Jim Beezley Interview: Former Police Captain's Second Act with Major League Baseball
Diana Landau | July 14, 2026
Host Carl prides himself on finding people that have interesting and different kinds of careers. It took Episode #110 but he finally found his first ex-cop. It's a fun one to listen to and an extra bonus is you can enjoy the banter live from Carl's Tiki Bar. After decades in law enforcement, including high-stress work in narcotics investigation and hostage negotiations, Jim Beezley the former Police Captain is now realizing a childhood dream by working with Major League Baseball.
Jim grew up in Sacramento and sports were the main activity in his neighborhood. He says he was a stubborn and independent child. “I was self-sufficient fairly young.” He attended CSU, Sacramento and earned a master's degree in criminal justice. Jim also graduated from the FBI National Academy.
He joined the Sacramento police force and eventually worked his way up to Captain. He talks about the challenging transition from being “one of the guys” to management. There’s hiring, firing, big budgets and more. “90% of police work is communication,” Jim adds. “It’s also a great, rewarding job that you can be proud of after 35 years.”
Jim retired from the police force and went on to serve as Senior Director of Protective Services at Sutter Health, where he specialized in healthcare investigations, workplace violence prevention and systemwide security strategy. He retired from his second act in 2025.
For Jim’s third act, he has combined his investigative background with his lifelong passion for sports—and more specifically the Oakland A’s. “When I was a kid in the early 1980’s, the A’s were MY team. It took another 45 years for this opportunity to present itself. What a great job!" It turns out the A’s left Oakland and are playing in Sacramento for three years. When Jim heard the team was coming to town, he started making calls to the right people and landed the position as an authenticator for Major League Baseball.
Jim loves being an authenticator. “It’s multi-tasking and negotiating with lots of people," he says. He gets to interact with his sports heroes all season and he's even traveled to Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Working with the A's is a dream come true for him. When not in the dugout, Jim is totally obsessed with pickleball. He plays almost everyday!
Jim's (Un) retirement advice:
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Financial planning: "I'm fairly frugal and (decades ago) I put together a big spreadsheet and tried to be as financially literate as possible. I look at all the trends, making sure it all pencils out and makes sense. I do it myself. I taught a class on financial planning for new recruits to set them up for success. I'm very proud of that."
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Health and Routine: "For me, I want to live as long and healthy as possible. See a doctor. Find something you like to do that's healthy. I guarantee there are days you don't want to get up and do it. But I say, 'Just 5 minutes.' And then you do another 5, and another 5, and soon you've got a workout." 
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Gary Saunders Interview: Sports Exec becomes "HoDad" - Radio Personality and Minor League Baseball Sound Machine!
Diana Landau | April 08, 2025
There's never a dull moment in Carl's interview with the one and only Gary Saunders. Gary had a long career as a general manager and exec for many Minor League Baseball teams as well as the University of Mississippi. But Gary is far from done. At 66, Gary is now a sound engineer for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and popular radio personality with the very cool handle of "HoDad". Plus an array of interesting other part-time jobs he loves while experience a very unique (un)retirement.
Gary and his two brothers grew up in Virginia. His father was a real estate developer and his mother was a stay-at-home mom. As a teen he worked as a laborer for his father on construction sites and quickly learned that focusing on his studies would be a better path. Even in college at Virginia Tech, he knew he wanted a career in sports and dove into sportscasting for various college teams.
After college, Gary applied for a position with the St. Louis Cardinals, only to be discouraged by the sheer number of applicants and the low wages. But a man walked up to him, gave him his card and offered him a job as a Sales & Marketing Director of a minor league team, for about $200 per week. He jumped at the chance and it really kick-started his successful career in baseball. "Many things in life wouldn't have happened without the support of my wife, Eileen. She's my biggest fan," he tells us.
Gary ended his career in December 2020 and he and his wife moved to Florida. "Honestly, my plan was to lay on the beach, go out to lunch, swim in the pool....but after a year as a beach bum I felt very disconnected from real life. I felt like I had no purpose." Gary approached the Pirates minor league team about some sort of part-time job. They offered him a position managing the sound effects and music at the games for the team. "Oh man, it was my dream job!" he says. "I couldn't wait to sign up fast enough!"
When the baseball gig ended in the fall, he didn't want to go back to being a beach bum and decided to focus on getting a winter job too. You'll have to listen to the podcast to get all the details on Gary's job at a fitness resort, writing the "Home Plate Cookbook", jumping at an opportunity to become a radio host, as "HoDad" on the Longboat Luau show, and even a butler for a St. Regis hotel. "I've found it interesting and rewarding and I've met some really great people. All these different jobs and activities come with different tribes of people. They become like a second family. It has really enriched my life!"
