As a sports fan, everyone wants to see their team do well. It has an even bigger impact when that team is right in your town and you have been a season ticket holder and one of the biggest fans of the team since their inception back in 1993. The team, and it’s players take on an even bigger role once you really begin to get to know the players as real people and not just as the guys on the field, getting paid to play a kids game. Once you begin to open your house to these players each summer, there is no going back to being only a casual fan again.
Before the beginning of the 2008 baseball season, the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association traded a dependable first baseman to the Chico Outlaws of the Golden League for a pitcher that had put up decent numbers in his career but nothing outstanding. Plus, the Golden League is not as high of a level as the American Association and you never know how the pitcher will be able to adapt to the tougher league.
The pitcher that came to Sioux City that year was Nick Singleton and he immediately began to show that he was an outstanding pitcher. With any run support at all, he would have been the top pitcher in the league. Even without the help of his team, he was near the league lead in innings pitched, strike outs, and earned run average. Even more important to my family is about a month into the season; Nick moved in with us and instantly became a true part of our family.
As the season went on, Nick continued to be a major part of our family, and he also went on to dominate the league. At the end of the season, he was named Right Handed Pitcher of the year in the league, becoming the first player staying with us to win an award. Nick returned for the 2009 season however instead of staying with us, he shared a house with a few other players. He still came over for a meal occasionally and did his laundry here. We saw him at every home game and my son continued to wear the replica jersey that said “Singleton’s little bro” on back with Nick’s number 17. Even though he wasn’t with us, he continued to be family and still is today.
Now as nice of a story as this makes, the most important thing about the game of baseball at this level continues to be winning. That is why I was torn today when I received word from the team’s general manager that Nick, along with pitcher Tyler Meigs, had been traded to the Gary-Southshore Railcats of the Northern League for three pitchers.
This was tough for my family to hear. As I had mentioned, Nick was like family. Plus, Tyler had been at the house nearly every night last summer playing video games with the player that we had staying with us for the majority of the season. However, the three pitchers that the team received in return all put up outstanding numbers for a Gary team that has been in the league championship series the last couple of years, losing to the Fargo-Morehead RedHawks last season.
Baseball is of course a game and the players change all season long. This isn’t the first time we have lost a player who was very near and dear to our family. It isn’t easy but we all know by now that is how the system works, we can’t change it, we can only adapt. All we can do at this point is call Nick and wish him the best as he heads off to the Chicago area next summer.
Before the beginning of the 2008 baseball season, the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association traded a dependable first baseman to the Chico Outlaws of the Golden League for a pitcher that had put up decent numbers in his career but nothing outstanding. Plus, the Golden League is not as high of a level as the American Association and you never know how the pitcher will be able to adapt to the tougher league.
The pitcher that came to Sioux City that year was Nick Singleton and he immediately began to show that he was an outstanding pitcher. With any run support at all, he would have been the top pitcher in the league. Even without the help of his team, he was near the league lead in innings pitched, strike outs, and earned run average. Even more important to my family is about a month into the season; Nick moved in with us and instantly became a true part of our family.
As the season went on, Nick continued to be a major part of our family, and he also went on to dominate the league. At the end of the season, he was named Right Handed Pitcher of the year in the league, becoming the first player staying with us to win an award. Nick returned for the 2009 season however instead of staying with us, he shared a house with a few other players. He still came over for a meal occasionally and did his laundry here. We saw him at every home game and my son continued to wear the replica jersey that said “Singleton’s little bro” on back with Nick’s number 17. Even though he wasn’t with us, he continued to be family and still is today.
Now as nice of a story as this makes, the most important thing about the game of baseball at this level continues to be winning. That is why I was torn today when I received word from the team’s general manager that Nick, along with pitcher Tyler Meigs, had been traded to the Gary-Southshore Railcats of the Northern League for three pitchers.
This was tough for my family to hear. As I had mentioned, Nick was like family. Plus, Tyler had been at the house nearly every night last summer playing video games with the player that we had staying with us for the majority of the season. However, the three pitchers that the team received in return all put up outstanding numbers for a Gary team that has been in the league championship series the last couple of years, losing to the Fargo-Morehead RedHawks last season.
Baseball is of course a game and the players change all season long. This isn’t the first time we have lost a player who was very near and dear to our family. It isn’t easy but we all know by now that is how the system works, we can’t change it, we can only adapt. All we can do at this point is call Nick and wish him the best as he heads off to the Chicago area next summer.
Years back I was fortunate enough to meet a football coach who had a great spirit and personal drive. He noted that everyday he woke up and said what a great life he had, he got to do what he love everyday. He then said that knew that everyday he had to give 110 percent since he was in such a competitive business and that the goal is to win football games.
ReplyDeleteThis was his way of saying that he needed to have a winning team to still be the coach. Now when I organize a committee, fund raise etc I make sure that I give the group of people who are helping me the right information and training to make sure that I have a winning team.
You might know the coach….Dick Vermeil