Uecker is not a personality that makes himself easy to forget.  In 1971, Bob Uecker came back to his home town of Milwaukee and settled into a broadcast booth calling play-by-play for the Brewers franchise.  Along the way, he left quite a trail.

He spent six years coming into our homes every week on the sitcom “Mr. Belvedere” as the macho father George Owens.  While his acting and comedic career would prosper occasionally, even through that aspect of his career it was sports journalism that continued to propel him.  Owens, his character on Mr. Belvedere, was a sports writer in Pittsburgh.  Later, he would grace the Big Screen as Harry Doyle, the emotional, sarcastic, alcoholic announcer for the Cleveland Indians in the Major League series of movies.  During that run of movies, Uecker has provided baseball fans with numerous quotes and anecdotes to utilize over the years, including the title for this very article.  Sprinkled amid his acting and comedic careers were appearances at World Wrestling Entertainment’s largest show of the year, Wrestlemania.  Uekcer would serve as interviewer and ring announcer multiple times over the years for the Sports Entertainment Spectacle and would receive an induction into the “Celebrity Wing” of the WWE Hall Of Fame for his efforts.  In possibly one of his most famous, yet shortest, acting efforts, Uecker portrayed himself in multiple Miller Lite commercials, becoming the punch line to many jokes.  The most famous line “I must be in the front row” that Uecker uttered as he sat in the last row of the stadium became iconic amongst baseball fans.

It has seemed fitting throughout the years that he has continued to portray that “lovable loser” type personality.  His characters have constantly been attached to losing franchises while his career in baseball has done very little to distance him from that.  He has found his way into baseball immortality with his name amongst the “Ring Of Honor” members in Milwaukee and on a plaque in the Announcers section of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.  His golden voice has become a staple in Milwaukee and the fans continued to be graced with one of the true legends of the sport.  That was, until this season.

In April of this season, Uecker announced that doctors had informed him that he would require heart surgery to repair problems with his aortic valve.  In May the surgery was performed and considered a success, but his return to baseball was yet to be determined.

Tonight, that return will occur.  A clean bill of health will lead the long time voice of a franchise to return to the booth tonight as the Brewers take on the Washington Nationals at Miller Park.  It will be a welcome return for an announcer that is sorely missed by his fans.  A friend who lives in the area, yet is not a Brewers fan, informed me that she is “tempted to turn on the radio just to listen to him.”

Baseball Digest Classic will be tuned in, for sure.

Bill Ivie is the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
You can find daily news about the Royals and Cardinals on Bill Ivie’s official Baseball Digest affiliate site, I-70 Baseball.

When it comes to life, Hollywood gives us an escape. A place to go where things are not the way they are in the world. To forget our problems and get away from life.

When it comes to baseball and Hollywood, we get exposed to a lighter side of the game, usually. A game that is played by boys, admired by women, and embraced by fans. The “behind the scenes” look at our national pastime is generally portrayed as humorous and light-hearted. It becomes what we wish our game really was like. And if that is how our game was, there would be no better manager than Lou Brown.

Lou Brown, the manager of the Cleveland Indians in the first two installments of the Major League movies, was everything you would want your manager to be. He made his leadoff hitter do push-ups for hitting the ball in the air. He made his third baseman do sit-ups for not getting in front of a ground ball. When the same third baseman showed him that it was against his contract to require him to do so and asked what he thought of that, Lou promptly urinated on the paperwork. He stood defiantly in the buff in front of the female owner of the club claiming he was too old to go diving into lockers. He would sneak a personal radio into a hospital just to listen to a playoff game. Most of all, he put together a winning team from a bunch of misfits by delivering speeches that spoke directly to their character. He overcame adversity and forced the world to see him for what he was.

James Gammon, the actor that played Lou Brown, passed away this past Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.

Baseball Digest Classic will remember him as possibly his most famous character he portrayed in his career. Lou Brown deserves a place in every fan’s baseball memories. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the Gammon family today.

In the world of baseball movies, Lou Brown would manage any fantasy team that I would field. I’m sure he is sitting next to some great players right now and looking down at his Cleveland Indians and wondering why he was not appointed to manage this bunch of misfits too.

Dave Dravecky – Former MLB pitcher.

Dave Dravecky played for 8 years in the majors. He broke in with the San Diego Padres in 1982 and finished with the San Fransisco Giants. In his seventh year while pitching for the Giants, a cancerous desmoid tumor was discovered in Dave’s pitching arm. The next years were a whirlwind of surgery, radiation, pain and depression, all in the glaring light of the media. Eventually, Dave’s arm was amputated to stop the spread of the cancer and save his life.

Click here to read his career stats.

Click here to visit his website.

Tim Danielson, BaseballDigest.com: Did you play other sports in High School or College?

Dave Dravecky: Yes I did play other sports in High School but not in College. I played basketball in high school! I wasn’t very good but it kept me in shape for baseball

BD.com: At what point or how did you know that pro baseball was the right sport for you?

Dravecky: I never really new whether or not I’d be able to play pro ball. I had the dream but it wasn’t until my junior year in college that I thought I might have a chance.

BD.com:What was your reaction the first time you saw yourself on a baseball card?

Dravecky: What in the world is a guy from Youngstown, Ohio doing on a baseball card?!

BD.com:What so far has been your most memorable or best pro baseball moment?

Dravecky: My best moment came when I made the comeback from cancer and pitched in the big leagues once again defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on August 10th 1989! The most significant moment was when I broke my arm in Montreal. At the point what was going on in my life was much bigger than baseball. What that has become is our work through Dave Dravecky’s Outreach of Hope. You can visit our website at www.outreachofhope.org

BD.com:What was the one pitch you would like to have back? (least memorable moment)

Dravecky: Actually none of them because every pitch I threw as a big leaguer was a gift!

BD.com:Was there any significance to your jersey #?

Dravecky: My number was 43 and I just like the combination that added up to seven.

BD.com:If you could have played any other position besides pitcher, what would it be and why?

Dravecky: Being left handed I was limited but the purpose in playing another position was simply to be able to hit more!

BD.com:Who was/is your most memorable “character” team mate and why?

Dravecky: There were a few character team mates in SF. Mike Krukow and Bob Brenly. They had the unique ability to keep the clubhouse loose especially in post season play where it was needed the most!

Fan of the site, hdjstuff asks: Are you now cancer free?

Dravecky: Yes, I am cancer free!

BD.com:Do you currently have anything you are doing with Major League Baseball?

Dravecky: I was invited by Clint Hurdle three years ago to come and shag balls during bp and get to know the players and be there to encourage them when needed. But due to my traveling and speaking it has been difficult to be consistent. The past two years I visited the Rockies on a very minimal basis. I still love being around the game!

BD.com:Do you collect baseball cards or memorabilia? If so what?

Dravecky: No, I’m really not much of a collector but I did collect while my son was growing up!

Fan of the site, Erdoro asks: In 1984 during your World Series year for San Diego, you had 8 saves. In 83 you were a starter, what prompted your move to a spot starter for that year only?

Dravecky: In 1984 I was asked by our manager and pitching coach to be a swing man. Because I was able to start and go a minimum of 6 innings they thought I could help them in a middle and long relief role as well. My saves were usually 2 or more innings.

Fan of the site, Mort asks: Thank you for the opportunity! Many fans know you were a successful baseball player, but you are also a successful author. Of your eight books you have written, which one would you recommend someone read first?

Dravecky: Start with the very first book “Comeback”!

BD.com: For a pitcher, hitting is never a high expectation for a manager. Yet in 1986 you hit a homerun for the Padres off Dennis Powell. Do you recall the hit? What were your teammates reaction when you returned to the dugout?

Dravecky: I do recall the hit and as a matter of fact I will never forget it! I loved hitting! My teammates were as shocked as I was. I ran so fast around the base paths that the 3rd base coach had to slow me down so I could enjoy it!

Fan of the site, Fatboycards asks: Mr Dravecky, Thank you for being a living inspiration to millions. Theres a couple of questions I hope you might consider.

In your career who was the toughest batter you had to face?

Dravecky: Tim Raines

BD.com:Was there a batter who you had “his number” so to speak?

Dravecky: I’m not really sure but I did prefer pitchers to the homerun hitters because they had more holes in their swing that I could attack!

BD.com:In today’s game what pitcher do you feel is most like you in regards to style and how they pitch?

Dravecky: It’s really hard to say but if you were to disregard velocity which I had little of maybe Cole Hamels.

Dave has some of the most common questions he is asked available on his website, those questions are listed here.

Question: How fast was your fastball?

Dravecky: My fastball was usually in the 88-89 MPH range.

