Is This A Great Game, Or What?

Tim Kurkjian is a baseball expert, so naturally he built a team made up entirely of players who have one thing in common: the number 250 played a significant role in their careers. Trust us, it's a fun and fitting way for baseball fans to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

The Rangers and Marlins are both on a roll, while Dave Roberts reaches a managerial milestone faster than anyone in history. Plus, the Brewers honor one of their own with a stunning new mural—and it's well deserved.

In this week's Quirkjians, we've got strikeouts, struggling Yankees, and Max Muncy times two. Plus, who's refusing to swing at the first pitch? Steven Kwan, and you can take that to the bank.

Jeff opens a box of 2001 Topps cards that honestly may have never been opened before (so much for preserving their value). Then it's time for the Alphabest, where the last names beginning with "O" spark plenty of debate thanks to Shohei Ohtani's two-way greatness.

Thank you so much for listening, and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!\

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We call him the greatest batting practice pitcher of all time—and honestly, we don't think there's much of a debate.

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian sit down with Rich Donnelly, a man with some of the greatest baseball stories you'll ever hear. From Barry Bonds to Ted Williams, every story is a treat for baseball fans of all ages.

With the All-Star Game right around the corner, it's the perfect time to celebrate Rich's incredible impact on the Home Run Derby. But his legacy goes far beyond batting practice. As one of the game's best third base coaches, his stories about giving signs, waving runners home, and the split-second decisions that define a game are unforgettable.

Nomar, Cano, and Tim Kurkjian's basketball ability somehow all become important topics of conversation, making this one of our favorite episodes yet.

Do yourself a favor and subscribe or follow wherever you like to watch or listen. And thank you for being a part of our family!

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Who looks like who? Jeff had quite the concert-going experience this week. The White Sox scored 10 runs in a single inning—how often are we seeing that in today's pitching era? And of course, the Phillies found another way to keep things interesting until the ninth inning.

Dansby Swanson, Kyle Schwarber, and Dylan Cease headline this week's Quirkjians. Plus, James Wood becomes the subject of a conversation thanks to a comparison to Ted Williams... sort of. We'll explain.

On This Date in Baseball History, we look back at Craig Biggio's incredible hit-by-pitch total, two cycles in the same week, and why Harmon Killebrew's name is as memorable as his career. Oh, and yes—Moonlight Graham was a real player.

Inspired by Moonlight Graham, Tim brings us a special Team Tim. You may not have heard this one on the show before, but you might remember it from his Twitter a few years ago. Then we spin the Wheel of Kurkjian for more fascinating stories and even a special guest appearance. Thanks for listening and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Tim Kurkjian unveils his list of current players who are as close to Hall of Fame locks as you can get. Do you agree with this week’s Team Tim? Let us know in the comments or on our website!

The Yankees are doing something you rarely see at both the plate and on the mound — even with a giant lollipop sitting on the field. Plus, who should be the National League’s starting shortstop in the All-Star Game? Tim makes the case for two contenders, including one particularly intriguing choice.

Then it’s time for a tale of two pitchers: Jesus Luzardo and Brad Lord. You can probably guess where that conversation leads. We also dive into On This Date in Baseball History, featuring Aaron Nola tying a record, Toby Harrah (still one of the best baseball names ever) going an entire game without seeing a ball, and Edwin Jackson nearly reaching 150 pitches in a start.

We also debate the best last-name “N” pitcher and hitter in Alphabest, open more baseball cards, and wrap things up with a Team Tim that just about every fan should be able to agree with — unless, of course, you really don’t like the Dodgers.

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Our hilarious guest is Kent Mercker, former MLB pitcher who spent 18 seasons in the big leagues and shared clubhouses with 17 Hall of Famers throughout his remarkable career. We dive into his experiences with Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine, getting an inside look at what made each of them such extraordinary players, competitors, and teammates.

Plus, we’re never going to pass up a great Bobby Cox story, and Mercker has plenty of them. He threw a no-hitter, was part of a combined no-hitter, and accomplished something else that makes him the only player in baseball history to achieve all three. Find out what that unique distinction is in the interview.

He’s also a proud girl dad, a role he considers one of his greatest accomplishments. He shares a memorable moment with Mark McGwire that we’re willing to bet you’ve never heard before, along with a Vin Scully story that absolutely gave us chills.

Thanks for listening or watching, and thank you always for being a part of our family!

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Spend Father’s Day with your favorite father-son baseball podcasting duo, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian!

We cover all the latest happenings across Major League Baseball, but first, we kick things off with a Kurkjian Quandary about golf (yes, we love these).

The Marlins are playing great baseball, and so is Bryce Harper. Harper and Manny Machado both reflect on how different the game is today, especially when it comes to facing pitching compared to when they first broke into the majors.

