Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Adley and Ad Rutschman in Seattle morning of Tue., June 28, 2022


In Seattle on Tue. morning, June 28, 2022, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman discussed Monday's night game with his grandfather, Ad Rutschman. Baltimore beat the Seattle Mariners, 9-2. Adley had a RBI single in the first inning and a home run in the third in the game
.



Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Photos: MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER ADLEY RUTSCHMAN and FAMILY MEMBERS IN SEATTLE on JUNE 27. 2022




Photos: MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER ADLEY RUTSCHMAN 
and FAMILY MEMBERS IN SEATTLE on JUNE 27. 2022

Three photos provided to Wildcatville by Coach Ad Rutschman. These were taken in Seattle at T-Mobile Park on evening the of June 27, 2020, after the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariner 9-2, in a Major League game.

Each shows Adley Rutschman, Baltimore’s starting catcher, a grad of Oregon State University and Sherwood (Oregon) High School:

  •          Adley with grandfather Ad Rutschman
  •          Adley with father Randy Rutschman
  •          Adley with sister Josie Rutschman

::::

READ ABOUT THE GAME HERE

Wells, Rutschman help Orioles
dominate 
Mariners 9-2

By AP/Associated Press, June 28, 2022 at 6:10 am PDT

Tyler Wells pitched five nearly perfect innings, Adley Rutschman drove one of Baltimore’s five home runs and the Orioles three-hit the Seattle Mariners in a 9-2 victory Monday night.

Wells (6-4) was perfect until allowing Cal Raleigh’s homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He retired the next batter before handing off to the bullpen, finishing with three strikeouts on 63 pitches.

Joey Krehbiel and Keegan Akin combined to close out Baltimore’s gem. Akin got his first save with 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

“Just the ability to hit spots, just trying to attack the zone, it kind of worked out for me” Wells said. “It felt like I had a good fastball tonight, it’s the best that it’s felt in a while.”

Mariners starter George Kirby (2-3) allowed seven runs on nine hits, including four homers, over four innings.

Rutschman, a touted rookie from Sherwood, Oregon, who starred at Oregon State, had an RBI single in the first inning that skipped off second baseman Adam Frazier’s glove. Baltimore added another run in the second on an RBI double from center fielder Cedric Mullins.

Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle hit back-to-back homers in the third inning for a 4-0 lead, and Anthony Santander and Austin Hays clubbed consecutive drives in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage. Jorge Mateo added a solo shot in the sixth.

 “We’ve got a lot of confidence right now,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “Our dugout is as good as I’ve seen it since I’ve been here. It’s just super positive, guys are really pulling for each other, and there’s a lot of energy in there right now.”

Rutschman’s home run was special, as it came with his family in the stands for his first career big league game at T-Mobile Park. Rutschman’s family made the three-hour drive from his hometown and cheered loudly from their seats behind the visitors’ dugout when Rutschman homered.

It was the first time Rutschman’s grandfather, Ad, had seen him play in person as a major leaguer.

“It’s just so special,” Rutschman said. “Home run or not, just having him in the stands again, is just so extremely important and special for me and my family. Having him be a person I look up to so much, it just means the world to me.”

Mountcastle’s shot one batter later ended Seattle’s franchise-record run of 24 consecutive games without a starter giving up at least four runs.

 “We haven’t had that game in quite some time,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Our starting pitching has been really the anchor for us over the last month or so. The guys have been so darn consistent.”

The Mariners scored their second run in the sixth on a double off the left-field wall from Eugenio Suarez that scored Julio Rodriguez.

DAY AFTER
Three Mariners players were suspended Monday for their roles in a brawl with the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday: outfielder Jesse Winker got seven games, shortstop J.P. Crawford got five and outfielder Julio Rodríguez got two.

All three players appealed and were in the Mariners lineup on Monday night.

ROSTER MOVES
The Mariners acquired INF Carlos Santana and cash from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher William Fleming and RHP Wyatt Mills. Santana is hitting .216 this season with four homers and 21 RBI.

TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: OF Kyle Lewis was on the field before the game and is getting close to going on a minor league rehab assignment. ... INF Ty France is hitting in the batting cage as he works his way back from an elbow strain, and manager Scott Servais is hopeful he can return at the end of his 10-day IL stint.

Orioles: INF Ramon Urias took batting practice Monday and is progressing from a left oblique strain that landed him on the 10-Day IL on June 11.

UP NEXT

Seattle: The Mariners will start LHP Robbie Ray (6-6, 4.07 ERA) on Tuesday. Ray has been dominant in his past three starts, allowing 10 total hits and two earned runs while striking out 20.

Baltimore: RHP Dean Kremer (2-1, 1.71 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season Tuesday against Seattle. Kremer pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing seven hits against the Chicago White Sox in his most recent start on June 23.

https://www.kiro7.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/wells-rutschman-help-orioles-dominate-mariners-9-2/7NJK54NIAZAUPJ2CMK75AMT5FI

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2022/06/photos-major-league-baseball-player.html

Monday, June 27, 2022

GRANDFATHER AD ENJOYS GRANDSON ADLEY’S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EVEN BOBBLEHEADS


GRANDFATHER AD ENJOYS GRANDSON ADLEY’S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EVEN BOBBLEHEADS

McMinnville's Ad Rutschman -- a Linfield grad and former outstanding athletes for the Wildcats and later the college's football and baseball coach and athletic director -- is grandfather of Adley Rutschman, starting catcher for Major League's Baltimore Orioles. Photo taken in early June 2022 by Wildcatville shows Ad looking at some of the bobbleheads issued by minor league teams for which Adley played.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Concert in Seattle in 2020 honored jazz pianist/legend Overton Berry, a Linfielder


CONCERT IN SEATTLE IN 2020 HONORED JAZZ PIANIST/LEGEND OVERTON BERRY, A LINFIELDER

“Remembering Overton Berry” was a concert at Town Hall Seattle on Oct. 9, 2020, at Town Hall Seattle. It featured jazz pianist Diane Schuur and a host of Seattle artists and kicked off that year’s Earshot Fest. 

Source: John Gilbreath, host Jazz Theater at KEXP. Host: Caravan at KCBS Radio and Director at Earshot Jazz.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Although Overton Berry graduated from Seattle's Lincoln High School that was because he attended a summer session at Lincoln so he could graduate early. His alma mater was Garfield High in Seattle.

Jazz pianist/legend Overton Berry (born 1936-died 2020) attended Linfield College his freshman year (1953-1954). He was president of the freshman (Class of 1957) and a pledge (“page”) of Linfield’s chapter of the Intercollegiate Knight men’s service honorary.

Posted here are five photos of Overton Berry from the 1954 Linfield Oak Leaves yearbook. Thanks to Linfield Archives for the scans. Also posted are photos from his jazz pianist career.

Info about Overton Berry:

https://www.historylink.org/file/10326

More info:
https://southseattleemerald.com/.../local-jazz-legend.../





Oct 21, 2020 — One of Seattle's most beloved and popular musicians, the effervescent jazz pianist Overton Berry, died at home. (Seattle Times)

He attended Linfield, 1953-1954, and then transferred to the University of Washington, Seattle.

=The 1954 Linfield Oak Leaves student yearbook includes this text: “Keeping the traditions of Linfield, the class of 1957, began its college life with active participation in the homecoming activities, presenting its many talents Dr. Dillin’s Medicine Show. Although losing the Tug-O-War, the class kept up its spirit and added school sporting to athletic and other events. Led by Overton Berry, the class helped carry out student body functions and especially worked to make the May Day celebration a great event.”

=An article headlined “2 Honoraries Tap Students,” in the April 7, 1954, Oregonian said Overton Berry of Seattle was among 27 new “pages” of Linfield’s chapter of Intercollegiate Knights (I.K.), men’s national service honorary.

#

 




Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Next to front door of home in McMinnville. A Baltimore Oriole's fan lives there!



