Bergino Baseball Clubhouse

"Yankee Greats: 100 Classic Baseball Cards" with Bob Woods

“Yankee Greats” features 100 baseball cards of the greatest and most popular New York Yankees from the celebrated trading-card company Topps. Showcasing original cards for legendary players such as Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Derek Jeter, this unique package provides a fun and fresh approach to revisiting America’s pastime. “Yankee Greats” will let all baseball fans revel in and reminisce over many of the players that helped make baseball the game it is today.  These legendary cards will fill you with fond memories, whether you’re young -- or young at heart.  Join Bob for an evening in the Clubhouse... Bob Woods is a freelance writer who grew up in upstate New York during the 1950s and 1960s, loving the Yankees and collecting Topps baseball cards.  His affection for the Yanks only increased when he moved to NYC after college, and later intersected with his career after he teamed up with Topps to create “Topps Magazine.”  Bob’s ongoing association with Topps ultimately led to this labor of love.

"Gil Hodges" with Danny Peary & special guest Art Shamsky - Part Two

Part Two of a magical night in the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse... Danny Peary, author of Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend, is joined for Q&A by a special guest -- beloved member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets, Art Shamsky. Enjoy!

"Gil Hodges" with author Danny Peary - Part One

A towering figure during the Golden Era of the 1950s, Gil Hodges was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ powerful first baseman who, alongside Jackie Robinson, helped drive his team to six pennants and a thrilling World Series victory in 1955. The beloved home run hitter from Indiana married a Brooklyn girl and settled in that amazing borough, and the Brooklyn fans famously prayed for him when he slumped. Dutifully following the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958, Hodges longed to return to New York City. He joined the original Mets team in 1962, and he finished his playing career with them. In 1968, he took over the manager’s spot on their bench. Under his steady hand, the Mets went from a joke to World Champions -- the 1969 Miracle Mets. Yet behind his stoic demeanor lay a man prone to anxiety and worry. Hodges was scarred by combat on Tinian and Okinawa during World War II, and his inner turmoil was exacerbated by tight pennant races and excruciating defeats. His sudden death in 1972 -- at the age of 47 -- shocked his friends and family, and left a void in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere. Acclaimed authors Tom Clavin and Danny Peary delve into one of baseball’s most overlooked stars, shedding light on a fascinating life and career that even his most ardent fans never knew. An exciting biography that paints a portrait of an amazing era of baseball as much as it does an admirable player, Gil Hodges is sure to please fans of America’s pastime. Danny Peary gave us a wonderful Clubhouse event a couple years ago with Roger Maris.  Listen in to Part One of Danny's return to the Clubhouse for Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend.

"Empire State of Mind" with author Zack O'Malley Greenberg

I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can -Jay Z Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper.  Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star.  The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. You can slip into his Rocawear clothing - official sponsor of the New York Yankees - wake up to the local radio station playing Jay-Z's latest hit, spritz yourself with his 9IX cologne, lace up your Reebok S. Carter sneakers, catch a Nets basketball game in the afternoon, and grab dinner at The Spotted Pig before heading to an evening performance of the Jay-Z-backed Broadway musical “Fela!” and a nightcap at his 40/40 Club.  He'll profit at every turn of your day. But despite Jay-Z's success, there are still many Americans whose impressions of him are foggy, outdated, or downright incorrect.  Surprisingly to many, he honed his business philosophy not at a fancy B school, but on the streets of Brooklyn and beyond as a drug dealer in the 1980s. “Empire State of Mind” tells the story behind Jay-Z's rise to the top as told by the people who lived it with him.  This book explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world. Join Zack O'Malley Greenberg, live from the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse... Zack O'Malley Greenburg is a Forbes staff writer and author of the Jay-Z biography Empire State of Mind.  He pens The Beat Report at Forbes, where he's covered finance and music since 2005, profiling the likes of Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber, Richard Branson and 50 Cent.  Along the way, Zack's stories have taken him from Omaha's rail yards to the diamond mines of Sierra Leone.  He has also written for The Washington Post, Vibe, McSweeney's, Sports Illustrated and others.  He has served as a guest lecturer at Yale, Berklee School of Music, Georgetown and Harvard, and has appeared as an expert source for BBC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, E!, MTV, Reuters and other outlets.

"End Of An Era" with Moe Resner & Perry Barber

On September 29, 1957, the New York Giants played their final game at the Polo Grounds.  Moe Resner brought his movie camera with him.  In this different era, Moe was allowed to walk on the field and mingle with ballplayers and baseball executives.  It's all captured in "End Of An Era," a captivating documentary.  Perhaps the greatest amateur baseball documentary ever made. Join Moe Resner -- and special guest Perry Barber -- for a fun evening in the Clubhouse...

