Pandamonium!: Local Hall Of Fame Writer Mark McCarter Chronicles The Birth Of The Rocket City Trash Pandas In New Book
Longtime sportswriter and author Mark McCarter recently published a new book looking behind the scenes of the birth of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The award-winning, Hall of Fame writer has now published three books. Photo Contributed
Business, FRONT PAGE FEATURED, LIFESTYLES -- FEATURE SPOT, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Sports, Z - News Main
 By  Bob Labbe Published 
3:34 am Monday, May 16, 2022

Pandamonium!: Local Hall Of Fame Writer Mark McCarter Chronicles The Birth Of The Rocket City Trash Pandas In New Book

MADISON- Reading books has always been a way of life for Mark McCarter. Matter of fact, on average, he’ll complete the read of a book every two weeks, so it’s no surprise the longtime, award-winning author has just completed his third book, which chronicled the birth and the delayed first season of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

Published by August Publications, Pandamonium! tells the story of professional baseball’s return to Huntsville through in-depth interviews and personal experiences McCarter he himself witnessed of the behind-the-scenes making of the Minor League Baseball franchise.

“The idea came from Ralph Nelson (managing general partner/president) and was commissioned by the Trash Pandas as they loved the idea and Ralph was a driving force to make it happened,” said McCarter.

McCarter spent 17 years as a columnist with the Huntsville Times and is a four-time Alabama Sportswriter of the Year. He was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame and the Huntsville/Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame and is currently a board member of the later Hall of Fame. In June, the 67-year-old will be inducted into the Alabama Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.

His history as a writer includes two earlier books: The Racetracks Book about NASCAR and Never A Bad Game: 50 Year of the Southern League. It was his second book he presented to Nelson which led to his writing about the Trash Pandas.

“Ralph was impressed on how the stories in the book touched him,” added McCarter. “In that book I wrote about Huntsville’s own Don Mincher, the one-time Major League Baseball player who went on to be a major part of the Huntsville Stars team. Matter of fact, Ralph indicated the first World Series game he ever saw featured Don Mincher’s last at bat as a Major Leaguer, which was an RBI single versus the Reds as a member of the Oakland A’s.”

The seven-month project of writing the book on the Trash Pandas came to a roadblock the same time the Trash Pandas had to put a stop in what was to be their inaugural season in 2020. The COVID pandemic hit and the printing company in Michigan which was set to print the completed writing shut down. Much like the Trash Pandas in their efforts to pivot their efforts to the 2021 season, McCarter updated the book with another chapter on the organization. All was set. Then a bombshell hit just prior to the start of the 2021 season.

Nelson decided to resign from his position from the Trash Pandas.

“I will be forever grateful to Ralph for bringing baseball back to Huntsville, but I needed to make changes in the book,” said McCarter. “Kevin Reichard, publisher with August Publications, got with me about delaying the book. We cut about 25,000 words from the original manuscript and I wrote about the first season and how it worked out with the new management.”

McCarter has always been the type of reporter to see what’s behind the scenes and see the guts of a subject. He did so magnificently when he dug into the lives of some of the players for the Trash Pandas. For the players, Minor League Baseball is very challenging and can be a tough life living in crowded quarters with teammates and many times not eating well.

McCarter befriended Trash Pandas’ relief pitcher Kieran Lovegrove and his efforts to open up to McCarter was eye-opening. “He was great as he stood up for players to be able to survive,” added McCarter.

So far, 2,500 copies of the book have been printed and McCarter recently had a book signing at Toyota Field to announce his in-depth look at the team that has taken Minor League Baseball by storm. He currently works as Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH).

He sat many afternoons and early evenings along with weekends writing his third book, which McCarter said he’s most proud of. He added, “This finished version is actually better than the original version as this tells a lot of the players. I think it’s a fun read.”

McCarter attended both Memphis State and UT-Chattanooga but received his college degree in 2014 from Athens State University in liberal arts. His career began with his first job in the media at the Chattanooga News Free Press right out of high school where he was a writer for his high school newspaper. He was mainly a baseball player in his younger days playing mostly first base. He even jokes about the honor of leading the Lookout Mountain Slowpitch League in home runs in 1984.

For anyone who reads a copy of Pandamonium: The Inside Story of Pro Baseball’s Return to The Rocket City will quickly come to the conclusion, McCarter hit another homerun.

The book is available at both the Trash Pandas Emporium at Bridge Street Town Centre and The Junkyard Team Store at Toyota Field.

Also on The Madison Record
Tri-agency traffic enforcement targets speeders on I-565
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By STAFF REPORTS 
July 16, 2025
MADISON  – In a united front to crack down on excessive speeding, the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and t...
Local athletes set for North-South battles
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 16, 2025
MADISON - Some of the top rising senior high school athletes are about to invade the Alabama Capitol City of Montgomery July 21-25 for the 29th annual...
NASA, Orion to host Marshall’s 65th anniversary celebration this Saturday
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
HUNTSVILLE - NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is inviting the community to help celebrate the center’s 65th anniversary during a free public event ...
Chamber needs nominations for ‘Military Family of the Year’
A: Main, Business, Events, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Madison Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to identify a family who has upheld a strong commitment to country and community. The c...
ADOC: Health care worker tried to smuggle meth, narcotics into correctional facility
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
LIMESTONE COUNTY - A health care employee was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to transport almost 200 grams of methamphetamine and other narc...
Central Office values Becky Tucker as ‘Staff Member of the Year’
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Becky Turner doesn’t get hung up on labels. No matter her job title, Tucker feels called to be a servant leader. Her colleagues at Central O...
Brett Burgess named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at James Clemens
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Brett Burgess wanted to work in Madison City Schools for association with the best in his field, both academic and coaching. James Clemens H...
Olivia Skillern named James Clemens theatre department’s artistic director
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – For Olivia Skillern, it’s ‘as if I never said goodbye’ (to quote a line from “Sunset Boulevard”). With her new job in the Theatre Department...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our Latest E-edition
Latest Stories
YUM! Spicy yet savory poppers
MADISON - Your guests won’t be able to have just one of these sweet and savory poppers. With a touch of heat from the cayenne pepper, and sweetness fr...
July 16, 2025
poll