For Six Decades Pacific Coast League reigned supreme for West Coast baseball fans, launching careers of future luminaries such as Ted Williams, Ernie Lombardi, Minnie Minoso, and Joe DiMaggio. Until Dodgers and Giants moved west in 1958, PCL was the only game in town for fans from Seattle to San Diego. PCL offered something for everyone, from tight pennant races and intense rivalries to great ballparks, stable franchises, dazzling pitching, and spectacular hitting. Salt Lake City shortstop Tony Lazzeri set all-time PCL records for home runs (60), RBIs (222), and runs scored (202) in 1925. His 60 homers occurred two years before Babe Ruth did same in majors. Oakland Oaks outfielder Roy Carlyle hit one of longest home runs in professional baseball history on July 4, 1929. ball traveled over two rooftops and into gutter of a house 618 feet away from home plate. PCL also delighted fans with a host of zany characters. A favorite was Lou The Mad Russian Novikoff, who won Triple Crown in 1940 (batting .343, with 171 RBIs and 41 homers) while playing for league runner-up Los Angeles Angels - thanks in no small part to his wife, Esther, who could be heard from her box seat behind home plate verbally abusing Lou during each of his appearances at plate. Another was Hollywood Stars player-manager Bobby Bragan, who was tossed from a game in 1953 against rival San Diego club after slamming his chest protector to ground to protest what he considered some bad calls by umpire. Ordered to pick up his equipment, Bragan refused and instead proceeded to remove his shin guards, mask, glove, and cap. Banished to dugout, he added hisuniform top, shoes, socks, and a few towels to pile. Bragan and Stars survived ensuing fine and suspension to win pennant handily. In Runs, Hits, and an Era Paul Zingg's engaging text plays off more than 90 illustrations and Mark Medeiros's anecdotal sidebars. Publ