Local Kids Enjoy Legends for Youth Clinic at Kansas City
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NEWS FALL 2018 LOCAL KIDS ENJOY LEGENDS FOR YOUTH CLINIC AT KANSAS CITY URBAN YOUTH ACADEMY By Jeffrey Flanagan, MLB.com KANSAS CITY — Fortunately, The clinic was presented by the the Kansas City Urban Youth Major League Baseball Players Academy has phenomenal and Alumni Association, with several state-of-the-art indoor facilities. former big-league stars on hand That proved crucial at the free to provide instruction: Royals youth baseball clinic on Saturday, Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis October 6 as heavy rains Leonard, former Royals World postponed outdoor activities. No Series star Willie Aikens, former problem, the event was moved Royal-Cub-Met Brian McRae, inside a facility with a regulation David Patterson, Stan Wall, Clay infield, batting cages, a pitcher’s Christiansen, Ed Hearn, Bobby mound and workout facilities. Dernier and Russ Morman. And much to the delight of an The rainy weather outside didn’t energetic group of youngsters dampen the spirits of the children aged 7-16, the clinic ended with a who participated, most with their real game, an intrasquad game, so parents watching attentively. Former Gold Glove centerfielder Bob to speak. Story continues on page 3... Dernier with a child at the Kansas City Legends for Youth clinic on October 6. A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION www.baseballalumni.com E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 1-800-336-5272 Looking for a tax free deduction? BASEBALL ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2018 The MLBPAA is designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Under the IRS code, your contributions, other than dues, are fully tax deductible. Contributions can be made in the form of cash, securities, or real estate. Check with your accountant or tax advisor regarding TABLE OF CONTENTS which is best for you. All checks should be made payable LOCAL KIDS ENJOY LEGENDS FOR YOUTH CLINIC AT to the MLBPAA and sent to: KANSAS CITY URBAN YOUTH ACADEMY ......................... 1,3 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite D MLBPAA HOSTS FINAL ALUMNI DAY OF MLB SEASON Colorado Springs, CO 80906. AT PETCO PARK .................................................................. 4-6 MLBPAA Board of Directors Jim Hannan – Chairman GIVING TUESDAY - 2018 INFORMATION ............................. 7 Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman WHERE ARE THEY NOW? JOSÍAS MANZANILLO ..............8-9 Sandy Alderson, John Doherty, Denny Doyle, Brian Fisher, Joe Garagiola, Jr., Doug Glanville, Jim NEW MEMBER BENEFITS .................................................... 10 “Mudcat” Grant, Rich Hand, Jim Hannan, Mike Myers, Steve Rogers, Jim Sadowski, Fernando Tatis, HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE ALUMNI DAY SERIES! Jose Valdivielso, Fred Valentine ............................................................................................. 11 MLBPAA Officers Jim Hannan – Chairman Former Royals pitcher Dennis Leonard observes pitching techniques at the Kansas City Legends for youth clinic on October 6. Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman Brooks Robinson – President Vice Presidents – Bob Boone, George Brett, Carl Erskine, What are the messages that Leonard obviously handled the typically gets from the youngsters: Al Kaline, Robin Yount instructors try to convey? pitching station. Were you a star? Brian Fisher - Assistant Secretary Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer “The same stuff we’re talking to “The thing is with most of these “I tell them,” Leonard said, Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer high school kids about, college camps is that you’re dealing smiling, “I was a player when David Mindell – Secretary/Treasurer & General Counsel kids about, even at Spring with some kids who have your parents were your age. That Sam Moore – General Counsel Emeritus Training, is what we talk to these never pitched—they’re too usually gets them thinking.” MLAM Board of Directors kids about,” McRae said. “Same young” Leonard said. “They’re Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Jim Poole - Chairman basic fundamentals. The game has playing T-ball and the concept Royals since 1991, and for MLB. Bill Bray, Orestes Destrade, John Doherty, Evan com since 2015. Kaplan, Al Leiter, Brian McRae, Ethan Orlinsky, Andy evolved in terms of terminology. of pitching hasn’t entered into Parton, Jim Poole, Brooks Robinson, Ed Weber But the game is still the same in their minds yet. So, you have – So Taguchi with terms of fundamentals. It’s still a to really break it down and just MLAM Officers his 2007 St. Louis Jim Poole – Chairman Cardinals Heart and game where whoever catches the teach them the fundamentals of Orestes Destrade – Vice Chairman Hustle Award plaque. ball or throws the ball or hits the mechanics of throwing. Tom Seaver – President ball best wins. Vice Presidents – Fergie Jenkins, Al Leiter, Andy Parton, “It’s just things like keep your Dave Winfield “And you can’t teach advance elbow up when you throw. Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer things until you establish the basic They’re so young they don’t have Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer David Mindell - Secretary/Treasurer & General Counsel and fundamental things. Baseball the strength to really throw far can be a simple game but you have and even if you teach them the MLAS Board of Directors Craig Skok – Chairman to start with the basic stuff first. mechanics, the ball probably Eddie Robinson – Chairman Emeritus Have you received an It’s all about repetition. There’s no won’t go very far. But the point Steve Rogers – Secretary/Treasurer updated Heart and Hustle Award plaque? magic. It’s hard work.” is, as they mature and grow Chris Archer, Nelson Cruz, Dexter Fowler, Steve and get older, they will have the Garvey, LaTroy Hawkins, Jason Phillips, Steve Rogers, We would love to see your photos! The instructors broke up into Mike Sweeney, Craig Skok six teaching stations Saturday, fundamentals in their mind and Tweet @MLBPAA with the hashtag #HeartandHustle then they can really take off.” MLAS Officers ranging from baserunning to Craig Skok – Chairman to be featured on our social platforms! hitting to fielding to pitching. The one question Leonard Bob Dernier speaks to participants of the Eddie Robinson – Chairman Emeritus Kansas City Legends for Youth clinic. Steve Rogers – Secretary/Treasurer Follow us on @mlbpaa David Mindell – General Counsel 2 A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3 BASEBALL ALUMNI NEWS FALL 2018 Boone made it despite a fastball screwballs, I’m throwing him “Thank the Lord.” MLBPAA HOSTS FINAL ALUMNI DAY OF MLB SEASON AT PETCO PARK that topped out at just 83 mph. everything,” Boone recalls. Boone was running wind sprints He had an extensive repertoire of “Anything close in his zone, By Kirk Kienney, Special to MLB.com in the outfield before the following other pitches — curveball, sinker, ‘Whack!’ I threw a screwball to night’s game when he bumped into slider, screwball. him, he took a hellacious swing Bench. “He knew how to pitch,” said and the ball is going right down the left-field line, two runners on bases “Hey, they told me you had every former Padres pitcher Randy Jones, pitch,” Bench said, “but they didn’t a contemporary of Boone’s who and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, Lord, please let it go foul.’ It hooked at the last tell me you had a knuckleball. And won the 1976 National League Cy it was a good one.” Young Award. “He was a lot like second and went foul.” me, not overpowering stuff. He With a new ball in his hands, Said Boone: “My heart almost wasn’t going to do that. He could Boone is thinking, “What do I exploded hearing that from a Hall extract a weakness from a hitter and throw this guy now?” of Famer.” could be effective doing that.” Padres catcher Terry Kennedy Boone made 37 appearances, all in Boone made his Major League debut had an idea. Boone also threw relief, that season for the Padres, in a relief outing in the season- a knuckleball, although that going 1-0 with two saves and a opening series against the Giants. particular pitch was still waiting to 2.86 ERA. He made 20 more make its Major League debut. appearances in 1982 before the A few days later, he pitched 4 2/3 midseason trade to the Astros. innings of relief in the Padres’ home Kennedy squats back down behind opener against a Cincinnati team the plate and puts down the sign, The following season, Boone was that still had several cogs remaining extending all five fingers. back in the Minor Leagues. A from the Big Red Machine. year later, Boone was released in “And he’s just grinning from ear midseason by Triple-A Vancouver Particularly memorable was Reds to ear from behind his mask,” and his professional career was future Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Boone said. “I can’t smile or laugh seemingly over. Bench booming a double off the or anything. It’s the first time I’ve 17-foot wall in center field at San thrown it in a game. Or so he thought. Diego Stadium. Boone had that In the mid-1980s, Boone worked A group of alumni at Petco Park at the San Diego Alumni Day on September 18. “I throw it, and the ball is going in mind two weeks later, when the right down the middle. Johnny in construction to support his wife teams met again at Cincinnati’s Bench takes another hellacious and three daughters. He still played Riverfront Stadium. Bench was at in a men’s hardball league in San SAN DIEGO — Three dozen or Majors with the Padres in 1981 pitcher on the mound because swing and at the last second the the plate again, and he was wearing ball takes a dip and he swings and Diego. He dominated hitters - so former Major Leaguers got before being traded to the Astros it’s not in anybody’s mind to see Boone out again.