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October 10, 2006
Review: The American Game
Over the past 105 years, hundreds of thousands of baseball players have chased their dreams of major league glory on the 295 independent and club-affiliated minor league baseball teams. In 2005, Minor League Baseball drew a record 41 million fans to their diamonds, and although the leagues cannot compete with the 75 million Major League Baseball patrons, their stories are not to be discounted or ignored. Author and stadium photographer Ira Rosen shares a handful of these stories in his new book, An American Game: A Celebration of Minor League Baseball. An American Game is the latest example of Rosen’s photographic ability which, alongside his writing, has been featured in The New York Times and USA Today. The book dives deeper into the levels of baseball than does his first book Blue Skies, Green Fields: A Celebration of 50 Major League Baseball Stadiums, and is compiled in the practical, unassuming format that one would expect from the minor leagues. The book begins at the highest level of minor league ball (AAA) and works down the ranks to the independent and unaffiliated leagues. Rosen anchors his book around 10 to 15 stadiums and teams at each of the five levels: AAA, AA, A-full season, A-short season, and the independents. Quotes from the likes of Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra, Michael Cuddyer, and persons who have connections to the minor leagues are what makes up much of the text of the book. Save for an introduction, Rosen’s photography is the focus of his work. With at least one full-page photo of each stadium or team, Rosen effectively captures the feeling of these small ballparks on clear summer evenings. He looks at the employees, the buildings, and the players that bring fans and communities together in towns across the country each summer. Regarding his work, Rosen said, “[the ballplayers’] stories both cheered me, as I saw my own struggles reflected in their determination, and saddened me, since a lot of the players I spoke with will never realize their dreams. There is magic in baseball--and a lot of it happens here.” An American Game is published by Smithsonian/Collins, and is in stores now.
Posted by dwright at October 10, 2006 11:11 PM
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