Baseball And Bbq

Baseball and BBQ Episode #158: Baseballmapper.com Creators, Cory Nissen and Patrick Noote and a Replay of Pitmaster, Matt Dallman from Live Coals Barbeque   Cory Nissen and Patrick Noote are childhood friends who met over 25 years ago while they both worked at a Chicago pizza shop.  They are the creators of baseballmapper.com, a website that will help travelers who love baseball find places to visit throughout the country.  Their website has an extremely detailed map, a blog with stories on Patrick's and Cory's travels, a shop with baseball-related merchandise, and baseball news.  They came up with the idea for this project while planning their annual baseball trip for their group of friends.  They were looking for local baseball teams in the area of the trip when the idea struck them. What if there was a website to make that type of planning easier? The idea was born and what started as a tool to help themselves out became a great opportunity to share with the world.  The best way to learn about their websit

Episode #157 Features Barbecue Renaissance Man, Craig Sharry and Former MLB Player, Endy Chávez Craig Sharry is a well known pitmaster and a true barbecue renaissance man.  Craig has an amazing personality and our guest co-host Doug Scheiding tells Craig how much his mentoring has meant to him.  Craig is the pitmaster of Texas Pepper Jelly Competition BBQ team out of Houston, TX.  He is a two-time World Champion at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a two-time winner of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo BBQ Cook-Off.  He has won more than 80 Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions combined during his 15+ years of cooking.  He is the founder of the company, Texas Pepper Jelly and the inventor of incredible barbecue products, including the award-winning Pineapple Habanero Jelly, Rib Candy, BBQ Sauce, and various rubs and seasonings.  Our conversation includes baseball talk, a look back at his time raising show dogs, winning the Good Guy Award twice, his induction into the IBCA Hall of Fame, and w

Episode 156 Features a Road Trip to Ray's Roadside Kitchen and a Baseball Discussion with Author, John Vampatella Ray Sheehan welcomes us to his new restaurant, Ray's Roadside Kitchen in Cream Ridge, New Jersey.  It was a special Baseball and BBQ road trip as we were treated to wonderful food and outstanding hospitality.  We feasted on burgers, fried chicken, salads, special sides, and our namesake menu item, the Baseball and BBQ Footlong with which Ray honors us.  We also had the chance to interview Ray's son, Raymond who tells us how exciting it is to work alonside his dad, the founder of BBQ Buddha, a multi-award winning, all natural barbecue sauce and spice blend company.  Head to the restaurant's Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083013498588 John Vampatella is a fantastic author, but while some writers are better at putting pen to paper, but perhaps not as comfortable publicly speaking; John is exceptional at both.  He is very knowledgeable and joins us, not t

Baseball and BBQ Episode #155  Features Former Israel National Baseball Team Manager, Eric Holtz and Sweet Swine O' Mine BBQ World Champion Pitmaster, Mark Lambert Eric Holtz is a former manager of the Israel national baseball team.  He was the assistant coach of the gold-medal-winning Team USA in baseball at the 2013 Maccabiah Games and the Team USA head coach for the gold-medal-winning Under-18 baseball team at the 2017 Maccabiah Games.  He was the Head Coach of the first and only Olympic baseball team to represent Israel.  He was an assistant baseball coach at Manhattanville College from 2004 to 2007 and later the hitting coach at Westchester Community College from 2008-2015.  He is the founder of Game On 13, Westchester County's premier baseball and softball training facility, and Holtz Bats, makers of premium bats.  Additional information can be found at https://www.gameon13.com/  Eric's baseball knowledge is extensive, and we had a great time talking about the game which is played worldwide.         Mar

Baseball and BBQ Episode #154 is a Jones-filled episode as we welcome Cleon Jones of the 1969 World Series Champion Miracle Mets and BBQ Master Judge, Bill Jones Cleon Jones is a beloved figure in New York sports history.  Wearing #21 and playing left field; it was Jones who caught the final out of the 1969 World Series which would earn the New York Mets their first championship, in which they would always be known as The Miracle Mets.  Jones is one of Jeff's baseball heroes and it was an honor to interview him and discuss his new book, Coming Home:  My Amazing' Life With The New York Mets, which he wrote with Gary Kaschak.  Cleon discusses playing in New York, his dear friend, Tommie Agee, growing up in Mobile, Alabama, and so many other fascinating stories.  Speaking with Cleon was an absolute treat, and we hope listening to him will be as well.  Bill Jones just returned from judging at the American Royal and he gives us an in-depth look at what is involved in becoming a barbecue judge and what it is about

