Baseball In The Bad Lands: Stale Beers & Stale Careers - Softcover

Gilbertson, Dave

9781893250024: Baseball In The Bad Lands: Stale Beers & Stale Careers

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1893250024 ISBN 13: 9781893250024

Publisher: UNITED PRINTING AND MAILING & MARIAH PRESS, 1999

A motley bunch of ballplayers are living out their childhood dream in America's Heartland, playing professional baseball for the Dakota Rattlers of the independent Prairie League. The hijinx created in the low minors include a relief pitcher wanted in three states by the police and FBI. A centerfielder quits baseball forever after three bad games. The General Manager vanishes in the middle of the night taking cash in the process. The Director of Promotions finds himself in right field. The team trainer switches uniforms and becomes a pitcher. The bus driver ends up in the wrong country. The team takes one of the worst road trips in the history of professional baseball. Finally, the operation is partially owned by the Mayor of Bismarck, who also happens to be a professional magician. It all takes place in a small, midwestern town with a baseball team struggling to survive in the veritable armpit of professional baseball.

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About the Author:

Baseball In The Bad Lands is Dave Gilbertson's first book. He served for two years as Director of Promotions for the Dakota Rattlers in Bismarck, ND. Over those two years, his title of Director of Promotions for the Dakota Rattlers remained the same, yet his job description changed continuously. At some point, he also served as de facto Equipment Manager, Traveling Secretary, interim General Manager, Asst. General Manager, Head of Umpires, Stadium Announcer, Talk-show Host, Director of Marketing, Director of Merchandise, Media Director, Salesman, Scout, Labor-Management Negotiator, and, finally, rightfielder! On August 26, 1996 he had the shortest career in the history of professional baseball when he started the game in rightfield and retired from the sport forever after one inning of play. He is also the lowest paid player in the history of the game, signing his contract for 1 dollar. He is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Review:

"David Gilbertson, in his first book, has captured the essence of this phenomena with an honest and sincere look into the Prairie League of Professional Baseball. It disbanded after only three seasons, but it was fund while it lasted. Gilbertson's work captures the humor and sadness that engulfs every minor league town. From the disgusting apartment of four single minor leaguers to the fruitless marketing ventures, Gilbertson tells it like it is." -- Mark Derewicz, Baseball America

"This account reads like Mark Twain's Huckelberry Finn traveling down the Mississippi River. It provides a detailed account of the many "characters" Dave encountered. What was supposed to be a young man's journey into a mythical world of American baseball tradition ended up like this." -- Dave Kemp, Secretary of the Northern League

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