Is This A Great Game, Or What?

Steve Sparks, Knuckleballer Turned Incredible Storyteller

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

There isn't a question that Steve Sparks is one of our favorite former guests, and now he's BACK for more laughs. The knuckleballer turned broadcaster remains one of Tim's favorite storytellers in the game today.

He kicks things off with an impression, and yes, it's fantastic. Plus, he shares a hilarious Richie Sexson story that you'll be talking about long after the episode ends. Ever wanted to win a car? So did one former player, who was VERY disappointed after an All Star Game.

We also show some love to our friends at GameChanger. We're grateful for their support of the show. And there's plenty of appreciation for the late, great Stan Musial, including a story about a couple of kids who had absolutely no idea who he was.

We wrap things up with Pete Rose and Bob Feller. That's a pretty strong finish, right?

A huge thank you to Steve for taking time out of his busy schedule to join our little show. Most importantly, thank you for being a part of our family!

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The Hardest Throw From A Starting Pitcher

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Shohei just cannot be stopped and is doing things we haven't seen in quite some time. But first, Tim figured out QR codes. Watch out, world! We also button up what it means to "bat around." Well, at least we think we figured it out.

Plus, no baby yet for Jeff, so he'll keep hitting the podcast until the new arrival makes an appearance. We also share some father-son facts you may not know involving two current players and two former players. And yes, even Jeff manages to bring Dickie Noles into the conversation. It all makes sense, trust me.

The Dodgers love to score runs early, but is that all there is to it? Oneil Cruz is flirting with history, and it involves a whole lot of strikeouts. Plus, a save for Winn. Yeah, you read that right.

Jeff bought a sign at Hobby Lobby that is surprisingly accurate. And in Wheel of Kurkjian, he finally gets a chance to show off his umpiring skills. That doesn't happen very often.

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Save, Start, Save, Start, Save, WHAT?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff went to Lou Gehrig Day together and have some amazing people to shout out, including our friend Michael Brown. Plus, it was pretty awesome to see who was on the mound that day.

The Guardians are really good, and that's not going to change anytime soon. Is Jacob deGrom a Hall of Famer? We debate the numbers after his 100th win. Plus, an ambidextrous glove is flying off the shelves, which makes us seamheads extremely happy.

On This Date in Baseball History, we remember the great Don Zimmer and share some incredible stories, including a special moment Jeff had with the late baseball legend at Fenway Park. He is very much missed.

Alphabest tackles the best "K" batter and pitcher. We're not sure how much debate there really is, but weigh in and let us know in the comments. Three Cards delivers some hilarious stories, including one about a hitting pitcher who put George Brett to shame.

Team Tim might be a little too smart for us, but you be the judge. Thank you so much for listening and watching, and thank you for being part of our family!

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Lou Gehrig Day With Boog Sciambi

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

To know Boog is to love Boog.

The legendary play-by-play broadcaster does far more than call baseball and basketball games—he helps change lives in honor of a dear friend.

Project Main Street began in 2006 when Tim Sheehy, then 38 years old, was living with ALS. Friends from his hometown of Roosevelt Island, New York, wanted to help Tim and his young family by organizing a fundraiser. Though hesitant to accept charity, Tim agreed on one condition: that his friends work alongside him to create a true 501(c)(3) organization. Having experienced firsthand the financial burdens that come with an ALS diagnosis, Tim recognized the need for practical support. Project Main Street was born from that vision.

Today, Project Main Street remains one of the only ALS organizations providing unrestricted financial grants directly to people living with ALS.

Boog Sciambi, the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs and an ESPN broadcaster, has been a close friend of Tim Kurkjian for many years. We talk with Boog about the Cubs' rollercoaster season, his favorite ballpark to call a game from (outside of Wrigley Field, of course), and his relationships with television partner Jim Deshaies and radio partner Doug Glanville.

Most importantly, we talk about ALS.

The episode concludes with an emotional tribute to Matt Kurkjian—the Pride of the Kurkjians. Matt, one of Tim's older brothers, passed away from ALS in 2023. Since his passing, the Kurkjian family has never been quite the same. His memory, however, continues to inspire those who knew and loved him.

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Christopher Sanchez and Chris Sale Stand Alone

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Christopher Sanchez is on the brink of making some history—probably just two starts away from it!

Tim and Jeff are heading to the ballpark tomorrow to celebrate Lou Gehrig Day. ALS is a cause that has touched the Kurkjian family deeply, following the passing of Uncle Matt (Tim’s brother) from the disease in 2023. If you can, make it out to a ballpark on Tuesday, June 2, and help support a great cause.

Shohei Ohtani wants a Cy Young Award. Knowing him, he'll probably find a way to get one. But with pitching dominating in both leagues, it won't come easy. Plus, the Washington Nationals are scoring runs in bunches!

We also look back at one of our all-time favorite Bobby Valentine moments. Ronald Acuña Jr. is back and better than ever, and Fernando Tatis Jr. finally does it!

The Wheel of Kurkjian returns on a Monday, which is always a good thing—especially with Tim and Jeff back together in the basement studio. We talk dance recitals, baseball, and feminine baseball player names.

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Did Tim Kurkjian Jinx The Cubs On SVP?

Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Ten straight wins turning into ten straight losses? Uh oh. The Cubs may still be above .500, but they could be in some trouble. Was Tim Kurkjian the jinx? He stopped by SVP, and maybe that’s what did it.

Should every team be playing on Memorial Day? Jeff definitely thinks so. Plus, our GameChanger of the Week is a starting pitcher who throws absolute gas all the time.

Under the Quirkjians, we talk no-hitters, Zach Neto strikeouts, and Baz vs. Jax. Don’t forget about Colton Cowser — we’ve got a note on him too.

On This Date in baseball history, we discuss Dale Long, Jim Palmer, and Mariano Rivera. And of course, Walter Johnson is our J Alphabest — no surprise there.

We’ve also got a big announcement: one of our segments is moving from Thursdays to Mondays. We still want your suggestions though, so head to our website and send us a message or leave a comment.

And finally, you get TWO Team Tims today.

Make sure to follow or subscribe wherever you listen or watch the show, and thanks for being part of our family!

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Mike Toomey Shares His Favorite Scouting Stories

Tue, 26 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Mike Toomey has spent years in baseball — as a player, manager, coach, and scout — making it his life’s work. He’s been friends with Tim Kurkjian for so long that Jeff (now 32) can’t remember life without Mike Toomey in it.

Some of the best stories come from life on the back roads as a scout. Traveling to see players in their hometowns, as you might imagine, leads to some unforgettable moments. Then there are the stories from managing in Washington, D.C. — including the time a horse somehow ended up on the field, along with plenty of confused tourists. These are the kinds of stories you simply can’t make up.

Make sure to follow and subscribe wherever you listen or watch. We’ve always got new episodes coming your way three days a week. Thanks for being part of our family.

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Baseball Team of Players Who Served Our Country

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Memorial Day is today, and we thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can continue to live in a free country. We’re grateful beyond words. So many major leaguers have put their lives on the line to serve our great country, and we talk about some of the best during today’s episode. And don’t forget to wait for Team Tim!

Konnor Griffin has clearly figured something out in his 20s — you love to see it. Plus, Christopher Sánchez is doing something for the Phillies that hasn’t been done since before World War I. And Trey Yesavage? Yeah… you’re not homering off him.

There were strikeouts everywhere, including a pair of Yankees teammates who might be swapping places in the record books. Nolan Arenado did something amazing on just the sixth pitch of the entire game. Plus, what in the world is going on with Tatis Jr.?

On This Date in Baseball History, we talk Omar Vizquel, Josh Beckett, Joe West, and Chris Young. We also hear about Tim’s homemade jersey for which player?

Thanks for listening, and as always, we appreciate you being part of our family. Subscribe or follow wherever you watch or listen, and make sure to share the show with a friend!

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A No-No Bid Becomes Walk-Off Loss

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

It’s May 21st, and Tim comes out of the gate putting Jeff to the test. Did he take the bait and miss, or hit the nail on the head? We open with pitching, because it is just that good right now.

Our GameChanger of the Week looks at how hitters are reacting to the incredible pitching we’re seeing. Is this the end of the long-ball era? Maybe??

Just when we thought a once-in-a-lifetime extra-inning performance was behind us, another one came out of nowhere. More pitching records that made us laugh, and a no-no leads to a walk-off? You don’t see that often.

Happy birthday to the late Bobby Cox, and what an amazing character our game lost this month. We spin the Wheel of Kurkjian and talk ambidexterity and inside-the-park homers, then wrap it all up with Three Cards in the Bathroom.

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Eric Nadel On Nolan Ryan With An Eye Patch

Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Eric Nadel is a National Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster, and along with Tim Kurkjian, that gives us TWO Hall of Famers on this episode (plus, Jeff is here too).

Eric has covered the Texas Rangers for almost 50 years, and the stories he shared are incredible. We laughed so hard our cheeks hurt afterward.

From taking Mike Emrick’s job to Municipal Field being better known as “Iowjima,” my gosh, we couldn’t stop laughing with him. Little-known fact: Eric helped Tim find his first house in Dallas, where both of his kids were born.

These two have an incredible amount of history together, and this interview is long overdue. We couldn’t be happier to bring it to you.

Thanks for listening. Make sure to subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening right now because it means a lot to us. Thanks for being a part of our family!

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One Start But EIGHT Wins?

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim is back from Detroit after calling a very exciting Tigers game. Plus, Jeff purchased a bit of a surprise for his dad for the next time he visits to record the podcast.

The Takeaways explain just how good the Braves are — and why. Plus, we discuss the importance of the utility infielder, a role that’s more valuable now than ever.

Aaron Ashby could do something that would make us absolutely lose our minds. Michael King cannot be stopped. Chase Burns faced James Wood, which got the Kurkjians feeling some sort of way. And is it Davis Kane or Kane Davis?

On This Date in Baseball History: Reggie Jackson and Brooks Robinson’s birthdays bring two very different stories surrounding those Hall of Famers. Jim Sundberg gives us maybe one of our favorite Nolan Ryan stories. Randy Johnson is perfect, and one last story leads us to our Team Tim!

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Tallest Outfield EVER!

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We follow up on the tallest outfield ever — consisting of Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones, and Aaron Judge — and with a little insight, it seems we may finally have confirmation. Thanks to some serious research and people-searching, Tim Kurkjian may have figured it out.

Paul Skenes got things back under 2.00, which, are we really surprised? After that tough start to the season, he was able to settle right back in. And Cal Raleigh finally broke a streak no player ever wants to see happen. Meanwhile, Munetaka Murakami and his true outcomes couldn’t be truer.

On This Date, we talk Tony Perez, Dwight Gooden, and Willie Mays as a New York Met. Plus, it wouldn’t be an episode without Walter Johnson coming up more than once. You’ll see him again in Three Cards in the Bathroom, surprisingly.

The Alphabest “H” hitter and pitcher create a stir, but not as much as the same-name Team Tim. Tim seems relieved when he finally gets the entire team out. HE CAN REST now that he’s done with this list. As always, check out our website for more details on how to send Tim messages at any time. And of course, thanks for being a part of our family.

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Ben Zobrist's Final Game Has To Be A First

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Former Cubs star Ben Zobrist joins us to talk about thriving under pressure: on the field and in life. From faith and family to leadership and his coaching work, this conversation dives into what it really takes to show up when it matters most.

We talk about playing for Joe Maddon for two different teams, multiple World Series runs (including the historic one with the Cubs) and about his final game. Even Tim was taken back by Jeff's question, doesn't happen too often that Jeff catches him off guard!

His new book, Prepare for the Pressure, releases July 7 and is available for pre-order wherever books are sold (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more). In it, Ben shares nine transformative principles to help you rise to any occasion, on or off the field. Visit https://www.championforward.org/ for more information on about Ben Zobrist.

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The Greatest Bobby Cox Story Of All Time

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Today we celebrate moms, and we also remember one of the greatest managers of all time, Bobby Cox, who recently passed away. We’re throwing it back to Jeff Francoeur joining the show two years ago and sharing one of the all-time great stories about his former manager. Our thoughts are with Bobby’s family, and we thank him for all the incredible memories.

Team Tim is all about Mother’s Day this week, but you’ll have to wait until the end for that conversation. Both Tim and Jeff take time to give credit to the amazing mothers in their lives, which leads to some legendary mom stories along the way.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is historically struggling right now — something that definitely can’t be said about Mason Miller. Is Miller already making a Cy Young case? Tim Kurkjian weighs in. Plus: the Cubs’ winning streak, the Red Sox pitching staff, and the Rays continuing to pile up runs.

Cal Raleigh makes another appearance in the Quirkjians, though he probably won’t love the reason why. Plus, don’t bet on the Padres in the first inning, but oddly enough, the Nationals might help you win some money. And are the Yankees putting together the tallest outfield ever assembled? They may actually have a record on their hands.

As always, we appreciate your support as we continue to grow the show. Please take a moment to subscribe or follow wherever you listen — it truly means a lot. Thank you for being part of our family!

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Thank You Ted Turner and John Sterling, The Game Will Miss You

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Our GameChanger of the Week is a man who changed the way we watch baseball, just like GameChanger has changed the way we watch our kids play, it’s kind of perfect.

Plus, Bruce Hornsby on the piano, Jackson Chourio at the plate, Bartolo Colon on this date, and Lou Gehrig every single day.

Tim also presented a hypothetical about the fastest baserunners going up against the fastest sprinter, we’d love to hear your thoughts! And of course, a Team Tim all about the best nicknames in the game.

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Buck Showalter On The DH, Max Scherzer's Batting, Basketball Referees

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Buck Showalter returns to the show and, as always, delivers sharp insight on today’s game—along with a pointed critique of a pitching rule that might surprise you. A legendary manager known for building disciplined, competitive teams across the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles, and Mets, Showalter brings decades of perspective to the conversation.

We also dive into his response to Max Scherzer’s recent comments, revisit his unlikely start as a basketball referee, and hear how his long friendship with Tim leads to a candid list of ideas to improve the game.

It’s a deep but accessible baseball conversation for fans of all levels—thanks for listening, and be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Matt Olson Making A Case, Ohtani Blunder, All Derby Team

Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian almost put money on the Kentucky Derby? We dive into that and bring you a Team Tim all about it, but you’ll have to wait until the end of the show for it.

The White Sox seem to have turned a corner. Who is the greatest “Matt” in baseball history, and could it eventually be Matt Olson? Justin Crawford’s first MLB RBIs come with a fun fact about every single one.

Are you surprised we’re talking about strikeouts? We always are. James Wood, Kyle Schwarber, and Jakob Marsee all come up during this chat. Plus, Dustin May made our quirky brains happy on Sunday.

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Elly De La Cruz Conversation, Drew Romo Homers, Nick Kurtz Walks

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Elly De La Cruz is a star and just pulled off something incredible, but what we didn’t know is what he was doing when Terry Francona was first hired, and it says a lot about his character. A true class act.

Our GameChanger of the Week focuses on managers, especially with all the wild news that broke this week. Alex Cora is out, Rob Thomson is out—so what does that mean for the game? Tim Kurkjian weighs in, and Jeff brings it all the way back around to Little League.

Nick Kurtz keeps getting on base, but he’s still short of the record for most consecutive games with a walk. The current leader might surprise you, and no, it’s not Barry Bonds. Plus, Drew Romo has done something that caught all of us off guard. He’s off to a really fun start, no debating that.

On This Date in baseball history, Bob Feller comes up, along with a great story involving one of our favorite guests, Steve Sparks. We share some laughs looking back at that interview, and don’t worry, Feller comes back into the conversation later in Alphabest.

We wrap things up with Wheel of Kurkjian, Three Cards in the Bathroom, and a Team Tim that highlights some of the best sitcoms of all time, at least according to Tim. Trust me, Jeff had plenty to say about the one major omission, but hey, it’s not called Team Jeff.

Thanks so much for listening or watching and for spending time with us. Be sure to subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening, it’s free, and thanke you being part of our family.

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Joe Buck On ESPN Jeopardy, Brockmire and The Hall of Fame

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Joe Buck joins Tim and Jeff Kurkjian and, as always, he doesn’t disappoint. The legendary play-by-play announcer has done it all, so we’ll spare you the long list of accomplishments—but trust us, it’s impressive.

What we will tell you is that he’s just been announced as the new host of ESPN’s Jeopardy!, and we’ve got the inside scoop. Joe shares what he knows so far and how soon filming is set to begin.

We also dive into his relationship with his father, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, and the remarkable career that helped shape Joe’s path. In fact, they’ll become the first father-son duo enshrined in Cooperstown as broadcasters—pretty cool.

Then we take a trip down memory lane to the days of Brockmire, where both Tim and Joe appeared (Joe a bit more prominently) alongside the incredibly talented Hank Azaria. The behind-the-scenes stories are priceless.

Joe also gives us a great look into what it was like growing up around the St. Louis Cardinals. Whether you’re a Cards fan or just a baseball fan in general, you’re going to love these stories.

Big thanks to Joe for joining us—and as always, thank you for listening. Be sure to subscribe or follow wherever you’re tuning in.

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Shohei's Streak Ends, Walter Johnson's Head

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Coming to you from Tim Kurkjian’s office, just before the sprinkle for Baby Bodie Bell Kurkjian, arriving June 5. We squeezed this episode in not to dodge party setup duties, but with the understanding that we’re fully on teardown after, so don’t worry.

Shohei’s streak has finally come to an end, and we break down what it means and how it stacks up against Ted Williams. The Braves are rolling, and the Phillies, at long last, have snapped their skid. But when the two teams met, something strange happened, and we had to dig into it. Let’s just say we’ve become a little obsessed with extra-base hits.

