OT Retire 21

[71buc]

It's approaching 6:00 AM here and this is way off topic but I was hoping to ask you all to help me out. In three hours I will be undergoing a surgery to donate a kidney to a friend I met through baseball. Due to a series of complications this has been a year long journey. I find myself both anxious and relieved that it is finally coming to fruition. Even though I am not an employee of baseball the MLB assistance team (BAT) is paying for 6 weeks of my salary, hotel and airfare. They are an amazing organization.http://web.mlbcommunity.org/index.jsp?content=programs&program=baseball_assistance_team

Many people who known me have asked me about my motivation to do this. I try not to minimize my actions when I explain that it's the right thing to do. It would be a bigger deal if I ignored my friend's needs when I obviously have*the ability to make a difference in his life. While delivering Mickey Mantle's eulogy Bob Costas quoted Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who said every boy builds*a shrine to some baseball hero, and before that shrine, a candle always burns.*Perhaps this is my candle to Roberto. In the past 40 years I know that he has inspired many other selfless acts. He was a powerful role model during my formative years. As a child I was acutely aware that I lacked his athletic talent. However, I knew early on there was much more to the man than baseball and that I could perhaps emulate him in a more profound way. I am fairly certain that belief is what lead me to this moment and a career in social work.

The Roberto Clemente award is in my opinion the most significant award a player can earn. However, I am hoping that one day MLB will honor Roberto by retiring his 21 as they have Jackie Robinson's 42. Both men transcended the game. Robinson is baseball's moral compass and Clemente is it's patron saint. Although Clemente has profound cultural significance for Latinos such as I, for many fans of my generation Clemente represents a bigger ideal than ethnicity, nationality, culture, and language. He represents compassion, mercy, honor, dignity, and pride. As a society I fear that these are all values we seem to be losing a grip on. By retiring 21 MLB would be honoring those principles as much as the man. This is where I am asking for your assistance. If you share my beliefs, please email MLB and tell them to retire 21. I could not find a link to the commissioners office. However, you could address your email to Bud Selig here*http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/help/contact_us.jsp. Thanks for indulging me.

[39special]

Mike what you are doing is awesome.I hope everthing works out for both of you!!!!!

[jgmp123]

Mike,

Email sent! What you are doing is a very selfless act that if others had your kind of courage, the world would be a much better place.

Bravo sir.

James

[pariah1107]

Mike, Email sent.

A beautiful gesture on your part. Please have a successful surgery, and speedy recovery for both of you.

[Scott Garner]

Hi Mike,
I remember you telling me that you were going to donate a kidney to your friend.

I really think what you are doing is unbelievable! Good luck with the surgery and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

All my best,
Scott

PS, I will write Mr. Selig about retiring Roberto Clemente's number 21.
Keep the faith!

[deebro041]

Hi Mike, great courage and inspiration!! Way to step up to the plate! Best wishes to you and the recipient!!

[mcgwirecom]

Way to go Mike!

[JollyElm]

My high school era Spanish is now weak, but:
Sus acciones muestran el mundo lo que un gran corazón usted tiene.

[horzverti]

Mike,

I have read your posts and always thought that you seemed to be a good guy. I now know that you're a great guy. You should have your number retired!

My best wishes for a speedy recovery to you and your friend. :)

Curt

[71buc]

Thanks for the nice comments assistance with emails. I just completed tHe longest night of my life.

[jimm]

Mike, get well. My Mom was born in Nicaragua and I had many family there during the 72 quake, so anything to do with Mr Clemente resonates with me. First series I ever watched was '71 and first bb cards '72 so this was a very formative time for me. Here's a pic of a cap my grandmother brought with her from Managua and one of the only things I have from her. Interesting choice of colors I think. :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8551/8699077794_0a604b79e1_z.jpg

[Leon]

Thanks for the nice comments assistance with emails. I just completed tHe longest night of my life.


What a great thing you did Mike. Wishing you the speediest recovery in history, take care.

[ethicsprof]

amazingly compassionate in word and deed.
My prayers are with you and your friend.
all the best,
barry

[Mr. Zipper]

Best of luck, Mike. My cap is off to you. :)

[JollyElm]

My high school era Spanish is now weak, but:
Sus acciones muestran el mundo lo que un gran corazón usted tiene.

