Big League, Big Time: Birth of Arizona Diamondbacks

by Len Sherman

In the first book ever to chronicle the birth of a major-league baseball franchise from conception to Opening Day, Big League, Big Time takes you inside the Diamondbacks dugout - and their corporate suite - to examine the billion-dollar business of baseball and its enormous impact on our culture.
Complete with profiles of new Diamondbacks players from Travis Lee to perennial all-star Matt Williams, an exclusive inside-the-war-room look at the expansion draft, a dissection of the media's role in the global growth of the sports industry, and insights into the promotional blitz from spring training to opening day, Big League, Big Time is a rare glimpse into the politics, business, and promise of baseball.

Genres: Nonfiction, Baseball, Sports

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Matt Layman]

Really fun look at life in Phoenix, Ariz. in a previous era where Major League Baseball was just being injected into the life of the community. It was fun to travel back in time and view the expansion through the lens of the people at that time and learn more about how a franchise got started. A heavy read that at times was hard to consume in large quantities but overall very well written and interesting.

[Brandon]

This book really resonated with me. I've always loved baseball and the Phoenix area, where I spent most of my childhood and teenage years.

I graduated from high school in 1996 and welcomed my first child in 1998, both in the Phoenix area. I remember following the excitement, and some of the controversy surrounding Major League Baseball coming to Arizona. At the time, I mostly saw the positives. I was already a huge baseball fan, and I loved the idea of having a team that my new family and I could enjoy together while creating memories.

What surprised me most about this book was how much happened behind the scenes. It goes far beyond the game itself, revealing the political battles, public debates, financial risks, and countless obstacles that had to be overcome to bring a Major League franchise to Arizona. I had no idea what it truly took to build not just a stadium, but an entire organization.

Recently, in May of 2026, I attended an afternoon Diamondbacks vs. Pirates game (Paul Skenes dominated!), and because of this book, I viewed the ballpark and the surrounding area with a whole new level of appreciation. I love when a great story changes the way you see a place you've known for years.

I understand that state leaders have a responsibility to protect long-term interests of their constituents, but I also believe communities need places and experiences that bring people together. The Arizona Diamondbacks have become one of those shared experiences for so many families, including mine.

As the famous line from the 1989 film Field of Dreams says, "If you build it, he will come." In many ways, that's exactly what happened in Arizona.

Go D'backs!⚾

[Dane Nealson]

Interesting look at the behind the scenes action of an expansion ball club as the new millennium approached. Interestingly, some of the predictions with regards to the media have proven to be off-base, which is a reminder that this happened a quarter century ago and not today. But still, a very interesting read I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Glen]

A book about the formation of the MLB team The Arizone Diamondbacks. Very much a booster book. The author seems a diehard fan of the team. That's not a bad thing in a book like this. It's amazing how difficult it is to get one of these teams ready to go.

[Tim Basuino]

While this book focuses on the creation and execution of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who joined the Major Leagues in 1998, it is more of a story of American Business in the 1990's, or the 2000's, or the 2010's. Most telling is the personification of the current governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, who at the time was a city council member who voted against the imposition of a tax to help the Diamondbacks build their stadium as a pandering, simplistic politician. Funny how things sometimes don't change!

[Kelli]

Really interesting stuff... took me forever to finish because it's not exactly a page turner, but in the end I did enjoy it and learned a lot about my favorite sports team. (Go my favorite sports team, go!)