Baseball and BBQ

Len & Jeff
  • 5.0 (38)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Two guys just talking about our two favorite passions, Baseball and Barbecue

  1. 1d ago

    Melissa Cookston, BBQ Hall of Famer & Seth S. Tannenbaum, PhD: Fanning the Flames, the Fun & Kind Melissa Behind the TV Persona | Democracy and Division at the Ballpark

    On episode 360 of Baseball and BBQ, Barbecue Hall of Famer Melissa Cookston joins us to talk about her new cookbook, Fanning the Flames, and reveals the kind and funny woman behind the tough TV-judge persona. Then, Seth S. Tannenbaum, PhD, takes us inside his fascinating new book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites, exploring how America's ballparks have reflected the class, social, and economic divisions of our society. Melissa Cookston is a pitmaster, restaurateur, and television personality.  She is a seven-time World Barbecue Champion and a member of the Barbecue Hall of Fame.  She is the author of three cookbooks, Smokin' in the Boys' Room, Smokin' Hot in the South, and her latest, Fanning the Flames: Recipes and Tall Tales from BBQ Hall of Famer Melissa Cookston. In 2021 Melissa founded the World Junior BBQ League, a nonprofit that uses barbecue competitions to teach kids leadership, teamwork, and strategy.  She also launched The BBQ Allstars retail superstore.  Melissa has appeared on both BBQ Pitmasters and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and as a judge on Netflix's Barbecue Showdown. Seth S. Tannenbaum is an assistant professor of sport studies at Manhattanville University where he teaches classes including Baseball and American Society, Spectators and Fans, Urban Sport, and American Sport History.  His work has been published in The Journal of African American History, The Journal of Sport History, Nine: A Journal of Baseball History & Culture, the Washington Post, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.  He joins us to discuss his latest book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites:  Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark. We tend to think of the baseball stadium as one of America's great democratic spaces—a place where people from different backgrounds come together to cheer for the same team. But Tannenbaum challenges that familiar idea, asking a provocative question: Has the ballpark ever really been as democratic as we like to believe?  In his book, Seth explores how major league ballparks have reflected and reinforced divisions of class, race, wealth, geography, and access. While baseball promoted the idea that the game was available to everyone, the experience inside the ballpark was often far more complicated.  Some of the stadiums discussed include The Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, The Houston Astrodome, and Camden Yards. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 3d ago

    Turk Wendell: A Life in Major League Baseball | NYS Halls of Fame Podcast

    NYS Halls of Fame Podcast featuring Turk Wendell.  Turk spent 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, pitching for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies. He was part of the New York Mets 2000 World Series team.  Known for his distinctive personality and unforgettable routines on the mound — including jumping over the foul line and brushing his teeth between innings — Turk became one of baseball's most recognizable characters. He tells stories from his career, his charitable efforts and his emotional trip to Afghanistan as part of the Heroes of the Diamond Tour.  Turk  is a member of the Class of 2026 New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. For more information on the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame go to https://www.nysbaseballhof.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Turk Wendell: A Life in Major League Baseball | NYS Halls of Fame Podcast

  3. Sep 5

    Scott Crawford & Ed Reilly: From the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the BBQ Flame

    On episode 359 of Baseball and BBQ, we travel from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the BBQ flame! Scott Crawford takes us inside Canada’s baseball history, sharing fascinating stories and a look at the people, players, and memorabilia that make the Hall so special. Then Ed Reilly of Monument Grills fires up a conversation about his remarkable 35-year career in the BBQ industry, the evolution of grills and outdoor cooking, and his passion for preserving barbecue history. Scott Crawford is the director of operations for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada.  His baseball knowledge and opinions are always enjoyable and appreciated and we are thrilled to welcome him back as he takes us inside one of baseball's most fascinating museums and gives us a terrific education on Canada's rich baseball history.  We talked about their most current class of inductees.  Go to https://baseballhalloffame.ca/ for more information on the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Ed Reilly has spent roughly 35 years in the barbecue and outdoor-cooking business, working in sales, marketing and management with companies including Weber, Char-Broil, Sunbeam, Old World Spices and B&B Charcoal. He is now with Monument Grills.  He is also the holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of barbecue grills, with more than 750 vintage grills and smokers.  He describes himself as a "BBQ-ologist."  We are joined by guest co-host Chef Ray Sheehan Ray SGo to https://monumentgrills.com/ for more information on Monument Grills. Joining us as guest co-host is Chef Ray Sheehan, one of the most recognizable names in the barbecue world and a longtime friend and contributor to Baseball and BBQ. Ray is an award-winning chef, pitmaster, sauce and rub maker, cookbook author, and BBQ educator.  He has spent more than 25 years in the food industry and has competed, judged, written about, and taught barbecue.  Go to https://www.raysheehan.com for more information. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Aug 31

