Tom Rinaldi Presents: Wesley

Step into the world of Sacred Acre with Tom Rinaldi, who's back for Season 2 as he uncovers the profound story of Ed Thomas, the legendary high school football coach from Parkersburg, Iowa.In this gripping 6-part series, Rinaldi takes you back to explore Thomas’s remarkable journey—from his acclaimed role as the 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year to his pivotal role in rebuilding Parkersburg after a devastating EF-5 tornado. Just a year later, Thomas's life was tragically cut short when he was murdered by a troubled former player.Experience the impact of Thomas’s values of Faith, Family, Football, and Forgiveness through intimate interviews with those who knew him best. Each episode reveals how his legacy continues to shape and inspire his community even fifteen years after his death.New episodes of Sacred Acre drop every Thursday. Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode.

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Recent Reviews

DawgsFan

Simply compelling

Tom is simply a great storyteller and journalist. The story of Lyman Bostock has always fascinated me as I was 10 when he died. Sacred Acre does a great job of helping the listener feel the tension and conflict of the entire story.
Brooklyn Cyclones

Good stuff

Great storytelling!
Wall St. app

High school football

Tom, Phenomenal reporting Tom. This coach and family are heroes to all of us.
Hburns33

Iowa native

I am from nearby Waterloo. This story rocked our state. This is a true story of a small town pulling together in crisis.
ARP1285

Thanks Tom

I remember this story like it happened yesterday, I can’t imagine the horror those kids witnessed!
This podcast is five stars

Great Story

Did not know this story before, great podcast.
Reach4TheStars⭐️

Superb

Top notch reporting, excellent narrative storytelling - A+ Tom Rinaldi delivers a gripping sad tale of one of the best young players in MLB who could have been a Hall of Famer
NikiNerdette

Beyond amazing podcast!

Tom Rinaldi did a wonderful job telling this very sad story. As a fan of baseball, and someone who was born and raised in Southern California going to Angeles games, I never knew about this tragedy. Many thanks to Tom for his poignant telling of Lyman’s life.
bk13000

Congratulations Tom!

Absolutely positively riveting Tom and probably the saddest sports story ever.
Volcanoman71

Poignant

Absolutely poignant and inspiring!
yesabaseballman27

Ok

I like it but you need to know at least a little bit about the story. I like the guys who is telling the story of what happened. Would recommend to a older man how knows about baseball. To being able to picture the place to feeling the words would recommend
Palin10

What could have been

Also describes this podcast. Could have been worthwhile, except Tom Rinaldi surrenders to sloppy, one-sided journalism in his portrayal of Bostock’s criminal behavior in college and gross, self-serving, near-hysterical, and ludicrous praise of Bostock’s talent as a player. The shame, besides Rinaldi’s laziness and intellectual dishonesty as a “journalist,” is that the story would have been more interesting if Rinaldi had presented the truth in all its accuracy, balance, and nuance. Ultimately, a waste of time.
caseyjonestrain

Perfectly told

This was being excellent! A huge mix of emotions! So glad someone is continuing his story. Thank you!
Rob P.

More Rinaldi Pods Please

Phenomenal story, well told, loved the production. Hope Tom does more deep dive pods like this.
Signman1968

Not a baseball fan

I’m not a baseball fan and was only 10 when this happened, nor have I ever hear about it. I heard an advertisement for this podcast on another podcast and just felt like I needed to hear it. I’m so glad I did.
BorisKarlof

Not Much Story Here

This seems to be a story about Rinaldi’s feelings about the story and how he reported it, rather than about Bostock’s murder and career. Nothing is really resolved or revealed here beyond showing Rinaldi’s desire for closure that never came. This was a senseless murder and a miscarriage of justice, but not a complex story. Rinaldi spends a lot of time focusing on the killer and his failure to interview him. He said his failed interview has haunted him since 2008, but it didn’t really seem to haunt anyone else. Bostock’s widow said she didn’t have any expectation for the killer to reach out to her, which was something Rinaldi focused on. Bostock’s other family expressed distaste for Rinaldi’s attempted interview. Also, the music is often overly dramatic for the content it is supporting, which I thought was irritating.
Lakers Fam for life

Well done, professional and considerate!

Tom and his team did an exceptional job of shedding light on the life cut short of Lyman Wesley Bostock. I attended college with him and knew him well, he’s characterized in this story by his big heart and care for others. And that’s who he was!
COWBOY68

Great Story

This is why there should be a team of Dexters around , for just these kind of injustices !!!
Srichards2

Outstanding Coverage of a Tragic Event

This is an amazing series, wow! Tom, you’ve done a terrific job from beginning to end covering such a horrific tragedy. Thank you for bringing this story to light.
mrsmzgray

Exceptional.

Very well done- thorough and well thought out. What a great tribute to Lyman Bostock. Such a tragic story, but so tastefully told with such respect and dignity to his memory and his family and loved ones.
a_knucklehead

Gone too soon

Excellent series in short episodes that you can listen to, on your way to or from work. I attended CSUN about the time he was killed, and never knew Lyman had a gone to school there. It was good to hear details of a man with a good heart.
ATL BLove

An Outstanding Lesson

All I can say is “Thank You” for producing this piece. Simply an outstanding production. Everyone who calls themselves a fan of baseball should listen. Life is so fragile.
Boston Baseball Fan #1

Boston Baseball Fan #1

Terrific baseball podcast to binge. So much to appreciate about the quality of the series!
luckie1710

Great Series

Thans for telling this story. I had no idea this had happened. Was beyond fascinating
Rick from Kentucky

Outstanding work

This is a fantastically insightful series that tells a story that is far too underreported. Well done Mr. Rinaldi.
scomun1

Outstanding storytelling.

I was 12 yrs old when this happened and remember it well, because I lived just south of Gary. I didn't recall the result of the trial. Tom Rinaldi is great.
Salane

I can’t wait for more!

I decided to check this podcast out, because I’m an Angels fans and wanted to learn some history about my team. I’m hooked! I can’t wait for the rest!
Recallscottwalker2012!

About Time!

Well done Tom on bringing this sad story to life. Bostock was an incredible player and more importantly an incredible human. So sad that he didn’t get the opportunity to touch more lives.
gg88888ssss

You had me at Tom Rinaldi

Haven’t listened yet but this guy storytelling is far beyond most and his voice is like butta!
ZekeJoeVinnie

Love it

Rinaldi is an outstanding host and narrator
Sus4u

Can’t wait for the next episodes to drop!

I seriously can’t wait to here the rest of this story. I did not know about this and I have lived in Indiana all my life. I was a child when he died but I love baseball and can’t believe I haven’t ever hear about this story.
nokg gniok

I remember Lyman

My brother and I were 7&8 years old in Brooklyn when Lyman was killed. We were both devastates. We were Yankees fans but Lyman Bostock and Bobby Bonds were the two players that didn’t play for the Yankees that we followed. So sad how he died and the rumors that followed. THEN….. Thurmon Munson dies in a plane crash. YO!!!
Brahanei

Remembering Lyman

I knew Lyman personally, I also went to Manual Arts High School and San Fernando Valley State College, now California State University Northridge. Lyman was a great guy! The first series of the Podcast was excellent, can’t wait to hear the entire series. I’m now 71 years old and live on the East Coast. Lyman, RIP!
Ryno0350

Gabe & Turk did it again!

Rinaldi is pretty good too
Sanman1982

Great story

Never heard about this until I heard Tom on Miller and Moulton last week talk about it. Really enjoying the podcast so far. Looking forward to hearing the whole story.