Clear the Field Podcast

Paul Jackson and Ted Walker
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

Clear the Field is a baseball history podcast about when the game goes sideways. From the sepia-toned malarky of the 19th century game to the psychedelic mayhem of the swingin’ 70s, these true stories of baseball’s forfeits, mad scientists, and general mayhem are brought to you by two writers, history nuts, and lifelong fans. www.project-318.com

  1. 4d ago

    When the Outfield Was Empty

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com. 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 Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    21 min

  2. Jun 12

    A Day Without Bleacher Creatures

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com. 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 Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    24 min

  3. Jun 3

    Slap Hits: Week of June 2, 2026

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com or leave a comment here on the episode. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    32 min

  4. May 28

    The Ballpark Money Scramble

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com. Gentle corrections are also welcome. Warning: If a comment is particularly enlightening and/or funny, we might read it during a future episode. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    31 min

  5. May 20

    Slap Hits: Week of May 19, 2026

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com or leave a comment here on the episode. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    25 min

  6. May 14

    A Most Honorable Ejection

    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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com. Gentle corrections are also welcome. Warning: If a comment is particularly enlightening and/or funny, we might read it during a future episode. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    25 min

  7. May 5

    Slap Hits: Week of May 4, 2026

    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 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 clearthefieldpod@gmail.com or leave a comment here on the episode. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    24 min

  8. Apr 30

    Crowd on the Ropes

    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 Knode’s big moment in history - The fans on the field party their way into a forfeit 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. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

    29 min
See All (31)

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Clear the Field is a baseball history podcast about when the game goes sideways. From the sepia-toned malarky of the 19th century game to the psychedelic mayhem of the swingin’ 70s, these true stories of baseball’s forfeits, mad scientists, and general mayhem are brought to you by two writers, history nuts, and lifelong fans. www.project-318.com

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Jackson and Ted Walker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Jackson
  • Show Website
    Clear the Field Podcast

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