Small Town Minnesota Basketball Team Wins Against All Odds In True Story

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 04, 2008 -
In Pirates on the Prairie, Minnesota author, columnist, and historian Eric Bergeson chronicles the true story of a small town basketball team that wins against all odds. Bergeson’s fourth book tells the tale of the homegrown “Pirates” of Halstad, Minnesota, population 590.

The year 1952 was a magical year for this village in Minnesota. Read the story about a group of athletes who consistently defeated teams from cities many times the size of Halstad.

This is the story of David and Goliath in small town America. And it is the stuff of legend.

Lute Olson, Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Arizona, grew up in nearby Grand Forks at the time of this story. He remarked, “Pirates on the Prairie reminds me of my own Midwestern Scandinavian background, and I thoroughly enjoyed Eric Bergeson’s description of a small Minnesota town and its sports success that affected the entire region.”

“This book is not just about a team; it’s about a community,” according to Paul Dovre, former president of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. In telling the story of Halstad’s small town teams, Pirates on the Prairie also traces the history of northwestern Minnesota and describes what brought early Norwegian settlers to the Midwest. Bergeson writes about the hardships faced by these hardy Scandinavian farmers and how they worked to build schools, churches, and businesses.

Hiram Drache, well-known historian and author of a dozen historical documentaries, writes that Pirates on the Prairie is “cleverly woven into a socio-economic and cultural history of what was happening in agriculture and small towns throughout rural America…Bergeson has done a splendid job.”


Pirates on the Prairie is currently available by calling 1.800.278.1292 or by visiting the Pirates on the Prairie website.

About The Author
Eric Bergeson, salt-of-the-earth author of Pirates on the Prairie, knows the prairie well. His grandfather started the Bergeson Nursery in 1937, and today Eric is the third generation owner. Bergeson is a nurseryman, columnist, and historian from Fertile, Minnesota. He holds a master’s degree in history from The University of North Dakota.  Pirates on the Prairie is his fourth book.



Contact Information
For more information, contact Barbara Stennes, CSP  at 515.278.1292
Website: http://www.ResourcesUnlimited.com
Resources Unlimited
2680 Berkshire Parkway
Clive, Iowa 50325 USA

Title: Pirates on the Prairie (Paperback)
Author: Eric Bergeson
Publisher: Myers House LLC (2008)
ISBN: 978-0972190022, 330 pages $17.95