SPRING 2020 During the last MLBPAA Legends for Youth Clinic before the pandemic on February 29, former Twins shortstop Lenny Faedo shared his wisdom with local Lakeland, Fla. youth. LETTER FROM THE CEO MLBPAA COVID-19 UPDATE situation very seriously, and the safety and illness on the front lines, and continuing well-being of our former player members, to put themselves in harm’s way for the event and clinic attendees and employees greater good. is our top priority. We have cancelled all in-person events from March through the We continue to update our organizational end of May, at the time of publication. Our policies dependent on the best available employees continue to work remotely and information and direction provided remain accessible, while we continue to by government, public health and push forward our mission and serve as a other decisional authorities. For more By Dan Foster / MLBPAA resource for alumni members. information, please visit mlb.com/mlbpaa/covid-19. ear Baseball Family, I want to share with you a campaign recently hosted on our social media I wish you and your families the best D I hope you and your loved ones are channels, borne to lift spirits and during this time, and look forward to safe and well. The COVID-19 pandemic has encourage the baseball family. You can reconvening together once this subsides. impacted our world in such extreme and find this video series on the MLBPAA unprecedented ways, so I am reaching out Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social Best regards, with a message of health and togetherness, media platforms, with the hashtag as well as sharing the MLBPAA’s plans #MLBPAAHomeBase. Look back to hear during this time. familiar faces with motivating and inspirational messages, as well as our The Alumni Association is taking this sincere gratitude to those fighting this Dan Foster, MLBPAA CEO A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BASEBALL ALUMNI NEWS TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE CEO/COVID-19 UPDATE ....................................................1 CROSSWORD PUZZLE............................................................................................3 WHERE ARE THEY NOW: BILL BATHE .......................................................... 4-5 MLBPAA PROVIDING POSITIVITY, ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT ............................................................8 Visit: baseballalumni.com/necrology IN REMEMBRANCE OF for our updated obituaries and archive. BASEBALL LEGENDS May they rest in peace. MLBPAA Board of Directors Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer MLAS Board of Directors Jim Hannan – Chairman David Mindell – Secretary/ Treasurer & Steve Rogers – Chairman and President General Counsel Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman Craig Skok – Chairman Emeritus MLAM Board of Directors Jean Afterman, Sandy Alderson, Eddie Robinson – President Emeritus John Doherty, Pedro Feliz, Jim Poole – Chairman Jason Phillips – Secretary/Treasurer Brian Fisher, Todd Haney, Bill Bray, Orestes Destrade, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Joe Garagiola, Jr., Steve Garvey, Doug Glanville, LaTroy John Doherty, Evan Kaplan, Mike Myers, Steve Rogers, Hawkins, Nick Hundley, Mike Sweeney Al Leiter, Brian McRae, Jim Sadowski Ethan Orlinsky, Andy Parton, MLAS Officers Directors Emeritus Jim Thome, Ed Weber Denny Doyle, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Steve Rogers – Chairman and President MLAM Officers Jose Valdivielso Craig Skok – Chairman Emeritus MLBPAA Officers Jim Poole – Chairman Eddie Robinson – President Emeritus Orestes Destrade – Vice Chairman Jim Hannan – Chairman Jason Phillips – Secretary/Treasurer Tom Seaver – President Emeritus Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer Vice Presidents Brooks Robinson – President – Chief Operating Officer Fergie Jenkins, Al Leiter, Geoff Hixson Vice Presidents Andy Parton, Dave Winfield David Mindell – General Counsel & Bob Boone, George Brett, Carl Erskine, Assistant Secretary Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer Robin Yount Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer Brian Fisher – Assistant Secretary David Mindell – Secretary/Treasurer & Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer General Counsel www.baseballalumni.com | [email protected] | 1-800-336-5272 Looking for a tax-free deduction? The MLBPAA is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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 which is best for you. All checks should be made payable to the MLBPAA and sent to: 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite D Colorado Springs, CO 80906 2 SPRING 2020 INFIELD OF DREAMSName: Complete the crosswordInfield puzzle belowof Dreams – all answers are infield-related! Complete the crossword puzzle below - all answers are infielders or infield related! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.net AcrosACROSSs DDOWNown 4. Last4. Last Indians Indians player player to winto win an anAL AL MVP MVP A wardAward 1. 