Tag Archives: baseball

Day 79: Will Ferrell

Posted on March 20, 2015 | Leave a comment


I got a little behind on posting my letters…whose crazy idea was it anyways to write a letter every day of the year?

Last week my dad pointed out to me that Will Ferrell was playing in some pre-season baseball games. Sure enough, he was right. The actor and comedian set a record for playing for 10 different ball clubs in one day and even playing all ten positions. It was part of some sort of stunt (I know, you’re shocked right) for his Funny or Die website.

Ferrell running in to field a ball hit by Wellington Castillo. Photo: MLB

Ferrell running in to field a ball hit by Wellington Castillo. Photo: MLB

The 47-year-old self proclaimed journeyman was traded nine times on March 12. Here’s how it looked on the official record:

March 12, 2015: Signed by the Oakland A’s as an undrafted amateur free agent.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Seattle Mariners for Comedic Actor to be Named Later
March 12, 2015: Joined Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in unknown transaction.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Chicago Cubs for a washing machine.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for a Churro Dog and D-Bat Dog.
March 12, 2015: Claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds, Norm MacDonald released.
March 12, 2015: Granted unconditional release by Cincinnati Reds.
March 12, 2015: Signed by Chicago White Sox as Free Agent.
March 12, 2015: Traded to San Francisco Giants for unknown compensation.
March 12, 2015: Traded to Los Angeles Dodgers for unknown compensation.
March 12, 2015: Traded to San Diego Padres for unknown compensation.

My favorite trade was the one to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a Churro Dog and D-Bat Dog.

Day 79

Hey Will,

Day 79-2

I embossed a baseball mitt on the front of the card.

Congratulations on your recent feat of playing all 10 positions for 10 teams in one day!

I saw you playing center field for the Angels (the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, not the California Angels that we grew up with). I think Mike Trout was getting nervous about keeping his spot on the team after you deftly fielded that rocket from Wellington Castillo – by the way I think that would be a great character name for you in a future film. I give you that idea free of charge. Anyway, it was absolute BS that they traded you to the Cubs for a washing machine – you’re better than that!

As Father Guido Sarducci used to say, “Way to Go!  Keep Up The Good Work!”
-Reed Sandridge

P.S. I met you years ago at President Bill Clinton’s office in Harlem. You looked scared when all of us staffers crowded around you. I’m sorry for that.

Day 79-3

Will Ferrell came to President Clinton’s office in 2009 when I was working for his foundation. The entire staff circled around the actor for a photo and he looked more uncomfortable than Ricky Bobby at a royal polo match with Prince William.

 

 

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Day 72: Anne

Posted on March 13, 2015 | Leave a comment

One of the people that has been faithfully following my blog is Anne from Mentor, Ohio. I’ve never met Anne in person but you start to get to know the people who follow your blogs even if you’ve never met them face to face. Words to describe the relationship you have with people you follow or who follow you on social media escape me right now. If anyone has a good narrative to explain this unique relationship, send it my way.

I dropped Anne a note in the mail this morning. I thought I would make a liner for her envelope too so I took some wrapping paper that I have had in my apartment for a long time – I don’t use it because it is quite floral, probably leftover from something an ex-girlfriend bought. Anyway, I thought it might make an appropriate liner and it turned out quite nice if I don’t say so myself!

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 72

I made a few blunders in the letter which thankfully I caught before sealing it. I corrected them (after I snapped this photo) before mailing it.

 

Dear Anne,

You are one of the most devoted followers of my Year of Letters. I’m touched by your interest in the project and am happy to be on this journey with you. I believe we both share a love for baseball. I’m very excited for the 2015 season although the media are saying that 2015 is their (Nationals) year to win it all – no pressure on them now! I’ve been thinking about having a baseball theme for the letters in the month of April to celebrate the start of the season – what do you think about that? Thanks again for joining me on this adventure – take care and stay in touch.

Warm regards,
Reed

P.S. Do any of your students write cursive?

 

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Day 69: Mookie Wilson

Posted on March 10, 2015 | Leave a comment

Mookie_Wilson_courtesy_of_New_York_MetsOne of my all time favorite baseball players is Mookie Wilson. And while I was a big fan of the New York Mets outfielder, my mother was an even bigger fan. Most people probably didn’t know she was a baseball fan, but she was.

I started following the Mets around 1981 and soon thereafter my parents started following too. Then in 1984 the Mets had the first draft pick and chose Shawn Abner, a graduate from my hometown high school in Mechanicsburg, PA. I think that probably solidified our allegiance to the team.

Anyway, Mom loved Mookie. The speedster on the bases had incredible work ethic and seemed to avoid all the scandals that plagued the Mets during the Strawberry, Gooden, and Hernandez era. Mom would have loved this letter. If she were still alive, I would have asked Mookie to send her a letter.