Baseball and BBQ Episode #153 Features Intentional Balk Authors, Daniel Levitt and Mark Armour, and Queen of the Grill, Paula Stachyra, Author of Wing Crush   Daniel R. Levitt joins us to discuss Mark's and his newest book, Intentional Balk:  Baseball's Thin Line Between Innovation and Cheating.  Dan is the author of several award-winning books, including Paths to Glory: How Great Baseball Teams Got That Way (2003 with Mark Armour); Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees’ First Dynasty; The Battle That Forged Modern Baseball: The Federal League Challenge and Its Legacy; and In Pursuit of Pennants: Baseball Operations from Deadball to Moneyball (2015, with Armour).  In 2015, he was selected as the recipient of the Bob Davids Award, the Society for American Baseball Research's (SABR) highest honor.  Dan currently serves as treasurer of SABR and is the co-chair of SABR's Business of Baseball committee.  Go to https://sabr.org/authors/daniel-r-levitt/ and http://daniel-levitt.com/ for more information.    M

Baseball and BBQ Episode #152 Features MLB Network's Alanna Rizzo, 7-Time Emmy Winning Sports Reporter, and Dan Arnold, Owner of the Multi-Award-Winning SuckleBusters Alanna Rizzo has worked extremely hard for all of her numerous achievements.  She is a winner of seven Emmy Awards for her outstanding sports reporting as well as an integral part of the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcast team from 2013 through 2020.  Alanna rejoined the MLB Network in 2021, having previously been a reporter on the network's shows, Intentional Talk and Quick Pitch.  This time, her extreme talent and efforts landed her a job alongside Chris "Mad Dog" Russo on the show, High Heat.  In addition to her outstanding career, Alanna has made time to take her love for dogs and channel that passion into an organization she created called, Guidry's Guardian Foundation, whose purpose is to help dogs in need.  More information on Guidry's Guardian Foundation can be found at https://guidrysguardian.org Dan Arnold is the owner, along with

Bron Heussenstamm is on an amazing journey that has brought him to his current role as founder and CEO of the Bleav Network.  With an IMDb page mentioning the various bit parts he has had in a few movies as well as his contributions to shows while he was a professional surfer, he modestly tells us it is typical for anyone in Hollywood to have an IMDb page.  Bron's family business is clothing, which helps account for his business acumen as he builds an entertainment empire.  We felt it was appropriate that the man in charge welcome us to our new home, the Bleav Network.  With a growing network that numbers over 500 shows, Bron was glad to find time in a busy schedule to tell us our show includes two of his favorite subjects, baseball, and barbecue; he may have even said we are his favorite show, but we will let you listen and decide if we heard correctly. We recommend you go to BBQ Buddha, https://bbqbuddha.com/ for rubs and award-winning sauces, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools

Baseball and BBQ Episode #150 Features Colin Cosell, New York Mets Public Address Announcer, and Yaffi L'Vova, Author and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Colin Cosell has a famous last name, but the career he has forged is not due to a name, but rather it is a result of hard work, perseverance, and in his case, proving that nice guys do in fact finish first.  He joined us one fine afternoon when Leonard was unable to make it, but Gary Mack, the host of the Mets Musings podcast as well as cohost of the Baseball Talk Radio Show podcast, filled in quite admirably.  Colin shares a few stories involving his grandfather, Howard Cosell.  He discusses being one half of the public address announcing team at Citifield and how he got the job.  Anyone who is interested in this type of career would be wise to listen to Colin as he talks about the three C's (be clear, be concise, be correct) which come directly from the late great New York Yankees PA announcer, Bob Shepard.  Colin is also the PA announcer for the NY Ript

Baseball and BBQ Episode 149 Features Lea Anne Lemon, President of the International Barbeque Cookers Association (IBCA), and Anthony Marasco, Co-founder of The Beltway Mets and Ardent Gil Hodges Supporter Lea Anne Lemon has been involved with the International Barbeque Cookers Association (IBCA) for 14 years and is currently serving as president as well as a head judge.  Her time in the association has been quite eventful, and she has a lot to share regarding the experience, including the wonderful people she has worked with and the many others whom she has been lucky to meet.  That includes our guest co-host, Doug Scheiding, an IBCA member who has cooked in their competitions and who joins us to add his unique perspective.  Lea Anne works tirelessly for the IBCA and we, as well as its more than 1200 members, are fortunate she does.  More on Lea Anne and the IBCA can be found at https://ibcabbq.org Anthony Marasco worked hard to right a wrong.  The wrong was that Gil Hodges, who had been on 34 Major League B

