In Morgantown, Losing Can Feel Like Winning – And That’s the Real Victory
Ever heard of a softball team where the score doesn’t define success? Where the real win is the camaraderie, the laughter, and the ice-cold beer shared after the game? Welcome to the world of Chico’s Bail Bonds, a ragtag crew of Morgantown misfits immortalized in the new book Sometimes Orange Is Almost Gold by Jim Antonini and Susan Reynolds. But here’s where it gets controversial: could this team’s philosophy challenge everything we think we know about sports and winning?
This isn’t your typical sports story. It’s 229 pages of heart, humor, and the kind of community spirit that’s hard to find these days. Named after the 1976 film’s lovable underdogs, the Bad News Bears, Chico’s Bail Bonds has become a local legend in Morgantown, West Virginia. Sponsored by a bar owner in 1998, the team quickly became known for their spirited games and even more spirited post-game celebrations at 123 Pleasant Street. Think bartenders, musicians, and writers stepping up to the plate—not for glory, but for the sheer joy of the game.
And this is the part most people miss: Chico’s isn’t about winning. Sure, they’ve had their share of spectacular losses and injuries, but that’s not the point. As Antonini puts it, ‘Chico’s is mainly about getting together with friends in the community and having some fun on a summer night.’ It’s a team for the misfits, the ones who wouldn’t ordinarily have a place to play—and that’s what makes it so special.
The book itself is a vibrant tribute to this unique community. Packed with photos, game recaps, and plenty of ‘county orange’ (think prison jumpsuits, but way more fun), it’s a love letter to the team and the town. But it’s also more than that. It’s a story of inclusivity, where, as bar owner LJ Giuliani puts it, ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re white or black, straight or gay, or whatever.’
Here’s where it gets emotional: One of the team’s favorites, known as Meatball, recently passed away. His presence lingers in the pages of the book, a reminder of the bonds forged on and off the field. Antonini hopes the story will resonate beyond Morgantown, and with plans for a website and Substack, it just might.
Warren Maxwell of the Independent Book Review nails it: ‘I’ve never read a book quite like this one. It has charm, wit, adventure, and a strange anthropologic intrigue. It is a record of a unique kind of community, one that centers around sports yet values friendship and joy above anything as commonplace and shallow as winning.’
So, here’s the question: In a world obsessed with winning, could Chico’s Bail Bonds be onto something bigger? Could their philosophy of fun and friendship be the real game-changer? Let us know what you think in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
About the Authors:
Jim Antonini, a West Virginia native and award-winning author, brings his signature grit and heart to this project. With five novels under his belt, including the Appalachia 2020 Best Appalachian Book of the Year finalist Bullets for Silverware, Antonini knows how to tell a story that sticks. Co-author Susan Reynolds adds her unique voice to this labor of love, creating a book that’s as much about people as it is about softball.
Sometimes Orange Is Almost Gold is available now from Pump Fake Press. Grab a copy, pour yourself a cold one, and join the Chico’s family—because sometimes, orange really is almost gold.