Some people asked, so I'll translate what I said. Mike mentioned his Latino roots, so I was trying to tell him en Español that his actions tell the world what a huge heart he has.

[71buc]

Mike, get well. My Mom was born in Nicaragua and I had many family there during the 72 quake, so anything to do with Mr Clemente resonates with me. First series I ever watched was '71 and first bb cards '72 so this was a very formative time for me. Here's a pic of a cap my grandmother brought with her from Managua and one of the only things I have from her. Interesting choice of colors I think. :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8551/8699077794_0a604b79e1_z.jpg

Amazing hat and a beautiful reminder of her. Thanks for sharing it with me.

[71buc]

Its been 5 years today since I made this post. I flew to San Francisco today to watch McCutchen and celebrate 5 years of health with my friend Howard.

[GaryPassamonte]

You are a man to be honored for your wonderful gift.

[GoCubsGo32]

Mike,

What an amazing gift to give. Thinking of both you and your friend. Wishing both a full speedy recovery. God bless and...I'll get the email sent for Mr. 21. :)

[Mark70Z]

Mike,

Thanks for you gift and appreciate the reminder to us by showing what being a true friend is and what they’re willing to give of themselves. So glad you were able to celebrate after five years.

[commishbob]

I wasn't around for the original thread but I'm glad to have caught the update. Fantastic story. Great to see you are both doing well.

[docpatlv]

Mike,

Roberto would be proud!!! Congrats on 5 years.

[CW]

Great story, great message, great photo. You two look good!

[icollectDCsports]

Very cool. Glad you're both doing well.

[hcv123]

Mussed have missed this 5 years ago! Thanks for reposting - just sent an email. Incredible act of selflessness! Hope you guys enjoyed the game!

[ooo-ribay]

Mike is the man! I’m proud to count him as a friend.

[71buc]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone. I had a great time at the game with my friend Howard. Cutch had a couple of hits to include a triple. It pains me to see him in those colors (no offense Rob) but life is often hard for a Bucs fan.

Howard and I met through baseball. He was a career minor league player and when we met he was the NW scout for the Cincinnati Reds. We became friends through baseball. I never played beyond High School despite this he would occasionally reach out to me as I knew most of the local players. He would ask my opinions regarding players and was always sincere as he listened to my thoughts. One day he asked me if I wanted to serve as an associate scout and work with the Cincinnati Reds. I was floored that he would value my assessment of players. He made certain I signed an actual contract with the Reds and that I was given a radar gun and Reds credentials. He ensured that I was treated as a baseball peer. I will never forget when he called me at work from the 2005 draft. I was sitting in my cubicle when the phone rang. He said, “Mike this is Howard hold on a minute I’m putting you on speaker phone”. I then got to listen as the Reds drafted my first player. He said, “You are a real scout now” and then hung up. It was an amazing experience and I was also touched that he thought of me.

Howard played against Griffey Jr. and faced both Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. He makes me laugh when he talks about Tommy Lasorda’s talent with profanity. Howard never “big Leagued” me. He would always introduce me to other scouts and baseball executives. He even went out of his way to introduce me to Jim Bowden who looked at me like I was from another planet as he shook my hand.

After five years Howard left and moved to California where he worked for the MLB Scouting bureau. When he left he told me I had an eye for talent offered to recommend me to Scout school in the Dominican Republic. I lacked the courage to roll the dice such a career change would have required. Sometimes I wish I had. I worked in the same capacity for the Indians and then spent a final disheartening year with the Nationals. It was never the same as it was scouting with Howard. He is a class act and a true gentleman. No one else in baseball ever treated me with the dignity and respect he extended to me. Nor has anyone extended the true friendship he has offered me. It was an honor to donate a kidney to Howard. In the past five years he has watched his son play football for UCLA and welcomed two grandchildren to the world. I am thrilled to have contributed to his well being and happiness. A kidney was a small price to pay.

[Bpm0014]

As a fellow Bucco fan, this was one of the best threads ever here on Net54. A true inspiration!

