Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

Jeff Brucculeri

Jeff Brucculeri is a freelance writer and broadcaster. You can contact him at [email protected], or follow him on Twitter @JeffBSports.

There’s always something new in a trip to Kannapolis, N.C.

Tulsa Beacon

KANNAPOLIS, NC – Over the past 20 years, my family and I have been traveling to this little town northeast of Charlotte to visit my wife’s parents. We’ve probably made this trip over a dozen times, and each time, I find something new to write about. This trip was a little different than most. I…

Driller pine tar incident is swept aside?

Tulsa Beacon

Call me naïve, but until recently I had no idea that pitchers in minor league and Major League Baseball were still doctoring the baseball to try to gain an advantage. I thought that practice went out a long time ago. However, there is some unspoken acceptance of using a small amount of pine tar to…

Thole likes continuing his baseball career with the Drillers

Tulsa Beacon

Last week, I wrote about just a portion of my interview with Tulsa Drillers catcher Josh Thole and the early years of his career. This week we look at where he is now on his baseball journey. Thole is a native of Breese, Illinois, and has played in 478 Major League games, split between the…

Catching a knuckleball was a key for Drillers’ Josh Thole

Tulsa Beacon

Josh Thole is currently laboring in minor league baseball, as a catcher with the Tulsa Drillers, but his experiences in baseball reach a lot further than the Texas League. I spoke with Thole recently and asked him about his career thus far. Thole was drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round of…

South Dakota has a lot of attractions

Tulsa Beacon

South Dakota may not seem like a popular vacation destination, but surprisingly, there is a lot to see and do in the Mount Rushmore State, including that National Memorial depicting four of our nation’s Presidents. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of taking my wife, her sister and brother-in-law, and their son (the McCarty’s),…

One batboy’s wild adventure

Tulsa Beacon

Last week I wrote about the experience of attending a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park, and sitting in the sun in 90-plus-degree temperatures. However, there’s more to the story. The Rangers were playing the Kansas City Royals that day, and one of the television broadcasters for the Royals is a former player whom…

After sitting in the sun, the Rangers do need a new stadium

Tulsa Beacon

It doesn’t happen very often, but every once in a while, I have to admit I was wrong and my mind has been changed. That’s what sitting in the sun at a Texas Rangers baseball game will do to you. My fellow comedian friend, Gordon Douglas, and I were in Dallas to attend the Christian…

Henry Rowengartner exits ‘retirement’

Tulsa Beacon

Henry Rowengartner came out of retirement last week, signed a deal with the Tulsa Drillers and made an appearance on the mound at ONEOK Field. However, the star of the movie Rookie of the Year, got pulled before the game started. The Tulsa Drillers dreamt up a great promotion, which included actor Thomas Ian Nicholas…

Athletes served honorably in the military

Tulsa Beacon

As we look ahead to Memorial Day, we are reminded that there are hundreds of athletes who have worn the uniform of one of the branches of the United States Military. We would like to celebrate a couple of those who have ties to Oklahoma; one performed his duty and had a fulfilling baseball career,…

No-hitters are rare in baseball, softball

Tulsa Beacon

Regardless of what level of baseball or softball you talk about, a no-hitter is quite an accomplishment and somewhat rare. A perfect game is even more rare, but a “perfect” perfect game is practically unheard of. By definition, a no-hitter is exactly that, when a pitcher doesn’t allow a single hit in a ball game….