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The Power of (a) Baseball

13 Jul

There’s always a lull around the beer stand during a middle inning rally. Everyone’s had their first beer or two, they’ve settled into their seats with a hot dog, and the lineup has seen the starter’s stuff once already. I usually take that down time to walk around the corner from our beneath-the-bleachers beer stand to watch a little bit of the game from right behind home plate.

Watching BP

My view from just outside our service stand at Homer Stryker Field

The Fon du Lac Dockspiders had the bases loaded in the 5th inning with two outs in a tie game, and the Kalamazoo Growlers starting pitcher Tommy Sommer on the mound. I watched the Spiders’ Troy Black dig into the batters box, but my eyes were drawn to a kid standing twenty feet in front of me. Continue reading →

Third Pitch

26 Oct

Chicago sports fans make big, bold predictions all the time: Jay Cutler is going to have an MVP season. The Cubs are going to win the World Series. Derrick Rose is going to stay healthy this year.

Most of them never come true.

They also make smaller, more specific predictions: Rizzo’s going to hit a homer. Jimmy Butler is going to sink a game-winning three at the buzzer. Hawks are gonna get a power play goal right here.

While they have better odds, still most of them never come true.

But every once in a while, our prayers are answered.

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Conor Gillaspie – The White Sox Wild Card

11 Jun

Gillaspie Card - WILDCARD w-Name Lithos

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Swings lefty. Throws righty. Bats third. Zero home runs. Leads team in batting average. Doesn’t wear batting gloves. Plays third base with jolting agility and a musket of an arm. Sports a low angle brim over his eyes and ever present chaw that gives him the mystique of a hard nosed gambler. That’s Conor Gillaspie. He’s the White Sox Wild Card.

 

WILD CARD!!!!!!

The Baseball Hall of Fame, Nellie Fox, and my Old Man

14 Jan
Me and my Old Man, in front of Nellie Fox's plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame (July 1997)

Me and my Old Man, in front of Nellie Fox’s plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame (July 1997)

The Baseball Hall of Fame has always been the biggest amongst corridors of notoriety. Pro Football Hall of Fame? Hockey Hall of Fame?  It’s where those who excelled in and around America’s pastime are honored eternally. It beats out Hollywood’s Walk of Fame because, well, I’d like not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but you’d be surprised at the list of people and Tokyo-terrorizing monsters who have a star on the boulevard. It defeats all other sports hall’s of fame. Not only because it was established first, but it hasn’t changed its enshrinement style since it’s doors first opened in 1936.

I’m talking more about the plaques, and what it means to be on one of those plaques.  Your now immortal baseball likeness in bronze; and right below it your career record, and a 12-lines or less bio that captures your stats, status and spirit. It’s a 100 word summary of why you deserve a permanent place in the history of the game.

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Five Big Series’

30 Mar

As the last of the March snow melts, the ball clubs on both sides of town prepare for opening day. The White Sox and Cubs will wrap up their exhibition schedules in big league ballparks this weekend. The Cubs will bid the Astro’s their National League adieu before heading to Pittsburgh for Monday’s opener. The White Sox will be a Hiawatha ride away in Milwaukee on Saturday, and Amtrak back Monday for their first game against the Royals.

Here’s a look at five big home series’ for the White Sox and Cubs.

Continue reading →