Who's On Third?

As winter rolls on my baseball withdrawal worsens.  I search the internet for the latest hot stove moves.  I surf for the most recent prospect highlights from the Caribbean, Mexico and Venezuela.  I keep an eye on the Japanese Professional League whose season starts about the same time as ours.  I have even been watching the Australian League scores and Jim Kaat’s work in New Zealand.  My wife periodically asks me “How many days?”.  I can usually give her the countdown to when pitchers and catchers report, opening day and this year the World Baseball Classic.  Bonus! 

But as I look forward to the coming season, I find myself looking back to my own playing days.  No, you never heard of me.  I was not a hot prospect.  I was a good high school player with a plus glove and arm but only an average bat and little power or speed, although I was an excellent bunter.  Those tools may get you a chance to walk on for a college team, but no one was handing me any offer letters.  Thankfully, I have come to terms with my talent and I am definitely not one of those guys who’s past gets better as they get older.  If I did that, by my age, I would be ready to enter the Hall of Fame.

When I mentioned I was looking back to my playing days, I am actually referring more to my early days.  Specifically, to my inspirations in the beginning. 

Where I grew up in Pennsylvania, I was located in a small miracle like area of sorts for the new sensation of cable television.  We had stations from several major markets and I could see a ball game almost any time during the season.  I had stations that were either from or broadcast games for Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and Pittsburgh.  In the 70’s and early 80’s I was truly the proverbial kid in a candy store.

For those not as obsessed as myself, let me give you a little run down of the teams in those markets.  Pittsburgh was a powerhouse through the entire decade.  Even after the loss of Roberto Clemente, the Pirates, led by Willie Stargell, Dave Parker and a solid pitching staff were rivaled only by the Reds in the first half of the decade.  The Orioles had one of the greatest pitching staffs in the history of the game (only the second staff with four 20 game winners) and appeared in three series in the 70s and six in a seventeen-year span.  The Mets had the miracle ’69 season and another Series a few years later but were beginning to fade as the decade progressed.  The Yankees made three straight Series appearances and four in six years.  These were the days of Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson and Catfish Hunter.  The Phillies finally shook off twenty-five years in the doldrums with three straight division titles and their first ever world championship followed by another Series three years later.

 Needless to say, I had great games to watch at all times.  This was the fuel to my fire.  The spark however, that was my father.  My Dad grew up in Philadelphia, in the heart of the City.  He was a diehard A’s fan idolizing Connie Mack, always hoping he would find a way to bring back a string of championships like he had twice in the past.  It was not to be and the A’s joined the move west to Kansas City and eventually Oakland.  My father remained an A’s fan until he passed away.  Dad also loved the Phillies and knew every member of the Whiz Kids.  He made me the baseball fan I am today.  Even when I got older and we had our typical father son disagreements, we could always talk baseball.  (Yeah, I know, it sounds sappy but it’s true.) 

So, when I decided I wanted to start playing, dad asked me where I wanted to play.  Well, that was the easiest answer of my entire youth.  Third base, of course.  When I looked around at the men playing third, I knew where I wanted to play.  The Pirates had Bill Madlock and the Yankees had Graig Nettles.  But then there were two Hall of Famers in the Phillies Mike Schmidt and the Orioles Brooks Robinson.  Why look anywhere else?

When I started to play Little League, I begged the coach to play third and he gave me my chances, but he also moved me around to other positions.  I gave each one my best, but I always wanted to go to “my spot”.  Dad worked with me and the following year I moved up a division and my new coach put me at third and that is where I stayed for the next decade.    

Then one day as he was working with me in the back yard he mentioned a new name to me. He told me about another third baseman who grew up in Philadelphia and became an All-Star playing in Philly.  Judy Johnson.  Now, at this point I was about ten years old and the name stuck in my head for two reasons.  First, my father loved the game and he was telling me about an all-time great who came from and played in his hometown.  Second, my mother’s name is Judy, and his name stuck with me for obvious reasons.  He told me what he knew about him.  He explained he played in the Negro Leagues and that he retired before he had the chance to see him.  This prompted a whole new set of questions about the Negro Leagues and why these players could not play in the majors.  At ten, this was as difficult to grasp as it is for me today.  Dad even had an old book with two photos of Judy.  I wish I had that book today but I can still see both photos.  The next fall I went to the Library and found a book about the League and read it cover to cover.  I learned names and read stories I never knew existed.  A whole new part of game opened up for me.  I soaked in all I could about Johnson, Robinson and Schmidt and wanted to be just like them. 

