The big leagues may get the lion’s share of recognition but
make no mistake about it; minor leagues have been the essential lifeblood of
baseball since the game became a profession. Preserving the history of these
leagues is just as important as the meticulous record keeping and story
collecting of the majors. Fortunately, there are researchers doing fine work in
this regard. Rex Hamann has produced one of the best most recent efforts, with
his new book, The Minneapolis Millers of
the American Association ($21.99, Arcadia Publishing. Available at local
retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888)
313-2665).
Today, minor league baseball primarily functions as a farm
system for cultivating major league ballplayers out of young prospects who have
come from high school and college. However, its purpose was much different in
the past, particularly during the lifetime of the Millers (1902-1960). With the
majors primarily located on the East Coast, such teams helped fulfill the
demand for baseball around the country by providing top-notch play. Not only
did they utilize up-and-coming young players, but they also were a popular
landing spot for former major leaguers whose talents may have slipped but still
had something left in the gas tank.
Hamann has assembled a tremendous collection of vintage
photographs encapsulating the history of the Millers. Ranging from player
action shots to team photos to candid moments, there is a little of everything
here. Each picture is accompanied with a brief description, which typically
includes some statistics or an intriguing tidbit or two, making it an
effortless way to learn the team history and see how many fascinating people
and events passed through their nearly six-decade run.
At 127 pages, this is not a lengthy read but there is a lot
packed. The photos are striking and tell the first part of each story, while
Hamann’s commentary ties it all together. If Major League Baseball hadn’t come
to Minnesota in the form of the Twins in 1961, it is hard to imagine that the
Millers wouldn’t still be plugging away as a popular and successful franchise.
It’s interesting to see the wide swath of players and
personalities who were connected to the Millers over the years. For prospects,
the likes of Ted Williams and Willie Mays made successful stops there before vaulting
to legendary careers on the national stage. But for every once-in-a-lifetime
youngster like them, there were hundreds whose careers peaked during the hot
summer months they spent playing baseball in Minneapolis.
On the other end of the spectrum, numerous quality veterans
played out the string on their careers. Negro League great third baseman Ray
Dandridge and first baseman George “High Pockets” Kelly each played some of their
final professional games in a Minneapolis uniform before their eventual retirements
and enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Naturally, not everyone who passed through Minneapolis has
remained part of baseball’s collective memory but that doesn’t make their
stories any less interesting. Outfielder Henri Rondeau hit .295 during his
career as an outfielder but his greatest feat as described by Hamann was his
saving the life of a young girl whose clothing had caught fire in a fireworks
accident.
Red Downs had 13 professional seasons as a heavy-hitting
second baseman, including 1909 with the Millers. Unfortunately, we find out
that in retirement his life took a downward turn, particularly during the Great
Depression, as he was apprehended for robbing a Los Angeles jewelry store in
1932 and subsequently served a prison sentence.
There is nothing fancy with this work of Hamann, but that
isn’t an insult. To the contrary, he has accumulated a team history that has
more than enough detail to draw in baseball fans wanting to learn more about
this former pillar of the minor leagues. Whether your interest is baseball or
history, this amply covers both and I suspect anyone who picks it up will be
pleased on all accounts.
Disclaimer: I was provided with
a free copy of this book, but received no payment or other consideration for
this review.
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