Out of the Park: Creating a Legacy
Baseball has a way of bringing generations together, and few players embody that more than Shohei Ohtani. We may debate the word greatest, but there’s no denying that he’s creating a legacy right before our eyes. Three home runs in one playoff game and two more in a World Series contest, all while dominating on the mound. History has never seen anything like it.
As much as I’ve enjoyed watching Ohtani from a fan’s perspective, I’ve also been thinking about creating a legacy off the field, especially after co-hosting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s annual Hall of Game Gala earlier this month with my friend and museum president, Bob Kendrick.
Bob reminded the audience that the museum “celebrates the bridge builders,” the men and women who connected generations and opened doors for others to walk through. That theme carried through as we honored four former African American managers: Dusty Baker, Cito Gaston, Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel, along with longtime executive Tony Reagins.
Randolph said he felt a responsibility to “inspire people” and “be part of that legacy,” and you could feel the weight of those words as people nodded along. Manuel spoke about hoping that when you become the first, you’re not the last. It was a powerful message about leadership being more than what you achieve, and instead who you lift along the way.
Baker and Gaston were shaped by the legendary Hank Aaron. Baker told stories of being mentored by Aaron, who promised Dusty’s mother that he would take care of him “as if I was his son.” Cito recalled an invaluable piece of Hank’s advice: “If you have a bad game, think about what you can do better tomorrow. If you have a good game, enjoy it. But don’t bring either one back to the ballpark.”
It was impossible not to think about that ripple effect of Hank Aaron’s wisdom and how he shaped Dusty and Cito, who then went on to influence hundreds more players and coaches. That’s what creating a legacy is all about. Not the records or the trophies, but the fingerprints left on the people who follow.
Ohtani’s greatness will inspire the next generation to hit, to pitch, and to believe that a two-way player can thrive at the highest level. But the men we celebrated at the Hall of Game demonstrated how creating a true legacy lives in what we pass down. Whether in baseball or in life, the real wins come from the relationships built and bridges left standing, inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium dreams
I’ve written about the Kansas City Current and CPKC Stadium before, but what’s happening along the riverfront deserves another mention after Susan and I attended our fifth game there earlier this month.
Owners Chris and Angie Long did more than build a home for their team. They’re creating a legacy in sports history. CPKC Stadium is the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team, and it's redefining what’s possible for women and for Kansas City.
The Long’s have a vision to transform the entire riverfront, both expanding development and reshaping how Kansas City connects to its downtown core. Civic pride, innovation and equality unite in a single project, yielding results that speak for themselves.
The Kansas City Current are by far the best team in the league, and it’s no surprise with stars like Temwa Chawinga leading the way. Just this week, CPKC Stadium hosted the U.S. Women’s National team. It was a fitting showcase for a venue that represents progress, pride and the legacy that becomes possible when vision meets opportunity.
Local flavor
Every month, the Crossroads Arts District bursts to life for First Fridays. During baseball season, I rarely get the chance to enjoy this Kansas City tradition, but every year when October arrives, I make a point to head downtown and experience it again.
What began in 2001 as a small gathering of local artists and gallery options has become one of Kansas City’s signature cultural events. Streets fill with art exhibits, food trucks, live music, and creative energy that reflects the heart of this city. From murals to makers and jazz to jam sessions, every corner tells a story of revival and community.
More than two decades later, First Fridays has created a legacy of its own. Not only did it fuel the rebirth of the Crossroads neighborhood, but it proved to entrepreneurs and artists alike that together, they had the power to reinvigorate a city, one block at a time.
When people unite to share their craft and celebrate creativity, the impact lasts longer than just one night. That’s Kansas City at its best. Authentic, inspired and creating a legacy of constant evolution.
Dugout dialogue
Last year, I interviewed Will Klein, a Midwest kid and fifth-round Royals draft pick with plenty of promise. He made his big league debut in April 2024 but was soon traded to Oakland in exchange for Lucas Ergec before getting flipped to Seattle. By June, he was with the Dodgers.
