It is Open Season in New-Look MLB

In Dusty Baker’s first year as a big league manager, his San Francisco Giants finished with a whopping 103 victories, yet missed the playoffs. No such worries in Baseball 2012. Albert Pujols and his new teammates on the Los Angeles Angels could finish in third place and sweep the World Series. The major leagues are now a major free-for-all. Credit (or blame) goes to an expanded postseason format that adds two more wild-cards this October. Because this year, it seems as if almost everyone is in the playoff race. For the story, go to Major Leagues

Ichiro Suzuki a Hit in Japan as Mariners Win ML Opener

Ichiro Suzuki gave his fans in Japan a performance to cheer about. Suzuki had four hits in his return home, Dustin Ackley homered and singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1, March 28, in baseball’s season opener. “It was very special to open in Japan,” said Suzuki, who spent nine seasons in Osaka with the Orix Blue Wave. A capacity crowd of 44,227 at the Tokyo Dome was a sea of flash bulbs every time Suzuki came to bat. The rest of the big league teams started their seasons April 4 and 5. To read, go to Major Leagues

Opening Day, a Baseball Tradition under Assault

Opening Day is another baseball tradition under assault from a money grab. Having two games played in Japan that actually counts, has disrupted the flow of tradition of Opening Day. The “traditional” Opening Day was April 5 even though three games had been played by then, and two have been played a week earlier. For generations, Opening Day arrived amid pageantry. The ensuing Monday would bring Opening Day to numerous major league ballparks. Pictured here in 1940 is President Franklin D. Roosevelt throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in Washington, D.C. For the article, go to News Release

Boisterous or Boring, New MLB Skippers Take Helm

It’s a lock the Miami Marlins’ new man in charge will be more boisterous than his predecessor. Boston’s first-year manager has already made noise, banning booze in the clubhouse and jabbing the rival New York Yankees. What about the trio of rookie managers in other sports? They are pretty quiet so far and likely to stay that way, in contrast to the volatile Ozzie Guillen in Miami, pictured here, and cocky Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox manager. The White Sox have laid-back Robin Ventura in the dugout. Another story on Guillen is “Marlins May Change Everything but Ozzie Guillen.” To read, go to Major Leagues and News Release

Ernie Banks, Cubs Home Run Hitting Shortstop

Baseball fans of the 1950s think of Ernie Banks as a homer-hitting shortstop; fans of the 1960s remember him as an All-Star first baseman; but everyone recognizes Banks as one of the premier sluggers in baseball history and a great goodwill ambassador for the game. Although the Hall of Fame great played his entire career with the Chicago Cubs – a team that was forever stuck in the second division – Banks never lost his enthusiasm for the game. “Let’s play two!” is one classic quote attributed to the ever optimistic Banks. For his career story, go to Newsletter

Interview with Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Seaver

Tom Seaver was among many former New York Mets players honored on the franchise’s 50th anniversary at the Baseball Assistance Team’s annual fund-raising dinner January 21 in Manhattan. Seaver, 67, holds the team’s career records for pitching victories (198) and strikeouts (2,541). He and his wife, Nancy, own Seaver Vineyards on Diamond Mountain in Calistoga, California. Seaver’s new passion is a vineyard with a breath taking view of Napa Valley. In a phone conversation with Hal Bodley of MLB.com, Seaver spoke about wine, baseball and the Mets. To read, go to Newsletter

Reds’ Barry Larkin Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Barry Larkin, a 12-time All-Star shortstop who excelled at virtually every aspect of the game, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The former Cincinnati Reds shortstop who won three Gold Glove Awards was the lone player inducted in his third year of eligibility. Larkin hit .295 during a 19-year Major League Baseball career spent with the Reds before retiring after the 2004 season at age 40. Larkin and former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo will be inducted into the Hall in Cooperstown, New York, during a ceremony on July 22. For the article, go to Feature Stories

President Obama Honors Cardinals at White House

President Barack Obama welcomed the World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals to the White House, January 17. But noticeably absent from the team were two key figures of the franchise. Manager Tony La Russa, who retired after the series, and slugger Albert Pujols, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels in the offseason, were not with the team. The President Obama said, “Every once in a while, something happens that we have never seen before, something unique. And that is why it is my pleasure to stand here with the greatest comeback team in the history of baseball.” To read, go to News Release

