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The Baseball Project perform in The Current studio

Mike Mills of The Baseball Project performs in The Current studio.
Mike Mills of The Baseball Project performs in The Current studio.MPR photo/Nate Ryan
  Play Now [24:47]

by Mac Wilson

August 11, 2014

The Baseball Project, 'The Babe' performed at The Current
by MPR
The Baseball Project, 'Hola America!' performed at The Current
by MPR
The Baseball Project, 'Pascual on the Perimeter' performed at The Current
by MPR

Some band names are cause for bemusement. Architecture in Helsinki, for example, aren't Finnish; they're Australian. Of Montreal are actually "of" Athens, Ga.

But there's nothing ironic about The Baseball Project. These rock 'n' rollers love music — and they love, love, love baseball.

In town for a show at the Cedar Cultural Center, The Baseball Project — Scott McCaughey, Mike Mills, Linda Pitmon and Steve Wynn — stopped into the studio to play some songs and to talk baseball with a fellow superfan, The Current's Mac Wilson.

Always mining baseball's rich treasure trove of stories for song ideas, the Baseball Project's Steve Wynn describes how the band's songwriting sessions resemble an editorial meeting at a magazine. "We try to find the angle, the good story," he says.

In their discussion with Mac, The Baseball Project reveal who else in the rock world are hardcore baseball fans; how they try to get to Major League games while on tour; and which are some of their favorite baseball stats of all time. They also talk about the stories that inspired the songs in today's session.

Songs Performed


"The Babe"
"Hola America!"
"Pascual On The Perimeter"
All songs off The Baseball Project's album, 3rd, out now on Yep Roc Records.

Hosted by Mac Wilson
Produced by Lindsay Kimball
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Web feature by Luke Taylor