48 percent of people watch sports several times a month or more. This culture is so ingrained in America it would be hard to imagine a life without it. With the popularity of sports, the popularity of sports media has also risen, with figures like Stephen A. Smith (an analyst for ESPN) becoming celebrities.
However, mainstream sports media has become unpopular with many diehard sports fans due to issues like negativity and a focus on big markets. This is especially an issue with baseball, as a fan of a team that is not the Dodgers or Yankees would be lucky to see themselves on national TV more than once a year. As a result, grassroots coverage has been popping up all over the internet.
Enter the Hall of Very Good, an Instagram account ran by Bryce Whitlow. The account is dedicated to showcasing past players that may not have been superstars, but certainly don’t deserve to be forgotten.
“[The idea for the account] came about out of frustration towards modern sports media. I honestly can’t stand the direction ESPN has moved in and I wanted to do my own thing. I’ve also noticed a lot of talented baseball players are never talked about once they retire and that needed to change,” said Whitlow.
The account quickly grew, as it has amassed 79,000 followers as of time of writing.
“It’s honestly been insane and unexpected. Before this I never cared about social media or technology and so it really just stunned me to see it get to where it’s at now. I’m honestly proud of myself for dedicating effort to something I’m passionate about,” said Whitlow.
The account has grown into more than just an Instagram page, as the account has its own website featuring inductees into the “Hall of Good.” Whitlow also hosts a podcast, with guests ranging from minor league ballplayers to a worker from Solaro Shades.
For Whitlow, the idea for the account came from his lifelong love of baseball.
“I feel like baseball has just always been a part of my life. It’s always been there for me. At this point I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t thinking about it. I think my family always did a great job of encouraging my love for it.”
The Hall hosted its first ever vote for a player was held on April 27, 2025, as the community came together to induct Steve Cishek, a pitcher mainly known for his time on the Miami Marlins. Since then, three more players have received the coveted honor: Richie Weeks Jr., Josh Reddick and Mark Reynolds. The Hall operates on very strict rules, including a player cannot have won any major award, and cannot have more than 35 bWAR (wins above replacement). Whitlow strives to keep the integrity of the Hall strong, having a random wheel choose the player to vote on every week.
Accounts like these can be very beneficial for people who enjoy niche interests, as finding other people who share that passion can spark a sense of togetherness.
“I think people can find that sense of community they didn’t know existed. I knew there had to be more people like me who had a love for obscure and underrated baseball players. I love that a space has now been created for people who enjoy that,” said Whitlow.
Whitlow’s favorite player? Jacoby Ellsbury – though he’s not a member of the Hall yet.
“I was eleven when he left the Red Sox and I remember crying when I found out. I’ve been able to interact with him a bit through this account and I’ve decided to forgive him.”
Running the account has also enabled Whitlow to interact with other baseball accounts and grow a community from there.
“It’s funny honestly. At the beginning I tried to work with and interact with a lot of accounts and they wanted nothing to do with me. Now that I’ve gotten a decent following I get a lot more positive responses to collaborations ideas.”
Despite not having any idea for the direction of the account originally, Whitlow now hopes to parlay it into a career in baseball.
“…now that I’ve been able to grow and achieve a following that I didn’t think was possible, I’d love to find a way to make it my career somehow. I see people like Jomboy Media as a blueprint of sorts. I’m content with just doing it for fun and it being a hobby but I’d love to see it be more than that someday. I’m happy doing it for the love of the game if that never works out though.”
Jomboy Media is a media company based out of New York, famous for humorous and knowledgeable baseball breakdowns by Jimmy O’Brian.
For now though, Whitlow is already seeing opportunities like throwing out a first pitch at a minor league game.
His advice for other up-and-coming content creators?
“Be consistent with content. I’ve been doing this for 15 months and have posted at least two times a day ever since I started without missing a day. I think that’s vital to the success of starting something like this. Also don’t be afraid to show some of your personality through your content. I like to do that by using music I enjoy in my posts.”
There is no doubt the Hall of Good will continue to grow. And, as a Cubs fan, I just know voting Dansby Swanson in in 10 years will feel really good.