Bud Selig’s Contract Extended through 2014 Season

The contract of Commissioner Bud Selig has been extended for two years by Major League Baseball owners. “No one understands the landscape of our sport better than Bud Selig,” said Philadelphia Phillies president David Montgomery. “The Commissioner’s vision for the game has brought consensus among the clubs and a sense of unanimity that has allowed the game to thrive.” Selig, 77, called it an “honor to be asked to continue to serve.” He said, “The focus is on the field, competitive balance is strong, and fans around the world are supporting our game in unprecedented fashion.” For the story, go to Major Leagues

Baseball Officially Expands Playoff Format

Major League Baseball has expanded its playoff format to 10 teams, adding a second wild-card in each league. The decision established a new one-game wild-card round in each league between the teams with the best records who are not division winners, meaning a third-place team could win the World Series. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, however, strongly disagrees with the new format. “You should get nothing for second or third,” said Manuel. “In my opinion, I’d like to see the two best teams in baseball in the World Series.” For the article, go to Major Leagues and News Release

Walter Alston, Dodgers’ Hall of Fame Manager

Of all the many achievements that fill the Hall of Fame dossier of Walter Emmons Alston, perhaps the most impressive was the first, one that came with the final out of the seventh game of the 1955 World Series. That Brooklyn Dodger victory in the final game of the season gave the city, and the team, their first world title. Alston’s patient hand provided necessary guidance and leadership. His Dodger teams in Brooklyn and Los Angeles had only four losing seasons, winning 90 or more games in 10 different years. He managed four World Championship teams – 1955, 1959, 1963 and ’65. Known as an outstanding handler of men, Alston always had the ability to get the most out of his players. He was six times National League Manager of the Year, and in 1983 was elected to the National Hall of Fame. For his career story, go to Feature Stories

Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who led the New York Mets to a World Series and was known as “The Kid” for the exuberance he displayed on the field, died February 16 after battling a malignant brain tumor. He was 57. An 11-time All-Star, Carter spent the bulk of his 19-year Major League career with the Montreal Expos where the curly-haired slugger became one of Canada’s most popular athletes. Originally an outfielder, Carter had to learn how to catch as a minor leaguer, and wound up catching more than 2,000 games and setting records for putouts and chances. To read, go to Newsletter

Major League Batting Styles

	Batting styles have varied among major league hitters during the past half-century. The majority of batters from the 1950s through the ‘80s enjoyed their greatest success in hitting line drives, while the power hitters would go for the long ball. Demonstrating their hitting styles for Don Weiskopf’s sequence-series camera in the Photo Gallery is ten Hall of Fame greats whose advice was tape recorded: Henry Aaron, Pete Rose, Stan Musial, Reggie Jackson, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, and Harmon Killebrew. Pictured is Willie McCovey's great swing, while Jackson and Sal Bando demonstrate their stances. The Gallery concludes with Don’s interview with Musial who gives “Batting Swing Tips” and discusses his famous hitting stance. To read and view, go to Photo Gallery

Stolen Base is Coming Back – A Need for Speed

With many teams relying less on homers and more on small ball, the stolen base isn’t dying after all. There were 2,970 steals in 2009 – the highest total since 2000. For the first time since 2000, more than 45 players stole at least 20 bases. Jacoby Ellsbury, pictured here, and Michael Bourn stole 131 bases together in 2009, the highest combined number for the AL and NL leaders since 1994. Bourn followed his 61 steals in 2009 with 52 and 61 the last two seasons. Stan McNeal of The Sporting News interviewed five of the game’s elite base stealers, including Nyger Morgan, Jimmy Rollins, and Andrew McCutchen. For the article, go to Feature Stories

Mel Parnell, Most Winning Southpaw in Red Sox History

Mel Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who spent his entire 10-year career with the Boston Red Sox and faced many of the best hitters of the 1940s and early ‘50s, has died. He was 89. Parnell won more games for the Red Sox than any other left-handed pitcher. He still holds team records for southpaws in games started, innings and victories. Parnell was masterful at Fenway Park even though he pitched in front of the Green Monster, a home run hitter’s dream at only 310 feet down the left-field line. He had a career record of 123-75, but he was 70-30 at Fenway. For his career story, go to Newsletter

