KOFC AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN STORY

Home Base

The Pere Marquette Council 271 baseball team of Boston, Mass., 1915

Introduction

Walt Whitman was once credited saying, “I see great things in baseball. It’s our game — the American game.” He described the national pastime as a blessing for the public because of its outdoor nature and physicality, mirroring the “snap, go, fling” of American society. Yet, as already chronicled in the preceding chapters of this exhibit, the baseball Whitman knew in the mid-19th-century developed from the idyllic, pastoral nature played by amateurs — like Knights of Columbus founder, Father Michael J. McGivney — to a competitive, multi-billion-dollar worldwide phenomenon.

*A silhouette of a baseball player waits in the batter’s box for a pitch. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

In many ways, the game’s nature has changed. Yet the parallels between baseball and the spiritual lessons inherent in its design remain undisturbed: the adherence to traditions and rituals; the patrons and heroes players and fans aspire to emulate on the diamond; and even the treatment of ballfields as hallowed ground.

Mike Sweeney, former captain of the Kansas City Royals (2003-2007), was a five-time All-Star during his 13-year career in the majors. Now he serves as chairman on the advisory board of Catholic Athletes for Christ, runs the Catholic Baseball Camp organization, and works as a special assistant for the Royals. He is also a member of Holy Family Council 8882 in New Haven, Conn. (Spirit Juice Studios)

However, at its core, baseball is a game of redemption and renewal. Batters who succeed only 30 percent of the time are considered legends. Additionally, as a predominantly outdoor sport, springtime — a time of natural rebirth — ushers in a new season, which often coincides with Lent and/or Easter, where Catholics are called to renew our vows, cast away the weight of sin and let hope dwell in our hearts.

And there is something metaphorical about the ultimate journey in baseball: rounding the bases to be safe at home. For Catholics, we are on a similar journey — to our true home with God.

The men exhibited and interviewed in this segment exemplify this spiritual journey, having their sights not on earthly, fleeting, self-righteous accomplishments, but on eternity.

KofC Baseball: Home Base

Soul of a Champion

Soul of a Champion

To say that Gil Hodges — who was reportedly a member of the Knights of Columbus — struggled in the 1952 World Series is an understatement. The Dodgers first baseman went hitless, going 0-for-21 with his team losing the seven-game series against the New York Yankees.

It would’ve been easy for Brooklyn fans to jeer and boo Hodges as the borough’s fans yearned for World Series glory — the franchise had never achieved that level of success in its history. However, Hodges was a fan favorite and a man of integrity who was revered in the locker room, especially during the 1947 season when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Robinson remarked after Hodges’ death that, “[Hodges] was the core of the Brooklyn Dodgers.”

Yet, even with the admiration, Hodges’ slump continued into the start of the 1953 season. But the devout Catholic may have gotten divine help, which set his season aright. According to the book Praying for Gil Hodges, a Brooklyn priest — Father Herbert Redmond of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church — approached the pulpit with a short, but direct sermon: “It’s far too hot for a homily. Keep the Commandments and say a prayer for Gil Hodges.” The first baseman went to have another All-Star season, helping to lead the Dodgers to another World Series, albeit, losing to the Yankees yet again.

A portrait of Gil Hodges holding a bat — Baseball glory finally blessed the Dodgers in 1955 with the “Boys of Summer” — the team’s nickname — winning the World Series, with Hodges contributing 27 homers and 102 RBIs during the regular reason and hitting critical RBIs in Game 4 and 7. The victory was nothing short of a miracle, with the Dodgers flipping the script and beating the Yankees in seven games. By the end of his playing career in 1963, Hodges was tenth all-time in home runs (370) and held the National League record for grand slams (14). He also drove in the final run at Ebbets Field before the Dodgers relocated in Los Angeles. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)

But 1955 became the year the Dodgers finally reached the zenith of baseball glory, winning the World Series, during which Hodges was instrumental in Game 4 and 7. However, Hodges’ greatest achievement — that cemented him in baseball history — came in 1969, while he was manager of the New York Mets.

