What do you think?
Rate this book
Clubbie: A Minor League Baseball Memoir
"If Clubbie isn't the best piece of baseball literature since Ball Four , it's the leader in the clubhouse." --Los Angeles Daily News
"[A] well-written, realistic, and necessary addition to current baseball literature." -- Library Journal
Greg Larson was a starry-eyed fan when he hurtled headfirst into professional baseball. As the new clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds, a Minor League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, Larson assumed he'd entered a familiar world. He thought wrong.
He quickly discovered the bizarre rituals of life in the fights between players, teammates quitting in the middle of the games, doomed relationships, and a negligent parent organization. All the while, Larson, fresh out of college, harbored a secret wish. Despite the team's struggles and his own lack of baseball talent, he yearned to join the exclusive fraternity of professional ballplayers.
Instead, Larson fell deeper into his madcap venture as the scheming clubbie. He moved into the clubhouse equipment closet, his headquarters to swing deals involving memorabilia, booze, and loads of cash. By his second season, Larson had transformed into a deceptive, dip-spitting veteran, now fully part of a system that exploited players he considered friends.
Like most Minor Leaguers, the gravitational pull of baseball was still too strong for Larson--even if chasing his private dream might cost him his girlfriend, his future, and, ultimately, his love of the game. That is, until an unlikely shot at a championship gives Larson and the IronBirds one final swing at redemption.
Clubbie is a hilarious behind-the-scenes tale of two seasons in the mysterious world of Minor League Baseball. With cinematic detail and a colorful cast of characters, Larson spins an unforgettable true story for baseball fans and nonfans alike.
An unflinching look at the harsh experience of professional sports, Clubbie will be a touchstone in baseball literature for years to come.
"[A] well-written, realistic, and necessary addition to current baseball literature." -- Library Journal
Greg Larson was a starry-eyed fan when he hurtled headfirst into professional baseball. As the new clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds, a Minor League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, Larson assumed he'd entered a familiar world. He thought wrong.
He quickly discovered the bizarre rituals of life in the fights between players, teammates quitting in the middle of the games, doomed relationships, and a negligent parent organization. All the while, Larson, fresh out of college, harbored a secret wish. Despite the team's struggles and his own lack of baseball talent, he yearned to join the exclusive fraternity of professional ballplayers.
Instead, Larson fell deeper into his madcap venture as the scheming clubbie. He moved into the clubhouse equipment closet, his headquarters to swing deals involving memorabilia, booze, and loads of cash. By his second season, Larson had transformed into a deceptive, dip-spitting veteran, now fully part of a system that exploited players he considered friends.
Like most Minor Leaguers, the gravitational pull of baseball was still too strong for Larson--even if chasing his private dream might cost him his girlfriend, his future, and, ultimately, his love of the game. That is, until an unlikely shot at a championship gives Larson and the IronBirds one final swing at redemption.
Clubbie is a hilarious behind-the-scenes tale of two seasons in the mysterious world of Minor League Baseball. With cinematic detail and a colorful cast of characters, Larson spins an unforgettable true story for baseball fans and nonfans alike.
An unflinching look at the harsh experience of professional sports, Clubbie will be a touchstone in baseball literature for years to come.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2021
About the author
Greg Larson
3 books3 followersGreg Larson is an author, editor, and stand-up comedian. He spent two years as a clubhouse attendant for Cal Ripken Jr.’s Aberdeen IronBirds, the short-season single-A affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 12, 2021
Life as the clubhouse attendant for a baseball team, whether major or minor league, is far from glamorous. But yet, because "clubbies" can feel like they are part of the team and have access to certain perks that many fans would love to have, there are plenty of people who apply for the job. Greg Larson did that after his dreams of having a career in baseball as a player ended. In 2012, he took the job of clubhouse attendant of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a low-level farm club of the Baltimore Orioles. He shares the story of the two years he held the job in this memoir.
While the book is not really a how-to on being a clubhouse attendant or manager, the reader will get a good look inside what goes on in there during a baseball season. Far from the fancy food and luxurious accommodations that greet major league players, Larson talks often about having to get the food for players ready, at times resorting to leftovers from the stadium concession stands or restaurant. Later, he also feels remorse for having to collect any dues for the food when he realizes how little these players are paid as they are mostly low draft choices or undrafted players who are given a chance to follow their dreams.
Speaking of pay, Larson doesn't make much in this either as his tips were the best source of income and he also bemoans the lack of support for an apartment from the team in his second year, choosing instead to live in the clubhouse closet for that season. It came across as a desperate attempt to try to chase that "dream" of a baseball career, even if it meant preparing food and doing laundry for peers who are players.
That doesn't mean the book isn't entertaining or a good read. Indeed, some of the stories of his interaction with players, coaches and the manager are fun reading. I really got a kick out of the team's manager Allen Mills (a former Orioles pitcher) always calling Larson "meat." After a while, one realizes that Mills called everyone that, but it still was funny when Mills would be either calling Larson out for a mistake or imploring him to come join the celebration when Aberdeen won the New York-Penn League championship in 2013. His adventure of warming up an outfielder also made an excellent funny story.
Those stories offset some of the melancholier parts of the book, such as when he is describing his relationship with his father or his girlfriend. He also at times seems to be upset about not being one of the players. Those, however, only occasionally dull the otherwise fun mood one will be in when reading this book.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
While the book is not really a how-to on being a clubhouse attendant or manager, the reader will get a good look inside what goes on in there during a baseball season. Far from the fancy food and luxurious accommodations that greet major league players, Larson talks often about having to get the food for players ready, at times resorting to leftovers from the stadium concession stands or restaurant. Later, he also feels remorse for having to collect any dues for the food when he realizes how little these players are paid as they are mostly low draft choices or undrafted players who are given a chance to follow their dreams.
Speaking of pay, Larson doesn't make much in this either as his tips were the best source of income and he also bemoans the lack of support for an apartment from the team in his second year, choosing instead to live in the clubhouse closet for that season. It came across as a desperate attempt to try to chase that "dream" of a baseball career, even if it meant preparing food and doing laundry for peers who are players.
