By Bill Raven

I was playing shortstop. The batter hit a sharp grounder to my right, I dug it out of the dirt infield, set myself, and threw it six feet over the out stretched glove of the first baseman, who happened to be my older brother.

The years were 1946, 1947, and 1948. World War II had been won, and the surviving veterans were home and attending school, working at jobs in the area, or farming.

The area was central Kansas. We lived in or near small towns of 600 or so, surrounded by farms. These towns were formed six to eight miles apart as the railroads were built east to west in the 1880s and gave the surrounding farmers access to retail stores and transportation.

The playing season, of course, was summer. The temperature was in the 90s with high humidity. It was HOT! Few homes had air conditioning. Businesses might have had some form of crude air conditioning. (more…)

(originally published in Baseball Ink Vol. 2, No. 1 – June 2001)

As trumpeted by his Hall of Fame plaque, George Kell was “a solid hitter and a sure-handed fielder with a strong, accurate arm, was the American League’s premier third baseman in the 1940s and 1950s. He batted over .300 nine times and led the American League with a .343 average in 1949 while playing for the Detroit Tigers. He topped American League third basemen in fielding percentage seven times, in assists four times and in putouts and double plays twice.”

Our Arkansas correspondent, Jim Sanders, caught up with Kell recently and recorded his comments on several topics. (more…)

The biggest concern for those in the vicinity of a Bosarkanyi Egyfejuek-Bekescsabai Villamok baseball match is not so much the current score nor even how many runners are on base for the opposing team, but rather that a foul ball should not shatter the dining room window and disrupt a second helping of Sunday goulash. Nevertheless those living near some of Hungary’s makeshift baseball diamonds have had to deal with this worry since the Hungarian National Baseball Federation was established in 1992.

“Fortunately we have not had to deal with anyone seeking damages for broken windows or dented cars,” said Attila Borbely, President of the Hungarian Baseball Federation, about playing fields still prone to taking some wicked if not highly imaginative bounces.

Since “The Mad Hungarian” Al Hrabosky, blew away batters when he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and led the National League with 22 saves in 1975, there has not been much of a Magyar flavor to America’s national pastime. (Hrabosky, was renowned for intimidating batters towards the late innings of a game with his ritualistic preparation before each pitch.)

Now that access to information and equipment are much more accessible in recent years in countries like Hungary, more exotic sports such as baseball have entered into the picture in this sports-minded country which despite having only 10 million residents can usually be found high on the list of medal winners during any given Olympics.

Strolling down the main streets of Budapest, one would think that the following baseball has in Hungary is much more significant than it actually is. On any given day, one can see scores of caps, jackets and scarves with the insignia of famous American teams, though the person wearing them may not care much about Roger Clemens’ present ERA. Baseball attire in Hungary is still more of fashion statement than a sign of support for any major league team.

While baseball may have some way to go before it gains a similar popularity to that of soccer or American fast food restaurants, there has been a remarkable growth in interest amongst Hungarians in the sport compared to a virtually non-existent curiosity a decade ago.

“When large American companies such as General Electric and Ford, along with business from Japan, started to set up offices in Hungary, then interest in the sport began to sprout,” said Borbely.

“Little was known about the sport ten years ago here in Hungary,” Borbely added, “Now a fan in Budapest can work at a local firm but keep track of the recent American standings through wider access to the Internet in Hungary and English-language cable stations which broadcast games.”

When the Hungarian Baseball League was started over six years ago, there were only two teams. Currently there are 28 men’s teams and seven women’s softball teams. Teams can now be found not only in Budapest but in some of the smaller villages throughout the country. The Otto Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest even fielded a team which consists exclusively of recently-trained doctors.

“I have been fascinated by the game for the past few years,” said Szabolcs Garai, a cameraman for a national television station who also plays with the SOTE Kutyautok. As one of the few individuals in the Hungary who understands all the intricacies of the rules of baseball, Garai often doubles as second baseman and umpire during games.

There are now over 1000 players involved throughout Hungary. The league is divided into three divisions. Crowds of 200-300 people are no longer a rarity at some first division games. As the rules of the game were not as easy to follow as in soccer or basketball, copies of the official rules of baseball are handed out to spectators. Beyond the uniqueness of baseball to a Hungarian sports fan, one would also be struck by the length of which games and the entire season last in Hungary.

The sport follows the American model. Games are a full nine innings, which, in a league that has not fully come to terms with hitting a curveball or staying down on a grounder, means that games can take the better part of an afternoon and early evening. The season also begins in April lasts until October, when it is not unknown for there to be a slight shroud of snow on the ground.

