Former Players Give Major League Instruction to Kids at Tucson Clinic
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NEWS SPRING 2018 FORMER PLAYERS GIVE MAJOR LEAGUE INSTRUCTION TO KIDS AT TUCSON CLINIC By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com League Baseball Players Alumni Charlie Montoyo, Nikco Riesgo Association’s Legends for Youth and Mike Sember. TUCSON, Arizona — A familiar baseball clinic in Tucson on It’s an opportunity that Lopez, a sound echoed throughout one of Saturday, January 20. local product who was part of the the practice fields at Kino Lopez joined former three- Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series Sports Complex. time Gold Glove winner and team, didn’t have at the same age. With each thud of a baseball hitting two-time All-Star Eric Davis “I was kind of in the same boat as the grass, the voice continued. as one of several former Major these kids where the coaching and “You’re out!” Leaguers hosting the free clinic opportunities were very limited,” for a projected 200 local youth, Lopez said. “To be able to have Several baseball hopefuls donned teaching life skills in addition numbers to match their idols. these former Major Leaguers come to how to throw a four-seam out and talk to these kids, we can One wore No. 44 for Arizona’s fastball as the kids cycled through Paul Goldschmidt. Another wore help them dream and give them a pitching, hitting, infield and routine where they can come out No. 1, matching Houston’s Carlos outfield drills. Correa. A third wore No. 34 for daily and execute it. Bryce Harper. The voice bellowed Those joining Lopez and Davis “To be able to receive instruction from a No. 32 Sedona red included former Major Leaguers from these Major League guys jersey, as former Diamondbacks Shelley Duncan, Willie Adams, is huge, maybe helping them pitcher Albie Lopez led the series George Arias, Damon Buford, get help or giving a tip that an of pitching drills at the Major Dave Burba, Gil Heredia, Story continues on page 3... A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BASEBALL ALUMNI NEWS SPRING 2018 www.baseballalumni.com E-mail: [email protected] ordinary coach might not have.” “From an informational Telephone: 1-800-336-5272 TABLE OF CONTENTS When Davis, who grew up in Los standpoint, to be able to see all the Looking for a tax free deduction? Angeles, was this age, his dreams players and the Major Leaguers The MLBPAA is designated as a 501(c)(3) FORMER PLAYERS GIVE MAJOR LEAGUE weren’t on the baseball diamond - that have played, it would’ve non-profit organization. Under the IRS code, INSTRUCTION TO KIDS AT TUCSON CLINIC ......... 1,3 they were on the basketball court. been huge (for me). My mouth your contributions, other than dues, are fully Now Davis—the first player in would’ve been wide open, just like tax deductible. Contributions can be made in WHERE ARE THEY NOW? RICK SAWYER ............... 3-4 Major League history to smash 30 these guys’ are.” the form of cash, securities, or real estate. homers and steal at least 50 bases The lessons - and autographs - are Check with your accountant or tax advisor 2017 YEAR IN REVIEW ............................................... 5 in the same season (1987) and a mementos parents and coaches hope regarding which is best for you. RIPKEN SR. FOUNDATION CARRIES ON LEGACY .... 6 World Series champion -- got the can stay with the young players far All checks should be made payable chance to teach kids the game he beyond the clinic. to the MLBPAA and sent to: MEMBER UPDATES AND BENEFITS .......................... 7 wound up falling for. “Baseball has taught me in my life 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite D “It’s fun, because you get the to be a good human being, to be Colorado Springs, CO 80906. chance to help the kids and a good teammate,” Lopez said. MLBPAA Board of Directors identify with them and help “I’m always trying to be helpful, Jim Hannan – Chairman them towards their dream,” Davis especially in baseball, because Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman said. “Here, the dreams aren’t as baseball has allowed me to be Sandy Alderson, John Doherty, emphasized as once you sign a surrounded by good people my Denny Doyle, Brian Fisher, Joseph Garagiola, professional contract, but here is entire life.” Three-time Gold Glove Award winner Eric Davis rolls groundballs to kids in the outfield at a Legends for Youth Clinic in Tucson, AZ. Jr., Doug Glanville, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, just the fun part of teaching them This story was not subject to Rich Hand, Mike Myers, Steve Rogers, and watching them learn. the approval of Major League Jim Sadowski, Fernando Tatis, Jose Valdivielso Baseball or its clubs. MLBPAA Officers President Brooks Robinson Vice Presidents Bob Boone, George Brett, Carl