 

Linfielder Dan W. Lever: Continued success as a football coach





 

Linfielder Dan W. Lever: Continued success as a football coach

Written/posted by Wildcatville 6/15/2022

Linfiedler Dan W. Lever (Daniel William Lever, Class of 2008), a great-grandson of Linfield legend Henry Lever, has had continued success as a football coach.

(Henry Lever was Linfield athletic director 1930-1949 and "coach of everything” 1930-1945, He’s honored on the Linfield campus in McMinnville with “Lever Street” which runs next the Linfield athletics/p.e. building and behind Linfield football’s home, Memorial Stadium/Maxwell Field/Catdome.)

Dan W. Lever was a running back for the Wildcats, lettering in 2006, 2007 and 2008 With this story is a Wildcatville photo of Dan W. Lever wearing uniform, #27, on the sidelines of a 2007 Linfield home football game.

He was a 3-year letter winner at Linfield College. Dan was named “Physical Education major of the year” in 2008 by the Linfield faculty. Lever is extremely proud to be a 4th generation teacher and coach.

The newly appointed head coach of Silverton (Oregon) High School, Dan W. Lever previously was Tualatin (Oregon) high School head football coach, and He coached Tualatin to the state championship game in 2021.

Dan W. Lever is a fourth generation football coach.

Great-grandfather Henry Lever was the head football coach at Oregon’s Myrtle Point High School (1925-29) before moving to Linfield. Henry’s background included being head football coach at Valley City State in North Dakota, Texas Christian University, and Carrol in Wisconsin.

Dan W. Lever’s grandfather, Dan, was the head coach at Madras and Newberg in Oregon.

Dan, the father of Dan W. Lever was the head coach at Monroe and an assistant at Canby. Both are in Oregon.

As a graduating student, Dan W. Lever was named “Physical Education major of the year” in 2008 by the Linfield faculty.

Dan W. Lever first head football coaching job was at Gervais (Oregon). He assisted in football programs at Southeastern Oklahoma State, Puget Sound in Tacoma and California’s Santa Barbara Community College before taking over at Tualatin.

#

Monday, June 13, 2022

Linfield (in Oregon) is uncommon. Why does it have a common fight song (from Wisconsin)?

 


Linfield (in Oregon) is uncommon. Why does it have a common fight song (from Wisconsin)?

Linfield is uncommon. Why does it have a common fight song?

 

“On Wisconsin!” (with a different title, “On Linfield!” and slightly difference lyrics) is Linfield’s fight song.

 

“On Wisconsin!” was composed in 1909. The University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band website says ‘On Wisconsin!’ is not only the university’s fight song, it’s also the official State Song of Wisconsin. “It is undoubtedly one of the most popular school songs in the country and has been adopted by thousands of high school bands.  It is rare to attend a high school football game anywhere in the United States and not hear ‘On, Wisconsin!’ performed by at least one school band.”

 

( Several years ago Maxwell Field at Memorial Stadium/Catdome was the site of an NCAA D3 football playoff game. Linfield played a university from Wisconsin. In games that season Linfield played a recording on its public address system of “On Wisconsin!” since it’s Linfield’s fight song. But, in this game it was not played because the opponent school’s players, coaches, staff and fans attending the game would have thought Linfield was playing it for them, not Linfield.)

 

Esther Wright of Linfield College’s Class of 1925 wrote the Linfield Alma Mater music and lyrics during the school year (1921-1922) when McMinnville College became Linfield College.

 

Shouldn’t a Linfield University student or students write the New Linfield Fight Song music and lyrics?

 

Linfield need to stop using a common fight song. Stop being common. Have an uncommon Linfield Fight Song.

 

=According to the University of Wisconsin March Band website, ‘On, Wisconsin!’ is not only the University’s ‘fight song,’ but it has also been designated as the official State Song of Wisconsin.  It is undoubtedly one of the most popular school songs in the country and has been adopted by thousands of high school bands.  It is rare to attend a high school football game anywhere in the United States and not hear ‘On, Wisconsin!’ performed by at least one school band.

