If you ask any of the Boston Cardinal players, they'll tell you that they love playing for manager Artie Baker. Even amongst his peers, his ability to relate to his team is admired and recognized as his biggest strength. Rookies look to him for guidance about how to be a professional baseball player. Veterans respect his decision making and listen when he speaks. His control of the clubhouse is both firm and fair.
Considering the environment that Baker creates, the Cardinals received quite a shock when they returned from the All Star break to find a new banner hanging inside their locker room:
You're Not Good Enough
The harsh phrase was completely out of character for the respected manager standing silently beneath it. Laughter and banter quickly turned to quiet murmers as the players filed into the room and without needing instruction formed a semi-circle around their leader.
"This week the baseball community told us that none of you is a star," Baker said to the assembled team. He turned to his left and looked at the trio of veterans that stood off to the side. "The three of you have each been paid more than five million dollars so far this season. The baseball community just told you that you haven't earned it."
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| Javier Ramon |
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| Norm Jackson |
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| Will Bauer |
Baker looked around the room and finally settled his gaze on Pat Bancroft, the rookie outfielder. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly.
"To play baseball," Bancroft replied to slight applause. Baker's expression didn't change as he turned to his sophomore first baseman Jose Escobar.
"Why are you here?"
"TO PLAY BASEBALL!" Cheers went silent when Baker narrowed his eyes to the response. He looked over to starter Nathan Wilson, whose expression of determination contrasted with the concern and confusion on the rest of the team.
"Why are you here?"
Wilson nodded and smiled slightly. "I'm here to win."
Baker looked at the rest of the team who finally understood. "Now we can start the second half."
Just over three months later, St Sebastian's Cathedral was still echoing with the ringing of bells and the pounding of broomsticks when Artie Baker, having finished his post-game interviews, walked through the locker room doors. Waiting there to meet him was Nathan Wilson who handed him a wadded up ball of vinyl that used to be a banner. He saw starter Jim Fleming and Will Bauer on ladders hanging a new one in it's place:
"To play baseball," Bancroft replied to slight applause. Baker's expression didn't change as he turned to his sophomore first baseman Jose Escobar.
"Why are you here?"
"TO PLAY BASEBALL!" Cheers went silent when Baker narrowed his eyes to the response. He looked over to starter Nathan Wilson, whose expression of determination contrasted with the concern and confusion on the rest of the team.
"Why are you here?"
Wilson nodded and smiled slightly. "I'm here to win."
Baker looked at the rest of the team who finally understood. "Now we can start the second half."
Just over three months later, St Sebastian's Cathedral was still echoing with the ringing of bells and the pounding of broomsticks when Artie Baker, having finished his post-game interviews, walked through the locker room doors. Waiting there to meet him was Nathan Wilson who handed him a wadded up ball of vinyl that used to be a banner. He saw starter Jim Fleming and Will Bauer on ladders hanging a new one in it's place:
Thurman Munson League Champions!
Good Stuff!!!
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