Question: What type of bat did you use?

Dravecky: A Louisville Slugger, 34 inches long, and it weighed 31 ounces.

Question: Which teammate had the biggest effect on your life?

Dravecky: Atlee Hammaker

Question:What was your favorite baseball stadium to play in?

Dravecky: Candlestick Park

Question: Who was the best player you played with and against?

Dravecky: Barry Bonds

Question: What was your most memorable moment in baseball?

Dravecky: The Comeback Game

Question: How old were you when you started playing baseball?

Dravecky: 8 years old

Question:Who was your greatest rival?

Dravecky: The Dodgers

Yes! Dave will autograph his baseball card if you mail it and include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope!
Send your card to:
Outreach of Hope
13840 Gleneagle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Listen Live Or Download Archive Here

Steinbrenner personified the industrial era that allowed him to accumulate great wealth, parlaying that success into 7 championship titles and perhaps the most recognizable sports brand in the world. He insisted that his players represent the organization with blue-collar vigor, while exuding white-collar grace.

His gruff demeanor was somehow endearing, as he demanded perfection from everyone around him. Often his antics were debatable. Sometimes they were merely controversial. Others times, they were flat-out impermissible. However, his commitment to winning was as omnipresent as the unconvincing scowl etched upon this deceptively warm-natured man’s face.

Read the rest of Justin Adams’ thoughts on Tuesday night’s Mid Summer Classic over at I-70 by clicking here.

Nick was a senior patrol leader for his troop and is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster.  Nick has consistently throughout his young life overcome adversity and shown many doubters that he can do the things that he has been told he could not.  He draws a great amount of support from his family.  Talking to his Mom, it is easy to see how proud she is of her son and all of his accomplishments.  It is also very evident how much his parents mean to him.  When I asked the young man who was the biggest influence in his life, he replied, “My Dad because he has always been there and introduced me to baseball.  He has taken me to meet players and was even my coach when my team won 2nd place. Once, at a Gateway Grizzlies game he signed me up to be a junior announcer, because at that time I wanted to be a sports announcer.”

His previous desire to be a sports announcer and his current desire to be a film maker are also obvious when the question of “heroes” comes up.  He is quick to point out “Joe Buck – because he is one of the best announcers in my mind.  Steven Spielberg – because I am now wanting to be a director just like him.”

Nick has been interested in Government and Grass Roots movements throughout school.  His mom relates that he once took a stand to get a fired employee of the college reinstated and has been a member of the student government at college.

I met Nick through an interesting page that I found on Facebook.  Shortly after the social media website was used to campaign Saturday Night Live to have Betty White host the show, Nick started a fan page asking Cardinal fans and Missouri residents to recognize one of their own.  Nick Rousseau wants Cardinal fans, Missouri citizens, and St. Louis residents to join him in support for his campaign to change the name of 8th Street in St. Louis.  He wants the street to be named Stan Musial Street.

In St. Louis, 8th Street runs next to Busch Stadium and is where the iconic statue of “Baseball’s Greatest Warrior” stands.  “Stan is one of the players that proves you do not have to cheat to get ahead, ” Nick says while talking about the Cardinal legend, “You can do it all on your own using hard work and dedication not illegal substances.”

The Cardinal organization has started a campaign to award Musial with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in honor of his many achievements for the nation.  The Cardinals have invited fans to “Stand For Stan” by using a cartoon, cardboard cut-out of “The Man” and taking a picture with it in various locations.  Nick has joined this campaign by taking his “Flat Stan” to Boy Scout camp with him recently.

While he supports the official campaign of the team, he continues to press ahead with his own.  With more than 4,500 members on the Facebook page, Nick will take his digital campaign public on Saturday, July tenth.  Nick will host a rally at the Stan Musial statue outside of Busch Stadium to collect signatures on his petition to make the change official.  From there, Nick says, the next step is to take the signatures to the Board of Alderman in St. Louis and hope the city government can start the process.  Nick hopes to see his group accomplish the goal he has set in front of them by Summer of 2011.

I asked Nick’s mom if she had anything she would like to say to her son as she watches him accomplish this, she replied:

I would like to tell my son that his dad and I am really proud of him and that I believe that one day 8th street will be changed to Stan Musial Street because I know that he does not give up easily.

Many people have told this young man that he cannot do this, but he has heard that before, and he has come out on top.  I have no reason to doubt that he can accomplish his goal this time.

Righetti Hurls A Gem
Drew Sarver – Content Editor – New York Yankees

Dave Righetti had his All-Star break plans all set when he arrived at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1983. The man known as Rags would have liked to have been heading to the All-Star game in Chicago the next day, but wasn’t selected despite a 9-3 record. Instead, he and teammate Graig Nettles were headed to Atlantic City for a good time. First though, Righetti had a game to pitch against the Boston Red Sox on the Nation’s birthday.

The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry had rekindled in the late 1970′s, culminating with the one game playoff in 1978.   The Yankees entered the holiday 2.5 games behind first place Toronto while the Red Sox sat 4 games back.

All no-hitters are accomplished with solid defense.  The Yankees had a bit of an unusual alignment behind Righetti on the 4th.  Dave Winfield, who mainly played the corner outfield positions in his career, was in center.   Nettles had the day off and was replaced at third base by veteran shortstop Bert Campenaris.  The result was seamless.

Except for a walk, Righetti breezed through the first three innings, recording seven of the nine outs by strikeout.  Rod Nichols drew a one out walk in the 5th, but Righetti picked him off with his patented snap move to first.  A Jim Rice walk in the 7th was erased by an inning ending double play.

The Yankees meanwhile had built a 2-0 lead off Red Sox starter John Tudor as the Sox came to bat in the 8th.  Right fielder Steve Kemp’s time in the Bronx was not a favorable one, but he became a hero for a day when he leaped over the wall in foul territory to snare Dwight Evans pop up to star the inning and contributed some insurance in the bottom of the 8th with a 2-run single.

Righetti had to appreciate the breathing room of a 4-0 lead, especially after he walked Jeff Newman to start the 9th.  But the lefty bounced back to retire Glen Hoffman and Jerry Remy on ground outs.  That left things up to Wade Boggs.

The future Hall of Famer was leading the league with a sizzling .361 average entering play, but had gone for the collar against Righetti thus far.  Moments later Boggs flailed at a strike three slider for the final out of the game.  Dave Righetti had become the first Yankees pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Don Larsen tossed a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

Righetti hugged his catcher Butch Wynegar and soaked in the applause of the 41,077 fans.  It created a great holiday memory and a fantastic birthday present for one George Steinbrenner.

Righetti wouldn’t have too many more big games as a starter.  After finishing the season 14-8, 3.44, the Yankees moved the promising young pitcher to the closer role.  He wasn’t happy at first, but Righetti would flourish in his new position.  At one time he held the major league record with 46 saves.

After retiring in 1995, Righetti moved into coaching and has been the pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants since 2000.  But every July 4 he can smile and think back to one memorable holiday.

The Fireworks Were Delayed
Michael Metzger – Contributing Writer – San Diego Padres

One of my favorite July 4^th games happened while I was still in high school.  On the Nation’s Birthday, 1985, the New York Mets were a team ascending – a year away from a World Series title and two NL Pennants in 3 years.  The Atlanta Braves were a team degrading – two years removed from losing the NL West on the last day of the season and two years into seven straight sub-.500 campaigns.

This game started with eventual 1985 CY Young winner Dwight Gooden (11-3) opposing Rick Mahler (11-7).  On paper, it looked like a mismatch, but also just another game during the dog days of summer.  For the fans, they would get their second ever look at the Met phenom; and after the game a fireworks display on Independence Day.  Baseball and fireworks – a perfect Fourth of July.  Most folks probably banked on a 3 hour or so game, 45 minutes worth of fireworks, then home.  If the rain held off, of course.

Nope.  Two familiar refrains on this night immediately showed up.  Rain delayed the first pitch 90 minutes.  Once the game started, each team matched the other.  New York scored in the top of the first, Atlanta tied it right up.  More rain in the bottom of the third (41 min delay this time).  Gooden didn’t survive this rain delay, replaced by Roger McDowell.  McDowell allows the runner he inherited to score, plus one, on Ken Oberkfell’s double (3-1 Atlanta).  That lead doesn’t survive the next half-inning, and neither did Mahler.  Gary Carter’s single capped off a 4-run inning for New York (5-3 Mets).