 

“The melody of this famous song was composed in 1909 by W. T. Purdy, a corporation clerk who, prior to that time, had never set foot in Wisconsin.  The words were supplied by Carl Beck, a former University of Wisconsin student.  In one day, these two young men produced the song that John Philip Sousa called ‘the finest of college marching songs.’ ”

 

Additional reading (there will be a quiz):

 

=Will a time come when Linfielders will sing the college fight song at the drop of a hat? (Wildcatville blog Nov 27, 2017)

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2017/11/every-college-university-and-school-has.html

 

=Linfield sports related fight songs (Wildcatville blog June 12, 2017)

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2017/06/linfield-sports-related-fight-songs.html

 

=“Go Get ‘em, Wildcats” should be Linfield fight song (Wildcatville blog March 29, 2010)

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2008/10/go-get-em-wildcats-should-be-linfield.html

POSTSCRIPT

=Linfield (in Oregon) is uncommon. Why does it have a common fight song (from Wisconsin)?

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2022/06/linfield-in-oregon-is-uncommon-why-does.html


Sunday, June 12, 2022

There are loyal Wildcat fans here on earth and, in the case of Steve ‘Sparky’ Davis and others, in heaven


There are loyal Wildcat fans here on earth and, in the case of Steve ‘Sparky’ Davis and others, in heaven

See photo by Wildcatville.

We celebrate Steve’s birthday on June 14 – he was born June 14, 1950, in Clarkston, Washington, and died April 22, 2014, in Portland, Oregon.

Below is a story/recollection about Steve by Chuck Charnquist, a former Linfield Sports Information Director. Chuck, who died Oct. 28, 2021, is  better known for his many years associated with the NBA Portland Trail Blazers. Read about Chuck here:

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2021/10/chuck-charnquist-longtime-portland.html

::::::::::::::

Remembering Steve Davis: 'He’s on my short list of the all-time great people...'

By Chuck Charnquist. April 25, 2021, Wildcatville

My first connect with Steve was during his Linfield student days in the early 1970s. At the time I was Lewis & Clark’s SID, one of three in the NWC with full-time staff positions Bob Woodle at Willamette and Jim Kittlsby at PLU were the other two. The summer of 1971 I invited the SIDs from Oregon’s NWC schools to lunch and an afternoon of meetings to help build a professional trust that would pay dividends for us all as the sports seasons unfolded.

 

Steve was one of the student SIDs who came. Bonding with Steve was instantaneous. Initially, I had a hard time believing a student who played football also could handle the sports information ropes as well. Davis proved me wrong. When he worked in that role on and on for the next decade, it was a great connect as we helped each other accomplish our tasks---whether it be football, basketball or the spring sports.

 

A side note: Does anyone know that for one summer, Steve was a “part timer” (they now call them interns) in the Portland Trail Blazers’ sports communications office?  I think Steve was the first college student ever to fill that role for the Blazers---probably in the summer of 1971, the team’s second season. Steve was one of the Blazer publicist John White’s all-time favorites. White’s daughter, Cheri, now a vice president for the Blazers but then just a teenager, remembers Steve fondly.

 

When I went to work for Linfield in 1987 as the college’s director of information services (also wearing the hat of sports information director), Steve was one of my best confidants. He was a big, big help in my transitioning into the World of the Wildcats. I watched with amazement when Steve, Ron Davison, Jeff Kizer and other Wildcat alums rolled up their sleeves, emptied their wallets and built over the summer of 1988 Maxwell Field’s great concession-ticket office pavilion. A vintage Steve Davis commitment to his alma mater.

 

Later on, I reconnected with Steve when he was at his dad’s Cherry City Electric Company in Salem, one of the subcontractors in the building of The Rose Garden in the early 1990s. By then I was working full time for the team. We got together for lunch a couple of times when he was up checking on the work going on.

