SABR Minor League Committee Blog

Plug for the SABR Minor League Encyclopedia

2008-10-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

Steve Treder penned a complimentary post about the SABR Minor League Encyclopedia in Hardball Times today.

SABR Minor League Encyclopedia Update

2008-10-07T07:35:00.001-07:00

The SABR Minor League Encyclopedia has been updated on Oct. 6. The next scheduled update will be in January. The Encyclopedia may be searched at: www.minors.sabrwebs.com

Bob McConnell Biography

2008-09-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Peter Morris has written a wonderful biography for SABR founding member and prominent minor league researcher Bob McConnell for the SABR BioProject. I encourage all members of the Minor League Committee to read it. It would be great if Peter or others would write similar sketches for other noteworthy SABR members.

ProQuest and Google Partner for Online Newspaper Content

2008-09-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday ProQuest and Google announced a partnership that could benefit SABR researchers. Click here for the press release.

Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania

2008-09-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

John Coulson has recently published a book entitled Hanover Raiders: Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania, which chronicles its history from 1866 to 1930. Unfortunately, it isn't listed for sale on Amazon.com, so I'm sure how copies can be purchased from the author.

Here are a few articles related to Hanover Raiders:

Hanover's Professional Team Remembered in Book

Library to Host Local Author

SABR Minor League Encyclopedia Update

2008-09-04T07:21:00.001-07:00

The next update for the SABR Minor League Encyclopedia will be on October 1. Among the additions will be statistics and data for the 2008 season.

I will do my best to have the committee newsletter published this weekend. I know I've promised it since July, but I've been very busy the past two months. Thank you for your patience.

Feature on Sulphur Dell Website

2008-08-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Minor League Committee member Skip Nipper and his website on Nashville's historic Sulphur Dell ballpark are featured in a recent article written by fellow SABR member and Nashville sports historian Bill Traughber. It relates how the memories of Skip's father, Virgil Nipper, inspired Skip to create the website and collect the memories of other Nashville fans as well, and post photos and memorabilia of the Nashville Vols.

The article may be found on the Nashville Sounds official site here.

West Frankfort (IL) Cardinals Book

2008-08-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

Toby Brooks, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Carbondale, is writing a book on the history of the West Frankfort (IL) Cardinals of the Illinois State League (renamed the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League and later the Midwest League). It will focus on the impact that the team had on the community during and after its heyday. The Southern Illinois Miners (based in nearby Marion) will honor the 60th anniversary of West Frankfort's 1948 pennant-winning club by wearing replica uniforms on August 30.

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/08/10/local/25396592.txt

Olean Oilers and Bradner Stadium Articles

2008-08-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Olean (NY) Times Herald is publishing a three-part series of articles on Bradner Stadium and professional baseball in Olean. Parts 1 and 2 are below:

Part 1:
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2008/08/04/news/doc48951d14137df709546024.txt

Part 2:
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2008/08/04/news/doc489787739b6f9431848524.txt

Essential Books on Minor League Baseball

2008-05-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Back in 1987 and again in 1998, a panel of SABR members compiled a list of books that should be in every personal baseball library. The first was before my time in SABR and the second I must not have been paying attention. But I was struck by the fact that only three titles related to the minor leagues were included. It's been eleven years since the list was compiled, so I wondered what books would be added by members of the Minor League Committee now.

An obvious choice would be the three editions of The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball by Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff. But there are others and I would be interested to know what you think they would be. Please send your list (ranked from top choice on down) to me here or write to my home address (please see the SABR online directory). This will also be posted in the Spring issue of the committee newsletter, Beating the Bushes. The results will appear in the Fall issue. (SABR and Minor League Committee members only please.)

Minor League Baseball Teams with Baseball in Wartime to Honor Veterans

2008-05-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Minor League Baseball is partnering with the Baseball in Wartime organization this Memorial Day to remember all war veterans, especially those Minor League players who served in World War II.

