug's First Choice of College

8:54 Letter Writing to Joe Paterno

10:50 Doug's Request to Joe Paterno That Led Him to Ohio State

11:57 Woody Hayes Recruitment of Doug

14:13 PA High School All-Star Game (Big 33 Game) & Penn State coaches

17:02 Doug's First Practice at Ohio State

18:43 Ohio State vs Penn State

19:44 Freshman Year Injury and Its Impact on Doug's Playing Time

23:29 Playing With 2x Heisman Winner Archie Griffin

25:38 Getting Drafted and Walking Into The Bears Locker Room for the First Time

33:56 Playing for Pardee, Armstrong and Ditka

38:46 Any Hard Hits on Doug Plank

42:05 Reading the QBs being a Free Safety

45:04 What Made The “46-D’ Great 50:19 30 for 30 and the Split between the ’86 Beard Offense and Defense

51:48 Retirement from the NFL and Playing in the USFL

54:00 What Players Did Doug Like Playing Against

55:52 Coaching in the Arena Football League

1:00:47 Post Football Retirement Discussion

1:11:51 Binge Burner Round (Wally Chambers, Jim Osborne, Mike Ditka, Gary Fencik)

1:20:59 Trash Talking On The Field

1:25:10 Closing Comments and Outro

Thanks for tuning in and be sure to leave a comment for Doug.

Please click FOLLOW for future episodes of the Back It Up Binge Podcast.

#DougPlank #ChicagoBears #NFLHistory #46Defense #BuddyRyan #AthleteStory #InspiringInterviews #backitupbingepodcast

FYI

All material used in this video fully complies with fair use law which permits the reuse of the Work in a non-commercial and transformative manner. It does not use the original more than necessary and does not negatively affect the market for the original work. If you do not agree with any material used in the video, just contact us and request the removal of the video, which we will remove immediately.