The Minor League Years
By Johnny Orsino

Playing 9 years in the Major Leagues certainly has left me with many great memories and experiences. But today, I would like to share some of the wonderful memories from the five years playing and developing in the San Francisco Giants Minor League Organization.

After graduation from Fort Lee High School in Fort Lee, New Jersey, I signed a professional baseball contract with the Giants. In March of 1957, my professional career began by reporting to the Giants' spring training base in Sanford, Florida. The base, during the mid-fifties, was baseball's most elaborate and best-equipped training camp. It was perhaps the finest baseball installation in the country and accommodated all 12 minor league teams in the Giant's Organization. My first spring training was a whole new and shocking experience. Being a prominent and dominant athlete in high school did not give me an edge. I found myself amidst hundreds of All-State, All-Conference and All-World baseball players all trying to make one of the 12 Giants' minor league teams.

The minor leagues, during this era, was the training ground for young hopefuls developing their baseball skills, dreaming of one day becoming one of the 400 players to have the honor of making a Major League roster. Spending anywhere from 4 to 8 years in the minors was normal for most. There were always exceptions to the rule, but few and far between. Prominent Major Leaguers such as Jim Gentile, Jack Sanford, Don Demeter, Harvey Haddix and many others toiled and traveled in buses throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico for more than 6 years before they had the opportunity to play in the "Majors". Graduates from the Giants' farm system include Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Daryl Spencer, Jim Davenport, Bob Schmidt, Valmy Thomas, Felipe Alou, Ramon Monsant, Joe Shipley and Eddie Bressoud. Included in my class of 1957 that reported to Sanford, Florida was future Major Leaguers Juan Marichal, Manny Mota, Matty Alou, Bob Farley, Bob Bolin and Ernie Bowman.

The minor league years were some of the most exciting and enjoyable times of my life. The feeling of pride just being a professional athlete was exhilarating. Competing with talented young baseball players from all over the country for a position and finally making a team roster gave you a deep feeling of accomplishment.

I always enjoyed the anticipation of going to a new minor league town. Each town would embrace the team making sure we were comfortable and happy in our new environment. I have made many good friends that have kept in touch throughout these many years.

Michigan City, Indiana, in the class "D" Midwest League, was my first stop in 1957. Along with future Major Leaguers Manny Mota, Matty Alou, Bob Bolin and Bob Farley we experienced our first year of minor league baseball. We were respectable, finishing 4th. In 1958 I was assigned to St. Cloud, Minn. In the class "C" Northern League. During June of that year, the Giants signed a young pitching prospect from South Carolina. We heard he was given a $40,000 bonus so we knew the Giants were looking for great things. His name was Gaylord Jackson Perry who not only helped us to win the Northern League Championship, but also went on to win over 300 Major League games and is a member of baseball's "Hall of Fame". It was a magical season as we won 31 out of our last 39 games to win the championship by one game.

Eugene, Oregon was my summer of 1959. The class "B" Northwest League, a beautiful part of our United States, proved to be a challenge.

1960.The Texas League. Along with other future Major Leaguers; Bob Bolin, Gaylord Perry, Manny Mota, Larry Stubbing, Ron Herbel, Chuck Hiller, Ray Daviault and Al Stiglitz, The Rio Grande Valley Giants totally dominated The Texas League by winning the Championship by 12 games.

After having an all-star season in the Texas league my contract was bought by the parent major league Giants. The next season, 1961, I was invited to my first major league spring training. Assigned to Tacoma, Washington in the Pacific Coast League to start the season, I was brought up to the "Big Club" in July and my dream of becoming a major league baseball player became a reality.


TOP