Day 69

Dear Mookie,

I grew up a die-hard Mets fan – unusual for someone living in Central Pennsylvania. All of my friends were Philly and Pirate fans. I watched every game on WWOR, captivated by Kiner, Zabriskie, McCarver and Staub’s call of the game.

My parents also became fans – I guess they gave in when my memorabilia draped room started looking more like the dugout at Shea than it did a bedroom. My mother, Lenora Sandridge, was your biggest fan. When you would get on base, she would start talking about how “Mookie’s gonna steal second.” She loved to watch you run the bases and I agree with her, few players truly make an art out of base-running. You were the best.

The other thing that you have in common with my mother is truck driving. No, she never drove a truck, but she often said that that would be her dream job – just driving the country and being her own boss.

Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 8.01.13 PMShe never realized that dream. She passed away in 2006 of heart disease at the age of 63. Shortly after that I learned that you had an 18 wheeler and drove short routes all over the southeast during the office season. She would have loved to have known that. Or maybe she did know that and it was just another reason she was so fond of you.

Anyway, as much as it would be nice to hear back from one of her (and my) heroes – learn more about your post baseball life, your recording work, etc. I don’t expect a response. I just wanted to share this little story with you.

Thanks for making baseball so fun to watch for my family and me during the 80s.

With admiration,
Reed Sandridge

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Week 8 Notes and Letters

Posted on February 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

A great week for the Year of Letters. I received three responses in the mail – well sorta.

First, I received a letter from Caroline Fraser Zinsser. Her husband, William Zinsser, was the recipient of my 22nd letter. Now 92, the authority on writing well for the past half century, is now blind she explained to me and unable to reply, but she offered his phone number and let me know that I could call him. Wow! I haven’t called yet, I am not sure what I would tell him other than I think he’s a genius but he doesn’t need me wasting his time to tell him that.

Week 8Second, I received a letter from Margaret at the Hotel Monaco regarding my letter to General Manager Mart Hurlburt on January 6th requesting that my gift certificate for a one-night stay in their Alexandria, VA hotel be extended – I let it expire. She kindly offered to grant me the extension – thank you Margaret and thank you to Hotel Monaco!!! I’m a big fan of their hotels, but I have yet to stay in their Alexandria property so I am looking forward to that.

The last response I received wasn’t really a response I guess. You may remember that on Day 35 I wrote a letter to Jayson Werth of the Washington Nationals. He was serving a short sentence in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center for a reckless driving incident last year. I figured he would have some free time to read my letter – but I don’t believe he ever saw it. My letter had been opened, inspected, taped shut and returned to me.

Finally, I want to congratulate Katy from Day 22. She was the co-producer of Citizenfour – the Edward Snowden documentary that took home the Oscar tonight for Best Documentary. She’s amazing.

Get ready for another week of handwritten letters. Do you have someone you think I should write? Let me know. And how about you, when is the last time you penned a handwritten letter to someone. Try to write at least one this week – you’ll be glad you did!

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Day 40: Kimmy

Posted on February 9, 2015 | Leave a comment

I was a huge fan of the New York Mets when I was growing up. I have every baseball card made from 1984-1988 and a ton of memorabilia of the Mets. A hero of mine was Gary Carter who wore number 8 and played catcher for the Mets. I wrote to him as a kid and he wrote me back and sent me autographed card.

Gary Carter after winning the World Series in 1986. Photo: Newsday

Gary Carter after winning the World Series in 1986. Photo: Newsday

In May of 2011 Carter was diagnosed with an aggressive case of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. He lost his battle with cancer on February 16, 2012. The 57-year-old was married and had three adult children.

I had found Carter’s address a few years before he died, before he was diagnosed with cancer, and I thought I would write him a note to let him know how much I looked up to him as a young person. I put it off and sadly he died before I ever sent the letter.

As we get close to the anniversary of Carter’s passing I thought I would write his daughter Kimmy a note. I’ve struggled around the anniversary of my mother’s death and find comfort when people reach out to say something nice about her. Hopefully my letter to Kimmy will brighten her day to know how much I admired her father.

Year of Letters-6

Dear Kimmy,

As a kid, your father was my hero. I was 12 when he led the New York Mets to the 1986 World Series victory against the Boston Red Sox – in fact my Dad took me to the NLCS Game 5 where your father hit a single up the middle off of the Astros’ Charlie Kerfeld in the bottom of the 12th that scored Wally Backman to win the game. It was truly amazing.

As an adult, I learned about your father’s work ethic and unwavering character. His comments at the the 2003 Hall of Fame induction touched my heart.

I imagine that this time of year must be tough for you and your family but I hope that somehow it is comforting to know that he is remembered fondly by so many – not only as a Hall of Famer on the field, but as a role model off the field as well.

With warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

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