That doesn't mean the book isn't entertaining or a good read. Indeed, some of the stories of his interaction with players, coaches and the manager are fun reading. I really got a kick out of the team's manager Allen Mills (a former Orioles pitcher) always calling Larson "meat." After a while, one realizes that Mills called everyone that, but it still was funny when Mills would be either calling Larson out for a mistake or imploring him to come join the celebration when Aberdeen won the New York-Penn League championship in 2013. His adventure of warming up an outfielder also made an excellent funny story.
Those stories offset some of the melancholier parts of the book, such as when he is describing his relationship with his father or his girlfriend. He also at times seems to be upset about not being one of the players. Those, however, only occasionally dull the otherwise fun mood one will be in when reading this book.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
June 11, 2022
If you are a sports fan without any professional level athletic ability, you’ve probably thought working for a professional sports team at any level is the next best thing. I know I have. Clubbie recounts Greg Larson’s two years working as the clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds, a Class A Short Season affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The job of “Clubbie” has many responsibilities and Larson writes the most about doing the team’s laundry, arranging pre and post game meals, and doling out equipment upon request from the players. Larson divides the book into Part 1 and Part 2,which correspond to the two seasons he spent in the position.
Part 1 focuses more on his tasks as a Clubbie and some of the intricacies and complexities of the job. For example, the Clubbie uses his/her own funds to purchase and arrange food for the team and offsets the amount by charging players dues, which also included tips if the player chose to provide them. During his first season, Larson essentially bought the concessions leftovers to feed the team at the end of the game. Part 1 also details Larson’s frustrations with the job, often wanting a game to end so he can complete his work before going home and not really caring if the team won or lost. In a sense, Larson started seeing the game that he grew up loving as a chore. He doesn’t really discuss the players or staff too much with the exception of one pitcher whom he becomes friends.
Part 2 details his second season as the Bird’s Clubbie and takes a different tone. With a year under his belt, Larson was a seasoned Clubbie who improved his performance, arranged fresh meals for the team, and developed close relationships with many of the players and coaches including former Orioles pitcher Alan Mills. He details his interaction with the team and coaches more in Part 2 including more game details, which is important given the team’s playoff push, which will be the first in their history. In a sense, his second season seems to rekindle his love for the game. It’s also in his second season, he actually lives in the clubhouse so he really never leaves the stadium.
Throughout the book, he discusses his relationship with his girlfriend and father. The game and his job puts a strain on his relationship with his girlfriend since he has to live apart from her for the few months of the season. His father visits him on occasion and being a baseball junky himself, reminds Larson of the most important aspects of the game.
Overall, the reader does get a good sense of what it's like to be a Clubbie for a minor league team. The whole player dues issue is a revelation for me. I was also a bit surprised by the relationship between the Orioles and Ironbirds. Yes, the team is an affiliate and yes the players are Orioles employees. But it does not appear the Orioles invest much in the team as Larson sometimes scrambles to find baseballs to supplement his equipment inventory. Larson served as a Clubbie in the 2011 and 2012 season. While many of the players at this level won’t make the majors, there are some that did and he drops names like Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Wynn, now members of my beloved San Francisco Giants. So those parts of the book were interesting to me.
Overall, I found this book entertaining and well written. I would recommend it for any sports/baseball fan.
Part 1 focuses more on his tasks as a Clubbie and some of the intricacies and complexities of the job. For example, the Clubbie uses his/her own funds to purchase and arrange food for the team and offsets the amount by charging players dues, which also included tips if the player chose to provide them. During his first season, Larson essentially bought the concessions leftovers to feed the team at the end of the game. Part 1 also details Larson’s frustrations with the job, often wanting a game to end so he can complete his work before going home and not really caring if the team won or lost. In a sense, Larson started seeing the game that he grew up loving as a chore. He doesn’t really discuss the players or staff too much with the exception of one pitcher whom he becomes friends.
Part 2 details his second season as the Bird’s Clubbie and takes a different tone. With a year under his belt, Larson was a seasoned Clubbie who improved his performance, arranged fresh meals for the team, and developed close relationships with many of the players and coaches including former Orioles pitcher Alan Mills. He details his interaction with the team and coaches more in Part 2 including more game details, which is important given the team’s playoff push, which will be the first in their history. In a sense, his second season seems to rekindle his love for the game. It’s also in his second season, he actually lives in the clubhouse so he really never leaves the stadium.
Throughout the book, he discusses his relationship with his girlfriend and father. The game and his job puts a strain on his relationship with his girlfriend since he has to live apart from her for the few months of the season. His father visits him on occasion and being a baseball junky himself, reminds Larson of the most important aspects of the game.
Overall, the reader does get a good sense of what it's like to be a Clubbie for a minor league team. The whole player dues issue is a revelation for me. I was also a bit surprised by the relationship between the Orioles and Ironbirds. Yes, the team is an affiliate and yes the players are Orioles employees. But it does not appear the Orioles invest much in the team as Larson sometimes scrambles to find baseballs to supplement his equipment inventory. Larson served as a Clubbie in the 2011 and 2012 season. While many of the players at this level won’t make the majors, there are some that did and he drops names like Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Wynn, now members of my beloved San Francisco Giants. So those parts of the book were interesting to me.
Overall, I found this book entertaining and well written. I would recommend it for any sports/baseball fan.
March 31, 2021
Amazing first hand look at the trying life of minor leaguers. I was never a baseball guy but it was so easy to read I couldn’t put it down. Great job capturing the side of the sport that they don’t want you to see. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fresh humanistic view of pro sports. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 6, 2021
I came across this book on a cold December night while looking online at a bunch of new baseball books due out in 2021. I was excited to read it, but I was also a little nervous as the last time I picked up a book chronicling the low minors, I was supremely disappointed. After finishing this book, I’m happy to say it exceeded my expectations. Clubbie follows Greg Larson, a recent college graduate, during his two years as a clubbie for the Aberdeen Ironbirds. The Ironbirds were a short season minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles (now in High A with MLB’s restructuring of the minors) and owned by the Iron Man himself, Cal Ripken. Taking place during the 2012 and 2013 seasons it details the highs (free beer and paid dues) and the lows (long hours and living in the clubhouse) of being a minor league clubbie. Through it all Mr. Larson does a great job making us feel like we are there as he deals with his ever changing perception of the game he grew up loving.