Atlanta cut the lead in half in the fifth, and naturally New York pushed the lead back to two with a single run in the sixth.  Brave hurler Steve Shields allowed a solo HR to Keith Hernandez in the eighth, and with the score 7-4 it appeared the Mets would cruise the rest of the way.  However normally reliable Jesse Orosco loaded the bases, then walked in a run with two out.  Davey Johnson brought in Doug Sisk, who promptly served up a bases-clearing double to Dale Murphy.  Suddenly it was 8-7 Braves and Bruce Sutter was jogging in to close it out.

Once again the Mets scored. Three consecutive singles with one out knotted the game at 8.  Atlanta didn’t win the game in the bottom of the ninth, and off to extra innings they went.  During extra innings is when I, living in Los Angeles, turned the game on.  Not every baseball game was televised in 1985.  LA baseball viewing options were the Saturday Game of the Week on NBC, the occasional Dodger game on KTTV Channel 11, and virtually every Cub (WGN) and Brave (TBS) game thanks to those two superstations.  Once the fireworks stopped and the burgers were eaten Braves baseball was the only night time TV option on the West Coast – unless the Cubs were on the road (and on this day, they were at home; remember, the Cubs didn’t start playing night home games until 1988).

Only two innings had passed (the second and seventh) without one of these teams scoring.  Now three perfect innings pass.  Sisk and Brave reliever Terry Forster threw those three innings, and Forster appeared set to extend his run to a fourth after retiring the first two hitters of the thirteenth inning. Then Ray Knight singled, and Howard Johnson followed with a homer, to give the Mets a 10-8 lead.  The hardy fans that remained were less upset than excited they might finally see fireworks.

Remember the themes of this game?  It had stopped raining, but no lead was safe.  Rafael Ramirez singled off new Met pitcher Tom Gorman.  Two outs later Terry Harper – one of four men in this game to get 10 official at bats – homered to tie the game at 10.

Four more scoreless innings pass.  Forster has been followed to the mound by Gene Garber and Rick Camp.  Johnson leads off the eighteenth with a single, and Danny Heep is asked to bunt.  He does, but Camp throws the ball away, moving Ho Jo to third.  Lenny Dykstra follows with a flyball to center, and Johnson scores to give the Mets the lead again.

The Braves are out of pinch hitters, using their last position player in the sixteenth inning.  After Gerald Perry and Harper ground out weakly, it appears this game is finally over because Rick Camp has to hit.  Camp had 8 plate appearances in 1985 prior to this one, he had reached base once on a walk.  On the whole of his career to this point, he had 10 hits total in 190 plate appearances.  Skip Caray jokingly says ‘Come on Rick, hit a Home Run!’  Naturally that’s EXACTLY what he proceeds to do.  Lots of cheering and laughter in the stands as Camp circles the bases.

Everyone is exhausted, including the 4000 or so fans who remain to see the fireworks.  I think New York finally said to themselves, enough.  Camp comes out to a standing ovation, but the Mets rough him up.  Gary Carter drives in the go-ahead run with a double, then Heep sends three more home on a single aided by a Claudell Washington throwing error.  Wally Backman drives Heep in giving the Mets an insurmountable 16-11 lead.

Or is it?  Ron Darling comes on to end it.  Darling had thrown 8 innings two days prior against Pittsburgh.  He retires the first man.  Washington reaches on a Keith Hernandez error and goes to second.  Five run lead, so what.  Ramirez pops to short, two out.  Dale Murphy walks.  Gerald Perry walks.  Harper singles in two!  Suddenly it’s 16-13, two runners on, and Rick Camp is headed back to the plate!  At the stadium, fans are hooting and hollering.  I’m laughing as I move to the edge of my couch.  Could Camp do it again?

Alas, it was not to be.  Darling struck out Camp to end this crazy game.  The final:  16-13 New York.  Finally we have fireworks, although I suspect it was the shortest firework display in the history of the Nation’s Birthday.

And there you have it…two games played on our Nation’s day of Independence.  Two looks back at Classic moments.  After all, what is more American than Baseball?

Today, in a very special post, we have asked writers, readers, and editors to tell us a little about their memories of their own fathers and baseball.  From all of us here to all of you Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day, we hope you enjoy:

Christine Coleman, Contributing Writer, BaseballDigest.com
Baseball filled my childhood summers, as my brother started playing when he was 8 years old and my Dad was his coach through Little League. The first two years were “farm league,” the Milan, Ill., version of baseball for 8- and 9-year-olds. Those teams were named after those in Major League Baseball. Looking back, I’m guessing Dad was allowed to choose his team’s name. The first year, he coached the Yankees – his favorite team throughout his high school and college days. Next year, it was the Reds – my brother’s favorite team at the time.

Through my Dad, I learned much as I watched him working with my brother and his teammates at practices and during games. Although Dad had the distinction of drafting the first girl to ever play in Milan’s farm league – our next-door neighbor Terri – I never had any desire to play baseball myself. (I did play softball for a while, once being on a team that didn’t win a game all season.)

Dad also taught me the basics of baseball one-on-one, such as how to keep score. It seemed so odd at first, these little marks in a book designating what happened on the field, until I realized what a perfect way it was to encapsulate what happened. For a time, I kept the scorebook for Dad’s teams … until the boys who played the game became more interesting to watch than the game itself.

Dad’s love of Little League baseball continued long after his coaching days ended, as he would annually watch the entire Little League World Series on television. And now, even though Dad passed away in March 2009, his influence continues – my brother is in second year of coaching my nephews in Little League.

Travis Abbot, Reader – A Little League Father/Son Game
There was a limited turn out and with only five dads showing up, the adults opted to take on my brother, a high school senior, and still take on the kids team.  The kids were up to bat first.  With only one outfielder, anything that made it out of the infield was basically a hit. When it was time for the dads to be up we soon found out that the father son rule of “kids pitch to there own dads” was a bad idea.  The layout of the practice field was a pitching rubber, bases and no back fence. In addition, about 250 feet into left field was the fire protection pond, and center field was a small ground of about 20 pine trees serving as a school “nature center”

Back to the rule where kids pitch to there own dads/  As you can imagine, any father that ever took time out to play ball with their son knows how they throw and should not have any issue hitting their pitches. This turned out to be true and after 9 balls found there way into the pond and 6 more found there way into the woods we discovered that the crate of 15 baseballs coach brought did not cut the mustard. Thus ending the father son day game in the first inning with a score of 3 to 18 with the dads as the winners.

Angela Weinhold, Contributing Writer – BaseballDigest.com
Without a doubt, I am the ‘Daddy’s Girl’ in my family. When I was growing up, that love meant doing everything from working outside to helping with little home improvement projects to playing catch and taking swings in the backyard, but above all it meant loving baseball. My dad and I spent many nights sitting near a radio and listening to Cardinal announcers Jack Buck and Mike Shannon while chatting about games and players from days gone by. He is the reason I wanted to learn everything I could about Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, Ozzie Smith and Whitey Herzog, among others.

Earlier this season my dad came up to visit me here in Wisconsin, and we took in two Cardinals vs. Brewers games at Miller Park. It was the first time my dad and I had ever gone to a game without the rest of our family, and I felt very lucky that we would get to watch our team together without a television between the Cardinals and us. We got there early, took in batting practice, and chatted up other fans in the park. When the games started we found our way to wherever our seats were located, and our eyes stayed glued to the field, first pitch to final out.

Nothing was particularly memorable about the things we talked about during those two April games in Milwaukee. We probably observed the players and chatted about what we would do if we were in Tony LaRussa’s shoes. We cheered for great plays and we shook our heads at rough at-bats. We were happy campers leaving the park both days – winning never hurts. But the best part for me really had nothing to do with the great spring weather or the nice seats we had snagged or seeing our current favorite players in action. It was getting to spend a couple completely uninterrupted days with my dad. Baseball was a bonus.

Deborah Heagen, Reader – Sugar and Spice
Baseball, to a father-daughter relationship, can sometimes be as foreign as discussing the new line of Jimmy Choo’s with him or what happened on the latest Project Runway. Often, the two seem rather incongruous. Why would a little girl, supposedly made of sugar and spice and everything nice, be interested in a male dominated sport?

The answer is simple: Because her dad likes it.

Over the last 25 years, some of the most treasured memories I have with my Dad are at Yankee Stadium or are baseball related. He took me to my first game when I was four. He taught me how to keep a scorecard, which I did by myself for the first time on May 17, 1998, when we were privy to David Wells’ perfect game. A few games and another season later, we took a ferry courtesy of the Yogi Berra Museum to Yankee Stadium with then mayor Rudy Guiliani and I was able to record David Cone’s perfect game. We’ve gone to Joe DiMaggio Day, Mickey Mantle Day, and a host of other wonderful occasions.