1.Triple Triple crown crown winner winner traded traded from from Philadelphia Philadelphia Athletics Athletics to to Boston Boston Red Red Sox 7. Mets7. Mets franchise franchise hits, hits, runs runs and and RBIs RBIs leader leader 2. Sox2002 World Series MVP 9. Marlins9. Marlins hit streakhit streak record record holder holder (35) (35) 3. 2.The 2002 final W orldout from Series Joaquin MVP Arias to Brandon Belt to secure this 10. 10.This This Red Red Sox Sox is istied tied for for most most Heart Heart and and Hustle Hustle A Awardswards won won in in a a 3.pitcher’s The final perfect out from game Joaquin Arias to Brandon Belt to secure this career , career,with seven with seven 5. pitcherFirst Twins’s perfect player game inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame 11. 11.New New MLBP MLBPAAAA board board member member and and former former Giants Giants 3B 3B 6. 5.The First Human Twins Vacuum player inducted Cleaner into the Baseball Hall of Fame 12. 12.Multi-generational Multi-generational baseball baseball family family of infielders of infielders 8. 6.Peyton The Human Manning's Vacuum Former Cleaner Teammate World Series unassisted triple play hero Peyton Manning's Former Teammate 13. 13. World Series unassisted triple play hero 10.8. 6-4-3 14. Record holder for most RBIs in a single game, with 11 10. 6-4-3 14. Record holder for most RBIs in a single game, with 11 Answers listed on page 8 THE MLBPAA IS PROUD TO BRING YOU A NEW OUTLET FOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH! Merging Vets and Players (MVP) was founded in 2015 by Fox Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer and former Green Beret and Seattle Seahawk Nate Boyer to address the similar challenges that both combat veterans and former professional athletes face in transition once the uniform comes off. With weekly sessions consisting of physical and mental fitness, we lift each other up as we climb to overcome any obstacles together as a team. Visit our website www.vetsandplayers.org to join our team, or contact Nikki Warner, MLBPAA Director of Communications, at [email protected] with questions. A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3 BASEBALL ALUMNI NEWS WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BILL BATHE Bill Bathe joins Arizona Diamondbacks broadcasters Todd Walsh (left) and Bob Brenly (right). By Kendall Meisner / MLBPAA " f you would have asked me toward the end of my career if I was going I to be a fireman, I would have laughed at you,” former catcher Bill Bathe said. Just like any passionate little leaguer, most aspire to play ball professionally. For Bill Bathe, this dream was no different - even if he ended up on a route less expected. Former MLB catcher Bill Bathe as a Fire Captain for the Tucson Fire Department. “I realized at an early age I had a little bit better ability than other people and At that particular time in his career, any idea that this would be a career that really stuck with baseball,” Bathe said. Bathe felt he could offer more to his life I would do.” than playing baseball, and it was time to Growing up in Willard, Calif., Bathe Roughly one year after the conclusion move on from the game he loved. dreamed of playing for the Oakland of his playing career, Bathe decided to Athletics, and after his college days at Luckily, he found his next passion fairly devote all of his attention to being a Pepperdine University, he did just that. quickly, but the transition out of baseball firefighter and joined the Tucson Fire is never an easy task. Department in Tucson, Ariz. In the 1981 amateur draft, the Oakland A’s drafted him in the 8th round; “I started looking at the fire department “I had looked at baseball as a chapter he made his professional debut that because it had the same attributes that of my life,” Bathe said. “Now here’s a following summer. baseball did,” said Bathe. “It’s a team great opportunity to give back to the atmosphere, but it’s a game of life and community.” Coming through the A’s organization death versus a game of baseball, so it alongside names like Jose Canseco and Within two years at the fire department, intrigued me.” Mark McGwire, Bathe broke into the big he became a paramedic. After five-and-a- leagues in 1986. Three years later he Becoming a firefighter was never the half years, he was named Fire Captain. signed with the San Francisco Giants, career Bathe originally envisioned, but “It almost sounds kind of corny but I felt playing in the 1989 Bay Area World his playing experience set a certain tone like I was giving back for all the fun that Series – better known as the iconic for what his new chapter would look like. I had for the first part of my life playing earthquake World Series. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake that pro ball,” Bathe said. “The highlight of my career really was struck the San Francisco Bay area, just This new chapter hasn’t been easy that [World Series].” Bathe said.