(Editor’s Note:  Looks like Sonoma County is trying to bring back minor league baseball.  Perhaps the re-print of this story will inspire some action.  Good luck!)

By Jane Richard

‘Hmm, there aren’t many people here yet,’ I say to myself, ‘but then I am about two hours early.’ I whip my car around in a u-turn on the quiet side street to snag a spot across the road from the ballpark. No parking meters, no traffic. What bliss. The Giants are at home today, playing Pittsburgh, but a Saturday day game in their new home on the Bay — not the chance of a hot dog in Antarctica of getting a ticket. Could’ve had a spot third row behind the dugout in Oakland, but the A’s have the temerity to be in Chicago. Denied a big league fix, this junkie ends up in Rohnert Park — a minor league sanctuary just twenty road miles from my home in northern Sonoma County, California, but a thousand baseball miles from the major leagues.

I check my cap, grab my backpack containing all the baseball-going essentials: scorebook, mitt, water bottle, sandwich (so as not to have to leave the stands during the game), jacket and fuzzy warm gloves (cold nights are a reality of northern California baseball), and radio — and head across the street to experience the world of minor league ball.

(more…)

(from press release)

Every baseball fan hopes for that elusive autograph, catching a foul ball, or maybe even chasing down a milestone home run ball. Now there is a book out there that will help these dreams be realized.

Taking Home A Piece Of The Game is a fan’s guide on how to get cool stuff at a Major League Baseball game. Inside you will find out how to put together a plan of attack for a day at the ballpark. With this book fans are almost guaranteed to take home a baseball, autograph and/or game-used items from every Major League Baseball game attended.

Through a blend of tips, information and personal stories, author and Major League “Ballhawk” John Witt reveals the information needed to accomplish all of this. John Witt has caught 4,868 baseballs at Major League games over the past 32 years. 2,829 of those baseballs were caught at regular season MLB games and 99 of those baseballs were game home runs. Witt has also collected thousands of autographs, game-used items, and other various goodies as well.

Witt shares stories about the more memorable home run balls that he has caught. His biggest moment came on September 13, 1998 when he grabbed Sammy Sosa’s 61st home run of the season on Waveland Avenue outside of Wrigley Field in Chicago. Witt has also caught home runs hit by Eddie Murray from both sides of the plate in the same game in 1987, the last roof-top home run at Old Comiskey Park, and even a Mike Schmidt home run ball at his first ever Dodger game in LA.

In the back of the book there are photos of some of the “Pieces of the Game” that Witt snagged in 2008. John also offers information on “Ballhawking 101” which is where fans can go to a baseball game to put all of the tips and information to use. Witt even guarantees that fans will get a baseball at the game or the fan will receive a full 100% refund of the “Ballhawking 101” fee.

Taking Home A Piece Of The Game is available at createspace.com and Amazon.com for $6.95 (paperback).

Bench: Bobby Murcer (OF), Dale Mitchell (OF), Joe Carter (OF), Paul Blair (OF), Harland Clift (3B), “Indian” Bob Johnson (OF), Don Demeter (OF), Fred Patek (SS), Bill Russell (SS), Mickey Tettleton (C), Darrell Porter (C), Cal McLish (P), Tom Sturdivant (P).

(originally published in Baseball Ink Vol. 1, No. 4 - March 2001)

                     runner on first

corner of the eye                       corner of the diamond

get the catcher's sign      check the third base coach's sign

                                               step step step

step off the rubber                     step back on the base

                                               step step step

                                                         step

lean in                                   lean towards second

ball in the hand                            balls of the feet

                                                      (ready)

hands together                      arms dangling hands loose

come set                                                (set)

steal a glance                           (gonna steal a base)

q  u  i  c  k  s  n  a  p  t  h  r  o  w  t  o  f  i  r  s  t
                                             dive in the dirt
                                              tag on the hand

                                            back to the bench

(originally published in Baseball Ink Vol. 1, No. 1 - June 2000)