I know I’m lucky. I have spent nearly two decades immersed in baseball every day while working for Baseball America.
I’m convinced I wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity without spending years down on the farm.
In my first job out of college, I was a sportswriter for the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph.
One of the best assignments I had was the chance to cover the Macon Braves, Atlanta’s low-class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League from 1991 to 2002. Future Braves Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal and Jason Marquis played for Macon during my tenure. So did a steady stream of great minor leaguers who taught me that not all Class A stars go on to further success.
Being a 20-something watching baseball daily was formative. I don’t think I’d be at BA without spending 70 nights a year in a musty press box that hung from the roof of 60-year old Luther Williams Field.
And then, the team was gone. Just as I was getting ready to leave Macon for BA, the Braves moved upstate to Rome, Ga.
This offseason, a lot of cities and fans are getting ready to go through what fans in Macon went through nearly 20 years ago. The Appalachian League, which had operated at the Rookie-level since 1963, has already announced that it’s going to be a summer college wood bat league next year. Other leagues will almost assuredly follow suit. More than 40 clubs are expected to be dropped from affiliated ball as part of Major League Baseball’s plan to reorganize the minor leagues.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2020 de Baseball America.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
Blaze Alexander entered spring training as a long shot to make the team, but there he was on March 28, starting and batting seventh in the D-backs’ Opening Day lineup.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Louisville Slugger makes Prime bat 30% harder by dipping into 1902 company patent
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament last year, UC Irvine is determined to finish strong
MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
Dramatically scaling back young pitchers’ workloads has failed to keep them healthier
GEM COLLECTOR
In just four years, Diamond Baseball Holdings has become the most powerful owner ever in Minor League Baseball. What is the plan for their 33 teams—and counting?
LIFE AFTER AFFILIATED BALL
For many minor league teams that lost their MLB affiliations, it has been business as usual— with some unexpected benefits
EARNING POWER
A dramatic upgrade to playing conditions for minor leaguersincluding pay, housing and nutrition has made pro baseball economically viable for all players
NOBODY'S PERFECT
No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday has one flaw in an otherwise airtight profile
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
At nearly every level of his professional career, outfielder Colton Cowser has taken time to acclimate. His major league debut last season was no different.