2008 American Legion World Series - Shelby, North Carolina

Randolph County to represent N.C. in Southeast Regional

2008-08-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

GASTONIA - After forcing a final game with a 10-5 victory Saturday afternoon at Sims Park in the North Carolina American Legion State Tournament championship round, Cherryville finished as state runnerup in a back-and-forth 7-4 loss to Randolph County Saturday afternoon and evening.
The outcome sends Randolph County (40-12) to Thursday's Southeast Regionals in Shelby where Post 45 will face Leesburg, Ga., at 5 p.m. and ends another spectacular Cherryville season at 43-8.
It marks Randolph's third state title all-time - and first since 1978. Randolph also won the crown in 1966.

First two teams stamp their ticket to Regionals

2008-08-04T18:24:00.001-07:00

S.C., Alabama champs crowned

Two teams have earned their ticket to Shelby for the American Legion Southeast Regionals scheduled for VeteransField and Keeter Stadium Aug. 14-18.S

Sumter (S.C.) Post 15 defeated Goose Creek, 9-7, Sunday night to win the South Carolina crown.
Also, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Post 34 won its state crown for the fourth time in six years over the weekend.

Those two will join host Shelby Post 82 along with five other state champs for regional play Aug. 14-18.
-- Alan Ford

1931 squad was the first representing Post 82 in Shelby

2008-08-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

The 1931 American Legion team was the first to represent

Warren F. Hoyle Post 82 in Shelby. The team was organized and

coached by Dr. B.M. Jarrett, standing at left on top row.

By Alan Ford

The history of American Legion baseball in Shelby spans everything from the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam era, and on up and past the turn of a new century. Championships, big crowds and future major leaguers have made the sport a big deal in Shelby.

The program has never lost site of its heritage, however. The 1931 team in Shelby stands as the first American Legion squad to represent the town and Warren F. Hoyle Post 82. Many folks wouldn’t believe its origin if it weren’t true.

Dr. Buford Martin Jarrett was an avid sportsman at that time. To start an American Legion baseball team, he simply began asking for players in the Sunday School class he taught at First Baptist Church in Shelby to get involved. They did and became the nucleus of the team. One of those players, R.K. Wilson, in 1965 in The Star, spoke of Dr. Jarrett’s contribution.

“(He) was the whole thing,” Wilson said. “He was the athletic officer, coach, manager and furnished transportation fo for the boys. There were 10 or 12 boys on the team including the bat boy.
"Shelby was eliminated by Charlotte that first year but really started to build up a good team later. They managed to get uniform from somewhere, used old patched up (base)balls and taped bats.”

In another story from The Star, Jarrett spoke of those early years.
“We played with make-shift (base)balls that were sewn up by Perry Sellers at his shoe shop,” he said. “When one would bust a seam, we’d take it to Perry and he’d sew it up and we’d get a lot of play from it, although it was dirty, scarred and hard to hit very far.”

Dr. Jarrett’s daughter, Patricia Jarrett Phifer of Shelby, remembers baseball being a big part of her family’s life at that time, as does her sister, Mary Sue Jarrett Wall, who now lives in Florida.

“He attended every baseball game and in the 1940s, we went with them (Post 82) to the World Series,” Patricia said. “In the early 30s, he would take his car and pick them (the players) up. They’d ride on the running board.
“Dad was an active sportsman. He would get out and walk years before that became popular. He loved to breathe to the fresh air.”

Dr. Jarrett wasn’t the only one connected to the American Legion. His wife, Mary Sue Pruett Jarrett – who passed away five years ago at 97 – held national office in the American Legion’s women’s auxiliary. She served as the national president of that organization in 1973-74.

“She was very active in veteran’s causes,” Patricia said. “She was make visits to the hospital down in Salisbury.”
Contact Star Sports Editor Alan Ford at alanford@shelbystar.com.