We’ve gone to baseball card shows and have met players both past and present. Each time we were going to meet an Old Timer, Dad would regale me with stories of their heroics (or infamy), often resulting in fantastic conversations with my father’s heroes. My very favorites are Phil Linz and Bobby Richardson. Linz was doing a signing at a hotel with Hector Lopez and a few other Yankee treasures. While we were waiting in line for Mr. Linz’s autograph, Dad told me about the famous Harmonica Incident. After a tough loss, Linz was playing the harmonica at the back of the team bus. Manager Yogi Berra was none too impressed with Linz’s playing and growled for him to knock it off. Linz clearly did not hear the instruction and asked Mickey Mantle what was said. Mickey told him to play it louder. Further agitated, Yogi stormed to the back of the bus and knocked the harmonica out of Linz’s hand, leaving Linz confused and Mickey rather entertained. When Dad and I met Mr. Linz, Dad asked him about the Harmonica Incident and if he still had the harmonica. Mr. Linz smiled, reached into his pocket, pulled out the very harmonica in question, and was gracious enough to take a picture with both my father and the harmonica.

Bobby Richardson also provided Dad and me with another memory. Mr. Richardson was doing a signing. As with Mr. Linz, I got a crash course in Mr. Richardson’s heroics during the 1962 World Series while waiting for his autograph. Dad told me that as the World Series MVP, Mr. Richardson got a brand new Corvette. When it was our turn to meet him, my father asked Mr. Richardson about the car. Mr. Richardson laughed and informed us that he wanted nothing to do with the luxury vehicle and promptly traded it in for a new pick up truck. My father was aghast, as vintage cars tend to be another interest of his, and could not believe Mr. Richardson would do such a thing. When we got home that afternoon, my father still in shock, he showed me a picture of our new friend and his short lived dealings with the Corvette. To this day, my father still gets all riled up and often mutters, “I still can’t believe he did that,” when Bobby Richardson is mentioned.

Baseball has been a way for Dad and me keep up with each other. Just in double checking the Phil Linz and Bobby Richardson stories, he told me all about Posada’s unprecedented second grand slam in as many days, and how my favorite former Yankee, Ted Lilly, had a no hitter going into the 9^th inning of yesterday’s game. His love of the game has clearly crossed the generation gap and has become a bridge of friendship over the years.

Sugar and spice, scorecards and pinstripes- that’s what Dads and Daughters are made of.

Michael Metzger, Contributing Writer – BaseballDigest.com
My father introduced me to baseball the summer of 1977 – I was seven.  Our family had just moved back to Los Angeles.  Dad, born and raised in St Louis, naturally picked a Cardinal game to go see.  We sat in the left field bleachers, since future Hall of Famer Lou Brock patrolled left field, and got there early enough to see batting practice.  I remember watching some young guy across the aisle catch a ball on one hop even though he appeared asleep at the time; the frozen lemonade cups sold in the bleachers were fantastic; and the Cardinals lost 11-0.  Despite that result, we sat in the sun and enjoyed the game.

From that day on, I started checking the Cardinal box scores in the newspaper to see how the team was doing.  I often shared what the current standings were with Dad.  Dad was always willing to talk about the team with me, and tell stories about the great Cardinal teams of the 1960s. After I left for college, and later joined the Navy, the physical distance between us made staying in each other’s lives difficult.  Cardinal baseball was the one conversation we could pick up where we left off, whether our last conversation was yesterday or three months prior.  I became especially grateful we could do this while I was deployed overseas.   If someone was listening to my phone calls home from Japan, they probably wondered why I spent so much time talking to my dad about how the Cardinals were doing, or where they needed to improve, instead of the generic ‘how things are going’ topics.

When the Cardinals surprisingly put a great team on the field in 2004, and became the favorite to win the National League, I decided I was going to be in St Louis during the World Series.  If they were in the Series, great, and if not, I would visit my parents (they had moved to St Louis in 2002).  If they did win the pennant, however, I was going to a game – and I would surprise my dad by taking him with me.  He had never been to a World Series Game.  As it turned out, St Louis beat Houston in 7 games to win the National League, and Dad and I got to see a World Series game.  We went to Game 4.

That game with Dad was a lot like the first one.  Lou Brock was on the field in uniform, although only for the ceremonial first pitch.  We sat out in left field.  The Cardinals got shut out.   Despite that result, we sat under the lights and enjoyed the game, like we had almost 30 years before.

We didn’t know it then, but that night was the last time I would go to a baseball game with my father.  The next summer he was diagnosed with liver cancer, and passed away 9 months after that.  I think about him often.  There are a lot of things he taught me I hope to pass on to my sons, including a love of baseball.

Jennifer Soliman, Corporate Account Executive, Los Angeles Angels – Batting a 1.000
Egypt is known for its magnificent wonders ranging from pyramids to ancient artifacts.  One thing it’s not known for is baseball.  There was no way around it, teaching my 60-year-old Egyptian born father the rules of baseball provided much comic relief. After accepting my position with the Angels, my father naturally sought to understand the sport that would soon be dominating my life.

It was hard to find a place to start so I began with explaining balls, strikes and foul balls. I did not have to explain much before he realized why so many people say that “baseball is life.”

At the same time I started to think about the MVP sitting right in front of me. My dad has a longer career than any major leaguer! He has been an engineer for the past 30 years working everyday to provide for our family. Forget a 10 game home stand, my dad went to work every day with only three fans at home cheering him on. No one paid him millions of dollars, yet day in and day out he went to work facing the toughest pitchers in the league.

Here’s to my dad and all the dads out there that are batting a 1,000!

PH8, Featured Blogger – Favorite Game Memories, 10.27.2004 – The Cardinals Lose The Series
I was lucky growing up where I did, about a half-hour east of St Louis – “on the Illinois side.” I was able to attend Cardinal games fairly regularly, thanks to the generous companies that employed my parents. My father and his friends, relatives, and neighbors had been going to games for years, when they could, and I was always regaled with stories about the kind gentleman across the street who would bet on anything while at a Cards game – “Bet ya a dollar the next pitch is a strike!”

Strange thing, choosing a loss as a favorite memory?  Let me explain.

Enthusiasm was high for this Cardinal team, one of the best in recent memory going into the playoffs.  World Series aspirations were not unfounded, and in fact, were the expectation.

The Cards did not disappoint, and neither did the curse-chasing Red Sox.

I was one of the lucky few to win World Series tickets via the online lottery operated by the team.  Having moved away from the St Louis area by this time, this was a true treat for me, being able to drive in that afternoon, meet my aforementioned father at the Stan Musial statue, and head into the stadium.

I will cherish that game forever, for more reason than one.  There’s the photo of Dad and I in the upper deck, overlooking the field, in several layers – the top one red, and me with my rally cap on (that I will spare you all from here).  There’s the chatter that we carry on that makes these occasions so much more than a baseball game.  Finally, this is one of the last memories I have of attending games at the “old” Busch.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the new yard, but there was something magical about that old cookie cutter that still gives me the tingles.  One of the reasons is this game.

Naturally, it only took until about the third inning before Dad leaned over and said,

“Bet ya a dollar the next pitch is a strike.”

Farrah Parker, Reader – Sixty Six Percent
My dad never had a son. As a result, he immersed me in all things professional sports thus stimulating my love for the ‘game.’ During my first year at the University of Southern California (USC), I desperately searched for the perfect way to adapt to the overwhelming amount of academic assignments, social events, and internships that flew my way.

While almost in tears, I told my dad, “I’m not so sure I can do this.” Without flinching, he replied, “Treat life like the game of baseball. Imagine the confidence and skill a player must have in a game where failing 66 percent of the time is fantastic. In no way will you fail at 66 percent of the things you do. But, remember…life has grounders, pop-flies, and line drives. Everyday won’t be a home run. Just do your best and never swing at something that you know isn’t right.”

Two USC degrees later, I finally understand why sliding into home plate causes such a celebration.

Tim Danielson, Contributing Writer – BaseballDigest.com
My wife and I recently adopted a son from China.  I will not get into a debate of domestic vs. international adoption here.  It will suffice to say that we were led to China.  I love the fact that my wife, Jess and daughter, Jordan are learning and soaking up everything about China that they can.  My daughter can probably teach a college level class on Chinese history!  Books, jewelry, and decor are neat to read and look at, but I did not feel really connected to China by them.  So I started collecting something that is me and will connect me to China, sports cards of Chinese players!

