Page "Buzzie Bavasi" Paragraph 7

Although Bavasi did not know for certain, he suspected that Rickey, who had started to integrate the Dodgers ' farm system with the signing of Jackie Robinson the previous October, might be planning to sign more African Americans to contracts.

If that was the case, the Dodgers needed a low-level minor-league team outside the American South to which to assign these players.

Ultimately, Bavasi chose Nashua, New Hampshire.

With fewer than 35, 000 people, Nashua would be the smallest market in the New England League, and fewer than fifty African Americans resided in the community.

However, the Nashua Dodgers were assured of a predominantly French Canadian fan base, a fact which both Rickey and Bavasi believed would help in the integration of African Americans into minor league baseball.

Additionally, Nashua was home to the relatively new Holman Stadium, which Bavasi was able to lease from the city.