Radio Call: “Welcome back to Burlington Bees Baseball on 1490 KBUR as we get set for first pitch between the Burlington Bees and the Cedar Rapids Kernels.”

Baseball evokes sentimental thoughts among many-- reflecting on childhood memories of that first game, taking in the well manicured turf and dirt, a night on the town with friends and the repetitive nature of the game from the nod of the pitcher’s head, snapping of the glove or the crack of the bat. 

Six Iowa communities have a form of professional baseball. 4 towns in eastern Iowa form part of the Midwest League of a 16-team league in six states. The league is expanding before the 2010 season further east-- to suburban Cleveland and Bowling Green Kentucky.

The farthest west of the 16 Class A Midwest League team, Cedar Rapids, entered the league in 1962. The Kernels are now affiliated with the Anaheim Angels and play at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. “Vets’” went through a renovation in time for the 2002 season. The 16 million dollar project included 12 skyboxes.

Most of the Iowa Midwest League parks have undergone renovation or improvements from new locker rooms in Clinton at Alliant Energy Field, to a new grandstand cover and press box at Burlington’s Community Field to a 12 million dollar interior makeover at Davenport’s Modern Woodman Park.

The franchises operators say the upgrades help keep fans happy and the business of baseball successful in their communities.

Kirk Goodman, General Manager, Quad City River Bandits: “We put an amazing emphasis on our fans and guest service and customer service and we’d like to consider this to be – we like to consider Modern Woodman Park the friendliest ball park in America.”

Emphasis on the fans is just one side of the business. Major League baseball also has demands. The local ballpark needs expanded locker rooms, training facilities and field standards. If values of the local park aren’t met, the major league team affiliation will head to a town that will provide what they want.

The players must also hold up their end of the game throughout a rigorous season.

Manager Steve Dillard of the Quad City River Bandits says new guys coming in are adjusting to the length of the season on the professional level.

Steve Dillard: Manager, Quad City River Bandits: “It’s an every day grind. You play 140 games in A ball, 162 when you get to the big leagues. So, it’s coming out everyday getting yourself ready to compete and I think that’s the toughest thing."

If a player can’t hit consistently or catch a fly ball, he’s cut loose, his locker cleaned out and his dream of reaching the major leagues may be over.

Players in ‘A’ ball know the odds are long on making it to the majors. Even advancing to AA is a big deal.

Chuck Brockett, General Manager, Burlington Bees: “You know here you got the kids that are just getting started in baseball. This is their full season of baseball in A Ball. They’re very hungry to move on. “

Radio call: “Melville looks into the catcher Bonilla, the 2-0 delivery, hit out to leftfield, fairly deep, Van Stratten going back, at the track to the wall, he climbs the wall but he cannot make the catch. That’s a homerun to left to make a 2-0 ballgame.”

And maybe someday they’ll be playing on a big stage for all the world to see.