Growing Up Baseball

Hkim · 07-30-2016, 04:29 AM

My brother graduated from college recently and he casually mentioned that he knew one of the pitchers drafted by the Nationals. I thought that was pretty neat considering that his friend would appear in the game.

How about you? Did you grow up with or graduate with anyone playing professional baseball right now?

What do you do when you see them in OOTP?

cheo25 · 07-30-2016, 11:49 AM

I think my dad played American Legion ball with Dalton Jones, who's about three years old than him, and he was friends with Dalton and his family. Dalton played with the Red Sox in the '60s and finished with the Tigers and Rangers in the early '70s. Dalton left tickets for my dad and his friend in Milwaukee one time when Dalton was with the Tigers and my dad was in the Army outside of Chicago.

I think it was pretty cool just to see him in my historical game, which I started in 1969 and is currently in 1989. I just liked to monitor his stats.

Cinnamon J. Scudworth · 07-30-2016, 12:36 PM

Not baseball, but someone who was in my high school class is currently in the NHL. Though he left a couple of years before graduation to play in Major Junior. But our team was pretty unbeatable while he was around.

GoPedro99 · 07-30-2016, 01:08 PM

I know Aaron cressley. He is a pitcher in the Padres organization

TuckerDuckson · 07-30-2016, 01:26 PM

My dad went to school/is still friends with Jason Beverlin who was the only person every drafted out of my high school, so I've met him and his family more than a few times. Chill guy

dave1927p · 07-30-2016, 02:06 PM

Being from Canada baseball was never a huge sport so all my buddies played hockey primarily with baseball, lacrosse, and golf taking the backseat. So I only know of 1 person who went to play in a low level college in the USA.

However, I had many connections with people I played hockey with who play in the NHL, AHL europe and the Sr. semi pro Leagues. Like anything else though, as we keep getting older it's tougher to stay in touch.

r0nster · 07-30-2016, 03:55 PM

I knew Bill Babcock a lefy drafted by the White Sox but never made it past AA there were 2 more players from my high school in my freshman year got drafted as well and one made it to AAA Texas. The rangers was gonna bring him up to the bigs but a huge trade prevented it and he never made it to the bigs. My mom was Pat Hentgen teacher who happened to win the Cy Young award. I met him when he was in grade school but we never became friends.

r0nster · 07-30-2016, 03:57 PM

I have met many baseball and football players personally and even hung out with Gibby and rosy once in a blue moon and I made the mistake of asking for autograph for my sister but gibby had an attitude about it and rozy told him hey it isn't for him its for his sister back off. Never talked to gibby since. Although later he did apologize.

OBSL Commish · 07-30-2016, 06:47 PM

I went to school with Rusty Greer who played for the Texas Rangers from 1994-2002. We were on a couple of Little League teams together and had a few PE classes and study halls.

dave1927p · 08-01-2016, 02:44 AM

Do you guys all give the people you know in the game a bit of a boost when playing?

kehowey · 08-01-2016, 05:30 AM

Tom Tresh went to my H.S. He graduated when I was in 3rd grade. I did caddy for Gordie Howe.

Padreman · 08-01-2016, 10:23 AM

Nothing too big but I played high school same high school Ted Williams attended and my dad coached Kevin Mitchell and some other guy they made it to the major leagues I can't remember his name right now it was a pitcher

Bobble · 08-01-2016, 11:03 AM

I was happily playing along in my game and decided to clean out my minors. I had drafted a guy named Derek Hug. In my capriciousness, I decided to cut him. Then I remembered seeing on Facebook that a girl from my small-town High School ended up with married last name of Hug -- not too common. Were she and Derek Hug related? He's from a town nearby so I'm gonna presume so. I resigned him and put him on the shortlist so I don't cut him until he well and truly deserves it.

So, I think a guy who's in the minors is related to a girl I haven't talked to in 30 years.

xmason99 · 08-01-2016, 11:24 AM

Didn't grow up with him or go to school with him, but I did have to throw an over-served Gorman Thomas out of the place I was tending bar at in Milwaukee in the early '90's... kinda funny yet sad, because he was one of my "heroes" growing up a Brewer fan...he didn't put up a fuss though, and we safely got him in a cab.

