Clarinda A's Baseball

Dreams and goals are what make America great and no one could have ever guessed that a skinning little kid chasing around his house in the Watts area of Los Angeles trying to catch a ball thrown over its roof, would make such an impact in his chosen profession.

And when ME & Mrs E became involved with the A's program in the first year of our married live, little did we even dream that one day one of the players for a Clarinda summer team would be named the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

This past year when Ozzie Smith was elected into the Hall he made it clear that we would be invited to take part in his induction and we would like to share some of that trip with you.

Due to the regional tournament going an extra day, we left very early on Friday morning to drive to Cooperstown and arrived early afternoon Saturday. After checking into our accommodations, which had been arranged for us, we proceeded to the Cooper Inn to pick up our credentials. We soon found out that if you didn't have "the badge" you wouldn't get into many of the planned weekend activities.

We had made plans with good friends Capt. and Mrs. Bill Baldwin of St. Louis to have dinner with them early that evening before going to a reception at the Hall of Fame. Barb Baldwin had brought "Hall of Fame Hankys" for Oz's family members and us and other friends because we were all together at his retirement and many tears were shed at that event. Because we were invited guests of an inductee, we had admittance to the Otesaga Hotel where the Hall of Fame members and their families were staying and also to have transportation provided to each of the events.

As there were over 45 Hall of Fame members there for the induction it was such fun to see so many of the players whom we had watched and admired as we grew up. For the first time, we took advantage of taking photos of some of these celebrities (see picture page). At the reception it was such an experience to see all of these players interact and have such a good time together. If you have ever been to the Hall of Fame, you know that each year's plaques are in alcoves. At the reception, many of the members stayed in or near their area so it was easy to see most of them and they were all very open and gracious when visiting.

Sunday was the induction ceremony and again we met at the hotel to go to the site. It is held on the grounds of Clark Sports Center where a covered stage had been erected. Seats were arranged in sections for the inductee's guests and others stood or had brought lawn chairs, etc. We knew we had seats in Oz's section and had gone into the third row with Baldwin's when someone came and got us saying, "You have seats in the front row," and sure enough there they were with our names on them - quite a surprise. Oz's family members were in that row as well as his former teammate Willie McGee and wifeVivian, agent Andy Strasberg and wife Patti, accountant Deb Ehlmann, former manager Whitey Herzog, strength & conditioning trainer Macky Shilstone and son, speechwriter David Okerlund and wife and Jeanne Harr, widow of his college coach.

Each of the Hall of Fame members were introduced individually and again it was such a pleasure to see these men who have contributed so much to the history of baseball.

Before Oz was introduced presentation of the J.G. Taylor Spinks award was made to Detroit News national baseball writer and columnist Joe Falls and Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas was presented the Ford C. Frick award.

There were fans from both those cities who did much cheering when they were introduced, but the St. Louis fans were really loud when Oz took the stage and there was much laughter as he came out in an exaggerated Afro wig with a Padres hat on top - think it broke the tension for him and was a definite crowd pleaser. It was evident that this was an emotional moment for Ozzie and in the crowd was a gentleman who is a regular at Cardinal games with his placards and he held up one that said "There's no crying in baseball."
Most years the commissioner of baseball reads the plaque to each new inductee, but this year Bud Selig relinquished that privilege to Oz's youngest son Dustin in what was again an emotionally charged experience.

In his acceptance speech, he used the characters in the "Wizard of Oz" and the construction of a baseball to portray the important parts of his baseball life and how they played a part in his climb to the top. It was in the second component of the baseball and the quest of the Tinman that we and Clarinda were mentioned specifically -

"The second part of the construction of this baseball is manufactured by the wrapping of over 200 yards of wool around that core. ???. In the "Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's second companion, the tin man, desperately wanted a heart. Why? So that he could experience love and believe in himself. When I look back at my life and career, I see that this is the second critical part of my journey. I refer to it as the Strands of Love & Faith. Strands of Love and Faith that so many other people have wrapped around Ozzie Smith as a person and wrapped around my dream through their love and faith in me. Now, I could stand here for several days enumerating a host of people who have extended their love and faith into my life, but I don't have time to do that today. However, allow me to share just a few examples of what I mean.

