This is an updated re-post of an entry from August 4. It is a reminder of my schedule for my upcoming Minor League Baseball road trip, in case anybody wants to join me for a game. Be sure to check out the links at the end, too.

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“I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. And the only church that truly feeds the soul, day-in day-out, is the Church of Baseball.” — Bull Durham (1988)

 

My schedule:

Burlington Royals 
8/21 (7:00) — I am pretty sure I do have two tickets for this one

 

Greensboro Grasshoppers
8/22 (7:00) – Fireworks night

 

Winston-Salem Dash
8/23 (2:00) — $1 hot dog night

 

Charlotte Knights
8/24 (7:05) — $1 hot dog night

 

Asheville Tourists
8/25 (7:05)

 

Hickory Crawdads
8/26 (7:00)

 

Kannapolis Intimidators
8/27 (7:05) – Cheap beer night

 

Durham Bulls
8/28 (7:05) – Fireworks night

 

Carolina Mudcats
8/29 (6:00) – Fireworks night

Before the Mudcats game, I also plan to go to the North Carolina Baseball Museum, 300 Stadium Street, Wilson (3:00; closes at 4:00)

 

Some of you have asked whether I will be attending games in places like Edenton, Wilson, and Holly Springs. While those towns and others do have semi-pro or amateur developmental league teams (most of which are in the Coastal Plain League), they are not officially Minor League Baseball teams. And besides, I’ve only got a week. I’ll try to catch a few games at these parks during my other drives. Or maybe dedicate an entirely different drive to those teams, which may get me much closer than this first trip to understanding the connections between baseball and being a North Carolinian.

In the meantime, you may be interested in this recent article in the Raleigh News & Observer about minor league baseball in NC, as well as an article from today’s N&O about the bull in left field at the DBAP in Durham.

Finally, my reading selection for this drive will be John Feinstein’s book about minor league baseball (now in paperback), Where Nobody Knows Your Name.