I really like the telling of this story. It felt like Greg and I were sitting at a bar, a number of beers in, as he tells me about his time with the Ironbirds.. A few more stories involving the players themselves would have been nice as he only talks about a couple during his two years, but he manages to make up for it with his stories revolving around the support staff and coaches around the Ironbirds during that time. Former Major League pitcher Alan Mills, at the time Ironbirds pitching coach, steals the show. He calls everyone meat, yes I immediately thought of Crash Davis/Bull Durham too, and he shows a wide variety of emotions to his fellow coaches, players, and even the lowly clubbie. Mr. Larson details his doomed relationship with his girlfriend at the time which was the one part of the story that didn’t really work for me. It probably could have been left out for more clubhouse stories. I also wish he would have expanded on his time coming to an end with the Ironbirds. It went from a Spring Training invite at the end of the season to no invite and no job the following year. That is a minor point though and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book.
If you are a baseball fan, and especially a minor league baseball fan, this is a must read. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you to @netgallery and @univnebpress for a free Kindle copy of this book for an honest review.
I really like the telling of this story. It felt like Greg and I were sitting at a bar, a number of beers in, as he tells me about his time with the Ironbirds.. A few more stories involving the players themselves would have been nice as he only talks about a couple during his two years, but he manages to make up for it with his stories revolving around the support staff and coaches around the Ironbirds during that time. Former Major League pitcher Alan Mills, at the time Ironbirds pitching coach, steals the show. He calls everyone meat, yes I immediately thought of Crash Davis/Bull Durham too, and he shows a wide variety of emotions to his fellow coaches, players, and even the lowly clubbie. Mr. Larson details his doomed relationship with his girlfriend at the time which was the one part of the story that didn’t really work for me. It probably could have been left out for more clubhouse stories. I also wish he would have expanded on his time coming to an end with the Ironbirds. It went from a Spring Training invite at the end of the season to no invite and no job the following year. That is a minor point though and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book.
If you are a baseball fan, and especially a minor league baseball fan, this is a must read. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you to @netgallery and @univnebpress for a free Kindle copy of this book for an honest review.
March 29, 2021
CLUBBIE masquerades as a memoir, a chronicle of the authors time as a clubhouse manager for the Alberdeen Ironbirds. But it is a lie. No subject matter could be further from romanticism than laundry and meal prep, however, I don’t think I could describe CLUBBIE as anything other than a love story.
This book is a hard and unapologetic look behind the scenes of professional baseball. CLUBBIE is a story of self discovery and the Universal shared difficulty each of us experiences when letting go of the thing we love. CLUBBIE follows the authors love of baseball, an unrequited love that seems at times even abusive. It bares witness to the unfulfilled dreams of players, coaches, and fans.
Like Fitzgerald’s protagonist for Gatsby, Greg provides a new vantage point with a genuinely unique perspective into Baseball, not as a sport, but as a culture.
If this book were a film it would take every award at Sundance, Cannes, and your even local blockbuster video.
This is
This book is a hard and unapologetic look behind the scenes of professional baseball. CLUBBIE is a story of self discovery and the Universal shared difficulty each of us experiences when letting go of the thing we love. CLUBBIE follows the authors love of baseball, an unrequited love that seems at times even abusive. It bares witness to the unfulfilled dreams of players, coaches, and fans.
Like Fitzgerald’s protagonist for Gatsby, Greg provides a new vantage point with a genuinely unique perspective into Baseball, not as a sport, but as a culture.
If this book were a film it would take every award at Sundance, Cannes, and your even local blockbuster video.
This is
March 28, 2021
Ohhhh, Clubbie is a fabulous memoir by Greg Larson.
Having worked myself for the AA Yankees team in the past, this story is close to my heart. I appreciate the ins and outs of minor league ball.
And, hot damn, the author mentions the time Tino Martinez was hit in the back by Armando Benitez. As Tino is my all time favorite player, I'll admit I had to stop and read that part out loud to my husband. Talk about a moment in time we will never forget.
The writing is good, easy to read, and a good pace. The author definitely leaves you with the nostalgic story telling feel. You can easily picture all he's describing. And one can easily imagine sitting in a baseball dugout while the author reminisces about his two years in AA.
Overall, Clubbie is a delightful baseball memoir. .If you appreciate Minor league Baseball at all, you will enjoy this book. I know I definitely appreciate it.
Having worked myself for the AA Yankees team in the past, this story is close to my heart. I appreciate the ins and outs of minor league ball.
And, hot damn, the author mentions the time Tino Martinez was hit in the back by Armando Benitez. As Tino is my all time favorite player, I'll admit I had to stop and read that part out loud to my husband. Talk about a moment in time we will never forget.
The writing is good, easy to read, and a good pace. The author definitely leaves you with the nostalgic story telling feel. You can easily picture all he's describing. And one can easily imagine sitting in a baseball dugout while the author reminisces about his two years in AA.
Overall, Clubbie is a delightful baseball memoir. .If you appreciate Minor league Baseball at all, you will enjoy this book. I know I definitely appreciate it.
March 29, 2021
This book is incredibly fun to read. A little bit of scandal, a little bit of heartbreak, a little bit of baseball, and a whole lot of very real emotion. Truly not a baseball book, but instead a book about change, a book about loss, a book about failure...all with baseball as a simple backdrop. Many will love it as an exposure of Major League's disrespect of lower levels; others will love it as a classic memoir and pseudo-coming-of-age novel. There will surely be people who fight back against this book, as all classics have: those intertwined in the corrupt minor league system will surely be exposed...but it's all worth it for a captivating read!