Gil Hodges, the Mets’ manager, poses for a photograph. Entering the 1969 season, the Mets with 100-to-1 odds to win the pennant, according to Baseball: An Illustrated History. The team had promising young talent, including future Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, but fumbled out of the gate, losing seven of the first ten games. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)

The team struggled early in the 1969 season, but Hodges remained confident in his team, often using humor to stoke the faith of his players. The Mets remarkably turned their season around and beat the odds by not only winning the NL pennant, but also defeating the Baltimore Orioles in five games to win the World Series. The team was dubbed the “Miracle Mets” since they were the first team to win the title after finishing at least 15 games under .500 the previous season. For his efforts, Hodges was voted Manager of the Year; however, he spent only a few more seasons with the Mets. On April 2, 1972, Easter Sunday, the 47-year-old manager suffered a fatal heart attack.

Throughout his playing and managing career, Hodges exhibited what members of the Knights of Columbus should be — men of excellence, men of quiet strength and, more importantly, men devoted to God.

‘Louisiana Lightning’

‘Louisiana Lightning’

Ron Guidry began the 1977 season as a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees, starting only one game as a rookie two years prior. Yet, when he made an emergency start on April 30, the man from Lafayette, La., dealt a shutout against the Seattle Mariners. The performance solidified his spot in the starting rotation. He finished the season with a 16-7 record, 2.82 ERA, 176 strikeouts, as well as a World Series ring.

However, the following year, the “Louisiana Lightning” pitched, arguably, one of the greatest seasons in major league history.

*Guidry winds up for a pitch during his illustrious career with the New York Yankees. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)*

By the summer of 1978, the Yankees hardly resembled the championship squad from the previous year. Infighting between teammates and management limited the team’s success on the field, so much so, that by mid-July, the Bronx Bombers were 14 games behind the Boston Red Sox. But if there was one bright spot before the second half of the season, it was Guidry. The even-keeled, consistent Southerner won his first 13 games, which included nine shutouts. He continued the excellent performances throughout the year, posting a 25-3 record and tied the lowest ERA for a left-hander since 1933 with 1.74.

Guidry’s otherworldly year nearly single-handedly boosted the Yankees to first place in the AL East, tying the Red Sox. His 25th win came in a one-game playoff against Boston, during which Bucky Dent crushed the hearts of Fenway Park’s faithful fans with a walk-off home run. New York went on to win the 1978 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For his legendary season, Guidry was voted the AL Cy Young Award.

Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout.Guidry poses for a photograph while si — *Guidry poses for a photograph while sitting in the Yankees dugout. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)*

The “Louisiana Lightning” eventually retired a decade later as a four-time All Star and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in Yankees history. His number 49 was retired by the organization in 2003.

But what kept Guidry level-headed during his career, especially in 1978, was his reliance on the Catholic faith. In retirement, he joined the Knights of Columbus Assumption of the Virgin Mary Council 7411 in Mire, La., in 1993; he helped sponsor Knights’ softball tournaments, autographed memorabilia and organized clinics for children, and built a diamond behind his home for young kids. His brother Knight Glen Meche once said, “He’s always willing to get involved with our projects. …His work with the Knights and with his family is a real expression of his faith.”

The Heart of the Champion

The Heart of the Champion

Darrell Miller hails from one of the most famous sports families in the country. His sister, Cheryl, is widely regarded as the greatest women’s basketball player of all time and his brother, Reggie, is an NBA Hall of Famer. But Darrell is also an accomplished athlete in his own right, being drafted by the California Angels in 1979. He eventually worked his way to the majors, playing primarily as a catcher and outfielder from 1984 to 1988.

Darrel Miller standing on a baseball field — During his MLB career, Miller batted .241 with 8 home runs and 35 RBIs. A highlight was being on the 1986 Angels roster that advanced to the American League Championship Series. His faith journey is explored in the first season of “Everyday Heroes.”