An important activity to me and my family (including Jess) is watching baseball games, especially the Tigers! I also have a HUGE baseball card collection (read addiction).  Collecting, sorting and playing with our cards is something Jordan, Jay and Gabe (my boys) and I do.  Jay actually puts his Tigers and Brewers cards onto “teams” and has them play games!  I felt that collecting baseball cards of Chinese players would help me learn about and connect more with China, give Gabe a built in connection to his birth county, a built in connection and activity with the Danielson family and a start to his very own baseball card collection!.  In 2006 and 2009 the “World Baseball Classic” tournament was held. The card manufacturer Upper Deck produced insert cards of players from all 16 teams in the “WBC.”  These were a great place to start collecting baseball cards of Chinese born players as they have a brief text on the back telling about the player’s highlights on their professional team in China, and have the Chinese flag on the card front!  Just this past year four Chinese born baseball players were signed by MLB teams, two each for the Mariners and Yankees. Hopefully there will be more cards available soon for us to collect and enjoy!

We also just started to pick up cards of Yao Ming.  We even have a cool event used swatch card of Jackie Chan!  In addition to sharing the joys of this hobby to future generations, it is an awesome feeling to see Gabe’s face light up when he sees a card of a player from “my China!

Bill Ivie, Jr., Assignment Editor – BaseballDigest.com
Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you there are few things that are more important to me than baseball.  Other than the people I love, you will find little else to draw me away from the game.

In 2002, fresh from a divorce and trying to rediscover just who I wanted to be, I turned to baseball.  My dreams to play the game professionally and been pushed away to satisfy the dream of being a father and raising a family.  My dreams of writing about the game had been put on hold as I changed majors in college to a “career field” of Computer Programming.  When I needed to figure out just who I was and what to do with my life, there was only one answer.  Baseball.  With that in mind I planned my first trip to Cooperstown, New York to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  If there was one answer to who I was it was Baseball, if there was one person that could help me find that answer, it was Dad.

We loaded up the car in the early morning hours for a whirlwind trip.  We would leave Missouri on Friday morning and return on Monday.  We drove all day Friday, arriving in Oneonta, New York for the night.  We got up early Saturday morning and drove the rest of the way into Cooperstown.  When we arrived at the Hall, we found out that it was undergoing construction and we would not be able to see the entire museum.  We spent hours in the Gallery reading the plaques of players from both of our childhoods.  We exchanged stories and I listened as he told me about countless games that he had witnessed these larger than life players perform in.  We toured the area of the museum that was open, but finished very early.

Determined to make the most of it, we took in a little league game at Doubleday Field.  We ate lunch at Pete Rose’s restaurant.  We went back to our hotel, had pizza for dinner, and walked down to a minor league ball park that hosted a local affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.  We laughed and joked and bet on the outcomes of pitches, at bats, innings and hitters.  We gave the home plate umpire a hard time, Dad gathering laughs for yelling “Hey, Blue, let me pet your seeing eye dog”.  We made a baseball trip out of it, despite not being able to see the Hall Of Fame the way we wanted to.

We drove back the following day completing an adventure that I will not soon forget.  Somewhere along the lines, I found myself.  I realized that the dream that I wanted to pursue was not baseball.  It was to live up to being the example of a man that my father was to me.  To live my life to make my children proud.  To someday be the guy that they come to when they need to find themselves and they do not know who else to rely on.

He was at every little league game, he taught me to throw a curveball, he taught me to always open a door for a lady, he taught me to always be a man, he was the best man at my wedding, and he was the one guy that stood by me through thick and thin.  He has never asked for anything in return.  He is still to this day my best friend.

He taught me to love and respect the game of baseball, and now the game of baseball gives me the opportunity to share my love and respect for him.

Malinda DeBartolomeis, Reader – Take No Prisioners
Today is father’s day and my dad is in the hospital getting his hip replaced. I’ve watched him struggle for the past few months with fears of complications, excruciating pain, and lack of sleep. But what I will remember the most is his will to survive. Every day I ask him how he is doing and he always says “I am doing the best I can today”. This reminds me of what he would say before I played a game. He would say “take no prisoners”. At the time I really was not sure what he meant but now I think I do. While his competitive nature wanted me to show no mercy to my opponents he also instilled that I should do the best I can in everyday life. Thank you dad for being my role model, my provider, and the best dad a girl could ask for. I know you have been through a lot lately but please remember TAKE NO PRISONERS!

Mark Healey, Online Editor – BaseballDigest.com
Where do we get this passion in our lives?  Well, I know where I do.

When I was a young boy growing up on E.39th Street in Flatbush, most of my days were spent on wondering if the Mets dealing Tom Seaver to the Reds was somehow my fault.  Perhaps if I had spoken directly to M Donald Grant, I could have told him that Doug Flynn would never hit a lick, Steve Henderson was simply not good enough, Dan Norman was not for real and that Pat Zachary was made of paper mache.

Why the passion?  Blame my dad.

Ron Healey spent most of his childhood at St. Vincent’s Home for Boys.  My siblings and I don’t know much about those days for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is that he likely doesn’t remember them too fondly.

Most of what I know about his times there are the good things; playing ball with his buddies like Hank, Sep and Sarge, and getting to – on the weekends – go to their houses from time to time for a taste of a real home.  I’ve often wondered what that must have been like, having to go back to the darkness after a glimpse of the light.  But to his credit, and my everlasting gratitude, he never complained about it, never was consumed with bitterness about it, and sure as hell never took it out on any of us.  He was adamant that his kids would have everything he didn’t.

For him, not being far from the shadows of Ebbets Field was an escape from loneliness.   Cheering for his Brooks was probably the greatest joy he experienced during those dark days.  It was during those rare afternoons of getting to go to a game that more than likely turned mere fandom into baseball fever.

He handed down that wonderful gift to me, the love of the Great Pastime, and it’s the main reason you’re reading these words right now.

Whether it was his story of running into a young, athletic “guy who looked like a ballplayer (Willie Mays) so we ran after him and got his autograph” or his taking me and my buddies (when he really couldn’t afford to) in the 1974 Dodge Dart (Special Edition) to see the dreadful post-Seaver Mets of the late 70’s, I was hooked and hooked early.

My dad’s a Mets fan these days (and has been since the Dodgers left Brooklyn), and he still won’t read (or says he doesn’t) read anything I write about the Yankees.  “I hate the Yankees,” he says, quite matter-of-factly, as if it were a natural state.  It’s quite possible he might not read this column (just kidding), but I suspect that even if this piece was about the Bombers, he’d sneak a peak to see what his “Markito” has written.

We still talk as much baseball as we ever did.  He probably watches as much (if not more) games than I do, despite my mom’s objections (“Your son’s the sports writer”), and this summer, he, I and my kids will go to a baseball game together.  We’ll share the sights, the smells and the booing and the cheering.

Thanks, Pop.

Do you have a story you would like to share about your father?  You can add your story to the comments below, or visit our fan page on Facebook, we would love the hear it!

In the 90’s everyone knew the name Griffey, “Junior” or “The Kid”.  From Nike to Nintendo, he was the face of baseball.  He became what everyone hoped he would and more.  He owned that decade of baseball and has recently retired as one of the most prolific players and home run hitters in baseball history.

At a young age, Ken watched from the dugout as his father Ken Sr. played for the Cincinnati Reds.  His father bolted on to the scene in 1973 hitting .384 in 25 games.  He became an integral part of the “Big Red Machine” hitting in the bottom part of the lineup in their first championship in 1975 and hitting second the next year as the team claimed back-to-back titles.  Griffey Sr. knew how to get on base.  He also knew the game of baseball.  It was this knowledge and opportunity that he shared with his sons, as many times they would be at practices and around the game. Ken Jr. and Craig played in the minors together for a short time, but it was Junior that quickly began to show at a young age that he was beyond a kid and more like a man-child.

In and interview in the Chicago Tribune, Junior Griffey said, “My dad was a dad first and a baseball player second.”

“I watched my dad play for years,” he told People. “I talked to him every day about the game. There isn’t one thing I’ve seen so far that he hasn’t told me about beforehand.” As a boy, he was around guys like Pete Rose and Johnny Bench, but Griffey leaned on his father most for baseball advice.  His father preached patience, defense and team.  His son listened.

In a great quote found in a nice collection at www.baseballalmanac.com Junior says, “My dad taught me that there’s three parts: There’s hitting, there’s defense, and there’s baserunning. And as long as you keep those three separated, you’re going to be a good player. I mean, you can’t take your defense on the bases, you can’t take your hitting to the field, and you can’t take your baserunning at the plate. But defense, is number one.”

When his father was traded to the Yankees in 1981, Junior Griffey remained in Cincinnati with his mom and brother.  Even though they were far apart, the youngster still called his dad and even flew to him to get pointers on his game.  Seldom did Junior falter as a youngster but he seemed to press the most when he knew his father as watching.  Like any son, he was always trying to impress his father.