Ex-Yankee to speak at Regional Tournament banquet

2008-07-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

By Alan Ford
Bobby Richardson found a niche in his post-baseball days as a motivational speaker.
He’ll be the guest speaker for the Southeastern Regionals premiere banquet on Aug. 13 at Shelby City Park. The former Yankee second baseman also served in that capacity for the 2002 Southeast Regional in Shelby as well as the 2004 North Carolina State Tournament banquet here.
Richardson’s abilities at the microphone may make some folks forget that he was quite exceptional at his first career. During his 10 years (1957 to ‘66) with the New York Yankees:
The Sumter, S.C., native was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (though he admittedly would trade the honor for the Yankees winning that dramatic seventh game decided by Bill Mazeroski’s landmark home run)
He played in seven World Series in his career
Five times he won the Gold Glove for being the best fielding second baseman in the American League
In 1962 he led the league in hits and finished second to teammate Mickey Mantle in the A.L. Most Valuable Player voting
Seven times he was selected for the Major League All-Star mid-summer classic
In three seasons (1964-65-66) he was rated the most difficult player in the American League to strike out
In 1963 he was given the Lou Gehrig Award, presented every year by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, to the major league player “who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.”
In the 1964 World Series vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, Richardson’s 13 hits in a seven-game series has yet to be surpassed
Following his playing days, Richardson served as the head baseball coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks and later made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Congress from his home state.

Games we play and watch came at a very high price

2008-07-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

If you’re over 40 years of age, you probably remember the car commercial jingle that went: “…baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet!”That sentiment — regardless of your preferred brand of automobile — is especially pertinent today, July 4.

Few aspects of everyday life in the U.S., beyond our religious beliefs, are treasured more than our attachment to athletics. It’s splattered across the media, through the recreation department and YMCA fields, the huge stadiums in larger cities, and shows up in our choice of shirts, caps and other clothing.
I sometimes wonder if those brave souls who went ashore during the D-Day invasion of 1944 had an inkling of how American society would evolve as a result of their efforts?
This is a day for pondering such things.

I can’t help but think about our military folks in Iraq and other places at the moment. I’ve had close friends who have had or still have immediate family in harm’s way.I know their loved ones would much rather be watching their own sons and daughters play Little League baseball and soccer, getting in a round of golf or tennis, or simply plopping down on the couch to watch the Yankees and Red Sox with friends or family. They’d like to be there arguing face-to-face with their fellow fantasy league participants.

Everyone has his political opinions about our involvement in wars far from home. What we can agree on, though, is that the men and women serving our country in uniform are doing it so we can continue with this kind of lifestyle, sports and all. Those soldiers know what sacrifice is and how fragile life can be in places where freedom and opportunity for fun an games don’t have deep roots.

As corny as it sounds, the next time you go to a game and stand for the Star Spangled Banner, reflect a minute on just how fortunate we are to enjoy such activities. Our military families have given up a lot to make sure the first pitch does get thrown on time at places like Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium.
Be sure to say thank you to them when you get the chance at the ballpark or anywhere else. They’ve earned it.

Star Sports Editor Alan Ford can be contacted online at alanford@shelbystar.com. His father, Bill Ford, and granddad, Lester Ford, served in the U.S. Army.

Post 82's Tisdale throws no-hitter vs. Lake Norman

2008-06-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Gabe Whisnant
gabewhisnant@ shelbystar.com
Shelby Post 82’s Jacob Tisdale followed many of the golden rules of pitching Saturday night against visiting Lake Norman — work ahead in the count, mix up your pitches and let the defense work behind you.
The formula proved effective as the righthander from Crest High tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in Post 82’s 10-0 triumph at Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium.

Records: Shelby 11-4 Area IV West, 17-11 overall; Lake Norman 3-11 division, 6-12.
The tally: Tisdale, a rising junior, struck out eight and retired the first eight Post 501 batters he faced. After issuing a walk to Logan Rowe in the top of the third, the righty sat down 13 in a row to finish off the first no-hitter at any level of his playing career.
Tisdale recorded eight flyouts or popups and got five groundouts as Post 82 made the plays behind him.