Gary's (un)retirement observations:
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"I think I'm the poster child for staying busy in retirement. Target jobs or activities or volunteering that puts a smile on your face and make you feel better about your role in life."
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"I strongly urge people not to think about retirement as sitting on the beach all day. Because you will get tired of that and I know a lot of people think that sounds crazy, that "No way, I'll never get tired of that." But you will. You'll feel like you're no longer part of the real world. You're not engaged and you're not meeting people and you don't have a purpose for getting up and getting dressed every day."
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"It's important to find a thing or multiple things that make you happy and convert that in some way to a part-time job in retirement."
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog
Sam McDowell Interview: All-Star Player with Hall of Fame Second Act
Diana Landau | May 10, 2022
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This week Carl interviews baseball legend "Sudden Sam" McDowell. After a record-setting career as a Major League pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sam embarked on a stellar second act as a sports psychologist and motivational speaker, creating addiction and recovery programs for players (and their families) in all sports. He had many ups and downs in his own baseball career, however. "My career was fueled by alcohol and addiction," he shares. Sam is also author of the book, "The Saga of Sudden Sam: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Sam McDowell."
Growing up, Sam's family (including his 6 siblings) lived in Pittsburgh, PA. Sam's focus was sports. He played baseball, basketball, tennis and ran cross-country. (Fun Fact #1: His father was a football quarterback in the Rose Bowl.) At the young age of 17, the Cleveland Indians recognized his talent and he was recruited with a big signing bonus. By the time he was 18, he was already pitching in the major leagues. Sudden Sam became a star, a six-time All-Star and led the American League in strikeouts five times. By 1971, he injured his rotator cuff and his decline continued. "I didn't retire, I was kicked out," says Sam. The anxiety and depression that came from the pressure of being such a young superstar took a toll and his drinking continued.
After a short career in real estate and then in insurance, Sam hit rock bottom, losing his wife, family and mountains of debt from a failed business venture. The turning point came when he moved in with his mother. "I woke one morning at 3am and felt in my heart like something beat me." He made a call to a recovery center that morning. (Fun Fact #2: TV Show "Cheers" based their Sam Malone character on Sam.)
After learning in recovery that alcohol is a genetic disease, he says the lights went on. His own therapist encouraged him to become a sports psychologist and help other players with addiction and recovery. Sam attended Harvard's continuing education program in sports psychology and eventually was hired by the Texas Rangers to be their sports psychologist, a first in any sport. After a very successful second career in baseball, now at age 80, he continues to help players and former players in all sports through his programs. He has two World Series rings to show for it from the '90s. "The Toronto Blue Jays felt I was valuable in helping them win it all!"
Sam's Advice on (Un)Retirement Success:
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Financial security: "It is extremely important. You must be honest and realistic with yourself. Be sure to consult a financial planner—you may live until you're 90!"
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Cheering has stopped: "Yes, you had a successful career. Accept it. Now go on."
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Second act: "Get a hobby, volunteer, play sports. Where does self-worth come from? Set out to accomplish a goal, then do it. This builds your self-esteem."
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
Renel Brooks-Moon Interview: Former Radio Personality Breaks Barriers as Baseball Announcer
Diana Landau | February 01, 2022
This week Carl interviews the remarkable Renel Brooks-Moon. If you haven't heard of her, you probably know her famous voice. Renel has been a big-time radio personality in the San Francisco/Bay Area for over two decades, one of the major markets in the country. For her second act, she is now the public address announcer for the San Francisco Giants. She has earned a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame as the first woman in history to be the public address announcer for a World Series game and championship game in ANY professional sport. (Note: Carl has a super-fan gush going on in this interview.)
Renel was born and raised in the Bay Area and loved to entertain, even as a young child. She comes from a family of trailblazers—her father was the first black high school principal in San Francisco and her mother was also an educator. She gets her deep sense of community service from her parents, who were long-time community activists. She went to Mills College and after graduation started an entry-level job for a Bay Area radio station, eventually doing every single job there. “I fell in love from Day One,” she tells us. She was finally offered a nightspot on air in 1985, not expecting it to ever become a career. But everything clicked. “Once I turn on that microphone, it’s where I belong!”
Renel went on to have a very successful career in radio, meeting Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner and even singing once with Lionel Richie. Renel was in her element. When she got the call from the San Francisco Giants, she blazed a trail again. She feels a responsibility to be a role model for girls and women in both radio and major league sports. “When I was a little girl, there was no representation for that.” She inspires little girls everywhere to go after their dreams. Renel notes, “For some reason, I ended up in two very male-dominated professions, but I love the work.”