 

Fast forward a few years when Steve was investing his passion for sports in the stadium and arena electronic signage business---Daktronics.  When he was up meeting with Trail Blazers arena management, he’d call and say “let’s have lunch.” He would meet with the front office people then we’d go to lunch.

 

The last time I saw him was at a Blazers game one night about five years ago. He gave me his card, and said, “let’s have lunch.”  Sadly, I didn’t make it that time.

 

He’s on my short list of the all-time great people I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside---Portland State, Lewis & Clark, Linfield, Trail Blazers, wherever.

 

Steven Edward Davis,63, was born June 14, 1950, and died April 22, 2014. A service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at Linfield's Ted Wilson Gymnasium, McMinnville. A viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2014, and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2014, at Chapel of Macy and Son. For more information: www.macyand son.com

Source: 4/25/2014 posting at Oregonian website

 

::::::::::::

 

Steve Davis obituary

 

Steven Edward Davis, 63, of McMinnville, Oregon went home to be with Jesus on April 22, 2014. He died from complications of leukemia following a bone marrow transplant while at OHSU hospital.

 

Steve was born in Clarkston, WA, on June 14, 1950 to Lorne and Virginia Davis. Steve grew up in Salem, Oregon. Following graduation from North Salem High School (68') he attended Linfield College where he graduated (72') with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.

 

While at Linfield he was a record setting field goal kicker and his favorite career play was a game winning field goal against rival P.L.U. In addition to studies and football while at Linfield, Steve enjoyed his years as a live in student firefighter and long-term volunteer firefighter in McMinnville Fire Department. This association earned him the nickname "Sparky". Some of his fondest memories while at Linfield were of his teammates, coaches, the "Bar West" group, and being a part of the original Riley gym "South Forty".

 

 In 2003 Steve was inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame for Meritorious service, an honor he held in the highest regard. Also, he has been selected as an inductee into the McMinnville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in May 2014 for his many years of volunteer contributions to area youth softball programs.

 

Steve met and married his wife of 43 years, Marilyn Fay King, in his junior year at Linfield. They settled and made a life in McMinnville. Upon graduation from Linfield he worked as intern Sports Information Director for The Portland Trailblazers later moving onto sales and project management for Eoff Electric, Cherry City Electric, Farnham Electric, and lastly Daktronics Scoreboard sales.

 

Steve's life was defined by his unconditional love of family and friends and his tremendous servants heart. If a need was evident he was the first to respond with unending selflessness. Steve was a role model and mentor throughout his life. He was active in community, volunteerism at Linfield, and coaching girls softball for many years. His love and care of those girls far exceeded the softball field. Those who knew Steve well knew him as "MacGyver" a handyman who could fix anything with a roll of duct tape and a screwdriver, a man who loved details, and appreciated schedules. Steve was also a gifted storyteller.

 

Steve is survived by his wife Marilyn, their two daughters, two son-in-laws, and 8 grandchildren. Family includes daughters Rori Davis Hartzell, Ryan Hartzell, and their children Molli, Mason, Judith, Kerby and Mark. Rhonda Davis Thompson, Ron Thompson and their daughters Hannah, Lotti, and Sophia. Steve is also survived by 3 siblings; Jim Davis, Donna Marr, and Craig Davis all of Salem, Or. He is preceded in death by his parents Loren and Virginia Davis.

 

A viewing will be held at Macy and Son Funeral Home on Sunday, April 27 from 3:00-6:00 pm and Monday, April 28, 2014 from 4:00-7:00 pm. Steve's Celebration of Life is Tuesday April 29, 2014 at 4pm at Linfield's Wilson Gymnasium with reception following.

 

Source: Macy and Son, McMinnville

We interrupt Ad ‘Rutschman Reunion’ 2022 for latest news about Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles


We interrupt Ad ‘Rutschman Reunion’ 2022 for latest news about Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles

Saturday afternoon, June 11, 2022, was the annual “Rutschman Reunion” on the Linfield campus. Coach Ad Rutschman, 90, was celebrated by his former football and baseball players and friends.

