Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2014 2:05:24 GMT
The stars of the future of Major League baseball is what I think as the minor leagues. Being in Milwaukee, I'm in the middle of the Midwest League, class A baseball. Among the cities within half a day's driving distance are Clinton and Davenport, in Iowa, Appleton and Beloit, in Wisconsin, and then there's also South Bend, Indiana. Although I don't get out to these minor league games as much as I want, I do plan, or dream, about going. In the past, I've seen Midwest League games in Clinton, Davenport, Beloit, and Kenosha.
Most recently, I attended a Monday night game in Beloit from July 26, 2013. Baseball's number one draft choice, Mark Appel, was there on the Quad Cities team, whose affiliate was the Houston Astros (and still is with Houston this year). I don't remember the score of that game, as I went there to see the players, although I remember only two players: Appel and Beloit's Austin House. I stuck around after the game to see Appel and get his autograph. There may have about 50 people waiting to get Appel's autograph. When he came out, he was patient and appreciative of the fans waiting for him. He indicated that, because of the timing of the bus needing to depart, he'll happily sign one autograph per fan. After everyone got an autograph, he stuck around and signed more for those who even had an autograph from him earlier, as the bus driver still wasn't ready to leave. Appel was a class man in this situation, as most minor league players are very cooperative with fans seeking players' scribbles.
My very first minor league game was also a Midwest Leaguer, in Clinton, when it was the Pilots in 1973. The Pilots, whose nickname at that time was from their affiliation with the old Seattle Pilots of 1969, were working for the Detroit Tigers that year. That night, in late August, the Pilots played the Quincy Cubs. In Clinton's 5-0 win (yes, I do remember the score), I recall a couple of future major leaguers in shortstop Mark Wagner, who played a short time for the Tigers in the late 70s, and Manager Jim Leyland. I was nine years old at the time, and had no idea that the players were so accessible, thus I didn't acquire any autographs that night.
In between, I attended games in 1974, '77, '81, '82, '85, '87, '88, '89...and then not again until 2009. I went to two games in 2010, and then one in 2011. Over the course of these last 40 years, I wish that I had the time and money to travel and attend more games. The quality of play, as good as the players are, just isn't as consistent as Major Leaguers, however, the proximity of the action for the fans, and the accessibility to the players after the game more than makes up for non-Major League quality.