"Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks..." Is one of the famous songs (see bus songs) of America's best past-time sport.
Baseball...American's favorite past-time sport! I grew-up loving baseball since I was young-age? I grew-up behind a middle school in St. Paul, where there were baseball fields and softball fields....
My Morris' friend (Riana, who was visiting the Twin Cities-Minneapolis-St. Paul) and sister (Thelma) playing fast-pitch baseball (using a tennis ball) on the field by Battle Creek Middle School on Saturday, September 31st of 2006.
...That explains part of why I grew with a passion of this sport. Another reason was probably the Minnesota Twins winning 2 World Series (87' & 91') growing-up.
2004 Division Champs-3 Peat!
3 years in a row that the Minnesota Twins has won the Central Division in the American League! Wow, it's awesome to be a Minnesota Baseball fan. I just watched the Twins lose a hearbreaking game against the multi-million dollar New York Yankees club last night (6-7 in 12 innings). The series is tied 1-1 and the Twins have a chance (they will) to win the best of 5 at the "thunder" dome. No matter what happens, we need to tip our hats to an awesome year!
Why I like the Twins? They are a fundamental (all around teamwork), humbling (not many multi-million star players, but passionate-contented of the game), young (many young players)- ballclub team. Plus, I was born and raised in Minne-sota! Also, it's awesome to see players, like Corey Koskie, Matt Lecroy, Tori Hunter, etc... (Corey boldly shared his faith at the Luis Palau Festival at the St. Paul State Capitol Grounds this past summer, which he was with 2 other players) stand-up about their personal relationship with God.
You-Minnesota Twins-are always winners on and off the field. Thanks for being a role model to young and old, keep up the winning attitude in life!
Below is a letter of encouragement I sent=>
Hello Minnesota Twins,
It was tough to see you lose Wednesday night, but I want to "tip my hat" to you all for fighting to the end. "it's not over to the fat lady sings", so keep playing hard till it's over. I believe you guys can pull it in our home turf-don't compare it to last year because you are a totally different team then last year and the year before.
Praying and Playing-Baseball Fan (since 87') in rural college town-Morris, Minnesota, Sal:) http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/goodnewsumm/sports.baseball.html
Michael Cuddyer and Al prior to their 10 minute radio interview at KKOK 95.7 FM Morris Radio Station
Bert Blyleven chatting with the fans at the radio station
I chat with Riley before the Twins enter in the radio station
I'm in the background behind Bert getting ready for some autographs
Twins having fun throwing snowballs before they depart in their next city tour visit in Ortonville.
....more pictures=> Sal's Twins Fan Homepage
Centerfield by John C. Fogerty (1985)
"Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
From : Sherry C
Sent : Wednesday, October 13, 2004 4:20 PM
To :
Subject : Fw: THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME...
Subject: FW: THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME... This is good!
Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love.
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws.
The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!The Lord's team won!
The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Freddy answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you Home. Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Faith Test This is an easy test, you score 100 or zero. It's your choice. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Yeshua said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
Not ashamed Pass this on . . . only if you mean it. Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him can do all things through the Messiah who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
This is the simplest test. If you Love God, and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done for you. Send this to ten people and the person who sent it to you.
Did you know our local "Met Lounge" was started and named by a former New York Mets baseball player?
Yes, he was in the "Mircale Mets"!
Organizations
Team
UMM Alumn Spotlight
Batting Cages
Team
-St. Paul
New Saints P.A. Announcers Get National Exposure Rusty Kath, Maggie Faris featured on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" show
There's no business like it. The St. Paul Saints' new public address announcers got national attention Friday morning when they were introduced on ESPN2's morning show "Cold Pizza."
Rusty Kath, who got his start by doing the p.a. while a student at the University of Minnesota, Morris and Maggie Faris, a veteran of the local comedy circuit, will share the duties at Midway Stadium this summer.
Kath, Faris and team president Mike Veeck were on "Cold Pizza" Friday discussing the new job with co-host Thea Andrews. The segment includes clips of the auditions and showed past promotions at Saints' games.