From the pitcher: “I was just hitting the corners and able to put the fastball where I wanted it,” Tisdale said. “There’s nothing like it … especially to be able to do in a brand new stadium. I wasn’t even thinking about the no-hitter, I just went out and pitched.”
Three-inning outburst: Shelby scored early and often and took a 9-0 lead after three innings to get its pitcher plenty of run support. In a balanced effort, eight different Post 82 players scored during the early rally. Post 501 starter Chase Ervin lasted just two innings and got the loss.

Post 82 offense: Jordan Robinson (2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI); Brett Mabry (1-for-3, 2 RBI); Seth Canipe (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, run); Julian Ridings (1-for-3, 2B, run); Brett Wease (1-for-2, RBI); Kyle Kendrick (1-for-2, RBI, 2 runs); James Gold (1-for-2, RBI); Adam McFarland (1-for-4, run); Corey Cline (2 walks, 2 runs).

Finishing touch: Mabry knocked in Kendrick with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win and Tisdale’s no-hitter. Kendrick singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.

From a coach: “There’s not pressure on one or two to come through, any of them can step up and get the big hit and get us some runs,” Post 82 assistant Steve Gold said. “We’ve been swinging it well the last few games.”

Next: Shelby hosts a day-night doubleheader today. Post 82 takes on Rock Hill, S.C. at 2 p.m., then faces Denver at 7 p.m. Both are non-division contests.

New roof on ballpark passes first test from the weather

2008-06-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

I plead guilty to using the words of Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra too many times … especially since this marks the second time in a week I’ve relied on one of his quotes.
Yet at the debut of the newly renovated Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium on the Shelby High campus, one of his infamous expressions got stuck in my mind: “It’s déjà vu all over again!”

The unexpected heavy rains that hit the ball park in the second inning of the Post 82 game with Cherryville was a reminder of the 2002 Southeast Regionals at that location. On that occasion, while in the midst of a record drought, the first night of the tournament brought the kind of rain that hadn’t been seen in months.

Some may think that’s just bad luck but, actually, the storm Thursday night allowed the fans in attendance to marvel over one feature of the park’s additions. Several hundred baseball enthusiasts were able to crowd under the new roof that adorns the seating areas behind homeplate and be spared the effects of the weather.

Even though the elements put a damper on
Post 82’s first opportunity to play on its home field in 2008, the evening was really a win-win situation for all those involved in the legion program and the upcoming tournaments in August. Consider:
The crew working in the new Jim Horn Concession Center was pumping out burgers and hot dogs as fast as it could go before the rains hit.

Joseph Tallent’s catalog of music blared out over the new speaker system, which is still not completely hooked up.

One of the large new fans attached to the stadium canopy generated a good breeze even before nature provided its own.

More ballpark features are still to be finished in the coming days. Post 82 has home games each of the next three days and if you haven’t had a chance to go see the park yet, now you do. The facility is taking the shape of something this community can be proud of for a long time to come.
Oh by the way, there’s some pretty good baseball to watch as well.

Contact Sports Editor Alan Ford online at alanford@shelbystar.com.

Trice signs contract with Rockies' organization

2008-06-26T14:45:00.001-07:00

SHELBY -- University of North Carolina pitcher Tyler Trice, a former Shelby Post 82 American Legion standout, officially signed a professional baseball contract with the Colorado Rockies’ organization.

Jay Mathews, the Rockies’ scout for this area, came to the Trice’s home in Cleveland County to sign Trice Wednesday.
Trice, who went to the College World Series three-straight times during his collegiate career with the Tar Heels, was a 21-round selection in the recent major league draft and will report to the Rockies’ Class A affiliatae in Pasco, Wash., on Monday June 30. The team plays in a league with stops in Washingotn, Oregon, Vancouver (British Columbia) and Idaho. Trice finished with a 2.04 earned run average during his senior season. He pitched 17.2 innings and picked up one save. The righthander struck out 21 and walked nine as opponents hit just .185 off Trice.
Trice was named to the 2004 North Carolina American Legion State Tournament all-tournament team pitching for Mike Grayson's Post 82 squad.