Got a chance to chat with him years later at Miller Park, and he (surprisingly) remembered the incident, saying that was too often how his nights ended back then. Great guy, many hilarious stories of his ball-playing days.

GoPedro99 · 08-01-2016, 12:53 PM

My team for high school this past year had a few guys who could go pro. And we are in a town of 15k people. So that's impressive

ForeverRoyalKC · 08-01-2016, 01:55 PM

Two of my very best friends knew and played against Kevin Young (Pirates, Royals) in high school.

ohiodevil · 08-01-2016, 02:43 PM

I played slow pitch softball against former White Sox, Padres and Rays pitcher Adam Russell

Hoiles · 08-01-2016, 07:00 PM

Being from Canada it's tough to know pro ballplayers by chance; the closest thing to a legit pro athlete I know in a sports management game is a goon in semi-pro hockey (nice guy in real life).

polydamas · 08-01-2016, 07:21 PM

I played against Mark Mulder's cousin for a while. He was the best pitcher in our league (I was the second best until I tore my UCL- twice). I went to Tom Glavine's pitching academy when I was young, but I don't remember meeting him. One of my pitching coaches later in life was only able to train me during baseball's offseason. I can't remember his name, Jon something, but he pitched for the Padres in their minor league system.

ThatSeventiesGuy · 08-02-2016, 02:06 AM

No, but Clint Barmes went to the same high school I did, albeit about 5 years behind me.

07-30-2016, 04:29 AM	#1
Hkim Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 57	Growing Up Baseball My brother graduated from college recently and he casually mentioned that he knew one of the pitchers drafted by the Nationals. I thought that was pretty neat considering that his friend would appear in the game. How about you? Did you grow up with or graduate with anyone playing professional baseball right now? What do you do when you see them in OOTP?

07-30-2016, 11:49 AM	#2
cheo25 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,272	I think my dad played American Legion ball with Dalton Jones, who's about three years old than him, and he was friends with Dalton and his family. Dalton played with the Red Sox in the '60s and finished with the Tigers and Rangers in the early '70s. Dalton left tickets for my dad and his friend in Milwaukee one time when Dalton was with the Tigers and my dad was in the Army outside of Chicago. I think it was pretty cool just to see him in my historical game, which I started in 1969 and is currently in 1989. I just liked to monitor his stats. Last edited by cheo25; 07-30-2016 at 11:53 AM.

07-30-2016, 12:36 PM	#3
Cinnamon J. Scudworth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,119	Not baseball, but someone who was in my high school class is currently in the NHL. Though he left a couple of years before graduation to play in Major Junior. But our team was pretty unbeatable while he was around. __________________ "Sometimes, this is like going to a grocery store. You’ve got a list until you get to the check-out stand. And then you start reading People magazine, and all this other [stuff] ends up in the basket." -Sandy Alderson on the MLB offseason Last edited by Cinnamon J. Scudworth; 07-30-2016 at 01:15 PM.

07-30-2016, 01:26 PM	#5
TuckerDuckson Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 447	My dad went to school/is still friends with Jason Beverlin who was the only person every drafted out of my high school, so I've met him and his family more than a few times. Chill guy __________________ Plays legit baseball now. My OOTP ratings are low. 2022 update: I'm two stars!

07-30-2016, 02:06 PM	#6
dave1927p FHM Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brantford, ON Posts: 2,906	Being from Canada baseball was never a huge sport so all my buddies played hockey primarily with baseball, lacrosse, and golf taking the backseat. So I only know of 1 person who went to play in a low level college in the USA. However, I had many connections with people I played hockey with who play in the NHL, AHL europe and the Sr. semi pro Leagues. Like anything else though, as we keep getting older it's tougher to stay in touch. __________________ IN 1964 THE LEAFS WON THE STANLEY CUP :: IT'S ALSO THE YEAR THE CANADIAN FLAG WAS DESIGNED...coincidence?