"I thought everything went great," Veeck said from New York after the show. "It's flattering ESPN thought enough of us to bring us out. Rusty and Maggie bring a lot of energy to the job. I look forward to hearing them."
-Twin Cities
Testimonies
Apparel
-Cleats
Awards
Books
Bloopers
Cards
-Individual Cards for Sale (B.O.)
1986 Topps Roger Clemens #661, $6.96-amazon.com
Sammy 1998 Topps Gold Label Sammy Sosa #83
-Miscellaneous
Beckett
Card Pricer
Collects Sports
Homerun Cards
Hot Pack Secrets.com
*referred by Brandon O. (Tuesday, February 10th of 2009
Equipment
-Catcher's Mitt/Glove
Evangelism
Jesus in the Sky Over Disney Pt. 1
"skywriting of Jesus over Disney Wide World of Sports Ballpark"
Fantasy Baseball
-Picks Projected
James Lincoln Ray Mar 13, 2007 (baseball.suite101.com)
History
-Greatest Moments
Some of the greatest baseball moments , you tube
Little League World Series
-Articles
6-foot-8 13 year old towers over foes , from Yahoo News (By GENARO C. ARMAS, Associated Press Writer
Sun Aug 20, 6:21 PM ET)
"SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Aaron Durley towers over the competition at the Little League World Series. The 13-year-old first baseman for Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, stands an imposing 6-foot-8 and weighs 256 pounds.
Major League Teams
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Music
"Centerfield" by John Fogerty
Social Issues
-Drugs
Josh Hamilton's Testimony
"Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton who captured the attention of everyone at Monday night's All Star Home Run Derby, talks about how God helped him kick a drug and alcohol addiction."
*awesome story (Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins, won-yeah!-both are winners!)
Related Sites:
Story of Josh Hamilton, from youtube.com
"Josh Hamilton was the rookie of the Month for the Cincinnati Reds. He and his parents where in a car accident. After that point, he tired to fit in and ended up doing drugs. He attempted suicide. His wise choice was to choose Christ. Then he started seeing through the lens of a Christian he is now able to make the right decisions."
Hamilton set to bury past
Updated 2/20/2007 12:18 AM ET (USA Today.com)
"SARASOTA, Fla. � The lowest point was a dark night in the autumn of 2005.
Josh Hamilton, his body a prisoner to the demons of crack cocaine and alcohol, virtually crawled to his grandmother's house in North Carolina and cried out for help.
The taste of ashes had been in his mouth for a long time, but he says there was never a lower moment than when he showed up on Mary Holt's doorstep in Raleigh.
It was there after repeated failures to kick the habit that the onetime prodigy of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays picked up the pieces and began to rebuild his future.
Hamilton, his blue eyes bright and his body in superb condition, sat at a table in the Cincinnati Reds spring training camp Monday and talked about his battles with alcohol and cocaine addiction.
Hamilton, 25, is with the Reds because they landed 1999's No. 1 draft pick last December in a trade during the Rule 5 draft after he was left unprotected by the Devil Rays.
Under baseball rules, if Hamilton, who has played in only 15 minor league games in the last four years, doesn't make the Reds, he'll be put on waivers and available to any other team.
Before those 15 games last summer, Hamilton, an outfielder, had been out of baseball since July 2002 because of injuries and multiple drug suspensions.
Reds manager Jerry Narron, who sat next to Hamilton on Monday, has known him since he was a 15-year-old catcher in North Carolina.
"I couldn't be more excited about having him with us," says Narron, who thinks Hamilton has an excellent chance to beat the odds and make the team.
To understand how important this moment is for Hamilton, go back to the night he ran out of places to go and sought shelter with his grandmother.
"There were a lot of low points, but that was the worst," says Hamilton, who received a $3.96 million signing bonus from the Devil Rays. "Showing up 180 pounds � I weigh 230 pounds now, so imagine what I looked like. And facing her � she welcomed me with open arms.