Stadium update - Tuesday, June 24

2008-06-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Members of the Shelby American Legion World Series committee held a short meeting Tuesday, then committee members stuck around for the ballpark cleanup. The Post 82 players were also on hand assisting with some of the work at Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium.

Here are a few photos of the upgrades taken Tuesday by Star assistant sports editor Gabe Whisnant. The canopy is completed (with two large fans) and the seats with backs in the middle of the stands are in place. Shelby Post 82 is slated to play its first home game of the season Thursday at 7 p.m. against Cherryville Post 100.

Close up of new stands

There are two big fans built into the canopy. On a hot early evening Tuesday, you could feel a nice breeze under there and the fans were on low.
Side view of canopy. Essentially, the only big piece of the project missing is the net in front of the canopy. According to head coach Mike Grayson, it should be in place by the end of the day on Wednesday, June 25.
Inside the new concessions center.
The new batting cage, still with just a little work left to do.
Some of the outfield signage

Flags of all 50 U.S. states are down the left and rightfield lines. This is one of my favorite new touches to the ballpark.
A shot from shallow centerfield.
Head coach Mike Grayson and a few of the players work on the fence ties.

All in the family

2008-06-17T16:49:00.001-07:00

Alan Ford
alanford@shelbystar.com
For many involved in baseball, there's a hand-me-down effect.

A father passes the love of the game on to his son, then it's given to the next generation.

That American rite of passage certainly manifested itself in the Floyd household.

"I have a picture of him when he wasn't even a year old yet and he had an Atlanta Braves' Dale Murphy outfit on with a plastic baseball in his hand looking up at the camera," Al Floyd said of his son Adam.

Al Floyd played baseball for Burns High and the Shelby Post 82 American Legion team in 1980-81. His son Adam did the same 2000-2002.

"I can remember him throwing whiffle balls to me in the front yard," said Adam, who became an infielder. "It (baseball) was always a big thing. A lot of the guys on the teams I played for always liked to come by our house."

Al Floyd had the same memories involving his father.

"My dad passed away over a month ago and he was always in the front yard with me. He told me about being in high school in Polkville and pitching all those years ago.

"I think baseball gets a bad rap sometimes," Al added, "that it's not as exciting or as fast-paced. But yet I can remember so much about the conversations you had with other people during the games. There are a lot of memories about that time that you keep."

A strong bond
Even now the family bond is strengthened by the association with friends and parents met through baseball.

"Several of the guys from 2001 (Post 82's last state championship team) were at Jason Gold's wedding last year," Adam Floyd said. "We all looked at each other and we each had our (championship) rings with us. That's something we still haven't grown out of."
As a parent, Al Floyd appreciates the opportunity his son and so many of his friends enjoyed playing legion baseball together.

"That group of parents (in 2000-02) were pulling for all the kids to get the big hit, it didn't have to be their own son," he said. "I can remember all of us huddling around the radio listening to an interview after the game. I thought of all of that group as much as my own children and were happy when they did well.

"That was a group of kids right then who gave the American Legion program and this town a shot in the arm right then it really needed."

Proud
Adam looked at some of the new additions Keeter Stadium and Veterans Field are getting for the World Series in August and is proud of the part he and his friends played in building some of the momentum in the sport.

"I can remember fielding ground balls from (Coach) Grayson over at Holly Oak Park three times a week at night during the winter," Adam said. "Sometimes we'd hit until he (coach) couldn't lift his arm any more."

Part of the baseball journey that Adam and Al shared is the painful transition that most athletes go through.

"I can still remember the last pitch I threw when I was in college," Al said. "And I remember that feeling when I saw Adam play in his last game in the (Southeast) Regionals here in 2002.