Baseball and BBQ Episode #148 Features The BBQ Central Show's, Greg Rempe, Author of Sho-Time, Jeff Fletcher, and Jeff Rants Greg Rempe is the creator and host of the longest running show dealing with live fire cooking, The BBQ Central Show.  When our scheduled guest cancelled at the last minute, Greg was gracious enough to step in and provide a scintillating hour of both baseball and barbecue talk as well as play a game.  Greg has done so much for our show and this is just another example.  He speaks his mind and encourages and appreciates when his guests do the same.  His show can be heard live every Tuesday night from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm and is released in podcast format; the first hour on Wednesday and the second hour on Thursday.  Then on Fridays you can catch up on parts of past episodes listening to The Best Moments of The BBQ Central Show in 10 Minutes or Less.  More on Greg and his show can be found at http://thebbqcentralshow.com/   Jeff Fletcher is an award winning sports reporter who has been writ

Baseball and BBQ Episode #147 Features Photographer, Ken Goodman, and Author, Neil R. Beller, Jr. Ken Goodman is a freelance photographer specializing in cookbooks, concerts, and food events. More than 50 cookbooks are filled with his mouth-watering photographs.  Many of the cookbooks featuring Ken's photos are from pitmasters and chefs we have featured on Baseball and BBQ.  There is no doctoring the food which Ken takes pictures of.  His skill with a camera is like that of a fine painter with a brush.  Prior to photography, Ken spent 20 great years in the restaurant industry as a classically trained chef with a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University. He still satisfies his cooking vice as a long-time member of the competition barbecue team IQUE, past winners of the Jack Daniel's World Championship of Barbecue.  Visit https://www.kengoodmanphotography.com/home for more information. Neil R. Beller, Jr. is a wonderfully funny storyteller.  One perk of this podcast is being contacted by individuals

Baseball and BBQ Episode #146 Features Pat Geoghegan from Save the Game and Janice Smella from SmellaQue BBQ with Guest Co-host, Doug Scheiding of Rogue Cookers Pat Geoghegan loves baseball and wants to save and grow the game.  Pat is part of a group that is dedicated to keeping baseball relevant, as it needs to have today's youth involved in playing and watching baseball.  Baseball is losing fans, and that means fewer eyes on the game.  The website for Save the Game, https://savethegameus.com/ has a petition they need you to sign which will support their argument that baseball is becoming a niche sport and changes are necessary if the game is to continue and grow.  The website provides lots of reasons and proves why baseball is losing fans and offers suggestions on how to fix it.  Pat is extremely passionate and working on assembling an impressive group of individuals with the same goal of saving the game.  Enjoy our baseball discussion and then visit their website, and together we can, hopefully, Save the G

Baseball and BBQ Episode #145 Features Author, William C. Kashatus, Champion Pitmaster from SmellaQue BBQ, Janice Smella, and Guest Co-host, Doug Scheiding William C. Kashatus is a historian, educator, and author of more than 20 books.  His latest project is Lefty & Tim:  How Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver Became Baseball's Best Battery.  The book is an outstanding look at two incredible baseball careers, which saw both men enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF).  Steve Carlton AKA Lefty is in the HOF for his dominating pitching career which included 329 victories, 4,136 strikeouts, six 20-win seasons, and four Cy Young Awards.  Tim McCarver, although an outstanding catcher, had a legendary broadcasting career once he hung up his spikes which culminated in his being named the 2012 Ford C. Frick Award winner for excellence in broadcasting.  Two men with huge careers who were at their best best when playing together.  It is a credit to his skills as an author that Kashatus is able to sum up t

Episode 144 Features Youth Baseball Coach Justin Sherman of JustinTime Baseball and Pizza Cook-Off Association Founder, Jerry Belcastro Justin Sherman founded JustinTime Baseball in 2015.  It is an independent baseball/softball training and coaching business located in Westchester, New York.  Their mission statement is, "We believe in building and developing fundamental skills in baseball and softball, while also instilling a sense of confidence and independence through individualized instruction."  Justin did not play Major League Baseball, and he may have never been the best player on his team at other levels, but that matters very little.  Having to always work hard for success helps him now as he understands the hard work and dedication required to play the game, and he uses this knowledge to teach children the basic skills to help them become better ballplayers.  Various topics are covered and it is very interesting to hear the opinions of someone who is extremely familiar with the game and how