During the Coach’s talk there was an interruption. One of those in the audience, sitting with others at tables in the meeting room after eating lunch, had news for Coach about his grandson, Adley Rutschman, starting catcher for Major League’s Baltimore Orioles.

The news was about Adley’s batting in Baltimore’s game in Missouri vs. the Kansas City Royals.

The story below details the news. What a feat by Adley Rutschman. What a joy for Ad Rutschman.

Go, Adley!

Go, Orioles!

Adley Rutschman signaling breakout after career day with three hits

By Zachary Silver, MLB, Saturday, June 11, 2022

KANSAS CITY -- Slowly but surely, it seemed that Adley Rutschman was starting to awaken from his early-career slumber. Balls were being sprayed across the field with vociferous velocity, just often into defenders' gloves. There had been some time of toiling and self-reflection, but confidence nonetheless, that a breakout was coming.

And then Saturday afternoon came and went, and Rutschman left little to doubt.

The Orioles' rookie phenom compiled a list of feats in Saturday’s 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, giving the club and fan base alike a number of signs that he may be turning things around after many similar balls have fallen for naught:

• The first three-hit game of his career

• The first multi-extra-base hit game of his career

• Four hard-hit balls (95-plus mph exit velocity)

• Three of the six hardest-hit balls in K.C. on Saturday

• A 110 mph single that stands as the hardest-hit ball of his career

The Adley Rutschman slumber may be over. He paces the Orioles' offense with a three-hit day -- the first of his career -- for the first victory here in KC. Tyler Nevin had the big swing. Tyler Wells had the big innings.

“Baseball is one of those games that you're going to hit balls right at people and then you're going to have balls that are hit hard that fall for hits,” Rutschman said. “You just got to continue to roll with the punches.”

It was the first scoresheet-stuffing performance of Rutschman’s career, as he paced the Orioles’ offense and crossed the plate twice -- one on a heads-up play in the eighth inning -- though he still is searching for his first RBI and homer. When those come, they will simply solidify the optimism that a breakout is beginning for the No. 1 overall prospect in the Majors.

“It was just a matter of time,” said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. “And I'm sure it's a big relief for him to have a good game like he had today.”

“He's had a slow start, but no doubt in my mind he's going to get back to what we all know he can do,” added third baseman Tyler Nevin, whose three-run homer in the sixth was the game-deciding swing. “Tonight is basically what I've seen every single time I play with him.”

That kind of confidence is exactly what has lifted Rutschman through this early-career bind. Internally, though belief never wavered, there was the requirement of self-reflection. Struggle has seemingly escaped Rutschman across his baseball career, a quality of consistent excellence and production that made him the no-doubt first overall pick exactly three years and a week ago from Friday.

But three weeks in, and he has been required to look inward -- about his plate approach, his routine, the Majors and himself.

“Just kind of, 'What am I doing?’” Rutschman would ask himself. “‘What adjustments do I need to make at the plate? Am I getting sped up on my timing? Is it just kind of being in the big leagues that's speeding me up, or is it something in my swing?’

“Those are tough questions to answer,” he added. “You just continue to try and learn as you go.”

So call Saturday learning on the job, then. In several ways, such a performance perhaps shouldn’t have been a surprise. By pure pedigree standards, at worst, the club believes the talent is there for Rutschman to be an everyday contributor. At best, he could be a face-of-the-franchise and cornerstone piece that shepherds Orioles pitching and leads the club offensively into its next phase of competitiveness.

But one further, there’s underlying evidence that Rutschman should have started to find results prior. Entering Saturday, he was hitting just .153 with a .220 slugging percentage, numbers that modestly improve under the lens of their expected values (xBA) at .222 and .323, respectively.

A double in Friday’s loss was a table-setter for the next day’s output. And a 106.2 mph lineout was a tease at three more times on base. Rutschman is now hitting .190 with a .286 slugging percentage.

“He hit four balls right on the screws. Just really impressed the way he swung the bat from both sides of the plate, line drives all over the park,” Hyde said. “Awesome day for him at the plate.”