"Everybody loves to see their child achieve their greatest dream and for Adam it was to play in the major leagues. At the same you realize that just doesn't happen for a lot of folks. You deal with it and you move on."

Renovations nearing completion

2008-06-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

Gabe Whisnant
gabewhisnant@shelbystar.com
The plan was to revamp Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium into a venue fit to host the American Legion Southeast Regional and World Series.

That end result is within site as the finishing touches are being put on the stadium at the Shelby High campus.Southeast Regional and World Series planning committee co-chairman, Eddie Holbrook, said the massive renovations should be nearing completion this week. The canopy construction has been under way for two weeks and is essentially one of the last -and most important - parts of the process.

Netting for the new batting cage and the backstop, installing the new sound system, landscaping and dugout work should also be wrapping up in the near future. The restrooms, concessions center and pressbox - all brand new - are essentially finished.

Holbrook said it has taken longer than expected with a few snags along the way. But, the final outcome will be a jewel of a stadium to benefit baseball in Cleveland County for many years.
Approximately 40,000 fans and 1,280 players are expected to be in Shelby in August for the two tournaments.

"We want it to be a truly integral part of what will be a very historic two weeks (during the regional and World Series)," Holbrook said. "I think people are starting to get excited, but it will more start registering more around the first of August.

"It's very difficult to remodel an old stadium. It's a lot simpler to start from the ground up with something new. You have to tear it down, and that's not as simple as it sounds."
With the stadium almost ready for action, Holbrook said the committee will shift its emphasis to the extensive planning for the two events.

"You like to thing you're about there and ready, but we're not," he said. "It's just changing gears. The pressure goes from the stadium to committee work."

Stadium update - Friday, June 13

2008-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Star assistant sports editor Gabe Whisnant dropped by Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium on the way into work on Friday afternoon to take a look at the upgrades. Many have said it all along, but there's no doubt Shelby will have one of the top high school/legion facilities around when the renovation is completed. According to Southeast Regional and World Series committee co-chairman, Eddie Holbrook, the stadium is about a week away from being completed.

Look for a story on the renovation in Sunday's Star and online at www.legionworldseries.com and www.shelbystar.com. Here are a few of the pictures Gabe took on Friday, June 13.

Stadium front

Stairs and elevator to pressbox

Close up of pressbox

Canopy down 3rd baseline

Canopy down 1st baseline

Columns and fencing down right side of stadium

New stands down rightfield line

Concessions center

A few shots inside the pressbox

New bathroom

Baseball sure meant a lot here back in 1957!

2008-06-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

By Alan Ford
With the handful of scrapbooks and pictures that have come my way regarding the history of American Legion baseball in Shelby, going through such a huge amount of material takes time.One scrapbook gave me the chance for a detailed look at the 1957 Shelby state championship team and participated in the Southeast Regionals at the Sumter Street. Ballpark.
Among the items that jumped out at me:

The Hot Stove League in Raleigh honored Shelby Post 82 American Legion Baseball Coach B.E. “Pop” Simmons with the Will Wynne award as the North Carolinian contributing the most to baseball in 1957. Hall of Famer Ted Williams was present at Raleigh’s Sir Walter Hotel to present the award to Simmons.

An issue of The Star included a tribute to Jim Wilson, the Area Four legion commissioner from Shelby, who collapsed and died while attending a Post 82 game against Belmont in June, 1957. As news of the tragedy spreading around the old Shelby ballpark, a silent moment of prayer was held at the bottom of the seventh inning.

“That ball comes in at you so fast, it sometimes hops!” …. those words came from a member of Shelby’s state championship legion team in 1957 on trying to hit the blazing pitches of Tony Cloninger, ace righthander for the Lincolnton-Cherryville team coached by Norman Harris of Gardner-Webb fame. Cloninger went on to become a 20-game winner in the Major Leagues for the Milwaukee Braves and started the first game ever at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium when the team moved there in 1966.

