Is This A Great Game, Or What?

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The Trade Deadline: According To A GM Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

HAPPY TRADE DEADLINE! We are celebrating by bringing in Jim Bowden, friend and former General Manager of the Reds and Nationals. He is also the host of GM Territory with HIS son. I mean, come on, how perfect is it to interview him about that given what our show is all about!

His best stories come out including Ken Griffey Jr., Deion Sanders, Ryan Zimmerman and more. His very first year as a GM, well let’s not talk about it, but he has many years of amazing deadlines to talk about!

What ended up being a highlight was the chat about Frank Robinson. What an amazing man. What he had to say about Andruw Jones, now a Hall of Famer, will give you chills. Again, hopefully you laughed and learned in this episode. Our goal is to always tap into something going on in the game and nothing is more exciting than August 3rd, THE TRADE DEADLINE!

We appreciate you watching/listening and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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The Automatic Double and Immaculate Inning That Has Tim Kurkjian Stumped Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" hosted by Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, with everything else handled by his son, Jeff Kurkjian.

The MLB Trade Deadline is looming, so you know we're diving into plenty of speculation and discussion. But first, Tim has a question about a walk-off automatic double that has us scratching our heads, and we'd love to hear your thoughts.

We all know what an Immaculate Inning is, but what do you call it when a pitcher throws just three pitches and records three outs? Tim may have come up with the perfect name.

In Takeaways, we discuss the Marlins' slump, the Angels' continued struggles, and somehow... The Miz. Plus, Max Muncy has officially cemented his place in Dodgers history.

The Quirkjians feature Shane Bieber and Jacob Young with some of the best quirky baseball stats you'll find anywhere. Then, On This Date in Baseball History takes an unexpected turn involving Adrian Beltre and Bud Selig.

Alphabest continues as Tim tries to name the greatest pitcher and position player for every letter of the alphabet. This week, the letter "S" might have given him his toughest challenge yet.

We wrap things up with Three Cards and Team Tim to close out another fun episode.

As always, thank you for listening. Without you, there is no show, and we truly appreciate all of your support. Be sure to follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and thanks for being part of our family!

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Jason Benetti, Sunday Night Baseball, Game Shows and Even Counts Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Jason Benetti returns to Is This A Great Game, Or What?, and this time he has another impressive title to add to his résumé: host of Sunday Night Baseball on NBC. Alongside his role as the Detroit Tigers' play-by-play broadcaster, Jason is now taking his talents to a national audience every week, and we couldn't be happier for one of the best in the business.

That said... we don't spend much time talking baseball.

Instead, we dive into Jason's marching band days (yes, he played the tuba), his love of trivia and game shows, and how those passions helped shape him into the broadcaster he is today. Then, somehow, Yellowcard enters the conversation—and if you know this podcast, you know things go off the rails in all the right ways.

Former guest Kevin Brown joins the conversation as we look back on their days together in Minor League Baseball. We also swap stories about Bill Walton, Roger Clemens, and John Kruk, making for another unforgettable conversation with this future (one-day) Hall of Fame broadcaster.

Thanks for watching or listening, and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Three Hall Of Famers Peeing Next To Tim Kurkjian Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Hall of Fame Weekend is in the books, and Tim Kurkjian shares some incredible stories from his time with this year's inductees and plenty of other baseball legends. Wade Boggs meets Eddie Murray, and you won't believe who Tim ran into in the bathroom. Trust us—this one's an all-timer.

We also break down a surprising Red Sox-Nationals trade that Tim says is unlike anything we've seen in years. With the trade deadline fast approaching, Tarik Skubal has become one of baseball's hottest names. But are the Tigers buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between?

On This Date in Baseball History, it's Alex Rodriguez's birthday, and we'll share a birthday stat about A-Rod that we're willing to bet you've never heard before. We also spin the Wheel of Kurkjian, and when "video games" comes up, it's Jeff's time to shine. Plus, Team Tim is all about the home run!

Thanks so much for listening! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate us, subscribe or follow, and leave a comment. Every review helps us grow, and we truly appreciate your support. Thanks for listening, thanks for watching, and as always, thanks for being a part of our family!

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Tim Kurkjian's Best Beltran, Jones and Kent Stories Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

This weekend, Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Naturally, Tim Kurkjian makes the case for why each of these baseball legends is deserving of the honor.

We all know Luis Arraez is a contact machine, but his latest stat has everyone stunned. Nolan Ryan and Goose Gossage? It sounds impossible, but it's true—and it's this week's On This Date in Baseball History.

