Proudly brought to you by the fine folks at the Astonishing Legends Podcast- Not just another show but a place you can go: The Midnight Library. You alone, can climb the stairs of the strange, old Victorian mansion and be somewhat welcomed by your Hosts, Miranda Merrick & Mr. Darling. Curl up in a window seat or beside the grand fireplace and hear a tale of times long ago. Be transported to forgotten lands, learn about ancient customs and mysterious happenings… all in the company of your unu ...
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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, so listeners can relax and enjoy a good show as they settle in for the night.
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Welcome, Spooky Lovelies! How elegant you look in your vampire-inspired attire! Tonight, by candlelight, we shall visit grave after grave after grave until we've had our fill of all the bizarre batterings the bodies of the supposed vampires have sustained. They are many and grievous. From stakes through their heart to stones in their mouth, "vampir…
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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…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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You know what must be done. You know what you must do. Reach way back into your closet and retrieve your black ceremonial robes -or- grab some glitter and a hot-glue gun! The choice is yours! Tonight Miranda will tell you all about the weird and wonderful history of Mummers...and where you can find and join in with them today... safely, of course..…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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Gruesome Greetings Dear Guests! Please take note of our repeated use of the word "gruesome" for this wild and wonderful werewolf tale is not for the faint of heart. If, however, you have the stomach and guts enough to simply let such ghastly things splash all over you without batting an eye (or ear)- Well! Do we have a lurid legend to share with yo…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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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 th…
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Welcome to The Reading Room, Spooky Lovelies! Imagine being accused of witchcraft because of the cute, little pets you own-- and that cute, little mole on your chin... and several of your spouses dropping dead while in your care. Please find your favorite spot because tonight, Ms. Merrick has for you, the spellbinding story of the very first famili…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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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 …
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S11 Ep1: Scared All The Time Crossover - Beyond the Cordoned-Off Areas
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Welcome Back, Spooky Lovelies! We begin tonight's reading with a dire warning about treading where you ought not to, specifically inside notorious haunted houses...and protected properties. But it seems no matter how many times Miranda warns the humans, they always think nothing bad will ever happen to them. Join us tonight as Ed & Chris from Scare…
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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…
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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…
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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 …
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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…
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We know. We know you're waiting almost patiently for The Midnight Library to reopen its doors for "The TRULY Most Wonderful Time of the Year" And we have the scoop on when this will happen! But first, we have a short story... about YOU. Join us to hear this- and when you can claim your favorite spot in The Reading Room for Season 11!…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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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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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 …
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"EXTRA! EXTRA! HEAR ALL ABOUT IT! Please find your favorite cozy spot in The Reading Room, Dear Guest! Tonight we have a special, surprising, and even shocking tale for you: The Great Moon Hoax of 1835! Have you ever wondered if there's really anything interesting on the moon? People long ago did too, and wow did they get the early scoop on the tro…
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Welcome, Dear Guests! Please come through quickly and find your favorite, cozy spot in The Reading Room. If you’re feeling a little itchy or antsy, that’s to be expected as tonight’s reading is on the subject of Spider Lore! So please ignore the tickling of the fine hairs on your neck and refrain from jumping or shrieking because we have many spide…
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Please come out with us for a little drink, won't you, dear guest? Tonight we're on the prowl for spooky pubs. Pubs Most Haunted! That's what you get when you build a public house on ancient Ley Lines or inside of the world's oldest, prehistoric stone circle. Oh, and it helps to have a load of shifty characters living there down through time, along…
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Back by popular demand! The Loremen return to The Midnight Library for a comforting slumber party! Well, that's probably not what they'll tell you, but maybe you shouldn't be so trustful of two strange men who call themselves "The Loremen". Tonight, James Shakeshaft & Alasdair Beckett-King find themselves holed up in The Red Room, and actually have…
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Is your uncle the one that makes little suits of armor for his pet squirrels- or is that you? There's a rumor that Miranda was raised by someone who insisted that their pet horse eat in the kitchen. There's a bishop in the village who wears a Batman costume under his holy robes (you didn't hear that from us though). Eccentrics are some of the most …
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What will you wear for eternity? Will your bones go bare while others are dripping with gold and precious jewels? Probably. But let us fill you in on how some have come to be covered in a king's ransom of rubies and diamonds- and how you can see them! And, if The League of Lady Gravediggers have their way... how you can join them. Grab your favorit…
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Ep. 25: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 4 - The Invisible Man
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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.…
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Ep. 24: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 3 - Action and Glory
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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Please choose your favorite spot in The Reading Room as we traverse the mists of time and call out to the legendary, robust Greek God, PAN. Revel in his divine company and reap the lavish rewards of your sacrifice! Your haunting host, Miranda Merrick, will tell you of the rumored birth of the god, stories of his life and times... and just where you…
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Ep. 23: The Tools of Ignorance, Part 2 - Glove Affairs
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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Greetings Spooky Lovelies! We assume you received your personal dinner invitation for tonight's reading? Maybe you missed it. It was written in the red veins of the Sorrel lettuce on The Hospitality Tray last week. Oh well. You're here now, so please take your favorite seat as your scrumptious host, Ms. Miranda fills you in on all of the sly and ea…
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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Ep. 21: Three Home Run Races and How They Changed Baseball
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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.저자 bendavidorlando
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Tonight! The story so many of you have been asking to hear: The Birth of Irma! Just how did this little Sugar Booger come into being? From whence did she come? How did we all become so possessed by her? Join us tonight to hear the heated story of her Underworld origin! Special Thanks to Sounds Like an Earful Music Supply for the amazing music AND s…
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Bonus Episode: Mark Armour and Dan Levitt Stop By The Library
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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…
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Ep. 20: More core stats are lies? Say it ain't so, Joe
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In terms of traditional stats that have misled fans, players, and managers for decades, the pitcher win is a whopper. In this episode I discuss the origins and many examples and reasons why wins and saves have been so problematic, and also why we love them all the same.저자 bendavidorlando
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S9: Season 10 Announcement & A Question: Are You A Midnight Library Missing Person?