A South Carolina visitor to Shelby, got a taste of how baseball mad this town was in 1957. During the state championship series with Cumberland County, the individual in question drove too near the parking areas for the Sumter St. ballpark. Before the astonished tourist could protest, he was whisked into a lot behind a slew of cars and efficiently parked by the policemen handling the traffic.As he got out of his car, he was heard to say: “What am I doing here? I don’t want to go to the game!”

The Memphis, Tenn., team that came to Shelby and won the 1957 Southeastern Regional crown featured a highly touted catching prospect named Tim McCarver. Of course, McCarver went on to play the position for the St. Louis Cardinals and play in three World Series with the team, then become a respected TV broadcaster. The other teams in the regional event that year were Front Royal, Va., and Owensboro, Ky.

The 1957 legion regional program included a place for fans to write in the lineup and keep score as the action unfolded for up to seven games of the double-elimination event.
In an article in an edition of The Star from that time period, there were several quotes from area fans about the team’s success. One was from a TV repairman in Shelby at the time, Coy Webber: “I tell you, these boys won because hey are just ‘stomp-down’ good players and worked hard.”

Q&A with Post 82 head coach Mike Grayson

2008-05-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Shelby Post 82 American Legion baseball players have a saying when it’s time for head coach Mike Grayson to pass out the uniforms at the start of the season.
“It’s like Christmas in June.”
If you’ve seen Grayson’s squad on the field during his tenure, you’re probably well aware that Post 82 is consistently one of the best-equipped teams and is always on top of the newest trends in uniform styles and materials.
There’s a good reason for that as Grayson owns S&M Sport Shop in Shelby.
“I’ve got an unfair advantage with having a sporting goods store. I see all the latest stuff,” Grayson said.
Grayson also gave a lot of credit to his family and the parents of the Post 82 players for helping with all of the costs.
“Post 82 is basically a family-run business. We’ve had great parents through the years. They’ve raised money, and they raised that money because they knew their kids were going to get the best stuff,” Grayson said. “We couldn’t do everything we do without our family and all the parents.”
Star Assistant Sports Editor Gabe Whisnant interviewed Grayson about some of the trends in baseball uniforms and equipment. Here is part of that interview. To see more equipment and past uniforms, visit www. legionworldseries.com/news.

Does every player needs the best equipment to be the best player?
MG: Until a young player finds out what position he wants to play, why buy a $300 infield glove when next year you might be an outfielder? Once you find that out that baseball is your passion and love, and you’ve figured out your position, then I would say go get the best equipment. But I don’t think it’s necessary in the younger ages when you really don’t know they are going to stick with it.

Along the same lines, do you feel like teams need to look good to play good?
MG: I want our players to feel good about themselves. In dressing, we try to have nice stuff. I think it sells our program when our players look nice on the field.
We want every young player around here wearing a Post 82 hat and T-shirt. That’s why we print 300 of them. We want them to be thinking in the stands that they want to play for Post 82 one day.

Is it difficult for coaches to stay on top of the latest equipment and uniform upgrades?
MG: With all of the sporting goods salesmen out there pushing their product, the coaches know what’s out there. There are always people coming around … everybody’s got the newest, latest and greatest thing. Most of the coaches in this area are in tune with what’s going on.

What have been some of the key developments in equipment technology?
MG: The metal bat changed the game. The bats are better alloy every year … they always come up with something bigger and better. The bats have a bigger sweet spot and that’s got to help the hitter … you can miss-hit it and still fist it over the infield. I would like to play today with this bat. The exit speed off of these bats can be about 95 or 97 miles per hour.
The durability of the aluminum and carbon fiber bat has gotten 10 times better, even in the last few years. They have to be more durable though … with bats at $399 they don’t want to have to replace those.
Gloves are much better. They are lighter and longer with deeper pockets. Just like the bats, they’ve come a long way.
Until the last two years, uniforms got sleeker and narrower instead of the baggy look. Now, the baggy look is coming back. There’s no wool anymore. Now, uniforms are made out of the polyester, moisture management to keep you drier and cooler. Even the hats today are made out of moisture management material. Even the major leagues are getting away from the wool hat.

