Pod of Fame

Jim breaks down the career and HOF candidacy of former MLB third baseman Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval. First, Jim discusses the San Francisco Giants dynasty of the early 2010s and Sandoval's oversized role on those championship teams (4:16). Next, Jim covers Sandoval's 3-home-run Game 1 performance in 2012, compares the start of Sandoval's career to the start of other Hall of Fame third basemen, and reviews just how rare maintaining a .330 batting average at the age of 22 really is (10:12). Finally, Jim walks through the rapid decline Scandoval experienced following his departure from the Bay Area (27:07), before making a final call on whether Scandoval belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame (33:12).

Action Network NBA writer Brandon Anderson joins Jim to break down former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mark Price's HOF candidacy. First, Jim and Brandon discuss Price's dominance in 1990s video games (8:48). Next, they cover Price's 53/44/90 season in 1989, the Price-Nash-Curry evolution, and were Price ranks among the the best point guards of the 1990s (27:25). Finally, Brandon and Jim build Shooter Mount Rushmore (1:02:00), before making a final call on whether Price belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame (1:17:23).

Adam Darowski of Sports Reference joins Jim to break down former Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Freehan's HOF candidacy. First, Jim and Adam discuss how Freehan was the prototypical catcher, as well as one of the best of his era (10:29). Next, they cover Freehan's pivotal role in the 1968 World Series and explore the ways his all-around game resembled that of Hall of Famer Gary Carter (20:53). Finally, Adam and Jim attempt to tackle the unanswerable question of what actually gets a catcher into Cooperstown (37:48), before making a final call on whether Freehan belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame (54:07).

Mike Ditka passed away last Friday at the age of 86. Jim covers Dikta's legendary football life on this week's podcast and pays tribute to a true Chicago legend. Jim talks at length about the 1985 Chicago Bears (6:35), Ditka's record-setting rookie season in 1961 (14:50), and how he single-handedly wrecked the Packers at Wrigley Field one balmy November afternoon (18:55). Jim also chisels Ditka's face onto Tight End Rushmore, Chicago Rushmore, and NFL Life Rushmore (28:18).

Jim welcomes Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein to talk about his latest book "Inside the Owner’s Box: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports." Jim and David discuss the ins and outs of sports ownership, pick a former US president who would have made a great owner, build Baltimore Orioles Mount Rushmore, walk through where to get a beer around Camden Yards, and much more.

Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit passed away last Wednesday at the age of 93. Jim dives into Pettit's decorated career, covering his historic performance in the 1958 NBA Finals (13:02), his inclusion on Power Forward Mount Rushmore (24:05), and where he ranks on Jim's all-time NBA player list (34:26).

Last week the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their decision to flip their voting process on its head. Voters were kicked to the curb; senior candidates are basically dead in the water, and classes are going to be getting smaller. Jim walks through all of the changes (2:49) and how this will impact the upcoming HOF Class of 2027 (13:31).

Which active players will end up in Canton one day? Jim kicks off the NFL season by trying to answer that question. On this week's pod, Jim covers four HOF tiers for active players, highlighting 40 players in all:

17 No-Brainers (6:45)

8 Nearly There (19:12)

5 Some Work To Do (26:33)

10 Too Young, But Tons of Potential (31:34)

Jim is joined by author and sports historian Clayton Trutor to break down the HOF candidacy of former MLB right fielder Jack Clark. First, Clayton and Jim discuss just how rare it is for a ballplayer to record 130+ walks in a season, a feat Clark accomplished twice (14:59). Next, they cover Clark's huge home run in the 1985 NLCS, why Clark did not reach the level of fame his talent warranted, and where Clark ranks among the best right fielders of his era (19:05). Finally, Jim makes a confession about his longtime Will Clark/Jack Clark mixup (44:18), before making a final call on whether Clark belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame (46:34).

Jim welcomes Ryan Chichester of WFAN Sports Radio to break down the HOF candidacy of former New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances. First, Ryan and Jim discuss the fact that Dellin Betances may be the most dominant Yankees reliever not named Mariano Rivera in franchise history (8:49). Next, they cover Dellin's immaculate inning in 2017 against the Detriot Tigers and whether they would prefer Betances or Billy Wagner on the mound if we could have them at their absolute peak (19:22). Finally, they rank Betances among the best relievers of the 2010s (35:03), before making a final call on whether or not we believes Betances deserves a plaque in Cooperstown (53:10)