Pod of Fame

Rickey Henderson passed away last December just days before his 66th birthday. Henderson, an inner circle Hall of Famer, was one of the most explosive and colorful players to ever play the game of baseball. On this week's podcast, Jim pays tribute to one of the greatest players of the last 50 years and dives into five different topics that highlight the greatness that was Rickey Henderson, includi...

Last Tuesday, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner joined already elected Dave Parker and Dick Allen as members of the Baseball HOF Class of 2025. Jim breaks down the ballot results and what the future looks like for HOF hopefuls Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Chase Utley (4:30). Then, Jim gives gives two cents on the five new members of Cooperstown (11:01), before running through some...

Since Ichiro Suzuki officially retired from the MLB in 2019, we have all known he would selected to Cooperstown as soon as he became eligible. Well, time flies, as Ichiro will officially be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame tomorrow. First, Jim will cover Ichiro's arrival in Seattle as a 27-year old rookie right fielder, how seemingly impossible Ichiro's 262-hit season really was, and why Ichir...

Jim is joined by Christopher Price from the Boston Globe to break down the HOF candidacy of former NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri. First, Chris and Jim cover Vinatieri's two clutch kicks in the Snow Bowl against the Oakland Raiders (6:02). Next, they discuss both of Vinatieri's Super Bowl winning kicks, how he compares to the other two full-time kickers in the HOF, and whether Vinatieri is the most fam...

Jim is joined by St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist and Hall of Fame voter Benjamin Hochman to break down the HOF candidacy of former St. Louis Cardinals centerfielder Curt Flood. First, Benjamin and Jim cover Flood's legacy as a trailblazer in the world of professional sports and workers' rights (11:33). Next, they discuss Flood's role on two Cardinals World Series championship teams, how a...

Jim is joined by Jason Romano, Executive Producer at Sports Spectrum, to break down the HOF candidacy of former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. First, Jason and Jim discuss "The Helmet Catch" and whether it was the greatest play in Super Bowl history (12:04). Next, they compare Eli to 3X Super Bowl champ Troy Aikman, where Eli ranks among the best QBs of the 2000s/2010s, and the importanc...

Jim is joined by baseball Twitter personality Not Gaetti to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB center fielder Andruw Jones. First, Not Gaetti and Jim discuss Jones' calling card, his elite defense in center field (9:03). Next, they cover his play in the 1996 World Series, how Jones compares to Ozzie Smith, and where Jones ranks among the best center fielders since 1990 (17:36). Fi...

In this edition of POF Book Club, Jim welcomes author Jake Uitti to discuss Micheal "Sugar" Ray Richardson and his new book, “Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption." First, Jake covers what it was like working with Richardson to write this book, why Sugar's all-time starting five includes Bob McAdoo, and which active NBA player reminds him of Sugar (13:11). T...

Jim is joined by Boston Globe sports columnist and Hall of Fame voter Chad Finn to break down the HOF candidacy of former Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. First, Chad and Jim cover Pedroia's playing style and violent swing (9:20). Next, they discuss Pedroia's performance in the 2008 ALCS, how he compares to HOF second baseman Bobby Doerr, and where he ranks among the best second basem...

Jim is joined by former producer for ESPN's Baseball Tonight and the creator of the website "Cooperstown Cred", Chris Bodig, to break down down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB starting pitcher Luis Tiant. First, Chris and Jim cover Tiant's famous windup and where it ranks among the greatest windups we have seen on a pitching mound (6:55). Next, they discuss Tiant's legendary performance i...

Jim is joined by Sports Reference's Executive Design Director Adam Darowski to break down down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB third baseman Ken Boyer. First, Adam and Jim cover how Boyer is the most forgotten man from the greatest era of baseball (7:12) . Next, they discuss the 1964 World Series, how Boyer compares to Ron Santo, and how Boyer was on 3B Mount Rushmore when when he retired...

Jim is joined by USA TODAY Sports reporter and Hall of Fame voter Steve Gardner to break down the HOF candidacy of former Seattle Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández. First, Steve and Jim cover Hernández's immense popularity in Seattle and the unfortunate fact that he never pitched in the postseason (8:20). Next, they discuss Hernández's perfect game in 2012, pitchers with under 169 wins enshrined in...

