Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker, and Dick Allen were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday. Jim reads you each of their newly minted Hall of Fame plaques, reveals each of their best MLB seasons, and discusses each of their careers without using any numbers at all. Billy Wagner (5:25) Dave Parker (9:25) Dick Allen (…

Jim spent over 2 weeks driving through New England last month. He visited dozens of small towns along the way, but had extended stays in Stowe, Portland, Portsmouth, Boston, Nantucket, and Newport. Jim covers the highlights of each of those stops (4:03), before recapping the top four foods he eat during his time out East (39:15).…

Jim is joined by writer for Bengals Talk, Mike Santagata, to discuss the hall of fame candidacy of former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins. First, Jim and Mike cover the significance Geno's dominance despite his small statue as a defensive tackle (9:35). Next, they compare Atkins to Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (26:21…

Jim is joined by NFL Writer for CBS Sports, Jeff Kerr, to discuss the hall of fame candidacy of former NFL running back LeSean McCoy. First, Jim and Jeff reminisce about the 2013 Snow Bowl when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Detroit Lions in a blizzard (7:20). Next, they compare McCoy's to Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Thurman Thomas, and…

Jim is joined by Adam Darowski of Sports Reference to break down the HOF candidacy of former MLB third baseman Buddy Bell. First, they discuss Bell's elite advanced metrics, which all point to him being on par with the average Hall of Fame third basemen (7:20). Next, they cover Bell's only season where he finished in the top 10 in the AL MVP vote, …

The 2025 NBA Draft is this Thursday and we all know Cooper Flagg is going first. Does that mean he has the best odds of ending up in the Basketball Hall of Fame? Jim provides his thoughts on the top five players in this year's draft that have the best odds of ending up in the Hall of Fame once their careers are all said and done (9:04). Then, Kentu…

Jim is joined by NBA historian Keith Black Trudeau to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA shooting guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton. First, Jim and Keith discuss Hamilton's elite ability to move without the ball, as well as his smooth mid-range game (10:10). Next, they cover his performance in the 2004 NBA Finals and Eastern Conference …

To celebrate our 300th podcast episode, Jim answers questions from the listeners. He discusses Pascal Siakam and his Hall of Fame future (6:20), fills out a 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot 10 years too late (16:00), covers past MVP snubs that had major Hall of Fame repercussions (26:30), provides an answer to whether he really thinks Kyle Schwarb…

Jim is joined by baseball podcaster Nick Murawski to break down the HOF candidacy of former Chicago White Sox 1st baseman Paul Konerko. First, they discuss how Konerko was the quintessential White Sox player and why his face must be on White Sox Rushmore (10:30). Next, they discuss Konerko's starring role as a member of the 2005 Chicago White Sox c…

Jim is joined by baseball Twitter personality Not Gaetti to break down the HOF candidacy of former MLB first baseman Carlos Delgado. First, they discuss how Delgado was one of the most feared batters in baseball during the 2000s (10:32). Next, they discuss Delgado's 4-home run game against Tampa Bay in 2003, how he compares to Jim Thome, and how hi…

Last Tuesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred dropped a bomb on the baseball community with his announcement that the lifetime bans of 17 individuals were lifted, effective immediately. With the ban lifted, all 17 are now eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but let's be real; Pete Rose and 16 others are now eligible for Cooperstown. Jim covers wha…

Jim is joined by Brandon Warne, host of Locked on Twins, to break down the HOF candidacy of former MLB pitcher Johan Santana. First, Brandon and Jim cover the best pitchers in Minnesota Twins history (11:03). Next, they discuss Johan's ridiculous second half of 2004 (13-0, 1.21 ERA), his no-hitter with the New York Mets in 2012, and how his peak ac…

Jim is joined by NFL Writer for CBS Sports, Bryan DeArdo, to discuss the hall of fame candidacy of former NFL running back Rickey Watters. First, Jim and Bryan reminisce about 1990s running backs, as they both consider the 1990s to be the Golden Age of the position (8:29). Next, they cover Watters' three touchdown performance in Super Bowl XXIX, ho…

