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. 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.