When Miller met his wife, Kelly, he was a Baptist and believed Catholics were “lost.” However, his perspective changed when he became “intrigued by the Eucharist.” Eventually, Miller converted to Catholicism and now serves as a deacon in the Diocese of Orange in California. He is also a member of Santa Clara de Asis Council 13311 in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Miller (left) leads his son, Darrell Miller Jr. (right) in spiritual formation, using K of C prayer booklets as guides. Miller Jr. followed his father in pursuing a baseball career, playing college baseball at UCLA. However, after suffering multiple injuries, Miller Jr. nearly hung up his cleats until his father emphasized that, even in the darkness, God has a plan. The message motivated Miller Jr. to continue to the point where he was eventually drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played a few years of minor league baseball and now serves as an assistant baseball coach for his alma mater, Servite High School in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Additionally, Miller serves as the director of the MLB’s first Urban Youth Academy, which opened Feb. 28, 2006, on the campus of Compton (Calif.) Community College. The facility provides free instruction in both baseball and softball to southern California youth between the ages of 8-17 and features a 10-acre complex operated year-round by Miller. The academy’s mission is to break down barriers facing youth interested in baseball and sports-related professions and providing them, at no cost, with support and expert instruction in their areas of interest.

“We have to use sports to help develop our young men and women to be better people, to be major league contributors in society,” he said.

A Baseball Chaplain

A Baseball Chaplain

After attending a Chicago Cubs game as a kid, Burke Masters had a dream to become a major league baseball player. He pursued his passion, playing baseball at a Catholic high school and at Mississippi State University — where he helped the program clinch a spot in 1990 College World Series after hitting a grand slam.

*Father Burke Masters poses in his Chicago Cubs uniform for Everyday Heroes season two. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

Yet faith was not a central focus in his life until he attended eucharistic adoration with his then-girlfriend. In the silence, he heard a call to become a priest. He entered seminary and “didn’t look back,” as he describes. However, in 2013, Father Masters received another call, this time from the Cubs who were looking for a new Catholic chaplain. “It was like God was saying, ‘This was your dream to be a Major League baseball player, but now you’re living my dream as a priest.’”

Running With Grace

Running With Grace

Over his 21-year career in professional baseball, Trever Miller was a pitcher who loved the challenge the game presented: the struggle between two men. One with a ball and the other just over 60 feet away, waiting for a pitch to swing at. However, Miller was born to achieve more than simply winning baseball games.

Trevor Miller sitting holding his baby — Miller played for nine different teams between 1996-2011. One of his greatest moments as a player came when he was on the mound when the Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first playoff appearance in 2008. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and was featured in season two of “Everyday Heroes.”

Grace Miller, his third child, was born before the 2005 Major League season with two holes in her heart and a genetic disorder so rare that it doesn’t have a name. Only 20 cases have been recorded since 1980 and children born with the condition often don’t live past a year. She was also with diagnosis of cerebral palsy. It has been a demanding task to meet Grace’s complex medical needs.

On the verge of despair and even angry with God one night, Miller went to bed, but awoke with to a voice with a simple message: Run.

*Miller runs in a race with his wife, Pari, and daughter, Grace. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

What started as a hobby turned into a larger mission and quality time spent his daughter. Miller bought a stroller suitable for running with Grace and the pair began competing in road races, fundraising for Ainsley’s Angels — which raises awareness for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Running with Grace over the miles and miles of road brought him back from the brink, and it helped him mature as a man and in his faith.

“She’s taught me and a lot of people the definition of what grace is,” Miller said. “She’s always happy, always spreading joy and love. She looks like Jesus to me.”

A Royal Knight

A Royal Knight

Mike Sweeney is one of the greatest Kansas City Royals in franchise history, enshrined in the team’s Hall of Fame on Aug. 15, 2015. In his 16-year career, Sweeney batted .297 with 215 home runs, 1,540 hits and 909 RBIs. He was a five-time All-Star and the Royals’ captain from 2003 to 2007.

