For those of you looking for something baseball related in the cold months ahead, I strongly recommend an excellent book titled No Minor Accomplishment, The Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball.

Bob Golon, the book’s author, has done an outstanding job of telling the story of the rebirth of minor league baseball in the Garden State. The majority of the book focuses on the eight modern professional baseball teams currently making New Jersey their home and how they have come to be. But in doing so, Golon first goes back in time and recounts the storied history of professional baseball in New Jersey. The Newark Peppers, the original Newark Bears, the Jersey City Giants, Jackie Robinson, Alexander Cartwright, and New Jersey negro minor league teams all played significant roles in New Jersey’s incredible and perhaps not very well known contribution to America’s pastime. 

No Minor Accomplishment gives the reader a great view into what brought professional baseball back to New Jersey after an absence of almost fifty years. Plus, for those interested in the operations of the minor and independent professional leagues, Bob Golon does a great job of giving the reader the ins and outs of the daily operations of running a team. For example, Golon writes how the general manager of a minor league club does so much more than his major league counterpart. Learn how the GM is responsible for team personnel but also can be found on the field helping the ground crew roll out the tarp when inclement weather interrupts play.

One section of the book, that I thoroughly enjoyed, was Golon's account of how the independent Atlantic and Can-Am Leagues were created. Both professional leagues have three teams each that call New Jersey home. These leagues are not considered minor leagues because they are not affiliated with any major league teams. However, Golon explains the unique relationship the independent teams have with the majors. Also, you will be surprised when you read how the New York Mets were the unwilling participants in the creation of the Atlantic League.

After Golon recounts the minor league history and what brought professional baseball back to New Jersey, he devotes a chapter to each of the current professional teams. Although many of the franchises experienced similar difficulties in their development, Golon presents the uniqueness of each team and the impact each has had on their respective communities. Each ballclub’s story is loaded with all kinds of great information as to how the team has succeeded, or in a couple of cases, how they have struggled. Plus, Golon provides a detailed history of each location. He explains how cities like Newark, Camden, and Atlantic City have experienced troubled times and how baseball is helping aid in their rebirth by providing affordable family entertainment.

No Minor Accomplishment also tells about baseball and the success of each team on the field. As you will read, New Jersey teams have done well. In fact, almost every New Jersey team has won a championship. The Somerset Patriots, the Atlantic League’s biggest success story, has won several.

The book concludes with Golon providing a detailed description of what it was like to be at a Lakewood BlueClaws playoff game. He writes, not only about what was happening on the field, but also how the crowd was much more involved in the action as compared to a regular season game. His description will have you counting the days until the start of the 2009 season.

I had the privilege of meeting author Bob Golon at one of his presentations and book signings. His passion for baseball and especially New Jersey baseball was quite apparent. Whether you live in New Jersey or not, No Minor Accomplishment, the Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball is a must read. If you are a baseball junkie and love all facets of the game, on and off the field, you will not be disappointed.

No Minor Accomplishment, The Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball is published by Rivergate Books and is available at Amazon.com.