Even though baseball helped to bond them, father and son did not always see eye to eye.  Perhaps the darkest moment was as an 18 year old when Junior felt all the pressures of baseball with all the hype and attempted to commit suicide by swallowing 277 aspirin tablets.  According to the Seattle Times, while at the hospital father and son had a dispute, causing Junior to rip out his IV to get his father’s attention.  The incident changed the relationship and led to a better understanding of one another.

Ken Griffey Jr. learned from it, knew how stupid it was to do and at 19 years old appeared in his first game with the Seattle Mariners.  With all the pressure of being the next big thing, he lived up to the hype.  He made dazzling plays in center field and went on to win 10 straight gold gloves while appearing in 11 consecutive All-Star Games.  As a 20 year old, he became the second youngest player to start an All-Star Game.

In 1990, father and son became the first combo to play together at the same time for the same team.  None can forget the Griffey record that will likely never be broken.  While playing together for the Mariners on September 14, 1990, Griffey Sr. homered and was followed up by his son who hit one of his own.  In a story for Mariner Magazine, Junior recalls the moment:

“After he hit his, I was watching him run the bases. When he crossed home plate, he said “That’s how you do it son!’ and went back to the dugout. I looked at him and then after I hit mine, I couldn’t wait to get to the dugout and say “That’s how you do it Dad!’ He waited until after I congratulated everyone else, then he gave me a hug and said you did it. That’s something that will never be done again. Everyone else in the dugout was shocked and excited to see a part of history.”

As a father, you hope your children will do more and be better than you ever were.  Although his son never won a world series, in many ways Ken Sr. has succeeded as a father.  His son should be a first ballot Hall of Famer.  He was the center of keeping baseball alive in Seattle and a big part of reviving it on the national landscape after the strike in ’94.  He’s continued to be a positive role model through the Make-A-Wish foundation and in an era of “juice”, Junior has stayed above it all.  If it weren’t for injuries, who knows all we may have seen and what other records may have fallen?  Yet more importantly than all the accolades and all the records we saw a father who played with his son.  As a father myself, I say that there may be no greater joy in the world than playing with your kids.

I have been collecting baseball cards for almost 25 years and am now sharing that joy with my three children. This weekly column will come to you every Saturday. It is my goal to share with you some stories and insight about the hobby of collecting little pieces of cardboard that connect us to the sport we love.

I will be sharing stories of cards, articles on collecting and maybe even poke a little fun at myself along the way. At the very least I will relay the thoughts of my wife about my addiction collection. I will even sprinkle in interviews with Major League Baseball players and collecting hobby insiders as well as basic ways to start collecting or share collecting if you are new to the hobby.

This column will not be a price guide nor will I report market sales of cards. There are other publications for that. It is my vision that Bike Spokes And Shoe Boxes will be about the cards themselves and baseball card collecting, written by a collector, for collectors. I hope you find this new perspective form Baseball Digest to be informative and entertaining.

If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see an article about, please contact me.

Until next week, keep collecting, collect for the joy of the hobby and collect for the fan in all of us.

You can find and contact Tim on Facebook.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

All this week, BaseballDigest.com has taken a look at some of the fathers and sons that have graced baseball over the years. During the recent draft, teams took players that were identified by their father’s names and associated as a son of a former major leaguer.

When you talk about fathers and sons in baseball, some names just jump off the page at you. Some of those names have been discussed right here this week. Names like Veeck, Bannister, Bavasi, and Berra have graced our pages this week. Tomorrow, Matt Wilson will take a look at one of the most famous names in baseball with his look back at the Griffeys.

Today, it is my pleasure to discuss a father and son that have had a tremendous impact on the game of baseball. Harry and Hunter Wendelstedt have been two of the most respected umpires in the history of baseball. They have been widely respected as two of the best in the game and have continued to master their craft over many years of experience.

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. was a National League umpire from the age of 28 in 1966 until his retirement from the game in 1998 at the age of 60. He umpired five World Series contests, seven Championship Series, three division series and five All Star Games. He put on his familiar number 21 and would be the Crew Chief at the Fall Classic in 1980 and 1995 and would be behind the plate for the Mid Summer Classic in 1976. He has been named the top umpire in the Majors five times throughout his career. Harry would be behind the plate for a major league record five no hitters in his career. Harry is responsible for designing the systems taught to Minor League umpires today. Harry has been nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York by writer Dr. John McCollister and seconded by Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.

In 1971, Harry would welcome the birth of his son, Harry Hunger Wendelstedt III. Hunter, as he became known, attended Loyola University and played baseball there, but ultimately would follow in his father’s footsteps. In 1998, Hunter would join the National League as an umpire, the same year his father would retire. In what Hunter identifies as the proudest moment of his career, he joined his father’s crew in 1998 and was able to umpire with his father that season. In honor of his father, Hunter wears number 21. Hunter has worked two postseason series, an American League Championship Series and a National League Division Series.

Harry was trained by the legendary Al Sommers at the Al Sommers Umpire School in Ormond Beach, Florida. Harry served as chief instructor for the school, which now carries his name, for seventeen years. The Wendlestedts train umpires at the school in Ormond Beach every year along with a staff of major, minor, and independent league umpires. Harry has now trained Major League umpires for almost half a century and is responsible for the training of more umpires to reach the Major League level than anyone else.

Harry Wendelstedt will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. Hunter has a strong career and a long future ahead of him to try to reach the level of success that his father achieved. Together, they have kept a Wendelstedt calling balls and strikes wearing the number 21 in Major League Baseball for forty-four years. In a profession where the most complimentary thing that can be said about you is that no one ever says anything about you, they have built a strong legacy of hard work and professionalism.

Bill Ivie is the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.  You can find him hosting the United Cardinal Blogger Radio Hour frequently on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Click Here To Read More At Gotham Baseball.

For many baseball fans, the love of the sport is inherited from the father.  Some fathers have a daily catch with their children when the weather permits.  Others watch the game on TV with their kids, or if they’re lucky, they take them to the ballpark.  And some relay stories of the game from their own childhood to anyone who will listen.  And often, the children listen.

As for me, it’s not hard to figure out the source of my baseball appreciation.  I am the youngest of five children.  Five very different children.  While we may differ on surface topics like politics, religion, music, we all share a deep love for baseball.  My mother tolerated this love, even fostered it (in-house ballplaying prohibition aside), but the origin of this common thread is my father’s enjoyment of the sport and more specifically, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

If someone pays the slightest bit of attention when meeting my father, they’ll realize pretty quickly that he’s a baseball fan.  It’s not about the memorabilia he owns, though he has his share.  Nor is it about the stories he tells, and he has plenty of those.  Plenty.  It’s all about the way he carries himself.  He exudes the type of patience that it takes to enjoy the slow pace of the game, the historical knowledge to appreciate the game’s finer points, and the inner-child to enjoy a pitcher’s duel or a game-winning home run.  Even if he mentions none of these, you know he possesses these traits.  And if you miss it, it’s your loss.

While these characteristics can be learned, they can’t be taught.  My father never tried to make any of us enjoy baseball.  He has just enjoyed it himself and in such an infectious way, there was never any doubt that we would follow suit.

It is in this spirit that I have taken on the subject of Buzzie Bavasi and his sons.

Before you go running to your baseball encyclopedia (physical, digital or otherwise) to check out Buzzie’s lifetime statistics, let me save you some effort.  Buzzie Bavasi never played a moment of professional baseball.  He was a forgettable catcher for DePauw University, which is where his playing days met their end.  However, by the time Buzzie Bavasi passed away in 2008 at the age of 93, he had left his mark on three franchises, four cities, and really, the entire sport.

Buzzie Bavasi was the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1951-1957 and remained the GM when they moved to Los Angeles in 1958 until leaving the team in 1968 to become part-owner and president of operations for the expansion San Diego Padres.  After the 1977 season, Bavasi was named the executive vice president of the California Angels (now known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, for some reason).

During his 18 years as GM of the Dodgers, the team won 8 NL pennants and 4 World Series titles, including the only World Championship in Brooklyn Dodgers history in 1955 (as if you didn’t know).  During his time with the franchise, Bavasi helped establish a minor league team in Nashua, as well as a spring training home in Vero Beach, Florida.  The Dodgers would call Vero Beach their March home until 2008 when they moved to Arizona.  I know many who have moved to Florida when they reached a certain age, and some who moved to Arizona when reaching a similar milestone; but I can’t say I know many who moved from Florida to Arizona.  That said, I have seen many senior men at the Y go from the steam room to the sauna, but I digress.