Besides my mother Marvella, I will never forget the faith that my high school coach Art Webb had in me - not just in high school but also in my collegiate years. You we, when I was becoming a little disheartened while playing college ball at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Art Webb still cared about Ozzie Smith and my quest. Just about the time I was questioning my ability and expressed thought of going home, Art got wind of my feelings, called me up, and sternly told me, 'Oz, you're not going to quit. You're going to hang in there and weather the storm!' And because of that call and his faith in me ? I stayed. A simple strand of faith in me that helped keep my dream alive.

I will never forget the threads of faith my college coach, Berdy Harr, who has passed away. His wife Jeanie has been gracious enough to join us today. Berdy was able to weave his strands of faith around my dreams as he taught me the value of a great personal work ethic ??.. It was because of him that I developed the belief that 'Nothing is good enough if it could be made better, and better is never good enough if it can be made best.' Let me repeat that ??? Another simple strand of faith that helped keep my dream alive.

And I will forever cherish the life changing experience and strands of love that I was blessed with through my relationship with Merl & Pat Eberly while playing semipro baseball in Clarinda, Iowa. They are here today. Most people would have no idea how intimidating and stressful it could be for a young black player to move into an all white, rural community in the Midwest. However, Merl and Pat took me in in and taught me how to live with that challenge. As my coach, Merl taught me the value of strict discipline and importance of constantly improving my game. And I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to thank that entire community of Clarinda for the strands of love and friendship they extended to me then and still to today.

????? A special thread in here belongs to Alvin Dark and Whitey Herzog. It was Alvin who saw the dream in me that others couldn't as he brought me into the Major Leagues. And it was White, my first manager, who helped me get going down the Yellow Brick Road.

The list goes on and on, and like the hundreds of yards of wool yarn that are wrapped around this baseball - so too are the countless strands of faith others wrapped around my life - giving substance and shape to my quest. And unlike a lesser quality ball that some produce, the strands I am referring to were not synthetic, but rather made of the highest quality - to add memory, tension. Lift and loft o my life just like a heart did for the tin man." For the complete speech go to www.baseballhalloffame.org

For him to remember the entire community and us was a truly special moment and needless to say, Mrs E needed her "Hanky".

As Oz had a special dinner for Hall of Fame members only that evening, we had been invited to a cook out at The White House Bed & Breakfast, guests of the David Slay's and Deb Ehlmann. David is Oz's partner (and chef) in his new restaurant in Clayton, MO. It was just a small group of about 20 so it gave us a chance to catch up with the news on Willie McGee's family and to renew several other old acquaintances as well as thank the Strasberg's for making all of our weekend arrangements and to enjoy a great meal in the garden.

Monday morning we joined Oz for breakfast at the hotel and then went to a taping of the ESPN "Legends Series" at Clark Sports Center. That was fun as Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies and Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox were also on the show and we got to meet them. Following the taping we were able to go the Hall of Fame and be with Oz for a very special moment - his seeing his plaque on the wall for the first time. That had to be the highlight of the weekend for us.

The game between the Rockies and the White Sox was held at Doubleday Field Monday afternoon and Oz threw out the first ball and oldest son O.J. sang the National Anthem which was a treat for us. We only stayed for a portion of the game and then went to tour the Hall of Fame while it was a little less crowded.

Because the A's were playing in Wichita, we left early Tuesday morning to head southwest, but the three days we spent in that little town in New York will be a memory that will stay with us for many years to come.

While Oz's nickname, "The Wizard" tells us all what most baseball fans already know, he is and was the greatest, not everyone knows that is true of the person too.

Osborne Earl Smith is now a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, an honor he richly deserves. If there was a shrine honoring just great people, he would be there also and we would want to be there for that induction too. Oz, thanks for your friendship, the memories and being the person you are.