Hyde’s trust has never ceased, preaching confidence that Rutschman’s true arrival is just a matter of time, especially given the delayed start he was off to with his right triceps strain in Spring Training. Rutschman says each day brings more comfort and “gets a little better as you go.” Teammates -- the few that have seen him struggle -- know his work ethic will make this early-career lag a laughable speed bump by playing days’ end.

And then in the visitors’ clubhouse after Saturday’s win, Nevin -- a teammate of Rutschman's for much of the past two seasons -- answered the question surrounding his slow start unasked by both the Orioles beat reporting corps, but felt in bits around the fan base.

“So," Nevin laughed, “don't worry.”

https://www.mlb.com/news/adley-rutschman-has-career-high-three-hits-for-orioles

 

Friday, June 10, 2022

'Baseball glove collecting is catching on' by Linfielder Rusty Rae of 'Old Stuff'



Baseball glove collecting is catching on

Story and photos by Rusty Rae, Associate Editor, Old Stuff

Linfield University head baseball coach Dan Spencer quipped one day, “I love collecting great baseball players and baseball mitts.”

You may not need to collect baseball players like Spencer, but collecting baseball gloves has become, for some, a national pastime, just as important as the game itself.

Spencer, a baseball lifer, who eats, sleeps, and drinks the game, also enjoys the history of the sport through his collection of gloves, some of which date back to the Babe Ruth era. Gloves give Spencer, who has been playing and coaching the game since he was seven-years-old, insight into the game and the talent of players of yesteryear.

The best glove of his collection is a Babe Ruth replica that was given to him by a woman who, as he tells it, was the “health lady” for the team, taking care of whatever ailed team members.

“She was from London and she gave me a box with this glove in it and told him, ‘I knew you would appreciate it.’” As it turns out the glove was given to her husband by his mother. But being a Brit, even with the Babe Ruth name on the glove, he had no interest in baseball or the glove. Additionally, her husband was left-handed and this was a right-handed glove.

 While the Babe Ruth give is perhaps the crown jewel of his collection, Spencer, like many sons and  daughters of the game, notes his favorite of his collection is his father’s glove — the one with which they played catch together.

That’s probably the starting point for many who collect baseball gloves — a glove that may not have great historical significance but is valued for sentimental reasons. For others, collecting gloves is a way to stay involved in the game and to cherish players whom they love and have become heroes of the game.

Keep in mind baseball was initially played without gloves. The first recorded use of them in a game can be traced back to the mid-1870s. In the baseball of the late 1800s, the old[1]time game saw early gloves, more like the gloves worn in winter weather today, sans finger tips, designed to knock down the ball rather than actually catch it.

As glove technology improved and broken fingers declined, even some of the hard core baseball die-hards who mocked the guys who used gloves began to take notice. By the 1890s, almost all position players were using some form of fielding glove.

Baseball gloves continued to improve players’ ability to catch the ball and have gone from the web less three fingered gloves, to Spencer’s Babe Ruth glove with five fingers, to today’s modern five-fingered web glove, which is large enough to catch a small cantaloupe.

 If you’re looking to start a baseball glove collection, understand there are several categories of gloves of which you should be aware. These are:

Game used: As the name suggests, these are gloves used in games and are perhaps the most difficult to find and when you do will be pricey. For example, if you are lucky enough to find a MacGregor model worn by many-time all-star center-fielder and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, you may see a price point of $10,000 or more. That same kind of price structure is likely for gloves worn by any of the stars of the game, for example Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., or Derek Jeter.

Obviously, if you’re going to drop a load of cash on a glove from one of the heroes of baseball, makes sure there is documentation which will give you the confidence the glove was owned and used by the player.

Game Model: This is the same model of the glove used by the player, but the difference is it was never used in a game. These gloves are easier to fake, though in modern times glove manufacturers stamp the player’s name on the glove. As always, let the buyer beware – do your homework to make sure you know what you’re buying. Fakes are the biggest issue and the concern is acerbated by unscrupulous glove manufacturer execs stashing an extra game model to give away or sell.