While Bavasi helped institute change within the sport of baseball, he imparted his acumen to his four sons: Bill, Peter, Chris and Bob.

Bill was the executive vice president and general manager of the Angles, and later held the same positions with the Seattle Mariners.  He has also worked in the front office for the San Diego Padres and the Cincinnati Reds.

Peter began his baseball management career with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1966.  He then worked for the San Diego Padres, eventually replacing his father as the team’s GM in 1973.  In 1977. Peter became the first GM of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays.  This marked the first time that a father and son ran two different major league teams at the same time.  A few years after leaving the Blue Jays, Peter became the President of the Cleveland Indians.

Chris is probably best known as a six-term mayor of Flagstaff, Arizona, although he didn’t forsake baseball management entirely.  He is a member of the Arizona Baseball and Softball Commission as well as Arizona’s Cactus League Baseball Committee.

Bob is a longtime consultant for major league and minor league teams, helping develop various public relations initiatives as well as assisting with team interests in Japanese players.

While Buzzie Bavasi made a name for himself by the work he did with his teams (creating teams, relocating teams, assembling winning squads), it was the impression that he left on his sons that may be most impressive.  The Bavasi boys were sure imbued with their father’s passion for the sport and have tried to carry on his legacy with the type of pride and honor that he deserved.

As Father’s Day transitions baseball from a spring sport to a summer event, fathers and children will honor this change in myriad ways.  As we watch, play, enjoy the sport with our fathers and/or children, it’s important to remember that sometimes it’s not what you say that leaves an impression, it’s who you are.  And to those fathers who are baseball fans, we say thank you.

Young boys have many heroes in their lives- athletes, superheroes, cartoon characters, and Dads chief among them.  Imagine growing up in a house where the guy you call “Dad” is a baseball great, a Hall of Famer, a living legend. A guy that is bigger than life.  That’s what life was like for Dale Berra, son of Yankees legend Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra, growing up in Upper Montclair, NJ.

Dale was born on December 13, 1956, two months after Yogi collected his sixth World Series ring as a member of the New York Yankees.  Yogi, already a three-time American League MVP, would collect three more of the baubles before he retired following the 1963 World Series (plus nine plate appearances for the crosstown New York Mets in 1965).

Yogi was everywhere when Dale was growing up. His infamous Yogi-isms were repeated with revelry.  He owned local businesses and was a fixture on television and around northern NJ.  While Yogi was being inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1972, Dale was building a pretty good reputation for himself as an athlete at Montclair High School.

Dale was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (which is kind of ironic when you think of the image of Yogi watching Bill Mazeroski’s home run end the 1960 World Series in Pittsburgh), in 1975.  Not only was there the pressure of being Yogi’s son, but Dale was the 20th player selected overall!

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

The Baltimore Orioles have the worst team in the major leagues, and Daniel Moroz (CamdenCrazies.com) will give offer his insight on where the Orioles go from here. Conversely, the Toronto Blue Jays keep rolling and Kirk Verner (Examiner.com / Baseball Digest.com) who cover the Jays weights in on the topic. Baseball Digest Assignment editor and Cardinals Content Bill Ivie rounds out the show with St.Louis Cardinals baseball talk. Also, BDL host Mark Healey will be joined on the program by Baseball Digest Fantasy columnist Jay Ferraro.

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

In March of 1990, future Hall Of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr made his debut on the cover of baseball’s longest-running magazine. Two decades later, he leaves the game as one of the best all-around players to ever put on a uniform.

When he was traded to Cincinnati in the winter of 2000, his return to the city where his father has starred for the Big Red Machine was ballyhooed as a new era for baseball’s oldest franchise. Things didn’t quite work out that way, but his frailty in his later years — which may have been a great disappointment to Reds fans — may prove that he truly was the greatest player of his generation.

Take this opportunity to enjoy the March 1990 edition of Baseball Digest, and remember when Griffey was a future star rather than a retiring legend.

]]> http://www.baseballdigest.com/2010/06/05/baseball-digest-classic-junior-griffey/feed/ 0 http://www.baseballdigest.com/2010/05/24/baseball-digest-classic-rusty-staub/ http://www.baseballdigest.com/2010/05/24/baseball-digest-classic-rusty-staub/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 03:11:22 +0000 Charles Hollon http://www.baseballdigest.com/?p=5647 He almost didn’t get here, as the red-headed slugger was never a fan of New York City.

Much like his good friend Keith Hernandez several years later, he also wasn’t thrilled about being traded to the New York Mets. But in the spring of 1972, something special on the heels of a tragedy was about to happen for the Amazin’ Mets.

Daniel Joseph Staub made a living by hitting, and a lot of that hitting was against the Mets. He was 6-foot-2 with carrot-top hair, a country chef from Lousiana and confident that he could reach 3,000 hits. His game only got better when there was a chance to line a double up the gap and drive in a run.

For Met fans, 1971 (like many seasons under Chairman Donald M. Grant) held moments of pure joy mixed with a lot of pain. With apologies to Rob Base(ball), Tom Seaver’s season was epic. With any sort of run support the Franchise would have won 25 games. He was that good in ’71.

The offense, however, was anemic.

Mets brass, including manager Gil Hodges, knew that in order to get back to the postseason they needed an impact hitter. They had Cleon Jones, who was the leading hitter clubbing 14 (yes,14) homers and finishing the season at a respectable .314. But the National League circa 1971 was a land filled with Joe Torre, Willie Stargell and the sweet-swingin Billy Williams, so the Mets needed a thumper.

In 1971, in the little big city known as New York, the only place you would hear of a trade rumor was in one of the daily papers. The last place you would think to hear about a potential deal was from my parents’ 25-inch (huge by 70′s standards) TV located in the big little city known as Bensonhurst. But there it was, the great Lindsey Nelson was saying it, the Mets had “a real interest” in trading for Rusty Staub.

Mets announcers in those days, never, ever spoke of rumors or trades, especially Lindsey. For Mr. Nelson, it was always the game, rumors and back stories never made it to Channel 9. But on this spring day, there it was, as the Amazins played an exhibition game; Nelson let us know they wanted Staub.

In the days that followed, several things began to come out about the Mets and their pursuit of Rusty.

One, Gil Hodges was not in favor of it and neither was Rusty. Hodges felt that the Mets’ future was in their farm system. The Expos liked some of the Met farmhands, but so did Gil.

Tim Foli was a 19-year old shortstop, a first round pick who had hit .364 after a quick look in late 1970; Queens kid Mike Jorgenson could pick it at first base, and would hit .342 at Triple-A in 1971; and Ken Singleton, another first-round pick, whose swing, attitude and back-to-back .300-plus season at Double-A and Triple-A, was the best prospect of them all.

Singleton, it was believed by the Mets skipper, in a year or so would become even better then Staub. So did the Expos. So, the manager let the front office know that the Mets should look elsewhere.

It was the Met manager’s feelings along with Rusty openly speaking of not wanting to leave Montreal that were holding up the deal. Staub also had business interests there and loved the feel of Canada. He had also become very popular and did not feel he would fit in the little big place where the Metropolitans played their games.

Things were changing in our country in 1972, America, the group was telling us a story in song about a Horse with No Name and baseball players for the first time in history had gone on strike. More money into their pensions and talk of salary arbitration replaced balls and strikes.

For old time Brooklyn people this was a particularly strange time, no game, striking, players telling owners what they wanted. The times were getting strange. What made matters even more complicated in this moment of change was the city was about to go through some terrible heartbreak.

On April 2, 1972, Gilbert Raymond Hodges collapsed of heart attack after a few rounds of golf with his coaching staff. The city mourned and my home town, Bensonhurst wept, we had lost one of our own.

That 25-inch Zenith didn’t look or sound the same after that for a long time.

Shortly thereafter, some of us were listening to WNBC reporting that Yogi Berra was being named the new manager of the Mets. Most of us were still numb. I can still see in my mind’s eye Yogi’s face and how upset/sad Rube Walker looked in the background.

Three days later, on April 5, the Mets announced that they had made the trade for Staub. It was also added that Gil Hodges, had signed off on the deal shortly before his death.

The fortunes of the Mets and Staub would intertwine over the next 15 years or so in more ways than one could imagine. Staub would be limited to just 66 games in his first year, breaking his hand on a pitch thrown by his future teammate George Stone (whose trade, along with Felix Milan the following year would help the Mets win the 1973 pennant), but would play well enough over the next three seasons to become an adopted son of New York.

In an era when the national media paid little attention to the Mets (other than Seaver), legendary Los Angeles Times columnist profiled Staub in 1974, a story that would appear in the pages of Baseball Digest.

