The Grand Minor League

Book excerpt: At one time, during the great migration of American to the West Coast, baseball in the old Pacific Coast League was seen as every bit as good as the brand of ball at the major league level. This was particularly true in the post-WWII era. For decades the PCL fed the majors with a steady stream of awesome talent -- great players like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, now ensconsed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. For many years there was not a major league roster without at least three or four former PCL players. And the old PCL was nothing if not colorful and glamorous. Stadia, uniforms, promotional innovations -- you name it -- the PCL set the standard for all of baseball. Baseball fans of all ages will love all the historical pictures and be enthralled reading about the likes of the Hollywood Stars, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Vancouver Mounties, San Francisco Seals, Oakland Oaks, Portland Beavers, Mission Reds Francsico) and Seattle Raniers. It was a league for the young at heart, for true baseball fans, for people who loved their booming towns. There has never been a minor league like it. Indeed, it was "The Grand Minor League".