Alive and Well in Louisville

On the way back to blog headquarters from my trip to the Metro East of St. Louis, I stopped in Louisville to visit with former Frontier League broadcaster Matt Andrews. Matt has been one of the play-by-play announcers for the Triple-A Louisville Bats for seven seasons after winning back-to-back broadcaster of the year awards as the voice of the Chillicothe Paints.

He showed me around Louisville Slugger Field, which is a stone's throw from I-64 as it winds its way through the downtown area. What a gem! It ranks up there with the best the International League has to offer. Matt's press box perch is outstanding and you can tell how much he is enjoying life just a rung away from the Big Leagues. In fact, his partner on the air, veteran announcer Jim Kelch, has spent a great deal of time this season with the parent club, the Cincinnati Reds, filling in when they've needed help on radio and TV. That's left Matt as the sole play-by-play guy on those dates and I'm sure that the Louisville audience appreciates him more than ever.

While living in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, Matt has also done basketball for the men's and women's teams at Morehead State University. He may be adding football for the Eagles to his resume this fall. One of his recent thrills, he told me, was doing the Morehead State NCAA tourney play-in game this past spring in Dayton, which the Eagles won. He then got to announce the next sectional game as part of a doubleheader, which included his alma mater, Ohio State. Unfortunately, neither of his favorites made it past that venue.

It was fantastic getting a chance to get caught up with Matt. He is one of the true class acts, of any job description, that has graduated from his time in the Frontier League to increasingly good things. He certainly laid the groundwork for FL broadcasters to move up the affiliated ranks. As I've mentioned in this blog before, three other alums, Scott Leo and Ryan Mitchell (Columbus) and Jason Benetti (Syracuse) are currently working in the IL.

When the Frontier League has a day off, or your favorite team isn't in action, you should dial Matt up on the Internet and listen to his call. You'll be as impressed as all of us were when he was describing the action at V.A. Memorial Stadium.

What It's About

On the way to GCS Ballpark yesterday afternoon, I stopped by the Frontier League office, which is actually just outside GCS's left field wall, to say hello to FL Commissioner Bill Lee. He wanted to show me something that he had just received in the mail. A young man named Ryan Walling had sent him a drawing of the logos of the League and each of its teams. Bill had already called Ryan and left a message expressing his appreciation and was about to put it in a frame to display in his office. The Commish said that it was things like this youngster taking the time to create such artwork that reminds him everyday of what the League means to its fans. You could tell that it meant a lot to him.

I told you yesterday that I was looking forward to talking with Gateway GM Steve Gomric about the latest food creation at the ballpark. Well, I actually returned to an earlier-introduced item in the Grizzlies "Baseball's Best" line - their version of the soft pretzel. Hand made each day at GCS, the soft pretzel has a hint of cinnamon, combined with a lighter salt that made me order two, pretending that I was going to share with someone else. Steve (still "pound for pound . . ." - you know the rest if you frequent this blog) reveled in my enjoyment of the pretzel. Word is he is dreaming of even bigger things in the litany of stadium food for next season (it's like the Rose Parade - the planning and execution never stop).

I also got to visit with Windy City GM Steve Tahsler, who had traveled to Sauget to watch his ThunderBolts play the Grizzlies. If folks don't know Steve, he is the FL's resident statistician, and not just the numbers of baseball. He, with a committee of others, helps create the League's schedule each season. A graduate of Georgia State University, Steve actually has a degree in statistics and his ability to manipulate the 96-game regular season grid to make things mesh is legendary. He also has had a knack to help teams improve their bottom lines. Not one to mince words, a yes or no from Steve means exactly that (no more verbiage is necessary), people around the FL circuit pay attention to his thoughts on just about any subject involving the business of running a baseball team.

Back on the road today. More reports soon.

Oh To Be Back in Sauget

Traveled to the Metro East area today to see the Windy City ThunderBolts and the Gateway Grizzlies tonight at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. The ThunderBolts won the opener Wednesday to jump into a tie (trailing by just percentage points) for first place in the West Division with the River City Rascals.

The Grizzlies and Southern Illinois Miners pulled off a big trade yesterday, with Gateway sending all-star outfielder Stephen Holdren and lefty reliever Adam Revelette to the Miners, receiving outfielder Kevin Koski and all-star closer Chris Wiman in return. It will be interesting to see how that plays out for both squads.

Will be reporting tonight on the tiny burgh of Sauget, one of the smallest, if not the smallest, cities to host professional sports. Will also have a chance to catch up with Grizzlies' GM Steve Gomric and see what food concoction he's dreaming up now. Hope to see you there!

No Jinx

For the record, I did not jinx Kalamazoo's Fran Riordan with yesterday's post. The Kings came from behind and then held on in a precarious ninth inning to edge the Midwest Sliders 3-2 in Ypsilanti for Fran's 412th career win in the Frontier League. Greg Tagert and he are now tied for most all-time managerial victories. The Kings and the Sliders go at it again today to see if Fran can jump into the lead all by his lonesome.

I spoke on the telephone yesterday with FL Commissioner Bill Lee, who is in Ypsilanti, and he reminded me just how important his dining favorites, as listed in the League's Media Guide, are to him and should be to me. He noted that after the game he would be on his way to the Sidetrack Bar and Grill in Y-Town for the best "handcrafted" burger he had ever tasted. I'm not sure how other burgers are crafted, but I do know that Bill is seldom off the mark with his recommendations.

