Blackout Baseball

Blackout Baseball

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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-the-field-podcast/id1840024595] Spotify [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/98c3bbbf-df93-48a0-9265-8c8411548ce1/2108553/s/273896.rss] RSS [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2108553/s/273896.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 [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 [https://substack.com/@project318] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/project_3.18/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570694128585] Ted: Substack [https://tedwalker2.substack.com/] 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 [https://www.project-318.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Celebrating the "Baseball Name"

In a very special episode, Gordon (The Athlete Archives) [https://substack.com/profile/160671620-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 [https://www.youtube.com/@theathletearchives/videos] 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-the-field-podcast/id1840024595] Spotify [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/98c3bbbf-df93-48a0-9265-8c8411548ce1/2108553/s/273896.rss] RSS [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2108553/s/273896.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 [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 [https://substack.com/@project318] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/project_3.18/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570694128585] Ted: Substack [https://tedwalker2.substack.com/] 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 [https://www.project-318.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Spahn vs. Marichal in the Thunderdome

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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-the-field-podcast/id1840024595] Spotify [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/98c3bbbf-df93-48a0-9265-8c8411548ce1/2108553/s/273896.rss] RSS [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2108553/s/273896.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 [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 [https://substack.com/@project318] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/project_3.18/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570694128585] Ted: Substack [https://tedwalker2.substack.com/] 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 [https://www.project-318.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Slap Hits: Week of June 23, 2026

This Week’s Lineup: - Ted’s NL All-Star round-up. How many times have you voted? - The uncanny horrors [https://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/as-ai-video-vegas-22222479.php] 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 [https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1ubzjty/down_by_1_in_the_9th_rafael_devers_did_not_want/] 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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-the-field-podcast/id1840024595] Spotify [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/98c3bbbf-df93-48a0-9265-8c8411548ce1/2108553/s/273896.rss] RSS [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2108553/s/273896.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 [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 [https://substack.com/@project318] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/project_3.18/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570694128585] Ted: Substack [https://tedwalker2.substack.com/] 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 [https://www.project-318.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

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 [https://www.project-318.com/p/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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-the-field-podcast/id1840024595] Spotify [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/98c3bbbf-df93-48a0-9265-8c8411548ce1/2108553/s/273896.rss] RSS [https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2108553/s/273896.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 [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 [https://substack.com/@project318] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/project_3.18/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570694128585] Ted: Substack [https://tedwalker2.substack.com/] 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 [https://www.project-318.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]