Big League Pitching Styles

	Pitching styles over the past half century have varied in terms of both technique and throwing motion. Most of the pitching greats of baseball had careers that stood up over a long period of time. They used strong leg kicks and high arm angles, with powerful thrusts off the rubber. Featured in Don Weiskopf’s highly illustrated study on pitching styles is a select array of Hall of Fame pitchers. Demonstrating their pitching techniques for Don’s sequence-series camera are Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn, Early Wynn, Gaylord Perry, Bob Gibson, Don Sutton, in addition to Billy Pierce who is deserving of the Hall. To read and view, go to Skills and Strategies

Pitchers Are Using Bigger, More Traditional Windups

A major change continues to occur in the game of baseball. Many major league pitchers are using bigger and more traditional styles of winding up. They are switching back from the no-windup delivery used by most pitchers the past couple of decades. Following a banner year in 2010 when he pitched two no-hitters, Roy Halladay of the Phillies was runner-up for the 2011 NL Cy Young Award. Adam Wainwright, on the left, joined Halladay as two of baseball’s three 20-game winners in 2010. Among the growing number of major league pitchers using the fuller windup are Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Ian Kennedy, and Doug Fister. Hall of Fame great Don Drysdale, pictured here, had a 209-166 record with a 2.95 ERA and 2,486 strikeouts. For the latest report, go to Coaching Clinic

Ron Santo, Cubs’ Star Third Baseman, Elected to Hall

Ron Santo was elected to the Hall of Fame in December, barely a year after his death. Santo, the Cubs’ third baseman in the 1960s and early ‘70s, was the only candidate chosen by the Golden Era Committee, receiving 15 of its 16 votes on the ballot. Among his 342 career home runs, Santo hit 25 or more homers and drove in more than 90 runs in eight straight seasons. He won five Gold Glove Awards for fielding and was named an All-Star nine times. After various business ventures, Santo began working as a Cubs color commentator on WGN in the early 1990s. For his career story, go to News Release

MLB, Players Defend Drug Testing Program Again

Baseball and its players’ union has defended their drug testing program and promised to tighten collection procedures following criticism by anti-doping agencies of an arbitrator’s decision to overturn Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension. Braun had criticized drug testing by baseball as “fatally flawed.” David Howman, director general of WADA, called the delay a “technical breach” and was disappointed arbitrator Shyam Das ignored the substance of the case. Dr. Don Catlin, one of America’s top anti-doping scientists, rejected the possibility of tampering as unlikely. For the article, go to Performance Enhancing Drugs

Ryan Braun’s Name is Cleared, but Questions Linger

For fans of Ryan Braun that included his fellow major league players, he was innocent. He is not suspended. Braun is free to play for the Milwaukee Brewers this season. The question of innocence is more nuanced. This was a legal fight, and Braun found a way to win. Does that make him innocent of cheating? We still do not know. In her column, “Off Hook, Ryan goes into bully mode.” Christine Brennan of USA TODAY wrote, “When Ryan Braun was exonerated on a technicality he arrogantly chose to go after the man who collected his urine samples.” For the articles, go to Performance Enhancing Drugs

Harry Wendelstedt, Umpire in Five World Series, Dies

Harry Wendelstedt, who was an umpire in five World Series during a 33-year major league career and who taught hundreds of aspiring professional umpires at his Florida school, died on March 9 in Daytona Beach. Since 1960, Wendelstedt was one of only a handful of umpires to have worked as many as five World Series. He spent his entire big league career in the National League, retiring in 1998, two seasons before umpires began working in both leagues. The Wendelstedt School is now run by Harry’s son Hunter, who is also a big-league umpire. To read, go to Feature Stories

Japanese Pitching Icon Yu Darvish Signs with Rangers

For several years Yu Darvish, an icon of Japanese baseball, has been dominating batters on the other side of the planet. A superstar in his home country, Darvish was the most highly scouted and sought-after pitcher in Japan over the past several years, with an electrifying fastball and a fiery in-game demeanor. The 25-year-old Darvish was 93-38 with a 1.99 ERA the past seven seasons in Japan’s Pacific League. Last year, he was 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA in 28 games, striking out 276 batters in 232 innings. For the article, go to Feature Stories