On Monday, May 26, there will be a public address announcement at ballparks throughout the country that will honor all veterans and highlight the 4,000 Minor League Baseball players who served duringWorld War II, including the 113 who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, losing their lives in military training and combat.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to partner with the Baseball in Wartime project," said Minor League Baseball Senior Vice President, Business Operations John Cook. "We hope these efforts will increase awareness of the program, but more importantly, we want to pay tribute
to all veterans who served and specifically those who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

"Doing so in conjunction with the Memorial Day holiday in our ballparks is a natural tie-in and will be the first piece of what we hope to be an ongoing partnership between Minor League Baseball and Baseball in Wartime."

"Working with Minor League Baseball is the ultimate step in honoring these veteran athletes," stated Baseball in Wartime Founder and Editor Gary Bedingfield. "There is no doubt that Minor League Baseball played its part when the country needed it most, but this has largely been forgotten over the 60-plus years since the end of World War II. I hope this moment of remembrance will be the beginning of a permanent tribute to military veterans of Minor League Baseball."

Baseball in Wartime's main goal is to preserve the memories of professional baseball players who put down their bats and gloves and served their nation in World War II. The organization has a monthly newsletter and an extensive website (www.baseballinwartime.com) that now contains in excess of 650 biographies.

Gary Bedingfield
Baseball in Wartime (Founder and Editor)
www.baseballinwartime.com
garybed@gmail.com

Rex Hamann's Tombstone Efforts Recognized

2008-05-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

The OnMilwaukee.com online magazine features a complimentary article on Minor League Committee member Rex Hamann and his efforts to purchase and erect tombstones for former American Association players without one. Rex has done excellent scholarly work on the minor league American Association and its teams over the years through his website and blog as well as his research journal, the American Association Almanac. (For more on his efforts to mark the graves of Dan Marion and Dan Lally, read Rex's blog entry posted here.)

(Thank you to Ron Henry for the article link.)

Yankee Effect in Scranton

2008-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

This article from the New York Times describes the effect that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's new affiliation with the Yankees has had on the city and surrounding area. (Thanks to Catherine Petroski for the heads-up on the SABRminorleagues Yahoo Group.)

What Class A Baseball Means

2008-05-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

SABR member Joe Naiman recently wrote an article that briefly explains the minor league classification system. (He also mentions the late Vern Luse, longtime Minor League Committee member.)

PCL Historical Society Reunion

2008-05-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

I found this article while searching Google for newspaper articles on minor league baseball history and wanted to pass it along. It';s about the PCL Historical Society Reunion held on May 9 in Long Beach, CA. SABR president and Society founder Dick Beverage was mentioned as well as SABR member Bill Soto-Castellanos, former San Francisco Seals batboy and author of 16th & Bryant: My Life & Education with the San Francisco Seals.

Art Schott, Committee Member, in the News

2008-04-25T22:01:00.001-07:00

SABR and Minor League Committee member Arthur Schott was the subject of an article in the New Orleans Time-Picayune earlier this month. Congraulations, Art!

Arkansas State League and Arkansas-Missouri League

2008-04-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Northwest Arkansas Times recently published a story on Jerry Hogan, who is researching the history of the Arkansas State League and the Arkansas-Missouri League. He will give a presentation about his research on May 3, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Fayetteville, AR. There will also be a exhibit there on the history of minor league baseball in northwest Arkansas that runs through July 26.

Research Assist: West Texas-New Mexico League

2008-04-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Minor League Committee member Patrick R. Park is looking into thoroughly researching the West Texas-New Mexico League (1937-1955) for an eventual book. He is seeking information on anybody else currently working or planning to research this topic. He is also looking for tips and advice, as this would be his first endeavor into research, and anything helpful (sources/guides/etc) on the WTNL League. Please contact Patrick if you can be of assistance.

Minor League Bookshelf: Cradle of the Game: Baseball and Ballparks in North Carolina

2008-04-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

This looks like an interesting book about one of the historical hotbeds of minor league baseball, North Carolina. From the publisher:

Baseball in North Carolina today and its glorious history are richly detailed in Cradle of the Game: Baseball and Ballparks in North Carolina, by Mark Cryan. The comprehensive 400-page volume exploring minor-league and leading college ballparks – large and small – will entertain readers interested in Tar Heel state baseball history, and serve as a guide to visitors of today’s ballparks.

