Spring Training, Rain out, Willie, and Al

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The rain from the past two days not only washed out last night's game but did in the games today. More bad news, it also means that we will not be playing against the former Tigers in Joker Merchant on Saturday so we can have more games and a play off on that day.

But, the rain out led to us being able to hear from two of the Tiger greats....Al Kaline and Willie Horton.

Many of you may not know these guys. Kaline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Kaline) is a Hall of Fame guy who is considered to be the best Tiger ever. When I was a kid we all wanted to grow up to be Al Kaline...every little league team had a battle over who got to wear #6. His stories were great, about being signed to a major league contract right out of high school at 18 years old, 5-10" and 150 lbs. How his first locker was a nail in the mens room and how he had to borrow a bat the first time he went to the plate.

Willie Horton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton_%28baseball%29) was the one that really moved me however. At times, as he told us of how he came from the projects in Detroit to the Tigers and then found he could not eat in some of the restaurants with the team or stay where they stayed. How men like Ernie Harwell and George Kell and various team mates would take him home or to places where he would be served for meals. How he would actually walk to the park from his parent's home in the projects to the park. He saluted Jake Wood (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodja01.shtml), who was also in the room as the first African American to come up through the Tigers organization to the pros. Let me tell you, veteran players, Bruce Rondon an upcoming Tiger prospect, the trainers, everyone was focused on his words. I felt privileged to hear this history first hand.

At lunch we heard from Phil Reagan, a former Tiger and coach, telling stories on all sorts of players.

Tonight it is Poker Night, proceeds to benefit Jack's Place for Autism which was started by Jim Price whose son, Jack, is autistic (http://www.jacksplaceforautism.com/).

I hope the links in this blog fill in some of you non-baseball folks as to what is going on here.

GW

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Photos

Al Kaline
Right next to me!

Comments

[sam crowl]

Hey ho the wind and the rain
Sorry all your playing time is getting washed away but the stories and relationship are the real meat and treat of the experience though I am impressed about your throwing a guy out at the plate from short right field. What are the other campers like? Backgrounds? Ages? Talents? Any toher profs/academics? Keep the reports coming.