- 🏙️ Deep Tampa Roots: Jamie shares his family’s history coming from Sicily and Cuba in the early 1900s and their place in Tampa’s rich cultural and baseball heritage.
- ⚾ A Grandfather’s Impact: Stories of his grandfather Emilio Almeida — a true baseball guru — who taught generations of kids the finer points of the game and inspired a lifelong passion for baseball.
- 🧢 Little League Champion: How Emilio turned a ragtag team of “misfits” with no uniforms into league champions through strategy, fundamentals, and love for the game.
- 📚 Baseball IQ from the Start: Lessons on situational thinking, strategy, and positioning that shaped Jamie’s approach as a catcher from Little League through high school and beyond.
- 🧠 Catcher’s Perspective: Jamie breaks down the mental side of catching — calling pitches, building trust with pitchers, reading hitters, and managing the whole field.
- 📈 From Leto High to College: How Jamie’s baseball instincts and independence on the field set him apart, earning trust to call his own games and lead from behind the plate.
- 🧐 Seeing the Game Differently: Jamie explains how he still watches baseball — looking for tells, strategy, and subtle signs that others miss — and how he passes that knowledge on to younger players.
- 💬 Coaching the Next Generation: His approach to teaching not just mechanics but hitting philosophy, game awareness, and understanding the strike zone.
- FSU Roots & Baseball Memories:
- Touring FSU’s baseball locker room and seeing tributes to Buster Posey and Cal Raleigh
- Comparing old-school locker rooms to today’s luxury setups
- From the Diamond to the Firehouse - Transitioning from college baseball to a 26-year career with Tampa Fire Rescue
- Joining the Tampa Fire softball team, winning tournaments, and competing in the World Police & Fire Games
- Family Legacy in Baseball - Growing up in a baseball-rich family with deep Tampa roots
- Cousin Joe Urso, legendary head coach at the University of Tampa (multiple national championships)
- Continuing the family’s passion for the game through coaching and mentoring
- Honoring Shu Shu Wirth - Remembering Senaida “Shu Shu” Wirth, Jamie’s cousin and AAGPBL All-Star with the South Bend Blue Sox
- Her incredible speed, arm, and fearless play — leading the league in stolen bases
- Preserving her story and legacy for future generations
- Passing the Torch - Coaching his daughters in softball and seeing them succeed in other sports
- Reflecting on intensity as a youth coach and the lasting positive impact on former players
- Baseball Legends & Local Icons
Remembering Tampa baseball figure Tony Saladino and his lasting community impact - Family connections to Hillsborough H.S. star and Dodgers signee Don Corson
- Meeting Brooklyn Dodgers legend Sandy Amorós thanks to his grandfather
- Cuscaden Park & Tampa’s Cuban Baseball Heritage
Recalling packed stands for games between Tampa Smokers & Cuban teams - Championship Memories
- Leading a ragtag Little League team to a title through fundamentals, repetition, and strategy
- How his grandfather’s teaching turned kids into real ballplayers
Key Themes: Baseball heritage, family legacy, coaching wisdom, Tampa baseball history, honoring women’s baseball pioneers
You can find Mat at @matgermain.bsky.social or reach Mark at baseballbizondeck@gmail.com, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at www.baseballbizOnDeck.com
Special Thanks to Williams Ross Chernoff's Nomads for the music Makie Elkino
