Life on the Farm

[ncsu82]

I thought it would be great to have a thread chronicling interesting and or humorous stories involving our newly acquired friends that are now "professional baseball players" and beginning a life as minor leaguers.

Ryan Falcon (UNCG), a tremendous young man from Durham, NC overcame successful Tommy John surgery to have an All-SoCon senior season and was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round. An excited Ryan, who hasn't been out of NC very often, boarded a plane for a 10 hour flight to begin his professional career for the Spokane Indians in Spokane, Wash. for short season A-ball. Upon his arrival, and not knowing a soul, Ryan was anxious to meet his new roomie only to find out he was Fabillo Castillo from the Dominican Republic, who did not speak a bit of English! Ryan's host family made him feel right at home though when they gave him the keys to a vehicle to ride back and forth to the park......a 1964 Ford pick-up. When Ryan asked what he owed for room and board he was told to just keep oil in the truck. On June 21st Ryan entered the game in the sixth inning in front of at least, by his estimation, 27 people for his professional debut. As he got to the mound feeling a bit nervous his new coach handed him the ball and said " OK Ryan, I know this is your first professional outing.....try not to f*#k it up!" Ryan pitched two scoreless innings of one hit ball and can now tell his grandkids he once played pro ball.

The great thing is whether his career last 20 years or 20 days he's got his degree and he's a great young man. Congratulations Ryan and here's hoping you have many many more scoreless innings.

[EastOfRaleigh]

that was a classic post!!

[Intimidator Coach]

1964 Ford... ha ha ha

[countryboy17]

I really enjoyed the post and hope others will let us know about their first year(s) as a pro!

[ChltBballfan]

NCSU
Great post I do not know if you know the kid or not but.....please keep us updated.

[coachevans26]

Originally Posted by ChltBballfan

NCSU
Great post I do not know if you know the kid or not but.....please keep us updated.

I can say that I am honored to know Ryan personally, coached against him for 4 years while he was at Northern Durham, had the privilege of coaching him in the state games, and have followed his career closely at UNC-G. He is one of the finest young men I ahve ever been around, and was definitely one I was glad to see go to college. A very polished pitcher out of high school, he knows how to pitch and I wish him nothing but the best. HIs family is a class act and his younger brother Cameron (signed with High Point U) has a tremendous amount of talent and potential!! I wish them nothin gbut the best!!

[ncsu82]

Good article from the Bradenton herald on Q. Forth round pick of the Pittsburg Pirates.

http://www.bradenton.com/sports/stor....html?latimore=

[gridfaniker]

Originally Posted by countryboy17

I really enjoyed the post and hope others will let us know about their first year(s) as a pro!

Herman Baumgartner, a wall-eyed Eskimo who played rover on the 10-man ball team at Hoosick River High School in Seal's Head, Yukon Territory, Canada, got drafted in the 43rd round by the Indians. A week ago, he boarded a four-wheeler and made the 5,400-mile trek to Pittsfield, NM, to play extra-abbreviated rookie B ball for the Pittsfield Prairie Dogs. Herman had never been out of Hoosick River and when he got to New Mexico, he found he was staying in a four-room mud house with 32 illegal mexican aliens and a 103-year-old ethiopian crack addict. he doesn't know a lick of spanish OR swahili so he moved to a Motel 6, where he lived on cactus juice, whale blubber and cold Spaghettios straight from the can. when he got to the ballyard, the manager told him to pack up and get back to Canada. Herman's probably beating baby harp seals over the head with his Louisville Slugger as I type. He'll soon be an alcoholic and will die of cirrhosis before he's 40.


next story please.

[Shrapnel]

Originally Posted by gridfaniker

next story please.

Avery Cornwallis is a hard-throwing left handed catcher from Buford Springs. He was known around town as a fun loving cut-up who loved nothing more than to "pull a fast one" on some poor, unsuspecting lummox. So, here he was, assigned to the Single-A Witchita Red Clouds of the Hossinpheffer Plateau League. Avery now works for Red Snuggs threading lug nuts.

[gridfaniker]

great story, Carl.

c'mon people, don't be shy!

[Shrapnel]

Originally Posted by gridfaniker

great story, Carl.

c'mon people, don't be shy!

Thank you. You'll never know how hard it was to type that into words. I get misty everytime I hear ol' Avery's name.

[Braves]

Nobody tells a story better than Grid and Shrap. Unfortunately, they forgot the censor filter goes on high alert when they enter the Prep zone.

Plus, they always test me to see if I am still around

[MlbScout]

Braves.........don't get mad at Grid and Shrap. It's my fault. I think I signed those two players!!!!! :)

[Braves]

:229031_hail: ....glad you didn't lose your job in signing those two. Word has it that Shrap is seven-fingered and couldn't master the routine throw from 2nd. The ball tended to spin and spin and spin causing the 1st baseman to wear that special "knuckleball glove".

Glad you guys cut him.

As for Grid. I know that he was the "throw in" to keep Shrap happy. Once Shrap got cut....no need for Grid.

I understand that Shrap became a sportswriter because of his ability to type 250 words a minute (those 7 fingers are paying off). I also heard that Grid went into the newspaper business, too. They are great storytellers!

[gridfaniker]

Originally Posted by Braves

:229031_hail: ....glad you didn't lose your job in signing those two. Word has it that Shrap is seven-fingered and couldn't master the routine throw from 2nd. The ball tended to spin and spin and spin causing the 1st baseman to wear that special "knuckleball glove".

Glad you guys cut him.

As for Grid. I know that he was the "throw in" to keep Shrap happy. Once Shrap got cut....no need for Grid.

I understand that Shrap became a sportswriter because of his ability to type 250 words a minute (those 7 fingers are paying off). I also heard that Grid went into the newspaper business, too. They are great storytellers!

actually, I did play one game for the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League. I was a relief pitcher renowned in western New York for my two-handed overhead fastball. I also played soccer in high school and my specialty pitch was akin to a soccer throw in. My career ended when, on the first pitch of my first and only appearance, I tore both rotator cuffs trying to throw a two-handed curveball.

[MlbScout]

"I tore both rotator cuffs trying to throw a two-handed curveball."

That's why I signed him! He had the best two handed breaking ball I'd ever seen.

[gridfaniker]

Originally Posted by Braves

glad you didn't lose your job in signing those two.

I think he was referring to Herman and Avery

[Braves]

Originally Posted by gridfaniker

I think he was referring to Herman and Avery

Nope...that two handed curveball gave it away

[niknat]

Please tell me GRID is giving baseball lessons now. I have a 7 year old who just started playing baseball this year. I know with that 2 handed overhead breaking ball he could start to dominate the Henderson County rec league next year.

[Braves]

True story...Grid retired from baseball to become a newspaper reporter (pretty big newspaper) I believe he kept that secret of throwing his CB to himself...well, he may have told Shrap