Baseball fans in Clarinda will celebrate 60 years of baseball as the A’s get ready for a new season. The A’s began as a town team back in the mid 50’s and eventually transitioned to its present day role as a summer league team for collegiate players. It has also been a family affair for manager Ryan Eberly, who’s father, Merl, skippered the team for more than 30 years. Epperly considers the A’s the town’s team, not a franchise and says only the bus drivers get paid.

The roster is made up of collegiate players from across the country. Eberly says most of the funding for the team comes from areas businesses and residents do their part by putting up the players for the summer. The A’s are part of the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas or MINK League and Eberly says it gives the college players a taste of what professional baseball is like.

Several players who went on to star in Major League Baseball have spent a summer in Clarinda, including St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. The A’s begin the new season at home on May 25th and the regular season schedule runs through July 22nd.

(Radio Iowa)