To some extent I emulated the three of them.  As I mentioned I had a plus glove and arm.  I was very good in the field and could throw out anyone from deep behind the bag.  Unfortunately, that never carried over to the bat.  So, my professional career ended long before it started.  Even though I never made the show, I do have a few memories of my playing days I will always cherish.  As a twelve-year-old, I played in Howard J. Lamade Stadium, the home of Little League Baseball.  I played third base that day.  I went 4 for 5 with 4 doubles and 4 RBI.  It was and still is my favorite day playing the game.  Earlier that same year, I also had the chance to play on the home field of the Original League in Williamsport.  This was not my home league, but the man who was my second father was an officer of the league and he made the arrangements.  He also introduced me to Carl Stotz.  A man I firmly believe belongs in Cooperstown.  How many professional ball players would never have had the chance without Little League Baseball?

In the coming years, I would find new and better information about the trio who drove me.  I learned that Judy Johnson was not actually from Philadelphia but nearby Wilmington, Delaware. Years later, I lived in Wilmington and was able to see how the city now appreciates and celebrates the man.  Through events, I was able to meet and shake the hand of both Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson.  I never had the opportunity with Judy Johnson.  They say never meet your heroes.  I met two of the three and I have to say I am glad for it.  From everything I have read about the third, I would not have been disappointed. 

Recently, I stumbled upon a gentleman on Twitter.  He happens to be the president of the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.  After following him and seeing the wealth of information that he and his connections share, I was reminded of Judy Johnson.  That is what brought back all of these memories.  Thank you, Mr. Kendrick. 

Judy Johnson played his first professional season 98 years ago.  I am so glad my father introduced me to him so I could have the perfect man to round out the trio that I tried to emulate on the field.

If you are as obsessed with the game as I am and would like to discuss more about any facet of baseball history, please look me up on Twitter.  I am @TWR_Individual.  I may not have all the answers, but I will have a great time finding them with you.  I would also like to hear about who your on the field influences were.  Who did you want to play like?

America’s Stories Are Closer Than You Think

The other day I was talking with a co-worker who knew I had lived in Philadelphia.  She and her family were considering a trip to Philadelphia and she asked me about Independence Mall.  Is it worth it?  My immediate answer was “Yes, absolutely!”  Then I followed with don’t limit yourself to just that small area.  There is so much more to see if you are interested in history.  I then gave her a short list of other must see sites in the area from Penn’s Landing up to Valley Forge.  We talked for about ten or fifteen minutes, but that got my wheels turning. 

When we started talking she mentioned just the Independence National Historic Park.  As I told her about other places in the area I was hearing myself say the same thing.  National Historic Site, National Historic Landmark, National Historic Park.  After our conversation ended, I began to think about all of the places I have been that fall under the auspices of the National Park System.  Just from memory, quite a number.

When I woke up this morning, I found myself still thinking about where I had been and began to look at the National Park Service’s website.  I was surprised to find just how many places I really had seen and experienced.  I have even lived very close to several of these sites.  That is not completely shocking since there are currently 413 places that fall under the Park Service.  They range from the largest at over eight million square miles to the smallest being the size of one historic home.  They also vary from the well-known and much visited Blue Ridge Parkway and Yellowstone to Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  There are also less obvious but well known places that are managed by the Service including Mount Rushmore and the White House. 

I am throwing out what may be boring statistics to some to illustrate that National Parks are all around us and probably even close to you.  To that end, I want to tell you about a few of the ones that have made the greatest impact on me. 

The Grand Canyon – The name really speaks volumes.  I had seen pictures all of my life of the canyon, but they did not really resonate until I went there.  To say it is beautiful is an understatement.  We did not venture down into the canyon itself, but we did make a point to visit several points along the rim.  We were at the very crowded south rim observation point at Grand Canyon Village and the views were spectacular.  From there we drove east stopping several times at less crowded places.  We did this until we reached Lipan Point where you have what I think is the best view of the canyon looking down river instead of across to the north rim.  That is a memory I will keep forever.

