The Hall of Very Good Podcast

The Hall of Very Good Podcast is focused on you, the fan. Each week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen sit down and talk to people in and around the game of baseball that help make America's Pastime great.

Episode 515: Hoag Kepner 10/14/2026

Episode 515: Hoag Kepner Director, musician and puppeteer(!) Hoag Kepner joins the boys to talk about growing up rooting for Philadelphia sports teams, the ups and downs of fandom, how his love of The Muppets led to wanting to document the Phillies’ iconic mascot, The Phillie Phanatic, behind-the-scenes of his new documentary “Big Phan”, hanging out with Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and, for some reason, the best “MTV Unplugged” of all time. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/43287659

Episode 514: Steve Guttenberg 10/06/2026

Episode 514: Steve Guttenberg Legendary actor Steve Guttenberg joins the boys to talk about his new film “American Summer”, the importance of actually looking like you know how to play baseball when cast in a baseball movie (and how close he got to doing one), hitting the batting cages in London, playing at Dodger Stadium, his love of stadium brats, the current postseason landscape and, of course, who should be in the World Series. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/43189693

Episode 513: Bob Kendrick 09/22/2026

Episode 513: Bob Kendrick Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick returns to talk to the boys about the annual Hall of Game induction, the two high-profile collections that are on display at the Kansas City museum, getting that “Ted Lasso” bump, the plans to build a new facility, the (notso) unlikely bond between the Savannah Bananas and the Negro Leagues and that time Satchel Paige donned a fake beard to win his share of a $7500 prize. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42988283

Episode 512: The Young Professor 09/16/2026

Episode 512: The Young Professor Savannah Bananas hype man, The Young Professor, joins the boys to talk about how he ended up with the popular moniker, the full extent of his role with the team, his all-time favorite in-game promo, the art of talking people into the building, hanging out with WWE superstar John Cena and wrestling Bigfoot. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42924807

Episode 511: Shane Obedzinski 09/08/2026

Episode 511: Shane Obedzinski Actor (and self-proclaimed “angry tree trunk”) Shane Obedzinski returns to talk to the boys about his new YouTube series “Dugout Dads”, previews a potential second season, looks ahead to the 35th anniversary of “The Sandlot”, tries to remember the names of real minor league baseball teams and introduces the world to chocolate shows. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42804925

Minisode: September 1, 1971 09/01/2026

Minisode: September 1, 1971 "I think the thing that surprises me is when September 1st comes around every year...no one really talks about it." - All Oliver On September 1, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates fielded the first starting nine consisting of all Black and Latino players. Bruce Markusen, author of , Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillen join the boys to reflect on that historic team. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42638400

Remembering Tommy John (1943-2026) 08/17/2026

Remembering Tommy John (1943-2026) Yeeeeears ago, when we launched The Hall of Very Good, we talked to Tommy John at length about him being our first inductee. He was thrilled. He'd check in randomly throughout those early years and kept in touch as we entered the podcast space. TJ was a great dude. To honor his passing, here's the conversation we had with the should-be Hall of Famer back in 2017. He talked to us about his chances at getting into Cooperstown, his favorite baseball movies, the injury that nearly ended his career, his relationship with the late-Frank Jobe (and why the legendary doctor is one of the three most influential men in baseball history) and playing alongside Glenn Burke. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . Episode originally aired February 28, 2017. /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42457310

Episode 510: Lauren Shehadi 08/11/2026

Episode 510: Lauren Shehadi MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi joins the boys to preview the (should be) annual Field of Dreams game on Netflix, the moment she knew she wanted to cover baseball for a living, watching games alongside Pedro Martinez, her excitement surrounding the WPBL and how everything she does today can be traced back to her early career working in North Dakota’s “Magic City”. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42386875

Episode 509: Jeff Katz 08/05/2026

Episode 509: Jeff Katz For an unprecedented thirteenth time, Cooperstown correspondent Jeff Katz joins the boys to talk about the excitement (or lack thereof) surrounding the 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, rubbing elbows with baseball immortals (and Jeffrey Leonard!), the “aura” of Derek Jeter, re-evaluates the greatness of Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg and, of course, determines whether or not the Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42323060

Episode 508: Jonathan Eig 07/28/2026

Episode 508: Jonathan Eig Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig joins the boys to talk about the recent news of his Lou Gehrig biography being made into a major motion picture, how to cast New York Yankees legends, breaks down his favorite (and least favorite) baseball movies, the desire to tackle big name subjects to write about and, of course, answers the question…what did MLK smell like? This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42221100

