Hi, I’m Tyler, the founder of Joker Mag – The Home of The Underdog. I’m a Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College) and the author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself).
Title: Founder & Managing Editor of Joker Mag
Location: Delaware Valley (Greater Philadelphia), Pennsylvania
Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Communication and Media Studies – McDaniel College
Expertise: Player profiles and inspiring underdog stories in the world of baseball, football, basketball, and anywhere else I can find a story.
Experience:
Since launching Joker Mag in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide.
The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team.
Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations.
I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season.
Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible.
Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.
My Book: The Underdog Mentality
On March 14th, 2025, I published my first book, The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).
Within the first day, it hit the top-10 in two Amazon Best Seller categories, surging past authors like Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Deion Sanders.
The Underdog Mentality is the attitude of never giving up in the face of adversity. It’s the belief that anything is possible if you have the drive and determination to overcome any obstacle in the way of your goals.
The stories in this book prove that talent alone isn’t what separates the winners – it’s resilience, work ethic, and an unshakable mindset.
The Underdog Newsletter
Every Sunday morning, I publish The Underdog Newsletter – a free email covering the best sports stories you’ve never heard.
Every week, you’ll discover the most inspiring underdog stories the mainstream media overlooks.
Thousands of sports fans love it, including folks at ESPN, Disney, and the NBA. I think you’ll love it too. You can join here 👇
Press Mentions
I’ve been lucky enough to have my work picked up by some prominent publications. Here are a few of the big ones I’m most proud of:
- FOX Sports
- The Sporting News
- ClutchPoints
- Heavy
- BroBible
- The Hockey Writers
- SB Nation
- Good Good Good
My Favorite Stories
I’ve covered hundreds of underdog stories since launching this site in November of 2017. Almost too many to remember!
But, if I had to pick, here are my 5 favorite stories I’ve ever written:
- After Getting Cut 3 Times in High School, Ryan Gusto Became the Most Confident Pitcher in Pro Baseball
- Moro Ojomo’s Path From Freshman B-Team Backup to Super Bowl LIX
- Meet the California Beach Bum Who Lied His Way to Becaming a Hockey Hall of Famer
- Quinn Meinerz Broke The Mold on His Path From Division III to NFL All-Pro
- How Ali Truwit Turned a Life-Altering Attack Into an Inspiring Quest for Paralympic Glory
I’ve also had a chance to interview some impressive people: World Series Champions, Super Bowl Champions, an Olympic silver medalist, a Paralympic gold medalist, and my childhood hero, Jim “The Rookie” Morris.
You can check out our full library of exclusive interviews right here.
