Leagues Books

Dick Dobbins does the job right in "The Grand Minor League", a retrospective of the old Pacific Coast League (PCL).

The PCL still exists today as a AAA league - one step below the majors - but it is purely an adjunct minor league system to the two major leagues.

However, this book is about the PCL's glory days, largely originating during the Depression and spanning the second world war and the first twelve years of the post-war era until the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to the West Coast.

The PCL financed operations by charging admission for its own games and by selling contracts of its more promising stars to the established major league teams. But some visionaries had dreams of attaining major league status for the PCL, and it could have happened. A disproportionate amount of major-league level talent could be found on the West Coast, and PCL scouts were busy signing it up.

While one PCL owner was dryly reputed to have the reputation of throwing dollars around as though they were manhole covers, the pay could be more generous (the players whose contracts were sold to the majors even received a percentage of the sales price) and the opportunities for stardom could be GREATER than that which was available in the majors; moreover, the Pacific Coast was "home" to many of its players. Hence, some major leaguers sought to return there.

And when the majors reluctantly granted the PCL "open classification" status, players drafted by the majors were accorded the option of waiving the draft and remaining with their respective PCL teams and were often rewarded with bonuses for doing so. The PCL could have evolved into a third major league, but the opposition from the established major league owners, who saw the potential for expansion or relocation to the West Coast long before moving the Giants and Dodgers there, was too great to overcome. The moves themselves sounded the death knell for the traditional conception of the league.

Its legacy includes the players who became stars or near-stars in the big leagues, such as Lefty O'Doul, Dolph Camilli, Maury Wills (amazingly enough, he was only an adequate shortstop and a sometime base-stealer during his PCL days, who didn`t reach stardom until he went to the Dodgers), and of course, Joe DiMaggio.

Startlingly, Dobbins fails to remind his readers that years before he electrified the country with his 56-game hitting streak, DiMaggio was thrilling West Coast fans with a 61 game hitting streak in the PCL. Both records are among the few that have withstood the test of time.

One can observe other ironies. Long before Tommy Lasorda and Sparky Anderson did battle, in their respective roles as managers of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine", for Western Division supremacy during the 1970's, they were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels, working together to establish geographical supremacy against the arch-rival Hollywood Stars.

And speaking of managers, debate rages among baseball historians about Casey Stengel's managerial acumen. Was he an adept, if incomprehensible, managerial genius or a bum who failed miserably in Boston and who only attained success by piggy-backing on the vast talent of some super Yankee teams? The story of Stengel's stewardship of the 1948 PCL Champion Oakland Oaks is a huge point in his favor.

Dobbins draws some of his history from the records but most of it from the recollections of the old-time players who consented to be interviewed. My only real criticism is that it took someone too long to undertake this project. The passage of time limits the sources from which Dobbins could draw.

And how trustworthy is human memory? There is a reference in one of the narratives supplied to Dobbins about a player named Johnny Lindell who alternated between pitcher and outfielder and who "would have been in the big leagues" if he could have only hit more consistently.

Who would dare observe, in response, that the record book shows that during the 1940's, an outfielder-pitcher named Johnny Lindell played in the majors, chiefly for the Yankees (this included several World Series appearances), on a part-time basis for 12 years and that he retired in 1954 with a respectable lifetime batting average of .273, having twice led the league in triples?

He couldn't hit well enough for the major leagues. Or could he? Were there two Johnny Lindells answering to the same description?

My favorite chapter was about the old ballparks. If you are a displaced and discouraged Giant fan who lives in the Los Angeles area, you can carry the book and its pictures of the ballparks to the corners of Beverly, Fairfax and Genessee and try to envision the Hollywood Stars' Gilmore Field having once stood there. The intersections now are home to a little company known as CBS - Television City, and there isn't even a marker anywhere to show that Gilmore Field ever existed.

And you can drive to 42nd and Avalon and marvel at the human and urban sprawl that has overtaken the area. Wrigley Field, home to the ORIGINAL Los Angeles Angels and named and constructed after its more famous Chicago namesake, has been torn down, and a community center named after a politician has been erected in its place. Again, no marker commemorates Wrigley Field. Soccer, not baseball, is the recreation of choice for the locals, and the excited cries of the players and spectators are not being delivered in English.

Is there any marker on the corner of 16th and Bryant in San Francisco to memorialize Seals Stadium?

"The Grand Minor League" is a fitting tribute to the REAL baseball giants of the West Coast and to a time when baseball was a "melting pot" language, when the game was played, not by overpaid egotistical prima donnas, but by men with working-class ethics, and when teams were managed by men and not "Dustys". Where have you gone, Rugger Ardizoia?