Four players reached a milestone on Thursday, though it might not be one worth celebrating. On This Date brings up legends like Hank Aaron and Walter Johnson, and being in Tim’s office gave us the chance to pull out a few Walter Johnson artifacts, which didn’t exactly go as planned.

And finally, a special Team Tim in honor of our guest tomorrow, Joe Buck. Yes, that Joe Buck. Make sure you’re subscribed and following wherever you get your podcasts, this is one you won’t want to miss.

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Marathon Of A Baseball Game

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Brand new look—who dis?

For those listening on the audio stream, thank you! But we highly recommend checking out our new YouTube look. Just search “Is This A Great Game, Or What” on YouTube to see the upgraded vibe.

Alright, onto the episode. We’ve got another GameChanger of the Week to keep you entertained—this one tied to our friend Max Scherzer and something he said during our interview earlier this week. If you missed it, go back and listen. Seriously, it’s worth it.

The Boston Marathon has Tim Kurkjian thinking about the speed of the game we love. Plus, we debate the greatest last-name “E” hitter and pitcher—who’ve you got?

We also rifle through three more cards featuring incredible stories, including Joey Meneses—one we didn’t know we needed in our lives.

And to wrap things up, it’s a Team Tim edition in celebration of the NFL Draft kicking off tonight.

It’s a packed show, with a tease for next week’s amazing guest.

Thanks for watching and listening!

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Max Scherzer, Future Hall of Famer, Joins Us

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Max Scherzer is a future Hall of Famer—and we were lucky enough to have him join our show on an off day. The two-time World Series champion covers everything from his college career to life as a dad.

Scherzer even shares a bold idea for increasing the value of starting pitchers. It might sound a little crazy—but we want to hear what you think.

We also dive into his wife’s incredible athletic background and their shared love of pitching, plus a touching story about his daughter’s letter to the Toronto Blue Jays that might just bring you to tears.

We can’t thank Max enough for taking the time to join our show. Don’t miss his stories about Buck and the many legendary managers he’s played for—there are some great ones in here.

If you’re new, be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Thanks for being part of the family!

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The K's Keep Coming, Tim Can't Find His Car

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian in a cowboy hat? Yeah… we can’t picture it either. But apparently, it happened—and we’ve got the story behind the last time he wore one.

Jeff also took his family out to a ballgame that featured a special postgame concert, and we break that down too. Plus, Tim shares the tale of losing his car at an airport and unveils his latest “All-Clothing Team Tim.”

Got an idea for the next Team Tim? Submit your suggestions at GreatGameOrWhat.com—we’d love to hear them.

On the field, the 3-4-5 hitters combined to go 0-for-12 with 11 strikeouts. Naturally, we had to ask: has that ever happened before? We dig into the numbers.

We’ve also got plenty of “On This Dates” and “Quirkjians”—the kind of segments only this podcast can deliver.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to share with a friend, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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Jackie Robinson's Importance

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

This week in Major League Baseball, we celebrate Jackie Robinson. He’s our GameChanger of the Week—but truly, he’s the GameChanger of the game. What he did for baseball cannot be overstated, and we’re proud to honor his legacy.

Both Tim and Jeff moved mountains to bring you this episode. Jeff is still in Disney World with his family, while Tim is covering the Dodgers series in Los Angeles. Despite the time difference, busy schedules, and nonstop activity, they made it happen.

Who’s the greatest “D” last name pitcher and hitter? Tim makes his case for both. Three Cards in the Bathroom features a very large bird. Jon Kruk makes yet another memorable appearance with one of his best lines. And just how big is Bruce Bochy’s head? We explain.

Share the show with a friend or family member who loves—or is learning to love—baseball. Thanks for following and subscribing wherever you watch or listen!

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Steve Rushin On Helmet Nachos, Vin Scully and The Masters

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Steve Rushin, a repeat guest for good reason, joins Tim and Jeff once again. It’s almost nerve-racking to write this episode description given how talented our guest is—but we’ll give it a shot.

From helmet nachos to helicoptering into The Masters, we somehow managed to cover all the important topics. Rushin and Kurkjian have been friends for years, dating back to playing 2-on-2 with an extremely famous actor known for shooting hoops on the side.

Rushin also recalls a gift Kurkjian once gave one of his kids—apparently still sitting in the garage to this day. And would it really be a Steve Rushin appearance without some absurd, completely illogical hypotheticals? We’ve got plenty of those too.

We bring it all—hope you enjoy!

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Jeff's Baby's Name, Max Muncy Heroics, RIP Phil Garner

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff is in Disney World? Yep—and because of that, we bring you Team Tim Disney… and it’s perfection. Huge thank you to everyone who sent in their Team Tim Disney submissions—they were absolutely incredible. Well done!

Plenty of takeaways this episode, including a big game from Max Muncy and the unlikely heroics that got him there. We also say goodbye to one of baseball’s greats, as Tim reflects on the impact Phil Garner had on him and on the game.

Strikeouts are piling up this season, which means we’ve got ANOTHER Team Tim—did we get lucky or what? If you had a four-strikeout game this year, there’s a good chance you made the team.

And a special thank you to Catholic University for giving Tim such an amazing day and for the love they’ve shown our family.

Be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you watch or listen—and share the show with a friend!

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Lock These Players DOWN, Plus The Loss Of An Incredible Baserunner

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We say goodbye today to one of the greatest baserunners ever on Is This A Great Game, or What? But baseball never stops—especially for the incredibly young players getting locked up for the future, something Tim Kurkjian quite frankly hasn’t seen before. Catch that in our “GameChanger of the Week.”

Jeff attempts a Quirkjian and falls a bit flat, creating a hilarious moment between this father-son duo. On This Date, a great number eight comes up, leading Tim to this week’s Team Tim.

We’ve got the best “C” hitter and pitcher, another Wheel of Kurkjian, and three (not two!) Cards in the Bathroom. But before the baseball talk begins, we had to celebrate The Masters with a Kurkjian Quandary that absolutely NEEDS to be discussed.

As always, thanks for listening and for being part of our family. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow—and most importantly, share the show with a friend or family member who loves this game!

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Jim Palmer vs. Bonds, Howard Cosell and Cy Youngs

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Hall of Famer Jim Palmer joins us this week for a riveting interview. The greatest Orioles pitcher ever turned broadcaster has stories you won’t believe—and a memory that is second to none.

What did his signing bonus look like 60 years ago? A lot different than today’s players, that’s for sure. He retells a conversation with Barry Bonds that had us stunned. And he was roommates with Robin Roberts? We didn’t know that!

There are plenty of fascinating stories about the late, great Howard Cosell, plus some love for Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald, too. We keep it long, lean, and loose with Palmer.

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Jo Adell's Insane Defense, All-Easter Team, Umpire Injury

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Filming on Easter Sunday, Tim Kurkjian brings us the All-Easter Team that everyone has been asking for—including a favorite of our former guest, Dan Patrick. Dylan Cease (a pitcher, of course) is the last to do something at the plate—man, do we miss pitchers hitting, don’t you? Tim also dives deeper into the difficulty of an umpire’s job, sharing a story that might just knock you off your feet.

Jeff had a conversation with a 10-year-old that left him stunned—and after retelling it to Tim, let’s just say we’re feeling pretty good about the future of baseball fans. Jeff also breaks out the only impressions he knows how to do, and honestly… they’re not terrible, so we’ll take it.

We even get to the important questions—like what shoe size Tim Kurkjian wears—and somehow make our way to Star Wars. Safe to say, we had a lot of fun this week… but we’ll have even more tomorrow when Hall of Famer Jim Palmer joins us once again.

Don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss that interview—and so much more!

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Andrew Painter, More Pitching Dominance, ABS Success

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pitching across baseball is absolutely electric right now—and we’re loving every second of it. Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are back together in person and debut a brand-new segment, “The Wheel of Kurkjian,” inspired by your suggestions.

After one full week of baseball, the show is packed with highlights. Quirkjians and On This Date in Baseball History lead the way—but not before Jeff kicks things off with a classic April Fools’ Day prank on his dad.

“Three Cards in the Bathroom” and “Alphabest” spark plenty of debate between the two. And when it comes to the best “B” last name pitcher and hitter? That’s up to Tim—but we want to hear your picks. Remember: this is his list, not the list.

A big thank you to our friends at GameChanger for supporting another GameChanger of the Week. This time, we spotlight a player who wasn’t even sure he’d make the team out of Spring Training—but once he did, he made it count.

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John Baker On Paul Skenes, Youth Sports & Dostoevsky

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

John Baker is a former Major Leaguer turned coach who is wiser than both of us—that’s for sure. He is well-studied in the minds of individuals, which he applies to the mindset of ballplayers. Visit www.baker-hq.com for more details and see how your ballplayer can benefit from his life’s work.

We talk all things big leagues, including something we never knew about John Lackey and the COVID year. Plus, we dive into that incredible Cubs team that won it all in 2016. He also got us into the minds of Paul Skenes and up-and-comer Konnor Griffin—trust me, these guys are next level.

For moms and dads of little leaguers, we spent a lot of time talking about growing up in the game—there’s plenty here for all of us to learn. And speaking of learning, we picked up new words and explored new books with Baker. What a great guest.

Stranger things have happened on this podcast—that’s for sure! Subscribe and follow for more!

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Judge's Ks, All-Profession Team & Opening Impressions

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

First full weekend of baseball and Tim and Jeff Kurkjian have you ready for a ton of Takeaways and Quirkjians. Don't forget to submit yours at GreatGameOrWhat.com, it's that easy!

The 2026 season is underway with a whole lot of strikeouts—are we surprised? But it’s the star power behind those strikeouts that’s really driving us crazy! Plus, we have ABS in full swing. Tim and Jeff weigh in on its effectiveness and break down the rules behind it (for those who might not know—like Jeff’s wife).

A hidden ambidextrous player got Tim all giddy, and we highlight some great birthdays in “On This Date” in baseball history. Finally, Tim celebrates the anniversary of a player’s retirement.

Now that we’re in the full swing of the regular season, remember—we’ve got three episodes a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. So make sure to hit that subscribe or follow button so you don’t miss a thing!

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HAPPY OPENING DAY 2026! Tim Kurkjian's Best Moments

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We’re celebrating Opening Day this year with our friends at GameChanger. They’ve been an incredible partner for the past couple of years, and nothing captures the spirit of Opening Day quite like family—which is exactly what they’re all about.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Opening Day should honestly be a holiday. Maybe next season we make that happen. At the top of the show, Tim dives into some of his favorite Opening Day memories, and he wraps things up with a “Team Tim” featuring some all-time Opening Day heroes.

On This Date in Baseball History highlights some notable names, and we’ve got another edition of “Three Cards in the Bathroom” this week. Tim even made the trip up to Jeff’s house—just like old times—so we could put together a true celebration of an episode for everyone.

One thing to remember: this season could be your team’s season. It’s the best time of the year—so hold onto that kid-at-heart energy heading into 2026. It makes everything more fun.

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Eduardo Perez: Opening Day, Bo Jackson and Tablet For Tim

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

As tradition continues, we welcome Eduardo Perez back for our first interview of the regular season—for the third straight year since the podcast began. And as always, he delivers.

We dive into Opening Day and the memories that come with it—not just from his time as a player, but from his childhood. As the son of a Hall of Famer, Eduardo brings a truly unique perspective on growing up around the game.

We also revisit an unforgettable World Baseball Classic, including the one moment that almost kept Eduardo from experiencing it fully—something he carefully shares with us.

From hitting behind Bo Jackson to his connection with Sean Casey, plus a little 6-4-3 talk, it all comes together in this fun Opening Week special of Is This A Great Game, Or What?

Be sure to share the show with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening!

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Pete Rose vs Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden Made Tim Kurkjian Cry

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian had an absolute monster of a day, sitting down with Nolan Ryan and Dwight Gooden separately—on the same day. Even after all his years covering the game, he says there have been few days outside of Cooperstown inductions as story-filled as this one. He recaps both conversations for us.

Who made their ball club? We break down the end of Spring Training, an exciting time for players who’ve finally achieved their dream of making a big league roster—including one player who made his promotion even more special.

Plus, we dive into what happened On This Date in baseball history, Tim revisits some classic baseball cards, and as always, we wrap things up with a Team Tim.

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Kevin Pillar On WBC Finish, Nose Job and Kobe

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We had an absolute blast chopping it up with Kevin Pillar—former MLB standout turned broadcaster and podcaster! Catch him on Foul Territory and Blue Bird Territory where he’s been absolutely crushing it.

Huge thanks to Kevin for taking the time to talk WBC with us. Sure, it wasn’t the finish Team USA fans were hoping for, but it doesn’t take away from how electric the game is right now. And who knows—maybe we’ll see Pillar involved in the next one… or even the Olympics.

We also got into some fun debates: the four best switch-hitters, the four best center fielders, and of course… can Pillar still dunk? (You know we had to ask.) From growing up listening to Vin Scully, to being inspired by Kobe’s work ethic, to now carrying that mindset into life as a girl dad—Kevin’s story is as real as it gets. A

math major turned Major Leaguer—Kevin Pillar, we appreciate you. And to everyone listening, thank you! Be sure to subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts. Full episodes are available everywhere you listen, and you can also watch on YouTube!

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Raleigh-Arozarena, St. Patricks Day Team, Wade Boggs Karaoke

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s also the World Baseball Classic Championship tonight, and with the regular season starting in just eight days, this is an incredible week for baseball. Tim Kurkjian jumps right in to discuss the Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena drama surrounding the handshake that never happened. After the WBC, we’ll be joined by Foul Territory and Blue Bird Territory's Kevin Pillar to recap it all with us.

Jeff also makes his pick for a March Madness sleeper this year—maybe not to win it all, but a team he believes can make a run to the Sweet Sixteen. We also hear Tim’s incredible St. Patrick’s Day team and cycle through more baseball cards.

Plus, we reveal the results of the All-Robinson vs. All-Johnson matchup that had us debating last week… and let’s just say, we did NOT see this one coming.

Thanks for listening and watching. Be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss anything. We’ll be back to three episodes next week, and as tradition goes, Eduardo Perez will join us to help kick off the season.

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Scott Van Pelt On The Baltimore Accent, The Masters and Classic Sportscenter Commercials

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Back in 2024, we had the pleasure of welcoming our friend Scott Van Pelt to the podcast. For years, he and Tim Kurkjian have been staples on ESPN, but it’s their segments together that have truly made the internet smile. This episode originally ran on July 9th, 2024.

Their shared home state of Maryland gave rise to one of the great recurring bits — Scott cracking Tim up with his take on the Baltimore accent. If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably seen one of these moments somewhere, whether on ESPN or circulating around the internet.

During our conversation, we talked about The Masters and Scott’s love of all things golf, as well as his upbringing as an Orioles fan and how that helped spark his passion for baseball — and plenty more along the way. We’re bringing this episode back as a thank-you to our new followers and subscribers.

We’ve got a lot of fun and exciting interviews coming your way in the 2026 season, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the journey.

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World Baseball Classic Career Highlight, Pete Rose Loves Winning, Could Robinsons Beat Johnsons?

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian and his son Jeff are back at it again—and this time the hype is all about the incredible World Baseball Classic and one player who says the experience ranks as a career highlight.

With the clocks set back, it means we’re one step closer to the start of the regular season. Tim also shares a few standout young players he had the chance to see during his time in Florida and Arizona.

Then there’s the matter of a Ron Howard appearance. After a recent text exchange with Buck Showalter, it suddenly doesn’t seem so impossible.

Pete Rose also comes up—specifically the stat he might be most proud of. In fact, he was so proud of it that he offered it to Tim without even being asked.

Plus, we rip open some baseball cards and uncover a minor-league moment from Larry Anderson that will absolutely make you smile.

Let’s load the cannon on another great episode. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you’re listening or watching right now!

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Fate Of The 2027 Season According To Tim Kurkjian, Golf Cart Drive Thru, Our New Partnership

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:11:28 +0000

Big partnership news to start the show! A huge thank you to @foulterritoryshow Network for bringing us on board for the 2026 season. We’re incredibly grateful to their team for embracing our little show. The best part? Nothing changes for you as a listener!

Tim is at Spring Training and fired up to talk about everything he’s seen so far. The impact of the World Baseball Classic is already being felt across clubs, and looming negotiations for the 2027 season are hanging over just about everyone. Tim Kurkjian has exclusive insight on both.

“On This Date” in baseball history inspires a brand-new Team Tim — and it wasn’t an easy roster to build. If we missed someone, drop a comment or head to GreatGameOrWhat.com to message us directly.

Jeff took the lead on baseball cards this week, and it didn’t disappoint. He even pulled from his personal collection, so we’ve got some heavy hitters (and pitchers) featured in this episode.

One quick note: beginning in the 2026 season, we’ll be adjusting our episode schedule to better serve our audience. We’ll still be dropping three episodes a week — just on different days — so stay tuned for the updated lineup. Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to share the show with a friend!

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A Mazterclass

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We said goodbye to an absolute legend, Bill Mazeroski. He also earned a spot on Tim’s All-Defense Team—alongside several other incredibly skilled defenders. We also recapped Jeff’s weekend adventure involving a pool of ice water (a bold but smart move, Jeff).

Eddie Murray was a major topic this week as we celebrated his birthday, along with so many other great baseball birthdays. We also remembered Tony C., lost on this day—perhaps the bravest of them all.

