As we prepare for baseball...do you know anyone who played pro ball?

[kburjr]

I had 3 guys in my high school graduating class get drafted and 1 guy from the crosstown high school. We had a hell of an American Legion team.

Also, Darren Fletcher lives a couple miles from me. I coached one of his sons in youth baseball

 

[jwolt92]

I had 3 guys in my high school graduating class get drafted and 1 guy from the crosstown high school. We had a hell of an American Legion team.

Also, Darren Fletcher lives a couple miles from me. I coached one of his sons in youth baseball

I played college ball with one of his sons..

 

[kburjr]

I played college ball with one of his sons..

Cool

 

[kburjr]

I played college ball with one of his sons..

You from Illinois?

 

[jwolt92]

You from Illinois?

Sadly, yes. Left a couple of years ago

 

[jwolt92]

Just a few guys I played travel ball with. Zach/Nick Burdi, Nicky Lopez, Wes Benjamin, Mike Gerber.

 

[jjc2009]

My dad taught Andy Van Slyke.

I used to go to the same gym as a number of Devils minor leaguers worked out at. Many of whom went on to other teams.
Paul Ysbaret
Kevin Todd
Chris Terreri
Craig Billington
Martin Brodeur
Eric Weinrich

Got to meet Jason Pierre Paul in a professional setting. One of my colleagues was involved with his lawsuit against ESPN.

Although I never got to meet them a partner at a firm
I used to work for got to depose Tiger Woods and Elin in a lawsuit over the marketing of their mega yacht by the yacht builder.

 

[richig07]

Yeah, quite a few. Was very close myself.

 

[richig07]

Just a few guys I played travel ball with. Zach/Nick Burdi, Nicky Lopez, Wes Benjamin, Mike Gerber.

Oh, shit. Those are all Chicago guys. Only a couple years younger than me too.

What organization did you play travel ball with? I played with the Upper Deck Cougars and then Top Tier. Both out of Chicago. I also worked out with the Sparks for a bit one off-season because I know the Payton's who ran that program. Mark Payton is on the Reds. Was going to finally make his big league debut before COVID happened.

 

[PickleRick]

@nynasty will remember my friend tim.

Tim Norton Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

he's the pitching coach for the trenton thunder now. if his arm had held up (he loved his slider a bit too much but it was lethal) he would have been the next great yankee reliever. i think he had 10 surgeries in his career.

i also knew mark fidrych personally, as he did work for my father (side business building mansions, living in them for 2 years to avoid capital gains, then sells). he died at a family friends asphalt business in Northborough.

how about you?

My stepdad knew dave winfield. Ive gone fishing with kent hrbek, but honestly, who hasnt. The dude lives at his pub and lives to fish and drink. Spend 5 minutes with the man arguing about the best fishing spots and your drinks are on the house. The guy is literally one of the greatest, most down to earth people you will ever know.

 

[Ojb81]

I might have gotten a better grade in Unified Engineering (and maybe stayed in course 16, he stuck it out so good on him) if Jason Szuminski and I hadn't been partners for so many projects. He would say the same about me though, I'm sure

Jason Szuminski Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

Oh, I also played men's league hockey against Derek Aucoin at Chelsea Piers in NYC for a number of years. He has terminal cancer now I believe, very sad, he was always a really nice guy.

Derek Aucoin Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

Are you sure you're not thinking of Adrian Aucoin? Derek Aucoin was a pitcher who pitched in 2 major league games for the Montreal Expos in 1996

 

[DragonfromTO]

Are you sure you're not thinking of Adrian Aucoin? Derek Aucoin was a pitcher who pitched in 2 major league games for the Montreal Expos in 1996

I am positive. Derek is someone that I talked to in locker rooms for years (teams share the rooms at Chelsea Piers), not a guy that I just saw on the ice a few times. He wasn't as good a hockey player as he was a baseball player but it should come as no surprise that a professional athlete who is enormous and comes from Quebec can play a little hockey too

 

[Ojb81]

I am positive. Derek is someone that I talked to in locker rooms for years (teams share the rooms at Chelsea Piers), not a guy that I just saw on the ice a few times. He wasn't as good a hockey player as he was a baseball player but it should come as no surprise that a professional athlete who is enormous and comes from Quebec can play a little hockey too

hmmm...

 

[Ojb81]

I played high school foozball against A.J. Hawk, he was a grade behind me. My junior year, the guy absolutely embarrassed us, he was all over the field that night, I think he had two INT's to go with a handful of sacks. Until that season, his older brother ryan hawk actually had more notoriety, particlarly for his prowess on the basketball court.

 

[jwolt92]

Oh, shit. Those are all Chicago guys. Only a couple years younger than me too.

What organization did you play travel ball with? I played with the Upper Deck Cougars and then Top Tier. Both out of Chicago. I also worked out with the Sparks for a bit one off-season because I know the Payton's who ran that program. Mark Payton is on the Reds. Was going to finally make his big league debut before COVID happened.

During my high school years I played for the Downers Grove Longshots. Before that just some local travel teams a little further south, but we developed a pretty decent rivalry with the UD Cougars at our age division. A couple of good games in a summer where it seemed like it was always us and them in the championship.

 

[Podunkparte]

I would have, as my dad was drafted by the Reds out of high school.

Problem is he was also drafted by the Army to go to Vietnam.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Jim Gott is a golfing buddy of my brother-in-law.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I met quite a few current players through my college internship.

One even hooked me up with tickets to a game a few years ago.

I think they graduated from San Marino HS.

 

[The Q]

I think they graduated from San Marino HS.

random.

but false. Lol

 

[DJ Fieri]

random.

but false. Lol

Really?

Jim Gott - Wikipedia

Born in Hollywood, CA and graduated from San Marino HS......