A lot of great action out there today in the FL, including a doubleheader at Rockford's Road Ranger Stadium, home of this year's All-Star Game. Check out a game where you are!

Good Stuff

I'm now fully recovered from the All-Star trip and ready to go again. A few notes today:

At the risk of jinxing him (if I say it that way, it can't happen, right?), Kalamazoo's Fran Riordan is about to tie another career mark. As a player, he still holds the all-time record for games played and runs batted in. Now he is at the threshold of having the most wins as a manager in the Frontier League. At the moment, he has 411 victories in his eight plus seasons, just one behind Greg Tagert, who posted 412 in nine seasons. Tagert, who managed five teams in the FL, is now the skipper of the Northern League's Gary, Indiana team, where he has continued his great success. The Kings have a couple of games left in their current series with the Midwest Sliders, who are playing strong baseball, so Fran has his work cut out for him this weekend. A tip of the cap to you, Fran, for another milestone in your FL career.

What a year it's been for FL players moving on to MLB organizations. Earlier this week, Midwest ace James Albury was signed by the White Sox and Traverse City closer Jeff Williams went to the Yankees. That makes eight Frontier Leaguers that have moved on to the affiliated ranks after the start of the season. I know that I am fixated on the League's mission, but there is no doubt that the FL remains as the premier place for MLB scouts to find young talent to fill out their rosters. Looking at the stats leaders on the Frontier League web site, it wouldn't surprise me to see more action before the end of, and directly after, this 2009 campaign.

See you at a game soon.

17th All-Star Game

Just returned to the home base after driving back from Rockford for Wednesday's All-Star Game. Road Ranger Stadium, which is actually in Loves Park, Illinois, had a solid two-day stretch of fun and fun baseball. The game itself was a pitchers' duel until Florence's Ryan Basham hit a home run in the sixth inning. The visiting East team went on to defeat the West 5-2. Basham became the third straight Freedom player to win the A-S MVP award, following in the footsteps of Angel Molina last year and Reggie Watson in 2007.

A note about the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award. It is named for Alex Gamez, a member of the FL's Zanesville Greys, who was killed in a car accident just after being named to the 1995 All-Star Game. When his family traveled to Zanesville, after this overwhelming tragedy, they asked for his Greys' uniform so that Alex could be buried wearing it. He has become a symbol of what the League stands for - an opportunity for young, talented players, like Alex, to realize their dreams of playing professional baseball. I got to know Alex Gamez and he was a shining star, a star that continues to grace us with its light.

All in all, it was a great trip to northern Illinois for the midsummer classic. Next year, the cream of the League will head downstate, to Marion, Illinois, for the next installment. Hats off to RiverHawks' GM Josh Olerud and the Rockford staff for all of their work to make this year's event a success. Here's looking forward to the job that the Southern Illinois Miners front office will do in preparing Rent One Park for all of the festivities in 2010.

More trips coming up. Don't move the dial!

Tuesday in Rockford

Yesterday's All-Star luncheon recognized the players who had been named to this year's East and West squads, as well as the managers and coaches. I'm always struck by the fact that many of the FL's players, which is true for a lot of baseball players, would be undetectable as professional athletes on the street. It's hard to miss pro basketball and football players in real life, but a great number of baseball guys can fly beneath the radar. One thing that separates them, however, from the general populace is their amazing hand-eye coordination. I can tell you that not a crumb hit the floor yesterday during lunch.

The crowd was welcomed to Rockford at the luncheon by one of the League's interesting personalities, the owner of the host RiverHawks, Kurt Carlson. Kurt, whose brother is the drummer for the Rockford-based band Cheap Trick, has his own compelling story to tell. In 1985, he was aboard TWA Flight 847, which was hijacked on its way from Athens to Rome by people sympathetic to the Iranian leader at the time, Ayatollah Khomeini. Kurt, an Army Reserve major, was returning to the U.S. following a training mission in Egypt. After a Navy Seal was killed by the hijackers, Kurt and seven other military personnel were taken off the plane and kept hostage for 17 days in Beirut, Lebanon. He was eventually rescued and came back to Rockford to a hero's welcome. Kurt wrote a book about his ordeal, "One American Must Die: A Hostage’s Personal Account of the Hijacking of Flight 847", which I recommend highly.

There was also a reunion yesterday. Part of the festivities Tuesday evening at Road Ranger Stadium was the Legends game between the Cubs and White Sox alumni. The owner of the Florence Freedom, Clint Brown, was walking along the concourse when he noticed that one of the players for the Cubs squad was his former high school teammate, Willie Wilson. Yes, that Willie Wilson. It had been more than 30 years since last they talked, but they were able to sit down in the clubhouse and get caught up in no time. Clint was quick to point out to me that he played in the outfield for their New Jersey high school and that the younger Wilson, who was a stellar outfielder for many years in the Big Leagues, was relegated to playing catcher. Clint then added that Willie was the biggest guy on the team, so going behind the plate made sense. He also noted that Willie could have played big-time college basketball or football had he decided on either route.

It was an entertaining day yesterday. Wednesday should offer more fun as the All-Star Game is set for a 7:05 start. Weather should be perfect, so come on out if you're in the area.