March 30, 2021
I can't say enough great things about this book, "Clubbie".
This book follows the journey of the author, Greg, through his time as clubhouse manger for the minor leagues Ironbirds. As someone who didn't play baseball, follow baseball closely, or know very little about sports, the memoir kept me engaged and captivated.
During this journey, Greg truly sheds light on the scandals and corruption in the baseball system, his relationship with his girlfriend, and intrapersonal conflict. Reading this book, you will truly feel you are there taking this journey with him (and for me that was one of the best parts).
It's very clear the author has love for the game and he really put it all in his book.
This book follows the journey of the author, Greg, through his time as clubhouse manger for the minor leagues Ironbirds. As someone who didn't play baseball, follow baseball closely, or know very little about sports, the memoir kept me engaged and captivated.
During this journey, Greg truly sheds light on the scandals and corruption in the baseball system, his relationship with his girlfriend, and intrapersonal conflict. Reading this book, you will truly feel you are there taking this journey with him (and for me that was one of the best parts).
It's very clear the author has love for the game and he really put it all in his book.
March 31, 2021
A fantastic read and a fascinating look at the minor league baseball system, as could only be told by someone who lived in the team's equipment closet. I'd say it's essential reading for fans of baseball, because the author shares your interest and love and also because it reveals a league exploiting its players and their love of the game. And the book itself -- it's good! It's fun, it's funny, it's heartbreaking. You gotta read this.
March 29, 2021
As a young baseball player I always dreamed of the majors. However, I had always heard in the league if you can’t make it to the top on draft day, then the lower leagues would suck your life out. There seems to be a under belly that most don’t talk about or proud to speak of.Extremely fast read and easy to follow. Highly recommend if you wanted to know what it was like to be in the MLB system or how it can change you.
Read
July 16, 2021Just finished this: an unvarnished look at the low minors, with guest appearances by Trey Mancini and a few other Orioles notables. It doesn't quite stick the landing, but makes a pretty decent attempt.
April 10, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available. 3.5 stars, if that was an available rating. Interesting premise, reading about the life of a minor-league clubhouse attendant. I did not realize how difficult of a job or how complicated of a job it is. Baseball players are generally jerks and prima donnas, and more than a few are ethically challenged, and this book showed that, but some of the individuals in this book (particularly the ex-major leaguers) came off as bad people.
The writing and editing left a lot to be desired. Some of the chapters read like stream-of-consciousness thought, and there were numerous typos. At times, the author would mention someone by either first or last name (or nickname) and I found myself backing up a few pages to determine to whom he was referring.
And while the author seemed driven to get this job, I was turned off by his lack of motivation during the off-season, and not understanding that his laziness was negatively affecting his relationship, and he was turning into one of the selfish jerks in the clubhouse. Hopefully he’s grown up since leaving the industry.
The writing and editing left a lot to be desired. Some of the chapters read like stream-of-consciousness thought, and there were numerous typos. At times, the author would mention someone by either first or last name (or nickname) and I found myself backing up a few pages to determine to whom he was referring.
And while the author seemed driven to get this job, I was turned off by his lack of motivation during the off-season, and not understanding that his laziness was negatively affecting his relationship, and he was turning into one of the selfish jerks in the clubhouse. Hopefully he’s grown up since leaving the industry.
May 16, 2021
This is a terrific book both for fans of baseball and for anyone who enjoys a good memoir that is exceptionally well-written and engaging. Larson has a great talent for making even the spit and dust of the baseball field into lyrically etched scenes that bring the reader right along with him as he watches a game from the dugout, bleachers, or catches for a pitcher warming up in the bullpen (not part of his job but something he manages to pull off anyway). Anyone who has ever had a fantasy of being an inside player in some hard to crack profession like sports or the theater or any other job that chooses its members very selectively understands exactly how Larson feels when he first gets the opportunity to join the Baltimore Orioles baseball organization even if as only a lowly clubbie for the Aberdeen Iron Birds, one of the Orioles farm teams, doing the players' laundry, keeping them feed during practices and after game, and other maintenance activities while they're playing home games. His experiences over the two summers he works for the Iron Birds are eye-opening not only for Larson but for the reader as well; learning about the low wages, racism, and and exploitation of the Central American ball players who are recruited in their native countries and brought up for the summer to play ball in the hope that they will make it in into "The Show", not realizing how remote that possibility is; learning about how low the wages are in general for minor league players, and how poorly they are treated. These are only some of the lessons about how the minor league teams are run that Larson and the reader learn about the farm league system that will change how Larson will see professional baseball forever, and not for the better. None of this changes his love of baseball, however, and it is not meant to changes the reader's either. It certainly didn't change mine, a life-long fan, because even after all is said and done, Larson's love of the game itself comes through in the beautiful closing paragraphs of the book, "The sky blossomed like blazing flowers on a midsummer evening on the Chesapeake. . . it could've been any time at any Minor League game across America. ..I took a seat in foul territory near right field, enjoying a midgame break from my laundry duties...And everything was right from there - the sun was setting, the breeze was light, and the heat of the summer had lifted for the day. I was surrounded by pointing fathers, young couples laughing, cold beer, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, and the palpable hope for a foul ball or even a wink from one of the three-hour gods on the field. . . To my surprise, I found myself wishing for a foul ball. I realized on a logical level, that I had access to hundreds of the exact same baseballs in my equipment closet. . . But this wasn't a logical desire - it was baseball. . . The pearls in my equipment closet were just baseballs, but the one that sliced over our heads had the dust of magic on it: it had been blessed by touching the field of play in a professional baseball game. . . I couldn't get over the jerseys. I'd spent hours scrubbing them after every game, seemingly to no avail. But from that vantage point, up in the stands, their uniforms looked as white as the last flashes of dying stars."