"I lived there for the next couple of weeks and used a couple of times. One time she knew I was using and told me she couldn't take it anymore. That was the turning point."
Hamilton says he flicked the switch off Oct. 6, 2005. It was the last time he used cocaine and alcohol.
How difficult will it be to keep the switch turned off?
"If I rely on my relationship with God, anything is possible," he says. "Plus, I have an excellent support group."
Start with Hamilton's wife, Katie, his two young daughters and his father-in-law, Mike Chadwick. There's also Roy Silver, a former minor league coach and manager who runs Winning Inning, a Christian baseball camp in Clearwater, Fla.
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky says the team will do everything possible to help Hamilton battle temptation. For example, when meal money is distributed, someone else will handle it for Hamilton.
"Katie and I have just one car in spring training," says Hamilton, alluding to the fact he will not venture out on his own.
Chadwick is a Raleigh contractor and motivational speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a recovering drug and alcohol addict.
Hamilton knew about Chadwick but says for some unexplained reason he contacted Chadwick during one of his low moments in September 2003.
"I knew the only way to get Josh back to being Josh was to love him back," says Chadwick, speaking from a Charlotte airport, where he was en route from one of his trips. "Sometimes it was tough love, and other times it was gentle love.
"I knew the guy I was looking at was not the guy who was inside that body. I had to find that guy. He showed up at our house 2 o'clock one morning, and it was like looking in the mirror 15-20 years ago. I didn't know much about his baseball, nor did I care about that. And I certainly didn't know I was looking at my future son-in-law. We talked until the sun came up."
Silver invited Hamilton to come to Clearwater after reading a newspaper article in which Hamilton said he wished he could talk to somebody. Hamilton swept dugouts, cut grass and cleaned toilets at Jack Russell Stadium. They mixed in some baseball, too.
For more than 30 minutes Monday, Hamilton talked about how his new world won't come to a screeching halt if he fails with the Reds.
When I looked straight into Hamilton's eyes, I saw sincerity and determination.
But this is only baseball.
"Yes, this is a feel-good story," Chadwick says, "but I told Josh to have a shovel in his hand and say, 'We can talk about anything you want, but after today I'm burying the past.' "
Yes. For Hamilton the future is now."
-Physically/Mentally Challenged
AUTISM
Testimonies
-Africa
Tournament
Our Daily Bread (Aug 23) - True Teamwork
"They [train] to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. �1 Corinthians 9:25
Sports brings out the best and the worst in people. The news media often focus on the worst. Those who comfort players with "It's not whether you win or lose that counts; it's how you play the game" seldom make world news. But once in a while they do.
After a baseball team from Georgia defeated a team from Japan in the Little League World Series, one reporter wrote: "The boys from Warner Robins left a lasting impression of their inner character for the world to see. They proved again, it's not whether you win or lose that counts. It is, how you play the game."
When the losing players broke down in tears, the winning team members stopped their victory celebration to console them. "I just hated to see them cry," said pitcher Kendall Scott, "and I just wanted to let them know that I care." Some referred to the moment as "sportsmanship at its best."
It was indeed heartwarming, but it points out that sports�even at its best�is an imperfect metaphor for Christianity. In sports, someone always loses. But when someone is won to Christ, the only loser is Satan.
For Christians, true teamwork is not about defeating opponents; it's about recruiting them to join our team (1 Cor. 9:19-22). � Julie Ackerman Link
Lord, too often I view as my enemies those who don't know You. Help me love them as You love them. Help me gently share Your truth with them. Help me see them as part of Your great mission field. Amen.
Tact is the knack of winning a point without making an enemy."
Thanks Marcelo for the good "ole" times playing baseball with many childhood friends in our backyard. Yes, we are all grown-up now, but don't forget to have that "child-like" heart (Matthew 18:3). I will never forget the good and bad times we had as we tried to live our dream to play professional baseball. It was fun going after this dream! Also, I will never forget the times trading baseball cards-you'll always be an expert in this trade! Bring this to your everyday life!