Minisode: Killing Mr. Met

The day was April 15, 1997 and, apparently, all Hell was about to break loose at Major League Baseball's inaugural Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Shea Stadium.

“We have snipers all around the stadium, just in case something were to happen" is what the Secret Service told Mr. Met, the New York Mets beloved mascot.

Did the Secret Service REALLY want to kill Mr. Met...and why? Shawn and Lou talk to AJ Mass, the man behind (beneath?) the mask.

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)

Episode 416: Jonathan Knight

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by JONATHAN KNIGHT.

Just in time to celebrate the 35th anniversary or “Major League” (and the 30th anniversary of “Major League 2”!), the author returns to talk to the boys about the best and worst baseball movies, the lasting legacy of the “Major League” franchise, why Milwaukee was chosen to play host to the 1989 film and, for some reason, the weird coincidences surrounding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln...and their connection with showbiz siblings.

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)

Episode 415: Brad Balukjian

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by BRAD BALUKJIAN.

The author of The Six Pack, returns to talk to the boys about how many miles he traveled to write his latest book compared to the last one, promoting the thing now versus during a pandemic, whether or not it’s too early to plan his next project, re-connecting with The Iron Sheik (and getting closure) and Shawn and Lou become the charter members of The Brad Pack!

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Episode 414: Gerald Watkins

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by GERALD WATKINS.

The Friends of Rickwood executive director joins the boys to talk about the history of "America's Oldest Baseball Park" (and what it takes to keep it as historically accurate as possible), getting the attention of MLB and convincing them to bring a regular season game to the field and how the greatest basketball player of all-time helped energize baseball in Birmingham, Alabama.

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)

Episode 413: Mark Braff

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by MARK BRAFF.

The author joins the boys to talk about the idea behind his new book, Sons of Baseball, the role COVID played in getting it published, tracking down the men he talked to (and who he was hoping to get), securing Cal Ripken Jr. and how the promise of new sod got Roger Maris to return to Yankee Stadium.

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)

Episode 412: Jennifer McKenney

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by JENNIFER McKENNEY.

The autograph enthusiast joins the boys to talk about why (and when) collecting baseballs signed by anyone who ever wore a Tampa Bay Rays uniform became a family endeavor, the players that were the best (and worst!) to deal with, how you begin to store and document such a large collection and whether or not Kevin Cash is really the best man for the job in St. Pete.

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)

Episode 411: Rafi Kohan

This week, Shawn Anderson and Lou Olsen are joined by RAFI KOHAN.

In addition to helping Lou pick a fight, the author joins the boys to talk about his new book about trash talking, the history of and psychology behind “the language of competition”, the different types of trash talking, how former All-Pro linebacker Bryan Cox used to hype himself up and introduces the world to the curious antics of Shep Messing.

Also, is Donald Trump actually good at talking smack?

(Download The Hall of Very Good Podcast over on iTunes)