Get Well Soon, John Wylde
Those of us at CodBall were saddened to see the information posted on the Wareham Gatemen website which notes that John Wylde has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. (Listen to our CodBall Conversation with Mr. Wylde.) I would like CodBall readers to know a little bit about the few times I have communicated with Mr. Wylde. A few years ago (I believe it was the first year that the Cape League held their league-wide tryout at Spillane Field), I sent John an email and asked if I could attend. I did not know if they wanted “fans” in attendance or if it was not open to the public. Not only did he respond and encourage me to go, but he emailed me a list of which players were invited, what school they were from, etc. Basically, I got the sheet...
Read MoreLowell Park Field Renovation
The offseason is well underway and the Cotuit Kettleers are putting their Yawkee Foundation field improvement grant to good use. The plan over the next two offseasons is to re-surface the entire playing surface, improve irrigation, replace fencing, install new visitor’s bleachers, and put up a new scoreboard in a better location. Lowell Park, situated just south of Route 28 off of Main St. in Cotuit, last saw a major upgrade in the 2004 offseason with the addition of a state-of-the-art press box and new backstop. Within close proximity of Cotuit Bay and Nantucket Sound, Lowell Park is one of the most picturesque fields on the Cape. It appears on the cover of Christopher Price’s Baseball by the Beach and was called “a baseball fan’s...
Read MoreOregon State Baseball (and Cape Contributors) Honored at White House
The Oregon State Beavers baseball team, winners of the College World Series and contributors in the 2007 Cape Cod Baseball League championship, were honored today at The White House. “Coach Pat Casey and the Oregon State Baseball team have joined us,” said President Bush. “Oregon State is here to celebrate two consecutive national championships in baseball. Earlier this summer the Beavers won all five of their games in the College World Series. That is hard to do. You outscored your opponents 42-16. You trailed for only one inning. You took the lead and never looked back. And as a result, you’re the first college baseball team to win back-to-back titles in 10 years. And I’m proud you’re here, and congratulations on the job...
Read MoreCodBall Conversation: Cape MVP Conor Gillaspie (Wichita State & Falmouth Commodores)
Conor Gillaspie, the Cape Cod Baseball League’s 2007 MVP and batting champion, spoke with CodBall early on a recent September morning from the athletic department of the Wichita State University Shockers. Listen to our latest CodBall Conversation. Conor, an articulate and thoughtful collegiate player, also is the #13 pro prospect in the nation and he comes from the nation’s #13 ranked college program. Everything about this kid points to serious baseball. We talked with Conor about Wichita State’s phenomenal bid in the College World Series and his experience playing with this year’s runner-up in the Cape league, the Falmouth Commodores. He gives his perspectives on whether the CCBL is for show or competition and whether it’s a...
Read MoreMike Hargrove to Manage a Summer League Team
I find myself this off-season writing a lot about the movements of coaches and managers. Now there is news this morning out of Texas that former MLB player and coach Mike Hargrove has agreed to manage the Liberal BeeJays, a summer baseball team for college players in the Jayhawk League. Do we know of any instance when a former MLB manager one season managed a summer college league team the next? Has the Cape ever had a former MLB player or manager as head coach? The Jayhawk League is not known as one of the top collegiate leagues, but the Liberal team apparently is near Mike’s home in Perryton, Texas (located near the Oklahoma border in the panhandle region). Hargrove shocked the baseball world this season when he unceremoniously resigned as manager of...
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