The 7th Inning Stretch (Part 2)

That was tradition number one. The second tradition that began that day was the first seventh-inning stretch. President Taft, as you may or may not know, was a very large man. At 300 pounds, he was the largest president our country has ever had. That opening day game between the Athletics and the Senators was [...]

My Catchers Career Ended Early

I got to play catcher for two years in Little League and then it was over. There was another kid on our team who wanted to play catcher, but I was better than he was so I got to be the main catcher. Being a kid, I didn’t know much about politics, but I soon [...]

Cleveland Faces an Uncertain 200

Just two years ago, The Cleveland Indians lost the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox, and it’s been all downhill since. They finished 2009 tied for last place in the American League Central with a record of 65-97. And as usual, when loses go up-fan attendance goes down. (Except for the Chicago Cubs, of course, [...]

The Carefree Days of Little League

Even though it was many, many years ago, I can still remember the fun and excitement of playing Little League baseball. It was a much simpler time, well before radar guns and the all-important “pitch count.” Getting a new baseball uniform with stirrups and your own baseball hat made you feel just like a big [...]

The Catcher’s Many Roles

Before Minnesota Twins slugger Joe Mauer redefined expectations for the position, catchers were normally touted for their defense – period. But unlike other position players, the catcher is charged with many disparate tasks. First and most obviously, he must make sure that no ball the pitcher throws gets away from him. Beyond that, he is [...]