Crossing Home Plate
Crossing Home Plate
Podcast Description
Crossing Home Plate: Life Beyond the GameBaseball is more than a sport. It’s a life, a dream, and—for many—a long road back to reality and a struggle with identity.Crossing Home Plate is the podcast where former and current baseball players get real about the game, the grind, and what comes after. From MLB All-Stars, Home Run Champions, and a Cy Young Award winner, to college stars, minor league warriors, and players whose dreams ended early—every guest shares the truth of what it means to give your life to baseball… and how to live when the cleats come off.Hosted by Chris Davis—Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers great—and Steven Van Ooyen, CEO and author of "4-Star Reviews Suck", this show pulls no punches. They ask the hard question:“You’ll be a former baseball player longer than you’ll be a baseball player. What are you going to do when it’s over?”Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with players at every level. Some reached the mountaintop. Others barely got out of college ball. Some became coaches or entrepreneurs. Others battled anxiety, addiction, or the quiet ache of a dream deferred.But all of them have one thing in common: they had to find a way to cross home plate in life—not just on the field.Crossing Home Plate isn’t about batting averages or highlight reels. It’s about human stories: heartbreak, healing, identity, purpose, and redemption. It’s about the laughs in the locker room and the pain in the silence after the crowd is gone. It’s for anyone who has ever asked: “What now?” Without a relationship with Christ, your options are very limited.Whether you’re a lifelong fan, a former athlete, or someone navigating your own next chapter, this show will move you. Because baseball may end—but life keeps going.And the most important run you'll ever score is the one that takes you home.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast navigates themes of identity, healing, and personal growth after a life dedicated to baseball. Episodes address the struggles of transitioning to life after the sport, featuring stories on mental health challenges such as anxiety and addiction, as well as guest journeys ranging from elite MLB careers to lesser-known experiences in college and minor leagues. For example, an episode may dive into the life lessons learned from a Cy Young Award winner while another could explore the quiet struggles of a minor league player.
Crossing Home Plate: Life Beyond the Game
Baseball is more than a sport. It’s a life, a dream, and—for many—a long road back to reality and a struggle with identity.
Crossing Home Plate is the podcast where former and current baseball players get real about the game, the grind, and what comes after. From MLB All-Stars, Home Run Champions, and a Cy Young Award winner, to college stars, minor league warriors, and players whose dreams ended early—every guest shares the truth of what it means to give your life to baseball… and how to live when the cleats come off.
Hosted by Chris Davis—Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers great—and Steven Van Ooyen, CEO and author of “4-Star Reviews Suck”, this show pulls no punches. They ask the hard question:
“You’ll be a former baseball player longer than you’ll be a baseball player. What are you going to do when it’s over?”
Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with players at every level. Some reached the mountaintop. Others barely got out of college ball. Some became coaches or entrepreneurs. Others battled anxiety, addiction, or the quiet ache of a dream deferred.
But all of them have one thing in common: they had to find a way to cross home plate in life—not just on the field.
Crossing Home Plate isn’t about batting averages or highlight reels. It’s about human stories: heartbreak, healing, identity, purpose, and redemption. It’s about the laughs in the locker room and the pain in the silence after the crowd is gone. It’s for anyone who has ever asked: “What now?” Without a relationship with Christ, your options are very limited.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan, a former athlete, or someone navigating your own next chapter, this show will move you. Because baseball may end—but life keeps going.
And the most important run you’ll ever score is the one that takes you home.
Former @Rangers and @redsox outfielder, David Murphy, shares his life story with former 1st baseman, Chris Davis ( @orioles & @Rangers ) and host Steven Van Ooyen (www.stevenvanooyen.com). Growing up in Houston, Texas, David was a gifted baseball player making his high school varsity team as a pitcher his freshman year. David found his way to Baylor University to play college baseball where he hit .413 his junior year coupled with 11 home runs. David was drafted 17th overall by the Boston Red Socks in 2003 and made his major league debut on 2006. He was then traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2007. He went on to play in Texas for 10 years and was an important member of the 2010 and 2011 teams that made the first ever World Series appearances for the Texas Rangers. David shares the challenges he experienced throughout his career and how his faith impacted his career and where he relied on God and his community in the toughest times. @baylor @BaylorAthletics
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