COURIER-RECORD <email@...> wrote: Great column!
--Billy C.


on 7/8/05 6:04 PM, Let's Roll at jhg@... wrote:

"America's Baseball Email"..... BASEBALL...PART OF AMERICA..PART OF OUR LIVES...
~ WELCOME To the Saturday "Field of Dreams Today"..Today I am running the
article from the very First Minor League Baseball Association Magazine...I am a
proud lifetime member and wanted to share this with you..It was written only
days after 9/11/2001.....

What Baseball Means to Me
by Alumni Member John Graham

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
SEPT 25,2001- My life took shape in the Summer of 1966 at a place
called Peninsula War Memorial Stadium in Hampton,Virginia. I was six
and my mom and dad took me to my first pro baseball game. We had
season tickets to the Peninsula Grays, a Cincinnati Reds affliate in
the Carolina League, that included a rookie catcher named Johnny
Bench. I know my future was shaped that year. During the next 11
seasons my family and I missed few home games and in March of 1977 I
got my courage up to ask the General Manager, Bob Neal, for a job. My
first baseball job- scoreboard operator, 5 bucks a game. Later that
year I moved up to PA Announcer and we won the Carolina League
Championship. My first year and a championship ring. I knew that
Baseball is what I wanted to do. I spent the next 15 years in the
Carolina League and the New York Penn League. My major league teams
were the Phillies,White Sox and Astros. I later took over from my
mentor and lifelong friend Bob Neal at both Peninsula and Auburn,NY
when he retired from baseball. Once at Peninsula and several years
later he asked to join him in the Upstate New York area.1980 was the
best season as far as excellence- Peninsula Pilots, a Phillies
team,100 wins wins and just 40 losses. We won both the first and
second half titles and a sweep of the legendary Durham Bulls 3-0 in
the Championship Series. The .719 winning pct is still tops in the
history of the Carolina League and one of the best ever in Pro
Baseball. Our field manager Bill Dancy remains a brother to me to
this day. There are so many wonderful memories I carried away from
the game. The best without a doubt, the People. The many great
fans,players,coaches,managers,staff,and executives over the years.
Each season was like adding folks to your family tree. I have been
fortunate to stay in touch with many of these folks. I do a daily
email letter to over 500 people,family and friends.To many to mention
all but Carolina League President John Hopkins,My asst gm in Auburn
Marc Techman,and the aforementioned Bill Dancy and Bob Neal are a few
of the people that helped me the most and I thank them and everyone I
ever worked with.I have also stayed active in the game as the
Chairman of The Peninsula Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. Honoring 100
years of baseball excellence in the Hampton-Newport News area of
Virginia. And while I don't work at it every day anymore it's always
a part of you. Just like your friends,family,church..Baseball is
indeed a big part of my life. I should say Minor League Baseball..A
field of Dreams like no other. It so unites our great Country and so
many that now work or have worked in baseball.I learned so much about
life in those years. About different parts of the country.People of
all ethnic and religious backgrounds,customs and traditions. I would
not trade those years for anything. At this difficult time in our
Country,Minor league Baseball remains a constant, a good friend.May
God Bless all of you and the United States of America!! JOHN GRAHAM
Minor League Baseball Executive 1977-1992
- John Graham
That;s My Field of Dreams...Continue to pray for our friends in the UK....Let's
Roll!! A Proud Field of Dreams Community www.FieldofDreamsToday.com
<http://www.FieldofDreamsToday.com> Field of Dreams Communities,LLC - 2005
=====
~ GOD BLESS THE USA ~ THAT'S MY FIELD OF DREAMS


The Road To A Friend's Home is Never Long - www.FieldofdreamsToday.com - PO Box
105 Nottoway,Virginia 23955 - Let's Roll!!





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The Road To A Friend's Home is Never Long - www.FieldofdreamsToday.com - PO Box
105 Nottoway,Virginia 23955 - Let's Roll!!



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