“The hope is to have camps started during the summers so that youngsters in Hungary can learn the fundamentals of the game at an early age,” according to Borbely, whose organization hosted the annual European Baseball Conference last year.

Borbely’s own interest in the sport began after his son, a judo champion, returned to Hungary after participating in a high-school exchange program in Phoenix, Ariz., singing the praises of baseball. The Hungarian national team, which is trained by a Japanese coach, now competes in the second division of the European league.

“Our hope is to have a team ready to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens,” Borbely asserted.

(originally published in Baseball Ink Vol. 2, No. 1 – June 2001)

By Frank Priegue

The ballplayers begin to arrive at around 6:15 AM, many of them rubbing the sleep out of their eyes as they pack their equipment on the bus. The team bus pulls out of the Yale Field parking lot at 7:00 AM. Any player who misses the bus has to find his own way from Connecticut to Maryland — he will also get fined and may get in trouble with the organization.

Minor league ballplayers travel in a different manner that the major leaguers they aspire to be. They do not have equipment managers pack and move the equipment for them, they do not receive 60 dollars a day meal money, and they do not travel by airplane. Instead they carry their own bags and equipment, receive twenty dollars a day meal money, and travel by bus. One of the first things minor leaguers learn is the long bus rides are not fun, just long and monotonous. Despite the illusion this is not a glamorous life, but the ballplayers all know it is one of the many dues they must pay to become big leaguers. The constant traveling is just another part of the job, like hitting and fielding. The biggest adjustment they often have to make is living their lives out of a suitcase for three months a year.

Some players arrive early in hopes of getting their own seat so they do not have to double up with another player. It does not always work. There are usually 44 to 46 seats on the bus for about 25 to 30 people –about half of which will have to share a seat. Having your own seat is a sign of status, usually determined by seniority. Players with Major League, Triple A, or Double A experience have priority; rookies have to double up. In the old days, when busses had overhead racks, smaller players used to crawl up there to get some sleep. Pitcher Mike Kusiewicz remarks, “I’ll grab the floor if I have to, put a little blanket down and a pillow and try to sleep on that.” He adds, “You get stepped on often.”

With experience ballplayers learn to prepare for these trips. As they board the bus they come armed to deal with the boredom. They bring their portable CD players and movies for the VCR. Decks of cards and sets of dominoes, books and magazines, or hand-held video games are some of the weapons used to deal with the monotony of these long bus rides. They dress in sweat suits and running pants, or whatever is comfortable. Pillows and blankets, and sometimes and extra sweatshirt are brought as well, because it can get cold on the bus. Third baseman Jamie Taylor says, “Rookies have to learn the ropes on road trips. I am a veteran so I know before each road trip to buy five or six iced teas, and I’ll keep them near me because you never know when you might not be able to stop somewhere, or you might break down.

Second baseman Vicente Garcia describes the bus rides. “Some people sleep, some people watch TV, and some play cards. I used to grab a magazine, but now I have a laptop computer so I can play games on the bus for a little but. When the batteries die, I have to put it in my suitcase and try to fall asleep, bit it’s tough to fall asleep. You are sitting for eight hours, sometimes the bus will stop and you can walk around a bit and use the bathroom. Other people are playing cards and it’s tough to sleep because they are making a lot of noise. Players are watching movies and it’s loud so you can’t sleep either. If you want to sleep you have to wait for the TV to go off and the guys to stop playing cards.” On the long rides to Akron or Portland, which can last up to 14 hours, most of the players try not to think about how long it will be until they arrive.

The Ravens’ team bus arrives at the Annapolis Days Inn at about 12:30 PM. The players check into their hotel rooms, they may take a shower or splash some water onto their face, and then go out to find something to eat. There is not much to do until 3:45 when the bus leaves for the ballpark. The team will arrive at Prince George’s Stadium at around 4:15, giving them about 30 to 40 minutes to shake off the effects of travel. At 4:45, it is time to go to work.

At the beginning of every road trip each player is given an envelope containing 20 dollars a day in meal money. Getting three meals a day with 20 dollars is next to impossible, meaning the players have to dip into their own money to eat. Many of them end up eating at fast-food restaurants. Binghamton Mets catcher Eric Morrales mentioned that many of his Latin American teammates will try to find a local Chinese restaurant to eat. “In the Chinese place there is rice and it is more typical to what we are used to. We usually look for these places because it is cheap and the food is good. Fast food is not good food but you have to go there to save money.”

