Pitching For The Master

Baseball And Bible Research

2012-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

On November 29th, 2011, I was invited to speak to a local chapter of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research), a society established in 1971, which consists of people who have a strong interest in baseball and are dedicated to researching many facets of the game and its history. Many of these “mature” individuals have retired from various distinguished professions, but are joined together

What Constitutes True Greatness?

2011-12-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Sports involve competition and winning. This is the focus of the conversation of sports talk shows, around sports bars, etc. Greatness is determined by winning games and championships. In every field of sports special awards are given to those athletes who excel in their field of endeavor. “Hall of Fames” have been established for those few who have been set apart for special recognition for

The 2011 World Series

2011-10-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Excuse me for being caught up a bit in the 2011 Baseball World Series. I played for the Cardinals for seven years (1955-1962) and have followed the team over the years, but found myself rooting for the Texas Rangers. I have followed the Rangers closely for several years since I live in the Dallas/Arlington area. This has been an exciting series to watch. Guess I am not such a great fan

The Idolatry Of Sports

2011-10-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

This is not an anti-sports article, although some may perceive it to be, but is designed to expose the idolatry of sports. There are those who eat, sleep and breathe sports, and who see their own identity as coming from the game itself. This can be observed both from the standpoint of fans and certain players who bask in the glorification of the game. I see the game as offering a great insight

Little League Baseball

2011-09-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

I watched on ESPN the Little League World Series games in South Williamsport, PA, and was caught up in the moment. I was impressed by the high level of play by these 11 to 13 year old players. The level of their skill in fielding, hitting and pitching was amazing. They played like miniature professionals, but with all the drama and innocence of amateur baseball. They obviously put their

James Finney, my friend

2011-08-04T07:21:00.001-07:00

What are the above photos all about, and who is James Finney? What does this man have to do with baseball? Well, let me explain. When I was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the New York Yankees in July of 1968, James Finney became a very important person in my life, and perhaps more than any person, made my life enjoyable playing for the Yankees. The first photo was taken in 1970

Jim Brewer, My Friend

2011-07-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Jim Brewer pitched in the Major Leagues for 17 years. He was my friend. In the off season, he lived for many years in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma . I think that he was either full or half Indian, but I do not remember which tribe. I came to know him in 1963 when I was traded from the Cardinals to the Cubs. He was traded one year later to the Dodgers. Seems like the Cubs have a history of

Ernie Banks -- Mr. Cub

2011-06-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

They called Stan Musial “THE MAN ” in St. Louis, but in Chicago the man was Ernie Banks. He was called “Mr. Cub” because of his impact on the city as the short stop for the Chicago Cubs. I became acquainted with him early in my career. My first game for the Cardinals as a starting pitcher was against the Chicago Cubs in September, 1955. I held the Cubs scoreless through the first 4 innings,

BAGS

2011-05-02T06:09:00.001-07:00

(The above is a photo of myself taken in the spring of 2010. Yes, thank you, I could lose a little weight! I am holding on to an old traveling trunk, the same one I used when traveling by train in 1956 when I played for the St. Louis Cardinals. I am not sure why I am holding a bat, but pitchers always dream about being good hitters just as hitters dream about being good pitchers. This article

COMPETITION

2011-04-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Competition is the stuff of life. Last month was “March Madness” where college basketball teams compete for being recognized as the best in the NCAA. As of this writing, only four clubs remain in competition. Sports of all kinds and at all levels thrive on competition. But beyond this, there is a sense in which competition involves all of life. In sickness and disease, people are battling

Over The Top

2011-03-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

We can make an idol out of anything. I have known players who have built their whole life around baseball. I had 15 “Hall of Fame” teammates over the course of my career. For some, to make the “Hall of Fame” was their ultimate goal and the guarantee of immortality. I am sure that the same is true of football, basketball, and other sports. To wear the “Championship Ring” is what life’s all

I Played Baseball on Sunday

2011-01-31T11:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, I played baseball on Sunday. So what is unusual about that? Do not all Major League baseball players play baseball on Sunday? Yes, they do. But some may ask, “Isn’t that inconsistent with being a Christian as you claim to be?” “Is not Sunday the Christian Sabbath?” As a Christian I am to be subject to Jesus Christ in all things. So if Jesus taught, either personally or through His

Head Hunting

2010-08-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

A friend wrote to me recently about a young Christian who is playing in the minor leagues. One of his teammates got hit in the head by the pitcher and his manager ordered him to hit a batter on the other team in the head. What should he do? He refused to obey the manager and was shipped out. I have only sketchy details, but it has brought up a serious problem. These are the kind of dilemmas faced

Four Major Comebacks

2010-04-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

My baseball career was characterized by four major comebacks. What I mean is that there were four times when it seemed that my career in the major leagues was over, when I was just hanging on by a thread, only to somehow manage a comeback where I would enjoy outstanding success. The bad times help you to appreciate the good times. Most of us would just as soon leave off the bad times and just