Book author Mark Cryan has many years of North Carolina baseball experience, starting out in the business by working for legendary minor league executive Miles Wolff. Highlights of the book include interviews with Wolff who talks about his involvement in making the ultimate baseball movie - Bull Durham, and with legendary manager Jack McKeon reflecting on life in the game.

Wolff wrote the forward for Cradle of the Game where he commented, “Mark Cryan’s book will give the reader a great picture of baseball in the Tar Heel state.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to share my love for baseball in this great state with the readers of this book,” said author Mark Cryan. “There’s no place in the entire country that has such a depth of history, significance to the game, and such great stories and people. That’s what makes baseball in North Carolina so special.”

Cryan was instrumental in setting up the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League and is a former General Manager of the Burlington (NC) Indians. He currently works as Athletic Director for the Burlington Recreation & Parks Department, and serves as an adjunct professor at Elon University.

As Wolff noted in his forward, baseball has been woven into the fabric of North Carolina for well over a century. This smartly illustrated book offered by August Publications can serve as a travel guide, but offers far more by bringing to life the unique qualities of baseball in North Carolina.

Cradle of the Game is a 6 x 9 paperback, 400 pages, and costs $18.95. It is available through August Publications' website or call 877-343-5207. It is also available through Amazon.com.

Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame Class of 2008

2008-04-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

National Baseball Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel headlined the 2008 class of Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame inductees, announced Thursday by the League.

Wheezer Dell and Dolly Gray, two of the circuit's greatest pitchers, along with beloved long-time Oakland Tribune sports cartoonist Lee Susman, are also being recognized for their distinguished service during their careers in the PCL.

Nationally recognized for his ingenuity and off-beat personality, Charles "Casey" Stengel, managed the Oakland Oaks for three seasons and compiled a 321-236 record, winning a Pacific Coast League Championship in 1948. The following season, the "Old Perfessor", a nickname from his playing days when he was known as a jokester on the field, signed on to manage the New York Yankees where Stengel went on to win seven World Series titles, including five straight. Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966 by the Veterans Committee, Stengel managed over 30 seasons in professional baseball, winning more than 2,300 games in his vaunted career.

A highly successful right-handed pitcher in the Pacific Cost League, William "Wheezer" Dell played for Vernon and Seattle from 1918-1924. Dell compiled a 138-94 record with a 3.13 ERA and 802 strikeouts in his seven seasons and helped Vernon win back-to-back PCL titles in 1919 and 1920. During the 1921 season he won a league high 28 games with a 2.95 ERA. Prior to playing in the PCL, Dell pitched for six seasons with Brooklyn and St. Louis in the National League.

William "Dolly" Gray was another highly successful pitcher during the early years of the Pacific Coast League. Gray pitched nine seasons for Los Angeles, Vernon, and Oakland from 1903-1913 and won four league titles with Los Angeles in 1903, 1905, 1907, and 1908. He won 155 games in his nine seasons including a league high 34 in 1907 for Los Angeles and tallied 1,021 strikeouts.

Leland "Lee" Susman was a Sports Cartoonist for the Oakland Tribune, a position he held for more than 35 years. His famous "Little Acorn" mascot was introduced for the Oakland Oaks and his work would expand to other franchises and be featured on the covers of programs for the Sacramento Solons & San Francisco Seals. At the time, and even more than fifty years later, Lee's artistic contributions have come to symbolize the Post-World War II Pacific Coast League, and a simpler time in America.

The 2008 inductees to the Hall of Fame were selected by the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame Committee, a blue-ribbon panel composed of Minor League Baseball, Coast League, and National Baseball historians. More information on the PCL Hall of Fame can be found on the League's web-site: www.pclbaseball.com

Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame

2008 Inductees:

Wheezer Dell (inducted as a player)

Dolly Gray (inducted as a player)

Casey Stengel (inducted as a manager)

Lee Susman (inducted as an executive)

About the PCL Hall of Fame: The Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was created in 1936 by the Helms Athletic Foundation located in Los Angeles, California, which at the time also operated Halls of Fame for Major League Baseball, Golf, College Basketball, Tennis, Swimming, Auto Racing, Professional Football, Track and Field, and College Football. In 1952, the PCL Hall of Fame ceased operation, but was brought back in conjunction with 2003's Pacific Coast League Centennial Celebration. The Hall currently consists of 74 members and includes such luminaries as Joe DiMaggio, Lefty O'Doul, Steve Bilko, Casey Stengel, and Tommy LaSorda.

