Out of the Park: Women's History
As Women's History Month comes to a close, I find myself at the starting line of another marathon baseball season. It's hard to believe that yesterday marked my 17th Home Opener as a member of the Kansas City Royals television broadcast team. While the daily games, late nights and travel bring a comforting sense of routine, it can also be difficult to keep up with the demands. Thankfully, I have my parents - but especially my mom Nancy - to thank for showing me the importance of hard work, which is critical to success in broadcasting.
I share stories about my mother in my upcoming book, which will be out later this year. As an undergrad, she earned a degree in music, but returned to community college when I was a kid. By the time I was in high school, she had traded her musical expertise for a corporate career in computer programming. She was gone from the house before I woke up and didn't return until after dark, eventually becoming an executive at her company. That would have been a huge accomplishment for anyone. But for someone who grew up when girls were told to be teachers or nurses, it was groundbreaking. She defied the odds and shattered limitations.
The same could be said about Suzyn Waldman. She is the Yankee's longtime radio announcer who went from Broadway to the broadcast booth. Her journey included unthinkable sexism and discrimination, which I also write about in my upcoming book. Suzyn joined me on Season 7 of my podcast Rounding the Bases. In our interview she acknowledged the progress of women in baseball, but also lamented the lack of opportunities for them in play-by-play or analyst roles.
At the time, Waldman was still the only woman who was regularly in the MLB booth. That changed yesterday when Jenny Cavnar became the Oakland A's primary play-by-play TV announcer. I have only met Jenny a couple of times, but she has already left a mark on the game. Even more importantly, we now have a generation of girls around the world who will grow up knowing one day, they too could broadcast baseball.
No celebration of women's history would be complete without mention of another sport that recently kicked off a new season. Yes, I'm talking about the historic debut of the first-ever women's pro sports stadium in the world. My wife and I were fortunate to be in attendance. It was an experience I will never forget, and offer more details later in the newsletter.
The list goes on. March may be winding down, but my celebration of incredible women is far from complete. It's the start of another season of opportunity. I can't wait for more inspiring stories in sports, in business and everywhere in between...inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium Standout
I've been to my share of professional sporting events. But the opening of Kansas City Current's stadium earlier this month was easily one of the most memorable.
The history-making stadium is the first in the world that was build specifically for a women's professional sports team. The thrilling soccer match against the Portland Thorns would have been more than enough. The gorgeous venue situated on the banks of the Missouri River with sweeping views of downtown KC pushed it over the top.
A perfect weather day ushered in the landmark opening, along with a host of local celebrities. Actor Eric Stonestreet and rapper Tech N9ne helped mark the occasion. So did Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany Mahomes, who are also part of the Current ownership group. But my most lasting memory will be the wide-eyed kids. They might forget the game, but never a time when women's sports didn't have a stadium of their own.
If you can, make it out to a game. At the very least, get yourself on the list. One day, your kids and grandkids will love hearing your stories about the time Kansas City changed women's sports forever. A very special type of women's history is being made and you don't want to miss it.
Local Flavor
While on the topic of the Kansas City Current's incredible stadium, let's talk about the food.
Sure, fans can grab standard concession fare like hotdogs or nachos. But one of the many things that sets the venue apart is its impressive variety of amazing eats.
CPKC Stadium boasts partnerships with some of Kansas City's most beloved restaurants. My wife and I opted for some halftime noodles from Waldo Thai, which were as great in the stadium as they are at the restaurant.
Soccer fans could also choose from the famous Joe's KC BBQ, Ruby Jean's Juicery, Martin City Brewing Company and so many others, adding to the already special experience of women's history in the making.
Dugout Dialogue
As we get back into the swing of baseball season, I look forward to sharing more interviews in the coming months. For now, I want to focus on a baseball-adjacent interview with one of my all-time favorite players to interview and spend time with.
Eric Hosmer sat down with me on my podcast Rounding the Bases. I interviewed the recently retired first baseman countless times when he was with the Royals from 2011-2017. But out of all them, this conversation with "Hoz" ranks among my favorites.It would have been easy to focus on his skills as a player and a leader. Our latest discussion gives a glimpse of a new side of him in his new role as a father.
The episode will be released on April 2nd. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full video version on YouTube. Be sure to keep an eye out for the interview crasher.
In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek.
Speaking Engagements
I'm often asked if my speaking business goes on hiatus during the baseball season and the simple answer is no. Aligning my availability with client needs can be more challenging due to the grueling nature of baseball. But when the timing works, I fill game days with lunchtime keynotes and off days with events around the country...even if it does mean a red eye between cities.
Next week, I will return with the Kansas City Royals from their first road trip to Baltimore. The following morning, I will speak to Barr Advisory, a cybersecurity company in Kansas City, before heading to Kauffman for a night game. It can be chaotic, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Winter months certainly offer more flexibility. The most recent off season took me to Naples, Bogotá, Dallas, Las Vegas and Branson...also known as "Las Vegas of the Midwest."
I spoke at the Branson Convention Center to nearly 400 insurance professionals from Impact Legacy Group. It was a thrill to share my newest keynote, Winning Trust. Special thanks to the incredible audience allowed me to go out with a bang before jumping back into baseball.
For more information about my baseball season availability, please contact my speaking manager, Charlotte Raybourn.
Rounding the Bases Rewind
Women's history was front and center on Rounding the Bases. All month, we featured stories of powerful women doing incredible things, as well supporters of women in sports. I want to give a special thank you to all of the guests who joined the show in March:
In keeping with the theme of the month, I also want to highlight a special interview from the Rounding the Bases vault. It features Chris and Angie Long, co-owners of Kansas City Current. They joined me back in Season 6 when the team was still known by Kansas City NWSL. I'm inspired by how much progress has been made in the few short years since this interview first aired and it's certainly worth revisiting. You can listen here. Our schedule is already being booked into summer, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com
Keeping the Score
Every week on my podcast Rounding the Bases, I get the opportunity to interview business leaders, athletes and everyone in between. No two experiences are alike, but each conversation tells a significant story and provides an enlightening lesson.
My blog Keeping the Score rounds the bases with a single, double, triple and home run from one recent podcast. This month, it covered my recent interview with Christal Watson. She's the Executive Director at Kansas City Kansas Schools Foundation for Excellence who is making an impact in unprecedented ways.
Christal's interview sheds light on the challenges students face in the Kansas City Kansas school district, as well as the innovative programming she has developed to address them from the ground up. Click here to read more.
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