O/T Re: Beth--Baseball

[Guest guest]

MB

I actually got to know several players who made it to the majors. But,

in some ways the changes were so interesting. A couple of examples.

1959, Raleigh had a young shortstop who led the league in hitting, far

above everyone else. He was a scrawny kid and most of his hits were weak

loopers to short center field it seemed although he did have a

surprising number of home runs. Turned out to be hall of famer Carl

Yastrzemski.

A few major leaguers who played in Greensboro, all of whom I met

personally, many who came to my home, and others I spent long times

with: Tom Tresh, Phil Linz, Jim Bouton (Ball Four fame), Dooley Womack,

Curt Blefary, Ron Retton (not a major leaguer as too small but father of

Lou Retton), Mel Stottlemyer, Roy White, Bobby Murcer (the scrawny

shortstop before the Marines and muscle bound outfielder after), Fritz

and Mike Kekich (always will be linked as when with Yankees

they decided at some point to switch families and just moved into each

other's homes, taking the other's wives and moving in with their

kids-guess this was the prelude to tv shows such as Wife Swap but this

was real). So many more I can't remember at the moment.

Some of the best memories though were the lifelong minor leaguers, not

all that different than as you see portrayed in Bull Durham in many

ways. They played strictly for the love of the game.

(Breathe-Support , Beth wrote:

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> Thanks for sharing that...it brought back some really good memories. I

totally understand why collectors are still occasionally sending cards

for him to autograph. Collectors like complete collections and your son

is part of that, he's part of the history of that league...it's actually

pretty cool.

> Back in the late 80's and early 90's I lived on Cape Cod where the

oldest amateur baseball league plays. College players from all over the

US come to the cape in the summer to play in tiny parks on grass fields.

During those years I had the pleasure of seeing as a young

player. Everyone watching those games knew that was destined for

the majors. I have his autograph on a paper plate (we always picnicked

at those games LOL) I followed his career mostly because I had met him,

liked him and wished him well. My son was 3 years old that summer and

I'll never forget the sight of him giving (who is around 6'5 " ) a

high five after a home run. I love baseball in general but there is

something more personal about the connection you can make with the

players in the minors and in amateur leagues.

>

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

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> ________________________________

> From: Godfrey sngodfrey46@...

> To: Breathe-Support

> Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:58:21 AM

> Subject: Beth--Baseball

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> My son was drafted in 1990 by the Cubs and played in the Appalachian

League. He was a pitcher and played in Huntington W. Virginia his

rookie year. I went back and spent 3 weeks there watching him play, it

was the best vacation I have ever had. I have been around baseball all

my life, at every level and you are right, the minor leagues is the

best.

> I think my son might still have the Appalichian League record of

11-1---hummm I am gonna have to research it. He still gets card

collectors sending him cards to autograph, he does it and returns them,

but doesn't understand why they still do it.

> G.

>