Allen's final days in Minors marked by fear, racism
It's easy to forget that less than 20 years separated Jackie Robinson's integration of affiliated baseball in 1946 and Dick Allen's Triple-A debut in 1963. Between the time Robinson set foot in Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947 as the first Black man to play in the Majors and Allen's
Modern marvels: Sparks showcased iron arm
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. In "Modern marvels," we present their stories. We covered the hits leaders, strikeouts leaders, home run leaders and saves leaders in previous editions.
Modern marvels: Snead's speed stole the show
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. "Modern marvels" presents their stories. We covered the hits leaders, the strikeout leaders, the home run leaders and the saves leaders in previous
'Uncle Benny': Remembering a Minors legend
The recent passing of Henry Aaron resulted in a wide-scale exploration and celebration of his legendary baseball career. These historical deep dives have led to a greater awareness of and appreciation for those who influenced who him along the way. Ben Geraghty, whom Aaron once said was "the greatest manager
Hammer time: Aaron's Minor League career
Henry Aaron, one of the most talented and accomplished players in the history of professional sports, passed away Friday at age 86. It is difficult to overestimate how much Aaron meant to the game, and to American society at large. As many have pointed out in the course of eulogizing
PCL's historic Oaks reclaimed glory under Stengel
By the time Casey Stengel became manager of the Oakland Oaks for the 1946 season, the franchise already had nearly a half-century of backstory. Sometimes it stood tall and strong among Pacific Coast League competitors, but often seeming overshadowed by the San Francisco Seals, whose city was about five times
Modern marvels: Williams steadily saved the day
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. "Modern marvels" presents their stories. We covered the hits leaders, the strikeouts leaders and the home run leaders in previous editions.
No spin zone: Phil Niekro's Minor League career
Phil Niekro, 300-game winner and Hall of Famer, passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 81. He was the best knuckleball pitcher in baseball history. Niekro, often referred to by his knuckleball-referencing nickname of Knucksie, spent 24 seasons (1964 through 1987) in the Major Leagues and pitched until
Modern marvels: Hessman reigns as home run king
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. In "Modern marvels," we present their stories. Read about the hits leaders and the strikeouts leaders in previous editions. It should come as
Taking a walk through Lasorda's playing days
Tommy Lasorda enjoyed one of the longest careers in professional baseball history, one that spanned from 1945 to his death at age 93 on Jan. 7. Of course, he will be best remembered as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a post he held from 1976 through 1996. Lasorda's
Modern marvels: Figueroa is Minors' K king
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. In "Modern marvels," we present their stories. Learn about the hits leaders here.
Modern marvels: Wood's hits unmatched
MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. This is the first installment of a new series called "Modern marvels." It’s been 12 years since Jason Wood stepped to the plate
Braves made Minors history in Greenville
Any Minor League franchise that sticks around for a while is bound to run into a good season or two, maybe even a championship. For the Greenville Braves, though, the 1992 campaign was more a matter of alchemy than statistical probability. “It was an unbelievable team we had from the
MiLB’s best of the decade: Defensive plays
Win or lose, there are always opportunities for prospects to stand out on defense, to make highlight plays that turn into web gems that ultimately go viral. In the 2010s, there was no shortage of these kinds of feats. There were dazzling displays of athleticism with bodies sacrificed to make
MiLB's best of the decade: Games
There are tens of thousands of games in a Minor League season and the majority of them come with an element of suspense. The very best of them might include a milestone – a no-hitter, a three- or four-homer game, a cycle or a triple play. Scads of them may
MiLB's best of the decade: Performances
A record-breaking three-homer, 10-RBI night. A couple of no-hitters, one in which the ball did not leave the infield and one in which a very promising prospect set a team record with 14 strikeouts. And a 15-strikeout hitless effort that put a team within one win of a league championship.
Verdi's Minor League career had staying power
A host of players have piled up astonishing accomplishments over long professional careers on the diamond without making a lasting impression on the game's most celebrated stage. Monsters of the Minors provides introductions to Minor League legends sometimes overlooked by fans of baseball history.
Marichal began blazing trails in Midwest League
On paper, Juan Marichal coasted through the Minor Leagues. In reality, beginning with his first professional assignment to the Michigan City (Indiana) White Caps in 1958, he was navigating uncharted waters. “When he signs with the Giants, there is no star Latino pitcher and no Dominican pitcher for sure," said
Minors legend Shoals couldn't quit Appy League
Throughout the 1946 season, fans of the Kingsport Cherokees -- one of eight teams in the Class D Appalachian League -- voted for a team MVP. The leading vote-getter at season’s end was awarded an Elgin watch. The runner-up received a Schick electric razor. Leo “Muscle” Shoals was the team’s
Where it began: From the Minors to Cooperstown
Over the past two-and-a-half months, five members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame passed away: Tom Seaver, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford and Joe Morgan. They will be forever missed, and never forgotten. The Major League careers of this Cooperstown quintet ended long ago. Tom Seaver, the last
Shellenback shined during lengthy PCL career
A host of players have piled up astonishing accomplishments over long professional careers on the diamond without making a lasting impression on the game's most celebrated stage. Monsters of the Minors, presented by Uncle Ray's, provides introductions to Minor League legends sometimes overlooked by fans of baseball history.
Actor Patterson first starred in Minor Leagues
Just before the 1981 season, a prospect made a deal with a legend. Scott Patterson was entering his second professional season in the Braves system and it was time to negotiate his contract with the club’s senior vice president: Hank Aaron. The 22-year-old didn’t have an agent or advisor in
San Juan Marlins burned brightly, briefly in Minors
Tales of ballplayers who arrive on United States shores from across Latin America are well documented. A teenage player from a baseball hotbed signs a contract or heads to school and makes his way to the Draft. He journeys to far-flung destinations with the ultimate goal of big league ball
Fun facts about Triple-A championships
A championship by any other name would still be as sweet to win. And at the Triple-A level, there have been a lot of names. From the first Little World Series in 1904 to the Triple-A National Championship Game fans know today, hundreds of prospects and farmhands have played for
Toolshed: Recent noteworthy SAL seasons
This space started honoring the short-season leagues after their respective campaigns were delayed in June. Now, following the cancellation of all Minor League Baseball in 2020, we've turned it into an appreciation of the full-season circuits as well. So Toolshed has been revisiting the 10 most notable individual seasons put