Legion uniforms through the years

2008-05-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at some of the Shelby Post 82 American Legion jerseys and hats. I'll soon post a Q&A with Post 82 head coach and owner of S&M Sports, Mike Grayson, focused on the advances in baseball uniforms and equipment. Thanks to coach for digging some of these old unis out.

This is my father, Harvey Whisnant's, 1967 Legion uniform and hat ...

Coach Grayson's first uniform as head coach

A few miscellaneous jersey tops and hats

Attachment to Legion Baseball can last a lifetime

2008-05-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, after all the planning of the past two-and-a-half years, that the 2008 American Legion baseball season is nearly upon us.Shelby Post 82 kicks off what will certainly be a memorable year in a tournament at Easley, S.C., this Friday and Saturday.

After all the fundraising activities, ballpark construction and hours of meetings related to the World Series and Southeast Regional tournaments that will land here in August, we may be tempted to forget that the real focus of it all has to do with pitching, throwing, hitting and catching a baseball.
I was reminded of that Monday evening as I sat in one of the box seats at Keeter Stadium and Veterans Field and watched the Post 82 players go through workouts with Coach Mike Grayson and staff. The fundamental aspect of the sport brings so many of us back to the game every year ... regardless of age. The connection to the game and the others who played it, can stay with us a lifetime.

The www.legionworldseries.com Web site The Star has produced has also brought that notion back to the forefront.
For the last few months we've been asking local baseball fans to send us their pictures and memories of their involvement with American Legion baseball.That's been a special pleasure for me, someone who considers himself a child of the sport. Having been around the ballpark on summer nights following my dad's Legion teams in Kannapolis and Concord in the 1960s, I feel that attachment to the game as well.

Also, having been in school with a number of the players from Concord who battled Shelby in a memorable 1974 playoff series cemented that relationship.

Of course, my job has allowed me to cover American Legion baseball on a regular basis. The momentum we (collectively) have generated with the tournaments we've had in the past seven years here has added to the energy.
Because of that, it's been especially fun to look through the scrapbook of former Crest High and Post 82 player Kevin Hawkins (circa 1985), or to handle the pictures that longtime local radio announcer Glenn Wall has bequeathed to me. Going through old Star photo files and having folks like Brenda Dixon e-mail others to me is a treat.

I've gotten a kick out of reading some of the old newspaper clippings that folks have dropped by about local players when Frank Ballenger and Ken Dingler covered the Post 82 games, as well as yours truly in the early 1980s as I was just getting into the business.

So dig out those scrapbooks and keep those photos coming. You'd be surprised how many people would get the same enjoyment out of them that I have.

National Director of American Legion baseball visits Shelby

2008-05-02T13:47:00.001-07:00

Jeff Melton / The Star
National Director of American Legion baseball Jim Quinlan, left, and 2008 Southeast Regional and World Series co-chairman Jim Horn, right, pictured Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium at Shelby High.

Wednesday, Sep 26 2007, 11:38 pm

Gabe Whisnant

Jim Quinlan, National Director for American Legion baseball, visited Cleveland County this week as the 2008 Southeast Regional and World Series is now less than one year away from coming to Shelby. Quinlan toured the area as he met with the local tournament committee, visited with city and county government officials and took a look around Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium.

Star Assistant Sports Editor Gabe Whisnant sat down with Quinlan Wednesday for an interview focused on tournament preparations and the current state of American Legion baseball.

Q: What has impressed you the most during your trip to Shelby?

A: I love to go where we have enthusiasm. You see that in everybody here. They are working on great improvements to the ballpark putting up a canopy, expanding the pressbox, building an office up there. The pros from a local golf course are going to help with the field and make sure it is manicured.

That’s what makes things go. You could have the world’s best ballpark and not have leadership, then you have a disaster. You could have a good ballpark that can become much better with the help of volunteers.