All-Star Fun Begins

I've made it to Rockford, Illinois for the start of the FL All-Star Game hoopla. The traveling carnival is staying at the Clock Tower Resort and everyone appears to be in good spirits. For the players, it will be the first time that they've had more than a one-day break from the action since the season began in May.

The first thing on the schedule today is the luncheon here at the Clock Tower. That's when the Commish Bill Lee gets to give a speech to the assembled throng. He'll probably talk about his professional baseball career and how he was a .370 lifetime hitter - .190 his first year and .180 his second year. Actually, he was a better player than he likes to let on, but it makes for good material. If you ever get the chance, you should ask him about the day, with Ted Turner in the stands, he switch-hit against a switch-thrower in a showcase for Braves' farmhands.

Tonight, there's a lot of fun stuff going on at Road Ranger Stadium in nearby Loves Park. A bunch of celebs will be at the ballpark to take part in the Cubs/White Sox Legends Game, followed by the FL's annual home run derby. The great thing about all of it is that the participants, both legends and FL soon-to-be legends, will be available for autographs and baseball conversation in and around the activities. If ever there is a theme running in the Frontier League, it's accessibility to the action and to the players, the way baseball used to be.

Hope to see you at an All-Star event in the next couple of days. Should be good fodder for the ol' blog.

James Keeps on Rollin'/FL Announcers

Hope I don't put the equivalent of the SI jinx on Jason James, but I have to comment on his incredible hitting streak. The Rockford outfielder, who is hitting .438 and leads the FL in that category by almost 60 points, has now hit safely in 36 consecutive games. He long ago passed the single season mark and has now exceeded the combined season record set, improbably, by Kevin Holt, who started his 35-game streak in 1996 with the Johnstown Johnnies and continued on into the 1997 season with the Richmond Roosters.

Friday night, James put himself alone atop the category with one hit in three official at-bats, but that hit, as if to punctuate his tremendous feat, was a home run at, of all places, Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo. He is one of those guys that comes along in the Frontier League that makes you scratch your head as to why he isn't moving up the affiliated ranks. James is a good defensive player with a strong arm and is a solid baserunner to go along with his hitting prowess. Oh well, I'm glad we all get to watch what he does night in and night out for the RiverHawks.

Speaking of moving up, it is noteworthy that play-by-play experience in the FL is paying dividends for a group of announcers that are making their mark in the Triple-A International League. It was announced yesterday that former Windy City broadcaster Jason Benetti has taken over as the main voice for the Syracuse Chiefs. Already in the IL are Scott Leo (Richmond) and Ryan Mitchell (Chillicothe) for the Columbus Clippers, who play in a beautiful new stadium in the Arena District of the Ohio capital, and Matt Andrews (Chillicothe) who is on the mike for the Louisville Bats, who inhabit a great ballpark on the Ohio river, Louisville Slugger Stadium, which is right down the road from the factory. Congrats to all of them - I hope they're able to make the next jump soon.

I'm about to get on the road toward Rockford, which will host the FL midsummer classic next Wednesday at Road Ranger Stadium. Will have reports when I get in the neighborhood. More then!

Congrats to Travis

The Frontier League has been fortunate over the years with its ability to move players on to affiliated ball. Announcements that someone has been signed by an organization can be rather routine now, but one caught my eye yesterday and deserves special mention.

Travis Garcia, who played for Ohio Valley when it was a travel team in 2005 and then for the Chillicothe Paints from 2006 through 2008, is one of the League's top players in its history. I am confident that he would be the starting shortstop on many observers' all-time FL squads. For whatever reason, he just wasn't given the opportunity to return to the affiliated ranks.

Yesterday came the announcement that Travis has been signed by the Mariners' organization and will start out at their Double-A club, the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in Jackson, Tennessee. I couldn't be happier for an alum, one who not only played the game with a lot of grace, but who also represented the FL as well as anyone ever could. He was a first-rate player on the field and an even better person off of it.

Hats off to you, Travis. I'm sure I speak for many FL fans when I wish you all the best as you continue to climb the ladder.

Great Names

Really not much to report from the weekend. Just a quick note about the rosters named for this season's All-Star Game in Rockford. Does Florence sign guys because of their names? The Freedom's catcher, Justin Pickett, and outfielder Ryan Basham were both voted onto the team. Pickett behind the plate? Basham at the plate? C'mon - really.

Reflections

Since my trip, I've been ruminating on the events of that week and would like to offer these random thoughts:

The best new ballpark food: Gateway's "Baseball's Best Nachos" - following up on their Krispy Kreme Cheddar Burger and their Deep Fried Slider, the Grizzlies have put together a teeming nacho plate with a Philly cheese steak flair. My doctor gave me strict instructions before I headed to the road to avoid such fare, but they went unheeded, at least at GCS (oh, and at River City's T.R. Hughes Ballpark with an O'Fallon Brewery root beer float).

Most athletic mascots: Traverse City's Suntan and Sunburn - these furry alter egos are manned by two former college football players who can actually dance it up. There is a routine early in Beach Bums' home games where the music changes rapidly and the duo has to adjust its hoofing style. Outstanding! Honorable mention goes to Kalamazoo's Lulu who does a mean Cupid Shuffle.

