Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary: "Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement is Full Member of Bills Mafia"

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Buffalo Plus team (Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes)
Guest: Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays infielder
Episode Theme:
This episode dives into Ernie Clement’s passionate Buffalo Bills fandom, the intersection of his baseball journey with his Western New York roots, and the thrilling ride of playoff baseball. Clement shares personal insights about perseverance through failure and the deep community bonds uniting Western New York's sports fans.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. Ernie Clement’s Bills Roots & Upstate NY Pride

• Opening exuberance: Ernie declares, “The Buffalo Bills will win the Super Bowl, guarantee. … I grew up in Rochester, New York. Bills Mafia runs deep in upstate and western New York.” (00:00)
• Love of local teams: He emphasizes how pride in local sports connects Rochester and Buffalo communities.
• Bills fandom: Clement reflects on supporting the Bills through “the dark days” and now, with a talented team, savoring the success even without a Super Bowl yet.

2. Playoff Baseball — Surreal Moments & Lessons From Failure

• Lifelong work paying off: Clement calls his MLB playoff journey “so special.” (01:16)
  • Quote: “It’s what I’ve worked so hard for. … I play this game because I love my teammates and just want to win.”
• Learning from setbacks: He discusses numerous setbacks—being DFA’d, released, moving teams—and how these shaped his career:
  • Quote: “I’ve failed more than anybody in this game … but I’ve learned from all those failures and really grown, not just as a baseball player.” (02:05)
• Playoff nerves: On the intensity of playoff games:
  • “When you look around and see 45,000 people yelling at you, it is different… But once the game starts, it’s the same.” (03:10)
• Facing childhood heroes: Hitting a two-run homer at Yankee Stadium as a former Yankees fan was “surreal.” (04:14)

3. Special Team Moments & Celebrating Small Wins

• Dan Fetes’ question (remote): Most surreal moment? Clement points to the joy with teammates:
  • “It’s just been so fun going to war with these guys… Every step of the way, it’s been so cool to celebrate our successes… I just think it’s so important to celebrate those small victories.” (05:30)
• Clubhouse culture: Clement describes post-Series celebrations at Yankee Stadium with champagne as essential for team morale.

4. Western NY Baseball Journey & Rediscovering Confidence

• Back home with the Bisons: After stints with Cleveland and Oakland, playing everyday in Buffalo (AAA) revived him:
  • “I got to play every single day in Buffalo… That was the beginning of me just gaining a ton of confidence.” (07:30)
• Choosing Toronto: Toronto’s promise of regular playing time in AAA was key to rebuilding his career.

5. Full-on Bills Fandom — In Toronto and Beyond

• Jenna’s question: Impact of Bills Mafia support in Rochester and Toronto:
  • “The Bills Mafia, it runs deep in Toronto. … I’ve loved the Bills for a long time… but I think I’ll always be a grinder, sitting in the 300 level, grinding out that tough weather.” (09:10)
• Best Bills memory: Clement recalls watching Josh Allen’s rookie year with hope:
  • “I just remember thinking, all right, we finally hit on one of these draft picks. Let’s, let’s, let’s get it rolling.” (10:41)
• Following Bills on game days: He usually gets updates in the clubhouse, rarely able to watch games live but always tracking the team. (12:02)
• Bills “Shout” song as walk-up music: Used during his time in Buffalo, became a hit with Blue Jays fans—he’s kept it ever since. (12:54)

6. Fan Life, Relatability, and Local Star Power

• Tailgating tradition: He’s attended more games recently, but has been a diehard for years—watching “every game at 1 o’clock on CBS against the Jets.” (13:34)
• Being recognized: After the Yankees series, social media lit up with fans (including opposing ones) wondering, “Who the f is this Ernie Clement guy?” Clement laughs, calling it “so cool.” (15:44, 15:58)
• Community appreciation: He’s struck by the volume and warmth of fan messages after big games.
• Athletic versatility: Played high school football at running back and wide receiver—mirroring his baseball versatility. (16:25)
• Joking about helping the Bills at cornerback: “Yeah, I could lock somebody down if they needed me to.” (16:45)

7. Bills 2025 Outlook & Clement’s Hope

• His view on the Bills: “I think it’s going to happen. I think they’re going to break through. … The Bills are so fun to watch. It’s such a team-oriented culture.” (17:05)
• Dream scenario: Blue Jays and Bills both win championships: “Sign me up. Sign me up.” (18:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re just missing that Super Bowl close. … Go Bills.” (00:00)
• “I failed more than anybody in this game… It took a long time to finally find a home in Toronto.” (02:05)
• Reflecting on Yankee Stadium: “Just to do it against a division rival… was so cool. Yankee Stadium’s a special place.” (04:14)
• On celebrating small wins: “It’s so important to celebrate those small victories. That’s part of baseball and how special it is.” (05:30)
• On keeping tabs on Bills games during MLB season: “I have people constantly filling me in on how the boys are doing.” (12:02)
• On fan reaction: “They’re like, ‘Who is this guy? Why is he just killing us?’ And I just chuckle.” (15:58)
• Ultimate hope for Buffalo: “I think they break through. I think it’s finally our year.” (17:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00: Ernie’s Bills fandom roots and community connection
• 01:16: MLB playoff journey and fulfillment
• 02:05: Learning through adversity and failures
• 03:10: Playoff baseball nerves and excitement
• 04:14: Childhood dreams at Yankee Stadium realized
• 05:30: Team camaraderie and the meaning of small victories
• 07:30: Rediscovering confidence in Buffalo, AAA ball
• 09:10: Bills Mafia support in Toronto & Rochester
• 10:41: Favorite Bills memory—Josh Allen’s rookie year
• 12:02: How Ernie keeps up with Bills games during baseball season
• 12:54: Using the “Shout” song as walk-up music
• 15:58: Social media, becoming a household name to rival fans
• 16:45: Kidding about helping the Bills’ secondary
• 17:05: Assessing the Bills’ 2025 chances

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is upbeat, sincere, and brimming with local pride. Ernie Clement comes across as one of Western New York’s biggest sports fans—a relatable grinder who, despite achieving MLB stardom, is still happiest talking about Bills football. His journey underscores the value of perseverance and the emotional bonds that bind fans and athletes in Buffalo and beyond. The passion of Bills Mafia resonates throughout, and Clement’s faith in the team’s ultimate breakthrough echoes the optimism of a devoted community.

Final words: “Go Bills, baby.” (18:13)