© 2025 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Toronto Address:
130 Queens Quay E.
Suite 903
Toronto, ON M5A 0P6


Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
BTPM NPR Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Give Now
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
SKIN IN THE GAME logo with a yellow background and the BTPM NPR logo in the top left corner
Skin in the Game

Rocky Colavito, Baseball and the Making of a Sports Icon with Mark Sommer

Published August 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM EDT
Ways To Subscribe
Mariann Do

This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim are joined in the studio by Mark Sommer, author of Rocky Colavito: Cleveland’s Iconic Slugger.

Sommer shares what made Colavito one of baseball’s most enduring stars — and why his legacy still resonates with fans more than 60 years later. Drawing from personal interviews with Colavito before his death, as well as conversations with many of his former teammates, Sommer offers an intimate portrait of a player who defined an era. The conversation also explores how sports celebrity has evolved over time, from the golden age of baseball to the age of social media, and what today’s athletes might learn from one of the game’s original icons.

Skin in the Game | Season 1
Latest Episodes
  • turf field as the background. SITG logo at the top, INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text below that. Photos of Kevin Heffernan, Patrick Kelly, and Chris Lonzi with their names in white text underneath
    Pedals, Policy and the Push to Ride More
    This week on Skin in the Game, we shift gears to focus on cycling—its business, its culture and its growing place in our cities. Tim and John welcome Kevin Heffernan from Go Bike Buffalo, Chris Lonzi from Tom’s Pro Bike, and Buffalo Toronto Public Media producer Pat Kelly.
  • turf field as the background. SKIN IN THE GAME logo at the top with INSIDE THE BUSINESS IN SPORTS below it. Beneath that is a photo of Jake Cimperman followed by his name in white text.
    Roller Hockey, Hollywood, and the Hustle of Independent Filmmaking with Jake Cimperman
    This week on Skin in the Game, Tim sits down with filmmaker Jake Cimperman—yes, the son of co-host John Cimperman—for a conversation that spans from the roller rinks of 1990s California to the unpredictable world of independent sports documentaries.
  • turf field is the background. From top to bottom: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text below that. Photo of S.L. Price with his name and THE AMERICAN GAME: HISTORY AND HOPE IN THE COUNTRY OF LACROSSE in white text.
    Lacrosse, Identity and the Making of “The American Game” with S.L. Price
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with journalist and author S.L. Price to discuss his new book, “The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse.”
  • turf field is the background. From top to bottom: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text below that. Photo of Scott Swanson with his name and CAL RIPKEN, Sr. FOUNDATION in white text.
    From the mound to mentorship with Scott Swinson from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim talk with Scott Swinson, Senior Director of Development at the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, about how baseball—and a strong coach—can change a kid’s life.
  • Cosmic Baseball with Rob Perez and the Tri-City Chili Peppers
    In this special edition of Skin In The Game, hosts John and Tim dive into the neon-lit spectacle of Cosmic Baseball, featuring fan-favorite innovation from the Coastal Plain League’s Tri-City Chili Peppers — joined by none other than Rob Perez, the team’s award-winning general manager.
  • SKIN IN THE GAME logo at the top with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text underneath. Below that, a photo of the people in this episode and the episode title in white text below that
    The Changing Course: How Golf Is Evolving On and Off the Green
    In this special edition of Skin in the Game, John and Tim take a deep dive into the world of golf. They’re joined by: Tim Fries, General Manager and Head Professional at Glen Oak Golf Club IN East Amherst, NY; Cindy Miller, LPGA professional, coach, and author; and Tim Karches, Executive Director of First Tee Western New York.
  • Beyond the Perfect, Perfect Game with Kate Brownell
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim are joined by Kate Brownell—trailblazer, athlete, coach, and the only Little Leaguer in history to pitch a perfect game.
  • Background is a turf field. Top to bottom: Skin in the Game logo with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS below it in green text. Photo of Frank Supovitz in a suit and tie against a grey background and his name below that in white text.
    The Show Must Go On with Frank Supovitz
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Frank Supovitz, President and Chief Experience Officer of Fast Traffic Events & Entertainment—and one of the most respected names in sports event production.
  • Background is a turf field. At the top: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with "INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS" in green text below. Beneath that is a photo of Phil Pritchard with the Stanley Cup and his name under that in white text
    The Lord Stanley Cup with Phil Pritchard
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Phil Pritchard, vice president of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the iconic “Keeper of the Cup.”
  • Turf field in the background. At the top: SKIN IN THE GAME logo with INSIDE THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS in green text underneath. Below that: Photo of Dennis Eshbaugh and his name in white text below.
    On the Slopes with Dennis Eshbaugh
    This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim welcome Dennis Eshbaugh, President and CEO of Holiday Valley, to discuss the evolution of the ski and winter recreation industry—and how one resort is redefining what it means to be a year-round mountain destination.