The Hall of Very Good Podcast

To celebrate Women in Baseball Week, former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher Maybelle Blair returns to talk to the boys about “A League of Their Own” on Amazon Prime, shares her thoughts on the show’s cast, reveals what prompted her to come out and gives an update on the IWBC’s efforts to turn Rockford, Illinois, the “cradle of women’s baseball”. This episode originally aired September 20, 2022.

To celebrate Women in Baseball Week, Baltimore Orioles head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry joins the boys to talk about how she almost quit baseball to work at a golf course in Hawaii, gets into the specifics of creating grass patterns in the outfield, recalls shagging flies for and getting lost in the dreamy blue eyes of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and, yeah, brags a little (wouldn't you?) about how great her view is from her office window at Camden Yards. This episode originally aired July 23, 2018.

To celebrate Women in Baseball Week, legendary organist Nancy Faust joins the boys to talk about how she got her start with the Chicago White Sox and whether or not she ever imagined spending 41 years on the southside, shares her excitement over finding an old reel-to-reel recording of her first game, recalls the team’s infamous “Disco Demolition Night” and, naturally, picks walk up music for Shawn and Lou. This episode originally aired April 23, 2020.

To celebrate Women in Baseball Week, renowned ballpark architect Janet Marie Smith joins the boys to talk about being rejected by and then designing Camden Yards for the Baltimore Orioles, her current gig with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the difference between building a stadium from the ground up and renovating one that’s been standing for almost a century and what baseball fans can expect when they return to Chavez Ravine. This episode originally aired June 9, 2020.

To celebrate Women in Baseball Week, 2017 J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient Claire Smith joins the boys to talk about how she got her start in journalism, shares the story she was most proud to cover, reveals the one story all baseball fans should be following and, lastly, advocates for Billy Williams to join the podcast. This episode originally aired September 24, 2019.

For the sixth time, Phil Hecken, the newly-minted lead dog at Uni Watch Blog, joins the boys to talk about his new gig, when he first got interested in watching unis (get it?), previews the 2024 MLB All-Star Game jerseys, breaks down what makes a good City Connect cap, gives an update on his Monday night curling league and introduces the world to the word “bonspiel”.

Award-winning sculptor Lou Cella joins the boys to talk about how he got his start in art (including the biggest influence on his career), the hardest part of the human body to sculpt, why the Ryne Sandberg statue outside Wrigley Field might be his most personal piece so far, his special connection to the family of former Seattle Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus and that time someone’s cremains ended up on one of his statues.

Competitive eater Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti is back to talk to the boys about returning to Surf and Stillwell for the annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating contest and preparing for no Joey Chestnut, whether or not he actually likes hot dogs, his least favorite food to eat (looking your way, Uranus Fudge Factory), what he’d eat to help get the Chicago Cubs back to the World Series and, for some reasons, log flumes.

The Famous San Diego Chicken, Ted Giannoulas, re-joins the boys to talk about his memories of headlining at historic Rickwood Field, the Major League ballpark he (surprisingly) never had a chance to perform at, the night no one laughed at his antics, how many chicken heads he travels with, Lady Gaga stealing his gimmick and goes back 45 years to June 29, 1979 and shares the one story from “The Grand Hatching” that you have to hear to believe.

Longtime journalist Chris Cillizza joins the boys to talk about the newfound joy he finds in covering whatever he wants on a daily basis, playing basketball against Allen Iverson at Georgetown, whether or not there will be another 300-game winner in Major League Baseball, shares his favorite baseball movie, where he was the night of June 17, 1994 (if you know you know) and explaining the O.J. Simpson trial to his kids.

A half-century after surviving Ten Cent Beer Night, lifelong Cleveland resident Ken Kowalski joins the boys to talk about what went down on June 4, 1974, shares his memories of Municipal Stadium, his connection to seven-time All-Star Ken Keltner and realizes that he and Lou have something in common.

Mark Malkoff returns to talk to the boys about his new podcast, Inside Late Night, the history of sports and the late night shows, talk show hosts that probably should have gotten more of a chance behind the desk, the legacy of Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray and the art of baseball nicknames.

Logan Wiening from Old Fort Baseball Co. joins the boys to talk about their shared connection with the AAGPBL, getting his start in graphic design and how that led to launching an apparel company, the popular Support Local Baseball Sticker Club, why it’s easy to hate the St. Louis Cardinals and whether or not Lou would want to hit the field as an old-timey baseball player. #supportlocalbaseball

Fresh off his European vacation, The Dank Diplomat, comedian Ngaio Bealum, returns to celebrate Episode 420 with the boys, shares his favorite ballpark food, the best Major League city to get high in (and the player he’d most like to get high with), playing golf with Bobby Bonds and accidentally brings back The PsyPhy Original Podcast.

1985 World Series champion and (should-be) eight-time Gold Glove Award winner Jim Sundberg joins the boys to talk about his journey from tiny Galesburg, Illinois, to the Texas Rangers, what likely cursed the Brewers prior to his arrival in Milwaukee, being part of the longest game in Major League Baseball history, playing “peacemaker” after Andre Dawson took a fastball to the face and his unlikely friendship with Hall of Famer Bill Dickey.

Geoff Schumacher joins the boys to talk about his personal interest in the seedy Las Vegas underbelly, the history of The Mob Museum, why we’re all still enamored by the 1919 Black Sox scandal, whether or not he’s excited about baseball (seemingly) heading to Sin City and shares the story of everyone’s favorite mass murder…the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre!

Ben Christensen, Community Engagement Manager for Hat Club, joins the boys to talk about the benefits of being a Hat Club member, his own involvement with the company, a lifelong obsession with headwear and why he’s the perfect person to rep the brand, how he chooses his eclectic hat and jersey combos and the good and bad (it’s mostly bad) of the current Major League laundry.

The day was April 15, 1997 and, apparently, all Hell was about to break loose at Major League Baseball's inaugural Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Shea Stadium. “We have snipers all around the stadium, just in case something were to happen" is what the Secret Service told Mr. Met, the New York Mets beloved mascot. Did the Secret Service REALLY want to kill Mr. Met...and why? To listen to the entire interview, CLICK HERE.

The day was April 15, 1997 and, apparently, all Hell was about to break loose at Major League Baseball's inaugural Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Shea Stadium. “We have snipers all around the stadium, just in case something were to happen" is what the Secret Service told Mr. Met, the New York Mets beloved mascot. Did the Secret Service REALLY want to kill Mr. Met...and why? To listen to the entire interview, CLICK HERE.

Just in time to celebrate the 35th anniversary of "Major League” (and the 30th anniversary of “Major League 2”!), author Jonathan Knight returns to talk to the boys about the best and worst baseball movies, the lasting legacy of the “Major League” franchise, why Milwaukee was chosen to play host to the 1989 film and, for some reason, the weird coincidences surrounding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln and their connection with showbiz siblings.