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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.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 29, 2017

It's Episode 100, gang!

Rich Grisham, TJ Lauerman and Kris Jardine from Out of the Park Baseball join the boys to talk about the history of their award-winning game, the recently completed Hall of Very Good Celebrity Tournament, reveal what’s next for OOTP 19 and explore Lou’s deep, personal hatred of a certain former Major Leaguer.

Dec 24, 2017

In 1980, Willie Mays Aikens was seemingly on top of the world. Along with future Hall of Famer George Brett, Willie Wilson and Dennis Leonard, the former first baseman helped lead his Kansas City Royals to 97 victories and a spot in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Royals would end up losing in six games, but, still…they’d walk away with some pretty sharp American League Championship rings.

Less than a year later, Aikens’ ring was gone. Missing. It would stay that way for more than 33 years.

Dec 22, 2017

St. Nick's favorite former Major Leaguer, Steve Christmas, joins the boys to talk about living with the last name Christmas, playing behind Hall of Fame catchers Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk, how Tom Seaver got him traded, sharing a locker next to Lee Smith and his unlikely relationship with Rod Carew.

Dec 15, 2017

“Black Jack” himself, 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, joins the boys to talk about throwing inside (specifically the two batters he might have very much hit on purpose), steroid users in the Hall of Fame, the difference between coaching in the minor leagues versus college, reminisces on his lifetime in music and shares his most memorable concert experience.

Dec 8, 2017

Jody Avirgan, the man behind ESPN Film’s acclaimed “30 for 30” podcast series, joins the boys to talk about his love of both sports and politics (and which one he prefers), describes the type of stories they look to tell and shares the process of how that story goes from a simple pitch meeting to showing up in your podcast feed.

Dec 1, 2017

MTV News anchor-turned-photographer Tabitha Soren joins the boys to talk about about going from being on-air in market 99 to 1, explains the genesis of her new book Fantasy Life, wonders if she can travel cross country with a bundle of bone spurs, reveals who she would like to be when she “grows up” and shares her odd relationship with former Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Davey Lopes.

Nov 24, 2017

Ted Giannoulas has been the only guy dressing up as The Famous San Diego Chicken for more than forty years...except for that one time.

Also, the man behind the mascot reveals the craziest thing ever asked of The Chicken.

Nov 22, 2017

For more than forty years, Ted Giannoulas has been dressing up as The Famous San Diego Chicken. More impressive, he's been the only guy to do it...except for that one time Giannoulas couldn't get a flight home and hundreds of fans were left waiting for their favorite real life cartoon character.

This is the story of that time Andy Strasberg was forced to go behind the beak.

Nov 17, 2017

Danny Clinch, director of Pearl Jam’s “Let’s Play Two” documentary, joins the boys to talk about shooting at Wrigley Field, shares his favorite moments from the Hall of Fame rock band’s legendary two nights at the historic ballpark, recalls his friendship with Blind Melon and gives an update on his planned Shannon Hoon documentary.

Nov 10, 2017

Stand-up comedian Brody Stevens joins the boys to talk about his days on the diamond, pitching at Arizona State, remembers the Hall of Fame-worthy career of the late-Roy Halladay and throws his hat in the ring to star in a re-boot of the “Major League” franchise.

Nov 3, 2017

Two-time National League MVP Dale Murphy joins the boys to talk about his chances to make the Hall of Fame, the toughest opponents he faced as a big leaguer, catching Phil Niekro’s knuckleball and that time in 1991 when his former skipper Bobby Cox ordered Tom Glavine to hit him with a pitch.

Oct 27, 2017

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros hurler Jerry Reuss joins the boys to talk about who he is rooting for in this year's World Series, what it was like performing on “The Tonight Show” (among other television shows) following the 1981 Fall Classic, shares a hilarious story about being stuck in an elevator with Dave Parker and Muhammad Ali and discloses who he’d rather fight…Lou Piniella or Tommy Lasorda.

Oct 20, 2017

Mary Poppins himself, Michael Rooker, joins the boys in hopes to get them to root, root, root for the Cubbies, goes behind-the scenes of “Eight Men Out”, spills the beans on who is the better baseball player (him or “Little Chuckie” Sheen), shares which role people recognize him from the most, explains why everyone likes his “Guardians of the Galaxy” character Yondu and, lastly, gives Shawn and Lou a taste of their own medicine by asking THEM questions!

