Small Town Baseball: A Fight for the American Soul

Journalist Will Bardenwerper's new book, *Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America*, explores the consequences of Major League Baseball cutting 40 affiliated minor league teams—each costing roughly the equivalent of a single major leaguer's salary. Following the Batavia Muckdogs in New York, Bardenwerper highlights how affordable and accessible minor league baseball fosters community in working-class towns. He celebrates the resilience of the Muckdogs' fans and owners who revived the team after its initial elimination. The book emphasizes the unique intimacy and affordability of minor league games, fostering strong community bonds and intergenerational connections rarely seen elsewhere in modern American life. Bardenwerper argues that the cuts represent a loss of vital community values.