His ability to hit a baseball, run like a deer, and catch anything that flew were just the baseball attributes of former Red, Vada Pinson. Later in life I was to find out that there was much, much more. He was one of the good guys, too. Remembering one of the Reds' greats as only Greg Hoard can do, in today's inside feature.

The anniversary of North America's biggest military battle happens next week, against the wishes of many who would just like to forget - put behind - the sacrifice and commitment of all those who fought to make America, good and bad, what it is today. ""Any understanding of this nation has to be based on an understanding of the Civil War. It defined us." - Historian Shelby Foote

Response to weekend youth baseball coverage has been mostly positive, and the negatives point out the facts for why community baseball is struggling, and why more kids aren't playing.

Day three of the Craig Stammen Classic was stunning for the fact of heretofore 'unheard ofs' (Fort Loramie's Reid Simon, above) who showed remarkable talent, athleticism and instinct to play baseball...while having just begun to play.