In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)
Baseball is such a fun sport, whether you’re playing, watching a game at Target Field, or just reading about it. Here are some Minnesota titles to help you get full baseball enjoyment:
Town Ball: The Glory Days of Minnesota Amateur Baseball by Armand Peterson
“Fondly remembered and celebrated throughout Minnesota, old-fashioned town team baseball was the glue that held a community together and generated a great sense of pride and passion among its residents. A love of baseball—and, of course, the desire to whomp the neighboring town’s team—spurred on players and fans alike.”
They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota by Frank M. White
“A tale of unsung heroes and forgotten stars who battled discrimination and other hardships to play the game they loved, told by the son of one such legend of Minnesota black baseball.”
Swinging for the Fences: Black Baseball in Minnesota by Steven R. Hoffbeck
“From the early formation of barnstorming teams that toured the state to the moment Dave Winfield hit number three thousand, Minnesota’s African American ball players have made the state a land of baseball. However, the stories of many black players parallel the larger struggle for civil rights. Those tales, collected here for the first time, show how teamwork on and off the field led first to acceptance, then to admiration and triumph. Swinging for the Fences is the first collection to highlight the thrilling and controversial landmarks in the history of black baseball in the North Star State.”
Baseball in Minnesota: The Definitive History by Stew Thornley
“Beginning with the sunny August afternoon in 1857 when Minnesota’s first ball club was organized in Nininger and continuing through the Twins’ latest season, Baseball in Minnesota is the first comprehensive history of America’s Pastime in the North Star State. Encompassing the rich heritage of minor league baseball, town teams, the Minnesota Gophers, the Saint Paul Saints, and the Minnesota Twins, this encyclopedic volume delivers exceptionally detailed stories of the games, the ball parks, and the larger-than-life personalities, all woven with carefully researched statistics, eyewitness accounts, and vintage photos.”