*Mike Sweeney bows his head while praying in the stands at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

But those accomplishments are not as important to him as leading his family to heaven. “Christ has appointed me to be the priest in my domestic church,” Sweeney says in an episode of “Everyday Heroes.” “I was placed on this earth to get my wife and children to heaven, and as many other people as I can with me.”

*Mike Sweeney is joined by his father and several children. (Photo courtesy of the Sweeney family)*

He realized this mission through the example of his own father, who sacrificed his own baseball career to raise, provide for, and spiritually guide his family. As Sweeney says in the Knights of Columbus video-series, “Into the Breach,” “I’ve seen God the Father in my father at home every day, praying with us, working hard to provide for us, going to Mass every Sunday of our lives.” He also speaks of his father as a hero, and relished the opportunities to play catch and go to the batting cages with him.

“Being a great father is about putting the spotlight on number one, Christ, number two, our wives, and number three, our children,” Sweeney emphasizes on the role of fatherhood. “The reason why we have so many young people falling away from their faith is because fathers aren’t living out their faith.”

Today, Sweeney serves as chairman on the advisory board of Catholic Athletes for Christ, runs the Catholic Baseball Camp organization, and works as a special assistant for the Royals. He is also a member of Holy Family Council 8882 in New Haven, Conn.

'For the Greater Glory of God'

'For the Greater Glory of God'

To Trevor Williams, a pitcher for the New York Mets, faith is the most important aspect of his life followed by his family and then baseball. He told Columbia, “My faith is a constant; if something goes awry at all, it’s my bearings — go back to the Church. It’s the most important thing in my life and my wife’s life and our family’s life.”

Williams was a cradle Catholic, and, on his Twitter bio, calls himself a “Servant of Christ.” He also joined the Knights of Columbus in 2018. When he was confirmed in his junior year of high school, a mentor asked Williams what he found most important in life and how he was living for that. The question was pivotal.

“I started making every decision [by asking], ‘Am I helping build the Kingdom of Heaven, or am I helping destroy it with my decision making?’” Williams told the Knights of Columbus.

Trevor Williams throwing a baseball — *Trevor Williams practices in his garage during the filming of Everyday Heroes season three. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

Since then, Williams has delved deeper into his Catholicism, not just through daily prayer, but also by putting his faith into action through his initiative Project Thirty Four, which assists with purchasing medical equipment and assistive devices to patients with spinal cord injuries. Williams started the program after witnessing his roommate, teammate and close friend at Arizona State, Cory Hahn, suffer a career-ending spinal cord injury while sliding headfirst into second base.

*Trevor Williams poses in front of jerseys he has worn for Everyday Heroes season three. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

“Cory’s favorite number is 32, but a senior had the number 32 at ASU. So he chose the number 34, and 34 became this rallying cry with our baseball team once he got hurt,” Williams told Columbia. “I promised him when I got to the big leagues that I would change my number to 34.”

He added, “For the rest of my career, I’m going to do my best to get number 32 or 34. Just as a tangible reminder that there are people who can’t play this game anymore who would love to — a reminder that my career can be done any moment.”

Committed to Charity

Committed to Charity

At the turn of the 20th century, Knights of Columbus leagues rapidly spread across the United States and into parts of Canada, building inter-council relations with competitive play (see more in First Base). These teams featured amateur, college players, semi-professional and even major league talent. However, those leagues have not survived into the new millennium. By the mid-20th century, the shift in the Order’s athletic outreach was not to showcase already established talent, but to foster the skillset and appreciation for the nation’s pastime in children.

A Junior Squires baseball team poses for a photograph, undated. The team is representative of the numerous clubs that councils sponsored from the mid-20th century to the modern day. (Knights of Columbus Multimedia Archives)

By 1971, the Knights of Columbus had more than one million young people participating in youth programs organized by councils and assemblies — many of whom played on one of the 1,032 Little League and football teams sponsored by the Order. Elmer Van Feldt, then the editor of Columbia, recognized in his June 1982 column that “The Knights have an acute awareness that youth is the promise of the future,” while remarking on the Order’s sports programs.

