HOMESTAND Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America

Dan Bittner's narration pairs nostalgia for American baseball with an incisive examination of the game today. Throughout the summer season of 2022, listeners follow the fortunes of a town whose MLB affiliation was removed in 2020 as part of a 25% downsizing of minor league baseball. In an effort to retain local baseball in Batavia, New York, new owners purchased the Batavia Muckdogs and filled its roster with college athletes. Bittner's congenial voice connects the author with fellow military veterans, diehard fans, and multigenerational supporters rallying around their team. He infuses his performance with warmth and an affinity for the sport while simultaneously leveling frank assessments of MLB's business model and data-driven play. This engrossing production is a must-listen for sports fans. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2025]