"The Forgotten Marlins" Author Sam Zygner on the Sunbury Press Books Show Artwork

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"The Forgotten Marlins" Author Sam Zygner on the Sunbury Press Books Show

April 04, 2025

The history of professional baseball in Florida is a rich one, and Sam Zygner continues with his captivating series of books, this time delving into the history of a team whose name would be familiar.

"The Forgotten Marlins: A Tribute to the 1956-1960 Original Miami Marlins" tells of how a club moved from Syracuse, New York, and was envisioned as a legitimate outpost for the International League. The club indeed became that, stocked with players and characters, most notably Bill Veeck, who ran the team for free and came up with his usual wacky promotional ideas.

Pepper Martin managed the club for a time, and Satchel Paige was on the pitching staff. Zygner also discusses team rivalries in the outlaw Florida East Coast League.

Sam Zygner has chaired the South Florida chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research since 2006. His writings on baseball and travel have appeared in numerous publications. A graduate of St. Leo University, Zygner is a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan.