Monday, January 18, 2000

After reading the books about the history of first the minor league Bay Area baseball teams and the Pacific Coast League, I found another book about the minor leagues. I seem to be getting to be somewhat of an "expert" about minor league history now with all these books I'm finding. Baseball's Home Teams chronicles the history of the minor leagues in general.

Because it's more of a general look back than anything else, author Bruce Chadwick doesn't get too involved in describing the histories of individual leagues or teams (except the Newark Bears). He does devote a "mini-chapter" to the good old Pacific Coast League, describing its attempts to become the "third major league." The book is divided into six chapters, chronicling the rise and fall and then revival of the minors.

What I liked about the book was Chadwick's descriptions of how minor league teams are truly a part of America and the book's title is very appropriate. So many towns and small cities across the country have minor league teams and the games and the teams are treated as major events.

I was disappointed, however, that Chadwick spent so little time talking about some of the great minor league teams. The Baltimore Orioles of the 1920s, for example, had a dynasty that would rival the Yankees of that era, winning a number of International League titles. Some of the great teams from the PCL, including the San Francisco Seals, Los Angeles Angels, and later the Albuquerque Dukes received little or no mention.

Like the PCL book I reviewed previously, Baseball's Home Teams is full of stories and anecdotes. It talks about how Branch Rickey was the first man to buy minor league teams and stock them with players, setting up the first major league "farm system." Rickey at one point owned 33 teams and was later forced to sell off some of them. Other owners such as Jacob Ruppert of the Yankees saw what Rickey was doing and also began to buy minor league teams.

The book is full of rare player photos, and pictures of memorabilia and stadiums. It has a great aerial shot of Pilot Field in Buffalo, one of the prettiest minor league fields -- I drove past it late one night two years ago when I was back east for a brief vacation. I've spoken with a couple of minor league players who have played there and they say it feels like they're playing in a major league park. I can see why.

The book also contains a list of states and cities with minor league teams. Since the book came out in 1994, the list is a bit dated now. Because of this, you should be able to find a copy in any used bookstore. I originally saw the book at a baseball card show and held off buying it. Good thing, since a week later I saw it discounted to half price at a local book store. However, if like me, you have an interest in minor league history, this book is a bargain at any price.

Copyright © 2000 by Todd Hawley

E-mail Todd at thawley@tdl.com

Gregg Pearlman, gregg@EEEEEEgp.com

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