    Victor Feld: From the Sandlot to the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame — A Lifetime of Baseball, Character & Giving Back

    In episode 17 of the NYS Halls of Fame podcast, Victor Feld reflects on a lifetime devoted to baseball, character, and giving back through the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance. From nurturing young players on the sandlots to helping shape the lives of generations of athletes, Feld shares the stories, values, and passion behind his remarkable journey to the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Victor Feld has devoted decades to giving young people in the New York area an opportunity to play baseball—and, just as importantly, to learn the lessons that come with being part of a team. Feld has been involved with the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance for more than four decades and served as its president for many years. The organization traces its roots to the New York Journal-American Sandlot Alliance, founded in 1945, making it part of a remarkable New York baseball tradition. Victor is a member of the Class of 2020 New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Victor Feld: From the Sandlot to the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame — A Lifetime of Baseball, Character & Giving Back

  5. Aug 29

    Daniel Vaughn, Texas Monthly’s BBQ Editor & Doug Sisk, Former MLB Pitcher: Smoke & Sinkerballs

    Episode 358 features fascinating conversations with acclaimed barbecue writer and Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn and former Major League Baseball pitcher Doug Sisk, whose nine-year MLB career included a memorable run with the New York Mets and much more. Daniel Vaughn is one of the most influential voices in American barbecue and the longtime Barbecue Editor for Texas Monthly. In 2013, Daniel became the first full-time barbecue editor at a major American magazine, a position he continues to hold today. Vaughn first made his mark with his barbecue blog, Full Custom Gospel BBQ, where he documented his travels throughout Texas in search of great smoked meat. His work eventually led to his acclaimed book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue. As Texas Monthly’s Barbecue Editor, Vaughn has traveled thousands of miles eating, reviewing and documenting barbecue across Texas and beyond. He oversees the magazine’s legendary Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas list, one of the most influential rankings in the barbecue world.  In 2026 he was named number one on Underseasoned BBQ’s list of the 150 Most Influential People in BBQ, further recognizing the enormous impact he has had on the way barbecue is judged, discussed and celebrated. On this episode we talk with Daniel Vaughn about his journey from architect and barbecue blogger to one of the most respected barbecue journalists in the country, his travels in pursuit of great barbecue, and the people and traditions that make American barbecue such a fascinating part of our culture. Doug Sisk is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent nine seasons in the big leagues, most notably as a member of the New York Mets’ pitching staff during their unforgettable 1986 World Series championship season. A right-handed reliever known for his sinking fastball, Sisk was particularly effective at keeping the ball in the ballpark—he surrendered just 15 home runs in more than 500 innings during his Major League career. A native of Washington state, Doug attended Green River Community College and Washington State University before signing with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1980. He made his Major League debut with New York in 1982 and went on to pitch for the Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. His career totals include a 22-20 record, 3.27 ERA, 33 saves and 523⅓ innings pitched. Doug was an important member of the 1986 Mets, appearing in 41 games during the championship season. He also pitched in the World Series, helping the Mets capture one of the most memorable championships in baseball history. On this episode Doug Sisk takes us back to his playing days, his journey to the Major Leagues, and his experiences with the 1986 New York Mets. He shares stories from inside one of baseball’s most legendary clubhouses and reflects on his career, teammates and the unforgettable run to a World Series championship. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Aug 22

    Rob Weir on Mickey Mantle, “7 Swings at 7” — Plus a Classic Replay with Moe Cason & Bob Trudnak