Erskine, Al Kaline, WHERE Rusty Staub, Robin Yount Fred Valentine – Secretary/Treasurer ARE THEY RICK SAWYER Brian Fisher – Assistant Secretary David Mindell – General Counsel NOW? Sam Moore – Legal Counsel Emeritus MLAM Board of Directors Link: https://www.mlb.com/mlbpaa Jim Poole - Chairman By Alex Trihias, MLBPAA Jerry Moses - Chairman Emeritus Bill Bray, Orestes Destrade, John Doherty, UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY BY VISITING Evan Kaplan, Al Leiter, Brian McRae, Ethan Orlinsky, Andy Parton, WWW.BASEBALLALUMNI.COM/PLAYERMEMBER Former right-handed pitcher Rick a big part of my life, it felt natural to team to participate – allowing for an Sawyer loved coaching so much that he bring the two together,” Sawyer said. effective way for veterans to bond. Brooks Robinson, Ed Weber OR CONTACT YOUR MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT AT (800) 336-5272, EXT. 113, MLAM Officers put together a team for a city league in “Sports can give a veteran a chance Sawyer asked if the organization had Tom Seaver – President OR BY E-MAIL AT [email protected] Bakersfield, California. However, this to get out, talk to other veterans and 10 people who would be interested Fergie Jenkins – Vice President was no ordinary team. hopefully if they need support or want in playing. The Wounded Heroes Dave Winfield – Vice President After a few years of playing Major support they will meet someone who Fund sent out flyers and soon enough, David Mindell – Secretary/Treasurer, League Baseball for the New York has been through what they might be responses poured in. General Counsel Yankees and San Diego Padres, decades dealing with.” MLAS Board of Directors In just one week, he had more than 40 of real estate and sales experience After quitting his high school coaching veterans of various ages interested. Craig Skok – Chairman and a successful high school baseball job in 2017, Sawyer was encouraged by Eddie Robinson – Chairman Emeritus coaching stint, Sawyer turned his love his wife, Theresa, to visit a local charity “It surprised me how interested Steve Rogers – Secretary/Treasurer for baseball into an outlet for military in Bakersfield called the Wounded everybody was,” Sawyer said. “I can’t Chris Archer, Nelson Cruz, Dexter Fowler, veterans. Heroes Fund. Sawyer’s goal was to believe all the calls.” Steve Garvey, LaTroy Hawkins, Visit baseballalumni.com/necrology Jason Phillips, Mike Sweeney “I just wanted to do something to help gather enough people for one team to This year – his second year of coaching for our updated obituaries and archive. May they rest in peace. veterans and baseball has been such play in the City of Bakersfield softball the veteran team – Sawyer expects the league. His would be the only veteran number of participants to double. 2 IN REMEMBRANCE OF BASEBALL LEGENDS A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3 SPRING 2018 SPRING 2018 MLBPAA Yea I Revie Rick Sawyer and his veteran team visit the San Diego Padres at Petco Park during the summer of 2017. The purpose of the baseball team that Donations rolled in to support Sawyer’s come out. I kept emailing him and PARTICIPATING Sawyer assembled is to assist in helping team including a donation for the texting him and still.” mor than military veterans with post-traumatic bus from an old friend of Sawyer’s, Though this particular veteran has yet PLAYERS 74,000 (INSTRUCTORS) stress disorder (PTSD). Bakersfield a graduate from the United States to join the team, Sawyer hasn’t given Vet Center outreach specialist and Military Academy at West Point. up on him. resource, Jenny Frank, said that when “I got local vendors around here to a veteran is suffering from PTSD or “I’m going to try to get him again this donate and we all put in money and we year, see if he’ll come out there,” he said. other injuries, they sometimes have bought them uniforms and entry fee difficulty reaching out for help. They into the game,” Sawyer said. Sawyer said he doesn’t have a specific may also feel that asking for help is a way of encouraging veterans to join 14 sign of weakness or that therapy would Sawyer plans to do another trip for his the team because he’s “just an old be uncomfortable. players to either a Los Angeles Angels baseball player”. Rather, he tells them or Los Angeles Dodgers game – since of his experiences. “It’s amazing how these guys, they’ve most of his players are fans of those bonded together in this thing,” Sawyer teams – as he anticipates the larger “They ask questions about my said. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if we’ve volume of interested veterans for the experiences and I tell them, I have no won or lost, they’re having fun, they’re 2018 season. problem with that. Everybody likes laughing and if a guy makes an error, baseball stories.” a guy makes an error. It’s no big deal.