Sunday, June 23, 2013

John Franco helping to raise funds for the Fisher House Foundation

Fisher House Foundation Director of Donations Andrew Kayton (far left), joined by Mets great John Franco alongside Wounded Warrior folks / Citi

New York Mets Hall of Fame closer John Franco appeared at Citi Field last Tuesday for a charity softball game that raised money for the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that builds houses at VA hospitals and military medical facilities that families can stay at when they have loved ones in the hospital.

Currently there are 61 Fisher Houses in operation at every major military medical facility. They support over 20,000 families every year saving them more than $30 million dollars in lodging costs, food, and transportation. No family ever pays to stay at a Fisher House because the foundation picks up the bill that the military would normally charge a family to stay at a Fisher House.

This year’s game raised over $20,000 to support military families, and will provide over 200 nights of lodging at a “home away from home,” for the brave men and women of the United States military and their families.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Lou Brissie - A soldier's courageous journey to take the mound

Lou Brissie is an exemplary measure of courage, strength and perseverance. Just as he graduated from Ware Shoals High School in 1941, Brissie signed with the Philadelphia Athletics on the condition he would join the club after finishing three years at Presbyterian College.


The Athletics were ready to bring Brissie to spring training in 1943, but the draw of representing his country was too strong, as Brissie enlisted in December 1942.

To call Brissie's experience in the war remarkable would be an understatement. Life changed drastically for Brissie on December 7, 1944. While serving in Italy, an artillery shell exploded on his squad leaving him for dead with his left leg tattered from the explosion. Doctors wanted to amputate, but Brissie pleaded with them to save his injured appendage.

Dr. Wilbur Brubaker believed he could repair Brissie's leg, and after 23 surgeries, he was able to return to the field in 1947. Connie Mack held a spot for the left-hander through his recovery, encouraging him every step along the way.

Wearing a heavy brace on his weakened leg, Brissie battled through pain filled nights trying to find the strength that made him a fireballing prospect. Mack rewarded him with a late-season appearance in 1947 with the Philadelphia Athletics after posting a 23-5 record with Class A Savannah. He spent the next six seasons in the major leagues, making the 1949 American League All-Star team en route to a 44-48 career record.

Every time Brissie took the field, he brought hope and inspiration to the veterans recovering from injuries even more devastating than what he faced. His career became a shining example of the resiliency of Americans in the face of extreme adversity.

Some sixty years later, Brissie went through the arduous task of reliving the details of his war experiences in his 2009 autobiography, "The Corporal Was a Pitcher." The book is a must read not only for all baseball fans, but those who are interested in discovering a first-person experience illuminating the true meaning of the American spirit.



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers helps to save New York area youth from child predators

Rollie Fingers presents award at Greatest Save dinner
The world-renown golf courses at Bethpage attract thousands of enthusiasts each year looking to tackle one of the sport’s most ferocious challenges. On Monday May 20, a few hundred devotees gathered there to support a more pressing issue, educating youth about the dangers of child predators.

Headed by the efforts of KinderVision founder Doug Sebastian and national spokesperson, Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers, The Greatest Save was able to make a profound impact on Long Island. All proceeds from the golf tournament and auction went back to local municipalities to further education and prevention programs.

Click here to read more about The Greatest Save's efforts in New York and its impact on the local area.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Share your memories of John 'Mule' Miles, Negro League star

John "Mule" Miles, a power hitting outfielder / third baseman for the Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues, passed away on Friday May 24, 2013 at the age of 90. Miles played three seasons in the Negro Leagues from 1946-48, and set a record of hitting home runs in 11 straight games.

John "Mule" Miles
In recent years, Miles was a very popular figure with baseball fans, exchanging letters filled with inspirational phrases like the one below to those that sought his signature. It is no surprise that he entitled his autobiography, "A Legacy to Leave Our Youth."

Pictured below is a note from Miles after writing to him in 2006.
"Winning is not by luck, it is how you play the game."
Share your memories of Mr. Miles below, or your favorite words of wisdom that you received in your correspondence with him.



Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cot Deal, 90, pitched for the Red Sox and Cardinals

Ellis "Cot" Deal, who spent 50 years in professional baseball as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as a coach for numerous organizations, passed away Tuesday May 21, 2013. He was 90.
Cot Deal 1954 Topps Archives / Baseball-Almanac.com

Deal's career is expertly detailed by SABR member Patrick Doyle in his SABR biography.

Doyle's research on Deal's career also appears in the book, "Spahn, Sain, and Teddy Ballgame: Boston's (almost) Perfect Baseball Summer of 1948."