[ooo-ribay]

Your follow-up post was amazing, Mike!

Or should I say “MLB scout Mike”? :p

[71buc]

Howard called me on April 30th to give his annual list of things he did and saw this past year. He welcomed two grandchildren into the world. Two months ago he moved to Atlanta to be close to his kids and family. We made plans for him to come spend time with my family last weekend. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. He had a cardiac arrest last Wednesday day and was hospitalized. Thankfully I was able to fly and be with him for the last five days. This morning his body finally failed him. He was an amazing friend until the end my world was a better place because he was part of it. I’ll close this thread with a story he told me. I recall it went something like this.

Howard and I were watching the Dodgers game on television one day. Vin Scully Scully was crooning about the improbability of Gene Baker’s performance against Sandy Koufax. I asked Howard, “ Was there a pitcher you owned during your playing days?” He laughed and said, Yes, there was this guy in the Cubs organization that couldn’t seem to get me out. I counted the days until I was able to face him because I knew I was going to get fat. I couldn’t wait to get to the park on those days. I knew he knew it too. The second half of the season I saw him on road trip. My first at bat I stepped in the box and dug in. I looked out at him and something wasn’t right. He just looked different. He looked way too confident. He threw me the first pitch. It was in on my hands. I took the pitch and suddenly it disappeared moving down and away catching the outside corner for a strike. I was shocked. I had never seen a pitch do that before. I looked at the catcher. He was grinning. I looked out him and he was smiling too. I think he rung me up three times that day. He only threw me that same pitch over and over and over again. I knew it was coming and I still couldn’t do anything with it.” He laughed and said, “I don’t think I ever got a hit off of Greg Maddux ever again.”

This picture how I will remember Howard, young, full of life, and chasing his dream. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Mike Piazza was allowed to wear my friend Howard’s number.

[Scott Garner]

Howard called me on April 30th to give his annual list of things he did and saw this past year. He welcomed two grandchildren into the world. Two months ago he moved to Atlanta to be close to his kids and family. We made plans for him to come spend time with my family last weekend. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. He had a cardiac arrest last Wednesday day and was hospitalized. Thankfully I was able to fly and be with him for the last five days. This morning his body finally failed him. He was an amazing friend until the end my world was a better place because he was part of it. I’ll close this thread with a story he told me. I recall it went something like this.

Howard and I were watching the Dodgers game on television one day. Vin Scully Scully was crooning about the improbability of Gene Baker’s performance against Sandy Koufax. I asked Howard, “ Was there a pitcher you owned during your playing days?” He laughed and said, Yes, there was this guy in the Cubs organization that couldn’t seem to get me out. I counted the days until I was able to face him because I knew I was going to get fat. I couldn’t wait to get to the park on those days. I knew he knew it too. The second half of the season I saw him on road trip. My first at bat I stepped in the box and dug in. I looked out at him and something wasn’t right. He just looked different. He looked way too confident. He threw me the first pitch. It was in on my hands. I took the pitch and suddenly it disappeared moving down and away catching the outside corner for a strike. I was shocked. I had never seen a pitch do that before. I looked at the catcher. He was grinning. I looked out him and he was smiling too. I think he rung me up three times that day. He only threw me that same pitch over and over and over again. I knew it was coming and I still couldn’t do anything with it.” He laughed and said, “I don’t think I ever got a hit off of Greg Maddux ever again.”

This picture how I will remember Howard, young, full of life, and chasing his dream. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Mike Piazza was allowed to wear my friend Howard’s number.

Great story, Mike!
I'm sorry to hear your friend Howard has passed... :(
It sounds like an amazing friendship that you shared. :cool:

[guy3050]

My deepest sympathies Mike

[todeen]

I hope you don't mind my religious input, but this is one of the nuggets that transcends religion.

Thank you for being an example to us all!

13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.... 17These things I command you, that ye love one another.


Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

[Dewey]

My sympathies, Mike. What a beautiful testament to courage and friendship.

Great verse, Tim. :)

[hcv123]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend - many times as hard or harder than losing family. May the memories of the times you shared together continue to fill your mind and heart.