Dave Kingman’s baseball card made an appearance during the show, and honestly, he could probably still play in 2026—though maybe not for the best reasons. Tim shared some special memories from his very first Spring Training, especially fitting as he heads to much warmer weather this week (which we’re all looking forward to).

And next week, we’ve got absolutely MASSIVE news we can’t wait to share. If you’ve been following along, nothing will change for you—and the same goes for anyone new. But be sure to tune in next week for all the details!

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Let The Games Begin

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We’re running the full gambit on the show this week with Tim Kurkjian and his son, Jeff. If you’re interested in attending Jeff’s live event, visit GreatGameOrWhat.com for details — we’d love to see you there.

With Spring Training underway, no one is more excited than this father-son duo. We also couldn’t let the day pass without celebrating Michael Jordan’s birthday and debating the best No. 62 of all time — a conversation that certainly delivered.

Plus, we’re taking the “Ober” on Three Cards in the Bathroom.

Tim closes out the show with a beautiful All-Presidents Team for Team Tim. If you’ve created one of your own and want to hear it on the air, head to GreatGameOrWhat.com and submit it today!

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Season Starts In 6-7 Weeks

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

The Super Bowl is DONE, which means for some teams, pitchers and catchers report TODAY! This is what we’ve been waiting for all offseason. Spring Training is here, and this is when our show hits primetime. We can’t thank you enough for being along for the ride — and don’t forget to hit subscribe!

Today, we dive into Tim Kurkjian’s all-time favorite Spring Training stories, featuring warthogs, bicycles, and softball gloves. We also celebrate a few birthdays, including one from Australia (not something you see every day).

We rip some cards and see what we can uncover — always a good time with “Three Cards in the Bathroom.” Tim may be a historian of the game, but there’s one never-achieved matchup he’ll defend forever.

Soak it all in, folks. Spring Training has arrived, and Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are celebrating right along with you. Thanks for listening, and as always, thanks for being part of our family.

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He Pulled A Grammy

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian can’t help but be fascinated (once again) by the lingering snow from the storm—though their dogs are clearly over it. Big shoutout to our SABR friends in Las Vegas: thanks for having us, and welcome to the family to those who are new!

Jeff quizzes Tim on Grammy nominees and winners, and surprisingly, Tim holds his own. How would you have done? If you love this country, you’ll love Team Tim, as we take a tour through America’s cities. We also dive into two major free-agent signings, with Tim breaking down the impact of Eugenio Suárez and Luis Arraez.

And don’t even mention Pinewood Derby to Tim—or karate to Jeff—trust us, both are sore subjects. We also reminisce about some great players, including the “tenth man,” Will Clark (you’ll have to tune in to find out what that means).

We’re hoping to grow our YouTube following, and it’s easy to help: search “Is This A Great Game, Or What?” on YouTube and hit subscribe. You can watch the full show in video form—how neat is that? Sure, we’re easy on the eyes, but the reactions and laughs are even better on video. Thanks so much for supporting the show!

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Oh, Snow Way!

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

SNOWED IN! We had a blast recording this episode from home—both of us snowed in (outside, of course). Tim was rescued by the plows just in time to hit record. Jeff, meanwhile, somehow still made it to his full-time job.

On This Date in Baseball History, we tip our caps to “my man” and Harold Reynolds. And whenever Tim breaks out the cards, you know it’s going to be a good time. We also settle the debate on the greatest player to wear No. 59—and yes, it’s a current player!

Plus, a puzzling story from Tim involving his grandson proves that even a guy with a massive baseball brain can struggle when it comes to actual puzzles.

All this and more on this week’s edition of Is This a Great Game, or What?

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Front and Center(Field)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones will join Jeff Kent as the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Longtime Hall of Fame voter Tim Kurkjian weighs in with his thoughts, including the one other player he voted for who fell short this year.

We break down Beltrán’s playoff performances, along with the lingering controversy surrounding sign-stealing. For Jones, we marvel once again at his elite center-field defense and his remarkable youth—highlighted by hitting two home runs in Game 1 of the World Series at just 19 years old. Incredible.

The conversation continues with stories surrounding a notable retirement and the unfortunate passing of a pitching great. Tim also presses on toward No. 99 in his countdown of the best players to wear each uniform number. And this week, Team Tim takes advantage of a current weakness in Jeff’s life.

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Don Mattingly A.K.A. Donnie Baseball (And Sons)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Don Mattingly just took a job that lets him work alongside his son, so we couldn’t think of a better guest to have on. Oh—and he also happens to be one of Tim’s favorite players to cover back in the day.

We cover everything from fishing for 200-pound fish to talking hitting with Ted Williams, plus a shared love of country music and Don’s questionable knowledge of Lou Gehrig. Widely known as one of the best guys in the game, Mattingly has done it all. From managing the Marlins and Dodgers to serving as bench coach for the Blue Jays—and now the Phillies—whether he’s playing, coaching, or managing, he’s always got stories to tell.

We loved bringing you this exclusive offseason interview. If there’s anyone else you’d like to hear on the show, let us know—GreatGameOrWhat.com is the best way to reach us.

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Oh Boy, Another Kurkjian

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

It wouldn’t be a father-son podcast without some exciting family news, right? There’s another Kurkjian joining the mix! Jeff kicks off the show by sharing the big announcement, while Tim adds to the excitement and sends birthday wishes to a very special family member.

Alex Bregman headlines the offseason with his signing by the Chicago Cubs—but who’s next to fall in the free-agent market? Plus, Tim continues his new series, stepping things up with some more challenging numbers.

And Jeff pulls out a special baseball card for this episode’s edition of Three Cards in the Bathroom. Thanks for listening and for being part of our family!

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Just In Casey

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian entertain us with their knowledge of—and deep love for—the game. If you’re new to the show, welcome to another offseason edition. You’ll find a home here if you love baseball and enjoy sharing that passion with family.

This week, Tim and Jeff share personal updates, including the exciting news of Tim’s fourth grandchild and the return of his dog, Rexie—an adventure Tim will explain.

The offseason is always changing, and while free-agent signings continue to unfold, we stay as up to date as possible. The Hall of Fame vote is also a major focus this week. Ballots have been cast and are currently being counted, and Tim shares who he voted for and what he’s most looking forward to ahead of the announcement on January 20.

Please support the show by following, subscribing, and rating. We love hearing your feedback!

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Our Best Guest Moments of 2025 (Part 2)

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

If you haven't listened to part one yet, STOP and go back one week and start with that episode. The best moment from each of our interviews from this year especially made just for you. These include Joe West, Harold Reynolds, Hall of Famers Chipper Jones and Billy Wagner, plus so many others.

Make sure to let us know who you would like to join us in 2026 because we would love to have them on the air thanks to your suggestions. You can reach us at GreatGameOrWhat.com.

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Our Best Guest Moments of 2025 (Part 1)

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Merry Christmas and a belated Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrated! We’re excited to bring you part one of our two-part year-end recap, featuring some of our favorite moments with our incredible guests this year.

Cal Ripken Jr. joined us with his son around Father’s Day, Andy Kurkjian (Tim’s oldest brother) stopped by to talk about their late brother Matt on Lou Gehrig Day, and Dan Le Batard, as always, kept things fun by poking a little fun.

The first half of 2025 was one heck of a ride, and we’re so grateful you took it with us. As always, subscribing and following is the best way to support this father-son show, and we truly appreciate you doing so!

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Merry Christmas Steve

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are back with another offseason podcast, breaking down a few of the biggest moves teams made following the Winter Meetings. But the real highlight? They kick off the holiday spirit early with a special Team Tim Christmas celebration.

After spending some quality time together, the duo recaps everything from shoveling snow to hanging TVs—proving once again they can do it all. It’s also time for Three Cards From the Bathroom… who will Tim pull this week? And, without further ado, they wrap up their Seamheads for 2025.

Thanks for watching or listening! The best way to support the show is to follow and subscribe—and don’t forget to share it with a friend. Your support means a lot to both Kurkjian boys.

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Kent Stop The Feeling

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian dive into the election of Jeff Kent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame—plus the players who just missed the cut, the steroid-era debates, and more. It’s a deeper dive than you usually hear from these two, but a warranted one, offering an interesting contrast between Jeff (born in 1993), who grew up watching these players, and Tim, who has been a Hall of Fame voter for what feels like 150 years.

We also talk Christmas décor as both homes get fully decked out. Tim’s tree is so massive he couldn’t set it up on his own—honestly admirable that he asked for help, because most of us men wouldn’t. And Tim’s outfit this episode, while improved, is still far too nice for our usual format. Watch on YouTube to see it for yourself, and don’t forget to subscribe!

We wrap up with a look at notable moments in baseball history that happened on this date, and Tim closes the show with an excellent Team Tim, fittingly all about birthdays—since tomorrow is his! Thanks for listening, and we wish you and your family health and happiness!

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Winter Is Coming

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian recap their Thanksgiving trip to Florida, including the results of their big golf match (though one of them wasn’t eager to offer many details). Tim also shares a bold move he made at the airport.

With the Winter Meetings beginning this weekend, Tim reflects on some of his favorite stories from his early days as a young writer. He’ll be covering the events for ESPN from Bristol, so be sure to tune in for updates.

The newly released Hall of Fame ballot features two major names — Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens — on the Contemporary Era ballot. Tim and Jeff break down all eight candidates, including one Jeff is especially passionate about.

In “On This Date in Baseball and General History,” Jeff takes the lead, highlighting Hall of Famers replacing one another, the Dodgers’ back-to-back-to-back Rookie of the Year streak, and a notable SportsCenter milestone.

Finally, they close with “Three Cards in the Bathroom,” where Tim sifts through a stack of cards he found in the baseball-themed guest bathroom, sparking even more stories from the Hall of Fame writer.

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Jimmy Gobble Gobble Gobble

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are bringing you fresh content every week throughout the offseason—every move, every storyline, all the offseason action. They’ve got it covered.

You’ll also get the classic segments you love, including On This Date in Baseball History and Team Tim. And since it’s Thanksgiving, we couldn’t resist giving this episode a festive twist… let’s just say Tim’s team will have you gobbling.

We’re also digging into some old baseball cards, each one sparking the kind of incredible stories only Tim Kurkjian can tell. Plus, a wardrobe malfunction somehow carries us through the entire episode.

Enjoy—and be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening!

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Oh Geez, MVPs

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian, an expert on all things baseball, is joined by his son Jeff for Is This A Great Game, Or What? If you’re new to the show—welcome! Be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and thank you in advance.

For our regular members of the family, welcome back to our offseason run of the podcast. Expect weekly episodes—sometimes even more. We kick things off with Jeff’s move to a new home, with help from Tim, of course—the greatest dad on earth.

We also break down the major awards from the end of the 2025 season, and Tim brings not one but two “Team Tim’s” centered around the MVP races. It’s bound to be a great show for all of you to enjoy.

Thanks so much for being part of our family!

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DOUBLE PLAY: Johnny Bench In Cooperstown (2024)

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This offseason, you’ll hear from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian every Tuesday, bringing you more great baseball content each week.

This week marks our very first DOUBLE PLAY episode — a look back at one of the best interviews from the previous season.

While in Cooperstown for the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, Tim and Jeff sat down with the greatest catcher of all time, Johnny Bench. A huge thank you to the Otesaga Hotel for letting us record in their historic home. Johnny shares stories that will make you both laugh and cry, and his love for his dad is a perfect fit for this podcast.

Tim and Jeff are taking a much-needed week off after an exciting baseball season, but they’ll be back next week to recap all of the 2025 awards!

Don’t stress—just subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening, and you won’t miss a thing!

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Ken Rosenthal, The Quintessential Baseball Writer and Reporter

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Ken Rosenthal is a household name in baseball. You’ve seen him on the field during some of the game’s biggest moments, but he’s also one of the finest writers the sport has ever known. One day, we’re certain he’ll take his rightful place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ken and Tim go way back to their days competing at rival newspapers in Baltimore during the 1980s. As Ken tells it, though, there wasn’t much of a competition—which happens to be Tim’s least favorite part of this interview (but we think you’ll love it).

Ken shares the highs and lows of postgame interviews, some of his favorite stories he’s written, and a treasure trove of Ripken anecdotes that are sure to make any baseball fan smile.

We also recap this incredible World Series, talk podcasts, and cover so much more in an interview you won’t want to miss.

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The Greatest World Series Tim Kurkjian Has Ever Covered

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Well folks, that’s a wrap on the 2025 baseball season! The Los Angeles Dodgers have repeated as champions — but of course, you already knew that. Now, we bring you Tim Kurkjian’s in-depth breakdown of the 2025 World Series between the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays — and what made it the best World Series Tim has ever covered.

We’ll also take a look at some key On This Date moments in baseball history, including a memorable World Series finish that happened on this very day. Plus, we highlight the father of a former guest who gets a special mention, and we recognize one of you for inspiring today’s “Team Tim” segment — something Tim plans to do a lot more of now that we’re in the offseason.

Don’t go anywhere — tomorrow, you’ll hear from Ken Rosenthal! Be sure to subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts. And even though the season’s over, we’ve got plenty of great content planned throughout the postseason. Don’t forget about The Kurkjians just because it’s November!

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Trick (McSorley) Or Treat

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Thank you for what has been an absolutely incredible season of baseball and an amazing run for this podcast (can't wait for next year). We’re celebrating Halloween with unforgettable memories and a Team Tim episode that’s sure to blow your spooky socks off (with a little help from a special family guest).

We recap the games in Los Angeles — packed with unbelievable baseball moments, including another first from Shohei, a surprising country star connection, and one wild coincidence. Plus, we dive into a pitching recap highlighting some unsung heroes who deserve their moment.

What a postseason it’s been! But just wait until you hear how good the Blue Jays’ offense has been — it’s almost unbelievable. Even with the Dodgers’ strong pitching, this team continues to thrive.

Oh, and Tim’s back in Canada! This time, though, he’s not recording from a hotel… but from a basement? Don’t worry, he explains.

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Dan and Ben Shulman, Father-Son World Series Broadcasters

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dan Shulman has done far more than just dabble in baseball — calling the game has been his life’s work (alongside being a great father). His son, Ben Shulman, has followed in his footsteps, making play-by-play broadcasting his own career. In fact, Dan and Ben have made history as the first father-son duo to ever call the same World Series. Dan serves as the television play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, while Ben handles radio duties.

As a father-son podcast, we couldn’t have asked for better guests. From Princess Bride references to shared Syracuse University memories between Ben and Jeff, this conversation will make you smile and think of your own dad. Aaron Boone naturally takes center stage in several stories — including one memorable playoff press conference where Ben found himself in the spotlight.

We also learn the origin of Dan’s nickname from his ESPN colleagues, and hear how this father-son duo keeps crossing paths at sporting events around the country.

Thank you so much for listening — and happy World Series!

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Oo You Shiny Toy Mamba

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Our last interview with Harold Reynolds brought out quite a few great Bo Jackson stories—and Tim has an update on what Bo himself thought about them. After that, of course, we dive straight into the World Series. We hope you’re enjoying the action as much as we are—it’s the perfect mix of dominant pitching and incredible hitting.

Naturally, Tim got a little bored on the cross-country flight and started coming up with a few anagrams that had us scratching our heads. But hey, that’s one way to pass the time at 35,000 feet!

On This Date in Baseball History, we’ve got more great October moments for you to stash away and use to impress your friends and family later. Plus, the Quirkjians—though a bit slim this week—dig a little deeper into the mysterious eBay glove saga that we know everyone’s still curious about.

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What In The World (Series)?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tonight is Game One of the 2025 World Series! And boy, are we ready for it. Nobody in the world has more World Series stories than our very own Tim Kurkjian, so Jeff decided to share his favorite games he’s attended. Surprisingly, even though Jeff has only been to five World Series games, he’s witnessed some incredible moments — you can be the judge of that.

We wrap up our From Ozzie to Orel segment — teardrop — with our number 55, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone (it’s in the name, after all). Shohei Ohtani, of course, is doing something no other player has ever done as he heads into another World Series. Jeff also breaks down why, despite their NLCS sweep, the Dodgers might have history working against them. In fact, there are two key reasons why the Blue Jays could have the upper hand — and we’ve got both for you.

It’s been an incredibly busy season for us, but we couldn’t be more grateful for your support. Don’t forget — you can always visit our website below to get in touch, and follow us on social media @GreatGameOrWhat for exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and bonus content you won’t find anywhere else.

Happy World Series, everybody!

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Harold Reynolds, Former Big Leaguer Turned Storied Analyst

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Harold Reynolds’ name is synonymous with baseball — from his years on the field to his incredible work covering the game we all love. He and Tim go way back, having spent years together at ESPN and on Baseball Tonight, and trust us, the behind-the-scenes stories will have you in stitches.

But Harold didn’t stop there — he even dropped a few stories Tim had never heard before! We’re talking Bo Jackson tales, unbelievable Shohei Ohtani moments, and if you don’t know manager Dick Williams, you’re about to.

This interview is easily one of our favorites of the season. Huge thanks to Harold for his time, the laughs, and the unforgettable stories. We’re still cracking up over some of them — hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

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O Canada!

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We’ve got our 2025 World Series match-up! But before we dive in, we have to honor what might be the greatest performance by a baseball player in the history of the game—Shohei Ohtani’s unforgettable Game Four.

A series of classic Quirkjians takes us through the ALCS and NLCS, and Tim shares a collection of great "On This Date" moments in baseball history.

Then comes a big surprise: Jeff presents his very own Team Tim, featuring players with October birthdays who won a World Series! It’s quite the combo, with Tim offering just a few small edits to help it along. He then wraps things up with a Team Tim of his own.

