A few years ago, I wrote for a Minor League Baseball blog called "Bus Leagues Baseball". In the years I wrote for them, I had the chance to meet with several important movers and shakers in Minor League Baseball. Few were more important than Ben Hill, purveyor of all that is Minor League business and promotions.
Every year, Ben leaves his home and ventures across the highways and bi-ways of America to visit a different minor leagues. This year, his journey includes the Florida State League. As is his routine, he chronicles each location with a short review, some interesting tweets, and vine video or three. Then, when he returns to his home, he writes full reviews of his journey.
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
While in the Tampa Bay area, Ben visited Bradenton, Tampa, and Dunedin. He did not visit Clearwater, as he saw the Threshers in a previous visit a few years ago.
On Saturday, Ben visited McKechnie Field in Bradenton, home of the Marauders.
On Sunday, he visited Steinbrenner Field, home of the Tampa Yankees.
On Monday, I met Ben as well as former Birmingham Barons employee and local resident Jeff Perro at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin to see the Blue Jays take on the Marauders.
Due to health concerns, Ben usually has a volunteer sample some of the stadium food for his ballpark reviews. After the first recruit passed, I gladly stepped in.
Thanks, Ben!
With my background in Minor League writing, I like to keep an eye out for folks visiting the Tampa Bay minor league scene. Every year, there is always someone of interest. Last year, Professor Steven Ericson of the University of Alabama swung through and wrote about his experiences. This year, it was the great Benjamin Hill.
I'll be sure to link to Ben's further writing on his visit.