If You Build It, They Will Come

 This will be the seventeenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Swing of the Quad Cities and the Quad Cities Cubs. The Swing existed from 2004-2007, and the Cubs from 1979-1984.  Many major leaguers have come through here, including Glen Perkins, Shawon Dunston, Rick Ankiel and Mel Hall.   Kevin Boles 2004 Swing Manager (Twins affiliate) 24 cards in TCDB Joe Cunningham 2005 Swing Manager (Cardinals affiliate) 23 cards in TCDB Keith Mitchell 2006-07 Swing Manager (Cardinals affiliate) 74 cards in TCDB Atlanta Braves  ( 1991 ) Seattle Mariners  ( 1994 ) Cincinnati Reds  ( 1996 ) Boston Red Sox  ( 1998 )  Jim Napier 1979-80 Cubs Manager (Cubs Affiliate) 9 cards in TCDB Rich Morales 1981 Cubs Manager (Cubs Affiliate) 12 cards in TCDB Chicago White Sox  (1967–73) San Diego Padres  (1973–74) George Enright  1982 Cubs Manager (Cubs Affiliate) 3 card...

 This will be the sixteenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Waterloo Bucks. The Bucks have existed from 1995 to now.  Many major leaguers have come through here, including AJ Puk, Dane Dunning, Zach McKinstry and Clint Barmes.   Eric Snider 1995-98 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB \ Darrell Handelsman 1999-02 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Andy Haines 2003-04 Bucks Manager 6 cards in TCDB  Jason Shockey 2005 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Cory Allen 2006 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Dan Fitzgerald 2007 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Pete Lauitson 2008-09 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Jason Nell 2010-11 Bucks Manager 4 cards in TCDB Travis Kiewiet 2012-14 Bucks Manager 1 cards in TCDB Tony Manville 2015 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Scott Douglas 2016-2018 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB JD Eaton 2018 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Casey Harms 2019 Bucks Manager 0 cards in TCDB Ryan ...

This will be the fifteenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Keokuk Dodgers and Dubuque Royals. The Dodgers existed in 1962 and the Royals existed in 1968.   Ed Serrano 1962 Dodgers Manager(Dodgers affiliate) 1 cards in TCDB Max Lanier 1968 Royals Manager (Royals affiliate) 30 cards in TCDB St. Louis Cardinals  ( 1938 – 1946 ,  1949 – 1951 ) New York Giants  ( 1952 – 1953 ) St. Louis Browns  ( 1953 ) Paul Pettit 1968 Royals Manager (Royals affiliate) 5 cards in TCDB Pittsburgh Pirates  ( 1951 ,  1953 )

 So last year, I wrote about the Field of Dreams game between the White Sox and Yankees, and spent a majority of the time complaining about MLB's issues with Iowa.  For those unaware, MLB.tv have a tough record with the state of Iowa and blacking out a large slice of their games every day due to every team that reasonable can claim Iowa has claimed Iowa in their viewing area.  (Once again, who wouldn't take Iowans if they could!) This year, the Cubs take on the Reds on Thursday at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville.  Its a matchup that looked good on paper before the teams decided this year didn't count, but it is still going to be fun to watch.  Game is on Fox and replayed on Fox Sports early the next morning. What's more important is that I have more Field of Dreams cards to collect next year!  This year across flagship set and in some other sets, Topps has inserted images from that game last year.  Some are easily accessible like the Craig Kimbrel f...

   This will be the fourteenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Clinton Pirates, C-Sox and Dodgers. The Pirates existed from 1954-59, the C-Sox from 1960-1965 and the Dodgers from 1977-1979.  Many major leaguers have come through here, including Mike Scioscia, Denny McLain, Dave Stewart and Orel Hershiser.   Robert Clark 1954-55 Pirates Manager(Pirates affiliate) Stan Wentzel 1956-58 Pirates Manager(Pirates affiliate) 2 cards in TCDB Boston Braves  (1945) Wally Millies 1958 Pirates Manager (Pirates affiliate) 9 cards in TCDB Brooklyn Dodgers  (1934) Washington Senators  (1936–1937) Philadelphia Phillies  (1939–1941) Johnny Hutchings 1959 Pirates Manager(White Sox affiliate) 5 cards in TCDB Cincinnati Reds  ( 1940 – 1941 ) Boston Braves  ( 1941 – 1942 ;  1944 – 1946 ) George Noga 1960 C-Sox Manager (White Sox affiliate) 1 cards in T...

 When I was growing up, select baseball wasn't a thing yet.  You played for your little league teams, and when you got to high school you played for the high school team.  However, since then select teams have sprouted up and are now the way to go.   I remember when select leagues first started that they seemed in some way wrong.  They changed the way things had gone for years, and now the amount of money needed to stay in the game just went up a ton.  But now I can see some of the positives as well.  Improved competition for players in smaller communities which leads to better development of skills.  The showcases gives players visibility with colleges and pro scouts and that leads to a more efficient system of finding the best players. Regardless of your feelings on them, they are here to stay... and provide new Iowa Connections.  Now, baseballreference.com doesn't track select leagues (nor should they), but there is one institution th...

    This will be the thirteenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Cedar Rapids Reds. The Reds existed from 1980-1992.  Many major leaguers have come through here, including Chris Sabo, Trevor Hoffman, Paul O'Neill and Eric Davis.   Jim Lett 1980/84 Reds Manager(Reds affiliate) 18 cards in TCDB Randy Davidson 1981-82 Reds Manager(Reds affiliate) 5 cards in TCDB Bruce Kimm 1983 Reds Manager(Reds affiliate) 28 cards in TCDB Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa As player Detroit Tigers  ( 1976 – 1977 ) Chicago Cubs  ( 1979 ) Chicago White Sox  ( 1980 ) As coach Cincinnati Reds  ( 1984 – 1988 ) Pittsburgh Pirates  ( 1989 – 1990 ) San Diego Padres  ( 1991 – 1992 ) Florida Marlins  ( 1997 – 1998 ) Colorado Rockies  ( 1999 ) Chicago White Sox  ( 2003 ) As manager Chicago Cubs  ( 2002 ) World Series  champion ( 1997 ) Jay Ward 1...