On this episode of Back It Up Binge Podcast, JB is joined by returning co-host Futures for an incredible conversation with former New York Giants Super Bowl champion Phil McConkey.

Phil takes us through his remarkable journey from growing up in Buffalo and attending the United States Naval Academy, to serving as a Navy helicopter pilot before making the unlikely jump back into professional football at 27 years old. We discussed his return to the game after five years of military service and his connection to the Belichick’s.

Phil shares what it was like entering the Giants locker room in the 1980s under Bill Parcells, battling through the legendary NFC East, and building relationships with teammates during one of the franchise’s greatest eras.

We dive deep into the unforgettable Super Bowl XXI run, including behind-the-scenes stories from the Giants’ playoff dominance, the famous fake punt, trick plays against Denver, and Phil’s iconic moments in the game alongside Phil Simms and Mark Bavaro. Phil even tells the unbelievable story of what he discovered on the field during the postgame celebration.

We close things out discussing life after football, including Phil’s work with veteran-owned investment bank Academy Securities and a fun Binge Burner Round featuring some Giants legends. A tremendous episode filled with football history, military service, leadership, perseverance, and stories Giants, and NFL fans will absolutely love.

0:00 Introduction

1:12 Growing up in Buffalo

4:09 Choosing the Naval Academy

6:18 The Naval Academy and McConkey Family Links

7:43 Getting Back to the NFL

10:41 What It Was Like Walking into the Giants Locker Room for the First Time

14:30 Adjusting to an NFL Locker Room After Five Years of Military Service

17:22 Who Became Phil's Close Friend on the Giants

21:07 The WR or Special Teams’ Player Phil Made a Point to Watch

23:04 Toughest CB/DB Phil Faced

25:14 Was There One NFC East Team That Elevated the Giants The Week of the Game

27:09 Release in 1986 and Returning to the Giants

31:00 Team Mentality in 1986

32:22 Memorable Plays from Super Bowl XXI

41:14 Impact of Not Winning a Super on a Players Legacy

42:41 Phil’s on Field Discovery After Winning the Super Bowl

46:02 Playing for Bill Parcells

49:33 Bill Parcells Motivating Phil

52:14 Phil Simms

54:55 Post NFL Career Discussion

59:46 Binge Burner Round

1:06:58 Outro

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

Please 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, I sit down with former Major League pitcher Jim Colborn for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the box score. From an unexpected brush with Hollywood, working on a major motion picture alongside an A-list actor, to his early sports influences, Jim shares the journey that took him from an undrafted player to the big leagues.

We dive into his pitching style, his first Major League start, and what it was like playing under legendary manager Leo Durocher. Jim reflects on his breakout 1973 season, handling heavy workloads in an era when pitchers were built differently, and his unforgettable All-Star experience.

Of course, we relive the pinnacle moments, including his 1977 no-hitter and what happened in the ALCS playoffs before discussing later career transitions, trades, and his time as a pitching coach mentoring the next generation.

We close with a fun rapid-fire “Binge Burner” round featuring stories on baseball icons Henry Aaron, George Scott, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins and Ken Holtzman.

This is a deep, candid look at a baseball life that spans generations filled with perspective, history, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Chapters:

~ Intro

~ Acting Career in a Major Picture With an A List Actor

~ Favorite Sport and Athlete Growing Up

~ Undrafted to Minor League Contract

~ Pitching Style

~ First Major League Start

~ Playing for Leo Durocher

~ Trade to Milwaukee

~ 1973 Season of Success

~ How Did Jim Handle the Workload

~ The Approach of a Starting Pitcher in the 1970s

~ 1973 All-Star Experience

~ 1977 No Hitter

~ 1977 ALCS Playoffs

~ Trade to Seattle

~ Pitching Coach & Some of the Players Jim Coached

~ Binge Burner Round (Henry Aaron, George Scott, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Ken Holtzman)

~ Closing Comments

~ Outro

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

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

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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.

What does it take to go from a baseball-less high school in Montana to the bright lights of Major League Baseball? In this episode, Jeff Ballard shares his incredible journey, from choosing Stanford over a draft offer, to starring alongside future legends like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire on Team USA, to carving out his place in the Orioles rotation.

We dive into his breakout 1989 season (18 wins, Cy Young votes), what clicked that year, and the reality of sustaining success at the Major League level. Jeff also reflects on facing elite hitters like Don Mattingly, turning a triple play, and learning from managers like Cal Ripken Sr., Frank Robinson, and Jim Leyland.

Plus, life after baseball, a geophysics degree, and a rapid-fire “Binge Burner” round featuring some of the biggest names of his era.

00:00 Intro

00:28 Favorite Athlete / Team Growing Up

03:49 Path to D1 Baseball

10:18 Choosing Stanford Over the Minors

11:49 Collegiate Career at Stanford

16:22 Jeff’s Thoughts on Stanford Teammate Jack McDowell

16:49 Jeff’s Pitching Arsenal and the Radar Gun

18:23 Playing for the U.S. Nat’l Team and Meeting Fidel Castro

21:18 Call Up to the Majors for Jeff’s First Start

25:08 Pitch Counts

25:46 Joining a Staff with Mike Boddicker, Mike Flanagan and Scott McGregor

27:31 The 1989 Season

34:55 Trusting Your Pitches with Lower Velocity

38:07 Career Highlight #1 Striking Out Don Mattingly Three Times

40:29 Tough Batters Faced During Jeff’s Career

44:30 Career Highlight #2 – Starting a 1-6-3 Triple Play

46:02 Playing for Cal Ripken, Sr., Frank Robinson and Jim Leyland

51:26 Success as a Batter

56:40 Post MLB Career

59:26 Binge Burner Round

1:04:47 Outro

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

#MLB #MLBHistory #BaseballHistory #BaseballTalk #BaseballLegends #OldSchoolBaseball #1970sBaseball #RossGrimsley #Orioles #BaltimoreOrioles #CincinnatiReds #MontrealExpos #MLBGreats #BackItUpBinge #BackItUpBingePodcast #PodcastLife #SportsPodcast #BaseballPodcast #PodcastEpisode #Pitching #LeftHandedPitcher #StartingPitcher #MLBPitchers #BaseballLife #ThrowbackBaseball #BaseballStories #ClubhouseStories #WorldSeries #AllStarGame #JohnnyBench #SportsTalk #BaseballFans #MLBFans #PodcastClips #ListenNow #NewEpisode

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.