Alphabet Best moves on to last names beginning with R, and one pick is as obvious as it gets. Before that, Team Tim is made up entirely of players who go by three names. Trust us—there are a lot more than you'd think.

Plus, we crack open some baseball cards for Tim to riff on, featuring Patrick Wisdom, Kevin Youkilis, and Matt Olson. And this week's Quirkjians highlights a Phillies baserunning blunder that has Jeff completely beside himself.

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John Buccigross Might Be The BIGGEST Collector We Know! Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

This interview with John Buccigross isn't just normally good—it's great. He even showed up with some incredible memorabilia, including a bobblehead that absolutely blew our minds. We're always fans of a good show-and-tell, and John definitely delivered.

Of course, we couldn't resist throwing some of our signature hypothetical questions his way—including one about hockey. We also dive into Dan Patrick's legendary confidence in his own athletic abilities. Tim, John, and Dan spent many years together at ESPN, so there are plenty of great stories and laughs along the way.

And then there's Bucket of Chicken Night. We'll let John tell that story because it deserves to be heard firsthand.

John has been a longtime friend of the Kurkjian family, and we're thrilled to finally have him on the show. Thanks so much for watching, listening, and for being part of our family!

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The Red Sox Are DIFFERENT And That's GOOD! Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

We are officially into the second half of the baseball season, with plenty of games in the books, and it feels great to be BACK!

This episode is packed with Takeaways and Quirkjians, led by the Boston Red Sox. Tim Kurkjian is still trying to figure out exactly what’s happening with this team — because somehow, the story looks completely different than it did just three weeks ago.

James Wood and the Nationals/Athletics series have us scratching our heads, while Victor Martinez and Logan Webb also make their way into this week’s Quirkjians. For On This Date in Baseball History, we take a look back at Gaylord Perry and Hank Aaron. Jeff brings up an interesting question about Hank Aaron’s final home run that you may have wondered about too.

Stephen Strasburg shares a birthday with our friend and former guest Dan Shaughnessy, and Tim shares a story from a recent speech Dan gave that had him laughing so hard he was nearly on the floor. Which makes us wonder… didn’t Tim Kurkjian already know every baseball story ever told? Turns out, not this one! We also spin the Wheel of Kurkjian, so be sure to send in your suggestions on our website.

Finally, Team Tim is becoming more like Team Shannon, thanks to a genius idea from a member of our family. As Jeff mentioned during the show, please subscribe or follow wherever you watch or listen — it helps us out more than you know. And if you have a moment to leave a rating and review, we’d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks so much for watching, listening, and being a part of our family!

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American League Won It, Philly Crushed It! Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

The 2026 All-Star Game, held on America's 250th birthday, felt like the perfect celebration of baseball. While the game itself didn't exactly produce fireworks, the atmosphere made it unforgettable. All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger also shared a wild story about something he said to his dad before first pitch.

Jeff and Tim were both at the ballpark, experiencing the game from two very different perspectives, and they break it all down with their biggest takeaways and favorite Quirkjians from one incredible night. Plus, don't miss a couple of fun "On This Date in Baseball History" stories and the answer to this week's trivia question: Who are the best pitcher and hitter whose last names begin with the letter Q?

Finally, we'd love for you to join us for a special live event benefiting an incredible man and his family. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to get your tickets and see Tim and Jeff live!

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A.J. Pierzynski Crashes Our All Star Game Special Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

LIVE on the day of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian sit down with former All-Star catcher and Foul Territory host A.J. Pierzynski. From hilarious stories to thoughtful conversations about the state of today's game, A.J. brings the perfect mix of insight and entertainment.
A huge thank you to our friends at Iron Hill Brewery for hosting us! Plus, Hall of Fame writer Tim Kurkjian reflects on some of the biggest moments in All-Star Game history, drawing from the 45 All-Star Games he's covered throughout his legendary career.

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Tim Kurkjian’s Most Memorable HR Derby Performances Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Tim and Jeff Kurkjian are live from Iron Hill Brewery for the first of their two All-Star Game specials. In today's episode, they look back at the first half of the season and break down what it all means for the stretch run. Expect plenty of takeaways, Quirkjians, and insight along the way. Then, they turn their attention to what promises to be an incredible Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, including Tim's absolutely epic All-Home Run Derby Team.

Use code foul50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last at Factormeals.com/foul50off

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