Download or read book Minor League Buzz Major League Life written by Don Miers and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2015-08-21 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buzz Meyers grew up in the 1960s, so it should be no surprise what hes all about: baseball, sex, rock n rolland baseball. Toiling at different jobs, he cant help but think how wonderful it would be to work at a ballpark, and he gets his chance when he becomes the sales and concessions manager for the Hampton Roads Monitors, a minor-league team near Virginia Beach. He might not be a player, but this is the next best thing, and while he puts in long hours, he also gets the chance to party and meet baseball legends, upcoming stars, and a cast of unforgettable characters. The longer he stays in the business, the more he realizes hes partying a little too much, and he starts trying new things, including giving back to his community, lecturing, acting, singing, and even hosting his own radio show. When he runs for elected office at the same time his team is engaged in a heated pennant race, he has no idea what to expect. But no matter what happens, he can bask in the satisfaction of having lived a major-league life in the minors.
Download or read book Diamond Days written by Jeff Klein and published by . This book was released on 2004-03-01 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Much of what occurs in major league baseball is well documented. Away from the bright lights and multilevel palaces of the big leagues are many more people involved in the game at other levels. Players, from rookies to veterans, struggle to work their way to the major leagues. These journeys are repeated annually across the globe. Many of the stories here came first-hand from the people who lived them through interviews with the author. Imagine playing in Japan for the first time, only to discover that your interpreter is still trying to learn English. Or being traded for a bucket of fish. Or having your team bus break down in the mountain wilderness where the closest sign of civilization is a dilapidated country store with heads from freshly killed wildlife staked outside. Or discovering that your two year-old has flushed the last of your family's money down the toilet while your husband was away on a road trip. Or fighting an unexpected case of nerves in your first major league at-bat while facing the legendary Warren Spahn. For every game, every inning, and every out, there a stories. For decades after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier, the fight against racism continued in the minors. Ballplayers and their families who were expecting another typical winter league baseball season in Havana, Cuba suddenly found themselves in the middle of Fidel Castro's revolution. Players are not the only ones to be heard from. Over one hundred and fifty people involved in the game were interviewed for this book. There are umpires who had to flee angry mobs, a baseball broadcaster who was the last to re-create games in a studio, and a manager who had to deal with a player overcomeby the death of Elvis. Fans, family, scouts, owners, front office people, and mascots share their experiences here. The chapters also cover superstitions, pratfalls, promotions, ballpark oddities, first experiences in professional ball, getting the call to the major leagues, and finally hanging up one's glove. The game is filled with colorful characters and antics. There was Casey Stengel, still years away from his legendary major league managerial career, who once threatened to wear a dress on the field. Ed Nottle was one of several ejected managers who got their revenge on the umpires while wearing some bizarre disguises (that didn't include dresses). Players have had to tread carefully on minor league fields, avoiding gopher holes and auto parts. A game was once cancelled due to a frog infestation. Discover why players were burning bats during a game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Or why a player used a peeled potato in a close game instead of a baseball. Find out which parks you could have won a racehorse in, or perhaps a free funeral. This isn't the baseball you're going to see on ESPN, but it's still a lot of fun.
Download or read book Where Nobody Knows Your Name written by John Feinstein and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Minor league baseball is quintessentially American: small towns, small stadiums, $5 tickets, $2 hot dogs, the never-ending possibility of making it big. But looming above it all is always the real deal: Major League Baseball. John Feinstein takes the reader behind the curtain into the guarded world of the minor leagues, like no other writer can. Where Nobody Knows Your Name explores the trials and travails of the inhabitants of Triple-A, focusing on nine men, including players, managers and umpires, among many colorful characters, living on the cusp of the dream. The book tells the stories of former World Series hero Scott Podsednik, giving it one more shot; Durham Bulls manager Charlie Montoya, shepherding generations across the line; and designated hitter Jon Lindsey, a lifelong minor leaguer, waiting for his day to come. From Raleigh to Pawtucket, from Lehigh Valley to Indianapolis and beyond, this is an intimate and exciting look at life in the minor leagues, where you’re either waiting for the call or just passing through.
Download or read book Life in the Minor Leagues written by Dennis R. Tuttle and published by Facts On File. This book was released on 1999 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surveys the history of minor league baseball, describing the lives of players, coaches, umpires, and others involved and discussing developments in this facet of America's favorite pastime.
