(#164) One time we were playing a national powerhouse traveling through Mississippi with a 100% chance of severe storms all around. A merciful rainout was our only chance. It was thundering and lightning in every direction off in the distance. It was storming everywhere in Central Mississippi but in a little circle surrounding Joe G. … Continue reading Show Me a Sign Lord
Category: Short Stories
Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Cardiac Arrest Will Keep the Spaceman from Making His Rounds
(#143) Bill "Spaceman" Lee, father of former Hinds Eagle player and coach, Andy Lee. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee had stopped breathing after collapsing in the bullpen during an exhibition game, but paramedics and two shocks with a defibrillator helped resuscitate the 75-year-old pitcher, according to a witness at the scene. "Without immediate intervention, I … Continue reading Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Cardiac Arrest Will Keep the Spaceman from Making His Rounds
The Clarke Baseball Museum and Garage
(#140) You work half your life coaching baseball and as you get older all the trophies and collectibles eventually end up in boxes in the attic or in a closet or on a garbage truck. So I decided to find a special place for all the mementos representing 41 championships, 26 at Magnolia Academy, 14 … Continue reading The Clarke Baseball Museum and Garage
Well, Almost!
(#139) I found my name in the book Moneyball in Chapter 10, Anatomy of an Undervalued Pitcher, featuring the great Chad Bradford. I never knew it was in there. "He went over and talked to the coach at Hinds Community College, a few miles down the road. The 'coach there' (that's me!) said he thought … Continue reading Well, Almost!
Call a Strike!
(#124) I saw the great MLB umpire Lance Barksdale at Fried Chicken Day at 303 Jefferson in Clinton. He was on vacation and recovering from a broken hand he received on a foul ball by the Marlins Jesus (pronounced Hey-zues, not Gee-sus) Aguilar. Veteran MLB Umpire Lance Barksdale When he walked by my table, I … Continue reading Call a Strike!
Parent’s Meeting
(#100) I know we were coaching them when they were 19 or 20 years old and "daddy" had coached him since potty training, but we can do it. I promise. I always enjoyed the pre-season parent's meeting. D.M. Howie told me this one time, "Do what I do. When I would see "that" parent heading … Continue reading Parent’s Meeting
It’s Baseball Season 2022!
(#92) Baseball season is finally here for 2022! It's officially cold and wet enough to begin. Hinds starts next Tuesday at Millsaps. So to get you in the right frame of mind for our Great American Pastime, our yearly ritual, enjoy this classic 9 pitch battle (all fastballs) between the Dodgers hard-throwing 21-year old rookie … Continue reading It’s Baseball Season 2022!
Keep It Simple
(#82) Here's a simple hitting philosophy from a young Jeff Long for the hardest thing to do in sports... "hitting a round ball with a round bat and hitting it squarely." It certainly worked well for him. The Great Jeff Long Call the Coach!
Mississippi Olympic Gold
(#80) 2000 - Sydney, Australia (Gold Medal) Nevermind that Cuba's Olympic baseball record against the United States stood at an impeccable 4-0 or that Team USA had its struggles a week earlier in the preliminaries. That didn't seem to matter when the U.S. took the field against the heavily-favored Cubans. Behind Ben Sheets' three-hit, complete … Continue reading Mississippi Olympic Gold
The Most Famous Home Run in Hinds History (Video)
(#71) The most famous home run in Hinds baseball history (and there have been a few) is Terry Gray's three-run bomb over the 410 sign in the first game of the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado; May, 1989. (Thanks to Jeff Long for the 28 year old VHS tapes and to Jake Clarke … Continue reading The Most Famous Home Run in Hinds History (Video)
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 