After all that movement, he’d appeared in only a handful of games before finding himself on baseball’s biggest stage. Los Angeles added him to its World Series roster out of necessity, but what happened in Game 3 was the stuff of legend.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays battled 18 innings, tying for the longest game in World Series history. Out of arms, L.A. turned to Klein. He had never thrown more than two innings or 36 pitches in the majors. That night, he doubled both marks, delivering four scoreless innings and 72 pitches to keep the Dodgers alive.
Whatever happens next in his career, Will Klein will always have that night. A gutsy, unforgettable performance that became its own kind of legacy.
Here’s a postgame interview of Will Klein done by my Dodgers counterpart, capturing the moment that etches his name in World Series history.
speaking engagements
With baseball season behind me, October brought a full slate of speaking events that demonstrate how powerful connection and purpose can be. Among the many appearances this month, several centered directly on the theme of creating a legacy.
Returning as emcee and interviewer for the second annual Giving Grace Breakfast at Arrowhead Stadium was especially meaningful. The event benefits In the Name of GRACE, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to provide housing and assist recovering addicts in transition to healthy living by improving the quality and availability of Oxford Houses™ in Missouri. Their success rate is staggering, and founders Rob and Anissa Elsey are changing lives with every story they help rewrite.
It was an honor to share the stage with former big leaguer and two-time World Series champion Scott Spiezio. I wrote about his journey from addiction to recovery in Small Ball Big Dreams and have also featured him on my podcast. Scott’s vulnerability and strength brought the room to tears, reminding every member of the audience that creating a legacy often grows from struggle and redemption. Learn more about their mission at inthenameofgrace.org.
Later in the month, I took the stage for the Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series in Hutchinson, Kansas, now in its 44th year. The series has hosted icons like Maya Angelou, Henry Winkler, Bob Dole, and Whitey Herzog, to name a few. Being part of that legacy was both humbling and inspiring.
The speaking circuit is alive and thriving, with the momentum continuing into next month:
November 7 — Kansas Young Professionals Summit, Salina, KS
November 13 — ProValue Insurance, Branson, MO
November 14 — Kansas Municipal Energy Agency, Wichita, KS
November 17 — Oak Ridge Social Club, Kansas City, MO
November 18 — Avila University, Kansas City, MO
November 18 — MPRA Region 1, Lee’s Summit, MO
November 19 — Cerris, Margaritaville, KS
November 20 — Chief of Staff Professional Development Day, Kansas City, MO
My Game Changer Speaking Series focuses on universal topics like trust, culture, grit and resilience that apply to every team, whether baseball fans or not.
If you have an event coming up, it’s time we play ball. To inquire about my keynote series, event moderation or custom video content, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
Earlier this month I was joined by a guest who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win, because he’s been keeping score his entire career. Shawn Burcham is Founder and CEO of PFSbrands, the powerhouse behind names like Champs Chicken, BluTaco and Hangar54 Pizza.
When he’s not empowering his employees, the bestselling author coaches companies around the world how to accept risk and learn from failure, using the same philosophy that turned his own company into a 100% employee-owned success story. If you missed the release earlier this month, be sure to listen now.
Finally, thank you again to each of the guests who joined the podcast this month to share the ways they are creating a legacy:
Our schedule is already booked into early spring, 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 so often, I meet someone whose story actually resets my perspective. And that’s exactly what happened in a recent interview on my podcast Rounding the Bases, when I was joined by a guest who shared more than a few lessons on creating a legacy that lasts.
His name is John O’Leary. At just nine years old, a simple act of childhood curiosity led to an explosion that left him with burns on 100% of his body. Statistically, he wasn’t supposed to survive the night. But in the defiance of every expectation, the fire that should have marked the end of his story ignited an extraordinary journey.
Today, John is a beloved keynote speaker, bestselling author and the inspiration behind the motion picture Soul on Fire. His story is one of renewal, and turning something that most would view as a tragedy into a platform of hope, gratitude and purpose.
It was one of the most impactful interviews I have had on the podcast, rich in lessons that were as practical as they were profound. But the messages carried a single, unifying theme: That creating a legacy is built one action at a time.
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