Download or read book I Should Have Quit This Morning written by Kathy Diekroeger and published by . This book was released on 2019-04-08 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The road to Major League baseball goes through the minor leagues. Every year there are over 5,500 players trying to work their way to the top of the tiered minor league system. Very few people know what life is really like for these aspiring players -- until now. This collection of stories from actual minor league players is a hilarious, heartbreaking and honest account of the struggle to make it to the big leagues. In this book, you will learn: * How it feels to be the first pick in the MLB draft ("everyone started screaming") and how it feels for a player to not hear his name called at all ("Three days came and went and I didn't get picked.") * Why some players don't sign a minor league contract ("It was an unbelievably tough decision.") * Who the players meet when they show up as a rookie on day one ("It's a very rude awakening.") * Where players go in the off season ("You can make some serious dough in the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues.") *What Spring Training is like for minor leaguers ("The difference between big league camp and minor league camp is night and day.") * Where players live and how they eat ("I became a pro at cooking in the 'kitchen bathroom' in the hotel.") * Which minor league ballpark promotions the players enjoy the most ("It's time for Cowboy Monkey Rodeo!") * What really happens during road trips ("It was straight out of a horror movie.") * Why crazy things happen on the field ("Our manager stormed out there and just started unloading on the umpire.") * What it's like to get promoted, demoted and traded ("It was the first time I actually cried when someone got moved or traded.") * How players get released and how they make the decision to retire ("I remember everything about that last game.") * What it's like when players get the ultimate call up to the Major Leagues ("It was still during the game and everyone was like, 'Dude, go call your parents or something.")And so much more! Kathy Diekroeger has watched her three sons play over 2,100 baseball games. She stopped counting when two of them made it to professional baseball. After hearing stories about minor league life for four years, she felt compelled to document and share those experiences with anyone who considers themselves a fan of baseball. This is her first book
Download or read book Bluegrass Baseball written by Katya Cengel and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2012-07-15 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forget the steroid-addled, overpaid, and unmotivated players: America's pastime is still alive and well, and is still the heartfelt sport it's always been--in the Minor Leagues. And nowhere is this truer than in Kentucky, whose rich baseball history continues to play out in the four teams profiled in this book. Following these teams through the 2010 season--the triumphs, struggles, and big league hopes and dreams--the book tells the larger story of baseball in America's smaller venues, where the game in its purest form is still valued and warmly embraced. The story begins before the season with.
Download or read book Heart of the Game written by S.L. Price and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2009-05-05 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Genuine and raw…a heartfelt work of despair, triumph, and redemption.” —Boston Globe The critically acclaimed Heart of the Game—subtitled “Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America”—explores the pure roots of a sport that is stained by scandal at its highest level. S.L. Price, award-winning writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Pitching Around Fidel, gives a tragic but ultimately uplifting account of the death of minor league baseball coach Mike Coolbaugh, and in doing so, illustrates the many reasons and myriad ways in which baseball still has a hold on America. A Friday Night Lights for baseball fans, Heart of the Game reveals the classic heart of small-town America.
Download or read book Little League to the Major Leagues written by Rod Humphries and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2013-05 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is no question that the physical and mental demands of the sport of baseball are rigorous. Not only is it difficult to successfully hit a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball in front of a crowd of passionate spectators, but it is also challenging to navigate an often confusing system that leads players through youth leagues, high school, college, and for a lucky few, the Minor and Major Leagues. Rod Humphries, sports journalist, television writer, and former administrator of a worldwide professional tennis tour, shares his personal experiences and advice from experts in this complete insider's guide designed to help players, their parents, and baseball fans understand how Major Leaguers "pay their dues." Humphries, who closely studied the entire baseball assembly line when his son was drafted out of high school by the Houston Astros, offers valuable information on: - The professional baseball structure - Little League vs. select/travel ball - Player analysis and recruitment - Scholarships and coaching camps - Draft day decisions, salaries, and career chances Little League to the Major Leagues provides proven tips and time-tested advice for any family or player who dares to dream of journeying beyond youth baseball to high school, college, and the professional game.
Download or read book Minor Moments Major Memories written by Mark Leinweaver and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Baseball is pure and hope springs eternal.
Download or read book Baseball s Hometown Teams written by Bruce Chadwick and published by Artabras. This book was released on 1996-12 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a complete history of minor league baseball from its beginnings in 1877 to the present.
Download or read book On the Way Up written by Dave Klein and published by Julian Messner. This book was released on 1977 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Depicts the life of ten onetime minor league baseball players who conquered the odds and became major league stars.
