Brendan Harris

Last month my son attended the Brendan Harris Baseball Clinic. Recently I was lucky enough to ask him a few questions.


LoudMom:  When did you start playing baseball?

Brendan:  I started playing probably around 4-5 years old.  

LoudMom:  What is your favorite youth baseball memory? 

Brendan:  My favorite youth memory was when I hit my first homerun over a fence, and I didn't know it went out, and I slid into second base.  The umpire had to tell me it was a homerun, and then I continued around the bases.  I think I was 10.

LoudMom:  What kind of influence did your parents have on your baseball career?

Brendan:  My parents had a big influence in my athletic career.  My parents both played sports and encouraged me to try a lot of different things.  My dad was a big baseball fan and we would always watch the Yankees together when I was little and we'd also make it to a couple games a year.

LoudMom:  What advice do you have for young ballplayers with big dreams? 

Brendan:  My advice to younger players would be to always chase your dream, but remember to take one step at a time.  No one makes the major leagues at 12 years old, learn the game, enjoy the company of your teammates and have fun with baseball and other sports as well.  Always try to improve yourself from year to year and get the most out of your abilities, whether its baseball or in the classroom.  Try to climb the ladder one step at a time; make yourself a good high school player, a good college player, and then a good pro.  If you prepare yourself and work hard, good things will happen, but always remember that players can get hurt and have baseball taken away, but no one gets hurt and forgets a good education, so study hard. 


Thank you Brendan!   

Trivia Answers

1.  While playing for the Boston Red Sox, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run against the New York Yankees on May 6, 1915. He was later traded to the Yankees for a mere $125,000.

2.  On September 7, 1974, in a game against the White Sox, California Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan became the first player to break the 100 mph barrier when one of his pitches was officially clocked at 100.8 miles per hour.

3.  On May 30, 1894, Bobby Lowe, of the Boston Beaneaters, became the first Major League player to hit four home runs in a single game. The unlucky opposing pitcher was Elton Chamberlain of the Cincinnati Reds.

4.  The first perfect game in American League history was thrown by Cy Young on May 5, 1904, when he led the Boston Red Sox to victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. One of the most consistent and durable pitchers the game has ever known, Cy Young won 511 games -- almost 100 more than any other pitcher in history. In 1904, he crafted one of the most amazing streaks of pitching excellence in baseball history. The right-hander pitched 24 1/3 innings without surrendering a hit, through May 11. Young had pitched two hitless innings at the end of a loss on April 25, seven innings of hitless relief on April 30, and a perfect game on May 5. Stretching his hitless streak to 24 innings against Detroit on May 11, Young finally gave up a hit to future Hall of Fame outfielder Sam Crawford in the seventh inning.

5.  On March 7, 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers rolled the Cleveland Indians 15–0. Pee Wee Reese and Joe Medwick wore a batting helmet designed by two Johns Hopkins doctors with the help of Larry MacPhail. The two Dodgers, victims of HBPs the previous year, pronounced the helmets satisfactory.

6.  Ty Cobb stole home plate an amazing 54 times during his career. On four occasions, he went so far as to steal second, then third, then home plate in the same inning!

7.  Before 1880, it took Nine balls to walk a batter!

8.  Michael Jordan signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994 and was assigned to the team's minor league system. That summer he batted .202 with the Birmingham Barons, a class AA affiliate of the White Sox. Later in the year he batted .252 with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.

How many did you know?

Trivia Questions

Anybody want to give it a try? Don't look them up! Take a guess!



1.  What team did Babe Ruth hit his first career home run against?

A) New York Yankees  B) Baltimore Black Sox  C) Boston Red Sox


2.   Who was the first Major League player to pitch a ball over 100 mph?

A) Tom Seaver  B) Nolan Ryan  
C) Roger Clemens


3.  Who was the first Major League player to hit four home runs in a single game?

A) Lou Gehrig  B) Babe Ruth  C) Bobby Lowe


4.  Who was the first American League pitcher to throw a perfect game?

A) Smokey Joe Wood  B) Cy Young  C) Don Larsen


5.  What was the first Major League team to wear plastic batting helmets?

A) Brooklyn Dodgers  B) New York Yankees  
C) Cleavland Indians


6.  What player holds the career record for stealing home plate?

A) Ty Cobb  B) Jackie Robinson  C) Lou Gehrig


7.  How many balls did it take to walk a batter before 1880?

A)Three  B) Five  C) Nine


8.  What retired basketball player tried out for the Chicago White Sox in 1994?

A) Frank Thomas  B) Michael Jordan 
C) Dennis Rodman 


Answers to come!

