Will Bardenwerper on Baseball's Betrayal of Its Minor League Roots
16 days ago
- #MLB
- #community
- #baseball
- Will Bardenwerper discusses his book 'Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America', focusing on MLB's decision to cut 40 minor league teams.
- Minor league baseball serves as an affordable and accessible gathering point for working-class communities, exemplified by the Batavia Muckdogs.
- The book highlights the resilience of fans and owners who revived the Muckdogs after MLB's cuts.
- Baseball's slower pace fosters community and intergenerational connections, unlike faster-paced sports.
- The affordability and accessibility of minor league games make them inclusive for all ages, including elderly fans.
- Bardenwerper critiques MLB's hypocrisy in promoting Americana while making profit-driven decisions that harm local communities.
- The author emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and culture to preserve community spaces.
- The conversation touches on the decline of local importance in the face of global social media presence.
- Bardenwerper suggests that preserving minor league baseball and local culture requires active community support.