Catchers Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek Retire

	Five-time All-Star catcher and five-time World Series champion Jorge Posada, who spent his entire 17-season career with the Yankees, has announced his retirement. “I could never wear another uniform,” said Posada. “I will forever be a Yankee.” Perhaps fittingly, Posada is leaving the game at the same time as Jason Varitek, the longtime Red Sox catcher. Varitek spent 15 seasons as the stoic center of the Boston Red Sox, with an icy stare that never blinked. Varitek and Posada became fixtures behind the plate in the 1990s, on opposite sides of the most heated rivalry in baseball. To read their stories, go to News Release

Tim McCarver Gets Call from Baseball Hall of Fame

For at least a generation, Tim McCarver has defined World Series TV analysis, given that last year’s St. Louis Cardinals-Texas Rangers matchup on Fox was his 22nd Fall Classic call. McCarver, who batted .271 in 21 seasons as a major league catcher before joining Fox, says announcing boils down to two basic tenets: “being right” and “staying contemporary.” McCarver, who will be enshrined in Cooperstown in July, was selected by a 20-person panel that includes the 15 living Ford Frick Award winners. For the story, go to Major Leagues

Don Mincher, former Major League Slugger

Former major league first baseman and Southern League president Don Mincher died March 4 at his home after a long illness. He was 73. Mincher had a 13-year career in the majors, in which he hit exactly 200 home runs. He made his major league debut in 1960, the final season the original Senators were in Washington before moving to Minnesota. With the Twins, the 6-foot-3 inch Mincher developed into a powerful left-handed slugger in an era dominated by pitching. After his playing career, Mincher became president/GM of the Huntsville Stars minor league franchise, later president of the Class AA Southern League. For both articles, go to Feature Stories and Minor League

President Pat O’Conner Diving into Second Term

By his own admission, Pat O’Conner’s election to a second term as Minor League Baseball president was “anti-climactic.” Running unopposed, he was unanimously approved by each of the 16 league representatives. O’Conner will now serve another four-year term, continuing his reign as the 11th president in the 111-year history of the NAPBL, commonly referred to as “Minor League Baseball.” O’Conner has the job to set the tone for the entire industry and one of his most consistent messages has been the importance of keeping Minor League Baseball affordable for all fans. For the report, go to Minor League

Memorable Moments of Past MiLB Opening Days

Opening Day around the Minor Leagues can mean thousands of things to millions of people. With 120 teams taking to the field across 10 leagues and four classifications on Thursday, April 5, story lines are plentiful in ballparks everywhere in the country. In her most interesting story, Ashley Marshall took a look at ten of the most memorable performances, memories and events from Opening Day in the Minor Leagues. They include: April 18, 1946: Jackie Robinson’s Minor League Debut; April 1, 1950: Texas League Old-Timers Day, including Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, and Duffy Lewis; Rich Harden Unhittable; and Jorge Piedra Plays Spoiler. For the article, go to Minor League

Billy Hamilton, Minor League Player of the Year

Billy Hamilton, the Reds’ second-round draftee in 2009, went straight from stealing 103 bases to playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, arriving early for spring training. Coming off a historic season, the 6 foot, 1 inch, 160 pound switch-hitter from Mississippi, talks about the men who have mentored him: base stealing (Delino DeShields); bunting (Joe Morgan), and defense (Alex Cora). Hamilton said, “Someone said we’re bringing Joe Morgan over here to help you with some stuff, and I was shocked when he came over. Both Delino and Alex were very good too.” For their instruction, go to Minor League

Baseball School-Clinic for Children and Youth

During the summer of 1959, Bobby Bragan, manager of the Spokane Indians PCL minor league ball club, conducted two highly successful baseball schools for young boys and girls in Spokane, Washington. In cooperation with the City and County Park Boards and city schools, they were sponsored jointly by the Triple-A Spokane Indians farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Loyal Order of the Moose. Bobby served as the school’s head instructor and Don Weiskopf, recreation director for the Spokane Park Board, directed the overall event. The two one-day schools attracted huge turnouts of 1500 and 1800 children and youth, prompting the Park staff to bring in many additional bleachers to the two park sites. For the well-illustrated article, go to Minor League

