# Let's Talk Minor League Baseball! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 23, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852 "2014-07-23T17:14:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/1 "2014-07-23T17:14:25Z")
I live in a place that puts me 30 mins from a AA team (Akron), an A team (Lake County) and an hour away from another A team (Mahoning Valley). I’ve also got several friends in Columbus who enjoy taking their kids to Columbus Clippers (AAA) games. So I’d say that minor league baseball is pretty big here. I also happen to live within 30 minutes of the Indians stadium, so if I want to go to a ball game I just go there. Plus I’m an Indians fan, and while all the local teams are Indians’ affiliates, I’m busy paying attention to the Big Leagues every night. But those minor league teams, they sure do have fans! And their games are fun! Probably the most fun if you have kids in tow, but also fun for old folks and just regular fans of baseball who live locally. Every time I go to one I think “that was a good time, and cheap. I should probably go again!” but I rarely do. So do you have a local minors team that you follow? How far away are they versus your MLB team? Are they affiliated with your MLB team? Do you get to know the players before they are shipped off elsewhere? Is the baseball any good? Do you go specifically to see the big MLB players in rehab assignments? (This happens a lot in Akron and Columbus) Any fun giveaways of note? The Akron Rubber Ducks have been giving away some cool bobbleheads lately. How about fun traditions? And lastly…do you spend time following your MLB team while simultaneously following your minors team? How do you balance it? Do you care more about one or the other? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/2 "2014-07-23T17:27:04Z")
I can’t say I’ve ever really followed a minor league team, but I’ve been to a few games, and have thoroughly enjoyed them. A few years back, the Las Vegas 51s were the Dodgers’ AAA affiliate, and I got to go to a couple of those games (Vegas is about a 3.5 hour drive from home and a frequent mini-vacation destination). Those were fun, particularly since the tickets were cheaper, and I knew a lot of the players given the frequent up-and-down for the folks at the AAA level. Sadly, now the AAA team is in Albuquerque. The Dodgers’ closest affiliate is the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and I’ve been to my fair share of those games (I used to live about 15 minutes from their home), though most of those years, they were an affiliate of the Angels. Those were always great. Lots of dollar dog nights, and I loved that I could buy $13 tickets to sit directly behind home plate AND get in-seat food service. Unbelievable bargain. I specifically recall seeing Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson playing, and being impressed at how huge those guys seemed close up. If there were a minor league team reasonably close to me now, I’d definitely have fun going again. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/3 "2014-07-23T17:56:37Z")
I live in one of the suburbs of Atlanta, about 25 miles from downtown, where the Braves currently play. A few years ago, the Braves moved their AAA team from Richmond VA to my county. So basically the AAA team is now 35 miles or so from the Braves home ball park. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it makes the AAA team almost irrelevant to the community. When it was in Richmond, it was THE baseball team. Here in the metro area, it will always be the JV team. Even though it’s cheaper, closer, less traffic, etc., if I’m going to spend an evening going to a ballgame, I’ll go see the MLB Braves, not the AAA team. Having said that, when I go visit my family in a small town in VA, I frequently go with them to see a team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Basically this is a league BELOW single A, below rookie ball. But it’s great fun. Tickets are like $7 or something. And they are literally the only show in town. Small town, small team, goofy promotions, good hot dogs and acceptable beer. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/4 "2014-07-23T18:31:33Z")
Leftfield: What level is the Cape Cod League analogous to? I’d guess AA. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/5 "2014-07-23T18:40:00Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Leftfield: What level is the Cape Cod League analogous to? I’d guess AA. The Cape Code League is a summer league for college kids. So below “Rookie” leagues. > **[Cape Cod Baseball League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Baseball_League)** > > The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousand former players who have gone on to play in the major leagues. > As early as the 1860s, baseball teams representing various Cape Cod towns and villages were competing against one another. The earliest newspaper account is of an 1867 game in Sandwich betwe... ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/6 "2014-07-23T19:22:36Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The Cape Code League is a summer league for college kids. So below “Rookie” leagues. > > [Cape Cod Baseball League - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Baseball_League) Yep, looks like Cape Cod Baseball League is similar to the [Coastal Plains League](http://www.coastalplain.com/page/today). The Martinsville Mustangs are the team that I go to see quite often. BTW, summer collegiate leagues are, AFAIK, not associated with any MLB minor league system. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/7 "2014-07-23T19:34:31Z")
Minor league ball is a bargain - a family can spend an afternoon in the ballpark for, what, a quarter? A tenth? of what they would pay for a major league game. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/8 "2014-07-23T19:42:07Z")