Episode 507: Joe Posnanski 07/15/2026

Episode 507: Joe Posnanski New York Times bestselling author Joe Posnanski returns to talk to the boys about how he ended up partnering up with should-be future podcast guest Michael Schur, their new book, , why it’s a good time for fans, his dream event to attend, whether or not anything can compete with late 80s Michael Jackson hysteria, tracking down (and hugging) Mookie Betts, the three most handsome men he’s stood next to and, for some reason, the best damn autograph story you’ll ever hear. Promise. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/42098745

Episode 506: Michael Clair 06/30/2026

Episode 506: Michael Clair International baseball guru Michael Clair joins the boys to talk about his journey going from blogger to MLB’s senior manager, story telling and special projects, how his excitement over the World Baseball Classic led to hooking up with the Czech national team and writing his book, , searching for baseball diamonds overseas and his favorite non-traditional ballpark food. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41902685

Episode 505: Janet Marie Smith 06/16/2026

Episode 505: Janet Marie Smith Six years and three championship rings after her first visit, Janet Marie Smith, Senior Vice President of Planning and Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers, returns to talk to the boys about the importance of preserving the cultural significance and legacy of the team, Dodger Stadium’s new display celebrating the lives of Glenn Burke and Billy Bean and, of course, her favorite ballpark food. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41659685

Episode 504: Todd Radom 06/03/2026

Episode 504: Todd Radom Self-proclaimed “visual guy” Todd Radom returns to talk to the boys about his new book, , who probably should’ve recorded the audio version, whether or not any of the current City Connect uniforms belong in the Jersey Hall of Fame, the sordid origin story of Barrel Man, Lou’s obsession with “Sad Grebeck”, first jobs and, for good measure, wage war against the city of Anaheim. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41520040

Episode 503: Tim Brown 05/27/2026

Episode 503: Tim Brown New York Times bestselling author Tim Brown joins the boys to talk about growing up a fan of Nolan Ryan, visiting a senior center in Alvin, Texas, to learn more about the Hall of Famer for his new book, , whether or not he was able to get the Ryan family involved, shares the incredibly true story of Sid Holland and reveals the missing chapter! This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41421465

Episode 502: Vincent Towns 05/12/2026

Episode 502: Vincent Towns 53-year-old knuckleballer Vincent Towns joins the boys to talk about the 33-year layoff between playing minor league baseball for the San Francisco Giants and getting drafted by the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, when he first learned how to throw a knuckleball, the biggest difference between 90s clubhouses and now and how long he plans to keep pitching. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41236840

Episode 501: Jake Szymanski 05/05/2026

Episode 501: Jake Szymanski Peabody Award-winning writer/director Jake Szymanski joins the boys to talk about “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” and the day-to-day joys (and difficulties) of the behind-the-scenes of the show, his love of sports documentaries (real and fake), his favorite “off Broadway” sports, growing up a Milwaukee Brewers fan, his appreciation of County Stadium and getting back into baseball card collecting as an adult. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/41153205

Episode 500: Chuck D 04/28/2026

Episode 500: Chuck D To celebrate 500 episodes, rap legend and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D joins the boys to talk about falling in love with baseball (and old school ballparks) while growing up in the shadow of Shea Stadium, his dad’s tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the importance of the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, his influence on pop culture and hip hop fashion, touring and hitting baseball games with bandmate, legendary guitarist Tom Morello and, of course, the power of Strat-o-Matic. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40707635

Episode 499: Herschel Weingrod 04/15/2026

Episode 499: Herschel Weingrod Screenwriter Herschel Weingrod joins the boys to talk about growing up cheering for the then-Milwaukee Braves, how being a baseball fan helped shape 1985’s “Brewster’s Millions” from a Bill Murray vehicle to starring Richard Pryor, hanging out on the set during the baseball scenes, whether or not we could see another version of the fil, being brought in to write “Space Jam” and handpicking the basketball players that would end up being The Monstars. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40798405

Episode 498: CJ Papara 04/07/2026

Episode 498: CJ Papara CJ Papara, owner of Milwaukee’s 4th Base, joins the boys to talk about moving his bar from the tiny Pigsville neighborhood to within walking distance of the Brewers ballpark, the role the team played in the relocation, the bar’s iconic appearance in the movie “Major League”, re-booting the 1989 classic, how the prosthetic leg of legendary skipper Harvey Kuenn ended up behind the bar and, naturally, drinking from the thing. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40650085