Jim is joined by Atlanta Braves reporter for 92.9 The Game and host of From the Diamond, Grant McAuley, to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB catcher Brian McCann. First, Grant and Jim cover why McCann is not brought up in the same conversations with catching peers Buster Posey and Joe Mauer despite winning more silver sluggers and making the same/more number of all-star game appe...

Jim is joined by Baseball HOF voter David Brown to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB utilityman Ben Zobrist. First, Dave and Jim cover Zobrist's ridiculous versatility on a baseball diamond, both in the field and at the plate (9:40). Next, they discuss Zobrist's performance in the 2016 World Series, what he has in common with Jackie Robinson, and where he ranks among the best sec...

Jim is joined by baseball Twitter personality Not Gaetti to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB pitcher Orel Hershiser. First, NotGaetti and Jim cover Hershiser's ridiculous 1988 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and whether it may just be the best first start to finish season in MLB history (8:09). Next, they discuss Hershiser's 59-inning scoreless streak, how he compares to HOF...

The 2024-2025 NBA season begins on Tuesday and it is never too early to begin thinking about which player's have the most on the line this season when it comes to legacy building and adding to their HOF resumes. Jim takes a closer look at five current players (Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, Bradley Beal, Jrue Holiday, De'Aaron Fox) that still have a bit of work to do if they want to end up...

Jim is joined by sportswriter Neil Paine to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA point guard Deron Williams. First, Jim and Neil cover the Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul debate that actually was a debate in the late 2000s. Next, they Deron's incredible performance in the 2007 Western Conference Finals, his play at the University of Illinois, and how he ranks among the best point guar...

Jim welcomes senior staff writer at The Ringer and New York Times best-selling author Mirin Fader to discuss her new book, “Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon." Mirin and Jim cover how Hakeem inspired generations of Muslim people around the world (13:02), Hakeem's quadruple-double in 1990 (23:06), who belongs on Center Mount Rushmore (28:02), the explosion of international basketball ta...

On Monday, Dikembe Mutombo and Pete Rose both passed away. The Basketball Hall of Famer and MLB Hit King could not have been more different in every way one can be different, but both were giants that both have left legacies that will stand the test of time. Jim first covers Mutombo's career on and off the court (3:37), before tackling Pete Rose's ridiculous career numbers (18:39). Jim then replay...

Jim is joined by Dalton Feely from Jomboy Media to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB left fielder Luis Gonzalez. First, Jim and Dalton cover Gonzalez’s World Series-winning single off Mariano Rivera (7:10). Next, they discuss Gonzalez’s 57 home run, 419 total base season in 2001, how he compares to HOFer Jim Rice, and where Gonzalez ranks among the best left fielders from the 199...

On this edition of Pod of Fame Travel Log, Jim discusses his recent trip to England to attend his cousin's wedding. He saw a lot, ate a lot, and learned a lot. Jim covers a variety of topics, including the major differences between British and American weddings, attending his first Premier League match, delicious English beers with low ABV, the best Indian meal of his life, visiting the Tower...

Jim is joined by author and sports historian, Clayton Trutor, to discuss the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA power forward Buck Williams. First, Clayton and Jim discuss Buck bending the rim in the 1990 NBA Finals and the most overshadowed NBA players of the 1980s (5:34). Next, they cover the best offensive rebounders in NBA history, how well Buck stacks up against Nate Thurmond, and whether W...

Our first NFL Sunday is now behind us and my god, did it feel good for football to be back. First, Jim provides some quick observations from Week 1 (4:05). Then, Jim takes a look at five current players HOF cases and covers what he needs to see from them this season in order to help them inch closer to the goal line we call Canton. Jim discusses Derrick Henry (11:15), Stefon Diggs (18:50), Matthew...

Jim welcomes New York Times bestselling author Ian O'Connor to discuss his new book, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers." Jim and Ian cover a number of topics, including where Rodgers ranks among the best QBs in NFL history, the biggest misconception about Rodgers by the general public, who the greatest Green Bay Packer QB in franchise history is, what Rodgers will most li...

Jim is joined by Pittsburgh-based sports journalist Mike Asti to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB catcher Jason Kendall. First, Jim and Mike cover how Kendall's first five years with the Pittsburgh Pirates is comparable to Buster Posey and Joe Mauer's first five years in the MLB (13:04). Next, they discuss Kendall's 112 run season in 2000, how he compares favorably t...