Clear the Field Podcast

Paul Jackson and Ted Walker

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. 9h ago

    Spider-Man vs. Doctor K

    Episode Highlights: - Dwight Gooden’s super origins and championship hubris - Spider-Man joins a long list of 1980s power weddings - Preparing for the big day with comic-store wedding cakes, a designer dress from Willi Smith, and a real-life Mary Jane Watson - GM Frank Cashen brings Dwight Gooden back in the middle of a circus and Dick Young tries to make Gooden the villain - Name that 1980s superhero - Awkward clubhouse interviews with the happy couple - Stan Lee delivers the vows - “The Doctor is IN.” Support the Show If you’re a fan of the show, 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: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS Give a Rating, Like, or Restack If you’re watching the show on YouTube, give us a thumbs-up, follow the channel, and let us know what you think in the comments. 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 show appear as suggested and helps people find us. 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. 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

  2. Oct 22

    The Haunted Ballplayer

    Turn-of-the-century catcher Billy Earle became a pariah among baseball players despite his passion and work ethic. In this episode, Paul and Ted revisit a nomadic player with a harrowing biography and an ending you will not see coming. Episode Highlights: - Old baseball superstitions - A scrappy minor league catcher hitches a ride with A.G. Spalding’s Baseball World Tour - Baseball rat by day, performing hypnotist by night - Stories from the teammates who feared his “mesmeric powers” - The bottom falls out of Earle’s career, but tough-as-nails baseball legend John McGraw picks him up - The real reason a useful player and manager couldn’t keep a job - Starting over in baseball - The shocking (really, you will be shocked) end of Billy Earle Support the Show If you’re a fan of the show, 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: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS Give a Rating, Like, or Restack If you’re watching the show on YouTube, give us a thumbs-up, follow the channel, and let us know what you think in the comments. 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 show appear as suggested and helps people find us. 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. 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

  3. Oct 8

    Game of Squirrels

    Between the Rally Squirrel and David Freese, 29 other teams had no chance. Episode Highlights - How big does an animal have to be to stop a ballgame? - Tony LaRussa has a great idea for a children’s book - The Rally Squirrel’s unheralded road trip to Philadelphia - The critters go home but the merchandisers runs wild - World Series umpires really do have to plan for everything - How many teams have a meme on their championship rings? - More recently, Max Fried and Ben Rice have a close encounter 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. Comment If you have comments or details that add to our stories or ideas for future installments, drop them right here on Substack or on YouTube. You can also send us an email at clearthefieldpod@gmail.com. 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

  4. Sep 30

    Slap Hits: Week of September 29, 2026

    This Week’s Lineup: - The final (weird) numbers from 2026, and Nico Hoerner saves Paul’s bacon in real time - Winning the West ain’t what it used to be - A record year for ballpark stunt food - Ted’s ballpark angel blesses him with great seats and unlimited ice cream - Max Scherzer’s farewell - Justin Verlander’s farewell, and Paul does his own 21-year look-back Programming Note With the regular season ending, Slap Hits will be going into hibernation. We hope you’ve enjoyed our series of non-urgent observations on a season in real-time. Clear the Field will continue over the fall and winter with a bi-weekly story of sideways baseball history. Next week: The “Rally Squirrel” What’s This? Every few weeks during the regular season, 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 on Substack or YouTube. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

  5. Sep 24

    Satchel Paige: Out of the Rocker

    The incredible true story the Kansas City A’s “Satchel Paige Appreciation Night” on September 25, 1965, when Paige, age 59, got another opportunity to pitch against big-league hitters and made the most of every inning. Episode Highlights: - Looking for work and watching out for moose - Charles O. Finley’s Kansas City circus - The Athletics sign Paige for one night only - The 1960s get a look at a living legend and Paige “unfolds” for one more start - Underestimated by the Boston Red Sox, but not by “Carl Yastrocki” - Paige finally gets his major-league pension, and winds up a four-decade career with the Atlanta Braves Take the Megaphone What’s your favorite Satchel Paige feat? The hesitation pitch? The gum-wrapper? The infield sit-down? What are we missing? Leave a comment on YouTube or wherever you’re enjoying this story. 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. 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

  6. Sep 16

    Slap Hits: Week of September 15, 2026

    This Week’s Lineup: - Champagne problems in the locker room - Project Runway: Minor League Baseball - Tristan Peters’ 18-pitch at-bat and the White Sox’ “dumb stuff” - The Immaculate Inning and the Abhorrent Inning - Crochet ramping up; Needlepoint shut down for season - Building the lore of the new Women’s Pro Baseball League 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 on Substack or YouTube. Get full access to Project 3.18 at www.project-318.com/subscribe

  7. Sep 9

    Slap Hits: Week of September 8, 2026

    This Week’s Lineup: - Why they sell a Cubs-themed parrot at Wrigley Field - Broadcast shenanigans in Houston - Recapping Pope Hat Night and tipping our mitres to the supreme homer - Brand-new old gloves - Travis Bazzana brings cricket into baseball—succeeds 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 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

  8. Sep 3

    The Wrath of Philadelphia’s “Wolves”

    In the conclusion of our deep-dive into a rare baseball forfeit in 1949, an outraged crowd unleashes a veritable grocery store on three stoic umpires. Here’s the first part of the story, in case you need it: Episode Highlights: - The fiercest wolves in baseball - The difference between cute projectiles and ugly projectiles - One fan, one hundred glass bottles thrown - Ted gives this week’s baseball poetry reading - A forfeit swaps one kind of Phillies loss for another - The unsportsmanship of the malletheads - A mysterious orange mixture and ballpark concessions in the late 1940s 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 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

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5
out of 5
9 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
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Jackson
  • Show Website
    Clear the Field Podcast