Zion National Park – This was a hidden gem.  When we left the Grand Canyon, we drove up through Utah and were heading to Las Vegas.  We both knew of Zion but had no plans to stop there.  I cannot tell you how glad I am that we decided to take it in.  If I am honest, it is more visually stimulating than the Grand Canyon.  Being at the bottom looking up does give a different perspective, but the rock formations and colors are amazing.  The Three Patriarchs, the Narrows, the Subway, the Pulpit and many other formations are worth the drive.  Among all of the parks I have been to where nature is the focus, Zion is my favorite.

Fort McHenry – The place that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen a poem that would become our national anthem.  The fort is on a point that is now in the center of Baltimore. To get there you need to travel the busiest of streets and find your way through some industrial areas, but once there, it is a little oasis in the city.  The site is well preserved and pristine.  The guides here are some of the friendliest that I have encountered in my travels.  They tell the story so well and at all times there is an enormous 15-star flag used as the focal point of the story.  If you are in a patriotic mood, this is a must.

The National Mall – Where do I begin with how great this is to visit?  It can be a little hard to define since it is not strictly the strip of land running from the US Capital Building to the Lincoln Memorial.  It is much more than that.  It includes all of the monuments from the iconic Washington Monument to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Jefferson Memorial, the African American Civil War Memorial, and several more.  Then there are the buildings under the Park Services care including Fords Theatre and the Frederick Douglas National Historic Site.  I would also be remiss if I did not mention the Smithsonian Institution.  Although the many museums are not part of the Park Service, they frame the National Mall and provide endless days of enjoyment and education.

Shenandoah National Park – Blue Ridge Parkway – Great Smokey Mountains National Park – I group these together because essentially, where one ends the next one continues.  If you love nature this is a great place to visit.  It is a large part of the southern half of the Appalachian Trail, a hiker’s delight for longer than it has been a defined trail by the Park service.  If you are not that into hiking but still want to enjoy the park, this is one of the best driving parks we have.  In the fall the Blue Ridge Parkway is a foliage lover’s destination making it the most visited park in the system.  I have driven just about the entire length several times. These three parks are friendly to just about every level of outdoor aficionado. 

Gettysburg National Military Park – I saved this one for last as it is my absolute favorite.  My parents brought me to Gettysburg almost every summer for a few days and we would explore new parts every year.  Later in life, my wife and I lived there for about three years.  We would spend hours on the battlefield.  We rode our bicycles around some trails walked with our dogs down others.  Many of the monuments are beautiful and tell a tragic story of our history.  Yes, there are many monuments to the men who fought for the Confederacy, but the town also has a deeper history.  Gettysburg was home to a community of “free blacks”, African Americans who made a life for themselves and were a part of the greater community in a very contentious time.  Everyone knows about Lincoln’s visit to Gettysburg, but George Washington also came through and stayed just outside of the town on his way to put down the Whiskey Rebellion.  There is so much more to learn about this great place.  I know the battlefield as well as some of the guides, but I learn new things all the time. 

I want to mention a few more that I have visited and have left a definite impression on me.  They are in no particular order; Saguaro National Park, Boston National Historic Park, Everglades National Park, Petroglyph National Monument, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Colonial Historic Park, Antietam National Battlefield and of course, where I started this train of thought, Independence National Historic Park.  There are more, but these are at the top of my list.  I have an entire other list of places I could go into but I have kept this to our National Park System.  You can find many just as fascinating place in National Forests, State Parks and private sites all over the country. 

Why did I limit this to the National Park System?  Because on August 25^th of this year, our National Park Service celebrated their 100^th birthday.  On a rough count, I am nearing a quarter of the sites visited.  I want to see many more.  I invite you to send the Service a birthday gift by visiting any one of the sites under their care.  You may learn something.  You may see things you have never seen before.  You may just sit and enjoy nature.  Take a look.  I bet you have one near you. 

I hope you have had the same wonderful experiences.  I would love to hear about your favorite National Park visit.  Please leave a comment.  You may give me my next excursion idea.