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Unlimited Soup and Salas

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Playoff updates galore from the ALCS and NLCS! The Dodgers and Mariners each take two games on the road, and Tim's got some mind-blowing facts about starting a series that way. The Dodgers’ pitching has been lights-out, the Mariners’ energy is unmatched—and don’t sleep on the Brewers or Blue Jays. We’re not counting them out yet.

We’ve also got some classic Quirkjians, including a breakdown of what might be the strangest double play in playoff—maybe even baseball—history.

On This Date: Yankees fans, this one’s for you. You’ll be smiling.

Plus, a new Team Tim—and according to the Hall of Fame writer himself, this is the hardest he’s ever worked on one.

"Ozzie to Orel" is nearing the finish line, but today we hit No. 54. Tim dusts off a couple of old baseball cards and takes us down memory lane.

Thanks so much for subscribing, following, and listening—it really does go a long way. We appreciate you!

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Eddie, Ravvy and Timmy

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

At Tim's request, he joins us as a guest on "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" — request approved!

Jeff sits down with Eduardo Pérez, Karl Ravech, and Tim Kurkjian to talk about their dynamic as a broadcast team for ESPN's radio and television coverage. Fresh off the ALDS between the Yankees and Blue Jays, the trio is now on assignment for the ALCS on ESPN Radio.

Spoiler alert: there wasn’t much baseball talk. Instead, the conversation dives into their hilarious travel mishaps — most of which involve Tim’s legendary inability to stay calm on travel days. Karl shares some wild stories from New York and Toronto, and Eduardo reveals the chaos of an unforgettable helicopter ride.

Also, mascots. Yes, really. Eduardo confesses he’s part of MLB’s inner mascot circle (shocking, we know). Even an unexpected hotel interruption couldn’t derail the laughter.

Thanks for listening — and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you’re tuning in!

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ERA & eBay

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

WOAH! A lot has happened since we last checked in with you — and we’re doing our best to keep you updated (and stay updated ourselves!). With Tim’s travel schedule, we’re always hustling to find every spare second to get together, and we’re so glad we get to do this for you!

We’ve got a quick recap of the Division Series winners, and we’re already diving into the Championship Series: Mariners vs. Blue Jays and Dodgers vs. Brewers — we’re in for a good one. Two of these teams have NEVER won a World Series, and one has never even been! We break down those possibilities.

On This Date in baseball history — in OCTOBER? Count us in. There are some incredible playoff moments to look back on, and one of those stories leads into this week’s Team Tim, all about… numbers. (No, it’s not Ozzie to Orel — that’s later in the week!) Numbers take center stage in this one, and we love when you send us yours. Seriously — keep ‘em coming!

Thanks so much for listening. If you haven’t already, please subscribe or follow wherever you’re tuning in. And don’t forget to share with a friend — the podcast is way more fun when you’ve got someone to talk baseball with!

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Don't Get Mad, Get Vlad

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We are unbelievable impressed with our listeners, chiming in and chatting with us, it's incredible how passionate all of you are so for that we thank you. Due to the late nature of these games, we might be behind on potential clinching but we do our very best with Jeff's sleep schedule.

The Blue Jays are in the ALCS, on the back of the great Vladdy Jr. What a series he has had! We are coming close to an end for From Ozzie To Orel, just a few more to go. We honor a couple greats with this one! Don't forget, we also grabbed some baseball cards from the basement bathroom for this segment, man is this a fun new one.

Quirkjians are loaded with (potential) groundbreaking stats. Hey, you don't know unless you ask Frank from the Elias, right? On this date in baseball history sparked a hilarious conversation and Team Tim that Jeff's toddler could've seen coming but boy is it a great one.

Thank you again for being so supportive of our show and remember, even though the schedule is off a bit during the playoffs, we still have three episodes a week so if you miss one, turnaround and bring it back!

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Caleb Joseph, Hilarious Former Catcher Turned Broadcaster

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Caleb Joseph is our hilarious guest this week on the podcast. He's a former big leaguer turned broadcaster who has stories for days. He's currently a part of the Blue Jays broadcast team. He played catcher in his career in the big leagues and actually played on the same team as his brother.

Tim and Caleb became friends after the first fan-less game at Camden Yards, with stories you really wouldn't believe. They talk about their mutual friend, Buck Showalter, who taught them both a bunch about baseball. Their shared love of the game is undeniable.

Plus, how did this whole interview start? With perhaps the strangest hotel interaction ever for pool Caleb. We've never heard of this one before! Thanks for listening and make sure to share with a friend.

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Trey Bien

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Back at it again, Tim in the Bronx, Jeff in the basement during this exciting October in Major League Baseball. We get great insight from the Blue Jays-Yankees series because Tim is calling the games on ESPN Radio! But don't worry, we delve into each series matchup to talk about the ins and outs most shows probably glossed over.

What makes this show great and different? The family aspect of it all!! Tim, in spirit of that and Vladdy, came up with a Father-Son Team Tim that is spectacular and very specific. We love getting yours too! Don't forget to send them, check out the GreatGameOrWhat.com for more info.

We also hear some great notes On This Date in baseball history and the Quirkjians that occurred in the first week of the postseason. Tim is perplexed by AI and Jeff does his very best to explain it to him! Also, Jeff has big family news to share on this podcast, boy oh boy is this a good one!

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Wild, About To Get Wilder

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We pushed this episode back an entire day JUST so we could be up as up to date as possible and boy oh boy are we. A late night recording session after the final games of the Wild Card week just to ensure we don't miss anything.

Isn't October great? Man you will totally understand just how much we love it. The takeaways from each series, the Quirkjians as well including first postseason homers and first ever big league hits. We keep it business as usual around this podcast.

We also wrapped up Best of All-Tim with the best players at each and every franchise. We round it all out with the Chicago White Sox. We also got two more numbers from Ozzie To Orel and in a shocking twist, Tim actually seems to ask Jeff for permission on number 51, which is not the order of how things should go down!

Thank you for sharing the podcast, if you are new, WELCOME and don't forget to hit follow or subscribe!

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Jeremy Schaap, The Best Journalist We Have

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jeremy Schaap is a wildly successful journalist, winning eleven Emmy Awards and entertaining millions over the years with his incredible writing and storytelling. If you’ve noticed, we’ve actually been quoting him on the show a whole lot lately because we found out that he’s a member of the family—just like YOU!

That's right, Jeremy Schaap is a fan of the podcast, which is extremely flattering given his unbelievable ability to captivate an audience. We discuss his latest project on Jim Abbott (a former guest of our show) and his obsession with Bobby Fischer (there's a tie-in to Tim, of course).

As a father-son show, of course we have to bring up his father, the legendary Dick Schaap. The stories that father-son pairing has are just out of this world. Reminiscing about the late, great Dick Schaap was a joy for all of us.

Please let us know what you think of the show by taking a minute to write a quick review and give us a rating. Thank you for listening, and thanks for being a part of our family.

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Where The Wild Things Are

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian gets us all excited for the 2025 postseason with his son, Jeff! Safe to say the ending of this regular season was SO exciting, last minute inclusions to the postseason and heartbreaking endings. We cover it all on this episode.

Plus, Tim gives us not one but TWO Team Tim's that have had our audience captivated from the very beginning. They highlight the resilience of teams like the Guardians and Red Sox, delve into MVP candidates like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, and preview the Wild Card matchups. The conversation also touches on memorable moments in baseball history, quirky facts, and some really impactful On This Dates. As the playoffs begin, they express their anticipation for the thrilling moments that October will bring.

Thanks for being with us throughout the season. The easiest way to support our show is SHARE with a friend or family member who loves this game or is just learning all about it. That goes a long way! Thank you for listening.

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Crazy Week, Crazy Season (Live Studio Audience)

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Thanks for joining another edition of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" Today, we are also joined by a live studio audience, which makes every episode even more exciting when we have a crowd to entertain.

The pennant races are absolutely insane right now with Seattle, Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Toronto and so many other fans asking "what the heck is going on here??" Obviously, we keep you up to date with that but it's hard to believe that the next episode you will hear from us will be the first day of the playoffs (could not be more excited).

Many of you sent in great Team Tims to either improve upon ours or to help enhance the show and for that we are eternally grateful! We knock off two more number from Ozzie to Orel in our list and discuss the greatest Athletics player of all time (keep in mind, that team has been around for a lot longer than just Oakland).

Thank you for joining, make sure to subscribe on YouTube to watch every episode and follow wherever you're listening right now!

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Kevin Brown, Major League Baseball Broadcaster

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Thank you to Kevin Brown for joining our podcast! We have talked about him enough to warrant an excellent appearance for all of you. Kevin and Jeff Kurkjian both attended Syracuse University however just missed each other by just one year. Imagine that dynamic duo working at the same station at the same time? Unstoppable. But nonetheless, Kevin Brown went from college to do big things as a broadcaster including calling games with our very own Tim Kurkjian, an even better duo we might add.

He currently serves as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles working along side a former guest of ours, the great Jim Palmer. Let us just say, we've had a lot of guests at this point and his impression of Palmer might be the best impression we've had (Jason Benetti, you're in the conversation don't worry).

We want to thank Kevin Brown for his time, yes, this is broadcaster Kevin Brown, not the former big leaguer (wait until you see the autographed ball Kevin Brown has). Thanks for taking the time to listen, make sure to share this episode with a friend who loves baseball and laughter as much as we do. And a special shoutout to the WJPZ family that took time to listen or watch this episode, it means a lot! If you would like to support more, hit the follow or subscribe button!

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Coco Beach

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Coming to you from beautiful Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, we are so happy to have you listening or watching. At the worst possible time during the baseball season, five families decided that the last week of the baseball regular season was the best time to travel. However, that doesn't mean we aren't podcasting, we are ALL over it in person, wait until you hear where we are inside this massive house.

We open the takeaways with a couple of notes concerning no-doubt first ballot Hall of Famers, including one that might make you tear up. Some strange numbers games with Mike Trout and Francisco Lindor. Plus, what is going on with these pennant races? It's unbelievable what's happening to the Mets, Mariners, Guardians and more, hard to understand but we love it so so much!

We will have episodes from the beach all week including an amazing interview with the amazing Kevin Brown, play-by-play broadcast for the Baltimore Orioles. So make sure to subscribe wherever you are listening or watching right now.

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Missed It By That Much

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Can you believe we are almost wrapped up with the regular season? This year has FLOWN by but boy is this an exciting time!

We continue from Ozzie To Orel with numbers 46 and 47, plus the greatest Cleveland baseball player of all time, very much up for debate to many but Tim says he's nailed it. We also rake through some amazing Quirkjians and Takeaways including Shohei Ohtani madness and Cal Raleigh records.

Plus maybe the biggest most complicated Team Tim of all time and Tim Kurkjian didn't even come up with this one. Shout out to Dan Simon for making this incredible effort, make sure to check him out!

If you are considering becoming a part of our family, just make sure to hit subscribe and follow from wherever you watch or listen, that means a whole lot to us!

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Jane Leavy, Make Me Commissioner

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jane Leavy is quite the decorated author and journalist and we were so happy to have her join our show. Her new book, "Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It," is an ode to the sport she loves the absolute most. Don't be fooled, it doesn't trash baseball, it's a "love letter" to it.

Thank you to Jane for her time, get the book now wherever books are sold!

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Switching It Up

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of our show, today we honor those who hit from both sides of the plate. Cal Raleigh and Mickey Mantle now have something in common, forever. Plus, another Team Tim about the dentist's office, trust me, we make it make sense.

Will the New York Mets bounce back? Tim Kurkjian has a thought on their slump. On this date in baseball history, a whole lot happened including a homerun milestone and a couple big birthdays. But, almost most importantly, today Jeff's daughter starts something pretty amazing. Every parent has this moment with their kiddo, "it is time" as said in The Lion King!

Thanks for listening, make sure to find the link below to message Tim directly with questions and comments! GreatGameOrWhat.com is the best place.

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Piazza, Pedro and Pirates

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian talk baseball each and every week, thanks for joining. However, there is something much bigger than baseball kicking off this show, the anniversary of 9/11. How did baseball help the country heal? Tim has two great examples of that. We want to thank the brave men and women, our first responders, for putting their life on the line every single day so we can live our life. Thank you.

We discuss Cade Horton's insane back half of his year. Walk off hits we didn't see coming. Plus, ladies you are going to love the Team Tim this week, that's for sure. Plus it involves Sandy Koufax, which is always a win.

Speaking of great pitchers, we get the greatest number 45 of all time, which is a debate between two of the greatest. The best number 44 of all time, for Tim and pretty much everyone who has seen a baseball game, is super obvious so we do it, quickly. Plus, any Pirates fans? We've got you covered this week!

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Jim Abbott: Former Big League Pitcher, An Inspiration To Us All

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jim Abbott might be the greatest story in baseball history. His perseverance inspires us all and we couldn't be more grateful that he took the time for us. We discuss his no-hitter, a feat that is not easy to accomplishment.

We also share with him a member of our family, McKinley Abbott (no relation), who was also born with arm differential and has taken to Jim's story for inspiration. At just nine years old, she has began playing softball and loves listening to our podcast with her dad, Andy.

We discuss his time with some very big managers and also what it was like to represent the United States in the Olympics back in 1988. Of course, it wouldn't be our show if we didn't bring up OTHER sports, so we hear about his high school football career too and the importance of playing multiple sports.

Leave it up to Tim Kurkjian to bring in the biggest guests and names, we recommend checking out "Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott" streaming now because it's absolutely incredible. If you liked our interview, follow or subscribe wherever you are listening or watching right now and thank you for your support!

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2131 Walk-Off

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The 30th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2131 record-breaking game came with a fascinating finish as the Orioles hosted the Dodgers. This among so many other takeaway and Quirkjians.

We have to say goodbye to one of the game's greats, Davey Johnson. Tim Kurkjian's stories about the (should be) Hall of Fame manager will make you smile and laugh through the difficult loss for the game of baseball.

Just how good has Aroldis Chapman been these last couple months? Good enough for a Cy Young, we weigh in there. Walker vs Walker created a great moment for our show.

And in honor of our guest for tomorrow's show, Jim Abbott, Tim created a team consisting only of big leaguers that never played a minor league game! Thanks for laughing with us and loving this game the way we do!

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Slide Into Our DMs

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

A special guest on a Thursday episode? Count us in! When it comes to On This Date in baseball history, we knew we had to bring this former big leaguer on the show to tell us about his biggest day in the big leagues. The greatest number 42 and 43 are in the mix today along with the best Expos/Nationals player of all time.

We begin by reading all of your messages you have been sending us. Now that Tim can see and respond to them, reach out GreatGameOrWhat.com, he loves getting that's for sure. The All-Body Parts Team Tim is definitely not one we saw coming but maybe you can lend us a HAND with it (see what we did there).

As we continue to grow our show, it is your support, the members of our family, that makes all of the difference. Sharing the show with a friend does wonders for us, take the time to do so. We love hearing from new people every week but it is, the ones who always come back, who we care for the most so thank you for being a part of our family.

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Jesse Cole: The Man Behind The Savannah Bananas

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We have been so excited to bring you the ringmaster behind one of the biggest phenomenons the sporting world has ever seen, Jesse Cole, the mind behind the Savannah Bananas. Now, this might not be your grandad's style of baseball but trust me when I say, these guys can just flat out play. Don't believe us? Well go to one of their sold out "shows" and you tell us what you think.

They have been traveling across Major League stadiums all this year bringing the athleticism, comedy and bits to young and old from near and from far. Cole draws inspiration from minds like that of Walt Disney, Jeff Bezos and so many others, and you can tell when it comes to his leadership style. From overdrawing their bank account to creating the thing that everyone wants to see, Jesse and his wife have made it but have no plans on stopping.

Thank you for taking some time for baseball from a different league, we really think what they are doing is fantastic and hope you get to see them in town near you soon. If you liked this interview, there are plenty more. Follow or subscribe right now so you know when the next one is out!

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He Tattooed That One!

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to September, folks. The most exciting time of the regular season is upon us and you have a front row seat for it all. Cal Raleigh got a phone call from a legend, and a long time friend of the show. That story you can't miss.

Fantasy football drafts aren't just big with you and your high school buddies, it's big for our big leaguers as well. They take this very seriously. NFL kicks off Thursday and the drafts are in, which players are on your team?

Happy Birthdays and memories from our great game plus a Team Tim that was challenged by Jeff. If you love names, then you will absolutely love this! Thanks for listening and sharing the show with a friend, every new member of the family helps!

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Don't Move Til You Seaver

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode and as you can tell from the title, we've got quite a bit of Tom Seaver in today's episode and for good reason. Also, a whole lot of Willie Mays including a story of what both Johnny Bench and Pete Rose thought of Mays. Trust me, if you don't know how good Mays was, maybe these two can help convince of it.

Tim discusses the best number 40 and 41 in the history of our game outlining why one of those players had one of the biggest homers in baseball history (hint, they are both pitchers). Speaking of the mound, Tarik Skubal is just an animal out there and shows us once again how good he is. Plus, Clayton Kershaw hasn't taken his foot off the accelerator, are we sure he's going to retire at the end of this season!

Tim also makes a correction to his Team Tim of All Actor names thanks to member of the family, Jeremy Schaap. We also hear about story from Schaap's dad about putting Muhammad Ali and Tom Seaver in a room together, just a knee slapper on this one.

If you haven't taken the time to hit the follow or subscribe button, please do so because it really helps with the support of our show! Plus share it with a friend that loves this game as much as you do!

