Publishing Minor Trips has been a joy. We have met so many wonderful people. My family has visited over 70 ballpark cities. The publication has led me into dugouts, press boxes, passenger railroad trains, radio talk shows, locker rooms, baseball consulting, vintage baseball, color commentary, writing for newspapers and magazines, and this summer a new arena...filmmaking.
Early last season, I wrote an outline, hired a film company, and set out to make a documentary film. It
was a great project.
For several reasons, among them logistics and sentimentality, I selected the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League as the featured team in the movie. Throughout the season I made the drive to Chillicothe, met with the film company and filmed the team and the players on and off the field.
We began filming in preseason during tryouts and followed the team until the last pitch in September.
The film goes everywhere - road trips, practices, games, homes, dugouts, locker rooms. We touched base with owners, general managers, managers, players, coaches, fans, radio broadcasters, host families, etc.
There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in a baseball season. Keeping a franchise alive takes a lot of people and a lot of effort.
Each player goes through highs and lows with pressure as a daily companion.
Chillicothe was a wonderful town to call our home base. The owner of the team, Chris Hanners; the GM, Bryan Wickline; the manager, Jamie Keefe; the players and the citizens could not have been more welcoming over the course of the summer.
It was a season I will never forget. I met people I will never forget. It took a lot of time, effort, money and work but the result is a high quality film that I think you will enjoy.
The film company, bricker-down productions, was outstanding. The movie would never have happened if not for Justin Zimmerman, a terrific filmmaker who taught me a great deal about the film world.
Touching Home is the title of the one hour DVD. If you wish to purchase a copy (and my groaning bank account hopes you do) see the order form for information
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