Реферат: Minor League Baseball- Boom Or Bust To

to head in the wrong way. Durham, like many communities that have face ?hard times,?

learned from their mistakes and bounced back to become the most nationally known minor

league team. Durham is located in North Carolina and is part of the “research triangle”

along with Raleigh and Chapel Hill. In the 1980’s, Durham’s economic image began to

struggle. In the mid 1980’s, the North Carolina Symphony moved its home from Durham

to Raleigh. This was believed to be caused by Durham’s lack of respect in the Carolina

region and harmful intercity competition. Another problem was the prohibition by the

state legislature against Durham annexing Research Triangle Park. This was also due to

the declining city image.

Durham in the 20th century had a rich tradition of minor league baseball. Durham

housed the headquarters of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues

from 1933 to 1947. The Bulls were one of the most successful teams in the minor leagues

in the 40’s, 50’s, and most of the 60’s. However, towards the end of the 60’s, Durham

began to experience some “hard times.” This was due to poor management and the

decadence of Durham Athletic Park (DAP). In 1971, Durham began its final season as the

home of the Durham Bulls.

In 1980, Miles Wolff brought minor league baseball back to Durham. Wolff spent

$2500 for the rights to the team and $25000 to restore Durham Athletic Park. In 1988,

the Durham Bulls and minor league baseball got national attention with the success of the

movie “Bull Durham.” A year before “Bull Durham”, Raleigh officials tried to lure the

Bulls from Durham in hopes that a higher-level team would be brought to the

Raleigh-Durham area. This attempt failed and baseball in Durham remains to this day.

The Bulls were one thing that intercity rivals Raleigh and Chapel Hill did not have. This

was recognized as substantial to the city of Durham’s image. Durham to this day is the

most recognized minor league baseball team. It has led the Carolina League attendance

for the past five years and has built a new stadium where the Bulls began playing last year.

Their old stadium remains a historical minor league baseball landmark where high school

and local college baseball games are played. The Bulls are also the leading memorabilia

seller in the entire minor leagues.