In 1969, the Cubs’ famous fans had an incredibly special relationship with the team. In 1970, they didn’t.

Highlights

- The Bleacher Bum org chart

- The most special fan relationship

- A funereal end to 1969

- Mistakes were made, sayeth the Cubs' owner.

- The vibes shift at Wrigley Field in 1970

- Big Brother at the ballpark

Further Reading:

https://www.project-318.com/p/the-break-up

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1907, Detroit’s ebullient manager tried to save his voice by coaching with a whistle and blew his way into trouble.

Highlights

- Some surprising HBP trivia

- Breaking down early 20th century noisemakers

- Verbal managerial subterfuge through the ages

- Instruments proliferate and umpires deteriorate

- The first-ever World(‘s) Series ejection goes to...you guessed it!

Further Reading:

Support Us

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Give a Rating, Like, or Restack

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Here on Substack, restacking an episode is one click that really helps us, so if you had fun, please click that button up there on the far right of the episode that has two circling arrows on it.

Email

If you have comments or details that add to our stories or ideas for future installments, send us an email at [email protected]. Gentle corrections are also welcome.

Warning: If a comment is particularly enlightening and/or funny, we might read it during a future episode.

On Social Media

Paul: Substack Instagram

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1987, the Mets / Cardinals rivalry exploded into a hunt for Howard Johnson’s magic bat.

Highlights

- Lawn Dart Day is cancelled.

- Corking 101

- Whitey Herzog’s haphazard investigation.

- Howard Johnson’s suspect bat.

- Unsatisfying allegations and extrajudicial acquisitions.

- Holding your feelings in your mustache.

- A harassment campaign leads to a new rule.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1987, sneaky power hitting turned the greatest National League rivalry you’ve never heard of on its head.

Highlights

- The rivalry that Bud Selig forgot.

- Great moments in name-calling.

- Lunar charts and ballpark giveaways.

- Is Jack Clark the K-Mart of baseball players and what does this mean?

- A sprinkle of seat cushions becomes a blizzard.

- Tommy Herr sends ‘em home happy and sans posterior support.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1987, Twins pitcher Joe Niekro was found with contraband in his pockets but not necessarily with larceny in his heart.

Highlights

- A pitching career that just kept going

- A sting operation in Anaheim

- Caught with red hands and perfect cuticles

- Following in Gaylord Perry’s footsteps (and getting lost)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1907, bad weather and a bored crowd mixed to create an on-field mess and a forfeited game.

Highlights

- Opening Day traditions at the turn of the century

- What people did to amuse themselves before cell phones

- A surprising lack of police protection leads to a forfeited game

- The reformer/crusader who decided to make an example out of baseball

Further Reading

Support Us

You can support Clear the Field by following the show on your favorite platform:

Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS

Give a Rating, Like, or Restack

If you enjoyed an episode on a platform like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, can you give it a quick rating and let folks know? A 5-Star rating helps our podcast appear as suggested and helps people find us.

Email

If you have comments or details that add to our stories or ideas for future installments, send us an email at [email protected]. Gentle corrections are also welcome.

Warning: If a comment is particularly enlightening and/or funny, we might read it during a future episode.

On Social Media

Paul: Substack Instagram

Ted: Substack

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

They are rare today, but forfeits used to be a regular feature of baseball. We’re looking at some of the times teams have managed to beat themselves.

Highlights

- What’s a forfeit and why didn’t Ron Artest cause one?

- An introduction to the Godfather of forfeit scholarship

- Ted makes a morbid but very apt comparison

- Examples of games that have failed: Missing teams, collective tantrums, and daylight fights

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1959, the Chicago White Sox won the pennant. Bells rang, horns blew, and some people huddled in their basements, awaiting the end of the world.

Highlights

-Khrushchev’s first hot dog

-The 1959 “Go Go” White Sox and the team’s historic pennant drought

-Victory in “Baseball Thunderdome”

-Sirens interrupt celebrations

-Atomic terror in the 1950s

-Chicago flunks its civil defense pop quiz

-Robert Quinn, the man who thought this was a good idea

Further Reading/Viewing

The Duck and Cover Pennant - Project 3.18

Civil Defense Instructional Video

On the Beach (featuring Fred Astaire!)

A Day Called X

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1981, the Seattle Mariners’ uniforms were stolen from the visitors clubhouse at Arlington Stadium. The game had to go on, so the team needed to find something to wear.

Highlights

-The scene of the crime: Arlington Stadium in Texas, the hottest park in America

-The robbery and aftermath

-Raiding the souvenir stand for replacements

-The details of a similar crime from 1977…and a possible suspect

Further Reading

The Seattle Mariners Go Thrifting - Project 3.18

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com

In 1938, a “color engineer” had an idea to cut down on major league beanings: make baseballs yellow. The National League president said, “Sure, why not?”

Highlights

-The devastating 1937 beaning of Mickey Cochrane

-Frederick H. Rahr, inventor and possible flim-flam man

-The inside man: Larry MacPhail, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers

-The yellow ball’s debut at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn

-The results of the test and Rahr’s surprising baseball legacy

Further Reading

Of Apples and Lemons - Project 3.18

Hall of Fame Feature

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.project-318.com