Ep. 1113 Ken Davidoff | Discovering Resilience: How Baseball Shapes Our Identity
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Ken Davidoff, a retired New York Post baseball journalist, made a bold career pivot at 50 after 25 years of relentless coverage, stepping away from the grind of daily sports writing to embrace a life of purpose, teaching, and writing. His new book, *101 Lessons from the Dugout*, co-authored with pediatrician Harley Rothbart, transforms baseball’s quiet, everyday moments—like cleaning the dugout or tagging up—into profound life lessons about resilience, failure, and identity. Davidoff reveals that the real power of baseball isn’t in home runs or stats, but in the small, often invisible actions that build character: showing up, owning mistakes, and staying present. He shares a defining moment from 2009 when Mets’ Luis Castillo, after a costly error, walked into the clubhouse smiling and played a stellar game the next day—proof that true strength lies in recovery, not perfection. Now an adjunct professor at Endicott College, he finds deep fulfillment in mentoring students, proving that the most meaningful chapters of life aren’t always the ones with the loudest applause.
Clean the dugout after every game—your actions, not just your results, define your character.
Failure is inevitable in life; the real skill is recovering immediately, like a baseball player after a strikeout.
The best leaders aren’t the loudest—they’re the ones who stay calm, stay in the moment, and lead by example.
Small ball wins: success comes not from grand gestures, but from consistent, humble effort over time.
Tag up before reacting—pause, breathe, and assess before sending that emotional email or text.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Dream Job and the Decision to Walk Away
Joel Goldberg welcomes Ken Davidoff, a veteran New York Post baseball journalist, who shares his journey from covering Major League Baseball to retiring at 50. Despite a lifelong dream job, Davidoff realized the stress and constant travel had drained his joy and family time. After years of reflection and family conversations, he made the bold decision to leave journalism altogether.
The Real Cost of the 'Dream Job'
Davidoff details the physical and emotional toll of his career: 150+ nights of travel, midnight deadlines, and relentless pressure. He reveals that he stopped pinching himself at his dream job years ago and realized he didn’t need to fulfill his dream until 65. The real cost wasn’t the workload—it was losing himself.
From Journalist to Professor: A New Chapter
Davidoff shares how he transitioned into academia after retiring. A tweet asking for ideas led to an opportunity at Endicott College, where he now teaches journalism and communication. He emphasizes the joy of mentorship and the value of relationships built over decades, which remained strong even after leaving the beat.
101 Lessons from the Dugout: The Book That Wasn’t Planned
Davidoff and co-author Harley Rothbart created a book that turns baseball’s quiet moments into life lessons. From keeping score to handling errors, each chapter connects a baseball scenario to real-world growth. The book’s core idea: identity is bigger than the scorebook.
The Power of Small Ball and the Lesson of Luis Castillo
“He walked in with a smile, joking with everyone. The Mets PR people checked with him. Hey, you don't have to talk again if you don't want to to the media. Castillo said, no, no, I'll talk. I'll talk.”
“He walked in with a smile, joking with everyone. The Mets PR people checked with him. Hey, you don't have to talk again if you don't want to to the media. Castillo said, no, no, I'll talk. I'll talk.”
“My lesson, Joel was learn how to BS like learn. Realize when people ask you something, think about what they want to hear in your response and then craft your response accordingly.”
“I just it just clicked on me like, wait a minute, let's tag up here and take a breath. Yeah. And we might actually send something that's a little bit more decent than our emotional reaction.”
Host
Guest
Ken Davidoff
person
Joel Goldberg
person
New York Post
organization
101 Lessons from the Dugout
book
Harley Rothbart
person
Luis Castillo
person
Endicott College
organization
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
person
Buck O'Neill
person
David Wright
person
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Ep. 1116 Judy Henderson + Angel McDonald | Turning Her Darkest Chapter Into Others' Second Chance
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Ep. 1118 Will Severns | The Unexpected Power of Storytelling in Building Influence and Impact
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Ep. 1118 Mark Divine | The Hidden Power of Care That Turns Leaders Into Unbeatable Forces
Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg • 37m • 5/19/2026
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