Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – "Hour 4: Last Call Crew"

ESPN New York | March 30, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Notable Absence: Don La Greca (absent this hour)

Episode Overview

This lively hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" delivers classic New York sports talk, headlined by debates over Yankees and Mets legacies, the true meaning of "clutch" in baseball, and reflections on iconic sports moments. With Don La Greca out, Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg take the reins, teasing playoff pushes, weighing player greatness, and embracing their signature blend of banter and passionate fan engagement. The "Last Call Crew," a series of knowledgeable and enthusiastic callers, opens up discussions that veer from baseball heroes to famous basketball buzzer-beaters, with the hosts providing bracing, sometimes irreverent hot takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NHL & MLB Playoff Races [00:38–02:27]

• Hockey Hype:
  • Islanders vs. Penguins at UBS Arena: Crucial game with standings implications—Islanders (89 points), Penguins (88).
  • Push for the playoffs invoked classic New York sports passion:
    "All like you dream about at UBS. Big game. Big game." —Peter Rosenberg [00:40]
  • Rangers vs. Devils programming reminder: Only on the ESPN New York app.
• Baseball Tonight:
  • Yankees @ Mariners (9:40 PM first pitch)
  • Mets vs. Cardinals covered on ESPN following the show.

2. "Top 5 Yankees and Mets of the Century" Debate [02:27–07:54]

Caller Steve’s Suggestion [02:27]:

• Suggests Don (when he returns) do a "Top 5 Yankees and Mets" since 2000, excluding all-time greats like Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio.

Hosts’ Live Attempt at the Yankees List:

• Locks:
  • CC Sabathia
  • Derek Jeter
  • Mariano Rivera
  • Aaron Judge
  • Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod)
• Criteria Questions:
  • "He can't be considered a top Yankee ever...because he hasn't won." —Caller Steve on Judge [04:22]
  • Judge’s greatness, but legacy is questioned for not winning a championship (yet):
    "His career is not over yet." —Co-host [05:01]
  • Jeter vs. Judge: Debate of rings and intangibles vs. individual performance.
• "Mount Rushmore" / All-Time Status:
  • Discussion on whether Judge could surpass Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, or even Yogi Berra.
  • "Can you put him ahead of DiMaggio?... No." —Peter Rosenberg [05:17]
  • "I think that stuff does matter. It’s a superficial conversation...based on opinion, of course." —Hahn [05:50]
• Relievers’ Greatness:
  • Rivera’s place as perhaps the most clutch Yankee in history. "Is there a closer in history?... No." —Peter Rosenberg & Hahn [07:51–07:52]
• Summary:
  • Judge is easily a top-5 Yankee of the 21st century, but not on the franchise’s all-time, no-question list.

3. Between the Lines: Mets Fandom & Diaz’s Entrance [10:09–13:40]

• Host Preferences:
  • Peter admits a Mets lean due to his Orioles roots: "In my fraud baseball fanship, I lean more Mets." —Peter Rosenberg [10:11]
  • Mets seen as "more blue collar" and "entertaining."
• Ballpark Spectacle:
  • Dodgers’ live trumpet for Edwin Diaz’s entrance praised as "badass."
    • "Did you guys see how fire the Dodgers made Diaz's entrance?" —Rosenberg [10:35]
  • Comparison to Citi Field and riff on the gig of playing live trumpet at every home game: "What's your job? Oh, I play the trumpet." —Hahn [12:14]
• Diaz’s Departure:
  • Discussion on how painful it could be for Mets fans if Diaz stars for the Dodgers in the playoffs after leaving NY. "Do you know how brutal it would be to get to, like, the NLCS...and then he comes out...Oh yeah, we gave this guy up." —Peter Rosenberg [12:40]
  • Emphasis Diaz left by choice, open door for potential return.