April 2, 2021
Larson’s toes-up love for baseball shines through every single – usually dirty – page. He takes you from starry-eyed newcomer (“the stadium pulsed with… energy”), to disillusioned Clubbie; seeing all the real dirt that actually gets on the jerseys. The entire read is diametrically opposed; so close to that Dream, and not living it at all. In the end, it’s possible to contend that his love for the game is even more profound, even against all logic, and even against some of his own words to the contrary.
Larson is the star player, as the “Clubbie,” often next to (but sometimes on) a “Field of (Broken) Dreams.” You’ll watch him get ignored by people he looked up to, decide – pro-actively – to live in a stadium closet, and make strategic choices about which direction to sling crabs and Chick-fil-A.
It started in school; it started with his father’s love of the game; it started with his love for his father; it started in rural MN; it started at TC Twins Spring Training in Fort Myers; it started as his own Major League Dream.
It started by being cut from a Division III team that cuts no one.
He depicts a system where he earns more, as a Clubbie, than the players shooting for their dreams; each earning $1100 - $2800 per month; each paying the Clubbie $7 a game. Ironbirds are NOT Orioles.
Then Larson somehow manages to be cathartic, ironic, diametrically opposed, passionate, hilarious, sarcastic, rebellious, and enthusiastic – all at once – as he finally says, “Screw it – I’ll put on one of these Ironbirds jerseys it’s my job to wash, and warm up that outfielder.” It may be the most moving “fan of the game” moment ever committed to print.
By Chapter 15, he’s “Selling Garbage;” Kimmel bats = Yastrzemski bats.
You’ll laugh, and cry, and gasp. You’ll run into a parade of players you know and love – Orel Hershiser, Darryl Strawberry, Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter, Dave Winfield, of course, a couple of Cal Ripkens – and I thought I was the only fan who remembered B.J. Surhoff.
Larson bears it all, and then bares it all. In the end, he nearly-successfully, nearly-sadly, nearly-argues that “baseball is a liar’s sport.” Then he immediately presents examples of the deceptive tactics inherent to the game, not a single one of which is a lie. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll catch him winking at you, telling you that baseball is so based upon deception, that even his disillusionment in understanding that fact is not completely true. He still loves the game. In fact, he still wants to catch a random foul ball, no matter how dirty he knows those clean-looking jerseys get.
If you love baseball, or even if you’ve ever been so close to a Dream, that just grew increasingly, acceleratingly distant, the closer you got – this is worthy of a binge read.
PS. Strike outs, and lost games, and thrown punches – Larson’s hilarious Chapter 4 depiction of Armando Benitez pounding Tino Martinez with a fastball pretty much sums it up. He calls the foreshadowing “Shadowboxing.” It sent me to YouTube.
Larson is the star player, as the “Clubbie,” often next to (but sometimes on) a “Field of (Broken) Dreams.” You’ll watch him get ignored by people he looked up to, decide – pro-actively – to live in a stadium closet, and make strategic choices about which direction to sling crabs and Chick-fil-A.
It started in school; it started with his father’s love of the game; it started with his love for his father; it started in rural MN; it started at TC Twins Spring Training in Fort Myers; it started as his own Major League Dream.
It started by being cut from a Division III team that cuts no one.
He depicts a system where he earns more, as a Clubbie, than the players shooting for their dreams; each earning $1100 - $2800 per month; each paying the Clubbie $7 a game. Ironbirds are NOT Orioles.
Then Larson somehow manages to be cathartic, ironic, diametrically opposed, passionate, hilarious, sarcastic, rebellious, and enthusiastic – all at once – as he finally says, “Screw it – I’ll put on one of these Ironbirds jerseys it’s my job to wash, and warm up that outfielder.” It may be the most moving “fan of the game” moment ever committed to print.
By Chapter 15, he’s “Selling Garbage;” Kimmel bats = Yastrzemski bats.
You’ll laugh, and cry, and gasp. You’ll run into a parade of players you know and love – Orel Hershiser, Darryl Strawberry, Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter, Dave Winfield, of course, a couple of Cal Ripkens – and I thought I was the only fan who remembered B.J. Surhoff.
Larson bears it all, and then bares it all. In the end, he nearly-successfully, nearly-sadly, nearly-argues that “baseball is a liar’s sport.” Then he immediately presents examples of the deceptive tactics inherent to the game, not a single one of which is a lie. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll catch him winking at you, telling you that baseball is so based upon deception, that even his disillusionment in understanding that fact is not completely true. He still loves the game. In fact, he still wants to catch a random foul ball, no matter how dirty he knows those clean-looking jerseys get.
If you love baseball, or even if you’ve ever been so close to a Dream, that just grew increasingly, acceleratingly distant, the closer you got – this is worthy of a binge read.
PS. Strike outs, and lost games, and thrown punches – Larson’s hilarious Chapter 4 depiction of Armando Benitez pounding Tino Martinez with a fastball pretty much sums it up. He calls the foreshadowing “Shadowboxing.” It sent me to YouTube.
March 15, 2021
Mr. Larson has written a very interesting memoir of two seasons working as a clubhouse manager ("clubbie") for the minor league Aberdeen Ironbirds and takes the reader on a uniquely insider experience of life during the season of a true outpost in landscape of professional baseball (I say "true insider" because many "insider" accounts are writers or journalists embedded with the teams, leaving a veil between the team and the writer. By contrast, Mr. Larson was an actual employee of the team, and as far as I can tell, no one knew of his intent to someday publish a memoir of his experiences).
The book, at its best, serves as a ground-level view of two completely different seasons, documenting the decidedly unglamorous work that goes into preparing for games under bright lights and in front of adoring fans, being a default (at times) whipping boy for other staff members, and the struggle to survive while holding on to your dreams, not only for Mr. Larson, but the players, and even the coaches themselves.
It is to this end when Mr. Larson's book is it's most poignant. Mr. Larson is holding on to his love of the baseball in the most tenuous of ways, not good enough to still play professionally, but still in love with the game enough to hang on to its fringes, despite the world around him telling him to let it go. Many of us of a certain age undoubtedly relate to this feeling and perhaps remember our own lost dreams, fading out as real life slowly creeps in. As former Orioles announcer Gary Thorne once said: "Dreams die hard, and when they do, it hurts."
