This posting was written this year by a student in my Baseball and Statistics class at Quinnipiac University. If you have a story about a special baseball relationship with someone in your family please email the story to me at stan@sandlotstats.com. One of the first things my dad and I bonded over was our love …
New York witnessed the rare event of the Mets and Yankees opening the baseball season both at home at the same time on the same day. As you know I am a diehard Yankee fan. Being a true Yankee fan I also root against the team that shares New York with them. However, I will …
By this time it would have been impossible for anyone not to have seen the video showing the head basketball coach Mike Rice grabbing, verbally abusing, and throwing basketballs at his players. Was I shocked at the video? The answer is no. First, let me say that even though most of my postings involve baseball …
From 9 am on March 26th to 12 PM on March 27th, I had the privilege of spending time with two special people. One man, Rico Brogna, was a former Major Leaguer; the other man, Gabriel Costa, is a Catholic priest and mathematician. My 27 hour adventure begins with Rico Brogna’s visit to my baseball …
After retiring in 2001 as an active player, Rico spent a short time figuring out what a 32 year old retired ballplayer will do with the rest of his life. He continued his connection to Major League Baseball scouting for such teams as the Rays, Rockies, and Diamondbacks. He returned to his roots and coached …
After signing his contract with Detroit, it was off to Bristol, TN, the Tigers Rookie League affiliate. At the age of 18, Rico was forced to adapt quickly to living on a monthly paycheck of $250.00 after taxes. That year he appeared in 60 games batting .254. The next year he was off to Lakeland, …
A brief biography for Rico Brogna goes as follows. Rico was born on April 18, 1970 in Turner Falls, Ma. He attended Watertown High School in Watertown Ct. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round, pick number 26, of the amateur draft. He signed with the Tigers on June 18, 1988. He …
Note: The following blog was written by a woman in my Baseball and Statistics course. Please comment on this touching story or supply your own story of how baseball/softball changed your life. The first time I picked up a softball was my first t-ball game. From that moment I became addicted to being on the diamond. …
Just after the New Year my wife and I had dinner with two couples in Naples, Florida. One couple was Jack and Maryann Dolan. Jack Dolan spent a couple of years as an Associate Producer at ABC-TV sports (1963-65) working under the tutelage of Roone Arledge and with such well-known broadcasters as Jim McKay, Curt …
To get up to speed on this posting please see my last posting. A brief summary is at a store in Naples, FL I met Ms. Root, whose father’s uncle was Charlie Root. He was the pitcher who in the 1932 WS pitched the ball that Babe Ruth supposedly pointed to the centerfield stands prior …