World Baseball Classic Qualifier Set for Sept. 20-24

The Deutsche Baseball & Softball Verband eV has been selected to host a Qualifier for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Regensburg Qualifier will include Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany and Great Britain. The winner of the Qualifier will advance to compete in the Opening round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Qualifier will take place in Regensburg, Germany at Armin-Wolf-Baseball-Arena from September 20-24. The Qualifier will feature a six-game modified double-elimination format. For the story and about the WBC, go to World Baseball

MLB Eyes Regular-Season Games in Europe

Fresh off another successful opening of its season in Tokyo, Major League Baseball is considering playing regular-season games in Europe, possibly at new facilities in London or Amsterdam. “We have been talking about playing games in Europe for some time, and facilities have been our biggest obstacle in getting that done,” said Paul Archey, MLB’s vice president of international business operations. Additional stories are “Dutch Federation Celebrates 100 Years of History” and "Martin Miller Resigns as CEB President." For the articles, go to World Baseball

Scott Brosius Returns to Lead USA Baseball’s 18U Team

Scott Brosius will return in 2012 as manager of the 18U National Team. The Brosius-led 18U squad outscored opponents 88-8 over nine games, capping off their tournament run with a 12-2 victory over Canada in the gold-medal game. Following the team’s gold medal in Cartagena, Columbia, Brosius was named the 2011 Coach of the Year. The 1998 World Series MVP is entering his fifth season as head baseball coach at Linfield College in Oregon. Another BPA story is “Great Baseball Crowds for Chinese Taipei Opener. To read, go to World Baseball

Liam Hendriks, Twins’ Pitcher from Down Under

Minnesota Twins pitcher and Aussie favorite Liam Hendriks nearly retired from baseball a decade ago. “I was 12 when I got cut from the under-14 state team," Hendriks recalled. “The next year I came back and thought I really would like to succeed.” This spring Hendriks is pitching in the major leagues. MiLB.com asked Hendriks to describe and grip each of the five pitches he throws: Four-seam and two-seam fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball. Photos of these pitching grips were provided by Steven Ellis, former Cubs pitcher and author of the Baseball Pitching Grips book. For the superbly illustrated article, go to World Baseball

Florida Gators’ Kevin O’Sullivan, College Coach of Year

Now in his fifth season at the University of Florida, Kevin O’Sullivan and his staff have established the Gators as a national championship contender. O’Sullivan guided Florida to a runner-up finish at the NCAA College World Series with an overall mark of 53-19. For constructing a model program with a rock-solid foundation, O’Sullivan earned the 2011 College Coach of the Year honors from Baseball America. Under his tutelage, Florida made the trip to Omaha in consecutive seasons for the first time and made the CWS for the seventh time in school history. To read, go to High School/College/Senior

Dave Keilitz, ABCA’s Successful Executive Director

Dave Keilitz started school at Central Michigan University as a freshman student-athlete in the fall of 1960 and remained at the institution for the next 34 years. In June, 1994, he accepted the position as Executive Director of the American Baseball Coaches Association, an organization that began in 1945. Keilitz became Central Michigan’s first, first-team All-American baseball player (1964). In his first season as head coach at CMU, he led his team to the NCAA Championship finals. Another BPA story is “Big Ten Might Take a Look at Summer Baseball.” For the articles, go to High School/College/Senior

The Lost Art of Throwing a Baseball

Minnesota Gophers baseball coach John Anderson’s advice to young players and coaches: Keep it simple. Twenty years of coaching one of the nation’s top baseball programs, has taught Anderson a thing or two about coaching. If you keep things simple like teaching how to throw and catch the ball, as shown here by pitcher Carl Pavano of the Minnesota Twins, your job can be a lot easier. “Simply throwing and catching the ball is one of the most important and least practiced fundamentals,” said Anderson. Another article is “Young Arms and Curveballs: Little League Baseball’s Stance on Curveballs is Irresponsible.” To read, go to High School/College/Senior

