Commissioner Rob Manfred has proposed cutting affiliations of 42 minor league teams "to reduce travel and improve facilities" (their words, not mine).
Let's put this in perspective. MLB's 30 teams have about 160 minor league squads. These are distributed in Triple A, Double A, High A (long season), Low A (short season) and Rookie League. In addition, teams will send specific players to co-op teams in the Arizona Fall League. Dropping 42 minor league teams means getting rid of about A FOURTH of teams.
By comparison, in 1950, the 16 MLB teams had, between them, 214 minor league affiliates, an average of 15 per team. The Brooklyn Dodgers, several years away from moving west to Los Angeles, led with 24 teams. The St. Louis Cardinals had 21, the Chicago Cubs 14. At the other end of the spectrum were the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox (eight each) and the Detroit Tigers (nine). In 1883-1994, the Northwestern League was the earliest example of a real minor league, with teams from Indiana to Minnesota. By 1907, 244 cities were homes to 36 member leagues.
And now, MLB is looking at drastically changing the minor league landscape. Yes, minor leagues come and go. Madison, for example, was once the home of the Madison Muskies, a Midwest League team. Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau were also members. Now, all three cities host a summer college league, the Northwoods League. (While minor league baseball struggled in Madison, the college-level Madison Muskies annually lead the league in average attendance -- over 6,000 fans per game!)
This reduction in minor league teams threatens cities like Clinton, Iowa (population 25,719) and Appleton, Wisconsin (population 74,379) -- both members of the Midwest League, a Low A league. And let's take this one step farther -- it impacts local economies, from local distributors and sponsors to the stadium workers.
I checked with Ted Tornow, a friend who has spent 37 in minor league baseball, the past 22 as the General Manager for the Clinton LumberKings. The 'Kings, established in 1937, are a Midwest League (Low A squad) affiliated with the Miami Marlins.
Tornow grew up in Menasha, Wisconsin (Go Bluejays!), played football at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Hail Titans!) and graduated from there in 1983. Tornow is just one of many around the minor league world leading a charge to defend minor league baseball, and the LumberKings in particular. His team has produced an impressive paper that details professional baseball's economic impact on Clinton.
Let's just take a look at some of the highlights. To quote from the paper's bottom line:
Total Dollars Spent in Clinton By Professional Baseball Each Season: $1,305,000
Based on the economic theory and practice that outside money turns over seven times in a community and local money turns over four times in a community, the Clinton LumberKings Professional Baseball Club have an economic impact on Clinton as follows:
- Front Office Staff/Game Day Employers $350,000 X 4 = $1,400,000
- Operating Costs $500,000 X 4 = $2,000,000
- Home Team $250,000 X 7 = $1,750,000
- Visiting Teams $150,000 X 7 = $1,050,000
- Umpires, Scouts and Visiting Personnel $ 25,000 X 7 = $ 175,000
- Major League Affiliate $ 30,000 X 7 = $ 210,000
Directly and indirectly, the LumberKings support approximately $4.7 million in wages in Clinton County.
So give it some thought. If 42 minor league cities go away, that's one helluva lot of economic impact in various states.
Let's MLB know our thoughts. Write to Pat O'Connor, President & CEO, Minor League Baseball, 9950 16th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716.
And contact Commissioner Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball, 245 Park Ave., Suite 30, New York, NY 10167. Or email your opinions to mlbexecutiverelations@website.mlb.com.
It's well worth our time to make our feelings known!
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