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CALLING ALL SPOOKY LOVELIES! We have an announcement about Season 10 for you! We also have a question- Are you one of our beloved missing ones? Find out in this short message from Miranda!저자 Astonishing Legends Productions
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A few of the pillars of baseball statistics contain serious flaws, but it can be hard to turn away from them. In this episode, I discuss the historical reasons for trusting these stats, the consequences of this trust, and the reasons why so many closed their eyes to the truth for so long.저자 bendavidorlando
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Before there were leagues in baseball, there was barnstorming, and as major league baseball expanded, with its rules, revenue, and discrimination, barnstorming remained to remind players and fans what baseball was, when stripped down to nothing but the game.저자 bendavidorlando
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In this episode, I explore the origins and background of various popular substances in Major League Baseball, and the entertaining and heartbreaking stories that go with them. From Dock Ellis pitching a no-hitter on LSD, to the tragic end to one of the best players in the game in his prime, to the debate of performance enhancing drugs and some surp…
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There are a lot of surprising twists and turns in the history of tobacco in Major League Baseball. In this episode, I will answer why smokeless tobacco was so popular during the origins of baseball, why it then almost disappeared, and how it roared back despite its known dangers.저자 bendavidorlando
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I’ve written about both The Natural and Field of Dreams, so I thought it would be fun to compare the two films, based on a number of different criteria, to see, in the end, which film came out ahead.저자 bendavidorlando
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In this episode, I talk with Jason Turbow, author of “The Baseball Codes, the Unwritten Rules of America’s Pastime,” about his updated views on the code since writing the book and viewing the changes in baseball.저자 bendavidorlando
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People think they know what they saw in 1993 between Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura, just like they think they know what they saw in the 1996 collision between Albert Belle and Fernando Vina. But they don’t, because behind the scenes, the code was dictating the behaviors and actions of players. In this episode, I break down some of the most important…
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Before Roy Hobbs of “The Natural,” there was Eddie Waitkus, a star of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, whose forgotten true story was more fascinating than the fiction that came after.저자 bendavidorlando
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Greetings, My Dear... Lone... Guest, I thought I'd have you in for tea on this beautiful, early fall evening... to discuss... MURDER. But, not just any murder... a slow, plotting, gentle murder... at least at first. The clueless victim didn't even realize he was being murdered, so that's better, right? We think so. Please, make yourself comfortable…
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In this episode, I dive into the life and career of Rick Ankiel, whose unbelievable twists and turns are only surpassed by the amazing relationship he developed with a baseball team and baseball town.저자 bendavidorlando
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Bonus Episode: Rounders Host Jeffrey Lambert Visits the Library
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In this episode, Jeffrey Lambert, host of the podcast, Rounders, stops by to chat with me about what makes baseball so different from other sports, and why we love it so much. We also discuss cultural shifts that have affected the game, as well as some of our favorite all-time baseball books.저자 bendavidorlando
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RAVENOUS RAPTOR FANS REJOICE! Tonight, by special request, we celebrate OWLS!-- and all that they are amazingly capable of! Even if you have a fear of owls, we invite you to cozy up in The Reading Room to hear of their luscious history and alluring lore... and even what they're hungry for. Keep your eyes peeled for our Miss Harlow... if you have no…
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People who remember relief pitcher Donnie Moore often connect Moore’s role in what Al Michaels called “the most dramatic hour of sports I’ve ever seen," to Donnie Moore, three years later, shooting his wife and himself. In this episode, I explore the deeper story that sheds light on what happened on July 18, 1989.…
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