Now There's Something To Be Proud Of

History of Hallie Boys Baseball

In the early spring of 1970 a group of parents got together at the Eagles Club in Hallie and made plans to begin a youth baseball program. They called it Hallie Little League.

There were only enough kids to make up four teams that first year. The games were played on the softball field at the Eagles Club. The first game was played on June 23rd, 1970.

Little League 1970 Champs coached by Barry Nesja

The following year they decided to end their affiliation with the National Little League. The name was changed to Hallie Boys Baseball. And new rule's were established such as no tryouts and an "everyone bats" lineup. Also in 1971, the Eagles Club leased some land to Hallie at no cost for a baseball field of their own. Volunteers built Hallie Little League Field. 

Today the boys play at Hallie Park. It's a baseball and softball complex in Lake Hallie, WI. There is a total of seven fields and it has full concessions (Yummy). 

1999 Babe Ruth

Last year there were eight Tball teams, seven Modified Pitch teams, ten Little League teams, seven Babe Ruth teams, and two Senior Babe Ruth teams (that play in a five team league). This accommodates players from age 5 through age 18. AND it's still growing!

Not bad for a group of parents and some hard working volunteers!

I am proud to say this is where my son plays!


Thank you for the pictures Barry!

Greg Reinhard

Greg Reinhard

Professional baseball player Greg Reinhard agreed to do an interview for me. Thank you Greg!


LoudMom:   At what age did you start playing baseball?

Greg:   I have been playing baseball as long as I can remember.  My first memories are out in the yard having a catch with my dad.  He was insightful enough to get me in organized baseball two years early by lying about my age, so I'm guessing I was 5 in the 7 year old league.  He didn't make me play either, which is what I'm guessing people would take from him signing me up young.  My dad has always said, and made it known that I could do whatever I wanted.  It just seems all I have ever wanted was to play this game, or be around it.

LoudMom:   What is your favorite youth baseball memory?

Greg:   My 9 and 10 year old days of playing on the All-Star teams in Marinette stick out.  Before the days of club baseball for youth players, the All-Stars is all we had to play tournaments with.  So many of those kids are still my good friends today.  It is really where I learned to win, and to excel in big moments that likely weren't that big of a deal, but seemed like the only thing in the world that mattered at that time.

Other than that, playing catch with my dad.  I know people have written books about it the experience, but it is really special.  We still get the chance occasionally when I'm home.  It seems from the beginning we used a game of catch to have conversations about life.  That's probably the reason why so many dads and kids in America love the game.  It gives kids a chance to have a relationship with there dad after he gets home from work, and for  dad to stay young and have that same relationship.

LoudMom:   What kind of influence did your parents have on your baseball career?

Greg:   My parents have had the most impact on my career than anyone.  They have done so much, but from the beginning I think they realized how much I loved it and how serious I was about it.  It has always been so much more than a game, more like a lifestyle or way of life.  Since I think they saw that in the way I treated it, they always were willing to be there for anything I have needed, whether it meant driving to Tennessee to experience my first taste of serious baseball when I was 15, or driving back to Tennessee when I was 23 in professional baseball.  I am forever indebted to them for all the help along the way.

LoudMom:   What advice do you have for youth baseball players?

Greg:   I think young players need to have fun with the game of baseball, but treat the game with respect.  I can not think of a time as a youth player where I threw my stuff, or didn't take the game serious when I was between the lines.  There is only one way to play the game, and I think it is kind of escaping the baseball culture in today's game.