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Adnan Virk, Cinephile and Newly Published Author

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Adnan Virk is back as a guest again on our show. The stories this man has from sports and Hollywood are just undeniably incredible. We sat in the pocket as he made us laugh and cry journeying down memory lane.

Adnan just released his first book, "Cinephile: Interviews, Essays, and Tales from the Red Carpet," which is available now wherever books are sold. If you are a member of our family, please support Adnan because he's the absolute best. His stories in the book, if you can believe it, are better than even the ones you hear in this episode. Supporting Adnan is like supporting us, so we very much appreciate it!

Thanks so much to Adnan for chatting with us during his vacation and to YOU for taking the time to listen and laugh with us! Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you are listening right now!

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Lights, Camera, Big Dumper

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Thanks for joining us for another episode of our show, today we continued our fascination with Cal Raleigh. He just broke a record over the weekend and we are here for it. Jeff traveled to Boston over the weekend and had a lot of fun touring Fenway Park. This encouraged Tim to offer a story he's never told publicly!

Justin Verlander has struck out a lot of batters but just passed one of our favorites (required mention on the show, of course). Another great pitcher is celebrating a birthday that we celebration plus a tough day for Paul Molitor, all on this date in baseball history.

And of course, another Team Tim, this one in celebration of Owen Wilson, the big leaguer, not the actor!

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Babe "Matt Stairs" Ruth

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Fresh off a great time at the Little League World Series, thanks to our friends at GameChanger and Dick's Sporting Goods, we are back with yet another episode about all things baseball. Is This A Great Game, Or What?? Ain't that the truth.

Tim reveals which of the major awards that he will be voting on this year (it rotates every season) along with a Brady Anderson story that will be hard to believe. Plus, who is the greatest number 38 and number 39 of all time to play Major League Baseball? Tim's All-Music Team in celebration of Todd Frazier's singing during our last episode is guaranteed to make you smile.

Thank you so much for listening to the show, it means a lot that you are a part of our family. Do us a favor and RATE the show, share it friends and hit the follow/subscribe button so you can be alerted to new episodes!

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Todd Frazier and Karl Ravech In Williamsport

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Thanks to our friends at GameChanger and Dick's Sporting Goods, we were yet again recording the podcast at the Little League World Series. If you missed our last episode, make sure to go back in the feed to watch our first part!

Todd Frazier is a former Little League World Series champion and made a big league career out of it as well. In fact, Tim calls him "Mr. Little League World Series" because he's still loving and living Williamsport every single year. In fact, as a surprise, we brought him pins custom for the weekend and he was shocked. Plus, another surprise from Tim that almost made Todd cry.

Karl Ravech is the voice of the Little League World Series and there's no debating it. He has been working alongside Tim Kurkjian at ESPN for 100 years and having him back again the show is a dream come true.

We talk pins, Williamsport, inside broadcast jokes and more, we want you to be along for the journey. Thanks for listening or watching and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Williamsport Is A GameChanger

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We were honored to be asked back by our friends of GameChanger and Dick's Sporting Goods to record our podcast at their setup at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

Let me tell you, every year it gets better because every year it gets bigger. This part of a two-part episode we recorded, on Wednesday, August 20th, you will hear from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian with Todd Frazier and Karl Ravech. An "interview" that all of you have been waiting for. It's a conversation between a bunch of guys that just love this game so much.

We recap the Little League Game between the Mets and Mariners, different Takeaways and Quirkjians across the league. And back by popular demand, Tim awards a particularly hot team with the "GameChanger of the Week" and honestly, it's very well deserved. Williamsport is a perfect fit for our podcast because we encountered so many amazing families taking in the sites and sounds of this great game.

Thanks for listening and thanks for being a part of our family! So glad to meet members of the family out in Williamsport, make sure to share this episode with some friends!

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Magic vs Matt Kemp

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim came stacked full of birthdays today including one of a man who never played professional baseball but sure loves this game! We preview what we have in store of the Little League World Series this year including who our guests (yes, plural) will be on location.

The MVP race is heating up and Tim makes a compelling argument for The Big Dumper. We go over the best to play the game of baseball wearing number 36 and 37. Plus, I don't think we can grasp just how good Ty Cobb was but the man was a beast (as we would say today, probably wouldn't say that exact phrase when he played).

We get a lot of questions about supporting the podcast and how to help. The easiest way to do so is to share it with a friend. Wherever you are listening right now, copy the link and send it over to them! That means a whole lot to us. Thanks for being a part of our family!

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Joe West, Umpired More Games Than Anyone In MLB History

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Join us as we delve into the world of baseball with legendary umpire Joe West. In this episode, Joe shares some of his most memorable moments on the field, from iconic calls to unexpected challenges. Discover the stories behind the decisions that shaped the game and get an insider's perspective on what it takes to be an umpire at the highest level.

Joe is pro-replay, and actually helped make it happen. He also gave us his thoughts on the history made this week featuring a big league game with a female umpire.

Thanks for listening to the show, make sure to become part of our family by sharing it with a friend.

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Woody And Buzz

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

A big birthday weekend all recapped including what Tim Kurkjian dressed up as for his granddaughter's big day. Plus, a callback to Tim's favorite artist of all time, Pitbull (if you know, you know).

Aaron Judge holds an obscure record we find out and Shohei Ohtani always continues to impress us all. I mean, seriously, can you have bad show when those two come up in conversation?

Our Quirkjians include something fun from you, the members of our family. You can always submit something for the show at GreatGameOrWhat.com and maybe it will be read on the air! On This Date in baseball history includes some high and low lights of our game, which is surprising for the ever-positive Tim Kurkjian.

Lastly, we get a Team Tim celebrating a new name in the game, we absolutely love these witty teams! Thanks for listening and for being part of our family!

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A Troutstanding Birthday

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of "Is This Is A Great Game, Or What?" hosted by Tim and Jeff Kurkjian, a father-son duo that has made it impossible to discern who is the one actually talking. Make sure to subscribe or follow wherever you're listening for three episodes a week including a compelling interview with someone who loves the game of baseball just like you do!

Today we discuss the surging Brewers and Blue Jays, two of the hottest teams in the game. We hear some great insights from perhaps the greatest baseball trivia mind of all time. Plus we discuss the greatest number 34 and 35 of all time.

Mike Trout is a huge portion of today's show, not just because it's his birthday but also because he's Tim Kurkjian's greatest Angel of all time. Once hearing this numbers, we think you will probably agree. And finally, Team Tim are the goofy teams that Tim comes up with but now, as he would say, "I have poisoned you!" Many members of our "family," that's what we call those who listen to the show, have contributed their very own teams!

Thanks for listening, enjoy your weekend and remember to rate, subscribe and share the show with a friend!

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Steve Phillips, Former Mets GM, Analyst for Sirius/XM, MLB Network

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

With the Trade Deadline behind us, we thought it would be so fitting to get into the mind of a former MLB General Manager as to what exactly goes on during this crazy time. We got only a few questions about that in because we were filled with so much other laughter.

New York fans are passionate, but are they too passionate? Steve Phillips explains. Plus, who was the one that almost got away? Plus, imagine if Manny Ramirez was a New York Met? There are so many compelling conversations including the size of Eduardo Perez' ears and how he out kicked the coverage with his beautiful wife.

Thanks to Steve for joining us and thank you for watching and subscribing to "Is This A Great Game, Or What?"

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Jawn Duran

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" and for those who are new here, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian will take you through the happenings of Major League Baseball in a way only a father and son can do. But in this episode, we actually hear a bit about the Little League World Series regional rounds Tim is covering. So we are more than just the big leagues here on the podcast, we are about the little leaguers too!

Keeping in mind, we will be at the Little League World Series on August 18th with our friends at GameChanger, hopefully you can join us! How are these trades shaking out for teams? One closer seems to be making quite a theatrical impact on their new team.

The Quirkjians are loaded with so many great stats around the game, of course confirmed by our friend Frank from the Elias (and his brother too). Tim came prepared with amazing things that happened on this date in baseball history.

And thanks to a member of our family, we have DOUBLE the Team Tims!! If you ever want to send us something for the show, do so at GreatGameOrWhat.com.

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BONUS: Trade Deadline Takeaways

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian in Bristol in between shows at ESPN, Jeff Kurkjian in between dinner and diaper changes at his house but they came together for you, the members of the family. What is HAPPENING at the trade deadline? Well Tim will tell you the team who came up on top.

Relievers seem to be the hot commodity this year and it's necessary because they are pitching 40% of the innings, which is crazy to think about.We also had a very special appearance from a very smart baseball writer who just happened to be walking in the background

Thank you so much for taking time for this baby bonus episode we put together, we love keeping you in the loop when it comes to all things about the game we all love the most! Thanks for listening and thanks for being.a part of our family!

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Trading Places

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today's show is packed with almost too many things to count. We release the morning of the trade deadline, exciting things buzzing around Major League Baseball right now. Remember, we will release a special bonus episode the morning of Friday, August 1st to discuss all of the crazy trades that went down, so be ready for that.

But in this episode, we pay homage to the great Ryne Sanberg who we lost this week. Tim Kurkjian tells two stories about his defense that we bet you've never heard before. Cubs fans are hurting right now and we are right there with you.

Some of the best Trade Deadline stories are outlined in our Team Tim this week, that's at the end of the show but very much worth the wait. The ALL BLT TEAM created by Josh, a member of the family, makes the show as well. If you know, you know on that one (see Tuesday's episode).

A lot of incredible things happened on this day in baseball history. Babe Ruth with a fungo, Peter Gammons received an incredible honor and Nolan Ryan dazzled, just to name a few. The best players to wear number 31 and 32, have a disagreement? Let us know GreatGameOrWhat.com we would love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Tony Gwynn Jr

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Nobody more perfect for this father-son show than the son of one of the best to ever play the game. Tony Gwynn Jr. was a good Major League player, and now is a really good Major League broadcaster.

Right off the bat (ha!) you can tell the similarities, just the way that Jeff is so much like Tim. We revisit Cooperstown 2007, the year Tony Gwynn was inducted into the Hall of Fame. We also talk about the challenges you face as a player turned broadcaster and the difference in playing baseball over the other major sports.

As you know, Tony Gwynn was a very good basketball player and his son, well he's a crazy great athlete all around. The apple doesn't fall far, folks. Thanks for listening, share this show with someone who loves baseball and thank you for being a part of our family!

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Kurtz So Good

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Was this the greatest offensive performance by a player in the history of Major League Baseball? It could be! I mean, we did kind of make that argument last year but we think this one might take the cake. And it was done by a rookie? Absolutely insane.

Tim Kurkjian is back from Cooperstown after a really important National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction weekend. He has stories from talks with Ken Griffey Jr, Cal Ripken Jr, Mike Schmidt, and more. It's a magical weekend and we encourage anybody and everybody to go to Cooperstown, New York, even during a non-induction weekend, to experience what it is like.

Riley Greene is having a tough month but not as tough as June for this superstar. Is hitting for the cycle even really that hard to do, or more luck or impressive? The Rockies, though we don't like to pile on, are up there doing things some of the worst teams in MLB history did. And we wrap with a Team Tim honoring the greatest players at each position, all Hall of Famers of course!

Thanks for listening and we appreciate you taking time to rate and subscribe/follow. It really helps get the show to new people!

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Next Stop, Cooperstown!

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian, with his son, Jeff, preview the 2025 inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dick Allen and Dave Parker will be enshrined into the hall, and Tim has a breakdown of each of these amazing hall of famers and argument for each and every single one.

The greatest number 30 and 31, not sure there is too much debate there but you decide. Words can be hard for Jeff, including two words he hates as a radio host. Plus, a breakdown of a Walk-Off Catcher's Interference during the Phillies-Red Sox game that had baseball fans and seamheads absolutely baffled.

Thanks for listening and sharing with friends and family.

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Billy Wagner, 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

People used to call him "Fence Post" and now he's a Hall of Famer! From "rags to riches" in his words, he waited a bit too long on the ballot in our opinion but he made it!

In honor of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions happening this weekend, we had one of the many going in this year. This hard throwing lefty talks about actually being right-handed and how he made that transition. He also told us about where he was when he got the call that he got in and when he got the word that he WASN'T in the Hall just yet.

Tim and Billy have known each other a long time and we cannot thank him enough for his time!

Thank you for listening, don't forget to share the show with a friend who loves this game as much as we do.

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Seconds, Please!

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

It's hard not to get pumped up for baseball when the second half of the season has begun. The Brewers are on a tear, tied for the best record in the National League with the Chicago Cubs. Someone might be pulling some strings there.

Aaron Judge is doing something only Aaron Judge has done, we call Elias about Elias and David Wright is honored at Citi Field. Many Mets fans would debate, where does he fall among the greatest Mets of all time, let us know in the comments.

The auction item any fan would love to bid on (I would think) and Hunter Brown's love and respect for one of the best managers of all time. Thanks for listening or watching to our show, it means a whole lot.

Follow wherever you're listening right now and make sure to share it with a friend!

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"That Was Madness!"

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian takes us to Atlanta for what was a fascinating week of All Star Game magic. The Homerun Derby was electric, with exclusive moments from Cal Raleigh's dad. Plus the amazing honor for Hank Aaron in Atlanta, core memory for us all.

And then of course, the All Star Game finish was just UNREAL. Some purists didn't love it, but we sure were obsessed. The fans, the players, the managers, all were into and it made for incredible television. We dive into that.

Both Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson share this common thread plus just how good was Joe DiMaggio's streak? We have a reason to go into it.

Thanks for listening or watching, make sure to hit that subscribe or follow button and share this podcast with a friend. Thanks for being a part of our family!

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Chipper Jones, Hall of Famer

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Happy All Star Week! We had Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves legend, on the show the week that Atlanta hosted the All Star Game, how fitting!

The Hall of Famer shares his experiences in baseball, from memorable moments with teammates to his competitive spirit and preparation for games. He reflects on his early career, the importance of education, and the impact of legends like Cal Ripken Jr. and Greg Maddux. Chipper also discusses the talent of current players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and the bond he shares with Freddie Freeman, highlighting the significance of teamwork and mentorship in sports.

Thanks for listening or watching and make sure to share the show with a friend!

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ASG In ATL

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian is in Atlanta covering the All Star Game this weekend. The Homerun Derby on ESPN Radio will feature him in the booth and for the All Star Game, he will be in the dugout for ESPN Radio as well. Don't be fooled, Tim never comes to a show unprepared and today is no different.

You will be sipping from a firehose with the amount of absolutely incredible ASG memories this man has. We revisit a couple takeaways including Tito Francona's big milestone, The MLB Draft and honor a listener who LOVES the ASG with our "I Am A Seamhead" segment. If you know someone who loves this game as much as we do, make sure to share the show with them.

Whether you listen to the podcast or watch on YouTube, thank you for being a part of our family!

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The Big Train

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We are on location this week for the episode at a place both Tim and Jeff grew up going to! We sat down with Bruce Adams of the Bethesda Big Train about the amazing life that college players have playing the wood bat league! It's a really special place and we cannot thank Bruce and his team enough for having us.

We also dive into takeaways including what the heck is going on with inside the park homers and why Justin Turner's 200th homerun was actually insane. On this date in baseball history, we dive deep for these and also talk about the greatest number 27 and number 28 of all time.

Plus did you know who (in Tim's opinion) is the greatest Toronto Blue Jay of all time? And we wrap things up with a Team Tim in honor of the newest manager in the big leagues!

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Scott Bradley, Former MLB Catcher, Princeton Head Baseball Coach

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Scott Bradley, former Major League catcher and current Princeton head baseball coach, shares insights from his extensive baseball career. He discusses the early days of Ken Griffey Jr., the importance of summer leagues for player development, and the value of playing games over mere training. Scott emphasizes the need for youth engagement in baseball, the significance of education in athletics, and offers advice for aspiring players. He also highlights the innovative Bradley Baseball Gloves designed for young players and reflects on the success of his former players in the professional leagues.

We thank Scott so much for his time. He's a friend of the show and we hope you enjoyed his insight on the game we all love. Make sure to send this to a friend that you think will love it!

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Stay Classy, San Diego

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jeff and Tim Kurkjian discuss Tim's recent trip to San Diego, highlighting the beauty of Petco Park and the game and series that he covered. Tim Kurkjian's take on Manny Machado's Hall of Fame chances is a compelling one. Plus both Tim and Jeff, with some help from friends, dazzle with more Quirkjians, man we love baseball facts.

The conversation also touches on the All-Star Game selections, including nineteen first timers. We learn a hilarious story of how reliever Jason Adam found out about being picked as a first time All Star. Plus, do we think that Team Tim is a bit of stretch this time around? He structured this one a bit differently, you be the judge.

Episodes three days a week, interview on Wednesdays, we love to keep you up to date and make you laugh along the way! Thanks for listening, share the show with a friend.

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Not Taking It In Stride

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We bring you another edition of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" with a bit of a patriotic theme throughout. Make sure to stick around for Tim Kurkjian's "All Independence Day" Team which is bound to make you laugh, or scratch your head.

We open by hearing what Tim has been up to which truly will baffle the masses (don't worry, nobody was harmed in the making of the story). Plus the greatest number 25 and number 26 of all time, with little to no debate on these ones.

How about Elly de la Cruz passing Tony Gwynn this early in his career? Kind of insane. The greatest Rangers player of all time, plus what has happened to Shohei Ohtani's swing? Thank you for being a part of our family, take a moment to send this to a friend and have them join as well!

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Ron Darling And The Fourth Of July

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

For Mets and Braves fans, you remember the Fourth of July, 1985, because of the strangest game maybe ever played in baseball history. We are joined this week by Ron Darling who pitched in that game for the New York Mets.