"Stillpower" with Garret Kramer

What if everything we've been taught about getting revved up for the big game, or any personal pursuit, is wrong? In “Stillpower,” Garret Kramer provides a revolutionarily simple explanation and understanding.  Could the secret to excellence exist in returning to a childlike state where “the zone” comes naturally?  He reveals the innate principles behind consistent performance and success -- on and off the field.  Virtually all of us are looking outside of ourselves, hoping to unlock the keys to happiness and success.  In “Stillpower,” Kramer encourages us to look within to finally find the answers. Garret's revolutionary approach to performance has transformed the way players, coaches, and professional teams view the athletic and life journey.  Listen in to Garret's appearance in the Clubhouse...

"Trading Manny" with Jim Gullo

Just as Jim Gullo's seven-year-old son Joe was beginning to develop a true passion for the game, the bombshell news of players' steroid use made it clear that America's pastime wasn't what it claimed to be.  Rather than wait for an official explanation and apology from Major League Baseball that would never materialize, Jim and his son set out to find their own answers.  They traveled the country, from Spring Training contests to Major and Minor League games -- speaking with players, prospects, and managers while tracking down legends and ghosts of baseball's golden age.  And one day they discoverted an aging but dedicated prospect who would become not only a true role model for Joe, but also the unlikely inspiration to lure both father and son back to the game they loved. "Trading Manny" tells the story of their journey -- how along the way Joe traded his idol Manny for a more worthy hero -- and Jim discovered something invaluable about being a father.  As we get ready for Father's Day in the Clubhouse, be part of this fascinating evening with Jim and Joe...

"Carl Furillo" with Ted Reed

History has remembered Carl Furillo as an opponent of Jackie Robinson becoming a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, despite that being untrue.  This biography sets the record straight, while also detailing Furillo's contributions as a clutch hitter and an outstanding right fielder, his angry departure from the team, his hearing before the commissioner of baseball, and his life after the sport. "This book needed to be written and Ted Reed has done his homework,"  - Carl Erskine, Brooklyn Dodgers Listen in as Ted Reed, an all-star reporter for TheStreet.com, led a lively Clubhouse discussion...

"Pinstripe Empire" with author Marty Appel

Since their breakthrough championship season in 1923, when Yankee Stadium opened, the New York Yankees have been baseball’s most successful, decorated, and colorful franchise. Yet it’s been nearly seventy years since Frank Graham wrote the last narrative history of the team.  Marty Appel, the Yankees’ PR director during the 1970s, now illuminates the team in all its century-plus of glory.  A collector, writer, and raconteur, he gives life to the team’s history. If you're a lover of sports, the Yankees, New York history or America’s game, please listen in to Marty's fascinating appearance in the Clubhouse...

"Driving Mr Yogi" with Harvey Araton

It happens every spring.  New York Yankees pitching great Ron Guidry arrives at the Tampa airport to pick up Hall of Fame catcher and national treasure Yogi Berra.  Guidry drives him to the ballpark.  They watch the young players.  They talk shop.  They eat dinner together and tease each other mercilessly.  They trade stories about the greats they have met along the way.  And the next day they do the same thing all over again. As every former ballplayer can appreciate, in that routine, every spring, there emerges a certain magic. "Driving Mr. Yogi" is the story of how a unique friendship between a pitcher and catcher is renewed every year.  By turns tender and laugh-out-loud funny, and teeming with unforgettable baseball yarns that span more than fifty years, this is a universal story about the importance of wisdom being passed from one generation to the next, as well as a reminder that time is what we make of it and compassion never gets old. Harvey Araton joined the "New York Times" as a sports reporter in 1991 and became a national columnist in 1993.  He is the author of many books, including "When the Garden Was Eden: Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the New York Knicks."  Harvey's work has also appeared in the "New York Times Magazine," the "New York Times Book Review," "ESPN," the "Daily News," and the "New York Post." Enjoy this sweet ride in the Clubhouse with Harvey Araton...

"Summer of '68" with Tim Wendel

From the beginning, 1968 was a season rocked by national tragedy and sweeping change.  Opening Day was postponed and played in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral.  That summer, as the pennant races were heating up, the assassination of Robert Kennedy was later followed by rioting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.  But even as tensions boiled over and violence spilled into the streets, something remarkable was happening in major league ballparks across the country. In vivid detail, "Summer of '68: The Season That Changed Baseball, And America, Forever" tells the story of this unforgettable season -- the last before rule changes and expansion would alter baseball forever -- when the country was captivated by the national pasttime at the moment it needed the game most. Tim Wendel is the author of nine books, including "High Heat," "Far From Home," "Red Rain," and "Castro's Curveball."  A founding editor of "USA Today Baseball Weekly," he has written for "Esquire," "GQ," and "Washingtonian" magazines.  He teaches writing at Johns Hopkins University and has appeared on CNN, ESPN, SiriusXM, and NPR , and recently served as an exhibit advisor to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Join Tim -- our first returning author to the Clubhouse Event Series -- in this fascinating evening...

"Stan Musial: An American Life" with George Vecsey - Q&A

Part Two with acclaimed columnist/author George Vecsey. Enjoy this Q&A from a special evening in the Clubhouse...

