In this episode, we sit down with former Major League infielder Doug Flynn, a two-time World Series champion, Gold Glove winner and one of the most respected defensive players of his era.

Doug takes us on a journey from his days growing up in Kentucky, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball, to earning a dual scholarship at the University of Kentucky and playing for legendary coach Adolph Rupp. What started as a trip to an open Cincinnati Reds tryout with friends turned into an unlikely path to professional baseball and eventually a spot on one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the famed Big Red Machine.

We discuss Doug's rapid rise through the minor leagues, making his Major League debut with the Reds, winning back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976 alongside Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Tony Pérez, and his memorable first big-league hit against the Dodgers.

Doug shares his perspective on the blockbuster 1977 trade known as the "Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the New York Mets in exchange for Tom Seaver. We also dive into his 1980 Gold Glove season, the historic game in Montreal where he became the first and only Met to hit three triples in a game, and his later stops with the Rangers, Expos, and Tigers.

Along the way, Doug reflects on playing for legendary managers including Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, and Bill Virdon, and what life was like during the 1981 players' strike touring with the Oak Ridge Boys.

From World Series celebrations to Gold Gloves, clubhouse stories, and lessons learned after baseball, this conversation offers a fascinating look at a player whose career intersected with some of the most iconic moments and personalities in baseball history.

Whether you're a fan of the Big Red Machine, the Mets of the late 1970s and early 1980s, or simply love great baseball stories, you won't want to miss this episode with Doug Flynn.

00:00 Intro

00:26 High School Football

01:13 Favorite Athlete Growing Up

02:18 Going to Kentucky and Playing for Adolph Rupp

03:43 Open Tryout With the Reds

06:00 Minor League Career

09:04 Getting a Call From a Hall of Fame Teammate Live

13:26 Playing for the Big Red Machine

16:42 Hall of Fame Discussion

19:49 First Major League Hit and the Ball

21:28 Sacrifice Hits and the Bunt

23:47 Comparing the 1975 and 1976 Reds Teams

25:59 How Pete Rose Described Doug and Was Doug's Versatility and Asset?

27:49 The Midnight Massacre and Being Traded for Tom Seaver

32:30 1980 Gold Glove

35:33 Hitting Three Triples in One Game

38:05 Closing Out Doug’s Career Playing for the Rangers, Expos and Tigers.

42:51 Which Manager Was Best for Doug to Play For - Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, or Bill Virdon

44:19 Facing Carlton, Seaver, Koosman and Grimsley

48:13 Who Did Doug Tour With During The Baseball Strike of 1981

51:18 Binge Burner Round

59:13 Outro

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

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

Donate to Doug's Charity Here:

https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/donate/

#DougFlynn #BigRedMachine #CincinnatiReds #MLBHistory #BaseballHistory #WorldSeriesChampion #BaseballPodcast

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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.

Doug Plank — “The Original 46” — joins the show for an incredible deep dive into football, toughness, leadership, and life after the game. From growing up in Irwin, Pennsylvania and becoming an All-State running back, to starring at Ohio State Buckeyes football alongside 2x Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Doug shares stories from every stage of his football journey.

Doug talks about overcoming injuries early in college, fighting his way back to the pros, and what it was like walking into the legendary Chicago Bears locker room for the first time. He also reflects on playing under coaches Jack Pardee, Neill Armstrong, and the iconic Mike Ditka.

The conversation dives into the legendary “46 Defense,” how Doug studied quarterbacks as a free safety, the hardest hitters he faced, trash talk on the field, and the famous divide between the Bears’ 1985 offense and defense featured in ESPN’s 30 for 30 coverage.

Doug also opens up about retirement from the NFL, playing in the USFL, coaching in the Arena Football League, and life after football. Plus, we wrap things up with our signature Binge Burner Round.

This is an awesome conversation filled with old-school football stories, NFL history, and behind-the-scenes insight from one of the toughest players of his era.

0:00 Introduction

0:49 All State RB in High School

3:26 High School Baseball Experience

4:59 Destination Ohio State & Irwin, PA Roots

8:03 Doug's First Choice of College

8:54 Letter Writing to Joe Paterno

10:50 Doug's Request to Joe Paterno That Led Him to Ohio State

11:57 Woody Hayes Recruitment of Doug

14:13 PA High School All-Star Game (Big 33 Game) & Penn State coaches

17:02 Doug's First Practice at Ohio State

18:43 Ohio State vs Penn State

19:44 Freshman Year Injury and Its Impact on Doug's Playing Time

23:29 Playing With 2x Heisman Winner Archie Griffin

25:38 Getting Drafted and Walking Into The Bears Locker Room for the First Time

33:56 Playing for Pardee, Armstrong and Ditka

38:46 Any Hard Hits on Doug Plank

42:05 Reading the QBs being a Free Safety

45:04 What Made The “46-D’ Great 50:19 30 for 30 and the Split between the ’86 Beard Offense and Defense

51:48 Retirement from the NFL and Playing in the USFL

54:00 What Players Did Doug Like Playing Against

55:52 Coaching in the Arena Football League

1:00:47 Post Football Retirement Discussion

1:11:51 Binge Burner Round (Wally Chambers, Jim Osborne, Mike Ditka, Gary Fencik)

1:20:59 Trash Talking On The Field

1:25:10 Closing Comments and Outro

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

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

#DougPlank #ChicagoBears #NFLHistory #46Defense #BuddyRyan #AthleteStory #InspiringInterviews #backitupbingepodcast

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.

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.

#NewYorkGiants #PhilMcConkey #BigBlue #NFL #SuperBowlXXI #SuperBowlChampion #PhilSimms #BillParcells #LawrenceTaylor #NFC East #NavalAcademy #NavyFootball #Veterans #MilitaryToNFL #FootballPodcast #SportsPodcast #GiantsFans #BuffaloNY #NFLHistory #80sFootball #PhilMcConkeyInterview #PodcastEpisode #YouTubePodcast #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcast #BingeBurnerRound #backitupbingepodcast

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.