**etv78** , more info for you, just to be clear: Here is the progression from top to bottom of the minor league levels that are affiliated with a MLB team Triple-A Double-A Class A (3 subsets) –Class A-Advanced –Class A –Class A-Short Season Rookie Then would come the various independent leagues, including the collegiate summer leagues like the Cape Cod. These are NOT associated with a particular MLB team ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/9 "2014-07-23T20:03:55Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Minor league ball is a bargain - a family can spend an afternoon in the ballpark for, what, a quarter? A tenth? of what they would pay for a major league game. My six year old son and I attend about 20 Durham Bulls games a year. In the last year or so we’ve seen a no hitter, a triple play, the AAA all star game, and a playoff victory. Durham Bulls Athletic Park which had a major facelift last offseason is an easy 20 minute drive from our house. The players are friendly and easy to meet and get autographs before the games. We know which players on on the Rays 40 man roster and I feel bad when they get called up since I think Tropicana Field is an awful place to play baseball. (Unfortunately I saw too many games there when I lived in Florida). We’ve seen some major leaguers on rehab assignments but they aren’t a real draw for us since we’d rather see the players we’ve been following all year play. The two of us get tickets, parking, a hot dog for me and a pizza for him, drinks, peanuts, and ice cream for $40. That’s the price of a single ticket at a lot of major league stadiums. Our season tickets are covered and have a big ole fan overhead that keeps a nice cool breeze going even on the hottest nights. Fans with ticket plans get vouchers to turn in for give-aways throughout the year. My son got himself a replica championship ring that was a big hunk of metal like a class ring, a couple t-shirts, a cap, and a backpack that looks like a catcher’s chest protector. Next month they say they’ll be giving away coolers of some sort. All in all it’s a really nice way to spend a summer evening with my son and we take advantage of it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/10 "2014-07-23T20:42:04Z")
We lived in the shadow of Dodger Stadium but preferred going to Lancaster (about an hour away) to see the Jethawks (Astros A Ball affiliate). I now live fairly near Sacramento Rivercats, but I have not been to see them yet. There are also teams in Reno, Stockton and Modesto that are doable. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/11 "2014-07-23T20:48:58Z")
I was familiar with the current setup. Was more asking the level of play equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/12 "2014-07-23T20:49:27Z")
I’ve been meaning to go see a Mud Hens game. Several friends have gone down and all of them said it was a lot of fun, and that the new stadium upgrades are really nice. I’m just not sure if I can hold my breath for 4 hours, you know Toledo and all. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/13 "2014-07-23T20:56:44Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I was familiar with the current setup. Was more asking the level of play equivalent. I’m going to go with college ball. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/14 "2014-07-23T22:05:15Z")
We have the Orioles and Nationals High A teams and the Orioles AA team less than an hour away, but the Nationals are closer. We get cheap tickets from Stubhub. When it was just the Orioles, and my sons were small, we went to Frederick to see the O’s high A team a few times. Once they could sit through a game without getting antsy, we started going to Nats games almost exclusively. We also have a wooden bat summer league with a team that plays at my sons’ high school, so we go see them once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/15 "2014-07-24T03:45:35Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > My six year old son and I attend about 20 Durham Bulls games a year. In the last year or so we’ve seen a no hitter, a triple play, the AAA all star game, and a playoff victory. Durham Bulls Athletic Park which had a major facelift last offseason is an easy 20 minute drive from our house. > > The players are friendly and easy to meet and get autographs before the games. We know which players on on the Rays 40 man roster and I feel bad when they get called up since I think Tropicana Field is an awful place to play baseball. (Unfortunately I saw too many games there when I lived in Florida). We’ve seen some major leaguers on rehab assignments but they aren’t a real draw for us since we’d rather see the players we’ve been following all year play. > > The two of us get tickets, parking, a hot dog for me and a pizza for him, drinks, peanuts, and ice cream for $40. That’s the price of a single ticket at a lot of major league stadiums. Our season tickets are covered and have a big ole fan overhead that keeps a nice cool breeze going even on the hottest nights. > > Fans with ticket plans get vouchers to turn in for give-aways throughout the year. My son got himself a replica championship ring that was a big hunk of metal like a class ring, a couple t-shirts, a cap, and a backpack that looks like a catcher’s chest protector. Next month they say they’ll be giving away coolers of some sort. > > All in all it’s a really nice way to spend a summer evening with my son and we take advantage of it a lot. That’s pretty cool 🙂 That’s exactly how I picture most minor-league fan experiences to be. **P-Man** I think that’s kind of what people do with Akron/Cleveland around here. Akron is a nice family-friendly, laid-back situation. Good place to take the kids if you’re not sure they will sit long enough to care. Or not be freaked out by the crowd. Once they got “going to baseball” down, it’s time for the big leagues! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/16 "2014-07-24T03:57:46Z")
I really need to go to a Sacramento River Cats game. They’re about 12 miles west of here, just across the river from the city, about 90 miles from Oakland, their major league affiliate (until the end of the year, when they may switch to a Giants affiliate). The River Cats usually lead all of minor league baseball in attendance, and have a good record of winning the AAA world series. Modesto, Stockton and San Jose are not too far from here, but I haven’t gone to any of those parks yet, either. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/17 "2014-07-24T14:26:47Z")
If you have Netflix, check out _The Battered Bastards of Baseball_, a documentary about the Portland Mavericks. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/18 "2014-07-24T14:44:35Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > If you have Netflix, check out _The Battered Bastards of Baseball_, a documentary about the Portland Mavericks. I just heard about that! My brother says it’s awesome. Unfortunately, I cancel Netflix for the season. No time for movies 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/19 "2014-07-24T15:53:38Z")
Someone should make a feature film about them. Kurt Russell could play his dad, the team’s owner. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852/20 "2014-07-24T22:15:02Z")
I don’t really follow teams at any level… But back when I was in the Villanova band, we’d sometimes take road trips down to Wilmington to see Blue Rocks games, and man, those were way funner to attend than major league games. You’re much closer to the action, and there are all these side games and promotions (dizzy bat races, coupons for free burgers to everyone in attendance, etc.). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-minor-league-baseball/693852.md?page=2)