Clear the Field Podcast

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. E...

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)....

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...

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 e...

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 cen...

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 somet...

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 gre...

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...

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 Suppor...

This week’s lineup: - A teaspoon of loose bodies - Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania is going to the Squonks: https://www.milb.com/lehigh-valley/team/theme-nights - Ted’s idea for saving baseball - A baseball Pokemon mystery - Pittsburgh hosts the world’s most famous marmot What’s This? Every few weeks in “Slap Hits,” Ted and I cover whatever has delighted us from present-day baseball (or sometimes thin...

In 1925, one of the largest crowds in Comiskey Park’s history evaded some of the most sophisticated crowd control instruments then known to man. Highlights - An overflow crowd and the one rope to wrangle them all - The seat cushion falls into the wrong hands once again (”the boys from the stockyards”) - Joe Sewell singlehandedly finishes the baseball game - Translating 1920s baseball idioms - Ray...

This week Ted and I make the big leap from audio to video! Lots of great stuff in this episode that manages to hit Pokemon and philosophy with a shoutout to the Etruscan civilization, but for me the highlight is the opening graphic I layered in. Check out that fading effect! This week’s lineup: - A Minute of Actual Baseball Information (and why we’ll never discuss the Astros again) - Ted Reports f...

In 1900, hi-tech cheating involved a board, a telegraph, and a very long length of wire. Episode Highlights: - Christy Mathewson explains sign-stealing - Morgan Murphy and Pearce Chiles, baseball’s Butch and Sundance - An anonymous informant reveals a hi-tech operation - A puddle, a board, and a telegraph buzzer - The only King Ralph reference you’ll hear this week - Schemes proliferate throughout...

This Week’s Lineup: - A Minute of Actual Baseball Information - Tatsuya Imai’s “Wrong-Way” Slider - Ketel Marte and Freddie Freeman Hug It Out - Nelson Cruz’ Very Fine Display - The Brewers’ Clubhouse “Turtle” - A Home Run Call Legacy - Pittsburgh’s Blue-Collar Home Run Celebration What’s This? Every few weeks in “Slap Hits,” Ted and I cover whatever has delighted us from present-day baseball (or...

In 1977, a new-fangled technology had the umpires hunkered down. Highlights - A game for Luddites - Ted Turner’s wonderful toys - Ask for permission or forgiveness? - Why we didn’t replay balls and strikes for 50 years - The fallible machine and the "busher" in the box Support Us You can support Clear the Field by following the show on your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS Give a Rati...

This Week’s Lineup: - A Listener Introduces Us to New York’s Panfluencer - Baseball and the Quiet Mind - Checking in on Ballpark Stunt Food - Remembering Fantasy Baseball’s Good Old Days - Candy Bar WAR - ABS Update: Don’t Flinch 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...

In 1979, Pat Santarone, the groundskeeper at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, battled Earl Weaver in a produce showdown for the ages. Highlights - Pat Santarone, a feared and fighting groundskeeper - Two competitors find each other in the minor leagues - The ballpark as a nursery: more light, more water, and more beer - The Tomato Wars claim Boog Powell and Billy Martin - A Spectacular secret ingredi...

This Week’s Lineup: - Team Randy or Team Cal? - Daikin Park Name That Guitar Instrumental - Hall-of-Fame Photographers - Ballpark Thin Lizzy - Reviewing the World Baseball Classic Policy on Musical Instruments What’s This? Ted Walker and I decided we couldn’t do a baseball podcast without discussing present-day baseball, so we’re mixing in a new format. We’ll still have our “A format,” where we te...

Featuring three moments when nature’s most famous nightshade made an impact at the ballpark. Highlights - Back to the (18)90s, complete with a Friends reference - Angry Ladies Day in Cleveland in 1940 - Where all the ballpark fruit and vegetables come from - A bench ruling on tomatoes - Gardening on the warning track at Tiger Stadium - Miracle tomatoes promise to change Detroit’s season Please Sup...

In 1971, the ambitious and erratic owner of the Oakland A’s went all-in to change the number of balls for a walk from four to three. Highlights - A “wildly eccentric” owner goes to the library and gets a history of the base-on-balls - A visiting Nippon Professional Baseball team beats the A’s at their own game - The A’s owner puts words into the commissioner’s mouth to force the Angels to play - C...

In 1971 (and 1969 and 1970), light aircraft used Chavez Ravine for target practice. Highlights - Vin Scully, aeronautics expert - A blurb of a bombardment in 1970 - Animals on the grounds, flour from the skies - Siege weapons at the ballpark? Really? - Post-game speculation worthy of a ‘90s action movie - Another unexpected target across the country? Paul asks questions. Get full access to Project...

In 1942, the wartime scrap effort costs the war-bound Giants a game. Highlights - Let’s Play Eight at the Polo Grounds - Highlights from New York City’s Junk Drawers - A youth movement as the Giants head off to war - A mostly inexplicable crowd surge - How America used “stuff” to win World War II Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

In 1942, major league baseball turned a few of New York’s green cathedrals into makeshift junk yards. Highlights - FDR nationalizes the National Game - What scrap metal meant to the war effort - Dispatches from the Junk Drawer War - The Dodgers pitch in to help New York meet its quota - A scramble at the Ebbets Field “scrap gate” - Next time: Metal mania moves to Manhattan Get full access to Proje...

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 Get full acce...

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...