New Mexico’s High Schools will Use Wood Bats in 2012

Watching a majestic home run at a local high school field can be an awe-inspiring sight. But those images seem likely to be temporarily suspended. This season New Mexico high school teams will take the field with wood or wood-composite bats after the state’s Activities Association decided to ban aluminum bats. New Mexico became one of the few places in the country to vote to put wood bats/composite wood bats exclusively into play. In another story, John MacDougall gives “Advice to Players and Coaches who are New to Wood Bats.” For the report, go to High School/College/Senior

Sandlot Baseball Games Harken to Bygone Days

	Coen Wilson’s 10-year-old legs chugged deep into center field. His eyes fixed on a baseball that seemed to carry forever at South Park Field No. 5 in Canton, Ohio. His Dave Righetti-model glove opened. The ball plunged right into the pocket. “Play of the day!” shouted Kevin Miller, a middle school science teacher and former H.S. baseball coach. Absent were the applause and cheers from parents. That’s how this group of sandlot-playing kids, under the loose direction of Miller, prefers it. No butterflies or fear of failure, just 50-plus children playing good, old fashioned pick-up baseball games. To read, go to Youth Baseball

Wilmette Sandlot Teams Play Baseball Old-fashioned Way

Without coaches or shouting parents to distract them, an eager group of children gathered at a Wilmette park to play baseball the old-fashioned way. They made up the rules as they went along. The youngest players were allowed six strikes. “There’s nobody telling you what to do,” crowed Drew Wilson, 9, who joined the fun on a sunny day in suburban Wilmette, Illinois. What started out as one mom’s crusade to loosen the grip of her children’s heavily scheduled, highly structured lives has grown by word of mouth to a weekly gathering on a sandlot diamond. A handful of parents get the children to the field, then walk the delicate line of trying to keep them safe while letting them play an old-fashioned adult-free ball game. For the article, go to Youth Baseball

Round Up the Guys and Play Sandlot Baseball

Bobby Valentine remembers the days when he would ride around his neighborhood on his bike and round up the guys for a sandlot baseball game. “I was the ring master,” said Valentine, former major league player and manager, now an ESPN analyst, who grew up in Stamford, Conn. “All the kids in the neighborhood kept their gloves on my bike handlebars,” said Valentine, “so I’d just ride down by their houses hollering that it was time to play. We would play until dinner was on the table. The older kids taught the younger kids how to play.” For the stories, go to Youth Baseball

How to Set Up a Sandlot Baseball Game

From the time he was eight or nine, up until he was about 15, R.J. Licata was a master at organizing neighborhood games. As he looks back now, he is amazed at all the things he learned by taking on this task. “Think about the different hats I wore just trying to get a game of baseball organized. There was a lot of carefree time-wasting, but when it was time to get down to business, we knew what we needed to do.” For the story, go to Youth Baseball

Reviving the Sandlot Baseball Game

Many of us who grew up during the 1940s and ‘50s remember our summer days when we played baseball all day long. We didn’t have Little League but we were among a group of neighborhood kids who showed up at a ball field, picked sides and began playing a ball game. Today, ball fields sit empty during the summer because young children have to have everything organized for them. The lack of pick-up and sandlot games has hurt the development of young players in America. For the story, go to Youth Baseball

Getting Kids Back to Sandlot Baseball

The key to the revival of the sandlot baseball game are the thousands of public recreation and park agencies across the country. Children today do not play enough park and school playground baseball, and there is a long, overdue need to revive the concept and promote a nationwide movement. More opportunities to play baseball in parks and playgrounds need to be provided by local park and recreation departments and school districts. City playgrounds should be open longer and the necessary equipment provided. A major effort should be made to have local recreation and park agencies nationwide, coordinated by the National Recreation and Park Association, spearhead such a movement. To learn more, go to Youth Baseball

Revival of Baseball Pick-up Games

The best way to get children to play more baseball on their own is to promote the return of pick-up games. The youth of America need to be taught how to organize pick-up games. In the Youth Baseball page, Don Weiskopf, publisher of Baseball Play America, explains the rules on how eleven favorite pick-up games are played. They include Work-up, Over the Line, Scrub, Catch a Fly and You’re Up, and a couple of Brent Mayne’s favorites, First to Ten and Play Catch. For the rules, go to Youth Baseball

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