Small-Town Heroes: Images of Minor League Baseball

by Hank Davis

Book Overview

In 1993 successful psychologist and journalist Hank Davis undertook an epic journey exploring the atmosphere and culture of both minor league baseball and the small towns that embrace it. Davis shows us the warmth, quirkiness, and desperate energy of minor league ball, from encounters with future stars to those who would never make it to the "show"; from the kids selling Cracker Jacks outside the park to the aging coaches who persevere out of sheer...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803266391
• ISBN13: 9780803266391
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Bison
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Can't Put It Down

This is an excellent read from start to finish. Davis really captures the essence of the minor league experience from the perspective of players, employees and fans. Baseball fans will love it, and non-fans will still be caught up in the many personalities profiled here.

(POP!) ...and you can tell that one goodbye!

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone-the sun came out today! We're born again, there's new grass on the field.........Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench............. Hank Davis has a hit! Reading Small-Town Heroes gives one much the same feeling as listening to Fogerty belting out Centerfield. Davis does an excellent job of exposing the heart, soul, and emotions of those immersed in making a minor league team a reality. The struggle of emotions and the psychic battles faced by players, managers, coaches, mascots, fans, vendors, and other personnel involved in making the game "come off" are, many times, missed by the typical fan. Davis puts you "in the head" of the new kid just getting off the bus in eastern Tennessee. He then gives you a tour of the mind, emotions, and ego of the 27-year-old coming down from The Show for a last trip through the minors. Davis's style makes you cheer for guys and teams that you have never seen-nor, in many instances, heard of. You feel the sense of urgency in getting the next hit or lowering the ERA with the next strike out. You feel the humanity of men ready become superstars as well as those about to plunge into "the agony of defeat". Hank Davis distinguishes and translates the subtleties of conversation in the dugout and batting practice that are concealed or ambiguous for most. His understanding and empathy flow clearly and viv-idly through to the pages of Small-Town Heroes. Hank Davis leaves the reader with his opinion of the state of the baseball, and the minors in particular. He has an explicit assessment and is not hesitant about sharing it. He is the kind of guy I would like to sit next to and share a beer with at Graniger Stadium in Kinston, North Carolina on a hot August night!Tours of small towns, minor league parks, and geography are accurately and realistically portrayed for the reader. Local flavor, as illustrated by Davis, can almost be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. He presents all the characters-those not likely seen by a visitor and those taken for granted by the locals. From "Mom" and the "Mountain Man" to the groupies, mascots, ground crew, hotel desk clerks, waitresses, and guards-"the whole cast"--Davis introduces you to each. Others have attempted tours similar to Davis only to commit error after error-Davis gets a hit!

(POP!) ...and you can tell that one goodbye!

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone-the sun came out today! We're born again, there's new grass on the field.........Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench............. Hank Davis has a hit! Reading Small-Town Heroes gives one much the same feeling as listening to Fogerty belting out Centerfield. Davis does an excellent job of exposing the heart, soul, and emotions of those immersed in making a minor league team a reality. The struggle of emotions and the psychic battles faced by players, managers, coaches, mascots, fans, vendors, and other personnel involved in making the game "come off" are, many times, missed by the typical fan. Davis puts you "in the head" of the new kid just getting off the bus in eastern Tennessee and guides you through his experiences and journies. He then leads you on an expedition of the mind, emotions, and ego of the 27-year-old coming down from The Show for a last trip through the minors. Davis's style makes you cheer for guys and teams that you have never seen-nor, in many instances, heard of. You feel the sense of urgency in getting the next hit or lowering the ERA with the next strike out. You feel the humanity of men ready become superstars as well as those about to plunge into "the agony of defeat". Hank Davis distinguishes and translates the subtleties of conversation in the dugout and batting practice that are concealed or ambiguous for most. His understanding and empathy flow clearly and vividly through to the pages of Small-Town Heroes. Hank Davis leaves the reader with his opinion of the state of the baseball, and the minors in particular. He has an explicit assessment and is not hesitant about sharing it. He is the kind of guy I would like to sit next to and share a beer with at Graniger Stadium in Kinston, North Carolina on a hot August night!Tours of small towns, minor league parks, and geography are accurately and realistically portrayed for the reader. Local flavor, as illustrated by Davis, can almost be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. He presents all the characters-those not likely seen by a visitor and those taken for granted by the locals. From "Mom" and the "Mountain Man" to the groupies, mascots, ground crew, hotel desk clerks, waitresses, and guards-"the whole cast"--Davis introduces you to each. Others have attempted tours similar to Davis only to commit error after error-Davis gets a hit!

Great look at life in the Minor Leagues!

Hank Davis has done a marvelous job in this view of life in (and around) the minor leagues. His sense of humor comes through many times. This was probably the easiest reading book of this length (354 pages)that I've encountered. It just flows! One of the things that I liked most about the book was not only the liberal use of photographs, but their placement. Every photo was within a page of the corresponding verbage. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each and every page was interesting, entertaining, or informative. As a visitor to approximately 30 minor league parks myself, Davis enabled me to "revisit" many of those parks. Job well done, Mr. Davis!

Fantastic look into the LIFE of Low-Minor League baseball.

"Small Town Heroes" is a fabulous read.There is much content from the book that I could cite as particularaly enjoyable, but for the sake of brevity, let me just say, "Well done!". Not only is the subject matter intensely compelling (i.e., everyday "kids" living out big dreams on hotdog budgets, small town parks doing everything imaginable to survive, almost akin to a public service), but Mr. Davis' casual, free-flowing prosaic style make the reading great fun! Many times I have found myself laughing out loud (and "loud" is the operative word) about his "tales from the dugout" (or grandstand, or hot dog vendor cart, or inside the mascot costume...). As I read, I feel that I am there with Davis, listening to the exchanges, watching the games, and hearing the cheers of local fans. Like me.You won't be disappointed.- gbr