Busiest broadcaster: Kalamazoo's play-by-play announcer John Leahy not only does every game solo, he also runs the team's video webcast and simultaneously updates the comments section on the webcast page. The most remarkable part is that he does all of that while having to listen to the Lefler-Zerban comedy hour.

Fittest general manager: Evansville's Liam Miller is constantly walking the circular Bosse Field to monitor the activities on game night. The native Alaskan, who graduated from Indiana State in Terre Haute (don't they all), is a whirling dervish. I did notice that he prefers to proceed counter-clockwise around the stadium - must be a Juneau thing.

P.A. moment: The Frontier League is blessed with outstanding P.A. announcers. My favorite public address moment on the trip was the anticipation in the press box for the deep voice of Wild Things' announcer Bill DiFabio to pronounce Midwest relief pitcher Arshwin Asjes' name. To the delight of the multitude, Bill hit the mark perfectly.

Most pillows on a team hotel bed: River City's Hilton Garden Inn in O'Fallon, Missouri had more pillows than it is possible to use. I took an extra nap so that none of them felt cheated. By the way, the number of pillows matched the number of stars I would give this hotel. Great service, great room, all without an expensive mini-bar.

Now that I've had a chance to get my breath, I am planning for the next road trip. I'll probably head somewhere this weekend to enjoy the Fourth (ballpark fireworks are the best) and then begin preparing for the All-Star Game and accompanying festivities in Rockford. Stay tuned!

Rollin' on the River

The trip Saturday was a short one across the Mississippi, except for the fact that I timed it perfectly with the start of the St. Louis Cardinals day game, which caused bumper-to-bumper traffic on the bridge leading into the Gateway City. Had a great view of the Arch.

Had I attended the Cardinals' game with the Minnesota Twins, I would have seen a significant event in the career of an FL alum. Former River City Rascal pitcher Josh Kinney, who has come back from Tommy John surgery, earned his first win as a Big Leaguer. He picked up the victory in relief, helped by two 2-run blasts from teammate Albert Pujols. Josh is in his third season with the Cardinals - congrats to him for this milestone.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the River City Rascals and T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, Missouri. The team joined the Frontier League in 1999 as the first club in the FL to be located in an MLB market. For those of us who had followed the League, walking the fields of Pikeville, Kentucky and negotiating the waters of Portsmouth, Ohio (although I am fond of both places), it was a huge step forward to have this sparkling new stadium in a "Major" metropolitan area. I remember being in O'Fallon in 1999 and watching the fans sprint, with their lawn chairs and blankets, from the gate to the grass berm on the left field line to grab a first-come, first-served spot to follow their new team. I knew then that it was a big day in the FL's development. The berm is still a popular place to watch the Rascals play.

There is a definite youth movement in the River City front office, led by General Manager Chris Franklin. Chris is in his third year with the Rascals, his first as the GM and, guided by his mentor and team president, Steve Malliet, he has helped in the development of a ton of fun things to do around the ballpark. You can get a Custom Cuts' haircut down the left field line, enjoy a relaxing view of the game from the right field hot tub, or, most important for me, suck down a root beer float at the O'Fallon Brewery stand. The root beer was developed for the Rascals and is only available at T.R. Hughes. The big news coming out of Saturday night, however, was the gauntlet Chris threw down: he saw my item yesterday about Gateway's Steve Gomric and challenged his crosstown opposite number to a dance-off when the teams get together for a day-night doubleheader later in the season. Cancel anything else I'm doing then - I've got to be in St. Louis to see this.

One of the people that makes River City special is "roaming" P.A. announcer Randy Moehlman. There was a story on the FL web site this week about his exploits - I got to see him in action, clipboard in hand, pumping up the level of excitement for Rascals' fans who braved the hottest day of the season. His frenetic style was infectious. I also got to meet "Bubblegum" Bob Griffith, who sits right behind the first base dugout. He was pointed out to me by his daughter, Dawn Gerard, who sang the National Anthem Saturday. Bob earned his nickname by bringing a bucket of bubblegum to every game and tossing individually-wrapped pieces to Rascals' players as they come off the field. He had to be the happiest guy in the ballpark.

It was a terrific night and a fitting end to my seven-day sojourn. I can tell you that the state of the Frontier League is strong, and fun. Everywhere I went, I saw folks enjoying the game of baseball and the chance to create memories with their families. When I get home, I'll take a deep breath and then offer some reflections on the week. I can say now that I can't wait to plan the next trip.

Thanks to everyone across the Frontier League who made the 7-7-7 extravaganza the blast that it was. I'd love to hear from anyone who has a comment on or question about the trip - send your e-mail to "theflscout@gmail.com". More later!

Baseball From Cradle to Grave

I got up early Friday to drive to the St. Louis area and play a morning round of golf with FL Commissioner Bill Lee. We were joined by Gateway's General Manager Steve Gomric and Media Relations Director Jeff O'Neill. You can find out a lot about people when you play golf together. What they found out about me was that I should practice more.

I will say that Bill Lee enjoys his job with the Frontier League. He travels the FL's highways and back roads constantly during the summer and is on a first name basis with front office and game day staff at each site, as well as many of the teams' regular fans. Incredibly, he also knows every non-chain restaurant in the Midwest and the specialty of the house at each one. The FL Media Guide features his favorite place to eat in each city. Perhaps in future travels, I'll stop by these restaurants and provide a full report - hard hitting news at its finest.