What's in a game?  Specifically, the MLB game played on May 6, 2000, between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Boston Red Sox which featured a pitchers' duel with Pedro Martinez and Steve Trachsel.  We answer that question as we speak with Bob Ryan, Bill Chuck, and Steve Trachsel.  Not to be outdone, the second half of the show features an interview with The Grill Dads which will make you laugh and want to cook, all at the same time. Bob Ryan was a spectator at the game and it is his scorecard which appears in the book he co-authored with Bill Chuck, In Scoring Position:  40 Years of a Baseball Love Affair, that sparked the idea of a discussion on this particularly incredible game.  Ryan is a member of five Halls of Fame for his sportswriting.  In addition, he is a recipient of the Associated Press sports editor's Red Smith Award "For Extended Meritorious Labor in the Art of Sports Journalism," and the PEN Award "For Literary Excellence in Sportswriting."  He has also been featured on vario

Baseball and BBQ Episode #142 Features Russell Turner of All-Star Bar-B-Q, Baseball Rebels and Major League Rebels Authors, Peter Dreir and Robert Elias, and Guest Co-host, Doug Scheiding Russell Turner opened All-Star Bar-B-Q in Rusk, Texas in 1993 and has served "smoked to perfection" BBQ.  In Texas, outstanding barbecue may not be hard to find, but Russell has combined great barbecue with his love of baseball, more specifically, his love of the Houston Astros and serves up great food in a fun atmosphere.  Lovers of baseball history, especially that of the Houston Astros that began in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s, will spend lots of time enjoying awesome barbecue while they enjoy the tons of baseball memorabilia throughout the place.  Doug Scheiding of Rogue Cookers joins us as guest co-host. Baseball and BBQ are definitely on this menu. Peter Dreir and Robert Elias set out to write one book on some of the players and others associated with baseball who "stood up to racists, war-mongers, and

Baseball and BBQ Episode #141 Features Sports Journalist and Author, Terence Moore and NFL Network Insider, Ian Rapoport Terence Moore is the self-proclaimed "Hank Aaron Whisperer" and that fact is undeniable after reading his new book, The Real Hank Aaron:  An Intimate Look at the Life and Legacy of the Home Run King.  The book provides an in-depth look at Aaron, the man, and not just Arron, the baseball superstar.  Terence discusses the book, which includes Aaron's admiration for Jackie Robinson and his true thoughts on Barry Bonds and the steroids era.  Terence has spent more than 40 years as an award-winning sports journalist.  He has covered more than 30 Super Bowls, numerous World Series, Olympic Games, NBA Finals, Final Fours, Indianapolis 500's, championship fights, major golf tournaments, and other sporting events.  He has worked extremely hard to achieve his success and like Aaron he has had to deal with years of racism but has come out on top. To get an autograph copy of the book, you ca

Episode 140 Features Podcaster, Paul Francis "Sully" Sullivan and BBQ Renaissance Man, Ray Sheehan Paul Francis Sullivan prefers that you call him Sully.  Sully is a podcaster, filmmaker, TV producer, and comedian.  He directed the feature film “I’ll Believe You”, and produced for TV shows like “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” "The Bonnie Hunt Show,” and “Ax Men.” He has appeared on HBO Sports, "Monk," and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." His latest podcast is Locked On MLB which is a daily podcast on Major League Baseball. This is his second appearance, as we thoroughly enjoy hearing his opinions and ideas regarding baseball. Should the All-Star game be played mid-season as it is now, or is there a better time to play the game? Sully gives us his ideas and a whole lot more. . Ray Sheehan is back with a special recipe segment we are calling, Ray's Rip-roaring Righteous Riveting Recipe.  It is a featured recipe from his newest cookbook, Big Green Egg Basics from a Master Ba

Episode 139 Features Baseball Writer and Researcher, Bill Chuck and Leroy Hite, Founder of Cutting Edge Firewood Bill Chuck is a baseball writer and researcher and has a weekly column in the Chicago Sun-Times.  His latest book, In Scoring Position:  40 Years Of A Baseball Love Affair which he co-authored with Bob Ryan is destined to become a baseball fan's favorite.  This interview is sure to become a Baseball and BBQ listener fan favorite.  From the moment we began our discussion, we knew this was not an interview with a stranger, but a discussion amongst friends.  Bill loves baseball and that love is evident as he regales us with fascinating baseball stories and incredible statistics. . Leroy Hite is the founder of Cutting Edge Firewood, a company dedicated to providing the finest firewood and cooking wood delivered direct to the consumer.  Leroy started the business in 2013 and the story of his journey is most fascinating.  He and his wife took a gamble on themselves and an idea and that gamble paid off.