She’s had many highlights in her second act, whether it’s making history, interviewing baseball legends or giving her voice and influence to community service. Now, after 22 seasons with the Giants, Carl asks her what her third act might be. “Who knows? I've always wanted to have my own talk show!” We won't be surprised when that happens.
Renel’s (Un)Retirement Tips:
• Network: “Networking is very important, no matter what your career is or where you are in it. Every job I've had is because of a relationship.”
• Serve your community: "The most rewarding part of any job I've had is to use my voice for community service.”
• Try it now: "If you've had something you've always wanted to do since childhood, and you are still thinking about it, there’s no reason not to try it now.”
• Keep moving: “Stay on top of it. Take care of yourself, listen to your body. Mental health is just as important as physical health.” 
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
Dr. James Beckett Interview: Sports + Math = Amazing Success!
Diana Landau | January 26, 2021
Carl interviews the one and only Dr. Jim Beckett. Dr. Beckett has lived quite a life—and as he says, “I had a childhood hobby that grew into a successful business and now I'm turning back into a hobby!”
He is currently the CEO of Beckett Interests Inc. of Dallas, Texas. He is the founder of Beckett Publications Inc., the world's largest sports and entertainment collectibles publisher, and served as its CEO from 1984 until selling the company for a reported $20 million in January 2005.
Beckett Publications' titles included Beckett Baseball, Beckett Basketball, Beckett Football, Beckett Hockey, Beckett Racing, Beckett Fantasy Sports Powered by Rotoworld.com, Neopets (The Official Magazine), Beckett Pokemon, Beckett Dragonball Z, Beckett Anime & Manga, Beckett Yu-Gi-Oh Unofficial Collector and a number of other titles. Jim has also authored more than 50 sports-related books, including numerous annual price guides in several collectible fields.
As a child, Jim lived in 18 houses in 18 years. His father was in the military and then a corporate CEO and it kept the family moving. He said of those years, “Moving a lot with new schools means you've got to be a quick study.” Jim also discovered that his hobby of collecting baseball cards was a great “socializer.”
After earning his Ph.D. in statistics from Southern Methodist University in 1975, he was a tenured associate professor of statistics at Bowling Green State University until 1980. Surrounded by so many baseball entities in the region, he said it was an immersive experience. Combining his great love of sports and math, he decided to publish a free price survey to the collector market in 1975. In 1979, he published a full-length book.
Living in Dallas in 1984, Jim then published Baseball Monthly magazine. It was such a success he left his other jobs to fully devote his time to Beckett Publications, Inc. Carl noted that he also launched his first magazine in 1984, Computer Language. Their paths and exit strategies were entirely different—Carl sold his magazine three years later, while Jim grew his company over 20 years into an empire. “I’m not really a serial entrepreneur”, he said. “I’m an opportunistic entrepreneur, I had many great ideas, but that one idea seemed to have legs on it and it sure seemed that I should be the guy to carry it forward.”
The company eventually expanded way beyond baseball cards, selling 2 million magazines a month. “I think I have the record for the greatest direct mail return, I had a 1,000%! I would send out 1,000 pieces of mail and get 10,000 orders,” Jim told us. Then while actively leading the company, Jim suffered a heart attack. It forced him into concentrating on his schedule and his health. He went into a more executive role with the company, which he didn't enjoy. “I’m a hands-on guy!” Soon he started thinking of selling.
In addition to running a successful company, Jim had started a pro-bono consulting business to help leaders and future leaders solve problems. He started having 200 meetings a year with different entities, often bringing in peers to help too. Jim’s love of problem solving has led to more than 5,000 meetings over the years. “It has been so fulfilling,” he added.
Now in (un)retirement, Jim is going strong with a daily (yes, daily!) podcast for the sports collector world. Turns out that in the pandemic, card collecting has had a dramatic resurgence. 2020 was the biggest year ever. “I get to have an impact on my industry and influence the influencers. I'm having a blast!”
Dr. James Beckett’s (un)retirement advice:
“I think people need to find some connection to a passion. It’s not I have to do this, it’s I get to do this. How great is that?”
“I was always a person to bring order out of the chaos……as I've grown older, I've realized you don't want to eliminate all the chaos. A little bit of chaos is the joie de vivre.”
“Leave the world a better place. Make a positive impact!”
Check out the Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights podcast.
This week we're sponsored by 032 Outsourcing: Call 214.403.3755 or visit: https://032outsourcing.com/
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