Oct 13, 2017

Old friend Ted Giannoulas joins the boys to talk about growing up a baseball fan in Canada, reveals why he never shows his face, dishes on the hardest (and easiest) players to work with, shares what current mascot he thinks is doing it right, answers the dreaded NSFW question and discloses how much longer he can perform as The Famous San Diego Chicken.

Also…could a memoir be in the works? Listen now!

Oct 6, 2017

2017 Glenn Burke Memorial Courage Award recipient Stacy Piagno joins the boys to talk about her historic win this past summer for the Sonoma Stompers, that no-hitter she threw during the 2015 Pan American Games, discloses what Major League hitter she’d least like to face and (along with Shawn) tries to help Lou sort out his love of Wilson Phillips.

Sep 29, 2017

Jonathan Knight, the author of The Making of Major League, joins the boys to talk about, you guessed it, the making of the popular movie, spells out its original ending (and explains how it might have invented “moneyball”), compares Wesley Snipes to Omar Epps, breaks down some plot ideas for what should-be an upcoming sequel and, along with Shawn and Lou, mentions “Mr. 3000” way too many times.

Sep 29, 2017

Jonathan Knight, the author of The Making of Major League, joins the boys to talk about, you guessed it, the making of the popular movie, spells out its original ending (and explains how it might have invented “moneyball”), compares Wesley Snipes to Omar Epps, breaks down some plot ideas for what should-be an upcoming sequel and, along with Shawn and Lou, mentions “Mr. 3000” way too many times.

Sep 22, 2017

Celebrated gossip columnist and podcast host A.J. Benza joins the boys to talk about about whether or not he believes Kevin Costner almost ended Cal Ripken Junior’s streak, compares Aroldis Chapman to Dwight Gooden, reveals what he thinks might’ve cost the 2003 New York Yankees a World Series championship (hint…it rhymes with “brocaine”), all but confirms the Derek Jeter gift basket rumors and shares some stories about getting bombed with certain members of the Bronx Bombers.

Sep 15, 2017

Legendary ballhawk Zack Hample joins the boys (for the third time!) to talk about snagging his 10,000th ball (and why he wanted to get it in Baltimore), the science behind getting a ball after the third out, shares what his mom thinks of his YouTube successes, reveals how much longer he thinks he can do what he does and (almost) ponders the existence of God.

Sep 8, 2017

MLB Network host Robert Flores joins the boys to talk about the Boston Red Sox and their (alleged) cheating, convinces Shawn why he should go all-in on the Houston Astros, assures Lou his Milwaukee Brewers might actually be for real, explains how he got involved with Slammiversary XV and reveals the three songs he’d like to hear before he dies.

Sep 1, 2017

With Players Weekend in his rearview mirror, Phil Hecken, the weekend editor (and “bench coach”) for the Uni Watch Blog, re-joins the boys and gives them his thoughts about Major League Baseball’s latest stunt, breaks down his favorite (and least favorite) uniforms, offers up some of his favorite nicknames and reveals the one Players Weekend cap he would actually wear.

Aug 25, 2017

Charles Leerhsen, the author of Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty, joins the boys to talk about about the misconceptions surrounding baseball’s first Hall of Famer, why he thinks the world casts certain people as monsters, calls Cobb biographer Al Stump a “liar” and shares who he thinks is the greatest player he’s ever seen play.

Aug 11, 2017

Curator and founder of the National Mustard Museum Barry Levenson joins the boys to talk about how (and why) he started the museum, dispenses some advice on what mustard pairs the best with what tubed meat, shares his special relationship with former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Gorman Thomas and answers the age-old question…is a hot dog a sandwich.

Lastly, make sure you stick around for the Poupon U. fight song!

Aug 4, 2017

Author-turned-Cooperstown mayor-turned author Jeff Katz joins the boys to talk about Bill “The Spaceman” Lee ending up on his front porch during Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, how he became Mayor Quimby for the day and that chance encounter with Elvis Costello. Lastly…what does Milwaukee Brewers playoff baseball have in common with U2 and Nirvana? You won’t know unless you listen to the entire podcast!

Jul 28, 2017

Boston Red Sox organist Josh Kantor joins the boys to talk about gigging with The Baseball Project, his “side hustle” working at the “Harvard of the Northeast” and how he and a group of musician friends ended up on a cross country road trip with “the single most important musical instrument in the history of baseball”.

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