Clear the Field Podcast

In 1977, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets were caught up in a catastrophic power outage that sent Fun City back to the Stone Age.

Highlights:

- A blowout at Indian Point plunges Shea Stadium (and New York) into darkness

- Camaraderie lights up the town and the ballpark

- Jane Jarvis’ musical comedy soothes the sweating masses

- Ten minutes of phantom ball in the headlights

- The Cubs’ weirdest night at the Waldorf

- Scenes from New York’s darkest night

- Sorry, America, no sports news today

One More Thing:

On the show, I told Ted that former New York mayor Abraham Beame would fit right in on The Simpsons, and I stand by it:

Support Us

If you’re a fan of the podcast, nothing says it like becoming a paid subscriber at Project 3.18. Paid subscribers receive some special newsletter perks and help us build on what we’re doing with Clear the Field.

You can also follow the show for free 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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

In a very special episode, Gordon (The Athlete Archives) joined us to talk about a shared love: the baseball name. We never did define the term, but the three of us certainly knew some good ones, famous and obscure. To keep things interesting, we each threw in a fake name and player, to see if the other guys could spot it. Our record at uncovering fraud was mixed; hopefully yours will be better. Either way, we brought some actual immortal monikers back for your consideration.

We cover about 20 of the 26,000-some professional baseball names on this episode, so this may be Volume 1 of a series. We had a blast. If you did, too, leave a comment and include your favorite baseball name.

Come back any time, Gordon!

P.S. Be sure to check out Gordon’s fantastic work on his YouTube channel. There’s something in The Athlete Archives for everyone.

Support Us

If you’re a fan of the podcast, nothing says it like becoming a paid subscriber at Project 3.18. Paid subscribers receive some special newsletter perks and help us build on what we’re doing with Clear the Field.

You can also follow the show for free 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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

In 1963, pitching was different, but even by those standards, this game was completely ridiculous.

Episode Highlights:

- The indignities of 42 (the age).

- A clown car of legends pulls up to Candlestick Park.

- Extra innings? No problem for these starters.

- The atmospheric adventures of the old ballpark off San Francisco Bay.

- Willie Mays “takes care” of his pitcher (and the wind-burned crowd).

- Two great pitchers compare ailments and exchange stretching tips.

Support Us

If you’re a fan of the podcast, nothing says it like becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. Paid subscribers receive some special newsletter perks and help us build on what we’re doing with Clear the Field.

You can also follow the show for free 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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

This Week’s Lineup:

- Ted’s NL All-Star round-up. How many times have you voted?

- The uncanny horrors we can expect at the A’s new ballpark in Las Vegas!

- By far our most sophisticated reference to seat cushions.

- Rafael Devers doesn’t want to be lifted for a pinch-runner. Tries Jedi mind trick. Fails.

- This week in Jazz Chisholm, Jr.

Support Us

If you’re a fan of the podcast, nothing says it like becoming a paid subscriber at Project 3.18. Paid subscribers receive some special newsletter perks and help us build on what we’re doing with Clear the Field.

You can also follow the show for free 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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

In 1980, Detroit Tigers executive Jim Campbell closed the outfield bleachers at Tiger Stadium and vowed to win a generational standoff.

This is the conclusion of the story we began in our last episode, “A Day Without Bleacher Creatures.” Be sure to check that out!

Episode Highlights:

- Jim Campbell sets a Clear the Field record for cusses.

- Tigers players pick a side.

- A modern-day folk hero emerges.

- The American League cracks down on...beach balls.

- The rise of the “Bleacher Creatures” courtesy of WABX FM.

- The outrage of Jim Campbell and Howard Beale.

Tigers fans, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and share your memories of the bleachers at old Tiger Stadium:

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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

In 1980, a fed-up Detroit executive closed the outfield seats at Tiger Stadium to teach unruly fans a lesson.

Episode Highlights:

- The biggest bleachers in baseball

- The most infamous beer belly in Michigan

- “Riot night” at the Corner

- Jim Campbell, the heart of the Tigers

- Bleacher Anthropology 101: Jerks, Their Manners and Habits

- A twi-night doubleheader goes bad

- Be sure to tip your center fielder!

If you spent time out in the bleachers at old Tiger Stadium, we’d love to hear your memories…or how you hid your rum:

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.

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 Facebook

Ted: Substack

Original Research and Writing: Paul Jackson

Production and Music: Ted Walker

Design: Ketaki Kulkarni

This Week’s Lineup:

- Paul is the new Etsy Witch

- What you get for catching a foul ball in a major league park

- The origins of the ABS head-tap

- Ted wonders at the WooSox

- Aaron Judge and the power of a few “choice words

- Hazardous jewelry

- The perfect custom jersey idea

What’s This?

Every few weeks in “Slap Hits,” Ted and I cover whatever has delighted us from present-day baseball (or sometimes things even further afield) in a lightning round.

There will be news (of a kind), opinion, banter when we agree, and arguing when we don’t. We’re looking at items big and small, obscure or viral, we’re going quick, and we’re not stopping to fact-check.

Got a Slap Hit?

Send us an amusing, baseball adjacent item (interpretation is up to you) you’d like us to mention, bonus points for weird and obscure. Listen to a few episodes of “Slap Hits” and you’ll get the sense of what we like to cover, and it’s often things that don’t get covered elsewhere that delight us the most. If we use it, we’ll credit you for the submission during the show!

Email tips and suggestions to [email protected] or leave a comment here on the episode.

In the 1970s heyday of baseball promotional gimmicks, opportunistic teams like the Astros, Phillies, Indians, and Padres dumped money on the field and invited fans to have at it.

Episode Highlights:

- The Houston Astros make money by giving it away.

- Bill Giles’ Philadelphia Phillies lean into boz woz.

- Cleveland scrambles for a million fans in 1974.

- Paul submits a dark-horse candidate for greatest moment in baseball history.

- A surprise winner of a fake money contest in San Diego.

- Giving away tiny amounts of money falls out of favor in cash-strapped America.

- The end of the line—in Canada.

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.

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.

This Week’s Lineup:

- Paul’s unplanned solo podcasting career (3 mins)

- Ted “inadvertently” joins Emo Night in Seattle

- Paul Skenes and the quiet mind of the modern ace

- The joy of the family reaction shot

- The Minnesota Twins’ war on nostalgia (prepare to be outraged)

What’s This?

Every few weeks in “Slap Hits,” Ted and I cover whatever has delighted us from present-day baseball (or sometimes things even further afield) in a lightning round.

There will be news (of a kind), opinion, banter when we agree, and arguing when we don’t. We’re looking at items big and small, obscure or viral, we’re going quick, and we’re not stopping to fact-check.

Got a Slap Hit?

Send us an amusing, baseball adjacent item (interpretation is up to you) you’d like us to mention, bonus points for weird and obscure. Listen to a few episodes of “Slap Hits” and you’ll get the sense of what we like to cover, and it’s often things that don’t get covered elsewhere that delight us the most. If we use it, we’ll credit you for the submission during the show!

Email tips and suggestions to [email protected] or leave a comment here on the episode.

In 1961, a Detroit Tigers’ star went into the stands at Yankee Stadium to fight somebody and became the hero of the hour.

Episode Highlights

- The Colavito family reunion

- The case of the odd, old-fashioned hat

- Rip Collins, conscience for the Tigers

- Thrown out for a most unexpected reason

- The Yankee Killer strikes (it’s not who you think)

- Baseball Ethics 101

- A father’s tough love

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.

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.