Wisconsin Field of Nine is a blog dedicated to past and present baseball across Wisconsin.  The emphasis is on amateur, semi-pro, minor, independent, and summer collegiate leagues, but other games including a ball, bat, and glove are fair game too – on occasion.

For present-day baseball I’ll share my personal accounts and photography.  Wisconsin has many opportunities to enjoy quality baseball.  There are 18 leagues and 200+ teams that include many talented and passionate ballplayers.  Posts will attempt to pass along the incredible sense of community and pride for local teams, but it is really something to experience firsthand.  How does a community like Hofa Park, which consists of a church, cemetery, tavern, handful of houses, an a uniquely dimensioned ballfield draw 100+ fans?  Speaking of ballfields, I’ll share the nostalgia and uniqueness of many old ballparks still in use today. 

Wisconsin also has a rich history of baseball.  “Turn Back the Clock” posts will use memorabilia and various sources to explore our baseball past.  Amateur baseball has been played in hundreds of communities since the early 1900s.  More recently, numerous teams have played in the Northwoods summer collegiate league, and the Prairie, Northern, and American Association independent leagues.  And even though there are only two minor league clubs in Wisconsin today, numerous Class D Wisconsin State League teams dotted the dairy land state decades ago.  There is some unique history to share too.  Do you know what ball team only played home games, and for good reason?

My Wisconsin Field of Nine blog is an opportunity to share my experiences.  Through comments here or companion sites on social media, I hope you will share your experiences so we can grow our statewide appreciation for baseball across Wisconsin.