Joe Kraus’s Reviews > Play by Play: Baseball, Radio and Life in the Last Chance League > Status Update

“Guys rearranged themselves on the basis of friendships and race and language. The bus is more than a form of transportation. It’s a rolling dormitory, living room, [phone] booth, office, game room and movie theater. It’s also a metaphor for the minor leagues. Players going down from the major leagues will complain about riding the busses again; conversely, players on the way up are delighted to get off the bus.”

“But this was a wonderful place to watch a ball game. Intimacy is one of the great attractions of minor league baseball and at Thomas Run, fans were close enough to hear the zip on a fastball and eavesdrop on the infield chatter.”

“The big scoreboard in left center field was blank, the speakers strung on wires over the stands hung silent, but the place pulsed with energy and life. My summers would never be the same.”

“you can’t wet yourself every time you go on the radio, but if there isn’t a little fear, a tightening around the throat, what’s the point?”

“the intimacy and friendliness of minor league baseball was a revelation. some major league ballplayers are arrogant idiots, but in the minors, very few are rich or spoiled enough to spurn a kid with an autograph book. there is more respect for the game and for the coaches and managers and umpires.”