The one thing I should mention about the Commish is his commitment to the players of the Frontier League. As many of you know, the League has an age limit of 27 years old. It is the only independent league with such a restriction and, because of that rule and the rule that requires half of the rosters to be made up of rookies, the FL is a very young professional circuit. Bill once told me that one of his regrets was that he wasn't fortunate enough to have children of his own. Because of that, he added, he thinks of the young men that come to the Frontier League each summer as his extended family, a family for which he feels a great deal of responsibility. I think that single fact guides Bill in how he steers the rudder of the League. If I were fortunate enough to have a child playing in the Frontier League, I would feel reassured that Bill Lee was at the helm.

I have to approach the next subject delicately. To know Grizzlies' GM Steve Gomric is to wonder about Grizzlies' GM Steve Gomric. Not a shrinking violet, Steve told me with confidence (way too early in our morning round) that he is, pound for pound, the sexiest man in the Frontier League. I explained to him that I am a blogger, not People Magazine, but he was relentless in his self-avowal. I could have left it there, but to my amazement, he actually backed up this claim during the game last night at GCS Ballpark. Steve is one of the "Diamond Dudes", a group of four that regularly drags the infield between innings and does so with the flair of dance. On Friday, Steve and his compatriots paid homage to the late Michael Jackson with their routine and, to my complete surprise, Steve not only pulled off the moonwalk, with accompanying flip of his fedora, he also did the rotational steps from "Smooth Criminal" flawlessly. Here's to you, PFPTSMITFL, you made me a believer.

When you do a blog like this, I've learned, you have to have a certain sense of bravado. That bravado, however, often turns into apology. I misstated an item in my last entry, which I was called on when I got to the park Friday. I neglected, which I now deeply regret, to note that Gateway was actually the first Frontier League team to surpass the 200,000-fan mark, accomplishing the feat in 2004. "Rules Guy", and Grizzlies' play-by-play announcer, Joe Pott took me to task early in the evening (which was handled with his usual tact) - in addition, I learned that Deputy Commissioner Kevin Rouch, who was also at GCS Friday, had received at least one e-mail with a similar admonition. Sorry for the misstatement - it won't happen again (oh, c'mon, you know it will).

The coolest thing I saw at the stadium Friday was actually at the Grizzlies' baseball academy, which is housed in a building just outside the left field gate. The academy, which caters to teams and players around the Metro East area, has a pitching machine that is simply amazing. In the main batting cage, the hitter faces a movie screen. A "real life" pitcher winds up and, as he releases, a baseball shoots out of the screen. The whole thing is run by a computer that can program fastballs up to 100 mph and throw all kinds of breaking pitches, every one of them reliably over the plate. It is truly remarkable. I didn't want to interrupt the young guys who were taking cuts when I was there, but I would have loved to re-live my youth by striking out against a 12-to-6 curveball.

All in all, it was a great day, hacking around a golf ball with the Commissioner and company and then hanging out at another of the great venues in the Frontier League. On my next trip to GCS, I'll take the chance to talk more about the park itself and how the town of Sauget, Illinois, made up of just about 250 hardy souls, hosts thousands each night to watch professional baseball. Now it's time to cross the mighty Mississippi to take in a game at River City's T.R. Hughes Ballpark - the final leg of this 7-7-7 expedition. Talk to you then!

(Diamond Dudes picture used with permission of ace team photographer Paul Baillargeon - thanks, Paul)

Southern Illinois - Be Mine

It's only a couple of hours to get from Evansville to Marion, Illinois for today's game between the host Southern Illinois Miners and the Rockford RiverHawks. I took the scenic route through Kentucky and over the Ohio River, noticing along the way that man and beast were wilting in the oppressive heat and humidity. I felt a little guilty about having the air conditioning in the rental and then turned the fan up another notch.

The Miners, in only in their third season in the Frontier League, are one of two teams to surpass the 200,000-fan season attendance mark and they've done in both of their previous seasons. The other team is Traverse City, which has also done it twice. Rent One Park is a big-time venue with all the amenities of any Big League park. Vice President Erik Haag and General Manager Tim Arseneau have created one of the most fan-friendly places to watch a game, including the effective use of video, both on the ballpark's scoreboard and on the Internet.

If you can't make it to a Southern Illinois home game, you can watch it on the Web free of charge on the IBN Sports site, www.ibnsports.com. It's obvious that the Miners have invested heavily in equipment and talented personnel to make these webcasts a first-rate production. To take advantage of the ever-increasing thirst for the instantaneous exchange of information, Miners' fans can also follow the team through text messages by joining the "Miners Mobile Mob". With all of these technological advances, it's clear that the folks at Southern Illinois see the future of baseball and the Frontier League.

Earlier this week, the Miners sold the contract rights of shortstop Gered Mochizuki to the New York Mets. He'll report to Kingsport of the Appalachian League to begin his ascent up the ladder of affiliated ball. That's the real mission of the League, to send its players (and all other jobholders) on to MLB organizations. I've mentioned already on this blog that the Miners have the distinction of having an alum play at the Major League level in the year following his time in the FL. Relief pitcher Clay Zavada is now working out of the Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen after being on the Southern Illinois roster in 2008. Shown earlier this year with Miner Manager Mike Pinto, Zavada has earned equal acclaim for his monstrous mustache.

