If You Build It, They Will Come

 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 second in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Iowa Cubs, the Triple A team for the Chicago Cubs.  Based in Des Moines, Iowa the Cubs started in 1982 following the Iowa Oaks.  Most Chicago Cubs that worked their way from draft to the majors made a stop here, and you'll find a bunch of former MLBers who try to work their way back playing in Iowa. Of note, there is one rather big name in the list below (Ryne Sandberg!)  He has 9,433 cards in TCDB, and now I am 9,433 cards away from my goal (actually, 9,432 as I already had one card logged.  I actually have more than that, but just have to dig them out.) Jim Napier 1982-84 Iowa Cubs Manager 9 cards in TCDB Larry Cox 1985-87 Iowa Cubs Manager 24 cards in TCDB Philadelphia Phillies  ( 1973 – 1975 ) Seattle Mariners  ( 1977 ) Chicago Cubs  ( 1978 ) Seattle Mariners  ( 1979 – 1980 ) Texas Rangers  ( 198...

I don't know if I've posted a definitive definition of my Iowa Collection, mostly because its very fluid and still always changing.  What constitutes an Iowa Connection?  What about an Iowa Fuzzy Connection?  Can someone fall off the list?  I'm going to answer these for you (and somewhat myself) here.  As I said, everything is fluid (as you will see below). What is a Iowa Connection? As it is currently, a person could have been born in Iowa, gone to school in Iowa, or lived in Iowa.  I suppose the idea that a person's time in Iowa forged something in them that made them great.  Or greatness seeks out Iowa, for those who moved there later. Born in Iowa is the typical connection. When local news talks about someone representing Iowa, they are typically talking birth place.  When SI does a story about the best athletes from Iowa, they are talking birth.  So think Bob Feller, Kurt Warner and Dan Gable.  But this also includes guys like Darre...