The Slanch Report

Within a nice story about how Whitey Herzog had a baseball field named for him in Belleville, Illinois (home of famed former Sox (Red and White) slugger Brian Daubach) is this little nugget about him coming across some kids doing something strange:

“It’s the first time I’ve seen two kids playing catch in 20 years, so I stopped the car and gave them each an autographed ball,” said Herzog, who told the surprised boys who he was and why he was stopping to admire their game of catch. “I said, ‘I’m so proud that you two kids are out there playing catch, because nobody does anything today unless it’s organized.’

“I kind of shocked them a little bit, but I was just in awe of that because you don’t see it any more.”

I imagine the kids were totally confused why this old flat-topped guy was coming out of his car claiming he was a famed manager. “I played for Casey Stengel,” “Sure you did old man, now take your liniment smell and get out of here before I have to call the police. Oh, and thanks for now ruining my baseball by scribbling all over it.”