I've been highlighting the home team in my travels, but some mention should go to a member of the visiting RiverHawks tonight. Outfielder Jason James came into Thursday's contest hitting an FL-leading .433. I was lucky enough to capture this picture on Jason's swing to knock out a single in the first inning tonight, extending his hitting streak to 23 games. He is certainly one of the best pure hitters that the Frontier League has seen.

Tomorrow is a real treat. I drive north to Gateway's GCS Ballpark to see the Grizzlies and the visiting River City Rascals, but first a golf outing with the Commish. The only question is how many strokes I'll get a side.

Who's the Bosse?

As I ventured south toward Evansville, the humidity index gained steam. The temperature upon arriving at the stadium for the Otters' game with the Windy City ThunderBolts was 99 degrees. I'm not complaining, just setting the backdrop for game four of the seven-game trek - all right, I'm complaining a tad.

Anyone that's gone to an Evansville game in the last 94 years or so, has enjoyed the national pastime at Bosse Field. In fact, folks don't usually mention Bosse Field today without using the word "historic". It is a circular, all-brick structure with an entirely covered grandstand. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest stadium in professional use in the country, trailing only Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Pretty good company. A lot of people will recognize it as the away venue in the movie "A League of Their Own", starring Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell. To keep that era alive, owner Bill Bussing has put his ushers and performers in garb that harkens back to the WWII years. So, if you're looking for a glimpse of baseball history, make a stop at Bosse Field and watch the Otters bring it to life.

On Wednesday, Evansville fans celebrated a birthday of one of the city's native sons. Marvin Gray is a fixture at the Otters' games, sitting in the middle of the grandstand and cheering on his beloved team. Marvin, who turned 68, keeps a notebook at his seat with all of the information he needs to be an informed afficionado of the Frontier League. More important, shortly after the Otters joined the League in 1995, making them the senior member of the circuit, Commissioner Bill Lee appointed Marvin as the FL's Flag Chairman, recognizing Marvin's unfailing ability to raise Old Glory before each contest, exactly timed to the music. During the game Wednesday, play was stopped and the entire crowd sang happy birthday to Marvin. Let me add my own salute to one of the League's most-loved figures, Happy Birthday, Mr. Flag Chairman!


One of the best player stories of the season is the roster spot gained by Evansville's Tom Mueller. Tom was a college intern last summer for the Otters, doing his job well enough to be asked back as a full-time employee upon his graduation from Ball State University in May. At Ball State, he was a member of the Cardinals' baseball squad, a left-handed reliever who sported a 1.46 ERA in 29 appearances this spring. When he got to Evansville to start his office job, he found out that the team needed some help in the bullpen and he asked to audition for Manager Wayne Krenchicki. Wayne was impressed and signed Tom to his first professional contract. The native of Westfield, Indiana has yet to garner a decision in his seven relief stints, but this incredible story is only in its early chapters.

If you listened to last night's broadcast of the Otters-ThunderBolts game, you actually heard a combined effort. Evansville play-by-play announcer Curtis Bryant invited his opposite number, Chad Cooper, to join him in the home booth for a dual (duel?) simulcast of the game. Curtis is in his first year with Evansville, while Chad, an FL award-winner, was very comfortable at Bosse, having been the Otters' broadcaster earlier in the decade.

Short trip today, as I head west to Marion, Illinois for tonight's game between the host Southern Illinois Miners and the Rockford RiverHawks. See you there!

Krazy K-Zoo

On the drive to Kalamazoo Tuesday, I took some time to visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. Seven dollars bought admission to the building dedicated to the only President not elected to either that office or the Vice-Presidency. I have to admit that as a kid interested in politics (C-SPAN had just been introduced on early cable), I knew about him when he was a Congressman from Michigan. On a trip to the Capitol, my dad, a native Michigander, pointed him out as the Minority Leader on the House floor. Great exhibits and film clips - my favorite item on display was one of the tape recorders from Richard Nixon's Oval Office. The Museum is located right off the main highway in town (I-131) and is definitely worth a couple of hours.

When I got out of the car in Kalamazoo for the Kings' game with the visiting Lake Erie Crushers, I noticed that the heat index had definitely gone up compared to the previous day in Traverse City. Arriving at the ballpark in rather humid conditions, I took some time to examine the statue in front of the stadium. The Kings play at the most aptly named place in the Frontier League, Homer Stryker Field. If you were to think that the moniker is simply a clever spelling for a fictional character, you would be wrong. Homer Stryker was the founder of the Stryker Corporation, a world renowned medical supply company. More important, he was an impressive baseball player at the high school, college, and semi-pro level, impressive because he pitched without the ring and pinky fingers on his throwing hand, lost in a farming accident when he was 4 years old. He pitched the winning game for the University of Michigan in the Big 10 Championship and, even after he had become an innovative businessman, managed and coached the dominant amateur team of the region, the Maroons.

