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PODCAST

Midnight Library of Baseball

bendavidorlando

In the Midnight Library of Baseball, Ben Orlando offers a unique perspective to historic and modern aspects of the game. He does so with no loud music and no jarring sounds. Tune in to discover the untold stories that make baseball so much more than a game.

sports baseball

All Episodes

41:44

Ep. 13: The Field

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/12/07

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating collision of fantasy and reality surrounding the iconic field in Dyersville, Iowa. Truth is often stranger than fiction—and this magical ballfield is no exception. Join us as we uncover extraordinary stories and remarkable occurrences that have unfolded on this small farm long after the cameras stopped rolling.

en

41:33

Ep. 12: After Iowa

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/11/28

In this episode, we reveal the pivotal edits made just before the film’s release, including a bold title change that angered many involved. We also examine how audiences across the country responded to a small-scale debut that ended up catching fire.

en

31:21

Ep. 11: Heartbeat of a Dream

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/11/21

What composer James Horner attempted with Field of Dreams had never been done. In this episode, we look at the unorthodox, emotional score that Horner created on the fly. We also discuss a man who has played catch more than 900 days in a row, and the impact he’s had on countless lives.

en

33:52

Ep. 10: Better Than Magic

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/11/07

In this episode, I explore more of the strange happenings on set, and the amazing coordination of the final scene. I also discuss the incredible story of Dwier Brown, who was processing the recent death of his father as he worked to embody the role of the father in Field of Dreams.

en

43:15

Ep. 9: Magic Tricks Revealed

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/11/01

In this this episode, I discuss with cast and crew the magic that took place when everyone finally landed in Iowa, and we explore the many amazing tricks that allowed audiences to fall so deeply into a seemingly ordinary world. For example, in a time before CGI, what do you know when the corn that would not grow for months, suddenly grows taller than the leading man?

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45:17

Ep. 8: Almost in Field of Dreams

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/10/24

In this episode, I crack open long-forgotten archives and discuss the many well-known actors considered for Field of Dreams, and the equally fascinating stories of the actors who eventually got the parts.

en

35:58

Ep. 7: A Little Help From My Friends

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/10/17

For years, Phil Alden Robinson had been struggling to get his favorite book, Shoeless Joe, turned into a film. When he finally got his wish, it was more than he bargained for. Pressure and anxiety nearly brought Robinson and Field of Dreams to a screeching halt. In this episode, I discuss what saved Robinson and his film. I also reveal a real-life Doc Graham hidden among the crew, and I dig into the most “Field of Dreams” story there ever was, linked to two people integral to the movie.

en

40:21

S2 The Making of Field of Dreams - Ep. 6: The...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/10/10

W.P. Kinsella never saw the father-son relationship as the central emotional story in his book, Shoeless Joe. This is just one of many revelations in Episode 6, where I follow the path of writer/director Phil Alden Robinson, who roamed the streets of Hollywood for years with the vision of what Shoeless Joe would become on the big screen. But it was this very struggle and years of failure that led to what many called a magical script.

en

29:29

S2 The Making of Field of Dreams - Ep. 5: Catcher in...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/10/03

When J.D. Salinger learned that he was a character in W.P. Kinsella’s novel, Shoeless Joe, he threatened a lawsuit, which led to Salinger being rewritten as Terence Mann for the film. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to coincidences and controversies between J.D. Salinger, W.P. Kinsella, and their iconic novels. In this episode, I explore the question, would Field of Dreams exist without J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye?

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35:51

S2 The Making of Field of Dreams - Ep. 4: Eddie...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/09/26

1 out of every 5 men claiming to have played professional baseball was lying, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1990s. But there was no name for this phenomenon, until author W.P. Kinsella created a fictional character named Eddie Scissons. Stranger still, two men in real life decided to study cases of Eddie Scissons syndrome, and what they found blew their minds.

en

29:33

S2 The Making of Field of Dreams - Ep. 3: Lost and...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/09/19

There are many great moments from Field of Dreams taken directly from the novel, Shoeless Joe, but there are also key differences in both. Some of the additions and changes in Field of Dreams led to a better story, but some of the deleted characters and stories from the novel are wonderful gems worth discussing, including a very meaningful part cut from Terence Mann’s final speech.

en

47:42

S2. E2 - Field of Contradictions

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/09/12

Unlike many predestined stories of artists, author W.P. Kinsella was born and raised to NOT write the novel, Shoeless Joe. In this episode, I explore the many fascinating contradictions that made Kinsella such an interesting character, and that led to stories no one else in the world could write.

en

50:26

S2 The Making of Field of Dreams - Ep. 1: THE BLUFF

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/09/05

In this first episode, I explore the crazy story of editor Lawrence Kessenich, who was instrumental in helping W.P. Kinsella turn a 16-page short story into a full novel. Along the way, there were many improbable occurrences and treacherous hazards that nearly derailed the project. But born from this struggle was a bond that would last generations.

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01:17

Season 2 Trailer

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/08/23

The making of Field of Dreams, across countries and continents, is a story of vision, of redemption, and of slowing down and appreciating the people and things in your life that matter. This season, I will talk to actors, directors, and other fascinating men and women in the film industry. I will also talk with you, the fans, about your stories of baseball and Field of Dreams. I will trace the film back decades to improbable imaginings and encounters, to daunting casting and production disasters, to

en

35:38

Ep. 25: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 4 - The...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/05/28

For the final episode of season 1, I dive into the major league catcher and the tools that make him what he is today. Because of his equipment, the catcher is literally masked, but there are so many other areas where he is overlooked and underestimated. In this episode, I explore these areas, and why they have come to be.

en

48:16

Ep. 24: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 3 - Action and...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/05/20

In this episode, I dive into the origins of the baseball bat, the number one piece of marketing equipment in the history of the game. I also discuss the colorful stories of the inspirational, stubborn, superstitious men who wielded this instrument of hope and despair.

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39:41

Ep. 23: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 2 - Glove Affairs

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/05/14

What began as an object of great shame eventually turned into the most intimate relationship between a ballplayer and an object. Come along on this fascinating journey of the baseball glove, from infamy to celebration, honor, and love.

en

24:15

Ep. 22: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 1

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/05/05

In this episode, I explore the history of the baseball, and some surprising facts about what was initially used inside a baseball. I also discuss changes to the ball that greatly affected the game, and how a few additional simple changes could help evolve the game for the better.

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49:29

Ep. 21: Three Home Run Races and How They Changed...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/04/24

The three major home run races in baseball history were between six very different men. In this episode, I explore these mythic figures, and discuss how they were a product of their times and also instrumental in shaping what came next.

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01:04:05

Bonus Episode: Mark Armour and Dan Levitt Stop By The...

Midnight Library of Baseball ·

2024/04/15

I had the pleasure recently of sitting down with Dan Levitt and Mark Armour, authors of the book, Intentional Balk: Baseball’s Thin Line Between Innovation And Cheating. We dig into the gray areas of cheating, what cheating and innovation have meant to baseball, baseball fans, and Mark and Dan. We also discuss where the game is headed and what kind of cheating and innovation we might see in the future.More info about the book is at https://intentionalbalkbook.com and the book can also be found at

en

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