I’ve always told people if the record for attendance is going to be broken, it will happen in North Carolina. The current record is 38,000 over 10 games from 1996 in Roseburg, Oregon.

Q: What will be the most difficult aspect in hosting a Southeast Regional and World Series, back-to-back?

A: It will be the man hours. The ground crew will be working from 8 a.m. until midnight and that will wear on them, especially the first three days. We could use more man hours from taking tickets to working in the concession area. Those people will be going day and night for two solid weeks.

Q: How important is it for you to stay organized as the tournament approaches?

A: Around Aug. 15 I’ll have to transport 1,280 ball players about 600 on airlines and the rest via buses. We’ll need about 2,500 hotel rooms and that’s something you can’t negotiate at the last minute. We look at what we’ve done in the past and try to build on that.

We’re training a brand new committee every year. You start over from scratch and build on their enthusiasms.

Q: How has technology and the internet changed how you direct tournaments?

A: It’s made life easier. The pressbox phone used to ring off the hook with people asking for scores and the fax machine used to stay cranking. Now, we’re scoring the games live on the internet, so people have the ability to follow the game online. We now make it mandatory for a pressbox to have high-speed Internet.

Q: Are American Legion baseball’s participation numbers increasing or decreasing?

A: USA Baseball in Cary did a survey from 1990-2005 and looked at the number of kids playing amateur baseball. Overall, it went down from 16 million to 12 million. During the same time, Legion baseball has increased every year. We grew by 180 teams. In North Carolina, we went from 60 teams to 160 teams in the last 15 years.

There are some places that are struggling, especially with schools starting early and with two-a-day football.

Q: How do you keep the numbers up and continue to grow?

A: We have a great tradition to fall back on. American Legion still plays fundamental baseball. You ask the average player if he wants to play nine innings or seven, and he wants to play nine. A lot of the travel ball coaches are in it for the money. They say it’s about better exposure, but it’s not. The scouts know where all the better ball players are.

Arey Poston -- How work on the legion series is progressing

2008-05-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.shelbystar.com/articles/arey_30865___article.html/legion_poston.html

Arey Poston, a former American Legion player in Shelby in the late 1970s, is now a member of the American Legion World Series organizing committee.

Preparing a way for the Legions

2008-04-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Revamped field project could bring in $5.5 million

SHELBY - To make money, you have to spend money.

In Cleveland County, the $700,000 to 800,000 investment from local donors to improve Shelby High's Veteran's Field at Keeter Stadium for the American Legion World Series is expected to return more than $5.5 million to the local economy, according to Eddie Holbrook, co-chairman of the World Series.

Renovations on the stadium began in the fall and will be completed at the end of March or early April, Holbrook said. Additional sprucing up, including painting, will be done just before the World Series begins in late summer.

The bathrooms, concession stand, press box, seating and fences are all getting a face-lift for the almost 40,000 baseball fans expected to attend.

"It's a pretty massive undertaking," Holbrook said. "It will basically be a whole new stadium."

The goal is to make the field one of the finest in the area and make it attractive for future events, he said.

In addition to the World Series, Shelby will host the Southeastern Regional in August. It's the first time both a regional and the World Series have been hosted by a single city.

American Legion National Director Jim Quinlan said more than 1,280 players would be in town and more than 2,500 hotel rooms would be needed.

Restaurants, gas stations and shopping centers are all expected to benefit from the influx of people into the county for the tournament.

"It's going to be a tremendous event for our county and city," Holbrook said.

Money for the improvements has been raised behind the scenes from local businesses and individual donors, Holbrook said.

Many of those businesses proudly display signs promoting the World Series on their grounds.

In the coming months, he said marketing and fund raising would go public.

"It's been very, very good thus far," he said.

WANT TO GO?
The Southeastern Regional games are Aug. 13-18.
The American Legion World Series is Aug. 21-26.
Both will be held at Shelby High's Veteran's Field at Keeter Stadium.