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re: 31 is always at 3rd base for the Tigers! (In honor of the Pontiff Classic)
Posted on 4/9/13 at 12:25 am to The Hurricane
Posted on 4/9/13 at 12:25 am to The Hurricane
quote:
I remember everything vividly about that Wednesday morning when I heard about his death. One of toughest days in my young life.
I wish like hell I could've seen him play. He was just as great of a person as he was a player.
1
Posted on 4/9/13 at 1:17 am to gar90
I loved the Wally chant when he would come up to bat.
WALLY WALLY WALLY
WALLY WALLY WALLY
This post was edited on 4/9/13 at 2:06 am
Posted on 4/9/13 at 1:49 am to gar90
I was never a big baseball fan. And this is going to come off as supremely dumb here, but I have been wondering this since I saw the park.
Who was Wally Pontiff?
I say the plaque at the park and he was born a few weeks before me. I never really looked into it. The just noticed an uptick in posts mentioning him. Then starting to notice 31 more.
I'm not trolling or anything. I was at LSU for a while, but never followed baseball. Just not my thing.
Just wanted to know. I assume it was a player who passed away based on his age. But was wondering the circumstances. He has a lot named after him.
Who was Wally Pontiff?
I say the plaque at the park and he was born a few weeks before me. I never really looked into it. The just noticed an uptick in posts mentioning him. Then starting to notice 31 more.
I'm not trolling or anything. I was at LSU for a while, but never followed baseball. Just not my thing.
Just wanted to know. I assume it was a player who passed away based on his age. But was wondering the circumstances. He has a lot named after him.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 2:00 am to Napoleon
quote:
Tremendous student-athlete who finished on the LSU career list for hits (9th, 254), doubles (tied for 7th, 49) and batting average (10th, .344) ... a natural leader and the Tigers' 2002 team captain, he helped LSU go 28-10 after a 16-12 start ... made a huge impact on the Tigers' 2000 national championship team as a true freshman, starting 27 games in left field, 17 at DH, six at third base and one in right field ... earned the permanent starting job at third base in 2001 and earned first-team All-SEC recognition ... played in every game except one in his sophomore and junior seasons ... a member of the 2001 and 2002 SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.25 GPA in biological sciences ... named to the 2002 all-district Academic team, one of only five LSU players to earn such distinction ... was also recruited by Miami (Fla.), Alabama, Tulane, Mississippi State and Florida.
Quick little blurb from lsusports.net. Here's the rest of it. He passed away in his sleep a few weeks after the end of his Junior season. It was a heart condition.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 2:18 am to gar90
I'll never forget hearing Wally died even though I was only 12.
Johnnie Thibodeaux died about 8 years ago now. I took a couple of hitting lessons from him about forever ago.
Johnnie Thibodeaux died about 8 years ago now. I took a couple of hitting lessons from him about forever ago.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 2:34 am to gar90
thanks.
Very impressive career, very sad his life was cut short.
Very impressive career, very sad his life was cut short.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 7:23 am to gar90
Posted on 4/9/13 at 7:38 am to The Boat
quote:
I'll never forget hearing Wally died
coworker said"did you hear about Pontiff?" I said "what is he leaving school early?"
ETA: I'll be there tonight.
This post was edited on 4/9/13 at 7:41 am
Posted on 4/9/13 at 7:38 am to gar90
#31 should be permanantly etched in the grass or dirt next to 3rd base in the box.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 7:43 am to TigerFan2211
quote:
#31 should be permanantly etched in the grass or dirt next to 3rd base in the box.
Let's make it happen.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 7:48 am to gar90
WALLY WALLY WALLY
Posted on 4/9/13 at 8:06 am to gar90
thats some good stuff
ill always remember where i was and what i was doing when i heard of Wallys death just like 9/11
just one of those things ill never forget
ill always remember where i was and what i was doing when i heard of Wallys death just like 9/11
just one of those things ill never forget
Posted on 4/9/13 at 8:45 am to LSUTygerFan
Maybe instead of having "LSU" on all four sides of the base, third base could have "31" or "31 ALWAYS" or "WALLY"
Posted on 4/9/13 at 8:56 am to TigerFan2211
quote:
#31 should be permanently etched
I like that it is a ritual for the guy to carve the # each home game....
Posted on 4/9/13 at 8:58 am to gar90
I remember I was sitting on my couch when I got the phone call about Wally passing away...my first though was it was Big Wally never little Wally.
***One of my closest friends does the video for the Classic and he told me the family asked to change it up a bit...from a Memorial to a Rememberance***
***One of my closest friends does the video for the Classic and he told me the family asked to change it up a bit...from a Memorial to a Rememberance***
Posted on 4/9/13 at 9:06 am to gar90
quote:
31 is always at 3rd base for the Tigers!
very cool...very touching...bitter sweet. a small but honest tribute like that is what makes LSU the very special place that it is. every time I step foot on campus and take a stroll under the oaks it's like I'm getting to take a walk with my dad again. geaux.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 9:14 am to gar90
quote:
gar90
How long before game time does he do this?
Posted on 4/9/13 at 9:27 am to TigerFan2211
quote:
#31 should be permanantly etched in the grass or dirt next to 3rd base in the box.
I don't know guys, I really like the grounds crew writing 31 in the dirt. Thats something that can be handed down forever in LSU baseball to each grounds crew that takes care of the field. Something about your number written in the dirt just seems like a more fitting baseball tribute to a player.
Posted on 4/9/13 at 9:31 am to The Hurricane
Posted on 4/9/13 at 9:35 am to LSUTygerFan
quote:
How long before game time does he do this?
Typically about 15 min before the game. I hold the string that they use as the guide to paint the foul lines before the game. Usually right after I am pulling the string up after the 3rd base foul line is painted, they will put 3rd base in the ground he will draw it.
This post was edited on 4/9/13 at 9:37 am
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