I mentioned yesterday that I would be visiting with an important figure in the League when I got to Kalamazoo. Fran Riordan, manager for the Kings, would be on everyone's short list of key people in the Frontier League. As a six-season player, he became the leader in nearly every offensive category in the FL - he still is the top name in career games played and runs batted in. As a manager, he has guided teams to three League championships, two with the Richmond Roosters and one with the Kings. The most impressive on-field accomplishment is the fact that both rings he got with the Roosters, he earned them as the player-manager. Most of the time, a player-manager is simply a guy at the end of his career who is transitioning to the top step. Not the case with Fran. He was still a star on the team and "managed" to get his team to repeat in a league that demands youthful regeneration each season. The most impressive accomplishment off the field is his work in the community - so impressive that the League's Citizenship Award is named for him. What I continue to admire about him is that this Buffalo, New York native is the ideal combination - a focused, competitive baseball guy who is a generous, upbeat human being.

The other person that I have to mention, because he personifies Kalamazoo baseball is General Manager Joe Rosenhagen. To even say that Joe is the General Manager is to misdescribe what he does for the Kings' organization. Joe is a one-man wrecking crew - simply put, he does everything, including putting on a uniform and serving on the coaching staff once the lineup cards are exchanged. The reason I have to mention him is not that he defines the hard-working baseball executive, it is because, in all my travels in the League, Joe is the guy that absolutely gets what the Frontier League is about. I know I'm being a bit sappy, but indulge me for a moment. What the FL does is prepare young players, managers, coaches, team staff members, umpires, trainers, and whoever else crosses its door for a move up the baseball ladder (sorry for the mixed metaphor). Joe takes that commitment seriously and does it with as much integrity as anyone I know. In short, if I were in charge of putting together a baseball league (or a business venture of any kind), Joe would be a first round pick.

All right - let's talk about some of the fun things in Kalamazoo Tuesday night. The comedy stylings of P.A. announcer Jim Lefler and official scorer Jason Zerban were in rare form when I ventured into the press box. Apparently, their focus lately has been on naming the "All-Money" team in baseball history, including Norm Cash and Ernie Banks. In a bold pre-Euro move, I contributed Curt Schilling to the mix . . . my new favorite ballpark dance is the "Cupid Shuffle" performed by the Kings' interns (I'm sounding like Larry King) . . . Kalamazoo Assistant General Manager Ryan LaPorte, who is still just a college kid, has been with the organization for years. Given that he has done some incredible things in a short life, like building a baseball facility in his hometown single-handedly, he is my nomination for FL Commissioner in future decades.

Finally, saw this street sign on my drive into town. I know it's a term for a fisherman, but can't see writing it on an envelope as my return address without giggling. Next up - on my way to Evansville, where the featured player will be an edifice. Talk to you then!

Beach Heaven

If you've ever traveled to Northern Michigan, you know how truly stunning the the landscape is there. The lakes and pine forests give you an instant feeling of relief from the daily grind. On this Monday, the road from Washington to Traverse City was long, but it was a soft landing in the Frontier League's northern station.

The home of the Traverse City Beach Bums, Wuerfel Park, is located a stone's throw from Grand Traverse Bay. If you look from the road, it is hard to recognize the building as a ballpark. If not for the light standards rising from the field, you would think that the structure is a complex of summer cottages, painted blue with white trim.

The stadium, and the Beach Bums, owe their birth to the efforts of John and Leslye Wuerfel, whose journey of hard work and love of sports led them to establish independent baseball in this resort community. John and Leslye hail from Traverse City (Leslye actually grew up on one of the area's signature cherry farms) and worked in the hotel business. As a young married couple, they managed a small motel, eventually building their own hotels for folks escaping downstate lives.

Along the way the Wuerfels developed an affinity for a life involving sports. John, an accomplished football kicker, would send one son, Josh, to play for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan as a kicker and punter. Son Jason was also a Wolverine, playing catcher at U of M before moving on to independent professional baseball, including the Frontier League. He is now the head coach for the Butler (PA) Blue Sox in the Prospect League, a college wood bat league in its inaugural season.

For anyone who knows the Wuerfels, it is unnecessary to mention how much they enjoy their roles as baseball entrepreneurs. They were the general contractors for the construction of the stadium that bears their name, with John often aboard the heavy machinery that moved the "black dirt" to create the playing field. He has run the stadium operations for the four years of the Beach Bums' existence. Leslye is the day-to-day operator of the club, wearing as many hats as there is space on the rack. Jason, in addition to his coaching gig, remains as the team's baseball personnel director.

I guess the thing that always strikes me about my trips to Wuerfel Park is the attention to detail. For example, it is impeccably clean - I always feel like I have to tidy up my hotel room at the end of the night to keep up. The fans clearly appreciate their efforts; it is one of the loudest venues in the League. With all of the amenities and spirit at this gem, anyone visiting Traverse City is making a mistake if they don't add a baseball game to their getaway plans.

A couple of things to note from Monday's game at Wuerfel Park. First, the combination of the introduction of the National Anthem by a soldier stationed in Iraq, as shown on the stadium's video board, along with a perfectly-sung rendition of the Star Spangled Banner made me feel proud to be a citizen. I rarely notice the crowd singing the Anthem, but the fans in Traverse City could be heard above the sound system.

Also, if you follow the Beach Bums, you know play-by-play announcer Tim Calderwood. He is in his third year with the team and gives them a strong voice on the airwaves. Earlier this year, Tim, who is a devoted follower of the professional teams from his hometown of Chicago, hung a Black Hawks' jersey in the Kalamazoo pressbox during the Hawks' NHL playoff series against the Red Wings. It is unspeakable how that "sweater" was treated by the Kings' staff.