*Florida Knights organize a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Loan Depot Park before the Miami Marlins’ final baseball game of the season, Oct. 3, 2021. (Spirit Juice Studios)*

Knights of Columbus councils throughout the United States and Canada recognized the need of providing young people with an outlet by constructing and maintaining ballfields, as well as sponsoring teams, particularly those that included children with special needs. Additionally, Knights of Columbus councils have hosted baseball clinics for young athletes and community trips to minor and major league ball games as fraternal and fundraising opportunities. The “Knights in Action” reports featured in Columbia from the 1980s to the present day (2022) demonstrate councils’ vision for baseball as more than simply a game, but as a way for bringing the community together. Here are a few notable examples:

Mary Queen of Peace Council 7405 in St. John’s, Nfld., led a community effort to develop a sports complex on a vacant five-acre plot of land, and sponsored baseball teams in 1987.
In 1988, the Knights of Columbus hosted the National Softball Tournament in Lafayette, La., featuring 28 teams from 17 states. Despite Tropical Storm Debra showering the area, the weather didn’t stop play, with a team from Wisconsin winning the contest.
Williamsport (Pa.) Council 366 donated $1,500 to the Bishop Neumann High School athletic department fund in 1989. The funds were used to by new baseball uniforms, pitching machine and netting for indoor batting practice.

*Members of Renovo (Pa.) Council 542 gather after helping the Renovo Little League clean up leaves and debris from their fields in preparation for the 2022 baseball season. (Courtesy of Council 542*)

By 1990, Topeka (Kan.) Council 534 had been sponsoring a baseball, softball and T-ball program for 20 years. In that time, more than 10,000 Topeka residents participated in the program, learning “to love the game and also learned the fundamentals of teamwork, sportsmanship and other positive Christian principles through this council program,” according to the Knights in Action submission published in Columbia. The council also maintained the facilities (a 69-acre complex), coached, furnished equipment and organized Special Olympics tournament exhibition games.
In 1993, Bourget (Ont.) Council 9288 earned the International Youth Activity Award for starting a youth baseball league. The council leased undeveloped land from the school district and transformed it into a baseball diamond. At no cost to the school district, the council built a flood-lit ballpark that was available at no charge to schoolchildren and the community. The council formed a baseball league involving more than 170 people ranging in age from 4-14. Knights also coached teams, umpired games and maintained the grounds. The council also financed equipment costs for the young players, paid liability insurance and arranged its own version of the World Series for the new league.
Bartholomew Council 11873 in East Brunswick, N.J., sponsored the town’s Buddy Baseball League for children with physical or developmental disabilities in 2001.
Father Felix Ullrich Council 5869 in Port Richey, Fla., established a baseball program for 300 children (ages 4-14) and donated $15,000 for uniforms and equipment in 2003.
In 2011, Holy Family Council 14520 in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., teamed with the Hollis-Belaire-Queens Village-Bellerose Athletic Association to sponsor a marathon 24-hour youth baseball game for charity. The event raised more than $30,000 for a number of charitable causes, including Fisher House and St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Queens.

A girl batting — Knights of Columbus members from Star of the Sea Council 371 in Bayonne, N.J., support the city’s “Buddy Baseball,” a program for mentally and physically challenged residents ages 3 to 25. As part of the program, “buddies” assist players according to their needs. The league provides therapeutic and socialization benefits for the participants. (Gary Rogers)

In 2014, St. Joseph Council 3402 in Keyport, N.J., donated funds to purchase personalized gym bags for members of the New Jersey Lightning, the state’s first and only baseball team for athletes with visual impairments.
Marian Council 4563 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., learned that Project One Four, an initiative of the David Price Foundation, aimed to build a baseball field and playground where children with or without disabilities could play alongside one another. In 2017, Council 4563 contributed $23,000, raised through its annual fund drive for people with disabilities, Lenten fish frys and volunteer work at concession stands during Tennessee Titans football games.