Dick Dobbins again captures the essence of the old Pacific Coast League. By using an "oral history" format, he is able to capture the true nature of this "major" minor league. The best section in the book consist of short interviews with former players and managers regarding some of the great and notorious players in the league. The same is also done for the managers, stadiums and teams. My favorite aspect of the book is the numerous historical photographs from Mr. Dobbins collection. This book is a must buy for baseball fans!

If you are a fan of the old Pacific Coast League, this book is a must. Great photos, interesting interviews with former players. If you own Nuggets on the Diamond also by Dick Dobbins, this is a great companion piece. Just to see pictures of the old coast league ball parks is worth the price of admission.

This ia an absolute must for anyone who enjoyed the old PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE.The photographs of the old P.C.L.ballparks are worth the price of admission.This is an excellent companion piece to Dobbins other book on the P.C.L. Nuggets on the Diamond.

In this book, Dick Dobbins took a cue from the book, "The Glory of Their Times," interviewing numerous ex-PCL players and umpires about the league. This oral history of the league is an excellent look back. Reading this book takes you back to a different era of baseball and shows why the PCL deserved to be called the "Grand Minor League."

The book has chapters on the league's various ballparks over the years, the league's great teams and rivalries. There are numerous pictures of various players, managers, umpires and team owners throughout the book. There are also pictures of various teams' uniforms, hats and other assorted memorabilia.

Dick Dobbins put a lot of hard work and dedication into this book and it shows. Any baseball history fan will love this book.

This book is great for anyone who collects Junior League cookbooks. It has beautiful pictures and little history tidbits about Buffalo. The recipes are diverse and easy to do. I can't live without the "Sherry Chicken for a Crowd" and the "Potatoes Foster" - both great for entertaining!

Laurels for all the effort put into this cookbook. I found the history tidbits very interesting! The pictures just beautiful. And the recipes mouthwatering. All this in a cookbook?! Way to go Junior League of Buffalo!

I find this book well organized ,with a lot of informations about the community,the town of Buffalo,nice old pictures and very good food,real food for real people.I appreciated expecially the chapter about bread and bakery and some appetizers,anyway all recipes are put down very clearly and it is evident that before writing everything was tested many many times

This cookbook is a must have for anyone who has ever lived in Buffalo or is interested in learning more about Buffalo. The recipes that I have made so far have all been delicious. It has also been very interesting to read the facts and stories about Buffalo.

This cookbook is a five star winner. I have tried many of the recipes and they are all great. I love the artwork and I also enjoy reading about the history of Buffalo. A must have cookbook for all collectors of Junior League Cookbooks.

Harvard Boys tells the story of a father and son's times in Minor League Baseball. No game has brought fathers and sons together more than America's past time, and this is truly evident in this recount. This account is heart felt, genuine, and a great read for any baseball fan.

I liked the book Harvard Boys.

The book brings out the realities of baseball (good and bad). The book illustrates that baseball management people really are not very bright and are poor judges of talent. Baseball management think a pitcher has to throw 90+ miles per hour or they are not a prospect --tell that to Jamie Moyer (he wouldn't even get a looksee tryout today.

In the book Wolff talks about how baseball is a game of rhythm and about being in the groove, yet guys are signed and then cut within days or a week... Players need a chance to settle into the surroundings and get 200 at bats to really be evaluated.

A smart guy like Rick Wolff proves himself in spring training hits .300, does all the right things and yet still gets cut without a legitimate shot. -----That is not logical..

Baseball is run by old school thoughts and practices. Baseball needs to get rid of the good old boy system and update its evaluative techniques. There must be a place in baseball for smart guys from Harvard "who can play".

Bottom line: When the book ended, I wanted to keep on reading....Enjoyable!

When I first picked up "Harvard Boys," I didn't know what to expect. However, I was happily surprised! Despite this being John Wolff's first book, he has proved himself as an incredibly talented writer with a very natural writing style that lends itself to easy reading. I thought the book was very honest, and despite the fact that I have never played in the minor leagues, I found myself relating to his moments of uncertainty as well as moments of triumph. I especially liked all the parts that included Ian Church...I'm a big fan!
A great book - I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

I finished this book in 6 hours. Anything that can shun my A.D.D that long gets 5 stars. However, when I saw the title of this book I thought it was some story of an ivy league fight club in some fraternity basement. I totally did not expect a father/son story of going from Hahvid to minor league baseball. I started reading just for laughs and my feet hurt after 25 minutes standing there. I finally said F it, and shelled out the 20 bucks and rolled home with it. About 5.5 hours later I finished the damn thing. Only get this book if you have a few hours to kill, its one of those books you will not put down till you finish it. The stories in here were not only fired up, but really interesting as well. Funny to hear a harvard grad talk about the struggles/laughs that minor league ball can bring about. The younger Wolf (John) is crazy.