Lastly, there is no pickup baseball games being played anywhere.  Kids need to learn the game, follow it, and dream about it.  Playing video games doesn't seem to be the answer.  They should be outside in the neighborhood playing wiffleball, wall ball, pickle, anything but PS3.

Wood VS Aluminum Bats

1. The aluminum bat is typically lighter than a wood bat. A lighter bat allows you to swing faster. This gives a batter more time to see a pitch and aim the swing.

2.  Studies have shown that aluminum bats produce a faster ball speed. A wood bat absorbs more of a balls energy at contact, while an aluminum bat "gives" and then "springs" the ball back off of it (trampoline effect). This means an aluminum bat typically would hit farther than a wood bat.

3.  The sweet spot on a wood bat is smaller than on an aluminum bat. It is the spot that gives a powerful clean hit. So the wood bat has less room for error.

4.  A wood bat is more likely to break. An aluminum bat can dent without affecting the bats performance. They also can break, but wood bats break more often.

5.  Typically wood bats are less expensive than aluminum bats.

Wood bats are used in pro baseball and in some colleges. Typically kids use aluminum bats, but most leagues do allow the use of wood bats also.

Aluminum bats came out in 1970. Before then everyone used wood bats. Some people say it's a disadvantage to use an aluminum bat because you may have a harder time with a wood bat when/if you play in leagues that require them.

Metro Baseball League History

1992- Volunteers from Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Hastings, Lakeville, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Shokopee, and Wayzata banded together to form the South Metro Baseball League (SMABL).

1996- Significant growth occured when the Northstar League, which were primarily north metro teams, merged into the SMABL and changed to Metro Baseball League (MBL).

1997- The demise of the MYBA brought a number of additional east metro teams to the MBL.

1999- Bloomington Classic League brought close to 150 teams into the MBL.
The North Classic League also agreed to merge their 60 teams into the league.
A total of 486 teams competed, making it the largest baseball league of its kind in the nation.

How to Wear Your Baseball Pants With High Socks

1.  Put on the socks and pull them all the way up.

2.  Put the pants on.. pull the legs up to just below the knee

(or to the length you want them)

3.  Drop the pants to the floor, so they are inside out with

the elastic on the legs still on your legs at the length you want the pants

(Or you could just put the pants on legs first inside out)

4.  Fold the top of the sock down over the elastic on the

pants

5.  Pull the pants up so the are no longer inside out

You are ready to play ball!

I have heard that this is the best way to do this and that the legs stay up throughout the game. I will be trying it out this season with my son!

My Baseball Days

When I was in 4th grade I played baseball. My team was The Flame. We went undefeated in the regular season, but lost our first playoff game :( I was the only girl on my team and to my knowledge there was only one other girl in the league. 

My mom signed me up without me knowing.. and in the nick of time. I was so shy, I only knew one kid on my team (and I kind of had a crush on him). So although I liked baseball a lot, I didn't put full effort into it. I don't know if I realized that back then or not.  

The fastest pitcher in the league was on my team (the crush). During a practice he was pitching to me and I took a ball to the head (Yes, I had a helmet on). After that I really didn't do much at the plate. Unfortunately, that happened early in the season. But, I had an arm and could catch as good as anyone. 

Man, I'd love to turn back the clock and play my heart out!

The History of Little League

1939- Little League was founded by Carl E. Stotz in Williamsport, PA

1947- The first Little League World Series (then it was called the National Little League Tournament) was played, Allen"Sonny" Yearick is the first Little Leaguer to play pro ball ( Boston Braves Org.)

1953- Little League World Series (LLWS) is televised for the first time, Joey Jay is the first former Little Leaguer to play in the Major Leagues (Milwaukee Braves)

1956- Founder Carl Stotz severs ties with the organization, Little League Foundation is created

1961- Senior League Baseball was created for 13-15yr olds

1968- Big League Baseball was created for 16-18yr olds

1974- Rules were revised to allow girls, Little and Senior League Softball is created

1979- Junior League Baseball was started for 13yr olds

1980- Big League Softball was created for 16-18yr olds

1990- Was the first full season of the Challenger Division for mentally and physically disabled children