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Tag: Baseball

The Brooklyn Dodgers and The Natural

Tulsa Beacon

It was Roger Kahn who introduced me to the Brooklyn Dodgers, through his book, The Boys of Summer. This book became an instant hit with baseball fans when it was published in 1972, and has remained one of the all-time baseball classics. Kahn died on February 6; he was 92. Sometime around 1981, when I…

Rick Monday talks about ‘Blue Monday’

Tulsa Beacon

Former two-time Major League Baseball All-Star Rick Monday was the guest speaker recently at the Claremore Diamond Dinner. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about his stellar 19-year career. Monday, an outfielder at Arizona State, was named college baseball player of the year in 1965, and became the first player…

Larry Walker, a friend, headed to the Hall of Fame

Tulsa Beacon

It was with great anticipation and excitement that I watched the announcement of the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, last week. It wasn’t because I was hoping Derek Jeter would be a unanimous choice, but because I was hoping Larry Walker would finally be selected. Jeter fell one ballot shy of being voted unanimously…

Did the Houston Astros need to cheat?

Tulsa Beacon

Major League Baseball has been in the news a lot lately, and it hasn’t been for a good reason. Normally, MLB wouldn’t get this much press in January, not even with big free-agent signings, but for a cheating scandal, that’s another subject. The Houston Astros have been accused of using video equipment to steal signs…

The banquet circuit is now in full swing

Tulsa Beacon

Even though baseball spring training is still a month away, and the Major League and minor league seasons don’t begin for a couple months, this is a great time of year for baseball fans. It’s banquet and caravan season. This is the time of year current and former Major League players have the time in…

Baseball dreams sometimes come true

Tulsa Beacon

I had a dream the other night, but I don’t think this one will come true. My dream starred former Kansas City Royals All-Star second baseman Frank White, whom I’ve met several times and got to know fairly well when he was the manager for the former Wichita Wranglers in the Texas League. Also, in…

The 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame is an emotional ceremony

Tulsa Beacon

Every year I enjoy watching the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and one of these years I hope to be there in person. Sure, I’ve been to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, five times, but never during the induction weekend, so I’m forced to watch on television each year. Next year,…

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…