After sitting on his couch all weekend watching almost every minute of the 2025 NFL Draft, Jim provides his top three storylines of the 3-day event, including the Shedeur Sanders debacle (4:59). Then, Jim tries to predict the top 5 players that have the best chance of ending up in Canton one day (29:18).…

Jim is joined by NBA sports podcaster Adam Ryan to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA power forward Terry Cummings. First, Jim and Adam cover the top 3 picks of the 1982 NBA Draft (10:01). Next, they discuss the 1985 playoff series where Cummings outscored Michael Jordan, how Cummings compares to James Worthy, and the significance …

Jim is joined by sportswriter Neil Paine to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim. First, Jim and Neil cover the the absolutely stacked 1996 NBA Draft Class (8:53). Next, they discuss the 50 points Shareef dropped on Ben Wallace in 2001, his elite scoring ability, and where he ranks among the best forwards …

In this edition of POF Book Club, Jim welcomes author David Krell to discuss his new new book, “1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era" First, David and Jim discuss why he landed on 1978 as the year he would cover and what he personally remembers about that year (4:55). Then, they discuss the most memorable baseball moment of 1978 (9:25) and w…

Jim is joined by sports reporter for Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin Dennis Krause to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA small forward Marques Johnson. First, Dennis and Jim cover which NBA legend famously had a poster of Johnson in their dorm room, his role in "White Men Can't Jump" and his unusual Milwaukee Bucks jersey situation (5:49…

Jim is joined by journalist Graham Womack to break down the HOF candidacy of former MLB pitcher Tommy John. First Graham and Jim cover whether the historical significance of Tommy John surgery should have any impact on John's case for Cooperstown (8:43). Next, they discuss John's great playoff performances throughout his career, how his baseball re…

It's finally here. Sick days will be used. Office pools with be formed. Money will be lost. The greatest sports event of the year has arrived and if you think we would talk anything besides March Madness this week, you would be sadly mistaken. Pod of Fame's College Basketball Correspondent Shannon Miloch joins the pod for the fifth annual March Mad…

In this edition of POF Book Club, Jim welcomes author John W. Miller to discuss his new new book, “The Last Manager: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball." First, John and Jim discuss the meaning behind the title of the book and why former Baltimore Orioles Manager Earl Weaver can be considered the last manager in MLB history…

We take a break from sports (kinda) to bring you a travel log episode documenting another Pod of Fame trip outside of the United States. Jim recaps his experience on Little Corn Island, a tiny speck of land 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua. Jim touches on a variety of topics, including how the hell one gets to the 1.5 square mile island in the C…

Jim is joined by friend of the pod David "Wando" Wandolowski to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA center Dwight Howard. First, Jim and Wando cover the ridiculous athleticism of Howard in his early days with the Orlando Magic, as well as why Howard attended prom in their hometown of Naperville, IL (10:52). Next, they discuss the 20…

Jim is joined by SiriusXM NBA Radio and Infinity Sports Network Radio Host David Shepard to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA small forward Carmelo Anthony. First, Jim and David cover the impressiveness of Carmelo's diversified basketball portfolio, from his NCAA championship at Syracuse to his four Olympic medals (13:55). Next, D…

Last Thursday, Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen, and Sterling Sharpe were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jim breaks down each of their NFL careers (4:26), discusses what the future holds for HOF hopefuls Luke Kuechly and Eli Manning (20:47), and walks you through the impact of the new HOF voting rules (28:15). Finally, Jim takes a …

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 highligh…

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…

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…

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…

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 tw…

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 …

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 amo…

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…

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 Doe…

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). …

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 B…

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 …

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…

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 Jack…

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 …

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 stil…

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 Il…

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…

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 …

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 Gonzal…

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 bes…

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 B…

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 De…

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 franch…

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 seaso…