12 Questions with Paul Blackburn: Baseball Player
12 Questions with Baseball Player Paul Blackburn
Paul Blackburn is a lifelong baseball fan - and he currently plays for Bristol Baseball Club.
The Sporting Blog interviews Paul about the ups and downs of baseball life - and his favourite sporting moments so far!
Paul Blackburn plays for Bristol Baseball Club
1. What is the earliest memory you have of your sport?
Living in Chicago and watching the 1999/2000 Cubs teams, particularly Sammy Sosa.
2. Who was your first sporting hero?
Jamie Carragher - different sport but loved his loyalty, passion and drive.
3. When did you know sport was going to be what you did for a living?
I’ve always been quite active, watching sport on TV is great but playing it is even better - any excuse to pick up a bat and swing for the fences, and I’m there!
4. Is there a coach, teammate or even a club from your youth that has had a material impact on your life in sport today?
My fiancée Molly helped me realise how accessible baseball is in the UK, so I owe her a great amount for that!
5. Growing up, playing with friends, where was your 'Wembley', 'Centre court' or 'Madison Square Garden'?
A large collection of playing fields opposite a car garage in Bishops Cleeve - most days during the school breaks my mates and I would go there and stay for hours kicking a football or throwing frisbees.
6. What is the hardest part about professional sport?
The commitment - it’s not easy balancing work, life and sports, sacrifices have to be made and you cannot be in three places at once so you have to adapt and be flexible to whatever life throws at you!
Paul Blackburn with fiancée Molly
7. What is the biggest sacrifice you have had to make in order to get to where you are now?
My joints! I’m turning 30 this year but my body creaks like a 60-year-old - it makes me appreciate the guys who are playing on at that age and aspire to be able to do the same.
8. What is your proudest moment in sport?
Hitting the walk-off win against Cardiff back in 2022 - we were losing by eight runs going into the last inning, the team batted so incredibly well and hung in there, and I managed to get the winning knock - my first hit of the game too! I often look back on that with fondness.
9. And what is a moment you wish you could take back or start over again?
Waiting 25 years to find a baseball team - if I’d have known there were teams since 2008, I’d have signed up on the spot and been playing ever since!
10. Who is your most respected opponent or competitor?
There is a player for Weston Jets who is a model example for baseball in the UK - competitive and incredibly good at baseball during games, but a humble and funny guy off the field.
He hardly ever strikes out and is the driving force for their team - I always look forward to our games with them.
Paul is a Braves fan!
11. What is your favourite sporting venue?
A tie between Anfield or Truist Park - the home stadiums of my two sporting teams (Liverpool and Atlanta Braves).
12. What's next for you and where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Keep training as hard as I can, keep improving my skills and hopefully still have functioning knees by the time I turn 35!
Let us know what you have going on in your life now and say thanks to any sponsors or clubs…
I’m preparing for another fun season with Bristol Baseball (Go Buccaneers!) and enjoying my playing career. Massive thanks to the club for supporting me and helping me become a better player every week.
Thanks to my fiancée Molly for pushing me to play in the first place, and for being so supportive of whatever I choose to do with my life.
