The St. Paul Saints: Baseball in the Capital City

From Pig’s Eye to a pig on the field, the long and rich legacy of the St. Paul Saints is central to the history of baseball in Minnesota. Celebrate the players, owners, managers, and fans— and the Saints’ return to downtown St. Paul near the spot where the Olympic team first played in 1859.

 

Some fans remember the historic Saints, which provided top- notch baseball in the years before the Minnesota Twins. Others grew up with the current St. Paul Saints, which has pioneered the comeback of independent teams and leagues and left a significant mark on the baseball landscape, as well as adding the “Fun is Good” game- day atmosphere, illustrated best by co- owners Mike Veeck and Bill Murray. And, of course, there are the players, past and present, including Eric Tipton, Roy Campanella, Stan Williams, Ila Borders, J. D. Drew, and Darryl Strawberry, who have made invaluable contributions to the heritage of the game in the city, in the state, and in the Midwest. All of the fan favorite memories and baseball action are captured by Stew Thornley’s The St. Paul Saints.

Stew Thornley, “the most recognizable and respected local baseball historian and writer” (City Pages), is author of more than forty books, including Baseball in Minnesota.