As demonstrated above, Knights of Columbus councils have mimicked the Order’s founder, Father Michael J. McGivney, in utilizing baseball as a tool for evangelization along with exemplifying the principles of the Order: charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. It may appear to be a child’s game, yet, in the right circumstances, the national pastime opens the possibilities of spreading awareness about the Knights of Columbus. More importantly, baseball allows children to understand the values of nurturing their talents through hard work, while learning about the importance of sportsmanship, fraternity, and striving toward a higher goal. These values are instrumental in our own spiritual lives.

If you want to see the application of these values and pursuit of subtle spiritual growth, look no further than Father McGivney and his work on a baseball diamond. Through his intercession, may we all battle through our slumps, round the bases, and return home.

*A priest holds a prayer card featuring a portrait of the Order’s founder, Blessed Michael J. McGivney, while reciting the prayer for his canonization. (Matthew Barrick)*

A Final Word

A Final Word

The author of this exhibit would be remiss if he didn’t acknowledge the hard work and support of those who made this a possibility, particularly Anne Ostendarp, Peter Sonski, Brian Caulfield, David Naglieri, John Horne from the Baseball Hall of Fame, Ray McKenna from Catholic Athletes for Christ as well as the K of C web-publishing team. This was a massive undertaking, and I couldn’t have completed this without all of you. I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank the audience who has explored the exhibit, shared their thoughts, and encouraged me along the way.

Luminaria light up mass at Lourdes Shrine, France
A man clutches a baseball in his left hand. (Spirit Juice Studios)

But if I am to thank one person in my life for inspiring me down this path, it would be my father.

As you have seen, fatherhood was a major theme in this chapter of the exhibit — with Knights recalling tales of their own fathers and how they introduced their children to the game. I have a similar story: My dad taught me the game early on in life. We played catch together, watched the New York Yankees (sometimes late at night when I knew it was past my bedtime), and talked about the sport and its history. I also remember the day he signed me up for Little League, the times he attended my games after a long day at work (he always sat out behind the center field fence), and, when I was in a slump in 8th grade, he showed me a few pointers so that I not only broke it, but went 3-for-3 the following game. It did make me believe that he was actually the home run king in the Bronx when he was a kid, as he told my siblings and me.

Luminaria light up mass at Lourdes Shrine, France
My dad showing his pitching routine during our 2015 visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. (Andy Fowler)

You see, baseball is a generational sport — passed down from fathers to sons. Throughout my time in the Knights of Columbus, I’ve seen a similar generational passing of the torch, passing of the Order’s mission, passing of the faith. It’s happened in my own life with my dad imparting the faith to me. During a time when fatherhood is not only challenged, but, frankly, increasingly more absent in the lives of children, what future can we expect but a decline in civic duty, fraternity and spirituality? As Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly has alluded to throughout his tenure, children need present and engaged fathers to exhibit servant leadership but, more importantly, to show faith in action.

And simple actions go a long way. What better, simpler way to be engaged in a child’s life than taking a few moments out of the day and playing catch? For me, those are memories I’ll cherish about my father — those times spent with him, talking about life and learning from him. And I know I’m not alone.

That’s the power of baseball: It’s a tool for fatherhood and, through Father McGivney’s intercession, may it continue to be so for generations to come.

Love you dad,
Andy

KOFC AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN STORY

Join us in this four-part series about the unique, untold Catholic American story of how the Knights of Columbus as an organization and individual Knights - including some of baseball's mightiest heroes - stepped up to the plate to produce many memorable moments and shape America's pastime for the better.

KOFC AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN STORY

KofC Baseball: Home Base

KOFC AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN STORY

First Base

Second Base

Third Base

Home Base