Destitute Darlings

Destitute Darlings is the incredible, true story of the Hawaii Islanders' back-to-back Pacific Coast League (PCL) championships in 1975 and 1976 a journey defined by as much drama off the field as on it. Written by veteran sportscaster Mel Proctor, who witnessed the saga firsthand, the book chronicles how a "colorful group of players" overcame nearly impossible odds to secure their place in baseball history.The story begins in 1975, when the team faced a "homeless" start after their new stadium was delayed and their old one was slated for closure. Despite the logistical nightmare, they rallied to win their first PCL title. However, the 1976 season the year of the "Destitute Darlings" pushed the team to the brink of collapse. Facing severe financial ruin, the Islanders dealt with bounced paychecks, an IRS padlock on their front office, and even being kicked out of the league while in the middle of the championship series.Packed with humor, grit, and legendary anecdotes including a disastrous encounter with a "hammered" Mickey Mantle—this memoir is a tribute to the resilience of a team that refused to quit even when they had to take city buses to their own playoff games Read more