First off, I would like to say I enjoyed this book tremendously. As a former ballplayer myself, I was a little skeptical about how minor league baseball was going to be portrayed. I was afraid this book was going to be a cheap rip-off of the uber-successful movie Bull Durham. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that as I was reading, I felt as though I was living vicariously through John. It was like I was reliving the struggles and joys of having good and bad days at the plate. I really liked the commentaries comparing and contrasting the minor leagues from yesteryear to today. I thought that was a very original touch. Overall, Harvard Boys is an easy, very enjoyable read for everyone who loves the game of baseball and wants to get a sense of what minor league baseball is all about.
-Ian

As a collector of cookbooks (more than 600 titles) with an emphasis on the "Junior League" books, this is one of my all-time favorites. I have tried many, many recipes and they are all great. I found lots of "different" recipes that were simple to make and tasted great. Definitely add this one to your collection.

I have to say that I was on the "testing and planning" committee for this cookbook and I can't be happier reading everyone's reviews. Over 600 recipes were triple-tested in order to get the ones for this volume. I have used it over and over for gatherings and meals for my family. I'm always pleased with each recipe. It has something for everyone and the history about Cincinnati is wonderful. It makes a great gift for someone!!

I love this cookbook. It is one of my favorites - I've never been disappointed with any recipe I have tried. The design is aesthetically pleasing, the facts about Cincinnati are interesting (and I lived there for four years), and the Teller's House Salad can't be beat. I've bought this cookbook at least five times for friends and family and will continue to do so. My only complaint ... where is volume 2?? :-)

this cookbook has a wonderful variety of great, elegant, and easy recipes for casual entertaining with friends and families. i happen to love cookbooks, and this is a wonderful addition to my collection.

The cookbook has never failed me. I have given it to several people as a gift and they also raved about it. Has both simple and complex recipes. Also need tidbits about Cincinnati in the margins.

This wonderful cookbook has recipes from celebrities (David Cassidy, Phyllis McGuire, Rosie O'Donnell, Lance Burton) and chefs from the major Strip Hotels (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, Spago, Rio, MGM). I found the recipes very straight-forward and easy to read. Color is the word for this book. In addition to the bright colors on the cover, those colors are carried out through the book in each chapter. There is information about Las Vegas, the surrounding areas, etc. I found it an interesting read. The pictures of the food in this book make your mouth water. I could not believe the recipes were makeable for the food I saw! The recipe on the cover was a watermelon sorbet/salsa shrimp cocktail. Only in Las Vegas! It made me glad to know that all the money generated from the sale of the book go back into the Las Vegas community. I had difficulty obtaining a copy here, they kept selling out.

Anyone who has read a Junior League cookbook knows the quality. This book is one more diamond on their necklace. Quality of content, the paper and photographs...buy it.

This cookbook has great visual appeal, as well as excellent recipes that are not difficult to make - at least those that I have tried are not. "Salt-Encrusted Beef Tenderloin" produced the best tenderloin I have ever made and the "Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes" are absolutely the best! I've tried several other recipes with equal success. This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys cooking or just reading cookbooks.

This book is not only beautiful, it just sparkles with energy. Every recipe that I have tried is just outstanding! I recently had a luncheon and served the Asparagus Tart, salad with the Soy Orange Vinaigrette dressing and Key Lime Cheesecake. The meal was a real hit with my friends and the recipes were so simple that I could easily do it again! The one thing that impresses me most about this cookbook is that the recipes are straightforward, easy to follow, and delicious. I'm sure this cookbook will be used repeatedly and not sit on the shelf. The chef and celebrity recipes are great additions and the sidebars about the recipes and chefs are interesting reading.

I received this cookbook as a gift. It didn't get stuck on the shelf; I spent several evenings looking through it. The layout and use of color and photos as well as the periodic commentary makes it great for pleasure reading. But it's a wonderful cookbook, too. I have tried several recipes already, and every one has been a success. Many are simple enough for family meals as well as savory and elegant enough for entertaining. I will be using this cookbook regularly.

