When Baseball Was King: The History of Semi-pro Baseball in Dunsmuir, California (1895-1970)

Baseball is a special American sport. At the highest professional level, it is a display of athletic prowess and grace. Over the many decades young men have attempted to master its complexities and nuances to the best of their abilities. Thousands have enjoyed the sport at its many levels. One of those is at the adult amateur level, also frequently referred to as semi-pro baseball. In a bygone era small towns across the country had their local town teams, made up of high school and college players, local blue and white collar workers with baseball dreams, and paid outsiders. Those teams had avid fans who came out on a Sunday afternoon to root on their lads. It was a time when there were few outside interruptions or activities. Dunsmuir, California, a small railroad town in extreme Northern California, was no exception. From its first team that took on challengers in 1895, through two World Wars, to its final demise in 1970, semi-pro baseball ruled the town on lazy summer afternoons. The author was part of the tradition for eight blissful seasons and present at its final ending in 1970. He presents a season by season account of the team, the tough times along with the highs. He captures the feeling of the flow of the seasons and personalities of the men and boys who played the game with a sense of determination and feeling that this was their last chance to be part of this great sport. Within the restrictions of the newspaper coverage, all the names of past players are given along with the years they played. The ghosts of past players mix with each other over a 75 year span. The reader will feel a part of the action of each season and feel the ups and downs of the players and the fans. It was a long wonderful era when baseball was king.