Episode 313 - Clowning Around
About this episode
The episode discusses the Indianapolis Clowns and their unique blend of baseball and comedy, along with various player anecdotes and baseball phrases in everyday language.
Jeff and Mark open with BP updates including Ben Davis cutting his kneecap to the bone with a chainsaw and Matt Waldron being hospitalized after hemorrhoid surgery, plus an immaculate-grid note that Josh Gibson pitched once and Cool Papa Bell pitched extensively with a winning record. They discuss Mets pitcher Ryan Lambert boosting velocity by eating up to 30 raw eggs a day and debate how baseball phrases dominate everyday language. The main topic covers the Indianapolis Clowns, a Negro American League team that blended high-level play with choreographed comedy (including the “magic circle,” a first baseman on stilts, and barnstorming life under segregation) while still winning, including the 1950 pennant, and featuring a brief 1952 stint by Henry Aaron before the Braves bought his contract for $10,000. They add that the Clowns signed women players like Toni Stone and inspired the film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, then finish with a 2003 Topps Wax Pack Heroes round featuring players like Hideo Nomo, Alfonso Soriano, Orlando Hudson, Roberto Alomar, Larry Walker, and “Young Bong.” 00:00 Podcast Cold Open 00:54 Ben Davis Chainsaw Massacre 03:41 Dude Wipes…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jeff, Mark
Topics covered
- baseball history
- Negro Leagues
- Indianapolis Clowns
- baseball phrases
- player anecdotes
- comedy in sports
Keywords
- Indianapolis Clowns
- Negro Leagues
- baseball history
- Ryan Lambert
- Toni Stone
- Josh Gibson
- baseball phrases
- Hideo Nomo
- 2003 Topps Wax Pack Heroes
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Indianapolis Clowns, Braves
Products: Dude Wipes, 2003 Topps Wax Pack Heroes
Books & works: The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
More episodes of Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast
- Episode 319 - Boomer Goes Boom for the Most Alcohol Fueled Perfect Game In MLB History
- Episode 318 - An Orel History of A Scoreless Innings Streak
- Episode 317 - Tales from the Dugout - Dentures Edition
- Episode 315 - Tales from the Dugout, New Rules, Missing Coaches and Speedruns
- Episode 314 - Ken Williams - The Deaball Slugger Nobody Noticed
- Episode 312 - Jackie Jensen, The 'Golden Boy' to the 'Grounded Boy'
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