"Stan Musial: An American Life" with George Vecsey - Part 1

In light of the St. Louis Cardinals astounding 2011 World Series victory -- and with the holidays upon us -- we couldn't think of a better time to welcome acclaimed columnist/author George Vecsey to the Clubhouse for a baseball discussion/book signing regarding Stan Musial and all things Cardinals. Whether you're a Cardinal fan, or just someone nostalgic for the very best of what our national pastime has to offer, please join "metroBASEBALL" Magazine in welcoming one of journalism's perennial MVP's for an evening celebrating one of baseball's finest players ever. George Vecsey, a sports columnist for The New York Times, has written about such events as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, but considers baseball -- the sport he's covered since 1960 -- his favorite game.  He is the author of more than a dozen books, including "Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game" and "Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter" (with Loretta Lynn), which was made into an Aceademy Award-winning film.  He has also served as a national and religion reporter for The New York Times, interviewing the Dalai Lama, Tony Blair, Billy Graham, and a host of other noteworthy figures. Enjoy Part One of the podcast with Mr. Vecsey...

"Campy" with author Neil Lanctot

Neil Lanctot's biography of Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella -- filled with surprises -- is the first life of the Dodger great in decades and the most authoritative ever published. Based on interviews with dozens of people who knew Campanella and diligent research into contemporary sources, Campy offers a three-dimensional portrait of this gifted athlete and remarkable man whose second life after baseball would prove as illustrious and courageous as his first. Neil Lanctot is a historian who has written extensively about baseball. His book Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution was widely praised and won the SABR Seymour Medal for the best book of baseball history or biography. Celebrate Campy with a wonderful podcast featuring expert author Neil Lanctot.

"Baseball Memories" with Matthew Stevenson

An evening of baseball memories with Matthew Stevenson. Matthew is a contributing editor of Harper's Magazine and has written for a number of national publications.  He is the author of  "An April Across America," "Letters of Transit: Essays on Travel, History, Politics, and Family Life Abroad" and "Expatriate American."  He is a graduate of Bucknell and Columbia universities.  Matthew grew up on Long Island and has worked both in magazines, as an editor, and as a chief executive in international banking.  Although residing in Switzerland, he remains a lover of the American pastime.  Enjoy Matthew's lifetime of baseball memories...

Scouts Honor: An Evening of Baseball Conversation - Part Two

Part Two from our wonderful evening in the Clubhouse with three Major League Baseball Scouts...

Scouts Honor: An Evening of Baseball Conversation

When was the last time you met a Major League Baseball Scout?  And we're not talking about going to see "Moneyball." On November 15th, three noted Major League Baseball Scouts joined moderator Lee Lowenfish in a fascinating Clubhouse conversation. Billy Blitzer, pro scout for the Chicago Cubs.  Among his signings: Jamie Moyer, winner of 267 major league games, and Brooklyn's Shawon Dunston. Joe DeLucca, retired scout.  Among his signings: Manny Ramirez for the Cleveland Indians and Pete Harnisch for the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Rigoli, pro scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Among his signings:  "Super" Joe McEwing and World Series champion pitcher Jason Motte. Lee Lowenfish, moderator.  Lee teaches sport history in Columbia University's graduate Sports Management program.  He is the author of "Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman," "The Imperfect Diamond: A History of Baseball's Labor Wars," and he collaborated on Tom Seaver's "The Art of Pitching." Here's Part One... Enjoy!

Chad Harbach: The Art of Fielding - Q&A

Speak Easy Series:  Chad Harbach & Friends on "The Art of Fielding" -- Q&A Chad Harbach, author of "The Art of Fielding," in conversation with Cara Cannella, his literary agent Chris Parris-Lamb, and Sports Illustrated baseball editor Stephen Cannella November 3, 2011 in the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse

Chad Harbach: The Art of Fielding - Part One

Speak Easy Series:  Chad Harbach & Friends on "The Art of Fielding" Chad Harbach, author of "The Art of Fielding," in conversation with Cara Cannella, his literary agent Chris Parris-Lamb, and Sports Illustrated baseball editor Stephen Cannella November 3, 2011 in the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse

"Knocking on Heaven's Door" with Marty Dobrow

In this remarkable sports book, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Marty Dobrow explores the “anguish of almost” as he examines the lives of six minor league baseball players who are so close to something they want so much, something they have always wanted, but something they still might not get. What links them together, aside from their common goal of wanting to play on a major league team, is they are all represented by the same team of agents whose own aspirations parallel those of the players they represent. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called the book, “A beautifully written, meticulously orchestrated account of the families, common agents, notable triumphs, and devastating failures of half a dozen talented young men who want to play in the Major Leagues.” Marty Dobrow is an associate professor at Springfield College.  He has written for the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, espn.com and the International Herald Tribune.  Five of Marty's pieces have earned recognition in the "Best American Sports Writing" series.