Brian Baldinger
I know Baldy as a football guy. Big hands, bigger voice, deep love for the trenches. But sit next to him at a baseball game and the guy turns into a Little Leaguer again—grinning at a perfect double-play turn like it’s Christmas morning. That’s what got me. His heart isn’t just in the game—it’s in the ballparks. The seats, the angles, the ghosts. We talked about the connection between sports, the feel of the field, and the magic of a stadium built just for baseball. Turns out, even football legends get goosebumps walking into Citizens Bank Park.
Everybody knows your passion for football, but what do you appreciate about the game of baseball?
I played baseball growing up—from age seven or eight—and I probably played almost every position. I loved the strategy of baseball. I was a hit-and-run guy. I became a vendor for the Twins at 16, lied about my age to get the job. I was a huge Rod Carew fan, and I read Sporting News cover to cover for every baseball stat. There’s just something pure about the game. I loved fielding, batting practice, all of it.
What skills translate between football and baseball?
So many. I watched Josh Allen make a throw across his body on the run, and it reminded me of a third baseman deep in the hole firing to first. Same mechanics. Guys like Mahomes, who pitched—those baseball skills come out. And tracking the ball? That’s all baseball. Some defensive backs struggle because they never played baseball. But the ones who can track a ball? They’ve played. They’ve got that instinct—off the bat, you just know where it’s headed.
You played at the Vet with the Eagles. Now when you’re at Citizens Bank Park, how does that baseball-only stadium hit you differently?
It’s night and day. Back then, it was a shared stadium—football field with a diamond in the corner. But now, these places are built for baseball. Everything—from the fences to the dugouts to the dimensions—is perfect. You walk in and think, This is what a ballpark is supposed to feel like.
What’s majestic about being there, in the park, for a game?
There are no bad seats. You can be on the concourse or outfield, and you see everything. At a football game in the nosebleeds? You need the giant video board to follow the action. But in baseball, every seat has a view. That’s part of the magic.
What would you tell football fans about going to a baseball game?
It’s like this—football is speed-reading a novel. Baseball? You sit down and actually read the story. It gives you time to enjoy the game. There’s a seventh-inning stretch, there are pitching changes—breaks between action. And then suddenly, boom—Judge hits a bomb, there’s a play at the plate. But all along the way, you get to soak it in.
How special is it to visit all 30 MLB parks?
It’s awesome. Every park is a new experience. I went to Cleveland when the Cubs played the Indians in the World Series. You could feel the ghost of the '48 Series. It’s a new stadium, but the history lives there—Larry Doby, Satchel Paige. Camden Yards changed everything. It made the ballpark part of the event. It’s not just a game—it’s a vibe.
Tell me about your relationship with Larry Doby Jr. and his father’s legacy.
Larry Jr. is a good friend. His dad—second Black player in the majors—joined six weeks after Jackie Robinson. He got death threats for hugging a white teammate after the '48 World Series. He endured so much, but he loved the game. I used to sit in Larry Jr.’s basement with his dad, watching Yankee and Mets games. He’d teach us how to position players, how to play the game smart. That love for baseball—those stories—they stay with you.
What’s your favorite ballpark?
I live in Philly, so Citizens Bank Park is home. I was there when they won it all in ’08—just an unforgettable night. For football? Lambeau. You feel the full history of the NFL there—Curly Lambeau, Bart Starr, Brett Favre. You can’t help but love it.
NOTE: The above was edited for clarity and length.
You can read the full transcript here.