Fans of John Feinstein's "Where Nobody Knows Your Name" will see similarities in style. And, those who have read Mr. Larson's previous book will see much improvement. Particularly, whereas Mr. Larson's previous memoir is clearly a young beginner's effort, "Clubbie", by contrast, is clearly a captivating professional account. Mr. Larson does sometimes lapse into writing a bit too colloquially. However, that is a minor gripe in what is overall a compelling read.
I would recommend "Clubbie" and look forward to additional books by Mr. Larson.
The book, at its best, serves as a ground-level view of two completely different seasons, documenting the decidedly unglamorous work that goes into preparing for games under bright lights and in front of adoring fans, being a default (at times) whipping boy for other staff members, and the struggle to survive while holding on to your dreams, not only for Mr. Larson, but the players, and even the coaches themselves.
It is to this end when Mr. Larson's book is it's most poignant. Mr. Larson is holding on to his love of the baseball in the most tenuous of ways, not good enough to still play professionally, but still in love with the game enough to hang on to its fringes, despite the world around him telling him to let it go. Many of us of a certain age undoubtedly relate to this feeling and perhaps remember our own lost dreams, fading out as real life slowly creeps in. As former Orioles announcer Gary Thorne once said: "Dreams die hard, and when they do, it hurts."
Fans of John Feinstein's "Where Nobody Knows Your Name" will see similarities in style. And, those who have read Mr. Larson's previous book will see much improvement. Particularly, whereas Mr. Larson's previous memoir is clearly a young beginner's effort, "Clubbie", by contrast, is clearly a captivating professional account. Mr. Larson does sometimes lapse into writing a bit too colloquially. However, that is a minor gripe in what is overall a compelling read.
I would recommend "Clubbie" and look forward to additional books by Mr. Larson.
June 29, 2021
Add Greg Larson's entertaining memoir to the list of books that could have been - should have been - longer! It's extremely entertaining, but the last few pages have that "let's tack on a couple more pages instead of another chapter or two" unfinished feeling to them.
For those who will be expecting a clubhouse attendant's version of Jim Bouton's classic "Ball Four" or Bob Uecker's "Catcher In The Wry" this isn't it. Instead, its the chronicle of two baseball seasons in the life of the author when he served as the clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds (owned by the legendary Cal Ripken Jr. who probably used the team as a tax write-off) and his experiences helping players who will fall into the "never-were" category and it isn't until the second season that a few familiar names start popping up.
At times it's humourous, at other times sad when you read about players whose dreams of stardom will die at what has to be the bottom of the baseball ladder (sorry kid, you just don't have it - have a good life). Seriously, how much lower could you go than Aberdeen? Do you even know where Aberdeen is? Does anyone other than people living there really care where it is?
Learning the tricks of the trade during his first year, Larson applied all he learned during his second season and while he didn't get rich, he did manage to keep his head above water and turn a bit of a profit. But he sacrificed a lot. Would you live in a closet in a clubhouse like he did? (No rent to worry about.) Would you be willing to do the things he did, finally coming to the realization that a life in baseball wasn't all he imagined?
If you're a baseball fan, you're bound to enjoy this memoir, and it's possible even non-fans would enjoy it. Just don't expect a minor league version of Bouton's classic. It is still, however, highly enjoyable.
For those who will be expecting a clubhouse attendant's version of Jim Bouton's classic "Ball Four" or Bob Uecker's "Catcher In The Wry" this isn't it. Instead, its the chronicle of two baseball seasons in the life of the author when he served as the clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen IronBirds (owned by the legendary Cal Ripken Jr. who probably used the team as a tax write-off) and his experiences helping players who will fall into the "never-were" category and it isn't until the second season that a few familiar names start popping up.
At times it's humourous, at other times sad when you read about players whose dreams of stardom will die at what has to be the bottom of the baseball ladder (sorry kid, you just don't have it - have a good life). Seriously, how much lower could you go than Aberdeen? Do you even know where Aberdeen is? Does anyone other than people living there really care where it is?
Learning the tricks of the trade during his first year, Larson applied all he learned during his second season and while he didn't get rich, he did manage to keep his head above water and turn a bit of a profit. But he sacrificed a lot. Would you live in a closet in a clubhouse like he did? (No rent to worry about.) Would you be willing to do the things he did, finally coming to the realization that a life in baseball wasn't all he imagined?
If you're a baseball fan, you're bound to enjoy this memoir, and it's possible even non-fans would enjoy it. Just don't expect a minor league version of Bouton's classic. It is still, however, highly enjoyable.
March 2, 2021
Greg Larson spent two years as a clubhouse attendant for Aberdeen Ironbirds and recounts his experiences in CLUBBIE. Larson began his tenure with the team as a lost soul, looking for purpose in his post college life. Over the course of two seasons full of great moments and soul-searching realities, Larson comes away without a clearer path for his life, but with a fuller spirit and some life experiences few of us ever get to have.
The book flows like a good storyteller at your favorite bar. Sometimes linear and looking into the deeper meaning of life, other times as a stream of consciousness and is just a funny recap of crazy day. Larson reveals some of the ugly realities of minor league baseball, like salaries, lodging, etc, but always drifts back to Larson's fulfillment and happiness that he got to work for two years for a professional baseball team. By the end of the book, he takes pride in his job and in himself that he was a part of the team. Larson touches on his personal life and his girlfriend at the time, but I wonder if he could have either expanded his personal life to a greater part of the book so the reader can appreciate that part of him, or left it out completely and told more tales of the triumphs and tragedies of minor league baseball.
Baseball fans will enjoy CLUBBIE, and most people who simply wanted to find themselves after college while like this book as well.
