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| Mike Anderson (pictured back row, far right) following a tournament victory with Showtime. | PHOTO: Mike Anderson |
The first pitch Mike Anderson threw in his garage wasn’t for a scout. It wasn’t for a championship or some glory-days comeback. It was for his son. And maybe, unknowingly, it was the first throw in a movement that would reshape youth baseball in Northeast Philadelphia.
From that heavy bag to what would eventually become Showtime Baseball Academy, Anderson’s path back to the game was anything but conventional.
He was once a promising pitcher at North Catholic — a now-closed high school with deep roots in Northeast Philly’s baseball tradition. But by senior year, an arm issue sidelined him and dimmed his college recruitment prospects.
“I played football that year (1999-2000) — some friends got me into it — and it actually went really well,” he said. “A few Division III schools and La Salle showed interest, so I figured, why not stay local? I’d play football at La Salle and try to walk onto the baseball team.”
At the time, Larry Conti — a teacher at North — was the head coach at La Salle, making the connection feel natural.
At the time, Larry Conti — a teacher at North — was the head coach at La Salle, making the connection feel natural.
“Figured there was a shot,” Anderson said.
But life had other ideas.
But life had other ideas.
“Freshman year, I didn’t even know when tryouts were — that’s on me,” he said. “Sophomore year, I broke my leg playing football, so that threw everything off. By junior year, I just stuck with football and played men’s league baseball on the side.”
He kept the game close — even if from the sidelines. Then came fatherhood, and with it, a new role that reignited his love for baseball.
He kept the game close — even if from the sidelines. Then came fatherhood, and with it, a new role that reignited his love for baseball.
“I had my son around 22 or 23,” he said. “When he was eight or nine, I started coaching. I didn’t want to — I just wanted him to play — but the coach needed help, so I stepped in.”
That first season of coaching turned into many. Each year, Anderson pushed himself to be better — because he knew the kids needed better.
That first season of coaching turned into many. Each year, Anderson pushed himself to be better — because he knew the kids needed better.
“I thought I knew what I was doing,” he said. “Turns out, I didn’t have a clue. But over ten years, I learned.”
He immersed himself in pitching programs and mechanics. Then, in 2017, his arm gave out. A visit to a Rothman specialist ended with a blunt message: “Mike, stop throwing. You’re too old.”
He immersed himself in pitching programs and mechanics. Then, in 2017, his arm gave out. A visit to a Rothman specialist ended with a blunt message: “Mike, stop throwing. You’re too old.”
That didn’t sit right.
“I told them, ‘This isn’t for me — I’m trying to rehab so I can teach the kids,’” he said. “So I went home and figured it out myself.”
That’s when he discovered Driveline Baseball, a cutting-edge training program rooted in biomechanics and recovery. It changed everything. He began coaching children on the same exercises and routines he was using to retrain his arm.
That’s when he discovered Driveline Baseball, a cutting-edge training program rooted in biomechanics and recovery. It changed everything. He began coaching children on the same exercises and routines he was using to retrain his arm.
Slowly, his players began to improve. The results were real. But another challenge loomed.
“I started losing kids to suburban academies and programs,” Anderson said. “They’re great organizations, but they’re expensive. I wanted to keep the kids here, in Northeast Philly.”
That’s when he doubled down. What began in his garage had grown into Showtime Baseball Academy on Torresdale Avenue — not a sleek complex with turf fields and flashy logos, but a gritty, grassroots program built on work ethic and community.
That’s when he doubled down. What began in his garage had grown into Showtime Baseball Academy on Torresdale Avenue — not a sleek complex with turf fields and flashy logos, but a gritty, grassroots program built on work ethic and community.
The program now involves a little over 120 children, ranging from 8u to 18u.
Products of Showtime? Jason LeBold, a First-Team All-Catholic honoree at Father Judge, who was an outfielder this past year at Salem Community College. Kevin Krause, another First-Team All-Catholic product from Father Judge, will play at Holy Family next year.
Showtime has also helped raise $10,000 for Homers for Hope, a nonprofit close to Anderson that supports families in need through home run derby fundraisers.
“We played tough competition. Took our lumps early. But we got better every year — and more importantly, we kept kids local,” Anderson said.
Still, Anderson wanted to go deeper — not just a travel program, but a true developmental system with structure and accessibility at the youth level. That meant something bigger than just Showtime.
