Classic Ballparks

On this date three venerable stadiums hosted their first major league baseball games:

Tiger Stadium: 1912
Fenway Park: 1912
Wrigley Field: 1916*

Tiger Stadium (originally called Navin Field)

Fenway Park

Wrigley Field (originally called Weeghman Park)

*In 1914 and 1915, the Chicago Whales of the Federal League (recognized as a major league) played at the stadium now called Wrigley Field. April 20, 1916 is the first day the Chicago Cubs played at Wrigley. 

Jackie Robinson Day

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, thereby integrating major league baseball. At ballparks across the nation, players are wearing the number 42 today in honor of Robinson's pioneering achievement.

Dottie Schroeder

Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder was born on this date in 1928. At the age of fifteen, she became the youngest player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She remained in the league for all twelve years of its existence, playing shortstop for the South Bend Blue Sox, Kenosha Comets, Fort Wayne Daisies, and Kalamazoo Lassies. Schroeder was one of the league's best fielders and ranks as the AAGPBL's all-time leader in games played (1,249), RBI, and walks. She also tallied the second highest total of hits, while becoming one of the AAGPBL's most popular players.

Learn more about Dottie and the AAGPBL at http://www.aagpbl.org/

One Tough Dominican

On this date 35 years ago, pitcher Joaquin Andujar made his major league debut with Houston. The Astros traded him to St. Louis a few years later. In the second half of the 1982 season, Andujar emerged as the Cardinals ace, finishing the season at 15-10 with a 2.47 ERA. He played a vital role in St. Louis's title run that October by winning Game 3 of the NLCS and two games (including Game 7) in the World Series. In 1984 and 1985, Andujar posted back-to-back 20-win seasons. He was to the Cardinals then, what Chris Carpenter is to the Cardinals now. Hopefully in 2011 Carpenter will match Andujar's achievement by notching his second 20-win season as a Cardinal.

You never know.

kentkrause.com

With my second novel soon to be released, I've changed the design of my Web site. Check it out at http://kentkrause.com/

America's Game

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game -- and do it by watching first some high school or small-town teams."

Jacques Barzun

The All-American King character guide

All of the major characters and many of the minor characters in The All-American King represent individuals included in the Biblical account of King David's life. These representations are listed below. Characters in the novel are listed in red; the Biblical figures they represent are listed in blue.

Dave King - King David
Ozzie King - Ozem, brother of David
Obadiah King - Obed, grandfather of David
Sal Kishman - King Saul
Jesse King - Jesse, father of David
Anthony Krieger - Abishai, nephew of David
Joe Krieger - Joab, nephew of David
Asa Krieger - Asahel, nephew of David
Zoe Krieger - Zeruiah, sister of David
Abby King - Abigail, sister of David
Eli King - Eliab, brother of David
Adam King - Abinadab, brother of David
Shane King - Shimea, brother of David
Reverend Samuels - Samuel the prophet
John Kishman - Jonathan, son of Saul
Phil Galbraith - Goliath
Coach Acheson - King Achish
Doug Edmonds - Doeg the Edomite
Neil Heimlich - Ahimelech the priest
Michelle Kishman - Michal, daughter of Saul
Boz Kishman - Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul
Abner Kishman - Abner, cousin of Saul
Thor Heimlich - Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech
Coach Keeler - citizens of Keilah
Calvin Ziph - the Ziphites
Perry Arbuckle - Paarai the Arbite
Amy Martin - Ahinoam, wife of David
Caleb Nagel - Nabal the Calebite
Gail Taylor - Abigail, wife of David
Tank Garber - Gareb the Ithrite
Paul Lasch - Paltiel, husband of Michal
Kyle King - Kileab, son of David
Nathan Rodriguez - Nathan the prophet
Jason Hackman - Jashobeam the Hacmonite
Archie King - Absalom, son of David
Michael Lewis - Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan
Tammy King - Tamar, daughter of David
Jerry Irving - Jether, brother-in-law of David
Donnie King - Adonijah, son of David
Beth Schaeffer - Bathsheba
Ryan Schaeffer - Uriah, husband of Bathsheba
Jon King - Jonadab, nephew of David
Tom Nelson - Amnon, son of David
Levi Zadok - Zadok the priest
Andy Irving - Amasa, nephew of David
Sol Schaeffer - Solomon, son of David
Ben Shea - Sheba the Benjamite
Tony Huscher - Hushai the Arkite
Ben Jeffries - Benaiah, son of Jehoiada