10 years ago when I bought this book at my local Target and had it signed by both authors, my first grandson was mere days old and I bought it for the future. The future is NOW. My grandsons are playing baseball in the same park that the '92 and '93 winning teams came from so the book has a very special meaning. Jeff Burroughs and Tom Hennessy's description of the actions of Little Leaguers, Coaches, Managers and officials is dead on, even now 10 years later. When I was reading this book, I was either laughing hysterically, trying to read bits and pieces aloud to "Grandpa" or nodding in total agreement and understanding. This is a must read for every Little League Parent/Grandparent, but for pete's sake, don't let the kids read it!

This book is a classic. I lived through these stories and they are all true. It was the greatest year of my life being a Long Beach Little League World Champ, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This book allows me to remember everything that happened in the summer of '93. I get goosebumps thinking about it. I loved it! I recommend for everyone to give this book a read.

After reading this book I think everyone should! This book is a great book about the adventure in winning the Little Leauge World Series two years in a row. This book gives a great description on all the players and other coaches. This book helped me believ e you can do anything if you really work hard towards your goals!!!! I learned many pointers off this book and enjoyed reading it!!!!!! I suggest everybody should read this book!

For those involved in the national organization of Little League, especially at the all-star level, this is a very entertaining book. Lots of interesting details about the protocol and the accomodations at the regional level and also at Williamsport. Burroughs is very funny describing his escapades as a coach, dealing with all of the classic issues from managing disgruntled parents to dealing with kids who are slightly left-of-center. If you are a Little League addict, I recommend this book!

The Little Team That Could was pure enjoyment. Jeff Burroughs gives an honest, balanced account of the 1992-1993 Long Beach Little League All-Star teams that reached the pinnacle of success. He describes the thrill of victory and the joy of working with young people. At the same time, he tells about the aggravation of dealing with some Little League parents, officials, and umpires. As a manager in the Little League program for 17 years, I could relate to both the good and the bad. I am so glad I found this book on amazon.com. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any Little League coach, parent, or player.

This book gives a great overview of the Code, and is an excellent read. It goes through CW's history, as well as presents a view of what it might be like in the future. It is a well-written text written by an expert. Highly recommended!

Now that Morse code is no longer required for ham licensing, only those people with a real interest in this historic mode of communication will study it.

Buy it now, before they're all gone.

A._ B---. C-.-. D-.. E. F..-. G--. H.... I..

J.--- K-.- L.-.. M-- N-. O--- P.--. Q--.-

R.-. S... T- U..- V...- W.-- X-..- Y-.-- Z--..

?..--.. fullstop.-.-.-
this morse code was written by Samuel Morse that's the name
of the man who invented morse code

This book may appear somewhat dated, since with its early 90's publication it was written before personal computers had made quite the inroads into taking the pain and frustration out (a lot of it at least) of learning Morse code. It is a solid survey of the code, its origin, history, uses, and how to learn it. Cupled with a shareware CW trainer (such as Morse Academy, SuperMorse, NuMorse, for PC, or MorseTrainer for Mac) it is all you really need to get conversant in code. A good starting point, and a bargain at the price.

This book helped me on the history and learing the Morse code. This would help all ages in my oppinion!This book dwfiitaly gets five stars!

Love this cookbook! It looks beautiful on display in my kitchen and I especially love the Tomato Basil Soup on p. 102.

Too many cookbooks these days include recipes that fail to turn out as promised -- even when they've been followed to a "T". Not this one! Everything I've tried has been easy AND wonderful! My favorites so far: Atomic Salad and the Cookie Jar Gingersnaps.

Nicely illustrated with full-page color photography, Oil & Vinegar is comprised of the best of more than two thousand recipes that were submitted by members of the Junior League of Tulsa, Oklahoma. From Coconut Shrimp; Strawberry Butter; and Beef Salad with Asparagus and Broccoli; to Seared Sesame-Coated Salmon Sandwich; Veal Scaloppine in Lemon Sauce; and Cold Ginger Souffle, Oil & Vinegar is a truly superb cookbook compendium that would grace any personal or community library cookbook collection.

Since I have bought this cookbook, I turn to it more often than any of my other cookbooks. I've tried about 25 of the recipes and have been very happy with each one. My two favorites are the tortilla soup and Turkey Mountain salad. The tortilla soup is the best I have ever eaten, and is so easy!

