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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website “Part Way to the Majors” (1971) is a color, documentary film made for ABC News and Public Affairs’ popular series Discovery ‘71. In this episode, host Bill Owen tags along with the Chicago White Sox’s farm team, the Duluth Dukes (or more accurately the Duluth-Superior Dukes), as they road trip and play baseball around the country. The film illuminates the day-to-day lives of the minor league players and what it would take for them to break into the majors. The Duluth-Superior Dukes minor league baseball team represented Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, playing from 1956 to 1970 exclusively as members of the Northern League. Duluth-Superior teams were affiliates of the Chicago White Sox (1956–1959; 1967-1970), Detroit Tigers (1960–1965), and Chicago Cubs (1965–1967). 1970s silver coach bus parked next to Wade Municipal Stadium Duluth, Minnesota (0:08). Main titles (0:41). Bill Owen opening words from commercial street Downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1:08). Scenes of team members off in small groups exploring commercial street, coffee shops, shop windows selling 1970s fashion, retro appliances; voice over by one of the players describing life on the road (1:43). Team dressed in light blue uniform crowds small hotel lobby decorated with vibrant red carpet, red vinyl couches, dark wood accents as they wait for bus (2:59). Interior team bus, profile of player Dan Rourke, his story of trying to break into the majors (3:49). Team manager Joe Sparks looks on at batting and field skills practice on baseball diamond; neighborhood kids seen hanging over ads on stadium walls to observe the practice (4:22). High intensity discharge (HID) lighting turned on, illuminates field at dusk (5:42). Bill Owen sits on bench in team dugout with other Duluth Dukes team members (6:00). Game between Duluth Dukes and Sioux Falls Packers (6:17). Close-up scoreboard showing the Dukes in the lead (7:09). Relief pitcher, Steve Zork, warms up on sidelines (7:13). Steve Zork called into game, walks out to pitcher's mound and talks with teammates and manager; Joe Sparks back on sidelines looking on with stressed look while chewing tobacco (7:33). Duluth Dukes run onto diamond from dugout as after Zork throws winning pitch (8:52). Players celebration in locker room: rowdy cheers, one player sprays champagne over the players (9:18). Interior of team bus, players sit side by side in plain clothes as they drive to next destination through the night (9:45). Bill Owen sits with players at a diner as the scarf down dinner of burgers, soda (10:18). Back on the bus, players sprawled out sleeping in seats, heads knocked back against pillows (10:39). POV from bus driver’s seat as bus pulls into parking lot of Wade Municipal Stadium (11:43). Lives of the players: scenes from daily life of some of the players that share an apartment - sit for breakfast and read through newspaper, head out for groceries (11:53). Players give back by coaching little league clinic: players run outfield drills with young boys from the area on the baseball diamond at the Wade Municipal Stadium (12:33). Joe Sparks works with Dan Rourke on becoming a switch hitter, run batting drills out of batting cage on the field (13:52). Steve Zork on sidelines seen winding up to throw practice pitches, works on curve ball (14:36). Bill Owen speaks to camera from field, scenes of players running through drills in the background, Owen discusses the statistics of how many players will likely make it to the major leagues (15:36). Players get dressed from game in home white uniforms in locker room (16:24). Sun illuminates the empty green stadium, Bill Owen talks to audience about upcoming game against the Aberdeen Pheasants of Aberdeen, South Dakota - farm team for Baltimore Orioles (17:12). Young boy vendor walks through the predominantly empty stands selling refreshments (17:52). Game begins, Steve Zork takes to the pitcher's mound; footage cuts between spectators in the stands, game plays, and manager Sparks in the dugout (18:04). Dan Rourke up at bat, hits line drive and speeds towards first base (20:06). Bill Owen closing words from pitcher's mound (20:51). Bill Owen presents books by S.H, Freeman and Robert Fitzsimmons on topic of baseball from locker room (21:20). Credits play over footage of custodians cleaning empty stands after game (21:40). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