Thank you to University of Nebraska Press, Greg Larson, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The book flows like a good storyteller at your favorite bar. Sometimes linear and looking into the deeper meaning of life, other times as a stream of consciousness and is just a funny recap of crazy day. Larson reveals some of the ugly realities of minor league baseball, like salaries, lodging, etc, but always drifts back to Larson's fulfillment and happiness that he got to work for two years for a professional baseball team. By the end of the book, he takes pride in his job and in himself that he was a part of the team. Larson touches on his personal life and his girlfriend at the time, but I wonder if he could have either expanded his personal life to a greater part of the book so the reader can appreciate that part of him, or left it out completely and told more tales of the triumphs and tragedies of minor league baseball.
Baseball fans will enjoy CLUBBIE, and most people who simply wanted to find themselves after college while like this book as well.
Thank you to University of Nebraska Press, Greg Larson, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 15, 2021
CLUBBIE is a decent book about a guy that worked few seasons as a short-season Minor League Baseball (MiLB) clubhouse manager (clubbie). Honestly, I bashed the guy before giving his book a chance. With that, CLUBBIE is a story about Mr. Larson’s experience as a MiLB clubbie. He does not represent how life is for each team and clubbie in different levels of MiLB. I worked as a clubbie for almost six years at the AA level. Mr. Larson worked with players that were new to baseball (green), and he did not have to deal with MiLB players that were MLB players that had been sent down mid-season because they were playing terrible. Mr. Larson talks about how he made more than the players as a clubbie. Yet, at higher levels in MiLB there are guys that make over $10K a month as free agent signings. There are 40-man players that make a base salary for the season and paid very well. Clubbies put up with so much for the little money they earn. There is a lot of information Mr. Larson left out of his book about the inner workings of MiLB. In the end, Mr. Larson’s book is a decent look at life on the inside of the locker room at a MiLB level that does not exist anymore. Is his book true to the life of MiLB? Yes! If you read this book you will gain insight on the baseball life from the perspective of an insider. Just don’t apply what is written to all of MiLB. This book is exclusively Mr. Larson’s perspective. Each team, even within an organization, is different.
March 26, 2021
Clubbie is the memoir of Greg Larson, who spent two years as the clubhouse manager for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a minor league team in the Baltimore Orioles franchise.
This book reads like a novel, for better or worse. It was very easy to read, but because the writing put me in a fictional mindset, it was harder for me to realize the athletes were real people with real dreams, and the consequences affected actual lives. That aside, the author conveyed an extremely detailed look into minor league baseball - both the good and the bad.
The most interesting part was Larson’s reflection on the experience. There is a scene where he gets to warm up the right fielder and says it was the highlight of the season. Without being able to play himself, does he actually like supporting the team?
Fans of baseball will enjoy this book, as will anyone with friends who have played in the minor leagues. I love behind the scenes stories of sporting leagues and events, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This book reads like a novel, for better or worse. It was very easy to read, but because the writing put me in a fictional mindset, it was harder for me to realize the athletes were real people with real dreams, and the consequences affected actual lives. That aside, the author conveyed an extremely detailed look into minor league baseball - both the good and the bad.
The most interesting part was Larson’s reflection on the experience. There is a scene where he gets to warm up the right fielder and says it was the highlight of the season. Without being able to play himself, does he actually like supporting the team?
Fans of baseball will enjoy this book, as will anyone with friends who have played in the minor leagues. I love behind the scenes stories of sporting leagues and events, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
April 18, 2026
After reading this book, you won't be able to be at a Minor League Baseball game again without thinking about the home clubhouse and if they are able to have a decent meal post-game. The insights granted a decade+ old from the author's experience into the Minors Baseball industry are quite powerful. Things that we take for granted often aren't in place for these 20s somethings chasing their dream and life's work. The author merging in his own personal life and how taxing summers dedicated to the 30 man roster can be was insightful. The author isn't claiming to be a baseball expert in the book but just someone who lived a rare baseball experience that many don't have the opportunity/desire to do. The missing star comes from a lackluster ending that is pretty much summed up in one page. Despite an 8 year gap in the timeline from when the book went to the publisher, the journey stops there and isn't revisited in anyway which would have provided the reader a more enjoyable journey.
March 24, 2021
This follows author who has a love of baseball which translated to a scholarship but not as a player but as an equipment manager for the Winthrop Eagles. He obtains a job for 2012 and 2013 baseball seasons for the Aberdeen IronBirds a single-A affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles working as a club attendant or clubbie as the title of the book infers. Club house attendant is responsible for taking care of the players and managers needs giving out uniforms, baseball equipment, food and keep the players uniforms clean. This is definitely a different view point of baseball as you follow along with the author trying to be successful at his craft and working on keeping his relationship with his girlfriend together. This should be an interest of baseball fans for sure but really anyone who wants to read a good book. This is well written and has a good flow.
April 1, 2021
I just finished reading Clubbie: A Minor League Memoir, by Greg Larson. I love this book!
Seen through the eyes of the author, a minor league clubhouse attendant (clubbie), this book exposes life off the field and from the sanctity of the clubhouse. We can almost smell the pungent odor of rosin bags in the equipment closet (that actually served as Mr. Larson's second season home), see angry bat-wielding players face off over the choice of clubhouse music, and taste the post-game spread leftover hotdogs.
But this book has so much more. What makes this such an engrossing read is getting acquainted with the players, coaches, training staff, executives and especially the clubbie himself. I learned how they seemingly all share a dichotomous love for the game but hate for the business of baseball. The overwhelming uncertainty of their future. The unbelievably low pay. And the overall agony of shattering dreams.
Greg Larson has created a brilliant narrative, told in-scene like a novel. While it is a very personal memoir, it touches on hot-button issues at the center of minor league baseball's transforming landscape. I won't give away the ending, but like every baseball season the story ends after the final inning of the final game. Like all of the characters, I found myself looking forward to next season.
Seen through the eyes of the author, a minor league clubhouse attendant (clubbie), this book exposes life off the field and from the sanctity of the clubhouse. We can almost smell the pungent odor of rosin bags in the equipment closet (that actually served as Mr. Larson's second season home), see angry bat-wielding players face off over the choice of clubhouse music, and taste the post-game spread leftover hotdogs.
