Bill Swank is a walking encyclopedia of San Diego baseball history. Richard and Bill discuss the history of the Pacific Coast League (“PCL”) as well as the San Diego Padres minor league days in the PCL from 1936 to 1968. A prolific author Bill as written books about San Diego Padres baseball and sports history. Echoes from Lane Field tells the history of the San Diego Padres and the Pacific Coast League.
Bill is a member of The Society for American Baseball Research (“SABR”). If you’re interested in baseball β writing about it, reading about it, talking about it β there’s a place for you in the Society for American Baseball Research. SABR was formed in 1971 in Cooperstown, New York, with the mission of fostering the research and dissemination of the history and record of the game. Their members include everyone from academics to professional sportswriters to amateur historians and statisticians to students and casual fans who merely enjoy reading about baseball history and occasionally gathering with other members to talk baseball.
Bill Swank will give a presentation with Carlos Bauer on professional baseball in California before 1957 at the 11th annual SABR Day on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at 9:45 a.m. at the San Diego Ted Williams Chapter meeting at the North University Library, 8820 Judicial Dr, San Diego, CA 92122. In addition, there will be a chat with former Padre’s first baseman Broderick Perkins and a talk by Bob Hicks on Bucky Harris and the 1949 Padres.
To learn more about the Pacific Coast League and the San Diego Padres minor league days listen to the show (below).