Time to get on the road again - headed to Kalamazoo for tonight's game with the Lake Erie Crushers. Hope to get a chance to talk to the person who is the poster child for the League, a record-setter as a player and a champion as a skipper, Fran Riordan. More then!

One Down, Six to Go

It was a beautiful Sunday night in Washington, Pennsylvania and the Wild Things welcomed the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti (take that Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) to CONSOL Energy Park for the first game of a three-game series. It was also the first night of my "seven games in seven parks in seven days" tour.

I always enjoy games in Washington. It's a great stadium - you've seen it if you've traveled on I-70 between West Virginia and the Pennsylvania Turnpike - with a fun level of excitement. One thing I noticed tonight is that Wild Things' fans wear more logo garb than anywhere else in the League. Even saw a guy wearing a T-shirt commemorating the first home opener in team history (against the Canton Coyotes in 2002).

One of the people I look forward to seeing when I get to Washington is Chris Dugan, the award-winning sports editor of the Observer-Reporter. He's worked the Wild Thing beat since the beginning and always has great stories about the goings-on at CONSOL. Tonight, we talked about the strange plays and accompanying rules interpretations we've witnessed since last talking.

In a recent Washington game against Gateway, Chris noted, with a runner on second base, the batter hit a ground ball toward the hole on the left side that would have resulted in an infield single. However, the runner at second had strayed off the bag and was ultimately put out in a rundown. How to score the play? After first described as a hit (seemed only fair to the batter), the Grizzlies' radio announcer, Joe Pott, pointed out the very specific rule that clearly states that such a situation is to be scored as a fielder's choice. Good thing Joe has time to read the Official Rulebook on those long bus trips out of Sauget.

In each stadium, there are phenomena that capture the spirit of the team. It wasn't hard to figure out what the unique event of the night would be in Washington. At about ten minutes before 8 o'clock, fans starting lining up along the concourse waiting for something to happen. That something, as it turns out, was the sale of milk and cookies by General Manager Ross Vecchio and his cheerful helpers. For one measly dollar, you get a cup of milk and two chocolate chip cookies - an incredible bargain. Ross donned his "Jim Brown" hat and yellow-tinted sunglasses to serve up the most popular combo of the evening.

The trip to Washington was a positive beginning to the 7-7-7 trek. Tomorrow, I point the rental car toward Traverse City, Michigan for the Beach Bums' game against the Florence Freedom. It's the longest single driving leg of the trip, but the destination is worth it. Wuerfel Park, with it summer cottage design, is one of the true jewels of the League. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post - you'll get to meet John and Leslye Wuerfel, the Beach Bums' owners, whose love of baseball and their hometown took the Frontier League to its northernmost point.

It's Begun

In a short while, I will head to the open road. My first stop will be a visit with my dad on this Father's Day. He is now retired and suffering from the sort of memory loss that allows him to remember his college champion football team, but not what he had this morning for breakfast.

In my mind's eye, he will always be the guy who picked me up on his shoulders to get a better look at the holiday parade or gave me a boost to put an ornament on the Christmas tree. Maybe that's what a father really does - provides the lift we need to rise to life's challenges. Looking back at the days of my youth, I know that I have a great deal to be thankful for.

Of course, my dad was the person that introduced me to the game of baseball. He would tell stories of playing against future Major Leaguers when they were all in high school although I never recognized the names. He showed me how to throw the knuckle curve, which led to a broken basement window or two when I couldn't control the ball with a pint-sized pitching hand. But most of all, he taught me about the game, the unwritten rules of playing with intensity, but with honor, a life lesson if ever there was one.

His days of starring on the baseball diamond are over. I watched him play and then he watched me play. So many memories of winning, losing, and sharing both. I have four children of my own now and have been fortunate enough to coach them all, on the field and in the backyard. My biggest victory is that they're all still speaking to me after the experience. I hope that I taught them half of the things I learned from my dad.

Here's to all of our fathers today. Hope this day finds them enjoying the memories of teaching their kids to throw the knuckle curve.

Time to Hit the Road

It's been a spell since I've had the chance to write about the Frontier League and all the fun it brings to the Midwest section of the country from May through September. Some of you folks who have been around the League for awhile may remember my columns on the FL web site back before there were blogs and all this fancy "Web 2.0" technology.

Well, never one to shy away from speaking my mind, especially about something that has been part of my life for almost 17 years, I have decided (and the Frontier League big shots have allowed me) to begin publishing again about this "League of Dreams". It is possible, however, that Commissioner Bill Lee did not receive the memo.

I saw on the web site that 19 young players have moved on from the FL to play in the Big Leagues. Six of them are currently on MLB rosters, including that Rollie Fingers-mustache-wearing Clay Zavada for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Clay was with the Southern Illinois Miners only LAST YEAR! Shows you how good this Frontier League thing really is.

To kick off the re-emergence of my writing spirit, I am going to travel to seven ballparks in seven days beginning Sunday at Washington's CONSOL Energy Park, home of the Wild Things. Sunday is Father's Day and I can't think of a better way to spend it, hanging out at the diamond and re-living memories that I shared with my dad.

I invite you to travel along with me as I go from Washington to six other venues, ending up at River City's T.R. Hughes Ballpark a week from Saturday. Hope to see you at a game!