Episode 497: Adam Henig 03/31/2026

Episode 497: Adam Henig Adam Henig, author of , joins the boys to talk about deciding to write the story of prison inmate-turned-Major League All-Star Ron LeFlore after first discovering him in his grade school library nearly four decades prior, the difference between telling the story of a living subject versus a dead one, actually meeting Ron LeFlore, shares the legacy of Frank Wills and introduces the world to Napolun Birdsong. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40655000

Episode 496: Brandon Alinger 03/24/2026

Episode 496: Brandon Alinger Brandon Alinger, the Indiana Jones of movie props, joins the boys to talk about the importance Planet Hollywood had on the movie memorabilia industry, his role at Propstore, what they won’t sell (and why), the coolest stuff currently on the auction block, why some movies just don’t have that signature piece to be purchased and how he got his hands on one of the most iconic items in baseball movie history. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40459190

Episode 495: Robb "Old Man" Herrelson 03/10/2026

Episode 495: Robb "Old Man" Herrelson 81-year-old baseball player Robb “Old Man” Herrelson joins the boys to talk about his desire to become the oldest member of the Savannah Bananas, the unique method he plans to use to get around the bases, his quest to rid the world of plastics and, hold on…did he really say he has a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle? This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40338160

Episode 494: Ryan Woodward 02/24/2026

Episode 494: Ryan Woodward project coordinator Ryan Woodward joins the boys to talk about how his lifelong fascination of World War II turned into a love of women’s baseball, getting involved with the IWBC, the excitement around the upcoming Women’s Baseball World Cup, creating the Women's Baseball Heritage Trail, how he ended up in “the Reno of Illinois” and, naturally, what it takes to become a Kentucky Colonel. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40196660

Episode 493: Brad Mangin 02/17/2026

Episode 493: Brad Mangin Award-winning baseball photographer Brad Mangin joins the boys to talk about getting his start working for his hometown newspaper, being part of the early history of Upper Deck baseball cards, shares his memories of both Candlestick Park and the Oakland Coliseum, living in the Bay Area during the 1989 earthquake, photographing Barry Bonds’ historic career in San Francisco and his favorite cities to visit for work. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40106530

Episode 492: Jim McMahon 02/10/2026

Episode 492: Jim McMahon Former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon joins the boys to talk about going from being a two-sport athlete in college to a SuperBowl winner with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, whether or not he could’ve made it to the Majors as an outfielder, landing on the legendary Frank Jobe’s operating table, visiting the White House (twice!) and how he ended up in Iraq for the execution of Saddam Hussein. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/40033510

Episode 491: William Night Train Veeck 02/03/2026

Episode 491: William Night Train Veeck Fourth-generation baseball executive (and owner of the Joliet Slammers) William Night Train Veeck joins the boys to talk about getting into the family business, the location of his grandfather’s prosthetic leg, building a baseball field and planning a game at the historic Old Joliet Prison, his desire to bring back the home run machine, the one stunt he’d love to pull off and, of course, that time he didn’t allow any fans into the ballpark. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/39959450

Episode 490: T. Sean Shannon 01/20/2026

Episode 490: T. Sean Shannon creator T. Sean Shannon returns to talk to the boys about his favorite sports logos, the importance of “ballers”, his time in the SNL writers’ room, sketches that never made it, the brilliance of Lorne Michaels (and JB Smoove!), those legendary after parties and whether or not we’ll ever see that “Bear City” movie. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/39794725

Episode 489: Jay Jaffe 01/13/2026

Episode 489: Jay Jaffe Baseball Hall of Fame guru Jay Jaffe joins the boys for the eighth time to break down his 2026 ballot, look ahead to future elections, how he correctly predicted the upcoming induction of Jeff Kent, what the future holds for all-time hit leader Pete Rose, his love of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” and whether or not they actually drink Guinness in Ireland. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/39711405

Rewind: David Mellor 01/01/2026

Rewind: David Mellor To celebrate being the most listened to episode of 2025, former Boston Red Sox Director of Grounds and PTSD survivor David Mellor returns to talk to the boys about dogs (his and theirs!), what he’s been up to since he retired following the 2024 baseball season, where he keeps his four World Series rings, whether or not he was worried about the field at Fenway Park following a big concert and, of course, “blow flowers”. Episode originally aired May 20, 2024. This week’s podcast was brought to you by , and . /episode/index/show/hallofverygood/id/39584875

The Hall of Very Good Podcast

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