We Would Have Played Forever

Through conducting painstaking research and dozens of interviews, Robert Gaunt produced an exceptional book on minor league history. He captured the spirit of baseball in the towns of Eastern North Carolina and the important role played by the game in the lives of fans there. From its roots in the early 1930s, the Coastal Plain League quickly became one of the most respected Class D leagues in the entire country for its high level of play. After a hiatus during World War II, the league returned in 1946, achieving even greater glory over subsequent seasons. This book explores the history of the league from its inception in 1934 as a semi-pro league for college players to its entry into professional baseball in 1937. All aspects of the league are covered: the great players and teams, the colorful stories and legendary characters, and the reasons for the eventual demise of the league after the 1952 season. This revised edition includes new photographs and an index.