Store Model: Most would consider these gloves retail models of mitts. They’re fun to have (I can still remember the Mickey Mantle glove I used that my mother purchased at the local sporting goods store) and readily available.

Knowledge is power, as they say, and if you’re just starting out there are numerous online sites to assist you with all facets of collecting, from price guides to care to repair.

= www.baseballglovecollector.com This is a great place to start your information collection. Jim Daniel, who runs the site, has collected gloves and mitts since 1994. Not only is there a ton of information about gloves, but he also has a good list of other collectors and their web sites. 

baseballia.com/ blog/beyond-card[1]board-collecting[1]vintage-baseball-gloves A nice site with gobs of information about baseball history and baseball memorabilia in general. You may have to root around the site to find additional specific information about collecting gloves, but if you’re a baseball fan, you have a good time.

keymancollectibles.com This site is a treasure trove for collectors of anything baseball. Included is a baseball glove dating guide and also a how-to section on cleaning and restoring old gloves.

www.sportsartifacts.com/vintage.html You’ll have to search a bit here, but the Gloves and Mitts section is pure gold for collectors. It contains information on a number of different styles and eras of mitts and a general price guide.

Photo cutlines:

=Collections of baseball gloves vary by who the collector is. For example, below are some of Spencer’s gloves that include his favorite glove, the one his dad used when they played catch. Some gloves may just be used gloves with a nice label, such as the glove at the bottom, which appears to have been a game glove used by a high schooler.

=At right, a game model 1940s first baseman’s glove. Unless you’re a total Dodger fan, you may not know the name of Dolph Camilli, who helped the then Brooklyn Dodgers to a World Series win.

=Perhaps the prize glove in Spencer’s collection is this Babe Ruth Game Model glove with the Bambino’s name embossed in the heel of the glove. Interestingly, the glove is marketed as a “Home Run Special” since Ruth had hit 60 homers one season. But the glove in actual play is used to catch potential home runs.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Old Stuff magazine features Pacific Northwest antiques, collectibles, antique shows, shows history and nostalgia. Published by the McMinnville News-Register, Linfieler Rusty Rae is the magazines associate editor, production designer and  photographer. Linfielder Jeb Bladine is Old Stuff publisher and McMinnville N-R president / publisher

See the Old Stuff April-May-June 2022 edition here:

https://newsregister.com/pub/doc/OldStuff_2ndqtr_2022-webspreads.pdf

More info here:

https://www.oldstuffnews.com/

Old Stuff available free at antique shops around the Pacific NW, it offers display advertising and recently added classified ads.

Questions: odlstuffnews@gmail.com, (503) 687-1258

Saturday, June 04, 2022

Honoring Linfielder TOM McFadden, (1958-2022) on Fourth of June 2022. Linfield campus, McMinnville

Honoring Linfielder TOM McFadden, (1958-2022) on Fourth of June 2022. Linfield campus, McMinnville (Newly edited video/slideshow 6/5/2022)




Thursday, June 02, 2022

ABOUT TOMMY'S BICYCLE SHOP, HOPSCOTCH TOYS, LON DEE FLOWERS

ABOUT TOMMY'S BICYCLE SHOP, HOPSCOTCH TOYS, LON DEE FLOWERS

t:






In 2020, Tommy's Bicycle Shop on McMinnville 3rd Street moved into the building which formerly housed Hopscotch toys and, before that, Lon Dee flowers on 99W/Baker Street. Lon Dee is familiar to some Linfielders because Marian Mahaffey, (spouse of Linfield Prof. Roy “Hap” Mahaffey) owned and operated it. Hopscotch moved back to 3rd Street, but a different location than when it started on 3rd Street in 2001. Photos of Tommy’s on 99W/Baker Street taken 6/2/2022 by ‘Mac News.’ (This posted 6/2/2022)

See (URL link below) ‘SPEAKING OF LON DEE FLOWERS of McMINNVILLE’

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2020/01/speaking-of-lon-dee-flowers-of.html