Some players find creative ways to eat properly; Reading Phillies catcher Bobby Estalella is an example of one of them. When he began playing professional baseball, he was a prospect with tremendous potential, but was considered undisciplined. To handle the physical demands of being a catcher Bobby discovered bodybuilding. Maintaining the strict diet bodybuilders must follow is difficult — doing it on a limited budget is next to impossible. To remedy this he bought a wok and used it to cook his meals.

When the Ravens arrive at the ballpark each player has to pay the clubhouse attendant between three and five dollars a day to wash their uniforms and put out a spread of food. Not all clubhouses are created equal however. There are good clubbies and bad clubbies. Jamie Taylor explains, “good clubbies are usually guys who have done it for a few years. Guys will tell them if you want to earn a little extra money, put out this and this. Whereas first year guys who don’t know the ropes may throw out peanut butter and jelly, and some watermelon and cantaloupe.”

If a player poll were taken as to which city had the best clubhouse and the best clubbie, Binghamton and Jack Prantice would win hands down. Teams have two things to look forward to when they go to Binghamton, one of the best playing surfaces in minor league baseball and Jack’s clubhouse. Instead of peanut butter and jelly, Jack has large platters of lunchmeat, fresh fruit and vegetables, and cookies for dessert. After the game Jack puts out a post-game spread of more lunchmeat or maybe a hot meal. The post-game meal is not something all clubbies put out. Jack also does extra things for the players, like sew torn uniforms or repair equipment that needs it. Pitcher Lariel Gonzalez mentioned, “for our three days in Binghamton we had to pay $7.50, but Jack took such good care of us I gave him 15 dollars.”

If the clubbie does not put out a post-game meal, the players have to go out to eat after the game. The game may end around ten o’clock at night, after all the players have showered and dressed, the bus may leave for the hotel at around eleven or eleven-thirty. Finding a meal at eleven-thirty on a weeknight in a small town like Norwich Connecticut can be difficult. Players learn to conserve money for such situations. Jamie Taylor explains, “When you get home at eleven-thirty or twelve o’clock, there isn’t much open so you have to order pizza. It takes an hour to get there, so you eat your pizza at about twelve-thirty. After you eat pizza and have a couple of drinks, you’re wired again. You’re up so then you stay up, until two, three, or four in the morning just watching TV.”

To stay prepared for the rigorous demands of a 142-game season, many teams schedule weight lifting days. On these days, players will wake up at around nine in the morning and go to a local YMCA to lift for about an hour, and then return to the hotel. On non-lifting days, most players usually sleep in until eleven or twelve o’clock. Some players try to develop a routine, where they wake up at the same time every day and hope their bodies adjust to it.

One of the ballplayers biggest challenges on road trips is dealing with the down time before games. Mike Kusiewicz elaborates, “you try and get out of the hotel. You don’t want to get stuck there but you often do because you have no idea where to go or what to do — and you have no transportation. There is not much to do during the day unless you want to go out and catch a movie. The day is yours until the 4:45 stretch.”

With little to do until game time, many ballplayers play video games, or watch television until it is time to leave for the ballpark. SportsCenter, or most sports are the most popular, but it is not the only option. Jamie Taylor admits, “I’m a big soap opera fan. I watch my soap operas for as many days as I can without missing them. I know a lot of guys who will do anything to see their soap operas. I’ll either eat right before them, or right after them.”

Travel days are a difficult part of road trips. One these days, teams will rent three or four rooms for the entire team to stay in between the twelve o’clock checkout time, and 3:45 when the bus leaves for the ballpark. This is done to avoid paying an additional day rate for the entire team.

When the evening’s game ends, the cycle continues. The players will shower, dress and pack up their equipment. They load up the bus and it is time to travel again. If there is no post-game meal, the bus will stop at some fast-food restaurant at a rest stop on the way to the next city. Once the team boards the bus, some will play cards or dominoes, some will plug their headphones into portable CD players, and others will sleep. While some players fall asleep easily, others struggle, never learning how to sleep on a bus. It is part of the cycle that continues throughout the season. Arriving in a different town at all hours of the night. Some may arrive tired and have a sub-par game the next day, but they know they have to have the proper mindset. Tomorrow, there is another game to play.

Frank Priegue is a New York-based photographer and author who deals with his baseball withdrawal syndrome by traveling to Eastern League ballparks.

(originally published in Baseball Ink Vol. 2, No. 1 – June 2001)