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CSB - Ben McDonald and Cal Ripken Jr.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:35 pm
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:35 pm
Watching the Texas A&M/Rice game on SECN and Ben McDonald is calling the game. His partner (not sure who it is) has been asking him multiple things about his MLB career. He told a story about when her first entered the majors with the O's. He told the story of how he didn't know how to call his own game, because Skip would call all his pitches while he was at LSU, so he just knew how to throw what was called. He said Ripken noticed he was uncomfortable and approached him about it. Said Ripken actually started to call all his pitches from short stop, but they didn't let anybody know. He would meet with Ripken and the catcher after his starts and they would explain to him why they called pitches in certain situations. He did this for a while until he caught on and learned to call a game for himself.
Pretty cool story. Didn't know that he pretty much went straight to the majors either and didn't spend time playing minor league ball.
The stories they were talking about sure beat the hell out of talking about eating racoons and all the other crap Rollins traps him into talking about.
Pretty cool story. Didn't know that he pretty much went straight to the majors either and didn't spend time playing minor league ball.
The stories they were talking about sure beat the hell out of talking about eating racoons and all the other crap Rollins traps him into talking about.
9
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:40 pm to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
In 1994, we flamed out of the CWS in epic fashion, so everyone drove down to KC and watched Ben pitch against the Royals.
I probably had my face buried in one of those helmets filled with ice cream, but I don't remember Cal calling any pitches.
CSB
I probably had my face buried in one of those helmets filled with ice cream, but I don't remember Cal calling any pitches.
CSB
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:43 pm to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Skip used to say a 19 year old kid wasn't going to determine whether he succeded or not by what pitches they called.
This post was edited on 3/22/17 at 7:23 am
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:43 pm to lsu711
1994 was Ben's 5th year in the league, so he had figured it out by that point.
This post was edited on 3/22/17 at 7:49 am
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:55 pm to lsu711
quote:Cal, Jr. wasn't calling the pitches then.
but I don't remember Cal calling any pitches.
But you wouldn't have picked up the signals anyway.
Junior would signal the pitch in to the catcher from his infield position by holding his glove in a certain position that only he, Ben and the catcher knew what it meant. Ben wouldn't turn and look at Junior because that would have given away what they were doing.
The catcher would then give the signal to Ben who was looking in at the catcher from the mound.
Ben has talked about that during a couple of LSU games he worked.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:58 pm to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Here is my cal Ripken / Ben McDonald story- when I was a kid, Ripken was my favorite player. I was in middle school and my family got invited to Ben's wedding. My parents went but they let me stay home. My dad came home and said he met Cal Ripken and I missed it.
Even now I regret it because this post would have been so much better.
Even now I regret it because this post would have been so much better.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 10:07 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
Another story Ben has told about his Orioles days was one game his first pitch of the game was hit for a homerun.
His second pitch was hit for a double.
His third pitch....another homerun.
Earl Weaver came out to the mound to talk to Ben and the catcher. When Earl got to the mound he turned to the catcher asking him, "Does he have anything tonight? What are his pitches like?"
The catcher looked at Earl and replied, "Gee, I don't know, Skipper, I ain't caught one yet!"
His second pitch was hit for a double.
His third pitch....another homerun.
Earl Weaver came out to the mound to talk to Ben and the catcher. When Earl got to the mound he turned to the catcher asking him, "Does he have anything tonight? What are his pitches like?"
The catcher looked at Earl and replied, "Gee, I don't know, Skipper, I ain't caught one yet!"
This post was edited on 3/22/17 at 8:05 am
Posted on 3/21/17 at 10:13 pm to LSURussian
Posted on 3/21/17 at 10:34 pm to LSURussian
an actual CSB 
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:29 pm to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Ben is a cool dude with some great stories, and lives the life. All he does is call baseball games, coach his kids, and hunts.
When I lived in BR I used to fly to Charlotte a lot for work and would sometimes find myself sitting near Ben, on his way to the SEC network, as we both liked to sit in the exit row on the small 50 seat plane. He was always a class act and very polite to the flight attendant, and the valet bag workers. That says a lot about someone especially today when manners are lost on most.
When I lived in BR I used to fly to Charlotte a lot for work and would sometimes find myself sitting near Ben, on his way to the SEC network, as we both liked to sit in the exit row on the small 50 seat plane. He was always a class act and very polite to the flight attendant, and the valet bag workers. That says a lot about someone especially today when manners are lost on most.
This post was edited on 3/21/17 at 11:59 pm
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:47 pm to RedFoxx
Here is my ben/cal csb.
When I went into the clerk of court's office to get my marriage license in preparation for my wedding, I turn around at the guy behind me in line is Ben McDonald, waiting to pick up his marriage license too. I know, csb.
The Cal part is less interesting. I came down with mono the night Cal broke the all time games in a row record. I was on the couch in my apartment when they unfurled that banner, then the next week i don't really remember. Apparently I tried to go to class the next day and had to be brought to the er by my roommate. I had to drop out of school for a year. Yeah, i know, not a csb. whatever.
When I went into the clerk of court's office to get my marriage license in preparation for my wedding, I turn around at the guy behind me in line is Ben McDonald, waiting to pick up his marriage license too. I know, csb.
The Cal part is less interesting. I came down with mono the night Cal broke the all time games in a row record. I was on the couch in my apartment when they unfurled that banner, then the next week i don't really remember. Apparently I tried to go to class the next day and had to be brought to the er by my roommate. I had to drop out of school for a year. Yeah, i know, not a csb. whatever.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 7:12 am to RedFoxx
had great parents and grandparents that instilled that into ben.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 7:58 am to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Why wasn't an MLB catcher calling the games?
Posted on 3/22/17 at 8:22 am to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Sorry, but I have hard time buying into a rookie pitcher calling his own game.
Anyway, I thought a team when into each game with a gameplan as to how each hitter was going to be attached?
Anyway, I thought a team when into each game with a gameplan as to how each hitter was going to be attached?
Posted on 3/22/17 at 8:42 am to LSUsmartass
quote:
Why wasn't an MLB catcher calling the games?
Yeah this would make more sense. They should have paired him with a veteran catcher.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 9:05 am to LSUsmartass
quote:
Why wasn't an MLB catcher calling the games?
First thing I thought of. Although, Mickey Mantle claims to have called a game or two from CF in an interview.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 9:40 am to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
In 1986 I attended a State-Championship baseball game between Denham Springs and East Ascension, and Ben McDonald had the same exact haircut he has today...True story.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 9:48 am to upgrade
quote:
Mickey Mantle claims to have called a game or two from CF in an interview.
A drunk Mickey Mantle was probably still better and smarter than anyone else on the field.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 10:12 am to LSUsmartass
quote:
Why wasn't an MLB catcher calling the games?
Ben said the catcher was a rookie also and he too was not comfortable calling the pitches.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 10:14 am to oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
quote:
Didn't know that he pretty much went straight to the majors either and didn't spend time playing minor league ball.
He played the 1989 college season, was drafted in June, signed on August 19th and made his MLB on September 6th - that's pretty fast. He was in the Carolina league to get a little seasoning (cue Bull Durham jokes) starting 2 games (0-0), pitched 10 innings, gave up 10 hits, 2 earned runs and registered 9 strike outs.
He was only sent down 3 or 4 times and pitched 15 games, total (74 and 2/3 innings), in the minors.
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