Plus, the commissioner of the podcast, Mike Schur, shares a Quirkjiian that will have you thinking about unassisted triple plays in a whole new way.

And on this date, we celebrate baseball legends Bobby Cox, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays. We'd say that's a pretty strong lineup.

Then we spin the Wheel of Kurkjian and talk all things baseball—it's kind of the perfect segment.

Thanks so much for listening or watching, and thank you for being part of our family!

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Jeff is back, Tim is visiting his new grandson, and life is good here on Is This A Great Game, Or What? A huge thank-you to Kelly Kurkjian for stepping in on our last episode—she was an absolute superstar!

We start with Cal Raleigh, because he's simply the best. After a slow start to the season, he looks like he's finding his groove again. Nothing will top last year, of course, but it's great to see him back on track. We also discuss Jeff Hoffman's puzzling season and take a look at what baseball could look like in Las Vegas after getting a sneak peek of what's to come.

Colt Keith leads off the Quirkjians segment, and a Hopp, Skip and Jump is finally complete—much to Tim Kurkjian's delight. In Three Cards in the Bathroom, Jeff shares a few favorites from his card collection, featuring some names that are sure to bring back memories.

On This Date and Alphabest both turn into a celebration of Willie Mays. The legendary Hall of Famer is almost impossible to put into words, but we do our best—including sharing what Johnny Bench once said about him, a remarkable testament to Mays' character and impact.

We wrap up the episode with an all-Team Tim lineup featuring the greatest pinch hitters of all time, inspired by Kelly's outstanding pinch-hitting performance earlier in the week.

Thanks so much for listening and watching, and as always, thank you for being part of our family!

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Mike Schur is a TV writer and producer best known for creating Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Good Place. He also worked on The Office and played Mose, Dwight's delightfully odd cousin. Impressive credentials, of course—but most importantly to us, he's a massive baseball fan. That may even be underselling it. Mike joins Tim Kurkjian and Jeff to talk baseball, including the fact that both he and Tim were at Pedro Martínez's legendary 17-strikeout game against the Yankees. Was that the greatest pitching season ever?

The three also dive into their shared love of storytelling and why the best baseball stories often stick with us as much as the games themselves. Is it any surprise that one of television's great writers appreciates a great story?

Schur also praises the Brewers for their knack for pulling off incredible trades and shares his deep admiration for Shohei Ohtani, encouraging everyone to appreciate just how remarkable a player he is. And, of course, there's Mike's new book, Big Fan: Two Friends, 82,490 Miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love, co-authored with sportswriter Joe Posnanski. Released in May 2026, the book explores fandom across sports, music, and beyond, celebrating the passion that brings people together. Pick up a copy online or wherever books are sold.

One quick editorial note: this episode was recorded on June 10, just one day before Jeff and his wife, Emily, welcomed their son, Bodie, into the world. Thanks so much for watching and listening, and thanks for being part of our family.

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Kelly Kurkjian makes her show debut! She joins her dad, Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, as a special guest host given Jeff's excused absence. Tim will never stop talking about Kelly's free throw shooting prowess.

Tim names his All-Childbirth team and names a new show commissioner. Plus, remembering awkward car rides with dad when Hall of Famers are on the phone! One glove wasn't enough to replace Tim's beloved A2000.

Houston Astros star Yordan Álvarez's incredible first inning leads Takeaways. Milwaukee Brewers stud Jacob Misiorowski tees how Tim took up Pokemon cards.

On This Date: Johnny Vander Meer's second no-hitter, and a couple important birthdays. Plus, hear how Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench warmly celebrated Tim and family in Cooperstown.

Kelly drops her team "Pop Pop's Home Team"

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Tim Kurkjian tackles TWO big questions in this episode of Is This A Great Game, Or What? Jeff is, as usual, on baby watch as he awaits the arrival of his son, so we're glad he made it for this episode!

Tim's run-in with a worker at Camden Yards left him smiling. Plus, there's a Trey Mancini update that everyone will be happy to hear. We have plenty of Quirkjians this week, with both the Dodgers and Brewers piquing our interest.

GameChanger of the Week focuses on the state of baseball and the three outcomes that seem to define almost every at-bat these days. Tim once again dives deep into how the game is changing and why he believes it will eventually swing back in the other direction, or at least we hope so.

Three Cards in the Bathroom has us talking about catchers, specifically Rick Dempsey and the amazing claim he made at age 60. We think he was absolutely right. Some skills just don't go away. Alphabest brings us the best "L" batter and pitcher.

And finally, Team Tim is all about the incredible pitching we've been seeing. How do you build a team around pitching while still going around the diamond? Tim always finds a way.

Thanks for listening and watching. Follow and subscribe to the show so you can keep coming back. Most of all, thanks for being part of our family!

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