Thursday, December 31, 2009

Roberto Clemente's New Year's Eve humanitarian efforts continue to endure



As we begin to celebrate the start of a new decade, let's celebrate the memory of Roberto Clemente. We take a look at how Clemente's efforts have endured in the thirty-seven years since his passing.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Ernie Harwell keeps on after cancer diagnosis

Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers.
ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill wrote an excellent article on Ernie Harwell's busy life and the special people around him that keep him going after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer at the age of 91. Harwell is a standout in the baseball community; one who has given so much of his life to the sport and helping others. I selfishly hope that he continues to elude the grasp of cancer so he can reach many more while he is still with us.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Joan Joyce, The Missing Legend Ted Williams Could Not Touch

Rarely did a pitcher get the best of Ted Williams. During his Major League career, Williams fanned only 709 times in 9,791 plate appearances. In 1961, a year after retiring from the Red Sox, Williams was asked to participate in an exhibition against Joan Joyce to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. Click here to read about when "the best hitter that ever lived" faced the best softball pitcher in the land.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Stan Bejamin, 95, 1914-2009 - Former Philadelphia Phillie and Cleveland Indian

Long time Houston Astros scout and former MLB player with the Phillies and Indians, Stan Benjamin passed away on Christmas Eve, 2009 at the age of 95 in Cape Cod, MA.

Benjamin was a star with Framingham High School in Massachusettes and went on to play from 1939-1942 with the Phillies and finished up his Major League career with the Indians in 1945. In 1965, Benjamin joined the Houston Astros as a scout. He remained with the Astros for nearly 40 years. He scouted American League East clubs for several seasons before becoming the team's scouting supervisor for the Northeast. Benjamin was a frequent visitor to Fenway Park during the baseball season.

Astros president Tal Smith, who was born in Framingham, called Benjamin a "vital cog" in the organization and a "keen judge of talent."

Area professional baseball players return to give back at clinic

Current area professional baseball players returned to their roots this Saturday to give back to the next generation of New York City baseball talent at the 3rd annual Lou DeMartino GNYSAA Baseball Clinic. On hand to assist at the clinic were four local professionals, John Halama (Milwaukee Brewers - 9 season in MLB), Pedro Beato (Baltimore Orioles - 1st Round Pick), James Jones (Seattle Marines - 4th Round Pick) and Matt Rizzotti (Philadelphia Phillies - 6th Round Pick). To read more about how our local professionals got involved, read the entire article at Examiner.com.