American Valor Podcast

We have yet another great episode of the American Valor Podcast featuring retired Rear Admiral and Commanding Officer of the USS Louisville Michael Jabaley. During a 34-year career in the Navy aboard submarines, he learned what it meant to make uncommon valor a common virtue. Admiral Jabaley shares a lot of great stories about his relationships with Louisville Slugger, Tommy Lasorda, Yogi Berra, and other baseball legends. This is a very fun listen, as he also shares the story of how the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award was started.

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On this episode of the American Valor Podcast, we were joined by Luke Epplin, the author of Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball. Born and raised in rural Illinois, Luke took a liking to writing in high school. Upon graduation from Washington University in St. Louis, Luke moved to New York City to work in book publishing. On the side, Luke has written articles for magazines and newspapers such as the New Yorker and the Daily Beast. In this episode, Luke discusses his inspiration for writing Our Team and how each of the four main characters in his book (Bob Feller, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, and Bill Veeck) played a key part in forever changing the landscape of America’s national pastime.

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On this episode of the American Valor podcast, we were joined by Jon Hancock, a Marine veteran and documentary filmmaker as well as the co-founder and president of the Bastards’ Road Project. Jon Hancock was born in Honolulu but moved all over the world until he ended up moving to Maryland for good. Early on in his life, Jon Hancock realized that he wanted to be a Marine. He worked with a team called the Magnificent Bastards and later moved on to work counterintelligence operations. 
Following his time as a Marine, he came home and attended the University of Maryland. He later took on mountain biking and made the decision to walk across the country to meet with fellow members of his unit along with gold star families; he took off on this journey on September 11th in 2015. This journey led Mr. Jon Hancock to make a documentary called Bastards Road which is all about his journey and how he learned about himself while on this journey. In this episode, he talks about his journey and some of the hardships that he faced while on his walk across the country.

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On this episode of the American Valor Podcast, we were joined by Mr. Grant McCracken, an award-winning cultural anthropologist and author of his new book, The New Honor Code: A Simple Plan For Raising Our Standards and Restoring Our Good Names.

Mr. McCracken has been studying American Culture for the last 25 years. In this interview, we talk about why the military is one of the few remaining best examples of positive honor culture in America, why we struggle to make honor a part of our everyday life and culture and he gives us a rundown of his 10 virtues of honor.

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Jim Leeke was born and grew up in the Midwest. He studied journalism at Ohio State University after serving in the U.S. Navy. Jim then began his writing career in daily newspapers as a reporter, columnist and sportswriter. He later worked in communications with technology clients across North America and worldwide. An award-winning author of numerous books, Jim lives in Columbus, Ohio

A former journalist, creative director, and copywriter, Jim Leeke is the author of several books on WWI-era baseball. He has contributed to various SABR publications, and also writes about other areas of American history.

Hosts: Galen Odell and Leo Menchetti

Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Stammen grew up and still resides in North Star, Ohio a village about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Versailles. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 12th Round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Dayton.

In 2012, Stammen took his first trip to Afghanistan to visit military personnel. Stammen's work with the United States Military is partially due to some of his college friends joining the Army and Marines. His support of the military has continued throughout his Major League Baseball career. In recognition of all his efforts to the military, he was the Major League Baseball recipient of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, in 2020.

Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Baseball for All
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Ms. Justine Siegal, the founder of Baseball for all, speaks about creating a role for women and girls in baseball. She shares her experiences with individuals such as Mike Veeck, Joe Maddon, and Billy Beane.

“When she was 13, Justine’s coach told her that girls were only supposed to play softball—not baseball. At that moment, she vowed she’d never quit. At 16, despite being ridiculed, laughed at, and told no man would ever listen to a woman on the baseball field, she worked toward her goal of becoming a college baseball coach.

To give her an edge in an otherwise male-dominated profession, Justine earned her PhD in Sports Psychology while working as an Assistant Baseball Coach for Springfield College. She went on to be the first woman to coach for a professional men’s baseball team (Brockton Rox, 2009), the first woman to throw batting practice to a Major League Baseball team during Spring Training (Cleveland Indians, 2011)—and the first woman to ever coach for a MLB organization (Oakland Athletics, 2015). Since then, her jersey has been hung in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and she has gone on to work with baseball teams around the world, including Team Israel at the MLB World Baseball Classic Qualifier, and teams in Japan and Mexico as a guest coach.

Now, Justine is giving back to the next generation with Baseball For All, a nonprofit she founded to provide opportunities for girls to play, coach, and lead in baseball. “Too many girls are still told they can’t play baseball. I want girls to know they can follow their passions and that they have no limits—that their dreams matter” (Baseballforall.com).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Baseball for All
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Mr. Eric Kettani served in the Navy for two years after graduating from the US Naval Academy before embarking on a career as a football player in the NFL and fulfilling his service commitment in the Navy Reserves. Kettani shares stories of serving in the Navy and playing football at the professional level for coaches such as Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. 

“Lieutenant Eric Kettani (born March 26, 1987) was an American football fullback who played five seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at the United States Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science specialized in Economics.

Kettani attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2009. He played for the Navy Midshipmen football team from 2006-09. In his last three seasons with the Midshipmen, Kettani rushed 395 times for 2,091 yards, a 5.3-yards-per-carry average, and scored 15 rushing touchdowns. He was named the MVP for the first win against Notre Dame in 43 years and never lost to Army or Air Force” (EricKettani.com).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Eric Kettani’s Website
Eric Kettani USNA Biography
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Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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“Jim Morris is no stranger to big dreams. Since he was five years old, he passionately yearned to play baseball in the major leagues. However, despite all his hard work and determination, a series of unfortunate events and injuries scuttled his career before he was twenty-five. Doctors told him he would never play again.

Then at age thirty-five—after a string of highly implausible events and at an age when most players are retiring—Morris found himself on the mound as a relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His return to the game was so incredible that Disney made his story into a heartwarming film—The Rookie—with a stellar performance by Dennis Quaid. It was released to popular acclaim and was a huge box office success. It won the ESPY for Best Sports Movie in 2002 and the CAMIE award for Character and Morality in Entertainment.

Morris is the author of two books, with his most recent release entitled Dream Makers. It picks up where The Rookie left off. This compelling memoir explores the untapped territory of Morris’s life, including his contentious relationship with his father, his incessant and grueling struggle with pain and addiction, the mentorship with his wise and loving grandfather who kept him grounded, and the resolve and faith that drove him to overcome every tribulation. Dream Makers explores the transformative power of surrounding yourself with the best, most accomplished people possible—inspiring you to overcome life’s obstacles and achieve your dreams.

Morris is a seasoned motivational speaker, traveling the world since 2001. He has participated in such prestigious events as The Million Dollar Round Table, twice. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, by the Bobby Bragan Foundation. Morris also started a Foundation in his name helping inner city children find hope and inspiration through sports” (Jimtherookiemorris.com).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
The Rookie: The Incredible True Story of a Man Who Never Gave Up on His Dream by Jim Morris
Dream Makers: Surround Yourself with the Best to Be Your Best by Jim Morris and Mark Stuertz
Jim Morris baseball statistics
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Ed Dooling shares stories of the USS Iowa turret explosion tragedy and his thoughts on service within the military and business communities.

Hosts: Peter Fertig and Galen Odell
Vanguard Healthcare Staffing
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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