Cape Cod - Index

Cape Cod - travel_guide_2008 - Index

■ cape & islands baseball
experienced before: 47 games over 56 days, not including
the All Star Game, league playoffs or tryout days. To add to
the pressure, Major League scouts shadow their every move.
Most players also hold down part-time jobs, working at
local supermarkets, restaurants or teaching in team clinics.
Others use what little free time they have to keep up with their
academics. New rules require players to be academically
eligible in the fall to play the following spring.
“Some of these kids haven’t been home in eight or nine
Top: Charles Brewer, father of Chatham A’s pitcher
Charles Brewer, visits the Cape from Arizona to
watch his son play ball. Bottom: Members of the
Chatham A’s share a few laughs.
26
Cape Cod Travel Guide Annual 2008
months,” says Steve Keenan, a first-time house parent from
Chatham who took in three players last summer. “They go
from their spring season in college to here on the Cape and
then back to college, where some schools play a fall season. It’s
tough for a lot of them.”
For years, Chatham Manager John Schiffner has given his
new players this advice: “You’re here to play baseball first and
then enjoy Cape Cod. You’re not here to enjoy Cape Cod first
and also play baseball.”
Most players buy into that philosophy. The Cape league is
by invitation only, which means teams recruit only the most
promising players–you don’t just show up and ask for a tryout.
Teams also stress finding “character guys.” Each player must
sign–and live up to–the league’s Code of Conduct.
So smart players approach their summer on Cape Cod as a
two-month audition, which ultimately could lead to a career in
the big leagues.
ALMOST A GUARANTEED TICKET
Many big leaguers got their start playing in the
Cape Cod Baseball League. Cape league alumni
who are on Major League rosters reads like a
who’s who of professional baseball: Jeff Bagwell
(Chatham, 1987-88), Kris Benson (Hyannis, 1994),
Craig Biggio (Yarmouth-Dennis, 1986), Sean
Casey (Brewster, 1994), Darin Erstad (Falmouth,
1993-94), Nomar Garciaparra (Orleans, 1993),
Jason Varitek (Hyannis, 1991-93) and Mike Lowell
(Chatham, 1994), to name a few.
All told, 203 league alumni were on
Major League rosters in 2007.
■ 222 Cape league players were drafted in 2007.
■ Almost 40 percent of all players in the major
leagues who attended a four-year school
made a summer stop on the Cape during
their college careers.
■ 1,071 league players played in some level
of professional baseball in 2006.