Ballplayers with “potential” are the biggest seduction in sports. Managers, coaches, owners, writers, fans go down the line with them. The Rusty Staubs get one chance. To give you an idea, Rusty Staub is too good of a player to have been traded twice. But Rusty Staub has never been able to throw his bat on the field and have it bat .320 all by itself … whatever Rusty does, he does with sweat and effort.

In 1975, in a harbinger of the monumental stupidity that would send Seaver packing two years later; Staub’s then-club record of 109 RBIs was sent packing to the Detroit Tigers for Mickey Lolich. Staub would drive in over 300 runs the next three seasons, while Lolich would retire after one season in New York, open a donut shop and come back for two seasons as a mopup guy for San Diego.

Staub’s best years were behind him when he returned to the club in 1981 as a part-time first baseman. But in addition to becoming one of the game’s best pinch-hitters, he added to his already popular status by becoming one of the city’s finest citizens with his tireless charity work; raising millions for the families of NYPD officers killed in the line of duty.

Staub would never reach the goal of 3000 hits, would miss the championship season of 1986 by one year, and has yet to hear the call from Cooperstown, but he is a true champion in the eyes of so many fans who were so very happy he came to our city.

MLB National reporter Barry Bloom and Richard Gross of Fanball.com will also join the program to give their take on the happenings of the MLB season.

LISTEN LIVE HERE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE

As always, Mark Healey’s bench coach for the show, Fantasy Editor Jay Ferraro, will discuss who to “pitch or ditch” and who to pay close attention to in the waiver wire abyss.

LISTEN LIVE HERE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Twins prospect Bobby Lanigan is hoping to add his family’s name to that list, because he’s the great-nephew of Gloria Cordes-Elliott, a three-time All-Star pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).

You can read Part 1 of this series here and Part 2 here

Lanigan, for his part, has gotten his professional career off to an impressive start—following a standout collegiate career at Adelphi University.

After being selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Third Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft with the 92nd overall pick, Lanigan spent most of 2009 with the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League (A). His success with Beloit (10-7 with 102 strikeouts in 123.1 innings) enabled the hurler to be promoted to the Advanced-A Ft. Myers Miracle of the Florida State League in mid-August.

“Last season I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the game,” Lanigan said. “I was able to get a full season under my belt, I know what it feels like, and I know I can handle that as a pitcher both mentally and physically.”

The 2010 campaign has started off extremely well for Lanigan, who is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. The young pitcher has been working more with his changeup this season, and is happy with the way that the new pitch is progressing.

The author and Lanigan appeared on a recent “Baseball Digest LIVE”, which you can listen to here.

“It’s another weapon, different from my slider which gives hitters a different look,” said Lanigan, who has 28 strikeouts and just 4 walks in 30.1 innings. “It gives me a chance to change speeds.”

While Lanigan and Cordes-Elliott are separated by two generations, the right-hander makes sure he keeps his Great Aunt as a part of his daily routine.

“My aunt had sent me one of her baseball cards and I put it up in my locker,” Lanigan said. “It’s part of home and it’s really cool. How many people can say that have a connection like that?”

It’s a connection that Lanigan hopes to extend beyond the storyline of middle-school and college journalism papers. For the young pitcher, his great aunt serves as the ultimate inspiration.

“She didn’t just get a uniform, she was an impact player,” Lanigan said. “At the end of the day, she played at the highest level there was for her sport and that’s the same dream I have.”

The author and Lanigan appeared on a recent “Baseball Digest LIVE”, which you can listen to here.

Glavine was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1984.  A left handed, eighteen year old kid who loved hockey and baseball alike, he would begin his climb towards greatness in the minor leagues prior to making his debut in 1987.  He was the fifth youngest player in baseball in 1987 at the tender age of twenty one.  In 1988, with a team that was struggling mightly to win, he would post an atrocious seven win/seventeen loss season.  Fans that were concerned about a struggling team were equally concerned about a young lefty that was supposed to help them recover. 

Things began to turn around quickly for the Braves, and Tom Glavine was one of the main reasons why.  In 1991 the Braves made an amazing surge from last place the prior year to first place by the end of the season.  A large part of that sudden success was Tom Glavine, who rattled off his first of three consecutive twenty win seasons, posting a twenty win/eleven loss season and winning his first Cy Young Award.  His hitting prowess would be rewarded with a Silver Slugger Award for the first time in his career.  He would lead the league in wins in 1991, the first of five times that he would achieve that feat, all in a Braves uniform.

The next two seasons would see more of the same from Glavine.  He would reach twenty wins, the all star game, and finish in the top three of Cy Young voting each year from 1991-1993, leading the league all three years.  By 1994 he would win his 100th game of his career and start becoming the pitcher that the Braves could rely on every year.  In 1995, the team would win a world championship, and Tom Glavine would take home World Series Most Valuable Player honors as well as close the door on the Cleveland Indians in the decisive game six contest.  The Braves won the world championship on the back of a 1-0 decision dominated by Glavine.  Consistent and competitive, he would stay uninjured and dominate through the 90′s.  His twenty win form would return in 1998 with a twenty win/six loss record, winning him his second, and final, Cy Young Award of his career.  He would finish the 90′s with 187 wins, six all star appearances,  and four Silver Sluggers under his belt.  The fourth Silver Slugger Award, the final in his career, was won in 1998.  Only Mike Hampton has more Silver Sluggers as a pitcher with five.

The new decade would see the same old Tom Glavine.  He would lead the league in 2000, 2001, and 2002 in games started.  During a time when players were hurt and “Tommy John” surgery was commonplace for pitchers, Tom Glavine took the mound every fifth day and dominated like few others.  The year 2000 would see him win his 200th game and begin to take his place in history as a dominate left handed pitcher.  He would go to the All Star Game two more times by 2002, totaling eight times for his career now.  It was the winter of 2002 that would change Glavine’s career.

In a very public and drawn out negotiation process, Glavine wanted nothing more than to remain a Brave for the remainder of his career.  In a position at this point that had him feeling that he needed four more seasons to win the 300th game of his career, his major contract demand was for that length of time.  He stated publicily that he did not want to be looking for a club to win his 300th game with.  In a move that surprised almost everyone in baseball, Glavine would leave the Braves and join the New York Mets for this quest.

Those four seasons would see Tom struggle a bit to find himself in the harsh environment of New York.  He would eventually settle in and reach the all star game twice during that time frame.  However, as the dust settled over the contract, Glavine would find himself doing exactly what he did not want to do, and would be searching for a team to achieve his 300th win with.  At the end of 2006, he had achieved 290 wins, and the Mets would bring him back on a one year contract to achieve the milestone.

It was August 5, 2007 against the Chicago Cubs that Tom Glavine would move himself squarely into history’s path and win his 300th game, one of six left handers to achieve that accomplishment.  The fall of 2007 would see the end of Glavine’s tenure with the Mets, having won sixty one games over five seasons.

By mid-November 2007, Glavine had reached an agreement to return to the place where it all started and joined the Atlanta Braves once again.  When camp broke in the spring of 2008, Glavine would find himself on the opposite end of a familiar spectrum, as the third oldest player in baseball at the age of 42.  After twenty one seasons in Major League Baseball, Glavine’s age and body finally succumbed, and he suffered the first major injury of his career.  His elbow, and shoulder, would require surgery that would bring the season to a close.

He would reach an incintive laden deal to return to the Braves in 2009.  He would rehab and work hard to overcome the injury that shelved him the year before and proclaim himself ready to return to the big leagues in June of 2009.  In a move that was a surprise to him, fellow players, and pundits around the nation, the Braves gave Glavine his unconditional release on June 5, 2009.  A Braves’s spokesman was quoted as saying, “If you want to retire, you can retire as a Brave.”  Glavine requested his release and sought to catch on with another team.

The “other team” never materialized and Glavine’s last game was officially as a Brave.  He would finish his career with 305 wins, 244 as a Brave, placing him fourth on the all time list for the team.  He would finish with 2091 of his 2607 strikeouts in a Brave uniform, also ranking fourth all time for the franchise. 

He was an iconic player for a franchise that currently employs him as a “Special Assistant to the General Manager”.  He will remain a part of a historic organization that will fittingly honor him for his loyalty and amazing achievements.  The Braves will induct him into their hall of fame in 2009, Cooperstown, most likely, in 2013.

Bill Ivie is the Content Editor for the Cardinals and Baseball Digest Classic sections here on BaseballDigest.com.
For updates on BaseballDigest.com coverage, follow Baseball Digest or Bill Ivie on Twitter.
You can find Bill on Twitter discussing the Cardinals during many of the Cardinal games.