From that wonderful set of 1960 Topps baseball cards…former Reds shortstop and third baseman, Eddie Kasko. (Courtesy of Private Collection)
The latest from an expanding base of readers discovering Press Pros for the first time, and sharing their two cents worth…on college baseball, high school basketball, the ones we miss…and a test of our Reds’ history facts.
“First time reader, and I recently saw one of your columns where you mentioned how college baseball was a more fundamental game than professional baseball. I’ve watch a couple of the early Ohio State games and have yet to see them put down a sac bunt with men on first and second and no outs. Isn’t that fundamental baseball.” … Dean Moreland
(Ed. Note: That is absolutely fundamental baseball, but it’s also generational baseball. And this is a culture of baseball players that consider bunting as a waste of a perfectly good at bat. I remember the situations about which you write, and you make a great point.)
Piqua baseball, 1969…when the older kids taught the younger kids how to play and love the game for life – yours truly, Chris Hardman, and John Hinsch
“If you had your choice would you pay to see a high school baseball game or a major league game? Thanks for the great coverage of the Buckeyes baseball games.” … Don Motz
(Ed. Note: If I had a choice I would pay to see a good high school team play everyday. One is the cost factor – not that I can’t afford to buy a MLB ticket, but there isn’t a box seat anywhere in MLB that’s worth a $150 to me for a regular season game. Two, I’m tired of the constant tinkering with the game to make it more interesting. We used to go to the ballparks to get away from the house. Now they’re trying to get you back there as soon as possible. Three, I enjoy high school baseball because it’s the last horizon of community baseball that’s left for kids…where kids grow up together, learn together, trust together, help each other, and learn to become friends and teammates. None of that exists with travel baseball where you get your two hits and go home until next weekend. That is, if you can afford the price to play? Select baseball is killing community baseball because it leaves too many late developing kids behind, who get discouraged and give up the game altogether. I could write a book…and some people are.)
I’m wondering why you haven’t covered as much high school tournament basketball as you have in the past? Or, is it my imagination?” … Randy
(Ed. Note: No, it’s not your imagination. But as we have in the past we typically pick up the pace during the district and regional rounds of the tournament for a couple of reasons. Seeding and teams taking byes are one consideration…but the biggest is the lopsided early round games between high seeds and teams that won two games during the regular season. Would actually read a story about an 80-1 game?)
“I always enjoy reading Press Pros and the way you guys write the facts. But I wish you could add some staff so you didn’t leave out kids and teams that are as deserving as the schools and leagues that you obviously favor covering. Just my two cents worth.” … Rick Sowers
(Ed. Note: A friend in New York City says the same thing about the New York Times…and that paper wins Pulitzer Awards.)
“Apparently there are degrees of bad basketball, as you write. Because there are high school teams that play more interesting basketball than Ohio State and you continue you cover them.” … Craig Criswell
“Could it be that Ohio State is just having a bad season? Or, is Bruce Hooley that intent on digging up something about Chris Holtmann that isn’t there? He just got an extension on his contract last year so I’d be more upset if they had to pay him for doing nothing. C’mon Bruce.” … Tom Killilea
(Ed. Note: My sense is that if it was football you wouldn’t mind…you and about 250,000 others.)
“Sonny, I really enjoy your yearly birthday columns, and liked your showing that old Roy McMillan baseball card. Someplace I still have some of those myself. Wondering if you can remember the rest of the Reds from those 1960 Topps cards?” … Danny Burcham
(Ed. Note: Johnny Edwards (catcher), Ed Bailey (catcher), Don Blasingame (second base), Eddie Kasko (third base), Leo Cardenas (infielder), Jay Hook (pitcher), Bob Purkey (pitcher), Joe Nuxhall (pitcher), Vada Pinson (outfielder), Frank Robinson (outfielder), Wally Post (outfielder), Gordy Coleman (first base), Jim O’toole (pitcher), and Jim Brosnan (relief pitcher)….those are a few that come to mind.)
Huffer Chiropractic in Jackson Center, Osgood, and Dublin reminds…your athlete runs better on chiropractic.