Download or read book The Minors written by Neil J. Sullivan and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 1990-03-15 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This impressive history of baseball in the smaller towns and cities of the U.S. is divided into three sections. The first covers the years from 1877 to 1920, when the modern game was evolving and the general outlines of major and minor leagues were taking shape; the second treats the period from 1920 to 1950, the golden age of the minors; the third is devoted to the expansion of the majors and the rise of television, both of which all but destroyed the minors, reducing the number of leagues from 59 to 21.
Download or read book Minor Moments Major Memories written by Mark Leinweaver and published by . This book was released on 2010-05 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Minor League Baseball has been around for more than 100 years. Across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, almost every Major League Baseball player, manager, and coach has spent time in the minors before making it to the big leagues. This is a collection of memorable minor league experiences over the past 60 years. It highlights a time when these individuals lived together, ate together, traveled together, and played ball together. A period when the rules of the game were the same, but the stadium lights were dimmer and the crowds were smaller. These true stories are the actual accounts as told by the individuals, who range from Major League All-Stars to Minor League journeymen. Photos.
Download or read book The Best Little Baseball Town in the World written by Gaylon H. White and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-04-21 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Crowley Millers were the talk of minor league baseball in the 1950s, with crowds totaling nearly 10 times Crowley’s population and earning Crowley the nickname of “The Best Little Baseball Town in the World.” The Best Little Baseball Town in the World: The Crowley Millers and Minor League Baseball in the 1950s tells the fun, quirky story of Crowley, Louisiana, in the fifties, a story that reads more like fiction than nonfiction. The Crowley Millers’ biggest star was Conklyn Meriwether, a slugger who became infamous after he retired when he killed his in-laws with an axe. Their former manager turned out to be a con man, dying in jail while awaiting trial on embezzlement charges. The 1951 team was torn to pieces after their young centerfielder was struck and killed by lightning during a game. But aside from the tragedy and turmoil, the Crowley Millers also played some great baseball and were the springboard to stardom for George Brunet and Dan Pfister, two Crowley pitchers who made it to the majors. Interviews with players from the team bring to light never-before-heard stories and inside perspectives on minor league baseball in the fifties, including insight into the social and racial climate of the era, and the inability of baseball in the fifties to help players deal with off-the-field problems. Written by respected minor-league baseball historian Gaylon H. White, The Best Little Baseball Town in the World is a fascinating tale for baseball fans and historians alike.
Download or read book You ve Got to Have Balls to Make it in this League written by Pam Postema and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2003-09-01 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In You?ve Got to Have Balls to Make It in This League Pam Postema reveals with frank language and uncompromising candor what it was like being an umpire in professional baseball. For thirteen seasons, from 1977 until her unconditional release in 1989, Postema umpired more than two thousand baseball games, making national news as she worked in various minor leagues as high as level AAA?one step below the majors. She also called many major league spring training games as well as the Hall of Fame game in 1988 between the Yankees and the Braves. ø Postema?s story is one of grit and determination to succeed in a profession dominated by men, but it is also an intimate look at umpiring. Postema discusses the mindset behind making a proper call, the weeks of intensive training, ejecting problem players and managers, and the chaos mixed with the monotony of being on the road most of the year. Throughout, Postema relates her encounters with major league stars when they were just up-and-comers in the minors.
Download or read book Minor Leagues Major Boom written by Jon C. Stott and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2016-04-18 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1990, 25.2 million people watched minor league baseball games. In 2001, that number had increased to 38.8 million thanks in large part to the “new minors.” In addition to the die-hard fans, families and business associates and church, social and school groups come to eat crab cakes and sushi and drink lattes, take in the between-inning contests such as “Race the Mascot,” see entertainers such as the Blues Brothers of Wisconsin, and watch post-game fireworks. This book examines the concept of the “new minors” as it has developed over the past fifteen years. Part One traces and analyzes the changes in the organization and operation of minor league franchises and the shifting relationship between the majors and the members of the National Association. Part Two focuses on the people, places and events of the 2003 season and playoffs. Special attention is paid to the personnel of the minor league franchises, the coaches and players, the player development departments of the major league clubs, and the relationships between them. Part Three offers general observations about the future of the “new minors.” The Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League, the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Pennsylvania League are highlighted.
Download or read book The 26th Man written by Steve Fireovid and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 1996-07-28 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The average major league player currently earns more than half a million dollars a season. But, only 25 players make the big team's roster. The 26th Man details the season-long journey of Steve Fireovid of the Triple A Indianapolis Indians, as he deals with the realities and the heartbreak of playing a kid's games well into his thirties.