Photos And Background

2010-03-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

This post of Pitching For The Master is devoted totally to baseball photos and some background information for my readers. This may be a lot more than you want to see and know, but here I go anyway. The first photo is taken of me when I was 16 years old winning the Oklahoma State Championship in American Legion Baseball in 1952. In the photo are my two brothers, Von and Kerry Don, serving as

Signing My First Baseball Contract

2010-03-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

Back in August 19th of 1955, I signed my first professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. I had just completed an amateur career consisting of 4 years of high-school baseball, 2 summers of Legion baseball, and 3 summers of sandlot or simi-pro baseball. Thus, I had a lot of maturity for a 19 year old. My real start was playing American Legion Baseball in Altus, Oklahoma. My dad

Godly Influence In A Worldly Atmosphere

2010-02-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have often pondered the issue of how a Christian can survive in an worldly atmosphere. I wrote the article, “Sitting in the back of the bus” as a warning of how evil companionship can corrupt good morals. Yet as long as we live in this world, it is impossible for us to avoid worldly associations. The apostle Paul stated this truth in 1 Cor. 5:9-11: “ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate

Celebrity Worship

2009-08-08T05:36:00.000-07:00

As defined by Webster, a celebrity is a person who is widely known and often referred to as distinguished, renowned, noted, famous, or even notorious. To begin with, I have never referred to myself as a celebrity, although I have associ-ated with many who could be so identified. Fifteen of my teammates were baseball “Hall Of Famers” and thanks to baseball I have rubbed elbows, so to speak, with

Yankee Old-Timers Festivities

2009-07-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

This was a very interesting trip for my wife, Nancy, and me. It all started about three years ago when I kept reading in the “Yankee Newsletter” about various players being invited to the annual old-timers game and festivities. The Yankees are the only team that still have “Old-timer Games”. I wondered why I had never been invited since I had a very good record pitching for the Yankees from

Believing In Jesus

2009-07-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

To believe in Jesus is to act on that belief. In order to have any saving power, belief in Jesus means to fully trust in Him, not only as the only sacrifice for sin, but also to trust in Him as Lord by taking up our cross and following Him: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will

Are We Saved By The Unbrella of Jesus Christ?

2009-07-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

Some teach that we are saved by “faith only” and that once we are “saved” our life is covered by the umbrella of Jesus Christ. At the point of salvation, God doesn’t see our life with all of its imperfections, He sees only the “righteousness” or life of Christ. Therefore, no sin can be charged against God’s elect. This umbrella is the present life of Christ. They claim that such is taught in

The Church Universal

2009-07-03T13:53:00.001-07:00

Last month I asked the question, “Can you find your church in the Bible?” This question pertains to your church affiliation at large and not a particular local congregation. It is in this context that we read about the church which Christ established (see Matt. 16:16) and for which He died (see Acts 20:28). Of course, I was not expecting for you to find your particular local church in the Bible

Does The Church Save Us?

2009-07-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

We know that the church plays an important part in the thinking and planning of God. Jesus promised to build His church (Matt. 16:16). Jesus is the head of the church (see Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus purchased the church with his own blood (see Acts 20:28). The church is the expression of the eternal and manifold wisdom of God (see Eph. 3:10-11). So, if we had nothing else, these passages would show the

“A New Beginning”

2009-07-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

The original “Pitching For The Master” was published for 12 years beginning in 1964 and ending in 1975. It had a mailing list of over 10,000 and was sent out free of charge by request only. It was discontinued when I retired at the end of the 1975 baseball season after spending 20 years as a pitcher in professional baseball. Since then I have spent much time in preaching, teaching and writing.

Arrogance In Sports

2009-07-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

Number one on the list of things God hates is prideful arrogance. It accounts for the downfall of nations. It leads to personal destruction. It is the motive for much sinful conduct and especially as it relates to speech.Proverbs 6:16-17 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that

Why Religious Division Is Condemned By Christ

2009-07-03T13:40:00.001-07:00

We contend that as a local congregation we can be pleasing to God by allowing Christ to rule over us without any denominational structure. We also contend that we can be “Christians only” without any denominational affiliation. We all can agree, if we are willing to allow the Bible to be our guide, that there were no denominations during the times of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

Fellowship With Other Christians

2009-07-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

In the last two issues of Pitching For The Master I discussed the great subjects of The Authority of Jesus Christ and How to Obtain Fellowship With God. After one has been baptized into Jesus Christ, he needs to be taught about establishing fellowship in a local congregation. Why? Because this is part of the will of Christ.From the very beginning of the church God has desired for His people to

How Is Fellowship With God Obtained

2009-07-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Having devoted the September issue to establish the importance of having Bible authority for everything we believe and practice in religion, I now will apply these principles to discover how fellowship with God may be obtained. Since only God has the right to tell us what to do, it is the word of God that must give us the right answers. Jesus Christ came for that very purpose, that wicked men

Who Has The Right To Tell Us What To Do?

2009-07-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

What if there were no rules or regulations for playing the game of baseball? What if each player made up his own rules? What if there was no one with authority to enforce the rules? The game would be total chaos, would it not? The Bible puts it this way: “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5). I once knew a famous