Extra innings, fireworks at four in the morning, lots of rain and even more hits. We break down the box score of this game and take you there via Darling who came in to pitch at roughly three in the morning.

These are the type of interviews we LOVE. Ron Darling is currently a broadcaster for the New York Mets, and we thank him so much for yucking it up about a game that happened forty years ago on July 4th!

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Say Hi To July

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" For those who are new here, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian, a father-son duo, chat with you about baseball three days a week. This week, we take time to remember Dave Parker, who passed away on June 28th and is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27th.

We get excited because it is finally July, the month that is second only to October for Tim. Cal Ripken on this date, had something huge happen in his career, so did both Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson (hey, did we ever tell you that...)

When it comes to intentional walks, James Wood is doing it a lot this year but nobody did it better than Barry Bonds, we get some perspective on that. Two signatures that Tim got as a kid that have us baffled plus, and a special shoutout to a brand new podcast you definitely didn't know existed!

Thanks for listening, spread the show to others by subscribing or following wherever you listen. Send it to a friend!

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What Heat! What A Heater!

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

It is HOT across the country and our players, and your favorite podcast hosts, are feeling the heat. The takeaways include just how good this one AL East team has really become. The Quirkjians will shock you when it comes to strikeout numbers not just from one player but from the entire league in 2025. They also touch on the excitement surrounding the Oakland Athletics' move to Las Vegas, and Jeff's take after living in Las Vegas for five years.

On This Date, we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the captain. We also explore the best players to ever wear number 23 and number 24, one of which Tim says is very obvious. We hear Tim's greatest Marlins player of all time, in spirit of guest from the previous episode, Dan Le Batard. The answer might suprise you given the small amount of time played for the team.

And finally, we hear from another Seamhead, you can send your audio note to Jeff@GreatGameOrWhat.com explaining what makes you a Seamhead as well. Thank you so much for listening and as always, thanks for being a part of our family.

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Dan Le Batard Looks Like

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dan Le Batard is our guest this week and it's about time the roles are reveresed. Tim Kurkjian has been a guest with The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz for years, consistently cracking up at their hijanks and looks like, with very little baseball exchanged in those interviews.

We kept with that tradition and found time to chat about both of their humble beginnings as newspaper writers. We also discuss some of the best Looks Likes of all time and promote a very big crossover between both of their respective shows!

Thanks for listening/watching, make sure to follow and subscribe wherever you're listening and watching!

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A Little Leasure

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are in the summer mood officially!! Feeling good about the baseball season well into June at this point, Tim provides us with an excellent of "summer" baseball players.

We find out the rough start to Jeff's day on the highways of Pennsylvania. Tim finds out what an Instagram "Roll" is. We honor Rickey Henderson on this date in baseball history. And can cricket players really throw harder than Bob Gibson?

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen, it means a whole lot. If you are a regular, thanks for being a part of our family. If you are new, welcome!

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Homers, Hits and Hit Batters

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jeff and Tim Kurkjian discuss their recent podcast with Cal Ripken Jr. and his son, Ryan. They delve into the meaning of social media slang, share humorous personal anecdotes, and transition into a detailed discussion about current baseball events, including player performances and quirky moments in the game. The episode highlights the challenges players face in today's game, records being set, and the fun side of baseball. In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian discuss the New York Yankees' struggles with scoring runs, the creation of an all-Seinfeld baseball team, and significant events in baseball history. They also rank Clayton Kershaw among the greatest players, highlighting his achievements and impact on the game. The conversation is interspersed with humorous anecdotes and reflections on the relationship between media and players.

Jeff and Tim Kurkjian discuss the best players in baseball history, focusing on number 22, Clayton Kershaw, and the legacy of Cal Ripken Jr. They explore the challenges of selecting the greatest player for each MLB franchise, highlighting the impact of players like Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer. The conversation also touches on family connections in baseball and the importance of humor in the sport.

Share the podcast with a friend or family member that loves baseball as much as we do.

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Ripkens-Kurkjians, 6-5 vs. 5-5

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This is the episode we have all been waiting for. Legendary Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken Jr. returns to "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" but this time with his son, Ryan Ripken. In our Father's Day week celebration, we have brought these two together to chat with our father-son duo about the game we love and growing up around it.

Ryan Ripken currently is a member of the media, with his very own show, but is a former professional baseball player and great basketball player, just like his dad. Tim, while he was a beat reporter, covered Cal Jr. in the 80's and the two have had a long standing friendship ever since then, even though we aren't allowed to actually say that when it comes to reporter-player (give me a break).

Enjoy, share the show with a friend and thank you for listening/watching!

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A Giant Father's Day

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

It wouldn't be a Father's Day episode if Tim and Jeff were apart. This father-son broadcasting duo is at it again recapping great Father's Day games of the past and the happenings of June 15th, 2025 including the biggest trade of the 2025 season.

Shohei will take the mound, we dive into that with a throwback clip to Phil Nevin, a former guest of the show, talking about managing Shohei's pitching schedule. We talk Quirkjians that will have you head scratching, brothers who did big things in the same inning and an update for Tim's new dog (spoiler, it's a stinky situation).

Thank you for following and subscribing wherever you watch or listen to the show, it means a lot and means you are part of our family!

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RBIs, Rexi and Lefties

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" Take a minute, if you will, to write a review for the show and FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE wherever you are listening right now. That would help us out!

Tim & Jeff Kurkjian have a big announcement, a new addition to the Kurkjian family. Aaron Judge is REALLY legit, especially in the first inning, the Astros are not. Tim got a late night text message from a current big league manager. Lefty pitchers just have something going on this season, which traditionally speaking isn't the case. We figure what has happened on this date in baseball history. We check off another number From Ozzie To Orel and Tim awards the greatest Cardinal of all time (the baseball team, not the Catholic Church).

Thank you for listening and thank you for being a part of our family!

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The Congressional Baseball Game With Joe Morelle and Blake Moore

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are joined by two members of Congress, Joe Morelle, and Blake Moore to discuss the unique intersection of baseball and politics through the lens of the Congressional Baseball Game. Representative Joe Morelle is a Democrat who represents New York's 25 District and Representative Blake Moore is a Republican who represents Utah's 1st District.

They share personal anecdotes, competitive experiences, and the significance of baseball in their lives, both as a sport and a bonding experience. The conversation highlights the camaraderie among lawmakers, the nostalgia of childhood baseball memories, and the lessons learned through coaching and family involvement in sports. Congressman Moore explores the challenges and experiences of being multi-sport athletes, with a focus on baseball as a core sport. While Congressman Morelle discusses the rich baseball legacy of Rochester, highlight rising stars in the game, and reflect on how sports serve as a unifying force in politics and life. The dialogue emphasizes the camaraderie and life lessons learned through sports, culminating in a heartfelt appreciation for baseball's role in bringing people together.

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Fry, Fried and Pokey Reese

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian explore personal connections in baseball, highlighting Tim's interaction with player Carson Kelly and the familial ties within the sport. They delve into their Armenian heritage, share humorous anecdotes from their lives, including golfing experiences, and discuss notable baseball performances. The conversation reflects on the importance of family, culture, and the joy of sports, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere. In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian delve into fascinating baseball trivia, including unique game moments, historical insights, and quirky player names. They discuss the Braves' surprising loss after a six-run lead, Willie Mays' memorable hit, and the unusual performance of Jac Caglianone. The conversation also touches on Nolan Ryan's legacy and personal anecdotes from Tim's experiences in baseball history, culminating in a light-hearted discussion about an all-cooking baseball team.

Thank you for listening and becoming a part of our family. Subscribe wherever you listen and watch and make sure to share us with a friend.

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My 401K "Will Vest" This Year

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian discuss recent updates in Major League Baseball, and reflect on the significance of retired numbers. But first, what in the world is Tim wearing? They also address safety concerns in the sport and highlight notable moments in baseball history. In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian celebrate the unique career of Bill Spiers, discuss the ranking of baseball legends, particularly focusing on Frank Robinson and Ken Griffey Jr. They also introduce a fun concept called the 'All Clothing Team' and engage with a listener's passion for one-run games, ultimately welcoming him into the Seamhead community.

Thank you for listening and sharing the show with a friend or family member so they can become part of our family as well!

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Our Brother Matt, The Pride Of The Kurkjians

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian's brother, Matt, was a Hall of Fame college baseball player for Catholic University. He was an incredible father, brother, uncle and friend to all.

He passed away from ALS in 2023. In a change from the norm, we brought in Tim's oldest brother, Andy Kurkjian, to join as our guest this week as a remember a man that shaped all of our lives in a way that made Matt Kurkjian the PRIDE of the Kurkjian's.

Thank you for listening to this episode, we know it is a departure from our usual structure but for us, it was therapeutic in so many ways. Share the show with someone you love and thanks for being a part of our family!

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Lou Gehrig Day, The 100th Anniversary

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and his son Jeff chat all things baseball and all things family. This episode is a special one giving the significance of the day they are filming, it is Lou Gehrig Day!

We chat about an amazing homer from Elly de la Cruz which was bigger than baseball. Plus some stats you won't believe with our Quirkjians. We ripped open some cards again, glad that's back! "All Body Of Water" team for our Team Tim and Pedro Martinez on this date is amazing.

Thank you for sharing the show with some people you love.

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Raleigh, Shohei And Lots Of Ks

Thu, 29 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian discuss a variety of baseball topics, including memorable players, personal stories, and insights into the current MLB season. Jeff traveled to Las Vegas with his almost two year old on his own and we had to get a recap of that.

They share anecdotes about their experiences, highlight significant moments in baseball history, and engage with their audience through listener submissions. You can also submit, email Jeff@GreatGameOrWhat.com to do so. This episode also features a discussion on the legacy of Ted Williams and a countdown of the best players in baseball history by their numbers.

Share the show with someone that you love and thanks for being a part of our family.

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Bob Ryan, Hall Of Fame Basketball Writer and Certified Seamhead

Wed, 28 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian and Jeff Kurkjian interview Bob Ryan, a legendary sports writer known for his deep knowledge of baseball and basketball. The discussion covers Bob's early influences in baseball, his admiration for players like Willie Mays and Bill Russell, and the importance of minor league baseball in shaping major league talent. They also explore Boston's rich sports history and debate the greatest players in Red Sox history. Bob Ryan reflects on his illustrious career in sports journalism, particularly his time on 'Around the Horn.' He discusses the evolution of sports commentary, the impact of television, and the camaraderie among sports writers. The conversation also touches on the significance of iconic venues like the Palestra and the legacy of legendary sports figures. Ryan shares anecdotes from his early days in journalism and highlights the Boston Globe's unparalleled sports writing excellence.

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Did I Ever Tell You Walter Johnson High School Won A State Championship?

Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jeff and Tim Kurkjian reflect on Memorial Day, honoring those who served, including Tim's father. They share personal anecdotes about family and friends, including the late Jim Henneman, a respected baseball writer. The conversation shifts to Major League Baseball updates, discussing player performances and records. They also share humorous travel stories and trivia about the game.

A special guest joins, the head coach of the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WALTER JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL WILDCATS BASEBALL TEAM, Steve Sutherland. Walter Johnson High School, Tim's Alma Mater, are the same age and the school has never won a baseball championship. This is big.

The episode highlights the bond between family, sports, and the memories that shape their experiences. Share the show with a friend or someone who loves this game like we do, make them a part of our family!

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Baseball: Poetry In Motion

Thu, 22 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Tim Kurkjian explore various themes in baseball, including family connections, milestones, managerial changes, and the challenges faced by official scorers. They share personal anecdotes, discuss the struggles of teams like the Orioles and Pirates, and reflect on the importance of balancing family and professional commitments in the world of baseball. The conversation also touches on quirky facts and historical moments in the sport. In this episode, your favorite father-son duo explore memorable baseball moments, discuss the greatest Minnesota Twins (franchise) player, and analyze the best players by jersey numbers 17 and 18. They also share insights from the baseball community and look forward to upcoming guests, including the legendary Bob Ryan. The conversation is filled with humor, nostalgia, and a deep love for the game of baseball.

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Broadcaster Jim Deshaies: 84 Wins, One HOF Vote, A Million Laughs

Wed, 21 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jim Deshaies shares his journey from a small town in New York to becoming a Major League pitcher and broadcaster. He recounts memorable experiences, including his unique connection to the Andy Griffith Show, his college choices, and his remarkable achievement of striking out the first eight batters in a game.

Deshaies also humorously reflects on his struggles as a hitter and his unexpected Hall of Fame vote campaign, providing insights into the life of a professional athlete. His experiences as a former player and current broadcaster are fascinating, discussing the nuances of hitting in the big leagues, his memorable high school baseball moments, and the dynamics of working with Boog Sciambi in the broadcast booth. The discussion also touches on the current state of the Cubs, the humor inherent in baseball, and a fun segment creating an All-Andy Griffith Show baseball team, showcasing the light-hearted side of the sport.

As you continue to support our show, we cannot thank you enough!! Share it with a friend, rate and review wherever you are listening!

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Rivalry Week, Easier Done Than Said

Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian explore various themes surrounding baseball, family dynamics, and personal anecdotes. They discuss the excitement of rivalry week in baseball, the joys and challenges of grandparenting, and the impact of managerial changes on team performance. The conversation also highlights the remarkable achievements of players like Shohei Ohtani and the unpredictability of the game, culminating in quirky stories and fun facts about baseball.

In this episode, Tim Kurkjian shares amusing anecdotes from the world of baseball, including a humorous 'Burger King' matchup and memorable moments from baseball history. He discusses the significance of players like Pete Gray and Roger Clemens, and reveals exciting news about an upcoming movie on the Molina brothers, showcasing their legacy in baseball. Tim also shares his favorite movie recommendations, highlighting the emotional impact of sports films.

Thank yo for taking the time to rate and review our show. Share it with someone who loves this game as much as we do!

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No. 14 On The 15th

Thu, 15 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jeff and Tim Kurkjian discuss the recent announcement regarding Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson's status with Major League Baseball. They delve into the complexities of the Hall of Fame voting process and the differing perspectives of former players versus fans. The conversation shifts to current MLB highlights, including Javi Baez's resurgence and notable walk-off moments. They also share quirky statistics and celebrate significant birthdays in baseball history, emphasizing the game's unpredictability and rich legacy. In this episode, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian delve into the rich history of baseball, celebrating legendary players and discussing their impact on the game. They explore the greatness of managers like AJ Hinch, the significance of records like Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak, and the legacy of pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Whitey Ford. The conversation also highlights the best players in Tampa Bay Rays history and the all-time greats to wear specific jersey numbers, culminating in a fun discussion about unique baseball stories and traditions.

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Steve Rushin and Pope Leo XIV

Wed, 14 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian chat with their friend Steve Rushin! It starts with ear health and leads us to unique golfing experiences, and a memorable basketball game with Adam Sandler. They also discuss the significance of Strat-O-Matic baseball in their lives, but most notably, they discuss Pope Leo's love of baseball and the Chicago White Sox. They delve into the world of baseball promotions, the charm of vintage baseball cards, the joy of wordplay through anagrams, and the competitive spirit within a sports-loving family. Additionally, they reflect on the impact of 70s television on their lives, and a project that almost was for one of the best writers of all time.

Make sure to share the podcast with a friend, and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Quarter Pole, Baseball Is Rolling (Plus A Surprise Guest)

Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

It's hard to believe we are a quarter of the way through the season and already, there are so many insane story lines happening in our game. We recap a great Mother's Day in our lives and of course, in baseball.

Pope Leo is a baseball fan and we have the proof. Tim Kurkjian's special Team Tim this week promises not to offend but will make you chuckle. A #HappyBirthday to a former guest of ours.

Most importantly, we have a legendary figure actually JOIN our show to chat with us about some Quirkjians. This is a special moment if you are a part of our family! Thanks for listening and please, take the time to rate the show and subscribe wherever you watch or listen!

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Good Ole Country Hardball

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Three times a week, you can hear from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian. Whether it's the greatest player at each organization or the best players to wear each number (today #13 and #14). We've got it all for you.

Jeff is live from Dallas, Texas, so he's in full country mode. The two go head-to-head with Team Tim against Team Jeff. And our Seamhead loves baseball stadiums, a LOT! Thanks for sharing the show, it goes a long way.

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Tom Glavine, Baseball (And Almost Hockey) Hall of Famer

Wed, 07 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tom Glavine is a Hall of Fame baseball pitcher but also was drafted in the 1984 NHL Draft! Amidst the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we brought him not only to talk about his amazing baseball career but about what could have been his amazing hockey career.

We talk about Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and a bevy of other amazing Hall of Famers with Glavine. He shares which legendary player he was nervous to meet. He also shared what he thinks to be the secret to the longevity of his career.

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May The 4th Be Without Tim Kurkjian

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Three times a week now you hear from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays we bring brand new baseball content. Takeaways from happenings in the game, Quirkjians about the stats happening in real time and poking and prodding from the father son duo.

Today we hear about Babe Ruth and Willie Mays #OnThisDate in baseball history. Riley Greene/Riley Green connection that has Jeff excited. A Team Tim for the dog lovers out there and a couple surprises from the big leagues.

Make sure to subscribe wherever you watch or listen and share with a friend!

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MAY I Have Another?

Thu, 01 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Right off the back, want to apologize for some minor audio issues on Jeff's end. No, not Tim! He did everything right. Jeff had issues!

Happy May 1st everybody. Thanks for listening. We've got a Team Tim to celebrate something special in Jeff's life.

