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 (https://www.project-318.com/s/clear-the-field-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)
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 (http://clearthefieldpod@gmail.com/) or leave a comment on Substack or YouTube.
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)
24 Sept 2026
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 (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.
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)
16 Sept 2026
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 (http://clearthefieldpod@gmail.com/) or leave a comment on Substack or YouTube.
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)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Contact Clear the Field Podcast
Guest appearances
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