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Chatham Anglers "The Summer I Spent In Chatham Was One Of The Most Enjoyable Of My Life. I Hope Someday To Be Able To Repay The People Who Made It Possible." The Chatham Anglers, commonly referred to as the Chatham A's, and formerly the Chatham Athletics, are an amateur baseball team and part of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). Referred to by some as the jewel of American amateur baseball, the CCBL is an amateur league which showcases top-notch college players throughout the summer at 10 venues across Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The ten teams are a proving ground for talented young men, some of whom will be drafted into Major League Baseball (MLB). The Cape Cod Baseball League is an NCAA sanctioned summer league, first organized in 1885. It is by invitation-only. The league provides its fans with competitive baseball while allowing the top players in the country to display their skills in the purest forms. The ultimate reward is to see the stars of tomorrow take the field on Cape Cod today. Players lodge with local families during the season who volunteer housing and services. In 2007, over 200 of signed major league baseball players had previously played in the summertime on the Cape. And, nine of the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Stars played for the Cape Cod Baseball League when they were in college. The CCBL bills itself as the premier wooden bat summer league in the country. Games are Great Family Fun. They are played in late afternoon and early evening; a perfect time after a day at the beach. At Veteran's Field, you can spread a blanket and watch the game from your picnic spot. Or sit in the bleachers. The atmosphere is family, friendly. Veteran's Field has a capacity of up to 8,500 as much of the seating is informal around the perimeter of the field, which forms a natural bowl around the field, on grass or lawn chairs. Admission to Veteran's Field is free. The A's are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles. The field is behind the Community Center and within comfortable walking distance from Chatham Village. Check Out This Funny Popcorn Vendor While Soaking In The Atmosphere Of Family Fun At A Game: Amateur baseball began in Chatham in the early 1900s with the old Cape Cod Twilight League. The A's were the dominant team in the league throughout the 1930s, winning the Twilight League championship seven consecutive times between 1933 and 1939. The team has played at its current home ballpark, Veteran's Field, since 1923. It wasn't until the 1960s in the modern era of the Cape Cod Baseball League that Chatham once again saw itself crowned a Cape League powerhouse. Their first title came in 1967, when Thurman Munson led the team to a 30-9-4 record in the regular season and a championship victory over the Falmouth Commodores. In 1962-64, 1966-67 and 1969, Chatham was crowned champion of the Lower Cape Cod League. During that time, Chatham uniforms bore the moniker Red Sox as the Major League Baseball Boston Red Sox supported the club. In the 1970s, the team changed names to become the Chatham A's. The A's reached the championship series four more times before they finally won another league title in 1982 when they swept the Hyannis Mets three games to none. Not to brag but, the A's have been one of the CCBL's most successful teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Chatham made the playoffs nine out of ten years between 1991 and 2000, with Cape League titles in 1992, 1996, and 1998. The A's have claimed more Cape League Regular Season (7) and Post-Season (7) Eastern Division titles than any other team. Prior to the 2009 season, the team changed its name to the Chatham Anglers due to Major League Baseball Properties' trademark of "Athletics and A's". Also in 2009, Major League Baseball announced that former A's star Chris Coghlan had won the National League Rookie of The Year award. Other Notable A's Who Went On To "The Show"
The A's made the playoffs in 2009 but lost to the Orleans Firebirds in the quarter finals. Chatham Anglers vs. Brewster Whitecaps 2009 Season The A's have been operated by the non-profit Chatham Athletic Association (CAA) since 1963. During the summer the CAA conducts a series of baseball clinics and camps for girls and boys 6-17. Working closely with the players is one of the best ways for kids to improve their baseball skills. Jim Collins' The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream According to a review "[I]n this brilliantly crafted narrative, Jim Collins chronicles a season in the life of the Chatham A's, perhaps the most celebrated team in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Set against a seemingly bucolic backdrop - a well-heeled resort town on the bend of the outer Cape - the story charts the changing fortunes of a handful of players, all of whom battle slumps and self-doubt in an effort to impress major league scouts and make the playoffs. We learn about everything from the physics of wooden bats and the physiology of elbows to the psychology of slumps and the lure of drugs. In the course of a single dramatic season, with euphoric wins and devastating losses, we come to know the intricacies of the major league scouting network and the rapidly changing profile of major league baseball. In the tradition of The Boys of Summer, The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream To learn more about Chatham click on one of the links below: Chatham Monomoy's History and Geography. The Untimely End of the Good Ship Whydah To Visit Our Galleries: Sea Creatures Designs and Jewelry Gallery For more information about conflict resolution, click on any of the links below. Aging Parents and Conflict Resolution All Things Avoiding Foreclosure Or return to our Home page |
is a non-fiction account of the 2002 Chatham A's, which featured infielder Jamie D'Antona.