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Benjamin Hill reflects on his unexpected 20-year journey chronicling minor league baseball's unique culture, business, and fan experiences. His career path from temp jobs to becoming baseball's preeminent voice on minor league culture demonstrates the surprising ways passion can turn into profession.

• Started in 2005 through a recommendation from ball hawk Zach Hample, whom he met on Craigslist
• Created his own beat covering "the business and culture of minor league baseball" when no such position existed
• Witnessed the evolution of team names from traditional to outlandish (El Paso Chihuahuas, Hartford Yard Goats, Rocket City Trash Pandas)
• Conducts regular road trips to document minor league ballparks, developing his "designated eater" concept after being diagnosed with celiac disease
• Shares nostalgic memories of defunct teams like the Bakersfield Blaze and Jamestown Jammers
• Uses baseball as a "contextualizer" to explore cities across America that might otherwise be overlooked
• Observed the evolution of ballpark food from basic concessions to creative regional specialties
• Collects minor league t-shirts for his four-year-old son with plans to eventually make them into a quilt

You can find Ben Hill on Twitter/X @Ben's Biz, Instagram @TheBen'sBiz, through his newsletter "The Baseball Traveler," and on the "Before the Show" podcast.

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Sandlot Goods transforms from a small leather goods company to a thriving hat manufacturer after pivoting to make face masks during the pandemic. Thomas McIntyre shares the entrepreneurial journey behind their handcrafted products, including their popular Yard Ball and partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

• Building a brand identity while also functioning as a manufacturer for other brands
• Finding marketing success by showcasing the manufacturing process rather than hiding it
• Approaching collaborations strategically to elevate the Sandlot brand
• Creating the Yard Ball from a ball of blue painter's tape around the office
• Pivoting from face mask production to hat manufacturing during the pandemic
• Partnering with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to preserve baseball history
• Setting ambitious 10-year goals while staying true to handcrafted quality
• Future aspirations to create licensed NFL and MLB hats

Find us on Instagram @SandlotGoods and check out our products at sandlotgoods.com.

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Thomas, CEO of Sandlot Goods, shares the story behind their American-made hats and leather products, explaining how quality manufacturing and positive workplace culture create products meant to last generations.

• Founded with the belief that everyone needs their own "sandlot" – a place where they work hard at something they love
• Started as a leather goods company before expanding into high-quality, American-manufactured hats
• Produces approximately 1500-1600 hats weekly through a meticulous 20+ step sewing process
• Uses duck canvas as their signature material, creating durable hats that develop character with wear
• Maintains rigorous quality control standards while balancing production needs
• Employs core values like positivity and pride in work to shape company culture and reduce turnover
• Creates custom hats for companies and other brands, including the New Heights podcast
• Planning limited edition releases featuring rare, unique materials in the coming year
• Focused on making high-quality products accessible rather than luxury-priced

Check out their Negro Leagues partnership hats and other merchandise at the Sandlot Goods website, where you'll find American-made quality that's built to last.

Sandlot Goods: https://sandlotgoods.com/

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Curved Brim Media: https://curvedbrimmedia.com/

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Card collecting is evolving beyond the stereotype of older, middle-aged men, with collectors of all ages and backgrounds entering the hobby for different reasons and with different approaches to building their collections.

• Card value varies based on rarity factors like special prints, patches, and autographs
• The pandemic caused an overnight explosion in collecting when people at home rekindled their interest
• Setting a separate account for card purchases helps maintain financial boundaries
• Collect what you like rather than chasing prospects or market hype
• Cards with personal meaning often bring more joy than those with high monetary value
• The social aspect of collecting connects people at shows and through trading communities
• Modern collecting spans multiple sports, creating diverse collector identities


Check us out on all social media platforms and don't forget to catch the Dad Had Chronicle Sports Show, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

Ashley: https://x.com/JunkWaxQueen

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Ashley, known as Junk Wax Queen on social media, shares how she transformed from card collecting novice to passionate enthusiast after her husband introduced her to the hobby during COVID lockdowns. What began as a way to pass time together became a serious pursuit with organized binders, display walls, and dedicated collecting strategies.

• Started collecting during COVID when her husband suggested opening packs together
• Prefers older cards while her husband collects modern releases
• Created a "junk wax" wall display after joking about worthless cards being turned into wallpaper
• Organizes collection meticulously with separate binders by sport in alphabetical order
• Maintains a dedicated Vince Carter collection with one treasured card on a necklace chain
• Travels up to five hours to attend card shows, focusing on affordable "dollar boxes"
• Sets a specific budget for card purchases by allocating money to a dedicated account
• Enjoys sharing duplicate cards with other collectors who are completing sets
• Balancing collecting with family needs, especially accommodating her autistic son at events

Follow us on all social media platforms for updates, and catch Ed's DHC Sports Show Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 PM Eastern on YouTube. Make sure to share this episode with at least one other person!

https://x.com/JunkWaxQueen

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Val and I continue our conversations on baseball traditions and ballpark essentials while diving into surprising team predictions and the controversial topic of MLB salary regulations.

• Essential ballpark gear for content creators including lighting equipment, tripods, and portable chargers
• Strategies for collecting meaningful stadium mementos like pins and magnets instead of accumulating hats
• The implementation and effectiveness of RoboUmps in Triple-A and potential MLB adoption
• Analysis of how modern baseball rivalries differ between passionate fans and friendlier player relationships
• Discussion of potential team relocations including the Athletics to Sacramento and Tampa Bay Rays' future
• Exploration of the salary cap debate and why a salary floor might be more beneficial first
• Excitement for evolving baseball merchandise trends beyond traditional hat providers

We're always looking for guests who participate in sports beyond baseball - if you know a professional athlete in another sport who'd like to join us, reach out!

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Baseball traditions and pre-season excitement build as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, marking the official countdown to Opening Day and the start of the 2025 MLB season.

• Personal baseball traditions including buying a new hat each season and organizing jerseys by division
• Updates on the upcoming Curveprint Media Meetup in Chicago on June 22-23
• Potential plans for an Arizona Fall League meetup later this year
• Bucket list baseball trips for 2025 including Northwoods League and the Portland Pickles
• Most memorable moments from the 2024 season including the All-Star festivities and playoff highlights
• Exciting new food offerings at MLB stadiums including the Orioles' $5 menu items and the Astros' "Mac Daddy Dog"
• American Family Field's new food park section development
• Growing trend of minor league teams focusing on food, merchandise and year-round entertainment options
• Predictions for top teams in the 2025 season

Join us Tuesday and Thursday at 9 PM Eastern for the Dad Hat Chronicles Sports Show on YouTube where we'll be breaking down each MLB division as baseball season approaches.

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A former pro cyclist shares her journey through the highs and lows of competitive cycling, discussing the importance of nutrition, training, and mental resilience. Katie's insights reveal the complexity of preparation and life after competing.

• Exploration of the unique challenges and experiences of pro cyclists

• Importance of nutrition in maintaining energy and performance

• Balancing various training demands for optimal performance

• Coping strategies for the mental aspects of cycling

• Transitioning from competitive cycling to managing teams

• Importance of community and support in the cycling world

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