BY MARK A. LARSON
Minor League baseball. Often referred to as the “bushes” or the “farm” – in other words, subpar compared to major league play. Sure, it is subpar, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that minor league baseball isn’t fun to watch. I’ve only been to about a half-dozen minor league games in my life, yet they’ve provided me with many fond and funny memories.
In the mid-1970s when I lived in California, I began attending a few San Jose Bees games each season. And I never had to pay. Somehow, I always managed to go with a friend or two and get in free through a special deal. (No, I didn’t sneak in.) But that’s not why I enjoyed those minor league games so much. The San Jose Bees were a Class A team in the California League. During the time I went to the games they were affiliated first with the Kansas City Royals and later, the Cleveland Indians.
Watching Class A ball was interesting because the players were so young. Many were just out of high school and not yet 20 years old. One young player who I spotted early and was sure would make the majors in a big way was Rod Scott. Scott was a speedy second baseman who ended up playing a few seasons in Montreal, but he could never get his average up beyond the .235 range. The other players in the California League at that time are but a blur in my mind, but I do remember the manager of the Bees one season – how could I forget him?
His name was Gomer Hodge and yes, he was from North Carolina (home of a more fictional Gomer). Gomer became the center of our attention during one particularly boring game. Three or four of us started chanting “Go Mer! Go Mer!” and soon many of the fans around us joined in. And with the Bees playing in 4,000-seat Municipal Stadium in San Jose, it wasn’t hard for most of the fans – or Gomer – to hear us. Making Gomer the center of attention was fun, but perhaps the funniest part of the Gomer Hodge saga happened after the game.
(Trenton Thunder)
(Jacksonville Expos)
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
We walked down to the clubhouse and waited around the door and told a nearby player that we wanted to see Gomer so we could get his autograph. The player yelled, “Hey, Gomer they want to see you out here.” But Gomer did not emerge from the clubhouse. Later, the player told us that Gomer was a really shy guy. (Golleeee!) Hodge, by the way, did have a cup of coffee in the majors. He played one season with the Indians – mostly as a pinch hitter – batting .205 in 83 at bats.
One other evening the Bees played the Reno Silver Sox. And while the game itself was forgettable, what happened afterwards proved that this was truly only Class A. Apparently, the Silver Sox had a long bus trip ahead of them because after the game they didn’t even take time to shower – it was right onto the bus, uniform and all. However, some of the Silver Sox players were signing autographs when all of a sudden their bus started to leave. The sight of baseball players running after a bus (wearing their spikes, no less) was nothing short of hilarious.
But then, that’s Minor League baseball.
• • • • • •
• Originally Published in Aug. 1984 “Twin Times” •
THIS ARTICLE FROM THE “TWIN TIMES” NEWSLETTER – OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TWIN CITIES SPORTS COLLECTORS CLUB – IS REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. IT HAS BEEN RETYPED, BUT NO CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED (EXCEPT FOR VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECTIONS TO ANY TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND THE ADDITION OF GRAPHICS). COMMENTS OR INFORMATION IN THE ARTICLE MAY BE OUT-OF-DATE.
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