Baseball in Hagerstown and Washington County, Maryland

2008-04-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

SABR member Bob Savitt has written an essay on the history of baseball in Washington County, Maryland that's posted on the Western Maryland Regional Library website. It also includes a link to scanned pages from the Hagerstown Braves' 1952 program.

Thank you to John Zajc for sending the link.

Reminder: Southern Association Conference, April 12th

2008-04-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Committee member Skip Nipper sends the following pertaining to the upcoming Southern Association Conference:

Each year the Friends of Rickwood, an organization that maintains Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, holds a conference that alternates between Birmingham and another former Southern Association city. This year, the Fifth Annual Southern Association conference will be held in Nashville, TN.

The event will begin on Friday night with the Nashville Sounds' PCL home opener vs. Iowa on April 11th at 7:00 PM. On Saturday, April 12th, the conference will take place at the Metro Nashville Archives in Green Hills after beginning with coffee and donuts at the old Sulphur Dell site in downtown Nashville.

Presentations by baseball historians Bill Traughber, Kevin McCann, Skip Nipper, and Derby Gisclair will be a part of the program, along with a panel discussion with former Nashville Vols players.The cost to attend is $50.00; for more information and a schedule of events contact David Brewer, Friends of Rickwood, at david@rickwood.com or Skip Nipper at skip@sulphurdell.com

Minor League Database update, March 31

2008-04-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

The SABR Minor Leagues Database is currently updated once a week, usually on Mondays. Most weeks, the updates are routine, so there won't always be a post announcing the updates; the front page at http://minors.sabrwebs.com will always tell you when the last update occurred. This week there are a few developments worth highlighting.

Gord Brown has generously donated his extensive collection of information on minor league ballparks, which he, Ted Lukacs, and many others have collected over the years. This update features the initial rollout of some of this data, with Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Delaware represented. In the coming weeks expect to see more states come on-line. We also have some nifty features planned for this data, including Google Maps links where possible. Thanks go out to Tim Rusk and Patrick Park for helping to get the ball rolling on this new feature.

Also, 2008 is upon us -- Happy New Year, everyone! During the season, it will be our goal to include in the database rosters of players who appear for each team during the season, and, relatedly, assign IDs to players as they make their pro debuts. These rosters may be incomplete or a bit out-of-date as the season rolls on, but we will try not to get too far behind. We do not plan on posting statistical data during the season, however, because that can be easily obtained from other sources.

If you are interested in helping improve the database, contact us at sabrmilb@gmail.com.

Arkansas Travelers Baseball Museum

2008-03-27T09:41:00.001-07:00

Phil Elson, play-by-play announcer for the Arkansas Travelers, has written a nice piece on the Travelers Baseball Museum at their new ballpark, Dickey-Stephens Park, in Little Rock, AR. I remember visiting Ray Winder Field in 1999 and walking into the business office and meeting longtime GM Bill Valentine. As Mr. Elson describes, it and a small display on the concourse served as the Travs' museum for many years. The wood-paneled office was adorned with lots of historic photos of past teams hung rather haphazardly on the walls. More teams should have their own museums for fans to visit.

Volunteers Needed for Minor League Ballpark Data

2008-03-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ted Turocy, technical coordinator for the SABR Minor League Encyclopedia, is seeking volunteers to work on minor league ballpark data for the Encyclopedia. He writes:

"Gord Brown has generously donated his extensive research (joint with Ted Lukacs and others) on minor league ballparks to the project. I'd like to get going on integrating this into the database. To this end, I could use a couple volunteers to take his original Word documents and produce a spreadsheet version of them.

It's pretty straightforward work, not terribly exciting, but requires a little bit of comfort with using a spreadsheet (since using the "fill handle" is very helpful for this task).

If you're interested in helping out, please contact me here."