4. Legendary Players vs. Championships [17:39–21:17]

Caller Matt’s Observation:

• Many top modern baseball legends haven’t won a World Series: Barry Bonds, Aaron Judge, Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro, Mike Trout.
• A-Rod and Pujols considered exceptions for changing teams to chase titles.
• Jeter is great but not on the pure "legend" level if lacking championships. "But these guys are at a different talent level." —Caller Matt [18:58]

Hosts' Response:

• Alan Hahn contrasts with NBA dynasties—many MLB titles also go to a handful of franchises, but individual role is different in baseball. "In baseball...you could be the best pitcher, you could be the best hitter...but you could be a great cornerback. Darrelle Revis was never winning until he ended up on New England. That’s how it works." —Peter Rosenberg [21:03]
• Emphasis: Baseball is less an individual "winner’s sport" than basketball; greatness ≠ guaranteed rings.

5. "Greatest College Basketball Buzzers" Mini-Debate [21:17–23:24]

• Caller Tim: Challenges the idea that Christian Laettner's shot is the greatest college buzzer-beater, props Kris Jenkins's title-winning Villanova shot as equal/greater.
• Hosts Reference TV Coverage:
  • Recap of Greenberg’s "Get Up" debate — Laettner vs. Jenkins.
  • Execution and drama of Jenkins play praised: "You talk about execution at the highest level... the exact thing happens at the right time and everything worked out perfectly and the shot goes in." —Hahn [22:37]
• Signature Banter:
  • "I enjoyed it." —Peter Rosenberg [23:24]
  • "Donnie will be back tomorrow. Have a great night, everybody." —Hahn [23:26]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "All like you dream about at UBS. Big game. Big game."
  —Peter Rosenberg [00:40]
• "He can't be considered a top Yankee ever...because he hasn't won."
  —Caller Steve [04:22]
• "Can you put him ahead of Ruth? ...Can you put him ahead of DiMaggio? No."
  —Peter Rosenberg [05:11, 05:20]
• "Judge is a better player than Jeter...That's your argument. But Jeter has won many champions, so do you put Jeter ahead on that list?"
  —Hahn [06:52]
• "Is there a closer in history? ...No."
  —Peter Rosenberg & Hahn [07:51–07:52]
• "In my fraud baseball fanship, I lean more Mets."
  —Peter Rosenberg [10:11]
• "What's your job? Oh, I play the trumpet."
  —Hahn [12:14]
• "Do you know how brutal it would be to get to, like, the NLCS...and then he comes out...Oh yeah, we gave this guy up."
  —Peter Rosenberg [12:40]
• "But these guys are at a different talent level."
  —Caller Matt [18:58]
• "You could be the best pitcher, you could be the best hitter...But you could be a great cornerback. Darrelle Revis was never winning until he ended up on New England. That's how it works."
  —Peter Rosenberg [21:03]
• "This won a title, and it was a perfectly...You talk about execution at the highest level... the shot goes in."
  —Hahn [22:37]
• "I enjoyed it."
  —Peter Rosenberg [23:24]

Important Segment Timestamps

• NHL/MLB Playoff Stakes & Announcements: [00:38–02:27]
• Top-5 Yankees and Mets since 2000 Debate: [02:27–07:54]
• Diaz, Mets-Fandom, Ballpark Atmosphere: [10:09–13:40]
• "Legendary without Championships" MLB debate: [17:39–21:17]
• Laettner vs. Jenkins Buzzer-Beater Discussion: [21:17–23:24]

Final Impressions

This episode stands out for its seamless balance of listener participation and expert opinion, spinning familiar New York sports debates with humor and candor. The discussions about what it truly means to be “great” in sports—whether clutch, statistical, or simply iconic—will resonate with longtime fans and casual listeners alike. There's also a trademark blending of current events (playoff races, game broadcasts) and evergreen barroom arguments ("rings vs. talent" or "the best buzzer-beater ever?"), all with a knowing, New York sensibility.

For callers, fans, and sports obsessives, this hour’s a prime example of what makes the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg brand a fixture in tri-state sports radio.