Is This A Great Game, Or What?

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Hall of Fame Baseball Writer Tim Kurkjian is joined by his son, Jeff, as they chat all things baseball. Each week you will hear from one of the sport's most storied experts on the history of the game and how it pertains to today. Plus, every week they will be joined by a guest. Without a question, there will be plenty of father-son prodding throughout the show!

Tim Kurkjian, Jeff Kurkjian


    • Oct 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 138 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Is This A Great Game, Or What?

    What In The World (Series)?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025 49:01


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Harold Reynolds, Former Big Leaguer Turned Storied Analyst

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 48:52


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    O Canada!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025 40:26


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Unlimited Soup and Salas

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 43:51


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Eddie, Ravvy and Timmy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 39:53


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    ERA & eBay

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025 31:16


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Don't Get Mad, Get Vlad

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025 46:02


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Caleb Joseph, Hilarious Former Catcher Turned Broadcaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 62:21


    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.   Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Trey Bien

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025 45:10


    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!   Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Wild, About To Get Wilder

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 41:53


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Jeremy Schaap, The Best Journalist We Have

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 49:34


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Where The Wild Things Are

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 36:39


    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.  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Crazy Week, Crazy Season (Live Studio Audience)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 41:50


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Kevin Brown, Major League Baseball Broadcaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 46:00


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Coco Beach

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 44:40


    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.  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Missed It By That Much

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 45:29


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Jane Leavy, Make Me Commissioner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 52:53


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Switching It Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 42:35


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Piazza, Pedro and Pirates

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 46:06


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 37:28


    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!   Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    2131 Walk-Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 48:04


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Slide Into Our DMs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 41:32


    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.  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Jesse Cole: The Man Behind The Savannah Bananas

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 35:24


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    He Tattooed That One!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 44:03


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Don't Move Til You Seaver

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 42:25


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Adnan Virk, Cinephile and Newly Published Author

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 49:56


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Lights, Camera, Big Dumper

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 40:09


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Babe "Matt Stairs" Ruth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 42:46


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Todd Frazier and Karl Ravech In Williamsport

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 46:03


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Williamsport Is A GameChanger

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 37:33


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Magic vs Matt Kemp

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 44:26


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Joe West, Umpired More Games Than Anyone In MLB History

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 54:31


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Woody And Buzz

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 44:11


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    A Troutstanding Birthday

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 43:43


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 44:15


    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?" Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Jawn Duran

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 41:30


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    BONUS: Trade Deadline Takeaways

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 12:20


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Trading Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 42:03


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Tony Gwynn Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 40:57


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Kurtz So Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 42:35


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Next Stop, Cooperstown!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 39:05


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Billy Wagner, 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 39:20


    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. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Seconds, Please!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 39:51


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    "That Was Madness!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 44:48


    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!  Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Chipper Jones, Hall of Famer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 43:45


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    ASG In ATL

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025 41:33


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    The Big Train

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 44:00


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Scott Bradley, Former MLB Catcher, Princeton Head Baseball Coach

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 40:54


    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!    Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Stay Classy, San Diego

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 41:16


    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.   Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Not Taking It In Stride

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 37:36


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

    Ron Darling And The Fourth Of July

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 35:17


    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! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC

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