The best Houston Astro of all time. The greatest number eleven and twelve are discussed. Plus Rickey Henderson and Jim Palmer both did something amazing on this date in baseball history.

Thanks for listening and watching. Make sure to subscribe and the share the show with a friend. And as always, thanks for being a part of our family.

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Steve Sparks, Big League Pitcher Turned Seamhead Broadcaster

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Steve Sparks is hilarious, there's no way around that. He doesn't miss an episode of this show despite being a broadcaster for the Houston Astros; that job will keep you busy. He was a knuckleballer (one of the few) and his way of getting there is fascinating.

He shares stories of three different Bobs (Uecker, Gibson and Feller), one of which will definitely make you cry. He explains his nickname that he got in the minor leagues, "Phonebook," plus he dazzles us with his seamhead qualities that we cannot get enough of.

Easily one of our favorite interviews in the history of this show, pass it along to someone who loves this game as well and don't forget to subscribe!

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The 4th Be With Eugenio

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This week, Tim and Jeff discuss a crazy weekend in baseball but first apologize for a HUGE mistake they made on the show last week. Qurikjians, Takeaways and a strange Kurkjian Quandary make this a show you cannot miss.

Team Tim is guessed by Jeff after just one name, shocking Tim into next century. AJ Hinch gets a nod for being an incredible manager for something he did OFF the field. And we look back at Roger Clemens and what he did on this day many years ago.

Thank you for listening/watching. Make sure to share the podcast with someone you love. GreatGameOrWhat.com for more.

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A Month In, A Month Out(standing)

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Three days a week now you can hear from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian. Takeaways from a couple days in baseball, Quirkjians as well but most importantly, who are the greatest number 9 and number 10 of all time?

Plus, the Mets fans are going to debate who is the greatest player to play for them of all time. We hear from another Seamhead, you can submit yours by emailing Jeff@GreatGameOrWhat.com anytime with your audio clip and you might find yourself on the show!

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Mel Kiper, NFL Draft Expert

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Two of the best experts in their own right meet to chat all about the game of baseball. Tim Kurkjian is a Hall of Fame baseball writer and Mel Kiper is THE voice of knowledge for all things surrounding the NFL Draft. Together, along with Tim's son Jeff, they chat about Mel's love of the game from the beginning growing up in Maryland.

We also talk about becoming a grandfather due to the surprise guest that jumped on during the show, how stinking cute is that? Make sure to share the show with someone you love! GreatGameOrWhat.com to find all the links to where to subscribe including right here. Also follow us now on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

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April Madness

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff go back and forth with some great Quirkjians and Takeaways from what was a pretty insane weekend of baseball. A lot of talk of official scoring decisions (we don't say that often) plus we celebrate a birthday of a very good friend of ours, Terry Francona.

We open a brand new deck of cards and Tim admits that something was in the driveway that he wanted to kill. Share the podcast with some friends, support the show by subscribing (for free) wherever you are listening right now!

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Happy (Luke) Easter

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian's All Easter Team for Team Tim is iconic and not as much of a stretch as he says it is. The pitcher who figured out his curveball was nasty and the mystery of the Detroit Tigers.

We also explore the greatest Philadelphia Phillies player of all time, the best player to ever wear number eight and Tim gets schooled on TikTok! Remember, now three days a week, we have "Is This A Great Game, Or What?"

Make sure to subscribe and share with a friend. And remember, thank you for being a part of our family.

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Coach Jim Boeheim Live From Syracuse

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This week we hear from Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim. There's no hiding that this man loves his baseball and loves all things sports.

Jeff and his sister, Kelly, are both Syracuse University graduates. Tim sent his only two kids to land of the Orange for college and this guest is connected to the show in so many ways.

We discuss Otto The Orange, Kobe's work ethic, Michael Jordan's golf game amongst so much baseball that it's hard to keep up! Thank you to the Newhouse School and the Sports Media Center for hosting us for this LIVE in person interview.

Special shoutout to Julie Walas and Olivia Stomski for their helping putting this together.

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Jackie Day, The Most Important Day

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

It isn't passed us just how important today is, Jackie Robinson Day. In fact, we dive deep into just why he was so important to our game. We also bring you a very important announcement for the future of the podcast (yes, more changes but they are GOOD changes that will make you happy).

Don't look passed our Quirkjians this week that include strikeouts (always) and homers from the ninth spot in the order. We also get an update from a bachelor party Jeff went on over the weekend that included a beverage Orioles fans know well, that Tim Kurkjian needs schooling on. Share the podcast with a friend, it only helps. Let's make more people a part of our family!

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The Masters Of Baseball

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Where golf meets baseball this time on "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" We have some of the best stories crossing these great sports. Plus a Kurkjian Quandary that will have everyone thinking about their own athleticism.

The best number six and seven of all time is not up for debate, according to Tim Kurkjian. How do players keep warm during these cold games? First two weeks of the season wrapped up in one great episode!

Make sure to follow us on social media @GreatGameOrWhat

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Catching Hank Aaron's 715th, Tom House Joins

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today we are joined by Tom House who caught Hank Aaron's 715th homerun on this date 51 years ago. He has spent his entire life in baseball, a former Major Leaguer turned coach and more in the game we all love. He shares Nolan Ryan, Satchell Paige, Hank Aaron and more stories that will have your jaw on the floor.

Plus, Tim shares his on personal anecdotes about Aaron including two stories about current MLB managers completely clamming up when talking to Hammerin' Hank. Also, our reaction to Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s big signing. A pitching matchup that has dad-joke written all over it. And Tim breaks down his Team Tim containing the greatest homeruns of all time, this one is up for debate, let us know what you think in the comments or on social, @GreatGameOrWhat.

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One Week Down & What A Week It Was

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Another Friday edition of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" brings you a recap of the crazy first week of baseball. And we aren't just saying that, it truly has been unbelievable. The Dodgers and Padres, wow, and the Braves, eek. Plus a player that has a personal connection to the Kurkjian family had a monster night on Monday night.

Who is the greatest A's player of all time? Or the best player to wear number five? All discussed today on the show. Jeff announces the big news that the show is now on TikTok (Tim is still not sure what that is really). Also, if you want to join the show, tell us why you are a Seamhead and email it to Jeff@GreatGameOrWhat.com.

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Wacky Weekend, Dallas Braden Our Wacky/Wonderful Guest

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We've got a real treat for you today. Our guest, Dallas Braden, kept us entertained and also made us cry. He gave us great perspective on how Athletics fans are feeling right now. Plus he revisited his days working with Tim at ESPN including the very last game he broadcasted with the company that may or may not have led to him no longer working there.

The first weekend of the season was unbelievable, and that's not hyperbole. There were SO many things that happened for the very first time in baseball history that it was hard for Tim to get it all out in this episode. Quirkjians are back with some funny things we bet you didn't notice. Tim comes up with a Team Tim to flatter our guest. And finally, a Phil Nierko story on this date that will make you love the game even more.

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Say Hey, Opening Day

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first Friday episode of the REGULAR season and boy are we glad to be here with you. Tim Kurkjian, the Hall of Fame baseball writer, with his son, Jeff, have immediate reactions to the first games on Opening Day. The best part? These stats and fun facts you aren't getting anywhere else.

One player continues an insane Opening Day streak. A New York Yankee FIRST that has never happened on Opening Day for the storied franchise. And, a pitching line that will scratch your head. We also continue "From Ozzie To Orel" with numbers three and four. Plus, Tim gives us the greatest Cincinnati Reds player of all time!

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Adam (Dunn) and (Opening Day) Eve

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Join Tim Kurkjian and his son Jeff for an exciting take on baseball in 2025. Each week, this father-son podcast will talk baseball in a way you just aren't hearing on other shows. With laughter, light and love, this podcast is certain to be a baseball fan favorite.

Opening Day 2025 is upon us so we are joined by Adam Dunn who shares an incredible Opening Day record. Also, Tim breaks down some incredible stories from Opening Day's past. Jeff breaks down new stadium food additions for the season. Adam Dunn makes us laugh with hilarious memories from his Opening Day's and from his long tenured career. Don't miss when he calls out Jeff Francoeur, former guest on the show, for something they would do as opponents!

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Where March Madness Meets MLB

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our first official FRIDAY episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" We recap (briefly) the Tokyo Series. We dive straight into March Madness with Team Tim March Madness Edition, this one was real creative. A Kurkjian Quandary about Japan vs. Major League Baseball will have your head scratching. Ozzie To Orel begins as Tim Kurkjian outlines the greatest player to wear number one and number two of all time. There might be some debate on #2. Finally, we introduce a new segment that we want YOU to be a part of. If you love this game, tell us why in a 15-30 second voice memo and end with "My name is _______, and I am a Seamhead!" Email your entry to Jeff@GreatGameorWhat.com

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Opening Day: Shohei, Yoshi, Shota, Roki & Eduardo

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We are joined by Eduardo Perez, per tradition, for our first regular season episode of the 2025 season. He played in Japan during his career and has such an interesting perspective during his time there. He also tells us about wanting to pluck something off of President Barack Obama, the time his mom yelled at him during a game and the impact Pete Rose had on his career.

We recorded this episode on St. Patrick's Day, so Tim came up with his Team Tim of St. Patrick's Day players. Jeff explains to his dad what Grillz are (this is a tough convo). And finally, we celebrate being TWO episodes a week.

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Keith Hernandez, Fellow Strat-O-Matic Hall of Famer

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Keith Hernandez joins us as a member of the Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame. Oh yeah, and he was a really REALLY good MLB player as well. He makes it onto a special "Best of All-Tim" team that we hear about. Tim Kurkjian was just inducted into the Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame, and we hear his best stories of the game.

Trout, Ohtani and more updates from Kurkjian from Spring Training. Plus a huge announcement about the future of this podcast (don't worry, it's REALLY good news).

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Maddon Love With Baseball

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

SPRING TRAINING IS HERE! What an exciting time for baseball fans, Joe Maddon joins us this week to share his favorite Spring Training stories. He also talks about that amazing 2016 curse-breaking season with the Chicago Cubs. Tim Kurkjian takes us down memory lane of his favorite Spring Training memories from covering 45 years of it all.

We want to thank everyone for listening. Excited to announce that starting March 18th, we will be BACK to once a week officially kicking off our regular season then. Follow us for fun videos @GreatGameOrWhat on all socials and watch exclusive clips on our YouTube page as well!

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Football & Phil Nevin

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

How fitting? With the 2025 Super Bowl coming up this week, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian bring you a football packed episode that is perfect for all baseball fans. Our guest is Phil Nevin, who was a college football and baseball player and a long-time MLB player. He later became a coach and then a Major League manager of a team that had both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. We asked him about that.

We also delve into the nuances of football with the former kicker. And we discussed the amazing crossover that happens between football and baseball when it comes to these incredible athletes. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, @GreatGameOrWhat and sign up for our newsletter at GreatGameOrWhat.com.

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Three New MLB Hall Of Famers For 2025

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:15:00 +0000

We took this time to chat about the careers of Ichiro Suzuki, C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner and tell some stories that only Tim Kurkjian would know about these players. They will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July of 2025.

Plus, we opened another deck of cards live on the show, chatted about an app Tim finally downloaded (he might be the last to do so) and debated whether or not you should wear shoes in your house!

A friendly reminder that our first regular season episode will start on March 18th, we will be returning to weekly episodes (releasing on Tuesdays) at that point. We are really looking forward to you joining us for another great season. In the meantime, let's get social! We are always posting on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, you can follow us @GreatGameOrWhat. Plus, check out our website to join our email list!

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Coaches! Key To The Best Game, Live From ABCA 2025

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Big shoutout and thanks to our friends at GameChanger for having us in their incredible booth, along with Mevo who provided a couple extra cameras!

We discuss some of Tim's favorite coach stories. We were joined by the head coach of Catholic University's baseball team, Ross Natoli. He carries a special place in the Kurkjian family that you will learn about. It's an amazing atmosphere at the ABCA, hoping to be back there next year!

To all new people to the podcast, WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY! Share the show with someone who loves baseball too.

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Holiday Special From Tim & Jeff

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

We discuss the unfortunate passing of a MLB Hall of Famer and the impact he made on this great game. Filming from Tim's office in Maryland, a special guest joined us on the couch for the entire episode.

We opened up cards for "It's In The Cards," still looking for a debut patch in our Topps deck. We also hear a Best Of All-Tim team all about Christmas. Jeff quizzes Tim on pop culture happenings of 2024. Happy Holidays from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?"

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The Best Of The Great Game 2024

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

We have been looking forward to releasing this episode all year long. Our Best Of 2024 Episode features one highlight moment from every single interview we did this season. But we aren't just looking back, we also talk offseason.

The biggest signing without a doubt is Juan Soto to the New York Mets. Tim Kurkjian's reaction along with a hilarious moment he shared surrounding it at the grocery store. Plus we get great stories from Tim about the two newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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MLB Awards Reactions Plus Tim Kurkjian, The Movie Star

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

This week, Tim and Jeff recap the awards winners in Major League Baseball. We also bring back "It's In The Cards" in search of the Paul Skenes Debut Patch rookie card. You can actually watch us open the deck on our YouTube page linked below. And we get (even though it's November) This Day In Baseball History.

We also welcomed in Jodi Michelle Cutler who asked Tim to star in her movie, "Rally Caps." She is the co-author of the book and now producer of the movie that features a small cameo from our Hall of Famer! Stream the movie now on Peacock. Great for the whole family, perfect to keep up your baseball fix in the offseason.

Listen to us during the offseason every other Tuesday.

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Offseason, What Do We Do Now?

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Thank you for a great first regular and postseason of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" But now, the question so many have asked us, what's going to happen during the offseason? Well, have no fear, Tim and Jeff are here. Moving to every two weeks during the offseason but still keeping you smiling and laughing (we like to hope).

Don't forget, special contest going on, the first 50 new followers to @GreatGameOrWhat on Instagram will win a signed baseball card from Tim and Jeff.

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A Bow For Baseball

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

We put a "bow" on this baseball season with our final episode of the regular season. Don't you worry, big news, we are BACK for another season and will be checking in periodically during the offseason, we aren't going anywhere.

A big shoutout to our friends at The Shirley Povich Center For Sports Journalism for hosting us at University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This week's guest is TIM KURKJIAN! We allowed the students the opportunity to ask us questions that they've always wanted to ask this Hall of Fame baseball writer.

We wrap up the 2024 baseball season, celebrating the good and the bad. Tim gives us an "All Presidents" Best of All Tim team in spirit of the election. Last but certainly not least, we look back at what a fun first season of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?"

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World Series Win and Ross

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

David Ross is our guest this week who knows a thing or two about stepping up big in a World Series. He won with both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. The former player and former manager turned broadcaster has a bevy of amazing sports stories.

We also break down the first couple games of this VERY exciting World Series, it has not disappointed. Plus, thanks to Strat-O-Matic, we figured out who would do better, a team of all Aaron Judges or all Shohei Ohtanis! And we also pay our respects to a legend of the game.

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World Series or Bust(er)

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Buster Olney is our amazing guest who hosts his own podcast. “Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney,” wherever you are listening right now. We talk about his growing up a Dodger fan and a cow-milker! Plus we get his take on the two remaining teams vying to win it all.

Tim Kurkjian even blesses us with another goofy “Best of All-Tim” and our friends at Strat-O-Matic help us settle the debate, Yankees or Dodgers! You can use GREATGAME20 at checkout for new customers at Strat-O-Matic.com for 20% off all baseball products!

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A Bobby Valentine To Baseball

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Can't ask for a better guest other than Bobby Valentine. He was drafted by the Dodgers as a player, played and managed the New York Mets and also managed in Japan. We talk Shohei, we talk potential Subway Series (the last of which he managed) and share laughs over both Tim and Bobby's early years in baseball.

The four remaining teams have got us all excited for a potential World Series matchup. We hear about the Best of All Tim team that involves only guests of our show (and boy is it a great list). We get the help of our friends at Strat-O-Matic to simulate just how good Japanese players are. Finally, we hear about what Eddy Perez and Tim will be doing in New York!

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Playoff Baseball and Benetti

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jason Benetti is the play-by-play for the Detroit Tigers television broadcast. He has extensive knowledge of just how this team came back to even make it to October. Plus, he does some great impressions along with hilarious shared stories calling games with Tim.

We highlight one player from each of the remaining playoff teams. We celebrate a manager getting back into baseball (a former guest on this show). We also simulated the rest of the playoffs and the winner is a team honestly not many have picked! Thanks for listening!

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October Baseball With Mr. National

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Ryan Zimmerman is the greatesting Washington National of all time. And with eleven walk-off homers, he is one of the most clutch batters in the bottom of the ninth and beyond. We talk to him about what it’s like to play in October.

We revisit Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 season, break down the ending for the Mets-Braves, and look at some of the greatest October performances of all time. We also put fandom to the test with our Kurkjian Quandary.

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Welcome To Tangier, Adnan Virk

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

He’s like family to us, Adnan Virk is our guest this week. He can be found on MLB Network or chatting about movies on his podcast, Cinephile. We chat with him about so much, too many laughs to contain. We break it down with our friends at Strat-O-Matic to find out how Aaron Judge would do in the 1920s and how Babe Ruth would do today.

We say farewell to the Oakland Athletics playing in Oakland with a Best of All Tim. We hear from Jeff about the Savannah Bananas and chat about the insanity that is Shohei Ohtani. Please rate and review the show, share it with a friend and don’t forget to follow!

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Dan Patrick, “GONE!”

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Dan Patrick joins us as our special guest. He grew up a fan of The Big Red Machine, and while playing Strat-O-Matic that was his team. A Kurkjian Quandary that surrounds Shohei Ohtani’s potential 50/50 season. And a Best of All-Tim including the best juniors!