07-30-2016, 01:08 PM	#4
GoPedro99 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 861	I know Aaron cressley. He is a pitcher in the Padres organization

07-30-2016, 03:55 PM	#7
r0nster Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,053	I knew Bill Babcock a lefy drafted by the White Sox but never made it past AA there were 2 more players from my high school in my freshman year got drafted as well and one made it to AAA Texas. The rangers was gonna bring him up to the bigs but a huge trade prevented it and he never made it to the bigs. My mom was Pat Hentgen teacher who happened to win the Cy Young award. I met him when he was in grade school but we never became friends.

07-30-2016, 03:57 PM	#8
r0nster Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,053	I have met many baseball and football players personally and even hung out with Gibby and rosy once in a blue moon and I made the mistake of asking for autograph for my sister but gibby had an attitude about it and rozy told him hey it isn't for him its for his sister back off. Never talked to gibby since. Although later he did apologize.

07-30-2016, 06:47 PM	#9
OBSL Commish All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 946	I went to school with Rusty Greer who played for the Texas Rangers from 1994-2002. We were on a couple of Little League teams together and had a few PE classes and study halls.

08-01-2016, 02:44 AM	#10
dave1927p FHM Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brantford, ON Posts: 2,906	Do you guys all give the people you know in the game a bit of a boost when playing? __________________ IN 1964 THE LEAFS WON THE STANLEY CUP :: IT'S ALSO THE YEAR THE CANADIAN FLAG WAS DESIGNED...coincidence?

08-01-2016, 05:30 AM	#11
kehowey Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 327	Tom Tresh went to my H.S. He graduated when I was in 3rd grade. I did caddy for Gordie Howe.

08-01-2016, 10:23 AM	#12
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,138	Nothing too big but I played high school same high school Ted Williams attended and my dad coached Kevin Mitchell and some other guy they made it to the major leagues I can't remember his name right now it was a pitcher __________________ Chargers= Despicable Traitors

08-01-2016, 11:03 AM	#13
Bobble Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: High and outside Posts: 3,899	I was happily playing along in my game and decided to clean out my minors. I had drafted a guy named Derek Hug. In my capriciousness, I decided to cut him. Then I remembered seeing on Facebook that a girl from my small-town High School ended up with married last name of Hug -- not too common. Were she and Derek Hug related? He's from a town nearby so I'm gonna presume so. I resigned him and put him on the shortlist so I don't cut him until he well and truly deserves it. So, I think a guy who's in the minors is related to a girl I haven't talked to in 30 years. __________________

08-01-2016, 11:24 AM	#14
xmason99 Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 10	Didn't grow up with him or go to school with him, but I did have to throw an over-served Gorman Thomas out of the place I was tending bar at in Milwaukee in the early '90's... kinda funny yet sad, because he was one of my "heroes" growing up a Brewer fan...he didn't put up a fuss though, and we safely got him in a cab. Got a chance to chat with him years later at Miller Park, and he (surprisingly) remembered the incident, saying that was too often how his nights ended back then. Great guy, many hilarious stories of his ball-playing days.

08-01-2016, 12:53 PM	#15
GoPedro99 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 861	My team for high school this past year had a few guys who could go pro. And we are in a town of 15k people. So that's impressive

08-01-2016, 01:55 PM	#16
ForeverRoyalKC All Star Starter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hop, skip and a jump from Pomme De Terre Lake, MO. Posts: 1,212	Two of my very best friends knew and played against Kevin Young (Pirates, Royals) in high school.

08-01-2016, 02:43 PM	#17
ohiodevil OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 2,426	I played slow pitch softball against former White Sox, Padres and Rays pitcher Adam Russell

08-01-2016, 07:00 PM	#18
Hoiles All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 574	Being from Canada it's tough to know pro ballplayers by chance; the closest thing to a legit pro athlete I know in a sports management game is a goon in semi-pro hockey (nice guy in real life).

08-01-2016, 07:21 PM	#19
polydamas All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 599	I played against Mark Mulder's cousin for a while. He was the best pitcher in our league (I was the second best until I tore my UCL- twice). I went to Tom Glavine's pitching academy when I was young, but I don't remember meeting him. One of my pitching coaches later in life was only able to train me during baseball's offseason. I can't remember his name, Jon something, but he pitched for the Padres in their minor league system.

08-02-2016, 02:06 AM	#20
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,426	No, but Clint Barmes went to the same high school I did, albeit about 5 years behind me. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1