    Episode 357 features author Rob Weir, who discusses his book 7 Swings at 7: Mickey Mantle — Legend and Victim of American Culture and takes us behind the myth of one of baseball’s most iconic figures. We also revisit our memorable interview with barbecue legends Moe Cason and Bob Trudnak. Rob Weir holds a PhD in American social history and is a retired University of Massachusetts Amherst professor.  He is the author of the book, 7 Swings at 7: Mickey Mantle - Legend and Victim of American Culture.  Weir's lifelong fascination with Mantle began when he was five years old. That personal connection, combined with his academic training, provides the foundation for 7 Swings at 7 and his exploration of why Mickey Mantle continues to fascinate generations of baseball fans. Mickey Mantle remains one of the most fascinating and complicated figures in baseball history. He was a Yankees superstar, a three-time MVP, a seven-time World Series champion, and one of the most celebrated athletes of the 1950s and 1960s. But behind the legendary home runs, incredible speed, and larger-than-life image was a man whose life was shaped by injuries, expectations, personal struggles, and the enormous cultural forces surrounding him. Moe Cason AKA Big Moe is an award winning pitmaster who has toiled for many years creating his well respected brand, Moe Cason Barbeque and his instantly recognizable, Big Moe persona.  Moe is a television personality, cookbook author, and a Navy veteran.  He has been featured in national television segments, including Steve Harvey's and Harry Connick Jr.'s talk shows and had his own segment on NatGeo's World of Flavor.  For more information on Big Moe Cason and to purchase his products go to  https://moecasonbbq.com/ Bob Trudnak has loved barbecue since the age of seven, when his dad placed him "in charge" of putting charcoal in the grill and from that day forward he was hooked.  In 1999, Bob helped co-found the company, BBQ Guru.  He is an award winning competive pitmaster.  Beyond competitions, he is a renowned judge and instructor, having hosted hundreds of in-person and virtual barbecue classes.  He is the creator of BBQ Bob's Sauces and BobbyT's Pizza Products.  His latest accomplishment is winning season seven of BBQ Brawl on the Food Network to become the Master of 'Cue.  For more information on Bob Trudnak go to https://bobtrudnakbbq.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq       Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Aug 15

    Roy Carlson & George Hovsepian: Baseball Cards & BBQ Accessories

    Episode 356 features conversations with Roy Carlson and George Hovsepian. Roy takes us inside the world of vintage baseball card collecting and the stories and history behind the cards, while George, founder of VGASS, shares how his passion for BBQ led him to create an innovative storage system for grilling accessories. Roy Carlson is a longtime Topps baseball cards collector and baseball-card researcher.  He has been collecting since 1969 and specializes in vintage Topps cards, original production material, artwork, and the fascinating stories behind the cards.  He has spent years researching the photographs, artwork, production techniques, and other details hidden behind vintage Topps issues. His research has uncovered fascinating examples of reused photographs, previously unidentified people appearing in team cards, and the ways Topps created and assembled its iconic baseball cards.His extensive research has appeared in Sports Collectors Daily and his work on vintage Topps team cards received a 2024 SABR Baseball Research Award.  Go to https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/roy-carlson/ to read his articles. Joining us as guest co-host is Anthony Marasco, a longtime friend of the show and passionate baseball fan whose knowledge and enthusiasm make him the perfect person to help explore Roy's amazing collecting journey. George Hovsepian is the founder of VGASS, the Vertical Grill Accessory Storage System. What began as George's attempt to solve his own outdoor-cooking storage problem evolved into a purpose-built system designed to organize grilling accessories while providing additional prep and serving functionality. VGASS describes its system as mobile, wildly configurable, and compatible with different brands of grills and smokers.  After purchasing his first Kamado Joe, George accumulated many  accessories, including deflector plates, drip pans, pizza stones, cast-iron grates, griddles, and more. The problem was figuring out where to put everything. After searching stores, online forums, and specialty retailers without finding the solution he wanted, George decided to build it himself. That idea ultimately became VGASS.  Go to https://vgass.com for more information. Joining us as guest co-host is Chef Ray Sheehan, one of the most recognizable names in the barbecue world and a longtime friend and contributor to Baseball and BBQ. Ray is an award-winning chef, pitmaster, sauce and rub maker, cookbook author, and BBQ educator.  He has spent more than 25 years in the food industry and has competed, judged, written about, and taught barbecue.  Go to https://www.raysheehan.com for more information. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq       Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Aug 12

    Steve Sigler: Building a Baseball Legacy — From the MSBL to the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame

    On this episode of the NYS Halls of Fame Podcast, we welcome Steve Sigler, a true pioneer in adult amateur baseball and the driving force behind the growth of the Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL)/Men’s Adult Baseball League (MABL).  In 1985, he placed a simple notice in a Long Island, New York, newspaper looking for men interested in forming a baseball team. That small advertisement became the beginning of something much bigger — a national baseball organization that has helped thousands of players continue doing what they loved as kids and young men: playing baseball.  More than two decades later, Sigler was leading an organization that had grown to 325 local affiliates, 3,200 teams and approximately 45,000 members, with organized amateur baseball being played in communities across the country.  Steve is a member of the Class of 2026 New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Steve Sigler: Building a Baseball Legacy — From the MSBL to the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame
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5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Two guys just talking about our two favorite passions, Baseball and Barbecue

Information

  • Creator
    Len & Jeff
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    354
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Baseball and BBQ
  • Show Website
    Baseball and BBQ