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A Look at Independent League Baseball

Matt Iannazzo was a baseball star at Norwalk High School, pitching them to an FCIAC title in 2007. At the University of Pittsburgh, he was an All-Conference pitcher. Out of college, Iannazzo signed with the Chicago Cubs and played two seasons near the bottom of their organization. Now he pitches for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Stan Cliburn started playing professional baseball as a seventeen year old in 1974. By 1980, he was in the Major Leagues, catching for the California Angels. Now, in his 47th season in pro ball, Cliburn manages the new New Britain Bees in the independent Atlantic League.

Sean Burroughs won the Little League World Series in 1992 and 1993. In 2000, he was an Olympic Gold Medalist. In 2003 and 2004, Burroughs was the starting third baseman for the San Diego Padres. Now he plays first base for the Bluefish.

There are many, many stories like those. Of Connecticut's four professional baseball teams, two of them are literally full of stories like those. Two of them are unaffiliated with Major League franchises.

This hour, a look at pro baseball from a world outside of what you think of as pro baseball.

GUESTS:

  • Katya Cengel - Author of Bluegrass Baseball: A Year in the Minor League Life
  • Stan Cliburn - Manager of the New Britain Bees
  • Matt Iannazzo - Left-handed pitcher for the Bridgeport Bluefish
  • Ben Lindbergh - Staff writer at The Ringer and co-author of The Only Rule Is It Has To Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

Jonathan is a producer for ‘The Colin McEnroe Show.’ His work has been heard nationally on NPR and locally on Connecticut Public’s talk shows and news magazines. He’s as likely to host a podcast on minor league baseball as he is to cover a presidential debate almost by accident. Jonathan can be reached at jmcnicol@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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