And of course, you’ll get loaded with brand new Quirkjians as the season eyes October. Thanks to our friends at Strat-O-Matic, you can have fun just like us by getting 20% off at checkout using the code “GreatGame20” at checkout on all of their baseball games!

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Clemente and Cakes

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jim Palmer is a Hall of Fame pitcher who is now a broadcaster calling games for the Baltimore Orioles. In his famed career, he faced quite a few Hall of Fame bats including that of Roberto Clemente, who is celebrated every year on Roberto Clemente Day, coming up this Sunday.

Fantasy football was talked about quite a bit this week including a team name that got Tim into hip-hop. The greatest defensive players to ever play the game, Tim put his list together, feel free to debate him on this one. A Kurkjian Quandary that is bound to make you feel young again. On This Date In Baseball History, 1963 had a lot of brothers batting in a game!

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Pete Fairbanks, Reading At 100 MPH

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Current Major League closer, Pete Fairbanks, is our guest this week not only because of his arm, but also because of his mind. Friday, September 6th is National Read A Book Day and boy does this guy love to read! He also loves the NYT crossword puzzle, Legos and video games, we cover it all.

Plus, you get a look inside some of the best baseball players that also played college football. Rich Hill is 44 years old, still pitching in the bigs. We dive into more about the hope for the Washington Nationals and a football Kurkjian Quandary that will probably have you limping.

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Joey, Judge and Jansen

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We took time to recap the incredible Little League World Series finish because we think the Major Leaguers could learn a thing or two from those kids. Tim and Jeff, with the help of our friends at Strat-O-Matic, answer the age old question, what would you rather have, all-contact or all-power?

Dan Shaughnessy is a Hall of Famer writer who has relentlessly covered Boston sports throughout his incredible career. Tim and Dan go way back their relationship shines through during their interview together. Also, Tim talked to Danny Jansen about the incredible feat he accomplished, playing for two teams in one game, very impressive!

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Todd Frazier, The King Of The LLWS

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Need we say more? We were at the Little League World Series with our friends at GameChanger, for this entire episode. We booked the biggest 12-year-old of all time, the one and only Todd Frazier. If you didn't know, he and his Toms River, New Jersey team won it all when he was a kid. He was a really good MLB player, won an Olympic medalist and now has turned to broadcasting.

This episode is dedicated to all things Little League. We talk about the Little League Classic game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Tim came up with the best MLB of players who played at the LLWS and then Jeff surprised him with something bit from our friends at Strat-O-Matic.

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Jeff Francoeur, A Pure Athlete

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

It can’t be understated the amount of fun we had with Jeff Francoeur. We discussed his new venture, “Pure Athlete,” that is so focused on the importance of correctly navigating youth sports. He added stories of being on the golf course with John Smoltz and Tiger Woods. Or the time Bobby Cox had him fake an injury! This conversation is one of our favorites to date.

Stat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, helped us figure out if there was a way that the Cubs curse could’ve been broken sooner. Tim goes off the rails with his new “Best Of All-Tim,” a bit of a stretch even to his standards. Finally, our Kurkjian Quandary is all about a recent NFL Hall of Fame inductee and we are certain you will agree with our decision on this one.

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Mike Scioscia Sho-Time

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Former Major League Player and Manager, Mike Scioscia, lends us his time to discuss his incredible career. Two World Series rings as a player and one as a manager and a silver Olympic medal to top it all off. He managed the team that represented the United States at the 2020 Olympics. He shares his thoughts on Shohei and Trout (both of whom he managed) and even weighed in on this week's Kurkjian Quandary.

It's good to be back together in person after quite a few weeks away from Jeff's basement studio. "It's In the Cards" returns finally and Tim outlines his "All-Romance" team inspired by one player in the game today. Get quirky with this week's Quirkjian's and cry over the White Sox season thus far.

Please take a minute to subscribe or follow wherever you're listening right now and share this podcast with a friend who might like it!

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Olympic Medals, Baseball Peddles

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We are joined by Eddy Alvarez who has two Olympic medals; one in baseball and one in speed skating! Yes, you read that correctly. Trade deadline big moments and a new segment with our friends at Strat-O-Matic.

A new pitcher inspired this week's Best Of All-Tim plus we find out why Jeff and Tim won medals over the weekend. Our Quirkjians cover cycles and Grand Slams, and a Kurkjian Quandary that will make you debate even your best friend.

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Johnny Bench's Hall

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Johnny Bench joins us while we were at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A big thanks to the Otesaga Hotel for allowing us to record in their hallowed home. We hear stories from Johnny that will make you laugh and cry. His love for his dad is so perfect for this podcast.

Tim lays out his best All-HOF Team in spirit of being at Cooperstown over the weekend. We also take you to Cooperstown revisiting some of the most amazing stories of people we met while there. The Kurkjian Quandary is bound to break up friendships and cause some controversy so look out Yankee fans.

And finally, we hear about the Cooperstown moment that made Jeff fall in love with broadcasting.

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BONUS: Meet The 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian tells his best stories about each of the 2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees. Congrats to Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer and Jim Leyland for their amazing accomplishments.

Tim was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022 as a baseball writer. Cooperstown is a special place to the entire Kurkjian family and to so many other baseball families. Releasing on July 23rd, you can hear our next episode featuring Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.

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Cal Ripken Jr. & All-Star Game Humor

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

It's hard to believe that Cal Ripken Jr. is joining us for this week's podcast. It really is a dream come true! Tim Kurkjian and Cal go way back, even playing basketball on Ripken's home court quite a few times. We get into that including the dig other players use to make about Tim on the court.

God intervenes for our Kurkjian Quandary that has our father-son duo at odds. Tim reveals the most historical and his personal favorite All-Star Game moments including a meeting between Ted Williams and Pedro Martinez that will give you chills. This episode is one of our favorites to date, Cal dazzles us with laughter and stories you can only hear on "Is This A Great Game, Or What?"

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All Fun With Scott Van Pelt

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Today’s shOw (there’s a reason for that capital O) is loaded with Scott Van Pelt’s hilarious Baltimore accent that has been making Tim laugh for years. Jeff also wants to know SVP’s favorite “This Is SportsCenter” commercial. Plus we dive into his love of golf.

Tim is shocked by the All Star selections for this season. We also find out what he decided is his new favorite alcoholic beverage (uh oh). Yankee fans will be very excited to hear something special about their first baseman’s incredible feat, and if the Twins are your team, you’re in for something we bet you didn’t know. We appreciate you always listening, make sure to share the show with someone who you think will love to listen as well!

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Hamerin’ Hank And July 4th

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Hank Azaria, better known to baseball fans as Brockmire, joins as our guest this week. His love of broadcasters is romantic to say the least. James Wood is our GameChanger of the Week, wait until you hear more about the Nationals’ newest outfielder.

Call it Christmas in July, you’ll find out why we are in the spirit this week. Plus, the greatest game ever played on July 4th? Tim takes a deep dive into a game that nobody should forget about, especially those woken up by fireworks in Atlanta. Aaron Judge continues to impress and so is Friend Rice (you’ll find out why). What Bo Jackson’s teammates had to say about him that help us understand just how impressive he was.

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Willie, Boonie and Krukie

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Get ready, because the Manager of the New York Yankees is joining our show this week. Tim and Aaron Boone worked for years together at ESPN and their stories, well they are just hysterical. But nothing beats Boone’s impressions, just wait until you hear them. We give one last tribute to Willie Mays and compliment Major League Baseball for their amazing work at the Rickwood Game.

Some Quirkjians that are bound to blow you away along with a Kurkjian Quandary on skates! We don’t know much about hockey on this podcast so we brought in a friend of the show to help us. Jeff had a chance to surprise his dad with a “Best Of All-Tim Team” that we think a lot of people are going to want to add to. Another week, thank you so much for listening. Please remember to follow and subscribe (for free) wherever you are listening right now.

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Aaron Judge, Doug Glanville and Rickwood Field

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Tim has no idea a (small) special guest is joining us with a present for him, what a way to start a show! On Thursday, June 20th, Major League Baseball will play at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. The importance of this game cannot be overstated so we interviewed Doug Glanville to explain its significance. He also takes a deeper look into the Negro Leagues and Black baseball.

Also, we hear all about Tim’s All-Courtroom Team (and yes, Aaron Judge is on it). Our Kurkjian Quandary: what would an 18-handicap player shoot under the pressure of the final day of the U.S. Open? And, among so much else, Jeff shared a moment he had with a Hall of Famer that he will never forget.

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Baseball For The Dads...

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

It is our Father’s Day episode, thank you to all of the dads out there listening. Karl and Sam Ravech are joining us, the broadcasting duo can both be heard on ESPN. Tim breaks down the best father-son baseball duos and makes a team out of them.

Also, it’s worth noting that this is Jeff’s first Father’s Day so we get quite a bit from that. What happened in London? Tim shares all about his trip calling the Phillies-Mets game during the London Series. Knuckleballers, Judge homers and buzzer beaters are all important in this week’s episode.

A brand new set of Quirkjians and a deep dive into Tim’s best Cardinals stories will round out the show. Thank you for listening!

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Doing Our Best For ALS

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We had the opportunity to record this episode in person at Citizens Bank Park on Lou Gehrig Day. Thank you to the Phillies for being so hospitable! We go through the takeaways from the week in Major League Baseball plus our Quirkjians seemed extra quirky this week. Submit yours at GreatGameOrWhat.com.

Tim came up with his top team using only players who wore number four, there might be some disagreement in the infield on those. We hear about the New York Mets and even talk about both Tim and Jeff's mascoting experience (kind of).

During our live streamed Lou Gehrig Day episode on Sunday, June 2nd, we spoke with two current players; Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola, whose uncle passed away from ALS, Brandon Crawford, who is deeply connected to the cause. We also hear live from Mike Piscotty, who's wife, Gretchen, passed away from the disease. Their son is pro ballplayer Stephen Piscotty. And also, Sam Hilliard, in the Colorado Rockies system, joined the show to talk about his father's battle with the disease.

This is our chance to wrap up our weekend dedicated to ALS, if you missed Sarah Langs and Boog Sciambi, they were featured in their own episode released back on Friday, so scroll back to hear that. Thank you for supporting this cause and helping us raise awareness.

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ALS Awareness with Matt Kurkjian, Sarah Langs and Boog Sciambi

Fri, 31 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

This is an emotional episode for both Tim and Jeff. Tim's brother, Matt Kurkjian, passed away from ALS on Labor Day 2023. This is the first Lou Gehrig Day that the Kurkjian's will be at a ballpark without him since his diagnosis.

Tim retells an amazing story about what Matt's alma mater did for him shortly after his diagnosis. Plus, we hear some amazing stories from our guests, Sarah Langs and Boog Sciambi.

Sarah was diagnosed with ALS but continues to be a beacon of light in Major League Baseball. Her knowledge and love of the game shines through her social media accounts where she shares her love of stats and observations. Sarah's recurring hashtag "Baseball Is The Best," has become a rally cry in the MLB/ALS community. She asks friends and family to support Project ALS that raises money for more research to better understand and ultimately cure this disease.

Broadcaster Boog Sciambi lost a dear friend, Tim Sheehy, to ALS almost twenty years ago. Since then, he has dedicated so much of his life raising money for Project Main Street, an organization dedicated in the name of Sheehy that helps families deal with the financial burden of care of an ALS patient.

We thank you for taking the time to learn more about this disease that has dismantled our family along with so many others. Thank you.

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Yogi & More Heroes

Tue, 28 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Today is an important show, our Memorial Day episode. Tim Kurkjian breaks down his all-military baseball team, every position and a full starting rotation. We talk to Lindsay Berra, the granddaughter of Yogi Berra. She describes her grandfather's service to this country as being MORE important than his Hall of Fame baseball career.

We also convinced Tim to do Immaculate Grid on the podcast and as always, we rip open some baseball cards and rifle through them (with a little added surprise Jeff wasn't expecting).

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Japanese, Dominican and Rushin

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Week 9 of the baseball season leads us to the 9th episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" which features Steve Rushin, one of the greatest writers of our lifetime. We discuss with him his love of the Twins as a child, some of the best games he ever covered and how he met his wife, WNBA Legend Rebecca Lobo.

What is the baseball significance of May 21st or 5/21? We get into that along with Elly De La Cruz isn't human, we tell you why. And also, don't miss our GameChanger of the Week.

We open a new pack of cards for "It's In The Cards" and end up chatting Seattle Mariners' baseball from our League In Lids segment.

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Buck, Skenes & Everything In Between

Tue, 14 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

This is our eighth episode and right off the bat (no pun intended) we have to say thank you. This is only possible because of your love and support of what we are doing. This week we have a real treat for you. Paul Skenes is our "GameChanger of the Week," his Major League debut, his character and charitable actions all factored in.

We talk with Buck Showalter and he tells us stories of his gnome, seeing some of the best players of today in the minors and a triple play that never touched leather. In addition, you get a fresh "It's In The Cards" along with an Arizona Diamondbacks break-down during "League In Lids."

If you didn't know this already, you can WATCH our show on YouTube or continue to listen wherever you get your podcasts, just don't forget to hit "follow" so you are up to date.

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Celebrate Mothers, Padres and Twins

Tue, 07 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We dive into Tim's All-Fruit/Veggie Team which was inspired by Trey Cabbage's return to the Majors. Great mom stories including Dallas Braden's huge moment with his grandmother. Willie Mays is a legend but I would guess you didn't know which Major Leaguer he didn't recognize when they were face-to-face.

And finally, a Kurkjian Quandary that only good baserunners can debate. That and so much more this week on the show!

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Seamhead’s Heaven, Mason Miller’s Heater, Wyatt Langford’s Homer

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

It’s the Seamhead edition complete with Quirkjians, another installment of In The Cards plus Jeff's new dog has a baseball name. Mike Schur talks Tony Gwynn, Leslie Knope, Jarrod Dyson, Andy Dwyer, Manny Ramirez and Chad Ogea.

Up until this point, we have had former players and managers as guests but we switched it all up this week to share the love of the game with someone who loves it as much as Tim. Mike Schur speaks of this game the way one speaks of their children, even describing baseball as a his "first love," which is relatable to all of us.

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Tito Francona Laughs, Verlander Returns, John Sterling Retires

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We've been waiting to bring you Tito Francona for some time now. Phillies, Red Sox and Guardians fans will bond together over their love of their former manager. Plus he adds on some stories about being Michael Jordan's minor league baseball manager.

We catch you up on Verlander's return. Plus we have a new "GameChanger of the Week," this one will surprise you. We open another pack of cards for "It's In The Cards" and a hypothetical that will kick your socks off.

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Jackie Robinson Day, Andrew McCutchen's 300th and Jackson Holliday's First Hit

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jerry Hairston Jr. joins the show to dive deep on Jackie Robinson the player and the man. Hairston's grandfather played in the Negro Leagues before being the ninth Black player to join Major League Baseball. Plus he adds that Mookie Betts could play point guard for the Lakers today!

We open another deck of cards from Topps for "It's In The Cards" including a story of Kenley Jansen behind the plate instead of on the mound.

Jackson Holliday had his first Major League hit and we award Andrew McCutchen with our very first GameChanger of the Week.

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Masters Week With John Smoltz, 50 Cent Lyrics and No-Hitter Facts

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Tim Kurkjian is joined by his son, Jeff, every week to give a fresh take on baseball. This week is a lead up to The Masters Tournament so we had to call in John Smoltz, an incredible golfer and Hall of Fame pitcher.

We begin by reading some of your really sweet messages about the show. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to send us your own message, it might get read on the show.

After a first week of baseball that included a no-hitter, we dive into some of Tim's favorite stories surround the impressive pitching feat. Also, Hank Aaron stories remember 50 years ago when he broke Babe Ruth's record. We ask you a question; would you take $10,000 now or have 24 hours to hit a hole-in-one on a 135 yard Par 3 for $1 million? Which one are you picking?

Visit our social channels @GreatGameOrWhat to vote. Finally, you will not want to miss our chat with John Smoltz. He played golf with Tiger Woods for goodness sake!

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First Week Quirkjians, Dogsledding and Chris Young Joins

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Tim and Jeff celebrate March Madness with Chris Young, the Texas Rangers General Manager. He is a former Princeton basketball player, turned Major League Baseball player. We open more Topps baseball cards, Tim is asked about Lizzo and Beyoncé (oh no) and put on the spot for "The League In The Lid."

Tim was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a writer in 2022. He has 45 plus years of stories covering this game his entire professional life. Jeff is a country music morning show host in Philadelphia. Together they will weave through each week of the baseball season with stories of the history of the game coupled with hilarious hijinks that occur on and off the field that only Tim Kurkjian knows.

This has been a dream for both Tim and Jeff for quite a few years now, happy to have you at the beginning of the journey. New episodes release every Tuesday, next week catch Tim and Jeff chat with Hall of Famer John Smoltz.

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Opening Day: Tim Kurkjian's Best Stories, Eduardo Perez Joins

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:00 +0000

This has been a dream for both Tim and Jeff for quite a few years now, happy to have you at the beginning of the journey. New episodes release every Tuesday including this coming Tuesday, April 2nd featuring the Texas Rangers General Manager, Chris Young.

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Tim Kurkjian's New Podcast Coming Opening Day 2024

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:16:49 +0000

Together they will weave through each week of the baseball season with stories of the history of the game coupled with hilarious hijinks that occur on and off the field that only Tim Kurkjian knows. Each week a guest will join them who loves baseball just as much as they do.

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

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