A wonderful array of recipes for cooks of all abilities!
The food styling and photography are beautiful as well as the cover. It could be a coffee-table book if you get it off your kitchen counter. I also enjoyed reading all the oil history and helpful hunts sprinkled among the pages.
Try the "Frangelico Fantasy Dessert", "T-Town Brisket" and "Curried Spinach and Apple Dip". Mmmmmm!

I love basball. I purchased this as an easy read, something to do on a rainy day. After a few pages, I read a few more, and then a few more. I finished on a sunny afternoon. All in all, much better than I expected, and hope to read more from the author.

Not only is the State of Georgia's connection to formation of baseball told, but, how baseball formed us as Americans. Moreover, this book pinpoints how baseball exemplifies and validates our core beliefs as Americans, much more so than football; soccer being so distant from these beliefs centered on individual effort and achievement. It's recollections of a proud father and his son, a focused pitcher. It's a fun trip through the history of the game, its ebbs and flows. For Georgians, it is the story of the city of Norcross and its baseball renaissance. This book is a refreshing critique on the silly PC morays that have taken over our society and how baseball serves as check against these encroachments. Having played 7 years of baseball myself, divided equally between catcher, and third base; I identify and love the book. The author's history channel documentary-like approach to telling baseball's story, and significance, will capture readers who's fingers have not laid across the seems of a Rawlings baseball. I am a life long New York Yankees fan. One word of caution (meant in gest), this author hates the Yankees! The author's favorite team is the Washington Senators. The who? The Twins? Overall, this book is an excellent snap shot of baseball, from our prospective.....Americans.

Many happy memories were evoked by this book for me. Everybody growing up in the 50's and 60's enjoyed baseball and you feel like you are right back there while you read some of the beginning chapters of this story. There are so many layers to this book that you can read it again and again, finding new things to consider each time. Father-son relationships, family values,life in Northern Virginia, the origins of the game...and lots more, all centered around America's original past time.
The only drawback for me was the copious baseball stats peppered throughout the book. I suppose if you are a numbers person though it adds much to the story. Either way this book will get you thinking. Its unexpected ending will leave you smiling too.

This odyssey is as if Mark Twain, Pat Conroy, Thomas Paine, George Will, Helen Hooven Santmyer, PJ O'Rourke and Mike Royko combined forces to write the ultimate history, geography, baseball, child care, coming of age, political and philisophical commentary.It is beautifully descriptive and the conservative and commonsensical punditry dispersed throughout is humorous and thought provoking. The occasional anti-PC rants are not for the feint-hearted, but rather for those whose approach to life is based on love of God, country, family and baseball--but not necessarily in that order.

I thought The Road to the Big's would be an instruction book on how an individual can become part of the baseball life, but it's more of a book about how baseball is a part of everyone's life. Whether we like baseball or not, it's a game we all grew up with and one that is a part of everyone's history. On one level, the author makes hard hitting connections between the popularity of baseball and the philosophical, spiritiual and sociological roots of our country, while on another level soft pitches a delightful story of his own experiences with the game. There's some thing there to hit home with any reader.

Rockin the Rockpile is a fantastic piece of work covering the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, 1960-1969. Author Jeff Miller has packed it all in here, game summaries, oral histories, and a fantastic narrative that leads the reader through the formation of the AFL in 1959, and the following 10 seasons. Great detail in the game summaries/recaps, and wonderful insight into the inner-workings of the team from the players themselves. Rockin the Rockpile is a must-read for AFL fans, regardless of what team they call their own.

Great book with amazing information and very well written. Extremely interesting to read and just be able to open it to any page and read some very unique information.

Great to remember those years at War Memorial. Could almost taste the Genesee long necks. Enjoyed the recaps of each and every game. Would have liked to see more pictures of the stadium itself however.

Incredibly detailed book, evoking fond memories of a football era gone by. A must for all football fans, especially AFL/Buffalo Bills fans.

As one of the worlds biggest Buffalo Sports Memorabilia Collectors I was very excited to see this book come out. While filled with great stories and tales of the old AFL and a veritable who's who of old Bills interviews I was disappointed to find very little in terms of memorabilia (programs, ticket stubs, pennants, bobble heads, gum cards, jerseys, helmets etc. etc.) displayed. I think a color center spread of all the old items mentioned above would have added to this book tremendously. Also, for a book that centered on War Memorial Stadium (The Rockpile), there's only one aerial picture of it. Some different views of that great old place would have been nice. Still the book is a great addition to a Bills fans collection and a very worthy effort. To the author: Please contact me if you decide to do another book on the Bills or even the Sabres, Braves or Bisons for that matter as my entire collection would be at your disposal. John B.