Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
In 1998 the Toms River, New Jersey team won the Little League World Series. If you take a look at the boxscore it says that the winning pitcher, Todd Frazier, went four-for-four, including a home run against Kashima, Japan.
Being from the New York area, the Yankees invited the newly crowned Champions to the Stadium and to be honored on the field in pregame ceremonies. Frazier, who also played shortstop was invited to stand next to Derek Jeter for the playing of the National Anthem.
Since then, much as changed. The old stadium is gone and a new one sits across the street. Jeter, however, goes on. He is now in his 18th season in pinstripes.
Friday night, Frazier and Jeter reunited and once again stood side-by-side on the field. This time, they met at third base because yesterday's Little League hero is today's starting third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. And just to show he cares Frazier threw out Jeter three times.
Note: The Reds took two of three from the Yankees. Todd Frazier went 2 for 15 in the series.
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Dec '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Frazier, who also played shortstop was invited to stand next to Derek Jeter for the playing of the National Anthem.
Say hey, EJ, this photo made my day in every way! :)
Oct '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
I was at the game last night sitting in the first row in fair territory behind left field. Actually, here's a picture of me:
So anyway, the game last night was a pitcher duel until the end. It was Andy Pettitte's second game since coming out of retirement, and he pitched 8 innings, as I recall. At 43-years-old (or there abouts), he still has a strong arm. Now, as a Maine native I'm actually a Red Sox fan, and I wasn't particularly rooting for either team last night. There was a little boy sitting next to me, though, in full Yankee garb with a baseball glove. I think he'd come down from a different row to sit closer to the field, because he didn't seem to have a parent. In any case, Bronson Arroyo gave up two home runs in the 8th inning, making the game 0-4. "There's no way the Reds can win, is there?" Asked the little boy.
"Well, it's unlikely, " replied. "But not impossible. Remember the 2004 ALCS."
"The?"
I looked at him again. "How old are you?"
"Seven."
"OK, so before you were born..."
Dec '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
AA: Happy to see Andy back in the line-up; lucky you to witness this first hand!
Apr '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Thank you for bringing smiles to our house tonight! Great post.
Mar '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
I usually have an allergic reaction to anything Yankee but that's a nice story. Thanks for sharing.
Jul '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Ditto on the great story but the Yankees can smell my sweat socks.
Dec '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Uh oh. This may be the first time we cannot come to a gentlemen's agreement!
Aug '10
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Great story.
And it's more interesting and better written than any sports story in today's edition of the "Tennessean."
Edited on May 20, 2012 at 2:56pmFeb '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
A wonderful story which brought back memories of watching Tom's River play in the 1998 World Series, and yes I saw young Todd take the wind out of the sails, so to speak, of the Japanese team. The game brought tears of joy to my eyes then, and now in rememberance. I try and watch all the Little League World Series games, as the true boys of Summer, play the game with pure joy of sportsmanship.
Jul '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
EThompson, the year before the Red Sox won the world series they had a brutal game 7 loss to the Yankees in extra innings. The Yankees went on to lose to the Marlins and shortly after that I got a call from a patients asking if I could see a VIP. I was busy so I made him tell me who and it was a family member of Joe Torre. So Joe comes in and I clear the waiting room of folks and have him put with his family member in a room filled with Red Sox and Bruins memorabilia all over the wall. I walked in and he said thanks and please don't take it out on my family. He was the nicest, classiest man imaginable and sent me an autographed 100 yr anniversary ball. He told me Don Zimmer rented Bucky Dents house in NY and had to turn over all the pictures of his big home run in 78 which broke my heart as a 12 yr old.
Apr '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
EThompson
Uh oh. This may be the first time we cannot come to a gentlemen's agreement! · 9 hours ago
Especially the part about Jeter getting thrown out three times.
Apr '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Watching the game played for the "Love of the Game" is always more enjoyable and more inspiring than watching it played for the love of the money.
Oct '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
I found it to be inspiring how many different ways the Yankees managed to sell ads during the game. "And now it's time for the French's Mustard 2nd inning trivia quiz!" Etc.
Boots on the Table
Watching the game played for the "Love of the Game" is always more enjoyable and more inspiring than watching it played for the love of the money. · 3 hours ago
Dec '11
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Ok, now I'm officially green and it isn't with Celtic fever!
May '10
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Joe Torre spent one season as a broadcaster for the California Angels. I had the opportunity to ask him how he liked it compared to all of those days in the dugout. He said he hated it.
"When the team has a good day I have a good day. When the team has a bad day I can still have a good day. That's feels wrong."
Like Jim Bouton said, "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time."
May '10
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Another example of why baseball is so much more than "just another pro sport."
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
I was at a barbeque this weekend with the parents of the one of the boys (now a man obviously) of another player from that Toms River Championship team.
When Frazier was staning next to Jeter, their son was staning next to Paul O'Niell. At the end of the ceremony he whipped two baseballs for autographs, one for him and one for his brother.
I really like that he thought of his brother.
May '10
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Tommy De Seno: At the end of the ceremony he whipped two baseballs for autographs, one for him and one for his brother.
I really like that he thought of his brother. · 3 hours ago
My brother did the same thing for me, got two baseballs signed, one for me, not signed by Paul O'Neill but signed by Mikhail Gorbachev. True story.
May '10
Re: Sidebars of History: That Kid Looks Familiar Edition
Difference: O'Neill played for the 1990 World Champion Reds. Gorby's Reds didn't do as well.