But this book has so much more. What makes this such an engrossing read is getting acquainted with the players, coaches, training staff, executives and especially the clubbie himself. I learned how they seemingly all share a dichotomous love for the game but hate for the business of baseball. The overwhelming uncertainty of their future. The unbelievably low pay. And the overall agony of shattering dreams.
Greg Larson has created a brilliant narrative, told in-scene like a novel. While it is a very personal memoir, it touches on hot-button issues at the center of minor league baseball's transforming landscape. I won't give away the ending, but like every baseball season the story ends after the final inning of the final game. Like all of the characters, I found myself looking forward to next season.
January 2, 2022
With life in the minors a long-time interest, this offered a well-written, wry look into the life of low-level minor-leaguers and the clubhouse attendant tasked with trying to piece together their equipment and culinary needs on a shoestring budget (and one not provided by the team), operating in an arcane system built to exploit guys chasing a dream most won’t realize while making less than minimum wage. Larson’s account of two seasons in the now-defunct NYPL is a colorful one, his self-assessment candid and refreshing, his conversational prose flowing effortlessly enabling the reader to lock in with ease. While I happen to be a big baseball fan, I don’t think baseball fandom is even remotely necessary to enjoying Clubbie, as it’s not too “inside baseball” while literally being inside a baseball clubhouse. Strongly recommend this.
September 5, 2022
As a baseball fan, I greatly enjoyed this book. Larson shows the disconnect between the dream of baseball and its reality. You can see how players and coaches--especially older ones--talk about baseball as if its a living thing, when in fact it's just full of people. Most of the young ones will not last very long, but even the former major leaguers can feel on edge for their jobs. And none of them know much of anything else. It's not a new story, but it's well told.
Larson dips his toe a bit into the ethics of minor league baseball, where players are paid sub-poverty wages, and clubbies profit from it. I can see someone his age and inexperience gradually coming to understand it, but how someone could continue profiting from it like that over time is beyond me. Yet no one resents him. That's just "baseball," this living thing somehow divorced from common sense.
Larson dips his toe a bit into the ethics of minor league baseball, where players are paid sub-poverty wages, and clubbies profit from it. I can see someone his age and inexperience gradually coming to understand it, but how someone could continue profiting from it like that over time is beyond me. Yet no one resents him. That's just "baseball," this living thing somehow divorced from common sense.
December 21, 2023
I liked the sections about baseball in the minor leagues, both the economic side and the "what it's like to live in this environment" side. I wasn't overly fond of the narrator and thought he and his girlfriend should have broken up early in the narrative. His "love story" didn't entice me at all. He does a good job of showing what the job of a clubhouse attendant entails and how "men" expand their boyhood by playing minor league baseball with the hope of someday making the majors--or at least with the thought that they are getting paid to play a game. I hoped at the end to see the narrator's personality evolve, and I wanted to know how he changed from being a guy living in a clubhouse to a published author, but instead the story seemed to drop off just because the season ended.
April 1, 2021
I haven’t read the entire book yet but I’ve read enough to love it! Some people may get butt hurt but your just in denial about the life of minor league baseball, at least at the time in the Orioles system. To me I thought this book was spot on and absolutely hilarious. Just about every page I’ve read so far I’ve had a smile on my face because of how funny it is. Greg really captures behind the scenes well!
I hope baseball fans will appreciate Greg taking years to perfect this book to give you a behind the scene glimpse of minor league baseball life.
I hope baseball fans will appreciate Greg taking years to perfect this book to give you a behind the scene glimpse of minor league baseball life.
April 1, 2021
In this debut memoir, author Greg Larson chronicles the fleeting, sometimes toxic hope and broken dreams of minor league baseball. Fresh out of college, the love of the game leads Larson to a summer job as a clubhouse attendant for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. From this fly on the wall perspective, Larson describes an unrequited, often abusive love story between professional baseball and the would-be stars drawn into its orbit.
Funny, poignant, and humane, Clubbie is a fine debut from a promising new author.
Funny, poignant, and humane, Clubbie is a fine debut from a promising new author.
June 28, 2022
This book offers a unique view of minor league life. The emphasis on the staff and coaches was a good decision. Their long term roles in the game are a great contrast with the players whose careers will only last a few years. It was particularly interesting to note the change in the author’s perspective between the first and second seasons.
Personally, this book resonated because I live near Aberdeen and have been to dozens of games over the years. I likely attended games during the two seasons covered.
Personally, this book resonated because I live near Aberdeen and have been to dozens of games over the years. I likely attended games during the two seasons covered.
January 17, 2021
Thankful for an advanced copy from the author.
An interesting view of life in Minor League Baseball from behind the scenes. Larson's role as a "clubbie" or clubhouse attendant peels back the curtain on how the MiLB system works for players, executive, coaching staff and clubbies alike. At times it is very personal with Larson questioning his relationship with baseball and its hardships on his life. Unfortunately it ended rather abruptly. Definitely worth reading with an easy flow to it.
An interesting view of life in Minor League Baseball from behind the scenes. Larson's role as a "clubbie" or clubhouse attendant peels back the curtain on how the MiLB system works for players, executive, coaching staff and clubbies alike. At times it is very personal with Larson questioning his relationship with baseball and its hardships on his life. Unfortunately it ended rather abruptly. Definitely worth reading with an easy flow to it.
April 4, 2021
Go IronBirds
As a multiyear season ticket holder, this was a wonderful insight into the backstage of the Aberdeen IronBirds. While I was sitting in 115 enjoying this great team, I had no idea (well some idea) of what was going on all around me. Baseball is not easy, and this explains why. This is a quick read, as well as intriguing. Good job, G. Good job avoiding the Grim Reaper.
As a multiyear season ticket holder, this was a wonderful insight into the backstage of the Aberdeen IronBirds. While I was sitting in 115 enjoying this great team, I had no idea (well some idea) of what was going on all around me. Baseball is not easy, and this explains why. This is a quick read, as well as intriguing. Good job, G. Good job avoiding the Grim Reaper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews