Pod of Fame

Jim welcomes author Kyle Bandujo to discuss his new book, “Movies with Balls: The Greatest Sports Films of All Time, Analyzed And Illustrated." Jim and Kyle cover a number of topics, including which fictional sports movie moment we would most like to have attended in person, which sports movies belong on Sports Movie Mount Rushmore, how the hell Ryan Gosling's character in Remember the Ti...

Jim is joined by baseball Twitter personality Mark Shirk to break down down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB left fielder Charlie Keller. First, Mark and Jim discuss why Keller is one of the more unsung New York Yankees in franchise history (9:40). Next, they cover Keller's performance in the 1939 and 1941 World Series and how Keller compares to the few Hall of Famers who played less t...

Jim is joined by Adam Darowski, Director of Design and Product Management at Sports Reference, to break down down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB player Julio Franco. First, Jim and Adam discuss Franco's age 45 season with the Atlanta Braves in 2004 and his unforgettable batting stance (10:30). Next, they cover the 1990 All-Star Game, Minnie Miñoso, and Julio's membership in the P...

Jim is joined by NFL Writer for CBS Sports, Bryan DeArdo, to discuss the hall of fame candidacy of former NFL running back Eddie George. First, Jim and Bryan discuss George's role as a workhorse running back and where he ranks among the best RBs in Oilers/Titans history (7:15). Next, they discuss George's all-time performance in the 1999 NFL Playoffs, how George compares to Hall of Fame po...

Jim is joined by Joe Mullinax from the daily Memphis Grizzlies podcast Locked On Grizzlies to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA center Marc Gasol. First, Jim and Joe cover Gasol's career in Memphis and how he had few, if any, weaknesses on the basketball court (10:03). Next, they discuss Gasol's top playoff performances of his career, how he compares favorably to Hall of Famer Al...

Jim is joined by baseball twitter personality Not Gaetti (NG) to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB outfielder Joe Carter. First, Jim and NG cover the significance of Carter's ten 100+ RBI seasons and why the RBI should not be completely written off as a statistic of note (6:58). Next, they discuss Carter's 1993 World Series clinching home run (way for us to bury the lead)...

Jim is buying Cleveland Guardians Steven Kwan's HOF stock, as the AL batting leader (.361 BA) is set to start in left field for the American League in next week's all-star game. Meanwhile, Jim is selling off Blake Snell's HOF stock, as the 2X Cy Young award winner has only managed to pitch 28.2 innings through seven starts while maintaining a 7.85 ERA.

Jim is joined by Justin Havens from the Baseball is Dead podcast break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB left fielder Albert Belle. First, Jim and Justin cover Cleveland baseball in the 1990s and Belle's role as the cleanup hitter for their juggernaut offense (7:05). Next, they break down Belle's historic 50 home run, 52 double 1995 season, how Belle compares favorably to HOFer...

Jim runs through his yearly exercise of trying to predict the five players from the NBA Draft who have the best odds of ending up in the Basketball HOF based on their NBA potential and team fit (3:02). Then, Jim welcomes POF's College Basketball Insider Shannon Miloch to talk through the new two-day draft format, top players from the draft, and draft day gossip (28:48).

Jim is buying New York Yankee Aaron Judge's HOF stock as he continues his June rampage at the plate (Four home runs, 1.550 OPS in his last six games). Meanwhile, Jim is selling off Cody Bellinger HOF stock, as the Chicago Cubs center fielder has lost his power at the plate (one extra base hit in his last 13 games).

Willie Mays passed away last Tuesday at the age of 93. One of the undisputed greatest players to ever play baseball, Jim first dives deep into Willie's career and attempts to define his legacy (11:57). Then, Jim discusses how Willie and Roberto Clemente are the greatest artists to grace a baseball diamond and just how much Mays reminds Jim of late 1980s/early 1990s Barry Bonds (39:46). Finally...

Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93. The full Mays tribute podcast will be released Monday, but Jim covers what it was like finding out about Mays passing at Wrigley Field as Cubs played the San Francisco Giants. Then, Jim covers the rising HOF stock of Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, as well as why he is selling off a few shares of Kyrie Irving HOF stock (14:06)

Jim is joined by friend of the pod Dave "Wando" Wandolowski to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB right fielder Magglio Ordóñez. First, Jim and Wando discuss Ordóñez's performance in Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS (13:51). Next, they discuss how Magglio compares favorable to HOFer Tony Oliva, just how rare having a .309 career batting average is, and run through the top rig...

Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West sadly passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. West impacted the NBA more than any other individual in the league's history. He was one of the greatest NBA guards and then one of the NBA's greatest executives. He has been selected to the Basketball HOF three different times. To pay tribute to the Logo, Jim discusses all aspects of West's NBA career. Then, he b...

Jim is joined by the creator of MLB Daily Dingers and writer for Heavy Sports, Matt Musico, to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden. First, Jim and Matt discuss Doc's rookie season and where it ranks among the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history (6:45). Next, they cover Doc's 1996 no-hitter with the New York Yankees, just how similar...

Jim first pays tribute to HOF guard Larry Allen, who tragically passed away on Sunday at the age of 52. Then, Jim discusses why he is buying Jrue Holiday HOF stock following his dominant performance in the Eastern Conference Finals (19/7/6 in ECF). Meanwhile, he reluctantly explains why he is selling off just a tiny bit of Elly De La Cruz stock, despite De La Cruz being one of his favorite players...

Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton sadly passed away last Monday at the age of 71. Walton was an all-time talent who was plagued by injuries, yet that didn't stop him from winning championships at every level. It also didn't prevent him from living life to the fullest off the court. On this week's tribute episode, Jim covers Bill Walton's basketball career, from his state champio...

Jim is buying Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale's HOF stock following his resurrection from the dead (8-1, 2.12 ERA, 78 Strikeouts). Meanwhile, Jim is selling off Michael Conley HOF stock following the Minnesota Timberwolves being knocked out of the playoffs on Thursday. A championship ring was the Hail Mary Conley's HOF case needed and that door has closed, at least for this year.

Jim welcomes author Jerry Grillo to discuss his new book, “Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize" on another POF Book Club episode. First, Jim and Jerry discuss whether Johnny Mize is the greatest player to be voted into Cooperstown by the veterans committee, as he had to wait until 1981 to receive a Hall of Fame plaque (9:50). Then, they cover the variety of reasons which l...

Between being named to the All-NBA 2nd Team AND starting in Game One of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, Edwards' HOF stock is officially a blue chip stock. Meanwhile, Jim is selling off just a bit of his Paul Goldschmidt HOF stock, as the 36-year old first baseman is struggling in a way we have never seen during his storied MLB career (.211 BA, 4 HR, 72 OPS+ through 47 games).

Jim is joined by women's basketball writer Lyndsey D'Arcangelo to discuss the career and legacy of Candace Parker. First, we cover how we have never another player at Parker's height possess her elite court vision, as well as the fact Parker may be the most complete player in WNBA history (6:58). Next, we discuss Parker's dunking ability, her MVP rookie season, and how she compares...

Jim is buying Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes HOF stock after his 6-inning, 11 strikeout performance against the Chicago Cubs (did I mention he let up 0 hits and only walked 1 batter?). Meanwhile, Jim is selling off Michael Porter Jr. stock, as the Denver Nuggets small forward has had a less than impressive series against Minnesota through game six (11.3 PPG while shooting just 39.7%...

In May of 2021, Jim was joined by Cody Stavenhagen, Detriot Tigers beat writer for The Athletic, to breakdown the hall of fame candidacy of former Detroit Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker. As Lou celebrated his 67th birthday yesterday, a rerelease of that episode, along with some new commentary from Jim at the top, was warranted. For the Lou Whitaker 2.0 episode, Jim looks more closely at the 20...

Jim is buying Josh Hart HOF stock as he continues to impress in the 2024 playoffs (averaging 18/13/5 through 8 playoff games). Meanwhile, Jim is selling off what he deems to be slightly overvalued Franz Wagner HOF stock following Wagner's Game 7 performance on Sunday, where he went 1-15 from the floor and managed just 6 points.

Jim welcomes award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his new book, “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball." First, Jim asks Pete if he believes Pete Rose deserves a plaque in Cooperstown and whether Rose will get inducted by the end of the 21st Century (6:40). Then, they cover interviewing Pete...