If You Build It, They Will Come

Here's the initial list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2022. Only one team is starting the year at zero, which I assume they are having discussions about in the background.   UPDATE #1: Shaun Huls is the Director of Performance with the Cleveland Browns and is from LeMars This blog is official rooting for a Green Bay / Baltimore Super Bowl.  At the other end of the spectrum, we do not root for bad things to happen to teams, but we do implore the Washington Commanders to consider resigning Ross Piersbacher to address their lack of Iowa Connections. Overall, 101 connections this year (105 last year).  We will add a few as the season progresses.  Kelechi Osemele is meeting with the Bears, Amara Darboh often becomes a filler WR as the injuries pile up, etc.   Of course, blog favorite David Johnson is out there as well.  We'll assuming waiting for the right opportunity.  Note: Coaches in  italics, New in bold Iowa Hawkeyes : 5...

 This will the eighteenth in series on the minor league managers of the different minor league teams from Iowa.  Today we will break down the Burlington Bees. This team existed from 1924 to 1932, 1954-1981 and 1993-2019.  This post will cover 1993-2019.  Many major leaguers have come through here, including Ugueth Urbina, Mike Sweeney, Shawn Estes, Addison Russell, Jo Adell and Mark Buehrle.   Lorenzo Bundy 1993-94 Bees Manager (Expos affiliate) 32 cards in TCDB As coach Colorado Rockies  ( 1999 ) Arizona Diamondbacks  ( 2004 ;  2009 ) Los Angeles Dodgers  ( 2014 – 2015 ) Miami Marlins  ( 2016 – 2017 ) As manager Burlington Bees  ( 1993 – 1994 ) Brevard County Manatees  ( 1998 ) Las Vegas 51s  ( 2007 – 2008 ) Arizona League Dodgers  ( 2010 ) Albuquerque Isotopes  ( 2011 – 2013 ) Pericos de Puebla  ( 2018 ) Binghamton Rumble Ponies  ( 2020 – 2021 ) Winston-Salem Dash  ( 2022 –present) Mike Hart...

 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...