So he founded Northeast Philadelphia Baseball, a nonprofit organization chartered through Cal Ripken Baseball. The move brought strict standards: certified coaches, in-house structure, player safety protocols, and access to district, regional, and state tournaments.
Products of Showtime? Jason LeBold, a First-Team All-Catholic honoree at Father Judge, who was an outfielder this past year at Salem Community College. Kevin Krause, another First-Team All-Catholic product from Father Judge, will play at Holy Family next year.
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| LeBold using the cages at the Showtime facility. | PHOTO: Mike Anderson |
“We played tough competition. Took our lumps early. But we got better every year — and more importantly, we kept kids local,” Anderson said.
Still, Anderson wanted to go deeper — not just a travel program, but a true developmental system with structure and accessibility at the youth level. That meant something bigger than just Showtime.
So he founded Northeast Philadelphia Baseball, a nonprofit organization chartered through Cal Ripken Baseball. The move brought strict standards: certified coaches, in-house structure, player safety protocols, and access to district, regional, and state tournaments.
“We didn’t even get the charter until December,” Anderson said. “We were rushing. But it gave us the foundation to do it right.”
Now in its inaugural season, Northeast Philadelphia Baseball fields four teams in the Suburban League — a top-level travel circuit featuring clubs from Bucks and Montgomery counties. Roughly 60 children are playing under the umbrella of Northeast Philadelphia, with another dozen or so playing in the league’s in-house program.
Anderson has already partnered with Fox-Rok, reinforcing his commitment to collaboration over competition — building a connected Northeast Philly baseball ecosystem where kids from Torresdale to Somerton have a place to play, develop, and belong.
“I never turn kids away,” Anderson said. “Sure, when it comes to district time, there’s a level of selectiveness. But I find games for every kid. And parents appreciate that.”
Anderson also believes the Cal Ripken charter could open the door for other travel organizations to collaborate, giving kids who seek more advanced competition a chance to play together.
Now in its inaugural season, Northeast Philadelphia Baseball fields four teams in the Suburban League — a top-level travel circuit featuring clubs from Bucks and Montgomery counties. Roughly 60 children are playing under the umbrella of Northeast Philadelphia, with another dozen or so playing in the league’s in-house program.
Anderson has already partnered with Fox-Rok, reinforcing his commitment to collaboration over competition — building a connected Northeast Philly baseball ecosystem where kids from Torresdale to Somerton have a place to play, develop, and belong.
“I never turn kids away,” Anderson said. “Sure, when it comes to district time, there’s a level of selectiveness. But I find games for every kid. And parents appreciate that.”
Anderson also believes the Cal Ripken charter could open the door for other travel organizations to collaborate, giving kids who seek more advanced competition a chance to play together.
“I want Calvary, Somerton, Liberty Bell, Fox Rok — I want them all to keep their teams,” he said. “But I want all the players to come together, all the coaches to come together, and for Northeast Philadelphia Baseball to be our Suburban team competing in Cal Ripken tournaments and districts.”
He knows building that kind of collaboration will take time and relationship-building — and he’s aware not everyone may be on board.
But Anderson’s philosophy isn’t about chasing trophies. It’s about teaching the game — especially the often-overlooked fundamentals of situational baseball.
He knows building that kind of collaboration will take time and relationship-building — and he’s aware not everyone may be on board.
But Anderson’s philosophy isn’t about chasing trophies. It’s about teaching the game — especially the often-overlooked fundamentals of situational baseball.
“I tell them, ‘Don’t steal third or home on a passed ball just because you can. Learn to hit first,’” he said. “The other day, our nine-year-olds were hitting to the right side. That’s huge.”
The foundation is about more than just baseball skills. It’s about infrastructure, access, and community — all built from a garage, a weighted ball, and a father’s dream.
The foundation is about more than just baseball skills. It’s about infrastructure, access, and community — all built from a garage, a weighted ball, and a father’s dream.
“It’s not just a brand,” Anderson said. “It’s a belief. A culture. A movement.”
Even with his own son stepping away from baseball — finding success instead as an All-Catholic rower at Father Judge — Anderson remains all-in, driven by a bigger purpose: to bring high-level baseball development to Philly kids without the high price tag.
Even with his own son stepping away from baseball — finding success instead as an All-Catholic rower at Father Judge — Anderson remains all-in, driven by a bigger purpose: to bring high-level baseball development to Philly kids without the high price tag.
